Best Buy Laptop Brands
You won't always see discounts of more than $1,000 when you're looking at laptop deals, so Lenovo's offer for the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 should be on your radar if you need a powerful machine. The laptop will be yours for just $1,008, following a $1,511 discount on its sticker price of $2,519. That's a 60% discount that probably won't last long, so if you want to take advantage of the price cut, you'll have to do so as soon as possible.
best buy laptop brands
Why you should buy the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2 laptopLenovo's ThinkPad line of laptops, which it inherited from IBM, features some of the company's best business laptops, according to our explainer on the Lenovo brands. The line includes the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2, a powerful device that will be able to keep up with all of the demanding tasks in your daily workload with its 12th-generation Intel Core i5 processor and integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics. The laptop also features 16GB of RAM, which our laptop buying guide recommends for those who are planning to run intensive applications or engage in any kind of content creation.
Owning a laptop is a necessity these days, but not everyone has the budget to go for the high-end models. If you're looking for an affordable but reliable device, check out the 17-inch HP 17z laptop, which is currently available for just $300 from HP after a $200 discount on its original price of $500.
Why you should buy the 17-inch HP 17z laptopThe 17-inch HP 17z laptop is equipped with the AMD Athlon Gold 7220U processor, AMD Radeon Graphics, and 8GB of RAM. These specifications won't let it challenge the best laptops, but if you're only planning to use the laptop for basic functions such as browsing the internet, typing documents, and watching streaming content, they're more than enough. You'll also be able to access the most popular productivity software on the laptop becomes it comes pre-loaded with Windows 11 Home, on a 128GB SSD that should provide ample space for your files.
We regularly test the most promising laptops, from sleek ultrabooks to cheap Chromebooks to massive gaming laptops and beyond. Here are the best models you can buy in every category, along with advice on how to choose which type of laptop is right for you.
Where they fall short: Great ultrabooks can cost more than many people want to spend on a laptop, even if these models provide a better experience and last longer than cheaper alternatives. Ultrabooks also lack the processing power to play high-end games or handle demanding tasks such as professional video editing or 3D modeling. If you need a cheaper laptop or a more powerful one, check out our other picks below.
We recommend adding another 8 GB of memory to the base-model Framework Laptop. If you want the full experience of putting your laptop together, you can choose from a wider variety of parts by purchasing the DIY Edition instead.
Where they fall short: Laptops with color-accurate screens and enough power for creative professionals are expensive, and even more so with add-ons like extra storage and memory. Editing laptops also tend to be larger and heavier than ultrabooks, with most weighing more than 4 pounds. The powerful processors in editing laptops generate lots of heat, as well, so some can get too hot to use comfortably on your lap, though our top pick stayed cool even under the heaviest workloads. In addition, the MacBook Pro is impossible to service on your own, but Apple provides excellent support.
Why we like this one: Made with visual professionals in mind, the Dell XPS 15 9520 is a well-built laptop that offers a beautiful OLED display and serious computing power. It also has a comfortable keyboard and a notably large trackpad, both of which make working on the laptop more enjoyable and less cramped. Its port selection is fairly simple, consisting of two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, a non-Thunderbolt USB-C port, an SD card reader, and a headphone jack.
Andrew Cunningham is a former senior staff writer on Wirecutter's tech team. He has been writing about laptops, phones, routers, and other tech since 2011. Before that he spent five years in IT fixing computers and helping people buy the best tech for their needs. He also co-hosts the book podcast Overdue and the TV podcast Appointment Television.
Owning a computer is almost a necessity in 2022, whether it be for business or educational use or just surfing the internet, streaming videos, and checking email. While you used to need a desktop computer to perform more intensive tasks like gaming and photo editing, those days are long gone. Modern laptop computers are powerful enough for virtually any purpose and light enough to take with you to work, school, or even on vacation.
At the same time, because laptop computers can perform a myriad of tasks, they are relatively complex and expensive. Most consumers need some help choosing one. To narrow down your search, below we list the Best Laptops of 2023. In addition, we list the Best 2-in-1 Laptops of 2023, the Best Gaming Laptops of 2023, the Best Business Laptops of 2023, the Best Laptops for College of 2023, and the Best Chromebooks of 2023.
We also explain the different types of laptops, as well as how much laptops cost and how to buy one. Read on to see where laptops like the Dell XPS 13, Lenovo Chromebook Duet, and MacBook Pro place in our ratings. If you need a tablet or antivirus software, or you want to protect yourself from identity theft online, we've got you covered there, too.
MacBook Pro (2021): The 2021 MacBook Pro places No. 1 in our rating of the Best Laptops of 2023. Available in a 14-inch or 16-inch model, the newest MacBook Pro from Apple has a second-generation M1 processor and battery life of up to 21 hours. This is a best-in-class laptop with a price to match, starting at $1,999. It's especially suited for people in creative fields. Professional reviewers praise the 2021 MacBook Pro as the best laptop the company has ever produced. Design improvements over the previous year's MacBook Pro include thinner screen bezels around the Liquid Retina XDR display and full-height buttons to replace the touch bar at the top of the keyboard (which didn't get a great reception). Even more importantly, the 2021 MacBook Pro has more ports, including USB-C and others.
MacBook Pro 13-Inch: Coming in at No. 2, the MacBook Pro 13-inch is the default choice for many graphics and video professionals who want a small, speedy laptop. The new M1 chips are blazing fast. While the sleek design has been copied by many Windows laptop manufacturers, Apple's quality and simplicity are still class-leading. All of this comes at a cost, however, as the MacBook Pro 13-inch starts at a relatively high $1,299. And because Apple MacBooks can be difficult to integrate with a Windows-dominated business environment, many business users would do better with a more affordable Windows-based laptop. Gaming also isn't the MacBook's strongest suit. But if your business is primarily Apple-based or your team absolutely needs Apple products, the MacBook Pro never disappoints when it comes to performance or ease of use.
Dell XPS 17: The Dell XPS 17 ties for No. 5 with the Dell XPS 13 and Acer Nitro 5 in our rating of the Best Laptops of 2023. This 17-inch laptop has a large LCD screen and a responsive touchpad. Professional reviewers say the XPS 17's speed and performance are adequate for most tasks. The base XPS 17 (starting at $1,899.99) comes with a 17-inch non-touch, anti-glare LCD screen with 1920 x 1200 resolution and a 16:10 aspect ratio. It has InfinityEdge with thin bezels to keep the weight down and maximize screen real estate. An ultra-high definition (UHD) screen with a 3840 x 2400 touch screen and other upgrades are available. However, this is a heavy laptop to carry around, some reviewers say the keyboard is cramped, and the webcam is subpar with only 720p resolution.
Acer Nitro 5: Also coming in at No. 5 in our rating is the Acer Nitro. At $699.99, it qualifies as a budget laptop and is particularly inexpensive for a gaming laptop. Despite the low price, the Acer Nitro can run the latest games. Although the base model is a decent gaming laptop, you will need to upgrade the processors, memory, and graphics card for the best experience. Display choices include a high-definition 1920 x 1080 screen or a QHD 2560 x 1440 display. Refresh rates are supported up to 165 hertz, which is great for fast-paced games. Battery life is adequate, but the screen is dimmer than some more expensive gaming computers, according to professional reviewers.
Dell XPS 13: The Dell XPS 13 is a direct competitor to the MacBook Air M1, except it runs Windows 10 or Windows 11 instead of macOS. As such, it is similar to the Air in size, weight, and features. Although it isn't as fast as some competitors, the XPS 13's screen is excellent, with touch-screen functionality, a slim bezel, and 4K resolution. The starting price is reasonable at $999.99. Professional reviewers say the keyboard is comfortable for extended typing sessions, and the speakers sound good for a laptop. For college students and businesspeople who want to run apps in Windows 10 or Windows 11, the Dell XPS 13 is an excellent choice.
Dell XPS 13 2-in-1: The Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 is a compact, lightweight, convertible laptop that weighs less than 3 pounds. You can use it in four different configurations: as a laptop, a tablet, an easel, or a tent. This means you can do standard work on the laptop, use the touch screen in tablet mode, or watch videos and present work in either easel or tent mode. The battery life is quite good, making the Dell XPS 13 a great choice for business use. Professional reviewers like its fast performance and small stature, as well as its competitive price. However, they say the webcam and keyboard are subpar.
Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio: Tying for No. 9 in our rating, no other tablet or 2-in-1 laptop is quite like the Surface laptop. That's because the screen can pivot over the keyboard like a picture stand. Alternatively, it can lie flush with the base to act as a tablet. This innovative design appeals to creatives by offering a tablet form factor with the higher performance of a conventional laptop. The Surface laptop also has a stylus pen that magnetically attaches to the frame and can be used during meetings, presentations, or business travel. The good-looking display has a 120-Hz refresh rate. However, the Surface laptop is slower than many other 2-in-1 laptops that are nearly as stylish and much cheaper. 041b061a72