The best laptops of 2023

Updated March 29, 2023

PCs are the center of business and play for most of us. Our PC experts at Reviewed are always on the lookout for the best laptops for everyone, from gamers to students to frequent flyers. We work hard to make sure you find a laptop you love on this list.

Most people need to look no further than the base version of the Apple MacBook Pro 14 M2 Pro
(available at Apple)

. It’s not as thin as the MacBook Air, but it’s still light, crushes many Windows laptops in benchmarks and real-world performance, and has the longest battery life we’ve seen in a laptop: 24 hours.

• Processor: Apple M2 Pro (10-core)
• Graphics: Integrated (16-core)
• Memory: 8GB to 96GB
• Storage size: 256GB to 8TB
• Display: 14-inch, 3024 x 1964, Liquid Retina XDR
• Battery life: 24+ hours

Apple’s MacBook Pro 14 M2 Pro is a master-of-all-trades. It’s fast, extremely portable, packs an awesome display in a slim profile—and can reach an incredible 24 hours and 12 minutes of battery life, the longest of any laptop we’ve tested.

It out-performs most laptops with a 12th-gen Intel or AMD Ryzen chip, achieves extreme brightness levels in HDR content thanks to Apple’s mini-LED, Liquid Retina XDR display, and even offers more hardware upgrades than most Windows laptops of similar size.

The MacBook Pro 14 M2 Pro’s $2,000 price tag is high, though. There’s no technical reason why Apple can’t produce this laptop with the standard M2 chip at a lower price, and there’s an uncomfortable gap between the Pro 14 and the Pro 13, which starts at $1,300. Windows alternatives like the Dell XPS 15, Asus Vivobook Pro 14, and HP Spectre x360 16 are compelling alternatives at lower prices. But they can’t beat Apple in battery life and struggle to deliver the same performance across both CPU and GPU without inflating weight or size.

Pros

• Class-leading battery life

• Excellent processor performance

• Superb HDR display

Cons

• Unimpressive game performance

• Keyboard needs an update

• Not the best value for money

• Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 5800U
• Graphics: Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti
• Memory: 16GB
• Storage: 512GB
• Display: 14-inch, 1920 x 1080p, IPS
• Battery life: 9+ hours

Acer’s Swift X is an outstanding option for those who prioritize speed and price over extra features and looks. That doesn’t mean it’s not a nice-looking laptop, just that it comes with a standard 1080p IPS display, 720p webcam, and an okay amount of storage if you plan on gaming occasionally with the Swift X.

One of the features of this laptop we liked the most is the battery life, which topped out at nine hours and 25 minutes in our battery test. This is, in part, due to the laptop automatically switching to its integrated graphics when you perform light tasks like browsing Twitter or sending an email. The discrete graphics card kicks in when you perform intensive tasks, like gaming or encoding a long 4K video.

Speaking of gaming, the Swift X falls in the same price range as budget-minded gaming laptops, but the graphics card power draw is capped, so it won’t perform as fast as an actual gaming laptop. But you can hit 60 fps in most high-fidelity games if you tweak the in-game graphics settings just right.

Our biggest complaints about the Swift X have to do with its aesthetics and fan noise. It looks like a budget laptop thanks to the mismatched color tones on the chassis and keyboard, and the fan is too loud even when the laptop is idling. However, for a $1,000 laptop, there are going to be some lackluster features, and at least Acer decided to make those cuts to areas that don’t matter as much as performance. It’s still a value-filled, multipurpose laptop for everything else it offers.

Want more options? Check out our guide for the Best Laptops Under $1,000.

Pros

• Great multi-core performance

• Strong GPU performance

• USB-C with DisplayPort and Power Delivery

Cons

• Lackluster design and display

• Nearly constant fan noise

• Processor: Intel Core i7-1255U
• Graphics: Intel Iris Xe (Integrated)
• Memory: 16GB
• Storage Size: 512GB
• Display: 13.5-inch, 3000 x 2000, OLED
• Battery Life: 7.5+ hours

The HP Spectre x360 14 is a 2-in-1 laptop that nails just about everything, which makes it perfect for students. As a laptop, its springy keyboard and large trackpad make it a perfect choice for writing essays. As a tablet, its 3000 x 2000 touchscreen display and pressure-sensitive stylus offer a sublime note-taking and drawing experience. In either mode, the powerful-yet-efficient processor can run any major productivity task without getting hot.

The Spectre x360’s vibrant display covers the whole P3 color gamut, and its speakers sound better than a MacBook’s speakers. The sub-three-pound weight and the plentitude of USB-C and USB-A ports also make it a cinch to travel with. It has an almost eight-hour battery life, but this efficiency does affect the performance of the laptop compared to other major 2-in-1s.

However, this laptop’s Intel Core i7-1255U processor is about as fast as an M1 MacBook, which is fast enough to comfortably run Photoshop or Lightroom, but something like film editing or 3D modeling will feel strained. Still, the HP Spectre x360 14 is worth it. The display, ergonomics, and stylus provide an iPad-like experience and, when used as a laptop, it’s among the best 2-in-1 laptops out there right now.

Want more options? Check out our guide for the Best Laptops for Students and Best 2-in-1 Laptops.

Pros

• Excellent stylus included

• Responsive touchscreen display

• Comfortable keyboard and trackpad

Cons

• OK battery life

• Performance could be better

• Processor: AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS
• Graphics: AMD Radeon RX 6800S
• Memory: 32GB DDR5 4800MHz
• Storage: 1TB SSD
• Display: 14-inch, 2560 x 1600, 120Hz LED
• Battery life: 8.5+ hours

The all-AMD 2022 refresh of the ROG Zephyrus G14 is a marvel. Not only is it a powerful gaming laptop that can play recent big-name game releases, but it also has the essentials of a great ultrabook: a comfortable keyboard, a huge smooth trackpad, a brilliant 120Hz WQHD display, a small body, and nearly nine hours of battery life. When it’s time to relax, the powerful Ryzen 9 processor and Radeon RX 6800S graphics card can kick into high gear and pump out up to 120 frames per second in games like Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Far Cry 5.

The premium metal chassis brings a lot of style to the machine. The multitude of ports puts the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 comfortably at home in conferences and impromptu presentations, as well. You get HDMI 2.0b, a microSD card reader, two USB-C ports, and two USB-A ports.

Compared to similar laptops, the Zephyrus G14 fares well performance and value-wise. It’s not cheap, but you might be able to find it on sale for close to $1,000. It’s a fantastic machine for those who need a laptop that can do it all.

Want more options? Check out our guide for the Best Gaming Laptops

Pros

• Excellent battery life

• Fantastic performance

• Sleek form factor

Cons

• Limited configuration options

• 720p webcam

• Processor: Intel Core i5-1235U
• Graphics: Intel Iris Xe (Integrated)
• Memory: 8GB DDR4
• Storage: 256GB SSD
• Display: 16-inch 2560 x 1600p 120Hz IPS
• Battery life: 12+ hours

There isn’t a lot that makes the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Gaming Chromebook a “gaming” Chromebook, but it’s a reasonably-priced knockout of a laptop. It has an RGB-backlit keyboard with 100% anti-ghosting keys and a 120Hz IPS display, both hallmarks of budget and entry-level gaming laptops. You’re limited to playing browser games and mobile games because it runs ChromeOS and doesn’t have the hardware chops to run anything more demanding—but it does have Wi-Fi 6E, the best wireless standard for cloud gaming.

If you also have a Wi-Fi 6E internet router and a 50Mbps or faster download speed, gaming on Lenovo’s IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook will feel like an actual gaming laptop. That’s where the 120Hz display comes in; those with a top-tier Nvidia GeForce Now subscription can stream games up to 120 fps. You can also use Xbox Cloud Gaming, Luna, Utomik, and other cloud gaming platforms compatible with ChromeOS, but only GeForce Now can stream games at 120 fps—and it’s the only one that supports ray tracing, too. Too much of the gaming experience is dictated by factors beyond the device itself.

You can go with a “non-gaming” Chromebook and still have a good cloud gaming experience. However, the IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook whips for everyday tasks thanks to its Intel Core i5-1235U processor and integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics—one of the fastest Chromebooks we’ve ever tested, especially for the price.

Want more options? Check out our guide for the Best Chromebooks.

Pros

• Excellent 120Hz display

• Snappy processor

• Lots of useful ports

Cons

• Middling graphics performance

• Limited native game compatibility

Other Laptops We Tested

Pros

• Speedy Intel H processor

• Gorgeous OLED display

Cons

• Design quirks

• Sad audio

• So-so battery life

• Processor: Intel Core i7-1360P
• Graphics: Nvidia RTX 3050
• Memory: 16GB – 32GB
• Storage size: 1TB SSD
• Display: 17-inch 2560 x 1600 60Hz with VRR IPS LCD
• Battery life: 14+ hours

The LG Gram 17 is a powerful, lightweight laptop with an Intel Core i7-1360P processor and Nvidia RTX 3050 graphics. This combination doesn’t excel in any particular task, but it delivers good results in day-to-day productivity, content creation, and gaming. The laptop also boasts a quick and spacious 1TB SSD and up to 14 hours of battery life.

The headline feature is its massive 17-inch, 16:10 aspect ratio display. The display boasts a maximum brightness of 524 nits and vivid color. LG also opts for a matte display coat that reduces glare, making the laptop easier to use in brightly lit rooms, near windows, and outdoors. The display’s contrast ratio of 1560:1 falls short of alternative laptops with OLED display technology, but some will find this an acceptable trade-off for the LG’s higher maximum brightness and anti-glare display finish.

The Gram 17 is extraordinarily light for its size, tipping the scales at a mere 3.2 pounds. That’s on par with many laptops that have a 14-inch display. The lack of bulk makes the laptop feel a bit flimsy, and the keyboard and touchpad lack the premium feel of competitors like the MacBook Pro 16 and Dell XPS 17. Still, those who want a laptop that’s large and suitable for travel will find the Gram 17 a uniquely excellent choice.

Pricing for all of that is why the Gram 17is on this list; an Intel Core i7 processor, 1TB SSD, and Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti mobile graphics all come standard, improving the laptop’s value compared to alternatives that ship with less impressive entry-level configurations. Top-tier variants of the MacBook Pro 16 and Dell XPS 17 will certainly out-muscle the Gram 17, but they’re much more expensive. The LG Gram 17 is a more practical choice.

Pros

• Fast processor and SSD

• Large and bright display

• Long battery life

Cons

• A touch too light

• Could use some more ports

Pros

• Large, bright display

• Gorgeous design

• Great performance

Cons

• No upgrade path

• No Gold model

• Worse SSD performance

• Processor: Intel Core i7-1260P
• Graphics: Intel Iris Xe (integrated)
• Memory: 16GB DDR5
• Storage: 1TB
• Display: 13.3-inch, 3456 x 2160, OLED touchscreen
• Battery life: ~7 hours

The Lenovo Yoga 9i is one of the fastest, most versatile laptops available for serious productivity tasks. Photo editing is particularly a treat, as its 16:10 ratio 4K monitor covers over 90% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and can get to about 375 nits of brightness.

Photo editing is particularly a treat, as its 16:10 ratio 4K monitor covers over 90% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and can get to about 375 nits of brightness. For professional film editing or 3D modeling and rendering work, the Yoga 9i can get the job done, but it won’t get it done quickly.

But, compared to the competition, the Yoga 9i usually sells for hundreds of dollars less than similar laptops and makes almost no compromises to do so. Its stylish and ergonomic form factor, gorgeous touchscreen display, and efficient processor earn it a high spot among our favorite 2-in-1 laptops.

Pros

• Breathtaking 4K display

• Excellent stylus and tablet experience

• Snappy performance

Cons

• Mediocre battery life

• Touchpad is too sensitive

• Processor: Apple M1 Pro (8-core)
• Graphics: Integrated (14-Core)
• Memory: 16GB
• Storage Size: 512GB
• Display: 14.1-inch, 3024 x 1964, Liquid Retina XDR
• Battery Life: 10+ hours

The Apple MacBook Pro 14 M1 Pro is geared toward a niche crowd, anyone who does light to moderate photo or video editing work on a regular basis; in our GPU 3D rendering tests, the MacBook Pro was minutes faster than high-end AMD and Intel mobile chips of the same generation.

But casual gamers will appreciate its integrated graphics chip, too. Its gaming performance is equivalent to an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 laptop GPU, which cranks out around an average of 42-44 fps with the graphics preset set to the highest setting at 1080p. So, powerful enough to handle fairly demanding video games like Shadow of the Tomb Raider, especially if you turn the graphics preset down a notch.

The MacBook Pro 14 M1 Pro has a long battery life to boot, nearly ten and a half hours, and there are a lot of connectivity ports: three USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports, an HDMI port, an SD card reader, a headphone jack, and even a MagSafe charging port.

Pros

• Incredible GPU performance

• Lower power consumption

• Variety of ports

Cons

• Minimal gains over M1 chip

• Rough trackpad

• So-so speakers

How We Tested Laptops

The Testers

Joanna Nelius is one of Reviewed’s tech team senior editors. She’s been reviewing gaming products and laptops for the last several years, having written for PC Gamer, Maximum PC, and Gizmodo in the past. In addition to gaming desktops and laptops, she also specializes in CPU and GPU reviews.

Adrien Ramirez is a tech staff writer and laptop reviewer at Reviewed. He’s been working professionally with tech and PCs for six years, from game development to reviewing and everything in between. Previously he worked with Lifewire and the MIT Game Lab. He’s passionate about all things tech, especially PCs.

Matthew S. Smith is a veteran tech journalist and general-purpose PC hardware nerd. Formerly the Lead Editor of Reviews at Digital Trends, he has over a decade of experience covering PC hardware. Matt often flies the virtual skies in Microsoft Flight Simulator and is on a quest to grow the perfect heirloom tomato.

The Tests

Here at Reviewed, we test laptops for their processing capability, graphics, battery life, and screen brightness. We use popular benchmarks like Geekbench and 3DMark to gauge how well the laptop multitasks, runs games, and more. We also test multiple platforms, from Windows laptops to Macs and Chromebooks alike.

To test battery life, we set up our laptops to continuously cycle through various websites at a brightness of 200 nits—which is around 60% for many of the mid-range models—until they run out of power, estimating how much work you can get done on a single charge. We also use each laptop for an extended period of time, rating each on factors like build quality, price, portability, and design.

What You Should Know About Laptops

When it comes to laptops, there’s a lot to consider. From display size to build quality, you definitely want a laptop that’ll last a couple of years. Here’s what you need to keep in mind:

Performance

The CPU, graphics chip, RAM, and storage inside your PC determine how well your computer can multitask, handle intensive tasks like gaming, and store all your files. The better the specs, the snappier the laptop will feel as you work.

Most people will be more than happy with a current-generation Intel Core i5, Apple M2, or AMD Ryzen 5, which are mid-range processors. 8GB of RAM will give you enough room to lightly multitask, but we recommend 16GB or more of RAM for future-proofing.

Graphics chip and storage size needs will vary the most depending on what you plan to run on the laptop. While Chromebooks can get away with 64GB of storage with additional cloud storage, Windows laptops need 256GB or more of storage to run optimally. 512GB hits the sweet spot for many users.

For most people, there is no need for a dedicated graphics card. Modern integrated graphics are more than capable of running things like esports games or small 3D modeling files. However, if you plan to play the latest AAA games or need to run a lot of vector calculations, you should consider a discrete graphics card.

Build Quality

Not only do you want a laptop that can take a beating (since you’ll probably be lugging it around with you), but you want one with a well-built keyboard and trackpad since they’re your primary form of interaction with the machine. A poor trackpad or finicky keyboard can really kill the experience.

Generally, durable laptops are stiff and hard to deform, so metal is usually more rugged than plastic. A good keyboard should be quick to type on, and your fingers should easily reach all the keys without any missed hits. Check that the Shift, Control, and Fn keys aren’t awkward to reach with your thumb and pinky fingers.

Whether you prefer stiff or soft keys is up to you: stiff keys are harder to accidentally press but will tire you out faster, while soft keys are easier to type on for long periods of time but can be prone to poor feedback and typos. See what’s most comfortable for you.

Trackpads are a little easier to judge. A good trackpad reads all your finger movements accurately, so the mouse won’t feel jumpy or unresponsive. A larger trackpad gives you better control of your cursor, and the trackpad should have little friction so you don’t “skip” with your cursor.

Touch Screens, Portability, and Features

2-in-1s have gained in popularity, but touch screens and pens cost money to include. Similarly, cramming all those powerful components into a small, easy-to-carry package can often cost more than a larger laptop with fewer design constraints. They’re not as comfortable to use as dedicated tablets like iPads, but 2-in-1s can provide extra options for those who need something versatile. Display pens are great for those who take a lot of notes or draw, such as students or artists.

Operating Systems

Consider which operating system you need. Windows is still the dominant OS these days, and if you’re going to play games, edit photos and videos, or need certain software for work, you’ll probably stick with Microsoft’s offering in a business laptop. MacOS has its own exclusive software and great integration with the Apple ecosystem, so it’s the preferred option for those with iPhones, iPads, or other Apple products.

If you spend all your time on the web and want to save some money, though, a Chromebook may serve you well. Between Netflix, Gmail, and Google Docs, you can do almost anything in a browser. Many of those web apps even work offline for those rare occasions you don’t have Wi-Fi. Chromebooks have the advantage of being cheaper (since they don’t need as much processing power) and virtually bloatware-free (since they run Linux under the hood).

Display Size

You’ll usually find laptops in one of three main sizes, measured by the diagonal length of the display:

• 14 inches and under: These smaller laptops are great for carrying around, and more than suitable for light work like writing papers and browsing the web.
• 15.6 inches: Mid-sized laptops are a bit less portable, and won’t necessarily work in space-constrained spaces like airplane seats. But the larger display is useful for photo editing and watching videos, and their larger chassis can house more powerful hardware.
• 17 inches: This is very large, and only recommended if you are doing video editing or other intensive work that requires a lot of laptop screen real estate—and you don’t mind lugging it around. However, there are many small form factor desktops (like the Mac Mini) that can be much simpler to transport if you’re headed somewhere with extra keyboards, mice, and monitors—or you can bring your favorite wireless keyboard and mouse for a cable-free adventure.

There can still be varying sizes within those categories—for example, the XPS 13’s smaller bezels make it much smaller than most 13-inch laptops—and sizes in between, like the 16-inch MSI Summit E16 Flip. But in general, picking a size range you’re comfortable with can help narrow down the field.

You’ll also want to consider the number of USB ports, whether you need HDMI and Ethernet, and how comfortable the keyboard and trackpad are to use—this can vary quite a bit from model to model, and it’s important to get something responsive and durable.

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