The ten finest laptops at CES 2026
CES is a giant present for PC makers and laptops. Most main Home windows PC manufacturers—apart from Microsoft—use it because the launchpad for his or her yearly refreshes. This remained true at CES 2026, although the tone of the present was notably extra humble than up to now.
Whereas many new laptop computer designs included Intel Core Extremely Sequence 3 processors, the brand new AMD Ryzen AI 400 and Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 chips appeared much less standard with PC makers. Quickly rising reminiscence costs have additionally struck concern in PC makers, and several other manufacturers (together with Acer, Asus, and MSI) mentioned that retail pricing received’t be introduced till their respective laptops are nearer to launch.
On the plus aspect, Intel’s new Core Extremely Sequence 3 CPUs appear to have PC makers excited. It was a well-liked alternative in new designs, lots of that are thin-and-light with guarantees of excellent battery life. OLED shows additionally proceed to enhance whereas pricing falls. In consequence, the majority of laptops introduced at CES 2026 had OLED shows, and plenty of quoted peak HDR brightness at 1,000 nits or extra.
I bought to see all of it on the present ground and there have been some clear winners amongst them. Listed below are the perfect laptops at CES 2026.
Acer Swift 16 AI: The world’s largest haptic touchpad
Matthew Smith / Foundry
The Acer Swift 16 AI is the corporate’s new flagship and, to again that up, it’s packing the world’s largest haptic touchpad. It measures almost 7 inches throughout and about 4.25 inches deep, a measurement that simply surpasses most laptops in its class. And whereas haptic touchpads aren’t unusual at increased value factors, lots of Acer’s rivals don’t provide them. It’s a disgrace as a result of haptic touchpads are freakin’ superior.
The touchpad additionally helps stylus enter (and a stylus is included), which suggests you should use it to jot notes, sketch, animate, or do the rest usually supported by a digital drawing floor. Corning Gorilla Glass is used to offer additional safety for the touchpad and ship a easy floor.
Touchpad apart, the Acer Swift 16 AI has the options you’d anticipate from a flagship laptop computer. It serves up Intel Core Extremely X9 388H processors with Intel Arc built-in graphics and has a 16-inch 3K OLED touchscreen with a refresh fee as much as 120Hz. Connectivity consists of twin Thunderbolt 4, HDMI, USB-A, and a microSD card slot.
Acer says the Swift 16 AI will arrive in Q1 2026. Pricing to be introduced.
Asus Zenbook Duo: The redesign we didn’t know we would have liked
Matt Smith / Foundry
The second-generation Zenbook Duo was already the perfect dual-screen laptop computer available on the market, but Asus discovered a number of methods to enhance on it with the newest Zenbook Duo (mannequin quantity UX8407AA).
The most recent Duo switches from an aluminum chassis to Asus’ distinctive ceraluminum. It additionally has a redesigned hinge that reduces the hole separating the 2 shows, and a brand new kickstand that appears extra elegant and operates a hair extra easily than its predecessor.
These enhancements aren’t so dramatic that last-gen Zenbook Duo customers will really feel a have to improve, however they’re noticeable when the 2 are aspect by aspect. The lowered hole between shows is especially good.
The redesigned chassis accommodates spectacular {hardware}. The brand new Duo equips Intel Core Extremely X9 Sequence 3 processors with Intel Arc built-in graphics. It additionally has twin 14-inch 3K OLED touchscreens with as much as a 144Hz refresh fee. The battery is bigger, too, increasing from 75 watt-hours to 99 watt-hours.
Pricing and availability weren’t introduced.
Asus ExpertBook Extremely: A low-key ultraportable hero
Matt Smith / Foundry
Asus’ ExpertBook Extremely most likely received’t entice a lot consideration, because the Asus ExpertBook line isn’t as well-known as rivals like Lenovo’s ThinkPad—which is a disgrace as a result of the ExpertBook Extremely was arguably probably the most spectacular ultraportable laptop computer at CES 2026.
The ExpertBook Extremely weighs lower than a kilogram (or roughly 2.2 kilos) and measures beneath half an inch thick. The result’s a featherlight laptop computer that’s simpler to select up and deal with than most notebooks. But regardless of its low weight, the ExpertBook Extremely didn’t strike me as flimsy. It felt gentle but slate-like in my hand.
I additionally love the show. It’s a 14-inch 3K tandem OLED touchscreen that may hit a most HDR brightness of 1,400 nits and offers a refresh fee as much as 120Hz. The show additionally has an uncommon low-gloss coat that’s extraordinarily efficient at lowering glare. The CES present ground included loads of brilliant overhead lights, but the ExpertBook Extremely’s show was straightforward to make use of and suffered little or no glare.
The ExpertBook Extremely additionally provides as much as Intel Core Extremely X9 Sequence 3 processors with Intel Arc built-in graphics, a 70 watt-hour battery, and twin Thunderbolt 4 ports. Pricing stays to be introduced.
Asus Zenbook A16: A Qualcomm-powered fantastic thing about a laptop computer
Matt Smith / Foundry
The Asus Zenbook A16 is my decide for probably the most stunning laptop computer at CES 2026. It has a chassis coated in Asus’ distinctive ceraluminum, an aluminum-ceramic materials with a singular texture. The ceraluminum used within the Zenbook A16 additionally accommodates magnesium-aluminum alloy, a well-liked super-light materials. The laptop computer weighs in at a hair over 2.6 kilos, which is extremely gentle for a 16-inch machine.
That’s not the one motive the Zenbook A16 stands out. It’s additionally one in all only a handful of recent laptops to make use of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 Elite Excessive chip. The X2 Elite Excessive has 18 CPU cores, an 80 TOPs NPU, and improved built-in graphics. Different options embody a big touchpad, 16-inch 3K 120Hz OLED show, as much as 21 hours of battery life, and a 130-watt USB-C energy adapter.
The Zenbook A16’s pricing and availability are nonetheless beneath wraps.
Dell XPS 14 and 16: A return to kind
Matthew Smith / Foundry
XPS is again! And it’s not only a change of identify. The brand new XPS 14 and XPS 16 abandon the controversial capacitive contact operate row and return to good, old school bodily keys.
The brand new Dell XPS laptops go all-in on Intel {hardware}. They use Intel Core Extremely Sequence 3 processors and depend on Intel Arc built-in graphics. There’s a renewed deal with measurement and portability, as the brand new fashions measure beneath 0.6 inches thick. The XPS 14 is available in at 3 kilos whereas the XPS 16 ideas the scales at 3.6 kilos.
Dell may even provide a tandem OLED panel. If different tandem OLED shows are any information, the panel will provide an honest increase in brightness and a few acquire in shade efficiency. Nevertheless, Dell may even promote an LCD panel, claiming that the laptop computer will provide best-in-class battery life when outfitted with the LCD choice—as much as 27 hours of battery life in use, or over 40 hours in video playback. (We’ll have to check for ourselves.)
In contrast to another laptops on this checklist, you don’t have to attend for the Dell XPS 14/16. They’re obtainable now. The XPS 14 begins at $2,049.99 and the XPS 16 begins at $2,199.99. The launch fashions are higher-end configurations; Dell says cheaper configs are deliberate for later this 12 months.
Dell additionally introduced it should convey again the XPS 13 and confirmed an early model at CES, although it didn’t permit photographs. That laptop computer’s precise specs stay beneath wraps till later this 12 months.
HyperX Omen Max 16: New identify, extra energy
Matt Smith / Foundry
HP introduced its personal model shakeup at CES 2026: The corporate is transferring its gaming laptops beneath HyperX, the gaming peripheral model owned by HP. Nevertheless, HP couldn’t convey itself to half with Omen, one other model it acquired when it purchased gaming PC maker Voodoo all the way in which again in 2006. In consequence, HP’s latest high-end gaming laptop computer is named the HyperX Omen Max 16.
Branding shenanigans apart, it seems to be spectacular. The Omen Max 16 can deal with as much as 300 watts of whole system energy, a 50-watt acquire over the prior era. Extra energy usually results in extra efficiency, and that energy is distributed as much as Nvidia’s RTX 5090 graphics card and Intel’s Core Extremely 200HX processor. That is prone to place the Omen Max 16 among the many quickest gaming laptops bought this 12 months, although we’ll should evaluate the laptop computer in full to make sure.
Although the Omen Max 16 has the HyperX emblem on the lid, it seems to be moderately much like prior Omen laptops—which isn’t a nasty factor. Omen laptops have a tendency in direction of a easy however refined design with minimalist badging and a superb port choice. All of this stays current on the Omen Max 16. The laptop computer additionally has a 16-inch 2560×1600 240Hz OLED show.
One factor not current, although, is the worth. It’ll be revealed nearer to the laptop computer’s launch in spring of 2026.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Aura Version: Extra repairable design
Matt Smith / Foundry
The super-thin Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon is now on its 14th era (and now I really feel previous since I bear in mind the CES the place Lenovo launched the primary one). This time round, although, Lenovo is doing greater than updating the chassis to accommodate a brand new era of silicon—the laptop computer is totally redesigned with a brand new House Body construct for cramming in additional {hardware} whereas additionally making it simpler to restore.
The House Body is so named as a result of it’s meant to release area. To try this, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Aura Version (in addition to its sibling, the ThinkPad X1 2-in-1) has a brand new mainboard that’s constructed to permit part placement on either side of the PCB. House Body can also be extra modular and permits simpler alternative of USB ports, battery, keyboard, audio system, and followers.
Don’t get too excited, although. I requested a Lenovo rep if customers will be capable of benefit from the ThinkPad X1 Carbon’s repairability at residence and the reply, for now, is… largely no. Whereas the House Body will make repairs simpler, Lenovo has no plans to promote particular elements (like USB ports) to finish customers for residence restore. The main focus is as a substitute on serviceability for enterprise purchasers with ThinkPad fleets.
House Body apart, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Aura Version is a high-end laptop computer with Intel Core Extremely X7 Sequence 3 processors, Intel Arc built-in graphics, and a 10-megapixel digital camera.
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14 Aura Version will arrive in March 2026 at $1,999. The ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 11 Aura Version will arrive in March 2026 at $2,149.
Lenovo Legion Professional Rollable: Please, take my cash
Matt Smith / Foundry
Final 12 months, Lenovo confirmed off a rollable OLED laptop computer idea that would roll out its OLED panel to extend the laptop computer’s vertical show area. (It’s now obtainable and even received a PCWorld Editors’ Alternative award). Now, Lenovo has turned that concept on its aspect with the Lenovo Legion Professional Rollable. It could broaden from a 16-inch widescreen OLED show to a 21-inch or 24-inch ultrawide show.
The essential thought is similar to Lenovo’s prior rollable OLED endeavors. The Legion Professional Rollable has a versatile OLED panel paired with motors that broaden or retract the show. Nevertheless, as a substitute of increasing upward, the show now expands each left and proper.
It’s a terrific piece of eye sweet, to make sure, but in addition seems to be extraordinarily useful. Laptops have all the time been certain by the easy bodily actuality {that a} bigger show requires a bigger chassis, which suggests big-screen laptops are gigantic. (Acer’s Predator 21X—the one ultrawide laptop computer ever bought—was 22 inches large and weighed nearly 19 kilos.)
After all, the Legion Professional Rollable is only a idea for now. I’d wager Lenovo will find yourself promoting it—or one thing prefer it—however I additionally anticipate it’ll be moderately costly. (The ThinkBook Plus Rollable was $3,299 at MSRP.)
Lenovo Yoga Professional 9i Aura Version: Firing on all cylinders
Matt Smith / Foundry
A lot of the laptops on this checklist have a selected energy, gimmick, or angle, however the Lenovo Yoga Professional 9i Aura Version takes a distinct strategy. It tries to do every part without delay.
This 16-inch machine is filled with high-end {hardware}, together with as much as Intel Core Extremely 9 Sequence 3 processors and as much as Nvidia RTX 5070 cell graphics. That’s paired with a 3.2K tandem OLED show that may ship as much as 1,600 nits of brightness and is VESA HDR True Black 1000 licensed. The combo of high-end Intel processors, RTX graphics, and a top-shelf tandem OLED show ought to make the Yoga Professional 9i Aura Version a powerhouse in each video games and artistic skilled workflows.
However that’s not all. Just like the Acer Swift 16 AI, the Lenovo Yoga Professional 9i Aura Version has a big touchpad with stylus assist that can be utilized as a drawing floor. It’s appropriate with Lenovo’s Yoga Pen Gen 2. The laptop computer additionally has a six-speaker sound system (Lenovo’s Yoga Professional laptops typically have best-in-class sound high quality), Thunderbolt 4, and USB-A ports with 10Gbps knowledge charges.
Lenovo says the Yoga Professional 9i Aura Version shall be obtainable in Q2 2026 beginning at $1,899.99.
MSI Raider 16 Max HX: Critical gaming efficiency and high-end HDR
Matthew Smith / Foundry
MSI has a protracted historical past of going all-out with its gaming laptops, and the Raider 16 Max HX retains that popularity alive. Although it’s a 16-inch machine, MSI says it’s the world’s first gaming laptop computer able to dealing with as much as 300 watts of whole system energy. (The aforementioned HyperX Omen Max 16 may even ship that a lot energy, by the way in which.) A 400-watt energy brick will feed the laptop computer.
The vast majority of that energy (as much as 175 watts) is delivered to the laptop computer’s Nvidia RTX 5080 or RTX 5090 GPU. The rest (as much as 125 watts) flows to the Intel Core Extremely 200HX processor.
Increased energy draw results in hotter thermals, so MSI says the Max HX has an advanced “Cooler Enhance Trinity with Intra Circulation” cooling system. It consists of three followers, six warmth pipes, and 5 vents. The laptop computer may even present quick access to its RAM and storage for upgrades. A 16-inch 2.5K 240Hz OLED show with VESA DisplayHDR True Black certification rounds out the specs.
MSI says the laptop computer’s value and availability shall be revealed at a later date.
