Updated July 2026 — refreshed with current-gen picks across every budget
You shouldn’t have to think twice about plugging your laptop into a monitor, TV, or projector — but on more and more new laptops, that simple task suddenly needs a dongle you didn’t ask for. HDMI ports are quietly disappearing as manufacturers chase thinner designs, which means it’s no longer safe to assume — it’s something you have to specifically check for. This list is for exactly that: laptops that kept the port, across every budget.
Editor’s Pick
Last update on 2026-07-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Vivobook 16 is the clearest all-around pick here — a current Copilot+ chip, a spacious 16:10 display with real vertical room for documents, fast charging, and a full-size HDMI port alongside modern connectivity. It won’t win awards for its screen, but it’s a genuinely solid everyday machine at a fair price.
- AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 (Copilot+)
- 16″ WUXGA, 16:10, 60Hz
- 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD
- HDMI 1.4, fast charging
What’s Inside
- 1 – HDMI Laptop Buyer's Guide
- 2 – HDMI Laptop Comparison Table
- 3 – Best Laptops with HDMI Ports — Reviews
- 3.1 – 1. ASUS Vivobook 16 (2026) (Best Overall)
- 3.2 – 2. ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 (Best Budget)
- 3.3 – 3. Acer Nitro V 16 (Best Budget Gaming)
- 3.4 – 4. Razer Blade 14 (RTX 5070) (Best Premium Gaming)
- 3.5 – 5. Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 (Snapdragon X Elite) (Best for Business)
- 3.6 – 6. LG gram Pro 17 (2026) (Best Lightweight Large-Screen)
- 3.7 – 7. Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (Best for Creators)
- 3.8 – 8. Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 (7445) (Best Budget Convertible)
- 4 – Recommended Accessories
- 5 – Which HDMI Laptop Should You Buy?
- 6 – HDMI Laptop FAQ
- 7 – Final Thoughts on HDMI Laptops
HDMI Laptop Buyer’s Guide
Why HDMI Still Matters in 2026
HDMI carries video and audio over one cable, works with virtually every TV, monitor, and projector made in the last two decades, and doesn’t need a driver or adapter to function. If a laptop has only Thunderbolt or USB-C ports, connecting to an HDMI-only display means carrying an adapter — and adapters occasionally run into compatibility quirks with specific monitor or GPU combinations that a native port simply doesn’t have. If you’re specifically building a multi-monitor setup, a native HDMI port is one less variable to troubleshoot.
HDMI Port vs. HDMI Input — Know the Difference
Almost every laptop HDMI port is output only — it sends video out to a display, but can’t receive a video signal in. Genuine HDMI input on a laptop (letting you use it as a monitor for a game console, for instance) is rare and mostly limited to a handful of older, discontinued models. If you want to use a laptop screen as an external monitor, you’ll need a dedicated USB video capture device instead — the laptop’s own HDMI port won’t do it.
Why New Laptops Are Dropping HDMI Ports
USB-C with Thunderbolt support can carry video output, data transfer, and power delivery over a single reversible connector — which is why manufacturers building the thinnest possible chassis increasingly skip HDMI to save internal space. It’s a legitimate engineering tradeoff, but it does mean thin-and-light shoppers specifically need to check for HDMI rather than assume it’s there.
HDMI Version Numbers, Briefly Explained
Most current laptops ship with HDMI 1.4 or 2.0, both capped at 4K60 or lower. HDMI 2.1 raises that ceiling to 4K at up to 120Hz and adds variable refresh rate support, genuinely useful for gaming on an external display. The newest standard, HDMI 2.2, supports up to 12K at 120Hz and 16K at 60Hz per the HDMI Forum’s own spec — though no consumer laptop ships with it yet, so don’t expect to see it on a spec sheet this year.
The Adapter Alternative — When You Don’t Have HDMI
If your laptop only has USB-C or Thunderbolt, a USB-C-to-HDMI adapter is a reasonable substitute — but only works if that specific port supports DisplayPort Alt Mode or Thunderbolt; charging-only USB-C ports can’t output video at all. Budget an adapter as a genuine backup plan, not an afterthought, if HDMI isn’t built in.
HDMI Laptop Comparison Table
Last update on 2026-07-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Best Laptops with HDMI Ports — Reviews
1. ASUS Vivobook 16 (2026) (Best Overall)
Best Overall
Last update on 2026-07-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- ProcessorAMD Ryzen AI 7 350 (Copilot+)
- GPUAMD Radeon 860M (integrated)
- RAM16GB DDR5
- Storage512GB SSD
- Display16″ WUXGA, 16:10, 60Hz
- PortsHDMI 1.4, USB-C, USB-A, Wi-Fi 6
The Vivobook 16’s 16:10 aspect ratio gives you noticeably more vertical space than a typical 16:9 laptop — a small thing that adds up fast when you’re scrolling through documents or spreadsheets all day. The Ryzen AI 7 350 is a genuine Copilot+ certified chip with a dedicated NPU, and independent testing puts this line at a solid ~82% average score across reviewers, with fast charging (60% in about 49 minutes) as a standout feature.
Connectivity is generous for the price: a full HDMI port alongside USB-C and USB-A, plus Dirac-tuned audio that punches above its weight for everyday media.
The honest caveat, echoed across multiple reviews of this line: the display is the weak point. It’s serviceable for everyday work but won’t impress anyone comparing it to the OLED options further down this list — budget for that tradeoff going in.
Pros
- Genuine Copilot+ chip with dedicated NPU
- 16:10 display gives real extra vertical space
- Fast charging and generous port selection
Cons
- Display quality is the recurring weak point across reviews
- HDMI is version 1.4, capped at 4K60
2. ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 (Best Budget)
Best Budget
Last update on 2026-07-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- ProcessorIntel Core i5-1335U
- GPUIntel Iris Xe (integrated)
- RAM8GB
- Storage128GB UFS
- Display14″ FHD touch, 60Hz
- Battery50Wh, ~10 hours
This is a genuinely well-reviewed budget pick, not just a cheap one — PCWorld scored the current model 90%, and Notebookcheck’s aggregate across 22+ professional reviews averages 80.4%. It won the iF Design Award 2024, and reviewers consistently praise its port selection — two USB-C, two USB-A, HDMI, and a headphone jack — alongside a comfortable keyboard and responsive touchpad.
For web browsing, Google Workspace, and streaming, ChromeOS on this hardware feels snappy rather than like a compromise, and the 50Wh battery genuinely lasts through a full day of use.
The honest caveats: this is HDMI 1.4, not a higher-bandwidth version, so it’s capped well below 4K120. Reviewers also consistently note the plastic build feels a step below the price would suggest, and there’s no backlit keyboard — a real omission at this price point for anyone typing in dim rooms.
Pros
- Strong, consistent scores across multiple professional reviews
- Generous port selection including full HDMI
- All-day battery life
Cons
- Plastic build feels cheaper than the price suggests
- No backlit keyboard
3. Acer Nitro V 16 (Best Budget Gaming)
Best Budget Gaming
Last update on 2026-07-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- ProcessorAMD Ryzen AI (varies by config)
- GPUNVIDIA GeForce (RTX 4050/5060 by config)
- RAM16GB
- Battery76Wh
- ConnectivityWi-Fi 6E, BT 5.3
- PortsHDMI, USB-C, USB-A, Ethernet
LaptopMedia’s review specifically called out this line as a candidate for budget gaming laptop of the year, and the reasoning holds up: over 10 hours of real battery life is genuinely rare for a gaming laptop, and the GPU consistently outperforms similarly-priced competitors in independent benchmarks.
PC Gamer’s testing found it beating comparable rivals by 5–10% across most titles at the same resolution, and cooling held up well without significant thermal throttling in extended sessions.
The honest tradeoff most reviewers flag: the display is the corner cut to hit this price — solid refresh rate, but color accuracy and brightness aren’t going to compete with the premium picks on this list.
Pros
- Genuinely rare 10+ hour battery life for a gaming laptop
- Strong GPU performance for the price, confirmed by independent benchmarks
- Good thermal management under sustained load
Cons
- Display quality is the recurring weak point across reviews
- Chunky, heavier build typical of budget gaming laptops
4. Razer Blade 14 (RTX 5070) (Best Premium Gaming)
Best Premium Gaming
Last update on 2026-07-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- ProcessorRyzen AI 9 365
- GPUNVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 (8GB)
- RAM32GB LPDDR5X
- Display14″ OLED, 1800p, 120Hz
- PortsHDMI 2.1, Thunderbolt 4
- Charging200W, fast-charge capable
TechRadar named this their pick for the best thin-and-light gaming laptop, and the reasoning is straightforward: a genuinely excellent OLED display, an aluminum chassis that stays slim despite the RTX 5070 inside, and gaming performance that doesn’t feel compromised by the compact size.
TrustedReviews confirmed the RTX 5070 is running at its full official power draw rather than a throttled mobile variant, which is a genuine reason this outperforms similarly-specced thin-and-light competitors.
The honest tradeoffs: this is genuinely expensive for a 14-inch laptop, the keyboard is merely “OK” per multiple reviewers rather than a highlight, it’s not upgradable after purchase, and it runs hot under sustained load — expected for the performance class, but worth knowing before buying.
Pros
- TechRadar’s pick for best thin-and-light gaming laptop
- Full-power RTX 5070, not a throttled variant
- Genuinely excellent OLED display
Cons
- Expensive for the form factor
- Runs hot under sustained load; not upgradable
5. Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 (Snapdragon X Elite) (Best for Business)
Best for Business
Last update on 2026-07-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- ProcessorSnapdragon X Elite
- RAMUp to 64GB (soldered)
- BuildCarbon fiber + aluminum, MIL-STD-810H
- AudioDolby Audio
- ConnectivityWi-Fi 7, BT 5.3
- PortsHDMI, USB-C, USB-A
The T14s Gen 6 brings ThinkPad’s usual business-grade durability testing to a Snapdragon X Elite chassis — carbon fiber and aluminum construction, MIL-STD-810H certification, and Dolby Audio that’s a genuine step up from typical business laptop speakers.
The Snapdragon X Elite delivers strong battery life and Copilot+ AI performance, and Wi-Fi 7 keeps this current for modern office networking.
Worth knowing before you buy: RAM is soldered, not upgradable after purchase, and this model doesn’t include a wired Ethernet port — worth checking if your office still relies on hardwired networking. Both are common tradeoffs on ultra-thin business laptops, but real ones.
Pros
- MIL-STD-810H durability testing and premium build materials
- Strong Snapdragon X Elite battery life and AI performance
- Genuine Dolby Audio speakers
Cons
- Soldered RAM — not upgradable later
- No wired Ethernet port
6. LG gram Pro 17 (2026) (Best Lightweight Large-Screen)
Best Lightweight Large-Screen
Last update on 2026-07-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- Display17″ WQXGA
- GPUIntegrated graphics
- Chassis“Aerominum” alloy, MIL-STD-810H
- Battery77Wh
- ConnectivityWi-Fi 7
- PortsHDMI, USB-C, USB-A
LG’s 2026 lineup introduced “Aerominum,” a proprietary magnesium-aluminum alloy that lets this 17-inch laptop stay genuinely light — LG markets it as the world’s lightest 17-inch laptop with RTX-capable configurations available, though the specific configuration in this listing runs integrated graphics rather than a discrete GPU.
That distinction matters: this is the pick for someone who wants a large, high-resolution 17-inch canvas without the weight penalty — document work, browsers, video playback, and everyday multitasking — not a laptop chosen for gaming or GPU-accelerated creative work. The 77Wh battery and MIL-STD-810H durability testing carry over LG gram’s usual strengths.
If you specifically want GPU power in this chassis, LG does sell a Gram Pro 17 configuration with an RTX 5050 — just confirm which config you’re buying, since the naming across listings can be inconsistent.
Pros
- Genuinely lightweight for a 17-inch laptop
- Large, sharp WQXGA display
- MIL-STD-810H durability despite the light build
Cons
- This configuration runs integrated graphics, not the RTX variant
- Not built for gaming or GPU-heavy creative work
7. Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (Best for Creators)
Best for Creators
Last update on 2026-07-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- ProcessorApple M5 Pro / M5 Max
- DisplayLiquid Retina XDR
- PortsHDMI, Thunderbolt 5, SDXC
- CameraCenter Stage
- BatteryAll-day, Apple silicon efficiency
Most premium ultrabooks in this price range dropped HDMI entirely in favor of Thunderbolt-only connectivity. Apple kept a full HDMI port on the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro since its 2021 redesign, alongside an SDXC card slot — both genuinely useful for creators who plug directly into displays or offload camera footage without adapters.
The M5 Pro/Max chips deliver serious sustained performance for video editing, 3D work, and other GPU-heavy creative tasks, and the Liquid Retina XDR display remains one of the best built into any laptop.
The honest tradeoff is the one everyone already expects: this is a premium-priced machine, and macOS itself is a real consideration if your workflow depends on Windows-only software. Check Apple’s own tech specs for the exact external display resolution and refresh rate your specific configuration supports before assuming it matches your setup.
Pros
- Kept HDMI when most premium competitors dropped it
- Exceptional sustained performance for creative workloads
- SDXC card slot built in, no adapter needed
Cons
- Premium pricing
- macOS is a real consideration for Windows-dependent workflows
8. Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 (7445) (Best Budget Convertible)
Best Budget Convertible
Last update on 2026-07-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- ProcessorAMD Ryzen 7 8840HS
- RAM16GB DDR5
- Display14″ WUXGA touch, 360°
- BuildAll-metal chassis
- PortsHDMI, USB-C, USB-A
Worth flagging as its own category here: many convertibles drop HDMI entirely in favor of USB-C-only video output, so a 360-degree 2-in-1 that keeps a full HDMI port is a genuinely useful combination if you want both flexibility and no-adapter external display connections.
The all-metal chassis has no flex or twist in the lid, keyboard deck, or hinge — a real strength at this price — and independent lab testing measured battery life within 13 minutes of Dell’s rated figure, an honest number that held up.
The same review flagged display quality and battery life as merely average rather than standout — worth knowing since the pricier picks on this list do better on both fronts, but reasonable at this price if the convertible flexibility and HDMI port matter most to you.
Pros
- Sturdy all-metal build with no chassis flex
- Rare combination of 360° convertible flexibility and full HDMI
- Battery life tested close to Dell’s rated figure
Cons
- Display and battery life are average, not standout, per independent review
Recommended Accessories
Two accessories round out an HDMI-equipped laptop: a properly certified HDMI cable that won’t bottleneck your display’s actual refresh rate, and a USB-C-to-HDMI adapter as backup for any secondary device that doesn’t have HDMI built in.
Last update on 2026-07-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Which HDMI Laptop Should You Buy?
| Best For | Pick |
|---|---|
| Overall | ASUS Vivobook 16 (2026) |
| Budget | ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 |
| Budget gaming | Acer Nitro V 16 |
| Premium gaming | Razer Blade 14 (RTX 5070) |
| Business | Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 |
| Lightweight, large screen | LG gram Pro 17 (2026) |
| Creators | Apple MacBook Pro 14″ |
| Budget convertible | Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 |
HDMI Laptop FAQ
Do laptops still have HDMI ports?
Many still do, but it’s no longer universal — especially on ultra-thin ultrabooks, where manufacturers increasingly favor USB-C and Thunderbolt to save internal space. Check the spec sheet rather than assume it’s included.
How can I use my laptop as a TV?
Laptops generally can’t receive an HDMI signal as input — their HDMI ports are almost always output-only. To use a laptop screen as a display for another device, you’d need a dedicated USB video capture device, which is affordable and widely available.
Why do new laptops not have HDMI ports?
USB-C with Thunderbolt support handles display output, data transfer, and power delivery over one reversible connector, taking up less internal space than a dedicated HDMI port — which is why the thinnest laptops increasingly drop it in favor of USB-C alone.
How can I add an HDMI port to my laptop?
If your laptop has a USB-C port with DisplayPort Alt Mode or Thunderbolt support, a USB-C-to-HDMI adapter will add that functionality. Confirm your specific port supports video output first — some USB-C ports are charging-only and can’t carry a display signal at all.
How do I know if my laptop has HDMI output vs. input?
Check the manufacturer’s spec sheet — it’s rare for laptops to have anything but output-only HDMI. If “HDMI in” or “HDMI input” isn’t explicitly listed, assume it’s output-only, which is true for the vast majority of laptops sold today.
What’s better, HDMI or DisplayPort?
HDMI is more universally available across TVs, monitors, and projectors, while DisplayPort has historically offered higher bandwidth in PC-specific setups. The newest HDMI 2.2 standard closes much of that gap, supporting up to 12K at 120Hz and 16K at 60Hz per the HDMI Forum — though no laptop ships with it yet.
How do I connect my laptop to my Smart TV without an HDMI port?
Wireless casting via Miracast, Chromecast, or AirPlay (depending on your laptop and TV) is the easiest adapter-free option. Alternatively, USB-C, Thunderbolt, or DisplayPort can output to an HDMI display with the right adapter.
Can I convert a USB port to HDMI?
Only if it’s a USB-C port with DisplayPort Alt Mode or Thunderbolt support — those carry a native video signal to an HDMI adapter. A plain USB-A port can’t output video directly; USB-A-to-HDMI adapters exist, but they use a video compression chip rather than a native signal, adding latency and reduced quality compared to a real HDMI connection.
Do all USB-C ports support HDMI output?
No. It depends entirely on whether that specific port supports DisplayPort Alt Mode or Thunderbolt — many USB-C ports, especially on budget laptops, are charging- and data-only. Check your laptop’s specifications before assuming any USB-C port will drive an external display.
Final Thoughts on HDMI Laptops
A few years back, HDMI was standard on nearly every laptop; now it’s worth specifically checking for, especially if you’re shopping in the ultra-thin category. The laptops above cover every real use case — budget, gaming, business, creative work, and lightweight portability — while keeping the one feature that makes plugging into a projector, monitor, or TV genuinely hassle-free: no adapter required.
These are the picks we’d genuinely recommend right now. If you have questions about a specific use case, drop a comment below.
