Excessive performing laptops for work, gaming and extra

The Asus Zenbook 14 OLED is a terrific all-rounder, providing an excellent mixture of productiveness, artistic and gaming efficiency in addition to a classy and light-weight body.

On the productiveness entrance, the Asus will comfortably take down loads of tabs, together with sturdy multi-tasking capabilities. Nonetheless, it’s the boosted graphical capabilities of the brand new Intel Core Extremely and its Arc built-in graphics which can be price noticing. Admittedly, it stays removed from a gaming powerhouse however it offers this laptop computer the flexibility to comfortably dip its toe into AAA gaming at low to medium settings together with being perfect for creators on the go.

The laptop computer seems to be good whereas doing all this too, from a terrifically shiny and detailed 1800p OLED show to a slim 15mm design that weighs simply 1.29kg. Regardless of this, it manages to pack in a stable vary of ports, from two Thunderbolt 4 and a USB-C to a useful HDMI 2.1 and a headphone jack. One other issue that manages to not be hindered by the sunshine body is the keyboard, we discovered it to be delightfully clicky and crisp.

One space wherein high-end Home windows productiveness laptops have lacked over latest years, significantly Intel ones, is on battery life. Properly, the Zenbook 14 OLED could not hit the heights of the MacBook Air, however it comes nearer than earlier than. It reaches near a stable 13 hours of juice.

Reviewer: Stuart Andrews
Full evaluate: Asus Zenbook 14 OLED evaluate

Apple is at it once more, creating one other glorious all-rounder with its new MacBook Air M3 13-inch. It’s the most effective MacBook for most individuals.

Admittedly, not a lot has modified with the brand new M3 mannequin in contrast with the earlier M2 iteration, with a pleasant bump in efficiency the important thing change. Nonetheless, if you would like the newest and biggest, you received’t be upset with this machine.

This model of the MacBook Air, because it was redesigned final yr, provides wondrous fanless energy for critical productiveness and light-weight artistic tasking. Alongside, you get a wonderful keyboard, big trackpad, helpful set of ports and an opulent design.

On high, you get a number of the most beautiful battery life available on the market, with this gadget being able to greater than 15 hours of labor. Throughout, it is a gadget that’s a pleasure to make use of and provides great worth regardless of its round £1000/$1000 beginning worth, as you’re getting a lot bang on your buck.

Reviewer: Max Parker
Full evaluate: Apple MacBook Air M3 13-inch evaluate

The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024) is the most effective all-round gaming laptop computer that we’ve reviewed to this point. Not solely does it boast unbelievable gaming firepower, but additionally an ultra-portable, slender design that’s straightforward to hold round.

Asus selected to present its G14 vary a serious design refresh this yr, which concerned a fair thinner design than earlier than. Meaning it’s remarkably simply 16.3mm thick, whereas hitting the scales at a dainty 1.5kg, which is even lighter than the 15-inch MacBook Air.

Due to the discrete Nvidia GPU beneath the hood, it provides improbable efficiency, to such an extent that it might probably run intensive video games reminiscent of Cyberpunk 2077 and Returnal at a Quad HD decision. The 14-inch OLED display additionally helps to make sure that video games look completely beautiful, with colors coming out of the show.

Having a lot firepower does depart battery life a little bit quick, coming in at simply 6 hours in our benchmark exams for productiveness workloads. However when you’re after an ultra-portable gaming laptop computer, that’s a minor compromise for such a wonderful general package deal.

For those who suppose the value of G14 is a tad too excessive on your funds, then additionally contemplate the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 Gen 8. That is one other 5-star gaming laptop computer with unbelievable specs on your cash. It’s not fairly as transportable or trendy because the G14, however it carried out higher in our benchmark exams, making it an excellent various.

Reviewer: Adam Speight
Full evaluate: Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024) evaluate

Asus’ Zenbook S vary has been charting a formidable course for ultrabooks for a while now, however it’s within the Zenbook S 16 that it feels as if Asus has really hit its stride.

The spotlight characteristic of this 2024 iteration is using Asus’ all-new materials generally known as ‘Ceraluminum’. If the portmanteau doesn’t already let you know as a lot, it’s a mix of ceramic and aluminium, that now includes the higher chassis and makes for fairly a light-weight but sturdy presence. Plus, better of all, it’s not a fingerprint magnet.

The trackpad has seen a 40% enhance over the past technology, making gestures that bit simpler to enact. The 65% keyboard can also be extremely tactile with pleasing journey, making this a delight to work on.

What actually cements the S 16 as an excellent ultrabook is the {powerful} Ryzen 9 AI HX 370 processor which, in our testing, was in a position to outdo the Intel Core Extremely 7 155H-toting Dell XPS 14 (2024), and even showcase comparable outcomes with the MacBook Air M3. Pair that with a protracted battery lifetime of simply over 13 hours from our testing and also you’re trying on the perfect workstation for these on the go.

Reviewer: Reece Bithrey
Full evaluate: Asus Zenbook S 16 (2024) evaluate

At this time limit, the 2-in-1 pill/laptop computer idea is sort of synonymous with Microsoft’s Floor Professional line, and whereas it has been residence to some nice gadgets, more moderen picks have felt a tad iterative. Not so with the Microsoft Floor Professional 11.

Making the bounce to ARM structure (appropriately this time) through the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite or the mid-range X Plus chipset (we examined the model sporting the previous), the Floor Professional 11 now runs buttery clean in on a regular basis duties. Admittedly, you will see that sooner efficiency on the Floor Laptop computer 7, however it’s now on the degree the place common slowdown is a factor of the previous, and also you’re free to crack on together with your work unencumbered (as long as it’s Arm appropriate in fact).

Whereas it’s nonetheless outrageous that customers are anticipated to purchase a keyboard individually from the Floor Professional 11, the brand new Floor Flex Keyboard does open up the flexibility of the gadget through a wi-fi Bluetooth connection. This implies which you could have the keyboard in your lap while the Professional 11 is propped up on a desk, and sort away as regular.

In case your funds can stretch to accommodate it, we additionally suggest selecting up the OLED model of this gadget. Not solely does it make your most used apps pop on-screen, however it additionally lets the Floor Professional 11 work nice for leisure when in pill mode, though you’re finest pairing it with a set of headphones because the built-in audio system aren’t the most effective on the market.

Reviewer: Max Parker
Full evaluate: Microsoft Floor Professional 11 evaluate

The Samsung Galaxy Guide 3 360 is the darkish horse of the laptop computer world in 2024. It hasn’t been touted by Samsung all that a lot, overshadowed by the Galaxy Guide 3 Professional and new Galaxy Guide 3 Extremely. However, in the case of broad attraction and worth, it’s comfortably the most effective of the bunch.

Regardless of its cheaper price than many key rivals, the thirteenth Gen Intel Core P-series chip inside supplies loads of productiveness efficiency, at least you want for a pupil or phrase processing workload. And, it’s aided by a show that will look under-specced initially.

Coming in at simply Full HD, the display redeems itself by way of Samsung’s AMOLED panel, which is crisp and plush. With a 16:9 facet ratio and 360-degree hinge, it is a laptop computer that’s perfect for media consumption too.

The keyboard expertise is superb, you’ll be able to spend hours comfortably typing away on the Galaxy Guide 3 360. And, you’ll be proud to do it in no matter setting, with the design matching that of most high-end, and costlier machines, with an all-metal construct. The highest-notch S Pen is included too, for breezy drawing and handwriting capabilities.

Reviewer: Adam Speight
Full evaluate: Samsung Galaxy Guide 3 360 evaluate

Once you’re shopping for a funds laptop computer, there are going to be compromises. Nonetheless, far too many laptops ask you to compromise on an excessive amount of. The HP Pavilion SE 14 will get the stability proper for beneath £500.

Proper off the bat, the Pavilion SE 14 impresses by providing you with trendy specs, when many funds laptops ask you to pay high greenback for final yr’s processor. This laptop computer provides up a thirteenth Gen Intel Core chip alongside a stable 8GB RAM and 512GB SSD. It’s a potent mixture that’s nice for productiveness and stable multitasking, whereas additionally providing you with loads of room to retailer tons of paperwork and images.

Different key compromises for funds laptops usually embody a shoddy keyboard and tinny audio system, however the Pavilion SE 14 bats this norm away. The keyboard is comfy and also you’ll don’t have any bother typing out a protracted essay on this machine, even when it takes you hours to mull over. We have been stunned to find the audio system provided surprisingly full and loud audio too. The 1080p webcam is one other top-notch inclusion for a funds laptop computer too, that means this laptop computer can also be suited effectively to video conferencing.

The place the HP Pavilion SE 14 doesn’t pull up bushes is with the show. It isn’t an OLED, so the colors received’t knock your socks off however, being an IPS panel fairly than a TN, it provides passable viewing angles and brightness. The battery life isn’t wonderful both, at round 7 hours. Nonetheless, the design ought to nonetheless please the likes of scholars who need one thing sturdy but trendy, with it being created from plastic however providing a deceptively smooth look.

Reviewer: Alun Taylor
Full evaluate: HP Pavilion SE 14 evaluate

The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 was a part of a brand new vary of ChromeOS gadgets that launched in 2023. The goal of the Chromebook Plus initiative was to boost requirements for affordable Chromebooks, making it simpler for consumers to really feel comfy selecting one up. The CX34 completely did that, a laptop computer that punches effectively above its low £429 worth level.

The specs are unlikely to knock your socks off, with only a twelfth Gen Intel Core i3 chip main the cost. However, backed up by 8GB RAM and the light-weight ChromeOS, the CX34 is a machine that may deal with intensive searching with ease and multitask comfortably too. That light-weight ChromeOS additionally implies that, regardless of donning a fairly small 50Wh battery, it manages to present you a formidable 11+ hours of battery life.

The chassis could also be plastic and really feel fairly low-cost however it provides trendy signature Asus seems to be and a plethora of ports. We have been additionally mightily impressed by the stable journey of this keyboard that makes this a pleasure of a laptop computer to sort away on. The show is robust for the value too, providing pleasing element if missing a little bit within the brightness division.

Google’s Chromebook Plus gadgets supply some neat new options to customers as effectively. You’ll discover the Magic Eraser onboard, transferring over from its Pixel telephones, letting you erase undesirable figures and objects from photographs. AI video calling options are right here to tidy up your conferences additionally. Then, there’s Offline File Sync, which makes it straightforward to entry your information on the go, a characteristic lengthy absent from ChromeOS laptops.

Reviewer: Reece Bithrey
Full evaluate: Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 evaluate

The Apple MacBook Professional 16-inch (M3 Max) comes with a excessive worth and is aimed squarely at critical professionals who want {hardware} that may dwell as much as intensive computing and graphical processing calls for. For those who fall into that bracket, you received’t be upset.

The MacBook Professional stays the chief of the pack in the case of efficiency up towards key rivals on the Home windows facet of issues and it retains the highest trick of M-series MacBook, with the ability to present nearly equal efficiency when not plugged in as it might probably when it’s. This stays mightily spectacular because the drop-off is massive on high-performance Home windows laptops.

Throughout most of our testing benchmarks, this laptop computer barely made noise above a whisper and the machine by no means received overly heat. In case you are somebody who has much less advanced graphical wants however is trying to future-proof your machine by shopping for extra energy than you want, you’re going to discover a gadget that tackles most graphical duties with beautiful ease.

Apart from the stable increase to efficiency, you’ll discover sturdy options that stay the identical from the M2-series MacBook Professional. That’s a reinvigorated set of ports and a luscious Mini LED show that’s stunningly shiny and correct. The battery life stays exceptional too, with the ability to final for round 15 hours of net searching.

The one cause to snub the MacBook Professional for video enhancing is when you’d desire to make use of Home windows as an alternative of macOS. If that’s the case, we suggest trying out the Dell XPS 16 (2024) and Asus Vivobook Professional 15 OLED as an alternative.

Reviewer: Max Parker
Full evaluate: Apple MacBook Professional 16-inch (M3 Max) evaluate

Samsung’s flagship laptops have the behavior of being a little bit of a blended bag, and the Galaxy Book4 Professional 360 is not any completely different. It has some glorious options and a few middling ones, however the choose of the bunch is stellar battery life.

In recent times, Home windows laptops have struggled to maintain tempo with the MacBooks and the effectivity that their Apple M-series chips deliver. Nonetheless, this 16-inch machine has managed to get inside touching distance. In our testing, we discovered it may supply round 15 hours at its most and can comfortably get you thru most working days.

The second finest characteristic of this Samsung laptop computer is its show. It comes with an opulent 120Hz 3K AMOLED panel. It’s beautiful for watching films, streaming video games and getting right down to artistic work. That is additionally a laptop computer with a 360-hinge that means you’ll be able to make the most of the luxurious panel in pill mode, and do some gentle drawing with the superb S Pen.

The brand new Intel Core Extremely chip inside provides sturdy productiveness efficiency whereas permitting you to dabble in some gentle enhancing and really gentle gaming. Samsung isn’t the choose of the bunch when it comes to getting probably the most out of this chip however it’ll swimsuit the wants of most common customers.

Reviewer: Adam Speight
Full evaluate: Samsung Galaxy Book4 Professional 360 evaluate

A brand new pattern has emerged lately, as a number of producers have launched dual-screen laptops. We’ve already reviewed a few them, and the Asus ZenBook Duo (2024) is our favorite choice to this point.

Not solely does the second display make it simpler to view a number of apps and browser tabs concurrently, but additionally will increase the variety of methods you should utilize the transportable. You’ll be able to stack the 2 screens vertically or horizontally, with the Bluetooth keyboard positioned on the desk in entrance. Or alternatively, you’ll be able to sit the keyboard on high of the second display to take the type of a traditional clamshell.

Importantly, the Zenbook Duo excels in areas past its dual-screen design. It additionally has beautiful OLED screens, a speedy productiveness efficiency and a keyboard that’s a pleasure to sort on.

The Lenovo Yoga Guide 9i is one other nice dual-screen laptop computer, however we nonetheless counsel sticking with the Asus mannequin because it provides a extra full package deal, together with extra streamlined software program, a built-in kickstand and the inclusion of a trackpad on the keyboard.

Reviewer: Stuart Andrews
Full evaluate: Asus ZenBook Duo (2024) evaluate

The Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D is likely one of the quickest gaming laptops you’re more likely to discover, making the most of AMD’s new 3D V-Cache know-how for beautiful outcomes.

The laptop computer is all about cutting-edge gaming efficiency, so let’s get into it. The ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D provides up exceptional QHD outcomes at Extremely settings, attaining above 90fps for each Cyberpunk 2077 and Returnal. What’s extra, with Cyberpunk 2077’s demanding RT:Extremely mode enabled (for high-quality ray tracing), it was nonetheless in a position to handle 75fps.

There’s a robust show to current all these superb frames on too. It’s received a 1440p 240Hz IPS panel that’s quick and provides good color accuracy. It might not have flashy Mini LED know-how however it hits all the correct notes for players, with a 3ms response time included too.

This gadget additionally includes a MUX change, ensuring your CPU doesn’t get in the way in which of uncooked GPU efficiency. The keyboard is as much as the ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D’s excessive requirements too, offering stable journey and suggestions.

Reviewer: Alun Taylor
Full evaluate: Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D evaluate