Laptops: Buying Advice, Tips, and News
Looking for a new laptop? Start here. Whether you want a simple everyday machine, a thin-and-light for travel, or a powerhouse for gaming and creative work, the options can get overwhelming fast. Our expert buying advice will help you zoom in on the perfect PC. Every laptop we recommend goes through rigorous testing in PC Labs, with real benchmarks, hands-on evaluations, and side-by-side comparisons.
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Our Ultimate Laptop Buying GuideWhether you want a simple budget PC, a productivity workhorse, or a screamer of a gaming notebook, our experts have done the heavy lifting to help you find the right laptop for the job.
By Brian Westover
Our Current Top Tested Picks
HP OmniBook 5 14
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
HP's 14-inch OmniBook 5 AI PC laptop is a thin, lightweight, and affordable battery-life champ, lasting more than 34 hours on a charge.
Full HP OmniBook 5 14 ReviewPros
- Field-leading battery life
- Aggressively priced, and speedy enough for the cost
- Vivid OLED display
- Ultra-thin, light design
Cons
- Plastic keyboard deck could use stiffening
- Ho-hum graphics performance
Pros
- Field-leading battery life
- Aggressively priced, and speedy enough for the cost
- Vivid OLED display
- Ultra-thin, light design
Cons
- Plastic keyboard deck could use stiffening
- Ho-hum graphics performance
Dell XPS 14 (2026)
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
Dell’s revived XPS 14 ultraportable laptop dazzles with sublime build quality, a crisp and colorful OLED screen, and fiery productivity and graphics performance. XPS is back and ready to tussle with the top laptops of 2026.
Full Dell XPS 14 (2026) ReviewPros
- Vivid OLED screen
- Potent flagship Intel chip
- Class-leading battery life
- Premium metal build
- Standout 4K webcam and high-fidelity speakers
- Warranty includes a year of onsite coverage
Cons
- Pricey configurations
- All ports are Thunderbolt/USB Type-C
Pros
- Vivid OLED screen
- Potent flagship Intel chip
- Class-leading battery life
- Premium metal build
- Standout 4K webcam and high-fidelity speakers
- Warranty includes a year of onsite coverage
Cons
- Pricey configurations
- All ports are Thunderbolt/USB Type-C
Apple MacBook Air 13-Inch (2026, M5)
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
Apple's 2026 MacBook Air is largely unchanged on the outside, but its exceptional build pairs up with an even faster M5 chip and a major storage upgrade to secure its spot as a top-value ultraportable.
Full Apple MacBook Air 13-Inch (2026, M5) ReviewPros
- M5 CPU whizzes through productivity and graphics tasks
- Still a standout thin, all-metal design
- Boosted SSD speed and capacity justifies bump up in starting price
- Quiet, fanless performance
Cons
- Battery life down a bit versus M4 model, but still competitive
- No external design changes
- Display still lacks OLED option
Pros
- M5 CPU whizzes through productivity and graphics tasks
- Still a standout thin, all-metal design
- Boosted SSD speed and capacity justifies bump up in starting price
- Quiet, fanless performance
Cons
- Battery life down a bit versus M4 model, but still competitive
- No external design changes
- Display still lacks OLED option
Apple MacBook Neo
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
Apple's MacBook Neo rewrites the budget laptop playbook, with a higher-end build, a more advanced screen, longer battery life, and faster speeds than many laptops in its price range.
Full Apple MacBook Neo ReviewPros
- Excellent speeds for basic computing
- Impressive graphics performance
- Sharper, more colorful display than almost any budget laptop
- Premium, rigid aluminum build
- Surprisingly low price for the package
Cons
- Limited selection of physical ports
- One USB port is USB 2.0
- No keyboard backlighting
Pros
- Excellent speeds for basic computing
- Impressive graphics performance
- Sharper, more colorful display than almost any budget laptop
- Premium, rigid aluminum build
- Surprisingly low price for the package
Cons
- Limited selection of physical ports
- One USB port is USB 2.0
- No keyboard backlighting
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14 Aura Edition
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14 Aura Edition evolves the class-leading business laptop with an accessible, repairable internal redesign and even longer battery life.
Full Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14 Aura Edition ReviewPros
- Best-in-class portable build
- Clever “Space Frame” design pushes user repairability forward
- Beautiful 2.8K OLED display option
- Longer battery life
- Potent connectivity and feature support
Cons
- Panther Lake brings minimal boost
- Small SSDs for their prices
Pros
- Best-in-class portable build
- Clever “Space Frame” design pushes user repairability forward
- Beautiful 2.8K OLED display option
- Longer battery life
- Potent connectivity and feature support
Cons
- Panther Lake brings minimal boost
- Small SSDs for their prices
Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
Acer added Intel Core Ultra processing to the Chromebook Plus Spin 714, unlocking new Gemini-powered, on-device AI functions, transforming our favorite Chromebook into a class leader.
Full Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 ReviewPros
- New AI features supercharge ChromeOS
- 12 months free Google One with Gemini Advanced
- Versatile, durable 2-in-1 design
- Intel Core Ultra processing and on-device AI
- Excellent battery life
- Clear, colorful touch screen
Cons
- Pen not included
- ChromeOS still has quirks
Pros
- New AI features supercharge ChromeOS
- 12 months free Google One with Gemini Advanced
- Versatile, durable 2-in-1 design
- Intel Core Ultra processing and on-device AI
- Excellent battery life
- Clear, colorful touch screen
Cons
- Pen not included
- ChromeOS still has quirks
MSI Raider 18 HX AI
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
MSI’s Raider 18 HX AI is a dominant high-end gaming laptop, propelled by a tip-top Core Ultra 9 HX CPU, a fierce GeForce RTX 5080 GPU, and a robust (if noisy) cooling system.
Full MSI Raider 18 HX AI ReviewPros
- Exceptional performance
- Dazzling mini-LED screen
- Potent audio
- Decent battery life
Cons
- Mostly plastic chassis
- Loud fans
- So-so keyboard
Pros
- Exceptional performance
- Dazzling mini-LED screen
- Potent audio
- Decent battery life
Cons
- Mostly plastic chassis
- Loud fans
- So-so keyboard
MSI Katana 15 HX
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
Powered by Nvidia’s entry-level GeForce RTX 5050, MSI's Katana 15 HX delivers smooth 60fps gaming with or without DLSS 4. Despite a few compromises, it's a winning recipe for budget gamers.
Full MSI Katana 15 HX ReviewPros
- Capable everyday productivity performance
- RTX 5050 stands up to demanding games with DLSS 4
- Comfortable keyboard with RGB lighting
- Varied connectivity
Cons
- Just 512GB storage is tight for modern gaming
- Dim display
- Chunky for a 15-inch laptop
Pros
- Capable everyday productivity performance
- RTX 5050 stands up to demanding games with DLSS 4
- Comfortable keyboard with RGB lighting
- Varied connectivity
Cons
- Just 512GB storage is tight for modern gaming
- Dim display
- Chunky for a 15-inch laptop
Framework Laptop 16 (2025)
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
With AMD’s powerful Ryzen AI 9 processor, Nvidia’s RTX 5070 GPU, and a design built for easy upgrades, the Framework Laptop 16 stands alone as the most versatile and future-proof desktop replacement laptop you can buy.
Full Framework Laptop 16 (2025) ReviewPros
- Powerful, removable RTX 5070 GPU
- Modular, customizable design
- Helpful DIY and upgrade guides
- Unparalleled connectivity
Cons
- Middling battery life
- DIY edition and upgrades could overwhelm the average user
Pros
- Powerful, removable RTX 5070 GPU
- Modular, customizable design
- Helpful DIY and upgrade guides
- Unparalleled connectivity
Cons
- Middling battery life
- DIY edition and upgrades could overwhelm the average user
LG Gram Pro 2-in-1 16 (2025)
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
In the Gram Pro 2-in-1 16, LG combines a dazzling OLED display, long battery life, and a feathery metal build to produce an ultra-appealing, ultraportable 16-inch convertible.
Full LG Gram Pro 2-in-1 16 (2025) ReviewPros
- Super-slim magnesium chassis
- Vivid OLED screen
- Lengthy battery life
- Decent port selection
- Stylus included
Cons
- Pricey
- No dedicated GPU available
Pros
- Super-slim magnesium chassis
- Vivid OLED screen
- Lengthy battery life
- Decent port selection
- Stylus included
Cons
- Pricey
- No dedicated GPU available
Asus ProArt PZ13
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
We wish it included a stylus pen alongside its keyboard, but Asus' ProArt PZ13 should top the list of anyone looking for a Windows 11 detachable 2-in-1.
Full Asus ProArt PZ13 ReviewPros
- Gorgeous OLED touch screen
- Kickstand cover and above-average keyboard included
- Dual high-quality cameras
- SD card slot
- Affordable price
Cons
- Pen not included
- Scanty port selection and no headphone jack
- Arm software compatibility concerns
- No WWAN option
Pros
- Gorgeous OLED touch screen
- Kickstand cover and above-average keyboard included
- Dual high-quality cameras
- SD card slot
- Affordable price
Cons
- Pen not included
- Scanty port selection and no headphone jack
- Arm software compatibility concerns
- No WWAN option
Dell Pro Max 18 Plus
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
Dell’s massive Pro Max 18 Plus mobile workstation provides unmatched performance and expansion, delivering tower-like power in mobile form with a dazzler of a display and room for gobs of memory and storage inside.
Full Dell Pro Max 18 Plus ReviewPros
- Ultra performance
- Top-end build quality
- Vivid display
- Supports 256GB RAM, four storage drives
- Excellent connectivity and security
Cons
- Pricey
- No 4K or OLED screen options
- Short battery life
Pros
- Ultra performance
- Top-end build quality
- Vivid display
- Supports 256GB RAM, four storage drives
- Excellent connectivity and security
Cons
- Pricey
- No 4K or OLED screen options
- Short battery life
Apple MacBook Pro 14-Inch (2025, M5)
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
The 2025 MacBook Pro 14-Inch looks identical to its predecessor, but the M5 chip delivers vastly amped-up AI and graphics muscle, vaulting Apple's "basic" power MacBook into a new class of mighty machine.
Full Apple MacBook Pro 14-Inch (2025, M5) ReviewPros
- M5 is a monster CPU and GPU upgrade
- AI boosted with GPU Neural Accelerators
- Same price as 2024 model
Cons
- No changes to outer design
- Connectivity stuck at Wi-Fi 6E, Thunderbolt 4
Pros
- M5 is a monster CPU and GPU upgrade
- AI boosted with GPU Neural Accelerators
- Same price as 2024 model
Cons
- No changes to outer design
- Connectivity stuck at Wi-Fi 6E, Thunderbolt 4
MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
An absolute battery-life monster, MSI's Prestige 14 Flip AI+ is a top-notch 2-in-1 laptop with lots of ports, an included stylus, and a powerful, efficient Intel "Panther Lake" processor.
Full MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ ReviewPros
- Record-setting battery life in rundown testing
- Speedy overall performance for a compact 2-in-1
- Generous mix of ports for its size
- Nano Pen stylus with in-chassis storage
Cons
- Dim display (even for an OLED)
- Can run hot under heavy processor load
- So-so webcam quality
Pros
- Record-setting battery life in rundown testing
- Speedy overall performance for a compact 2-in-1
- Generous mix of ports for its size
- Nano Pen stylus with in-chassis storage
Cons
- Dim display (even for an OLED)
- Can run hot under heavy processor load
- So-so webcam quality
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Whether you want a simple budget PC, a productivity workhorse, or a screamer of a gaming notebook, our experts have done the heavy lifting to help you find the right laptop for the job.
