Best laptop brands 2020

When buying a laptop, you want it to do everything you need, and last for years, too. That means, buying from a laptop brand you can trust. There are several key factors to consider, including your budget, what you actually want to use the laptop for, and of course the brands reputation. We take a look at some of the best laptop brands on the market and explain what they offer.

If youre after a laptop for business, youll find that your needs will be vastly different to one you might need at home, for example. Whereas one might reside mainly on your desk and have several peripherals attached to it at any time, the other might reside more in your bag, making the need for a better battery and light body all the more important.

Do consider your needs when buying a laptop, and make sure that the one you pick is best suited to your tasks.

Looking for a laptop today? Check our list of the Best Laptops to Buy

Which are the Best Laptop Brands?

Check the laptop section of any store, and youll see many brands vying for your dollar. Each makes similar claims the fastest, the lightest, the most powerful. So, which deserves your buck? Weve pulled out the ones below that we think you should be prioritising, and will offer years of excellent service.

1. Apple Expensive, yes, but powerful, user-friendly, high quality and reliable
2. Dell A huge range of models for every budget, and offers the superb XPS range
3. Lenovo A wide array of models, some with unique features
4. Asus Excellent line up with some great value models available
5. Acer Offers some well-priced and compelling ChromeBooks, as well as standard models.
6. Microsoft Just one laptop [to date], but a superb option for Windows fans
7. HP The everyman of the laptop world, unexciting but solid
8. Samsung Not a huge laptop player, but has some decent options
9. Google Just one laptop, but it's a head-turner
10. Toshiba Mainly business focused laptops

Best Laptop Brands Compared

Each laptop brand has its own vices and virtues. Where Apple may have a reputation for brilliant screens and slim designs, its also well-known as the priciest brand to buy into. Meanwhile, Acer may stand out as a great budget brand, but it has some fancier high-end models, too. Lets take a closer look at the ranges available from each brand:

Apple Laptops

Apples reputation in the hardware space for innovation and quality is well deserved, and its laptop line-up is no exception. Apple may not offer a huge range, and value for money is pretty relative, here, but the MacBook series is widely acknowledged as being one of the best laptop choices you can make.

Walk into any coffee shop in the country, and you'll find someone tapping away on an Apple laptop. The company's ability to merge style and performance in its laptops has seen them become highly desirable to everyone from students to office workers.

The MacBook style has been aped by pretty much every other laptop manufacturer out there, from chiclet' keyboards to super slim designs that slot neatly into the thinnest of bags.

Key ranges include:

MacBook Air

This is the cheapest MacBook, and one that in years past had been slightly ignored by Apple. However, the MacBook Air was revived in 2018 with a more powerful processor and Retina screen making it a real contender.

Then an even bigger update happened in in November 2020: The Air got the new M1 Chip, Apple's dedicated processor. The new Air is three times faster than the last, with a GPU capable of powering graphics five times faster and up to 18 hours of battery life.

It's not the cheapest laptop, but it's likely the best combo of price and raw power out there.

MacBook Pro 13

The headline MacBook is the Pro, which seamlessly combines power and style, making it a must-have for designers. There are a number of Pro models: The 13-inch 2020 option is fairly powerful, with a great screen and a workable keyboard.

The entry model comes with an Intel Core i5 that's perfectly decent for most needs even if it's not the i7 processor. But the biggest change is the Magic Keyboard, replacing the maligned Butterfly Keyboard.

Designers might like this option, as a [relatively] inexpensive machine for video or image editing work.

MacBook Pro 16

The 16-inch model is the best MacBook out there, with everything a demanding user could need. But starting at $2,399, it remains a tough sell for the cost-conscious consumer.

A retinal LEDbacklit display has 3072×1920 resolution at 226 pixels per inch and 500 nits brightness. The entry model has a 2.6GHz 6core Intel Core i7 processor and 512GB SSD, and it's expandable to a 2.3GHz 8core Intel Core i9 and up to a whopping 8TB of storage.

Topping it off are the Magic Keyboard and Touch Bar. Design pros will love it, but everyone else might not need the top of the line specs.

Got your heart set on a MacBook? See our guide to Which MacBook You Should Buy

Dell Laptops

Dell has been a stalwart of the home computer space for years, with over three decades of experience in manufacturing and selling PCs and laptops. If youve been eyeing up its models with a view to picking up a new laptop, youll note that its range is exhaustive theres Inspiron, XPS, and the G Series, not to mention Chromebooks and its gaming-devoted Alienware models.

Dell has received a lot of praise for its line up, not least for its XPS range, which many point to as the companys answer to the Apple MacBook. Its not hard to see why the XPS merges style and power, producing a fast, desirable laptop.

Criticism of Dell's lineup tends to be aimed at its Inspiron range. These are functional, if rather dull and uninspiring. The company does a great job of producing business laptops with its Latitude range these will breeze through your spreadsheets and accounts, but won't turn heads in the room.

Of the laptop brands, some complain that Dell's battery life struggles to compete with other brands. The exception is Dell's XPS range. Super slim, with great screens and long batteries, these are among the best Windows laptops you can choose.

Key ranges:

• Dell Inspiron 3000 9000 series Dells standard consumer range. Theres nothing too fancy within this series, though it does include 2-in-1 models with touchscreens. These are dependable workhorse laptops, but nothing youd show off about.
• Dell Latitude series Business focused laptops that put function above form.
• Dell XPS series These are Dells MacBook competitors, and theyre fabulous Windows laptops. Youll get high performance from the XPS machines, but they also have a stylish, light and slim profile.
• Dell G Series These are gaming laptops with dedicated graphics card and high end processors.

Read our guide to Dell's line-up of laptops

Lenovo Laptops

Lenovo is a Chinese brand that shows no sign of slowing down. Its laptop business was accelerated significantly in 2005 when it purchased the personal computing arm of IBM, hence, why it sells the iconic ThinkPad range. Lenovo shows a degree of innovation in its products, such as the early implementation of the Yoga range, with its dual laptop/hybrid functionality.

Despite the wide range of budget laptops that Lenovo has in its arsenal, it doesn't feel like it compromises on build quality. While many entry level laptops are manufactured with cheaper plastics, making them susceptible to cracks and breakages, Lenovo products feel solid and are more likely to survive the odd knock.

While it offers a good volume of budget models, Lenovo is also a huge player when it comes to more expensive models. The company accounts for 40% of sales for all laptops over $900, and has become a well established household name in recent years.

Key ranges:

• Lenovo Thinkpad Mainly aimed at business users, these are robust laptops with solid specs that should be perfect for day-to-day spreadsheet, document and web work.
• Lenovo IdeaPad Lenovos standard laptop range, starting with budget models, up to fully decked out laptops. If youre keeping to a lower budget, these are dependable, but not especially fancy models to choose.
• Lenovo Yoga A range of laptops with rotating touchscreens that can be positioned in multiple ways

Want to know more? See our guide to Lenovo's laptop range

Asus Laptops

A Taiwanese brand, Asus has shown some innovation in recent years, most notable its ScreenPad. This replaces the touchpad of the ZenBook with a screen, similar to Apples TouchBar. It's also become known for its very competitively priced Chromebook range in recent years.

Asus aren't quite ready to topple the likes of Apple or Dell yet, with a market share of around 6%, but its moments of innovation make for some interesting and different laptops that remain solidly built, and have a reputation for being reliable. There's no denying that its wide range of models means that it caters for almost everyone.

Key ranges:

• Asus ZenBook Asus premium laptop range, slim, light and portable but still packing plenty of power.
• Asus VivoBook Everyday laptops for aimed at users of all levels, available as entry-level models, or with the latest generation i7 processors.
• Asus Chromebook A range of inexpensive Google Chrome OS-based laptops that are light, portable, and cheaper than most options in this guide.

Here are deeper looks at what models to expect from each range:

Asus Chromebook Series

If you want a break from Windows, or are simply after a laptop on a budget, then the Acer Chromebook series could be a suitable alternative. Most brands offer these cut-price models, which run on the Chrome operating system. This depends heavily on the cloud for storage and applications, and as such, they tend to come with very little storage.

Chromebooks are typically inexpensive and have excellent battery life. Models like the Asus C202SA, which comes in at around $200, are no exception, and boast 10 hour battery life. The C202SA is also solidly built, with a robust chassis and rubber wrapped edges.

If that doesnt cut it, Asus also makes some more premium Chromebooks. These include the Asus C302CA, which retails for around $500, but offers a flip back touchscreen as well as a more powerful Intel Core m3 processor.

Not sure if a Chromebook is for you? See our guide, Chromebook vs Laptop Which Should You Get?

Key models:

Asus Chromebook C202SA At around $200, this chromebook is great value, and has a toughened chassis as well as being water resistant.

Asus Chromebook C302CA A pricier alternative, this models Intel Core processor means it can do more heavy lifting than its cheaper brother.

Asus VivoBook Series

The VivoBook series is essentially Asuss midrange option. Theyre not quite as lovingly designed as the ZenBooks, and not always packing the sheer power, but are still a great option for those who prioritize value. There are some great options too: The VivoBook E203 may be a diminutive 11.6-inches, but it offers you the full Windows 10 experience for less than 200 dollars.

Like the ZenBook series, VivoBook incorporates several different series, including the Flip models, which allow the touch screen to be folded 180 degrees to double as a large Windows tablet.

Specs wise, the VivoBook series runs the gamut, offering everything from low powered Celeron processors to Intel Core i7s. You can even find some models with dedicated graphics cards towards the pricier end of the range. These top end models also tend to offer 4K displays, too.

Its something of an all encompassing range, with a laptop for pretty much every need but of all Asuss options, this is the one where youll find the best value [unless you dont want Windows, in which case youll find some bargains in the Chromebook range].

Key models:

Asus VivoBook Flip 14 Asuss Flip models have the ability to fold their displays all the way back, and this 14-inch model is no exception. Available with an Intel Core i7 processor, it also supports the Asus Pen, for onscreen scribbles.

Asus VivoBook E203 At just $200, this 11.6-inch Windows 10 is something of a bargain. Specs are modest, but for the price, its hard to complain.

Acer Laptops

Acer, a Chinese company of over forty years, offers a compelling line-up of laptops that are competitively priced. Its Aspire range covers plenty of great budget laptops. Like Asus, it has created a range of low cost Chromebooks which have proven to be popular low-cost alternatives to full Windows laptops.

Acer's marketshare is similar to Asus, with around 6.4% worldwide. It's not afraid to innovate and explore new designs for its laptop range, fulling embracing the 2-in-1 laptop market.

Acer also has a reputation for its design, whether it's the future-styled look of its gaming laptops, to the ultra-thin design of the Swift 7, it's a company that puts a lot of stock in the look and presentation of its laptops.

Key ranges:

• Acer Chromebook Excellent value Chromebooks that offer a cheap alternative to traditional Windows-based laptops
• Acer Swift High-end laptops with a sleek design and a focus on technical ability, aimed at demanding users. A successor to the now-defunct Acer Aspire series.
• Acer Spin A range of laptops with a rotating touchscreen that can be twisted around be set up in a number of ways.

After an Acer laptop? Check out our guide to its entire laptop range

HP Laptops

HP is a stalwart of personal computing. The huge range of laptops HP offers means that there's an HP for everyone out there. That said, trying to work out which one to go for can be daunting. Its Spectre models are brilliantly crafted and designed, offering a true high-end product, so they're a good place to start.

HP is a huge brand, with an incredible 21.7% market share. It was riding high, undisputed, until Lenovo managed to topple it in the last decade. Competition between the two is fierce, and they are head and shoulders above the third place, Dell, in terms of total worldwide sales.

As well as producing great computers, HP has a good reputation online for its after sales service. This could prove tempting for anyone who is looking for a new laptop.

Key ranges:

• HP Spectre HPs premium laptop, designed to be fast and powerful and with a price tag that reflects this.
• HP Envy Lacks some of the more desirable features and ports of the Spectre range, but still a competent laptop series, and the low price is more appealing.
• HP Elitebook HP's best business laptop, with a dependable battery life, slim size, fast processors and a fairly high average price tag.

Microsoft Laptops

Perhaps not that well known for hardware, Microsofts Surface Laptop is a premium model that aims to satisfy users after a high end experience. Although Microsofts Surface tablets are compatible with a keyboard, the Surface Laptop is its only true laptop offering.

Despite its limited offering, Microsoft has managed to crack into the top five PC manufacturers in the US, squeezing out Acer. It holds 4.1% of the marketshare domestically.

Internationally, it's a slightly different story, and it'll be hard to for Microsoft to replicate its homegrown success on a global scale, especially as it doesn't offer any entry-level or mid-range models.

Key ranges:

• Surface Laptop 3 Microsoft hasn't reinvented the wheel with the third iteration of the Surface, but it has certainly improved it. With small quality of life changes such as a more comfortable keyboard, the Laptop 3 is the best yet, although we'd like to see better battery life in the future.
• Surface Go/ Surface Pro Tablets Not quite an iPad-style tablet, but not quite a laptop, either. These hybrid models run Windows 10, but to get the best out of them, you really need to purchase the additional keyboard cover.

Samsung Laptops

Samsung is hardly what you would call a big player in the laptop space. The tech giant has scaled back its operations in consumer computing considerably, focusing instead on other areas such as its smartphone and TV offerings.

In fact, it has completely withdrawn from the laptop market in some territories, halting the sale of these devices back in 2014 due to market demands' [that is to say, the Europeans simply weren't buying Samsung laptops].

However, it has retained a presence in the US, and its Notebook range offers a good selection of laptops for all budgets. Its Flash model is particularly attractive for those looking for an entry-level device.

Key ranges:

• Samsung Notebook Samsung's classic' laptop line up, includes models with rotating screens as well as stylus compatible displays.
• Samsung Notebook Flash Samsung's entry-level laptops, kitted out with low end Pentium processors and limited flash storage.
• Samsung Chromebook Samsung's range of ChromeOS based devices
• Samsung Odyssey Samsung's gaming series of laptops, stuffed with high end tech including ultra fast processors and graphics cards. Unlike other gaming laptops, they lack any sense of quirky design.

Google Laptops

Google may not instantly spring to mind when you're thinking of laptop brands, and there's a good reason for that they've only got one. Its PixelBook somewhat flipped the script on the meaning of a Chromebook, taking a traditionally low powered, budget device, and turning it into a high end, premium product.

A bold move perhaps, but one that has worked for Google, with the PixelBook gaining rave reviews. It also produces the Pixel Slate, which is technically a tablet, but can be a decent laptop alternative if purchased with the dedicated keyboard.

Google may not have the marketshare in the laptop world that HP, Dell or Lenovo can boast, but it certainly has the technical expertise and funding to throw behind its hardware business, meaning it could be one to watch in the future.

Key ranges:

• Google PixelBook Go A high end, lightweight Chromebook with as much as 12 hours of battery life

Toshiba Laptops

Despite its long history, Toshiba's last few years have been somewhat turbulent. Just last year, it sold 80% of its PC business to Sharp, and retains just 20%.

Struggling to compete in the global market, Toshiba halted sales of its consumers laptops in Europe and the US in 2016, and now focuses purely on business laptops.

The laptops themselves are functional and fulfil their purpose, but lack the interesting design and more original features of their competitors.

Key ranges:

• Tecra Large screen laptops aimed at business customers
• Portege Compact business laptops, available in A series, a mid-range line up, and Z series, the more premium models

Best Cheap Laptop Brands

A laptop neednt cost you a huge chunk of cash, and the competition between brands means great prices for the consumer.

Despite this, dont be tempted by brands you dont recognise, as these are likely to offer poor after-sales support and could let you down. Stick with the brands mentioned on this page and youll be set.

In terms of value, most brands offer entry-level laptops, but we think that Acer and Asus offer the best low-cost models with their Aspire and VivoBook ranges. The cheaper laptops wont be powerhouses, but will get the bulk of daily tasks done.

Another option is a Chromebook. These are notably cheaper than a traditional Windows laptop, though they function a little differently. Think of them as the Chrome web browser, with a keyboard! Theyre great for web browsing, emailing, and streaming video.

They may not be as flexible and offer the range of abilities of a Windows machine, but the average web user and social media fanatic wont mind, and the Google office suite offers everything that Microsoft Office does, and is fully compatible with those programs.

If youre spending under $300

If your budget is under $300, then your options are limited. At this price, youll mainly be looking at Chromebooks. Pick one of these up and you could even have change to spare, although be aware that it wont offer the full range of features that youd expect from a Windows or Apple laptop. For those looking to browser the web, stream video and send emails, a Chromebook will more than do the job.

Check out the Chromebooks offered by Asus and Acer for a good option.

If youre spending under $500

$500 wont net you the laptop of your dreams, but it will get you a decent starter. You should be aiming for an i3 Intel processor at this price, which will prove powerful enough for the casual user and should be future-proof for a few years.

Consider something from the Acer Aspire or Lenovo ThinkPad ranges. Not head-turners by any means, but they will get the job done.

If youre spending up to $750

With a budget of $750, youll be able to grab a laptop that will serve you well and be able to complete most of the tasks you throw at it. Serious gaming and heavy duty video editing will be out, but itll cope with anything else. Aim for an i5 processor from at least the 9th generation of chips, and go for a model with a solid state drive so that its speedy to boot and start programs. At this price range you can bag yourself a great laptop for work or pleasure.

Consider something from the Acer Swift or Spin ranges, or a Lenovo Yoga if you find the the idea of a laptop/tablet hybrid appealing.

If youre spending up and over $1,000

If you have a budget of $1,000 and up, people will tell you to get a MacBook, and honestly, theyre not wrong. The Air, Apples entry level laptop, starts at $849, and is an excellent all-rounder that can still pack a punch despite not being the top-end Apple model.

If youre looking for something that can run more demanding software, such as an graphics intense programs, consider the MacBook Pro instead.

If youre after a Windows machine, Dells XPS range is an excellent alternative to the MacBook, and can be purchased with a dedicated graphics card at the high end. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 is another serious contender, and one of the best Windows laptops you can buy if youre spending around the $1,000 mark.