Windows continues to enjoy a significant market share in the laptop OS space, thanks to its availability on a wide variety of devices, from the ultra-portable and the affordable to powerhouses intended for gamers and creative professionals. While MacOS and Linux are excellent alternatives, the sheer variety of options makes Windows the more common choice.

But with choice comes confusion. The good news is that there's something for everyone, but the bad news is that finding the perfect Windows laptop for you can be a task.

To make things easier, we've rounded up the best Windows laptops available today.

Our Top Choices of Windows Laptops in 2023

The Microsoft Surface Pro remains one of the best and most reliable Windows 2-in-1 laptops you can buy. The Pro 9 is the latest iteration and is available in various configurations and prices, with upgradeable storage across the board. You have the choice of a Core i5-1235U or an i7-1255U, with the latter offering higher clock speeds and better graphics. If you require 5G, you can get the Microsoft SQ3 model, although the performance of this version is less impressive.

Whichever you choose, you'll love the stunning 13-inch, 2880x1920 resolution touchscreen display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a 3:2 aspect ratio, and excellent peak brightness, color, and contrast. It’s compatible with Dolby Vision, and the audio is surprisingly good. It’s a great shout for watching media content if you don’t mind the display size. However, it doesn't have a headphone jack, so you'll need good Bluetooth headphones or speakers for the best audio experience.

The 1080p webcam is outstanding, and the 10MP camera supports 4K video. However, port numbers are limited, although there are two welcome Thunderbolt 4 slots. It’s also compact and lightweight at just 1.9lbs, and the battery life is more than adequate. You can easily get a full day of productivity, and it’s a cinch to carry.

However, something to remember is that this price point is for the tablet only. Microsoft still hasn’t relented, and the Surface Pro Keyboard and Slim Pen are still sold separately.

Students looking for a sturdy, well-performing, easily portable Windows laptop may find the Acer Swift 3 to be the answer. It has a solid aluminum build, a fast Intel Core i7 processor, is slim, and weighs just 2.65lbs. On-the-go professionals and business people will also appreciate its slim dimensions. However, video conferencing isn't the best with its poor webcam.

The 14-inch Full HD IPS display has a resolution of 1920x1080, operates at a peak brightness of around 280 nits, and has sharp, detailed images with good contrast. The color range is comprehensive and accurate, and they are not spoiled when viewed from an angle, either.

The GPU performs well in day-to-day tasks, whether at school, at home, or in the office. You can also stream and watch media content in enjoyable detail. But the specs aren't powerful enough for serious gaming, and the refresh rate is 60Hz. If gaming is your priority, you'll need something more specific to your needs.

The Acer Swift 3 sports a comfortable backlit keyboard and ample ports. Overall, it offers great value and performs much better than you might anticipate from a laptop in this price range.

One of the best Windows laptops for gaming is the Razer Blade 17, which comes with pretty much every spec and feature you need for the best possible gaming experience. Whether you’re a casual gamer or a AAA master, this laptop has you covered.

With its NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti graphics card, this laptop can handle even the most demanding titles at the highest settings and frame rates. Coupled with its 12th-Gen Intel Core i9 processor, and you have a highly capable laptop. The 16GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD storage are ample, and the 17-inch QHD 240Hz display is large and has a refresh rate to make even the fastest action game buttery smooth. The G-Sync tech will also help with screen tearing.

However, you also have the choice of an Ultra HD 144Hz display that comes with 32GB of RAM. This resolution and RAM are higher, and the refresh rate is still very high for smooth gameplay. With Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2, you also get fast and reliable connectivity.

The laptop comes with Windows 11 Home and also has a plethora of ports, including HDMI 2.1, USB Type-A and Type-C ports, and a headphone jack. You also get a Full HD webcam and an eight-channel speaker system with four tweeters and four subs for a well-rounded audio experience.

The Lenovo Yoga 7i is an excellent choice for a 2-in-1 Windows laptop. It has all the specs and features to be considered a good all-rounder, and its versatile and lightweight design makes it a good shout for travelers and digital nomads.

The laptop has an excellent battery life of up to 15 hours and a 1080p webcam for looking your best when connecting with colleagues or family. Considering the laptop's performance, it’s available at a very agreeable price, too.

It can easily handle everyday tasks, and you can push it a little further with some light video editing and basic programming without too much trouble. Further, the touchscreen and stylus support are excellent additions.

As far as entertainment goes, its Intel i5-1240P, 8GB of RAM, and integrated graphics can handle many game titles at lower settings. Movies and shows look fantastic on the large, bright, 2.5K display, and it has Dolby Vision support.

There are different versions of the Lenovo Yoga 7i available. You can choose a smaller display or more powerful specs at various different prices to suit your needs.

The Dell XPS 13 (9310 model) is a first-rate option for those seeking a Windows laptop with premium OLED imagery. The 3.5k image quality is outstanding, and the 400-nit peak brightness fights glare, even in direct sunlight. Students taking timeouts can easily catch up on homework or TV shows while relaxing outside.

The dual 2.5W speakers provide good audio, too. However, low frequencies and midranges are light and may require more powerful external speakers. Business people can use it to listen to webinars and podcasts without trouble. However, video conferencing may not be as good as you want due to the mediocre webcam, and the audio input can sound a bit on the tinny side.

Those on the go should also note that the OLED display can eat up the battery power. Although still pretty good, battery life caps out at around 7.5 hours when streaming. If battery life is paramount, models are available without the OLED display for a longer power duration.

It’s compact and lightweight for a 13-inch screen and features skinny bezels. Dell has somehow managed to cram a spacious touchpad and large keycaps into compressed dimensions. Yet, build quality and keyboard comfort are not compromised. However, despite the CPU handling most tasks well, those needing to run simultaneous graphics-intensive apps will need something more powerful.

This version of the Dell XPS 17 is the 9720 model, and it comes with the 12th Gen Core i7 processor. However, as always, the XPS 17 is highly configurable, and you can choose a design to suit your needs and budget. This one is a less expensive design and is suitable as an all-around laptop. It comes complete with Windows 11 Home. But, with premium configurations, you can have it with Windows 11 Pro.

On top of the speedy processor, it has a stunning UHD+ display, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 graphics card, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage. Designers, editors, AAA gamers, and such may feel the need for more premium specs. But for most, this model should prove to be a satisfying buy.

The traditional sturdy design and build remain the same, with an aluminum exterior and carbon-fiber interior. The edge-to-edge display is large and vibrant with ultra-slim bezels. Additionally, a wide color gamut, 500 nits of peak brightness, and a 60Hz refresh rate contribute to smooth movies with excellent contrast and bold colors. On the downside, it may be slightly heavy for lugging around all day, but most laptops with this sized screen will weigh in this region. So, if you prioritize portability, you might have to compromise on size.

If you are looking for a premium all-in-one Windows laptop, you can’t get more Windows than a Microsoft Surface laptop. The Laptop Studio is a 3-in-1 hybrid of the Surface Laptop, Studio, and Book. Changing the mode from laptop to stage or tablet is seamless, and each mode has a variety of uses.

Although not 4K, the screen is vibrant and detailed, with a wide range of colors and tones. It also pumps out around 500 nits of peak brightness, and the speakers are powerful enough and retain quality at top volume. But low frequencies could be better. If perfect audio is crucial, an external speaker will give your tunes and movies the bass boost they need.

Creatives, such as photo editors, will love this laptop. It has enough power to run several CPU-intensive apps without affecting the laptop’s performance. The 11th-Gen i7 chip, 32GB of RAM, and the RTX 3050 Ti GPU ensure that it’s even good for gaming. Yet, it’s not going to be accurate enough for AAA gaming, but for most, it works well.

It’s also an excellent workstation for working from home. But, thanks to it being a little on the heavy side and its paltry number of ports, it lacks portability. On-the-go business people and digital nomads may find it a little cumbersome to travel with, especially as it would need a docking station. However, video calls are excellent with the 1080p webcam and the clear, crisp audio, while the battery life is also excellent.

If you need an excellent 2-in-1 with a great webcam, the Samsung Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 is the ideal choice. It has a perfect 1080p webcam that has some advantageous features. You can use it for Zoom meetings, online education, or high-quality video chats. The beauty filter is a favorite. If you are running late for class, you needn’t worry so much about rushing around to look your best. It also has a subject lock feature that keeps you centered even when you are moving and other features such as a background blur mode.

However, there is a lot more to this laptop than its webcam. There are improvements on its predecessor, such as a better processor, a brighter display, and increased security. It is also every bit as slim and lightweight as the original, which is excellent for digital nomads and business people.

It also has some pretty stellar specs for a 2-in-1 and is generally a well-performing laptop for most purposes. The 16GB of RAM is paired with an impressive 12th Gen Intel i7 processor and 1TB of storage. All this means you can run multiple apps and have numerous web pages open without affecting performance. If you need more storage than this, there are options with 2TB at a slightly higher cost.

Watching movies and shows on this laptop is a joy. The screen is vibrant and colorful, producing 100 percent volume in the DCI-P3 color space. Combined with the excellent dynamic range, the 15.6-inch AMOLED touchscreen, and almost 400 nits of peak brightness, it is perfect for watching HDR movies. Not only that, but the speakers are impressive enough, so there's usually no need for an external one.

Choosing the Ideal Windows Laptop for You

When choosing any laptop, there are a number of factors you need to consider. The most important thing is where you will use the computer and for what primary purpose. Will you be using it for travel? In that case, you'll want one that is lightweight and slim. A 2-in-1 is always a good choice for travelers, whether you are a tourist or a long-term digital nomad. Will you be using it mainly at home? If so, you need to think about what purpose you will use it for. If it’s for remote work, you must ensure the specs are powerful enough for your job.

CPU, RAM, and storage are the most essential specifications you need to consider. An Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 with 8GB of RAM is typically sufficient for everyday productivity. For more demanding tasks like video editing, you’ll likely need a better CPU and more RAM. If you use graphics-intensive apps, such as those for 3D rendering, you should consider a dedicated graphics card, a more powerful CPU, and more RAM and SSD storage. The same is true if you are serious about gaming. For a powerful Windows laptop, you’ll need one such as the Razer Blade 17.

However, laptops like that are expensive. Affordability is a significant factor for some. But that doesn't mean you need to settle for a poor laptop. A good Windows-ready laptop that doesn’t cost a small fortune is the Acer Swift 3. It’s an excellent choice for day-to-day productivity and also meets the needs of most business or leisure travelers.

A laptop like the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 checks most boxes for most people. While you need to buy the keyboard separately to make it a proper laptop, the price is still agreeable for the performance you get. The display is stunning, it’s lightweight and slimline, has good battery life, and an excellent webcam.