The best Windows laptops in 2024 - March top picks
These are the best Windows laptops you can buy right now
1. The list in brief
2. Best overall
3. Best value
4. Best 2-in-1
5. Best dual-screen 2-in-1
6. Best for DIYers
7. Best for gaming
8. Best 13-inch
9. Best 14-inch
10. Best 15-inch
11. Best 16-inch
12. Best light 16-inch
13. Best 17-inch
14. Best Windows tablet
15. Best for business
16. How to choose
17. How we test
The best Windows laptops are light enough to carry all day, powerful enough to tackle your daily workload with ease and power-efficient enough that you don't need to worry about unplugging to get work done on the go.
Sure we also have a full list of the best laptops overall, which includes MacBooks and Chromebooks, but this is the list for Windows diehards who want a new laptop running Windows 11. If you're ride-or-die for Microsoft's OS, this is the list for you.
And you can trust these recommendations because here at Tom's Guide we review dozens of laptops from the top manufacturers every year, and only recommend the best. We know because we evaluate every system in our testing lab and in the real world, running benchmark tests, display tests and battery life tests as well as using it in day-to-day work and play.
Based on our testing, these are the best Windows laptops you can buy, and you can read our full review of each machine to help you make a buying decision.
Not sure a Windows laptop is the best fit for you? Make sure to check out our best Chromebooks page and best MacBooks list for some more recommendations!
Alex Wawro is a lifelong journalist who's spent over a decade covering tech, games and entertainment. He oversees the computing department at Tom's Guide, which includes managing laptop coverage and reviewing many himself every year.
The quick list
In a hurry? Here's a brief overview of the laptops on this list, along with quick links that let you jump down the page directly to a review of whichever laptop catches your eye.
Best overall
The best Windows laptop for most people
The Dell XPS 15 hits the sweet spot of price, performance and portability better than just about any other Windows laptop on the market. The slim design looks and feels great, and if you pay for the OLED display upgrade and the best internals this is a surprisingly powerful, good-looking Windows 11 ultraportable.
Best value
The best value in Windows laptops
The Asus Zenbook 13 OLED is an excellent value, offering an eye-catching 1080p OLED display and exceptional battery life in a slim, lightweight package for less than a thousand bucks. Sure, the speakers aren't amazing, the webcam leaves something to be desired, and there's no headphone jack, but these are stumbling blocks you can work around at this price.
Best 2-in-1
Best Windows 2-in-1
The Asus Zenbook 14 Flip OLED is arguably one of the best 2-in-1 laptops for the money. It’s a fetching and sturdy ultraportable with plenty of ports, plenty of power, and a vivid 2.8K OLED panel. On top of that, it also has an LED number pad on its touchpad — which is a nice touch.
Best DIY laptop
The best Windows laptop for DIYers
The Framework Laptop is a truly unique Windows ultraportable that's remarkably repairable and upgradeable. It's basically the anti-MacBook, designed to be easy to upgrade and repair while delivering style and performance without compromise. Plus, the unique Expansion Card system is a must-see.
Best dual-screen 2-in-1
The best dual-screen 2-in-1
The Yoga Book 9i is a compelling alternative to foldable screen laptops because you get two 13-inch displays in one package you can use in multiple modes. There are some clever software gestures and multitasking features here, too.
Best for gaming
The best gaming laptop for most
While neither the fastest nor the biggest gaming laptop around, we love to recommend the Asus Zephyrus G14 because it has the chops to run most games at solid framerates, the power efficiency to be used as a work laptop in a pinch, and a slim, elegant chassis that's more portable than most gaming laptops.
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Best 13-inch
Best 13-inch Windows laptop
13 inches is about as small as a laptop gets before it becomes uncomfortable to use, and if you want an ultraportable that's as svelte as possible while still being useful we recommend the Dell XPS 13 Plus. The short battery life and lack of a headphone jack are the price you pay for peak portability.
Best 14-inch
The best 14-inch Windows laptop
Stylish, lightweight, and powerful, the Acer Swift 5 is a truly impressive Windows 11 laptop that rivals the latest MacBooks in size, style and speed. This mid-range Windows laptop delivers compelling value thanks to its power and vivid 14-inch 1600p touchscreen. The latest model is competitive with the MacBook Air and Dell XPS 13, yet costs less.
Best 15-inch
The best 15-inch Windows laptop
If you're in the market for a 15-inch Windows laptop and don't like the Dell XPS 15 for some reason, Microsoft's Surface Laptop 5 is a solid alternative that's a bit cheaper. The 15-inch 3:2 display is tall and wide, making it great for working with text or code, and the speakers are also surprisingly good for a laptop.
Best 16-inch
The best 16-inch Windows laptop
With its speedy Intel CPUs, discrete Nvidia graphics card and gorgeous 16-inch 120Hz AMOLED display the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra has brains and beauty in equal measure. The fact that you can get one for less than a new MacBook Pro should have Apple worried.
Best light 16-inch
The best lightweight 16-inch Windows laptop
The LG Gram Style is a stunning 16-inch laptop that you can take pretty much anywhere, weighing under 3 pounds. We also really like the rich OLED display, over 10 hours of battery life and port selection. However, the performance from this 13th gen Core i7 laptop doesn’t quite match the high price.
Best 17-inch
The best 17-inch Windows laptop
The LG Gram 17 Pro is a low-key beast of a laptop, which is what you hope to get from LG's decision to slip a 13th Gen Intel CPU and Nvidia RTX 3050 graphics card into the thin black chassis of the 17-inch Gram. Put simply, no other laptop crams this much power into such a lightweight (at 3.2 pounds it's lighter than the smaller Dell XPS 15) big-screen machine.
Best tablet
The best Windows tablet
If you like the idea of a Windows tablet, Microsoft's Surface Pro 9 is a great choice. While its screen quality and performance can't match some of the more expensive laptops on this list, it's great as a tablet and good enough as a laptop, in a pinch. Note that the keyboard cover and stylus are sold separately, and you'll want both if you plan to type/write on this thing.
Best for biz
The best for business
The shockingly light 2-pound Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano lasted 12 hours on our battery test, making it a great Windows laptop for a long day at the office. With the latest Intel CPUs inside and a nice, punchy keyboard (replete with that classic red ThinkPad nub) this is a great ultraportable for getting work done.
The best Windows laptops you can buy right now
Why you can trust Tom's Guide
The best Windows laptop overall
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
The Dell XPS 15 OLED isn’t an innovative or revolutionary laptop. Aside from its updated internals, the 2023 model is virtually identical to its predecessor. But while this machine isn't shaking things up, it's still one of the best laptops you can buy.
The refreshed Dell XPS 15 offers the latest 13th Gen Intel Core CPUs and Nvidia GeForce RTX 40-series laptop GPUs. You can also get one configured with an Intel Arc graphics card, and all models come equipped with Windows 11. As with earlier models, Dell offers a 3.5K OLED touchscreen that makes this 15-inch laptop feel premium.
Not only is this a stellar laptop for everyday use, it’s also a competent gaming machine when kitted out with high-end internals — though that's admittedly pricey, and the XPS 15 OLED we reviewed lasted a disappointing 9 hours in our battery life test.
Even if it isn’t shaking up the computing world with never-before-seen features, the XPS 15 remains an all-around solid machine that offers versatility and style in a range of prices. Now if only Dell could ditch the grainy 720p webcam!
Read our full Dell XPS 15 (2023) review.
The best value
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
The AMD-equipped Asus Zenbook 13 OLED is an excellent value, offering an eye-catching 1080p OLED display and exceptional battery life in a slim, lightweight package for less than a thousand bucks.
Sure, the speakers aren't amazing, the webcam leaves something to be desired, and there's no headphone jack, but these are stumbling blocks you can work around. If you need a zippy little Windows ultraportable with a great screen that will last you all day long, you can't do better than the OLED-equipped Asus Zenbook 13 at this price.
Read our full Asus Zenbook 13 OLED review.
The best 2-in-1
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
The Asus Zenbook 14 Flip OLED isn’t perfect. Its 720p webcam is from a bygone era and its 9-hour battery life is short in comparison to the best MacBooks. That said, its strengths are substantial.
The sharp OLED display is wonderful for watching videos, and it has one of the best laptop keyboards we’ve tested. We also love the minimalist design and zippy performance. The LED number pad is also a nice touch. Combine all this with the fact it’s $1,199 at its most expensive, and this device becomes all the more attractive.
Overall, the Asus Zenbook 14 Flip OLED provides excellent value for what it offers. If you’re looking for a dependable 2-in-1 with a svelte design and eye-pleasing OLED panel, this is the machine to get.
Read our full Asus Zenbook 14 Flip OLED review.
The best dual-screen 2-in-1
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
The Lenovo Yoga Book 9i could start a trend for 2-in-1 laptops. Uniting two 13.3-inch OLED displays in one device, the Yoga Book 9i offers a bevy of different usage modes meant to boost your productivity. This notebook can function as a traditional Windows 11 laptop or tablet, plus it can go into tent mode for presentations.
Thanks to the included folio kickstand, you can use the Yoga Book 9i with two displays stacked on top of each other or spread the two panels side by side. If you’re not keen on typing on a touchscreen, you can use the included attachable Bluetooth keyboard.
The Yoga Book 9i is a Swiss Army knife of a laptop given all its modes. Though it’s expensive at $1,999, it offers enough singular value to be included in this list.
Read our full Lenovo Yoga 9i review.
The best laptop for DIYers
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
The Framework Laptop is the anti-MacBook, a modular laptop that promises to let you customize, repair, and upgrade it to an unprecedented degree, all while remaining affordable and ultraportable. Each laptop Framework ships comes with a screwdriver so you can crack open the case and swap out parts yourself, and everything from the memory to the screen bezel to the mainboard is user-replaceable.
It's not for everyone, but if you're the DIY type and love the idea of being able to tinker with your laptop's innards this is the best laptop for you. The Framework laptop is currently only available for purchase from the Framework website, and the price tag starts at $1,099 — though you can pay as low as $849 for the DIY Edition if you're willing to assemble your laptop yourself and provide your own memory, storage, operating system, and Wi-Fi card.
The best gaming laptop
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
One of the trickiest challenges gaming laptop manufacturers face is creating a machine that packs in enough power and cooling for true gaming performance, yet is also actually slim and light enough to be easily transported around and used on your lap. In this respect, the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 really shines; it achieves a great balance between power and portability by making use of the AMD Ryzen 9-4900HS processor, a new laptop-grade CPU that comes with AMD’s latest tech to efficiently deliver power. Add-in the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Max-Q GPU and you’re looking at a very powerful 14-inch laptop.
It delivers the goods when you're gaming but also delivers over 10 hours of battery life when you’re not, making this a decent workhorse machine as well. And at a price that ranges from $1,049 and ranging up to $1,999, the ROG Zephyrus G14 is pretty affordable depending on the spec you opt for. Even when it's fully kitted out, it’s still cheaper than many other gaming laptops.
Read our full Asus ROG Zephryus G14 review.
The best 13-inch Windows laptop
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
Judging by the name, you might think that the Dell XPS 13 Plus is a bigger version of Dell’s iconic laptop. But it’s actually quite the opposite. This is as minimalist a design as we’ve ever seen from Dell.
There’s just two ports. There’s no headphone jack. And Dell even took away physical function keys, replacing them with a capacitive row. There’s not even lines to denmark the touchpad; the entire area beneath the keyboard is one smooth piece of glass.
But the XPS 13 Plus isn’t just a design statement. Dell managed to pack a 28W 12th gen Core i7 processor into this sleek 2.7-pound machine. And the result is a system that can outperform even the mighty MacBook Pro M2 on some tests. However, the short battery life and capacitive function row will give some pause. We also found the bottom gets a bit toasty when running at full power, so keep that in mind to avoid a scorched lap!
Read our full Dell XPS 13 Plus review.
The best 14-inch Windows laptop
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
The Acer Swift 5 (2022) packs a lavish new design with golden trim plus a powerful 12th-gen Intel Core i7 chip, a gorgeous 14-inch display, and a startlingly swift 1TB SSD onboard. It’s also cheaper than rivals like the Dell XPS 13 when comparably equipped. There are a couple of caveats to consider, but the latest Acer Swift 5 is a very strong overall pick given its $1,499 price tag.
It's a great Windows laptop that offers plenty of power for everything save serious gaming. And while the speakers and pre-installed bloatware leave room for improvement, the striking 16:10 1600p display and the power of Intel's Core i7 chip make this a great (and great-looking) Windows laptop for getting things done on the go.
Read our full Acer Swift 5 (2022) review.
The best 15-inch Windows laptop
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
The Surface Laptop 5 is a solid 15-inch laptop that won't get in the way of you getting things done. If you're in the market for a 15-inch Windows laptop and don't like the Dell XPS 15 for some reason, this is a solid alternative that's a bit cheaper.
The 15-inch 3:2 display is tall and wide, making it great for working with text or code, and the newly-added Thunderbolt 4 support is welcome, especially if you like to use external displays. The speakers are also surprisingly good for a laptop, in part because Microsoft claims they're designed to bounce sound up from beneath the keyboard, off the screen and around your head.
While it's a bit of a lackluster effort for Microsoft's flagship line of laptops, the Surface Laptop 5 remains a 15-inch workhorse that will get you through a day at the office or writing in the coffee shop with aplomb.
Read our full Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 review.
The best 16-inch Windows laptop
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
The Samsung Galaxy Book 3 Ultra is a powerful laptop that’s capable of handling everyday computing tasks, video editing and high-end gaming. In addition to its impressive performance, this notebook also packs a gorgeous 16-inch OLED display that makes viewing content and playing games a pure joy. On its own, it’s a fantastic Windows 11 laptop.
But like the Galaxy Book 3 Pro 360, you won’t be able to make use of features like Samsung Multi Control if you don’t own the latest iterations of the company’s smartphones. The number of pre-installed Samsung apps is effectively bloatware for those not invested in the company’s ecosystem. As I said, this is a great Windows laptop. But some of its appeal is lost when you remove its interoperability with Samsung devices.
The biggest rival to the Samsung Galaxy Book 3 Ultra is the MacBook Pro 16-inch. Samsung’s laptop is remarkably lighter, has a full-size USB port and offers a more colorful (albeit dimmer) OLED display. Plus, the Book 3 Ultra is a better choice for gamers due to its Nvidia GTX 4050 GPU and Windows ecosystem. However, the MacBook Pro offers much longer battery life and has better performance for video editing.
Overall, the Book 3 Ultra isn’t a MacBook Pro killer per se, but it is a killer 16-inch Windows laptop and is deserving of the Ultra name.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy Book 3 Ultra review.
The best light 16-inch Windows laptop
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There’s three things that really stand out with the LG Gram Style, and two of them are really good. The first thing is just how light this laptop is. At just 2.76 pounds, this is the lightest laptop I’ve ever tested with a big 16-inch display. The second thing is its stunning design. The Gram Style has an iridescent finish that shifts colors in the light, and there’s a seamless touchpad that stays hidden until you touch it.
And now the third thing: price. The 16-inch version of this laptop starts at $1,799 and our review unit costs $1,999. That’s MacBook Pro M2 Pro territory, and the 13th gen Intel Core CPU inside this notebook trails Apple silicon and competing Windows machines.
However, the Gram Style’s beauty is more than skin deep. You get an expansive and vibrant OLED display, very good battery life and plenty of ports. This laptop doesn’t quite have the stuff to make our best laptop list, but it is one of the best Windows laptops for those who are looking to make a statement.
Read our full LG Gram Style review.
The best 17-inch Windows laptop
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
The LG Gram 17 Pro ($1,999 to start) is a low-key beast of a laptop, which is what you hope to get from LG's decision to slip a 13th Gen Intel CPU and Nvidia RTX 3050 graphics card into the thin black chassis of the 17-inch Gram. Put simply, no other laptop crams this much power into such a lightweight (at 3.2 pounds it's lighter than the smaller Dell XPS 15) big-screen machine.
Adding that kind of graphical horsepower gives the Gram a bit more muscle, allowing you to get more demanding work done and play many of the best PC games, though you'll need to dial down the settings if you want to achieve the high framerates this laptop's 144Hz display can deliver.
While it still can't match the best gaming laptops in terms of power, the LG Gram 17 Pro is lighter and won't look as out of place in a coffee shop or conference room. The full keyboard and large display make working and browsing the web feel comfy, and when you want to unwind the screen and speakers make movies look and sound great. The 12 hours of tested battery life is nice to have, too.
Read our full LG Gram 17 Pro (2023) review.
The best Windows tablet
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Reasons to buy
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The Microsoft Surface Pro 9 is virtually the same as the Microsoft Surface Pro 8. We don’t have a problem with iterative releases, but we hoped Microsoft would do something to make the latest edition of their flagship Windows 11 tablet more exciting.
The most interesting thing about the Surface Pro 9 is that it comes in two distinct flavors. There’s a version packing a 12th-gen Intel Core CPU and another with the new Microsoft SQ3 ARM processor. That latter model also offers 5G connectivity, which is a first for the Surface line. And, at least based on what Microsoft showed at its Microsoft Surface event, the 5G model is the only one taking advantage of new neural processing unit (NPU) features.
The Microsoft Surface Pro 9 isn't a bad or worthless machine. It's powerful enough to handle everyday computing tasks, has a decent screen for watching videos and is lightweight enough to comfortably take wherever you go. If you want a great Windows tablet that doubles as a decent laptop, this is for you.
Read our full review of the Microsoft Surface Pro 9.
The best business laptop
Specifications
Reasons to buy
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When we hear a laptop is incredibly thin and light, it makes us worry about how long it can last on a charge. But there's nothing to worry about with the shockingly light 2-pound Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano, which lasted 12 hours on our battery test, making it competitive with some of the very best Windows laptops on the market today.
Lenovo didn't sacrifice on performance or usability, as the X1 Nano's Intel 11th Gen Tiger Lake processors provide the speed you need for tons of productivity. Plus, the keyboard provides a snappy and comfortable typing experience that lives up to the ThinkPad brand. If you absolutely must have the lightest Windows laptop this is a great choice; you just might need to pack a USB-C hub, as this ultra-light ultraportable is a little light on ports.
Read our full Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano review.
How we tested these laptops
How we test the best Windows laptops
The best Windows laptops rise to the top in our lab tests, in which we run every machine through a rigorous suite of benchmarks and real-world tests to gauge how it will perform during everyday use.
For example, we carefully measure the average brightness and color quality of each laptop's display using our in-house light meter and colorimeter. To evaluate overall performance we run our machines through tests that include Geekbench 5 (CPU performance), as well as various 3DMark tests to measure graphics capabilities. We also run a file transfer test to measure how fast a machine's hard drive is, and a custom battery test that has the machine browse the internet over Wi-Fi until it runs out of juice.
When testing all laptops we benchmark gaming performance running Sid Meier's Civilization VI: Gathering Storm. For testing dedicated gaming laptops, we also run benchmarks for a number of other popular games, such as Assassin's Creed Odyssey and Red Dead Redemption 2.
All of these lab tests are complemented by our hands-on review process, in which reviewers spend time putting each laptop through its paces while working, watching movies, listening to music, and playing games.
For more information on our testing process, check out our guide to how we test products at Tom's Guide.
How to choose the best laptop for you
How to choose the best Windows laptop for you
Performance: If performance isn't important to you, say because you only need a laptop for browsing the web, you can save a lot of money by choosing a cheap Windows laptop with an Intel Core i3 processor and 4GB of RAM. Most of the laptops we've suggested here can't be bought with anything less than a Core i5, so we recommend you check out our guide to the best laptops under $500 if performance isn't your priority. But if speed and performance are important to you, pick a laptop with starting specs such as a Core i5 CPU, 8 to 16GB of RAM and at least a 256GB to 512GB SSD.
Size: Consider how mobile you want your Windows machine to be. Notebooks like the Dell XPS 13 and Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano are incredibly light and slim, while gaming-focused laptops like the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 and Alienware m15 R4 have real weight to them — but offer real power in exchange.
Flexibility: The 2-in-1 category of Windows laptop is a relatively new but exciting market of devices with hinges capable of rotating all the way around to lay the screen flat on the back of the laptop, turning it into a Windows tablet. If the idea of having a laptop that doubles as a tablet is exciting to you, Windows notebooks like the Lenovo Yoga 9i or HP Elite Dragonfly are a great choice.
Graphics and gaming: Most Windows laptops feature integrated graphics as part of the CPU, which means they can handle old or undemanding games like Minecraft or World of Warcraft, but they won't be great at running the latest games or any intensive graphics applications (think: photo and video editing). For that, you'll want a laptop with a discrete graphics card, like Nvidia's RTX 30-series or AMD's Radeon RX 5000 series cards.
Whatever system you choose, it's always a good idea to complement it by investing in the best mouse for your particular work situation.
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Alex Wawro is a lifelong tech and games enthusiast with more than a decade of experience covering both for outlets like Game Developer, Black Hat, and PC World magazine. A lifelong PC builder, he currently serves as a senior editor at Tom's Guide covering all things computing, from laptops and desktops to keyboards and mice.