The best laptops of winter 2024/25 in comparison - We reviewed 54 notebooks

A total of 54 laptops have been put through their paces by our experienced editors over the last few months. This article brings the best laptops from our tests back into the limelight. Note: This overview only lists laptops that have been tested, measured and evaluated in detail by our team. The corresponding test reports of the individual laptops are linked in the table at the end of the article.

93%: Apple MacBook Pro 16.2 M4 Pro 2024

Small update, big impact: the exterior of the familiar MacBooks has changed little since the brief touchbar interlude a few generations ago. This year's refresh also follows this tradition. With the M4 processors, the MacBook Pro 16.2 2024 (reviewed here) receives the expected performance update and can benefit better from the performance increase of the chips than the slightly more compact MacBook Pro 14. GPU and CPU performance increase significantly compared to the previous M3 version, while the battery life remains at the usual high level. Up to 20 hours in practical use is quite feasible. Other improvements include the now up to 128 GB RAM (M4 Max) and the new 12-megapixel camera. Apart from these outwardly invisible upgrades, there is still "one more thing": Apple now also offers an optional display with a matte surface. In our test, the new panel was almost completely convincing. The MacBook Pro 16.2 M4 starts at around 2,600 Euros (~$2750).

91.8%: Apple MacBook Pro 14.2 M4 Pro 2024

As usual, the MacBook Pro models from Apple come in pairs, so it is hardly surprising that the smaller of the two notebooks, the Apple MacBook Pro 14.2 2024 (reviewed here) can benefit from the new updates in a similar way to its larger colleague. Here, too, we observed a significant increase in performance compared to the predecessor in the test, even though only the 16-inch model can exploit the full potential of the new chip. The battery life is in the range of 15-20 hours with practical applications, a new webcam and the optional matte display provide bonus points compared to the M3 version. Prices for the MBP 14.2 with M4 Pro start at around 2,200 Euros (~$2327).

89.6%: Honor MagicBook Art 14

A surprise candidate has made it very far up the rankings in our tests over the last few months: the Honor MagicBook Art 14 (reviewed here) is a new addition to the still very limited product range of the manufacturer Honor, which is better known for its smartphones. The compact 14-inch notebook is characterized by a great OLED screen with particularly narrow display edges. Even a built-in webcam has been dispensed with. This is included as a module and can simply be docked on magnetically if required. The Meteor Lake platform delivers good performance in the test, and the battery life of around 10 hours in practical use fits well into the overall package trimmed for mobility. The availability of the Honor MagicBook Art 14 has been somewhat difficult so far. The Honor store only lists the notebook outside of Asia in Saudi Arabia and France. There, a price of 1,699 Euros (~$1797) is advertised.

89.3%: Apple MacBook Pro 14 2024 M4 (basic version)

The "cheapest" entry into the MacBook Pro range is the Apple MacBook Pro 14 in the basic M4 version (reviewed here). Compared to the variants with M4 Pro and Max, you have to do without some CPU and GPU cores, the cooling system makes do with just one fan and Thunderbolt 5 is not on board. However, all other upgrades are included, including the optional matte display, the new 12 MP webcam and the additional USB-C port. Battery life in the test: 18-20 hours with practical applications. If you don't need the extra performance of the Pro and Max versions, the MBP 14.2, which is available in the basic version from around 1,700 Euros (~$1798), can definitely be considered the price-performance winner in the MacBook range.

88.7%: HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14

HP presents an exciting ultra-mobile package with the latest technology with the OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 (reviewed here) together. The notebook with a 14-inch display has a 360-degree hinge and thus allows a range of usage scenarios (such as tablet or tent mode) that a classic clamshell design does not allow. Intel's latest Luna Lake CPU ensures very good graphics and application performance and, thanks to improved efficiency, still offers a battery life of around 14 hours in practical use (WiFi surfing). The OLED display supports pen input and is also crisply fast thanks to the 120 Hz refresh rate. Various combinations of CPU, RAM and SSD sizes are available, with prices starting at around 1,600 Euros (~$1692).

88.1% Asus Zenbook S 14 UX5406

With the ZenBooks, Asus launched a series a few years ago that was to be characterized by its high-quality case with a solid design, as well as high mobility and high performance at the same time. The latest developments in CPUs and also in the area of displays play perfectly into this concept, on which the latest Asus ZenBook S 14 (reviewed here) is based on. The combination of an Intel Luna Lake processor with a high-quality 14-inch OLED screen, packaged in a stylish aluminum casing, is also impressive in this laptop. High mobility meets high performance reserves and a stylish appearance. Price: the notebook costs around 1,600 Euros (~$1692).

88%: HP OmniBook Ultra 14

Even without the "flip" function, the HP OmniBook Ultra 14 (reviewed here) is a very good notebook. We tested a variant with AMD's latest Ryzen 9 Strix Point CPU, which also integrates a very powerful graphics unit in the form of the Radeon 890M. In terms of performance, this variant is currently one of the most powerful subnotebooks, i.e. ultra-mobile notebooks with a low weight and height, that you can buy. The OmniBook lives up to the required mobility with a practical runtime of over 10 hours. Unfortunately, the tested version does not have an OLED display, but the IPS panel used also delivers a good performance. Price: From around 1,700 Euros (~$1798).

87.7%: Dell Latitude 7450 2-in-1

The Dell Latitude 7450 (for review) also relies on a display with special 360-degree hinges and thus expands the application possibilities. The hardware is based on an Intel Meteor Lake CPU in combination with a 14-inch IPS display that also supports pen input. The device delivers sufficient performance for typical office and simpler multimedia applications and achieves a runtime of 11-12 hours in practical use. The notebook is available directly from Dell at a price of around 1,600 Euros (~$1692).

87.5% Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6

The Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 (reviewed here) just made it onto the winner's podium with a very good overall score. Here too, AMD's Strix Point platform ensures a high level of performance and, with a battery life of around 11 hours in practical use, also meets the traditional mobility requirements of the ThinkPad T14s. The casing remains robust and simple, as is the case with its predecessors, and the input devices also match the quality of the previous versions. Price: Around 2,200 Euros (~$2327), the notebook is already available in the Lenovo Campus program from around 1,500 Euros (~$1586) available.

The rest of the equipment is also well matched to its intended use as a daily driver: Numerous ports (including Thunderbolt 4) and integrated WiFi 7 ensure the best possible connectivity and two SSD slots create space for data. A big plus point in operation: The notebook remains very quiet for the most part in everyday situations and the heating of the casing is also very limited. Ultimately, Asus can also score points in the most important discipline for many, the sales price: With a street price of around 1,300 Euros (~$1375), Asus even undercuts the campus price, i.e. discounted configurations that are specifically intended for use in the education sector and require corresponding proof, from established manufacturers.

Note: Commercial use of the award graphics may require a license. Further details.

The table above shows all notebooks tested in the period under review with their overall and partial ratings in our detailed test as well as a selection of important parameters and benchmarks. All results and details can be found in the linked test reports.
The table can be sorted in each column, simply click on the respective column title, for example "Weight".