Best windows Laptops (2025): WIRED-Tested laptops to Buy
Breaking News: Teh landscape of Windows laptops is rapidly evolving, with new chips from Qualcomm and Intel promising meaningful gains in performance and battery life.As of early June 2024, the sweet spot for value and capability lies between $700 and $1500, offering a blend of features suitable for a wide range of users.
The Windows laptop market is brimming with options, making it challenging to find the right fit. This guide, based on WIRED’s testing, highlights key specs and models to consider in 2025. While budget-friendly options exist, compromises are often made, particularly in panel and touchpad quality. Anything under $750 is generally considered a “cheap laptop” and will reflect those trade-offs. Though, laptops utilizing the Qualcomm Snapdragon X chip frequently enough deliver extraordinary battery life even within this price bracket. The Dell 14 Plus serves as a strong example of the capabilities available in the current market.
Here’s a breakdown of essential specifications:
CPU: For thin and light laptops, the Snapdragon X, X Plus, or X Elite chips are recommended for their balance of battery life and performance. The Intel Core Ultra 7 258V is also a strong contender.
GPU: Intel’s Lunar Lake chips, including the Core Ultra 7 258V, currently offer the best integrated graphics. For dedicated graphics, look for laptops with the latest Nvidia RTX 50-series GPUs, such as the RTX 5060. A significant performance jump occurs between the RTX 5070 and RTX 5070 Ti, due to the latter’s increased VRAM of 12 GB.
RAM (or memory): 16 GB of RAM is now the standard, increasingly found even in laptops priced around $600, thanks to the Copilot+ designation. Gamers and content creators should consider upgrading to 32 GB.
Storage: 512 GB is becoming the standard base configuration for many laptops. Upgrading to 1 or 2 terabytes is recommended, especially given that many laptops lack expandable storage options.
Display: Common screen sizes include 13-inch, 14-inch, and 16-inch.Consider size, resolution, refresh rate, and panel type when making a selection.
Portability: Chassis thickness and weight are key factors determining a laptop’s portability. Dimensions are often dictated by screen size.
Ports: many modern laptops feature limited ports, often only USB-C and a headphone jack. Some include USB-A or HDMI. A USB hub or laptop docking station may be necessary to expand connectivity and external display support.
