Finding the right laptop for working from home can make all the difference in your productivity and comfort. Whether you’re attending virtual meetings, managing large projects, or handling creative tasks, a reliable machine with great performance, long battery life, and a comfortable design is essential.
Best Laptop Overall
MacBook Air (9/10, WIRED Recommends) continues to shine, blending powerful performance, impressive battery life, premium build quality, and lightweight portability. Thanks to their fanless design, these laptops stay whisper-quiet, and last year’s boost to 16 GB of starting memory made them even better.
The new M4 chipset solves previous issues like poor external display support, now allowing two 4K monitors with the laptop lid open. It also delivers faster graphics, enhanced CPU performance, and on-device AI processing for Apple Intelligence features. A new 12-megapixel webcam adds to the upgrade.
Best Windows Laptop
No single Windows laptop fits everyone’s needs, but Asus’s 16-inch powerhouse (8/10, WIRED Recommends) comes impressively close. It balances power, portability, battery life, and value better than most. Equipped with an AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 CPU, Radeon 880M graphics, and 24 GB of RAM, it easily outperforms competitors in its price and weight class, even on AI tasks like real time translation and image creation.
Best Gaming Laptop
Razer Blade 16 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) pairs the powerful RTX 5090 Laptop GPU with an ultra-slim 0.59-inch design, making it one of the thinnest gaming laptops available. Despite the slimmer build, it runs cooler and offers a snappier keyboard with 1.5-mm key travel.
The RTX 5090’s standout feature, multi-frame generation, uses AI to insert frames between rendered ones, delivering ultra-smooth, high frame rates and elevating ray-traced graphics to new levels. While the Razer Blade 16 remains pricey, its cutting-edge performance and premium build make it worth the investment.
Best Budget Laptop
Budget laptops often suffer from weak performance and poor battery life, but the entry-level Snapdragon X processor from Qualcomm changes the game. While not as fast as the Snapdragon X Plus or X Elite, it delivers impressive battery life, as seen in the Asus Vivobook 14 (6/10, WIRED Recommended). Priced around $700, this model offers 512 GB of storage and 16 GB of RAM rare at this tier.
Best Laptop for Video Editing
MacBook Pro remains the ultimate video editing machine. Powered by Apple’s new M4 chip, it pushes performance even further for power users. Available in 14- and 16 inch sizes, the latest MacBook Pro (7/10, WIRED Review) sticks with its iconic design a smart move. Its mini-LED display offers stunning color accuracy, HDR support, and a new nano-texture option that virtually eliminates glare.
Best Compact Laptop
Dell’s XPS 13 has long stirred debate over its missing function keys and “invisible” haptic trackpad, but it remains the top compact laptops you can buy. Slightly thicker than a MacBook Air, it weighs just 2.6 pounds and measures a slim 11.6 inches wide, perfect for travel and coffee shop work.
The latest XPS 13 offers two versions: Intel or Snapdragon. Unless you’re gaming, the Snapdragon model is the clear winner, combining excellent performance with outstanding battery life. It’s easily the best XPS 13 tested, even with the divisive design quirks.
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Best Chromebook
For those who see a laptops as a browser with a frame, a Chromebook is ideal. Google’s 2023 Chromebook Plus upgrade boosts performance with faster processors, more memory, better storage, and improved cameras. Lenovo’s Flex 5i Chromebook Plus (8/10, WIRED Recommends) stands out, offering a speedy 3.75-GHz Intel Core i3-1315U CPU, 8 GB of RAM, and 128 GB of storage.
It features two USB-C ports, one USB-A port, and a microSD card slot for easy storage expansion. The 14-inch touchscreen’s 2-in-1 design makes it perfect for streaming, though the mid-level brightness and 1080p resolution are typical for Chromebooks.
Best Linux Laptop
Prefer Linux over Windows 11? System76’s Lemur Pro (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is a lightweight 14-inch laptops that nails the balance between power and portability. It comes with an Intel Core Ultra 5 processor, 8 GB of RAM, and a 500-GB SSD, with options to upgrade to a Core Ultra 7, 56 GB of RAM, and up to 8 TB of storage.
What is the best laptop for me?
Choosing the best laptops starts with knowing how you’ll use it and where you’ll use it most.
Work & Productivity
If portability tops your list, look for a modern ultraportable that’s lightweight, comfortable, and delivers strong battery life. I recommend the MacBook Air M4 (macOS) or Dell XPS 13 (Windows 11) for getting work done on the go, with options to upgrade to larger screens if you need more workspace.
Gaming
For serious gaming, prioritize a laptops with a fast CPU, discrete graphics, plenty of RAM, and a high-refresh-rate display for smooth gameplay above 60 fps. I highly recommend the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14, which checks all these boxes.
Creative work
For 3D work, video editing, or heavy content creation, you’ll need a laptops much like a gaming rig, a rigpowerful CPU, a ,discrete GPU, and ample RAM to tackle demanding tasks. A high-quality display is essential too. I recommend the MacBook Pro (14-inch M4) or the Asus ProArt P16 for the best experience.
Casual use
If your needs are basic word processing, web browsing, and streaming you can save big with a budget friendly laptops. I recommend the Acer Aspire Go 15 for Windows users or the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus if you’re open to ChromeOS.
Frequently Asked Questions
What features should I look for in a work-from-home laptop?
Look for a powerful processor (Intel Core i5, Ryzen 5, or better), at least 8 GB of RAM, solid battery life, a comfortable keyboard, and a high-quality webcam for video calls.
Are MacBooks good for working from home?
Yes, MacBooks like the MacBook Air M4 and MacBook Pro M4 offer excellent performance, long battery life, and premium build quality, making them great options for remote work.
How much RAM do I need for working from home?
For basic tasks like browsing, emails, and office work, 8 GB of RAM is sufficient. If you handle heavy multitasking, graphic design, or video editing, 16 GB or more is recommended.
Do I need a dedicated graphics card for remote work?
Most remote workers don’t need a discrete GPU unless they do 3D rendering, video editing, or gaming. Integrated graphics are usually enough for everyday tasks.
What’s the ideal screen size for a work-from-home laptop?
A 13- to 15-inch screen strikes a good balance between portability and comfort. If you prefer more workspace, a 16-inch laptop might be better.
Are Chromebooks good for working from home?
Chromebooks like the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus are great for web-based tasks, document editing, and video calls, especially if you use Google Workspace tools.
How much should I spend on a laptop to work from home?
Expect to spend around $600 to $1,200 for a high-quality work-from-home laptops. Budget models can handle basic tasks, while higher-end devices offer better performance and features.
Conclusion
Choosing the right laptops for working from home can make all the difference in your productivity and comfort. Whether you need a powerful machine for content creation, a lightweight ultraportable for everyday tasks, or a budget-friendly option for basic work, there’s a perfect fit for every need and budget. Focus on the most important features.