(Credit: Cole Kan/PCMAG/Asus/Dell/Microsoft)
Computex is traditionally all about desktop PC hardware, but this year’s show essentially flipped the script, leaning way more heavily into new laptops.
In that sense, this year’s show was essentially a CES 2 (Electric Boogaloo?). It followed through on early-2026 promises of exciting developments, like the Dell XPS 13, and it introduced spin-offs for some of the CES darlings, like the artsy MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ Vincent van Gogh Edition. It even unveiled big, future-looking (and future-shaking) developments, like Nvidia's Arm-based RTX Spark laptop "superchip" coming to give Copilot+ PC laptops a major shot in the Arm.
As is often the case at these shows, two important details were missing from nearly every laptop announcement: prices and release dates. (Something, probably that pesky memory crisis, has manufacturers keeping their cards close to the chest.)
Regardless, that doesn’t make the PCs we saw this week in Taipei any less exciting: Both the high-end and entry-level laptop categories will soon see major shakeups that started right here at Computex. We’ve checked out all the major manufacturers' offerings at the show, and these are our favorites. —Joe Osborne, Deputy Managing Editor, Hardware
Dell XPS 13
(Credit: Wesley Ott)Apple’s MacBook Neo transformed the budget laptop market, and the most promising retort yet comes from none other than Dell. It overhauled the 13-inch XPS 13 in response, transforming its flagship laptop into what it hopes is a top-end budget laptop. Dell seems as if it studied the Neo in its XPS 13 development, meeting nearly every one of its shortcomings with a superior feature, from its lighter weight to its larger screen with touch controls and a backlit keyboard. Yes, the XPS 13 costs $100 more than the Neo to start, but we think Dell made up for that with its advantages. All that’s left is to see how Intel’s “Wildcat Lake” Core Series 3 processor stacks up against the repurposed A18 Pro iPhone chip in a fully tested review. Dell promises that the XPS 13 will land before the end of June.—JO
Acer TravelMate P6 14 AI
(Credit: Rene Ramos)We've seen plenty of lightweight laptops before. The Acer TravelMate P6 14 AI, however, grabbed our attention with its super-light shell constructed from a rigid blend of carbon fiber and magnesium-aluminum alloy. That light weight combines with 30-hour battery life, Intel Core Ultra Series 3 "Panther Lake" processors, Windows 11 Copilot+ features, a choice of impressive high-resolution IPS or 2.8K OLED displays, and a full complement of ports. Finally, the laptop has multi-layered business-friendly security built in, securing work and data even if you're on the road. Acer has yet to reveal price or availability for this one.—Brian Westover, Principal Writer, Hardware
Microsoft Surface Laptop Ultra
(Credit: John Burek)Nvidia has several RTX Spark laptops coming this fall, but we're most excited for the Microsoft Surface Laptop Ultra. The Nvidia superchip inside is just the start, with AI-ready muscle for running local models and agents, as well as powering gaming and content creation. Microsoft is going all in on the new platform, expanding the scope of Windows on Arm to include gaming (a must for Nvidia hardware). Plus, it’s Microsoft’s first mini-LED display on a Surface, with a PixelSense Ultra touch screen and professional-grade color and brightness. We’ll learn about pricing closer to its fall 2026 debut.—BW
Acer Swift Spin 14 AI
(Credit: Rene Ramos)The Acer Swift Spin 14 AI is a slick 2-in-1 laptop that combines ultraportable quality with the versatility of a flip-and-fold design. Even better, you can buy it with either an Arm-based Qualcomm or x86-based Intel machine, giving you a choice of Copilot+ options, complete with stylus, Wi-Fi 7, and all-day battery life. In our hands-on time with the machine, we noted that it's the first time we've seen Acer's ultraportable "Swift" and convertible "Spin" lines combined, and we were dazzled by the display's 120Hz peak refresh rate and touch screen. While the laptop is due out in August, Acer has yet to share pricing.—BW
Asus ROG Strix Scar 18
(Credit: Wesley Ott; Dillon Lopez)Simply put, Asus’ ROG team delivered the most impressive gaming laptop of the show with the Strix Scar 18 (G815). Not only is this a nearly maximum power-level laptop with up to a fully unleashed Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 GPU inside drawing 175 watts and Intel’s latest “Arrow Lake Refresh” mobile processors, but it’s a high-style system, too. The 240Hz, 1600p mini-LED screen should make the most of those graphics, and the system comes wrapped in a vibrant band of RGB LEDs, creating a slick, night-time drift race look. Throw in tool-free access to upgrade or repair the storage and memory, and you have the makings of a top-tier gaming laptop worthy of recognition. Asus hasn’t shared a price or release date yet, but don’t hold your breath for a bargain.—JO
MSI Titan 18 AI Dragon Edition Draco Epic
(Credit: John Burek)Made to mark MSI's 40th anniversary, the MSI Titan 18 AI Dragon Edition Draco Epic is a limited edition version of MSI's biggest, baddest gaming laptop. On the outside, it has etched metal and reflective designs, all themed around the constellation Draco—literally The Dragon, like MSI's draconic mascot. Inside, you’ll find an Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus processor and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU with 24GB of GDDR7 memory for extreme gaming power. The rest of MSI’s design pulls out all the stops, with an 18-inch 4K 240Hz mini LED panel, a mechanical keyboard with RGB lighting in every key, and a glowing RGB haptic touchpad. The only thing we don't like about the over-the-top laptop is that the price (which hasn't been announced yet) is probably just as crazy.—BW
Asus ExpertBook Flip B5 G2
(Credit: Matthew Buzzi)Put Intel Core 7 Series 3 (Panther Lake) hardware into a sleek, ruggedized aluminum chassis with a convertible 2-in-1 design, add a garaged fast-charging stylus, throw in a dual-camera setup, and you get the Asus ExpertBook Flip B5 G2. The versatile design lets you work comfortably whether you're at a desk, walking between meetings, or jogging to the next gate at the airport. The stylus charges quickly in the integrated storage slot, while the AI-accelerated performance takes advantage of the laptop's specs: up to 32GB of RAM, 1TB of SSD storage, and speedy Wi-Fi 7 to keep it all connected. It's pretty cool for a laptop that's all business, but you’ll need to wait for price and availability information.—BW
MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ Vincent van Gogh Edition
(Credit: John Burek)Our current laptop battery life king just got a major glow-up at Computex. MSI’s second take on the MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ has more power than the standard model, starting with an Intel Core Ultra X9 chip instead of an X7, but both processors have the same advanced Intel Arc B390 graphics inside. More important to this limited-edition model are the enhancements made to the screen lid, which incorporates two of van Gogh’s most famous works: The Starry Night and Starry Night Over the Rhône. (What? The guy really liked looking at stars.) The standard Prestige 14 Flip laptop outlasted every consumer system we’ve tested to date on our video rundown test, so consider this a victory lap for that power-sipping notebook. Mum’s the word on price or availability for this one.—JO
Acer Aspire 18 AI
(Credit: Rene Ramos)Long reserved only for gaming laptops and workstations, laptops with 18-inch screens are becoming more mainstream. Acer has brought the 18-inch screen size to an everyday laptop aimed at students, casual creators, and everyday users. The Acer Aspire 18 AI’s key feature is obviously the 18-inch WUXGA (1200p) IPS display, which refreshes at up to 165Hz with a 16:10 aspect ratio. More than that, it's a capable machine powered by up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 386H Series 3, with as much as 32GB of memory and 2TB of SSD storage. It's a little heavy at nearly 5 pounds, but it's also a giant, thanks to that big display. Is the world ready for an 18-incher for normal folks? Who knows? But it will go on sale this fall.—BW
Asus Zenbook 14
(Credit: Matthew Buzzi)A regular on our list of the best laptops overall, the updated Zenbook 14 now comes in with a “Ceraluminum” screen lid that merges ceramic and aluminum materials into a heartier, fingerprint-resistant shell. Asus also now offers three options for your CPU: AMD, Intel, or Qualcomm. While the Qualcomm Snapdragon X chip remains in the lineup for a presumably more affordable option, the new AMD Ryzen AI 400-series and Intel Core Ultra 3-series processors will have more oomph to them. Asus hasn’t revealed a price or release date for the Zenbook 14 yet.—JO