The best laptops you can buy in 2025

If you’re looking to buy the best laptop in Australia you can, these machines represent are where you'll want to start.


Best laptop overall
Lenovo Yoga Pro 7i
Lenovo Yoga Pro 7i (2024)
Starts at$2549
Display Size
14-inches, OLED
Resolution
3072 x 1920
Weight
1.59kg
Best cheap laptop
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
Starts at$1099
Display Size
12.4-inches
Resolution
1536 x 1024
Weight
1.1kg
Best Mac laptop
MacBook Pro with M4
Apple Macbook Pro (M4)
Starts at$2499
Display Size
14.2-inches
Resolution
3024 x 1964
Weight
1.55kg
Best 2-in-1 laptop
ASUS Zenbook 14 Flip OLED
ASUS Zenbook Flip 14 OLED
Starts at$2499
Display Size
14-inches, OLED
Resolution
2880 x 1800
Weight
1.5kg
Best student laptop
Macbook Air (M1)
Apple Macbook Air (M1)
Starts at$1499
Display Size
13-inches
Resolution
2560 x 1600
Weight
1.29kg
Fergus Halliday
Nov 01, 2024
Icon Time To Read7 min read

While old-school laptops aren’t as versatile as more modern 2-in-1 PCs or as lightweight as tablets, they still hit a sweet spot for performance and portability that’s easy to like.

For all that recent chip shortages have squeezed the tech supply chain to the breaking point, laptop buyers remain spoiled for choice. And as more and more businesses move towards working from home, it’s become vital to ensure you have the right tools for the job.

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Best laptop overall

Lenovo Yoga Pro 7i (2024)
Lenovo Yoga Pro 7i
4 out of 5 stars
4
RRP$2,549
Icon Quote  Dark
"The price is high enough to leave a bitter taste in your mouth, but the design and performance that the new Lenovo Yoga Pro 7i delivers is sweet enough to balance the scales."
Fergus Halliday
Gadgets editor

If you’ve got the money to spend on a brand laptop, the Lenovo Yoga Pro 7i is one of the best ways you can spend it.

As with many of its competitors, it’s powered by Intel’s finest crop of Core processors, Iris Xe graphics and a generous sum of PCIe SSD storage. However, it ups the ante by integrating a gorgeous OLED screen and a dedicated GPU. Even if you will have to spent a little bit more to get the model that comes with these specific improvements, that premium is well worth paying for the gains in performance and picture quality.

This year's Lenovo Yoga Pro 7i is a triumphant turn for the brand that lets you dodge the usual compromises.

Model

Lenovo Yoga Pro 7i

Processor

Starts at Intel Core Ultra 125H

Memory

Starts at 16GB RAM

Display

14-inch, OLED

Storage

Starts at 512GB of SSD storage

Ports

2x USB Type-C (Thunderbolt 4), 1x USB Type-A 3.2, Combo audio jack, HDMI 2.1,

Battery

73Whr

Speakers

4x2W Speakers + Dolby Atmos Amp

Webcam

Starts at 1080p Windows Hello HD webcam

Weight

1.59kg

Dimensions

325.5 x 226.49 x 16.6 mm


Best cheap laptop

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
Processor: Starts at 10th Gen Intel Core i5-1135G7
Display: 12.4-inch PixelSense Display
Graphics: Intel Iris Xe
Weight: Starts at 1.1g
Memory: 4GB
Battery: 41Whr
Storage: Starts at 128GB SSD storage

While there are plenty of options available for those who want to go even cheaper, Microsoft’s own Surface Laptop Go 2 is hard to beat as a budget-friendly option. It’s not difficult to find the limits of the humble hardware here, but there’s plenty to like about the simple aesthetics and decent battery life offered up by Microsoft's entry-level laptop.

The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 knits together a tighter 12.4-inch PixelSense display, an 11th-generation Intel Core processor and up to 256 GB of SSD storage. That being said, there aren’t that many ports and some might come away irked by the size and brightness of the display. If you can afford to spend a little bit more, it'll probably be worth that.

It’s probably not going to cut it was the last laptop you'll ever need to buy, but if you want something that can reliably handle the basics at an affordable price, it may be exactly what you’re after.

Model

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2

Processor

Starts at 10th Gen Intel Core i5-1135G7

Graphics

Intel Iris Xe Graphics

Memory

Starts at 4GB RAM

Display

12.4-inch PixelSense Display

Storage

Starts at 128GB SSD storage

Ports

1 x USB-C, 1 x USB-A, 3.5 mm headphone jack, 1 x Surface Connect port

Speakers

Omnisonic Speakers with Dolby Audio

Webcam

720p HD (f/2.0)

Weight

1,127g

Dimensions

 

278.2mm x 206.2mm x 15.7mm

Best Mac laptop

Apple MacBook Pro (M4)
Icon Quote  Dark
"The new entry-level MacBook Pro M4 addresses almost every concern from prior models."
Alex Choros, Author Image
Group reviews editor

Even if the MacBook Air might save you a few bucks, a a few extra ports and a larger screen makes the the latest MacBook Pro remains the MacBook to beat. Keeping things as simple as possible, it’s the option that’s most likely to hit the sweet spot for most consumers.

Powered by Apple’s headlining-grabbing M4 processor, you get the latest version of the macOS operating system and hardware designed to get the most out of it. For those seeking a standout laptop that integrates effort with the rest of the Apple ecosystem, the new MacBook Pro is built to deliver.

It’s all wrapped up in a familiar design and a price tag that, even for Apple, rarely feels all that egregious. If you’re the kind of person who can dance to Apple’s tune when it comes to what a modern laptop should look like, the new MacBook Air is the obvious way to go.

Model

Apple MacBook Air (M4)

Processor

Apple M4 Chip

Graphics

Apple M4 GPU

Memory

Starts at 16GB unified memory

Display

Retina display with True Tone

Storage

Starts at 512 GB of SSD storage

Ports

3x USB Type-C (Thunderbolt 3), combo audio jack, HDMI out, SDXC slot

Battery

72.5Whr

Speakers

High-fidelity six-speaker sound system with support for Dolby Atmos

Webcam

1080p FaceTime HD camera

Weight

1.55kg

Best 2-in-1 laptop

ASUS Zenbook Flip 14 OLED
ASUS Zenbook 14 Flip OLED
4 out of 5 stars
4
RRP$2,499
Processor: Starts at 13th Gen Intel Core i5-1340P
Display: Starts at 14-inch 2.8K OLED display
Graphics: Intel Iris Xe
Weight: Starts at 1.5kg
Memory: Starts at 16GB RAM of LPDD5
Battery: 75Whr
Storage: Starts at 512GB of M.2 PCIe SSD storage

ASUS' ZenBook Flip range has always been a standout when it comes to flexible 2-in-1 laptops, and this OLED-laced update is no different. The Zenbook Flip 14 OLED brings together the power of Intel's 13th Gen Core processors, the flexibility of a hybrid form factor and the stylish looks of the Zenbook line.

It's easy to find laptops that bend the way this one does. It's hard to find one with an OLED screen. Even if you do, the chances of it delivering the performance as well are almost as slim as the form factor found here.

It's easy to wish for a version of this Zenbook that's cheaper or one that runs on an AMD chipset, but it's hard to deny the reality that this premium PC is one of the best and brightest 2-in-1 laptops you can buy right now.

ModelASUS Zenbook Flip 14 OLED
ProcessorStarts at 13th Gen Intel Core i5-1340P
GraphicsIntel Core Iris Xe integrated graphics
MemoryStarts at 16GB RAM of LPDDR5
DisplayStarts at 14-inch 2.8K OLED display
StorageStarts at 512GB of M.2 PCIe NVMe Solid State Storage
Ports2x USB Type-C (Thunderbolt 4), 1x USB Type-A, 1x combo audio jack, 1x HDMI 2.1,
Battery75Whr
Webcam1080p webcam
Weight1.5kg

Best student laptop

Apple MacBook Air (M1)
Icon Quote  Dark
"Even if it lacks the extra grunt or screen estate found in the latest MacBook Pro, the M1-powered MacBook Air is the right tool for most jobs most of the time.."
Fergus Halliday
Gadgets editor

While those who can afford the more recent MacBook Air should spring for it, cash-strapped students may be hard-pressed to find a better option than the 2020 version of Apple's iconic MacBook Air.

While this older model is synonymous with an older processor and a more traditional design, these details are hardly going to be dealbreakers when it comes to the demands of students. So long as you're not planning on any gaming, the M1 processor found inside the older MacBook Air still more than holds its own in 2024.

There’s a consistency and balance to the 2020 MacBook that's hard to find at price points that lean towards affordability. It's not quite as cheap as something like the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 or Acer's Swift X, but when you factor in Apple's own student discount and the reality that what's here is better equipped to go the distance than most of the alternatives, the pros of stretching your budget that little bit further begin to outweigh the cons.

The MacBook Air won’t cover all the bases, but it’ll probably do a great job at almost all of your computing essentials if you're a student looking for an easy solution to laptop confusion.

Model

Apple MacBook Air (M1)

Processor

Apple M1 Chip

Graphics

Apple M1 GPU

Memory

Starts at 8GB unified memory

Display

Retina display with True Tone

Storage

Starts at 256 GB of SSD storage

Ports

2x USB Type-C (Thunderbolt 3), combo audio jack

Battery

49Whr

Speakers

Wide stereo speakers with support for Dolby Atmos

Webcam

720p FaceTime HD camera

Weight

1.29kg

What to look for in a laptop

Whether you're looking at a mainstream computer brand like Dell or a dedicated gaming brand like MSI, there's an immense number of decisions you'll need to make when purchasing a laptop. If you're not sure where to start, here are a few important features to consider when shopping for your next laptop.
Info Box

Screen size and type

Unlike upgradeable components like your GPU, RAM and storage, you're stuck with the display you buy when you purchase a laptop. Is it a comfortable size? Does it offer a wide-viewing angle?

Megaphone

Resolution & Refresh Rate

1080p (Full HD) is the bare minimum for resolution these days and most laptops worth their price aim for 1440p at least (QHD or QuadHD) but you can also opt for 4K if you're willing to spend a little extra.

A screen's refresh rate is the measurement of how frequently it changes. The higher the refresh rate, the better. Most conventional laptops offer 60Hz to 90Hz but fancier gaming laptops can offer 144Hz, 165Hz or even 240Hz screens.

Light Bulb

Future proofing

 There are no hard and fast rules here but as a general suggestion, you'll want to sure you're laptop has the legs to survive a few years of technology improvements in any way you can. You can overshoot on your desired specs, spending more on a machine that's more powerful than you currently need, or opt for a model or brand that has support for upgrades down the track.

Bullhorn

Ports

Like your screen, ports will impact your everyday experience with a laptop, particularly if you use it for work. While you can work around this with USB hubs and adapters, a laptop with fewer ports than you need can quickly become a headache.

Best laptops compared:

How do the laptops on this page compare to every other one we've reviewed over the years.
Product
Availability
Display size
Resolution
Weight
Rating
14-inches1920 x 10801.4kg
3.5 out of 5 stars
3.5
16-inches2560x16002.61kg
3.5 out of 5 stars
3.5
14-inches2880 x 18001.34kg
3.8 out of 5 stars
3.75
16-inches3200 x 2000 1.5kg
3.5 out of 5 stars
3.5
14-inches2560 x 16003.11kg
3 out of 5 stars
3
icon-expertise

How we chose the best laptops

When it comes to picking and choosing the best laptops on the market, the easiest place to start is with the similarities that each brand brings to the table. This helps give us a basis for what the "meta" of laptops looks like at any given time.

The next phase in our analysis specifically looks into the details. Where do the different laptop designs brought to market by hardware manufacturers like Lenovo, Dell, HP and ASUS differ, and why? What additions or twists on the formula are novelty versus necessary? How much value do these niche features really provide end consumers?

We then weigh the findings of this process against the price expectations of the market segment attached to the category involved. While the overall category assumes you're a consumer who isn't looking to cut corners, neither does it act like your budget is unlimited. This helps us determine which laptops are providing the best bang for our buck and value for money.

Check out this article for for more information about how we review laptops like the ones on this page.

Laptop FAQs

Here are the most commonly asked questions about laptops

16GB is a good place to start when it comes to RAM, but it's not necessarily going to be the end of the road if your needs are more demanding. It's enough to get by, but it might not be enough for the future or for more performance-oriented users.

If your next laptop doesn't support upgrading your RAM later down the line, it's usually smart to overshoot and aim for 32GB of RAM instead.

Not all RAM is born equal. Size isn't everything. Speed also matters.

If you're looking to find out just how fast the RAM in your laptop is, the quickest way to do so is to identify the type of memory and then Google the standard expected speeds that it should offer. For example, LPDDR5 offers speeds of up to 6400Mbps while DDR4 memory can only rev up to 3200Mbps.

If you want to go one step further and determine whether the RAM in your laptop is delivering the speeds it should be capable of offering, then it might be worth putting the hardware to the test with a benchmarking tool like Novabench.

It's easy to spend too much or too little on your next laptop, but our take is that the best-value laptops tend to sit between $1600 and $2200 in terms of price. PCs that occupy this price point might not be able to outperform more expensive alternatives, but the bump up in quality over cheaper ones is well worth the cost involved.

Simply put, laptops of this price segment tend to sidestep all the compromises of going cheaper while getting most of the performance you'll get from spending more.

These days, there are three types of Intel Core processors found in laptops. The first is the humble Intel Core i5 processor, then there's the middle-of-the-range Intel Core i7 and the power user-oriented Intel Core i9.

If you're going purely by the numbers, the Intel Core i9 is going to provide the best results. However, it's also the most demanding in terms of thermal management. A laptop running an Intel Core i9 processor will be faster than one with an Intel Core i7 or Core i5, but it'll also run hotter.

If you're an everyday or more casual user, an Intel Core i5 is probably going to be fast enough for you. If you're more discerning or planning to play a lot of games, then the up-sell to an Intel Core i7 probably makes sense.

While there's no single component responsible when it comes to laptop speed, the part that usually takes the credit is the processor. If you want your next laptop to be a fast one, you'll want to make sure it has a good processor in it.

As with desktop PCs, the processor is only part of the picture, however. If your laptop lacks enough RAM or relies on a slower hard drive for file storage, that'll act as a bottleneck on the performance of the machine as a whole.

If you grew up in the time before the iPad and iPhones, there’s something familiar and robust about the form factor itself. The fact that there’s a physical keyboard in the mix is a pro rather than a con.

While tablets and convertibles quickly went from novel to normal for many consumers, there are still plenty who prefer to stick with a more conventional portable computing form factor. It doesn’t hurt that the list of typical laptop compromises gets shorter and shorter each year.

These days, buying an ultrathin laptop doesn’t involve as big a sacrifice in performance, nor does buying a performance-focused laptop doesn’t involve settling as much when it comes to portability. For those who aren’t demanding power users, using a laptop as a replacement for your desktop is a much more viable course of action than it was previously.

Where tablets and convertibles are sometimes experimental, laptops are a known quantity. You know what you’re buying, and you know what you’re getting. Unfortunately, there are still an overwhelming number of options to choose from if you’re in the market for a new laptop.

Fergus Halliday
Written by
Fergus Halliday is a journalist and editor for Reviews.org. He’s written about technology, telecommunications, gaming and more for over a decade. He got his start writing in high school and began his full-time career as the Editor of PC World Australia. Fergus has made the MCV 30 Under 30 list, been a finalist for seven categories at the IT Journalism Awards and won Most Controversial Writer at the 2022 Consensus Awards. He has been published in Gizmodo, Kotaku, GamesHub, Press Start, Screen Rant, Superjump, Nestegg and more.

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