At its CES keynote today, Intel demonstrated ODM systems from Pegatron and Wistron, and Dell even joined Intel on stage to show off an Ice Lake-powered XPS laptop that will be available later this year. Dell didn’t show the device powered on, but it appeared to be a 2-in-1 device that looked similar to the XPS 13.

Disruption is an overused term in tech circles, but we've seen true disruption in the processor market over the last two years as AMD reemerged as a potent foe to Intel. Intel, resigned to providing incremental updates with each new generation of processors, was suddenly faced with an agile competitor that brought processors with higher core counts and lower prices to market at a frightening pace. These advances came while Intel tripped over its shoelaces during its perennially-delayed transition to smaller 10nm processors, which opened a big window of opportunity for AMD.

AMD's Lisa Su recently announced its Zen 2 microarchitecture paired with the 7nm process in the EPYC server chips. Those chips will start shipping in early 2019, giving the company the first process lead over Intel in its history. That means the company designed its Zen 2 architecture around its 7nm process, so we can fully expect the Ryzen 3000 series to land with the smallest process on the market at some point next year, likely in the Q2 timeframe.

There is plenty of speculation about the new Ryzen 3000 series chips, but few concrete details. We've covered those topics here. The benefits of the smaller process node could bring chips with higher core counts, or at the very least, processors that suck less power and generate less heat. Oh, and lower prices per core, which is always the most welcome feature.

How could Intel respond? Intel recently introduced its 48-core 96-thread Xeon Cascade Lake-AP (Advanced Performance) processors that support 12 channels of DDR4 memory. We're not sure of the pricing of these high-end chips, but we're sure they'll never come to the high end desktop, despite rampant speculation.

Intel also released its new 28-core 56-thread Xeon W-3275X processors for professional users, but the ~$4,000 price tag will dissuade enthusiasts. That's the type of pricing model Intel is stuck with for its 14nm processors, so we don't expect more exotic designs like the Cascade Lake-AP to come to the enthusiast space. 

Intel does have a solid plan to right the ship in the wake of its delayed 10nm process, but the types of adjustments the company outlined at its recent Architecture Day will take quite a while to make it to market.

Intel's 10nm processors would arrive at the end of 2019, but whether they will come in any significant volume remains an open question. Intel announced earlier this year that systems will be on shelves for the holidays in 2019, implying that the company will bring mainstream 10nm processors to market first. Those Ice Lake processors will likely come with the Sunny Cove core architecture, which we've outlined here. A few scattered benchmarks have popped up in online databases, revealing that the processors will come with a new cache hierarchy that features larger 48KB L1 and 256K L2 caches. We've also seen recent documents that claim these chips will come as MCMs (Multi-Chip Modules), implying that Intel might be using multiple chips together in a single processor package. These listings could also indicate a new Kaby Lake-G generation that comes with a separate graphics unit.

Intel also purportedly has 10nm Tiger Lake chips further out on the roadmap, but those likely won't debut until early 2020.

Intel has an overwhelming share of both the desktop PC and server markets, but with market shares of 83% and ~95%, respectively, it's a virtual impossibility that the company won't lose more market share over the coming year. Intel is plagued with a nagging manufacturing capacity shortage due to record demand while AMD has plenty of capacity with its 12nm and 14nm processors being fabbed at Global Foundries. AMD also has a fresh production line being spun up at TSMC, so it isn't likely to face the same shortages.

Whip in AMD's lead to the 7nm era and Intel faces a tremendous challenge. AMD could possibly bring cheaper and denser chips to market well ahead of Intel, giving it a tangible advantage that spans all facets of the desktop and notebook markets to the data center.

Intel has announced 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K -- touted as the world’s best gaming processor -- apart from a series of new desktop chips for gaming as well as content creation.

The $488 i9-9900K chip brings an exceptional level of performance to the desktop product line, the company said in a statement late on Monday.

All three of the 9th Gen Intel Core processors (i5-9600K, i7-9700K and i9-9900K) enable fast, immersive experience for gamers, with up to 8 cores and 16 threads, up to 5.0 GHz single-core turbo frequency, and 16 MB Intel “Smart Cache”.

“Our goal is to deliver leadership performance across all computing segments and product lines,” said Anand Srivatsa, Vice President and General Manager, Desktop, Systems and Channel at Intel.

New processors include the first 9th Gen Intel Core processors, new Intel Core X-series processors and the Intel Xeon W-3175X processor.

To realise the full potential of the new 9th Gen Intel Core processor, Intel is introducing the new Intel Z390 chipset.

Pre-orders for the 9th Gen Intel Core processors and Intel Z390 chipset motherboards began from Monday.

“Whether a gamer, a creator or an expert using the most advanced workstation applications possible, Intel and our partners are focused on delivering balanced platforms with real-world leadership performance and robust capabilities that exceed their needs,” Srivatsa added.

With Intel ‘Turbo Boost; Technology 2.0 delivering up to 5.0 GHz single-core frequency, gamers can enjoy their favourite games with up to 10 per cent more FPS across popular gaming titles compared with the previous generation.

“Overall system performance has been improved up to 15 per cent better as compared with previous generation and up to 40 per cent as compared with a three-year-old PC,” said the company.

The Intel Z390 chipset includes high-speed integrated USB 3.1 Gen 2 and integrated Intel Wireless-AC with support for Gigabit Wi-Fi speed.

The 9th Gen Intel Core processors are also compatible with all Intel 300 Series chipset motherboards for more consumer options.

The Tab S4 sports a 10.5-inch Super AMOLED display with a 2560×1600 pixel resolution, 287 ppi and an aspect ratio of 16:10. The bezels around the display are slimmer compared to the Tab S3, allowing for a bigger, more immersive viewing experience. This also means there is no home button or fingerprint sensor on the tablet. It offers facial recognition as a biometric login.

Samsung's flagship tablet is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset coupled with 4GB of RAM. The tablet will be offered with 64GB of internal storage while the 256GB variant has not been launched in the country. The Tab S4 supports storage expandability up to 400GB via microSD card. Samsung is touting superior multitasking experience on the Tab S4 compared to its predecessor. The Galaxy Tab S4 will ship with Android Oreo out-of-the-box.

Apart from an immersive display, the Galaxy Tab S4 also offers four speakers (two on the top and two on the bottom) that are tuned by AKG and support Dolby Atmos sound. Notably, the Galaxy Tab S4 is also the first Samsung tablet to support Samsung DeX. All you need is an HDMI adapter (sold separately) to connect the tablet to your workstation. You can also launch DeX from the the on-screen quick panel to get a PC-like experience with a task bar and multi-window capability.

For a complete PC-like experience, you can also purchase a keyboard and mouse for the Galaxy Tab S4 as well. Once the tablet is connected to an external monitor, you can use the tablet as a track pad or sketch pad. You can also continue using the Tab S4 as an Android tablet, giving you two screens to work on.

The S Pen ships with the Galaxy Tab S4 and promises to offer more productivity uses than before. It comes with features like Screen -Off Memo which lets you take notes without having to turn on the display, similar to the Galaxy Note 9. You can also use the stylus to navigate, translate and organize notes through Samsung Notes, and send personalised texts through Samsung Live Message.

The Galaxy Tab S4 brings a 13-megapixel AF sensor on the back with f/1.9 aperture and 1.12 micron pixels. On the front, the tablet gets an 8-megapixel sensor with f/1.9 aperture as well. The tablet houses a 7,300mAh battery with fast charging support over USB Type-C port. It measures 249.3x164.3x7.1 mm and weighs around 482 grams.

We are happy to announce the launch of Galaxy Tab S4, Samsung’s flagship tablet that is designed for people who want to do more on the go - from home to office and everywhere in between. With Galaxy Tab S4, we are introducing a premium tablet that makes lives easier and helps consumers perform their absolute best wherever they go. Paired with Samsung Dex and S Pen, Galaxy Tab S4 is designed for those who need something portable like a tablet yet capable like a PC. With the launch of new Galaxy Tab S4, we want to offer our consumers the ultimate combination of great productivity and immersive entertainment for their super tasking needs, said Aditya Babbar, General Manager, Mobile Business, Samsung India.

The demand for tablets might have dipped over the years, but sometimes, a smartphone just isn't enough. There are several tablets in the market- both budget and expensive- so you can easily get best 4G tablets under Rs 15,000.

In this list, we have picked some of the most affordable and easily usable tabletsout there. They are fit for a number of tasks, so you can find one that fits your requirement.

Weight: 320g | Dimensions: 208.40 x 137.90 x 7.50mm | OS: Android 5.0 Lollipop | Screen size: 8.0-inch | Resolution: 1024x768 pixels | CPU: 1.4GHz Quad-Core | RAM: 2GB | Storage: 16GB/128GB | Battery: 5,000mAh | Rear camera: 5MP | Front camera: 2MP

Honor Mediapad T3 10

Weight: 460g | Dimensions: 229.8 x 159.8 x 8mm | OS: Android 7.0 Nougat | Screen size: 9.6-inch | Resolution: 800 x 1280 pixels | CPU: Snapdragon 425 | RAM: 2/3GB | Storage: 16GB/32GB | Battery: 4,800mAh | Rear camera: 5MP | Front camera: 2MP

This laptop is perfectly suited for anyone who needs portability and equally good performance. Don't get me wrong here, this machine is not built for heavy tasks, but can glide through simpler tasks like documents, presentations, browsing, and entertainment.

It has a phenomenal battery life which lasts up to 9 hours of work without a hitch. The performance is smooth for regular office work until you are a designer, video editor or someone who needs an extra mile of horsepower. On the work side, if you're looking for a more powerful machine, you can always consider the MacBook Pro. While these MacOS devices are pretty expensive, they do promise a longer than usual life period and consistent software throughout the years.

The MacBook Air base variant is powered by an Intel i5 chipset and comes with 128GB of SSD storage. The laptop is honestly quite old, but it still has everything it needs to be a segment leader. 

Google's Chromebook has picked up a lot of pace in the last few years and it makes complete sense to go for one. People have often ignored the capabilities of a Chromebook because it is built around a browser. In reality, the system has come a long way and can handle just about anything offline via the offloaded apps. For college students who are usually just browsing around their e-learning portals, browsing through PDFs and Word Documents, this device makes complete sense. 

Don't judge it by its internals only, ChromeOS doesn't require as much processing power and RAM as Windows. This laptop also has a flip form factor, meaning watching movies or just chilling around with it is going to be even more comfortable. ASUS says the device can give up to 10 hours of battery life and weighs just 1.2 kilos.

Every college student needs a laptop, but with so many choices at so many different prices, 

it can be homework in itself to find out which one to get. Start by reviewing our 

recommendations for the best laptop for your college major, and then check with your 

specific school to make sure its configuration meets the minimum requirements. Of course, 

we love all of our picks, so if you see one outside of your major, it's still a great machine.

Whether typing up a 100-page thesis or just taking notes in class, having a comfortable, 

responsive keyboard allows you to get more work done faster. Starting at under $900 

($1049 as tested), HP's Envy 13t has one of the best keyboards in the industry, along with 

a lightweight aluminum chassis and nearly 10 hours of battery life. The 13.3-inch laptop is 

powered by a speedy 8th Gen Core i5 or Core i7 CPU and a PCIe SSD, giving it really 

powerful performance.

Pros: Best-in-class keyboard; Powerful performance;  Long battery life

Cons: Tinny audio: Accurate, but bland colors

Key Specs: Up to Intel Core i7-8550U CPU; Up to 4K touch screen (1080p standard); Up 

to 1TB SSD; 2.93 pounds

Best Apple Laptop: MacBook Air (2018)

Now with a Retina display and more powerful components, the MacBook Air earns its place 

back on our list of the best laptops for college students. The 13.3-inch machine costs a bit 

more than its predecessor, but the improvements Apple made to the new version make it 

worth every penny. Along with its more colorful, 2560 x 1600-pixel display, the MacBook Air 

adds a fingerprint sensor and the versatile Thunderbolt 3 port. These goodies are all 

packaged in a thinner, lighter and completely recycled aluminum chassis. 

Pros: Colorful Retina display; Long battery life; Thin and lightweight chassis

Cons: Below-average performance; Pricier than its predecessor

Key Specs: 13.3-inch, 2560 x 1600-pixel display; Intel Core i5-8210Y CPU; up to 16GB of 

RAM; Up to 1.5TB SSD

The Asus ZenBook UX333FA is a gorgeous, premium laptop that offers fast performance at 

a reasonable price. For just $849, you get an Intel Core i5-8265U CPU, 8GB of RAM, 

256GB SSD and integrated UHD 620 graphics. But perhaps the best reason to buy the 

ZenBook UX333FA is for its outstanding 11+ hours of battery life. Combine that exceptional 

endurance with a sleek aluminum chassis and it's easy to see why the ZenBook is one of 

the best laptops for students. 

Pros: Excellent battery life; Sleek aluminum design; Fast performance

Cons: Dim display; Cramped keyboard

Key Specs: Core i5-8265U CPU, 13.3-inch, 1080p display, 256GB SSD; 2.7 pounds

As a college student, chances are you're on a pretty tight budget. If you want to spend less 

than $400, the Surface Go is a great choice. The detachable 2-in-1's durable design is 

more premium than you'd expect to find at this price range, and its bright, colorful display 

can compete with the best laptops.

At a measly 1.1 pounds, the Surface Go weighs less than your Calculus textbook. Typically, 

tablets aren't a viable option for class, but Microsoft sells a useful backlit keyboard cover 

with a touchpad for the Surface Go. With an Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y CPU, the Surface 

Go won't break speed records, but it provides more power than most budget laptops. 

Pros: Bright and vivid display; Premium, lightweight design; Good overall performance; 

Facial recognition login

Cons: Below-average battery life; Thick bezels; Keyboard and pen cost extra

Key specs: 10-inch 1800 x 1200 display, Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y CPU, Surface Connect 

port, Optional keyboard with a touchpad

With a powerful soundbar speaker hinge, the Yoga C930 is as practical as it is beautiful. 

This slim and lightweight laptop offers strong performance and long battery life in a 

premium package. The 2-in-1 also comes with some useful extras, like an integrated pen 

slot and a webcam cover. 

Pros: Premium design; Thin and lightweight; Strong performance; Long battery life

Cons: Shallow keyboard; Display could be better

Key specs: Up to Core i7 CPU; Optional 4K display; Pen slot; Soundbar speaker hinge; 

Webcam cover; 3.1 pounds