The Best Laptops
Our Picks
Apple MacBook Air M3
The laptop r/laptops reluctantly admits beats most Windows options. Apple Silicon transformed the MacBook Air from "underpowered" to "overpowered for its category" — and it's still fanless and silent.
What we like
- 18+ hour battery life in real-world use
- M3 chip handles 4K video editing and heavy multitasking effortlessly
- Completely silent — no fan, no noise, ever
- 13.6" Liquid Retina display is gorgeous
What we don't
- 8GB base RAM is tight — spend $200 extra for 16GB
- Only 2 USB-C ports
- Can't run Windows natively (virtualization only)
| Display | 13.6" Liquid Retina (2560x1664) |
|---|---|
| Processor | Apple M3 |
| RAM | 8GB / 16GB / 24GB |
| Battery | 18 hours |
| Weight | 2.7 lbs |
| Price | $1,099 (8GB) / $1,299 (16GB) |
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11
The business laptop standard for a reason. Legendary keyboard, excellent build quality, and the reliability that IT departments trust. Not flashy, but built to last.
What we like
- Best laptop keyboard on the market (period)
- MIL-STD-810H durability testing
- 14" 2.8K OLED option with excellent color accuracy
- 5+ years of proven reliability in enterprise
What we don't
- $1,400+ is expensive
- Intel chips = shorter battery than M3
- Business aesthetic isn't for everyone
| Display | 14" 2.8K OLED / 2K IPS options |
|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core Ultra 7 |
| RAM | 16GB / 32GB |
| Battery | 12-15 hours |
| Weight | 2.48 lbs |
| Price | $1,400+ |
Acer Swift Go 14
The laptop r/SuggestALaptop recommends most for students and budget-conscious buyers. OLED display, decent performance, and a price that doesn't require justification.
What we like
- 2.8K OLED display at $700 — unheard of
- Intel Core Ultra for solid productivity performance
- Under 3 lbs for easy portability
- Full-size USB-A and USB-C ports
What we don't
- Plastic build feels less premium
- 8-10 hour battery (not all-day)
- Keyboard and trackpad are "fine" not "great"
| Display | 14" 2.8K OLED |
|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core Ultra 5 |
| RAM | 16GB |
| Battery | 8-10 hours |
| Weight | 2.87 lbs |
| Price | $700 |
How We Researched This
- 6,300+ user reviews from r/laptops, r/SuggestALaptop, r/thinkpad, and r/macbook
- NotebookCheck testing for objective display, battery, and performance measurements
- Long-term reliability data — hinge failures, battery degradation, keyboard issues
- Repair and upgrade potential — can you replace RAM, SSD, or battery yourself?
What to Look For
What actually matters
RAM for your use case. 8GB is minimum for basic use. 16GB is the sweet spot. 32GB only if you do video editing or run virtual machines. RAM is often not upgradable anymore.
Display quality. You stare at this 8+ hours a day. An OLED or high-quality IPS panel is worth the upgrade. Avoid sub-1080p displays entirely.
Battery life (real-world, not claimed). Manufacturer claims are optimistic. Look for independent testing. 10+ real-world hours is excellent. 6-8 is acceptable. Under 6 is frustrating.
Keyboard and trackpad. Especially important for writers and heavy typists. ThinkPads lead; MacBooks are excellent; most others are mediocre.
What matters less
CPU generation wars. An Intel Core Ultra vs AMD Ryzen 7 vs M3 comparison matters less than RAM and SSD configuration. All modern chips are fast enough for most people.
Thin bezels and design. Marketing focus. A slightly thicker laptop with better keyboard and battery serves you better.
Products We Considered
Dell XPS 13: Beautiful design but ongoing quality control issues and worse keyboard than competitors. The MacBook Air M3 beats it in every metric.
ASUS Zenbook 14: Good value, but reliability concerns and mediocre trackpad hold it back. The Swift Go 14 is similar price with better display.
Framework Laptop 16: Exciting for repair/upgrade potential, but still maturing. Great for enthusiasts, not mainstream recommendation yet.
Our Methodology
We prioritize reliability, keyboard/trackpad quality, and battery life over raw specs. A laptop should last 4-5 years without frustrating you daily.