Plastic laptops aren’t cheap anymore—and they’re often better than metal

Opinion Plastic laptops aren’t cheap anymore—and they’re often better than metal Metal laptops are overrated. By Chris Hoffman Contributor, PCWorld Apr 28, 2026 5:00 am PDT Image: Foundry / Chris Hoffman I’ve reviewed a lot of laptops for PCWorld, and I’ve held laptops made of so many materials in my hands: Metal, plastic, carbon fiber, and even ceramic. People often think of plastic as a cheap, creaky material. But after testing dozens of laptops over the years, I’ve found that plastic often holds up better in real life than buyers expect.. In many cases, a plastic laptop chassis is even better than a metal one! Plastic laptops aren’t what they used to be When many people think “plastic laptop,” they picture the discount special from a decade ago: A machine that creaks and flexes when you pick it up. But today’s plastic laptops rarely feel like that to me. They usually feel solid, without weird flexing. They often have nice matte surfaces that feel comfortable and almost rubbery. Those rubbery surfaces often feel nicer than smooth metal ones, too. Here’s my biggest confession: When I start reviewing a laptop and hold it for the first time, I’m not always completely sure whether the laptop is made of plastic or a metal alloy. I’ve reviewed laptops where the lid was made of metal and the bottom of the laptop was made of plastic, and the materials often felt very similar. There’s such a wide range of different plastic and metal materials out there. Plastic can take a beating Plastic is a good material, actually. While modern plastic laptops rarely flex when you pick them up, plastic can still flex in a way metal can’t. A plastic laptop chassis may be more resistant to bumps and drops. Plastic will flex rather than dent. Chris Hoffman / Foundry It’s also pretty hard to scratch a plastic laptop chassis. On the other hand, a metal laptop chassis can often scratch easily on contact with keys, jewelry, USB connectors, coins, and other stuff you may have laying around. window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({mode: 'alternating-thumbnails-stream-pcworld',container: 'taboola-mid-article-thumbnails',placement: 'Mid Article Thumbnails',target_type: 'mix'}); When I take a review laptop out into the world and set it on a rough surface to take a photo of it, I’m more confident a plastic laptop won’t scratch. But I’m concerned that a “premium” metal laptop might be damaged if it’s set on the wrong surface. Plastic laptops are often more upgradable If you want a laptop that’s upgradable, you’ll probably be getting a plastic laptop. Metal laptops often have glue or just a unibody construction that makes them impossible to open. Meanwhile, the most upgradable laptops likely have a plastic bottom. You can get them on and off by prying them off with a spudger tool — or perhaps just by removing some screws. Metal laptops are less likely to be upgradable, and they’re usually more difficult to open. Gaming laptops are often made of plastic for a reason Most gaming laptops I review are made of plastic — even high-end 18-inch ones. This helps make them lighter: Many metal laptops are heavier than plastic laptops. For a massive, heavy gaming laptop, extra weight is a bad idea. IDG / Chris Hoffman Plus, that plastic makes them more durable: A huge, heavy gaming laptop made of plastic might flex a little bit if you hold it wrong and don’t properly support it. A unibody metal laptop might actually snap. I haven’t seen it happen because I’ve never…

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