As we step into 2024, the laptop market continues to innovate at a rapid pace, offering cutting-edge technology to cater to various user needs. Whether you’re a student, creative professional, gamer, or business user, the choices can be overwhelming. From power-packed workstations to ultra-portable notebooks, the year 2024 brings an exciting range of laptops designed to deliver top-notch performance, stunning displays, and innovative features.
In this article, I’ll dive into some of the best laptops of 2024, highlighting their key features, strengths, and who they’re best suited for. Whether you’re looking for raw performance, portability, or a balance of both, there’s something for everyone.
1. Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (2024)
Price: Starting at $2,499
Processor: Apple M3 Pro / M3 Max chip
Display: 16-inch Liquid Retina XDR, 3456 x 2234
Battery Life: Up to 18 hours
Weight: 4.7 pounds
The 2024 iteration of the MacBook Pro 16-inch is a powerhouse designed for creative professionals, offering unrivaled performance with the latest Apple M3 Pro and M3 Max chips. Apple’s custom silicon continues to redefine computing, with the M3 Max providing up to 40 CPU cores and 128 GPU cores, allowing for seamless multitasking and the ability to handle intensive tasks like video editing, 3D rendering, and software development.
The MacBook Pro’s 16-inch Liquid Retina XDR display is one of the best on the market, offering breathtaking color accuracy, peak brightness of 1600 nits, and a 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate. This makes it ideal for photo and video editors, graphic designers, and anyone working with color-critical applications.
Battery life on the MacBook Pro remains impressive, lasting up to 18 hours on a single charge, ensuring productivity throughout the day. The machine also boasts a refined keyboard and trackpad, superior build quality, and macOS Ventura, Apple’s latest operating system optimized for M3 chips.
Pros:
- Unmatched performance with M3 chips
- Stunning Retina XDR display with ProMotion
- Long battery life and efficient power usage
Cons:
- Expensive
- Limited ports compared to Windows workstations
2. Dell XPS 15 (2024)
Price: Starting at $1,899
Processor: Intel Core i9-13900H / Intel Core i7-13700H
Display: 15.6-inch OLED 3.5K, 3456 x 2160
Battery Life: Up to 12 hours
Weight: 4.2 pounds
The Dell XPS 15 continues to be a top choice for those who want a perfect balance between performance, portability, and stunning design. For 2024, the XPS 15 gets a major upgrade with Intel’s 13th Gen Core i9 and i7 processors, paired with up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 graphics, making it a beast for productivity tasks, light gaming, and creative work.
The XPS 15’s display is a highlight, with the optional 3.5K OLED panel delivering vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent contrast. With 100% DCI-P3 color accuracy, it’s a strong choice for photographers and videographers. The slim bezels (InfinityEdge display) further enhance the immersive experience, making this one of the most attractive laptops available.
This laptop is perfect for content creators who need a powerful yet portable machine for video editing, photo retouching, or coding. With up to 64GB of RAM and 4TB of SSD storage, the XPS 15 ensures you never have to worry about running out of power or space.
Pros:
- Gorgeous OLED display with 3.5K resolution
- Powerful performance with Intel’s 13th Gen CPUs and RTX 4070
- Premium build and sleek design
Cons:
- Below-average battery life with OLED panel
- Heats up under load due to slim profile
3. HP Spectre x360 14 (2024)
Price: Starting at $1,599
Processor: Intel Core i7-13700H / Intel Core i5-13400H
Display: 13.5-inch OLED 3:2, 3000 x 2000
Battery Life: Up to 16 hours
Weight: 3 pounds
The HP Spectre x360 14 is one of the best 2-in-1 laptops in 2024, continuing the legacy of its well-regarded predecessor. The 14-inch model combines premium design with flexible functionality, offering tablet mode for creatives and note-takers while delivering the performance of a full laptop.
Its OLED display in a 3:2 aspect ratio provides extra vertical screen space, making it perfect for browsing, writing, or reading documents. With a resolution of 3000 x 2000, the screen is sharp, vibrant, and ideal for watching videos or doing light creative work. Intel’s 13th Gen processors keep everything running smoothly, while the improved Intel Iris Xe graphics offer enough power for casual gaming and video editing.
The laptop also includes an excellent keyboard and a glass trackpad, which feels smooth and responsive. The Spectre x360’s slim profile, coupled with its long battery life, makes it an excellent choice for on-the-go professionals or students who want both power and portability.
Pros:
- Stunning OLED display with a 3:2 aspect ratio
- 2-in-1 flexibility for different use cases
- Long battery life and lightweight design
Cons:
- Performance falls short of higher-end models
- Limited GPU power for intensive creative work
4. Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024)
Price: Starting at $2,099
Processor: AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080
Display: 14-inch QHD+ 165Hz, 2560 x 1600
Battery Life: Up to 10 hours
Weight: 3.6 pounds
For gamers and creators alike, the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 continues to be one of the most compact yet powerful gaming laptops on the market. The 2024 model features the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080, making it a portable powerhouse capable of running the latest AAA games at high settings while also handling demanding creative tasks like 3D rendering and video editing.
The 14-inch QHD+ 165Hz display provides an incredibly smooth gaming experience, while the high resolution and vibrant color reproduction make it equally suitable for creative professionals. The G14’s build is robust, with a sleek magnesium alloy chassis that remains lightweight without sacrificing durability.
Battery life on the Zephyrus G14 is also impressive for a gaming laptop, offering up to 10 hours on a single charge, although this will drop significantly when gaming. The laptop also includes the innovative AniMe Matrix display on the back of the lid, which adds a customizable flair for those who enjoy personalization.
Pros:
- Powerful gaming and creative performance
- High-refresh-rate QHD+ display
- Compact and portable for a gaming laptop
Cons:
- Can get hot under heavy loads
- Expensive, especially with the RTX 4080 configuration
5. Microsoft Surface Laptop 6 (2024)
Price: Starting at $1,499
Processor: Intel Core i7-13700H / Intel Core i5-13400H
Display: 13.5-inch PixelSense, 2256 x 1504
Battery Life: Up to 17 hours
Weight: 2.8 pounds
The Surface Laptop 6 is an elegant, ultra-light laptop that’s perfect for productivity, thanks to its clean design and efficient performance. Microsoft has built the Surface brand on premium design and functionality, and the Surface Laptop 6 continues this trend with its lightweight form factor and high-resolution PixelSense display.
With Intel’s latest 13th Gen processors, the Surface Laptop 6 is more powerful than ever, making it ideal for day-to-day tasks such as writing, web browsing, light video editing, and multitasking. Its 13.5-inch display offers great color accuracy and brightness, making it one of the best displays in the ultrabook category.
What sets the Surface Laptop 6 apart is its exceptional portability, weighing just 2.8 pounds, and its excellent battery life, which lasts up to 17 hours. The keyboard and trackpad are comfortable and responsive, and the build quality is top-tier. This is the go-to choice for business professionals, students, and anyone who values a sleek, no-nonsense laptop.
Pros:
- Lightweight and highly portable
- Superb battery life
- High-quality PixelSense display
Cons:
- Limited ports (no Thunderbolt 4)
- Not ideal for intensive tasks like gaming or heavy creative work
2024 offers an impressive lineup of laptops, each catering to different user needs. Whether you’re a professional creator in need of raw power like the MacBook Pro 16-inch, a student who values portability with the HP Spectre x360 14, or a gamer looking for top-tier performance like the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14, the best laptop is one that aligns with your specific requirements. From ultrabooks to gaming machines, this year’s selections are packed with innovation, offering something for everyone.
