Best Laptop for 2022 | Best Laptop For Gaming, Business, Office, College
Best Laptop for 2022: Laptops have become a frequent necessity for most individuals, especially those of us in remote jobs. With the sheer amount of laptops out there, finding the right one to get the job done can be tough. So, if you need a new laptop for personal or business use, we've made it easy. This list has narrowed it down to our picks for the best laptops in 2022.
We're just getting started with 2022, so you're still going to see a lot of last year's models while you're still looking for your next laptop. At CNET, our laptop and computer experts have spent decades collectively testing and reviewing laptops, covering everything from performance to price to battery life. This hand-crafted list covers the best laptops in a variety of sizes, styles, and costs, including laptop computers running Windows, macOS, and Chrome. (Microsoft released the full version of its Windows 11 operating system; all Windows laptops on this list should fully support that new OS.)
If you want more laptop brands and options for a particular category, we also have exclusive lists you can check out, including the best gaming laptops, best 15-inch laptops, best two-in-ones, and best Chromebooks. . Best laptops for college students, creatives, and best MacBook Pro alternatives. If you need to stay as low as possible on the price of a new laptop computer, check out our best budget laptop picks and the best budget gaming laptops.
This best laptop list is updated from time to time with new models we've tested and reviewed. This is a great place to get an idea of what's available. If you need advice about whether a particular type of laptop or two-in-one is right for you, visit our laptop FAQ at the bottom of the list.
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The Best Laptop For 2022
1. Apple MacBook Air M1 2020
2. HP Spectre x360 14
3. Acer Chromebook Spin 713
4. HP Pavilion Aero 13
5. Acer Swift 3
6. LG Gram 17
7. Apple MacBook Pro (2021, 16-inch)
8. Microsoft Surface Pro 8
9. Razer Blade 14
10. Razer Blade Pro 17
1. Apple MacBook Air M1 2020
This is our recommendation for those looking for a macOS laptop for basic everyday use. The MacBook Air was updated in the first half of 2020 with a new Intel processor and most importantly, a new keyboard. However, in November, Apple announced that its new domestic M1 processors would replace Intel's CPUs over the air. Using Apple's M1, the company promises an operating system with better performance and longer battery life - up to 18 hours. Intel-based models will still be around, and regardless of what chip is running the Air, you're getting a smaller Mac laptop starting at $999.
2. HP Spectre x360 14
Co-engineered with Intel for its Evo platform, the Specter x360 14 we tested had zippy performance and over 14 hours of battery life. Along with an assortment of privacy features, this HP laptop features a bright, 1,920x1,280-pixel-resolution, 13.5-inch touchscreen with a 3:2 screen ratio that's roughly the same size as a standard A4 sheet of paper Provides about 20% more vertical viewing space compared to a 16:9 display. This means you scroll less when you are working. This makes it much more comfortable to use as a tablet, especially with the included Active Pen.
3. Acer Chromebook Spin 713
Tired of trying to work on documents or spreadsheets on small widescreen displays? The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 uses one of Acer's brighter Verteview displays, a 13.5-inch 2,256x1,504-pixel touchscreen with a 3:2 aspect ratio. As the name implies, it gives you more vertical room to work with, but it still has the width of a typical 13.3-inch laptop with a 16:9 ratio. Between that and its battery life, which lasted about 13 hours in our tests, you'll be able to get more done in a day with this Chrome OS laptop - and it's still thin and light enough for everyday use.
The latest version of this Chromebook is the first to receive Intel's Evo verification, which means you'll get the best possible mobile experience with this model. It's also the first to have Thunderbolt 4 support, which lets you connect to multiple external displays as well as provides faster data speeds and networking.
4. HP Pavilion Aero 13
HP packed a lot of value into the Aero 13: an eye-pleasing magnesium-aluminum chassis, robust processing performance, long battery life, a bright, colorful display, and a weight of just 2 pounds (0.94 kg). Amazingly, though, everything it offers has a regular starting price of $800 and currently starts at $550.
5. Acer Swift 3
Thanks to the new AMD Ryzen 5 and Ryzen 7 processors, that's a remarkable deal for simple tasks like email, word processing, and more. This budget laptop also has a backlit keyboard, fingerprint reader, and USB Type-C port. The Acer Swift 3 is also an incredibly light laptop - under 3 pounds - for a machine that can be found for less than $700.
Apart from this Acer Swift, we are also fans of Acer Aspire 5 which has a massive 15.6-inch display. The Acer Aspire 5 is available in a variety of configurations, starting at $400, but can go all the way up to $690 if you want entry-level discrete graphics for basic gaming and content creation.
6. LG Gram 17
There are no other 17-inch laptops that are this lightweight and have long battery life. The village keeps on affecting 17 years after the year. And while other manufacturers are now using similar body materials to make their laptops as light as the Gram, the LG is still our top choice at this size. However, if you want something smaller, LG also has an excellent 16-inch laptop.
7. Apple MacBook Pro (2021, 16-inch)
New Apple silicon, new display, new design, and all the ports we've been asking for: the latest 16-inch Apple MacBook Pro is the best Pro ever. The combination of the larger MacBook Pro's hardware and macOS extracts maximum performance from components while providing excellent battery life. The new Mini-LED high-resolution display is gorgeous. And if an HDMI output and SD card reader were on your shortlist for features, you'll find them here, too.
You pay for it, though: The base price for the 16-inch model of this premium laptop is $2,499.
8. Microsoft Surface Pro 8
Although this Microsoft Surface Laptop isn't a Surface Laptop, the Surface Pro continues to hit all the right notes if you're looking for a do-it-all Windows tablet that doubles as a Windows laptop. Microsoft recently overhauled it for the Surface Pro 8, which packs a larger 13-inch display, 11th-gen Intel Core processors, and two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports. The Surface Pro 7 is still on discount, and an updated version called the Surface Pro 7 Plus will remain in the lineup, so you'll still be able to get the classic Pro design but with the new processor.
9. Razer Blade 14
There's a lot to love with the Razer Blade 14, with the fastest mobile CPU available (for now, at least), the AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX, and top-end mobile graphics with a GeForce RTX 3070 or 3080. Its display can go pixel-to-pixel with the MacBook. And its high-quality build is in line with the best MacBooks, but as an Apple, it's not even the best laptop deal compared to other premium laptops.
10. Razer Blade Pro 17
If you're going for the best, go ahead. Yes, the seams are 17-inches, but I draw the line on dual humongous power bricks. The Blade Pro is fast and delivers powerful gaming performance with an Intel Core i7 processor and Nvidia GeForce RTX 30-series graphics, but doesn't sacrifice its massive stats. While I recommend getting this Blade Pro laptop with its 4K-resolution display option for creators, gamers will want to get the display with the 360Hz refresh rate that Razer offers for this model.
How Much Does a Good Laptop Cost?
Setting a budget is a good place to start shopping for the best laptop for yourself. The good news is that you can get a good-looking, lightweight laptop with great battery life for less than $500. If you're shopping for a laptop for around $500 or less, see our top picks here, plus more specific buying advice for that price range.
High-end components like Intel Core i-Series and AMD Ryzen processors and premium designs like thin-display bezels and aluminum or magnesium bodies have made their way to laptops priced between $500 and $1,000. You can also find touchscreens and two-in-one designs that can be used as a tablet or laptop - and a few other situations in between. In this price range, you'll find faster memory and SSD storage - and even more - to improve performance.
Above $1,000 you'll get premium laptops and two-in-ones. If you're looking for top display quality with the fastest performance, best battery life, thinnest, lightest design, and ample screen size, expect to spend at least $1,000.
Which is Better, macOS or Windows?
For many people deciding between a macOS and Windows laptop will depend on personal preference and budget. Apple's base model laptop, the M1 MacBook Air, starts at $999. You can sometimes get it discounted or you can get educational prices from Apple and other retailers. But, in general, it'll be at least $1,000 for a new MacBook, and the prices will just go up from there.
For the money, though, you're getting great hardware top to bottom, inside and out. Apple recently moved to use its processors, resulting in improved across-the-board performance compared to older Intel-based models. But, the company's most powerful laptop, the 16-inch MacBook Pro, still hasn't been updated to Apple silicon.
But, again, that great hardware comes at a price. Plus, you're limited to Apple laptops only. With Windows and Chromebooks (more on these below), you get an amazing variety of devices at a wide range of prices.
The software between the two is plentiful, so unless you only need to run something available on one platform or the other, you should be fine to go with both. However, gaming is an advantage for Windows laptops.
macOS is supposed to be easier to use and safer than Windows, especially for people who want their computers out of the way so they can function. Over the years, however, Microsoft has tried its best to follow suit and here with Windows 11, it is trying to remove any hurdles. Also, while Macs may have a reputation for being secure, with the popularity of the iPhone and iPad helping to drive Mac sales, they have become bigger targets for malware.
Which is The Best Laptop For Home, Travel, Or Both?
The pandemic changed how and where many people work. Small, ultraportable laptops prized by people who travel regularly may suddenly become woefully inadequate for working from home. Or maybe instead of needing longer battery life, you have a bigger display with more graphics power for gaming.
If you're going to be working on a laptop and don't need more mobility than just moving it from room to room, consider a 15.6-inch or larger laptop. In general, a larger screen makes life easier for work and more enjoyable for entertaining, and even better if you're using it as an extended display with an external monitor. This usually means you're getting more ports as well, so it's easy to connect an external display or storage or keyboard and mouse without the need for a hub or dock.
For travel, stick with a 13- or 14-inch laptop or two-in-one. They will be the lightest and smallest while providing excellent battery life. The good thing is that PC-makers are moving from 16:9 widescreen to 16:10- or 3:2-ratio displays, which give you more vertical screen space for work without increasing the footprint. These models usually do not have discrete graphics or powerful processors, although this is not always the case.
Which Laptop is Best For Gaming Or Making?
You can play games and create content on any laptop. That said, what games you play and what content you create - and the speed at which you do them - will vary greatly depending on the components inside the laptop.
To use casual browser-based games or streaming-game services like Google Stadia, Nvidia GeForce Now, and Xbox Cloud Gaming, you don't need a powerful gaming laptop. And likewise, if you're just trimming video clips, cropping photos, or live-streaming video from your webcam, you can get by with a moderately priced laptop or Chromebook with integrated graphics.
For more demanding, you'll need to shell out more money for discrete graphics like Nvidia's RTX 30-series GPUs. Increased system memory of 16GB or more, a faster SSD for storage, and a faster processor like an Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 7 will all help you get things going faster.
The second piece you'll want to consider is the display. For gaming, look for a screen with a higher refresh rate of 120Hz or faster so that games look smoother while playing. For content creation, look for displays that cover 100% of the sRGB color space.
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