A premium gaming PC with a professional laptop might cost a lot of money. Some people will have to make due with a system that can handle both because not everyone can pull that off. Many various laptops are available that can support both a professional’s workload and a gamer’s desire. Since these gadgets are pricey, you should learn as much as you can before investing a sizable chunk of money.
The sweet spot for laptop screen sizes is between 14 and 15 inches. You’ve probably found that a 13-inch laptop is too little and a 16-inch one can be too huge. Recently, laptop manufacturers have shifted their marketing efforts away from 15-inch computers in favor of 14-inch and 16-inch machines. A 14-inch screen is what I prefer because it just appears to be the ideal compromise between cost, functionality, and size. Because of this, several of The Tech Fun selections for the best 15-inch laptop have screens that are 14 or 16 inches in size.
These are the laptops, ranging in price from cheap to expensive, that we think are the best 14- and 15-inch options for work and gaming, depending on:
- Performance and battery life for a given set of specs and intended use, where the configuration specs include the amount of solid-state storage and memory (SSD and RAM), main processor (CPU) and graphics processor (GPU), and operating system (Mac OS or Windows).
- Features for a given weight class, such as the combination of laptop screen size, type (touchscreen or not) and resolution (4K, QHD or FHD), ports (such as an HDMI port, Ethernet port, and the type and number of USB connections), webcam and fingerprint reader.
- Design, both aesthetic and functional, including keyboard layout and feel (lots of people want a backlit keyboard and a numeric keypad on their laptops), build quality, upgradeability and reparability and so on.
If you’re on the market for a laptop, keep in mind that you don’t have to buy right away if you have the money to wait. Here are some suggestions for extending the life of your current laptop in case you decide to put off your purchase. If you decide to proceed, consider recycling it.
We often add new models to this list after testing and reviewing them. In order to gain a sense of what is accessible, it’s a terrific place to start. Jump to our FAQ below this list if you need help deciding which laptop or two-in-one is best for you.
Acer Swift 3
Top budget pick
It just measures 14 inches, but if money is limited, 14 inches are your friend. With the help of AMD Ryzen 5 and Ryzen 7 CPUs, it’s an excellent value for the essentials like email, word processing, and much more. It’s also accessible with 11th-generation Intel processors. This inexpensive laptop also boasts a USB Type-C port, a fingerprint reader, and a backlit keyboard. For a device that costs less than $700, the Acer Swift 3 is also an impressively lightweight laptop, weighing less than 3 pounds.
Dell G15
Best for gamers on a budget
For the previous few years, HP Victus and Dell’s G15 have both been popular low-cost gaming laptops. A 16-inch G16 joins the seasoned 15-inch G15 in late 2022. The G15 is the way to go if you want a cheap gaming laptop. The G16 is a superior option for longevity, though, if you can afford to spend a few hundred dollars extra and don’t mind the little size increase. However, given the entry-level model only includes an RTX 3050, we do advise waiting till it is released because you might not be future-proofed against the burgeoning number of power-hungry games.
HP Chromebook x360 14c
Recommended 14-inch Chromebook under $500
The HP Chromebook x360 has a two-in-one design that allows you to use it as a tablet (albeit it’s a little heavy to use as a portable device), and 14 inches is considerably more comfortable to use in that capacity than a 15-inch model. You may also use it as a compact all-in-one computer by tenting it, connecting an external keyboard, and mouse.
Apple MacBook Pro 14
Best Apple laptop
Take Apple’s decision to discontinue 15-inch (and 17-inch) computers as more evidence that this type of laptop is a dying breed. The smaller MacBook Air is the best option if weight and budget are your main considerations and you don’t require a lot of power.
Razer Blade 15
Top pick for work and play
The Blade 15 we tested in 2022 (we’ve examined the new 18-inch variant) keeps its status as the least-game-like gaming laptop but maintains its speed. However, like all Razer products, it is somewhat pricey. With plenty of connectors, a comfortable Razer Chroma RGB keyboard, the most recent technology from Intel and Nvidia, and new, high-quality gaming panel options, it has a sleek, solid design with a lot of ports. The 1080p webcam with Windows Hello functionality is useful for work. However, when it’s revved up, it might get a little warm.
Samsung Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360
Best 15-inch 2-in-1
The superb battery life, high-contrast OLED screen, and abundance of cross-device functions it offers users of Samsung’s Galaxy phones and accessories are the hallmarks of this thin and light 15-inch Windows two-in-one. It is especially made for those who desire a responsive laptop experience that is comparable to their smartphone experience. It comes with the fantastic S Pen and is reasonably lightweight and thin for its size.
Lenovo Yoga 9i (Gen 7, 14-inch)
A great 2-in-1 at a smaller size
The Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 7 is another outstanding premium two-in-one from the firm. The features and design of the 12th-gen Intel processor justify the greater price because it offers a significant performance increase over its predecessor in multicore tasks. The newest model comes with a sleeve and pen and delivers a significant performance improvement along with top-notch sound and images. However, it does heavily push upselling of software and services, so if that will drive you crazy, run away.
Laptop FAQs
How we test computers
Two steps make up the review process for laptops, desktops, tablets, and other computer-like devices: performance testing under controlled conditions in the The Tech Fun Labs, and comprehensive hands-on use by our expert reviewers. This entails assessing the features, ergonomics, and aesthetics of a device. These two types of evaluations—objective and subjective—are combined to provide a final review judgment.
Which is better, MacOS or Windows?
For many people, choosing between a MacOS or Windows laptop will come down to personal preference and price. The M1 MacBook Air is Apple’s entry-level laptop, and it costs $999. From Apple and other stores, you can occasionally find it on sale or receive educational pricing. However, a new MacBook will typically cost at least $1,000, and prices only increase from there.
What size screen do I need? Do I need a 4K screen?’
One of the reasons I prefer 14-inch displays to 15-inch ones is that they achieve a much better balance between price, size, and performance while giving up only a small amount of screen real estate (you lose more than 2 inches (50mm) horizontally if the comparison is between a 16:9 aspect ratio screen and 3:2).
Can I get a Chromebook instead of a Windows laptop?
Nowadays, most tasks can be completed totally online, however Chromebooks can occasionally be used offline. Consider everything you typically do, and you could discover that Chrome’s most basic features allow you to complete any task.
Can I use a hub to compensate for insufficient connections?
No and yes. In most cases, USB-C hubs provide seamless extension when you give up USB, Ethernet, and display connections to reduce the thickness of a laptop by one millimeter. But you can’t assume everything will work without any issues, especially if you have a lot of devices linked to it or if you use 4K displays, cameras, gaming peripherals, or other devices. Anything else that is susceptible to the signal’s strength and quality could be problematic. To assure enough power and bandwidth for your specific needs, you might have to spend a lot of money on a Thunderbolt hub rather than a USB-C hub, which can cost up to $300.
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