The decision to buy a new laptop, whether for use at home, at the office, or for returning to school, isn't simple, but CNET's list of the finest laptops for 2022 is a fantastic place to start because it includes our top picks across brands, operating systems, price ranges, and categories. The newest chips from Intel and AMD are currently being added to several 2021 models for 2022, and Apple has also unveiled its new M2 chips. This includes updated models of the MacBook Air and Dell XPS 13, two of our favorites. (The new models also mean that those looking for a deal can find 2021 vehicles for a lower price.)
Our laptop experts at CNET have tested and reviewed laptops for decades, covering everything from performance to price to battery life.This hand-curated list features the top laptops in a range of price ranges, sizes, and designs, including Chromebooks, Windows Laptops, and MacOS Laptops. (Microsoft's Windows 11 operating system was fully released in October 2021; all of the Windows laptops on this list run Windows 11).
We also have specialized lists you can look at if you want more laptop brands and options for a specific category, including the best gaming laptops, best 15-inch laptops, best two-in-ones, and best Chromebooks, as well as the best laptops for college students, designers, and MacBook Pro alternatives. Check out our best cheap laptop and best cheap gaming if you want to pay as little as possible for a new laptop.
Apple Macbook Air M2
The 2022 model of the MacBook Air is still our top pick for the most broadly useful laptop in Apple's portfolio, with one exception, thanks to a new design, a larger display (13.6 inches compared to the previous 13.3 inches), a faster M2 CPU, and a long-awaited improvement to a higher-res webcam. It is disappointing that the beginning price of the MacBook Air has risen $200 to $1,199 from the customary $999 pricing. This is why the Air M1 variant still has a place on our list of the finest laptops. Even so, we enjoy everything else about it, making it our top pick if you're thinking about getting an Air and don't mind spending extra money. A review of the Apple MacBook Air M2.
Dell XPS 13
The Dell XPS 13 is a long-time favorite due to its size, weight, performance, and overall nice looks. In 2020, Dell reduced the size of the laptop even further while enlarging the screen and enhancing its performance for CPU- and graphics-intensive applications. The XPS 13 was made further lighter and smaller for 2022, and the newest 12th-gen Intel processors were added. The starting price was retained at less than $999.
We haven't yet gotten a chance to test the new model, but we anticipate it to be a good Windows alternative to the MacBook Air. Additionally, the 2021 XPS 13 with 11th-gen Intel CPUs is now less.
HP crammed a lot of value into the Aero 13: a visually appealing magnesium-aluminum chassis, powerful processing capability, long battery life, a brilliant, colorful display, and a weight of about 2 pounds (0.94 kilograms). Despite all of its features, it has an usual beginning price of less than $700. Take a look at our HP Pavilion Aero 13 review.
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