13 Best Laptops for Every Need, According to Testing

There's something about the MacBook Air M2 that has everyone interested. With a super powerful M2 chip and thin, lightweight design, this laptop is easy to slip in your bag while on your way to work or school yet still is a powerhouse of a machine strong enough to get almost any task done. Plus, it's our favorite MacBook overall for a variety of reasons.

Apple's slim, lightweight Air is an impressive machine thanks to its M2 chip (with 8-core CPU and 8-core GPU, 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD) and superfast Ventura MacOS (which is the latest macOS operating system on the market offering the most features). We love this laptop for work and play, since it runs Apple's iWork productivity suite as well as creative apps like iMovie and Garage Band and entertainment apps like Apple Music and Apple TV.

The fanless design means it's quiet when operating, but can get a bit hotter than other laptops with fans. It also offers retina display and a great keyboard. The touch ID makes it easy to unlock the computer, and the battery life is impressive for working or streaming and the Magsafe charger keeps you from knocking the whole laptop to the ground when someone inevitably trips over the cord. It's also available in a 15-inch version, or you could snag the MacBook Air M1 for just under $1000.

For those who value both budget-friendly products and tech that can get the job done, this affordable laptop boots up quickly and is easy to use.

It's thin and lightweight — just 0.71 inches and 2.35 pounds — but packs in two USB-C ports for ultra-quick data transfer, two USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports and a microSD slot for extra storage. The Chrome OS runs all the Google apps, like Docs and Drive, and makes it simple to access your Google photos, so it is especially good for those that work or study in environments that use Google accounts and need quick and easy access to their Drive.

However, its reliance on this does mean that you won't be able to work as freely when offline as some of the other picks on this list. It includes an HDR camera, and our experts loved the long-lasting battery that can keep you going through hours of work or play.

Our GH experts loved the display on the 13.4-inch screen of this Dell laptop: It makes great use of the available space. Our pros found that even the base model performed well, thanks to the 11th Generation Intel Core i5 processor.

The Windows 11 Home OS covers most Windows suite needs, but those with specific requirements can opt for Windows 11 Pro which Dell specifically recommends for business professionals. According to the brand, it offers more than enough battery life to get through the whole day on a single charge, and at .55 inches thick and 2.59 pounds, it's portable enough to slip into any sized bag and tote around to the office or school.

The computer includes two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a micro-SD card slot and a headset port which is a bit more limited than some other options on this list.

This HP laptop has a 14-inch anti-glare 1920 x 1080 touchscreen, which means you can interact in full HD with all the Android apps that you can access through the Google Chrome OS.

Google's operating system provides consistent updates to protect from malware, and this device includes a privacy shutter that covers your camera when it's not in use for added protection. However, since you are using Chrome, users are limited to only accessing Chrome-friendly software on this laptop.

HP claims up to 10 hours and 45 minutes of battery life between charges so you won't have to tote around your charger to every coffee shop, classroom or other destination you go to. The machine also includes an impressive number of ports so you can connect devices and drives as needed: two USB-A and two USB-C ports, a HDMI input, a MicroSD reader and a headphone jack.

No matter what you need to get done on your laptop, this HP has the tools to help you do it. From an HP Active Stylus Pen that lets you note, mark and draw in laptop mode or with the top flipped around for tent mode, to the web cam kill switch and a mic mute key (nice features for the Zoom era), it will feel like this computer has thought of everything to keep your work day moving as smoothly as possible.

If you are a video editor or music producer, you'll also seriously appreciate the sound quality of the HP Spectre x360 whether you're editing your songs or streaming an epic movie in your free time. HP reports that it had the sound experts at Bang & Olufsen tune the quad speakers on this slim laptop. It also features a 13.3-inch full HD touch screen.

The Intel Core i7 processor helps you access files quickly, and the Windows 10 Pro OS is well suited for productivity. We only wish the stylus was attached to the laptop so you wouldn't have to worry about losing it when not in use.

Thin, lightweight and powerful, and with a price tag under $1,000, this computer packs a punch without putting a strain on your wallet. It's a mere 0.5 inches (13.9 mm) thick and weighs just 2.45 pounds.

But Asus has still packed in the ports to give you flexibility: It has USB-A, two USB-C ports, a full HDMI port and a microSD card reader. It runs Windows 10 Pro and has an Intel Core i7 processor for fast multitasking work. Asus claims up to 16 hours of battery life, which keeps you productive or lets you enjoy streaming.

While testing similar models by the brand, our experts liked that the ZenBooks by ASUS had a wonderful battery life that lasted particularly long. They also appreciated the unique additional features that made it that much better to use, like the touchpad integrated with a number keypad and elevated typing position to make working long hours more comfortable.

MacBook pros are a great option for both older students and hardworking professionals looking to get a sleek, powerful laptop for their everyday needs. The previous model of the Macbook Pro was among the top performers on GPU and CPU capabilities and scored among the best on overall performance, and the 2022 edition ups the ante even further.

The new model features Apple's new M2 chip, which is claimed to be 1.4x faster than the M1 in the 2020 Macbook Pro. This kind of power will be much-loved by professionals across industries as it cuts render and processing times significantly.

The much beloved touch bar makes a return on the new model, adapting to the program you're running and allowing for quick, powerful interactions, like scrubbing through movies and songs or playing a virtual piano. Just like older models, this one features only two thunderbolt ports and a 3.5mm headphone jack, so you may find yourself needing some extra dongles to connect any externals to the machine.

Use this lightweight, 2-in-1 Chromebook as a standalone 10-inch tablet or with the keyboard as a laptop. It weighs less than a pound without the cover or keyboard and just over two pounds with both, so it’s super portable.

The Chrome OS runs all the Google standards — Google Docs, Drive and Keep, plus Google Play Movies, Music and Store — as well as productivity apps like Microsoft Word and Excel. It starts quickly and has 4GB of memory and up to 128 GB eMMC. The cover can adjust to 135º, so you can use it as a stand for the screen when typing on the keyboard or watching video, and you can also work and browse in handheld tablet mode.

The 2022 Gram takes what we loved most about its predecessor — a massive high-res 17-inch screen in a lightweight package — and packs in even more computing power. The large, vibrant display and easy-to-carry chassis makes this laptop perfect for college students. Our experts particularly liked the style and feel of this laptop while testing, and appreciated how lightweight and comfortable it was.

Upgraded with a 12th generation Intel i7 processor and an Intel Iris Plus graphics coprocessor, it won't get bogged down running even the most processor-intensive software (think: photo and movie editing, music creation, complex coding). Fixed with two USB-C ports, two USB-A 3.2 ports, an HDMI port and a 3.5mm audio jack, stuffing the right adapter cable in your bag is one less thing you'll have to worry about.

Durability is another reason we love it for college students. Passing several military-standard tests (MIL-STD-810) from temperature to dust to transportation shock, this laptop won't fail even the most clumsy.

Students will appreciate that this laptop can get through an entire day of school with a single battery charge — our experts got more than 10 hours of battery life in Lab tests. At under 2.5 pounds, it's totable while still offering a full-size keyboard and a 12.4-inch interactive touchscreen with a 3:2 aspect ratio (which means it's a taller screen for more rows of text or more cells in spreadsheet). It has a 720 HD camera for video chats or Zoom classes. All models feature an Intel Core i5 processor and Intel UHD graphics; choices range from 64GB to 256GB of storage.

Dive into an otherworldly experience with this impressive HP laptop that will have users forgetting they aren't actually inside the games they play. Alienware has come to be synonymous with performance for many gamers, and their X17 is definitely worthy of that designation.

The 17-inch screen pairs perfectly with the dedicated NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti coprocessor to render even the most graphics-heavy games beautifully. The laptop's 12th generation Intel Core i9 processor and whopping 32GB of RAM makes for running multiple programs (like streaming while playing the latest gaming craze) seamless. The laptop also features a myriad of ports on the back rim, from USB-A to USB-C to microSD to ethernet so you won't have to drive yourself crazy looking for that one connector dongle.

The only drawback to this powerhouse is one shared by many gaming laptops: battery life. Although there's no specification from the manufacturer about exactly how long it is, it's a safe bet to assume you'll likely get around two to four hours based on previous models.

Those that travel for business will appreciate this lightweight pick with a powerful battery life. This was our experts' pick for travelers thanks to up to 12 hours of battery life and the ability to get two hours of life from just 20 minutes of charging.

In addition, the ridges on the textured bottom make it easy to grab and go. The 8th Gen Intel Core processor makes it quick and responsive, and the 13.3-inch screen with full HD resolution is good for working, streaming and video calls. It has two USB-C port, and runs ChromeOS, which is designed to be secure — handy when on the road. It's great for slipping in your carry-on bag and bringing with you wherever you go.

Aside from the speedy charge time and hefty battery life, we appreciate that this laptop features a touch screen and 1080p camera. Since it's Google, it is however limited to Chrome-friendly software.

A great first laptop, the 10.1-inch Android 10 tablet is a 2-in-1 device with a detachable ergonomic keyboard. It's durable, budget-friendly and compatible with all the necessary kid-friendly apps for early schooling like Zoom, Google Docs and Sheets, Gmail and more.

We appreciate that it also comes pre-loaded with a lot of educational content and apps designed for kids ages 6 through 12 — no internet required so you don't fret if you step out of a Wi-Fi zone. It's drop- and splash-proof, and it has a built-in Webcam privacy cover that you can use to physically block the camera. It has 32 GB of storage and 1280 x 800 screen resolution.

We did find it to be a bit on the heavier side, especially for a 2-in-1 tablet, but rugged enough to be worth the extra ounces.