When it comes to buying a new laptop, there are many different variables to consider. How much RAM will I need? Do I go with Intel or AMD hardware? Well, it depends. Do you consider yourself a power user? If so, you should spring for a laptop with discrete graphics. For general web browsing, we’d recommend something more straightforward like a Chromebook. Whatever it is you need, from blazing fast gaming laptops to featherlight convertibles, we’ve got it all here.
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.
Looking for sweet discounts? Check out our regularly updated roundup of the best laptop deals available right now. By the way, since we’re in the thick of back-to-school season, make sure you check out PCWorld’s back-to-school coverage.
Updated September 6, 2024: We added the Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 Gen 9 as the Best Audio pick. Not only does it ofers fantastic audio, which is impressive because laptops historically have sub-par speakers, but it also has a beautiful OLED display. We updated our list of recent laptop reviews as well, so be sure to check those out near the bottom of the page.
The best laptops we’ve tested
Dell Inspiron 14 Plus (2024) – Best overall
![Dell Inspiron 14 Plus (2024) - Best overall](https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/DI14Plus2024-17.jpg?quality=50&strip=all)
Pros
- Strong performance
- Exceptional battery life
- Wonderful typing experience
Cons
- CPU throttles under heavy loads
- No user upgrades
Why we like the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is one of the most well-rounded laptops money can buy. It offers strong performance, exceptional battery life, and a vibrant display. The best part is that it costs about $1,000, which is a reasonable price point considering the price to performance ratio. In fact, it performed exceptionally in PCMark 10’s benchmark, according to our review. With a PCMark 10 score of 7,061, it beat out the Acer Swift Go 14, which has similar specs to the Dell, and the more expensive Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon. The Inspiron 14 Plus also lasted an impressive 17 hours on a single charge, which is definitely more than a full workday or school day. You don’t have to worry about finding a wall outlet to charge up.
Who should buy the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus
Anyone looking for a really good, well-rounded laptop. In addition to the impressive performance and battery life, it also has a lovely 14-inch 1400p display. According to our review, “the display is exceedingly well suited to office work and static imagery.” It has a peak brightness level of a stunning 418 nits as well as an anti-glare coating, which means you can use this laptop in different lighting environments. It may not have the prettiest design we’ve ever seen, but its hardware capabilities and astoundingly long battery life make up for the blah aesthetics.
Asus Zenbook 14 OLED – Best overall runner-up
![Asus Zenbook 14 OLED - Best overall runner-up](https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/asus-zenbook-14-oled-2024-4.jpg?quality=50&strip=all)
Pros
- Robust build quality
- Attractive OLED touchscreen
- Good CPU and integrated GPU performance
- Outstanding battery life
Cons
- Blah design
- Keyboard isn't memorable
- Mediocre connectivity options
Why we like the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED
The Asus Zenbook 14 OLED wowed us with its zippy CPU performance, phenomenal battery life, and attractive OLED touchscreen display. According to our review, “movies and games look realistic and vibrant” on the 1200p OLED touchscreen, although it can be difficult to use in bright environments due to the reflective surface. It also lasted 16 hours on a single charge, which is absolutely wild! That result really trumps otherwise excellent competitors like the Lenovo Slim 7 14 Gen 9 and the HP Pavilion Plus Laptop 14. As for performance, the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED absolutely crushed the PCMark 10 benchmark with an impressive score of 6,772. That means it’s very fast and responsive during real-world tasks like web browsing, video conferencing, and so on.
Who should buy the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED
Anyone looking for a powerful, affordable laptop with an OLED display! It’s so much more than its OLED screen, though. The build quality is quite good and day-to-day performance is zippy. Plus, you won’t have to go looking for an outlet often thanks to the long battery life. Connectivity options are a bit limited, but that’s not unusual for a laptop in this price range. Overall, it’s a great Windows machine that hits all the right marks.
Alternative option: If you’re looking for an even more affordable option, you should check out the HP Pavilion Laptop 16 ($769.99). It boasts a large 16-inch display with a taller 16:10 aspect ratio, which is perfect for scrolling through long web pages and documents. The keyboard is also spacious and easy to use, and it lasted over 18 hours on a single charge.
Acer Aspire Go 15 – Best budget laptop
![Acer Aspire Go 15 - Best budget laptop](https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/AcerAGo15-13.jpg?quality=50&strip=all)
Pros
- Affordable
- Decent battery life
- Good display visibility
Cons
- Big and bulky
- Cheap build
- Limited performance
Why we like the Acer Aspire Go 15
The Acer Aspire Go 15 offers decent performance and battery life for the price ($299). The Intel Core i3-N305 CPU is power efficient and more than capable of handling daily tasks like general browsing, checking e-mail, and so on. It also ran for almost 12 hours on a single charge, which is nothing to sneeze at. The port selection is quite good as well. You’re getting USB-A ports on either side, a 3.5mm headphone jack and Kensington lock slot on the right, and one USB-C port and one HDMI port on the left.
Who should buy the Acer Aspire Go 15
Anyone looking for an inexpensive laptop with reliable day-to-day performance and good battery life. It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles you’d see on more high-end machines, but it’s both serviceable and affordable, making it a clear value. The CPU is power efficient and the battery should last you throughout the day. Plus, the 15.6-inch 1080p display is easy to see “despite its low brightness,” according to our review. It’s a solid machine, especially for those on a tight budget.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 – Best battery life
![Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 - Best battery life](https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Microsoft-Surface-Laptop-7-13-inch-Display.jpg?quality=50&strip=all)
Pros
- Attractive, slim, and light
- Class-leading battery life
- Excellent wireless connectivity via Wi-Fi 7
- Good performance in real-world situations
Cons
- Vague keyboard falls short of competitors
- IPS touchscreen's image quality can't compare to OLED
- Gaming performance doesn't hold up
Why we like the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 with the new Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite is finally here and ready to party. And boy, can it party. While we love its thin profile and phenomenal wireless connectivity, you just can’t beat the 20-hour battery life. Given that the Surface Laptop 7 is packing a mere 54 watt-hour battery, that result is even more impressive. According to our review, we believe it’s a “significant threat to alternatives with AMD and Intel hardware.” You better watch your back, competitors.
Who should buy the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7
Anyone that needs a long-lasting laptop. It’s a great option for frequent travelers or those who just don’t want to worry about battery life. Although Qualcomm’s chip isn’t ideal for gaming, it’s fantastic for battery life and it performs very well in day to day tasks – a big departure from previous laptops with older Qualcomm chips inside. Those struggled mightily with software compatibility; the vast majority of programs just work, and well, on the Surface Laptop 7.
Alternative option: The Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge ($1,749.99) is a great alternative option to the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7. It lasted 21 hours on a single charge and it has a bigger OLED screen (16 inches, in fact!). That said, it’s heavier than our current pick at 3.42 pounds and it comes with less RAM. The 14-inch configuration is also more expensive at $1,349 as opposed to the Surface Laptop 7’s $999.99 base model.
Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus – Best Chromebook
![Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus - Best Chromebook](https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/flex-5i-hero-resized.jpg?quality=50&strip=all)
Pros
- Snappy day-to-day performance
- Versatile 2-in-1 design
- Good typing experience
Cons
- Stylus not included
- Heavier than expected
Why we like the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus
From the convertible design to the beautiful touchscreen, the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus has a lot to offer, especially for under $500. The 2-in-1 design allows you to swing the screen around and use the laptop like a tablet, upping the versatility factor. You can also expect snappy day-to-day performance as well as lightning fast boot-up times.
Who should buy the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus
If you’re looking to pick up a premium Chromebook for work or personal use, then the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus is a fine choice. While the $499 price tag is very much in the high end when it comes to Chromebooks, we feel the overall fit, finish, and firepower make it worth the extra cash.
Alternative option: If you’re looking for a cheaper Chromebook with a bigger screen, the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE ($699.99) is a great option. The display measures 16 inches and it has a 2560×1600 resolution as well as a 120Hz refresh rate. According to our review, the “120Hz display is excellent and gives the laptop an edge if you’d plan to play games on a cloud gaming service that supports high refresh rates like Nvidia’s GeForce Now.” The only downside is that it’s a bit expensive for a Chromebook.
MacBook Air (M3) – Best MacBook
![MacBook Air (M3) - Best MacBook](https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/m3-macbook-air-overhead.jpg?quality=50&strip=all)
Pros
- Excellent battery life
- Great combination of price, features, and performance
- 256GB SSD is now two NAND chips, maintaining performance
Cons
- Expensive memory upgrades
- Dual external display support requires closed lid
Why we like the MacBook Air (M3)
The MacBook Air (M3) has a lot to offer for the $1,299 price. In fact, it received high marks across the board thanks to the 8-core CPU (M3) and the 10-core GPU. It’s capable of chewing through office work as well as casual use tasks. While performance is comparable to the MacBook Pro (M3), there is one difference: the fans or lack thereof. The MacBook Air doesn’t have any fans, which results in quieter operation before heavy-duty tasks will likely put more pressure on the chip. That said, battery life is the real star of the show here. The MacBook Air (M3) breathed its last breath at the 19 hour mark, which is perfect for those with busy schedules.
Who should buy the MacBook Air (M3)
Anyone who prefers MacOS over competing operating systems. Battery life is outstanding and the laptop itself is both slim and light, weighing in at just over three pounds. The 15-inch Liquid Retina (LED) screen might be considered a step-down from the MacBook Pro’s Liquid Retina XDR (mini-LED) display, but that doesn’t mean it’s a poor screen. It still looks fantastic for day-to-day use. The $1,299 price tag is also reasonable for the performance and features you’re getting.
Read our full MacBook Air (M3) review
Alienware m16 R2 – Best gaming laptop
![Alienware m16 R2 - Best gaming laptop](https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Alienware-m16-R2-starfield.jpg?quality=50&strip=all)
Pros
- Solid gaming performance
- Rugged build quality
- Good battery life
Cons
- Display is dimmer than we like
Why we like the Alienware m16 R2
The Alienware m16 R2 delivers strong graphics performance and good battery life. This specific model comes loaded with an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H CPU and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, which is nothing to sneeze at. It lasted a respectable 11 hours and fifteen minutes on a single charge and it averaged 144 frames-per-second when running the Shadow of the Tomb Raider benchmark. According to our review, it’s only “four frames-per-second slower than the Razer Blade 16,” which has an RTX 4090 GPU and a price tag of over $3,000.
Who should buy the Alienware m16 R2
Anyone looking for a great gaming laptop. You’re getting strong graphics performance as well as long battery life, which is unusual for a gaming laptop, as most tend to die around the six hour mark. The 16-inch IPS display also has a resolution of 2560×1600 and a refresh rate of 240Hz, so gameplay should be nice and smooth. The picture quality is good, but it’s not an OLED panel. While it may not be the brightest or most color rich display we’ve ever seen, it’s perfectly fine for gaming. Besides, you can always plug into an external monitor if need be.
Alternative option: If you’re looking for a more lightweight option, you should definitely check out the $1,599 Asus ROG Zephyrus G14. It weighs just 3.31 pounds, which means you can easily take it anywhere with you. That said, it didn’t make the cut because of ho-hum battery life. Plus, the Alienware m16 R2’s RTX 4070 GPU is more powerful than the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14’s RTX 4060 GPU. Alternatively, if you’re looking for even more firepower, the ROG Zephyrus G16 is a killer OLED-equipped laptop with RTX 4070, 4080, and 4090 options available.
Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition – Best budget gaming laptop
![Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition - Best budget gaming laptop](https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/20230424_094122.jpg?quality=50&strip=all)
Pros
- Impressive all-day battery life
- Gorgeous 16:10 display
- Rugged chassis
Cons
- Keys feel a bit soft
- 720p webcam leaves little to be desired
Why we like the Asus TUF Gaming A16
The Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition is something of a unicorn and I mean that in the best way possible. This specific machine exhibits strong graphics performance as well as long battery life. Long battery life? A gaming laptop? How preposterous. Well, not anymore! The Asus TUF managed an incredible 11 and a half hours on a single charge. Also, thanks to the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU, the laptop achieved 123 frames-per-second in the Rise of the Tomb Raider benchmark. That’s impressive, especially for a sub-$1,000 gaming machine.
Who should buy the Asus TUF Gaming A16
The Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition is a good option for those on a tight budget. For under a grand, you’re getting reliable graphics performance, a spacious keyboard, and long battery life. It also works as a good general purpose machine. With a Cinebench R20 score of 589, it should have “no trouble running apps and programs,” according to our review.
Alternative option: The $1,000 Lenovo LOQ 15 stands as another solid budget option. It’s more than capable of 1080p gaming and the design is very sci-fi inspired. It didn’t nab the top pick because of the poor battery life (not unusual for a gaming laptop) and limited ports, but if you’re looking for more raw GPU horsepower, its RTX 4060 is a step above the RTX 4050 included in the Asus TUF.
Asus ProArt P16 – Best content creation laptop
![Asus ProArt P16 - Best content creation laptop](https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/asus-proart-p16-1.jpg?quality=50&strip=all)
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
Why we like the Asus ProArt P16
The Asus ProArt P16 is a fantastic pick for creative professionals and prosumers. You’re getting a diverse selection of connectivity options, a stunning 4K OLED display, and great battery life. The 3840×2400 resolution (4K!) display measures 16 inches and features a taller 16:10 aspect ratio. This is a phenomenal display for photo or video editing, as it “boasts an incredible color gamut and deep contrast,” according to our review. The ProArt 16 also lasted over nine hours on a single charge and one of the USB-C ports supports USB 4.0 with data rates up to 40Gbps.
Who should buy the Asus ProArt P16
Anyone that likes making content. The Asus Pro Art P16 is the kind of laptop that really pays attention to the finer details. It exhibits the perfect balance of weight, connectivity, and battery life. Although it can get hot under heavier workloads and the aesthetics aren’t much to write home about (it’s just a black slab), it’s still a really good choice for creative folks. The 4K screen is to die for and, despite the powerful internals inside the machine, it somehow manages to weigh only 4.08 pounds.
Acer TravelMate P6 – Best ultraportable
![Acer TravelMate P6 - Best ultraportable](https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Acer-TravelMate-P6-open.jpg?quality=50&strip=all)
Pros
- Long battery life
- Light and portable
- A good price for a business laptop
Cons
- Keyboard is a tad mushy
- No NPU for future Windows AI features
- Consumer laptops deliver similar specs for a lower price
Why we like the Acer TravelMate P6
The Acer TravelMate P6 is featherlight at just 2.65 pounds. The chassis is made of magnesium-alloy, which is a very light yet durable material. According to our review, “the ports are reinforced with additional metal brackets to hold up wear and tear.” In other words, this machine is built to last. It also has fantastic battery life, which is what you want in an ultraportable laptop. The 65 watt-hour battery lasted nearly 13 hours on a single charge–more than a full workday! This laptop offers reliable performance, too. The Acer TravelMate P6 turned in a respectable Cinebench R20 score of 3,065, which isn’t far behind the more powerful HP Pavilion Plus.
Who should buy the Acer TravelMate P6
Anyone looking for an affordable ultraportable. In addition to the featherlight form factor, it also comes with a 1080p webcam with a physical privacy shutter and a 14-inch 1200p display with a 16:10 aspect ratio. The taller screen makes it easier to scroll through documents or webpages, and the 1080p webcam will make you look good on videoconferencing calls. The keyboard provides a nice typing experience, too. It even boasts white backlighting, which is perfect for typing in low light environments.
Alternative option: If you’re interested in picking up a more high-end ultraportable, you should consider picking up the HP Dragonfly G4. It weighs same as the Acer TravelMate P6, but has much better battery life–it managed 17.5 hours on a single charge! The only downside is that it costs just over $3,000 thanks to its more potent components and support for mobile LTE connections. The Dell Latitude 7450 Ultralight is another great option, as it weighs 2.33 pounds, lighter than our top pick. But, similar to the HP Dragonfly G4, it’s just too expensive, costing north of $2,000.
Asus Zenbook 14 Flip OLED – Best 2-in-1
![Asus Zenbook 14 Flip OLED - Best 2-in-1](https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Lead-2.jpg?quality=50&strip=all)
Pros
- Long battery life
- Connectivity includes two Thunderbolt 4 ports
- Fast performance
Cons
- Function keys are small
- The display is a little dim
Why we like the Asus Zenbook 14 Flip OLED
When it comes to 2-in-1 laptops, the Asus Zenbook 14 Flip OLED just gets it right at the start. It has a gorgeous OLED display, a zippy Intel Core i7-1360P CPU, and a versatile convertible design. You can flip the screen around 360 degrees and use it like a tablet or prop the device up like a tent if you so wish. Colors on the 1800p OLED display are also “remarkably bright and saturated,” according to our review. The battery died at the 12 hour mark, dominating laptops with similar hardware like the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i and the Acer Aspire Vero 14.
Who should buy the Asus Zenbook 14 Flip OLED
The Asus Zenbook 14 Flip is a good option for business professionals because of its convertible, slim design and stunning OLED display. You can take this machine with you anywhere and you don’t have to worry about finding an outlet to charge up. How can you go wrong with that?
Alternative option: The Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1 ($849.99) is another good option to consider if you want to save some cash. The 1600p 16-inch display is bigger than the Asus Zenbook 14 Flip OLED’s and is a “pleasant screen for work and entertainment,” according to our review. Battery life is comparable to our current pick (about 13 hours) and it’s currently on sale for $849.99 at Best Buy as of this writing, which is a pretty good deal for the hardware and features.
Framework Laptop 13 – Best upgradable option
![Framework Laptop 13 - Best upgradable option](https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Framework-Laptop-13-Core-Ultra-1-open.jpg?quality=50&strip=all)
Pros
- Customizable, repairable, and upgradable
- Choose your own ports
- Detailed repair documentation
- Reasonable Core Ultra performance with solid build quality
- A physical mic shutoff switch
Cons
- On the expensive side for the specs
- Not the best battery life, especially compared to Snapdragon laptops
Why we like the Framework Laptop 13
The Framework Laptop 13 is unique because you can repair, upgrade, or customize any part of it. The hardware is marked with QR codes, which leads you to the individual part on Framework’s website. You can also mix and match the ports–they’re little rectangular blocks (similar to Lego pieces) that snap into the laptop. The whole idea behind this laptop is fun, but practical. You can really extend the life of your laptop with something like this.
Who should buy the Framework Laptop 13
Anyone that likes to get in there and tinker away. In addition to the upgradability aspect, it’s also pretty light at 2.87 pounds and it churns out respectable CPU performance. It’s not the fastest laptop we’ve ever tested, but office work and day-to-day tasks should be no problem. That said, it’s a little expensive for the hardware, so it may not be the best option for the budget-conscious.
Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 Gen 9 – Best audio
![Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 Gen 9 - Best audio](https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Lenovo-Yoga-9i-Front.jpg.jpg?quality=50&strip=all)
Pros
- Amazing speakers
- Included accessories
- Great display
Cons
- Short on ports
- Cramped keyboard
Why we like the Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 Gen 9
The Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 Gen 9 is a fantastic 2-in-1 laptop with fantastic audio. Generally speaking, most laptop speakers suck. They’re usually poorly placed, so you lose a lot of bass and treble, but that’s not the case with the Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 Gen 9.
The sound bar in the Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 Gen 9 lives in the hinge, so it’s not firing down into whatever surface you’ve got the laptop on. The sound is “impressively loud,” according to our review, and you can even hear the bass and treble at louder volumes. That’s why this laptop is perfect for listening to music or watching movies.
Who should buy the Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 Gen 9
Audiophiles and movie buffs! The Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 Gen 9 is a great laptop for consuming media. The sound is great, but so is the OLED touch display, which boasts a 2880×1800 resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. Black colors are “inky and dark, which makes movies look all the better,” according to our review.
Recent laptop reviews
- MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio: MSI’s Stealth 18 AI Studio A1V has a beautiful display and lots of connectivity, but high pricing paired with mediocre performance (for its size, at least) leaves it behind the pack.
- Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 Gen 9: The Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 offers a gorgeous OLED display as well as punchy speakers. What more could you ask for?
- Acer Nitro 14: The Acer Nitro 14 delivers great RTX 4060-powered gaming performance at a low retail price. This machine makes many compromises to keep the price down, but they’re all reasonable.
- Dell XPS 13: The Intel-powered Dell XPS 13 was already a letdown next to the competition, and this Snapdragon-powered XPS 13 winds up downgrading most of the package without a meaningful reduction in price. It just makes a disappointing experience worse.
- Asus ProArt P16: The Asus ProArt P16 makes smart trade-offs to deliver a feature-rich laptop at a more reasonable price.
- Asus Zenbook S 16: The Asus Zenbook S 16 is an attractive laptop, but the Ryzen AI 9 delivers mediocre performance and external temperatures peak at 130 degrees under load.
- HP Omnibook X: The HP Omnibook X is an effective laptop and makes decent use of its Snapdragon processor to run for hours on end, but it’s not setting itself dramatically apart and skimps in other areas enough that it just doesn’t stand out.
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. It wouldn’t be fair or possible to run the same kinds of tests on a Chromebook, as they’re Chrome OS-based machines.
Below, you’ll find a breakdown of each test and the reasons why we run them. For a much deeper look at our review methodology, check out how PCWorld tests laptops.
Windows laptops
- PCMark 10: PCMark 10 is how we determine how well the laptop handles lighter tasks like web browsing, word processing, spreadsheets, and so on.
- HandBrake: HandBrake is more intensive than PCMark 10. It basically measures how long a laptop’s CPU takes to encode a beefy 30GB file.
- Cinebench: Cinebench is a brief stress test of the CPU cores. It does this by rendering a 2D scene over a short period of time.
- 3DMark: 3DMark checks if 3D performance remains consistent over time by running graphic-intensive clips.
- Video rundown test: To gauge battery life, we loop a 4K video using Windows 10’s Movies & TV app until the laptop dies.
Chromebooks
- CrXPRT 2: The CrXPRT 2 benchmark tests a Chromebook’s battery life.
- Speedometer 2.0: This test determines a Chromebook’s web browser performance. It simulates this by adding, completing, and removing a to-do list.
- Basemark Web 3.0: This benchmark gauges how well a Chromebook can handle web-based applications.
- Kraken 1.1: Kraken 1.1 is a JavaScript performance benchmark.
- Jetstream 2: Jetstream 2 is a combination of WebAssembly and JavaScript benchmarks. This is a way to gauge how well a Chromebook runs advanced workloads.
FAQ
What form factor is best for a laptop?
The first question you should ask yourself is what kind of laptop you’re looking for. There’s traditional clamshells, 2-in-1’s, Chromebooks, and much more. The displays on convertible laptops (aka 2-in-1’s), for example, can swing around 360 degrees. This allows you to use the laptop like a tablet. They can also be propped up like a tent for viewing movies or participating in video calls. Chromebooks, on the other hand, exclusively run Google’s web-focused Chrome OS and are generally used for everyday tasks. All you need is a Gmail account and boom, you’re in. There are pros and cons to each of them. Chromebooks are affordable and generally have good battery life whereas convertibles are normally lightweight and portable.
How much processing power do I need in a laptop?
If it’s CPU power you’re looking for, look for processors with higher numerical names. A Core i7 is more suited to gaming and more intense work than everyday tasks. Intel processors are available in Core i3, Core i5, Core i7, and Core i9. The higher the number, the more powerful the CPU. If you don’t need a ton of power, Intel Core i5 processors are your best bet, as they offer good performance at a decent price. Basic office and web work gets along just fine on a Core i3. As for AMD options, the Ryzen 3 is good for basic productivity and web browsing, while Ryzen 5 chips rival Intel’s Core i5 as solid all-arounders. If you need more power, the Ryzen 7 chip is well suited for content creation like video editing. Finally, if you’re dealing with 4K video, spring for a Ryzen 9.
Discrete graphics vs. integrated graphics?
You’ll want a discrete graphics card for hardcore gaming or editing videos. It’s separate from the processor, so you can expect higher performance out of it. Integrated graphics, on the other hand, are attached to the CPU and uses less power as a result. This is perfectly fine for everyday tasks, especially if you’re not doing anything that’s graphics-intensive.
How much memory do I need in a laptop?
8GB of RAM is zippy enough for general use. If you’ve got a gaming laptop, 16GB of RAM is the way to go, with 32GB being a future-proof configuration. Content creators will want as much as possible.
Do I need a big display on a laptop?
If you’re a video editor or someone who does a lot of multimedia work, you’ll want a display that’s anywhere from 15- to 17-inches. The sweet spot is really anywhere from 13- to 14-inches, though. The bigger the display, the heavier your laptop is going to be. A 13- or 14-inch display is the best in terms of portability and value.
How long should my laptop last on a single charge?
If you plan on taking your laptop anywhere with you, aim for something that can last 10 to 12 hours on a single charge. That’s more than a full work day, so it should theoretically get you through long flights or a day of classes. Obviously, more is always better. Just know that the bigger the battery, the heavier the laptop. Read our round-up of the best laptop chargers.
How much does a good laptop cost?
Many good laptops cost around $500 to $750, but the price really depends on your budget. If you’re strapped for cash (been there, trust me), go for a Chromebook or an entry-level business laptop. You can find solid options for under $500. Spending $750 to $1,000 can get you better displays, additional performance, more storage, and nicer designs. If you splurge for a laptop that costs over $1,000, you’re usually paying up for premium build quality, great extras, and top-shelf performance.
Gaming laptops are different. You can sometimes find gaming laptops with entry-level discrete graphics on sale for around $850, but you’ll usually need to spend at least $1,000 for a system with decent 1080p gaming chops. You can pay more — often much more — for better graphics firepower and nicer displays, but the costs can rise rapidly depending on your hardware of choice. Some fully loaded gaming laptops can go for multiple thousands of dollars but you’re getting the equivalent of a desktop replacement in return. Spending $1,200 to $2,000 usually gets you a very good gaming laptop.
Are connectivity options important on a laptop?
A wide array of ports is always a plus in my book, as it eliminates the need for an adapter. I’d recommend a laptop that has both USB-C and USB-A. An HDMI port is good, too. This is especially useful for when you want to hook up to an external monitor.