By The best laptop for you depends on what you do every day. Whether you want a simple budget PC, a productivity workhorse, or a screamer of a gaming notebook, our deep-dive guide has all the advice you need, plus our top product picks in every major laptop category.
Expert Recommendations: The Best Laptops of the Year
At PC-Mag, we bring over four decades of expertise in testing and reviewing laptops to help you make the best choice. With a team of analysts and editors boasting a collective century of experience, we rigorously test more than 100 laptops annually to identify the best models across various categories. Whether you’re looking for a powerful gaming laptop, a reliable work machine, a budget-friendly option, or the latest MacBook, we’ve got you covered.
Our testing process includes detailed performance benchmarks for CPUs and graphics, as well as evaluations of design, usability, connectivity, and—most importantly—value. Currently, the Asus Zen-book 14 OLED Touch stands out as the best laptop for most users, thanks to its exceptional battery life of nearly 20 hours and istanding overall value.
Explore our top picks, compare specifications, and dive into practical buying advice to discover the perfect laptop that suits your needs.
Why the Asus Zen-book 14 OLED Touch Stands Out as the Best Laptop
After evaluating dozens of laptops, the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED Touch emerges as the best choice for most users. This remarkable laptop delivers a competitive balance of features, performance, and affordability, all for under $1,000.
Its sleek, durable design houses powerful hardware, ensuring smooth performance for a variety of tasks. The vibrant OLED display enhances visual experiences, while its exceptional battery life outpaces most competitors, making it ideal for on-the-go use.
With this combination of quality and value, the Asus Zen-book 14 OLED Touch rightfully earns its place as the best overall laptop in its price range.
Best Overall: The Asus Zen-book 14 OLED Touch
The Asus Zen-book 14 OLED Touch stands out as the best overall laptop for 2024. This ultraportable powerhouse offers a stunning OLED display, a durable and lightweight design, and nearly 20 hours of battery life. It’s powered by the latest processors, ensuring seamless multitasking and top-tier performance for a wide range of tasks. At under $1,000, it provides exceptional value, combining premium features with affordability.
Top Picks for Gaming: Power Meets Performance
For gamers, laptops like the Alienware x16 and Razer Blade 15 deliver unmatched gaming performance. Equipped with high-refresh-rate displays, NVIDIA RTX 40-series GPUs, and powerful processors, these machines provide an immersive gaming experience. Their sleek builds and advanced cooling systems ensure optimal performance during extended sessions. Whether you’re playing AAA titles or streaming, these gaming laptops have you covered.
The Best Laptops for 2024: Top Picks for Every Need
The laptop market in 2024 is more competitive than ever, with manufacturers introducing groundbreaking features, better performance, and innovative designs. Whether you’re a professional seeking a reliable work companion, a student on a budget, or a gamer looking for cutting-edge technology, there’s a laptop perfectly suited for you. Here’s a detailed guide to the best laptops of 2024 to help you make an informed decision.
Best Overall: The Asus Zenbook 14 OLED Touch
The Asus Zenbook 14 OLED Touch stands out as the best overall laptop for 2024. This ultraportable powerhouse offers a stunning OLED display, a durable and lightweight design, and nearly 20 hours of battery life. It’s powered by the latest processors, ensuring seamless multitasking and top-tier performance for a wide range of tasks. At under $1,000, it provides exceptional value, combining premium features with affordability.
Top Picks for Gaming: Power Meets Performance
For gamers, laptops like the Alienware x16 and Razer Blade 15 deliver unmatched gaming performance. Equipped with high-refresh-rate displays, NVIDIA RTX 40-series GPUs, and powerful processors, these machines provide an immersive gaming experience. Their sleek builds and advanced cooling systems ensure optimal performance during extended sessions. Whether you’re playing AAA titles or streaming, these gaming laptops have you covered.
Budget-Friendly Laptops for Students and Everyday Use
If you’re looking for an affordable yet capable laptop, options like the Acer Aspire 5 and HP Pavilion 15 are excellent choices. These laptops combine reliable performance with user-friendly designs, making them ideal for students or anyone on a tight budget. Expect dependable battery life, ample storage, and features tailored to everyday productivity tasks like browsing, writing, and streaming.
The Best Laptops for 2024: Top Picks for Every Need
The laptop market in 2024 is more competitive than ever, with manufacturers introducing groundbreaking features, better performance, and innovative designs. Whether you’re a professional seeking a reliable work companion, a student on a budget, or a gamer looking for cutting-edge technology, there’s a laptop perfectly suited for you. Here’s a detailed guide to the best laptops of 2024 to help you make an informed decision.
Best Overall: The Asus Zenbook 14 OLED Touch
The Asus Zenbook 14 OLED Touch stands out as the best overall laptop for 2024. This ultraportable powerhouse offers a stunning OLED display, a durable and lightweight design, and nearly 20 hours of battery life. It’s powered by the latest processors, ensuring seamless multitasking and top-tier performance for a wide range of tasks. At under $1,000, it provides exceptional value, combining premium features with affordability.
Top Picks for Gaming: Power Meets Performance
For gamers, laptops like the Alienware x16 and Razer Blade 15 deliver unmatched gaming performance. Equipped with high-refresh-rate displays, NVIDIA RTX 40-series GPUs, and powerful processors, these machines provide an immersive gaming experience. Their sleek builds and advanced cooling systems ensure optimal performance during extended sessions. Whether you’re playing AAA titles or streaming, these gaming laptops have you covered.
Budget-Friendly Laptops for Students and Everyday Use
If you’re looking for an affordable yet capable laptop, options like the Acer Aspire 5 and HP Pavilion 15 are excellent choices. These laptops combine reliable performance with user-friendly designs, making them ideal for students or anyone on a tight budget. Expect dependable battery life, ample storage, and features tailored to everyday productivity tasks like browsing, writing, and streaming.
Creative Powerhouses: Designed for Professionals
For creators, 2024 has brought a new wave of laptops like the Apple MacBook Pro M2 and the Dell XPS 15, which are designed with graphic designers, video editors, and animators in mind. These laptops offer brilliant high-resolution displays, unparalleled color accuracy, and powerful processors capable of handling demanding creative software with ease.
With so many options available, finding the right laptop might seem daunting, but understanding your priorities—whether it’s battery life, performance, or budget—makes the decision easier. Stay ahead of the curve with our recommendations and pick a laptop that aligns with your needs in 2024!
