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When it comes to laptops, separating the good from the best is challenging. That’s why we’ve tested them to provide our expert opinions. CNET’s list of the best laptops for 2023 is a great place to start, with our top picks across brands, operating systems, budgets and categories. Intel, AMD and Nvidia recently announced new processors and graphics chips for 2023, and there are new laptop models with those chips coming soon. Plus, Apple updated its 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro with the latest M2 processors; the latter is now on our list as the best MacBook Pro for 2023. 

What is the best laptop?

The Apple MacBook Air M2 currently tops our list of the best laptops 2023 has to offer because it is a solid choice for most people. It offers a great combination of everything we look for when we’re testing: reliable everyday performance, long battery life and a design that works for a broad range of users. The latest MacBook Air starts at $1,199, which is why we still recommend the 2020 MacBook Air M1 as a lower-cost alternative to the newest Air model, as it’s still an all-around excellent laptop. For those looking for a more value-oriented option, HP’s Pavilion Aero 13 is an excellent small and light laptop starting at $550, but even fully loaded it’s a reasonable $900.

At CNET, our laptop experts have collective decades of experience testing and reviewing laptops, covering everything from performance to price to battery life. This hand-curated list covers the best laptops across various sizes, styles and costs, including laptop computers running on Windows, MacOS and Chrome.

If you want more laptop brands and options for a particular category, we also have specialized lists you can look at, including the best gaming laptops, best 15-inch laptops, best two-in-ones and best Chromebooks, as well as the best laptops for college students, designers and the best MacBook Pro alternatives. If you need to stay as low as possible on the price of a new laptop computer, check out our best budget laptop and best budget gaming laptop picks.

This best laptop list is updated periodically with new models we’ve tested and reviewed. If you need advice on whether a particular type of laptop or two-in-one is right for you, jump to our laptop FAQ at the bottom of the list and if you’re looking to save some money on your purchase, be sure to check out our best laptop deals page.

Best laptops 2023

Read our Apple MacBook Air M1 (Late 2020) review.

 

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Josh Goldman/CNET

HP packed a lot of value into the Aero 13: Eye-pleasing magnesium-aluminum chassis, strong processing performance, long battery life, a bright, colorful display and a weight of just 2 pounds (0.94 kilograms). Amazingly, with all that it offers though, it doesn’t break the bank in terms of price. Although it starts at $800, it is regularly on sale for much less. If you want something a bit larger with more to offer when it comes to components, consider the HP Pavilion 14.

HP Pavilion Aero 13 review

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This thin, 3-pound convertible is a solid choice for anyone who needs a laptop for office or schoolwork. The all-metal chassis gives it a premium look and feel, and it has a comfortable keyboard and a responsive, smooth precision touchpad. Though it’s light on extra features compared to its premium linemate, the Yoga 9i, it does have one of Lenovo’s sliding shutters for its webcam that gives you privacy when you want it. And it has a long battery life to boot at 12 hours, 45 minutes in our tests. The latest version with 12th-gen Intel processors starts at less than $1,000. 

Lenovo Yoga 7i Gen 7 (14-inch) review

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Dan Ackerman/CNET

Although this Microsoft Surface laptop is not the Surface Laptop, the Surface Pro continues to hit all the right notes if you’re looking for a do-it-all Windows tablet that doubles as a Windows laptop. Microsoft recently updated it for the Surface Pro 9, but little has changed beyond a processor upgrade from 11th-gen Intel Core processors to 12th-gen chips as well as an option for a Microsoft SQ 3 processor with 5G wireless. If you were contemplating a Pro 8, it’s still around but now with a lower price, and is our go-to choice until we see how the Surface Pro 9 tests. 

Microsoft Surface Pro 8 review

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Dell’s G15 has been a favorite budget gaming laptop for the past few years along with the HP Victus line. It was joined this year by a 16-inch version, the G16. We tested both and were impressed with what each offers. 

If you’re looking for a gaming laptop bargain, the G15 is the way to go. If you can afford to spend a couple of hundred dollars more, the G16 is a better bet for longevity. Either way, you’ll be getting a good gaming laptop for the money, but we strongly recommend waiting for a sale. 

Dell G15 and G16 Gaming Laptop review

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Dan Ackerman/CNET

Apple’s 2023 update to its flagship MacBook Pro 16-inch line is a modest refresh from the more significantly redesigned 2021 model; notably, it upgrades to the latest generation of M2-class processors, Wi-Fi 6E and HDMI 2.1. With those updates, it gains support for displays up to 8K/60Hz and 4K/240Hz as well as variable refresh rates. The combination of the old and new enhances the veteran laptop’s chops as a powerhouse computer for creation and development work. 

You pay for it, though: The base price for the 16-inch model of this premium laptop is $2,499.

Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch) review

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Josh Goldman/CNET

Samsung’s latest big-screen two-in-one doesn’t look all too different from its predecessor, but inside is a new, 12th-gen Intel processor that gives it a sizable multicore performance bump. Plus, the other, smaller updates Samsung made to the Pro 360 improve the overall user experience, making it one of the best two-in-ones available right now.

Samsung Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 review

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