Best Laptops of 2026
For most people, the MacBook Air M5 is the safest buy. The Dell XPS 13 is the best Windows alternative, and the $699 MacBook Neo is the value pick.
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Quick answer
For most people, the MacBook Air M5 is the safest buy. The Dell XPS 13 is the best Windows alternative, and the $699 MacBook Neo is the value pick. Best overall: Apple MacBook Air 13 (M5), from $1,299. Best Windows laptop: Dell XPS 13 (2026), from $699.99. Best value: Apple MacBook Neo, $699.
Last updated Prices checked Nov 2026
Key facts at a glance
| Pick | Product | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Apple MacBook Air 13 (M5) | most people | From $1,299 (Apple) |
| Best Windows laptop | Dell XPS 13 (2026) | Windows users | From $699.99 (Dell) |
| Best value | Apple MacBook Neo | a cheap Mac | $699 / $799 (Apple) |
This is our shortlist for anyone who wants one good laptop without reading ten reviews. We built it from Apple’s and Dell’s store pages, PCMag’s[6] and Tom’s Guide’s[7] tested rankings and their published battery results, with prices checked November 2026. If you have a firm budget, go straight to best laptops under $1,000 or best laptops under $500.
Which should you buy? Our quick picks
How do they compare?
| Laptop | Price | Note | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| MacBook Air 13 (M5) | From $1,299 | 16GB/512GB base | Most people |
| Dell XPS 13 (2026) | From $699.99 (build your own) | Tom’s Guide has seen $599 at Best Buy | Windows users |
| MacBook Neo | $699 / $799 | $599 education price (Tom’s Guide) | Budget Mac |
| ASUS Zenbook A14 | $799.99 at Amazon (PCMag) | 27:55 in PCMag’s battery test | Battery life |
| HP OmniBook 5 14 | $859.99 at Amazon (PCMag) | 32GB RAM; 34:48 in PCMag’s battery test | OLED under $1,000 |
| MacBook Pro 14 (M6) | From $1,999 (pre-order) | M5 Pro from $2,499 | Heavy creative work |
The picks in detail
1. Apple MacBook Air 13 (M5)
Best for: most peopleThe M5 MacBook Air is a frequent top pick in 2026 laptop roundups: thin, fanless and fast enough for nearly everything short of heavy video work. Apple now starts it at $1,299 with 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage. Compare it with the Pro in MacBook Air M5 vs MacBook Pro M5.
Price (Nov 2026): From $1,299 (Apple) Source
Pros
- Silent fanless design
- 16GB/512GB as standard
- Long battery life
Cons
- $600 more than the Neo
- Only two Thunderbolt ports
2. Dell XPS 13 (2026)
Best for: Windows usersDell’s 2026 XPS 13 starts at $699.99 when you build your own, with preconfigured models at $799.99 and $999.99. Tom’s Guide[7] has seen it at $599 at Best Buy. See MacBook Air M5 vs Dell XPS 13.
Price (Nov 2026): From $699.99 (Dell) Source
Pros
- Low starting price for an XPS
- Compact premium build
Cons
- Base configuration is modest
- Prices vary a lot by config
3. Apple MacBook Neo
Best for: a cheap MacThe MacBook Neo is Apple’s $699 laptop ($799 for the higher configuration), and Tom’s Guide[7] notes a $599 student price. PCMag[6] measured 15 hours 35 minutes in its battery test. Read MacBook Air M5 vs MacBook Neo before choosing.
Price (Nov 2026): $699 / $799 (Apple) Source
Pros
- Cheapest new Mac
- $599 education pricing
Cons
- Shorter battery than the Zenbook A14 in PCMag’s test
- Less memory headroom than the Air
4. ASUS Zenbook A14 (Snapdragon X)
Best for: battery lifeThe Snapdragon-powered Zenbook A14 lasted 27 hours 55 minutes in PCMag’s[6] battery test, and PCMag lists it at $799.99 at Amazon. Arm-based Windows still has some app compatibility gaps, so check your must-have software first.
Price (Nov 2026): $799.99 at Amazon (PCMag) Source
Pros
- Outstanding battery result
- Light 14-inch design
Cons
- Arm app compatibility
- Not built for gaming
5. HP OmniBook 5 14
Best for: an OLED screen under $1,000PCMag’s[6] best Windows laptop under $1,000 pairs a 14-inch OLED display with 32GB of RAM and ran 34 hours 48 minutes in PCMag’s battery test. PCMag lists it at $859.99 at Amazon.
Price (Nov 2026): $859.99 at Amazon (PCMag) Source
Pros
- OLED display
- 32GB of RAM
- Very long battery result
Cons
- Configurations vary by retailer
6. Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M6)
Best for: heavy creative workIf you edit video or compile big projects, the MacBook Pro 14 adds fans, more ports and a brighter display. Apple has replaced the base M5 model with a new M6 version (12-core CPU, 12-core GPU) that starts at $1,999; it’s on pre-order, with availability starting November 6. The M5 Pro model starts at $2,499. See best laptops for video editing.
Price (Nov 2026): From $1,999 with M6 (Apple; pre-order) Source
Pros
- Sustained performance
- More ports
Cons
- Expensive
- Heavier than the Air
Also considered
Gamers should look at best gaming laptops under $1,500. The Framework Laptop 13 is the pick if you want to repair and upgrade it yourself (PCMag[6] lists it at $849).
How to choose
Choose macOS or Windows first. Then get 16GB of RAM if you can: the MacBook Air and HP OmniBook 5 include at least that much. Students should also see best laptops for college students, and developers should see best laptops for programming.
Snapdragon (Arm) Windows laptops
Snapdragon laptops like the Zenbook A14 post the longest battery results, but some older Windows apps, drivers and games still don’t run well on Arm. Intel and AMD models avoid that issue.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best laptop for most people in 2026?
What is the cheapest MacBook?
Which laptop has the best battery life?
Sources
Pricing and plan details were checked on the official pages below as of Nov 2026. Vendors change prices, credits and plan names often, and some show regional pricing at checkout, so confirm on the vendor’s site before you buy.
- Apple: MacBook Pro (apple.com)
- Apple: Buy MacBook Air (apple.com)
- Apple: Buy MacBook Neo (apple.com)
- Apple: Buy MacBook Pro (apple.com)
- Dell XPS 13 (dell.com)
- PCMag: Best laptops under $1,000 (pcmag.com)
- Tom’s Guide: Best laptops under $500 (tomsguide.com)
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best ofBest Gaming Laptops of 2026
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best ofBest Laptops Under $1,000
At under $1,000 you can get an OLED screen, 32GB of RAM or 25+ hours of battery. You can’t get all three in one laptop.
best ofBest Laptops Under $500
Under $500, you’re mostly choosing between a Snapdragon Windows laptop on sale and a Chromebook. Sale timing matters more than anything else.
best ofThe Best Laptops for College Students
Memory prices rose in 2026, so the right student laptop is the one with enough RAM and battery for a full day of classes — not the cheapest sticker.
comparisonMacBook Air M5 vs Dell XPS 13 (2026)
The 2026 XPS 13 starts at $699.99 and weighs just 2.2 lb. The MacBook Air M5 costs $1,299 but lasts much longer on battery and keeps Thunderbolt and a headphone jack.