Best Laptops of 2026, Tested by Our Experts
Whether you're looking for portability, performance, or a low price, one of these computers should fit the bill
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Shopping for a laptop can be a lot like buying a car. Endless makes, models, and trim levels to sift through, only you don’t get to pop the hood or take a quick spin around the block before handing over your credit card.
Best Windows Laptops
Of the over 170 laptops in our ratings, these Windows PCs are among the best of the best, combining powerful performance, high-quality displays, and impressive battery life.
Best Laptops for Travel
What good is a laptop if it’s too heavy to carry around or constantly begs to be plugged in? If you travel often or just like to move from room to room without lugging a power adapter, these lightweight, long-lasting laptops are worth a look.
Best Laptops for Content Creation
If your workflow includes editing 4K videos, processing large photo libraries, or designing digital art, you’ll want a laptop with serious power. That means a fast processor, plenty of memory and storage, and a large, high-resolution display to give your creative projects the crisp color and space they need. These laptops are also ideal if you’re doing any sort of programming or coding work.
Best Budget Laptops
The phrase “budget laptop” might conjure up memories of clunky plastic builds and painfully slow load times, but the less expensive models of today can offer surprisingly solid performance for routine tasks, often for well under $800. In fact, some top picks land closer to $400. Even Apple users can find bargains, with Walmart still selling the 2020 M1 MacBook Air for $600, offering a great value for a small spec downgrade compared with newer models.
Want even more choice? Be sure to read our in-depth article on the best budget laptops, tablets, and Chromebooks.
Best Chromebooks
Chromebooks don’t try to do everything, which is what makes them appealing. These lightweight, easy-to-use laptops run on Google’s ChromeOS and are built for simple, everyday tasks like browsing the web, checking email, streaming videos, and working in Google Docs. They’re not designed for heavy-duty work like video editing or gaming, but for casual users and students, they’re often more than enough.
It’s also worth noting that Acer and Asus make a lot of Chromebooks, and most of them are fairly similar. So if the exact model you’re eyeing isn’t available, don’t sweat it because chances are there’s another one with nearly identical specs and performance.
That said, here are a few standout options to consider.
