Best laptops 2025: Premium, budget, gaming, 2-in-1, and more

Who should buy the Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 (Aura Edition)?

This Yoga is easily one of the best Windows laptops you can get right now and this is why: it looks great, it lasts forever, and it has a gorgeous screen. The display is a 14-inch 2880×1800 OLED with HDR that can hit up to 120Hz. Inside you get an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V CPU, 32GB of RAM, 1TB of SSD storage, and Intel Arc 140V graphics. That’s fast enough for work tasks, watching movies, and so on. It also weighs under three pounds and the battery can last up to 23 hours.

Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 (Aura Edition): Further considerations

The 2-in-1 form factor really adds something extra here. It flips all the way around so you can use it like a tablet or prop it up like a tent. The keyboard is also comfortable to use for long periods of time, the trackpad is smooth under your fingertips, and the Yoga Pen sticks to the top of the laptop via magnets. Ports are decent: You’re getting two Thunderbolt 4, one USB-C, one USB-A, plus a combo audio jack–no HDMI or microSD. Speakers are fine, the rotating soundbar is sort of fun, and battery life is insane.

Who should buy the Acer Aspire Go 15?

The Acer Aspire Go 15 is a cheap and easy laptop that does the basics. It’s good for browsing, emails, and streaming shows. Plus, with about 12 hours of battery, you won’t need to go searching for an outlet.

The appeal mostly lies in its value, though. While more expensive laptops nail the polish and the speed, the budget variety is strictly about what’s functional and that’s exactly what you’re getting here. It’s a good option for students or anyone seeking a reliable, no-frills machine under $500.

You’ll also find a surprisingly generous port selection on the Acer Aspire Go 15–USB-A on both sides, a USB-C, an HDMI, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a Kensington lock. That’s more than what some laptops get twice the price.

Acer Aspire Go 15: Further considerations

Like many laptops in the budget category, the Aspire Go 15’s got a few trade-offs to be aware of. The chassis is made of plastic, though that’s part of what keeps the cost down–cheaper materials. It also weighs a little over four pounds, so it’s not the lightest laptop in town, but it’s not so heavy that it’s prohibitive.

Who should buy the Alienware 16X Aurora?

The Alienware 16X Aurora delivers serious speed with its Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU and RTX 5070 GPU. It’s perfect for gamers who want to run modern titles without bleeding their wallets dry–it’s currently $1,649.99 at Dell. The 16-inch 2560×1600 display keeps every frame looking buttery smooth thanks to its 240Hz refresh rate, and its subtle Interstellar Indigo finish makes it look sharp in just about any setting, whether it’s in a dorm or office space.

Alienware 16X Aurora: Further considerations

Alienware packs in plenty of goodies here, like a crisp 1080p webcam (with Windows Hello facial recognition), Wi-Fi 7 for super fast connectivity, and a nice selection of ports. The full-size keyboard has a number pad and customizable backlighting, which is a nice touch. And you get nearly seven hours of battery life, which a nice bonus, since long runtimes aren’t common in gaming laptops.

Who should buy the Lenovo LOQ 15?

If you’d like to get into PC gaming without blowing your whole paycheck, the Lenovo LOQ 15 is worth a look. It normally sells for around $800, which isn’t bad at all for something running an RTX 5060 GPU and a Ryzen 7 250 CPU. You get 16GB of memory and a 512GB SSD too, so 1080p gaming is no problem. The port selection is solid as well. You’re getting HDMI 2.1, USB-C with power delivery, Ethernet (which is nice to have), and a couple of USB-A ports.

Lenovo LOQ 15: Further considerations

The only downside here is the screen. It’s a 15.6-inch 1080p panel with a 144Hz refresh rate, which is probably fine for most games, but motion can look a little blurry if you’re into fast shooters. That said, if you’re really desperate, you can always hook up to an external monitor with a higher resolution and refresh rate.

Who should buy the Asus ProArt P16?

If you want sharp, gorgeous visuals and a laptop that can handle some serious work, the Asus ProArt P16 is a strong pick.

The 16-inch 3840×2400 screen makes everything look awesome — whether you’re editing photos or just watching movies. Inside, it’s got an Intel Core i9 CPU and an RTX 4070 GPU, so it can easily handle heavy stuff like video editing. Battery life is pretty good too, around nine hours, so you’re not stuck hunting for an outlet all day. And with USB 4.0, moving big files is quick and painless. All in all, it’s a great machine if you want power without the hullabaloo.

Asus ProArt P16: Further considerations

Performance and display quality are the standout features here, of course, but understated design deserves a mention too. Some may find the all-black chassis too plain while others find it elegant. Also, under heavy workloads, the chassis can run a little warm.

Who should buy the Acer Swift 16 AI?

If you need a laptop for college that won’t kill your back and doesn’t look boring, the Acer Swift 16 AI is worth checking out. It’s only 3.37 pounds, and the 16-inch OLED screen looks really nice—movies, papers, whatever. Inside, you get an Intel Core Ultra 7, Intel Arc graphics, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. Not the fastest thing ever, but it handles schoolwork and big files without complaining.

The 70Wh battery will get you through a full day of classes (we clocked it at 17.5 hours), and you can charge it via either of the USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports. There’s also two USB-A ports, HDMI 2.1, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 5.4.

Acer Swift 16 AI: Further considerations

The OLED screen is such a lovely thing–it’s bright, colorful, and sharp. The keyboard feels good for long typing sessions and, although the trackpad is on the smaller side and may feel cramped to some, it works fine for daily use. If you want a laptop that’s portable, great, and won’t die on you halfway through the day, the Acer Swift 16 AI is the one to go for.

Who should buy the Microsoft Surface Pro (2025)?

If you’re always on the go — whether it’s the train, a coffee shop, or just hopping around the house — the Surface Pro 2025 is pretty much made for that. It’s super light (under two pounds!) and still powerful enough to handle all the usual stuff like emails and Zoom calls.

With its Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus CPU, it’s great for anyone who wants something that works like a laptop but feels like a tablet. You can doodle or get work done, all without feeling like you’re lugging around a heavy brick.

Microsoft Surface Pro (2025): Further considerations

The smaller screen might not be great if you’re juggling a bunch of stuff all day, and there’s only two USB-C ports (so you’ll probably need a dock or something). Battery life can last a while, but honestly, it’s kind of all over the place. Expect around two hours at full brightness under heavy use or up to 19 hours with lighter tasks.

Still, if your work mostly lives in the cloud and you value portability above raw power, this is the best ultraportable Windows device you can get right now.