16 Best Laptop For Working From Home 2022: Complete Reviews

laptop home

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses are encouraging their employees to work from home, then you might require the best laptop for working from home.

With so many laptops on the market, buying one to use while working from home is no simple task.

If you aren’t constantly engulfed in tech news, don’t worry. The top laptops for working from home are listed in our straightforward guide. Additionally, you’ll discover all the information & specifications that will simplify the decision-making process for you!

Best Laptop For Working From Home: Top Picks

  • 1. MacBook Pro
  • ‍2. MacBook Air
  • 3. Dell XPS 13
  • 4. Google PixelBook Go
  • 5. Samsung Galaxy Book S
  • 6. HP Pavilion 15
  • 7. Acer Aspire
  • 8. Acer Swift 3
  • 9. LG Gram 16
  • 10. Microsoft Surface Book 4
  • 11. Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5
  • 12. ASUS Zenbook 15
  • 13. Lenovo IdeaPad
  • 14. Dell XPS 15 OLED
  • 15. Levono IdeaPad 3
  • 16. HP Spectre 14T

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Best Laptop For Working From Home In 2022

1. Macbook Pro

Macbook Pro

The MacBook Pro is the best option if you’re looking for a top-of-the-line laptop that can handle almost anything you throw at it. It is Apple’s most potent laptop, featuring a huge Retina display, quick processing, and all the features you’ll ever need (and then some). Different configuration options are available for the laptop, which comes in 13-, 14-, or 16-inch models. For instance, there are three 16-inch MacBook Pro models with various SSD storage and GPU configurations.

With the touch of a key, you can quickly enter emojis, lock your laptop, and access many system features on its Magic Keyboard with Touch ID. Use Touch ID to lock and unlock your laptop, make purchases in Apple apps, and use Apple Pay on websites.

Graphic designers, video editors, and other creative professionals who require a powerful yet user-friendly computer should consider the Apple MacBook Pro. Professional creatives frequently prefer Mac due to the straightforward, streamlined, and fashionable Apple OS platform and the superior creative software (like Final Cut Pro) that runs on Apple devices. Although a MacBook Pro is expensive, its strength and adaptability make it worthwhile to consider.

Pros:

  • Powerful processor and graphics card
  • High-quality, high-resolution display
  • Light and thin, considering the quality and resolution of the display

Cons:

  • Price (starting at $1,299 for the 13-inch and $2,499 for the 16-inch)
  • Sluggish scroll performance
  • Soldered RAM in place, non-upgradable after purchase

‍2. Macbook Air

Macbook Air

Apple’s MacBook Air is a more affordable option that still has a ton of features for remote workers. With Apple’s M1 processor, the MacBook Air can easily handle web browsing, working on documents, making light photo and video edits, and the majority of gaming. However, ardent gamers and video editors may want to do their homework before making a purchase because the processing power might not be enough for demanding games or video projects.

Although it has a little less power than the MacBook Pro, the Air still has a stunning Retina display and quick processing. Additionally, it is incredibly portable, light, and thin, making it ideal for people who frequently travel for work or want to throw it in a backpack to work on the go.

The M1 or the brand-new M2 processors are both available for the MacBook Air. Additional options include memory (8GB, 16GB, and 24GB), storage (512GB, 1TB, and 2TB SSD), power adaptor, keyboard language, and software.

Pros:

  • Powerful processor and graphics card
  • M1 chip for better performance
  • Lightweight and portable

Cons:

  • Price (starting at $999 for the 13-inch and $1,299 for the 15-inch)
  • Limited storage
  • Only two USB-C ports

3. Dell XPS 13

Dell XPS 13

A review by Engadget states that the Dell XPS 13 is “everything we want in a compact notebook.” The flatter display bezels, extreme portability, sleek design, and wider keyboard make it simple to understand why experts have given it such high marks. The XPS 13 is an Ultrabook, or a laptop that is less than 0.8 inches thick and less than 3.1 pounds in weight. In competition with Apple’s MacBook Air is the thin, portable XPS 13.

The Dell XPS 13 is one of the best laptops according to experts, but is it the right laptop for you? It might be the perfect luxury laptop for you if you want all-day battery life, reliable performance, and stunning design. However, it is expensive (currently $1,169.99).

Pros:

  • Sleek, luxurious design
  • Thinner display bezels
  • Improved, larger touchpad

Cons:

  • Average webcam
  • Dim display
  • More expensive than the predecessor

4. Google Pixelbook Go

Google Pixelbook Go

We must first discuss Chromebooks in general before getting into the Google PixelBook Go. Chromebooks offer some distinctive benefits, such as, affordable, lightweight, simple They have some significant drawbacks when compared to other laptops, though, including UI, stability, and speed.

Although some Chromebooks offer the option to increase storage by purchasing an SD card, Chromebooks have a small amount of storage. They make up for this, though, with fantastic cloud storage. The inability of Chromebooks to run software like the Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Premier, etc.) is another point to be aware of.) or support games besides online games or apps. They are best used online because they have limited offline functionality.

In spite of this, the Google PixelBook Go is dependable, quick, and portable. The “limited capabilities” may even be an attractive option to remote workers looking for a simple, stripped laptop without any of the extras they won’t need. Given a steady internet connection, remote workers who only use Chrome or other Google applications for their day-to-day tasks will have everything they require.

Pros:

  • Very portable, lightweight, and affordable
  • 12 hours of rated battery life
  • Touch screen

Cons:

  • No fingerprint scanner
  • More expensive than non-Google Chromebooks
  • No microSD storage expansion

5. Samsung Galaxy Book S

Samsung Galaxy Book S

For a few reasons, the Samsung Galaxy Book S is listed as an honorable mention on our list of the best laptops for remote workers. The impressive built-in 4G LTE connectivity is the first advantage. It has a 16-hour battery life, which is almost a full day. For remote workers who frequently travel, these two characteristics make it a desirable choice. It is also the first laptop in the world to include a built-in S Pen with an incredibly accurate pressure level sensor.

The most recent Windows on Snapdragon laptop, the Samsung Galaxy Book S, combines the portability, battery life, and speed of a smartphone with the functionality of a traditional laptop. It successfully matches the mobility, battery life, and connectivity of a smartphone, and it does so well. Though it isn’t the fastest laptop on this list in terms of performance, those advantages do come at a cost (starting at $999).

Pros:

  • Amazing 16-hour battery life
  • Touch screen and S Pen
  • Thin, elegant design

Cons:

  • Shallow keyboard
  • No anti-glare display
  • Software compatibility issues

6. HP Pavilion 15

HP Pavilion 15

Because of its affordability and best high-end hardware, the HP Pavilion 15 deserves a spot on our list. This mid-range laptop has all the necessary features, including a quick 512GB SSD and a touch-screen FHD display. The laptop body is still thin and well-designed, looking more expensive than it is, even though it isn’t as thin as a MacBook Air.

The Pavilion 15 has some notable upgrades over the HP Pavilion 14, including a multi-core CPU that performs two times better, thinner bezels, a touch screen, and the ability to play popular games at a frame rate that is between 28% and 38% higher. On Nanoreview, you can read more about the comparison.

Business professionals looking for a device that won’t break the bank but still gets the job done should consider the HP Pavilion 15. For basic daily desktop tasks like web browsing, document work, light photo editing, streaming movies, and other desktop activities, it is more than adequate.

Pros:

  • Powerful processor and graphics card for the price
  • Affordable, mid-range laptop
  • Plenty of ports

Cons:

  • No backlit keyboard
  • High power consumption and short battery life
  • Unpleasant fan noise under load

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7. Acer Aspire

Acer Aspire

A good cheap laptop is the Acer Aspire E 15. A wide range of ports is available, and the starting price of $315 is astounding. The Acer Aspire E 15 is a solid option for remote workers on a tight budget thanks to its comfortable, evenly-spaced keyboard and respectable battery life.

You might be wondering what the tradeoff is at that cost. It’s challenging to identify its flaws given the positive reviews it has received from many of the largest laptop review websites. While it can multitask, play games, and handle remote work tasks on a daily basis with ease, it might struggle to run demanding games at its highest settings. Additionally, there are some issues with the design. It is large, somewhat bulky, and weighs 5 pounds. The Acer Aspire E 15 might be the laptop for you if you think the tradeoffs are worthwhile for the price.

Pros:

  • Wide port range
  • Good battery life
  • Very affordable

Cons:

  • Bulky design
  • Thick and heavy
  • Lacks Windows Hello, Fingerprint Reader, or Iris scanner

8. Acer Swift 3

Acer Swift 3

According to the Acer website, it’s time to “say hello to the all-new pick-up-and-go.” In addition to having a touchpad, a backlit keyboard, and a fingerprint reader, this laptop is reasonably priced for its size. The Acer Swift 3 should be taken into consideration if you’re looking for a large laptop with a generous screen that works well for multitasking for daily work.

A few tradeoffs are associated with its midrange pricing. Although the battery life is excellent (12+ hours in testing), the webcam and display brightness could be improved, and performance lags with demanding apps. The Swift 3 is an excellent laptop that has wide appeal despite its drawbacks. For those who have things to do and people to see, such as writers, students, or remote workers, it is especially useful.

Pros:

  • Excellent for multitasking
  • Great performance for the price
  • Fingerprint reader included

Cons:

  • Not as powerful as some other laptops on this list
  • Dim display
  • Speakers aren’t great

9. LG Gram 16

LG Gram 16

One of the lightest (as the name suggests), best-quality, and highest-resolution laptops for working from home is the LG Gram 16-inch model. For the lightest 16-inch laptop, it actually holds the Guinness World Record. The LG Gram 16 might be the right laptop for you if you’re looking for a light laptop with excellent connectivity. A laptop that is near as light as a notebook will be ideal for freelance writers.

Pros:

  • Featherweight
  • High-resolution screen
  • Two-in-one laptop, combining a laptop with a tablet

Cons:

  • Mediocre battery life
  • Expensive
  • Mediocre speakers

10. Microsoft Surface Book 4

The Microsoft Surface Book 4 is the most potent Surface laptop to date. It is a detachable two-in-one laptop in addition to having speed and lovely display graphics. This means that it combines the functionality and dependability of a tablet with the reliability of a laptop. It comes with a high-resolution touch screen and comes in sizes 13.5 inches or 15 inches.

The Microsoft Surface Book 4 might be one of the best laptops for independent artists to work from home since it doubles as a portable studio. For drawing, animating, and sketching on the screen, it’s fantastic, just like the Surface Pro. Even for gaming, it’s fantastic! It starts at $899, but it is expensive.

Pros:

  • Two-in-one laptop, tablet, and touchscreen
  • 3:2 nearly 4K display with a detachable screen
  • GPU performance

Cons:

  • Underwhelming battery life
  • Pricey
  • No Thunderbolt 3 support

11. Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5

Amazon currently has the 13-inch Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 laptop listed for $387. It does have specific capabilities and drawbacks because it’s a Chromebook. Refer to the section on the Google PixelBook Go above for more details on Chromebooks, or read this in-depth article for more information.

The Lenovo Flex 5 is a great option if you’re looking for a cheap laptop and a Chromebook is a good fit for your requirements. For remote workers who only require the bare essentials, such as web browsing and Google apps, Chromebooks are fantastic.

Pros:

  • Slim and light 360-degree convertible design with digital pen support
  • Affordable laptop
  • Great for video conferencing

Cons:

  • Disappointing battery life
  • Limited ports
  • Some users might need more RAM or storage

12. Asus Zenbook 15

One of the topbest laptops for working from home is the Asus Zenbook 15, which is excellent in every way. It is also attractive and well-designed. Due to its NVENC encoding abilities, this powerful machine will increase rendering performance. It has an OLED panel, strong Ryzen processors, and Ampere graphics.

For those who use Adobe Creative Cloud or other demanding editing and production software, such as animators, video editors, and creative professionals, the Asus Zenbook is ideal.

Pros:

  • Excellent battery life (15 hours)
  • Powerful (also good for gaming)
  • Comfortable keyboard

Cons:

  • Only 2GB of VRAM
  • The display could be brighter
  • Lacks Thunderbolt 3 port

13. Lenovo Ideapad

The popular Lenovo IdeaPad S540’s direct replacement is the brand-new 15-inch Intel-powered Lenovo IdeaPad 5i laptop. It’s a good value for the price point and performs admirably in demanding tasks thanks to new performance and aesthetic improvements. It was designed with business in mind. Lenovo’s site states that the laptop’s “webcam privacy shutter and fingerprint reader offer additional security with a single touch,” great for remote workers.

Pros:

  • Ports and connectivity
  • Comfortable keyboard and touchpad
  • Fingerprint reader and privacy shutter

Cons:

  • Below-average display
  • Performance could be better
  • Intel processor pales in comparison to AMD Ryzen

14. Dell Xps 15 Oled

The attractive display on this laptop, with its thick bottom bezel giving the screen a fashionable appearance, is one of its best advantages.

With its attractive display and lightweight design, this laptop might just be your best choice for a successful workday. Its battery life could be better, and it does get quite noisy when under a heavy workload.

This laptop is our choice for the top work-from-home option because of its excellent balance of features, performance, and price.

Pros:

  • Lightweight & powerful laptop
  • Best keyboard and trackpad
  • Loud speakers

Cons:

  • Noisy at times
  • Battery could be better

15. Levono Ideapad 3

The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is a mid-range laptop with a variety of useful features and specifications. The display quality is actually quite good for frequent indoor use.

This laptop is among the best for working from home if you’re on a tight budget.
Windows 10 Home is installed on this laptop. The most recent model of the laptop is powered by a potent AMD CPU-based Ryzen 5 5500U processor. You can anticipate a battery life of 7-8 hours in actual use from a single charge.

Pros:

  • Its features are difficult to match at this cost.
  • It comes with a privacy shutter and a clear camera.
  • SSD and RAM can both be upgraded in this laptop. You can always have these changed if you want to move up.
  • The equipment has good speakers.

Cons:

  • Little and flimsy touchpad.
  • Even for a low-cost laptop, the display is terrible and subpar despite being high definition.
  • This laptop lacks a backlit keyboard, in contrast to other models in this price range.
  • There is no USB-C type port. The same is true of Wi-Fi 6.
  • The plastic chassis is too pliable.

16. HP Spectre 14

The HP Spectre 14T is one of the best 2-in-1 laptops available today, combining power and style. On the one hand, it’s a potent laptop with an Intel Core i7 CPU that can handle the majority of your work-related tasks very well. On the other hand, although it isn’t a deal-breaker for a remote worker, the design is stunning, which definitely increases its appeal.

The MPP2.0 Tilt Pen is included, and it easily transforms into a tablet whenever necessary. It is the ideal accessory for people who prefer to take handwritten notes during virtual meetings or for those who work in creative industries. You can be sure that the pen’s battery will last the duration of any task because of its long life.

Pros:

  • Beautiful design
  • Good battery life
  • Great audio quality
  • Lightweight

Cons:

  • A little pricey

Buying Guide For Best Laptop For Working From Home

1. Processor

This is one area where, if you’re not careful, you might end up spending a lot of money. For a laptop you use at home, you might not need the quickest and best Intel Core processors. Also, remember that a processor’s power consumption increases with its power.

Keep in mind that a computer’s processor serves as its brain. Therefore, a laptop’s ability to perform tasks quickly depends on the quality of its processor. Because of this, better and faster processors are more expensive.

A mid-range CPU should be adequate for the best laptops for home offices. As a result, you can remain in the middle of the CPU’s performance range.

AMD processors are very compact. They are suitable for office work and less expensive than Intel processors.

These laptops can be used for basic office tasks like word processing and email. You don’t require a powerful processor unless you’re working on CAD design, video editing, or photo editing.

You can always use a Mac if money is no object. The new M1 processor from Apple is made to provide the highest performance levels in the most effective manner. The most recent chips for Apple’s Macbooks and MacBook computers are the M1 chips.

2. Size And Weight

Comparing expensive laptops of the same size to cheaper ones, the majority are typically lighter. This is due to the fact that all high-quality laptops use the best parts and components, which provide greater efficiency. However, you might still be able to find reasonably priced, lightweight laptops.

Laptop screen sizes grow in size along with their weight. As a result, they grow heavier and bulkier. Apple has made an effort to balance size and weight effectively. Additionally, the monitor size-to-weight ratios on their laptops are excellent.

A small laptop should be perfect if you want to move around with it, use it during your commute, or just like something that is light, portable, and easy to carry.

Try to select the best laptops for working from home from the options available.

3. RAM And Hard Drive Storage

The faster the processor can access data from the memory storage, the faster the computer will operate, as you are probably aware. Therefore, one can try to have as much RAM as possible to give the process access to as much data as possible.

If you didn’t know, the amount of “quick access space” the computer has is called the Computer memory, also known as RAM.

Take this example.

Imagine that you need to host a party for 100 people, but all you have is a tiny room that can hardly fit five or ten people. In that case, you won’t have enough room to set out the snacks and fit everyone who has been invited. What if you also run a sizable hotel?

In that case, you may have a large number of people lying around your property and loitering. To know who is here and where they are, you must categorize these people appropriately. The same is true of computer memory.

The good news is that computer memory is no longer as expensive as it once was. Thus, a laptop with a limited budget can still be purchased with enough memory. Try, if your budget permits, to buy RAM that is larger than 8GB.

4. Screen Quality

You must make a wise decision if you use your laptop frequently. We advise allocating as much of your budget as possible toward a high-quality monitor because screen quality is crucial. Why?

Your eyes will be glued to this for a very long time. Although using a fast laptop is fantastic, it can be painful to stare at a subpar monitor for extended periods of time. You don’t need the best monitor in the world in a laptop for remote work.

To prevent eye strain, it does help to have something with a good resolution. Retina Displays, found in Apple products, are perfect. Models of the MacBook Pro are renowned for having gorgeous displays.

5. Graphics Card

These days, the majority of laptops come equipped with integrated graphics cards like the Intel XE GPU or Intel Iris XE graphics. For the average user who doesn’t need much in the way of designing, gaming, or other needs, these are sufficient. Integrated graphic card laptops are simple to find.

Therefore, if your job doesn’t require a lot of graphics, you could save a lot of money here. You can purchase a laptop without a graphics card if your line of work doesn’t require editing photos and videos.

Many shoppers who are drawn in by video card specifications fall for the ruse. They miscalculate and end up buying expensive video cards-equipped laptops that they will never use.

Even the battery life of integrated graphics cards is improved.

The cost of laptops with integrated video cards is lower. In order to give you the best video performance, laptops with a proper high-performance graphics card typically cost more.

So choose a good work-from-home laptop with an installed graphic card if you need a laptop with strong video performance. A dedicated video card, such as an Nvidia graphics card, should be used. You should put this at the top of your list.

6. A Long Battery Life

There are several reasons why having a laptop battery that lasts a long time is important. However, you needn’t be concerned about what it means for you. You won’t be interrupted while working on something crucial by your battery dying.

If you can’t always be a few feet from an energy source, you’ll value a battery life that’s long enough. You can work while on the go if the battery life is long. You can work in a park or even a cafe while taking a stroll around your house.

It is necessary for yet another reason. It implies that you can avoid wasting a significant amount of time on laptop battery charging. It can be annoying to wait for your laptop to charge completely.

This freedom enables you to work remotely from any location without concern for power sources. Consider six hours to be the minimum battery life you should expect.

7. Good Webcam

In the past, web cameras were regarded as a waste of money and space and were all but obsolete. A laptop without a camera is now considered outdated.

You can use a regular laptop instead of a 4K camera. This is so that we can record videos, video calls, meetings, and other events using cameras. You need a good webcam if you work from home.

Now, it’s very clear that an excellent external camera is superior to even the best laptops for remote work, but you don’t need that. The laptop only needs to have an HD camera, that’s all.

If so, you are welcome to send stunning pictures and videos. All you need to participate in video meetings is a computer.

8. Speed And Functionality

Think about the laptop’s speed or features to determine whether it’s appropriate for working from home. The quickest laptop available is not required for your use. Instead, it must have adequate power to complete the task.

It’s typically advised to have an i5 processor with at least 8 GIGs of RAM (latest generation or later). You need at least 16GIGs of memory if you perform resource-intensive tasks like video editing.

An USB mouse is also necessary. Determine whether you require a MicroSD card reader and an external display port in order to work with photos and videos.

Additionally, you might want access to at least two USB ports and the ability to connect an external display. An SD card slot or micro SD card reader should be taken into consideration if you work with photos. As a result, if you want to transfer photos from gadgets like DSRL cameras, this will make it simple.

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FAQs

How Much RAM Is Required to Work From Home?

More than 4 to 8 GB of RAM shouldn’t be required for basic office tasks or webcam use, and many affordable options might be adequate.

But 16 GB should be taken into account by those whose jobs necessitate running numerous processes at once. It will be challenging to find a cheap laptop with 16GB of RAM, so keep that in mind.

Is A Larger Laptop Screen Better?

If you only need to use the laptop at home, a larger screen is unquestionably preferable. A larger screen will make it easier for you to view documents, attend meetings or conduct classes.

But for the sole purpose of transportation, digital nomads might want to take the screen size into account.

How Powerful Of A Laptop Should I Have For Remote Work?

You won’t have to stress too much about battery life, weight, or size if you work from home. These aspects, however, may be crucial if you’re constantly on the move.

Your laptop should also have a processor that is adequate for the type of work you do. Work that requires moderate intensity is suitable for the Intel Core i3, AMD 8, AMD Ryzen 3, and 5. For intensive work, Intel Core i5, i7, i9, Xeon, and Apple’s M1 chips are preferable.

Final Words

People may not be in a position to make their preferred choice when buying laptops for their homes. They may also find this to be a very perplexing and difficult task. They must therefore be aware of the variables that influence their decisions, such as processor speed, display quality, productivity, storage capacity, and financial constraints.

Now that we’ve explored the best laptops for remote work, Dell XPS 15 OLED is the best overall laptop from our side. It’s time to start using your new laptop. If you’re a self-employed professional seeking to increase your clientele, find new business, or find the ideal position!

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