Even the most devoted Apple disciples should be able to admit that the best Windows laptops have some advantages over the best MacBooks.
For one thing, Windows PCs offer a wider variety of hardware and configuration options, often at cheaper prices. (They still hold the monopoly on touchscreen displays, for example.) On the software side, you’re going to get broader support for specialized business apps and video games on a Windows laptop. Windows 11 also goes hard on Copilot integration, that being Microsoft’s ChatGPT-like assistant, giving it appeal for AI early adopters.
I’ve been writing about laptops for Mashable since 2023, and in my experience, the top Windows laptops run an impressive gamut; think ultraportable Copilot+ PCs, dual-display stunners, subtle gaming stations, and approachable modular systems. Some of them even manage to beat the latest MacBooks on performance and battery life — a feat largely made possible by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X series chips.
So, what is the best Windows laptop?
Speaking of: At present, I think the best Windows laptop for most people is the 13.8-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 powered by the Snapdragon X Elite chip. It’s a stylish workhorse with enough power to handle demanding workloads, a premium build, and an amazing all-day battery life (outdone by just one other model). Even the M4 MacBooks can’t 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 myself and other Mashable staff and contributors. We’ve reviewed dozens of PCs on the basis of performance, build quality, battery life, and value over the years, and the ones I’m recommending are the cream of recent-gen crops. Most of them scored high enough to secure a Mashable Choice Award, the highest honor we give to the gadgets we review.
What’s new
As of November 2025, the Acer Swift Go 16 is our favorite big-screen Windows laptop. It’s a brand-new category for this guide.
What didn’t make the cut?
We’ve 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 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 — it’s such a striking laptop, and a very portable one, too. Unfortunately, its keyboard is cramped, its touchpad is glitchy, and it’s 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. Its thin, travel-friendly design features a nice 2.8K OLED touchscreen and an aluminum chassis that doesn’t cling to fingerprints, but its cheap-feeling touchpad and weirdly placed speakers bothered our reviewer.
The HP Omnibook X Flip 16 is an oversized hybrid laptop with a vibrant 3K OLED touchscreen, strong hinge, and an above-average battery life. But it’s weighed down by an awkward zero-lattice keyboard, middling performance for the price, and a heavy build.
