These laptops won’t let you down during that big meeting or presentation.
Best PC
Huawei MateBook X Pro
A total MacBook Pro copycat, the Huawei MateBook X Pro has a sleek and sexy design that will turn heads, while also making it easy to get work done.
When it comes to business, working from home, and working on the go, a good laptop can make or break your work day. While you tend to get what you pay for when it comes to your laptop, that doesn’t mean that you should only look toward big-ticket computers (we see you, MacBook Pro).
Here’s what you need: A machine that offers enough battery to get you through conference sessions and long meetings, a CPU that’ll deliver great performance even with a (couple) dozen tabs open, and something light enough to easily stash in a carry-on or tote. Everything else? That’s kinda up to your own personal preference.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when looking for a new laptop:
Consider the battery life
You don’t want a laptop that’ll give out halfway through a long flight while you’re finishing a report, delivering a presentation, or in the middle of a Zoom call. You need a reliable battery that’ll deliver. While there are still some laptops with a short battery life of around six hours or so, a little more money can sometimes get you up to 10 or more. Think about how and where you work, and find a machine with a battery life that aligns with your ideal needs.
Opt for something lightweight
While you might be sitting at your desk with this laptop most of the time, it doesn’t mean that’s where you’ll stay. Look for a machine that isn’t packing too many pounds — you want to be able to throw it in a backpack, tote, or carry-on without it making your bag dig into your shoulders.
Don’t get overwhelmed by sticker shock
It’s one thing if your employer is springing for the tab, but if you’re self-funding this laptop, price can be an important consideration. (Remember to ask your accountant if you can write it off!) While top-of-the-line machines might run above $1,000, you can get great laptops under a grand too — and we’ve included a range of prices below.
Now, read on for our favorite picks.
Dell XPS 15 2-in-1
Here’s the lowdown: The Dell XPS 15 2-in-1 is one of the best laptops for getting serious work done in a business and office environment.-
Storage:
512GB PCIe SSD -
Memory:
8GB/16GB -
Features:
four USB-C ports (two Thunderbolt 3, two USB-C), microSD slot, FHD 1920 x 1080 touch screen, Intel Core i5-8305G, Radeon RX Vega M GL Graphics with 4GB HMB2 Graphics Memory
Applications load with ease, while the laptop’s display features sharp detail on its FHD 1920 x 1080 “Infinity Edge” touchscreen. It should last you through the day with a whopping 15-hour battery life in a sleek and impossibly thin presentation that gives you the best “bang for your buck” among business laptops. The hybrid is made from premium materials like aluminum and carbon fiber with Corning Gorilla Glass 4 that’s damage resistant and tough.
The laptop has an assortment of ports for expansion, including the new USB-C and microSD slot reader, though it’s lacking a USB-A port. The keyboard may take some getting used to and the laptop can run a bit loud (and warm) when it’s overworked, but its high quality display and excellent build — not to mention its flexibility as a tablet — more than makes up for that.
The Dell XPS 15 2-in-1 is priced at $1,499.99 from Walmart.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon
With hardly any trade-offs in design, the powerful Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon has a whopping 15.5 hours of battery.-
Storage:
256GB PCIe SSD -
Memory:
8GB/16GB -
Features:
two USB 3.0, two USB-C (Thunderbolt 3), HDMI port, microSD slot, 14-inch 2560 x 1440 pixels IPS anti-glare touchscreen display, Intel Core i5-8350U, Intel HD Graphics 620
The laptop is made with a four-layer carbon-fiber reinforced chassis and a magnesium alloy roll-cage, so it’s as tough as it is powerful, especially with its Intel Core i5-8250U Quad-core processor and Intel HD Graphics 620 graphics card. It has 8GB of memory and 1TB of solid state storage. The Lenovo also features a wide array of ports, such as USB 3.0 port, USB-C (Thunderbolt), microSD slot, and a full HDMI port, so hooking your laptop up to any display screens during a presentation should be a cinch.
While you experience the full power of this workhorse machine, you can also enjoy its luxurious 14-inch full HD IPS anti-glare touchscreen display at a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels and its best-in-class keyboard for fast and comfortable typing.
Amazon customer Mukul Sawant writes:
“Sharp, comfortable, and portable. The display is much better than in the pictures. Has a fingerprint scanner, sharp display and comfortable keys. Body is really good ; made of carbon fiber! Looks very professional and handy to carry around because it’s the right size and weight. Battery is about 10 hours so i don’t need to worry about charging it often.”
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon retails for $1,299.99 on Amazon.
Lenovo Yoga Book
With its clever design and second screen, the Lenovo Yoga Book is useful and versatile machine at a very inexpensive price point.-
Storage:
64GB/128GB SSD -
Memory:
4GB -
Features:
one USB 2.0, one Micro USB, one Micro HDMI, 10.1-inch full HD IPS touchscreen display, Intel Atom x5-Z8550, Intel Atom
The hybrid laptop comes in two variants with different operating systems: either Android or Windows 10. While it would be great if both were available in one model, Windows 10 is the best option for business with its suite of productivity applications like Office 365. Since Windows 10 is built for tablets too, the Lenovo Yoga Book can be converted into a slate with its world-class hinge system that lets you arrange the hybrid in any position.
However, there are some downsides with the Yoga Book, namely it’s on-screen keyboard. The laptop doesn’t have a traditional keyboard, but rather its second screen turns into a virtual keyboard with a push of a button in laptop mode. While it has some haptic feedback and vibrations when you use it, there’s no substitute for the real thing. But for the laptop’s versatility and price point, the Lenovo Yoga Book is a great solution, especially if you’re looking for a combination laptop, tablet, and digital paper in one device.
Apple MacBook Pro
A stylish and sleek laptop that’s considered the gold standard for professionals and creatives alike.-
Storage:
128GB/256GB SSD -
Memory:
8GB -
Features:
two USB-C (Thunderbolt 3), 13.3-inch 2560 x 1600 LED-backlit display with IPS technology display, Intel Core i5 with Turbo Boost up to 3.6GHz, Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640
In a traditional 9-to-5? The Apple MacBook Pro can run the latest office applications from Microsoft and Google like Office 365 and Google Suite. Do you work in the arts? The laptop can run just about any application from the Adobe Creative Suite with ease. Do you edit video? The machine is powerful enough to render raw 4K video footage in minutes with Apple’s own Final Cut Pro or Adobe Premiere editing suite. This laptop is a beast, with its Intel Core i5 with Turbo Boost up to 3.6GHz processor and Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640 graphics card with 8GB of RAM, which might seem underpowered, but works brilliantly on this machine.
The laptop features Apple’s Touch Bar, a display meant to replace the upper function keys, which is configurable and personalized to whatever applications you need at a moment’s notice. The vivid, backlit Retina Display is clear and crisp across the 13-inch screen.
However, while the Apple MacBook Pro is considered one of the best of the best laptops out there, it does have some shortcoming that might turn people off, namely its lack of ports. The laptop comes with only two USB-C ports. This means you’ll need a dongle to use any of your older peripherals. It might not be a big deal to some people, but considering the high price, it would’ve been nice if Apple included one in the box.
The Apple MacBook Pro is priced at $1,989.00 on Amazon.
Huawei MateBook X Pro
A total MacBook Pro copycat, the Huawei MateBook X Pro has a sleek and sexy design that will turn heads, while also making it easy to get work done.-
Storage:
512GB SSD -
Memory:
8GB/16GB -
Features:
one USB 3.0, one USB-C (Thunderbolt 3), one USB-C 3.1, HDMI port, VGA port, 13.9-inch 3K 3,000 x 2,000 LED with touch panel display, Intel Core i7-8550U, Intel UHD Graphics 620, Nvidia GeForce MX150 graphics
The laptop is one of the most powerful around with its Intel Core i7-8550U processor and Intel UHD Graphics 620 and Nvidia GeForce MX150 graphics card working together to give you the best performance to get work done (or watch some Netflix to unwind). The machine features an immersive 13.9-inch 3K touchscreen with a resolution of 3,000 x 2,000 in an almost bezel-less display. Moreover, Huawei achieves this 91% screen-to-body ratio with a clever design choice that removes the laptop’s webcam from the top of the display to inside a pop-out in its keyboard. While it’s very astute, it makes for odd viewing angles when in use. It’s a minor flaw, but something that should be pointed out if you are always in video meetings and conference calls.
Overall, the Huawei MateBook X Pro is one of the best laptops for business with its compact and lightweight design at just under three pounds. The laptop also features many ports, including one USB 3.0 port, one USB-C (Thunderbolt 3) port, one USB-C 3.1 port, an HDMI port, and VGA port for presentations. Although it’s battery life is on the average side with up to eight hours of usage time, the laptop is still recommended for travel thanks to its design and durability. The machine looks really good and will have random people coming up to you to ask “Is that a MacBook Pro running Windows?,” which is not a bad icebreaker or conversation starter for networking and professional mixers.
The Huawei MateBook X Pro starts at $1,169.99 on Amazon.
Dell XPS 13
A stellar laptop that’s designed for business with its ultraportable build and powerful performance with Windows 10 Pro.-
Storage:
256GB PCIe SSD -
Memory:
8GB/16GB -
Features:
two USB-C (Thunderbolt 3), one USB-C 3.1, microSD slot, 13.3-inch, Ultra HD 3,840 x 2,160 UltraSharp InfinityEdge display, Intel Core i5-8250U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
Although Dell placed the laptop’s webcam at the bottom of the display — seriously, why do computer companies keep doing this — at elast it’s centered, rather than off to the side like past models.
The ultraportable computer is considered the benchmark for business due to its assortment of ports, brilliant display, and performance power with its Intel Core i5-8250U processor and Intel UHD Graphics 620 graphic card working together to deliver a top-notch experience.
Amazon customer Alfa_Q writes:
“I am a programmer and a student. I typically almost always select dark or silver. Black laptops, dark phone cases, dark tablet case, dark modes across all my software, … you get the idea. But this time, I decided to try something new by going with the Rose Gold XPS. If you are debating between the XPS Silver and the XPS Rose Gold, I ultimately recommend the XPS Rose Gold. I have tried both of the variations and I believe that the Rose Gold primarily wins due to the keyboard material which is infinitely better than the XPS Silver for cleaning! It’s awesome design also stands out quite a bit more compared to the XPS Silver due to it’s white keyboard and bezels. Regardless of which variation you select, the New 2018 XPS 13 performs well, small/portable, lightweight. It’s pretty much the ideal student laptop.”
The Dell XPS 13 starts at $1,519.99.
Microsoft Surface Laptop
The Microsoft Surface Laptop is a reliable machine that will keep you focus-oriented and productive during your workday.-
Storage:
256GB -
Memory:
8GB/16GB -
Features:
one USB 3.0, mini DisplayPort, 13.5-inch 2256 x 1504 PixelSense display, Intel Core i5, Intel HD Graphics 620
First up, the Surface Laptop is not a touchscreen device like other Microsoft devices, so it will feel like a very traditional experience when you’re doing work. This is a good thing though because the keyboard and trackpad, however small, are a joy to use with accurate navigation and precision keystrokes.
The laptop is powered with the Intel Core i5 processor with 8GB of RAM out of the box. Microsoft included a sharp 13.5-inch PixelSense display with a resolution of 2256 x 1504. This machine just screams reliability and focus with the Window 10 S operating system, which only allows users to download apps from the Windows Store. If there’s a piece of software you need that’s not available, then you’d have to upgrade to Windows 10 Pro. However, this laptop is still recommended for its design, portability and travel, and impressive battery life of a productive 14.5 hours.
Amazon customer Herman M. writes:
“I am an intense user and the Surface Laptop is the best laptop I owned so far. Upgraded it to Win 10 Pro since I need a wide variety of software on the machine for professional use (Image processing, CAD, etc.). The upgrade was free and easy. The keyboard is very precise and comfortable, allowing for fast typing. Mouse and touch screen very accurate. The display is crisp with natural colors. Processor and SSD performance is ample. Beautiful detail solutions like the power supply plug and the additional USB charging port in the power supply add to the appeal. And the design is clean, minimalist, beautiful. I hope I will have this laptop for a very long time!”
The Microsoft Surface Laptop starts at $715.00 on Amazon.
Dell Latitude 7212
The Dell Latitude 7212 is built for rugged environments and extreme durability on the job. While you might not be able to take it to the boardroom, the laptop is capable of completing tasks at a construction site, the dock, and in the field.-
Storage:
128GB/256GB SSD -
Memory:
8GB/16GB -
Features:
two USB 3.0, one USB-C, microSD slot, 11.6-inch, 1920 x 1080 Full HD LCD WLED touchscreen display, Intel Core i5-7300U, Intel HD Graphics 620
The waterproof laptop features an 11.6-inch full HD touch display with a resolution at 1920 x 1080 that can even be used if you’re wearing thick gloves or in the rain, while its Intel Core i5-7300U processor is powerful enough to help you complete your daily tasks and provide you with up-to-the-minute information while you’re in the field. The five-pound laptop works with a durable keyboard and tough cover, along with Dell’s Active Stylus Pen (sold separately).
The Dell Latitude 7212 is a great choice for businesses that aren’t exclusively based in an office setting. If you’re an architect at a construction site, a police officer on the beat, or an Army soldier on the frontlines, then this is a dependable and tough laptop that you can take in any rough condition to get work done.
The Dell Latitude 7212 Rugged Extreme is priced at $1,993.73 at Walmart.