It’s easy to be overwhelmed by choice when searching for a new business laptop. We make the process easier by narrowing the list and highlighting these 20 laptops.
Apple recently announced its latest update to the MacBook Air family at its October 2018 event in New York. The new 13.3-inch laptop has a retina display with a resolution four times better than the past models. Made of 100% recycled aluminum, the new MacBook Air is lighter (2.75 lbs), 17% smaller, and 10% thinner than its older counterpart. This powerful system integrates touch ID directly into the keyboard, and can support 12 hours of web browsing and up to 13 hours of iTunes movie playback. With an 8th generation Intel dual-core i5 processor and up to 1.5TB SSD, this light-weight powerhouse is ideal for business pros on the go.
MSRP: $1,199
CNET Reviews: MacBook Air 2018 gets Retina display, Touch ID for $1,199, available Nov. 7
The Yoga 920 from Lenovo is a two-in-one laptop that features a 360-degree hinge for rotating the keyboard under the display. It isn’t cheap, but it’s ultra portable, supports pen input, and gets an impressive 12+ hours of battery life.
MSRP: $1,049.99
CNET Review: Lenovo Yoga 920 review: One of the best 2-in-1s gets better
CNET Editors’ Rating: 8.7/10
CNET calls the Samsung Chromebook Pro “the Chromebook for Chromebook skeptics,” and business users still on the fence about how useful Chromebooks are for work may want to give this one a try.
It supports Android apps from the Google Play Store, gets nearly nine hours of battery life under heavy usage, and has a touchscreen and 360-degree hinge for use as a tablet as well.
MSRP: $549
CNET Review: Samsung Chromebook Pro review: The Chromebook for the Chromebook skeptic
CNET Editors’ Rating: 8.5/10
For those who travel a lot, CNET said, the HP Spectre x360 13 can’t be beat due to its amazing 13+ hour battery life. Weighing in at only 2.8 pounds, the x360 13 is also really lightweight. Add in a 360-degree hinge and an affordable price, and you have a business travel superstar.
MSRP: $949.99
CNET Review: HP Spectre x360 13 (late 2017) review: HP’s tiny 2-in-1 ain’t perfect — but it’s getting close
CNET Editors’ Rating: 8.6/10
CNET calls the Dell XPS 13 one of the best all-around 13-inch laptops. One of the selling points of the XPS 13 is its nearly non-existent screen bezel, which makes the 13″ screen feel larger, and also makes the overall machine smaller since there isn’t extra vertical to attribute to the space surrounding the monitor.
The XPS 13 is sure to be a hit with those who don’t want a touchscreen on their laptop too–it’s base model doesn’t include one.
MSRP: $999.99
CNET Review: Dell XPS 13 (2018) review: A redesign that’s almost on the nose
CNET Editors’ Rating: 8.4/10
Creative professionals will love the HP ZBook x2 G4, which was seemingly designed with them in mind. CNET says it’s “like a Microsoft Surface Pro … but way better,” which should be intriguing to anyone who spends a lot of time doing creative work on their laptop.
A matte screen, WACOM technology with 4,096 levels of pressure, and a detachable keyboard make it an artist’s dream–if you can afford it.
MSRP: $2,849
CNET Review: HP ZBook x2 G4 review: The perfect laptop for a cluster of creatives
CNET Editors’ Rating: 8.2/10
If portability, good battery life, and discrete graphics are must-haves for your business laptop, the Asus ZenBook 13 may be what you’re looking for. Asus said that the ZenBook 13 is the thinnest laptop to include a discrete graphics processor, and at only \u00bd” thick that may be accurate.
The ZenBook 13 was able to get CNET reviewers through an eight-hour workday without issue, and even better for travelers, it was able to charge to full in under an hour.
MSRP: $999
CNET Review: Asus ZenBook 13 review: This sweet-looking ultraportable has a surprise inside
CNET Editors’ Rating: 8.2/10
If 13″ laptops are too small for your workday, you may want to consider the LG Gram 15: It’s a 15″ laptop that only weighs 2.5 pounds, which is less than some 13″ machines. On top of that, it has a battery that can last nearly 14 hours, making it great for business users who don’t want to settle for a smaller screen.
MSRP: $1,999.99
CNET Review: LG Gram 15 (2018) review: Shockingly light, mind-blowing battery life
CNET Editors’ Rating: 8.0/10
For those that miss laptop features that have disappeared in the age of smaller, thinner, lighter machines, the Acer Aspire E 15 is the machine you’re searching for. Not only does it have a DVD drive, HDMI output, and easy physical access to its RAM and hard drive, it’s also dirt cheap.
CNET said that the Acer Aspire E 15 is the epitome of “bang for your buck,” and when you’re buying a laptop that is purely for work you can’t get better than that.
MSRP: $545.99
CNET Review: Acer Aspire E 15 (E5-576G-5762) review: A cheap laptop with all the stuff you’ve been missing
CNET Editors’ Rating: 8.3/10
Razer has a reputation for being a gaming computer company, but the 2018 Razer Blade Stealth is the machine that could change that perception. The Stealth is nearly identical to a 13-inch MacBook Pro in both looks and hardware specs, and it still manages to cost $700 less while also adding in a touchscreen.
If you want a performance machine that can still give you some gaming when you’re on long flights, check out the Razer Blade Stealth.
MSRP: $1,399.99
CNET Review: Razer Blade Stealth (13-inch, 2017) review: Razer’s slim Stealth grows up
CNET Editors’ Rating: 7.8/10
Chinese tech company Huawei’s answer to Apple’s MacBook Pro, the MateBook X Pro looks a lot like an older generation MacBook Pro, but with a lower price, more ports, a touchscreen display, Dolby Atmos sound, and a 91% screen-to-body ratio.
Privacy buffs are sure to love the MateBook X Pro’s webcam placement–it’s hidden beneath a faux button nestled among the F keys, and pops up when pressed. That means you won’t have to worry about this laptop spying on you.
MSRP: $1,199
ZDNet Review: Search Huawei MateBook X Pro review: Minimal bezels, touchscreen, and excellent sound with secure camera placement
ZDNet Editors’ Rating: 8.2/10
The Microsoft Surface has been the laptop/tablet hybrid of choice for creative professionals for quite a while, and the Surface Book 2 continues that trend. It pairs an 8th generation Intel CPU with Nvidia graphics options up to a GeForce 1060, giving it powerful creative applications.
With its keyboard attached, the Surface Book 2 can run for a reported 17 hours. You lose some of the battery life when detaching the keyboard, which contains the larger of two batteries, but the overall versatility and flexibility of the Surface Book 2 is worth having to reattach the keyboard every once in a while.
MSRP: $2,199 (15-inch model, $1,199 (13-inch model)
CNET Review: Microsoft Surface Book 2 (15-inch) review: A satisfying sequel
CNET Editors’ Rating: 8.3/10
The Surface Pro is a true hybrid, with its primary focus on being a tablet first and a laptop second–that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be featured in this gallery, though. It’s a great choice for creative professionals who will do more pen-based input than typing. It’s also far more affordable than the Surface Book line of laptops, making it a great choice for those who want Microsoft Surface performance without breaking the bank.
MSRP: $799
CNET Review: Microsoft Surface Pro (2017) review: Still a Pro, despite an unadventurous update
CNET Editors’ Rating: 8.3/10
Workers who are constantly on the go need a laptop that will perform, look professional, and not be such a large investment that damage or loss would be devastating. The Teclast F7 Tbook is just that.
ZDNet contributing writer Eileen Brown said in her review that, while technically classified as a notebook, “It could easily replace my main laptop,” which is a pretty solid recommendation for those in need of a small, portable, and cheap laptop.
MSRP: $327
ZDNet Review: Teclast F7 hands-on: A lightweight notebook for mobile workers
ZDNet Editors’ Rating: 8.2/10
Samsung’s Notebook 9 is second only to the LG Gram in being the lightest weight 15-inch laptop. For clumsy professionals worried about spilling drinks on their computer, the Notebook 9 is worth looking into–it has a spill-proof keyboard that makes it a bit more durable than the competition.
The Notebook 9 also has a glass Windows Precision touchpad that supports multitouch, which CNET said is one of its best features.
MSRP: $1,399.99
CNET Review: Samsung Notebook 9 (15-inch, 2017) review: Shockingly light, long-life laptop with some extra perks
CNET Editors’ Rating: 8.2/10
Dell’s Latitude 7390 is built with privacy in mind. As CNET said in its review, “If your primary concern is keeping your data private at all costs while you’re in the office or on the road, this should have you covered.”
The Latitude 7390 includes a smart card reader and contactless NFC readers build right in, making password requirements–and even biometrics–a thing of the past for security-conscious users.
MSRP: $1,849
CNET Review: Dell Latitude 7390 2-in-1 review: A stealthy 2-in-1 that keeps prying eyes out
CNET Editors’ Rating: 8.0/10
If you’re a fan of the ThinkPad aesthetic–but not the price of some of the more feature-rich models–the T480 is the ThinkPad for you.
It has the rugged build ThinkPad users are used to getting, a webcam shutter for added privacy, plenty of ports, a fingerprint reader, optional LTE, optional touchscreen, and a 13-hour battery life. ThinkPad lovers couldn’t ask for much more.
MSRP: $767.20
ZDNet Review: Lenovo ThinkPad T480s review: A solid business workhorse with all-day battery life
ZDNet Editors’ Rating: 8.0/10
The Port\u00e9g\u00e9 X30 is, in ZDNet’s words, “more of the same” from Toshiba, which should delight fans of the Port\u00e9g\u00e9 series. Lightweight, portable, and up-to-date, the Port\u00e9g\u00e9 X30 has what business users want from a reliable laptop.
MSRP: $1,296.99
ZDNet Review: Toshiba Port\u00e9g\u00e9 X30-E-12H review: A lightweight, compact business ultraportable
ZDNet Editors’ Rating: 8.7/10
\tYes, it’s another Chromebook, but this one is the top-of-the-line in both design and performance. Google’s own Pixelbook is second to none for Chromebook users, and it’s priced to reflect that.
\tComplaints about its less capable operating system will be made, of course, but ZDNet’s reviewer Jason Cipriani said that’s hardly a problem, especially in a world where Apple is pushing the iPad Pro as a business device; he wrote, “As someone who used to primarily work from an iPad, about halfway through the Pixelbook review process, it occurred to me: The Pixelbook is more of a computer than the iPad Pro is.”
\tMSRP: $999
\tZDNet Review: Google Pixelbook review: Clean design with impressive performance you’ll have to pay for
\tZDNet Editors’ Rating: 9.0/10
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Brandon is a Staff Writer for TechRepublic. He's an award-winning feature and how-to writer who previously worked as an IT professional and served as an MP in the US Army.
