The 5 Best 15-16 Inch Laptops - Spring 2024 Reviews

The best 16-inch laptop we've tested is the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M3, 2023). With its thin bezels, this 16-inch model is practically the same size as most 15-inch laptops. It feels incredibly well-built, provides an amazing user experience, and packs enough processing power to handle demanding tasks like video editing and 3D graphics. It has a nice Mini LED display with full DCI P3 coverage, a comfortable keyboard that you can type on all day, and a gigantic, easy-to-use haptic touchpad. The speakers are among the best on the market; the same can be said about the webcam. Its port selection is excellent, so you can easily connect multiple peripherals and external displays. The only downside is that none of the components are user-replaceable, and upgrading the RAM and storage adds to the total cost of the device considerably.

For Windows users, we recommend the Dell XPS 15 (2023), a 15.6-inch premium mobile workstation. It's slightly more portable than the MacBook Pro 16, but you don't get as much screen space for multitasking. It's available with Intel 13th Gen H-series CPUs and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40-series GPUs, up to a 4070, which are fast enough to handle highly demanding tasks. You can get up to 64GB of RAM and 8TB of storage, and unlike the MacBook Pro 16, these components are user-replaceable. A couple of drawbacks to know about: the laptop's 720p webcam is pretty bad, and the keyboard gets uncomfortably hot under load. Lastly, know that Dell has released newer XPS models in 14- and 16-inch sizes, with the former replacing the 15-inch model, so if you like the 15-inch size, this is a good time to get one because it's often on sale on Dell's website.

If you only need to perform light tasks like web browsing and text processing, get the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023), the best 15-inch laptop we've tested for general productivity. Before we get into the details, know that Apple has released a newer M3 model. It only has a few changes, including Wi-Fi 6E, slightly better performance, and support for two external displays (with the laptop closed). The M2 version is discontinued, though you can probably still find one via third-party sellers, marketplaces, or Apple's refurbished section, likely at a lower price. Otherwise, it's best to just go with the M3 version.

The MacBook Air 15 is super thin for its size but still feels rigid and exceptionally well-built. Like the MacBook Pro 16 above, it provides an amazing user experience with a sharp display (not Mini LED, unfortunately), a comfortable keyboard, and a gigantic, responsive touchpad. Performance is great, as its SoC can easily handle general productivity and even some light programming or video editing. Plus, it's fanless, so you can work in peace. As mentioned, the M3 model can support two external displays, but the number of ports remain unchanged, meaning you only get two USB-Cs. We'll have a full review of the M3 model soon.

A Windows alternative to the MacBook Air would be the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 (2022), also a premium ultraportable designed for light productivity. You can configure it with an Intel 12th Gen Core i7 CPU and up to 32GB of memory and 1TB of storage. Its port selection is arguably better since it has a USB-A port and multi-display support via Thunderbolt 4; however, its 3:2 display doesn't get as bright, and its battery life is a tad shorter.

Our best mid-range pick is the Lenovo Yoga 7i 16 (2023), a 2-in-1 convertible. It's fairly portable for a 16-inch device, thanks to its thin and light design, and while it doesn't feel as premium as the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) above, it's still very sturdy, sporting an all-aluminum chassis. Its large display gives you plenty of room for split-screen multitasking, and since this is a 2-in-1, you can flip the screen and use it as a tablet. There's also pen input support, and the laptop comes with a stylus in the box. The keyboard feels comfortable to type on for extended periods and includes a Numpad, which is handy if you work with lots of numbers.

Port selection is excellent; you get two USB-As, two USB-C/Thunderbolt 4s, an HDMI, and a MicroSD card reader. Biometrics include a fingerprint sensor and facial recognition camera. Spec-wise, it's available with Intel 13th Gen U- and P-series CPUs, which are plenty fast for general productivity tasks like web browsing, text processing, and video playback. The webcam is decent; the image looks relatively sharp but has an unnatural tint, and the microphone picks up some background noise. You can get this laptop directly from Lenovo if you have trouble finding it elsewhere.

The best 15-inch laptop we've tested in the budget category is the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i 15 (2023). This 15-inch Windows laptop is a great option if you just want a simple device that can handle light productivity tasks like text processing, web browsing, and video playback. It's available with various Intel 13th Gen CPUs, from a Core i3 to i7, and up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. The Core i3 configuration is often on sale for less than $400 USD on Lenovo's website. It has a comfortable keyboard, a small but responsive touchpad, and a surprisingly good 720p webcam. There's a fingerprint sensor, so you can log in quickly.

You have a couple of options regarding the display; unfortunately, the cheaper configurations come with a low-quality TN panel, so you'll have to spend a bit more if you upgrade to an IPS display. There's a touchscreen option, but unlike the Yoga 7i 16 above, it isn't a 2-in-1 convertible and lacks stylus support. Another downside is its short battery life. It lasts less than seven hours of light use, which is almost six hours less than the Yoga 7i.

Our best gaming laptop pick is the Dell Alienware m16 R1 (2023). This 16-inch model provides an amazing gaming experience. It's available with fast AMD Ryzen CPUs and various discrete GPUs, up to a Ryzen 9 7945HX and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 (mobile), respectively. Display options include two QHD+ panels (165Hz or 240Hz) and an FHD+ 480Hz panel, so you can choose based on your budget, preference, and CPU/GPU configuration. All three panels support variable refresh rate to reduce screen tearing. RAM and storage max out at 64GB and 8.5TB, respectively; both are user-replaceable.

This laptop feels very well-built. It has a solid metal and plastic construction, with a finish that doesn't pick up many fingerprints or smudges. It isn't the best for on-the-go use, though, as It's bulky and heavy, and you'll need to bring the charger because the battery lasts less than an hour when gaming. The keyboard is configurable; you can get it with scissor or low-profile CherryMX mechanical switches. Online gamers, you'd be happy to hear it has Wi-Fi 6E and an Ethernet port to ensure a reliable internet connection. You can get this laptop directly from Dell if you have trouble finding it elsewhere.