The 8 best laptops for work, entertainment, and gaming are listed below

A high-quality laptop is essential for studying, working, and playing games on the go.

We’ve double-checked and triple-checked our holiday shopping picks to make sure they’re up to date and still available for purchase this season. Whether you prefer a Windows, a Mac, or a Chromebook, there is a solution to meet your needs. It is possible to find laptops that fit any budget, ranging from low-cost laptops that cost less than $500 to high-end laptops that cost more than $1000.

If you’re looking for a specific type of laptop, take a look at our guides to the best college laptops, the best Chromebooks, the best budget laptops, and the best MacBooks for more information.. We constantly test new models as they come in and will continue to update this guide regularly.

After a decade of covering technology, including laptops, we’ve tested and researched hundreds of laptops and 2-in-1 tablets in order to make reliable recommendations on the equipment that will work best for you.

Best laptop computer overall

The achieves an incredible balance between the most powerful mobile hardware available today housed in an attractive, thin, and light chassis at a reasonable high-end price while maintaining a thin and light chassis.

Pros: Attractive design, high-definition screen, long battery life, and cutting-edge hardware are some of the advantages.

Cons: The webcam should have a resolution of 1080p.

Dell’s flagship 13-inch laptop has been the best overall laptop for years, and that will continue to be the case in 2021. Why? For the majority of people, the Dell XPS provides the best balance of power, portability, and aesthetics.

The current generation is powered by Intel’s latest 11th-generation Core processors (CPUs), which provide improvements in terms of performance, graphics, and battery life over previous generations. For added convenience, Dell recently introduced an optional OLED display for the Dell XPS 13 laptop computer. This results in excellent contrast as well as more vibrant coloration. The OLED display produces stunning visuals for movies, photos, and games, though the standard LCD display is also impressive.

With a 1,920 x 1,200 resolution display, which we recommend, the non-4K LCD model can last for 14 hours and 11 minutes on a single charge, according to Dell’s estimates. But in my testing, I discovered that it only lasted for about six hours in real-world usage. The performance of the OLED model is comparable to the LCD model. While it may not live up to Dell’s claims, it is sufficient to get through the majority of a workday without the need to plug in.

Unfortunately, the webcam’s resolution is still only 720p, which is the same as the resolution found on almost any laptop. Video appears grainy, dull, and unappealing in appearance.

The ‘s base configuration starts at $969.99 and includes an Intel Core i3 processor from the 11th generation, a 13-inch non-touch display with a 1,920 x 1,200-pixel resolution, 8GB of memory (RAM), and a 256GB solid-state drive (SSD). When purchased through Dell, the top-of-the-line model features an Intel Core i7 processor, 32GB of RAM, a 2TB SSD, a platinum silver exterior design, and a 3,456 x 2,160 touchscreen OLED display for a total price of $2,069.99.

Best 13-inch laptop computer

The brings flagship performance, design, and features to a more affordable price point, while maintaining a premium look and feel.

Pros: A lot of power for the money, a handy webcam privacy shutter, and a battery that charges quickly.

Cons: Upgrades are expensive and can quickly add up.

is our pick for the best 13-inch laptop, combining high-end hardware with attractive design at a reasonable price — in some cases, it even outperforms our best overall pick, the Dell XPS 13 — while remaining affordable.

At its current price, you can get a laptop that is powered by Intel’s latest 11th-generation Core i5 processors for less than $700, making it an excellent value for money. A privacy shutter for the webcam and a dedicated microphone mute button are also included, which may be particularly useful for those who work from home on a regular basis. The , like other HP laptops, is equipped with Bang & Olufsen audio. Oh, and its battery can be recharged to 50 percent of its original capacity in just 30 minutes.

The cheapest model is surprisingly high-end, and it’s likely to be sufficient for the majority of people. $699.99 gets you the latest Intel Iris Xe graphics, a 13.3-inch touch screen display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB storage drive in addition to the latest Intel Iris graphics. You can upgrade to an Intel Core i7 processor with 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage for $1,139.99, which is a significant cost savings.

HP is charging $689.99 for this service.

Best MacBook

Apple’s M1 chip provides significant improvements in the performance, battery life, and camera quality of the while maintaining the same price, making it the best choice for Mac fans.

Pros: Excellent performance, extremely long battery life, and a significantly improved camera.

Cons: Some features of similarly priced Windows devices, such as facial recognition and a borderless screen, are missing from this device. Additionally, iPhone apps don’t add much value to the experience, and the device does not have touch screens.

With the introduction of Apple’s own chip, the Mac will finally have its own processor. Apple’s in-house processor, dubbed the M1, provides significant advantages over the previous MacBook Air, which was powered by Intel. These advantages include longer battery life, faster performance, and a fanless design that is extremely quiet.

Incredibly long battery life is provided by the new The M1-powered MacBook Air has a battery life of approximately 12 hours, which is a significant improvement over the Intel-powered model’s battery life of approximately seven hours. Other benefits of the M1-equipped MacBook Air include faster performance and longer battery life, as well as the ability to take advantage of Apple’s image signal processor, which results in images that are more clear and sharp.

Even though Apple’s M1 chip can also be found in the 13-inch MacBook Pro, the 13-inch MacBook Air is a better value because it is $300 less expensive and there are virtually no differences between the two models. The MSRP of this configuration is $999.00, but retailers frequently offer discounts that bring the price down to $899.00.

Apple laptops, on the other hand, lack some features that are available on some Windows devices. No touchscreen, no flexible 2-in-1 design, and no facial recognition login are included with this model.

Nonetheless, Apple’s M1 processor represents a significant step forward for the Mac and is highly competitive with the silicon that powers Windows laptops. It provides everything that the majority of shoppers require, and then some.

Best Chromebook

A fantastic keyboard and a long battery life round out the , which provides the ultimate Chromebook experience in the most affordable form available to date.

Pros: include an incredible keyboard, a long battery life, a 1080p webcam, and a reasonable display.

Cons: There is no biometric login option, and the upgrade options are expensive.

Our review of , the company’s follow-up to its original 2-in-1 Chromebook, found it to be the most comfortable and high-quality laptop of its kind we’ve ever used. With the Pixelbook Go, Google has created a more affordable version of the company’s previous flagship laptop.

However, while the does not have the 2-in-1 functionality of its predecessor, the clamshell laptop does have a 13.3-inch 1080p touchscreen. Nonetheless, what’s even more easy to appreciate is the enhancement to Google’s “Hush” keyboard, which was already one of the quietest and most comfortable laptop keyboards available at the time of writing. Another feature that you might find useful is the 1080p webcam, which is a feature that is almost unheard of in a laptop of this price range.

When you combine all of this with a battery life of up to 12 hours, such as that of the most recent , you have a powerful mobile companion. The Pixelbook Go’s magnesium construction also contributes to its lightweight and thin design, which measures just 0.5 inches thick and weighs just 2 pounds.

It will cost $649.00 to purchase the , which includes a fanless, dual-core 8th-generation Intel Core m3 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 64GB SSD in either “Just Black” or “Not Pink” color options. That’s more than enough to run Google’s lightweight Chrome OS, but it can be upgraded to a passively cooled 8th-generation Intel Core i7 processor, twice the amount of RAM, up to 256GB of SSD storage, and even a 4K display for a total of $1,399.00, which we don’t recommend unless you’re a die-hard Chrome OS fan.

What’s a Chromebook?

Best 15-inch laptop computer

The is a lightweight, yet powerful laptop that is capable of handling serious productivity tasks as well as the majority of 3D games.

Pros: Attractive design, strong performance, excellent display options, long battery life, and upgrades that enable 3D gaming are available.

Cons: Can be extremely hot and loud, and only a limited number of ports are available.

With its luxurious design and versatile functionality, the is an excellent choice for a wide range of shoppers. In terms of looks, the base model is a high-end laptop that is enjoyable to use for everyday tasks. When you add in the optional upgrades, the XPS 15 transforms into a beast with an eight-core processor, Nvidia RTX graphics, and up to 64GB of RAM. Photographic and video editing professionals can use it to create their work, as well as 3D gaming professionals.

Dell combines high performance with a variety of visually appealing display options. The standard 1,920 x 1,200 display is adequate, but you can upgrade to a 4K LCD touchscreen for even better sharpness if you so desire. Those looking for a higher-quality display can opt for the optional OLED touchscreen, which offers excellent contrast and vibrant color reproduction.

Despite having a 15.6-inch display, this laptop is still very portable. There are no visible bezels on the laptop, which helps to keep its size down, and the weight is under four pounds for the base model. Battery life varies from model to model, but is generally satisfactory. With discrete graphics, a high-end OLED model with long battery life can handle up to nine hours of web browsing or video streaming.

Power does, however, cause a problem: heat. In high-end configurations, the can become overheated and noisy. However, you can use the laptop in conjunction with a docking station to avoid feeling the heat. Dell has gone all-in on Thunderbolt 4/USB-C ports, completely abandoning the use of USB-A ports. Thankfully, a 3.5mm audio jack and an SD card reader have survived the purge.

The Dell XPS 15 starts at $1,299.99 and comes with an Intel Core i5 processor, a 1200p display, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB solid state drive as standard equipment. The most expensive configuration is $5,049.99, which includes an Intel Core i9 processor, an OLED touchscreen, 64GB of RAM, and an 8TB solid state drive.

Best budget laptop computer

In terms of specifications, the is competitively priced, with a flexible design that allows it to function as both a laptop and a tablet at a cost that is hundreds of dollars less than the $1,000 mark.

Pros: affordable price, excellent keyboard and trackpad, reasonable performance, and long battery life.

Cons: The fans can be quite loud, and the display is a little dim and lackluster.

The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 is a tough competitor for those looking for a reasonably priced but dependable laptop. Some sellers are offering this device for as little as $500, which includes a powerful processor from the last few years, a large touchscreen, and 128GB of storage.

It has an AMD Ryzen processor, a 1080p touchscreen, and 4GB of RAM, and it is currently available for less than $500 from some sellers, though it retails for $699. It is the 14-inch version of , which has a 14-inch screen and retails for $699.

Even though those aren’t the most cutting-edge specifications, they should be sufficient for anyone who spends the majority of their time on laptops browsing the web, writing emails, streaming Netflix, taking notes, and managing spreadsheets.

We also tested a different configuration that included an AMD Ryzen 5 processor and 16GB of RAM, as well as a fingerprint reader and digital stylus. Lenovo offers a wide range of configurations that are extremely cost-effective when compared to the alternatives.

Its comfortable keyboard, smooth trackpad, tablet modes, and long battery life are what really distinguish the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex, and these features are consistent regardless of which configuration you choose. Just be careful not to push it too far: if you have a lot of tabs open, the fans can become a little noisy.

Best 2-in-1 laptop computer

The is a 2-in-1 laptop that offers nearly everything you could want in a device of this type, but it stands out for its exceptional audio quality.

Pros: Excellent sound quality, sleek design, and a built-in stylus

Cons: Webcam is only 720p resolution, and ports are only on one side of the computer.

We previously recommended the Lenovo C940 as a budget-friendly option. The is the successor to that model, and it includes newer 11th-generation Intel processors, among other enhancements.

The laptop can be configured with an Intel Core i7 processor and up to 16GB of RAM, and it has a 14-inch touchscreen with a resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 or 3,840 x 2,160 pixels. It is available in two different colors: black and white. The base model, which currently sells for $1249.99, comes with a 1080p screen, 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and an Intel Core i5 processor from the 11th generation, among other features. According to Lenovo’s claims, the model with a 1080p display should be able to last for 9 hours on a single charge, which means it should be able to easily get through a full workday.

However, it is the ‘s rotating Dolby Atmos soundbar that truly distinguishes this laptop from the competition. As a result of its placement just below the display in a laptop’s hinge, the soundbar can pump out loud tunes regardless of whether the laptop is in clamshell, tent, or tablet mode. With impressively loud and vibrant sound for a laptop of its size, this is an especially good choice for those who frequently use their computer to watch movies or listen to music on a regular basis.

It’s also only slightly heavier than a MacBook Air, weighing in at 3.02 pounds. Aside from that, the keyboard is excellent, a stylus is included, and it comes with plenty of ports (one USB-A port, two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 support, and a headphone jack), making it a complete package for the majority of people who use laptops.

The disadvantages are the same as those we’ve encountered with other laptops that we adore. Because all of the ports are on the same side, the webcam only has a 720p resolution at a time when newer models are starting to upgrade to 1080p, which is a disappointment.

Best gaming laptop computer

When it comes to looks, feel, and design, the strikes the perfect balance between gaming and general performance while maintaining a premium feel.

Pros: Excellent display, plenty of power and storage, and a fantastic keyboard are all included.

Cons: Expensive, and the battery life isn’t the best.

In the world of gaming laptop design, Razer has long been the undisputed leader, and that hasn’t changed. The is a powerful laptop with a design that rivals even Apple’s MacBook Pro line. It comes at a high price, but it is backed up by high-quality hardware to justify the price.

Razer recently introduced a new version of the and 15 Advanced that incorporates Nvidia’s latest GeForce RTX 30 Series GPUs, providing a minor update to our favorite gaming notebook. It is also available in three different display options for the first time, including full HD at 360 frames per second, quad HD at 240 frames per second with Nvidia G-Sync, and ultra HD OLED at 60 frames per second.

Because of its excellent 1080p display, which can be configured to have a 144Hz refresh rate and support frame rates of up to 144 frames per second, and its alluring Chroma keyboard lighting, the older Razer Blade 15 was one of our favorite gaming laptops.

Overall, the Blade 15 is a good value for the money, despite its high price. Additionally, the keyboard on the Blade 15 is equally as effective for typing as it is for gaming, allowing the laptop to serve as a true all-in-one device for users who want to be able to work and learn on the same laptop that they use to play games in their spare time.

The cheapest base model of the new with Nvidia’s latest GPU, which starts at $1,699.99, went on sale on March 3 and is now shipping. It is equipped with an Intel Core i7 processor from the 10th generation, a full HD screen with a 144Hz refresh rate, Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 graphics, and a 512GB solid-state drive.

What else do we think of

The following laptops were considered for inclusion in this guide but were ultimately rejected. Nonetheless, if they meet a specific requirement within your shopping needs that has not been met by the other laptops on this list, they are worth considering.

Starting price for a is $1,299.00 or $2,499.00. Apple completely redesigned the entire MacBook Pro line to incorporate its proprietary Apple M1 silicon. Models with larger screens (14-inch and 16-inch) have faster M1 Pro or Max processors with additional processor and graphics cores, in addition to a Mini-LED display on the 14-inch model. They’re all fantastic, but for the majority of shoppers, the more affordable and portable MacBook Air is the better option.

($899.99 to start): This tablet computer from Microsoft costs $899.99 to start. The Surface Pro line of 2-in-1 Windows tablets has always been a design leader in the category, and this is no exception. Microsoft’s new Surface Pro 8 introduces a number of much-needed improvements, including new Intel processors and a thinner, more aesthetically pleasing body. Because of its small display and high price, it will continue to be a niche 2-in-1 device.

(15-inch AMD, $1,149.99 to start): This laptop is powered by AMD. We adored Microsoft’s Surface Laptop 4, which is powered by AMD and has a long battery life and a modern design. The updated model is available with either AMD’s newer 4000 series processors or Intel’s 11th-generation processors as a configuration option. It is both functional and visually appealing. However, its performance falls short of expectations, and it is unable to deliver the claimed battery life of up to 19 hours. It is more realistic to expect eight to ten hours.

Introducing the ($1,199.99 to begin with): Dell’s flagship 15-inch gaming laptop, which competes directly with the Razer Blade 15. It provides an innovative design, and its base configuration includes modern RTX 3050 Ti graphics hardware at an extremely competitive price, making it an excellent value. Despite this, it remains a somewhat bulky system, and we prefer the appearance of the Blade 15.

In addition to a standard OLED screen similar to those found on many of Samsung’s popular smartphones, the features Intel’s 11th-generation Core i7 processors and Samsung’s S Pen, making it a compelling option for business travelers. However, its performance is not particularly impressive, and the laptop’s design does not exude the same level of luxury as its competitors.

How to select a laptop computer

Here are the three most important factors to consider when shopping for the best laptop:

Operating system is a software program that allows you to run a program.

The operating system (OS) of a laptop is the graphical user interface through which you can access everything on the computer, from work applications to games and other programs. Windows 10 is the most widely used operating system in the world, and it can be found in hundreds of different laptops from manufacturers such as Acer, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and others. It is a highly adaptable operating system that is widely supported by third-party app developers. Apple’s macOS is only available on MacBooks and is the most compatible with the company’s other products, such as iPhones, but it is a popular and feature-rich operating system in and of itself. Finally, all Chromebooks are powered by Chrome OS, which is the most recent of the three operating systems. Chrome OS is a browser-centric operating system that operates primarily in the cloud (online), particularly through Google’s own suite of apps and services, such as Google Drive and Gmail.

Specs

Internal hardware that powers a laptop is known as its “specs.” These specifications will determine how effective your laptop is at performing various tasks. The processor (CPU) and memory (RAM) of a laptop have an impact on the raw power or speed of the laptop, as well as its multitasking capacity. The amount of space available for files on the laptop will be determined by the storage (hard disk drive or HDD, or solid-state drive or SSD). The graphics processor (GPU) determines how well a laptop performs when it comes to rendering video and 3D visuals for games. Many laptops, particularly those in the low-to-midrange price range, use what’s known as internal graphics, which share RAM with the CPU rather than a dedicated graphics processor. The pixel density of the laptop display determines the sharpness of the display, with 1080p (or Full HD) being the most commonly desired resolution.

In the end, all of these factors contribute to the battery life of the laptop, with eight hours being the bare minimum acceptable number — unless you’re looking at a gaming laptop.

Size

Another thing to consider is the overall size of the laptop computer. Even though a smaller laptop will be more portable in the long run, a larger laptop will have a larger display, which will be better for watching movies and performing photo editing as well as video production and gaming. In terms of size, the most common laptop sizes are 13 inches and 15 inches, though 11 inches and 17 inches are also available on occasion.

In addition to the technical specifications, you’ll want to consider the price.

This guide will show you how to get the best deals on laptops.

Every five years or so, you find yourself in the position of having to go laptop hunting once more. It’s everything but a necessity, which makes the upcoming Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping season all the more exciting. Recognize, on the other hand, that the global semiconductor shortage is impacting the availability of laptops. Having said that, we’re already seeing discounts on products like the latest Dell XPS 13 from the company’s own website, as well as $200 off the HP Envy 13t. Here are the best deals on the laptops we think you’ll like in 2021.