The Best Laptops to Buy Right Now: Budget, Premium, Creator & Gaming Picks
📚 Main topics
- Budget laptopsFor under $700, an older MacBook Air is often a better buy than the MacBook Neo, especially with 16 GB of memory. The Neo is a well-built option for light tasks, while the Acer Aspire 14 offers stronger specs for Windows users but feels cheaper and has inaccurate screen colors. 0:30
- Everyday and premium thin-and-lightsAround $1,000, the MacBook Air with M5 is the top all-round pick; Windows users can consider the previous-generation Lenovo Slim 7x. For premium portability, the Yoga Slim 7i Ultra stands out, while the ThinkPad X1 15 and Acer Swift 16 offer large-screen alternatives. 3:05
- Professional laptopsThe MacBook Pro is the strongest portable choice for demanding work, with M5 Pro suited to many programmers and M5 Max recommended for video editing and other GPU-heavy tasks. Windows alternatives include the Yoga Pro 9i for creative work, Zenbook 16 for CPU-focused tasks if its ARM compatibility suits your apps, and Framework 13 Pro for modularity and Linux support. 8:16
- Gaming laptopsThe 2025 Legion 5i offers value, the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S provides more performance for the money, and the Legion Pro 7i is a more premium, powerful option. Additional deals include the Asus Strix G16 for maximum gaming performance and the Legion 7i for a thinner, more stylish gaming laptop. 11:53
✨ Key takeaways
- Match the laptop to your workloadThe MacBook Neo and several thin-and-light Windows picks are best for everyday tasks, not specialized software or demanding creative work. Check processor performance, memory, and app compatibility before buying. 2:02
- Know the trade-offsHigh performance can mean more heat, less battery life, or a higher price. For example, the Yoga Slim 7i Ultra is highly portable and powerful, but its top configuration is expensive and it has only USB-C ports. 5:09
- Compare deals over timePrices change quickly, and last year’s models can offer strong value. The video recommends checking historical prices and setting price alerts to distinguish real deals from misleading discounts. 14:30
🧠 Lessons learned
- Prioritize the features you’ll useChoose screen size, portability, battery life, memory, GPU power, and operating-system compatibility according to your actual needs—not simply the newest or most powerful configuration. 6:41
- Avoid risky financingA laptop is often a want rather than a need, so don’t put your finances at risk with buy-now-pay-later schemes. Consider older or second-hand laptops instead. 14:30
🏁 Conclusion/next steps
- Check current prices and availabilityReview the linked recommendations and deal listings, since prices fluctuate and stock of older models can run out. Share any overlooked deals in the comments. 14:30
Transcript excerpt
0:00 Laptop prices are going through the roof right now. But, in this crazy market, there are still deals to be had, and there are excellent laptops out there that do justify their current price. So, today, I'm going to go through the best laptops that you can buy right now. I'm going to start with laptops for those on a really tight budget. Then, I'm going to cover the premium thin and lights. And after that, I'll go through the best laptops for professionals, you know, programmers, engineers, and of course, creators. And finally, I'm going to finish off with the best laptops for
0:30 gamers. All the laptops I'm going to talk about today, they'll be linked down below the video, and of course, we're going to keep those recommendations up to date well after this video goes live. So, make sure to check that just in case there has been an update. Let's get into it. If you're looking for the best budget laptop to buy right now around $700 or less, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. It isn't the MacBook Neo. It's actually a MacBook Air from last year or the year before. You get faster ports with the Air, a haptic trackpad, a keyboard backlight, and a
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