Laptop Buying Guide 2024: What to Look for in Your Next Machine

Buying a new laptop can be overwhelming, given the variety of form factors, sizes, and other specs to choose from. Let’s make it easier to shop for your next laptop. Here’s everything you need to know about the best laptops you can buy in 2024 – from powerful gaming machines to options that are light on your wallet.

Laptops with Great Battery Life

MacBooks

Let’s start with Apple. MacBooks are traditionally known for long battery life because the hardware, including the M-series chips, is optimized for macOS by Apple itself.

If all-day battery life is important to you, the MacBook Air with an M2 chip from 2022 remains a good option. You can choose between 13-inch and 15-inch options, with prices starting at $999 and $1,299, respectively (Apple no longer stocks the latter, so you’ll need to find it elsewhere).

For even better battery life, you’ll want to check out the M3-powered MacBook Air models, which is now available to pre-order and will begin shipping March 8. The 13-inch MacBook Air starts at $1,099, while the 15-inch model goes for $1,299.

Dell XPS

The currently available XPS series from 2023 looks elegant and futuristic, thanks to elements such as touch-controlled function keys and a trackpad indistinguishable from the palm rest.

The current lineup includes 13-inch, 15-inch models, and 17-inch models running 13th Gen Intel Core i7 CPUs and starting roughly at $1,600. We recommend waiting a few months for the new 2024 models, powered by Intel’s latest Core Ultra processors.

HP Spectre X360

Unlike the XPS, the Spectre X360 comes with a more traditional design, featuring a hinge that rotates 360 degrees, an OLED touchscreen, and an Intel Core Ultra 5 or Ultra 7 processor. The 2024 model comes in 14-inch and 16-inch sizes, starting at $1,500.

LG Gram

The Gram is one of the lightest laptop ranges of all time, and the latest 14-inch model weighs just over 1kg (2.2lb). You can get the Gram with a 13th Gen Core i5 or i7 inside at a reasonable starting price of around $1,000.

Meanwhile, the larger 17-inch model can be configured with an optional Nvidia RTX 30 series dedicated GPU for a little over $1,700.

LG has also unveiled newer models with the latest Core Ultra processors at CES, but has yet to reveal pricing or availability.

Laptops for Gaming

For high-end gaming in 2024, try to pick a laptop with at least an Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU or an AMD equivalent with 6GB RAM and up.

If you’re okay with compromising on performance for a lower price, you can either opt for a last-gen RTX 30 series GPU or an AMD Radeon 7000 (newer) or 6000 (previous generation) series GPU.

Further, a display with a high refresh rate can level up your gaming experience with smoother-looking action on screen. So make sure you choose a laptop with 120Hz or higher refresh rate.

Here are some good options for you to consider in 2024:

ASUS ROG Zephyrus

The Zephyrus 14 strikes a balance between powerful specifications and a great price. You can find models with AMD Ryzen 9 chips and powerful GPUs, including the RTX 4050, 4060, and 4070. Meanwhile, the 16-inch model comes with Intel Core Ultra 7 or Ultra 9 chips, with GPU options up to RTX 4090.

Prices for 2024 models start at $2,199; you can pick up the 2023 Zephyrus 14 with Ryzen 9 and RTX 4060 for $1,100 on Best Buy – just remember to upgrade to 16GB RAM.

Lenovo Legion Pro 7/7i

The 2023 Legion Pro 7 offers an unmatched gaming experience in the sub-$3,000 category. You can choose between an Intel Core i9 or Ryzen 9 with up to RTX 4090 graphics.

The Intel Core i9 model can be found on Amazon for about $2,600, while the Ryzen variant is available on Lenovo’s online store for under $2,400.

HP Omen Transcend 14

The new 14-inch Transcend belies the general trend of unwieldy gaming laptops with its lightweight footprint, weighing 1.6kg (3.6lb). It comes with a Core Ultra 9 chip, an RTX 4070 GPU, and an OLED display for about $2,300 on HP’s official website.

Razer Blade 16 2024

The new Blade 16 comes with a high-end 14th-gen Intel i9 CPU and up to RTX 4090 GPU for hard-to-match performance. You also get options between a 240Hz OLED display and a more color-accurate MiniLED display. It starts at $3,000 on Amazon and Razer’s official store.

Asus ROG Flow Z13 (2023)

This unique ‘gaming tablet’ features a detachable keyboard, a touchscreen with stylus support, and a performant 13th-gen Intel Core i9 chip along with a powerful GPU for a starting price of $1,600 on Amazon. That means it’s down to game and work flexibly while looking like nothing else that packs this kind of firepower.

Laptops on a Budget

For those heading off to school, we recommend laptops that promise long battery life without breaking the bank – like these:

MacBook Air M1

The MacBook Air is a real all-arounder with a long battery life and a portable design. Even three years after its launch, the M1 MacBook Air is still pretty reliable and easy to recommend to most folks at less than $750 on Amazon.

Acer Chromebook Plus 514

If you mostly work in the browser and need something more affordable, the Acer Chromebook Plus is a compelling option. It gets a 7th-gen Ryzen 3 chip and the ability to run Android apps for under $400 on Amazon.

The Best Laptops under $500

1. Acer Aspire 3 (2023) – This is a budget-friendly laptop, offering a modest 7th-gen Ryzen 3, 8GB RAM, and SSD storage options ranging from 256GB to 1TB, all under $500. If you can extend your budget, you can score a Ryzen 5-equipped model with 256GB SSD for $500 at B&H.
2. Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 (Ryzen 3, 2023) – Armed with a decent processor, this one from Lenovo is a steal at just $320 on Amazon. You get a 256GB SSD and 8GB of RAM to help you power through daily tasks.

What about Framework’s repairable and upgradeable laptops?

Framework aims to change the narrative of laptops becoming obsolete all too soon, bringing a PC-like modular approach to its laptops that makes it easy to upgrade your machine and replace worn-out parts for years to come.

Framework currently offers two models – 13-inch and 16-inch – with the option to choose your internal components.

Framework laptops let you swap out the motherboard, keyboard, trackpad, and ports whenever you like – and pretty much by yourself. The larger 16-inch model also lets you seamlessly add or remove a dedicated AMD Radeon GPU for graphics-intensive tasks.

While Framework’s approach is mostly peachy, the current CPU and GPU selection for the 16-inch model lacks options from Intel and Nvidia, which feels rather limiting. Plus, the Framework laptop isn’t exactly cheap, with the lowest-end variant starting at $1,049 pre-built.

That’s a wrap. If you’re keen on shopping around further, we’ve got you covered. Check out our favorite 2-in-1 laptops from last year, learn about the differences between MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models, cover your bases before picking up a used laptop, and find out if a gaming laptop is the best choice for you.

Image credit: Rounded desk with four laptops by DepositPhotos

Tushar Mehta

Tushar is a freelance writer at Make Tech Easier, where he contributes to the new Lifestyle section. A tech and DIY enthusiast since the era of dial-up internet and camera-less phones, he has been writing about technology for nearly a decade. Tushar also contributes to Digital Trends and SlashGear and has worked with XDA and Android Central in the past.