{"id":1598,"date":"2025-07-03T02:12:38","date_gmt":"2025-07-03T02:12:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/?p=1598"},"modified":"2025-07-03T02:19:06","modified_gmt":"2025-07-03T02:19:06","slug":"i-review-over-200-laptops-each-year-here-are-the-best-laptops-of-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/2025\/07\/03\/i-review-over-200-laptops-each-year-here-are-the-best-laptops-of-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"I review over 200 laptops each year: here are the best laptops of 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

These are the best laptops my team and I recommend based on testing dozens of models from Apple, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Microsoft and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Dell<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

My team and I review over 200 laptops a year, and if you’d told young me that one day I’d be getting paid to review the best laptops on the market I’d have never believed you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you, like me, prefer Windows over macOS I recommend theDell XPS 13instead. The fact that it runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chips means its as fast and long-lasting as any Macbook, and the elegant design and ultra-thin bezels of the XPS 13 are awfully charming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If those laptops are too pricey for your needs, I recommend theAcer Aspire Go 15because it’s a solid, decent Windows laptop that costs a couple hundred bucks\u2014so it’s a smart choice for children, students and anyone who needs a cheap Windows laptop for work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But if you need something more powerful, that’s great for gaming or has a luscious OLED display, I have other suggestions for what to buy. Scroll down\u2014I have lots more tips and advice to help you find the best laptop for you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>>X1W0D Battery for Dell XPS 13 7390 2-In-1<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is the best laptop for me?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

To find the best laptop for your needs, I need to know what you’re going to do with it and where you plan to use it most often.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Work & Productivity:<\/strong>If your #1 priority is having a portable PC you can use to answer email, prepare documents and get work done on the go, you want a modern ultraportable that’s light, comfy to use and offers great battery life. I generally recommend theMacBook Air M4(macOS) or theDell XPS 13(Windows 11) for this, and you can upgrade to models with bigger screens if you want more room to work. If you’re technical and like the idea of upgrading and repairing your own laptop, I wholeheartedly recommend you check out theFramework Laptop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gaming:<\/strong>If you plan to spend a lot of time gaming, you want a laptop with a speedy CPU, a discrete graphics card and plenty of RAM. If you plan to play at higher than 60 frames per second, a screen with a high refresh rate is also great. Personally, I recommend theAsus ROG Zephyrus G14since it satisfies all these requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Creative work:<\/strong>If you plan to do a lot of 3D work, video editing or demanding content creation you will want a laptop that’s very similar to a gaming laptop, with a powerful CPU, a discrete GPU and plenty of RAM to handle demanding workloads. A great screen is also nice to have, and I recommend theMacBook Pro (14-inch M4)or theAsus ProArt P16.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Casual use:<\/strong>If you just need a laptop for basic word processing, browsing the web and binge watching your favorite shows, you can save yourself a lot of money with a budget-friendly laptop. I recommend theAcer Aspire Go 15if you prefer Windows, or theLenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plusif you’re okay with a Chromebook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>>90V7W Battery for Dell XPS 13 9343 9350 JD25G 5K9CP DIN02<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Should I buy a MacBook, Windows laptop or a Chromebook?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Buy a MacBook if<\/strong>you are comfortable using Macs or are already embedded into the Apple ecosystem. While macOS is not as robust as Windows when it comes to gaming, many people find it easy to use and it’s tightly integrated with Apple’s other products, so your iPhone and AirPods will seamlessly interface with your Mac.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy a Windows 11 laptop if<\/strong>you need access to the widest selection of apps, are not tied down to any particular ecosystem, want the best gaming experience and are looking for the broadest selection of laptop designs. Only Windows laptops come with features like touchscreens, high-speed displays or the option to transform into a tablet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy a Chromebook if<\/strong>your work and entertainment needs revolve entirely around a browser. If everything you do is within a Chrome browser, then a Chromebook is the most direct (and cheap) way to get there. Just be aware you’ll be limited to that browser window\u2014ChromeOS is a robust operating system, but without Internet access it can’t do much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>>L23B4PF2 Battery for Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 Gen 9th 2024 83ED000AFR<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best laptops you can buy today<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The best laptop overall<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"MacBook<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

1. Apple MacBook Air M4<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The best laptop for the money<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Specifications<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Display:13.6 inches; 2560×1664<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CPU:Apple M4<\/p>\n\n\n\n

GPU:8-core or 10-core GPU<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RAM:16GB-32GB<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Storage:256GB-2TB SSD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weight:2.7 pounds<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reasons to buy<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

+Strong M4 performance+<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Long battery life<\/p>\n\n\n\n

+Sharper 12MP webcam
+Bright and colorful display
+Thin and lightweight design<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reasons to avoid<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

-No anti-glare display option
-Some Windows laptops last longer
-No Wi-Fi 7<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What you need to know<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The MacBook Air M4 is once again another fantastic all-rounder \u2014 definitely the best MacBook and the best laptop for most folks reading this list. And not only that, but the starting price is $100 less than it was for the M3 Air!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Starting at $999, it may look the same from the outside. But with the speedy new M4 chip giving it performance potential that far exceeds Intel, AMD and Qualcomm’s similarly-priced efforts, a long battery life, and an impressive new 12MP camera, there’s a lot to love for everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy it if<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 You want a small, fast MacBook:<\/strong>The M4 chip inside this MacBook Air delivers exceptional multitasking power, seamlessly balancing performance with impressive battery life and an ultra-light design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 You need a long-lasting laptop:<\/strong>While the M4 Air doesn’t last as long as M3, and some Windows laptops have caught up, with just under 15 hours clocked in my battery life testing, it’s got great stamina.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don’t buy it if<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u274c If gaming is important to you:<\/strong>Yes, Apple Silicon-optimized games run well here. But the vast majority of titles struggle. Intel and AMD have made big graphical gains in their

\u274cYou own a MacBook Air 13-inch M3 or M2:<\/strong>Yes, there are impressive performance gains and that new webcam on the table here. But if you have the M3 or M2 MacBook Air, you’ve got a few more years of software support yet!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bottom line<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udcbbThe MacBook Air M4<\/strong>understood the brief \u2014 give us more of the same, but better and cheaper. And at $999 for this lightweight monster of a system, I know you’ll love it just as much as I do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best value laptop<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\"Acer<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Acer Aspire Go 15<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Best value in laptops right now<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Specifications<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Display:15.6-inch (1920×1080) 60Hz LCD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CPU:Intel Core i3-N305<\/p>\n\n\n\n

GPU:Intel UHD Graphics<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RAM:8GB LPDDR5<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Storage:128GB UFS (Universal Flash Storage)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weight:3.86 pounds<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tested battery life:10:15<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reasons to buy<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

+Comfortable keyboard
+Useful port array
+Good battery life (10 hours tested)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reasons to avoid<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

-Crappy 720p webcam
-Poor performance<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What you need to know<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Acer Aspire Go 15 is easily one of thebest budget laptopsyou can buy, for better and for worse. At $299, you get a thick-set 15-inch ultraportable with a spacious keyboard, plenty of ports and 10+ hours of tested battery life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, you have to make some trade-offs when you buy this laptop. The speakers aren’t very good, the low-res webcam makes you look washed-out and performance in anything but writing and browsing the web is pretty disappointing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But if you can live with those compromises you get a pretty useful laptop for not very much money. It’s the kind of thing I’d recommend a parent give a child as their first laptop, as it’s great for surfing the web and doing homework. Remote learning, office work and research are all easy to do on this affordable 15-incher, but don’t expect to play games or run apps more complicated than Minecraft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy it if<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u2705You need a Windows 11 laptop under $500:<\/strong>The Acer Aspire Go 15 is one of thebest laptops under $500you can get, in my opinion, because it delivers all the utility of a Windows ultraportable for $299. If you need a cheap laptop for school or getting basic work done, this is a great choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 You need a versatile productivity machine:<\/strong>Acer’s Aspire Go 15 can feel sluggish and can’t run demanding games or apps, but what it can do is handle web surfing, writing, schoolwork and emails. The keyboard is surprisingly spacious and comfy and you get a versatile array of ports to boot, making this cheap laptop surprisingly good for school and office work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don’t buy it if<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u274c You can’t stand sluggish PCs:<\/strong>The Acer Aspire Go 15 can help you get work done, but it won’t do it quickly. The weak Intel Core i3-N305 CPU in our review unit chugged if I opened too many Chrome tabs or apps at once, and forget about playing any but the simplest of PC games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u274cYou want to look good on video calls:<\/strong>The cheap 720p webcam built into the Acer Aspire Go 15 is just not very good. It’s serviceable if you need to have a chat with colleagues or family, but you won’t look your best.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bottom line<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udcbbThe Acer Aspire Go 15<\/strong>is a cheap Windows laptop, in both good and bad ways. Luckily, the parts of it which feel cheap in a bad way aren’t dealbreakers unless you really can’t stand a slow laptop. But if you can make peace with its underpowered performance, the Go 15 will reward you with a sturdy, versatile Windows experience that can last 10+ hours on a full battery, according to our testing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best Windows laptop<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\"Dell<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Dell XPS 13<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The best Windows laptop overall<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Specifications<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Display:13.4-inch (1,920 x 1,200) non-touch ISP 60-120Hz<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CPU:Snapdragon X Elite X1E-80-100<\/p>\n\n\n\n

GPU:Qualcomm Adreno<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RAM:16GB<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Storage:512GB SSD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weight:2.6 pounds<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reasons to buy<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

+Lightweight design
+Bright display
+Powerful performance
+Long-lasting battery life<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reasons to avoid<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

-No function row or visible touchpad
-Only two ports<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What you need to know<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

TheDellXPS 13 hits a sweet spot between portability, price and performance in a Windows laptop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We’ve long loved the excellent compromise between portability and screen size that is the XPS 13, and the 2024 model maintains that killer look while upgrading to a killer Snapdragon X CPU that delivers outstanding battery life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the row of capacitive touch function keys and the invisible touchpad are controversial design choices that take some getting used to, those that do will be rewarded with one of thebest Windows laptopsyou can buy. The 2024 Dell XPS 13 may only have a pair of USB-C ports and little else in the port department, but if you just need a fast, lightweight Windows 11 machine for getting things done on the go, this is a great choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy it if<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 You want a great Windows laptop:<\/strong>There are many great Windows laptops out there, but the Dell XPS 13 shines with its winning combo of svelte design, performance and portability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705You want great battery life:<\/strong>The Snapdragon X chip helped our review unit last nearly 20 hours (19:41) in our battery test, which is incredible for a Windows laptop. If you want all-day battery life, get an XPS with Snapdragon inside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 You don’t use a lot of peripherals:<\/strong>The XPS 13 only offers two USB-C ports, one of which you need to use when charging the laptop, so it’s not great for folks who like to plug in a lot of devices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don’t buy it if<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u274c You like physical keys:<\/strong>The Dell XPS 13 has no physical function keys, instead sporting a touch-sensitive bar with light-up capacitive touch keys in its place. So if you hate capacitive touch keys, don’t buy this laptop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u274c Ports are important:<\/strong>The XPS 13 sports 2 USB-C ports, and that’s it. You don’t even get a headphone jack (though it does come with an adapter that lets you plug some into a USB port), so if you value ports don’t buy this laptop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bottom line<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udcbbThe Dell XPS 13<\/strong>is an excellent Windows laptop that’s perfect for work thanks to its light weight, speedy performance and incredible battery life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best Copilot laptop<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Lenovo<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

4. Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The best Copilot+ PC laptop<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Specifications<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Display:14.5-inch 3K (2,944 x 1,840) 90 Hz 16:10 OLED touch display<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CPU:Snapdragon X Elite X1E80100<\/p>\n\n\n\n

GPU:Qualcomm Adreno GPU<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RAM:16GB<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Storage:512SSD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weight:2.8 pounds<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reasons to buy<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

+Fast Snapdragon X Elite performance
+Exceptional battery life
+Vivid OLED display
+Ultraportable design<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reasons to avoid<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

-No headphone jack
-Half-baked AI features
-Arm compatibility issues<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What you need to know<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

TheLenovoYoga Slim 7x is a Windows 11 laptop built for portability and efficiency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thanks to its Snapdragon X Elite chip, you’ll get more than all-day battery life and enough performance to power through your regular workload. The OLED panel is amarvelto behold, and its ultraportable design makes it easy to travel with. For $1,199, it offers an excellent value all around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy it if<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 You want a great Copilot+ laptop:<\/strong>Copilot+ PCs with Snapdragon X Elite chips are great, but the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x delivers a great combination of portability, performance and battery life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705You want an OLED display:<\/strong>The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x’s OLED display is one of its strongest attributes. It delivers vibrant colors and deep contrasts at a sharp 2,944 x 1,840 resolution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 You want dependable battery life:<\/strong>The Yoga Slim 7x lasted for 14 hours on our battery life test, which is well more than you’ll need for a full workday \u2014 with enough left over to stream some videos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don’t buy it if<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u274c You expect useful AI features:<\/strong>This is an issue with all Copilot+ PCs at the moment, but the advertised AI features this laptop supports aren’t fully realized yet. As such, don’t expect this laptop to deliver in that regard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u274c You want a headphone jack:<\/strong>If you want to listen to music or videos without bothering your neighbors then you’ll need to use a pair of wireless headphones since this laptop doesn’t have a headphone jack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bottom line<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udcbbThe Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x<\/strong>is arguably the best Copilot+ PC thanks to its ultraportable design, fast performance, gorgeous OLED panel and phenomenal battery life. Best of all, it won’t break the bank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best Chromebook<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\"Lenovo<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The best Chromebook<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Specifications<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

CPU:Intel Core i3-1315U<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RAM:8GB<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Storage:128GB eMMC<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Display:14-inch (1920×1200) IPS touchscreen<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dimensions:12.4 x 9 x 0.8 inches<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weight:3.57 pounds<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reasons to buy<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

+Good performance
+Bright touchscreen
+Comfy keyboard
+Plenty of ports<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reasons to avoid<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

-Middling battery life
-No stylus included<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What you need to know<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus is thebest Chromebookthat I recommend most often to folks shopping. It does everything a Chromebook can do rather well, from basic office work to watching videos and streaming games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy it if<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 You want a Chromebook that turns into a tablet:<\/strong>The Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus can fold 360 degrees to function like a hefty Chrome tablet. It’s harder to type on, but more comfortable to hold in some situations and also easier to tent when watching movies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705You expect to type a lot:<\/strong>Keyboard quality can be hit or miss on Chromebooks, especially 2-in-1s, so I’m pleased to report I really enjoyed my time typing on the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus thanks to its spacious, well-designed keyboard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don’t buy it if<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u274c You need oodles of battery life:<\/strong>The Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus lasted under 8 hours (7:36) in our battery test, so I can’t recommend it if you need a laptop with all-day battery life. However, if you can bear to lug the charger along it at least charges quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u274c You need great performance:<\/strong>Chromebooks are rarely very powerful, and this one isn’t amazing in that department. While it’s faster than many competing Chromebooks, the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus is a poor choice if you plan to do demanding work like audio\/video editing, production work, game development or the like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bottom line<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udcbbThe Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus<\/strong>is a great value, giving you a lovely 1200p 16:10 touchscreen, a comfy keyboard and enough ports for all your accessories in a a very affordable package. It’s not the best laptop on the market, but it is the best Chromebook right now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best laptop to repair and upgrade<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Framework<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

6. Framework Laptop<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The most customizable, repairable and upgradable laptop<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Specifications<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Display:13.5-inch 3:2 (2,256 x 1,504 pixels)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CPU:13th Gen Intel Core i5 – i7 OR AMD 7040 series<\/p>\n\n\n\n

GPU:Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics or AMD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RAM:8GB – 64GB<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Storage:256GB – 4TB SSD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weight:2.8 pounds<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reasons to buy<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

+Unparalleled ability to upgrade\/repair
+Useful Expansion Card port system
+Great keyboard
+Speedy performance<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reasons to avoid<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

-Loud fans under load
-Webcam not great<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What you need to know<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When it came out we called the Framework Laptop the Anti-MacBook because it’s everything Apple doesn’t do in laptops: Repairable, upgradable and respectful of your rights as an owner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was initially excited about those promises but dubious the company could deliver on them without some glaring sacrifices. But now that I\u2019ve used one myself, I\u2019m happy to report the Framework Laptop is as good as advertised. With its intentionally easy-to-repair design (you can pop pieces off this laptop and get at the innards in minutes, with no tools besides the spudger it comes with) and super cool swappable Expansion Card ports, the Framework Laptop 13 is a versatile ultraportable that’s one of the best laptops you can buy if you care about your right to repair and tinker with your devices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy it if<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 You care about your right to repair:<\/strong>I’ve never seen a laptop that’s easier to open up, fiddle around with and put back together. No other laptop on the market can match the Framework in this regard, so if you care about being able to repair and upgrade your laptop, this is the one for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 You’re plagued by port envy:<\/strong>On most laptops, the ports it comes with are all you get. The Framework is different: you can change what ports it sports by buying hot-swappable Expansion Cards that you plug into 4 slots on the bottom of the laptop, and each can have one port on it. So you can swap out 2 USB-C and 2 USB-A ports for 1 USB-C, 1 USB-A, a DisplayPort out and an Ethernet jack, for example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705You like a tall screen:<\/strong>The 3:2 display ratio of the Framework’s screen feels a bit taller than the displays found on most laptops, and it’s great for working with “tall” things like long documents, emails, coding projects and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don’t buy it if<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u274c You’re scared by pieces of your laptop coming off:<\/strong>The Framework is well-designed and sturdy, but because it’s designed to be taken apart you may occasionally find yourself accidentally doing something like popping the bezel off the screen. This is a feature, not a problem, but it can unnerve new owners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u274c You don’t want to pay extra for ports:<\/strong>The Framework offers unrivaled port versatility thanks to its Expansion Card system, but it does require buying a handful of Cards for all the ports and other options you want, some of which could be easily lost or misplaced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bottom line<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udcbbThe Framework Laptop<\/strong>is a remarkable piece of tech. It’s a great laptop for getting work done, but more than that it’s a statement of purpose, a clear example that every other laptop maker could be building and selling us more repairable, sustainable laptops if they cared to as much as Framework does. Its a fantastic investment if you care about your right to repair and upgrade your own laptop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best gaming laptop<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\"Asus<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Asus ROG Zephyrus G14<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The best gaming laptop for most people<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Specifications<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Display:14-inch (2,880 x 1,800 pixels) OLED 120Hz<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CPU:AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370<\/p>\n\n\n\n

GPU:Up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RAM:Up to 64GB<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Storage:Up to 2TB<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weight:3.5 pounds<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reasons to buy<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

+Super sleek, premium design
+Gorgeous OLED display
+Mighty gaming performance
+Stellar ergonomics<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reasons to avoid<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

-Battery life is underwhelming<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What you need to know<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 is my personal favorite gaming laptop you can buy \u2014 primarily because it doesn\u2019t forget about the \u201claptop\u201d part like a lot of gaming systems do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This refreshed model packs a ton of power into that sleek MacBook Pro-esque aluminum shell in the form of the latest AMD CPU and Nvidia RTX 50-series GPU combo. But the more things change, the more they (fortunately) stay the same, thanks to that gorgeous CNC-milled utilitarian aesthetic and a mesmerizing OLED display.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you need more raw horsepower dedicated to gaming, there are more performant options, and I recommend you check out our best gaming laptops list. But for a better balance of all elements that still delivers big on power, the Zephyrus G14 is a near-perfect pick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy it if<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 You want a beasty gaming machine:<\/strong>AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 + Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 makes for a monstrous pairing of power. Combine that with improved cooling and DLSS 4, and you can run the latest AAA games at over 140 FPS in max settings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 You don\u2019t want other people to know you have a gaming laptop:<\/strong>The standard gaming laptop design is pretty cringe. I always feel uncomfortable pulling one out. But the Zephyrus G14\u2019s tastefully utilitarian CNC-milled aluminum construction looks fantastically subtle from every angle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 You care about a good screen:<\/strong>That 3K OLED panel is a real marvel to look at \u2014 presenting all your favorite games with a real HDR quality that pushes impressive color and a deep contrast ratio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don’t buy it if<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u274c Battery life is a chief concern:<\/strong>This is more a problem I\u2019ve found with gaming laptops as a whole rather than this specific model. But it\u2019s worth noting, as the stamina levels of such highly demanding internals does drop the battery life in day-to-day use to below 7 hours of casual use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u274cWebcam quality matters:<\/strong>The 1080p webcam remains unchanged from the Zephyrus G14 last year, which means you\u2019re getting quite the grainy picture that struggles with low lighting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bottom line<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udcbbThe Asus ROG Zephyrus G14<\/strong>is a fantastic gaming laptop that kept me entertained across 5,000 miles of travel, balancing performance and portability perfectly. The OLED display makes all your gaming look incredibly colorful and immersive, the speakers have been improved, and it\u2019s impressively thin and lightweight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The longest-lasting laptop<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"MacBook<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

8. MacBook Pro 16-inch (M4 Pro, 2024)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The best laptop when battery life matters<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Specifications<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Display:Liquid Retina XDR (3,456 x 2,234) | 120Hz<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Processor:M4 Pro 14-core CPU<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Graphics:M4 Pro 20-core GPU<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Memory:16GB to 48GB<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Storage:512GB to 2TB<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weight:4.7 pounds<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reasons to buy<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

+Utilitarian design
+Fast M4 Pro performance
+Bright and colorful display
+Incredible battery life
+Useful Apple Intelligence features<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reasons to avoid<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

-Desk view is awkward
-Expensive<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What you need to know<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The new MacBook Pro 16-inch (M4 Pro, 2024) occupies the middle spot between the more affordable 14-inch MacBook Pro M4 and the more powerful (and expensive) MacBook Pro 16-inch M4 Max. It\u2019s a laptop for those who want a 16-inch MacBook Pro but don\u2019t want to spend an extra $1,000 for an M4 Max model.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This laptop sports the same practical design as modern MacBooks, alongside fast M4 Pro-driven performance and nearly 21 hours of battery life. That makes it thebest laptop for battery life, and as before, you also get a gorgeous Liquid Retina XDR display, full-height function keys, amazing speakers and plenty of ports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy it if<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u2705<\/strong>You want a fast MacBook<\/strong>: While you shouldn\u2019t expect this to match the video-crunching power of the beefier M4 Max Max MacBook Pro, the M4 Pro-equipped 16-inch MacBook Pro is one of the fastest laptops on the block.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705<\/strong>Battery life is key<\/strong>: The 16-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Pro set a new high-water mark for battery life when we tested it, lasting for nearly 21 hours in our battery endurance tests. That’s one of the longest-lived laptops we’ve ever tested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705You don\u2019t want to pay for an M4 Max model<\/strong>: If you want a 16-inch MacBook Pro but don\u2019t want to spend an extra $1,000 for an M4 Max model, this M4 Pro-driven laptop is the best bet as it still offers fantastic performance and epic battery life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don’t buy it if<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u274c You\u2019re on a budget<\/strong>: While this laptop is cheaper than an M4 Max MacBook Pro, it\u2019s still an expensive device. If you\u2019re on a budget and mainly want a notebook for work or watching videos, the $1,299 15-inch MacBook Air M2 is a better choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u274c You need more power:<\/strong>Conversely, if you\u2019re a professional content creator or gamer who needs as much processing power as possible, you\u2019re better off with an M4 Max MacBook Pro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u274cNotches bug you:<\/strong>There’s a little notch in the center of the top bezel where the camera housing sits, and while most of us get used to it some folks really hate the way it looks. If that’s you, consider another laptop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bottom line<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udcbbThe 16-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Pro<\/strong>delivers some of the best battery life of any laptop we’ve tested to date, along with great performance, a beautiful display and a refined design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best MacBook Air alternative<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"MSI<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

9. MSI Prestige 13 AI+ Evo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The best MacBook Air alternative<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Specifications<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Display:13.2-inch 2.8K (2880 x 1600) OLED<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CPU:Intel Core Ultra 7 258V<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RAM:32GB DDR5<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Storage:1TB SSD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weight:2.13 pounds<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reasons to buy<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

+Extremely lightweight and compact design
+Superb performance
+Amazing 3.5K OLED display
+Good battery life<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reasons to avoid<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

-Cheap-feeling build
-AI is lackluster<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What you need to know<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The MSI Prestige 13 AI+ Evo (from $1,399) isn\u2019t just a fantastic MacBook alternative due to its incredibly lightweight design and compact size, but it also packs nearly as much power as Apple\u2019s excellent offering. That says a lot for this excellent 13-inch laptop, especially if you prefer Windows over macOS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weighing just 2.13 pounds (under 1kg), this laptop makes for a great travel companion for on-the-move professionals or remote workers. With great performance from its Intel Lunar Lake chip and a gorgeous 2.8K OLED display to watch all your favorite shows on, it\u2019s hard to go wrong with this featherweight machine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy it if<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 You need power and portability<\/strong>: The MSI Prestige 13 AI+ Evo\u2019s Intel Core Ultra 7 258V chip and 32GB of DDR5 RAM as standard can handle multi-tasking, creative apps and more \u2014 all in a delightfully small package.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 You enjoy a gorgeous display<\/strong>: With a 13.2-inch 2.8K (2880 x 1600) OLED screen, this laptop is great for binging your favorite shows on, and it even offers greater colors than a MacBook Air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don’t buy it if<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u274c You need a sturdy laptop:<\/strong>Despite its welcome light weight, the MSI Prestige 13 AI+ Evo can feel cheap and a tad fragile, with plenty of flex on the lid and keyboard. For its premium price, it should feela lot<\/em>more durable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u274c You\u2019re looking for next-gen AI<\/strong>: Aside from some usual Copilot+ features and effects in video calls, this isn’t the AI machine that will change the way you\u2019ll use a laptop \u2014 regardless of being \u201cAI+.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bottom line<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udcbbThe MSI Prestige 13 AI+ Evo<\/strong>may be a pricey notebook, but it delivers on its promise of delivering excellent performance in a lightweight design, making for a fitting MacBook alternative for Windows fans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best 2-in-1 laptop<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\u534e\u7855Zenbook<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

10. Asus Zenbook Duo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The best Windows 2-in-1<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Specifications<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Display:Dual 14-inch 3K OLED touchscreen displays 16:10<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CPU:Up to Intel Core Ultra 9 285H<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RAM:Up to 32GB<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Storage:Up to 1TB<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weight:3.8 pounds<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Size:12.3 x 8.6 x 0.8 inches<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reasons to buy<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

+Gorgeous dual OLED displays
+Intel Core Ultra 200 series beefs up performance
+Best keyboard and touchpad in a dual-display
+Strong, durable design that looks great<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reasons to avoid<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

-Battery life takes a hit
-Limited port array<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What you need to know<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A new king of 2-in-1 laptops has taken the throne. Asus has refined the new Zenbook Duo it launched last year with a speed increase to make this a multitasking marvel unlike anything else on this list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That comes down to three reasons. First, the gorgeous dual OLED displays give you a much bigger canvas to work across. Second, the detachable keyboard and touchpad is the best I\u2019ve used in a 2-in-1. And finally, starting at $1,599, this is good value for money for what you get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy it if<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u2705You\u2019re a multi-screen multitasking machine:<\/strong>If you\u2019re working in front of multiple monitors on your day-to-day, going back to a single laptop screen can be constricting. Well, expand to two gorgeous 3K OLED touchscreen panels and in the words of \u2018Step Brothers,\u2019 there\u2019s so much more room for activities!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705You need some strong performance under the hood:<\/strong>The Intel Core Ultra 9 285H makes impressive gains in performance and graphics, to the point that it beats Snapdragon X Elite. This ensures smooth multitasking across every app window you snap on both displays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705Ergonomics matter:<\/strong>In a lot of 2-in-1 laptops, the keyboard gets compromised. Asus\u2019 detachable board here is amongst the best I\u2019ve typed on with a nice tactile feel to every key press and mouse click. Plus, the latency free multi-touch makes zipping across Windows a breeze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don’t buy it if<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u274c You need long battery life:<\/strong>That chip upgrade has compromised the battery life a bit, to the point where you\u2019re looking at just over 6 hours on one charge with both screens running at 120Hz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u274c You need a lot of ports:<\/strong>It\u2019s not the stingiest laptop I\u2019ve seen in terms of ports, but with only a couple of Thunderbolt 4 Ports, a USB-A, HDMI and headphone socket, it\u2019s a little limited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bottom line<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udcbb The Asus Zenbook Duo<\/strong>formed a paradigm shift in dual-screen multitasking last year \u2014 bringing dual-screen laptops to the masses at a more affordable price. For 2025, the speed increases under the hood make it all the more mighty. Pair this with mesmerizing OLED displays and fantastic ergonomics, and this is a top machine for both work and play. Just watch out for that battery life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best MacBook Pro\"MacBook<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

11. MacBook Pro 14-inch M4<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The best MacBook Pro<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Specifications<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Display:14.2 inches Liquid Retina XDR (3024 x 1964 pixels), 120Hz<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CPU:M4 10-core<\/p>\n\n\n\n

GPU:M4 10-core<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RAM:16GB<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Storage:1TB<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weight:3.4 pounds<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Size:12.31 x 8.71 x 0.61 inches<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reasons to buy<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

+Amazing battery life
+Fantastic nano-texture display with zero glare
+Strong M4 performance
+Sharper webcam
+Supports dual external displays<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reasons to avoid<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

-Relatively slow write speed for SSD
-Not the best gaming performance<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What you need to know<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M4 chip is one of the most powerful laptops we\u2019ve yet tested, which is all the more impressive when you consider its svelte 3.4-pound chassis slips into a backpack with ease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, that’s no surprise given that the company has been iterating on this design for years. The addition of an M4 chip under the hood takes the 14-inch MacBook Pro to new heights, making it the best MacBook Pro for most folks thanks to its unbeatable combo of size, performance and price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy it if<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u2705You need to edit videos on the go:<\/strong>And I’m not talking iMovie clips, either – I’m talking about working with Final Cut and Adobe Premiere to edit videos while you’re away from desk. The M4 chip is built for this kind of work, and it will serve you well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 You plan to work outside often:<\/strong>The M4 MacBook Pro is the first to come with the optional nano-texture glass coating, which costs $150 extra but helps stop glare from bright light-which is great when you work outdoors a lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 You want a MacBook that’ll last for years:<\/strong>M4 MacBooks are still (barely) viable, so it stands to reason that M4-driven notebooks could potentially last you 5-10 years. This could help justify the admittedly high initial price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don’t buy it if<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u274c Gaming is important:<\/strong>The M4 MacBook Pro runs Mac-compatible games pretty well, but it’s not the best gaming laptop for the money. If you care about gaming performance, go with one of thebest gaming laptopsinstead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u274c You own a MacBook Pro M3:<\/strong>The M4 MacBook Pro is more capable than its predecessor, but not by much. If you already own a recent MacBook Pro and you’re not craving the nano-texture coating, there’s no reason to rush out and upgrade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bottom line<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udcbbThe MacBook Pro 14-inch M4<\/strong>retains the same fetching design and gorgeous mini-LED display as its predecessors while delivering unprecedented speed and power efficiency. If you want a portable Mac more powerful than a MacBook Air but can’t afford the extra expense or weight of a 16-inch MacBook Pro M4, this is the best MacBook Pro for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to choose the best laptop for you<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

What kind of power do you want?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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 8GB of RAM, because that’s the minimum you should expect from a modern laptop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want something that feels speedy and can handle more than basic writing and web browsing, look for beefier laptops with at least an Intel Core i5 CPU from the past few years, 16GB of RAM and a 256GB to 512GB SSD for storage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What kind of games (if any) do you want to play?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Most laptops feature integrated graphics chipsets that are built into their CPU, which usually struggle to run demanding modern games but can often handle old or less graphically-demanding games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But if want to play the latest and greatest games on your portable PC you’ll want a dedicated gaming laptop, because they come with more powerful discrete laptop graphics cards, more RAM, better cooling systems and other advancements designed to make them decent gaming machines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, you have to make compromises when buying a gaming laptop that you don’t have to make when buying one of thebest gaming PCs, since your laptop needs a beefy battery and enough room to be able to discharge heat effectively without cooking its innards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How big of a laptop do you want?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Think about how often you might carry this laptop around. Machines such as the Dell XPS 13 and MacBook Air are remarkably light and slim, but their 13-inch screens are on the small side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can get a larger 15-inch display on a premium ultraportable like the XPS 15 and still not have to worry about weight too much, but once you start getting up into the realm of 16-inch to 18-inch screens, expect your laptop to weigh at least 3-5 pounds. As mentioned above gaming laptops are almost always several pounds heavier than thin-and-light ultraportables because they need more room for beefier components, but they offer big power in exchange.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

These are the best laptops my team and I recommend based on testing dozens of models from Apple, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Microsoft and more. My team and I review over 200 laptops a year, and if you’d told young me that one day I’d be getting paid to review the best laptops on the market … Continue reading I review over 200 laptops each year: here are the best laptops of 2025<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1598","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-acer"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1598","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1598"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1598\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1600,"href":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1598\/revisions\/1600"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1598"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1598"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1598"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}