15 Best Laptops for Gaming, College & Work (In 2024)

A laptop has now become an essential utility from the luxury that it used to be once upon a time.Indeed, about 3 years ago, sales of laptops crossed the sales of desktop computers internationally.

A lot of this has to do with the convenience provided by laptops.

As a lot of our work gets mobile, laptops allow professionals to move around easily. Be it a meeting or travel to another city: a laptop ensures that you can take your work with you easily. Even for freelancers, laptops enable them to work easily from co-working spaces and cafes.

There are several varieties and brands of laptops available in the market. The biggest question then is: which is the best laptop of the year?

We did a mammoth amount of research for this article in order to showcase the best laptops to you. Also, to make it sweeter, we have made the list of best laptops 2023 by price and other categories so that you can take a pick based on your individual preferences.

Here’s a list of the best laptops of 2023 divided into different categories:

15-inch laptops

Acer Aspire E 15

A 15-inch laptop is the perfect halfway size for those who use their computers for work as well as personal use. Therefore, these machines are a hybrid between the power required for getting your professional tasks done combined with the necessary screen size and graphics for home entertainment and leisure.

Naturally, this is also amongst the most contested and cluttered segments for laptops. While the battle was tough, the Asus Aspire E 15 emerges as the best 15-inch screen laptop.

Packed with the 7th gen Intel Core i5 processor, the Asus Aspire E 15 wields all the power that’s required for helping you get through your work tasks smoothly. Be it the rendering of a complex Excel sheet or the processing of a large amount of data: the Asus Aspire E 15 is well capable of handling that and much more. This processor also helps you optimize battery life thus ensuring that your laptop functions longer on a single charge.

The Asus Aspire E 15 also packs the NVIDIA GeForce 940MX Graphics card with a dedicated video memory of 2GB. This means that you can easily view Full HD videos, movies, as well as play those cutting-edge games while experiencing rich colors. This laptop also doesn’t lag while processing HD video and a big thanks for that is to the dedicated memory.

Featuring a 15.6-inch screen, the Asus Aspire E 15 comes with 8 GB DDR SDRAM, 2 USB 3.0 and 3.1 Type C ports, and an inbuilt flash memory of 256GB.

Main Specs:

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17-inch laptops 

Lenovo Ideapad 110

Featuring a larger screen than its 15-inch counterparts, a 17-inch screen laptop is specifically designed for multimedia as well as a greater real estate for display. This is especially important for those who consume video for a major chunk of their day or need a wide-screen display for large spreadsheets.

The best laptop in the 17-inch screen category is the Lenovo Ideapad 10.  The erstwhile IBM laptops were rebranded as Lenovo when the Chinese computer maker took over the division. And in just a short span of time, they’ve become market leaders in making some of the best laptops.

The Lenovo Ideapad 10 features an AMD A6-7310 processor which gives it sufficient power while greatly reducing its cost thus making it a fantastic budget laptop. This is combined with an AMD Radeon graphics card which, while not full HD, manages to bring rich colors alive onto the 17-inch display. As with the new Lenovo laptops, the design of this computer has some interesting features. The hinge on the laptop, for instance, bends a complete 180 degrees which allow you to turn it totally flat. This is helpful especially in settings where a lot of people need to view something on your screen. Moreover, the Ideapad 10 also comes with a built-in optical drive to watch as well as write CDs and DVDs. If you buy this laptop, get those movies out of storage and re-watch them.

The Lenovo Ideapad 10 also comes pre-installed with Windows 10 and features a HUGE 1000 GB HDD. This laptop also packs in a whopping 8GB of RAM which ensures that there’s enough processing memory available for all your tasks. The presence of an optical drive means that there’s only 1 USB port but that easily be fixed by purchasing a cheap multi-port USB hub.

Main Specs:

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i3 processor

Acer Aspire E 15 i3

 The Intel i3 processor created a storm when it was launched. Despite new versions having been released, the i3 still packs a punch and delivers processing power that’s second to none. Laptops running on the i3 framework tend to be budget models that provide unsurpassed features which any user would need. In this category, the best i5 laptop is, yet again, the Acer Aspire E 15 albeit with an i3 processor version.

Packed with the 7th gen Intel Core i3-7100U processor, the Asus Aspire E 15 wields all the power that’s required for helping you get through your work tasks smoothly. Be it the rendering of a complex Excel sheet or the processing of a large amount of data: the Asus Aspire E 15 is well capable of handling that and much more. This processor also helps you optimize battery life thus ensuring that your laptop functions longer on a single charge. The i3 processor sits niftily while delivering a superior performance on your machine.

The Asus Aspire E 15 also packs the NVIDIA GeForce 940MX Graphics card with a dedicated video memory of 2GB. This means that you can easily view Full HD videos, movies, as well as play those cutting-edge games while experiencing rich colors. This laptop also doesn’t lag while processing HD video and a big thanks for that is to the dedicated memory.

Featuring a 15.6-inch screen, the Asus Aspire E 15 comes with 8 GB DDR SDRAM, 2 USB 3.0 and 3.1 Type C ports, and an inbuilt flash memory of 256GB.

Main Specs:

[ryvl video_url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcdK_jmyOJY&t=47s” auto_play=”yes”]Watch Lenovo Legion Y520  video review[/ryvl]

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Also Check: Top 15 Laptops that You Can Buy under $500 in 2018

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i5 processor

Asus Vivobook

The i5 is the next level up amongst Intel processors and helps deliver a lot of additional frills and special features in addition to its stellar crunching power. In this category, the best i5 laptop is the Asus Vivobook.

Built using the 8th Generation Intel Core i5-8250U processor, this laptop packs a 1.6GHz power. If you’re a serious gamer, you can switch to turbo mode which provides a whopping 3.4GHz of processing capacity. The Asus Vivobook also sports a 15.6″ anti-glare Full HD display which is perfect for all your multimedia needs. The anti-glare part is important because it not only prevents your eyes from getting tired but also ensures that you can work easily even at your favorite outdoor cafe. The Asus Vivobook also features a huge 1TB HDD which should be more than enough for all your storage needs.

One of the amazing features on this laptop is the fingerprint sensor which allows you to lock your machine and keep it secure. For this budget range, a feature like this is quite a steal. The Asus Vivobook comes with 8GB DDR4 RAM and features a keyboard which has been ergonomically designed to ensure that you can type comfortably without any hassle.

Main Specs:

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i7 processor

Asus Zenbook

The latest Intel i7 processors powers some of the best machines in the market. Indeed, most top range laptops that have been recently launched have made this processor their default. With such a high benchmark, choosing a winner was definitely an uphill battle. But the one laptop that takes the cake in the best laptop with i7 processor category is the Asus Zenbook.

Featuring a 2.5GHz Intel Core i7-6500U i7 processor with 12 GB of RAM, this laptop is an absolute powerhouse. Not only can you easily use the Asus Zenbook for work but also deploy it for all your gaming and entertainment needs. The processing capacity combined with the memory ensures that this laptop performs even the most complex tasks sans any lag or delays.

Do you need to talk to colleagues or family online regularly? Well, in that case, you’ll be pleased to know that the Asus Zenbook features a 1.2MP camera which is perfect for all your conference call needs. Moreover, the Zenbook comes with 3 USB 3.0 ports, 1 HDMI port and 1 mini display ports ensuring that all your multimedia needs are sufficiently addressed.

Main Specs:

[ryvl video_url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6ziRWN1O54″ auto_play=”yes”]Watch Lenovo Legion Y520  video review[/ryvl]

2-in-1 laptop

 Acer Aspire R 15

Several individuals prefer their work using a tablet these days. While tablets provide portability, laptops provide the convenience of a keyboard and a trackpad which makes navigation easier. How about combining the two? That’s exactly what a 2-in-1 laptop does. And in this category, the best 2-in-1 laptop, by far, is the Acer Aspire R 15.

This laptop is more conventionally known as a “convertible laptop”. That’s because the Acer Aspire R 15 features a unique hinge which allows it to convert from a laptop to a tablet to getting into “display mode” and to even be used in tent mode for presentations. Packing the 7th Generation Intel Core i7-7500U Processor, this laptop is capable of a processing power of up to 3.5GHz. That combined with 12GB DDR4 RAM ensures that your machine runs smoothly without any hassle.

The Acer Aspire R 15 also comes with a 15.6″ Full HD (1920 x 1080) Multi-touch widescreen IPS display which makes it a gorgeous tablet too when detached from the main laptop. This display is the perfect size for watching all your favorite video content and for playing games.

Another fantastic feature on this laptop is its battery. With almost 9 hours of standby time, the Acer Aspire R 15 will definitely last you through your workday on a single charge without needing to stay hooked to a cable.

Main Specs:

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Chromebook 

Asus Chromebook

Chromebooks are a unique concept especially for users who work entirely on the internet. Rather than having localized apps on the computer, a Chromebook works entirely on the online cloud using Google’s Chrome internet browser. Among Chromebooks, the Asus Chromebook is by far the best one available in the market.

Powered by an Intel Celeron N3060 Processor, the Asus Chromebook is nifty and light making it the ideal option for travelers and digital nomads. The built-in 4GB DDR RAM ensures that your laptop functions efficiently online sans any lags or hang-ups. Do mind that this is a Chromebook which means that standard applications like MS Office will have to be run online. The Asus Chromebook is also perfect for those perpetually on the move as it features reinforced rubber guards and a spill-resistant keyboard. This means that you no longer have to worry about cosmetic damage from wear and tear. The 11.6 inches HD 1366×768 Anti-Glare Display helps you watch all your web content in high resolution and true colors.

This wifi-enabled Chromebook also comes with 2 built-in USB ports for all your peripherals needs.

Main Specs:

[ryvl video_url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWWqTEdEHhU” auto_play=”yes”]Watch Lenovo Legion Y520  video review[/ryvl]

Macbook

MacBook Pro 13”

The Apple Macintosh is one of the most desirable computers in the world. Thanks to its lovely design coupled with a user-friendly OS, laptops with the distinct Apple logo on the back are a much-coveted item. With Apple releasing several series of MacBook laptops such as MacBook Pro, MacBook Air etc., the question remains: which one of these is the best and most value-for-money. According to us, it’s definitely the 13” MacBook Pro.

The MacBook Pro, as the name suggests, is designed for professional and power users. The specifications of this computer, therefore, reflect these requirements very well. The Apple 13” MacBook Pro functions on a 3.1GHz Intel i5 Dual Core processor coupled with 16GB of RAM. This is immense processing power which you will instantly feel as soon as you start using your Macbook. The biggest advantage of Apple products is that the software, as well as the hardware, are customized for each other. This ensures that the Apple 13” MacBook Pro offers you an unmatched experience with these specifications.

This laptop also features the Intel Iris Plus Graphics 650 card which makes visuals literally come alive to live. Along with that, this laptop sports all the latest additions by Apple such the Touch Bar and TouchID.

Overall, the Apple 13” MacBook Pro provides the best screen size and specifications for the use of the average computer consumer.

Main Specs:

[ryvl video_url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UlyxA9M1N4&t=189s” auto_play=”yes”]Watch Lenovo Legion Y520  video review[/ryvl]

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Budget Laptops

Acer Aspire E 15

A budget computer is an important requirement especially for those who want a 2nd machine for home use or for students. Budget laptops do not pack too many frills and are meant to be good enough for day-to-day use such as using the internet, creating documents, etc. Most laptops under this category are usually classified as netbooks. Amongst budget laptops, our choice for the best laptop is the Acer Aspire E 15.

Packed with the 7th gen Intel Core i3-7100U processor, the Asus Aspire E 15 wields all the power that’s required for helping you get through your work tasks smoothly. Be it the rendering of a complex Excel sheet or the processing of a large amount of data: the Asus Aspire E 15 is well capable of handling that and much more. This processor also helps you optimize battery life thus ensuring that your laptop functions longer on a single charge.

The Asus Aspire E 15 also packs the NVIDIA GeForce 940MX Graphics card with a dedicated video memory of 2GB. This means that you can easily view Full HD videos, movies, as well as play those cutting-edge games while experiencing rich colors.

Featuring a 15.6-inch screen, the Asus Aspire E 15 comes with 8 GB DDR SDRAM, 2 USB 3.0 and 3.1 Type C ports, and an inbuilt flash memory of 256GB.

Main Specs:

[ryvl video_url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-XLWNhpFhc” auto_play=”yes”]Watch Lenovo Legion Y520  video review[/ryvl]

Also Check: Best Laptops Under $700 to Buy in 2018

Thin & Ultrathin Laptops

Asus Zenbook

A slim laptop is an important tool especially for those who value space or need to lug their computer with them every day. Along with that, a slim laptop looks and feels sleek which adds to the beauty of your machine. A slim laptop what gives you a premium look and is also convenient to carry around with you.

Amongst all the slim laptops available in the market, we highly recommend the Asus Zenbook. Featuring the 8th generation Intel i5-8250U Processor, this laptop packs a lot of processing power. Now you can conveniently watch your favorite videos and play your games while on the go with this ultra slim laptop and not worry about hangups or hit Ctrl+Alt+DEL. The 8GB RAM is amongst the top of the line features available in the Asus Zenbook. The i5 processor allows the Asus Zenbook to be slim while still packing all the power that is necessary get the best performance.

Storage capacity on this computer too is great with a 256GB HDD built in. Along with that, the Asus Zenbook has several unique features such as a backlit keyboard (when you wish to work with the lights off) and a fingerprint reader which ensures that no one else can access your computer without your permission.

Main Specs:

[ryvl video_url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9ocyJZUe0o” auto_play=”yes”]Watch Lenovo Legion Y520  video review[/ryvl]

Home use/Browsing

Acer Aspire 1 

Some laptops are meant for casual home use and browsing the internet. Therefore, high-end specifications aren’t necessary for these machines and users generally prefer a larger display, good connectivity, and ease of use. Among this category, the best laptop for home use or browsing the internet is the Acer Aspire 1.

Featuring an Intel Celeron N3450 Quad-Core Processor, the Acer Aspire 1 packs enough power that’d be required for an average home user. This combined with the 4GB onboard RAM makes it easy to use this laptop for all your audio and video needs at home couples with browsing the internet. The 14” Full HD display is slightly larger than the ones available on laptops within this category and is a great choice for all your entertainment consumption.

The Acer Aspire 1 comes bundled with Windows 10 pre-installed thus saving you a large expense.

Main Specs:

[ryvl video_url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62O7bWGkjxY” auto_play=”yes”]Watch Lenovo Legion Y520  video review[/ryvl]

Gaming Laptops

 Asus Predator Helios

Gaming laptops need special specifications. Along with great graphics, these laptops are also equipped with the processing power to handle games without any lag. Of course, you wouldn’t want your game stuck while you’re in the middle of shooting terrorists, would you? Therefore, a standard laptop just doesn’t cut it for a gamer. Among the gaming laptops that are especially available in the market, the best one is the Asus Predator Helios.

Packed with an Intel Core i7-7700HQ processor, this laptop features a full HD display which makes your games come alive in real. The all-metal body of the Asus Predator Helios is able to withstand all the shocks that come from handling during games. The 15.6” display along with GeForce GTX 1060-6GB ensures that you get the top visual and graphics quality from every game you play.

The Asus Predator Helios also features a red backlit keyboard for playing in the dark (to simulate an arcade) and provides a good 7 hours of battery life so that you can play uninterrupted.

Main Specs:

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Portable/Travel Laptop

Dell Inspiron 13 5000

Travel laptops need to be nifty and convenient. Moreover, as professionals travel around a lot for work, these laptops ought to be reliable with great processing power. Most importantly, a good travel laptop needs a stellar battery where a user can work long hours on the plane or in a car without needing to charge it. Based on all these parameters, the best portable/travel laptop, according to us, is the Dell Inspiron 13 5000.

Powered by the 8th Gen Intel Core i5-8250U processor, the Dell Inspiron 13 5000 is a fast computer capable of processing most professional tasks in a jiffy. This comes bundled with 8GB 2400MHz DDR4 RAM which can be expanded by the user to unto 32GB. Needless to say, this amount of onboard memory is more than sufficient for a travel laptop.

The Dell Inspiron 13 5000 also comes with a 13.3-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS True-life LED-Backlit display which makes it absolutely easy to use during meetings when a projector is not available. Moreover, the wide-angle view ensures that collaborating on projects using this laptop is a piece of cake. This computer also features a touch display which is extremely convenient especially when you’re trying to get work done on the go.

The Dell Inspiron 13 5000 also comes bundled with Windows 10 so you’re ready to unbox and start using it immediately.

Main Specs:

[ryvl video_url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLWM0a7MtXY” auto_play=”yes”]Watch Lenovo Legion Y520  video review[/ryvl]

Laptop under $200

Acer Chromebook

The sub-$200 range is the most budget price range amongst laptops. These are laptops meant purely for basic web browsing and using the internet at home. These are usually smaller-sized laptops with a limited processing power. However, it is a perfect computer for a teenager or to gift to someone as their first machine especially while they’re young. These also make for good laptops that you can easily take on vacation with you so that you aren’t forced to work using your cell phone. Such computers are popularly known as netbooks.

Netbooks are a unique concept especially for users who work entirely on the internet. Rather than having localized apps on the computer, a netbook works entirely on the online cloud using Google’s Chrome internet browser. Among Chromebooks, the Acer Chromebook is by far the best one available in the market.

Powered by an Intel Celeron N2840 Processor, the Acer Chromebook is nifty and light making it the ideal option for travelers and digital nomads. The built-in 4GB DDR RAM ensures that your laptop functions efficiently online sans any lags or hang-ups. Do mind that this is a Chromebook which means that standard applications like MS Office will have to be run online. The Acer Chromebook is also perfect for those perpetually on the move as it features reinforced rubber guards and a spill-resistant keyboard.

This means that you no longer have to worry about cosmetic damage from wear and tear. The 11.6 inches HD 1366×768 Anti-Glare Display helps you watch all your web content in high resolution and true colors.

Main Specs:

[ryvl video_url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfEhwgfdFG4″ auto_play=”yes”]Watch Lenovo Legion Y520  video review[/ryvl]

Laptop under $300

HP Stream

This is the true entry-level range for laptops be it professional or for home use. Most laptops within this category tend to pack in a decent processor, RAM, and a wide enough display. These laptops are designed to be a primary computer for a user so you’re excused if you’d expect a lot from your system. Within the category of laptops under $300, we were absolutely delighted by the HP Stream.

Sporting an Intel Celeron N3060 processor with 8GB RAM, this is the perfect entry-level laptop for professional as well as home needs. This laptop is particularly recommended for students who are in college and need a system for making their assignments and PowerPoint presentations. The 14 inch backlit display is perfect for those chilled out movie nights as well as for ensuring that your work presentations come out looking stellar. The HP Stream also comes bundled with a 1-year subscription to MS Office. You can always purchase a long-term license but we would also recommend open source programs like LibreOffice which you can get for free off the internet.

The HP Stream comes with an internal HDD of 32GB with the chance of expanding it through an external HDD. This laptop features the new Windows 10 which is absolutely perfect for professional as well as entertainment use.

Main Specs:

[ryvl video_url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6WzpmtJ_f0″ auto_play=”yes”]Watch Lenovo Legion Y520  video review[/ryvl]

Laptops under $500

Dell Inspiron 15 5000

Laptops in the sub-$500 segment are usually for users who prefer to use their systems for a mix of professional as well as home-based reasons. These are a mid-range laptop which usually also tend to double up as a 2nd computer for many people. Ideally in a laptop within this category, you’d look for a great display combined with a high processing power to get through your day-to-day tasks. After evaluating a lot of systems, we have concluded that the best laptop in the under-$500 price range is the Dell Inspiron 15 5000.

Powered by the 8th Gen Intel Core i5-8250U processor, the Dell Inspiron 15 5000 is a fast computer capable of processing most professional tasks in a jiffy. This comes bundled with 8GB 2400MHz DDR4 RAM which can be expanded by the user to unto 32GB. Needless to say, this amount of onboard memory is more than sufficient for a travel laptop. The Dell Inspiron 15 5000 also comes with a 13.3-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS True-life LED-Backlit display which makes it absolutely easy to use during meetings when a projector is not available. Moreover, the wide-angle view ensures that collaborating on projects using this laptop is a piece of cake. This computer also features a touch display which is extremely convenient especially when you’re trying to get work done on the go.

The Dell Inspiron 15 5000 also comes bundled with Windows 10 so you’re ready to unbox and start using it immediately.

Main Specs:

[ryvl video_url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9lw1XMnueA” auto_play=”yes”]Watch Lenovo Legion Y520  video review[/ryvl]

Laptops under $700

Asus Zenbook

Amongst all the slim laptops available in the market, we highly recommend the Asus Zenbook. Featuring the 8th generation Intel i5-8250U Processor, this laptop packs a lot of processing power. Now you can conveniently watch your favorite videos and play your games while on the go with this ultra slim laptop and not worry about hangups or hit Ctrl+Alt+DEL. The 8GB RAM is amongst the top of the line features available in the Asus Zenbook. The i5 processor allows the Asus Zenbook to be slim while still packing all the power that is necessary get the best performance.

Storage capacity on this computer too is great with a 256GB HDD built in. Along with that, the Asus Zenbook has several unique features such as a backlit keyboard (when you wish to work with the lights off) and a fingerprint reader which ensures that no one else can access your computer without your permission.

Main Specs:

[ryvl video_url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqMjuX9vCDU” auto_play=”yes”]Watch Lenovo Legion Y520  video review[/ryvl]

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Laptops under $1000

HP Envy x360

This range is for the top-end of laptops featuring cutting-edge technology and specifications. Most machines in this range are the creme de la creme of laptops and the price tag totally justifies that. These are meant for serious professionals who absolutely need their laptop to be on all the time and capable of processing multiple tasks. But naturally, there would be great competition for features as well as looks in this category. However, the best laptop in this range by far is the HP Envy x360.

Running on the top-end Intel Core i7-8550U processor, the HP Envy x360 is totally a machine that’ll generate jealousy amongst your peers. The computer features 8GB DDR RAM which is perfect for all your tasks: professional as well as entertainment.

The display is where it gets all interesting. The HP Envy x360 features a 15.5” diagonal touchscreen where your laptop easily turns into a tablet. Moreover, the HP Envy x360 features a special hinge allowing for a full 360 degrees tilt to your display which means you’ve got a superb wide-screen tablet on your hands whenever you need. The HP Envy x360 also has an “image pad” which recognizes gestures and allows you to set shortcuts for certain frequently-used functions.

The HP Envy x360 comes with an awesome 256GB.

Main Specs:

[ryvl video_url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKbn8CdGR98″ auto_play=”yes”]Watch Lenovo Legion Y520  video review[/ryvl]

Also Check: 15 Best Laptops under 1000 Dollars (Between $900 to $1K) for 2018

Conclusion

A good laptop doesn’t necessarily have to be good looking or premium. The most important part is functionality and ease of use. The laptops listed above are hands down, the absolute best in their individual category.

Once you buy your laptop, please remember to handle it with care and maintain it properly. It is always a good idea to install an antivirus and to run malware checks regularly. A great case to carry your laptop will also go a long way in keeping it safe and in perfect condition.