Overview of the Best Laptops in 2022
If you’ve ever been shopping for a laptop, you’ll know that it can be overwhelming and downright tedious, with manufacturers putting out impressive-sounding specs that can be confusing. Since we’ve rounded up the best laptop options, we can help.
In order for a laptop to be on this list – or even to be on this website – a member of our expert team has thoroughly tested and reviewed it. To ensure you’re getting solid advice, we test every laptop in real-world scenarios and using industry-standard benchmarks.
Every laptop on this list has a review rating at least four stars, so you know you’re getting a great laptop. As not everyone is interested in the same specs or price points, we include as much variety as possible so everyone can find something that works for them.
In case you already own a laptop and want to stay with a brand you already know well, check out our brand-specific best lists, including Acer Laptops, Asus Laptops, Dell Laptops, Huawei Laptops, MacBook, and Best Microsoft Surface Laptop.
In addition, if you don’t mind the branding but have a particular use case in mind, you might like to check out the guides on Best Budget Laptops, Best Student Laptops, Best Gaming Laptops, and Best Chromebooks for an in-depth look at our favorite laptops.
It is always a good idea to bookmark this page and come back again if you still can’t find a laptop that piques your interest. We review laptops every week and update this list whenever we find a particularly fantastic device that we recommend. Stay tuned for reviews of some highly anticipated laptops, such as the Microsoft Surface Pro 9.
Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED
Pros
- Gaming-grade performance
- Screen made of OLED that is stunning
- Light and thin
- Battery life is excellent
Cons
- Offering of ports is poor
- Under pressure, the engine can become hot and loud
Review - In our tests, the Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED beats the MacBook Air’s M1 processor by far, and is a productivity laptop with AMD’s latest processor
In our tests, the chip even delivered decent gaming performance and a battery life that exceeded 13 hours. This makes it a more worthwhile laptop option than our previous choice, the Dell XPS 13 OLED.
A vibrant OLED screen and excellent color reproduction (99{fa54600cdce496f94cc1399742656d2709d9747721dfc890536efdd06456dfb9} in sRGB, 96{fa54600cdce496f94cc1399742656d2709d9747721dfc890536efdd06456dfb9} in Adobe RGB, and 97{fa54600cdce496f94cc1399742656d2709d9747721dfc890536efdd06456dfb9} in DCI-P3) impressed us during our testing, making this laptop an excellent choice for professionals. The keyboard is comfortable, and it is ultra-portable, making it perfect for on-the-go work.
Despite some negatives, we deem the Zenbook S 13 OLED to be the best all-around Windows laptop that we’ve reviewed, despite having just three USB-C ports and a headphone jack: we’d like to see an additional USB-A port on this device.
As the laptop was only released recently, finding the AMD Ryzen 7 6800U model we reviewed may be difficult, but if you’re passionate about buying this outstanding laptop, you shouldn’t wait too long. If you’re in the market for a new laptop, you can choose the Dell XPS 13 OLED.
MacBook Pro 16-inch (2021)
Macbook Pro 16 inch (2021)-amazon.com
Pros
- Display of exceptional quality
- Performer of the year
- MagSafe is back, as well as the ports
Macbook Pro 16 inch (2021)-Amazon.com
Cons
- The cost of upgrading RAM is high
Review
As opposed to Windows, macOS is considered a better operating system. It works well with other Apple gadgets, such as iPhones and iPads, and it’s arguably more streamlined if you’re not concerned about Windows’ greater flexibility.
Among the best Macs money can buy right now, the MacBook Pro has also earned our top recommendation as the best portable computer for content creators, topping performance benchmark tests we run for every laptop. In our tests, we found that it can handle heavy tasks like video editing and 3D animation with ease and that its battery will keep on working for many hours.
We have also measured the peak brightness of the MacBook Pro (2021) to be one of the brightest we have ever seen on a laptop. This led to a more vibrant video or photo editing experience, as well as a 120Hz refresh rate that gives smoother motion thanks to the ProMotion capabilities.
You might want to consider a MacBook Air or 13-inch MacBook Pro if you don’t plan to edit videos or work with any professional-grade workloads. Thanks to their lower-power Apple Silicon processors, they’re even more portable thanks to the same macOS operating system and classy design.
The MacBook Pro remains the best option for editing photos and videos while on the go. Apple offers the desktop-bound Mac Studio, but for our money, the MacBook Pro remains the best option for editing photos and videos while on the go.
Acer Chromebook Spin 513
Acer Chromebook Spin 513-Amazon.com
Pros
- Portability and super-lightweight design
- It has decent colors and a sharp display
- Battery life is outstanding
- Performance that’s whisper quiet
Cons
- Speakers with flat surfaces
- Performing at a medium level
- Backlight is not present on the keyboard
Acer Chromebook Spin 513-Amazon.com
Review
Those who are looking for a cheap laptop with a simple operating system will love Chromebooks. If you are happy sticking to popular apps like Google Docs, Spotify and Netflix, a Chromebook is the right choice, but if you plan to download more obscure software, a Windows laptop would be a better choice.
In our opinion, the Acer Chromebook Spin 513 is our favorite. Even though the Snapdragon chip’s benchmark performance wasn’t as impressive as those from AMD or Intel, the laptop was still capable of handling simple tasks like web browsing, video streaming, and essay writing without noticeable slowdowns.
Besides being very light, this laptop weighs just 1.2kg, which means you won’t get back pain from carrying it around, as opposed to other Chromebooks we have tested.
It’s also worth considering other Chromebooks, including the Lenovo Chromebook Duet that can double as a tablet, and the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 that has faster performance thanks to its Intel Core chip. The Acer Chromebook Spin 513 is still the best overall value, though.
Apple MacBook Air M2 (2022)
Apple MacBook Air M2 (2022)
Pros
- Performer of the year
- Redesigned in a sleek, modern style
- Trackpad and keyboard are excellent
- Durable battery
Cons
- Start-up and upgrade costs are expensive
- I would have liked to have seen more colors
- There is still no better option for less than the M1 version
Review
The MacBook Air M2 is one of the best Apple MacBook Air we’ve tested, and the MacBook Air M2 is one of its best.
Apple MacBook Air M2 (2022)- Amazon.com
In Apple’s MacBook lineup, it falls between the MacBook Pro 14 and 16 in terms of features, but it has a sleeker design, better webcam, 13.6-inch display, and other features that the MacBook Pro M1 lacks.
M2 is at the heart of the laptop. It may not be as fast as the M1 Pro or M1 Max, but it is still a huge step up from the M1 which is still very capable. In spite of its sleek body and minimal weight, this laptop is one of the fastest around. The machine proved to be capable of editing 4K videos and even some gaming during our in-depth review process.
A 13-part series.There are some features missing from the 6-inch display that other laptops on this list offer. A 60Hz refresh rate is the only refresh rate it supports. It’s not an OLED panel, does not support HDR, and does not support True HDR. Apple’s laptops usually come with touchscreens, but this lack is a deterrent if you need a machine for drawing. This being the case, we found the display to be impressive, particularly its luminous quality and punchy colors. While the screen does have a notch, it isn’t particularly bothersome.
Apple MacBook Air M2 (2022)
One full workday can be accomplished with just one charge, and the MagSafe charging port allows you to recharge quickly. In addition to two Thunderbolt 3 ports, the Magic Keyboard remains on one side. The MacBook Air M1 is still worth considering because of its lower price, especially if you’re not too concerned about the improved graphics found in the M2.
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2-Amazon.com
Pros
- This is a fantastic deal
- Portability is a major advantage
- Basic tasks are performed smoothly
- Enhanced battery life
Cons
- An unattractive display with low resolution
- There is no backlight on the keyboard
- Based on the configuration provided, there is no fingerprint scanner
Review
With a 12-inch touchscreen and a price of less than /£530, the Surface Laptop Go 2 is an ideal budget-friendly option for students.
It is affordable, yet has excellent build quality and delivers excellent performance for basic daily tasks. With a new processor, Microsoft has even boosted the battery life for the sequel. Our battery test showed that it could last 9 hours and 11 minutes during the standard battery test.
At this budget-friendly price, the Surface Laptop Go 2 won’t be able to cope with the likes of gaming or content creation, but it’s not expected to.
With a 1536 x 1024 resolution, images and videos don’t look sharp. This ultra-portable laptop is a substandard choice for Netflix and similar services. This laptop is super portable thanks to its tiny 12.4-inch screen, but it’s also hard to open multiple browser windows and apps simultaneously.
If you are looking for the best screen quality at the lowest price, the Acer Swift 3 is a much better option. But, if you can overlook those issues, this is one of the best Windows laptops around.
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2-Amazon.com
Dell XPS 15 (2022)
Dell XPS 15 (2022)-Amazon.com
Pros
- Style, strength, and lightness
- Display with OLED technology is superb
- Core specifications that are fast
Cons
- There could be improvements made to the battery life
- GPU power is low on the 3050 Ti
Review
This laptop’s 15-inch 3.5K OLED panel is one of its most impressive features, and our reviewer thinks it can elevate just about anything. As for the brightness of the screen, we thought it was more than bright enough for working in sunny environments, and we found the colors pop without looking unnatural.
Due to its OLED technology, this device covered both sRGB and DCI-P3, making it a great option for creative professionals who require high colour accuracy.
With an i7-12700H processor and Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti GPU, the laptop we reviewed performed better than other quality laptops such as the LG Gram 16 and Acer Swift Edge in productivity tasks. While Horizon: Zero Dawn still runs at 53 frames per second, its GPU is less powerful than you might expect, since it uses the low-power 40W variation of the GPU.
Dell XPS 15 (2022)-Amazon.com
Our favorite 15-inch laptop at the moment is this one because of its great color accuracy and outstanding specs. Providing you don’t mind the high price point too much, the Dell XPS 15 (2022) is a great option if you want an all-rounder that can handle most tasks.
LG Gram 16 (2022)
LG Gram 16 (2022)-Amazon.com
Pros
Lightweight design that’s hard to believe
The display is large, bold, and stunning
Selection of ports is excellent
SSD that is incredibly fast
LG Gram 16 (2022)-Amazon.com
Cons
Laptops today are much faster than these
Compared to its predecessor, the battery lasts shorter
Flexibility of the deck is noticeable
Review
It is a good idea to invest in a 16-inch laptop, since it gives you extra screen space for videos and lets you run multiple apps and web browsers simultaneously. The only drawback is that such laptops usually weigh a lot. Despite the fact that the LG Gram 16 (2022) weighs even less than the 13-inch MacBook Air, it is an exception.
LG was forced to compromise its build quality in order to achieve this lightweight design. However, we have yet to find this laptop to be particularly fragile when carried in a rucksack for multiple trips.
In spite of such compromises, this 16-inch panel’s excellent colour coverage and 2560 x 1600 resolution, is well worth it for video enthusiasts. 16:10 offers plenty of vertical space for spreadsheets and documents, making it ideal for office workloads.
A new Intel 12th Generation processor was installed on LG’s laptop in 2022, which makes it comfortable enough for everyday tasks and even entry-level content creation. It is, however, even faster than that, with its 16-inch screen and an even higher performance.
In terms of portability and large screen, LG Gram 16 is the best option for those who want both.
LG Gram 16 (2022)-Amazon.com
Huawei MateBook X Pro 2022 (12th gen)
Huawei MateBook X Pro 2022 (12th gen)-Amazon.com
Pros
- An interactive touchpad with haptic feedback
- Processor that responds quickly
- Display that is vivid and bright
- Lightweight and thin
- We have added new colours
Cons
- GPU discreteness is lacking
- Pricey
Review
Its 12th Gen P-Series Intel processor provides an impressively powerful performance in the latest Huawei MateBook X Pro laptop. The laptop outperformed all the productivity laptops we’ve reviewed this year, including the MacBook Air powered by the M2. It performed well on day-to-day tasks and was even able to handle some entry-level content creation tasks.
However, the vast majority of office workers and students won’t need that level of graphical power. Unfortunately, it doesn’t come with a discrete GPU, so it can’t compete with the MacBook Pro in this regard.
With its stunning 14-inch screen, we were also impressed with its high resolution of 3120 x 2080 pixels. In addition to its haptic feedback trackpad, lightweight design, and touchscreen, the device also has a wide range of colour coverage, which ensures accurate images and photos.
If you’re looking for more affordable Huawei laptops, we recommend the Huawei MateBook 16s and Huawei MateBook D 16. Due to its high price, you’ll have to pay a premium for its outstanding performance.
Dell XPS 13 Plus
Dell XPS 13 Plus-Amazon.com
Pros
- Design that’s gorgeous, up-to-date
- An eye-catching display with vibrant colors
- There is nothing better than a trackpad with haptic feedback
- Portable, lightweight, and high-quality
Cons
- It is difficult to extend the battery life
- Costly
- Laptops rivaled by rivals are not as fast
- Several ports are unavailable
Review
Dell’s latest laptop, the XPS 13 Plus, may be the prettiest laptop we’ve ever seen. The company is always pushing the boundaries when it comes to design, but with this laptop, the company has gone a step further.
With an edge-to-edge keyboard, you don’t have to worry about any gaps between each key. The trackpad doesn’t exist here, but Dell uses haptic feedback vibrations instead to simulate pressing. The experience was delightfully natural, while at the same time permitting a sleek glass interior design.
The MacBook Air also features a Touch Bar above the keyboard, which possesses a simpler layout than Apple’s Touch Bar for the MacBook Pro. It, however, lacks the functionality of the Touch Bar on the MacBook Pro.
However, this notebook’s thinness makes it devoid of ports, while the battery power is small, limiting it’s ability to operate for long periods of time. The XPS 13 Plus features an Intel Core i7 processor and 32GB of RAM, but the thin design of the XPS 13 Plus seems to have slowed its performance. Although its performance is still respectable both when it comes to basic and intense workloads, it does fall behind the likes of the M2 MacBook Air and the Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 2 in terms of performance.
You should consider the Dell XPS 13 Plus laptops if you want the best looking one as well as some cutting-edge features.
Dell XPS 13 Plus-Amazon.com
Asus ZenBook Pro 16X OLED (2022)
Asus ZenBook Pro 16X OLED (2022)- Amazon.com
Pros
- Displays with OLEDs of the highest quality on the market
- Processors with Core i9 architecture that are fast and capable
- There is something innovative and comfortable about the keyboard
- Connectivity and build quality are excellent
Cons
- In comparison with Apple laptops, it has a poor battery life
- The laptop is large and bulky
- It might be possible to improve the brightness of OLED displays
Review
The Asus ZenBook Pro 16X OLED is a great laptop for heavy content creation, including 4K editing, 3D modeling, and complex animation.
In our benchmark tests, we found that this laptop has a powerful Intel Core i9-12900H CPU coupled with a Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU, which makes it so great for content creation. As far as the 16-inch OLED panel is concerned, we were extremely impressed by its accuracy in displaying colours, ensuring that images and videos look perfect.
With much finer control over supported apps such as Lightroom, Photoshop, Premiere Pro, and more, the Asus dial is also a very impressive feature of the ZenBook Pro laptop.
Our benchmark tests showed that this Asus laptop’s battery life wasn’t quite as impressive as the MacBook Pro, while the design is a bit cumbersome, which might make portability difficult.
Its OLED display makes it ideal for creative applications if you’re looking for a powerful Windows laptop.
Asus ZenBook Pro 16X OLED (2022)- Amazon.com
Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio-Amazon.com
Pros
- Artists who work digitally will appreciate this versatile hinge
- An impressive display with vibrant colors
- The keyboard is designed and built to the highest standards
- The battery life of this device is surprisingly good
Cons
- Compared to rivals, it has a weak graphics performance
- Color accuracy on the screen isn’t up to par with professional standards
- It does not come with a stylus
Review
In terms of convertible laptops, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is our top pick, despite the fact that it has a very specific use case due to its hefty size.
If you purchase the Surface Pen stylus, you can use the Surface Laptop Studio as a graphics tablet if it’s folded flat on top of the keyboard. Sketching and doodleing directly on the screen made it an excellent choice for digital artists during our testing.
When it comes to carrying your two-in-one laptop around, you’ll need something else if you want it to be like an iPad so you can hold it in one hand. Surface Pro 8 is a great laptop, but you’ll need a magnetic clip-on keyboard for it to work. With a hinge that allows the keyboard to be flipped so it rests on the rear of the screen, the HP Spectre x360 13 (2021) provides an excellent mid-range model.
Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio-Amazon.com
A 2-in-1 device’s preference depends on what you require it for. For content creation, we recommend the Surface Laptop Studio, while for productivity, we recommend the Surface Pro 8 and HP Spectre x360.
Razer Blade 14 (2021)
Razor Blade 14 (2021)- Amazon.com
Pros
- A 14in design that is slim, smart, and robust
- Graphics core RTX 3070 with powerful performance
- Processor from AMD that is excellent
- The display is 1440p and of high quality
Cons
- It can get hot outside sometimes
- As a result, it is expensive
- Numeric keys are not available
Razor Blade 14 (2021)- Amazon.com
Review
A gaming laptop differs greatly from other laptops on this list because it requires discrete graphics cards to play demanding games. We have reviewed many different laptops, and we recommend checking out our top gaming laptop list, but the Razer Blade 14 is our current favorite, since it performed exceptionally well in all of our tests.
During our benchmark tests, it proved to be extremely powerful, and it also has a 1440p display so games will appear sharp and vibrant, as well as incredible color reproduction and a 165Hz refresh rate for a more fluid experience. We were able to customize the RGB keyboard backlight in just a few clicks, as with most gaming laptops we’ve tested.
Gigabyte’s Aorus 17G and Asus’ ROG Flow X13 can be configured with external graphics chips to create more portable gaming laptops.
With its 1.78kg weight, the Blade 14 (2021) isn’t heavy for a gaming laptop, and its 16.8mm thickness makes it a lot thinner than the other gaming laptops we’ve tested. If you want to take the Blade 14 (2021) out, you will have to include the 660g power brick, which may make the laptop weigh over 2kg, which may not be ideal for day-to-day use.
Unless you plan on playing more demanding titles, you won’t need a gaming laptop if you just want to play Fortnite and Minecraft.
In Conclusion
Every laptop on this list had a review rating at least four stars, so you know quality is not lacking. As not everyone is interested in the same specs or price points, we included as much variety as possible so everyone could find something that works for them.
In case you already own a laptop and want to stay with a brand you already know well, check out our brand-specific best lists, including Acer Laptops, Asus Laptops, Dell Laptops, Huawei Laptops, MacBook, and Best Microsoft Surface Laptop which are all included in this review.