Laptops have become just as essential as smartphones. Whether you’re an office professional, a college student, a video editor, or a full-time content creator, having the right laptop that fits both your needs and your budget is a must. With the arrival of new processors featuring NPUs (Neural Processing Units) and more powerful GPUs, laptops today are more efficient and capable than ever. But with so many options, choosing the right one can get confusing. That’s where we come in.
Disclaimer: Before we begin, a quick reminder that we will be sticking to the laptops that 91mobiles has reviewed. While there may be other laptops available on the market, we will only consider those that have gone through our stringent review process. Further, it should be noted that the editor’s rating of these laptops may vary. That’s because these laptops were rated based on their price and competition at launch. Since their release, several external factors have come into play, such as price drops and newer competition. As a result, readers are requested to use their discretion before making a decision.
At 91mobiles, we’ve tested over 150 laptops. Each one goes through a rigorous set of tests that range from benchmark performance to display quality, battery life, and real-world usage.
Our testing process
To ensure consistency and fairness, we run several comprehensive tests under controlled conditions. All laptops we test use the same settings (when possible) to reflect maximum performance. Power supply is plugged in for the duration of the tests while the power profile is set to Performance Mode (except for battery life). Meanwhile, the fan speed is set to the fastest possible setting, while GPU mode is set to Dedicated with MUX enabled.
Once that is established, we begin running synthetic benchmarks. To evaluate processing power, we run Cinebench R23 and R24 along with Geekbench 6, which helps us evaluate single-core and multi-core performance. Of course, the GPU in a gaming laptop is just as important, so we run Geekbench (OpenCL/Vulkan) alongside 3Dmark’s Time Spy and Fire Strike tests to gauge GPU performance.
Storage speed is also something we take into consideration as this decides the over bootup and load times for games and applications. To do this, we use Crystal Disk Mark to determine sequential read and write performance. To get a rough estimate of the overall battery life of the laptop, we run PCMark 10’s Video Loop test with 80% brightness and in balanced mode.
Of course, gaming laptops are expected to not only run games, but can also be used for creative workloads. The latter is tested by using PugetBench for DaVinci Resolve to simulate real-world video editing performance. For gaming, we run benchmark tests across five popular titles at Ultra presets. This helps measure actual in-game frame rates and thermal consistency. The five games are spread across different genres, which helps to ensure that the laptop can perform for different requirements.
Cyberpunk 2077 and Alan Wake 2 are excellent ways to put the graphical abilities of laptops to the test. While the former is great for testing high-end ray tracing, the latter is a good test of cinematic lighting and shadows. Forza Horizon 5, on the other hand, is a good test of how well the laptop can handle fast-paced games that require high-speed rendering. Then we have GTA V. While this may not be a cutting-edge title anymore, it’s still extremely popular and gives us a good look at how the laptop will handle complex open-world titles. Finally, there is Valorant, which looks at how well a laptop can handle fast-paced competitive esports titles.
Based on our hands-on experience, we’ve compiled a list of the best-performing gaming and non-gaming laptops across different budgets that start at entry-level machines around Rs 40,000 to top-end models crossing Rs 3,00,000. Here’s our curated list of top picks, with a quick look at what makes each one stand out in its category.
Table of Contents
Under 50K
This is the most wallet-friendly segment. If your budget is under Rs 50K, you can expect a machine that handles basic tasks like checking emails, attending online classes, and browsing social media with ease. At this price range, you won’t find many good gaming laptops that we would recommend. That being said, these machines are still ideal for students, office professionals, or anyone looking for a reliable and affordable laptop for everyday use. Based on our tests, here are the best options in this segment:
Winner: Lenovo V15 G4
Summing it all up, the Lenovo V15 Gen 4 is a business laptop. The performance is really good, the battery life is great, and the thermals are decent. The only caveat is the screen. Its TN panel is the only thing that holds us from recommending it to the masses. If you are using this laptop for office work and daily tasks such as browsing, the Lenovo V15 Gen 4 is fine. But, if you want a great display that can be used for video editing and Photoshop, then you will have to look elsewhere.
Editor’s rating: 8/10
Pros:
- Great performance
- Excellent Battery life
- Well-managed thermals
Cons:
- Average display
- Build quality could be better
- Keyboard backlighting should have been added
- Webcam could have been optimised better
Runners-up:
50K – 75K Non-Gaming
This is one of the most popular price segments in India. Here, you start getting better processors, faster memory, and improved displays. For work, study, or general multitasking, this bracket offers excellent value for money. Here are our top three non-gaming picks in this range:
Winner: ASUS Vivobook 16
The ASUS Vivobook 16 is a well-rounded machine that excels at everyday productivity, media consumption, and light creative work. Its strong processor, decent build quality, and comfortable keyboard make it a solid choice for students and professionals who need a reliable workhorse. However, its dim display, lack of a dedicated GPU, and middling battery life hold it back from being a complete package. If you need a laptop for work, web browsing, or maybe even a little casual gaming, the Vivobook 16 offers good value for money. But if you’re a content creator or a gamer looking for more graphical power, you might want to consider alternatives with dedicated GPUs.
Speaking of alternatives, the Lenovo Ideapad Slim 5 14IMH9 is an excellent option, since for just an additional 5 grand, it offers an OLED panel, 1TB of SSD storage, and excellent performance. While the Core Ultra 5 125H is a generation older, it does offer better multi-core performance despite compromising a lot on the battery life. Alternatively, if you can spend a bit more, the Acer Swift 14 AI is a premium ultrabook priced at roughly Rs. 90,000. It comes with a more powerful Intel Core Ultra 5 226V processor, coupled with an OLED panel, and a sleek design.
It’s worth noting though that both these alternatives feature a smaller 14-inch panel, while the Vivobook 16 features a 16-inch display, although it’s not OLED. At the end of the day, those looking for an affordable 16-inch laptop with strong CPU performance will find the Vivobook 16 to be a compelling option, but compromises in display and graphics performance should be kept in mind before making the final decision.
Editor’s rating: 7.5 / 10
Pros:
- Strong CPU performance
- Comfortable keyboard
- Large 16:10 display
- Decent battery life
Cons:
- Dim display
- No dedicated GPU
- Speakers lack depth
Runners-up:
ASUS Expertbook P1
Acer Swift Go 14
50K – 75K Gaming
If you’re starting out with gaming or video editing and don’t want to spend a fortune, this segment is ideal. Laptops here offer dedicated graphics, capable processors, decent displays, and build quality that can handle light to moderate gaming and editing tasks. Perfect for college students, beginner creators, or editors. Here are our top choices:
Winner: Colorful P15
As configured, the Colorful Evol P15 will cost you Rs. 63,990 in India. There’s also the i7 + RTX 4060 variant, which costs around 80K, but that’s a different story. Speaking strictly for the RTX 4050 variant that we have with us, for its price, the Colorful Evol P15 is an absolute steal. The 12th-gen Intel processor is still pretty solid, especially for gaming, and the RTX 4050 GPU offers excellent gaming performance on 1080p, which is further enhanced with DLSS. Down the line, one can invest in another stick of RAM, possibly a Gen4 SSD, and a cooling pad for even better performance.
While all that is good, a laptop is a lot more than its specifications. Even though Colorful has been catering to Indian audiences for a long time, most of its service centres are outsourced. As a result, there are plenty of mixed reviews for their customer service. Additionally, while our unit has been working well without any issues, a noticeable number of users have reported their machines to be faulty and not working within days of purchase. Not to forget that there’s no mention of the i5 model on the official website, and there’s a noticeable disparity in the specifications of the i7 variant as well.
So, at the end of the day, is the Colorful P15 23-HE55D16512A-W-IND worth it? Despite its red flags, the majority of users, including us, are happy with their purchase. The laptop’s performance is better than that of its competitors, and it comes at a much more affordable price tag. The one suggestion that I’d give is that if you buy the laptop, make sure to test it thoroughly in the initial days, using set benchmarks, to know that it’s performing as intended. Returning a laptop via Flipkart is much easier compared to reaching out to Colorful to get an RMA done.
Editor’s rating: 8 / 10
Pros:
- Good performance
- Easy upgradability
- Ample connectivity options
- Excellent value for money
Cons:
- Battery life could have been better
- Dubious service
Runners-up:
75K – 1L Non-Gaming
This is an interesting middle ground where things are neither too expensive nor entry-level. Laptops in this range balance performance and quality, leaning slightly towards the premium side. If you want solid performance with a touch of refinement, these are the machines to consider:
Winner: Acer Swift 14 AI
With a starting price tag of Rs. 89,999, the Acer Swift 14 AI is a compelling ultrabook offering a blend of style, performance, and impressive battery life. Its vibrant OLED display delivers an immersive visual experience, while the powerful Intel Core Ultra 5 226V processor ensures smooth handling of demanding tasks. It’s not the most powerful chipset on the market, but it’s still quite reliable and offers unmatched battery life.
As for alternatives, we are still waiting on other brands like ASUS, Lenovo, and HP to update their lineups with the latest Intel Lunar Lake processors. Once that happens, the competition would be a bit stiff. Otherwise, at the time of writing, the only other laptops that can compete with the Acer Swift 14 AI are Snapdragon-powered, such as the Microsoft Surface Pro or the ASUS Vivobook S 15. However, you will have to consider app compatibility on the other side of the field, so there’s that. For what it’s worth, the Acer Swift 14 AI gets a thumbs-up from our end.
Editor’s Choice: 8/10
Pros:
- Lightweight and portable design
- Vibrant OLED display
- Good webcam with AI-powered features
- Excellent battery life
Cons:
- Multi-core performance isn’t that great
- 60Hz refresh rate only
Runners-up:
ASUS ZenBook A14
Dell Inspiron 14 Plus
75K – 1L Gaming
Now we enter a range where performance takes center stage. You can expect strong processors, capable GPUs, and better thermals, which is perfect for long gaming sessions or serious video editing. Whether you’re a gamer, a content creator, or someone who needs dependable performance, this segment offers great value. Here’s our curated list:
Winner: Gigabyte Aorus 15 9KF
The Gigabyte Aorus 15 9KF is a competent gaming laptop that gets most things right but missteps in some key areas. Its high spots on the table are where it rocks robust build quality, excellent I/O selection, effective thermal management, and outstanding battery life for a gaming laptop.
Gaming performance appears strong following the RAM upgrade, and this high refresh rate display gives real depth to the gaming experience.
The laptop’s shortcomings cannot be overlooked, though, against the price category. The 8GB of RAM seems somewhat less and is in immediate need of an upgrade for optimal performance.
The display, while good for gaming, lacks the colour accuracy needed for professional content creation. These limitations make it difficult to recommend the Aorus 15 9KF as a do-it-all machine for both gaming and creative work.
For pure gaming purposes, the Aorus 15 9KF is a strong contender, particularly if you’re willing to invest in additional RAM. Its thermal performance ensures consistent gameplay even during extended sessions, and the battery life is a boon for gaming on the go.
However, in the fiercely competitive Rs. 1,10,000 – 1,20,000 price range, Gigabyte faces stiff competition from brands like MSI and Acer, which often offer more RAM or better displays at similar price points. To truly stand out, Gigabyte needs to either include 16GB of RAM as standard or adjust the pricing to be more competitive.
Editor’s Rating: 7.5 / 10
Pros:
- Robust build quality
- High refresh rate display
- Effective thermal management
- Excellent I/O selection
- Impressive battery life
Cons:
- Limited RAM out-of-box
- Lacks colour accuracy
- Flex in the lid
Runners-up:
1L – 1.5L Non-Gaming
This is where the premium experience truly begins. These laptops offer sleek designs, lightweight builds, excellent battery life, and high-quality displays. These might be leaning slightly on the more expensive side, but you do get a lot in return. If you’re looking for a thin-and-light laptop that delivers power and polish, this is your bracket. Here are our top picks:
Winner: ASUS Vivobook S 14
Priced at Rs. 1,04,990, the ASUS Vivobook S 14 delivers a compelling blend of performance, features, and battery life that makes it a strong contender against its rivals. The laptop’s standout feature is undoubtedly its vibrant OLED display, which, coupled with the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor, is more than capable of handling everyday tasks, multitasking, and even casual gaming, outperforming competitors like the Snapdragon X Elite and Intel Core 200V processors.
There’s also an excellent battery life of over 10 hours at the very least, which should be fine for most users. However, if you can compromise a bit on the performance front and want to squeeze more juice, the Acer Swift 14 AI with the Intel Core Ultra 5 226V processor is an excellent option. Further, if your use case doesn’t involve running x86 applications, a laptop powered by the Snapdragon X Elite chipset, such as the ASUS VivoBook S15 OLED can also be considered.
Editor’s Rating: 8/10
Pros:
- Stunning OLED Display
- Powerful Performance
- Excellent Battery Life
- Sleek Design with RGB Keyboard
Cons:
- Slight Fan Noise Under Heavy Load
- Limited Upgradability Options
Runners-up:
Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Gen
Dell Latitude 5455
1L – 1.5L Gaming
This is the sweet spot for a machine that not only performs like a beast but also looks and feels premium. Expect faster processors, better GPUs, high refresh-rate displays, improved thermals, responsive keyboards, and some stylish RGB lighting. We’ve selected the best gaming laptops that check all these boxes:
Winner: MSI Crosshair 16HX Monster Hunter Edition
If we set aside the limited edition aspect and focus on the broader picture, this is a solid gaming laptop. It both looks and performs like a true gaming machine. For fans of Monster Hunter, this laptop is not only a functional powerhouse but also a collectible piece, embodying the essence of the game in all the key areas.
Editors Rating: 8.5 / 10
Pros
- Impressive display
- Decent battery life
- Good performance
Cons
- A glass trackpad could have been better
Runners-up:
Lenovo LOQ 15
Gigabyte G6X 9MG
1.5L – Above
Here’s where we go all out. Laptops in this segment pack the most powerful processors and top-of-the-line GPUs, offering desktop-level performance in a portable form factor. If budget isn’t a constraint and you want nothing but the best, this list is for you. Note that at this price point, gaming laptops are some of the best options. Here are our top three picks:
Winner: Dell Alienware M18 R2
So, at the end of the day, does the Dell Alienware m18 R2 justify its beefy price tag? Considering that it’s a desktop replacement, one can forgive the poor battery life to some extent, and make peace with the lack of an OLED display. Other than that, there’s hardly anything to complain about the laptop. It offers a premium design, an excellent keyboard, all possible connectivity ports you’d need, and flagship-grade performance which is complimented by a heavy-duty thermal solution. If you’re looking for a top-of-the-line gaming laptop, the m18 R2 is definitely worth considering.
Editor’s Rating: 8.5 / 10
Pros:
- Flagship performance
- Huge 18-inch QHD display with 165Hz refresh rate
- Comfortable mechanical RGB keyboard
- Comes with all connectivity options
Cons:
- Short battery life
- Heavy and not very portable
- Just 1TB of storage
Runners-up:
