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Your best option if you’re searching for a laptop for work is an ultraportable, which is lightweight and has a battery life that will last you the entire day. The quality of the keyboard, touchpad, display, and webcam should also be considered because they have a big influence on the user experience as a whole. You won’t need a separate dock if you can connect several peripherals or external screens thanks to a vast port selection. It makes sense that you would need adequate processing power to do your responsibilities. To assist you in making your selection, we’ve put together a list of suggestions that includes choices for various form factors and operating systems so you can choose the laptop that best meets your needs.
The top business laptops available are listed here, based on our testing of over 120 computers. View our selections for the finest laptops, as well as the best laptops for graphic design and lightweight laptops.
THE QUICK LIST
- BEST BUSINESS: HP Spectre x360 14 (2024)
- BEST MID-RANGE: Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 (2022)
- BEST BUDGET: ASUS Vivobook 16 M1605 (2023)
- BEST CHEAP: Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook 14 (2023)
- BEST MACBOOK: Apple MacBook Air 15 (2024)
- BEST WORKSTATION: Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M3, 2023)
- BEST 2 IN 1 TABLET: Microsoft Surface Pro 8 (2021)
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1. HP Spectre x360 14 (2024)
Best Business Laptop
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The HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) is the greatest work laptop that we have tested. This high-end 2-in-1 laptop is a fantastic option for frequent travellers because of its lightweight, durable aluminium construction. Light productivity tasks like word processing, web browsing, spreadsheets, and presentations are a breeze when using Intel’s latest Meteor Lake CPUs. Additionally, its NPU (Neural Processing Unit) speeds up AI functions like Windows’ Copilot. Because of its long battery life, you won’t have to worry about charging it during the workweek. The laptop may be charged via USB-C, allowing you to utilise a variety of suitable adapters.
The user experience is excellent all around. You receive a 4K webcam, a great haptic touchpad, and a crisp 2.8K OLED display with pen and touch input. For speedy logins, a fingerprint sensor and a facial recognition camera are also incorporated. You can connect numerous devices and external displays and transfer files quickly thanks to the good port selection, which includes two USB-C/Thunderbolt 4s and one USB-A. Furthermore supported is Wi-Fi 7. Sadly, RAM cannot be changed by the user, so be sure to get plenty at first. Finally, keep in mind that OLEDs can get permanently burnt in and that some people find their flickering annoying.
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2. Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 (2022)
Best Mid-Range Business Laptop
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The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 (2022), while being a high-end laptop, is our best mid-range option because it’s an older model from 2022 and is frequently on sale. The standard 13.5-inch model costs about $850 USD. Overall, it offers an excellent user experience and feels every bit as well-built as the HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) mentioned above. An Intel 12th Gen Core i5 or i7 CPU can be installed on it; both are quick enough to manage standard productivity tasks including online surfing, spreadsheets, text processing, and video playing. The maximum amount of memory and storage are 16GB and 512GB, respectively, which should be sufficient for the majority of users with low workloads. If you require additional space, the 15-inch model can accommodate up to 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage.
When compared to the HP Spectre mentioned above, there are a few drawbacks. This laptop is a clamshell, to start. Because it isn’t a 2-in-1 like the HP, you can turn the screen into a tablet and use it with touch and pen input. Second, even if its IPS display is excellent, it isn’t quite as good as others because it lacks colour and sharpness, and in low light conditions, its low contrast causes blacks to appear grey. Not to mention, depending on how much you use it, you might need to plug it in for a quick charge to get through the day because its battery only lasts for around eight hours of light use.
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3. ASUS Vivobook 16 M1605 (2023)
Best Budget Business Laptop
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As of now, our tests have shown the ASUS Vivobook 16 M1605 (2023) to be the best low-cost business laptop. Even though it’s a 16-inch gadget, this ultraportable feels well-built for the price and is still lightweight and portable. AMD Ryzen 5 or Ryzen 7 CPUs, which are more than capable of handling everyday productivity activities, are available for this laptop. In terms of RAM, it has 8GB soldered onto the motherboard along with a SO-DIMM port, so you can always acquire an 8GB model and update it yourself if you can’t find a 16GB one. With roughly eight hours of light use, the battery life is comparable to that of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 (2022), so you might need a rapid charge to go through a regular workday.
Overall, this model provides a fairly satisfactory user experience. It features a wide, sensitive touchpad in addition to a roomy, full-size keyboard with a Numpad, which is useful for people who deal with a lot of numbers. Wi-Fi 6E wireless access is provided, along with a fingerprint sensor for speedy logins and a respectable port selection consisting of three USB-As, one USB-C, and one HDMI. Sadly, video output is not supported via USB-C, thus you will need to attach an external display using the HDMI port. This laptop’s display is its biggest flaw. At this screen size, its 1080p resolution appears fairly sharp; nevertheless, its brightness of 250 cd/m² is rather low, thus visibility might be a problem in well-lit areas. Its limited colour spectrum also makes it appear washed out.
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4. Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook 14 (2023)
Best Cheap Business Laptop
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To save costs as much as feasible, consider purchasing the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook 14 (2023). For younger kids or anyone in need of a basic computer for light work such as email response, text processing, spreadsheets, and video playing, this 14-inch Chromebook is a fantastic choice. Lenovo frequently offers the Core i3 configuration—which comes with an FHD touch-sensitive display, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage—for about $400 straight. Although there are less expensive options, we don’t advise using them unless you have a very minimal workload and don’t mind sacrificing the display quality.
The FHD touch-sensitive display is reasonably color-accurate and bright enough for well-lit environments. An outstanding 1080p webcam is positioned above the screen so that clients and coworkers can clearly see and hear you when you’re on video conferences. The touchpad is tiny and not always responsive, and the keyboard feels roomy but a little mushy. For those who are unfamiliar with Chrome OS, be aware that there are restrictions on the kinds of apps you may install, so be sure you can accomplish everything using an Android app or Chrome browser.
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5. Apple MacBook Air 15 (2024)
Best MacBook For Business
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Even though Windows is the operating system that businesses use the most, some of you might prefer to utilise a MacBook, especially in this day of remote work. If yes, we suggest the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2024), which is among the top laptops for both personal and professional use that we’ve evaluated. With Apple’s M3 chipset, this ultraportable laptop is very well-built and performs excellently for most work tasks, including light picture and video editing. Its 15-inch display is bright enough to reduce glare even in strong sunshine outside, and it offers you plenty of space for split-screen multitasking. Additionally, it has the best battery life in its class, allowing you to easily go through a whole workday on a single charge.
The user experience is excellent. The touchpad is sizable and responsive, and the keyboard feels roomy and tactile. With the high-quality 1080p webcam that you get, your colleagues will be able to see and hear you well during video conversations. The main issue with this device is port selection; there are just two USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 ports available, and you can only attach two external monitors to them while the lid is closed. You can get the Apple MacBook Air 13 (2024) if you want a more portable device for usage while travelling or if you want to use an external monitor with the laptop closed. The speakers don’t sound as well, but it’s less expensive. Apple continues to offer the Apple MacBook Air 13 (2022) with the M2 SoC as a cost-effective option, costing $100 less in USD than the 15-inch variant.
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6. Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M3, 2023)
Best Workstation For Business
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We suggest the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M3, 2023), one of the greatest laptops for small business use that we’ve evaluated, for those who need to perform a little bit of everything, such graphic design, photo editing, and possibly even short films for their website. This 14-inch workstation is a terrific choice for small company owners who need to do a little bit of everything because it comes with Apple’s M3 Pro/Max SoCs, which are quick enough to handle demanding jobs like intricate graphic design and video editing. With its well-calibrated 120Hz Mini LED display that works well in well-lit environments, you can start working right away without the need for additional calibration. The keyboard, touchpad, and webcam are all the same as on the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2024) above, plus there are more ports available for external displays and devices.
Get the Dell XPS 16 (2024) if you would rather use a Windows laptop. With an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 discrete GPU and Intel Core Ultra 7 or 9 CPUs, this high-end workstation is ideal for demanding tasks like 3D modelling and programming. 4TB of storage and 64GB of RAM are the maximum amounts available. While the SSD may be changed, the RAM cannot, meaning that you cannot add extra storage in the future. Both an FHD+ IPS and a 4K+ OLED panel are available as display options; for color-critical work, we suggest the latter because it fully supports Adobe RGB and DCI P3. The keyboard’s edge-to-edge buttons and invisible touchpad may take some getting used to, but overall, the user experience is good. Compared to the MacBook Pro, there are fewer port options available because there are only three USB-C/Thunderbolt 4 ports and a MicroSD card reader.
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7. Microsoft Surface Pro 8 (2021)
Best 2-In-1 Tablet For Business
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Get the Microsoft Surface Pro 8 (2021), one of the greatest laptops we’ve tested for both business and personal use, if you prefer the 2-in-1 tablet form factor. The keyboard may be removed to free up space for video consumption or to make the device simpler to grip. Additionally, a built-in kickstand enables you to tilt the screen to nearly a flat position for taking notes or using a stylus to sketch. Although any Microsoft Pen Protocol stylus will function, it is compatible with Microsoft’s Slim Pen 2. For digital artists and designers, the Slim Pen 2 has 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity and tilt. It also features a haptic engine that replicates the sensation of writing or sketching on paper. However, the keyboard and stylus are sold separately, which raises the device’s total cost.
Particularly for a type cover keyboard, the keyboard is quite comfortable, and the Microsoft Slim Pen 2 can be charged and stored in the slot at the top. It has one of the greatest 1080p webcams available, and it also has a back-facing camera for sharing or taking pictures for your project. There are two USB-Cs, a 3.5 mm headphone jack, and a Surface Connect charging port that are exclusive to the device. Because the USB-Cs enable Thunderbolt 4, you can connect two 4k @ 60Hz screens with a single connection and transmit files swiftly. Although it is on the shorter side for a tablet PC, battery life is still respectable at about seven hours of light use.
By the way, Qualcomm’s SoC is based on ARM, and Microsoft has announced the new Surface Pro 11th Edition. We’ve got it and will review it shortly, so check back!
Buying Guide: The Best Work Laptops for 2024
All laptops have the advantages of a quick CPU, a clear screen, a comfortable keyboard, and a long battery life, but let’s examine the differences between business-grade and consumer laptops.
What Is a Business-Grade Laptop?
The designers of business models, however, incorporate extra features to cater to particular office requirements, like robust designs that have passed MIL-STD 810G or the even more stringent 810H tests against road hazards like shock and vibration, and secure logins (through biometric fingerprint readers, facial recognition, or SmartCard IDs). (Field workers and first responders might need even more durable, robust laptops.)
Laptops with Intel vPro CPUs and support for Trusted Platform Modules (TPM) for secure access are a great source of fleet deployment and remote manageability features that IT organisations value. Additionally, businesses seek out laptops with less bloatware or unnecessary bundled programmes, and they like Windows 11 Pro over the consumer-focused Windows 11 Home (or occasionally a business-focused Linux distribution). Business computers tend to seem identical since there are so many thin, silver and black notebooks available on the market, but the differences that office users find most significant are usually found inside the chassis, below the surface.
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Regarding work computers, the distinction between tablets and laptops is becoming increasingly hazy. Previously, the two were divided by operating systems; however, a number of tablets designed for business use genuine Windows versions. There are even real, detachable keyboards on a few of these tablets.
However, there’s no denying that traditional clamshell laptops are still the standard in the business world, and your ability to manage a successful corporation or one that experiences too much downtime depends on your choice of laptop. Let’s go over the features that any business laptop should have, the parts you’ll need, and—this is crucial—how to tell a business laptop from a consumer one.
Which Laptop Processor Is Best for Office Work?
Whether you’re looking for a personal work computer or updating the IT fleet for your entire organisation, there are a few general guidelines to keep in mind when selecting the CPU for your business machines.
Whenever feasible, we advise selecting the most recent CPU generation because it will have more capabilities, provide current and future support, and delay the inevitable upgrade from starting with hardware from the previous year.
Knowing what class of processor you require is helpful next. Our most thorough guidance can be found in our guide on selecting a laptop CPU, but for business customers, there are certain general guidelines you should be aware of.
While not designed for heavy use, low-end processors such as Intel’s Pentium and Celeron CPUs would work well for powering a sales kiosk or operating signs. Simple tasks like creating documents and surfing the web are best performed by processors with less power, such as Intel’s Core i3. A simple processor will work perfectly for you if PowerPoint is the most demanding programme you use.
You’ll look for solutions that are more productivity-focused for job that is more demanding. These are the Core i5 and i7 CPUs from Intel (but in 2024, higher-end workstations will mostly use Intel Core Ultra 5 and 7 processors). On Macs, AMD’s Ryzen 5 or Ryzen 7 processors are suited for office users who need to perform some light video editing or work with larger spreadsheets and datasets, while Apple’s M3 processors fall into the same group.
In case you require additional power for tasks such as film creation, workstation-level computing, or figure crunching, consider AMD’s Ryzen 9 CPUs, Apple M3 Max, and Intel’s Core i9, which is currently available with Core Ultra chips. These will nearly always have strong graphics and lots of RAM, but for more information on the particular you should take into account, see our guide to mobile workstations.
Lastly, think about the form factor. U-series CPUs are designed for midrange thin-and-light laptops, whereas Intel’s H- and HX-series chips often give the maximum power for the most demanding tasks and are found in mobile workstations and creative laptops. Lower-wattage U-series chips, typically rated at 15 watts, are used in ultraportable laptops; workstations can use chips with up to 45 watts of power. However, the entry-level tiers of the U-series devices still offer decent, better, and greatest processing capability.
