If you prize battery life, it’s an Arm-based Qualcomm Snapdragon X series processor, although we are seeing lengthy runtimes from laptops with Intel’s second-generation Core Ultra CPUs, codenamed Lunar Lake. For pure performance, look for an Intel Core Ultra 7 or 9 processor, an AMD Ryzen 9 AI 300 series chip or a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite CPU. Those are the top processors in their respective lines and offer strong CPU and AI performance.

HP is second to Lenovo in market share, with Dell in third. Each offers a wide variety of models, from thin, light ultraportables to larger, more powerful models for gaming content creation. HP is shaking up its laptop lines. It has shuttered its Pavilion, Envy and Spectre brands in favor of OmniBook consumer models and EliteBook business models. Its Omen brand will continue as the home for its gaming laptops. For more, check out our picks for best Lenovo laptop and best Dell laptop.We tend to like HP’s higher-end models more than its budget laptops. Acer typically does well in the budget spac

Judging from the current selections on our list, I recommend spending $1,000 or more for a midrange or high-end HP laptop. For a budget laptop, Acer and Apple have better options -- each dominates our best budget laptop list. If you're looking for a new MacBook, check out which of Apple’s models made our best MacBook list.