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For most people, WIRED’s September 2026 guide starts with the Apple MacBook Air (M5, 2026). But the right choice depends on your operating system, workload, configuration, and budget: the guide also names picks for Windows travel, lower-cost Windows use, Chromebooks, gaming, and demanding creative or engineering work. Treat prices and availability as time-sensitive, and compare the exact configuration rather than relying on a model name alone.
Which laptop should you buy?
WIRED’s default recommendation for general use is the Apple MacBook Air (M5, 2026). Luke Larsen’s guide highlights its performance, battery life, trackpad, speakers, and thin, fanless design. It is a starting point, not a universal answer: a Windows preference, a tighter budget, gaming, or sustained professional workloads can point to another model.
The guide said the MacBook Air’s starting price had recently risen from $1,099 to $1,299, while the Amazon offer displayed when the guide was captured was $1,099. Those are dated figures, not guaranteed current prices; check the live listing and make sure it is the same configuration before comparing offers. WIRED’s laptop recommendations and testing guide was published September 25, 2026 and updated that month.
WIRED’s laptop picks by need
| Use case | WIRED pick | What to weigh |
|---|---|---|
| General-purpose use | Apple MacBook Air (M5, 2026) | WIRED’s default for most people; compare the exact configuration and current price. |
| Compact Windows travel | Dell XPS 13 (2026) | Portability and display are strengths in the guide, but its 8 GB configuration can limit performance; consider the 16 GB version. |
| Lower-cost Windows use | HP OmniBook 5 | The configuration WIRED tested had Snapdragon X, 16 GB RAM, 512 GB storage, and a 14-inch OLED display. Discounted configurations change frequently. |
| Chromebook or convertible | Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 | Touchscreen, 360-degree hinge, and battery life are cited strengths; the guide says full retail pricing is high and discounts are common. |
| Gaming | Lenovo LOQ 15 | WIRED’s value gaming pick; check the specific GPU and configuration, and compare current offers because gaming laptop prices fluctuate. |
| Demanding creative or engineering work | Apple MacBook Pro (M5 Max) | A specialized, expensive option in the guide, not a default recommendation for everyone. |
How to choose between the recommendations
Start with what you need the laptop to do, then check whether the exact configuration can do it comfortably. Two laptops with the same family name may differ in memory, storage, graphics hardware, display, or price enough to change their value.
#1 Best Overall
- 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
Match the configuration to the workload
- Everyday work: prioritize a comfortable keyboard and touchpad, useful battery life, portability, and a screen you can use for long sessions.
- Travel: consider weight and thickness alongside battery life, display quality, and port selection. A thin chassis is useful only if the configuration still suits your work.
- Gaming: verify the GPU in the specific listing and consider sustained performance, not just the product-family name. Offers can change, so compare like-for-like configurations.
- Creative and engineering work: choose for the applications and sustained workloads you actually run. The MacBook Pro (M5 Max) is presented as a high-end specialist choice, not an automatic upgrade for ordinary use.
Compare the things you will use
When evaluating two specific models, compare memory, storage, graphics, current price, portability, battery life, display quality, ports, and keyboard and touchpad comfort. For gaming or heavy creative work, also consider sustained performance. The Dell XPS 13 example shows why memory matters: WIRED cautions against assuming the 8 GB version performs like the 16 GB configuration.
What WIRED says it tests
In the September 2026 guide, WIRED describes a review process intended to assess performance, usability, portability, and price rather than relying on specifications alone. These are the publication’s reported methods, not an industry standard or an independent replication.
Rank #2
- Intel Celeron N4120: 4 Cores & Threads, 1.1GHz Base Clock, Up to 2.6GHz Boost Clock, 4MB Cache, Intel UHD Graphics 600. The perfect combination of performance, power consumption, and value helps your device handle multitasking smoothly and reliably with four processing cores to divide up the work.
Build, display, camera, and sound
The guide says reviewers inspect thinness and weight, hinge and chassis, keyboard, and touchpad, and use laptops as daily drivers for days or weeks to catch practical problems such as awkward ports or unwanted preinstalled software. WIRED reports using a Spyder colorimeter to assess brightness, contrast, color saturation, and accuracy, with HDR peak-brightness checks on HDR-capable screens. It also assesses webcams and speakers for calls and streaming.
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WIRED says its testbed includes more than 20 synthetic benchmarks, adapted for a device’s CPU and operating system. Named suites include Geekbench, PCMark, 3DMark, Procyon, GFXBench, Puget Bench, Superposition, and Cinebench; the guide also mentions gaming tests such as Cyberpunk 2077. Reviewers monitor fan noise, surface temperature, and overall battery life, and the guide says raw benchmark scores are not generally reported.
Rank #3
- Stunning 15.6" FHD IPS Display: Experience crisp 1920x1080 resolution on this 15.6 inch laptop with an IPS panel that delivers wide viewing angles and vivid colors. The narrow-bezel design maximizes screen real estate for comfortable viewing on this Win 11 laptop, whether you're studying or working.
- Celeron J4105 Processor & 256GB SSD: Powered by a reliable Celeron J4105 processor paired with 12GB DDR4 memory and a fast 256GB M.2 SSD. This laptop computer supports SSD expansion up to 2TB and TF card expansion up to 1TB, so your storage grows with your needs. Delivers smooth multitasking for daily productivity.
- AI-Powered Win 11 Laptop: Built-in AI features enhance your productivity with smart assistance for writing, summarizing, and task management. Pre-installed with Win 11 and includes Office 365 subscription. This student laptop is backed by 1-year warranty and 24/7 customer support.
- All-Day 7000mAh Battery & 180° Hinge: The high-capacity 7000mAh battery keeps this laptop powered through long classes or meetings. The 180-degree lay-flat hinge lets you share your screen effortlessly during presentations. This durable laptop computer adapts to your dynamic workflow.
- Versatile Connectivity Hub: Equipped with USB 3.2, Type-C, Mini HDMI, and 3.5mm audio jack to connect all your peripherals. Stay online anywhere with high-speed 5G WiFi and Bluetooth 4.2. This college laptop keeps you connected at home, in the library, or on the go.
Luke Larsen says in the guide that he has reviewed laptops for well over a decade and sometimes tested more than 30 devices per year. It also describes contributor Chris Null as having tested laptops for 25 years. Those experience figures are the guide’s own descriptions of its reviewers, not independent industry statistics.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 【Powerful Performance】Equipped with an Intel N150 CPU, featuring up to 4.4 GHz, ensuring efficient and powerful multitasking capabilities.
- 【Versatile Connectivity】Stay connected with multiple ports including USB 3.0 Type-C, USB 3.0 Type-A, and a headphone/mic combo jack, with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for seamless wireless networking.
Rank #4
- Efficient Performance for Everyday Computing: Powered by Intel N150 processor with up to 3.6 GHz Intel Turbo Boost Technology, 6 MB L3 cache, 4 cores, and 4 threads, this HP laptop delivers responsive performance for web browsing, streaming, document editing, and multitasking. Paired with 4GB LPDDR5 RAM and 128GB UFS storage, it handles daily tasks smoothly. Includes 1-year Microsoft 365 Personal subscription for Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and cloud storage to maximize your productivity.
- 14-Inch HD Micro-Edge Display:Enjoy clear visuals on the 14-inch HD (1366 x 768) anti-glare screen with 250-nit brightness and 62.5% sRGB coverage. The micro-edge bezel delivers a 79% screen-to-body ratio in a compact design. An HP True Vision 720p HD camera with noise reduction and dual-array microphones supports clear video calls, remote work, and online learning.
- Modern Connectivity and Wireless Technology: Stay connected with Wi-Fi 6 (2x2) for faster wireless speeds and Bluetooth 5.4 for seamless pairing with accessories. Versatile port selection includes 1 USB Type-C 10Gbps with DisplayPort 1.2 for external displays, 2 USB Type-A 5Gbps ports for peripherals, 1 HDMI 1.4b port, 1 headphone/microphone combo jack, and 1 multi-format SD media card reader. Connect monitors, transfer files quickly, and expand your workspace with ease.
- All-Day Battery Life and Portable Design: Enjoy up to 11 hours of video playback, 7.5 hours of mixed usage, or 7.5 hours of wireless streaming on a single charge, perfect for students and professionals on the go. Weighing just 3.24 lb and measuring 12.76" x 8.86" x 0.71", this lightweight laptop fits easily in backpacks and bags. The stylish willow green top cover with matte finish and natural silver keyboard deck with vertical brushing pattern offer a modern, professional look.
- AI-Enhanced Productivity: Access Microsoft Copilot instantly with the dedicated Copilot key for faster assistance. AI Noise Reduction filters background sounds and improves voice clarity during calls. Dual speakers provide clear audio, while the full-size natural silver keyboard and HP Imagepad support comfortable typing and navigation.
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.
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