The Best Laptops
Laptops are an essential tool for daily life and work in our modern age, but with the increasing amount of manufacturers and brand names, it can be difficult to know which one is best for you. Technology is growing on a staggering scale, and it can be tough to keep up. To give you a head start on your search, we’ve narrowed down the best laptops on the market today so you can spend less time shopping and more time living your best life.
What to Look For
When narrowing down the best laptops, we considered speed, available storage space, overall features, and price. For example, if you want a well-rounded laptop with decent specs and great performance, the 2020 Apple MacBook Air Laptop may be your best bet. If you want something with a little more memory on tap, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has more RAM than most other laptops its size for unmatched functionality. Read on to see all our top picks and find the laptop that’s right for your needs.
2020 Apple MacBook Air Laptop
A modern classic
If you love the innovative simplicity of the MacBook Pro but you’re looking for something a little more lightweight, the MacBook Air may be right up your alley. This slim laptop has an updated Apple M1 chip and 8-core CPU for faster processing speeds and more efficient power usage, making for top-notch performance even when using intricate software. You can get up to 18 hours of battery life from one charge, all while enjoying its unmatched retina display and quality pixel density. If you want almost all the same features of a MacBook Pro in a smaller, more affordable package, this laptop is the main contender.
Pros:
- Up to 18 hours of battery life
- Apple M1 chip is faster and more efficient than previous chips
- Can unlock with Touch ID
- No fan for low noise levels
Cons:
- A very limited number of charging and input ports
Acer Aspire 5 Webcam Bundle
Bundle it up
Most laptops today come with a built-in webcam of some sort, but if you’re looking to get full HD resolution for Zoom calls or remote meetings, you may need to splurge a bit. Lucky for you, this affordable webcam bundle from Acer includes an Acer Aspire laptop with an i3 processor and an added webcam that shoots in HD for USB streaming. The laptop itself may not be the most technologically advanced one on the market, but it’s incredibly affordable and fully fit for most everyday tasks. For surfing the web, working from home, or setting up virtual meetings, this webcam bundle is a bargain that’s hard to beat.
Pros:
- Great price and overall value
- Turbo Boost Technology i3 chip processor
- Sturdy aluminum casing
- Decent battery life
Cons:
- No options for charging USB-C
SGIN 15.6 Inch Laptop
If you’re always on the move for your job or personal endeavors, it can be hard to find a laptop to keep up with your fast-paced schedule. If you’re looking to upgrade, this ultra-portable laptop from SGIN may be just what you need. It has a lightweight and slim construction that’s perfect for sliding in a backpack or briefcase, but it also has a relatively spacious screen size so you won’t be squinting to see what’s on screen. It has a boost frequency of up to 2.8 GHz for streaming 4K, and it has a decent battery life in case you’re doing work on a plane or in the car. For everyday use on the go, it doesn’t get any better than this practical and portable laptop.
Pros:
- Has a USB-C port
- Large touch area for scrolling
- Very lightweight and slim
- Decent screen size for its weight
Cons:
- Only has 4 gigs of RAM
Lenovo 2022 Ideapad 3 Laptop
At your fingertips
Technology has increased a tremendous amount in the past few years, and the convenience of touchscreen designs has finally made its debut on an affordable laptop model. This seemingly bare-bones laptop is anything but, and it has the specs to prove it. In addition to having an innovative touchscreen design, it also has plenty of RAM for most everyday uses, loads of speed on tap, plenty of charging ports, and even a slider to cover up your built-in webcam. On top of all that, the price is almost too good to be true. If you’re thinking of upgrading, this is worth the investment.
Pros:
- Great RAM memory for the price
- Up to 4.10 GHz speed
- Features a slider to hide your camera lens
Cons:
- Not the best video graphics quality
Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
Big brain
If you want enough RAM to handle anything that comes your way, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is the one for you. With a whopping 32 gigs of RAM, you can rest assured that it has enough memory to take on huge files while keeping enough speed on tap to make basic functionality a breeze. It also has a 1 TB hard disk, so this laptop is built for massive storage. It may be pricey, but you won’t find a more powerful or practical computer for handling complex jobs at a smaller price point. Long story short, when it comes to overall performance, this laptop is the best of the best.
Pros:
- Can handle ray-traced graphics for gaming
- Quad-core processors for top-notch power
- A refresh rate of 120Hz for extremely smooth scrolling
- PixelSense Flow touch display for vibrant picture and touch capabilities
Cons:
- Fairly pricey compared to most everyday laptops
Frequently Asked Questions
Does RAM affect how fast a computer is?
While RAM isn’t directly associated with speed, it is a major factor in how quickly and efficiently a computer runs. The more RAM a laptop has, the more space it allows to process large files, software, and downloads. RAM helps with processing tasks your computer has, not internet speed. However, in terms of computing speed, more RAM should increase your processing speed and efficiency.
Can I use Windows programs on a Mac computer?
Yes, but it may take some tinkering. With Boot Camp, you can install Windows programs directly on your Mac instead of using virtual machines. You will need to install Windows and Boot Camp drivers to make this work. It is worth noting that many non-Windows programs like Pages and Sheets offer export formats for Microsoft Word and Excel, so you can share files in a Windows format even if you created them on another program. However, if you actually want to install and work with a Windows program, Boot Camp is the way to go.
About the Author
Why Trust Us
With the constantly shifting landscape in the world of technology, GameRevolution seeks to provide gamers and tech-enthusiasts with the information they need to select the right products for their needs. Since 1996, our experts have used their knowledge on all the latest gadgets – everything from headphones to standing desks – to help millions of people navigate specs and answer common questions.