A great laptop offers the perfect combination of performance, portability, and versatility—making it an essential tool for professionals, students, and gamers alike. With so many models on the market in 2025, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. That’s why I’ve tested and reviewed the top contenders to help you find the best laptop for your specific needs, whether it's productivity, creativity, or immersive gameplay.
TL;DR – Top Laptops of 2025
Looking for a quick recommendation? Here are the best laptops we've tested this year:
Apple MacBook Air (M4, Early 2025)
Asus VivoBook S 15
Razer Blade 16 (2025)
Asus Zenbook S 16
Microsoft Surface Pro 11
What Makes a Great Laptop?
Laptops today come in a wide range of designs, each tailored to different user needs—from ultra-thin business companions to high-performance gaming rigs. The best models offer long battery life, powerful hardware, excellent displays, and seamless integration into daily workflows. Below, I’ll walk you through each of the top picks based on real-world testing and usage experience.
1. Apple MacBook Air (M4, Early 2025)
Best Overall Laptop
See it at: Amazon | Apple
The latest MacBook Air continues to impress with its sleek design, silent fanless operation, and the new M4 chip that delivers faster performance and improved efficiency over previous generations. Ideal for productivity, creative work, and general use, this laptop remains a top pick for most users who value portability and reliability.
- Display: 13.6” Retina (2560x1664)
- CPU: Apple M4 (10 cores)
- GPU: Apple M4 (8–10 cores)
- RAM: 16–32GB
- Storage: 256GB–2TB SSD
- Weight: 2.7 lbs
Pros
- Excellent battery life
- Lightweight and thin
- Silent operation
Cons
- Limited gaming capabilities
- Expensive upgrades
This is Apple's most accessible MacBook yet, offering a near-perfect blend of power and portability. It may not be a beast for hardcore gaming, but as a daily driver, it's hard to beat.
2. Asus VivoBook S 15
Best Budget Laptop
See it at: Best Buy | Asus
The Asus VivoBook S 15 is an excellent budget-friendly option that doesn’t compromise on performance or display quality. Powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Plus X1P processor, it offers efficient computing, long battery life, and a stunning OLED screen—all at a competitive price point.
- Display: 15” OLED (2880x1620), 120Hz
- CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus X1P
- GPU: Integrated (Qualcomm Adreno)
- RAM: 16GB LPDDR5X
- Storage: 512GB NVMe SSD
- Weight: 3.13 lbs
Pros
- Affordable
- OLED display with vibrant colors
- Long battery life
Cons
- App compatibility may vary
If you're looking for a lightweight, well-performing laptop under $1,000, the VivoBook S 15 is a strong contender, especially for students and casual users.
3. Razer Blade 16 (2025)
Best Gaming Laptop
See it at: Razer
Razer’s Blade 16 strikes a rare balance between raw power and portability. Fueled by the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 CPU and up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 GPU, it delivers desktop-grade performance in a sleek aluminum chassis that’s lighter than most gaming laptops.
- Display: 16” OLED (2560x1600), 240Hz
- CPU: AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370
- GPU: Up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- RAM: Up to 64GB
- Storage: Up to 4TB
- Weight: 4.7 lbs
Pros
- High-end specs in a compact form factor
- Stunning OLED display
- Excellent build quality
Cons
- Premium pricing
- Lower raw FPS compared to bulkier rivals
If you want a portable yet powerful gaming machine that doubles as a workstation, the Razer Blade 16 is the ultimate choice.
4. Asus ZenBook S 16
Best Laptop for Work
See it at: Amazon | Best Buy | Asus
The Asus ZenBook S 16 is a stylish and highly capable productivity machine. Its 16-inch OLED touchscreen, elegant Ceraluminum finish, and AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor make it ideal for professionals who need both performance and aesthetics.
- Display: 16” OLED (2880x1800)
- CPU: AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370
- GPU: AMD Radeon 890M
- RAM: 32GB LPDDR5X
- Storage: 1TB PCIe SSD
- Weight:
