The best laptop for you depends on what you do every day. Whether you want a simple budget PC, a productivity workhorse, or a screamer of a gaming notebook, our deep-dive guide has all the advice you need, plus our top product picks in every major laptop category.
ByJoe Osborne
&Brian Westover
Brian Westover
Lead Analyst, Hardware
My Experience
If you’re after laptop buying advice, I’m your man. I’ve been reviewing PCs and technology products for more than a decade. I cut my teeth in PC Labs, spending several years with PCMag.com before writing for other outlets, among them LaptopMag.com and Tom’s Guide. While computers are my main focus, I am also the resident Starlink expert, and an AI enthusiast. I’ve also written at length about topics ranging from fitness gear and appliances to TV and home theater equipment. If I’ve used it, I have opinions about it, whether somebody’s paying me to write them up or not.
Read Full Bio
UpdatedAugust 4, 2024
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Our team of experts test, rate, and review more than 1,500 products each year to help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.
65EXPERTS
42YEARS
40,000+REVIEWS
Our team of experts test, rate, and review more than 1,500 products each year to help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.
Table of Contents
Here at PCMag, we've tested thousands of laptops since our lab's founding more than 40 years ago. Our analysts and editors have more than a century of of experience telling the good laptops from the great ones. Every year, we test and rate more than 100 models to determine the best laptop overall and deliver winners in a host of subcategories, such as gaming laptops, work laptops, budget laptops, Chromebooks, and even MacBooks. We test all models for CPU and graphics performance using rigorous, repeatable benchmark tests, and evaluate design, usability, connectivity, and—most important!—value. Our current best laptop for most people is the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED Touch, a gorgeous, capable ultraportable that lasts nearly 20 hours on a charge. Not your speed? We have plenty more tested, vetted recommendations. Read on to see them all, compare their specs, and get down-to-earth buying advice for nailing down the best laptop for you.
Our Top Tested Picks
Best Laptop for Most People
Asus Zenbook 14 OLED Touch (UM3406)
Jump ToDetails
Best MacBook for Most People
Apple MacBook Air (2024, M3)
Jump ToDetails
Best Budget Laptop
Acer Aspire 3 (A315-24P)
Jump ToDetails
Best Ultraportable Laptop
Asus Zenbook 14X OLED (Q420)
Jump ToDetails
Best Business Laptop
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12
Jump ToDetails
Best Workstation Laptop
Dell Precision 5690
Jump ToDetails
Best Convertible 2-in-1 Laptop
Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 Gen 9 (2024)
Jump ToDetails
Best Chromebook
Asus Chromebook Plus CX34
Jump ToDetails
Best Content Creation Laptop
MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo
Jump ToDetails
Best Gaming Laptop
Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 9 16
Jump ToDetails
Best Budget Gaming Laptop
MSI Cyborg 15 (2023)
Jump ToDetails
The Best Laptop Deals This Week*
- Dell Inspiron 15 3520 Intel i7 512GB SSD 16GB RAM Laptop — $479.99(List Price $599.99)
- Asus Zenbook 14 OLED Intel Ultra 7 1TB SSD 16GB RAM Laptop — $749.99(List Price $1,049.99)
- Lenovo ThinkBook 16 Intel i7 512GB SSD 16" Touch Laptop — $812.63(List Price $1,729)
- HP Pavilion 15 Intel i7 512GB SSD 16GB RAM 15.6" Laptop — $669.99(List Price $919.99)
- Dell XPS 15 9530 Intel i7 512GB SSD 16GB RAM Laptop — $1,099.00(List Price $1,299)
*Deals are selected by our commerce team
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
- RELATED:
- Best Cheap Gaming Laptops
- Best Business Laptops
- Best Apple Laptops
- Best Ultraportables
Best Laptop for Most People
Asus Zenbook 14 OLED Touch (UM3406)
4.0 Excellent
- Peppy performance
- High value
- Long battery life
- Lots of ports for its size
- Just a 1200p display
- No WWAN option or SD card slot
- Face login only—no fingerprint reader
Before you know it, the need for adept local AI processing will matter, and a relatively affordable laptop capable of meeting the demands of this pervasive new technology will be helpful. That future-proofing aside, Asus' latest Zenbook 14 OLED Touch is an all-around top performer for the money, thanks to its new AI-ready AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS processor, paired with a long-running battery. Asus also crammed a decent amount of ports into the Zenbook's ultraportable frame, maintaining capability while emphasizing portability. While the Zenbook could have a higher-resolution display for the price, you're getting an awful lot of value in this machine.
This is an ideal laptop for, well, most people. In that sense, this Zenbook is the best laptop for home use right now, filling that role with premium flair. If your existing laptop is showing telltale signs of aging, this is a fine replacement to prepare you for the next few years. Its dedicated AI processing hardware will be ready for the time when we expect to see local AI demands pop off in earnest.
ClassUltraportable
ProcessorAMD Ryzen 7 8840HS
Processor Speed3.3 GHz
RAM (as Tested)16 GB
Boot Drive TypeSSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)512 GB
Secondary Drive Type
Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested)
Screen Size14 inches
Native Display Resolution1920 by 1200
Touch Screen
Panel TechnologyOLED
Variable Refresh SupportNone
Screen Refresh Rate60 Hz
Graphics ProcessorAMD Radeon 780M Graphics
Graphics Memory
Wireless NetworkingWi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3
Dimensions (HWD)0.59 by 12.3 by 8.7 inches
Weight2.82 lbs
Operating SystemWindows 11 Home
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)19:56
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Asus Zenbook 14 OLED Touch (UM3406) Review
Best MacBook for Most People
Apple MacBook Air (2024, M3)
4.0 Excellent
- Impressive blend of portability and power
- Capable graphics performance
- Slim, lightweight all-metal design
- Expanded support for external displays
- Speedy and versatile Thunderbolt 4 ports
- All-day battery goes and goes
- Distracting camera notch
- Lower peak display brightness than expected
- Limited monitor support when laptop is open
Surprising no one, the latest MacBook Air model is better than the last, taking Apple's existing (and winning) design to new performance heights with its new M3 processor. With everything else unchanged, including the price, the 13-inch MacBook Air remains the most recommendable Apple laptop for most people interested in Macs. Gaming-ready power and the same battery life as before in the same gorgeous and capable frame? We'll take it!
While the new M3 MacBook Air is the best Apple laptop for most people, if you own an M2 model, don't fret. Sure, this is the most powerful MacBook Air to date, but it hasn't eclipsed its predecessor either. Yes, we know the M3 chip can power two connected displays instead of one (with the Air's lid closed), but unless that feature is essential to you, hold your cash for the next release. If you have an Intel or M1 model, however, this is the best one to catch up with.
ClassUltraportable
ProcessorApple M3
Processor Speed
RAM (as Tested)16 GB
Boot Drive TypeSSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)512 GB
Secondary Drive Type
Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested)
Screen Size13.6 inches
Native Display Resolution2560 by 1664
Touch Screen
Panel TechnologyIPS
Variable Refresh SupportNone
Screen Refresh Rate60 Hz
Graphics ProcessorApple M3 (10-core)
Graphics Memory
Wireless NetworkingWi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3
Dimensions (HWD)0.44 by 11.97 by 8.46 inches
Weight2.7 lbs
Operating SystemApple macOS Sonoma
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)21:38
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Apple MacBook Air (2024, M3) Review
Best Budget Laptop
Acer Aspire 3 (A315-24P)
3.5 Good
- Smooth everyday operation
- Extensive battery life
- Current Wi-Fi connectivity
- Competitive starting price
- Limited performance headroom
- Dated, somewhat flimsy design
- Lackluster display
- Top configuration is outclassed
The reigning king of laptops under $500 is this lower-power machine from Acer. This 15.6-inch laptop works through basic web browsing and light work tasks with relative ease. While it has a plain design true to its price, this laptop's battery runs for hours with its power-sipping processor. When strapped by a budget, focus on finding a laptop that nails the basics for as little cash as possible. Right now, this Acer Aspire will do just that.
For those particularly hard-up to spend more than $500 on a laptop, Acer has an option for you in the latest 15.6-inch Aspire 3. It's a smooth daily operator with lengthy battery life to get you through a whole day of work or classes. Of course, expect limited performance doing anything beyond basic web browsing and office suite tasks, but that's all you're here for anyway.
ClassBudget
ProcessorAMD Ryzen 3 7320U
Processor Speed2.4 GHz
RAM (as Tested)8 GB
Boot Drive TypeSSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)128 GB
Secondary Drive Type
Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested)
Screen Size15.6 inches
Native Display Resolution1920 by 1080
Touch Screen
Panel TechnologyIPS
Variable Refresh SupportNone
Screen Refresh Rate60 Hz
Graphics ProcessorAMD Radeon Graphics
Graphics Memory
Wireless Networking802.11ax, Bluetooth 5.2
Dimensions (HWD)0.75 by 14.3 by 9.4 inches
Weight3.77 lbs
Operating SystemWindows 11 Home
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)16:46
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Acer Aspire 3 (A315-24P) Review
Best Ultraportable Laptop
Asus Zenbook 14X OLED (Q420)
4.0 Excellent
- Snappy 13th Gen Core i7 CPU
- Attractive price
- Super-slim, premium design
- Vibrant 120Hz OLED touch screen
- Long battery life
- Decent port selection for its size
- Lacks discrete GPU found in alternative 14X model
- Only a 512GB SSD
Since ultraportable laptops can cover a spectrum of budgets, the Asus Zenbook 14X OLED (Q420) is the best ultraportable for most people, thanks to its just-below $1,000 price for snappy performance and a vibrant, 120Hz OLED touch screen. While you don't get the discrete GPU found in the pricier UX3404 model, you get just about everything else, along with the long battery life found even in that higher-end model. All told, it's a generally great everyday laptop for anyone with about a grand to spend.
If you have a decent budget for a premium laptop of around $1,000 but don't want to go too far beyond that, then the Asus Zenbook 14X OLED (Q420) is the ideal Windows 11 option. Compared with the discrete GPU-equipped UX3404 option, this one has a slightly lesser CPU and half as much storage, but they're enough for tasks of basic to medium intensity, like word processing, high-resolution video streaming, and photo editing.
ClassUltraportable
ProcessorIntel Core i7-13700H
Processor Speed
RAM (as Tested)16 GB
Boot Drive TypeSSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)512 GB
Secondary Drive Type
Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested)
Screen Size14.5 inches
Native Display Resolution2880 by 1800
Touch Screen
Panel TechnologyOLED
Variable Refresh SupportNone
Screen Refresh Rate120 Hz
Graphics ProcessorIntel Iris Xe
Graphics Memory
Wireless NetworkingWi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth
Dimensions (HWD)0.67 by 12.7 by 8.9 inches
Weight3.44 lbs
Operating SystemWindows 11
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)11:45
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Asus Zenbook 14X OLED (Q420) Review
Best Business Laptop
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12
4.5 Outstanding
- Elegant and light design
- Fabulous keyboard
- Sharp, vivid OLED screen
- USB-A, HDMI, and USB-C ports
- Sky-high price
- Decent but not class-leading performance and battery life
- No SD or microSD card slot
While not quite the stellar winner that its past two predecessors were, the latest ThinkPad X1 Carbon from Lenovo picks up the torch well enough to pick up an Editors' Choice award. Since the 2023 model won't be available to purchase for much longer, you'll have to pay a newly steepened price to keep up with the leading ThinkPad line. At least that means a crisp and vibrant OLED screen and Intel's latest Core Ultra processor with AI hardware built-in to future-proof your workhorse.
It's not quite as fast and long-lasting as it should be for the price it demands, but you still won't find a higher-quality laptop for work than the ThinkPad Carbon X1 Gen 12 this year. If your current model is older than, say, 2022, then this is an excellent time to catch up with what Lenovo's been cooking up for the Carbon these past few years and set you up for the next few.
ClassBusiness, Ultraportable
ProcessorIntel Core Ultra 7 155H
Processor Speed
RAM (as Tested)32 GB
Boot Drive TypeSSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)1 TB
Secondary Drive Type
Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested)
Screen Size14 inches
Native Display Resolution2880 by 1800
Touch Screen
Panel TechnologyOLED
Variable Refresh SupportManual
Screen Refresh Rate120 Hz
Graphics ProcessorIntel Arc Graphics
Graphics Memory
Wireless NetworkingWi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth
Dimensions (HWD)0.59 by 12.3 by 8.5 inches
Weight2.47 lbs
Operating SystemWindows 11 Home
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)13:51
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Best Workstation Laptop
Dell Precision 5690
4.0 Excellent
- Stunning 4K OLED touch screen
- Blazing performance for its size
- Elegant build with snappy keyboard
- Not quite as fast or expandable as heavier rivals
- No USB-A ports or webcam shutter
- Mega expensive, as most mobile workstations are
Dell has taken back the mobile workstation crown with its Precision 5690 model, a 16-inch beast with Nvidia RTX Ada graphics and one of the most powerful Intel Core Ultra processors available right now. With that combo, the Precision achieves chart-topping performance for being just 0.87 inch thin. Speed aside, this workstation has a poppy 4K OLED touch screen housed in a high-end build with a punchy set of keys for fast typists.
The Precision 5690 is the current best mobile workstation for anyone who focuses on machine learning or intense 3D rendering work. Its AI-ready processor and Ada-level GPU can work in tandem on tasks relevant to artificial intelligence, much less any other kind of professional development work. It's also a highly portable system for what it's designed to do, which is a primary concern for frequent travelers or commuters.
ClassWorkstation
ProcessorIntel Core Ultra 9 185H
Processor Speed
RAM (as Tested)32 GB
Boot Drive TypeSSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)512 GB
Secondary Drive TypeSSD
Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested)512 GB
Screen Size16 inches
Native Display Resolution3840 by 2400
Touch Screen
Panel TechnologyOLED
Variable Refresh SupportNone
Screen Refresh Rate60 Hz
Graphics ProcessorNvidia RTX 5000 Ada
Graphics Memory16 GB
Wireless NetworkingWi-Fi 7, Bluetooth
Dimensions (HWD)0.87 by 13.9 by 9.5 inches
Weight4.46 lbs
Operating SystemWindows 11 Pro
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)17:11
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Dell Precision 5690 Review
Best Convertible 2-in-1 Laptop
Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 Gen 9 (2024)
4.0 Excellent
- Striking OLED touch screen
- Snappy performance
- Lengthy battery life
- Svelte design with remarkable soundbar hinge
- USB-A and USB-C ports
- Slightly pricey
- No HDMI port or SD/microSD card slot
- No mobile broadband option
- Can't cap the stylus pen
One of the best 2-in-1 laptops got an AI upgrade this year through a shiny new Intel Core Ultra processor with a neural processing unit on board. The Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 Gen 9 takes the cake for now as the best 2-in-1 laptop of 2024 for its striking OLED, 120Hz touch screen, peppy performance, long battery life, and sleek design with a unique soundbar hinge. This Yoga also gets bonus points for including both USB-A and USB-C ports despite its thinness.
If you're looking for a high-end laptop with more versatility than a standard clamshell without sacrificing style or substance, the 2-in-1 Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 Gen 9 is the best laptop for you. Its OLED touch screen is ideal for work as a standard laptop and for a top-level display for watching movies in its tent or tablet orientations. Just know that you'll pay a princely sum for this level of quality, and you'll need somewhere to store the included stylus.
ClassConvertible 2-in-1
ProcessorIntel Core Ultra 7 155H
Processor Speed1.4 GHz
RAM (as Tested)16 GB
Boot Drive TypeSSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)1 TB
Secondary Drive Type
Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested)
Screen Size14 inches
Native Display Resolution2880 by 1800
Touch Screen
Panel TechnologyOLED
Variable Refresh SupportManual
Screen Refresh Rate120 Hz
Graphics ProcessorIntel Arc Graphics
Graphics Memory
Wireless NetworkingWi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3
Dimensions (HWD)0.64 by 12.4 by 8.6 inches
Weight2.98 lbs
Operating SystemWindows 11 Home
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)17:52
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Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 Gen 9 (2024) Review
Best Chromebook
Asus Chromebook Plus CX34
4.0 Excellent
- Affordable price even with improved specs
- Leading performance in every test
- High-quality FHD display
- Decent port array, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.2
- Durable MIL-SPEC-certified design and antimicrobial coating
- Average battery life
- No touch capability (at this price)
- Limited UFS storage is just adequate
The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 shows that budget-friendly Chromebooks can be an incredible value through Google's new Chromebook Plus initiative, with even faster performance and even better features for excellent sub-$500 prices. Equipped with a crisp 1080p display, a decent array of ports, and current Wi-Fi capabilities—all within a MIL-SPEC-certified frame—this the first Chromebook we'd currently recommend to almost anyone interested.
Budget sensibility is in the spirit of the Chromebook category already, and this Asus model has revived that essence with a compelling collection of features and performance capabilities inside an affordable and reliably built package. If you're looking to a Chromebook to save as much money and compromise as little as possible, start your search with the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34.
ClassChromebook, Budget
ProcessorIntel Core i3-1215U
Processor Speed
RAM (as Tested)8 GB
Boot Drive TypeUFS (Universal Flash Storage)
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)128 GB
Secondary Drive Type
Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested)
Screen Size14 inches
Native Display Resolution1920 by 1080
Touch Screen
Panel TechnologyIPS
Variable Refresh SupportNone
Screen Refresh Rate60 Hz
Graphics ProcessorIntel UHD Graphics
Graphics Memory
Wireless Networking802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6), Bluetooth 5.2
Dimensions (HWD)0.73 by 12.9 by 8.4 inches
Weight3.17 lbs
Operating SystemChrome OS
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)12:46
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Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 Review
Best Content Creation Laptop
MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo
4.0 Excellent
- Surprisingly affordable and surprisingly light
- Handsome 4K OLED display
- Epic battery life
- Ethernet port and SD card slot
- Only one USB-A port
- Stiff keyboard
- Perfectly fine rather than professional workstation or gaming performance
MSI has crafted a punchy and eminently affordable midrange content creation system with this AI-focused Prestige laptop. The Prestige 16 AI Evo brings a stunning 4K OLED screen together with a fresh Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor, making for a powerful big-screen laptop that's prepared for the local AI-processing wave that will be incoming over the next few years. Considering this laptop's size and screen resolution, the battery life is impressive, and MSI took further advantage of that size with a built-in Ethernet jack and an SD card slot. The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo is currently the best deal in content creation laptops.
MSI's latest mainstream big-screen laptop is tops for anyone looking for an everyday productivity system with a big screen, and it could be an affordable fit for photo editors and digital designers. However, without a dedicated graphics chip, this laptop will struggle to serve gamers and demanding content creators. With the Prestige 16 AI Evo, MSI presents a viable, affordable alternative to high-end content creator laptops like the Dell XPS 16 and 16-inch Apple MacBook Pro if you need a focus on mid-level tasks.
ClassDesktop Replacement, Business
ProcessorIntel Core Ultra 7 155H
Processor Speed
RAM (as Tested)32 GB
Boot Drive TypeSSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)1 TB
Secondary Drive Type
Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested)
Screen Size16 inches
Native Display Resolution3840 by 2400
Touch Screen
Panel TechnologyOLED
Variable Refresh SupportNone
Screen Refresh Rate60 Hz
Graphics ProcessorIntel Arc Graphics
Graphics Memory
Wireless NetworkingWi-Fi 7, Bluetooth
Dimensions (HWD)0.75 by 14.1 by 10 inches
Weight3.31 lbs
Operating SystemWindows 11 Home
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)18:55
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MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo Review
Best Gaming Laptop
Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 9 16
4.5 Outstanding
- Exceptional performance
- Gorgeous gaming display
- Sturdy build and quality design
- Respectable battery life
- Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 are MIA
- No biometric login options
- Heavy and bulky
When it comes to gaming, Lenovo has proven itself hard to beat. After all, its Legion Pro 7i Gen 9 16 machine took the "best high-end gaming laptop" title from its Gen 8 predecessor. How has Lenovo created a dynasty of sorts with its back-to-back wins as the best gaming laptop? That starts with top-tier gaming performance, a stunning 240Hz, 1600p 16-inch screen, and a sturdy, quality-built frame. The laptop's decent battery life (albeit not while gaming) among those in its category is an added bonus.
If you want one of—if not the—best gaming laptops and have the cash to fulfill that wish, make sure the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 9 16 is your first stop on that search. This is our current pick for the best gaming laptop, and it is priced accordingly, but it is surprisingly cheaper than most high-end machines we've reviewed recently. While you miss out on biometric logins and speedy USB4 ports here, the Legion makes up for that with largely unmatched gaming performance in its class.
ClassGaming
ProcessorIntel Core i9-14900HX
Processor Speed
RAM (as Tested)32 GB
Boot Drive TypeSSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)1 TB
Secondary Drive TypeHard Drive
Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested)1 TB
Screen Size16 inches
Native Display Resolution2560 by 1600
Touch Screen
Panel TechnologyIPS
Variable Refresh SupportG-Sync
Screen Refresh Rate240 Hz
Graphics ProcessorNvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU
Graphics Memory12 GB
Wireless NetworkingWi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth
Dimensions (HWD)1.01 by 14.3 by 10.3 inches
Weight6.17 lbs
Operating SystemWindows 11 Home
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)8:04
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Best Budget Gaming Laptop
MSI Cyborg 15 (2023)
4.0 Excellent
- $999 price in our Core i7/RTX 4050 test unit
- Able to play at the highest 1080p settings
- Peppy processor for the money
- Decent build for a budget gaming rig
- RTX 4050 GPU didn't wow versus RTX 3060s
- Display is dim and disappointing
- Sharp chassis edge can dig into wrists during typing
Buying an affordable gaming laptop is all about minimizing compromise in the important areas, and at $999, the MSI Cyborg 15 delivers what you need. The 13th Gen Intel Core i7 CPU and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU are modern entry-level parts that provide a steady 1080p gaming experience, even if they won't set speed records anytime soon. Even at higher settings in modern games, you can enjoy 60fps-plus frame rates, though you may need to dial down the detail settings in cutting-edge titles. The display could be brighter, and a larger SSD would be nice, but the downsides are minimal overall. The build is sturdy enough, and the battery life is respectable, too, making this a capable all-around system for the price.
We can recommend this laptop to a wide swath of mainstream gamers shopping on a budget. It's neither the absolute cheapest option, nor is it inflating the price with anything you don't need. Many of us can't spend more than $1,000 on a system, and this sits right at that limit. As long as you set your expectations reasonably, this is a smart pick for those seeking a top-end value and steady performance. The upsides are clear for the cost and the concessions aren't deal-breakers, though we note some may chafe against the 512GB storage.
ClassGaming
ProcessorIntel Core i7-13620H
Processor Speed
RAM (as Tested)16 GB
Boot Drive TypeSSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)512 GB
Secondary Drive Type
Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested)
Screen Size15.6 inches
Native Display Resolution1920 by 1080
Touch Screen
Panel TechnologyIPS
Variable Refresh SupportNone
Screen Refresh Rate144 Hz
Graphics ProcessorNvidia GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU
Graphics Memory6 GB
Wireless Networking802.11ax, Bluetooth 5.1
Dimensions (HWD)0.9 by 14.1 by 9.85 inches
Weight4.5 lbs
Operating SystemWindows 11 Home
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)7:16
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MSI Cyborg 15 (2023) Review
Buying Guide: The Best Laptops for 2024
Figuring out what to pay attention to when buying the best laptop for you can be maddening, given how many individual specifications and features you'll come across in your search. Which specific features and which classes of laptop are best for you depends on your budget and how you plan to use your laptop. It’s better to take a systematic approach when shopping. Let’s run through how to make a smart pick.
What Are the Types of Laptops You Can Buy?
First, here's a rundown of the main types of laptops you'll find on today's market.
General-use laptops: These are the majority of laptops available on the market today. They are capable of everyday computing tasks like web browsing, document editing, light content creation, and casual gaming. They generally come with baseline specs, passable features, and graphics acceleration that relies on the CPU. (More on that later.) These laptops cover the budget and midrange spots on the price spectrum, and they top out around $1,000.
Ultraportable laptops: Laptops in this category focus on thin-and-light designs that make them easy to carry around while commuting or traveling. Like general-use laptops, most of them lean on CPU-integrated graphics, but they pump up on other high-end features like extra-sharp screens, touch controls, and premium build materials. Think of ultraportable laptops as the Windows world's response to Apple's iconic MacBook Air, and you have an idea of what they're about. With that, they're generally priced at $700 or more.
2-in-1 laptops: Focused on bringing as much of the tablet experience possible to a system with laptop-grade power, the 2-in-1 category is split into two subcategories: convertible and detachable laptops. The former presents a whole "clamshell" laptop with a 360-degree rotating hinge that enables you to use the laptop in "tablet mode" with the keys behind the screen. The latter are souped-up tablets with detachable keyboard covers and kickstands to prop them up. Both forms of 2-in-1 laptops always have a touch screen and are generally as powerful as the above two categories. 2-in-1 laptops run the price spectrum from budget to high-end, premium models.
Gaming laptops: Featuring discrete graphics processors from AMD, Intel, or Nvidia, these laptops are designed to play PC games with varying levels of fidelity and frame rate speed. You can spend anywhere from $700 to more than $5,000 on a gaming laptop, and generally speaking, the quality of gameplay and visual sharpness rises with the price. You can also find gaming laptops that fit different levels of portability, with some approaching ultraportable status (the smallest have 14-inch screens) and the beefiest featuring 18-inch displays and gigantic power supplies.
Business laptops: These laptops run the gamut in terms of budget and style, from models similar to general-use laptops to high-style, premium ultraportables and 2-in-1 laptops. Because of this, we look at business laptops through the lens of several subcategories, like budget, ultraportable, detachable, and convertible. Most laptops distinguish themselves as ready for the office with special security software, hardware, or firmware features that protect sensitive company information or resources.
Mobile workstations: These are business laptops but with dedicated work-grade GPUs with special drivers for rendering professional 3D or special-effects projects, working with machine-learning models, and performing other forms of GPU compute. It's rare to see workstations priced below $1,500, with prices that can soar well beyond the most powerful gaming laptops.
Chromebooks: These are laptops that run exclusively on Google's ChromeOS, based on its Chrome web browser and a suite of browser-based web apps. These laptops rely on cloud storage for storing most files, featuring only minimal amounts of solid-state and flash-based storage compared with standard laptops. It's rare to see Chromebooks priced above $700, making them ideal budget alternatives.
MacBooks: Apple's two laptop lineups serve different audiences. The MacBook Air line is for everyday, mainstream users and fans of Apple's hardware and software experiences; they're punchy and reliable enough to serve well in the classroom and the office. Some consumers might want a MacBook Pro if they're into amateur content creation or have a creative side gig, but these higher-power MacBooks generally serve students and professionals in advanced fields of computing, able to compete with the most potent workstations. MacBooks range in price from as low as $649 for an older MacBook Air to well past $3,000 for the most decked-out MacBook Pro model.
Which Brand of Laptop Is the Best?
Trying to choose your next mobile computer based on what might be the "best" laptop brand isn't the best way to go about your purchasing decision. That way, you might miss out on a winner with a logo on its screen lid you didn't recognize. In your laptop search, you will quickly discover that many brands have developed specific reputations for themselves as to what they're best suited for.
For instance, Apple has long been known for its MacBooks' particular aptitude for creative professionals, from writers to photo/video editors and even digital designers. Meanwhile, Lenovo is best known for its class-leading keyboards, and its ThinkPad business machines and mobile workstations. As a last example, brands like Acer and Asus, while they play just fine in the high end, tend to dominate the midrange and budget sectors with maximum-value systems. Other major makers of laptops include HP and MSI.
If you still must know what the top laptop brands are, then go with the wisdom of the crowd: See what you can find within our running Readers' Choice: Best Laptop Brands series, which polls readers like you to name their favorite laptop brands for specific use cases and scenarios.
What Is the Longest-Lasting Laptop?
Many of the best laptops can last an entire day away from the power outlet, even when you’re using them for demanding but everyday activities like streaming internet video. You'll find exceptions; a laptop with a 4K display and a powerful CPU probably will not last for more than eight hours or so before its battery dies, and most gaming laptops die far sooner. When you’re playing demanding games that tax the GPU, gaming laptops tend to run out of juice even more quickly off the plug than they usually do. You’ll find more than a few exceptions, though, and even powerful laptops have become adept at sensing when their maximum power isn’t required and reducing various components’ consumption.
This is where PC Labs’ battery testing comes in. We evaluate battery life by playing a locally stored video file nonstop with no wireless connections active and 50% screen brightness. An excellent result on our test suggests that the laptop is adept at adapting its power use to the task at hand, and you can use the results to compare the potential of the machines you are considering. We evaluate all laptops using this test, and at the preceding link, you can see an extended summary of the best performers on our battery test.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Measuring battery life is notoriously tricky, though, since it’s entirely dependent on how you use your laptop. Your usage profile probably doesn’t match our test—or anyone else’s—to a T. So you’ll want to look at tested battery life in a relative, rather than absolute, sense.
However, if you're keeping score, the Getac S410 G5 semi-rugged laptop is the longest-lasting laptop you can buy today, going for more than 29 hours in our battery rundown test. The Getac's extra internal battery capacity certainly helped, but we've also seen MacBooks meet or come close to this figure.
What Are the Best Laptop Specs for Work From Home?
Because you'll find only so many unique makes of processor, graphics chip, memory, and storage, the most identifiable and popular laptop "specs" aren't all that different regardless of whether a given system was designed for working from home. However, a few key laptop specifications have an outsize impact on getting work done in a home office.
First and foremost is the webcam. The laptop's camera is your window into your working world, so it better be of high quality to make the best impression every time. Avoid webcams that aren't at least 1080p in recording resolution, and it might behoove you to look out for newer laptops with Intel Core Ultra processors that enable AI enhancements to their webcam image, automatically improving lighting, framing, and audio.
(Credit: Brian Westover)
Also, pay close attention to the ports and other hard connections of any laptop you're considering buying for working from home. The laptop's port selection will dictate whether you'll need an additional USB hub or docking station to expand its connectivity.
Otherwise, specs like CPU, GPU, RAM, and storage will be directed more by the type of work you need to accomplish at home and the hardware required to meet those requirements. We explore all of those internal considerations below.
How Much Will the Right Laptop Cost?
Don’t care about cutting-edge design and robust components? You might be satisfied with a cheap laptop. Today’s market is flooded with basic but full-featured models with list prices under $500. "Shopping holidays" like Prime Day and Black Friday, and actual holidays like Presidents’ Day, bring frequent sales, discounting some of these models even further.
Most of them will handle word processing and email checking just fine, but they’ll struggle with heavier tasks, such as keeping many web browser tabs or memory- and CPU-demanding programs open at once.You'll want to look at our reviews to compare performance. PC Labs has tested many of the latest budget laptop models across the market; some are classic clamshells, and others are convertible or detachable 2-in-1s. (We've detailed a couple of our top cheap laptop picks in our lineup of favorites above.)
Increasing your budget to around $1,000 will unlock access to nearly all of the cutting-edge features modern laptops offer. These include slim, sturdy aluminum chassis, brilliant touch-enabled 4K displays, powerful processors and graphics chips, and batteries that will last all day and well into the night. We're increasingly seeing laptops bring these features down closer to the $800 range, as well, in some models from brands like Acer, Asus, and HP.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
The major caveat in this price range is that you’ll have to choose the most important features. You might be able to land a laptop with a beautiful 4K display or a cavernous terabyte of solid-state storage at this price, but probably not one with both.
If your piggybank has $2,000 or more, you can choose almost any combination of features you want. Even the most powerful laptop that money can buy, though, must still obey the laws of physics. Powerful hardware generates heat, and the cooling mechanisms that such components require take up space. Hard-core gamers who want a large display and a screaming-fast graphics processor that requires bulky cooling pipes and fans can’t expect to find it in a thin, light laptop.
IT-manageable, security-conscious business laptops—models made primarily by Dell, HP, and Lenovo—have their own pricing dynamic and tend to cost a bit more, all else being equal. That’s because of their premium warranty or support plans, enterprise-specific silicon focused on manageability or security, fingerprint or face-recognition login features, and more rugged build quality.
Windows vs. ChromeOS vs. macOS: Which Operating System to Get?
The best laptops you’ll run across in-store or at your favorite online seller will run Windows 11 (unless the seller is named “Apple”). Still, Microsoft’s best-known product isn’t necessarily the best operating system for everyone. Thanks to the ascendance in recent years of Google’s ChromeOS up the ranks of budget laptops, you now have an alternative to Windows at every price level. The tipping point for non-Windows laptops is around $1,000; above a grand, your main alternative to a Windows machine is a MacBook; below it, it’s a Chromebook.
(Credit: Jose Ruiz)
Today, laptops based on ChromeOS are the primary alternatives to budget-priced Windows laptops. A Chromebook could be a fine, value-minded choice for someone who needs a laptop just to watch movies, create text documents, write emails, and work in basic spreadsheets. With a Chromebook, the main features you will need from your laptop are a decent screen and a comfortable keyboard, since cloud services like Google Drive can handle most of your storage and processing needs. And, if you still insist on key creature comforts, you can find midrange Chromebooks with full-HD (1080p) displays and comfortable keyboards just as easily as you can find bargain-basement ones these days.
Indeed, Google's Chromebook Plus program sets a level for impressive-quality Chromebooks at near-budget prices. PC Labs has tested Chromebooks all across the market, including clamshell models, convertibles, and even a few detachable 2-in-1 Chrome tablets. (We've detailed our top Chromebook pick in our lineup of favorites above.)
An Apple MacBook might be right for people with similar needs but larger budgets, assuming you’re cool with running your day-to-day computing life on macOS. You won’t find a “cheap” MacBook anywhere in the Apple family, but you will find unmatched industrial design, universally excellent battery life, and a ton of built-in apps to manage your multimedia collection and sync with your iCloud account and the rest of your Apple devices.
Higher-end MacBook Pros also suit content creators, with the option for a 16-inch Liquid Retina XDR display and CPUs up to Apple's own M3 Max. One of the most significant Mac laptop drawbacks is a total lack of touch-screen support, which is an option in various ChromeOS and Windows machines.
(Credit: Brian Westover)
A Windows-based machine affords access to the broadest range of software, including most AAA games; the subset of popular, first-rank game titles is much smaller on macOS, and games on ChromeOS are limited to what runs in a browser or what you can download as an Android app or from the Chrome Web Store. A Windows machine also drives the most form-factor flexibility. A few Chromebooks have designs built around detachable or foldable keyboards, letting you use them as tablets, but Windows offers a far broader selection of these flexible physical designs.
The vast number of Windows devices means Microsoft’s OS gives you the most flexibility in choosing a laptop, period. Most of the rest of your buying decisions, which we’ll address below, are therefore relevant mainly to Windows machines. (We’ll be sure to note when Macs or Chromebooks offer a certain feature as well, however.)
What Is an Ideal Weight and Size for a Laptop?
Most people searching for the best laptop should choose one that measures about half an inch thick and weighs 3 pounds or less. These are the maximum dimensions and heft a laptop can have to be considered ultraportable, and for most users, portability is the key to maximizing use and enjoyment.
Aiming for that weight and thickness, in most cases, will limit the laptop’s screen size to 13 or 14 inches, although a few models with 15-inch or larger screens now fit into the ultraportable category. You can find models in either the conventional “clamshell” laptop shape or a 2-in-1 convertible design at most of these screen sizes. The latter has a hinge that rotates the screen 360 degrees, so you can use it as a makeshift tablet or prop it up like a tent for watching movies.
(Credit: Molly Flores)
Some Windows and ChromeOS laptops do have smaller displays, such as 10 or 11 inches. Some of these are not technically laptops in the pure sense but rather tablets with detachable keyboards. Avoid these designs unless you’re looking for a part-time tablet or the lightest possible laptop. They’re lighter than most 13-inch ultraportables, often less than 2 pounds, but they’re not as effective at being tablets as the Apple iPad is, and their detachable keyboards mean they’re not much better at being laptops, either—typing on most of them tends to be subpar.
At the other end of the size spectrum are 17-inch and 18-inch laptops. They mostly appeal to hard-core gamers, but you can find the occasional 17-inch productivity machine or workstation if you like a larger screen for other reasons. A 17-inch or 18-inch laptop can closely mimic a desktop experience at the expense of size and weight. Most 18-inchers are meant for gaming; the larger panels complement the latest GeForce and Radeon GPUs, which make use of the extra chassis space for cooling. These monsters from Alienware, Asus, and Razer (geared toward gaming) tackle the hardest graphics tasks to date to varying effects.
Some of these designs can exceed 8 pounds and measure more than an inch thick. If you plan to park your gaming rig on your desk and seldom move it, a 17-incher or 18-incher is a possibility. Otherwise, most gamers should stick with a 15-inch or 16-inch laptop.
What Kind of Laptop Screen Should You Get?
Laptop screens have grown denser over the past decade, packing more pixels into the same area. That enables crisper text, sharper on-screen images, and, often, better-looking colors. Display density is sometimes measured in pixels per inch (ppi), but the main specification that defines a laptop screen is its native resolution, which is expressed in horizontal by vertical pixels.
Most laptops that cost $500 or more have screens with at least “full HD” resolutions. Also known as “1080p” displays, they sport a resolution of 1,920 by 1,080 pixels (or, in a few cases, 1,920 by 1,200) and typically employ LCD panels built on what’s known as in-plane switching (IPS) technology. IPS screens’ quality can vary, but they are best known for keeping the quality of the image high if you look at the screen from an oblique or off-side angle. Thin-film transistor (TFT), the other major screen type in modern laptops (once standard issue in gaming-geared models), tends to shift colors or look faded if not viewed straight-on. That matters if you often share the contents of your screen with others—say, when giving impromptu presentations.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
The cheapest Windows- and- ChromeOS-based laptops will usually have lower-resolution thin-film transistor (TFT) displays (1,280 by 720 pixels and 1,366 by 768 are the common numbers there), which means text won’t appear as crisp, and colors might not be as vivid as you’ve come to expect from your smartphone or TV. If you’re not picky about image quality, though, a lower-resolution display might be an acceptable sacrifice in the quest to save money.
You can go higher than full HD for the crispest text and details. Many high-end laptops now have displays with 4K native resolution (generally 3,840 by 2,160 pixels) as standard or optional extras. These screens mostly use the same IPS technology as full HD panels, but a few use OLED technology, similar to what you’ll find in cutting-edge smartphones. OLED screens command a premium, and their inky blacks and luxurious colors are best suited for movie buffs. Some laptops, particularly from Apple, Dell, and Razer, have moved to mini LED backlighting technology that introduces finer control over color depth and image brightness, especially boosting HDR content.
Whether the screen is OLED, IPS, or TFT, people who plan to use their laptops in brightly lit rooms or outdoors will want to make sure that the panel has a maximum brightness level of at least 500 nits.
Is a Laptop Touch Screen Necessary?
To take advantage of the touch-screen support present throughout Windows and ChromeOS, you’ll want to seek out a touch-enabled laptop and perhaps even a digital stylus to write or draw on it. Some Windows laptops come in both touch- and non-touch versions, so check the specifications of what you’re buying carefully. Glossy screens typically feature touch support, while most matte screens designed to filter out glare from ambient lighting do not.
(Credit: Molly Flores)
Since many gaming laptops have matte displays, touch support is much harder to find among their ranks.Many gaming laptops above budget level do offer high-refresh-rate screens, though. Hard-core gamers or esports hounds who are looking for silky-smooth visuals to give them a competitive edge will want to maximize the number of frames per second that their screen can display and can do so by opting for a screen with a 120Hz or greater refresh rate.
However, before you pay a major premium for a high-refresh screen, you’ll want to be sure that the graphics chip, or GPU, is muscular enough to push the kinds of games you play at a high enough frame rate to make a difference. Standard laptop screens have 60Hz refresh rates, and if you are playing games at 60 frames per second or lower, in most cases, a high-refresh screen won’t confer many benefits.
What Is the Best Processor for Your Laptop?
Most $1,000 ultraportables use Intel Core processors or, less commonly, AMD Ryzen CPUs. All of these offer plenty of power for everyday computing tasks, but remember that higher CPU model numbers in a given family of chips typically indicate more processor cores, higher maximum clock speeds, and sometimes even multithreading. With multithreading, each CPU core can run two sets of software instructions simultaneously instead of just one. Modern software is designed to take advantage of as many CPU cores as possible so it can run faster on multithreaded chips.
Meanwhile, budget laptops typically use AMD Ryzen 3 processors, or Core i3 or Pentium/N-series chips in Intel's case. These typically have just a few individual cores. At the other end of the spectrum, high-endpowerhouse laptops have workstation-class Intel or AMD CPUs with double-digit core counts.
(Credit: Molly Flores)
Regardless of which CPU a laptop has, it’s typically designed to use less power and generate less heat than its desktop counterpart. In the latest mainstream, lightweight laptops, Intel laptop CPUs typically consume 15 watts (W) of power (or less) up to as much as 45W for the highest-end mobile tasks.
Gaming laptops and mobile workstations typically feature higher-powered CPUs, usually denoted by an "H" in the CPU's model name. These require more cooling hardware and consume more energy, but they drive performance closer to that of a desktop PC. You’ll find H-series CPUs from both AMD and Intel.
Apple is in its third generation of M-series silicon for MacBooks. As of this year, all of Apple's laptop models contain some variation of its M3 processors.
Getting into laptop-processor specifics can get you pretty deep in the weeds, but for a decent overview that doesn't overwhelm you, check out our guide to choosing a laptop CPU that fits what you do.
Which Graphics Chip Should You Get in Your Laptop?
A graphics processor built into the CPU (also known as an “integrated graphics processor,” or IGP) is perfectly adequate for most everyday laptop use. You’ll know you’re looking at an IGP if you see a reference to Intel’s Arc Graphics, HD Graphics, UHD Graphics, or Iris as the graphics solution on an Intel-CPU laptop (or Radeon Graphics on an AMD-based laptop). An IGP shares the CPU’s processor cores, memory, or both. The amount of memory available to the integrated graphics chip is usually fixed, so increasing the system memory won’t result in better graphics performance.
Most gamers will want to consider a discrete GPU with dedicated computing resources. Even a budget gaming GPU will offer an immense advantage over an integrated graphics processor when it comes to playing 3D games. Hard-core gamers should look for Nvidia’s latest GeForce RTX GPUs at the high end.
With gaming laptops, the level of GPU you need is deeply tied to the frame rate you want to run at the laptop’s native screen resolution and the kind of games you play. That’s where our reviews come in handy. We test with several demanding gaming and industry-standard benchmarks to give you a relative sense of a laptop’s graphics performance. Check out our roundup of the best gaming laptopsoverall and the best budget gaming laptops for much more. PC Labs has tested all of the latest gaming laptops across the market, from budget models to cost-no-object deluxe ones. In our lineup of favorites above, we've also detailed our top picks in three categories (budget, mainstream, and high-end).
How Much Storage and Memory Does Your Laptop Need?
The best laptops above entry-level all come with solid-state drives (SSDs), which store data using memory cells instead of spinning platters (the classic hard drive). Since information stored in cells is much faster to access, SSDs are the best and most common drive configuration. They’re also immune to jolts and bumps that might crash a spinning platter’s heads.
A few of the best laptops‚ especially larger-chassis ones designed for gaming, come with both kinds of drive: a small SSD to hold the operating system, essential apps, and a few games, and a larger spinning one to store the bulk of your game files or other space-consuming media. That’s a perfectly fine option if you’re looking to save money or simply need the maximum possible local storage amount, but you should stick with an SSD-only setup whenever possible.
Note that not all laptop SSDs are created equal. SSDs that use the more modern, generally faster PCI Express NVMe standard, as opposed to the older, slightly slower SATA interface, are preferable. (PCI Express SSDs are rapidly taking over the field in new laptops, in any case.) Either of these, however, is far better than a third type, which is a not-quite-SSD: the much slower eMMC, a kind of flash storage drive found in budget machines. (If your budget laptop has 32GB, 64GB, or possibly 128GB of local storage, it is probably using eMMC. Check the specs.) All of them are better than a traditional spinning hard drive unless you simply need sheer capacity for the least money, but eMMC is the slowest and least desirable flash tech.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
The minimum amount of storage space most laptop shoppers should consider is 256GB. This will accommodate the considerable requirements of operating system updates and large apps like Microsoft Office with room left over. People with sizable collections of videos, photos, or music (or any but the most casual of PC gamers) should seek out a minimum of 512GB. At the high end, you’ll find laptops configurable with 1TB or even roomier SSDs, and these will sound exciting. But beware that the absolute highest capacities can cause a laptop’s price to skyrocket—a 4TB SSD can add thousands of dollars to the overall cost of a high-end laptop. It’s more cost-effective to get a 512GB SSD and add an external drive if you need additional space.
While a laptop’s SSD stores your data, its system memory (or RAM) works with the CPU to run apps and helps define its multitasking capacity. Basic productivity apps will run just fine with 8GB of memory, but you’ll want to configure a midrange laptop with 16GB to ensure that tomorrow’s more advanced apps will have access to enough memory. That’s also a decent target amount for heavy multitaskers, PC gamers, and people who surf the web with many tabs open. Modern web browsers loading multimedia-rich sites and web apps are voracious memory consumers.
Few people who aren’t professional or prosumer content creators will see much additive benefit from memory amounts above 16GB. On the flip side of that, a budget Windows system with just 4GB of memory will be sluggish with multitasking and is generally indicative of a bare-bones configuration to avoid. The same is true of Chromebooks—although ChromeOS is designed to demand fewer computing resources than Windows, if you’re prone to performing memory-intensive tasks like browsing with dozens of tabs open simultaneously, 4GB can be limiting.
What Kind of Connectivity Does Your Laptop Need?
If you plan to use your laptop’s touchpad, touch screen, and keyboard as the primary means of control, most of the time you may never need to plug in anything other than the power cord. In this case, you’ll rely on almost every laptop's Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections.
The latest mainstream Wi-Fi standard is 802.11ax (also dubbed “Wi-Fi 6”), an important feature to look for in a laptop to ensure fast Wi-Fi connectivity in the future. Steer clear of the older 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5), though, as it’s now being phased out, with the high-end Wi-Fi 6E standard appearing in more premium laptop options. We're also on the cusp of Wi-Fi 7 hitting the mainstream, so watch out for that even faster version to hit more laptops in the coming years. (It reduces latency and provides access to additional bandwidth.)
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Serious gamers might want to opt for a machine with a Killer Networks setup. It will allow for more granular control over prioritizing wired or wireless gaming traffic on your internet connection. Business users and gamers may also want a dedicated Ethernet jack. Most gaming machines will have one, and some gamers insist wired Ethernet is still the only way to go for competitive online gaming. Some laptops implement Ethernet as a full-size or fold-out jack; others may come with an adapter in the box that routes Ethernet through a USB port. Still, others come with neither, leaving wired Ethernet up to you to add via a dongle if you want it.
(Credit: Brian Westover)
As for other physical connections, you’ll want to examine the edges of a given laptop carefully and take count. If you have an external storage device like a thumb drive, you’ll want to pay attention to the type and quantity of USB ports. Look for laptops that have both USB Type-A and Type-C ports. Type-A is the familiar rectangular connector that has been around for decades, while Type-C is smaller, oval-shaped, and sometimes doubles as a receptacle for the laptop’s charging cable.
Budget laptops may only have Type-A ports, a disadvantage in an increasingly Type-C world. On the other hand, some ultra-thin designs only have Type-C ports, which means you’ll need dongles to connect any Type-A peripherals you might already own. A mix is what you want.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
If video output matters to you, check for a dedicated port like an HDMI connector, especially if you plan to connect your laptop to your TV, desktop monitor, or lecture hall A/V system. Sometimes video outputs are implemented on laptops as micro HDMI or mini DisplayPort connectors to save space. You’ll need a special cable to use these, which may or may not be included in the box.
Photographers will benefit from a built-in SD or microSD card reader for more convenient image uploading. And if you plan to use your laptop in a public, unsecured location, a security notch for fastening a physical locking cable is helpful. These fall into two types: the Kensington-cable style and the Noble-lock style. Make sure the notch type matches the kind of cable you intend to use to tether the machine to an immovable object.
Are Refurbished Laptops Worth Buying?
Every manufacturer and reseller has different standards for refurbishing previously used laptops. A slight discount on a rigorously tested MacBook Pro that Apple sells with the same warranty as a new one might be worth the cost savings, while a laptop refurbished by a third party you’ve never heard of could be chancy. It’s best to buy any refurbished machine directly from the manufacturer’s online store as opposed to from a reseller, especially a reseller that may be hawking refurbs from “marketplace" sellers or third parties on its platform.
Some resellers or third parties will rate their refurbished stock with a grade. (It pays to ask who has done the refurbishing—the manufacturer itself or the reseller.) Refurbished laptops are sold and rated with grades of A, B+, B, C, and so on to reflect the machine's relative amount of wear and tear. No universal grading system for refurbished PCs exists, however. It’s generally up to the reseller what the grade means; thus, it can vary from seller to seller. We’re wary of machines graded this way and strongly recommend insisting on an ironclad return policy in the case of purchases like these if you decide to roll the dice. You could end up pleasantly surprised, but usually, a refurbished laptop deal that looks too good to be true...is.
What is almost universally true is that with some tech know-how, you can use your pre-owned laptops to your advantage. If you’re in the market for new laptops for both yourself and your kids, you might consider tuning up your current PC to give to your children and buying a new one for yourself.
Should You Get a Longer Laptop Warranty?
Most of the best laptop makers offer one-year warranties on parts and labor. These standard plans are limited, so they won't cover accidents like spilling a drink on the keyboard or dropping the system on the sidewalk. Fortunately, your credit card issuer likely covers such mishaps for a short period after you buy a new product, and it also may extend the manufacturer's warranty. (For example, many Mastercard accounts include a doubling of the standard warranty period up to one year.) Check your account benefits guide for details.
If your credit card issuer doesn’t cover you, some laptop makers will happily sell you extended warranties. Apple, Dell, HP, and Lenovo all offer wide ranges of extended warranties and coverage for accidental damage. Expect to spend $100 to $300 for these options. Our rule of thumb is that if a warranty costs more than 15% of the laptop's purchase price, you're better off spending the money on backup drives or services that minimize downtime.
Of course, you can't put a price tag on peace of mind. You'll encounter instances when the logic board or the display—the most expensive parts of a laptop—fail, and while rare, such a catastrophe can cost you half of what the laptop is worth in repair costs.
Ready to Buy the Right Laptop for You?
Shopping for a laptop is an exercise in patience. An ultra-competitive market means that even if you’ve got specific requirements, you can almost certainly find a handful of excellent models that will meet them and another handful of perfectly serviceable but ho-hum models that will, too. Now that you know which specifications to look for, we hope parsing the good from the bad will be much easier.
Compare SpecsThe Best Laptops for 2024
Our Picks | Asus Zenbook 14 OLED Touch (UM3406)See It$799.00 at Walmart | Apple MacBook Air (2024, M3)See It$849.98 at Amazon | Acer Aspire 3 (A315-24P)See It$295.00 at Amazon | Asus Zenbook 14X OLED (Q420)See It$1,079.00 at Amazon | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12See It$1,361.88 at Lenovo | Dell Precision 5690See It$2,289.00 at Dell | Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 Gen 9 (2024)See It$1,099.99 at Lenovo | Asus Chromebook Plus CX34See It$439.99 at Amazon | MSI Prestige 16 AI EvoSee It$1,549.00 at Amazon | Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 9 16See It$2,999.99 at Lenovo | MSI Cyborg 15 (2023)See It$1,049.99 at Amazon |
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Editors'Rating | Editors' Choice 4.0Editor Review | Editors' Choice 4.0Editor Review | 3.5Editor Review | Editors' Choice 4.0Editor Review | Editors' Choice 4.5Editor Review | Editors' Choice 4.0Editor Review | Editors' Choice 4.0Editor Review | Editors' Choice 4.0Editor Review | Editors' Choice 4.0Editor Review | Editors' Choice 4.5Editor Review | 4.0Editor Review |
Class | Ultraportable | Ultraportable | Budget | Ultraportable | Business, Ultraportable | Workstation | Convertible 2-in-1 | Chromebook, Budget | Desktop Replacement, Business | Gaming | Gaming |
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS | Apple M3 | AMD Ryzen 3 7320U | Intel Core i7-13700H | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | Intel Core Ultra 9 185H | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | Intel Core i3-1215U | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | Intel Core i9-14900HX | Intel Core i7-13620H |
Processor Speed | 3.3 GHz | 2.4 GHz | 1.4 GHz | ||||||||
RAM (as Tested) | 16 GB | 16 GB | 8 GB | 16 GB | 32 GB | 32 GB | 16 GB | 8 GB | 32 GB | 32 GB | 16 GB |
Boot Drive Type | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD | UFS (Universal Flash Storage) | SSD | SSD | SSD |
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) | 512 GB | 512 GB | 128 GB | 512 GB | 1 TB | 512 GB | 1 TB | 128 GB | 1 TB | 1 TB | 512 GB |
Secondary Drive Type | SSD | Hard Drive | |||||||||
Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested) | 512 GB | 1 TB | |||||||||
Screen Size | 14 inches | 13.6 inches | 15.6 inches | 14.5 inches | 14 inches | 16 inches | 14 inches | 14 inches | 16 inches | 16 inches | 15.6 inches |
Native Display Resolution | 1920 by 1200 | 2560 by 1664 | 1920 by 1080 | 2880 by 1800 | 2880 by 1800 | 3840 by 2400 | 2880 by 1800 | 1920 by 1080 | 3840 by 2400 | 2560 by 1600 | 1920 by 1080 |
Touch Screen | |||||||||||
Panel Technology | OLED | IPS | IPS | OLED | OLED | OLED | OLED | IPS | OLED | IPS | IPS |
Variable Refresh Support | None | None | None | None | Manual | None | Manual | None | None | G-Sync | None |
Screen Refresh Rate | 60 Hz | 60 Hz | 60 Hz | 120 Hz | 120 Hz | 60 Hz | 120 Hz | 60 Hz | 60 Hz | 240 Hz | 144 Hz |
Graphics Processor | AMD Radeon 780M Graphics | Apple M3 (10-core) | AMD Radeon Graphics | Intel Iris Xe | Intel Arc Graphics | Nvidia RTX 5000 Ada | Intel Arc Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics | Intel Arc Graphics | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU |
Graphics Memory | 16 GB | 12 GB | 6 GB | ||||||||
Wireless Networking | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 | 802.11ax, Bluetooth 5.2 | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 | 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6), Bluetooth 5.2 | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth | 802.11ax, Bluetooth 5.1 |
Dimensions (HWD) | 0.59 by 12.3 by 8.7 inches | 0.44 by 11.97 by 8.46 inches | 0.75 by 14.3 by 9.4 inches | 0.67 by 12.7 by 8.9 inches | 0.59 by 12.3 by 8.5 inches | 0.87 by 13.9 by 9.5 inches | 0.64 by 12.4 by 8.6 inches | 0.73 by 12.9 by 8.4 inches | 0.75 by 14.1 by 10 inches | 1.01 by 14.3 by 10.3 inches | 0.9 by 14.1 by 9.85 inches |
Weight | 2.82 lbs | 2.7 lbs | 3.77 lbs | 3.44 lbs | 2.47 lbs | 4.46 lbs | 2.98 lbs | 3.17 lbs | 3.31 lbs | 6.17 lbs | 4.5 lbs |
Operating System | Windows 11 Home | Apple macOS Sonoma | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Pro | Windows 11 Home | Chrome OS | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home |
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) | 19:56 | 21:38 | 16:46 | 11:45 | 13:51 | 17:11 | 17:52 | 12:46 | 18:55 | 8:04 | 7:16 |
Where to Buy | $799.00 at Walmart $1,199.00 at Amazon | $849.98 at Amazon $899.00 at Best Buy | $295.00 at Amazon $599.99 at Best Buy | $1,079.00 at Amazon $999.99 at Best Buy | $1,361.88 at Lenovo | $2,289.00 at Dell | $1,099.99 at Lenovo | $439.99 at Amazon $399.99 at Target | $1,549.00 at Amazon $1,630.99 at Best Buy | $2,999.99 at Lenovo $2,590.00 at Amazon | $1,049.99 at Amazon |
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After starting my career at PCMag as an intern more than a decade ago, I’m back as one of its editors, focused on laptops and desktops. I have been on staff and been published in technology review publications including PCMag (of course!), Laptop Magazine, Tom’s Guide, TechRadar, and IGN. I’ve tested and reviewed hundreds of laptops along the way, and helped develop testing protocols, too. I’m also well-versed in video games coverage.
Read Joe's full bio
Read the latest from Joe Osborne
- The Best Dell Laptops for 2024
- The Best Windows Tablets for 2024
- The Best PCs (Desktop Computers) for 2024
- The Best Lenovo Laptops for 2024
- Keyboards, Mice, Monitors, and More: Top-Rated Picks to Round Out Your New PC
- More from Joe Osborne
If you’re after laptop buying advice, I’m your man. I’ve been reviewing PCs and technology products for more than a decade. I cut my teeth in PC Labs, spending several years with PCMag.com before writing for other outlets, among them LaptopMag.com and Tom’s Guide. While computers are my main focus, I am also the resident Starlink expert, and an AI enthusiast. I’ve also written at length about topics ranging from fitness gear and appliances to TV and home theater equipment. If I’ve used it, I have opinions about it, whether somebody’s paying me to write them up or not.
Read Brian's full bio
Read the latest from Brian Westover
- Tested: The Lightest Laptops for 2024
- The Best Laptops for Programmers in 2024
- The Best Laptops Under $1,000
- The Best Chromebooks for 2024
- The Best Ultraportable Laptops for 2024
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