Best Laptops 2025: Top 10 Picks for Power, Portability & Value

With advancements in chips and AI integration, laptops are turning heads with their new performance overhauls. They provide reliable, portable power without breaking the bank and can smoothly handle many tasks, from gaming to video processing. There’s no need for bulky, heavy desktop setups. Multitasking has become the defining theme for the best laptops 2025 has introduced. In this article, we present our curated list of the best laptop options on the market. These laptops are strong and suitable for everyone; they deliver smooth, fast daily browsing and can even support less graphically intense games.

1. Apple MacBook Air M4 (2025)

Apple keeps redefining thin and light with its new fanless MacBook Air M4. The M4 chip delivers desktop-quality performance and speed while fitting into any bag and keeping the price budget-friendly. Students, business travelers, and creators who prefer macOS will love the beautiful display that comes in 13-inch and 15-inch Liquid Retina versions. The basic model specs are below, but they can be upgraded if needed. The MacBook Air M4 is arguably the best laptop of 2025.

• Price (USD): ~$999 (starting)
  
• CPU: Apple M4 (10-core) Apple Silicon
  
• RAM: 16 GB (base), configurable up to 32 GB
  
• Storage: 256 GB SSD (base), up to 2 TB SSD
  
• Display: 13.6-inch Liquid Retina (2560 × 1664), 60 Hz, 16:10 aspect
  
• Battery Life: Up to ~18 hours video playback (all-day real use)
  
• Operating System: macOS 12 “Sequoia” (latest)
  
• Weight: ~2.7 lb (1.22 kg) for 13-inch model
  

2. Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M4 Pro, 2024)

If you need a workstation powerhouse with a beautiful 16-inch screen, the MacBook Pro remains the gold standard. Its HDR mini-LED display, six-speaker audio, and massive battery make long editing or coding sessions painless. Choose the M4 Max variant for 3D rendering or machine-learning jobs that once required a tower PC. It’s geared toward professionals who demand serious performance for video editing, coding, or other heavy workloads.

• Price (USD): ~$2,499 (16-inch base model)
  
• CPU: Apple M4 Pro (12-core) or M4 Max (14-core)
  
• RAM: 24 GB (base M4 Pro), up to 48 GB; M4 Max models up to 128 GB
  
• Storage: 512 GB SSD (base), up to 8 TB SSD configurable
  
• Display: 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR (3456 × 2234), mini-LED, up to 120 Hz
  
• Battery Life: ~18+ hours wireless web; easily all-day under load
  
• Operating System: macOS 12 “Sequoia”
  
• Weight: ~4.7 lb (2.1 kg) for 16-inch model
  

3. Microsoft Surface Laptop (7th Gen, 2025)

Microsoft’s refreshed Surface Laptop 7th Edition is the best Windows 11 laptop of 2025 for most people. It is the first Surface Laptop built around Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite, giving it instant-on responsiveness, all-day battery life, and a silent chassis that stays cool even on your lap. Its 3:2 PixelSense touchscreen, comfy Alcantara palm rest, and minimalist design make it an easy recommendation for office work, streaming, or study. Users who want a “MacBook Air killer” in the Windows world will appreciate that it feels fast and responsive yet lasts well beyond a full day on battery.

• Price (USD): ~$1,000 (base 13.8″ model)
  
• CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite (12-core, up to 3.8 GHz)
  
• RAM: 16 GB (base), up to 64 GB LPDDR5X
  
• Storage: 512 GB SSD (base), up to 1 TB SSD
  
• Display: 13.8-inch or 15-inch PixelSense (3:2) touchscreen, 120 Hz, Dolby Vision
  
• Battery Life: ~15–16 hours heavy use (over 20 hours video) – exceptional
  
• Operating System: Windows 11 Home (Copilot+ integrated)
  
• Weight: ~2.96 lb (1.34 kg) for 13.8″; ~3.6 lb (1.63 kg) for 15″
  

4. Dell XPS 13 (2024, Snapdragon)

The Dell XPS 13 has long been a flagship Windows ultrabook, and the 2024 model reaches new heights by adopting Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite chip. This gives the XPS 13 astonishing battery endurance—Dell markets it as the “new battery-life champ… even MacBooks can’t keep up.” The InfinityEdge display (Full HD+ or 3K OLED) and premium build make it a pleasure for web browsing, office work, streaming, and more. For those who want a Windows laptop as sleek as a MacBook and with incredible longevity, the XPS 13 (Snapdragon) is a top choice.

• Price (USD): ~$960 (base) – higher for OLED/64 GB RAM versions
  
• CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite (12-core, up to 4.0 GHz)
  
• RAM: 16 GB (base), up to 64 GB LPDDR5X
  
• Storage: 512 GB SSD (base), up to 2 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD
  
• Display: 13.4-inch InfinityEdge 1920 × 1200 IPS or 2880 × 1800 OLED 120 Hz (touch options)
  
• Battery Life: Ultra-long – 20+ hours typical use (55 W h)
  
• Operating System: Windows 11 Home (ARM edition with x86/x64 emulation)
  
• Weight: ~2.62 lb (1.19 kg) – extremely light
  

5. Dell Inspiron 14 Plus (2024)

Need solid power on a smaller budget? The Inspiron 14 Plus packs Snapdragon X Plus silicon, a 2.5K touchscreen, and generous ports into a sturdy aluminum shell. Reviewers clock 18-hour runtimes—phenomenal for a sub-$1,100 mid-ranger—making it the best laptop for students or remote workers who want high value with few trade-offs.

• Price (USD): ~$899–$1,099 (mid-range)
  
• CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus (10-core up to 3.4 GHz) – Snapdragon X Elite option available
  
• RAM: 16 GB LPDDR5X (onboard)
  
• Storage: 512 GB SSD (PCIe 4.0), configurable 256 GB–1 TB
  
• Display: 14-inch 2560 × 1600 IPS Touch (16:10, 60 Hz, 100 % sRGB)
  
• Battery Life: ~18 hours office use – outstanding
  
• Operating System: Windows 11 Home
  
• Weight: ~3.17 lb (1.44 kg)
  

6. HP Spectre x360 14 (2024)

The Spectre x360 is a stylish 2-in-1 built for hands-on users who sketch, annotate, or binge Netflix in tent mode. Its 3K OLED touchscreen pops with color, while Intel Core Ultra processors and Iris Xe graphics handle creative apps smoothly. A bundled pen, 5 MP webcam, and Thunderbolt 4 ports round out an elegant convertible that excels at versatility.

• Price (USD): ~$1,699 (typical)
  
• CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 155H (14-core, Meteor Lake)
  
• RAM: 16 GB LPDDR5X (base), up to 32 GB
  
• Storage: 1 TB SSD (PCIe 4.0), 512 GB–2 TB options
  
• Display: 14-inch 2880 × 1800 OLED 120 Hz touch, 16:10 HDR
  
• Battery Life: ~11 hours mixed use (73 W h)
  
• Operating System: Windows 11 Home
  
• Weight: ~3.1 lb (1.4 kg)
  

7. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 (2024)

Lenovo’s flagship business ultrabook remains a reliability icon. The carbon-fiber chassis passes MIL-STD tests yet weighs barely 2.4 lb, and the backlit ThinkPad keyboard is still the benchmark for typing comfort. With Intel Core Ultra vPro chips, optional 2.8K OLED, ample ports, and top-tier security, it’s the best laptop for globe-trotting professionals.

• Price (USD): ~$2,000 (business-class)
  
• CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 155H (vPro Evo)
  
• RAM: 16 GB or 32 GB LPDDR5X (soldered)
  
• Storage: 512 GB or 1 TB NVMe SSD (expandable)
  
• Display: 14-inch 2880 × 1800 OLED 120 Hz, 16:10, Dolby Vision
  
• Battery Life: ~10 hours typical use (57 W h)
  
• Operating System: Windows 11 Pro (Linux available)
  
• Weight: ~2.42 lb (1.10 kg) – ultra-light
  

8. Asus Zenbook S 14 (UX5406, 2024)

At just 2.65 lb, the Zenbook S 14 is one of the lightest 14-inch notebooks anywhere—yet it still packs a 2.8K OLED 120 Hz display and remarkable 20-plus-hour battery life. Intel Core Ultra silicon handles everyday multitasking, while a generous port mix (USB-A, HDMI, two Thunderbolt 4) avoids dongle chaos. Road warriors who crave bright visuals and near-limitless stamina should start here.

• Price (USD): ~$1,499 (mid-range)
  
• CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 258V (8-core, integrated Arc graphics)
  
• RAM: 16 GB or 32 GB LPDDR5X
  
• Storage: 512 GB or 1 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD
  
• Display: 14-inch 2880 × 1800 OLED 120 Hz touch, 16:10
  
• Battery Life: ~17–21 hours (73 W h) – exceptional
  
• Operating System: Windows 11 Home
  
• Weight: ~2.65 lb (1.20 kg)
  

9. Razer Blade 16 (2025)

Gamers and 3D artists needing uncompromised graphics on the go will love the Blade 16. The CNC-milled chassis hides an AMD Ryzen 9 HX 370 CPU and NVIDIA RTX 5090 Laptop GPU—performance once reserved for desktops. A 240 Hz OLED panel, advanced vapor-chamber cooling, and per-key RGB complete this premium package, though battery life and price reflect its monster specs.

• Price (USD): ~$4,500 (top configuration)
  
• CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 HX 370 (16-core, Ryzen AI)
  
• RAM: 32 GB LPDDR5-8000
  
• Storage: 2 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD (extra M.2 slot)
  
• Display: 16-inch 2560 × 1600 OLED 240 Hz HDR, 16:10
  
• Battery Life: ~6–7 hours light use (95 W h)
  
• Operating System: Windows 11 Home
  
• Weight: ~4.7 lb (2.14 kg)
  

10. Dell XPS 15 (9530, 2023)

Dell’s XPS 15 blends creative-class visuals with day-to-day practicality. Its nearly bezel-less 15.6-inch 3.5K OLED touchscreen dazzles graphic designers, while Intel Core i7 horsepower and RTX 40-series graphics chew through 4K video edits. At 4.3 lb it’s portable enough for campus or café work, and the aluminum/carbon-fiber build feels premium without calling attention.

• Price (USD): ~$2,300 (starting) – ~$2,800 with OLED + RTX
  
• CPU: Intel Core i7-13700H (14-core, up to 5.0 GHz)
  
• RAM: 16 GB DDR5 (base), up to 64 GB
  
• Storage: 512 GB SSD (base), up to 4 TB NVMe SSD
  
• GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU (RTX 4050 in lower configs)
  
• Display: 15.6-inch 3456 × 2160 OLED touch, 60 Hz (1920 × 1200 IPS option)
  
• Battery Life: ~8–10 hours on FHD model (OLED ~6–7 hours)
  
• Operating System: Windows 11 Home or Pro
  
• Weight: ~4.3 lb (1.95 kg) for OLED model
  

These models showcase why 2025 is an exciting year for portable computing: whether you need marathon battery life, featherweight design, business-class durability, or desktop-level graphics, there’s a best laptop here ready to meet your demands.

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FAQ

Q: Which model offers the longest battery life?

‍The Asus Zenbook S 14 can last more than 20 hours in everyday use, while the Surface Laptop and XPS 13 Snapdragon models also exceed 15 hours.

Q: What’s the lightest option on the list?

A: The Zenbook S 14 weighs about 2.65 lb, closely followed by the 13-inch MacBook Air M4 at 2.7 lb, making either an excellent best laptop pick for frequent travelers.

Q: Can ARM-based Windows laptops run older x86 apps?

A: Yes. Windows 11 on Snapdragon X chips includes x86/x64 emulation, and most mainstream software—Office, Chrome, Photoshop—now has native ARM builds for smoother performance.

Q: Which model is best for gaming?

A: The Razer Blade 16, with its Ryzen 9 HX 370 CPU and RTX 5090 Laptop GPU, delivers desktop-class frame rates on a 240 Hz OLED screen.

Q: Are any of these laptops user-upgradeable?

A: Most ultraportables have soldered RAM. Storage is upgradeable on the Dell XPS 15, Razer Blade 16, and ThinkPad X1 Carbon, while others require choosing the right configuration at purchase.

Q: I need strong security features for business travel—what should I choose?

‍A: The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 includes vPro support, a built-in privacy shutter, fingerprint reader, and optional IR facial recognition, making it one of the best laptops 2025 offers for enterprise security.