The best laptops of 2020 in Australia: our picks of the top laptops on sale now

Update: While we had previously recommended the Huawei MateBook 13 in top place, the ongoing trouble the company faces with the US Government casts a great deal of uncertainty on the degree of support its products will receive into the future. As such, we recommend the excellent Dell XPS 13 in its stead.

If you’re looking at getting yourself a new laptop but don’t really know where to start, you’re in luck – that’s the entire point of this very page!

Here at TechRadar, we get to review the full breadth and width of currently-available laptops, so we’re well and truly across what’s worth the dosh and what’s not.

Whether it’s Apple’s freshest MacBook Pro, the newly-arrived Huawei MateBook 13, or the latest winner in the Dell XPS range, we’ve painstakingly compared and contrasted each one in order to give you a rundown on the laptop with the best value.

We’ve taken into account ultrabooks, gaming laptops, 2-in-1s, and every other shape and size that laptops come in these days – so don’t worry if you’re in it for work or play, we’ve got you covered.

Best laptops in Australia 2019 at a glance

1. Dell XPS 13
2. Huawei MateBook 13
3. HP Spectre x360 (2020)
4. Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED
5. Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019)
6. MSI GS65 Stealth
7. Dell XPS 15 2-in-1
8. Dell G5 15 5590 Gaming
9. Microsoft Surface Book 2 (13.5-inch)
10. Alienware Area-51m

The best laptops of 2019:

1. Dell XPS 13

CPU: 8th generation Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 13.3-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,080) – 4k (3840 x 2160) | Storage: 256GB – 1TB SSD

Which type of laptop is best for you?

General laptops: This broader category is dedicated to devices that focus more on practicality than style, portability or power. That’s not to say they can’t be fast, but you’ll typically find a non-Ultrabook clamshell laptop with an HD screen and spinning drive-based storage for less than $1,000.

Ultrabooks: Where you’ll find thin-and-light notebooks sporting SSD storage and display resolutions that exceed 1080p. Paired with powerful, albeit mobile-centric components and especially long battery life, the best Ultrabooks will cost a pretty penny – closer to $1,000 to $3,000.

2-in-1 laptops: Where notebooks that double as tablets are located. Outfitted with both detachable and 360-degree rotating hinges, these hybrids are the most versatile way to experience Windows 10 (or Chrome OS) on a touchscreen.

Chromebooks: Where you’ll find the best Chromebooks running Chrome OS. These do much of what Windows and macOS can in the browser, focused on cloud storage over local, while recently getting Android app support for touchscreen models. They generally cost less than $500.

Gaming laptops: Need a laptop to play games (almost) just like a shiny desktop PC can? Then you’ll want one of the best gaming laptops. These machines generally cost more than $1,000 and can quickly get into the $4 – 5,000 range for the beastlier models.