Summary
Best Laptop of 2024.. In search of one of the greatest laptops for 2024? You’ve come to the right spot because at Laptop Mag, we evaluate hundreds of laptops year to determine which ones are the finest. With discussions about AI PCs, an impending Microsoft event, and other intriguing laptop releases, we already have a few new additions to our list that were introduced this year. But don’t worry, we currently have a ton of fantastic choices for you. Whether you’re looking for an inexpensive Chromebook, a powerful gaming laptop, a versatile 2-in-1 laptop, or a laptop for creating content with an amazing display, Laptop Mag’s in-depth testing and reviews will help you find the ideal device.
Best laptops of 2024
Even after testing and evaluating computers for years, I continue to discover something intriguing about each one I examine. Allow me to serve as your guide as you search for the ideal laptop. Not only are these laptops my personal favorites, but they also rank highly according to factors like price, use case, and rating. Before allowing our testers to use each laptop in the field, the Laptop Mag testing team subjects it to a battery of rigorous tests that cover a wide range of topics, including overall performance, display brightness, keyboard comfort, and much more.
These are tkgap editors’ top choices for MacBooks, Windows laptops, and Chromebooks, including the greatest laptop out there. All of them have been tried and tested.
What is the best laptop overall?
On our ranking of the top laptops of 2024, the Apple MacBook Air M2 remains above. For the majority of individuals, it’s a good option since it combines all the qualities we seek for in a test well: dependable daily performance, an extended battery life, and a user-friendly design. Additionally, it now comes in a bigger, 15-inch size with the same fantastic features and performance. However, because the most recent MacBook Air model begins at $1,199, we still suggest the MacBook Air M1 as a less expensive option since it’s still a fantastic laptop overall. The HP Pavilion Aero 13 is a great 13-inch, 2.2-pound laptop that is a great option to the Air for Windows users. It often retails for less than $600 but can perform better in our testing. It starts at $880.
In the next months, all of the main PC manufacturers will release new or upgraded models. (These are the laptops that we are most eager to have; they are highly anticipated.) However, some are already available, such as the 2024 Asus ROG Zephyrus 14, which is the best creator laptop at the moment, and our choice for the best two-in-one, the 2024 HP Spectre x360 14.
Here at CNET, we examine a wide range of laptops, from low-cost devices for daily use to high-end machines for gaming and creating content. Our staff has decades of combined expertise examining and testing computers. We do extensive hands-on usage and controlled performance testing at the CNET Labs. This aids in our search for the greatest laptop—both generally and specifically for your requirements and budget.
Best laptop overall
Apple MacBook Air M2
The 2022 MacBook Air is still our top pick for the best all-around useful laptop in Apple’s portfolio, but with one important exception: it has a new design, a bigger display (13.6 inches compared to the previous 13.3 inches), a faster M2 CPU, and the much-needed update to a higher-res camera. It is disappointing that the starting price of the MacBook Air has increased by $200 to $1,199 from the customary $999. Because of this, the M1 version of the Air continues to be listed as our top laptop. Nevertheless, we think it’s great in every other way, making it our top pick if you’re thinking about getting an Air and don’t mind paying a little extra.
Best Windows laptop
HP Pavilion Plus 14 (2023)
The number of Windows laptops is high. A great deal. Which makes it a little difficult to reduce it to just one. Still, the HP Pavilion Plus is a model example, since it can accommodate a wide range of users at a reasonable price. The sizes are 14 and 16 inches; we tried the 14-inch model, which is roomy enough for comfortable working yet compact enough for travel. In addition to offering AMD and Intel CPUs, HP also provides entry-level discrete graphics configurations. Additionally, a variety of screens, including a stunning OLED panel, are available to fit your budget.
Although it starts at $850, if you can afford it, we advise buying the OLED screen. It’s worth the extra $100 or so that it adds to the bundle. The good news is that HP often offers substantial discounts, so for around $1,000, you can still have the OLED along with a faster CPU or more storage.
HP Pavilion Plus 14 (2023) Review
Best MacBook for students
Apple MacBook Air M1
Despite the availability of the new bigger and better M2 MacBook Air, the M1 MacBook Air (one of the first to switch from Intel to Apple silicon) is staying around and that’s a good thing. As Apple’s entry-level laptop it is still our go-to recommendation for a MacOS laptop for basic everyday use. It has great performance and long battery life — up to 18 hours — and is a solid choice for school or work.
Best Windows laptop for students
HP Pavilion Aero 13 (2023)
With its attractive magnesium-aluminum body, powerful processing capabilities, extended battery life, vivid, colorful display, and lightweight design of about 2 pounds (0.94 kilogram), HP crammed a lot of functionality into the Aero 13. Surprisingly, given everything that it does, the price isn’t too high at around $800 when properly equipped, but it’s usually on sale for hundreds less.
Best cheap laptop
Acer Aspire 5
Still one of the greatest values for a Windows laptop is the Acer Aspire 5. There are three sizes available: 14.5, 15.6, and 17.3 inches. I have a soft spot for the 15.6-inch model as it is full featured, lightweight, and somewhat small. Acer offers a large selection of configurations with prices beginning around $500. In addition, this low-cost laptop has two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 connections, Ethernet, an HDMI connector, and a USB-C Thunderbolt 4 port. With the exception of internal parts, not much has changed with the Acer Aspire 5 since our 2020 review. Nonetheless, the internal parts keep getting better, offering outstanding features and performance for the money.
Best Chromebook
HP Dragonfly Pro Chromebook
The majority of Chromebooks are less than $500, and for everyday usage, most individuals only require one. But now that it’s been around for more than ten years, Google’s ChromeOS is far more powerful. Think of this HP as the MacBook Pro of Chromebooks: it has a gorgeous design, a superb display, a keyboard and touchpad, and the processing power to use the features available in ChromeOS today. And it’s the ideal partner if you use an Android phone. However, it costs $1,000. If that’s more Chromebook than you need, have a look at our comprehensive list of the top Chromebooks that we’ve tested.
HP Dragonfly Pro Chromebook review
Best Microsoft Surface laptop
Microsoft Surface Pro 8
If you’re searching for a versatile Windows tablet that can also function as a Windows laptop, the Surface Pro still hits all the right notes, even if this Microsoft Surface laptop is not the Surface Laptop. Microsoft upgraded it for the Surface Pro 9, however other than an option for a Microsoft SQ 3 processor with 5G wifi, not much has changed. The CPUs are now 12th generation Intel Cores instead of 11th generation. In case you were considering a Pro 8, it is still available and our top pick at a reduced cost. But to help you compare the two, here is our evaluation of the Surface Pro 9.
Microsoft Surface Pro 8 review
Best convertible 2-in-1
HP Spectre x360 14 (2024)
We don’t usually suggest laptops that depend on integrated graphics and cost close to $2,000. It makes sense to anticipate a dedicated GPU for gaming or content development at this pricing. The one uncommon exception is the Spectre x360 14. One of the first laptops with Intel’s new Core Ultra CPU, which offers good performance now and is ready for future AI tasks, is this two-in-one. Furthermore, the Core Ultra processor’s integrated graphics outperform Intel’s previous generation iGPU.
Just as gorgeous as the high-resolution OLED display is the all-metal, matte-black casing. Additionally, the 9-megapixel camera is fantastic, particularly when used in conjunction with Windows Studio Effects’ AI support and noise reduction tools.
Even at its higher price, the Spectre x360 14 offers value due to its next-generation Intel Core Ultra CPU, stunning OLED display, and premium build quality. It is also well-suited for a long and useful life.
HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) review
Best laptop for gaming
Alienware m18
a large screen with corresponding performance. Pushing the m18 up to a high configuration may become pricey; an RTX 4090 and Core i9-13900HX will run you $3,300, without even including a lot of RAM or storage. However, it begins at $2,000 with a decent i7-13650HX and RTX 4050 if a huge screen is your first priority. Furthermore, when you push its performance, the fans might get noisy, so don’t anticipate a long battery life. Additionally, the m18 r2 now has the newest Intel CPUs, in case you’ve been waiting for them.
Alienware m18 review
Best budget gaming laptop
Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 (2023)
Similar to other manufacturers of gaming laptops, Acer offers two product lines: the midrange and high-end Predator models and the affordable Nitro series sold under the Acer name. Strangely enough, our choice for a low-cost gaming system is below the latter, with the Helios Neo 16. It is quite similar to the Acer Nitro 16, although the build quality and graphics performance are little superior. Its speakers were the one genuine weak feature; the music they produced was very flat and lacked bass.
At now, the Predator Helios Neo 16 is priced at $1,200. It’s a lot for a low-cost gaming laptop. The secret is to exercise patience and wait for a sale—which occurs frequently—in order to see the price decrease to $850.
Best Laptop of 2024 for creators
M3 Pro MacBook Pro (16-inch, late 2023)
With its most recent upgrade, Apple added M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max CPUs to the 16-inch MacBook Pro, as well as a new space black color. In addition, the screen’s brightness has increased somewhat from 500 to 600 nits when compared to the M2 model that came before. With the exception of a new color choice, the design is essentially the same as the previous iteration. However, the new M3 Pro processor delivers improved performance overall, with notable improvements in multicore and rendering speed. There is also a long battery life.
The 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M3 Pro CPU begins at $2,499, while the M3 Max variant starts at $3,499, same like the previous generation. Because of its superior balance of appearance, performance, and battery life, it is our Editors’ Choice for graphic designers and professionals.
Best Windows laptop for creators
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024)
Though it belongs to Asus’s gaming-oriented ROG series of laptops, the G14 has a more artistic bent; it is officially classified as an Nvidia Studio model and comes with Nvidia’s Studio driver instead of the more popular Game Ready version (you can switch them out if you’d like). A business-class 1080p webcam, a wide variety of ports and connectors, and an AMD CPU provide the performance and display quality you need for creative work in a small 14-inch laptop. However, the USB-C port is USB4, not Thunderbolt 4.
Other laptops we’ve tested in 2024
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 8: Although we enjoy Lenovo’s high-end two-in-one for corporate usage, we are unable to recommend it for personal use due to its price and configuration possibilities. If you don’t need a vPro processor, the HP Spectre x360 14 should be your first choice.
The ThinkPad Z13 Gen 2 from Lenovo is a standout model among ThinkPads. Its 13.3-inch display seems small and hefty in comparison to the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 and HP Dragonfly G4, which are both better options for most business travelers.
MSI Cyborg 15: If you can get it on sale, MSI’s entry-level gaming laptop isn’t too awful. Its weak graphics processor, nevertheless, contributes to its performance being worse than that of the competitors.
How we test laptops
Two phases make up the laptop review process: performance testing in the CNET Labs under carefully monitored settings and a lot of hands-on time for our reviewers. This involves weighing the functionality, ergonomics, and appearance of a gadget in relation to its cost. A final review verdict combines assessments that are objective and subjective.
Primate Labs Geekbench 5 and 6, Cinebench R23, PCMark 10, a selection of 3DMark benchmarks (whatever the laptop can perform), UL Procyon Photo and Video (where supported), and our own battery life test are the main benchmarks we use to assess all laptops. We’ll also run benchmarks from Guardians of the Galaxy, The Rift Breaker (CPU and GPU), and Shadow of the Tomb Raider if the laptop is meant for gaming.
During the review time, the reviewer utilizes it for work and assesses how effectively the manufacturer-supplied software, screen, camera, and other functions perform together as a coherent unit. We also take into consideration how effectively they function in relation to their pricing and any possible enhancements or trade-offs made by the manufacturer.
Since the devices we examine get more sophisticated over time, so does our collection of benchmarking software and comparison standards. Our How We Test Computers page has a more thorough explanation of our testing process.
Factors to consider
There are a ton of laptops available on the market right now, and almost every model can be customized to meet your demands for performance and price. Therefore, it makes sense if you’re feeling overtaken by choice while searching for a new laptop. These are the primary factors to take into account before you begin your search in order to make things easier for you.
Cost
Most consumers begin their hunt for a new laptop based mostly on pricing. You’ll be hanging onto your next laptop for a minimum of three years if the numbers chipmaker Intel and PC makers throw at us are accurate. Spend a bit more money if you can afford to acquire higher specifications. And it is true regardless of the amount you spend—$500 or $1,000 or more. In the past, you might afford to pay less up front if you planned to upgrade your memory and storage later. However, laptop manufacturers are becoming less inclined to make parts readily upgradeable, so once again, it’s preferable to start with as large of a laptop as you can afford.
In general, a laptop becomes better the more money you spend. Better parts for quicker performance, a better display, stronger construction, a lighter or smaller design made of superior materials, or even a more comfortable keyboard might all result from this. A laptop’s price is increased by each of these factors. I wish I could tell you that, for example, $500 would buy you a powerful gaming laptop, but that’s not true. At $700 to $800 is now the sweet spot for a dependable laptop that can do typical business, home office, or school chores; a decent model for creative work or gaming may cost up to $1,000. To obtain more laptop for less money, it’s important to search for discounts on models across all price points.
System of operation
Selecting an operating system involves both financial considerations and personal taste. With the exception of gaming, where Windows excels, Microsoft Windows and Apple’s MacOS do similar tasks but in somewhat different ways. Choose the program you are most familiar with, unless there is one that is necessary for your operating system. And to find out which that is, visit your neighborhood electronics shop or the Apple shop to give them a try. Alternatively, ask loved ones to allow you to try theirs for a short while. If you like using your iPhone or iPad, there’s a good probability you’ll enjoy MacOS as well.
However, Windows laptops prevail in terms of cost and selection (as well as, once again, PC gaming). You will be purchasing a MacBook if you want MacOS. Despite consistently ranking at the top of our best rankings, Apple’s MacBooks are not the most costly; the M1 MacBook Air costs $999. It is often marked down to $750 or $800, but older reconditioned models are your best bet if you’re looking for a less expensive MacBook.
Windows laptops are available in a wide range of sizes and styles and may be purchased for as low as a few hundred dollars. Though it would be difficult to find a $200 laptop that we would heartily recommend, they do exist if you need one for word processing, email, and online shopping.
If money is limited, you should think about getting a Chromebook. Make sure the apps you need have a Chrome, Android, or Linux app before making the switch since ChromeOS is not the same as Windows. However, they’re an excellent match if you spend the most of your time writing, streaming video, blogging on the web, or utilizing cloud gaming services.
Dimensions
Remember to weigh your future needs: would you be better off with a touchscreen laptop with a long battery life, or with a lighter, thinner laptop? Hello, laws of physics. The screen determines size largely, which also affects battery size, laptop thickness, weight, and price. Remember other physics-related facts as well, such the fact that a thin laptop isn’t always lighter than a big one and that a tiny or ultrathin machine won’t have a large variety of ports.
Display
There are several factors to take into account when choosing a screen, including how much you need to show (which is surprisingly more about resolution than screen size), what kinds of information you’ll be viewing, and whether you want to use it for creative or gaming activities.
Pixel density, or the quantity of pixels per inch the screen can show, is what you should truly be optimizing. Higher pixel densities often result in clearer text and interface element rendering, while there are other aspects that also play a role. (If you don’t feel like completing the arithmetic, you can quickly determine the pixel density of any screen at DPI Calculator. You can also find out what math you need to accomplish there.) As a general guideline, we advise a dot pitch of at least 100 pixels per inch (ppi).
You’re usually better off with a greater resolution than you’d assume because of the way both Windows and MacOS scale for the display. On a high-resolution screen, you can always enlarge things; on a low-resolution screen, however, you can never make things smaller in order to accommodate more stuff in the view. Due to this, a 14-inch, 4K screen may seem superfluous at first, but it might not be if you need to, instance, see a big spreadsheet.
You can’t only rely on the stats if you require a laptop with reasonably accurate color, the ability to show the greatest number of hues, or support for high dynamic range. This isn’t because manufacturers lie, but rather because they often exclude important details from their quotes, making it difficult to comprehend what they really mean. Our purchasing recommendations for general purpose monitors, gaming, makers, and HDR watching provide into great depth about factors to consider for various screen usage.
Processor
A laptop’s CPU, sometimes known as the processor, is its brain. The two primary CPU manufacturers for Windows laptops are Intel and AMD. A remarkable assortment of mobile CPUs is provided by both. Complicating matters, each manufacturer offers chips tailored to certain laptop types, such as ultraportables with power-saving CPUs or gaming laptops with speedier processors. It’s clear from their naming conventions which type is employed. For further information to ensure you obtain the performance you want, visit the websites of AMD or Intel. However, in general, performance will be higher the quicker the CPU is and the more cores it has.
For MacBooks, Apple produces its own processors, which simplifies matters a little. you know what sort of performance you anticipate, you need still pay attention to the naming standards, just as with AMD and Intel. Macs are equipped with Apple’s M-series chipsets. An eight-core CPU and seven-core GPU M1 processor powers the entry-level MacBook Air. The M2-series silicon used in the current versions has eight cores for the CPU and ten for the GPU starting with the M2 Max, which has twelve cores for the CPU and thirty-eight cores for the GPU. Once again, in general, performance improves with the number of cores.
Visuals
The task of driving the screen and producing the content that is shown falls within the purview of the graphics processor (GPU), which also expedites many procedures connected to graphics and, increasingly, artificial intelligence. There are two kinds of GPUs for Windows laptops: integrated (iGPU) and discrete (dGPU). A dGPU is a distinct chip with dedicated memory (VRAM) that it interacts with directly, making it quicker than sharing memory with the CPU. As the names suggest, an iGPU is a component of the CPU package.
The iGPU is restricted by the limitations of space, memory, and power since it shares those resources with the CPU. It doesn’t perform quite as well as a dGPU, but it does make laptops lighter and smaller. As a matter of fact, several creative applications and games won’t launch unless they detect a dGPU or enough VRAM. However, the majority of productivity applications, streaming media, online surfing, and other general-purpose programs are compatible with an iGPU.
You’ll need a dGPU for more demanding graphics tasks, such as video editing, gaming and streaming, design, and so forth. Nvidia and AMD are the only two firms that actually manufacture dGPUs, but Intel does provide some that are based on the Xe-branded (or the former UHD Graphics branding) iGPU technology in its CPUs.
Recall
We strongly advise 16GB of RAM for memory (8GB is the bare minimum). RAM may quickly fill up since it houses all of the operating system’s data for open programs. It then begins switching, at a reduced pace, between RAM and SSD. Many laptops under $500 feature 4GB or 8GB of RAM, which when combined with a slower HDD may result in a very sluggish Windows laptop experience. Additionally, memory is now soldered into the motherboard of many laptops. Though most manufacturers make this clear, if the RAM type is LPDDR, you can probably presume it’s soldered and not upgradeable.
Nonetheless, some PC manufacturers may leave an open internal slot for the addition of a RAM stick in addition to soldering memory on. To be sure, you may need to get in touch with the laptop’s maker or check its complete specifications online. Additionally, look for user reviews online since the slot could still be difficult to access, requiring unusual or difficult-to-get memory or other difficulties.
Keepsake
Faster solid-state drives (SSDs) have essentially taken the role of hard drives in laptops, however cheaper hard drives are still found in low-cost laptops and bigger hard drives in gaming laptops. They have the power to significantly alter performance. But not all SSDs are created equal, and less expensive laptops usually have slower drives. If your laptop only has 4 or 8GB of RAM, it can wind up switching to that disk, which might cause the system to lag while you’re using it.
Purchase the largest disk you can afford, and if it turns out to be too tiny, you can always utilize cloud storage to support a modest internal drive or add more external drives later. With the one exception being gaming laptops, we advise against choosing an SSD less than 512GB unless you like having to remove apps each time you want to play a new one.
How much do good laptops cost?
When looking for the ideal laptop for yourself, establishing a budget is a smart place to start. The good news is that around $500 you can acquire a stylish, thin, and very durable laptop with a long battery life. See our best recommendations for laptops under $500 here, along with additional detailed purchasing guidance for that budget.
Laptops costing between $500 and $1,000 now have luxury design elements like thin-display bezels and aluminum or magnesium casings, along with higher-end components like AMD Ryzen and Intel Core i-series CPUs. Moreover, there are touchscreens and hybrid designs that can function as a laptop, tablet, or in a few other ways. To enhance performance, you can also get larger and faster SSD storage and RAM in this price range.
Above $1,000 is the price range for high-end laptops and two-in-one computers. You should budget at least $1,000 if you want the quickest performance, the longest battery life, the lightest, slimmest designs, and the finest possible display quality with a suitable screen size.
Which is better: MacOS or Windows?
For many, the choice between a laptop running Windows or MacOS will come down to personal taste and financial constraints. The M1 MacBook Air, Apple’s entry-level laptop, is priced at $999. There are occasions when you may find it on sale or get educational pricing from Apple and other vendors. However, a new MacBook will typically cost at least $1,000, and the cost only rises from there.
Overall, however, you’re getting excellent hardware—inside and out—for the price. Recently, Apple switched from utilizing Intel-based CPUs to its own, which improved performance over the board. However, the 16-inch MacBook Pro, the company’s most powerful laptop, is still running on outdated Apple hardware.
However, once again, such excellent gear has a cost. Furthermore, you may only use Apple computers. You can acquire an incredible number of devices at a broad range of costs with Windows and Chromebooks (more on this below).
You should be able to use either platform since there is a lot of software available for both, unless you need to run anything that is exclusive to one. Still, a Windows laptop has an edge when it comes to gaming.
For those who like their computers to stay out of the way so they can get things done, MacOS is also seen to be safer and simpler to use than Windows. But Microsoft has tried its best to catch up throughout the years, and now that Windows 11 is out there, it’s attempting to take down any obstacles. Despite their reputation for being safer, Macs have grown more vulnerable to malware due to the growing popularity of the iPhone and iPad, which has boosted Mac sales.
Are Chromebooks worth it?
They are, indeed, but not everyone should use them. In the more than ten years since they first became available, Google’s Chrome OS has advanced significantly. Chromebooks, or laptops running Chrome OS, are ideal for those who spend the most of their work on mobile applications or online browsers. They are safe, easy to use, and usually a good deal. Running Mac or Windows applications natively is what they are unable to accomplish.
What’s the best laptop for home, travel or both?
The epidemic altered many people’s work environments and methods. It’s possible that the tiny, very portable computers that frequent travelers cherished have suddenly become catastrophically unsuitable for working from home. Alternately, maybe you would prefer a larger screen with better graphics for gaming over a lengthy battery life.
A 15.6-inch laptop or bigger is a good choice if you want to work on it and don’t need much more mobility beyond toting it from room to room. Larger screens are often simpler to use for work and more entertaining, especially when used as an expanded display in conjunction with an external monitor. It usually indicates that you’re also getting extra ports, which makes it simpler to connect external devices like a keyboard and mouse, external storage, or displays without the need for a hub or dock.
Bring along 13- or 14-inch laptops or 2-in-1s for trips. They’ll have the best battery life and be the lightest and smallest models. The shift by PC manufacturers from 16:9 widescreens to 16:10 or 3:2 ratio displays is a good thing since it allows you to work with more vertical screen area without having to add a lot of room to your desk. Though it’s not always the case, these versions often lack strong CPUs and discrete graphics.
Which laptop is best for gaming or creating?
Any laptop may be used to generate content and play games. However, the laptop’s internal components will have a big impact on the games you play, the material you produce, and how quickly you do it.
You don’t need a powerful gaming laptop to play casual browser-based games or to use streaming game services like Xbox Cloud Gaming and Nvidia GeForce Now. Similarly, a cheap laptop or Chromebook with built-in graphics will do if you’re editing video clips, cropping images, or broadcasting live video from your camera.
You’ll need to spend more money on discrete graphics, such as GPUs from Nvidia’s RTX 30- or 40-series, for anything more demanding. You can accelerate things even further by adding 16GB or more to your system RAM, upgrading your CPU to a faster one like an AMD Ryzen 7 or Intel Core i7, and having a fast SSD for storage that holds at least 512GB of data.
The display is the other component that you should think about. To make games seem more fluid when playing, search for displays with a high refresh rate of 120Hz or higher. Look for screens that cover at least 100% of the sRGB color space or, better yet, 100% of the DCI-P3 color space when creating content.
