If you have kept a Windows laptop aging for too long, now is the perfect time to upgrade. With all the media threshing around IA PCs, computer manufacturers rush to publish new designs with new Effective Intel and AMD chips. And thanks to Microsoft’s Copilot + initiative, launched last year, we finally see decent notebooks fed by Qualcomm Snapdragon fleas, which lead to better battery life and lighter conceptions.
Whether you need a high-end ultraportable, a powerful game platform or a versatile mobile workstation, our current list of the best Windows laptops highlights our favorites who have been rigorously tested by our team. You can even find a Windows laptop that suits you better than a MacBook Apple if you are looking to make the change. For those who have a budget, see our list of the best Windows Laptops cheap to find excellent options that will not close the bank.
What to look for in a Windows laptop
Performance
How many power do you really need? This is the main question you need to ask yourself when choosing a Windows laptop (or any computer apparatus, to be honest). It is easy to spend too much and get a lot more computer you really need, or skimp too much and end up with an underlying processor and too little memory. We have divided our recommendations into a variety of product categories below, but generally you are looking to obtain a laptop with at least 16 GB of RAM and an Intel Core Ultra or AMD Ryzen processor. If you are a player, you will also want to make sure you get a decent graphics card. (All this is explained in our guide for the best game notebooks.)
What are the laptops AI PCS, COPILOT + and ARM?
Any computer that includes an NPU (neural processing unit) is a “PC AI”, because this chip can unload certain tasks of the CPU and the GPU. And since each flea manufacturer rushed to join the AI train, most of the systems published today have as PC IA. Exceptions are more powerful workstations and laptops for playing, which can have NPU fleas, or extremely cheap laptops running low -end fleas.
To facilitate the search for PC IA Premium, Microsoft unveiled its Copilot + program last year. It requires notebooks with NPUs which take care of at least 40 peaks of the treatment power of the AI, 16 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage. The first batch of COPILOT + systems included the new pro surface and the surface laptop, as well as the XPS 13 altered.
To make things even more confusing, Copilot + systems include PCs fed by new processors based on Qualcomm Snapdragon arms, which can run modern Windows applications but can have problems with older software and drivers.
Display and webcams
It doesn’t matter if a laptop has a touch screen or a more traditional panel, we are looking for light screens (300 nits or more) which are easy to use outside or in sunny rooms, with precise colors and wide vision angles. Screens with high cooling rates are perfect for competitive players (or anyone who wants to scroll through the darker documents), while those who have wider color ranges are important for content creation and video editing. And even if you do not plan to spend a ton of time on video calls, each laptop needs a decent webcam – 1080p or more is preferred.
Ports and connectivity
Even with the progress of cellular modems and Wi-Fi, dedicated ports to transfer data or the connection of devices can make or break a laptop. Ideally, all the thinnest and lightest systems are delivered with three USB-C ports, while things like integrated SD card readers can be extremely practical when trying to import supports from a camera. And if a notebook is salted with a slow or obsolete Wi-Fi modem (we are looking for Wi-Fi 6 or later), it is essentially an immediate disqualification.
Battery life
No matter how powerful a laptop is if you go when you need it most. As a rule, we are looking for execution times of at least ten hours on a charge, but as regards a good lifespan of the battery, it is always better. That said, on game machines with thirsty graphics cards, you may need to be satisfied with a little less. And on larger machines, it is also important to consider whether the system can invoice via USB-C or if it needs a larger and owner power brick.
Best Windows laptops for 2025
Windows laptop FAQ
What is the difference between a Windows laptop and a Chromebook?
The main difference between a Windows laptop and a Chromebook lies in their operating systems. Windows laptops operate on Microsoft’s Windows operating system, while ChromeBooks use the Google Chrome operating system.
In addition to using different operating systems, performance is one of the main differences between a Windows laptop and a Chromebook. Windows laptops can be equipped with powerful processors and discreet graphics, making them suitable for demanding tasks such as games or video editing. Chromebooks, on the other hand, are generally optimized for speed and simplicity, focusing on lighter tasks such as word processing and web navigation.
In terms of software, Windows laptops support a range of desktop programs, while ChromeBooks mainly use web applications or Android applications from Google Play Store. Due to their differences, chromebooks tend to be more affordable because they are mainly designed for daily basic tasks. Windows laptops can vary as a budget price to the bonus, the latter adapted to games, professionals or creatives.
What is the difference between MacOS and Windows?
Regarding macOS and windows, these are essentially two different worlds in the field of computers, each with their own personality. MacOS is elegant, minimal and feels quite intuitive, especially if you like things that “work” out of the box. Apple designs macos to work in tandem with its equipment, so if you have an iOS device like an iPhone or iPad, the whole ecosystem synchronizes transparently.
Windows is more like jack-of-all-trades. It is known to be super flexible and customizable. Whether you want to adjust what things look like or execute a wide variety of software, Windows gives you this freedom. It is also more widely used in commercial environments, mainly because it is there longer and is compatible with tons of different programs and equipment.
Recent updates
March 2025: Update of one of our best choices and added new information on IA PCs.
September 2024: Adding a FAQ section.
July 2024: We have updated our best choices to include the 7th edition of Microsoft Surface Ordorpopop.
This article originally appeared on engadget to
