What to Consider When Buying a New Laptop: A 2025 Guide

For budget shoppers the Acer Aspire 5 is a sensible pick: its Intel Core i5-1335U, 8GB LPDDR5 and 512GB SSD give you solid everyday performance and a useful port selection including USB-C, HDMI and Ethernet. During our review we found the 15.6-inch 1920x1080 IPS panel is serviceable but lacks vibrancy and accurate colors, and the touchpad’s loose feel became distracting during extended use. Battery life averaged around 6–7 hours in our testing, so it’s good for school or office days but not long fieldwork. Priced at $479 and scoring 6/10, it’s a practical value pick if you can forgive display and touchpad compromises.

The HP Spectre x360 16t is a versatile 2‑in‑1 that shines with its 2.8K OLED touchscreen, making it a great option for creatives who appreciate vivid color and deep blacks in tablet mode. During our review we enjoyed the flexibility of laptop-to-tablet transitions and the premium build, but we found the machine relatively heavy at 4.3 pounds and the battery underwhelming, lasting just over five hours in typical tests. The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD provide solid performance for productivity, yet the lack of a micro‑SD slot and middling endurance keep this model at a 7/10. If you prioritize display quality and convertible convenience over all‑day unplugged use, the Spectre is worth considering.

The Acer Swift X punches above its weight for creators: the Ryzen 7 5800U paired with an NVIDIA RTX 3050 Ti gave us strong rendering and light gaming performance in our testing, and the 14-inch Full HD panel covers 100% sRGB for color-accurate work. We appreciated the lightweight design — just over three pounds — and nearly 14-hour rated battery in mixed use, but our experience shows the chassis can heat up noticeably under heavy loads and the soldered RAM limits future upgrades. Scoring 7.5/10, it’s a great portable creative laptop if you can manage its thermal quirks and lack of SD card slot.

The 2025 MacBook Air with M4 is one of our favorite ultraportables thanks to its featherlight Sky Blue finish and outstanding battery life — in our testing it comfortably exceeded Apple's claims with over 19 hours in video playback. We found the 13.6-inch Liquid Retina and 24GB unified memory make multitasking smooth, and support for dual 6K displays is handy for power users. It scored 8.5/10 because the fanless design can throttle under sustained GPU load and the 60Hz panel leaves fast-motion gamers wanting more.

The Acer Aspire Vero 16 (2025) stands out for its eco-friendly design, built with 60% recycled plastics and a comfortable keyboard that we found pleasant for long typing sessions. In our testing the battery lasted up to about 10 hours, making it a good affordable daily driver, but performance and connectivity felt pedestrian compared with pricier rivals — you’ll miss an Ethernet port and microSD slot. Scoring 5.5/10, it’s a reasonable, sustainable pick if you prioritize green credentials over raw power or premium display fidelity.

If you want a laptop that looks as good as it performs in everyday work, the Galaxy Book5 Pro’s 14-inch AMOLED and lightweight aluminum chassis deliver — and in our testing the 2880x1800 panel really pops with deep blacks and accurate color. With an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V, 32GB RAM and a 1TB SSD it handles multitasking smoothly and the battery ran close to Samsung’s claims in our review, often stretching toward the 21‑hour figure. We found the integrated Arc graphics adequate for streaming and light editing but not for heavy 3D or pro-grade rendering. Keep in mind this model scored 7.5/10 because of its lack of upgradeability—RAM is soldered and there’s only one SSD slot—so it’s best for buyers who want a premium, portable daily driver rather than a long-term, expandable workstation.

The Razer Blade 14 earns its high 9.5/10 rating by pairing a gorgeous 3K 120Hz OLED with an AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 and GeForce RTX 5070, delivering desktop-class gaming and creative power in a surprisingly compact 1.63kg chassis. In our testing the display’s smoothness with NVIDIA G-SYNC and the GPU’s headroom made high-frame competitive play and GPU-accelerated editing buttery smooth, though real-world battery drains much faster under load than the claimed 11 hours. We found the slim form and 32GB RAM excellent for portability and multitasking, but note the non-upgradable memory and premium $2,699.99 price — worth it if you need top-tier performance in a compact package.

Apple’s 2024 MacBook Pro with M4 Max is a powerhouse for creatives and pros, and in our testing the 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display and 16‑core CPU/40‑core GPU handled demanding workflows with ease. With 48GB of unified memory and a 1TB SSD you’ll get smooth multitasking and large project storage, and the battery life impressed us by outperforming Apple’s own estimates during extended use. Our experience shows slower SSD benchmarks compared with rivals, which is the main drag on an otherwise excellent machine that scored 8/10. If you want Apple Intelligence and long runtimes over gaming prowess, this Space Black MacBook Pro is a compelling choice.

Microsoft’s Surface Pro 2024 is arguably the best 2‑in‑1 for professionals and students who value a premium display and efficiency: the 13-inch OLED dazzled us in testing with deep blacks and punchy colors, while the Snapdragon X Plus (10‑core) provided snappy performance for productivity tasks. Our review notes the 16GB/512GB configuration balances speed and storage well and battery life approached the claimed 14 hours in light use, but be aware the keyboard and Surface Pen are sold separately and the OLED can show a screen-door effect for some users. Earning an 8.5/10, it’s a top choice if you want a thin, powerful hybrid and don’t mind factoring in accessory costs.

The Lenovo ThinkBook 16 G6 IRL looks sharp with its aluminum chassis and clean Arctic Grey finish, and in day-to-day use the Core i7-1355U with 16GB RAM felt responsive for office workloads and web multitasking. However, our testing revealed concerns: several users report battery charging issues within the first year and, while Lenovo claims up to 14.43 hours, real-world longevity was inconsistent. With a 1TB SSD it’s roomy for files, but the overall package scored a modest 5.5/10 because of reliability worries and a lack of standout features. If design matters most and you’re prepared to monitor battery health, it can still be serviceable.

The ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition remains a go-to for travelers who prize featherlight portability and an excellent keyboard — in our testing the 14-inch OLED produced sharp images and solid brightness while the 2.2-pound chassis made it an ideal commuter companion. That said, our experience shows its 9-hour battery and performance don’t match the premium $2,819 price, which is why it scored 6.5/10; the Core Ultra 7 258V and 32GB RAM felt adequate but not class-leading. If you need best-in-class typing feel and a spectacular screen in an ultralight package and can accept middling endurance, this ThinkPad still makes sense.

If raw gaming performance and a beautiful panel are your priorities, the Legion Pro 7i is a heavyweight contender: its Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX, 32GB RAM, and 2TB SSD powered everything we tested while the 16-inch OLED delivered exceptional color accuracy and brightness. During our review the laptop achieved high frame rates and handled demanding titles with strong thermals, which is why it earned an 8/10, but expect short battery life — barely two hours under gaming loads — and a hefty carry weight near six pounds. We found the build quality and thermal management impressive, so if you mostly game at a desk and want top-tier visuals, this is a strong choice.

If battery life and a beautiful screen matter most, the Surface Laptop (2024) is worth a look — in our testing its Snapdragon X Plus configuration delivered exceptional endurance, often approaching the advertised 20 hours. We found the 13.8-inch 2304 x 1536 touchscreen and premium Sapphire finish make it a refined daily driver, but app compatibility and the ARM ecosystem are real caveats for heavier Windows users. At a 7.5/10 score the design and display impress, yet the limited ports and higher price mean you may need adapters for a full workstation setup.

If you need a compact powerhouse for gaming and content creation, the ROG Zephyrus G14 (2025) is a strong contender — our experience shows the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 and RTX 5070 combo delivers desktop-class performance in a surprisingly light 14-inch chassis. The OLED 2880x1800 panel is gorgeous for both play and color work, but expect battery life of only about 5–6 hours and noticeable warmth under load. At an 8/10 score it’s a high-performance pick if you prioritize power over all-day unplugged use.

The ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED UX3405 is a polished ultraportable with a vivid 2880x1800 OLED that makes photos and streaming pop, and in our testing the two Thunderbolt 4 ports and HDMI 2.1 gave useful connectivity for docks and external displays. We liked the lightweight design for travel, but integrated graphics and soldered RAM limit its lifespan for demanding creative work. Scoring 7/10, it’s a solid choice for productivity and media, though noisy fans under heavy loads and limited upgradeability are trade-offs to consider.

HP’s OmniBook Ultra 14 delivers strong day-to-day performance thanks to the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 and a roomy 1TB SSD, and during our review the chassis felt sleek and remarkably light for a metal design. The battery held up well in mixed use, approaching the claimed 16.5 hours, making it a dependable traveler or student laptop. It scored 7.5/10 because pre-installed bloatware and a middling display brightness (about 359 nits) undercut what is otherwise a competitive spec sheet.

The HP EliteBook X G1a aims for business reliability with an aluminum chassis and strong Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 performance, and in our testing its webcam and security features stood out for videoconferencing. We found the typing experience less satisfying — the keyboard felt squishy — and the display quality didn’t match other premium ultraportables in this class. Priced high and scoring 6.5/10, it’s a durable workhorse if rugged build and CPU power are priorities, but expect compromises in keyboard comfort and screen vibrancy.

The HP Envy 17t gives you a gorgeous 17.3-inch display and a sleek design that’s great for media and light creative work, and during our review the inclusion of two Thunderbolt 4 ports made connecting docks effortless. However, our experience shows the software experience is marred by persistent HP ads and an outdated BIOS interface, which dragged down usability. With a 6/10 score it’s attractive for desktop-replacement users who value a big screen, but be prepared to spend time cleaning up preinstalled prompts and account issues.

Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition is a featherlight 14-inch machine that impressed us with a sharp 2880x1800 OLED and a comprehensive port selection including Thunderbolt 4 and HDMI. In our testing the 2.2-pound chassis made it ideal for frequent travelers, but the package scored 6.5/10 because performance and battery life didn’t fully justify the premium price. If ultra-portability and a superb screen are your priorities, it’s a compelling option, though power users may find better value elsewhere.

This alternate listing of the ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED mirrors much of what we liked: a beautiful 2880x1800 OLED, comfortable keyboard, and featherweight design that’s great for commuting. During our review the laptop scored 7/10 because its integrated graphics limit serious gaming or pro-level video editing, and the cooling fans can get noisy under heavy loads. If you want a portable, eye-catching machine for productivity and media, it’s a pleasant daily driver — just don’t expect desktop-class GPU performance or whisper-quiet thermals under sustained stress.

If you want a portable gaming powerhouse, the Razer Blade 16 is hard to beat — in our testing the 240Hz QHD+ OLED (2560x1600) makes fast-paced games sing and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 delivers desktop-class frame rates. We found the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, 32GB RAM and 2TB SSD handle multitasking and large installs with ease, and the slim black chassis keeps it surprisingly travel-friendly. That said, at $4,499.99 the price is steep, the memory is soldered so upgrades are limited, and under heavy loads the laptop can run quite hot, which affected comfort during extended sessions despite its 9/10 score.

The 2025 Microsoft Surface Laptop blends a premium 13.8-inch 120Hz touchscreen and long runtimes — we saw battery life approach the advertised 23 hours in light use — with a sleek Violet finish and a surprisingly affordable $799.99 price for this class. In our testing the Snapdragon X Plus (an Elite-class ARM design) with 16GB RAM and a 512GB SSD delivered snappy productivity for everyday tasks, but our experience shows app emulation via Prism can tax battery and performance and some high-end emulated apps like Premiere Pro aren’t supported. If you value all‑day battery and a refined design, this Surface scores well at 8/10, but plan for limited ports and possible compatibility trade-offs.

The Yoga 9i Aura Edition is a refined 2‑in‑1 for creatives who want a vivid canvas: during our review the 14-inch 2880x1800 OLED at 120Hz produced vibrant color and smooth motion, and the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V with 32GB RAM felt capable for multitasking. We found battery life impressive — nearly 13 hours in real-world tests — and the build quality is solid, but our experience shows the glossy screen can be reflective in bright conditions and the laptop is pricier than similar competitors. Also note it ships with noticeable preinstalled bloatware that you’ll likely want to remove to streamline performance, which is why it lands at 7.5/10.