Updated October 06, 2020 by Christopher Thomas
The 10 Best Business Laptops
This wiki has been updated 7 times since it was first published in January of 2020. Designed for sustained high-intensity use, business laptops need to have top-spec performance. Portability and battery life are essential for travelers, while a good set of ports is useful for presentations. Unlike many consumer laptops, most business machines are easy to crack open for maintenance and upgrades. Our list covers a variety of options, from budget 2-in-1s to sleek flagship models. When users buy our independently chosen editorial choices, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
This wiki has been updated 7 times since it was first published in January of 2020. Designed for sustained high-intensity use, business laptops need to have top-spec performance. Portability and battery life are essential for travelers, while a good set of ports is useful for presentations. Unlike many consumer laptops, most business machines are easy to crack open for maintenance and upgrades. Our list covers a variety of options, from budget 2-in-1s to sleek flagship models. When users buy our independently chosen editorial selections, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (appx. $1775) packs a 10th-generation Intel Core i7 CPU, a comfortable keyboard, and a good selection of ports into a sleek frame weighing only 2.4 pounds. Its long battery life is supplemented by its ability to rapid charge from 0 to 80 percent in an hour.
Peak brightness of 400 nits
Firm keys with generous travel
Easy to repair and upgrade
2. Apple MacBook Pro 16
Available with a 6- or 8-core CPU, the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (about $2099) is the most powerful offering in the macOS ecosystem. Its new scissor-switch keyboard makes for comfortable typing, while an AMD graphics card handles resource-intensive drafting and rendering.
High-resolution display
Up to 1 terabyte of ssd storage
Touch bar for quick shortcuts
3. Asus ExpertBook 9450
The Asus ExpertBook 9450 (around $1792) weighs less than two pounds and delivers more than 16 hours of battery life in real-world testing, making it an excellent choice for travelers. It includes HDMI and micro HDMI ports, and its touchpad can function as an LED number pad.
Attractive midnight blue chassis
Less than 15 mm thick
Physical webcam shield
The term "business laptop" applies to a wide range of machines, but a few characteristics separate notebooks built for professionals from those aimed at consumers. The first is ports. While modern ultrabooks have pared connections down to a minimum, business laptops need to work with conference-room projectors and a multitude of USB devices, often simultaneously. Most business laptops include multiple USB-A connections and an HDMI port, and some (like the Lenovo ThinkPad L14) add extras like SD card readers and Ethernet ports.
The second advantage of a business laptop is hardware access. Many consumer laptops are difficult to open for repair, with the battery and memory glued or soldered in. In an effort to appease IT departments, business machines can usually be opened with nothing more than a Phillips-head screwdriver. SSD storage and batteries are easy to swap out, and RAM is often user upgradable. For this reason, the category is dominated by Windows laptops. The Apple MacBook Pro 16 is a good choice for buyers who prefer macOS, but we suggest choosing specs carefully, because upgrading won't be a possibility.
For frequent travelers, portability and a long battery life will be strong priorities. 2-in-1 designs like the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 or Lenovo Yoga C940 are light and versatile, but include fewer ports than most others. The Asus ExpertBook 9450 leads the pack for battery life and weighs less than two pounds, but still includes an HDMI port. For travelers who hate small screens, the LG Gram is remarkably portable for a 17-inch laptop.
As is true for all laptops, it's worth matching performance specs to your needs. For resource-intensive processes or keeping many applications and tabs open, look for a laptop like the Dell XPS 15 with a powerful Intel or AMD processor. If rendering, modeling, or video editing is a part of your workflow, you'll want a dedicated graphics card that can handle the load. For their virtues, business laptops command a premium over mainstream models. If you don't need the performance, ports, or access, you may be better served by an ultrabook or budget laptop. Our favorite business laptops are the ones that combine all of these strengths in a light, attractive package, like the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon.
Dell Latitude 7220 Rugged Extreme If your business involves working outside, fragile machinery can be an expensive liability. This tablet from Dell is drop tested, temperature tested, and IP-65 rated for use in harsh environments. dell.com
HP ZBook For demanding creative or scientific work, HP's line of ZBook workstations offers heavyweight performance for a premium price. With up to 128 gigabytes of RAM and the option for Nvidia Quadro RTX 5000 graphics, the collection includes a wide range of notebooks and 2-in-1s for power users. hp.com
4. Dell XPS 15
The Dell XPS 15 (about $2114) features a 4K display with 100 percent Adobe RGB coverage, support for Dolby Vision HDR video, and a thin bezel. Its Nvidia GTX 1650 Ti GPU outperforms integrated graphics cards, and its quad-speaker arrangement provides better sound than many competitors.
Maximum cpu speed of 5 gigahertz
Comes with windows 10 pro
Carbon-fiber palm rest
5. Dell ProBook 445 G7
The Dell ProBook 445 G7 (around $1375) features a powerful 8-core AMD Ryzen 4700U processor and provides excellent performance for the price. It comes with a useful set of ports, including an Ethernet connection and a full-size SD card reader.
Responsive touchpad
Easy to upgrade
No fingerprint scanner
6. LG Gram
Choosing a large screen often means sacrificing portability, but the LG Gram (appx. $1359) keeps its weight under three pounds with magnesium alloy parts. Its 17-inch screen is crisp and vivid, and its spacious keyboard includes a full numeric keypad.
16 gigabytes of ram
1-terabyte nvme ssd
7. Lenovo Yoga C940
Unlike most convertible alternatives, the Lenovo Yoga C940 (around $1125) has a fingerprint scanner and a stylus that docks and charges inside the computer. It's part of Intel's Project Athena, which certifies hardware and design for quick responses, long runtime, and portability.
10-point multitouch screen
All-metal frame
Heavy for a 2-in-1 notebook
8. Lenovo ThinkPad L14
The keyboard of the Lenovo ThinkPad L14 (around $1659) is evenly backlit, comfortable to type on, and outfitted with both a premium touchpad and a pointer nub. Unlike some models, it has a gigabit Ethernet port and its RAM is user upgradable.
Durable chassis
Micro-sd card reader
Bulkier than other options
9. Microsoft Surface Pro 7
Although the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 (about $749) is technically a tablet, it's powerful enough to replace a notebook for many users. It's available in a wide range of CPU and RAM configurations, and a weight of under two pounds makes it especially portable.
Comes in silver or matte black
Supports wi-fi 6 and bluetooth 5
Type cover sold separately
10. Dell Latitude 5410
The Dell Latitude 5410 (around $1049) pairs a 10th-generation Intel Core i5 processor with a large 68 kilowatt-hour battery for solid performance and a long runtime. Its touchpad is fast and accurate, but the separate click buttons can take some getting used to.
Anti-glare screen coating
User-upgradable memory
Relatively heavy
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Last updated on October 06, 2020 by Christopher Thomas