How we tested
Mashable staff subjected most of the laptops on this list to various levels of hands-on testing (Framework Laptop 13 is the lone exception, where we tried an earlier version), which at the very least involved inspecting their build quality and using them for a variety of real-world tasks over a period of several weeks, including working with various types of documents, checking email, watching videos, taking photos with the webcam, participating in video calls, listening to music (via Spotify), playing games (where possible), and experimenting with any proprietary software features or use cases they claim to support.
Additionally, most of the laptops we feature here are built to run industry-standard benchmarking software (again, with the exception of Framework Laptop 13). We run these benchmarks to replicate real-world tasks and generate scores that allow us to easily compare the performance of different laptops. We’ve recently started implementing these benchmarks into our testing, and going forward you’ll likely see them in all new laptop reviews.
Performance Benchmarks
The appropriate version Primate Labs Geekbench 6(For MacBooks, it’s macOS; for Windows laptops, including gaming laptops, it’s Windows; for Chromebooks, it’s Android.) The test measures CPU performance across several common tasks and records the resulting multi-core score — the higher the score, the better.
To know the graphics performance of a gaming laptop, play Cyberpunk 2077 We chose this game because it is a graphically intensive AAA title that will push the performance limits of many systems. If your laptop has a discrete/dedicated NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphics card (as opposed to an integrated GPU built into your CPU), Cyberpunk We ran two tests, once with DLSS tech turned off and a second time with DLSS turned on, using the High preset without ray tracing, which tests the raw GPU power of the machine and its performance with AI upscaling, respectively.
Following this 3DMark Time Spy Benchmark your gaming PC and record your score. Again, the higher the better.
Battery Life Benchmark
The MacBooks we test tend to get around 11-12 hours of battery life, with 15+ being exceptional, and the Windows laptops we review tend to get 9-10 hours, with 12+ being ideal (gaming laptops are a different story): at least two hours on a single charge earns us our approval, with extra points for hitting the four-hour mark, while eight hours is the norm for Chromebooks, with nine to 10 being optimal.
So far, we’ve evaluated laptop durability in a few different ways (more on this later). We’ve done a few tests on the Apple MacBook Pro, Asus Zenbook Duo, Lenovo Legion 9i, Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3, and Surface Laptop Studio 2. UL Solutions PCMark 10 Battery life test at maximum brightness. (The MacBook was run via Parallels Desktop, as there is no native macOS version of PCMark 10.) This benchmark runs a series of apps and functions until the laptop dies.
To test the battery life of the HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch, CrXPRT 2 from Principled Technologies benchmark.
Finally, we ran a looped 1080p version of the video rundown test on a MacBook Air and a Surface Laptop 7. Tears of SteelA short open source Blender movie, 50 percent brightness.
To standardize battery life testing methods, Tears of Steel Here’s a rundown of all the MacBooks and Windows laptops, using PCMark 10’s battery life test for all gaming laptops and CrXPRT 2’s test for Chromebooks.
lastly
After evaluating a laptop’s real-world performance and benchmark test results, we make a final recommendation based on whether it offers overall value for the price. Sometimes an overpriced laptop can be tolerated if it looks and works so well that it’s worth the trouble of finding a sale on it.
It’s worth mentioning that these aren’t the only laptops we’ve tried. We’re constantly testing and rating new models in different categories, many of which don’t make it to the final selection. With that in mind, you can expect this guide to continually evolve. We’re always on the lookout for new top contenders.
