The best Windows laptops you can buy: Expert tested and reviewed

Dell XPS 15 tech specs: Operating System: Windows 11 (Home, Pro) | CPU: 13th Generation Intel Core i9-13900H | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 | RAM: 16GB-64GB | Camera: 720p HD | Battery: 86Wh | Dimensions: 344.40mm x 230.10mm x 18.54mm | Weight: 4.22 lbs- 4.62lbs

The Dell XPS 15 is arguably the most well-rounded laptop, let alone Windows laptop, that you can buy right now. The company’s flagship line of computing comes in three sizes, but the 15-inch model is the one most people are familiar with, coming in a slim-bezel design, brushed aluminum finishing, and an SD card slot on top of the three USB-C ports (two of which support Thunderbolt 4).

The feel and finish of the XPS 15 screams premium, and the best part is that no matter how you configure the laptop, you won’t sacrifice on form factor. What sets the Dell apart from the competition is the 3.5K resolution AMOLED display, which delivers crisp and vibrant visuals that are optimal for photo and video-editing tasks. Prosumers will also get a kick out of the reliable battery life; ZDNET reviews editor June Wan quotes six to seven hours of usage before the 10% lower battery warning appears, although it could last a lot longer.

One Amazon buyer said in their review on the site that their XPS 15 unit was able to last a full 11 hours before needing a recharge. That’s way more than a day’s work. Naturally, that user said they were very happy with its performance. 

Compared to the old 2021 model, the current XPS 15 has more powerful hardware and a slightly better display. It’s not a big jump in quality. It’s also smaller for easier carrying. Despite the overall size difference, you can still enjoy the lovely 15.6-inch screen. Covering everything from mainstream productivity to creative workloads, the Dell XPS 15 is our choice for the best Windows laptop overall.

Review: Dell XPS 15

Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Ultra tech specs: Operating System: Windows 11 (Home, Pro) | CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 Series, Intel Core Ultra 9 Series 1 | GPU: Nvidia RTX GeForce 4050, 4070 | RAM: 16/32GB with 1TB SSD | Camera: 1080p | Battery: Up to 21 hours | Dimensions: 13.99 x 9.86 x 0.65 inches | Weight: 4.1lbs

Featuring one of the best displays on the market, Samsung’s Galaxy Book 4 Ultra is a well-rounded, performance-driven laptop available in configurations suitable for creatives, work users, and even gamers.

The Galaxy Book 4’s 16-inch OLED touchscreen is one of its best features with new anti-reflective glass and updated functionality from its predecessor, last year’s Galaxy Book 3 Ultra.

In addition, the battery life is impressive, pushing further than we expected while reviewing it. The efficiency is supported by the new Intel Core Ultra 7 or 9 chips powering the unit, which results in a standout combination of performance, power, and longevity. 

Review: Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Ultra

ASUS Zenbook 14 Flip OLED tech specs: Operating System: Windows 11 Home | CPU: 13th Gen Intel Core i5-1340P | GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics | RAM: 16GB | Camera: 1080p with IR | Battery: 75Wh | Dimensions: 311mm x 223mm x 16mm | Weight: 3.31lbs

Convertible 2-in-1 laptops are handy because they can satisfy a variety of use cases. In my opinion, the best 2-in-1 device on the market today is the Asus Zenbook 14 Flip OLED. On specific aspects, you could argue that there are better options out there, but in terms of a complete package, you can’t beat this, based on my testing.

The Zenbook 14 Flip OLED sports a stunning, vibrant 14-inch OLED screen outputting 2.8K resolution, covering 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. It also has a contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1, which is notable because it allows the laptop to show off incredible detail. The image is so clear on the Zenbook 14 Flip OLED you can see the pixels on the screen, which is truly the best thing about it. All this is housed in a sturdy yet lightweight 3.31-pound aluminum frame. Under the hood, you’ll find a 13th Gen Intel Core i5 processor, an Iris Xe graphics card, and 16GB of memory — excellent hardware for good all-around performance.

Also: The best 2-in-1 laptops: Top flexible, hybrid, and convertible notebooks

Other important features of the Zenbook 14 Flip include its 1080p IR webcam (perfect for video calls), a keyboard with a great typing feel, and a decent assortment of connections. While the laptop has a thin form factor, it still has a USB-C port, a headphone jack, and an HDMI input on top of the Thunderbolt 4. 

The one downside is it is a bit heavy. You see this criticism over on the Amazon reviews for the Zenbook 14 — users said they enjoy how powerful it is, although they wish it were lighter. 

Also: Asus Zenbook 14 Flip hands-on review

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 3 tech specs: Operating System: Windows 11 Pro 64 | CPU: 13th Gen Intel Core i5 (1340P), Core i7 (i7-1360P, i7-1370P vPro) | GPU: Integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics | RAM: up to 16GB | Camera: 1080p Full HD IR Hybrid with Privacy Shutter | Battery: 49.6Wh | Dimensions: from 14.8 x 293.3 x 208.1 mm (0.58 x 11.54 x 8.18-inches) | Weight: from 2.13lbs

Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen is our pick for the best Windows business laptop since it offers a great combination of top-tier hardware and software features. The machine is super lightweight, clocking in a little over two pounds, and yet it packs a lot of muscle in that slim frame. Under the hood, it can host a 13th-gen Intel Core i7-1370P processor, 16GB of RAM, and 1 TB of storage.

What I found most interesting about this laptop during my testing is that it feels like Lenovo purposely built it to specialize in video calls, because there are so many features and components catering to that specific use case. It comes equipped with a 1080p webcam above the display ensuring you look good to your audience. Dolby Atmos and Dolby Voice are both supported as well. The former is a type of surround sound technology enveloping the listener in sound while the latter makes sure your voice comes through to the other side crystal clear.

Also: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 3 hands-on review

Speaking of being crystal clear, the ThinkPad X1 houses an awesome-looking 13.3-inch, 2K resolution display which is covered in an anti-glare coating. If you don’t know what that is, it’s a special layer OEMs install onto the display to reduce reflections and minimize glare from sunlight. This is great to have as it allows you to use the laptop outdoors while still being able to see the screen.

Over on Reddit, power users have talked about enjoying the display’s aspect, performance, and resolution, but said they are disappointed by the short battery life. If you want a longer-lasting ThinkPad X1 Nano, one commenter recommends buying the first-generation model.

Acer Aspire 3 tech specs: Operating System: Windows 11 Home 64 | CPU: 12th Gen Intel Core i3, i5, i7 • AMD Ryzen 3 3250U, 3 7320U, 5 7520U, 7 5700U | GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics, UHD Graphics • AMD Radeon Graphics | Storage: 4GB, 8GB, 16GB | Camera: HD (720p) | Battery: 45W | Dimensions: from 19 x 363 x 457mm (0.74 x 14.3 x 9.4 inches) | Weight: from 3.75 lbs

Buying a laptop can be an expensive endeavor. Not everyone can afford their first choice, but that doesn’t mean you have to settle for a substandard machine. All of the top-tier manufacturers have affordable in their laptop lineups, but out of everything that’s out there, I have to give the crown to the Acer Aspire 3. It’s a device that, in my opinion, manages to perfectly balance good hardware performance and affordability. All the models cost less than $1,000, and in a few cases, below $300.

The Acer Aspire 3 comes in three display sizes: 14-inches, 15.6-inches, and 17.3-inches. There are about 30 individual models to choose from so you have a wide selection at your fingertips. The reason there are so many of them is because each laptop has different hardware. Half of them house an Intel Core processor ranging from an i3-N305 to an i7-1165G7 CPU. The other half comes equipped with AMD hardware. The Intel options are arguably better performing, but the AMD machines tend to have more storage space. It’s up to you whatever you prefer.

Also: The best cheap laptops for $500 or less: Expert tested

Do keep in mind, that because this is the budget option, it won’t be as powerful as other Aspire models. You may experience a significant slowdown in speed during high workloads nor is the display the greatest. It’s possible you even experience the laptop restarting suddenly. A user review on Best Buy claims to have experienced their unit restarting without warning multiple times. If this is a concern of yours, then we recommend more recent evolutions like the Acer Aspire Go series.

Microsoft Surface Pro 9 tech specs: Operating System: Windows 11 Pro | CPU:12th Gen Intel Core i5/i7 or Microsoft SQ3 (based on Qualcomm)7 | GPU: Surface Pro 9: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
| RAM: 8GB, 16GB, 32GB | Cameras: front: 1080p full HD video • rear: 10MP autofocus camera with up to 4K video | Battery: Up to 15.5 hours | Dimensions: tablet: 287mm x 209mm x 9.3mm | Weight: tablet: 1.94 lbs

Detachable 2-in-1 devices can operate in laptop mode or separate the keyboard and screen sections to use the latter as a tablet. Microsoft’s Surface Pro devices exemplify the “tablet-first” genre of detachable 2-in-1s, where the screen section is propped up by a kickstand when in laptop mode rather than using a traditional screen/keyboard hinge. And Microsoft’s Surface Pro 9 kicks it up a notch further. 

The laptop is similar in a lot of ways to the Surface Pro 8. They both feature the same brush metal appearance and a display with a 120Hz refresh rate for smooth playback. However, multiple differences can be seen in the hardware choices made by Microsoft.

ZDNET’s testing found that the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 could satisfy graphic design needs, deliver excellent front camera performance without giving an “unnatural blush,” and the Corei7 processor handled heavy workloads gracefully. laud the Surface Pro 9’s performance, calling it snappy and powerful, and noting its brilliant screen.

Regarding battery life, ZDNET reviews editor June Wan reported averaging “six hours of battery life per charge…with 120Hz permanently on and brightness set to about 65 percent.” Taking that into account, he said considers the Surface Pro 9 to be a “solid B-tier as far as endurance [goes].” It’s good for the most part, but there’s room for improvement on the next model.

Review: Microsoft Surface Pro 9: The MacBook competitor Windows users have been waiting for 

Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 tech specs: Operating System: Windows 11 Home | CPU: 13th Gen Intel Core i7-13700H | GPU: Intel Xe Graphics, 6GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050, 8GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060, 8GB Nvidia RTX 2000 Ada Generation Laptop GPU, | RAM: 16GB, 32GB, 64GB | Cameras: 1080p | Battery: 58Wh | Dimensions: 323mm x 230mm x 21.8mm | Weight: Iris Xe: 4.18 lbs; Nvidia graphics: 4.36 lbs

Microsoft’s Surface Laptop Studio 2 is unlike any other laptop on the market right now. It carries over many of the design flourishes from the first-generation model while upgrading the device’s hardware to be more in line with contemporary user demands. The screen is held up by a tiltable hinge that lets it switch from laptop mode to stage mode (where the display is angled like a tablet in a stand) to studio mode (where the display is laid flat).

Under the hood, you have a 13th Gen Intel i7 processor paired up with a Nvidia GeForce RTX 40-series or Iris Xe graphics card — your choice. You also have up to 64GB of RAM and 2TB of SSD storage supporting these components. You have a laptop capable of handling various workloads, from everyday productivity to demanding creative projects.

Also: The best laptops for graphic designers, according to experts who use them

The display has a 14.4-inch PixelSense touchscreen outputting a resolution of 2400 x 1600 pixels with a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz. That last number is significant because it enables smooth scrolling and performance. Moreover, the Surface Laptop Studio 2 has a contrast ratio of 1500:1, certified for VESA DisplayHDR 400. This means the screen can output vivid imagery with an unparalleled amount of detail. It’s even made out of Corning Gorilla Glass 5 to resist damage. Depending on your configuration, the battery can last 19 hours of typical device usage.

It certainly has its fans online. Multiple user reviews praise the Laptop Studio 2 for its top-tier design. You even have people calling it the “best Windows laptop out there” right now. The Surface Laptop Studio 2 is expensive, starting at $1,999 for the lowest configuration. That may be a lot but keep in mine what you’re getting: a stacked laptop that handles all sorts of use cases with aplomb.

Also: I demoed Microsoft’s Surface Laptop Studio 2 and was left all kinds of jealous

Razer Blade 17 tech specs: Operating System: Windows 11 Home | CPU: 12th Gen Intel Core i7-12800H | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Laptop (8GB) | RAM: 32GB |  Camera: 1080p + IR | Battery: 61.6Wh | Dimensions: 395 x 260 x 19.9 mm | Weight: 5.2lbs

Not only is the Razer Blade 17 the best gaming laptop on the market, but it’s also our pick for the best 17-inch laptop. The reason is its perfect blend of power and portability. To put it lightly, this machine is stacked. Starting models come with a 12th Gen Intel Core i7-12800H, although you can upgrade it to an Intel Core i9 for better performance. 

The model listed here is from 2022, and it saw multiple improvements from the 2021 version. For starters, it can do 4K resolution gameplay better than before. The Razer Blade 17 had difficulties outputting high-resolution content so people had to lower the game settings so it ran more smoothly. Also, the cooling fans were way louder back then.

Whatever you choose, it’ll be paired up with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 TI graphics card, 32GB of RAM, and a stunning Full HD 360Hz display for a world-class gaming experience. Of course, it has all the goodies you expect from a gaming laptop, like a Chrome RGB keyboard plus the Vapor Chamber Cooling system to keep the operating temperature low. To top it all off, the Blade 17 is great as an all-around laptop thanks to a wide array of ports. It’s compatible with USB-A, Thunderbolt 4, and even SD cards.

Gamers, unsurprisingly, say they love the Razer Blade 17. Many online point to the “perfect” combination of the 12th-gen Intel Core processor, Nvidia GeForce RTX graphics card, and full terabyte of storage as the reason they bought the laptop. talks about how the machine still runs like new even after owning it for a year.

Also: The best gaming laptops of 2024