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Best Laptops (2026): My Top Recommendations After Testing Hundreds
I’ve been reviewing laptops for well over a decade, sometimes testing more than 30 devices per year. They aren’t all winners, and many should be avoided, no matter how slick the marketing or cheap the discount. Good news: It’s my job to recommend laptops that fit your budget and won’t make you regret your purchase six months later. These are my favorite laptops that I’ve tested myself and would highly recommend you buy.
For more guidance, also see my recommendations in specific categories, such as the Best MacBooks, Best Gaming Laptops, Best Chromebooks, Best Budget Laptops, Best Windows Laptops, and Best 2-in-1 Laptops. My guide on How to Choose a Laptop may also help if you’re undecided.
Updated August 2026: I’ve updated my recommendations after testing the Dell XPS 13, Alienware 15 Gaming Laptop, and Lenovo LOQ 15 Essential.
When friends or family ask what laptop to buy, I always start with the MacBook Air. It is far more powerful than its compact size suggests. It’s a shame about the recent $200 price increase from $1,099 to $1,299, but even at that new price, it remains my top pick because it nails the big picture. Everything from the trackpad to the speakers is of the highest quality, and it delivers all the performance and battery life the average person needs.
With the latest M5 chip, its GPU matches the M3 Pro MacBook Pro, easily handling everything from gaming to video editing. That’s not at all what the MacBook Air is designed for, but the performance is there when you want to dabble. It’s what makes it feel like a do-it-all machine, all contained in a fanless chassis that’s still one of the thinnest laptops you can buy. Oh, and did I mention it’ll last well over a full workday away from the wall socket and perform just as well on battery as when plugged in? In almost every aspect, it’s the gold standard.
While the lower price of the new MacBook Neo might be tempting, the MacBook Air is the better choice for anyone working at a computer all day. With its superior performance, extra memory, faster storage, and Thunderbolt ports, you will never have to question if you have the right tool for the job. (And unless you already know you need a MacBook Pro, you probably don’t.)
Speaking of price, I have to mention the new Dell XPS 13 next. It's primarily being talked about as a budget laptop, thanks to its $699 starting configuration. But that model only comes with 8 GB of RAM, which presented some performance limitations when I tested it. Dell, fortunately, sells an upgrade model with 16 GB of RAM for $899, which is otherwise identical. Both models have the same gorgeous screen, which is not only sharp, bright, and color-accurate, but also includes a 120-Hz refresh rate, which makes animation and motion on the device look super smooth. The XPS 13 is filled with features like that, which don't normally end up in a laptop at this price.
While it doesn't have what I'd call powerhouse performance, the Intel Wildcat Lake chip inside gets the job done. Don't try to play games on it, though. That translates to great, all-day battery life, competitive with the MacBook Air. The XPS 13 is especially good for those who want a compact laptop. Because of the tiny bezels, it's still one of the best laptops to work on a plane with. But even beyond that, it's just the best laptops you can buy under $1,000 right now. You'll probably just want to avoid that 8 GB model. Beyond the memory situation, the only real caveat is the lack of a headphone jack.
If you want a Windows laptop that looks and feels high-end, I would point you to the OmniBook Ultra 14. It might be the prettiest Windows laptop you can buy right now. The device is beautifully built and incredibly sturdy, with a thin chassis, an oversized haptic trackpad, and polished metal edges. I also appreciate the three Thunderbolt 4 ports split between both sides for convenient charging, as well as the surprisingly good speakers. I tested the high-end model, which features a fas