The best laptop you can buy in 2025

Engadget - Apr 10th, 2025

The laptop market for 2025 is crowded with diverse options, but Apple's 13-inch MacBook Air M4 stands out as the best choice for most consumers. With its powerful M4 chip, impressive battery life exceeding 18 hours, and lightweight, fanless design, it is ideal for a range of tasks from productivity to light video editing. Despite some limitations like limited ports and a 60Hz screen refresh rate, the MacBook Air's overall performance and thin profile make it a top pick for an ultraportable laptop.

In addition to the MacBook Air M4, other notable laptops in various categories include the Dell XPS 13 as the best Windows laptop, ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 as the best gaming laptop, and Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 as the best Chromebook. The market also offers budget-friendly options like the HP Pavilion Aero and high-end models like the Apple MacBook Pro with the M4 chip. These choices reflect the evolving needs of consumers, highlighting the significance of balancing performance, design, and price in today's tech-driven world.

Technology Apple Consumer Electronics Mac Book Air M4 Dell Xps 13 Asus Rog Zephyrus G14 Lenovo Idea Pad Flex 5 Hp Pavilion Aero Laptop Market 2025

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RATING

6.8

Fair Story

Consider it well-founded

The article provides a comprehensive guide to the best laptops available in 2025, covering various categories and highlighting key features and specifications. It is well-structured and timely, addressing the interests of a broad audience interested in technology and consumer electronics. However, the article lacks transparency in its methodology and source attribution, which affects its credibility. While it offers balanced coverage of different laptop brands, there is a slight emphasis on Apple products. Overall, the article serves as a useful consumer guide, but it could benefit from more detailed verification of performance claims and greater transparency in its recommendations.

Accuracy

The article provides a comprehensive overview of various laptops, highlighting their features and performance claims. However, several claims require verification, such as the MacBook Air M4's battery life exceeding 18 hours and the performance of the Dell XPS 13. The story accurately presents the specifications of each laptop, but it lacks independent verification or citations to support these claims. The detailed specifications, like processor speed and installed memory, are precise, yet the performance outcomes mentioned need corroboration with testing data.

Balance

The article offers a balanced view of the laptop market, covering different categories such as best overall, gaming, budget, and Chromebooks. It mentions both macOS and Windows systems, providing options for various user preferences. However, it slightly favors Apple products, with the MacBook Air M4 and MacBook Pro M4 receiving significant attention. While it does mention other brands like Dell, ASUS, and Lenovo, the emphasis on Apple's offerings could indicate a slight imbalance in representation.

Clarity

The article is well-structured and clearly written, with each laptop category presented in a logical order. The language used is straightforward, making it accessible to a general audience. The inclusion of specific specifications and features for each laptop enhances clarity. However, the article could benefit from a more detailed explanation of technical terms for less tech-savvy readers.

Source quality

The article is published by Engadget, a reputable technology news outlet. However, it does not provide specific sources or references for the performance claims and battery life statistics mentioned. The lack of direct attribution to specific tests or reviews reduces the credibility of the claims made. The reliance on Engadget's brand reputation without clear source attribution affects the overall reliability of the information.

Transparency

The article lacks transparency in terms of how the conclusions about the best laptops were reached. There is no explanation of the methodology used to test these laptops or the criteria for selecting the 'best' in each category. Additionally, there are no disclosures about potential conflicts of interest or partnerships with the brands mentioned. This lack of transparency makes it difficult for readers to assess the impartiality of the recommendations.