When it comes to business, working from home, and working on the go, a good laptop can make or break your workday. And though you tend to get what you pay for when it comes to your laptop, that doesn’t mean that you should only look for big-ticket computers.
You need a machine that offers enough battery to get you through conference sessions and long meetings, a CPU that’ll deliver great performance even with a (couple) dozen tabs open, and something light enough to easily stash in a carry-on or tote. Everything else? That’s down to your own personal preference.
Still, shopping for a new bit of tech can be like wading through endless excel spreadsheets: mind-numbing stuff. Especially when you're not up to speed on all the specifications. But we've got the advice you need. Indeed, there are a few things to keep in mind when looking for a new business laptop. Here's everything you need to know.
How long should a laptop battery last?
As far as we're concerned, this comes top of the list when buying a laptop for business. You don’t want a machine that gives out when you're halfway through a report, when you're delivering a presentation, or during a Zoom call. You need a reliable battery.
There are still laptops with a short battery life of around six hours or so, but a little more money can sometimes get you up to 10 hours or more. Think about how and where you work, and find a machine with a battery life that aligns with your needs.
Does a laptop's weight really matter?
While you might be sitting at your desk with this laptop most of the time, it doesn’t mean that’s where you’ll stay. Look for a machine that isn’t packing too many pounds — you want to be able to throw it in a backpack, tote, or carry-on without it making your bag dig into your shoulders.
Should you consider a cheap laptop for business?
It’s one thing if your employer is springing for the tab, but if you’re self-funding this laptop, price can be an important consideration. While top-of-the-line machines might cost above £1,000, you can get great laptops for under a grand too — and we’ve included a range of prices below. Anything around 1.5 kg or lower is considered light.
What features should a business laptop offer?
It really depends on what you'll be using it for i.e. what your job entails. If you have a job that requires you to open lots of tabs and programs at once, a decent amount of RAM is useful (anything from 8GB of RAM upwards). If you do creative tasks in your job, such as design or video production, a powerful processor and graphics cards will be important. Also consider good security features, such as a webcam shutter and fingerprint sensor — especially useful if your laptop is storing sensitive documents.
What is the best laptop for business?
Picking the right laptop for you and your work can be a tricky task, but we can help make the process a whole lot easier. We have scoured the net for the best business laptops, and lined up a selection of options that should suit just about everyone.
You can find impressive models from top brands like Apple and Lenovo in this roundup. All you need to do is consider your preferences and priorities, and pick one.
These are the best laptops for business in 2024.
