Welcome to our pick of 2021’s best laptops. If you are looking for a new laptop for the new year, then you have come to the right spot, as you can find the best laptops for a variety of budgets and use cases on this list.
Our best laptop guide will have the right computer for you, from the new and greatest notebooks from Apple, Dell, HP and Lenovo, to amazing budget laptops, awesome gaming laptops, 2-in-1 computers and inexpensive Chromebooks.
At the moment, our pick for the best laptop overall is the MacBook Air (M1, 2020). It provides outstanding performance, excellent battery life and a tranquil design without fans. It’s a fantastic laptop, and it’s the first time an Apple computer has topped this list.
If you don’t want a MacBook, though, or you want to stick with Windows 10, then we’ve got some nice choices for you on our best list of laptops.
So, read on and find out what we consider to be the best laptops in 2021.
15 Best Laptops of 2021
1. Apple MacBook Air (M1, 2020
Read the full review: Apple MacBook Air (M1, 2020)
Key Specs:
CPU: Apple M1 | Graphics: Integrated 7-core /8-core | GPU RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 13.3-inch (diagonal) 2,560 x 1,600 LED-backlit display with IPS technology | Storage: 256GB – 2TB SSD | Dimensions: 11.97 x 8.36 x 0.63 inches (30.41 x 21.24 x 1.61cm; W x D x H)
The new Apple MacBook Air (M1, 2020) isn’t just the best laptop Apple has ever made; it’s the best laptop money can now purchase. This is the first time a MacBook has topped our list of best laptops, but this spot is worthy of the MacBook Air (M1, 2020). This is an impressive accomplishment thanks to the innovative ARM-based Apple M1 chip that drives the new MacBook Air (Apple has discarded Intel for these new laptops), a slim and lightweight laptop that provides outstanding performance, even with 4K video editing, while still providing incredible battery life.
This is a laptop that you can comfortably take around with you at work or school, easy to handle for 11 hours on a single charge, and its price is low compared to Windows 10 rivals like the Dell XPS 15 (below). Running both new and old Mac software, the new MacBook Air will now run iOS apps for iPhone and iPads, allowing it access to hundreds of genius smartphone applications and games as well.
The MacBook Air (M1, 2020) is well worth buying and making a move to macOS, even though you’ve only used Windows laptops before. Yeah, it’s that sweet, actually.
Check out: Top 10 Best Laptops To Buy In 2021: A Brief Guide
2. Dell XPS 15 (2020)
Dell XPS 15
Key Specs:
CPU: 10th-generation Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics – Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Ti | RAM: 8GB – 64GB | Screen: 15.6″ FHD+ (1920 x 1200) IPS – UHD+ (3840 x 2400) | Storage: 256GB – 1TB SSD
When it comes to what we expect from a laptop, the Dell XPS 15 pretty much ticks every box. The result is that the Dell XPS 15 (2020) is just as close to ideal as a laptop can be and one of the finest Dell laptops to date; we can’t blame it for many things. It’s got some of Intel’s new, and best, smartphone tech, and can even be configured with a standalone GPU, making it perfect for videos, video editing tools, and even light gaming.
It also boasts one of the best notebook styles we’ve seen and is probably the most elegant laptop on the market for Windows 10 right now. Battery life is also phenomenal, and given what you get, the price, while high, isn’t that bad. If the 15-inch screen is a little too large, like the MacBook Air above, the Dell XPS 13 (also on this list) is worth considering.
3. HP Spectre x360 (2020)
Check out: HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 laptop
Key Specs:
CPU: 10th-generation Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 13.3″ FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS BrightView micro-edge WLED-backlit multitouch – 13.3″ diagonal 4K (3840 x 2160) UWVA BrightView micro-edge AMOLED multitouch | Storage: 256GB – 2TB SSD
The HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 laptop got a major refresh, and the upgrade in specifications, with 10th-generation Intel Core processors and Intel Iris Plus graphics, along with the impeccable 2-in-1 style and pristine gem-cut case, means that the updated version has a well-deserved spot at the top of our best laptops list.
HP has been on a late roll, with the outstanding HP Elite Dragonfly already appearing high in our best list of laptops (you’ll find it a few places below), but the HP Spectre x360 (2020) is easily one of the best 13-inch laptops you will buy right now in 2020 when it comes to building efficiency, architecture and sheer performance, rivalled only by the excellent MacBook Air (M1, 2020), which is at the top of this b b
Although it’s obviously costly, you’re getting some nice additions, such as great security options and speakers from Bang & Olufsen. If you think about aesthetics as you do about efficiency and overall consistency, this is your laptop.
4. Dell XPS 13 (Late 2020)
Key Specs:
CPU: Up to 11th Generation Intel Core i7-1165G7 | Graphics: Up to Intel Iris Xe Graphics | RAM: Up to 32GB 4267MHz LPDDR4xScreen: 13.4″ FHD+ (1920 x 1200) InfinityEdge Non-Touch Anti-Glare 500-Nit – 13.4″ UHD+ (3840 x 2400) InfinityEdge Touch Anti-Reflective 500-Nit Display | Storage: Up to 2TB M.2 PCIe NVMe
We suspect at this point that the Dell XPS line is capable of doing something wrong. Its annual upgrades have regularly made it to our favourite list of laptops, and it’s only getting better. Not only is the Dell XPS 13 (2020) a beautiful piece of gear. It also comes alongside a few others, as anticipated, with outstanding performance, a spectacular display and long battery life.
It’s an expensive gamble, just like its ancestor, but that’s hardly justification enough for us to deter Ultrabook fans. This is one of 2021’s finest laptops, and it’s worth every penny.
5. LG Gram 17
Read the full review: LG Gram 17
Key Specs:
CPU: Intel Core i7-1065G7 | Graphics: Intel Iris Plus | RAM: 16GBScreen: 17-inch 1600p (2,560 x 1,600) | Storage: 2 x 512GB SSD
Typically when you’re going for a 17-inch notebook, you have to give up every sense of portability. These enormous, bulky items, filled with the most efficient components to draw artistic professionals, are usually laptops of this scale. However, although the LG Gram 17 abandons Intel Ice Lake Ultrabook-class chips’ full-fat H-series processors, it makes up for that by being a 17-inch laptop that is as thin as a 13-inch one.
All this suggests that in a laptop that weighs only 2.98 lbs, you can get a beautiful 17-inch 1600p display (1.35kg). You have the formula for the ultimate laptop for someone who wants to get work done while travelling if you pair the lightweight style because the battery lasted more than 14 hours in our testing.
6. Acer Swift 3
Key Specs:
CPU: up to Intel Core i7-8565U | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce MX150, Intel HD Graphics 620 or AMD Radeon Vega 8RAM: 4GB – 8GB | Screen: 14-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,080) ComfyView IPS – 15.6″ Full HD (1920 x 1080) | Storage: 128GB – 1 TB HDD, 16 GB Intel Optane Memory
You’ll find an impressive laptop outside the humble exterior of the Acer Swift 3 that has plenty of capacity for work and research. The Swift 3 is an affordable laptop (not to be confused with the Turn 3 from Acer); however, the plain casing is all-aluminium and filled with beefy parts.
It comes remarkably close to the much more costly Microsoft Surface Laptop in terms of performance. The display is slightly lower-res, but otherwise, the two are surprisingly identical – other than the price.
This laptop is incredible to use, with its roomy trackpad and its backlit keyboard provide a convenient typing experience with good travel. This is one of the best budget laptops 2021 has on sale whether you’re going to be writing a lot, whether you’re commuting or at the office.
7. MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019)
Key Specs:
CPU: 9th-generation Intel Core i7 – i9 | Graphics: AMD Radeon Pro 5300M – Radeon Pro 5500MRAM: 16GB – 64GB | Screen: 16-inch Retina display with True Tone | Storage: 512GB – 8TB SSD
We have accepted the MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019) with open arms, even though we are disappointed that the 15-inch MacBook Pro is no more. You would not believe this was a 16-inch behemoth, as small, light and elegant as ever.
Yet, on that beautiful show, as well as the new and greatest components behind it, you’re getting the extra real estate. For content developers, programmers and other innovative practitioners, this is, without a doubt, the perfect MacBook with amazing speakers (and loud) and a much, much better keyboard to boot.
8. Asus ROG Zephyrus G14
Key Specs:
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS – 9 4900HS | Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 | RAM: 16GB – 32GB | Screen: 14-inch Non-glare Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS-level panel, 120Hz – 14-inch Non-glare WQHD (2560 x 1440) IPS-level panel, 60Hz | Storage: 512GB / 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe 3.0
Not fine, lacking a camera and a Thunderbolt 3 port, is the Asus Zephyrus G14. It’s damn close to being one, though, earning our prized but seldom granted five-star ranking, making it one of the best laptops in 2021, and our overall list of the best gaming laptop.
This absolutely a beast of gaming laptops, offering an impressive output with its AMD Ryzen 4000 processors and Nvidia RTX 2060 graphics card while boasting best battery life that will stand all day long, a fast display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a lightweight, ultra-thin build. The best thing is that, without hurting your wallet, you get all that. Don’t get us wrong; it’s not inexpensive, and check out the Dell G5 15 below if you’re looking for a more compact laptop.
9. Asus TUF A15
Key Specs:
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 4600H – 7 4800H | Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660TI – RTX 2060RAM: up to 32 GB SDRAM | Screen: 15.6″ (16:9) FHD (1920×1080) 60Hz Anti-Glare IPS-level Panel – 15.6″ (16:9) FHD (1920×1080) 144Hz Anti-Glare IPS-level Panel | Storage: 1TB 5400 rpm SATA HDD – 256GB/512GB/1TB PCIe Gen3 SSD
If the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 above is out of your price range, then the right laptop for you will be the Asus TUF A15. It’s more affordable than the Zephyrus, but it still delivers incredible efficiency and is our option for 2021’s best budget gaming laptop.
The genius AMD Ryzen 4000 mobile processor inside is responsible for much of what we love about the Asus TUF A15. However, the Asus TUF A15 is an outstanding gaming result and a great value gaming rig with long battery life and military standard reliability. This Ryzen 4000-powered laptop will provide you through all your 1080p gaming requirements with the aid of Nvidia’s best 1080p graphics card (the RTX 2060), without burning a hole in your wallet. If you’re playing a bunch of professional esports, or you need a sturdy laptop, this is a winner. This is a winner.
10. HP Elite Dragonfly
Key Specs:
CPU: 8th-generation Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 13.3″ diagonal Full HD touch display – Full HD touch Sure View display | storage: 256 GB SSD
Simply put, this is one of the sleekest and thin laptops you’ll ever see, and it’s also filled with some clever features and strong components. This laptop from HP is our choice for the best business laptop.
Since the HP Elite Dragonfly is mostly meant for business consumers, don’t let that scare you off. This is the perfect laptop for anybody who can afford it, thanks to its incredible style and stunning screen. The battery life is decent, the keyboard is a pleasure to type on, and it has LTE networking. This allows you to plug in a SIM card and use mobile internet anywhere you are, without having to connect to sluggish (and potentially compromised) Wi-Fi hotspots.
It’s pricey, but it’s easily one of the best laptops in 2021 if you can afford it.
11. HP Envy x360 13 (2019)
Key Specs:
CPU: AMD Ryzen 3 3300U – AMD Ryzen 7 3700U | Graphics: AMD Radeon Vega 6 – Radeon Vega 10RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 13.3″ diagonal FHD IPS (1,920 x 1,080) | Storage: 256 GB – 1TB SSD
This 2-in-1 is leaner than you would have expected, thanks to its compact, 13-inch size, which functions in your favour when engaging it in tablet mode. There are other persuasive reasons why it is worth considering the HP Envy x360 (2019) when searching for the best laptops, especially in the 2-in-1 form factor.
This HP beauty has a quality build, boasts 9 hours of video playback and offers a value at a very affordable price that will get you through much of your schoolwork and project.
12. Google Pixelbook Go
Key Specs:
CPU: Intel Core m3 – Intel Core i7Graphics: Intel UHD | Graphics 615RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 13.3-inch Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) or 4K LCD touchscreen | Storage: 128GB – 256GB eMMC
Google’s Pixelbook Go is the best Chromebook money can purchase right now, with the company teaching everyone else how it’s done. His previous Chromebook, the Pixelbook, was, in its own sense, a wonderful Chromebook, but it cost a small fortune.
The Pixelbook Go is a more affordable Chromebook that retains a lot of its predecessor’s luxury features, while carrying some brilliant updates as well, including astounding battery life and excellent keyboard.
For a Chromebook, it features some amazing specifications, which means that Chrome OS flies on this computer favourably, and places its performance on par with much of the more costly Windows laptops and MacBooks that grace the rest of this list of best laptops. If you are searching for the ultimate Chromebook, then the one to have is the Pixelbook Go.
13. Asus Chromebook Flip
Key Specs:
CPU: Intel Pentium – Core m7 | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 510 – 515 | RAM: 4GB – 8GB | Screen: 12.5-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,080) LED-backlit anti-glare display | Storage: 32GB – 128GB eMMC
You have a choice of two stark options when it comes to the right Chromebook notebook. There’s the more costly Chromebook Pixel Go (featured in this list earlier). Then there’s the fantastic Asus Chromebook Flip C302, a much more affordable bundle that incorporates luxury features.
Chromebooks are inexpensive laptops for many people and are great for students, and the Asus Chromebook Flip C302 is easily one of the best Chromebooks, and money will purchase one of the best laptops.
It comes with a complete 1080p display, Intel Core processor, touchscreen, backlit keyboard and USB-C port.
14. Asus VivoBook S15
Key Specs:
CPU: Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD GraphicsRAM: 8GB DDR4 | Screen: 15.6-inch full HD (1920 x 1080) | Storage: 512GB SSD
For a long time, the recent Asus VivoBook S15 hasn’t been released, and it has found its way right into our best list of laptops. With outstanding efficiency and an excellent price, it blends a thin and light style.
This is the perfect laptop for you if you’re looking for a mid-range laptop that doesn’t cost too much and works beautifully.
This laptop can perform almost any task with ease, thanks to its powerful Intel processor, 8 GB of RAM and fast SSD storage, while gaming is out of the question. It has a vivid and colourful 15.6-inch screen and plenty of ports that make it easy to connect up your favourite peripherals.
However, it doesn’t have the best battery life for a laptop, and the ScreenPad, which replaces the conventional touchpad below the keyboard with a touchscreen, takes a bit of getting used to.
15. Microsoft Surface Laptop 3
Key Specs:
CPU: Intel Core i5 – i7 / AMD Ryzen 5 / AMD Ryzen 7 | Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics / AMD Radeon Vega 9 / AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 | RAM: 8GB – 16GBScreen: 13.5-inch PixelSense (2,256 x 1,504) / 15-inch PixelSense (2,496 x 1,664) | Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB or 1TB SSD
Microsoft has made its best laptop yet, with the third edition of the Surface Laptop 3. Although it’s not a big jump over its predecessor, in almost every way, the Surface Laptop 3 strengthens.
Best of all, you get a choice of either Intel or AMD hardware now with the 15-inch version. Only Intel equipment was historically used. Elsewhere, the Surface Laptop 3 maintains the Surface Laptop’s popularity for being an amazingly built laptop.
With a modern aluminium frame that gives it a luxurious appearance, while shielding it from knocks and drops, these are some of the most coveted laptops in the world that don’t have an Apple logo on them. There are also a few niggles, such as the ongoing shortage of ports, but this is one of the best laptops in the world right now, in general.
When buying a new laptop, what do you look for?
When buying a new laptop, there are some items you can look out for that can ensure you get the best laptop for your money.
Before buying, make sure you take a peek at the specs of a laptop. As long as you know what you are searching for, this is a fantastic way to easily see how powerful a laptop is and what it is capable of.
First and foremost is the CPU. This is actually the laptop’s memory, and a laptop would normally have a processor built by either Intel or AMD (also known as a CPU). Intel is the most popular laptop CPU manufacturer by far, while we still see a growing abundance of laptops powered by AMD.
Intel processors deliver better performance as a general rule of thumb, but AMD processors are better valued.
Both Intel and AMD have added their processors to make it simpler, to give you a rough understanding of what kind of tasks a laptop will do with that CPU.
For basic tasks such as surfing the web or watching Netflix, whether you are after a budget laptop, then a laptop with an Intel Pentium, Intel Core i3 or AMD Ryzen 3 can do the job without making the laptop too costly.
If you are looking for something with a little more oomph, maybe to do more complicated tasks such as editing your home videos or playing sports, then at least opt for a laptop along with an Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 processor.
With an Intel Core i7 or Core i9 processor, or an AMD Ryzen 7 processor, the best laptops for producing media and more complex tasks are available. Top-of-the-range laptops with these processors are laptops that have brilliant performance regardless of what you want to do but be warned that they are only found in the more costly laptops.
Last, keep an eye on how new the processor is. Intel handily gives generations of its processors, because the higher the age, the younger it is. The new generation is the 10th generation, while the Intel Core processors of the 9th generation are still very recent.
A modern CPU is higher performing and more fuel consumption, meaning the battery life can last longer. They’re more costly, however.
Another important specification to look for in a laptop is RAM (Random Access Memory). For a Windows laptop, you’ll want at least 4 GB, but we’d probably suggest that more people opt for 8 GB. That will ensure that for years to come, the laptop runs well.
You don’t have to think too much about graphics since laptop processors come with built-in (integrated) graphics. If you want to play PC games on your desktop, though, then you’ll want a discrete GPU gaming laptop-either from Nvidia or AMD.
Considerations on battery life
Finally, there’s battery life. This is undoubtedly one of the most significant factors that you have when deciding which laptop to purchase. Without trying to search for a power converter, the right laptops would be able to make your work – and play – for hours on end. Modern notebooks are becoming increasingly power-efficient, leading to longer battery lives. It has to deliver a battery life of five hours or more for a laptop to be included on our best laptops list.
Bear in mind that the laptop vendors’ battery life suggests their computer has may be somewhat different from what you actually experience. This is because many laptop manufacturers test their batteries in very regulated conditions, with the laptop used in ways that you would not actually need. Therefore, while a laptop can have a reported battery life of 10 hours, you may find that the battery life will run out quicker while using it for such purposes, such as watching high definition video.
This is where our in-depth reviews come in, as we run a set of checks in this best laptop guide on each laptop to see how long the battery life under such scenarios lasts. We’ll tell you if a laptop’s battery is tiny (or impressively long).
What is the right sort of laptop for you?
General laptops: Computers that rely more on practicality than design, portability or strength are where the best cheap laptops are located. That’s not to suggest that they can’t be fast, but for less than $600 or £400, you’ll usually find a non-Ultrabook clamshell laptop with an HD screen and rotating drive-based storage.
Ultrabooks: where thin-and-light notebooks sporting SSD storage and display resolutions reaching 1080p are located. The best Ultrabooks can cost a pretty penny-$700 or £500 to $2,000 or £1,800, combined with solid, albeit mobile-centric components and particularly long battery life.
2-in-1 laptops: Where there are notebooks that act as tablets. Surface Book 2 may be a way off, but there are plenty of the best 2-in-1 laptops available right now. These hybrids are the most flexible way to view Windows 10 (or Chrome OS) on a touchscreen, complete with detachable and 360-degree revolving hinges.
Chromebooks: where you’ll find the best Chromebooks running Chrome OS. Most of the browser would do for Windows and macOS, relying on local cloud storage while recently gaining support for the Android app’s touchscreen versions. They cost less than $300 or £200 in general, and some can even survive a minor tussle.
Gaming laptops: Do you need a laptop to (almost) play games just as a shiny desktop PC can? You’ll want one of the best laptops for gaming then. Generally, these computers cost between $800 or £600 to upwards of $3,000 or £2,800, and they would certainly be the first to take advantage of AMD’s Ryzen laptop-grade processors. If you truly are on a budget, you should look at the best prices for cheap gaming laptops.
Laptop-tablet hybrids: The best Windows tablets is pack with HD touchscreens, often with kickstands in their frames or supported by keyboard covers, built from the tablet-first approach to laptop-tablet hybrids. These normally shine with a stylus and vary from the budget to the price levels in luxury prices.