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Shopping for the fitting laptop computer might be nerve-racking. It’s probably one of many larger tech purchases you’ll make, and there are a daft variety of fashions, sizes, type elements, and configurations to select from. We review and test a wide swath of them right here at The Verge, and we’re continually contemplating what’s the perfect and who it’s greatest for.
Our total choose for most individuals has been, and continues to be, the MacBook Air — significantly, as of March 2025, the M4 model. Except that you must use Home windows for particular software program wants otherwise you fancy your self a hardcore gamer, the MacBook Air stays the best choice for the typical consumer who needs one thing transportable with glorious battery life and nice efficiency for productiveness duties.
Although the MacBook Air is the simple advice for most individuals, that doesn’t make it the reply for everybody. What in case you want extra energy for video or photograph modifying, or crunching giant datasets? What in case you desire to run Home windows? What in case you play plenty of video games and need to take them with you? Or what in case you simply need one thing distinctive — and even, gasp, repairable? We’ve acquired some suggestions, together with a Chromebook or two, a laptop computer with two screens, the 16-inch MacBook Pro, and the Microsoft Surface Laptop with a Snapdragon X Elite chip.
What we’re on the lookout for
Identical to everything The Verge reviews, our laptop computer testing is based on real-world use. We do run artificial benchmarks like Geekbench, Cinebench, and 3DMark to get quantifiable comparisons between CPUs and GPUs. However, in the end, the number-crunching is simply a part of it. The remaining comes from really utilizing a laptop computer in our day-to-day routine, which may contain every thing from Chrome tabs and Google Docs to photograph and video modifying and graphically-intense video games — each on battery and plugged in.
All producers supply configurations that value a small fortune, however the perfect laptops are normally worthwhile even at their base degree. Generally, we’ll advocate going past the bottom configuration for somewhat RAM, extra storage, or a graphics card improve, however at a sure level the worth proposition usually nosedives. Our objective is to search out these candy spots.If you happen to’re shopping for new and spending $1,000 or extra, you ought to be getting a machine with efficiency that meets your wants, and parts like a trackpad, keyboard, display, and audio system which are good to nice. Keep in mind, you’re more likely to be utilizing this machine for a lot of hours daily. And if any of a laptop computer’s core options are missing, then one thing else — like an amazing value or excellence in one other space — ought to make up for it.
How a lot efficiency you actually want could also be subjective, however the extra headroom you’ve got, the extra a laptop computer can adapt to your evolving wants and the longer it may possibly final earlier than issues really feel sluggish. On the baseline, your laptop computer needs to be quick sufficient to do the belongings you use a laptop computer for, with out feeling prefer it’s struggling each day. Any productiveness laptop computer ought to have the ability to multitask with a bunch of browser tabs open whereas modifying some spreadsheets or different paperwork. A content material creation machine ought to have the ability to shortly churn by Photoshop recordsdata with plenty of layers or a Premiere Professional timeline with loads of post-processing. And a gaming laptop computer ought to have the ability to play the newest video games with good trying visuals and good body charges (no less than 60 fps, however ideally extra on much less graphically intensive video games).
The keyboard and trackpad are the principle interfaces you utilize with any laptop computer, and they need to be good, even in a desktop alternative you principally use with an exterior mouse and keyboard. The entire level of a laptop computer is you possibly can deliver your work and play with you, so that you’re counting on these built-in parts sooner or later. A laptop computer with a nasty keyboard and trackpad would possibly as effectively be a penalty field.What makes a superb keyboard and trackpad? It’s barely subjective, however a top quality keyboard ought to have a logical and environment friendly structure, sufficient key journey to make typing really feel good and decrease the chance of double-presses, and ideally be backlit for simpler use at the hours of darkness. Any worthwhile laptop computer ought to have a superb trackpad that simply delivers correct clicks and swipes, with gestures for higher multitasking. Trackpads usually are available two types: hinged on the prime (like a piano key) or haptic (the place it doesn’t really transfer, and the haptic vibration you are feeling emulates a bodily click on). Both might be nice when effectively executed.
In an ideal world, each laptop computer would have a big and vivid OLED display able to displaying true blacks, with a decision of 2560 x 1600 or larger and refresh price of 120Hz (or better). However a panel like that comes with heavy prices, each in cash and sometimes in battery life. Not each laptop computer can have that preferrred setup, however any good one needs to be sharp with correct colours, sufficient brightness for some outside use (usually meaning 400 nits or better), and freed from annoying anomalies like ghosting or unhealthy off-angle viewing. Apart from OLED, Mini LEDs additionally make an amazing laptop computer panel that may be a giant step up from the extra typical IPS show, and an excellent larger step up from the dim TN panels on actually low cost laptops.Except a touchscreen is important to a laptop computer’s design (like one which converts right into a pill), they’re normally a pleasant bonus, fairly than a requirement. Ideally they’d work with a stylus for extra flexibility. MacOS laptops by no means have touchscreens, however they’re pretty widespread on Home windows machines, Chromebooks, and a few Linux laptops.
Laptops are supposed to be thrown in baggage and brought out into the world, and they need to have the ability to stand up to some wear-and-tear. We anticipate a stable construct that doesn’t really feel creaky, low cost, or have plenty of flex when picked up and dealt with. It ought to have a sturdy hinge that opens simply. A much less refined design might be barely forgiven if it’s made up for by a lower cost or better-than-expected efficiency, however these needs to be gadgets that appear and feel like they’re well worth the cash spent.We additionally take into consideration what a laptop computer is designed for, and if it meets these targets: an 18-inch desktop alternative goes to be heavy and fewer cellular; a 13-inch thin-and-light needs to be, effectively, skinny and light-weight.
We anticipate most laptops we take a look at to final no less than eight hours of internet shopping and workplace work. The more durable a laptop computer works, the extra energy it makes use of, so we don’t anticipate to play video games all day with out plugging in, or render video for eight hours straight. But when a laptop computer can’t final a typical work day there’d higher be a superb motive. We use a battery rundown take a look at that cycles by numerous Chrome tabs with the display set to 200 nits that offers us a 1:1 comparability to take into consideration. Extra importantly, we document how lengthy the battery lasts over a number of days of normal real-world use — full with the occasional video name and a few music / podcast listening. Even when your machine is tethered to an outlet more often than not, nice battery life and standby instances makes life with a laptop computer way more versatile.
We anticipate all laptops to have no less than two USB4 / Thunderbolt 4 ports, ideally on separate sides for somewhat added comfort. They need to have the ability to cost over USB-C, even when in addition they have a proprietary cost port able to larger wattage. And whereas USB-A ports are a bit extra nice-to-have than necessity, there’s completely no good motive to not have a 3.5mm headphone jack.Extra highly effective, costlier laptops (image one thing over $1,000 and 14 inches or bigger) ought to in all probability have an HDMI 2.1 port and card reader, or a superb motive for not having them.
$749
The Good
- Simply lasts a full day on battery
- Glorious alternative for most individuals’s on a regular basis wants
- Nails the fundamentals in a thin-and-light whereas feeling like a pleasant place to be
The Dangerous
- Nonetheless begins with simply 256GB of storage
- Nonetheless has restricted ports
- Nonetheless susceptible to throttling below heavy artistic duties
CPU: M4 (10-core) / GPU: M4 (8- or 10-core) / RAM: 16GB, 24GB, 32GB / Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB / Show: 13.6-inch or 15.3-inch Liquid Retina show, 2560 x 1664 or 2880 x 1864 , 60Hz, no contact choice / Dimensions: 11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44 inches (13-inch) or 13.40 x 9.35 x 0.45 inches (15-inch) / Weight: 2.7 kilos (13-inch) or 3.3 kilos (15-inch)
Apple’s M4 MacBook Air is the perfect laptop computer for most individuals — Mac customers, in fact, but in addition the platform-agnostic or anybody who needs a no-fuss, easy machine that doesn’t bombard them with ads or bloatware. It’s a productiveness laptop computer that may do a little bit of every thing. The 13-inch mannequin begins with 16GB of RAM at $999 (it’s usually cheaper than this), and it additionally is available in a 15-inch model for $1,199, for many who like their laptops somewhat bigger. It’s onerous to search out one other laptop computer that gives this type of mixture of efficiency and battery life in a skinny and light-weight chassis, particularly at these costs.
Despite losing its way around the mid-2010s, Apple has an extended historical past of sending high quality MacBooks to market, and the Air M4 isn’t any totally different. A clean, nearly ethereal trackpad, examine. A chiclet-style keyboard that makes typing really feel like a dance, examine. Quick Wi-Fi adapter, color-rich show, and MagSafe charging, examine. These had been additionally true on the earlier fashions, however now with the M4 technology it additionally options the identical 12-megapixel Middle Stage webcam of the MacBook Execs, can use two exterior displays with its lid open, and is available in a sky blue shade (although it nonetheless appears to be like silver in some mild). And once more, you get all this for much less cash than earlier than.
The M4 Air is a good choice for almost anybody who doesn’t want video modifying, heavy gaming, or greater than two USB-C ports. For people who do, look to the 14-inch MacBook Pro M5 — an amazing bang-for-your-buck laptop computer in its personal proper at $1,599, full with the newest, quickest processor that Apple makes. Choosing a Professional over an Air is greatest for college kids in artistic fields and content material creators needing extra headroom and options like a 3rd USB-C port, an SD card slot, and an excellent higher display.
Now that the M4 Air is right here, Apple has totally discontinued the M3 and M2 fashions. You would possibly nonetheless have the ability to discover them at retailers like Best Buy, however they’re not price it over the M4 except considerably discounted. If you happen to can afford a further $200 on prime of both the 13- or 15-inch M4 Air’s beginning costs, that’ll web you 512GB of storage as a substitute of 256GB — in addition to the 10-core GPU on the 13-inch. The paltry base storage is the one remaining weak level of the MacBook Air. It’s undoubtedly price getting extra, because the roomier SSD will make your life somewhat simpler on a laptop computer that ought to simply final you 5 to seven (or much more) years.
$950
The Good
- Simply lasts a full day on battery
- Glorious alternative for most individuals’s on a regular basis wants
- Nails the fundamentals in a thin-and-light whereas feeling like a pleasant place to be
- Louder audio system over its smaller counterpart
The Dangerous
- Nonetheless begins with simply 256GB of storage
- Nonetheless has restricted ports
- Nonetheless susceptible to throttling below heavy artistic duties
Learn our evaluate of the Apple MacBook Air M4.
CPU: MediaTek Kompanio Extremely 910 / GPU: Immortalis G925 / RAM: 16GB LPDDR5X / Storage: 256GB UFS 4.0 / Show: Contact 14-inch FHD 1920 x 1200, 60Hz OLED, 400 nits / Dimensions: 12.37 x 8.63 x 0.62 inches / Weight: 2.78 kilos
Lenovo’s Chromebook Plus 14 is the perfect mannequin we’ve examined to this point in 2025 due to its spectacular tech specs and lengthy software program help. It has a 14-inch FHD (1920 x 1200) 60Hz OLED touchscreen show that has glorious shade and distinction, in addition to 16GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. Its 8-core MediaTek Kompanio Extremely 910 processor was highly effective sufficient that we might soar between Chrome tabs and Android apps unfold throughout two desktops whereas importing paperwork to NotebookLM to generate audio overviews with none issues.
Lenovo geared up this laptop computer with two USB-C ports, which may drive a few displays concurrently, and a USB-A port that’s handy for connecting equipment with out the necessity for a dongle. All three ports prime out at 5Gbps every although, which is perhaps slower than you want. We had been impressed by the laptop computer’s audio system, which sounded nice when listening to music or audiobooks, even at a excessive quantity. Its keyboard was comfy to kind on, however the mechanical trackpad makes an annoying, loud click on when pressed.
The Chromebook Plus 14 can run Android, Linux, and internet apps. It’s best to have the ability to simply discover the fitting software program throughout these platforms, however we nonetheless bumped into bother with Zoom, which ran poorly as an online app and as an Android app. Equally, we needed to run Slack in a browser window as a result of the Linux app wasn’t compiled for Arm processors. The forms of apps you utilize can even closely influence battery life. We had been capable of run the laptop computer for round 9 hours and solely drained its battery by round 50 %. We suspect you could possibly use it for a few days with out charging in case your wants aren’t extremely demanding.
Software program help is an comprehensible concern when getting a brand new laptop computer, however Google has assured Chromebooks launched after 2021 will obtain 10 years of automatic updates. The Lenovo Chromebook 14’s stable {hardware} and prolonged software program help means you could possibly preserve it operating for a decade, even when later turns into a secondary machine or hand-me-down.
Learn our evaluate of the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14
$750
The Good
- All-day battery life
- Nice efficiency for many apps
- 16GB of RAM for the bottom mannequin
The Dangerous
- Recreation help is proscribed
- AI options really feel gimmicky
- Emulated apps can hit battery and efficiency
CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus X1P-64-100, Snapdragon X Elite X1E-80-100 / GPU: Qualcomm Adreno / RAM: 16GB, 32GB, 64GB LPDDR5X (soldered) / Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB / Show: 13.8-inch touchscreen LCD, 2304 x 1536 120Hz, 600 nits / Dimensions: 11.85 x 8.67 x 0.69 inches / Weight: 2.96 kilos
Out of all of the Snapdragon Copilot Plus PCs we’ve tested so far, the 13.8- and 15-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th edition stood out for his or her steadiness of efficiency, distinctive battery life and standby time, and high quality parts (120Hz display, keyboard, webcam, trackpad, and so on.). Microsoft was clearly gunning for Apple’s MacBook Air, and the Floor Laptop computer principally delivers that degree of {hardware} expertise for a Home windows machine. It’s the complete bundle in order for you a thin-and-light productiveness machine operating Home windows that simply lasts all day and into the night time. And in case your funds is barely tighter, there’s a 13-inch model with pared-down options beginning at $899 that’s nonetheless actually good.
The better concern with Snapdragon X-equipped laptops is whether or not Home windows on Arm helps all of the apps that you must get your work achieved. Most on a regular basis apps work wonderful, through native Arm variations or emulation, however there can nonetheless be some outliers, particularly in content material creation apps. Additionally, in case you like the concept of your productiveness machine with the ability to pull mild gaming duties (certainly one of Home windows’ benefits over Mac) you then’re probably higher off with a laptop computer utilizing Intel’s Lunar Lake or AMD’s Ryzen AI chips. Snapdragon X laptops can solely run a fraction of the video games you discover on Steam, and Microsoft is simply starting to roll out the ability to put in ARM64-compatible video games from the Xbox app. In lots of instances you’ll solely have the ability to stream video games out there within the PC Recreation Cross library.
Earlier this 12 months, Microsoft launched Intel Lunar Lake- based versions of the Floor Laptop computer 7, however they’re a ridiculous $500 costlier, and aimed solely at companies. It’s a disgrace, as a result of having this {hardware} with Lunar Lake’s compatibility might need been an interesting prospect.
Learn our review of the 13.8-inch Microsoft Floor Laptop computer seventh Version.
The very best 16-inch Home windows laptop computer
$1800
The Good
- It’s beautiful
- Extremely skinny and light-weight for a 16-inch laptop computer
- Nice efficiency, particularly the built-in graphics
The Dangerous
- Shorter battery life than main rivals
- StoryCube doesn’t work
- Couldn’t get a way of how briskly the NPU actually is
CPU: AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 / GPU: Radeon 890M, Radeon 880M / RAM: 32GB, 24GB / Storage: 1TB / Show: contact 16-inch 2880 x 1800, 120Hz OLED with stylus help, 500 nits peak HDR / Dimensions: 13.92 x 9.57 x 0.47 ~ 0.51 inches / Weight: 3.21 kilos
The 16-inch Asus Zenbook S 16 is the best-looking, best-performing Home windows laptop computer we’ve examined to this point; it’s additionally so skinny and light-weight you wouldn’t comprehend it simply by holding it! It may possibly deal with somewhat little bit of every thing, from emails to graphic design work, and it tackles gaming surprisingly effectively for a laptop computer and not using a separate graphics card. It’s a beautiful, catch-all machine.
There are solely two Zenbook S 16 fashions as of now. The $1,800 one is available in grey with AMD’s flagship Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 chip and 32GB of reminiscence, and the $1,400 mannequin is available in white with the lower-tier AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 and 24GB of reminiscence. In any other case, they’re an identical. Each characteristic OLED contact shows with a local 2880 x 1800 (3K) decision and 120Hz refresh price, stylus help, 1TB of storage, and the identical ports / Wi-Fi adapter. The whole lot however the Home windows model. (The costlier mannequin will get House; the cheaper one will get Professional.)
At simply 11 hours, its battery life doesn’t final so long as related laptops we’ve examined, such because the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge and Dell XPS 14, nevertheless it’s a small tradeoff. There’s nonetheless no different Home windows laptop computer that gives as a lot efficiency and flexibility in a 16-inch chassis for the worth.
Learn our review of the Asus Zenbook S 16.
The very best laptop computer for high-end gaming
$3200
The Good
- Nice graphics efficiency within the newest high-end video games
- Plenty of ports and easy accessibility to RAM / SSDs
- Animated lid and wraparound RGB are enjoyable
- Excellent QHD / 240Hz Mini LED display
The Dangerous
- Typical gaming laptop computer points (expensive, hefty, and never nice battery life)
- Competitors affords OLED screens
- Customizing lid animations is a ache
CPU: Intel Core Extremely 9 275HX / GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 / RAM: 32GB / Storage: 2TB / Show: 16-inch Mini LED 2560 x 1600, 240Hz show / Dimensions: 13.94 x 10.55 x 0.9 to 1.21 inches / Weight: 6.17 kilos
I’m nonetheless testing a handful of various gaming laptops, together with the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 10 and HP Omen Max 16, however the frontrunner to this point (by a nostril) is the Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 with an Nvidia RTX 5080 GPU. From what I’ve seen to this point, the 5080 is the candy spot for high-end gaming laptops on this technology. The 5080 ROG Strix Scar is inside earshot of the 5090 efficiency I noticed within the Razer Blade 16, and it’s $1,200 cheaper. The Asus is chunky and heavy in comparison with Razer’s svelte Blade, however that offers its GPU the house it wants to remain cool. Thinner laptops usually thermally constrain a high-end chip just like the 5090.
The ROG Strix Scar doesn’t have an OLED show like its direct rivals, which is certainly a bummer, however its 2560 x 1600 240Hz Mini LED panel continues to be sharp and vivid, with some punchy colours. The 16-inch model of the Strix Scar eschews a quantity pad, giving its giant keycaps loads of house so typing isn’t cramped in any respect. Its trackpad is very large, and it homes a hidden touch-sensitive numpad you possibly can name up with a long-press within the prime nook — although it’s extra helpful for knowledge entry than gaming wants.
The Strix Scar’s boisterous RGB mild present is form of enjoyable in its garishness. Along with wraparound underglow, it has a dot-matrix array of LEDs on its lid to show animations — as Asus has done before. A extra helpful characteristic is the best way you possibly can open up the laptop computer’s backside plate just like the hood of a automobile for simple, tool-free entry to its two RAM slots and SSDs.
The very best MacBook for photograph and video modifying
$2190
The 16-inch MacBook Professional with M4 Professional begins with 24GB of RAM, 512GB SSD, and 14-core CPU / 20-core GPU. The M4 Max model affords 32GB of RAM, 1TB SSD, 14-core CPU / 32-core GPU, and might be configured to ridiculously excessive costs. Each fashions have Thunderbolt 5 ports, 12-megapixel Middle Stage webcam, and choices for anti-glare shows.
CPU: M4 Professional, M4 Max / GPU: M4 Professional, M4 Max / RAM: 24GB or 48GB (M4 Professional), 36GB – 128 GB (M4 Max) / Storage: 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, 8TB / Show: 14.2 / 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR, 3024 x 1964 / 3456 x 2234, adaptive refresh as much as 120Hz, no contact choice / Dimensions: 12.31 x 8.71 x 0.61 (14-inch) / 14.01 x 9.77 x 0.66 inches (16-inch) / Weight: 3.5 / 4.7 pounds (M4 Professional), 3.6 / 4.8 kilos (M4 Max)
If you happen to want energy for intensive artistic work — like 3D rendering and dealing with ultra-high-resolution images and video — the MacBook Pro is your greatest guess. Each the 14- and 16-inch fashions can be found with highly effective M4 Professional or M4 Max processors. There’s additionally a 14-inch Pro with a standard M4 processor, and whereas it’s a formidable step up from the MacBook Air as an everyman’s “professional” laptop computer, the M4 Professional and Max processors nonetheless outclass it in efficiency.
Processors apart, the MacBook Professional has remained largely unchanged since 2021. It has a vivid, lovely, color-accurate, high-res display with HDR and an adaptive refresh price of as much as 120Hz; superb audio system, a cushty keyboard and trackpad; and a superb port loadout: three Thunderbolt 5 / USB-C ports, plus HDMI 2.1 and an SD card slot. The 14-inch MacBook Professional is a number of hundred {dollars} cheaper than the 16-inch, however apart from the very lowest processor choices, most configurations can be found in both measurement, so choose whichever works for you.
In our benchmarks, which take a look at a wide range of artistic duties together with encoding, playback, and export time, the MacBook Professional 16 did higher than any laptop computer we’ve ever used — the one different machines which have come near matching this factor in a few of our benchmarks are high-end desktop PCs. The battery life can be record-shattering. The highest-of-the-line 16-inch M4 Max model simply lasted all day in our most up-to-date testing, with no battery-saving options enabled and even maintaining the display on full-time.
Most individuals who want way more energy than a MacBook Air — together with all however probably the most demanding professional photographers — can be wonderful with an M4 Professional mannequin, which begins at $1,999 for the 14-inch with a 12-core CPU, 16-core GPU, 24GB of reminiscence, and a 512GB SSD. The 16-inch begins at $2,499 for a 14-core CPU, 20-core GPU, 24GB of reminiscence, and 512GB SSD. The M4 Professional chip might be configured with as much as 48GB of reminiscence and a 4TB SSD, on the normal absurd Apple markups, and it helps as much as two exterior 6K shows.
If you happen to completely want extra GPU energy — or greater than two exterior displays — you possibly can step as much as the M4 Max. The bottom M4 Max with 14 CPU cores and 32 GPU cores, plus 36GB of RAM and 1TB SSD, begins at $3,199 within the 14-inch and $3,499 within the 16-inch. There’s additionally an M4 Max with 16 CPU and 40 GPU cores, which begins at $3,699 and $3,999, respectively. The M4 Max fashions are configurable with as much as 128GB of RAM and 8TB of storage and may help as much as 4 exterior displays. The overwhelming majority of individuals don’t have workloads heavy sufficient to note a major distinction between the M4 Professional and M4 Max; in case you do, you in all probability comprehend it.
$1444
The Good
- The whole lot good concerning the M4 mannequin, with just a bit extra velocity
- Nonetheless an excellent worth for an all-purpose artistic workflow machine
- Finest-in-class battery life
The Dangerous
- Only a snoozer of an replace
- Area black end can nonetheless be somewhat smudgy
- Apple’s value construction might nonetheless have you ever eager for M4 Professional / Max
Learn our evaluations of the MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro / Max and MacBook Pro 14 M5.
The very best 14-inch gaming laptop computer
$1300
The Good
- Balanced efficiency, battery life, and portability
- OLED show
- Programmable LED strip on the lid
- Nice keyboard and clean trackpad
The Dangerous
- Will get a bit scorching and loud below load
- Soldered RAM
- Thermally throttles its GPUs
CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 270, HX 370 / GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060, RTX 5070, RTX 5070 TI, RTX 5080 / RAM: 16GB, 32GB / Storage: 1TB / Show: 14-inch OLED, 2880 x 1800, 120Hz, 500 nits / Dimensions: 12.24 x 8.66 x 0.63 inches / Weight: 3.31 kilos
Asus just lately launched an up to date ROG Zephyrus G14 for 2025, which replaces the earlier mannequin as our choose for the perfect 14-inch gaming laptop computer. It retains the smooth design Asus introduced last year and continues to strike a steadiness between energy and portability; it additionally incorporates a handful of enhancements, a few of which have allowed it to earn the highest spot in our best gaming laptops guide, regardless of a $100 value bump.
The up to date Zephyrus G14 has an AMD 9-series processor and Nvidia RTX 50-series graphics chip, which offer modest efficiency features. Each configuration contains a good-looking, high-res OLED show with a 120Hz refresh price, so smoother gameplay isn’t locked behind an elective improve. Conveniently, the 2025 G14 options USB-C ports on either side for charging, though you’ll nonetheless obtain the utmost wattage by utilizing Asus’ proprietary charger.
The G14 contains a backlit, chiclet-style keyboard, and Asus has elevated the keycap measurement by 12.24 % to make them simpler to press. The centered trackpad can be comparatively broad, offering ample house for clicks, faucets, and swipes with out cramping your hand. These options are as helpful for typing and productiveness work as they’re for taking part in video games whenever you’re not related to a gaming keyboard and mouse.
Talking of video games, the titles we performed ran effectively, even on excessive settings, however the laptop computer felt scorching to the contact on account of its skinny chassis. Its followers had been audible below heavy load, and the laptop computer ultimately thermally throttled its GPUs to forestall overheating. The tradeoffs aren’t shocking, although, particularly given the G14’s skinny, light-weight design.
The very best dual-screen laptop computer
$2199
The Good
- Daring design
- Nice audio system for his or her measurement
- Included stylus and mouse
The Dangerous
- Awkward to place away
- Few ports
CPU: Intel Core Extremely 7 155U / GPU: Intel UHD (built-in) / RAM: 16GB LPDDR5X / Storage: 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD / Show: 13.3-inch (2880 x 1800) 60Hz OLED touchscreen w/ stylus help / Dimensions: 11.78 x 8.03 x 0.63 inches / Weight: 2.95 kilos
A dual-screen laptop computer is precisely what it seems like: a laptop computer with a second display the place the keyboard usually goes.
The Lenovo Yoga E book 9i has a 360-degree hinge, which helps you to use it as an everyday laptop computer, a (giant) pill, and extra. You possibly can put it in clamshell mode and write or sketch on the underside display with a stylus or fold the keyboard folio right into a stand to prop it up and benefit from each screens. You possibly can set it up at house with an exterior monitor as a three-screen desktop alternative, or take it on the go along with the included Bluetooth keyboard and mouse. Its touchscreen gestures are tremendous responsive however too responsive for the digital keyboard and trackpad. It’s straightforward to mistype and by accident decrease home windows.
The Yoga E book’s solely actual competitor is Asus’ Zenbook Duo. The Duo’s bodily keyboard features a trackpad and makes it look much more like a conventional laptop computer. Its 14-inch OLED screens are somewhat larger and brighter, it has a ton of port choices, it’s extra highly effective, and it’s somewhat simpler to fold up and put away. But it surely’s additionally heavier (at 3.64 kilos), its prime lid doesn’t fold again far sufficient to make use of it as a pill, and its touchscreen gestures aren’t as responsive.
Learn our head-to-head review of the Lenovo Yoga E book 9i and the Asus Zenbook Duo.
The very best repairable laptop computer
$899
The Good
- Nonetheless the repairability champ with glorious, modular port choice
- Quicker CPU efficiency over each Intel and former AMD fashions
- Excessive-res 3:2 facet ratio display is nice for productiveness
- Skinny, mild, and an total nice bundle
The Dangerous
- Radeon 860M iGPU efficiency is somewhat missing
- Trackpad nonetheless feels somewhat low cost
- Display is somewhat missing in distinction and shade high quality
- Much less repairable laptops supply extra for related costs or much less
CPU: AMD Ryzen AI 5 340, AI 7 350, AI 9 HX 370 / GPU: Radeon 860M / RAM: 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, 48GB, 96GB / Storage: 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, 8TB / Show: 13.5 inch IPS, 2256 x 1504 60Hz or 2880 x 1920 120Hz, no contact choice / Dimensions: 11.68 x 9.01 x 0.62 inches / Weight: 2.87 kilos
There’s no different laptop computer providing the form of nerdy enjoyable immediately {that a} Framework is. The Framework Laptop 13 isn’t simply the one sport on the town on the subject of a pocket book that’s totally repairable and upgradeable, it’s additionally an amazing productiveness machine for on a regular basis use and has been for a number of years now. For 2025, the Laptop computer 13 will get a processor improve with AMD’s “Strix Level” Ryzen AI chips, giving it larger efficiency than the last-gen Intel and AMD choices with serviceable battery life. In any other case, it’s a lot the identical chassis because the prior generation — they’re indistinguishable from each other.
However that’s a part of what’s so cool a few Framework: a brand new mannequin means a brand new chip you possibly can even put into the outdated mannequin, in order for you an improve and don’t thoughts opening up the chassis your self. It’s really a lot simpler to do than it’s possible you’ll concern, as Framework designs its laptops to offer you full entry to every thing inside with only a easy screwdriver; together with its mainboard, storage, RAM, battery, and a few enjoyable see-through bezels for a contact of customization.
If you happen to go for certainly one of Framework’s DIY Editions it solely comes partially constructed, however this lets you select from many extra configuration choices than its pre-builts. Personally, I believe the DIY route is the best way to go in case you’re up for it, as a result of experiencing the meeting (which took me lower than half-hour) offers you a greater consciousness of what’s in your laptop computer and find out how to change one thing in case you ever must restore or improve it. However even in case you select a pre-built, you possibly can choose from a wide selection of modular ports to outfit it with.
The Laptop computer 13 isn’t as smooth as a equally priced MacBook or Floor, which provide no upgradeability or modularity (apart from the SSD on some Floor Laptops), however the Framework in no way feels low cost. It’s skinny sufficient and light-weight sufficient to be very transportable, and it’s acquired an amazing keyboard with a wonderful trackpad. Its display has a 3:2 facet ratio that’s preferrred for productiveness since you possibly can see a bit greater than the extra typical 16:10.
You in all probability must be actually into the entire repairability and modularity idea to spend the identical or extra on a Framework Laptop computer 13 in comparison with different choices on the market, however anybody can admire choosing your ports and with the ability to swap them round everytime you need.
Learn our Framework Laptop 13 (2025) review.
- We just lately published our review of Acer’s Chromebook Plus Spin 514, which was introduced at IFA 2025 and is now out there beginning at $699.99. The machine runs on a power-efficient MediaTek Kompanio Extremely processor paired with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of UFS 4.0 flash storage. Its 14-inch touchscreen has a decision of 1920 x 1200 or 2880 x 1800 relying in your configuration. The display might be flipped 360 levels, so you should utilize the Chromebook as a pill. You may also spec it with both a 1080p or 5-megapixel webcam. The laptop computer is supplied with a pair of 10Gbps USB-C ports with DisplayPort and Energy Supply, two USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports, and a 3.5mm audio jack. It has glorious battery life and speedy efficiency, however you is perhaps disillusioned by its speaker efficiency. Additionally, it’s a questionable worth since Lenovo’s Chromebook Plus talked about above on this information is simply $50 extra however consists of an OLED display and extra RAM.
- We had been capable of put Framework’s GPU improve claims to the take a look at in our review of the Framework Laptop computer 16 (2025). Our evaluate unit included an Nvidia’s RTX 5070, and as anticipated, the improve provides lots of additional juice for gaming. The graphics card improve prices $699 and can be out there in December. The corporate additionally launched a 240W USB-C charger, which additionally ships in December and is obtainable for preorder now.
- Apple’s 14-inch MacBook Professional with the brand new M5 processor debuted in October, beginning at $1,599.99 for the mannequin with 16GB RAM and 512GB of storage. It’s very a lot a chip bump of an improve, delivering minor enhancements in benchmark testing. If yow will discover the M4 model at an inexpensive low cost, you gained’t be lacking out on a lot. Read our review.
Monica Chin and Nathan Edwards additionally contributed to earlier variations of this shopping for information.
Replace, November twenty first: Adjusted pricing and availability, and added extra particulars relating to the Framework Laptop computer 16 that we just lately reviewed. Brandt Ranj and Cameron Faulkner contributed to this text.
