Generally talking, each laptop computer technology is quicker and extra succesful than the one which got here earlier than it. But one thing’s totally different this yr. Between larger efficiency {hardware}, extra environment friendly parts, a trend towards eco-friendly materials, and laptop designs that aren’t afraid to be weird and experimental, I’ve to say that 2025 appears like probably the most thrilling yr for laptops in lots of, a few years.
Take a have a look at any of our high laptop computer lists—whether or not that’s best laptops overall or best gaming laptops or best laptops for college students—and also you’re certain to identify some developments working by every of them. I’m notably keen on the brand new crop of ultra-bright and colourful OLED screens, however everybody has their very own favorites.
So let’s get into it! Here are a few of the high laptop computer developments that make 2025 one of the crucial thrilling years ever for laptops.
Repairability and eco-conscious designs
Matthew Smith / IDG
Many main laptop computer manufacturers have made massive inroads in enhancing their environmental requirements currently, and this year they’ve really kicked into high gear. In nearly each high laptop computer mannequin, you’ll discover a vary of recycled supplies (like recycled metal and aluminum), plus lowered emissions throughout manufacturing and greener packing supplies. Dell, HP, Lenovo, and others are all pushing in the direction of circularizing the financial system of laptop computer manufacturing, with most focusing on a totally net-zero manufacturing footprint by 2040 or 2050.
Today’s laptops are extra repairable than ever, too, serving to them to last more. A have a look at iFixit’s recent laptop teardowns exhibits that a lot of the newest examined fashions characteristic excessive repairability scores. Popular gadgets just like the Surface Laptop 7 make it simple to entry inner parts, and even Apple—with its well-known love of glue and proprietary screws—permits for battery alternative within the newest M4 fashions.
Fanless designs minimize down on transferring parts, too, additional enhancing longevity by decreasing potential factors of failure. If you’ve been enthusiastic about it, now’s a good time to switch to an eco-friendly laptop.
OLED hits the mainstream
Mattias Inghe
For years, OLED was thought-about a premium choice with an appropriately premium price ticket that stored it past attain of most shoppers. Indeed, in TVs and gaming displays, OLED remains to be much more costly than the alternate options—however in laptops, OLED is practically mainstream now.
OLED remains to be the premium choice in comparison with extra conventional LCD choices, but it surely doesn’t value that way more. Plus, loads of the standard points related to OLED screens (like burn-in and low brightness) have been solved with up to date types of the know-how. Just have a look at the beautiful display on the Lenovo Yoga 9i!
OLED screens are additionally out there in a spread of various types now. Alongside dual-OLED laptops just like the Asus Zenbook Duo, we even have high-refresh-rate OLEDs for aggressive gaming (just like the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI), numerous folding OLED laptops, and even a rollable OLED show within the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Rollable.
Upgradeable, modular laptops
IDG / Chris Hoffman
Framework actually led the best way on this initiative and its latest Laptop 12 is the most exciting yet. Available with probably the most cutting-edge parts in a spread of sizes and quite a few upgradeable modules, it’s a laptop computer design that may evolve with you as you want it. The entire idea of a modular laptop computer is superior, bringing the LEGO-style customizability of a desktop PC construct to the transportable kind issue of a laptop computer.
Although no different firm goes fairly this far with their laptops but, the concept is catching on. Panasonic’s Toughbook 55 MK3 got here out final yr with a spread of upgradeable modules. Compal debuted its Adapt X idea earlier this yr as a possible choice for OEM prospects (and even won a design award for it). Intel can also be evangelizing the idea of modular PCs for 2 massive causes: the environmental influence and the best way it helps “right to repair” legal guidelines.
Not each laptop computer goes modular—removed from it—however the idea has confirmed widespread sufficient for Framework to stay in enterprise in spite of everything these years (and tariff troubles). Maybe just a few different laptop computer producers will begin to ape its success sooner or later.
Thinner and lighter however nonetheless highly effective
IDG / Mark Knapp
The newest generations of graphics playing cards and processors aren’t that a lot higher than their predecessors, however they certain do work properly in thinner and lighter laptop computer designs.
Razer shaved down the chassis on its flagship Blade 16 laptop by as a lot as 30 % this yr, serving to it weigh in at simply over 3.5 kilos—all whereas granting entry to RTX 50-series GPUs and top-shelf CPUs from AMD and Intel. Classic thin-and-light designs (just like the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14) are as skinny and light-weight as ever but supply extra efficiency due to the newest CPUs and graphics chips. Most of them additionally pack OLED shows, too! A double whammy of goodness.
There are additionally up to date variations of highly effective gaming tablets (just like the Asus ROG Flow Z13), that are simply a few kilos but have cutting-edge CPUs. At the tremendous lean finish, you might have gadgets just like the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 (2025), which solely weighs 1.5 kilos. (Not a lot in the best way of high-end graphics right here, however given how slim these gadgets are, that may be excused. You should be sensible about these items.)
20+ hours of battery life is the brand new norm
IDG / Matthew Smith
We have Windows on Arm to thank for this pattern. But whether or not a laptop computer makes use of a type of specific fashions (like Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X vary) or one by AMD or Intel (who’ve been pressured to play catch up), there are many trendy laptops with 20+ hours of battery life. It’s not simply the calling card of Apple’s leanest MacBooks. Some gaming laptops, just like the Razer Blade 16, may even final for as much as 10 hours on a single cost (so long as you aren’t gaming).
The mixture of extra environment friendly {hardware}, superior energy administration algorithms, and bigger batteries in slimmer designs means there are some fashions just like the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x and HP OmniBook 5 14 that get near 30 hours of battery life on a single cost—an impossibility only a few years in the past.
If this has caught your consideration, take a look at our roundup of the longest battery life laptops we’ve ever tested.
Local AI is cropping up in all places
Mark Hachman / IDG
If there’s one advertising time period that has taken over the lexicon in 2025, it’s gotta be “AI.” Apart from the apparent ChatGPT developments, Microsoft additionally pushed laborious with its “Copilot+ PC” nomenclature reserved for laptops with qualifying NPUs (neural processing models) with sufficient efficiency to deal with native AI performance immediately on stated laptops as a substitute of sending the work off to the cloud. (Learn more about NPUs in laptops.)
Almost each high-end laptop computer in 2025 is geared to incorporate AI in some kind or one other, and it’s not simply Microsoft integrating Copilot via Microsoft 365 and Windows 11. Samsung laptops have built-in AI Select and Photo Remaster. HP has an AI companion. Several others have AI translation providers and photograph beautification results.
The usefulness of such AI options is perhaps doubtful, however they exist, can’t be ignored, and have been a serious laptop computer promoting level this yr.