Laptops are here to stay, despite a brief challenge from tablets to replace them, and they are thinner, faster and more impressive than ever.
Picking one from a huge choice is an extremely difficult task though, especially when there are so many elements to factor. You need to consider size, operating system, specs, price and more. We are here to help make that decision easier with our expert in-depth reviews and buying advice.
Each of the devices in this list is an excellent laptop, but only for a certain kind of user. It’s also not an exhaustive list, with some of the best 2-in-1s, student laptops, business laptops, budget laptops and cheap gaming laptops not making the grade.
We also only include Windows and macOS computers here, and it’s still worth considering Chromebooks, especially if you’re on a budget. To help narrow it down, you’ll also find detailed buying advice in the next section.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Price
The very best laptops usually command a high price tag, but you don’t necessarily need to spend upwards of £1,000 for a great experience.
These days, you can get a capable budget laptop for £500 or even less, although it’ll probably only be suitable for everyday tasks such as web browsing, emails, word processing and the occasional video call.
But pay £700 or more and you should get great performance, plenty of RAM, loads of storage and a gorgeous display. You should also expect excellent build quality and premium materials. Many laptops these days are above £1,000, which is when you start getting the likes of 4K touchscreens and ultra-premium builds.
Display size
Laptop screens range from around 11- to 18-inch. A smaller screen might be harder to work on and offer fewer ports, but it will be more portable.
A big-screened laptop, onother hand, is probably a desktop replacement and so not designed to be taken everywhere with you. Generally, 13- or 14-inch is the sweet spot between usability and portability.
