Best laptops (June 2026): buying guide

🔄 Last updated: June 2026

Best laptops (June 2026): buying guide

The laptop market has evolved significantly in 2026, with even more efficient processors, OLED screens becoming ever more common and battery life that comfortably exceeds 15 hours. Whether you are a student, a professional or a gamer, choosing the right laptop can make a real difference to your daily productivity. With the arrival of the new Intel Core Ultra Series 3 and AMD Ryzen 8000 chips, alongside NVIDIA RTX 50 Series GPUs, the choice is richer than ever.

In this guide, updated to June 2026, we look at the best laptops currently available on the Italian market, divided by price range and specific use. From ultraportables for people who work on the move to gaming monsters with an RTX 5080, you will find everything you need to make the right choice.

Choosing criteria: what to consider before you buy

Before going into the individual products, it is essential to define a few key parameters that should guide your choice:

• Processor: Intel Core Ultra 7/9 Series 3 and AMD Ryzen 7/9 8000 dominate the premium market, while the Core Ultra 5 and Ryzen 5 offer the best value for money
• RAM: 16GB is now the standard, 32GB for professionals and content creators, 8GB only for basic use
• Storage: PCIe 5.0 SSD for top performance, 512GB as the minimum recommended size, 1TB for anyone working with heavy files
• Display: OLED for superior picture quality, IPS LCD for the best value, 120Hz+ for gaming and smooth work
• Battery life: at least 8-10 hours for office use, 12-15 hours for the most efficient ultrabooks
• Weight and size: under 1.5kg for maximum portability, up to 2.5kg for compact gaming laptops

MacBook Air 15" M4 (2026) - The king of ultrabooks

Apple has struck again with the new 15-inch MacBook Air powered by the M4 chip, launched in March 2026. This ultrabook is the perfect balance of performance, battery life and design, consolidating Apple's leadership in the premium segment.

The 3nm M4 chip delivers 25% better performance than the previous M3, with an integrated GPU that handles 4K video editing and light gaming with ease. The 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone technology ensures accurate colours and brightness of up to 500 nits. The claimed 18-hour battery life comes very close to everyday reality.

Key specs: Apple M4 (10-core CPU, 10-core GPU), 16GB unified RAM, 512GB SSD, 15.3" 2880x1864 display, weight 1.51kg

Price: 1.899€ - 2.399€

Pros: Excellent battery life, top performance, build quality, Apple ecosystem
Cons: High price, limited ports, not upgradable

Recommended for: Creative professionals, developers, university students with a generous budget

ASUS ZenBook 14 OLED (2026) - The best Windows ultrabook

ASUS has completely revamped the ZenBook line in 2026, introducing OLED screens as standard and the new third-generation Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processors. The ZenBook 14 OLED is the best Windows alternative to the MacBook Air, with a more affordable price and greater versatility.

The 14-inch OLED display with 2.8K resolution and 100% DCI-P3 coverage delivers perfect blacks and vivid colours, ideal for photo editing and entertainment. The backlit keyboard and the NumberPad 2.0 touchpad noticeably improve productivity. Real-world battery life of 14 hours makes it ideal for a full working day.

Key specs: Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, 16GB LPDDR5X, 1TB PCIe 5.0 SSD, 14" OLED 2880x1800 display, weight 1.39kg

Price: 1.299€ - 1.699€

Pros: Excellent OLED screen, premium design, good battery life, competitive price
Cons: RAM not upgradable, audible fans under load

Recommended for: Professionals, students, anyone looking for a premium Windows ultrabook

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 - Business reliability

The twelfth generation of the legendary ThinkPad X1 Carbon confirms Lenovo's leadership in the business segment. New for 2026: the new model features Intel Core Ultra processors with a dedicated NPU for AI and full support for Windows 11 Pro AI Edition.

Build quality remains at the top of the category, with MIL-STD military certifications and a keyboard that is still the gold standard for professional typing. The 14-inch display comes in 4K IPS or 2.8K OLED versions, both with brightness above 400 nits. Security is covered by a fingerprint reader, TPM 2.0 and an IR webcam for Windows Hello.

Key specs: Intel Core Ultra 7 165U, 32GB LPDDR5X, 1TB SSD, 14" 4K IPS or 2.8K OLED display, weight 1.12kg

Price: 1.899€ - 2.599€

Pros: Excellent keyboard, superior build quality, business-grade security, very light
Cons: High price, conservative design, average battery life

Recommended for: Managers, consultants, IT professionals, anyone who travels a lot for work

Framework Laptop 16 - The revolutionary modular laptop

Framework has revolutionised the very idea of a laptop with the Laptop 16, a fully modular and repairable device that lets you replace every component, from the keyboard to the dedicated GPU. New for 2026: now available with AMD Ryzen 8040 processors and swappable GPU modules up to the RTX 5070 Mobile.

The modular port system lets you choose exactly the connections you need, while the GPU module can be removed to maximise battery life or swapped for future upgrades. The "right to repair" philosophy translates into a product built to last for years, with continuous hardware evolution.

Key specs: AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS, 32GB DDR5, 1TB SSD, 16" 2560x1600 165Hz display, optional RTX 5060 Mobile GPU, weight 2.1kg

Price: 1.699€ - 2.899€ (with dedicated GPU)

Pros: Fully modular, repairable, upgradable, innovative
Cons: Limited availability, high price, greater thickness

Recommended for: Enthusiasts, developers, anyone who wants a long-lasting, customisable laptop

HP Pavilion Plus 14 - The best value for money

HP has hit the target with the Pavilion Plus 14, a laptop that brings premium technology to an affordable price range. The 2026 model introduces Intel Core Ultra 5 processors and OLED screens even in the base configuration, democratising technologies once reserved for top-of-the-range models.

The design is surprisingly refined for the category, with an aluminium chassis and slim profile. Performance is more than adequate for productivity, study and entertainment, while 11 hours of battery life makes it suitable for mobile use too. The Bang & Olufsen audio system delivers above-average quality.

Key specs: Intel Core Ultra 5 135H, 16GB LPDDR5, 512GB SSD, 14" OLED 2240x1400 display, weight 1.41kg

Price: 899€ - 1.299€

Pros: OLED screen at an affordable price, premium design, good performance
Cons: Build quality could be better, average battery life, keyboard not backlit

Recommended for: Students, basic users, anyone who wants OLED without spending too much

ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2026) - Premium gaming

The 2026 ROG Zephyrus G16 represents the evolution of gaming laptops, with a slimmer design and desktop-replacement performance. New for 2026: equipped with the new RTX 5070/5080 Mobile and Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX processors, it delivers stable 4K gaming performance.

The 16-inch Mini LED display with 240Hz and G-Sync ensures a smooth, immersive gaming experience. The Intelligent Cooling system keeps temperatures optimal even during long gaming sessions, while the optical-mechanical keyboard offers superior tactile feedback. Battery life, surprising for a gaming laptop, reaches 8 hours in productive use.

Key specs: Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX, 32GB DDR5, 2TB SSD, RTX 5080 Mobile, 16" Mini LED 240Hz display, weight 2.2kg

Price: 2.899€ - 3.799€

Pros: Excellent gaming performance, quality screen, refined design, good cooling
Cons: Very high price, noisy under load, limited battery life when gaming

Recommended for: Enthusiast gamers, content creators, video game developers

Acer Swift 14 AI - AI within everyone's reach

Acer has bet heavily on artificial intelligence with the Swift 14 AI, an ultrabook that combines advanced AI features with a competitive price. New for 2026: the Intel Core Ultra 7 processor with an upgraded NPU provides local AI acceleration for features such as real-time translation, photo enhancement and writing assistance.

The laptop excels at everyday productivity thanks to the AI features built into Windows 11, such as Copilot+ and Studio Effects for professional video calls. Construction is solid despite the modest price, while 13 hours of battery life makes it ideal for working on the move. The large trackpad supports advanced gestures.

Key specs: Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, 16GB LPDDR5X, 1TB SSD, 14" IPS 1920x1200 display, weight 1.32kg

Price: 1.099€ - 1.499€

Pros: Built-in AI features, excellent battery life, competitive price, good portability
Cons: Standard IPS screen, average build quality, limited performance for heavy tasks

Recommended for: Professionals, students, anyone who wants to experiment with AI without spending too much

Quick comparison of the best laptops

Where to buy and final thoughts

The laptops selected in this guide are available from the main Italian retailers: Amazon, MediaWorld, Unieuro, Euronics, as well as the manufacturers' official stores. We always recommend checking the Italian warranty and after-sales support before buying.

For 2026, our general advice is to aim for configurations with at least 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, favouring latest-generation processors to ensure your investment lasts. OLED screens have become more affordable and are a significant upgrade in picture quality and comfort of use.

If we had to pick an overall winner, the MacBook Air 15" M4 offers the best all-round balance for premium users, while the HP Pavilion Plus 14 is the smartest choice for those on a limited budget who don't want to give up quality. For gamers, the ROG Zephyrus G16 remains unbeaten on performance, while the Framework Laptop 16 opens up entirely new possibilities for anyone who wants a laptop that evolves over time.

Remember that the best laptop is the one that best suits your specific needs: think carefully about intended use, available budget and the features you consider a priority before you go ahead and buy.

Translated from the Italian original. Read in Italian