A good work laptop makes the difference when it comes to productivity, and the best business laptops will keep you productive. We’ve rounded up seven laptops that do the trick for road warriors and home office veterans alike, combining power with portability and great build quality.
Although we’ve picked several laptops with different features and prices, one stands out. The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 4 is our top pick. It’s built to withstand even the toughest beatings, all while packing in the latest and most powerful components. You can also take a look at our list of the best laptops overall for more options.
Mark Coppock/Digital Trends
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 5
An upgradeable powerhouse of a business laptop
Pros
- Excellent build quailty
- Superior entry-level display
- Solid performance
- Good keyboard and touchpad
- Very powerful configuration options
Cons
- Performance was inconsistent
- Battery life was middling
Why you should buy this: It’s the most powerful 15-inch business-oriented laptop on the market.
Who it’s for: Any business professional who needs speed along with great support and durability.
What we thought of the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 5:
Few laptop lines are as iconic as the ThinkPad. If you spend most of your time in a conference room rather than a coffeehouse, then chances are you’ve at least considered one of these laptops. The best is Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 5, a 16-inch laptop offering the best mainstream components with the usual ThinkPad aesthetics, build quality, and support. We’ve listed our Gen 4 review given that the Gen 5 is primarily a components update.
The base configuration comes with a 12th-generation 45-watt 14-core/20-thread Intel Core i7-12700H CPU, 8GB of RAM, a 256GB solid-state drive (SSD), and an Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti 4GB. A high-end configuration packs in an Intel Core i9-12900H with vPro, 64GB of RAM, up to 4TB of SSD storage spread across two drives, and an Nvidia RTX 3080 Ti GPU.
Lenovo pairs the internal parts with a 16-inch 16:10 WQXGA (2560 x 1600) display, which you can upgrade to a 4K+ (3840 x 2400) IPS display with 600-nit peak brightness. The high-end display looks gorgeous, though it’ll tax the ThinkPad X1 Extreme’s already limited battery life.
Like many other ThinkPad machines, the X1 Extreme Gen 5 is built for the MIL-STD 810G standard, so it is super durable, and the keyboard is excellent. For ports, it comes with two USB-A, two USB-C with Thunderbolt 4, HDMI 2.1, a 4-in-1 SD card reader, and a 3.5mm headphone/microphone combo jack.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 5
An upgradeable powerhouse of a business laptop
Mark Coppock
HP ZBook Studio G9
The businessperson’s workstation
Pros
- Solidly built
- Spectacular display
- Thin and light for a workstation
- Excellent keyboard and touchpad
- Good productivity and creative performance
Cons
- Too expensive
- Performance doesn’t match the price
- Terrible battery life
Why you should buy this: It crams the power of a desktop workstation into a surprisingly portable package.
Who it’s for: Anyone who needs massive number-crunching and visualization power on the go.
What we thought of the HP ZBook Studio G9:
If you edit 4K video, design buildings, or use 3D modeling to develop products, then you need more processor and graphics power than you’ll find in the typical laptop. Chances are, you have a workstation desktop sitting in your office, and you need something almost as powerful to take on the road. That’s where portable workstations come in, and the 15.6-inch HP ZBook Studio G9 is one of the best laptops for video editing. As with the ThinkPad above, we’re listing our earlier generation review; the Gen 9 version is similar except for the internal components.
It all starts with a choice of true workstation-class components, including up to an Intel Core i9-12900H with vPro, Quadro RTX 5500, and 64GB of RAM. These are optimized for applications like Adobe’s creative app suite, Revit, Navisworks, Enscape for architects, and AutoCAD and Solidworks for engineers. HP offers a 4K DreamColor display, too, that’s incredibly bright at 500 nits and has 100% Adobe RGB coverage and true 10-bit color.
The HP ZBook Studio’s ports are also ready for anything, including USB-A, Thunderbolt 4/USB-C with DisplayPort support, and HDMI 2.0. All this is packed into a chassis that’s relatively light at 3.81 pounds and thin at 0.72 inches. That’s plenty of highly portable power — if you can handle the price.
HP ZBook Studio G9
The businessperson’s workstation
Dell XPS 13 Plus
A thin-and-light laptop for businesspeople
Pros
- Irresistibly fresh design
- Great OLED screen
- Helpful performance modes
- Excellent haptic touchpad
- Webcam has been improved
Cons
- Gets warm on the bottom
- No headphone jack
Why you should buy this: It’s one of the smallest 13-inch laptops you can buy and one of our favorite all-around laptops.
Who it’s for: Anyone who needs the full power of a modern laptop but without the weight.
What we thought of the Dell XPS 13 Plus:
Dell’s XPS 13 Plus isn’t exactly a “business-class” laptop, but Dell is no stranger to equipping enterprises. And if you’re looking for the smallest and lightest laptop you can carry around without sacrificing too much power or compatibility, the XPS 13 Plus is among our top choices.
The laptop comes with 28-watt 12th-generation Intel Core processors, starting with the 12-core/16-thread i5-1240P but with plenty of upgrade options, ideal if you want top performance. RAM starts at 8GB, and storage starts with a 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD. All versions come with a choice of Full HD or 4K displays, with a 3.5K OLED option as well, and you’ll enjoy the excellent design and build quality along with an edge-to-edge keyboard and haptic touchpad.
Graphics capabilities aren’t truly impressive with the integrated Intel Iris Xe. It’s not the best choice if you really need high-powered dedicated graphics power for design work. However, the Dell XPS 13 Plus remains one of the best 13-inch laptops we’ve seen overall.
Dell XPS 13 Plus
A thin-and-light laptop for businesspeople
Mark Coppock/Digital Trends
HP Envy x360 15 AMD
A fast and secure business convertible 2-in-1
Pros
- Excellent productivity performance
- Convertible 2-in-1 flexibility
- Good keyboard and touchpad
- Better-than-average security features
Cons
- Large in tablet mode
- Build quality is a little flexible
Why you should buy this: You get all the advantages of a business-class laptop with the flexibility of a pen-enabled 2-in-1.
Who it’s for: Anyone who wants to draw and take notes — and relax with a little Netflix on the side.
What we thought of the HP Envy x360 15 AMD:
HP makes some of the best 2-in-1 laptops you can buy, a top pick if you need business features that a consumer convertible laptop just can’t provide, such as enhanced security and extra durability.
The Envy x360 15 remains one of the best options in this field, with a spacious 15.6-inch FHD touchscreen, 360-degree convertible design, and ports including USB-A 3.2, USB-C, and HDMI (plus compatibility with Wi-Fi 6).
Inside, you’ll find a six-core Ryzen 5 5625U processor and integrated Radeon graphics, plus 8GB of RAM and 256GB of PCIe NVMe SSD storage (both upgradeable). Ports include USB-C, USB-A, HDMI 2.0, and a multi-format SD media card reader.
Keep in mind, with that large screen and a keyboard that includes a numeric keypad, carrying and converting the HP Envy x360 15 is going to be a much bigger job than it would be for a smaller 13-inch laptop. However, the extra display room is also nice for sketching more detailed notes or drawings, so there’s also an advantage to the size. Just make sure you have enough room!
HP Envy x360 15 AMD
A fast and secure business convertible 2-in-1
Acer Swift 3 (Ryzen)
A faster yet budget-oriented portable business laptop
Pros
- Solid build quality
- Supreme performance
- Great value
- Comfortable keyboard
Cons
- Mediocre touchpad
- Dim display, narrow color gamut
Why you should buy this: A light and surprisingly powerful laptop for a very affordable price.
Who it’s for: Anyone on a budget who needs a laptop capable of serious work.
What we thought of the Acer Swift 3 (Ryzen):
Typically, a budget laptop has to compromise on something, be it power, size, or storage. Acer’s Swift 3 manages to offer powerful features with relatively little compromise anywhere. Most notably, the 14-inch HD laptop comes equipped with a Ryzen 7 4700U processor with an impressive eight-core design — something that’s hard enough to find on any laptop, let alone for this price.
Inside, you’ll also find integrated Radeon graphics, 8GB of RAM, and a 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD. Ports include USB-C, USB-A 3.2, DisplayPort-over-USB-C, and HDMI. All this is in a design that’s only 2.65 pounds, easily portable for on-the-go business work.
The Acer Swift 3 (Ryzen) is also up to date in all the right ways, including compatibility with Wi-Fi 6. There’s even Alexa voice assistant support for voice commands, and professionals will appreciate the built-in fingerprint reader for security. Note that if you want to save even more money, you can look for a renewed version of this model, but for this excellent price, there’s no downside to buying new.
Acer Swift 3 (Ryzen)
A faster yet budget-oriented portable business laptop
MacBook Air M2
A MacBook for business professionals
Pros
- Incredibly thin
- Upgraded webcam and speakers
- Shockingly good performance
- Battery life stomps the competition
- Screen and keyboard are world-class
Cons
- Worryingly hot internal temperatures
- Still only supports one monitor
Why you should buy this: Apple’s M2 chip does wonders for one of the best MacBooks you can buy.
Who it’s for: Apple fans looking to upgrade and anyone interested in a laptop that’s silent and powerful.
What we thought of the Apple MacBook Air M2:
Apple’s M2 system on a chip (SoC) has done wonders for the MacBook Air, not to mention a redesign that brings the diminutive laptop in line with the larger MacBook Pros. Performance is on-par or better than the Intel parts that proceeded the M2, all while staying cooler and quieter. Some applications still aren’t optimized for the M2, but developers have been pushing updates for Apple’s new platform. Now, all the apps that matter run on Apple’s new silicon, and sometimes, they even run better.
Outside of the M2 boost, the MacBook Pro remains the marvel of a machine it has always been. The keyboard is one of the best on the market, and the screen puts most Windows laptops to shame. It’s also incredibly thin at just 0.44 inches.
For power, the M2 packs up to eight cores of CPU power, 10 cores of GPU power, and up to 24GB of RAM. The base 13.6-inch MacBook Air M2 comes with 256GB of SSD storage, but you bump that up to 2TB, depending on your configuration.
The latest MacBook Air M2 comes with all the upsides of previous models, plus a little more. It comes with all the downsides, too. The latest model sports two Thunderbolt ports and nothing else. Thankfully, you can get past the limited port selection with a decent Thunderbolt dock.
MacBook Air M2
A MacBook for business professionals
Mark Coppock/Digital Trends
HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook
A Chromebook tailored for business
Pros
- Outstanding Chrome OS performance
- Superior haptic touchpad
- Beautiful display
- Attractive aesthetic
- Google Enterprise support with vPro
- Excellent connectivity with Thunderbolt 4
Cons
- Expensive
- Below-average battery life
Why you should buy this: It’s one of the best Chromebooks on the market, and you can configure it with solid parts.
Who it’s for: Anyone who wants the power of a Windows laptop without the clutter.
What we thought of the HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook:
The HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook is one of the pricier Chromebooks on the market, though it’s still cheaper than some of the other laptops on this list. It’s also the most innovative Chromebook you can buy. It’s the best of both worlds, combining options for capable CPUs like a 12th-gen i7-1265U with vPro with Chrome OS Enterprise’s supreme usability and business support. The base configuration comes with an Intel Core i3-1215U, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of flash storage, but you can trick the Elite C1030 Chromebook out with up to an i7-1265U vPro, 32GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage.
If you jump between web-based apps, the Elite Dragonfly Chromebook is a great choice. Chrome OS is streamlined, allowing you to focus on the apps that matter without too much clutter (or OS overhead). The keyboard is clicky and responsive, though it still falls slightly short of the best laptop keyboards. And the laptop is the first Chromebook with a haptic touchpad.
Additionally, the Elite Dragonfly Chromebook comes with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 on board, with an optional 5GB WWAN. For ports, you have access to two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 support, one USB-A port, a full-size HDMI 2.0 port, a microphone/headphone combo jack, and a microSD card reader.
HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook
A Chromebook tailored for business
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I look for in a business laptop?
There are several factors that go into choosing a business laptop. Externally, choose a laptop that has a build and form factor you like. You’ll be working on the laptop, so you want to make sure it’s comfortable. Under the hood, most business laptops rely on their CPU performance. A mid- to high-end CPU from Intel or AMD will help tear through spreadsheets and most demanding applications. If you’re new to the world of processors, make sure to read our CPU buying guide.
How much RAM do I need for a business laptop?
We recommend at least 8GB for a business laptop. The amount of RAM you need mostly depends on what applications you’re running, but 8GB is great for browsing, office applications, and messaging applications. If you’re working with large Photoshop files or something similar, consider upgrading to 16GB. Make sure to read our guide on how much RAM you need if you’re still lost.
Are business laptops good for gaming?
Business laptops aren’t inherently good for gaming, but there’s some overlap. Top business laptops come with powerful processors and a lot of RAM, both of which are good for gaming. However, most business laptops don’t come with a dedicated graphics card. Without that, most business laptops are only good for light gaming. Some models are available with a dedicated graphics card, though, such as the Dell XPS 15.
Can I claim my laptop as a business expense?
You can claim your laptop as a business expense as long as you use it solely for business. The IRS allows you to deduct the business portion of usage only. So, if you split your time evenly between work and personal time, you can deduct half of the cost of the laptop. Additionally, you can deduct the cost of equipment at once or over the course of several years as a depreciating asset.
Editors’ Recommendations
