The best laptop in 2021

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March 22, 2021

The best laptop is the brains of your entire tech lineup. Picking the right laptop means you’ve got all the speed to power you through all of your assignments, and that your work and anything you decide to stream looks beautiful while you’re getting things done. Pick the wrong one and you’re in trouble. Some of today’s best laptops have seen surprising leaps forward in quality, with increasing endurance and performance.

You’ve never had more choice when shopping for the best laptops. There are affordable notebooks for basic web surfing, mainstream machines with premium components and attractive designs, and beastly gaming laptops that will let you play the hottest PC games the way they were meant to be played.

What are the best laptops?

Our pick for the best laptop overall is the Dell XPS 13, which packs speedy performance and a gorgeous bezel-less display into an incredibly slim and lightweight design with long battery life.

If Mac is more your thing, the new MacBook Air with M1 is our recommendation for the best MacBook for most people, as it offer fantastic performance and long battery life.

The Acer Swift 3 is the best laptop for folks on a tighter budget. For our full recommendations, check out our picks for the best laptops below.

The best laptops you can buy today

Best Laptops - XPS 13 Tiger Lake

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1. Dell XPS 13 (2020, 11th Gen)

Gorgeous, immersive display

Comfortable keyboard

Great overall performance

Battery life could be better

Slim port selection

The Dell XPS 13 just got even better with Intel’s 11th Gen Tiger Lake processors, giving it an extra bit of speed under the hood. How good is the Tiger Lake boost? On the Geekbench 5 general performance benchmark test, the XPS 13’s score went up by about 10% against last year’s model. On top of that, the XPS 13 is still as gorgeous as ever, with the Arctic White colorway being a true eye-catcher.

Intel’s Iris Xe graphics gave us good results (against the previous model’s Iris Plus) on the 3DMark Fire Strike benchmark, but we also saw a slight dip on Civ VI. When it comes time to type up your latest assignment or project, the XPS 13’s keyboard is one of the best there is to enable smooth typing, with zero discomfort. The only real issue is in its battery life, where it lasted for a little over an hour less than the 10th Gen XPS 13.

Read our full Dell XPS 13 (2020, 11th Gen) review.

Best laptops: MacBook Air with M1

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2. Apple MacBook Air M1 (late 2020)

Remarkably fast performance

Strong legacy app support

Amazingly long battery life

Still has thick bezels

Light on ports

Apple has revolutionized its laptops, thanks to its own Apple silicon processors, which are replacing the Intel chips it’s previously used. This chip delivers faster speeds than the Air’s ever seen, and the longest battery life in any MacBook either: it lasted 14 hours and 41 minutes on the Tom’s Guide battery test. Not since 2015 has a MacBook come close to that. Not only does the M1 chip make the MacBook Air a multi-tasking fiend, but it also enabled me to play Rise of the Tomb Raider smoothly, and that’s even with Rosetta 2 conversion of that Intel app.

Apple’s move to ARM-based processors look to reap massive benefits, and that includes the ability to run iOS and iPadOS apps on your Mac. Plus, the MacBook Air’s webcam is clearer and more color-accurate than ever, thanks to signal processing. We’re also still happy to see the Magic Keyboard, a great upgrade from the Butterfly-style keyboard of the previous MacBooks.

On top of that, you get stronger sound than you’d expect from a laptop this small, which support Dolby Atmos audio, for better-sounding movies and TV. Not only is this the best laptop for many if not most Apple users, it’s a laptop that should have the PC world looking over its shoulders.

Read our full Apple MacBook Air M1 (late 2020) review.

Best laptops: Acer Swift 3 (AMD)

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3. Acer Swift 3 (AMD)

Amazing battery life

Powerful performance

Affordable

Display is a little dim

Speakers aren’t great

When you want the best bang for your buck, the Acer Swift 3 proves that you can get great performance at a surprisingly low price. Running on the AMD Ryzen 7 4700U CPU, this laptop offers exceptionally long battery life (11:09) in a lightweight design. It’s got more ports than some of the laptops listed above it here: a USB Type-C, HDMI, and a USB-A. Plus, you get a fingerprint reader too.

Its keyboard makes for a solid typing experience, with quiet, clicky keys. We just wish its display had more brightness and color, and that its speakers had a little more kick. But if you’re looking to get things done on a budget, it’s hard to argue with the AMD-based Acer Swift 3, which gives you plenty of reasons to ask about AMD-based versions when you’re looking around.

Read our full Acer Swift 3 (AMD) review.

Best laptops: MacBook Pro with M1

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4. MacBook Pro 13-inch (M1, late 2020)

Best laptop for photo editing

Superb performance

Crazy long battery life

Bright and colorful display

Dated design

Just two Thunderbolt ports

The MacBook Pro with M1 Apple silicon is a fantastic upgrade for anyone who wants more than just the entry-level Air’s speed and endurance. Not only does it beat the Air on battery life, with almost 2 hours more battery life, but it’s got a fan inside so its octo-core M1 chip can be pushed even further without heat issues. Oh, and you still get the fantastic Magic Keyboard, which enables comfortable and responsive typing, the likes of which MacBooks didn’t have during the Butterfly-switch keyboard years.

Plus, its Retina display is both bright and colorful, so any photos or video you edit on the MacBook Pro will look excellent (as will the next Netflix show you binge). We just wish Apple would update its design or give you more Thunderbolt ports (the 4 USB-C port config is currently limited to Intel-based MacBook Pros). Still, it’s amazing to see how Apple’s own processors have obliterated the performance seen in its old Intel-based MacBooks. It all adds up to why the 13-inch MacBook Pro is one of the best laptops period.

Read our full MacBook Pro with M1 review.

Best Laptops: Dell XPS 15

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5. Dell XPS 15 (2020)

Gorgeous, immersive display

Great overall performance

Comfortable keyboard and touchpad

So-so battery life

Gets loud under pressure

Like the latest Dell XPS 13, the Dell XPS 15 2020 makes one of the best laptops around even better. That’s largely thanks to an even more immersive 15.6-inch InfinityEdge display, which ditches the bottom bezel for a stunning 92.9% screen to body ratio. The new XPS 15 is also made better by some smart design tweaks, such as bigger keycaps and a responsive touchpad that’s more than 60% larger than that of the previous generation.

Don’t let its slim and stylish design fool you, either — the Dell XPS 15 2020 is an absolute workhorse. Its 10th Gen Intel Core processors can juggle multiple tasks with ease, and its optional Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Ti GPU gives it some serious muscle for graphics work and gaming. Factor in a pair of impressively loud speakers and solid battery life for a 4K laptop, and the new XPS 15 is one of the best 15-inch laptops you can buy.

Read our full Dell XPS 15 (2020) review

Best Laptops: HP Envy 13t

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6. HP Envy 13t

Great performance

Excellent keyboard

Touch display

Speakers aren’t the best

Battery is just fine

The HP Envy line of laptops has long offered excellent design and high-performance specs, and this model is easily able to go toe to toe with the likes of the Dell XPS 13 and MacBook Pro. Safe to say, if you’re in the market for an Ultrabook, then it’s worth considering the HP Envy 13t. That’s especially true if you need slightly boosted graphics performance and are willing to pay for the upgrade to the GeForce MX250. This is one of the most attractive notebooks we’ve gotten our hands on, with a razor-thin chassis that makes the Mac look dated.

Of course, the laptop is pretty impressive spec-wise, too. The base model comes with an 8th-Gen Intel Core i7 processor, and you can even upgrade it to offer a dedicated graphics card for light gaming and video editing. For those uses, there’s also an option for a 4K display.

Best Laptops: Samsung Galaxy Book Flex

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7. Lenovo Yoga 9i

Long battery life

Colorful 1080p display

Hundreds less than competitors

Limited ports

No IR webcam

The Lenovo Yoga 9i entered a crowded field of 2-in-1s and made a splash with a competitive price. Not only does it have latest 11th Gen Core i7 processor, a built-in stylus and long battery life, but its display is plenty colorful and its neat rotating speaker packs a ton of punch.

And, yes, its port selection may be a little thin, and its display could stand to be slightly brighter. But when it’s $650 less than a similar Dell XPS 2-in-1 and $430 less than the a HP Spectre x360 with the same parts, the Lenovo Yoga 9i is a serious competitor for your investment. Talk about bang for your buck. Oh, and if you pay $600 more? You can get the Shadow Black edition that ups the style, puts the fingerprint reader in a more convenient location and has a glass palm rest that covers the entire deck.

Read our full Lenovo Yoga 9i review.

Best laptop: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano

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8. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano

The best ultraportable laptop

Great battery life

Lightweight

2K, anti-glare display

Limited ports

Dull sound

When we hear a laptop is incredibly thin and light, it makes us worry about how long it will last on a single charge. That’s not the case here, as the 2-pound Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano lasted 12 hours on our battery test, which puts it up there against some of the very best laptops on the market today. And that’s quite impressive when you remember that the 2.9-pound XPS 13 is almost a whole pound heavier.

Lenovo didn’t sacrifice on performance or usability either. The Nano’s Intel 11th Gen Tiger Lake processors provide the speed you need for tons of productivity — and its keyboard provides a snappy and comfortable typing experience that lives up to the ThinkPad brand. You just might need to pack a USB-C hub, though, as it’s a little light on ports.

Read our full Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano review

best laptops: Alienware m15 R4 2021

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9. Alienware m15 R4 (2021)

The best laptop for gaming

Sleek design

Strong performance

Decent keyboard and touchpad

Highly customizable

Fan gets very loud

Short battery life

The Alienware m15 R4 is more than the best gaming laptop on the market, it’s what other gaming laptops should aspire to be (for the most part). It’s got a ton of power for running all of the games you could want, even in full UHD 4K. Speaking of 4K, its screen is vibrant and gorgeous, so everything you play will look as great as it runs. Its design is also impeccable, with a beautiful white chassis (that’s also pretty portable). And when it’s time to get productive, it’s got an excellent keyboard for a comfortable typing experience.

That’s not to say we wish there were some changes. Most notably, its battery life is on the short side (which will leave you hunting for wall outlets). But that’s not exactly surprising, as gaming notebooks aren’t known for their endurance on their internal power supply. The fan can get pretty loud, and its price is on the high end of the spectrum. But for those who want to game, and do it with speed and style, this is the machine you need to check out.

Read our full Alienware m15 R4 review

Best laptops: Lenovo ThinkPad X13 (AMD)

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10. Lenovo ThinkPad X13 (AMD)

Solid speedy performance

Excellent keyboard

Plenty of ports

Underwhelming battery life

Display could be brighter

The AMD-powered ThinkPad X13 is a serious productivity-minded laptop that Lenovo often discounts to less than $900. We tested it with the AMD Ryzen 5 Pro 4650U processor and 8GB of RAM, which proved a strong pairing — and makes this one of the laptops that should give Intel notice that it needs to step its game up. On top of that, you’ve got a fantastic keyboard for getting work done, which makes typing up lengthy documents a breeze.

Add on top of that a ton of ports and serious durability and you’ve got a machine that’s as productive as you are on your best day. If its screen were a bit brighter, it would make for a better device for those inevitable breaks you’ll need to take between projects. That being said, jam breaks will work out well, as its Dolby speakers can pump out the tunes. We just wish it lasted longer, as its 7:53 battery test time will make you more aware of where your nearest power outlet is.

Read our full Lenovo ThinkPad X13 (AMD) review.

Best laptops: HP Elite Dragonfly

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11. HP Elite Dragonfly

Beautiful, eye-catching design

Epic battery life (with optional upgrade)

Bright and colorful screen

Comfortable keyboard

Expensive

The HP Elite Dragonfly is the rare laptop that comes along and sets a new standard for the entire category. This 2-in-1 laptop’s design is one of the most stunning we’ve ever seen on a laptop, with an incredibly thin edges that measure just 0.6 inches in thickness and a deep blue coat of paint that looks refreshing, mesmerizing and classy all at once. And while the Dragonfly is wonderfully light at 2.5 pounds, it also feels impressively sturdy, has an oleophobic coating to prevent fingerprints and uses recycled ocean-bound plastics to help the environment.

Performance and features-wise, this beauty is a beast. Its stunning 13.3-inch display looks gorgeous for movies and TV shows and crushed our color and brightness tests. Its 8th-gen Intel CPU can handle everyday workloads without issues, and its keyboard is one of the most pleasant we’ve ever typed on. There’s also its incredibly epic battery life of more than 12 hours, which beats favorites such as the MacBook Air and XPS 13. The Dragonfly is on the expensive side with a starting price of $1,629, but those who are willing to pay a premium will be rewarded with one of the best laptops on the market.

Read our full HP Elite Dragonfly review.

best laptops: Asus ZenBook Duo 14

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12. Asus ZenBook Duo 14

The best two-screen laptop

Useful ScreenPad Plus display

Snappy overall performance

Solid battery life

Accurate main display

Ergonomically difficult

Display could be brighter

The Asus ZenBook Duo 14 is for anyone who wants a second screen but doesn’t want an external display. And it pulls off this feat by putting a 12-inch touch screen above the keyboard. This screen is great for your secondary windows, such as Spotify, Slack, Discord and more. It can also be used by creative apps from the likes of Adobe, who put touch controls there.

On top of that, its performance is speedy, and competitive with the XPS 13, which it trades rounds with in head-to-head comparison. Plus, its battery life is long — especially when you realize it’s got two screens to light up. The big downside, though, is that without a wrist-rest, the ZenBook Duo 14 is a bit ergonomically unfriendly. But if you’ve got an external wrist rest, you should be good.

Read our full Asus ZenBook Duo 14 review.

Best laptops: Lenovo Chromebook Duet

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13. Lenovo Chromebook Duet

The best cheap Chromebook

Epic battery life

Colorful Full HD screen

Keyboard is included

That keyboard is also kinda cramped

Hinge is a little weak

This one doesn’t really make sense — that’s how good of a deal it is. At $279, the Lenovo Chromebook Duet storms into the front of the conversation when it comes to value. Not only is it a tablet Chromebook, but its keyboard comes free — something that we don’t expect to see from the iPad or any Surface, even the more-affordable Go. Oh, and it’s also a solid tablet too, thanks to strong color output and a sharp resolution that you rarely see at this price point.

The Chromebook Duet also sees ChromeOS gain some touchscreen tablet optimizations that it’s needed for a while, making it easier to navigate all of your tabs. Oh, and as if that wasn’t enough, it’s got amazing battery life, lasting 12 hours and 47 minutes, nearly 13 hours, on our web-surfing test. The only knock against it? Its keyboard might take some getting used to for larger handed-folks.

Read our full Lenovo Chromebook Duet review.

Best laptops: Google Pixelbook Go

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14. Google Pixelbook Go

The best laptop for students

Sleek, minimalist design

Bright, colorful panel

Long battery life

No USB-A ports

So-so audio

The Google Pixelbook Go isn’t just more affordable than the original Pixelbook — it’s also better in almost every way. This highly portable Chromebook stands out with a slim, lightweight design that weighs in at just over 2 pounds, as well as a rubberized, easy-to-grip chassis that comes in sleek Just Black and Not Pink variations. The quiet, comfortable keyboard doesn’t hurt either.

The Pixelbook Go stands out with its long battery life, as we saw it last well over 11 hours on our test. Couple that with solid performance, a bright and colorful display and a responsive touchscreen, and you’ve got one of the best Chromebooks yet for those willing to dip into the premium range. Just be aware that the Pixelbook Go is a bit short on ports, and doesn’t fold into tablet mode like its bigger Pixelbook brother does.

Read our full Google Pixelbook Go review.

Best laptops: Acer Chromebook Spin 713

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15. Acer Chromebook Spin 713

Great battery life

Affordable

Bright and colorful display

Speakers aren’t perfect

Fast, long-lasting and affordable. Typically, you’ll be able to get at least two out of three, but it’s rare that you get the trifecta that Acer nailed with the Chromebook Spin 713. And it’s all packaged together in a sleek silver laptop that’s just three pounds. One of the best laptops for those looking for a low-maintenance alternative to Windows 10 or macOS, the Chromebook Spin 713 is also a convertible with a touch screen display, which you’ll want for Chrome OS’ support of Android apps via the Google Play store.

We’d rank it higher were its speakers a bit stronger, or its keyboard a little larger. Still, the Chromebook Spin 713 is more than deserving of a spot on this list of the best laptops around. Because this is a great offer at $629 — and it often gets put on sale at lower prices.

Read our full Acer Chromebook Spin 713 review

Best laptops: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon

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16. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon

Best laptop for graphic design

Slim and portable

Powerful specs

Good battery life on 1,080p version

Touchpad isn’t great

Expensive

The Lenovo ThinkPad has long been the best laptop for folks with serious productivity demands, and the 7th-gen ThinkPad X1 Carbon should be no exception. The laptop not only offers all the specs you would expect from a flagship laptop, but also has a sleek and slim aluminum chassis, making this machine perfect for those that need something to take to and from work or school.

Around the laptop, you’ll get plenty of ports, including two Thunderbolt 3 ports, two USB 3.1 ports and an HDMI port. While there’s no Ethernet port, you can get an adapter from Lenovo. You’ll also get Lenovo’s best-in-class keyboard and a stunning HDR-ready display.

How to choose the best laptop for you

Performance: If you only need something basic for surfing the web, consider a Chromebook or a cheap Windows laptop with an Intel Core i3 processor and 4GB of RAM. If you plan on getting more intensive work done, consider starting specs such as a Core i5 CPU, 8 to 16GB of RAM and a 256GB to 512GB SSD.

Graphics and gaming: Most mainstream laptops feature integrated graphics, which can handle lightweight titles such as Minecraft and Overwatch but aren’t ideal for intensive AAA games or heavy visual work. For that, you’ll want a laptop with a discrete graphics card, such as an Nvidia GTX 3000-series on the higher end.

Size: Consider how mobile you want your laptop to be. Machines such as the Dell XPS 13 and HP Elite Dragonfly are feather light with slim designs, while gaming notebooks such as the Alienware m15 R4 have more heft to them (but offer big power in exchange).

Operating system: Laptops typically come in three flavors: Windows 10 (most mainstream PCs), macOS (MacBooks) and Chrome OS (Chromebooks). Windows 10 is the most common operating system, while macOS is more ideal for folks already tied into Apple’s ecosystem. Chrome OS is a lightweight operating system built to allow for cheap, fast systems, though it has gotten a bit more robust over the years with support for full Android apps.

Whichever system you decide on, you may also want to pick up the best mouse for your particular work situation.

How we test the best laptops

To find the best laptop, we run every machine through a rigorous suite of benchmarks and real-world tests to gauge how it will perform during everyday use.

We measure the average brightness and color quality of each laptop’s display using our in-house light meter and colorimeter. For general performance, we run our machines through tests that include Geekbench 5 (CPU performance), as well as various 3DMark to measure graphics capabilities. We also run a file transfer test to measure how fast a machine’s hard drive is, as well as a custom battery test that has as machine browse the internet over Wi-Fi until it runs out of juice.

When testing dedicated gaming laptops, we run benchmarks for popular games such as Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Hitman 2 and Far Cry: New Dawn.

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