Best laptops: Our experts pick the top 12 models | usagoldmines.com

Who should buy the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus?

If you want a laptop that truly does it all and does it well, the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is the one to beat. This laptop nails the essentials with style, speed, and stamina. It’s a top pick for anyone who needs dependable performance without being tethered to an outlet all day. The 14-inch form factor also hits the sweet spot between portability and screen space, making it perfect for either work or play.

One of the biggest selling points is the seriously impressive 17-hour battery life. Whether it’s a long study session or a long workday, this laptop will power along with you. And with a price tag around $1,000, it delivers incredible value for the performance you’re getting.

Beyond the long battery life, the 14-inch 2560×1600 display comes with an anti-glare coating and a peak brightness of 418 nits, making it comfortable to use in different lighting environments.

Dell Inspiron 14 Plus: Further considerations

The conservative design might not appeal to users looking for more pizzazz. While integrated graphics are fine for daily use, power users may want to look elsewhere for a laptop can handle heavier workloads. For most users though, this laptop ticks nearly every box.

Who should buy the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED?

Anyone would be happy with the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED–it nails the vital aspects, especially in the display and battery departments. The 14-inch 1920×1200 OLED panel is deliciously vivid, delivering rich colors and deep contrast, which is great for creators and editors. It’s also fast (thanks to the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor) and lightweight (2.82 pounds), and the 75 watt-hour battery churned out 17 hours of charge. That’s not bad for the $850 price tag.

It’s a fantastic notebook that would work great for anyone, especially if you want vivid visuals from an OLED panel.

Asus Zenbook 14 OLED: Further considerations

The Asus Zenbook 14 OLED would have been our top pick, but it fell short in a few areas. For instance, the port selection is more limited–no Ethernet and fewer USB-A’s. The reflective display also makes it harder to use outdoors or in bright rooms. Finally, the Dell Inspiron Plus 14 (our current top pick) has slightly better battery life and performance.

Who should buy the Acer Aspire Go 15?

The Acer Aspire Go 15 is the must-have laptop for budget-conscious buyers that just need the basics. The Intel Core i3-N305 processor handles everyday tasks like browsing and word processing with ease. Battery life is also close to 12 hours on a single charge.

The appeal mostly lies in its value, though. While more expensive laptops nail the polish and the speed, the budget variety is strictly about what’s functional and that’s exactly what you’re getting here. It’s a good option for students or anyone seeking a reliable, no frills machine under $500.

You’ll also find a surprisingly generous port selection on the Acer Aspire Go 15–USB-A on both sides, a USB-C, an HDMI, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a Kensington lock. That’s more than what some laptops get twice the price.

Acer Aspire Go 15: Further considerations

Like many budget-friendly laptops, the Aspire Go 15 comes with a few trade-offs. The plastic chassis helps keep the cost down, and while it weighs a bit over four pounds, it’s still manageable for day-to-day portability. The 1920×1080 display is also pretty dim (250 nits), so it’s better suited for indoor use due to its 250 nit brightness, but it still delivers sharp visuals for everyday tasks.

That said, if you’re looking to get solid utility at a great price, the Acer Aspire Go 15 is the total package.

Who should buy the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6?

The Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 is a great option for anyone who needs a reliable, long-lasting laptop. Weighing just 2.66 pounds and offering an incredible battery life of nearly 24 hours, it’s ideal for people who are always on the move. Plus, with a Snapdragon X Elite processor running the show, it offers the perfect blend of portability, endurance, and capable everyday performance.

The build quality is also standout, with the chassis being notably sturdy, and the keyboard offers a delightfully tactile typing experience ThinkPads are known for.

Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6: Further considerations

The one area where this laptop falls a bit short is the display. While the 1920×1200 IPS screen is perfectly usable for productivity, it lacks the richness and contrast of an OLED panel. So if you’re doing color-sensitive creative work, you may want to look elsewhere. But if long battery life and portability matter more to you, then the ThinkPad T14s is the way to go.

Who should buy the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34?

The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is great for everyday users looking for a reliable yet stylish device. It stands out as the best overall Chromebook because it offers a harmonious marriage of performance, design, and affordability. Inside you’ll find an Intel Core i5-1335U processor, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of SSD storage–in other words, it efficiently handles everyday tasks. The 14-inch 1080p display delivers sharp visuals, and the laptop includes a 1080p webcam for those web conferencing calls. The chic pearl colorway also adds a nice touch of elegance, making it suitable for personal or professional environments.

Asus Chromebook Plus CX34: Further considerations

While the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 offers smooth performance and a pretty design, there are minor trade-offs to be aware of like the non-competitive battery life (13 hours) and the lack of a touchscreen.

Who should buy the MacBook Air (M3)?

The MacBook Air (M3) is a stellar option for anyone who wants a premium macOS experience without paying MacBook Pro prices. Starting at $1,299, it delivers fast performance for everyday tasks, light creative work, and multitasking–all in a fanless design that runs silent even under load.

The Apple M3 chip brings performance on par with the base MacBook Pro (M3) model and, in testing, the battery lasted up to 19 hours on a single charge. If you’re looking for a powerful yet quiet macOS laptop with plenty of endurance to spare, this one hits the sweet spot.

The 15-inch Liquid Retina (2880×1864 resolution) display doesn’t quite match the brightness or contrast of the mini-LED panel found in the MacBook Pro, but it’s still sharp and vibrant. The Air is also impressively thin and lightweight (3.3 pounds!), so it’s pretty darn portable.

MacBook Air (M3): Further considerations

If you’re after high-end performance for professional level workloads like 3D rendering or heavy video editing, a MacBook Pro with active cooling might be a better fit. However, for most users, the MacBook Air (M3) delivers good performance, long battery life, and an elegant design.

Read our full MacBook Air (M3) review

Who should buy the Lenovo Legion 5i?

The Lenovo Legion 5i is a solid mid-range pick for gamers who want strong gaming performance and a fast display. With an Intel Core i9-14900HX CPU and an Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU under the hood, it delivers the power needed for smooth gameplay as well as lightning-fast load times.

The spacious 16-inch (2560×1600 resolution, 165Hz refresh rate) is another highlight. It offers crisp visuals and fluid motion, which is perfect for immersive single-player games and competitive gaming. In addition to it being a fast display, it also produces vibrant colors. For the price ($1,399 as tested), it offers an impressive balance of performance and value.

Lenovo Legion 5i: Further considerations

The Lenovo Legion 5i doesn’t just bring blazing-fast performance to the table, it also includes thoughtful features like a 1080p webcam with an electronic shutter switch and a full-size keyboard with a number pad and four zones of LED lighting. The webcam is perfect for streaming and the number pad allows for quick access to numeric inputs.

While this laptop hits the mark for most gamers, for those that want more graphics firepower and higher frame rates, we’d recommend springing for a laptop with RTX 4070 graphics or higher.

Who should buy the Acer Nitro V 16?

The Acer Nitro V 16 is a fantastic pick for gamers who want good performance and a fast display without breaking the bank. With an Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU, an AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS CPU, and a 16-inch 1920×1200 IPS display running at 165Hz, it can comfortably handle most modern games on High settings.

Acer Nitro V 16: Further considerations

The Nitro V 16 really embraces the gaming aesthetic, with its angular lines and backlit keyboard that glows like embers in a fireplace. If you’re into that bold style, you’ll love it, but if you prefer a more understated design, it might not be for you. Battery life is also limited to about four hours, which is typical for a laptop in this category, but it’s something to keep in mind.

Bottom line? If your priority is strong gaming performance at an affordable price, the Nitro V 16 offers a lot of bang for your buck.

Who should buy the Asus ProArt P16?

The Asus ProArt P16 is a top-tier choice for creative professionals and prosumers who prioritize display quality, connectivity, and performance. With its stunning 16-inch (3840×2400 resolution, 16:10 aspect ratio), it’s definitely well suited to photo editing tasks and video production. It also boasts an Intel Core i9-13980HX CPU and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, a powerhouse combination that delivers desktop-class performance.

Battery life is another strong point, with the ProArt P16 lasting over nine hours on a single charge. It also includes USB 4.0 support via one of its USB-C ports, which enables speeds up to 40Gbps, making high-speed transfer possible.

Asus ProArt P16: Further considerations

Performance and display quality are the standout features, but there’s something compelling about the understated design. Some may find the all-black chassis too plain while others find it elegant. Under more demanding workloads, the chassis can also run a bit warm. Still, the ProArt P16 is an excellent fit for anyone that needs a serious workhorse.

Who should buy the Asus Zenbook S 14?

The Asus Zenbook S 14 is a standout ultraportable for those who want a lightweight design, all-day battery life, and premium display quality. Weighing just 2.65 pounds–lighter than the 13-inch MacBook Air–it’s a great pick for regular travelers and commuters.

Despite its slim build, this laptop delivers surprising endurance. Its 73 watt-hour battery lasted an impressive 21 hours in testing and it comes paired with a vibrant 14-inch (2880×1800 resolution, 120Hz refresh rate) OLED display.

Asus Zenbook S 14: Further considerations

The Asus Zenbook S 14 offers more than just its slender build and extended battery life. The built-in audio is a pleasant surprise, as it delivers rich, clear sound, making it a solid option for media consumption. While it’s not exactly a powerhouse for resource intensive creative work, the Zenbook S 14 really excels in portability and endurance.

Who should buy the MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo?

Anyone seeking a versatile 2-in-1 laptop with long battery life will love what the MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo brings to the table. Its nearly 21-hour battery life ensures productivity throughout the day without needing another charge up. The included MSI Pen2 stylus and bright display make it an especially strong choice for creatives and note takers. This laptop also features a fingerprint scanner and a TPM 2.0 chip, which is awesome for those who are concerned about data protection.

MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo: Further considerations

While the MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo offers impressive battery life and a vibrant display, the plastic chassis may not appeal to those looking for more premium materials. The keyboard’s compact layout could also be uncomfortable for those with larger hands, and the audio quality is sub-par at best. Bring your own headphones!

Who should buy the Framework Laptop 13 (2025)?

The Framework Laptop 13 (2025) is perfect for enthusiasts who value customization and longevity. The modular design allows users to swap out any part of the laptop like the motherboard, RAM, storage, and so on, so you can extend the life of your laptop. Plus, the inclusion of AMD’s Ryzen AI 300 series processors and support for up to 86GB of DDR5 RAM make it a powerful tool for more demanding tasks. It also has a pretty slim profile, which ups the portability factor.

Framework Laptop 13 (2025): Further considerations

While you can’t argue with the Framework Laptop 13 (2025)’s upgradeability, the upfront cost is rather high and may deter some folks. The integrated GPU is fine for everyday tasks, but it may not meet the needs of those who require high-end graphics performance. The battery life is also adequate for a full workday, but it doesn’t zip past other machines in the same category.