Key takeaways
- Best 15-inch laptop: Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M5) ($1,299 – $1,499).
- Best budget 15-inch laptop: Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x (15.3-inch) ($449 – $739).
- 15-inch laptops give you more screen and often a number pad, at a modest weight increase.
In this article
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The best 15-inch laptops give you a larger, more comfortable screen than 13- and 14-inch models without the bulk of 16- and 17-inch machines. They are great for spreadsheets, split-screen work, movies and students who want more space. Here are our picks for 2026.
Prices are typical ranges, not live prices. The button on each pick opens the current price on Amazon.
Quick answer
- Best 15-inch laptop: Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M5) ($1,299 – $1,499)
- Best 15-inch Windows laptop: Lenovo ThinkPad X9 15 Aura ($1,499 – $1,899)
- Best 15-inch Copilot+ PC: Microsoft Surface Laptop 8 ($1,599 – $2,199)
- Best budget 15-inch laptop: Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x (Snapdragon X) ($449 – $739)
- Best 15-inch with a number pad: Dell 15 Laptop (Intel Core i5) ($449 – $599)
- Best 15-inch gaming laptop: MSI Katana 15 HX ($999 – $1,289)
15-inch laptops compared
| Product | Best for | Verdict | Score | Typical price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M5) | Best 15-inch laptop | Buy | 9.2/10 | $1,299 – $1,499 |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X9 15 Aura | Best 15-inch Windows laptop | Buy | 8.6/10 | $1,499 – $1,899 |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 8 | Best 15-inch Copilot+ PC | Buy | 8.8/10 | $1,599 – $2,199 |
| Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x (Snapdragon X) | Best budget 15-inch laptop | Buy | 8.6/10 | $449 – $739 |
| Dell 15 Laptop (Intel Core i5) | Best 15-inch with a number pad | Buy | 8.0/10 | $449 – $599 |
| MSI Katana 15 HX | Best 15-inch gaming laptop | Consider | 8.0/10 | $999 – $1,289 |
Our picks in detail
Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M5)
Best 15-inch laptop · Verdict: Buy · Score: 9.2/10 · Typical price: $1,299 – $1,499
Key specs: Apple M5 chip, 16GB unified memory, 512GB SSD, 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display, about 3.3 lb
Why we picked it: The MacBook Air 15’s large display, six speakers and fanless M5 design make it the best big-screen everyday laptop.
Pros: Big screen in a thin, fanless body · Six-speaker sound system · Long battery life · Same speed as the 13-inch model
Cons: Costs $200 more than the 13-inch · Still 60Hz · No HDMI or SD card slot
Buy it if you want more screen space for spreadsheets, split-screen work or movies without carrying a heavy laptop.
Skip it if you mostly work on the go, where the 13-inch is easier to carry.
Lenovo ThinkPad X9 15 Aura
Best 15-inch Windows laptop · Verdict: Buy · Score: 8.6/10 · Typical price: $1,499 – $1,899
Key specs: Intel Core Ultra 7 258V, 32GB memory, 15.3-inch 2.8K OLED 120Hz touchscreen, about 3.1 lb, 16-plus hours tested battery
Why we picked it: The ThinkPad X9 15 Aura’s 2.8K OLED and light 3.1 lb body suit professionals who want a big screen.
Pros: Large OLED in a light body · Long battery · Modern design · Excellent speakers
Cons: No TrackPoint · Integrated graphics only · Fewer ports than classic ThinkPads
Buy it if you want a big-screen business laptop that is still easy to carry.
Skip it if you want the classic ThinkPad keyboard and TrackPoint.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 8
Best 15-inch Copilot+ PC · Verdict: Buy · Score: 8.8/10 · Typical price: $1,599 – $2,199
Key specs: Snapdragon X2 Plus or X2 Elite, 16GB–64GB memory, 13.8-inch or 15-inch 120Hz touchscreen, up to 20 hours claimed battery
Why we picked it: The 15-inch Surface Laptop 8 has a sharp 3270 x 2180 touchscreen and long battery life.
Pros: Excellent battery life · Fast Snapdragon X2 chips with 80 TOPS NPU · Great keyboard and haptic touchpad · Premium, simple design
Cons: Much pricier than the Surface Laptop 7 · Arm emulation for some older apps · Limited ports
Buy it if you want a premium Copilot+ PC with long battery life and a clean Windows experience.
Skip it if you rely on niche x86 software, anti-cheat games or a tight budget.
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x (Snapdragon X)
Best budget 15-inch laptop · Verdict: Buy · Score: 8.6/10 · Typical price: $449 – $739
Key specs: Qualcomm Snapdragon X, 16GB memory, 256GB–1TB SSD, 15.3-inch Full HD+ touchscreen, 16-plus hours tested battery
Why we picked it: A 15.3-inch touchscreen and 16GB of memory under $600.
Pros: Huge battery life for the price · 16GB memory standard · Touchscreen · Frequently on sale under $500
Cons: Arm emulation for some apps · Plain design · Not for games
Buy it if you want the best budget laptop for students and home use.
Skip it if you need specialist Windows software or games.
Dell 15 Laptop (Intel Core i5)
Best 15-inch with a number pad · Verdict: Buy · Score: 8.0/10 · Typical price: $449 – $599
Key specs: Intel Core i5 (13th Gen or Core 5), 8GB–16GB memory, 512GB SSD, 15.6-inch Full HD 120Hz display
Why we picked it: The Dell 15’s number pad and 120Hz screen are great for spreadsheets on a budget.
Pros: Low price for a Core i5 · Full-size keyboard with number pad · 120Hz screen at this price · Good port selection
Cons: Dim display · Average battery life · Plastic build
Buy it if you need a simple, roomy Windows laptop for home and office tasks on a tight budget.
Skip it if you carry your laptop all day.
MSI Katana 15 HX
Best 15-inch gaming laptop · Verdict: Consider · Score: 8.0/10 · Typical price: $999 – $1,289
Key specs: Intel Core i7-14650HX, Nvidia RTX 5050 or RTX 5060, 15.6-inch FHD or QHD 144–165Hz display, about 6 lb
Why we picked it: The Katana 15 HX brings RTX graphics to a 15.6-inch body at an affordable price.
Pros: Strong CPU for the price · Affordable entry to RTX 50 series · Upgradeable · High-refresh screen
Cons: Heavy · Loud fans · Mediocre battery
Buy it if you want affordable 1080p gaming with a fast CPU.
Skip it if you want a portable or quiet machine.
Who should buy a 15-inch laptop?
- People who rarely use an external monitor
- Spreadsheet users who want a number pad
- Students and families who share one laptop
- Anyone who watches lots of video on their laptop
The trade-off is weight: most 15-inch laptops weigh 3.1 to 4 lb.
Which 15-inch laptop should you buy?
Most people should buy the MacBook Air 15-inch (M5). Windows professionals should consider the ThinkPad X9 15 or the 15-inch Surface Laptop 8. On a budget, choose the IdeaPad Slim 3x or the Dell 15 for a number pad. Gamers on a budget should look at the Katana 15 HX. Compare with our best 16-inch laptops.
15.6-inch vs 15.3-inch vs 16-inch
Older 15.6-inch laptops use 16:9 screens, while newer 15.3-inch and 16-inch laptops often use taller 16:10 or 3:2 screens that show more of documents and web pages. If you can choose, a 16:10 screen is more productive.
What to check before you buy
- Check the screen’s aspect ratio and brightness.
- Confirm number pad presence if you need one.
- Look at total weight with the charger.
What to skip
Common mistake: buying a budget 15.6-inch laptop with a dim 220-nit TN panel. Poor viewing angles and colors make a large screen less enjoyable.
When to buy
15-inch laptops see big discounts during back-to-school season and Black Friday.
Compare more options
Search 15.6 inch laptop on Amazon See top-rated 15.6 inch laptop on Amazon
Related reading
Frequently asked questions
What is the best 15-inch laptop?
The Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M5) for most people, combining a big screen with a thin, light, fanless design.
What is the best budget 15-inch laptop?
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x with a 15.3-inch touchscreen, 16GB of memory and long battery life.
Do 15-inch laptops have number pads?
Many Windows 15.6-inch laptops include them, such as the Dell 15 and HP 15.6-inch. MacBooks do not.
Is a 15-inch laptop good for students?
Yes, if you prefer a bigger screen and do not mind slightly more weight.