Best laptops, ranked by critic score

43 ranked by critic score · 26 more not yet ranked · 322 professional reviews

Laptops for everyday work and study, judged on performance, battery life, screen and keyboard.

Apple MacBook Air (M4)Image: Apple
The critics' pick

Apple MacBook Air (M4)

91
Acclaimed
Average of 7 professional reviews
7 of 7 recommend it · broad agreement
Where the 7 reviews landedRange 85–100
Score printed by the outlet Estimated from the verdict

7 professional reviewers tested the Apple MacBook Air (M4), and 7 recommend it. Most praised: performance and battery life. Most common complaint: price.

The catch: The 60Hz screen is dated, and memory and storage upgrades are costly.

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Read all 7 reviews →
  1. 1
    Apple MacBook Air (M4)Image: Apple
    Apple MacBook Air (M4)Best overall7 reviews91
  2. 2
    HP Spectre x360 14 (2024)Image: HP
    HP Spectre x360 14 (2024)Critics agree4 reviews · early score89
  3. 3
    Apple MacBook Air (M5)Image: Apple
    Apple MacBook Air (M5)Best all-round laptop8 reviews88
  4. 4
    Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4)Image: Apple
    Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4)Runner-up7 reviews87
  5. 5
    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M5)Image: Apple
    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M5)Best for creative work8 reviews86
  6. 6
    Asus Zenbook A16Image: Asus
    Asus Zenbook A16Best for light big-screen laptop8 reviews86
  7. 7
    Lenovo Yoga Slim 7xImage: Lenovo
    Lenovo Yoga Slim 7xCritics split7 reviews86
  8. 8
    Photo coming
    Asus ProArt P16 (2024)Critics agree4 reviews · early score85
  9. 9
    Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14 Aura EditionImage: Lenovo
    Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14 Aura EditionCritics agree4 reviews · early score85
  10. 10
    Apple MacBook NeoImage: Apple
    Apple MacBook NeoBest budget pick24 reviews85
  11. 11
    Microsoft Surface Laptop (7th Edition)Image: Microsoft
    Microsoft Surface Laptop (7th Edition)Best for Windows on Arm7 reviews84
  12. 12
    Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2025)Image: Asus
    Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2025)Critics agree4 reviews · early score84
  13. 13
    Alienware m18 R2Image: Alienware
    Alienware m18 R2Broad agreement4 reviews · early score84
  14. 14
    Asus ProArt P16 RTX SparkImage: Asus
    Asus ProArt P16 RTX SparkBest for creators and local AI6 reviews83
  15. 15
    Acer Swift 16 AIImage: Acer
    Acer Swift 16 AIBest affordable OLED laptop6 reviews82
  16. 16
    Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo (2026)Image: Asus
    Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo (2026)Best dual-screen gaming laptop5 reviews82
  17. 17
    Acer Swift Air 14Image: Acer
    Acer Swift Air 14Best for budget battery life5 reviews82
  18. 18
    Razer Blade 14 (2025)Image: Razer
    Razer Blade 14 (2025)Best compact gaming laptop6 reviews81
  19. 19
    Dell XPS 13 (2026)Image: Dell
    Dell XPS 13 (2026)Best budget Windows laptop6 reviews81
  20. 20
    Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura EditionImage: Lenovo
    Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura EditionBest for battery life6 reviews80
  21. 21
    Framework Laptop 13 ProImage: Framework
    Framework Laptop 13 ProBest repairable, upgradeable laptop6 reviews80
  22. 22
    HP OmniBook Ultra 14 (2026)Image: HP
    HP OmniBook Ultra 14 (2026)Best Windows MacBook Air rival5 reviews80
  23. 23
    Razer Blade 16 (2026)Image: Razer
    Razer Blade 16 (2026)Broad agreement4 reviews · early score80
  24. 24
    Asus Zenbook A14Image: Asus
    Asus Zenbook A14Best for travel14 reviews80
  25. 25
    Dell XPS 14 (2026)Image: Dell
    Dell XPS 14 (2026)Best Intel Windows pick12 reviews79
  26. 26
    Asus ROG Flow Z13 (2025)Image: Asus
    Asus ROG Flow Z13 (2025)Best portable gaming 2-in-15 reviews78
  27. 27
    Acer Googlebook 14Image: Acer
    Acer Googlebook 14Best for Android phone users4 reviews · early score78
  28. 28
    HP Omen Max 16 (2025)Image: HP
    HP Omen Max 16 (2025)Best for gaming power6 reviews77
  29. 29
    Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13Image: Lenovo
    Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13Best for light weight and keyboard6 reviews77
  30. 30
    Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024)Image: Asus
    Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024)Best slim gaming and creator laptop6 reviews77
  31. 31
    Dell 16 PremiumImage: Dell
    Dell 16 PremiumBest for 4K OLED display4 reviews · early score75
  32. 32
    Alienware 16X AuroraImage: Alienware
    Alienware 16X AuroraBest for display and upgrades6 reviews74
  33. 33
    Dell 14 PremiumImage: Dell
    Dell 14 PremiumOne critic disagrees4 reviews · early score74
  34. 34
    Asus Zenbook 14 (2026)Image: Asus
    Asus Zenbook 14 (2026)Best light OLED laptop4 reviews · early score73
  35. 35
    Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14 Aura EditionImage: Lenovo
    Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14 Aura EditionBest for business OLED and keyboard4 reviews · early score73
  36. 36
    Photo coming
    Framework Laptop 16 (2024)Critics split5 reviews72
  37. 37
    Acer Swift 14 AI (2024)Image: Acer
    Acer Swift 14 AI (2024)Best for long battery life6 reviews71
  38. 38
    Acer Aspire Go 15Image: Acer
    Acer Aspire Go 15Best for everyday value5 reviews71
  39. 39
    Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 RollableImage: Lenovo
    Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 RollableBest for expanding screen space5 reviews70
  40. 40
    Acer Predator Triton 14 AIImage: Acer
    Acer Predator Triton 14 AICritics split5 reviews70
  41. 41
    Dell 14SImage: Dell
    Dell 14SBest for ultrabook battery life6 reviews68
  42. 42
    Alienware 15Image: Alienware
    Alienware 15Critics split4 reviews · early score67
  43. 43
    Asus TUF Gaming A14 (2026)Image: Asus
    Asus TUF Gaming A14 (2026)Critics agree4 reviews · early score55
The short answer

The best laptop, according to professional reviewers, is the Apple MacBook Air (M4): critic score 91 out of 100 from 7 reviews, 7 of them positive. Most praised: performance and battery life. Most common complaint: price.

Early reads · 26 not yet ranked

Not ranked, listed A to Z. We publish a critic score once at least 4 professional reviews of the exact model exist; with 2 or 3 we show a provisional average.

How we score →Only professional reviews, never shop or customer reviewsEvery score links to its sourceCommissions never change a score

Common questions

What is the best laptop?

The Apple MacBook Air (M4), with a critic score of 91 from 7 professional reviews. Most praised: performance and battery life. Most common complaint: price.

Apple MacBook Air (M4) vs HP Spectre x360 14 (2024): which is better?

Critics score the Apple MacBook Air (M4) 91 and the HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) 89. Most praised: performance and picture quality. Most common complaint: software and app.

Which laptops do critics disagree on?

The Asus Zenbook A16 (scores from 70 to 100); The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x (scores from 70 to 100); The Apple MacBook Neo (scores from 61 to 92); The Asus Zenbook A14 (scores from 61 to 94); The Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) (scores from 60 to 90); The Framework Laptop 16 (2024) (scores from 60 to 90); The Acer Predator Triton 14 AI (scores from 50 to 80); The Dell 14S (scores from 40 to 80); The Alienware 15 (scores from 50 to 87).