Laptop comparison tool: compare laptops side by side
Pick two or three laptops and see their specs next to each other, with the pros and cons from our buying guides and a short verdict. Laptops from our guides compare instantly and for free.
How the comparison tool works
Type the names of two or three laptops. As you type, the tool suggests laptops from our buying guides. When every laptop you choose comes from our guides, the comparison appears straight away as a side by side table built from our own data. It is free and you do not need an account.
For a laptop that is not in our guides, the tool can ask our AI to compare two laptops for the way you will use them. AI comparisons are part of the Starter and Pro plans, so you need to be signed in with a paid plan, and each one counts toward your monthly comparison limit.
How to read the comparison
The spec table
Each column is one laptop and each row is one spec: starting price, processor, memory, storage, display, battery life and weight. Where a laptop comes in several configurations, the table shows the range listed in our guide. A dash means we do not have that spec for the laptop, so treat it as unknown rather than worse.
Pros, cons and the verdict
Below the specs you get the pros and cons from our reviews and a short verdict. The verdict only compares what we have data for: which laptop costs the least, which has the longest listed battery life, which is lightest and which offers the most memory. It does not invent scores, so read the full review in each guide before you decide.
AI comparisons
An AI comparison scores both laptops across categories such as performance, value and portability for your chosen use, then picks a winner with its reasoning. It is a helpful second opinion, but it is based on the names and details you enter, so double check specs with the manufacturer.
Tips for a useful comparison
Compare laptops at a similar price first. A comparison between a budget laptop and a flagship mostly tells you that the flagship is faster, which you already know.
Pay attention to the configuration. Battery life and price both change with the screen and processor you pick, so compare the configuration you would actually buy.
Use the popular comparisons below the form as a starting point. They compare laptops that often end up on the same shortlist, and you can swap either one for a laptop you are considering.
Not sure which laptops to compare? Take the laptop quiz for a shortlist, filter by memory and weight with the laptop finder by specs, or start from our best laptops under $1,000.
Frequently asked questions
Is the laptop comparison tool free?
Comparing laptops from our buying guides is free and needs no account. AI comparisons for laptops that are not in our guides are included with the Starter and Pro plans.
How many laptops can I compare at once?
You can compare two or three laptops from our guides side by side. AI comparisons cover two laptops at a time.
Why are some specs missing?
We only show specs we have from our reviews. If a manufacturer has not published a figure, such as battery life or weight for a configuration, the table shows a dash instead of a guess.
Where do the pros and cons come from?
They come from the reviews in our buying guides. Each laptop links to the guide where it is reviewed, so you can read the full write-up.
More laptop guides
Buying guides
- Laptops under 1000 dollarsBuyers who want a well built, fast laptop without paying flagship prices.
- Best laptops for content creationYouTubers, photographers and video creators who edit at home and on the go.
- Laptops that fold into a tabletNote takers, artists and presenters who want one device that works as a laptop and a tablet.
- Laptops for schoolHigh school and college students who need a laptop for notes, essays, research and streaming.
More free tools
- Take the laptop quizAnswer 6 quick questions and get matching laptops and the guides to read next.
- Filter laptops by specsFilter laptops by price, RAM, storage, processor, weight and battery life.
Or browse every laptop buying guide by use case, budget and type.