iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14 had the highest average throughput across the three Wi-Fi bands in ZDNET’s test of seven laptops. But it did not win every band: Apple’s MacBook Pro M5 led at 2.4 GHz, while the ThinkPad was weakest there. The result is a useful reminder that a single “fastest Wi-Fi” winner does not tell you how a laptop will perform in every room or on every band.
Which laptop had the fastest Wi-Fi?
In a report published by ZDNET on September 30, 2026, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14 delivered the best average throughput across 2.4, 5, and 6 GHz. That makes it the overall leader in this comparison, not a winner on every individual band. ZDNET’s report does not provide a complete numerical results table for all seven laptops, so exact speeds and the size of most gaps cannot be stated.
The MacBook Pro M5 topped the 2.4 GHz results, where the ThinkPad’s throughput was described as nearly half the MacBook’s. The Microsoft Surface Laptop for Business was above the ThinkPad at 2.4 GHz and close to it on most other metrics. ZDNET also named the Dell XPS 16 as a strong performer and described the MSI Prestige AI 16 as particularly fast at the high end, especially suited to high-speed Wi-Fi over a limited area.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Why the winner changed by Wi-Fi band
Wi-Fi performance depends on more than the laptop. The band, distance from the router, and obstacles between devices can all affect throughput. A model that leads on an overall average may not be the best choice for a particular room or connection.
#1 Best Overall
- ⚡ POWERFUL PERFORMANCE FOR EVERYDAY TASKS: Intel N150 quad-core processor (up to 3.6GHz turbo) with 8GB LPDDR5-4800 RAM delivers smooth multitasking for web browsing, document editing, video streaming, and light productivity. 128GB UFS 2.2 storage provides fast boot times and quick app launches for your essential programs and files.
- 🖥️ IMMERSIVE 15.6" FHD DISPLAY: Crystal-clear 1920x1080 Full HD resolution with 88% screen-to-body ratio maximizes your viewing area. Anti-glare coating reduces eye strain during extended use, while Dolby Audio-enhanced stereo speakers deliver rich, clear sound for entertainment and video calls.
- 🎒 ULTRA-PORTABLE & DURABLE DESIGN: Weighing just 3.42 lbs (1.55 kg) with a slim 0.70" profile, this laptop easily fits in any bag for on-the-go productivity. MIL-STD-810H military-grade tested for durability. HD 720p camera with privacy shutter protects your privacy when not in use.
- 🌐 SEAMLESS CONNECTIVITY: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.2 ensure fast, reliable wireless connections. Versatile ports include 2x USB-A, 1x USB-C (with Power Delivery and DisplayPort), HDMI 1.4, SD card reader, and headphone jack - connect all your devices and peripherals with ease.
- 💻 READY TO USE OUT OF THE BOX: Pre-installed Windows 11 Home and Microsoft 365 Personal get you started right away with the latest features and productivity tools. ENERGY STAR 9.0 certified and TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light certified for reduced eye strain during extended computing sessions.
2.4 GHz: better reach, but not always the top speed
ZDNET describes 2.4 GHz as slower than the higher bands but more forgiving over distance and through obstructions. The MacBook Pro M5 led the tested laptops on this band; the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14 ranked lowest. That makes the MacBook’s band-specific win different from the ThinkPad’s overall average-throughput win.
5 GHz: a different ranking again
The MacBook Pro M5 recorded the lowest 5 GHz result in the comparison. The report does not give a complete numerical ranking or exact throughput figures for the other laptops on this band, so it cannot support a precise model-by-model comparison.
Rank #2
- - 15.6" Full HD IPS Narrow Bezel, Anti-glare Display - 1920 x 1080 resolution delivers incredible detail, wide-viewing angles, and lifelike color reproduction. AMD FreeSync Technology syncs your display and refresh rate so you get fluid, artifact-free visual performance at virtually any framerate. Keeps up with hybrid work styles with a thin and light design and 85% screen-to-body-ratio.
- - Connect and collaborate on your terms - When it comes to staying connected with friends or collaborating with others, this 15.6-inch HP business laptop understands the assignment. Wide dynamic range HD camera ensures you always look your best during virtual conferences, in both bright and low-light conditions. Effectively collaborate with the integrated camera and AI-based noise reduction with dual-array mics.
- - Complete Port Selection & Faster Connectivity - Stay connected with a variety of ports, including 1x USB Type-C (5Gbps signaling rate), 2x USB Type-A (5Gbps signaling rate), 1x Headphone/microphone combo, 1x HDMI 1.4b. Enjoy a smoother online experience with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 technology, providing faster data transfer speeds and more stable connections than previous generations.
- - AMD Ryzen 3 7330U Processor - This efficient 4-core, 8-thread, 8 MB L3 cache, and up to 4.3 GHz max boost clock processor is suitable for your everyday business tasks. Multitask, analyze data, focus on 1080p video chatting, and edit photos or videos smoothly with responsive performance and vibrant visuals.
- - Weighs 3.4 lbs. & Measures 0.73" thin - A stable design that fits perfectly in your lap and desk, so you're never tethered to one place. 3-cell, 41 Wh Li-ion polymer battery.
6 GHz: close results, with distance a consideration
ZDNET says 6 GHz can deliver very high speeds near the router, but reported results across the tested laptops were mixed and closer together overall than on the other bands. The MacBook Pro M5 placed last on weighted 6 GHz results. Without the underlying figures or exact test distances, those rankings should not be treated as a prediction for every home or office.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →How ZDNET tested the laptops
ZDNET tested seven laptop connections using a local network isolated from the internet. Lab engineer Schylar Breitenstein collected data with automated Python scripts and iPerf3. A fixed Netgear Nighthawk RS700S router connected to an MSI Vector 16 HX AI acting as the server, with each tested laptop acting as a client. The test measured throughput across three bands, distances, and physical interference.
Rank #3
- FULL HD IPS DISPLAY - Enjoy vibrant, crystal-clear images with 178-degree wide-viewing angles
- AMD RYZEN 3 30 PROCESSOR - Everyday performance you can count on; Multitask, stream, game casually, and edit photos smoothly with responsive power and vibrant HDR visuals
- ENJOY UP TO 14 HOURS AND 15 MINUTES OF BATTERY LIFE - HP Fast Charge restores battery from 0 to 50% in approximately 45 minutes
- AMD RADEON 610M GRAPHICS - Experience smooth entertainment; Built for streaming and multitasking, enjoy realistic visuals and efficient performance for work and play
- STORAGE AND MEMORY - 512 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD offers fast speed and efficient storage; and 8 GB LPDDR5 RAM memory boosts performance with higher bandwidth
Keeping the network off the internet helped reduce ISP speed, congestion, and jitter as variables. The results therefore describe local-network throughput under the lab’s setup, not the internet speed a buyer should expect from a particular provider. The published details available here do not specify the exact distances or obstruction configurations, and do not give numerical results for all seven laptops.
Will a small speed difference matter in everyday use?
Not necessarily. ZDNET senior editor Kyle Kucharski wrote that, in everyday use, a throughput number within 10 Mbps of another “doesn’t translate to any noticeable impact on the user.” That is a caveat from ZDNET’s testing discussion, not a universal threshold established by an independent study. Whether a difference matters depends on the task, the network, and the conditions in which the laptop is used.
Rank #4
- All In The Detail: The HP laptop has a beautiful brushed full-size keyboard with 10-key number pad. The 17.3 HP laptop features Wide Vision 720p camera + digital microphones, delivering clear and detailed image for video chats. Work and play non-stop with long battery life and HP Fast Charge. The large laptop hp computer is one place for all...
- Immersive Full HD Display: Experience high performance with the HP laptops featuring a stunning 17.3 inch FHD anti-glare display with sharp details and vivid color. The large 17 inch HP laptops slim bezel and big screen is perfect for multitasking, work, and entertainment. Its slim, sleek, durable design in new vibrant silver finish makes this eye-catching, thin lightweight HP 17.3 laptop easily portable..
- Windows 11 & Office 365 for Web: Preloaded with Windows 11 for a secure and easy-to-manage work experience. Built-in AI Copilot helps you quickly organize tasks, summarize information, and create content. With Office 365 for Web, you can create, edit, and share documents, presentations, and spreadsheets anytime, anywhere.
What the results mean when choosing a laptop
- For the best average in this test: The ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14 led across the three bands, but had the weakest 2.4 GHz result.
- For the best 2.4 GHz result: The MacBook Pro M5 was the leader, despite having the lowest 5 GHz result and placing last on weighted 6 GHz results.
- For a close alternative in the reported comparison: The Surface Laptop for Business was close to the ThinkPad on most metrics and outperformed it at 2.4 GHz.
- For a strong high-speed result over a limited area: ZDNET highlighted the MSI Prestige AI 16, but the available report details do not establish exact speeds or a complete ranking.
Use these findings as a controlled comparison, not a guarantee of performance in your own workspace. Router placement, walls, distance, network congestion, and the band your devices use can change the experience. Since the report does not publish full per-model throughput figures, it supports the ranking and qualitative comparisons above, but not a calculation of how much faster one laptop will be in daily use.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- [High Speed RAM And Enormous Space] 4GB high-bandwidth RAM to smoothly run multiple applications and browser tabs all at once; 128GB PCIe NVMe M.2 Solid State Drive allows to fast bootup and data transfer
- [Processor] Intel Core i5-13420H Processor (8 Cores, 12 Threads, 12MB Intel Smart Cache, Base at 1.5 GHz, Up to 4.6 GHz Max Turbo Frequency), with Intel UHD Graphics
- [Display] 15.6" FHD (1920 x 1080) Display
- [Tech Specs] 1 x USB 3.0 Type-A, 1 x USB 2.0 Type-A, 1 x USB Type-C, 1 x HDMI, 1 x RJ45, 1 x headphone/microphone combo, Webcam, Numeric Keypad, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
- [Operating System] Windows 11 Pro - Organize open apps with pre-configured layouts to optimize productivity, Navigate with more intuitive experience to get things done, Collaborate with teams with more features
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
