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 a terrific laptop for most people. The vibrant OLED screen looks great, it’s fast thanks to the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor, it’s light enough to toss in a backpack at 2.82 pounds, and the battery lasts all day. If you want a laptop that nails the basics and still looks sharp, this one’s tough to beat — and it’s pretty darn affordable for the performance and quality on offer, too.

Asus Zenbook 14 OLED: Further considerations

The Zenbook 14 OLED isn’t perfect. It’s missing some ports (no Ethernet and not many USB-A) and the shiny OLED screen can be a pain to use outside or in bright rooms. But overall, the good stuff drastically outweighs the downsides.

Who should buy the Acer Aspire Go 15?

The Acer Aspire Go 15 is a great (affordable!) choice if all you need are the basics. It’ll run everyday tasks like surfing the web or typing up an e-mail, and the 12 hour battery life isn’t half bad.

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 want a laptop that just keeps on trucking along, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 blew us away with its crazy-long battery life. PCWorld clocked it at up to 25 hours, so you won’t be stuck hunting for outlets throughout the day.

Stamina aside, it’s also very portable at under just three 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 really goes the distance, this is it.

Who should buy the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34?

If you’re in the market for a reliable, good-looking Chromebook for everyday use, the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 has it all. 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’ve also got to really like using ChromeOS. If you prefer Windows or macOS, we’d recommend looking elsewhere.

Who should buy the MacBook Air (M3)?

The MacBook Air (M3) is a great choice if you want a powerful, quiet Mac without the Pro price. Starting at $1,299, it handles everyday tasks and light creative work smoothly with the fast M3 chip. The battery lasts up to 19 hours, so it easily goes all day. Its 15-inch Liquid Retina display is sharp and colorful, though not as bright as the MacBook Pro’s. Plus, it’s thin and light (just over three pounds), making it super portable.

MacBook Air (M3): Further considerations

If you need powerful performance for 3D rendering or video editing, the MacBook Pro is a better option than the Air. For most folks, though, the MacBook Air (M3) offers pretty good performance, long battery life, and a chic design.

Read our full MacBook Air (M3) review

Who should buy the Lenovo Legion 5i?

Want solid gaming performance without breaking the bank? 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?

Anyone that wants good performance and a fast display for around $1,000 needs to check out the Acer Nitro V 16. Stuffed with an RTX 4060 GPU and an AMD Ryzen 7 CPU, it comfortably runs modern titles on the higher graphics settings.

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 also 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 it’s laser-sharp visuals and raw power you’re after, the Asus ProArt P16 delivers. The 16-inch 3840×2400 display is perfect for photo editing, watching movies, or design work. It’s also rocking an Intel Core i9 CPU and an RTX 4070 GPU, which is the kind of power you’ll need for something like video production. Battery life is strong too, lasting over nine hours, and it supports lightning fast USB 4.0 transfers.

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 more resource intensive workloads, the chassis can run a little warm.

Who should buy the Microsoft Surface Pro (2025)?

If you’re always bouncing between places—on the train, working from coffee shops, or just ambling about the house—the Surface Pro 2025 is kind of perfect. 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 and Intel Arc 130V graphics, 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 compact screen won’t suit everyone for full-time multitasking, and there are only two USB-C ports (you’ll want a dock or hub). 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?

Anyone seeking a versatile 2-in-1 laptop with long battery life will love what the MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo brings to the table. Its nearly 21-hour battery life ensures productivity throughout the day without needing another charge up. The included MSI Pen2 stylus and bright display make it an especially strong choice for creatives and note takers.

MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo: Further considerations

The MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo consists of mostly plastic, which isn’t a huge deal in the short term, but might be a problem later down the line. 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 to game on it. Battery life’s decent enough, but it’s not gonna blow anyone away.