With
{{#url}}Windows 11 officially here{{/url}}{{^url}}Windows 11 officially here{{/url}}
, you might think all the best laptops would now be shipping with it, but were actually seeing many notebook vendors still offering both operating systems. Yes, many come with Windows 11. Some, however, still ship with Windows 10, but obviously include the option to upgrade them [though
{{#url}}you may not want to{{/url}}{{^url}}you may not want to{{/url}}
]. If youre simply cramming to prepare for deals, we also recommend that you
{{#url}}read our guide{{/url}}{{^url}}read our guide{{/url}}
on what CPUs and GPUs you want right now, or skip the homework and check out our guide to
{{#url}}the best laptop deals available right now{{/url}}{{^url}}the best laptop deals available right now{{/url}}
, from budget to extreme.
But if you dont care about the juiciest deals and simply want the best, period, read on for our picks for the best laptops around:
Best thin-and-light laptop
HP Spectre x360 14 1Q881AV
{{#url}}Read our review{{/url}}{{^url}}Read our review{{/url}}
{{#rrp_label}} {{rrp_label}} {{/rrp_label}} {{#rrp_price}} {{rrp_price}} {{/rrp_price}}
{{#string}} {{best_price_label}} {{/string}} {{#separator}} | {{/separator}} {{#url}} {{string}} {{/url}} {{^url}} {{string}} {{/url}} When we think about the best thin-and-light laptop, its always been a
{{#url}}close contest between the Dell XPS 2-in-1 and the HP Spectre x360{{/url}}{{^url}}close contest between the Dell XPS 2-in-1 and the HP Spectre x360{{/url}}
. This time around, were giving the luxurious HP Spectre x360 14 some time in the sun, with a nod to the
{{#url}}Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 9310{{/url}}{{^url}}Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 9310{{/url}}
that preceded it as our top pick. The Spectre x360 14, now sporting the same Intel 11th-gen Tiger Lake CPU available in the Dell XPS line, trades blows with its eternal rival in test after test. It rises to the top because of a few key advantages: It offers longer battery life [thanks to a bigger battery], a far better keyboard, and little things like a USB-A port and a physical webam shutoff switch, all for a lower price. Well played.
{{#url}}Read our full review{{/url}}{{^url}}Read our full review{{/url}}
.
[
{{#url}}$1,590 on HP.com{{/url}}{{^url}}$1,590 on HP.com{{/url}}
]
Runner-up
Now that
{{#url}}Apples M1 chip{{/url}}{{^url}}Apples M1 chip{{/url}}
has raised the bar for lightweight laptop performance, theres a question every ultraportable PC maker must address: Why would someone buy this instead of a MacBook Air?
Well, heres an answer for the new Acer Swift 5: Its fast enough to play Fortnite and a bunch of other games that are absent from Apples platform, but it weighs only 2.3 pounds and gets stellar battery life for work or web browsing. It also has a touchscreen and a bunch of useful ports, including HDMI out and USB-A,
{{#url}}none of which youll find on Apples thin-and-light{{/url}}{{^url}}none of which youll find on Apples thin-and-light{{/url}}
[ahem].
{{#url}}Read our full review{{/url}}{{^url}}Read our full review{{/url}}
.
[
{{#url}}Currently about $1,300 on Amazon.com{{/url}}{{^url}}Currently about $1,300 on Amazon.com{{/url}}
, but prices fluctuate frequently.]
Best laptop under $500
Acer Aspire 5 A515-43-R19L
{{#url}}Read our review{{/url}}{{^url}}Read our review{{/url}}
{{#rrp_label}} {{rrp_label}} {{/rrp_label}} {{#rrp_price}} {{rrp_price}} {{/rrp_price}}
{{#string}} {{best_price_label}} {{/string}} {{#separator}} | {{/separator}} {{#url}} {{string}} {{/url}} {{^url}} {{string}} {{/url}} If this particular model of the Acer Aspire 5 looks familiar, its probably because its been sitting atop Amazons laptop bestseller list for months. Its easy to understand why. This AMD Ryzen 3-powered Aspire 5 packs some enticing features for the price, including a Full-HD 15.6-inch display, a slim-and-trim chassis, and solid performance on everyday computing tasks.
That said, a Windows 10 laptop this inexpensive has its compromises. In this case, were talking a scant 4GB of RAM and a cramped 128GB solid-state drive, while battery life falls significantly short compared to similar Aspire 5 models that dont cost much more.
{{#url}}Read our full review{{/url}}{{^url}}Read our full review{{/url}}
.
[Currently
{{#url}}$410 on Amazon{{/url}}{{^url}}$410 on Amazon{{/url}}
, but prices fluctuate frequently.]
Best 14-inch/15-inch workhorse
HP Envy 14 14t-eb000 [2021]
{{#url}}Read our review{{/url}}{{^url}}Read our review{{/url}}
{{#rrp_label}} {{rrp_label}} {{/rrp_label}} {{#rrp_price}} {{rrp_price}} {{/rrp_price}}
{{#string}} {{best_price_label}} {{/string}} {{#separator}} | {{/separator}} {{#url}} {{string}} {{/url}} {{^url}} {{string}} {{/url}} Laptops like the HP Envy 14 fall into the category of content creation: notebook PCs with a modestly powerful discrete GPU that can play some games, edit video, or simply serve as a solid all-around PC. This 14-inch laptop satisfies all three.
In our tests, we found that while some laptops outperformed the Envy 14, many couldnt do so for the price. Here, the Envy 14 offers top-notch battery life, support for powerful external Thunderbolt hardware, and a pleasing everyday typing experience.
{{#url}}Read our full review{{/url}}{{^url}}Read our full review{{/url}}
.
[
{{#url}}$1,149 at Amazon.com{{/url}}{{^url}}$1,149 at Amazon.com{{/url}}
]
Best 17-inch workhorse
Dell XPS 17 9710
{{#url}}Read our review{{/url}}{{^url}}Read our review{{/url}}
{{#rrp_label}} {{rrp_label}} {{/rrp_label}} {{#rrp_price}} {{rrp_price}} {{/rrp_price}}
{{#string}} {{best_price_label}} {{/string}} {{#separator}} | {{/separator}} {{#url}} {{string}} {{/url}} {{^url}} {{string}} {{/url}} Dells updated XPS 17 packs a huge 17-inch screen, 11th gen Intel CPU and GeForce RTGX 3060 GPU. By packing as much screen real estate into such a compact laptop, the XPS 17 is the poster child for what a content creation workhorse laptop is.
[
{{#url}}$2,800 at Dell.com{{/url}}{{^url}}$2,800 at Dell.com{{/url}}
]
Best convertible laptop
Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 9310
{{#url}}Read our review{{/url}}{{^url}}Read our review{{/url}}
{{#rrp_label}} {{rrp_label}} {{/rrp_label}} {{#rrp_price}} {{rrp_price}} {{/rrp_price}}
{{#string}} {{best_price_label}} {{/string}} {{#separator}} | {{/separator}} {{#url}} {{string}} {{/url}} {{^url}} {{string}} {{/url}} Dells XPS 13 2-in-1 9310 is mostly an evolutionary update to the
{{#url}}XPS 13 7390 2-in-1{{/url}}{{^url}}XPS 13 7390 2-in-1{{/url}}
we reviewed last year, but with one key change. Thanks to Intels 11th gen Core i7-1165G7 chip, gaming is actually conceivable on this sub-three-pound laptop.
Most other things didnt change, and we have our beefs about the design. But that game-ready performance boost alone makes the XPS 13 2-in-1 special.
{{#url}}Read our full review{{/url}}{{^url}}Read our full review{{/url}}
.
[$1,714 as tested;
{{#url}}available on Dell.com{{/url}}{{^url}}available on Dell.com{{/url}}
]
Best budget convertible laptop
Asus Zenbook Flip 13
{{#url}}Read our review{{/url}}{{^url}}Read our review{{/url}}
{{#rrp_label}} {{rrp_label}} {{/rrp_label}} {{#rrp_price}} {{rrp_price}} {{/rrp_price}}
{{#string}} {{best_price_label}} {{/string}} {{#separator}} | {{/separator}} {{#url}} {{string}} {{/url}} {{^url}} {{string}} {{/url}} The Asus ZenBook Flip 13 offers a lot for the money. Its a beautiful laptop that offers decent battery life, very good graphics, and a lot of pep for most of what youd do on a small 13-inch convertible laptop. Some might fixate on its lack of a headphone jack, but that would be unfair to itsimpressive 11th-gen Intel Tiger Lake Core i7-1165G7 chip and its drop-dead-gorgeous OLED screen.
{{#url}}Read our full review{{/url}}{{^url}}Read our full review{{/url}}
.
[
{{#url}}$1,199 on Amazon{{/url}}{{^url}}$1,199 on Amazon{{/url}}
]
Best 2-in-1 / tablet / hybrid laptop
Microsoft Surface Pro 7+
{{#url}}Read our review{{/url}}{{^url}}Read our review{{/url}}
{{#rrp_label}} {{rrp_label}} {{/rrp_label}} {{#rrp_price}} {{rrp_price}} {{/rrp_price}}
{{#string}} {{best_price_label}} {{/string}} {{#separator}} | {{/separator}} {{#url}} {{string}} {{/url}} {{^url}} {{string}} {{/url}} By naming this Windows tablet the Surface Pro 7+, Microsoft mistakenly implies that its some sort of minor upgrade from the Surface Pro 7. Nothing could be further from the truth: We rarely see such massive upgrades in CPU and GPU horsepower, as well as battery life. It also offers an LTE option and an absolutely dead-silent, fanless chassis.
Afew decisions made us scratch our heads. Why do we have to choose between an integrated microSD slot or the LTE option? Thunderbolt still isnt here, either. But even these flaws really cant mar an exciting leap in performance. This is the best Surface Pro of several generations, and for the moment the best Windows tablet on the market, too.
[
{{#url}}$1,650 MRSP as reviewed{{/url}}{{^url}}$1,650 MRSP as reviewed{{/url}}
on Microsoft.com]
Best gaming laptop overall
Asus ROG Strix G15 Advantage Edition
{{#url}}Read our review{{/url}}{{^url}}Read our review{{/url}}
{{#rrp_label}} {{rrp_label}} {{/rrp_label}} {{#rrp_price}} {{rrp_price}} {{/rrp_price}}
{{#string}} {{best_price_label}} {{/string}} {{#separator}} | {{/separator}} {{#url}} {{string}} {{/url}} {{^url}} {{string}} {{/url}} Its all-AMD, and thats a very good thing. If youre on the hunt for an affordable yet stupidly fast laptop on a medium budget, just stop reading and buy the Asus ROG Strix G15 Advantage Edition right now because of its stunning price-to-performance ratio.
{{#url}}Read our full review{{/url}}{{^url}}Read our full review{{/url}}
.
[
{{#url}}$1,650 as tested at Best Buy{{/url}}{{^url}}$1,650 as tested at Best Buy{{/url}}
]
Best budget gaming laptop
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-44-R99Q
{{#url}}Read our review{{/url}}{{^url}}Read our review{{/url}}
{{#rrp_label}} {{rrp_label}} {{/rrp_label}} {{#rrp_price}} {{rrp_price}} {{/rrp_price}}
{{#string}} {{best_price_label}} {{/string}} {{#separator}} | {{/separator}} {{#url}} {{string}} {{/url}} {{^url}} {{string}} {{/url}} Weve long been fans of Acers line of affordable Nitro 5 gaming laptops. This new entry in the series ups the ante with eye-popping CPU performance and great battery life.
Note that it keeps the same GTX 1650 graphics card that we saw in a
{{#url}}similar model last year{{/url}}{{^url}}similar model last year{{/url}}
, so dont expect ray tracing or frame rates much higher than 60 fps or so. But with its revamped cooling system and Ryzen 4000-series CPU, the updated Nitro 5 manages to squeeze every last ounce of performance from its limited GPU power, making it an enticing pick for gamers on a budget.
{{#url}}Read our full review{{/url}}{{^url}}Read our full review{{/url}}
.
{{#url}}[$670 as tested via Bestbuy.com{{/url}}{{^url}}[$670 as tested via Bestbuy.com{{/url}}
]
Best portable gaming laptop
Acer Predator Triton 300 SE
{{#url}}Read our review{{/url}}{{^url}}Read our review{{/url}}
{{#rrp_label}} {{rrp_label}} {{/rrp_label}} {{#rrp_price}} {{rrp_price}} {{/rrp_price}}
{{#string}} {{best_price_label}} {{/string}} {{#separator}} | {{/separator}} {{#url}} {{string}} {{/url}} {{^url}} {{string}} {{/url}} An on-the-go gaming rig with ray-tracing chops that wont break your budget or your back, the Acer Predator Triton 300 SE serves up an enticing mix of value and performance.
The Predator Triton 300 SE sports Intels cutting-edge
{{#url}}Tiger Lake H35 ultraportable gaming CPU{{/url}}{{^url}}Tiger Lake H35 ultraportable gaming CPU{{/url}}
, along with GeForce RTX 3060 graphics and a slim 3.8-pound design. Crack open the lid, youll find a 14-inch, 144Hz Full HD display, three-zone RGB keyboard backlighting, and one-touch overclocking. Thunderbolt 4 and solid battery life make a good thing even better.
{{#url}}Read our full review{{/url}}{{^url}}Read our full review{{/url}}
.
[
{{#url}}$1,500 as reviewed on Bestbuy.com{{/url}}{{^url}}$1,500 as reviewed on Bestbuy.com{{/url}}
]
Best luxury laptop
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano 20UN000EUS
{{#url}}Read our review{{/url}}{{^url}}Read our review{{/url}}
{{#rrp_label}} {{rrp_label}} {{/rrp_label}} {{#rrp_price}} {{rrp_price}} {{/rrp_price}}
{{#string}} {{best_price_label}} {{/string}} {{#separator}} | {{/separator}} {{#url}} {{string}} {{/url}} {{^url}} {{string}} {{/url}} The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano is just the kind of powerful, light, and long-lasting laptop youll want to take with you on post-pandemic business trips. It also performs right there in the ballpark with other 11th-gen Tiger Lake competitors, and at a hair under two pounds, it weighs less than almost all of them.
Equipped with an IR camera for facial recognition, a presence-detecting radar, a 2K display with Dolby Vision HDR, and a premium keyboard, the X1 Nano covers the most bases for corporate users, and we havent mentioned the superlative battery life yet. But with only two available ports [Thunderbolt 4, at least], youll need to invest in a USB-C hub to connect legacy accessories.
{{#url}} Read our full review{{/url}}{{^url}} Read our full review{{/url}}
.
[
{{#url}}$1,790 on Amazon.com{{/url}}{{^url}}$1,790 on Amazon.com{{/url}}
]
Best overall Chromebook
Pixelbook Go
{{#url}}Read our review{{/url}}{{^url}}Read our review{{/url}}
{{#rrp_label}} {{rrp_label}} {{/rrp_label}} {{#rrp_price}} {{rrp_price}} {{/rrp_price}}
{{#string}} {{best_price_label}} {{/string}} {{#separator}} | {{/separator}} {{#url}} {{string}} {{/url}} {{^url}} {{string}} {{/url}} Googles Pixelbook Go is a perfectly good Chromebook, and thats exactly what the company set out to create. It offers a careful balance of quality features and economical compromises for a reasonable $649 starting price. And its a darn sight better than the typical bare-bones model. If youre committed to the Chromebook universe, this is a laptop worth buying.
[$649 MSRP;
{{#url}}available via Google{{/url}}{{^url}}available via Google{{/url}}
]
Best budget Chromebook
HP Chromebook x360 12b-ca0010nr
{{#url}}Read our review{{/url}}{{^url}}Read our review{{/url}}
{{#rrp_label}} {{rrp_label}} {{/rrp_label}} {{#rrp_price}} {{rrp_price}} {{/rrp_price}}
{{#string}} {{best_price_label}} {{/string}} {{#separator}} | {{/separator}} {{#url}} {{string}} {{/url}} {{^url}} {{string}} {{/url}} The HP Chromebook x360 12b takes you a cut above the rock-bottom basic Chromebooks that hover around $250 [and continue to sell well]. Get one of those for your kidswho cares if they destroy it? But you, the adult in the room, deserve this one, with its surprisingly good design and great battery life.
This is still a budget-grade Chromebook, so there are some compromises: Performance is mediocre, and the 3:2 display, while nice and tall, isnt very bright. Still, we think HP made reasonable choices to provide a productive and enjoyable experience without breaking the bank.
{{#url}}Read our full review{{/url}}{{^url}}Read our full review{{/url}}
.
[$360 MSRP;
{{#url}}available on Adorama{{/url}}{{^url}}available on Adorama{{/url}}
]
Best MacBook
MacBook Air [M1, 8core CPU, 7Core GPU, 256GB storage]
{{#rrp_label}} {{rrp_label}} {{/rrp_label}} {{#rrp_price}} {{rrp_price}} {{/rrp_price}}
{{#string}} {{best_price_label}} {{/string}} {{#separator}} | {{/separator}} {{#url}} {{string}} {{/url}} {{^url}} {{string}} {{/url}} The MacBook Air with the new M1 processor so absolutely and thoroughly trounces the Intel version released earlier this year [with Intels Ice Lake Y-series CPU/GPU] that it defies belief.
Unfortunately, Apple changed practicallynothing else about the MacBook Air. This new model is exclusively a processor swap. But what a processor!You can read the
{{#url}}full review of the MacBook Air M1{{/url}}{{^url}}full review of the MacBook Air M1{{/url}}
at our sister site, Macworld.
[
{{#url}}$999.99 MSRPas reviewed by Macworld.{{/url}}{{^url}}$999.99 MSRPas reviewed by Macworld.{{/url}}
]