With Windows 10 support set to end on Oct. 10, its high time to find a replacement if youre still rocking a pokey old PC.
As of October 2025, I think the best Windows laptop for most people is the 13.8-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, a stylish workhorse powered by the very impressive Snapdragon X Elite processor. Its got enough power to handle demanding workloads, a premium design, and an amazing all-day battery life (outdone by just one other model). Even the latest M4 Apple MacBooks cant keep up. Beyond that, I have other picks for users with different budgets, use cases, and design preferences.
I chose my picks based on hands-on testing conducted by Mashable staff and contributors. Weve reviewed dozens of PCs on the basis of performance, build quality, battery life, and value over the years, and our top picks are the cream of the crop. They each scored high enough to secure a Mashable Choice Award, the highest honor we give to the gadgets we review.
Youll see that the best Windows 11 laptops run an impressive gamut, from lightweight Copilot+ PCs that last all day to dual-display stunners, subtle gaming stations, and approachable modular systems. Some of them, dare I say, will tempt even the most devoted MacBook disciples.
The Windows 10 deadline couldnt come at a better time: Amazons Prime Big Deal Days sale (a fall Prime Day-style event) is set for Oct. 7 and 8.
For shoppers looking to save on an upgrade, the 48-hour event should be marked on your calendar. Its not because Amazon itself offers amazing deals on Windows laptops during the sale, though it does tend to heavily discount a smattering of Surface laptops, LG grams, Asus Vivobooks, and gaming laptops. No, its mainly because Prime Big Deal Days is motivating other tech retailers and computer brands to run their own competing sales.
The one to watch in particular will be Best Buys Techtober Sale from Oct. 6 to 12. Best Buy has a much bigger selection of Windows laptops compared to Amazon, including an exclusive lineup of newer AI PCs, so youll have more flexibility in brands and configuration options.
Be sure to bookmark my guide to the best October Prime Day laptop deals if you dont have the bandwidth to pore over every markdown yourself. In the meantime, read on to learn more about the best Windows PCs for your shopping shortlist.
Mashable utilizes a rigorous hands-on testing process to review and recommend the best laptops for our readers. Read our full laptop testing methodology.
The laptops we review get put to work as our primary computers. We also subject them to a multi-app/tab stress test and Primate Labs Geekbench 6, which measures CPU performance in common tasks. Gaming laptops get put through additional graphical benchmarking.
To gauge a laptops stamina, we conduct a battery rundown test that involves playing a looped 1080p version of Tears of Steel, a short open-source Blender movie, at 50 percent brightness and 50 percent volume. Ideally, we hope to get at least nine hours of battery life from a Windows laptop.
As were using a laptop, we zero in on certain components to evaluate its build quality. These include the display, keyboard, touchpad, webcam, speakers, and ports. We also assess its overall aesthetic and portability.
We determine the ultimate value of a laptop by comparing its performance, design/build quality, and battery life to other laptops with similar pricing, specs, release dates, and use cases. We consider any accessories it comes with, any upgrades from its predecessor(s), and its future-proofing.
Read Mashables full review of the 13.8-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop 7.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition is a huge W for the Copilot+ PC series and a worthy candidate for anyone who needs a well-rounded Windows 11 laptop. It overachieves on performance, battery life, and build quality, making its premium price tag easy to stomach. (That said, its very easy to find on sale.) Just make sure it works with your favorite apps before you make it your new daily driver.
How much time do you have? Apple must be sweating through its armpits with the launch of the Surface Laptop 7 because — holy cow — this is one hell of a laptop, wrote former Mashable Tech Editor Kim Gedeon. The upgraded Snapdragon X Elite variant she tried is faster than 85% of the models in our laptop testing database (when in Best Performance mode), scoring on par with the M4 Apple MacBook Air in a Geekbench 6 CPU benchmark.
The Surface Laptop 7 also outlasted most other laptops with a battery life of nearly 23 hours per charge. The only laptop with more stamina is the Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition, our top 2-in-1, which beats it by 44 minutes. For comparisons sake, the 16-inch M4 Pro MacBook Pro is our longest-lasting MacBook at 20 hours and 51 minutes.
Looks-wise, the Surface Laptop 7 oozes sophistication and polished refinement, said Gedeon. Its stylish and sturdy aluminum design is available in four fingerprint-resistant aluminum finishes. And its vivid 120Hz touchscreen display is plenty bright.
We tested the 13.8-inch model, which starts at $1,399.99 with the Snapdragon X Elite chip and $1,199.99 with the lesser Snapdragon X Plus chip. Microsoft also makes a 15-inch Surface Laptop 7 for those who need more screen space (or a microSDXC card slot) and a cheaper, more compact 13-inch version. All sizes can get expensive fast as you add more RAM and storage, but theyre often on sale often at retailers like Amazon and Best Buy.
As with all laptops powered by ARM-based Qualcomm chips, theres a tiny asterisk next to our recommendation of this Surface Laptop 7 because it isnt compatible with certain specialty apps. This is mainly a problem for students and PC gamers. (Microsoft also makes an Intel version, but its geared toward businesses and significantly more expensive than its Qualcomm counterpart; we havent tried it.) Double-check before you commit to the Surface Laptop 7, but if you dont think youll run into any workflow hangups, its the Windows 11 laptop to beat in 2025. Google Drive, Adobe Photoshop, Spotify, Netflix, OneDrive, Dropbox, and Zoom are all a go, for what its worth.
The Asus Zenbook A14 is a great buy for undemanding everyday users on a sub-$1,000 budget who want a beautiful Windows laptop they can take with them anywhere. (Its priced at $999, but it frequently goes on sale at Best Buy for much less.) Its all-day battery life and remarkably lightweight yet durable design make it an exemplary ultraportable. We just wish it had better speakers.
Our favorite laptop from CES 2025 lived up to the hype: The Zenbook A14 is a pretty ultraportable that can go all day. Its 14-inch chassis is made from a unique material called Ceraluminum thats durable, scratch-resistant, textured matte, and embellished with metallic, jewelry-like accents. This gives it an elegant, minimalist look and a feathery (but not fragile) feel. The base configuration, which comes in Zabriskie Beige with a Snapdragon X Plus chip, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB storage, weighs just 2.4 pounds. Its overall build quality impressed me in testing; I especially liked its clicky keyboard and silky touchpad.
The Zenbook A14 earned a Geekbench 6 multi-core score of 11,256 in our CPU benchmark, making it the fastest Windows laptop under $1,000 in our database (excluding any gaming models). Its not quite as powerful as the M4 MacBook Air, which also starts at $999 — its more on par with an M3-era model — but it one-ups Apple with a vivid OLED display, an HDMI port, double the starting storage, and an even airier design (coming in 0.3 pounds lighter). It also has a better battery life, lasting 21 hours and 47 minutes in our video rundown test.
The Zenbook A14s speakers are its Achilles heel: They sound so, so bad; dont use it without a good pair of headphones. As a Qualcomm-powered laptop, you also run the risk of possible compatibility problems, depending on the apps you use.
A second Iceland Gray variant of the Zenbook A14 boasts an even lighter design, weighing only 2.18 pounds. It comes with a lesser Snapdragon X processor but double the RAM and SSD space (32GB and 1TB, respectively). In testing, it was only 7% slower and lasted 20 minutes less than the $999 Plus variant. It feels like a fair buy at $1,199 if you want an even lighter laptop with oodles of memory and storage, but the cheaper model is a tad more competitive at its price point and adequately specced for most people.
Read Mashables full review of the Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition.
Need a sleek, flexible laptop that just wont quit? Look no further than the latest iteration of Lenovos premium convertible, which can handle a full day of moderate productivity on a single charge — including tablet-oriented tasks like drawing and note-taking. In fact, it has the longest battery life of any laptop weve ever tested, outlasting every single MacBook and Windows laptop tried to date.
The Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition is our battery life champ. It held out for 23 hours and 34 minutes in a video rundown test. It easily bests MacBooks, as well as all of the Snapdragon-powered Windows laptops weve reviewed, which are famously efficient. So, if your ideal PC doesnt chain you to an outlet or leave you panicking when you forget your charger, this one perfectly fits the bill.
That unrivaled stamina is especially impressive when you take into account the Yoga 9is display, which is a super bright 2.8K OLED touchscreen with a 120Hz refresh rate. (Youd expect it to slurp up its battery life much faster.) It sits on a strong hinge that lets the device flip around into tablet and tent modes, and it works equally well with fingertips and styluses. A free Yoga Pen is included.
The Yoga 9is keyboard is another highlight: Its island-style keys are well-spaced, pleasantly bouncy, and responsive, said Mashable contributor Sarah Chaney, our reviewer. It almost feels like I’m typing on a minimalist mechanical keyboard, like the Logitech Mechanical MX Mini with tactile switches, because of the slight travel and noticeable actuation.
The Yoga 9is outstanding battery life comes with one notable trade-off. Our review units Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor got a Geekbench multi-core score of 10,765, ranking right in the middle of our testing database. Its a hair slower than our budget pick, the Asus Zenbook A14, which costs $750 less; if youd prefer a MacBook comparison, its most akin to the M2 MacBook Air from 2022.
I will say that most of the Intel Core Ultra Series 2 processors weve tried have scored similarly, so the Yoga 9i isnt an outlier here, and its not going to be sluggish. It has at least enough power to handle some exclusive Aura Edition AI features that can flag peeping toms, silence distracting notifications, and analyze your posture. (Chaney also noted that the Yoga 9i runs super quiet even with multiple apps and tabs open.) It just wont be as great for demanding apps and multitasking as higher-scoring laptops.
Read Mashables full review of the Acer Swift X 14 (2024).
As the best Windows laptop for photo and video editing, the Acer Swift X 14 is a lesson in not judging a laptop by its boring gray chassis. Photo and video editors with intense workload needs will appreciate its beautiful OLED display, unassuming brawn, and reasonable price (starting at just $1,299.99). We also believe its the best Windows laptop for college students for similar reasons: With a dedicated Nvidia GeForce RTX graphics card and an Intel (non-ARM) processor, it ticks the most important boxes for students enrolled in programs that require specialty software. Gaming is also on the menu thanks to those specs.
The Swift in this laptops name is not false advertising. With a Geekbench 6 multi-core score of 13,386, the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H configuration is faster than 81% of the laptops in our testing database (including all but two Windows models that have newer Intel processors). While it cant quite compete with Apples overachieving M4 chips, its significantly more powerful than the M3 MacBook Pro we tried back in late 2023, which scored 11,998.
All this power means the Swift X 14s fans can get quite noisy, but fortunately, its battery life doesnt take too big a hit. It lasted for about 8.5 hours in our trial, which isnt half bad for a laptop with discrete graphics, Gedeon wrote in her review. (Most gaming laptops weve tried last one to three hours tops.) Our testing unit with an RTX 4070 GPU was out of stock at the time of writing, but RTX 4050 and 4060 variants are readily available for $1,299.99 and $1,499.99 with 512GB and 1TB of storage, respectively.
Media editors and other creative types will also make good use of the Swift X 14s ample port selection (including a microSD card slot and an HDMI port) as well as its 14.5-inch OLED display. With a 120Hz refresh rate and a crisp 2.8K resolution, and Gedeon deemed it a visual treat. However, the same cant be said of its overall design — this is an objectively boring-looking aluminum laptop, so seek artistic inspiration elsewhere.
Acer has released a newer version of this laptop called the Swift 14 AI, but Id steer clear if youre shopping for one of the aforementioned use cases. It runs on ARM processors that may not work with certain apps and lacks the OLED display, microSD card slot, HDMI port, and dedicated GPU for graphics-intensive tasks.
Read Mashables full review of the Alienware m16 R2.
With stellar performance and good build quality for the dollar — plus the ability to un-game itself for everyday use — the Alienware m16 R2 is the Windows laptop I recommend for most gamers. You will need to wear headphones and stay close to an outlet while you play, though.
Powered by an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H CPU and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, the m16 R2 we tested delivered impressive benchmark figures on our tests, particularly for a mid-level gaming laptop, said Gedeon. It got a Geekbench 6 multi-core score of 12,842, making it faster than all of the other gaming laptops weve tried except for three (which cost anywhere from $1,999.99 to $4,485). In 3DMarks TimeSpy benchmark, a hybrid graphics/CPU test that we run on PCs with dedicated graphics, it clinched a score of 12,224 — the third-highest in our database, after that four-grand machine and a $2,299 gaming laptop.
Performance aside, Gedeon also appreciated the silkiness and vibrancy of its 240Hz display when she used it to play CyberPunk 2077, even though she thought it could use a little boost in the brightness department. While watching Netflixs The Union on the m16 r2, a bellhops rich, ruby-red-and-gold uniform caught my eye, she wrote. In one scene, I could see the tiny vellus hairs appearing on Halle Berrys skin.
The other great thing about the m16 R2 is that it recognizes that most gamers arent gamers 24/7. Theres a Stealth Mode hotkey that turns off its lighting effects and activates Quiet performance mode, reducing the whir of its fans. It brings support for Nvidia Advanced Optimus, too — a feature that lets it automatically swap between its integrated and discrete GPUs for browsing and gaming, respectively. (You can also do this manually using its built-in MUX switch.) It could definitely double as your go-to everyday computer when you punch out of Valorant for the day.
I have to mention that the m16 R2 is a bit heavy, equipped with shoddy speakers, and very short on stamina; it lasted just 59 minutes (not a typo) in our battery life test. However, those sorts of cons are very typical of gaming laptops, which treat portability and power efficiency like afterthoughts in order to prioritize performance.
If you want an extra screen for multitasking, hooking up a separate monitor to your regular laptop is an easy, cost-efficient solution. But if the all-in-one form factor speaks to you, Lenovos latest Yoga Book 9i is an awesome dual-display machine that combines premium performance with premium features.
The 2025 Yoga Book 9i is, first and foremost, a looker. This is a gorgeous laptop, wrote Chaney. If I saw someone using this laptop in public, Id get over my fear of talking to strangers just to tell them I loved their laptop — it looks that good. Its decked out with a pair of 2.8K, 120Hz OLED touchscreens, and you can use it like a normal laptop or in tent, tablet, and portrait modes (with its two screens side by side). Its superb build quality is further apparent in its nicely balanced speakers and sharp 5MP webcam.
All of the Yoga Book 9is accessories are included in its price, which also helps justify its going rate of $2,000-plus. That includes a matching detachable keyboard, mouse, stylus, folio case, and protective sleeve. The keyboard is especially great, said Chaney — better than the one included with last years model. You can also type on the Yoga Book 9is on-screen keyboard, which has adjustable haptic feedback and color schemes.
Another big thing the Yoga Book 9i has going for its horsepower. We tested a model with an Intel Core Ultra 7 255H processor that got a Geekbench 6 multi-core score of 15,302, making it speedier than 93 percent of the laptops weve ever tried. (Its actually the fastest laptop on this guide, and a hair faster than both the M4 MacBook Air and Pro.) It ran quiet and cool in our testing, even with a bunch of apps and tabs open.
The Yoga Book 9is battery life underwhelms — predictable, given its fast performance and the fact that its powering two dazzling OLED displays, though it should still get you through a full workday. It also skimps on ports beyond your standard USB-C/Thunderbolt fare, but an HDMI port for an external monitor isnt all that necessary here. In the grand scheme of things, both are minor nitpicks.
Read Mashables full review of the Framework Laptop 13 (Intel Core Ultra Series 1).
DIYers, tinkerers, and anyone sick of buying a new laptop every few years will love the Framework Laptop 13. It requires a bigger upfront investment than other Windows laptops with similar specs and benchmark results, but its long-term value is unmatched. Its the closest thing you can get to a buy-it-for-life laptop and a gateway drug to the right-to-repair movement.
The Framework Laptop 13 has a unique modular design that makes it infinitely repairable and customizable. If youve never had an innocent Geek Squad repair appointment turn into a several-hundred-dollar fiasco, you may not realize how big a deal this is, but its massive. You can swap out the Framework Laptop 13s motherboard, memory, storage, keyboard, display, and expansion cards all by yourself, and its super easy to do. I have zero prior PC building experience, and after putting together an IKEA shoe cabinet the other day, I can confidently say that assembling the Framework Laptop 13 is a simpler process. Everything snaps or screws into place so cleanly.
At-home fixability is a privilege in the laptop world, so you do pay a premium for it. I tested a base configuration of the 2024 Framework Laptop 13, which came with an Intel Core Ultra 5 125H processor, 16GB of RAM, 500GB SSD, and a 60Hz matte display for $1,197 altogether. (It was a DIY Edition, so I built it and installed Windows 11 myself, but plug-and-play models are also available.)
My review units battery life was terrific at just over 17 hours, surpassing some newer MacBooks, and I thought its overall build quality was solid. Its glass touchpad was buttery smooth, and the swappable expansion card bit is so well done — its seriously genius. However, my review unit notched a Geekbench 6 multi-core score of just 8,231, making it one of the least powerful Windows laptops weve tried. (Other models in the $1,100 to $1,200 range scored at least 12,000.) Its 31% slower than the $999.99 Asus Zenbook A14, our budget pick — and its display isnt as nice, either. I think its fair to say that the Framework Laptop 13 is overpriced at face value, but for the right person, its future-proofing will be more important than having the fanciest specs.
Fancier specs are readily available, for what its worth. Framework has released new components every year since the original Framework Laptop launched in 2021. I have some of its latest options in hand for further testing, including an AMD Ryzen AI 300 Series CPU, an upgraded keyboard, and a 2.8K display. Ill update this guide with my thoughts about them in the coming months.
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As of September 2025, the Asus Zenbook A14 replaces the Lenovo Yoga 7i 14 (Gen 9) as our favorite budget Windows laptop. The Yoga 7i 14 is no longer in stock, but even if it was, we prefer the Asus model by miles: Its 23% faster, lasts more than twice as long, and comes standard with a bright, beautiful OLED display for just $100 more.
The Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition succeeds the now-discontinued Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 (Gen 9) as our top 2-in-1 laptop. Its 13 percent slower, but it runs cooler and quieter while delivering triple the battery life. It also retains the same pretty design helmed by a 2.8K OLED display. Last years model had ridiculously good speakers and an S-tier webcam, making the Aura Editions counterparts a bit disappointing in comparison, but theyre still above-average compared to the ones we encounter on most laptops.
In more Lenovo news, the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i (Gen 10) is now our favorite dual-display laptop, ousting the Asus Zenbook Duo from 2024. Its almost 50 percent faster in multi-core tasks, lasts a bit longer, packs better speakers, and features higher-res OLED screens. It is $620 pricier than the Zenbook Duo we tried last year (and $420 more than the 2025 version with twice the RAM), but it comes with a few more accessories on top of those other improvements, including a detachable keyboard, mouse, stylus, folio case, and protective sleeve.
Ive added the Framework Laptop 13 (Intel Core Ultra Series 1) to this guide as the best repairable laptop. As mentioned earlier, I have some of its latest components in hand for testing, and Ill update our review with my takeaways in the coming months.
Finally, Ive also removed one of our former top picks from this guide: the HP OmniBook X 14. It used to be our No. 1 mid-range Windows laptop, but with the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 and the Zenbook A14 in the picture, its not a very competitive option anymore.
Weve tested other good-but-not-great Windows laptops so far this year. They might meet some users needs or have a couple of standout features, but they fell short of earning Mashable Choice Awards and our top picks outclass them in their respective categories.
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is a powerhouse with a stellar thermal design and a matte display, but its obnoxious, gamer-y look is a turnoff.
The Dell XPS 13 (9530) has a fantastic tandem OLED display and a slick edge-to-edge design — its such a striking laptop, and a very portable one, too. Unfortunately, its keyboard is cramped, its touchpad is glitchy, and its scant on ports.
The Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 (AMD) is an impressive performer for the price, but it has poor speakers, a crude webcam, and a cheap feel to it.
The Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 is configurable with a gorgeous mini-LED touchscreen, but it has a mediocre battery life and a creaky build.
The HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 is a handsome convertible with a velvety touchpad, a springy keyboard, and a rich 3K OLED touchscreen, but it underperforms for the price and has some strange port placements on its corners.
The HP OmniBook X Flip 14 is another pretty 2-in-1. It has a nice 2.8K OLED touchscreen and an aluminum chassis that doesnt cling to fingerprints, but it could use a slight battery life boost.
A laptop with 512GB of storage and 16GB of memory (RAM) is going to be a solid daily driver and a future-proofed investment for most people. That said, if youre a PC gamer or someone who dabbles in creative work (like graphic design or photo and video editing), I recommend defaulting to 1TB of storage with 32GB of RAM to accommodate your heavier workload.
Many budget laptops start with just 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM, which is totally workable for casual users who mainly browse the web, write documents, and send emails. However, youll probably have to supplement it with an external hard drive eventually, unless you stash most of your files in the cloud.
There are two huge pros to buying a refurbished laptop, one being that theyre usually sold at a steep discount. By opting for new to you (instead of brand-new, fresh out the box), you can maximize your budget and score specs that would normally be out of your price range. Secondly, buying refurbished is just plain good for the environment. Every pre-owned laptop purchase keeps a still-usable device out of a landfill.
The key is to make sure any refurbished laptop you buy is in good-enough condition to last a few years and protected by a decent warranty. For more intel, check out Mashables guide to buying refurbished tech.
The Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition is the longest-lasting laptop weve ever tried, holding out for 23 hours and 34 minutes in our video rundown test. At 22 hours and 50 minutes, the 13.8-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (Snapdragon X Elite) is our runner-up. Meanwhile, the longest-lasting MacBook weve tested is the 14-inch Apple MacBook Pro (M4), coming in at 20 hours and 51 minutes.
Why did we choose the 2024 Acer Swift X 14 over the newer Swift 14 AI? If youre a photo or video editor, last years model is a better pick because it avoids the potential software compatibility issues of its ARM-based successor, and because it has a powerful dedicated GPU. Its microSD card slot and HDMI port are also big pluses for creatives; the Swift 14 AI only has USB-A and USB-C ports.
Haley Henschel is a Chicago-based Senior Shopping Reporter at Mashable who reviews and finds deals on popular tech, from laptops to gaming consoles and VPNs. She has years of experience covering shopping holidays and can tell you what’s actually worth buying on Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day. Her work has also explored the driving forces behind digital trends within the shopping sphere, from dupes to 12-foot skeletons.