Best Windows laptop 2023: The top Windows machines we’ve tested

There is a reason that the Samsung Galaxy Book 3 360 sits at the top of this list, as it’s one of the best Windows laptops currently on the market. We had absolutely no complaints about the performance of this laptop; our model packed a 13th-generation Intel Core i5 processor and managed to avoid the throttling issues that some U-series and P-series devices had been experiencing. It was able to handle up to 20 browser tabs alongside multitasking, without getting too loud, even when it was under a lot of stress. 

It comes with an impressively long battery life. Our benchmark test came in at 13-hours and 48 minutes via the 68Wh battery onboard. Our reviewer managed to use this laptop for over two days without needing to pick up a charger, making it more than suitable for those who regularly forget their charging cables. It also can be recharged in around an hour and a half, thanks to the speedy 65W charging capabilities. 

One of the most alluring features of the Galaxy Book 3 360 is its 360-degree hinge. This means that it can be reconfigured into a tent configuration if you want to watch some content, and still be used as a clamshell laptop for working purposes. The 15.6-inch display comes with a Full HD (1080p) resolution that scored fantastically in our testing. It covered 100% sRGB, 96% Adobe RGB and 100% DCI-P3 colour coverage, making it serviceable for some light creative workloads that require high colour accuracy. 

For the price – which sits around £1149/$1349.99 – the Samsung Galaxy Book 3 360 is a very reliable device. If you’re after something that can take on graphical workloads then we recommend taking a look at the Asus Zenbook Pro 14 OLED (2023), but if you’re more focused on a sleek productivity device that will last the whole workday, then this laptop is a very safe bet. 

Reviewer: Adam Speight
Full Review: Samsung Galaxy Book 3 360 Review

The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2023) offers a fantastic combination of portability and power. One of its main attributes is its compact size; measuring up at just 1.72kg, it’s surprisingly lightweight for a gaming device, coming in as 100g lighter than the top-end Razer Blade 14 (2023). We felt that it was easy enough to hold with one hand – albeit with a little strain – and was definitely light enough to be taken to and from the office. 

You can opt for a Mini LED screen or stick with an IPS panel if you’re on a budget. We tested the Mini LED model and our reviewer noted that it packs one of the best laptop screens they’d ever used. Horizon Zero Dawn looked incredibly vibrant and detailed and our colour tests show that it reached a maximum peak brightness of 587 nits – almost double the result of your average laptop. 

Colour coverage was also excellent, hitting 100% for sRGB, 93% for Adobe RGB and 100% for DCI-P3. These scores signal the go-ahead for content creatives to use the Zephyrus G14, although it’s worth remembering that these statistics are only relevant to the Mini LED model. 

This laptop can be kitted out with up to an Nvidia RTX 4090 graphics card alongside an AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS processor. The G14 proved to be supremely capable, hitting consistently high frame rates in all of our tests, from Full HD to Quad HD. The chassis did get very hot during intensive workloads, however, so you will want to keep that in mind if you’re planning on gaming for multiple hours on end. 

If you’re looking to find a compact and very capable gaming laptop, then the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2023) is a great pick. Thanks to its wide array of configuration options, you can find the perfect model that works for you without necessarily needing to break the bank and focus on the internals that matter most to you. You can check out the rest of this list for even more options, but you may find that the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2023) already ticks all your boxes. 

Reviewer: Ryan Jones
Full Review: Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2023) Review

The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is one of the most affordable Windows laptops on the market, with a retail price as low as £529 – that’s half the cost of the MacBook Air.

Despite its affordable price, the Surface Laptop Go 2 offers a lot of quality, with a fantastic design that feels robust and sturdy. The small 12-inch screen also makes this laptop incredibly portable, which is useful whether you’re a student who needs to move between lecture halls, or an office worker with a hybrid working arrangement.

The 11th Generation Intel Core chip isn’t quite as speedy as processors found in other modern laptops, but it’s still snappy enough to speed through basic tasks. If you’re happy to stick to the likes of word documents, emails, streaming video and other productivity/entertainment apps, then this laptop is perfectly capable. You’ll only encounter an issue if you want to push it with demanding creativity apps or games.

There are a couple of minor issues, with the low-resolution display making it a poor choice for Netflix addicts, and the lack of keyboard backlight making after-dark typing a nuisance. But when you consider how cheap and portable this laptop is, it’s sure to be a popular option for those on a budget.

Reviewer: Ryan Jones
Full review: Surface Laptop Go 2 review

The Asus Zenbook 15 OLED (2023) is a glorious productivity laptop that flies a little under the radar, with much attention reserved for the brand’s Zenbook S 13 OLED. But, make no mistake, this 15-inch laptop is worth considering.

The Zenbook 15 OLED is a productivity all-rounder, nailing almost all the features you need to get essays written and for some serious web browsing. The battery life may not be up there with the best of the best but it’s enough to get you to the end of the day. One of the key highlights is a stunning 15.6-inch 16:10 OLED display. The panel is wondrously bright and eye-catching, with impressive colour accuracy. At 15 inches, you get that extra bit of screen real estate compared with popular 13-inch rivals.

Despite being impressively light and thin, the Zenbook 15 OLED manages to cram in a great keyboard and trackpad. The full-sized keyboard has a comfortable keypress that we loved using throughout our review, while the trackpad is pleasing spacious and responsive.

The AMD Ryzen 7 7735U onboard provides more than enough juice for intensive productivity tasking. The machine can run a tad hot and the fans are a smidge eager, but it isn’t a dealbreaker. The speakers are also surprisingly great for such a trim device.

Reviewer: Stuart Andrews
Full Review: Asus Zenbook 15 OLED (2023) review

If you’re looking for a handy combination of productivity and business capabilities, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 is an ideal Windows laptop for you. It has most of what you’d want from a productivity-friendly Windows laptop in 2023, along with a sprinkle of business-friendly features.

This laptop gets the basics right, with a robust magnesium alloy offering a sturdy build along with a thin-and-light chassis. The port selection is strong and the typing experience is great. And, of course, on that keyboard is Lenovo’s signature Trackpoint as well as some physical mouse click buttons sitting about the trackpad.

The Lenovo is boosted by a high-end laptop standard OLED display. The panel brings extreme contrast and lavish colour depth. The brightness isn’t up to the same very high standard but it’s decent enough at 417 nits.

Along with its productivity and business chops, the X1 Carbon brings an added dose of portability by offering 5G connectivity when linked up with an eSIM.

Reviewer: Andrew Williams
Full Review: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 review

Looking for a gaming Windows laptop with few compromises, it’s got to be the Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 (2023). Some laptops offer a smidge more luxury but if all-out gaming domination is your aim then the ROG Strix Scar 16 nails it.

The ROG Strix Scar 16 showcases immense gaming performance through its 13th Gen Intel Core HX series chip as well as a high-end Nvidia GeForce RTX 40-series GPU. Our testing combination was a Core i9 and RTX 4080 team-up, resulting in performance well over 100fps across several AAA titles at QHD+ and on Ultra settings. Astounding stuff. The overall gaming performance is matched by the great range of connectivity and delightful keyboard too.

This Asus laptop may be focused on gaming above all else but there is a dose of luxury too. That comes in the form of a Mini LED panel. The 16-inch 2560 x 1600 display comes with a 240Hz refresh rate and, in a turn-up for the books for many gaming laptops, provides impressive colour accuracy. The screen gets plenty bright too. It’s a stunning display for showing off lavish detail and just great across the board for however you use this laptop.

Reviewer: Stuart Andrews
Full Review: Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 (2023) review

The Razer Blade 16 (2023) is made for those who want plenty of performance for both gaming and creative work but are also looking for something on the luxurious side, not content with your average build quality.

As with all Razer Blade laptops, you get a stealthy metal design that is the closest you’ll get to a Windows MacBook. The new Razer Blade 16 has the option for an added twist built-in too, a Dual Mode display. This boost allows you to natively switch between UHD+ and FHD+ resolutions, providing a better picture at FHD+ than if you simply reduced the resolution in the settings on a solely 4K display. We thought the difference was negligible but the screen also has Mini LED up its sleeve, bringing supremely accurate colours and vivid visuals.

The performance is beastly, with the Blade 16 being configurable up to an RTX 4090. Whether you’re a creator or a serious gamer, this laptop has enough to whet your appetite.

Reviewer: Adam Speight
Full Review: Razer Blade 16 (2023) review

The Asus Zenbook Pro 14 OLED (2023) is a rare breed of laptop, that breed being one that gives the MacBook Pro 14-inch a run for its money – and it has something MacBook laptops don’t.

What the Zenbook Pro 14 OLED has over the MacBook Pro is in its name, and that’s an OLED display. The OLED screen here is an inviting one, with a QHD+ resolution that brings colour that truly pops as well as being impressively accurate.

There’s a stunning amount of power onboard this laptop, it truly is a performance that defies the extremely portable frame of this 14-inch machine. It can be configured with an Intel Core i9-13900H and RTX 4070 combo and what you get is performance ideal for professional content creation as well as mid- to high-end gaming. Asus also includes a DialPad, a useful tool to help creators swiftly navigate between brushes, through timelines and the like.

Reviewer: Andrew Williams
Full Review: Asus Zenbook Pro 14 OLED (2023) review