Michelle is Lifehacker's Associate Tech Editor, and has been reviewing games, laptops, phones, and more for over 10 years. She is based in New York City and holds a master's degree from NYU.
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A laptop might seem like a simple device on the surface: just a computer with a screen and a keyboard attached. But nowadays, you need to answer more than “Mac or PC” when deciding on one. There are laptops for gaming, laptops that can turn into tablets, laptops that rely mostly on the cloud, and laptops with screens so good they might as well be TVs. Picking one can be a daunting task, which is why I’ve compiled a list of options for every type of user below.
The M4 MacBook Air is a great device, perfect for Apple users who spend most of their time in browsers or Apple’s own apps. It’s actually so powerful that it might be a little overkill, but it's worth getting the most recent model with this one, since it includes more RAM in addition to the modern chip.
That extra power comes from Apple’s in-house M-series chips, which pack a lot of efficiency into a small form factor. Being on a MacBook means you’ll lose out on some more recent hardware innovations, like OLED or touchscreens, but compared to even the best of Apple’s lineup, the M4 MacBook Air is still plenty capable, while still being thin and light enough to easily slip into any laptop bag. Just expect it to heat up over extended sessions with heavy workloads—it doesn't have a fan inside.
Not good for gaming (except in native Apple Silicon ports)
Has a screen notch
For Apple users who spend a lot of time in Final Cut Pro or Adobe Creative Cloud, it’s worth upgrading to a MacBook Pro. Here, you’ll get access to active cooling (the MacBook Air line is fan-less) as well as the entire M4 lineup of chips, from the base model M3 to the M4 Max.
Technically, the M4 is no longer Apple’s most recent chip, but the M4 MacBook Pro models have a bit more variety than the M5 MacBook Pro does for now, so I'd still recommend these instead. They still pump out a strong power-to-battery-life ratio, and if you upgrade to an M4 Pro or M4 Max chip, you'll actually get more power than the base M5. Plus, there's the option to upgrade to a 16-inch screen.
The M4 MacBook Pro is even for gaming, at least in the small selection of games that have been ported to run natively on Apple Silicon. I still wouldn’t buy this laptop for gaming, but the fact that it can run modern console games at 60 frames per second without the help of a dedicated GPU goes to show how strong it is.
When you’re not working, a MacBook Pro is also still plenty portable, and looks slick on a desk. You’ll get all the benefits of a MacBook Air, plus the extra power that creatives need—but that comes at a higher price.
Starts at $1,599
12.31 x 8.71 x 0.61 inches (14-inch model)
14.01 x 9.77 x 0.66 inches (16-inch model)
3.4/3.6 pounds (14-inch model, weight depends on chip)
4.7 pounds (16-inch model)
Up to M4 Max
14.2-inch display, 120Hz, 3,024 x 1,964 resolution (14-inch model)
16.2-inch display, 120Hz, 3,456 x 2,234 resolution (16-inch model)
I’ve always thought of the Asus ZenBook 14 OLED as Windows’ answer to the MacBook Air. It’s thin, light, stylish, and actually has Apple beat when it comes to display technology.
You do have to pay a bit more for this laptop, since it packs an OLED screen, but the end result still makes it look way more premium than its price would suggest, and the recent addition of more affordable AMD Ryzen AI models help shave off the cost a bit. Colors pop and blacks are deep, making this laptop great for both on-the-clock and off-the-clock use. The rest of the laptop works as one would expect, although don't expect it to match a MacBook when it comes to battery life.
Microsoft’s Surface Laptops are probably best known as MacBook clones, and in recent years, the company took the similarities one step further. I’m not complaining.
2025’s Surface Laptops run on ARM chips, the same architecture powering Apple’s M-series chips. They’re not in-house, instead coming from Qualcomm, which has experience making powerful mobile chips for phones like Samsung Galaxy. That expertise is on full display here, as the Microsoft Surface Laptop has excellent battery life, although its power is more on par with a high-end phone than a laptop.
For many users, that tradeoff of less power for more battery life is totally acceptable, though. The only other thing to keep in mind is that Qualcomm’s chips have some compatibility issues depending on which program you want to run, but if you mostly stick to browsers and big-name apps, you should be OK. It’s worth having at least one Qualcomm Snapdragon X laptop on this list, and this is my favorite right now.
Best for people who can’t choose between a laptop and a tabletLenovo Yoga 7 2-in-1
Tablet and laptop hybrid
Can be upgraded with OLED
Cons
Can get expensive with upgrades
Why choose between a tablet and a laptop when you can have both? The Lenovo Yoga 7 2-in-1 is a great example of the versatility you can get with a PC, in that its screen can flip over 360 degrees to turn the device into a tablet. You can't do that on a MacBook.
This is great for people who take a lot of trips or who only occasionally need a keyboard. There's even a middle-ground with tent mode, where you can prop the screen up using the keyboard as a kickstand, which could be great for watching movies on a plane.
Plus, unlike on more dedicated tablets, it can be nice to have a full copy of Windows 11, since you’ll have access to plenty of apps you otherwise wouldn’t get on a tablet. If you play a lot of casual games or need access to specific tools for work, this could be a good way to take them on the go with you.
Starts at $799
12.48 x 8.98 x 0.61 inches (14-inch model, AMD)
12.51 x 8.98 x 0.61 inches (14-inch model, Intel)
14.21 x 10.11 x 0.62 inches (16-inch model, Intel)
It’s hard to pick one gaming laptop that will please everyone, but if you just need to get the job done, Dell's new Alienware Aurora 16X is a great choice.
Alienware is known for its more out-there designs and high price points, but with this year's models, the company is trying its best to make its premium lineage more accessible.
That means the potential for some great power, depending on which configuration you choose, but also affordable enough base models that will still be able to play most games if you're willing to lower your settings a bit. Plus, this year's Aurora laptops have a much more toned down aesthetic and could easily double as office computers. They're surprisingly thin, too, opting to keep most of the thermal package in one central bump towards the back of the device. And if you want an even more budget-oriented build, you could opt for the Aurora 16 instead of the 16X, which knocks down the CPU and GPU a bit, but otherwise keeps all of the 16X's core appeal intact.
The Aurora 16 line has a little something for every type of gamer, and is good if you want to leave yourself room to grow into the hobby down the line. Still, if it seems a little too expensive or bulky, check out my list of the best gaming laptops for good alternatives. After all, with devices like the Steam Deck and Lenovo Legion Go S, the boundaries of what a gaming laptop even is are starting to blur.
Most people tend to think of computers as either Macs or PCs, but if you barely ever leave your internet browser, there’s a strong case to be made for getting a Chromebook.
These inexpensive laptops are built for cloud computing, using a version of Linux that Google calls ChromeOS. ChromeOS works kind of like a desktop version of Android, is compatible with Android apps, and is totally fine for people who only ever use their computer as a gateway to the internet. It’s also what a lot of younger users grew up with, since Chromebooks are popular in schools, which makes them great beginner computers.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i is a slightly more expensive model, but it's still plenty cheap by laptop standards. It also comes with a screen that can flip around 360 degrees to become a tablet, giving it some extra value. It’s a bit more powerful than some older Chromebooks, coming with extra AI smarts like the Pixel phone line’s Magic Editor. For a few hundred dollars extra, it’s a good pick, and will last longer than a secondhand Chromebook that could be nearing its end-of-life before ever making its way into your hands.
$499
12.42 x 9.02 x 0.78 inches
3.52 pounds
13th Gen Intel Core i3-1315U CPU
14-inch convertible touch display, 60 Hz FHD+
128GB eMMC storage
8GB LPDD4X RAM
Get It Now
Not all laptops are created equal. The type of laptop you’ll need varies based on what you’ll use it for, so much so that you could spend more and get an actively worse product if you’re not careful. That’s because power isn’t the only thing to consider when buying one. Size, weight, display technology, and special features like the ability to become a tablet are just a few of the things you have to weigh out. As you shop, keep the following in mind.
First, a lot of people will be fine sticking to their browser and using the office suite built into Google Drive. If that sounds like you, don’t be pressured to get the latest and greatest. Instead, prioritize portability and maybe a great display.
Second, you don’t necessarily need a graphics card. All laptop CPUs these days come with integrated graphics, which are usually enough for casual use. If you are a gamer or use other power hungry programs, though, a graphics card can come in handy.
Third, keep compatibility in mind. You probably know that Mac and Windows programs won’t always work on other operating systems, but Chromebooks are especially limited in what they can run. Even sticking to Windows isn’t a guarantee that your laptop will be able to run everything. If you’re looking at a Windows laptop with a Qualcomm CPU, check if your favorite programs have an ARM version before buying. They might still work even if they don’t, but that’ll be the best sign that you have nothing to worry about.
What do you think so far?
Finally, some general guidelines about specs. In order to ensure your laptop lasts a good while, try to get a CPU that’s either Intel 14th-gen or Ultra Core series, Snapdragon X, or AMD Ryzen 8000 series and above. If you’re buying a laptop with a graphics card, aim for something in the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5000 series. Storage space should be no lower than 256GB, and RAM should be no lower than 8GB, but try to go for at least 512GB of storage and 16GB of RAM if you can.
And that’s it! You should now be armed with enough to start your search for your next computer. But if you need more specific advice, check out my guides on the best gaming laptops and best laptops for college you can get in 2026.
The answer to this ultimately comes down to preference, but if you want a simple-to-use laptop that can handle daily tasks without issue while also being portable and lasting a long time on a single charge, the M4 MacBook Air is my favorite option. Just don't expect it to game.
How do I choose the best laptop for me?
The reason it's hard to recommend a single laptop for everybody is because of how many different use cases there are for them. When choosing a laptop, ask yourself if you want to use it for cloud-based tasks, productivity programs, or gaming. Also ask yourself how simple you want the operating system to be. If you're looking for light computing with an intuitive interface, or maybe a good laptop for college students, Apple is usually your best bet. For more power hungry programs and deeper control over your computer, look at Windows instead. Then, it's just a matter of picking out your specs, which I've outlined above.
What is the best laptop brand?
There is no one perfect laptop brand, but some tend to be a bit more reliable than others. If you want a Mac, you're in luck—Apple makes all those computers, so while you'll have less choice, you also don't need to worry about who to buy from, and you can generally count on their quality. If you're looking at a Windows laptop, some of my favorite brands include Asus, Lenovo, and now even Microsoft. Gamers looking for the best gaming laptop might also want to look at brands like MSI if they're on a budget, or premium brands like Razer if money is no object.
Michelle Ehrhardt
Associate Tech Editor
Covering phones, computers, smartwatches, and more.
