Buzz
Why are laptop brands racing to adopt the U.S. military standard?
Naturally, it's to create differentiation, something unique compared to the rest. In other words, it's about class, much like the water-resistant and dust-resistant standards found in high-end smartphones. The first laptop brand to implement the U.S. military standard was ASUS, with a range of gaming laptops and ultrabooks, all in the premium category. For those willing to spend a significant amount on a high-end laptop, the MIL-STD standard is like an accompanying insurance package. However, this standard also serves as a measure of value and class for users, sometimes creating consumer trends, also known as hot trends.
Following ASUS's success, many other brands introduced models that meet MIL-STD standards. Dell and HP, in particular, incorporated MIL-STD into their workstation models as an extra layer of protection, reinforcing the strength and safety of these machines. However, this unintentionally diminishes the value of the U.S. military standard, as workstation models prioritize less mobility and are somewhat 'overqualified' for MIL-STD.
Therefore, MIL-STD laptops truly became a trend when LG and ASUS launched super-lightweight yet incredibly durable laptop models. LG Gram, with its three main highlights—super lightweight, long-lasting battery, and MIL-STD standard—established its unique position in the market. Despite being a newcomer in the Vietnamese laptop market, just one Gram model allowed LG to carve out its niche, making users immediately invest in a laptop as lightweight as a large-displacement motorcycle but still robust.
As a pioneer, ASUS naturally keeps up by being one of the most daring brands with the MIL-STD standard, having a superior number of models meeting the U.S. military standard compared to others. ASUS has various laptop models that meet the U.S. military standard, such as the Zenbook series and, most recently, the ExpertBook B9, an ultralightweight laptop with a 24-hour battery life. In particular, ASUS's TUF Gaming series has already achieved the 810H standard, which is higher-end than the commonly used 810G standard.
Who should buy a U.S. military-standard laptop?
With the U.S. military standard, laptop models become more robust and versatile compared to those without this standard. If you mainly work in an office and have minimal mobility, consider other criteria before the MIL-STD standard. However, if you frequently change work environments or work in harsh conditions—dust, heat, humidity—it's advisable to prioritize models that meet MIL-STD. Moreover, the price gap between MIL-STD and regular laptop models within the same configuration range has significantly narrowed. That's why an increasing number of Vietnamese users are turning to U.S. military-standard laptops, while brands are striving to incorporate this standard into more models.
You should also remember that MIL-STD doesn't guarantee your laptop won't break, but it certainly ensures durability in the same working or challenging conditions compared to non-standard models. The issue of what breaks and how long it takes to break will largely depend on your usage, including how often you drop your laptop.
