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The Best Business Laptops

By Dave Gershgorn

Dave Gershgorn is a writer covering monitors, laptops, and tablets. He is a certified display calibrator through the Imaging Science Foundation.

A good business laptop works quickly, offers great battery life, and has a few extra ports in case you need to plug into a meeting-room TV, or if a client hands you an older, USB-A thumb drive. These laptops should also be easier and cheaper to repair, so you won’t lose access to your files and communication for long when something breaks.

All of those features can make business laptops chunky and unwieldy, but we found that the HP EliteBook 840 G11 matches the processing power and battery life of an ultrabook and puts it all in a thin and repairable package. If you’re looking for an even slimmer laptop with more customizable options, we also recommend the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 .

Everything we recommend

HP EliteBook 840 G11

The best business laptop.

This HP model is a well-rounded business laptop with a variety of ports and a repairable design.

Buying Options

Upgrade pick.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12

A sleeker and more configurable laptop.

This Lenovo model feels like a slim ultrabook rather than a business laptop, and it’s almost as repairable as our top pick.

Budget pick

Apple MacBook Air (M1, 2020)

A cheaper ultrabook option.

This version of the MacBook Air isn’t really a business laptop, but it’s inexpensive and powerful enough to get work done.

The HP EliteBook 840 G11 is a versatile business laptop that offers solid performance, a wide selection of ports, and a 12-hour battery life. It has a large, easy-to-use trackpad and comfortable keys, as well as a high-res webcam with a privacy cover. Competing ultrabooks have better screens and slimmer builds, but the EliteBook 840 G11 provides similar performance—and unlike most ultrabooks, it can be completely disassembled for repair.

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 is slimmer, lighter, and more configurable than our top pick. It also has a touchscreen, as well as the longest battery life of the laptops we tested, lasting more than 15 hours. You can upgrade its display to a 2.8K OLED version, a welcome higher-resolution option in comparison with the 1080p displays found on most of the business laptops we tested.

The Apple MacBook Air (M1, 2020) doesn’t have many of the features that are important for a business laptop, such as a variety of ports or a user-repairable design. However, its processing power, battery life, and display far outpace those of any similarly priced Windows option, and Apple’s worldwide network of retail stores makes it easy to get the laptop repaired or replaced.

The research

Why you should trust us, who this is for, how we picked, how we tested, our pick: hp elitebook 840 g11, upgrade pick: lenovo thinkpad x1 carbon gen 12, budget pick: apple macbook air (m1, 2020), what to look forward to, other business laptops worth considering, the competition.

I’m a senior staff writer at Wirecutter covering monitors, laptops, tablets, and 3D printers. I specialize in devices designed for professionals, such as the best laptops for photo and video editors . I’ve also been building and repairing my own computers for nearly 20 years.

For this guide:

• I spent a week researching more than a dozen potential candidates to test, eventually testing six business laptops over two weeks.
• I attended CES 2024, one of the biggest tech trade shows of the year, to preview upcoming business laptops.
• I spoke with a variety of sources, from a small-business owner to electronics-repair shop owners, about everything from a business’s IT needs to the importance of upgradable memory.
• Like all Wirecutter journalists, I review and test products with complete editorial independence. I’m never made aware of any business implications of my editorial recommendations. Read more about our editorial standards .
• In accordance with Wirecutter standards , I return or donate all products I’ve tested once my assessment of them is complete. I never hang on to “freebies'' once testing is done.

Whether you run a small business and need a new computer for it or simply want a longer-lasting laptop, you need to decide whether you want an ultrabook or a business laptop. Ultrabooks are typically thin, light, and cheap, while business laptops are chunkier, pricier, and more repairable.

The two kinds of laptops have the same exact processing power, and we put business laptops through the same performance tests as ultrabooks. But business laptops are fundamentally different from ultrabooks because they’re designed to be taken apart.

Rather than using glue and solder to connect components together, which can make them nearly impossible to detach, manufacturers of business laptops design them with sockets that make replacing key components easy. Repair techs we spoke to said that both storage and RAM should be upgradable on a business laptop, unless the client specifically needs a light and thin machine. Storage and RAM constitute two of the most important aspects of a computer’s performance. Because these components can be swapped or upgraded on business laptops, if in the future you run out of hard-drive space or find that you’re constantly running too many applications and using all your RAM, you can add more. Business laptops also make smaller parts such as the speakers, keyboard, and power button easier to remove and replace.

That kind of repairability is important because not having access to your client files, financial information, or any other key business information is a critical setback. Small-business owners told us that their number one concern is being able to pull up information and make decisions quickly, and having a reliable computer is nonnegotiable. Business laptops are built to be repaired by internal IT departments to ensure as little downtime as possible.

As a result, when you’re considering a business laptop, it’s important to be realistic about the practicality of repair. Although business laptops are more repairable than most other laptops, it’s not necessarily a do-it-yourself process, or a remedy for anything that can go wrong. Unless you feel comfortable troubleshooting, ordering parts online, and opening up the back of a laptop to swap those parts, confirm that you have at least one dependable computer-repair shop that you can access. You might also find that after years of use, the laptop isn’t worth repairing due to wear and tear, or that it has fallen behind in terms of performance. But if you spill a drink on your keyboard or crack your screen, a business laptop will undoubtedly be easier to repair than a model for home use.

Shopping for a business laptop is different from buying an ultrabook, but the most important things to look for aren’t all that different:

• Performance: A business laptop should be able to run any modern office software, so we considered Windows laptops with the latest processors, those in the Intel Core Ultra line. Although Apple laptops don’t meet most of our criteria for this guide, the M1 chip in the 2020 MacBook Air still competes favorably against the most power-efficient Windows options for a fraction of the price, so we considered it as a budget pick. If you need a faster processor or a dedicated GPU for gaming, photo and video editing, or other work, check out our gaming laptop and pro laptop guides.
• Great keyboard: Business laptops are the quintessential document and spreadsheet devices, so their keys and keyboard layouts should be comfortable to use over long periods. We strongly prefer a backlight.
• Accurate trackpad or pointing device: Though business laptops should be sturdy, most wouldn’t be able to survive your throwing them at a wall in reaction to trackpad frustrations. We prefer Microsoft Precision Touchpads because they’re accurate and compatible with Windows 11’s multitouch trackpad gestures.
• 14-inch IPS screen: We prefer 14-inch business laptops because they’re more pleasant for editing large documents or spreadsheets than 13-inch laptops, yet they’re still smaller and lighter than 15-inch laptops. Most business laptops have 1080p screens that keep text and images sharp, with lots of room to fit more information, and use IPS panels (rather than TN panels ) to improve color accuracy and viewing angles. A handful have taller screens with a 1920×1200 resolution, which are just as sharp but provide more vertical pixels.
• Wide range of ports: We prefer systems with a mix of old and new ports for maximum flexibility. Every laptop we consider for this guide offers at least one USB-C port (which you can use to link external monitors, charge the laptop, and connect USB-C accessories), a USB-A port, and an HDMI port. Not every system we test provides an SD or microSD card reader or an Ethernet jack, but we definitely prefer to have those. Thunderbolt 4 is optional, as are additional display outputs such as DisplayPort or VGA.
• Good battery life: We prefer at least eight hours of battery life—enough for a full workday or a coast-to-coast flight plus time spent waiting at the airport. Even business laptops no longer include swappable external batteries.
• Reasonable size and weight: Business laptops are usually larger and heavier than ultrabooks, partly because they’re built to be sturdier and partly because components such as removable memory take up more space than non-upgradable parts. But every laptop we’ve tested for this guide has weighed less than 4 pounds, and most models weigh less than 3.5 pounds.
• Upgradable and repairable: Although we have considered a few thin and light ultrabook-esque laptops, the majority of models we look at for this guide are designed to be opened and serviced easily. The laptop should allow you to get at the SSD bay or slot, as well as the battery, with minimal effort; access to at least one RAM slot and the Wi-Fi card is a plus. And the laptop should let you replace the keyboard and other parts without forcing you to take the entire thing apart or to replace a bunch of other, unrelated components.
• Competitive (if not low) price: Business laptops are typically more expensive than budget ultrabooks or cheap laptops . Their prices fluctuate widely depending on discounts and coupon codes, but in general you should expect to spend between $1,100 and $1,500 for a good business laptop and between $1,600 and $2,000 for an outstanding one. Because most are designed to be upgraded, you can sometimes save money on memory and storage upgrades if you’re willing to do them yourself. And by being easier to upgrade and repair, a business laptop can give you better long-term value despite costing more up front.
• Fingerprint reader or IR camera for speedier logins: Most business laptops offer a fingerprint reader for a nominal fee; some have infrared cameras that can scan your face instead. Technology improvements and Windows 11’s Windows Hello feature make logging in with your finger or face more reliable and predictable than it used to be.

The models we considered in our latest round of tests all came from Apple, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Samsung because those are the only companies dedicated to building and maintaining a range of computers specifically for businesses. But we have also researched and tested models from Acer, Asus, Fujitsu, and Toshiba in the past.

We tested each laptop for at least two days of ordinary work—namely, loading up and switching among a couple dozen browser tabs, using Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Slack constantly, and playing music and video. This process gave us a feel for each laptop’s keyboard, trackpad, screen, and general performance on common work tasks.

To test the batteries, we used a Spyder5Pro colorimeter to set each laptop’s screen backlight to 150 nits (or candelas per square meter, cd/m2) and ran a web-browsing battery test that cycled through web pages, email, Google Docs, and video. We ran the test twice on each laptop and averaged the results.

We also removed the bottom panel from each laptop and noted how many screws (and other things, if applicable) we would need to remove to access the memory, storage, and internal battery for repair or replacement. Replacing major components in a business laptop should be easier than it is for a regular ultrabook, but replacing a screen, motherboard, or keyboard yourself can still void the warranty, so we didn’t test this firsthand.

The HP EliteBook 840 G11 offers strong performance, a screen that looks better than those on similarly priced business laptops, and a long, 12-hour battery life, all without sacrificing repairability.

It's powerful enough for most office work. In our tests, the EliteBook 840 G11 easily handled web browsing in two Chrome windows full of tabs alongside multiple Excel and Word documents. We also streamed music and video in the background on Spotify and YouTube, which had no impact on the machine’s working performance. However, this laptop is really not meant for any kind of photo or video editing, or any media work other than simple graphic design.

Its display has more contrast and looks more natural than those of other 1080p laptops. In comparison with similarly priced business laptops such as the Dell XPS 14 and Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 5 , the HP EliteBook 840 G11 produced images and video with more contrast and skin tones that seemed more natural. In our tests the display reached 400 nits of brightness, which is bright enough for use in most indoor situations, including sunny rooms. We found the display a bit too dim for us to use it comfortably with midday sunlight directly on the screen, but that’s true of all the laptops we tested for this guide.

Its battery lasts a full workday. The EliteBook 840 G11 lasted 11 hours 52 minutes on average in our battery test, which we ran multiple times and designed to simulate real-world web browsing.

It has a variety of useful ports and modern wireless options. In addition to a full HDMI 2.1 port, the EliteBook 840 G11 has two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports capable of charging or powering displays, two USB-A ports, a headphone jack, and a SIM tray. It uses Wi-Fi 6E, the latest standard, and has a modern Bluetooth 5.3 antenna.

It has a high-quality webcam with a sliding cover. HP has made the 5-megapixel webcam a standard in many of its laptops, including the EliteBook 840 G11. Its images were sharp and looked better than what we got from many other laptop webcams in lower-light situations. We also like that the webcam has an unobtrusive sliding privacy cover, as well as a visual indicator that lets you know when it’s covering the camera.

It has a large trackpad and a keyboard with function keys. The EliteBook 840 G11’s trackpad measures about 5 by 3 inches, the same size as the MacBook Air’s trackpad. We found this size especially comfortable to use, as it gave us enough room to use the laptop in different sitting arrangements, as well as to perform multi-finger taps and swipes. In addition, HP redesigned the EliteBook keyboard to be much more usable, including moving some function keys away from the right side of the keyboard; it also has large, easy-to-see key legends.

The design is simple and focuses on comfort. The chassis has rounded edges that make it comfortable for you to rest your palms or wrists while you type, and you can easily open the laptop with one hand. It has a simple silver color scheme and is likely to blend into most business environments.

It’s extremely repairable. The EliteBook 840 G11 is designed to be taken apart and serviced—you can replace most of the computer’s components, aside from its CPU. HP offers great repair documentation, including an hour-long video showing the teardown process for the entire laptop.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

It has a low-res screen in comparison with an ultrabook. Many business laptops, including the HP EliteBook 840 G11, have simple, 1080p displays. Although these displays are usable and have been the standard for years, they’re not up to par with the rest of the ultrabook field. Higher-resolution displays are easier on the eyes due to their improved image quality, but typically they also get brighter, produce more contrast, and are usable in higher levels of sunlight. If you’re willing to pay more, our upgrade pick can be configured with a higher-resolution display.

Its magnesium top case is prone to scratches. We found that the magnesium top lid that houses the display is a bit soft and easily scratched by metal. If you tend to toss your laptop into a bag without a case or slide it into a dock, it’s likely to get scratched over time.

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 offers a lighter and thinner build and has better battery life than our top pick, while maintaining great performance, a wide selection of ports, and repairability.

Next to our top pick, it offers similar performance in a slimmer package. The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 passed all the same tests as the HP EliteBook 840 G11, keeping up with lots of Chrome tabs, Microsoft Office windows, and media streaming. However, it weighs about half a pound less than our top pick and is about a tenth of an inch slimmer, a difference that we could actually feel when holding both in our hands.

Its battery lasts a lot longer than those of our other picks. The X1 Carbon Gen 12 lasted an average of 15 hours 24 minutes in our battery tests, the longest Windows PC battery life we saw in this round. Our test simulates real web browsing, including scrolling social media and watching videos online.

It has business-friendly ports and a decent webcam. The X1 Carbon Gen 12 has two USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports, two USB-A ports, an HDMI port, and a headphone jack. Its webcam is only 1080p, a lower resolution than the 5-megapixel camera of the EliteBook 840 G11, but it’s still perfectly usable in most lighting situations.

It has a nice display compared with other business laptops, and you can upgrade the display further. In our tests, the standard 1080p display of the X1 Carbon Gen 12 was sharp and high-quality, inching out that of the EliteBook 840 G11 in how natural people looked on screen and based on our visual preference when we compared the laptops side by side. And unlike with many other business laptops, you can upgrade the X1 Carbon Gen 12’s display to a high-resolution 2.8K OLED option. Although OLED screens typically consume more battery, that drawback might be worth tolerating if you’re accustomed to using a Samsung or Apple ultrabook with a higher-res screen.

However, Lenovo’s classic red pointer buttons eat up some trackpad space. The X1 Carbon Gen 12 has the smallest trackpad of our picks, mainly because of the three large buttons that occupy the top portion of the trackpad. Although you can use these buttons in conjunction with the trackpad, they are intended for use with the red pointer nub in the middle of the X1 Carbon Gen 12’s keyboard. This could be a feature or a flaw, depending on whether you like Lenovo’s pointer.

Its RAM isn’t upgradable. Unlike in the EliteBook 840 G11, the X1 Carbon Gen 12’s RAM is soldered to the motherboard. That means you can’t repair or upgrade it in the future. The other major components of the laptop, in contrast, can be repaired or replaced.

The Apple MacBook Air (M1, 2020) might not be the obvious first choice for a business laptop, since it has only USB-C ports and is infamously impossible to repair yourself. But its price and Apple’s nationwide repair network make it a competitive option.

Its performance is still great, almost four years after its release. The M1 chip is powerful enough for basic web browsing and office work, though if you’re a Microsoft Office power user we recommend a Windows laptop instead, as those applications work a bit more seamlessly there. However, the M1 chip is more than enough for a few Word documents and Excel spreadsheets, and the MacBook Air held up to all the same tests as our top pick and upgrade pick did.

Its still beats most Windows laptops in battery life. The MacBook Air’s M1 chip has proven to be power-efficient, lasting more than 14 hours in our battery tests. Some newer Windows laptops, such as the upgrade pick in this guide, are finally beating Apple’s battery-life scores. But four years after its release, the M1 MacBook Air is still extremely competitive in this regard.

It has the nicest screen of any of our picks. The M1 MacBook Air has a high-quality display with a 2560×1600 resolution, in contrast to the 1080p displays in all the other models we tested. Images looked sharp and vibrant, and text appeared crisp. Typically MacBook Air displays are also far more color-accurate than those of their business laptop or ultrabook counterparts.

It’s the thinnest laptop we tested. It’s kind of Apple’s calling card, but this MacBook Air is extremely thin—significantly thinner than our upgrade pick, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12. However, it weighs about a quarter of a pound more at 2.8 pounds.

It trades repairability for replaceability. Apple’s advantage for business users is its nationwide network of physical stores that can repair or replace computers on short notice. The M1 MacBook Air is also widely available for sale at Walmart stores across the US. So although you can’t repair this laptop yourself, Apple’s repair support is far superior to what you can get from competitors. The laptop is also so inexpensive that you could buy a replacement and still spend less overall than buying our top pick.

It isn’t the best business laptop. While the M1 MacBook Air is a great budget ultrabook, which makes it good at surfing the internet and watching media, it doesn’t have some of the features we look for in a great business laptop. For instance, it has only two USB-C ports and a headphone jack, and you have to use one USB-C port to charge the laptop. This means you need to use a dongle for any USB-A accessories or HDMI output. In addition, its webcam offers only 720p resolution, which looks a bit dated in video calls and performs much worse in low light compared with the higher-resolution options in our other picks. But the M1 MacBook Air’s price, performance, screen, and availability make it a strong option for a budget business laptop.

Intel has announced its second line of processors this year, called Intel Core Ultra (Series 2), codenamed Lunar Lake. Initial reports suggest that the new chips have similar, if not better, energy efficiency and power than the Qualcomm Snapdragon processors we just tested and added to the Other good business laptops and competition section. But Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) processors won’t have the same compatibility issues as Snapdragon processors, where apps have to be specifically ported to work on Qualcomm’s ARM architecture. Some developers haven’t built their apps to work on ARM. But these new Intel chips could give the energy efficiency boost of ARM without compatibility issues, so we’ll be testing laptops with Lunar Lake processors as soon as we can. We’re particularly interested in the Acer TravelMate P6 14 AI , Asus ExpertBook P5 , HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 , and the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Aura Edition .

For the best battery life: The Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 has a new Snapdragon Elite processor that posted 22 hours of battery life on average based on our tests, the longest-lasting business laptop we’ve tested. This processor also comes with a drawback, however, as it’s new to the market and some developers haven’t rebuilt their applications to work with the new hardware. (Here’s a list of major compatible apps.) The ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 is otherwise a very good business laptop, with USB-A and HDMI ports alongside two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, and the design, keyboard, and trackpad are very similar to our upgrade pick, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon. It has a sharp 1920x1200 display with a 16:10 aspect ratio, which gives more vertical space on screen, but that’s the case with most business laptops. If you only use supported applications and care most about battery life, the ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 is the laptop we’d recommend.

The Acer Travelmate P6 14 is lightweight and has a sharp touchscreen display, plus it has the mix of USB-A, USB-C, and HDMI ports we like to see on business laptops. But it has a loud fan that spins up way too often, including while doing something as simple as unzipping a small file. Loud laptop fans used to be a fact of life, but the laptops we recommend now are quiet unless under heavy workloads. It's also impossible to turn off the Acer's AI presence sensing, which dims the display when it thinks a person has walked away from the laptop. This probably won’t be an issue for most people, but if you're turning away from your laptop a lot—like while doing some work on an L-shaped desk—it becomes incredibly annoying waiting for a second for the computer to recognize your human body.

The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 has become a very good business laptop over its many iterations, but there are still a few things holding us back from recommending it. First, we noticed artifacts that looked like a slight grainy texture on the displays across the two units we tested. When we originally asked Microsoft about the same issue on the OLED version of the new Surface Pro, which launched at the same time, the company said it was an element of the touchscreen that was visibly interacting with the display. The Surface Laptop’s Snapdragon processor is also not compatible with every Windows application. (Here’s a list of major compatible apps.) This is less of an issue as more Windows applications get ported to the new chip’s architecture, but it prevents us from fully endorsing laptops with those processors. With that said, we commend Microsoft for making the newest Surface Laptop incredibly easy to repair. In addition to components being labeled and easy to remove, even the rubber feet on the bottom of the laptop are designed to be easily taken out and—crucially—put back in, rather than using cheaper glue to stick on standard feet like most manufacturers.

We tested two versions of the HP EliteBook 1040 , with both OLED and non-OLED displays. These are about half a pound lighter and slightly slimmer than the EliteBook 840 we currently recommend, but after using them we don’t think the sleeker design is worth the at least $350 difference between the models. Between the two models of the EliteBook 1040 we tested, the OLED display was a drastic improvement in contrast and image quality, especially compared to the lackluster, low-quality displays often found on business laptops. As much as we liked it, the OLED display took off about 6 hours of battery life, measuring in at 10.5 hours compared to the non-OLED version's 16.5-hour lifespan.

The Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge is extremely fast and has a lot of attractive features, like a slim design and sharp AMOLED display. However, it falls short as a great business laptop. It's not repairable, and the new Snapdragon processor still isn't compatible with all software on Windows. (Here’s a list of major compatible apps.) We'd rather recommend a laptop we know can run any Windows application, and the current benefits of Snapdragon processors aren't significant enough to brave the uncertain waters of compatibility issues.

The Dell XPS 14 lacks USB-A and HDMI ports, and it’s heavy. This model weighs 3.7 pounds, only about half a pound more than our top pick, the HP EliteBook 840 G11, but it’s a very noticeable half pound. We also had an issue with the webcam crashing, and we found the laptop oddly difficult to open, especially one-handed.

The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 5 delivered good performance in our tests, but we prefer the HP EliteBook 840 G11’s build quality, display, and webcam. Our top pick is lighter and slimmer, it’s easier to open with one hand, and its display has more contrast. This Lenovo laptop’s speakers sounded worse than those on the HP model too, and we had a brief problem with the webcam’s image flashing purple when we launched the camera.

The Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro provided great performance in our tests, and it has the ports we like to see on a business laptop, but it fell short in battery life. We measured an average battery life of just under 9.5 hours, about 2.5 hours less than what we got from our top pick, the HP EliteBook 840 G11. We also prefer the HP laptop’s webcam.

Apple’s 14-inch MacBook Pro and 16-inch MacBook Pro are both intended for professionals—“pro” is right in the name, after all. They’re light, their screens are fantastic, their keyboards and trackpads are good, and Apple’s support is usually responsive and helpful. We have a guide to MacBooks if you prefer macOS to Windows. But these laptops currently don’t meet most of our upgradability and repairability criteria for a good business laptop. They’re difficult to repair and usually impossible to upgrade, and they include just a handful of identical ports, necessitating a pile of dongles.

Correction: A previous version of this guide referred to the HP EliteBook 840’s top lid as plastic, but it is actually made of magnesium.

This article was edited by Signe Brewster and Caitlin McGarry.

John Eaton, vice president, Park Place Storage Condominiums , phone interview , April 19, 2024

Aaron Holder, partner, Sound Microsystems , email interview , November 2, 2023

Meet your guide

Dave Gershgorn

I am based in Seattle and responsible for Wirecutter’s computer monitor coverage, as well as all our guides to Apple laptops and desktops. I also review higher-powered laptops, such as business laptops and laptops for photo and video editing. Plus, I write our reviews for all-in-one computers, ergonomic keyboards, and home 3D printers. If it has a screen, sits on a desk, and isn’t a basic Windows ultrabook, I’m usually the person to try it out.

Further reading

Fixing Your Laptop at Home Should Be Easy. Here’s Why It’s Not.

by Kimber Streams

Framework’s laptop proves that it can be easy to repair your devices at home. But most companies won’t let you.

The Best Laptops

by Kimber Streams and Dave Gershgorn

From budget-friendly options to thin-and-light ultrabooks to powerful gaming laptops, we’ve spent hundreds of hours finding the best laptops for most people.

The Best Portable Laptop Charger

by Sarah Witman

When wall outlets are scarce, a portable laptop charger provides a handy backup for travelers or remote workers. Mophie’s Powerstation Pro AC is our favorite.

The Best Laptop Under $500

If you’re on a budget, these are the best cheap Windows laptops and Chromebooks we recommend after extensive research and hands-on testing.

The best business laptops in 2024: our top picks tested and rated

The best laptops for getting down to business

• Best overall
• Best MacBook

Also tested

• Battery life results
• How to choose
• How we test

If the business you work for issues you a laptop, you don't get a lot of choice. But when you're shopping for your own machine, the best business laptops can make you feel like you're having fun even when you're working.

I know because my team and I review dozens of laptops from the top manufacturers every year, so we see the difference between the business and consumer-grade laptops from the likes of Apple, Dell , HP , Lenovo and more. 

That's why I generally recommend the Lenovo Slim 7 to most folks who ask me for my best business laptop recommendation: Lenovo's 14-incher gives you a comfy keyboard, a lovely OLED touchscreen and 10+ hours of tested battery life for $1,000 or less.

But if you're on a tight budget and need something a lot less expensive, I recommend the Acer Aspire Go 15 because its a barebones workhorse that's more than good enough for writing emails and slinging spreadsheets. The 720p webcam won't make you look great on conference calls, but you can't beat the $299 price.

If you prefer macOS, stick with the latest MacBook Air M3 in the size you like. These ultra-thin ultraportables from Apple deliver some of the best speed and battery life you can get in a laptop, and they're more than capable of tackling your office workday.

For more recommendations, fuller recommendations and links to full reviews with test results, check out this regularly-updated list of the best business laptops we've reviewed!

The quick list

In a hurry? Here's a brief overview of the laptops on this list, along with quick links that let you jump down the page directly to a review of whichever laptop catches your eye.

The Lenovo Slim 7 is my most recommended business laptop because it gives you a lovely 14-inch OLED touchscreen, 10+ hours of tested battery life and a laptop that's comfy to type on for $1,000 (or less on sale).

Read more below

We recommend the Acer Aspire Go 15 as a solid Windows 11 laptop that can be yours for under $500. Sure, the webcam sucks and the speakers aren't great, but you'll get decent performance in productivity apps, a comfy keyboard and 10+ hours of tested battery life.

The MacBook Air M3 is the best MacBook for business because it delivers top-notch performance, over 14 hours of battery life and a bright and colorful display all in a delightfully portable design. 

Alex Wawro is a lifelong journalist who's spent over a decade covering tech, games and entertainment. He oversees the computing department at Tom's Guide, which includes managing laptop coverage and reviewing many himself every year. 

The best business laptops you can buy right now

Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate.

The best business laptop overall

1. Lenovo Slim 7

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

I really like the Lenovo Slim 7 and often recommend it as the best business laptop I've used because its easy to carry, comfy to type on and offers good performance and battery life (10+ hours tested). 

But what I really love is the 14-inch OLED touchscreen, which makes everything you do on the device look lovely and gives you the option of taking your hands off the keyboard and trackpad to tap and swipe when you feel like it. 

The model we reviewed is actually sold at Costco so it's a great deal, but if you can't find it at Costco or don't have a membership Lenovo sells very similar models at Amazon and Best Buy .

Read our full Lenovo Slim 7 review .

The best budget business laptop

2. Acer Aspire Go 15

The Acer Aspire Go 15 is what we typically recommend to folks looking for a decent business laptop for not a lot of money because it delivers great value, offering a comfy keyboard, plenty of ports and good battery life for an incredibly low MSRP of $299.

Sure, it's not much to look at and it can't run any but the simplest of games, but it's more than good enough for browsing the web, writing emails or editing documents and spreadsheets. And while the 720p webcam is pretty disappointing, you can always invest in a standalone webcam down the road if you decide you can't stand how it makes you look during conference calls. For the bootstrapper on a budget, this is the minimum viable laptop.

Read our full Acer Aspire Go 15 review .

The best MacBook for business

3. Apple MacBook Air M3 13-inch

If you prefer macOS over Windows, I recommend the 13-inch MacBook Air M3 as the best MacBook for business use because its more powerful than ever, while being smaller and lighter than almost every other laptop on the market.

Apple's MacBook Air M3 laptops are lightweight powerhouses that often outperform more expensive Windows laptops , and while they aren't as well-equipped to play the latest PC games that's hardly an issue for most business users — though you can still have loads of fun between meetings with the games that do run on Apple's newest, slimmest laptops.

We also really love the bright displays on both sizes of MacBook Air, as well as the expanded port array increased support for more external monitors on the 15-inch model. Both lasted over 15 hours in our battery rundown test, easily beating most competitors, though the 13-inch M3 Air did last 10 minutes longer than its 15-inch sibling.

Read our full  Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M3 review and our Apple MacBook Air 15-inch M3 review for all the details!

We test and review dozens of laptops every year, and just because they don't all make this list doesn't mean they aren't good machines for business use.

No, there are loads of great laptops that don't quite achieve the level of excellence needed to lead our list of the best laptops for business. Below we've gathered all the good laptops we've tested which don't quite hang in the top spots of this list, but are still great business laptops worth considering if our top picks don't meet your needs or aren't available.

4. HP Spectre x360

If you think you’ll reliably use the tablet mode and packed-in stylus, then the HP Spectre x360 is a sharp 2-in-1 option for those with a premium budget. 

It looks elegant on a conference table, and while older models may feel a bit sluggish they should still be plenty speedy enough for emails and spreadsheets. And this attractive device is easy to convert into tablet mode, so you can kick back and stream your favorite shows during long business trips.

All that said, you’re clearly paying HP a premium for the convertible form factor here—so if that’s negligible to your needs, you can find more power and longer battery life at a lower price, particularly with the excellent Acer Swift 5. Even so, if you need a business notebook that flips, HP’s option is plenty enticing.

Read our full HP Spectre x360 review .

5. Acer Swift 5

The Acer Swift 5 packs a lavish new design with golden trim plus a speedy Intel Core i7 chip, a gorgeous 14-inch display, and a startlingly swift 1TB SSD onboard. It’s also cheaper than rivals like the Dell XPS 13 when comparably equipped. There are a couple of caveats to consider, but the latest Acer Swift 5 remains a very strong laptop for business use.

It's a great Windows laptop that offers plenty of power for everything save serious gaming. And while the speakers and pre-installed bloatware leave room for improvement, the striking 16:10 1600p display and the power of Intel's Core i7 chip make this a great (and great-looking) Windows laptop for getting things done on the go. 

Read our full Acer Swift 5 (2022) review .

Battery life test results compared

Battery life is a key factor when picking the best business laptop for your needs, which is why we run every laptop we review through a series of battery tests to see how long it lasts on a full charge.

These tests do not reflect real-world use patterns since we have to set every laptop to the same settings in order to do fair comparisons. Thus, while the times listed here are accurate and useful as a comparison point, your own experience with a laptop's battery life will likely vary.

This is because when we run our battery test we set the laptop's display to 150 nits of brightness and have it endlessly browse the web via Wi-Fi until it dies. However, when you use your laptop you're likely adjusting brightness on the fly, doing all sorts of different tasks while perhaps listening to music or watching a video at the same time, and generally putting the machine through more of a workout than it gets in our test.

So while I stand by our testing and the battery life results we compare in the chart below, I want to be clear that your own experience will vary! 

How to choose the best laptop for you

Performance: If you only need something basic for tackling emails and surfing the web, you'll be fine with a mid-range CPU and 4-8 GB of RAM. However, if you want something that can tackle anything you throw at it (short of heavy-duty gaming and video editing) splurge for a Core i7 and 16 GB of RAM.

Graphics and gaming: Business laptops are rarely built to do much serious gaming, but if you just want to unwind with older or undemanding games like Civilization, you should be fine as long as you have at least a Core i5 CPU and 8 GB of RAM. For more demanding games, look into one of the best gaming laptops instead — a few have designs subtle enough to not look out of place in a boardroom.

Size: Consider how mobile you want your business laptop to be. Premium laptops such as the MacBook Air are slim and feather-light, whereas cheaper machines (like the Acer Aspire Go 15) are thicker and bulkier, which could be a pain when trying to cram them in a briefcase or carry-on.

Whichever system you decide on, you may also want to pick up the best mouse and best keyboard for your particular work situation since spending long hours working hunched over a laptop can be murder on your hands, wrists and back. Trust me, I do it for a living.

How we tested these laptops

How we test the best business laptops.

To find the best laptop for business, we run every portable PC we review through a rigorous series of real-world and synthetic tests to measure how well it will perform during everyday use. 

We measure the average brightness and color quality of each laptop's display using our in-house light meter and colorimeter. For general performance, we run our machines through tests that include Geekbench (to benchmark CPU performance in both single-core and multi-core workloads), as well as a battery of graphics tests using software like 3DMark and modern PC games. We also run a file transfer test to measure how fast a machine's hard drive is, and a custom battery test that has the machine browse the internet over Wi-Fi until it runs out of juice.

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Alex Wawro is a lifelong tech and games enthusiast with more than a decade of experience covering both for outlets like Game Developer, Black Hat, and PC World magazine. A lifelong PC builder, he currently serves as a senior editor at Tom's Guide covering all things computing, from laptops and desktops to keyboards and mice. 

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Notable Mentions

Recent updates, all reviews, the 7 best business laptops - fall 2024.

If you're looking for a laptop for work, your best bet is an ultraportable that's easy to carry around with a battery that lasts long enough to get you through the day. You'd also want to look at the display, keyboard, touchpad, and webcam quality, as they can significantly impact the overall user experience. A wide port selection will allow you to connect multiple peripherals or external displays without needing a separate dock. Of course, you'd want enough processing power to handle your tasks. We've compiled a list of recommendations to help you with your purchasing decision, including options for different operating systems and form factors so you can find the laptop to suit your needs.

We've tested over 135 laptops, and below, you'll find our recommendations for the best business laptops you can buy. See our recommendations for the best laptops , the  best lightweight laptops , and the best laptops for graphic design .

Best Business Laptop

The best work laptop we've tested is the HP Spectre x360 14 (2024). This premium 2-in-1 laptop features a sturdy all-aluminum chassis with a thin and light design, which makes it a great choice for those who travel a lot. Using Intel's new Meteor Lake processors, light productivity tasks like text processing, web browsing, spreadsheets, and presentations are a breeze, and its NPU (Neural Processing Unit) accelerates AI features like Windows' Copilot. Battery life is excellent, so you don't need to worry about charging it throughout the workday. You can charge the laptop over USB-C, giving you the freedom to use a wide range of compatible chargers.

The overall user experience is great. You get a sharp 2.8K OLED display with touch and pen input, an excellent haptic touchpad, and a 4k webcam. A fingerprint sensor and facial recognition camera are also included for quick logins. Port selection is decent, including one USB-A and two USB-C/Thunderbolt 4s, so you can transfer files quickly and connect multiple peripherals and external displays. There's also support for Wi-Fi 7. Unfortunately, the RAM isn't user-replaceable, so make sure you get enough for your needs upfront. Lastly, remember that OLEDs are susceptible to permanent burn-in, and their flickering can be bothersome to some.

See our review

Best Mid-Range Business Laptop

Our mid-range pick is the HP Pavilion Aero 13 (2024). You can configure this 13-inch ultraportable with an AMD Ryzen 5 or 7 CPU, which are more than adequate to handle light tasks like text processing, spreadsheets, and presentations. Display options include an FHD+ and a QHD+ IPS panel; both look sharp and get bright enough to provide good visibility in well-lit settings. Its 1440p webcam produces a sharp but slightly overexposed image, so you'll have to tweak the settings or lighting a bit to look your best on video calls. Windows Hello facial recognition support is present, which is great if you want to avoid typing your password in public areas. The battery lasts around 10 hours of light use, and you can charge the laptop over USB-C, so you won't have to deal with a proprietary charger.

The biggest compromise for this model's more budget-friendly price is its build quality, which is a significant step down compared to our picks above. Its aluminum and plastic chassis exhibit a fair amount of flexing, and the device as a whole feels hollow. Also, the finish scratches easily from everyday use. Another minor complaint is the touchpad; it's plastic and doesn't track continuous inputs all that well, like when dragging and dropping items across a long distance.

Best Budget Business Laptop

The best laptop for business we've tested for when you're shopping on a budget is the ASUS Vivobook 16 M1605 (2023). This ultraportable feels well built for the price and isn't overly bulky for a 16-inch device, so it's still easy to carry around. You can get this laptop with an AMD Ryzen 5 or Ryzen 7 CPU, which are more than adequate to handle general productivity tasks. As for the RAM, it has 8GB soldered onto the motherboard and a SO-DIMM slot, so if you can't find a model with 16GB, you can always get an 8GB model and upgrade it yourself. Battery life is okay at around eight hours of light use, which means you may need a quick charge to get through a typical workday, depending on your usage.

This model delivers a pretty good user experience overall. It has a spacious full-size keyboard with a Numpad, which is handy for those working with lots of numbers, as well as a large and responsive touchpad. You get Wi-Fi 6E wireless connectivity, a fingerprint sensor for quick logins, and a decent port selection with three USB-As, a USB-C, and an HDMI. Unfortunately, the USB-C doesn't support video output, so you'll have to use the HDMI port to connect an external display. The main drawback of this laptop is the display. Its 1080p resolution looks reasonably sharp at this screen size; however, it's quite dim at around 250 cd/m² of brightness, so visibility may be an issue in well-lit rooms. It also looks washed out due to its narrow color gamut.

Best Cheap Business Laptop

If you want to spend as little as possible, get the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook 14 (2023). This 14-inch Chromebook is a great option for anyone needing a simple device to do light work like responding to emails, text processing, spreadsheets, and video playback. The Core i3 configuration (paired with a FHD touch-sensitive display, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage) is often on sale for around $400 directly from  Lenovo . There are cheaper configurations; however, we don't recommend them unless you have an extremely light workload and don't mind compromising on the display quality.

The touch-sensitive FHD display gets bright enough for well-lit settings and is reasonably color-accurate. Above the display sits an excellent 1080p webcam, so your colleagues and clients can see and hear you clearly on video calls. The keyboard feels spacious but a tad mushy, and the touchpad is small and not always responsive. For those new to Chrome OS, know that this operating system is limited in the type of applications you can install, so you must ensure you can do everything through a Chrome browser or Android app.

Best MacBook For Business

Although Windows is the most used operating system in the corporate business world, some of you may prefer or have the option to use a MacBook, especially in this remote work era. If so, we recommend the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2024), one of the best laptops for business and personal use we've tested. This laptop is an incredibly well-built ultraportable that comes with Apple's M3 silicon; its performance is excellent for most productivity tasks, including some light photo or video editing. Its 15-inch display gives you plenty of room for split-screen multitasking and gets bright enough to combat glare, even outdoors in broad daylight. It also features best-in-class battery life, so you can comfortably get through a full workday on a single charge.

The user experience is great. The keyboard feels spacious and tactile, and the touchpad is large and responsive. You get an excellent 1080p webcam, so your colleagues can see and hear you clearly on video calls. Port selection is the major pain point here, as you only get two USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 ports; while you can use these to connect to two external monitors, this only works if the lid is closed. If you plan to use an external monitor with the laptop closed or prefer a more compact device for on-the-go use, you can get the Apple MacBook Air 13 (2024) . It's cheaper, but the speakers don't sound as good. Unlike the 15-inch model, Apple still sells the  Apple MacBook Air 13 (2022) with the M2 SoC as a budget-friendly option, coming in $100 USD cheaper than the 2024 model.

Best Workstation For Business

For people needing to do a bit of everything, including graphic design, photo editing, and maybe even making short videos for their website, we recommend the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M3, 2023), one of the best laptops for small business use that we've tested. This 14-inch workstation is available with Apple's M3 Pro/Max SoCs, which are fast enough to handle demanding tasks like video editing and complex graphic design, making it a great option for small business owners needing to do a little bit of everything. Its 120Hz Mini LED display provides good visibility in well-lit settings and is well-calibrated out of the box, so you can get straight to work without further calibration. You get the same niceties as the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2024) above, like the keyboard, touchpad, and webcam, as well as a wider port selection for peripherals and external displays.

If you prefer a Windows laptop, get the Dell XPS 16 (2024) . Available with Intel Core Ultra 7 or 9 CPUs and up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 discrete GPU, this premium workstation is well suited for intensive workloads like programming and 3D modeling. RAM and storage max out at 64GB and 4TB, respectively. The memory isn't user-replaceable, but the SSD is, so you can add more storage later. Display options include an FHD+ IPS and a 4K+ OLED panel—we recommend the latter for color-critical work, as it has full DCI P3 and Adobe RGB coverage. The overall user experience is good; however, it might take some time to get used to the keyboard's edge-to-edge keys and the invisible touchpad. Port selection is more limited than the MacBook Pro, as you only get three USB-C/Thunderbolt 4s and a MicroSD card reader.

Best 2-In-1 Tablet For Business

If you want a versatile work device that you can also use as a tablet for media consumption, get the Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Edition (2024), one of the best laptops for business and personal use we've tested. Unlike our top pick above, the  HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) , this is a tablet PC with a detachable keyboard. Removing the keyboard makes the device easier to hold as a tablet and takes up less space on a table. The downside is that it's a bit more unstable when using it as a laptop on your lap. Like previous Surface Pro type cover keyboards, the new Flex keyboard feels spacious and comfortable, and it now works even when disconnected from the device, giving you more flexibility to position the tablet to your liking. It also has a new haptic touchpad that's larger and easier to use. Unfortunately, the keyboard is still a separate purchase; the same goes for the stylus.

An important consideration for business use is this tablet uses an ARM processor. The Snapdragon chips are more than adequate to handle general productivity tasks, and they're quite power-efficient, giving you an all-day battery life. That said, you need to ensure that the apps you use are compatible or run well enough through Microsoft's Prism emulation layer to get your work done. There are two display options; models using the Snapdragon X Plus have an IPS panel, while the X Elite models come with an OLED panel. The OLED display will give you deeper blacks, but it exhibits the 'screen door effect,' meaning the digitizer is visible, creating a grid-like pattern that some may find distracting. Also, remember that OLEDs are susceptible to permanent burn-in. Other than that, this is a great device overall. You get an excellent 1440p webcam, an IR facial recognition camera, Wi-Fi 7, and clear-sounding front-facing speakers.

• ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED (2024): The ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED (2024) is an excellent high-end ultraportable and cheaper alternative to the HP Spectre x360 14 (2024). It has a dedicated HDMI port, which the HP lacks, and features a more traditional clamshell form factor. However, its battery life is shorter, and it's also harder to find due to low availability. ASUS has recently been subject to controversy regarding overcharging clients during warranty claims. See our review
• Lenovo Yoga 6 13 (2023): The Lenovo Yoga 6 13 (2023) is a cheaper alternative to the HP Pavilion Aero 13 (2024). It has a sturdier build and a better touchpad; however, its display doesn't get as bright, and its webcam is significantly worse. It also doesn't perform as well because it uses slower AMD Zen 3-based CPUs, whereas the HP uses newer Zen 4 processors. See our review
• Apple MacBook Air 13 (M1, 2020): The Apple MacBook Air 13 (M1, 2020) is a cheaper option if you find the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2024) or its smaller 13-inch sibling, the Apple MacBook Air 13 (2024), too expensive. Its M1 SoC is slower but still adequate for light productivity tasks, and since it's an older model, you can often find it on sale for as low as $750 USD. It isn't worth getting at its regular price, as it's only $100 USD less than the newer, sleeker, and faster M2 model (13-inch). See our review

Sep 26, 2024: We've replaced the Microsoft Surface Pro 8 (2021) with the Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Edition (2024) as our pick for the 'Best 2-In-1 Tablet For Business,' as it's newer and performs better. We've also made small edits for clarity.

Jul 30, 2024: Replaced the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 (2022) with the HP Pavilion Aero 13 (2024) because the Surface has increased in price. Added the Lenovo Yoga 6 13 (2023) as a Notable Mention.

Jul 16, 2024: Replaced the Lenovo Yoga 7i 16 (2023) with the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 (2022) because the Lenovo is no longer available. Replaced the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i 15 (2023) with the ASUS Vivobook 16 M1605 (2023) because the Lenovo is hard to find. Removed the Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1 (2023) from the Notable Mentions because it's no longer available.

May 23, 2024: Due to availability, we replaced the LG gram 14 (2023) with the HP Spectre x360 14 (2024), the M2 MacBook Air 15 (2023) with the newer M3 MacBook Air 15 (2024), and the Windows alternative to our workstation pick to the HP OMEN Transcend (2024). Minor text changes were made for clarity and accuracy.

Apr 25, 2024: Small text edits to add the HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) as an alternative to the LG gram 14 (2023).

Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best laptops for work you can get. In addition to the test results, we factor in the price (a cheaper laptop wins over a pricier one if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no laptops that are too difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).

If you prefer to make your own decision, here’s the list of all of our laptop reviews. Keep in mind that most laptops are available in various configurations, and the table only shows the results of the model we tested, so it’s best to see the full review for information about other variants.

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Best Business Laptops 2024: Our top work portables from Apple, Acer and more

It’s often said that a worker is only as good as their tools, so any office-based worker will need to make sure they have one of the best business laptop options to ensure they’re maximising their potential.

With so many laptops available these days, picking out the best business laptop possible is no easy task, so we’ve decided to help out. Our team of experienced experts review multiple laptops throughout the year, and we’ve picked out the top scoring portables for this very best list.

When reviewing a laptop, we make sure to conduct as many tests as possible, including industry-standard benchmarks to evaluate performance, screen tests to make sure the display is up to snuff, and battery drains to check the stamina between charges. Only the laptops that perform well in these tests, and represent good value for money, are considered for this list.

Everyone has different tastes, so we’ve made sure to include a variety of options, including those based on Windows, macOS or even ChromeOS. There’s also a wide variety of prices to make sure everyone is catered to.

If you can’t find a business laptop you like at the moment, we’d recommend bookmarking this list as we’ll be updating it frequently as more of them pass through the Trusted Labs. It’s also worth checking out our  Best Laptop ,  Best Ultrabook ,  Best Student Laptop  and  Best Budget Laptop  pages for a more general look.

Best business laptop at a glance

• Best overall business laptop: Apple MacBook Air M2 (2022) – check price
• Best value business laptop: Acer Chromebook Plus 515 – check price
• Best for creative work: Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M3 Max) – check price
• Best 16-inch business laptop: Acer Swift Edge 16 – check price
• Best for security: Dell Latitude 7320 – check price

How we test

Every laptop we review goes through a series of uniform checks designed to gauge key things including build quality, performance, screen quality and battery life.  These include formal synthetic benchmarks and scripted tests, plus a series of real world checks, such as how well it runs the most frequently used apps.  We also make sure to use every laptop we review as our primary device for at least a week to ensure our review is as accurate as possible.

• High-brightness matte screen
• Near-silent with general office-type work
• Long battery life
• Limited display contrast
• Touchpad should be better at this price

• Fantastic performance
• Sleek, updated design
• Excellent keyboard and trackpad
• Expensive starting price and upgrades
• More colours would have been nice
• The M1 version remains an excellent buy for less

• Great build quality
• USB-C charging
• Stacked specs for the price
• Sluggish trackpad
• 60Hz non-touch display

• Exceptional performance
• Stunning display and keyboard
• The price builds up very quickly

• Impressively well-rounded performance
• Bright and rich 3.2K OLED display
• Impressively lightweight
• Top-tier port selection
• Odd trackpad click
• Poor speakers

Apple MacBook Air M2 (2022)

Best overall business laptop.

For the best overall business laptop we’ve tested, look no further than the brand new Apple MacBook Air M2 (2022)

Inside, it features Apple’s M2 chip, which is more than capable of handling professional tasks such as 4K video editing with ease. The 8GB of RAM on the standard model should be more than enough for most people, especially given the upgrade to 16GB will cost you an extra £200/$200. Like its predecessor, this is also a fanless MacBook, which means it’s silent all the time, but may fall down during sustained loads due to the lack of active cooling.

The MacBook Air M2 has a 13.6-inch screen. In testing, we found it to match Apple’s claimed 500 nits of brightness, meaning it’s ideal if you’re working a lot in brighter spots. And if the 13-inch screen is a little too small for you, there’s also the option of the 15-inch MacBook Air which also represents excellent value.

At 1.24kg, the 13-inch MacBook Air is immensely portable, and a thickness of just 1.13cm also makes it thinner than an iPad with a Magic Keyboard attached. The port selection is alright, with USB-C ports and a MagSafe connection, although you don’t get an SD card reader and HDMI out, as you do on the MacBook Pro. The keyboard and trackpad are both excellent, which is a must if you spend much of the day working in docs and sheets.

The endurance on offer is also excellent, with the M2 MacBook Air lasting comfortably throughout a working day with around 20% to spare, while in running a video loop tested, it lasted for around 14 hours, which is a 2 hour boost compared to the original M1 powered MacBook Air.

Reviewer : Max Parker Full review : Apple MacBook Air M2 (2022) review

Acer Chromebook Plus 515

Best value business laptop.

The first thing to highlight with the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 is that it runs on ChromeOS instead of Windows. That may be problematic for those who need bespoke software in their business that is only available through Windows or macOS. However, if you simply need a business laptop for browsing the web and typing up essays, the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 fits the bill while saving you lots of money in the meantime.

During the testing process, we were incredibly impressed with the Acer Chromebook Plus 515. Available for under £500/$500, it offers a solid productivity performance (at least for a Chromebook) and a superb battery life that we recorded to last over 10 hours.

Like most Chromebooks at this price, the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 is made up of a mix of plastic and metal. We were impressed with the overall build quality, and the keyboard is perfectly adequate for typing up essays all day, even if the trackpad can be a little sluggish.

With many modern Windows laptops costing well over £1000/$1000, the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 is a cost-effective alternative that can handle web browsing and productivity workloads perfectly fine. Just make sure ChromeOS supports all of the software you need for work before hitting checkout.

Reviewer : Josh Brown Full review : Acer Chromebook Plus 515 review

Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch M3 Max

Best business laptop for creatives.

The MacBook Pro has long been our number one recommendation for business workers who need to dip into creative workloads such as video editing, and the MacBook Pro 16-inch M3 Max only strengthens its position with a supercharged performance thanks to the cutting edge M3 Max chip.

You’ll struggle to find a more powerful laptop than the MacBook Pro for content creation, as it saw a higher benchmark score for processing speed than almost any other laptop that we reviewed in 2023. Importantly, graphics performance is excellent too, allowing for speedy rendering times.

Laptops optimised for such workloads usually have major drawbacks, as it can impact battery life and the weight of the portable. However, the MacBook Pro can last up to 15 hours for productivity work, which we were able to verify during testing. And at 2.16kg, this is a rather heavy laptop, but it’s still surprisingly portable considering how much power it has to offer.

Due to the extravagant price, the MacBook Pro 16-inch M3 Max is a needless purchase for business workers who just need to send emails, fill in spreadsheets and type up reports. The Acer Swift X 14 is a good middle-ground option too if you want a cheaper laptop with an entry-level graphics performance. But if you need a powerful laptop that can handle heavy duty tasks such as video editing, then the MacBook Pro is the best option.

Reviewer : Max Parker Full review : MacBook Pro 16-inch M3 Max review

Acer Swift Edge 16

Best 16-inch business laptop.

If you’re the type who work with multiple tabs open, or need to view exhaustive spreadsheets while also typing up a report, then it’s likely that a 13-inch laptop screen just isn’t big enough to squeeze everything on the display simultaneously. So we’ve decided to include the Acer Swift Edge 16 in this list, which has a big 16-inch screen as well as excellent productivity performance.

Despite its large screen, the Acer Swift Edge is delightfully light, coming in at just 1.23kg. This will be incredibly important for those who lug their laptop to the office every day. And despite having a thin chassis, there’s a great selection of ports here including USB-C, HDMI 2.1 and a microSD card reader. There’s even Wi-Fi 7 support for a speedy connection to the web.

One of the highlights of this laptop is the gorgeous OLED screen, with eye-popping colour making videos look far more vibrant. An OLED screen isn’t imperative for a business, of course, but it’s still a nice bonus if you like to watch the likes of Netflix and YouTube on your lunch break.

So if you fancy yourself a speedy productivity laptop with a big screen, we reckon the Acer Swift Edge 16 provides the best value. And if you want an even bigger screen, then we suggest checking out the LG Gram 17 (2023) instead.

Reviewer : Adam Speight Full review : Acer Swift Edge 16 review

Dell Latitude 7320

 best for security.

The Dell Latitude 7320 is a marvellous option for a business laptop if security is integral thanks to the Intel vPro features on offer. It’s also one of the more functional-looking devices out there.

This is reflected in its plainer design than other more expensive laptops, although at 1.21kg, it’s one of the lightest on this list, which makes it especially portable. It’s also rather well built too, with little flexing in the casing. The light weight definitely didn’t lead to any compromises on build quality. With a deep travel and some rather chunky and large keys, we also found the keyboard on the 7320 to be one of the best compact laptop keyboards we’ve tested in a while.

We found the performance for such a small laptop to be solid, with great results in our benchmark tests, while the screen also proved to be decent enough for mainstream work. It’s a 13.3-inch FHD matted panel, which makes this laptop much easier to use in bright environments. Colours here are relatively punchy, and gamut coverage is more than good enough for basic productivity tasks, even if it may not be up to standard for more intensive workloads.

A total 63Wh capacity also allows the Latitude 7320 to offer some great battery life, with it reaching the heights of 12.5 hours during our testing. This is more than enough for a working day, and you may even be able to get a couple more hours out of it before grabbing the charging cable.

Reviewer:   Andrew Williams Full review :  Dell Latitude 7320 Review

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The future of laptop design?

The latest Pro from Huawei

We’ve reviewed

For our money, the best overall laptop for business at the moment is Applre”s new M2-powered MacBook Air, although you may want to look at our other choices if you have specific requirements.

As the name suggests, business laptops are designed to be used for commercial and business use, while personal laptops are someone’s own device.

This depends on what kind of documents and apps you’re going to be storing on the drive. For smaller Word docs, spreadsheets and the like, 256GB is plenty, while if you’re in a line of work that involves larger file sizes and bigger applications, you may want to go for 512Gb or even a 1TB.

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Best business laptops of 2024

Combining professionalism and performance with the best business laptops

• 1. Best overall
• 2. Best on a budget
• 3. Best MacBook
• 4. Best for creators
• 5. Best 2-in-1
• 6. Best rugged
• 7. Best Windows
• 8. Best modular
• 9. Best for travelers
• How to choose
• How we test

The best business laptop balances power, portability, and productivity - and these are the professional machines we recommend.

We've tested best laptops , best business computers and best business Macs , and of course the holy grail of business laptops - best Lenovo ThinkPad laptops . With their comfortable keyboards and durable designs, they're the perfect business companion. For that reason, the ThinkPad X1 Yoga is our pick for best business laptop overall. In our experience, as a business user you generally can't go wrong with a ThinkPad.

There are some incredible laptops for business use out there - and as part of our intensive review process, we've benchmarked performance, and compared everything from specs to screen quality, dimensions to design of all the top models.

The quick list

This is a remarkable laptop with impeccable build quality, an excellent keyboard, fantastic ports, security baked in, making it the obvious top pick.

Read more below

Though cheap, this budget business laptop boasts a 14-hour battery life, an aluminum-magnesium alloy body, and a lightweight machine.

Though just a larger MacBook Air 13-inch, this model's brilliant bigger screen gives business users a lot more screen real estate to multitask in.

A unique laptop for creatives, this also boasts great ports, a powerful processor, and fantastic smart features on top of that extra half-display.

The best implementation of that dual-screen tech, the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i is ideal for multitaskers who need a lot more screen real estate.

This military-grade rugged model is the best laptop for business professionals who spend a lot of their time on the field, getting their hands dirty.

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Hitting that sweet spot between design, functionality, and features, this convertible delivers on performance and battery life as well.

A top modular business laptop that can be adapted to fit your needs. Using the AMD Ryzen 7040 Series processor, we found it offers oustanding processing power and efficiency for longer battery life.

The perfect business laptop may not exist, but we reckon the HP Dragonfly G4 comes closes. Performance is exceptional, the screen is stunning, and It easily thrived on a month-long tour of Europe.

What are the best business laptops in 2024?

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Best business laptop overall

1. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 8

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

When it comes to the best rated work laptops, you can't go wrong with a ThinkPad. Any ThinkPad, really. They're sturdy laptops, built to last years, with the best keyboards you'll find on pretty much any laptop (despite Lenovo changing the design and shortening the key-travel in the bid for thinner designs). If you don't mind aging specs and your workloads are light, even older models still pack a punch.

For an excellent modern model, we love the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 8. It might not be much to look at - few great laptops for business are. We were impressed by its high-quality build and durability. This is the kind of laptop that will stick with you through thick and thin. And, beyond that durability, it’s quite versatile as well since it has that 2-in-1 form factor.

Even the basics are done well. The keyboard is comfortable and easy to type on, the trackpad is accurate and responsive, and it has all the ports a businessperson on-the-go could want. Plus, it comes with a stylus.

The 16:10 screen is a joy to work on and has more than enough power for everyday productivity making this an ideal laptop for business. Of course, it won’t work for niche purposes like photo or video editing as it doesn’t have that kind of power. And, it’s expensive, considering that it’s not high-powered or stuffed with a bunch of extra features. But, it’s perfect where it needs to be.

Read our full Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 8 review

• ^ Back to the top

Best budget business laptop

2. Acer Travelmate P4

There are a lot of compromises with the Acer Travelmate P4. When testing, we found that some parts, particularly the SSD, had some issues that could prove frustrating. And, it’s a mostly plastic affair inside that could affect its durability, though it at least keeps the weight down. Yet, for all its faults, this laptop is worth consideration for those that are on a budget.

To start, it’s much more affordable than a lot of the competition while offering enough power for most people to get through their work without issue. The battery life is also pretty good, providing enough juice to last through a whole work day and then some. And, the included Thunderbolt port gives some flexibility when using this portable with other peripherals such as an external monitor.

One of the biggest surprises for us with the Acer Travelmate P4 is the fact that it’s easy to upgrade. Since the parts aren’t soldered in, once you’re able to get inside, it’s quick work to put in a new SSD or RAM to really make the most of this laptop.

All these factors, especially the price, battery life, and upgradability, make this an ideal option for someone who needs a business notebook but has limited funds.

Read our full Acer Travelmate P4 review

Best MacBook for business

3. apple macbook air 15-inch (2023).

MacBook Pro laptops are great laptops for work, but if you want a lightweight, portable option, check out the MacBook Air. It is a bit of an anomaly when compared to the rest of Apple ’s options. It’s bigger than the 13-inch version yet is essentially the same inside, starting with the same M2 chip, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB SSD. But, some people just want something a little less cramped than a 13-inch screen when getting through the workday and this laptop is for them.

Even though it doesn’t separate itself from its little brother performance-wise, we were still very impressed. After all, Apple has managed to squeeze some good performance out of those specs. On top of that, the larger 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display is gorgeous to look at, offering a crisp 2880 x 1864 resolution with wide P3 color coverage that makes it perfect for getting some photo editing done.

While this is a larger laptop, its slim design still makes this Apple laptop fairly portable, even if it’s not quite as easy to carry around as its little brother. And, since it sports those same internals, it comes with a fairly generous price tag, at least by Apple standards. So, if you want to stay in the Apple ecosystem for work and don’t want to spend the money on one of the Pro models, this 15-inch MacBook Air may be the ideal option for you.

You could save on your purchase with our Apple coupon codes .

Read our full Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (2023) review

Best business laptop for creators

4. Asus Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED

The ASUS Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED is a step forward in the next generation of laptops thanks to its unique two-screen setup. Taking Apple’s controversial touch bar concept and adding a larger second screen right above the keyboard, this Asus laptop manages to make its unique setup indispensable for getting work done.

In fact, we were impressed by how versatile that second screen was. Not only is it angled for easy viewing, but it has touch capability so we were able to turn it into a gigantic touchpad when necessary. That would be just a gimmick if it weren’t for the quality of the main OLED display, which is HDR capable and has the kind of color coverage that photographers need when editing their photos.

Beyond the two displays, we found the Asus Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED to have more than enough power to get through most productivity and creative work, thanks to the robust GPU it came with.

Of course, the battery life is not the best considering this laptop is trying to power two screens. And, the trackpad is a little wonky with its strange placement off to the side. Outside of that, this is a stellar laptop with a premium feel and, of course, a unique setup that’s great for complicated workflows like those that creatives have to deal with.

Check out our Asus coupon codes for the latest savings and deals.

Read our full ASUS Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED review

Best 2-in-1 laptop for business

5. Lenovo Yoga Book 9i

The Lenovo Yoga Book 9i may just be the most elegant, most effectively designed dual-screen laptop we've ever tested. It boasts two displays, but it manages to pull that off while still maintaining that beautiful, thin and lightweight form factor that Lenovo is now known for.

It certainly makes that dual-screen format so incredibly seamless to use with several special functionalities, keyboard shortcuts, and very responsive touchscreen capabilities. Not to mention that it's an absolute game-changer when it comes to multitasking.

What's more, the Intel Core i7-1355U powering it is specifically designed for ultra-thin portables, allowing it to stay relatively cool despite not having a lot of breathing room and to last an entire work day. It has proven to be very capable during testing, running multiple apps and multiple browser tabs without experiencing any slowdowns. It's also shown during testing that it's capable enough to perform some light hi-res photo editing on Lightroom and Photoshop .

We also appreciate the comfortable keyboard and mouse that comes included in the box as they offer a great alternative if interfacing with a virtual keyboard and a virtual trackpad is taking a while to get used to. It's a little expensive, and there's only one configuration available at the time of writing, but it's more than a worthy investment, especially if you're the type who regularly multitasks like we do.

Read our full Lenovo Yoga Book 9i review

Find great deals on laptops with our Lenovo promo codes .

Best rugged business laptop

6. Getac B360 Pro (2023)

Business professionals who spend a lot of time out on the field need a more robust laptop that can handle such things as inclement weather, hard knocks and drops, and dirt and dust. And for such a need, we vote the Getac B360 Pro (2023), a solid portable (if you can call it that) that built to take the hardest knocks and the worst environments and can pretty much handle anything.

The B360 Pro is sold as military-grade and mission-ready, with an outer shell that can withstand being dropped six feet and temperatures from -29°C to +63°C (-20°F to 145°F). It also has MIL-STD-810H, MIL-STD-461G and IP66 certifications.

We can't claim that this is the perfect laptop. The port layout could have been better, and it needs a better Gen 4 NVMe drive installed. But it's a highly customisable platform that comes with two hot-swap replaceable batteries as standard and can charge up to eight batteries. It also has a wide selection of accessories to mount it to a vehicle or dock it in the office.

That's not to mention impressive performance and battery life that can keep up. Looking at the GTX 1650's speed in our 3DMark, GeekBench OpenCL and PCMark10 tests, the only machine we’ve seen recently that can beat the B360 Pro is the Dell Precision 5470 with its more powerful RTX A1000 discrete video.

Read our full Getac B360 Pro (2023) review

Best Windows laptop for business

7. Dell Latitude 9440 2-in-1

The Dell Latitude line-up is vast - with corporate, enterprise, and education laptops padding out the market. They're more than powerful enough for a daily driver in the office, home, or on-the-go, and in our experience the keyboards are generally fine for long hours, even if they don't quite match the natural comfort of the ThinkPad keys.

The 2-in-1 Dell Latitude 9440 2-in-1 may be the best value laptop we've tested. It hits that sweet spot between design, functionality, and features - so much so it's nearly perfect in our book.

The features, of course, help justify that high price tag. There's the Haptic Collaboration touchpad, multi-connection network technology, and an expansive screen that gives users a lot more screen real estate.

What's remarkably impressive part of this laptop is that it can actively be connected to two networks at once and switch between them as needed for the best connection. And this feature has proven to be impressive during testing, especially for power business users who take vital calls and can't risk losing connection.

But once you take this out for a spin, you'll realize as well that its phenomenal performance helps. It certainly hit all our marks in what to expect from a professional business laptop on test, and we found its battery life just as impressive.

Read our full Dell Latitude 9440 2-in-1 review

Best modular business laptop

8. Framework Laptop 13 7040 Series

Framework offers a unique approach to Laptops where modularity is paramount, and the customer can easily specify what they want to see in external ports. What’s fascinating about this concept isn’t that the module ergonomics of the Laptop 13 aren’t amazingly complicated or revolutionary. Instead, modularity is also focused on the customer's needs, not merely as a means for making cheaper laptops.

The Ryzen 7040 Series is a sub-set of the Laptop 13 models that uses the latest Zen mobile processors, providing impressive processing power and efficiency for longer battery life. Framework offers three SKUs, or customers can go with a DIY option to define a laptop that is personal to them.

All the internal parts are also modular, not just the external ports, and that should make these machines easy to service and fix should they have a problem. The downside to this increased flexibility is that Framework only offers a single year of warranty, and the cost of these machines is slightly above what the exact specifications would cost in a machine that wasn’t modular.

But for those who want a beautifully engineered laptop where the ports can be easily changed as needed, there aren’t many other options available today.

Read our full Framework Laptop 13 7040 Series review

Best business laptop for travelers

9. HP Dragonfly G4

“Brilliant - and not just for business” is how we described the HP Dragonfly G4 when we took this laptop out for a spin. The perfect laptop may not exist, but in our view, the mighty HP Dragonfly G4 sure comes pretty damn close.

This one's a bit of a rarity in the world of business laptops - it looks and feels neither business-y or bulky. We absolutely love the design and build, which is robust, lightweight, and seemingly tailored for travel or hybrid working. During our review, we travelled around Europe for a month with the Dragonfly G4. It not only survived – it thrived. And the battery easily held an all-day charge. During our tests, it hit an average 12 hours and 44 minutes. Not quite as long as a MacBook Pro, but great for everyday users.

Performance is equally impressive. Even opening an unhealthy number of tabs in Chrome, running multiple apps, and batch-editing images in Photoshop and Lightroom, slow-downs were non-existent. The screen is ideal for photo editing, as it happens. A stunning 13-inch 1280p display boasting 391 nits and 113.3% sRGB coverage, and an average Delta-E color accuracy of 0.14 (these numbers are based on our benchmark results). However, we were disappointed to see the weak 80.2% DCI-P3 coverage means it’s not the best for video editing.

It’s a minor niggle for a laptop chiefly designed for professionals on the go. Earning a TechRadar Recommends badge, this is an incredibly lightweight, portable, and robust laptop – making it the perfect travel companion.

Read our full HP Dragonfly G4 review

Get your next laptop for less with our HP coupon codes .

Best business laptops: FAQs

What are the best laptops for business.

It will depend on what sort of business tasks you're undertaking, but generally, the best Dell laptops , MacBook Pros, and Windows are ideal for all-round professional use. These laptops for business purpose are fast, robust, and reliable. The best HP laptops are great if you're working to a budget, and many at the lower end of the range are absolutely perfect for running Microsoft Office, Google Docs, and general web browsing.

What features should I look for in a business laptop?

We asked Zach Noskey, Director of Latitude Product Management at Dell Technologies, what he thought

There are many important features that differentiate a business laptop from a traditional consumer laptop. Specific capabilities to consider when purchasing a fleet of PCs will depend on the type of business and the role and responsibilities of employees, but below are a few broad areas to prioritize:

Collaboration : With the growth of hybrid work, employees need the capabilities to collaborate and connect from anywhere. Business workers rely on best-in-class video and audio features for frequent conference calls. Look for a minimum FHD camera for quality picture, top firing speakers for improved sound, and Wi-Fi 6E and 5G for a variety of connectivity options.

Design : Workers need mobile and flexible form factors for working on-the-go. Business laptops should ideally be lightweight and small, but also include a 16:10 aspect ratio display for an optimal front of screen experience. Plus, they should be made with durable and premium materials built to last.

Performance : Performance is a given for maximum productivity. Choose business laptops equipped with the latest generation of processors available to run applications smoothly when multi-tasking and preserve battery life. CPU and GPU specifics, such as discrete graphics, will depend on the demands of a worker’s role. Finally, look for systems with a minimum of 16GB of dual-channel memory and at least 512GB of SSD drive space.

Security and support: It’s not only about the end user experience. IT departments need enterprise-level hardware/firmware and software security features to prevent, detect and respond to threats wherever they occur. Plus, IT needs reliable service and support options for their fleet of PCs. Depending on the size of the business, companies might consider an all-in-one IT support option that handles all elements of hardware management, or choose a flexible offering that helps simplify deploying the latest PCs.

What are the key differences between the best business laptops and laptops for home?

We asked Eric Ackerson, Senior Product Marketing & Brand Manager, Acer America

There are significant design and hardware differences between consumer and business laptops. In most cases, business models are made with more durable materials and construction to withstand the rigors of travel and toting the laptop to and from the office. This means they’re typically built with more metal in the chassis as compared to plastic that’s often used in consumer models. Many are MIL-STD 810H-certified with spill-resistant keyboards and touchpads to protect internal components from liquids. Shock-resistant features and semi-ruggedized designs help protect them from short drops. Business laptops focus on durability, reliability, performance and life span, which often means a long battery life and the ability to upgrade the laptop over time. Consumer laptops have more focus on style and value for today’s computing needs.

Another key difference is in the software installed on the systems. Business laptops will come with Windows 11 Pro vs. Windows 11 Home. Windows 11 Pro has many features supporting business management and deployment, which aren’t necessary for consumer computers. These laptops will typically have other manageability features built-in to aid IT departments in diagnosing, updating systems remotely and deploying to their workforce. In contrast, consumer laptops are often loaded with entertainment-focused applications for social media, gaming and digital hobbies that business workers do not need and IT departments may see as security risks. Simplifying the software pre-load for large quantities of business laptops purchased in bulk eases setup, deployment and management of these laptops.

In addition, Windows 11 Pro provides extra security features through hardware-based security, such as TPM 2.0, virtualization-based security (VBM) and hypervisor protected code integrity (HVCI). Software-based security adds advanced encryption, robust network and system security and intelligent safeguards, which improve over time against ever-evolving threats. Laptops designed for business may also come with sensors that detect people based on range and movement. These laptops can lock the screen when the user steps away and also blur the screen to off-angle viewing to prevent someone seeing the screen’s content over a user’s shoulder.

Another factor differentiating business models is the warranty. Consumer laptops typically have a one-year warranty, while commercial warranties may last up to three years and cover on-site service from a technician and the provision of spare parts.

Finally, business laptops are more conservative in style and color in comparison to consumer versions, to keep a low profile and blend in commercial settings. Consumer models, particularly those designed for gaming, may come in bright colors and with multi-colored RGB keyboards.

In conclusion, there are significant differences between consumer and business laptops. While each type of laptop serves its purpose, it is important to consider needs and priorities before making a purchase. Whether you are looking for advanced security features or budget-friendly options, there is a laptop on the market to meet your needs.

How to choose the best business laptops

Finding the best laptop for you is all about deciding what you consider most important and focusing on those needs before considering other requirements. If you work in an office, battery life might not be critical, but it might be vital for those working away from a desk.

Laptop makers offer many devices, each aimed at a specific user and usage profile. Therefore it's essential to consider the role this system will play in the office and what it needs to support that. You should also check if your company has a preferred operating system - many like to use Windows, but some of the best MacBook Pro laptops are perfect for business use.

Here are some of the aspects that we consider the most important.

Performance

The performance available from a modern laptop can be awe-inspiring. Many more expensive models have potent processors, NVMe storage, and discrete GPUs.

Typically, cheap machines come with an Intel Celeron or Core i3 class processor, and they're only suitable for relatively light office tasks. Above them are devices that use the Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5, and these are the workhorses that can cope with most tasks by having lots of processing cores and multi-threaded processors. And on the top rung are the Intel Core-7 and Core-i9 mobile processors and the AMD Ryzen 7 class CPUs. These powerhouse systems can be used for very intensive tasks often allocated to desktop computers, and they can come with discrete GPU technology allowing them to play games and be used with the best 3D modeling software .

For integrated GPUs, the lesser machines have the old Intel UHD Graphics module, and in newer Intel chips, this has been supplanted by the Iris Xe GPU. Conversely, AMD systems have either the older Radeon Graphics or, the better Radeon 680M.

The discrete GPU options are usually based around either Nvidia RTX or AMD RX technology, with various performance tiers available. What's important to understand is that mobile GPUs aren't comparable to desktop equivalents. Therefore, don't expect an Nvidia RTX 3060 mobile GPU to perform like that same designation in a PCIe card for a desktop system.

Because of power limitations and heat generation, mobile GPUs tend to be cut down from the desktop regarding shaders, memory buses, and clock speeds.

Battery Life

The extent of battery life depends on several factors, not least the battery capacity and how efficiently the system uses the stored power.

While having a bigger battery is suitable for how long it will last without mains power, it tends to increase the machine's weight, and depending on the charger, it can take longer to recharge.

One of the downsides of more powerful processors is that they will consume more power, and the same is true for discrete GPUs over integrated, high-performance NVMe drives and exceptionally bright displays.

How this translates into the working life of batteries isn't easy to calculate. Still, the difference between a machine using power-saving mode with reduced screen brightness and another using performance settings with an intensive task can be substantial.

The better machines running standard office tasks or playing YouTube videos can last longer than ten hours, and the worst under four.

It is worth pointing out that the newest technology, i.e., Intel 13th Gen and AMD Ryzen 7000 processors, are much more power efficient than previous technologies. Older tech might be cheaper, but it won't last as long on battery, doing the same jobs as something with more modern silicon, as a rule.

Connectivity

Having plenty of port selection is critical if you're hooking up a lot of different devices, from the best business monitors to the best office keyboards . However, This aspect is essential for those considering any of the best Ultrabooks and 2-in-1 designs especially often have limited external ports.

The solution to the limited port selection is to use a docking station. The very best laptop docking stations provide both port extensions and simultaneously charge a business laptop - ideal when working on-the-go.

In our experience, Thunderbolt is best, but the laptop must have at least one of these versatile ports to connect both power and data over a single connection. Achieving similar functionality over USB 3.2 Gen 2 USB-C is possible, but the bandwidth is less. That reduction impacts the flexibility, as the number of peripherals it can handle and the number of downstream ports is less.

If you can afford a machine with a Thunderbolt port(s) and a Thunderbolt docking station, then whatever other ports are on that laptop are largely unimportant.

One point about docking stations: they are usually rated for the watts they can deliver to an attached laptop, i.e., 65W or 83W. Some of the larger mobile workstation designs can draw up to 100W or more, and while these will charge on a docking station that can deliver 65W, it will take longer to charge fully.

Network connections are often Wi-Fi, but some machines have an Ethernet adapter. However, if you have USB 3.2, a USB-to-Ethernet adapter is an inexpensive but valuable accessory.

As for Wi-Fi, some cheaper machines have Wi-Fi 5, but the better ones have Wi-Fi 6 or 6E. If you intend to connect over Wi-Fi, it might be helpful to know the Wi-Fi routers' technology and a specific system design to work best with them.

Survivability

It might seem an obvious thing to mention, but laptops get broken every day. They fail due to a manufacturing mistake, the owner being clumsy, unexpected vehicle accidents, and flood damage. The number of ways they can cease to be useful is a remarkably long list.

Cheaper machines tend to use an aluminum frame with plastic panels attached that aren't best suited to survive a drop or being doused with hot coffee, not least being outside in the rain. Higher-end machines tend to use more metal, making them intrinsically more likely to handle some abuse.

But, if you intend to work outdoors, in a wet or dusty environment, or have the skill of a lucky dip machine, then the best rugged laptops offer a robust and sturdy alternative. No machine is beyond being damaged by the creative things people do with them, but some are better suited to brush off accidents that would kill cheaper systems instantly.

How we test the best business laptops

We've tested hundreds of professional-use business laptops, like the best laptops for working from home , best laptops for programming , the best laptops for engineering students , and the best laptops for photo editing .

Before we get to benchmarks and their ilk, when testing the best business laptops we usually go through a familiarisation protocol. This is where we’ll use the machine for a few days for general tasks to establish if it is all working as intended and highlight any potential issues that the designers overlooked.

During this phase, we’ve seen many problems, like hinges that cover up ports or trackpads unsuitable for adult-sized hands. Those issues are less common since many designs are derivatives of previous models with new motherboards rather than entirely new hardware.

After testing the trackpad and keyboard, we usually remove the back of the machine to see inside the case unless we know a sticker is denying us access to the inside. In that scenario, it is usually possible to get a manual that reveals what we’d see, and that is crucial for us to determine if the laptop can be user upgraded, stickers or not.

Many of the thinner Ultrabook and 2-in-1 models are now surface mounting memory, stopping that from being upgraded by the owner. But even those tend to have an M.2 slot for the NVMe drive that allows larger enterprises to be used. For those that have run the same system for many years, it might also be helpful to see what the spec of the battery pack is for that to be potentially replaced when it becomes worn out.

After we’ve done that investigation and put the machine back in one piece, we begin our testing protocol, where we go through a selection of benchmarks that test different aspects of the hardware. These benchmarks include many synthetic tests like 3DMark, PCMark10, GeekBench, CineBench23, CPU-Z, CrystalDiskMark 8.04, and other real-world tools.

These give a good oversight on single and multi-core processing, GPU performance, NVMe speed, and battery life.

The battery test is part of PCMark10 that requires the screen to be dimmed to 120 nits and the performance setting of the machine put into a power-saving mode (but with the screen always active). The screen brightness is confirmed with the DataColor calibrator, and the test runs until the battery from total hits 20% of its capacity. From this test, it is possible to provide a ballpark time for how long a laptop will last without mains power.

Exactly how it performs will depend on how it is used and how demanding those tasks are. Still, the calculated time should reveal if a fully working day on battery power is possible.

All this data is then cross-checked with that collected from other testing sessions to establish where the machine fits into our bigger picture, specifically against other hardware that uses the same processor platform or against a previous model in the same series.

You can learn more about our testing process in How we test laptops and desktops: our reviewing process explained .

For portable productivity, we've reviewed the best business tablets .

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Steve is TechRadar Pro’s B2B Editor for Creative & Hardware. He began in tech journalism reviewing photo editors and video editing software at the magazine Web User, where he also covered technology news, features, and how-to guides. Today, he and his team of reviewers test out a range of creative software, hardware, and office furniture. Once upon a time, he wrote TV commercials and movie trailers. Relentless champion of the Oxford comma.

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Best business laptops 2024

Almost any business runs on technology these days and there’s a good chance that laptops make up a big part of that. Even more so post-pandemic with more remote and hybrid working than ever before.

Whether you’re looking for a laptop for yourself or employees, it can be a tricky thing to get right, especially when you don’t want to waste precious time or resources. Fortunately, we have picked the best laptops for business use from our expert reviews.

Tablets have advantages but for most companies, a laptop will always be the best solution. We have a wide range of options here in terms of prices, designs and features.

Each of the 10 laptops below are technically designed for consumers but offer a combination of hardware and software that’s very appealing. At the bottom of the page, you’ll also find an FAQ section with detailed buying advice and don’t forget to click through to our full in-depth review of any laptop you’d like to know more about.

1. Apple MacBook Pro 16 (late 2023) – Best Overall

• Excellent performance
• Gorgeous design and solid build
• Dazzling display gets brighter
• Space Black is only on M3 Pro/Max models

The MacBook Pro continues to go from strength to strength and this is a laptop that gets just about everything right.

It’s very similar to the previous generation so M2 users will be unlikely to feel a burning desire to upgrade but those still on Intel-powered MacBooks should make the jump now.

Apple’s design and build are, as usual, among the best available on the market although it’s a shame that the gorgeous black colourway is reserved for the Pro and Max models.

The speed of the M3 chips will see you through daily tasks with minimal fuss and the large and brighter screen will be a joy to do it on (though a 14-inch model might be more suitable for some). Add in the excellent keyboard and all-day battery life and there’s very little to put you off here unless you want Windows or the MacBook Pro is simply out of your budget.

2. Samsung Galaxy Book 3 Ultra – Best Windows

• Superb performance
• Stellar battery life
• Excellent 120Hz OLED display
• Solid 1080p webcam
• Underwhelming keyboard & trackpad
• Audio could be better

The Galaxy Book 3 Ultra is Samsung’s first attempt at an ultra-powerful laptop, but you wouldn’t know it. This is arguably the best laptop around for business, particularly if your work involves content creation.

Combining 13th-gen Intel CPUs with Nvidia RTX 40 Series GPUs yield predictably excellent performance. That includes all demanding creator-focused apps and even gaming, although that’s not what it’s designed for.

The 16in OLED display is a joy to use, especially with a slick 120Hz refresh rate. All-day battery life is still well within reach, while the webcam and port selection are both above average.

So, why isn’t it top of this list? The main reason is price, which makes it an unnecessary purchase for most people. With a mediocre keyboard and patchy audio, it’s not perfect either.

But if money is no object, this is a superb all-rounder that ticks almost all the boxes when it comes to business.

3. Huawei MateBook X Pro (2023) – Best 14in

• Stunning design
• Impressive keyboard & trackpad
• Solid performance
• 90W fast charging
• No discrete GPU
• Sub-par battery life
• No USB-A ports

Huawei has only added 13th-gen Intel CPUs to the 2023 MateBook X Pro, but wholesale changes weren’t necessary. This was already one of the best laptops for business use, and that’s even more true now.

Everything is centred around an excellent 14.2in touchscreen. It’s IPS LCD rather than OLED, but still boasts a 3K resolution and 90Hz refresh rate, and looks great.

A magnesium alloy build gives the device a premium look and feel, yet it remains impressively lightweight: at 1.26kg, it’s one of the lighter laptops of this size. But the keyboard and trackpad are arguably even more impressive, and among the best you’ll find in any laptop.

Performance is solid across all regular business tasks, but the lack of a discrete GPU means you may run into problems with anything more demanding. You’re also limited to USB-C ports, while battery life could be better, despite the inclusion of fast 90W charging.

But overall, the MateBook X Pro offers pretty much everything most people are looking for in a business laptop. If the options above aren’t to your liking, this is definitely worth considering.

4. Samsung Galaxy Book 3 Pro 360 – Best convertible

• Impressive performance
• Great 120Hz display
• Excellent design
• S Pen included
• Not the best battery life
• Underwhelming keyboard

A convertible might not be your first thought when considering a business laptops, but the Galaxy Book 3 Pro 360 ticks pretty much all the boxes.

That 360° is one part of an attractive yet robust design, which looks the part without making any real compromises. Perhaps the only exception is the keyboard, which remains very usable but offers limited travel.

However, there’s plenty of performance here, despite the lack of a discrete GPU. The 120Hz OLED screen is a joy to use, especially when combined with the included S Pen.

It’s certainly Samsung’s best convertible laptop to date, and it could easily be your new best friend for business.

5. Huawei MateBook 16s (2023) – Best 16in

• Great 16in touchscreen
• Excellent keyboard
• Solid battery life
• Good everyday performance
• Lots of ports
• No separate number pad
• Missing SD card slot
• Relatively expensive

Huawei’s 2023 MateBook 16s isn’t a big upgrade compared to the 2022 version , but it remains an excellent laptop for business.

The high-res 16in touchscreen is a joy to use, and there’s enough room within the slim top bezel for a decent 1080p webcam. A 13th-gen CPU is the only hardware upgrade, but it benefits both performance and battery life. The keyboard and audio experience are also impressive, while you still get a slick, premium design.

However, the MateBook 16s certainly isn’t perfect. Performance is limited during demanding tasks with no discrete GPU, while Huawei has decided against a separate number pad next to the keyboard despite there being plenty of space for one. While there are lots of ports, you’re missing out on an SD card slot, so might need an adapter.

These will be easy to overlook for most consumers. But whether they’re dealbreakers in a business environment is up to you.

If you’re looking for something more affordable, the 2022 MateBook D 16 is a great alternative.

6. Microsoft Surface Pro 9 – Best 2-in-1

• Lightweight and portable
• Excellent 120Hz display
• Solid performance & battery life
• Not enough ports
• Keyboard cover still sold separately

Provided you choose the Intel version, the Surface Pro 9 is a great choice if you want the flexibility of a 2-in-1.

It includes a laptop-sized 13in display, complete with 120Hz refresh rate for silky-smooth visuals. Paired with the premium surface design and solid performance from Intel’s 12th-gen chips, the Pro 9 nails the basics.

Other highlights include a great webcam, solid battery life and and excellent detachable keyboard – although the latter is sold separately. Adding that and a pen makes the device very expensive, while the port selection still needs work.

You might be tempted to go for the ARM version, which offers 5G support, new video calling features and even better battery life. But the performance issues and clunky experience with some apps simply isn’t worth it.

7. Asus Zenbook 15 OLED – Best display

• Great OLED display
• Compact, premium design
• Good range of ports
• Underwhelming battery life

The display is an important part of any laptop, but it needs to be particularly versatile on a business laptop. The 15.6in, 2.8K OLED one on the Zenbook 15 OLED more than delivers, especially with its silky-smooth 120Hz refresh rate.

Performance, another top priority, is strong across all everyday tasks and some more demanding workloads, despite no discrete GPU alongside the Ryzen 7000 Series processor. A healthy port selection includes the fast USB4 (USB-C) connection, USB-A and full-size HDMI, while build quality and audio are both above average.

The price isn’t extortionate for these specs, but you will have to put up with mediocre battery life – a full day away from the charger is only just about within reach. And while built-in fans are effective, they’re quite noisy.

The Zenbook 15 OLED is still a solid option for business, but only if you don’t stray too far from a power source.

8. Acer Aspire Vero 15 (2023) – Best webcam

• Excellent 1440p webcam
• Eco-friendly design
• Good performance
• Decent display
• Annoying pre-installed software
• Feels a little flimsy

If your work involves regular video calls, look no further than the Aspire Vero 15. It has a crystal-clear 1440p webcam that handles colours and exposure much better than most built-in laptop sensor.

But that’s just one of the many selling points of this laptop. Another big one is its eco-friendly build, with part of the chassis and almost all of the packaging made using recycled plastic. However, unlike the Framework Laptop 13 , internal parts can’t be repaired or upgraded.

Unless you need top tier performance, the combination of Intel’s Core i7-1355U (Core i5-1335U models are also available), Iris Xe integrated graphics and 16GB of RAM is plenty powerful enough. And despite an unassuming 56Wh battery, you can also expect all-day battery life.

Other highlights include an attractive 15.6in Full HD IPS LCD display, good port selection and that unique speckled finish. While annoying pre-installed apps in Windows 11 and underwhelming durability means there’s still room for improvement, the Aspire Vero 15 remains a fine option for business – especially for well under $1,000/£1,000.

9. Asus Zenbook 14X OLED (2023) – Most attractive

• Gorgeous design
• Superb OLED screen
• Plenty of performance
• Good ports and keyboard

If you want to handle business and look good in the process, Asus has a laptop for you.

The Zenbook 14X OLED features a stunning ceramic-like rear which helps it instantly stand out from the crowd. But the 120Hz OLED display is arguably even better, helping content to really come alive. Performance from Intel’s 13th-gen CPUs is solid too, even if there’s no option for a separate discrete GPU.

With lots of ports and a great keyboard (something that’s often sacrificed on a thin and light laptop), it’s easy to recommend the Zenbook 14X OLED. Battery life is the main thing that counts against it, but unless you spend a full day away from the power, it’ll cope just fine.

10. Dell XPS 17 – Best 17in

• Solid keyboard
• Impressive battery life
• No OLED display
• Webcam only 720p

The XPS 17 might be expensive, but it’s a compelling device for business use.

Dell has packed an impressive amount of power into this thin and light chassis. Intel’s 13th-gen CPUs combine with Nvidia RTX 40 Series GPUs for great performance, even if it falls slightly short of some rivals.

You also get great battery life and an excellent keyboard, plus an attractive 17in display. The latter is one of the best panels around, but it’s IPS LCD rather than OLED. For content creators, this might be a dealbreaker.

Alongside a lack of USB-A and HDMI ports and a mediocre 720p webcam, the XPS 17 can’t be any higher in this list. As good a laptop as it is, these drawbacks are hard to excuse when you’re paying so much.

How much do I need to spend on a business laptop?

That depends on your budget, but also your specific needs. While it’s possible to get something cheaper, most good business laptops cost in excess of $1,000/£1,000.

Budget laptops are worth considering, but may be limited in key areas such as display, performance or battery life. Meanwhile, the key limitation of Chromebooks is the software.

We’ve included some more affordable options here, but you may need to spend a bit more to ensure a great experience. But unless you have very specific needs, your business laptop can double as one for everyday use, so you’ll be getting plenty of value from it.

Which is the best operating system for a business laptop?

For most people, the answer to this question is Windows 11 . There are so many different devices running the latest version of Microsoft’s operating system, and it’s compatible with the vast majority of third-party software. Your big decision here will be whether to go for Windows 11 Home or Pro .

However, you definitely shouldn’t rule out macOS. A MacBook currently sits top of this list, and it software makes more sense if you also own other Apple devices.

While Chromebooks can make good business laptops, ChromeOS is much more limited when it comes to features and app support. It only makes sense for a small percentage of people.

How important is security on a business laptop?

Very important. If you’re working away from the office or managing a business, you’ll be handling sensitive information relatively often.

Most security is handled effectively by all software developers, although Windows 11 users might want to consider antivirus or upgrading to Windows 11 Pro.

Many laptops also support face/fingerprint unlocking and the option to physically block the webcam, while some retain the Kensington Security Slot . Look into these features and see how important they are to you.

What other features are important in a business laptop?

A tough, durable build is important if you often use a laptop outside, but you might prefer something lightweight and portable for on-the-go productivity. For the latter, battery life is crucial.

It’s important to make sure the laptop you choose has the right specs for your line of work. Do you need a powerful processor and graphics card for demanding software or can you save money by getting something lower-end? That all depends on your workload and how your current device stacks up.

Also, make sure the display will suit your environment. Someone working outside will need to make sure the screen is bright enough to view, but there are plenty of dim screens out there that you’ll want to avoid.

Ports are often forgotten about, but a laptop is no good if you can’t plug a vital accessory in. Many laptops come with USB-C only now, so you might need an adapter or a hub .

Author: Chris Martin , Reviews Editor, Tech Advisor

Chris got his break as a reporter at infamous site The Inquirer and has been at Tech Advisor for more than 12 years. With a BA degree in Music Technology, audio is his specialism, but over the years he has reviewed all kinds of gadgets, from smartwatches to mesh Wi-Fi to coffee machines.

Recent stories by Chris Martin:

• Tech Advisor’s Best of MWC 2024 Awards
• The best Chromebooks 2024
• Best Microsoft Surface 2024

Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 review: A business laptop that shines where it matters

The thinkpad t14s gen 6 isn’t perfect, but it’s great at what it aims to be.

Laptop Mag Verdict

The Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 offers strong overall performance, a lightweight design, and over 20 hours of battery life, making it a stellar option for professionals. While it has drawbacks, it shines in the ways that matter most for a business laptop.

Record-breaking battery life

Strong overall performance

Surprisingly lightweight

Outdated design

Lackluster display

Mediocre graphics performance

Why you can trust Laptop Mag Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test .

• Specs (as reviewed)
• Price and configurations
• Security and durability
• Keyboard and touchpad
• Performance
• Gaming and graphics
• Battery life
• Software and warranty

Bottom line

The Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 is the definition of a business laptop, but not in a bad way.

It excels in a few key ways that matter most to professionals, despite a few drawbacks. While it might not have a fancy design, the ThinkPad T14s is surprisingly lightweight, features a comfy keyboard, offers strong overall performance, and boasts over 20 hours of battery life. In fact, it’s the longest-lasting laptop we’ve tested at the time of writing. Those are the makings of a great business laptop.

Unlike its predecessors, the ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 features a Qualcomm processor. It’s one of a growing list of Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs. Is the switch from Intel to Qualcomm a wise move for the ThinkPad? Can it keep up with its Intel-powered rivals and deliver the performance professionals need?

Let’s deep dive into how the ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 performed in our testing and what you should know before buying one.

Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6: Specs (as reviewed)

Lenovo thinkpad t14s gen 6: price and configurations.

Our review model cost $1,475 and featured a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-78-100 processor, 32GB of RAM, 1TB of storage, a 14-inch WUXGA 1920 x 1080 IPS display, and Windows 11 Pro.

The ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 starts at $1,036, including a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus X1P-42-100 processor, 16GB of RAM, 256GB of SSD storage, a 14-inch WUXGA 1920 x 1080 IPS display, and Windows 11 Home.

There are several upgrades available. You can max it out with a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-78-100 processor, up to 64GB of RAM, up to 1TB of storage, Windows 11 Pro, and an OLED display. Of course, all of these increase the price of your configuration. The configuration with every upgrade available costs $2,022.

If you’re customizing your own ThinkPad T14s Gen 6, I would strongly recommend increasing your storage to at least 512GB and opting for the Snapdragon X Elite processor. The base 256GB of storage offers barely any space for apps and files and the Snapdragon X Elite CPU will offer far better performance than the more budget-oriented Snapdragon X Plus option. However, we cannot vouch for benchmarks like battery life, since we didn’t test that model.

Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6: Design

If there’s one word that describes the ThinkPad T14s Gen 6’s design, it’s “utilitarian.” This is a business laptop first and foremost and it looks the part. It features the plain black plastic chassis ThinkPads are known for, complete with the red rubber track point in the center of the keyboard.

Beyond the undeniably business-centric design, there are a few features worth noting, like the top-firing speakers along the edges of the keyboard deck. I love to see these on laptops since they usually offer far better audio quality than bottom-firing speakers, which are easily muffled.

The ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 is also much lighter than it looks. I was surprised when I picked it up for the first time. It weighs just 2.72 pounds, making it effortless to carry around this laptop in the office, on your commute, or on long treks through the airport. The ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 is pretty compact, too, measuring 12.35 x 8.64 x 0.67 inches.

While some of the ThinkPad T14s’s competitors are thinner, none of them are lighter. The Asus ExpertBook P5 comes close at 2.84 pounds, though:

• Acer Swift 14 AI : 3.2 pounds, 12.7 x 9.0 x 0.72 inches
• Asus ExpertBook P5 (P5405) : 2.84 pounds, 12.3 x 8.8 x 0.59 inches
• HP Elite x360 1040 G11 : 3.3 pounds, 12.36 x 8.66 x 0.58 inches

Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6: Ports

The ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 has a generous selection of ports, especially for a 14-inch laptop.

On the left there are two USB Type-C ports, an HDMI port, and a headphone jack. On the right there are two USB Type-A ports. That was plenty for me, but if you need more ports, you can always plug in a USB Type-C hub or connect the ThinkPad T14s to one of the best docking stations .

Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6: Security and durability

Good security features are crucial for any business laptop, especially if you often work with sensitive data. Luckily, the ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 is equipped with enterprise-level cybersecurity through Lenovo ThinkShield , which provides threat scanning and risk monitoring features at every level, from your data to the operating system to the cloud.

In addition to the software protections from ThinkShield, you also get the physical security of biometric sign-in. There is a fingerprint reader embedded in the power button and you can also use the IR camera for facial recognition sign-on, both of which are powered by Windows Hello. You can even use a physical security key to sign into specific apps.

If you’re concerned about security, I also recommend activating “dynamic lock” in your sign-in settings. This feature will automatically lock the ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 when it detects that you are away from your computer.

You won’t have to worry about accidental drops and bumps, either, since the ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 is certified for the MIL-STD-810H durability standards . That means this laptop is built for military-grade durability tests, so it’s definitely tough enough to stand up to everyday use in the office or on your commute.

Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6: Display

Display quality is one area where the ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 falls behind. It had a disappointing score on our color gamut test, even for a business laptop. However, despite its poor color gamut performance, I did like that the ThinkPad’s display has an anti-glare coating on it. This is great for preventing distracting reflections from obscuring your display in brightly lit areas.

Lenovo also offers an option to upgrade to an OLED display for $315 if you otherwise like the ThinkPad T14s but wish it had a better display.

The ThinkPad T14s gets fairly bright at an average of 451.8 nits, but it reproduced just 70.7% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. That’s a low score even for a business laptop. All of the ThinkPad’s rivals scored at least 5 points higher.

I watched some YouTube videos on the ThinkPad T14s, including the trailer for Netflix ’s “Man on the Inside,” and everything was clear, albeit, not as crisp as it would be on a higher resolution display. The resolution and color quality of the IPS display is plenty good enough for enjoying an episode of your favorite streaming show on your lunch break or everyday tasks like web browsing.

While panel quality is important for some types of work-related tasks, it may not be a top priority for everyone. For instance, if you’re a creative professional or often use your work laptop to edit photos or videos, a vibrant, bright display is crucial. However, it’s not as important for things like word processing or data entry.

So, depending on the tasks you use your work laptop for, the ThinkPad’s low color accuracy score might not be a deal breaker. Even so, it’s disappointing to see a score in the low 70s.

Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6: Keyboard and touchpad

The ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 features the standard keyboard found on ThinkPads through the ages, complete with the rubber track point in the center. This keyboard design may be dated, but if it’s not broken, don’t fix it. This is a very snappy, tactile keyboard and I really enjoyed typing on it during my testing.

On the Monkeytype typing test, I scored 94 words per minute with 95% accuracy. That’s lower than what I scored on some other Lenovo laptops but still relatively good. While the track point is a staple of the ThinkPad line, it reduced my accuracy while typing quickly because my fingers would occasionally run into moving to or from the G and H keys. Personally, I’d prefer a keyboard deck without the track point since I also didn’t find it particularly useful compared to the regular touchpad.

Similarly, I could do without the large plastic buttons along the top of the touchpad. The touchpad is clickable, which makes these buttons redundant. I would prefer to have more space on the touchpad than have the physical buttons, especially since the touchpad itself is smooth and responsive.

Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6: Audio

I always prefer laptops with top-firing speakers because they usually offer a much better audio experience than bottom-firing speakers. The ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 is no exception. The speakers can get seriously loud and feature clear, well-balanced audio quality. I never had to turn the volume up past 30 to clearly hear music or videos.

Snail Mail’s indie single “The 2nd Most Beautiful Girl in the World ” sounded crisp and punchy on the ThinkPad with clear mids and just the right amount of bass. I also watched trailers for Netflix’s “Spellbound” and “Buy Now” and found the dialogue, soundtracks, and background ambiance all well-balanced and clear throughout.

Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6: Performance

The ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 fared well on our overall performance tests with its Snapdragon X Elite X1E-78-100 processor. It scored 2,459 on the Geekbench 6 single-core test and 14,486 on the multi-core test. It also completed the HandBrake video transcoding test in 5 minutes and 34 seconds, which is fairly quick.

The Asus ExpertBook P5 (Intel Core Ultra 7 258V) had the highest single-core score but it fell far behind the ThinkPad T14s on the multi-core benchmark and the HandBrake test. In fact, the only rival laptop that outscored the ThinkPad on the multi-core benchmark was the Acer Swift 14 AI (Snapdragon X Elite X1E-78-100) and even then it won by less than 100 points.

Despite a slight advantage for the Acer Swift 14 AI, the ThinkPad T14s offers more than enough power for everyday tasks like word processing or working in productivity apps like Microsoft Excel or Slack. The high multi-core score indicates that the ThinkPad T14s can also keep up with more demanding apps like Photoshop or on-device AI. So, no matter what kind of work you need to get done, the ThinkPad T14s is up to the task.

The only area where the ThinkPad T14s really lags is file transfer speed. This is an indicator of how fast a laptop's SSD reads and writes data. A faster SSD speed means you won't have to wait as long for a file to copy or download, for example. The ThinkPad T14s barely passed 1,000 MBps in this test, which is a let down considering it performed fairly well otherwise.

Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6: Gaming and graphics

The Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 is not a gaming laptop. If anything, it’s exactly the opposite. However, graphics performance is still an important metric to analyze because it’s important for video editing or graphic design.

The ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 struggled with our graphics benchmarks tests. It scored 5,987 on the 3DMark Fire Strike test and averaged just 21 frames per second in Sid Meier’s Civilization VI: Gathering Storm . The only laptop that scored lower was the Acer Swift 14 AI (Qualcomm Adreno integrated graphics), but the Asus ExpertBook P5 (Intel Arc 140V integrated graphics) and the HP Elite x360 1040 G11 (Intel Arc integrated graphics) demolished the ThinkPad’s scores:

The Acer Swift 14 AI scored nearly identical to the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 on both tests, which isn’t a coincidence. Both laptops are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-78-100 with Qualcomm Adreno integrated graphics.

In comparison, the Asus ExpertBook P5 and the HP Elite x360 1040 G11 have Intel processors with integrated graphics and both scored similarly, as well. So, these results appear to indicate stronger graphics performance overall on Intel processors than on Snapdragon processors. If graphics-intensive tasks are a top priority for you, you would be better off choosing an Intel-powered laptop or even one of the best gaming laptops .

Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6: Battery life

Battery life is one area where the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 really shines. It lasted 21 hours and 3 minutes in our battery test, longer than any of its rivals — longer than any laptop we’ve ever tested. The only one that came even remotely close was the Acer Swift AI 14 with a time of 17 hours and 30 minutes.

The ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 has enough battery life to easily get you through a full day of work, maybe even two. This category is critical for a business laptop since you don’t want your laptop dying on you when you have work to get done, whether in the office, at an airport, or even at home.

Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6: Webcam

The ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 includes a 1080p FHD webcam with support for Microsoft Studio Effects, such as “portrait lighting” or “automatic framing.” The video quality is alright for a laptop webcam. It’s fairly clear, but leans dark, so you’ll need a well-lit space for the best image quality. However, I like that the webcam has a built-in privacy shutter.

The built-in microphone is surprisingly good. My voice sounded perfectly clear in my test video. Overall, the webcam and mic combined are plenty good enough for everyday video meetings and Zoom calls, although you can always add an external webcam if you want better video quality.

Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6: Heat

The ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 handled heat relatively well overall in our thermal tests, but it did exceed our 95-degree comfort threshold with a peak temperature of 107.6 degrees in the center of the underside of the keyboard deck.

The underside of the ThinkPad was the warmest in general, as well, with an average temperature of 92 degrees. However, the touchpad stayed cool at 76 degrees and the center of the keyboard deck averaged 88.9 degrees. I never felt it get uncomfortably hot during my testing and only noticed it warming up while charging.

Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6: Software and warranty

The ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 includes Lenovo’s standard one-year warranty, which you can extend or upgrade through Lenovo Premium Care Plus . It comes ready to go with either Windows 11 Home or Windows 11 Pro along with a suite of basic apps including Microsoft Edge, Microsoft Copilot, the Xbox app, and Lenovo Commercial Vantage. This is the business version of the Lenovo Vantage app, which acts as a hub for changing system settings, accessing troubleshooting tips, and viewing your warranty info.

The Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 is in many ways the perfect business laptop, despite a few flaws. It offers strong overall performance, incredible battery life, and a lightweight design, the three traits that are arguably the most important for professionals. This laptop is light enough to bring on your commute with ease and has the power and battery life to keep up with everyday work tasks without needing a charger during your lunch break.

Of course, the ThinkPad T14s isn’t perfect and its flaws could be deal breakers. For instance, it had very weak graphics performance in our benchmark tests. Its Snapdragon processor may also face compatibility issues with certain apps and games. The ThinkPad T14s also had a low color accuracy score in our tests, which may be a major factor for creative professionals. If that’s the case for you, visit our guide to the best business laptops for more top-rated options.

Despite its drawbacks, the ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 has a lot to offer and excels in the ways that matter most. If you’re a professional looking for a lightweight laptop that can keep up with your workflows, from AI tasks to word processing, the ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 is definitely worth considering.

Stevie Bonifield is a freelance tech journalist specializing in keyboards, peripherals, gaming gear, and mobile tech. Outside of writing, Stevie loves indie games, photography, and building way too many custom keyboards

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The best business laptops from Apple, Lenovo, Dell, and more

Owning a powerful and efficient business laptop is one of the best things you can do for yourself as a business owner. This isn’t to say that you need to run out and drop $3,000 on the most expensive PC you can find; especially since a machine costing upwards of a $1,500 is probably overkill for most folks. Still, it pays to get all the features you’ll need from a business PC, and we’re here today to give you a crash course on the subject.

Brands like Apple , Lenovo , and Dell are some of the top names for business-optimized laptops. Not only do we have recommended models for each company, but we’re going to break down all the most important criteria for business PCs, too.

For even more options, check out our complete laptop buying guide for 2024.

Best overall

Dell xps 13 plus.

• Irresistibly fresh design
• Great OLED screen
• Helpful performance modes
• Excellent haptic touchpad
• Webcam has been improved
• Gets warm on the bottom
• No headphone jack
• Battery life less than average

The Dell XPS 13 Plus is a laptop with a high-quality chassis and lightweight design that can be used anywhere. It has a large, comfortable keyboard that stretches the full width of the laptop’s base. The keys give a satisfying click and have an impressive 1mm travel distance from press to tap, making this a great laptop for typing up documents and one of the best laptops for writers . However, the insides are possibly where you’ll find most of your happiness with the XPS 13 Plus, as you can tune its hardware to your qualifications quite nicely. Those need large amounts of storage can get up to 2TB if they so desire, but if you’re relying on the cloud you can go 512GB. If you predict that your business will want locally run LLMs in the future or you want to use intensive video editting software, try the 32GB of RAM edition, otherwise the 16GB should be more than plenty.

For a more intense overview of this laptop, our Dell XPS 13 Plus review touches everything from getting used to the haptic feedback in the mousepad to the specifics of its ports. One of the few downsides of this laptop is its battery life. While our review has more details, you can expect to get around six hours, plus or minus, on a single charge. While that’s good on a four-hour work week, you’ll want to keep your charger handy if you’re burning the midnight oil.

Best for Apple fans

Macbook pro 16-inch (2023).

• High-powered MacBook
• Inherent virus protection
• Apple ecosystem integration
• Quite expensive

If you run a small business, you likely want your business gear to integrate well with the rest of your life. There are no set on-the-clock, off-the-clock hours (unless you set healthy boundaries, that is), so having your phone and your laptop work well together seamlessly is a no brainer. For most, that means getting one of the best MacBooks . And of these, we find the MacBook Pro 160-inch to be highly powered and ready to help you through whatever business needs you have.

Another big bonus to a MacBook , even if you use an Android smartphone, is how virus resistant they are. While it may have reached meme level coverage in the past, the macOS is more secure than Windows, even in the current year, with only 6% of all malware breaches occurring on macOS. With on-site protection like fingerprint login, the whole system is quite secure and will make you feel safe having your most important financial documents inside.

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Best for travel

Lenovo thinkpad z13 gen 2.

• Solid and attractive build
• Very strong productivity performance
• Quality OLED display
• Excellent keyboard and touchpad
• Superior security and manageability
• Last-gen AMD CPU
• Displays are just 60Hz
• Below-average battery life

For traveling purposes, you should highly consider getting a Lenovo laptop , as they are usually built with both security and toughness built in mind. For security, this laptop allows login via fingerprint or facial recognition, based on images taken from the webcam. This webcam can be quickly toggled on and off via the F9 key for added privacy as well. This laptop, like all ThinkPad laptops, comes with ThinkShield software, which is a suite designed around business security.

In business and travel situations, you’ll like the ability to quickly tap a dictation button for speech-to-text document creation. The noise-cancelling mics included in the laptop will help get the words right and have you sounding like a star in your next 1080p video meeting. If you run into adverse weather conditions or have a tendency to carelessly through your laptop in your bag, you’ll additionally have less to worry about with the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 Gen 2, as it is built with more than 200 quality checks in mind so it has high-quality durability.

While this is the very new second gen, you can check out our Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 Gen 1 review to get a more in-depth idea of what to expect from the machine.

Also consider

Dell inspiron 15.

• Customizable quality
• Quality keyboard with numpad
• Large trackpad
• Older model

If you want a decent Dell laptop that’s good for business, but won’t cost you a ton, check out the Dell Inspiron 15. It isn’t much for special features, but has a standard chassis, and clears the minimum qualification checks to be a functional laptop. It will provide a good typing experience, has a numpad for when you need to tackle that Excel sheet, and has a large trackpad for convenient selection.

Most important to the Dell Inspiron 15 is its highly customizable hardware. Even at max settings, which includes 16GB or RAM and a 1TB SSD hard drive, this laptop is only a hair over $500. If you’re willing to sacrifice more storage and power, this laptop can drop substantially below the $500 mark, making it the best business laptop for the dollar conscious.

Here are some important criteria to consider when shopping for a business laptop:

Security is a huge factor for your business laptop, especially if you own your own business. But, even a worker that is grabbing a laptop for somebody else’s business doesn’t want to be the one that causes a security breach. Look for features like thumbprint logins to deter others from getting into your data. A low angle of view on the screen will make it harder for those sitting next to you in the coffeeshop or on the plane to read the contents on your screen. Finally, some laptops have built-in security and come with advanced security software out of the gate.

Local storage

While you may think of local storage as something most critical to gaming laptops, you can also use up quite a bit of storage in certain industries. For example, if you are into video manipulation or sound editing, you’ll likely want programs (and video files) stored locally. On the other hand, if you mostly write documents, save some money by getting a cheaper hard drive and bank on using the cloud more.

Webcam and mic

A good webcam and mic on your laptop will help you stand out in video conferencing situations and make you the Zoom hero. While the pandemic is slowly but surely becoming a distant memory, professionalism in online calls is still expected and — should you want to work from home — having a good setup can be a big factor in making your plea to avoid the office. To stay private, try to find webcams with a physical shutter.

For those of you that run your own business and typically do all of your business in person, it can be tempting to limit how much you think about this category. While that’s a valid position to take, it might be worth considering what other business opportunities can be achieved if you allow for virtual conferencing with potential clients in the future.

Hardware, graphics, and more

For many categories of laptops, we pride the beautiful screens, expansive memory, and more. In so many ways, however, the hardware, graphics, and other peripherals of your business laptop might very well be considered extras. Consider what you really need. For a lot of basic software, 8GB of RAM will likely cut it. Sure, getting more is nice, but you don’t necessarily need to spend an arm and a leg for it.

On the flip side, if you’re doing fancy video editing or computationally expensive work, getting something better is worth your time. If you expect to use a locally-run LLM for your business in the next year or two, for example, a laptop with 32GB and a fancy graphics card could very well be the best business laptop for you. The important thing here is to gauge your expectations based on the predicted needs of your business. Unlike our everyday laptops, which are used for such a wide variety of things that it is nearly always better to get a bit extra, business laptops have a well-defined purpose.

A final thought to get entered into your mind before you start shopping for your laptop, is how much you’re willing to pay for it. It’s business, so you can go one way or the other on this. One school of thought will say that you should invest highly in your business, never skimping on the details. Plus, depending on your situation and tax laws, you might even be able to write off your purchase.

The other school of thought will keep the mantra “every dollar saved is a dollar earned” and want to spend less. That’s valid too, and something we support. Whatever you choose, however, it is best to have a budget in mind before you start looking at laptops to buy so you don’t get swayed too heavily by what you see. Most people will spend between $500 and $2,500 on one of the best business laptops, but your purchase might fall on either side of this depending on where you fall on the willingness to pay spectrum.

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Mark Coppock is a Freelance Writer at Digital Trends covering primarily laptop and other computing technologies. He has significant experience in Windows, macOS, laptop hardware, and other technologies around mobile computing. He has been writing about technology since 2015, and has been a professional in the technology industry since 1995.

Mark graduated from Indiana University in 1991 with a degree in Marketing, which along with an interesting in PCs parlayed into a 25-year career in sales, marketing, and sales engineering across a number of companies in Indianapolis, Indiana and Chicago, Illinois. After stepping away from marketing, Mark entered into writing with a gig at the now-defunct Winbeta.org site. He has been writing for Digital Trends since 2016, and has reviewed almost 300 laptops. You can find many of his reviews in various Digital Trends best-of lists, such as the best laptops and best laptop 2-in-1s.

Generally speaking, Mark has been a geek since MS-DOS gave way to Windows and the PalmPilot was a thing. He’s translated his love for technology into a long career aimed at helping people use technology to enhance their lives.

When he’s not writing, you’ll find him in Southern California reading and watching science fiction, taking photos with his family, and obsessing over Indiana University basketball.

Laptop Reviews

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Jacob Roach is the lead reporter for PC hardware at Digital Trends. In addition to covering the latest PC components, from graphics cards to processors to PC cases, Jacob also writes the ReSpec column and newsletter that covers the intersection of PC hardware and gaming. If it's something you can plug into a gaming PC, there's a good chance Jacob has used it.

Although Jacob is interested in just about anything in or around a PC, he's currently reporting on graphics cards, PC game optimization, and gaming monitors. At Digital Trends, he's dug deep on the untold origins of the Steam Deck , uncovered the truth behind poor PC port optimization , and broke the story on Microsoft's Bing Chat going off the rails .

Before joining Digital Trends, Jacob contributed to Business Insider , Forbes , and PC Invasion , among various other outlets. Jacob has been a guest on TWiT and NBC, and his work has been cited in Fox News, Futurism, and Business Insider.

As if tinkering with the latest PC hardware wasn't enough, Jacob spends most of his free time living the PC gamer life he writes about so frequently. That includes playing the latest games, but also poking around on his PC to see what he can break, just to see how it works. When he gets a moment to step outside and "touch grass," Jacob enjoys tabletop games, wandering the shops of St. Louis, and forcing his lazy Corgi onto walks.

Michael Bizzaco has been selling, installing, and talking about TVs, soundbars, streaming devices, and all things smart home for the better part of 15 years. He even knows a thing or two about how to fix this stuff when it starts misbehaving (because no tech is perfect!).

Mike has been writing for Digital Trends and several other publications since 2020. Fortunately, he’s still able to write after he got his index finger stuck in a vending machine at the Ramada Inn the summer before fourth grade! From hands-on reviews to best-of roundups, Mike does his best to share his expertise in a friendly and informative way with all readers, and loves staying on top of the latest AV and smart home trends.

When he’s not thanking his father for dislodging his finger from that vile vending machine in New Jersey, Mike enjoys playing guitar, reading, and indulging in horror films with his girlfriend.

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