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Which laptop is right for you? Check out our list of the top devices from Dell, Apple, Microsoft and more
Working remotely? It might be time to upgrade your hardware
This is Dell’s flagship laptop is a showcase of everything the manufacturer can reasonably pack into a single machine without the entire thing melting into a hot puddle of silicone and plastic. The Dell XPS 15 is one of the best Windows laptops you can buy and pairs a minimalist, no-fuss design with top-level functionality and performance.
A blisteringly fast gaming laptop that delivers desktop-grade performance, the Razer blade 15 is the best gaming laptop we’ve tested. Highly configurable, our test model ran the latest 12th generation Core i7 processor with 32GB of memory, Nvidia’s 3080 Ti GPU and a ridiculously fast 360Hz display (£3,899.99, Razer.com).
The Surface range showcases Windows 11 at its absolute best, allowing Microsoft to take control of both the hardware and software to create tablets and laptops that feel unified, streamlined and uncompromised. Whereas most other Windows laptops come preloaded with sketchy third-party apps and anti-virus bloatware, Microsoft’s Surface laptops are much closer to the Apple-style user experience. Clean, tidy, and simple to use.
The performance gap between the MacBook air (from £999, Apple.com) and the smaller MacBook pro has been shrinking lately. But Apple’s premium laptop is still the go-to machine for specialist users and editors who need every last bit of processing power. Powered by the latest version of Apple’s new proprietary M2 chip, the MacBook pro can handle tasks that would have its slimmer cousin wheezing into a brown paper bag. Like the MacBook air, the power button has a built-in fingerprint sensor, the keyboard is comfortable and the trackpad is big and responsive.
Huawei’s latest Windows 11 flagship is a beautifully engineered laptop with a new soft-metallic finish that feels silky smooth to the touch. The 2022 version of the Matebook X pro has rich and vibrant 3:2 ratio display, running at 90Hz and at 4K resolution, bordered by a vanishingly small bezel. Unlike last year’s model, which positioned the webcam below the screen and made you look awful in meetings, the newest MateBook X pro puts the camera back above the display where it belongs.
A premium ultrabook without the premium price tag, right now, the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 is the best laptop you can buy for under £800. For the last few years, Lenovo has been quietly turning out laptops and tablets that offer smart design and decent specs without costing the earth, and this model is the culmination of the Chinese manufacturer’s best work.
Apple’s thinnest, lightest MacBook transcended the tech world to become an instantly recognisable design icon, the profile of which many rival laptops have since followed. If you’ve ever held one, you’ll understand why it’s such an alluring device: the MacBook air is an elegant piece of engineering, weighing just 1.24kg and measuring 1.13cm thin. The 2022 model is powered by Apple’s new M2 processor, an ARM-based chip that unlocks notable performance boosts and better battery efficiency over the older Intel CPU seen in previous generations.
If you find you do most of your work inside a browser tab, then consider making your next laptop a Chromebook. The Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 doesn’t run on Windows or MacOS software, and instead uses Google’s web-based Chrome OS operating system: a streamlined, simplified and more secure alternative to a traditional laptop.
Microsoft’s range of Surface devices have always been exceptionally good-looking. Whereas most Windows laptops are built by third-party manufacturers and littered with holographic Intel stickers and various bits of corporate branding, the Surface range stands alone as Microsoft’s shining example of what the ideal Windows 11 laptop could look like.
Full credit to HP for designing a laptop that doesn’t look like yet another MacBook air (£919, Currys.co.uk). The HP Spectre x360 is a high-performance machine with a display that can be folded back in on itself to transform into a tablet, albeit a slightly chunky one when compared with two-in-ones that can be fully snapped in half.
The ZenBook 13 is littered with interesting little design touches that make this coffee shop ultrabook stand out from the crowd. For a start, where other laptops have whittled down their ports to one or two USB-C connections, this one proudly keeps its USB-A port alongside an HDMI out and a MicroSD card slot, all without sacrificing thinness.
The best laptop is the one that does everything you need it to and nothing more. Luckily, in 2023 you have the widest ever selection of brands, styles, prices and form factors to choose from, including MacBooks, Chromebooks, and laptops from Dell, Lenovo, Microsoft and HP.
Maybe you’re working from home and you’ve decided you need a fast, reliable and long-lasting laptop for tackling emails, working remotely, and hosting virtual meetings, without outdated hardware slowing you down.
Perhaps your faithful old laptop has gone to the big blue screen in the sky and you’re finally ready to move on to something new. Or you might be a student in search of the perfect two-in-one laptop for work, media and gaming.
Competition between the top brands is so fierce now that you could throw a dart in a Currys store and find a perfectly decent laptop to handle most everyday tasks. But if you’d rather some expert guidance – and don’t want to be banned from your local Currys – we’ve assembled a list of the best laptops in 2023 to help you choose the device that’s right for you.
However you use your laptop, the breadth of options out there can make purchasing a new one can feel like an overwhelming prospect. To take some of the stress out of the process, we’ve put together a short guide on what to look for in a laptop. If you’d rather we take care of the hard part, you can continue reading below for our recommendations.
These are laptops we’ve tested thoroughly and can recommend, from MacBooks and Windows models to convertible two-in-one devices. We’ve included budget laptops and high-end machines capable of handling the most demanding applications and playing games on the go.
Most of the laptops featured here can be configured to have more RAM, a bigger hard drive or a faster processor. You can also find a bargain by searching for earlier models of the laptops we’ve picked, though be aware that some of the features we mention might not appear in previous generations.
If you’re not sure what type of laptop you want, head over to our comprehensive guide to choosing the best laptop for your needs, where we break down some of the basic components, functions and features to look out for.
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This is Dell’s flagship laptop is a showcase of everything the manufacturer can reasonably pack into a single machine without the entire thing melting into a hot puddle of silicone and plastic. The Dell XPS 15 is one of the best Windows laptops you can buy and pairs a minimalist, no-fuss design with top-level functionality and performance.
Our full Dell XPS 15 review is glowing. “If you’re searching for a high-performance and productivity-focused Windows machine with a spectacular OLED display and a better battery life than ever, the new Dell XPS 15 is the best laptop you’ll find.” our reviewer wrote.
The bright, crisp touchscreen is one of the best displays on any laptop, while under the hood, the 12th-generation Intel processor packs more performance than the average desktop computer.
The only downside to this laptop is its low-quality webcam, which may be a dealbreaker for those dependent on Zoom meetings.
A blisteringly fast gaming laptop that delivers desktop-grade performance, the Razer blade 15 is the best gaming laptop we’ve tested. Highly configurable, our test model ran the latest 12th generation Core i7 processor with 32GB of memory, Nvidia’s 3080 Ti GPU and a ridiculously fast 360Hz display (£3,899.99, Razer.com).
The configuration we’ve linked to here is a little more modest and backs away from the bleeding-edge specs, but splits the difference nicely with a less powerful 3060.
Both configurations will happily run every new PC game with the graphics settings dialled way up and – unlike so many gaming laptops that resemble Fisher Price toys – the Razer blade 15 has a subtle, minimalist design you could take into important business meetings without raising too many eyebrows.
The Surface range showcases Windows 11 at its absolute best, allowing Microsoft to take control of both the hardware and software to create tablets and laptops that feel unified, streamlined and uncompromised. Whereas most other Windows laptops come preloaded with sketchy third-party apps and anti-virus bloatware, Microsoft’s Surface laptops are much closer to the Apple-style user experience. Clean, tidy, and simple to use.
This is a fast and thin touchscreen laptop, with even the slowest and cheapest configuration running on a decently powerful Intel Core i5 processor. The laptop is unlocked with facial recognition, the keyboard is a delight to type on for hours, battery life is enormous, and it’s finished in an optional fine faux-suede alcantara material.
The performance gap between the MacBook air (from £999, Apple.com) and the smaller MacBook pro has been shrinking lately. But Apple’s premium laptop is still the go-to machine for specialist users and editors who need every last bit of processing power. Powered by the latest version of Apple’s new proprietary M2 chip, the MacBook pro can handle tasks that would have its slimmer cousin wheezing into a brown paper bag. Like the MacBook air, the power button has a built-in fingerprint sensor, the keyboard is comfortable and the trackpad is big and responsive.
The best laptop for productivity and creative tasks – and the only laptop that can reasonably claim to have fashion credibility – the MacBook pro 13in is a masterpiece of design.
Huawei’s latest Windows 11 flagship is a beautifully engineered laptop with a new soft-metallic finish that feels silky smooth to the touch. The 2022 version of the Matebook X pro has rich and vibrant 3:2 ratio display, running at 90Hz and at 4K resolution, bordered by a vanishingly small bezel. Unlike last year’s model, which positioned the webcam below the screen and made you look awful in meetings, the newest MateBook X pro puts the camera back above the display where it belongs.
There’s only one configuration available and it’s powerful as heck. The 2022 MateBook X pro runs on the 12th generation Intel Core i7 processor with 16GB of memory and a generous 1TB hard drive. That’s about as high-performance as ultra-thin notebooks get without adding a costly dedicated graphic card. The MateBook X pro uses an integrated graphics chip, which is perfectly fine for light gaming and most creative work, but isn’t designed to handle more serious and specialist applications, such as video rendering.
A premium ultrabook without the premium price tag, right now, the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 is the best laptop you can buy for under £800. For the last few years, Lenovo has been quietly turning out laptops and tablets that offer smart design and decent specs without costing the earth, and this model is the culmination of the Chinese manufacturer’s best work.
This super-thin laptop is powered by an AMD Ryzen processor tuned for laptops, giving you enough grunt to handle CPU-intensive tasks like photo and video editing and even some lower-end games. To bring costs down, Lenovo has plumped for a standard HD, 1080p display, but it’s a good quality panel with excellent colour reproduction and contrast.
Apple’s thinnest, lightest MacBook transcended the tech world to become an instantly recognisable design icon, the profile of which many rival laptops have since followed. If you’ve ever held one, you’ll understand why it’s such an alluring device: the MacBook air is an elegant piece of engineering, weighing just 1.24kg and measuring 1.13cm thin. The 2022 model is powered by Apple’s new M2 processor, an ARM-based chip that unlocks notable performance boosts and better battery efficiency over the older Intel CPU seen in previous generations.
If you find you do most of your work inside a browser tab, then consider making your next laptop a Chromebook. The Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 doesn’t run on Windows or MacOS software, and instead uses Google’s web-based Chrome OS operating system: a streamlined, simplified and more secure alternative to a traditional laptop.
This particular model is one of the better examples of the form. The 14in CX5 (£499, Very.co.uk) can be folded into a tablet, weighs just 1.4kg and has a decently powerful Core i3 processor backed up by 8GB of RAM. The 15.6in model is a little heavier at 1.95kg, but has a faster processor and HDMI output for easier connection to an external monitor.
The 1080p screen is bright, there’s a good selection of ports, including an increasingly rare USB-A port, headphone jack, and MicroSD card slot.
Microsoft’s range of Surface devices have always been exceptionally good-looking. Whereas most Windows laptops are built by third-party manufacturers and littered with holographic Intel stickers and various bits of corporate branding, the Surface range stands alone as Microsoft’s shining example of what the ideal Windows 11 laptop could look like.
The Surface laptop studio has a clever articulated design that solves a problem that’s plagued the Surface range for years, by placing the laptop’s touchscreen somewhere it can be used comfortably, and all without having to completely detach it from the keyboard. It’s as powerful and capable as a MacBook pro (£1,899, Apple.com) in everything but battery life, and when coupled with the Microsoft slim pen 2 (£119.99, Microsoft.com) it can do more than the rival Apple machine. The fluid 120Hz display is also one of the best screens on any Windows laptop you can buy.
Full credit to HP for designing a laptop that doesn’t look like yet another MacBook air (£919, Currys.co.uk). The HP Spectre x360 is a high-performance machine with a display that can be folded back in on itself to transform into a tablet, albeit a slightly chunky one when compared with two-in-ones that can be fully snapped in half.
Every inch of this device feels premium. The 14in high-definition display is responsive and vivid. The fingerprint sensor is fast, and the physical cut-off switch for the webcam is a nice addition for the security-conscious.
Under the bonnet you’ve got top-end components. We tested the 2021 model with its do-everything Core i7 processor and generous 16GB of memory, a version that doesn’t tinker too much with the exterior but improves on the specs with an even faster Intel CPU, Intel Evo certification and a wider range of configuration options.
The ZenBook 13 is littered with interesting little design touches that make this coffee shop ultrabook stand out from the crowd. For a start, where other laptops have whittled down their ports to one or two USB-C connections, this one proudly keeps its USB-A port alongside an HDMI out and a MicroSD card slot, all without sacrificing thinness.
When opened, the hinge is designed to lift the keyboard slightly for more ergonomic typing and better airflow. The touchpad can display a number pad or calculator app, while the infrared camera can be used to unlock Windows. An all-day battery life, vibrant edge-to-edge screen and stylish finish round off one of the best 13in laptops you can buy.
The range of CPUs on offer can seem bewildering, but don’t sweat it. Unless you really know what you’re doing, you don’t to worry too much about the differences between the two main brands. These are AMD and Intel, and they both make roughly similar versions of one another’s CPUs.
Intel’s most popular range is called the Core series. These include the affordable Core i3, the mid-range Core i5, the high-end Core i7, and the specialist Core i9. The bigger the number, the faster the processor. For most users, the Core i3 is more than enough power. For gaming and processor-intensive tasks such as rendering large files and video editing, the Core i5 or Core i7 can be a useful upgrade.
Mirroring this, AMD has the Ryzen range. These include the Ryzen 3, Ryzen 5, Ryzen 7, and Ryzen 9 processors. They’ll offer similar levels of performance to their Intel counterparts, and while the underlying hardware is different you’ll notice no difference in how your laptop actually functions.
Apple MacBooks are another kettle of fish entirely. Until recently Apple used Intel processors, before it upgraded its entire range to Apple’s own M1 and M2 CPUs. These are least a little easier to think about: M2 is faster than M1.
As newer processors are always improving, these four simple tiers don’t change in number. They’ll always refer to the most and least powerful processors each CPU brand manufactures. What changes are the digits following the CPU name, with the first two digits referring to the CPU’s generation.
For instance, the Intel Core i5-1135 is an 11th-generation Intel processor. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600 is a fifth generation AMD processor. The higher the generation, the more recently the CPU was developed and the faster it is. Intel is currently on its 13th generation processors, while AMD is on its 7th.
There are other Intel CPUs on the market, such as the Celeron series. Celeron is designed to be super affordable and low-end, for users that really don’t need much processing power. You’ll find them in budget laptops.
The average user needs 8GB of RAM (or memory). RAM is storage that your laptop is constantly using to juggle data, so it’s essentially a measure of how many things your device can do at once before it starts to slow down. This gives you enough memory to load Windows smoothly, and run a few demanding apps.
As software becomes more complex, it starts to demand more memory. 8GB should future-proof your laptop against this for a few years to come. If your current laptop already has 8GB of RAM and you’re experiencing slow-down, consider stepping up to 16GB.
MacBooks work a little differently. Because the M1 or M2 chip is handling a lot of the data-juggling itself, the device needs less dedicated RAM, which means your 8GB goes a little further than it does on a Windows laptop.
There is no single best laptop we can recommend. Rather, the best laptop to buy is the one that meets your needs.
Like all electronics, laptops become obsolete over time, so there are diminishing returns when you invest in the most expensive, high-spec and powerful devices. Instead, consider what you might use your laptop for – will it be for gaming, emailing, spreadsheets or photo editing. And also where you might want to use it – at a desk, on a train, on the sofa – and choose a laptop that fits those criteria.
Check out our laptop buying guide for helpful advice on choosing a laptop that suits your needs.
Most laptops use Microsoft’s Windows operating system, while MacBooks use Apple’s macOS operating system.
Chromebooks are different. They run on Chrome OS, an operating system designed by Google. Anyone can license this operating system, so you’ll see Chromebooks manufactured by a wide range of brands and available in various styles.
Google’s operating system doesn’t run traditional desktop programs. Instead, it behaves more like the Chrome web browser, using online apps such as Google Docs and some Android apps.
This sounds limiting – and for most users, it is – but there are upsides. Because most of the processing is happening over the internet, Chromebooks don’t need to be so powerful. This means they generally have a longer battery life, are much cheaper, far more secure and boot up faster than regular laptops.
If you do most of your work inside a browser, a Chromebook makes sense. Designed to showcase what a Chromebook is capable of, the Pixelbook Go (£629, Google.com) is our recommended laptop in this category.
Read more: Best laptop deals
If you’re looking for a high-performance, do-it-all Windows machine that can run rings around most desktop computers, the Dell XPS 15 is your laptop. For gaming, our pick is the Razer Blade 15. It will break the bank, but it’s worth every penny. Consider shopping for older models or the smaller Razer Blade 14 if you can’t stomach the price tag.
Most shoppers won’t need that much power, so we’d recommend the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 for those who want a laptop that can handle everyday tasks without leaving a giant hole in your bank account. Apple users have an easier choice, but the latest 2021 model of the MacBook Pro 14in is our favourite Apple laptop right now.
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