Laptop News & Updates
Reviews, comparisons, and testing changes, newest first.
HP OMEN Transcend 14 (2026) review
The OMEN Transcend 14 packs RTX 5070 gaming and a bright OLED display into a compact, relatively light 14-inch body. It is a strong choice for gamers who want portability, though battery life is short under load and it runs warm.
Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 (Gen 10) review
The Yoga 9i Gen 10 is a refined 2-in-1 with a bright OLED touchscreen, rotating soundbar hinge, and good battery life. It is a strong choice for hybrid workers who want a convertible with a premium screen.
ASUS TUF Gaming A15 (2025) review
The TUF Gaming A15 is the best-value gaming laptop we have tested, pairing an RTX 4060 with upgradeable RAM and storage for under $1,400. The 1080p display and plastic build are the expected trade-offs at this price.
Framework Laptop 13 (2025) review
The Framework Laptop 13 is the most repairable and upgradeable laptop you can buy, with configurable ports and user-replaceable parts. It is a strong choice for programmers who value longevity over the thinnest design.
Razer Blade 14 (2025) review
The Blade 14 offers strong RTX 4070 gaming in a premium, compact aluminium chassis. It is a strong choice if you want an understated gaming laptop, but it is expensive and runs warm under sustained load.
LG gram Pro 16 (2025) review
The gram Pro 16 is remarkably light for a 16-inch laptop and pairs that with an OLED display and long battery life. It is ideal for travellers who want a big screen, though the chassis flexes and it is pricey.
Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 14 review
The Galaxy Book5 Pro 14 is a thin, light Windows laptop with one of the best AMOLED displays in its class and strong battery life. It is a great fit for media and travel, especially for Galaxy phone owners.
MSI Stealth 16 AI Studio (2025) review
The Stealth 16 AI Studio is a thin RTX 4080 laptop with a gorgeous 240Hz OLED display, suited to gaming and creative work. It performs well, but it runs warm and battery life is short under load.
Dell XPS 16 9640 review
The XPS 16 9640 is a striking creator laptop with a superb 4K OLED display and strong performance. It is a strong choice for video and photo work, but it is expensive, port-limited, and battery life is only average.
ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED (2025) review
The Zenbook 14 OLED pairs an excellent OLED display with strong battery life and a light build at a sensible price. It is a strong all-rounder for work and study. Lunar Lake performance is efficient rather than class-leading.
Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) review
The 13-inch MacBook Air with M4 is the laptop most students should consider. It is light, silent, and lasts all day, with strong everyday performance. The base 256GB storage is the main thing to watch, so consider sizing up.
Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (2025) review
The Chromebook Plus 514 is an efficient, affordable Chromebook with very long battery life and a touchscreen. It is a strong pick for students who live in the browser and want all-day endurance under $500.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) review
The Surface Laptop 7 is a polished Windows ultraportable with a tall 3:2 touchscreen and excellent battery life. It is a strong choice for students and office workers. As with other Snapdragon laptops, a few x86 apps still rely on emulation.
Acer Swift Go 14 (2025) review
The Swift Go 14 packs an OLED display, a full port selection, and good battery life into a sub-$1,000 laptop. It is one of the best value picks for students who want a premium-feeling screen.
Lenovo Legion Pro 5 (2025) review
The Legion Pro 5 is a strong choice for buyers who want high-frame-rate gaming and heavy multitasking at a relatively sensible price. It performs well for gaming and creative export, but it is heavy and battery life is short.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 review
The ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 is a strong choice for business users and programmers who want a light, durable laptop with an excellent keyboard and a bright OLED panel. The main drawback is price, so it makes the most sense for buyers who value portability and typing comfort over raw performance.
Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) review
The MacBook Pro 14 with M4 Pro is the best choice for creators and programmers who want sustained performance, a superb Mini-LED display, and long battery life in one package. The main drawback is the high starting price in Canada.
Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) vs Dell XPS 13 9350
Both are excellent ultraportables. The MacBook Air 15 wins on battery life, performance, and screen size, while the XPS 13 is more compact and runs Windows. Choose the Air for endurance and a bigger screen; choose the XPS for a smaller Windows laptop.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 vs Dell XPS 13 9350
The ThinkPad X1 Carbon has the better keyboard, OLED display option, and port selection, while the XPS 13 is more compact with longer battery life. Choose the ThinkPad for typing and ports; choose the XPS for size and endurance.
ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2025) vs Lenovo Legion Pro 5 (2025)
The Zephyrus G14 is far more portable with a better OLED display, while the Legion Pro 5 delivers higher sustained performance and a larger 240Hz screen for less money. Choose the G14 for portability; choose the Legion for raw power and value.
Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) vs Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4)
The MacBook Pro 14 offers sustained performance, a Mini-LED display, and more ports for demanding work, while the MacBook Air 15 is lighter, cheaper, and fanless. Choose the Pro for heavy creative work; choose the Air for everyday use and value.
ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 vs Acer Aspire 5 15 (2025)
The Chromebook Plus CX34 is cheaper, lighter, and has better battery life for web-based work, while the Aspire 5 runs full Windows software and is upgradeable. Choose the Chromebook for simple, cheap computing; choose the Aspire for software flexibility.
Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) vs Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4)
Both run the M4 and offer the same all-day battery life; the choice is mostly size and price. The 13-inch Air is lighter and cheaper, while the 15-inch Air has a bigger screen and slightly faster graphics. Choose the 13 for portability and value; choose the 15 for screen space.
ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED (2025) vs Dell XPS 13 9350
The Zenbook 14 OLED has a better display, more ports, and a lower price, while the XPS 13 is a touch more compact with strong battery life. Choose the Zenbook for the OLED screen and value; choose the XPS for the smallest footprint.
ASUS TUF Gaming A15 (2025) vs ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2025)
The TUF Gaming A15 delivers strong 1080p frame rates and upgradeability for half the price, while the Zephyrus G14 is far more portable with a much better OLED display. Choose the TUF for value gaming; choose the G14 for portability and screen quality.
HP OMEN Transcend 14 (2026) vs Razer Blade 14 (2025)
The OMEN Transcend 14 has newer RTX 5070 graphics, an OLED display, and a lower price, while the Blade 14 has a more premium aluminium build. Choose the OMEN for performance, screen, and value; choose the Blade for the nicer chassis.
Framework Laptop 13 (2025) vs Dell XPS 13 9350
The Framework Laptop 13 is far more repairable and upgradeable with configurable ports, while the XPS 13 is more polished with better battery life and a more compact build. Choose the Framework for longevity; choose the XPS for refinement and endurance.
Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) review
The MacBook Air 15 with M4 is the laptop most students and remote workers should consider. It pairs excellent battery life with silent, fanless performance and a large screen. The main trade-offs are limited ports and a 60Hz display.
ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2025) review
The ROG Zephyrus G14 performs well for gaming and creative work in a portable 14-inch body. It is a strong choice if you want a compact gaming laptop with a great OLED screen. The main drawbacks are battery life under load and price.
HP Spectre x360 14 (2025) review
The Spectre x360 14 is a flexible 2-in-1 with a beautiful OLED touchscreen and a solid build. It is a strong choice for hybrid workers who want a convertible. The main drawbacks are price and battery life that trails the best ultraportables.
Dell XPS 13 9350 review
The XPS 13 9350 is a polished, ultraportable Windows laptop with very good battery life thanks to its Snapdragon X Elite chip. It is a strong choice for travel and office work, but the two-port design and occasional app compatibility quirks hold it back.
Laptop Test Bench 1.2 released
Current Test Bench. Added sustained creative-workload export tests and refined battery scoring.
Acer Aspire 5 15 (2025) review
The Aspire 5 15 is the budget laptop most students should consider under $800. It covers everyday schoolwork, has upgradeable RAM and storage, and a full port selection. The display and build are average, which is expected at this price.
ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 review
The Chromebook Plus CX34 is a strong choice for students and budget buyers who live in a browser. It has good battery life and a usable keyboard for under $550. ChromeOS limits offline and pro software, so it is not for everyone.
Laptop Test Bench 1.1 released
Added repairability scoring and standardized fan-noise measurement distance.
Laptop Test Bench 1.0 released
Initial public Test Bench covering display, performance, battery, keyboard, build, thermals, and ports.