At ZDNET, we're often asked, "what's the fastest laptop?" It's a fair question, but it really depends. If you want speed for creative tasks, "fastest" means editing 4K video or rendering high-res images. In that case, you'll want a powerful graphics processing unit (GPU) and lots of random access memory (RAM). The Asus ProArt P16, our pick for fastest creator laptop, has those features in spades. If you're talking speed for work tasks, "fastest" means seamlessly handling multitasking, large documents, and working across multiple displays. The MacBook M4 Max does without skipping a beat.
Also: The best laptops of 2025: Expert tested and reviewed
To account for these differences, we've narrowed down six top-performing laptops for a variety of specific use cases. We included benchmarking stats for comparative purposes, but we chose these laptops for their overall performance in their use cases and price relative to features. We used a combination of our own personal experience over the course of several days and weeks of regular use alongside industry-standard benchmarking platforms for a holistic impression.
What's the fastest laptop you can buy right now?
All the laptops on this list are fast, but the primary metric comes down to processing power. In short, how quickly can it handle demanding tasks? The Apple MacBook M4 Max leads the charge with the new M4 Max chip, the latest in Apple's lineup of silicon chips that's as fast as it is versatile. The latest in Apple Silicon might not be practical for everyone, so we included five other speedy selections below.
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The fastest laptops in 2025
Show less View now at Walmart Asus' ProArt P16 lives up to its name as a powerful device for professional artists, creatives, and gamers. With an arsenal of powerful hardware, this is a machine committed to providing solid performance across creative industry-standard programs like Adobe Photoshop, Premiere Pro, and DaVinci Resolve.
In other words, when it comes to rendering video, exporting files, and working with high-fidelity content, this thing is fast. The 32GB of RAM and AMD's Strix Point processor ensure snappy, responsive load times and smooth multitasking, while the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 graphics card powers the gorgeous 4K OLED display. Review: I recommend this flagship Windows laptop to creatives over the MacBook Pro - here's why The cherry on top is the Asus Dialpad, a circular wheel on the trackpad that allows for quick access to customizable brush and settings tools across different programs. Once you get used to using it, you can fly through tasks with customizable quick menus.
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