Published on: 1st June 2020
Written by: Momin Haider
Are you here looking for the best laptops with thunderbolt 3? Well, it is your lucky day as we have exactly what you are looking for.
With every passing year, we experience mind-boggling advancements in the field of technology and gadgets. One feature that stands out amongst all the advanced features incorporated in new laptops, is the Thunderbolt 3 port.
I’m sure you have seen the name of Thunderbolt 3 in the specs sheet of every high-end laptop. The reason is that no reputable company wants to exclude Thunderbolt 3 from its laptop. So why does this port has so much hype?
Thunderbolt 3 supports transfer speed of up to 40 Gbps which is 4 times faster than the previous USB 3.1, for all the video editors and content creators out there, Thunderbolt 3 helps you connect up to two 4K displays, outputting audio and video signals simultaneously. Therefore, data transfer can now be made within a blink of an eye.
Thunderbolt 3 has turned the gaming world into a paradise. Now you can connect your laptops with external GPUs for a better gaming experience. Thunderbolt 3 has the potential to provide an impressive 100W of power, it has surely taken USB-C to new heights.
Let’s have a look at some of the best laptops with thunderbolt 3, we have listed all the reviews, specification and pros and cons.
Table of Content
1: Dell XPS 15 Review
2: Apple MacBook Pro Review
3: Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Review
4: LG Gram Review
5: Acer Predator Triton 500 Review
6: HP Spectre x360 15t Review
7: Razer Blade Stealth 13 Ultrabook Review
8: Acer Swift 3 Review
9: HP Omen 17 Review
10: Apple MacBook Air Review
Buying Guide
Conclusion
1. Dell XPS 15 Review (Game-changer)
Processor: 4.5-GHz Intel Core i7-9750H
Graphics Card: Intel UHD Graphics 630 GPU
RAM: 16GB
Display Size: 15.6″
Hard Drive Size: 1TB
Ports: Thunderbolt 3, HDMI 2.0, Headset, Noble Lock, USB 3.1, DisplayPort
You all thought that the 2018 XPS model could not get any better but the 2019 Dell XPS 15 proved you wrong.
The wait is over. We finally have an OLED display in Dell XPS 15. This, combined with lightning-fast 9th Gen Core i7 processor and a distinct Nvidia GTX 1650 GPU, makes Dell XPS 15 a powerhouse. In addition, XPS 15 can be configured up to an astounding 64GB of RAM. So no need to fret about storage hitch. Dell XPS 15 has been equipped with user-upgradable storage range from 256GB up to 2TB which is amazing.
Therefore, giving an overview of ports and slots, you’ll find an SD card reader, a battery indicator button, and a USB 3.1 Type-A port on the right-hand side. The left side is installed with, a Thunderbolt 3 port, HDMI 2.0, another USB 3.1 Type-A port, a headset jack, and a power plugin. Unquestionable is the fact that Dell has loaded XPS 15 with enough slots and ports to make it one of the best laptops with thunderbolt 3.
Talking about the display, Dell XPS 15 is an OLED wonder. XPS has a 15.6-inch display with 4K (3840 x 2160) resolution and carries vibrant colours with rich contrast, making it stand out from other 15-inch models.
Last but not the least, its design. The aluminium and carbon fibre body makes XPS 15 a tech favourite. The carbon-fibre keyboard deck, large trackpad, and a circular power button which also acts as a fingerprint reader, further augments XPS 15 sleek design, even with such power and exquisite design, Dell XPS 15 has its drawbacks. Dell XPS 15’s battery time is just over 8 hours. That’s a bummer if you were expecting a long-lasting battery life on this laptop.
Pros
- 4K OLED display with Infinity Edge
- Impressive overall and graphics performance scores
- Right placement of the webcam
- Build quality
- Sleek and eye-catching design
Cons
- Below par battery life
- Mediocre keyboard
2. Apple MacBook Pro 15" Review (The elite one)
Processor: 2.4GHz 8-core Intel Core i9
Graphics Card: Intel UHD Graphics 630
RAM: 8GB
If you are fascinated by the Apple ecosystem and looking for an Apple laptop that suits you the best, we surely have what you are looking for.
The new Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch) is an epitome of power and elegance. It is loaded with 9th Gen Intel Core i9 processor, backed up by 16GB RAM, 256GB of SSD storage, and a Radeon Pro 560X graphics card, making it one of the fastest MacBooks ever.
This model follows its predecessors’ premium design of the magnesium alloy body. As you know, Apple’s tradition of providing good durability is still sustained.
Moreover, the new MacBook’s Retina show stays amazing looking with a 2,880 x 1,800 resolution, It highlights DCI-P3 colour space which gives much more lively hues than sRGB which is the best treat for video editors. The True Tone highlight makes hues on the screen look increasingly vivacious and practical giving ease to the eyes.
The 15-inch MacBook Pro is equipped with 4 Thunderbolt 3 ports which makes it to the top list of the best laptops with thunderbolt 3 but If you are not a fan of Apple’s butterfly keyboard, you’ll still have to wait for the next model because this Apple MacBook Pro still has it.
Additionally, the Touch Bar is still not going anywhere, it aids seamless workflow by allowing you to create fast shortcuts of the particular application that is being used. A joy for music lovers as the speakers in MacBook Pro provides amazing sound size which is surprising for such a thin design.
You’ll rarely see Apple compromising on its battery. So is the case with MacBook Pro, the battery will last you a full workday with a drainage time of 10 hours and 21 minutes. That’s impressive. Isn’t it?
Pros
- Powerful processor and superior speed
- Fast SSD storage
- True Tone display
- Long-lasting battery life
Cons
- Expensive
- Uses not so comfortable Butterfly keyboard
- Lacks USB Type-A ports
3. Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Review
Processor: Intel Core i5-8350U
Graphics Card: Intel HD Graphics 620
RAM: 8GB
Display Size: 14.1″
Hard Drive Size: 256GB
Ports: HDMI, Thunderbolt 3, USB 3.0, USB Type-C, Combo Headphone/Mic Jack, Ethernet
If you are looking for a business laptop with lots of ports, a swappable battery, a sturdy keyboard, and a strong processor, and are willing to settle on an average display, no need to hassle anywhere else. We surely have what you need. The Lenovo ThinkPad T480!
Lenovo ThinkPad T480 has an 8th Gen Intel Core i5 processor (CPU), 16GB of DDR4 RAM, a 256GB PCIe SSD, and a 14-inch 1080p display. In addition, ThinkPad T480 has a robust chassis made of magnesium hybrid and glass-fibre braced plastic. The body has gone through US military durability tests so no question about the strength of framework.
It weighs 3.6 pounds(1.63kg). Not the lightest 14-inch laptop but still a beast at work, and that what it is needed for. In addition, The back panel is removable. You can upgrade RAM, Wi-Fi, and LTE card but its best feature is its swappable battery that is available in either 24Wh or 72Wh variants.
Moreover, looking at the ports and slots, the right side has an SD card reader, a 3.5mm audio jack, HDMI, Ethernet, and two USB-A 3.1 ports. The left side is installed with a dock connector, an optional smart card reader, USB-C, and a Thunderbolt 3 port. With its performance capabilities, Lenovo ThinkPad T480 is in the race of best laptops with thunderbolt 3.
The ThinkPad T480 has a 14-Inch HD (1366×768), anti-glare display. The screen lacks colour vividness while brightness and contrast show decent results subjectively. The display showed poor results in sRGB and AdobeRGB. But then again, it is unfair to expect high-end resolution display from a business laptop.
Pros
- Decent general system performance
- Various port selection
- Optional IR camera
- Fingerprint scanner
- Hasty keyboard
Cons
- Oddly lower CPU performance as compared its predecessors
- Poor display coverage
- Heavy weight
4. LG Gram Laptop Review
Processor: Intel Core i7-8565UU
Graphics Card: N/A
RAM: 16GB
Display Size: 15.6″
Hard Drive Size: 1TB
Ports: HDMI, Thunderbolt 3, USB 3.0, USB Type-C, Combo Mic Jack, Ethernet and Micro SD
Tired of carrying a big bulky laptop? Looking for a minimalist lightweight laptop? The answer to all these questions is a 15.6-inch LG Gram laptop.
LG Gram is the world’s lightest 15.6-inch laptop weighing only 2.5 pounds (1.2kg). It boasts the 8th Gen Core i7 processor, two 512GB SSD, and 16 GB RAM.The new LG Gram packs an even bigger 72Wh battery. This bigger battery combined the more powerful processor means we get a fantastic battery life of whopping 18.5 hours.
Moreover, the 15.6 inch full HD IPS touchscreen looks good and has decent colour accuracy too. It is not the brightest screens and the glossy screen makes it quite hard to use under really bright conditions.
One of the most rousing features of the new LG Gram is the addition of Thunderbolt 3 supported USB-C port. If you want to hook up your LG Gram Feel with some external graphic card, feel free to do so.
Speaking of ports you also get three USB 3, a full-size HDMI, DC power, 3.5mm headphone jack, and a micro SD card slot. With its lightweight and great battery life, LG Gram is surely one of the candidates to be crowned as the best laptop with thunderbolt 3.
Additionally, LG has given the Gram a great keyboard. Typing on backlit chiclet keys feels responsive and soothing to use. One thing that you will like is the fingerprint reader that is built-in to the power button
A major turn off for graphic people is that there is no option for any sort of dedicated graphics card on any spec model. Video editors and intensive gamers might get a bit disappointed.
Pros
- Extremely lightweight design.
- Extensive battery life.
- An abundance of storage and ports.
- Rich 1080p touch display.
Cons
- Mediocre looking design
- The touch screen lid wobbles
5. HP Spectre x360 15t Review
Processor: Intel Core i7-8550U
Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce MX150
RAM: 16GB
Display Size: 15.6″
Hard Drive Size: 512GB
Ports: USB 3.1, Thunderbolt 3, Headphone/Mic, HDMI, DC-in
In dire need of a convertible laptop with great performance. We suggest you HP Spectre x360 15t.
HP Spectre x360 15t is a 15.6-inch 2-in-1 laptop with a quad-core Core i7 CPU, relatively plain Nvidia GeForce MX150 graphics, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD.
Moreover, HP has given it a new colour called Poseidon Blue, with the hinges and borders brushed golden, the new colour makes the Spectre look exceedingly attractive. The HP Spectre x360 comes with a 15.6-inch full HD touchscreen display along, with a maximum brightness of 300 nits, and a pixel count of 166 PPI. The Bang & Olufsen speakers, however, shows an underwhelming performance. The bass is barely felt and heard from the device.
Did You Know? HP Spectre claimed to be the thinnest laptop
Additionally, The HP Spectre x360 comes with no user-replaceable quad-cell 61Wh battery. When put under the battery benchmark tests, the device lasted 4 hours and 17 minutes, which is decent but not a significant hop over last year’s model.
Despite being a thin convertible laptop, Spectre x360 provides a range of ports. The diagonally cut right and left rear corners hold a Thunderbolt 3 port and a power button respectively. You’ll also find the power connector, an audio jack, and an HDMI port on the left side. The right side is integrated with a USB 3.1 Type-A port, a microSD card slot, and a second Thunderbolt 3 port.
With its specs and elegant design, this convertible laptop is one the most likely contenders to with the title of the best laptop with thunderbolt 3.
Pros
- Eye-catching design
- Strong performance
- A little longer battery life
- 4K OLED display
Cons
- Expensive
- Sub-par audio performance
- Poor trackpad
6. Apple MacBook Air
Processor: Intel Core i3
Graphics Card: Intel Iris Plus
RAM: 8GB
If you are a student and big Apple enthusiast but do not have a big budget, no worries. We suggest the new affordable Apple MacBook Air.
The new MacBook comes with a 10th-generation Intel Core i3 processor, 8GB RAM, and 256 SSD storage.
The new MacBook Air has Intel’s 1.1GHz dual-core 10th generation Core processors with Turbo Boost of 3.2Ghz. It means it has the potential to delivers two times the performance compared to its previous generation.
MacBook Air has the privilege of being one of the most exquisitely thin laptops weighing only 1.29kg.
Did You Know? The MacBook Air was the first laptop to implement Apple’s precision aluminum unibody enclosure.
Moreover, with the Butterfly keyboard being replaced with a much more satisfying Magic keyboard, it is a rejoicing moment for all those who abhorred the Butterfly keyboard. In addition, the new MacBook Air includes Apple’s sharp Retina Display with 2560 x 1600 resolution for more than 4 million pixels, the True Tone innovation naturally modifies the white point of the display for organizing with the shading temperature of your condition.
The new MacBook Air has improved sound system speakers that convey half more bass and 25% more volume than its ancestor. The MacBook Air has also an improved battery life, Apple claims that the battery will last for up to 11 hours of wireless web browsing.
The new MacBook Air 13″ has two Thunderbolt 3 ports. This empowers the MacBook Air to help a 6K outside display for the very first time making it enter the list of the best laptop with thunderbolt 3.
Pros
- Magic keyboard
- Fast processor
- Retina display
Cons
- limited port selection
- webcam is 720p
7. Acer Swift 3 Review
Processor: Intel Core i5-1035G1
Graphics Card: Intel UHD Graphics
RAM: 8GB
Display Size: 14″
Hard Drive Size: 256GB
Ports: HDMI, Headphone/Mic, Kensington Lock, USB Type-C, SD card slot, USB 3.1 with Type-C, Thunderbolt 3, USB 3.0, USB 2.0
The new 2020 Acer Swift 3 is one of the most stylish budget ultrabooks that you are in dire need of.
The Acer Swift 3 comes loaded with a 10th Gen Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of DDR4 SDRAM, 512GB SSD with Intel Iris Plus graphics. In addition, the Swift 3 features a 14-inch Full HD (1080p) display which is decent enough for many tasks.
For a system with 8GB of RAM, Swift 3 handles Photoshop and basic photo editing quite smoothly, without any lags. So the keyboard in Swift 3 is entirely acceptable, the keys are illuminated and have a delicate completing and a somewhat curved shape, they feel great when contacted. The speakers in Swift 3 has unfortunately disappointed many customers. The audio from the laptop comes off sounding pretty much flat.
Did You Know? the Swift 3 is the ideal laptop for working on the move.
However, Acer has integrated Swift 3 with a 48Wh battery, The 1080p video run test resulted in a battery lasting for 7 hours and 6 minutes, on the battery saver mode, it will make it to full 8 hours. On the right-hand side, you’ll get to look at a headphone/mic jack, a USB 2.0 Type-A port, and a card reader. On the left side of the Swift 3, you will get an HDMI port, a DC-in connection, a USB Type-C port, a USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A port, Thunderbolt 3 and power supply.
With the addition of Thunderbolt 3, you can enjoy faster transfer speeds and connect to multiple 4K displays. The 2020 Acer Swift 3 belongs to the category of budget laptops that can give a tough time to all the competitors in being the best laptop with thunderbolt 3.
Pros
- Long battery life
- The full HD IPS screen
- Affordable
Cons
- Poor audio quality
- Not a high-end performer
8. Acer Predator Triton 500 Review
Processor: Intel Core i7 8750H
Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060
RAM: 16GB
Display Size: 15.6″
Hard Drive Size: 512GB
Ports: 1 Thunderbolt 3 (Full USB 3.1 Type C) Port, 3 USB 3.1 Gen 1 Ports
To all the gamers looking for a laptop best suited to them, we have a perfect suggestion for you all. The 2019 Acer Predator Triton 500.
Acer has set a new benchmark with its all-new Predator Triton 500. It is a thin and light laptop installed with Intel 8th-gen Core i7, Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 2060 Max-Q graphics,16 GB DDR4 RAM, and a 15.6-inch screen.
Predator Triton 500’s GPU will overshadow some shortcomings of the older 8th Gen CPU.
Did You Know ? The lightning-fast Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 2060 GPU is the same as the desktop GeForce RTX 2060, with reduced clock speeds and power consumption for laptops.
Moreover, The Triton 500’s display full HD (1080p), which may not be stirring to some but is the best choice for a gaming laptop. So acer put the cherry on top by equipping the display with a 144Hz refresh rate and G-Sync support. In addition, the keyboard is one of the better keyboards on a laptop, It is relatively tactile with RGBs installed at the bottom, the trackpad is also pretty great with decent enough palm rejection and your usual tracking and gestures.
Additionally, you will find a Thunderbolt 3, two USB-A ports, and a mini-DisplayPort on the right side of the Predator Triton 500. The left side is installed with a full-size HDMI port, analogue mic and headset jack, a third USB-A port, a charging port, plus an ethernet. With its sleek design and powerful features, this gaming laptop is surely rocking the list of best laptops with thunderbolt 3.
With its 82Wh battery, the Triton 500 comes in under decent 6 hours of playback time. It’s on a slightly lower side when compared to powerful laptops, but still pretty good.
Pros
- The fine value is given to components and panels.
- Slim, compact design.
- 144Hz display with Nvidia G-Sync support.
Cons
- Annoying fans sound under load.
- Short battery life.
9. Razer Blade Stealth 13 Ultrabook
Processor: Intel Core i7 8565U
Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce MX150
RAM: 16GB
Display Size: 13.3″
Hard Drive Size: 256GB
Ports: USB 3.0, Thunderbolt 3, Headset, HDMI 2.0
The Razer Blade Stealth is a perfect option for anyone looking for an ultraportable gaming laptop having sleek sharp-edged design, a snappy processor, and a dedicated graphics option for gaming.
The new Blade Stealth comes with a respectable Intel Core i7 processor, a full matte HD display, 256GB of storage, and 16 GB of DDR3 RAM. The most exciting feature of this model is the addition of NVIDIA GeForce MX150 for some extra graphics pump which is glad tiding for all the gamers out there.
Razer has one of the better keyboards amongst all the ultrabooks out there, the keys also have a sweet ‘pop’ to them, which is quite satisfying.
Did you Know? Razer has around 70 million gaming users.
Additionally, the new Razer Blade Stealth nails the trackpad being one of the largest in any 13 inch laptop. Talking about the speaker, The Dolby Atmos software generates amazing sound quality with four top-firing speakers which gives gamers complete perfect sound. So the base model offers a 13.3-inch 1080p display with full support for the sRGB colour gamut. However, if you are willing to drop a few thousand dollars on your laptop, there is a more exciting 4K display option available.
Moreover, The battery performed excellently in the video playback test, lasting for almost ten hours. Blade Stealth 13 guarantees all-day performance off a single charge if put on battery saver mode. Blade Stealth has well-balanced ports options. It is fitted with two USB Type-C ports, with one being Thunderbolt 3 and two Type-A ports along with a headphone jack. Razer omitted HDMI, as many are making the change to Type-C for external display.
Thanks to the lightning-fast Thunderbolt 3, you can connect your Blade Stealth to Razer Core X Chroma eGPU, for a gaming bump. With this amazing feature added, the 2019 Razer Blade Stealth 13 has the potential to be one of the best laptops with thunderbolt 3.
Pros
- Matte full HD screen.
- Excellent audio.
- Great battery life.
- Top grade build quality.
Cons
- Expensive
- Less storage
10. HP Omen 17
Processor: Intel Core i7-9750H
Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080
RAM: 16GB
Display Size: 17.3″
Hard Drive Size: 1TB
Ports: headphone combo, Microphone jack, USB 3.1, HDMI, Mini displayport(tm), USB 3.1 Type-C, media card Reader
If you want to go all guns blazing, a high-end gaming laptop with mighty specs, so no more. We present to you the HP Omen 17.
The HP Omen 17 comes with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 (8 GB GDDR6 dedicated). , 256 GB SSD, 16 GB RAM, & 1 TB HDD.
So the HP Omen has been incorporated with an 8th generation Intel Core i7 processor that can be overclocked up to 4.2 GHz to deal with challenging tasks. The powerful processor itself touches the high level of performance. This gaming laptop is capable of multitasking. And can conveniently perform numerous tasks at the same time. Along with the processor, the laptops comes with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 (8 GB GDDR6 dedicated) , 256 GB SSD, 16 GB RAM, & 1 TB HDD which is amazing for an affordable laptop.
The display is stunning with a 17.3-inch 144Hz 1080p panel. It is a phenomenal choice for quick jerk gaming, particularly since it’s fitted with Nvidia’s G-Sync to streamline the experience.
Moreover for all the RGB fans out there, Omen 17 is integrated with the fanciest four-zone RGB backlit keyboard. The users may have some reasons to feel disappointed in the regard of battery, it will last for 12 hours and 15 minutes. While video playback test results in battery lasting for 8 hours and 30 minutes.
Additionally, if wireless streaming is done, battery life shrinks to only 6 hours and 45 minutes. Moving forwards, Omen 17 offers a generous amount of ports, The right edge has only one USB 3.1 Type-A port and a full-size SD card reader. In addition, the left side is stuffed with a power connector, HDMI, an Ethernet port, and Mini DisplayPort video output, a couple of USB 3.1 Type-A ports, a Thunderbolt 3 port, a microphone, and an audio jack.
With such incredible high-end specs, HP Omen 17 is capable of making it to the top of the list of the best laptops with thunderbolt 3.
Pros
- Powerful gaming performance with Nvidia GPU
- High refresh rate in the display
- Ample amount of ports
Cons
- Expensive
- Short battery life
Best Laptops with thunderbolt 3 - Buying Guide
Thunderbolt 3 is not the only thing you should look in while buying a laptop. This guide will help you invest your money in the laptop best suited for you.
Operating System
You are always in the question of whether to buy a Windows laptop or Mac OS. Both have their plusses. Windows notebooks provide a wide range of features like touch screen, fingerprint reader, and dual graphic chip. Mac OS has a different interface than windows with apps docked at the bottom of the screen, unlike Windows’ taskbar. Where Windows has Cortona as its digital assistant, Mac has Siri.
Display Size
You have to choose the right size that best suits your activity on a laptop. If you desire a light and thin system, you should opt for a display size of 11 to 12 inches. Whereas 13 to 14-inch laptops give the best equalization of convenience and ease of use, especially if you get a laptop with thunderbolt 3 that weighs under 4 pounds. If you want a high-end gaming laptop or workstation, we suggest you to buy a 17-18 inch display laptop. So to conclude, display sizes matter a lot for the best laptops with thunderbolt 3, some people like mediocre sizes while some prefer big screens.
Battery Life
The battery is one of the features of a laptop that should never be compromised upon. If you don’t want to worry about battery life, go buy a bulky laptop. But if you are an average user of a laptop, you do need at least 7 to 8 hours lasting battery on your laptop. So it depends on you that whether you need a laptop with a battery that lasts longer with one charge or you need a laptop with a normal battery which lasts for few hours. Mostly people who buy laptops for ideal use don’t look at the battery timing.
Category
It is your choice to decide if you want a 2-in-1 laptop or a traditional clamshell one. Many laptops nowadays fall in the category of one which has detachable screens and one with hinges that bend back 360 degrees to alter modes. On our opinion, it is better to go for a 2 in 1 laptop because 2 in 1 laptops provide double features in just one laptop.
Processor
You should always keep an eye on the CPU, that is, the brains of your computer. Intel Core i9 is the most powerful CPU only available in top-of-the-line, premium workstations or gaming laptops. Core i7 chips are used in laptops for fast gaming and productivity. Further going down the list, Core i5 and Core i3 are integrated into mainstream and entry-level laptops.
Storage
You should also look out how much RAM the best suites you. 8GB RAM is the go-to option for many users. But if you are a content creator or an intensive application user, you might have to upgrade to a 16GB RAM option.
Mostly best laptops with thunderbolt 3 have a minimum of 8GB RAM and 128GB SSD
Now that you have comprehended the importance of Thunderbolt 3 in a laptop and gone through a guide that aids you in buying a laptop, lay back and give a read to the list of best laptops with thunderbolt 3.
Conclusion
Thunderbolt 3 is an overhaul for USB-C, It accompanies four PCIe paths, taking into account more information to be parsed at some random time. This empowers interesting usage like power conveyance, quicker record transfer, and even the utilization of outside GPUs.
So there you have it, our rundown with the best laptops with thunderbolt 3. We have compiled the best laptops for the wide array of users ranging from a laptop for students with minimal usage to high-end workstations.
Our recommendation, for a user that acquires a sleek laptop with high-end specs, is Dell XPS 15. However, if you are a gaming freak, don’t miss out on checking on Acer Predator Triton 500. For all the Apple universe lovers, Apple MacBook Pro is our suggestion for your go-to laptop.
While all the referenced models accompany their preferences and weaknesses, we suggest that you search for the PC which best suits your exercises of intrigue.
