This guide is for anyone shopping for a laptop in 2025—students, professionals, creators, and gamers. Our selections are based on hands-on testing, research, and value-focused comparisons across popular models available in Canada. We prioritize real-world performance, reliability, and pricing that makes sense for each category.
Editorial Transparency Notice
We independently select and evaluate products using a consistent testing and research process. Some links may be affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you buy through them—at no extra cost to you. This does not influence our recommendations.
Table of Contents
- Our Top Tested Picks
- Best Laptop Deals This Week
- Buying Guide
- FAQ
- Final Verdict
- Internal Link Suggestions
Our Top Tested Picks
| Category | Pick |
|---|---|
| Best Laptop for Most People | Apple MacBook Air (M3, 13-inch) |
| Best Budget Laptop | Acer A517-58M-54MJ (17.3-inch) |
| Best Ultraportable Laptop | Dell 15 Laptop DC15250 (15.6-inch) |
| Best Business Laptop | Lenovo ThinkPad E16 Gen 2 (2025) |
| Best Gaming Laptop | ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2025) |
| Best Content Creation Laptop | Apple MacBook Pro (M3 Pro, 14-inch) |
| Best Chromebook | HP Chromebook Plus 15 (2025) |
Best Laptop for Most People
Apple MacBook Air (M3, 13-inch)
Short verdict: Excellent performance and battery life in a thin, quiet design. Ideal for daily productivity, schoolwork, and travel.
- CPU: Apple M3
- RAM: 8GB / 16GB
- Storage: 256GB / 512GB SSD
- Display: 13.6-inch Liquid Retina
Pros
- Excellent battery life
- Fast and silent performance
- Premium build quality
- Bright, color-accurate display
Cons
- Base storage can feel tight
- Limited port selection
Why We Picked It
The balance of performance, battery life, and portability makes it the best all-around choice for most buyers.
Who It’s For
Students, professionals, and anyone who wants a reliable everyday laptop.
Best Budget Laptop
Acer A517-58M-54MJ (17.3-inch)
Short verdict: A practical budget option with a strong feature set for the price.
- CPU: Intel Core i5 (U-series)
- RAM: 8GB / 16GB
- Storage: 512GB SSD
- Display: 17.3-inch Full HD
Product details
Top highlights
- Brand
- Acer
- Model name
- A517-58M-54MJ
- Screen size
- 17.3 Inches
- Colour
- Iron
- Hard disk size
- 512 GB
- CPU model
- Core i5
Pros
- Good value for everyday tasks
- Comfortable keyboard
- Upgradeable storage and RAM
Cons
- Average speakers
- Display brightness is modest
Why We Picked It: Solid performance at an accessible price point.
Who It's For: Budget shoppers, students, and home users.
Best Ultraportable Laptop
Dell 15 Laptop DC15250 (15.6-inch)
Short verdict: A straightforward everyday laptop with a smooth 120Hz display and reliable performance for light work.
- CPU: Intel Core 3 Processor 100U
- RAM: 8GB DDR4
- Storage: 512GB SSD
- Display: 15.6-inch FHD 120Hz
Pros
- Lightweight and sturdy
- Excellent display
- Fast everyday performance
Cons
- Premium price
- Limited ports
Why We Picked It: A smooth 120Hz screen and modern specs make it a strong everyday pick.
Who It's For: Students and home users who want a larger screen on a budget.
Best Business Laptop
Lenovo ThinkPad E16 Gen 2 (2025)
Short verdict: A powerful business laptop with a roomy 16-inch display and premium productivity features.
- CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 155U
- RAM: 40GB DDR5
- Storage: 1TB SSD
- Display: 16-inch WUXGA IPS
Top highlights
- Brand
- Lenovo
- Model name
- 21MAXXXXXX
- Screen size
- 16 Inches
- Colour
- Black
- Hard disk size
- 1 TB
- CPU model
- Core i7 Family
- RAM memory installed size
- 32 GB
- Operating system
- Windows 11 Pro
- Special feature
- Anti Glare Coating, Fingerprint Reader, Numeric Keypad, TrackPoint, keyboard
- Graphics card description
- Integrated
Pros
- Class-leading keyboard
- Enterprise security features
- Great build quality
Cons
- Expensive
- Display options vary by config
Why We Picked It: A proven business workhorse with excellent ergonomics.
Who It's For: Professionals, office teams, and enterprise buyers.
Best Gaming Laptop
Razer Blade 14 (2025)
Short verdict: Premium gaming power in a thin, travel-ready 14-inch design with a stunning OLED display.
- CPU: AMD Ryzen AI 9 365
- RAM: 64GB LPDDR5X
- Storage: 2TB SSD
- Display: 14-inch 3K OLED 120Hz
Top highlights
- Brand
- Razer
- Model name
- Razer Blade 14
- Screen size
- 14 Inches
- Colour
- Black
- Hard disk size
- 2 TB
- CPU model
- Ryzen AI
- RAM memory installed size
- 64 GB
- Operating system
- Windows 11 Home
- Special feature
- AI-driven productivity tools, Advanced cooling system, Calman Verified display
- Graphics card description
- Dedicated
Pros
- Excellent gaming performance
- Fast refresh display
- Portable for a gaming laptop
Cons
- Fans get loud under load
- Premium pricing
Why We Picked It: Boutique-level build quality with flagship gaming performance.
Who It's For: Gamers and creators who want a compact premium machine.
Best Content Creation Laptop
Apple MacBook Air (M4, 13-inch)
Short verdict: Lightweight and fast with strong Apple Intelligence support for everyday creative work.
- CPU: Apple M4
- RAM: 16GB unified memory
- Storage: 256GB SSD
- Display: 13.6-inch Liquid Retina
Top highlights
- Brand
- Apple
- Model name
- MacBook Air
- Screen size
- 13.6 Inches
- Colour
- Midnight
- Hard disk size
- 256 GB
- CPU model
- Apple M4
- RAM memory installed size
- 16 GB
- Operating system
- Mac OS
- Special feature
- Backlit Keyboard, Fingerprint Reader, Lightweight
- Graphics card description
- Integrated
Pros
- Top-tier performance
- Outstanding display
- Long battery life for a pro laptop
Cons
- Expensive configurations
- MacOS-only workflows
Why We Picked It: Excellent balance of portability, performance, and battery life for creative work on the go.
Who It's For: Students, creators, and professionals who need a light but capable Mac.
Best Chromebook
Gateway (by Acer) Chromebook 14 (CBO314-1H-C3AX)
Short verdict: A basic, affordable Chromebook for browsing, homework, and light office tasks.
- CPU: Intel Celeron N4500
- RAM: 4GB LPDDR4X
- Storage: 64GB eMMC
- Display: 14-inch FHD (1920x1080)
Top highlights
- Brand
- Acer
- Model name
- Chromebook Go 14
- Screen size
- 14 Inches
- Colour
- Black
- Hard disk size
- 64 GB
- CPU model
- Celeron N
- RAM memory installed size
- 4 GB
- Operating system
- Chrome OS
- Special feature
- Anti Glare Coating
- Graphics card description
- Integrated
Pros
- Simple and fast for web apps
- Good battery life
- Affordable
Cons
- Limited offline software
- Not for heavy creative tasks
Why We Picked It: Simple and affordable for web-first tasks.
Who It's For: Students, casual users, and families.
Best Laptop Deals This Week
- Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5 -
CAD 999CAD 849 (Save CAD 150) - Acer Swift Go 14 -
CAD 1,099CAD 929 (Save CAD 170) - ASUS TUF Gaming A15 - CAD 1,849.00
- HP Pavilion 15 - CAD 649.99
- Apple MacBook Air (M2) - CAD 1,688.99
Deals may change based on availability and retailer updates.
Buying Guide
Performance (CPU & RAM)
For most users, a modern Intel Core i5/Ultra 5 or AMD Ryzen 5 paired with 16GB RAM is the sweet spot. Heavy multitaskers and creators should consider 32GB.
Display Quality
Look for Full HD or higher resolution. IPS or OLED panels deliver better color and viewing angles than basic TN panels.
Battery Life
Prioritize laptops that consistently deliver 8+ hours in real-world use.
Port Selection
USB-C is essential, but make sure you have enough USB-A, HDMI, and SD card slots for your workflow.
Build Quality
Metal chassis often last longer and feel sturdier. Hinges and keyboard quality matter for long-term use.
Operating System
Windows is the most flexible, macOS is great for creative workflows, and ChromeOS is best for lightweight web-based tasks.
Budget Ranges
Under CAD 800: budget picks. CAD 800–1,300: best all-around value. CAD 1,300+: premium and specialized laptops.
FAQ
What is the best laptop for most people in 2025?
The MacBook Air (M3) is our top pick for most users thanks to its performance, battery life, and build quality.
How much RAM do I need?
8GB works for light use, but 16GB is the best long-term choice for most buyers.
Is a Chromebook good enough?
For web-based tasks and students, yes. For heavy apps or pro software, Windows or macOS is better.
MacBook vs Windows?
MacBooks excel in efficiency and creative workflows; Windows offers wider hardware choices and gaming support.
Best laptop for students?
Budget-friendly Windows laptops or the MacBook Air are both great options depending on the budget.
Final Verdict
The best laptop depends on how you work and what you need. For most people, the MacBook Air (M3) is the safest all-around pick. If you need a lower price, the Acer Aspire 5 is a strong budget option. Creators and gamers should prioritize performance and display quality, not just specs on paper.