The best business laptops in 2024 will be powerful yet light, weighing about 3 pounds or less. We review many laptops to help you find the best ones. If you want something budget-friendly. Business laptops need strong security and durability. The best ones have fingerprint sensors, IR cameras, and security chips, and are often very tough. These features set them apart from regular laptops. We test laptops from all major brands in labs and real-world settings to check their portability, performance, battery life, and more. Our top pick is the HP Spectre x360 14. It has a great display, excellent performance, and over 11 hours of battery life in a flexible design. If you prefer Lenovo, Dell, MSI, or Apple, there are great options from them too. So, keep reading to see the best laptop for small businesses and find the best laptop for you.
Which laptop is Best For Business Use?
If someone tells you they know the best business laptop. They are either lying or oversimplifying. There is not a single best business laptop. There might be a laptop that’s best for your business. But that’s as far as we can say.
So, you should choose business laptops based on your employees’ needs. Do they carry their laptop everywhere and Is their work demanding (like 4K video editing) or simple (like administrative tasks.
What is The Best Brand For Business Laptops?
There’s no clear answer to which brand of business laptop is best. Each manufacturer will claim they are the best. But following popular choices can be wise. If millions of businesses buy from Dell, it might be a safe option for you too. So, Gartner’s latest data shows the top seven PC vendors worldwide:
- Lenovo (26%)
- HP Inc (22%)
- Dell (16%)
- Apple (10%)
- Asus (7%)
- Acer (6%)
- Others (13%)
We recommend the top three brands Dell, HP, and Lenovo. Because these are the safest options. They have a long history of providing business laptops and strong partnerships with Intel and Microsoft.
What Does Intel VPro Stand For?
Millions of new business laptop owners open the box, see the Intel sticker, and wonder.
It also makes a certain level of speed, responsiveness, and battery life. AMD has a similar feature with its AMD Ryzen Pro platform. Click the link for more details.
Chromebooks vs. Windows: Which is Better For Business?
Chromebooks are useful for businesses. They are easy for IT teams to manage and automatically update to stay secure. But it’s best to choose Chromebook Plus models for better speed. At the very least, make sure they have a fast processor like an Intel Core i3, i5, or i7. Otherwise, you might end up with a slow Chromebook that frustrates your employees.
Windows laptops also have benefits. Companies like Intel, AMD, and Microsoft, along with Dell, HP, and Lenovo. It has created business laptops that are easy to manage remotely. It offers extra security features like Intel vPro and AMD Ryzen Pro.
How Crucial is Battery Life?
The more a worker moves around, the more battery life they will need. Here’s a table to help, though these are rough estimates:
- If you work at a desk all the time: You will need 0 to 3 hours of battery life. The best choice is a desktop computer or a big laptop.
- If you work both at a desk and elsewhere sometimes. You will need 3 to 6 hours of battery life. The best choice is a medium-sized or big laptop.
- If you are often on the go (like a salesperson). You will need 4 to 8 hours of battery life. The best choice is a medium-sized laptop.
- If you are always moving (like an executive). You will need 10 hours or more of battery life. The best choice is an ultraportable laptop.
What is The Significance Of Screen Size?
We placed screen size next to battery life for a reason. They are often connected. Generally, larger screens make laptops bigger and heavier. This means manufacturers tend to use smaller batteries since bulky laptops are not usually carried around.
- Mobility level
-
- None: always works at a desk
- Occasional (eg hybrid worker)
- Frequent (eg sales person
- Always (eg executive)
- Best screen size
-
- 15.6in or larger
- 14in to 15.6in
- 12in to 14in
- 12in to 13.5in
- Best PC/laptop choice
- Desktop PC or large laptop
- Medium-sized or large laptop
- Medium-sized laptop
- Ultraportable laptop
Screen Resolutions For Business Laptops
When a screen with very high resolution is not always the best choice. More pixels require more battery power. (Note that OLED screens also use more power than regular IPS screens. So, be cautious if you are considering them.
But if use small laptops with screens up to 14 inches, a resolution of 1920 by 1080 still looks sharp. It’s only when you move up to a 15.6-inch screen that you might notice text looking slightly fuzzy.
You can calculate the ppi using a tool like CalculatorSoup by entering the numbers.
However, having more pixels does not just mean sharper images. A high resolution (2560 by 1440 or higher) can be really helpful for working with spreadsheets or high-resolution images. This is especially noticeable on larger screens.
It’s tricky to say for sure if a laptop screen will look sharp to your users. It depends on how far away they sit from it. Generally, if you aim for over 180 pixels per inch (ppi). You will avoid complaints. But going below 150ppi might lead to some.
Tablets, Convertibles, and Hybrid Laptops
Regular laptops are the most popular choice for businesses. However, 2-in-1 convertible designs are becoming more popular for certain tasks. Here are some benefits:
- Easy for adding notes and signing documents.
- Ideal for drawing or sketching ideas.
- Useful for taking notes during meetings.
- Tent mode is handy for presentations.
- Some tasks require touch or a stylus (like tallying in a warehouse).
- Windows 11 works well with touchscreens, which many users prefer for navigation.
Although Android tablets or iPads can handle some of these tasks. They lack the full capabilities of a Windows laptop. So, if tablets are powerful enough, Windows software often offers more features.
Users who prefer touch-based tasks and are comfortable with a smaller screen might find a Windows tablet a suitable option. When paired with a detachable or Bluetooth keyboard. It can serve as a reliable alternative to a 2-in-1 laptop.
Microsoft initially led with devices like the Surface Book Pro. But now Dell, HP, and Lenovo also offer similar professional tablets running Windows 11.
Invest Wisely in Business-grade Laptops
Small businesses often face tight budgets. It might be tempting to choose the cheapest business laptops available. But sacrificing quality is not a smart move when picking laptops for your business.
Think about what your business needs and compare different options and specs. This way, you can select a laptop that meets both your company’s and your employees’ needs effectively.
