When buying a new laptop, it’s essential to take into account aspects like cost, operating system, processor, display size, and weight. Nonetheless, brand dependability is also vital to ensure your laptop remains effective over time. Consumer Reports (CR), an unbiased entity, carries out yearly surveys to evaluate the reliability and user satisfaction of different laptop brands. Regrettably, not every brand performs well in these evaluations. Here are five prominent laptop brands to steer clear of based on CR’s conclusions:
1. **Alienware**: Renowned for its high-performance gaming laptops, Alienware, which is a Dell subsidiary, provides machines with robust specifications. However, CR’s statistics reveal that Alienware records one of the lowest reliability ratings, making it a questionable investment, especially considering their steep prices.
2. **Dell**: Although it is a significant force in the PC industry, Dell’s reliability ratings are not commendable. While some models, such as the XPS series, are well-respected, numerous laptops, including Inspiron and Latitude models, exhibit low reliability scores.
3. **MSI**: Mainly recognized for its gaming laptops, MSI also provides business laptops like the Prestige series. In spite of its standing for high-performance gaming devices, MSI’s reliability scores are lacking, indicating possible problems within the initial years of usage.
4. **Acer**: Presenting a broad array of laptops from economical Chromebooks to premium gaming options, Acer’s reliability ratings rank among the lowest. The Aspire series, in particular, has faced criticism for inadequate performance and display quality.
5. **Asus**: Celebrated for its creative designs, including the dual-screen Zenbook Duo, Asus has a range of laptops at various price levels. However, its reliability scores are low, signifying possible concerns after the initial years of ownership.
These brands were identified based on CR’s surveys conducted between 2023 and 2025, encompassing 75,923 laptops. The brands mentioned display the lowest reliability ratings among leading manufacturers, rendering them less fitting options for those in search of durable laptops.