Engadget's 2026 best laptops: MacBook Air M4 tops list with 18-hour battery, because who needs Copilot+ when silence beats your next pivot meeting?

Engadget has released its list of the best laptops for 2026, with the 13-inch MacBook Air M4 topping the list as the best overall laptop for most people. The MacBook Air M4 boasts a powerful processor, great screen, and built-in speakers, with a battery life of over 18 hours. Other notable laptops include the Lenovo ThinkPad X9-14 Aura Edition, ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED, and Razer Blade 14. When choosing a laptop, consider factors such as operating system, price, size, and weight, as well as specs like processor, RAM, and storage. The price range for a decent laptop in 2026 is between $1,000 and $1,800. Apple's M-series chips have been shown to provide better battery life than Windows PCs, but Microsoft's Copilot+ initiative aims to change this with the use of neural processing units. The laptop market continues to evolve, with advancements in AI technology and improvements in display and battery life, making it an exciting time for consumers to purchase a new laptop.