1. Dell XPS 13
SPECIFICATIONS
CPU: Intel Core i7-1165G7
GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 512GB M.2 NVMe SSD
Display: 13.4-inch, 1200
Size: 11.6 x 7.8 x 0.6 inches
Weight: 2.8 pounds
REASONS TO BUY
+Attractive, premium chassis+Great performance+Good battery life
REASONS TO AVOID
-Lacks legacy ports
What do you get when you put one of Intel’s new Tiger Lake processors into a Dell XPS 13? Even more awesome. The latest Dell XPS 13 keeps all the things we loved about this year’s previous model, such as a smaller frame, four-sided InfinityEdge bezels, and a larger keyboard. But this refresh brings Intel’s 11th Gen Tiger Lake processor and a host of promised features, including better CPU and graphics performance and longer battery life. You also get Thunderbolt 4 and Wi-Fi 6.
But does Tiger Lake live up to the hype? Absolutely. With the new Intel Iris Xe GPU, you can play certain AAA games on an integrated GPU, albeit on low settings. And in many cases, the overall performance is top-notch as well. The battery life even surpasses Intel’s new Evo standards by two hours. For those looking for a laptop with equal parts beauty, power, and longevity, the Dell XPS 13 is the laptop for you.
2. Apple MacBook Pro
SPECIFICATIONS
CPU: Apple M1
GPU: Apple M1 GPU
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 1TB
Display: 13.3-inches, 1600
Size: 12 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches
Weight: 3 pounds
REASONS TO BUY
+Stellar overall and gaming performance+Excellent battery life+Lightning-fast SSD
REASONS TO AVOID
-Not enough ports-Thick bezels
Welcome to the new era of Apple computing. Apple’s M1 custom SoC marks the first step in Apple’s conscious uncoupling from Intel. The ARM-based 5-nanometer chip has 16 billion transistors, which is the most the company has ever put into a chip. In addition to all those transistors, the SoC features an eight-core processor, integrated graphics, a unified memory architecture, Apple’s Neural Engine, an improved image signal processor, and Apple’s Secure Enclave. The result is a faster, more powerful laptop that's a force to be reckoned with.
The MacBook Pro 13-inch M1 delivers impressive performance and has the longest battery life we’ve ever seen on a Mac. If that’s not enough, paired with Big Sur, you get blistering webpage load times and a better webcam experience –– all thanks to Apple Silicon. In short, the new MacBook Pro is everything Apple said and more.
3. Acer Swift 3
SPECIFICATIONS
CPU: Intel Core i7-1165G7
GPU: Integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 512GB SSD
Display: 14-inch, 1080p
Size: 12.7 x. 8.6 x 0.6 inches
Weight: 2.6 pounds
REASONS TO BUY
+Herculean performance+A beastly multitasker+Clicky keyboard
REASONS TO AVOID
-Dim display
The Acer Swift 3 is an ultra-thin, sleek, silver, peppy performer meant to help college-bound students transition to the next level of their education and make life much smoother. It has a nice design with some cool chrome accents that give a touch of flair. You get decent performance out of the 11th Gen Intel Core i7 CPU and solid rendering from the Intel Iris Xe GPU.
The Swift 3 is a solid, budget-friendly ultra-thin laptop and travel partner that won’t slow you down. It's a tiny workhorse that performed well on a number of our benchmarks. Plus, it has staying power with over 10 hours of battery life. Plus, it's got premium good looks and a rather comfortable keyboard. The laptop does have one flaw, however, its display which isn't as bright as we would like. But for the price, it's a minor quibble for a sub-$1,000 laptop.
4. Apple MacBook Air
SPECIFICATIONS
CPU: Apple M1
GPU: Apple M1 GPU
RAM: 16 GB
Storage: 1TB SSD
Display: 13-inch, 1600p
Size: 12 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches
Weight: 2.8 pounds
REASONS TO BUY
+Breathtaking performance+Outstanding battery life+Slim unibody aluminum chassis
REASONS TO AVOID
-Few ports-Design could use an update
Talk about breathing new life into a laptop. The Midas of processors, everything Apple's M1 SoC touches turns to gold. With its new engine, the MacBook Air goes from an underpowered laptop that barely makes the cut to one of the fastest notebooks around — not just in its portable segment but compared to everything else on the market. And with 14+ hours of battery life, you can easily get through a day, if not two, one a single charge.
Along with record-setting performance, Apple Silicon adds iOS and iPadOS apps to the Mac App Store. You also get better webcam quality, and macOS Big Sur is a gorgeous redesign of Apple's desktop OS. The new MacBook Air may have a few faults, but it's the closest Apple has ever been to crafting the perfect laptop.
5. Dell XPS 13 2-in-1
SPECIFICATIONS
CPU: Intel Core i7-1165G7
GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 512GB SSD
Display: 13.4-inch, 1200
Size : 11.6 x 7.8 x 0.6 inches
Weight: 2.9 pounds
REASONS TO BUY
+Top-rate build quality+Long battery life+Fast Intel 11th Gen CPUs
REASONS TO AVOID
-Shallow keyboard isn't for everyone-Display could be more colorful-No USB-A ports
The new XPS 13 2-in-1 is without question among the best 2-in-1 laptops you can buy. That shouldn't come as a surprise. Dell smartly used the XPS 13 as a blueprint for the XPS 13 2-in-1, an almost identical laptop, but with the ability to transform into a tablet.
New features to this year's edition make the XPS 13 2-in-1 more appealing than before. Intel's 11th Gen Tiger Lake CPUs with Iris Xe Graphics delivers a solid performance and graphics boost from the previous chips. The XPS 13 2-in-1 also received a quality-of-life improvement in the way of an IR camera, so you can stop typing in passwords. And although the design is unchanged, a new Frost lid matches the white color option.
It's a great choice for those looking for versatility along with performance and endurance.
6. Acer Chromebook Spin 713
SPECIFICATIONS
CPU: Intel Core i5-1135G7
GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 256GB SSD
Display: 13.5 inches, 1504p
Size: 11.8 x 9.3 x 0.7 inches
Weight: 3.2 pounds
REASONS TO BUY
+Great screen+Powerful performance+Great battery life
REASONS TO AVOID
-Sensitive Touchpad-No stylus support-Weak speakers
The Chromebook Spin 713 carves a nice niche for itself with the enthusiast or professional crowd, as well as students and mobile professionals. Its powerful processor makes it great for running heavier Android or Linux apps. It also has an ample selection of ports and a bright and vivid display. The Spin 713 proved to be a great performer with its 2.4-GHz Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor, 8GB of RAM, a 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD, and Intel Iris Xe graphics. Plus, it has above-average battery life, coming in at 10 hours and 35 minutes on the Laptop Mag battery test.
There’s an awful lot to like about the Acer Chromebook Spin 713, no matter what you’re using it for. Avid writers will love the keyboard and extra screen real estate, while multimedia mavens will love the streaming capabilities of Google OS. The notebook offers a brilliant 2-in-1 form factor that feels much more high-end than its price tag would have you believe. It’s durable enough for daily use and powerful enough to replace the functionality of many full-fledged laptops. Plus, the battery life is top-notch.
7. Asus Zenbook 13
SPECIFICATIONS
CPU: Intel Core i7-1165G7
GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 512GB SSD
Display: 13.3-inch, 1080p
Size: 11.9 x 8 x 0.6 inches
Weight: 2.5 pounds
REASONS TO BUY
+Great battery life+Clicky keyboard+Compact, slim and durable chassis
REASONS TO AVOID
-No headphone jack
The ZenBook 13 is proof of Asus’ continued commitment to solving snags and making our lives easier. It crushed the Dell XPS 13 and the HP Spectre x360 13 on the graphics and file-transfer tests. It also blew all of its rivals out of the water with its extremely colorful OLED display. The clicky keyboard is impressive, too — especially for such a compact, portable laptop. Laptops with 13-inch displays typically feel cramped, but I felt comfortable typing on the ZenBook 13.
The number pad 2.0 is another stellar feature. You may think that it would only benefit accountants or other math-oriented professionals, but trust me, you likely type numbers more than you think. Plus, the ZenBook 13 lasts more than 13 hours on a charge. The ZenBook 13 has certainly earned a spot as one of the best laptops and proves you don’t need to sacrifice battery life when opting for an OLED display.
8. HP Envy 13
SPECIFICATIONS
CPU: Intel Core i5-1135G7
GPU: Iris Xe Graphics
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 256GB SSD
Display: 13.3-inch, 1080p
Size: 12.1 x 7.7 x 0.7 inches
Weight: 2.9 pounds
REASONS TO BUY
+Bright, vivid display+Core i5 CPU is speedy+11+ hours of battery life
REASONS TO AVOID
-Plastic touchpad-No IR camera option
The HP Envy 13 continues its long reign as the king of sub-$1,000 laptops. The latest iteration of the laptop keeps all of the things we love about it, including its premium design, surprisingly powerful performance, and serious battery life. What's new is the addition of Intel's 11th Gen processors and integrated graphics. Everything else about the Envy 13 is either better or as good as it was before. The 1080p display is bright and vivid, the keyboard is a joy to type on, and you still get a Thunderbolt 4 input along with two USB Type-A ports for connecting mice, keyboards, or webcams.
HP addressed almost every shortcoming of the previous Envy 13, a laptop that already had very few faults. Bringing an 11th Gen Intel CPU onboard has improved a winning formula. Our Core i5 model impressed in real-world and benchmark tests, and the Envy 13 lasted for almost 11 hours on a charge.
9. Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
SPECIFICATIONS
CPU:: Intel Core i7-11370H
GPU:: Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti
RAM:: 32GB
Storage:: 1TB SSD
Display:: 14.4-inch, 1600p
Size:: 12.7 x 9 x 0.8 inches
Weight:: 4 pounds
REASONS TO BUY
+Clever hinge enables new modes+Gorgeous 14.4-inch, 120Hz display+Long battery life
REASONS TO AVOID
-Thick chassis-Not enough ports-Performance is short of class-leading
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is an excellent choice for creative professionals. It can be transformed into a digital drawing board, but it does so without compromising the standard laptop mode. This flexibility, along with excellent performance and long battery life, makes the Surface Laptop Studio a compelling option for creative professionals. Add in a fantastic keyboard/touchpad combo, powerful speakers, and a 1080p webcam, and the Surface Laptop Studio finds its place as one of the best laptops for creatives and anyone else searching for an extra-versatile laptop.
With its Core i7-11370H CPU and RTX 3050 Ti graphics, the Surface Laptop Studio can handle the most demanding tasks and even play some recent AAA games. Despite having so much power under the hood, the Laptop Studio lasts a full day on a charge, and its 14.4-inch display is excellent, with the 120Hz refresh rate giving it an edge over the competition. Microsoft didn't just get the big things right — it put care into each element of this laptop. The keyboard and touchpad are fantastic, the speakers are crisp and powerful, and even the webcam is decent.
10. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga
SPECIFICATIONS
CPU: Intel Core i7-1165G7
GPU: Intel Iris Xe graphics
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 512GB SSD
Display: 14-inches, 1200p
Size: 12.3 x 8.8 x 0.6 inches
Weight: 3 pounds
REASONS TO BUY
+Speedy performance+Long battery life+Built-in stylus slot
REASONS TO AVOID
-Heavier than some competitors-No SD card slot-Expensive
If you need a portable 2-in-1 laptop — for business or otherwise — and aren't on a tight budget, the X1 Yoga Gen 6 is one to consider. There simply aren't many weaknesses to this convertible. The 11th Gen Intel CPUs provide fast performance and epic endurance, while the sleek chassis is slim enough to take on a business trip or to the cafe when you're working remotely. The X1 Yoga separates itself from others in the field with a bounty of extra features, from the IR camera and fingerprint sensor to the garaged stylus and webcam cover.
If you're a business user who wants a portable 2-in-1 laptop, or an IT admin setting your team up with the very best hardware, then the ThinkPad X1 Yoga is a first-rate choice. It even lasts for nearly 15 hours on a charge. These perks are packaged in a sleek aluminum chassis with a convenient 2-in-1 design and a handy stylus slot.
