Given all of the buzz about Windows on Arm and AI PCs, this has been a very busy year for laptops. Nevertheless, if we cut through all the marketing gimmick and take a closer look, we’ve had the opportunity to review several incredibly amazing laptops, some of which will surely rank among the best of the year. Not that there aren’t any significant ones still in the works, such as the upcoming AMD computers and the M4 MacBook Pro. Let’s select the top six new laptops from the 33 we’ve already tested, though, as we approach the midway mark of 2024.
First on our list is the Acer Swift X 14. Acer’s Swift laptops have never been the most visually appealing, but the latest version of the Swift X 14 compensates with its impressive specifications and attractive price. For $1,700, you can get the high-end configuration, which includes an RTX 4070, a 3K OLED 120Hz screen, 32GB of RAM, and a terabyte of storage.
Since gaming laptops are the only notebooks that typically have such a strong GPU, Acer’s offering of a comparatively small 14-inch laptop is remarkable. The Swift X 14 performed better in our performance tests than bigger 16-inch laptops with the same GPU, while being slightly constrained by the system’s total thermal design power (TDP) of 80 kW. A better deal and better fit for the laptop’s size may be found in the $1,400 RTX 4050 setup if you’d rather go with something more power-efficient. It’s still a really good option considering that it costs hundreds of dollars less than the MacBook Pro.
Next up is the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i 16. Many laptops have tried to be MacBook Pro killers this year, but none have succeeded as well as the Yoga Pro 9i 16. Despite being only 0.72 inches thick, it packs up to a Core Ultra 9 185H and RTX 4060. The RTX 4060 in particular is significant, as many laptops with this GPU, such as the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra or the Dell XPS 16, restrict its thermals, allowing for a maximum of just 60 watts to the GPU.
The Yoga Pro 9i 16 cranks that up to 100 watts, providing much better performance and making it more like a traditional gaming laptop in terms of raw power. Additionally, the Yoga Pro 9i 16 features an expansive touchpad, a 5-megapixel webcam, and a 165Hz OLED screen, showing that Windows laptop manufacturers are getting close to replicating the magic of the MacBook Pro.
Another excellent option is the MacBook Air M3. Apart from the increased performance that the M3 processor offers, especially in terms of GPU performance, not much has changed. The remarkably thin laptop is now a more capable gaming and content creation device because of the dramatic improvement in graphics performance brought about by Dynamic Caching. Although the MacBook Air isn’t purchased for these kinds of jobs, hobbyists, students, and people just starting out may find the $900 price gap between the MacBook Air M3 and the next performance step (the M3 Pro MacBook Pro) appealing. If these particular duties are not of importance to you, the M2 MacBook Air is still a good choice. The MacBook Air M3 is still among the greatest notebooks, nevertheless of 2024.
The Asus Zenbook 14 might not stand out for its advanced features or design, but it excels in affordability without compromising on key aspects. Using a plain Intel Core Ultra chip, the Zenbook 14 offers a great balance of performance and price. One of its standout features is its battery life, making it one of the longest-lasting laptops of this generation that uses Intel’s Meteor Lake chips. Additionally, the inclusion of an OLED panel sets it apart from many of its more expensive counterparts that use IPS displays. The Zenbook 14 line has long been recommended for Windows laptops under $1,000, and the 2024 model continues to uphold this reputation.
The top model among the new Copilot+ PCs is the Surface Laptop 7th Edition. As a whole, it provides an excellent combination between portability, performance, and battery life. With a haptic feedback trackpad, rounder display edges, and reduced bezels, it has the most assured and sophisticated design of the group. It is now a competitive competitor to the MacBook thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite CPUs’ exceptional performance and longer battery life. The Surface Laptop 7th Edition, one of the best laptops available today, is the best Surface Laptop ever created, despite some issues with battery life and AI features.
The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14, all things considered, stands up in a year where a lot of gaming laptops have regressed. Asus chose to go with the ROG Zephyrus G14 despite the lack of new mobile GPUs available. With a stunning OLED 3K panel and a refresh rate of 120 Hz, it has a more elegant design, longer battery life, and a slimmer profile. With its thinner profile (3.3 pounds), this powerful device is similar in size to the MacBook Pro. A Ryzen 9 8945HS and an RTX 4070, both operating at maximum capacity, can be installed. It is the best-looking gaming laptop ever produced and comes highly recommended for anyone searching for a new gaming laptop because the 2024 model has major improvements over the 2023 model.
2024 has proven to be a fantastic year for laptops in terms of performance, design, and cost, with several models that stand out being offered. With options ranging from the capable and affordable Acer Swift X 14 to the sophisticated and potent Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i 16, there are fantastic options for all types of users. Regardless of your needs—a powerful gaming laptop, an effective tool for content creation, or an affordable but feature-rich device—the greatest laptops of the year provide something for everyone.
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