List of the top business laptops for use in office settings. We have compiled a list of the top options available, given the breadth of the market. There is a plethora of options for appropriate business laptop configurations. However, the equipment’s portability, performance, power, or adaptability may not meet the needs of all sections or personnel.
In larger corporations, the decision between one model and another may be driven by the specific function each employee will serve. Those in marketing won’t need the same setup as those in HR.
As such, we compiled this list of top-tier products so that you can improve your productivity at home or on the go, no matter where you happen to be, by virtue of the superior tools at your disposal.
It’s not necessarily true that the laptop with the highest rating is the best option for you in terms of cost, preference, or functionality. Check out this piece on the greatest laptops of 2021, which doesn’t focus solely on business computers.
The best professional business laptops of 2022
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon – Best for General Purpose
It’s not a fluke that Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 series has been so successful; in particular, the Carbon series has been widely lauded by critics and industry insiders alike.
A great blend of ultra-lightweight premium build quality, cutting-edge ergonomics, and potent specifications is included in your order. A laptop built with the future in mind, this one will help you to gracefully age.
The major piece of advice we can give is to not get the model with the 4K screen unless you absolutely need it for your job. The ThinkPad X1 model with a Core i5 processor is a cheaper option that yet provides sufficient power for most common laptop operations.
Dell XPS 17 9700 – The most comfortable for telecommuting situations
The Dell XPS 17 9700, a laptop with an abnormally large screen for a portable device, aspires to uphold the reputation of the Dell XPS line as one of the most notable and remarkable in the last decade.
The keyboard has both fantastic features and noticeable omissions, such as the lack of a dedicated number pad (though some may prefer this), good typing performance, and an unconventional layout. When you factor in the prices of the individual parts, you’ll see that this is also quite pricey.
The XPS 17 is obviously not a consumer laptop but rather one designed for business use. You can find alternatives that better suit your needs (with more features or at a lesser price) if you look hard enough.
The manufacturer’s website offers four distinct configurations, each with a wide range of personalization options for things like RAM, storage, and screen kind.
It has a surprisingly large screen for convenient viewing, plus a powerful processor and long-lasting battery life. It’s one of the groups we typically suggest for remote work.
Microsoft Surface Pro 8 – The Surface option for everyone
Even if it’s pricey, the Surface Pro 8 is a significant improvement over its predecessor. Microsoft once again demonstrates Windows 11’s superiority when installed on a thin, powerful mobile device.
In addition to enhancing the experience of instantaneous usage now that Windows 11 wakes up in record time, its lightweight design of 891 grams makes it easy to bring it along wherever you go.
Even though it’s not an OLED display, this LCD looks fantastic, and you won’t even realize the difference with the higher refresh rate of 120 Hz, which will allow you to display remarkable dexterity in your movements.
Even if they don’t integrate a dedicated graphics card, the performance of the 11th generation of Intel Core CPUs is sufficient for the time being.
Also noteworthy are the enhanced autonomy and enhanced video call quality that make this Surface laptop the best option for businesses.
HP Envy 13 – Best value for money
Although it isn’t the most potent model available, the HP Envy 13 is an excellent choice for a professional laptop.
HP made a fantastic all-arounder and priced it very reasonably. For less than €1,000, you may have a sleek design with a fair number of connections, including an SD card reader, and the option to customize it to your needs.
The display is fine, the border around the screen has been significantly narrowed, and the 10th-generation Intel CPUs provide more than enough processing power. The Nvidia MX350 graphics card is quite impressive, especially for the asking price. There isn’t anything to dislike about the Envy 13.
Huawei MateBook X Pro 2021 – The Most Stylish Choice
The most notable change from the previous year is the use of 11th-generation Intel Core processors; other improvements include enhanced cooling and a new and better trackpad.
Even though it hasn’t changed much in design over the past few years, the keyboard and trackpad are still among the best you can buy, making this laptop a good option for those who spend extended periods of time typing.
Another area Huawei hasn’t updated this year is the display, which is also rather nice. The 3:2 aspect ratio of the tall, square panel allows for a more vertical area when using many windows simultaneously.
As with any Windows laptop, Microsoft continues to provide support for the operating system on the MateBook X Pro, which comes preinstalled with Windows 11 Home. Unfortunately, Windows 10 Pro, which is the most appealing version for professional settings, is not a choice.
Improved performance has been maintained yearly despite the elimination of a discrete GPU option and a drastic decrease in battery life. This is so despite the fact that competitors are also constantly improving. Despite this, it is still a highly recommended squad.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 – The Surface for multipurpose situations
The Surface Laptop 4 is extremely small and light, although its predecessor was similarly impressive in many regards.
From this perspective, the new release appears to be a conservative one from Microsoft, with the stated goal of maintaining user satisfaction in the most important areas of productivity.
All versions, whether powered by an AMD or an Intel processor, deliver reliable performance. Both the battery life and the quality of the display are top-notch. Most folks won’t mind that you don’t receive fancy extras like a fast refresh rate, OLED display, or LTE connectivity.
As you can see, power comes at a hefty price, but the Surface Laptop 4 is a wonderful option if you’re looking for a daily-use laptop that lasts well over time, especially in the lesser models.
LG Gram 17 – The lightest professional laptop on the market
The LG Gram 17 is a revolutionary laptop for its time, with a massive 17-inch (2560×1600) display in a chassis that is only 17.8mm thick and weighs less than 1.35kg.
Up to 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD are supported by the most powerful configurations. The latest Intel Tiger Lake CPUs provide the computing muscle. And if that weren’t enough, the 80Wh battery life is second to none.
Some may be interested in the Dell XPS 17, the main competitor with a 4K display and RTX 2060 graphics card, although it is both heavier and more expensive. The LG gram 17 strikes a better balance between cost, aesthetics, functionality, and features.
In addition to the two USB-A connections, HDMI, and microSD card reader, there are now two Thunderbolt 4 connectors. That’s a lot of connectors for a laptop, and it also supports the latest Wi-Fi standard, version 6.
With all of these advantages and a price that is easy on the wallet, the LG gram 17 is another product that stands out as a clear winner and comes highly recommended.
HP Elite Dragonfly – Best for Designers and Creatives
The Elite Dragonfly is a professional-grade 2-in-1 convertible laptop that can be used in a variety of ways and provides satisfactory performance and battery life for its intended audience.
Its comprehensive security features align closely with the policies already adopted by the great majority of businesses to protect the workplace and employees’ personal information.
HP features Sure View and other useful features. When it comes to screen brightness, though, the technology does suffer a little compared to competing for professional laptops.
There are consumer laptops available with newer Intel processors than the 8th Gen vPro, so keep that in mind. Nonetheless, if you need a group with experience running an IT division, they’re an excellent option to consider.
MacBook Air with M1 – The best option in the macOS environment
After the release of the M1 chip, the MacBook Air became one of the most powerful laptops available, inspiring many to consider purchasing it for use in their professional lives.
Apple’s new CPU offers tremendous increases in performance and energy efficiency compared to the version using Intel processors, especially in terms of battery life.
Not much else has changed, however, the new and improved Magic Keyboard is a welcome addition.
Also, don’t forget that macOS comes with a plethora of free, downloadable apps and programs, such as Pages, Keynote, GarageBand, and iMovie. Since this is possible, it can help you save money on software.
The MacBook Air with M1 is a major upgrade over its predecessor in every respect, particularly in terms of battery life, the quality of the built-in FaceTime camera, and overall performance.
For these reasons, we believe that the virtual option is a viable one for professional work, especially for individuals for whom the Windows operating system is not a deal breaker.
Dell Latitude 14 7400 – The best choice for large corporations
In a hybrid form factor, the Dell Professional PC is one of the thinnest and most appealing business laptops available. This allows for a wider range of applications and locations than is possible with a traditional notebook.
The Latitude 14 has a fantastic design and surprisingly little weight, on top of all the features most prized by professionals, such as a brilliant screen free of reflections and long battery life to provide autonomy all day.
When compared to its competitors, Dell’s superior design and lighter weight come at the expense of a wider variety of connectors, forcing users to resort to expensive docking stations or a plethora of extra port hubs.
Asus Chromebook Flip – Best Chromebook in its class
In a hybrid form factor, the Dell Professional PC is one of the thinnest and most appealing business laptops available. This allows for a wider range of applications and locations than is possible with a traditional notebook.
The Latitude 14 has a fantastic design and surprisingly little weight, on top of all the features most prized by professionals, such as a brilliant screen free of reflections and long battery life to provide autonomy all day.
When compared to its competitors, Dell’s superior design and lighter weight come at the expense of a wider variety of connectors, forcing users to resort to expensive docking stations or a plethora of extra port hubs.
Acer Swift 3 – The configuration with the best price and features
In a hybrid form factor, the Dell Professional PC is one of the thinnest and most appealing business laptops available. This allows for a wider range of applications and locations than is possible with a traditional notebook.
The Latitude 14 has a fantastic design and surprisingly little weight, on top of all the features most prized by professionals, such as a brilliant screen free of reflections and long battery life to provide autonomy all day.
When compared to its competitors, Dell’s superior design and lighter weight come at the expense of a wider variety of connectors, forcing users to resort to expensive docking stations or a plethora of extra port hubs.
Business laptop buying guide
Which business laptop serves the most needs in general? Not every scenario calls for the same answer, but it’s usually a smart place to start when deciding whether or not to purchase Chromebooks, Windows 11, or macOS laptops.
You should also think about whether or not Windows 11 Pro is preinstalled on these laptops. And if they don’t, well, upgrading is simple. As we said before, advanced IT management isn’t necessary for everyone, especially if you aren’t part of a large organization.
Obviously, the cost is a consideration. While there are certainly some fantastic high-end laptops on the market, you may find that you can get by with less expensive hardware that still meets your needs.
It is helpful to think about units that can be configured and expanded in a variety of ways so that we can meet the needs of each individual or group as precisely as possible.
If you do a lot of work away from the office, having well-built, durable equipment is essential. On the other hand, you might need something incredibly lightweight to carry with you from meeting to meeting every day while still retaining the power of a tablet and keyboard in the places you need it most.
There are also other features, such as fingerprint sensors for security and more secure vPro processors for data encryption, and long battery life.
Since you will be storing potentially sensitive company or database information, many users will be concerned with your system’s level of security. With the rise of remote work and client video chats, a webcam may also be essential.
Make sure the laptop you buy has all the necessary features for your work. Is a high-end processor and graphics card necessary for resource-intensive programs, or can you get by with a cheaper option and still get the job done?
In addition, ensure sure the display may change to suit its surroundings. If you’re going to be using your computer outside, make sure it has a matte finish and plenty of brightness so you can see it clearly.
While the functionality of a laptop is generally prioritized over its ability to connect to the internet or other devices, in a professional setting, the inability to use essential peripherals like an Ethernet cable can be disastrous. The majority of those evaluated here only have USB-C ports, so you may require an adapter or hub to use them.