When it comes to laptops, there’s no shortage of great options on the market thanks to a wide variety of devices from some of the biggest brands, a lot of which come with advanced features. With the holidays now fast approaching, you might be one of many who are looking to get a new laptop as a present, or as a little bonus for yourself just before the year ends.
With that in mind, the multitude of different models available can be quite overwhelming, so we’ve put together this quick rundown of some of the best laptops that you can get, each with their own particular strengths. This list spans different manufacturers and operating systems, and different price brackets as well. With that being said, let’s check them out!
Best Picks for Work and Casual Use
For everyday scenarios such as work, productivity and more casual use, you might want to check out these laptops which are geared for most situations out there, but don’t necessarily skip out on performance. Not too keen on Microsoft Windows? Don’t worry, we’ve also picked out some neat alternatives for you.
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Microsoft Surface Laptop 7
The Surface 7 series also comes with Microsoft's Copilot AI features which adds a bit of versatility in terms of AI-based capabilities, although the highlight is undoubtedly the new Snapdragon chips which offer terrific battery endurance, impressive performance, and improved thermals.
ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34
Chromebooks have come a long way in terms of hardware and software capabilities, and the ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 is a pretty solid example of this. It can also be configured with up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage.
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Acer Aspire 3
A more affordable laptop, the Aspire 3 comes with AMD's Ryzen 3 7320U processor, which is accompanied by 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 128GB of internal storage, the latter of which is a telling sign of the laptop's budget-oriented origins. While it won't be running Cyberpunk on full graphics settings, it works great as a dedicated office or education machine.
MacBook Air M4
Even at its base configuration, you're getting a lot of bang for your buck with the M4-powered MacBook Air. Apple's M4 chip continues its line of very impressive first-party silicon, and the MacBook Air M4 manages to do a great job of providing users with a lot of the same features found on more expensive MacBooks
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Microsoft Surface Pro 2-in-1
If you'd rather go for a tablet form factor that still retains a desktop operating system similar to most laptops and computers, then the Surface Pro 2-in-1 is a great option. It comes with a pretty capable processor, and supports Microsoft's Office suite of apps with the ability to natively connect to a keyboard if needed.
Best Gaming Options
If you’d rather go for something with a bit more horsepower for graphically-intensive games, then we’d recommend a dedicated gaming laptop. While they are also more than capable of running productivity apps and media-editing software, their main appeal is the inclusion of more specialized features for gaming, such as additional software tools and more versatile hardware set-ups. Check out our picks below!
Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 10
The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 10 is our top pick for the best gaming laptop 2025. The Intel Core Ultra 9 processor inside and RTX 5080 GPU work in tandem to handle demanding games, and the dual 1TB SSDs and 32GB RAM keep everything fast and responsive. It also has a killer display setup that's built with a 240Hz OLED panel, with a 2560 x 1600 resolution in the mix.
Acer Nitro V 15
If you're shopping on a budget, the Acer Nitro V 15 is a terrific choice. It delivers reliable 1080p gaming performance without cutting too many corners, and its Ryzen 7 CPU and RTX 4050 GPU provide smooth frame rates for most games. You also get a 15.6-inch display with a 144Hz refresh rate, making it ideal for fast-paced esports and casual play.
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Alienware M18 R2
- COMMANDING POWER & PRESENCE: Outplay your rivals and show them who's boss with an 18-inch gaming laptop featuring 14th Gen...
- UNCOMPROMISED PERFORMANCE: Our exclusive thermal interface material*, now located on the CPU and GPU, dissipates heat for...
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MSI Titan 18 HX
The MSI Titan 18 HX pairs an RTX 4090 with a 24-core Intel i9 and 64GB of RAM, allowing it to handle games and heavy workloads alike. The display is equally premium with an 18-inch 4K Mini LED panel and a 120Hz refresh rate. You also get 2TB of fast storage and excellent thermal control for those extended gaming sessions.
ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 weighs just 3.3 pounds, but still manages to cram in a lot of impressive hardware. Inside you'll find a Ryzen 9 chip and RTX 4070 GPU, and its 14-inch 3K OLED display is another highlight thanks to a high 120Hz refresh rate.
Don’t Forget these Accessories
We’ve also put together this quick little list of some of the best-quality accessories that you can bring along with your laptop, just so you can maximize its usage. These products range from protective gear, as well as accessories that could improve your overall workflow, especially when on the move and away from home base. They’re also compatible with different laptop brands, and should work with your machine whether it be a Windows laptop, MacBook, or Chromebook. Let’s check them out!
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Anker Prime TB5 Docking Station
- Peak Performance with Thunderbolt 5: Experience superior performance, enabling 80Gbps data transfers and 240W fast charging...
- 240W USB-C Charging: Charge a 16-inch MacBook Pro (M3 Pro) to 50% in just 26 minutes with ultra-fast 240W USB-C charging.
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Incase A.R.C. Commuter Pack
- Secure laptop and tablet protection for school or work - Includes 6 zippered compartments with internal organization +...
- Smart tech organization with RFID-blocking security - Top external pocket includes an RFID-blocking zippered pocket, mesh...
Spigen Laptop Sleeve
If you'd prefer something a bit sleeker for just your laptop, then you might want to consider Spigen's Laptop Sleeve, which features a minimalist design save for a few coloured accents on the zipper and the tiny Spigen logo. The best thing about this case is that it's because it's generally slim, you can bring it on its own or stuff it into a backpack as well
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UGREEN 145W Power Bank
- Ultra-Fast 145W Charging: With PD3.1 and QC3.0, deliver a total of 145W fast charging. A single USB-C1 port provides up to...
- Massive 25000mAh Capacity: Ugreen's power bank features a huge 25000mAh battery, capable of fully recharging laptops up to...
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