If you're on the hunt for the best laptops you can buy in 2024, then you've come to the right place. On this page you'll find a wide range of laptops that will suit a large range of needs and budgets - and every single one has been tested by our laptop experts here at TechRadar.
As well as using the laptops as our day-to-day devices, we also put them through a wide range of benchmark tests, and only the very best performing laptops make it onto this page. You can read more on how we test laptops, which lists all the ways we put laptops through their paces during our reviews.
Since joining TechRadar in 2014 I've reviewed hundreds of laptops, and my choice for the best all-round laptop you can buy in 2024 remains the MacBook Air (M3), which is available in both 13-inch and 15-inch models. This standout in the best MacBook category merges a sleek, contemporary design with an impressive screen, stellar performance, and exceptional battery life.
However, if you don't fancy a MacBook, I've included a huge range of other options, from Windows 11-powered laptops, to budget Chromebooks, powerful gaming laptops and everything in between. With a new generation of artificial intelligence-enabled laptops hitting the market, there has never been a more exciting time to buy, so read on for our top picks.
Recent updates
This page has been updated as of 24/06/2024 with an overhauled look that should make it easier to find the best laptop for your needs.
The best laptop overall
The Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3) is the best laptop overall you can buy right now. The design remains thin, light and stylish, and it's packed with Apple's latest M3 chip, giving this slimline laptop excellent performance for day-to-day tasks - and it even does a great job of handling more intensive workloads like editing videos. A new lower price for the entry-level model means this is an easy recommendation for people looking for a brilliant all-rounder of a laptop, but be warned: the base model’s specs - especially the 8GB of memory and 256GB SSD storage - feel a bit outdated in 2024.
Reasons to buy
✅ You want the best laptop in the world: The new MacBook Air 13-inch is now the laptop we'd recommend to pretty much anyone thanks to a great design, excellent performance and relatively affordable price.
✅ You want a laptop for traveling with: The stylish thin and light design, plus the long battery life, makes this an excellent laptop for going out and about with.
✅ You want power - but not too much: The new M3 chip powering the MacBook Air is great at day-to-day tasks, as well as video editing and AI.
Show expert analysis ▼
Reasons to avoid
❌ You only have the budget for the cheapest MacBook: The MacBook Air 13-inch (M3) comes with a new, lower price, but the M2 model (also in this list) has also dropped in price, making that the cheapest MacBook you can buy.
❌ You want plenty of ports: The MacBook Air (M3) once again features just two Thunderbolt ports. If you have a lot of peripherals to plug in, you'll need to use a hub or adaptor.
❌ You want a bigger screen: The 13-inch screen of the new MacBook Air makes it nice and portable, but some people may find it a bit too small to work on - in that case, you should consider the 15-inch model instead.
In-depth analysis
The latest MacBook Air sticks to the same design as the previous M2 model - but that's fine with us. It has a stylish and modern look that's easy to carry around and comfortable to work on. This does mean that port selection remains limited, which won't be a deal breaker for many people, but if you have lots of peripherals you need to plug in, you'll want to invest in a USB-C hub or look into getting a MacBook Pro.
The new MacBook Air comes with the latest M3 chip - and there are actually two versions you can buy: a base model with an 8-core CPU and 8-core GPU, and a more powerful version with an 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU. The base model also comes with 8GB of memory, which is quite low by today's standards. If you have the budget we recommend configuring the MacBook Air (M3) to come with more memory, up to a maximum of 24GB. While reviewing the MacBook Air (M3), we found it to perform brilliantly, with macOS booting fast and running smoothly, even with multiple apps open at once.
Apple claims the MacBook Air 13-inch (M3) can last up to 18 hours watching Apple TV shows and 15 hours browsing the internet, though in our battery life benchmark tests (which involve playing a looped 1080p video) the 13-inch MacBook Air lasted a bit less than that, at 14 hours and 19 minutes. That's an excellent time for a laptop of this power, however it is slightly less than the previous model lasted in the same tests, which could suggest the bump in performance has come at the cost of efficiency.
The MacBook Air 13-inch (M3) starts at $1,099 / £1,099 / AU$1,799. This is slightly higher than the older M1 MacBook Air’s launch price of $999 / £999 / AU$1,599. However, this is less than the M2 model's launch price, which began at $1,199 / £1,249 / AU$1,899 when it launched in 2022. It's great to see prices go down, rather than up, with new models, though it should be noted that with the launch of the M3 model, the M2 model is still being sold by Apple for a new, lower price of $999 / £999 / AU$1,599. So, if you want real value for money when buying a MacBook, the M2 model is now the one to go for.
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Apple has lowered the starting price for the latest MacBook Air making it much better value | ★★★★★ |
| Design | No new design, but it remains one of the best looking laptops in 2024 | ★★★★★ |
| Performance | Performance is great thanks to the M3 chip, but it's not a huge leap over the M2 version | ★★★★☆ |
| Battery life | You can work on this laptop for a whole work day on a single charge | ★★★★★ |
💻 The MacBook Air 13-inch (M3) is easily the best laptop money can buy for most people, though we recommend boosting the memory and storage space when ordering. That makes it more expensive, but far more future-proof. Read the full review: Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3)
The best budget laptop
The Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook is the best ultra-low price laptop you can buy, and it's a brilliant follow-up to the original IdeaPad Duet. While it’s been out for a while, Chromebooks don’t date as quickly as Windows laptops, and it's still one of the best Chromebooks we've used. If you're a Chromebook skeptic, the IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook just might convert you. It can be used as both a laptop and a tablet thanks to its detachable keyboard, while also boasting an impressively long battery life. You're simply not going to find a Windows 11 laptop that can outlast the over 16-hour battery life the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook offers – especially at this price. It’s a particularly good choice for students who want something reliable, flexible and affordable.
Reasons to buy
✅ You want an OLED Chromebook: An OLED display on a Chromebook is uncommon, so if that's what you're looking for, this is the best choice.
✅ You need long battery life: It's possible to squeeze over 16 hours of battery life out of this Chromebook if you make the right adjustments in settings.
✅ You want a more robust system than Android or iOS can offer: As powerful as Android and iOS have become, mobile operating systems are still far more restricted than Windows, macOS, or Linux OS.
Show expert analysis ▼
Reasons to avoid
❌ You have more limited manual dexterity: Some may find the Duet's smaller-than-standard keyboard a bit fiddly. If that's likely to be the case for you, a larger laptop such as the Acer Swift 3 (skip to that entry) may be a better option.
❌ You're on a tight budget: The Duet 5 Chromebook is incredibly affordable for the premium features it offers, but it's not the best option out there for those on a tight budget.
❌ You want a traditional laptop OS: Chrome OS isn't as robust as Windows 10 or macOS and it isn't meant to be. If you want a traditional laptop environment, a Chromebook will only get you part of the way there, which may not be enough to satisfy your needs.
In-depth analysis
The Duet 5 Chromebook's keyboard is Ultrabook-worthy in quality and comfort, and it can be easily detached, turning the Duet 5 into a tablet-like device. Meanwhile, the magnetized backplate on the Duet 5 Chromebook has a small clip to house a Lenovo Active Pen stylus, even though the stylus isn't included in the box. The best thing about the design, however, is the gorgeous 1080p OLED display, which offers exceptional image quality - especially considering the price.
When it comes to general web browsing, video streaming, and basic productivity use, the Duet 5 does exactly what you want it to do without so much as a hiccup. Its CPU is upgraded to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen2 processor, which is a step up from the last model, and the 8GB of RAM is a decent amount for a Chromebook, keeping things running very smoothly.
While Chromebooks on average get about 10 hours of life on a fully-charged battery, the Lenovo Duet 5 lasted a huge 16 hours. This is a drop from the previous model (which managed over 20 hours), which is disappointing.
As far as Chromebooks and 2-in-1 laptops go, this is hands down the best value you're going to find in a portable device of its kind. When it launched, it was more expensive than its predecessor, but over time, its price has dropped, making it superb value for money. However, it would be even better value for money if a stylus was included. If you want to make the most out of this Chromebook, you’ll need to spend a bit more money for a compatible stylus.
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Price | It's by far the best budget laptop around | ★★★★★ |
| Design | The 2-in-1 design and OLED screen sets this Chromebook apart | ★★★★☆ |
| Performance | Dependable rather than ultra powerful | ★★★☆☆ |
| Battery life | Over 16 hours will keep you going through an entire work day | ★★★★★ |
💻 The Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook packs a punch with outstanding battery life, a gorgeous display, and a new form factor that improves on last year's model – as long as you're looking for a laptop more than a tablet. Read the full review: Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook
The best for Windows 11
When it comes to making the best Windows laptops, Dell is the company to beat. Its XPS 13 series have made regular appearances in this guide over the years, and its brand-new XPS 14, which ups the screen size while keeping a slim and light design that XPS laptops are famous for, continues that fine tradition. Packing a svelte look that puts other laptops - including MacBooks - to shame, and cutting-edge hardware from Intel and Nvidia, the Dell XPS 14 offers you the best Windows 11 experience in a laptop. It's a powerful performer that will easily handle any day to day tasks, and even more intensive creative workloads as well.
Reasons to buy
✅ You want a powerful Windows 11 laptop: The Dell XPS 14 comes with some of the best mobile hardware out there.
✅ You want good battery life: The Dell XPS 14 doesn't quite reach MacBook Pro-levels of battery life, but it easily beats most Windows 11 laptops when it comes to lasting power.
✅ You want the best Windows 11 laptop: The solid, stylish and lightweight design, excellent performance and stunning screen makes the Dell XPS 14 the best Windows 11 laptop out there.
Show expert analysis ▼
Reasons to avoid
❌ You want extreme performance: The Dell XPS 14 comes with powerful Intel Core Ultra 7 155H and Nvidia RTX 4050 components, but they aren't the most powerful out there.
❌ You hate using adapters: The Dell XPS 14 doesn't have a lot of ports, so you'll need an adapter or hub to fully make use of this laptop.
❌ You want a cheap laptop: The Dell XPS 14 is a premium laptop with a price tag to match, so may be too expensive for many people. The good news is there's plenty of great value Windows 11 laptops out there.
In-depth analysis
You're not going to find a better looking Windows 11 laptop than the Dell XPS 14. It is thin, light and even comes with a microSD port - something many other lightweight laptops don't bother with. It feels solid and dependable, while looking like a thoroughly modern laptop. This doesn't revolutionize laptop design, but it does perfect it - especially if you upgrade the screen to OLED. The only downside is that during our review we found that the keyboard isn't the most comfortable to work on.
The Dell XPS 14 takes the latest MacBook Pro 14-inch with M3 Pro chip head-on, and pretty much beats it, especially with light gaming performance, and it's about a draw when it comes to creative tasks thanks to the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H CPU paired with an Nvidia RTX 4050 GPU, which is in the model that we reviewed. Having a dedicated GPU in such a svelte laptop is certainly impressive, and it proves that you don't have to ditch Windows 11 for macOS if you want a thin and light laptop for doing creative work on.
In our battery life benchmark, we found the XPS 14 lasted over nine and a half hours - a huge improvement on the previous generation XPS 13 Plus. Thanks to the efficiency improvements that Intel made with the new Core Ultra 7 155H CPU that powers the XPS 14, you get a laptop that has a larger screen, is more powerful and has more battery life than the XPS 13 Plus. That's impressive stuff, and while it can't match the 14-inch MacBook Pro, which lasted around eight hours longer in the same tests, it'll see you through an entire work day.
Starting at $1,499 / £1,599 / AU$2,999, this is a very pricey laptop. For the money you get some excellent specs, including an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor with integrated Arc graphics, 16GB LPDDR5x memory, 512GB M.2 PCIe SSD storage, and a 14.5-inch full HD+ display. As with many of Dell's products, you can configure the XPS 14 with more powerful components and a better screen, but be warned that this makes the already-steep price even higher. You won't need to buy another laptop for a long, long time, but it'll still be hard to justify for many people.
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Entry-level model is well priced, but other models are pricey. | ★★★★☆ |
| Design | This is quite possibly the best looking Windows 11 laptop money can buy. | ★★★★★ |
| Performance | Thanks to the latest Intel Core Ultra 7 chips, this is an absolute beast. | ★★★★★ |
| Battery life | Battery life is very good, but it can't quite compete with the MacBook Pro. | ★★★★☆ |
💻 The Dell XPS 14 is a fantastic new entry into the storied XPS lineup, and it gives the MacBook Pro 14-inch its strongest competition yet thanks to its gorgeous OLED display, powerful processor and GPU. It's not cheap, however, and there are some design quirks that many might not like. But overall, there are few Windows laptops that can compete right now. Read the full review: Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook
The best value laptop
As long as you keep your expectations in check, the Acer Aspire 5 remains the best cheap laptop you can buy in 2024. Its design is lightweight yet doesn't feel cheap, its large screen size is comfortable to work on, and you can even configure it to come with an Nvidia GPU. Don't mistake this for a gaming laptop however. But, the GPU can help make the Aspire 5 punch above its weight when it comes to video editing. For the price, you'll pleasantly surprised.
Reasons to buy
✅ You want a cheap laptop: The Acer Aspire 5 is a no-frills laptop that does the job well for a lot less than other Windows 11 laptops.
✅ You want a very portable laptop: This budget laptop is impressively light without feeling cheep and tacky, and that means it's comfortable to carry around with you throughout the day.
✅ You don't want a Chromebook: There are cheaper Chromebooks out there, but due to the limitations of ChromeOS, they aren't for everyone. The Acer Aspire 5 is cheap, but also runs Windows 11.
Show expert analysis ▼
Reasons to avoid
❌ You want a gaming laptop: The Acer Aspire can be configured with a discrete GPU, but that ups the price, and still doesn't turn it into a gaming laptop.
❌ You want long battery life: At around six and a half hours, the battery life isn't awful, but nor is it exceptional. The Lenovo IdeaPad Duet, above, offers much better battery life.
In-depth analysis
The Acer Aspire 5 won't win any design or innovation awards, but it offers you a solid, dependable laptop design that will at least feel familiar. Weighing 1.7kg and measuring 18mm thick, it's a laptop you can easily carry around with you. We didn't love the L-shaped power connector in our review, however, which sticks out a bit when plugged in.
The Acer Aspire 5 doesn't wow when it comes to performance - but nor does it disappoint. This is a solid and dependable laptop that you can rely on for your day-to-day needs. However, gaming is out of the question with the base model, which comes with integrated graphics. However, you can buy a model with a dedicated GPU, and this offers improved graphical performance - but don't expect to play demanding games on this thing.
In our review we found the Acer Aspire 5 lasted around six and a half hours on battery. While this isn't awful, there are cheap laptops out there, especially Chromebooks, which offer much longer battery life. So, you'll likely want to bring its charging cable with you when you're out and about.
As you might expect from a laptop we consider to be the best budget device money can buy, the Acer Aspire 5 offers excellent value for money, going for around $600 in the US and £500 in the UK. Even at that low price you get good performance, a nice design and 1080p screen.
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Price | This is an excellent value Windows 11 laptop that is often on sale | ★★★★★ |
| Design | Dull but solid. You won't worry about it breaking easily | ★★★☆☆ |
| Performance | Again, performance is solid, especially for the price | ★★★☆☆ |
| Battery life | Acer claims it can hit 10 hours on battery, but our tests are closer to 7 | ★★★★☆ |
💻 Acer’s hype pitches the Aspire 5 almost as mobile workstation for video-editing work - in fact, this 14-inch model is an affordable entry-level laptop that provides respectable performance and battery life for the price. Read the full review: Acer Aspire 5 (2022)