The modern office has untethered workers from their desks, making everything from the kitchen table to the bus stop to the cafe a mobile workstation. And the best way to work away from the office is with a dependable laptop. But the kind of laptop you need will vary greatly depending on the type of work you do. That’s why we’ve picked out some of the best laptops for business.
You might be shopping for yourself, in which case you might want to consider a flagship laptop from Apple or Microsoft. On the other hand, if you’re shopping for your employees, you might want to consider more affordable business laptops from brands like Dell or ACER, both of which offer laptops with serious computing power and considerable memory.
Of course, computing power and memory aren’t the only factors to consider. You’ll likely want to stick to the operating system you’re most comfortable with. That’s why we’ve included the latest workhorse from Apple, a robust (but affordable) Acer with Windows 10, and some versatile and capable Chromebook laptops.
Built-in virus protection, automatic updates and long battery lives make these the best business laptops for any type of workplace.
1. Apple MacBook Pro 16″
It’s almost an understatement to say that Apple revolutionized personal computing, and if you’re a fan of their unique operating system and are in need of an upgrade, consider the MacBook Pro. One of the most exciting additions to the Pro is the touch bar, which is a display screen above the keys that allows you to perform quick actions from the keyboard. In addition to the beautiful display, it also has impressive audio capabilities. The six-speaker system produces robust and clear sound. As for the nitty gritty, it’s got a ninth-generation 6-Core Intel i7 Processor and Amd Radeon Pro 5300M graphics. As for storage, you can choose between 512GB and 1TB.
Pros: Impressive storage capabilities and up to 11 hours of battery life. Powerful display and audio capabilities. Convenient touch bar controls.
Cons: Expensive. At 4.3 pounds, this unit is somewhat heavy. Only has USB-C ports, there are no USB-A ports.
2. Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop
The Acer Aspire is a high-powered computer in a budget-laptop body. It has an AMD Ryzen 3 3200U Dual-Core Processor, vibrant full HD display, and AMD Radeon Vega 3 Mobile Graphics. And while many laptop makers have decided to shed their ports, the Aspire has two USB 2.0 ports, one USB 3.1, one HDMI port and even an Ethernet port. It runs Windows 10, which has a unique feature called S mode. This enables more secure browsing (but limits you to Windows’ suite of apps). This feature can also be turned off if desired. The thin bezel makes for a larger display, and the laptop has a respectable 7.5 hours of battery life.
Pros: Large, crisp display. Plenty of ports, including HDMI and Ethernet. Backlit keyboard. Fast start speeds. Solid battery life.
Cons: Windows S mode is limiting, but it can be turned off. Touchpad can seem a little wonky, especially considering its unusual left-of-center placement. No USB-C
3. ASUS VivoBook F510UA Laptop
The ASUS VivoBook Laptop is a Windows 10 laptop powered by an 8th generation Intel Core processor, 8 GB of RAM and is the ideal laptop for daily computing and entertainment. This laptop has an ultra-narrow bezel that fits a full size 15.6″ wide-view display into a compact laptop that weighs 3.75 pounds. A built-in fingerprint sensor makes unlocking the laptop secure and easy, and the small size doesn’t compromise on connectivity. There’s a USB-C port, USB 3.1 and 2.0 ports, HDMI output and a microSD card reader.
Pros: Plenty of connectivity options, including USB-C, USB 3.1, HDMI and microSD. Built-in fingerprint sensor.
Cons: Not ideal for gaming or higher load applications.
4. ASUS Chromebook C202
The ASUS Chromebook is designed for ruggedness with reinforced rubber guards, easy-grip handles and a spill-resistant keyboard. It has a lightweight, 2.65-pound body that can be dropped from almost four feet and an anti-glare display for easy viewing. In terms of power, the Chromebook runs on Chrome OS with built-in virus protection, automatic updates and all the Google apps you know and love.
Pros: This computer comes with built-in storage for offline access to important files and an additional 100GB of Google Drive space to ensure that all of your files are backed up automatically.
Cons: The Chromebook does not come with a backlit keyboard.
5. Lenovo Chromebook C330 2-in-1 Convertible Laptop
If you do most of your work on the internet, then a Chromebook is a great option. This Chromebook from Lenovo, in particular, is great for those with on the go lifestyles who might be working at a cafe one day and the office the next. It has a small 11.6-inch display and is very lightweight. What really sets it apart is the ability to flip the keyboard to the back of the device and use the computer as a tablet. Despite its small size, it doesn’t compromise on connectivity and power — there’s a full-size SD port, USB 3.0, USB-C and even an HDMI port, and it has 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage.
Pros: Lightweight and compact, with plenty of ports including HDMI, USB-C and USB 3.0. Converts to a tablet by flipping the keyboard over.
Cons: Unlike some tablet-style laptops, this one does not include a stylus.