Every family has considered buying laptops for home use like media playing, music, document sharing, school work, printing, and many more. Some families use a laptop for movie sharing or projecting, playing video games as a family or individually, or music for the house. Laptops for home use are commonly shared among family members. That’s why it’s not unusual for parents and household members to consider buying a good-performing laptop that is also durable and fits well on a budget. To help you out, we have created this comprehensive buying guide to help out families look for the best laptops for home use. Here’s the complete list:
Apple MacBook Air M2
PROS
- M2 Chip
- Faster processing than M1 chip
- Longer battery life
- Durable and sleek
CONS
- May need to avail cloud storage
- Fanless design
Specs:
- CPU: Apple M2
- RAM: 8 GB
- Storage: 256 GB
- GPU: Apple M2
- Display: 13.6”
- OS: Mac OS
Newly released this year, the Apple MacBook Air M2 uses the newly upgraded M2 chip. Promising to be faster and better performing than the M1 Chip, the Apple MacBook Air M2 lasts longer than the M1 version and uses a next-generation 8-core CPU. Loaded with 8 GB RAM and 256 GB storage space, the Apple MacBook Air M2 offers flexibility for families who want this laptop for home use. If storage becomes an issue, availing of a shared cloud service can be beneficial for families. The Apple MacBook Air M2 takes the crown for being the best overall laptop for families, especially those who are well intertwined within the Apple ecosystem.
Apple MacBook Air M2
Dell XPS 13
PROS
- Strong processors
- Fast GPU
- Long battery life
CONS
- No USB-A Port
- Shallow keyboard
- GPU may not handle newer games
Specs:
- CPU: Intel Core i7
- RAM: 16 GB
- Storage: 512 GB
- GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- Display: 13.4”
- OS: Windows 10 Pro
If you want versatility, then the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 may be your best bet. Featuring an Intel Core 17, 16GB RAM, and 512 GB SSD storage, this laptop/tablet hybrid is packed with powerful specs and is portable enough to carry in and out of your home. This flexibility attracts many parents and kids who may want to use the tablet during movie nights or when playing simple games but want to use it for school during the day. The 13.4” touchscreen display is perfect for the family who may want touchscreen features for their school or their hobbies. The only downside to this almost perfect laptop is that its GPU may not handle hardcore games. But if casual games are your choice, then you would have no problem at all.
Dell XPS 13
HP Envy x360 15
PROS
- Good battery life
- Great specs
- Comfortable keyboards
- Bundled with stylus
CONS
- No IR camera
Specs:
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5625U
- RAM: 8 GB – 64 GB
- Storage: 256 GB – 1 TB
- GPU: AMD Radeon Graphics
- Display: 15.6”
- OS: Windows 11 Pro
The HP Envy laptop is another convertible laptop on this list. Offering the same amount of flexibility, it has an amazing price-to-performance ratio even at the most basic level. With a premium design, a long battery life, and good specs, the HP Envy 15 is an outstanding laptop for home use whether it’s for school or for leisure. Parents may find themselves wanting this laptop for business purposes. It comes bundled with a stylus pen for writing or drawing. It also comes with many USB ports if needed. The only downside? The camera lacks an IR, so images may be dark in poorly lit areas. But it’s something a secondary webcam can fix.
HP Envy x360 15
Microsoft Surface Laptop 4
PROS
- Sleek design
- Comfortable keyboard
- Good specs
CONS
- Few ports
- Performance for certain programs can be better
Specs:
- CPU: AMD 6-Core Ryzen 5 4680U
- RAM: 8 GB
- Storage: 128 GB – 512 GB
- GPU: AMD Radeon Vega 9
- Display: 13.5”
- OS: Windows 11 Home
Microsoft has been putting out amazing laptops lately, and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 certainly makes necessary steps forward from its predecessors. Sleek design, excellent keyboard, and display, and longer battery life, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 can be used by every family member with no frustrations. Though the speed can be better for certain programs, for casual use, this laptop delivers. It can also handle some gaming if anyone in the family loves playing video games. The laptop can certainly add more ports for flexibility, but as an everyday laptop for home use, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 fits any home perfectly.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 4
Laptops for home use still must have great specs
Just because you’re looking to have a shared laptop at your home doesn’t mean it has to be poor performing. Laptops for home use should be invested in if that’s something you are looking to purchase for your family. Having a shared device can make it easy to share games, books, documents, music files, subscriptions, shopping lists, and more. Finding the perfect one that fits your budget, is durable, and can handle all your computer use needs shouldn’t be too difficult. Hopefully, this list helps break down your choices.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is the best laptops for home use?
Apple MacBook Air M2.