Selecting the appropriate laptop ultimately hinges on your individual requirements—what you’ll use it for, your operating system preference, and your budget constraints. There is no definitive “best laptop” for everyone, which can complicate the search process. While we can’t customize suggestions for every person, we’ve assessed and analyzed a wide variety of laptops, allowing us to confidently showcase some standout selections for 2025.
Top Laptops for Purchase in 2025
As of May 2025, the 15-inch Apple MacBook Air (M4) is our primary recommendation for the majority of Mac enthusiasts. It provides exceptional performance, can support two external displays while the lid is open, comes equipped with a high-quality 12MP Center Stage webcam, and starts at a very competitive price of $1,199—$100 less than the earlier M3 model.
For those who prefer Windows, the highlight is the 13.8-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop 7. This stylish Copilot+ machine boasts nearly 23 hours of battery life and offers a seamless, responsive experience. Although Microsoft also provides a business-oriented Intel variant for users worried about ARM compatibility, this option tends to be more expensive.
Interested in the specifications of your laptop? Refer to our guide on laptop specifications.
A Brief Note on Tariffs
The process of purchasing laptops in 2025 is complicated by new tariffs on technology imports, which have disrupted pricing and availability. Some manufacturers have increased prices or halted U.S. sales altogether. Up to now, none of our top recommendations have been influenced, but we are monitoring the situation closely. For instance, the Asus ZenBook A14—currently in testing—has already encountered a $100 price hike due to tariffs.
Upcoming Laptop Evaluations
We are in the midst of testing several new models, including:
– Framework Laptop 13: A modular, repairable laptop building on the success of its award-winning predecessor.
– Asus ZenBook A14: A lightweight Copilot+ PC crafted with a durable “Ceraluminum” chassis, OLED display, and up to 32 hours of battery life. It received the Best Laptop award at CES 2025.
– Asus Vivobook S 15: An under-$1,000 Copilot+ PC featuring a 3K OLED display, RGB keyboard, and up to 19 hours of battery power.
– Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x (Gen 9): A mid-tier laptop equipped with an OLED touchscreen and up to 23.5 hours of battery life.
– Acer Predator Helios 16: A 16-inch gaming laptop sporting an RTX 4080 GPU, available for $2,299.99.
– MSI Stealth A16 AI+: Another 16-inch gaming laptop featuring an RTX 4070 GPU, offered at just under $2,000.
Recent Reviews That Fell Short
Dell XPS 13 (9450)
This 2024 model marks the final entry in the XPS lineup. It’s an attractive device showcasing a remarkable edge-to-edge OLED touchscreen alongside a sleek design. It excelled in our battery evaluation, lasting over 13 hours, which is above average for Windows laptops. However, its design compromises usability: the keyboard is narrow, the touchpad is temperamental, and it only includes two USB-C ports—lacking a headphone jack. The unit we reviewed (Intel Core Ultra 256V, 16GB RAM, 512GB storage) is priced at $1,849.99, which isn’t competitive when compared to other similarly priced options. We awarded it a score of 3.8/5.
HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14
This 2-in-1 laptop features an eye-catching 3K OLED touchscreen, commendable battery life (15 hours), and an elegant aluminum structure. Our test model (Intel Core Ultra 258V, 32GB RAM, 2TB storage) was tagged at $1,899.99. While it exudes premium quality, its performance was disappointing, scoring lower than both its predecessor and older MacBooks in benchmark evaluations. We assigned it a score of 4.4/5—decent, but not exceptional. For a better value, consider the Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 ($1,449.99 as evaluated), which delivers superior performance for a lesser price.
If you’re weighing options between HP devices, the Spectre x360 14 may present a more favorable choice compared to the OmniBook Ultra Flip 14. It provides increased power and improved audio at a comparable price point.
Final Observations
There isn’t a single “best laptop,” but there are numerous outstanding options tailored to your requirements. Whether you are committed to Mac, a dedicated Windows user, or a cost-conscious buyer, our ongoing evaluations and reviews aim to assist you in identifying the ideal device for 2025. Stay tuned for further developments as we continue to assess new releases and track market shifts.