Laptop Magazine

What Laptop Magazine does

Laptop Magazine (operating as "Laptop Mag") was a US-based digital tech journalism publication founded in 1991 and operated as a brand under Future US, Inc., a subsidiary of UK-listed media conglomerate Future plc. The publication produced in-depth reviews, buying guides, and deals coverage focused primarily on laptops, tablets, and 2-in-1 devices, with secondary coverage of smartphones, gaming hardware, accessories, and smartwatches. Its editorial model centered on a dedicated in-house testing operation that benchmarked over 100 laptops per year using standardized test methodologies, supported by a small editorial team including an Editor-in-Chief, Managing Editor, Reviews Editor, Deals Editor, Special Projects Editor, and contributing writers. The publication also operated The Snapshot, a free email newsletter, and maintained four regional editions across the US, Canada, the UK, and Australia.

The business monetized through two primary streams: affiliate commerce commissions on reader purchases made via outbound links to retailers, and display advertising from brand partners and sponsors. Content was free to consumers and no subscription or paid product was offered; pricing was not publicly disclosed. Distribution was digital-first via the laptopmag.com web properties and adjacent channels including organic search, social media, RSS, and live event coverage such as CES. Audience segments spanned tech-conscious consumers researching purchases, deal-seeking shoppers, and broader tech enthusiasts, with no enterprise or B2B customer base.

In 2025, after approximately 34 years of continuous publication, Laptop Magazine announced it was powering down as a Future plc brand, marking the end of its operations. The closure reflects a broader contraction of standalone consumer tech review publications under shifting traffic, search, and advertising market dynamics.

Name

Laptop Magazine

Legal name

Future US, Inc.

Website

https://laptopmag.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Closed

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Laptop Magazine was a US digital tech journalism publication founded in 1991, operated under Future plc, that produced expert reviews, buying guides, and deals coverage of laptops, tablets, and 2-in-1 devices for tech-conscious consumers before shutting down in 2025 after 34 years.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Tech Media / Consumer Electronics Reviews

NAICS

Periodical Publishers (513120), Periodical Publishers (51312), Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (5131)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)

akta.pro primary industry

Science, Technology & Gaming Magazines (MPAJAEAL)

Keywords

• Tech journalism
• Laptop reviews
• Buying guides
• Product reviews
• Consumer electronics coverage

Headquarters

HQ city

Sheridan

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Affiliate Commerce: Earns commissions when readers purchase products through links on the site. Disclosed as affiliate advertising model.
2. Display Advertising: Standard digital advertising revenue from brand partners and sponsors.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Laptop Magazine is a digital tech journalism publication that publishes expert reviews, buying guides, product comparisons, and news for laptops, tablets, 2-in-1s, smartphones, gaming devices, and consumer electronics accessories. The publication tests over 100 laptops annually using standardized lab benchmarks and hands-on review methodology, and monetizes via affiliate commerce links and display advertising.

Product overview

Laptop Magazine is a digital tech publication that operates as a single unified offering—its website and newsletter—rather than a platform with separate modules. The core product is the Laptop Mag website, which publishes comprehensive laptop reviews, buying guides, best picks, deals, and technology news. A supplementary offering is The Snapshot, a free email newsletter that distills key computing and tech stories for subscribers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Laptop Mag Website A digital tech journalism publication providing laptop reviews, buying guides, product comparisons, and technology news. The site publishes expert testing and reviews of consumer electronics including laptops, tablets, smartphones, gaming devices, and accessories. Available in US, Canada, UK, and Australia regional editions.
• The Snapshot Newsletter

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100 laptops tested annually with standardized benchmark methodology
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Future plccoreOthersLaptop Magazine is owned and operated by Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Future plc provides corporate infrastructure, advertising sales, and publishing platform for the publication.

Scale indicators4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Tom's Guide: Future plc sibling publication covering laptops, phones, and consumer electronics with hands-on reviews and buying guides. Same parent ownership, identical content model, and overlapping audience as Laptop Mag.
• PCMag: Ziff Davis-owned technology review publication with deep laptop, tablet, and computing coverage. Directly comparable to Laptop Mag in product category, expert review methodology, affiliate monetization model, and target audience of tech-conscious consumers.
• TechRadar: Future plc's flagship global technology review publication with extensive laptop and computing coverage. Closest direct sibling to Laptop Mag under the same parent, sharing affiliate monetization and editorial infrastructure.
• CNET: Major consumer technology publication owned by Red Ventures, offering laptop and product reviews with affiliate commerce monetization. Comparable scale, similar content categories, and similar B2C audience targeting.
• Engadget: Yahoo-owned technology publication covering gadgets, laptops, and consumer electronics with reviews and buying guides. Similar audience and content mix, though broader in news coverage.
• The Verge: Vox Media's flagship technology publication with extensive laptop and computing reviews. Comparable expert-review approach and tech-enthusiast audience, with strong video and feature journalism.
• Digital Trends: Independent consumer technology publication covering laptops, phones, and home tech with hands-on reviews and affiliate commerce. Directly comparable in scope, format, and audience to Laptop Mag.

Broad incumbents

• Wired: Condé Nast's broad technology and culture publication with some laptop and gadget reviews. Comparable in audience demographics but with a much wider editorial remit beyond pure product reviews.
• Ars Technica: Condé Nast-owned technology publication with deep computing and laptop coverage aimed at more technical audiences. Comparable in product category depth but skewed toward enthusiast/professional readers.

Emerging players

• Wirecutter: New York Times-owned product review publication with strong laptop and computing buying guides. Similar affiliate monetization and editorial methodology, with the credibility halo of the NYT brand.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Laptopmag
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/laptopmag
• Facebookfacebook.com/laptopmag
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/laptop-magazine-laptopmag-com
• Instagraminstagram.com/laptopmag

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Laptop Magazine