Best Business Laptops (Laptops for Work) in 2024

In the market for a business laptop but not sure how the brands stack up against each other? Read on as we explore the market's best offers.

When it comes to work and productivity on the go, getting the best business laptop for yourself or your team is one of the most rewarding investments you can make for your day-to-day operations.

A business laptop usually integrates all the productivity features that professionals need in a mobile computer, as opposed to the features that a standard consumer would prefer. They also pack lots of power to get the job done while remaining sturdy enough to withstand the rigors of everyday use.

This list of the best business laptops looks at a range of machines for different professionals and fields. It highlights their top and unique features to help you make the best possible purchase decision.

Business Laptops Vs Consumer Laptops

Computer makers have long discovered that businesses and ordinary computer users have different laptop needs. So, they naturally developed laptop series more suited to business use.

Following is a short comparison of the two types, so you can gain more perspective.

  • Business laptops are sturdier, as they are built to withstand extensive use on the road and to last longer.
  • A business laptop will last 2-3 times longer than a standard laptop.
  • The average business laptop has a longer battery life than consumer models.
  • You will often find better keyboards and displays on business laptops.
  • Higher security levels are another hallmark of business laptops, including locks, GPS tracking, & biometrics.
  • Business laptops are usually not as physically attractive as consumer laptops with their bright colors and styling.
  • You also get less trialware and other pre-installed programs on business laptops.

ALSO READ: Best Budget laptops (Cheap laptops but very good)

Best Business Laptops

RankNameHighlightsPrice
(Approximate)
1.Dell Latitude 9420Best overall$2, 420
2.Lenovo Thinkpad X1 CarbonLightweight & top performance$1,979
3.HP Elite Dragonfly UHD LED display$1,700
4.Dell Precision 7750Top of the line, extra RAM$2,999
5.Apple Macbook ProApple fans$1,999
6.Acer Swift 3Slim, stylish, & affordable$688
7.Dell VostroLow budget, small business$950
8.Microsoft Surface Laptop 4Microsoft users, 2-in-1$950
9.Asus Zenbook 13Tough, portable, & durable$900
10.Lenovo Yoga Slim 72 in 1, stylish, powerful$850

1. Dell Latitude 9420

Highlights: CNC aluminum, 2-in-1 option, 4-core i5, 16+ GB

Cons: Relatively costly

Price: $2, 420

Manufacturer: Dell

Dell Latitude 9420

Featuring a CNC-machined aluminum block, Dell’s Latitude 9320 business laptop is designed to last for as long as possible. And in addition, it packs all the features of a modern and high-performing workstation.

Dell includes an 11th generation Core i5 processor with 4 cores and 8 threads at 2.66GHz for the base version. It also includes 16GB of RAM, with a 256GB PCIe NVMe solid-state drive, and a 60Whr battery to power it all.

For the display, this base version comes with a 1920 x 1200 pixel 14-inch non-touch FHD+ monitor. But you can also go for the 2-in-1 option and get the same 14-inch monitor with a touch-sensitive 2560 x 1600 QHD+ monitor.

Other features include microSD and lock slots, universal audio, HDMI 2.0, USB 3.2, and Thunderbolt 4 ports. Wireless connectivity and a camera are also onboard, as well as the latest Windows OS, Intel Iris Xe graphics, and 3 years of Dell’s ProSupport.

2. Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon

Highlights: Carbon body, ultralight, rapid charge, 14-inch display

Cons: There are cheaper options

Price: $1,979

Manufacturer: Lenovo

Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon

The Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon features carbon-fiber parts that make it a super-tough portable machine, able to withstand lots of torture and abuse.

It comes with a 4-core and 8-thread Core i7 Intel processor at 2.8GHz, 16GB of soldered random access memory, and a 512GB solid-state drive. The display is 14 inches large with a 1920 x 1200 pixel resolution and Intel’s Iris Xe graphics.

There is also a webcam with a microphone, a backlit keyboard, HDMI, a fingerprint reader, Wifi, and USB 4 ports.

Lenovo rates the battery at up to 11 hours and the entire laptop weighs only 2.49 lbs. (1.13 kg) and measures 0.59 x 12.4 x 8.7 inches. This makes it slightly more lightweight than the Latitude 9420. It is also both 4G and 5G broadband compatible.

3. HP Elite Dragonfly

Highlights: Intel Core i7, 13.3-inch UHD LED display, 5G enabled

Cons: RAM is soldered

Price: $1,700

Manufacturer: HP

HP Elite Dragonfly

Starting at about $1,500 for the base version, the HP Elite Dragonfly notebook is a 13.3-inch business laptop with 16GB of RAM and an Intel Core i7 processor.

The Dragonfly features a touchscreen display. This 13.3-inch LED display offers a 1920 x 1080 pixel UHD resolution and includes a Sure View Reflect screen.

It also includes a 512GB SSD and a 56.2 Whr battery. And there are 2x Thunderbolt 3 ports, 1x HDMI, 1x USB 3.1, and a lock slot.

By hitting the F2 button, you can toggle between the Dragonfly’s two viewing modes – the 773 nits bright mode with a wide viewing angle and the privacy mode with a tinted screen that prevents passers-by from seeing anything.

4. Dell Precision 7750

Highlights: 64GB RAM, 6-core i7, 17-inch 1920 x 1080

Cons: Expensive, non-touchscreen

Price: $2999

Manufacturer: Dell

Dell Precision 7750

If you are a numbers guy, big data expert, or do other jobs that require crunching lots of data on the go, then say hello to the Dell Precision series.

This 7750 model, for instance, comes with 64GB of DDR4 RAM. That is 64GB and not a typo. This makes it an ideal workstation for AI applications and other memory heavy stuff on the go.

There is also a 256GB PCIe NVMe solid-state drive for super-fast read and writes, an Intel Core i7 processor with 6 cores at 2.7GHz, and a 17-inch display with 1920 x 1080 pixels Full HD resolution.

For downsides, the screen is non-touchscreen and it is the laptop is expensive, compared to others. But when you consider what it’s designed for, then it seems worth its price.

Other features include Bluetooth, an anti-glare 220 nits screen, Windows 10 or 11, ExpressCharge to 35% battery in 20 minutes, ExpressSign-in, and intelligent audio. You also have the possibility to design your custom workstation on the Dell website.

5. Apple MacBook Pro

Highlights: up to 10-core CPU & 32-core GPU, SoC design, up to 21 hr battery

Cons: Only for mac users

Price: From $1,999

Manufacturer: Apple

Apple Macbook Pro

Starting from $1,299, the MacBook Pro is Apple’s business laptop and it comes in three variants – 13.3-inch, 14.2-inch, and 16.2-inch displays.

The 13” model features an M1 chip with an 8-core CPU and 8-core GPU, while the 14” and 16” models feature M1 chips with up to 10-core CPUs and up to 32-core GPUs. You should note that GPUs beat CPUs when it comes to parallel computing jobs, such as graphics.

For memory, the 13” offers up to 16GB and 2TB of storage, while the others offer up to 64GB and 8TB of storage. All the displays are Liquid Retina display, but the 14” and 16” versions include XDR (Extreme Dynamic Range) technology with up to 1,000 nits of sustained brightness.

The MacBook Pro 13” weighs just 3 lbs (1.4 kg), while the 14” weighs 3.5 lbs (1.6 kg), and the 16” weighs 4.7 lbs. (2.1 kg).

6. Acer Swift 3

Highlights: 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD, back-lit keyboard, fingerprint

Cons: Non-touchscreen, no 2-in-1

Price: $688

Manufacturer: Accer

Acer Swift 3

Most business laptops are either aesthetically unappealing or just plain boring. The Acer Swift 3, on the other hand, is something else. It looks great while coming at a price that makes it affordable for even students.

At $688, the Swift 3 is relatively affordable for a 14-inch laptop with an aluminum and magnesium chassis. This laptop comes with either an Intel Core i5 or an AMD Ryzen processor with 8 cores at 2GHz. It is loaded with 8GB of RAM (and allows up to 16GB) and 512GB of SSD (also allows up to 1TB).

The Swift 3 additionally includes dual-band WiFi, USB-C, and Thunderbolt 4 ports. There is fingerprint recognition, up to 17 hours of battery life, and the laptop is just 0.63” thick and weighs 2.65 lbs (1.2 kg).

For downsides, there is no touchscreen and its budget design is obvious. But if you want to save some money with a portable and relatively rugged laptop, then the Acer Swift 3 is worth consideration.

7. Dell Vostro

Highlights: Cheap, secure, 3 sizes

Cons: No backlit keyboard

Price: From $950

Manufacturer: Dell

Dell Vostro

The Dell Vostro is a series of affordable business laptops for small businesses and professionals on the go. Prices start from $499 and it comes in three sizes of 13, 14, and 15 inches.

The 15-inch model for instance, comes with a 4-core, 8-thread Intel Core i5, 16GB RAM, and 1TB SSD for $949. It features a 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution with an anti-glare LED-backlit display. Ports include USB and HDMI, plus an SD card slot.

You also get the choice of windows 10 or 11, a 42Whr battery, and an HD webcam with an integrated microphone. Its only downside is the lack of a backlit keyboard. But then, you can’t complain at such a price.

8. Microsoft Surface Laptop 4

Highlights: 2-in-1 laptop, thin & elegant design

Price: $950

Manufacturer: Microsoft

Microsoft Surface Laptop 4

Microsoft also makes good business laptops and this one is the Microsoft Surface Laptop 4. It comes in either a 13.5-inch or 15-inch design, with slightly different features for each model.

The Surface Laptop 4 is a 2-in-1 laptop. It comes with both a keyboard and a touchscreen, allowing you to make the best use in all situations. You can get it with either Intel Core i5 and i7 or with the AMD Ryzen 5.

Memory options vary from 8GB to 16GB and 32GB. While storage is SSD and ranges from 256GB to 512GB and 1TB. The 15” model has a 17.5-hour maximum battery life, while the 13” is rated up to 19 hours.

The Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 also includes outstanding media features, such as the 720p HD camera for video calls, far-field studio microphones for crystal-clear sound and calls, plus Omnisonic speakers with Dolby Atmos6 for immersive sounds.

9. Asus Zenbook 13

Highlights: Tough construction, reliable, 13.3-inch, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD

Price: $900

Manufacturer: Asus

Asus Zenbook 13

The Asus Zenbook series is a compact and lightweight laptop with lots of premium features. It comes in many variants, including the Zenbook, the Zenbook Pro, the Zenbook Flip, the Zenbook Duo, and the Fold.

The Zenbook is available in 13, 14, and 15-inch designs. The 13-inch variant features a 13.3” FHD display at 1920 x 1080 pixels and is fitted with a Core i7 Intel processor. It packs 16GB of RAM and 512GB of PCIe SSD as well for $829.

Other features include a military-grade construction for durability, a backlit keyboard for improved user-friendliness, and a battery pack designed to last all day.

There is also Asus’ NumberPad feature that transforms its touchpad into a numeric keypad for quick data entry, all with just a tap. The Asus Zenbook 13 weighs 2.6 lbs.

10. Lenovo Yoga Slim 7

Highlights: 2-in-1, stylish, powerful, portable

Price: $850

Manufacturer: Lenovo

Lenovo Yoga Slim 7

The Lenovo Yoga comes from a long line of laptops designed for flexibility. It features an aluminum chassis and a 360-degree hinge that makes it easy to transform between a laptop and a tablet.

The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 is stylish, well designed, and powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 with 8 cores and threads.

This 14-inch model includes 8GB of RAM, 512GB of SSD storage, and an FHD display with Intel Iris Xe graphics. It puts out 300 nits of brightness, includes automatic logins, and is rated up to 16 hours of battery life.

Other nice features include easy live-streaming, the Alexa voice-controlled assistant, a 3 lbs. (1.4 kg) weight, infra-red camera, fingerprint sensor, and a Dolby Atmos speaker system.

Conclusion

Coming to the end of this list of the best business laptops, you can see that there is something for all kinds of business people out there.

It is up to you, therefore, to make the right choice by considering your work or organizational needs. And then going for the laptop that will best meet them.

Nnamdi Okeke

Nnamdi Okeke

Nnamdi Okeke is a computer enthusiast who loves to read a wide range of books. He has a preference for Linux over Windows/Mac and has been using
Ubuntu since its early days. You can catch him on twitter via bongotrax

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