Whether you’re grinding through class projects, exploring epic game worlds, or just streaming your favorite shows, your laptop should work around you, not the other way around. But finding the right laptop for your lifestyle is a bit like finding a needle in a haystack. How big should the screen be? Should you go with Nvidia or AMD graphics? Fortunately, you’re in the right place.
We’ve cut through the clutter to bring you the top picks across every category–from sleek, no-fuss Chromebooks to powerhouse gaming machines.
Asus Zenbook 14 OLED – Best overall
Pros
- Attractive OLED touchscreen
- Good CPU and integrated GPU performance
- Outstanding battery life
Cons
- Blah design
- Keyboard isn’t memorable
- Mediocre connectivity options
Best Prices Today:
$1,099.99
Who should buy the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED?
The Asus Zenbook 14 OLED is a terrific laptop for most people. The vibrant OLED screen looks great, it’s fast thanks to the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor, it’s light enough to toss in a backpack at 2.82 pounds, and the battery lasts all day. If you want a laptop that nails the basics and still looks sharp, this one’s tough to beat — and it’s pretty darn affordable for the performance and quality on offer, too.
Asus Zenbook 14 OLED: Further considerations
The Zenbook 14 OLED isn’t perfect. It’s missing some ports (no Ethernet and not many USB-A) and the shiny OLED screen can be a pain to use outside or in bright rooms. But overall, the good stuff drastically outweighs the downsides.
Read our full
Asus Zenbook 14 OLED review
Acer Aspire Go 15 – Best budget laptop
Pros
- Affordable
- Decent battery life
- Good display visibility
Cons
- Big and bulky
- Cheap build
- Limited performance
Best Prices Today:
$269.99
Who should buy the Acer Aspire Go 15?
The Acer Aspire Go 15 is a great (affordable!) choice if all you need are the basics. It’ll run everyday tasks like surfing the web or typing up an e-mail, and the 12 hour battery life isn’t half bad.
The appeal mostly lies in its value, though. While more expensive laptops nail the polish and the speed, the budget variety is strictly about what’s functional and that’s exactly what you’re getting here. It’s a good option for students or anyone seeking a reliable, no frills machine under $500.
You’ll also find a surprisingly generous port selection on the Acer Aspire Go 15–USB-A on both sides, a USB-C, an HDMI, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a Kensington lock. That’s more than what some laptops get twice the price.
Acer Aspire Go 15: Further considerations
Like many laptops in the budget category, the Aspire Go 15’s got a few trade-offs to be aware of. The chassis is made of plastic, though that’s part of what keeps the cost down–cheaper materials. It also weighs a little over four pounds. Sure it’s not the lightest machine in the world, but this is such a minor nitpick and it’s still fine for day-to-day portability. The 1920×1080 display also isn’t very bright, but it’s sharp enough for day to day usability.
Read our full
Acer Aspire Go 15 (2024) review
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 10 Aura Edition – Best battery life
Pros
- Over 24 hours of battery life (in our standard test)
- Good build quality
- Snappy desktop performance
- 2-in-1 experience with pen
Cons
- On the expensive side
- Lunar Lake’s low multithreaded performance is an issue for some workflows
Who should buy the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1?
If you want a laptop that just keeps on trucking along, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 blew us away with its crazy-long battery life. PCWorld clocked it at up to 25 hours, so you won’t be stuck hunting for outlets throughout the day.
Stamina aside, it’s also very portable at under just three pounds. Add in the flexible 2-in-1 design and a seriously good keyboard, and you’ve got a laptop built to keep up with real life stuff.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1: Further considerations
There’s a lot to love here, but it’s not cheap ($2,336 as tested). And if you want a built-in SD card reader, for instance, you’ll need to pick up a dongle. But if you need a professional laptop that really goes the distance, this is it.
Read our full
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 10 Aura Edition review
Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 – Best Chromebook
Pros
- Zippy processor performance
- Nice keyboard
- A wide array of connectivity options
- Chic design
Cons
- Battery life isn’t competitive
- The display’s 16:9 aspect ratio feels a little cramped
Best Prices Today:
$529.98
Who should buy the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34?
If you’re in the market for a reliable, good-looking Chromebook for everyday use, the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 has it all. This machine will run daily tasks just fine thanks to its Intel i5 processor and 8GB of RAM. The 14-inch 1080p display also looks sharp, and the 1080p webcam is perfect for Zoom calls.
Asus Chromebook Plus CX34: Further considerations
While the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 offers smooth performance and a pretty design, there are minor trade-offs to be aware of like the non-competitive battery life (13 hours) and the lack of a touchscreen. You’ve also got to really like using ChromeOS. If you prefer Windows or macOS, we’d recommend looking elsewhere.
Read our full
Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 review
MacBook Air (M3) – Best MacBook
Pros
- Excellent battery life
- 256GB SSD is now two NAND chips, maintaining performance
Cons
- Expensive memory upgrades
- Dual external display support requires closed lid
Who should buy the MacBook Air (M3)?
The MacBook Air (M3) is a great choice if you want a powerful, quiet Mac without the Pro price. Starting at $1,299, it handles everyday tasks and light creative work smoothly with the fast M3 chip. The battery lasts up to 19 hours, so it easily goes all day. Its 15-inch Liquid Retina display is sharp and colorful, though not as bright as the MacBook Pro’s. Plus, it’s thin and light (just over three pounds), making it super portable.
MacBook Air (M3): Further considerations
If you need powerful performance for 3D rendering or video editing, the MacBook Pro is a better option than the Air. For most folks, though, the MacBook Air (M3) offers pretty good performance, long battery life, and a chic design.
Read our full MacBook Air (M3) review
Lenovo Legion 5i – Best gaming laptop
Pros
- Great GeForce RTX 4060 performance
- Good build quality
- Nice cooling and vent positioning
Best Prices Today:
$1,629
Who should buy the Lenovo Legion 5i?
Want solid gaming performance without breaking the bank? The Lenovo Legion 5i hits that sweet spot. It’s rocking an Intel Core i9 CPU and an RTX 4060 GPU, so expect high frame rates on modern games at 1080p. Plus, that 165Hz screen? Makes everything look sharp and buttery smooth.
Lenovo Legion 5i: Further considerations
There are some nice extras worth noting. The first is a 1080p webcam with a physical shutter and the second is a full-sized keyboard with a number pad. It might not seem like much on paper, but these things are important and further add to the value as a whole.
Read our full
Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 9 review
Acer Nitro V 16 – Best budget gaming laptop
Pros
- Fast performance
- Fast 165Hz display with good colors
Cons
- Fully plastic build
- Mushy keyboard
Who should buy the Acer Nitro V 16?
Anyone that wants good performance and a fast display for around $1,000 needs to check out the Acer Nitro V 16. Stuffed with an RTX 4060 GPU and an AMD Ryzen 7 CPU, it comfortably runs modern titles on the higher graphics settings.
Acer Nitro V 16: Further considerations
The thing about the Nitro V 16 is that it really leans into the gamer aesthetic with its sharp lines and glowing keyboard. If you dig that style, cool. If not, this might not be the laptop for you. The battery life also lasts about four hours, which is typical for a laptop in this category, but you probably can’t game untethered–at least not for very long!
Read our full
Acer Nitro V 16 review
Asus ProArt P16 – Best content creation laptop
Pros
- Big touchpad with virtual scroll wheel
- Gorgeous 4K OLED display
- More connectivity than the competition
- Good battery life
Cons
- Chassis is light, but doesn’t look remarkable
- CPU performance falls behind the best
- Can get hot under load
Best Prices Today:
$2,299.99
Who should buy the Asus ProArt P16?
If it’s laser-sharp visuals and raw power you’re after, the Asus ProArt P16 delivers. The 16-inch 3840×2400 display is perfect for photo editing, watching movies, or design work. It’s also rocking an Intel Core i9 CPU and an RTX 4070 GPU, which is the kind of power you’ll need for something like video production. Battery life is strong too, lasting over nine hours, and it supports lightning fast USB 4.0 transfers.
Asus ProArt P16: Further considerations
Performance and display quality are the standout features here, of course, but understated design deserves a mention too. Some may find the all-black chassis too plain while others find it elegant. Also, under more resource intensive workloads, the chassis can run a little warm.
Read our full
Asus ProArt P16 review
Microsoft Surface Pro (2025) – Best ultraportable
Pros
- Compact and well-built
- Good office performance
- All Copilot Plus features available
- Good battery life
Cons
- Narrow screen to work on
- No HDR support
- No charger included
Best Prices Today:
$762.99
Who should buy the Microsoft Surface Pro (2025)?
If you’re always bouncing between places—on the train, working from coffee shops, or just ambling about the house—the Surface Pro 2025 is kind of perfect. It’s super light (1.51 pounds!) and still powerful enough to handle all the usual stuff like emails and Zoom calls.
With its Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus CPU and Intel Arc 130V graphics, it’s great for anyone who wants something that works like a laptop but feels like a tablet. You can doodle or get work done, all without feeling like you’re lugging around a heavy brick.
Microsoft Surface Pro (2025): Further considerations
The compact screen won’t suit everyone for full-time multitasking, and there are only two USB-C ports (you’ll want a dock or hub). Also, while battery life can stretch surprisingly far, it varies widely. Expect around two hours at full brightness under heavy use or up to 19 hours with lighter tasks.
Still, if your work mostly lives in the cloud and you value portability above raw power, this is the best ultraportable Windows device you can get right now.
Read our full
Microsoft Surface Pro 2025 review
MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo – Best 2-in-1 laptop
Pros
- Spectacular battery life
- Attractive and robust design
- Plenty of RAM and solid-state storage for the price
Cons
- Cramped keyboard and touchpad
- IPS touchscreen’s image quality doesn’t stand out
- Lackluster CPU and GPU performance
Who should buy the MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo?
Anyone seeking a versatile 2-in-1 laptop with long battery life will love what the MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo brings to the table. Its nearly 21-hour battery life ensures productivity throughout the day without needing another charge up. The included MSI Pen2 stylus and bright display make it an especially strong choice for creatives and note takers.
MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo: Further considerations
The MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo consists of mostly plastic, which isn’t a huge deal in the short term, but might be a problem later down the line. The keyboard’s also got a compact layout, which may be uncomfortable if you’ve got bigger hands, and the audio quality is average at best.
Read our full
MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo review
Framework Laptop 13 (2025) – Best laptop for upgrading
Pros
- Repairable and upgradeable
- Great keyboard
- Display is easy on the eyes
Cons
- High up-front cost
- Battery life lags way behind
- Not quite seamless design
Who should buy the Framework Laptop 13 (2025)?
Need a laptop that’s super easy to upgrade and tough enough to stick around? The Framework Laptop 13 (2025) is where it’s at. You can swap out pretty much anything—RAM, storage, even the motherboard if you want. It runs on an AMD Ryzen AI 300 processor and is slim enough to toss in your bag and go wherever.
Framework Laptop 13 (2025): Further considerations
The price might sting a bit upfront, and the built-in graphics are okay for everyday stuff, but don’t expect to game on it. Battery life’s decent enough, but it’s not gonna blow anyone away.
Read our full
Framework Laptop 13 (2025) review
Other notable laptops we’ve tested
These didn’t make PCWorld’s top list, but they’re still pretty solid.
The Asus Zenbook A14 brings a gorgeous OLED touchscreen, sturdy build, and battery life that lasts a good while. The Alienware 16 Area-51 is a powerhouse gaming laptop with top-tier Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU, Nvidia RTX 5080 graphics, and premium features like a mechanical keyboard. And then there’s the Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro with its 16-inch AMOLED screen that’s pure eye candy, plus battery life that can stretch past 20 hours if you play your cards right.
How we test laptops
The PCWorld team puts each and every Windows laptop through a series of benchmarks that test GPU and CPU performance, battery life, and so on. The idea is to push the laptop to its limits and then compare it against others we’ve tested. Chromebooks, on the other hand, go through a series of web-based tests.
For a much deeper look at our review methodology, check out how PCWorld tests laptops.
Why you should trust PCWorld for laptop reviews and buying advice
It’s in our name! PCWorld prides itself on laptop experience and expertise. We’ve been covering PCs since 1983, and we now review more than 70 laptops every year. All of the picks below have been personally tested and vetted by our experts, who’ve applied not only performance benchmarks but rigorous usability standards. We’re also committed to reviewing PC laptops at every price point to help you find a machine that matches your budget.
Who curated this article?
Hi, I’m Ashley Biancuzzo, and I oversee all laptop and Chromebook coverage at PCWorld. While you’ll see me review Chromebooks on occasion, I’m also really into the broader world of consumer tech. I spend a lot of time writing and thinking about where laptops are headed–from AI and sustainable designs to long-term trends. When I’m not deep in the world of tech, you’ll probably find me gaming, getting lost in a good book, or chilling with my rescue greyhound, Allen.
How to choose the best laptop
What’s the best laptop style?
Regular ones are fine for everyday stuff. 2-in-1s are cool because the screen flips around. Chromebooks are cheap and good if you mostly do web browsing.
How much power?
Depends on what you’re doing. For basic web or email, an Intel Core i3 or Ryzen 3 works fine. If you’re into video editing or creative stuff, an i7/i9 or Ryzen 7/9 is better. And if you’re handling heavy 4K editing or lots of apps, a Ryzen 9 is your best bet.
Discrete graphics vs. integrated graphics?
If you’re gaming or editing videos, you want a proper graphics card (like Nvidia or AMD) for better performance. But if you’re just browsing or watching stuff, the built-in integrated graphics work just fine.
How much RAM?
8GB of RAM is plenty for most stuff. If you’re gaming, 16GB is better, and 32GB will keep you covered for a while. Content creators should try to get as much RAM as they can.
What’s the right display size?
If you’re doing video editing or a bunch of media stuff, go for a bigger screen, like 15 to 17 inches. But for most people, 13 to 14 inches hits the sweet spot. Bigger screens mean heavier laptops, so 13 or 14 inches is usually the best combination of portability and value.
Battery-life expectations
If you’re gonna carry your laptop around, try to get one that lasts 10 to 12 hours on a charge. That’s usually enough for a long flight or a full day of classes. Some of the new Snapdragon laptops are even crushing that, with one going up to 25 hours thanks to their super-efficient chips. Just remember, bigger batteries usually mean heavier laptops. (Also, check out our roundup of the best laptop chargers.)
Laptop pricing guide
Good laptops usually run $500 to $750, but if you’re on a budget, Chromebooks or basic business laptops under $500 work fine. Around $750 to $1,000 gets you better screens and more power. Over $1,000 means premium build and performance.
Gaming laptops cost more (expect $1,000+ for decent 1080p gaming). Better graphics and features can push prices into the thousands, but $1,200 to $2,000 usually gets you a powerful rig.
Don’t forget the ports
I like laptops with lots of ports so you don’t need adapters. Having both USB-C and USB-A is great, and an HDMI port is a bonus and super handy for hooking up to a monitor.
FAQ
What is the best laptop?
The Asus Zenbook 14 OLED is probably the best all-around choice for most folks. It costs about $850, runs smoothly, lasts forever on a charge (like 16 hours!), and has a nice, vibrant 14-inch 1200p OLED screen.
What is the best cheap laptop?
The Acer Aspire Go 15 is PCWorld’s favorite budget pick. It’s cheap, runs well, and won’t die on you halfway through the day. It’s got an Intel Core i3-N305, a nice 1080p screen, and battery life that’s better than you’d expect at this price.
What is the best gaming laptop?
The Lenovo Legion 5i nails that performance-for-the-price vibe. With an i9 and RTX 4060, it handles heavy games like Metro Exodus just fine. The 16-inch screen is sharp and smooth, even if it’s not OLED-level flashy. It’s a great pick if you want power without overspending.
When is the best time to buy a laptop?
The best time to snag a laptop is usually around big sales like Black Friday or Cyber Monday. Back-to-school season’s also solid, lots of deals pop up with students in mind.
What is a 2-in-1 laptop?
A 2-in-1 laptop (or convertible) is basically a laptop that can flip, fold, or detach into a tablet. You get a touchscreen, a full keyboard when you need it, and tablet mode for browsing or sketching. They’re a hit with students and creatives who want a bit of everything in one device.
