Key takeaways
- Best overall: Apple MacBook Pro 16-Inch (M4 Max) ($3,500 – $4,500).
- Best value: Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 15.6-inch Laptop ($449 – $649).
- 16 GB of memory is the sensible minimum for a laptop you will keep for years.
In this article
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Choosing laptops in the US is easier when someone has already sorted the good from the overpriced. Below are the laptops we would buy right now, the ones worth a second look and the ones we would skip, each with a typical price and the reason behind the call.
Prices are typical ranges, not live prices. The button on each pick opens the current price.
Quick answer
- Best overall: Apple MacBook Pro 16-Inch (M4 Max) ($3,500 – $4,500)
- Best value: Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 15.6-inch Laptop ($449 – $649)
Laptops compared
| Product | Verdict | Score | Typical price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple MacBook Pro 16-Inch (M4 Max) | Buy | 9.3/10 | $3,500 – $4,500 |
| Apple 2025 MacBook Air 13-inch Laptop with M4 chip | Buy | 9.2/10 | $899 – $999 |
| Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) | Buy | 9.1/10 | $1,800 – $2,500 |
| Apple 2025 MacBook Pro 14-inch Laptop with M5 chip | Buy | 9.0/10 | $1,499 – $1,699 |
| ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 | Buy | 8.8/10 | $2,000 – $3,500 |
| Razer Blade 16 Gaming Laptop | Buy | 8.8/10 | $2,800 – $4,500 |
| ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2025) Gaming Laptop | Buy | 8.7/10 | $1,599 – $2,199 |
| Lenovo Legion Pro 7i | Buy | 8.7/10 | $2,400 – $3,500 |
| ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED | Buy | 8.4/10 | $800 – $1,100 |
| Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 15.6-inch Laptop | Buy | 7.8/10 | $449 – $649 |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 12) | Consider | 8.4/10 | $1,500 – $2,200 |
| ASUS ProArt P16 | Consider | 8.4/10 | $2,300 – $3,500 |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition 13.8-inch (Snapdragon X Elite) | Consider | 7.9/10 | $999 – $1,399 |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 | Skip | 6.3/10 | $599 – $799 |
Our picks in detail
Apple MacBook Pro 16-Inch (M4 Max)
Verdict: Buy · Score: 9.3/10 · Typical price: $3,500 – $4,500
A safe choice: Apple MacBook Pro 16-Inch (M4 Max) earns a buy verdict with a score of 9.3/10, at a typical price of $3,500 – $4,500.
Apple 2025 MacBook Air 13-inch Laptop with M4 chip
Most people · Verdict: Buy · Score: 9.2/10 · Typical price: $899 – $999
Why we like it: Fanless M4 speed with all-day battery.
Pros: Silent fanless design · Up to 18 hours of rated battery life · 16GB of memory standard · Drives two external displays with the lid open
Cons: Only two USB-C ports · Storage upgrades are pricey at checkout
Buy it if you want a thin, silent laptop that lasts a full day on a charge and stays fast for years.
Skip it if you need Windows-only software or play a lot of PC games.
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro)
Verdict: Buy · Score: 9.1/10 · Typical price: $1,800 – $2,500
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) is one of the laptops we would buy in the US. It scores 9.1/10 in our ratings and usually sells for $1,800 – $2,500.
Apple 2025 MacBook Pro 14-inch Laptop with M5 chip
Creators and power users · Verdict: Buy · Score: 9.0/10 · Typical price: $1,499 – $1,699
Why we like it: Mini-LED XDR screen and active cooling.
Pros: Bright Liquid Retina XDR display · Fan keeps performance steady under load · HDMI, SD card slot and MagSafe built in · Excellent speakers
Cons: Heavier than the Air · Base storage fills fast for video work
Buy it if you edit video or photos, compile code or run long workloads that would make a fanless laptop slow down.
Skip it if you mostly browse, write and stream; the MacBook Air does that for hundreds less.
ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16
Verdict: Buy · Score: 8.8/10 · Typical price: $2,000 – $3,500
ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 is one of the laptops we would buy in the US. It scores 8.8/10 in our ratings and usually sells for $2,000 – $3,500.
Razer Blade 16 Gaming Laptop
Verdict: Buy · Score: 8.8/10 · Typical price: $2,800 – $4,500
For most people, Razer Blade 16 Gaming Laptop is worth its usual price of $2,800 – $4,500. Our score: 8.8/10.
ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2025) Gaming Laptop
Portable gaming · Verdict: Buy · Score: 8.7/10 · Typical price: $1,599 – $2,199
Why we like it: OLED screen and RTX graphics in a 14-inch body.
Pros: Sharp 120Hz OLED display · Aluminum chassis feels premium · Light for a gaming laptop · USB-C charging for light work
Cons: Gets loud under gaming loads · Premium pricing
Buy it if you want a gaming laptop you can actually carry to class or on a plane without a backpack full of bricks.
Skip it if you want the most frame rate per dollar; bigger 16-inch gaming laptops cost less for the same GPU.
Lenovo Legion Pro 7i
Verdict: Buy · Score: 8.7/10 · Typical price: $2,400 – $3,500
For most people, Lenovo Legion Pro 7i is worth its usual price of $2,400 – $3,500. Our score: 8.7/10.
ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED
Verdict: Buy · Score: 8.4/10 · Typical price: $800 – $1,100
A safe choice: ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED earns a buy verdict with a score of 8.4/10, at a typical price of $800 – $1,100.
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 15.6-inch Laptop
Budget buyers · Verdict: Buy · Score: 7.8/10 · Typical price: $449 – $649
Why we like it: Full HD screen and full-size keyboard for little money.
Pros: Low price · Full-size keyboard with number pad · Plenty of ports, including HDMI · Easy to find configurations with 16GB
Cons: Screen is dim outdoors · Plastic build
Buy it if you need a reliable, roomy Windows laptop for schoolwork, email and streaming on a tight budget.
Skip it if you care about a bright screen or want something that feels premium in the hand.
What to check before you buy
- 16 GB of memory is the sensible minimum for a laptop you will keep for years.
- Battery life and a bright screen (300 nits or more) matter more than peak processor speed for most people.
- Check ports: at least one USB-C with charging and enough USB-A or HDMI for what you plug in.
What to skip
Common mistake: Buying a gaming laptop for school or office work; they are heavy and have short battery life.
We would also skip these at their usual prices:
- Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 ($599 – $799) – Skip it if you want value for money: the low-resolution screen and older 12th-gen Intel chip are bettered by cheaper laptops and the MacBook Air.
When to buy
The deepest discounts usually arrive during the big summer sales in July, the October sales events and Black Friday through Cyber Monday in late November. Back-to-school and big sale events bring the deepest laptop discounts.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best laptops in the US?
Our top pick is Apple MacBook Pro 16-Inch (M4 Max) (typically $3,500 – $4,500). For the best value, choose Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 15.6-inch Laptop (typically $449 – $649).
What should I check before buying laptops?
16 GB of memory is the sensible minimum for a laptop you will keep for years. Battery life and a bright screen (300 nits or more) matter more than peak processor speed for most people.
When is the best time to buy laptops in the US?
The deepest discounts usually arrive during the big summer sales in July, the October sales events and Black Friday through Cyber Monday in late November.
What is the most common mistake when buying laptops?
Buying a gaming laptop for school or office work; they are heavy and have short battery life.