The 10 Best Laptops as of June 2026
Updated 18 June 2026 ยท Reviewed by the Pickarank tech desk ยท Prices in GBP, subject to change
A great everyday laptop should feel quick the moment you open the lid, last a full working day on a charge, and not weigh down your bag. We weighed up the leading ultrabooks and all-rounders of 2026 on exactly those terms. From the fanless MacBook Air that suits almost everyone to a featherweight 16-inch screen and a genuinely repairable option, here are the ten laptops worth your money โ each scored out of 10.
How we ranked these laptops
Each laptop earns a single score out of 10, built from weighted sub-scores so the ranking reflects everyday use rather than spec-sheet bragging rights:
- Performance (30%) โ real-world speed for browsing, office work and light creative tasks, plus sustained performance under load.
- Battery life (25%) โ how close it gets to a full day away from the charger.
- Build & screen (25%) โ chassis quality, keyboard, trackpad and display.
- Value (20%) โ what you get for the money, including ports and upgradability.
At a glance: top 10 compared
| # | Laptop | Score | Best for | Display | Approx UK price | Amazon links |
|---|
| 1 | Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) | 9.3 | Best overall | 13.6" Liquid Retina | ยฃ1,099 | View Price |
| 2 | Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) | 9.2 | Best for creators | 14.2" mini-LED 120Hz | ยฃ1,999 | View Price |
| 3 | Dell XPS 13 | 8.9 | Best Windows ultrabook | 13.4" InfinityEdge | ยฃ1,199 | View Price |
| 4 | Asus Zenbook 14 OLED | 8.8 | Best OLED value | 14" OLED | ยฃ999 | View Price |
| 5 | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon | 8.8 | Best for business | 14" IPS/OLED | ยฃ1,499 | View Price |
| 6 | HP Spectre x360 14 | 8.6 | Best 2-in-1 | 14" OLED touch | ยฃ1,299 | View Price |
| 7 | Framework Laptop 13 | 8.5 | Best repairable | 13.5" 3:2 | ยฃ1,099 | View Price |
| 8 | Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 | 8.4 | Best battery life | 13.8" PixelSense | ยฃ1,049 | View Price |
| 9 | LG Gram 16 | 8.3 | Best lightweight 16" | 16" IPS | ยฃ1,399 | View Price |
| 10 | Acer Swift Go 14 | 8.3 | Best budget ultrabook | 14" OLED | ยฃ699 | View Price |
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The full ranking
1
Best overall
Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4)
9.3The laptop we'd recommend to most people, full stop.
The M4 Air gets the fundamentals so right that it's the default choice for the majority of buyers. It's completely silent โ there's no fan โ yet the M4 chip breezes through dozens of browser tabs, office work and even light photo and video editing, and it stays cool doing it. Add all-day battery that comfortably clears a working day, one of the best keyboard-and-trackpad combinations on any laptop, and a bright, sharp screen, and the only real compromises are the modest two-port layout and a 256GB entry model you'll likely want to upgrade.
Performance: 9.0Battery: 9.5Build & screen: 9.4Value: 9.0
Pros
- Silent, fanless and stays cool
- Outstanding battery life
- Class-leading keyboard and trackpad
Cons
- Only two Thunderbolt ports
- 256GB base storage is tight
2
Best for creators
Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro)
9.2A portable workstation with a stunning screen.
If you edit video, work with large RAW libraries or compile code, the 14-inch Pro is worth the step up. The M4 Pro chip holds its performance under sustained load where thinner laptops throttle, and the mini-LED display โ bright, high-contrast and 120Hz โ is one of the best you'll use. It also brings back the ports creators actually need (HDMI, an SDXC slot and three Thunderbolt connectors), and battery life is genuinely excellent for this much power. It's heavier and considerably pricier than the Air, which is the only reason it isn't our number one.
Performance: 9.6Battery: 9.2Build & screen: 9.6Value: 8.5
Pros
- Sustained pro-grade performance
- Superb mini-LED 120Hz display
- Full port selection and great speakers
Cons
- Expensive
- Heavier than an ultrabook
3
Best Windows ultrabook
Dell XPS 13
8.9The most desirable small Windows laptop โ with caveats.
The XPS 13 is beautifully built and seriously compact, and the latest Intel Core Ultra silicon brings a big leap in efficiency, so battery life is finally competitive with the best. The screen options are excellent, particularly the OLED. The catch is Dell's divisive design: the capacitive, invisible function row and seamless haptic trackpad look stunning but take time to live with, and the port count is minimal. If those don't put you off, it's the Windows ultrabook to beat.
Performance: 8.8Battery: 8.8Build & screen: 9.2Value: 8.5
Pros
- Premium, compact build
- Gorgeous OLED option
- Much improved efficiency
Cons
- Polarising touch function row
- Very few ports
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4
Best OLED value
Asus Zenbook 14 OLED
8.8A gorgeous OLED screen at a sensible price.
The Zenbook 14 OLED packs a vivid, contrasty OLED panel and a light, slim metal chassis into a laptop that routinely sells for under a grand โ which is why it's such easy value to recommend. Battery life is strong, the keyboard is comfortable, and you get a useful spread of ports including full-size HDMI and USB-A. The webcam is only average and the speakers are fine rather than great, but for the money the overall package is hard to fault.
Performance: 8.6Battery: 8.7Build & screen: 9.0Value: 9.2
Pros
- Excellent OLED display
- Light and well built
- Great value with good ports
Cons
- Average webcam
- Speakers are merely okay
5
Best for business
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon
8.8The travelling professional's default choice.
The X1 Carbon is built for people who live on their laptop. It's remarkably light for a 14-inch machine, passes military-spec durability testing, and has the best keyboard in the business โ a genuine pleasure for long days of typing. You also get a generous port selection, optional mobile broadband, and the security and manageability features IT departments ask for. It's expensive and the speakers are unremarkable, but as a do-everything work laptop it's superb.
Performance: 8.7Battery: 8.8Build & screen: 9.0Value: 8.4
Pros
- Best-in-class keyboard
- Light, durable, MIL-spec build
- Great ports and optional LTE
Cons
- Premium price
- Forgettable speakers
6
Best 2-in-1
HP Spectre x360 14
8.6A convertible that doesn't compromise on polish.
If you want a laptop that flips into a tablet for sketching, reading or presentations, the Spectre x360 14 is the most refined option around. The 360-degree hinge is sturdy, the bundled stylus is genuinely useful, and the OLED touchscreen looks fantastic. Build quality and styling are a cut above most convertibles. It's a little heavier than a pure clamshell and you pay for the flexibility, but as a do-it-all device it's excellent.
Performance: 8.5Battery: 8.5Build & screen: 9.0Value: 8.3
Pros
- Flexible, sturdy 2-in-1 design
- Lovely OLED touchscreen
- Stylus included
Cons
- Heavier than a clamshell
- You pay for the versatility
7
Best repairable
Framework Laptop 13
8.5Buy it once, upgrade it for years.
The Framework Laptop 13 is the antidote to disposable tech. Its ports are swappable modules you choose yourself, and almost every part โ RAM, storage, battery, even the mainboard โ can be replaced with a screwdriver and clear official guides. Performance from the latest Intel and AMD options is solid, and recent revisions have improved the screen and battery. It isn't quite as slim or as polished as the premium ultrabooks, but nothing else here will last you as long or cut as much e-waste.
Performance: 8.5Battery: 8.2Build & screen: 8.4Value: 8.8
Pros
- Genuinely repairable and upgradable
- Swappable, choose-your-own ports
- Cuts long-term cost and e-waste
Cons
- Less slim than rivals
- Battery trails the best here
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8
Best battery life
Microsoft Surface Laptop 7
8.4Marathon battery and a lovely screen โ mind the apps.
Built around Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite, the Surface Laptop 7 delivers the kind of battery life that lets you leave the charger at home, and it runs silent for everyday work. The 3:2 PixelSense touchscreen is excellent for documents and browsing, and the whole thing feels premium. The trade-off is the Arm platform: the vast majority of everyday apps now run well, but a handful of niche or older Windows programs and some games still aren't fully optimised, so check your essentials before switching.
Performance: 8.4Battery: 9.3Build & screen: 8.8Value: 8.3
Pros
- Exceptional battery life
- Silent everyday performance
- Tall, crisp touchscreen
Cons
- Some Arm app compatibility gaps
- Not ideal for gaming
9
Best lightweight 16"
LG Gram 16
8.3A big-screen laptop that barely weighs a thing.
The Gram 16 pulls off a neat trick: a spacious 16-inch screen and a large battery in a body that weighs around 1.2kg โ lighter than many 14-inch laptops. For anyone who wants screen real estate without the usual bulk, it's almost unique. The compromise is rigidity; the ultra-light chassis flexes more than denser rivals and doesn't feel as reassuringly solid. But if portability and a large display top your list, it's a compelling pick.
Performance: 8.4Battery: 8.8Build & screen: 8.0Value: 8.1
Pros
- Remarkably light for 16"
- Big battery and big screen
- Generous port selection
Cons
- Chassis flexes
- Feels less premium than rivals
10
Best budget ultrabook
Acer Swift Go 14
8.3An OLED ultrabook at a wallet-friendly price.
The Swift Go 14 is proof you no longer have to spend big to get a genuinely nice laptop. You get an OLED screen and current Intel Core Ultra performance for around ยฃ699 โ a combination that simply didn't exist at this price a couple of years ago. Naturally there are compromises: the chassis and speakers don't match the premium set, and battery life is good rather than great. For students and anyone on a budget who still wants a lovely screen, it's the standout value choice.
Performance: 8.3Battery: 8.1Build & screen: 8.2Value: 9.0
Pros
- OLED screen for the price
- Capable Core Ultra performance
- Excellent value
Cons
- Build and speakers are mid-tier
- Battery life is just okay
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How to choose the right laptop
Start with the screen size that fits your life: 13โ14 inches is the sweet spot for portability, while 16 inches suits people who want a desktop-like view. Decide between macOS and Windows next โ macOS is superbly efficient and simple, Windows is more flexible and offers far more hardware choice. For everyday browsing and office work almost any modern chip is plenty; only pay for a "Pro"-class processor if you regularly edit video, render or compile. Finally, don't overlook battery life and weight, the two things you'll feel every single day, and remember that 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage is the comfortable baseline most people should aim for.
Frequently asked questions
What's the best laptop for most people in 2026?
The Apple MacBook Air (M4) is our top pick for the majority of buyers thanks to its silent design, all-day battery and superb keyboard. If you need Windows, the Dell XPS 13 and Asus Zenbook 14 OLED are the standouts; for a tighter budget, the Acer Swift Go 14 gives you an OLED screen for around ยฃ699.
How much RAM and storage do I need?
For everyday use, aim for 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage as a comfortable baseline. 8GB still works for very light use, but 16GB keeps things smooth with lots of browser tabs and apps open. Choose more storage if you keep large photo or video libraries locally.
Are Arm-based Windows laptops worth it?
They offer outstanding battery life and run silent, and most mainstream apps now work well. However, a few older or niche Windows programs and many games still aren't fully optimised, so check that the specific software you rely on is supported before buying.
Are these prices accurate?
Prices are approximate UK figures at the time of writing and change frequently with sales and configuration. Click through to Amazon for the current price on the exact model you want.
The bottom line
If you just want the best laptops without overthinking it, the Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) is our top recommendation โ it earns the highest overall score for performance, value and features. Have a look at the current price and see what you think.
Check price on Amazon
โ ยฃ1,099