Selecting a laptop can be a challenging experience. Each year, numerous leading manufacturers introduce new models to the market. While certain brands are known for their superior quality, even the most reputable companies occasionally launch products that exhibit design flaws or significant compromises. Additionally, issues such as inconsistent quality control and insufficient customer support after purchase are often reported with specific brands. As you might expect, there is no definitive “best” laptop brand; the ideal choice largely depends on individual needs and preferences. However, several brands, including Apple, HP, Dell, and Microsoft, are frequently recognized for their offerings. The sequence in which these brands are mentioned in the article is purely alphabetical and does not imply any ranking.

This article provides a concise summary of essential insights from the detailed analysis of The 7 Best Laptop Brands – Fall 2024 by www.rtings.com, it highlights key insights, standout features, and a comparison of pros and cons, allowing you to quickly identify the top options without sifting through extensive information.

• Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 (2024)
• Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M3, 2023)
• ASUS ZenBook 14 OLED (2024)
• Dell XPS 16 (2024)
• HP Spectre x360 14 (2024)
• Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 (2024)
• Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition 15 (2024)

Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 (2024)

Display: 14″ IPS 1920 x 1200 60Hz Touchscreen (100% sRGB)

CPU: Intel Core Ultra 5 115U (8 cores/10 threads, up to 4.20GHz, 10MB cache)

GPU: Intel Graphics (integrated)

RAM: 8GB LP-DDR5

Storage: 256GB M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 4 x4 NVMe SSD

Color: Steel Gray

Pros	Cons
Slim and lightweight	Display has poor reflection handling
Convertible to a tablet	Poor microphone sound quality
Pen input support	Poor software compatibility with ChromeOS
Excellent webcam	Slow response time and no VRR support
Multiple USB ports	Speakers lack bass and sound unnatural
Battery life 10 hours in light tasks	16GB of RAM support and no extra RAM slot
Cool and quiet under load	Only available with integrated graphics
Thunderbolt 4 support

Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M3, 2023)

Screen: 14.2″ IPS 3024 x 1964 120Hz (Liquid Retina XDR display with ProMotion)

System-on-chip: M3 Pro 11-core CPU, 14-core GPU, 150GB/s memory bandwidth

Memory: 18GB LP-DDR5 6400MHz (M3 Pro with 11- or 12-core CPU)

Storage: 512GB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD (M3 and M3 Pro)

Color: Space Black

Pros	Cons
Easy to carry around	Short key travel might cause fatigue over time
All-day battery life under light use	Display has slow response time
M3 Pro and Max SoCs can handle demanding workloads	Few games run natively on macOS
Great keyboard and industry-leading touchpad	Soldered RAM and SSD
Wide port selection
120Hz refresh rate
No thermal throttling
Sharp, bright display with full DCI P3 coverage
Loud, full-sounding speakers

ASUS ZenBook 14 OLED (2024)

Screen: 14″ OLED 2880 x 1800 120Hz (Touchscreen, stylus support, 100% DCI P3)

CPU: Intel Core Ultra 5 125H (14 cores, 18 Threads, up to 4.5 GHz, 18MB Cache)

GPU: Intel Arc Graphics (integrated)

Memory: 16GB LP-DDR5x 7467MHz

Storage: 512GB M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 4.0 SSD

Color: Ponder Blue

Pros	Cons
Easy to carry around	Speakers sound unnatural with very little bass
Sharp OLED display	OLED is susceptible to permanent burn-in
Tactile keyboard; large touchpad	Integrated graphics can’t handle demanding tasks
Wide port selection & two Thunderbolt 4 ports	Soldered RAM
Excellent 1080p webcam	No VRR support
120Hz display with decent response time	CPU throttles significantly under load
Fast, user-replaceable SSD
Quiet fan
Battery lasts over eight hours of video playback

Dell XPS 16 (2024)

Screen: 16.3″ OLED 3840 x 2400 90Hz (glossy, touchscreen, 400 cd/m²​, 100% DCI P3)

CPU: Intel Core Ultra 9 185H (16 cores/22 threads, up to 5.1GHz, 24MB cache)

GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU 8GB GDDR6 (discrete, 50W TGP)

Memory: 32GB LP-DDR5x 6400MHz (models with RTX 4050 or RTX 4060 GPU)

Storage: 1TB M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD

Color: Platinum

Pros	Cons
Sturdy all-aluminum build	Keyboard and touchpad design might take some time to get used to
Relatively portable for a 16-inch device	No USB-A or HDMI port
Battery lasts over nine hours of light use	No VRR support
Large 4k+ OLED display	Soldered RAM
CPU and discrete GPU can handle demanding workloads	IPS panel isn’t ideal for dark room viewing due to low contrast
Delivers smooth gameplay at 1080p	Speakers sound harsh at higher volume levels
90Hz OLED display with fast response time
Fast, user-replaceable SSD
Doesn’t get hot or loud under load
OLED display supports touch input
Thunderbolt 4 support
Excellent 1080p webcam

HP Spectre x360 14 (2024)

Screen: 14″ OLED 2880 x 1800 120Hz (touchscreen, stylus support, 100% DCI P3)

CPU: Intel Core Ultra 5 125H (14 cores, 18 Threads, up to 4.5 GHz, 18MB Cache)

GPU: Intel Arc Graphics (integrated)

Memory: 16GB LP-DDR5x 7467MHz

Storage: 512GB M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 4.0 SSD

Color: Nightfall Black

Pros	Cons
Easy to carry around	CPU and integrated GPU can’t handle highly demanding workloads
Sharp OLED display	OLED display susceptible to permanent burn-in
Battery lasts around 11 hours of light use	Soldered RAM
Spacious keyboard, easy to use haptic touchpad	Speakers lack bass
Outstanding 4k webcam
120Hz display with decent response time
Minimal thermal throttling under load
Low temperature and fan noise
Fast, user-replaceable SSD
Touch and pen input
Loud speakers

Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 (2024)

Screen: 16″ IPS 2560 x 1600 165Hz (matte, 100% sRGB, 500 cd/m²)

CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 165H (16 cores/22 threads, up to 5.00GHz, 24MB cache)

GPU: NVIDIA RTX 3000 Ada Generation Laptop GPU (discrete, 8GB GDDR6, 60W TGP)

Memory: 32GB LPCAMM2 LP-DDR5x 7467MHz

Storage: 1TB M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 4 NVMe Opal 2.0 SSD

Color: Black

Pros	Cons
Sturdy build	Might not fit smaller bags
All-day battery life	Loud fans under load
Comfortable keyboard, responsive haptic touchpad	No VRR support
CPUs and discrete GPUs can handle demanding workloads	Speakers sound slightly harsh at high volume levels
Wide port selection
165Hz display option with fast response time
User-replaceable RAM and storage
4k+ OLED panel option
Excellent 1440p webcam

Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition 15 (2024)

Screen: 15″ IPS 2496 x 1664 120Hz Touchscreen

System-on-chip: Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite (X1E-80-100, 12 cores, up to 3.4GHz, 42MB cache)

Memory: 16GB LP-DDR5x 8448MHz

Storage: 512GB M.2 2230 PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD

Color: Black

Pros	Cons
Sturdy build, compact design	Display doesn’t handle bright reflections well
Battery lasts around 16 to 17 hours of light use or video playback	Integrated GPU can’t handle demanding workloads
Sharp, bright display	Some apps might not work or perform poorly through emulation
Comfortable keyboard, easy to use haptic touchpad	Performance varies since most games don’t run natively on ARM
Snapdragon SoC can handle some CPU-intensive tasks	Display’s slow response time causes visible ghosting
120Hz display	No VRR support
Quiet fans under load	Speakers lack bass
User-replaceable SSD	Blacks look gray in dim settings
Display is suitable for color-critical work	Soldered RAM
User-replaceable SSD

Conclusion

Choosing the right laptop can feel overwhelming with the multitude of options available in 2024. Each brand offers unique strengths and weaknesses, catering to diverse user needs—from portability and performance to design and battery life. While brands like Apple, HP, Dell, and Microsoft consistently receive high marks for their offerings, it’s essential to consider your specific requirements before making a decision. Whether you prioritize gaming capabilities, creative work, or everyday tasks, understanding the pros and cons of each laptop can help you make an informed choice.

Ultimately, the best laptop for you will depend on your personal preferences and how you plan to use it. We hope this guide has simplified your search and provided clarity in selecting the outstanding laptop brand that fits your lifestyle.