GoKawiilis a reviewer covering laptops and the occasional gadget. He spent over 15 years in the photography industry before joining The Verge as a deals writer in 2021.
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Need a new laptop? It’s a tough decision. If you’re like most people, a laptop is one of the most expensive tech purchases you’ll make, and it’s something you’ll use and live with nearly every day for years to come. So there’s a lot riding on this pricey expense.
I’ve tested all kinds of laptops, from cheap Windows computers and Chromebooks to bread-and-butter MacBooks and over-the-top gaming machines. These are the ones I recommend the most and why I think they might be a good fit for you.
Though the MacBook Air is still the easy recommendation for most people, that doesn’t make it the go-to answer for everyone. What if you need more power for video or photo editing, or for crunching large datasets? What if you prefer to run Windows? What if you play lots of games and want to take them with you? Or what if you want something that’s super repairable, or something that’s unusual? We’ve got some recommendations, including a Chromebook or two, a laptop with two screens, the 16-inch MacBook Pro, and the Microsoft Surface Laptop with a Snapdragon X Elite chip.
What we’re looking for How we test laptops Collapse We run benchmarks to test performance, but we focus on actual real-world use to get an idea of what living with a laptop is like. A laptop should last you a bunch of years, and you don’t want to be punished every time you open the lid. Value Collapse Good things usually cost good money, but some laptops feel more worthy of their asking price than others. Performance Collapse You want enough performance for the tasks you want to accomplish — from basic web browsing to heavy content creation or playing games. If you can afford more headroom, go for it. Keyboard and trackpad Collapse These are the main ways you interact with a laptop, so they should function well and feel good to use. Screen Collapse You can always plug into an external monitor, but a quality laptop has a bright and sharp screen with nice contrast and colors. Design and build Collapse The more solid the build, the longer it should last after years of getting battered during a daily commute or on the road. And a good design only enhances day-to-day experience. Battery life Collapse Plenty of folks keep their laptops plugged in all the time, but it’s freeing to be able to work much of the day away from the charger. Port selection Collapse The more ports, the better — within reason, of course. A thin-and-light laptop can get away with just a few, but they should be decently speedy.
The best answer for most people
CPU: M5 (10-core) / GPU: M5 (8- or 10-core) / RAM: 16GB, 24GB, 32GB / Storage: 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB / Display: 13.6-inch or 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display, 2560 x 1664 or 2880 x 1864 , 60Hz, no touch option / Dimensions: 11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44 inches (13-inch) or 13.40 x 9.35 x 0.45 inches (15-inch) / Weight: 2.7 pounds (13-inch) or 3.3 pounds (15-inch)
Just get the latest MacBook Air. It’s been a little same-y for a few years, but it’s still the best for a reason. Every part of it is good to great. It’s incredibly thin. Its keyboard is solid. Its haptic trackpad is excellent. Its speakers are loud and full-sounding (especially on the 15-inch). It’s got a very nice-looking display. Even its webcam is best in class. All that, and it balances a great level of performance with a battery that easily lasts around 13 hours.
Both the 13- and 15-inch models are great for just about everything outside of hardcore gaming, heavy-duty content creation, or 3D modeling. An Air will serve you well for years to come. Many of us at The Verge still use work-issued M1 MacBook Airs from 2020, and they’re holding up great after five-plus years of service. An M5 Air (or M4 if you can still find a deal) could last you the better part of a decade.
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