Best matte screen laptops from the Which? test lab
Laptops with matte screens are ideal for those who don’t like the reflections you can experience on a glossy version. We’d like to see more affordable options available, but in the meantime we round-up the latest matte laptops on test.
Why do we want more matte screens?
Well, that’s easy – because we know you do. We heard many views in favour of matte screens over on Which? Conversation, including a poll of 1,667 voters that put 90% in favour of matte over glossy screens. And, a further survey of 1,345 Which? members showed that the majority of people though manufacturers should be offering the option of both matte and glossy so that customers can choose.
We’d already noticed ourselves the lack of matte screen options on the market from our testing – while there are some available, numbers are limited and they tend to only be options on premium priced or business models. Where are the affordable matte screened laptop aimed at consumers?
We’re asking this very question of all the laptops manufacturers - find out more about our matte screen campaign and see responses from Dell, Samsung at Sony on Which? Conversation.
Though there are currently limited options available, we’ve pulled together the latest models with a matte screen our experts have been putting through their paces in the Which? test lab. For full test results on each model – including an in-depth look at performance, design, sound and screen quality and ease of use – click through to the full review using the link under each model.
Toshiba Satellite Z830
A matte screen 'ultrabook' from Toshiba
Price: £800
Screen size: 13.3 inches
Best matte screen laptop if… you want a super light, super slim model
Toshiba’s Z830 laptop is actually an ‘ultrabook’, a term coined by Intel for super thin and light models that fit certain specifications. We know that many of you find reflections an issue when you’re out and about, so the fact this portable model has a matte screen is a bonus.
The 13.3-inch display has what Toshiba refers to as its ‘HD non-reflective High Brightness’ finish – better known as matte - with a 1366 x 768 resolution.
In the full review… click the review link below to see how our experts rated the screen in bright and mid light conditions as well as how it performed overall
Full Toshiba Satellite Z830 review
Samsung Series 3
A rare budget matte screen laptop
Price: £399
Screen size: 15.6 inches
Best matte screen laptop if… you’re on a budget
Samsung is the exception to the rule in terms of matte screens – from April 2012 all models in its consumer laptop range will have moved to matte screens. This means we’ve got a couple of its models included in this round-up and even one at a fairly affordable price.
Our expert testers highlighted the screen as one of the biggest strengths of this laptop. It’s diffuse nature means it’s easy to see in most environments. The 15.6-inch display has a 1366 x 768 resolution.
In the full review… click the review link below to see how our experts rated this laptop for performance and battery life
Samsung Series 9
Not cheap but this flagship laptop has a 'anti-glare' screen
Price: £980
Screen size: 13.3 inches
Best matte screen laptop if… you want performance and portability
Another Samsung laptop but the flagship Series 9 is at a rather more premium price point. The screen resolution is the same mind, at 1366 x 768, but the size is slightly smaller.
Samsung refers to its matte screens as ‘anti-glare’ and says that this model has a ‘SuperBright’ display with 400nit brightness. Our experts found the matte surfaced screen was crisp and clear with bright and punchy pictures.
In the full review… click the review link below to see how our experts rated this laptop for performance, portability and ease of use
Dell Vostro 3550
A Dell business laptop with a matte screen
Price: £470
Screen size: 15.6 inches
Best matte screen laptop if… you don’t want any frills
As matte laptops are few and far between, though we focus generally on consumer models, we tested this business model from Dell to see how it fared.
The design is functional as you’d expect from a business model and it doesn’t have any multimedia frills but it does have that all important matte screen.
We actually compared the screen quality on this Dell directly with a glossy Dell model (the Dell Inspiron N5110) and found that there was little between them in our technical tests, besides the fact the Vostro is far less reflective. The screen resolution matches the other models at 1366 x 768.
In the full review… click the review link below to see how our experts rated this laptop for performance, screen and sound quality
More like this…
- Best Buy laptops – which models impressed us enough to make it to the top
- Which? laptop reviews – find out what we want and who we’re talking to
- How we test laptops – find out how our experts put each and every model through its paces
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JW
Why do manufacturers have to use terms like “anti-glare” to refer to a matte screen. This causes confusion with those manufacturers who have glossy screens but still refer to them as anti-glare.
Harry
Yes, the terminology is confusing but that is exactly what you have to expect from adpeople, who are happier to use any confusing term rather than tell the truth.
Glare and reflection are two completely different things. I’m not sure that matt is the right word either. One dictionary defines matt as “dull and lifeless” but there’s no reason why a non-reflective screen should be any duller (at least, not when it is displaying something) than a reflective screen.
I’d vote we standardise on “non-reflective” — a term which is clear, unambiguous *and* sounds much more positive and beneficial than matt.
Clyde
Why does Which? ignore the MacBook Pro in this survey? Mine has a great hi-res screen with anti-glare finish, it was an cost option but well worth it.
Catherine West
Hi Clyde, this is meant to be a round up of some of the latest models we’ve tested with matte screens rather than a comprehensive list. I have tried to select some more affordable options though, as one of the concerns we have is that most matte screen options are only available as a premium option as you mention here. Glad to hear you are happy with your choice though!
mf
Sony vaio f series also has the option of a matte screen
Peter Hawkes
In your list of best matte laptops, you have omitted the Samsung Series 7 NP700Z5a-A01DX, which received a Best Buy in your April review – surely this should be at the top of your list.
GG
The Sony SE series are only matte screens, 15.6″ and reasonably priced (depending on what customisation you have chosen). The only slight snag I have seen mentioned is that their reds have an orange tinge to them. Otherwise, they are very bright, clear and have excellent viewing angles, which the Samsung 7 series unfortunately lacks.
David Martin
Is there any reason why no Lenovo laptops are included in your review? Plenty of matt screens there.
calvin
You call these the best ? Ignoring the low resolutions on offer would be a better start for a ‘best of class’ review
derek
dell xps used to have matte screen, now glare ones.
Josh
Are Which? aware that Samsung now appear to be equipping all their new Series 3 laptops with poorer quality screens (strikingly noticiable when compared to a 300e5a manufactured Dec 2012)? These new screens are unusually dim at maximum brightness, have a poor image integrity (showing pixels and vertical lines), and seem to be tinted slightly blue.
If not, this should certainly be looked into. It seems, from the little research I have done, that Samsung have adopted a new supplier of poorer quality screens and are rolling these out across their models, while adverstising the products as exactly the same. Neither Samsung’s technical support team, nor the engineers at their London service centre seem aware of this either. This makes it impossible for the consumer to make an informed choice, and I have now had to send three Series 3 laptops back to store.
Please investigate this issue.