10 Best PC laptops 2026 in the United States

The 2025 Apple MacBook Air with the M4 chip is a strong choice if you want a lightweight, highly portable laptop that excels in everyday tasks and creative work. Its new M4 processor delivers fast performance for multitasking, video editing, and even some gaming, while the 16GB of unified memory helps keep things running smoothly. The 256GB SSD offers quick storage access but may feel limited if you store large files or many apps, so external storage or cloud options might be necessary.

The 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display is bright and sharp with vibrant colors, making it great for photo viewing, video streaming, and detailed work. Battery life is impressive, lasting up to 18 hours on video streaming, which means you can use it a full day without needing to recharge. Graphics are integrated, which suits most users well but might not be ideal for very demanding 3D games or professional video rendering. Connectivity options include two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a MagSafe charging port, headphone jack, and modern wireless standards like Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, covering most everyday needs.

The build is sleek and light at just under 3 pounds, combined with a sturdy design and a comfortable backlit keyboard with Touch ID for security. macOS provides a smooth experience, especially if you use other Apple devices, thanks to tight integration features like iPhone mirroring and seamless app syncing. If you value portability, display quality, long battery life, and a smooth Apple ecosystem experience, this MacBook Air represents a compelling option. However, if you need more storage or dedicated high-end graphics, you might want to consider other models or external solutions.

The Apple 2025 MacBook Air 15-inch is a strong choice for users seeking a sleek, lightweight laptop with a very sharp and colorful display. Powered by the new M4 chip, it delivers excellent speed and efficiency, making multitasking, video editing, and even some gaming smooth and responsive. The 16GB unified memory and 512GB SSD provide solid performance and enough space for most users' needs, while the integrated 10-core GPU handles graphics tasks well for an ultrathin laptop. Battery life is impressive, lasting up to 18 hours on a single charge, which supports long work or entertainment sessions without frequent charging. The 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display offers vibrant colors and crisp text, making it great for creative work or media consumption.

Its portability is notable at just over 3 pounds and a slim 0.45-inch profile, making it easy to carry around. Connectivity options include two Thunderbolt 4 ports, MagSafe charging, Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.3, covering most modern needs but lacking USB-A ports or an SD card reader, which some users might miss. The build quality and design follow Apple's premium standards, with a sturdy, attractive chassis and a comfortable backlit keyboard plus the convenience of Touch ID. The MacBook Air runs macOS, which is well-optimized for Apple hardware and integrates smoothly with other Apple devices, although it may feel restrictive if you rely heavily on Windows-only software.

The 12MP Center Stage camera and advanced audio setup make it suitable for video calls and content creation. The integrated graphics mean it’s not designed for very heavy gaming or professional 3D work, and the storage might feel limited if you handle large media libraries or projects. This MacBook Air is well suited for students, professionals, and creatives who value portability, great battery life, and a vivid display within a premium Apple ecosystem.

The Apple 2024 MacBook Pro with the M4 Pro chip is a powerful laptop that excels in performance and display quality. Its 12-core CPU and 16-core GPU deliver strong speed and graphics capabilities, making it great for demanding tasks like coding, video editing, and design work. With 24GB of unified memory, it handles multitasking smoothly, and the 512GB SSD offers fast storage, though some users might want more space for large files.

The 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display is bright and sharp, ideal for creative work and media consumption. Battery life is impressive, providing all-day use whether plugged in or not, which adds to its portability. Weighing just over 3.5 pounds and measuring about 0.6 inches thick, it’s fairly easy to carry around. The build quality is premium with features like a backlit keyboard and fingerprint reader, giving it a sleek and secure design.

Running on macOS, it supports popular apps like Microsoft 365 and Adobe Creative Cloud, optimized for Apple silicon. The integrated graphics perform well for most tasks but might not satisfy users needing very high-end gaming or specialized 3D rendering. The 512GB storage capacity may require external drives for very large storage needs. This MacBook Pro is ideal for professionals and creatives looking for a powerful, portable laptop with excellent battery life and display, though those requiring top-tier gaming performance or extra storage should consider these factors.