The best laptops 2020

The best laptop for all needs and budgets.

Laptops There are so many of them. But what is the best laptop for you? Is it a business laptop, a powerful gaming laptop, or a Chromebook? We know that the sheer number of options can be overwhelming, which is why we made this list.

We have created this handy guide for you to get to know all the ins and outs of your forward looking system before making the decision to hit the buy button. From tips on choosing screen size, to choosing between an SSD and an HDD, or insider tips on where to find the best prices on laptops, here are some essential tips for finding the right system for you.

Over the course of a year, we reviewed over 150 laptops that cover every price point and use case. Whether you're looking for a productivity workhorse, rough game system, or multimedia machine to kick back and watch a movie or two, we can help you find your ideal match.

To make our list of the best laptops, the system needs to get at least 4 out of 5 stars in our reviews and deliver what matters most to buyers. In our evaluations, we focus on design and comfort, screen quality, keyboard and touchpad quality, performance, battery life, and especially value.

The best laptops right now

The Dell XPS 13 is currently our best overall pick for the best laptops. Powered by a tenth-generation Intel Core i7 processor and integrated graphics, the 1080p version of the laptop is ideal for working, gaming, and creating lightweight content. And with its bright and vivid screen, the laptop is also great for watching videos. Plus, it's also incredibly thin and light, making it an ideal laptop for mobile professionals.

For our Apple fans, you can't beat the MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019). The successor to the 15-inch MacBook, this new laptop offers the same powerful performance that Mac lovers expect. However, Apple has made some much-needed changes, namely with the keyboard, swapping out the much-maligned Butterfly keyboard for the much-praised Magic Keyboard.

Those in the gaming laptop market should take a look at the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14, the latest participant in the 5-star club. Powered by an AMD APU, the laptop not only makes a big impact on the gaming department, but it's also a powerful multitasking one. And with over 11 hours of battery life, it's the longest-running gaming laptop ever.

Honorable mentions include the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook, an absolutely gorgeous laptop that falls short on battery life. There's also the Dell Precision 7540, a bona fide workhorse with premium specs and pricing to match.

See our picks for the best laptops below.

1. MacBook Pro (16 inch, 2019)

An excellent choice for advanced users

Radically improved magic keyboard
16-inch immersive display with slimmer bezels
Beastly performance
Non 4K display
No full size USB port or SD card slot
Expensive

The 16-inch MacBook Pro is just your type if you've been waiting for Apple to make a better keyboard. The Magic Keyboard on this premium laptop abandons the Butterfly mechanism in favor of scissor switches, and the result is a much more comfortable typing experience. You also get a bright, sharp 16-inch display with slimmer bezels, powerful performance from an available Core i9 CPU, and robust AMD Radeon 5300M or 5500M graphics.

You can also configure the system with up to 64GB of RAM and 8TB of storage if you really want to splurge. The 11 hours of battery life are another advantage of this laptop, which dwarfs the runtime of its competitors. The 16-inch MacBook Pro is expensive, and Apple doesn't include full-size USB ports yet, but overall this is the best laptop for creative professionals.

2. Dell XPS 13

The best overall laptop you can buy

Powerful performance
Without bezels of any kind
Excellent battery life
Lacks legacy ports

The Dell XPS 13 is a serious workhorse. Powered by a tenth-generation Intel Core i7 processor with integrated Intel graphics, the laptop is ready to work or play. And with over 12 hours of battery life, you have plenty of time for both.

But rest assured that the laptop is as beautiful as it is powerful. The company managed to make a laptop smaller and lighter than previous models. Despite the smaller size, Dell added some major changes, including a larger trackpad and keyboard. Plus, you get a nearly 13.4-inch screen with almost no light on either side, the first in the world to do so.

It is a patient restraint exercise, which improves the laptop in many ways that add up to a huge leap for the system. If you are looking for the complete package, the Dell XPS 13 is the laptop for you.

3. Acer Swift 3 ( AMD, 2020, Ryzen 7 4700U)

Incredible performance at an amazing price

Herculean performance
A multitasking beast
Clicky keyboard
Dim display

AMD version of Acer Swift 3 is the smallest possible laptop. Armed with an AMD Ryzen 7 4700U processor and Radeon Graphics, the Swift 3 takes on MacBook Pro 13 and XPS 13 with aplomb. And it's doing it for under $ 700. And if you're curious, it also smoked its counterpart with Intel technology.

The laptop delivered surprising power at our benchmarks, including overall and graphics performance. Plus, it has permanent power with over 11 hours of battery life. Plus, it has a premium look and a pretty comfortable keyboard. However, the laptop has a flaw, its screen is not as bright as we would like. But for the price, it's a slight quibble for a laptop under $ 700 that may be better than some of the most premium laptops on the market. With a herculean processor that beats all its competitors, the Acer Swift 3 certainly earned its place on this list.

4. Asus Chromebook C434

The best overall Chromebook

Elegant and premium design
Thin-screen bezels
Long duration battery
Meticulous touchpad
A little expensive

With a bigger screen, longer battery life, and increased performance, the new Asus Chromebook Flip C434 is one of the best Chromebooks we've tested. It could easily be mistaken for one of the most expensive Asus notebooks with its 2-in-1 matte silver aluminum finish with chrome trim. The 1080p panel of the Chromebook Flip C434 is vivid and bright.

Thanks to its Intel Core m3-8100Y processor, it is a reliable multitasking when paired with ChromeOS. And with ChromeOS's ability to work with Android apps, the laptop gains much more versatility. The Chromebook Flip C434 lasted 9 hours and 58 minutes of battery life, this laptop can go from work to play with ease. It's a noticeable improvement over its predecessor with its larger screen, great audio, and solid performance. It is a great option for those looking to make the jump to the Chrome operating system.

5. Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch

Our favorite Apple laptop

Great battery life
Very fast performance
Bright and colorful display.
The keyboard has shallow scrolling
Only two Thunderbolt 3 ports
Thick bezels

It is not the big breakthrough you wanted, but the incremental changes you needed. So while it's true that the latest MacBook Pro isn't the rumored 14-inch beauty, it still has a lot to offer. Number one, Apple has doubled the amount of storage you can get with each setting. Number two, the company has closed the chapter on the highly maligned Butterfly keyboard in favor of the highly praised Magic keyboard.

Making the leap to a tenth-generation Intel processor, the 13-inch MacBook Pro held its own against the highest-rated competitors in the competitive premium laptop space and even excelled. The system proved to be a top-notch laptop with great performance, ultra-fast transfer speeds, and over 10 hours of battery life. It's a solid update that Mac fans will appreciate.

6. HP Envy 13t

A great college laptop with a long battery life

Aluminum chassis
Very good graphics performance
Long duration battery
MacBook-like design
The screen could be brighter
Grainy webcam

The new HP Envy 13 is not just one of the best laptops; It is also a great deal. The latest version offers you an attractive and slim chassis, great performance and powerful speakers. New to Envy is a fingerprint sensor and webcam switch for those who value their privacy. The Envy 13's 1080p model also has over 11 hours of battery life, while the FHD and 4K display options are bright and vivid.

It has solid performance thanks to its 8th generation Intel processor and has a fast SSD. And if you get the 4K version, it has a discrete graphics card for a slightly more graphic push. So unless you need a Thunderbolt 3 port (see Specter x360), Envy 13 should be at the top of your shopping list. It established itself as a premier laptop for college students or travelers.

7. Asus ROG Zephyrus G14

Longest battery life in a gaming laptop

AMD Killer and Nvidia Performance
The most durable gaming laptop ever
Lightning fast SSD
Without webcam
Poor keyboard lighting

Asus is stepping up its game when it comes to gaming laptops. Case in point, the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14. Powered by AMD's new and powerful Ryzen 9-4900HS processor, the notebook is a powerful multitasker. But along with an Nvidia RTX 2060 Max-Q GPU, the laptop is a must-keep in mind on the gaming front. Complete that with an ultra-fast SSD, a brilliant 14-inch, 120Hz display, a comfortable keyboard, and strong speakers in a gorgeous milky-white magnesium alloy chassis, and the ROG Zephyrus G14 is a near-perfect gaming laptop.

But where the Zephyrus G14 really shines is in the battery life. The highest-rated laptop lasted 11 hours and 32 minutes in our Laptop Battery Battery test, making it the longest-running gaming laptop ever. It's almost three times as long as the 4:26 average of conventional gaming notebooks. Ultimately, between its killer AMD performance and epic battery life, the Zephyrus G14 is the gaming laptop to beat.

8. Samsung Galaxy Book Flex 15

A beautiful and versatile 2-in-1 laptop

QLED display
Epic Battery Life
Good performance
Silent speakers
Oddly placed fingerprint scanner
Shift key shortened

We love a beautiful laptop. So we are in love with the Samsung Galaxy Book Flex 15. With its royal blue aluminum frame, the Flex 15 is amazing. And thanks to its 360-degree hinges and included S-Pen, it transforms incredibly versatile from a traditional shell into a powerful note-taking machine. And Samsung didn't stop there, the Flex 15 is also the first laptop to feature a QLED display that's incredibly bright and vivid.

With its 10th generation Intel Core i7 processor, the Flex 15 is a powerful workhorse, capable of handling most productivity tasks with ease. And with its unobtrusive Nvidia graphics card, the laptop can also do some light gaming. And despite its beautiful display, the Flex 15 managed to last over 15 hours in our battery test, making it one of our most durable systems.

9. HP Specter x360 (13-inch, late 2019)

The king of 2-in-1 laptops

Stylish design with a small footprint.
Strong performance
Ultra-fast SSD
Lots of bloatware
Loud speakers at maximum volume
It runs a little hot

The HP Specter x360 is back, smaller and prettier than ever. The top-rated laptop has great performance paired with an ultra-fast SSD, 13.3-inch 4K OLED display, and comfortable keyboard, all included in the Specter's gorgeous signature design. It is easily one of the best 2 in 1 laptops currently available.

His stellar results on our overall performance benchmarks and file transfer tests show that he is a capable worker despite his relatively slim frame. Heck, it even outperformed the previous iteration in the graphics department. In short, the Specter x360 is in a league of its own. It's the laptop of choice for consumers looking for a premium laptop that offers portability, great versatility, and has a surprising impact on the performance department. It is also for people who want a really attractive laptop.

10. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon

Attractive and lightweight design.
Best-in-class keyboard
Long battery life (in 1080p model)
Tinny audio
Mediocre webcam

Lenovo made our favorite business laptop even better by improving its speakers, giving it a slim carbon-fiber texture and adding some useful security features, including a webcam shutter and IR camera. You even get far-field microphones in case you want to use a digital assistant.

On top of that, you get solid performance and a fast SSD. That means if you're working on large spreadsheets with a lot of calculations, the X1 Carbon will handle them with aplomb. You can also expect a long-lasting battery (on the 1080p model) and two great 1080p and 4K display options, all in an incredibly lightweight chassis.

But it's those classic ThinkPad X1 features --- a durable (military-proven) chassis, best-in-class keyboard, and a sleek black / red aesthetic --- that bring the X1 Carbon to greatness.

11. Alienware Area-51m

Best gaming laptop is upgradeable

Impressive space station aesthetic
Excellent graphics and overall performance
All major components are upgradeable
Outrageously expensive

With a new look and the first design that enables upgradeable graphics, Alienware is ready to take its place as the king of semi-mobile gaming. The Area-51m's new Legend design is unlike anything we've seen from the brand, opting for rounded corners, muted colors and a sleeker light show.

Armed with a desktop Intel Core i9 processor and one of Nvidia's super powerful RTX GPUs, it absolutely demolished all the tests we put in front of it with graceful poise. It is Alienware's first true desktop replacement and the most powerful and upgradeable laptop we've reviewed to date. It is the day gaming laptop for enthusiasts by enthusiasts.

12. Samsung Chromebook 3

Bright and accurate display
Excellent battery life
Strong performance
Muddy speakers
Uncomfortable button design
The bottom heats up

The Samsung Chromebook 3 is a great notebook for school and entertainment, especially for younger children and frequent travelers. Not only does this 11.6-inch laptop boast a fantastic display and nearly 10 hours of battery life, it also comes with 4GB of RAM, so you can expect solid performance. And because Windows 10 doesn't take up your 32GB of storage, you'll find plenty of built-in storage for your personal files.

Everyone likes to get more for less. With the Chromebook 3, you get the brightest 11.6-inch display in this class, fast performance, and a fun webcam. Best of all, it's hundreds of dollars cheaper than a Windows 10 laptop with similar specs. It is a great starter system for children and a secondary device for more advanced users.

13. Dell XPS 15 (2020)

The best 15-inch laptop that money can buy

Attractive premium chassis
Excellent overall and graphic performance
Good battery life for a 4K laptop
Expensive
It runs a little hot

The Dell XPS 15 continues to sit on the throne by instituting small tweaks that amount to big changes. The company made the laptop 5.5% smaller than the previous model while making the keys and touchpad significantly larger. And while that may seem minor, the four-edge InfinityEdge bezel has made one of the highest-resolution displays on the market possible.

And while the physical changes are great, the interior of this top-notch laptop is just as exciting. Armed with a 10th generation processor and a discrete Nvidia GeForce GPU, the Dell XPS 15 is a major force to be reckoned with. It also has a fast SSD and great audio thanks to its powerful quad speakers. Plus, it lasted over 8 hours on our battery test, which is good for a 4K laptop.

If you want power with a great screen, great audio, and a host of other premium features, the Dell XPS 15 is the best choice.

14. Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 (15-inch, Intel) for Business

Slim and lightweight chassis
Fast performance
Long duration battery
Poor selection of ports
Integrated graphics still underperform

The Surface Laptop 3 for Business with Intel processors is a better laptop than its AMD brother. It has better performance, longer battery life, a faster hard drive, and ships with Windows 10 Pro. If the price gap was wider (the Intel model is only $ 100 more expensive), then we might consider the model AMD, but we highly recommend going to the Microsoft online store and ordering the commercial edition.

Surface Laptop 3, which ignores Microsoft's misleading label for business, is one of the best 15-inch laptops. It has great performance, long battery life, a fast hard drive and comes with Windows 10 Pro. Plus, you get Microsoft's attractive aluminum chassis and beautiful display. If you are a fan of Microsoft laptops, this is the best laptop for you.

15. Lenovo Yoga C940

Small adjustments make a big difference

Slim and premium design
Fast performance
Long battery life (in the 1080p version)
Below-average battery life (on 4K model)
Stylus is difficult to remove
Without SD card

The Yoga C940 has a gorgeous design, along with bright and vivid 4K and 1080p display options; fast performance and long battery life. It's the type of laptop that fits almost anyone, from students to business users to content creators. It has a premium chassis, a beautiful screen (especially the 4K option), solid performance, and a long-lasting battery. On top of that, the Yoga C940's unique features, a stylus garage, and webcam cover help it stand out among the alternatives.

Since their launch, Yoga laptops have been Lenovo's playground for innovation. But with the 14-inch version of the Yoga C940, Lenovo focused on refinement rather than any major change. It's a strategy that has served the company well and establishes the Yoga C940 as one of the best 2-in-1 laptops currently available.

How to find the right laptop

When buying a laptop, there is a lot to consider. To help you choose a system, we've put our updated list of favorite laptops above, along with five things to keep in mind when choosing a system.

Budget: what you get for the money.

You can find good cheap Windows laptops and high quality Chromebooks for less than $ 500. However, the best laptops generally cost more than $ 700, and premium Ultrabooks can cost more than $ 1,000. The best gaming laptops can cost $ 2,000 or more, but you can play the latest titles at decent frame rates on gaming laptops under $ 1,000.

Screen size: 12 to 14 inches for portability

Knowing the size of a laptop screen tells you a lot about its overall portability. If you want to use your computer on your lap or carry it around a lot, choose one with a 12, 13, or 14-inch screen. If you want to use the computer on tables and desks and don't carry it around much, a 15-inch model can add more value. Some gaming platforms, media machines, and workstations even have 17- or 18-inch displays, but are more difficult to transport.

2 in 1 or cover?

More and more laptops today are 2-in-1 with screens that fold 360 degrees or separate so you can use them as tablets. If you like the idea of using your laptop in whiteboard mode for drawing, consuming media, or just standing up, a 2-in-1 might be for you. However, you can often get better features or a lower price by opting for a traditional clamshell-style laptop.

Battery life: more than 8 hours for portability

Unless you're just planning to use your laptop at your desk, battery life is important. Even inside the home or office, having a lot of juice allows you to work on the couch or at the conference table, without being chained to the nearest store. For best portability, we recommend getting a laptop that lasted more than 8 hours in the Mag Laptop Battery Test. Longer-lasting laptops last more than 10 hours.

Specifications: 1080p / Core i5 / 8GB are the best bets

You can spend a long time digging into the specs, but these are the key components to think about. If you just want really good overall performance, choose a Core i5 CPU, 8GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD, and a 1080p display.

• Screen resolution: Unfortunately, 66 percent of consumer laptops and 51 percent of commercial systems have low-resolution displays. If possible, get a screen with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 (also known as 1080p or Full HD) or higher.

• CPU: An Intel Core i5 provides good overall performance. Some budget systems will come with Core i3, Celeron, or Pentium CPUs that are good enough for basic tasks, but not great for mutltiasking. Get a Core i7 or quad-core processor (serial number ends in HQ or HK) for gaming or high-end productivity tasks like video editing and 3D modeling.

• RAM: 8 GB is ideal for most users. 4 GB is acceptable for budget systems. Secondary laptops and Chromebooks can have less.

• Storage: Unless you are a gamer or power user, 256GB of internal storage is probably enough. If possible, get an SSD (solid state drive) instead of a hard drive, because it will make your whole computer much faster.

• Graphics chip: Gamers and creative professionals should do a little research and find out which discrete GPU is good enough to run their favorite software. Everyone else will be happy with the built-in Intel HD graphics that comes on the CPU.

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Tuesday, 7 July 2020

The best laptops 2020

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