The Best Laptops of 2024: Expert Reviews and Recommendations
2024 has been a groundbreaking year for laptops, with major advancements in processors and improvements in battery life. If you’re in the market for a new laptop, you’ll find a wide variety of choices, making it challenging to pick the right one for your needs.
Also: The Best OLED Laptops of 2024: Expert Tested and Reviewed
Fortunately, we’ve gone hands-on with numerous laptops this year, breaking down the pros and cons to make your decision easier. The best laptop for you depends on your specific requirements, and we’ve categorized our top picks to help you find the perfect match.
What is the Best Laptop in 2024?
Our top choice for the best laptop in 2024 is the MacBook Pro (M3 Max). With its remarkable 22-hour battery life, powerful hardware, and stunning 120Hz refresh rate display, the MacBook Pro delivers exceptional performance in a sleek and portable package.
The Best Laptops of 2024: Expert Tested
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MacBook Pro (M3 Max)
Best Laptop Overall
Our top pick, the MacBook Pro M3 Max, is a powerhouse with desktop-class performance. It excels in creative tasks, handling RAW image files with ease and lightning-fast processing speeds. The M3 Max’s GPU architecture ensures top-tier graphics rendering and ultra-realistic lighting, setting a new standard for laptop displays.
The MacBook Pro M3 Max boasts a stunning Liquid Retina XDR display, reaching 120Hz refresh rates and peak brightness levels that enhance visual clarity. Its long-lasting battery life and power efficiency make it a versatile choice for a wide range of tasks. With the M3 chip onboard, this laptop is ready for the next generation of AI-powered applications.
MacBook Pro M3 Max features: Display Size: 14-inch and 16-inch | Display Type: Liquid Retina XDR | Resolution: 3456 x 2234 pixels | RAM: Up to 128GB | Storage: Up to 8TB | CPU: 14-core M3 Max | Battery Life: Up to 22 hours
Our laptop testing methodology involves a combination of benchmarks and real-world usage scenarios to provide comprehensive insights into performance, portability, and battery life. Each laptop undergoes rigorous testing to ensure accurate assessments of its capabilities and user experience.
- Benchmarking: We utilize benchmarking software like Cinebench and PCMark 10 to evaluate a laptop’s overall performance, including CPU, GPU, and display metrics.
- Physical Form Factor: We assess the design, weight, keyboard, and trackpad of each laptop for ergonomic comfort and portability.
- Battery Testing: Our battery tests measure performance under real-world conditions to provide accurate battery life estimates.
- Human Element: We combine data-driven metrics with experiential feedback to deliver practical insights that align with user expectations and preferences.
Our goal is to simplify the laptop selection process by offering user-friendly evaluations based on our team’s extensive experience and hands-on testing.
ZDNET writer Taylor Clemons also contributed to this list.