Don't Buy A Laptop Until You See This (2026 Buying Guide)

Dave Johnson from Forbes Vetted, along with his tech team, rigorously tested over 20 laptops to recommend the best for Forbes readers, considering factors like build quality, display, battery life, and overall performance. The Apple MacBook Air was named the best overall laptop for 2026. It excels in aesthetics, with a sleek design and comfortable keyboard, and a liquid retina display offering excellent contrast and picture quality. While its 60 Hz refresh rate is good for most, it's not ideal for gamers. Available in 13-inch and 15-inch models, the 13-inch is preferred for portability. It offers up to 32 GB RAM, with 16 GB sufficient for most users, and storage options from 256 GB to 2 TB. Its battery life is stellar, retaining 63% after 6.5 hours of 4K video playback. Mac OS integration with iPhones is a handy feature. For heavier workloads, the Dell 16 Premium is the best premium laptop. It features a professional design, ergonomic keyboard, and large trackpad, with plenty of ports including a micro SD slot. Equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor and Nvidia graphics, its vivid 16-inch display is bright and renders shadows with excellent fidelity, allowing for multitasking. However, at 4.5 lbs, it's one of the heavier general-purpose laptops. Battery life is around 5.5 hours. The Yoga 7i 2-in-1 is the top convertible laptop, praised for its sturdy, utilitarian design and numerous ports. Its key feature is the ability to fold into a tablet, with a responsive 16-inch touchscreen ideal for note-taking and streaming video, enhanced by Dolby Vision. It boasts impressive battery life, with 46% remaining after 6.5 hours of 4K video, and includes Dolby Atmos speakers with minimal bloatware. The Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 is the best gaming laptop, offering excellent performance and graphics in a portable 4 lb design. It features a minimalist aesthetic with a unique diagonal light on the lid and thin bezels. The keyboard has customizable RGB lighting, and its superb display offers a phenomenal 240 Hz refresh rate for smooth gameplay. Powered by an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070Ti, it handles demanding games with clarity and accurate color. Configurations include 32 GB RAM and 1 TB storage. For professionals, the Lenovo ThinkPad