Why buy a 15-inch (or 16-inch) laptop? Well, they’re not only larger than the best 13- or 14-inch laptops, but they’re also often much more powerful. They don’t always need to be big and clunky, either. After hundreds of hours of testing time with the best 15-inch laptops, here’s our list of the greatest you can buy.
Mark Coppock/Digital Trends / Digital Trends
Dell XPS 15 9530
The best 15-inch laptop
Pros
- Rock-solid construction and attractive aesthetic
- Strong productivity and creativity performance
- Decent 1080p gaming
- Excellent keyboard and touchpad
- Spectacular OLED display and outstanding audio
- Good battery life
Cons
- Gaming performance held back by underpowered GPU
- Overall performance is limited by thin chassis
- 720p webcam and Wi-Fi 6 are outdated technology
- Expensive
Why you should buy this: It’s the best overall 15-inch laptop you can buy.
Who’s it for: Anyone who needs serious power on the go but doesn’t want to take up too much room in a backpack.
Why we chose the Dell XPS 15:
There’s no steadier hand in the 15-inch laptop market than Dell, and its XPS 15 exemplifies the reputation 15-inch laptops have rightly earned: They’re dependable, powerful, and robust. The XPS 15 features up to a 13th-generation Intel Core i9 processor (starting with the i5-13500H) and graphics up to an Nvidia RTX 4070. The XPS 15 is best when you pump it full of powerful components, as it’s not quite as thin or light as some of the other laptops on this list.
That’s not to say it’s large in terms of volume — in fact, the XPS 15’s footprint remains one of the smallest on this list thanks to its ultra-thin bezels. The 16:10 aspect ratio ensures that you have plenty of screen real estate too. The overall design remains the same as the last several years and is starting to get a bit dated, but the XPS 15 remains the best overall choice.
Dell XPS 15 9530
The best 15-inch laptop
Mark Coppock/Digital Trends
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 5
The most powerful non-workstation 15-inch laptop
Pros
- Excellent build quailty
- Superior entry-level display
- Solid performance
- Good keyboard and touchpad
- Very powerful configuration options
Cons
- Performance was inconsistent
- Battery life was middling
Why you should buy this: It’s one of the most powerful 15-inch laptops you can buy that’s not a workstation.
Who’s it for: Anyone who wants high-end components in a package that’s still relatively thin and light.
Why we chose the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 5:
We haven’t reviewed it yet, but Lenovo’s fifth generation of the ThinkPad X1 Extreme is the same on the outside as the previous generation. That means the same solid build quality, the same iconic Thinkpad look and feel, and the same excellent input options.
Where the new machine is different is on the inside, with a new thermal design meant to improve overall performance. There’s also an update to Intel’s 12th-gen CPUs, including up to the 14-core/20-thread Core i9-12900H. RAM can be configured up to 64GB, and you can add dual 4TB SSDs for a total of 8TB of storage. Finally, GPU options currently include up to an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060.
Display options range from a 16-inch 16:10 WUXGA (1920 x 1200) IPS up to a WQUXGA (3840 x 2400) IPS touchscreen, all of which should offer excellent brightness, colors, and contrast. Connectivity is also a strength — two USB-C with Thunderbolt 4 ports, a full-size HDMI port, two USB-A 3.2 ports, and a full-size SD card reader, along with the fastest wireless connectivity available in Wi-Fi 6E. Finally, you’ll also find the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 5 to offer excellent build quality that should stand up to significant abuse.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 5
The most powerful non-workstation 15-inch laptop
Luke Larsen / Digital Trends
Apple MacBook Air 15
The best ultrathin 15-inch laptop
Pros
- More screen!
- Excellent speakers
- Long lasting battery
- Shockingly thin
- Extra performance is welcome
Cons
- Only supports one external display
Why you should buy this: It’s the best ultrathin 15-inch laptop you can buy.
Who’s it for: Those who want a highly portable laptop that still has a large display.
Why we chose the Microsoft Apple MacBook Air 15:
Most people shopping for a 15-inch laptop are looking for an extra level of performance, which is why the XPS 15 is our first choice. However, if you want a 15-inch laptop primarily for the larger screen and don’t need the additional power that a discrete GPU provides, the MacBook Air 15 is a fantastic option. The high-resolution display is glorious, and easily one of the best screens to work on.
So, while you can’t put in a more powerful GPU in this system, the MacBook Air 15 does have a powerful chipset under the hood. The Apple M2 with eight CPU cores and 10 GPU cores provides outstanding productivity performance. Battery life is among the best you’ll find on any laptop, lasting more than a full day on a single charge.
But obviously, the size of the MacBook Air 15 is one of its greatest strengths. The 0.46-inch thickness makes it the thinnest 15-inch laptop ever, and its weight of just 3.3 pounds make it an extremely portable laptop, perfect for taking your work on the go without sacrificing a large screen.
Apple MacBook Air 15
The best ultrathin 15-inch laptop
Razer
Razer Blade 15
Best 15-inch gaming laptop
Pros
- Incredible screen for HDR gaming
- OLED 240Hz looks excellent
- Great port selection
- Decent 1080p webcam
- Clicky keyboard to type on
Cons
- Surface temperatures are hot
- Touchpad has palm rejection issues
- Battery life is poor
Why you should buy this: It’s the best 15-inch gaming laptop you can buy.
Who’s it for: Any gamer who wants a powerful gaming laptop but doesn’t want to carry around anything too garish.
Why we chose the Razer Blade 15:
Finding a 15-inch gaming laptop is pretty easy — it’s where you’ll find most of them, to be honest. Some hit 14 inches, like the Razer Blade 14, while others venture into 17-inch territory and beyond, like the Razer Blade Pro. For the most part, though, the best balance between performance and form factor can be found in the 15-inch range. Unsurprisingly, that’s precisely where Razer placed the Razer Blade 15. It’s relatively thin, looks awesome, and sports a great build.
But most importantly, it performs really well too. The latest version of the laptop includes a 13th-gen Intel Core processor, up to an excellent GeForce RTX 4070, and up to 32GB of RAM. Up to a 2TB SSD covers storage. The Blade 15 also supports Chroma RGB lighting for any customization that you may want. Ports now include Thunderbolt 4, USB-C, USB-A, and HDMI, and the laptop is ready for Wi-Fi 6E. There’s even some upgraded cooling to help keep the laptop operating efficiently.
The QHD display runs at 240Hz, meaning your games will hit maximum frame rates without tearing or ghosting. The Razer Blade 15 is a bit pricey, but it offers a stunning look that fits as well in a boardroom as at a LAN party.
Razer Blade 15
Best 15-inch gaming laptop
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HP Spectre x360 16
The best 15-inch class 2-in-1
Pros
- Solid productivity performance
- Excellent build quality
- Spectacular OLED display
- Outstanding keyboard and touchpad
- Elegant good looks
Cons
- Creative performance is lacking
- Large and heavy in tablet mode
Why you should buy this: It’s a great 2-in-1 alternative to the Dell XPS 15.
Who’s it for: Anyone who needs a large, productivity-powerful laptop and likes the extra design flourishes of the Spectre brand.
Why we chose the HP Spectre x360 16:
The HP Spectre x360 16 is another gorgeous 15-inch-class Windows laptop (with a 16-inch 16:10 display). It’s similar to the XPS 15, but it certainly has a glitzier design. The panache of the color options and gold accents make it stand out from the crowd — no doubt about that.
More than that, the Spectre x360 16 has a few key features that the XPS 15 is missing. It has a 360-degree hinge and touchscreen in all configurations, which is another feature many people will appreciate. It supports an active pen for Windows Inking. Lastly, the Spectre x360 16 has a better port selection, offering a USB-A port and an HDMI port in addition to the USB-C with Thunderbolt 4 ports that the XPS 15 offers.
You get a 28-watt 13th-gen Intel Core i7-1360P CPU and a choice between a discrete Intel Arc A370M GPU. The display is a 4K+ OLED panel that’s simply stunning. Note that if you like the design and ethos of the Spectre x360 16, you can opt for the smaller Spectre x360 14 or the speedy HP Envy x360 15 instead.
HP Spectre x360 16
The best 15-inch class 2-in-1
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Samsung Chromebook 4+
The best budget 15-inch laptop
Pros
- Attractive price
- Sleek look
- Good Chrome OS performance
- Great keyboard and touchpad
Why you should buy this: It’s the best budget 15-inch laptop.
Who’s it for: Anyone looking for a cheap 15-inch laptop that still has a large screen.
Why we chose the Samsung Chromebook 4+:
Budget laptops always come with compromises, and 15-inch laptops are no exception. If you’re looking for a basic laptop to get you by, the Samsung Chromebook 4+ is a great option. It’s a surprisingly sleek-looking laptop, resembling a device not so dissimilar to a MacBook Pro. Even the bezels around the screen are fairly trim, making for a modern laptop you’d never guess was so cheap.
It comes with a 1080p screen, 6GB of RAM, and an Intel Celeron processor. The Chromebook 4+’s performance won’t blow you out of the water, but Chrome OS makes good use of even lower-powered processors like the Intel Celeron. If your needs are fairly limited, you’ll be hard-pressed to find another 15-inch laptop this good at such a low price.
Samsung Chromebook 4+
The best budget 15-inch laptop
Mark Coppock / Digita Trends
Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 6
The best 15-inch workstation
Pros
- Strong productivity performance
- Solid creativity performance
- Great build quality
- Spectactular OLED display
- Good keyboard
Cons
- Incredibly expensive
- Small touchpad
- Dated design
Why you should buy this: It’s a powerful 16-inch workstation with tons of expandability.
Who’s it for: Creative and scientific types who need to be able to configure a really powerful laptop.
Why we chose the Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 2:
Today’s thin-and-light 16-inch laptops can get pretty powerful, such as with the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 5. However, sometimes you need to be able to configure an even more powerful machine, and that’s where the Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 6 comes in. It’s a relatively thin and light workstation that can be configured to the extreme.
For example, you can select up to an Intel Core i9-13900H CPU with vPro, 96GB of RAM, 8TB of storage via two PCIe SSD slots, and an Nvidia RTX 4000 Ada GPU. You’ll spend a pretty penny, but if you’re editing 8K video or running machine-learning algorithms, then you’ll appreciate all this power.
You’ll also appreciate the display options, including Full HD+ 16:9 IPS, FHD+ IPS with Dolby Vision, UHD+ (3840 x 2160) OLED with Dolby Vision and HDR 400. The Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 6 is a true workhorse that can meet the most demanding performance needs.
Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 6
The best 15-inch workstation
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of a 15-inch laptop?
Simply put, the 15- and 16-inch laptop benefits from the size of its display. First, you get plenty of screen real estate for getting your work done, without needing to step up to a massive 17-inch laptop. Second, the chassis is naturally larger, providing more space for powerful components and lots of battery capacity. This will let you run more windows at once and split them comfortably on your display while enjoying super fast processors and GPUs that will keep your applications humming along.
Should you buy a 15-inch laptop or a 13-inch laptop?
If you crave a highly portable laptop that’s fine for general productivity tasks, then a 13-inch laptop will get the job done. And today’s 13-inch laptops are excellent. You won’t want the typical 13-inch laptop if you’re a creative type who needs to edit complex photos and video, but for productivity users, a 13-inch laptop is a great choice.
If you want a powerful laptop that can churn through demanding creative tasks, as well as provide tons of screen real estate for heavy multitasking, then a 15-inch laptop is the better choice. It will be larger and heavier, but far more capable.
What should you look for in a 15-inch laptop?
There’s no reason to go with a 15-inch laptop if it won’t meet your performance and display quality needs. Therefore, look for a laptop that can configure fast CPUs and discrete GPUs if you need the power, although a very thin-and-light 15-inch laptop with less powerful components can still be of value. That’s where the display comes in — you’ll want a high-quality IPS or OLED display that offers high enough resolution for your needs and, if you’re creative, wide and accurate colors with lots of contrast.
Otherwise, you’ll want to look for the same things as with any laptop. You’ll want a solid build quality, a great keyboard and touchpad, and long battery life — or at least, long battery life, given the powerful components and power-hungry display you might configure. Overall, 15-inch laptops are no different than other laptops when it comes to basic quality and functionality.
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