Choosing a laptop based on what might be the "best" laptop brand isn't the best initial approach—assess laptops model by model instead. Some brands have reputations for what they're best suited for. But going by those alone can mean you miss a winner from a different brand.

For instance, Apple has long been known for its MacBooks' particular aptitude for creative professionals, from writers to photo/video editors and even digital designers. Meanwhile, Lenovo is best known for its class-leading keyboards and its ThinkPad business machines. As a last example, brands like Acer and Asus, while they have high-end models, tend to dominate the midrange and budget sectors with value-minded systems. Other major makers of first-rate laptops include HP and MSI. But you'll find tons of crossovers in all of these assessments that make relying solely on brand almost meaningless.

If knowing the top laptop brands still drives you, go with the wisdom of the crowd: See what you can find within our running Readers' Choice: Best Laptop Brands series, which polls readers like you to name their favorite laptop brands for specific use cases and scenarios.

PCWorld calls the Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition the best overall laptop. It handles regular stuff pretty easily, the battery can go up to 23 hours if you play your cards right, and the screen's this bright 14-inch 2880x1800 OLED with HDR and a 120Hz refresh rate--it looks top-notch!

The Acer Aspire Go 15 is PCWorld’s favorite budget pick. It’s got an Intel Core i3-N355, a 1080p screen, and a varied port selection.