Top Laptops of July 2025 – Personally Tested & Reviewed Picks.

If you want to know which work laptops are worth your money, keep reading. After each review, I’ll tell you if I’d actually buy the laptop or pass on it. No filler, just straightforward thoughts.

Acer Swift Edge

If you need a laptop that feels almost weightless and comes with a sharp OLED screen, this one fits the bill. The 3200×2000 display at 120Hz looks fantastic. The AMD Ryzen chip handles work tasks with ease. The downside is battery life—it tops out at about 7 hours. I’d consider buying it if you work near an outlet and want a super light device.

Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6

This one just keeps going—battery life hits up to 21 hours. The keyboard is comfortable, and the classic build can take a beating. There are plenty of ports, too. The screen is only average at 1920×1200. I’d buy it. It’s durable, reliable, and built for serious work.

Microsoft Surface Laptop 7

Microsoft finally made a solid laptop. It boots up quickly, and the haptic trackpad feels almost like a MacBook’s. The 120Hz display is sharp at 2496×1664, but there’s no OLED option. I’d buy it. It’s like a Windows version of a MacBook, only with more useful ports.

Dell XPS 15 9520

The XPS 15 is good at nearly everything but doesn’t lead in any area. The OLED screen option is excellent, and performance is reliable. At 4.3 pounds, though, it’s a bit heavy. Speakers are fine, but if you’re used to a MacBook Pro, you’ll notice the difference. I’d maybe buy it if you need a well-rounded Windows laptop and don’t mind the price.

Lenovo Legion 5i Pro

It’s a gaming laptop, but it works well for productivity too. The Intel Core i7 and RTX 4060 push performance, and the 16-inch 2560×1600 display at 165Hz looks great. The battery life is poor—about 3 hours—so you’ll need the big charger on hand. I’d maybe buy it if you want power and don’t mind the gamer vibe.

Dell XPS 17 9730

This laptop means business. It’s sleek, strong, and expensive. The 17-inch 4K screen is beautiful, though not OLED. With the RTX 4070 inside, performance is excellent, and battery life can reach 9 hours if you’re not pushing it too hard. I’d buy it if my company was paying, since it starts over $2,400.

Asus Zenbook 14 Flip OLED
This laptop is flexible and reliable. The 2.8K OLED screen at 90Hz looks amazing. Battery life is around 8 hours, and the sturdy build holds up well. The webcam is only 720p, which feels outdated. I’d buy it. It’s a strong pick for the price and handles most tasks with ease.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13
A true business classic, but expensive at $2,500. It weighs just over 2 pounds, and the keyboard makes typing enjoyable. Battery life is good at 15 hours, though some rivals last longer. I’d skip it unless you’re loyal to ThinkPad or your office only buys Lenovo.

Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro
The keyboard is soft but comfortable. The aluminum build is solid, with no flex. Ryzen 7 performance is strong for daily work, and battery life is about 8 to 9 hours. With education discounts, it drops to around $870. I’d buy it for great value and all-day use.

HP Pavilion Plus 14
This laptop stands out with a 2.8K OLED display and a Ryzen 7 that keeps things cool. Battery lasts about 6 hours. Speakers are weak, but the black keyboard is a big improvement. I’d maybe buy it—the display and speed are great, but you may need to plug in often.

Framework Laptop 16
This is the ultimate tinker-friendly laptop—you can swap almost everything. The keyboard feels soft, and the fans get loud. Performance is strong, and battery life is decent, but it runs hot under heavy use. I wouldn’t buy it. The custom options are neat, but there are better choices at this price.

Asus Vivobook S14X OLED
The 2.8K 120Hz OLED display is a highlight, turning even spreadsheets into eye candy. Everyday performance is solid, but Intel Iris graphics can’t handle much gaming or editing. The black finish smudges easily. I’d buy it. The great screen and performance at this price are hard to beat.

Lenovo Slim 7i Pro X
The aluminum shell feels premium, and it stays lightweight at just over 3 pounds. The 3K 120Hz display is sharp and smooth. Battery life falls short of a full day, and the fans get loud when the laptop’s busy. I’d buy it—it’s compact and powerful enough for most office needs.

Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3
A budget pick with decent performance for basic tasks, but storage is tight at 256GB. The keyboard is good, but the palm rest feels cramped. The dim display doesn’t help. I wouldn’t buy it. The limited specs and screen make it a poor fit for work.

Asus Zenbook 14X OLED
This model features a 2.8K OLED display at 120Hz with rich colors and deep blacks. Battery life is only about 6 hours, so you’ll need a charger nearby. The speakers are weak on bass. I’d maybe buy it if display quality matters more than battery life.

MacBook Air M3
The new Air adds more speed with the M3 chip and finally supports two external displays when closed. Battery life is still excellent at over 15 hours, and it runs silent. You’ll pay a premium for more than 256GB storage. I’d buy it. It’s reliable and gets the job done.

HP Spectre x360 14
This laptop looks sharp with its metal chassis. The matte black finish picks up fingerprints, though. The 2.8K OLED screen with a 16:10 ratio is great for work, and battery life hits around 11 hours. I’d buy it. It’s expensive, but you get a lot of value and a quality build.

MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo
A strong alternative for Windows users, the Prestige 16 is fast and even outperforms the base M3 MacBook in some tests. The 4K OLED screen is great for productivity, but the port placement is awkward. I’d maybe buy it. Price and speed are on point, but the AI features feel a bit forced.

MacBook Pro M3 Max
This powerhouse handles anything you throw at it. You can open endless Chrome tabs, edit videos, and more without lag. The price for the fully loaded version is sky high, and fan noise gets loud under strain. I wouldn’t buy it unless you need heavy-duty power for video work or 3D projects. For most users, the base M3 model is more than enough.