Your guide to the latest and best laptops of 2017. Check out our latest reviews and buyer’s guide on the top MacBooks and Windows laptops for this year.
Despite the rise of tablets, there are still plenty of reasons to choose a laptop. Sometimes you just can’t beat a bigger screen, a keyboard and Windows for getting stuff done.
But, if you want a laptop that’s also a tablet, there are plenty of convertible or ‘hybrid’ laptops which have a touchscreen which folds right back behind the keyboard and can be used as a tablet. The Yoga 710 is one of the best we’ve seen in this respect, although if its 11in screen is too small, Lenovo does offer larger versions.
Choosing a laptop isn’t the easiest thing to do, but we’re here to help. First, if you’re looking for a laptop that can handle the latest games, see our up-to-date list of the best gaming laptops.
As much as we can, we make sure all the laptops here are available to buy in the UK. However, it’s not something we can check every day so there’s a chance you might not find the precise model listed.
There are also often many different versions of the ‘same’ laptop so we always quote the part number of the model we tested. You can use this to search online and make sure you get the right model.
But there is no harm in buying one of the other variants since — typically — it is just the amount of RAM, storage, processor or graphics card which differs: the chassis, screen, keyboard and touchpad generally remain identical across all.
Most laptops will come pre-installed with Windows 10 now. Of course, we also include here the best MacBooks, which run macOS out of the box. Macs are often more expensive than Windows laptops, but Apple’s laptops are better value than ever before.
You might feel that the premium build quality and features warrant spending extra, although many Windows laptop manufacturers have stepped up their game recently.
Sometimes the best does come at a steep price, but equally you can get a lot of laptop for under £300 – provided you only need to do basic tasks like browse the web, email and create the odd document. If so see the best budget laptops.
Spending a bit more, around £500 and above, will potentially get you a nice laptop but it’s likely to have an entry-level set of specs. We’re talking a relatively basic processor, minimal SSD storage and a relatively low-quality screen. It might also be a bit heavy and bulky.
Ramp up the amount you’re happy to splash out — £700 and up — and you should get a blazing fast processor, plenty of RAM, hordes of storage and a gorgeous display. You should also expect excellent build quality and premium materials.
That’s why it’s crucial to read laptop reviews before you buy.
The size of your screen is an important decision when buying a laptop. They range from 11in all the way up to 17in.
A smaller screen might be harder to work on but it means that the laptop will be far more portable, handy if you need to take it around with you wherever you go. Bear in mind that a smaller device means less space for features like ports.
At 17in, you’re buying a desktop replacement laptop which isn’t deigned to be moved around often. You’ll likely get a full-size keyboard, lots of connectivity and possibly even an optical drive, too.
Generally, unless you’re looking at either end of the spectrum, a 13in laptop is the sweet spot for us combining portability with usability.
While many laptops have a resolution of 1366×768, you should look for something more if you want the best. Full HD (1920×1080) and higher should be a tick box and you can even get 4K laptops now, although arguably it’s not necessary.
If you want a touchscreen, this normally adds to the cost. Most laptops have a glossy, reflective screen (certainly this is the case with touchscreens) but most people prefer a less reflective matt finish so that’s something to look out for, too.
As usual, storage depends on what you want to use a laptop for. As a general rule of thumb get as much as possible without wasting money on the upgrade (manufactures can charge a premium on this area) .
An SSD will mean your laptop runs faster but doesn’t provide as much space as a traditional hard drive. Remember that there are also plenty of cloud storage options but this isn’t so helpful when you don’t have an internet connection.
If you’re going to need to storing a large amount of data (perhaps you make home videos or you simply want all your TV box sets ready to go) then look for 1- or 2TB of space. Don’t forget you can buy a portable USB drive to supplement a laptop which has only a small-capacity SSD.
Memory (RAM) is where programs and files are stored only while you’re using them, and more is always better. Consider 4GB an absolute minimum, unless it’s a Chromebook, with 8- to 16GB the ideal figure if you can afford the upgrade. You can’t have too much.
Unless you’re going to run complex and demanding software or gaming, you don’t need the latest top-spec processor. It doesn’t hurt, of course, but it’s best to find a nice balance as there’s nothing worse than waiting for a app to load etc.
If you’re happy to splash out then you’re probably looking at the latest generation (7th) Intel Core i7 chip. Entry-level spec models are likely to offer a Core i3 or even a Celeron, Pentium or AMD processor instead. A Core i5 is a good mid-range choice so check how much extra it is to upgrade before making a final decision.
If you’re not sure which generation the Intel processor is, look at the model number as the first digit represents this. For example, a Core i5-6500 is a sixth-generation CPU.
The letters after the model name are important, too. Y and U means these are ultra-low-power chips which won’t be great for demanding tasks but should mean longer battery life. H means high-performance graphics (built into the CPU) and Q means it’s quad-core.
While most come with Intel processors, you can still find AMD-powered devices around. See AMD vs Intel for more information.
Buying an ultraportable laptop is really no different than any laptop, except that your priorities are likely to be different. You might want an ultraportable laptop that’s light and will last a long time away from the mains.
However, other people want an ultrabook that’s powerful and can handle demanding applications without breaking your back when you carry it around. Both types are available.
Some compromises are inevitable if you want a thin and light laptop, though. There’s less space for a battery, so it’s typical to find shorter runtimes. But some companies have overcome this with clever packaging, such as the MacBook Air.
Another factor is efficient hardware, so a newer processor is likely to sip rather than guzzle power. The same goes for other components.
