We’re in the middle of a big AI wave, with basically every company trying to get a piece of the pie. Whether it’s software companies trying to come up with AI-powered chatbots using cutting-edge language models, or hardware companies touting how their processors can run those models more effectively, AI is a huge deal. And if you want a PC that’s ready for AI, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on the PCs that have the specs you need.
Most AI PCs are centered around the NPU, which is a dedicated processor for AI tasks, and laptops are starting to appear with very powerful NPUs now in 2024. But you can also look at a graphics card like the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 and see how it’s an incredibly powerful tool for certain AI workloads, too, so it depends on your needs. So let’s take a closer look at some of the best AI PCs out there right now.
The AI PCs you should buy in 2024
Best overall
Surface Laptop 7
Top-notch performance for AI and everything else
The Surface Laptop 7 is Microsoft’s first proper laptop powered by an Arm processors, and the Snapdragon X series at that. These powerful chips have an NPU with 45 TOPS, and they’re also incredibly efficient, delivering both excellent performance and battery life.
- Snapdragon X processors have the fastest NPU currently available in laptops
- Powerful processors even when running on battery
- A modernized design with an excellent display and webcam
- Arm processors still have some compatibility issues on Windows, especially with games
- Copilot+ is not super useful yet
If you want an AI PC today, your best bet is going to be looking at the Snapdragon X series of processors and the laptops that feature them. And among them, Microsoft’s own Surface Laptop 7 is one of the very best.
This laptop is powered by either the Snapdragon X Plus or Snapdragon X Elite chips, both of which are very powerful, matching or outperforming Intel and AMD in native workloads. However, it does so while being incredibly efficiency, so battery life is far better than anything you’ll get from an equivalent PC with a different brand of processor.
The highlight, of course, is the NPU, which delivers 45 TOPS of AI performance, making this the first chip to support Copilot+. Right now, Copilot+ isn’t all that useful, but that powerful NPU is still going to be useful in some AI workloads, like some of the tools in DaVinci Resolve.
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It does most things right
Beyond just the chip, the Surface Laptop 7 is also fantastic news because it finally refreshes the Surface Laptop line with a new, sleeker design, with smaller bezels, a less reflective screen, and a brighter panel at that. In fact, the display also has a 120Hz refresh rate now, which was a long overdue upgrade.
This is an excellent laptop all around, and in fact, our Editor-in-Chief Rich Woods said “it might just be the best laptop out right now” in his review. You don’t need to look any further.
Runner-up
Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge
A great laptop for Samsung fans
$1100 $1350 Save $250
The Smasung Galaxy Book 4 Edge is another excellent laptop powered by the Qualcomm Snadragon X Elite chip. It’s one of the most powerful models out there, too, and it comes with a stunning AMOLED display and a very thin and light design that makes it a great choice.
- You can get one of the most powerful Snapdragon X Elite models (only in the 16-inch version)
- Stunning AMOLED display in both 14-inch and 16-inch sizes
- One of the thinnest and lightest aluminum laptops out there
- It has the same compatibility issues as any other Arm laptop
If you’re looking for another great Snapdragon X alternative, then the Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge may be the one for you. This is another excellent laptop that, in some ways, is even better than the Surface Laptop 7.
For one thing, all models of the Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge come with a Snapdragon X Elite processor, and th e16-inch version actually comes with a more powerful variant, which is the fastest you can get on any laptop right now. That’s mostly about the CPU, though, since the GPU and NPU are mostly the same, which means you can expect the same great AI performance with support for Copilot+ features and other capabilities that leverage the NPU. You can also expect the same excellent efficiency, meaning long battery life despite that excellent performance.
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The Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge is one of the first Copilot+ PCs to hit the market, and it’s bringing power, endurance, and tons of AI to the table
Samsung also excels in its displays, and the Galaxy Book 4 Edge uses a Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with a 120Hz refresh rate and a very sharp 2.8K resolution, so you get stunning colors and deep blacks with a smooth refresh rate. In the words of our reviewer Sherri L. Smith, “premium Samsung smartphones and laptops typically sport dazzling displays, which are extremely colorful and bright with sharp contrast and details, and the Book 4 Edge is no different”.
All of this comes wrapped in a slender package that’s still one of the thinnest laptops you can buy, and one of lightest laptops that’s made of aluminum, so it keeps the premium feel without sacrificing portability. It has a great selection of ports, too, so there aren’t big sacrifices here. This is an excellent laptop for just about anyone.
Best convertible
HP Spectre x360 14 (2024)
Versatile in more ways than one
$1000 $1630 Save $630
The HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) is one of the best all-around laptops we’ve had the chance to test. It offers a beautiful display, an ultraportable form factor, decent gaming performance, and, of course, excellent AI optimization thanks to the integrated NPU of its Intel Core Ultra 7 processor.
- OLED display
- Great 4K webcam
- Convertible form factor
- High price tag
- Toned down design
The HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) is not only one of the best AI PCs available currently but also one of the best laptops, period. Between its sleek convertible form factor, beautiful OLED display, and powerful Core Ultra 7 processor, HP delivers the total package with this one.
This laptop ships with either the Intel Core Ultra 5 125H or the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H. Both CPUs have an integrated AI Boost NPU and Arc GPU. Now, these processors aren’t quite as good as the Snapdragon X series for AI performance, but they do get your foot in the door, and overall performance is on par with what Qualcomm offers. We benchmarked it against last year’s in our review, and we saw a notable improvement. The 16-inch version also has the option to add a dedicated Nvidia 4050 Laptop GPU. But its merits go well beyond its performance.
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The HP Spectre x360 never fails to win
The HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) also provides a stellar use experience. This laptop is both lightweight and portable, and its convertible 2-in-1 form factor allows it to be used as a tablet. The 2.8K@120Hz OLED touch display is vibrant and accurate, making it great for watching media. And we got a decent six to seven hours of battery life when using it for everyday tasks.
The keyboard and touchpad both feel great. The 4K webcam is the icing on the cake. It may not be the cheapest option in the AI PC space, but for those looking for a premium laptop, it is well worth the price of admission.
Best for business
HP EliteBook Ultra
A classic design rejuvenated
$1599 $1699 Save $100
The HP EliteBook Ultra is one of the company’s first laptops with a Snadragon X Elite processor, and it’s excellent as a result. You get a top-tier NPU paired with excellent CPU and integrated GPU performance, all with top-of-the-line efficiency. It also has a premium design.
- Snapdragon X Elite processor delivers powerful performance while being efficient
- 5MP webcam
- Premium build quality
- No OLED option
- More ports would be welcome
HP has always made some of the best business laptops on the market, and with the introduction of the new EliteBook Ultra, that’s only become more true. This is the company’s first laptop with a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite processor, and that means you get all the benefits you’ve come to expect.
Yes, that means excellent performance all around both on battery and on AC power, all while still delivering excellent battery life that you can’t really get with a laptop powered by Intel or AMD processors. And of course, there’s the excellent NPU with 45 TOPS of performance, which is also best in class right now. These processors are revolutionizing laptops, and they’re a big deal.
Compared to other laptops, the HP EliteBook Ultra is a bit more conservative with its display. It has an IPS panel with 2.2k resolution, so it’s more than sharp enough and the viewing experience is solid, though not on the level of an OLED panel. You also get a 5MP webcam, which is still one of the best in a laptop, though not quite as good as the 9MP sensor HP uses in its most recent Spectre laptops.
The design is premium, but subdued. The laptop is only available in a dark blue colorway that looks great but doesn’t stand out in a professional environment, and it has a solid selection of ports including USB4, though it’s not as packed as some other business laptops tend to be.
It’s not perfect, but the HP EliteBook Ultra is an excellent laptop for business users, and it lives up to HP’s legacy while building upon it with better processors than ever before.
Best for gamers
HP Omen Transcend 14
AI power for more than work
The HP Omen Transcend 14 packs enormous power into a surprisingly small package. If it weren’t for the backlit RGB keyboard, you would hardly recognize it as a gaming laptop. But it can, in fact, come with either an Nvidia RTX 4050 or RTX 4070 Laptop GPU. The most high-end variant also ships with an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor, which is fantastic for AI applications.
- Available with Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU
- Powerful and efficient Intel Core Ultra 9 CPU
- OLED display
- Bulky form factor
- RAM is soldered
Since gaming is one of the most practical applications for AI tech, the HP Omen Transcend 14 is a great candidate for an AI-ready gaming rig. It comes with either an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H or Core Ultra 9 185H, either of which includes a powerful NPU to optimize AI tasks. On top of that, it ships with either an Nvidia RTX 4050 (6GB) or RTX 4070 (8GB) Laptop GPU. These specs make this laptop an absolute beast for gaming, deep learning, and data mining.
3:21
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One of the best parts of this laptop is that it is surprisingly portable, given the inclusion of a dedicated GPU. But despite being HP’s thinnest Omen design to date, it won’t compare in portability to the numerous great ultraslim AI PCs available. Its battery life probably won’t match that of other laptops, though, at least as long as you are using that dedicated GPU to its full potential. The same goes for letting that beautiful 14-inch OLED display rip at its max 120Hz refresh rate.
Two other features worth noting about this laptop are its Wi-Fi 7 support and its keyboard. The keyboard has a unique low-profile pudding-style keycap with translucent sides, creating a cool effect with the RGB backlighting. It’s a helpful reminder that this laptop is built to run AAA game titles on the go, even though you wouldn’t know with the clamshell closed.
Best for creators
Dell XPS 16
Big performance, big screen
With a large 16-inch screen and powerful performance, the Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Ultra is a very capable laptop for creative professionals. It features Intel Core Ultra processors and Nvidia graphics up to an RTX 4070 GPU, plus it has a beautiful AMOLED display, all packed into a surprisingly thin design.
Creative professionals need a bit more performance than the average user, and the Dell XPS 16 is happy to provide. This laptop is powered by Intel Core Ultra processors up to a Core Ultra 9 185H, offering fantastic performance for demadning workloads, including AI thanks to the built-in NPU. If the CPU isn’t enough, the laptop also includes up to an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU to enhance these workloads, while also enabling some high-end gaming. All that is paired with up to 64GB of RAM and a 4TB SSD, so you have top-tier specs across the board.
Dell also didn’t skimp on the display. The 16.3-inch screen comes in a base model featuring an IPS Full HD+ panel, but if you want the best quality around, you can upgrade to the 4K OLED panel that’s one of the best the market has to offer.
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The Dell XPS 16 is like nothing you’ve seen before.
On the design front, the XPS 16 is also unique in that it takes a more futuristic approach to its looks. There’s no touchpad on this laptop, or at least not one that you can see, since it blends perfectly into the chassis for a completely smooth and sleek look. The function keys are also replaced by touch-based keys that light up, making it look even cleaner. For ports, the XPS 16 mostly relies on USB Type-C and Thunderbolt, though an adapter is included for USB Type-A and HDMI.
This is one of the very best laptops around. In our review, Rich Woods called the XPS 16 the MacBook Pro of Windows, and that’s pretty high praise.
Best mainstream laptop
Dell Inspiron 14 Plus (2024)
Nailing the basics for work
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7440 might lack the bells and whistles of a premium laptop, but it delivers a remarkable mix of performance and portability given its price point. This makes it a perfect choice for the user who wants to cruise through basic productivity tasks while leaving the door open for some light gaming or AI tasks.
- Great bang for your buck
- Well-rounded performance
- Solid battery life
- Display could be brighter
- Not released yet
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus (2024) is a well-rounded productivity laptop machine that combines performance, design, and AI features into a sleek, portable package. It not only has a powerful Intel Core Ultra 7 processor but also a great set of specs. The laptop has a decently slim profile, a nice icy blue color, and a backlit keyboard. It also has a 14-inch WVA display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a 2.2K or 2.8K resolution, depending on the version. The screen looks decent but has an underwhelming max brightness of 300 nits.
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In the battle between budget and specs, the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7440 is a solid contender.
That’s why this laptop is better suited for handling everyday productivity tasks. Most of what you’re paying for is its powerful and efficient Intel Core Ultra 7 155H CPU. This processor is great for mixed use, as it has an integrated Arc GPU to handle high-end graphics and an integrated AI Boost NPU to accelerate image processing and voice assistants. This CPU has decent power efficiency, too, so we expect its battery life to be quite impressive once we have a chance to actually test it.
Although the final verdict will come once we actually go hands-on with this not-yet-released laptop, it already looks like one of the most promising mid-range laptops in its price range. This is especially true if you highly value AI functionality.
Best tablet
Surface Pro 11
Portable, yet powerful
The Surface Pro 11 is Microsoft’s best tablet yet thanks to the Snapdragon X series processors. It offers excellent performance and great battery life compared to previous models. it’s also the first to come with an OLED display option, giving it a far better display than its predecessors.
- Snapdragon X Elite processors deliver great performance and battery life
- Optional OLED display is long overdue
- Extra portable thanks to the tablet form factor
- Some compatibility issues as other Arm PCs
- No included keyboard or pen
- Windows still isn’t made for tablets
If you’d rather have a tablet than a typical Windows laptop, then the Surface Pro 11 is undoubtedly the best option on the market right now. It may not be perfect, but it does a lot of right, making it an easy recommendation.
Of course, it all starts with the Snapdragon X series of processors, which deliver the all-too-familiar performance and efficiency combo you can’t get anywhere else. Due to the smaller battery, you’re not going to get the same excellent battery life as you might get on larger laptops, but this is still a very performant device that lasts much longer than its Intel-based predecessors. It’s super impressive.
Microsoft also finally improved the coating on the display to make it less reflective, and perhaps even more important, it now gives you an OLED option. You do have to pay extra, but that OLED panel really pays off with stunning colors and true blacks that the IPS version just can’t offer. Both versions are similar in terms of resolution and refresh rate, though.
Because it’s a tablet, the Surface Pro 11 is also the most portable of all these PCs. It’s just 9.3mm thin it weighs under two pounds, making it very easy to carry around. It does have fewer ports, too, but it’s still got two USB-C ports and a Surface Connect port for charging.
This is the best Windows tablet on the market, hands down, and if you care about AI, this makes total sense.
The best AI PCs: the bottom line
With AI taking the world by storm, the market for AI PCs has grown exponentially in 2024, and especially with the introduction of Copilot+ PCs and the Snapdragon X series, it looks like it’s only going to get better. Right now, the Surface Laptop 7 is easily one of the best laptops on the market, with its powerful chipset delivering everything you could really want in a PC. If you want something a bit cheaper, users on a budget will get comparable performance out of the more value-priced Dell Inspiron 14 Plus.
Editor’s choice
Surface Laptop 7
With powerful Snapdragon X processors and an NPU capable of 45 TOPS, on top of fantastic battery life and a great new display, the Surface Laptop 7 isn’t just the best AI PC right now, it’s one of the best laptops, period.
Of course, the AI PC market is only going to keep growing with new processors like AMD’s Ryzen AI 300 series and Intel’s Lunar Lake lineup. This list is going to keep evolving over time, so be sure to keep checking back.
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source: https://www.xda-developers.com/best-ai-pcs/
