The best laptop in the world 2026: who really deserves this title (and why there are several of them at once)
December 11, 2025
Stores are already packed with next-generation hardware. Memory now starts at 16 GB, displays are all 120+ Hz OLED or Mini-LED, NPUs deliver 45 to 80 TOPS even in mid-range configs, and 64 GB is no longer a luxury. The choice has become huge, yet surprisingly straightforward: almost any recent flagship is already the best in its category. All that’s left is to decide on the screen size, the weight, and the ports you personally need.
Below are 11 laptops that are already on shelves and genuinely compete for the title of “best in the world 2026.” All specs have been verified – no fantasies or “coming soon.”
1. ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18 G835LX
You pick up the 3.5-kg ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18 G835LX and instantly realize this isn’t a laptop but a real desktop with a lid attached. The 18" Mini-LED panel with two thousand dimming zones delivers blacks so deep you sometimes wonder if the screen is even on. The mechanical keyboard feels great to type on, every key has per-key RGB, there’s a numpad, and the Copilot button is right where you expect it.
Inside you get an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX and an RTX 5090. 64 GB of RAM, 2 TB in RAID, and ports for every task: from triple-monitor setups to a 2.5-Gbit wired network.
Advantages:
18-inch Mini LED 240 Hz with 2000+ zones and real HDR
RTX 5090 with support for up to 96 GB of RAM
Mechanical keyboard with numpad and per-key RGB
Thunderbolt 5 + 2.5-Gbit Ethernet + full port selection
Best for:
Esports players and streamers who need maximum FPS and image quality
3D artists and videographers working with 8K and heavy effects
Those who want one powerful laptop instead of a gaming PC and aren’t afraid of the weight
2. GIGABYTE AORUS Master 16
GIGABYTE AORUS Master 16 looks like it was designed by gamers who got tired of the classic red-and-black theme. The bright blue body with a sky-blue lid stands out instantly. At 2.5 kg it’s easy to carry, and the 16-inch 240-Hz OLED with Pantone and full DCI-P3 makes you fall in love at first glance. Blacks are deeper than night, colors are so vivid that even a basic macOS window looks better here than on a MacBook. There’s a card reader, a proper FHD IR webcam, and of course a Copilot key.
Inside you get the same Ultra 9 275HX and an RTX 5080 16 GB with the full 175 W and OLED panel. 32 GB RAM is upgradeable to 64 GB, and there’s a second SSD slot. A very well-balanced machine that plays modern games and edits 8K video without any issues.
Advantages:
240-Hz OLED with Pantone and G-Sync
RTX 5080 16 GB and 2 TB SSD out of the box
Two Thunderbolt 5 + Ethernet + card reader
Memory upgrades and second M.2 slot
Best for:
Videographers working with 8K and HDR
Gamers who value smooth motion and image quality
Those building a mobile workstation with headroom
3. Apple MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max
Apple MacBook Pro 16 with Apple M4 Max features cold black aluminum, weighs 2.15 kg, and is as thin as a regular ultrabook, but inside it’s a real monster. Open the lid and the 16.2" Liquid Retina XDR Mini-LED panel with 120 Hz and 1000 nits just hits your eyes. HDR clips on YouTube look like IMAX cinema, and the blacks are so deep it feels like parts of the screen disappear entirely. The keyboard is arguably the best in the world, Touch ID, MagSafe, card reader – all present.
Now the main part: the M4 Max with a 40-core GPU and 48 GB unified memory. Final Cut tears through 8K ProRes RAW like paper, DaVinci with Dolby Vision grading doesn’t even hesitate, and renders in Cinema 4D or Houdini finish so fast you barely have time to pour coffee. Three Thunderbolt 5 ports and HDMI 2.1 let you plug in two Pro Display XDRs and still have room for a fast drive.
Advantages:
Liquid Retina XDR 120 Hz with true HDR and 1000 nits
48 GB unified memory and 40-core GPU in a single chip
SDXC card reader and MagSafe right on the body
Three Thunderbolt 5 ports and full HDMI for any peripherals
Best for:
Video editors and colorists working with 8K and HDR
3D artists and motion designers on macOS
Anyone who wants a long-lasting laptop with zero compromises on speed or display quality
4. Dell XPS 14 9440
Dell XPS 14 9440 comes in a grey aluminum body, weighs 1.7 kg, and is 18 mm thick – an easy size to slip into a travel bag. The 14.5-inch 1920×1200 IPS display with 120 Hz, matte anti-glare, and 500 nits, plus an ambient-light sensor that adjusts brightness automatically, keeps your eyes comfortable. The side card reader lets you quickly transfer photos, the keyboard is backlit, and the fingerprint reader in the power button makes login simple.
The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H with 16 cores and Intel AI Boost NPU speeds up editing in apps like Lightroom where neural tools clean backgrounds or enhance sharpness. 16 GB LPDDR5x-6400 RAM and a 1 TB SSD offer enough space for multiple tabs and files, while three Thunderbolt 4 ports with charging and DisplayPort let you connect a monitor and an external drive.
Advantages:
120-Hz matte 500-nit display great for outdoor work
Three Thunderbolt 4 ports and card reader in a compact aluminum chassis
NPU for fast AI-assisted tasks in daily apps
Fingerprint reader and Copilot key for quick access to features
Best for:
Photographers editing on the go
People working with multiple screens and devices
Anyone who wants a lightweight metal laptop without unnecessary extras
5. HP ZBook Ultra G1a
HP ZBook Ultra G1a comes in a silver metal chassis, weighs 1.5 kg, and passes MIL-STD-810H durability tests, so it won’t be bothered by being shaken around in a backpack. The 14-inch matte 1920×1200 IPS display with 400 nits and full sRGB delivers accurate colors even in natural light. A webcam shutter adds privacy, and the fingerprint scanner plus Copilot key make daily use more convenient.
The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 395 with 16 cores and a Ryzen AI NPU speeds up data analysis in Excel or running local models, while 64 GB LPDDR5x-8533 RAM keeps massive spreadsheets open for hours. A 1 TB SSD stores projects, and the ports – two Thunderbolt 4, USB-C Gen2, USB-A, and HDMI 2.1 – cover everything from docking stations to projectors.
Advantages:
64 GB RAM and NPU in a 1.5-kg body
MIL-STD-810H durability and webcam shutter
Full sRGB and ports including USB-A
Copilot key for quick access to AI tools
Best for:
Analysts and ML specialists working in the field
Engineers bringing devices to work sites
Users who need durability with a large memory reserve
6. Dell Pro 13 Premium Touch
The Dell Pro 13 Premium Touch weighs only 1.07 kg, comes in a black metal chassis, and is about the size of a small tablet. The 13.4-inch WVA touchscreen with 2560×1600 resolution, Gorilla Glass, 500 nits of brightness, and a glossy coating with anti-glare makes it comfortable to draw or watch content even with light coming from a window. The keyboard is backlit, and there’s a Copilot key for quick access to the assistant.
The Intel Core Ultra 7 268V Lunar Lake with 8 cores and Arc 140V graphics keeps the interface responsive, while 32 GB LPDDR5x-8533 RAM lets you run a browser with a dozen tabs and an editor without slowdowns. The 512 GB SSD and ports including two Thunderbolt 4, USB-A and HDMI are enough for a projector at a meeting or a flash drive.
Advantages:
2.5K touchscreen with Gorilla Glass at just 1.07 kg
32 GB of high-speed memory for smooth multitasking
A regular USB-A and HDMI without needing adapters
Wi-Fi 7 for stable connectivity in crowded networks
Best for:
Managers who take their laptop on business trips
People who take notes or sign files directly on the screen
Users who need a lightweight touchscreen laptop with ports for older peripherals
7. HP ZBook Power G11A
HP ZBook Power G11A comes in a grey aluminum body and weighs 2.04 kg. Its 15.6-inch matte IPS display with a numpad makes it convenient to work with spreadsheets and CAD. It features a Quad HD webcam and a fingerprint scanner.
With 64 GB of RAM and a professional RTX 1000 Ada GPU, you can keep heavy SolidWorks or Revit assemblies open without slowdowns. The Ryzen 9 processor handles simulations quickly, and the ports (two Thunderbolt 4, two USB-A, HDMI 2.1 and Ethernet) let you build a full workstation without needing adapters.
Advantages:
64 GB RAM and certified RTX 1000 Ada
Full-size numpad and Ethernet for office setups
Quad HD webcam for video calls
Two Thunderbolt 4 and two regular USB-A ports
Best for:
Engineers and architects working in SolidWorks or AutoCAD
People creating 3D models
Users who work at a desk and rely on many wired peripherals
8. HP ZBook Firefly 16 G11
HP ZBook Firefly 16 G11 combines metal and plastic in its build, weighs 1.79 kg, and passes MIL-STD-810H durability tests. The 16-inch matte OLED with very high resolution delivers truly deep blacks and accurate colors. The keyboard has a numpad, backlight, fingerprint scanner, and a Copilot key.
64 GB RAM and a 2 TB SSD allow you to work with dozens of layers in Photoshop or multiple 4K timelines in Premiere without stutters. The Core Ultra 7 with an NPU handles AI-powered photo and video processing quickly, while two Thunderbolt 4 and two USB-A ports offer flexibility for peripherals.
Advantages:
16-inch OLED in a body under 1.8 kg
64 GB RAM and 2 TB SSD
Full numpad and enhanced durability
A complete set of ports for external devices
Best for:
Graphic designers and motion designers
Video editors working with 4K and above
Users who need a large, accurate display without excess weight
9. HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14-fh0001
HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14-fh0001 is a 2-in-1 aluminum convertible, weighing 1.34 kg and under 15 mm thick. The 14-inch OLED touchscreen with very high resolution, 120 Hz, 500 nits, and HDR delivers vibrant colors and deep blacks. The chassis folds completely, making it convenient for drawing or presenting. It has a webcam shutter and a Copilot key.
32 GB RAM and a 2 TB SSD let you keep dozens of Photoshop or Premiere projects open without thinking about external drives. The Lunar Lake processor with new Arc 140V graphics processes photos and videos quickly, while two Thunderbolt 4 and one USB-A port provide flexibility for all peripheral types.
Advantages:
120-Hz OLED in a convertible chassis
2 TB SSD and 32 GB RAM at just 1.34 kg
Full stylus support and webcam shutter
Two Thunderbolt 4 and one regular USB-A
Best for:
Illustrators and designers working with a stylus
Photographers who need accurate on-the-go color
Users who want one device instead of a laptop and a tablet
10. Dell Latitude 7455
Dell Latitude 7455 comes in a slim grey aluminum chassis and weighs just 1.44 kg. Its 14-inch VA touchscreen has high resolution, 400 nits brightness, full sRGB, an ambient light sensor, and a webcam shutter. It includes a card reader, fingerprint scanner, and Copilot key.
The Snapdragon X Elite with 32 GB of ultra-fast memory and a powerful Hexagon NPU makes everything instant: windows open without delay, local neural models run directly on the device instead of the cloud. The ports include two modern USB4 and one USB-A, enough for both a dock and a flash drive at once.
Advantages:
High-resolution touchscreen and 1.44-kg weight
32 GB memory and a powerful NPU for on-device AI
Webcam shutter and card reader for convenience and security
A regular USB-A alongside modern USB4 ports
Best for:
Managers who travel frequently and value privacy
Corporate users transitioning to ARM
Anyone who needs a touchscreen for presentations and handwritten notes
11. Lenovo LOQ 15IRX10
Lenovo LOQ 15IRX10 comes in a practical grey plastic body and weighs 2.4 kg — a typical 15-inch laptop that looks right at home on a desk, whether at work or at home. The 15.6-inch matte IPS panel with a 144 Hz refresh rate and full sRGB offers smooth gameplay and natural colors in editing. The keyboard includes RGB backlighting, a full numpad, and a dedicated Copilot key.
The RTX 5060 handles modern games at high settings without stuttering, while 32 GB of RAM and a fast 1 TB SSD let you keep many tabs open, render video, and not worry about storage. The ports cover everything: three regular USB-A, USB-C with charging and DisplayPort, HDMI 2.1, and even Ethernet — you can connect controllers, an external monitor, and a wired network all at once.
Advantages:
RTX 5060 and a 144 Hz G-Sync display
32 GB RAM and a 1 TB SSD right out of the box
Full numpad and customizable RGB lighting
Ethernet and three regular USB-A ports — nothing extra needed
Best for:
Students and gamers who study and play on one device
Users who edit videos in the evenings after work
People who need wired internet and rely on older USB drives
Conclusion
Almost every new model now features a powerful NPU, a 120 Hz or faster display, at least 32 GB of memory, and solid build quality. The only thing left is to understand where and how this laptop will spend most of its time.
If you need maximum mobility, choose ultralight 13–14-inch devices weighing 1–1.4 kg — they’re easy to toss into a bag and let you work or draw anywhere. If top performance and a large screen matter most, look at 16–18-inch models with a numpad and a discrete GPU — they essentially replace a full desktop. If you still use old flash drives, wired internet, and memory cards, go for gaming or workstation lines, as they still offer all these ports.
It’s almost impossible to make a wrong choice now. Any laptop in this guide will easily last 5–7 years without annoying outdated limitations. The key is to honestly understand where you’ll use it most, what screen size actually feels comfortable, and which ports you need every day. After that, it’s just about picking the one that fits your hand and your daily rhythm best.