Best Laptops

Laptops have become our lifeline. Depending on what you use your laptop for, there’s a different device for everyone.

Best Laptop for Gaming

4.7/5
Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop, 9th Gen Intel Core i5-9300H, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650, 15.6″ Full HD IPS Display, 8GB DDR4, 256GB NVMe SSD, Wi-Fi 6, Backlit Keyboard, Alexa Built-in, AN515-54-5812
9th Generation Intel Core i5-9300H Processor (Up to 4.1 GHz)
# of Reviews: 3400+

Best Laptop for School (College)

4.5/5
Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop, 15.6 inches Full HD IPS Display, AMD Ryzen 3 3200U, Vega 3 Graphics, 4GB DDR4, 128GB SSD, Backlit Keyboard, Windows 10 in S Mode, A515-43-R19L, Silver
AMD Ryzen 3 3200U Dual Core Processor (Up to 3.5GHz); 4GB DDR4 Memory; 128GB PCIe NVMe SSD
# of Reviews: 34422+

Best Laptop for Work

4.4/5
Newest HP 14″ HD WLED Backlit High Performance Business Laptop, AMD Athlon Silver 3050U up to 3.2GHz, 4GB DDR4, 128GB SSD, Wireless-AC, HDMI, Bluetooth, Webcam, SD Card Reader, Windows 10 S
Brand HP
# of Reviews: 1106+

Best Laptop for Video Editing

4.8/5
2020 Apple MacBook Pro with Intel Processor (13-inch, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD Storage) – Silver
Tenth-generation quad-core Intel Core i5 processor
# of Reviews: 1500+

Best Laptop for Music Recording

4.3/5
Lenovo Chromebook S330 Laptop, 14-Inch FHD (1920 x 1080) Display, MediaTek MT8173C Processor, 4GB LPDDR3, 64GB eMMC, Chrome OS, 81JW0000US, Business Black
High performance laptop: The Chromebook S330 is equipped with a MediaTek MTK8173C Processor, Chrome OS, 4 GB LPDDR3, 64 GB eMMC 5.1 and so much more
# of Reviews: 1600+

Best Budget Laptop (Under $500)

4.5/5
HP Stream 14-inch Laptop, Intel Celeron N4000, 4 GB RAM, 64 GB eMMC, Windows 10 Home in S Mode with Office 365 Personal for 1 Year (14-cb186nr, Brilliant Black) (9MV74UA#ABA)
Laptop for work, school and play: With Office 365 and 1 TB of cloud storage, this device combines functionality, connectivity, style, and value
# of Reviews: 3500+

Why do I need a laptop?

Desktops are out and laptops are in. Laptops have lots of storage to run applications and are small enough to lug on your commute or in a bag. You can use your laptop at home or take it to the office or to lectures. Not all laptops are the same. You should make a decision about your next laptop purchase based on what your method of use is.

Laptop or Desktop?

This is worth addressing from the get-go. Some people have yet to make the transition between desktop and laptop computers. Some people use both. There are different pros to each that are worth considering when you make your pick.

Laptop pros

Portability is perhaps the biggest asset of a laptop over a desktop computer. Aesthetics are also something to consider when considering the advantages of a laptop. Instead of dominating the space in your home, laptops are easy to tuck away. While desktop computers used to be synonymous with faster speed over laptops, this disparity has changed in recent times.

Desktop pros

Desktop computers are typically a bit cheaper than laptop computers. This is because laptops have lots of features packed into a smaller space. This means you get faster speed for less money with desktop computers. Desktops also require less power to cool down. There are less major parts of a desktop, so they tend to break less.

What makes a great laptop

When we chose our best laptop selection we looked at the following defining characteristics:

Features

There are several features that you want your laptop to have. The first major feature to look for in your device is connectivity. This includes the options for connecting to the Internet as connecting to AUX cords, chargers, and other devices. Other features include backlit keyboards and user-friendly keystrokes.

Battery life

The best laptops last for many consecutive hours. Your laptop’s processor partially determines its battery life. If you’ve ever wondered why some laptops display LED backlighting, it’s because the lighting better conserves battery.

Durability

You want to get good use out of your laptop for the long-haul. You also want your laptop to be able to withstand travel. The most durable laptops can handle things like environmental changes and even a bit of accidental wear-and-tear. The chassis of durable laptops is typically made of materials like plastic, aluminum, magnesium or carbon fiber. Each can be durable and each has a different aesthetic appeal.

Size for use

If you’re buying a laptop for a child, a smaller laptop screen is suitable. If you’re someone doing work that requires multiple browsers open at once, a larger screen and device is ideal.

Processors

Think of your laptop’s processor like its central organ. It is very important to choose a laptop that has a great processor. The metric that determines how fast a processor runs is its clock speed. The more cores a processor has, the faster it runs.

Operating system (OS)

An operating system is the software that allows a user to run applications on their computers. Traditional Windows and MAC OS do the trick for your normal everyday tasks. There are other less costly operating systems such as Linux and Chrome OS.

Screen quality

Screens come in different resolutions that determine their quality. Resolution may not matter much to some laptop users, but it may matter for gamers or video and photo editors. Then there is the touchscreen feature that laptops have. For example, Mac laptops do not have touchscreen functionality while some Windows do.

Best Laptop for Gaming

This is the pro choice for gaming and it looks great too. The full 15” Widescreen is HD and the speakers deliver an impressive bass with rich volume enhancement. The 9th Gen Intel Core processor is noticeably powerful. 

Features galore

This laptop has a range of gaming specific features. The NitroSense Key, the WASD, and arrow keys are all intended for easy use and a sleek feel. Switch on the red backlit keyboard to add to your gaming atmosphere. Alexa is also built into the device, so if you’re wondering whether or not you should stop gaming and head outside, you know who to ask.

RR Rating:
4.7/5
# of Reviews: 3400+
◘ LAN: 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 port); Wireless: Intel Wireless Wi-Fi 6 AX200 802.11ax
◘ Backlit keyboard; Acer Cool Boost technology with twin fans and dual exhaust ports
◘ 9th Generation Intel Core i5-9300H Processor (Up to 4.1 GHz)
◘ 15.6 inches Full HD Widescreen IPS LED-backlit display; NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Graphics with 4 GB of dedicated GDDR5 VRAM
◘ 8GB DDR4 2666MHz Memory; 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD (2 x PCIe M.2 slots - 1 slot open for easy upgrades) & 1 - Available hard drive bay

Best Laptop for School (College)

This is the laptop that’s great for throwing in your bag to bring on a commute into the office. It has a thin, light design with an aluminum top cover. The 15.6” Full HD display screen uses Acer BlueLightShield to keep your eyes from strain over long hours.

Portable and powerful

The laptop’s power is surprising given its extremely portable build. Microsoft Edge has security features built-in.

RR Rating:
4.5/5
# of Reviews: 34422+
◘ 802.11ac Wi-Fi; Backlit Keyboard; Up to 7.5 hours battery life
◘ Windows 10 in S mode. Maximum power supply wattage: 65 Watts
◘ AMD Ryzen 3 3200U Dual Core Processor (Up to 3.5GHz); 4GB DDR4 Memory; 128GB PCIe NVMe SSD
◘ 15.6 inches full HD (1920 x 1080) widescreen LED backlit IPS display; AMD Radeon Vega 3 Mobile Graphics
◘ 1 USB 3.1 Gen 1 port, 2 USB 2.0 ports & 1 HDMI port with HDCP support

Best Laptop for Work

This will be your new working companion. It has everything from an SD card reader to a webcam and pretty much anything else you can think of that you need for a smooth online workday. As far as laptops go, it’s extremely affordable. 

Compatibility

The Bluetooth capabilities of this laptop sync with most all compatible wireless devices. This makes multitasking while working easy.

RR Rating:
4.4/5
# of Reviews: 1106+
◘ CPU Manufacturer AMD
◘ Brand HP
◘ Screen Size 14 Inches
◘ Operating System Windows 10 S

Best Laptop for Video Editing

Of course we would be remiss not to include the Apple MacBook Pro on our favorite laptop list. It’s considered the “portable powerhouse” with 4-core processors and up to 32 GB of memory. With four ports, you can charge, transfer data, or output video from either side of the laptop.

The Apple experience

This laptop has several defining qualities. Firstly, the Brilliant Retina display is soft on the eyes. The touchpad on the top of the keyboard is user-friendly and responsive. The keyboard itself allows you to navigate through the laptop’s capabilities with ease. The icing on the cake is the sleek look of the device.

RR Rating:
4.8/5
# of Reviews: 1500+
◘ Touch Bar and Touch ID
◘ Intel Iris Plus Graphics
◘ Tenth-generation quad-core Intel Core i5 processor
◘ Brilliant Retina display with True Tone technology
◘ Backlit Magic Keyboard

Best Laptop for Music Recording

This is the laptop for the music creators and enthusiasts. Not only is the Lenovo Chromebook sleek, but it is less than one inch and 3.3 pounds light. It has all the memory for multitasking, fast software loading, and an additional 100 GB of cloud storage via Google Drive. In fact, all you need to set up your device and get to work is a Google account.

Groovin’ to the beat

The functions of this laptop make it suitable for music production. You can fold the screen down via its hunge to make it suitable for easy-viewing when collaborating. Its screen lighting makes it easy to use in extremely bright or lit settings. Your Chromebook can run Android apps which means you can work on your tracks while offline.

RR Rating:
4.3/5
# of Reviews: 1600+
◘ Built to connect us: Full I/O support comes standard on the laptop computer with USB-C, micro SD and USB 3.0 for effortless connectivity. Further, this Chromebook also features powerful 2 x 2 Wi-Fi ac with Bluetooth 4.1, a 720p webcam and two 2W speaker systems for effortless collaboration, all supported via a suite of collaborative apps via Chrome OS
◘ Easy to use: The Lenovo Chromebook S330 is easy to use, Offers built-in virus protection and keeps going with long battery life. Further, no setup is needed, just a Google account so your stuff stays with you via cloud storage of your emails, maps, docs, pics and more
◘ High performance laptop: The Chromebook S330 is equipped with a MediaTek MTK8173C Processor, Chrome OS, 4 GB LPDDR3, 64 GB eMMC 5.1 and so much more
◘ Sleek and stylish design: Sleek, stylish and secure, the Lenovo Chromebook S330 is less than one inch thin and 3.3 pounds light with a 14-inch FHD display. Perfect for day-to-day computing and multimedia, on or offline
◘ Powerful processing: Perfect for all your daily computing needs, The Lenovo Chromebook S330 delivers a host of performance features. Enjoy powerful processing for daily tasks, LPDDR3 memory for multitasking, eMMC storage for quick boot-ups, fast software loading and additional 100 GB of cloud storage via Google Drive

Best Budget Laptop (Under $500)

This is a great laptop for those on a budget. It combines functionality with value. The rich HD display is great for streaming or watching Netflix. The battery life lasts up to 14 hours and 15 minutes. The laptop’s portable design makes it easy to throw in your backpack.

Office 365

Along with this laptop you get full access to Microsoft Excel, Word, Powerpoint, OneNote, Access, and 1 TB of OneDrive Storage for one year. This means all you have to do is set up your laptop and you’re ready for school or work.

RR Rating:
4.5/5
# of Reviews: 3500+
◘ Processor: Intel(R) Celeron(R) N4000 Processor, Dual-Core, 1.1 GHz base frequency, up to 2.6 GHz burst frequency
◘ Memory: 4 GB DDR4-2400 SDRAM (not upgradable)
◘ Laptop for work, school and play: With Office 365 and 1 TB of cloud storage, this device combines functionality, connectivity, style, and value
◘ Memory: 4 GB DDR4-2400 SDRAM (not upgradable)
◘ Storage: 64 GB eMMC

FAQs about Laptops

How often do I need a new laptop?

Your laptop should last for a while. It’s typical to purchase a laptop every five years. Most of the time, laptops will last long outside of this window. However, many people want to keep their laptop up to date with the latest technology.

Are expensive laptops worth it?

Most people use their laptops everyday. For that reason, it might be worth the investment. Expensive laptops are worth it if you use your laptop for advanced work. For students, a cheaper laptop does the trick.

Mac, Windows, or Chrome?

This is the age-old question that truly does come down to personal preference. There are devout laptop users of each make. Mac may be the preference for people who already use iPhones due to their compatibility with the laptops. It’s also great for professionals working on multimedia projects.

Many Windows devices have touch screens and styluses, so they’re great for students. Applications like Word, Excel and PowerPoint are usually included or can be bought as extras with the device.

Chromebooks are for those who spend most of their time online. You can work collaboratively with people via Google Docs.

Note:

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