The MacBook Air M3 earns our top spot for 2025 with its exceptional balance of performance, battery life, and premium build quality in a lightweight, portable package. This iteration solidifies Apple's dominance in the ultraportable market, with the M3 chip delivering significant performance improvements while maintaining the incredible efficiency that has become synonymous with Apple Silicon.

In our benchmarking, the M3 MacBook Air scored an impressive 12,087 in Geekbench 6 multi-core testing, outperforming many competitors with similar form factors. Video editing capabilities have improved substantially, with our 4K to 1080p video transcoding test completing in just under 8 minutes - an excellent result for a fanless design. Apple has also addressed the SSD speeds from previous generations, with read/write speeds now exceeding 3,000 MBps.

The Dell XPS 13 represents the pinnacle of Windows laptop engineering in 2025, powered by Qualcomm's game-changing Snapdragon X Elite processor. This remarkable chip delivers a level of efficiency previously unattainable in Windows laptops while maintaining exceptional performance, making the XPS 13 a true competitor to Apple's dominance in the ultraportable segment.

Performance is a revelation for Windows users, with the Snapdragon X Elite achieving a remarkable 14,635 in Geekbench 6.3 multi-core tests - surpassing even the MacBook Air M3 (12,087). In our Handbrake video encoding test, it completed the task in just 4 minutes and 41 seconds, demonstrating impressive processing capabilities for creative workflows.

The Acer Swift Go 14 redefines what's possible in the budget to mid-range laptop segment, offering performance and features typically found in much more expensive machines. Powered by Intel's new Core Ultra processors with their integrated NPU for AI tasks, this laptop delivers exceptional value without significant compromises.

In our testing, the Swift Go 14 achieved an impressive 12,434 in Geekbench 6.2 multi-core performance, outpacing many premium laptops including the MacBook Air M3. Its Handbrake video encoding performance was particularly impressive, completing our test in just 5 minutes and 18 seconds - nearly four minutes faster than the category average and significantly quicker than the MacBook Air M3.

The 16-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Pro represents the pinnacle of laptop performance in 2025, delivering workstation-class power with battery life that defies expectations. This latest iteration improves upon its already impressive predecessor with even greater performance and efficiency, cementing Apple's dominance in the high-performance laptop segment.

Performance is extraordinary, with Geekbench 6 multi-core scores reaching 22,822 - more than double the premium laptop average and 7% higher than even the previous M3 Max model. In our Handbrake video transcoding test, it completed the task in just 2 minutes and 38 seconds, outpacing professional Windows workstations by a significant margin. The M4 Pro chip proves capable of handling any creative workload, from 4K video editing to 3D rendering, with ease.

The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i (Gen 9) stands as the definitive gaming laptop of 2025, offering the perfect balance of raw performance, display quality, and cooling efficiency. Powered by Intel's monstrous Core i9-14900HX processor and NVIDIA's powerful RTX 4080 GPU, this gaming powerhouse delivers exceptional frame rates in even the most demanding titles while maintaining a price point below many competitors with similar specifications.

In our gaming benchmarks, the Legion Pro 7i averaged an impressive 105 FPS in Far Cry 6 at Ultra settings (1080p) and 96 FPS in the demanding Red Dead Redemption 2 at Medium settings (1080p). These results outpace most competing gaming laptops, including the MSI Vector 16 HX and Alienware X16 R2. The 32GB of DDR5 RAM ensures smooth multitasking, even when streaming or running background applications while gaming.

The HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) redefines what's possible in the convertible laptop category, combining exceptional performance and battery life with the versatility of a 2-in-1 design. This premium device can transform between laptop, tablet, tent, and presentation modes while maintaining the performance of a traditional clamshell ultraportable.

Performance is remarkable for a convertible, with the Intel Core Ultra 7 processor delivering a Geekbench 6 score of 12,358 - comparable to or better than many traditional ultraportables. The integrated Intel Arc graphics also provide sufficient power for creative tasks and casual gaming. In our Handbrake video encoding test, it completed the task in 7 minutes and 3 seconds, a respectable result for a thin and light convertible.

If battery life is your absolute top priority, the Dell XPS 13 9345 with Snapdragon X Elite is the undisputed champion of 2025. This ultraportable Windows laptop redefines what's possible in terms of power efficiency, lasting an incredible 19 hours in our standard battery test, with the latest BIOS update pushing that figure beyond 20 hours of continuous use - numbers previously unheard of in the Windows ecosystem.

The Snapdragon X Elite processor doesn't just excel at power efficiency; it delivers genuinely impressive performance as well. With a multi-core Geekbench 6.3 score of 14,635, it significantly outperforms the premium laptop average of 8,927 and even surpasses the MacBook Air M3 (12,087). For productivity tasks, web browsing, and even light content creation, this chip provides more than enough power without draining the battery.

The Asus ProArt P16 is purpose-built for creative professionals, offering a stunning 4K OLED display, powerful components, and specialized features that cater specifically to content creators. This laptop strikes an excellent balance between performance, display quality, and portability that makes it ideal for photographers, video editors, graphic designers, and 3D artists.

Performance is exceptional for creative workloads, with the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor and RTX 4060 GPU combining to provide excellent rendering capabilities. In our benchmarks, it achieved a Geekbench 6 score of 15,286 and completed our Handbrake video encoding test in 3 minutes and 15 seconds - significantly faster than most ultraportables and competitive with many mobile workstations.