Best laptop 2023: notebooks for work and play reviewed

Work, play or something else entirely: having the best laptop for your needs makes it easier to get what needs to be done, done. And if it’s a new notebook you need, you’ve found the right round-up: we’ve tested the top laptops for every task and budget, and highlighted our favourites right here.

From MacBooks to Chromebooks, hybrids to gaming powerhouses, you’ll find a wide range of laptops in our list below. We’ve tested and scored each model to help you find your ideal option. And we’ve detailed the key specs for every entry, in case you’re keen to crunch some numbers yourself.

If you’re specifically in the market for something that strikes a good balance between price and performance, check out our dedicated list of the best mid-range laptops. Or if it’s a notebook bargain you’re after, be sure to peruse our pick of the best cheap laptops for every user and budget. Finally, if you’re looking for the most powerful, high-end laptops, find them in our guide to the best premium laptops.

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What is the best laptop?

We think the Apple MacBook Air M2 (check price) is the best laptop for most people. This streamlined machine comes with a revamped design and top-spec Apple silicon – setting a new bar for performance and delivering more than enough power for most users. Yes, it’s on the expensive side, but the build quality, power, and long battery life make it worth the high price, in our eyes.

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Other laptop recommendations

Before we dive into our detailed list, here’s a shortcut to our top three options:

The best laptops you can buy today:

1. Apple MacBook Air (M2)

Apple MacBook Air (M2) specs
Screen	13.6in Retina 2560×1664 with P3 and True Tone
Processor	Apple M2
RAM	8GB/16GB/24GB
Storage	256GB/512GB/1TB/2TB SSD
OS	macOS Monterey
Connectivity	802.11ax Wi-Fi 6; Bluetooth 5.0; 3.5mm headphone; 2×Thunderbolt 3 (USB 4); MagSafe
Dimensions	30.41×21.5×1.13cm; 1.24kg

With a top-tier processor inside, Apple’s M2-powered MacBook Air sets a new benchmark for portable performance. In a full redesign, it swaps the classic wedge shape in favour of a flat chassis. Slender bezels around the 13in screen giving it a neat look, while a notch increases display space by wrapping toolbars around the webcam – which remains disappointing for video calls. Brightness and audio quality have both been usefully boosted.

Its fanless design can throttle performance under sustained demand, but very few users will require more raw power than the Air can offer. For the vast majority of tasks, speed is superlative. That’s matched by impressive battery life – up to 18 hours – and the welcome return of MagSafe charging.

Its increased price puts the M2 Air firmly out of the mid-range bracket. But unless you’ve got very specific performance requirements, this is the best MacBook – and laptop – for most people.

• Read more: Apple MacBook Air (M2) review

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2. Apple MacBook Pro 14in (M2 Pro)

Apple MacBook Pro 14in (M2 Pro) specs
Screen	16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR 3456×2234 with P3, True Tone and ProMotion
Processor	Apple M2 Pro or M2 Max
RAM	16GB/32GB configurable to 64GB/96GB if you have M2 Max
Storage	512GB/1TB SSD configurable up to 8TB
OS	macOS Ventura
Connectivity	802.11ax Wi‑Fi 6E; Bluetooth 5.3; 3.5mm headphone; 3x Thunderbolt 4; MagSafe 3; HDMI; SDXC
Dimensions	35.6 x 24.8 x 1.7cm; 2.16kg

Heftier than its 13in predecessor, the redesigned MacBook Pro 14in means business. And thanks to Apple’s 2023 M2 Pro or Max chip (or even the 2021 M1 versions of either), it has power in spades: boosted multi-core performance and GPU grunt puts it leagues ahead of competitors. Its performance ceiling is higher than most people will ever need. But for those with serious tasks to churn through, the Pro has the chops to conquer the lot.

With menu bars spanning the notch at the top of the screen, you get a full 16:10 display area below. The mini-LED panel is simply gorgeous, with rich blacks, vivid colour and brightness that hits up to 1600 nits. And that’s all complemented by a punchy six-speaker system.

Yes, it’s overkill if you don’t need its power and ports. But if you work in a field that can take advantage of its skills – or simply want the best laptop in its class – you won’t be disappointed.

• Read more: Apple MacBook Pro 16in (2023) review

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8. Alienware X14

Alienware X14 specs
Screen	14in, 1920×1080 IPS LCD
Processor	Intel Core i7-12700H hexa-core
RAM	16GB
Storage	1TB
Graphics	Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 6GB
OS	Windows 11
Connectivity	802.11ax Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, 3.5mm headphone, 2 x Thunderbolt/USB-C/power delivery, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 1 x HDMI 2.1, 1 x microSD
Dimensions	322x263x14.5mm, 1.79kg

Alienware is associated with beefy gaming rigs, but the brand’s first compact notebook is the polar opposite. It’s the slimmest 14in gaming laptop you can buy at 14.5mm, and among the lightest at 1.79kg. Yet it still delivers solid mainstream performance, courtesy of Nvidia GeForce RTX graphics and 12th-gen Intel silicon.

Its size does come with some compromises. The Razer Blade 14 betters it on everyday battery life, and the speakers are disappointing. Some will also balk at its 1080p resolution. But 144Hz refresh rates guarantee smooth playback, while brightness and contrast are high enough for good visibility and a punchy picture.

You can play every big-name game without major limitations, plus its i7 chip is speedy for desktop tasks. Its keyboard is fast and crisp, too. While pricier rivals offer more outright power and battery life, the X14 delivers where it matters – and does so in properly portable form.

• Read more: Alienware X14 review

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9. Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 specs
Screen	12.4in 1536×1024 touchscreen
Processor	11th-gen Intel Core i5
RAM	4/8GB
Storage	128/256GB SSD
OS	Windows 11
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, 3.5mm, USB-A, USB-C, Surface Connect
Dimensions	278x206x15.7mm, 1.13kg

Offering the appeal of Microsoft’s premium laptops at a more palatable price, the Surface Laptop Go 2 is a highly portable tool that’s perfect for students. Aluminium replaces the magnesium seen on other Surface models, but the feel and finish here is still satisfying. And the whole package weighs just 1.13kg.

Its 12.4in PixelSense display uses a 3:2 aspect ratio that’s ideal for working on documents. Brightness is decent at 400 nits, even if colour and contrast are slightly below average, while the glass touchscreen eclipses alternatives in the mid-range price bracket.

All versions ship with 11th-gen i5 silicon. Paired with 8GB of RAM, you’ll face no hitches in everyday performance, with little to set the Go 2 apart from more expensive models. We averaged seven hours of battery life in testing, although enabling Battery Saver boosted turned this up to 11. All that’s really missing is a keyboard backlight.

• Read more: Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 review

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10. Dell XPS 13 Plus

Dell XPS 13 Plus specs
Screen	13.4in, 3840×2400 touchscreen
Processor	Intel Core i7-1260p 12-core
RAM	32GB
Storage	1TB NVMe SSD
Graphics	Intel Iris Xe
OS	Windows 11
Connectivity	2x Thunderbolt/USB-3, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
Dimensions	295x199x15.3mm, 1.23kg

Dell’s XPS 13 (above) was already our favourite Windows laptop. The Plus builds on everything we love about the standard edition, packing a beefier CPU, invisible touchpad, flush keyboard and capacitive shortcuts. Like the XPS 13, its aluminium shell is svelte and light. Open it up and Dell’s minimalist turn is immediately obvious, with a look bordering on sci-fi.

A 3.5K OLED tops the spec sheet, but the 2K LCD touchscreen option still delivers glorious detail and decent contrast, even if 60Hz refresh rates aren’t the fastest around. What is speedy is the 12-core Intel i7 chip inside: paired with a generous 32GB of RAM, it delivers excellent day-to-day performance.

There’s no dedicated GPU and battery life averages around five hours away from the mains. Connectivity is also more limited than we’d like. But if you’ve always fancied the XPS 13 with pared-back flair, the Plus is worth a look.

• Read more: Dell XPS 13 Plus review

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What to look for when buying the best laptop

Buying the best laptop can be a daunting task, but fear not – Stuff’s laptop experts are here to help you make the right decision. Rather than spending hours comparing specs and features, the best way to choose a new machine is to ask yourself two questions.

The first is: “What do I want to do with it?” And the second, just as important, is: “What might I want to do with it a year from now?”

If you’re only going to use a laptop for general web browsing, online shopping and staying up-to-date on social media, you don’t need a state-of-the-art ultra-portable piece of precision engineering. And conversely, if you fancy having a go at video editing then a really cheap option isn’t going to do the job.

Thinking long-term is a good idea because laptops are not designed to be opened and upgraded – so opting for a cheap laptop with very small storage means you might have to shell out for an external drive or external monitor when you need an upgrade.

It’s always worth remembering if the perfect laptop is just a little bit too expensive, you can pick up older models for considerably less money. Many manufacturers’ refurbished laptops are available on eBay in near-perfect condition for very low prices.

When it comes to laptop ecosystems you’ve essentially got three options:

• Apple MacBooks work seamlessly with other Apple devices, plus services such as Apple Music, iCloud Drive and Apple TV+. Because Apple creates the hardware, the software (macOS) and the processors, these machines deliver excellent refinement and integration.
• Windows 11 laptops are perfect for business users and gamers too: with a huge variety of options, from cheap and cheerful PCs to powerful workstations.
• Finally, you have Chromebooks that run Chrome OS. This is Google’s lean and speedy operating system based on the web browser. These are designed to be used with cloud-based apps such as Google Docs, Google Sheets, Gmail, YouTube, etc.

Of course, it’s also worth considering a tablet. Many of the best tablets, such as Apple’s iPads and Samsung’s Galaxy Tabs, can become very laptop-like with the addition of the right keyboard. For more help making this decision you can read Stuff’s Laptop or tablet: which is best for you?

• Read more: How to choose a laptop to suit you