Best Windows 11 laptops for 2024

Microsoft’s Windows operating system is the most widely used computer software on the planet. This means there’s a huge variety of devices to choose from, ranging from budget netbooks to high-end multimedia laptops.

Windows 11 is the very latest version of Microsoft's familiar operating system. While it's still possible to find some Windows 10 laptops available, the vast majority will now be on Windows 11.

If you're buying a new Windows 10 laptop from a major retailer, it's likely your computer will work with Windows 11 and will be eligible for a free upgrade. But if you're buying used or refurbished, it could be that your device won't work with Windows 11. To know for sure, use our Windows 11 requirements checker tool to find out whether your computer will be compatible.

On this page we've only featured the best Windows laptops that either run Windows 11 from new or are likely to be able to upgrade to Windows 11.

Not necessarily wedded to a Windows laptop? See our pick of the best laptops.

Only logged-in Which? members can view our recommendations in the table below. If you’re not yet a member, you can get instant access by joining Which?.

Best Windows 11 laptops

Below you'll find the best Windows laptops at a variety of prices, from £1,500 down to under £400. You'll see a few top picks from various price brackets, and if you want to see the rest and use more specific filters, head to our Windows laptop reviews.

Recommendations checked May 2024.

Now compare all tested models with our independently lab tested laptop reviews.

How much should I spend on a Windows laptop?

• Less than £300 – Intel Celeron processors, 4GB of Ram and up to 64GB of storage. Again, won't be hugely fast but offers a better level of performance for lightweight tasks and for children to use for homework. Avoid anything with an Intel Atom processor.
• Less than £500 – Intel Pentium, Core i3, AMD Ryzen 3, 128GB of storage and 4GB Ram. Fast enough for web browsing and research work. Aim for a Full HD screen and an SSD if you can. Read more on this in our guide to the best laptops under £500.
• Less than £600 – Intel Core i5, i7, AMD Ryzen 5, 7, 256GB of storage and 8GB of Ram. Should be ideal for photo editing and some light video work. Look for a thin and light design, a Full HD screen and a 256-512GB SSD.
• Less than £800 – As above, but in increasingly high-end designs. Look for great battery life and thin and light designs, and perhaps 1TB of SSD storage.
• More than £800 – Some stunning designs, great screens and good speakers. High-end laptops will suit more intensive tasks, such as video editing or playing games. 

We also test monitors – head to our computer monitor reviews to find out more about which model best suits your needs.

We test laptops more thoroughly than anyone else

Because Which? is independent and does not accept advertising or freebies, you can trust our reviews to give you the full, honest and impartial truth about a product. 

We use a vast combination of objective and subjective examinations to ensure that the laptops we recommend truly are the best. As well as using light-monitoring equipment to evaluate screen quality, for example, we also have a panel of experts to see how each laptop's screen looks in various environments, and whether it suffers from distracting reflections.

From battery life to the sound you'll get from the speakers, we test every nook and cranny. If you're not fussed whether your next laptop's operating system is Apple, ChromeOS or Windows, find out which machines flew through our in-depth tests by discovering our pick of the best laptops.