Overview
- Jump To Details
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12
Best Business Laptop Overall - Jump To Details
HP Dragonfly G4
Best Alternative to the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon - Jump To Details
Apple MacBook Pro 14-Inch (M3, 2023)
Best MacBook for Most Business Users - Jump To Details
Apple MacBook Pro 16-Inch (M3 Max)
Best MacBook for Business Power Users - Jump To Details
HP ZBook Fury 16 G10
Best Workstation Laptop - Jump To Details
MSI Stealth 14 Studio
Best Budget Workstation Laptop - Jump To Details
Lenovo ThinkPad Z13
Best Ultraportable Business Laptop - Jump To Details
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 8
Best Business Convertible 2-in-1 Laptop - Jump To Details
HP EliteBook 840 G9
Best Laptop for Enterprise Fleets - Jump To Details
Lenovo ThinkBook 14s Yoga Gen 3
Best Small/Medium Business Laptop - Jump To Details
Microsoft Surface Pro 9 (Intel)
Best Detachable Windows Tablet
The Best Laptop Deals In Australia – Live Now
- Dell Australia: Price Match and 30-Day Price Guarantee
- Gigabyte Aorus 17X AZF-C5AU665SP 17" Display Laptop, 13th Gen Intel Core i9, NVIDIA RTX 4090, 32GB DDR5, 1TB SSD – A$4,724.37 (was $7,499, 37% off)
- HP Envy x360 2-in-1 Laptop, 13th Gen Intel Core i5, 16GB DDR5, 512GB SSD – A$1,319 (was $2,199, 40% off)
- Infinity XQ6 Series 16.1" 165Hz Gaming Laptop R7-8845HS, NVIDIA RTX 4050, 16GB DDR5, 1TB SSD – A$1,599 (was $1,999, 20% off)
- Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11, Intel Core i7-1355U, 16 GB DDR5, 512GB SSD – A$2,249 (was $3,169, 29% off)
- MSI Thin 15 B12U 15.6" 144Hz FHD Laptop, i5-12450H, RTX 2050, 8GB, 512GB SSD – A$899 (was $1,299, save $400)
Check out more Australian PC deals here.
Choosing the best laptop for a team is a heavy decision for any business. You need something that's durable, secure, powerful, light, and capable of lasting through a long workday—and you have countless options. We've scanned our recent business laptop reviews and winnowed down our favorite models for getting work done, but as we'll explain in detail after the following picks, selecting from even this subset requires care. Not every laptop matches how you or your employees work, or what you do.
Take a look at some of the best options available, and then read on to learn the fine points of everything from IT management and deployment to secure logins and durable chassis and keyboards. Business laptops work harder than consumer models (and usually cost more), but your business deserves nothing less. These are the best business laptops for 2023.
You Can Trust Our Reviews
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12
Best Business Laptop OverallBottom Line:
You'll still find no finer business ultraportable than Lenovo's 12th-generation ThinkPad X1 Carbon, but the latest model suffers from terminal sticker shock for simply decent performance.Pros
- Elegant and light design
- Fabulous keyboard
- Sharp, vivid OLED screen
- USB-A, HDMI, and USB-C ports
Cons
- Sky-high price
- Decent but not class-leading performance and battery life
- No SD or microSD card slot
Learn MoreLenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 ReviewHP Dragonfly G4
Best Alternative to the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 CarbonWhy We Picked It
For a sleek business ultraportable outside of the Lenovo brand, the HP Dragonfly G4 is a superb choice. With a sharp-looking design, an expansive 3:2 screen, and a long-lasting battery in a thin-and-light frame, this is a first-class machine for business users. It's even a bit lighter than the leading Lenovo. Throw in a wide selection of ports and optional mobile broadband for on-the-go connectivity, and you have an ideal laptop for the office or jet-setting across the country.
Who It's For
Professionals who want an ultraportable business laptop have a wealth of quality choices, but the HP Dragonfly G4 is a particularly excellent alternative to the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11. Leaving few potential buyers behind, the laptop has a similar mix of portability and capability (not to mention nearly 20 hours of battery life) all with its own svelte style.
Pros
- Handsome 3:2 aspect ratio display
- Long battery life
- Full array of ports and available mobile broadband
- Whizbang 5-megapixel webcam
- Sleek and super light
Cons
- No SD or microSD card slot
- Expensive, especially when customized
- Slightly awkward keyboard
Learn MoreHP Dragonfly G4 ReviewApple MacBook Pro 14-Inch (M3, 2023)
Best MacBook for Most Business UsersWhy We Picked It
For a rock-steady business laptop running macOS, you want the 14-inch MacBook Pro. Armed with the new M3 chip, this is Apple's entry-level Pro model, but it's no slouch. The new processor features more cores and faster performance, along with a more powerful GPU and enhanced machine learning, providing ample power for all of your productivity needs. It bridges the gap between the portability-focused MacBook Air and the more capable Pro line, but without any of the performance limitations of the Air. The 14-inch MacBook Pro features a bright and colorful Liquid Retina XDR screen, an excellent keyboard for comfortable typing, and battery life that will carry you through the longest of work days.
Who It's For
Graphic designers and content creation professionals may favor the larger, more powerful 16-inch MacBook Pro (available with the M3 Pro and M3 Max processors). However, office workers who want macOS in a trim, tidy package will be happy with the latest MacBook Pro 14 with M3.
Pros
- Respectable productivity power
- Honest-to-goodness gaming chops
- Bright and colorful Liquid Retina XDR screen
- Excellent keyboard
- Long battery life
Cons
- Power ceiling is relatively limited
- FaceTime camera needs work
Apple MacBook Pro 16-Inch (M3 Max)
Best MacBook for Business Power UsersWhy We Picked It
If you want a true blend of refined design and raw power, the 16-inch MacBook Pro with M3 Max sets a sky-high standard. Outfitted with the outsized power of the M3 Max chip, a 40-core GPU, and a massive 128GB of memory, this is a top-tier workstation for the macOS crowd. It keeps the familiar design of the MacBook Pro, dresses it up in a new Space Black color, and revs the engine with enough power for the most demanding video editor or engineer. Its top-of-the-line performance will handle the most intense workloads, but this level of power doesn't come cheap. If you want the best, be ready to pay for it.
Who It's For
Business power users working in fields like engineering, data science, or even animation will crave the power of the 16-inch MacBook Pro with M3 Max. The recently revised MacBook Pro design is matched with best-in-class performance and nearly 28-hour battery life, making this the cream of the crop for business Macs.
Pros
- Fiery M3 Max processor
- Beautiful Liquid Retina XDR display
- Ample configuration options
- Abundant ports and connectivity
- Superb battery life
Cons
- Expensive, particularly for higher configurations
- Inconsistent GPU performance in testing
- No touch screen
HP ZBook Fury 16 G10
Best Workstation LaptopBottom Line:
The HP ZBook Fury 16 G10 is one of the fastest mobile workstations we've tested, complemented by a stellar 4K display and a premium-feeling (and upgradable) build.Pros
- Leading speeds from top-flight silicon
- Highly configurable and upgradable
- Picture-perfect HP DreamColor 4K display
- Customizable keyboard with RGB backlight
- Superb-looking 5MP webcam
- Robust aluminum chassis
Cons
- Short battery life
- Bulky design
- Cramped arrow keys
Learn MoreHP ZBook Fury 16 G10 ReviewMSI Stealth 14 Studio
Best Budget Workstation LaptopWhy We Picked It
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio is our favorite media workstation for professionals on a budget, with enough muscle to handle video and audio work, and even a little rendering—all in a 14-inch design that's perfect for use on the move. Between the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 laptop graphics chip and the Intel Core i7-13700H processor, it's got enough oomph for a basic workstation, and its 240Hz screen is ready for whatever high-refresh rate work you need to do. Pair that with Thunderbolt 4, HDMI, and speedy Wi-Fi 6E connectivity, and it's ready to get you up to speed for under $1,800.
Who It's For
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio is more of a content creation machine than a professional, ISV-certified workstation, but it still delivers enough power for some media pros, STEM students, and most other digital professionals from behind a 100% sRGB and 99% DCI-P3 screen. The balance of affordability, portability, and power for everything from crunching numbers to rendering 3D imagery make it a smart buy for frugal professionals.
Pros
- Competitive performance in creative apps
- Totable 14-inch size
- Stunning 16:10 display
- Thunderbolt 4 and HDMI connectivity
- Flashy RGB effects
Cons
- Fans are loud when maxed out
- Short battery life
- Just a 720p webcam
- No SD card reader
Learn MoreMSI Stealth 14 Studio ReviewLenovo ThinkPad Z13
Best Ultraportable Business LaptopWhy We Picked It
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 is one of many ultraportable business laptops, but this AMD-powered system stands out from the pack, thanks to its mix of premium design and superb performance. From the first look, you'll know this isn't your father's ThinkPad: Instead of basic black, the lid is covered in recycled vegan leather, and the metal frame of the chassis is accented with polished, bronze-colored aluminum. With a fantastic keyboard, a reimagined TrackPoint, and a spacious glass-surfaced touchpad, you have so much tactile luxury at your fingertips that you'll love to sit down to work. And this slim machine can work, with AMD Ryzen processing and graphics providing some of the best performance in the category, backed with a battery that lasts all day.
Who It's For
Any business user that values mobility will want a fantastic ultraportable, but the premium price of the ThinkPad Z13 makes it a bit more exclusive than most. If you want style and sustainable thinking to be part of your daily driver, then the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 is the business ultraportable for you.
Pros
- Posh, polished design
- Eco-conscious materials and packaging
- Great Ryzen-powered performance and graphics
- Impressive battery life
- Excellent keyboard with re-imagined TrackPoint
Cons
- Only two USB-C ports
- Full HD resolution falls short of higher-res competitors
Learn MoreLenovo ThinkPad Z13 ReviewLenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 8
Best Business Convertible 2-in-1 LaptopWhy We Picked It
For the best 2-in-1 for business, the convertible Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga takes everything we love about the X1 Carbon, and mashes it up with Lenovo's Yoga design, giving you an exemplary hybrid business machine. The top-quality build does more than flip between laptop and tablet, with a trim 14-inch design, MIL-STD 810H sturdiness, a decent port selection, and top-notch performance that goes for nearly 14 hours on a single charge. We do wish the included self-charging stylus were a little more substantial, but that's barely a complaint when looking at this Editors' Choice winner.
Who It's For
If you need more flexibility than even the best clamshell business laptop can deliver, the ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 8 delivers best-in-class capabilities in a convertible design that will make even your boss envious.
Pros
- Exemplary build quality and keyboard
- Decent array of ports
- Onboard self-charging stylus
- Trim and light for a 14-inch convertible
- Available mobile broadband
Cons
- No SD or microSD card slot
- Base screen is a bit low on resolution
- Toy-like mini stylus
- Expensive when individually priced
Learn MoreLenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 8 ReviewHP EliteBook 840 G9
Best Laptop for Enterprise FleetsWhy We Picked It
The HP EliteBook 840 G9 is one of the best laptops for enterprise fleets due to its impressive performance, long battery life, and top-notch security features. HP sells it in a sleek ultraportable design with a decent selection of ports and the option for 4G or 5G mobile broadband, ensuring connectivity on the go. The laptop stands out with its up-to-date features, like a five-megapixel webcam, a taller 16:10 aspect ratio display, and a Wi-Fi 6E radio. While it may not surpass the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon as our favorite business laptop, the EliteBook 840 G9 remains a compelling choice for your core workforce.
Who It's For
If you're buying for an enterprise fleet of business travelers needing a reliable, secure laptop, consider this HP EliteBook. Its impressive performance, long battery life, and optional mobile broadband ensure productivity on the go, while the design and feature set provide versatility for work scenarios in the office and on the road. Enterprises seeking a well-rounded, secure laptop should have it on the shortlist for their fleets.
Pros
- Impressive performance, battery life, and security
- Trim design with a decent array of ports
- Available 4G or 5G mobile broadband
- Smart 5-megapixel webcam
Cons
- A tad heavier than competitors
- No high-res or OLED screen options
Learn MoreHP EliteBook 840 G9 ReviewLenovo ThinkBook 14s Yoga Gen 3
Best Small/Medium Business LaptopWhy We Picked It
Lenovo's ThinkBook 14s Yoga Gen 3 is an excellent choice for small and medium businesses that want business-ready capability and a flexible 2-in-1 design. The ThinkBook Yoga is outfitted with plenty of ports, it has a snappy and efficient keyboard, and it even comes with a standard stylus pen for added productivity. If you want a versatile laptop with a sleek build and performance for office productivity, this is a smart alternative to corporate flagship models like the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga.
Who It's For
This one calls to those who prioritize productivity and appreciate Lenovo's dedication to well-built, capable office machines. The ThinkBook 14s Yoga Gen 3 is perfect for owners of small and medium businesses who want the versatility of a 2-in-1 laptop without a sky-high price.
Pros
- Decent array of ports
- Snappy keyboard
- Standard stylus pen
- Handsome, sleek build
Cons
- Retro screen aspect ratio and resolution
- Wi-Fi 6, not 6E
- No WWAN option
- Priced close to premium ThinkPad and well above consumer Yoga peers
Learn MoreLenovo ThinkBook 14s Yoga Gen 3 ReviewMicrosoft Surface Pro 9 (Intel)
Best Detachable Windows TabletWhy We Picked It
The Intel-based Microsoft Surface Pro 9 is an impressive 2-in-1 detachable Windows tablet with laptop-like performance, impressive battery life, and outstanding cameras. It's ideal for business users who need a tablet that can replace a laptop and want to use it for daily work, creative projects, and productivity on the go, and who may be keen on stylus use. Its sleek design features a 3:2 screen that's inking-friendly and comes with two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports and user-upgradable storage. Some workers may balk at the lack of 5G connectivity, but the impressive engineering, 10-core Intel Core i7-1255U processor, and more than 13 hours of battery life make it a practical tablet for business users, and a deserving Editors' Choice winner.
Who It's For
Clearly, the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 is a high-end tablet suited to professionals and anyone else who needs a pen-computing device with impressive performance, long battery life, and a sleek design. The device is expensive, especially once you factor in upgrades and crucial accessories like the keyboard base and Surface stylus, but it's worth the price for anyone who values quality and performance.
Pros
- Impressive performance and battery life
- Outstanding cameras
- Sleek design, with inking-friendly 3:2 screen
- Two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports
- User-upgradable storage
Cons
- Essential accessories still not included
- No more headphone jack
- 5G only available with SQ3 processor
- High starting price
Learn MoreMicrosoft Surface Pro 9 (Intel) Review
Buying Guide: The Best Business Laptops for 2024
Every laptop benefits from a speedy CPU, bright screen, comfortable keyboard, and long battery life. But the makers of business models add features to meet specific office needs, such as secure logins (via biometric fingerprint readers or facial recognition or SmartCard IDs) and sturdy designs that have passed MIL-STD 810G or the even more severe 810H tests against road hazards like shock and vibration. (First responders and field workers may require even tougher rugged laptops.)
IT departments appreciate fleet deployment and remote manageability functions like those offered by laptops with Intel vPro processors and Trusted Platform Module (TPM) support for secure access. Enterprises also prefer Windows 11 Pro over the consumer-oriented Windows 11 Home (or sometimes a business-focused Linux distribution) and look for laptops with less bloatware or fewer extraneous bundled programs. With so many thin black and silver notebooks on the market, business machines tend to look samey, but the differences that matter most to office users tend to be below the surface, inside the chassis.
![](https://sm.pcmag.com/pcmag_au/photo/d/dell-preci/dell-precision-5680-with-4k-oled-touch-screen_k5tb.jpg)
The line between tablets and laptops is also blurring in the business-machine world. Once the two were separated by operating systems, but now several tablets aimed at businesses run true versions of Windows. Some of these tablets even have physical, detachable keyboards.
But make no mistake, in the business sphere, conventional clamshell-style laptops still rule, and choosing the right one can determine whether you run a company that's successful or one that suffers from too much downtime. Let's walk through essential business-laptop features, the components you'll need, and—also important—how to distinguish between a business laptop and a consumer one.
Which Processor Should I Get in a Business Laptop?
Choosing the right processor for your business machines can be a little complicated, but we have a few rules of thumb to bear in mind whether you're shopping for a personal work machine or upgrading the IT fleet for your whole company.
The first has to do with processor generations. While business systems aren't updated as swiftly as consumer laptops, it's still a smart idea to opt for the current CPU generation when you have the choice. Today, that means Intel's 13th Gen CPUs, previously called "Raptor Lake." The new models feature the same hybrid architecture of 12th Gen "Alder Lake" chips, which pair high-powered Performance cores with low-powered Efficiency cores for multicore processing that can optimize for power or performance, as needed, but now with more of those E-cores.
Non-Intel chips are less prevalent in the business space, but if you have an option, look for AMD's 6000-series Ryzen 7 and Ryzen 9 CPUs (which are slowly being replaced with AMD 7000-series chips). Meanwhile, Apple is meeting business needs with the latest Apple silicon processors offering business and workstation-class capabilities.
As in years past, having more cores is better, but guidelines about quad-core chips seem a bit quaint when Intel's top model, the Core i9-13980HX, packs in 24 cores (8 Performance cores, 16 Efficient cores). Similarly, advice about clock speeds is also outdated, as Intel has stopped using GHz ratings as a way to indicate baseline performance—only boosted clock speeds.
![](https://sm.pcmag.com/pcmag_au/photo/default/02wkkhum4tbl4uyw7efdf0e-42_6266640_4u3x.jpg)
Instead, your best bet is to go by our advice on choosing a laptop CPU, and choose something according to processor tier. For Intel, that means Core i3 models for the most basic work, since they're best suited to web browsing and data entry. Core i5 and Core i7 are better for more demanding work, while Core i9 is the best option for workstation laptops that need more horsepower to crunch huge data sets or render complex models.
You can find low-end business systems that use Intel's Pentium and Celeron processors, but these aren't well suited to daily work. Instead, these are ideal options for less-demanding uses, like running signage or powering a simple in-store kiosk.
On Apple, most professionals will be well served with an the latest M3 and M3 Pro processors, as these chips will handle all sorts of workloads, up to and including video editing. But for serious media work or workstation tasks, we recommend the more capable M3 Max.
As for AMD systems, Ryzen 3 may be sufficient for office work, but most pros will want a Ryzen 5 or Ryzen 7 processor to help power through demanding tasks.
Finally, consider the form factor. As a rule, Intel's H- and HX-series will offer the highest power for the most demanding uses and will be found in mobile workstations and creator laptops, while P-Series CPUs are made to deliver high performance in thin-and-light laptops. Ultraportable laptops generally use lower-wattage chips, such as Intel's U-Series of 15-watt processors. But even with the U-Series models, the basic tiers are there, with Core i3, Core i5, and Core i7 chips each offering good, better, and best processing power.
Also, look for absolutely no less than 8GB of RAM if shopping for a PC for a rank-and-file worker, but go for 16GB if at all possible. (Graphic artists and spreadsheet ninjas should aim for 16GB as their absolute minimum.) The right amount of memory allows you to keep more programs and browser tabs open at once, as well as perform multimedia processes (such as editing photos) faster.
Go Solid State, If You Can: Laptop SSDs
With businesses using video, multimedia PowerPoint slides, and multi-megapixel photos in staff meetings virtual and in-person, opting for a spacious drive is a smart idea. If you're going to go with a traditional platter drive (and at this point, you probably should not), a 1TB hard drive is a decent balance between economy and space.
That said, we're huge fans of solid-state boot drives, and almost all business laptops have moved over to them at this point. While pricier and more meager in their storage capacities, solid-state drives (SSDs) don't have any spinning parts and are therefore better suited to take a licking on the road. SSD-equipped systems also boot and launch apps more quickly. If you'll travel or commute much with your laptop and don't need maximal storage capacity, an SSD is the right choice. SSDs tend to be pricier than hard drives, which means that you'll likely be looking at 256GB or 512GB capacities to maximize your budget.
![](https://sm.pcmag.com/pcmag_au/photo/a/apple-macb/apple-macbook-pro-16-inch-2023-m3-max_wh34.jpg)
Optical drives have all but disappeared on business laptops. If you need to retrieve older files or records stored on CDs or DVDs, an external disc drive can help; that's a smarter move than buying a bulky laptop equipped with an optical drive if you know you're not quite done shuffling discs yet.
What Graphics Should You Get in Your Laptop? Integrated vs. Dedicated
Most business PCs come with integrated graphics chips, which are a lightweight graphics-acceleration solution that's part of the main CPU. These integrated GPUs are usually fine for business laptops since you won't be playing 3D games on a computer meant for work. (Right?) Most professionals who require discrete graphics will use them for specialized tasks such as GPU acceleration in Photoshop, high-definition video creation in Adobe Premiere Pro, or 3D graphics visualization in architectural drawings and CAD software. Mobile-workstation-class laptops will usually come with some sort of discrete graphics, either for their 3D capabilities or to drive multiple monitors.
When evaluating graphics solutions, it's easy to tell what tier of business laptop you're looking at. Integrated graphics silicon is usually dubbed "Intel HD Graphics," "Intel UHD Graphics," "Iris Plus Graphics," or "Iris Xe Graphics" and indicates a mainstream business machine. (Iris Xe Graphics indicate the most up-to-date silicon inside; Radeon Graphics is what you get in the rare AMD Ryzen Pro-based business machines.)
In contrast to integrated solutions, the most common dedicated graphics chips in laptops, as a whole, are from Nvidia's GeForce line, but they are not usual fare in business machines. GeForce GTX or RTX chips tend to be reserved for higher-end consumer or gaming systems, though some business machines will include one of Nvidia's lesser GeForce MX chips to give graphics a little boost. A higher-end workstation machine will tend to use dedicated graphics chips from Nvidia's RTX A series (formerly known as Quadro) or (rarely) AMD's Radeon Pro line.
The exception to this rule is Apple, which builds pro-level graphics processing right into its higher-end chips. Even the basic M3-powered MacBook Pros may be limited to some light photo and video editing, but the beefier M3 Pro and M3 Max processors found in the latest MacBook Pro models offer the same level of graphics power as a Windows system with a dedicated GPU, and even compete with workstation systems.
![](https://sm.pcmag.com/pcmag_au/photo/default/02wkkhum4tbl4uyw7efdf0e-41_6266642_aua9.jpg)
As for the display panel, LCD screens with 1,366-by-768-pixel resolution are still available if you're trying to save some money on your laptop, but avoid them. Your eyes will thank you for upgrading to at least a 1,920-by-1,080-pixel display that makes use of in-plane switching (IPS) technology. This combination will ensure that you have plenty of space for displaying many columns of numbers in Excel or arranging many windows on the screen at once, and that your coworkers will be able to see them from any angle while clustering around your desk.
For graphics or scientific work, a 3K or 4K display provides more real estate still, as well as sharper text and more detailed visuals. Though these are still fairly uncommon fixtures on business laptops, they're emerging at least as options in some isolated models, and worth the money if your job will make use of extra pixels. Just know that, all else being equal, a high-resolution screen will drain battery life more rapidly than a lower-res one of the same base technology.
Stay Connected: Wired and Wireless Options
An effective and fast wireless connectivity load-out is essential in any business machine these days. Offices, airports, and client sites demand wireless connectivity for access to real-time email, messaging clients, and cloud services. Few businesspeople work fully local anymore.
Every laptop these days has some flavor of Wi-Fi built in. It should get you satisfactory throughput, but you have to find a hotspot or an unprotected network to surf the web. Look for dual-band (2.4GHz and 5GHz) Wi-Fi for the best flexibility for your IT organization. The most common kind nowadays, 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6), runs primarily on 5GHz networks, but it will work with 2.4GHz networks as a fallback. Just look out for Wi-Fi 6E, the newest standard in 2023 that is quickly gaining traction.
Offices in high-density buildings may wish to use the less-populated 5GHz bands, as the 2.4GHz channels tend to get more crowded. Some budget business laptops still come with older 802.11ac Wi-Fi 5; these may offer less reliable connections but are still adequate for most small and medium businesses.
Don't discount good old Ethernet entirely: You'll still need it for crowded conferences where the Wi-Fi is saturated. So, if your laptop is too thin to house an Ethernet jack, a USB-to-Ethernet adapter is a worthwhile investment. (One might come in the box.)
![](https://sm.pcmag.com/pcmag_au/photo/l/lenovo-thi/lenovo-thinkpad-x1-carbon-gen-11-2023-ports_28zd.jpg)
These difficulties are, in part, why some business laptops have built-in mobile-broadband wireless modems as options. They work in tandem with available cellular networks to bring broadband speeds to your laptop wherever you find a cellular signal available. You can configure many business laptops with one of these modems integrated for a nominal fee; this option is one of the key distinguishing features of business laptops.
Constant connectivity is a common option for business laptops, but it doesn't come cheap. A 5G wireless connection can run up a hefty monthly fee, but with widely available coverage and service plans from top cellular providers like AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon, it's a good way to stay connected for work on the road. Mobile hotspots and smartphone tethering are also available in case you don't want to buy internal modems for all your employees; they're a quick fix if you only need mobile internet part-time.
Keep Running: How to Get the Best Laptop Battery Life
A big battery can be your best friend on a lengthy flight or a long commute. Business laptops usually come with multiple battery options. Some enterprise-class laptops have two or three different kinds of batteries (four-, six-, and nine-cell options). More cells means longer battery life, all else being equal. The "equal" is the tricky part; this isn't always the case with laptops that use 4K displays or other power-hungry components. A big battery adds some heft, but being able to run it unplugged from dawn 'til dusk is worth the weight gain.
Most ultraportable laptops have non-removable, sealed-in batteries. Laptops with removable batteries do still exist, but they are increasingly uncommon, limited mostly to rugged tablets and laptops designed for extreme conditions.
If you think you'll need more battery life than a single charge can offer, look for an external battery pack rather than limiting yourself to a model with a swappable internal battery. Combined with the internal battery, these external solutions can help deliver battery life in the 19-to-24-hour range. Just be forewarned that these extra-life batteries can weigh down your system by an extra pound or more.
2-in-1 Laptops: Are They Good for Work?
Price and portability are arguably the biggest reasons why a business might consider a Windows-based tablet for work. Some tablets sell for less than $500 and can easily adapt into a corporate environment. While specialized (i.e. expensive) tablets have been in vertical markets, such as health care, for years, the ubiquity of the Apple iPad means that people are used to carrying a computer that doesn't have a physical keyboard or that uses a detachable, basic one.
Look for a Windows tablet if you need to run in-house or third-party apps that were originally created for PCs. True enterprise-class tablets running Windows are still evolving, but most business users expect their work computers to behave the same as their personal tablets. Apple fans will have to be content with using the iPad or iPad Pro for business, as a tablet-optimized version of macOS doesn't exist.
![](https://sm.pcmag.com/pcmag_au/photo/default/02wkkhum4tbl4uyw7efdf0e-44_6266643_pf43.jpg)
Most Windows tablets are built to surf the web, run Office apps, and perform other super-light computing tasks, but they are also compatible with the gamut of security applications, VPN and email clients, and countless hardware peripherals such as printers, scanners, and network-attached storage (NAS) devices. We wouldn't run an entire business on a tablet, but one can be a helpful take-along unit for an offsite meeting or used as a portable alternative to your six-pound big-screen bruiser of a workstation. Microsoft (with its Surface line) and Lenovo (with its ThinkPad variants) are the key players in this market for business Windows tablets.
The Best Chromebooks for Business: Simple and Affordable
With the cloud becoming omnipresent in our computing lives at both work and home, Chromebooks are more viable options than ever for laptops devoted to work activity. These laptops are restricted to using Google's ChromeOS, which began as a souped-up version of the popular web browser. Android apps from the Google Play Store (such as the Microsoft Office suite or Adobe Photoshop Lightroom) extend Chromebooks' abilities, but they often lack features found on the Windows-based versions of the same programs. Businesses that run their core applications on the Google suite may find Chromebooks useful under certain circumstances, though, as emailing and communications stations. The latest models even have Intel vPro IT manageability and security tech built in.
![](https://sm.pcmag.com/pcmag_au/photo/default/02wkkhum4tbl4uyw7efdf0e-39_6266644_n7u6.jpg)
If web-based collaboration is key to your workflow, a Chromebook could be enough, and because Chromebooks don't need powerful hardware to run most web apps, they generally cost a lot less than other business laptops. Some Chromebooks designed for work do have beefier processors and more memory. Our general takeaway, though, is that under most circumstances, they tend to work better as adjunct than primary machines in most businesses.
So, What Is the Best Business Laptop to Buy?
Take some time to consider the nature of your particular job. Doing so should point you toward the ideal business laptop. Paying a little extra for more power or capabilities now will save you headaches down the road. The added value of a longer warranty (some business laptops come with three years), specialized tech support, and a more ruggedized frame (fortified by carbon fiber or magnesium alloy) are some of the extra benefits you may get with a business laptop.
If your work is graphics-intensive, you'll want to opt for a laptop with a discrete GPU. When choosing a processor, you'll have to find the right balance between power for your applications and energy efficiency, and in selecting a battery, you'll need to choose between its capacity and weight. When you determine the best features for your needs, you can focus on just those laptops that incorporate them. And that's where our deep-dive reviews come in.
Our current favorite business laptops are laid out in our spec list. We refresh the list often to include the newest products, and because of the large number of laptops we review every year, not every top-rated product makes the cut. For more, also see our overall top laptop picks, and if money is tight, our roundup of the best budget laptops is worth a read. And if you're looking to fully outfit your work area, also check out our takes on the best business monitors, plus our favorite ergonomic keyboards and printers.