Our experts used the PerfectRec decision engine to comb through our laptop database and find the best pc laptops available in 2024. Here are our top picks.
Our criteria for the best pc laptops:
Operating System: We limited the search to the best Windows laptops.
To consider others factors, try the PerfectRec decision engine to get your personalized laptop recommendation
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 is a premium, lightweight laptop, making it highly portable and suitable for on-the-go use, especially with its long battery life. With a midrange price, you're getting solid build quality, a vivid OLED touchscreen, and excellent heat management. It has an Intel i7-1355U processor paired with 32GB RAM, which will handle general use very efficiently. Its Intel Iris Xe graphics are fine for casual gaming and moderate creative tasks, but might fall short for intensive 3D rendering or engineering software. The laptop offers a good selection of ports, including Thunderbolt 4, and a comfortable backlit keyboard, although it lacks an Ethernet port and an option for hardware upgrades due to having no available RAM or storage slots.
The LG Gram 17 is a midrange-priced laptop that is highly portable, weighing only 2.98 pounds despite its large 17-inch IPS screen with a resolution of 2560 x 1600. It has generous amounts of storage and RAM, ensuring smooth performance for general use. Equipped with an Intel i7-1260P processor and integrated Iris Xe graphics, it's capable of basic 3D tasks and engineering software but is not designed for intensive gaming or high-end machine learning tasks. It offers a long battery life, a full backlit keyboard with a number pad, and multiple USB-C ports, including two that support Thunderbolt 4. The build quality, heat management, and fan noise are rated good. Suitable for users seeking a large-screen laptop that is easy to carry and capable of handling everyday tasks efficiently.
The Acer Swift Go 14 offers robust performance with its Intel Core Ultra 7 processor and Intel Arc graphics, suited for general use and capable of handling some engineering and creative tasks. The OLED display is of high quality, boasting a high resolution and color accuracy, which is great for visual work but not touch-enabled. This laptop is lightweight and thin, enhancing its portability, but the tradeoff comes in battery life, which is moderate. There are ample ports, including Thunderbolt, for connectivity, and features such as a backlit keyboard and fingerprint reader are present for convenience. It's described as having a lower midrange price, indicating a balance between affordability and features. Overall, it's a versatile choice for everyday use, with some capacity for more demanding applications.
The Acer Swift Go 14 is a midrange-priced laptop with a 14-inch OLED screen featuring a resolution higher than Full HD and a 90Hz refresh rate which is good for smoother visuals. It has an Intel i7 processor with integrated graphics good for everyday tasks and light gaming but may not handle intensive 3D rendering or engineering simulations as well as devices with dedicated graphics cards. The laptop includes 512GB of storage and 16GB of RAM which is ample for general use and multitasking. It's also fairly lightweight and portable with a decent battery life for typical use. With its backlit keyboard and fingerprint reader, it offers convenience and security, making it suitable for general use and on-the-go productivity. However, it might not be the best option for gamers or professionals in need of more powerful performance for demanding applications.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 is a premium, high-performance laptop with a focus on gaming and intensive tasks. It boasts a powerful AMD Ryzen 9 processor and Nvidia RTX 4090 graphics, making it well-suited for 3D rendering, machine learning, and engineering software. The 14-inch Mini LED display provides excellent visual clarity and color accuracy, though it lacks touch capabilities. Despite its robust capabilities, the Zephyrus G14 is relatively portable with a weight under 4 pounds. It also offers a good battery life for typical usage. This laptop may command a higher price, but it offers advanced features like hardware ray tracing, DLSS, and a backlit keyboard. The cooling system effectively manages heat but can result in noticeable fan noise during heavy use. Consider this laptop if you need a potent, portable machine for demanding applications and are willing to invest in high-end hardware.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is a midrange-priced laptop, equipped with an AMD Ryzen 7 processor and an AMD RX 6500M graphics card, suitable for moderate to intensive tasks and light gaming. It sports a high-quality OLED screen with a sharp 3840 x 2400 resolution, perfect for professional creative work. However, it is not the lightest at over 4 pounds, which might affect its portability for users who travel frequently. For connectivity, it includes a variety of ports but lacks an SD card reader. The laptop offers robust security features and is expected to have fair battery life, making it ideal for professionals who need a durable, secure, and reasonably powerful machine. It comes with Windows 11 Pro and its build quality is rated as excellent.
The HP Spectre x360, a 2-in-1 convertible, can serve as both a laptop and tablet and sits at an upper midrange price. It has a solid combination of a large screen, significant storage, and ample RAM, paired with an Intel i7 processor and integrated graphics, making it capable for general use and multitasking. Its higher battery capacity should offer long hours of typical usage, but the weight is a consideration for portability. Its assortment of ports, including USB-C and Thunderbolt, adds versatility for connecting peripherals. The build quality and display are noted for being high-quality, with a bright screen that supports touchscreen interaction. Its performance is sufficient for general work and some engineering applications, though dedicated gaming or intensive 3D rendering may be limited due to the absence of a discrete GPU. The keyboard and speakers are highly regarded, ensuring a comfortable typing experience and good sound quality.