Acer Aspire Vero
CPU: Intel Core i7-1355U | RAM: 16 GB LPDDR5 | Graphics: Intel Iris Xe | Storage: 512 GB SSD | Display: 15.6-inch | Resolution: 1920 x 1,080 | Refresh rate: 60 Hz | Battery: Up to 12 hours | Weight: 3.8 pounds
Best for: Work and play on a budget.
The Acer Aspire Vero isn’t a trendsetting laptop, but where it might not turn too many heads, it can certainly deliver a solid performance. At this affordable price, you often get laptops with lackluster power, but the Intel Core i7 CPU in this laptop is impressively quick, especially when paired with 16 GB of fast DDR5 memory and a nippy half terabyte SSD. While making the most of Intel’s current-gen 1355U CPU, the Aspire Vero is also impressively efficient, delivering up to 12 hours of battery in the right circumstances. It can’t really game outside of casual titles, but you can stream with a 60 Hz refresh rate.
The 15.6-inch display is bright and colorful. Though 1080p doesn’t look the crispest at this size, it helps extend the battery life over more detailed displays, and it’s still perfectly good for office work or enjoying your favorite streaming services. Port selection on this laptop is strong too, with an array of Thunderbolt 4 and USB-A ports. It also has an HDMI 2.1 output for up to 4K 120 Hz external displays and a 3.5 mm audio jack. It supports Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 and even sports a fingerprint reader. This is a laptop that does it all—for less than $1,000.
Pros:
- Great performance from a low-power CPU
- Bright and colorful 1080p display
- Excellent array of ports
Cons:
- Lacks dedicated GPU for gaming
- 1080p display isn’t as pretty as higher resolution models
Best Windows Gaming Laptop
The Most Powerful Gaming Laptop Yet
Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D
CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D | RAM: 32 GB LPDDR5 | Graphics: Nvidia RTX 4090 | Storage: 2 TB SSD | Display: 17.3-inch | Resolution: 2560 x 1,440 | Refresh rate: 240 Hz | Battery: Up to 5 hours | Weight: 3.8 pounds
Best for: Giving every gaming PC a run for their money.
The Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D is a borderline insane gaming laptop. It’s the first high-end gaming laptop to bring AMD’s stellar X3D technology to laptops, and the results are incredible. It boosts CPU performance in games by unprecedented levels, giving this laptop an advantage over just about any other gaming laptop ever made. It’s much faster than the average gaming desktop PC and can even give high-end models a run for their money. It’s especially good at simulation games too, so if you’re used to your laptop holding you back in a big 4X game, a giant economic simulator or a demanding flight sim, this is the gaming laptop for you.
It partners that stellar CPU with the best gaming graphics chip ever made, the Nvidia RTX 4090. It has 2 TB of storage and 32 GB RAM for a machine that feels snappy and responsive no matter what you’re doing. The IPS display doesn’t have OLED contrast, but it’s not far off, and it has a 1440p resolution at up to 240 Hz which is incredibly fast and results in buttery smooth visuals. The battery life isn’t great, but that’s no different than any other gaming laptop, but what is impressive is that performance is maintained on battery mode. You only get a few hours of life without a power cord, but the option is there without sacrificing all that power.
Pros:
- Incredible performance—this is as fast as it gets
- Massive storage space
- Very fast refresh rate gives smooth visuals
Cons:
- Expensive
- Limited battery life
Best Budget Windows Gaming Laptop
Powerful And Efficient
Asus TUF Gaming A16
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS | RAM: 16 GB DDR5 | Graphics: AMD Radeon 7700S | Storage: 512 GB SSD | Display: 16-inch | Resolution: 1920 x 1200 | Refresh rate: 165 Hz | Battery: Up to 10 hours | Weight: 4.9 pounds
Best for: High-fidelity gaming on a budget.
You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars to play the latest games at high detail levels and frame rates. The Asus TUF A16, with its great array of components, is a powerful modern gaming machine without the demanding price tag. The AMD Ryzen 7735HS is an eight core, highly-efficient CPU based on AMD’s mature Zen3 architecture and with a high clock speed. Paired with the AMD Radeon 7700S, this laptop can deliver serious performance in games and productivity apps alike. With its high refresh rate display, high frame rates look extra smooth.
The 16-inch display looks bright and vibrant, though it doesn’t have the contrast of the OLED models. At just over 1080p, the resolution isn’t the crispest, but that helps maintain battery life which is strong at 10 hours. It has a robust build quality, too, and made the cut as the top budget pick when choosing a gaming laptop.
Pros:
- Powerful performance
- Affordably priced
- Long battery time for a gaming laptop
Cons:
- Lacks an OLED display
- Resolution could be better
Best Windows Laptop For Business
Well Built And Focused
Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon Gen 12
CPU: Intel Core Ultra 155H | RAM: 16 GB LPDDR5X | Graphics: Intel Arc Graphics | Storage: 512 GB SSD | Display: 14-inch | Resolution: 2880 x 1800 | Refresh rate: 120 Hz | Battery: Up to 12 hours | Weight: 2.5 pounds
Best for: Professionals who crave a featherweight yet sturdy system.
The Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon Gen 12 is the latest in a long line of standout professional machines. It maintains that strong pedigree too, with excellent performance from the new-gen Intel CPU with AI enhancements, a lightweight design and a robust build quality that is tried and tested to stand up to the rigors of professional life. At just 2.5 pounds, you can take this lightweight laptop absolutely anywhere and barely notice it’s in your laptop backpack. When you want to get some work done, you can whip it out and use it for up to 12 hours before needing a recharge.
In a break from its predecessors, this generation of Carbon X1 laptop get a bright and vibrant OLED display in the base model. With a high refresh rate and a high resolution, this display blows away previous generations of ThinkPad and makes this both an amazing Windows laptop for work and relaxing with a game or movie at the end of the day. Its Arc graphics aren’t even bad for casual games, but don’t expect any AAA gaming. There’s also Wi-Fi 6E support, a 1080p webcam and a fingerprint reader.
Pros:
- Excellent performance from the latest generation hardware
- Super lightweight and portable
- Impressive OLED display
Cons:
- Battery life not as extensive as ARM laptops
- Expensive
Best Windows Laptop For Work
A Reimagined Classic With The Latest AI Enhancements
HP Spectre X360 14
CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | RAM: 16 GB LPDDR5X | Graphics: Intel Arc Graphics | Storage: 2 TB SSD | Display: 14-inch OLED | Resolution: 2880 x 1800 | Refresh rate: 120 Hz | Battery: Up to 17 hours | Weight: 3.2 pounds
Best for: Working anywhere on anything.
The latest generation of HP Spectre X360 14 doesn’t just build on its predecessors, it leaps from their shoulders to brand new heights that redefines computing. This laptop isn’t just fast, it isn’t just lightweight and portable, and it doesn’t just have amazing battery life that rivals the best laptops Apple has to offer. It does all those things while having an amazing OLED display, a massive SSD storage space, an excellent selection of ports, a comfortable keyboard and a slim, sleek design. This is a laptop that can do it all outside of demanding gaming, and do it very well.
It’s rather expensive, which is the only reason this isn’t stealing the top spot overall, but it’s a strong contender. When you’re buying for work, though, you should consider the splurge. When time is money, cutting down on it by having a fast and effective laptop makes a lot of sense.
Pros:
- Super fast with Intel’s latest generation CPUs
- Gorgeous, fast refresh rate OLED display
- Extensive battery life
Cons:
- Expensive
- Lacks dedicated graphics for demanding gaming
Best Windows Laptop For Students
All The Power To Do Anything
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14
CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS | RAM: 16 GB LPDDR5X | Graphics: Nvidia RTX 4060 | Storage: 1 TB SSD | Display: 14-inch OLED | Resolution: 2880 x 1800 | Refresh rate: 120 Hz | Battery: Up to 8 hours | Weight: 3.3 pounds
Best for: Students who need graphics and CPU power for 3D work and gaming in their downtime.
Technically it’s a gaming laptop, but the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 is a contender for the best laptop of them all, because it can do just about anything. It has the latest generation of AMD Ryzen processor, with amazing performance and efficiency in one from its new Zen 4 design. Its eight cores, high clock speeds and a new AI processor to give it more capabilities locally. It can compete with some larger gaming machines, though it is an HS design, so is more focused on efficiency than raw power.
Still, this is a gaming-focused design, so you will find its battery life more limited than some models, but there’s enough there for a full work day of school or college. It does that despite having a powerful RTX 4060 graphics chip, which is perfect for gaming on the 120 Hz, high resolution OLED display or doing some lightweight rendering or 3D CAD work. It’s super slim and lightweight too, making it easy to carry around, and it looks awesome, with a sleek paintjob and excellent build quality. This is a premium laptop at mid-range pricing.
Pros:
- Powerful performance for both work and play
- Gorgeous OLED screen
- Lightweight and portable
Cons:
- Battery life could be better
- Overkill if you don’t game or do 3D work
- Executive editor Dave Johnson and tech editor Rebecca Isaacs are experts in consumer tech and are constantly testing and reviewing the latest products to hit the market. Johnson has also authored a number of books on the subject.
- Contributor Jon Martindale’s background is rooted in tech journalism, including serving as the owner of a PC hardware review site. Now, he shares his passion for cutting-edge tech by regularly covering and reviewing hardware and accessories, including guides on the best Chromebooks and best gaming keyboards.
- We’ve published an extensive library of computer guides, including everything from wireless keyboards and mice to business laptops and MacBooks.
- To keep our advice up to date, we routinely update this guide. It was last refreshed in April 2024 to expand our buying advice for Windows laptops and add the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 as the best Windows laptops for students.
How We Chose The Best Windows Laptops
- We leveraged our editors tech expertise and hands-on experience reviewing PCs and laptops while researching a wide range of Windows laptops and comparing the specs of each. Some of our picks come personally recommended by our editors.
- For recommended and well reviewed models, we then compared each by their CPU, RAM, graphics, storage, refresh rate, battery life, display size and resolution, prioritizing those that offered the best value for money, along with great performance.
- All the laptops on our list needed outstanding customer reviews, with an average rating of no less than four out of five stars.
- Everyone has different laptop needs, so we made sure to include a recommendation for gamers, budget-minded shoppers, professionals and everyone in between.
How To Choose The Best Windows Laptop For Your Needs
When deciding between Windows laptops, it’s important to consider a variety of features. Here’s what you should consider before you purchase one.
When it comes to the CPU, you want to make sure that your new Windows laptop has an Intel Core i5 or i7 processors or AMD Ryzen equivalents. All of our picks, including our budget pick, the Acer Aspire Vero, feature an i7 processor so you have plenty of processing power for working on documents, streaming and more. These processors offer the performance needed for multitasking, productivity tasks and even some light gaming. They strike a good balance between power efficiency and performance so you can complete your to-do list with ease.
RAM helps with multitasking, while storage helps you take all your documents on your device. You want at least 8 GB of RAM to ensure smooth multitasking, and if you’re working with heavier applications, it’s best to increase your laptop’s memory up to 16 GB. Additionally, consider getting a model with an SSD rather than a traditional hard drive for faster boot times and application loading. 256 GB of storage works well when working with Word documents or those who prefer to use cloud storage; for those working with heavier applications, including video footage, increase storage to 512 GB or 1 TB.
The display quality is crucial for an enjoyable viewing experience—and can make the difference when working with photo and video editing. Look for a Windows laptop with Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution so you can enjoy sharp visuals. Consider factors like color accuracy, brightness, and viewing angles for tasks like photo or video editing. Higher-end models may offer options like 4K resolution or OLED displays, like our top pick, the Asus ZenBook 14X OLED.
Portability is a must-have, especially if you’re frequently on the move. Opt for a laptop that strikes a balance between performance and weight. Thinner and lighter models are easier to carry around, making them ideal for travelers or students who need to lug their laptops from class to class. It may come at the cost of battery life, though, as a bigger battery usually corresponds with a heavier laptop.
When choosing the best Windows laptop, you need to consider your budget. While premium laptops offer top-of-the-line features, they usually have a higher price point. There are plenty of budget-friendly options available. Evaluate your needs against the features offered by different models and choose the one that offers the best value for your budget and needs.
