Recently got a ThinkPad T14s gen 4 with top-of-the-line AMD 7840U, 32GB RAM and 512GB SSD, for just a bit over $1k. It has very good build quality, is powerful yet quiet, and has decent battery life. It supports up to 4 displays. That's basically one of the best Windows laptops you can get.
Of course, it does not have high-DPI mini LED screen, great speakers or 18 hours of battery life, but none of that really matters, and I'd choose this any day over a similarly speced Macbook Pro 14 that would cost me $2,399.
pls define decent battery life because for different people decent means different things. My biggest problem with windows laptops is battery life. My dell work laptop is spec't higher compared to my home m1 air but the ~4h battery life, worse trackpad and worse audio make it a worse experience overall...
You will not find a x86 machine that beats an Arm machine on battery life. 4h is bad for a windows laptop though. But if track pad and battery life is your thing, a Mac it is.
Of course, it does not have high-DPI mini LED screen, great speakers or 18 hours of battery life, but none of that really matters, and I'd choose this any day over a similarly speced Macbook Pro 14 that would cost me $2,399.