Best 16-Inch Laptops In 2024

Laptops with 16-inch screens are becoming more popular every day, and these are the best ones you can buy right now.

For many years, 15-inch laptops were some of the most popular on the market since they offered a nice balance of portability and screen real estate. But in recent years, you may have noticed a trend where more and more 16-inch laptops replace 15-inch models. Many of the best laptops you can buy today have 16-inch screens, and fewer have 15-inch displays.

The reason for that is simple — we’re not just making screens bigger. In most cases, 16-inch laptops come in a 15-inch form factor, and that’s because companies are moving away from the classic 16:9 aspect ratio that became the standard in the mid-2000s. Instead, we now have a taller 16:10 format, which is far better for productivity. The taller screen means you get more vertical space to hold more lines of text, for a better view of the video and audio tracks in a video editing interface, and to more easily work with all the clutch tools in a photo editor like Photoshop.

There are lots of great reasons to get a 16-inch laptop compared to a 15-inch one, so we’re here to help you choose the best one for yourself. There’s no shortage of solid options on the market at this point, so let’s dive right in.

Samsung Galaxy Book 3 Pro

Best overall
Source: HP

HP Spectre x360 16 (2024)

Best convertible
Apple MacBook Pro (M2, 2023)

Best creator laptop
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11

Best business laptop
Acer Chromebook 516 GE

Best Chromebook

Samsung Galaxy Book 3 Pro

Best overall

Fast performance, stunning display, and premium build

$1663 $1750 Save $87

The Samsung Galaxy Book 3 Pro is a premium aluminum laptop with 13th-generation Intel Core processors and a stunning AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It also has a solid selection of ports.

Pros

13th-gen Intel Core processors deliver great performance
Beautiful Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with 120Hz refresh rate
Good supply of ports

Cons

HDMI output limited to 4K at 30Hz
No Windows Hello facial recognition

Samsung has been making some pretty great laptops over the past few years, then in 2023, it became one of the best in the industry with the Galaxy Book 3 Pro.

In terms of performance, we’re looking at 13th-generation Intel processors, up to a Core i7-1260P with 12 cores and 16 threads, which deliver great performance for day-to-day tasks. It’s a mild but welcome upgrade over the previous generation, and with 16GB of RAM and up to a 1TB SSD, you are equipped for a great experience.

The big upgrade is the display. The Samsung Galaxy Book 3 Pro is the first in the lineup to come in a 16-inch size thanks to switching to the 16:10 aspect ratio. The resolution is much sharper, too, at 2880×1800, and it even has a smooth 120Hz refresh rate now. It’s simply better in every way. The webcam has the same 1080p sensor, and although there’s no facial recognition, you can use Windows Hello with the fingerprint reader on the power button.

Another notable upgrade is the design, with Samsung switching to an aluminum chassis that feels much more premium and sturdy. It looks sleek and subdued in both Graphite and Beige colorways, too. Unfortunately, aluminum is much heavier than magnesium, so this laptop comes in at 3.44 pounds, even though it’s still very thin. It’s still portable, but significantly heavier than its predecessor. However, the port selection here is great, including two Thunderbolt 4 ports, one USB Type-A, HDMI, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a microSD card reader.

Previous Samsung Galaxy laptops were already great, but the changes made to the Galaxy Book 3 Pro make this one of the best laptops on the market.

HP Spectre x360 16 (2024)

Best convertible

$1300 $1600 Save $300

The 2024 HP Spectre x360 16 comes with powerful Intel processors and optional Nvidia RTX 4050 graphics for workloads that require more GPU power. It has a super-sharp 16-inch display, including an optional OLED panel, too.

Pros

Intel Core Ultra chip
OLED panel option
Dedicated GPU available

Clamshell laptops are fine, but if you’re like me, nothing beats the versatility of a convertible. If you’re looking for a large one, the HP Spectre x360 16 is your best bet.

The latest model of the HP Spectre x360 16 comes with an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H chip featuring 16 cores and 22 threads. Graphics-wise, you can choose between Intel’s Arc integrated solution or opt for an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050. Naturally, the 4050 has more performance than the integrated Arc graphics, which will be the obvious pick for creators that need more GPU power. You can also get this laptop with up to 32GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD.

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HP Spectre x360 16 (2024) review: Major changes pay off for HP’s premium convertible

A 9MP webcam, improved keyboard, new speaker setup, and massive haptic touchpad are just some of the standout features.

When it comes to display, you can choose between a 2560×1600 120Hz IPS panel or a 2.8K 120Hz OLED panel. Thanks to the more premium panel tech with OLED, you will get richer image quality as well as a higher peak brightness of 500 nits vs the IPS panel’s 400 nits. You’re also getting a truly impressive 9MP webcam with infared capability, human presence detection, Windows hello, and privacy alerts.

In terms of looks, the Spectre x360 16 comes in a unique dual-tone color scheme, mixing black with brass accents, or dark blue with light blue accents. Being a large convertible, it’s a fairly heavy laptop, coming in at 4.3 pounds. Still, it’s decently portable. As for the ports, HP gives you two Thunderbolt 4 connections, one USB Type-A port, HDMI, and a headphone jack. It’s a pretty solid setup for a modern laptop.

The HP Spectre x360 16 can be a bit pricey, but it’s a fantastic laptop in just about every way.

Apple MacBook Pro (M2, 2023)

Best creator laptop

Terrific performance and battery life

$1999 $2499 Save $500

The 2023 MacBook Pro builds on the 2021 model to deliver even more performance and efficiency while maintaining a top-tier display and build quality. It’s one of the best laptops on the market, plain and simple.

Pros

Unrivaled performance and battery life thanks to the Apple M2 Pro and M2 Max chips
Mini-LED display with 120Hz refresh rate and up to 1,600 nits of brightness
Premium build quality with an all-aluminum chassis

Cons

It may look a bit boring to some
Not everyone wants to use macOS
It gets quite expensive

It’s impossible to talk about the best laptops on the market without mentioning the MacBook Pro, especially if we’re talking about 16-inch laptops. The latest model is a phenomenal machine for performance and battery life, making it easily the best laptop for creators.

Indeed, the Apple M2 Pro and M2 Max are top-of-the-line processors with 12 CPU cores (eight for performance, four for efficiency) and up to a 39-core GPU that delivers a balance of performance and battery life that you just can’t get anywhere. The performance can rival the best laptops in the Windows space, but it’s so efficient that battery life is in a whole different class compared to its competitors. You can also get up to 96GB of RAM and an 8TB SSD.

To go along with the powerful internals, there’s also an absolutely fantastic screen. It’s a 16.2-inch panel, and it comes in a super-sharp 3456×2234 resolution, resulting in an aspect ratio slightly taller than 16:10. The screen has a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate that makes motion and animations look smoother. Plus, it has a Mini-LED display with hundreds of individual dimming zones, and it can reach a maximum brightness of 1,600 nits. The only thing you might not like is the notch in the middle of the screen, which is where you’ll find the 1080p webcam that delivers very good image quality.

Design-wise, the MacBook Pro isn’t particularly exciting, but it is premium. It’s a solid aluminum laptop that comes in either Silver or Space Grey (dark silver), so it looks very subdued. Thanks to the powerful specs, it gets a bit heavy, starting at 4.7 pounds of weight. Finally, in terms of ports, the latest MacBook Pro models come with three Thunderbolt 4 ports, along with HDMI, a headphone jack, a full-size SD card reader, and a MagSafe connector for charging. It’s worth noting that the Thunderbolt ports don’t support things like external GPUs here, but otherwise, it’s a solid setup.

This is undoubtedly one of the best laptops on the market, and while it’s pricey, we couldn’t not recommend it.

Angled rear view of the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon laptop facing left

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11

Best business laptop

Subdued design and multiple configurations available

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 is a refreshed version of the ThinkPad X1. It now features the more powerful 13th-gen Intel processors, while keeping the class ThinkPad Design we all know and love. It’s one of the most powerful business laptops on the market, and it delivers the reliability Lenovo has become known for.

Pros

13th-gen Intel U- or P-series processors
Subdued design with a lot of ports
5MP webcam

Cons

Somewhat heavy
Expensive, especially for build-to-order configurations

If you need a laptop for work, and you want one with a 16-inch display to get more done faster, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon is a great option that checks all the boxes without being overly fancy.

At a performance level, you can choose 13th-generation Intel processors from either the P-series or the U-series. The P-series models go up to a Core i7-1370P with 14 cores and 20 threads, while the U-series maxes out with a Core i7-1365U with 10 cores and 12 threads. P-series processors can be faster, while the U series is better for battery life. Additionally, you can get up to 64GB of RAM (user-removable) and a 2TB PCIe 4.0 SSD.

You’ll get a 16-inch panel with a 16:10 aspect ratio, and since this is a laptop focused on nailing the basics, the entry-level configuration comes in Full HD+ resolution and 400 nits of brightness. However, you can also opt for a 2.8K OLED panel for a stunning visual experience with 500 nits (HDR) of peak brightness. Above that display is also a 5MP webcam with optional Windows Hello support.

For a business laptop, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon is exactly what you’d expect. It features the design we all know and love from the ThinkPad, with a carbon fiber top and an aluminum bottom. Starting at 2.4 pounds, it’s a comfortable laptop to take with you to the office and beyond. It also features great connectivity, with two Thunderbolt 4 ports, two USB Type-A ports, HDMI, a headphone jack, and even an optional Smart Card reader.

Acer Chromebook 516 GE

Best Chromebook

Fast performance and a sharp display for ChromeOS

$449 $649 Save $200

The Acer Chromebook 516 GE is marketed as a gaming laptop, but it’s just a great laptop for anyone. With 12th-generation Intel Core processors and a sharp display, it’s perfect for all kinds of users, plus it has some personality with the RGB keyboard.

Pros

Sharp Quad HD+ display with 120Hz refresh rate
Fast 12th-gen Intel processors
RGB keyboard adds some personality

Cons

Windows laptops have newer processors now
No biometric authentication

There isn’t a huge market for 16-inch Chromebooks out there, but that shouldn’t take away from how good the Acer Chromebook 516 GE is. If you want the best ChromeOS laptop on the market, this should be on your mind regardless of size.

Powering the Acer Chromebook 516 GE is a 12th-generation Intel Core i5-1240P processor with 12 cores and 16 threads. It’s not the newest processor around, but it’s still very fast, especially on ChromeOS. It comes with a pretty modest 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD for storage. It may be advertised for gaming, but those are specs you’d find in any ultrabook, which may actually be a good thing since it makes this a great machine for anyone.

What makes it even better is the 16-inch display with a 16:10 aspect ratio and sharp Quad HD+ resolution. That creates a great viewing experience, and it’s excellent for getting work done. It even has a 120Hz refresh rate (where some of that gaming DNA comes in), so animations and motion look much smoother. There’s also a 1080p webcam above the display, though there’s no biometric authentication available there.

The Acer Chromebook 516 GE doesn’t try to be too fancy in terms of looks, with a simple black design, but it does have an RGB keyboard which adds a bit of flair if you’re into that. At 3.75 pounds, it’s not exactly light, but it’s reasonable for the size. Ports are pretty good, too, with two USB Type-C and one Type-A port, HDMI, RJ45 Ethernet, and a headphone jack.

As far as Chromebooks go, it doesn’t get much better than the Chromebook 516 GE, so if you want one in the 16-inch size, you can’t go wrong here.

Angled view of the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i facing left

Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 8

Best gaming laptop

Monster performance in a premium design

$2049 $2749 Save $700

The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i is a beastly gaming laptop with top-notch performance. It has incredibly powerful Intel processors and Nvidia graphics, along with a great display for gaming. It even has a premium metal design.

Pros

Up to a 24-core processor and Nvidia RTX 4090 graphics
Quad HD+ display with super-smooth 240Hz refresh rate
Lots of ports

Cons

No Windows Hello support
Heavy
Expensive

Gaming is one of the most popular hobbies in the world, and the 16-inch form factor is arguably ideal for it. If you want the best option to support that activity, the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i should definitely be on your radar.

Performance is one thing that this laptop certainly isn’t missing, with up to a 24-core, 32-thread Intel Core i9-13900HX delivering absolutely outstanding performance for a laptop. That, combined with up to an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU, gives you all the performance you would want to run your games at high settings and high frame rates. You can also configure it with up to 32GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD to store all of your games.

You’re getting a great display here too: a 16-inch panel with a 16:10 aspect ratio and super-sharp Quad HD+ resolution, making it easy to get some work done too. And with the smooth 240Hz refresh rate, gaming will be as enjoyable as it gets. Most games probably can’t hit that maximum resolution and refresh rate, but for lighter titles, this is fantastic. There’s also a 1080p webcam above the display, which is nice to see, although there’s no Windows Hello support (not even through a fingerprint reader).

The Legion Pro 7i also impresses in terms of design, since it’s a mostly metal chassis that looks and feels very premium. Combined with the high-end specs, this makes for a very heavy laptop, starting at 6.17 pounds, but that makes sense with something like this. And in terms of ports, we’re looking at two USB-C ports (one with Thunderbolt 4), four USB Type-A ports, HDMI, RJ45 Ethernet, and a headphone jack, so there’s no shortage of connectivity options.

There’s a lot to love in the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i, and if you can afford it, it’s one of the very best gaming laptops on the market.

LG Gram 16 (2023)

Best lightweight laptop

Fast performance in a portable package

The LG Gram 16 is a lightweight and powerful 16-inch laptop that features a crisp display, solid battery life, and a very sleek design. Featuring Intel’s 13th-generation CPUs, there’s enough power for this to be your ultra portable work machine.

Pros

Incredibly sleek design
Sharp Quad HD+ display
Just 2.6 pounds

Cons

Lack of a touchscreen option

Bigger laptops do tend to be heavier (naturally), but if you want a machine that has a bigger screen, impressive performance, and is also super light, then the LG Gram 16 is for you.

First off, in terms of performance, the LG Gram 16 comes with up to a 13th-generation Intel Core i7, with 12 cores and 16 threads, able to handle day-to-day tasks without a hitch. You can choose between 16GB or 32GB of RAM, and you also get a 1TB SSD. This leaves no room for poor performance here, which explains the higher price tag.

By default, the LG Gram 16 comes with integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics, but you have the option of upgrading to a model with a discrete Nvidia RTX 3050 for an extra boost to the graphics performance. Adding to that is a crisp IPS panel that delivers Quad HD+ resolution. The configuration with the discrete RTX 3050 will offer a variable refresh rate of up to 144Hz, but the standard Gram 16 with integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics comes with a standard 60Hz IPS panel. You also get a 1080p webcam with Windows Hello facial recognition support. The best part: all of these things are included by default.

Finally, there’s the design, with the first highlight being the fact that this 16-inch laptop starts at just 2.62 pounds for the configuration with integrated graphics. The dedicated GPU factors into the weight though, bringing the total weight of the LG Gram 16 to 2.86 pounds from 2.62 pounds. There are slightly lighter 16-inch laptops out there, but this one makes up for it in performance capacity. As for ports, you get two Thunderbolt 4 connections, USB Type-A, a headphone jack, and a microSD card reader, so it’s a solid setup.

Front view of the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 16-inch laptop in Abyss Blue

Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 (16-inch, 2023)

Best budget laptop

A solid experience on the cheap

$550 $750 Save $200

The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 is a relatively basic laptop, but it covers the basics with solid performance and it has a 16-inch display with a 16:10 aspect ratio. Plus, since it’s a convertible, it supports touch and pen input, too.

Pros

Modern AMD Ryzen 7000 series processors
Touchscreen with pen support and a 16:10 aspect ratio
1080p webcam

Cons

Fairly heavy
Display doesn’t have the best colors

Not everyone wants to spend thousands of dollars on a laptop, but the 16-inch form factor does tend to be reserved for more premium products. Thankfully, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 convertible is an exception, which does enough to offer you a good experience for day-to-day use.

The base model of the IdeaPad Flex 5 comes with an AMD Ryzen 5 7530U, a solid processor with 6 cores and 12 threads, which should be more than enough for web browsing, watching movies, and creating documents or presentations. It starts at 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD at minimum, with some upgrade options if you want to spend a little more.

Having a 16-inch display in this price range is fairly rare, but it’s great to see one with a 16:10 aspect ratio and Full HD+ resolution, even if the colors won’t look quite as amazing as the others here. Plus, since this is a convertible, you can use touch input and even a pen (included in some models) to interact with it more naturally. To top it off, there’s even a 1080p webcam, which lacks Windows Hello support, but you can use the fingerprint reader for that instead.

Design is one area that tends to be lacking in budget laptops, and here, it kind of shows. This one uses a mix of aluminum and plastic for the build, which makes for a heavy laptop starting at 4.63 pounds. Again, not unexpected for something in this price range. It does come in two color options, though both are fairly subdued. As for ports, one USB-C connection, two USB Type-A ports, HDMI, a headphone jack, and a full-size SD card reader make for a pretty good experience overall.

With the regular price starting at $700, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 is a great laptop with a versatile form factor at a very reasonable price. If you want to save money in this category, this is the way to go.

Best 16-inch laptops in 2023: Bottom line

These options cover a lot of use cases and there’s something for everyone here. If you want the best overall experience, the Samsung Galaxy Book 3 Pro is hard to beat. It has fast processors, a fantastic display, a premium design, and even a solid supply of ports that beats many competitors in the same space. It’s a huge leap forward for the series too, and it’s good to see Samsung invest heavily in making a premium device.