Best laptops in 2024 that we’ve reviewed

2. Dell XPS 14

We’ve had the chance to explore the Dell XPS 14, and it’s clear that this premium laptop brings a lot to the table. Dell’s signature blend of elegance and performance is fully realized here, with the XPS 14 boasting a stunning 14-inch OLED display that delivers vibrant colours, deep blacks, and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. It’s a fantastic screen for both creative work and entertainment, offering exceptional clarity for everything from photo editing to streaming.

Performance-wise, the XPS 14 impresses with its Intel Core Ultra processor and Nvidia RTX 4050 GPU, which means it’s more than capable of handling demanding tasks. Whether you’re diving into 3D modelling, video editing, or gaming, this laptop doesn’t disappoint. We especially appreciated how Dell managed to pack this level of power into such a sleek, portable design.

The build quality is top-notch, with a premium aluminium and glass finish, and it’s packed with useful features like up-firing speakers for clearer sound and a quick, accurate fingerprint sensor. While it may face tough competition, particularly from MacBooks, the XPS 14 excels in delivering style, performance, and a fantastic display—perfect for those who want a premium, versatile machine.

• Read more: Dell XPS 14 review

5. Asus Zenbook Pro 14 OLED

Unlike the rather niche Zenbook Pro Duo, this laptop is a lot more traditional – but doesn’t skimp on power. It’s designed for creative types (the Pro in the name being rather appropriate), with the Studio version of Nvidia’s 4000-series mobile graphics chips and some of the fastest Intel internals money can buy. It’ll play nicely with industry-standard software. And then happily play games at high settings once you clock off for the day.

It’s not especially quiet when you do so, and battery life will take a thrashing. But that’s what headphones and power brick are for. Otherwise, the Zenbook Pro 14 OLED is a wonderfully compact and transportable machine, with plenty of ports and a simply gorgeous 14.5in OLED panel. The 2880×1800 resolution is super sharp for both work and play, with a 120Hz refresh rate ensuring smooth scrolling.

There’s no denying it’s a pricey system, but Asus has managed to undercut the equivalent MacBook Pro – which isn’t as adept at gaming, and misses out on OLED display tech. If you’re all in on Windows over macOS, it’s a fantastic machine.

• Read more: Asus Zenbook Pro 14 OLED review

6. Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge

Samsung’s 16in laptop is quite the looker, with a beautifully premium build that’s a joy to handle. It’s also impressively light for its 16in size — at just 1.55kg, we’ve slung it into bags and carried it around all day without any complaints, which is something that can’t be said for many other laptops in this size range. 

The star of the show though, is its objectively gorgeous 16in AMOLED display. With its 2880 x 1800 resolution and 120Hz refresh rate, everything from mundane spreadsheets to visually stunning movie binges, are positively mesmerizing. The deep blacks and punchy colours that OLED screens are renowned for will, quite honestly, ruin any other non-OLED laptop screen for you in future. A blessing, and a curse of sorts, but one that we’d be more than happy to live with when things look this good.

There’s plenty of brawn brimming away beneath this beauty too. Under the hood, Qualcomm’s beastly, top-level Snapdragon X Elite processor flexes its powerful silicon muscles, handling everything from office tasks to more demanding creative work without remotely breaking a sweat. There’s enough grunt here to cater to gaming too — though with many games not optimised for Qualcomm’s ARM chips compared to the long-established Intel offerings, we’d recommend not opting for a Snapdragon X-powered machine specifically with plenty of gaming in mind. For now, at least.

The Book4 Edge’s full-sized keyboard (complete with a number pad!) is a joy to type on, making long work sessions feel less like a chore. And let’s not forget the generously sized trackpad – it’s so big you might mistake it for a small tablet, with plenty of room for your fingers to skim across the surface without ever running out of room.

While the Galaxy Book4 Edge’s AI features (courtesy of Windows’ Copilot) don’t exactly blow our minds, they’re a nice-to-have addition that might come in handy every now and then. This isn’t a dig at Samsung’s effort either — all Windows Copilot PCs serve up the same experience, which we hope will blossom into something more useful as time goes on.

As for battery life — it’s solid, easily lasting a full workday without you having to scramble for a charger, which ticks one of our main boxes. It might not set any records compared to some other rivals which can last a few hours more, but for most people, a full day on one charge should be more than sufficient. Connectivity-wise, Samsung’s got you covered with a smorgasbord of ports, including HDMI 2.1, and even a microSD slot. There’s also Wi-Fi 7 support, future-proofing your blazing-fast connectivity needs nicely.

• Read more: Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge

7. Huawei Matebook X Pro

With the Huawei MateBook X Pro (2024), and it’s clear Huawei has taken portability to the next level. Weighing just 980g, this ultraportable laptop is one of the lightest we’ve ever used, making it ideal for travel. Despite its slim build, the performance is impressive, powered by Intel’s Ultra 9 CPU and paired with a stunning 14.2-inch OLED display. The screen’s sharpness, vibrant colors, and smooth 120Hz refresh rate made working on creative projects a breeze.

However, this power comes at a price – both in terms of cost and battery life. The MateBook X Pro is quite expensive, and while it delivers solid performance, it falls short of the MacBook Air M3 and Snapdragon X Elite laptops in terms of battery longevity. Connectivity is also limited, with just three USB-C ports and no headphone jack.

In the end, if you’re a Windows user seeking high performance in a lightweight, beautifully designed package, this could be worth considering. But for the price, other options may offer better value depending on your needs. Overall, it’s a top-notch laptop, but you’ll pay a premium for it.

• Read more: Huawei MateBook X Pro review

8. Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x

The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x is an excellent all-round ultraportable, and while not without flaws, it offers a strong alternative to the MacBook Air. We love the sleek, lightweight design and the stunning OLED display, which is perfect for work and entertainment. The laptop’s battery life is impressive, lasting nearly as long as the MacBook Air, making it great for all-day use without needing a charger. However, it does fall short in a few areas, like limited connectivity (only three USB-C ports) and some software compatibility issues due to its ARM architecture.

Windows on ARM still faces occasional stumbling blocks, with some apps not playing well with the system. We also find the AI features, while promising, don’t quite live up to the marketing hype. That said, performance in most desktop tasks is excellent, and the device handles office work, browsing, and light creative tasks smoothly.

For those of us prioritizing portability, battery life, and a vibrant screen, the Yoga Slim 7x is a fantastic choice. But for gaming or graphics-heavy tasks, you may want to look elsewhere. Overall, it’s a great all-purpose laptop if you can work within the ARM ecosystem’s limitations.

• Read more: Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x review

9. Asus ROG Zephyrus G16

The Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 blends gaming power with creative versatility, offering a fantastic OLED display and top-tier performance. Its design, reminiscent of Apple’s MacBook Pro, is sleek and sophisticated. At just 1.95kg and 17.4mm at its thickest, it’s impressively portable for a gaming laptop.

With Intel’s Meteor Lake CPU and Nvidia’s RTX 4090, the G16 delivers stunning desktop performance and gaming prowess. It handles everyday tasks effortlessly and offers smooth gameplay, thanks to G-Sync technology. The 2560×1600 OLED display, while not 4K, shines with rich colors and excellent contrast, making games and creative work look brilliant. However, the keyboard on the silver model suffers from hard-to-read backlighting, and the lack of an Ethernet port might bother some.

This laptop stands out not just for gaming but for creative use, with studio-certified drivers and AI smarts. While it’s monstrously expensive at top specs, the G16’s blend of power, portability, and premium build quality make it highly appealing. It competes with Razer’s Blade 16 but remains a top choice for gamers and creators who travel. We believe it’s the ultimate all-in-one machine for serious work and play.

• Read more: Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 review

10. Microsoft Surface Pro 9

The Microsoft Surface Pro 9 is a top-notch 2-in-1 device, offering impressive performance in a sleek, portable package. For those of us who prioritize versatility and mobility, it’s an excellent choice, whether we’re working, gaming, or streaming. The lightweight build and sharp 13-inch PixelSense touchscreen make it easy to carry around and perfect for on-the-go use.

However, to get the best experience, we need to pick the right model. We should avoid the ARM-based version due to limited app support and opt for the Intel Core i5 or i7 models, which deliver enough power for multitasking, creative work, and even gaming. The display is fantastic, with vibrant colors and a 120Hz refresh rate, making it ideal for streaming or cloud gaming.

That said, the device can get pricey. Adding essentials like the keyboard cover and stylus, which aren’t included, can increase the cost significantly. While Microsoft claims 15 hours of battery life, in real-world use, especially for gaming or streaming, we’re more likely to get about five hours.

Overall, the Surface Pro 9 stands out for its excellent performance, brilliant display, and portability, but costs can quickly add up if we want the full experience.

• Read more: Microsoft Surface Pro 9 review

11. Acer Chromebook Plus 515

The Acer Chromebook Plus 515 offers a significant hardware upgrade for Chrome OS users, making it a great everyday option for those familiar with Chromebooks from school. We appreciate its powerful Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB SSD, which deliver excellent performance for multitasking and even light gaming. The Full HD 15.6-inch display is sharp and colorful, though not as bright as we’d like in sunny environments.

We love that it’s lightweight and portable, despite its larger screen, and the sturdy build quality is reassuring for everyday use. Connectivity options are plentiful, with USB-C ports, HDMI, and more, though it’s a shame there’s no card reader. The keyboard and touchpad are spacious and comfortable, making long typing sessions easy.

Battery life is solid, lasting around 8-9 hours of video playback, which should get us through a full day of work or study. However, the lack of a touchscreen and somewhat plain design may be drawbacks for some.

Overall, if we’re looking for a budget-friendly laptop that’s powerful and long-lasting, the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 is an excellent choice—especially for those who don’t need Windows software. It’s an affordable step up for Chrome OS users.