Since working remotely can come with its trials in terms of equipment, motivation, and concentration, it is important to set yourself up for success, now more than ever.
And, what better way to do this than having the best equipment to fuel your success?
Having the best possible laptop, that meets your specific remote work needs, is the first step toward this.
By investing in a good laptop, you will be making life a lot easier for yourself. But, with all the choices that are out there, it can be overwhelming to know which laptop will be best to facilitate your remote work.
In this article, we will be discussing the top 7 best laptops for remote work.
While they may all be great laptops, it is important to choose one that suits your field of work the best. This will help you to be the best at your job that you possibly can be.
The Top 7 Best Laptops For Remote Work (Our Review)
MacBook Pro (Best Overall)
The overall best laptop that you can use for remote work is the MacBook Pro.
While Apple has attached a hefty price tag to this laptop, it comes with some great features for working from home.
The MacBook Pro comes as a 13-inch, 14-inch, or 16-inch laptop. The 13 inch weighs 1.4 kg, whereas the 14 inch weighs 1.6 kg, and the 16 inch weighs 2.1 kg.
The CPU of the MacBook Pro is quite something, too. The 13-inch one has an Intel Core i5/i7 and the 16-inch one has an Intel Core i8/i9. Both versions are extremely fast, making them suitable for all types of remote work.
This laptop is especially great if you work in the field of design. Apple operating systems (OS) are the most commonly used operating systems in the design industry. Apple OS keeps things simple and professional. The quality is unmatched, and almost any designer you ask would choose to work on an Apple OS.
One of the best features about it is that it has a battery life of up to 22 hours. This is ideal for those remote workers who work on the go, such as in cars or on airplanes, and will allow you to work anywhere you’d like.
The storage space on it is also ideal. The entry-level MacBook Pro comes with 256 GB of storage, and the more expensive model offers double that at 512 GB. You can also buy an SSD card that goes up to 2 TB for the 13-inch, and 8 TB for the 14 and 16-inch versions. While This is unfortunately not included with the laptop, It’s a useful potential upgrade.
The downside of this laptop is that it doesn’t have a USB port, as the port was removed to make it slimmer. Instead, it has a thunderbolt port that can fit a USB adapter. So you still can use a USB with this laptop, you will just have to shell out extra money for an adapter.
The MacBook Pro is a very slim, sleek, and aesthetically appealing laptop. It is just a pity that the starting price is normally about $1 400 for a 13-inch Pro, and can go upward of $4000 for the 16-inch version.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Very long battery life
- Slim and sleek
- Lots of storage
- Great for people who work in the design industry
Cons
- Extremely expensive
- No USB port without separate accessories
- Some people prefer to work with Windows software and not Apple
MacBook Air (Best Runner-up)
The MacBook Air is very similar to the Pro but is a lot cheaper.
The Air only comes in the 13-inch option, and it is slightly lighter than the 13-inch Pro. It weighs 1.29 kg compared to the 1.4kg of the Pro. The MacBook Air also has a sleek and slim design and is a great-looking laptop in general.
The MacBook Air has a slightly slower CPU, but it is still more than fast enough to be sufficient for most kinds of remote work.
The battery life of the Air is slightly less than that of the Pro. The Air clocks in about 18 hours worth of battery life compared to the Pro’s 22 hours of battery life.
Nonetheless, 18 hours of battery life is still much longer than what most other laptops offer. So, this doesn’t really lower the standards of the Macbook Air by much.
Similar to the Pro, the entry-level MacBook Air comes with 256 GB of storage, but a more advanced model with 512 GB of storage can also be purchased. An SSD can also be purchased, which can go up to 2 TB. This gives you more than enough storage space to work freely and without storage worries.
Unfortunately, the Air doesn’t have any USB ports either. But, it does have 2 ports that support Thunderbolts. This will still allow you to still use USB, albeit with a bit more effort.
The MacBook Air comes in at a slightly more affordable price ranging from $999 to $1250.
Pros
- Cheaper than a MacBook Pro
- Lots of storage space
- Great looking design
- Sleek and easy for traveling
- Very good battery life
Cons
- Still quite expensive
- Only a 13-inch option is available
- No USB ports without separate accessories
- Some people don’t like using Apple software
Microsoft Surface Book 3 (Best Overall With Windows Software)
If you are someone who is not a fan of Apple software, then don’t worry – we still have you covered. The Microsoft Surface Book 3 is the top pick of laptops that operate with a Windows OS.
This laptop will still provide you with all of the top features and will allow you to work remotely and efficiently while making use of an OS that works better for you.
What is even better is that this laptop doubles as a tablet and drawing studio. PixelSense technology has been used which ensures that the quality of the touch screen is top-notch and extremely durable.
The fact that this laptop doubles as a tablet makes it even better for remote workers to use. As most remote workers can attest to, especially those who are digital nomads, they are often on the go and there isn’t always a sturdy surface to place their laptops on.
This is why the tablet functionality of the laptop is so great. It allows it to easily be used while on the go without needing a surface to rest on.
The only downside is that it is a little bit heavier than some laptops, weighing 1.64 kg. But these extra few grams definitely aren’t something to put you off of it.
The laptop comes in 13.5 and 15-inch versions. The 13.5-inch version has an i5 processor, while the 15-inch has an i7 processor. Although the i5 processor isn’t top of the range, it still is more than good enough to help you achieve all that you need for remote work.
The Microsoft Surface Book 3 can store up to 2 TB of documents and files, which is a huge help when you are working remotely.
This laptop is especially great if your profession is related to art or photo and video editing. It can be paired with a Surface Pen (which unfortunately is not included), which makes editing or drawing on the go a piece of cake.
The battery is fairly good on this laptop, as it can last between 15 and 17 hours. Unfortunately, when you use it as a tablet, it can only last about 2 hours, which is quite a step-down.
Another downside is that this laptop is quite expensive. Starting at an average of $1400, and going up to about $2000, it is more expensive than what a MacBook Air is.
Overall, this is a really beautiful laptop that is great for being on the move and has everything you would need for remote work, and more.
Pros
- Detachable screen to double as a tablet
- Great for photo and video editors
- Ample storage space
- Great battery life as a laptop
- Touch screen capabilities
Cons
- It is quite expensive
- The battery only lasts 2 hours when used as a tablet
- The screen can be a bit wobbly
Samsung Galaxy Book S (Best Internet Connectivity)
This is one of the most lightweight laptops on our list, coming in at only 0.95 kg and 0.5 inches wide.
The Samsung Galaxy Book S has a 13.3-inch screen and an outstanding battery life of 17 – 20 hours. All three of these factors make it a great laptop for digital nomads who are constantly on the go.
The reason that this laptop is so lightweight is because of the processor it has. Its processor is often used in smartphones, which is why the laptop is quite small and is the reason it weighs very little.
But, it is important to note that this doesn’t take away from this laptop being fast and capable of running several different programs at a time.
But, if you are in a creative field, then this might not be ideal for you. If you have a design-heavy job, then you’ll need a stronger processor.
This laptop has amazing WiFi connectivity and can download files about three times faster than most laptops. This is due to the high-performance wireless hardware it comes with.
You also have the option to buy the LTE version of the laptop. This allows you to stay connected to the internet, even if you are traveling or working from a place that doesn’t have WiFi.
This laptop comes at a very decent price, starting from $899.
Pros
- Great battery life
- Extremely lightweight and easily portable
- Can have an LTE connection
- Affordable price
Cons
- Not the best option for designers
Google Pixelbook Go (Best For Writers And Bloggers)
The Google Pixelbook Go laptop is one of the best laptops for writers and bloggers.
This laptop is extremely sleek and lightweight, coming in at 1.06 kg. Quite often, writers and bloggers like to get out of the house and go to a cafe, for example, to find inspiration. This makes the Google Pixelbook Go the perfect laptop for on-the-go writing, as it can easily be transported around, and carried from one place to another.
Google has also created a feature called “hush keys”, which are part of this laptop. Their hush keys are designed to minimize noise disturbance by making typing on the keypad substantially quieter.
This is great if you spend a lot of time typing. With this feature, you won’t have to worry about the noise of your typing bothering anyone else around you. Instead, you can just focus on your work.
Chromebooks help you to get things done faster and easier, which is ideal for remote work. The reason for this, and why Chromebooks are quite fast computers, is because they have a Chrome OS which isn’t very difficult to run.
The majority of documents are also stored in cloud storage and not on the Chromebook, which also attributes to it being fast and easy to use.
Chromebooks give you the best of Google, and they make use of multiple security layers, so that’s not something you ever have to worry about. This laptop is also equipped with a touch screen, which some people enjoy having and using.
Chromebooks are also generally cheaper than traditional laptops, which shows in this specific one, as it comes in at an affordable $649.
The battery life lasts up to 12 hours, which is a very good length of time for these types of laptops.
One downside is that it doesn’t have any USB ports, though. Luckily, there are USB C-ports, so you will still be able to use USBs, it is just a bit more of a mission to do so.
Pros
- Affordable price
- Touch screen capabilities
- Extremely lightweight
- Hush keys make it great for people who type a lot
Cons
- No USB ports
- Not everyone likes to use Chromebooks.
Acer Aspire 7 (Best For Working From Home)
The Acer Aspire 7 is the best laptop if you are going to be working from home the majority of the time. This is because it weighs quite a hefty 2.2 kgs, and only has 7-8 hours worth of battery life, so it has to be plugged in quite frequently, and won’t be ideal if you are traveling quite a lot.
Recommended as Amazon’s Choice, this laptop is reliable and sturdy. It is bound to last you a long time.
It has a 15.6-inch display, which is nice and large, but easier if you’re not traveling often. With 512 GB of storage and 8 GB of memory, you can get away with storing most of your documents on it.
The Acer Aspire 7 has a core i7 processor, making it an extremely fast option. It will help you get things done quickly and efficiently, helping to maximize your time whilst working from home.
This laptop is not ideal for photographers and videographers thorough, as there is no SD slot. This means that you won’t be able to transfer your photos and videos to the laptop directly from your camera. There is also no optical drive.
The laptop does have a backlit keyboard which is great if you are trying to work at night with dimmed lights, for example.
The Acer Aspire 7 is a very good laptop if you don’t plan to move around too often, and you want something reliable and efficient. The price tag isn’t too bad either and can be bought from Amazon for $999.
Pros
- Good quality and reliable
- Backlit keyboard
- Big display
- Fast and efficient
Cons
- No SD slot or optical drive
- Heavier than some other options
- Not the best battery life
HP Envy X360 13 (Best Convertable Laptop That Doesn’t Detach)
This 2-in-1 laptop doubles up as a tablet, but unlike a lot of other convertible laptops, the screen isn’t removable. There are pros and cons to this aspect of it.
The upside of this feature would be that you can’t misplace the keyboard, and the fact that it folds makes for a nifty stand. A downside would be that you can’t hold it in your hand like you would a normal tablet.
These are two things that need to be considered before purchasing the laptop. It comes down to what your personal preference is.
Besides the fact that it is convertible, it has a 13-inch (or a 15-inch) display, weighs 1.32 kgs, and has about 13 hours of battery life.
The HP Envy X360 13 comes with a pen that is specifically designed for its touchscreen functionality. Using the pen makes it easy to jot down notes, or even sketch or draw concepts if you are in the field of design.
It has a pretty impressive processor and top-notch graphics performance which, for the price you pay, would be pretty hard to beat with other laptops. It also has 512 GB of storage, and between 8 – 32 GB of memory, depending on which version you purchase.
This laptop is extremely reliable and durable and is guaranteed to last you a good couple of years.
The last thing that we love about this laptop is that it was built with the environment in mind. It is made out of sustainable materials, including plastic found in the ocean, and we think it is a really cool concept and a great idea on HP’s part.
The HP Envy X360 13 can be purchased at a very affordable price of $800. There are more expensive versions, but those come with a whole lot of bells and whistles that aren’t always necessary for remote workers.
Pros
- 2-in-1 laptop and tablet
- Touchscreen display with pen
- Decent amount of battery life
- Great processor and graphic performance
- Reliable and durable
- Made with environmentally friendly materials
Cons
- The screen isn’t detachable (for some people, this might be a pro)
- The cooling fans can be quite loud
- The touch display isn’t as smooth as expected
Dell XPS 13 (Best For Travel)
This super sleek and attractive laptop is one of the best ones for those remote workers who choose to travel and work at the same time.
The Dell XPS 13 has a 13.4-inch touch screen. It’s big enough to work comfortably on, but also small enough to be easily portable while traveling. To add to this, it’s only 1.3kg and is only 0.58 inches thick.
It has up to 14 hours of battery life, which makes it ideal for still being able to work during those airport layovers or long bus trips whilst traveling.
The Dell XPS 13 has 16 GB of memory, which is more than most laptops do. This is ideal if you need to multitask and have lots of tabs or applications open at the same time. It also has a powerful i7 processor, which makes it fast and efficient.
The storage is also very decent – it has 512 GB of built-in storage, which can be upgraded to 1 T if you please. This gives you more than enough space to store all of your work.
The display is 4K, meaning that the colors are clear and vibrant. So this is a good choice for designers and photographers.
Unfortunately, the web camera is only 720p, so it is not the highest quality camera around. Your meetings might be slightly affected by this, but not enough to write it off. The only thing that might not work very well is if you do frequent presentations and you are worried that the camera might not be clear enough.
Overall, this is a really great-looking laptop that is slim and perfect for remote workers who would like to travel and work at the same time.
This laptop is a little more pricey than others, as it usually starts at $ 1299.
Pros
- Very sleek
- And attractive looking
- Lightweight and thin
- Great for traveling
- 16 GB of memory allows you to do more at the same time
- Lots of built-in storage
- High-quality display
- Good battery life
Cons
- Low-quality web camera
- A bit pricey
- Keyboard gets hot when it is under high loads
The Top 7 Best Laptops For Remote Work (FAQs)
How Do You Choose The Best Laptop For Remote Work?
The answer to this is based on what you personally need. First, we would recommend determining what your budget is, and then going from there.
Then, you need to make sure that the laptop meets all of your work requirements. If you are a photographer, you don’t want a laptop with poor quality display and dull imaging.
Similarly, if you are someone who travels and works remotely at the same time, you don’t want a big, bulky laptop that is difficult to carry around and has poor battery life.
Look at things like speed, storage, battery, and weight, and make sure that they tick the boxes of what you need for your field of work.
If you do that, and you find a laptop that ticks all of your specific boxes and is of good quality, then you can’t really go wrong.
Is The Processor Speed Important?
For most people, it is, yes. The processor performs commands to your computer on the behalf of programs. If the processor speed is slow, you could be waiting minutes for an action to happen. And let’s be honest, there’s nothing more frustrating than that!
The only unfortunate thing is that the faster the processor, the more expensive the laptop. We would recommend trying to get a laptop with an i5 or i7 processor, as this will most likely give you the best results.
If budget is an issue, you can drop down to an i3 processor, but we would recommend trying to stay away from that if possible unless you have an extreme amount of patience!
How Can I Find A Cheap Laptop For Remote Work?
If you are struggling with how expensive most laptops are and are wanting to try to find something a bit cheaper, there are a few aspects you can look at tweaking.
For example, if you get a slower processor, a laptop with less RAM, and a laptop with a smaller SSD, then it will be way cheaper.
But, you need to make sure that if you get smaller versions of these, the laptop will still meet your needs.
For example, if you get an SSD with 128 GB of space, and you are a photographer who needs to store high-resolution photos, then this definitely won’t work.
But, if you are an accountant, for example, and most of your work is done online, then a 128 GB SSD won’t be the end of the world. So, just make sure that the laptop still meets your needs, otherwise, it will be a pretty useless buy.
Additionally, if you buy an older version of the laptop, this will also be much cheaper than the latest version that has just come out.
