The best laptops you can buy in 2024 for work, school, and gaming

Note: The Dell XPS 15 is being phased out and replaced with the new Dell XPS 16, which debuted at CES 2024 alongside the new XPS 13 and 14. We'll be reviewing one of them in the very near future, but the XPS 15 retains its spot as our top pick in the meantime — it's hardly outdated.

Why we picked this:

Last year's Dell XPS 15 is a 15.6-inch machine from the brand's premium laptop line. It boasts a solid build quality, a beautiful edge-to-edge display, and specs that can crush everyday tasks right out of the gate. (Its base configuration easily justifies its $1,499 price tag with a 13th-generation Intel Core i7 H-series processor, 16GB of RAM, and an Intel Arc A370M GPU.) For those in need of even more oomph, optional upgrades like NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphics for gaming, up to 4TB of storage space, up to 64GB of memory, and a vivid OLED touchscreen will turn the XPS 15 into a bona fide desktop replacement.

The experts over at PCMag (owned by Mashable's publisher, Ziff Davis) gave the XPS 15 a 4.5/5 rating and an Editor's Choice distinction, calling it "one of the best and most flexible luxe laptops for a range of audiences" despite their disappointment with its 720p webcam and limited selection of ports. It does come with a free USB-C to USB-A and HDMI adapter, at least.

Note that the base XPS 15 has a lackluster listed battery life of up to nine hours, but the PCMag team was able to squeeze over 14 hours of use out of its upgraded testing unit.

Who it's for:

The Dell XPS 15 is a stellar multitasker for Windows users who want a laptop that strikes the right balance between brawn and beauty, delivering desktop-level power in a glossy package. Bargain-hunters should also put it on their watch list: It will be easier to find on sale in the coming months now that Dell's announced its successor. (At the time of writing, several NVIDA GeForce RTX configurations were $500 off on Dell's website.)

Read Mashable's full review of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3.

Why we picked this:

Can you fall in love with a laptop based on its keyboard alone? It happened to Mashable tech editor Kim Gedeon, who called the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3's keyboard "one of the best" she's ever tested. (The only keyboard that rivals it in her book is the one on the new HP Spectre x360 14, which debuted at CES 2024.) It's the cherry on top of its excellent and ultra-portable design, which has the sort of lightweight, premium feel you'd expect from a much more expensive machine. "[It] should be called 'Windows Air,'" said Gedeon.

The specs under the Surface Laptop Go 3's hood are decidedly more underwhelming, mostly because they're largely unchanged from those in 2022's Surface Laptop Go 2, our previous top budget pick (including the same dim touchscreen display and 720p camera). It is powered by a newer 12th-generation Intel Core CPU, but that's now two generations removed in 2024. And while its base model does have double the storage space and memory of the previous model, it's also more expensive.

Who it's for:

It may not have the most up-to-date internals, but the Surface Laptop Go 3 is still "ideal for students and busy-bee travelers in need of a portable notebook," wrote Gedeon. If you can, try to find it on sale for at least $100 off. (Fortunately, that happens often on Amazon.)

Read Mashable's guide to the best 2-in-1 laptops.

Why we picked this:

Another stunner, the refined Yoga 9i from Lenovo's popular line of convertibles has a thin, all-metal body and a vibrant 14-inch OLED touchscreen with an above-average 90Hz refresh rate (plus the option to upgrade to 4K). This display flips on a 360-degree hinge to switch between laptop and tablet modes; it can also be propped up like a tent for movie-watching. Notably, it comes with its own rechargeable stylus for drawing and sketching — the $59.99 Lenovo Precision Pen 2 — so you don't have to do any extra shopping.

The base configuration of the Yoga 9i includes a 13th-gen Intel Core i7 processor with 16GB of memory to handle heavier workloads and apps with ease. The rest of the features on its spec sheet are equally impressive, from its 1080p webcam to its built-in rotating soundbar equipped with Bowers & Wilkins speakers that support Dolby Atmos. (Yes, the Yoga 9i sounds just as good as it looks.) It should come as no surprise that it's an Editor's Choice pick over at PCMag, which deemed it "the premium 2-in-1 laptop to buy." It could use a battery bump the next time Lenovo revisits it, but that's a minor gripe somewhat nullified by its fast-charging feature.

Who it's for:

For those who can't decide between a laptop or a tablet, the Yoga 9i is everything you could want in both devices: It's powerful, versatile, portable, and (above all) beautiful. The included stylus cements its status as a fantastic all-in-one buy.

Read Mashable's guide to the best gaming laptops.

Why we picked this:

The 2023 Lenovo Legion Slim 7i is the latest iteration of the best gaming laptop we've tested, and while it's retained the same polished design as its predecessor, it packs more punch this time around. Its 13th-gen Intel Core i9 processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 Series graphics can plow through AAA titles, and its vibrant 16-inch, 16:10 PureSight display has a premium 240Hz refresh rate for silky-smooth gameplay. There's also an HDMI output if you want to connect it to a separate monitor (though it might pale in comparison).

Four-and-a-half pounds is a little hefty for a traditional laptop, but for a PC gaming machine, the Legion Slim 7i sits comfortably in a featherweight class. It comes with a full-sized RGB-backlit keyboard with a full numpad and interchangeable WASD keycaps, plus built-in Harman speakers for immersive sound.

Who it's for:

If you're in the market for a gaming laptop that's basically a portable rig, look no further than the Legion Slim 7i — but be prepared to pay up, as it retails for $2,099.99. (On the plus side, it does include a three-month Xbox Game Pass subscription.) "It’s an investment for sure, but a more sensible one than most," writes Mashable contributor Callum Bains, who tested the previous model. Keep an eye out for discounts on this laptop at Best Buy.

Why we picked this:

Featuring competent mid-range specs like a 13th-gen Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a QHD webcam, the 2023 Acer Chromebook Spin 714 is doing its best to shed this category's dinky and cheap associations. It's also managed to translate that signature Chromebook ruggedness into a sleek and lightweight 2-in-1 design: Its build is rated for military-grade shock resistance, and its 14-inch touchscreen and touchpad are made with Antimicrobial Corning Gorilla Glass to protect them from lingering stains and odors.

While this particular model hasn't been hands-on tested by Mashable or PCMag yet, the latter gave last year's Chromebook Spin 714 a 4.5/5 and an Editor's Choice Award for its 16:10 display ("a great balance between work and play"), durable metal chassis, and garaged stylus. This version has unfortunately ditched the stylus, but its upgraded processor, improved webcam, and slightly lower price maintains its overall excellence in our book.

Who it's for:

This 2-in-1 ChromeOS laptop should make your shortlist if you're hunting for a simple, portable, and durable (but not ugly) laptop everyone can use, whether it's for browsing, homework, or entertainment. Think of it as a modern, more compact take on the family computer.

Read Mashable's review of the Framework Laptop (2021).

Note: We'll soon review the next-gen Framework Laptop 16. Preorders for it are now live.

Why we picked this:

Repairability doesn't seem like a big deal until your MacBook's battery conks out and you have to haul it into the Genius Bar to replace the entire bottom half of the machine. The Framework Laptop 13 is the current version of a previous Mashable's Choice Award-winning device that's specifically designed to be fixable at home, even if you have zero prior repair experience, with replaceable CPUs, memory, storage, keyboards, displays, and even expansion cards for ports. What's more, these components can all be individually upgraded whenever Framework introduces new ones — it doesn't get more future-proof than that.

The pre-built, ready-to-use Framework Laptop 13 features a 13.5-inch matte display, improved hinges, and a better battery life than the previous iterations, and it starts with a 13th-gen Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage space, and Windows 11 Home. You can also opt for the DIY Edition, which can be customized with the specs (even operating system) of your choosing.

Who it's for:

DIYers, tinkerers, and anyone sick of buying a new laptop every few years will consider the Framework Laptop a sweet buy (or a sweet relief). We've also pegged it as a good budget laptop, as its long-term value is unrivaled.

Read Mashable's full review of the 14-inch Apple MacBook Pro (M3).

Why we picked this:

If the M3 Pro-equipped MacBook Pro from late 2023 was an actual workhorse, it would be one of those jacked Budweiser Clydesdales. That formidable in-house silicon chip "translates to an uptick in performance" over the previous M2 Pro generation, writes Gedeon, "whether you're diving into photo retouching, video editing, and other tasks." It also adds support for hardware-accelerated ray tracing so that games can render more realistic-looking shadows and reflections.

This 14-inch recycled aluminum laptop also boasts impeccable speakers, an impressive battery life, and a gorgeous Liquid Retina XDR display; that's Apple-speak for a mini-LED screen with ProMotion technology, aka a 120Hz refresh rate. Notably, it also comes in a sexy new Space Black finish.

Note that it's also available in a 16-inch variant starting at $2,499.

Who it's for:

The M3 Pro-powered MacBook Pro prices out most casual users, especially as you start upgrading it with more RAM and storage, but it's worth the investment for creatives who run heavier apps and intense software on a regular basis.

Read Mashable's full review of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2.

Why we picked this:

The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is, as its name suggests, a laptop. But the unique pull-forward design of its 120Hz, 14.4-inch touchscreen display means it can also "transform into a digital easel and a tablet," said Gedeon, "[making] it an artist's playground." Just like its predecessor from 2021, it's an especially versatile device for content creation — though it still doesn't come bundled with a stylus, which feels like a silly omission on Microsoft's part. (It does have built-in storage and charging for the Surface Slim Pen 2, at least.)

Speaking of: While the original Surface Laptop Studio was a great laptop, it was pretty outdated by the time its successor arrived in October 2023. This second iteration fortunately features a slew of upgrades like 13th-gen Intel Core H-Series CPUs, optional NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050, 4060, or RTX 2000 GPUs, and the first Intel Neural Processing Unit in a Windows computer. (The latter adds "Windows Studio Effects" to its 1080p webcam, including blur and eye contact features). Microsoft also equipped it with a much-needed wider variety of ports and a silky-smooth haptic touchpad that has an adaptive touch mode for users with limited mobility. It is quite a bit heavier than its predecessor, so it'll probably pass on plein air doodling sessions in favor of staying parked on a desk.

Who it's for:

The Surface Laptop Studio 2 is a machine that's begging to be pushed to its creative limits, and as such, deep-pocketed professional artists are its target audience. That said, Gedeon also "[recommends] this laptop for differently abled users who could take full advantage of [its] adaptive touch trackpad feature."