Buying a laptop is a cumbersome process, especially when you are looking for a laptop that’s loaded with specs and portable as well. Also, the average interval between two laptop purchases is about three to five years and during this period, everything changes, from the models to chip configurations and, of course, the requirements. However, you don’t have to stress, as we test many new laptops every year, and these are our top picks for people who travel often.
Dell Latitude 9450 2-in-1
Best 2-in-1 Laptop / ₹2,95,500*
The Dell Latitude 9450 2-in-1 is the kind of laptop every businessperson desires. The laptop looks stylish and versatile thanks to its sleek design, matte finish, and 360° hinges. It is one of the best-looking laptops I’ve reviewed in recent times. With sharp metal edges, a super smooth trackpad, and a velvety keyboard deck, the laptop is built like a tank to handle the wear and tear of daily work life.
The 2-in-1 laptop has a remarkable 14-inch QHD+ (2560×1600 resolution) IPS touchscreen, sports a 16:10 aspect ratio with thin bezels and offers a peak brightness of 500 nits with anti-smudge and anti-reflect coating. The display is also equipped with ComfortView+, a feature that reduces the amount of blue light emitted from the panel, making it comfortable for the eyes. It has great speakers that make the loudest sound among all the 14-inch laptops.
The Dell Latitude 9450 2-in-1 features Intel’s latest Core Ultra 7 165U processor, boasting 12 cores (2 Performance, 8 Efficient, and 2 Low Power Efficient) and 14 threads, with a maximum boost clock of 4.9GHz. Complementing this is 16GB of LPDDR5x RAM and a 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD, ensuring rapid data access and smooth multitasking. The laptop features a 3-cell 60Wh battery and delivers around 7 to 10 hours of typical usage.
Apple MacBook Pro 14 – M4 Pro
Best MacBook for Creators / ₹1,99,900*
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2024) is a no-compromise machine built for professionals who demand top-tier performance in a sleek, premium chassis. Retaining its iconic aluminium unibody, the laptop exudes sophistication while offering unmatched durability. The refined design remains unchanged, but under the hood, Apple’s new M4 Pro chip takes centre stage, delivering faster processing speeds and improved efficiency.
The 14-inch Liquid Retina XDR display remains one of the best in the industry. With a stunning 3024×1964 resolution, a 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate, and a peak brightness of 1,600 nits, it delivers an immersive viewing experience. Apple’s new nano-texture glass option further enhances visibility by drastically reducing glare, making it ideal for professionals working in bright environments.
Apple’s latest M4 Pro chip, featuring a 12-core CPU and up to 16-core GPU, powers the MacBook Pro 14, ensuring seamless performance for demanding workloads. The laptop supports Thunderbolt 5, enabling ultra-fast data transfer speeds for creative professionals and developers. The MacBook Pro 14 offers up to 18-20 hours of usage on a single charge, enough to power through an entire workday and beyond.
Acer Swift Go 14
Best Laptop for Students / ₹89,999*
The Acer Swift Go 14 AI is a sleek and lightweight laptop designed for modern professionals and students who need portability without sacrificing performance. Weighing just 1.35 kg, it features a minimalist aluminium chassis, a backlit keyboard, and a fingerprint sensor integrated into the power button. A dedicated Copilot key ensures seamless AI-powered assistance, making multitasking more efficient.
The 14.5-inch WUXGA LCD panel delivers sharp visuals with a matte finish that reduces glare, though the lack of touchscreen support may be a drawback for some. Acer provides a solid selection of ports, including two USB-C (with charging and data support), two USB-A, and a headphone jack. While there’s no built-in Ethernet or HDMI, Acer includes a USB-C to HDMI dongle in the box.
The Swift Go 14 AI is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Plus processor, paired with 16GB LPDDR5X RAM and a 512GB NVMe SSD. The laptop offers smooth performance for daily tasks, but heavy multitasking may cause occasional slowdowns. Battery life is a standout feature, lasting up to 19.5 hours on a single charge, ideal for long workdays. The Acer Swift Go 14 AI is an excellent choice for AI-driven productivity and portability.
Asus ProArt PX13
Best Laptop for Creators / ₹1,69,990
The Asus ProArt PX13 is a powerhouse designed for creative professionals who need performance, portability, and versatility. Crafted from premium aluminum with a sleek nano-black finish, it exudes a refined aesthetic while resisting fingerprints. Its 360-degree hinge offers flexibility, allowing seamless transitions between laptop, tent, and tablet modes to suit various workflows.
The 13.3-inch OLED touchscreen delivers stunning visuals with a 2880×1800 resolution, a 16:10 aspect ratio, and exceptional contrast for deep blacks and vibrant colors. Stylus support enhances precision for digital artists and designers. The keyboard features well-spaced keys with 1.7mm travel, ensuring a comfortable typing experience, while the Copilot key provides AI-driven productivity enhancements.
The laptop is powered by AMD’s Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor, paired with an Nvidia RTX 4050 GPU and 32GB of LPDDR5X RAM. This combination delivers smooth performance for 3D rendering, video editing, and AI-driven tasks. Connectivity is top-notch, with two USB4 Type-C ports, USB 3.2 Type-A, HDMI 2.1, a microSD card slot, and Wi-Fi 7. With a 73Wh battery, the PX13 provides solid battery life, though intensive workloads may require frequent charging.
Apple MacBook Air M4
Best Lightweight Laptop / Starting from ₹99,900
Apple’s MacBook Air M4 refines an already near-perfect formula, delivering better performance, improved efficiency, and a fresh new color option, all at a lower price. Maintaining its signature ultra-thin aluminum unibody, the latest MacBook Air introduces a new Sky Blue finish, adding a stylish twist to its minimalist design. The 15-inch Liquid Retina display continues to impress with sharp visuals, making it ideal for creative professionals and everyday users.
At the heart of the MacBook Air M4 is Apple’s second-generation 3nm chip, packing 28 billion transistors for improved power and efficiency. The M4’s upgraded GPU delivers a 30% performance boost over its predecessor, making tasks like video editing and graphics rendering noticeably smoother. The battery life of the MacBook Air also sees an upgrade, offering all-day usage on a single charge.
