Best high-performance laptops in 2025 for power users

Most laptops today are capable of handling everyday tasks. But once the workload starts to scale, things get more demanding. If you are rendering high-resolution video, running complex code, working with large creative files, or playing triple-A titles at maximum settings, you’ll need serious power under the hood.

That level of power is not something you get from a standard laptop. Finding the right laptop, however, is not easy. These machines often come with a high price tag, and choosing the right one means looking beyond just processor speed or RAM.

You have to consider how all the components work together, from the display quality and graphics performance to memory, storage, and thermal management. So, to make that decision a little easier, here are our picks for the best high-performance laptops in 2025 for power users.

Best high-performance laptops to buy in 2025

1. Apple MacBook Pro

2. Microsoft Surface 7th Edition

3. Asus Zenbook 14 notebook laptop

4. Dell G15

5. Acer Swift Go

1. Apple MacBook Pro

Apple’s latest MacBook Pro with the M4 Max chip marks a clear shift in how performance gains are progressing across its silicon roadmap. After years of steady, incremental updates, this release delivers a more aggressive leap, especially for demanding creative workloads.

The 16-inch MacBook Pro, configured with a 16-core CPU, 40-core GPU, and 128GB of unified memory, now outperforms the M2 Ultra desktop chip in complex creative workflows. For video editors and content professionals, that translates to faster 4K and 8K exports, smoother timeline playback, and improved GPU-driven effects.

The design remains largely unchanged, with the familiar aluminium chassis and the excellent keyboard and trackpad combination. However, important upgrades include support for Thunderbolt 5, a new nano-texture display option that significantly reduces glare, and a brighter Liquid Retina XDR panel that now reaches 1,000 nits in SDR. Battery life remains strong, offering up to 24 hours of video playback.

The new MacBook Pro now also supports fast charging, and the High Power Mode enables sustained performance for intensive tasks. You also get three Thunderbolt 5 ports, HDMI, SDXC, and a high-fidelity six-speaker system with spatial audio.

2. Microsoft Surface 7th Edition

The Microsoft Surface 7th Edition pushes the Surface line into true flagship territory with Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon X Elite chip, finally making Windows on ARM a serious contender.

It combines premium build quality with a 13.8-inch PixelSense touchscreen (2304 × 1536 pixels) resolution at 120Hz, Wi-Fi 7, and a fanless design that weighs under 1.3 kg, delivering smooth performance and all-day battery life in an elegant, compact chassis.

Inside, it runs on a 12-core Snapdragon X Elite processor with up to 32GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 1TB of SSD storage. A 45 TOPS NPU enables on-device AI features like Windows Studio Effects, real-time voice focus, and seamless Copilot+ integration.

Other features include Microsoft’s haptic touchpad, improved stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos, a 1080p AI webcam, a practical mix of ports (USB-A, USB-C, and USB4), and class-leading battery optimisation, offering up to 20 hours of video playback.

3. Asus Zenbook 14 notebook laptop

The Asus Zenbook 14 pairs Intel’s new Core Ultra 5 225H processor with a 14-inch 2.8K OLED touchscreen, delivering sharp visuals, strong power efficiency, and real-world versatility in a premium aluminium chassis. Equipped with 16 GB of LPDDR5X RAM and a 1 TB NVMe SSD, it handles multitasking, creative workflows, and productivity apps with ease.

The 2880 × 1800 OLED panel offers a 120Hz refresh rate and a 16:10 aspect ratio, making it well-suited for creators, developers, and anyone working across multiple windows. Additionally, the Asus Zenbook 14 features Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, a full-sized HDMI port, USB-C 3.2, a backlit keyboard, and supports fast charging.

4. Dell G15

Dell’s G-Series continues to push into the value gaming segment, and the G15 is its most performance-focused model yet. Powered by a 13th-gen Intel Core i7 and an RTX 4060 GPU with a generous 140-watt power ceiling, the G15 delivers frame rates that rival thinner RTX 4070 laptops in several demanding titles.

It’s 165Hz Full HD display covers 100 per cent of the sRGB colour gamut and supports NVIDIA G-SYNC and ComfortView Plus for improved visual clarity and reduced eye strain. The G15 also features a four-zone RGB backlit keyboard, Dolby Audio dual speakers, and a 720p HD webcam with a digital microphone. For connectivity, it includes Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, DisplayPort over USB-C, and HDMI 2.1.

5. Acer Swift Go 14

Acer’s Swift Go 14 introduces Intel’s new Meteor Lake architecture in a compact, practical chassis, delivering noticeable gains in performance, battery life, and AI functionality. Powered by the Core Ultra 7 155H processor, it features a hybrid core layout with six performance cores, eight efficiency cores, and a new low-power NPU designed for AI acceleration.

While not a gaming machine, it can handle light titles capably and outperforms most laptops still using older Iris Xe graphics. The 14-inch OLED touchscreen (WUXGA, 400 nits, 100 per cent sRGB) delivers crisp visuals with punchy colours, and battery life stretches to nearly 13 hours, well ahead of most Windows competitors.

It also includes great extras such as a QHD webcam with AI framing and noise reduction, dual Thunderbolt 4 ports, Wi-Fi 7, and a power button with an integrated fingerprint reader.