The MacBook Air 2022 is a highly capable, lightweight laptop, making it our top pick. But we’ve found plenty of other options for specific use cases, ensuring everyone can find the best device for their needs. Plus, Black Friday is basically here already, making it the best time to actually buy one of the best laptops. Jump to a detailed look at the best laptops or check the list below:
TL;DR – These are the Best Laptops:
- Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, Late 2023)
- Razer Blade 14
- Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro 360
- Microsoft Surface Pro 9
- Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook
- Apple MacBook Air 2020
- HP Pavilion Aero 13
- Framework Laptop 13
- Gigabyte Aero 16
From versatile 2-in-1 models and affordable school-ready options to gaming powerhouses and beefy editing machines, we’ve tested and researched an expansive range of laptops, bringing you the absolute best. Take a look at our nine favorites for 2023.
The Best Laptops You Can Buy Today
1. MacBook Pro 2023 (14-inch, Late 2023)
The Best Laptop
The MacBook Pro 2023 comes storming in with the Apple M3 chip, offering powerful processing power, a 14.2-inch display, and Apple’s signature sleek design. The sharp Liquid Retina XDR display oozes vibrancy, perfect for working on projects that require a high level of color accuracy. Once the MacBook kicks into HDR mode, you can expect over 1000 nits of brightness; a portable computer that actually works well in different lighting conditions.
Featuring a MagSafe charging port, two Thunderbolt ports, SDXC card slot, HDMI, and headphone jack, you won’t be left wanting more from the MacBook Pro 2023. Access your information fast with Apple’s Magic Keyboard and Touch ID, and enjoy crisp FaceTime videos thanks to the device’s 1080p HD camera.
The MacBook Pro 2023 is available with different specs, offering even more CPU and GPU cores, more memory, and plentiful storage.
2. Razer Blade 14
Best Gaming Laptop
Already sitting atop our list of the best gaming laptops, the Razer Blade 14 is an all-around stunner that can play the latest, most demanding games at the highest settings and resolutions with steady frame rates. That’s thanks to the combination of RTX 4070 graphics and the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS processor, and even when playing with that hardware, the battery manages to outlast most other gaming laptops, which is a boon considering the clunky charger you’d have to tote around otherwise.
The Razer Blade weighs around four pounds and is only 0.7 inches thick, similar to the MacBook Pro 14-inch. The 240Hz QHD+ display offers a 16:10 aspect ratio, and even if you opt for a model with less powerful internals, you still get that gorgeous screen. Rounding out this solid gaming laptop is a responsive keyboard with per-key RGB lighting, great-sounding speakers, a large trackpad, and ample ports.
Looking for discounts on Razer? Check out our guide to the Black Friday gaming laptop deals ahead of Black Friday 2023 sales.
3. Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro 360
Best 2-in-1 Laptop
When it comes to 2-in-1 laptops, Samsung created a device that continues to shine with each new iteration, the Galaxy Book3 Pro 360. With it comes a stunning and crisp AMOLED display offering a 120Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling. Being a convertible laptop, you can flip that screen around 360 degrees—hence the name—delivering a massive 16-inch tablet-like experience with S-Pen support perfect for taking notes or sketching.
The Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 packs in some impressive internals to power that screen and handle all your everyday computing needs. You get the latest 13th gen Intel Core i7 processor and 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM, ensuring a snappy performance even while multitasking. The battery life doesn’t disappoint either, lasting an entire day with average usage, all while the machine keeps a super thin form factor for ultimate portability.
4. Microsoft Surface Pro 9
Best Detachable Laptop
Microsoft continues to set the standard for detachable laptops with its Suface lineup, and the Surface Pro 9 is a shining example of just how portable and powerful these devices can be. Our favorite model delivers an ARM-based processor, the SQ3, to take advantage of 5G built-in, AI features for video calls, and a longer battery life—an impressive 19 hours.
The Surface Pro’s 13-inch ultra-crisp touchscreen rivals Apple in terms of color quality and touch accuracy, and it’s even rocking a 120Hz refresh rate for super smooth scrolling. If you’re looking to take this device on the go, it has a lightweight, sturdy chassis with two USB-C ports for peripherals. However, the Pro 9 doesn't include a keyboard, so you'll need to pick up the $180 Surface Pro Signature Keyboard.
5. Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook
Best Chromebook
Topping our list of the best Chromebooks, this under $400 2-in-1 device from Lenovo brings power, portability, and flexibility to the Chrome laptop category at a fantastic price. The IPS display is also a joy to look at thanks to its Full HD resolution and wide viewing angles.
This makes the Flex 5i ideal for both work and leisure, which is where Chromebooks shine the most: inexpensive laptops for basic work tasks and streaming video. Lenovo’s laptop does that, with relatively lots of power behind it, for about a work day before you’ll need to charge it again – not bad at all.
6. Apple MacBook Air 2020
Best MacBook for College
While Apple’s laptops are arguably prohibitively expensive, they’re also the highest-quality in the industry and can last for more than five years if cared for well. That’s why we find it safe to recommend the previous-generation $799 MacBook Air for most college students.
This 2020 model brings with it several major benefits of Apple’s first M1 processor, like longer battery life and stronger graphics power than most similarly-priced Intel laptops. With the student discount, this MacBook Air becomes hard to resist to pick up at the start of a college career, and it’s built to last throughout even after you graduate.
7. HP Pavilion Aero 13
Best Laptop for College
Available for less than most premium Windows laptops, like the Dell XPS 13, the under $800 Pavilion Aero 13 from HP offers similar power and features for a lot less – topping our best college laptops list. That should be music to students’ ears looking to save as much as possible without compromising on their essential equipment.
With enough power to handle most basic student workloads, the Pavilion Aero 13 also has enough storage for lots of projects and other files, which is rare at its price point. Throw in up to 10 hours of battery life, and you have an affordable, powerful college laptop that can last through each day of classes and then some.
8. Framework Laptop 13
Best Upgradable Laptop
Most laptops are only good for five or six years after you purchase them because they aren't terribly upgradable. PCs can be updated with new processors and graphics while adding more memory and storage is a cinch too – but none of these things are true for a laptop. Except for the Framework Laptop 13 that is.
The Framework Laptop 13 is an immensely upgradable laptop that makes replacing everything easy from the memory, storage, to even replacing the whole main logic board and display. All these components and the outer panels of the laptop are secured with just a few latches and screws, so upgradability is a cinch. You can also replace all the ports as they plug into the laptop with USB-C connections. Plus, while you're trading out all these parts you can add a bit of personalized flair with colorful keyboards and screen bezels.
9. Gigabyte Aero 16
Best Laptop for Video Editing
Looking for the best laptop for video editing? You'll need two things primarily: a super-sharp screen and a graphics processor to back it up. The pricey Gigabyte Aero 16 delivers both as well as plenty of memory, lots of storage, and a fast processor.
Of course, the Aero 16 is heftier than most laptops on this list, but it’s also the most powerful. This laptop would be just as ideal for gaming sessions between video edits with this spec sheet. Just don’t expect stellar battery life, which isn’t our primary concern here.
What to look for in a laptop
Before beginning to search for a laptop to buy, the most important thing to remember is that what you get is likely what you will be stuck with for several years. Laptops are not nearly as upgradeable as desktops, and generally are replaced rather than updated with new parts.
This includes all of the usual hardware specs, like display resolution, processor, memory, and graphics. However, it also includes the webcam, the keyboard, and the trackpad. These can be improved by accessories, but why spend extra money you don’t have to?
When it comes to more predictable hardware specs, we recommend at least 256GB of storage and 8GB of memory, or RAM. As for the processor and graphics, that depends on your specific needs. Gamers and multimedia editors are going to need the topmost, discrete hardware from Intel and Nvidia (or more rarely, AMD) combined, while most people could get away with a single processor running everything, as with MacBooks and most mainstream Windows laptops.
Laptop FAQ
Which brand is best for laptops?
When it comes to laptop brands, there isn’t one that truly rises above the rest. Instead, certain brands excel in certain areas. However, it’s usually best to go with a recognizable name.
HP, Dell, Lenovo, and Microsoft are known for making some exceptional options ideal for everyday use at school and work. Dell’s Ultrabooks are true standouts, while HP, Microsoft, and Lenovo have raised the bar with their 2-in-1 and detachable options. Just be sure to do your research before purchasing because it can be a hit or miss depending on the model you grab.
Apple’s MacBooks are consistently reliable and perfectly capable, with their Pro options ready to take on heavier tasks like video editing or 3D rendering. But MacBooks are not the best option for gaming, so you should look to brands like Razer, MSI, Asus, Acer, or the Dell-owned Alienware for beefy rigs ready to chew through graphically intensive games.
On the opposite end of the spectrum are Chromebooks that run on Chrome OS. Now these machines are more capable than ever before and can be used for various computer needs whether you’re at the office or in the classroom. Looking to Samsung, Lenovo, Asus, and Acer will be your best bet for purchasing Chromebooks.
Chromebook vs. laptop
These devices offer a similar price, performance, and form factor, so it may be hard to decipher their differences. To help you decide which option is best for you, we go over Chromebooks vs. laptops below:
The most notable difference between the two portables is their software. Chromebooks run on Chrome OS, which relies heavily on apps and the use of the Chrome browser for speedy and simple completion of tasks. You won’t find a ton of memory or storage on these devices because it relies so heavily on the web.
Many laptops run on Windows, so you know there’s endless app support–often locally stored—with the latest software and developments usually coming to this platform before any others. That versatility means a laptop often offers more RAM and storage for easier app installation and file storage.
You’ll often find inexpensive and mid-range models of both devices deliver similar performance, but high-end laptops can go far beyond what the top-of-the-line Chromebooks are capable of. You can pack in better processors—including discrete graphics—alongside more memory and storage for the beefy, powerful laptops, making them much better for gaming. It also helps Windows is the leading PC gaming platform. However, Chromebooks are a viable cloud gaming option.
In the end, it comes down to what you need. Chromebooks are ideal for more basic everyday tasks, while a laptop can be used as a true desktop replacement with better software support and more local storage.
Joe Osborne is a writer and editor with more than a decade of experience in games and tech media. You can find his work elsewhere at Insider, TechRadar, Laptop Magazine, Tom’s Guide, and more.
