Best laptops

Top pick: Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4, 2025) — the safest all-rounder for most people: silent, cool, long battery, and it handles browsing, Office, video calls and photo editing without fuss. Get 16GB memory if you can.

Who the others suit:

• Apple MacBook Neo — the cheapest way into a modern Mac; fine for light everyday work.
• Dell XPS 14 — Windows users who want a premium, powerful machine for heavier multitasking.
• Apple 15-inch MacBook Air (M5) — a bigger screen and more memory for creative work on the move.
• Asus ProArt PZ13 — a tablet-style 2-in-1 with an OLED screen for sketching and note-taking.
• MSI Katana 15 HX — gaming and 3D work.
• HP 15 / 15.6" N150 models — tight budgets and simple tasks like email, streaming and schoolwork.
• Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i — a well-rounded budget Windows laptop with a sharp touchscreen.

Skip the old MacBook Pro Retina and 4GB-RAM budget models unless money is the only factor.