Best Windows 10 Laptops in Each Category 2020

Choosing the best laptop for your needs can sometimes feel like the most laborious task in the world, what with manufacturers launching new models almost every week. And no model is perfect — nearly every arrival making a compromise or two.

Even the spectrum is broader than it has ever been.

While companies like Dell, HP, Acer, ASUS, and Lenovo continue to expand their product lines, other small manufacturers are also jumping into the mix, particularly on the gaming side of things. Then there are the new launches from Microsoft in the Surface line.

And that’s not even talking about those affordable options from China, which are budget clones of popular machines.

This summer has pushed even more traditional laptops, ultrabooks, gaming notebooks, convertibles, hybrids, and 2-in-1s onto store shelves. Vendors are serious about squeezing the new AMD Ryzen CPUs into their lineups, with ASUS and Lenovo unveiling such machines.

Point being, if you’re in the market for a laptop today, you are sure to be swimming with options.

We’ll try to simplify your choices by listing the best Windows 10 laptops of 2020, containing our pick in each category to cover the full range of device types — from regular to the convertible, gaming to work, luxury to budget, there’s something for everyone here.

Let’s gets rocking.

Best Windows 10 Laptop in each Category

1. Best Budget Laptop – Acer Aspire 5
2. Best Luxury Laptop – Dell XPS 15
3. Best Ultrabook Laptop – HP Spectre X360
4. Best Convertible Laptop – Lenovo Yoga C740
5. Best Hybrid Laptop – Microsoft Surface Pro 7
6. Best Gaming Laptop – Razer Blade 15

Best Budget Laptop – Acer Aspire 5

Want to spend under $400 for your next laptop? Then this affordable Acer Aspire 5 is worth a look. It does a lot of things right, sporting a latest-generation AMD Ryzen 3 processor, the 3200U, with its modern Vega graphics processing with 4GB of RAM and a superfast 128GB SSD. The 15.6-inch display may be a TN panel, but it offers a Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080.

All these factors combine to make for a great laptop at a bargain price. One that can easily cope with basic tasks like Skype and Internet usage, though more fast ones will require a little upgrade in memory.

Acer Aspire 5 has even used a polymer battery on this machine, which apparently offers 2.5 times the lifespan of a standard Li-ion one. The battery lasts for up to 9 hrs after a full charge. Though there is no room for DVD player, the 3 USB ports are enough to do that work.

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Best Luxury Laptop – Dell XPS 15

There are times when you want to make a statement. There are times when you want a conversation starter. For these occasions, there is nothing better than the Dell XPS 15. It is hard to classify this as anything but a luxury item. Luckily, underneath its sleek exterior, it houses some very capable circuitry.

If you opt for the configuration that has the GPU under the keyboard, you will get a beautify, high-resolution 15.5-inch screen, a safe GeForce option, a powerful Intel processor for the best performance, 4K Display, and exceptional battery life. The touch screen along with the finger-print sensor makes it one of the most luxurious models from Dell.

Performance, in general, is near the top of the heap, with class-leading results in graphics loads, video editing, and number crunching. Style rarely performs as good as this.

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Best Ultrabook Laptop – HP Spectre X360

HP had a good thing going with its newest design for its Spectre line, and it has stuck to that fit and finish for the last couple of years. The Intel’s Comet Lake powered HP Spectre X360 shares the same design as its predecessor.

That wonderfully small 13-inch touchscreen still has that bezel-free look. And the company offered the SSD storage options, added a USB Type-C port that doubles up as an alternative charging port, and also packed in a slightly larger battery in the latest refresh of this trendy machine. The inclusion of Ink pen is the bonus for the graphic designers

On the whole, this is a little machine that punches well above its weight. You can’t go wrong with the HP Spectre X360; it is the best ultrabook available on the market right now.

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Best Convertible Laptop – Lenovo Yoga C740

Lenovo Yoga C740 is an optimum choice for anyone who needs a laptop for office or schoolwork. It had a few flaws, which the company fixed by unveiling a small, thinner, and noticeably lighter successor next year. The all-metal chassis gives it a premium look and feel and it has a comfortable keyboard and responsive, smooth precision touchpad.

Lenovo’s sliding shutters for its webcam give you privacy when you want it. The processor is powerful enough to keep up with almost any task you throw at it and even handled undemanding games like League of Legends at low resolutions.

What sets the Yoga C740 apart is its excellent battery life and pen support. Opting for the 4K model gets you 7 hours of juice, while the Full HD screen lasts almost 11 hours of continuous video playback. Add in the ability to jot notes and sketch diagrams on display quickly, and you have a winner.

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Best Hybrid Laptop – Microsoft Surface Pro 7

That Microsoft still rules this space, should come as no surprise, considering the company practically propelled the category of hybrid 2-in-1 devices with its Surface Pro line. The Surface Pro 7 may be an evolutionary step up, but it still offers the best blend of value and performance.

At least, when compared to the new Surface Pro that the company launched earlier this year; that machine may be the Surface Pro 5 in disguise. But it suffers from power throttling and comes with an expensive price tag, making the Surface Pro 7 the better choice — while it is still available.

Sure, cheaper clones are now in abundance, but the Surface Pro 7 is still a competent hybrid tablet that comes with a quality display, high performance, and an excellent combination of keyboard and trackpad. It is a bit expensive, but if you need a laptop that doubles as a tablet, then look no further.

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Best Gaming Laptop – Razer Blade 15

There were not too many contenders in this category. And even if there were, they would have a terrible time competing with the Razer Blade 15, the best gaming laptop around. This term used to be an oxymoron not that long ago, but not anymore, due to the arrival of NVIDIA Super Max-Q GPUs.

At 2.15 kg of heft, the Razer Blade 15 is a little heavy for its size. But it is still worth toting around. That’s because you get a gorgeous 4K OLED display, with an octa-core Core i7 chip and the VR capable GTX 1060 that delivers flawless high-resolution gaming.

Gaming on this OLED screen makes the best LCD panels seem pixelated and washed out. The extra weight of the Razer Blade 15 comes from its incredibly study build, and solid chassis. But other than that, its slick design, reliable performance, and excellent battery life making this an exceptional buy.