Are you in the market for a new laptop? Whether you’re eyeing Apple’s latest MacBook Pro or in need of a replacement for your outdated laptop, now is a great time to make a purchase. Brands like Apple, Acer, and Microsoft offer a range of laptops to fit any budget or use case, with many mid-range and high-end models often seeing discounts during holidays and sales events.
To help you find the perfect laptop for your needs, ZDNET’s team of expert reviewers put each laptop through rigorous testing. Our top pick for the best laptop overall is the MacBook Pro (M3 Max), boasting a remarkable 22-hour battery life, M3 Max chipset, and 120Hz display refresh rate.
The MacBook Pro M3 Max is a desktop-class laptop that offers unparalleled performance, rivaling even a Mac Studio. Its GPU’s Dynamic Caching architecture allows for faster mesh shading, high-quality graphics, better rendering, and even ray tracing. The stunning display, with a 120Hz refresh rate and 1,600 nits of peak brightness, enhances the user experience further.
In addition to the MacBook Pro M3 Max, our list includes other top picks such as the MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo, Dell XPS 16, Acer Aspire 3, and MSI Creator Z17 HX Studio. Each laptop offers unique features and capabilities, catering to a variety of needs and preferences. So whether you’re a content creator, a student, or a professional, there’s a laptop on our list that’s perfect for you.