If you need high-end silicon for multimedia editing work or heavy data manipulation, you'll find the latest Dell XPS 15 able to get it all done and then some. Plus, this year's model upholds Dell's reputation for long battery life, lasting well past half a day. Of course, Dell hopes the 4K OLED touch screen will be a draw (and it is); it still aces both the sRGB and DCI-P3 gamuts and produces leading brightness. For the visually focused, whether for work or play, this laptop will please. Budget laptops may only have Type-A ports, which is a disadvantage in an increasingly Type-C world. On the other hand, some ultra-thin designs only have Type-C ports, which means you’ll need dongles to connect any Type-A peripherals you might already own. (Credit: Molly Flores) Extra power to cover the basics: Laptops in this price range are still relatively basic, but there are some upgrades that give you extra power to boost performance. Business Laptops: Professionals in need of high-performance machines will appreciate our businesslaptops. These powerful laptops and notebooks feature efficient processors, ample RAM, and advanced specifications to handle demanding tasks.

We largely have Microsoft to thank for the current design of detachable 2-in-1 Windows tablets, and the company continues to lead in this category with the Surface Pro 9. Focused here on the Intel variety, this update largely improves on its internal components with more current and faster hardware. We generally recommend the 12th Gen Intel version over the ARM version of the Surface Pro 9 for its increased power and broader compatibility with all Windows apps.

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Display and Resolution: Go for a laptop which features an exclusive display and high-end resolution to fulfill your visual requirements. Enjoy vibrant visuals and crisp details while working or watching multimedia content. If you're tight on cash but need a reliable laptop, consider this lower-power machine from Acer. This 15.6-inch laptop works through basic web browsing and light work tasks with relative ease. While it has a plain design true to its price, this laptop's battery runs for hours with its power-sipping processor. When strapped by a budget, focus on finding a laptop that nails the basics for as little cash as possible. Right now, this Acer Aspire will do just that. Who It’s For

These kinds of budget laptops are regularly found on sale, but every now and then we do spot savings that offer mid-range specs for entry-level prices. This is where PC Labs’ battery testing comes in. We evaluate battery life by playing a locally stored video file nonstop with no wireless connections active and 50% screen brightness. An excellent result on our test suggests that the laptop is adept at adapting its power use to the task at hand, and you can use the results to compare the potential of the machines you are considering. We evaluate all laptops using this test, and at the preceding link, you can see an extended summary of the best performers on our battery test. You need all-around performance: As we hit the mid-range for a laptop, these devices generally offer solid all-around performance for your work and leisure needs with powerful components, up-to-date features and lots of storage. What is almost universally true is that with a bit of tech know-how, you can use your own pre-owned laptops to your advantage. If you’re in the market for new laptops for both yourself and your kids, you might consider tuning up your current PC to give to your children and buying a new one for yourself. Apple’s M2 chip has plenty of things going for it, with ample performance for everyday use and even some media editing, but it does so while sipping power and running silently—there are no noisy fans in the Air, and the performance is still top-notch. The M2 Air offers great capabilities and decent battery life, making it the go-to choice for Apple fans and Windows refugees alike. Who It's For

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Battery Life: Look for laptops with long battery life to ensure uninterrupted productivity, especially when you are on the go. Of course, you can't put a price tag on peace of mind. You'll encounter instances when the logic board or the display—the most expensive parts of a laptop—fail, and while rare, such a catastrophe can cost you half of what the laptop is worth in repair costs. The best that Apple has to offer in its MacBook portfolio, the 16-inch MacBook Pro in 2023 doubles down on a return to form that arguably turned public perception around regarding the company's laptops writ large. If you're looking for the absolute highest-end MacBook experience for personal use, or you need serious power behind professional apps that work only for (or best on) macOS, this is the one to buy. Some Windows and ChromeOS laptops do have smaller displays, such as 10 or 11 inches. Some of these are not technically laptops in the pure sense, but rather tablets with detachable keyboards. Unless you’re specifically looking for a part-time tablet or the lightest possible laptop, avoid these designs. They’re lighter than most 13-inch ultraportables, often less than 2 pounds, but they’re not as effective at being tablets as the Apple iPad is, and their detachable keyboards mean they’re not much better at being laptops, either—typing on most of them tends to be subpar. Dell often has some kind of online voucher code or discount active, so it pays to wait for one before buying.