Best Laptops of 2026 So Far! (Q2)
Q2 was the complete opposite of Q1. The gaming laptops that weren't even around in Q1 finally showed up, Panther Lake is in everything now, and things got a little weird. One of these laptops posted over 40 hours of battery life in my testing — not a typo. Another has a display that makes 240Hz feel like it's underselling itself. And there's one laptop in here that I love and still can't tell you to buy. These are the five best laptops of Q2.
If you don't see one of your favorites here, it's either in the Q1 roundup or I haven't gotten it into the studio yet.
ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2026) — Refined, But Buy Smart
We have to start with the gaming laptop everyone asks me to review. This year's G16 is better in a few ways that make it more refined: it's more power-efficient, runs fairly cool, the display is brighter, and battery life is improved. ASUS is even pushing slightly more power to the GPU than previous years. You get the Intel Core Ultra 9 386H (Panther Lake) inside, and you can spec it all the way up to an RTX 5090.
But here's the thing — don't. The 5080 and 5090 don't run at full power in this chassis, so you're paying flagship money for a GPU that never reaches its true laptop performance. The RTX 5070 Ti is the config that makes the most sense — the sweet spot between price, VRAM, and what this cooling can realistically feed.
Now the uncomfortable part: pricing. These configs sit north of $3,000, and when the upgrades are this incremental, I have to be straight with you — last year's G16 at a discount is the better deal for most people today. Same great design, most of the performance, a lot less money. If you want the newest, coolest-running G16 and money isn't a factor, this is still one of the best portable 16-inch gaming laptops you can buy. Everyone else should shop last year's model while supplies last.
ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18 — That Display Ruined Other Laptops for Me
Next up, the ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18, which has one of the best displays I've ever seen if you're a gamer. On paper it's a 240Hz 4K+ panel, but in person the new ELMB (Extreme Low Motion Blur) tech makes everything feel smoother than a traditional 240Hz display. Objects in motion are easier to track, there's less mushiness, and it genuinely feels like a higher refresh rate than what's printed on the box. Once you've seen it, regular panels look a little worse.
Is it the most premium 18-inch gaming laptop on the market? No. There are plastic bits on the chassis, the speakers are mediocre, and the build quality won't beat some of the competition. But here's what you're actually paying for: it handles the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus, an extremely hot chip that most 16-inch laptops simply cannot cool — they overheat. The SCAR takes it and keeps it running where other machines would throttle it into the floor. Not the prettiest 18-incher, but it excels where it matters more than looks.
HP OmniBook 14 — A Solid Panther Lake Laptop (No Corners Cut)
Stepping away from gaming, the HP OmniBook 14 is just a solid Panther Lake laptop — and I mean that as a real compliment, because a lot of Panther Lake machines cut a corner somewhere. This one doesn't. Great build quality, a good processor, and it can actually game using one of the best integrated GPUs out there: Intel's 12 Xe cores are awesome. The keyboard feels wonderful, the touchpad is haptic, and the coolest part is it has a vapor chamber — most Panther Lake laptops without a dedicated GPU can't say that, which is why it stays composed under load and can be pushed further than its rivals. The display is a gorgeous 3K OLED and battery life is exceptional.
The catch, as usual, is price — it's just really expensive, and that's the whole con. If the price doesn't scare you, this is one of the most complete ultrabooks of the quarter. If it does, wait for a sale (if there ever is one), because everything else about this laptop is right.
Dell 14S — The 40-Hour Battery Monster
The Dell 14S is the replacement for the Inspiron line — basically the XPS 14 with the price dialed down. Dell dropped some build quality to get there, but it's still well built: an all-metal chassis, OLED options, and a very comfortable keyboard. It's not perfect — no haptic touchpad, and it's heavier than the XPS 14 (but still light enough). My unit uses the Intel Core Ultra 7 355, so performance is nothing special; it lacks the 12 Xe cores of the X models, so the integrated graphics aren't great — it won't beat a MacBook Air.
But the battery life — this laptop has some of the best I've ever experienced. Over 40 hours in my PCMark Modern Office test. That's absolutely insane. It also has a good selection of ports, which isn't a given at this size anymore. So here's my take: if you see the price drop, battery life is your top priority, and performance isn't number one, keep this on your short list — nothing else I've tested this year comes close.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 14) — The One I Love But Can't Recommend
The last one is complicated. The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14 really doesn't change much — a similar design we've seen over the years, and that's fine, because it maintains the build quality. The keyboard is still amazing, one of the best in the business, and yes, the TrackPoint is still here. The ThinkPad is what people picture when they hear the word Lenovo.
But the model I have is ridiculously expensive, and they put a 512GB SSD in it. Component costs have gone up across the board, but at this price point that should never have happened. So here's where I land: I like this laptop a lot, but as a consumer I would never buy it at its current price. If you're a corporation buying in bulk and can negotiate a great deal — IT admins, keep it on your short list, but only if you can get the right parts inside for a proper price. I still believe it's one of the best business laptops you can get today; it's just very hard to recommend at its current price.
The Bottom Line
Those are my picks for the best laptops I've personally tested in Q2 2026. Q2 finally brought the gaming laptops, Panther Lake went everywhere, and the standouts were as much about value and trade-offs as raw specs — a G16 where last year's model is the smarter buy, a not-pretty SCAR 18 with a stunning display, a no-compromise-but-pricey HP OmniBook, a slow-but-40-hour Dell, and a ThinkPad that's brilliant and unbuyable at once.
If you're wondering how these stack up against my Q1 picks, check out the Best Laptops of 2026 So Far (Q1) roundup.
Where to Buy — Q2 Picks
- ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2026) · G16 (last year's model)
- ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18
- HP OmniBook Ultra 14
- Dell 14S
- Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon
Q1 Picks (still worth a look)
- MacBook Neo · MacBook Air 13 · MacBook Air 15
- Lenovo Yoga 7a 2-in-1 · Acer Swift 16 AI
- Lenovo Slim 7i Ultra · ASUS Zenbook A14
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Published: July 2026
