Best laptops 2025: Premium, budget, gaming, 2-in-1, and more
Let’s be honest–whether you’re grinding through schoolwork, getting lost in your favorite games, or just streaming random stuff late into the night, you need a laptop that can keep up. And yeah, picking the right one? It’s really confusing. Do you spring for a bigger screen? Is a dedicated graphics card actually worth it? That’s where we come in. We’ve actually tried out every laptop on this list ourselves, so they’re real recommendations based on hands-on experience. Why you should trust us: It’s in our name! PCWorld prides itself on laptop experience and expertise. We’ve been covering PCs since 1983, and we now review more than 70 laptops every year. All of the picks below have been personally tested and vetted by our experts, who’ve applied not only performance benchmarks but rigorous usability standards. We’re also committed to reviewing PC laptops at every price point to help you find a machine that matches your budget. We’ve cut through the clutter to bring you the top picks across every category–from budget Chromebooks to powerhouse gaming machines . Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 (Aura Edition) – Best laptop overall Pros Long battery life (almost 24 hours in our test) Beautiful OLED screen Great webcam Cons Lunar Lake’s multithreaded performance isn’t ideal for some workloads Glossy screen can be difficult to read in harsh lighting conditions Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Who should buy the Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 (Aura Edition)? This Yoga is easily one of the best Windows laptops you can get right now and this is why: it looks great, it lasts forever, and it has a gorgeous screen. The display is a 14-inch 2880×1800 OLED with HDR that can hit up to 120Hz. Inside you get an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V CPU, 32GB of RAM, 1TB of SSD storage, and Intel Arc 140V graphics. That’s fast enough for work tasks, watching movies, and so on. It also weighs under three pounds and the battery can last up to 23 hours. Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 (Aura Edition): Further considerations The 2-in-1 form factor really adds something extra here. It flips all the way around so you can use it like a tablet or prop it up like a tent. The keyboard is also comfortable to use for long periods of time, the trackpad is smooth under your fingertips, and the Yoga Pen sticks to the top of the laptop via magnets. Ports are decent: You’re getting two Thunderbolt 4, one USB-C, one USB-A, plus a combo audio jack–no HDMI or microSD. Speakers are fine, the rotating soundbar is sort of fun, and battery life is insane. Read our full Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 review Acer Aspire Go 15 – Best budget laptop Pros Affordable Decent battery life Good display visibility Cons Big and bulky Cheap build Limited performance Price When Reviewed: 499 Euro Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Playox 458,00 € View Deal Easy Notebook 488,39 € View Deal Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Who should buy the Acer Aspire Go 15? The Acer Aspire Go 15 is a cheap and easy laptop that does the basics. It’s good for browsing, emails, and streaming shows. Plus, with about 12 hours of battery, you won’t need to go searching for an outlet. The appeal mostly lies in its value, though. While more expensive laptops nail the polish and the speed, the budget variety is strictly about what’s functional and that’s exactly what you’re getting here. It’s a good option for students or anyone seeking a reliable, no-frills machine under $500. You’ll also find a surprisingly generous port selection on the Acer Aspire Go 15–USB-A on both sides, a USB-C, an HDMI, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a Kensington lock. That’s more than what some laptops get twice the price. Acer Aspire Go 15: Further considerations Like many laptops in the budget category, the Aspire Go 15’s got a few trade-offs to be aware of. The chassis is made of plastic, though that’s part of what keeps the cost down–cheaper materials. It also weighs a little over four pounds, so it’s not the lightest laptop in town, but it’s not so heavy that it’s prohibitive. Read our full Acer Aspire Go 15 AG15-31P-3957 review Alienware 16X Aurora – Best gaming laptop Pros High-end CPU performance Bright and beautiful display Great gaming experience Very competitive price Cons You can get better gaming performance with a faster GPU (of course) Some hot air blows out the sides Price When Reviewed: 2099 Euro Best Prices Today: Retailer Price 2.099,00 € View Deal Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Who should buy the Alienware 16X Aurora? The Alienware 16X Aurora delivers serious speed with its Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU and RTX 5070 GPU. It’s perfect for gamers who want to run modern titles without bleeding their wallets dry–it’s currently $1,649.99 at Dell . The 16-inch 2560×1600 display keeps every frame looking buttery smooth thanks to its 240Hz refresh rate, and its subtle Interstellar Indigo finish makes it look sharp in just about any setting, whether it’s in a dorm or office space. Alienware 16X Aurora: Further considerations Alienware packs in plenty of goodies here, like a crisp 1080p webcam (with Windows Hello facial recognition), Wi-Fi 7 for super fast connectivity, and a nice selection of ports. The full-size keyboard has a number pad and customizable backlighting, which is a nice touch. And you get nearly seven hours of battery life, which a nice bonus, since long runtimes aren’t common in gaming laptops. Acer Nitro V 16 – Best budget gaming laptop Pros Fast performance Fast 165Hz display with good colors Cons Fully plastic build Mushy keyboard Price When Reviewed: 1199 Euro Best Prices Today: Retailer Price 985,00 € View Deal 1.299,00 € View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Who should buy the Acer Nitro V 16? Need a gaming laptop that won’t decimate your wallet? The Acer Nitro V 16 is where the fun begins. With an RTX 4060 GPU and a Ryzen 7 CPU, it crushes most games at 1080p. It’s not some over-the-top, showy powerhouse–honestly, that’s the appeal. It just does its job without draining your wallet. The 16-inch 1200p display is quick and smooth thanks to its 165Hz refresh rate, which makes a big difference whether you’re in a fast-paced game or just scrolling around. For around $1,000, you’re getting great performance without all the extra fluff. It’s a good, no-nonsense pick if you just want to play games and get on with your day. Acer Nitro V 16: Further considerations The thing about the Nitro V 16 is that it really leans into the gamer aesthetic with its sharp lines and glowing keyboard. If you dig that style, cool. If not, this might not be the laptop for you. The battery life lasts about four hours, which is typical for a laptop in this category, but you probably can’t game untethered — at least not for very long! Read our full Acer Nitro V 16 ANV16-41-R961 review Asus ProArt P16 – Best laptop for photo and video editing Pros Big touchpad with virtual scroll wheel Gorgeous 4K OLED display More connectivity than the competition Good battery life Cons Chassis is light, but doesn’t look remarkable CPU performance falls behind the best Can get hot under load Price When Reviewed: 2499 Euro Best Prices Today: Retailer Price €2599 View Deal €2599 View Deal Asus 2.599,00 € View Deal €2881.11 View Deal Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Who should buy the Asus ProArt P16? If you want sharp, gorgeous visuals and a laptop that can handle some serious work, the Asus ProArt P16 is a strong pick. The 16-inch 3840×2400 screen makes everything look awesome — whether you’re editing photos or just watching movies. Inside, it’s got an Intel Core i9 CPU and an RTX 4070 GPU, so it can easily handle heavy stuff like video editing. Battery life is pretty good too, around nine hours, so you’re not stuck hunting for an outlet all day. And with USB 4.0, moving big files is quick and painless. All in all, it’s a great machine if you want power without the hullabaloo. Asus ProArt P16: Further considerations Performance and display quality are the standout features here, of course, but understated design deserves a mention too. Some may find the all-black chassis too plain while others find it elegant. Also, under heavy workloads, the chassis can run a little warm. Read our full Asus ProArt P16 review Microsoft Surface Pro (2025) – Best lightweight laptop Pros Compact and well-built Good office performance All Copilot Plus features available Good battery life Cons Narrow screen to work on No HDR support No charger included Price When Reviewed: 979 Euro Best Prices Today: Retailer Price €799 View Deal €929 View Deal €979 View Deal €798.9 View Deal €944.69 View Deal 979,00 € View Deal Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Who should buy the Microsoft Surface Pro (2025)? If you’re always on the go — whether it’s the train, a coffee shop, or just hopping around the house — the Surface Pro 2025 is pretty much made for that. It’s super light (under two pounds!) and still powerful enough to handle all the usual stuff like emails and Zoom calls. With its Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus CPU, it’s great for anyone who wants something that works like a laptop but feels like a tablet. You can doodle or get work done, all without feeling like you’re lugging around a heavy brick. Microsoft Surface Pro (2025): Further considerations The smaller screen might not be great if you’re juggling a bunch of stuff all day, and there’s only two USB-C ports (so you’ll probably need a dock or something). Battery life can last a while, but honestly, it’s kind of all over the place. Expect around two hours at full brightness under heavy use or up to 19 hours with lighter tasks. Still, if your work mostly lives in the cloud and you value portability above raw power, this is the best ultraportable Windows device you can get right now. Read our full Microsoft Surface Pro 2025 review HP OmniBook 5 14 – Best for battery life Pros Enjoyable keyboard Attractive 1200p OLED display Incredible battery life Ships with small GaN charger Cons Though attractive, build quality doesn’t stand out Connectivity is limited So-so performance Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Who should buy the HP OmniBook 5 14? Looking for a Windows laptop that can actually survive your day on campus? The HP OmniBook 5 14 is solid. It’s got a Snapdragon X Plus X1P-42-100 chip, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage–so essays, Zoom calls, and a bunch of tabs won’t slow it down. The 14-inch 1920×1200 OLED touchscreen also looks really good, and the battery is insane. We’re talking, like, 25 hours in our testing (jeez!). HP OmniBook 5 14: Further considerations This isn’t a gaming rig or a 3D workstation, but for school stuff, streaming, and everyday tasks it’s more than fine. The keyboard’s comfy, the OLED display pops, and the ports are basic but usable (two USB-C, one USB-A, headphone jack). The main draw? Ridiculous battery life, a nice OLED screen, and super easy portability–all under $900. Read our full HP OmniBook 5 14 review Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 – Best Chromebook Pros Zippy processor performance Nice keyboard A wide array of connectivity options Chic design Cons Battery life isn’t competitive The display’s 16:9 aspect ratio feels a little cramped Price When Reviewed: 699 Euro Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Notebook.de 698,00 € View Deal €763.49 View Deal Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Who should buy the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34? If you need a zippy Chromebook for everyday tasks, the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 won’t let you down–it’s simple, reliable, and ready to handle whatever your day throws at it. This machine will easily crush your daily workflow thanks to its Intel i5 processor and 8GB of RAM. The 14-inch 1080p display also looks sharp, and the 1080p webcam is perfect for Zoom calls. Asus Chromebook Plus CX34: Further considerations While the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 offers smooth performance and a pretty design, there are minor trade-offs to be aware of like the non-competitive battery life (13 hours) and the lack of a touchscreen. You’ll also need to be comfortable with ChromeOS. If you prefer Windows or macOS, we’d recommend looking elsewhere. Read our full Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 review MacBook Air (M4) – Best MacBook Pros Can drive two external displays at 6K/60Hz M4 provides a performance boost New 12MP Center Stage camera Cons No more Space Gray option Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Who should buy the MacBook Air (M4)? The new MacBook Air M4 is a fantastic option if you want something light but still strong. It’s running a 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine–that’s a lot of muscle for such a slim laptop. Day-to-day stuff feels effortless, and when you need to push it harder, it holds its own way better than you’d expect from a MacBook Air. Apple also fixed one of the Air’s biggest limitations—you can finally run two external 6K displays with the lid open, which is a game-changer if you love a multi-monitor setup. The 12MP Center Stage webcam makes video calls look sharper, and in our battery tests, it lasted about 18 hours, so you can leave the charger at home most days. MacBook Air (M4): Further considerations This thing is crazy light at just over three pounds and thin at under half an inch, so it basically disappears in your bag. The new Sky Blue finish looks slick, and pricing starts at $999 for the 13-inch or $1,199 for the 15-inch. Even better, the base models now ship with 16GB of RAM, so you don’t have to immediately think about upgrading memory. The only real tradeoff? Battery life is about an hour shorter than the M3 model in video loop tests. But honestly, with nearly 18 hours on tap, it’s still more than enough to power you through a full day (and night). Read our full MacBook Air (M4) review Framework Laptop 13 (2025) – Best laptop for upgrading Pros Repairable and upgradeable Great keyboard Display is easy on the eyes Cons High up-front cost Battery life lags way behind Not quite seamless design Price When Reviewed: 2.022 Euro Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Framework 2.022,00 € View Deal Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Who should buy the Framework Laptop 13 (2025)? Need a laptop that’s super easy to upgrade and tough enough to stick around? The Framework Laptop 13 (2025) is where it’s at. You can swap out pretty much anything—RAM, storage, even the motherboard if you want. It runs on an AMD Ryzen AI 300 processor and is slim enough to toss in your bag and go wherever. Framework Laptop 13 (2025): Further considerations The price might sting a bit upfront, and the built-in graphics are okay for everyday stuff, but don’t expect much gaming performance. Battery life’s decent, but nothing groundbreaking. Read our full Framework Laptop 13 (2025) review Other notable laptops we’ve tested These laptops didn’t crack the top of our list, but they’re still good picks. The Dell 14 Premium is an elegant machine with a vibrant 3200×2000 OLED display, strong CPU performance, and Thunderbolt 4 ports. It’s powerful, even if it skips a few legacy ports. The HP EliteBook 8 G1a is a 16-inch professional workhorse with long battery life (nearly 16 hours!) and an AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350 processor, making it great for heavy multitasking, though its GPU is a bit limited. And if a larger screen is what you’re after, the Dell 16 Plus has a 16-inch 2560×1600 display that’s clear and easy to read indoors, Copilot+ integration for AI tasks, and good everyday performance in a well-designed chassis. That said, it’s a bit heavier than other ultraportables and it doesn’t excel at heavy multithreaded workloads. How we test laptops The PCWorld team puts each and every Windows laptop through a series of benchmarks that test GPU and CPU performance, battery life, and so on. The idea is to push the laptop to its limits and then compare it against others we’ve tested. Chromebooks, on the other hand, go through a series of web-based tests. For a much deeper look at our review methodology, check out how PCWorld tests laptops . Who curated this article? Hi, I’m Ashley Biancuzzo , and I oversee all laptop and Chromebook coverage at PCWorld. While you’ll see me review Chromebooks on occasion, I’m also deeply immersed the broader world of consumer tech. I spend a lot of time writing and thinking about where laptops are headed–from AI and sustainable designs to long-term trends. When I’m not deep in the world of tech, you’ll probably find me gaming, getting lost in a good book, or chilling with my rescue greyhound, Allen. How to choose the best laptop What’s the best laptop style? Regular ones are fine for everyday stuff. 2-in-1s are cool because the screen flips around. Chromebooks are cheap and good if you mostly do web browsing. How much power? Depends on what you’re doing. For basic web or email, an Intel Core i3 or Ryzen 3 works fine. If you’re into video editing or creative stuff, an i7/i9 or Ryzen 7/9 is better. And if you’re handling heavy 4K editing or lots of apps, a Ryzen 9 is your best bet. Discrete graphics vs. integrated graphics? Gamers and video editors need a legit graphics card—Nvidia, AMD, something with real muscle. But if all you’re doing is YouTube, emails, and Netflix, the built-in graphics won’t hold you back. How much RAM? 8GB of RAM is plenty for most stuff. If you’re gaming, 16GB is better, and 32GB will keep you covered for a while. Content creators should try to get as much RAM as they can. What’s the right display size? Doing video edits? Go bigger—15 or 17 inches helps a ton. For everyday use, 13 or 14 inches usually does the trick. Light enough to toss in your bag, not a pain to carry, and still plenty of space to get stuff done. Battery-life expectations If you’re gonna carry your laptop around, try to get one that lasts 10 to 12 hours on a charge. That’s usually enough for a long flight or a full day of classes. Some of the new Snapdragon laptops are even crushing that, with one going up to 25 hours thanks to their super-efficient chips . Just remember, bigger batteries usually mean heavier laptops. (Also, check out our roundup of the best laptop chargers.) Laptop pricing guide A decent laptop usually runs $500 to $750. If money’s tight, a Chromebook or a basic work laptop under $500 will get you by. Push closer to $1,000 and you’ll start seeing nicer screens and more speed, but it really depends on what you need. Don’t forget the ports I like laptops with lots of ports so you don’t need adapters. Having both USB-C and USB-A is great, and an HDMI port is a bonus and super handy for hooking up to a monitor. FAQ 1. What is the best laptop? PCWorld calls the Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition the best overall laptop. It’s about $1,499.99 on Lenovo ‘s site right now. It handles regular stuff pretty easily, the battery can go up to 23 hours if you play your cards right, and the screen’s this bright 14-inch 2880×1800 OLED with HDR and a 120Hz refresh rate–it looks really nice! 2. What is the best cheap laptop? The Acer Aspire Go 15 is PCWorld’s favorite budget pick. It’s cheap, runs well, and won’t die on you halfway through the day. It’s got an Intel Core i3-N305, a nice 1080p screen, and battery life that’s better than you’d expect at this price. 3. What is the best gaming laptop? The Alienware 16X Aurora is a powerful gaming laptop that handles modern games with ease and makes them look amazing. It’s got an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU and RTX 5070 graphics, so performance is top-notch without going overboard on price. 4. When is the best time to buy a laptop? The best time to buy a laptop is usually during big sales events like Black Friday or Cyber Monday. Back-to-school season’s also solid. 5. What is a 2-in-1 laptop? A 2-in-1 is a flexible laptop that can flip and fold, more or less–basically, the acrobat of the laptop world. Want to kick back and watch Netflix? Prop it up like a tent. Need to take notes at your next meeting? Fold the keyboard back and jot things down on the touchscreen. They’re a hit with students and creatives who want a bit of everything in one device. 6. What is a Copilot+ laptop? A Copilot+ laptop is a PC with AI built right in. It helps you draft emails, generate images, and more. Since the AI runs locally, AI performance should be snappier. But at the end of the day, it’s still just a normal laptop (more or less), with a little helper that makes life easier to manage. To qualify as a Copilot+ laptop, though, it needs an NPU that can meet 40 TOPS of performance. Related content PCWorld laptop reviews What’s new when shopping for a laptop in 2025? 8 things to keep in mind When PC vendors tell you what’s going on with tariffs, pay attention How to try a new laptop at home before you commit to buying it How to properly wipe your laptop data before getting rid of it 4 eco-friendly ways to get rid of a laptop Battery life on gaming laptops doesn’t have to suck anymore Best laptops for college students 2025: Top picks and expert advice Best gaming laptops under $1,000: Expert picks that won’t break the bank
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