What's the Best Laptop?

Ah, laptops. What would we do without them? If you're in the market for a new one in the UK, you're in luck. The last 12 months have brought us an array of machines that are lighter, faster, and have better AI features.

Whether you’re looking for something cutting edge for work, the best laptop overall, the best gaming laptop, or where to find the best laptop deals, let's dive in and figure out which of these silicon slabs is worth your hard-earned cash.

1. Apple MacBook Pro (M4)

The MacBook Pro remains one of the top-rated laptops, much to the dismay of your bank account. The most recent version boasts the M4 chip, which is so powerful it might actually finish rendering your video before you’ve even clicked "export".

The Mini LED display is still gorgeous, battery life is longer than a British winter, and macOS is smoother than something smooth. What’s not to like?

Pros: Blazing fast, gorgeous display, exceptional battery life. The best Apple MacBook. 

Cons: Expensive enough to make you consider a side hustle.

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2. Dell XPS 16

The XPS line continues its tradition of being the "MacBook for people who don't want a MacBook".

With a borderless OLED display that makes everything look cinematic, the latest Intel Core Ultra 7 chip (155H model) (because apparently, "Ultra" is *the* thing now), and a build quality so premium it makes other laptops feel like they’re held together with Pritt Stick, the XPS 16 is a serious contender.

Pros: Stunning display, powerful performance, sleek design. The best Dell laptop.

Cons: Eye-watering price tag. Even on a laptop this powerful, Windows 11 still feels a bit clunky.

UK Starting Price: £1,849

3. Asus ROG Zephyrus G16

For the gamers who pretend they need a laptop for “work” this one’s for you. Armed with the latest AMD Ryzen 9 chip and Nvidia’s incredible RTX 4080 graphics card, this machine can run the most demanding games at buttery smooth frame rates.

It also has a surprisingly respectable battery life - so yes, you can take it to that café and pretend to be writing a novel while actually playing Cyberpunk 2077.

Pros: Ridiculous power, great cooling, RGB lights that make it look like a spaceship. It’s (probably) the best gaming laptop available, and the best Asus laptop.

Cons: You may not want a laptop that looks like a spaceship.

4. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12

The corporate favourite is back, and it’s still the best laptop if you like your machines to be more hard-wearing than a Nokia 3310.

It’s lightweight, has one of the best keyboards on the planet, and remains the laptop of choice for people who like spreadsheets just a little too much.

Pros: Rugged, amazing keyboard, solid battery life. The best Lenovo laptop.

Cons: Perhaps a tad uninspiring aesthetically for such an expensive laptop.

5. Framework Laptop 16

If you’re tired of disposable tech, the Framework Laptop 16 is here to restore your faith in humanity.

Completely modular and upgradable, you can swap out the RAM, GPU, ports, and even the keyboard layout.

It’s the best laptop for tinkerers, techies, and people who secretly miss the days of building their own PCs.

Pros: Fully repairable, sustainable, endlessly customisable.

Cons: You might spend more time upgrading it than actually using it.

6. HP Spectre x360

HP’s Spectre x360 is proof laptops can be both powerful and ridiculously good-looking.

With its rotating touchscreen, premium build, and powerful Intel chipset, it's ideal for creators, businesspeople, and anyone who enjoys making colleagues jealous.

Pros: Fully repairable, sustainable, endlessly customisable. Arguably the best HP laptop.

Cons: Expensive, but incredibly powerful and well-rounded.

Samsung brings smartphone sleekness to the laptop world with the Galaxy Book3 Ultra. Featuring AMOLED screen magic and a battery that can outlast an elephant’s attention span, it's perfect if you want the best of the best, and you’re deep in the Samsung ecosystem and want your laptop to play nice with your Galaxy phone.

Its AI integration is cutting edge, but it also has an absolutely eyewatering price-tag, which, while justified by its brilliance, must be considered in our rating. 

Cheap doesn’t have to mean clunky, and the Acer Swift Go 14 proves it. This budget-friendly beast sports a stylish design, reliable AMD Ryzen processor, and impressive battery life.

It's perfect for students, bargain-hunters, and anyone who thinks spending four figures on a laptop should be illegal.

Pros: Wallet-friendly, stylish design, surprisingly robust performance. The best cheap laptop.

Final Verdict

If you want raw power, the best Apple MacBook and can afford it, go for the MacBook Pro. If you need a Windows alternative, Dell’s XPS 16 is a no-brainer. If you want the best gaming laptop, go for the Asus ROG Zephyrus.

Business users? ThinkPad. And for those who value sustainability, Framework is a game-changer. If you want the best budget laptop or the best laptop for students, go for the Acer Swift Go 14.

In the end, the best laptop is the one that suits your needs—and, ideally, doesn’t overheat so much it doubles as a portable radiator. All of the laptops above are great choices for people looking for the best-of-the-best.

Where’s best to get cheap laptop deals?

You may find places like AO.com, Amazon, Argos and John Lewis offer some of the best laptop deals, however, we do recommend you check out discount aggregators and price-comparison sites like hotukdeals and PriceSpy first and check a number of different sources before you commit to a purchase.***

Happy shopping!

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** Trustpilot Score 4.4, 21,930 total reviews as of 25th February 2025.

*** We do not earn any commission from sites or links within this article. Our reviews and advice are based wholly on impartial desk research.