If you want more options for a particular category, we also have specialized lists you can check out while you're shopping, including the best gaming laptops, best 15-inch laptops, best two-in-ones and best Chromebooks, as well as the best laptops for college students, the best laptop for creatives and the best MacBook Pro alternatives for the Windows set. Microsoft recently released the full version of its Windows 11 operating system, and all of the laptops on this list should fully support the new OS. This hand-curated list represents our top picks across various laptop sizes, styles and budgets and those running on Windows, MacOS and Chrome. We're here to help you pinpoint the best laptop for your needs.

To make it even harder, most laptops look the same, spec and feature lists can be confusing, and prices can run from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand. Since you'll likely use a new laptop every day for important tasks like work, school, paying bills, ordering necessities and basically planning your life, finding the best laptop can get stressful - even if it is from your favorite laptop brand.

Our CNET computer experts have spent a combined 60 years (seriously) testing and reviewing laptops, covering everything from price to performance to battery life, all to help you find and buy the best laptop.