Best computer for working from home: Top 10 remote work laptops

A laptop for remote work is a must, especially in today’s changing society. That’s why it’s worth choosing the best laptop for working with excellent battery life, a powerful Intel Core processor, and a full-HD monitor display, as it will contribute to the successful solution of many important tasks.

In this article, we’ll take a look at the best laptops for working from home and offer some helpful tips on choosing the right one for you.

We looked at the features and characteristics of the best laptops for working remotely that you need to pay attention to and found out which devices are suitable for standard office tasks, and which ones will cope with graphic editors and 3D designers.

What computer specs do I need to work from home?

We have chosen the most important characteristics of high-quality and reliable laptops for remote work very carefully. So let’s look at them in detail.

Processor

The CPU or processor is the heart of the best laptop for working. The processor determines the speed and power consumption.

A higher quality CPU means faster boot times, the ability to run multiple programs at the same time without crashing, and less slowdown when performing CPU-intensive tasks.

You can choose from three CPU types:

1. Low Intensity (these processors typically have two cores).
2. Medium-intensity (these are processors with two to four cores).
3. High Intensity (these are some of the fastest processors, usually with six to eight cores).

How to choose the right processor?

If you are choosing the best laptop for working on the Internet, editing texts, and watching content only, you don’t need a high-performance processor or dedicated graphics card.

But if you plan to play video games on your laptop, you need a processor with more cores. Such Intel Core processors as Intel Core i5 and Intel Core i7 are the best options.

Memory capacity

RAM or operating memory is the temporary storage space of the best laptop for working that allows the CPU to immediately receive the data that it needs. When you open any program, it is placed in RAM so that the laptop’s CPU can easily access it.

Best laptops for working can have up to 64 GB of RAM. If your routine work involves tasks that rely heavily on a lot of computer memory, then, by all means, use as much operating memory as possible.

On average, good laptops for working from home have 16 to 32 GB of RAM, which is enough to run several programs at once. But the more programs you pull up at once, the more RAM your computer will need.

Type and amount of storage

If you see a laptop with a large amount of memory at a low cost, do not buy it in a hurry. Check the drive’s labeling: SSD or HDD.

HDDs are an older generation of hard drives. Their pluses are large capacity and low price. SSD is a solid-state drive with high speed, but high cost.

If you need to store a lot of information, it is better to take a combined drive, in which the system is installed on a small SSD, and the files are stored on a large HDD.

Screen

Another important characteristic of a good laptop is the quality of the screen. When choosing the best laptop for working, you will come across three main types of laptop screens.

Let’s figure out which one is better:

1. Twisted non-matic (TN) If you’re looking for inexpensive laptops, they’re likely to have a TN screen. These screens are cheaper to produce, have low power consumption and have decent color contrast.
2. In-plane switching (IPS LCD) These screens have better viewing angles than TN and higher brightness. You’ll also enjoy better color contrasts and overall screen consistency.
3. Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) OLED screens have great brightness, color contrast, full viewing angles, and color range, as well as low power consumption. They are more expensive than IPS LCDs and perform worse in direct sunlight, but OLED screens have the best video performance.

Also, when choosing a powerful laptop, pay attention to the type of display quality and resolution. It is better not to skimp on the resolution quality. You should be comfortable navigating through all the programs on the screen.

It is recommended to choose the now popular Full-HD monitor display (1920×1080) with an IPS matrix. Also, keep in mind that a brighter and more powerful screen consumes more battery life.

Long battery life

Battery life is one of the most important features of the best laptop for work. In general, if you are planning to work from multiple locations, a longer battery life means a more reliable laptop. This means you won’t have to take your battery charger with you.

Another long battery life pros is a lifeline in the event of a power outage.

It is worth considering that the more powerful components of the device, the more energy they consume. A good indicator for a traditional laptop is considered 4-5 hours of good battery life. But if you are going to work long outside the home or office, then get ready to overpay for more battery power.

What is the optimal battery life of a good laptop for work at home?

The longer, the better. Some laptops (the new Apple MacBook Air and MacBook Pro) can hold a battery for up to 18 hours. But that is price-related. More budget laptops, such as the Red book, have 8 hours of battery life, which is enough for a full day’s remote working.

Graphics card

It is impossible to talk about choosing the best laptop for working without mentioning the video card. This device is responsible for receiving and displaying images on the laptop screen. A better video card means a smoother image. If your work involves GPU rendering and video editing, pay special attention to this feature.

The graphics card can be integrated into the processor or discrete. Integrated ones are more expensive and save a lot of battery, but they are not very efficient.

A discrete graphics processor is a separate chip installed on the motherboard (mostly AMD or NVIDIA graphics card), which has good performance but also costs a lot more. And if the integrated card will do for processing photos, serious 3D projects will require a top-end GeForce GTX 1660 Ti or GeForce RTX 2080 NVIDIA graphics card.

Some of the best graphics cards on the market include:

• NVIDIA GeForce RTX3090.
• AMD Radeon 6900 XT
• AMD Radeon PX 6800 XT
• NVIDIA Quadro RTX A6000
• NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080

These are all high-quality graphics cards that work well on both work and gaming laptops. But if you’re looking for the best laptop for work and don’t plan to use it for any other purpose, choose a laptop with an average graphics processor – more expensive graphics cards consume more hours of battery life.

Keyboard

It is difficult to ignore the keyboard quality of a good laptop, especially if you spend half your day typing emails and writing articles. The keyboard should be comfortable and easy to use.

Here are two basic aspects for those who appreciate a good keyboard:

1. Layout There should be six key rows, left and right Ctrl and Alt keys, and some functions. Newer generation laptops usually don’t have a numeric keypad, so keep that in mind if you need an extended keyboard for work.
2. Quality A high-quality keyboard should not sag under pressure. Each key should have optimal key travel (minimal key travel can lead to typos and cause awkwardness). Also, check to see if the keyboard rattles. Ideally, it should be static. The quality of the keyboard is fundamental to a good laptop for remote workers. So make the keyboard one of the main considerations when buying a laptop.

Good webcam cameras

Having a good webcam can be very important to get the best video performance. After all, no one wants to have a bad video call with a client or colleague! To ensure a clear and reliable connection, purchase a camera with features such as HD video resolution and autofocus.

When shopping, pay attention to the size of the camera lens and its ability to swivel. You’ll also want to buy a camera with a built-in microphone, so you can have clear conversations without background noise.

Don’t forget about the software – make sure the webcam is compatible with whatever software you plan to use.

Weight and size

The weight and size of the laptop are important parameters for people who like working remotely and carry it with them quite often.

For example, laptops with a 17-inch monitor, require a separate bag, and they are not easy to be taken with you. Laptops of the size 15 inches can be carried in a backpack.

For your comfort, we recommend taking a closer look at ultrabooks. Their average weight is 1 to 2 kg, while the weight of an average laptop is not less than 3 kg.

Why do the weight and size of the laptop matter?

You should consider these characteristics if you intend to work remotely from several different locations.

If you don’t plan to travel, you can use the largest and heaviest laptop to work from home. However, a 5.5 kg laptop can be uncomfortable, considering that most airlines have a 6.8 kg limit when it comes to carry-on luggage.

In addition to weight and size, pay attention to the build quality of the laptop. Carbon fiber is the most popular material used in the best-budget laptop models, while premium models are made of anodized aluminum. Both materials have to withstand temperatures of 194 °F (90 °C).

Operating system

Most laptops on the market are most often equipped with one of two operating systems: Windows or macOS (in the case of MacBook). Less often, there are models based on Chrome OS or Linux.

It is worth analyzing only the first three operating systems. There is no point in dwelling on Linux because this system can be downloaded and installed on any computer for free. In addition, it does not support all common software for work, so it is suitable only for a budget laptop.

Windows 10

The standard operating system for the best laptop for working, which has huge popularity. By the end of 2021, around 72% of all computers on the market come with Windows. This means that it is possible to choose a configuration for any task and budget, and almost all work programs are compatible with this OS.

In addition, almost everyone who has dealt with computers is familiar with Windows, which means that the system is user-friendly and convenient for most users. Maintenance and technical support will also not cause problems.

The most common version of Windows – Windows 10 – has useful new features that its predecessors didn’t have. Thanks to Task View, several virtual desktops can be set up, making multitasking easier.

In addition, there is a voice assistant Windows, which can, for example, schedule meetings and check the weather forecast.

The latest laptops on Windows 10 already provide an opportunity to further upgrade to version 11.

macOS

Laptops running this OS are expensive, but fans of Apple devices are willing to overpay for a beautiful device with a thoughtful interface. For excellent display quality, good performance, usability, and good battery life, such models are highly valued by video editors and graphic designers.

The operating system itself offers features similar to Windows 10, but with a different approach to the interface. A voice assistant, Siri, is provided.

Whether to choose a device with this OS or not – depends mainly on personal preferences and available budget (except in rare cases when all work is tied to the MacBook software – there is no question of choice). In addition, sometimes MacBooks are chosen based on their appearance, for the sake of status.

Chrome OS

A system from Google runs on special laptops called “Chromebooks”. It was created for students, so most often installed on very affordable laptop models. More serious models for business began to appear over time.

Although Chrome OS is not widespread on the market – it’s not a bad choice when it comes to doing simple texts or working on the Internet, especially if the user often interacts with Google services.

The interface is much like Windows, with similar desktop and drag-and-drop features. The main application on which the OS is based is the Chrome browser. Access to the Internet is required for full functionality because many programs do not work well in offline mode.

Chrome OS laptops have limited performance and small storage capacity. The lack of free disk space is partially compensated by Google’s cloud memory storage – but only 15 GB is available for free.

At the same time, Chromebooks are very portable, offer a long battery life, and are sold at an affordable price point.

Which laptop is best for online work from home?

To understand all the nuances of choosing the best laptop for working remotely and finding your working option, we recommend reading our selection of the best models.

	2020 Apple MacBook Pro Laptop with Apple M1 Chip	Size: 13.3 Inches Processor: Apple M1 chip Storage: 256 GB Fantastic battery life: up to 20 hours Graphics processor: 8-core GPU
	2022 Apple MacBook Pro Laptop with Apple M2 chip	Size: 13 inches Processor: Apple M2 chip Storage: 256GB ​​​​​​​SSD Fantastic battery life: up to 20 hours Graphics processor: Apple 10-core GPU
	Microsoft Surface Book 3	Size: 13.5 and 15 inches Processor: Intel Core i7 Storage: Up to 2TB SSD Battery life: Up to 17.5 hours Graphics processor: NVIDIA Geforce graphics
	2021 Apple MacBook Pro	Size: 13 and 16 inches Processor: Corei5/i7 or i8/i9 Storage: 2TB and 8TB SSD Battery life: Up to 20 hours Graphics processor: Apple 8-core
	Acer Swift 3 Laptop	Size: 14 inches Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 4000 series Storage: 512 GB SSD Battery life: up to 11.5 hours Graphics processor: AMD Radeon graphics
	Microsoft Surface Pro 7	Size: 12.3 inches Processor: Intel Core i3, i5, or i7 Storage: up to 1TB SSD Battery life: up to 10.5 hours Graphics processor: Iris Plus
	2021 Dell Inspiron 15 3000 3501 Laptop	Size: 15.6 inches Processor: Intel Core i5 Storage: 512 GB SSD Battery life: up to 7 hours Graphics processor: Intel Iris Xe
	Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 13″ Laptop	Size: 13.3 inches Processor: Intel Core i3 Storage: 64GB eMMC 5.1 Battery life: up to 9 hours Graphics processor: Intel UHD Graphics 620
	Dell Inspiron 15.6 Laptop PC	Size: 15.6 inches Processor: Intel Core i7-8550U Storage: 8 GB Battery life: up to 7 hours Graphics processor: Intel UHD
	HP Envy X360	Size: 13.4-inch, 1080p Processor: Intel Core i7-1065G7 Storage: 512 GB SSD Battery life: up to 11 hours Graphics processor: AMD Ryzen 7 5700U

2020 Apple MacBook Pro Laptop with Apple M1 Chip

Characteristics:

• Size: 13.3 Inches
• Processor: Apple M1 chip
• Storage: 256 GB
• Fantastic battery life: up to 20 hours
• Graphics processor: 8-core GPU

This is one of the best laptops for working. The Apple M1 chip gives the 13-inch MacBook Pro incredible speed and power, with up to 2.8 times CPU performance.

Apple’s most advanced neural engine, delivering up to 11 times faster machine learning. And up to 20 hours of battery life – the longest of any Mac to date. In general, it is an incredible battery life.

The M1 built-in HD webcam can now take full advantage of Apple’s latest image processor, improving image quality during video conferencing and bringing out more detail in both shadows and highlights.

And whether you’re hosting a meeting, hosting a podcast, or chatting with friends and family, the new studio-quality microphones ensure that everyone hears you loud and clear.

Smart keyboard lets you do everything faster and more efficiently. The advanced mechanism makes typing fast, comfortable, and silent. The touchpad puts the commands you need most right where you need them, saving you time and keystrokes. And Touch ID makes authentication faster and easier for secure login and shopping.

A touch screen sensor instantly unlocks your MacBook Pro and a tap locks it. Use your fingerprint to rent movies, buy apps, or access things like locked documents or system settings without having to re-enter your password.

And when you shop online with Apple Pay, Touch ID automatically fills in your shipping and billing information without sharing your card information.

2022 Apple MacBook Pro Laptop with Apple M2 chip

Characteristics:

• Size: 13 inches
• Processor: Apple M2 chip
• Storage: 256 GB ​​​​​​​SSD
• Fantastic battery life: up to 20 hours
• Graphics processor: Apple 10-core GPU

The 13-inch MacBook Pro 2022 is the first Apple laptop with an M2 processor to be released. While the design hasn’t changed, Apple promises a big jump in performance whether you’re editing photos, or video or running multiple apps at once.

The M2 delivers performance that surpasses the MacBook Air as well as competing Windows laptops. However, even though this laptop uses Apple’s new chip, the design shows its age. You get the same form factor, the same display, and the same webcam. Meanwhile, the new MacBook Air offers a larger screen with thinner bezels, a 1080p webcam, and a lighter design.

It would be easy to say that the new MacBook Pro is pretty ordinary and that it would be better to wait for its modern counterpart, the MacBook Air, but it would be unwise to dismiss this device, which is still one of the best laptop models for professionals.

The M2 chip is a real thing when it comes to video and audio editing. In addition, the new MacBook Pro 2022 has a long battery life – up to 20 hours without recharging. It may be the longest we’ve ever seen among most laptops.

Microsoft Surface Book 3

Characteristics:

• Size: 13.5 and 15 inches
• Processor: Intel Core i7
• Storage: Up to 2 TB SSD
• Battery life: Up to 17.5 hours
• Graphics processor: NVIDIA GeForce graphics

This is probably the most unusual device – you can use it as a notebook, as a drawing studio, or as a tablet. You don’t have to worry about the quality of the touch screen because it uses innovative PixelSense technology, which increases its durability.

Microsoft Surface Book 3 is a strong laptop. Its 13.5-inch version has an i5 processor, reliable enough for the home office. The laptop also has a great battery life – 17 hours, even if the screen is constantly on.

There is one significant disadvantage of the Microsoft Surface Book – the price. It’s quite expensive ($1,400) even compared to the MacBook Air, which has a much better processor. However, features such as a removable screen make it a good home laptop for working remotely – it’s portable and compact.

2021 Apple MacBook Pro

Characteristics:

• Size: 13 and 16 inches
• Processor: Core i5/i7 or i8/i9
• Storage: 2 TB and 8 TB SSD
• Battery life: Up to 20 hours
• Graphics processor: Apple 8-core

The MacBook Pro is a real machine. It is Apple’s most popular product. It is part of their flagship products.

The MacBook Pro series is a top-performance laptop. The superfast processor and plenty of computer memory make it suitable for remote workers of all kinds. The device also has up to 20 hours of battery life, making it the best laptop for the digital nomad.

Like the MacBook Air, the MacBook Pro has a Retina display and excellent build quality. What makes the MacBook Pro the best laptop for working remotely is its high-quality HD camera, which delivers the best image performance. If you have a lot of meetings during the day, your colleagues will feel like you’re in the same room with them.

The MacBook Pro comes in 13-inch and 16-inch versions, but the 16-inch laptop has less battery life. Still, it’s enough for a full day’s work on the road.

These devices are also available in lower-cost versions. So, if your budget is not very high, you can pick up older models that are less expensive. These still offer top levels of performance, though.

Acer Swift 3 Laptop

Characteristics:

• Size: 14 inches
• Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 4000 series
• Storage: 512 GB SSD
• Battery life: up to 11.5 hours
• Graphics processor: AMD Radeon graphics

If you’re looking for the best laptop for working remotely, but don’t want to spend a fortune on it, the Acer Swift 3 is your best option.

It’s a fantastic Windows laptop, but it has the specs of a MacBook Air and costs half the price. Its most outstanding feature is its 85% screen-to-body ratio and a good quality display monitor, making it ideal for graphics work.

For those who care about privacy and security, the Acer has an integrated fingerprint scanner. You can activate it if you want to restrict access to the laptop. There’s also a voice-activated wake-up (WoV) feature with Cortana support, which you can use to activate the laptop when the screen is off.

In general, the Acer can be called the best laptop for working remotely, but there is one small pitfall. This laptop does not have an SD card slot, which may be a drawback for video editors who need the laptop for editing. Apart from that, it is a great laptop for remote work.

Microsoft Surface Pro 7

Characteristics:

• Size: 12.3 inches
• Processor: Intel Core i3, i5, or i7
• Storage: up to 1 TB SSD
• Battery life: up to 10.5 hours
• Graphics processor: Iris Plus

Designed as an ultra-lightweight and versatile computer, the new Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is the best laptop for working among ultra-lightweight 2-in-1 models.

The Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is good enough to be your next best laptop for working. It looks the same as the Surface Pro 6 and Surface Pro 5 on the outside, but it is featured some very significant internal changes.

For example, the new USB Type-C port, which can support two 4K displays, work as a charging port, and supports a hub. Now it’s a multipurpose port, and it’s quite powerful. Overall, this means that the laptop now requires fewer cables because the USB-C port can provide power, video output, and data transfer at the same time.

Another new feature is “Instant On” mode. The Surface Pro 7 never goes into hibernation modes like any other Windows laptop or Surface device. Instead, it’s always in “Instant On” mode, so you never have to wait for it to turn on when you open the Surface Type Cover keyboard.

The good performance of this Surface Pro model comes from a 10th-generation Intel Core i7 processor combined with integrated Iris Plus graphics support. Multitasking becomes smoother with the addition of 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of internal SSD storage. You can switch between multiple apps in the browser without any lag.

2021 Dell Inspiron 15 3000 3501 Laptop

Characteristics:

• Size: 15.6 inches
• Processor: Intel Core i5
• Storage: 512 GB SSD
• Battery life: up to 7 hours
• Graphics processor: Intel Iris Xe

One of the best laptop models, the Dell Inspiron 15, is known for its affordability and performance. Featuring a sturdy construction and sturdy chassis, the laptop is a bit inferior in design aesthetics.

The high-speed 2.4GHz dual-core Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor is additionally paired with an efficient 8 GB of DDR4 RAM to help multitasking professionals.

When it comes to the memory storage of this laptop, the 512 GB SSD configuration makes a big difference for those who work with the laptop regularly.

This Windows laptop for work has a good quality display monitor (1080p) surrounded by massive panels, which might put some users off. However, it also provides professionals with a productivity-enhancing integrated fingerprint scanner.

As for connectivity, this device comes with an HDMI port, 3 USB3 ports, an SD card slot, an Ethernet jack, and a headphone jack. The audio speakers in this home laptop are pretty good at a reasonable price considering that you customize the sound settings on the laptop.

The Dell Inspiron 15 has a pretty good battery life of up to 7 hours. This remote-working mid-range laptop is designed for everyday professional use, whether at home or on the road.

Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 13″ Laptop

Characteristics:

• Size: 13.3 inches
• Processor: Intel Core i3
• Storage: 64 GB eMMC 5.1
• Battery life: up to 9 hours
• Graphics processor: Intel UHD Graphics 620

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly laptop, the Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 is a great option among other laptops.

The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 Chromebook is a stylish home laptop that combines all the benefits of a traditional build. The body is made of matte gray plastic. The design can be described as neutral. The laptop will appeal to fans of minimalism and strict style.

IdeaPad Flex 5 does what classic laptops can’t: it has a cover that swivels 360 degrees. Thanks to this design and the touch screen, the device easily turns into a tablet and back.

You hardly have to worry about the safety of the hinge – it looks reliable, and the Lenovo company has been producing similar models for a long time. When the opening angle approaches 270 degrees, the keyboard and touch screen are disconnected to avoid wrong presses. It’s a pretty convenient option.

This thin laptop is as portable as many Windows laptops, weighing around 1.34 kg. The weight and size of the laptop allowed a user not to be humble when installing connectors. The set is complete: a pair of USB-A and USB-C ports, an HDMI port, and even an SD card reader slot.

Dell Inspiron 15.6 Laptop PC

Characteristics:

• Size: 15.6 inches
• Processor: Intel Core i7-8550U
• Storage: 8 GB
• Battery life: up to 7 hours
• Graphics processor: Intel UHD

This thin laptop is equipped with a 15.6-inch matrix with Full-HD resolution, but alas, it is made on TN technology. An important advantage compared with competitors is a waterproof keyboard. It has no backlight but has a full-fledged number block.

Dell can be the best budget laptop for working. It is great for home and works thanks to the fact that it is based on 4-core Ryzen 5-2500U processors with 4 cores and 8 threads.

The initial amount of RAM is 8 GB, but it can be doubled thanks to two slots. The graphics are integrated – Vega 8, which provides support for hardware acceleration of 4K video playback and a basic level of gaming performance.

Three USB ports, Wi-Fi, and a battery with a capacity of 42 watts are available to the user.

HP Envy X360

Characteristics:

• Size: 13.4-inch, 1080p
• Processor: Intel Core i7-1065G7
• Storage: 512 GB SSD
• Battery life: up to 11 hours
• Graphics processor: AMD Ryzen 7 5700U

The HP ENVY X360 lightweight laptop is multipurpose because it can be used for everything from work to entertainment. In other words, it is one of the best laptops for working.

It is a pleasure to work remotely with this laptop. You can use it as a regular laptop or flip it over to use it as a tablet. The touch screen allows you to type or draw on it.

A great thing about the HP ENVY X60 is that, unlike other laptops, it also comes with a stylus pen for drawing. So, you can take notes, which can be tucked away on the side of the laptop.

In addition, the laptop also holds a long battery life. The HP ENVY X360 can provide up to 11 hours of battery life. A 51Wh lithium polymer battery is responsible for that here. Fast charging is also available – 50% in 30 minutes.

Verdict

In this article, we primarily wanted to help people who want to buy high-quality laptops for remote work in different price ranges.

If you’re ready to spend a fortune, the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro are the best laptop models for working. They have excellent battery life and a built-in HD webcam.

But if you’re on a tight budget, the Swift 3 or a fantastic Windows laptop, Lenovo Chromebook, are great laptops for working at a relatively low price. They have a pretty long battery life and a powerful Intel Core processor.

Most laptops mentioned above not only provide efficient overall performance but have also surpassed their predecessors and become the benchmark for many professional users from a wide variety of fields.

FAQs

Conclusion

When it comes to remote work, users don’t necessarily have to imagine the best laptop for working. This can confuse them, and so they need to know the important factors that influence their choices, such as processor speed, good performance, display quality, computer memory, affordability, long battery life pros, and budgetary constraints.

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