Best Laptops 2026: 7 Top Picks for Europe, From Budget to Gaming

Buying a laptop in Europe in late 2026 is trickier than it should be. A global memory-chip shortage that began in autumn 2025 has pushed up prices of laptops with plenty of RAM, and many 2026 models cost more than the machines they replace. The good news: the current generation of Intel Core Ultra, AMD Ryzen AI and Apple silicon chips is excellent, and OLED screens have filtered down to mid-range ultrabooks.

This guide covers the laptops that expert reviewers rate most highly right now — from Apple’s surprisingly cheap MacBook Neo to a 14-inch RTX 5070 Ti gaming machine. Prices are approximate EU street prices checked in October 2026; they move quickly, so always click through to see today’s offer.

1. Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15p Gen 1 — best overall

Notebookcheck’s Editors’ Choice (89.9%) is the laptop we’d point most professionals and creators towards. It pairs Intel’s Core Ultra X7 358H with Arc B390 integrated graphics, 32 GB of memory and a 15.3-inch 120 Hz OLED panel, yet it stays quiet and lasts a long time on battery. The aluminium chassis feels like a premium tool rather than a plastic toy, and it keeps an SD card slot — handy for photographers.

The trade-offs are typical of thin modern laptops: memory is soldered, so buy the configuration you need on day one, and the SSD slows down during very long sustained transfers. At around €2,500 it isn’t cheap, but it’s a machine you can keep for years.

2. Apple MacBook Air 13″ (M5) — best MacBook

TechRadar currently rates the M5 MacBook Air as the best laptop overall, and Germany’s Macwelt also recommends the 13-inch model as the Mac most people should buy. It’s the sweet spot of Apple’s range: far more capable than the new MacBook Neo, but without the weight or price of a MacBook Pro.

Expect to pay roughly €500 more than the Neo for the base model (around €1,400 by our estimate — check Apple’s local store for the exact figure in your country). If you edit photos, run several apps at once or plan to keep your laptop for five years or more, that extra money is well spent. Professionals who need serious GPU power can look at the MacBook Pro 16 with M5 Max, but at €5,699 for a 48 GB configuration it’s a niche choice.

3. Apple MacBook Neo — best budget Mac

The MacBook Neo is Apple’s attempt at a genuinely affordable laptop: it uses the A18 Pro chip from the iPhone and starts at €799 (256 GB) or €899 (512 GB). TechRadar gave it 4.5 out of 5, and for students, browsing, office work and streaming it’s an easy recommendation.

Know the limits before you buy. There’s only 8 GB of memory, the USB ports are slow and the keyboard isn’t backlit. If you work in the evening or plan to edit video, the MacBook Air is the safer long-term buy.

4. Asus Zenbook S14 (UX5406AA) — best Windows ultrabook

At 1.2 kg, the Zenbook S14 is the laptop to slip into a bag every day. Notebookcheck scored it 88% and praised its slim build, strong keyboard and speakers and a bright HDR-capable 14-inch OLED. The Core Ultra 9 386H with 32 GB of RAM handles office work and light creative tasks with ease.

Two caveats: battery life barely moves on from the previous generation, and the integrated graphics are slow for gaming. Alternatives worth a look include the Microsoft Surface Laptop 8 (Snapdragon X2 Plus, around €1,500, but with a glossy screen and no SD slot), the repairable Framework Laptop 13 Pro (around €1,900) and the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14, which weighs just 1.1 kg and runs for close to a day with its IPS panel, from about €2,400.

5. HP OmniBook 7 Aero — best budget Windows laptop

Finding a great Windows laptop under €1,000 is harder than it was two years ago, thanks to rising memory prices. The HP OmniBook 7 Aero is the strongest budget Windows option in the expert reviews we looked at: TechRadar gave it 4.5/5, measured about 26 hours of battery life and liked its bright screen. It runs on AMD Ryzen AI 5 or Ryzen AI 7 chips with 16 GB of memory and 512 GB of storage.

It launched in the UK at £649; euro prices and exact configurations differ between countries, so compare the spec sheet carefully before you buy. If you’re open to macOS, the €799 MacBook Neo is the other obvious budget choice.

6. Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (GU405AR) — best gaming laptop

The Zephyrus G14 squeezes an Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti Laptop GPU and a 14-inch 2880×1800 OLED into a 1.6 kg chassis. Notebookcheck rated it 89.9%, highlighting fast single-thread performance, an excellent keyboard and a rare SD card reader. It’s the gaming laptop you can also carry to lectures or the office.

It costs more than the 2025 model — from around €3,200 — which reflects the wider rise in GPU and memory prices. If you mostly game at a desk, a desktop PC with one of our recommended graphics cards gives more performance per euro.

7. Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (GU606AW) — high-end gaming and creator pick

If budget isn’t a concern, the Zephyrus G16 steps up to an RTX 5080 Laptop GPU, 64 GB of RAM and a 16-inch 240 Hz OLED. It’s built for demanding games at high settings and for heavy 3D or video work. At around €5,400, though, it’s overkill for most players.

Other high-end options include the MSI Raider 16 Max HX with an RTX 5090 Laptop GPU (from about €4,300, but large and heavy) and the Razer Blade 18 (2026), which is quiet and fast but starts at roughly €6,500 and uses an IPS panel that trails OLED and Mini-LED.

Compare the key specs

How to choose a laptop in Europe

Check the keyboard layout

This is the most common mistake European buyers make. Laptops sold in Germany and Austria usually have a QWERTZ keyboard, French models use AZERTY, and UK models use a different QWERTY layout from the US one. If you order from another country’s Amazon store, check the listing for the keyboard layout — you can remap keys in software, but the printed legends won’t change.

Buy enough memory up front

Most thin laptops now have soldered RAM, so you can’t upgrade later. For Windows, 16 GB is the sensible minimum in 2026 and 32 GB is worth it for creative work or if you keep laptops for a long time. The 8 GB in the MacBook Neo is fine for light use, but it is the main reason to step up to the Air.

OLED or IPS?

OLED screens offer perfect blacks and vivid HDR, and they’re now common at €1,500 and above. IPS panels often use less power and avoid any burn-in risk; that’s one reason the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14 lasts so long with its IPS option.

Know your rights

Every laptop bought from a business in the EU comes with at least a two-year legal guarantee against defects, regardless of the manufacturer’s own warranty. Buying from a retailer in your own country usually makes returns and repairs simpler. UK buyers are protected by the Consumer Rights Act instead.

Watch prices — they’re volatile

Because of the memory shortage, prices in 2026 have moved up rather than down for many configurations. Price-comparison sites like Geizhals, idealo or heise Preisvergleich help you see whether a “deal” is genuine.

How we choose

We don’t run a test lab. Instead, we pull together measured results and verdicts from respected outlets — Notebookcheck, TechRadar, Macwelt and others — and combine them with current European pricing and availability. A laptop only makes this list if several sources agree it’s excellent, and we always list the downsides reviewers found. Read more about our method.

FAQ

What is the best laptop for most people in 2026?

For Windows users who can spend around €2,500, the Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15p Gen 1 is our top pick. For a more affordable all-rounder, the MacBook Air 13″ (M5) is the laptop expert reviewers rate most highly.

Is the MacBook Neo good enough for students?

Yes, for writing, research, browsing and streaming it’s an excellent value at €799. The 8 GB of memory and lack of a backlit keyboard are the main compromises.

Why are laptops more expensive in 2026?

A shortage of memory chips since autumn 2025 has increased the cost of RAM and storage, which has pushed up prices for laptops, graphics cards and consoles across Europe.

Should I buy a gaming laptop or a desktop?

If you need portability, a laptop like the Zephyrus G14 is excellent. If you mostly play at home, a desktop gives you more performance for the money and is easier to upgrade.