At present, the leading Windows laptop for the majority of users is the 13.8-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 equipped with the Snapdragon X Elite chip. This device is not only stylish but also powerful, adept at managing intensive tasks, featuring a high-quality construction and outstanding battery longevity, outperformed by only one other model. Even the M4 MacBooks can’t compete with it. Furthermore, I have suggestions tailored for different budgets, use cases, and design tastes.
My recommendations stem from practical testing conducted by myself and other Mashable staff and contributors. Over the years, we’ve assessed a wide range of PCs with a focus on performance, build quality, battery longevity, and value. The devices I advocate for stand out among recent generations. Most have received high ratings sufficient to earn a Mashable Choice Award, our top honor for reviewed gadgets.
What’s new
As of November 2025, I’ve added several new selections from our latest round of testing. The Acer Aspire 16 AI has risen to our top budget laptop, taking the place of the Asus Zenbook A14, which is now our preferred ultraportable model. The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x has emerged as our new leading OLED laptop, marking a new category in this guide.
Additionally, I’ve replaced the discontinued Alienware m16 R2 with its predecessor, the Alienware 16X Aurora, which I deem the best gaming laptop for most users.
What didn’t make the cut?
This year, we’ve evaluated other decent, but not exceptional, Windows laptops. While they might appeal to certain users or feature standout attributes, our top choices excel in their respective categories.
The Acer Predator Helios 16 boasts remarkable power with excellent thermal design and a matte screen, yet its flashy, gamer-oriented aesthetic is off-putting.
The Dell XPS 13 (9530) showcases a remarkable tandem OLED display and sleek edge-to-edge design, rendering it striking and portable. However, its cramped keyboard, glitchy touchpad, and limited ports are notable downsides.
The Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 (AMD) delivers impressive performance for the cost but suffers from subpar speakers, a basic webcam, and a cheap sensation.
The Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 can be customized with a breathtaking mini-LED touchscreen, but it is plagued by mediocre battery life and a flimsy construction.
The HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 is an appealing convertible with a smooth touchpad, a responsive keyboard, and a lush 3K OLED touchscreen, but it falls short in performance relative to its price and has inconvenient port placements.
The HP OmniBook X Flip 14 is another chic 2-in-1 with a slim, travel-friendly design, a 2.8K OLED touchscreen, and a fingerprint-resistant aluminum build, but its cheap-feeling touchpad and strangely positioned speakers presented issues for our reviewer.
The HP Omnibook X Flip 16 is a sizable hybrid laptop featuring a vibrant 3K OLED touchscreen, a robust hinge, and acceptable battery life. However, it’s limited by an awkward zero-lattice keyboard, mediocre performance for the price, and a hefty design.
The Lenovo Yoga 7 2-in-1 14 stands out as a solid mid-range convertible laptop, offering a good assortment of ports, solid battery life, and a pleasant keyboard. Nevertheless, its webcam and speakers are suboptimal, and its pricing lacks competitiveness.