Choosing the perfect laptop in 2025 can feel overwhelming with so many options available. Whether you want a sleek MacBook, a powerful Windows machine, a budget-friendly Chromebook, or a gaming powerhouse, there’s something for everyone. This guide highlights our top laptop picks for 2025, along with a detailed buying guide to help you find the best fit for your needs.
Top Laptop Picks for 2025
Apple MacBook Air M4
Display: Liquid Retina, 13.6 inches, 60Hz
CPU: 8-core M4 at 4.05 GHz
GPU: Up to 10-core
Memory: Up to 24GB
Storage: Up to 2TB
Weight: 2.7 lbs
Battery Life: Over 18 hours
Ports: MagSafe 3 charging, 3.5mm headphone jack, 2x Thunderbolt 4
Apple’s 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air M4 models remain the best ultraportables on the market. Starting at $999 and $1,199 respectively, they offer remarkable speed, excellent battery life, and a fanless, silent design. The lightweight metal chassis and great display make them ideal for most users. While the screen refresh rate is limited to 60Hz and the port selection is minimal, these are minor trade-offs for the overall experience.
Dell 14 Premium
Display: 14.5-inch Touch 3.2K OLED InfinityEdge, 120Hz
CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 at 5.1 GHz
GPU: Intel Arc
Memory: Up to 32GB
Storage: Up to 1TB
Weight: 3.6 lbs
Battery Life: Up to 8.5 hours
Ports: 3x Thunderbolt 4, audio jack, microSD card slot
The Dell 14 Premium, formerly the XPS 14, is a sleek Windows laptop with a futuristic design and solid performance. It offers an optional vibrant OLED display and a discrete RTX 4050 GPU. While some may find the capacitive touch buttons divisive and the GPU a generation behind, it remains a top choice for a portable Windows PC.
ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14
Display: 14-inch 120Hz OLED
CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS at 4.00 GHz
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070
Memory: Up to 32GB
Storage: Up to 1TB
Weight: 3.31 lbs
Battery Life: Up to 10 hours
Ports: Multiple USB ports, HDMI, headphone jack
This gaming laptop features a stunning OLED screen, strong performance, and a lightweight aluminum chassis. It’s a great all-rounder for gaming and creative work, though its RAM is soldered and the GPU caps at RTX 4070.
Lenovo Flex 5 Chromebook
Display: 14-inch Full HD touchscreen
CPU: 13th-gen Intel Core i3
Memory: 8GB
Storage: 128GB
Weight: 3.52 lbs
Battery Life: Up to 6 hours
Ports: USB-A, USB-C, headphone jack, HDMI
Our favorite Chromebook offers great value with solid performance, a backlit keyboard, and a versatile 360-degree hinge. It’s ideal for users who primarily work online and want an affordable, reliable machine.
HP Pavilion Aero 13
Display: 13.3-inch Micro-edge Full HD, 60Hz
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5000 series at 3.3 GHz
Memory: 16GB
Storage: 256GB
Weight: 2.2 lbs
Battery Life: Up to 10.5 hours
Ports: USB, HDMI, headphone jack
For budget-conscious buyers, the HP Pavilion Aero 13 offers solid performance, a lightweight design, and generous ports at around $800. It’s a practical choice for everyday use.
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch M5
Display: 14-inch Liquid Retina XDR, 120Hz
CPU: Apple M5
Memory: Up to 128GB
Storage: Up to 8TB
Weight: Starts at 3.4 lbs
Battery Life: Up to 24 hours
Ports: HDMI, headphone jack, MagSafe 3, Thunderbolt 4, SDXC card slot
The latest MacBook Pro M5 offers a faster GPU and excellent build quality. It’s perfect for professionals and creatives needing powerful performance and long battery life, though OLED screen options are still pending.
HP Spectre x360 14
Display: 14-inch OLED touchscreen, 120Hz
CPU: Intel Core Ultra 5 125H at 4.5 GHz
Memory: Up to 32GB
Storage: Up to 2TB
Weight: 3.19 lbs
Battery Life: Up to 13 hours
Ports: USB-A, Thunderbolt 4
This convertible laptop doubles as a tablet with a versatile hinge and vibrant OLED display. It’s great for note-taking and media consumption, with a solid keyboard and plenty of ports.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition
Display: 13.8- or 15-inch PixelSense Flow, 120Hz
CPU: Snapdragon X Plus or Elite at 3.4 GHz
Memory: Up to 32GB
Storage: Up to 1TB
Weight: 2.96 lbs
Battery Life: Up to 17.5 hours
Ports: USB-C, USB-A, headphone jack
Microsoft’s Arm-based Surface Laptop offers excellent battery life, good performance, and a bright display. It’s a strong ultraportable option, though some apps may have compatibility issues.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12
Display: 14-inch matte touchscreen, 60Hz
CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 at 4.8 GHz
Memory: Up to 32GB
Storage: Up to 1TB
Weight: 2.4 lbs
Battery Life: Up to 13 hours
Ports: USB-A, Thunderbolt 4, headphone jack, HDMI
A favorite for business users, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon offers a durable design, excellent keyboard, and long battery life. It handles multitasking well and is great for productivity.
Other Notable Laptops We Tested
- Lenovo ThinkPad X9-14 Aura Edition: Ultraportable business laptop with a bold OLED screen and solid performance.
- ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED: Lovely OLED display but otherwise unremarkable design.
- Razer Blade 14: Premium gaming laptop, pricier than competitors, lacks SD card reader.
- Framework Laptop 16: Modular gaming laptop with user-replaceable parts but expensive.
- Alienware m16 R2: Slimmed-down gaming laptop, solid but typical.
- ASUS Zenbook Duo (2024): Dual-screen laptop with unique hardware but limited software support.
- Dell XPS 16: Large and beautiful but expensive with limited ports.
Laptop Buying Guide
Choosing an Operating System
Decide between macOS, Windows, or Chrome OS based on your software needs and ecosystem preferences. Macs offer seamless integration with Apple devices and excellent battery life. Windows provides flexibility, especially for gaming and business. Chromebooks are affordable and great for web-based tasks but less suited for offline or heavy software.
Price Considerations
Expect to spend $1,000 to $1,800 for most laptops. Higher-end configurations with more RAM, storage, or better GPUs will cost more. Budget options under $1,000 exist but may compromise on build quality or performance.
Laptop Size and Weight
Choose a size that fits your portability and screen space needs. 13-inch laptops are lightweight and portable, 14-inch models offer more screen real estate, and 15-inch or larger are better for creative work or gaming but heavier.
Ports and Connectivity
Look for USB-C and USB-A ports, headphone jacks, HDMI or DisplayPort for external displays, and consider Wi-Fi 6/6E support. Some laptops include MagSafe charging or microSD slots. Wired headphone jacks are still valuable for many users.
Battery Life
Modern laptops should last at least 8 hours on a charge. Apple’s M-series chips lead in battery efficiency, often exceeding 18 hours. Windows laptops vary widely; check reviews for real-world battery performance.
Refresh Rate
A higher refresh rate (120Hz or more) provides smoother visuals, especially for gaming or scrolling. Most mainstream laptops have 60Hz displays, but 120Hz is becoming more common.
CPU and GPU
Look for the latest generation processors: Intel Core Ultra series, AMD Ryzen 8000/9000, or Apple M4/M5 chips. Dedicated GPUs like NVIDIA RTX 40-series enhance gaming and creative workloads.
AI PCs, NPUs, and Copilot+
AI PCs feature neural processing units (NPUs) for efficient AI tasks. Microsoft’s Copilot+ initiative promotes AI-ready laptops with NPUs and enhanced features in Windows 11. These are emerging technologies to watch.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average battery life of a laptop per charge?
Battery life varies widely. Ultraportables like the MacBook Air can last around 18-20 hours, while gaming laptops may last only a few hours under heavy use. Expect at least 8 hours for most modern laptops.
How much RAM do I really need?
At least 16GB is recommended for most users to handle multitasking and modern applications. 8GB may suffice for light tasks, but can lead to slowdowns. Gamers and professionals may want 32GB or more.
What is the best storage capacity for a laptop?
512GB SSD is a good balance for most users. 256GB may be enough if you mostly stream content, while 1TB or more is ideal for media-heavy users or gamers. Chromebooks typically have less storage since they rely on cloud storage.
What’s a good price range for a decent laptop in 2025?
Between $1,000 and $1,800 covers most quality laptops. Higher-end models with premium features cost more, but budget options under $1,000 are available with some compromises.
What’s the difference between macOS and Windows? Which is better?
macOS offers seamless integration with Apple devices and is favored for creative work, while Windows is more versatile, especially for gaming and business. The best choice depends on your software needs and ecosystem.
What are the best laptop brands?
Apple, Dell, ASUS, HP, and Lenovo are among the top brands known for quality and reliability. Avoid lesser-known brands with limited support.
Recent Updates
- October 2025: Added the latest MacBook Pro.
- September 2025: Included a new “Specs to Look For” section.
- August 2025: Updated top picks with Dell 14 Premium.
- May 2025: Verified accuracy of top picks and details.
- March 2025: Added M4-powered MacBook Air.
- November 2024: Included M4-powered MacBook Pros.
- August 2024: Added Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12.