7 Top Picks
4 Reviewers
26 Hours of Research
21 Options Considered
If you love watching Netflix, you'll need the best laptop. But manufacturers are yet to optimize a laptop model specifically for watching Netflix. Therefore, it is up to you to select the ideal specifications to better your Netflix experience.
It is not mandatory for the best laptop for watching Netflix to have the most premium features. An entry-level PC can get the job done. However, it should have a vivid display capable of showing high-resolution movies. The minimum resolution should be 1920 x 1080 pixels. Other factors include quality audio, long battery life, and high screen brightness.
3 Top Laptop For Watching Netflix
1. [Best Overall]
5/5
The Lenovo Flex 5 14 2-in-1 Laptop is the best laptop for watching movies. The laptop has high-end features, most oriented towards excellent watching performance, delivering the best experience. The laptop has a Full HD display with sharp, accurate images to better my watching experience.
2. [Best For The Money]
4.9/5
The Acer Chromebook 314 has features specifically meant to offer the best movie experience. The laptop features an IPS display with wide viewing angles, ideal for watching movies with friends. The laptop also features a powerful battery with up to 12.5 hours of battery life.
3. [Best For The Clear Images]
4.8/5
HP 2020 14 "Laptop is a high-performing Windows 10 laptop, ideal for watching movies. The laptop has an AMD A9-9425 processor with a processing speed of up to 3.7 GHz, letting me run intensive programs more efficiently.
Looking for the best laptop for watching Netflix? Read through to learn more.
Best Laptop For Watching Netflix Reviews
[Best Overall]
5/5
The Lenovo Flex 5 14 2-in-1 Laptop is the best laptop for watching movies. The laptop has high-end features, most oriented towards excellent watching performance, delivering the best experience. The 14-inch laptop has a Full HD display with sharp, accurate images to better my watching experience. Besides, this touch screen laptop has ample display real estate for efficient watching.
Lenovo Flex 5 14 2-in-1 Laptop Features
This 2-in-1 laptop is thin, lightweight, and stylish, with an average weight of 3.64 lbs, allowing me to carry it around more easily.
It has a 14-inch display size with ample space for Netflix, allowing me to watch movies efficiently.
The Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution delivers sharp, accurate images to enhance my Netflix-watching experience.
The laptop has an IPS panel with accurate colors and wide viewing angles to better my watching experience.
The touchscreen features let me use the more convenient tablet mode to enhance my watching experience.
It has a 360-degree hinge, allowing me to shift between laptop, stand, and tablet modes.
The long battery life of up to 10 hours lets me watch Netflix for an extended time with a single charge.
The AMD Ryzen 5 4500U mobile processor runs Netflix smoothly for a better watching experience.
Specifications
Screen size | 14 inches |
RAM | 16GB |
Storage | 256GB SSD |
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 pixels |
Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 4500U |
Dimensions | 12.66 x 8.56 x 0.82 inches |
Weight | 3.63 lbs |
Pros
Cons
[Best For The Money]
4.9/5
This Acer Chromebook has features specifically meant to offer the best movie experience. The laptop features an IPS display with wide viewing angles, ideal for watching movies with friends. The laptop also features a powerful battery with up to 12.5 hours of battery life.
Acer Chromebook 314 Features
The laptop supports Chrome Operating System with enhanced security protection against viruses and malware attacks.
The laptop has 64GB eMMC storage with an additional 100GB of Google Drive space, letting me efficiently backup my movies and files.
It has a 14 inches display with more space, letting me watch movies efficiently.
The Full HD resolution has accurate and sharp images to enhance my watching experience.
The laptop has an IPS panel with wide viewing angles and accurate colors for the best watching experience.
It has 4GB LPDDR4 Memory, letting me watch Netflix smoothly without lagging.
It has a powerful battery with a life of up to 12.5 hours, letting me watch Netflix for an extended time without powering off.
Specifications
Screen size | 14 inches |
RAM | 4GB |
Storage | 64GB eMMC + 100GB of Google Drive space |
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 pixels |
Processor | Intel Celeron N4000 |
Dimensions | 12.81 x 9.13 x 0.78 inches |
Weight | 3.75 lbs |
Pros
Cons
[Best For The Clear Images]
4.8/5
HP 2020 14 "Laptop is a high-performing Windows 10 laptop, ideal for watching movies. The HP laptop has an AMD A9-9425 processor with a processing speed of up to 3.7 GHz, letting me run intensive programs more efficiently. It also has 128GB SSD storage, letting me watch Netflix smoothly and store my favorite movies offline.
HP 2020 14" Laptop Features
The laptop has the 7th Gen AMD A9-9425 Processor with a high processing power for a smooth watching experience.
It has a 14 inch screen with more space, allowing me to watch movies efficiently.
It has 1366 x 768 HD resolution with sharp and clear images to enhance my movie experience.
The laptop has 4GB RAM, letting me watch Netflix smoothly and open several other tabs simultaneously.
It has 128GB SSD storage for offline storage and fast launching of programs.
The laptop supports Wi-Fi, ensuring reliable internet connectivity for streaming movies. It also supports Bluetooth, letting me enjoy quality sounds on my external soundbar.
Specifications
Screen size | 14 inches |
RAM | 4GB |
Storage | 128GB SSD |
Resolution | 1366 x 768 pixels |
Processor | 7th Gen AMD A9-9425 |
Dimensions | 12.76 x 8.9 x 0.78 inches |
Weight | 3.20 lbs |
Pros
Cons
4.7/5
If you're an Apple fan and want a laptop for watching Netflix, Apple 2020 MacBook Air Laptop is the best you'll get. The 13.3-inch laptop has quality features that make it the ideal laptop for watching movies. It has a powerful battery lasting up to 18 hours, letting me watch Netflix for an extended time. It also has the Apple M1 chip featuring an 8-core processor to deliver smooth performance.
Apple 2020 MacBook Air Laptop Features
The powerful battery allowed me to watch Netflix for up to 18 hours with a single charge.
The Apple M1 chip has powerful performance for a smooth watching experience. The 8-core processor has 3.5 times the regular performance.
The 8GB memory allowed me to open several tabs simultaneously without slowing down the PC.
The 13.3 inch screen is portable and convenient to carry.
The laptop has a retina display with sharp and clear images with more vibrant colors to better my watching experience.
The fanless design lets me enjoy Netflix in a quiet environment.
I could save more files with the 256GB SSD storage.
Specifications
Screen size | 13.3 inches |
RAM | 8GB |
Storage | 256GB SSD |
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 pixels |
Processor | 8-core CPU |
Dimensions | 11.97 x 8.36 x 0.63 inches |
Weight | 2.80 lbs |
Pros
Cons
4.6/5
HP Stream 14-inch Laptop is a thin, portable laptop with features ideal for watching Netflix. This laptop from HP features AMD Dual-Core a4-9120e Processor for a smooth watching experience. It also has a powerful battery lasting up to 8.25 hours, letting me watch Netflix for an extended period.
HP Stream 14-inch Laptop Features
The powerful AMD Dual-Core a4-9120e Processor powers this laptop, letting me enjoy smooth Netflix movies.
The 14-inch laptop's screen has more space for watching Netflix.
The laptop has a WLED-backlit display to enhance my experience.
The HD (1366 x 768) resolution has sharp and clear images, letting you watch Netflix better.
The laptop has a 4 GB DDR4-1866 SDRAM for a smooth watching experience. It also has 32GB eMMC storage for local file storage.
The laptop supports 802.11bgn Wi-Fi, offering strong internet connectivity for streaming movies. It also supports Bluetooth 5 wireless connectivity, letting me enjoy high-quality sounds on my external soundbar.
The powerful battery lets me watch Netflix for up to 8.25 hours with a single charge.
It supports Windows 10 Operating with more advanced features to boost my watching experience and general productivity.
Specifications
Screen size | 14 inches |
RAM | 4GB |
Storage | 32GB eMMC |
Resolution | 1366 x 768 pixels |
Processor | AMD Dual-Core A4-9120E |
Dimensions | 13.27 x 8.9 x 0.7 inches |
Weight | 2.90 lbs |
Pros
Cons
The HP 14" HD AMD Ryzen 3 3.5GHz 4GB 128GB SSD Radeon Vega 3 Webcam Windows 10 Laptop is a high-end HP laptop ideal for watching Netflix. The laptop has a 14-inch screen, providing ample space for watching Netflix efficiently, and built-in speakers which make it a great-sounding laptop.
It also has a powerful AMD Ryzen 3 3200 processor, ensuring smooth Netflix streaming. In addition, it features AMD Radeon Vega 3, which delivers a smooth and stunning display for a better watching experience.
HP 14" HD AMD Ryzen 3 3.5GHz 4GB 128GB SSD Radeon Vega 3 Webcam Windows 10 Laptop Features
The laptop has a 14 inches screen with more space for efficient Netflix watching.
It has an HD (1366 x 768) resolution with sharp, clear images for an improved watching experience.
The laptop has a powerful AMD Ryzen 3 3200 processor of up to 3.5GHz processing speed for smooth operations.
The AMD Radeon Vega 3 GPU has high graphics performance to produce smooth motions for a better watching experience.
It has a 4 GB DDR4 SDRAM, letting me enjoy smooth operations without lag. Besides, I could store more with the 128GB SSD storage.
The Built-in HD Webcam lets me make quality video calls to keep in touch with friends and family.
The built-in dual speakers have high sound quality for a better multimedia experience.
Specifications
Screen size | 14 inches |
RAM | 4GB |
Storage | 128GB SSD |
Resolution | 1366 x 768 pixels |
Processor | AMD Ryzen 3 3200 |
Dimensions | 12.76 x 8.89 x 0.78 inches |
Weight | 3.20 lbs |
Pros
Cons
4.4/5
The last one on my list is the Lenovo Legion 5 Gaming Laptop. It has a 15.6-inch laptop, offering more space than its competitors, for the best watching experience. The gaming laptop also has a Full HD 1080p resolution, providing sharp and accurate images to enhance my watching experience.
Lenovo Legion 5 Gaming Laptop Features
The 8-core AMD Ryzen 7 5800H processor has high processing power, ensuring a smooth Netflix and other programs run.
The 16GB DDR4 RAM lets me run Netflix and other programs simultaneously without slowing down the PC.
It has 512GB NVMe SSD storage, letting me store unlimited files efficiently.
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti graphics card ensures the smoothest display to enhance my watching experience.
The laptop has a 15.6 inch display with ample space for watching Netflix.
I enjoyed accurate colors and wide viewing angles thanks to the IPS panel.
The Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution produces sharp, accurate images to enhance my experience.
Specifications
Screen size | 15.6 inches |
RAM | 16GB |
Storage | 512GB SSD |
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 pixels |
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 5800H |
Dimensions | 21.25 x 13.5 x 3.38 inches |
Weight | 5.29 lbs |
Pros
Cons
Buying Guide
Consider the following factors when buying your ideal laptop.
Display
The display consideration for the best laptops for watching movies factors in screen size, resolution, color calibration, and panel type. For general use, the larger the screen, the better the experience. The ideal laptops for watching Netflix range from 13.3 inches to 17-inch laptops. The size choice is subjective based on user preference. You can opt for the 13.3-inch or much larger 17.3 inches.
The best laptops for watching movies should have a Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) screen resolution. This resolution ensures I get a sharp and accurate image display. However, I recommend higher resolution for the best-quality images to enhance my watching experience.
The best laptop for watching movies should also feature an anti-glare screen. This screen has reduced eye fatigue to protect your eyes. In its absence, the laptop should support eye care technology - Flicker-Free or Low Blue Light technology.
In addition, the best laptops for watching movies should have a wide viewing angle to enhance my viewing experience. That's why an IPS panel is essential here. A bonus feature of the IPS panel is its accurate color reproduction, delivering sharp and accurate images.
Audio Quality
Watching Netflix involves more than just staring at the screen. Quality sound enhances your movie-watching experience, making it more realistic and enjoyable. Therefore, the best laptop for watching movies should have powerful built-in speakers. Apple laptops are excellent in speaker quality, making them an ideal choice over their Windows counterparts.
Storage
Storing movies takes up a lot of local storage space. Therefore, the best laptops for watching movies should have a large storage capacity to store these files. The bare minimum should be 256GB SSD. However, I may need to upgrade to a 512GB SSD or even a 1TB SSD if I have many movies.
I recommend SSD storage over HDD for laptops for watching movies because it lets me quickly retrieve my media files whenever needed. The only limiting factor is that SSD storage is more expensive than HDD storage.
Connectivity Options
Once in a while, especially when watching Netflix with friends, I connect my laptop to an external monitor. This procedure lets us enjoy watching Netflix on a larger display, enhancing our movie-watching experience. However, I need an HDMI port to connect my laptop to the monitor successfully.
In addition, the best laptops for watching movies should support Wi-Fi connectivity. This way, I can conveniently access Netflix, letting me enjoy my favorite movies uninterrupted. Bluetooth wireless connectivity is also essential. This connectivity lets me share files efficiently. Besides, I can connect the laptop to my external soundbar, letting me enjoy high-quality sounds.
Battery life
Many movies last between one to two hours. It is, therefore, essential to invest in a laptop with a good battery life that lets me watch Netflix for long sessions without recharging. It is annoying for the laptop to shut down while watching Netflix.
The ideal laptop for watching movies should have at least a six-cell battery with up to eight hours of battery life.
Portability
I can watch Netflix from anywhere - be it indoors, outdoors, or on a travel laptop. Therefore, a portable laptop is ideal for the task.
The best laptop for watching movies should weigh no more than 4.4 lbs. It should also be an ultra-thin laptop that efficiently fits my backpack.
Processor
Watching Netflix doesn't need you to have the most powerful processor. However, I need a good processor to ensure my movies and other programs run smoothly. A more powerful processor lets me have an uninterrupted watching session and facilitates the smooth running of the PC. The bare minimum should be the Intel Core i3 laptop.
However, you can upgrade to Intel Core i5 or i7 laptop if you have the cash. Alternatively, you can opt for the AMD A-series processors - they are equally up to the task. The good thing about high-end processors is that, besides watching Netflix, I can also use the laptop to carry out other intensive programs smoothly.
RAM
Memory capacity shouldn't be a primary concern for laptops for watching Netflix. You can work around with a low-capacity memory, provided you don't use your laptop for demanding tasks or intense multitasking.
For the best movie-watching experience, I recommend 8GB RAM. However, I see no harm in upgrading to 16GB or 32GB RAM because I'm more likely to use my laptop for other tasks, including demanding ones.
FAQs
What Is the Best Resolution to Watch Movies on a Laptop?
The best resolution to watch movies on a laptop is Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels). This resolution has sharp and accurate colors with rich colors to produce a vibrant display, enhancing my experience.
However, higher resolutions such as QHD (2560 x 1440) and UHD (3840 x 2160) have super-crisp images with sharper images to enhance my viewing experience even more.
Which Processor Is Best for Watching Movies?
The best processor for watching movies is the Intel Core I series processor. Any processor of this series, ranging from i3 to i9 processor, has the best performance regarding Netflix watching.
What Specs Do I Need for a Streaming Laptop?
The specs you need for a streaming laptop are as follows.
- A 2 GHz dual-core processor
- 1 GB, DDR2, or faster RAM with a recommended 8GB standard
- A 7200 RPM hard drive (SSD recommended)
- DirectX 10 compatible graphics card (1GB VRAM NVIDIA card)
Is 4GB Memory Enough for Watching Netflix?
Yes, 4GB is enough for watching Netflix. Netflix isn't memory-intensive, and 4GB should be enough to get the job done. However, you may experience a performance slowdown if you watch Netflix and run other programs in the background, especially demanding programs.
