From MacBook Air M4 to Legion Pro 7, these are the top laptops of the year

The 2026 HT Tech Power List Awards recognize the products that have had the greatest impact over the past year. Competition in every category is fiercer as brands launch laptops that are more powerful and feature-rich than ever before. From ultraportables and creator-focused machines to gaming laptops, these are the devices that stand out.

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These nominations were selected by the HT Tech editorial team after evaluating the year’s most notable products. The final winner is then selected through a combination of expert review and public voting, ensuring the results reflect both technical excellence and the preferences of everyday users. Here are the winners of the Laptop category of HT Tech Power List Awards 2026.

MacBook Air M4 won Laptop of the Year for delivering one of the most complete laptop experiences of 2026. Its combination of fast performance, great battery life, lightweight design, and solid day-to-day usability make it a favorite among our judges and readers. It’s equally suitable for work, study, and play, making it an easy choice for top honors.

Best Creator Laptops

MacBook Pro M5 earned the Best Creator Laptop award for its performance in demanding creative workloads. From video editing and graphic design to music production and 3D rendering, it delivers the power professionals need while maintaining great battery life, a great display, and a premium overall experience.

Best laptops for students

The ASUS Vivobook 16 wins the Best Student Laptop award by striking the right balance between performance, features, and value. Its large display, reliable hardware, and practical design make it a great choice for students taking online classes, completing assignments, or handling day-to-day productivity tasks.

Best gaming laptop

The Lenovo Legion Pro 7 is our best gaming laptop of the year. It impresses with its powerful internals, efficient cooling system and 240 Hz high refresh rate display, delivering the performance gamers have come to expect from a flagship machine. It’s equally capable of handling demanding AAA games and competitive multiplayer games.

Meet the nominees