Best Laptop of 2024 - The Awards!

Summary

In this comprehensive 2024 laptop awards video, a variety of top laptops across different categories are highlighted, ranging from budget options to premium models. The HP Pavilion Aero 13 wins Best Budget Laptop, while the MacBook Pro 14/16 takes the overall title for its unmatched performance and power efficiency. Other notable mentions include the Asus Pro Art PX13 for Best Two-in-One, the Asus Zephyrus G16 for gamers, and the Surface Laptop 713 as the top choice for office and school use. The review emphasizes key trends such as the rise of AMD processors and OLED displays, catering to a wide range of users from professionals to casual buyers.

Takeaways

• 😀 The best laptops of 2024 are highlighted based on testing over 100 models throughout the year, with links to winners and runners-up available on the website.
• 😀 The website JustJosh.Tech is featured as the sponsor, offering deals, price tracking, and recommendations for various types of laptop buyers.
• 😀 Best budget laptop of 2024: The HP Pavilion Aero 13 stands out for its performance, portability, and value, regularly priced around $500-$600.
• 😀 Runner-up for best budget laptop: The MacBook Air M2, offering a premium build and solid performance for basic tasks, priced at $700 or less.
• 😀 Best laptop for office, home, and school: The Surface Laptop 713 is praised for its premium design, portability, and solid performance for light use, despite limitations with Snapdragon processors.
• 😀 The Asus Zenbook S14 is another contender in the light-use category, offering a great OLED display, long battery life, and Intel Lunar Lake performance.
• 😀 Best two-in-one laptop: The Asus ProArt PX13 with AMD Zen5 processor wins for its versatility and premium build, along with powerful dedicated graphics for creative tasks and light gaming.
• 😀 Best laptop for gamers: The Asus Zephyrus G16 with AMD Ryzen 9 Zen5 is recognized for its excellent performance, low fan noise, and cool temperatures while gaming, compared to the earlier Intel version.
• 😀 Best laptop for creators: The MacBook Pro 16 with Apple's M4 Pro or Max chips stands out for its ultra-quiet operation, stunning performance, and power efficiency for creative workflows.
• 😀 Best laptop for programmers: The MacBook Pro models with M4 chips are ideal for coding due to their performance, large displays, and long battery life. The runner-up, the Yoga Pro 9i, offers strong performance at a more affordable price.

Q & A

What was the focus of the 'Best Laptops of 2024' awards?

The focus of the awards was to highlight the best laptops in various categories, based on extensive testing of over 100 laptops throughout the year. The categories included best budget laptop, best laptop for office/home/school, best two-in-one laptop, best laptop for gamers, best laptop for creators, and best laptop for programmers.

What makes the HP Pavilion Aero 13 stand out as the best budget laptop?

The HP Pavilion Aero 13 stands out for its affordability, performance, and lightweight design. Despite being budget-friendly (around $500 to $600), it features an AMD Ryzen 4 processor, ample memory and storage, and is incredibly portable, making it a solid choice for those on a budget.

Why is the MacBook Air with M2 considered a great budget laptop?

The MacBook Air with M2 offers a more premium build compared to most budget laptops. It features Apple's M2 processor, which provides solid performance, decent battery life, and integrated graphics. At around $700 or less, it combines good performance with a high-quality design, though it has limited RAM (8GB) and storage (256GB).

What are the key features of the Surface Laptop 7 for light use?

The Surface Laptop 7 is praised for its premium build, stylish design, bright and fast-refreshing display, and comfortable keyboard and trackpad. It's lightweight, compact, and perfect for tasks like web browsing and office work. However, it uses a Snapdragon processor, which limits compatibility with certain applications and games.

What is the main downside of the Zenbook S14 compared to other laptops?

The main downside of the Zenbook S14 is its display, which, while OLED, doesn't get very bright and is very glossy, making it difficult to use in reflective environments like coffee shops. However, it compensates with long battery life and a compact, well-built design.

What sets the Asus Pro PX13 apart in the two-in-one laptop category?

The Asus Pro PX13 stands out as a versatile two-in-one laptop with AMD's Zen5 processor and dedicated Nvidia RTX 4050 or 4060 graphics, making it powerful enough for real performance tasks and light gaming. It also boasts a premium build, a comfortable keyboard, and stylish design, making it a top contender for the best two-in-one.

What improvements did the Asus Zephyrus G16 see with the switch to AMD processors?

The switch to AMD processors in the Asus Zephyrus G16 significantly improved its cooling and reduced fan noise, making it a much quieter and cooler gaming laptop compared to the earlier Intel-powered model. The AMD version also delivers better performance for the same power consumption, enhancing the gaming experience.

How does the MacBook Pro 16 with M4 Pro or Max chips excel for creators?

The MacBook Pro 16 with Apple's M4 Pro or Max chips offers jaw-dropping performance for creative professionals, especially in tasks like 3D work and video editing. Its quiet operation, efficient power usage, and long battery life make it ideal for creative workflows. The M4 Max chip is especially recommended for those needing extra GPU power.

Why is the Yoga Pro 9i a strong runner-up for the best laptop for programmers?

The Yoga Pro 9i is a strong contender for programmers due to its powerful Intel Core Ultra 9 processor and Nvidia RTX 4050, 4060, or 4070 graphics. It features a high-quality mini-LED display, comfortable keyboard, and stays cool during intensive tasks. It's a versatile laptop suitable for coding, gaming, and content creation, making it a great value compared to the MacBook Pro.

What makes the MacBook Pro 14 or 16 the best laptop of 2024?

The MacBook Pro 14 and 16 are considered the best laptops of 2024 due to their unmatched performance, power efficiency, and battery life. They are portable, premium devices with high-quality displays, trackpads, keyboards, and speakers. Despite their high price, their overall value makes them the top choice for most users, especially for creative professionals and programmers.