1Best Overall
Dell XPS 14 (2026)
Best ultrabook overall
The keyboard feels like a real keyboard again, OLED option is gorgeous, and battery is 11+ hours of writing. Still the standard everyone is benchmarked against.
$1,899Read full review →
Best Laptops 2026
Three editors who actually use laptops as their daily driver tested six machines across heavy code, video edits, and 12-hour writing days. These are the six we would buy with our own money in 2026.
How we test: Each laptop was tested for at least 3 weeks under our editors’ real workloads (code IDEs, Lightroom, video calls, 4K browser tabs). Battery is timed to 5% with screen at 200 nits on Wi-Fi. Thermals checked under 30-min Cinebench loops.
1
2Editor’s Pick
Framework Laptop 16
Best for repair + upgrades
Modular GPU, swappable keyboard, every part on a wiring diagram. Battery is 6 hours under load, but you can replace the cell yourself in 4 minutes. A genuine alternative.
$1,699Read full review →
3Best Lightweight
LG Gram Pro 16
Best big-screen ultraportable
1.49 kg with a 16-inch OLED is still a small miracle. Battery is 14 hours typical, and the new chassis finally feels rigid. Best for writers and reading-heavy work.
$1,799Read full review →
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