While many of these laptops are models from 2023 and 2024, they’re still capable of handling a wide range of tasks from everyday browsing and document editing to more demanding activities like gaming or creative work.
Choosing a laptop can be tricky, so here are a few things to consider. The first is your intended workload. Will you be using it mainly for casual activities such as browsing the web, writing documents, and managing spreadsheets? Or will it be for more demanding tasks like programming or video editing, which can put heavy strain on a system’s hardware? Video encoding, for instance, can consume a lot of resources, and even if your laptop can handle it, it might take a long time to process if the specs are only just enough.
Once you’ve identified your primary use, you’re already off to a good start. Next, think about longevity. It might come as a surprise, but with how quickly technology improves, following Moore’s Law, a laptop can start to feel outdated in just a few years. If you’re planning to upgrade down the line, consider whether your chosen model will still be practical after a few years of use.
If you simply want the best of the best, we could easily recommend the Alienware M18 R2, since it’s the most powerful and expensive among them. But that may not be everyone’s goal. If you’d like to find the model that best fits your needs and budget, read on our reviews that will help you decide.
Our Picks
Acer Aspire 3 (2023) Laptop | $314.99 (orig. $349.99,-10%)
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HP 255 G10 Laptop | $525.92 (orig. $566,-7%)
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Microsoft Surface Laptop (2024) | $1079 (orig. $1199.99,-10%)
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Alienware M18 R2 Gaming Laptop | $2,178.15
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SAMSUNG Galaxy Book4 Pro (2024) Laptop | $1,128
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Quick Comparison
Acer Aspire 3 (2023)
SPECIFICATIONS:
Brand: Acer, Price: $349.99, CPU: AMD Ryzen 3 7320U Quad-Core processor, CPU Max Speed: 4.1 GHz, Memory: 8 GB LPDDR5, Memory Clock Speed: 3200 MHz, Memory Type: DDR5 LPDDR5, Storage: 128 GB SSD, Graphics: Integrated, Screen Size: 15.6 Inches, Resolution (Max): 1920 x 1080 pixels, OS: Windows 11 S, Battery Life: 11 Hours, Battery Content: 48 Watt Hours, HDMI: 1, USB Ports: 1 USB Type-C port (USB 3.2 Gen 2, up to 10 Gbps) and 2 USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, Warranty: One-year International Travelers Limited Warranty (ITW)
STRENGTHS:
+ Good for basic productivity and office work
+ Budget friendly
DRAWBACKS:
– Lower specifications compared to others (CPU, memory, and storage)
Yes, we know this isn’t the most powerful laptop on the list. It’s also the oldest model, released in 2023. But if your goal isn’t heavy usage like gaming or building AI models, the Acer Aspire 3 (2023) can still be a practical choice.
It has just enough resources for everyday productivity tasks like word processing, basic spreadsheet work, and creating slide presentations. Web browsing is also smooth enough, though you’ll want to avoid keeping too many tabs or YouTube videos open at once, as the browser can easily eat up the available memory.
With only 128 GB of storage, the Windows operating system may already occupy about a third of the space. However, switching to a lightweight Linux distribution could help you free up more room and improve performance slightly.
Overall, this laptop is best suited for students and casual users who need a device for note-taking, writing papers, and other basic assignments. For anything more demanding, you’ll likely want to consider one of the higher-end options.
HP 255 G10 Laptop
SPECIFICATIONS:
Brand: Acer, Price: 349.99, CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7730U, CPU Max Speed: 4.1 GHz, Memory: 8 GB LPDDR5, Memory Clock Speed: 3200 MHz, Memory Type: DDR4 SDRAM, Storage: 128 GB SSD, Graphics: Integrated, Screen Size: 15.6 Inches, Resolution (Max): 1080p | 1920 x 1080 pixels, OS: Windows 11 S, Battery Life: 11 Hours, Battery Content: 48 Watt Hours, HDMI: 1, USB Ports: 2 USB-A, 1 USB-C, Warranty: 1 Year Limited Warranty
STRENGTHS:
+ Great value for money
DRAWBACKS:
– The plastic body construction may not appeal to everyone
Consider this an upgrade in specifications compared to our previous entry. The HP 255 G10 offers a noticeable boost in computing power, more memory, and a significantly larger storage capacity.
While it’s still not intended for heavy workloads like gaming or video rendering, you’ll immediately notice smoother performance during web browsing and productivity tasks such as word processing, spreadsheet work, and presentations.
Microsoft Surface Laptop (2024)
SPECIFICATIONS:
Brand: Microsoft, Price: 1,199.99, CPU: Snapdragon X Plus (10 core), Memory: 16 GB, Memory Type: DDR5 LPDDR5x, Storage: 512 GB SSD, Graphics: Integrated, Screen Size: 13.9 Inches (Touchscreen), Resolution (Max): 2304 x 1536, OS: Windows 11 Home, Battery Life: 20 hours, Battery Content: 54.12 Watt Hours, HDMI: None, USB Ports: 2 USB-C, 1 USB-A, Warranty: 1 year manufacturer warranty
STRENGTHS:
+ Touchscreen
DRAWBACKS:
– No HDMI port
– Small screen size (though some may prefer it for portability)
The Microsoft Surface Laptop (2024) sits comfortably in the middle ground, offering decent overall specifications. Its standout feature is the built-in AI assistant, Copilot, which allows users to tinker and explore AI-powered functions directly on the device.
It’s also lightweight and compact, making it a great choice for users who value portability and a sleek design. The build quality is comparable to the Galaxy Book4, though it’s smaller in both screen size and storage capacity.
The only real downside is the lack of an HDMI port. However, it does include a USB-C port that can connect to external monitors, provided they’re compatible.
Alienware M18 R2 Laptop
SPECIFICATIONS:
Brand: Alienware, Price: $ 2,784.29, CPU: Intel Core i9-14900HX, CPU Max Speed: 5.8 GHz, Memory: 32 GB, Memory Clock Speed: 5600 MHz, Memory Type: DDR5 SDRAM
, Storage: 1 TB SSD, Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080, Screen Size: 18 Inches
, Resolution (Max): 2560 x 1600 pixels, OS: Windows 11 Home, Battery Life: 7 Hours, Battery Content: 97 Watt Hours, HDMI: 1x HDMI 2.1 output and 1x Mini Display Port 1.4, USB Ports: 2x Thunderbolt 4 (Type-C with USB 4, DisplayPort 1.4, and power delivery) 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (Type-C) 3x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (Type-A, one with PowerShare), Warranty: 1 Year Hardware Service with Onsite/In-Home Service After Remote Diagnosis
STRENGTHS:
+ Highest specs for CPU, memory, and graphics
+ Dedicated graphics card
+ Largest screen size
+ Most ports available
DRAWBACKS:
– Most expensive option
– Heavy and bulky
In terms of power, this is the real deal. The Alienware M18 R2 Gaming Laptop boasts top-tier specifications in computing performance, memory, and graphics. It’s built for serious gaming and is more of a portable desktop than a lightweight laptop.
We recommend this model for gamers and users who regularly handle intensive workloads such as video rendering, 3D modeling, or software development. However, keep in mind that even with its cutting-edge hardware, some games that aren’t optimized for high-end systems may still experience issues.
If your primary goal is gaming, a desktop setup will generally offer better performance at a lower price, with more room for upgrades. But if you need a powerhouse that you can carry around, this laptop is one of the best options available.
SAMSUNG Galaxy Book4 Pro (2024) Laptop
SPECIFICATIONS:
Brand: SAMSUNG, Price: $1,186.99, CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, Memory: 16 GB, Memory Clock Speed: 4.8 GHz, Memory Type: DDR5 LPDDR5, Storage: 1 TB SSD, Graphics: Integrated, Screen Size: 16 Inches (Touchscreen), Resolution (Max): 3840 x 2160 pixels, OS: Windows 11 Home, Battery Life: 25 Hours (Standby), Battery Content: 63 Watt Hours, HDMI: 1, USB Ports: 2 Thunderbolt 4 ports (USB-C) and 1 USB-A 3.0 port , Warranty: 1 Year Limited Manufacturer Warranty
STRENGTHS:
+ Significant price drop compared to launch
+ Touchscreen display
DRAWBACKS:
– Not ideal for intensive workloads or high-end gaming
This is our recommended laptop, offering great balance in price and performance. It sits comfortably in the middle of the pack, costing about half as much as the previous entry while still delivering a high-performing CPU and strong overall specs.
Although its memory capacity is lower, the newer generation components provide excellent real-world performance. It also comes equipped with multiple USB ports and an HDMI port, giving it solid connectivity options for everyday and professional use.
The Galaxy Book4 Pro is an excellent choice for students, especially those working with computer-aided design (CAD) in engineering or architecture. It’s also suitable for programmers and software developers, though it may struggle with more demanding machine learning or GPU-heavy tasks.
Investment Table
We don’t want to assume the worst, but it’s always possible that something could go wrong. If the laptop breaks while it’s still under warranty, you can request a replacement.
Now, let’s look at this from another angle, as an investment for one year. Suppose you’ll be using the laptop for a full year: how much would that cost you if you spread the price evenly per month? The table below will help you visualize that.
| Acer Aspire 3 (2023) | $ 349.9 | $ 29 per month |
| HP 255 G10 | $ 566.00 | $ 47 per month |
| Microsoft Surface (2024) | $ 1,199.99 | $ 100 per month |
| Alienware M18 R2 | $ 2,784.29 | $ 232 per month |
| Galaxy Book4 (2024) | $ 1,186.9 | $ 99 per month |
Some final thoughts on choosing the right laptop. The Acer Aspire 3 is the least powerful of the group, making it a good fit for basic productivity tasks such as word processing and simple spreadsheet work. The HP 255 G10 shares similar strengths and limitations, offering decent performance at a great value.
At the top end, the Alienware M18 R2 stands out as the powerhouse for gaming and heavy workloads. Meanwhile, the Microsoft Surface Laptop (2024) and Galaxy Book4 Pro (2024) sit comfortably in the middle, both providing a solid balance of portability, modern features, and everyday performance.
It goes without saying that your choice should depend on your intended use and budget. But don’t forget to trust your instincts too, as sometimes the right laptop is the one that simply feels right to you.
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