Smartphones and tablets may have taken over much of people’s screen time, but there’s still a need for a real computer sometimes—and for most people, that means a laptop. For school and office work and tasks like creating spreadsheets and editing video, there’s no good substitute for a decent keyboard and a big screen. But exactly which laptop you should get depends on how often you’ll use it, what you’ll use it for, and (of course) how much money you can afford to spend on it.
We regularly test the most promising laptops, from sleek ultrabooks to cheap Chromebooks to massive gaming laptops and beyond. Here are the best models you can buy in every category, along with advice on how to choose which type of laptop is right for you.
The research
Mac or Windows (or something else)?
If you’re already familiar with macOS or Windows, the easiest choice is to buy a computer that runs that operating system. Or if you already have an iPhone, a MacBook will let you send texts with iMessage, make FaceTime video calls, and access your iCloud photos. That said, macOS and Windows have never been more similar, and most popular apps work just as well on either platform (or at least have alternatives that work similarly). If you’re interested in switching, it isn’t as big a deal as it used to be.
If you’re not tied to a platform, the biggest factor is how easily you can get support. Do you have an Apple Store nearby? Do your most tech-savvy friends use Windows? Does your school or job provide tech support? If you’re not a self-sufficient techie and want the best service for your computer, buy a Mac, because you can take it to any Apple Store to get it fixed. No other computer maker provides that level of support. (If you’re self-sufficient, go with what you like.)
Alternatively, since more tasks can be accomplished in a browser, without your downloading and installing any apps, you might not even need a traditional operating system—a may be all you need.
Our pick
The Spectre x360 offers excellent battery life, a tall touchscreen, and a reliable keyboard and trackpad. It’s also thin and light enough to slip in a bag and take anywhere.
Recommended configuration
| Processor: | Intel Core i5-1335U or Core i7-1355U | Screen: | 13.5-inch 1920×1280 touch |
| Memory: | 16 GB | Weight: | 3.01 pounds |
| Storage: | 512 GB SSD | Tested battery life: | 10.5 hours |
Who these are for: Ultrabooks are the best laptops for most people, including college students, writers, office workers, and commuters. They have great keyboards, screens, and battery life; they offer enough power to do everything most people need a computer for; and they’re thin, light, and portable. You should expect to pay between $900 and $1,300 for a great Windows ultrabook that will last you at least four years.
Where they fall short: Great ultrabooks can cost more than many people want to spend on a laptop, even if these models provide a better experience and last longer than cheaper alternatives. Ultrabooks also lack the processing power to play high-end games or handle demanding tasks such as professional video editing or 3D modeling. If you need a cheaper laptop or a more powerful one, check out our other picks below.
Why we like this one: The HP Spectre x360 13.5″ has the best combination of what makes an ultrabook great: It offers fast performance, all-day battery life, a tall and spacious screen, a quality keyboard and trackpad, and an excellent webcam. The Spectre x360 also has a 360-degree hinge that lets you flip the touchscreen all the way around, and some models come with an active stylus. Our pick isn’t as light or compact as some other Windows ultrabooks—though at 3 pounds it’s certainly not heavy, either. And it ships with too much bloatware, all of which you should uninstall when the laptop arrives.
Read more about the HP Spectre x360 13.5″ and our other picks in our guide to Windows ultrabooks.
Our pick
The MacBook Air has a comfortable keyboard, great performance, and a reasonable amount of storage—things that haven’t always been offered in previous MacBook Airs.
Recommended configuration
| Processor: | eight-core Apple M2 CPU | Storage: | 256 GB SSD |
| Graphics: | eight-core Apple M2 GPU | Screen: | 2560×1664 IPS |
| Memory: | 8 GB | Tested battery life: | 15.5 hours |
Who these are for: If you prefer macOS or need great tech support, a MacBook is a safe bet; the 13-inch models usually offer the best combination of size, weight, and speed. They’re great for writers, office workers, commuters, and college students. Apple’s newest MacBooks also include new Apple-designed processors that help them run cooler and quieter than most laptops and give them exceptionally good battery life. Expect to pay at least $1,000 for one with good enough specs and storage to last you at least four years.
Where they fall short: MacBooks are even more expensive than Windows ultrabooks, especially if you want to upgrade the memory or storage; Apple’s SSD upgrade prices are so high that we usually recommend looking into cloud storage or an external SSD instead. And as with Windows ultrabooks, our recommended MacBook configuration for most people lacks the processing power to play demanding games.
Why we like this one: The 13-inch M2 MacBook Air delivers strong performance and fantastic battery life at a reasonable price. And the Air’s keyboard is actually good, since Apple traded out the shallow and failure-prone butterfly switches under the keys of 2018- and 2019-era MacBook Airs for springier and more satisfying scissor switches. Like Apple’s other laptops, the Air has only a few ports (in this case, two Thunderbolt 3/USB-C ports, which may require you to use a hub or new cables). But the Air’s light weight, solid construction, and industry-leading support make it a great laptop, especially if you also own an iPhone or other Apple devices.
Our pick
The EliteBook 840 is slim while staying repairable and has a nice selection of ports, good battery life, and an updated webcam. It’s also easier to upgrade than a typical ultrabook.
Buying Options
Recommended configuration
| Processor: | Intel Core i5-1240P | Screen: | 14-inch 1920×1200 IPS non-touch |
| Memory: | 8 GB | Weight: | 2.9 pounds |
| Storage: | 256 GB SSD | Tested battery life: | 10 hours |
Who these are for: Most people don’t need a business laptop, and those who do will probably get one from their IT department. But there are a few great reasons to choose a business laptop, even if you’re paying for it yourself, including better long-term durability, easier serviceability and upgrades of the RAM and storage, and more plentiful and varied ports than you get on an ultrabook. Our main picks typically cost between $1,200 and $1,400.
Where they fall short: Ultrabooks are a better option than business laptops for most people because ultrabooks are thinner and lighter, and they offer similar performance for less money. The majority of people don’t upgrade or repair their own laptops, and if you really need business-centric features like smart-card support and vPro, your employer has probably already issued you a laptop that supports them. Dongles and docks, while inconvenient, can make up for some ultrabooks’ limited port selection.
Why we like this one: The HP EliteBook 840 G9 is slim, repairable, and has a bunch of useful ports. This new version upgrades nearly all the things we didn’t like about the EliteBook 840 line last time we tested them, including a better 5- megapixel webcam, redesigned keyboard, and larger 16:10 display. The laptop is nearly entirely repairable if any part breaks, and HP’s PartSurfer site makes it easy to find a part number and order a replacement directly. (We did find a few parts were backordered, but you’ll at least have a correct part number to find on eBay or other resellers.) HP also has a detailed service guide that serves as a manual for how to repair the laptop.
Also great
The Framework Laptop is the best—and so far only—option if you want a laptop you can easily upgrade and repair. And it’s a great ultrabook, too.
The Intel version of the Framework Laptop 13 has shorter battery life, but it’s otherwise identical to the AMD model.
Recommended configuration
| Processor: | AMD Ryzen 5 7640U or Intel Core i5-1340P | Screen: | 13.5-inch 2256×1504 non-touch |
| Memory: | 8 GB or 16 GB | Weight: | 2.9 pounds |
| Storage: | 256 GB SSD | Tested battery life: | 10.5 hours (AMD) |
Who these are for: Most modern laptops aren’t designed to be repaired or upgraded by just anyone with a screwdriver. Even if you do manage to get past the screws and the difficult-to-pry-open chassis, you might have access to the SSD, but the memory is likely to be soldered, and you certainly can’t upgrade the processor. When something breaks out of warranty, when the battery wears out, or when you’re ready to upgrade after five or six years, you have to recycle or dispose of the entire laptop—even if some of its parts are still perfectly good. If you want the ability to upgrade and repair your laptop yourself and make it last longer without replacing the whole thing—which theoretically can save you money and create less e-waste over the years—our repairable pick is for you.
Where they fall short: The availability of parts and upgrades for the Framework Laptop 13 is entirely dependent on the laptop’s manufacturer. If Framework goes under or it decides to stop designing and selling upgrades, this laptop will end up just like any other—when the computer breaks or outlives its usefulness, you’ll have to replace the whole thing. Other companies have attempted to make upgradable laptops in the past and have failed to follow through on the promise.
The Framework Laptop 13 is an excellent computer, too. It’s sturdy and surprisingly thin and light for how modular its design is, and it has a reliable keyboard and trackpad plus a bright and spacious display. The AMD Ryzen 5 model has battery life in line with our top pick, while the Intel version’s battery life is around an hour less. But the ability to upgrade and repair this laptop down the line depends on the company continuing to exist and to supply parts. So far the company is off to a great start: Every year since it launched in 2021 the company has introduced upgraded parts.
Budget pick
The Zenbook 14 is the best laptop you can get for the price. But its build quality isn’t as nice and it won’t perform as well in a few years as our top picks.
This version of the Zenbook 14 performs just as well as our top pick, but it costs a couple hundred dollars more than the base model.
Recommended configuration
| Processor: | AMD Ryzen 5 7530U or Ryzen 7 7730U | Screen: | 14-inch 2880×1800 OLED touch |
| Memory: | 8 GB or 16 GB | Weight: | 3.06 pounds |
| Storage: | 256 GB or 512 GB SSD | Tested battery life: | 10.5 hours |
Who these are for: Most Windows computers priced around $500 or less are large and heavy and saddled with poor battery life—among other flaws—but a bit more money can buy you an ultrabook that’s almost as good as much more expensive options. Budget ultrabooks are ideal for students as well as for anyone who can spend around $800 on a laptop.
Where they fall short: Compared with more expensive ultrabooks, cheap models tend to have less memory and storage, as well as bigger, creakier bodies and worse build quality; they can also have less responsive keyboards and trackpads, dimmer and less accurate screens, or fewer ports. But if you can find one that makes as few of those compromises as possible, you may be able to save a few hundred dollars.
Why we like this one: The Asus Zenbook 14 OLED is a fantastic value. The base model with 8 GB of memory won’t perform as well as our top picks for as many years, but the version with 16 GB of memory will, if you can spend a little more. Compared with the HP Spectre x360 13.5″, the Zenbook 14 is bulkier and feels cheaper—though it doesn’t feel as flimsy as other budget ultrabooks—and its webcam isn’t as high quality. But the Zenbook 14 is still portable, and its battery will last through a full day of work or classes. In addition, it has a fingerprint reader and comes with a USB-C charger, and its touchpad can double as a number pad—all nice bonuses for a cheap ultrabook.
Our pick
Reliable performance, a spacious touch display, and long-enough battery life for a full workday make the Flex 5i the best Chromebook for the price. But it is a bit heavy.
Recommended configuration
| Processor: | Intel Core i3-1315U | Screen: | 14-inch 1920×1200 touch |
| Memory: | 8 GB | Weight: | 3.6 pounds |
| Storage: | 128 GB eMMC | Tested battery life: | 8.5 hours |
Who these are for: Chromebooks are ideal for students and kids, but you should also consider one if you spend most of your computer time in a web browser, if you’re on a tight budget, or if you already have a decent desktop PC. A good Chromebook can do almost anything a regular laptop can do, including document work, video calls, and streaming video—as long as it’s possible in a web browser or in Android apps. And $500 Chromebooks tend to be faster, lighter, and sleeker than $500 Windows laptops. Plus, Chromebooks are secure and easy to maintain.
Where they fall short: Chromebooks can’t run Windows-specific games or particular programs you might be used to on your Mac or Windows computer. But if you use web-based email, if you can get by with Google’s office web apps or Office 365 and Android app alternatives, and if you stream your music and movies over the internet, a Chromebook should do just about everything you need it to.
Why we like this one: The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus is an excellent laptop, with the best combination of features and price of all the Chromebooks we’ve tested. It has fast performance, a reliable keyboard and trackpad, a spacious touchscreen, surprisingly good speakers, and long-enough battery life to last a full day of work or classes. Even though we wish it were lighter—at 3.6 pounds, it’s heavy for a 14-inch laptop—it’s the best option for most people’s needs.
Our pick
Unlike most cheap Windows laptops, the Aspire 3 Spin 14 is fast, compact, and light, and it has a decent 1080p touchscreen and good battery life.
Recommended configuration
| Processor: | Intel Core i3-N305 | Screen: | 14-inch 1920×1200 touch |
| Memory: | 8 GB | Weight: | 3.3 pounds |
| Storage: | 128 GB or 256 GB SSD | Tested battery life: | 8.5 hours |
Who these are for: If you need a Windows laptop for home, work, or school—and you can’t afford to spend a lot—you can find a decent one for less than $500. These computers are ideal for grade-school and middle-school students, people on a strict budget, and those who use their computers mostly at home in the evenings for doing schoolwork, browsing the web, managing a budget, or watching Netflix. Cheaper, lighter laptops tend to be too slow for everyday tasks, while faster, sleeker ones usually cost too much.
Where they fall short: To get a laptop that doesn’t feel slow for a decent price, you have to make a lot of compromises. Most budget laptops that are fast enough tend to be bulky, heavy, and saddled with short battery life. They also tend to have low-resolution, low-quality screens that are unpleasant to look at. You have to be especially vigilant when shopping for a laptop in this price range to avoid slow or old processors, insufficient memory, and sluggish storage.
Why we like this one: The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 (A3SP14-31PT) in any of our recommended configurations—37NV, 38YA, or 32M6—is fast enough to meet most people’s computing needs. Plus, it has a tall, 14-inch 1920×1200 touchscreen and a 360-degree hinge, and its keyboard and trackpad are accurate and reliable. The Aspire 3 Spin 14 is also more compact and offers better battery life than most bulky Windows laptops in this price range.
The Aspire 3 Spin 14 ships with Windows 11 S mode, which allows only apps from the Microsoft Store and limits you to Microsoft Edge for web browsing. But you can switch it to Windows 11 Home for free to install any program you need. It also comes with a ton of bloatware; we recommend following these steps to get rid of it.
Choosing a budget laptop is tricky because you can find hundreds of variations. Their prices fluctuate constantly, too, and companies release and discontinue models with no warning. If our pick isn’t available, check our full guide to budget laptops for other options, as well as advice on how to shop for a budget laptop that doesn’t suck.
Our pick
The 16-inch MacBook Pro is faster than any other laptop we’ve tested for photo or video editing, and it has truly impressive battery life, to boot.
Recommended configuration
| Processor: | Apple M2 Pro | Screen: | 16.2-inch 3456×2234 IPS |
| Graphics: | 10-core (integrated) | Weight: | 4.7 pounds |
| Memory: | 16 GB | Tested battery life: | 14.5 hours |
| Storage: | 512 GB SSD |
Who these are for: Photo and video editors need an extremely color-accurate screen, the processing power to work with 4K footage or to batch-edit hundreds of photos, and a battery that will last through an entire day’s work. These professional-grade laptops are more costly than ultrabooks, ranging from $2,000 to $2,500, but they offer desktop performance away from the desk. Our testing for this category included both Windows laptops and MacBooks, and we found that right now Apple is making the best laptops for creative professionals. That’s a boon for those who are already comfortable with macOS or are willing to make the switch, but we have a recommendation for a Windows machine, too.
Where they fall short: Laptops with color-accurate screens and enough power for creative professionals are expensive, and even more so with add-ons like extra storage and memory. Editing laptops also tend to be larger and heavier than ultrabooks, with most weighing more than 4 pounds. The powerful processors in editing laptops generate lots of heat, as well, so some can get too hot to use comfortably on your lap, though our top pick stayed cool even under the heaviest workloads. In addition, the MacBook Pro is impossible to service on your own, but Apple provides excellent support.
Why we like this one: The 16-inch MacBook Pro was unrivaled in all of our editing, color-accuracy, and battery tests, easily taking the crown as the best laptop for creative professionals. Its screen is large enough for anyone to comfortably edit video and accurate enough to match professionally calibrated displays. This MacBook’s M2 Pro processor allowed it to edit 4K footage with ease, and Apple's new M2 Pro processor is up to 30 percent faster than the previous M1 Pro. The laptop politely sipped on its battery, resulting in a 14.5-hour battery life. It even has a variety of ports, including three Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, an HDMI port, an SD card reader, a headphone jack, and a MagSafe charging port. However, the main components on this laptop are nearly impossible to upgrade or repair on your own; if you want a more user-repairable machine, check out our recommendation for a Windows editing laptop below.
Also great
The XPS 15 has a sharp 3.5K display and a ton of processing power. It’s also more repairable and upgradable than its MacBook equivalent.
Recommended configuration
| Processor: | Intel Core i7-13700H | Screen: | 15.6-inch 3456×2160 IPS |
| Graphics: | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 | Weight: | 4.3 pounds |
| Memory: | 32 GB | Tested battery life: | 8 hours |
| Storage: | 512 GB SSD |
Who these are for: If you’re a creative professional and you prefer Windows to macOS, don’t want a Mac, or are required to use Windows for compatibility reasons, this is your pick. Typically these laptops are slightly cheaper than MacBooks, easier to repair, and—of course—equipped with the Windows operating system. If you need a specific port or feature, you’re also more likely to find it on a Windows laptop than on a Mac, simply because the Windows world has more manufacturers and variety compared with Apple’s one model of MacBook.
Where they fall short: As a whole, Windows laptops didn’t perform as well in our tests as the 16-inch MacBook Pro. Typically, their screens were less accurate, they were a bit slower, and they got hotter underneath, where the processor was located. However, the MacBook set a high bar to clear, and our top Windows pick still performed admirably in these tests.
Why we like this one: Made with visual professionals in mind, the Dell XPS 15 9530 is a well-built laptop that offers a beautiful OLED display and serious computing power. It also has a comfortable keyboard and a notably large trackpad, both of which make working on the laptop more enjoyable and less cramped. Its port selection is fairly simple, consisting of two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, a non-Thunderbolt USB-C port, an SD card reader, and a headphone jack.
The configuration we recommend will serve most on-the-go editors’ needs, especially when coupled with a portable SSD. But if you want to upgrade the RAM or storage down the line, the XPS 15 9520 makes those components easily accessible—all you have to do is remove the laptop’s bottom case housing with a Torx screwdriver.
Our pick
This laptop has the newest generation of hardware, and performs better than some of the most expensive models we tested. It maintains great frame rates for smooth gameplay, and stays quiet and cool to the touch.
Recommended configuration
| Processor: | Intel Core i5-13500H | Screen: | 15.6-inch 1920×1080 144 Hz |
| Graphics: | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 with 6 GB VRAM | Weight: | 5 pounds |
| Memory: | 8 GB | Dimensions: | 14.2 by 10.7 by 0.82 inches |
| Storage: | 512 GB SSD | Tested battery life: | 4.3 hours |
Who these are for: If you want to play games but also need an affordable laptop for school or work—and your top priority isn’t playing the newest games at maxed-out graphics settings at QHD or 4K resolution—a cheap gaming laptop is for you. Nowadays, a gaming laptop that costs around $1,500 can play most new games on high settings or better at 1920×1080 resolution above 60 fps. Even cheaper models that cost around $800 are ideal for classic games and less-demanding modern titles, and they will play most new games on at least medium settings. You don’t need to spend $2,000 on a more powerful gaming laptop to get great performance.
Where they fall short: Every affordable gaming laptop we’ve tested has had at least one serious flaw. Some get way too hot, others have poor build quality, and some have dim screens with poor viewing angles. And compared with more portable options, such as ultrabooks, all gaming laptops are large, heavy, and saddled with short battery life.
Why we like this one: The Gigabyte Aorus 15 (BMF-52US383SH) provides great gaming performance for the price. It can play most of the newest titles at high and ultra settings, maintaining excellent frame rates while doing so. It also keeps its most-touched surfaces cool during long gaming sessions, and it comes with nice extras, such as a comfortable RGB keyboard and a high, 144 Hz refresh rate screen. But with only 6 GB of VRAM, it may not be able to play the most intensive games coming out in the coming years, and as of 2023, we’re seeing some AAA games (like Starfield) start to recommend 8 GB of VRAM.
This article was edited by Signe Brewster and Arthur Gies.
Which laptops last the longest?
Depending on what you buy and how you use it, a good laptop that’s well cared for should last at least four years, ideally longer—but most modern laptops are not designed with repairability or upgradability in mind. A good , a , or a will feel sturdier, last longer, and perform better than a cheap with a mostly plastic frame and a basic processor. And a laptop that you primarily use around the house will last longer than one that you travel with frequently. Some and allow you to upgrade their memory and storage to extend their useful life, and we have that’s specifically designed to make any part (not just the memory or storage) easy to upgrade and repair.
Should I buy a MacBook or a Windows laptop?
If you already use Macs or Windows computers and you like them, stick to the software you’re used to—don’t force an unfamiliar operating system on yourself unless you need to. Otherwise, if you have an iPhone or iPad that you like, a MacBook will work with the same Apple services, including iCloud Photos and iMessage. Windows laptops are better if you want something more affordable, if you want plenty of ports for connecting accessories, or if you want to play games. And if you want an even less-expensive laptop that's easier to use and harder to break, consider a Chromebook.
What is a good price for a laptop?
For general tasks—editing documents and spreadsheets, browsing the internet, doing homework, and communicating using apps such as Slack or Zoom—a should cost between $400 and $600, a should be $700 or $800, and a should cost at least $1,000. More powerful, specialized laptops, such as or laptops for , start in the range of $1,000 to $1,500 and go up from there. If you have $500 or less to spend, Chromebooks tend to look, feel, and run better than equivalently priced Windows laptops. If you’re looking for a Mac, expect to pay at least $1,100 (or $1,000 with an educational discount) for . Keep an eye on our Deals page if you’re able to wait for a better price on a specific laptop.
How much RAM do I need?
In 2023, you need a minimum of 8 GB of memory, which should be enough for web browsing, document and spreadsheet editing, light gaming, and occasional basic video and photo editing. But since a great laptop should last at least five years and you can’t add more memory to most laptops after you buy them, we recommend starting with 16 GB if you can. And you should consider 32 GB if you regularly use high-end applications like Adobe Photoshop or Premiere, if you play visually demanding games, if you’re doing 3D drafting, or if you work in web and app development.
Meet your guides
Kimber Streams is a senior staff writer and has been covering laptops, gaming gear, keyboards, storage, and more for Wirecutter since 2014. In that time they’ve tested hundreds of laptops and thousands of peripherals, and built way too many mechanical keyboards for their personal collection.
Dave Gershgorn is a senior staff writer at Wirecutter. He’s been covering consumer and enterprise technology since 2015, and he just can’t stop buying computers. If this weren’t his job, it would likely be a problem.
Further reading
Accessories for Your USB-C Laptop
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We've tested the best cables, hubs, and dongles to help you connect your all your peripherals to your new laptop, even if it has only USB-C ports.
The Best Business Laptops
VIDEO: Best Laptops 2022: Top 10 Thin & Light Laptops You Can Buy!The Tech Chapby Dave Gershgorn
An ultrabook is likely to be the best laptop for most people, but business laptops hold up to travel and frequent use thanks to their repairability.
The Best Laptop Stands
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The Rain Design iLevel 2 is our favorite laptop stand because it makes it easy to raise your screen to proper ergonomic height.
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