Apple laptop

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2

Microsoft

Surface Laptop 4

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3

Dell

XPS 15 (2020)

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4

HP

Spectre x360 (2021)

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5

Dell

XPS 13 (Late 2020)

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6

Razer

Blade 14

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7

LG

Gram 17 (2021)

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8

Acer

Swift 3

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9

Asus

ZenBook 13 (2021)

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10

Asus

TUF Dash F15

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11

Lenovo

ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 6

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12

HP

Envy

Welcome to our pick of the best laptops 2021 has to offer. On this page you'll find hand-picked laptops that have been rigorously tests by us.

We're constantly updating this guide, so you can be sure you're getting the most recent recommendations and most up-to-date buying advice possible. We've just updated this guide to include the brand-new Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 6, which we think is the best 2-in-1 laptop we've ever used.

But if you're after the best laptop overall, then our pick remains MacBook Air (M1, 2020), as it's yet to be beaten when it comes to design, performance, value and battery life.

Meanwhile, the Acer Swift 3 is our choice for the best budget laptop you can buy right now, offering a perfect balance of affordability and performance. If that doesn't take your fancy then we have a rundown of the best cheap laptop deals to help you pick a device that won't hurt your wallet.

Not sure what to look for when buying the best laptop for your needs? Check out our guide on what you should look for when buying a new laptop at the end of this page for in-depth advice on buying a laptop.

How to pick the best laptop for you

So, what makes a laptop worth buying? First, it needs to offer excellent value for money. That means budget laptops below the $400/£400 price point need to still offer good performance and build quality.

Meanwhile, ultra-expensive devices need to justify their high price tags with best-in-class performance, premium build quality and lengthy battery lives.

If you want something to work on, a laptop with a modern processor, at least 8GB of RAM and a large screen (and comfortable keyboard) are worth considering.

For gaming, you'll want a gaming laptop with a dedicated graphics card and fast and responsive screen.

Check out our guide on what you should look for when buying a new laptop at the end of this page for more in-depth advice on buying a laptop.

Best laptops 2021

Image 1 of 3

MacBook Air on white background with screen open

MacBook Air (M1, 2020) shot from above

A side view of the MacBook Air partially open on a white background

1. Apple MacBook Air (M1, 2020)

The best laptop of 2021

SPECIFICATIONS

CPU: Apple M1Graphics: Integrated 7-core /8-core GPURAM: 8GB – 16GBScreen: 13.3-inch (diagonal) 2,560 x 1,600 LED-backlit display with IPS technologyStorage: 256GB – 2TB SSDDimensions: 11.97 x 8.36 x 0.63 inches (30.41 x 21.24 x 1.61cm; W x D x H)

TODAY'S BEST DEALS

US$849.99

VIEW AT AMAZON

US$966.83

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US$983

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REASONS TO BUY

+Silent to use

+Amazing battery life

REASONS TO AVOID

-No new design

-Fanless design could impact performance

The new Apple MacBook Air (M1, 2020) isn't just the best laptop Apple has ever made, it's the best laptop money can buy right now. This is the first time a MacBook has topped our list, but the MacBook Air (M1, 2020) is worthy of this spot. Thanks to the revolutionary ARM-based Apple M1 chip that powers the new MacBook Air (Apple has ditched Intel for these new laptops), this is a stunning achievement: a thin and light laptop that offers great performance, even with 4K video editing, while also offering incredible battery life. 

Easily managing over 11 hours on a single charge, this is a laptop you can easily carry around with you at work or school, and its price is incredibly competitive compared to Windows 10 rivals like the Dell XPS 15 (below). Running both new and old Mac apps, the new MacBook Air can now also run iOS apps for iPhone and iPads, giving it access to hundreds of brilliant mobile applications and games as well.

Even if you've only ever used Windows laptops before, the MacBook Air (M1, 2020) is well worth getting and making the jump to macOS. Yes, it really is that good. Make sure you check out all the best MacBook Air deals and sales available now before you buy.