✅ More than 1,800 laptops, Chromebooks and MacBooks reviewed
✅ 15 years of product testing
✅ Over 16,000 products reviewed in total
✅ Nearly 200,000 hours testing tech
The best laptops of 2025 prove that no matter what your budget and needs are, there's bound to be a fantastic device out there, and I've just updated this guide with a bumper load of exciting new laptops.
Our number one pick for the best laptop of 2025 remains the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4), which because of its excellent performance, premium design and long battery life has yet to be beaten. Oh, and it also got a new lower starting price compared to last year's model.
Don't fancy switching from Windows 11 to macOS? Then I suggest you look into the Surface Laptop 7, which is a great MacBook alternative that offers a stylish design and long battery life you'd expect from an Apple device, but made by Microsoft and running Windows 11.
You'll also find picks for the best gaming laptop and choices for the best laptops for all kinds of budgets and use cases, and every one of them has been thoroughly tested by our laptop experts here at TechRadar, so you can trust our recommendations (you can read about how we test laptops, and all the ways we put laptops through their paces during our reviews).
Recent updates
This page has had a major update as of 05/02/2025 with new entries for best value laptop, best student laptop, best laptop for gaming and best budget gaming laptop.
I've been leading TechRadar's laptop coverage for over 10 years, and in that time I've reviewed over 100 laptops, MacBooks and Chromebooks. I regularly update our best laptops list with the very latest models, and my main aim is to ensure that TechRadar's best laptop guide offers the very best buying advice and recommendations for everyone, no matter what your budgets or needs are.
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.
The best overall
Apple has once again released the best laptop in the world with the 13-inch MacBook Air, which now comes with the M4 chip and a new, lower, price.
The best budget
Lenovo's 2-in-1 Chromebook remains the best budget laptop you can buy in 2025, despite its age.
The best Windows 11 laptop
Microsoft latest Surface Laptop is easily one of the best laptops you can buy in 2025, and it's an excellent showcase for Windows 11.
The best Ultrabook
OK, the Surface Laptop above is a great Windows 11 laptop, but it's more of an all-rounder. The latest Dell XPS 13, however, goes all-in on flagship hardware and design, making it the very best Ultrabook laptop in 2025.
The best value laptop in the world
Dell's Inspiron line of laptops have always offered brilliant value for money, with affordable price tags and stylish designs that you'd normally expect on more expensive devices, and the latest Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is no different.
The best student laptop
Looking for a great laptop for students that is affordable, yet powerful? Then I recommend the M3 MacBook Air, which has had a price cut since the M4 model released.
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The best laptop for working from home
Investing in a laptop to work from home with is more important than ever, and the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 is a great pick thanks to its balance of price and performance.
The best laptop for creative applications
If you're a creative professional, and you've the budget for it, the latest MacBook Pro with M4 or M4 Max chip is an excellent investment thanks to its raw power, build quality and dependability.
The top laptop for gaming
If you're looking for the best gaming laptop and money is no object, then the new Razer Blade 16 should be right up your street, packing powerful components (including Nvidia's latest RTX 5000 series GPUs) into a slim and light body.
The best large-screen laptop
If you're on the hunt for a laptop with a large screen so working on it feels comfortable, then the Dell XPS 17 is a great choice, with an impressively svelte design.
The best OLED laptop
Our new pick for the best OLED laptop is the excellent Asus Vivobook S 15 Copilot+, which features a stunning, vibrant, OLED screen, plus some of the best mobile hardware around - and a very competitive price.
The best affordable gaming laptop
The Asus TUF Gaming A16 is an excellent budget gaming device. With it's all-AMD hardware (both CPU and GPU are from Team Red), this laptop offers great game performance without breaking the bank.
The best laptop overall
Apple has once again launched the best laptop money can buy with the new MacBook Air 13-inch (M4). Not only does this refresh bring the extra power of the M4 chip, which can handle day-to-day tasks with ease, as well as more intensive tasks such as video editing and music recording, but it also comes at a new lower price, making this by far the best laptop you can currently buy. There's simply not another laptop at this price point that offers the same mix of performance, design and build quality. A new and improved webcam brings some handy AI-powered tools to make video calls look even better, and the new Sky Blue color option gives you more options for picking a MacBook Air that suits your tastes. If you want a laptop with a bigger screen, then consider the MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) instead.
Reasons to buy
✅ You want the best laptop for your money: The M4 MacBook Air 13-inch is now the MacBook (and laptop) we'd recommend to pretty much anyone thanks to a great design, excellent performance and relatively affordable price.
✅ You want a laptop for traveling with: The stylish thin and light design, plus the long battery life, makes this an excellent laptop for going out and about with.
✅ You want power - but not too much: The M4 chip powering the MacBook Air is great at day-to-day tasks, as well as video editing and AI.
Show expert analysis ▼
Reasons to avoid
❌ You want a touchscreen: While there are plenty of touchscreen laptops in our best laptops guide, Apple is still holding out on giving its MacBooks touchscreens.
❌ You want plenty of ports: The MacBook Air (M4) once again features just two Thunderbolt ports. If you have a lot of peripherals to plug in, you'll need to use a hub or adaptor.
❌ You want a bigger screen: The 13-inch screen of the MacBook Air makes it nice and portable, but some people may find it a bit too small to work on - in that case, you should consider the 15-inch model instead.
In-depth analysis
The latest MacBook Air sticks pretty closely to same design we've seen with the older M2 and M3 models, but with a new, improved webcam and Sky Blue color choice. It has a stylish and modern look that's easy to carry around and comfortable to work on. This does mean that port selection remains limited, which won't be a deal breaker for many people, but if you have lots of peripherals you need to plug in, you'll want to invest in a USB-C hub or look into getting a MacBook Pro.
The new MacBook Air 13-inch features the M4 chip, currently Apple's latest generation, and it's an excellent performer, especially for day-to-day tasks like browsing the web and creating documents. It also supports Apple Intelligence, though so far the AI tools on offer are a little underbaked. This isn't the most powerful MacBook, but for the price you are getting a dependable workhorse that Windows 11 rivals will struggle to match.
Apple claims the MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) can last up to 18 hours watching Apple TV shows and 15 hours browsing the internet, and we found in our own tests that you can expect at least 14 hours on a single charge when using the new MacBook Air for a variety of tasks. This means you can expect to go several workdays without needing to plug it in, which is seriously impressive.
The MacBook Air 13-inch has always been Apple's best value laptop, and it's just got better, as it now starts at $999 / £999 / AU$1,699, which is a price cut compared to the M3 model's starting price of $1,099 / £1,099 / AU$1,799. While this still isn't budget laptop territory, the performance and build quality you're getting for the price is seriously impressive, and you'd be hard pressed to find a Windows 11 laptop that offers the same level of finesse for this price.
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
Price | Apple has lowered the starting price for the latest MacBook Air making it much better value | ★★★★★ |
Design | No new design, but it remains one of the best looking laptops in 2025 | ★★★★☆ |
Performance | Performance is great thanks to the M4 chip, but it's not a huge leap over the M3 or even the M2 | ★★★★☆ |
Battery life | You can work on this laptop for a whole work day on a single charge | ★★★★★ |
💻 Apple's 13-inch MacBook Air remains my favorite laptop. The MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) has an excellent build and design, working on it is a pleasure, and the M4 provides all the power I need for the widest range of tasks. I appreciate the long battery life, bright, colorful screen, and clear audio. Read the full review: Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4)
The best budget laptop
The Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook is the best ultra-low price laptop you can buy, and it's a brilliant follow-up to the original IdeaPad Duet. 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 5 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 over 16-hour battery life the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook offers – especially at this price. It’s a particularly good choice for students who want something reliable, flexible and affordable.
Reasons to buy
✅ You want an OLED Chromebook: An OLED display on a Chromebook is uncommon, so if that's what you're looking for, this is the best choice.
✅ You need long battery life: It's possible to squeeze over 16 hours of battery life out of this Chromebook if you make the right adjustments in settings.
✅ 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.
Show expert analysis ▼
Reasons to avoid
❌ 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're on a tight budget: The Duet 5 Chromebook is incredibly affordable for the premium features it offers, but it's not the best option out there for those on a tight budget.
❌ 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.
In-depth analysis
The Duet 5 Chromebook's keyboard is Ultrabook-worthy in quality and comfort, and it can be easily detached, turning the Duet 5 into a tablet-like device. Meanwhile, the magnetized backplate on the Duet 5 Chromebook has a small clip to house a Lenovo Active Pen stylus, even though the stylus isn't included in the box. The best thing about the design, however, is the gorgeous 1080p OLED display, which offers exceptional image quality - especially considering the price.
When it comes to general web browsing, video streaming, and basic productivity use, the Duet 5 does exactly what you want it to do without so much as a hiccup. Its CPU is upgraded to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen2 processor, which is a step up from the last model, and the 8GB of RAM is a decent amount for a Chromebook, keeping things running very smoothly.
While Chromebooks on average get about 10 hours of life on a fully-charged battery, the Lenovo Duet 5 lasted a huge 16 hours. This is a drop from the previous model (which managed over 20 hours), which is disappointing.
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. When it launched, it was more expensive than its predecessor, but over time, its price has dropped, making it superb value for money. However, it would be even better value for money if a stylus was included. If you want to make the most out of this Chromebook, you’ll need to spend a bit more money for a compatible stylus.
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
Price | It's by far the best budget laptop around | ★★★★★ |
Design | The 2-in-1 design and OLED screen sets this Chromebook apart | ★★★★☆ |
Performance | Dependable rather than ultra powerful | ★★★☆☆ |
Battery life | Over 16 hours will keep you going through an entire work day | ★★★★★ |
💻 The Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook remains one of my favorite laptops I've ever tested. It still packs a punch with outstanding battery life, a gorgeous display, and a new form factor that I think improves on the previous model – as long as you're looking for a laptop more than a tablet. Read the full review: Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook
The best for Windows 11
Microsoft has surprised us all with the release of the latest Surface Laptop - a device that's stylish, powerful and with a long lasting battery, and has earned its place as the best Windows 11 laptop in 2025.
Microsoft is calling the latest edition simply the Surface Laptop, in a bid to highlight that despite this actually being the seventh version, it's a major reinvention - and for once, this isn't just marketing bluff. Thanks to the revolutionary Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chip that powers the new Surface Laptop, not only does Windows 11 feel fast and responsive, but thanks to how efficient it is, battery life is seriously impressive - and the fans rarely kick in, so you're not distracted by their whirring.
As a flagship entry in a new range of 'Copilot+ PCs', the Surface Laptop also has deeply integrated AI (Artificial Intelligence) features included, such as the Copilot assistant and Cocreator tool that turns your scribbles in Paint into AI-generated art. Most of this is all done on-device thanks to the Snapdragon X chip, which means you don't need an internet connection, and your data is kept safe and secure. The AI features are currently in their infancy and far from essential, but the potential is huge - and even without them, the Surface Laptop is a brilliant device that will the ideal Windows 11 laptop for most people. Microsoft has finally come up with a MacBook killer.
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Reasons to buy
✅ You want the best Windows 11 laptop in the world: The new Surface Laptop is a stunning reinvention, offering build quality, performance and battery life that puts most competitors to shame.
✅ You want a long-lasting portable laptop: The Surface Laptop comes in 14-inch and 15-inch configurations, and even the larger model is thin and light enough to carry around - and its battery life means you won't need to look for a plug socket.
✅ You want a great productivity machine: The Surface Laptop offers excellent performance thanks to the new Qualcomm chip that powers it. Designed for AI tasks, it works particularly well with Windows 11's Copilot features.
Show expert analysis ▼
Reasons to avoid
❌ You need lots of ports: Sadly, the thin and light design of the Surface Laptop comes at a price, as you only get two USB-C ports and a USB-A port (though the 15-inch model also sports a microSD slot).
❌ You want to play games: The ARM-based chip comes with an integrated GPU, which is fine for most tasks, but isn't able to handle demanding games.
❌ You hate Windows 11: The Surface Laptop offers a stylish design and dependable performance you'd usually expect from an Apple device... but running Windows 11. If you don't like that operating system, then get the MacBook Air (M4) instead (which is also in this guide).
In-depth analysis
Microsoft's Surface devices have always been stylish products, and last year's Surface Laptop (which remains the latest model) is no different. It has a thin and light chassis that is easy to carry around, yet feels sturdy and premium. The keyboard feels comfortable and responsive to use, the screen screen with HDR support and 120Hz refresh rate is stunning and the overall design is very reminiscent of MacBooks. The only issue is a lack of ports.
Thanks to the ARM-based Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chip, the Surface Laptop is an incredible productivity performer, and in our review we found that Windows 11 felt fast and responsive, and all the apps we loaded up worked without issue. This is great to see, as previous ARM-based Windows laptops could not run apps that were designed for Intel or AMD chips. Thankfully, that's no longer the case. While you can't play demanding games on this thing, for day-to-day use, it's an incredible laptop.
Thanks to the power efficiencies of the ARM chip inside the Surface Laptop, the battery life of this device is excellent, offering 15 hours of life on a single charge during our time with the device. In real-world use, I found I only needed to charge the 15-inch model once, then happily used it as my main work laptop for three work days before needing to charge it again - which is seriously impressive. The 15-inch model has a larger battery, but due to the larger screen, battery life should be similar between 13-inch and 15-inch models.
The smaller model of the Surface Laptop starts at $999.99 / £1,049.99 / AU$1,899, while the larger model starts at $1,299.99 / £1,349 / AU$2,399. While these certainly aren't budget prices, they still offer excellent value for money compared to similarly-powerful laptops.
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
Price | The price of the new Surface Laptop is excellent considering what you get for your money | ★★★★☆ |
Design | As with other Surface devices, this laptop looks and feels premium | ★★★★★ |
Performance | Thanks to the new ARM chip from Qualcomm, the Surface Laptop offers a huge upgrade from its predecessors | ★★★★★ |
Battery life | You can expect between 15 to 20 hours of battery life from this laptop | ★★★★★ |
💻 The Surface Laptop is truly an incredible portable machine, all thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon chip it's equipped with. During my time testing the Dell XPS 17, I was particularly impressed with the performance, battery life, light and thin design, and price making it an easy pick for best Windows 11 laptop of 2025. Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Laptop 7
The best Ultrabook
Dell continues to prove it's the go-to company for some of the best Windows laptops money can buy, with its latest XPS 13 laptop that features Intel's cutting-edge Core Ultra 200 series processors. We previously had the Dell XPS 13 model with the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chip in this position in our best laptops list, but the newer Intel model has knocked it off thanks to its improved performance and general compatibility with Windows 11 apps. You still get a gorgeous thin and light design with a stunning 13.4-inch screen, and with in our tests it also hit almost 24 hours on a single charge - an incredible performance considering the power on offer here.
Reasons to buy
✅ You want seriously long battery life: Offering almost 24 hours on a single charge, the Dell XPS 13 (9350, Intel Core Ultra 2nd Gen) will keep going over multiple work days.
✅ You want a thin, light and powerful laptop: The Dell XPS 13 (9350, Intel Core Ultra 2nd Gen) features Dell's trademark design flair and build quality, while housing cutting-edge components that will handle most tasks with ease.
✅ You want the best Windows 11 laptop: Powerful components, including Intel’s Lunar Lake chips with boosted NPU performance for improved AI performance, makes this the best Windows 11 laptop in the world right now.
Show expert analysis ▼
Reasons to avoid
❌ You want to plug in lots of peripherals: The Dell XPS 13 is a very thin device - but that comes at the cost of ports - you only get two USB-C ports.
❌ You're after an affordable laptop: Perhaps unsurprisingly, the latest XPS 13 is an expensive, premium, laptop. There are far cheaper laptops on this list that will be more suited to most people's budgets.
❌ You are sight-impaired: The biggest issue we had with the Dell XPS 13 is that its edgeless touchpad and touch button design for the function bar means partially-sighted users could find using this laptop frustrating.
In-depth analysis
The Dell XPS 13 continues the XPS lineup's reputation as being some of the best-designed Windows 11 laptops you can buy. It looks gorgeous with a thin and light design that rivals any Apple product, and it feels sturdy and well built as well. You can pick from three different screen resolutions, with the 3K touchscreen option being a particular highlight.
The Dell XPS 13 offers excellent day-to-day performance thanks to its new Intel Ultra Series 2 chips, which can handle day-to-day tasks with ease. You also don't get some of the compatibility issues that the Snapdragon model suffers from, which while rare does mean that the Intel model is far more versatile.
Amazingly, the Intel model of the Dell XPS 13 beats the Snapdragon model by a few hours when it comes to battery life, easily lasting several work days on a single charge. This is a testament to the power efficiency of Intel's new chips, and makes the Dell XPS 13 (Intel Core Ultra 2nd Gen) an ideal laptop for people who want to work while out and about.
While the Dell XPS 13 is one of the best laptops running Windows 11 you can buy, it isn't the cheapest - by a long shot. The starting price will put a lot of people off, and it gets a lot more expensive as you configure the specs. Of course, for the (high) price you're getting a lot - including a brilliant design, stunning screen (especially if you pay extra for the 3K model) and cutting-edge components.
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
Price | Undeniably a rather expensive laptop, but it delivers your money's worth with strong performance and design that looks and feels premium | ★★★★☆ |
Design | It's got a sleek and svelte design that puts other laptops to shame - but we do have concerns about the accessibility of the trackpad and function keys | ★★★★☆ |
Performance | Excellent all-round performance, and can handle multiple apps open at once with ease | ★★★★★ |
Battery life | With truly all-day battery life off a single charge, the XPS 13 with Intel Lunar Lake proves that it can go the distance | ★★★★★ |
💻 The latest Dell XPS 13 brings Intel's Lunar Lake chips to the iconic laptop line, delivering truly all-day battery life and strong performance across the board in a sleek and stylish MacBook-esque design. However, I still have reservations about the latest XPS redesign, especially concerning its edgeless trackpad and adaptive function bar that could create some problems with usability, and which prevent it from reaching true greatness. Read the full review: Dell XPS 13 (9350, Intel Core Ultra 2nd Gen)
The best value laptop
The best value laptop you can buy in 2025 doesn't necessarily mean it's going to be the very cheapest laptop out there (check out our pick for the best budget laptop higher up in this guide if you want a laptop with a rock-bottom price), but what it does mean is that the laptop provides excellent value for money, offering features, performance and build quality that matches or even surpasses much more expensive laptops.
That's exactly what the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus does. Dell's Inspiron line has always featured solid mid-range laptops, and the latest Dell Inspiron 14 Plus (7441) model continues that trend. In our Dell Inspiron 14 Plus review, we were very impressed with the performance and design of the laptop, and its extremely long battery life was particularly noteworthy. While this laptop is still on the pricey side, it offers unbeatable value for money that shames rivals such as HP and Apple.
Reasons to buy
✅ You want an affordable laptop that doesn't compromise: The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus offers plenty of bang for your buck, all for a more palatable price than flagship laptops.
✅ You fancy a MacBook Air, but prefer Windows 11: Slim, good performance, and excellent battery life make this an excellent alternative if you like the idea of the MacBook Air but don't want to use macOS.
✅ You want a future-proof laptop without spending a fortune: The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus comes with cutting-edge technology, especially with its ARM-based Qualcomm processor and support for on-device AI tools.
Show expert analysis ▼
Reasons to avoid
❌ You want the best of the best: The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus offers excellent value for money, but it's not a premium flagship laptop, so there are some (thankfully small) compromises. Go for the Dell XPS 13 (also in this guide) for a fully premium laptop instead.
❌ You want the cheapest laptop: The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus offers great value for money, but it's not the cheapest laptop on sale in 2025. If you are on a tight budget, you are probably better off looking at a Chromebook instead.
In-depth analysis
While the design of the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is a bit on the safe side, there's no denying that this is a stylish and modern thin and light laptop that looks more expensive than it actually is. While a few things, like the keyboard and touchpad, prevent the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus from being a truly premium-feeling device, you're not going to find a better-looking laptop at this price.
As long as you keep your expectations in check, the capabilities of the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus will impress you, with solid and dependable performance in Windows 11 with most apps. For day-to-day use, this is a fantastic value laptop - but if you want something to edit videos, play games or run complex tasks, you're better off looking elsewhere.
In our review we found the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus had a phenomenal battery life, lasting almost 18 and a half hours on a single charge - and we could work on the laptop for three work days - and there was still 50% battery left! This is seriously impressive, especially considering the affordable price of this laptop.
While there are cheaper laptops out there, the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is our pick as the best value laptop in 2025 because it punches above its weight when it comes to performance and battery life in particular. Rather than splashing out on a premium flagship model, the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus offers a more affordable alternative with few compromises.
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
Price | This is an excellent value Windows 11 laptop, and Dell often has very tempting sales | ★★★★☆ |
Design | While the keyboard and touchpad are passable, this laptop is thin and light. It is a bit cookie-cutter in its aesthetics | ★★★★☆ |
Performance | The performance is more than enough for most people’s day-to-day needs. | ★★★★☆ |
Battery life | Though not quite as long as advertised, the battery life here is ridiculously long | ★★★★★ |
💻 The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441 is, in my mind, a solid alternative to the MacBook Air. While that’s not exactly unique, this laptop does a good job at it as it’s very portable, has snappy day-to-day performance, and comes with a very long battery life. Read the full review: Dell Inspiron 14 Plus
The best student laptop
Despite no longer being the most recent model, the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3) remains one of the best MacBooks you can buy in 2025 - especially if you're a student. This is because with the launch of MacBook Air 13-inch (M4), which sits at the top of this page, many retailers are cutting the price of the M3 model, making it an excellent choice for students who want a premium laptop to work and study on, but without spending a fortune. One thing to note, however, is that Apple itself is no longer making or selling the M3 MacBook Air, and that means stock at other retailers will begin to reduce, so if you've been meaning to pick one up, now is the best time.
Reasons to buy
✅ You want the best student laptop for your money: The MacBook Air 13-inch (M3) is now the MacBook we'd recommend to students thanks to its new, lower price.
✅ You want a portable laptop: The thin and light design, plus the long battery life, makes this a laptop you can easily travel with.
✅ You want dependable performance: The M3 chip powering the MacBook Air is still great for day-to-day tasks, and can even cope with video editing and AI.
Show expert analysis ▼
Reasons to avoid
❌ You want the latest MacBook Air: This is the previous generation of MacBook Air, so if you want the very latest model, go for the MacBook Air 13-inch (M4).
❌ You want lots of ports: The MacBook Air (M3) features two Thunderbolt ports, which means you might struggle if you have lots of peripherals that need plugging in.
❌ You want a bigger screen: The 13-inch screen of the MacBook Air makes it portable, but the 15-inch model might be a better choice for people who like working on a larger screen.
In-depth analysis
The MacBook Air M3 comes with the same design as the previous M2 model - but that's fine with us. It remains a stylish and modern-looking thin and light laptop, with Apple's renowned design and build quality. Only two USB-C ports does mean plugging in lots of accessories will need a USB hub, however.
The MacBook Air comes with the M3 chip - and there are actually two versions you can buy: a base model with an 8-core CPU and 8-core GPU, and a more powerful version with an 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU. The some base models also come with 8GB of memory, which is quite low by today's standards, but Apple has also released a base model with 16GB, which is much better for modern workloads.
According to Apple, the MacBook Air 13-inch (M3) can last up to 18 hours watching Apple TV shows and 15 hours browsing the internet, though in our battery life benchmark tests (which involve playing a looped 1080p video) the 13-inch MacBook Air lasted a bit less than that, at 14 hours and 19 minutes. That's an excellent time for a laptop of this power, however it is slightly less than the previous model lasted in the same tests, which could suggest the bump in performance has come at the cost of efficiency.
The MacBook Air 13-inch (M3) launched at $1,099 / £1,099 / AU$1,799, which was slightly higher than the older M1 MacBook Air’s launch price of $999 / £999 / AU$1,599. Now that the M4 model has launched (with a cheaper starting price of $999 / £999 / AU$1,699), the M3 model has recieved some big price cuts to help retailers clear stock.
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
Price | The M3 MacBook Air was already excellent value for money (launching with a lower price than the M2 model), and with new price cuts it's even better | ★★★★★ |
Design | This remains one of the most stylish laptops you can buy | ★★★★★ |
Performance | Performance remains excellent, and isn't too far behind the newer M4 model | ★★★★☆ |
Battery life | The epic battery life means you can work on the MacBook Air for multiple work and school days on a single charge | ★★★★★ |
💻 The MacBook Air 13-inch (M3) is easily the best laptop that money can buy for students, especially thanks to new price cuts since the M4 model came out, though we recommend boosting the memory and storage space when ordering. That makes it more expensive, but far more future-proof. Read the full review: Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3)
The best laptop for working from home
If you've found yourself working from home more and need a new laptop, then don't think you have to spend a fortune. While a new MacBook will do everything you need, a great Chromebook like the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 can cope with most day-to-day workloads for a fraction of the price. You get a large screen and comfortable keyboard to work on, and performance is snappy - especially when you boot up into Chrome OS, the operating system Chromebooks use (rather than Windows 11 or macOS).
Reasons to buy
✅ You want a laptop for working on at home: This is a great Chromebook for productivity with a large screen, comfortable keyboard and excellent performance.
✅ You want an eco-friendly laptop: This is an eco-friendly Chromebook made of recycled materials where possible.
✅ You want a portable 15-inch laptop: It's impressively thin for a laptop, and its battery life means you won't need to worry about plugging it in too often.
Show expert analysis ▼
Reasons to avoid
❌ You need specific Windows or macOS apps: As a Chromebook, this uses Chrome OS which doesn't have all the apps a Windows laptop or MacBook have access to.
❌ You want a powerful laptop: The specs of the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 are relatively high for a Chromebook, but pale in comparison with regular laptops or MacBooks.
❌ You want the very cheapest laptop: The Acer Chromebook Plus 515 offers superb value for money, but there are cheaper Chromebooks out there.
In-depth analysis
The design of the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 is pretty straightforward, with a gray body and Google logo, and while that might not make it the most interesting of laptops, it's solidly built and dependable. The 15-inch screen makes it comfortable to work on, though it also means the overall size of the laptop is quite large.
As far as Chromebooks go, the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 is an excellent performer, with the Chrome OS operating system booting quickly, while apps run impressively smoothly. It feels fast and responsive - something you wouldn't be able to say about many Windows 11 laptops at this price. For day-to-day tasks, including document creation, emails and video calls, the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 performs very well - though you are limited to apps built for Chrome OS or Android. This is an important consideration when buying the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 - or any Chromebook for that matter - as a lot of applications for Windows or macOS won’t run. The good news is that there are a growing number of Chrome OS versions, and some decent alternatives, and being able to run Android apps gives you even more choice. However, there is also a chance that a piece of software you rely on every day on a traditional laptop may not have a version for Chromebooks, so make sure you do a bit of research before you buy.
Usually the battery lives of Chromebooks are one of their main selling points, but in our tests, the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 only lasted a disappointing five hours and 13 minutes. While that's not ridiculously low, it is surprisingly short for a Chromebook, which is a shame.
The Acer Chromebook Plus 515 offers exceptional value for money. Selling for $399.99 / £399.99, it's an affordable laptop that punches well above its weight. While we recommend it for working from home, it's also a great choice for students or anyone who wants a budget laptop but doesn't want to make compromises on performance.
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
Price | As a Chromebook, this offers brilliant value for money | ★★★★★ |
Design | It comes with a classic Chromebook design and comfortable keyboard | ★★★★☆ |
Performance | Super-fast boot times and snappy app performance make working on this laptop a joy | ★★★★☆ |
Battery life | The battery life isn't the best for a Chromebook, but it charges quickly | ★★★☆☆ |
💻 The Acer Chromebook Plus 515 is both a solid productivity machine in its own right, with specs tailor-made for work. While testing this laptop I was pleasantly surprised that it was such a balanced laptop that can handle light editing and even native gaming. Read the full review: Acer Chromebook Plus 515
The best laptop for creatives
The brand-new MacBook Pro 16-inch now comes with the excellent M4 Pro and M4 Max chips - Apple's latest and most powerful bits of silicon that offer incredible performance, especially when it comes to creative tasks such as video editing. Throughout our time testing the M4 Pro version, we found the new 16-inch MacBook Pro could take on even the most complex of tasks with ease - and with a battery life well in excess of 20 hours - this is the best laptop for creatives who want the freedom to work anywhere they like.
Reasons to buy
✅ You need the most powerful MacBook ever: You’re guaranteed incredible performance that’ll crush the more demanding workloads, whether it's the M4 Pro or M4 Max model you go for.
✅ You’re a traveling creative pro: If you're a creative who needs power, a gorgeous display, great-sounding speakers and lots of ports, this is the perfect travel companion, especially as it can go several work days on a single charge, so you don't have to worry about finding a plug socket.
✅ You want the best that Apple Silicon can offer: Apple's M-class chips have revolutionised laptops, and the M4 Pro and M4 Max are the very pinnacle of Apple's hardware.
Show expert analysis ▼
Reasons to avoid
❌ You have an earlier 16-inch MacBook Pro: The M4 Pro and M4 Max 16-inch MacBook Pro models are truly excellent devices, but if you have an M3 Pro, M3 Max, M2 Pro or M2 Max MacBook Pro, you probably don't need to upgrade.
❌ You’re looking for an affordable workstation laptop: The 16-inch MacBook Pro is an expensive investment, which means it may be priced out of many people's reach. The 14-inch model is more affordable, and you can get it with the base M4 chip.
❌ You’re a casual user: Unless you’re a creative professional, you’re unlikely to need the kind of performance that the MacBook Pro 16-inch offers, especially with the M4 Max chip. For regular use, the MacBook Air 15-inch will be a better buy.
In-depth analysis
There's no obvious new design for the M4 Pro or M4 Max MacBook Pros, which is disappointing in some respects, but it remains a fantastic looking laptop. However, there have been some subtle tweaks to the design, with Thunderbolt 5 support, improved webcam and an optional nano-texture coating for the screen.
Our independent benchmark tests showed a decent bump in performance over the M3 Pro model (we tested the M4 Pro version of this year's 16-inch MacBook Pro), and while there wasn't enough of a leap to make upgrading from the M3 generation worthwhile, it does mean that the new MacBook Pro is the most powerful laptop Apple has ever made - and it out performs most Windows 11 laptops at this price as well. If you want the very best hardware from Apple, this is the device to get.
Once again, Apple's 16-inch MacBook Pro comes with industry-leading battery life. In our tests it easily lasted over 20 hours on a single charge. Not only does that mean you can work for multiple days without needing to plug it in, but it's remarkable how this laptop offers such good the performance while also having a battery that lasts for days.
The MacBook Pro 16-inch (M4 Pro/M4 Max) 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.
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
Price | Same base price as the previous model in the US, and a bit cheaper in UK and Australia - but still very expensive | ★★★☆☆ |
Design | No new design, but it's still a well built laptop with some nice subtle tweaks | ★★★★☆ |
Performance | The M4 Pro is an incredible performer, especially with heavy duty creative tasks | ★★★★★ |
Battery life | You'll be able to go multiple workdays on a single charge with this laptop | ★★★★★ |
💻 The latest MacBook Pro 16-inch is more powerful than ever thanks to the new M4 Pro (which we test here) and M4 Max chips, providing the level of performance that creative professionals require - and then some. While I found the lack of a new design disappointing (and you might also), I did appreciate that there's still been a few quiet tweaks under the hood, including Thunderbolt 5 support, an improved webcam and new optional nano-texture screen that together make this the most powerful MacBook Apple has ever made. Read the full review: MacBook Pro 16-inch (M4 Pro)
The best laptop for gaming
If you want the very best gaming laptop, and price isn't much of a consideration, then you should seriously consider the new Razer Blade 16. Coming with Nvidia's latest RTX 5000 series laptop GPUs, including the ridiculously powerful RTX 5090, this is a sleek and slim machine that can rival even the most powerful gaming PCs. This all comes at a (very) high price, however, with a starting price of $2,999.99 / £2,699.99 / AU$4,899.95 - and that price climbs quickly when you start upgrading the components.
Reasons to buy
✅ You want enthusiast-class performance: Thanks to cutting-edge components, especially the RTX 5090, you're getting incredible performance, allowing you to play the very latest games at their highest settings.
✅ You want a killer design: Razer has an excellent reputation for designing great-looking devices, and the Razer Blade 16 is no exception - it's impressively thin for a gaming laptop, and feels solid and dependable.
✅ You want something for more than gaming: While this is a laptop built from the ground up to play games, it also does a great job with productivity tasks, especially creative ones. The long (for a gaming laptop) battery life also helps.
Show expert analysis ▼
Reasons to avoid
❌ You’re on a budget: Razer laptops are notoriously expensive, and the Razer Blade 16 is yet another example of this. Check out the Acer Nitro 16 instead, which we've picked as the best cheap laptop you can buy right now.
❌ You are a casual gamer: The Razer Blade 16 is designed for enthusiasts and hardcore PC gamers. If you only play the occasional game, especially ones that aren't that graphically-demanding, then this will be a waste of money.
❌ You want to travel really light: While thin compared to most gaming laptops, the Razer Blade 16 has a chunky power brick. Yes, you can use USB-C instead, but it won’t supply enough power to keep up when gaming.
In-depth analysis
Razer makes some of the best thin and light laptops on the market, so it'll be no surprise to learn that the Razer Blade 16 is another example of this. Forget thick and chunky gaming laptops - the Razer Blade 16 proves powerful laptops for gaming don't have to be big and bulky. It also has one of the best screens you can find on a laptop and a keyboard that's a joy to type on.
You're not going to get a better performing gaming laptop in 2025 thanks to the high-end components Razer has put into the Blade 16. Even PC gamers who normally prefer desktop PCs will be impressed with how powerful this laptop is, and you'll have no issue playing the latest games for years to come at their highest graphics settings.
Gaming laptops aren't known for their long battery lives, but the Razer Blade 16 pleasantly surprised us, lasting seven and a half hours when not being used for gaming - which means you could use this as a work laptop and not have to charge during the workday. When gaming, the battery life around two and a half hours, which is to be expected considering the powerful internals of this laptop.
Like with most Razer laptops, don't expect a budget device. The Razer Blade 16 is an extremely expensive laptop, and while you get a stunning design, excellent screen and some of the best mobile gaming tech on the market, it also means that this won't be a laptop that everyone can afford. If your budget can stretch to the steep asking price, however, you'll be getting an awesome gaming laptop that will last you for years and years.
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
Price | It's undeniably expensive, which will place it out of reach for some gamers, although you do get plenty of bang for your buck. | ★★★☆☆ |
Design | The design, though not really different from last year's model, is still unmatched in a gaming laptop. | ★★★★★ |
Performance | Very few laptops will measure up against the RTX 5090 version of the Blade 16 when it comes to gaming performance - and those that can will inevitably be bulkier. | ★★★★★ |
Battery life | Gaming laptops rarely offer good battery life, but the new Blade 16 surprised us with its power-efficiency. | ★★★★☆ |
- Take a look at our Razer discount codes for the best Razer offers and savings.
💻 I loved reviewing the Razer Blade 16, a gaming laptop that delivers power and style in spades, offering best-in-class performance in games and even managing to hold its own as a day-to-day work laptop thanks to the improved battery life. Nvidia RTX 5000 GPU options bring DLSS 4 and Multi Frame Generation to the party, and some small but smart design tweaks from the previous model help make this an even better high-end laptop. Read the full review: Razer Blade 16 (2025)
The best 17-inch laptop
The Dell XPS 17 (9730) remains the best large-screen laptop you can buy. If you find that working on a 13-inch or even 15-inch laptop isn't comfortable, then this is a laptop that's well worth considering. One of the best things about the Dell XPS 17 is that as well as offering an excellent large screen to work on, it maintains the thin, light and stylish design of the smaller XPS 13 and XPS 15 models, so you're not making too many compromises to portability for the bigger display. As a flagship laptop, the Dell XPS 17 comes with some of the most powerful mobile components around, including a discrete graphics card from Nvidia's latest RTX 4000 series, and while it can play game, it's best used as a productivity laptop. Digital creatives will especially love its mix of large screen and powerful components.
Reasons to buy
✅ You want a solid and attractive 17-inch laptop: The Dell XPS 17 (9730) features the premium design and build quality we've come to expect from Dell's XPS lineup, alongside a large 17-inch screen.
✅ You want excellent performance: The XPS 17 comes with very powerful components that means it performs brilliantly no matter what you throw at it.
✅ You want a laptop that lasts: Despite its large screen and powerful components, battery life of the Dell XPS 17 impresses, with almost 10 hours on a single charge.
Show expert analysis ▼
Reasons to avoid
❌ You want a gaming laptop: The Dell XPS 17 can be configured to come with a dedicated GPU, but this is not a gaming laptop. Serious gamers can get better performance with the Razer Blade 14 (click for details).
❌ You want a budget laptop: The Dell XPS 17 is a large, flagship laptop with a premium design, which means it's quite expensive compared to other laptops - even big screen ones.
❌ Portability is a must: Unsurprisingly, this 17-inch laptop isn't the easiest to carry around compared to 13-inch Ultrabooks. That said, for the size, it is impressively svelte.
In-depth analysis
The Dell XPS 17 looks and feels extremely premium thanks to its machined aluminum body. Thin bezels surround the display, giving it a modern look while also keeping the overall size of the laptop as compact as possible. This isn't a laptop you can comfortably carry around in a small bag, mind you, but Dell has done a great job of making sure it's not big or bulky.
This is an excellent performer, packed with high-end components from Intel and Nvidia. Day to day tasks feel fast and responsive, and heavy creative workloads, such as 3D rendering and 4K video editing, are handled well. If you want a powerful workstation laptop with a large screen for creative work, and you don't fancy the MacBook Pro 16-inch (which is also in this guide), then this is an excellent alternative.
Powerful laptops with large screens often suffer from poor battery life, but thanks to the efficient hardware in the Dell XPS 17, it avoids that fate. During our review, we found that for watching videos and web browsing, it'll last just under 10 hours on a single charge, meaning you can use it unplugged for a whole workday - though heavier workloads will see the battery deplete faster.
The Dell XPS 17 (9730) starts at $1,599 / £2,698.99 / AU$4,398.90, though the base model varies depending on location. This is certainly pricey for a laptop, though you do get good specs, a large screen and thin and light design for your money. If you configure it with more powerful components, expect the price to rise even further.
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
Price | Not cheap, and the price creeps up depending on how you configure it | ★★★★☆ |
Design | This is an impressively thin and light laptop considering its screensize | ★★★★☆ |
Performance | Excellent at day-to-day and creative workloads, but don't expect a gaming powerhouse | ★★★★☆ |
Battery life | Almost 10 hours is impressive given all the power | ★★★★☆ |
💻 The Dell XPS 17 is everything I wanted from a larger laptop. By giving up the portability of smaller laptops, it can offer a large, vibrant screen and powerful performance. Of course, it also keeps the elegant trappings set out by the XPS laptop line. Read the full review: Dell XPS 17 (9730)
The best OLED laptop
We were absolutely blown away while testing the Asus Vivobook S 15 Copilot+ thanks to its stunning design - which includes an excellent OLED display that makes colors pop, and with a 120Hz refresh rate, it feels fast, fluid and responsive as well. The built-in Harman/Kardon speakers makes this one of the best-sounding laptops in the world as well, and makes watching media on the Asus Vivobook S 15 Copilot+ an absolute joy. It also packs the Arm-based Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chip, offering performance and battery life that rivals the M3-powered MacBook Air (which also uses an Arm-based chip).
Reasons to buy
✅ You want a great value laptop for productivity: While the Asus Vivobook S 15 Copilot+ isn't cheap, considering the specs and performance on offer, it offers excellent value.
✅ You love watching movies: Not only is its OLED screen gorgeous to look at, but it has some of the best speakers you'll find in a laptop.
✅ You want to use AI locally: As a Copilot+ PC, the Asus Vivobook S 15 is able to run AI tasks locally, so you don't need to connect to the internet.
Show expert analysis ▼
Reasons to avoid
❌ You want a gaming laptop: While the 120Hz OLED screen might sound like a great display to play games on, the rest of the laptop isn't suitable - buy a dedicated gaming laptop instead.
❌ You don't care about AI: One of the biggest selling points of the Asus Vivobook S 15 Copilot+ is its AI-capable NPU. If you're not bothered about AI, then you might be better off getting something else.
❌ You're on a tight budget: The Asus Vivobook S 15 Copilot+ offers plenty to like for the price, but it is an expensive choice that might not suit everyone's budget.
In-depth analysis
The Asus Vivobook S 15 Copilot+ proves that you don't have to spend a fortune to get a great looking laptop. Its metallic chasssis is stylish and modern, while incredibly thin bezels ensure that the stunning OLED screen is your main area of focus. It also comes with a good selection of ports, including two USB 4 Type-C ports, two USB 3.2 Type-A ports, a Micro-SD card reader, a 3.5mm combo audio jack, and an HDMI out.
In our tests, the Asus Vivobook S 15 Copilot+ performed incredibly well, proving that its Arm-based Snapdragon X chip is no slouch, even when compared to Intel-powered laptops. The more energy efficient chip in the Vivobook S 15 meant that the laptop remained almost completely silent whilst we put it through its paces. One area it did fall down on, however, was graphics performance, so you might want to think about buying a different laptop if you're looking for something to edit videos or create 3D models on.
Asus rates the Vivobook S 15 at 70WHrs for its battery capacity, and promises around 18 hours of battery life. In our tests we found it came close to that promise, lasting around 17-hours on a single charge. This means it's an excellent choice for anyone looking for a laptop they can use for multiple work days without worrying about charging it.
When it comes to the price, the Asus Vivobook S 15 is impressively affordable for what you’re getting. With a price tag of $1,299.99 (£1,299.99 / AU$2,699), it packs in some serious hardware for that cash, though there's no denying that it is still an expensive laptop.
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
Price | This laptop is exceptionally well priced for what you get. With OLED screen, Harman/Kardon audio, and some seriously epic hardware, it’s a solid pick | ★★★★☆ |
Design | A beautiful satin metallic finish, subtle branding, and its awesome feature set makes this a stunning laptop | ★★★★★ |
Performance | It might not be that great at gaming, and the AI needs some work, but it dominates every other performance metric | ★★★★☆ |
Battery life | With an 18-hour rated battery life, our testing saw the Vivobook S 15 land at around 17 hours or so under standard load, making it one of the most efficient laptops out there | ★★★★★ |
💻 I think that the Asus Vivobook S 15 is an absolutely phenomenal piece of kit. With an aesthetic that’d make even the Milano fashion houses jealous, it combines the latest and greatest Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, a beautiful OLED display, plus some serious hardware under the hood to deliver a phenomenal laptop experience with outstanding battery life for day-to-day usage. Read the full review: Asus Vivobook S 15 Copilot+
The best affordable gaming laptop
The Asus TUF Gaming A16 (we reviewed the Advantage Edition), is a brilliant budget laptop that proves you don't need to spend a fortune if you want to play the best PC games. While the specific specifications change slightly depending if you're shopping from the US, UK or Australia, you're getting solid AMD specs that will allow you to play modern games at medium to high settings. The Asus TUF Gaming A16 doesn't feel cheap either thanks to a solid design from Asus that we've come to expect of its TUF line, so you can throw this in your backpack without worrying about damaging it (within reason, of course - don't chuck it across a room).
Reasons to buy
✅ You want a cheap gaming laptop that doesn't suck: Despite its lower price, the Asus TUF Gaming A16 offers strong performance and good build quality.
✅ You want a gaming laptop with decent battery life: Thanks to the power efficiency of modern AMD hardware, when reviewing this laptop we found it lasted well over 10 hours.
✅ You want a nice screen: Asus hasn't skimped on the screen, with the 16-inch display offering 1600p resolution and 240Hz refresh rates for smooth gameplay.
Show expert analysis ▼
Reasons to avoid
❌ You want to max out your games: If you're a hardcore PC gamer that wants 4K gaming at ultra settings and with ray tracing on, you may want to check out the Razer Blade 16 if you have the money.
❌ You want the best gaming features: Some of the best features to help boost game performance, especially DLSS upscaling and multi frame generation are exclusive to Nvidia GPUs - so if you get an all-AMD Asus TUF Gaming A16 you won't have access to these.
❌ You want a future-proof gaming laptop: The Asus TUF Gaming A16 does a good job of playing modern games, but if you want something that will be able to max out future games in five year's time, then you'll need to invest in something more powerful.
In-depth analysis
While the Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition looks unmistakably like a gaming laptop, the design doesn't go too overboard when it comes to gaming aesthetics. The slim bezels around the screen keep it from being too bulky (often an issue with budget laptops), and gives the 16-inch screen room to shine. It also feels solid and robust, which is the hallmark of Asus' TUF line of products.
The Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition model we reviewed comes with the AMD Radeon RX 7600S GPU, which is roughly equivalent to an Nvidia RTX 4060 laptop GPU, which means playing at 1080p at max settings gives you a nice balance between visual splendor and slick performance. Taking advantage of the higher 1600p resolution the screen offers will see framerates drop however, but AMD's FSR upscaling tech, while not as good as rival DLSS tech from Nvidia, does a good job of keeping games running smoothly.
The AMD hardware in the Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition means this laptop can hit over 10 hours when unplugged. Sure, that's not while gaming, but it far surpasses a lot of gaming laptops, especially at this price point. A lot of this is thanks to AMD's Smart Access Graphics GPU-switching tech which switches between the dedicated Radeon RX 7600S GPU and the low-power integrated graphics to help prolong battery life.
Considering the specs, build quality, and overall performance of the Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition, this is an affordable gaming laptop that offers excellent value for money. The large screen with high refresh rate is particularly pleasing to see at this price point. However, if you have a bit more money in your budget, going for a laptop with an Nvidia RTX 4060 - or even a newer RTX 5070 - laptop GPU will give you a decent bump in performance.
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
Price | The Asus TUF Gaming A16 offers a great mix of affordability and performance. | ★★★★☆ |
Design | The Asus TUF Gaming A16's design is solid in all senses of the word. It might not turn heads, but it'll survive being knocked about. | ★★★★☆ |
Performance | For 1080p gaming, the Asus TUF Gaming A16 does a good job of playing modern games. | ★★★★☆ |
Battery life | Over 10 hours of (admittedly) light use for a gaming laptop is excellent, and it's mainly thanks to the efficient AMD hardware. | ★★★★★ |
💻 With the TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition, Asus has gone with all-AMD hardware for this reasonably priced gaming laptop. It mostly works, with both decent gaming performance and great battery life. However, I feel that if your budget can stretch a bit further, a gaming laptop with Nvidia's RTX 4060 GPU is still marginally the better choice. Read the full review: Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition
Other laptops to consider
New laptops are launched every month, and while this guide has the very best of the best, there are many alternatives which are worth checking out, even if they didn't quite manage to make it on to our main best laptops list.
Here are some honorable mentions of other laptops we've tested that are worth checking out:
- HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch: The HP Chromebook Plus is a smooth and fast performer with a great build quality and premium feel. It handles light productivity, streaming and gaming with aplomb, barely putting a foot wrong. Read the full HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch review
- Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition: While the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition shines in portability, a few design choices may leave you disappointed. However, those willing to overlook the quirks will find a remarkably lightweight and slim device featuring a stunning 2K IPS touchscreen that looks fantastic and Dolby Atmos-compatible speakers that sound just as good. Read the full Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition review
- Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M4): While we've included the 13-inch MacBook Air with M4 chip in our main list, the 15-inch model is also worth considering if you prefer a bigger screen to work on. It lacks the portability of the smaller model, but otherwise it offers the same great design and performance. Read the full Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) review
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.
What to look for
Battery life: The best thing about laptops is that they allow you to break free from your desk and use them almost anywhere - which is why checking the battery life is essential. For pure battery life, Chromebooks are the best laptops you can buy – but Apple’s latest MacBooks with M1, M2, M3, and brand-new M4 chips come close, offering well over 10 hours of battery life. Meanwhile, gaming laptops usually sacrifice battery life for performance instead.
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 14th generation (or 13th) Intel processor, or AMD Ryzen 7000 series. With a MacBook, go for an M2, M3, or new M4 model (for MacBook Pros) – 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. Recently, Microsoft suggested that 16GB of RAM would be the minimum requirement for the next generation of 'AI laptops'. For Chromebooks, however, 4GB of RAM is fine.
Which type of laptop is best for you?
General laptops: When it comes to the best cheap laptops, these devices 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. It's here where you often find the best laptop deals, too.
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: The best 2-in-1 laptops double as tablets and are 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: The best Chromebooks, running Chrome OS, 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.
What I'm looking for
Every year, hundreds of laptops are released, but only the very best get to make it onto this list. So, what makes a laptop good enough for me to recommend them in our best laptops guide?
I’ve been updating TechRadar’s best laptops page for almost 10 years, and here are the things I look for when deciding what devices should be on this page – and where.
Value for money
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.
This is probably the most important consideration when it comes to picking the best laptops to recommend to you. No matter if it’s a powerful gaming laptop that costs thousands of dollars, or a humble budget Chromebook, each device needs to justify its price tag by excelling in the tasks it’s designed for.
Battery life
This is another hugely important consideration for many people when looking to buy a new laptop. One of the best things about laptops is how portable they are – but if you need to always look out for a power outlet to keep using your device, then you’re going to get very annoyed very quickly.
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Of course, battery life expectations will vary depending on the type of laptop. For Chromebooks and modern MacBooks, a time of around 10 to 20 hours between charges should be expected.
Windows laptops based on AMD or Intel hardware should expect around 10 hours on a single charge, but the latest range of Qualcomm Snapdragon-powered Windows laptops, also known as ‘Copilot+ PC’ devices, should offer battery lives similar to Chromebooks and MacBooks.
Gaming laptops, however, will typically offer around four to eight hours of battery life. This is because they value performance over efficiency, and their high-powered components can quickly deplete any battery when playing games. These gaming laptops, along with powerful workstation laptops often known as ‘desktop replacements’ are usually designed to be used while plugged in. However, you should expect at least a few hours of battery life for when you’re using the laptop for less strenuous tasks such as emailing and editing documents.
Specifications
When reviewing laptops, I also look at the hardware within the device – often known as the hardware specifications. This can give you a good idea of how well the laptop will perform, whether or not it’s good value for money, and if the laptop will be future-proof.
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When reviewing laptops, I also look at the hardware within the device – often known as the hardware specifications. This can give you a good idea of how well the laptop will perform, whether or not it’s good value for money, and if the laptop will be future-proof.
When I say ‘future-proof’ what I mean is that if you buy a laptop, you won’t need to upgrade or buy a new one for a long time. A laptop with old hardware might be cheaper, but if you feel the need to buy a new laptop after only a year or so, it’ll cost you more in the long run.
Depending on the type of laptop you’re looking for, the hardware specifications will vary. For standard Windows 11 laptops, I recommend 8GB RAM as a minimum, but ideally 16GB, 512GB of storage and a current generation Intel or AMD processor.
If you want to make use of on-device AI tools, like image generation, then you’ll want to look at the new range of ‘Copilot+ PCs’. These laptops meet certain criteria set by Microsoft so they can make use of AI features in Windows 11, such as having 16GB of RAM and a dedicated NPU (neural processing unit) that’s capable of 40 trillion processes a second (TOPS).
If that’s a lot of jargon, don’t worry as these laptops will be clearly labelled with Copilot+ PC branding, which means they come with the right hardware.
When looking for a MacBook, you’ll want to make sure it has a new M-series chip, with the M3 currently being the most recent. Entry level MacBooks come with 8GB memory and 256GB SSD, and while this is OK, I recommend going for 16GB and 512GB if you can afford it, as that will ensure it keeps running well for years to come.
As ChromeOS, which Chromebooks use as an operating system, isn’t as demanding a bit of software as Windows 11 and macOS, it means Chromebooks don’t need as high specifications – and that’s why they are often quite a bit cheaper than laptops and MacBooks.
So, an older processor, 4GB of RAM and even just 64GB of storage (due to Chromebooks using a lot of cloud-based services) should get you decent performance on a budget Chromebook. However, investing in a Chromebook with 8GB of RAM, a larger SSD and new processor will give you a much better experience.
Design
When picking laptops for this guide, I’m looking for products with stylish yet functional designs. Laptops should be compact enough to carry around with you easily, while also being comfortable to use for long periods.
The design should also feel solid and dependable, being able to withstand knocks, drops and scratches.
How we tested these laptops
How we test the best laptops
We understand that a new laptop is a significant investment, so each laptop on our list has been thoroughly tested by our team (read more on how we test laptops). We integrate these laptops into our daily routines to evaluate their performance comprehensively, in addition to running industry standard benchmarks like GeekBench, PCMark, 3DMark, and the latest PC gaming benchmarks.
Our assessment includes examining a laptop’s design, with special attention paid to the aesthetics, portability, and overall comfort for everyday use. We also consider any additional accessibility and security features like haptic feedback, key backlighting, fingerprint scanning or facial recognition, and physical privacy shutters for the built-in webcam.
On the performance side, we use a combination of real-world tasks and synthetic benchmarks to determine the laptops' capabilities. We test all laptops in a given model year using the same benchmark versions to ensure consistent comparisons across reviews for the laptops you might be considering. And since benchmark scores can sometimes be difficult to interpret, we leverage our expertise to explain these scores for you to help you compare the performance of competing laptops in easy-to-understand terms.
Battery life is another critical factor we measure. We track how long we can use each laptop before needing to recharge. Additionally, we perform our own battery life test, which involves looping a 1080p movie until the battery depletes, a proprietary web surfing script, and the PC Mark 10 battery life benchmark, which simulates real-world usage such as web browsing and document creation. These tests provide us with a clear understanding of the battery longevity for each laptop.
Finally, we consolidate all our findings and compare them to the laptop’s price, determining if it offers the best value for customers.
Tested by
Every laptop in this guide has been thoroughly, and independently, tested by our team of laptop experts, including members of TechRadar's computing team, as well as experienced freelance reviewers. Meet some of the experts below who have reviewed these laptops and helped me create this best laptops list.
During his almost 40-year-long career in tech journalism, Lance has reviewed hundreds of laptops for TechRadar, as well as Lifewire, PCMag.com and more. If you're looking for advice on whether or not a laptop is worth buying, there are few people in the industry with as much knowledge and authority as Lance.
Named by the CTA as a CES 2020 Media Trailblazer for his science and technology reporting, John specializes in all areas of computer science, including industry news, hardware reviews and PC gaming. Over the five years John has been working at TechRadar he has reviewed numerous laptops, specialising in gaming laptops, where he uses his components expertise to cut through the jargon and tell if a device is worth spending money on.
Zak has been writing for TechRadar since 2015 and was previously Editor-in-Chief of our sister publication Maximum PC. He has also written for PCGamesN and Trusted Reviews, so testing and recommending the best laptops comes naturally.
