If you are in the market for a new laptop, your job got a lot harder during the last few years. Gone are the days when they were all "just" laptops. Instead, you need to contend with new categories like two-in-ones and convertibles or weigh the pros and cons of having a touch screen or pen support. What about quad-core CPUs versus dual-core ones, or laptops with dedicated graphics support? Do you want light and thin, or do you need something heavier but more powerful?
When someone asks "What is the best laptop?" there are a dozen answers depending on what they want or need.
Here at Windows Central, we are in a unique position to walk you through this exciting endeavor. During the last few years, we have been steadily building our coverage of mobile PCs, laptops, tablets and more. That was for our benefit (experience and practice) as much as yours. We spend hundreds of hours with these devices, running benchmarks, testing usability, getting feedback from you, and most importantly putting it all into perspective by comparing them to other similar devices. (It's a running joke around there that I have a new favorite laptop for every day of the week).
Today, we're taking the next step with the Windows Central Laptop Buyer's Guide.
It is a one-stop curated collection of all our current and ongoing reviews of laptops. That includes consumer laptops, gaming machines, a few business-friendly work PCs, and devices that support inking for artists and notetakers.
With this guide, you can sort by our Choice Awards — the crème de la crème — or by manufacturer, style, price range, features, profile, or specific uses, such as gaming or VR.
Technology never stops, however, so none of these "best" devices may remain that way for long. As updated versions of hardware come out, we'll reevaluate and adjust our recommendations. When a new laptop hits the market, we'll review it and give you the greater context of where it fits in and who should buy it.
When a new laptop hits the market, we'll review it and give you the greater context of where it fits in
Right now, the trifecta in best, non-Microsoft devices lies with Dell, HP and Lenovo, but Acer, Asus, or any other company could be the dark horse that changes everything. Then there is Razer, which is in a class of its own for ultra-premium gaming hardware.
This guide is a result of the hard work of Windows Central's team, including Richard Devine, Cale Hunt, Mark Guim, Zac Bowden, Rich Edmonds, Derek Kessler and many other people behind the scenes who dedicated a lot of time to this project. I also have no fewer than five laptops on my couch alone, so I'll be continuing my methodical breakdown and analysis of the highest profile and new laptops and convertibles available. (Someone must do it!)
Get started here with our Laptop Buyer's Guide!
Finally, for those of you who care about other Windows hardware, such as forthcoming mixed reality headsets, gaming accessories, and other PC categories, we'll eventually create those guides as well. Here at Windows Central, we cover everything that runs Windows 10, and we only give you the best!
— Daniel
