1. The list in brief
2. Best overall
3. Best budget
4. Best 2-in-1
5. Best premium
6. Best thin and light
7. Best for gaming
8. Best budget gaming
9. Best AMOLED display
10. Best desktop replacement
11. Best battery life
12. How to choose
13. How we test
Investing in the best Windows laptop ensures top-notch versatility for any type of workload. With exceptional software support, these laptops excel in productivity, creativity, and gaming, making them some of the best options available.
For the best of the best, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 tops out list for performance and longevity combined with a stunning design that will absolutely turn heads. This sleek and stylish productivity machine features a new Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chip and faster RAM, handling your daily tasks effortlessly. Its lightweight design and stellar battery life make it perfect for a full day of work.
If you're looking for a more budget-friendly option without sacrificing essential features, the Acer Aspire 5 is an excellent choice. Offering great value for money, its entry-level models are durable and efficient. With a full HD 1080p screen and a responsive keyboard and trackpad, it easily manages everyday tasks.
We've meticulously selected our top picks of the best Windows laptops to suit every use, style, and budget. With our recommendations, you'll find the perfect model for your needs.
The quick list
Want to cut to the chase and find out what the best Windows laptops are? Below, you’ll find a roundup of our choices, and you can jump to a more detailed review of every pick, along with our price comparison tool to help you find the best deals.
The best overall
This combines a gorgeous design with a roomy 14-inch screen and plenty of power for almost any task you want, making it the best Windows laptop.
The best budget
An affordable entry-level laptop with great performance, features, and battery life for the price, this is the best budget Windows laptop right now.
The best 2-in-1
Stunning, powerful, and versatile, this is the best 2-in-1 laptop we've tested this year. It also boasts an optional OLED display and powerful Snapdragon X Elite processor.
The best thin and light
The Acer Swift 3 OLED is the total package, solid, powerful, stunning. But it's also thin and lightweight at only three pounds, ideal for portability.
The best for gaming
Absolutely mighty, this AMD-powered Windows gaming laptop delivers top-notch performance both in games and in creative workloads.
The best cheap gaming
Created solely for the budget gamer, even the lowest priced version of this Windows laptop can play high-end titles well while still balancing every day needs.
The best Windows laptops in 2024
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Below you'll find full write-ups for each of the best Windows laptop in our list. We've tested each one extensively, so you can be sure that our recommendations can be trusted.
The best Windows laptop overall
✅ You want the best-looking Windows laptop around: The Microsoft Surface Laptop sets the standard for stylish Windows laptops.
✅ You want all-day battery life: The Surface Laptop can give the MacBook Air a run for its money when it comes to all-day battery life.
❌ You need lots of ports: The thin and light design of the Surface Laptop comes at the cost of only getting two USB-C ports and a USB-A port (though the 15-inch model also sports a microSD slot).
❌ You want to play games: While the ARM-based Snapdragon X Elite comes with an integrated GPU, which really isn't enough to handle demanding games.
After years of being dominated by various MacBook Air models, Microsoft has taken the spotlight with the release of the Surface Laptop, undeniably the best Windows laptop for most people in 2024. This stylish, powerful device with a long-lasting battery has firmly earned its place at the top.
Microsoft is branding the 2024 edition simply as the Surface Laptop, underscoring its significance despite being the seventh iteration. This isn't just marketing hype; the Surface Laptop is a genuine reinvention. Powered by the revolutionary Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chip, Windows 11 runs fast and responsive, with impressive battery life and minimal fan noise.
As a flagship in the new 'Copilot+ PCs' range, the Surface Laptop boasts deeply integrated AI features, including the Copilot assistant and Cocreator tool, which transforms your Paint scribbles into AI-generated art.
Most of these features operate on-device thanks to the Snapdragon X chip, ensuring your data is secure and you don't need an internet connection. While the AI features are still developing and not yet essential, their potential is enormous. Even without them, the Surface Laptop stands out as the best Windows laptop, finally presenting a true MacBook killer.
Read the full Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 review
The best budget Windows laptop
✅ You’re on a budget: The Aspire 5 is a high-end laptop for video-editing work, but its entry-level model only costs around $600/£450.
✅ You travel a lot: It's sturdy design and weight of just 1.7kg mean that it'll will happily live in your backpack all day long.
❌ You’re a gamer: Most Aspire 5 models rely on more basic integrated graphics.
❌ You need all-day battery life: 6.5 hours of battery life isn’t bad for a laptop in this price range, but it is if you need a long-lasting laptop for work.
No budget Windows laptop is as good as the Acer Aspire 5, which offers so many configurations covering different display sizes and your choice of integrated and discrete graphics that the line has something for pretty much every user. What's more impressive is that this entry-level model provides respectable performance for a laptop in this price range.
You’re not going to get a cutting-edge design, but it gets the basics right, from its sturdy chassis to its comfortable keyboard and fingerprint sensor on the trackpad. And the 1080p14-inch screen is bright, clear, and comes with good viewing angles.
Being a budget option, there are compromises here: the 720p webcam is a bit basic, the built-in speakers are somewhat feeble, and connectivity is a bit of a mixed bag. However, they aren't deal-breakers either. You're definitely getting great value for your money here.
Read our full Acer Aspire 5 (2022) review
The best 2-in-1 Windows laptop
✅ You want all-day battery life: The battery life on the Surface Pro is as good or better than you'll find on any other Windows laptop.
✅ You want to use the laptop like a tablet: With its detachable keyboard, this laptop is truly a 2-in-1 device.
❌ Money is tight: It's not exactly a budget option. Look elsewhere if you need something under $1,000/£1,000.
❌ You want to do any kind of serious gaming: The integrated Adreno GPU in the Surface Pro is not equip for gaming, unfortunately.
With its exceptional design, stunning display, and impressive battery life, the Microsoft Surface Pro 11 stands as the best Windows 2-in-1 laptop available.
Surpassing the iPad Pro in functionality with its full Windows 11 OS, the Surface Pro 11 may have slightly lower performance compared to the latest iPad Pro with Apple M4, but it still excels in benchmark tests and has no significant weaknesses for most users.
The design and battery life of the Surface Pro 11 are particularly impressive. It offers an optional 2.8K OLED display with incredible color accuracy, making it a worthy upgrade. Additionally, it features a 1440p webcam and a solid, lightweight build. The battery life not only meets Microsoft’s 14-hour claim but even approaches 15 hours in local video playback tests, showcasing the power efficiency of Arm architecture.
The Microsoft Surface Pro 11 excels in all areas, setting new standards for what users expect from a top-tier Windows 2-in-1 laptop. With more developers releasing Arm-compatible apps and additional AI features on the horizon, this laptop is poised to become even more remarkable.
Read the full Microsoft Surface Pro 11 review
The best thin and light Windows laptop
✅ You want a low-cost Ultrabook: This is easily one of the most affordable Ultrabooks on the market and it comes with plenty of features that make it a great buy.
✅ You want a sleek and practical design: It's lightweight and thin with a lovely well-built chassis, a great screen, and a high-quality keyboard and touchpad.
❌ You want a good GPU: The GPU, despite being the same kind as most other laptops, has been throttled to death.
❌ You want a long-lasting battery: Six hours isn’t enough to get through a whole day. If you prize a long battery, look elsewhere.
The Acer 3 Swift OLED is the follow-up to one of the best laptops ever made, and this refresh doesn't disappoint in the slightest. This lightweight and thin notebook in a lovely well-built chassis belies an incredible CPU performance, which has some of the best we've seen from an Ultrabook.
In fact, it’s one of the highest-scoring laptops we’ve ever tested - almost every result is at least the highest number in its category. Of course, the GPU performance is no slouch either, ensuring that you can work and play with ease. And while the battery life may not be the longest, it's actually pretty decent.
Though it's not a touchscreen, its main draw is its gorgeous OLED display that also supports HDR. This screen is one of the most beautiful we’ve seen on a laptop. Meanwhile, the keyboard balances a smooth and sleek design with a satisfying feel. Rounding it all out is the incredibly affordable pricing that makes it an absolute steal.
Read our full Acer Swift 3 OLED (2022) review
The best gaming laptop
✅ You’re a hardcore gamer: This has both the looks and the performance to suit those who need the full experience on the move.
✅ You’ll appreciate a big, high-res screen: The higher-spec tiers of the Alienware m17 probably offer more pixels than your games truly need, but this is a bold, beautiful panel that refreshes fast.
❌ You value portability: Although the m17 isn’t over-heavy it’s most at home in the home.
❌ You’re concerned about your budget: This is no-compromises gaming, with a price tag to match.
It might be fairly expensive at $2,350 (around £1,950 / AU$3,410) for the model we reviewed, so this will be one to skip if you're on a tight budget, but the Alienware m17 R5 'AMD Advantage' edition is an absolutely mighty Windows gaming laptop, delivering top-notch performance both in games and in creative workloads.
As we noted in our review, it's really unclear whether credit should lie with Dell or AMD for producing such an excellent laptop, but we're happy either way. The internal components pull their weight in practically every area, and the sleek Alienware chassis packs a nifty cooling solution that keeps your system running smoothly.
Still not sold on it? Well, the 4K 120Hz display is absolutely magnificent, giving more expensive gaming laptops a serious run for their money. The keyboard has full RGB lighting, which is aesthetically appealing but not over-the-top, and while the battery life isn't spectacular, it outstrips the majority of gaming laptops in its weight class. The Alienware m17 R5 AMD Advantage is one of the best Windows gaming laptops you can buy right now - end of story.
Read our full Alienware m17 R5 AMD Advantage review
The best budget gaming laptop
✅ You want a very affordable gaming laptop: At a starting price of $600 and one that won’t exceed $1,200 with all the upgraded specs, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a cheaper gaming laptop around.
✅ You want a well-rounded laptop: Not only can this laptop run most games pretty well, it has features and ports that make it well-suited for other tasks.
❌ You want a long-lasting battery: If you need a battery that can hold its own off the charging cord, this is not the one for you.
❌ You’re looking for a stylish laptop: While the design is simple and sustainable, it is rather boring
The HP Victus 15 is proof that you don’t need to splurge on an expensive Windows laptop for gaming to enjoy great performance. Much like with many budget offerings, there are a few concessions here. The laptop, while sturdy, is a bit chunky, which means it isn’t the most travel-friendly gaming machine. Its design is also basic, but the fact that it’s partially made of post-consumer recycled and ocean-bound plastic makes up for it, especially if you’re big on sustainability and having a lower carbon footprint.
In terms of performance, we found the battery life disappointing as well, as it gave us a little over four hours during our battery tests. The good news is that this is made for the desk, rather than for travel anyway so you can keep it plugged.
Even better news, its performance and heat management are hard to beat. At lower settings, you should be able to enjoy the most demanding games without frustration. It’s also a monster at multitasking, which makes it ideal for work, school, and entertainment.
Read our full HP Victus 15 review
How to choose the best Windows laptop for you
When it comes to choosing the right Windows laptop, you have to take into account what you want out of it. Maybe you’re looking for a powerhouse for gaming or other intensive tasks like video editing. Or, maybe you prefer something that’s portable and ideal for checking emails and basic productivity work.
If performance is a priority, you’ll want something that comes with higher-end components such as a fast processor, a decent amount of RAM – 16 GB is a good target to shoot for – and discrete graphics such as one of Nvidia’s 3000 series GPUs. If you just need to do basic day-to-day computing, you won’t need anything that robust. You still will want internals that can keep up in a few years' time, however, so make sure to get a portable with a current generation processor, and at least 8 GB of RAM. And, while storage space can be expanded through any of the best portable SSDs, you should make sure that whatever you choose has enough for your needs.
When it comes to portability, take into account not only the size and weight of the notebook you’re considering but also its battery life. After all, it needs to have enough juice to last a workday without needing a charge. Keep in mind that more powerful laptops with discrete graphics, ones meant for gaming in particular, tend to come with shorter battery lives.
And, of course, make sure you’re getting the proper size for your needs. Laptops typically come in 13, 15, and 17-inch models. If portability is your top priority, a smaller 13-inch model is probably going to be your best bet. However, if you need to balance portability with performance, 15-inch models tend to hit that sweet spot. While 17-inch models are ideal for someone who wants a portable with a lot of power and a lot of screen space for easier multitasking.
Beyond that, you should consider the kinds of ports and features you need out of your portable. Some come with just a few USB-C ports while others include SD card readers and HDMI ports for easy use with external monitors. And, some come with security features that you won’t find with every portable, such as a fingerprint reader, webcam cover, or Kensington lock.
If you can narrow down what kind of performance, portability, battery life, size, and features you expect out of that next Windows laptop, you’ll be able to find the right one in no time.
How we tested these Windows laptops
We know how big an investment getting a new computer is, so when we test a Windows laptop, or any other laptop for that matter, we make sure to try out every aspect of it. To start with, we take a look at its design and how well thought its layout is. Its size, portability, and even aesthetics are taken into account as well. After all, if you’re going to drop a decent amount of money on something, you want it to look like it’s worth the price tag. The keyboard and trackpad get plenty of attention so that we know how comfortable a notebook is to work on.
We spend quite a bit of time testing performance. And, we start by getting a sense of what a portable can do in the wild. Whether that means editing, playing games, or opening a bunch of tabs in Google Chrome depends on the type of laptop. But, we make sure that it does what it claims it’s supposed to do as well as compare that real-world use to its competitors. There’s also some standardized testing to make the comparisons easier. We run the same benchmark tests on all the laptops we review for concrete comparisons.
Included in that testing is battery life. Considering how much users expect out of a laptop, this is a vital step in our process. On top of a synthetic benchmark test, we also run a 1080p movie on a loop to simulate more organic battery usage and record the results.
Of course, we test all the individual features of a portable as well, including its webcam, mic, ports, and other features. Once we’ve gathered all our notes and have seen where a laptop has exceeded or missed expectations, we look at the price to see if it’s worth the price for its intended audience.
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