2023's Top Laptop: 15 of the greatest laptops available
Your most significant laptop choices, from ultraportables to powerful editing devices
Every year, we test a wide range of laptops. and a lot of them are excellent. But you can't buy all of them. I've therefore undertaken the extremely difficult (really difficult, trust me) effort of choosing 15 of the best products available for this Best Laptop of 2023 page in order to aid your purchasing decisions. I have several possibilities for you here, whether you're searching for a Chromebook, a gaming laptop, a 2-in-1 convertible, an ultralight notebook, or something that's a little bit of each. Although they may not be the best laptops ever made, in my opinion, these are the top models available right now.
The MacBook Air is my current choice for the best laptop of 2023. It’s a device that does just about everything right. While it’s certainly not perfect, there are no major flaws. It’s a great pick for productivity, browsing, and even light gaming. It's a tool that essentially performs everything correctly. There are no significant problems, although it is not flawless. It is a fantastic choice for work, surfing, and even light gaming.
It's becoming more difficult to purchase a subpar laptop, but the finest laptops are those that strike a mix between power, efficiency, portability, and comfort. The best laptop should have an excellent keyboard and trackpad because those are the two main factors that make a laptop more appealing than a smartphone or tablet. Its display ought to be bright, clear, and sharp enough to prevent eye strain from glare from visible pixels and jagged edges. Most tasks should be possible with it, with the exception of demanding video editing and sophisticated games. It needs to be portable and able to function continuously throughout the day without the requirement for a plug.
The Macbook Pro 16 and the HP Spectre x360 14 are two of our other top recommendations for laptops, Chromebooks, and 2-in-1s. If you're looking for a powerful machine that doesn't sacrifice mobility, check out the whole list of our top laptop recommendations below or our roundup of the best gaming laptops.
What we are looking for:
1. Value: When assessing gadgets for this page, price is a crucial consideration. We are looking for laptops that are the best available in their price range and provide excellent value in comparison to other laptops of similar caliber. The more outstanding a device must be to make it on this list, the more expensive it is.
2. Performance: We need laptops with sufficient power to serve their intended audience. A typical office task should be manageable on an ultraportable laptop without producing too much heat or fan noise. Popular games from today should operate on a gaming laptop.
3. Screen: We want bright, color-accurate displays.
4. Design: We're searching for laptops with sturdy, resilient construction that can withstand typical briefcase wear-and-tear.
5. Battery life: In some categories, battery life is far more crucial than it is in others. However, in general, we believe that consumers prefer laptops to desktops because they appreciate the capacity to operate without a plug. We take battery life into consideration because it allows a user more freedom and makes a gadget more dependable for travel.
6.Port selection: The more ports, the better.
The Best Laptops
1. Apple MacBook Air (M2)
2. MacBook Pro (14-Inch and 16-inch)
3. Asus Zenbook Pro Duo 14
4. Asus ROG Zephyrus G14
5. Asus Chromebook Flip CX5
6. MacBook Pro 16 (M2 Pro and M2 Max)
7. MacBook Air 15
8. Framework Laptop
9. Dell XPS 13
10. Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED
11. Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3
12. Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 (13.5-inch)
13. Razer Blade 16
14. HP Dragonfly Pro
15. HP Spectre x360 13.5
1.Apple MacBook Air (M2)
The best laptop of 2013
The updated MacBook Air is a sleek, lightweight laptop that runs on Apple's newest processor. The M2 model keeps characteristics like a lengthy battery life and MagSafe charging but also boasts a 1080p webcam and a better display than its predecessor.
CPU: M2 / GPU: M2/ RAM: 8GB, 16GB, 24GB / Storage: 512GB, 1TB, 2TB / Display: 13.6-inch IPS display, 2560 x 1664, 60Hz, no touch option / Dimensions: 11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44 inches / Weight: 2.7 pounds
The best laptop for most people is the most recent MacBook Air, which uses an M2 CPU from Apple.
The Air no longer has the wedge-shaped design that served as its trademark for so many years, but it still has many of the other top features from those times, such as Touch ID, MagSafe charging, and the scissor-switch keyboard, and it also gets a new 1080p webcam and two new color options.
Although the M1 Pro or M1 Max processors found within the larger (and more expensive) MacBook Pro models are faster and more powerful, the M2 CPU inside is still incredibly quick. In our tests, it operated with little to no heat or lag when handling heavy office workloads. You'll struggle to find a machine with this combination of power and portability anywhere else given how tiny and light this one is.
In our rundown testing, the M2 Air's battery life wasn't quite as impressive as that of the 16-inch M1 Pro MacBook, but we still anticipate that most users could use it nonstop for a whole day.
2. MacBook Pro (14-inch and 16-inch)
The ideal MacBook Pro for creative individuals
With Apple's newest silicon, the new 16-inch MacBook Pro is a creative powerhouse. The 16-inch screen, which can be configured with either the M1 Pro or M1 Max, may concurrently be leased to up to three external screens and a 4K TV thanks to its extensive selection of connectors.
CPU: M1 Pro, M1 Max; GPU: M1 Pro, M1 Max; RAM: 16 GB, 32 GB, 64 GB, 96 GB; Storage: 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB, 8 TB; Display: 14.2/16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR, 3024 x 1964/3456 x 2234, adaptive refresh up to 120Hz, no touch option; Dimensions: 12.31 x 8.
Seeing the 2021 MacBook Pro models (with the M1 Pro and M1 Max processors) and the 2023 MacBook Pro models (with the M2 Pro and M2 Max chips) on this list simultaneously may be perplexing. The 2023 models are more powerful, but because to their expensive price, they are also more specialized gadgets. We advise experts who require every bit of power to use these models. We believe that the 2021 models, which are currently available for significantly less money, are preferable selections for a more general market. They are higher on our list as a result.
The MacBook Pro 16 performed better than any laptop we've ever used in our benchmarks, which measure a variety of creative tasks like encoding, playback, and export time. The only other devices that have come close to matching this beast in any of our benchmarks are high-end desktop PCs. Additionally breaking records, the battery life. The longest-lasting laptop we've ever examined, the 16-inch configuration with the M1 Pro processor lasted 16 hours in my tests. (The M1 Max configuration didn't last as long, but it still carried us through the day at work.)
We essentially have no issues regarding the MacBook Pro 2021 in other areas. When watching HDR content, its stunning display can surpass 1,000 nits. It combines that with the greatest laptop speakers we've ever heard. And unlike the Air, which can only output to one external display, these Pro models can output to numerous displays.
You'll probably be happy with what the M1 Pro and M1 Max can do if you're looking for a device that can handle a tough task and double as a fantastic multimedia device when you're not working.
With the identical processors, we didn't see a significant difference in benchmark results between the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBooks; in fact, in some of our tests, the 14-inch model performed better than the 16-inch model. Apart from the sizes of these devices, the main distinction to take into account is battery life. The 16-inch M1 Pro model lasted several hours longer than the 14-inch M1 Pro model during our testing since the 16-inch chassis allows for a substantially larger battery.
3. Asus Zenbook Pro Duo 14
The top laptop with dual displays
The Asus Chromebook CX5 offers a fantastic bundle at a somewhat high cost.
Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor, Intel Iris Xe graphics chip, 16GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, 15.6-inch IPS display, 1920 x 1080 resolution, 60Hz, and 14.08 by 9.48 by 0.73 inches in size and 4.3 pounds in weight.
We were taken aback by Asus' Chromebook Flip CX5, a stunning $800 notebook that runs Chrome OS. It has a distinctive smooth touch and is as durable and well-built as all different sorts of Windows laptops at greater price points. It has full laptop specifications, including a 57Wh battery, for swift performance, long battery life, and quick charging.
There are numerous ports available, including an HDMI port and a microSD slot. The keyboard is cozy, and the speakers have excellent sound quality. If you're looking for a Chromebook with a large screen, the CX5 from Asus is unquestionably the device to buy because neither the chassis nor the performance have been compromised.
6. MacBook Pro 16 (M2 Pro and M2 Max)
One of the most potent and durable laptops on the market is the MacBook Pro 16 with M2 Pro and M2 Max.
CPU: M2 Pro, M2 Max; GPU: M2 Pro, M2 Max; RAM: 16 GB, 32 GB, 64 GB, 96 GB; Storage: 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB, 8 TB; Display: 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR, 3456 x 2234, adaptive refresh up to 120Hz, no touch option; Dimensions: 14.01 x 9.77 x 0.66 inches; Weight:
The 16-inch MacBook Pro with Apple's brand-new M2 Pro or M2 Max is what you want if you're a professional with a demanding workload searching for the finest performance, graphics, and battery life that Apple has to offer. Although models start at $2,499, it is one of the most potent and durable laptops you can purchase. To clarify, we think most creators should choose a discounted M1 Pro or M1 Max laptop over this one; the most wealthy power users should opt for the newest M2 Pro and M2 Max models.
The 2023 MacBook Pro shares many similarities with the 2021 MacBook Pro, including a similar design, a similar array of ports (including MagSafe charging), and a superior speaker system.
Testing revealed that the M2 Max's battery life is significantly longer than the M1 Max's, which powered the 2021 MacBook Pro 16. The M2 Max outperforms the M1 Max in terms of both multicore and single-core CPU power as well as graphics performance. That won't matter for typical home and office duties, but it might if your line of work necessitates a really powerful PC.
7. MacBook Air 15
The perfect 15-inch laptop
The MacBook Air offers a larger screen and a little more cooling than the 13-inch model but the same processor.
CPU: M2; GPU: M2; RAM: 16GB; Storage: 256GB; 512GB; 1TB; 2TB; panel: 15.3-inch IPS panel; 2880 x 1864; 60Hz; Dimensions: 13.4 x 9.35; Weight: 3.3 lbs.
The 15-inch laptop that many people have been waiting for is the MacBook Pro 15. Although it has a larger, more beautiful screen than the 16-inch MacBook Pro models now on the market, it is significantly lighter and less expensive. Although it uses the same M2 chip as the 13-inch MacBook Air higher on this list, its larger chassis allows for a little bit more cooling, which results in a little bit greater performance. The Air 15 is a choice for folks who want the portability of the 13-inch MacBook Air but need a larger screen for working.
The 14-inch and 16-inch Pro don't require any concessions, but the 15-inch Air does. Most notably, it only has two USB-C Thunderbolt ports, one MagSafe port, and one headphone jack, all of which are jammed onto the left side of the device. It only supports one external display, which some people find to be an irritating constraint. Nevertheless, for many people, the Air will still be the best option because it is more portable and less expensive than Apple's other big-screen models.
8. Framework Laptop
A Laptop that can be fixed by the user
The finest laptop for people who desire complete control over their experience is the Framework Laptop 13. It is possible to upgrade everything, including the keyboard, bezels, RAM, and processor.
GPU: Intel UHD/Iris Xe, Radeon 700M / RAM: 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, 64GB / Storage: 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB / Display: 13.5 inch IPS, 2256 x 1540, 60Hz, no touch option / CPU: Intel Core i5-1340P/i7-1360P/17-1370P, AMD Ryzen 7 7840U / 11.68 by 9.01 by 0.62 inches and 2.87 pounds are the specifications.
The Framework Laptop 13 is pretty much your only choice if you're looking for a 13-inch laptop that you can customize and put together yourself from the ground up. Users of The Framework can make repairs and upgrades to their modular laptop as long as they keep it. Later on, anything can be updated, including the processor, RAM, and storage. Even improvements for DIY-installable components like speakers and hinges have been released by the company. You can get it as a DIY kit, enabling you to assemble the entire system yourself and switch out any parts you like, in addition to purchasing it as a prebuilt system. Despite its repairability, the Framework has a number of commendable qualities as a laptop. The speakers are excellent, the display is clear and of high resolution, and the chassis weighs less than three pounds, making it quite portable. There is a lot of area to work with the 3:2 aspect ratio, which is still fairly difficult to get in today's market.
Having said that, I won't claim that this is the best 13-inch laptop you can purchase because, on its own, it is a lackluster device with a relatively generic appearance and a plasticky build, especially when compared to other products in its price range. But what really makes the Framework unique is the remarkable access it gives its users to swap out and fix its components. We'd really like to see more businesses commit to sustainable design in that way.
9. Dell XPS 13
The ideal laptop for Windows
The XPS 13 from Dell is the pinnacle of the classic thin-and-light clamshell laptop design. It has a fantastic keyboard and trackpad, is slim and portable, and performs superbly.
Intel Core i7-1250U CPU, Intel Iris Xe GPU, and Memory: 8GB, 16GB, 32GB; Storage: 512GB, 1TB; Display: 13.4-inch IPS, 1920 x 1200, 60Hz; Dimensions: 11.63 x 7.86 x 0.55 inches; Weight: 2.59 pounds.
A small and sturdy laptop is the Dell XPS 13. It is a fantastic option for general-purpose consumers thanks to its lovely chassis, amazing 16:10 display, and great speed. It's ideal for travel and on-the-go work because it weighs only a little under three pounds and is just over half an inch thick.
The Core i5 configuration of our test unit's specifications was perfect for the work duties I needed to complete. As the fans on this model start up fairly quickly, I do suggest selecting the Silent cooling profile if you don't need heavyweight performance.
There is also a fancier Dell XPS 13 Plus that you can buy that has a lot of new features that the XPS 13 doesn't have, such an option for an OLED display, a borderless haptic touchpad, and LED touch function buttons, in addition to a more potent P-series chipset. For the majority of folks, I wouldn't suggest that model over this one, but if you want something a little funkier with a higher-resolution screen, it's worth checking into.
10. Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED
The top laptop with OLED
The greatest OLED laptop available is the Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED.
Intel Core i7-1355U processor, Intel Iris Xe graphics chip, 32GB of RAM, 1TB of storage, 13.3-inch OLED display with no touch capability, 11.66 x 8.52 x 0.43-inch size, and 2.2 pounds of weight.
Look no further than the Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED if a portable laptop with a great display is your main priority. It is an incredibly light device with a nice, distinctive appearance that is powered by Intel's latest 13th-Gen CPUs. It's really uncommon to be able to remark about black laptops that the lid doesn't pick up fingerprints.
The Zenbook S 13 sports a slim design and a good range of connectors, including HDMI 2.1, USB-A, and several Thunderbolt ports. The OLED display is clear and spacious, and it has a great appearance.
My test model's Intel processor handled my multitasking workload very well. While working on daily productivity chores (the kind of workload this device is best suited for), it can become loud when doing heavier duties like gaming. However, an integrated Whisper Mode will keep it quiet during certain jobs.
