The best laptops for 2023

We’ve tested and reviewed well over 500 laptops over the years, searching for the best of the best. But to earn the crown as the best laptop in 2023, it needs to have it all: gorgeous design, killer performance, a productive keyboard, long-lasting battery life, and much more.

Each of the laptops below has been vetted thoroughly, whether it’s an affordable Chromebook or a decked-out gaming laptop. Our pick for the best laptop we’ve tested, the Dell XPS 13, is the option we recommend to most people, but something from the list below should suit your needs.

The Best Laptop

Dell XPS 13 (9315)

Specifications
CPU:	Intel Core i5-1230U
RAM:	8GB
GPU:	Intel Xe Graphics
Screen:	13.4-inch 1920 x 1200 IPS
Storage:	256GB SSD
Dimensions:	11.63 x 7.85 x 0.55 inches

The Dell XPS 13 is a gorgeous little laptop priced like no other. The base configuration tends to fluctuate in price, ranging between $749 and $999 so it works out as one of the cheapest ever XPS laptops. It has all the premium features like a comfortable keyboard, great touchpad, killer IPS screen, and 512GB of storage. It’s compact too with remarkably thin bezels although that does mean no more headphone jack. Its performance may be a little lackluster compared to other 12th-generation Intel-powered laptops but it’s worth it given its price, great battery life, and great style.

Read our Dell XPXS 13 (9315) review.

The Best MacBook

Apple MacBook Air M1

Specifications
CPU:	Apple M1 Chip
RAM:	8GB
GPU:	Apple M1 8-Core
Screen:	13.3-inch Retina
Storage:	256GB SSD
Dimensions:	11.97 x 8.36 x 0.63 inches

The M1 MacBook Air might be two years old and since overtaken by the M2 MacBook Air, but it’s fantastic value, especially for anyone seeking out the best MacBook. The game-changing M1 chip continues to transform the landscape, making this impressively powerful, yet offering insane amounts of battery life, all while being completely fanless. Two years on, there’s still no Windows laptop that can compete. The only downside is that you can only connect to a single external monitor, but you do at least get two USB-C ports and a MagSafe 3 charging port. Simply put, there’s a lot here for the price, and it’s hands-down one of the best laptops for college students and anyone who does a lot of work on the move. It’s also frequently on sale.

Read our Apple MacBook Air M1 review.

The Best Chromebook

Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3

Specifications
CPU:	Snapdragon 7cG2
RAM:	4GB
GPU:	N/A
Screen:	11-inch 2000 x 1200
Storage:	128GB eMMC
Dimensions:	10.16 x 6.57 x 0.3 inches

Packing a lot in for an impressively low price, the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 easily wins over all the best Chromebooks. Its 10.9-inch screen is even better than 1080p thanks to a 2000 x 1200 resolution. Super sharp, it’s excellent for writing and reading text. It even achieves up to 400 nits of brightness so working near windows isn’t an issue. There’s also a 5-megapixel camera for reliable videoconferencing so this is ideal for working on the move. Excelling as a work or school device, you can delve into the best Android apps for ChromeOS without a hitch. Even better, at this price, it rivals something like an iPad and beats it thanks to being a better system to work from.

Read our Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 review.

The Best Gaming Laptop

Razer Blade 14

Specifications
CPU:	AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX
RAM:	16GB
GPU:	Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080
Screen:	14-inch QHD 165Hz refresh rate
Storage:	1TB SSD
Dimensions:	12.59 x 8.66 x 0.66 inches

Somehow, Razer has squeezed a lot into a very thin 14-inch laptop. Capable of packing an RTX 3080 GPU, Ryzen 9 5900HX, and 1440p screen with a 165Hz refresh rate, this is a stylish yet powerful gaming laptop. Even the 1080p model comes with an RTX 3060 GPU. This is also the only AMD Ryzen-powered Razer Blade 14 so you get the best battery life of any gaming laptop we’ve tested. It’s expensive but eye-catching right down to its Razer logo and per-key RGB backlighting. You may prefer a larger gaming laptop like the Razer Blade 15 or Lenovo Legion 5 Pro but for something sleek yet powerful, the Razer Blade 14 feels like a miracle of design. Not the cheapest or the most powerful, it’s a well-rounded system worthy of being the best overall gaming laptop.

Read our Razer Blade 14 review.

The Best 2-in-1 Laptop

Microsoft Surface Pro 9

Specifications
CPU:	Intel Core i5
RAM:	8GB
GPU:	Built-in
Screen:	13-inch PixelSense Flow
Storage:	128GB SSD
Dimensions:	11.3 x 8.2 x 0.37 inches

The Surface Pro 9 is the latest model in Microsoft’s 2-in-1 line. Even with the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 trying its best, it can’t beat the might of Microsoft. There’s the buttery smooth 120Hz display with the thin bezels we first saw in the previous model, ensuring a more polished product than before. It’s also the first to offer both an Intel model and ARM configuration with the latter using the Microsoft SQ3 for better battery life and 5G connectivity. The latest 12th-generation Intel model is there for those that want the best performance, so you’ve got plenty of options here depending on your needs.

Read our Microsoft Surface Pro 9 review.

The Best Business Laptop

Lenovo ThinkPad Z13

Specifications
CPU:	AMD Ryzen 5 Pro 6650U
RAM:	16GB
GPU:	Integrated AMD Radeon 660M
Screen:	13.3-inch IPS
Storage:	512GB SSD
Dimensions:	11.59 x 7.85 x 0.55 inches

Business laptops don’t need to look boring as demonstrated by the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 demonstrates. Its faux-leather lid looks classy and distinctive with just enough touches across the chassis to feel modern. it’s also one of the best laptops to run on the new AMD Ryzen 6000 chips which means excellent performance and long-lasting battery life. Security features come baked-in but it’s the battery life that really sells this for business needs. It lasts almost as long as anything Apple-flavored at the moment. There’s also a 1080p webcam for all your video call needs, while you can even upgrade to an OLED model for an extra clear screen while you work. Excellent performance and great battery life with some neat features ensure the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 is a reliable option for all your business needs.

Read our Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 review.

The Best Laptop for Photo and Video Editing

MacBook Pro 16-inch

Specifications
CPU:	Apple M1 Pro
RAM:	16GB
GPU:	Apple M1 Pro
Screen:	16-inch Retina
Storage:	512GB SSD
Dimensions:	9.77 x 14.01 x 0.66 inches

The latest MacBook Pro 16-inch makes up for its failings in the past such as by offering better cooling, a more extensive port selection, and no more Touch Bar. It goes further though thanks to its 120Hz mini-LED screen which is the best laptop screen we’ve ever seen, especially when viewing HDR content. There are also the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips adding discrete-level graphics to the already exceptional professor. Even HDR gaming on this screen in Resident Evil Village looks great — an impressive feat for a Mac. Battery life is unrivaled thanks to lasting over 18 hours and easily beating competitors like the Dell XPS 15 or the Razer Blade 15. It’s expensive but you get a powerful laptop for content creation, right down to its improved 1080p webcam and bassier speakers.

Read our MacBook Pro 16-inch review.

The Best MacBook Pro Alternative

Dell XPS 15 (9520)

Specifications
CPU:	Intel Core i5-12500H
RAM:	16GB
GPU:	Intel Iris Xe
Screen:	15.6-inch full HD
Storage:	512GB SSD
Dimensions:	13.56 x 9.06 x 0.73 inches

While it’s hard for the Dell XPS 15 to compete with the MacBook Pro 16-inch, this is the best Windows alternative. Its battery life may not be better but this is a gorgeous-looking laptop. It uses a carbon-fiber weave texture across the keyboard deck and palm rests, creating a truly iconic look. Despite having a 15-inch screen, the overall size of the XPS 15 is far smaller than bulkier 15-inch laptops of the past. Four Thunderbolts and a full-sized SD card slot mean you won’t miss out here either. The standout feature is the choice of going up to a 12th-generation Intel Core i9 processor making this one of the best laptops for video-editing.

Read our Dell XPS 15 (9520) review.

The Best HP Laptop

HP Spectre x360 13.5

Specifications
CPU:	Intel Core i5-1235U
RAM:	16GB
GPU:	Intel Iris Xe
Screen:	13.5-inch touchscreen
Storage:	512GB SSD
Dimensions:	14.21 x 9.84 x 0.76 inches

The thin and light laptop world is a competitive market but the HP Spectre x360 13.5 shines through. It offers a unique yet elegant sense of style in conjunction with high-end components like a stunning OLED display, great battery life, and plenty of ports (including a headphone jack). Plenty fast and with support for multiple external monitors, it’s a bit more expensive than other options but worth it. There’s always the HP Envy x360 13 line if you want cheaper but with the same form factor, but it’s worth investing in the premium nature of the Spectre x360. It has the looks of an M1 MacBook Air with the benefits of Windows.

Read our HP Spectre x365 13.5 review.

First published on June 16, 2015 at 3 PM PT.

Editors’ Recommendations