In the era of online shopping, it's nice to still have some brick-and-mortar stores like Best Buy where you can see the laptops in person, get a feel of the build, try out the keyboard and touchpad, and see the size and sharpness of the display, etc. Having a physical store around is also convenient, as you don't always have the luxury of waiting for a delivery, especially in emergencies. Plus, retailers like Best Buy regularly have sales you won't find when shopping through a brand's online store. If you can't make it to a Best Buy store, you can also find everything through their website. The downside is that, when it comes to laptops, there are usually fewer configuration options, as higher-end custom builds are only available through the manufacturer's online store.
We've tested over 150 laptops, and below, you'll find our recommendations for the best laptops at Best Buy you can get. Also, check out our recommendations for the best Windows laptops, the best gaming laptops, and the best workstation laptops. If you want to learn more about how we test laptops or our review process, check out this article, where we give you a quick rundown of each step from the moment we purchase the laptop to the final published review.
The best laptop at Best Buy we've tested is the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2024). This 14-inch premium productivity laptop requires little introduction, as its M1, M2, and M3 predecessors have been among the most popular models on the market, and this M4 model is simply a refresh with a few tweaks. With a battery life of over 15 hours, this powerhouse is a near-perfect device for on-the-go use. It has tons of processing power, allowing you to easily blast through intensive workloads like 3D animation, simulations, and video editing. It also delivers an amazing user experience thanks to its gorgeous Mini LED display, easy-to-use haptic touchpad, and full-sounding speakers.
While there aren't any changes to the design compared to its predecessor, the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M3, 2023), there are a couple of notable internal upgrades and new features on this M4 model. These include a higher display brightness of 1000 cd/m² in SDR, a 12 MP webcam with Center Stage support, and Thunderbolt 5 (Pro and Max models). Another new feature worth mentioning is the nano-texture display, which is the same Mini LED panel but with a semi-glossy finish to further reduce glare. Unfortunately, since they're custom builds, you can only get the nano-texture models directly from Apple.
If you don't need all the processing power of the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2024) and would rather get something more compact and affordable, get the Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4, 2025). Though similar in design to its Pro big brother, this 13-inch model is thinner and lighter, making it even easier to carry. Its build quality is just as good, so you're still getting a premium, exceptionally well-built device. The changes in this 2025 model are relatively minor, including better performance, a 12MP webcam with Center Stage support, and Thunderbolt 4 video output. The latter lets you connect up to two external displays while still using the laptop's built-in Retina screen.
Naturally, there are a few drawbacks compared to the MacBook Pro, like its significantly more limited port selection, which only comprises two USB-Cs. Another notable downgrade is the display; its Retina screen is sharp and color-accurate, but it has a low contrast ratio and a 60Hz refresh rate. This means blacks won't look as deep, and motion won't feel as smooth. It also doesn't get as bright, especially in HDR. One upside is that this is a fanless device, so you'll never have to deal with loud fan noise. Its battery life is excellent, lasting around 12 hours in light uses.
For those on a more limited budget but don't want to go too cheap, check out the Lenovo Yoga 7 2-in-1 14 (2024). It's a very different device than the picks above, as not only is it a Windows laptop, but it's also a 2-in-1 convertible. Performance-wise, it's somewhat in the same camp as the MacBook Air, meaning it's mainly designed for general productivity but can handle some moderately demanding workloads. Its integrated GPU isn't that great, so anything requiring a lot of graphical processing power is out of the question.
The keyboard feels very comfortable to type on. Most Lenovo laptops have a great keyboard with a lot of travel and tactility, and that's very much the case here. As for the touchpad, although it isn't haptic like the MacBook Air, it's reasonably large and highly responsive. You can get this laptop with an IPS or an OLED panel (both are FHD+ panels). The latter is brighter and more colorful; however, remember that OLEDs are susceptible to permanent burn-in. The OLED panel also flickers, which might bother some people. Both displays support pen input if you want to take handwritten notes or draw—you'll have to buy the stylus separately, as the Best Buy models don't include one in the box.
The best budget laptop at Best Buy we've tested is the ASUS Vivobook 16 M1605 (2023). Since this is an older model from 2023, the price has decreased considerably, making it a great value. It feels well-built even though it's entirely plastic, and it's relatively portable for a 16-inch device. You get plenty of screen space for split-screen multitasking and a spacious keyboard and touchpad. Performance is fine for a general productivity ultraportable; it likely won't wow the enthusiasts, but it gets the job done. Like the Lenovo above, you can get up to 16GB of RAM; however, this laptop has a standard SO-DIMM slot, so you can upgrade the memory if you have trouble finding a 16GB model. The SSD is user-upgradeable, too.
Of course, as this is a budget model, there are a few drawbacks to know about. First, the display is on the dim side, meaning visibility might be an issue in well-lit settings. It also produces slightly washed-out colors due to its narrow color gamut, a common drawback of cheaper, low-end panels. Next, the 720p webcam above the display is okay at best—the image looks soft, noisy, and overexposed. Finally, although it has a fairly varied port selection, the USB-C port doesn't support video output, so you'll have to use the HDMI port to connect an external display. You can get around eight hours of battery life in light uses, so depending on your use, you might need to plug it in for a short time to get through a typical school or workday.
Note: at the time of writing, the Lenovo Yoga 7 2-in-1 14 (2024) above is on sale, making it a much better value. That said, the ASUS is still a good option if you want a bigger screen for better multitasking.
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2024) is our top gaming pick. Sporting a high-performance Intel 14th Gen CPU and configurable with up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU, this 16-inch model delivers an amazingly smooth gaming experience in the most demanding AAA titles. You can choose between a 165Hz FHD+ and a 240Hz QHD+ panel; both are IPS panels with a fast response time and G-SYNC support, giving you a clear image in fast-moving scenes with minimal ghosting and tearing. Its wide port selection includes an Ethernet port, giving you a reliable internet connection when gaming online. The main downside is that this laptop is bulky and heavy, making it better suited as a desktop replacement than for on-the-go use.
If you want a more compact, portable model, check out the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024). At 14 inches, this premium model is much more compact and lightweight, making it easier to carry around. Plus, it has a more understated design, so you can bring it to work without sticking out like a sore thumb. Performance is where you'll have to compromise a bit, as this laptop uses slower AMD Ryzen CPUs and is only available with up to a 90W RTX 4070 GPU. The computer also gets warmer under load, which isn't all that surprising given its smaller chassis. Its OLED display is arguably nicer, as it can produce deeper blacks; however, it has a lower refresh rate of 120Hz, so motion won't look as smooth as on the Strix's 240Hz display, and inputs will feel less responsive.
Consider the MSI Katana A15 AI (2024) if you want a more affordable gaming laptop. This simple 15-inch model is available with up to an AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS CPU and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU, providing more than enough processing power to deliver smooth gameplay in highly demanding AAA titles. There are two display options: a 144Hz FHD or 165Hz QHD display. The latter will provide a better gaming experience, producing a cleaner image with less ghosting in fast-moving scenes. It also has better color reproduction, displaying more vibrant colors than the FHD panel, which looks washed out.
The build quality, as well as the overall user experience, is where you'll have to compromise. Its plastic chassis flexes in some areas, especially the display, which isn't a dealbreaker but doesn't give much confidence in the general sturdiness of the device. The display's hinges are also loose—this is a bit more concerning, as it's a moving part, and most people will open and close the laptop regularly. Finally, the laptop gets quite warm under load and can cause some discomfort, as the hot spot is right in the middle of the keyboard.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition 15 (2024) is a great Windows alternative to the Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4, 2025). It has a brighter 120Hz display, a wider port selection, and a much longer 17-hour battery life in light uses. However, unlike most Windows laptops, it uses an ARM-based Qualcomm SoC. This means some programs might not work or run well through emulation, so it's best to check for app compatibility first.
See our reviewThe HP OmniBook Ultra 14 (2024) is another great Windows alternative to the Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4, 2025) if you prefer a 2-in-1 convertible or can't work on an ARM-based device like the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition 15 (2024) mentioned above. Just remember that the OLED is susceptible to permanent burn-in, and it flickers at 480Hz, which might bother some people.
See our reviewThe Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 (2024) is a great Chromebook and often cheaper than the Lenovo Yoga 7 2-in-1 14 (2024). However, the Spin 714's CPU isn't quite as capable, and Chrome OS is more limited than Windows in the types of apps you can install, so it's better suited for people with a lighter workload they can access through the web browser or Android app from the Google Play Store.
See our reviewReplaced the Apple MacBook Air 13 (2024) with the Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4, 2025) since the M3 model was discontinued.
Small text changes to provide information about the new M4 Apple MacBook Airs. No change in recommendations.
Added the HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 (2024) as a Notable Mention. Small text changes for conciseness and clarity.
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best laptops you can buy at Best Buy for most people. In addition to the test results, we factor in the price (a cheaper laptop wins over a pricier one if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no laptops that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).
If you prefer to make your own decision, here's the list of all of our laptop reviews, sorted by price from low to high. Most laptops are available in various configurations, and the table only shows the results of the model we tested, so it's best to see the full review for information about other variants.
What do you think of our picks? Let us know below.
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I’m particularly interested in the upscaling processing from internet streaming sources and motion artifacts when viewing sports. Not a gamer and not a heavy 4K source user. Also the quality of the sound from the extensive speaker array and onboard amplifier when Dolby Atmos formatted sources are input.
My set arrives next week, so it will be interesting to compare my consumer PoV to a specification, tech heavy, review. This replaces my Panny Viera plasma TV, which had given me many years of problem-free service. I’m hoping to build quality and limited production numbers of this set does the same.
Really wish this tv supported 120hz dolby vision gaming cause it would be really nice to have a premium google tv alternative to Sony tvs.
Our testers have started testing this product; is there anything specific you’re looking to see? Let us know in this thread.
Please update to the latest firmware Version 1.15 before performing any test. Version 1.15 has many PQ improvement noted from the TV Shootout in NYC.
It’s a shame that there won’t be a review out in time to take advantage of the launch sale prices. Brian at Tech Therapy was gushing about it during the unboxing at VE and has been strangely silent about it ever since the shootout. Did he review a “golden panel”? The randomly selected TV from VE stock for the shootout almost seemed like a different set. This has me concerned about the manufacturing consistency.
Buy one now and you may be lucky and get a golden panel or you may get one that needs its software/firmware upgraded. Hard to decide without any independent testing, with all due respect to Brian and FOMO, who necessarily have ties to the supplier.