The Best Laptops of 2025 Ranked: Which One Should You Buy

Choosing the right laptop in 2025 means balancing power, portability, battery life, and total cost of ownership. Whether you're a hybrid office worker, creative professional, or work-from-anywhere entrepreneur, our ranked list offers clarity, real-world context, and actionable insight. We've tested and fact‑checked the top contenders, so here's what you should seriously consider:
Why it leads: The MacBook Air M4 remains the gold standard for most business users—boasting industry‑leading battery life (up to 18 hours reported), fanless cooling, and compatibility with top office suites like Microsoft 365, Adobe Creative Cloud, and Zoom .
Real-world example: A financial analyst reports 'colleagues often forget my Air is even on standby—it's that efficient.'
Pros & Cons: Pros: Lightweight (~2.7 lb); stellar battery; strong resale value ($999+ MSRP).
Lightweight (~2.7 lb); stellar battery; strong resale value ($999+ MSRP). Cons: Max 24GB RAM; limited port options (2× USB‑C only).
Ideal for: Managers, consultants, and creatives who value silent performance and longevity.
Why it stands out: Blurring the line with MacBook, this ARM‑powered device offers stellar battery life (15–22 hours) and fanless efficiency . Windows on ARM is maturing fast.
Real-world example: A software developer appreciates the 'built-in Copilot key' for boosting productivity and AI prompts.
Pros & Cons:
Ideal for: Hybrid professionals needing Microsoft ecosystem with exceptional battery life.
Why it shines: A premium Windows option with AMOLED display, minimal aesthetic, and 'all‑day productivity' reliability .
Real-world example: A business consultant uses it for multi-tab Excel sessions and client presentations without lag.
Pros & Cons: Pros: Vibrant screen; stylish; reliable performance; good battery.
Vibrant screen; stylish; reliable performance; good battery. Cons: Limited upgradeability; fairly premium price.
Ideal for: Professionals seeking Apple‑like polish with Windows flexibility.
Why it's a value pick: Known for portability (under 1 kg), military-grade build, and long battery life, it packs Snapdragon X with 32GB RAM & 1TB SSD laptopmag.com+15windowscentral.com+15reddit.com+15techradar.com.
Pros & Cons: Pros: Ultra-light; robust ports (USB4, HDMI 2.1); vibrant OLED.
Ultra-light; robust ports (USB4, HDMI 2.1); vibrant OLED. Cons: Base price $1,099; modest performance for demanding tasks.
Ideal for: Travelers and executives who prioritize weight and durability.
Why it's unique: Delivers true sustainability via modular, repairable design—upgradable RAM, SSD, ports, even DIY builds from $899 windowscentral.comlaptopmag.com+1windowscentral.com+1.
Real-world example: A remote educator swapped in his own Wi‑Fi 7 card and bumped memory—no service center needed.
Pros & Cons: Pros: Repairable; future‑proof; excellent community support.
Repairable; future‑proof; excellent community support. Cons: Base i3 config underwhelms for power users; DIY not for everyone.
Ideal for: IT‑savvy users and green‑tech advocates.
Why it's powerful: A Windows powerhouse with Intel Ultra CPUs, RTX 40-series GPU, up to 64GB RAM and OLED/4K screens .
Pros & Cons: Pros: Large vibrant screen; high-end specs; premium build.
Large vibrant screen; high-end specs; premium build. Cons: Soldered memory; expensive ($1,699+).
Ideal for: Creative professionals—video editors, architects, big-data analysts.
Why gamers and creators love it: Slim yet potent gaming rig with RTX 5090 GPU, OLED 240 Hz, strong performance in creative apps en.wikipedia.org.
Pros & Cons: Pros: Top-tier performance; desktop-grade GPU; sleek RGB.
Top-tier performance; desktop-grade GPU; sleek RGB. Cons: Battery life suffers; pricey (~$4,500).
Ideal for: Power users needing desktop-level graphics in a portable form.
Why consider it: Named 'best budget laptop' of 2025, offering compelling performance for under $800 en.wikipedia.org+15laptopmag.com+15wired.com+15wired.com.
Pros & Cons: Pros: Affordable; lightweight; dependable performance.
Affordable; lightweight; dependable performance. Cons: Basic build; battery underwhelms.
Ideal for: Entry-level professionals, interns, or everyday tasks.
Our rankings are based on: Performance benchmarks from tested sources like Laptop Mag, Windows Central, The Verge. Real-world user feedback, including Reddit's r/BuyItForLife:
'A MacBook Air is honestly the best overall laptop for like 80% of people…' windowscentral.comlaptopmag.com+6reddit.com+6thesun.co.uk+6 Battery life tests—Apple hits 18 hr, Surface 22 hr, others deliver 10–17 hrs based on usage. Portability & build—risks versus functionality; e.g., Dell XPS 16 sacrifices weight but maximizes power. Total cost of ownership, factoring in longevity, repairability, and resale potential. Use Case Top Pick Why Everyday Office & Travel MacBook Air M4 Lightweight, long battery, MacOS stability Windows-first Business Users Surface Laptop 7 Exceptional battery, touchscreen, Copilot AI keys Creative & Multimedia Dell XPS 16 Large OLED, powerful GPU Gamers/High-end Tasks Razer Blade 16 RTX 5090, professional-grade specs Budget-conscious Professionals Acer Swift Go 14 Under $800; fulfills core tasks Repairability & Sustainability Framework 13 Modular upgrade paths, right-to-repair champion
For most US-based professionals, the MacBook Air M4 hits the perfect balance—performance, battery, and price. If your workflow centers on Windows, the Surface Laptop 7 offers equivalent longevity with new Copilot AI features. Need heavier specs? Choose the Dell XPS 16 or Razer Blade 16. For budget-minded simplicity, stick with the Acer Swift Go 14. And if repairability matters, nothing beats the Framework 13.
If you're outfitting a team for remote projects or hosting a temporary event setup, consider a laptop rental to reduce upfront costs while maintaining access to top-tier devices. It's a practical approach that's gaining traction across industries from tech conferences to short-term training programs.
TIME BUSINESS NEWS

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Yahoo

36 minutes ago

• Yahoo

Which Vanguard ETFs Have Beaten Warren Buffett's Favorite ETF Since Inception?

Only two Vanguard ETFs have outperformed Buffett's favorite ETF over the long run. Both of these winners focus on large-cap growth stocks. 10 stocks we like better than Vanguard Scottsdale Funds - Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF › Warren Buffett has dropped enough hints to ascertain that his favorite exchange-traded fund (ETF) is the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (NYSEMKT: VOO). This ETF has been a huge winner historically, but which Vanguard ETFs have beaten Buffett's favorite ETF since inception? Only two make the list: the Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund ETF (NASDAQ: VONG) and the Vanguard S&P 500 Growth Index Fund ETF (NYSEMKT: VOOG). Of Vanguard's 94 ETFs, the Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF has been the best performer over the long run. This fund's average annual return since its inception on Sept. 20, 2010, is an impressive 16.4%. By comparison, the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF's average annual return since its inception on Sept. 7, 2010, is 14.24%. This Vanguard ETF attempts to track the return of the Russell 1000 Growth Index. The index includes growth stocks in the large-cap Russell 1000 index. The Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF currently owns 392 stocks. Its largest positions are Microsoft, Nvidia, Apple, Amazon, and Meta Platforms. Not so coincidentally, these are also the five largest holdings of the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF. Many of the stocks in the Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund ETF are also in the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF, so how has it delivered such a higher average annual return? One key is that the ETF's focus on growth stocks eliminates some of the S&P 500 members that don't typically generate outstanding returns. Granted, there is at least one way that the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF beats the Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF. Its annual expense ratio of 0.03% is lower than the latter's expense ratio of 0.07%. Of course, that small difference doesn't matter much with the Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF's higher returns. Also, if you're interested in income, you'll probably prefer the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF. Its 30-day SEC yield (which reflects a fund's projected annual dividend yield over a trailing-30-day period) is 1.24%, versus only 0.53% for the Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF. Since the Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF has outperformed the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF over the long term, it isn't surprising that the Vanguard S&P 500 Growth ETF has also been a bigger winner. This Vanguard ETF has delivered an average annual return since its inception on Sept. 7, 2010, of 16.01%. Like the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF, the Vanguard S&P 500 Growth ETF only includes stocks in the S&P 500. However, it's even more exclusive by limiting the pool to growth stocks. The fund currently owns 212 stocks. Its top holdings are similar to those of the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF, but not exactly alike: Nvidia, Microsoft, Meta Platforms, Apple, and Broadcom. The main disadvantages of the Vanguard S&P 500 Growth ETF compared to the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF are the same as those mentioned for the Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF. The fund's annual expense ratio of 0.07% is a little higher. Its 30-day SEC yield of 0.55% is lower. If you wanted to beat Buffett's favorite ETF in the past, the only Vanguard ETFs to have pulled it off since inception are the Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund ETF and the Vanguard S&P 500 Growth Index Fund ETF. However, there's a more important question: Which Vanguard ETFs are most likely to outperform the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF over the long term? I think the Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF and the Vanguard S&P 500 Growth ETF would likely make the list again. Their focus on stocks that deliver strong growth could give these ETFs an edge. It's important to note, though, that over multiple decades, small-cap value stocks have typically outperformed other asset classes. With this in mind, the top Vanguard ETFs to own in the future just might include the Vanguard S&P Small-Cap 600 Value ETF (NYSEMKT: VIOV) and the Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF (NYSEMKT: VBR). Only time will tell. Before you buy stock in Vanguard Scottsdale Funds - Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Vanguard Scottsdale Funds - Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $659,171!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $891,722!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 995% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 172% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of June 9, 2025 John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Keith Speights has positions in Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, and Microsoft. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool recommends Broadcom and recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Which Vanguard ETFs Have Beaten Warren Buffett's Favorite ETF Since Inception? was originally published by The Motley Fool

Yahoo

an hour ago

• Yahoo

OpenAI Careens Toward Messy Divorce From Microsoft

Quick, someone call TMZ: There's an even messier celebrity breakup than Trump-Musk with countless billions at stake. Relations between OpenAI and its largest investor, Microsoft, are continuing to fray as the ascendant artificial intelligence firm struggles to get approval from its investor on the fine points of reorganizing into a for-profit public benefit corporation. According to a report in The Wall Street Journal last week, OpenAI is now even considering a 'nuclear option' to sever ties for good. READ ALSO: Drones Steal the Paris Air Show and Berkshire Slips Amid Concern Retiring CEO May Take 'Buffett Premium' With Him At the heart of the matter is how large a stake Microsoft will own in OpenAI's public benefit corporation, a subsidiary of the ChatGPT maker that will still be controlled by the nonprofit parent. According to a recent Reuters report, OpenAI wants the Big Tech player to hold a 33% stake while relinquishing its rights to future profits. Microsoft hasn't agreed, and the two sides are at loggerheads over the matter, though it's far from their first fight. Microsoft already loosened its grip on the AI firm in January, allowing some key terms of their agreement to change so that OpenAI could tap data centers outside of the Microsoft Azure infrastructure. That resulted in 'Stargate,' a high-profile $500 million data center joint venture between OpenAI, Softbank, and Oracle (with Microsoft, Nvidia, and Arm serving as 'technology partners'). But opening the door to more independence may be objectionable to Microsoft: Earlier this month, Reuters reported OpenAI is now planning to tap Google's cloud services to meet its growing need for computing capacity. In another line-crossing move, The Information reported last week that OpenAI has been offering a suite of ChatGPT enterprise tools at discounts of up to 20%, directly undercutting sales of competing Microsoft services like Copilot. In other words, tensions are at an all-time high, and now both sides are throwing around fighting words at a time when level-headed communication is crucial: According to the WSJ, OpenAI executives have discussed a 'nuclear option' of formally accusing Microsoft of antitrust violations if it can't come to an agreement with the Windows-maker over transition terms. According to a Financial Times report published Wednesday, Microsoft is prepared to walk away from negotiations altogether and simply ride out its existing commercial contract with OpenAI, which is set to last until 2030. That would leave OpenAI stuck with its current structure, which means it'd lose out on half of the $40 billion investment SoftBank committed to making in April, which was contingent on a successful restructuring to for-profit by the end of the year. Burn Book: Microsoft isn't the only Big Tech firm OpenAI has waded into a blood feud with. The company now finds itself openly at war with Meta, which is offering $100 million signing bonuses to poach OpenAI talent as it seeks to bolster its AI efforts. OpenAI founder Sam Altman last week jabbed back by saying, 'I don't think that [Meta's] great at innovation.' At this rate, we have to imagine Altman isn't exactly the most popular player at our imagined weekly poker night among Silicon Valley bigwigs (actually, let's be honest, they're probably playing Magic: The Gathering). This post first appeared on The Daily Upside. To receive delivering razor sharp analysis and perspective on all things finance, economics, and markets, subscribe to our free The Daily Upside newsletter. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data

Miami Herald

3 hours ago

• Miami Herald

Europe's growing fear: How Trump might use US tech dominance against it

LONDON -- When President Donald Trump issued an executive order in February against the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court for investigating Israel for war crimes, Microsoft was suddenly thrust into the middle of a geopolitical fight. For years, Microsoft had supplied the court -- which is based in The Hague in the Netherlands and investigates and prosecutes human rights breaches, genocides and other crimes of international concern -- with digital services such as email. Trump's order abruptly threw that relationship into disarray by barring U.S. companies from providing services to the prosecutor, Karim Khan. Soon after, Microsoft, which is based in Redmond, Washington, helped turn off Khan's ICC email account, freezing him out of communications with colleagues just a few months after the court had issued an arrest warrant for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel for his country's actions in the Gaza Strip. Microsoft's swift compliance with Trump's order, reported earlier by The Associated Press, shocked policymakers across Europe. It was a wake-up call for a problem far bigger than just one email account, stoking fears that the Trump administration would leverage America's tech dominance to penalize opponents, even in allied countries like the Netherlands. 'The ICC showed this can happen,' said Bart Groothuis, a former head of cybersecurity for the Dutch Ministry of Defense who is now a member of the European Parliament. 'It's not just fantasy.' Groothuis once supported U.S. tech firms but has done a '180-degree flip-flop,' he said. 'We have to take steps as Europe to do more for our sovereignty.' Some at the ICC are now using Proton, a Swiss company that provides encrypted email services, three people with knowledge of the communications said. Microsoft said the decision to suspend Khan's email had been made in consultation with the ICC. The company said it had since enacted policy changes that had been in the works before the episode to protect customers in similar geopolitical situations in the future. When the Trump administration sanctioned four additional ICC judges this month, their email accounts were not suspended, the company said. Brad Smith, Microsoft's president, said concerns raised by the ICC episode were a 'symptom' of a larger erosion of trust between the United States and Europe. 'The ICC issue added fuel to a fire that was already burning,' he said. Khan has been on leave from the ICC since last month, pending a sexual misconduct investigation. He has denied the allegations. An ICC spokesperson said it was taking steps to 'mitigate risks which may affect the court's personnel' and 'taking extensive measures to ensure the continuity of all relevant operations and services in the face of sanctions.' The episode has set off alarms across Europe about how dependent European governments, businesses and citizens are on U.S. tech companies like Microsoft for essential digital infrastructure -- and how hard it will be to disentangle themselves. Concerns about how else Trump might leverage technology for political advantage has jump-started efforts across the region to develop alternatives. Casper Klynge, a former Danish and European Union diplomat who worked for Microsoft, said the episode was in many ways the 'smoking gun that many Europeans had been looking for.' 'If the U.S. administration goes after certain organizations, countries or individuals, the fear is American companies are obligated to comply,' said Klynge, who now works for a cybersecurity company. 'It's had a profound impact.' The tech debate adds to an increasingly fractious U.S.-European relationship over trade, tariffs and the war in Ukraine. Trump and Vice President JD Vance have criticized how Europe regulates U.S. tech companies, and U.S. officials have made digital oversight and taxation part of ongoing trade negotiations. European regulators have argued that they need to be able to police the biggest digital platforms in their own countries without worrying that they will face political pressure and punishment from a foreign government. 'If we don't build adequate capacity within Europe, then we won't be able to make political choices anymore,' said Alexandra Geese, a member of the European Parliament. Since Edward Snowden's leak of scores of documents in 2013 detailing widespread U.S. surveillance of digital communications, Europeans have sought to diminish their reliance on U.S. tech. Lawmakers and regulators have targeted Apple, Meta, Google and others for anticompetitive business practices, privacy-invading services, and the spread of disinformation and other divisive content. Yet without viable alternatives, institutions across the region have turned to U.S. digital services. Amazon, Google, Microsoft and other U.S. firms control more than 70% of the cloud computing market in Europe, which is the essential way for storing files, retrieving data and running other programs, according to Synergy Research Group. The ICC has been a longtime customer of Microsoft, which provides the court with services including the Office software suite and software for evidence analysis and file storage, according to an ICC lawyer who declined to be identified discussing internal procedures. Microsoft has also provided cybersecurity software to help the court withstand digital attacks from adversaries like Russia, which is being investigated for war crimes in Ukraine. In February, after Trump issued penalties against Khan, Microsoft met with ICC officials to decide how to respond. They concluded that Microsoft's broader work for the court could continue but that Khan's email should be suspended. He switched his correspondence to another email account, said a person who has communicated with him. Sara Elizabeth Dill, a lawyer who specializes in sanctions compliance, said the Trump administration was increasingly using sanctions and executive orders to target international institutions, universities and other organizations, forcing companies to make hard choices about how to comply. 'This is a quagmire and places these corporations in a very difficult position,' she said. How tech companies with global services respond is especially important, she added, 'as the broad repercussions are what people and organizations are primarily worried about.' Microsoft and other U.S. companies have sought to reassure European customers. On Monday, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella visited the Netherlands and announced new 'sovereign solutions' for European institutions, including legal and data security protections for 'a time of geopolitical volatility.' Amazon and Google have also announced policies aimed at European customers. Still, many institutions are exploring alternatives. In the Netherlands, the 'subject of digital autonomy and sovereignty has the full attention of the central government,' Eddie van Marum, the state secretary of digitalization in the Ministry of Interior Affairs, said in a statement. The country is working with European providers on new solutions, he said. In Denmark, the digital ministry is testing alternatives to Microsoft Office. In Germany, the northern state of Schleswig-Holstein is also taking steps to cut its use of Microsoft. In the European Union, officials have announced plans to spend billions of euros on new artificial intelligence data centers and cloud computing infrastructure that rely less on U.S. companies. Groothuis, the Dutch member of the European Parliament, said lawmakers in Brussels were discussing policy changes that would encourage governments to favor buying tech services from EU-based companies. 'The situation is not tenable, and we see a big push from European governments to become more independent and more resilient,' said Andy Yen, CEO of Proton. European tech companies see an opportunity to win customers from their U.S. rivals. Cloud service providers like Intermax Group, based in the Netherlands, and Exoscale, based in Switzerland, said they had seen a jump in new business. 'A few years ago, everyone was saying, 'They're our trusted partners,'' Ludo Baauw, Intermax's CEO, said of U.S. tech companies. 'There's been a radical change.' This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Copyright 2025