Whether you’re looking for an ultra-light laptop for work or you want a powerful machine to play games, you can’t go wrong with one of these best all around laptops 2023. Each of these devices comes with a long battery life, great performance and a good mix of ports, storage and upgradeability.
Dell XPS 15
Dell has a long-running reputation for producing laptops with sleek designs and great build quality. The XPS 15 is no exception. The machined aluminum chassis feels sturdy, and the keyboard is reassuringly well-made.
Whether you’re an office worker or a creative professional, the XPS 15 is sure to meet your needs. Thanks to 10th-gen Intel CPUs and an Nvidia GTX 1650 Ti GPU, this laptop is more than capable of handling all your workday tasks.
The XPS 15 is available in four configurations, ranging from a non-touch FHD+ display to a 3.5K OLED touch screen and an optional 4K display. The lowest configuration weighs 1.84kg and costs $1,420, while the highest config offers a 4K display, a Core i7-12700H processor, 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti graphics chip.
Aside from a brilliant display, the XPS 15 is also one of the most comfortable laptops on the market. Its oversized touchpad is easy to navigate and works well for multi-touch input, while the keyboard’s large buttons hammer down into a solid base.
This XPS 15 is a perfect combination of luxury and function, with its elegant design language screaming upscale without being too flashy or ostentatious. It’s available in a silver or frost finish, and you can choose from a black carbon fiber or white woven fiber keyboard deck.
The XPS 15 is the gold standard for prosumer laptops, combining high-end performance with a stylish design that can be used in almost any situation. This is a great choice for students or professionals who want to take their jobs on the go, but it can also handle heavy gaming and video editing duties.
LG Gram 16
The LG Gram 16 is a sleek, light laptop designed for a life on the go. It’s built with a durable magnesium alloy chassis and it’s strong enough to pass seven military-grade durability tests including ones for shock, pressure and humidity (STD-MIL-810G).
This is an excellent choice for anyone who needs a laptop that will survive the rigors of a busy life on the road. Its ultra-light construction and big, color-rich display make it a great option for watching movies and browsing the web on the go.
Despite its impressive battery life, the LG Gram 16 is not the fastest laptop around, and it’s not the best for gaming either. The laptop comes with a 12th-gen Intel Core i7-1260P processor that doesn’t have the performance to run complex games at high resolutions and settings.
The Gram 16 also features a powerful NVIDIA RTX 2050 graphics chip, which delivers smooth, responsive performance for video streaming and online gaming. The computer is also equipped with 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB NVMe SSD that provides plenty of space for your files.
For extra security, the laptop comes with a fingerprint reader and LG Glance, which uses an all-seeing webcam to detect your presence and attention, locking the laptop or pausing media playback. You can disable the feature by pressing F4 on the keyboard.
Its keyboard is a significant improvement over last year’s model, thanks to a comfortable firmness and a fair amount of travel. It’s responsive and easy to use, and it looks much better than the previous Gram 16.
HP 14
The HP 14 is a solid all around laptop that delivers top-tier performance at an affordable price. Its 12th-generation Intel Core i5 processor, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB SSD are a fantastic combination for the price point.
It also offers a solid selection of ports including two USB-C and USB-A ports, an HDMI jack, and a 3.5-mm audio jack. It’s a great budget choice for students and casual users who want a laptop that’s dependable, easy to use, and has good battery life.
While this model isn’t a gaming machine, it does feature a discrete graphics card. That’s enough for watching movies, light picture editing, and some light gaming at low settings.
Those who are looking for more serious gaming should look to a gaming notebook with a dedicated graphics card. The Intel Core i5-12400H processor and Vega 3 graphics on this model are a great match for gamers, though it would be nice to see HP include a higher-end chip like the Intel Core i7-12700U or an AMD Radeon RX 560X.
For those who want a more versatile laptop, the Pavilion Aero 13 is also worth checking out. It’s a two-in-one that lasts more than 10 hours in our testing and has features like a Thunderbolt 4 port, an SD card reader, a 1080p webcam with a privacy shutter, and a fingerprint reader.
The HP 14 is a great all around laptop for anyone who needs a budget-friendly device that performs well and looks stylish. The Asus Chromebook 14 is an excellent alternative with a more powerful Intel Core i3 CPU and better battery life. It also has more features than the HP 14. For students and casual users, the Acer Chromebook Spin 311 is a fantastic option with power-efficient Intel Celeron CPUs and good battery life.
Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15 is a great choice for anyone who needs an all-around laptop. It comes with a solid display, great battery life, and a good price tag.
The Intel Core i3-1005G1 processor and 8GB of RAM provide plenty of computing power, while the 256GB SSD provides a decent amount of storage for your files. It’s also worth noting that this laptop ships with Windows 10 S Mode, which means you’ll be able to run slower components without affecting performance.
Besides, the laptop’s thin and light design makes it easy to carry around. The keyboard and touchpad are responsive, and the webcam is a bit better than average.
Gaming is a bit more of a problem, though. For example, Far Cry New Dawn and Hitman 3 are both very demanding on the system’s graphics card. When playing these titles at 1080p resolution and medium settings, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15 averaged 55 and 61 fps, respectively.
That’s a pretty decent performance for an entry-level gaming laptop, but it’s still short of the playability minimum of 30 fps. That means it won’t be ideal for any games that require more graphical horsepower than this computer can provide, like video editing.
This laptop’s 15.6-inch IPS screen offers a nice amount of viewing area and is fairly bright, too. However, it’s not as wide as other models in this range, and its narrow color gamut can make it difficult to read some types of content.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon is one of the most well-rounded laptops you can buy. It offers a powerful processor, lots of storage and is built to last.
Its rounded chassis is crafted from carbon fiber, a material that’s lightweight and strong. It also has a magnesium alloy roll-cage, which helps keep the laptop strong and prevents it from moving around in transit.
This laptop also has a very good display, which is excellent for productivity and gaming. Its Full HD+ 1920 x 1080 resolution is excellent for the price, and it offers a high level of detail.
For those who want to do more, the X1 Carbon can also be configured with an Intel Core i7 processor and a 512GB SSD. The combination of these components will allow you to run multiple programs at once without any problems.
Overall, the X1 Carbon is a great machine that’s perfect for anyone who needs to get a lot done in a short amount of time. It’s also a good choice for those who are looking for a durable device that can be used in any environment.
Its keyboard is also a standout feature. It’s one of the best you can find in this price range, and it has a unique layout that makes typing feel effortless.
Another feature that should interest any mobile worker is the X1 Carbon’s security features. It comes with a Discrete Trusted Platform Module (dTPM 2.0), which ensures that your data and credentials are protected from hackers.
The X1 Carbon also comes with a Kensington lock to secure your information when you’re working on the go. You can also use Tile’s location system to track your laptop if it gets misplaced.