Best laptop under £1000

Performance is one of two critical criteria because it determines how responsive the laptop feels during daily use and whether it can handle demanding tasks when needed.

The MacBook Air M2 scores 9/10. Apple's M2 chip delivers class-leading single-threaded performance, which is the metric that matters most for everyday computing: opening apps, switching between browser tabs, scrolling through documents and handling video calls. The chip also includes an 8-core GPU that handles light creative work including photo editing and basic video editing capably. Its only limitation is sustained heavy workloads where the fanless design causes thermal throttling after approximately 10 minutes of peak load.

The Dell XPS 13 Plus scores 8/10 with its Intel Core i7-1360P. This chip offers stronger multi-threaded performance than the M2, which benefits tasks like code compilation and batch processing. However, it generates more heat and fan noise during sustained work. The ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED scores 8/10 with the same Intel chip in a slightly thicker chassis that manages thermals marginally better. The Lenovo Yoga 7i scores 7/10 with a Core i5-1340P that handles everyday tasks well but trails in demanding workloads.

Display quality is the second critical criterion because you look at the screen more than any other component. A good display reduces eye strain, improves colour accuracy for creative work and makes the laptop more enjoyable to use for extended periods.

The ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED scores 9/10 with the best display in this comparison. Its 2.8K OLED panel produces perfect blacks, infinite contrast and covers 100% of the DCI-P3 colour space. For photo editing, design work or simply watching content, no other laptop under £1000 matches it visually.

The MacBook Air M2 scores 8/10 with its Liquid Retina display. While it uses IPS rather than OLED technology, the panel is sharp, bright at 500 nits and supports P3 wide colour. True Tone colour temperature adjustment is a genuinely useful feature for reducing eye strain. The Dell XPS 13 Plus scores 8/10 with a sharp FHD+ IPS display. The Lenovo Yoga 7i can be configured with a 2.8K OLED panel as well, scoring 8/10, though its base configuration uses a lower-resolution IPS panel.

The MacBook Air M2 and Dell XPS 13 Plus both score 9/10 for build quality. The MacBook's aluminium unibody feels solid and premium, with an outstanding keyboard and the best trackpad on any laptop. The Dell matches it with a striking design featuring a seamless keyboard deck and clean lines, though its capacitive function row divides opinion.

The ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED scores 8/10 with solid aluminium construction and a good keyboard, though the trackpad is noticeably smaller than the MacBook's. The Lenovo Yoga 7i scores 7/10 with decent build quality for its price, though the plastic hinge area and lighter materials are noticeable compared to the premium options.

For battery life, the MacBook Air M2 scores 10/10 with approximately 18 hours. The Dell XPS 13 Plus scores 7/10 with approximately 12 hours. The ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED scores 6/10 with approximately 11 hours, partly because its OLED display consumes more power. The Lenovo Yoga 7i scores 6/10 with approximately 10 hours.

The MacBook Air M2 scores 8/10 for value at £999. Its combination of performance, battery life, build quality and long software support makes it excellent value when considered over its likely five-year lifespan. The high resale value of MacBooks further reduces the effective cost of ownership.

The ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED scores 8/10 at £899, offering an OLED display and strong performance at the lowest price of the premium options. The Lenovo Yoga 7i scores 8/10 at £749, delivering good all-round capability with the added versatility of a 2-in-1 design. The Dell XPS 13 Plus scores 7/10 at £979, offering premium build quality but without the battery life advantage of the MacBook or the display advantage of the ASUS at a similar price.