Best laptops for astronomers and astrophotographers in 2024 – Space.com

Best laptops 2024: Jump Menu

Whether you're running cutting-edge astronomy software or the best photo editing apps like Adobe Photoshop, we're here to help. The best laptop shouldn't just look good but must run the most graphically intensive workloads without a hitch. They should also have a stunning, expansive display with accurate colors.

Indeed, there are many factors to consider when choosing the best laptop, and it'll massively depend on your budget and particular needs. The latest 16-inch MacBook Pro powered by the M3 Max processor, for example, is one of the most powerful machines we've ever seen but obviously won't suit all budgets.

You may find that a gaming laptop, meanwhile, is particularly suited to your needs given they're built with high-performance and graphically-intensive applications in mind, fitted with the right cooling technology to maximize performance. Read on to discover the models we'd recommend in various categories.

Best overall

Apple MacBook Pro (M3 Pro, 2023)

A great performance machine with a long battery life, ideal for running heavy-duty software on the move.

Read more below

Best portable

Apple MacBook Air M2 15-inch laptop

An amazingly thin laptop that offers maximum performance on the move. It has great battery life and boasts powerful specs too.

Read more below

Best battery life

MacBook Pro 16-inch (M2 Max, 2023)

A near 19-hour lifespan is impressive perfect for on-the-go work, though it is heavier than other models in this guide.

Read more below

Best for students

This is one of the best value models around, ideal for students, it has huge amounts of RAM and heaps of connectivity options, but the battery could be better.

Read more below

Best 2-in-1

Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2

A great choice for on-the-go multi-taskers, especially those with graphic-heavy work. It doubles as a tablet too.

Read more below

Best gaming laptop

Boasting an attractive, minimalist design, this laptop is perfect for graphics-heavy workloads. It's 240Hz OLED display is allegedly the most responsive ever.

Read more below

Keumars Afifi-Sabet

Keumars is the technology editor at sister site Live Science. He has written for a variety of publications including ITPro, The Week Digital, ComputerActive and TechRadar Pro. He has worked as a technology journalist for more than five years, having previously held the role of features editor with ITPro.

The best performance for the price in a great-looking package.

CPU: 11-core Apple M3 Pro

RAM: 36GB unified memory

GPU: 14-core integrated graphics

Display: 14.2-inch 2,048x1,536-pixel liquid retina XDR

Battery size: 70 Whr

Weight: 3.4 pounds

Dimensions: 12.31 x 8.71 x 0.61 inches

Great performance

Crisp and bright display

Long battery life

Not as powerful as the 16-inch MacBook Pro

Expensive

Buy it if

You want a powerful MacBook you can take with you: If you need to run heavy-duty software while on the move.

You want to run intensive workloads: The M3 series processors are among the best out there for most intensive workloads.

Don't buy it if:

You want the most powerful machine money can buy: The 16-inch MacBook Pro offers much more power.

You're running a tight budget:This is not the right machine for you if you're looking to get as much value for money as possible.

The bottom line

The MacBook Pro 14-inch (M3 Pro, 2023) offers a great balance between performance, portability and a premium user experience.

The 14-inch MacBook Pro strikes a perfect balance between the portability of a smaller and sleeker laptop and the high-performance levels that you may expect from the M3 series of custom-built Apple processors.

These components render the MacBook Pro ideal for graphically intensive workloads suitable for gamers as well as creatives and graphic design professionals alike, thanks to the 11-core CPU and integrated 14-core graphics component.

Testing by Laptop showed, for instance, that it achieved 51 frames per second at 1200p on the Civilization VI benchmark just 2fps shy of the premium laptop average. Its display is just as good-looking as you'd come to expect, meanwhile, with the liquid retina XDR technology making the screen pop.

This laptop has the same high build quality and design you'd expect from a premium Apple machine, meanwhile, and its battery life is exceptionally long compared with many other non-MacBook contenders.

It's also considerably cheaper than the larger and far more specced-up MacBook variations, including the 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M3 Max chip. We'd keep that mind too, meaning it isn't suitable for those either on a tight budget or those willing to spend as much as it takes for the most powerful machine.

There's no beating Apple's M3 Max processor.

CPU: 16-core Apple MacBook M3 Max

RAM: 48GB unifieid memory

GPU: 40-core integrated graphics

Display: 16.2-inch, 3,456x2,234-pixel liquid retina XDR

Battery size: 100 Whr

Weight: 4.8 pounds

Dimensions: 14.01 x 9.77 x 0.67 inches

Unrivalled performance

Alluring display

Very long battery life

Incredibly expensive

Might be overkill for some users

Buy it if

You want the most powerful MacBook: If you aren't willing to compromise on power and performance, there's no looking anywhere else.

You need maximum power on the go: The MacBook Pro's excellent battery life makes it an ideal travel companion.

Don't buy it if:

You need to stick to a budget: The best-performing MacBook Pro is also its most expensive.

You don't need this much power: There are better options out there if you aren't planning on running the heaviest workloads.

The bottom line

The Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M3 Max, 2023) is an absolute powerhouse of a machine that might well blow you away.

The highest-spec 16-inch MacBook Pro powered with the M3 Max processor is without a doubt one of the best laptops out there for creatives and users keen on running the heaviest workloads. But the unfortunate downside is that it'll set you back a huge amount of money.

We reviewed a previous version of the 16-inch MacBook Pro in 2021 and found that it offered desktop-class performance thanks to its M1 chip coupled with an incredible display.

The latest model features a far more advanced version of Apple's custom-built chip, with a 16-core processor and 40-core integrated graphics.

The 3,456 by 2,234-pixel liquid retina XDR display is also as sharp as ever, giving you an expansive and crisp panel with accurate colors for any media-centric tasks. The machine also allows for a refresh rate of up to 120Hz for a smoother experience.

Far from being a cherry on top, a major reason why you'd choose the MacBook Pro 16-inch is that battery life isn't compromised, which is a major risk with high-powered desktop-class laptops.

You can enjoy up to 22 hours of movie playback, according to the manufacturer, although this might be a little less with real-world usage.

Still the best Windows laptop in 2024.

CPU: Intel 13th-Gen Core i7 Evo

RAM: 16GB

GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050

Display: 15.6-inch, 1,920 x 1,200-pixel

Battery size: 86 Whr

Weight: 4.2 pounds

Dimensions: 13.57 x 9.06 x 0.71 inches

Sleek design

Lightweight for its size

Great performance

Stunning display

Underwhelming battery life

Higher-end configurations very pricy

Buy it if

You want the best Windows laptop: There's a great array of Windows laptops to choose from, but the latest XPS 15 is a highlight.

You need a gorgeous display: OLED brings out the best of the XPS 15's display with stunning blacks and great colors.

Don't buy it if:

You need to work on the move: We'd recommend staying away from the XPS 15 if you're often using a laptop where power isn't accessible.

Continue reading here:

Best laptops for astronomers and astrophotographers in 2024 - Space.com