7 best laptops for travelers, gamers, creatives and more
Plus tips on how to find the perfect laptop for your needs
Apple MacBook Air 13" (M1)
$undefined
$649.00
I spoke with electronics experts to better understand the most important things to look for when shopping for a new laptop. I also asked NBC Select staff about their favorite laptops, and chose models that fit the following criteria:
Want more from NBC Select? Sign up for our newsletter, The Selection, and shop smarter.
Our top picks come from familiar brands like Apple, Asus and Dell. Below each recommendation, we share specifications you should know when shopping, like size, weight, ports, storage size and more.
NBC Select staff have used different MacBook Air laptops for years. This latest model is a good fit for anyone, outside of creative professionals and gamers. It has a high-resolution screen and a speedy processor — I can have tons of tabs open, tackle video calls and browse spreadsheets without slowing down. This M3 version has a faster processor than the previous version and comes with 16GB of memory by default for even more speed.
Aside from its travel-friendly size, my favorite part of this laptop is the MagSafe charger: a cable that magnetically snaps in and out of the charging port. If you (or someone else) accidentally yanks the charging cable, it will snap out harmlessly, without dragging your entire laptop off your desk or lap.
Battery life: up to 18 hours | Operating system: MacOS | Memory: 16GB | Storage: 256GB SSD | Size: 11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44 in | Weight: 2.7 lbs. | GPU: Apple M3 (8-core) | CPU: Apple M3 (8-core)
I used a Dell XPS 15 laptop for years as my main device — it can easily handle video calls, video editing and more, albeit it can get a little hot to the touch while gaming. But if you are mostly using Google and Microsoft programs, this 13-inch model is more appropriate.
Most of the components are metal, giving it a sleek and durable look. It is small and light — like a MacBook Air, and it won’t make your backpack unbearably heavy. It also has excellent battery life, up to 24 hours, according to the brand. The lack of ports could be a drawback for some, but you could always buy a USB hub if you need to plug more things in.
Battery life: up to 24 hours | Operating system: Windows 11 | Memory: 16GB | Storage: 512GB SSD | Size: 11.62 x 7.84 x 0.6 in | Weight: 2.7 lbs. | GPU: Intel Arc | CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 256V Series 2
This laptop costs less than $500, much less than most options on our list. That’s partly because it has less battery life and memory than some of our other picks. But if you are only doing simple tasks like browsing the web then it will suffice, making it a better fit for younger students than working professionals. Even at this price, it has a big 15-inch HD display and lots of ports — no need to carry an adapter or USB hub to plug in all your devices.
Battery life: up to 11 hours | Operating system: Windows 11 | Memory: 8GB | Storage: 256GB SSD | Size: 14.15 x 9.25 x 0.7 in | Weight: 3.56 lbs. | GPU: AMD Radeon 610M | CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 7520U
NBC Select editorial projects manager Rebecca Rodriguez uses this MacBook, which she’s owned for two years, for emails, spreadsheets, budgeting, staying organized and watching TV. It is smaller and more lightweight than many of the options on our list at under three pounds and less than 12 inches wide. While it has less speed, storage space and ports than some of our other top picks, it is more than enough for Rodriguez’s needs.
Battery life: up to 18 hours | Operating system: MacOS | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 256GB SSD | Size: 11.97 x 8.36 x 0.63 in | Weight: 2.8 lbs. | GPU: Apple M1 (7-core) | CPU: Apple M1 (8-core)
This is one of the best gaming laptops, balancing performance, portability and price. It has powerful internal components and a fast, high-resolution quad-HD display, meaning it is well-equipped to play all the latest games. It also has plenty of USB ports to plug in gaming accessories and peripherals, as well as an HDMI port if you want to plug in another computer monitor. Unlike many other gaming laptops, it is relatively small and lightweight — only slightly larger than a MacBook Pro.
I do not own the G14 but based on my experience with gaming laptops generally, this mid-range gaming laptop is a better value than other top-of-the-line versions, which often have diminishing returns for the money.
Battery life: up to 10 hours | Operating system: Windows 11 | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 1000GB SSD | Size: 12.26 x 8.66 x 0.63 in | Weight: 3.31 lbs. | GPU: NVIDIA RTX 4060 | CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS
If you are looking to play games on your laptop but don’t need the most recent, most premium parts, this laptop still offers great performance for less than our other picks. It has a fast screen and plenty of ports to plug in all kinds of gaming accessories.
At 4.63 pounds, it is the heaviest laptop on our list — frequent travelers interested in gaming might want to look at the lighter, more battery-efficient Acer Zephyrus G14 instead.
Battery life: unlisted | Operating system: Windows 11 | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 512GB SSD | Size: 14.26 x 9.44 x 0.93 in | Weight: 4.63 lbs. | GPU: NVIDIA RTX 4050 | CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS
While I haven’t tried this latest M4 version, I use a 14-inch MacBook Pro for work. It is an excellent all-round laptop that I would recommend to any creative professional. I can open dozens (read: way too many) tabs, hop on video calls and edit large video sequences in programs like Adobe Premiere Pro without the computer slowing down or getting too hot to handle.
The screen in particular is gorgeous, with vibrant colors and the highest resolution of any laptop on this list. And while I wouldn’t call it a gaming laptop, I have played less graphically demanding games like Hades without issue.
It is slightly heavier and larger than the MacBook Air, but that small increase in bulk is worth the increased performance.
Battery life: up to 22 hours | Operating system: MacOS | RAM: 24GB | Storage: 512GB SSD | Size: 12.31 x 8.71 x 0.61 in | Weight: 3.53 lbs. | GPU: Apple M4 Pro (16-core) | CPU: Apple M4 Pro (12-core)
Our experts agree that shopping for a laptop can be intimidating. Asking yourself a few questions before browsing different models can help narrow your options from dozens to a handful of quality contenders fit to your needs and lifestyle.
Think about how you are going to use your new laptop. Depending on your answer, you’ll need a more or less powerful machine:
For photo and video editing: Video and photo editing software runs more smoothly with a more powerful machine, namely one with a stronger GPU and more memory, says Eric Ackerson, a senior product marketing and brand manager at Acer of America, one of the largest computer manufacturers. (Since Acer sells laptops, we only spoke with Ackerson about technical shopping guidance, and did not ask for specific product recommendations.) I’ve found editing videos much easier using a larger screen — you have more space to spread out multiple windows or one large application.
For gaming: Games can run more efficiently on a laptop with a more powerful GPU, says Carl Prouty, a product specialist with over 20 years of experience in consumer electronics sales at Abt, a national retailer of electronics and appliances based in Glenview, Illinois. (Since Abt sells laptops, we only spoke with Prouty about technical shopping guidance, and did not ask for specific product recommendations.) Without a strong GPU, games can stutter and lag more often, says Ackerson.
For documents, emails and video calls: Web browsing, streaming and document editing are considered basic tasks for a computer and do not require top of the line specs or GPUs, according to our experts. You can likely purchase a laptop that is less than $1000 and still have smooth performance, in my experience.
Most phones can now sync with your laptop, allowing you to send texts, access photos and more from either device. Android phones tend to work more easily with Windows laptops, while Apple phones sync seamlessly with Apple laptops, in my experience. Matching your phone to your laptop’s operating system can help the two devices work in tandem.
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
I am a reporter at NBC Select who covers technology and fitness including guides to keyboards, tablets and more. I leveraged my personal experience and the experience of the NBC Select team using laptops in their daily lives. I also spoke with electronics experts to better understand the technical specifications of laptops, and did thorough research of top-rated models.
Catch up on NBC Select’s in-depth coverage of tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok to stay up to date.
