With all the new Windows laptops released over the course of the past year, we’ve seen more than a handful of impressive machines. But it all comes down to which ones deliver an exceptional experience. That could mean delivering on solid performance, offering a unique feature, or just being a fantastic value relative to the competition.
Advances in processor technology have blown up over the last 12 months, and with the release of the ever-growing Copilot+ lineup, Windows machines are thinner, sleeker, and run cooler than ever before. Not to mention the fantastic battery life on devices like the Surface Laptop and HP Omnibook Ultra Flip 14.
Also: The best lightweight laptops of 2025: Expert tested
Our experts have tested dozens of the best laptops this year, and broken down our favorites by aligning them to common use cases that we think will be helpful to most folks. Here are our top Windows laptops of 2024.
What is the best Windows laptop right now?
We’ve gone hands-on with all of the best Windows laptops on this list, including models from Lenovo, Asus, Dell, Samsung, Microsoft, and more. Currently, our pick for the best overall Windows laptop is the Dell XPS 16, which is as versatile as it is high performing, handling everything from mainstream productivity to creative workloads, multitasking and gaming.
Of course, there are plenty of other options out there, and for that reason, we’ve included several different use cases to round out the list. Our experts took the time to test each device included here to help you find the best of the best. Let’s take a look.
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The best Windows laptops of 2025
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The Dell XPS 16 is arguably the most well-rounded laptop that you can buy right now. As the “Goldilocks” of Dell’s XPS line, it sports all of the best features from other models while introducing several improvements.
Design-wise, the XPS 16 features a zero-lattice keyboard and seamless glass trackpad making for a sleek, stylish-looking device. The display is also gorgeous with a 16-inch, 4K OLED touchscreen surrounded by ultra-thin bezels, giving the illusion that it’s bigger than it actually is.
Review: Dell XPS 16
The XPS line of laptops is highly configurable, but my review unit came with the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card, giving it the ability to easily handle tough workloads like video editing or graphical rendering.
All in all, the wide range of configurations, the sleek form factor, and the gorgeous display make the Dell XPS 16 one of the most well-rounded and performant laptops on the market in 2024.
Dell XPS 16 tech specs: Operating System: Windows 11 (Home, Pro) | CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 or 9 | GPU: Intel Arc, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050, 4060, 4070 | Display: 16″ 4K OLED touchscreen | RAM, Storage: Up to 64GB RAM, 4TB SSD | Camera: 1080p at 30 fps FHD | Battery: 99.5Whr | Dimensions: 0.74 x 14.10 x 9.5 (inches) | Weight: 4.8 lbs.
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There’s been a lot of hype surrounding Copilot+ PCs since they were first announced in May of 2024. So far, it seems much of the hype has been founded, with the performance of these new machines speaking for themselves. Microsoft’s 11th-edition Surface Laptop then went and cemented that perception.
With a sleek, lightweight design, it’s even reminiscent of a MacBook if not for the cool blue color. There’s something very neutral — non-descript, even — about the Surface Laptop, even while retaining a unique silhouette. Minimal? Doesn’t sound particularly Microsoft, does it? And yet, here we are.
Available in a 13.8- and 15-inch form factor, the Surface’s aluminum body comes in a few unique colorways. It sports a bright, 120Hz HDR display, and most importantly, the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite processor.
Review: Microsoft Surface Laptop
This is a laptop that feels fast and light and multitasks with ease across the Windows ecosystem. Web browsing with dozens of tabs, while connected to an external monitor feels responsive and smooth, a must for me to be considered a main driver.
If there’s any laptop where the Windows Copilot key would make sense, it’d be on this laptop. The Snapdragon X Elite’s integrated NPU allows for seamless interaction with the on-device AI that powers features accessible via the Copilot key, your voice, and the taskbar. The Surface’s battery life is fantastic, too. I got over 15 hours of use from a single charge, and that number could easily go higher by utilizing one of Windows’ power-saving modes.
Microsoft Surface Laptop tech specs: Operating System: Windows 11 Home | CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus (8-core) or Elite (12-core) | GPU: Qualcomm Adreno | Display: 13.8 inch or 15 inch, 120Hz | RAM, Storage: up to 32GB, up to 1TB | Camera: Full HD Surface Studio Camera | Battery: 54Wh | Dimensions: 11.85 x 8.67 x 0.69 (inches) | Weight: 3 lbs.
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Asus’ ProArt series consists of sleek laptops with high-end hardware for creatives. At the top of the line is the new AMD-powered ProArt P16, which exudes power and performance with an all-black form factor, giant trackpad with Asus’ proprietary DialPad, and brilliant display.
The 500-nit, 3840 x 2400 resolution AMOLED touchscreen display is definitely one of the best parts of the laptop, if not the most immediately noticeable. It delivers a crisp, bright picture with a glossy, premium coating. Powered by the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU, it acts as a capable powerhouse for photo/video editing, drafting, or animation.
Review: Asus ProArt P16
Under the hood, the hardware on the ProArt P16 is just as impressive with 32GB of memory and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor, a 12-core, 24-thread chip with a 50 TOP NPU. This strong core powers the device’s creative endeavors, whether video editing, using advanced animation or graphic design programs or simply multitasking with a handful of different apps and dozens of browser tabs.
The ProArt P16, for me, was not a laptop that came ready to go out of the box but rather requires some personalization to get the most out of it. Ultimately, this is a good thing, as it encourages innovation on the user’s part to break out of cloned UIs and workflows that all look the same. Ultimately, this makes the ProArt 16 one of the most powerful laptops out there — especially in the hands of an engaged creator.
Asus ProArt P16 tech specs: Operating System: Windows 11 Home | CPU: AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 | RAM: 32GB with 1TB SSD | Camera: 1080p FHD | Battery: 10 hours | Dimensions: 13.97 x 9.72 x 0.68 inches | Weight: 4.8lbs
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Laptops can be expensive, and there’s no reason to pay for what you don’t need. If you just need a laptop to cover the basics or a backup machine for travel, the best option is the Acer Aspire Go 15. This $299 laptop has a 15-inch screen and all the hardware you need to cover web browsing, email, productivity, and media playback for a price you can’t argue with.
The Aspire Go 15 has an Intel Core i3-N305, a somewhat low-end processor with just 8GB of RAM. This combination of hardware puts a cap on what this machine is capable of. However, in my testing, the laptop could mostly keep up with my internet browsing habits (lots of YouTube tabs) and work-related apps, if not some stuttering once the CPU was taxed.
Review: Acer Aspire Go 15
Similarly, the 15-inch screen on this laptop is not the brightest display on the market, but it’s big enough for browsing the web comfortably. The keyboard and trackpad are also light, responsive, and quiet, with enough texture and springiness to make a comfortable experience.
The selection of ports here is also just enough. You get two USB-A ports, one USB-C, an HDMI port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a Kensington lock slot. To sum it up, the Acer Aspire Go 15 is a surprisingly well-optimized 15-inch laptop for a price that won’t break the bank.
Acer Aspire Go 15 tech specs: Operating System: Windows 11 Home in S Mode | CPU: Intel Core i3 | GPU: Intel UHD Graphics | Display: 15.6″ 1080p Full HD IPS, 60Hz | RAM, Storage: 8GB, 128GB | Camera: 720p HD | Battery: 50Wh | Dimensions: 14.29 x 0.74 x 9.44 (inches) | Weight: 3.86 lbs.
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Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Carbon series has consistently had some of the company’s best laptops, and that trend continues with the 12th generation Carbon. The stunning new 2.8K resolution OLED display supported by a wide array of image-enhancing software is a huge upgrade from the previous generation, making images and videos look nothing short of fantastic on this device.
It supports the entire DCI-P3 gamut as well as HDR 500 for bright vivid colors and abyssal blacks. Plus, the screen’s glass is covered in an anti-glare coating to maintain its high quality in bright environments.
Review: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 12th Gen
The 12th generation ThinkPad X1 Carbon has an 8MP webcam on top of the screen, giving it the ability to shoot video in 4K resolution — something not very many laptops can do.
What’s interesting (and a little funny) is that Lenovo finally listened to its user base by changing the location of the FN and Ctrl keys. It’s a small change, but it reduces the chance you’ll hit the wrong button while typing. Additionally, we recommend keeping the charger close by, as the battery drains pretty quickly.
No matter how you look at it, however, the 12th generation ThinkPad X1 Carbon is a great machine that’ll make just about anyone happy.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon tech specs: Processor: Intel Core Ultra 7 155U | Graphics Card: Integrated Intel Graphics | RAM: 32GB | Screen size: 14 inches | Operating system: Windows 11 Pro | Dimensions: 12.3 x 0.6 x 8.5 inches
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The Omnibook Ultra Flip balances an aesthetically pleasing design with comfort. Each button on the keyboard is a near-perfect square with a nice travel distance, ensuring stress-free typing. The laptop’s edges are round, so they won’t poke you in the arm. Furthermore, despite the model’s dark color, fingerprints are hardly noticeable.
The Omnibook Ultra Flip can come in a myriad of configurations; the one I tested housed an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor, an integrated Intel Arc graphics card, and 32GB of memory. This gave it solid performance overall for everyday business, but it’s not quite a powerhouse.
Review: HP Omnibook Ultra Flip 14
Ultimately, it’s a versatile 2-in-1 that’s great for work or play, and it excels in the audio department. It houses a four-speaker setup fine-tuned by the company’s Poly Studio brand, delivering booming audio output with a punchy bass. This, combined with the 9MP AI webcam, offers a video call experience that few can replicate.
For that reason, this laptop really shines when you can get the most bang for your buck and the price dips close to that $1,000 mark.
HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 tech specs: Operating System: Windows 11 Home | CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 Series 2 Evo Edition | GPU: Integrated Intel Arc | RAM: 16GB, up to TB SSD | Camera: 9MP | Battery: 13 hours | Dimensions: 12.35 x 8.51 x 0.59 inches | Weight: 2.97lbs
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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.
Also: The best gaming laptops of 2024
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.
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
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Asus’ sleek new Zenbook S 16 runs on the recently-released AMD Ryzen AI 9 chip with a 50-tops NPU to boost performance via AI. There’s been a lot of hype surrounding this processor as it’s supposed to be AMD’s answer to Intel’s AI chips and the Qualcomm Snapdragon X, and in my benchmarking it outperformed the Snapdragon when it came to graphics.
Speaking of graphics, I adore the display. It is a 16-inch 3K (2880 x 1800 pixels) OLED touchscreen that runs at a speedy refresh rate of 120Hz. The glass appears to be covered in an anti-fingerprint coating because no matter how many times I touched it, not a single smudge was left behind. It also covers the entire DCI-P3 color gamut, allowing over a billion colors to be displayed on the screen at once.
Review: Asus Zenbook S 16
I also have to mention the physical design of the Zenbook. It’s made out of “ceraluminum,” a composite material made of ceramic and aluminum primarily used in aerospace design due to its strength, scratch resistance, and lightness. All of which directly apply to this laptop (particularly the latter), as the Zenbook weighs just 3.3 pounds. Not to mention, it looks premium and unique.
I recommend the Asus Zenbook S 16 to users who want a lightweight laptop with a gorgeous OLED display and powerful AI capabilities. AMD’s next-gen chipset provides solid performance, but it falls short in running as cool as other processors on the market, and its battery life is not the best, giving around 10 hours during our battery test.
Asus Zenbook S 16 tech specs: Operating System: Windows 11 Pro | CPU: AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, 5.1GHz | GPU: AMD Radeon 880M | Display: 16-inch AMOLED, up to 500 nits brightness, 120Hz refresh rate | RAM, Storage: Up to 32GB, Up to 1TB SSD | Camera: 1080p FHD | Battery: Up to 10 hours | Weight: 3.3 lbs.
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The best Windows laptop overall is the Dell XPS 15, due to an impressive combination of display, CPU, GPU, battery life, and other features. In order to compare these devices further, let’s break down some of their key components.
|
Windows laptop |
Price |
CPU |
Graphics |
|
Dell XPS 16 |
Starting at $1,499 |
Intel Core Ultra 7 or 9 |
Intel Arc, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050, 4060, 4070 |
|
Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge |
Starting at $1,349 |
Snapdragon X Elite 3.4GHz or 3.8GHz |
Qualcomm Adreno |
|
Microsoft Surface Laptop |
Starting at $999 |
Snapdragon X Plus (8-core) or X Elite (12-core) |
Qualcomm Adreno |
|
Acer Aspire Go 15 |
Starting at $299 |
Intel Core i3 |
Intel UHD Graphics |
|
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 12th Gen |
Starting at $2,099 |
Intel Core Ultra 5 or 7 |
Intel UHD Graphics |
|
Asus Zenbook 14 OLED |
Starting at $1,000 |
13th-Gen Intel Core i5-1240P |
Intel Iris Xe Graphics |
|
Razer Blade 17 |
Starting at $2,849 |
12th Gen Intel Core i7-12800H |
Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Laptop GPU |
|
Asus Zenbook S 16 |
Starting at $1,399 |
AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 |
AMD Radeon 880M |
The key to deciding which Windows laptop is best for you starts with asking and evaluating what you want or need it for.
For example, if you’re a hybrid or remote worker, you’ll want a lightweight, flexible configuration, sturdy build with plenty of connectivity options and good battery life. But if you’re a largely deskbound graphic designer or creator who occasionally needs to visit a client with a laptop in tow, your priorities will be different.
The table below provides a quick breakdown to help you further narrow your choices based on your needs.
|
Choose this Windows laptop… |
If you want… |
|
Dell XPS 16 |
A well-rounded 16-inch laptop for work and home use with an incredible display, CPU, and power with an OLED display. |
|
Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge |
A Windows Copilot+ PC with integration in Samsung’s ecosystem, brilliant display, and top-tier processing power. |
|
Microsoft Surface Laptop |
A sleek and compact Copilot+ PC with fantastic battery life and solid hardware. |
|
Acer Aspire Go 15 |
An affordable laptop for students, kids, everyday use, or as a secondary machine. |
|
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 12th Gen |
A durable work-minded laptop with a brilliant display. |
|
Asus Zenbook Flip 14 OLED |
A 2-in-1 convertible laptop with a gorgeous touchscreen display, 1080p webcam, and a long-lasting battery life. |
|
Razer Blade 17 |
A high-end 17-inch gaming laptop with a stunning FullHD 360GHz display and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 TI GPU. |
|
Asus Zenbook S 16 |
A well-rounded laptop with a nice 16-inch OLED screen and unique design. |
We use a combination of methods to test laptops here at ZDNET. First, we acquire data from benchmarking software to analyze a system’s metrics under the hood, and compare those to advertised numbers. Then, we spend an extended amount of time with the laptop (usually a week or two) using it the same way a normal consumer would, in order to analyze its portability, form factor, and how well the battery actually holds up, among others. For an extensive breakdown, check out our comprehensive laptop testing methodology.
- Benchmarking: First, we run a series of tests to put the computer’s hardware through the wringer in order to see what it’s capable of. Cinebench is one of the most commonly used hardware testing suites, which tests the laptop’s rendering performance on single and multiple CPU cores. PCMark 10 is another powerful program that covers a wide variety of tasks performed in the workplace, and there are many others that we use in tandem to gather as much data as we can. Some components we run tests on include:
- Processor: The “brain” of the laptop, and one of the most important factors that determines performance. The four biggest manufacturers that make most of the CPUs found in laptops today are Intel, AMD, Qualcomm, and Apple (in their own machines only). This is tested in benchmarking software.
-
The display: The size of the display (measured diagonally from corner to corner) is also what dictates the laptop’s overall size, and play a big role in the laptop’s cost. Brightness is measured in “nits,” and color spectrums are tested in benchmarking software.
-
The graphics processor (GPU): Whether it’s integrated into the CPU or a dedicated graphics card, how well the machine handles graphics is a key factor when it comes to demanding visual tasks like video editing, rendering, and of course, gaming. We test the GPU with a combination of benchmarking software, gaming, and media playback.
-
Physical form factor: Finally, the laptop’s overall appearance and physical form factor encompasses its weight, thickness, how the keyboard and trackpad feel, and whether or not it has a display that can be folded back to form a tablet. We carry the laptop around for at least a week and note how well it commutes.
- Battery testing: We test a unit’s battery in a few ways. A handful of benchmarking programs have their own battery testing components, but we also will just let the laptop run for as long as it can under a medium load. We ensure screensavers and hibernation mode are turned off, set the display’s brightness and audio at 50%, load up a livestream on YouTube in Chrome, and wait ’til the end.
- The human element: As we mentioned earlier, metrics and system data is important, but numbers alone don’t give you the full picture. This is where we weave in our personal experience with the device and tap into the practical use cases that consumers actually care about.
Ultimately, our goal is to break down the capabilities of each and every laptop we test into digestible terms that real people can find useful. There is a lot of noise and confusion when it comes to navigating the laptop and computer consumer market, so we hope to bring an intuitive element to the whole process by leveraging our team’s decades of experience.
We selected these Windows laptops after conducting thorough research and real-world testing by ZDNET experts. In our evaluation, we weighed the following aspects:
- Design: As the name suggests, design focuses primarily on how aesthetically pleasing a laptop looks. Does it come in a good color and is the computer made of a good, sturdy material? Those are some of the questions we try to answer.
- Performance: Laptop hardware can vary wildly, so it’s important to mention what’s powering the machine. Some opt for processors you’d see in smartphones, while others go for top-of-the-line CPUs. Battery life is also taken into account.
- Display: Naturally, you’ll want a laptop with the best possible display since you’ll be staring at one for hours. But we also consider the screen size as it dictates the overall size and weight of the laptop.
- Features: Lastly, we consider the full suite of features a laptop has. Gaming laptops have RGB lights, whereas a work computer may skew to have a better webcam than others.
These days, a “computer” for most people is a laptop of some kind. However, the desktop form factor — particularly in the shape of all-in-one (AIO) devices — is by no means obsolete, particularly when it comes to gaming machines. Still, laptops are more diverse than ever, ranging from thin, light, and ultraportable to bulky, powerful, and deskbound.
If working on small screens are not ideal for you, you can always attach an external monitor (or two, or three). There are also plenty of hybrid 2-in-1 devices that straddle the divide between laptops and tablets and can act as either, depending on the circumstances.
Every operating system has its committed supporters, but most people end up using a particular one either because of key applications run on it, it was chosen for them by their employer, or their familiarity with the OS. Windows spans the range from budget to premium, while Chrome OS is largely confined to the affordable end of the market.
All of the Windows devices listed here qualify for Windows 11. So if you buy one with Windows 10 installed, you’ll be able to upgrade to the newer version. If you don’t, note that Windows 10 support ends on October 14, 2025, after which there will be no more security patches or feature updates.
Everything listed in this guide are all the top brands for Windows laptops. If you’re looking for a specific brand that rises above the rest, it just comes down to personal preference. Laptops by each of the major manufacturers have their pros and cons, and brands see different levels of success with product lines.
One of the biggest factors we look at here at ZDNET is bang for your buck. We love to see laptops that feature surprisingly-good hardware or features that don’t command a premium price point. With that in mind, most of the laptops on this list are firmly placed in the mid-range price point: enough hardware for solid performance, but nothing that will break the bank.
That’s a tough question to answer because it ultimately comes down to what you, the buyer, are looking for. But we can give you an idea. Budget devices, by and large, cost less than $800. Hardware below that range can deliver solid overall performance and, most importantly, a long battery life. $1,500 and above is where you begin to see the elite laptops, the cream of the crop. You’re looking at gaming laptops, business computers like the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2, and specialty machines such as the Panasonic Toughbook 55.
Between $800 and $1,500 is where you will the mid-range options. Everyday laptops that can perform well while also not completely destroying your wallet. Most options fall in this range with plenty to choose from.
Generally speaking, the leading PC vendors have the broadest range of offerings and the best-documented track records in terms of product development and customer relations. So in the absence of certain use cases or budgets, you’re usually looking at the likes of Lenovo, HP, Dell, Apple, and Acer; all of which currently lead the PC market plus a handful of other well-known brands.
We’ve covered just about every situation where you’d need a Windows laptop, including rugged models for field work, ultra-powerful workstations for developers, and content creation. But if you’re still looking to weigh your options, here are two more Windows laptops we consider great choices.
Former ZDNET editor Christina Darby contributed to this story.
Laptops Reviewed & Compared
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