Quick Overview $1,099 at Dell<\/u><\/a>$1,292 at Amazon<\/a>See more options<\/a> $347 at Amazon<\/u><\/a>$440 at Newegg<\/a>See more options<\/a> $1,299 at ASUS<\/u><\/a>$950 at Amazon<\/a>See more options<\/a> $1,400 at Lenovo<\/u><\/a> $850 at Amazon<\/u><\/a>$1,000 at Microsoft<\/a>See more options<\/a> $1,900 at Microcenter<\/u><\/a> $3,500 at Adorama<\/u><\/a>$3,500 at Amazon<\/a>$3,800 at Newegg<\/a>See more options<\/a>See 2 more<\/a><\/p>\n The challenge when thinking about performance is figuring out your sweet spot. That\u2019s because while a laptop with blazing speed is nice, you may be paying for more oomph<\/em> than you need. But if you skimp and get a weak processor, even simple tasks can become a chore and you might end up in a situation where you need to upgrade again sooner than you\u2019d like. Performance is more than just clockspeeds too, so we also consider things like fast wake times, storage speeds, multitasking and more advanced features like support for ray tracing.<\/p>\n Regardless of whether a notebook has a touchscreen or a more traditional panel, we look for bright displays (300+ nits or more) that are easy use outdoors or in sunny rooms, accurate colors and wide viewing angles. Screens with high refresh rates are great for competitive gamers, while those with wider color gamuts are important for content creation. And even if you don\u2019t plan on spending a ton of time on video calls, every laptop needs a decent webcam (1080p or higher).<\/p>\n Even with advancements in cellular modems and WiFi, dedicated ports for transferring data or connecting peripherals can make or break a laptop. Ideally, all but the thinnest and lightest systems come with three USB ports, while things like built-in SD card readers can be extremely handy when trying to import media from a camera. And if a notebook is saddled with a slow or outdated WiFi modem (we\u2019re looking for Wi-Fi 6 or later), that\u2019s basically an immediate disqualification.<\/p>\n It doesn\u2019t matter how powerful a laptop is if it conks out when you need it the most. Typically we look for runtimes of at least eight hours on a charge, but longer is always better. That said, on gaming machines with thirsty GPUs, you may have to settle for a bit less. And on bigger machines, it\u2019s also important to consider if the system can charge via USB-C or if it needs a larger, proprietary power brick.<\/p>\n Screen size:<\/strong> 13-inch | Touchscreen:<\/strong> No | Processor:<\/strong> 12th-gen Intel Core i5\/i7 | Installed memory:<\/strong> Up to 16GB | Storage:<\/strong> Up to 512GB | Weight:<\/strong> 2.56 pounds | Battery life:<\/strong> Up to 12 hours<\/p>\n It\u2019s no surprise that we love the Dell XPS 13<\/a>. It\u2019s thin, lightweight and it has one of the best screens you can find on a 13-inch ultraportable. And while the XPS 13 doesn\u2019t have the fastest CPU around, a 12th-gen Intel chip is more than enough for a basic workload. The latest XPS 13 model is the slimmest yet, though it loses the headphone jack in the process. If you need a 3.5mm port, or you\u2019re just looking to save some money, it\u2019s also worth considering the slightly older XPS 13 models. And if you want to future-proof your next laptop a bit more, consider the XPS 13 Plus<\/a>, which comes with 13th-gen Intel processors and is currently the best Windows laptop for college students<\/a> in our book.<\/p>\n For 2024, Dell is phasing out the classic XPS design<\/a> for the one we\u2019ve seen on the XPS 13 Plus<\/a>, which will simply be called the XPS 13 going forward. You may want to hold off on picking up a new XPS until the latest models<\/a> become available, which is expected to happen sometime in Q1.<\/p>\n ProsLightweight and attractive designStrong performanceLovely screenConsNo headphone jack$1,099 at Dell<\/a>Explore More Buying Options$1,292 at Amazon<\/a> Screen size:<\/strong> 15-inch | Touchscreen:<\/strong> No | Processor:<\/strong> 11th-gen Intel Core i3 | Installed memory:<\/strong> 8GB | Storage:<\/strong> 128GB | Weight:<\/strong> 3.64 pounds | Battery life:<\/strong> Up to 10 hours<\/p>\n There\u2019s a reason we selected the Acer Aspire 5<\/a> as our top choice in our best budget Windows laptop<\/a> guide: It\u2019s sturdy, fast enough and offers decent battery life. We typically don\u2019t expect much with laptops under $500, but the Aspire 5 has consistently been a solid performer. It\u2019s an ideal laptop for students or kids, or for anyone who isn\u2019t particularly demanding. We\u2019re also surprised by the port selection it offers, including HDMI and<\/em> Ethernet. While we normally don\u2019t recommend laptops with just 8GB of RAM and tiny 128GB SSDs, those specs are more excusable in the Aspire 5 since it\u2019s so darn cheap. Just think of it as a slightly more capable Chromebook.<\/p>\n ProsIncludes HDMI and Ethernet portsSturdy designDecent performance for the priceConsLackluster display$347 at Amazon<\/a>Explore More Buying Options$440 at Newegg<\/a> Screen size:<\/strong> 14-inch | Touchscreen:<\/strong> No | Processor:<\/strong> AMD Ryzen 7\/9 | Installed memory:<\/strong> Up to 16GB | Storage:<\/strong> Up to 1TB | Weight:<\/strong> 3.53 pounds | Battery life:<\/strong> Up to 10 hours<\/p>\n Read our full review of the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n One of our favorite gaming PCs for years, the ROG Zephyrus G14<\/a> remains our choice as the best gaming laptop for most users<\/a>. It weighs just 3.5 pounds, it sports AMD\u2019s powerful new Ryzen chips and it also has the company\u2019s fastest Radeon RX 6000-series mobile graphics. The ROG Zephyrus G14<\/a> has a sleek retro-future aesthetic, a comfortable keyboard and a smooth 144Hz, 14-inch screen. While you\u2019d be more immersed in a 15-inch notebook, those typically cost more and are far heavier than the Zephyrus G14. If you\u2019re looking for a balance between power, style and value, the G14 is an excellent option.<\/p>\n ProsPowerful performanceSleek designGreat 14-inch, 144Hz screenConsA little on the heavy side$1,299 at ASUS<\/a>Explore More Buying Options$950 at Amazon<\/a> Screen size:<\/strong> 14-inch | Touchscreen:<\/strong> Yes | Processor:<\/strong> 13th-gen Intel Core i7 | Installed memory:<\/strong> 16GB | Storage:<\/strong> Up to 1TB | Weight:<\/strong> 3.09 pounds | Battery life:<\/strong> Up to 14 hours<\/p>\n Read our full review of the Lenovo Yoga 9i<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Adaptability is the biggest strength of a 2-in-1, with devices like the Yoga 9i<\/a> capable of transforming into a number of different modes at a moment\u2019s notice. And even though it\u2019s got a relatively portable 14-inch OLED display, Lenovo still found room on the Yoga 9i for three USB-C ports, a fingerprint scanner and a clever rotating soundbar to ensure audio sounds good in any position. Lenovo also includes a free stylus in the box though, sadly, unlike previous models there isn\u2019t a dedicated storage slot for it on the machine anymore. And while its general design hasn\u2019t changed much, Lenovo has improved the Yoga 9i\u2019s performance with updated 13th-gen Intel processors.<\/p>\n ProsGorgeous OLED displayPowerful speakersStrong battery lifeFour USB-C portsPhysical webcam shutterIncluded stylus and travel sleeveConsWhiny fansShallow keyboardNo built-in stylus storage$1,400 at Lenovo<\/a> Screen size:<\/strong> 13-inch | Touchscreen:<\/strong> Yes | Processor:<\/strong> 12th-gen Intel Core i5\/i7 | Installed memory:<\/strong> Up to 32GB | Storage:<\/strong> Up to 1TB | Weight:<\/strong> 1.09 pounds | Battery life:<\/strong> Up to 10 hours<\/p>\n Read our full review of the Microsoft Surface Pro 9<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n For people who want to travel super light, it\u2019s hard to do better than a tablet-style 2-in-1. And, having basically invented the category, Microsoft\u2019s Surface laptops and tablets<\/a> are hard to beat. With the Surface Pro 9, you get a bright touchscreen with a 120Hz refresh rate, along with a stylus support. Though, you\u2019ll need to remember to buy one of Microsoft\u2019s folding keyboards (which includes the pen) separately. You also get long battery life and surprisingly powerful speakers. That said unless you\u2019re deeply familiar with using Windows on ARM-based systems, we\u2019d recommend sticking with the Intel-powered version instead of the model based on Microsoft\u2019s SQ3 chip.<\/p>\n ProsGreat AI webcam featuresExcellent hardware designGorgeous 13-inch screenConvenient removable SSDBuilt-in 5GConsARM chip leads to generally slow performance (Intel model is better)Still suffers from Surface ergonomic issues$850 at Amazon<\/a>Explore More Buying Options$1,000 at Microsoft<\/a> Screen size:<\/strong> 14-inch | Touchscreen:<\/strong> No | Processor:<\/strong> 12th-gen Intel Core i5\/i7 | Installed memory:<\/strong> Up to 16GB | Storage:<\/strong> Up to 1TB | Weight:<\/strong> 3.75 pounds | Battery life:<\/strong> Up to 5.5 hours<\/p>\n Read our full review of the MSI Stealth 14 Studio<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Regardless of if you\u2019re editing videos or playing games, MSI\u2019s Stealth 14 Studio<\/a> packs a lot of power in a very portable package. The base model comes with a 1080p screen, but if you have the money, you\u2019ll want to consider the optional 2,560 x 1,600 display, which boasts a faster 240Hz refresh rate and wider color gamut (100% of DCI-P3). At just 3.75 pounds, the Stealth 14 Studio weighs half a pound less than similarly sized rivals while still supporting up to an NVIDIA RTX 4070 GPU. And the redesigned model has a stunning magnesium and aluminum chassis that\u2019s also available in a larger 16-inch model.<\/p>\n ProsStriking designLightweight and portableSolid performanceBright 240Hz displayUp-firing stereo speakersConsRuns hotNo SD card slotLower-res 720p webcam$1,900 at Microcenter<\/a> Screen size:<\/strong> 18-inch | Touchscreen:<\/strong> No | Processor:<\/strong> 13th-gen Intel Core i9 | Installed memory:<\/strong> Up to 64GB | Storage:<\/strong> Up to 1TB | Weight:<\/strong> 6.75 pounds | Battery life:<\/strong> Up to 3 hours<\/p>\n Read our full review of the Razer Blade 18<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Razer\u2019s revamped Blade 18<\/a> is a monster. It packs full-fat versions of the most powerful components you can put in a laptop including up to an Intel Core i9 13-980HX CPU and an NVIDIA RTX 4090 GPU that runs at up to 175 watts. You also get a massive 18-inch QHD+ display with a 240Hz refresh, tons of ports (including an SD card reader) and gorgeous per key RGB lighting. Holding everything together is Razer\u2019s unibody aluminum chassis, which offers some of the best build quality on any Windows laptop. The one big downside is price: Starting at $2,900 (or closer to $5,000 for a fully loaded model), the Blade 18 is not for people with limited budgets.<\/p>\n Pros240Hz displayPremium aluminum chassisSupports top-notch componentsGreat port selectionConsExtremely expensiveVery short battery lifeBigNo additional display options$3,500 at Adorama<\/a>Explore More Buying Options$3,500 at Amazon<\/a>$3,800 at Newegg<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The sheer number of brands and configs can make picking the perfect Windows laptops a bit challenging. However, all of those choices also mean there\u2019s probably a notebook out there that has everything you need. Before you start searching, it\u2019s important to figure out how you plan to use your next laptop and how much […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":3858,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[55,52,49,56,48,75,51,53,47],"tags":[66,63,60,67,59,76,62,64,58],"yoast_head":"\nMore options<\/a><\/p>\n
Dell XPS 13<\/h3>\n
Best Windows laptop overall<\/h4>\n
![](\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/0_AHX.x1oOU79mdKhikI9w--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTI0MDtoPTEzNg--\/https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/uu\/api\/res\/1.2\/OX727VG5CjsM75g_GIAdKA--~B\/Zmk9c3RyaW07aD03MjA7dz0xMjgwO2FwcGlkPXl0YWNoeW9u\/https:\/\/media-mbst-pub-ue1.s3.amazonaws.com\/creatr-uploaded-images\/2023-06\/dacf8ab0-11c8-11ee-9b1f-2449b7236202\")
Acer Aspire 5 A515-56-347N Laptop<\/h3>\n
Best budget Windows laptop<\/h4>\n
More options<\/a><\/p>\n
ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14<\/h3>\n
Best Windows laptop for gaming<\/h4>\n
<\/p>\n
Lenovo Yoga 9i<\/h3>\n
Best Windows laptop with a 360-degree hinge<\/h4>\n
![](\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/oM.ni9oXUtG2L9Gd0lJGUQ--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTI0MDtoPTEzNg--\/https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/uu\/api\/res\/1.2\/WC6jOai8YcwqE__0108mvQ--~B\/Zmk9c3RyaW07aD03MjA7dz0xMjgwO2FwcGlkPXl0YWNoeW9u\/https:\/\/media-mbst-pub-ue1.s3.amazonaws.com\/creatr-uploaded-images\/2023-06\/6ad0c6b0-11c9-11ee-b7b9-4727e2c44f92\")
Microsoft Surface Pro 9 (2022), 13″ 2-in-1 Tablet & Laptop, Thin & Lightweight, Intel 12th Gen i5 Fast Processor for Multi-Tasking, 8GB RAM, 256GB Storage with Windows 11, Sapphire Microsoft Copilot<\/h3>\n
Best Windows laptop with a 2-in-1 design<\/h4>\n
<\/p>\n
MSI Stealth 14 Studio<\/h3>\n
A powerful, thin-and-light option<\/h4>\n
More options<\/a><\/p>\n
Razer Blade 18<\/h3>\n
A super high-end option<\/h4>\n
Performance<\/h2>\n
Display and webcams<\/h2>\n
Ports and connectivity<\/h2>\n
Battery life<\/h2>\n
<\/a>Engadget<\/p>\n
Dell XPS 13<\/a><\/h3>\n
Best Windows laptop overall<\/a><\/h4>\n
![](\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/uu\/api\/res\/1.2\/OX727VG5CjsM75g_GIAdKA--~B\/Zmk9c3RyaW07aD03MjA7dz0xMjgwO2FwcGlkPXl0YWNoeW9u\/https:\/\/media-mbst-pub-ue1.s3.amazonaws.com\/creatr-uploaded-images\/2023-06\/dacf8ab0-11c8-11ee-9b1f-2449b7236202\")
Acer Aspire 5 A515-56-347N Laptop<\/a><\/h3>\n
Best budget Windows laptop<\/a><\/h4>\n
<\/a>Will Lipman Photography for Engadget<\/p>\n
ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14<\/a><\/h3>\n
Best Windows laptop for gaming<\/a><\/h4>\n
<\/a>Photo by Sam Rutherford \/ Engadget<\/p>\n
Lenovo Yoga 9i<\/a><\/h3>\n
Best Windows laptop with a 360-degree hinge<\/a><\/h4>\n
![](\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/uu\/api\/res\/1.2\/WC6jOai8YcwqE__0108mvQ--~B\/Zmk9c3RyaW07aD03MjA7dz0xMjgwO2FwcGlkPXl0YWNoeW9u\/https:\/\/media-mbst-pub-ue1.s3.amazonaws.com\/creatr-uploaded-images\/2023-06\/6ad0c6b0-11c9-11ee-b7b9-4727e2c44f92\")
Microsoft Surface Pro 9 (2022), 13″ 2-in-1 Tablet & Laptop, Thin & Lightweight, Intel 12th Gen i5 Fast Processor for Multi-Tasking, 8GB RAM, 256GB Storage with Windows 11, Sapphire Microsoft Copilot<\/a><\/h3>\n
Best Windows laptop with a 2-in-1 design<\/a><\/h4>\n
<\/a>Photo by Sam Rutherford \/ Engadget<\/p>\n
MSI Stealth 14 Studio<\/a><\/h3>\n
A powerful, thin-and-light option<\/a><\/h4>\n
<\/a>Photo by Sam Rutherford \/ Engadget<\/p>\n
Razer Blade 18<\/a><\/h3>\n
A super high-end option<\/a><\/h4>\n