best laptop for remote work

15 Best Laptop for Working from Home in December 2024

You know that the most essential weapon of a remote worker is a laptop or desktop computer. However, determining the best laptop for working from home is not very easy. There are so many different laptops on the market, and it can be hard to know which one is right for you. And not all jobs require the same type of laptop. Different types of computers are required for different types of work.

For example, if you are doing any simple web search-related work then you don’t need a powerful laptop. But if you do any programming or video editing work, you need a much more powerful laptop. Even if you spend a lot of time working with a laptop outside the home, a laptop with a good battery backup is necessary.

This blog post will help you narrow down your choices and find the best work from home laptops for your needs.

Our research team has tested more than 100 laptops and compiled their result of research to find the best laptops for working from home for you.

And they have selected these laptops keeping the following things in mind.

  • Screen Size
  • GPU
  • Hard Disk Size
  • RAM
  • Operating System
  • Graphics Coprocessor
  • Battery Life

Before discussing the best laptop for working from home, let me tell you how to identify the best laptop and what different things to consider when selecting the best one.

How to choose the best laptop for remote work?

While some people may look only at cost when choosing the best laptop to work from home, it’s also important to consider other factors that contribute to the durability and quality of the product. 

It can help you to choose the right laptop to improve productivity and ensure that it’s hassle-free.

Your Needs(Think about your main uses for a laptop)

For Light Use:

If you need to use your laptop for basic web browsing, editing documents, watching videos, and listening to music, then you can choose a laptop equipped with 4 GB or higher RAM and a screen size between 12” to 15.6”.

For Medium Use:

If you’re working on large documents, complex spreadsheets, and presentations, then choose the laptop with 8 GN RAM and a screen size of 12” to 15.6”.

For Heavy Use:

For heavy uses like Graphic Design, professional gaming, 3D animation, running 3rd party software, and software development, choose a laptop that comes with 16 GB ram or higher and a screen size between 15.6” to 17.3”.

Decide how much money you want to spend

When you’re going to purchase the best laptop for remote work price of the laptop should be kept in mind. It should be within your budget while satisfying your needs. Most people look for cheap laptops.

If the price is not a problem for you then I highly recommend you, don’t go for the cheap one.

Because the quality of the component of a cheap laptop is low. This will hamper your work efficiency.

Choose the right operating system

Before buying the laptop, you must figure out which operating system works best for your needs.

There are four major types of operating systems available in the market right now. These are Windows, Mac OS X, Chrome Os, and Linux.

Almost all operating systems support basic things like connecting to an external monitor or using a wired or wireless headset.

Windows

Windows is the most popular and common operating system in the world. The best part of Windows is it works with almost all devices.

If you’re going to use it for gaming or other gaming-related things then I can say it is the only natural choice.

Mac OS X

The beauty of MacOS is its interface. It is very user-friendly.

Moreover, you can choose Mac OS, if you have other Apple Devices like iPhone, iPad, etc.

If you’re looking for a laptop that can handle basic things such as email checking, web browsing, and basic editing work, go for the MacBook Air Series.

And if you’re interested in heavy apps using, designing, and coding-related work, then go for MacBook Pro Series.

ChromeOS

ChromeOS is very popular because of its simplicity and price.

It’s so simple that your grandfather or grandmother can use it. Also, it boots up in seconds and works fast.

Generally, ChromeOS is cheaper than Windows and macOS as it doesn’t need high-end hardware to run.

It’s mainly designed for simple tasks like browsing the internet, watching YouTube videos, or running android apps.

Linux

If you’re searching for an OS that is extremely flexible, easy to use, and secure, then go for Linux OS.

It is one of the best-operating systems as it supports all kinds of programming languages.

You can even run or try it without installing it.

If you are learning to program or want to learn, then choose Linux as you will be able to design your own custom operating system.

Most big companies like Google, Facebook, or Amazon use Linux to protect their systems as it is highly secure and reliable.

And the beauty of this system is you don’t need to use any antivirus to scan it regularly. So, you can choose Linux for work from home jobs if you prefer flexibility and security.

Screen Size:

11-13 inches:

If you’re working from home, a bigger screen might be more comfortable for you. But if you need to travel a lot, then opt for a smaller screen size of 11 to 13 inches.

14-16 inches:

If you’re a movie lover or an entry-level gamer, then 14-16 inches is best for you. Because of its usability and portability, 14-16 inch screen size is the most popular screen size.

17-19 inch

This screen size is ideal for graphic designers, high-end gamers, and editors.

Select the processor and RAM:

If you just want to use your laptop for basic tasks such as web browsing and watching youtube videos, then 4GB of RAM is enough and you don’t need a powerful processor.

But if you’re a power user i.e you want to use your laptop for graphic design or software development purposes, then you need a laptop with more RAM. In this case, 16GB or higher RAM is needed. And you need a more powerful processor.

Figure out how much storage you need

There are two types of storage in the market right now. These are SSDs(Solid State Drive) and HDDs(Hard Disk Drive).

HDDs are much cheaper than SSDs but SSDs are faster than HDDs.

For better performance, I highly recommend going for an SSD.

And if you use cloud storage like Google Drive or Dropbox to store your files then you don’t need a lot of storage but if you want to store your file on your machine then you need more storage.

But I always suggest you buy a laptop that comes with at least 256GB of SSD storage. This will make your machine faster.

Choose the best graphics card:

You’ll find that most laptops come with integrated graphics cards. They mostly come with Intel XE GPU or Intel Iris XE graphics. These graphics cards are enough if you are an average user.

Also, these consume less battery.

But if you need a machine with strong video performance, then you should go for a laptop that has a high-performance graphics card such as the Nvidia graphics card. This will cost you more but you will get the best video experience.

Choose a good battery:

If you travel a lot then you need a laptop with longer battery life. Because it is not possible to take the power chord everywhere you go. In this case, you need to choose a laptop that comes with a powerful battery.

Check out the ports:

At present time, almost all laptops come with Bluetooth and wifi connectivity features. But to choose the best laptop, you have to think about other ports.

Here is the list of the best laptop for working from home.

1. Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, Apple M1 Pro chip with 10‑core CPU)-The Best Laptop for Work from Home!

Top Pick
best laptop for remote work

Specifications

  • Screen Size: 16.2 Inches
  • Color: Space Gray/Silver
  • GPU: 16-Core/32-Core
  • Hard Disk Size: 512 GB/1 TB
  • Ram Memory: 16 GB
  • Operating System: Mac OS
  • Graphics Card Description: Integrated
  • Graphics Coprocessor: M1 Pro

Longer battery life & Blazing fast Speed: Its blazing-fast M1 Pro or M1 Max chip gives you game-changing performance and longer battery life of up to 21 hours. With Apple MacBook Pro, you can easily handle video or photo editing and programming-related work for longer hours. This is why it is the best laptop for working remotely.

Liquid Retina XDR display: Its liquid retina XDR display gives an incredible contrast ratio. You’ll get unbelievable detail in shadows and more variant colors than before.

1080p FaceTime HD camera:
With Apple MacBook Pro’s 1080p FaceTime HD camera, you’ll get sharper video calls in any business calls.

2. Microsoft Surface Book 3 – 15″ Touch-Screen

Microsoft Surface Book 3

best laptop for remote work

Specifications

  • Screen Size: 15 Inches
  • Color: Platinum
  • Hard Disk Size: 256 GB/512 GB/1 TB/ 2TB
  • CPU Model: Core i7
  • Operating System: Windows 10 Home
  • Ram Memory: 16 GB
  • Graphics Coprocessor: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Max-Q

Pros

  • 30% faster than Surface Book 2 15”
  • Up to 17.5 hours of battery life
  • Fastest graphics

Cons

  • No Thunderbolt 3 
  • Expensive

3. Google Pixelbook Go – Lightweight Chromebook Laptop – Up to 12 Hours Battery Life

Google Pixelbook Go

Google Pixelbook Go

Specifications

  • Brand: Google
  • Series: Pixelbook Go
  • Screen Size: 13.3 Inches
  • Color: Just Black
  • Hard Disk Size: 128 GB/256 GB
  • CPU Model: Core i5-8200Y/Core i7-8500Y
  • Ram Memory Installed Size: 8 GB/16 GB
  • Operating System: Chrome OS
  • Graphics Coprocessor: Intel UHD Graphics

Pros

  • Up to 12 hours of battery life
  • Lightweight
  • Titan C security chip and built-in antivirus software
  • Starts up in seconds
  • Brilliant HD touchscreen display
  • Excellent speakers

Cons

  • Only has USB-C ports.
  • No biometric login

4. Lenovo IdeaPad 3

Lenovo IdeaPad 3

Lenovo IdeaPad 3

Specifications

  • Brand: Lenovo
  • Series: Ideapad 3
  • Screen Size: 14 Inches
  • Color: Abyss Blue
  • Hard Disk Size: 256 GB SSD/512GB SSD/1TB SSD/
  • CPU Model: AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
  • Ram Memory Installed Size: 8 GB/12 GB/20 GB
  • Operating System: Windows 11
  • Graphics Coprocessor: AMD Radeon 7 Graphics

Pros

  • Full-time privacy control-Protect your webcam with the built-in privacy shutter.
  • High performance
  • Thin and light

Cons

  • Small touchpad

5. Apple MacBook Air (13-inch Retina Display, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD Storage)-One of the Best Laptops for Work at Home!

Apple MacBook Air

Apple MacBook Air

Specifications

  • Brand: Apple
  • Model Name: New Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD Storage) – Space Gray
  • Screen Size: 13 Inches
  • Color: Space Gray
  • Hard Disk Size: 512 GB SSD
  • CPU Model: Core i5-3320M
  • Ram Memory: 8 GB
  • Operating System: Mac OS
  • Graphics Card Description: Intel Iris Plus Graphics
  • Graphics Coprocessor: Intel Iris Plus

Pros

  • Stunning 13-inch Retina Display
  • Faster Graphics
  • Touch ID
  • Facetime HD Camera
  • All-Day Battery Life

Cons

  • Only two USB-C Ports

6. HP Pavilion 15 Laptop-best hp laptop for working from home!

HP Pavilion 15

HP Pavilion 15

Specifications

  • Brand: HP
  • Series: HP Pavilion 15 Laptop
  • Screen Size: 15.6 Inches
  • Color: Natural Silver
  • Hard Disk Size: 512 GB SSD
  • CPU Model: Core i7
  • Ram Memory: 16 GB
  • Operating System: Windows 10 Pro
  • Graphics Coprocessor: Intel Iris

Pros

  • HP Fast Charge(50% charge in approximately 45 minutes)
  • HP Wide Vision HD Camera
  • Full HD IPS micro-edge Display

Cons

  • Battery

7. Microsoft Surface Pro 7 – 12.3″ Touch-Screen

Microsoft Surface Pro 7

Microsoft Surface Pro 7

Specifications

  • Brand: Microsoft
  • Series: Surface Pro
  • Memory Storage Capacity: 256 GB SSD
  • RAM Memory: 8GB
  • Screen Size: 12.3 Inches
  • Display Resolution Maximum: 2736 x 1824
  • Graphics Coprocessor: 10th Gen Intel Core i5

Pros

  • Laptop-to-tablet versatility
  • Faster than surface pro 6
  • Ultra Slim and Light Design
  • Fast Charging

Cons

  • Only two ports, and no Thunderbolt support

8. Acer Swift 3 Thin & Light Laptop, 14″ Full HD IPS, AMD Ryzen 7 4700U Octa-Core

Acer Swift 3

Acer Swift 3

Specifications

  • Brand: Acer
  • Series: Swift 3
  • Screen Size: 14 Inches
  • Color: Silver
  • Hard Disk Size: 256 GB/512 GB
  • CPU Model: Ryzen 7 4700U/AMD Ryzen 5 4000-Series
  • Ram Memory: 8 GB/ 16GB
  • Operating System: Windows 10 Home
  • Graphics Coprocessor: AMD Radeon Graphics

Pros

  • Fingerprint Reader
  • Built-in Alexa
  • Backlit keyboard
  • Up to 11.5 Hours of Battery Life

Cons

  • Dim display

9. Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, Apple M1 Pro chip with 8‑core CPU and 14‑core GPU)-One of the Best Laptops for Work from Home!

Apple MacBook Pro

Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, Apple M1 Pro chip with 8‑core CPU and 14‑core GPU)

Specifications

  • Brand: Apple
  • Model Name: MacBook Pro
  • Screen Size: 14.2 Inches
  • Color: Space Gray/Silver
  • Hard Disk Size: 512 GB/1 TB SSD
  • CPU Model: Apple M1
  • Ram Memory: 16 GB
  • Operating System: Mac OS
  • Graphics Coprocessor: M1 Pro

Pros

  • Up to 11x faster machine learning performance
  • Up to 17 hours of Battery Life
  • 1080p FaceTime HD camera 
  • Powerful Six Speaker Sound System

Cons

  • No USB-A port

10. Acer Swift X SFX14-41G-R1S6 Creator Laptop

Acer Swift X SFX14-41G-R1S6

Acer Swift X SFX14-41G-R1S6 Creator Laptop

Specifications

  • Brand: Acer
  • Series: SFX14-41G-R1S6
  • Screen Size: 14 Inches
  • Color: Gold
  • Hard Disk Size: 512 GB SSD
  • CPU Model: AMD Ryzen 7
  • Ram Memory: 16 GB
  • Operating System: Windows 10 Home
  • Special Feature: Fingerprint Reader, Backlit Keyboard, HD Audio, Multi-touch Gesture

Pros

  • Biometric fingerprint reader 
  • Built-in Alexa
  • Thin and Lightweight, Easy to Carry
  • 12 Hours of Battery Life

Cons

  • No SD or microSD card slot

11. Microsoft Surface Pro 4

Microsoft Surface Pro 4

Microsoft Surface Pro 4

Specifications

  • Brand: Microsoft
  • Series: Surface Pro 4
  • Memory Storage Capacity: 256 GB/ 512GB
  • RAM Memory: 8 GB
  • Screen Size: 12.3 Inches
  • Display Resolution Maximum: 2736×1824 pixels
  • Configuration 1: Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB
  • Configuration 2: Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM, 512 GB

Pros

  • Infrared (IR) face-detection camera 
  • Larger, sharper screen
  • Improved Surface Pen 

Cons

  • Battery Life
  • Type Cover sold separately

12. Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 13″ Laptop

Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5

Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 13" Laptop

Specifications

  • Brand: Lenovo
  • Series: ChromeBook Flex 5
  • Screen Size: 13.3 Inches
  • Operating System: Chrome OS
  • Hard Disk Size: 64 GB
  • Color: Graphite Grey
  • CPU Model: Core i3-10110U
  • Graphics Coprocessor: Intel Integrated Graphics
  • CPU Speed: 2.1 GHz

Pros

  • 360° convertible
  • Excellent build quality
  • Responsive keyboard

Cons

  • Battery Life could be Better
  • Dim display

13. Apple MacBook Air Laptop with M2 chip-One of the Best Laptops to Work from Home!

Apple MacBook Air Laptop with M2 chip

 Apple MacBook Air Laptop with M2 chip: 13.6-inch

Specifications

  • Brand: Apple
  • Model Name: MacBook Air
  • Screen Size: 13.6 Inches
  • Color: Starlight/ Space Gray/ Midnight/ Silver
  • Hard Disk Size: 256 GB/ 512 GB
  • Ram Memory Installed Size: 8 GB
  • Operating System: Mac OS
  • Graphics Coprocessor: Apple M2

Pros

  • All-day battery life
  • Great performance
  • 1080p FaceTime HD Camera
  • 13.6-inch Liquid Retina Display

Cons

  • Expensive

14. Lenovo Chromebook C330 2-in-1 Convertible Laptop

Lenovo Chromebook C330

Lenovo Chromebook C330 2-in-1 Convertible Laptop

Specifications

  • Brand: Lenovo
  • Series: Chromebook C330
  • Screen Size: 11.6 Inches
  • Color: Blizzard White
  • CPU Model: Mediatek Mt8173C
  • Ram Memory: 4 GB
  • Hard Disk Size: 64 GB
  • Operating System: Chrome OS
  • Special Feature: 2-in-1 Chromebook with a 10-point touchscreen

Pros

  • boots up in seconds
  • 360⁰ convertible
  • built-in virus protection 
  • Long battery life
  • Affordable price

Cons

  • Dull, low-resolution display
  • The keyboard isn’t backlit

15. Acer Aspire 5 A515-46-R3UB -Last one but one of the best laptops for working at home!

Acer Aspire 5 A515-46-R3UB

Acer Aspire 5 A515-46-R3UB

Specifications

  • Brand: Acer
  • Model Name: Aspire 5
  • Screen Size: 15.6 Inches
  • Color: Silver
  • CPU Model: Ryzen 3 3350U
  • Ram Memory: 4 GB
  • Hard Disk Size: 128 GB NVMe SSD
  • Operating System: Windows 11
  • Graphics Coprocessor: AMD Radeon Vega 6

Pros

  • Biometric fingerprint reader
  • Respectable Battery Life at this price
  • Slim and light design
  • Backlit keyboard

Cons

  • Low Storage & RAM

Conclusion

I hope this post will help you figure out the best laptop for remote work. I personally use Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, Apple M1 Pro chip with 10‑core CPU). This laptop is superb in quality. It has improved my productivity and helped me to do my work efficiently.

If money is not the problem for you then go for this Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, Apple M1 Pro chip with 10‑core CPU). According to my own experience, this is the best laptop for working from home.

If you can’t afford it then go for the other options available in the list. Our research team has carefully tested all the above laptops so that you can buy any one of the above laptops without any hesitation.

FAQs(Frequently Asked Questions)

How Much RAM Do I Need to Work From Home?

It depends on what type of work you’re doing. If you need a desktop computer or laptop that can handle basic web browsing and watching youtube videos then 4 GB RAM is enough. But if you’re a power user who needs to handle heavy work like graphic design, and software development then you need more RAM. In that case, you need 16GB RAM or more.

Is a Bigger Laptop Screen Better?

Yes, a bigger screen means a better watching experience and more room for windows.

How much does a good laptop cost?

A good laptop costs $1000 or more.

Which is better, Mac OS Or Windows?

If you prefer security first then Mac OS is better than Windows. On the other hand, Windows is the most popular operating system in the world.

What is the best laptop for working from home?

1. Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, Apple M1 Pro chip with 10‑core CPU)
2. Microsoft Surface Book 3 – 15″ Touch-Screen
3. Google Pixelbook Go – Lightweight Chromebook Laptop
4. Lenovo IdeaPad 3
5. Apple MacBook Air (13-inch Retina Display, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD Storage)
6. HP Pavilion 15 Laptop
7. Microsoft Surface Pro 7 – 12.3″ Touch-Screen
8. Acer Swift 3 Thin & Light Laptop, 14″ Full HD IPS, AMD Ryzen 7 4700U Octa-Core
10. Acer Swift X SFX14-41G-R1S6 Creator Laptop
11. Microsoft Surface Pro 4
12. Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 13″ Laptop
13. Apple MacBook Air Laptop with M2 chip
14. Lenovo Chromebook C330 2-in-1 Convertible Laptop
15. Acer Aspire 5 A515-46-R3UB 

Are Chromebooks worth it?

Chromebook is popular for its simplicity and price. If you need to handle basic work like browsing the internet and watching youtube videos, then Chromebook is perfect for you.

What is the best laptop for working remotely?

1. Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, Apple M1 Pro chip with 10‑core CPU)
2. Microsoft Surface Book 3 – 15″ Touch-Screen
3. Google Pixelbook Go – Lightweight Chromebook Laptop
4. Lenovo IdeaPad 3
5. Apple MacBook Air (13-inch Retina Display, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD Storage)
6. HP Pavilion 15 Laptop
7. Microsoft Surface Pro 7 – 12.3″ Touch-Screen
8. Acer Swift 3 Thin & Light Laptop, 14″ Full HD IPS, AMD Ryzen 7 4700U Octa-Core
10. Acer Swift X SFX14-41G-R1S6 Creator Laptop
11. Microsoft Surface Pro 4
12. Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 13″ Laptop
13. Apple MacBook Air Laptop with M2 chip
14. Lenovo Chromebook C330 2-in-1 Convertible Laptop
15. Acer Aspire 5 A515-46-R3UB 

How much do good laptops cost?

A good laptop costs $1000 or more.

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