LAS VEGAS—Despite an ongoing robotic and automotive invasion, CES still debuted several super-cool laptops this year. We’ve toured every show floor, meeting hall, and demo space of the world’s biggest tech show to show you the cream of the laptop crop revealed here in Las Vegas. We found a flagship laptop that’s more upgradable than ever, two devices that would make a MacBook Pro or Surface Pro blush, a debonair dual-screen notebook, and even one with a display that rolls around its lid. These are the eight top laptops of CES 2026.
Best Laptop OverallLenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14 Aura Edition
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Lenovo reworked the interior of the existing ThinkPad X1 Carbon chassis, creating savings for IT managers and end users by letting them replace a part easily instead of buying a whole new laptop. The ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14 Aura Edition is our number one laptop of the show. It’s packed with Intel Core Ultra Series 3 Panther Lake processors, but the bigger story is on the inside. Lenovo’s biggest innovation here is its “Space Frame” design, which makes the interior components more upgradable and replaceable by mounting them on both sides of the internal frame. You can access the laptop’s guts from under the keyboard (it simply lifts off from some magnets!), or through the bottom panel to swap out parts—the ports, the battery, the fans—when something needs repair. This is the classic top-end ThinkPad you know, but made even more compelling, earning it the top spot on our list. (For a deeper dive, see our hands on with the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14.)
Best Ultraportable LaptopAsus Zenbook A16
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Asus practically stole the show at CES 2025 with its 14-inch Zenbook A14 laptop, so this year it followed that up with something even bigger and better: the 16-inch Zenbook A16. Still an Arm-based Windows AI PC, now packing Qualcomm’s top-end, 18-core Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme processor, the A16 chooses “more” as its operative word: more screen, more power, and more battery life. Yes, this also means more thickness and weight, but the gains in girth are marginal given the upsides. It measures just 0.65 inch thick and weighs only 2.65 pounds—lighter (but thicker) than Apple’s 13-inch MacBook Air. We fully expect the Asus Zenbook A16 to be a 16-inch ultraportable laptop to beat in 2026. (See our hands on with the Asus Zenbook A16.)
Best Content Creation LaptopMSI Stealth 16 AI+
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
MSI’s ultra-thin Stealth gaming laptop line has been transformed into a sleek, portable high-power device for more than just gaming. The new Stealth design identity bears a strong resemblance to the MacBook Pro, but the result is a more appealing, understated design than even Razer’s all-metal Blade look. Aside from design, the laptop has the power needed not just for gaming, but for content creation and other high-demand tasks, assisted by fresh Intel Core Ultra Series 3 H-grade processors with improved AI hardware. And for gaming, you can kit out the Stealth with up to a top-end GeForce RTX 5090 graphics chip, and it’s one of the thinnest and lightest laptops that can do it. That’s thanks to a new, killer cooling scheme inside. We may already be looking at the best MacBook Pro alternative pretty early in the game this year. (See our hands on with the MSI Stealth 16 AI+.)
Best Business LaptopAsus ExpertBook Ultra
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
While you could consider Asus’ latest flagship work laptop a runner-up to this year’s topmost Lenovo pick, when strictly speaking of business machines, the 14-inch ExpertBook Ultra should share that podium. It’s an incredibly focused AI PC laptop for work with 50 watts of power via Intel Core Ultra X9 processing, backed by an upgraded thermal system. Despite this, the laptop weighs just 2.18 pounds, measures only 0.43 inch thick, and can last for up to 24 hours on a charge and refill to 50% juice in just 30 minutes on the plug. This is a high-potency system that’s even thinner and lighter than a MacBook Air, but with a larger 14-inch screen and many more ports, including two Thunderbolt Type-C’s, two USB Type-A, full-size HDMI, and a headphone jack. Speaking of which, that panel is a stunning 1800p Tandem OLED display equipped with durable Gorilla Glass Victus and effective anti-glare etching. It’s a no-nonsense, hyper-light work laptop that will be tough to beat this year.
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Best Gaming LaptopAlienware 16 Area-51 (OLED, 2026)
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Dell’s latest top-end gaming laptop already earned a high score in our 2025 review, so the company didn’t have to do much to the Alienware 16 Area-51 to potentially win it even higher marks. One thing many gamers, including ourselves, have been requesting is for Alienware to bring back OLED, and this year’s Area-51 laptops deliver exactly that without compromise. Adding OLED panels refreshing at 240Hz wasn’t enough for Dell, though, also updating the laptops’ processors to Intel’s refreshed Intel Core Ultra 200HX-series chips. Both moves should help Alienware’s chances of coming out ahead in this year’s gaming laptop race. (See our first look at the new OLED Alienware laptops.)
Best 2-in-1 Detachable LaptopAsus ProArt PZ14
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Asus appears bent on producing a better Surface Pro than Microsoft itself can, and the new ProArt PZ14 detachable 2-in-1 laptop might be the one to seal the deal. As before, this is a Snapdragon system, now powered by the 18-core X2 Elite processor. Asus promises “all-day battery life” on this device, which we’ll have to test thoroughly, but the rest of the package has immediate appeal. That includes a 14-inch 1800p OLED touch screen that refreshes at 144Hz, as well as the additional ports it offers over the latest Surface Pro. Plus, Asus includes the keyboard in the box. (Take note, Microsoft!) All told, the ProArt PZ14 is poised to be your first stop for a detachable 2-in-1 laptop this year.
Best Dual-Screen LaptopAsus Zenbook Duo (2026)
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Dual-screen laptops are an interesting niche, and Asus’ new Zenbook Duo has long been a favorite of ours. For 2026, Asus made it even slicker. One of the laptop’s two 1800p screens is where you usually expect a laptop’s keyboard to be. This idea isn’t new, but Asus made impressive strides in making it look sleek, shaving down the bezels on all sides, especially at the hinge, allowing for more seamless dual-screen use. Asus also improved the keyboard and made the touchpad a lot bigger. Your fingers will never mistake it for a mechanical keyboard, but it’s more workable than ever, and you can use the keyboard alone on your desk wirelessly, or overlaid onto the lower screen like a “normal” clamshell laptop. The ZenBook Duo is equipped with a choice of Core Ultra 7, Core Ultra 9, or Core Ultra X9 Panther Lake CPUs from Intel.
Best Laptop PrototypeLenovo ThinkPad Rollable XD
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Lenovo has already brought a rollable laptop display to market, so it’s promising to see it refined in a brand-new prototype. The ThinkPad Rollable XD features a rolling panel that stretches 180 degrees around the top of the screen lid and rolls out into a much larger screen on command. When the screen is rolled in, you gain some additional, customizable screen space on the lid’s back (covering approximately a third of it). That portion can display basic information, such as weather, system diagnostics, and notifications. When you release the screen-stretching hounds, however, the 14-inch laptop screen extends upward to measure 17 inches diagonally, which can be handy for various professional tasks. Judging by the relative polish in the device we saw at CES, chances seem high that we may see this model for real one day. (See our first look at the ThinkPad Rollable XD.)
About Our Expert
Joe Osborne
Deputy Managing Editor, Hardware
Experience
After starting my career at PCMag as an intern more than a decade ago, I’m back as one of its editors, focused on managing laptops, desktops, and components coverage. With 15 years of experience, I have been on staff and published in technology review publications, including PCMag (of course!), Laptop Magazine, Tom’s Guide, TechRadar, and IGN. Along the way, I’ve tested and reviewed hundreds of laptops and helped develop testing protocols. I have expertise in testing all forms of laptops and desktops using the latest tools. I’m also well-versed in video game hardware and software coverage.