Best laptops for 2025…….Alright, confession time: I wasn’t planning to shop for a laptop this year. My old one — a chunky Dell I bought in college — had been holding on for dear life. Sure, it made weird noises whenever I opened more than three Chrome tabs, but hey, it was functional.
Until it wasn’t.
Picture this: I’m at a café in Astoria, trying to look productive (you know, like one of those mysterious people who “freelance”). Suddenly, the screen goes black. No warning, no goodbye. Just click — like it had enough of my Pinterest boards.
So yeah, I went down the rabbit hole of best laptops for 2025, and what I found was both exciting and mildly terrifying. Prices are wild, specs are ridiculous, and everyone keeps using the word “AI-powered” like that means my laptop’s gonna start paying my bills for me. (Spoiler: it’s not.)
Anyway, after days of research, caffeine, and existential dread, here’s my totally unfiltered guide — from budget picks to “I could buy a used car for that” laptops.
💻 1. MacBook Air M3 – The Everyday Superstar
Let’s get this out of the way: the MacBook Air M3 is the golden retriever of laptops. Reliable, shiny, slightly overhyped — but still really good.
If you’re a student, freelancer, or just someone who doesn’t want their laptop fan to sound like a jet engine, this one’s a dream.
It’s light as a croissant, the battery lasts forever (Apple claims 18 hours, and I got about 15 with Netflix, Spotify, and 27 open tabs — not bad).
Yeah, it’s pricey — around $1,099 — but Best Buy’s been running student discounts, and Costco had it for under a grand last week.
Would I buy it again? Absolutely. But I’d also wrap it in five cases because that aluminum body does not forgive drops.
🧠 2. Dell XPS 14 – The Fancy Workhorse
Now, I’ve got a love-hate thing with Dell. On one hand, their XPS series looks gorgeous — thin bezels, solid keyboard, the kind of laptop that makes you feel like you have your life together.
On the other hand, it’s Dell. Which means every once in a while, something random stops working.
Still, the XPS 14 (2025) surprised me. Intel’s latest Ultra chip runs smooth, the OLED display is stunning, and it handled Photoshop, Premiere Pro, and five Zoom calls without setting on fire.
Price? Around $1,499, but I’ve seen open-box ones go for less.
This one’s for the multitaskers — or the overthinkers who like “future-proofing” their life. (I see you.)
🕹️ 3. ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 – For the Gamers (and Night Owls)
So my younger brother (the tech snob of the family) swears by this one. He calls it “a portable beast,” which sounds dramatic but kinda true.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 is a gaming laptop that doesn’t look like a gaming laptop. No rainbow lights or spaceship vibes — just clean, minimalist design and ridiculous power inside.
It’s rocking Intel’s new Core Ultra chips, RTX 4070 graphics, and this dreamy 240Hz display that makes even scrolling Twitter look cinematic.
But yeah, it’ll set you back about $1,999.
If you’re not a gamer, it’s probably overkill. But if you are — or you just want your Excel sheets to load in 0.3 seconds — this is chef’s kiss.
💼 4. HP Spectre x360 – The Overachiever
The Spectre x360 has always been that “cool kid who secretly studies hard.” It’s a 2-in-1 laptop, so you can flip it into tablet mode and pretend you’re artsy.
What I love? The keyboard. I know that sounds weird, but trust me — it’s one of the most comfortable ones out there. I wrote half this post on it at a coworking space in Long Island City, and my fingers felt like they were typing on clouds.
Performance-wise, it’s solid. Intel Core Ultra chip, OLED screen, 16GB RAM. Great for both spreadsheets and streaming bad reality TV.
Usually runs around $1,299, but HP’s official site always has random discounts, like “$150 off if you blink twice.”
💸 5. Acer Aspire 5 – The Budget Hero
Okay, real talk — not everyone’s out here dropping $2K on a laptop. Sometimes, you just need something that works and doesn’t sound like it’s coughing when you open Excel.
That’s where the Acer Aspire 5 comes in.
I found it for under $500, and for basic stuff — browsing, writing, YouTube rabbit holes — it’s perfectly fine.
Don’t expect miracles (the webcam looks like it’s filmed through a potato), but the battery lasts 10 hours, it boots quick, and it doesn’t catch fire. Low bar, but hey, it clears it.
Bonus: It’s shockingly durable. I dropped one during a client call once — it bounced. Literally bounced.
🧳 6. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon – The Travel Pro
If you’re constantly on the go — airports, coffee shops, your friend’s couch — the ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 12) is your ride-or-die.
It’s thin, weighs less than three pounds, and the keyboard is perfection. Like, actual perfection.
Lenovo’s durability is no joke either. These things can survive turbulence, coffee spills, probably even emotional breakdowns.
Price? Around $1,699, but Lenovo runs sales constantly. (They mark everything “50% off” like it’s a personality trait.)
I saw one go for $1,299 recently. Worth every penny.
💻 7. Framework Laptop 16 – The Fixer’s Dream
Now, this one’s for the tinkerers.
The Framework 16 is modular — meaning you can replace almost every part yourself. Keyboard? Swappable. Ports? Swap ‘em. Battery? Easy fix.
It’s sustainable, customizable, and honestly kind of fun if you like taking things apart (and not breaking them, unlike me in 10th-grade shop class).
Starts at $1,399, depending on configuration. It’s not for everyone, but it’s a geeky dream come true.
🎨 8. Microsoft Surface Laptop 6 – The Design Darling
You ever look at a laptop and just go, “Wow, that’s pretty”? That’s the Surface Laptop 6.
Microsoft nailed the design — slim, soft-touch finish, comes in fancy colors like “Sapphire Blue” (which is basically blue, but sounds fancier).
Performance is buttery smooth, the touchscreen’s great, and the battery lasts all day.
I used it during a flight to LA and watched three episodes of Succession, wrote two emails, and played Sudoku before it even dipped below 40%.
Price hovers around $1,299, but it feels high-end.
💬 Real Talk: What I Learned While Laptop Hunting
There’s this weird moment when you realize laptops have become like sneakers — they drop every few months, everyone wants the “newest drop,” and suddenly, your perfectly good one from last year feels ancient.
But here’s the truth: you don’t need to overspend.
If you’re:
- A student → MacBook Air or Acer Aspire 5
- A creative → HP Spectre x360 or MacBook Pro
- A gamer → ASUS Zephyrus G16
- A traveler → ThinkPad X1 Carbon
- A minimalist or eco-nerd (respectfully) → Framework 16
Find your vibe and go with that.
🗽 A Queens Moment (Because, of Course): Best laptops for 2025
So I finally bought the MacBook Air M3, right?
I’m walking down Steinway Street with it in a tote bag that says “Tech But Make It Cute” (don’t judge).
Suddenly, it starts raining. Out of nowhere.
I’m running, clutching this laptop like it’s a newborn, dodging puddles and halal carts — and for the first time ever, I actually felt like a real New Yorker tech reviewer.
Drenched, slightly broke, but proud.
💡 Quick Recap: Best laptops for 2025 by Budget
| Category | Laptop | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | Acer Aspire 5 | Under $500 |
| Mid-Range | MacBook Air M3 | $999–$1,099 |
| High-End | Dell XPS 14 | $1,499 |
| Gaming | ASUS Zephyrus G16 | $1,999 |
| 2-in-1 | HP Spectre x360 | $1,299 |
| Travel | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 | $1,699 |
| Modular | Framework Laptop 16 | $1,399 |
Honestly, shopping for laptops in 2025 feels like speed dating — they all promise power, endurance, and beauty, but only a few actually deliver.
And once you find the right one? You just know.
Or maybe that’s just me projecting. Either way, happy laptop hunting — may your battery never die mid-Zoom.
Outbound Links Suggestions:
- The Verge’s laptop reviews — for when you want actual benchmarks, not coffee-spilled opinions.
- Dave Lee on YouTube (Dave2D) — the chillest tech reviewer alive.
