Best Laptop 2023: The best laptops on the market

The Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED is one of the best laptops we’ve ever tested. It’s flaunting AMD’s latest processor, which our benchmark tests show to offer some of the fastest speeds around for a productivity laptop, besting even the M1 chip inside the MacBook Air.

According to our tests, the chip even offers a decent gaming performance and an impressive battery life that surpasses the 13-hour mark. This makes it a more appealing laptop option compared to our previous favourite Windows laptop, the Dell XPS 13 OLED.

During testing, we were also very impressed by the vibrant OLED screen as well as its exemplary colour space coverage (100% in sRGB, 96% in Adobe RGB and 97% in DCI-P3) to make this an ideal laptop for professionals, as well as a comfortable keyboard and ultra-portable design that makes it ideal for working on the go.

There are a couple of negative points, such as the stingy port offering which totals three USB-C ports and a headphone jack; an additional USB-A wouldn’t have gone amiss. The Zenbook S 13 OLED nevertheless remains the best all-round Windows laptop that we’ve reviewed.

However, with the laptop only recently launching, it may be difficult to find the AMD Ryzen 7 6800U SKU that we have reviewed. But if you’re keen to purchase this outstanding laptop, then it’s worth waiting a couple more weeks. And if you need a new laptop right now, the Dell XPS 13 OLED is a fantastic alternative.

Reviewer: Ryan Jones
Full review: Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED review

Not only did the Asus ROG Stix Scar 16 (2023) make it onto this Best List, but it also managed to score the top spot on our best gaming laptop round-up. We gave this laptop a faultless five-star review and maintain that this is one of the best gaming laptops money can buy, thanks to its huge levels of processing power and impressive gaming performance.

It features a 13th-generation Intel Core i9-13980HX processor, which on paper is one of the fastest mobile CPU chips Intel has ever made. It packs 16 E-Cores and eight P-Cores and can monster its way through 24 simultaneous threads, with our Geekbench 5 and PCMark 10 benchmark results proving how powerful this machine truly is. This translated very well to real-world applications, with a multitude of games running smoothly thanks to the inclusion of the RTX 4080 GPU. Borderlands 3 managed to reach 106fps at a native screen resolution (2560×1600) with everything maxed out, while Horizon Zero Dawn hit 120fps.

The battery life was more than reasonable when you take the specs into consideration, lasting five hours and 51 minutes in PCMark 10’s Battery benchmark. While we wouldn’t recommend gaming on this laptop when it’s not on charge, the battery life will allow users to engage in productivity work from time to time. However, the bulky 2.5kg weight means that this is not a laptop you’ll want to take on the go, although the sizeable mass does make it feel like a very robust machine. 

Connectivity is also more than suitable, with two USB-C ports – one of which supportsThunderbolt 4 – alongside an HDMI 2.1 output, 2.5GbE Ethernet port, 3.5mm audio jack and two USB 3.2 ports. That’s more than enough to cover you for external displays, peripherals and storage, with Wi-Fi 6E also on board to ensure that you can game online without any issues. 

All in all, this is one of the best gaming laptops that money can buy. With formidable internals and a striking design, anyone that’s looking for their next gaming device should seriously consider the Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 (2023). 

Reviewer: Stuart Andrews
Full Review: Asus ROG Stix Scar 16 (2023)

The MacBook Pro 14-inch (2023) isn’t just the best laptop that Apple has created so far, but it’s also our top recommendation for anyone who wants to edit photos or videos, or engage in any other intensive task.

The new 2023 iteration has seen a processor upgrade, with Apple offering the M2 Pro and M2 Max chips. Our tests show these chips to offer a relatively minor performance boost compared to their predecessors, so probably aren’t worth upgrading to if you already own an M-chip MacBook Pro.

However, our benchmark tests also showed the MacBook Pro (2023) to boast a massive performance jump on a Windows laptop powered by an RTX 3050. If you want a heavy-duty portable for content creation, the Pro is your best bet.

We were also impressed by the Mini LED display and stylish design. Sadly, Apple has upped the price in the UK, with a starting price of £2149/$1999. With that in mind, it may be worth seeing if you can find the MacBook Pro (2021) with a discount, as it remains an excellent laptop.

Reviewer: Max Parker
Full review: MacBook Pro 14-inch (2023) review

Chromebooks are a great option for those who want a cheap laptop with a simple operating system. We’d recommend a Chromebook to anyone who is happy to stick to popular apps such as Google Docs, Spotify and Netflix. But if you need to download more obscure software, then it’s safer to opt for a Window laptop instead.

The Acer Chromebook Spin 513 is our current favourite Chromebook. We found that the Snapdragon chip’s benchmark results weren’t as impressive as processors made by AMD or Intel, but the laptop was still capable of dealing with basic tasks such as web browsing, video streaming and essay write-ups without noticeable slowdown. 

Unlike many other Chromebooks we’ve tested, this laptop is also very light at just 1.2kg. This means you don’t need to worry about getting back pains when porting this laptop around, which can’t be said about other Chromebooks.  

There are plenty of other Chromebooks worth considering too, such as the Lenovo Chromebook Duet that can double up as a tablet, and the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 which packs an Intel Core chip for an even faster performance. But we still think the Acer Chromebook Spin 513 represents the best all-round value.

Reviewer: Reece Bithrey
Full review: Acer Chromebook Spin 513 review

The Apple MacBook Air is one of the most iconic laptops around, and the new MacBook Air M2 (2022) is one of the best versions of this machine we’ve tested.

This sits in the middle of Apple’s current MacBook line. It lacks the high-end chipsets and stunning screen of the MacBook Pro, but it has a sleeker design, improved webcam and a 13.6-inch display that you won’t find on the cheaper MacBook Pro M1.

At the heart of this machine is the M2 chip, While not as speedy as the M1 Pro or M1 Max, or even a huge jump over the still very capable M1, this remains an excellent chipset that makes this laptop one of the fastest around when you consider its sleek body and minimal weight. During our in-depth review process, we found the machine could easily handle 4K video editing and even some gaming.

The 13.6-inch display does lack some of the higher-end features of other laptops on this list. It’s not an OLED panel, doesn’t support true HDR and sticks to a standard 60Hz refresh rate. There’s also no touchscreen here, which is the norm for Apple’s laptop range, but should put you off if you want a machine for drawing on. With that being said, our reviewer was impressed with the display, especially its high level of brightness and punchy colours. There is a notch jutting into the screen, but it doesn’t really cause any issues.

Our reviewer managed to comfortably get through a full workday on a single charge and there’s the magnetic MagSafe charging port for getting back to 100%. Two Thunderbolt 3 ports sit on one side, while Apple’s excellent Magic Keyboard remains. However, it’s still worth considering the MacBook Air M1 due to its more affordable price, especially if you’re not too fussed about the graphics upgrade found with the M2.

Reviewer: Max Parker
Full review: Apple MacBook Air M2 (2022)

We think that the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Pro X is one of the best Windows content-creation laptops around and a great alternative to devices like the MacBook Pro (2023). The 14.5-inch display packs a 3K resolution that delivers sharp imagery, although it doesn’t quite pack the same punch as a Mini LED or OLED screen that can be found on devices like the Dell XPS 13 OLED. The 120Hz refresh rate allowed for very smooth on-screen motion and will provide a responsive performance if you intend on playing games.

If you do intend to use the Yoga Slim 7i Pro X for gaming or content creation, you have the choice between a GTX 1650 or RTX 3050 graphics chip for an extra £160 or £230 respectively. We reviewed the RTX 3050 model and were able to engage in entry-level content creation, such as photo and video editing, without any issues. 

Horizon Zero Dawn performed well, hitting 33fps with max graphics settings turned on and a resolution of 1440p. While it won’t hit the same heights as a dedicated gaming laptop – such as the Asus Zephyrus G14 (2022) or ROG Strix Scar 16 (2023) – it’s more than capable of running casual games like Stardew Valley and Football Manager on the side. 

Considering these specs, the Yoga Slim 7i Pro X is surprisingly slender; the height sits at just 15.5mm and it weighs only 1.5kg. This makes it very easy to transport in a backpack or briefcase, with our reviewer noting that they had no issues commuting to and from work with the device. 

Overall, if you don’t want to break the bank by buying a MacBook Pro, this is one of the best alternatives on the market. The upgraded internals will allow for casual gaming and content creation, although any professional creatives may want to look for something with more power and better colour accuracy. 

Reviewer: Ryan Jones
Full Review: Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Pro X

One of the best features of the Asus Zenbook 14 Flip OLED (2023) is its gorgeous screen; we found that it features a near-flawless colour gamut coverage, hitting 100% of sRGB colour, 99.9% of DCI P3 and 97.4% of Adobe RGB. The luminance hit 336 nits in regular SDR applications and the zero nits black level allowed for fantastic levels of contrast, with TV shows and movies looking very crisp and natural.

The 2880×1800 OLED screen also packs a lot of punch. The resolution is ideal for everything from office work to video editing, with our reviewer going as far as saying that the optional 4K upgrade may not even be needed. The only nitpick we had about the screen was that it might be a little too small for those looking to engage in content creation, like video editing, but it’s still fantastic for streaming shows and games.

This laptop is also a 2-in-1, making it very versatile. It can be used as a standard clamshell laptop, in a tent configuration that’s great for working with the bundled stylus or in a tablet form, ideal for sketching, taking notes and casual browsing.  We thought that the 360-degree hinges felt sturdy, with almost no flex in the lid whatsoever. It’s worth noting that if you don’t intend to utilise the stylus or touchscreen capabilities, you may be better off with a device like the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Pro X or MateBook Pro X 2022 since you won’t be making the most of its 2-in-1 capabilities. 

There is more than enough speed here for both office and creative apps. We reviewed the Intel Core i7-1360P CPU, although it can also be found in an Intel Core i5-1340P configuration. We found that it breezed through browsing with 20 tabs or more open, and it could handle some video and photo editing workloads. Since there is no dedicated GPU though, it won’t be able to handle anything too complicated, like triple-A gaming.

Overall, if you’re looking for a versatile machine that can handle productivity tasks and even some content creation workloads, this is the laptop for you. The beautiful OLED screen also makes it more than worthy of binge-watching TV shows and movies, securing its place as one of the best laptops out there. 

Reviewer: Stuart Andrews
Full Review: Asus Zenbook 14 Flip OLED (2023)

The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is a dinky 12-inch touchscreen laptop that’s available for less than $600/£530, making it an ideal option for students or anyone else on a tight budget.

Despite its low price, it boasts excellent build quality and offers a nippy performance for basic day-to-day workloads. Microsoft has opted for a new processor for this sequel, which has even given it a battery life boost compared to the original laptop. During our standard battery test, it managed to keep running for 9 hours and 11 minutes.

Of course, the Surface Laptop Go 2 isn’t as powerful as some of the other laptops on this list and will struggle with the likes of gaming and content creation, but it’s not expected to cope with such workloads at this budget-friendly price.

Our only major gripe with this ultra-portable laptop is its screen quality. With a low 1536 x 1024 resolution, images and video don’t look sharp, making it a substandard option for the likes of Netflix. And that tiny 12.4-inch may make this laptop super portable, but it’s also difficult to have multiple browser windows and apps open simultaneously.

We recommend checking out the similarly priced Acer Swift 3 if you really care about the screen quality. But if you can overlook those drawbacks, then we still think the Surface Laptop Go 2 is one of the absolute best Windows laptops at this price point.

Reviewer: Ryan Jones
Full review: Surface Laptop Go 2 review

The Medion Erazer Beast X40 may not look like an affordable device at first glance, but it’s actually sporting a really reasonable price for what it’s offering. Laptops that come with equivalent internals from the likes of Asus, Razer and MSI will cost you a lot more, making this the best option to go for, even if it does still cost a cool £3,500.

We really liked the mechanical keyboard; made up of Cherry MX low-profile keys it provided precise and positive action with a very solid chassis, which made typing on them very enjoyable. These keys are as loud as you would expect from a mechanical keyboard, so while we wouldn’t recommend taking this laptop into a library any time soon, they felt very satisfying to use.

A lot of this laptop’s prowess comes from its immense amount of power. It comes kitted out with an Intel Raptor Lake i9-13900HX processor and an Nvidia RTX 4090 GPU, alongside 32GB DDR5 RAM and up to 2TB SSD. We saw fantastic gaming results here, with Metro: Exodus reaching 63fps at native screen resolution (2560×1600) with no DLSS upscaling and maximum ray-tracing. Turning on DLSS pushed the result up to 105fps, proving that triple-A games can run without a hitch and at a fantastic quality.

The display on the Erazer Beast X40 is 17-inches with the aforementioned WQXGA resolution. The large screen allows for an immersive experience, whether you’re watching films or playing games, and the 240Hz refresh rate meant that everything on the screen looked supremely smooth and responsive.

Unless HDR performance is a must-have for you, the Medion Erazer Beast X40 really does tick every box for what a great gaming laptop should be. The juggernaut internals ensure that games will run effortlessly and the high refresh rate and large screen provide a riveting experience.

Reviewer: Alun Taylor
Full Review: Medion Erazer Beast X40

If you’ve been looking for a laptop with a large screen, then the Dell XPS 15 (2022) could be your best bet, scoring an impressive 4.5-stars and a Trusted Reviews Recommended badge from us.

One of the most impressive aspects of this laptop is the incredible 15-inch 3.5K OLED panel, which our reviewer thought could elevate just about anything. TV shows and movies looked bright and the colours popped without looking unnatural, and we thought it was more than bright enough to work in sunny environments.

And since this is an OLED device, it was able to cover both the sRGB and DCI-P3 gamut, making it a great choice for any creative professionals who require high colour accuracy for their work.

The model we reviewed came with a 12th-generation Intel Core i7-12700H processor and an Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti GPU. The processor was more than fast enough for productivity tasks, outpacing other quality laptops like the LG Gram 16 and Acer Swift Edge. The GPU is a little less powerful than you may expect, since it uses the low-power 40W variation, although we were still able to play games like Horizon: Zero Dawn in 1080p at 53fps, making this a perfectly serviceable gaming laptop for casual play.

This is one of our favourite 15-inch laptops currently on the market thanks to its high colour accuracy and impressive specs. If you’re looking for an all-rounder that can tackle most tasks, then the Dell XPS 15 (2022) is possibly the perfect choice, provided that the high price point isn’t too offputting.

Reviewer: Stuart Andrews
Full Review: Dell XPS 15 (2022) Review

There are plenty of good reasons to opt for a 16-inch laptop, from having more screen space for videos to being able to have multiple apps and web browsers simultaneously. The only problem is that such laptops are usually extremely heavy. The LG Gram 16 (2022) is an exception, weighing even less than the 13-inch MacBook Air.

LG has needed to compromise on build quality to achieve this lightweight form, which we found to be noticeable when pushing down on the deck. But our testing still found this laptop to be robust enough to survive multiple trips in a rucksack.

But such compromises are well worth it if you like to watch video, as we were highly impressed with the 16-inch panel with its 2560 x 1600 resolution and excellent colour coverage. The 16:10 aspect ratio is also ideal for office workloads, with plenty of vertical space for spreadsheets and documents.

For the 2022 iteration, LG has upgraded the laptop with Intel’s 12th Generation chip. This is comfortably speedy enough for day-to-day workloads, and is even capable of entry-level content creation. However, the likes of the Huawei MateBook D 16 (2022) offer an even faster performance while also flaunting a huge 16-inch screen.

But in terms of hitting the sweet spot between portability and having a large screen, there’s no better option than the LG Gram 16.

Reviewer: Ryan Jones
Full review: LG Gram 16 (2022) Review

The Asus Zenbook Pro 14 OLED may look like any other laptop but it’s hiding a wide range of capabilities. The OLED technology comes with fantastic colour depth and a 2880×2800 resolution, which we found to be more than crisp enough for watching video content. 

It’s also deceptively powerful, featuring an Intel Core i9-13900H CPU, an Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU alongside 32GB RAM and a 2TB SSD. These internals make the Zenbook Pro 14 OLED an all-rounder, with the GPU giving users the ability to play high-end games. Intensive graphical tasks such as 3D modelling are also well-within reach, although we would recommend that you keep it plugged in to reach its maximum performance. 

When you consider the 1.65kg weight, this is an incredibly portable device for all the power. We were able to carry this around in a backpack without any issues, potentially making it a great pick for anyone who regularly likes to work on the go. 

Looking at the keyboard, we found it to feel very deep and substantial, even if the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 can reach better heights in this category. Other than the space bar being oddly loud, we found that this was a joy to type on, making it ideal for anyone looking to smash out their next essay. 

The touchpad felt velvety to use and was very responsive. The trackpad features a DialPad in the corner, which looks like a circular dial. You can use it to scroll through shortcut tools; in basic Windows, these are screen brightness and volume, but in the ProArt Creator app you can choose what the dial does, per app, giving it a lot of versatility. 

Overall, the Asus Zenbook Pro 14 OLED is one of the best, if not the best, Windows device for content creation. It is fantastically adaptive thanks to the high-end internals and comes with a vibrant OLED display, with a reasonable asking price of £1,499. 

Reviewer: Andrew Williams
Full Review: Asus Zenbook Pro 14 OLED (2023) 

The Razer Blade 16 (2023) is a juggernaut in terms of power. The unit we reviewed came with an Intel Core i9-13950HX processor and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 GPU. It was beaten in some of our standard benchmarking tests, but overall it provides an immense amount of power and is more than capable of running triple-A games without breaking a sweat.

It managed to hit 68 frames per second in our 4K Horizon Zero Dawn test and 61fps in our Borderlands 3 test, with that number jumping to 106fps in QHD (2560×1440). This means that you will be able to play rigorous games with high frame rates and impeccable resolutions, with creatives also being able to engage in intensive tasks like 4K video editing and 3D animation.

This is aided by the screen tests we did, which showed the brightness to sit at 523 nits, well above the 300-nit count on most average laptops. The sRGB, Adobe RGB and DCI-P3 came out at 100%, 91% and 100%, respectively. These are very strong results for a laptop not aimed at creatives, broadening its scope even further. 

The Razer Blade 16 can be found in two configurations with regards to the screen; a QHD+ 120Hz panel or a high-end Mini-LED Dual Mode display, which can be switched between UDH+ 120Hz and FHD+ 240Hz. We used the Mini-LED model and found it joyous to use, with colours popping off the screen and excellent contrast, making it the perfect laptop to watch media content on after a hefty gaming session. 

The keyboard and trackpad on this laptop are also very sleek. The trackpad is very large and has a particularly satisfying click and the keyboard had great feedback, even if we did note that it felt more like a productivity keyboard than one developed for gaming. 

Overall, the Razer Blade 16 (2023) is a fantastic laptop that can be configured with a gorgeous Mini-LED display. It has enough grunt for gamers and creatives alike, and has a beautiful design to boot. 

Reviewer: Adam Speight
Full Review: Razer Blade 16 (2023)

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 is pretty expensive, but it is one of the best picks on the market for office workers. We thought that the traditional inputs, keyboard and touchpad were where the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 shined. The keyboard is not as deep as the ThinkPads from a decade ago, but more satisfying than any other portability-driven laptop that we’ve used in the last 12-months and much more characterful than the 2020 MacBook Air keyboard.

The touchpad has a velvet-smooth glass surface and a great-feeling clicker. While it’s too small for designers or photographers that will need to be scrolling wide portions of the screen, it’s more than serviceable enough for basic productivity tasks. The 1.17kg weight makes this a very easy laptop to take on the go, although we did note that the low weight did not make it feel any less substantial or robust.

It packs a 14-inch 2800×1800 OLED panel that delivered ultra-deep colour and the usual brilliant contrast that you can expect from OLED displays. It can reach 420 nits at its peak and displays TV shows and movies very well, meaning that you can always kick back and watch some of your favourite media after you finish your work day. It’s worth noting that the OLED panel is not the default option in the ThinkPad X1 Carbon line, which is worth bearing in mind when you’re at the checkout.

The main drawback of the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 is that it uses the last generation (Alder Lake) series of Intel processors, even though Raptor Lake is already out and available. We were still capable of running productivity and office tasks without issue, but you will want to look elsewhere if you’re after high-end performance power. 

Overall, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 is an ultra-portable PC that is best suited to business types and students, although the latter may be put off by its expensive price tag. If you can afford the £1,800 cost, then this is a fantastic work device that not only feels great to use but packs a sleek and professional design. 

Reviewer: Andrew Williams
Full Review: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10

The Dell XPS 13 Plus is the best looking laptop we’ve ever reviewed. Dell has always pushed the boat out when it comes to cutting-edge design, but the company has gone a step further with its latest laptop.

Its edge-to-edge keyboard covers the entire width of the laptop, with no gaps in-between each key. There’s also no physical trackpad here, with Dell instead using haptic feedback vibrations to simulate presses. We were impressed with how natural the experience felt, while also allowing for a sleek glass interior design. 

You’ll also find a Touch Bar above the keyboard, which lacks the complex functionality of Apple’s Touch Bar on the MacBook Pro, but makes swapping between shortcuts and function keys more pleasing to the eye. 

Beauty does come at a cost though, as the laptop is so thin that it’s lacking in the port department and features a smallish battery which comprises this portable’s longevity on a single charge. In addition, the thin design seems to have led to some throttling of the XPS 13 Plus’ overall performance, despite having a powerful 12th gen Intel Core i7 processor and 32GB of RAM to boot. Its results are still respectable for basic and more intense workloads alike, but they do fall behind the likes of the M2 MacBook Air and Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 2 by a margin.

Nonetheless, if you want the best looking laptop available, as well as the bragging rights to some cutting-edge features, then the Dell XPS 13 Plus is one of the best laptop options available.

Reviewer: Ryan Jones
Full review: Dell XPS 13 Plus review