9 Best Laptops for Remote Workers [2024]
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With the rise of remote work, the work from anywhere lifestyle now goes beyond digital nomads to regular 9-5 professionals.
With a reliable internet connection and the best remote work laptop, the regular 9-5 worker can enjoy many of the same perks.
While job hunting can be exhausting, setting up your new remote workspace, especially selecting the right laptop doesn’t have to be.
As a remote worker, I totally understand the importance of having a laptop that makes your remote work experience easier and doesn’t hinder your performance.
I hate when a laptop I’m working on can’t support my 50+ open tabs and run a Zoom call at the same time! 🤣
Having the right laptop for working remotely is crucial to ensuring you can do your job well.
In this article, we’ll look at 9 different laptops that will fit different budgets and performance needs.
I’ll also cover the basic laptop terminology you need to know to make the best decision for you. Let’s be real, who knows what CPU or GPU is!?
Best 9 Laptops for Remote Workers
Best Premium Laptops for Remote Work
1. Macbook Pro
⭐️ RATING: 4.7/5 Stars (Read reviews) | ✅ Buy it!
This laptop is my personal favorite – that being said, I will forever be an Apple user so maybe I’m biased!
Given the quality, top of the line performance, it is a great laptop that’s worth the money, especially if you plan on using demanding applications such as Adobe Suite or Final Cut Pro.
It’s a laptop for creatives.
If you plan to use it for simple tasks such as email, internet browsing, and basic project management and communications tools but still want an Apple computer, consider getting the MacBook Air which is a great mid-range budget option.
MacBook Pro Specs:
- 12-Core CPU
- 19-Core GPU
- 1 TB SSD Storage
- 16 GB RAM
- Three Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI port, SDXC card slot, and one MagSafe 3 port
Pros of the MacBook Pro:
- Has the power for highly demanding applications, including video editing
- For its power, it is relatively light, and a great travel laptop
- If you are an Apple person, this will integrate with the rest of your devices
Cons of the MacBook Pro:
- You can’t upgrade the RAM, so you’ll have to buy a new one in the future if you want better performance
- An expensive option, even compared to laptops with similar specs
- If you are not an Apple girly, there will be a learning curve and potential compatibility issues
2. ASUS ZenBook Pro 14 Duo
⭐️ RATING: 4/5 Stars (Read the Reviews) | ✅ Buy it!
ASUS is another one of the best laptops for working from home.
This laptop is a high-performing option that gives you a second display on the keyboard.
This gives designers the functionality of a two-monitor setup while keeping the size small and portable.
ASUS ZenBook Pro 14 Duo Specs:
- Intel i9-13900H
- NVIDIA Geforce RTX 4060
- 2 TB SSD Storage
- 32 GB RAM
- One USB 3.2 port, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, one HDMI 2.1 port, and one headphone jack
Pros of the ASUS ZenBook Pro 14 Duo:
- High performance, perfect for video editing
- The innovative dual display gives you plenty of space for design work of all kinds
- The sleek look and light weight make this a joy to work on
Cons of the ASUS ZenBook Pro 14:
- Limited ports
- High cost
- If you don’t need the dual display, it is a useless feature
3. Lenovo ThinkPad X13
⭐️ RATING: 5/5 Stars (Read the Reviews) | ✅ Buy it!
The ThinkPad has been a popular laptop for many years. If you used laptops that came out of the laptop cart in middle school, this is probably the laptop you used.
This Lenovo machine provides several strengths — like reliability and durability.
While it sacrifices some aesthetic considerations, for most remote workers, this laptop fits their needs and then some.
Lenovo ThinkPad Specs:
- Intel Core i7-1360P Processor
- 1TB of SSD Storage
- 16 GB RAM
- One HDMI2 port, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, one Ethernet port, two USB 3.2 ports, and one headphone jack
Pros of the Lenovo ThinkPad:
- Under three pounds and highly durable, making it a great travel laptop
- Highly reliable if you’re looking for a laptop that will last
Cons of the Lenovo ThinkPad:
- Unattractive design
- The battery life is okay but not great for a $1,000+ laptop
- Performance could be a little better at this price point
Best Mid-Range Laptops for Remote Work
4. Dell Inspiron 15
⭐️ RATING: 5/5 Stars (Read the Reviews) | ✅ Buy it!
Even at its lower cost, the Dell Inspiron performs well. Given that it is easy to upgrade right out of the gate, for a couple hundred more dollars, it can be quite a good machine for your home office.
While it offers very few bells or whistles, it’s a solid mid-range choice that provides the essentials.
Dell Inspiron 15 Specs:
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
- AMD Radeon Graphics
- 1 TB solid-state drive
- 8 GB RAM
- One USB 3.2 port, one USB-C port, one USB 2 port, one HDMI port, and one headphone jack
Pros of the Dell Inspiron 15:
- Highly affordable
- Great upgrades available for a reasonable price
- High number of ports that are great for accessories
Cons of the Dell Inspiron 15:
- Plain design
- Short battery life
- Lackluster screen
5. HP Pavilion 15
⭐️ RATING: 4.3/5 Stars (Read the Reviews) | ✅ Buy it!
While the starting price might appear more budget-friendly, you can upgrade this to become something much more powerful and effective for a wide range of remote work needs.
It’s a simple laptop that can be your workhorse in your home office.
HP Pavilion 15 Specs:
- Intel Core i7-1355U
- Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- 1 GB solid-state drive
- 16 GB RAM
- One USB-C port, on DisplayPort, two USB ports, one HDMI port, one AC smart pin port, and one microphone jack
Pros of the HP Pavilion 15:
- Highly upgradeable
- Plenty of ports, making it great for your home office
- Great HP support
Cons of the HP Pavilion 15
- Performance issues when the battery gets low
- The keyboard has non-standard features
- Heats up with charge
6. Microsoft Surface Pro 7+
⭐️ RATING: 4.6/5 Stars (Read the Reviews) | ✅ Buy it!
The Microsoft Surface laptop is a 2-in-1 laptop with the power to do anything you need.
It combines high-end functionality and a well-designed form to give you a premium work-from-home laptop.
The touchscreen and pen make it a great option for designers and creative work.
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Specs:
- Quad-core 11th Gen Intel Core i5 Processor
- Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- Beginning at 128 GB
- 8 GB RAM
- One USB-C port, one USB port, one Surface Connect port, one Surface Type Cover port, and one headphone jack
Pros of the Microsoft Surface Pro 7:
- Great design and functionality for a wide range of uses
- Microsoft support
- If you are willing to pay for upgrades, can become a very powerful laptop
Cons of the Microsoft Surface Pro 7
- 2-in-1 design unnecessary for many users
- High price point
- No Thunderbolt 3 or 4 port
Best Budget-Friendly Laptops for Remote Work
7. Acer Aspire 5
⭐️ RATING: 4.3/5 Stars (Read the Reviews) | ✅ Buy it!
Acer Aspire laptops are perfect if you are looking for a simple and portable computer.
The performance will allow you to easily navigate through a wide range of applications, and you can’t beat the price.
Acer Aspire Specs:
- Intel Core™ i7 processor
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti graphics card
- 1 TB hard drive and 128 GB solid-state drive
- 12 GB RAM
- Two USB 3.0 ports, one HDMI port, one Ethernet port, and one headphone jack
Pros of the Acer Aspire:
- Very inexpensive yet maintains great reviews
- Has everything you need for basic computer tasks
- Two USB ports
Cons of the Acer Aspire
- Average battery life (around seven hours)
- On the heavier side weighing in at 4lbs
- Poor performance for more demanding applications
8. Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i
⭐️ RATING: 4.3/5 Stars (Read the Reviews) | ✅ Buy it!
If you only need to browse the internet or check emails the Lenovo IdeaPad is the way to go.
This is similar to a tablet but can be used as a laptop as well. This 2-in convertible laptop could be a great fit.
Though it has weaker performance, it will be more than enough for standard work tasks, and it includes a touchscreen for added functionality.
Lenovo Flex 5 Specs:
- Intel i5-1335U processor
- Integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics
- 512 GB PCIe solid-state drive
- 8 GB RAM
- Two USB 3.2 ports, one USB-C port, one HDMI port, and one headphone jack
Pros of the Lenovo Flex 5:
- Can convert to a tablet
- Great starting price
- The touchscreen allows the use of a pen
Cons of the Lenovo Flex 5
- Low-powered performance
- The convertibility may be unnecessary for most users
- Slow response time
9. ASUS Vivobook 15X
⭐️ RATING: 4.5/5 Stars (Read the Reviews) | ✅ Buy it!
This budget laptop option gives you surprising capabilities for the price.
While you will have to sacrifice on performance, the ability to easily upgrade the hardware makes it great for those who aren’t quite sure how demanding their work is on their laptop.
ASUS Vivobook Specs:
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600H Mobile Processor
- AMD Radeon Graphics
- 512 GB solid-state drive
- 8 GB RAM
- One USB 3.2 port, one USB 2 port, one USB-C port, one HDMI port, and one headphone jack
Pros of the ASUS Vivobook:
- Highly durable and tested for a range of temperatures and humidity
- Easily upgradeable
- Ergonomic keyboard
Cons of the ASUS Vivobook
- Poor battery life
- Not compatible with 4K monitors
- Low brightness display
Things To Consider When Choosing the Best Laptop For Working From Home
Choosing the laptop for your remote work depends on your profession and what you will use it for.
When looking for the best laptop for remote work you’ll want to look for one that is durable and performance that matches your workload.
For minimal usage like writing emails and web surfing, you can get a budget-friendly laptop that can do basic tasks.
In contrast, if you’re in a technical or creative field like video editing, graphic designing, or web development, you will need a powerful laptop with enough power to run the software you would be using.
Tip
Before beginning your search, make sure to check with your employer about receiving a WFH stipend for office supplies as well as computer equipment available to send remote employees.
Now if you’re like me, you may get lost in the “tech-y” part of searching for a laptop for remote work so I’ve researched for you to break down some basic laptop terminology.
- Core Processing Unit (CPU): Also called a processor, this chip is the real “brain” of your computer. The faster this single component is, the faster everything works, because everything your laptop does has to be managed by this component.
- Graphics Processing Unit (GPU): This powers all the visual elements of your experience. For that reason, video editing and similar applications (not to mention video games) will require more memory in your GPU.
- Hard Drive: This is the memory that allows you to save your work and download things. Just for context, there are 1,000 gigabytes (GBs) in a terabyte (TB). Solid state drives (SSDs) are a superior form, as they are smaller, more durable, more energy efficient, and quieter.
- Random Access Memory (RAM): As you work on your computer, the applications you use and the assets they need are saved to RAM — which can be almost instantly accessed, as opposed to the hard drive. So, the more RAM you have, the faster your applications can access the files they need to work.
- Ports: These are the places you can plug into, giving you options for external gadgets (like extra monitors)
But with so many available options, how can you pick the best remote work laptop that you can use with your remote lifestyle?
I just purchased a MacBook Air to use as my personal laptop and before I began my research, I made a list of my must-have features.
You can do the same! Ask yourself questions such as: do I need to make video conferencing calls, do I need to be able to travel with it, will I be working with large files that require optimal performance? All things to consider!
FAQs: Best Laptops for Working Remotely
What is the best laptop for remote work with long battery life?
The MacBook Pro stands out for its impressive battery life, which is great if you need flexibility in a location without needing frequent charging. I’ve gone 1.5 days without plugging in my laptop.
Best Laptop for Video Conferencing:
The Microsoft Surface Pro 7+ is great for video conferencing, offering a high-quality camera and clear audio features.
Most Lightweight and Portable Laptops for a Workcation:
The ASUS ZenBook Pro 14 Duo and Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i are both lightweight and portable, making them great choices for traveling.
Best Laptop for Multitasking and Heavy Workloads:
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is ideal for multitasking and handling heavy workloads and is known for its powerful performance and durability.
Budget-friendly Laptop Suitable for Remote Work
The Acer Aspire 5 is a budget-friendly option that offers a good balance of performance and cost, for basic tasks.
Best Laptop for Graphic Design or Creative Work:
The MacBook Pro, with its high-resolution display and powerful graphics capabilities, is excellent for graphic design and creative tasks.
Laptop with the Best Security Features:
The Microsoft Surface Pro 7+ and Lenovo ThinkPad X13 both offer advanced security features, making them suitable for handling sensitive work.
Laptop with Consideration for Ergonomics:
The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i, with its flexible design and comfortable keyboard, is a good choice for those with ergonomic concerns.
Preferred Laptop for Windows Users:
The Dell Inspiron 15 is a top choice for Windows users, offering a great combination of performance, display quality, and user experience if you’re not a Mac girly.
Recommended Laptop for Handling Large Data Sets and Programming:
The ASUS Vivobook 15X is well-suited for handling large data sets and programming, thanks to its robust processing power and ample storage.
🤩 Check out the MacBook, my #1 pick for laptops for remote workers
Final Thoughts on the Best Laptops for Remote Workers
Hopefully, this guide gives you a good idea of where to look for the remote work laptop that matches your needs. No matter what you are looking for in terms of performance or budget, there’s a computer out there that can match your remote work needs
But remember, the right hardware is just one part of your new remote lifestyle.
How you manage your time, create a conducive work environment, and set boundaries is equally important in creating a successful remote work environment.
Read the 5 Work From Home Best Practices and Boundaries to discover a few of my top tips that will help boost your productivity and maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Read More:
- 10 Essential Tips for Crafting a Remote Work Resume
- 100 Remote First Companies Hiring Now
- Pros and Cons of Working From Home
- 13 Remote Work Essentials + Printable Checklist
- Tips for a Realistic Morning Routine for Remote Workers
- What is a Working Vacation and Why Book One
Save this Post for Later:
More Work From Home Resources
☑Task Management: My go to productivity tools are either Asana or Trello. These tools allow you to track tasks, projects, and your overall workflow as an individual or across a team.
ꗃ Security: My favorite VPN service is Surfshark. Starting at $2.30 per month, it’s very affordable and makes sure all your devices are secure.
✎ Note Taking Tool: I love using Evernote for note taking during meetings. You can have it on your desktop but access your notes on your online account. This has come in handy when my computer has had to be replaced so you don’t lose all of your notes.
🎥 Video Calls: Zoom is my top pick for video conferencing. It’s very easy to use and has everything you need to run group calls, meetings, and webinars. My company just switched to a different video call service and I am not pleased!
🗄 File Storage: I’ve used several file storage services and Dropbox is my favorite. Its easy to use platform allows you to save, share, and access files from anywhere.
···· Password manager: Keeping track of passwords is easy and secure with 1Password. Don’t be that person who uses different versions of the same exact password for everything you create accounts for! Keep your information safe.