Choosing a new laptop is very important, because it is a device that will accompany us for years. The market is now so large that there are products in all price ranges , and finding the best notebook is not always an objective question. The first question you need to ask yourself is: what do I need it for? Does it have to be very light or not? Should it have a great deal of autonomy or can I give it up? How big should the screen be? Will I play it too? The questions are so many, to the point that the best notebook does not exist , ever. There is the one that best suits everyone's needs.
Ideally, you might think that the best laptop is the one with the quality / price ratio that is cheaper, but that's not necessarily the case. Maybe you are looking for a product that is only the cheapest possible , or maybe you really need a top of the range, with all due respect to the price. We have therefore tried to offer you very heterogeneous solutions, both by type of model and by price, in order to try to satisfy everyone's needs.
INDEX
- Economic (<600 €)
- Mid-range (€ 600-1,200)
- High (€ 1,200-2,000)
- Top (> € 2,000)
- Quality / price
Lenovo IdeaPad 3
At the low end of the market, Chromebooks deserve a lot of consideration, as they offer an excellent browsing experience for a low cost; experience often superior to Windows counterparts of the same hardware. The downside is that Chrome OS is not Windows
MSI Prestige 14EVO is an Intel Evo notebook , as the name suggests. This means that it has been tested to be not only performing, but also having a good autonomy. Thanks to the Intel Core i7-1185G7 processor you can not only work even with demanding programs, but also play most recent titles. And with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, memory is unlikely to be an issue.
MateBook D
MateBook D is one of the best-selling and popular models of Huawei, a company famous in the smartphone world, which for some years has been making excellent Windows laptops. The MateBook D is available in different configurations, but the one we recommend is fine for most uses. We are talking about the Ryzen 5 3500U , processor to be preferred over the Intel variant because of similar performance but cheaper. The specifications are completed by a 15.6 '' screen (there is also the 14 '' variant) full HD, 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of SSD . As a price we are right borderline : 599 €, but they are well spent both in terms of performance and build quality.
Attention : if you do not find the Ryzen 5 version, the model with Ryzen 7 is even more valid, although with a less advantageous quality / price ratio.
Honor MagicBook Pro
The suffix “pro” is perhaps a bit exaggerated for this notebook, which still puts all the boxes in the right place. Ryzen 5 4600H, 16 GB of RAM, 512 GB of storage and a large 16-inch screen in full HD. You can read our full review here.
HP – PC 240 G8
HP offers an interesting 14 '' full HD IPS , with processor Intel Core i7-1065G7 , 8 GB of RAM, and 256 GB of SSD. It's not a cutting-edge model, but it satisfies common computing needs well, is compact, and costs the right amount. For those who do not have excessive claims, it is in short a valid alternative.
LG Gram 14
Portability, lightness (only 986 grams) and autonomy (all working day, abundantly). These are the cornerstones of LG Gram 14. If these specifications are essential to you, you are facing one of the best choices on the market. Technically speaking it is a 14 “Full HD IPS, with Intel i5-1135G7, 8 GB of DDR4 RAM, and 512 GB SSD . Here you can find our review (of the previous model) for deepen his knowledge.
NOTE: Alongside the 14-inch model there are also 15, 16 and 17-inch models, which however go up higher in price. The best quality / price ratio was reached on 14 '', but even 15 is fine. We have a few more concerns about 17, which you can learn more about in our review.
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5
It is one of the most complete laptops ever, also equipped with a stylus included in the package. The Ryzen 7 7500U by AMD is the master, which turns out to be a processor capable of doing everything, from light to heavier work, also passing through a bit of gaming, without excessive claims. Also noteworthy is the 360 ° rotating full HD touch screen, which makes this notebook one of the most versatile in its range.
Too bad for only 8 GB of RAM, and for a few sacrifices here and there, but after all with such a price and with such performance, somewhere Lenovo had to tighten the belt a bit. Find out in our review (of the previous model).
NOTE: IdeaPad Flex 5 is often out of stock, given its great success, but the good news is that there are so many variations. If the box below says “not available”, search on Amazon
Surface Laptop 3 and 4
Speaking of products with a fluctuating price, we could not fail to mention Surface Laptop 3, especially now that the Laptop 4 has been released. Even with some annoying shortcomings (scarce number of ports on all), Microsoft's latest notebook is one of the most pleasant in everyday use . Thanks to the alcantara, the instant-on, a lightning-fast face unlock, an above average keyboard and touchpad; of many precautions that will make you appreciate it day after day. Further details on why can be found in our review.
Below we also leave you the box for the Laptop 4, which currently costs more and is not easy to find on offer, but which also represents a big leap forward in terms of performance and autonomy (especially with AMD processors) compared to the previous model.
Surface Pro 7
Always staying at Microsoft, it's hard not to recommend a Surface Pro , the best Windows tablet , as long as you can call it a tablet. Whether it is the latest version, the 7th, or even the previous one, if you are looking for a flexible device, which adapts to multiple scenarios, it is difficult to find better. The one below is perhaps the most balanced model, with Core core i5-1035G4, 8GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD. Its price fluctuates around € 1,100, which are not few in relation to the hardware alone, but you still have a device different from many others, to be exploited as such. However, there are versions with 128 GB and core i3, in case you want to save up to under € 1,000.
MacBook Air M1
At the moment it is practically impossible to find, but the new MacBook Air with Apple Silicon M1 is in fact the best in its price range (€ 1,159 in the list) and more. If you find it, grab it, but be careful not to confuse it with the previous model, equipped with an Intel CPU, because they are two completely different machines.
We are faced with an uncommon model, with this Summit E13 Flip Evo, and you can understand it just by looking at the image above. A 360 ° rotating convertible with stylus support , embellished with a golden profile, which stands out from the matt black of the rest of the body. Inside we have state-of-the-art hardware, with 11th generation Intel i7-1185G7 CPU, the most powerful Tiger Lake , accompanied by ben 32 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage space. The display is 13.4 '' and the total weight is just 1.35 Kg .
HP Specter x360
Specter X360 is a nice convertible , 13 or 15 inch. Here we propose the 13-inch version, which thanks to the 10th generation processors combines power and portability well (and the pen is included), even if the price is not bargain. It starts at around € 1,300 for the version with i5-1035G4, 8 GB of RAM, 256 GB of SSD and 13.3 '' Full HD touch screen . The most powerful model, with Core i7-1065G7, 16 GB of RAM, 512 of SSD and 4K touch OLED screen comes to € 1,750. Make your choice, bearing in mind that we are already in a range where you pay not only for the hardware, but also for everything around (materials, construction, brands, etc.)
HP site
Dell XPS 13 (9300)
For years the XPS 13 has been hailed as the best Ultrabook by many outlets, and while this hasn't always been exactly true, the late 2020 model is particularly tempting , far more so than its predecessor. The adoption of 11th generation processors Tiger Lake , the aspect ratio in 16:10 , the keyboard more wide, the enhanced ventilation system and general cleanliness make the XPS 13 (9310) a champion of portability, autonomy and power. Unfortunately, the price rises accordingly, also because Dell has decided to bring only the highest-end models to Italy, with a starting price of around € 1,529.
ZenBook Duo 14 (2021)
The dual screen of ASUS this year has become even more attractive. Thanks to the Tiger Lake processors and a new design, we have rather high-end performance, two screens increasingly integrated with each other, and a starting price of less than 2,000 euros. For all the details, we refer you to our review. And where can you find another laptop with two screens?
ThinkPad X1 Carbon / X1 Nano
X1 Carbon is a historical model that has made school. Lightweight, robust, work-oriented . The pleasure of using this 14 '' must be tried to be understood, but in its case it is really worth underlining not to judge it only by the classic components such as CPU, RAM, SSD etc. because you would go astray. The ninth generation of this machine has just arrived, based on Intel Tiger Lake processors. It's one of my favorite laptops ever, I won't hide it from you in the slightest. You can find it on the Lenovo website starting from € 1,700 , because the availability on Amazon is very low.
But if for you portability and mobility were a primary need, take X1 Nano seriously: it is a little less powerful than its big brother, but it still boasts good performance, good autonomy and a screen even higher than certain versions of X1 Carbon. It is always better to contact the Lenovo website, for the same reasons as above.
MSI Creator Fujiwara Hiroshi is a powerful gaming notebook, with an equally unique and distinctive design. Equipped with NVIDIA RTX 3060 Max-Q GPUs and an Intel Core i7-11800H , this laptop enables you to play even the latest AAA titles , on its generous 16 '' QHD display at 165 Hz , with very high brightness to fully enjoy watching movies and other contents.
Apple MacBook Pro 14/16 (2021)
At the end of October 2021, Apple revamped its flagship MacBook Pros, introducing a new 14-inch model, and revamping the 16. Both come with a new design , many ports more than the past (very welcome the return of the MagSafe ), say goodbye to the touchbar , have displays XDR mini LED at 120Hz , and above all the new processors M1 Pro and Max , the pinnacle of the M1 SoC in terms of power.
Prices rise a lot by customizing them, but the basic 14-inch version, equipped with “only” 8 cores on the CPU instead of the 10 of the ordinary version, risks being convenient , because it is rare to find a notebook so complete and so high-end in every aspect, not least also the audio , with an incredible spatiality.
ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo
A laptop with two screens . And the second display is not a tiny rectangle, it is a true second screen , which will come in handy in various situations, especially when working with “creative” applications. After all, it is a top of the range with very few compromises, which could hold you back only for the high price (it even exceeds 3,000 euros in the top versions). To get to know it better, however, we refer you to our review.
ThinkPad X1 Extreme
You know what I said earlier about the ThinkPad X1 Carbon? Here, if you are an even more demanding user, know that there is also the Extreme version, even more powerful, with discrete GPU GeForce GTX 1650 Ti and Intel processors of 10th generation series H , up to 32 GB of RAM and screen OLED 4K . And it is no coincidence that he too comes close to 4,000 euros in the most powerful version, but you will take home a notebook.
But be careful, because the fourth generation of X1 Extreme is around the corner and promises sparks, with RTX up to 3080, 16-inch screen, 11th generation Intel processors and much more.
Dell XPS 15/17
The anti-Apple par excellence. Dell XPS 15 or even the new 17-inch variant has been a guarantee for years. In fact, various iterations have occurred over time, even if a certain refurbishment is now needed not so much to the design as to the cooling system. In any case, the XPS 15 hardly disappoints, and above all it has a very large price list, with prices ranging in the 2,000-4,000 euro range for the 15-inch and 2,600-4,600 euro for the 17-inch.
Having to choose, among the models that we have proposed to you in each price range, the one more convenient (which does not mean that it is the best, but that it has the best quality / price ratio or in any case that has more SKUs than others to choose from), our preference falls on the following 4 notebooks.
- Low end: Huawei MateBook D
- Mid-range: MacBook Air M1
- High End: XPS 13
- Top: MacBook Pro 14 M1 Pro 8-core
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As we have just seen, finding the best notebook is a subjective matter. We therefore decided to divide our proposals on the basis of the only objective fact: the price. You will first find a selection of inexpensive laptops , within 600 euros. We then move on to the mid-range, ideally between 600 and 1,200 euros, and then to the high-end, between 1,200 and 2,000 euros. Finally we have also selected the best top-of-the-range laptops , real workstations , dedicated to content creator and to the most demanding users, who don't care (too much) about the price. At the end we have collected a short selection of the best notebooks for quality / price , to give you a rough indication of which the most affordable laptops can be ).
In each range we have also tried to include different models by type. Convertible, rotating, with or without stylus, small or large . However, we have excluded the solutions without SSD. This cuts a little off the ultra-low-end of the market, but if you need such basic models, this selection basically doesn't serve you – one is as good as another. You will also not find any gaming laptops in this selection. If you are interested in gaming notebooks, you must visit this page. Finally, we have excluded many import models, such as Xiaomi's Mi Notebook . Not because they are not valid, but because we only want to offer you products officially sold in Italy, and which therefore do not present warranty, software or keyboard layout problems.
In any case, keep in mind that the various manufacturers often have a very similar line-up from year to year, even with the same name , mostly updating the processor and some other components, but without upsetting the whole. So if you like a particular laptop, maybe look for its various versions to see which one best suits your budget / needs.
