The best high-end laptops you can buy

The MacBook Pro is a classic laptop with its stunning unibody design and ultra-powerful specs.

If you're an Apple user, then the MacBook Pro is really the best high-end, powerful laptop you can get. The MacBook Pro comes in two sizes: a 13-inch model and a 15-inch model. However, because the 15-inch model offers slightly better specs, that model is our top pick for the best high-end MacBook laptop.

The MacBook Pro is known for its awesome design, and recent models are no exception to that rule. The laptop has four Thunderbolt 3 ports, along with a beautiful 15-inch screen and a nice big touchpad that's been hailed by many as being the best in the business.

The laptop is even more impressive under the hood. The base model comes with a 9th-gen Intel Core i7 processor with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. You also get an AMD Radeon Pro 555X graphics card in this laptop. If you want an absolute powerhouse of a laptop, the 15-inch MacBook Pro can even be upgraded to a 9th-gen Intel Core i9 processor, 32GB of RAM, Radeon Pro Vega 20 graphics card, and a whopping 4TB of storage.

So what are the downsides to the MacBook Pro? Well, perhaps the biggest is that it's a bit expensive, with the base model starting at $2,399. The keyboard can also be a bit tricky — some love it, while others don't like it at all because it doesn't have very much travel.

Some people have also had issues with keys ceasing to function, but Apple has a replacement program set up for people who run into issues with the keyboard. Plus, the new model may not have these issues in the first place.

Still, the laptop has gotten some great reviews — Laptop Mag and TechRadar both gave it 4/5 stars.

Pros: Classic design, excellent specs, beautiful display

Cons: Expensive, keyboard is divisive

The Alienware m17 R2 is one of the more powerful laptops in its price range, plus, it has a great design.

If you're looking for a great gaming laptop, then you need something with a ton of raw power — and in that case, the Alienware m17 R2 is a great choice. The laptop should be more than good enough for gamers who need something with a little extra oomph.

Perhaps the most interesting thing about the Alienware m17 R2 is its design. The laptop measures just 0.91 inches thick at its thickest and is built with a classy-looking white-and-orange-highlights color-scheme. It also has a big 17-inch Full HD screen with Tobii eye-tracking technology.

When it comes to ports, you'll get three USB 3.1 ports, a Thunderbolt 3 port, HDMI and Mini-Display Port, and audio ports.

Under the hood, the Alienware m17 R2 is a beast. The base model comes with a 9th-generation Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, a 256GB solid-state drive, and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti graphics card. It can, however, be upgraded to be even better with an Intel Core i7 chip, 16GB of RAM, and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080.

So what are the downsides of this laptop? Perhaps the biggest is that it's pretty expensive, but that's the price you pay for something so powerful.

Pros: Great design, super powerful, relatively sleek

Cons: Expensive

The Dell XPS 15 is easy to choose as the best 15-inch laptop, thanks to its excellent design, top-tier specs, and big screen.

Dell has had a few laptops on this list, but it's time for one more. If you're looking for a great 15-inch laptop, then the new Dell XPS 15 is the way to go. This computer is essentially the 15-inch version of the Dell XPS 13, and as such, it offers similarly great specs and a classy design.

The latest version of the laptop has a number of design similarities compared to previous Dell XPS laptops. You'll get a nice big 15-inch screen with an edge-to-edge design, along with plenty of ports for connectivity — including a Thunderbolt 3 port, two USB 3.1 ports, an HDMI port, and audio ports. The laptop measures 0.66 inches thick.

The new Dell XPS 15 is powered by a 9th-gen Intel Core i5 processor, along with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. It can be upgraded to include an Intel Core i7 processor, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage, along with an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card. On some models, you'll even get an OLED screen, which should make for nice, deep blacks and vivid colors. The screen's resolution ranges from Full HD to 4K.

Like the Dell XPS 13, the XPS 15 has gotten plenty of great reviews. Laptop Mag gave the device 4.5 stars, while Tom's Hardware gave it a slightly more conservative 4 stars.

Pros: Powerful specs, super sleek design, great display

Cons: Battery isn't the best

The HP Spectre x360 Laptop is well-designed and offers some great specs, plus the screen can fold around the back of the device to be used as a laptop.

Perhaps you're looking more for a 2-in-1 laptop — or a device that has a touchscreen and can be used as a tablet too. In that case, we recommend the HP Spectre x360 Laptop. It has a super sleek design and some pretty sweet specs under the hood.

Perhaps the first thing you'll notice about the HP Spectre x360 is its design, and it's a good-looking device. It's available in a nice dark gray or dark blue color, and the display can be folded back to be used as a tablet. As you would expect, the device also has a touchscreen, and its resolution ranges from Full HD to 4K.

Under the hood, the laptop is pretty powerful. The base model offers an Intel Core i5 processor with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. You can also upgrade it to come with an Intel Core i7 processor, up to 16GB of RAM, and up to a whopping 2TB of storage.

Like the other devices on this list, the HP Spectre x360 has gotten some pretty great reviews — TechRadar and PCWorld both gave the laptop an impressive 4.5 stars. The downsides? Well, the device is a little expensive.

Pros: Great design, relatively nice specs, touch display, great battery life

Cons: A little expensive