Whether you’re a student, professional, or educator, having the right equipment and technology to do the job makes all the difference in the world. Not sure which device will meet your needs? To help pick out the right model for you, StudyFinds compiled a list of the best laptops most recommended by online experts.
Computers are part of our everyday lives, especially for those who now work remotely because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Even though technology has improved by leaps and bounds throughout the years, a recent study reveals that a staggering 11 to 20 percent of our time spent on computers is still plagued by crashes and other failures. That’s why investing in a quality computer will benefit you and save time in the long run.
Laptops can be connected at your hip while at home or at work, as people spend long hours staring at the screen. In fact, a study shows that the average office worker spends nearly 1,700 hours in front of a computer screen over the course of a year. Also, office workers spend about 6.5 hours a day sitting in front of their computer.
With all the time we spend in front of computer screens, it pays to splurge on an updatred device. StudyFinds has the top five best laptops on the market today. Did we miss one of your favorites? Let us know in the comments below!
The List: Best Laptops, According to Tech Experts
1. Apple MacBook Air M2
The experts’ top pick for best laptops to have is the Apple MacBook Air M2. “The redesigned MacBook Air is a thin, lightweight device powered by Apple’s latest chip,” writes The Verge. “The M2 model also touts a 1080p webcam and a better display than its predecessor, while retaining features like long battery life and MagSafe charging.”
CNET calls the Apple MacBook Air M2 the best overall. “Thanks to a new design, a larger display (13.6 inches versus the previous 13.3 inches), a faster M2 chip and a long-awaited upgrade to a higher-res webcam, the 2022 version of the MacBook Air remains our top choice for the most universally useful laptop in Apple’s lineup.”
Digital Trends says it’s a “fast, efficient, and portable laptop for everyone…When Apple updated the MacBook Air to its latest M2 processor, it didn’t stop there. Instead, the laptop was completely redesigned, starting with the chassis which took on the same general design as the larger MacBook Pro. The iconic MacBook taper was dropped and the chassis was trimmed, resulting in a minimalist and elegant laptop that’s among the thinnest ever made at just 0.44 inches thick.”
2. Lenovo Yoga 9i
Second on the list is the Lenovo Yoga 9i. “Lenovo’s Yoga 9i Gen 8 delivers top-end performance and an array of helpful features packed into an attractive and practical design, making it the best 2-in-1 laptop to buy right now,” says PC Magazine. “We particularly like its superb OLED touch screen, its relatively booming sound, and its included stylus with carrying case. If you want the most luxury 2-in-1 laptop experience available, look no further.”
“The Lenovo Yoga Book 9i is not the first laptop to add a second screen, but it might be the first to actually succeed in this somewhat niche design,” explains Wired. “With the Yoga Book 9i, ‘second screen’ means a full screen. There’s no keyboard here at all; the lower half of the laptop is a touchscreen identical to the upper half. Take two 13.3-inch OLED displays and sandwich them together with a hinge in between and you’ve got the idea.”
TechRadar calls the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i the best 2-in-1 laptop. “We completely fell in love with the Yoga Book 9i when we reviewed it, and you’d hard-pressed to find a dual-screen setup that’s as seamless or as versatile as this one. Lenovo has designed the Yoga Book 9i not only to give you that extra bit of screen real estate but also to offer several different modes. You can mount it on its included stand so that the screens are either stacked one on top of the other or side by side like a book – and you can use it as a normal laptop as well.”
3. ASUS Zenbook 14
Coming in third on the best laptops list is the ASUS Zenbook 14. “Sometimes, a laptop comes along that offers surprisingly good value with impressive features, placing it at the top of our list of best budget laptops,” says Digital Trends. “Most impressive, though, is getting an excellent OLED display at these prices. In fact, it’s one of the best OLED laptops you can buy today.”
“The Asus Zenbook 14 OLED is a fantastic value,” notes The New York Times. “The base model with 8 GB of memory won’t perform as well as our top picks for as many years, but the version with 16 GB of memory will, if you can spend a little more.”
If you’re looking for a 2-in-1 laptop, PCWorld recommends the Asus Zenbook 14 Flip OLED. “From the stunning OLED display and affordable starting price to the long battery life and fast-performing CPU, the Asus Zenbook 14 Flip OLED is a fantastic 2-in-1 laptop. It weighs 3.31 pounds and measures 0.63 inches at the chassis, so it’s a pretty lightweight machine. The review unit we looked at came with a 1800p OLED display, which covers 100 percent of the DCI-P3 color gamut (according to Asus). Our reviewer found a ‘high level of detail’ in images and colors were ‘remarkably bright and saturated.’ As for CPU performance, it blasted right through Maxon’s R20 multithreaded benchmark, earning a score of 3,437, which means it’s more than capable of handling demanding programs.”
4. Apple MacBook Pro
The second Apple MacBook to make the list is the Pro version. “The new 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M3 Max chip (starting at $3,499) is the most powerful laptop we’ve ever tested,” says Tom’s Guide. “We said that about the MacBook Pro 16-inch with the M2 Max processor released earlier this year, but Apple has outdone itself once more with this monstrous notebook. It’s easily one of the best MacBooks yet.”
“The best that Apple has to offer in its MacBook portfolio, the 16-inch MacBook Pro in 2023 doubles down on a return to form that arguably turned public perception around regarding the company’s laptops writ large,” explains PC Magazine. “If you’re looking for the absolute highest-end MacBook experience for personal use, or you need serious power behind professional apps that work only for (or best on) macOS, this is the one to buy.”
Wired calls the Apple MacBook Pro the best MacBook upgrade. “Apple’s latest MacBook Pro models don’t reinvent the wheel—in fact, they barely fit shiny new rims. All the changes come on the inside, with the big difference being the M2 chips. If you have an M1 Pro or M1 Max MacBook Pro, then you don’t need to upgrade. Otherwise, these are the versions to buy if you’re looking to nab a powerful Apple laptop.”
5. Dell XPS 15
Rounding out the top five is the Dell XPS 15. “This is a gorgeous laptop, still using the carbon-fiber weave texture across the keyboard deck and palm rests even in its latest iteration,” notes Digital Trends. “That may change in the coming years to align with the XPS 13 and XPS 13 Plus, but for now, we love the look and design. And despite having a 15-inch screen, the overall size of the XPS 15 is far smaller than some of the other best 15-inch laptops. That’s thanks to the tiny bezels, of course.”
“The XPS 15 has a sharp 3.5K display and a ton of processing power,” says The New York Times. “It’s also more repairable and upgradable than its MacBook equivalent.”
Tom’s Guide writes, “We named the Dell XPS 15 one of the best laptops you can buy. It’s svelte and powerful enough for day-to-day work, with thin bezels that help the display shine. It’s also packed to the gills with raw horsepower. The config on sale features a 15.6-inch 1920 x 1200 LCD, Intel Core i7-13700H CPU, 16GB of RAM, 512GB SSD, and a Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU. This early Black Friday deal is one of the biggest discounts we’ve seen for this machine.”
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Sources:
- The Verge
- CNET
- Digital Trends
- The New York Times
- RTINGS.com
- PCWorld
- Tom’s Guide
- PC Magazine
- Wired
- TechRadar
Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations.
All the laptops are grate
The Lenovo Chromebook Duet is a budget-friendly 2-in-1 Chromebook with a 10.1-inch Full HD IPS display, a MediaTek Helio P60T processor, and 4GB of RAM. Its 2-in-1 design makes it versatile, but it has some limitations such as a small screen size and limited storage capacity. Overall, it offers solid performance and features for its price point.
Investing in the right laptop can boost productivity and success, whether you’re a student or professional. Some great recommendations here…thanks for sharing!
Well, we can tell your experts are actually morons. 1. They recommend a Dell when they are utter trash these days. 2. They don’t know the difference between a chromebook and a laptop. I am a systems engineer with 25+ years experience, I would know.