The best laptops you can buy

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The Insider Pick:

• If you’re looking for the best laptop out there, there are a ton of different choices. However, there's none better than the HP Spectre x360 13t, which boasts excellent specs, a gorgeous screen, and a convertible design.

The Back to School season is upon us, which means it's time for many students to start looking into buying a new computer for their studies. A great laptop is essential when it comes to studying and working — and one that doesn’t work well can bring plenty of unwanted distractions.

If you’re looking for a new laptop, there are quite a few things to consider. After all, laptops are pretty complex machines. Here are a few key terms and features to keep in mind when you’re looking for a laptop:

• Operating system: While you will want to consider hard specs, the way that you interact with your laptop is through the operating system. You’re probably familiar with Windows, which is by far the most popular computer operating system, but there’s also Apple’s macOS, which is also very capable. Last but not least is Chrome OS, which is best for those who want a simple, affordable, no-fuss laptop for web browsing and other basic tasks.
• Specs: Computers vary widely in terms of processing power and other specifications. The processor and RAM will essentially dictate how fast your computer is, while the storage will determine how many files you can store on the computer. The screen resolution is another important spec, and you'll probably want at least a Full HD, 1080p resolution. Battery life should be at least eight to ten hours.
• Size: Another thing you’ll want to think about is how big the computer is. A smaller laptop will ultimately be more portable, but a larger one will have a larger display, which is better for watching movies and video production. Common sizes for laptops are 13 inches and 15 inches, though 11 inches and 17 inches also appear every now and then.

Of course, apart from all these things, you’ll want to think about price. Although the very best laptops will cost you $1,000 or more, we’ve tried to offer a range of different laptops in different price ranges in this guide. You can also check out the best Chromebooks and the best budget laptops if money is tight.

Although the HP Spectre x360 13t is our top pick, for various reasons laid out in the slides below, you should also consider the HP Pavilion x360, the Huawei MateBook X, the Apple MacBook Pro 13 and 15,the Asus Chromebook Flip C302A, the Dell Chromebook 11, the Samsung Notebook 9 Pro, and the Dell Inspiron 15 5000. 

The best laptop overall

HP

Why you'll love it: The HP Spectre x360 13t is well-designed, high-powered, and versatile thanks to its convertible design.

HP has been a top company in the computer industry for some time now, and for good reason. The company has long offered computers that aren’t just high-powered and extremely capable, but that also come at a great price. The HP Spectre x360 13t is no exception to that rule. In fact, it has earned itself a top spot on our best laptops list.

The HP Spectre x360 13t comes in a few different variants, and the one we’re looking at is decked out with Intel’s latest 7th-generation i7 chip, a nice 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of solid-state storage. Beyond the hard specs, though, this computer has a lot more to offer. Like, for example, its 1,920 x 1,080-pixel touch-enabled display.

The laptop is convertible, too – that’s to say, you can use it in laptop mode, or you can flip the keyboard around to use it in tablet mode – which is great for watching Netflix in bed or drawing with the included stylus. It’s a perfect size for that, too, coming in at only 0.55 inches thick.

As far as ports go, the HP Spectre x360 13t comes equipped with two USB 3.1 Type-C ports, as well as a USB 3.1 Type-A port. And, you’ll get a headphone/microphone port. It also has built-in Bang & Olufsen quad speakers, so if you’re not using the headphone jack, the sound should still be relatively good.

Not everything is perfect though. While there are a good amount of USB ports, there’s no SD card slot or other ports, so you’ll need adapters if you have any peripherals that use ports other than USB. And, the computer isn’t necessarily cheap, either. It comes at $1,568.88 on Amazon, though you can get less high-powered versions for less.

Expert reviewers give this laptop high praise, including PCMag, Laptop Mag, and CNET.

Pros: High-powered, convertible, plenty of USB ports, touch display

Cons: Expensive, no SD card slot

Buy the HP Spectre x360 13-AC013DX 2-in-1 (13.3-inch, Core i7, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, Certified Refurbished) on Amazon for $859.95

Buy the HP Spectre x360 13 Convertible Laptop (13.3-inch, Core i7, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) on Amazon for $949.99

Buy the HP Spectre x360 13-AC033DX 2-in-1 (13.3-inch 4K, Core i7, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, Certified Refurbished) on Amazon for $1,199.00

Buy the HP Spectre x360 13t (13.3-inch, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, Core i7) on Amazon for $1,549.99

Buy the HP Spectre x360 - 13t Touch Stylus (13.3-inch, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD, Core i7) on Amazon for $1,799.99

The best laptop for less than $500

HP/Business Insider

Why you'll love it: If you’re looking for a great computer on a budget, then the HP Pavilion x360 is for you, thanks to its decent specs and two-in-one form factor.

The laptops in this guide are all excellent machines, but they all have something in common— they’re expensive. Thankfully, you don’t necessarily have to spend thousands of dollars to get a great computer. In fact, we’ve written a whole guide about the best laptops under $500. The winner? The HP Pavilion x360.

The Pavilion x360 is more of a two-in-one than a laptop, so you can use it as a tablet or as a laptop, which is great for those looking for a versatile machine. On top of that, the computer boasts an Intel Core i3-6100U, which is coupled with 6GB of RAM. You’ll also get a 500GB hard drive.

When it comes to ports, the HP Pavilion x360 has two USB 3.0 ports, one USB 2.0 port, one headphone jack, and an HDMI port so there are plenty of ports for almost all situations. There are plenty of other reviewers who like the HP Pavilion x360, too. Laptop Mag gave it 4/5 stars, and buyers give it 4.1/5 stars on Amazon.  

The downsides? Well, it would be nice to have a solid-state drive rather than a hard disk drive, and the display isn’t all that great, but for less than $500, it's a great deal.

Pros: Great price, decent specs, plenty of ports

Cons: Hard disk drive, lackluster display

Buy the HP Pavilion x360 on Amazon for $461.62

The best lightweight laptop

Huawei

Why you'll love it: The Huawei MateBook X is super slim and lightweight, so you can carry it with you all day without breaking your back.

Huawei is new to laptops, but its new lineup of MateBooks is impressive. Of the three new models, the most portable, powerful, and attractive one is the MateBook X. At first glance, you'll think it's a MacBook because it is so slim and gorgeous in gold or dark gray.

If you want a portable laptop that won't weigh you down, the MateBook X delivers. It weighs just 2.3 pounds and measures 12.5mm thick. Huawei brags that it's the size of a magazine, and it truly is. The 2K screen has a resolution of 2,160 x 1,1440 pixels and a 4.4mm bezel to give you a gorgeous 13-inch screen that's great for watching Netflix, or you know, doing actual work.

You can get the MateBook with your choice of 7th Generation Intel processors, including Core i5 or Core i7. Both models have 8GB of RAM, but the Core i7 version gets 512GB of storage to the Core i5's 256GB of storage. The Core i5 version should be more than enough for most people, and you'll save $200 if you opt for it over the Core i7 MateBook X.

Rounding out the specs are a Dolby Atmos Sound System, a slick fingerprint sensor, and Windows 10 Home. We tested the MateBook X and came away impressed by the slick design, slim build, gorgeous screen, and fast fingerprint sensor. Our favorite thing about it is undoubtedly its portability. When you have to carry your laptop to work or school every day, this is exactly what you want: a laptop that weighs just 2.3 pounds and takes up very little space in your bag.

The only tangible downsides to the MateBook X — besides its high price tag — is its lack of ports. It only has two USB-C ports: one for charging and the other for your peripherals. That means you need a dongle or a dock to connect to anything that's not USB-C. Luckily, Huawei remedies that problem with an included Mate Dock 2, which includes a USB-A port, USB-C port, HDMI port, and VGA port.

Expert reviewers agree that the MateBook X is a great buy for those who prioritize style and portability, including Digital Trends, TechRadar, The Guardian, and Laptop Mag.

Pros: Super slim and lightweight, powerful, attractive display, portable, good speakers

Cons: Expensive, few ports

Buy the Huawei MateBook X on Amazon for $1,099.99 (Core i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB storage) or $1,299.99 (Core i7, 8GB RAM, 512GB storage)

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