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Best laptops to buy right now
16GB of memory is the minimum that stays fast for years; 8GB laptops slow down once a few browser tabs are open. A MacBook Air gives the best battery and screen for the money if you are happy on macOS. For Windows, look for an SSD of 512GB and a screen of at least 1080p.
Best for most people
1. Apple MacBook Air 13 M5 (16GB, 512GB)
Apple M5, 10-core · 16GB · Up to 18 hours · 512GB SSD
The laptop to buy if you are happy on macOS: the M5 chip is fast, Apple quotes up to 18 hours of battery, and 16GB of memory keeps it quick for years. The 13.6-inch Liquid Retina screen is sharp and the design is light enough to carry daily. With 512GB of storage, heavy video or photo libraries may still need cloud or external space.
Out of stock on Amazon
Buy on eBay
Best budget Windows laptop
2. Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5 (i5, 16GB, 1TB)
Intel Core i5-13420H · 16GB · 16 inch WUXGA 1200p · 1TB SSD
Strong value for Windows users: 16GB of memory and a roomy 1TB SSD, with a big 16-inch 1200p screen for side-by-side documents. It has a good spread of ports and Dolby Audio speakers. The 13th-gen Intel chip is a generation older than the newest models, and Lenovo's listing does not quote battery life.
Out of stock on Amazon
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Best battery life on Windows
3. ASUS Vivobook 16 Snapdragon X (16GB, 512GB)
Snapdragon X1-26-100 · 16GB · Up to 19 hours · 512GB SSD
A Copilot+ Windows laptop with a quoted 19 hours of battery, so it suits students and anyone working away from a plug. The 16-inch 1920 x 1200 screen gives plenty of room. The Snapdragon chip uses Arm, so a few older Windows apps and games may not run or will run slower.
Best cheaper MacBook
4. Apple MacBook Neo 13 (A18 Pro, 8GB, 512GB)
Apple A18 Pro · 8GB · Up to 16 hours · 512GB SSD
The most affordable way into a new MacBook, with a bright 13-inch Liquid Retina screen, up to 16 hours of battery and a choice of colours. It is ideal for browsing, study and streaming. With 8GB of memory it has less headroom than the MacBook Air for heavy multitasking over the years.
Best OLED screen
5. Acer Swift Go 14 AI (Ryzen AI 7, 16GB, 1TB)
AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 · 16GB · 14 inch WUXGA OLED · 1TB SSD
A thin and light Copilot+ PC with a vivid 14-inch OLED screen, a fast Ryzen AI 7 chip and a 1TB SSD. It suits people who travel and want a premium Windows machine. The OLED panel looks great, but a smaller 14-inch screen is less comfortable for long spreadsheet sessions than a 16-inch.
Best for home use
6. Dell 15 (i5-1334U, 16GB, 512GB)
Intel Core i5-1334U · 16GB DDR5 · 15.6 inch FHD 120Hz IPS · 512GB SSD
A sensible family laptop with 16GB of memory, a 512GB SSD and a 15.6-inch anti-glare screen that runs at a smooth 120Hz. HDMI, USB-A, USB-C and a microSD reader cover most accessories. The title notes the power adapter, so check the listing to see whether a charger is in the box.
Best for business (renewed)
7. Microsoft Surface Laptop 6 for Business (Ultra 5, 16GB, 256GB)
Intel Core Ultra 5 135H · 16GB · 13.5 inch PixelSense touchscreen · 256GB SSD · Renewed
Built for work, with Windows 11 Pro, BitLocker and Windows Hello face sign-in, plus a sharp 13.5-inch touchscreen. The 14-core Core Ultra 5 handles office multitasking easily. The 256GB SSD fills up quickly if you keep lots of files locally rather than in the cloud. This listing is renewed rather than new.
Best for creative work
8. Apple MacBook Pro 14 M5 (16GB)
Apple M5, 10-core CPU and GPU · 16GB · 14.2 inch Liquid Retina XDR · Up to 24 hours
For photo, video and design work: the M5 chip's stronger GPU and the Liquid Retina XDR screen make it a step up from the Air. Apple quotes up to 24 hours of battery, with the same performance unplugged. It costs far more than most people need for email, browsing and office work.
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How we rank
Ordered by how well each sells in its Amazon UK category, what the listing confirms (specs, battery, compatibility, sizes), and price. We have not handled these products: the write-ups rest on what each listing states. Prices and stock are checked daily.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Each Amazon UK price shows the date and time it was checked. We earn a small commission if you buy through our links, at no cost to you. It never changes the order. More about how we work.