The Ryzen 5000 series is here. AMD’s new laptop chips were announced at its CES 2021 event, with the majority of the 13 new processors moving to the company’s new Zen 3 architecture.
The claimed performance and power efficiency improvements will vary depending on which tier of processor you choose (Ryzen 3, 5, 7 or 9), but the devices they end up in will also have a big impact.
Unlike the desktop chips that launched in October, the new processors aren’t available to purchase as standalone components. Instead, they’re designed to be integrated into new laptops, with the first set to be available as soon as February.
AMD says that a total of 150 devices powered by the Ryzen 5000 series will launch in 2021, but the first wave of hardware has already been announced. Without further ado, here are all the devices currently confirmed to ship with the Ryzen 5000 series.
Acer Aspire 5
Acer’s Aspire 5 has been a firm favourite for a few years now, although this is the first time the device will be exclusively powered by Ryzen processors.
The AMD version was generally better received than the Intel version in 2020, and now Acer has upgraded all models to the Ryzen 5000 series.
Ryzen 3, 5 and 7 chips will all be available, with options for AMD’s RX640 GPUs and up to 24GB of RAM. Storage options go up to a 1TB SSD, but you can double the internal storage if you’re happy with the slower HDD standard.
With a 15.6in Full HD display, low blue light technology and Wi-Fi 6, this could be a great everyday laptop for lots of people.
The Aspire 5 will start at just £429.99, with an ‘early Q2’ release expected.
Read more about the Acer Aspire 5.
Acer Aspire 7
If you’re looking for something a bit more high-end, the new Aspire 7 has also been given the Ryzen 5000 treatment.
Here, it combines with a dedicated Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card and up to 32GB of RAM, which should make it capable of more demanding tasks.
You get the same 15.6in Full HD display as the Aspire 5, with slim bezels giving it a respectable 81.61% screen-to-body ratio.
The Aspire 7 will start at £699 when it goes on sale at roughly the same time (‘early Q2’).
Read more about the Acer Aspire 7.
Asus ROG Flow X13
Fellow Taiwanese company Asus is often among the first out of the blocks following new chipset releases, and that’s no different here.
The Ryzen 5000 series will combine with a GPU from Nvidia’s RTX 3060 series, on the new ROG Flow X13, Asus’ first ultrathin 2-in-1 for gamers. At just 15.7mm thick and weighing 1.3kg, it’s much more compact than you’d usually expect from gaming hardware.
There’s also a near bezel-less 13.3in display, with a 16:10 aspect ration and choices between 1080p@120Hz or 4K@60Hz.
A new eGPU can be connected to the Flow X13 too, allowing you to output 4K at a consistent 60fps or use multiple displays simultaneously.
The angular design and RGB keyboard emphasises that this is still a gaming laptop, but the 360 degree hinge means it can be great for other use cases too.
Pricing and availability are yet to be revealed, but the premium specs suggest the ROG Flow X13 won’t come cheap.
Read more about the Asus ROG Flow X13.
Lenovo Legion 7
Lenovo’s Legion range has expanded to include desktop PCs, monitors and even smartphones, but it’s laptops where the brand is most recognisable.
Described as “the world’s first 16-inch QHD gaming laptop”, the Lenovo Legion 7 makes the move to AMD’s high-end Ryzen 9 5900H, claimed to offer some of the best performance we’ve ever seen from a laptop. It’s joined here by a next-gen Nvidia RTX graphics card for ultimate future-proofing, as well as killer Wi-Fi 6 for improved connectivity while gaming online.
The 16in, 2560×1600 is the biggest upgrade over last year’s 15in Full HD panel, offering a 165Hz refresh rate and up to 500 nits of brightness. The display also supports Dolby Vision, which should also make it a great device for content consumption.
Elsewhere, there’s also a new high-end Legion 5 Pro. It comes complete with AMD chips up to the Ryzen 5 5800H, Nvidia GeForce RTX graphics and up to 16GB of RAM. It has the same 16in, 165Hz QHD display as the Legion 7, as well as 8 hours of expected battery life.
Both devices are expected to be available from March, but UK pricing is yet to be revealed.
Lenovo Legion Slim 7
If you’re looking for something a bit more portable, the Legion Slim 7 could fit the bill. It trims the weight down to 1.9kg, reducing the overall footprint of the device while dropping the screen size down to just 15.6in.
There are two options with regards to display tech: a 4K (3840×2160) panel at 60Hz, or Full HD (1920×1080) at 165Hz. As you might expect, the Ryzen 5000 chip is the high-end Ryzen 7 5900H, while there’s also next-gen Nvidia GPUs on offer here.
The 71Whr battery supports Lenovo’s Rapid Charge Express fast charging, while the 720p webcam has a physical privacy shutter for extra peace of mind.
The Slim 7 is expected to be available from May 2021, but pricing is yet to be confirmed.
Acer Nitro 5
The Nitro 5 is one of Acer’s most popular gaming laptops, and the 2021 model has been upgraded to include a Ryzen 7 chipset from the 5000 series.
This combines with a GPU from Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 3060 series, while you can choose between a Full HD 360Hz display or Quad-HD screen at 165Hz. Both options are available on both the 15.6in and 17.3in models.
At 2.5kg, the Nitro 5 isn’t the lightest, although it puts that to good use – the device haspowerful audio setup, fully backlit RGB keyboard and other gamer-focused features.
Most importantly, there are two additional NVMe SSD slots and a 2.5in SATA SSD slot to expand storage in future, and it supports up to 32GB of RAM too. Upgradeable laptops are few and far between, so it’s great to see it here.
The 15in AMD models will start at £999, with the 17in version setting you back £1,049. Both are due to ship in February 2021, but pre-orders aren’t live yet.
Read more about the Acer Nitro 5.
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro
The Legion line isn’t the only Lenovo hardware to be upgraded to the Ryzen 5000 series – more expensive IdeaPad 5 Pro models will also be powered by the new chips.
Available in 14in and 16in models, Lenovo offers a choice between high-end Ryzen 5000 H Series chips and the equivalent Intel Tiger Lake processors.
As you might expect, we’re focusing on the former here, which combine with either AMD’s own Radeon Vega graphics or a discrete Nvidia GPU up to the MX450. At 14in you get up to 16GB of RAM, while at 16in you can double this to 32GB.
There’s also a slight difference between sizes in terms of display quality. The 14in model has either a 2880×1800 resolution at 90Hz or 2240×1400 60Hz screen. Both 16in options have a 2560×1600 panel, but one has a 120Hz refresh rate and the other 60Hz. All configurations have a 16:10 aspect ratio, in excess of 300 nits max brightness and full sRGB colour coverage.
There’s also a larger 75Wh battery on the 16in version (compared to 57Wh), while the full selection of ports on both includes USB-C for charging.
The IdeaPad 5 Pro is expected to release in May 2021, with prices starting at US$1,149 (approx. £843).
Lenovo ThinkBook 14p/16p
As with the IdeaPad, Lenovo’s new ThinkBook comes in 14in and 16in variants.
Both are powered by the Ryzen 5000 series, but the larger device will exclusively run high-end chips up to the Ryzen 9 5900H. The other big upgrade in the 16in model is the graphic – it will come with a discrete Nvidia GeForce RTX GPU instead of an integrated solution.
The 14in model is also the only one with an OLED display, and at 2.8k its resolution is slightly higher. You shouldn’t discount the 16in version though, which still comes with a vibrant 2560×1600 IPS panel and impressive 90% screen-to-body ratio. Both use the 16:10 aspect ratio and have a Full HD webcam with privacy shutter, as well as AI-based noise cancellation.
The Lenovo ThinkBook 14p will start at US$849 (approx. £623), while the 16p will set you back at least US$1,299 (approx. £953). Both are expected to be available sometime this quarter, so before the end of March.
HP EliteBook 805 G8
HP’s new EliteBook is one of a handful of business laptops that have been upgraded to the Pro line of Ryzen 5000 series.
Available in 13.3in, 14in and 15.6in models, it combines AMD’s latest silicon with the company’s integrated Radeon graphics. With up to 64GB of RAM and maximum of 2TB in SSD storage, performance shouldn’t be an issue.
The two smaller models have a range of Full HD displays to choose from, but the 15.6in device steps up to a 4K screen. All have
HP is seeking to strike a balance between power and portability here, with the devices all under 0.8in thick and between 1.2kg and 1.6kg in weight. The full lineup also has a generous port selection, including 2 USB-C, 2 USB-A, HDMI 2.0b and 3.5mm headphone jack.
Despite the announcement, it’s not clear when the EliteBook 805 G8 lineup will be released or how much it’ll cost.
HP ProBook 445/455 G8
That’s not all from HP, with the 445 and 455 G8 laptops also getting the new Ryzen 5000 Pro chips.
It’s not clear exactly which processors will be available, but both models will pair them with integrated AMD Radeon graphics and up to 32GB of upgradeable RAM.
In fact, the only differences between the two come in screen size and weight. The 1.37kg 445 G8 comes with a 14in Full HD (1920×1080) or HD (1366×768), while at 1.74kg the 455 G8 has a 15.6in screen with the same choice of resolutions. Both max out at a 1TB SSD, sporting a wide range of ports and 45Whr battery.
A new x360 model of the ProBook 435 G8, with convertible functionality, has also been upgraded to Ryzen 5000 series chips.
All three new devices are expected to be available from February, but it’s not clear how much they’ll cost.
HP ProBook 635 Aero G8
If you’re looking for something a little more high end, the 635 Aero could be a great option.
It also sports Ryzen 5000 Pro chips, but the Radeon integrated graphics combines here with up to 32GB of RAM. There’s still a 1TB maximum SSD, though.
However, the big appeal of the 635 Aero is its extremely portable design. At just 0.99kg, it’s one of the lightest laptops you can buy, while remaining just 0.7in thick.
It still has all the premium HP features you’d expect, with a Full HD (1920×1080) display, Wi-Fi 6 and fingerprint reader. HP has also managed to fit the same 45Whr battery into a more slimline body.
The ProBook 635 Aero G8 will start at £849, with the device expected to be available from April.
XMG Neo
XMG is a brand you might not have heard of, but the company has been making waves recently with its gaming hardware.
That includes the XMG Neo, with both the 15in and 17in models making the switch to the Ryzen 9 5900H chipset. Yet again, they’re working in tandem with Nvidia’s latest GPUs – this time it’s the high-end RTX 3080. If you’d prefer, there are also Intel 11th-gen versions with the same graphics card.
The display tech the same across both chipsets, though. The 15.6in and 17.3in models both have a 2560×1440 IPS display with with a 165Hz refresh rate, and are expected to be available from the end of March.
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14
The new Asus devices don’t stop there, with the 2021 refresh of the company’s Zephyrus G14 moving to Ryzen 5000 series CPUs.
It’s another that will also make the move to Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics, which enables an impressive 14in 1440p display to run at 144Hz . Alongside a customisable external LED, Asus also says you’ll get up to 10 hours of battery life on a single charge. Audio has also been made a priority, with the quad-speaker setup offering Dolby Atmos support.
You also get 16GB of DDR4 RAM and a 1TB SSD, as well as Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 support.
Pricing and release date information is yet to be revealed for the G14 and larger G15.
Asus ROG Strix Scar
The Zephyrus range is another of Asus’ gaming hardware getting an upgrade to the Ryzen 5000 series. The new ROG Strix Scar G15 and G17 comes with a choice of Ryzen 9, Ryzen 7 5800H, Ryzen 5 5600H or older AMD Ryzen 7 4800H chips, as well as 32GB of RAM depending on the model you choose. It’s also one of the first new devices to come with Nvidia’s new RTX 30 series of GPUs.
The combination means Asus could increase the refresh rate and you’re spolit for choice here – 300Hz at Full HD or 165Hz at a more detailed WQHD. On both models, Asus says the response time will be just 3ms, while Nvidia’s Reflex technology should negate any noticeable lag when playing fast-paced games.
UK pricing is yet to be confirmed, but Asus has teased that the ROG Strix G15 and G17 will both go on sale in the first quarter of 2021.
Slimbook Titan
Last, but very much not least, we have the Slimbook Titan. This gaming laptop stands due to the fact it runs Linux out of the box, but it can be configured to switch to Windows instead.
Here, the Ryzen 7 5800H chip combines with Nvidia’s high-end GeForce RTX 3070 GPU and up to 32GB of RAM. There’s also a 15.6in QHD (2560×1440) display with a 165Hz refresh rate and a 500GB SSD.
You also get the RGB keyboard typical of gaming hardware, alongside an impressive selection of ports (3x USB-A, 1x USB-C, HDMI and ethernet) and bumper 93.4Whr battery.
It’s currently available to pre-order from Slimbook’s Spanish site, where it starts at €1,599. That translates to around £1,424/US$1,939, with the device expected to begin shipping in May.
As mentioned above, there are plenty more devices we’re expecting to be upgraded to Ryzen 5000 chipsets. At the end of its official announcement, AMD displayed the logos of six manufacturers, which suggests they will all release Ryzen 5000-powered laptops in the near future. Acer, Asus, Lenovo and HP are already well represented here, but we could see new hardware from the likes of Dell and MSI in the near future.
More interested in GPUs? Here’s every confirmed Nvidia RTX 3060 laptop right now.
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Author: Anyron Copeman, Senior Staff Writer
As the resident expert on Windows, Senior Staff Writer Anyron’s main focus is PCs and laptops. Much of the rest of his time is split between smartphones, tablets and audio, with a particular focus on Android devices.