Having a good all-around laptop is a crucial part of making your working from home experience stress-free and efficient. What makes a laptop good for your job mostly comes down to what you expect to use it for on a day-to-day basis. For digital artists, graphic designers, and photographers, the best laptop for working from home is a device with high graphics capacity.
Meanwhile, for those of us who mostly just type for work, the only important thing is for a work-from-home laptop to have a good keyboard and decent specs. This is typically what most people need for both work and school.
What to Consider When Buying a Work From Home Laptop
Your Daily Work Tasks
We understand wanting the best laptop money can buy as well as being on a strict budget. However, your laptop is an investment in your livelihood, so your primary concern should be to look for the best laptop for working from home that’s specifically for your job.
If you do graphics-intensive work, you should opt for a laptop with a good GPU. For illustrators, touchscreen laptops may be a great 2-in-1 alternative to a drawing tablet and laptop combo. That said, most jobs that allow working from home only call for a laptop that can withstand a typing and Zoom meetings.
Laptop Size
Older people and visually impaired people who are working from home might find it better to choose a laptop with a larger screen since it’ll give more space for enlarging text and images, making it easier for them to work.
Another reason to consider your laptop’s size is portability. Do you want your laptop to be easier to carry? Even if you do work from home, you may want to move around the house as you work or bring your laptop to your bed. It’s easier to do this when the laptop is lighter and more compact.
Other Things You Want to Do On Your Laptop
Your best laptop for working from home may not simply be a working laptop. Many of us who buy laptops expect them to suit our hobbies and personal projects related to work. In that case, the best laptop isn’t just a work laptop, but one that can support all of the other roles you expect it to do.
For example, if you’re a gamer, you may prefer a working laptop with decent gaming capabilities.
1. HP Pavilion 17.3-Inch Laptop
PROS
- Long battery life
- Thin and lightweight
- Great all-around performance
- Wi-Fi 5 ready
CONS
- A bit out of budget for anyone looking for a starter WFH laptop
Specs:
- 16GB RAM
- Intel Core i5 11th Gen
- 1TB PCle SSD
HP’s HP Pavilion laptops have some of the best designs and most well-rounded specs of any laptop on the market and this one is no exception. The HP Pavilion 17.3-Inch Laptop has an 11th Gen Intel Core i5 processor that makes it possible for you to open multiple programs at once without experiencing a drop in performance. It also comes with 16GB of RAM, so you can expect to meet the requirements for all work-related programs out there, and 1TB SSD storage. The SSD makes this laptop incredibly fast compared to an HDD, and with 1 TB of space, you won’t be filling it anytime soon.
You’d be hard-pressed to find a laptop at this price point that’s as much of a complete package as the HP Pavilion 17.3-inch Laptop.
1. HP Pavilion 17.3-Inch Laptop
Lenovo Ideapad 3
PROS
- Dedicated graphics card
- SSD storage
- Wi-Fi 6 ready
- Slim bezels
CONS
- Low RAM
Specs:
- 8GB RAM
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
- 256GB SSD
The Lenovo IdeaPad3 isn’t going to be a beast of a laptop, but it’s reliable and performs decently which is all you really need when you’re working from home. This laptop ships with 8GB of RAM and 256 GB of SSD storage. These days, it’s easy to fill up that amount of storage with programs, but since you’ll likely be using it for regular office paperwork, you likely won’t notice.
If you need to edit photographs and videos and/or play video games from time to time, you can get it done on this laptop since it’s equipped with AMD Radeon 7 graphics. Of course, it’s not going to blow even a midrange PC out of the water, but for the price and the specs, it’s worth it as long as you only do those occasionally.
Lenovo Ideapad 3
HP Envy 17
PROS
- Good quality webcam
- Fingerprint reader
- Touchscreen FHD display
- Sleek design
CONS
- On the pricey side, but it's not "Apple expensive"
Specs:
- 24GB RAM
- Intel Core i7 11th Gen
- 1TB PCle NVMe M.2 SSD
The HP Envy laptop will make your virtual co-workers green with envy. It’s a beautiful device that easily rivals the design of Apple Mac laptops. Though it uses a 17.3-inch screen, which is common in other laptop models, the thin bezels and crisp corners of this laptop make the screen look larger than it really is.
Performance-wise, this laptop has some of the best specs out there. It comes with an 11th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, 24GB of RAM, and 1TB SSD which is pretty much everything you can ask of a laptop for work. The touchscreen makes working on this device feel more intuitive, especially if you’re always reading documents and need to zoom in on your screen.
HP Envy 17
Asus Zenbook 14
PROS
- HD 1920 x 1080 screen
- Wi-Fi 6 ready
- Thin and lightweight
- Includes a Gen 2 Type-C port
CONS
- 720p webcam doesn't do well in dim home offices
Specs:
- 8GB RAM
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
- 512GB PCle SSD
The Asus Zenbook 14 is a little pricier than the Lenovo ThinkPad, but in exchange, you get almost twice the amount of storage, a much nicer overall design, and a better keyboard with more space for your hands.
The laptop has a 14-inch screen which is just right for most folks who just casually browse the internet and open document windows side by side. Admittedly, it’s a little cramped, but the size still allows for side-by-side windows. This laptop also comes with a backlit keyboard that extends to both sides of the laptop, giving you tons of space for typing. The keys are spaced apart far enough that you won’t be accidentally pressing a different key than the one intended.
Asus Zenbook 14
2021 Apple MacBook Pro
PROS
- Long battery life
- 1080p camera
- Fast charging
CONS
- Much pricier compared to non-Apple laptops with comparable specs
Specs:
- 16GB RAM
- Apple M1 10-Core CPU and 16-Core GPU
- 512GB SSD
If you have a big budget and want a laptop that’s perfect for going on out-of-town trips with, the Apple MacBook Pro offers top-of-the-line performance for minimal weight.
The 2021 Apple MacBook Pro has a 16-inch screen with the most minimal bezels you’ll see on a laptop so you get a lot of screen real estate. This makes it easier for you to reference multiple documents or use multiple programs at a time because you have more room for each window. The laptop also has an Apple M1 Pro processor, which is comparable to the Intel Core i7 processor.
2021 Apple MacBook Pro
2022 HP Envy x360
PROS
- 15.6-inch touchscreen
- Converts to a tablet
- Bang and Olufsen tuned speakers
CONS
- Battery life is inconsistent
Specs:
- 16GB RAM
- Intel Core i5 11th Gen
- 512GB NVMe SSD
The 2022 edition of the HP Envy x360 is a gorgeous device with all the functionality you need from it as a creative. It’s a convertible laptop that folds backward to turn into a laptop-style computer that’s perfect for making illustrations and writing notes on your work while you’re on the go.
It’s equipped with a 1920 x 1080 multi-touch enabled screen and powerful Intel Iris XE graphics to help you complete your next big commission. It also has some of the best speakers on a laptop. Located on both sides of the keyboard, the HP Envy 360x’s speakers are Bang and Olufsen tuned so you can jam to your favorite songs while coming up with new ideas.
2022 HP Envy x360
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon
PROS
- Great, somewhat tactile keyboard
- Stylish design
- Dolby Atmos speaker system
- Up to 19.5 hours of battery life
CONS
- No USB Type-C
Specs:
- 16GB RAM
- Intel Core i7 10th Gen
- 1TB PCle SSD
If your job requires you to do a lot of typing, most laptop keyboards aren’t going to cut it. The best laptop for you is a laptop with a slightly raised keyboard that makes it easier for you to touch type and has minimal key travel.
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon is just that keyboard. Its large, almost clicky keys make touch-typing a breeze since the keys are just large enough that you can tell where your hands are resting without having to look. The keys are also a good distance from each other so you won’t be accidentally pressing multiple keys at the same time, no matter how fast you type.
On top of that, the laptop has a 10th Gen Intel Core i7 processor with 16GB RAM and 1TB SSD so you can trust it to always have space for your documents and manuscripts.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon
Dell 9310 XPS 2 in 1 Convertible Laptop
PROS
- Powerful 11th Gen Intel Core i7 processor
- Touchscreen
- Converts to a tablet
CONS
- Limited ports
Specs:
- 32GB RAM
- Intel Core i7 11th Gen
- 512GB SSD
The Dell 9310 XPS 2-in-1 Convertible Laptop has powerful specs and a premium feel. This lightweight laptop easily folds into a tablet-style computer so you can deliver presentations in style. It comes with an XPS 13 webcam that shows you in crystal clear video during your online meetings.
One key thing that sets this laptop apart from the others on this list is the GORE thermal insulation that keeps the laptop much cooler than other thin laptops. Thin laptops generally have a tendency to heat up faster than thicker laptops because of how tightly all the parts are packed together, but with this laptop, you won’t give yourself burns while working cross-legged on your living room floor.
Dell 9310 XPS 2 in 1 Convertible Laptop
ASUS Chromebook Flip
PROS
- Runs on the lightweight Chrome OS
- Overall good performance
- Backlit chiclet keyboard
CONS
- Low storage space.
Specs:
- 8GB RAM
- Intel Core m3-8100Y
- 64GB eMMC Storage
The ASUS Chromebook Flip C433 is a modest convertible laptop with limited storage. That said, it does have an Intel Coe m3-8100Y processor and 8GB RAM, both of which are fairly decent even if the storage is lacking.
The stylish Chromebook features a full HD touchscreen display with narrow bezels. This gives the impression that the screen is larger than it is and allows the laptop to fit a 14-inch screen in what is actually a 13-inch laptop.
It comes with two USB Type-C ports and a Type-A port so you can plug in multiple devices while you work.
ASUS Chromebook Flip
Lenovo Legion 5 Pro
PROS
- Ultra-bright screen
- Good build quality
- Ports at the back keep cords out of your way as you work
CONS
- The touchpad could be more sensitive
Specs:
- 32GB RAM
- AMD Ryzen 7 5800H
- 2TB PCle SSD
Just because it’s a work-from-home laptop doesn’t mean it has to be a single-purpose laptop. For the gamers out there, you can get the most out of your money by picking out a laptop that has the performance of a gaming laptop and the appearance of a professional working laptop.
The Lenovo Legion 5 Pro has an understated appearance. Even with its RGB keyboard, this laptop focuses on having a mature, professional-worthy design that makes it great for bringing to the office on those rare on-site days and to work-share spaces.
It comes with multiple ports including an ethernet port, a quality speaker, and a dedicated NVIDIA GeForce RTX 370 graphics card.
Lenovo Legion 5 Pro
Frequently Asked Questions
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What laptop specs do I need for work from home?
Generally, you want a laptop with at least an Intel i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256 SSD storage. You can get away with having a laptop with lower specs, especially if it's budget-friendly, but any laptop with lower specs than what we've mentioned is going to be frustrating to use if you're used to the average office computer. -
Which laptop is best for working at home?
The best laptop is the one that suits your needs best. HP Envy, HP Pavilion, Lenovo ThinkPad, and Apple Mac laptops are all safe bets, but any laptop will work as long as it's able to keep up with your day-to-day work tasks. -
Which laptop size is best for office work?
Many people find laptops around 13 to 15-inches to be a good balance between portability and screen space. Depending on your job, though, you may want a 17-inch laptop.