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The best student laptops for school, college and university in 2022

Picking one of the best student laptops isn't just a task for the beginning of the school year. You might want to upgrade or replace your old machine, or maybe you've only just realised exactly what it is you need from a laptop. Every course has its own technological demands, so the best university laptop will look very different from one for younger students, for example.

In this list, you'll find a variety of the best laptops for studying. Mostly, students won't need a mega-powerful flagship laptop, especially if they're young. They might simply need to be able to use applications that run online through a browser, or optimised to work on low-powered hardware like that found in schools.

However, university and college students might require a more powerful device. This is especially true if they're studying in a creative field, like visual effects or 3D modelling. Because of this, we've made sure to include a decent selection of laptops equipped with heavy-duty graphics cards and loads of RAM. And students studying video editing or photography are bound to need a display with amazing colour accuracy and high brightness levels. These are tricky, but not impossible, to find on a budget.

We've personally tested almost all of the selections below, spending time with the machines. Where that hasn't been possible, we've included picks that have brilliant reputations. Want to know more about our process? See our how we test laptops page. For students though, we prioritised laptops that offer value for money, portability and long battery life.

If you don't find anything that suits your needs in the list below, then luckily we have more dedicated guides if you had something in mind, such as products that can be purchased with the Apple student discount. We've also got you covered if you want ideas on the best iMac alternatives for a desktop computer rather than a portable laptop, and we've picked out the best laptops for teachers.

Don't forget that if you're going to be studying a creative subject, you'll probably need the right software, so see our guide to getting an Adobe Creative Cloud discount or download Photoshop for a free trial.

The best student laptops available now

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01. MacBook Air (M1, 2020) The best MacBook for students Specifications CPU: Apple M1 chip with 8‑core CPU Graphics: Integrated 7-core – 8-core GPU RAM: 8GB – 16GB unified memory Screen: 13.3-inch 2560 x 1600 Retina display Storage: 256GB – 2TB SSD Today's Best Deals View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at (opens in new tab) View at John Lewis (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Powerful M1 chip + Excellent battery life + Beautifully designed Reasons to avoid - Fanless design can impact performance

The MacBook Air (M1, 2020) is currently the most affordable laptop in the Apple family, and while its likely to be overtaken in performance by the recently-released M2-powered MacBook Air, the older MacBook Air is one of our picks for best student laptop as it's cheaper than the latest model by quite a bit, while still being an excellent performer.

In our tests it achieved well over a full day of use on a single charge so you can power through your day without anxiously making sure you're sitting near a power outlet, and it has enough ports to support most of the peripherals you'd need at college or school, such as a mouse and webcam.

That fast and powerful M1 chip allows the MacBook Air to be completely fanless, which is ideal for use in libraries or areas of silent study. It's also been well optimized for a wide range of applications so regardless of if you're studying economics or video editing, there's very little that this compact, lightweight laptop can't handle.

See our full MacBook Air (M1, 2020) review for more details.

(Image credit: Future)

02. Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 The best Macbook rival for students Specifications CPU: 11th-generation Intel Core i5 – i7 /AMD Ryzen 5 - 7 Graphics: Intel Iris Xe / AMD Radeon RAM: 8GB – 32GB Screen: 13.5-inch PixelSense (2,256 x 1,504) touch Storage: 256GB – 1TB SSD Today's Best Deals View at John Lewis (opens in new tab) View at (opens in new tab) View at Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Can be configured to offer a lot of power + Beautiful screen + Comfortable keyboard Reasons to avoid - Not enough ports

Apple may make excellent laptops, but its old rival Microsoft has a brilliant device in the Surface Laptop 4, and it really gives MacBooks a run for their money. What makes this laptop so good for students? Not only does it have a gorgeous thin and light design, but it has an excellent PixelSense touchscreen that's a joy to use for creative work.

It's also got an excellent keyboard, powerful specs (including cutting-edge integrated graphics from either Intel or AMD, depending on the configuration you go for) and incredible battery life. This is as close to a rival for the MacBook Air as they come, so if you have an aversion to macOS then rest assured that this will serve you just as well.

Read our full hands-on Surface Laptop 4 review for more information.

(Image credit: Future)

03. Acer Chromebook 314 The best budget Chromebook for students Specifications CPU: Intel Celeron N4000 Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 600 RAM: 4GB Screen: 14-inch LED (1366 x 768) high definition Storage: 32GB eMMC Today's Best Deals View at John Lewis (opens in new tab) View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Excellent battery life and performance + Bright, crisp screen Reasons to avoid - No touchscreen - No fingerprint reader

The Acer Chromebook 314 has everything that most students need to get their work done: a 14-inch display and over 12-hours of battery life to keep you working through the day, with enough juice to finish up any homework in the afternoon.

There are some compromises with buying a Chromebook, notably that Chrome can't run all the software programs you can run on a Windows computer or a Mac, but for most students that won't be an issue as many educational services are available within a browser.

As a trade-off, Chromebooks are less demanding than both Windows and MacOS which results in that impressive battery longevity, as well as Chromebooks typically being a lot cheaper than rival offerings.

Just because something is budget-friendly doesn't mean it's underpowered either as we found during our review process that it could cope fine with some basic art apps when connected to an Android tablet, which is ideal for those studying subjects like illustration.

Finally, it has plenty of ports to support all your peripherals such as a mouse or webcam, and you can work around the minimal 32GB eMMC of storage by keeping a portable SSD or flash drive handy to save all of your coursework or homework onto.

See our in-depth Acer Chromebook 314 review for more details.

(Image credit: Acer)

04. Acer Swift 3 (2021) A solid Windows laptop for students Specifications CPU: 11th-generation Intel Core i5 – i7 Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics RAM: 8GB - 16GB LPDDR4X Screen: 13.5” 3:2 IPS VertiView Display or 14” 16:9 FHD IPS Storage: up to 1TB PCIe Gen SSD Today's Best Deals Check Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Highly portable + Excellent multitasker Reasons to avoid - Speakers are average - Webcam quality is 'meh'

The Acer Swift 3 is going to be an ideal choice if you want something that sits between the MacBook Air and a Chromebook in budget, style and power. It won't be winning many beauty contests, but this laptop is perfect for students who need an economic device to get online and run Windows applications.

Budget-friendly doesn't mean underpowered either, as there are plenty of configurations available for you to select just how powerful you need the laptop to be, from a capable Intel Core i5 processor up to a beefier i7.

It's fairly spartan in regards to features, but its thin and lightweight design makes it well suited to throwing into a bag and carrying around school or college all day. It also has a healthy selection of ports so you won't need to remember a separate dongle if you want to plug in a wired mouse or webcam.

We would actually recommend getting a dedicated webcam as the built-in one on the Acer Swift 3 is one of its few criticisms, along with poor quality audio from the speakers, but the latter can also be addressed simply by wearing some decent quality headphones.

(Image credit: Future)

05. Microsoft Surface Go 3 The best affordable student laptop-tablet hybrid Specifications CPU: Intel Pentium Gold Processor 6500Y - 10th Gen Intel Core i3 Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 615 RAM: 4GB – 8GB Screen: 10.5” 1920 x 1280 (220 PPI) PixelSense Display Storage: 64GB eMMC – 128GB SSD Today's Best Deals View at Microsoft UK IE (opens in new tab) View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at CCL (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Affordable for a hybrid + Runs full Windows 11 Reasons to avoid - No Touch Cover or stylus included - Base model's specs are weak

The Surface Go 3 is the most affordable 2-in-1 tablet in the Microsoft family, and while It's not as powerful as the Surface Pro 8, or even the older Surface Pro 7, it has a similar design and is more than capable of running low-demand software and web-based applications, making this an ideal choice for younger students.

It even comes equipped with Windows 11 so you're getting the latest Microsoft operating system, and while it's not as powerful as a larger laptop device, it can still run some design applications reasonably well. In our tests we had no issues using Clip Studio Paint to create a few digital illustrations for example, but this isn't a device you'll want to edit images or video footage on.

It's important to note that you'll have to purchase the keyboard separately (and stylus too if you'll make use of it), so the device is sold in its tablet-only form, but when paired with its various accessories the Surface Go 3 is more lightweight and compact than most traditional laptops on the market.

You can read more details in our full Microsoft Surface Go 3 review.

(Image credit: Michelle Rae Uy)

06. Dell XPS 17 (2021) The best portable workstation for students Specifications CPU: Up to 11th Generation Intel Core i9-11980HK Graphics: Up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 6GB GDDR6 RAM: Up to 64GB DDR4-3200MHz Screen: 17.0" FHD+ (1920 x 1200) InfinityEdge Non-Touch Anti-Glare 500-Nit – 17.0" UHD+ (3840 x 2400) InfinityEdge Touch Anti-Reflective 500-Nit Storage: Up to 4TB M.2 PCIe NVMe Today's Best Deals View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Great performance with powerful configurations available + Stunning design for a Windows laptop + Gorgeous display with slim bezels Reasons to avoid - Lack of port variety

The Dell XPS 17 (2021) is one of the largest laptops on this list of best student laptops, but students' needs will vary depending on age, course and educational level, making this portable workstation ideal for those studying more demanding topics such as video editing or graphic design.

Its large size means you can pack it with some seriously powerful hardware, with the top-spec model coming equipped with an 11th generation Intel i9 processor, 64GB of memory and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card. Not only does that make it capable of handling just about any task you throw at it, which also means it's one of the best MacBook Pro alternatives on the market.

We found the huge 17-inch screen's 16:10 aspect ratio to be useful for creative work because it offers more vertical space, and this also made skimming through spreadsheets during our tests much more productive too. The display also supports 100% Adobe RGB and 94% DCI-P3 colour gamuts, and has a 4K Ultra HD+ resolution of 3,840 x 2,400, making this an ideal choice for university and college-age students on creative courses.

We were even able to play a few rounds of Fortnite on it, so this can double as a light gaming machine for a student that truly wants a machine that can handle everything they need from work to play.

See our full Dell XPS 17 (2021) review for more details.

(Image credit: Dell)

07. Dell G15 The best gaming laptop for students Specifications CPU: 11th Generation Intel Core i5 – i7 Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 - RTX 3060 RAM: 8GB – 32GB Screen: 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) Anti-glare LED Backlit Non-touch Storage: 256GB SSD – 1TB SSD Today's Best Deals View at John Lewis (opens in new tab) View at (opens in new tab) Check Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Affordable for a gaming laptop + Anti-glare FHD LED display Reasons to avoid - The build is a tad flimsy - Design is rather uninspiring - No powerful GPU options

The Dell G15 might be a gaming laptop, but that makes it pretty well equipped to deal with a student's everyday needs, from playing video games during breaks or after homework is completed, to then utilizing all that raw power to run demanding applications or software in the classroom.

It's also surprisingly affordable for a gaming laptop. It's not the most powerful model on the market, but it doesn't need to be, equipped with 11th-generation Intel processors and up to 32GB of RAM. You won't be able to configure it with any of the flagship graphics cards, but you'd be surprised just how capable the RTX 3060 model is at running AAA games and demanding creative software.

This makes it a great option for students dabbling with Maya or Blender, or indeed, many applications used within the industry to create games and 3D content. Sure, it's not as capable as a full desktop setup, but for something that offers portability as well as power, the Dell G15 is a fantastic choice for students.

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08. MacBook Pro 14-inch (M1, 2021) The best student laptop for demanding work Specifications CPU: Apple M1 Pro / M1 Max Graphics: Integrated 14-core or 16-core GPU with M1 Pro / M1 Max chip RAM: 8GB - 64GB Screen: 13.3-inch, 2,560 x 1,600 Storage: 512GB - 8TB Today's Best Deals View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at (opens in new tab) View at Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Top-of-the-line Apple hardware + Great battery life + Can run iOS apps Reasons to avoid - No USB-A port - Exceedingly expensive for many student budgets

The MacBook Pro 14-inch isn't just one of the best laptops for students right now, its also one of the best laptops in the world period. That power comes with a pretty hefty pricetag, which can make this difficult to justify as a purchase but while it's certainly expensive, let us reassure you that you'll be getting your monies worth.

The Apple-designed M1-Pro and M1-Max chips can run just about every application you throw at them, and while most rival workstation laptops often sacrifice battery life in exchange for power, In our own tests the MacBook Pro 14-inch easily ran for 17 hours without needing a charge. Even wilder for those used to using gaming laptops or workstations is that the M1 processors allow the design to be completely fanless, so you can work in blissful silence at the library.

Our only complaint is while the SD card reader and HDMI port have been reintroduced to the MacBook Pro line, there's no built-in USB-A port which means you'll either have to buy an adapter from Apple or use wirelessly connected peripherals such as a mouse or keyboard over wired versions.

Sure, it's expensive but for those on demanding creative courses, we would say this is the best laptop for students If you can compromise on price - it really is the cream of the crop.

See our full MacBook Pro 14 (2021) review for more.

(Image credit: Future)

09. Acer Aspire 5 The best cheap Windows laptop for students Specifications CPU: 11th generation Intel Core i5 / Intel Core i7 OR AMD Ryzen 5 Graphics: Intel UHD integrated graphics RAM: 8GB Screen: 14-inch, 1080p, IPS LCD Storage: 256GB Today's Best Deals Check Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + A very affordable Windows 11 laptop + Good selection of ports + Decent 1080p screen Reasons to avoid - Not powerful enough for demanding media work

The Acer Aspire 5 is one of the best options for students on a tight budget thanks to it being one of the cheapest laptops running Windows 11. That means you're paying near-Chromebook prices (which are praised for their affordability compared to laptops), all while getting non of the restrictions.

There are a few caveats in that you won't be running any demanding applications on it, but for younger school-aged children that won't make much of a difference. We tried it with Adobe Photoshop during our tests and it managed well enough for basic editing work for example, though anyone who needs something for video editing or 3D design will need to look at more expensive hardware.

There are a few setbacks that come with a laptop at this price, such as the inclusion of a brand-specific charger over the more common USB-C, and it's certainly not the most stylish device on the market but if you're looking for a Windows laptop at a very cheap price, this is our top recommendation.

Read our in-depth Acer Aspire 5 review to find out more.

(Image credit: Asus)

10. Asus Vivobook S14 The best laptop for students on creative courses Specifications CPU: 11th Gen Intel Core i5 - Intel Core i7 Graphics: Intel Integrated UHD Graphics 620 RAM: 8GB - 16GB Screen: 14-inch, 1920 x 1080 16:9 aspect ratio, IPS-level Panel Storage: 128GB Today's Best Deals View at Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Very reasonably priced + Good colour gamut for creatives + Portable and lightweight Reasons to avoid - Not the highest resolution

The Asus Vivobook S14 is well balanced for students on creative courses, which makes it a niche offering on the wider market, but ideal for handling low-demand creative applications and software on a tight budget. It comes equipped with 11th-generation Intel processors and a choice of either 8Gb or 16GB opf RAM, which is plenty to run most software a student needs.

Where most budget-friendly laptops are ill-suited for creative work, the Asus Vivobook S14 has been created to bridge the gap. It'll run Adobe Photoshop for example, as well as Clip Paint Studio for any digital illustrator, though it might start to struggle if you need something to edit a lot of raw video footage or render 3D models.

There are plenty of ports on offer to support a range of peripherals like graphics drawing tablets, with three USB-A ports as well as a Thunderbolt USB-C. We would suggest this as a better alternative to a 2-on-1 device for graphic designers as you're getting more power, and the support for a dedicated drawing tablet will be a vast improvement over those built into most affordable hybrid tablet devices.

What should I look for in the best student laptop? One of the most important things for a student laptop is often portability - which means a light, compact machine where possible. While it can be great to have a mini home entertainment or gaming system in your student digs a heavy laptop with a 17in screen could be a real pain to lug to college and back. Although we do recommend one 17-incher in our guide for those that need that screen space, it's fairly light and svelte for its size. But we'd generally recommend a 13 or 14in widescreen laptop as the best option for students. This will fit easily into a backpack or satchel and in most cases will be reasonably light. You'll want to combine that with battery life that can get you through a day of remote study, and when the battery does run out, it needs to be able to be recharged quickly. You might want to consider an external power bank as well (see our guide to the best power banks for that).

How much power do I need for a student laptop? How much power the best student laptop needs to have depends very much on what you're studying. If you'll only be using your laptop for writing essays and other documents, taking notes, watching and streaming media and maybe connecting to online classes, then you don't need much power at all, and a Chromebook or an affordable 2-in-1 should do you fine. However, if you're studying on a creative course and need to run intensive software, you'll want more processing power and probably at least 8GB of RAM, if not more if you're doing video editing or 3D work that requires rendering. Design students may benefit from a laptop with a good graphics card.

What should students look for in a laptop? Student laptops should be thin and light enough to be easily carried around, and they should also be built to withstand an entire school day in a backpack. Long battery lives are also essential, so that students don't have to worry about having to plug them in half way through a lesson. These devices should have a high-quality webcam and integrated microphone for remote study. Many students are still taking part in virtual lessons, so making sure they are seen and heard clearly is essential. Besides that, the specifications will be targeted to your specialism. If you need something more powerful for video editing or 3D work, the ideal laptop will have the capability found in our most powerful laptops guide.

Which laptop brand is best for students? When buying a student laptop, you want a device that is well built, affordable and reliable. For that last point, it's generally best to go with brands that have a good reputation – you want your laptop to get you through at least your whole course of study, if not a lot longer. Good brands for reliability are Dell, HP, Acer, Asus and Microsoft for Windows laptops, and then, of course, Apple. For creatives, Asus has its fantastic VivoBook range which offers good prices on devices built with creative professionals and students in mind, so check out those if you're starting a course for video editing or digital illustration. It's also always worth checking whether your college has a particular policy or recommendation. Some recommend using Windows-based laptops to reduce software incompatibility issues or facilitate technical support.

Do Chromebooks make good student laptops? Yes, they do. Not every student will need massive specs. We've included a Chomebook at number 3 in our guide to the best student laptops because for many students giving up a big storage capacity for super speed makes very good sense. The apps that Chromebooks run take up very little space, and with built-in support for Google Drive, it means your documents are all saved in the cloud as well.

Are hybrid 2-in-1s good student laptops? Again, this is a resounding 'yes' in our opinion. Hybrids, also known as 2-in-1s combine the best of tablets and laptops into a highly portable package that's ideal for slinging in a bag to carry to school or university. Devices like the Microsoft Surface Go 3 at number 6 above are great for working in spaces where you might not have a desk – even on the train, while you can still keep the convenience of a keyboard for when you need it.

Best Windows laptop 2022: Top Windows 11 laptops available

Choosing the best Windows laptop for most people involves many different factors. A reasonable price, ample performance, suitable display, and comfortable keyboard are just some of the features considered. Manufacturers continuously update their product lineups with new hardware and design, and some generations are better than others. Our current top pick is the Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 (Gen 7).

Lenovo's Yoga lineup has come a long way over the last couple of years, and this is the culmination of a bunch of good decisions. It's also priced fairly competitively, pushing it above many other close seconds that might take the top spot. Not quite what you need? There are many other great picks for the best Windows laptop, which we've rounded up here.

The best Windows laptop for most people

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It's a great time to be a fan of Windows laptops, and when shopping around, you might be overwhelmed by all the best Windows laptop choices coming from myriad manufacturers.

For most people, the Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 (Gen 7) will bring a mix of performance, build quality, features, and price that is hard to resist. It's a great laptop for just about anything less than gaming or specialized design and development work.

If you'd rather invest in one of our picks for the best Windows laptop that isn't also of the best 2-in-1 laptops — meaning the lid doesn't rotate around 360 degrees for tent, stand, and tablet modes — you'll no doubt want to check out the Dell XPS 13 Plus, the 13-inch Surface Laptop 5, or the Razer Book 13.

These top options are just the appetizer before we get into the real meat of the best Windows laptop picks, ranging from high-end gaming and design laptops down to budget devices that go a long way for less money.

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Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 (Gen 7) Best Windows laptop Today's Best Deals View at Walmart (opens in new tab) Check Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Intel 12th Gen is quite powerful + Outstanding 14-inch 90Hz OLED display + Solid audio performance + Dedicated keys for modern PC features + Pen and sleeve included Reasons to avoid - Battery life is only OK - Display could use a few more features - No option for 4G or 5G

Lenovo's Yoga lineup of convertible laptops saw a full refresh this year, with upgrades to the Yoga 6 (Gen 7), Yoga 7i 14 and 16 (Gen 7), and Yoga 9i 14 (Gen 7). I reviewed the previous Yoga 9i 14 generation and came away mostly pleased with what was on offer, noting that it was still using a 16:9 display and that it lacked an IR camera.

The newest version solves those issues, and it does so well enough that Executive Editor Daniel Rubino said "the Yoga 9i is, basically, perfect" in his Yoga 9i 14 (Gen 7) review.

The Yoga 9i 14 (Gen 7) now has three 14-inch touch display options, all with a taller 16:10 aspect ratio. The baseline screen sits at a 1920x1200 (FHD+) resolution with 100% sRGB color, 400 nits brightness, 60Hz refresh rate, and Dolby Vision. Moving up, the 3840x2400 (UHD+) screen is OLED with 400 nits brightness, 100% DCI-P3 color, 60Hz refresh rate, VESA DisplayHDR 500, and Dolby Vision. Finally, the 2880x1800 (2.8K) screen is OLED with 400 nits brightness, 100% DCI-P3 color, 90Hz refresh rate, VESA DisplayHDR 500, and Dolby Vision. Unfortunately, all screens have a glossy finish to go along with the touch function.

The active pen no longer has a silo built into the laptop. Instead, you get a full inking experience with the included Lenovo Precision Pen 2. It has 4,092 levels of pressure sensitivity, tilt detection, and it works with WGP, AES 2.0, and MPP 2.0 screens.

(Image credit: Daniel Rubino/Windows Central)

The overall design of the laptop has also changed. High-end Yoga laptops have a reputation of being a bit sharp along the edges; the 9i 14 (Gen 7) fixes that with new rounded edges. It's much more comfortable to hold, especially as a tablet. The touchpad has been blown up by 45% to make pointing that much more comfortable, and the edge-to-edge keyboard now includes 1-Click Function keys with extra shortcuts.

The aluminum pieces are joined by a rotating soundbar hinge with quad Bowers & Wilkins speakers for even louder audio than before. Dolby Atmos adds to the immersion. The laptop offers dual Thunderbolt 4, two USB-A 3.2, and a 3.5mm audio jack, but it lacks any sort of SD card reader. Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 round out wireless connectivity. An IR camera and FHD camera sit above the display.

Performance is stellar thanks to a bump up to Intel's 12th Gen Core CPUs, LPDDR5-5200MHz RAM, and PCIe 4.0 storage. Overall, this laptop is a dream for anyone who loves handling productivity during the day and watching movies and TV at night. It has one of the best designs around, and its extra features make it well worth the price.

Bottom line: The Yoga 9i 14 (Gen 7) takes what we loved about this convertible and made it even better. The soundbar hinge is louder, the body now has rounded edges for a more comfortable feel, the touchpad is larger, there are new 16:10 displays with impressive specs, and 12th Gen Intel Core CPUs boost performance.

If you fancy what Lenovo has done with its Yoga PCs but don't want to spend the big bucks, be sure to check out my double Lenovo Yoga 7i 14 and 16 (Gen 7) review for more information on the similar (but more affordable) laptops.

(Image credit: Daniel Rubino)

HP Spectre x360 13.5 Runner-up Today's Best Deals View at HP (US) (opens in new tab) View at Walmart (opens in new tab) View at Best Buy (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Amazing 3000x2000 touch displays + 5MP IR intelligent camera + Exceptional amped quad speakers + Softer edges, less ornate accents + 12th Gen Intel Core and Evo Reasons to avoid - No option for LTE

HP announced the new HP Spectre x360 13.5 as a replacement for last year's Spectre x360 14 (which was previously our top pick in this roundup). It's the same laptop in a lot of ways, though it now has softer edges (what HP refers to as a pillow top) and less ornate accents along the edges. This is HP's middle ground between the Spectre x360 13.3 and 14, and it effectively replaces both.

The biggest attraction here is the optional touch OLED display with 3:2 aspect ratio, 3000x2000 (3K2K) resolution, anti-reflective coating, HDR 500, 400 nits brightness, and 100% DCI-P3 color reproduction. You can also get lower-res displays, including FHD+ with HP's Sure View privacy feature. Inking is available with the HP Rechargeable MPP 2.0 Tilt active pen.

These displays are stacked, and thanks to the slim bezel, it has a truly modern look. Because the screen is so much taller, there's also a lot more room below the keyboard deck. HP took advantage, blowing up the touchpad for easier productivity. There's also room for top-firing speakers that pump out quality audio.

(Image credit: Daniel Rubino)

It makes the cut for Intel's Evo platform certification thanks to the option of up to a 12th Gen Intel Core i7-1155U CPU. Thermals have been reworked to be quieter and more effective. Faster PCIe 4.0 storage is also available.

The sizable 66Wh battery is rated at about 17 hours of life from a charge, though that differs in real-life testing. We saw about 7 hours with the Spectre x360 14 OLED model, which translates to about 10 hours with the FHD+ model.

The display has tilt pen support for natural inking, Wi-Fi 6 connectivity gives you fast, reliable wireless internet, and Bluetooth 5 for your accessories. The front-facing camera has a privacy shutter, and there's an IR camera for Windows Hello. The keyboard also includes a fingerprint reader for further security.

Have a look at our HP Spectre x360 14 review for a far deeper dive into what we think makes the previous generation convertible laptop so great. The larger 16-inch version is also a great choice. In his HP Spectre x360 16 review, Executive Editor Daniel Rubino called it "one of a kind" that "lets you do everything from gaming, taking notes, drawing, editing photos, or just having fun." If you love the design and want faster CPUs and discrete graphics, it's the way to go.

Bottom line: The HP Spectre x360 13.5 is a high-end convertible laptop that demonstrates just what HP can do. If you need a convertible with high-end specs and display, this is it. Just don't expect performance for gaming or development work.

(Image credit: Daniel Rubino)

Dell XPS 13 Plus (9320) Runner-up Today's Best Deals View at Dell (opens in new tab) View at Best Buy (opens in new tab) Check Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + 16:10 displays with thin bezel + Stunning look and design + Edge-to-edge keyboard, haptic touchpad + Strong 12th Gen Intel performance, DDR5 RAM, PCIe 4.0 SSD + Beautiful display options Reasons to avoid - Webcam improved but still 720p - Gets expensive fast

Dell is always busy updating its laptops, and the latest high-profile device refresh to launch is the Dell XPS 13 Plus (9320). This is a new high-end option that sits above the standard XPS 13, which also received a refresh this year to the 9315 designation. You can check out how the devices compare in our XPS 13 Plus vs. XPS 13 (9315) article.

Major changes to the XPS 13 Plus include a keyboard deck that truly covers the laptop from edge to edge. Keycaps are larger, and there's now a capacitive row of function buttons above. Beneath the keyboard are two extra speakers, and below the keyboard is a full glass palmrest with haptic touchpad. The camera is still 720p, but the IR and RGB portions are now separate for better picture quality.

The XPS 13 Plus gets Intel's 12th Gen Mobile CPUs as well as integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics, up to 32GB of faster LPDDR5-5200MHz, and up to a 2TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD with speedier transfer rates. The XPS 13 Plus offers the performance to easily cut through a standard day's work — word processing, heavy web browsing, photo editing — yet it keeps its cool and weighs just 2.71 pounds (1.36kg). It's also unbelievably thin and feels very sturdy, thanks to the aluminum chassis.

The display is sized at 13.4 inches with a 16:10 aspect ratio. A non-touch 1920x1200 (FHD+) screen is the cheapest way to go, bringing an anti-glare finish and up to 500 nits brightness. Another FHD+ option adds touch, edge-to-edge glass, and an anti-reflective layer to help reduce glare. It also manages 500 nits of brightness. Fairly new to the lineup (introduced with the 9310) is an OLED option with 3456x2160 (3.5K) resolution, touch function, anti-reflective finish, and beautiful color. Finally, the most expensive option is a 3840x2400 (UHD+) touch option with edge-to-edge glass, 500 nits brightness, and an anti-reflective layer. The high-end displays feature Dolby Vision for better color and contrast in supported content.

The XPS 13 Plus 9320 is easily the best Dell laptop available today, and it's also the best laptop between $1,000 and $1,500. It's the way to go if you don't need a convertible and love the small size.

Bottom line: If you'd rather stick with a traditional form factor that doesn't convert to a tablet, the XPS 13 Plus (9320) takes a nearly perfect Ultrabook and makes it even better. If you don't need all the fancy bells and whistles but still love the XPS 13 look, you can always check out the more affordable XPS 13 (9315).

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Surface Laptop 5 Runner-up Today's Best Deals View at Walmart (opens in new tab) View at Best Buy (opens in new tab) View at Microsoft US (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Excellent performance, decent battery life + Still the best trackpad, keyboard, and audio in a Windows laptop + Very quiet fan + Beautiful touch display with inking Reasons to avoid - No Thunderbolt 4, few ports - Glossy display finish, no HDR - No 4G or 5G options

The Surface Laptop 5, available in 13.5- and 15-inch sizes, takes a solid design that we're already familiar with and adds modern hardware. This means that you're still looking at a glossy display with no HDR, and no option for 4G or 5G connectivity. Flaws aside, this is still one hell of a laptop with Microsoft's signature Surface design.

For the first time, the Surface Laptop 5 now supports Thunderbolt 4 connectivity! The smaller version comes in four different colors depending on whether you want Alcantara or all-metal, while the larger model is available in two different colors with metal finish only. No matter which size you choose, you're getting a comfortable keyboard and sizable Precision touchpad.

Both sizes are configurable with up to either an 12th Gen Intel Core i5-1235U or Intel Core i7-1265U, along with Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics. These chips are both able to deliver stellar performance, especially when paired with up to 32GB of LPDDR4x RAM and a 1TB SSD. The displays are high-res, they have a 3:2 aspect ratio, and they're touch-enabled with Surface Pen support.

You can see how the Surface Laptop 5 compares in our best Microsoft Surface PCs roundup.

Bottom line: The Surface Laptop 5, available in 13.5- and 15-inch configurations, is all about premium design, a high-res touch display with a 3:2 aspect ratio, and modern performance hardware inside.

(Image credit: Daniel Rubino)

Surface Pro 9 Best 2-in-1 Today's Best Deals View at BHPhoto (opens in new tab) View at Microsoft US (opens in new tab) View at Best Buy (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Excellent 120Hz display + Thunderbolt 4 + Slim Pen 2 with haptics + Large 13-inch display, thinner bezel, good speakers + New colors! Reasons to avoid - Very glossy display - No USB-A or dongle - 5G only for ARM

The new Surface Pro 9 represents a maturing of the new design that first debuted with the Surface Pro X, and then refined with the Surface Pro 8. The most notable changes are the different button placement, moving the lock and volume rocker to the top left, as well as combining both the Surface Pro 8 and Surface Pro X under one umbrella product known as the Surface Pro 9 and Surface Pro 9 5G.

The Pro 9 and Pro 9 5G look like modern tablets than the older Surface Pro 7 and earlier models, and its Type Cover has been upgraded to match. It's now using the same design as the Pro X's Type Cover (they are interchangeable), with a holding slot for the Surface Slim Pen 2. Typing is comfortable, and the Precision touchpad makes for easy pointing.

The thinner bezels allows for a beautiful13-inch display with excellent color reproduction and up to 441 nits brightness. It supports a dynamic 120Hz refresh rate, which plays well with the Slim Pen 2. The inking experience is smooth, and there's now haptic feedback in select apps. As for performance, the non-5G Surface Pro 9 features 12th Gen Intel Core chips and Iris Xe graphics, and the 5G version features Microsoft's own SQ3 chips with support for special AI camera and microphone effects, something the standard version doesn't have.

If you need a versatile PC that's as comfortable acting as a notebook as it is a tablet, the Surface Pro 9 should wow you.

Bottom line: For those who need a device that can detach from the keyboard and touchpad to become a tablet — and have the power to rival standard laptops — there is the Surface Pro 8.

(Image credit: Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

Razer Book 13 Slightly aged, still great Today's Best Deals View at Best Buy (opens in new tab) View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at Walmart (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Gorgeous, pristine design + 11th Gen Intel and Evo certified + Brilliant IGZO display + Excellent typing, trackpad, and RGB keyboard + Fantastic speakers with THX Spatial Audio + Plenty of ports Reasons to avoid - Expensive - No LTE

In our Razer Book 13 review, Executive Editor Daniel Rubino weighs in on whether Razer's laptop trumps the mighty XPS 13 9310. It's ultimately a toss-up with both laptops excelling in different areas, but know the Book 13 brings better port selection (with HDMI 2.0, two Thunderbolt 4, USB-A 3.2, microSD card reader, and 3.5mm audio), better sound with top-firing THX speakers, and a better keyboard with RGB backlighting for extra fun.

The overall aluminum design of the Book 13 is impeccable. It's well balanced, it's relatively thin and light, and it has that premium feel you only get from laptops in this price range. The keyboard is comfortable for long days of typing, the Precision touchpad makes good use of available space, and battery life goes all day with about 10 hours before needing a charge.

Razer went to Sharp to source its IGZO displays, which paid off greatly. The 13.4-inch displays with a 16:10 aspect ratio are available with FHD+ or UHD+ resolutions, and there are touch and non-touch options. All have an anti-reflective coating to cut down on glare, and all have excellent color reproduction in the sRGB gamut. Brightness gets up to about 550 nits.

Get up to an 11th Gen Intel Core i7-1165G7 CPU, Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics, 16GB of LPDDR4x-4267MHz RAM, and a 512GB M.2 PCIe SSD for performance hardware, and stay safe with an IR camera for Windows Hello. This laptop is expensive and doesn't offer LTE, but it is pretty much perfect in every other way.

Bottom line: Razer's first crack at a productivity laptop, the Book 13, is a smash hit. Its design, display, keyboard, touchpad, speakers, and performance hardware all come together to form one of the best 13-inch Ultrabooks on the market.

(Image credit: Future)

Lenovo ThinkPad X13s Best ARM Today's Best Deals View at Lenovo USA (opens in new tab) View at Walmart (opens in new tab) View at Newegg (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 CPU + 5G with mmWave and sub6 + FHD webcam with IR, AI auto-framing, and human presence detection + Long battery life + PCIe 4.0 SSD, up to 32GB of RAM Reasons to avoid - ARM still has some limitations - Not many ports

Lenovo's first Snapdragon-powered ThinkPad was unveiled at the start of 2022, and it's now widely available either through Lenovo or through Verizon and AT&T. Why are the mobile carriers offering the laptop? It offers 5G connectivity thanks to a built-in Snapdragon X55 Sub6 modem, allowing you to stay connected everywhere you go.

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8xc Gen 3 processor is no slouch, either. Its single-core Geekbench score competes with Intel's 10th Gen Core i5-10210U chip, while its multi-core score rivals the 11th Gen Intel Core i7-1165G7. That's some impressive performance, and the 50Wh battery goes longer thanks to the ARM platform. Lenovo claims up to about 28 hours of life, with real-world life sitting closer to between 15 to 20 hours.

All the usual ThinkPad features are here, including durable chassis (this time made from 90% recycled magnesium), comfortable and spill-resistant keyboard, TrackPoint system, and extra security measures including human presence detection, an IR camera, webcam shutter, TPM 2.0, and Kensington lock slot.

Lenovo understands how important video conferencing is these days. The X13s has up to an FHD webcam with AI-based auto framing, dual speakers with Dolby Audio, and three mics with AI-based noise suppression. The 13.3-inch display is available only in an FHD+ resolution, but the top option has an anti-glare finish, low power, 400 nits brightness, and 100% sRGB color.

Bottom line: Those who need a durable, portable laptop that can remain connected everywhere will want to check this one out.

(Image credit: Daniel Rubino)

HP Pavilion Plus 14 Best budget 14-inch Today's Best Deals View at HP (US) (opens in new tab) Check Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Excellent value + Outstanding hardware quality + 5MP webcam + 90Hz OLED display option + Three classes of CPU to choose from Reasons to avoid - No touch display option - Battery life is weak on 45W + OLED config - No Thunderbolt 4

Processor: Up to Core i7-12700H or Core i7-1255U or Core i5-1240P | RAM: Up to 16GB DDR4-3200 | Storage: Up to 1TB PCIe 3.0 SSD | Graphics: Up to NVIDIA RTX 2050 Laptop or NVIDIA MX550 | Display size: 14 inches | Display resolution: Up to 2880x1800 (2.8K) | Ports: Two USB-C 3.2 (Gen 2), two USB-A (5Gbps), HDMI 2.1, 3.5mm audio, microSD card reader

The HP Pavilion Plus 14 is an interesting device. It starts at just $800, it offers Intel's 12th Gen Core P-series, U-series, and H-series processors, it's built extremely well, and it has up to a 2.8K OLED display. Even if you jump up to the 2.8K OLED screen and H-series CPU, you're still only paying just more than $1,000. For a bit more money, you can add either a discrete NVIDIA MX550 or NVIDIA RTX 2050 Laptop GPU for some extra power.

In his Pavilion Plus 14 review, Executive Editor Daniel Rubino called it "the best $1,000 you can spend on a powerful OLED laptop right now." That's saying something, as many manufacturers have been focusing heavily on improving their mid-range lineups. Port selection lacks Thunderbolt, but you still get dual USB-C, USB-A, HDMI, and a microSD card reader.

The 5MP webcam with True Vision is perfect for video calls, dual speakers pump out decent audio, and the keyboard is comfortable. As for the display, the 14-inch 2.8K OLED version is tops, coming in with a 90Hz refresh rate and 400 nits brightness. It also hits 100% sRGB, 97% AdobeRGB, and 100% DCI-P3 color, making it ideal for photo or video editing.

Bottom line: Need a laptop that represents arguably the best value around right now? The HP Pavilion Plus 14 will deliver thanks to plenty of config options, 90Hz OLED display, and outstanding build.

(Image credit: Windows Central)

HP Elite Dragonfly G3 Best premium business Today's Best Deals View at HP (US) (opens in new tab) View at BHPhoto (opens in new tab) View at Walmart (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + 3K2K display with 3:2 aspect ratio + 12th Gen Intel Core U-series CPUs + 5MP FHD webcam + Optional 5G connectivity + Gorgeous design Reasons to avoid - Expensive

HP's Elite Dragonfly G3 represents a massive upgrade over the G2 model. The 13.5-inch display now has a 3:2 aspect ratio and up to a 3000x2000 resolution with OLED and touch, the webcam has been upgraded to 5MP FHD, there's a larger 68Wh battery, and there are now Intel's 12th Gen Core U-Series CPUs with Evo certification inside for better performance.

The edges of the laptop are rounded and smooth for extra comfort, the new aspect ratio allows for more palmrest space, and the quad-speaker setup has been rearranged to include four amplifiers. The touchpad is massive, the keyboard feels great, and there's a decent selection of ports including Thunderbolt 4.

This is a business laptop, so it understandably includes optional Sure View privacy for the display, Intel vPro, and HP's full suite of security add-ons. And for those who need to stay connected everywhere, models can be configured with 5G wireless connectivity.

Bottom line: It's on the pricey side, but the Elite Dragonfly G3 is a bonafide premium business laptop with a ton of great features, plenty of performance and battery life, and gorgeous display options.

(Image credit: Razer)

Razer Blade 15 Best gaming Today's Best Deals View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Gorgeous 4K, QHD, and FHD display options + Insane gaming performance + Slim, premium build + Decent port selection + Enormous Precision touchpad Reasons to avoid - Very expensive - Keyboard travel could be better

Processor: Up to Core i9-12900H | RAM: Up to 32GB DDR5-4800 | Storage: Up to 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD | Graphics: Up to NVIDIA RTX 3080 Ti Laptop | Display size: 15.6 inches | Display resolution: Up to 4K | Ports: Two USB-C 3.2 (Gen 2), Three USB-A 3.2 (Gen 2), Thunderbolt 4, HDMI 2.1, SD card reader, 3.5mm audio

If you need a powerful gaming laptop, the Razer Blade 15 should be your first choice should you have the budget. It's also our top pick in a roundup of the overall best gaming laptops available today. Some new Blade 15 configurations were announced at CES 2022, and you can now get up to Intel's 12th Gen H-series CPUs, NVIDIA RTX 3080 Ti laptop GPU, DDR5-4800MHz RAM, and PCIe 4.0 storage.

Display options won't leave your performance hardware wanting more, with up to a 4K UHD screen with 144Hz refresh rate and excellent color reproduction. There's also a QHD model with 240Hz refresh rate and an FHD model with a 360Hz refresh rate.

This is all wrapped up in a squared, symmetrical metal chassis that measures just 0.67 inches (16.9mm) thin, which is slimmer than ever. Keyboard travel is a bit short, but it has customizable RGB, and the Precision touchpad is huge for times when you're not using an external gaming mouse plugged into one of three USB-A 3.2 ports. Other connectivity includes two Thunderbolt 4, HDMI 2.1, and Ethernet. There's also a UHS-II SD card reader.

The Razer Blade 14 is also available for anyone who wants a more compact build with the latest AMD Ryzen hardware mixed with NVIDIA RTX 30-series Laptop GPUs.

Bottom line: With a dedicated GPU, powerful Intel CPU options, and myriad high-end display options, the Razer Blade 15 is the best gaming laptop out there as long as you have the budget.

(Image credit: Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano (Gen 2) Best business Today's Best Deals View at Walmart (opens in new tab) Check Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + 12th Gen Intel CPUs and Evo certification + 2K displays with 16:10 aspect ratio + Human presence detection and FHD IR camera + Excellent battery life + Optional 5G connectivity Reasons to avoid - Might not want the ThinkPad look

We absolutely love the first-gen X1 Nano, with Executive Editor Daniel Rubino saying in his ThinkPad X1 Nano review that it holds all the best features of premium ThinkPad laptops but with a focus on portability. The second generation is now available — though there are still first-gen models for sale — with some notable upgrades.

The new 12th Gen Intel Core P-series 28W processors boost performance significantly, LPDDR5 RAM is faster, and PCIe 4.0 storage makes transfers a breeze. Displays have remained mostly the same, with a 2160x1350 resolution with a 16:10 aspect ratio, as well as Dolby Vision and 100% sRGB color reproduction. There's now an add on touch film (AOTF) available for a better touch experience.

The webcam got a bump up to 1080p, with separate IR and RGB modules for better quality. Human presence detection is still included, and Dolby Voice has been added to help cancel out background noise while you're conferencing.

The laptop makes the list of Intel Evo platform certification, guaranteeing snappy response even on battery power. Thunderbolt 4 ports make it easy to connect your most modern accessories, and there's Wi-Fi 6 and 5G LTE available for staying connected everywhere.

The real beauty is that it weighs in at just 2.13 pounds (970g), making it one of the lightest business laptops out there. If you need a slim, powerful business partner, this should be near the top of your list. Check out our list of the best Lenovo laptops to see where the ThinkPad X1 Nano sits.

Bottom line: ThinkPad laptops come in many shapes and sizes, but the X1 Nano (Gen 2) sits near the top if you want something thin and light with many business features.

(Image credit: Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

Dell XPS 15 (9520) Best 15-inch Ultrabook Today's Best Deals View at Dell (opens in new tab) View at Walmart (opens in new tab) View at Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Gorgeous FHD+, 3.5K OLED, and UHD+ display options + Powerful performance from 12th Gen Intel Core CPUs + Top-firing speakers flank the keyboard + Good keyboard and touchpad Reasons to avoid - Can get pricey

Along with the XPS 13 9300, the XPS 15 9500 received a fairly serious overhaul that continues with the latest 9510 and 9520 models. It has a larger 16:10 aspect ratio for the display, which eliminates the chin. The Precision touchpad is way more prominent, and the keycaps are also larger for a better typing experience. Speakers on either side of the keyboard and speakers on the laptop's underside make for quality audio.

You can get the display in either FHD+, UHD+, or 3.5K resolutions. The FHD+ version is non-touch with an anti-glare finish and 500 nits. The UHD+ version is touch with an anti-reflective finish and 500 nits brightness. And the new 3456x2160 (3.5K) OLED option is touch with an anti-reflective finish and 400 nits. There's hardly any bezel, yet there's still an IR camera above the display for Windows Hello.

With the release of the 9520 models, you can now get 12th Gen Intel Core CPUs with up to a Core i9-12900HK for maximum performance. Also updated is the memory, which now comes in DDR5-4800MHz. Storage and graphics remain the same, with up to a 1TB SSD and either integrated graphics or NVIDIA's laptop versions of the RTX 3050 and RTX 3050 Ti discrete GPUs.

As for the remaining 9510 models, you can get up to an 11th Gen Intel Core i9-11900H CPU, 64GB of DDR4 RAM, a 2TB M.2 PCIe SSD, and similar discrete graphics options. The laptops are all powered by a beefy 86Wh battery that can deliver a full day of battery life. Wi-Fi 6 is also included for fast wireless connectivity. This PC also sits atop our list of the very best 15-inch laptops.

Have a look at our Dell XPS 15 9500 review for a closer look at this awesome 15-inch laptop. The design really hasn't changed, so you're still getting the same great look with the 9510 or 9520 models.

Bottom line: The new Dell XPS 15 (9520) brings Intel's 12th Gen Intel Core CPUs and DDR5 RAM to an otherwise similar design. It's the most powerful option out there, but the older 9510 model is still quite attractive and costs less.

(Image credit: Windows Central)

Lenovo Yoga 6 (Gen 7) Best affordable convertible Today's Best Deals View at Best Buy (opens in new tab) Check Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + New 16:10 FHD+ display with Dolby Vision + Outstanding typing, huge touchpad + Top-firing speakers with Dolby Atmos + 1080p webcam with IR and privacy shutter + Impressive battery life Reasons to avoid - Noticeable performance slowdown on DC power - Speakers could be a bit louder - Still using Ryzen 5000 - No Thunderbolt

Lenovo's Yoga laptop line, which includes the incredible Yoga 9i 14, received a full refresh for its seventh generation. And while the more expensive Yoga laptops often steal the show, the budget Yoga 6 (Gen 7) is almost as impressive when you factor in the asking price. These laptops start at about $675 depending on the running promotion at Lenovo, placing them in the mid-range category.

Despite its affordable price, it's one of the laptops I've most enjoyed testing and using so far this year. In my Lenovo Yoga 6 (Gen 7) review, I note that it "demonstrates how complete the Yoga lineup has become." It has many features that you'd normally only find on a much more expensive laptop, plus it has the added versatility of being able to rotate around for tent, stand, and tablet modes.

These fresh models have a taller 16:10 aspect ratio for the display, as well as Dolby Vision, an FHD+ resolution, and 100% sRGB color. Inking is supported, though you'll have to buy the pen separately.

(Image credit: Windows Central)

The webcam above the display has been bumped up to a 1080p resolution and it's combined with an IR sensor for Windows Hello. There's also a webcam shutter for added privacy. To round out the multimedia kick, top-firing speakers with on-board Dolby Atmos flank the comfortable keyboard.

The laptop looks like it costs a whole lot more than it really does thanks to new rounded chassis edges and optional fabric lid topping. You don't get Thunderbolt 4 ports due to the AMD platform, but there is still plenty of connectivity including dual USB-C, dual USB-A, HDMI, 3.5mm audio, and a microSD card reader.

Performance from AMD's Ryzen 5000 CPUs isn't outstanding, but the PC still has more than enough power to handle productivity work. You will notice some further slowdown on DC power, but the battery should last upwards of 12 to 15 hours, as we saw in our own testing.

Bottom line: The Lenovo Yoga 6 (Gen 7) is a stacked convertible laptop that starts at well less than $1,000. It's packed with high-end features and offers outstanding battery life. If you don't want to spend big on a Yoga 9i or Yoga 7i, this is the way to go.

(Image credit: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

Surface Laptop Go 2 Most fun Today's Best Deals View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at Walmart (opens in new tab) View at Best Buy (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Excellent compact design + 11th Gen CPU brings a substantial improvement + Nice display and feature set + New pricing makes more sense + Decent 720p webcam Reasons to avoid - No backlit keyboard - Battery life is OK - Avoid the entry-level model

The standard Surface Laptop is an outstanding device, but not everyone wants to shell out that kind of money for a device sized at 13 or 15 inches. Enter the Surface Laptop Go 2, a 12.5-inch device that's designed up to Surface standards. The display might not be as high a resolution as other Surface products and might not support inking, but it's still colorful and bright.

The keyboard is comfortable (though no backlight), and battery life will last you through most of a workday. Performance hardware is right for anyone with standard productivity tasks in mind, and the price reflects that. This is an excellent option for anyone who needs an extra laptop around the house or something portable for school.

Executive Editor Daniel Rubino recently reviewed the Surface Laptop Go 2, stating that the "Surface Laptop Go 2 is a modest upgrade over the previous model on paper, but using that new Core i5 makes it feel much more premium than you would expect."

Bottom line: Want a smaller, more affordable version of the Surface Laptop? The Surface Laptop Go 2 is no doubt for you.

(Image credit: Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

Surface Laptop Studio Flexible workstation Today's Best Deals View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at Best Buy (opens in new tab) View at Walmart (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Exceptionally engineered + Very good performance and battery life + Excellent keyboard, haptic pen + Bright, color-accurate, 120Hz display + Best touchpad on a PC Reasons to avoid - Reflective display - Audio needs more bass - No SD card reader - Charger is underpowered

Microsoft's Surface Laptop Studio employs a rare design that is essentially the spiritual successor to the Surface Book series. While the display no longer detaches fully from the rest of the chassis, the Laptop Studio's design allows the screen to sort of pull forward. It can either remain vertical for stage mode (with the touchpad still uncovered), or it can lie flat (with the display facing up) for a unique Surface experience that should appeal to creators and designers.

The 14.4-inch touch display has a 2400x1600 resolution, 3:2 aspect ratio, 120Hz refresh rate, and excellent color reproduction and brightness. Dolby Vision is included for better movies and TV. If you're into inking, the Laptop Studio pairs well with the Surface Slim Pen 2. A 120Hz refresh rate makes for seamless writing and drawing, and the new haptic feedback feature is available in select apps.

Intel 11th Gen H-series CPUs power the Laptop Studio, and you can combine them with a NVIDIA RTX 3050 Ti laptop GPU. You can game on this laptop to an extent, though it's far more comfortable being used for productivity work in the creative and design sectors.

You can expect the usual Surface premium level of design in all areas here, but the laptop doesn't come cheap. Nevertheless, anyone who needs a versatile mobile platform for heavier work should take notice.

Bottom line: The Surface Laptop Studio represents a new design category for Microsoft's PC lineup. With excellent performance, a high-end display with inking, and a ton of other features, it's a top choice for those who need a mobile workstation.

(Image credit: Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

LG gram 17 Best lightweight 17-inch Today's Best Deals View at Walmart (opens in new tab) View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + 17-inch display with 16:10 aspect ratio + 100% DCI-P3 color + Just 2.89 pounds (1.35kg) + Excellent performance + Good for typing, nice ports Reasons to avoid - No touch support - No HDR or WCG - Discrete graphics would be nice

A 17-inch laptop is excellent for multitasking thanks to the enormous display, but you often trade portability. However, the LG gram 17 (2022) weighs in at just 2.98 pounds (1.35kg), making it as light as a lot of 13-inch Ultrabooks. The vast display has a 2560x1600 resolution with a 16:10 aspect ratio, and it has a battery that will last for a full day before needing a charge. This is easily one of the best LG laptops.

Thanks to a recent refresh announcement, performance hardware includes up to a 12th Gen Intel Core i7-1260P CPU, LPDDR5-5200MHz RAM, and two 1TB M.2 PCIe PCIe 4.0 SSDs. There's now also an option for an RTX 2050 discrete GPU if you'd like more than Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics. Ports include Thunderbolt 4, HDMI, USB-A 3.2, a microSD card reader, and 3.5mm audio for generous connectivity. This is also an Intel Evo-certified laptop.

The Precision touchpad seems small compared to all the available space, but it tracks well. Typing for extended periods shouldn't be an issue on the keyboard, and a fingerprint reader built into the power button adds security through Windows Hello. Included is Wi-Fi 6E for speedy connectivity. This worthy PC also made our list of best Windows laptops with full number pads, and it's our pick for the very best 17-inch laptop.

Bottom line: The gram lineup from LG aims to make laptops as thin and light as possible without subtracting essential features, performance, and durability. In that sense, it's a winner.

(Image credit: Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

Dell XPS 17 (9720) Best 17-inch performance Today's Best Deals View at Dell (opens in new tab) Check Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + 17-inch 16:10 HDR 400 display is gobsmacking + Excellent keyboard, trackpad + Powerful quad audio + Octa-core CPU and RTX-level graphics + Looks fantastic, feels great Reasons to avoid - Heavy and dense - Below average webcam - No inking

If you love the idea of a 17-inch laptop but don't particularly care whether it's light or not, the XPS 17 is undoubtedly the laptop you should consider. This is a more recent addition to the XPS lineup, and it's an absolute powerhouse to boot. It was recently updated for 2022; the new 9720 model includes 12th Gen Intel Core CPUs up to an i9-12900HK with 14 cores, as well as up to 64GB of DDR5 RAM.

These fresh models are going to cost more, but the older 9710 models are still great. You can configure them with up to an 11th Gen Intel Core i9-11900H CPU, 2TB of speedy M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD storage, up to 32GB of DDR4-3200MHz RAM, and an NVIDIA RTX 3060 Laptop GPU with 6GB of GDDR6 VRAM.

Combined with the massive 17-inch display that goes up to a UHD+ resolution (the + accounts for the extra space thanks to the boxy 16:10 aspect ratio), this is an ideal laptop for content creators. It hits 94% DCI-P3 color reproduction, and it manages up to 500 nits brightness with HDR400 and Dolby Vision.

It's built extremely well like the rest of the XPS lineup, but it is rather heavy. The thin chassis packs in four Thunderbolt 4 ports, an SD card reader, and a 3.5mm audio jack. Top-firing audio puts out an excellent sound, and you can get up to a 97Wh battery for long-lasting life. Altogether this is a gorgeous 17-inch laptop that's about the same size as a 15-inch laptop, thanks to a complete lack of bezel and careful engineering. It's expensive, but this is the right laptop for content creators. Who doesn't love a big screen?

Our Dell XPS 17 review goes much deeper, covering what makes this laptop great. Be sure to have a look if you're interested in buying the laptop. And note that the physical design of the laptop hasn't changed between the 9710 and 9720 models. If you do go with the newer version, it's primarily a performance hardware upgrade.

Bottom line: The XPS 17 is a monster of a laptop with parts that outshine every other mobile PC on the market. The biggest (and best) display, superb audio, excellent typing, and enough graphics power to keep anyone happy. It may be heavy, but it's no wimp.

(Image credit: Future)

Surface Go 3 Ultra portable Today's Best Deals View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at Best Buy (opens in new tab) View at AT&T Mobility (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Low starting price + Premium build quality + Thin(ish) bezel + Intel Core m3 option available Reasons to avoid - Small keyboard - No Thunderbolt

Sometimes all you need is a Windows device without potent hardware that can travel with you everywhere. That's where the Surface Go 3 fits into this collection. It is identical to the Surface Go 2 in every way except for a bump up in processors. That means you're still getting a touch display with inking, Wi-Fi 6, and optional LTE.

The premium design remains unchanged, and you're still getting a high-quality aluminum build with a kickstand on the back and an optional attachable Type Cover and Surface Pen for inking. The 10.5-inch touch display has a 3:2 aspect ratio and 1920x1280 resolution for a great look.

While the Intel Core i3 CPU option does add some extra power over the first and second generations, it's still not going to handle intensive work. This is a 2-in-1 that's best reserved for light work on the move. Keep it there, and it will truly shine.

Bottom line: The Surface Go 3 is an excellent follow-up to the first two in the series, and it's still the top choice for anyone who's looking for a 10.5-inch tablet that can also function as a notebook.

(Image credit: Daniel Rubino)

Samsung Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 15 Thin and light convertible Today's Best Deals View at Samsung (opens in new tab) View at Best Buy (opens in new tab) View at Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Outstanding AMOLED display + Excellent inking and convertible experience + Thin and light with excellent performance + Decent battery life + Improved webcam Reasons to avoid - Mediocre speakers - 16:10 would have been a better display aspect - Lots of fingerprints on chassis - Only full HD screen resolution

The 15-inch convertible PC market isn't particularly crowded, but the Samsung Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 nevertheless stands out. It also fills a bit of a gap in the laptop market, coming at you with an incredibly thin and light build, strong battery life, and snappy performance. It's just 0.47 inches (11.9mm) thin, and it weighs in at 3.1 pounds (1.41kg). Considering it has a touch display, convertible function, and 68Wh battery, that says a lot. One tradeoff is port selection, which is limited to Thunderbolt 4, two USB-C, 3.5mm audio, and a microSD card reader.

Executive Editor Daniel Rubino recently reviewed the Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 15, noting that it's "one of the only thin-and-light 15-inch convertible PCs on the market that also has an excellent AMOLED display and inking experience."

The design is quite similar, but the new versions now have a 1080p webcam with wider lens, auto-framing, blur, and more smart features to help with video conferencing. Dolby Atmos speakers also got a glow-up with "Smart AMP" for better sound.

The 15.6-inch display wasn't particularly bright in the original model, but that's been changed with the Book2. It can now hit upwards of 400 nits brightness, with VESA DisplayHDR 500 certification. The displays are still AMOLED with stellar color reproduction and contrast. An included S Pen (not garaged, but attachable with magnets) provides quality inking, especially with all the extra software Samsung includes. And while the touch function and pen are great, you also get a comfortable keyboard with number pad and a sizable Precision touchpad.

Performance is strong from the 12th Gen Intel Core i7-1260P CPU, up to 32GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and 1TB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD; the only thing missing is a dedicated GPU, but at least integrated Iris Xe put up a strong fight. Expect about 10 hours from the battery, with Intel Evo certification to prove it can remain snappy even on DC power.

Bottom line: The Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 is one of the few thin-and-light 15-inch convertible PCs on the market that also has an excellent AMOLED display and inking experience. The new Book2 Pro 360 adds a better camera, better speakers, more screen brightness with HDR, and 12th Gen Intel Core CPUs with LPDDR5 RAM.

(Image credit: Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

HP Pavilion Aero 13 Best mid-range AMD laptop Today's Best Deals View at HP (US) (opens in new tab) View at Best Buy (opens in new tab) View at Walmart (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Excellent CPU performance + Super light + Outstanding design + Very good keyboard, trackpad, and display Reasons to avoid - Radeon GPU is weak - Webcam is just OK - Some bloatware

The HP Pavilion Aero 13 is an incredibly light laptop (2.2 pounds) that is almost flawless. The all-metal chassis looks like it should cost a lot more than it does. The keyboard delivers an outstanding typing experience, the Precision touchpad is smooth and makes good use of available space, and the camera and audio are perfectly workable.

The 13.3-inch display has a taller 16:10 aspect ratio, bumping the available resolutions up to 1920x1200 (FHD+) or 2560x1600 (QHD+). Both have a matte finish to cut out glare, and you get excellent color reproduction.

With a starting price around $700, it's ideal for anyone who wants to maximize their spending power. AMD Ryzen hardware offers stellar CPU performance, though the GPU is lacking, meaning this is more a PC for productivity work than it is for gaming or specialized tasks. There are plenty of configuration options available from HP to help you get exactly what you need.

This is also one of the best laptops for college students who are looking to maximize their spending power.

Bottom line: HP did an outstanding job with the budget HP Pavilion Aero 13. It offers up high-end performance, a 16:10 display with QHD+ resolution, and a phenomenal design. For a premium laptop at a bargain price, this is the way to go.

(Image credit: Source: Windows Central)

XPG Xenia 14 Best lightweight 14-inch Today's Best Deals View at Walmart (opens in new tab) View at Adorama (opens in new tab) View at BHPhoto (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + 16:10 aspect ratio, slim bezel + Enormous touchpad, comfy keyboard + Lighter than LG's gram + Thunderbolt 4, IR camera, Wi-Fi 6 + SSD (PCIe 4.0) and RAM upgradeable Reasons to avoid - No cam shutter - Magnesium alloy not as rigid as aluminum - Stock RAM is single channel - Just one display option

XPG's Xenia 14 blew me away when I tested it last year. It doesn't have the most satisfying design and there's just the one display option, but its weight, performance, and price all make it well worth a look.

This is a 14-inch laptop that weighs just 2.14 pounds (970g) thanks to a magnesium alloy build. It's not as rigid as full aluminum, but it's certainly lightweight. The keyboard holds onto 1.3mm of key travel despite the body being just 0.59 inches (15mm) thin, and the Precision touchpad is enormous. The click is a bit hollow, but it tracks well and has plenty of space for gestures.

The display has a tall 16:10 aspect ratio with a 1920x1200 (FHD+) resolution. It hits about 364 nits brightness (as tested) and manages 98% sRGB color reproduction. Performance from the 11th Gen Intel Core CPUs is excellent, and the PCIe 4.0 SSD storage is extremely quick. Memory and storage can both be upgraded after purchase. Testing battery life, the Xenia 14 lasted more than 10 hours in PCMark 10's Modern Office rundown test.

Modern ports, including Thunderbolt 4, USB-C 3.2, two USB-A 3.0, HDMI 2.0, and 3.5mm audio make it easy to connect accessories, and there's even an SD card reader for removable storage. An IR camera adds an extra layer of security.

Bottom line: The Xenia 14 is the best laptop so far from XPG. It's lighter than LG's gram, it has a solid display with 16:10 aspect ratio, the keyboard and touchpad are comfortable, and there are plenty of ports. Despite its compact size it includes plenty of opportunities for internal hardware upgrades.

Buying the best laptop in 2022

Buying the best Windows laptop for your needs should involve some careful shopping. You want to be sure that it's perfect for your needs, and you want to be sure that you aren't paying too much. You also want something worth your money that will last for years to come. Setting a price and sticking to it is a good idea when shopping for a laptop. If you can get a device that meets your needs, and you pay what you want to pay, you'll be much happier in the long run.

Many premium devices in this list will run into the multiple thousands of dollars range, but you can also get many of them starting around the $1,000 mark. These laptops are suitable for plenty of tasks, and the more you pay for upgrades, the better performance you'll see.

Mid-range devices usually come in somewhere between $600 and $1,000, and while you can find something built well, the hardware inside may not be able to keep up with intensive tasks, and they likely won't have as many features. This is slowly changing, and we've seen some mighty impressive mid-range devices notably from the likes of Lenovo, HP, and Dell.

There are a few general uses for which most people buy a laptop: gaming, multitasking, and productivity, multimedia editing, or business. Ask yourself what you'll mostly be using the laptop for, and you'll have a much easier time deciding on what type of device you need.

Heavy usage: Gaming, design, and editing require powerful hardware. You should aim for a high-end CPU and a dedicated GPU. Our best graphics card roundup has some top options you can compare. Pair with a high-resolution display if you have the budget.

Gaming, design, and editing require powerful hardware. You should aim for a high-end CPU and a dedicated GPU. Our best graphics card roundup has some top options you can compare. Pair with a high-resolution display if you have the budget. Standard usage: Heavy web browsing, occasional gaming, and productivity require average hardware. A high-end CPU will undoubtedly come in handy, though a dedicated GPU is optional. If working with media, extra RAM is never a bad thing.

Heavy web browsing, occasional gaming, and productivity require average hardware. A high-end CPU will undoubtedly come in handy, though a dedicated GPU is optional. If working with media, extra RAM is never a bad thing. Light usage: Light web browsing, email, and occasional video streaming don't require much power. A low- or mid-range CPU will handle this type of work, allowing you to save a lot of money.

There are more considerations to make, including display type, form factor (notebook, convertible, 2-in-1), storage and RAM, battery life, keyboard and touchpad, and ports, which certainly can make it tough to choose one single best Windows laptop. That's why we've laid everything out here to help you make an informed decision.

What about all the other Windows laptops?

There's one of the best Windows laptops for every kind of user, including the one who wants to save money, spend a lot, or look forward to experimental form factors. Want to have a laptop to use just for work? There's a model for you. Does your work involve intensive tasks like photo or video editing? There's one for you, too. With all this in mind, the new Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 (Gen 7) edges out the HP Spectre x360 13.5, Razer Book 13, Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320, and Surface Laptop 5 due to the design, display, and performance. These are all also some of the best Windows 11-ready laptops, meaning they either ship with or can be upgraded with Windows 11.

And if you're in search of even more amazing laptops, we have a bunch of other roundups. Have a look at our picks for the best Ultrabooks and best upgradeable laptops.

How to choose the right laptop form factor

Modern laptops are available primarily in three different designs.

Notebook: This is your standard clamshell laptop with a lid that opens to a maximum of about 180 degrees. Notebooks sometimes come with touch displays, but you'll mostly see them with non-touch options.

Convertible: If you're looking at a laptop with a screen that rotates all the way around to lie flat again, you're looking at a convertible laptop. The design also allows for tent and stand modes, offering you some variety. Convertible laptops use touch displays.

2-in-1: Laptops with a removable keyboard and touchpad are called 2-in-1. You can use them as a tablet without anything attached, but you can also connect the keyboard for a full laptop experience. 2-in-1 devices use touch displays and often have a compatible active pen.

Convertible and 2-in-1 laptops work fine as standard laptops, but they also have the added benefit of working as a tablet. If you hate the idea of a tablet and think you'll be sticking with a standard laptop design, choosing a notebook can often save money.

How to choose the right laptop display

Laptop displays, besides size, have a few options from which to choose. One of the most significant decisions you'll have to make is whether you want a touchscreen. Having touch ability often means you can use an active pen as well as your fingers for navigation, and it makes it possible to use your device as a tablet. Touch displays will usually burn the battery faster and cost more, so decide carefully.

For resolution, a lot of budget laptops come in HD (1366x768). HD is usable, but most people prefer at least FHD (1920x1080) for a crisper picture and more on-screen real estate. QHD (2560x1440) displays are available on many premium laptops, and 4K UHD (3840x2160) is where most modern laptops max out. High display resolution affects battery life and raises the cost, so choose something that suits your needs.

Finally, laptop displays usually come with either IPS or TN panels. IPS panels offer wide viewing angles and excellent color reproduction but often don't offer the same refresh rates as TN panels. TN panels, while not offering the same color quality, are usually cheaper.

There's also the matter of aspect ratio. While 16:9 was long the standard, boxier 16:10 and 3:2 aspect ratios are becoming more common. They deliver more screen real estate and often remove the bottom bezel, making the laptop appear a lot more modern on top of giving you more space to operate.

The 10 best Windows laptops of 2022

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