Choosing the right laptop can feel like a monumental task, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. The key is to understand your needs and how a laptop will fit into your daily life. Whether you’re a student, a gamer, a creative professional, or simply someone who enjoys browsing the web, there’s a laptop out there that’s perfect for you. This guide aims to simplify the decision-making process by highlighting some of the best laptops across various categories, focusing on what truly matters in everyday usage.
Top Laptop Recommendations
Dell Inspiron 14 Plus: For those seeking a well-rounded laptop that excels in all the essential areas, the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is hard to beat. It combines style, speed, and long battery life, making it a dependable choice for anyone who needs performance on the go. The 14-inch size strikes a balance between portability and screen real estate, ideal for both work and entertainment. One of its standout features is the impressive 17-hour battery life, ensuring you can power through long workdays or study sessions without needing to plug in. Priced around $1,000, it offers excellent value for its performance. The display is also noteworthy, with its anti-glare coating and high brightness, making it comfortable to use in various lighting conditions. However, its design might be too conservative for those seeking a more flashy aesthetic, and its integrated graphics might not be sufficient for heavy workloads.
Asus Zenbook 14 OLED: The Asus Zenbook 14 OLED is a compelling option, particularly for those who prioritize display quality and battery life. Its 14-inch OLED panel delivers vibrant colors and deep contrast, making it a great choice for creators and editors. It’s also fast, thanks to its Intel Core Ultra 7 processor, and lightweight, making it easy to carry around. The battery life is also impressive, offering up to 17 hours of usage. With a price tag of around $850, it offers excellent value for its features. However, it falls short in terms of port selection, lacking Ethernet and having fewer USB-A ports. The reflective display can also be challenging to use in bright environments, and the Dell Inspiron Plus 14 offers slightly better battery life and performance.
Acer Aspire Go 15: For budget-conscious buyers who need a reliable laptop for basic tasks, the Acer Aspire Go 15 is an excellent choice. It handles everyday tasks like browsing and word processing with ease, and its battery life is close to 12 hours on a single charge. Its appeal lies primarily in its affordability, offering a functional machine without unnecessary frills. It’s a good option for students or anyone seeking a reliable machine under $500. It also offers a surprisingly generous port selection, including USB-A, USB-C, HDMI, and a headphone jack. However, like many budget laptops, it comes with trade-offs, such as a plastic chassis and a dimmer display, making it better suited for indoor use.
Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6: The Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 is a great option for professionals who need a reliable and long-lasting laptop. Its lightweight design and incredible battery life of nearly 24 hours make it ideal for those who are always on the move. Powered by a Snapdragon X Elite processor, it offers a balance of portability, endurance, and performance. The build quality is also exceptional, with a sturdy chassis and a comfortable keyboard. However, its display lacks the richness and contrast of an OLED panel, making it less suitable for color-sensitive creative work.
Asus Chromebook Plus CX34: The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is the best overall Chromebook for everyday users who want a reliable and stylish device. It offers a balance of performance, design, and affordability. It features an Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of SSD storage, making it capable of handling everyday tasks efficiently. The 14-inch display delivers sharp visuals, and the laptop includes a 1080p webcam. However, its battery life is not as competitive as some other Chromebooks, and it lacks a touchscreen.
MacBook Air (M3): The MacBook Air (M3) is a great choice for those who want a premium macOS experience without the MacBook Pro price tag. It delivers fast performance for everyday tasks, light creative work, and multitasking, all in a fanless design that runs silently. The Apple M3 chip provides performance comparable to the base MacBook Pro model, and the battery lasts up to 19 hours on a single charge. It’s thin, lightweight, and boasts a sharp and vibrant display. However, for professional-level workloads, a MacBook Pro with active cooling might be a better fit.
Lenovo Legion 5i: The Lenovo Legion 5i is a solid mid-range pick for gamers who want strong gaming performance and a fast display. With an Intel Core i9 CPU and an Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU, it delivers the power needed for smooth gameplay and fast load times. The 16-inch display offers crisp visuals and fluid motion, perfect for immersive gaming. It also includes thoughtful features like a 1080p webcam and a full-size keyboard. However, gamers who want more graphics firepower should consider a laptop with RTX 4070 graphics or higher.
Acer Nitro V 16: The Acer Nitro V 16 is a fantastic choice for gamers who want good performance and a fast display without breaking the bank. It features an Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU, an AMD Ryzen 7 CPU, and a 16-inch display running at 165Hz. It can comfortably handle most modern games on High settings. It embraces the gaming aesthetic with its angular lines and backlit keyboard. However, its battery life is limited to about four hours.
Asus ProArt P16: The Asus ProArt P16 is a top-tier choice for creative professionals who prioritize display quality, connectivity, and performance. With its stunning 16-inch display and powerful components, it’s well-suited for photo editing and video production. It also boasts a long battery life and includes USB 4.0 support. Its understated design might appeal to some while others find it too plain.
Asus Zenbook S 14: The Asus Zenbook S 14 is a standout ultraportable for those who want a lightweight design, all-day battery life, and premium display quality. It’s lighter than the 13-inch MacBook Air and offers an impressive battery life and a vibrant OLED display. It also has surprisingly good built-in audio.
MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo: The MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo is a versatile 2-in-1 laptop with long battery life. Its nearly 21-hour battery life ensures productivity throughout the day, and the included stylus makes it a strong choice for creatives and note-takers. It also features a fingerprint scanner and a TPM 2.0 chip for data protection. However, its plastic chassis and compact keyboard might not appeal to everyone, and the audio quality is subpar.
Framework Laptop 13 (2025): The Framework Laptop 13 (2025) is perfect for enthusiasts who value customization and longevity. Its modular design allows users to swap out any part of the laptop, extending its lifespan. It also features powerful processors and ample RAM. However, its upfront cost is high, and its integrated GPU might not meet the needs of those who require high-end graphics performance.
Other Noteworthy Options
While the laptops mentioned above are PCWorld’s top picks, other options might appeal to specific users. The Asus Zenbook A14 impressed with its vibrant OLED touchscreen, robust build quality, and amazing battery life. The Acer Aspire Vero 16 stands out with a chassis made from PCR and other bio-based materials. The Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro offers a 16-inch AMOLED touchscreen and impressive battery life.
PCWorld’s Review Methodology
PCWorld puts each Windows laptop through a series of benchmarks that test GPU and CPU performance, battery life, and other key aspects. Chromebooks undergo web-based tests. This rigorous testing process ensures accurate and reliable recommendations.
PCWorld’s Expertise
PCWorld has been covering PCs since 1983 and reviews over 70 laptops every year. Its experts personally test and vet all picks, applying performance benchmarks and usability standards. PCWorld is committed to reviewing laptops at every price point to help you find the perfect machine for your budget.
Key Considerations When Choosing a Laptop
Laptop Type: Traditional clamshells are great for general use, while 2-in-1 convertibles offer flexible designs with displays that rotate 360 degrees. Chromebooks are a budget-friendly option best for everyday web-based tasks.
Processor: For everyday use, an Intel i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 is solid. For creative tasks like video editing, go for an Intel i7/i9 or Ryzen 7/9. For 4K video editing or heavy multitasking, a Ryzen 9 is ideal.
Graphics Card: For gaming or video editing, you’ll want discrete graphics. For basic tasks, integrated graphics will suffice.
RAM: 8GB of RAM is sufficient for general use. 16GB is recommended for gaming laptops, and 32GB is a future-proof configuration. Content creators will want as much as possible.
Display Size: If you do a lot of video editing or multimedia work, a larger display (15-17 inches) is ideal. A 13- or 14-inch display offers the best balance of portability and value.
Battery Life: Aim for something that can last 10 to 12 hours on a single charge for all day portability.
Price: Good laptops can be found for around $500 to $750, but the price depends on your budget. Spending more can get you better displays, additional performance, more storage, and nicer designs.
Ports: A wide array of ports is always a plus. A laptop should have both USB-C and USB-A ports, as well as an HDMI port.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best laptop overall?
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus (2024) is the best overall choice for most people.
What is the best budget laptop?
The Acer Aspire Go 15 is PCWorld’s top budget pick.
What is the best gaming laptop?
The Lenovo Legion 5i offers a fantastic balance of performance and value.
When is the best time to buy a laptop?
The best time to buy a laptop is during major sales events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday, as well as back-to-school season.
What is a 2-in-1 laptop?
A 2-in-1 laptop combines the functionality of a traditional laptop with the versatility of a tablet.
By carefully considering these factors and exploring the recommended laptops, you can find the perfect device to meet your specific needs and enhance your digital life.
