Best laptops 2021: reviews and buying advice (2023)

Not only is the Dell XPS an excellent ultraportable laptop, it also boasts top performance and a stunning OLED panel. Thanks to the 14-core Intel Core i7-1280P CPU, there is also no loss of computing power. Not only is it great for general use, but it can also perform photo editing tasks with ease. This device is also equipped with Intel Xe graphics card, 16 GB RAM and 512 GB SSD storage.

Although the OLED touchscreen is only 13.4 inches in size, it is absolutely beautiful. With a resolution of 3456×2160, the image is sharp and vibrant. Unfortunately, because the design is so compact, it lacks some connectivity options and the battery life is only mediocre. If you can forgive these limitations, the Dell XPS 13 Plus is a good option for most people who need a laptop for travel.

Want the attractive design, high efficiency, and powerful performance of a MacBook Pro, but in a Windows device? Then you should definitely consider the HP Dragonfly Pro. It's the closest thing to Apple's premium laptop line. HP has teamed up with AMD to equip this laptop with a next-generation Ryzen 7 processor with powerful eight cores and a Radeon 680M graphics card, making it much more powerful than its slim 0.7-inch thick model would suggest.

It convinces with an attractive design and a high-quality appearance, made of aluminum and polycarbonate. You'll even notice that HP has followed the MacBook's minimalistic approach to ports, as there are only two USB 4 Type-C ports and one USB-C 3.2 port. This makes for a clean look, but users may not like this as it makes connecting many accessories a bit difficult. And while the display is good enough, it sadly falls short of Apple's. Still, for a laptop that's significantly cheaper than current MacBook Pro models, this Dragonfly Pro laptop from HP is a more than worthy competitor - plus you have the flexibility of Windows and the ability to play games during your downtime.

The Lenovo Yoga laptops have always been great 2-in-1s, but the latest Gen 8 version has outdone itself. Lenovo's new Yoga 9i not only remains one of our favorite convertibles, but also exceeds the high standards of previous versions. There are plenty of solid performance specs under the hood, such as a 13th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics, 16GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 512GB SSD. The Yoga 9i also has a slim design, measuring just over half an inch thick and weighing about 3 pounds. And if that wasn't enough, it also comes with some great extras, such as the 1080p webcam and an excellent 2880x1880p OLED touchscreen.

Sure, it's a bit pricier than the previous Yoga versions, but the performance and features mean it's value for money. If you're looking for a 2-in-1, the Yoga 9i should be at the top of your list.

For people who enjoy the simplicity and convenience of cloud-based ChromeOS over Windows, the Acer Chromebook Spin 514 is a worthwhile option. With its sleek and rugged design, punchy CPU performance, and spectacular keyboard and touchpad, it certainly defies the stereotype that Chromebooks are smaller laptops. It also has two USB-C ports with Power Delivery and DisplayPort Alternate Mode - meaning you can use either port to power and charge the device or play video on a second USB-C monitor.

The Spin 514 is equipped with an AMD Ryzen 5 5625C CPU, AMD Radeon graphics, 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of SSD storage. The display, which can be folded 360 degrees thanks to the 2-in-1 form factor, has a resolution of 1920x1080 and is touch-sensitive. Of course, this level of capability and versatility comes at a higher price point than other more understated Chromebook variants. But if you can stomach the $699.99 price tag, this device won't disappoint.

Are you looking for a reliable, affordable gaming laptop? The ASUS VivoBook Pro 15 OLED is a fantastic option. According to our tester, this laptop is great for "gaming, streaming, and everyday productivity". Thanks to the AMD Ryzen 7 5800HCPU and the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 (4 GB GDDR6) GPU, we were able to hit 60 frames per second at 1080p during the high-end graphicsShadow of the Tomb Raiderbenchmark. Plus, the OLED display is absolutely gorgeous and the battery life is surprisingly good. However, there are a few minor flaws.

The overall design is a bit basic and the port choices are limited, and strenuous modern AAA games on the RTX 3050 will require you to fall back on medium or high graphics. If you're looking for reliable performance on a beautiful OLED display, the VivoBook Pro 15 has you covered. If you don't mind sacrificing the luscious OLED graphics for a bit more graphics power, you might want to check out the Acer Swift X, our next entry.

The MSI Titan GT77 HX 13V is the ultimate gaming notebook when it comes to pure performance. It has almost everything you could dream of in a gaming machine, including the latest generation Core i9 processor, a Monster RTX 4090 graphics card, 64GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 2TB PCIe Gen5 M.2 SSD. As if that weren't enough, it also features a beautiful, industry-leading 4K IPS Mini-LED display with a 144Hz refresh rate. There's also plenty of connectivity options and a fantastic Steelseries mechanical keyboard with integrated Cherry MX switches. If we were picky, we'd say the only drawbacks are a mediocre 720p webcam and short battery life (when using power-hungry 3D games or intensive workloads).

However, all this high-end hardware comes at a price, and MSI's best hardware comes at a premium. At such a high price, this laptop isn't a practical choice for most people. However, if you want the best performance and want to spend a lot of money, there's currently nothing that can match the MSI Titan.

It may seem like something out of a cyberpunk dream, but the Asus ROG Strix G16 features our most popular gaming keyboard on any laptop yet. A variety of programmable hotkeys, a creative hidden number pad in the trackpad, and sprung keys with generous 2mm of travel make this full-size keyboard and trackpad ideal for competitive gaming.

The Asus ROG Strix G16 backs up its style with substance, too. You get a ton of power by combining the latest generation Core i7-13650HX processor with an Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU. We were also impressed by the vibrant 16-inch display with 2560 x 1600p and a 240Hz refresh rate. Sure, the case is a little more plastic than we'd like and the battery life is well within the average category, but those quirks are forgotten once you fire up this neon-lit beauty.

Do you want a huge 18-inch screen on your laptop? What if that massive screen was a QHD+ display with a 240Hz refresh rate? Well, you already had us on the 18-inch screen. The Asus ROG Strix 18 comes as close to a true desktop replacement as possible. This laptop is packed with great features including a Core i9-13980HX processor, RTX 4090 GPU, 32 GB RAM and a 1 TB SSD. But that's not even the best part: ROG Strix 18 features a delightful 18-inch QHD+ ROG Nebula panel (2560 x 1600) with 100% DCI-P3 and sRGB coverage and an excellent 240Hz refresh rate

At first glance, the price of the Asus ROG Strix 18 might put some people off, but it can be found significantly cheaper than some competing models such as Razer and MSI with the same configuration. The size can be an advantage or a disadvantage, depending on what you expect from a laptop. However, if you want a desktop replacement with an excellent display, there's currently none better than the Asus ROG Strix 18.

Dell's updated XPS 17 has a huge 17-inch screen, a 13th Gen Intel Core i7-13700H CPU and a GeForce RTX 4070 GPU. Not only is that enough power to swipe through all your content projects in no time, but it also comes with a 1 TB SSD that also gives you enough storage space for all the projects. Packing its 4K touchscreen into such a compact laptop, and equipping the notebook itself with all the features professionals want (hello, SD card reader and plenty of Thunderbolt 4 ports), the XPS 17 is the flagship for the content creation workhorse. laptop should be.

The only real downside is that the XPS 17 weighs just under five and a half pounds, so it's a real beast. The webcam is also only 720p, which can be a drawback if you need to attend online classes or video conferences. Buy if you can live with these minor imperfections. The latest XPS 17 is a phenomenal choice for all content creators.

If you're aiming for long battery life, the Asus Chromebook CM34 Flip is the way to go. This Chromebook's fantastic battery never seems to run out. In fact, in our test, it lasted a whopping 19 hours on a single charge, to make sure we actually ran the benchmark twice. For most laptops, being able to last 10 hours on a single charge is impressive - the CM34 Flip nearly doubles that number.

Despite the affordable price, it's no slouch in terms of performance either. It is equipped with an AMD Ryzen 3 7320C processor and 16 GB of RAM. This 2-in-1 also features a colorful touchscreen display, a comfortable touchpad and a high-quality 1080p webcam. However, at just over 4 pounds, it's not the most portable device. However, if you're looking for a durable machine for everyday use that doesn't cost a lot of money, you can't beat the CM34 Flip.

Microsoft's Surface tablets were already high on our list of the best 2-in-1 laptops, but Microsoft has refreshed the Surface Pro 8 in many ways, adding a larger, faster, higher-resolution screen and a pair of Thunderbolt Added ports that include the old Surface Connector and a new hands-free experience.

Even if this generation of Surface Pro tablet does without an Always Connect LTE option and the choice of a cheap Core i3, the performance has still risen to the top. Also benefits like improving the inking with the higher refresh rate are subtle improvements that matter. It's the most dramatic Surface overhaul in years, and all for the better.