Best laptops 2025: Premium, budget, gaming, 2-in-1, and more

Who should buy the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED?

The Asus Zenbook 14 OLED is honestly one of the most well-rounded laptops we’ve come across in a while, which is why we think it’s a great choice for just about anyone.

The 14-inch 1200p OLED really pops–it’s sharp, colorful, and just plain fun to look at. It’s powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS processor, too, so everything feels quick and snappy. Plus, at just under 3 pounds, it makes the perfect travel companion. The battery lasts all day, too–over 16 hours if you’re wondering!

Asus Zenbook 14 OLED: Further considerations

The Zenbook 14 OLED is missing some ports (no Ethernet and limited USB-A) and the glossy OLED screen can be a pain to use outside or in bright rooms. But overall, the good stuff drastically outweighs the downsides. This is a great laptop.

Who should buy the Acer Aspire Go 15?

The Acer Aspire Go 15 is a cheap and easy laptop that does the basics. It’s good for browsing, emails, and streaming shows. Plus, with about 12 hours of battery, you won’t need to go searching for an outlet.

The appeal mostly lies in its value, though. While more expensive laptops nail the polish and the speed, the budget variety is strictly about what’s functional and that’s exactly what you’re getting here. It’s a good option for students or anyone seeking a reliable, no-frills machine under $500.

You’ll also find a surprisingly generous port selection on the Acer Aspire Go 15–USB-A on both sides, a USB-C, an HDMI, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a Kensington lock. That’s more than what some laptops get twice the price.

Acer Aspire Go 15: Further considerations

Like many laptops in the budget category, the Aspire Go 15’s got a few trade-offs to be aware of. The chassis is made of plastic, though that’s part of what keeps the cost down–cheaper materials. It also weighs a little over four pounds. Sure, it’s not the lightest machine in the world, but this is such a minor nitpick and it’s still fine for day-to-day portability. The 1920×1080 display also isn’t very bright, but it’s sharp enough for day-to-day usability.

Who should buy the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1?

If you need a laptop that just won’t quit, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 seriously impressed us with how long the battery life hangs on. PCWorld clocked in at close to 25 hours—so you won’t be stuck hunting for outlets throughout the day.

Stamina aside, it’s also very portable at under 3 pounds. Add in the flexible 2-in-1 design and a seriously good keyboard, and you’ve got a laptop built to keep up with real-life stuff.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1: Further considerations

There’s a lot to love here, but it’s not cheap ($2,336 as tested). And if you want a built-in SD card reader, for instance, you’ll need to pick up a dongle. But if you need a professional laptop that truly lasts, this is it.

Who should buy the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34?

If you’re looking for a reliable Chromebook for day-to-day use, the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 will surely deliver. This machine will run daily tasks just fine thanks to its Intel i5 processor and 8GB of RAM. The 14-inch 1080p display also looks sharp, and the 1080p webcam is perfect for Zoom calls.

Asus Chromebook Plus CX34: Further considerations

While the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 offers smooth performance and a pretty design, there are minor trade-offs to be aware of like the non-competitive battery life (13 hours) and the lack of a touchscreen. You’ll also need to be comfortable with ChromeOS. If you prefer Windows or macOS, we’d recommend looking elsewhere.

Who should buy the MacBook Air (M3)?

The MacBook Air (M3) if you’re after a quiet and powerful machine that won’t completely murder your wallet. It can handle daily use and light creative work no problem thanks to the zippy M3 chip. The battery also lasts up to 19 hours and the 15-inch Liquid Retina display is lovely to look at, though it’s not as bright as the one on the MacBook Pro. It’s thin and light, too–it’s just over three pounds.

MacBook Air (M3): Further considerations

If you need a powerhouse for 3D rendering or video editing, the MacBook Pro is the better option. For the everyday stuff like checking e-mail and scrolling through your Facebook feed, the MacBook Air will deliver on that front.

Read our full MacBook Air (M3) review

Who should buy the Lenovo Legion 5i?

Want zippy gaming performance without dropping a ton of money? The Lenovo Legion 5i hits that sweet spot. It’s rocking an Intel Core i9 CPU and an RTX 4060 GPU, so expect high frame rates on modern games at 1080p. Plus, that 165Hz screen? Makes everything look sharp and buttery smooth.

Lenovo Legion 5i: Further considerations

There are some nice extras worth noting. The first is a 1080p webcam with a physical shutter and the second is a full-sized keyboard with a number pad. It might not seem like much on paper, but these things are important and further add to the value as a whole.

Who should buy the Acer Nitro V 16?

Need a gaming laptop that won’t decimate your wallet? The Acer Nitro V 16 is where the party’s at. It has an RTX 4060 GPU and a Ryzen 7 CPU, so it runs most games at 1080p just fine. It’s not a super-fancy powerhouse, but that’s kind of the whole point — it gets the job done without costing a ton.

The 16-inch 1200p display is quick and smooth thanks to its 165Hz refresh rate, which makes a big difference whether you’re in a fast-paced game or just scrolling around. For around $1,000, you’re getting solid performance without all the extra fluff. It’s a good, no-nonsense pick if you just want to play games and get on with your day.

Acer Nitro V 16: Further considerations

The thing about the Nitro V 16 is that it really leans into the gamer aesthetic with its sharp lines and glowing keyboard. If you dig that style, cool. If not, this might not be the laptop for you. The battery life lasts about four hours, which is typical for a laptop in this category, but you probably can’t game untethered — at least not for very long!

Who should buy the Asus ProArt P16?

If you want sharp, gorgeous visuals and a laptop that can handle some serious work, the Asus ProArt P16 is a solid pick.

The 16-inch 3840×2400 screen makes everything look awesome — whether you’re editing photos or just watching movies. Inside, it’s got an Intel Core i9 CPU and an RTX 4070 GPU, so it can easily handle heavy stuff like video editing. Battery life is pretty good too, around nine hours, so you’re not stuck hunting for an outlet all day. And with USB 4.0, moving big files is quick and painless. All in all, it’s a great machine if you want power without the fuss.

Asus ProArt P16: Further considerations

Performance and display quality are the standout features here, of course, but understated design deserves a mention too. Some may find the all-black chassis too plain while others find it elegant. Also, under heavy workloads, the chassis can run a little warm.

Who should buy the Microsoft Surface Pro (2025)?

If you’re always on the go — whether it’s the train, a coffee shop, or just hopping around the house — the Surface Pro 2025 is pretty much made for that. It’s super light (1.51 pounds!) and still powerful enough to handle all the usual stuff like emails and Zoom calls.

With its Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus CPU, it’s great for anyone who wants something that works like a laptop but feels like a tablet. You can doodle or get work done, all without feeling like you’re lugging around a heavy brick.

Microsoft Surface Pro (2025): Further considerations

The smaller screen might not be great if you’re juggling a bunch of stuff all day, and there’s only two USB-C ports (so you’ll probably need a dock or something). Battery life can last a while, but honestly, it’s kind of all over the place. Also, while battery life can stretch surprisingly far, it varies widely. Expect around two hours at full brightness under heavy use or up to 19 hours with lighter tasks.

Still, if your work mostly lives in the cloud and you value portability above raw power, this is the best ultraportable Windows device you can get right now.

Who should buy the MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo?

If you want a 2-in-1 that’s easy to take anywhere and just keeps going, the MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo is a solid choice. It gets almost 21 hours of battery life, which means you can pretty much forget about charging all day. Honestly, that alone makes life easier. This is a great pick if you’re always on the go and don’t want to be tied to a wall outlet.

MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo: Further considerations

The chassis is primarily plastic, which isn’t a huge deal in the short term, but durability may be affected over time. The keyboard’s also got a compact layout, which may be uncomfortable if you’ve got bigger hands, and the audio quality is average at best.

Who should buy the Framework Laptop 13 (2025)?

Need a laptop that’s super easy to upgrade and tough enough to stick around? The Framework Laptop 13 (2025) is where it’s at. You can swap out pretty much anything—RAM, storage, even the motherboard if you want. It runs on an AMD Ryzen AI 300 processor and is slim enough to toss in your bag and go wherever.

Framework Laptop 13 (2025): Further considerations

The price might sting a bit upfront, and the built-in graphics are okay for everyday stuff, but don’t expect much gaming performance. Battery life’s decent, but nothing groundbreaking.