In our bid to find the best laptops money can buy, TechRadar has tested hundreds of devices over the years, putting devices from notebook brands like Apple, Dell, HP, and Lenovo through our rigorous review process.
This involves looking at the build quality and durability while using them in our day-to-day lives, running benchmark tests to see how powerful they really are, and push their battery lives as far as they can go, so you’ll know how long they can last before you need to plug them in.
Let’s cut to the chase: in my opinion, the best laptop you can buy right now is the 13-inch MacBook Air (M2). In both its 13-inch – and newer 15-inch – versions, Apple’s thin and light laptop leads the pack thanks to a stylish and modern design, fantastic screen, brilliant performance and exceptional battery life. The 13-inch model is particularly good value as well, especially since a recent price cut.
Choosing the best laptop for your needs doesn’t need to be complicated – which is where this guide comes in. We have carefully curated this list of the best laptops to bring you the definitive selection of amazing devices for all kinds of budgets and use cases.
What to look for
Battery life: Arguably the most important thing to look for when buying a new laptop is battery life, as there’s nothing worse than being stuck with a laptop that dies after only a few hours when unplugged. For pure battery life, Chromebooks are the best laptops you can buy – but Apple’s latest MacBooks with M1 and M2 chips come close, offering well over 10 hours of battery life.
Performance: When looking to buy the best laptop for your needs, you should consider the performance a potential purchase offers. You don’t want to be stuck with a laptop that starts lagging after a few years. For Windows laptops, look to get one with a modern 13th generation Intel processor, or AMD Ryzen 7000 series. With a MacBook, go for an M1 or M2 model – which are Apple’s powerful chips made specially for its laptops.
You should also go for a minimum of 8GB of RAM, though 16GB is more future-proof. For Chromebooks, however, 4GB of RAM is fine.
Matt Hanson
Matt has been reviewing laptops for the best part of 15 years, and has been using them for a lot longer. That means he knows the essential ingredients that make the perfect laptop – long battery lives, dependable performance, solid designs and above all value for money. He’s personally reviewed and used most of the laptops on this page.
The quick list
Want to cut to the chase and find out what the best laptops are? Below, you’ll find a roundup of our choices, and you can jump to a more detailed review of every pick, along with our price comparison tool to help you find the best deals.
1. MacBook Air (M2, 2022)
The best laptop overall
Apple proves that you can improve on perfection with the 13-inch MacBook Air. With a thinner design, bigger screen and M2 chip, it’s the laptop to beat.
The best Chromebook
This 2-in-1 Chromebook offers incredible value for money, while also proving to be a versatile device that’s perfect for kids and students.
3. MacBook Air (M1, 2020)
The best value laptop
The MacBook Air M1 remains a firm favorite, and an obvious choice if you want a top-end portable laptop for less than the MacBook Air M2’s price.
The best laptop for Windows 11
The Dell XPS 13 is a brilliant 13-inch laptop that runs Windows 11. It’s thin, light and one of the most stylish laptops you can buy in 2023.
5. MacBook Air 15-inch (2023)
The best 15-inch laptop
Apple’s new 15-inch version of the MacBook Air comes with the same M2 chip as the smaller model higher up this list, but with a gorgeous new screen.
The best budget laptop in the world
If you’re after a budget Windows 11 laptop then this is the one to get, offering good performance, a stylish design and a low price.
Load the next 6 products…
7. MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023)
The best laptop for productivity
Want the best laptop for productivity? The new 16-inch MacBook Pro (2023) gives you a choice of M2 Pro and M2 Max chips for incredible performance.
The best 2-in-1 laptop
Thanks to its unique dual-screen design, the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i is an innovative take on the 2-in-1 that’s especially useful for productivity.
The top laptop for gaming
Modern gaming laptops don’t need to be big and bulky, as the Razer Blade 14 proves with aplomb. If you want a portable gaming device, get this.
The best large-screen laptop
Looking for a huge screen to boost your productivity? The Dell XPS 17 combines the slim design of other XPS laptops with a 17-inch screen.
11. Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra
The best OLED laptop
OLED screens looks gorgeous on laptops, and the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra is a top example of the difference it makes. It’s slim, light and portable, too.
The best affordable gaming laptop
The Asus TUF Dash F15 is ideal if you’re looking for a machine that can play the latest games, but doesn’t blow a hole in your bank balance.
The best laptops in 2023
Why you can trust TechRadar
We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
Below you’ll find full write-ups for each of the best laptops in our list. We’ve tested each one extensively, so you can be sure that our recommendations can be trusted.
The best laptop overall
Image 1 of 6
Buy it if
✅ You want a thin and light laptop: The MacBook Air (M2, 2022) remains one of the best thin and light laptops you can buy, and with the new design, it’s now even more svelte, while looking impressively modern.
✅ You want an M2 MacBook: While the MacBook Pro 13-inch beat the new MacBook Air to the punch by being the first M2 MacBook, the MacBook Air (M2, 2022) is a much better buy for most people.
✅ You were considering the 13-inch MacBook Pro: Seriously, get the Air instead. It’s thinner, lighter, has a bigger screen, similar performance and is cheaper.
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You’re after the cheapest MacBook: The 13-inch MacBook Air didn’t just get new hardware and a new design – but also a new, higher, price tag. The MacBook Air (M1, 2020) (read more) remains better value.
❌ You want ports: The thin and light design comes at a cost of ports, the new MacBook Air comes with just two Thunderbolt ports, which means you may need an adapter to plug certain peripherals in. The MacBook Pro 14-inch (2021) (info here) is a better pick if you want more ports.
❌ You want a larger screen: If the 13-inch screen seems a little too small to work comfortably on, the good news is there’s now a 15-inch MacBook Air.
The bottom line
💻 The MacBook Air (M2, 2022) is Apple’s follow-up to the best laptop it ever made. It’s got a fantastic design, bigger screen and incredibly long battery life, but also a much higher price tag than the previous model. Think of it more as a replacement for the 13-inch MacBook Pro and it starts to make a lot more sense. ★★★★½
What you need to know
The Apple MacBook Air (M2, 2022) has big shoes to fill. Its predecessor was arguably the best laptop Apple ever made, and the new model, sporting a new design and a more powerful M2 chip that can handle pretty much any day-to-day task with ease, is a worthy successor. Perhaps its most impressive feature is the huge battery life, which lasted an impressive 16 hours in our tests. However, while it gets a lot right, it also gets a large bump in the price department, which may put it out of some people’s budget.
Design: One of the most radical design overhauls we’ve seen Apple make to an iconic product has reinvigorated the MacBook Air. It’s not just thinner and lighter, but it has a larger screen than before as well. The screen is also brighter than the previous model, making it a great choice for digital creatives who don’t want to splash out on a MacBook Pro. Its modern design puts Apple back at the top when it comes to good looking laptops, and while the new color options aren’t as vibrant as many were hoping, they still give a touch of personality to Apple’s thin and light laptop.
Performance: During our time reviewing the MacBook Air, it performed incredibly well. The pre-installed macOS Monterey boots quickly and runs well, while also looking fantastic on the new screen. Browsing the web in both Safari and Chrome was fast and responsive, even with multiple tabs open, and typing up documents on the slightly redesigned keyboard feels nice and comfortable.
Battery life: In our tests, the MacBook Air (M2, 2022) lasted a huge 16 hours on battery while playing a 1080p video – 30 minutes longer than the MacBook Pro 13-inch (M2, 2022), and substantially longer than the MacBook Air (M1, 2020), which lasted 11 hours in the same test. You can easily use the MacBook Air (M2, 2022) throughout an entire workday, or on a long flight, and still have battery life left. It’s not the longest life you’ll find in a MacBook – the new MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) almost hits 20 hours on a single charge.
Value for money: The MacBook Air starts at $1,199 / £1,249 / AU$1,899, a substantial leap from the older MacBook Air’s launch price. The price rise is understandable, but it means it feels like poorer value than the older MacBook Air, which is a shame, as one of the best things about the 2020 MacBook Air was its low price and excellent performance. The good news is that with the launch of the 15-inch MacBook Air, the price of the 13-inch model has dropped by $100, making it better value for money (though still pricey).
Read the full review: MacBook Air (M2, 2022)
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Price | A lot more expensive than previous model | ★★★☆☆ |
| Design | New design looks great, with a bigger screen | ★★★★★ |
| Performance | The M2 chip offers excellent performance | ★★★★☆ |
| Battery life | At 16 hours it outlasts many rivals | ★★★★★ |
The best Chromebook
Image 1 of 7
Buy it if
✅ You want a lightweight and portable 2-in-1 laptop: The Duet is one of the most portable Chromebooks you’re going to find right now. Its compact form factor and negligible weight make it the kind of 2-in-1 that you can easily carry with you in any circumstance.
✅ You’re on a strict budget: The Lenovo Duet we tested sells for $299, making it one of the most affordable 2-in-1 laptops you’re going to find anywhere.
✅ You want a more robust system than Android or iOS can offer: As powerful as Android and iOS have become, mobile operating systems are still far more restricted than Windows, MacOS, or Linux OS.
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You have more limited manual dexterity: Some may find the Duet’s smaller-than-standard keyboard a bit fiddly. If that’s likely to be the case for you, a larger laptop such as the Acer Swift 3 (skip to that entry) may be a better option.
❌ You want a high-performance system: If you want a 2-in-1 laptop that can multitask with the best of them or you’re the type of person who opens up dozens and dozens of Google Chrome tabs just to see the world burn, the Lenovo Duet is not the Chromebook for you.
❌ You want a traditional laptop OS: Chrome OS isn’t as robust as Windows 10 or MacOS and it isn’t meant to be. If you want a traditional laptop environment, a Chromebook will only get you part of the way there, which may not be enough to satisfy your needs.
The bottom line
💻 The Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook strikes the perfect balance between tablet portability and Chromebook utility, all while keeping the price ridiculously low – and somehow packing in a heck of a battery that simply refuses to die. ★★★★½
What you need to know
The Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook is the best ultra-low price laptop you can buy. While it’s been out for a while, Chromebooks don’t date as quickly as Windows laptops, and it’s still one of the best Chromebooks we’ve used. If you’re a Chromebook skeptic, the IdeaPad Duet Chromebook just might convert you. It can be used as both a laptop and a tablet thanks to its detachable keyboard, while also boasting an impressively long battery life. You’re simply not going to find a Windows 11 laptop that can outlast the 20-hour battery life the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook offers – especially at this price. It’s a particularly good choice for students who want something reliable, flexible and affordable.
Design: Aesthetically, the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook has a certain minimalist charm to it, with its near-total absence of ports and buttons along the sides. The 10-inch FHD (1920 x 1200) IPS display is bright and vibrant, and the Chrome OS interface is simple to navigate. The keyboard is a bit too small, but it can be easily detached to turn the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook into a tablet device. And with Android apps available in Chrome OS, you have access to a huge library of touch-optimized software ranging from productivity tools to games.
Performance: When it comes to general web browsing, video streaming, and basic productivity use, the Duet does exactly what you want it to do without so much as a hiccup. You can’t load up on Chrome tabs with reckless abandon, but you can still have a handful going at once and not grind everything to a halt.
Battery life: While Chromebooks on average get about 10 hours of life on a fully-charged battery, the Lenovo Duet lasted nearly an entire day of looped HD video during our review. In fact, we got 21 hours and 29 minutes from it, making it one of the longest-lasting laptops we’ve tested.
Value for money: As far as Chromebooks and 2-in-1 laptops go, this is hands down the best value you’re going to find in a portable device of its kind. It’s the computer that last decade’s netbooks promised to be – but couldn’t quite become – while taking the Chromebook to its next logical step.
Read the full review: Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Price | It’s by far the best budget laptop around | ★★★★★ |
| Design | The design is simple, but it does the job | ★★★★☆ |
| Performance | Dependable rather than ultra powerful | ★★★☆☆ |
| Battery life | At almost 22 hrs, it lasts far longer than most | ★★★★★ |
The best value laptop
Image 1 of 4
Buy it if
✅ You want an affordable MacBook: The MacBook Air (M1, 2020) isn’t just one of the best MacBooks Apple has ever made, it’s also the cheapest. This is fantastic value.
✅ You want a powerful thin and light laptop: The MacBook Air M1’s performance is so impressive that many people thinking about buying a MacBook Pro should actually consider this instead.
✅ You want a long-lasting battery: The MacBook Air (M1, 2020) has a brilliant battery, and will be able to power through a work or school day with ease. Really impressive stuff.
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You want a budget laptop: The MacBook Air (M1, 2020) is a great value laptop, but it is still very expensive. There are some brilliant budget laptops out there these days that offer excellent performance for a lot less.
❌ You don’t like Macs: The MacBook Air doesn’t have a revolutionary design, nor does it try to win over Windows users too much. If you weren’t a fan of previous MacBook Airs, the 2020 model won’t really persuade you otherwise.
❌ You want the latest MacBook Air: If you want the latest model, then go for the MacBook Air (M2, 2022). Be warned, though, as it’s much more expensive.
The bottom line
💻 The MacBook Air (M1, 2022) is easily one of the most exciting Apple laptops of recent years. Its M1 chip is a real game-changer, and the ability to run both legacy apps, M1-optimized apps and iOS apps is very impressive. Battery life is also great, and performance is excellent as well. ★★★★½
What you need to know
With the MacBook Air (M1, 2020), Apple has gave its thinnest and slimmest laptop a huge performance upgrade. The 2020 Air runs on the Apple M1 processor, the manufacturer’s highly acclaimed ARM-based chip, giving it the power boost it’s long deserved.
Design: The MacBook Air’s design is iconic, so the fact that the 2020 model keeps the same look as older Airs is not necessarily a problem. If you do want a newer design, you’ll need to look at the much more expensive MacBook Air 2022.
Performance: As soon as we began using the MacBook Air (M1, 2020) we were impressed. It boots up quickly (an additional benefit of the M1 chip), macOS is fast and responsive, and all the applications that you usually run in macOS on Intel-based MacBooks should work fine with the MacBook Air (M1, 2020), thanks to some software wizardry using Apple’s Rosetta 2 tool, which allows apps to run on the new architecture.
Battery life: We’ve been very impressed with the MacBook Air’s battery life – after a few hours of work, the battery only dropped a few percentage points. You can leave it on standby for a day and the battery level will remain high. In our official battery test, the 2020 Air lasted an impressive 11 hours and 15 minutes. This means you shouldn’t have to worry about plugging it in during an entire work or school day. If you want a longer battery, however, check out the MacBook Air (M2, 2022) model, which outlasts this one by five hours.
Value for money: Prices for the MacBook Air (M1, 2020) start at $999 / £999 / AU$1,599, and it easily outperforms competitors that cost much more, making it brilliant value for money. That’s even more true if you can find it in a sale. With Apple having released a new model of the MacBook Air (and with rumors swirling that another updated model could launch in the next few months), it means you can often find the MacBook Air (M1, 2020) going for some incredibly impressive prices at the moment.
Read the full review: Apple MacBook Air (M1, 2020)
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Amazing value for money | ★★★★★ |
| Design | Iconic, albeit not as fresh as 2022’s model | ★★★★☆ |
| Performance | The M1 chip is plenty for most tasks | ★★★★★ |
| Battery life | Excellent day-plus battery life | ★★★★★ |
The best for Windows 11
Image 1 of 4
Buy it if
✅ You want a great looking laptop: The Dell XPS 13 (2022) looks fantastic, objectively speaking, so you shouldn’t have any qualms about showing this one off.
✅ You want ultraportability: There are very few laptops out there that are as easy to carry around as the new Dell XPS 13.
✅ You want great value: The Dell XPS 13 (2022) feels like a very premium item that was mistakenly given a budget-friendly price.
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You want pure performance: The Dell XPS 13 (2022) is a great everyday performer that will handle just about anything that most consumers wlli throw at it, which is mostly web browsing, video streaming, and some productivity work. Beyond that, this laptop is going to struggle.
❌ You loved the older XPS 13 design: If you’re a fan of the old XPS 13s, it is very likely that you aren’t just going to dislike this laptop – you’ll probably hate it.
❌ You love macOS: While the Dell XPS 13 is a brilliant Windows 11 device, the MacBook Air (M2) (full info here) is a much better buy, so long as you are happy to switch to macOS.
The bottom line
💻 Dell XPS 13 (2022) has updated hardware, a new color option, and some controversial design changes, but overall it’s a fantastic laptop for everyday use at a great price. It isn’t the right choice for power users, but for many people it will hit the right spot between portability, value and looks. ★★★★☆
What you need to know
The Dell XPS 13 (2022) had its work cut out to really impress us. Its predecessors have often made it to the top of our best laptops list, but recently its competitors such as HP and Apple have really caught up when it comes to making desirable thin and light laptops. To put the XPS 13 back in its rightful place towards the top of our best laptops list, Dell has made some big changes. While the boost in performance thanks to cutting-edge components is welcome, some people will be sorely disappointed by the other changes Dell has made to the 2022 version.
Design: The Dell XPS 13 (2022) gets a new design, which may upset people who loved the old look, but it’s fresh and modern and comes with a new color option, Umber (a bluish-purple), in addition to Sky, which is the standard silver color for the XPS laptop line. It’s impressively thin and light, and the screen is bright, albeit not up to OLED standards. One design decision that may not please everyone, however, is the lack of carbon fiber palm rests in favor of a more svelte aluminum keyboard deck. We quite like the change, but others may find the aluminum deck less comfortable to use.
Performance: The Dell XPS 13 (2022) is designed to be an affordable, ultraportable laptop that can do what most people need it to do: some web browsing, video streaming, and maybe messing around with a couple of spreadsheets for work.
Battery life: The battery life on the Dell XPS 13 (2022) is not great, if we compare it to its predecessor. On our PCMark 10 battery test, it lasted on average about seven hours and 31 minutes. It did better on our looped video test, managing an average nine hours and eight minutes. That’s less than the last model, and nowhere near Apple’s M1 and M2 MacBooks.
Value for money: This XPS 13 model is more oriented towards value than performance – the Dell XPS 13 Plus is the version to pick if you want power. With that in mind, prices start at a very reasonable $899 / £854 / AU$1,898.
Read the full review: Dell XPS 13 (2022)
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Price | One of the best value Ultrabooks available | ★★★★★ |
| Design | Objectively beautiful, potentially divisive | ★★★★☆ |
| Performance | Favors portability and value over performance | ★★★☆☆ |
| Battery life | A major step back from its predecessor | ★★★☆☆ |
The best 15-inch laptop
Image 1 of 5
Buy it if
✅ You want a bigger MacBook Air: This says it all, really. Think of the MacBook Air 15-inch (2023) as almost identical to the 13-inch model, but with a bigger screen.
✅ You want a laptop to watch movies on: The screen and six speaker setup makes this an awesome laptop for kicking back and watching movies on.
✅ You want a 15-inch laptop that’s portable: Although it is bigger and heavier than the 13-inch model, it remains impressively thin for a larger laptop.
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You want pure portability: If you want a laptop that’s as small and light as possible to carry around with you, this isn’t it.
❌ You want a laptop to work on while travelling: As with other 15-inch laptops, the MacBook Air 15-inch (2023) isn’t easy to fit on small desks or tables on public transport.
❌ You’re on a budget: The MacBook Air 15-inch (2023) offers good value, but this remains an expensive laptop, so you may be better off looking elsewhere for a more affordable machine.
The bottom line
💻 The MacBook Air 15-inch (2023) is essentially just a larger MacBook Air 13-inch – and that’s both a good and bad thing. It has a stunning design, a brilliant screen, and possibly the best speaker setup you’ll find in a laptop. However, the bump in screen size means it’s less portable. ★★★★☆
What you need to know
The rumors were true: Apple was indeed working on a 15-inch version of its excellent MacBook Air, and after its launch at WWDC 2023, we’ve had a chance to properly test it out. And we like what we’ve seen. A lot. While there have been some compromises to portability due to the increased screen size, this is still a thin and light laptop that’s a joy to use.
Design: Last year’s MacBook Air introduced a new design that represented the biggest change to Apple’s most affordable MacBook in years. It was a welcome refresh that gave the MacBook Air 13-inch (2023) a much needed modern look, with a greatly improved screen and MagSafe 3 charging port. Apple has kept that same design language for the 15-inch model. Apple considers the 13-inch and 15-inch models to be very much part of the same family of products, and they look pretty much identical, except for the size.
Performance: Don’t expect any sort of generational leap between the MacBook Air 15-inch (2023) and last year’s model – but the M2 is an excellent chip, and for day-to-day use including web browsing and video editing. Movies look stunning thanks to the bright, vibrant colors and high resolution of the screen. For a pure movie watching experience, there are few better laptops you can buy – especially when the six built-in speakers really get going.
Battery life: When it comes to the battery life of the MacBook Air 15-inch (2023), Apple promises up to 15 hours of wireless web browsing and 18 hours of video playback, far outpacing Windows 11 rivals.
Value for money: The price isn’t outrageous, with the base model starting at $1,299 / £1,399 / AU$2,199. That’s just $100 more than that the 13-inch MacBook Air launched for last year, offering excellent value for money. It’s also cheaper than rivals like the Dell XPS 15.
Read the full review: Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (2023)
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Price | For a 15-inch laptop, the MacBook Air 15-inch (2023) is good value, though still pricey. | ★★★★☆ |
| Design | The same design as the new 13-inch model, but that’s not a bad thing at all. | ★★★★☆ |
| Performance | The M2 chip remains an excellent performer for day-to-day tasks. | ★★★★☆ |
| Battery life | The 15-inch MacBook Air can outlast most Windows 11 laptops with ease. | ★★★★☆ |
The best budget laptop
Image 1 of 5
Buy it if
✅ You regularly work on the go: The anti-glare display does a good job cutting down on reflections and gets plenty bright, making it easier to work in brightly lit conditions and in the outdoors. It doesn’t hurt that you won’t need to camp out near a power outlet, thanks to the excellent battery life…
✅ You want a laptop with stamina: The Acer Swift 3 can go the distance whether you’re working or kicking back with Netflix. You’ll get a full day from it, no problem.
✅ You value performance over looks: The Acer Swift 3 may not be as attractive as some of its competitors, but it makes up for it by outperforming them while running on the same hardware.
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You do a lot of typing: The Acer Swift 3’s keyboard is lackluster, with cramped and error-inducing arrow keys and a general mushiness to every press.
❌ You have the occasional spill: Some computers might not struggle with a drop of water here and there, but the exhaust vent sits directly above the keyboard on the Acer Swift 3 and looks ripe for an accident.
❌ You care about aesthetics: The Swift 3 may be a capable performer, but it’s not a looker. It has a dated hinge design, dull looks, and a metal chassis that almost leaves us wishing it were plastic.
The bottom line
💻 The Acer Swift 3 is a good budget laptop that makes capable performance more accessible than a lot of its ultrabook competitors. It’s a speedy Windows machine and has a reliable display and battery. If you want more style, the Acer Swift 3 OLED (2022) brings the goods – but at a higher price. ★★★½
What you need to know
Acer has updated its more affordable ultrabook line with some considerable under-the-hood upgrades, especially where battery life is concerned. If you’re after a dependable laptop that won’t cost a lot of money, but can handle day-to-day tasks (without feeling too cheap), then the Acer Swift 3 remains the best cheap laptop you can buy.
Design: The Acer Swift 3 is cased in aluminum and a magnesium-aluminum alloy, and comes in a not-very-exciting gray colorway. There are a few jazzier options, but they’re only available in specific configurations. While it’s not an exciting design, it’s solidly built, especially for the price. At 2.65 pounds (1.2kg), it’s heavier than more expensive rivals, but the fact that it comes with a 14-inch screen, rather than the 13-inch found in the MacBook Air and Dell XPS 13, means this weight increase is understandable. One issue we do have with the design is the placement of the cooling vent, which sit below the screen and face upwards. If you spill any liquid near there, there’s a real danger that it could enter the vent and damage the internal components of the laptop.
Performance: The Acer Swift 3 puts in a solid performance for day-to-day tasks such as browsing the internet and creating documents. It can’t compete with more expensive laptops, and the MacBook Air (M1, 2020) runs rings around it despite its price tag not being much higher, but if you keep your expectations in check, you’ll be pleased.
Battery life: The Acer Swift 3 proved to be a monster in our battery life benchmarks, lasting 14 hours and 31 minutes in our PCMark 10 Battery Life test and just passing the 9-hour mark in our video playback test. We spent a whole day writing, editing, reviewing, and YouTubing on Chrome, with way too many tabs open, and still didn’t need to find a power outlet until long after we should have stopped working.
Value for money: While it’s not quite as cheap as previous Acer Swift 3 models, the 2021 model remains excellent value for money, offering performance that compares well to more expensive rivals. The design is solid, and the battery life is definitely impressive for a laptop as cheap as this.
Read the full review: Acer Swift 3 (2021)
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Price | 11th-gen Intel chips for less than you’d think | ★★★★★ |
| Design | Dull but solid. It doesn’t feel cheap at all | ★★★☆☆ |
| Performance | Unspectacular but does the basics well enough | ★★★☆☆ |
| Battery life | You’ll get a whole work day on a single charge | ★★★★☆ |
The best productivity laptop
Image 1 of 6
Buy it if
✅ You want the best display on a laptop: We really can’t emphasize enough just how good the screen is on the MacBook Pro 16-inch, and Apple’s larger model really shows it off in all its glory.
✅ You want a mobile workstation that lasts for hours: The battery life of this thing is incredible. You could go two work days, or even a few long haul flights, on a single charge.
✅ You’re looking to upgrade your Intel-based MacBook Pro: The MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) improves on the Intel-based 2019 model in every way, from port selection to performance and battery life. It’s a huge leap.
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You want a slimline, portable, laptop: The large screen and healthy amount of ports comes at a price: portability. This is a large and chunky laptop that some may struggle with, so check out the MacBook Air (M2, 2022) (details here) instead.
❌ You don’t need the power: Even the base model of the MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) is incredibly powerful, and not everyone is going to get the most out of it. Unless you’re going to be doing heavy creative workloads, there are better-value laptops out there.
❌ You have the 2021 model: If you have the 2021 model, you really should think twice about buying the 2023 version – sure, it’s more powerful, but not by an amount that will make the upgrade worth it.
The bottom line
💻 The MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) is the best laptop for creative professionals right now. It offers amazing performance, even when running on its battery, and comes with the best screen you’ll find on a laptop. For video editors, programmers, music producers and photographers, there’s no better laptop. ★★★★★
What you need to know
The MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) is hands-down the best laptop for creative professionals we’ve ever tested. It’s powered by a choice of the new M2 Pro and M2 Max chips, Apple’s latest and most powerful hardware. From its display to its design to its battery life, this is a truly superb mobile workstation laptop, especially for creative professionals that need a seriously powerful machine to work on. If the high price and large body puts you off, then the MacBook Pro 14-inch (2023) is a great alternative – it features the same M2 Pro and M2 Max chips and offers very similar performance, but with a smaller screen and lower price tag.
Design: Thin bezels help keep the frame impressively small, although the chassis is quite thick in order to accommodate a bevy of ports including 3x Thunderbolt 4, 1x HDMI and 1x SDXC. That’s a fair compromise in our book. The notch in the screen is divisive, but in practice it’s not a big deal.
Performance: Both the M2 Pro and M2 Max are big leaps over the existing M2 chip, and the M2 chip was no slouch to begin with. The 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display, meanwhile, features mini-LED technology and is a joy to look at. Its high refresh rate makes scrolling a joy and it’s super sharp, too. This kind of performance comes at a cost, however, and unless you’re thinking of doing some heavy-duty video editing or 3D rendering, the MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) is likely overkill for your needs. For non-visual creatives, the MacBook Pro 13-inch may be a wiser investment, and if you want a MacBook for day-to-day work, the MacBook Air will be the one for you.
Battery life: Apple claims that the MacBook Pro 16-inch can hit up to 22 hours when playing fullscreen videos, and in our own battery benchmark tests, where we played a looped 1080p video until the battery ran out, we found it lasted a very impressive 19 hours and 39 minutes.
Value for money: The MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) is an incredibly ambitious laptop both in terms of hardware and design, and it’s aimed at creative professionals who need powerful mobile hardware. Yes, it’s an expensive laptop – but if you need all that power, it’s well worth paying for it.
Read the full review: MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023)
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Same as previous model in the US, but UK and Aus get price rises | ★★★☆☆ |
| Design | No new design, but display remains the best on a laptop | ★★★★☆ |
| Performance | Incredible performance, even when on battery | ★★★★★ |
| Battery life | Very impressive, at 20 hours-plus | ★★★★★ |
The best 2-in-1 laptop
Image 1 of 3
Buy it if
✅ You’re often multitasking on the go: The Lenovo Yoga Book 9i’s dual-screen, multi-mode setup does wonders for multitasking. It’ll save you a lot of time and effort, and help streamline your workflow.
✅ You have deep pockets: If you’ve got extra cash lying around and want an impressive piece of kit for a laptop, this one is worth considering, especially if it helps simplify your work.
✅ You need a thin and light laptop that’s versatile: Despite offering two displays, several different modes, and a treasure trove of features, it stays amazingly thin, light, and sleek. You’ll hardly notice it in your backpack when traveling.
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You need to tighten the purse strings: This is without a doubt an expensive laptop, with a price tag that’s much more than what most people would pay.
❌ You don’t really require two displays: If you can’t take full advantage of those two displays, skip it and get a cheaper single-display laptop instead. There are plenty of excellent 2-in-1s out there that should do the trick.
❌ You want something more inconspicuous: People hardly notice it when I sit at cafes or use it on planes, but if you want something more subtle, you might feel self-conscious about its dual-screen setup.
The bottom line
💻 The Lenovo Yoga Book 9i is incredibly elegant, and it’s just as capable, whether you’re doing general productivity work or editing a batch of high-resolution images in Lightroom. Its screens are gorgeous as well. Finally, this is a dual-screen laptop done right. Beware of that steep price tag, however. ★★★★½
What you need to know
One of the best touchscreen laptops – and naturally, among the best 2-in-1 laptops – we’ve tested in 2023 (so far), the Yoga Book 9i is an incredible dual-screen laptop that actually uses the second screen well. The Yoga Book 9i sees you through your productivity and multitasking in a seamless and time-saving way without the extra weight. It’s also a capable piece of kit with cutting-edge mobile components powering it – but it also comes with a very high price.
Design: We completely fell in love with the Yoga Book 9i when we reviewed it, and you’d hard-pressed to find a dual-screen setup that’s as seamless or as versatile as this one. Lenovo has designed the Yoga Book 9i not only to give you that extra bit of screen real estate but also to offer several different modes. You can mount it on its included stand so that the screens are either stacked one on top of the other or side by side like a book – and you can use it as a normal laptop as well.
Performance: The Intel Core i7-1355U that’s powering the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i is specifically designed for ultra-thin portables. That means it’s certainly powerful enough for most day-to-day tasks, but as it has been built to keep cool and not drain the battery too fast (more on that below), it’s best used for general productivity and lighter creative workloads, rather than intensive video editing or gaming. In our tests we found the Yoga Book 9i to perform extremely well when photo editing in particular, and the dual OLED screens looked brilliant.
Battery life: Thanks to its efficient processor, the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i lasted a respectable 9 hours and 18 minutes in our tests. Considering that unlike most laptops, it’s powering two OLED screens, that’s not bad at all. If you turn off one screen, the battery life leaps to 12 hours and 13 minutes in our battery life benchmark – beating the Samsung Galaxy Book 3 Pro 360 and Dell XPS 13 Plus.
Value for money: There’s no getting away from it: this is an expensive laptop. It launched at a hefty $1,999 / £2,299.99 / $4,299, and we can’t imagine we’ll see any big price cuts any time soon. The design, quality of the dual screens and versatility of this laptop goes some way to justifying the price, but if you’re not going to use the second screen, look elsewhere.
Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga Book 9i
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Price | It’s expensive, but it’s worth the cost if you can maximize its features. | ★★★★☆ |
| Design | Not only is it beautifully designed, but Lenovo also pulls off that dual-screen setup well. | ★★★★★ |
| Performance | It’s a capable laptop that can see you through general productivity and some creative work. | ★★★★☆ |
| Battery life | Whether you’re using both or just one display, it gives you an all-day battery life. | ★★★★★ |
The best laptop for gaming
Image 1 of 3
Buy it if
✅ You want a thin and light gaming laptop: Just as Razer is known for, this laptop weighs surprisingly little for its specs and can fit into most bags and be carried around with ease.
✅ You want top performance: For its size, the performance is great, scoring high on every benchmark as well as offering solid frame rates at even the highest settings.
✅ You want solid audio quality: The dual speaker set up on either side of the keyboard means that sound clarity and depth are top-tier.
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You’re on a budget: Razer laptops are not meant for those without excess cash flow and this model is no exception.
❌ You want a better battery life: For gaming purposes, the battery life is not good in the slightest – keep this laptop plugged in unless you’re doing office work.
❌ You want to travel really light: While thin compared to most gaming laptops, the Razer Blade 14 has a chunky power brick. Yes, you can use USB-C instead, but it won’t supply enough power to keep up when gaming.
The bottom line
💻 The Razer Blade 14 (2023) is the company’s best gaming laptop yet. Sporting a thin and light chassis, as well as cutting-edge specs, it doesn’t compromise on performance. However, battery life isn’t the best. ★★★★½
What you need to know
This year’s Razer Blade 14 refresh has been outfitted with the latest specs, including the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS CPU, which sports a 5.2 GHz max clock speed and eight cores/16 threads, and up to the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU. Despite containing such powerful and normally heavy components, it still manages to remain lightweight and thin – something that many gaming laptops still struggle with.
Design: Razer is known for having some of the best thin and light laptops on the market, and the Razer Blade 14 (2023) is a great example of this. Despite being equipped with an RTX 4070 GPU, it’s a mere four pounds and is less than one inch thick. And thanks to the 14-inch display, it fits into most medium and up-size bags, making it easy to transport while barely feeling the weight.
Performance: The Razor Blade 14 (2023) boasts excellent gaming performance that compares to other similar gaming laptops. Benchmark results are excellent, comparable to plenty of other similar spec laptops on the market like the Legion 7i Pro or the ROG Zephyrus M16. In Marvel’s Spider-Man, the framerate doesn’t dip below 75 fps even under the highest possible settings. And thanks to the Blade 14 display’s high refresh rate, the gameplay looks and feels buttery smooth, a boon for hardcore and professional gamers.
Battery life: According to Razer, the Razer Blade 14 (2023) is supposed to have up to 10 hours of battery life, but in our tests managed around eight hours of simple work. For streaming and gaming, the battery life drops significantly, struggling to hit four hours. So, you’ll be keeping it plugged in for any intensive usage.
Value for money: Razer laptops tend to be quite expensive and the Razer Blade 14 (2023) is no exception. Despite it being a 14-inch laptop, it commands a starting price point of $2,399 / £2,499.99 / AU$4,499
Read the full review: Razer Blade 14 (2023)
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Price | While you get your money’s worth in both design and performance, it’s still very expensive. | ★★★★☆ |
| Design | Light and thin despite the components it contains, though it could use more color variety. | ★★★★★ |
| Performance | Excellent performance, can handle any PC game at max settings with ease. | ★★★★★ |
| Battery life | Unless you’re using it for office work, the battery life is pretty bad. | ★★★☆☆ |
The best 17-inch laptop
Image 1 of 5
Buy it if
✅ You love great design: The Dell XPS 17 (2022) is a gorgeous machine made out of high quality materials. The design may be a couple of years old, but with uber-slim bezels, it’s still bang up to date and very slick indeed.
✅ You want the latest Intel chips: The XPS 17 has been updated for 2022 with Intel’s latest 12th Gen Alder Lake CPUs delivering outstanding performance, thanks to a mix of performance and efficiency cores.
✅ You need decent battery life: Despite its large screen and beefy CPU performance, the Dell XPS 17 still delivers over 10 hours of battery life away from the mains.
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You want a true gaming laptop: The Dell XPS 17 can be had with Nvidia RTX 3050 or 3060 graphics, which are decent for casual gaming. But serious gamers can get better performance with the Razer Blade 14 (click for details).
❌ You want maximum bang for your buck: The Dell XPS 17 is a great performer, but it will cost you. You can have similar performance, but with a less pleasing design, for a lot less cash. The slick looks and engineering add cost.
❌ Portability is a priority: Inevitably, this 17-inch model isn’t the most portable laptop around. Weighing in at well over 2kg and measuring more than 14 inches across, this is not a laptop you’ll want to lug around daily.
The bottom line
💻 The Dell XPS 17 (2022) looks identical to last year’s model, but it’s still one of the slickest and sleekest 17-inch laptops around and now packs Intel’s latest 12th Gen CPUs for epic performance and surprisingly good battery life. ★★★★½
What you need to know
If the Dell XPS 17 (2022) looks familiar, that’s because it is. Physically, this revised 2022 model is a dead ringer for last year’s Dell XPS 17 – and the one from 2020, too. But that’s no bad thing given this is one of the slickest and sleekest laptops around. That doesn’t mean there’s nothing new with the latest model, however. Dell has done a lot of work updating the internal components of the XPS 17, and it’s now powered by Intel’s 12th generation processors. You can configure it with an Nvidia GeForce GPU as well, and that means, if you’re after a large-screen laptop that’s stylishly designed and can keep up with even the most demanding of workloads, then the Dell XPS 17 (2022) is definitely worth considering.
Design: The Dell XPS 17 is super sleek and beautifully built, with the main chassis and screen covered in machined aluminum and the palmrest in carbon fiber. It still looks modern, too, thanks to ultra-slim bezels on all four sides of the display. And all that’s despite it still squeezing in a 720p webcam up top with Windows Hello facial recognition support.
Performance: As far as performance goes, this laptop has everything you could ask for. It’ll tear through everything from video encodes to 3D renders with ease. Intel Alder Lake’s world-beating single-core performance also guarantees that this laptop feels snappy in day-to-day tasks like web browsing. If there is an exception, it involves graphics performance and gaming, unless you splash out on a truly high-end configuration. Even then, remember that this is not designed to be a gaming laptop.
Battery life: Large powerful laptops like the Dell XPS 17 (2022) used to be nailed-on certainties for awful battery life. Not these days. In light workloads like watching video and web browsing, you can expect over 10 hours of battery life. Whilst reviewing the Dell XPS 17, we found we could just about manage a whole workday on a single charge.
Value for money: The Dell XPS 17 (2022) kicks off at $1,749 in the US, £2,099 in the UK and AU$3,999, and costs can quickly mount when you start configuring it with yet more powerful specs.
Read the full review: Dell XPS 17 (2022)
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Not cheap at entry and pricier as you spec up | ★★★☆☆ |
| Design | Sleek and beautifully built but lacks ports | ★★★★☆ |
| Performance | Packs a punch, but graphics are lacking | ★★★★☆ |
| Battery life | 10hrs plus is impressive given all the power | ★★★★☆ |
The best OLED laptop
Image 1 of 2
Buy it if
✅ You want excellent productivity and gaming performance: This laptop can balance both, plus any editing or creative projects that you need to be done. It’s the ultimate workhorse in a gorgeous chassis.
✅ You want a great display: The display is a full 3K AMOLED screen that supports HDR and offers crisp, clear visuals.
✅ You love to type: The keyboard keys are wide, which increases typing accuracy, and it even sports a numlock pad.
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You’re on a budget: Though this is a high-quality laptop that can truly do it all, it also comes at a steep price. The average worker or creative person might have trouble affording it.
❌ You need a better battery: This battery is pretty bad, especially if you’re gaming or streaming movies. It does charge fast but you’re better off keeping it on AC power.
❌ You don’t need the power: One of the reasons the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra is so expensive is that it comes with very powerful components for creative tasks. Not everyone will need those – so save money and look elsewhere.
The bottom line
💻 The Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra is capable of nearly any task you put it to – productivity, creative projects, and more. Plus, the Samsung ecosystem inside is a feature that truly rivals Apple’s. ★★★★½
What you need to know
The Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra is a truly impressive Ultrabook that proves that Samsung can make laptops as stylish and desirable as major laptop brands such as Dell, HP and Asus. The Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra is an absolute stunner of a portable machine, offering excellent specs and a gorgeous display all in a sleek and sexy package, and it’s one of the best looking ultrabooks going that isn’t the Dell XPS 13 and Apple MacBook Air (M1,2020). Arguably its best feature is the beautiful 3K (2880 x 1800) AMOLED screen that is bright and vibrant, and at 16-inches, is a joy to work on.
Design: The Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra has an absolutely gorgeous, sleek design. It’s an Ultrabook wearing a sexy black chassis and has a light and thin form factor for its 16-inch display. The display itself is a 3K (2880 x 1800) AMOLED screen that features 400 nits of brightness normally, and when it’s using HDR that increases to 500 nits. It has a nice, wide keyboard with well-sized keys and a num lock pad on the side, making it very comfortable to type on.
Performance: General performance for the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra is very well-rounded, making it a great all-round workhorse that can tackle most creative and editing tasks alongside productivity and even higher-end gaming. Intel’s 13th generation processors paired with Nvidia’s new RTX 4000 series of laptop GPUs makes this an incredible performer that’s even able to play games.
Battery life: Sadly, the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra has a terrible battery life. Through productivity work, you can get it to last around six hours at most, and with streaming and gaming, you’ll be getting less than five hours.
Value for money: Pricing is quite high, as it starts at $2,399.99 (£2,649 / around AU$4,875) for the base model and $2,999.99 (£3,049 / around AU$5,610) for the upgraded model. This means it’s a laptop that won’t be for everyone.
Read the full review: Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Price | It’s an extremely expensive Ultrabook but the current sales soften the blow somewhat. | ★★★☆☆ |
| Design | This is a slim and gorgeous Ultrabook that features a Samsung ecosystem that rivals Apple’s. | ★★★★★ |
| Performance | It’s truly the jack of all trades of laptops, able to juggle most tasks with ease. | ★★★★★ |
| Battery life | It has a horrible battery life, but at least it charges fast. | ★★☆☆☆ |
The best affordable gaming laptop
Image 1 of 5
Buy it if
✅ You want to play games on the go: At under an inch thick and less than 5lbs, this is a gaming laptop you can easily carry it around.
✅ You want a cheap gaming laptop that doesn’t suck: The Dash F15’s starting configuration gives you an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 and a Core i7 processor. That level of performance at just a bit more than a thousand bucks is genuinely a great deal.
✅ You want a long battery life: Nine hours may not be a lot compared to some options in this list, but for a gaming laptop it’s excellent.
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You need a webcam: The Asus TUF Dash F15 doesn’t have one – so you’ll need to either buy a standalone or do without.
❌ You don’t like the color teal: The Asus TUF Dash F15 doesn’t have an RGB keyboard, which is fine at this price. However, Asus did opt for a colored LED behind the keyboard, so you’re going to want to make sure it’s a color you like, because you won’t be able to change it.
❌ You want maximum performance: As an affordable gaming laptop, the Asus TUF Dash F15 doesn’t offer the most powerful components out there. For that, you should spend more on the Razer Blade 14 (read more).
The bottom line
💻 The Asus TUF Dash F15 is a masterclass in mixing an attainable price with an elegant form factor. It has strong performance in a chassis that won’t weigh you down when you need to go somewhere. And it doesn’t hurt that it has some of the longest battery life in a gaming laptop today. ★★★★½
What you need to know
The Asus TUF Dash F15 brings a luxurious gaming experience to an affordable price point. There are a couple of compromises made to make this laptop work at this low price, though. The most noticeable is going to be the lack of a webcam. However, the starting configuration gets you an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 GPU and an Intel Core i7 processor, which aren’t bad at all, considering the relatively low price of the Asus TUF Dash F15. This will offer enough power to play most of the latest PC games at medium to high settings. It’s not the most powerful gaming laptop you can buy in 2023, but the value for money it offers means it’s a great first gaming laptop, especially for students.
Design: This laptop is just 0.8 inches thick and weighs a mere 4.5lb, making it extremely thin and light for a gaming laptop. Both the keyboard deck and the lid of the laptop are made of aluminum with a gorgeous gray colorway, so it doesn’t lose rigidity for the sake of portability. Despite its lower price, there’s nothing about the design of the Asus TUF Dash F15 that makes it feel cheap. Instead, you get a solid build quality that means you can confidently carry this laptop around in a bag or backpack without worrying about damaging it.
Performance: While it packs the latest silicon from both Intel and Nvidia, the hardware is configured in such a way that it won’t burst into flames in such a tiny chassis. As a result, you’re not going to get the fastest laptop on the market here. That doesn’t mean that the Asus TUF Dash F15 can’t tear through the latest AAA games, though.
Battery life: The Dash F15 proves that gaming laptops no longer have to make a trade-off when it comes to staying power, offering around 9 hours of battery life. That’s incredibly impressive, though you should expect the battery to drain much more quickly when playing games.
Value for money: This is probably one of the best value laptops with an RTX 3000 GPU right now, especially when you consider the TUF Dash F15’s long battery life and super-portable design.
Read the full review: Asus TUF Dash F15
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Price | You won’t get a better gaming laptop for less | ★★★★★ |
| Design | Impressively stylish at this price | ★★★★☆ |
| Performance | Punches well above its weight when gaming | ★★★★☆ |
| Battery life | Incredibly impressive for a gaming laptop | ★★★★☆ |
How to choose the best laptop for you:
What are the best laptop brands? The best brands for laptops include Apple, Dell, Lenovo and HP, and they all have their strengths. For example, Apple make brilliantly-designed slim and light laptops, while Dell does a great range of high-end ultrabooks, as well as affordable devices and Chromebooks as well. Lenovo’s well known for making solidly-built business laptops (and some great 2-in-1 laptops as well), and HP’s also been making some gorgeous laptops recently that are some of the best laptops in the world.
When it comes to gaming, the best laptop brands include Alienware, Asus and Acer.
How much RAM does a laptop need? RAM (Random Access Memory) is an important specification to look for in a laptop. You’ll want 4GB at the very least for a Windows laptop – though we’d actually recommend for many people to go for 8GB. That will ensure that the laptop runs well for years to come. Budget Chromebooks can get away with less RAM, such as 1GB or 2GB.
Battery life considerations Finally there’s battery life. This is likely to be one of the most important considerations you have when choosing what laptop to buy. The best laptops need to be able to let you work – and play – for hours on end without you having to scramble for a power adapter. Modern laptops are getting ever more power-efficient, which has led to longer battery lives. For a laptop to be included in our best laptops list, it needs to offer a battery life of five hours or more.
Which type of laptop is best for you?
General laptops: Where the best cheap laptops are found, devices that focus more on practicality than style, portability or power. That’s not to say they can’t be fast, but you’ll typically find a non-Ultrabook clamshell laptop with an HD screen and spinning drive-based storage for less than $600 or £400.
Ultrabooks: Where you’ll find thin-and-light notebooks sporting SSD storage and display resolutions that exceed 1080p. Paired with powerful, albeit mobile-centric components and especially long battery life, the best Ultrabooks will cost a pretty penny – $700 or £500 to $2,000 or £1,800.
2-in-1 laptops: Where notebooks that double as tablets are located. The Surface Book 2 might be a ways off, but many of the best 2-in-1 laptops are available right now. Outfitted with both detachable and 360-degree rotating hinges, these hybrids are the most versatile way to experience Windows 10 (or Chrome OS) on a touchscreen.
Chromebooks: Where you’ll find the best Chromebooks running Chrome OS. These do much of what Windows and macOS can in the browser, focused on cloud storage over local, while recently getting Android app support for touchscreen models. They generally cost less than $300 or £200 and some can even withstand a slight tussle.
Gaming laptops: Need a laptop to play games (almost) just like a shiny desktop PC can? Then you’ll want one of the best gaming laptops. These machines generally cost from $800 or £600 to upwards of $3,000 or £2,800 and they’ll likely be the ones to take advantage of AMD’s laptop-grade Ryzen processors first. If you’re really on a budget, then you can check out the best cheap gaming laptop deals.
Laptop-tablet hybrids: Designed from the tablet-first approach to laptop-tablet hybrids, the best Windows tablets pack beyond-HD touchscreens, sometimes with kickstands in their frames or provided via keyboard covers. These generally shine with a stylus, and range from the budget to the premium price ranges.
How we tested these laptops
How we test the best laptops
We know that buying a new laptop can be a huge investment, so every laptop in this list has been extensively tested by us. When we test laptops, we use them in our day-to-day lives to see who they perform. We look at their design, including how stylish they are, or if they are thin and light enough to carry around with, and how comfortable they are to work on.
When it comes to performance, we use a mix of real-world tests and synthetic benchmarks to see how powerful (or not) these laptops are. This means using Windows 10 (or Chrome OS on Chromebooks and macOS on MacBooks) and running various apps and seeing how fast they load, noting down any problems.
These days, the webcam and microphone in a laptop is also incredibly important, so we take time to test out these as well. When it comes to gaming laptops, we’ll run more benchmark tests, as well as fire up games to play on them as well (it’s a hard job, isn’t it?)
Battery lives are also important, so we’ll keep track on how long we can use the laptop without needing to charge. We also run our own battery life benchmark that plays a looped 1080p movie until the battery dies. We also run the PC Mark 10 battery life benchmark, which replicates real-world usage, such as web browsing and document creation. These tests give us an excellent idea of how long the batteries in these laptops last.
We then take everything we’ve learned about the laptop and compare it to its price, to see if it offers the best value to customers.