The spring is one of the finest times to shop for laptop deals outside of Black Friday. Many new 2022 laptops are currently in production, thus many 2021 models will be available at great discounts. Additionally, there are a lot of significant sales occasions around this time including graduations, Memorial Day, and Father’s Day.
Our computer and laptop experts at CNET have tested and reviewed laptops for decades, covering everything from performance to price to battery life. This expertly compiled list includes the greatest laptops in various price ranges, sizes, and designs, as well as Chromebooks and Windows laptops. (Microsoft released the full version of its Windows 11 operating system in October 2021; all of the Windows laptops on this list should fully support that new OS.)
We also have specialized lists you can look at if you want to see more laptop brands and options in a particular category. These lists include the best gaming laptops, best 15-inch laptops, best two-in-ones, best Chromebooks, best laptops for college students, best laptops for designers, and best MacBook Pro substitutes. Check out our best cheap laptop and best cheap gaming laptop recommendations if you need to keep the cost of a new laptop as low as possible.
Periodically, we add new models to this list of the top laptops that we’ve tested and reviewed. It’s a fantastic resource for learning about what’s offered. Jump to our laptop FAQ at the bottom of the list if you need help deciding which laptop or two-in-one is best for you.
Best MacBook Air
For individuals looking for a macOS laptop for routine daily usage, this is our go-to pick. In a November 2020 update, Apple’s in-house M1 processors took the place of Intel’s CPUs in the MacBook Air. Better performance and a battery life of up to 18 hours are provided by the M1. One of the first Apple laptops to use the M1 CPUs was the Air. Since then, Apple has been busy incorporating them into updates for its other laptops and desktops, leaving the Air alone. A new Air is anticipated this year, although there is no specific release date as of yet.
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Dell XPS 13
For its size, weight, performance, and all-around nice aesthetics, the Dell XPS 13 is a steadfast favorite. Dell reduced the size of the laptop even further in 2020, while also enlarging the screen and enhancing CPU and graphics performance. This Dell XPS is still the finest in its class despite the little improvement. The XPS 13 from Dell and the XPS 13 2-in-1 from the same firm (both excellent choices) are both available with the chipmaker’s 11th-generation Core processors, with Intel Core i3, Core i5, and Core i7 possibilities. A 256GB SSD and 8GB of memory are the lowest-priced solid-state storage and memory choices available with this Dell.
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Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 7
Lenovo introduced the Yoga line with Windows 8 ten years ago, and with Windows 11, the design’s flexibility has only increased. The company’s flagship 14-inch Yoga 9i Gen 7 sports a new design with softened corners for comfort and processors from the 12th generation of Intel, which significantly improves multicore performance. It is fantastic for work, video conferences, and pleasure thanks to a lovely OLED display and better audio. For the premium bundle, Lenovo also provides an active pen and a laptop sleeve.
When the powerful speakers are turned up, the palm rests are slightly vibrated, and Lenovo clogged the laptop with advertisements for add-on services and applications. Overall though, the two-in-one convertible laptop to beat is the most recent Yoga 9i. Unfortunately, its availability is limited at the moment so you might have to wait to buy one.
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Samsung Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360
Although the newest big-screen two-in-one from Samsung doesn’t appear all that different from its predecessor, it has a new, 12th-generation Intel processor inside that significantly improves multicore performance. The Pro 360 now ranks among the greatest two-in-ones on the market thanks to the additional, modest changes Samsung made to the device.
Read our Samsung Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 review.
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Acer Chromebook Spin 713
Need to work on spreadsheets or documents but your widescreen display is too small? The overview display of the 13.5-inch Acer Chromebook Spin 713 has a resolution of 2,256×1,504 pixels and a 3:2 aspect ratio. It is one of Acer’s brightest displays. As the name suggests, it gives you extra vertical workspace, but it is still 13.3 inches wide and has a 16:9 aspect ratio. You can do more in a day with this Chrome OS laptop thanks to those two factors and its battery life, which lasted nearly 13 hours in our tests. It’s still small and light enough to bring about every day.
You’ll have the finest mobile experience with this model since the most recent Chromebook is the first to receive Intel’s Evo certification. Additionally, it’s the first to offer Thunderbolt 4, which enables networking and fast data speeds as well as the ability to connect to numerous external monitors.
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HP Pavilion Aero 13
HP crammed a lot of value into the Aero 13: a gorgeous magnesium-aluminum body, potent processing power, lengthy battery life, a brilliant, colorful display, and a weight of just 2 pounds (0.94 kilograms). Amazingly, despite having so many features, it normally starts at $800 but is currently $740.
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Acer Swift 3
Thanks to the newly released AMD Ryzen 5 and Ryzen 7 processors, a great bargain for straightforward tasks like word processing, email, and more. This inexpensive laptop also boasts a USB Type-C port, a fingerprint reader, and a backlit keyboard. For a device that costs less than $700, the Acer Swift 3 is also an impressively lightweight laptop, weighing less than 3 pounds.
We also like the Acer Aspire 5, which has a larger 15.6-inch display, in addition to the Acer Swift. If you want entry-level discrete graphics for simple gaming and content creation, the Acer Aspire 5 can cost up to $690 in a range of configurations starting at $400.
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Apple MacBook Pro (2021, 16-inch)
New Apple silicon, a new screen, a fresh look, and all the ports we’ve been requesting: The most advanced MacBook Pro model to date is the 16-inch Apple model. The bigger MacBook Pro’s hardware and MacOS work together to get the most performance and battery life out of each component. The new high-resolution mini-LED display is stunning. You’ll also find here amenities like an HDMI output and an SD card reader if those were on your list of must-haves.
But you have to pay for it: This high-end laptop’s starting price for the 16-inch variant is $2,499.
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While there are many 15.6-inch laptops available, 16-inch laptops like the Dell Inspiron 16 Plus are somewhat uncommon. Since the laptop is only slightly larger than a 15.6-inch model, the 16-inch display is a great size, giving you more workspace as well as a larger keyboard and touchpad. Dell incorporated performance components into this Inspiron, such as Nvidia discrete graphics (although Intel integrated graphics are almost half the price), and the display covers 100% sRGB and 81% AdobeRGB color gamuts, which is sufficient if you’re just starting to create web content. Also, the laptop has a more superior fit and finish than we’re used to seeing in the Inspiron range.
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Microsoft Surface Pro 8
The Surface Pro continues to hit all the right notes if you’re seeking for a versatile Windows tablet that also functions as a Windows laptop, even though it is not the Surface Laptop. For the Surface Pro 8, which features a bigger 13-inch display, 11th-generation Intel Core CPUs, and two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C connectors, Microsoft recently redesigned it. The Surface Pro 7 is still available at a discount for the time being, and an updated model called the Surface Pro 7 Plus will continue to be offered. As a result, you may still have the traditional Pro design with modern CPUs.
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Lenovo Yoga 7i (14-inch)
This lightweight, 3-pound convertible, which is often less than $800, is a good option for anyone who needs a laptop for work or education. It includes a comfortable keyboard and a quick, smooth precision touchpad, and the all-metal chassis gives it a high-end look and feel. Despite having less extra features than its more expensive linemate, the Yoga 9i, it does sport one of Lenovo’s sliding webcam shutters that provides privacy when needed. Additionally, the battery life is quite good.
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Razer Blade 14
This lightweight, 3-pound convertible, which is often less than $800, is a good option for anyone who needs a laptop for work or education. It includes a comfortable keyboard and a quick, smooth precision touchpad, and the all-metal chassis gives it a high-end look and feel. Despite having less extra features than its more expensive linemate, the Yoga 9i, it does sport one of Lenovo’s sliding webcam shutters that provides privacy when needed. Additionally, the battery life is quite good.
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Dell G15
Dell reduced the number of models in its G-series gaming laptops from three to just one, and it was a good decision. There is simply one chassis available with a number of configurations with up to an 11th-gen Intel processor or AMD Ryzen 5000 H-series processor, so there is no need to decipher the different feature and quality variations between them. Also available right now are updated versions with 12th-generation Intel processors. A 6GB Nvidia RTX 3060, 8GB, or 16GB of memory, as well as up to 1TB of storage, can be used with any of the processors. They are essentially more affordable laptop-friendly variations of its Alienware models, yet they can still run the newest AAA games. Prices are unpredictable due to challenges with availability, however, they typically start below $1,000.
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The best gaming laptop for impressing at work
Go large if you want to achieve the finest. Although there are quicker 17-inch models, I have a limit of two enormous power bricks. With an Intel Core i7 processor and Nvidia GeForce RTX 30-series graphics, the Blade Pro is quick and offers strong gaming performance without sacrificing its slim design. While I advise creators to purchase the Blade Pro laptop with the 4K display option, gamers will want to purchase the display with the 360Hz refresh rate that Razer offers for this particular model.
Laptop FAQs
How much does a good laptop cost?
An excellent place to start when looking for the finest laptop for yourself is to set a budget. The good news is that you can purchase a stylish, lightweight laptop with long battery life for less than $500. Check out our top options below, along with more detailed buying recommendations, if you’re looking to buy a laptop for $500 or less.
Laptops costing between $500 and $1,000 now have higher-end components like AMD Ryzen and Intel Core i-series processors, as well as premium design elements like thin display bezels and aluminum or magnesium castings. There are also touchscreens and hybrid devices that can be used in a variety of positions, such as a tablet and a laptop. You can also obtain faster memory and more SSD storage at this price range, which will boost performance.
Where can I find high-end laptops and two-in-ones? Above $1,000. Expect to spend at least $1,000 if you want the quickest performance, the longest battery life, the slimmest, lightest designs, and the finest possible display quality with a sizable screen.
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