Whether you’re after a gaming powerhouse, an entry-level model, or a sleek ultrabook, the best laptop CPUs are at the heart of the experience.
If you’re in the market for a powerful machine that’s built to last then you’ll need a device running of the best laptop CPU. In 2024, there are more options than at any other time for the form factor, with innovations brought about by established brands such as Intel, Apple, and AMD, but there’s also the more recent breakthrough from Qualcomm.
With that said, each of these mobile processors has its strengths and weaknesses depending on your use case. This is evident with the recent rise and popularity of AI computing which means the inclusion of an NPU (Neural Processing Unit) which uses AI to accelerate tasks. Every chipset manufacturer has thrown its hat into the ring, so it’s going to be an increasingly big part of your day-to-day.
Furthermore, advancements have been made with integrated graphics as well. While unlikely to rival the performance of a discrete graphics processor as found in the best gaming laptops, today’s iGPUs are far more competent. That means increased gaming performance but also makes more GPU-intensive tasks a reality. Machines will now need to balance their total power in a new way; CPU, GPU, and NPU in tandem. With that in mind, we’re here to break down all the brands, the models, and how to choose the best laptop CPU for you.Best laptop CPUs from Intel
Team Blue’s Meteor Lake hardware has brought some of the biggest innovations in the laptop scene seen for some time. To start with, the current line of Intel Core Ultra processors, ditching the “i” branding from its predecessors, is available in the denominations of Core Ultra 3, Core Ultra 5, Core Ultra 7, and Core Ultra 9.
The bulk of these chipsets feature integrated Arc graphics, replacing the weaker Xe graphics of older laptop processors. There’s also the inclusion of an “Intel AI Boost” through the dedicated NPU found in all of the SKUs on the market.
Described as “power-efficient AI” the NPU architecture found in Meteor Lake chips is made up of four parts: global control, scratchpad RAM, and twin neural compute engines. Said NPU makes up around 10 TOPS which, while solid, has since been eclipsed by some of Intel’s competitors.
As with the previous-generation Raptor Lake and Alder Lake chips, Meteor Lake also features a combination of Performance Cores and Efficiency Cores for a larger overall core pool, albeit clocked slightly slower than some older silicon.
You’ll commonly find the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H in ultrabooks such as the Asus Zenbook Duo 14, MSI Pulse 16 AI C1V, and HP Envy x360. However, higher-end machines may opt for the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H instead which also powers gaming laptops such as the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio and the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9, among others.
