It can be difficult to choose a laptop for work, school, or home. We offer a great starting point. Our top picks span all brands, operating systems and budgets. Many models that were released in 2021 have been updated to 2022 with the most recent chips from Intel, AMD, and Apple’s M2 chips.
The updated Apple MacBook Air M2 is our top choice laptop. It has everything we want in a laptop: reliability, long battery life, and a design that is easy to use for all users. The new MacBook Air is available for $1,200. We recommend the 2020 MacBook Air M1 to be an affordable alternative to the latest Air model. It’s still an excellent laptop and a great value. Acer Swift 3 is our current recommendation for those who are looking for an affordable option. Older models can be purchased for as low $500. New models are priced at under $800 and come fully loaded with OLED displays.
Our laptop experts have decades of combined experience in reviewing and testing laptops. This includes everything from price to performance, battery life, and battery life. This list includes laptops that run on Windows, MacOS, and Chrome.
Apple MacBook Air M2
The 2022 MacBook Air is our top choice for the most versatile laptop in Apple’s range. It features a new design, a larger screen (13.6 inches instead of 13.3 inches), an improved M2 chip, and a long-awaited upgrade with a better-resolution webcam. The $200 price increase on the $999 MacBook Air’s original starting price is disappointing at $1,199. The M1 model of the Air will still be a top choice on our list of best laptops. We still like it. It’s our first choice for an Air if we don’t mind spending more.
Acer Swift 3
This 14-inch laptop is available with either an Intel Core or AMD Ryzen processor. It weighs less than 3 pounds and has a larger screen than 13-inch laptops. It has a larger display that covers 100% of the sRGB gamut, which is a nice feature considering it starts at less than $700. The Swift 3 also features a backlit keyboard, fingerprint reader, and USB Type C and HDMI ports. With 12th-gen Intel Core i series CPUs, the Swift 3 2022 edition costs just below $1,000. The 2021 models can still be purchased for as low as $600.
Dell XPS 13
The Dell XPS 13 has been a favorite laptop for its size and weight, performance, and overall looks. The laptop was made smaller by Dell in 2020. However, the screen on the laptop is now larger, increasing the performance of both graphics-intensive and CPU tasks. The XPS 13 was made even smaller and lighter for 2022. Its starting price of $999 was the same, but the new 12th-gen Intel processors were dropped.
Although we haven’t yet had the chance to test it, we believe that it will be a solid Windows alternative to Apple’s MacBook Air. The 2021 XPS 13 with the 11th-gen Intel chip is also available now for a lower price.
HP Pavilion Aero 13
The Aero 13 is a great value for money. It has a beautiful magnesium-aluminum chassis with strong processing power, bright display, and weighs just 2 pounds (0.94 kg). Amazingly, the Aero 13’s regular price starts at $700, despite all it offers.
Lenovo Yoga 7i (14-inch)
The 3-pound, thin convertible is an excellent choice for anyone needing a laptop to do schoolwork or office work. It has an all-metal chassis that gives it a premium appearance and feel. The keyboard is comfortable and the touchpad is responsive and precise. Although it lacks the extra features of its premium linemate, Yoga 9i, it has one of Lenovo’s sliding shutters to protect its webcam, giving you privacy when needed. It has a 12 hour, 45 minute battery life. It is available in the latest version, with 12th-gen Intel processors for $999. However, it can be found on sale for less. You can still find the 2021 models at reduced prices.
Apple MacBook Air M1 2020
The M1 MacBook Air is still available, despite the improved M2 MacBook Air. It was the first laptop to use Apple silicon and it’s staying. It is Apple’s entry-level MacBook Air and our recommendation for MacOS laptops for everyday use. It is an excellent choice for school and work, thanks to its great performance and extended battery life (up to 18 hours), and it is also a solid choice.
Acer Chromebook Spin 713
Are you tired of trying to work with spreadsheets or documents on a small screen? Acer Chromebook Spin 713 features one of Acer’s bright VertiView screens, a 13.5-inch 2,256×1,504 pixel touchscreen with a 3:1 aspect ratio. It has more vertical space than a 13.3-inch laptop, yet it still has the same width with a 16 to 9 ratio. This Chrome OS laptop is lightweight and thin enough to be used every day, thanks to its long battery life.
This Chromebook’s latest version is the first to be certified by Intel Evo. You’ll enjoy the best mobile experience possible with it. Thunderbolt 4 support is also available for the first time on this Chromebook. This allows you to connect to multiple external displays and provides fast data speeds and networking.
Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 7
Lenovo introduced the Yoga line 10 year ago with Windows 8. Now, with Windows 11 the design is even more flexible. The 14-inch Yoga 9i Gen 7 is the company’s flagship model. It features a modern design with rounded edges and 12th-gen Intel processors, which give it a huge multicore performance boost. It has a beautiful OLED screen and better audio, making it ideal for entertainment, work and video conference calls. The premium package includes an active pen as well as a laptop sleeves.
When the speakers are turned up, the palm rests vibrate a bit and Lenovo has filled the laptop with offers for additional services and software. Overall, however, the Yoga 9i convertible laptop is the best. It is not currently available, so it might be best to wait before you buy one.
Samsung Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360
The new Samsung big-screen two in one isn’t much different than its predecessor. However, the inside of it has a 12th-gen Intel processor which gives it a significant multicore performance boost. The Pro 360 also has smaller, more user-friendly updates that Samsung made. This makes it one of the most popular two-in-1s on the market.
Apple MacBook Pro (2021, 16-inch)
Apple’s latest 16-inch MacBook Pro features new Apple silicon, a new display and all the ports that we have been asking for. Combining the MacOS and larger MacBook Pro’s hardware gives you the best performance, while also delivering great battery life. It’s stunning. You’ll also find an HDMI output and SD reader if you were looking for those features.
It’s not free. The base price for this premium laptop, the 16-inch model, is $2,499.
Dell Inspiron 16 Plus
Although there are many 15.6-inch laptops available, 16-inch models such as the Dell Inspiron 16 Plus remain rare. It offers more space for work, and has a larger keyboard and touchpad. The Inspiron’s performance parts include Nvidia discrete graphics, though it costs nearly twice as much if you choose to go with Intel integrated graphics. It also covers 100% sRGB (and 81% AdobeRGB) color gamuts. This is great for anyone who’s just starting out with web content creation. The laptop is also more luxurious than the Inspiron 16 Plus.
