Smartphones may have captured much of our screen time, but sometimes a task calls for a real computer — and for most people, that means a laptop. For school and office work like creating spreadsheets and editing video, there’s no good substitute for a decent keyboard and a spacious screen. But which laptop you should get depends on what you’ll use it for and (of course) how much you can spend.
Wirecutter’s laptop experts regularly test the most promising laptops, from sleek ultraportables to cheap Chromebooks to powerful 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.
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- The Best Windows Laptop
- How to Clean a Laptop
- The Best Cheap Laptops Under $500
- The Best Laptop Stands
Read more from Electronics
Looking for something else?
- The Best Windows Laptop
- How to Clean a Laptop
- The Best Cheap Laptops Under $500
- The Best Laptop Stands
Read more from Electronics
The research
The best laptops for most people
The best overall laptop must be powerful enough for everyday tasks, while remaining thin, light, and portable. Our top picks meet this criteria, plus they have long battery life to last you through a full day of work or classes. They also have vibrant displays and reliable keyboards and trackpads.
The best Windows laptop
Top pick
The best Windows laptop
Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 (14″ Intel)
The Yoga 7i has fast performance, terrific battery life, a vivid OLED touchscreen, and a 360-degree hinge. But it’s a bit heavy.
Recommended configuration
| Processor: | Intel Core Ultra 5 226V | Screen: | 14-inch 1920×1200 OLED touch |
| Memory: | 16 GB | Weight: | 3.04 pounds |
| Storage: | 512 GB SSD | Tested battery life: | 16 hours |
Who this is for: Our top laptop pick is for anyone who needs a thin-and-light laptop with long battery life, and most people use Windows. The best Windows laptops are powerful enough to do everything most people need a computer for, and they have great keyboards, trackpads, and displays. You can expect to pay around $1,000 for a laptop that will last years, though excellent budget options are also available for around $800.
Ultraportable Windows laptops tend to cost more than most people want to spend, but they last years longer than cheap laptops under $500. They also lack the processing power to play high-end games or handle demanding tasks such as professional video editing or 3D modeling.
Why we like this one: The Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 (14″ Intel) has the best combination of what makes a laptop great: fast performance, terrific battery life, a spacious OLED touchscreen, a comfortable keyboard, and a reliable trackpad, all for a reasonable price. And because it has a 360-degree hinge, you can use it as a tablet, too. With nearly 16 hours of battery life, the Yoga 7i will last through a full day of work or classes — and then some — and it’s compact enough to take to a coffee shop or on a plane.
Where it falls short: At just over 3 pounds, it’s a little heavy, but otherwise this laptop has no major flaws.
Read more about the Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 and other options in our full guide to Windows laptops.
The best MacBook
Top pick
A sleek design and an improved webcam
Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, M4, 2025)
The M4 MacBook Air is a slim, powerful Apple laptop that has a notably upgraded 12-megapixel webcam.
Recommended configuration
| Processor: | Apple M4 CPU | Screen: | 13.6-inch 2560×1664 non-touch |
| Memory: | 16 GB | Weight: | 2.7 pounds |
| Storage: | 256 GB SSD | Tested battery life: | 14.5 hours |
Who this is for: If you prefer macOS or need great tech support, a MacBook is a safe bet; this is an excellent laptop for writers, office workers, commuters, and college students. Even photographers and creators making social media videos would be well-served with a MacBook Air, since each new version of Apple’s custom-made processor has led to faster and more efficient media editing. The 13-inch models offer the best combination of size, weight, and performance, though the 15-inch model is ideal if you want a bigger screen.
But Apple’s SSD upgrade prices are so high that, if you need more storage, you may want to consider cloud storage or an external SSD instead. And our recommended MacBook lacks the power to play demanding games.
Why we like this one: The 13-inch M4 MacBook Air delivers great performance and fantastic 14.5-hour battery life at a reasonable price. Its light weight, solid construction, and industry-leading support make the MacBook Air an easy recommendation, especially if you also own an iPhone or other Apple devices. The base model’s 16 GB of memory is enough for web browsing, office tasks, and basic video or media editing. But if you’re the kind of person who has a few dozen browser tabs open at a time, we recommend 24 GB of memory.
Where it falls short: Like Apple’s other laptops, the MacBook Air has only two Thunderbolt 4/USB-C ports, which may require you to use a hub or new cables.
For more on the MacBook Air, take a look at our full guide to MacBook models.
The best budget laptops
Shopping for a laptop on a tight budget can be tricky because there are hundreds of variations with fluctuating prices and low stock — and most of them are terrible. We’ve researched hundreds of models and tested the most promising ones to recommend cheap laptops that are actually decent. But if our top pick isn’t available, our full guide to budget laptops has other options, plus advice on how to shop for a cheap laptop that isn’t trash.
The best Windows laptop under $500
Top pick
The best Windows laptop under $500
Acer Aspire Go 15 (AG15-32P-30YE)
Unlike most cheap Windows laptops, this Aspire Go 15 model is fast, has a decent 1080p display, and conveniently charges via USB-C.
Recommended configuration
| Processor: | Intel Core 3 N355 | Screen: | 15.6-inch 1920×1080 non-touch |
| Memory: | 16 GB | Weight: | 3.74 pounds |
| Storage: | 512 GB SSD | Tested battery life: | 9 hours |
Who this is 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 people on a strict budget, grade-school and middle-school students, 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.
But to get a cheap laptop that doesn’t run like molasses, you have to make significant compromises. Most budget laptops are bulky and heavy with short battery life, and they tend to have low-resolution, low-quality screens. 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 Go 15 (AG15-32P-30YE) is fast enough to meet most people’s computing needs for years to come, and its 15.6-inch 1920×1080 display looks good, free of the unsightly tints and viewing-angle issues that typically plague laptops in this price range. Its 9 hours of battery life are just enough for it to last through a full day of work or classes, though not much more. The Aspire Go 15’s 1080p webcam is also better than those of the competition.
Where it falls short: Our pick is bulky and weighs 3.74 pounds, which makes it inconvenient to take on the go. Its build quality is also mediocre, and the keyboard deck and lid flex under pressure. On top of that, the Aspire Go 15 comes with a ton of bloatware; we recommend following these steps to get rid of it.
For additional details, read our full guide to cheap laptops.
The best Chromebook
Top pick
The best Chromebook
Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (CB514-6HT-368E)
Reliable performance, a spacious touch display, and long battery life make this model the best Chromebook. But it lacks a 360-degree hinge, and its webcam and speakers are mediocre.
Recommended configuration
| Processor: | Intel Core 3 N355 | Screen: | 14-inch 1920×1200 touch |
| Memory: | 8 GB | Weight: | 3.09 pounds |
| Storage: | 512 GB SSD | Tested battery life: | 12 hours |
Who this is 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 or if you’re on a tight budget. 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.
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 Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (CB514-6HT-368E) provides the best balance of features for the price out of all the Chromebooks we’ve tested. It has fast performance, a backlit keyboard, a reliable trackpad, and a tall and spacious touchscreen. The Chromebook Plus 514 is also light and portable, with long-enough battery life to last a full day of work or classes.
Where it falls short: This model doesn’t cut any major corners to hit its reasonable price, though it lacks a 360-degree hinge, and its speakers and webcam aren’t great.
For more, read our full guide to Chromebooks.
The best laptops for battery life
Who this is for: We prioritize battery life in all of our laptop picks, since most people expect their laptop to last a full day of work or classes without needing to be plugged in. If you’re looking for a laptop with all-day battery life, our top Windows and Mac picks will serve your needs without sacrificing other crucial features like performance, portability, durability, or the quality of the display, keyboard, and trackpad. In previous years, Macs had much longer battery life than equivalent Windows laptops, but the current generation of processors has evened things out — get whichever operating system you prefer.
The best ultraportable Windows laptop
Top pick
The best Windows laptop
Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 (14″ Intel)
The Yoga 7i has fast performance, terrific battery life, a vivid, OLED touchscreen, and a 360-degree hinge. But it’s a bit heavy.
Recommended configuration
| Processor: | Intel Core Ultra 5 226V | Screen: | 14-inch 1920×1200 OLED touch |
| Memory: | 16 GB | Weight: | 3.04 pounds |
| Storage: | 512 GB SSD | Tested battery life: | 16 hours |
Why we like this one: The best overall laptop, the Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 (14″ Intel), is also our top pick if you want long battery life — it lasted 16 hours in our web-browsing battery life tests, and it’s compact enough to commute with. This model also has fast performance, a 14-inch OLED touchscreen, and a reliable keyboard and trackpad. You can use it as a tablet, too, thanks to its 360-degree hinge.
Where it falls short: It’s a bit heavy at just over 3 pounds, but this laptop has no other major shortcomings.
Read more about laptops with long battery life in our full guide to Windows laptops.
The best MacBook for battery life
Top pick
A sleek design and an improved webcam
Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, M4, 2025)
The M4 MacBook Air is a slim, powerful Apple laptop that has a notably upgraded 12-megapixel webcam.
Recommended configuration
| Processor: | Apple M4 CPU | Screen: | 13.6-inch 2560×1664 non-touch |
| Memory: | 16 GB | Weight: | 2.7 pounds |
| Storage: | 256 GB SSD | Tested battery life: | 14.5 hours |
Why we like this one: The 13-inch M4 MacBook Air lasted about 14.5 hours in our web-browsing battery life tests, which is more than enough for a full day of work or classes. It’s also fast, lightweight, and sturdily built, and the MacBook Air provides great performance for a reasonable price. Apple’s support can’t be beat, especially if you also own an iPhone or other Apple devices.
Where it falls short: The MacBook Air has only two Thunderbolt 4/USB-C ports, so you may need a hub for certain peripherals.
You can read more in our full guide to MacBooks.
The best laptops for college students
The cost of college tuition, housing, textbooks, and food adds up quickly. That makes it extra important to find a reliable laptop that’ll last years without putting too much of a dent in your budget. Our picks provide good performance and long battery life in a portable package that’s easy to lug between classes, while keeping the price below $800.
These cheaper alternatives tend to make minor trade-offs compared with premium laptops: They may be a bit bulkier, may not last quite as long on a charge, or may not be able to handle an overload of browser tabs. But even with those drawbacks, our laptop picks for college students still provide far better performance and have superior build quality compared with laptops under $500.
The best Windows laptop for college
Top pick
The best value
HP OmniBook Flip X 14 (fm0013dx)
The OmniBook X Flip 14 has fast performance, long battery life, and a 360-degree hinge. It’s a great value, especially when it’s on sale.
Recommended configuration
| Processor: | Intel Core Ultra 5 226V | Screen: | 14-inch 1920×1200 touch |
| Memory: | 16 GB | Weight: | 3.06 pounds |
| Storage: | 512 GB SSD | Tested battery life: | 15 hours |
Who this is for: If you prefer Windows or need it for your coursework, this is the laptop to get. Historically, more Windows laptops have been available in this price range, though MacBook prices have been roughly equivalent for the past year or so.
Why we like this one: The HP OmniBook X Flip 14 (fm0013dx) is powerful and portable, and its 15-hour battery life will allow it to last for a full day of classes and into an evening of coursework. Unlike other budget models we’ve tested, the OmniBook X Flip 14 has sturdy build quality and a flattering webcam, and it comes with a USB-C charger, which you can use to charge other devices and is generally cheaper to replace than non–USB-C chargers. This laptop’s 360-degree hinge also allows you to use the laptop as a tablet for note-taking.
Where it falls short: It’s a bit heavy at around 3 pounds. The slab-like keys take time to get used to, and the IPS display isn’t as vivid or color-accurate as an OLED screen.
The best MacBook for college
Top pick
Performance for a great price
Apple MacBook Air (M1, 2020)
The M1 MacBook Air has a comfortable keyboard, good performance, and a reasonable amount of storage.
Recommended configuration
| Processor: | Apple M1 CPU | Screen: | 13.3-inch 2560×1600 IPS |
| Memory: | 8 GB | Weight: | 2.8 pounds |
| Storage: | 256 GB SSD | Tested battery life: | 14.5 hours |
Who this is for: If you prefer macOS or need the best tech support, we recommend one of Apple’s laptops. MacBooks used to be too expensive to recommend to college students on a tight budget, but their prices have been very reasonable in recent years. Once you factor in Apple’s education discount, you can get our top picks for less than $800. If you need more storage than these base MacBooks provide, consider cloud storage or an external SSD.
Why we like this one: The 13-inch Apple MacBook Air (M1, 2020) costs just $600 at Walmart, the lowest price we’ve seen for a MacBook. Although we’d rate its performance for web browsing and working in documents as passable, this laptop has Apple’s great keyboard and trackpad, and all-day battery life. 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.
Where it falls short: This budget MacBook came out five years ago. Its performance is fine for basic tasks, but it struggles with more intense workloads. Before you buy, we recommend checking the price of the newer Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, M4, 2025), which has more memory, a bigger, brighter screen, a superior webcam, and a MagSafe charging port. Like Apple’s other laptops, the Air has only USB-C ports; you may need a USB-C hub for certain peripherals.
Read more in our guide to the best laptops for college.
The best business laptop
Top pick
The best business laptop
Asus ExpertBook P5
The ExpertBook P5 has a slimmer design, a better screen, and longer battery life than the competition, and it’s designed to be repaired.
Recommended configuration
| Processor: | Intel Core Ultra 7 258V | Screen: | 14-inch 2560×1600 non-touch |
| Memory: | 32 GB | Weight: | 2.78 pounds |
| Storage: | 512 GB | Tested battery life: | 16.5 hours |
Who this is for: Business laptops are more repairable than other premium Windows laptops, which makes them ideal for people who run a small business or for anyone who wants a longer-lasting laptop with more ports. These laptops are just as powerful as our top laptop pick and can run all the same apps, and they typically have HDMI, USB-A, and USB-C ports, though some also have Ethernet ports, microSD card readers, and SIM slots. Business laptops tend to be a bit thicker and heavier than similarly priced Windows laptops, due to their repairable designs and extra ports.
Why we like this one: The Asus ExpertBook P5 has a higher-resolution display and is thinner and lighter than most laptops in this category, while offering the same performance as more expensive models for a lower price. The ExpertBook P5 also includes USB-C, USB-A, and HDMI ports, a comfortable keyboard, and a huge trackpad, as well as a webcam cover and biometric logins through Windows facial recognition or a fingerprint reader.
Where it falls short: The ExpertBook’s memory is soldered to the motherboard to achieve its thinner profile, so the RAM cannot be easily replaced or upgraded. And it comes with annoying webcam software enabled by default — we recommend turning it off.
Read more about our pick in our guide to business laptops.
The best repairable laptop
Best for…
Best laptop for repairability
Framework Laptop 13 (AMD Ryzen AI 300 Series)
The Framework Laptop is the best — and so far only — option if you want a laptop that you can easily upgrade and repair. And it’s a great laptop, too.
Recommended configuration
| Processor: | AMD Ryzen AI 5 340 | Screen: | 13.5-inch 2256×1504 non-touch |
| Memory: | 16 GB | Weight: | 2.9 pounds |
| Storage: | 256 GB SSD | Tested battery life: | 14 hours |
Who this is for: Most modern laptops aren’t designed to be repaired or upgraded by just anyone with a screwdriver. Even if you 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. But the ability to upgrade and repair this laptop down the line depends on the company continuing to exist and to supply parts.
Why we like this one: Every part of the Framework Laptop 13 (AMD AI 300 Series) is super easy to repair and upgrade and is helpfully labeled with handy QR codes that direct you to step-by-step replacement guides and links to the exact parts you’ll need. The Framework Laptop 13 is sturdy and surprisingly thin and light for how modular its design is, and its battery will last a full workday. It also has a reliable keyboard and trackpad, plus a bright and spacious display. And if you want to put your whole laptop together, you can choose from a wider variety of parts with the DIY Edition.
Where it falls short: If Framework goes under or it decides to stop designing and selling upgrades, there will be no more parts to repair or upgrade with and this laptop will end up just like any other — when it 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. So far the company is off to a great start: Every year since it launched in 2021, the company has introduced upgraded parts.