Choosing the best laptops for working from home is important; you’ll be using it as much as the chair or stand-up desk you’re probably already using now to work! I know for sure I am!
With COVID never seeming to end, the work from home (WFH) trend continues to gain momentum. Being a work from home data analyst myself, I know how important it is to ensure you pick the best laptop for working from home! This post isn’t just limited to our WFH friends but also remote workers like digital nomads!
Unlike other sites, I have worked with many people in various disciplines, from software developers to consultants. Each discipline requires very different requirements for their laptop needs. Tell me how many UX designers you know using a Windows-based computer rather than an Apple Mac? Those in administrative or call-center roles are more likely to focus on cheap and affordable options than fancy Macs.
With my previous experience of buying some of the laptops listed here as well as going through the pain of decision paralysis, I’m here to make your laptop-buying experience as painless as possible!
- Best Overall: Dell XPS 13
- Best Mac Laptop: Macbook Air M1
- Best Overall as an Alternative: Microsoft Surface 4
- Best for Creators: HP Envy x360 15
- Best for Portability: Microsoft Surface Pro 8
- Best Well-Rounded with Useful Features: Asus Zenbook 14
- Best Budget with Modern Features: Lenovo Ideapad 5
- Best laptop with Gaming Capabilities: Acer Aspire 7
- Most Affordable: HP Pavilion 15
- Most Portable: Google PixelBook Go
- Most Portable not using ChromeOS: Samsung Galaxy Book S
What Are the Best Laptops for Working from Home?
Best Laptop for Working from Home
Dell XPS 13
Link to product: https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-laptops/xps-13-laptop/spd/xps-13-9310-laptop
The best overall laptop for remote work – I own one myself and am using it to type up this blog post! Dell has literally squeezed everything into this small laptop and made it as tiny as possible.
This ultraportable, thin laptop is extremely accessible and easy to carry around with you everywhere. The keyboard is comfortable with a nice, sleek modern design. I bring it when I travel around the world since it’s so lightweight.
It uses two USB-Type C ports, one Thunderbolt 4 port, and a microSD card slot on the left side. Unfortunately, there are no USB A 3.1 slots. As a consolation, it includes a type-A to type-C dongle.
The speakers are surprisingly loud and can reach far distances however it comes from under the laptop, so it sounds muffled (imagine having a thin blanket covering a speaker, that’s what it is).
It also comes with a M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD – this is a huge performance boost as you’ll notice the general improvement in overall performance as compared to laptops with older SSD-type storage.
One of the few laptops that can be bought with Linux instead of windows, with Ubuntu preloaded for you software developers/ computer engineers/ hardware engineers out there. I consider this as one of the best laptops for working from home, if not the best!
One final bonus: it can also be converted into a tablet! Great for visual artists and the like.
Pros:
- Very light for its class
- Design, look, and feel is amazing
- Great battery life, edge-to-edge keyboard, large touchpad, IR face recognition camera, fingerprint sensor, modern USB-C ports
Cons:
- Mediocre webcam
- No USB-A 3.1 slots
Specs:
- Processor: Intel 11th Gen Core i3 to i7
- RAM: 8GB+ 4267MHz
- Storage: 256GB+ M.2 PCi NVMe SSD
- Weight: 2.64 lbs
- Battery Life: Up to 14 hours
Best Mac Laptop for Working from Home
MacBook Air M1
Link to product: https://www.apple.com/shop/buy-mac/macbook-air
If you had to choose one Mac product, it should be the MacBook Air M1. Often beats or challenges Intel-based Windows laptops, this laptop would be a great contender if you are thinking of making the switch from Windows to macOS.
Performance-wise, it’s the first laptop to receive Apple’s M1 chip. It’s identical, if not faster, than the i5 MacBook Pro as well as being extremely thin and light for movability.
The M1 chip, paired with 8GB RAM and a 256GB SSD storage configuration is more than enough for most users for maximum performance and efficiency.
Better yet, the MacBook Air M1 is much more affordable than other MacBook’s. MacBook’s (and Apple products in general) are notorious for costing a higher premium but the MacBook Air M1 is affordable and budget friendly even for those looking to consider a Mac.
Pros:
- Fast performance
- Amazing battery life, improved webcam, comes with Thunderbolt 3 port
- Very affordable compared to other Mac products
Cons:
- Thick bezels
- Light on ports
- Keyboard typing might be awkward to some
Specs:
- Processor: Apple M1 chip
- RAM: 8GB+
- Storage: 256GB+ SSD
- Weight: 2.8 lbs
- Battery Life: Up to 15 hours
Best Dell XPS 13 Alternative Laptop
Microsoft Surface Laptop 4
Link to product: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/d/surface-laptop-4-for-business/929894rg3gd7
This is the laptop I currently use for my full-time remote job. If the Dell XPS 13 did not exist, I would’ve chosen this as one of the best laptops for working from home in a heartbeat, if not the best!
With its 13.5-inch IPS LED touchscreen with up to 2256 x 1504 screen resolution, you’ll experience the best in color quality and visual experience.
The laptop has a slick build that is quite attractive with the Microsoft logo barely noticeable. Just like the other laptops mentioned so far, it’s very lightweight in its class so it’s great for portability and on-the-go for those digital nomads.
The keyboard is one of the most comfortable typing experiences I’ve ever had for a laptop. The trackpad is surrounded by an “Alcantara” material that’s soft and pleasing to the wrist as it’ll be touching it quite often!
The one downside that is immediately apparent would be the lack of ports. There is only one USB-C, one USB-A and a headphone jack. I’ve had to use a USB hub to connect various devices, including my monitors, to it.
Pros:
- Very lightweight
- Extremely comfortable keyboard
- Screen visually is attractive
Cons:
- Very limited ports
- Bezel might be unattractive
Specs:
- Processor: Intel 11th Gen Core i5 to i7 OR AMD Ryzen 5 to 7
- RAM: 8GB+ LPDDR4x RAM
- Storage: 256GB+ SSD
- Weight: 2.79 lbs (very lightweight!)
- Battery Life: Up to 19 hours
Creators-Focused Laptop with Strong Tablet Functionality
HP Envy x360 15
Link to product: https://www.hp.com/us-en/shop/pdp/hp-envy-x360-laptop-15t-ed100-174r7av-1
A great option for creators as it has the well-advertised tablet function. Just turn it completely around and it functions just like a tablet! With its tablet feature, it also comes with pen support that magnetically attaches to the body.
Unlike the other laptops mentioned that focus on being as slim as possible, the HP Envy x360 15 is slightly larger (weighing at 4.35 lbs) but as a result has room for extremely useful ports. It has an HDMI, USB-A x2, USB-C, headphone jack, and SD card port.
The Envy also has great tools provided by HP. Not easily shown but by pressing F12, you can bring up HP’s Command Center which helps you control the internal features like cooling. It is very useful if you need it quiet during a meeting or are doing intensive work where the fans will be better to set at maximum power.
In addition, you could also control your network bandwidth to specific applications, HP Display Control to control calibrated color presets and HP’s QuickDrop feature where you can quickly send files, images, videos, and URLs to and from your phone and the Envy x360 15.
Pros:
- Tablet mode with supported pen
- All the ports you would ever need (HDMI, USB-A x2, USB-C, headphone jack, SD card reader)
- Affordable compared to its peers
- Tons of useful features provided by HP (control fans, allocate bandwidth, and screen color calibration)
Cons:
- Trackpad is a little awkward as its not fully centered
- Little on the heavier side compared to peers
Specs:
- Processor: Intel 11th Gen Core i7
- RAM: 16GB DDR4
- Storage: 256GB+ PCIe NVME M.2 SSD
- Weight: 4.35 lbs
- Battery Life: Up to 14 hours
Sleek and Extremely Portable
Microsoft Surface Pro 8
Link to product: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/d/surface-pro-8/8qwcrtq8v8xg
If being lightweight but keeping similar specs to powerful laptops is the most important thing to you, then the Microsoft Surface Pro 8 is what you’re looking for. The downside? It has a hefty price tag.
Microsoft really pulled out all the stops for the Surface Pro 8 and updated everything about it. Previous models of the Surface Pro were minor improvements at best, but the Surface Pro 8 has had its structure – from the kickstand to the keyboard/trackpad area redesigned – for the better!
While Microsoft claims up to 16 hours of typical device usage, most reviewers all have stated very similar results: medium to heavy use of the Surface Pro 8 actually resulted in about 8 hours of battery life. The plus? The Thunderbolt port can charge up your Surface Pro 8 very fast.
Pros:
- The lightest you’ll ever find in a laptop of this class
- So thin it’ll fit anywhere
- Combined with the pen you’ll have the best visual experience
- Visually powerful display at 120Hz
Cons:
- Much pricier than peers
- The pen and keyboard is not included
- Relies on the kickstand to keep the screen up
- Poor battery life
Specs:
- Processor: Intel 11th Gen Core i7
- RAM: 8GB+ LPDDR4x
- Storage: 128GB+ PCIe NVME M.2 SSD
- Weight: 1.96 lbs (the lightest!)
- Battery Life: Up to 16 hours
Well Rounded Laptop with Useful Features
Asus Zenbook 14 (UX425)
Link to product: https://shop.asus.com/us/90nb0sm1-m12850-zenbook-14-ux425-11th-gen-intel.html
An all-around attractive laptop for mid-range Ultrabooks available right now. It’s got a compact, slim, and lightweight design with metal that provides it a very premium feel.
Zenbooks also have a cool “Ergolight” design feature where the screen raises itself slightly from your surface so there is better airflow, audio quality, and typing experience.
The one thing noted by many reviewers is the longer than expected battery life. With a 67 Wh battery inside this 14-inch notebook, which is larger than average for something of this size, the battery life.
Finally, there’s one cool feature on the trackpad. You can turn on the “NumberPad 2.0” that transforms the trackpad into an LED numpad! The Zenbook won’t mistake accidental clicks on the numpad with your wrist while you’re typing on the keyboard.
Pros:
- Overall well-rounded and thin
- Above average battery life
- Affordable
- Useful additional features (Ergolight and NumberPad 2.0)
Cons:
- Design feel isn’t sturdy
- Noticeably hot while under pressure
Specs:
- Processor: Intel 11th Gen Core i5 to i7
- RAM: 8GB+ LPDDR4x
- Storage: 512GB+ PCIe NVME M.2 SSD
- Weight: 2.58 lbs
- Battery Life: Up to 21 hours
Budget Option with All Modern Features
Lenovo Ideapad 5
Link to product: https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/p/laptops/ideapad/ideapad-500/ideapad-5-15-intel-laptop/len101i0009
If you’re in the market for a budget laptop but with all the modern bells and whistles (e.g., 11th Intel CPU, 8GB DDR4 or better RAM, M.2 SSD), then the Lenovo Ideapad 5 is a great option.
With a minimal, clean, and sturdy design, its unassuming design gets the job done without needing to spend an exorbitant amount of money. Budget seekers will also love the fact that there are numerous ports including HDMI, USB-A and USB-C.
The downside? It’s a little heavier than its competitors, can get relatively hot if you’re running intensive programs, and battery life can be on the shorter side.
Still, for nearly half the price as some of the laptops listed above, you can’t complain!
Pros:
- Crazy affordable for modern specs
- Compact
- Tons of useful ports
- Keyboard is comfortable
Cons:
- Battery life is left to be desired
- Can be hot if used intensively
Specs:
- Processor: Intel 11th Gen Core i5 to i7
- RAM: 8GB+ DDR4 3200MHz
- Storage: 512GB PCIe NVME M.2 SSD
- Weight: 3.66 lbs
- Battery Life: Up to 11 hours
Working from Home and Gaming Combined
Acer Aspire 7
Link to Product: https://www.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/series/aspire7
If you’re looking for a work from home/remote laptop with some gaming capabilities, then the Acer Aspire 7 will be the option for you. Loaded with an NVIDIA GTX 1650, you’ll be able to play popular games like DOTA 2, League of Legends and Fortnite. Games released 2020 or after will see some struggle on ultra-high graphics performance. They do play on average settings well.
At a very affordable price tag, you’ll get a sleek business-looking laptop with gaming capabilities.
The downside, like many gaming laptops, are they are prone to being hot while running intensive programs. To include the graphics card, the laptop is heavier than the other laptops listed on this post.
Pros:
- Has an ethernet port
- Can comfortably game on pre-2020 games on ultra-settings; newer games on average settings
- Graphics card can be useful beyond gaming like video editing/rendering, live streaming, faster web browser performance
Cons:
- Heavier as a result of the GPU
- Can run hot easily if gaming
- Low battery life
Specs:
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 5
- RAM: 8GB+ DDR4 3200MHz
- Storage: 512GB PCIe NVME M.2 SSD
- Weight: 4.73 lbs
- Battery Life: Up to 10 hours
Most Affordable Work from Home Laptop
HP Pavilion 15
Link to product: https://www.hp.com/us-en/shop/mdp/laptops/pavilion-15-348009–1
The HP Pavilion 15 is the most affordable option on this list as you’re able to customize and choose specs that are the lowest possible, or high if you wish. If you’re someone who simply has a checklist of basic needs, this is the laptop for you.
Think AMD Ryzen 5, only 8GB of RAM, 256 storage space and a build that is relatively midrange. The Pavilion 15 also comes with a USB-C, USB-A, and HDMI slot.
In addition, it also has touchscreen capabilities as an added bonus.
Pros:
- Extremely affordable “Ultrabook”
- Can be customized to be as weak or strong as you want it to be
- Has a touchscreen at this price point
Cons:
- The GPU is very weak
- Battery life on the weaker end
Specs:
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 or 7
- RAM: 8GB+ DDR4 3200MHz
- Storage: 256GB PCIe NVME M.2 SSD
- Weight: 3.86 lbs
- Battery Life: Up to 15 hours
Extreme Portability, Super Light
Google Pixelbook Go
Link to product: https://store.google.com/us/product/pixelbook_go?hl=en-US
Google’s Pixelbook Go is the ultimate Chromebook for those on the go. Extremely light, very thin, and incredible battery life make it the go-to laptop for those on the constant go.
Google definitely put a lot of thought into the design as it’s great to hold, great to type with, and great to visually look at.
If simple word processing, Zoom meetings, and browser usage makes up a majority of your time, this is the laptop for you. Keep in mind since this is a Chromebook, don’t expect groundbreaking performance. The focus here is on portability and battery life.
Pros:
- Weight/size cannot be beat
- Long-lasting battery for what it is
- Sleek build
Cons:
- Pricey as you’re paying the “Google” premium
- The Chromebook OS is not for everyone
Specs:
- Processor: 8th Gen Intel i3 to i7
- RAM: 8GB or 16GB
- Storage: 64+ GB SSD
- Weight: 2.3 lbs
- Battery Life: Up to 12 hours
Best PixelBook Alternative
Samsung Galaxy Book S
Link to product: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088Y9CJZH
A competitor to Google’s Pixelbook Go is Samsung’s Galaxy Book S. If you want to avoid the Chromebook OS and stick with Windows instead, then this is the pick for you.
Like the Pixelbook Go, the positives are similar. Extremely lightweight and thin/sleek build makes it extremely portable to bring with you everywhere.
If I wanted a Chromebook-like laptop, then I would’ve chosen the Galaxy Book S as one the best laptops for working from home, if not the best!
Pros:
- Weight/size cannot be beat
- If you want the Pixelbook Go but with Windows, this is it
- Great lasting battery
Cons
- Can’t do much beyond the core “working” internet browsing, word processing etc.
Specs:
- Processor: Intel Core i5-L16G7 Processor
- RAM: 8GB DDR4
- Storage: 256GB SSD
- Weight: 2.09 lbs
- Battery Life: Up to 14 hours
Conclusion
This wraps up our list of the best laptops for working at home or remotely anywhere in the world. As you go through the list, you’ll find out each laptop has its pros and cons. In the end, it is up to you to decide as each persons’ situation is unique.
Our top pick is the Dell XPS 13 for Windows users or the MacBook Air M1 for macOS users.
As someone who has recently purchased the Dell XPS 13, my best advice after having decision paralysis when I was purchasing my own laptop, is to simply purchase one. You will be happier once the laptop is in your hands!
If you’ve found the perfect laptop, other key items to consider to fully flesh out your home office include an ergonomic chair, a keyboard and mouse or even a brand-new desk!