Today marks the beginning of the end of Windows 10. It’s been more than a decade since Microsoft released the operating system, and it will no longer support Windows 10 after today. This doesn’t mean your current PC that’s running Windows 10 will suddenly stop working when the clock strikes midnight tonight, but it will no longer receive new security updates, bug fixes or any technical support from Microsoft, making your Windows 10 PC more susceptible to security vulnerabilities and online threats.
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Time for a new laptop? I’ve got recs
Microsoft is offering a free upgrade to Windows 11, but if your laptop is too old and not compatible with Windows 11 and you think spending $30 for a year of additional security updates is throwing good money after bad, then it might be time for a laptop upgrade.
I’ve tested and reviewed all types of Windows 11 laptops in the past year and have a handful of favorites that span a wide range of prices. From Copilot Plus PCs with thin-and-light designs and all-day battery life to high-powered models for content creation or gaming, each of these laptops has won an Editors’ Choice award. Also included is the best two-in-one convertible and my top business laptop.
And my last recommendation here isn’t a Windows laptop but my favorite MacBook, the 15-inch Air with Apple’s M4 chip that I think is the best overall MacBook for most people. Because if you are turning the page on Windows 10, then maybe it’s time to drop Microsoft’s Windows platform altogether in favor of Apple’s MacOS.
Pros
- Beautiful, durable design
- Class-leading battery life
- Strong performance
- Awesome and accurate haptic touchpad
Cons
- No OLED option
- Upgrades get costly and don’t include dedicated GPU
- Your Arm-on-Windows compatibility mileage may vary
The Surface Laptop 7 reverses earlier Arm-based efforts that were plagued by lackluster performance and limited compatibility. Many x86 apps were unable to run on an Arm-based system. This time around, performance has improved and so has compatibility.
Why we like it
I like it for its polished design and class-leading battery life. The Surface Laptop 7 ran for nearly 20 hours in testing — that’s the longest of any 13- or 14-inch laptop I’ve ever tested — including the M4 MacBook Air. The Surface Laptop 7 competes with the MacBook Air in performance and battery life and supplies a similarly sleek and solid build.
Who it’s best for
People who love the look and long battery life of the MacBook Air but want a Windows laptop. We wish there were an OLED display option, and you’ll need to conduct a compatibility check for your mission-critical applications before embracing the Arm-based Surface Laptop 7. However, if you can overcome these hurdles, you’ll get a well-built, good-looking and long-lasting Windows ultraportable. You don’t necessarily need to spend the roughly $2,000 that our test system costs; one of the lower-priced configurations on sale for $1,250 at Amazon should meet the needs of most people.
Who shouldn’t get it
Anyone worried about potential Windows-on-Arm compatibility issues should consider skipping Qualcomm-based laptops and opt for an Intel or AMD model instead. The Surface Laptop 7 is also not the pick if you want an OLED display on your next laptop. For more, check out my other favorite Windows laptops.
Best Copilot Plus PC
Asus Zenbook A14
Pros
- Incredibly thin and light without feeling flimsy
- All-day-and-all-night battery life
- OLED display at this price is a nice surprise
- Ample RAM and storage for the price too
Cons
- Meh performance from Snapdragon X CPU
- Meh mechanical touchpad
- Meh speakers
Built around an Arm-based Qualcomm Snapdragon X processor, the Zenbook A14 is the lightest Copilot Plus PC we’ve tested and the second-longest running. It weighs less than 2.2 pounds and offers a battery life of more than 24 hours.
Why we like it
Its Ceraluminum shell allows the Zenbook A14 to be incredibly light yet rigid, and its 14-inch OLED display is excellent. It also serves up ample RAM and storage for the price.
Who it’s best for
Students and anyone who is on the road with regularity for their job. If portability is paramount, then the lightweight, long-running Zenbook A14 is the pick.
Who shouldn’t get it
If you are concerned about Windows-on-Arm compatibility issues, then you should skip the Zenbook A14 and find an Intel- or AMD-based laptop.
Pros
- 2.5K OLED display is crisp, bright and fast
- Snappy keyboard feels fast for games
- Thin and light for its size
- Free M.2 slot to add second SSD
Cons
- Short battery life
- No biometrics for easy, secure logins
- Lacks fast Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 ports
- Always-on power button LED is annoying
The Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 10 is overkill for most budget gaming laptop shoppers, both in terms of price and features. But if you view it as two laptops in one — a competent gaming laptop with a reasonably large 15.1-inch display and a general-use laptop that’s thin and light enough to carry around more than occasionally — then its price north of $1,500 begins to look like a great value.
Why we like it
It provides great performance for the price, and the 2.5K OLED display is outstanding. The Legion 5i Gen 10’s OLED wins the Triple Crown for displays: a high resolution for crisp text and images, a speedy refresh rate for smooth movement and a high peak brightness that allows colors to pop. It’s one of the best laptop displays I’ve ever seen.
Who it’s best for
It’s a great pick for gamers, but it’s more than just a gaming laptop. Creators engaged in color-accurate work will love the bright, high-res OLED display and the laptop’s portability relative to other gaming laptops.
Who shouldn’t buy it
If you need a portable laptop with good battery life, then most gaming laptops, including this one, are the wrong choice.
Best laptop for creators
Asus ProArt 16
Pros
- Gorgeous 16-inch, 4K OLED touchscreen
- Strong component lineup, including RTX 5070 GPU
- Slim and light given the size and what’s under the hood
- DialPad controller on touchpad is useful
Cons
- Runs hot and loud
- 3D frame rates are good but not great
- Display bezels are a bit thick
- Stylus not included for the touchscreen
The ProArt P16 boasts a big, beautiful 16-inch 4K OLED alongside enough graphics horsepower to deliver the performance in Adobe and CapCut that creators crave inside a reasonably slender, lightweight chassis.
Why we like it
The ProArt P16 series is built around a powerful AMD Strix Point processor, the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370. Our P16 test system also features an RTX 5070 GPU from Nvidia’s latest series along with an ample 32GB of RAM and a roomy 2TB SSD, a welcome inclusion for video editors and gamers who tend to require capacious storage. The port selection is fairly standard, but includes an SD card slot — something creators will appreciate.
Who it’s best for
Creators and media editors. The ProArt P16 is an extremely capable workday companion that can also double as a suitable gaming machine for anything short of 4K.
Who shouldn’t get it
Gamers looking to squeeze out the highest frame rates possible from an RTX 5070 laptop.
Pros
- Strong build quality
- Great performance for the price
- Long battery life
- Comfortable, quiet keyboard
- Good port selection
Cons
- A little on the heavy side
- Clacky touchpad
- Uninspired audio output
With its excellent build quality, adequate display, strong performance and lengthy runtime, the Yoga 7 14 Gen 9 provides a ton of value and is a great fit as a versatile machine for home use or students.
Why we like it
It’s a great deal at its price of $900 at Best Buy and an even better deal at its regularly discounted price of $800 direct from Lenovo. We like its solid, all-metal chassis and the power and efficiency you get from its AMD Ryzen 7 8000-series CPU.
Who it’s best for
Anyone looking for a flexible two-in-one for a great price, including students who might like to take notes in tablet mode. It lacks some of the refinement and extras you get with Lenovo’s flagship Yoga 9i 14, but the midrange Yoga 7 14 is much more affordable. We think it’s the better option for most people.
Who shouldn’t get it
Laptop buyers who want a lighter two-in-one with a better OLED display and better speakers — and are willing to spend more to get those extras — should instead consider the Yoga 9i 14.
Pros
- Excellent 2.8K OLED display
- Beautiful design that’s also compact and lightweight
- Competitive application and AI performance from Intel Lunar Lake CPU
Cons
- Very expensive when not on sale
- Battery life is good but not great
If you love the sleek look and great portability of a MacBook Air but need a Windows laptop for work, then HP’s flagship EliteBook Ultra is a great alternative.
Why we like it
With a spectacular 14-inch, 2.8K OLED display wrapped up in an elegant and compact enclosure, the EliteBook Ultra G1i deserves its Ultra label. It definitely has a premium look and feel that’s on par with a MacBook Air in terms of being thin and light yet rigid and sturdy. Its Intel Lunar Lake CPU is a well-rounded performer with great efficiency for good battery life that’ll get you through almost any workday on a single charge.
Who it’s best for
With its compact chassis and deluxe design, the EliteBook Ultra G1i is well suited for traveling executives or anyone who appreciates a small, lightweight OLED laptop for work.
Who shouldn’t get it
Anyone who can’t wait for it to go on sale or isn’t purchasing at a quantity that qualifies for a volume-pricing discount should take a pass. At its sale price of $1,899 or $1,999, the EliteBook Ultra G1i is an excellent value and a great choice for your next work laptop, but it’s harder to recommend at its full price of nearly $3,000.
Pros
- Optimal balance of screen size and system weight
- M4 processor provides good balance of performance and battery life
- Lower $1,199 starting price
Cons
- 256GB SSD is too small for the price
- $200 upcharge for more RAM or storage is steep
- Smooth ProMotion display still exclusive to MacBook Pro
The 15-inch MacBook Air is proof that you don’t need a Pro to get a larger display. It supplies a larger screen that you once found only on the pricier Pro models. If you’re eyeing the 14- or 16-inch Pro models primarily for the added screen size, the MacBook Air 15 is the more affordable option you should go for, especially at its new lower starting price.
Why we like it
The roomy, 15.3-inch display is powered by Apple’s M4 chip and 16GB of RAM. The M4 update adds incremental improvements — and a new sky blue color — to an already fantastic laptop that sits in the Goldilocks zone of Apple’s MacBook lineup.
Who it’s best for
People looking for a big-screen MacBook who don’t need the power of a MacBook Pro. With its roomy display, trim design and new lower starting price, the 15-inch M4 MacBook Air should be viewed as the default Air, with its cheaper and smaller 13-inch sibling a good alternative for students and others with tighter budgets and busy, on-the-go lifestyles.
Who shouldn’t get it
Students who need a more affordable and portable laptop will be better off with the 13-inch Air. Creative types who need more graphics oomph will need to spend more for the added power of a MacBook Pro.
Looking for more laptop recommendations? I’ve got plenty more. Check out the best Windows laptops, the best MacBooks, the best budget laptops, the best cheap gaming laptops, the best business laptops and the laptops with the best battery life.
