Are you searching for the perfect laptop with the best deal to boost your productivity even while working from home?
Worry no more! I’ve compiled a list of the best laptops for working from home in 2023, catering to various needs and budgets.
In this blog post, in addition to showing you the best laptops for remote work, I’ll also share some essential factors to consider when choosing the best laptop for working from home.
You’ll also be given some helpful, practical tips for creating an efficient work-from-home setup too.
Let’s have a closer look and find the right laptop for your remote work!
What Are The Best Laptops for Working From Home?
Let’s just get right into our top picks of the best laptops for remote work! I’ll also share with is best for each specific use case.
1. Apple Macbook Pro M2 16″ (2023)
Overview:
The Apple Macbook Pro M2 16” (2023) is a powerhouse boasting a stunning display and lightning-fast processing power. It’s the best laptop for creative professionals and heavy multitaskers who require a high-performance machine to handle their demanding work tasks.
With its large Retina display and M2 Pro processor, it’s perfect for graphic designers, video editors, and other creatives who need a reliable and efficient laptop for working remotely.
Not only is the Macbook Pro M2 16” an excellent choice for performance, but it’s also a sleek and stylish device suitable for any workspace.
Technical Specifications:
- Apple M2 Pro Max processor with 12‑core CPU
- 38‑core GPU
- 16‑core Neural Engine
- 16-inch Liquid Retina XDR display
- MagSafe 3 port
Key Features:
- M2 Pro/Max processor
- Retina display
- 16” screen size
- Up to 96GB memory
- Up to 8TB of storage
My Take:
The sleek design and impressive features of the Apple Macbook Pro M2 16″ (2023) make it the ultimate laptop for both work and play, providing the best of both worlds for those who demand excellence in their remote work setup.
2. Lenovo ThinkPad E15 Gen 4
Overview:
For business professionals seeking a perfect balance of performance, durability, and affordability, look no further than the Lenovo ThinkPad E15 Gen 4. This laptop offers a compelling combination of features tailored for professional use, making it an ideal option for those who need a reliable machine for their work tasks.
Technical Specifications:
- Intel® Core™ processor (12th Gen)
- Integrated Intel® Iris® Xe graphics
- 15.6″ Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS Screen
- 16GB RAM
- 512GB SSD
- 1080P Webcam
Key Features:
- Budget laptop with affordable pricing
- Good for professional and business use
- Touchscreen
- Good laptop for Windows and Microsoft Apps like Excel
My Take:
The Lenovo ThinkPad E15 Gen 4 is an ideal choice for those seeking a reliable laptop that won’t break the bank. It provides good performance and features tailored for professionals, making it a great option for working remotely.
3. HP Pavilion 15
The HP Pavilion 15 is a versatile mid-range laptop with a touchscreen display and solid performance for various tasks. With a 1 TB hard drive and a high-end processor, you’ll have ample storage space and power to easily tackle your daily workload.
Technical Specifications:
- 16GB RAM
- 15.6″ Full HD Display Screen
- Built-in Fingerprint Reader
- Intel® Core™ i7-1255U processor (12th Gen)
Key Features:
- Good performance for the price
- Affordable laptop
- The fingerprint reader helps with easy unlock
- Greater security for business work through a fingerprint reader
My Take:
The HP Pavilion 15 is a great laptop for those who need a laptop with decent performance, storage capacity, and features. It’s perfect for those on a budget and offers value for money with its range of excellent specs.
I found the fingerprint reader was really convenient for unlocking the laptop, just like most modern Macbooks. This also adds greater security to the device.
The HP Pavilion 15 is also the best budget laptop on this list!
4. Apple Macbook Air M2 15″ (2023)
Overview:
When it comes to lightweight portability and impressive performance, the Apple Macbook Air M2 15” (2023) is a top contender.
This laptop is an ideal choice for remote workers who need a powerful device without the added bulk.
With its remarkable Retina display and speedy processing by the M2 Apple Silicon, the Macbook Air M2 15” is suitable for online surfing, document processing, light picture, and video editing, and even programming.
Its exceptionally lightweight, slim design makes it easy to carry around and work from anywhere, providing remote workers with the perfect blend of power and portability.
Technical Specifications:
- 1080p Webcam
- 15.3-inch Liquid Retina Display Screen
- Touch ID fingerprint scanner
- M2 Apple Silicon processor with 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, and up to 24GB of unified memory
Key Features:
- Slim form factor
- Larger screen size at 15.3″
- Slim bezels
- Upgraded 1080p webcam
- Powerful M2 Apple Silicon processor
- Larger battery life (compared to the 13″ model)
My Take:
The Macbook Air M2 15″ (2023) is perfect for remote workers who want a powerful laptop in an ultra-slim form factor. It offers users the ability to work on the go with its lightweight design and convenient features like a Touch ID fingerprint scanner and larger battery life.
I particularly love the upgraded 1080p webcam – it makes video conferencing, or FaceTime calls from home a lot easier and more enjoyable.
5. LG Gram 16″
Overview:
The LG Gram 16” laptop is an excellent choice for those who need a lightweight device with a large display and long battery life.
Ideal for writers and multitaskers, this laptop offers a generous display that allows for comfortable viewing and seamless multitasking. Coming in at a large 16″ display, this screen is perfect for those who are looking for a powerful desktop replacement laptop.
Powered by an Intel 11th generation i7 processor, the LG Gram 16” delivers outstanding performance without sacrificing portability. Its array of ports ensures that you have all the connectivity options you need for everyday use.
With its premium design and impressive battery life, it’s the perfect laptop for those who demand both style and substance in their remote work setup.
Technical Specifications:
- 2560 x 1600 pixel 16″ IPS Display Screen
- 2.62 pounds (1.19 kg)
- Intel Xe Graphics
- 1TB PCIe M.2 NVMe SSD
- 16GB RAM
- Intel Evo 11th gen Core i7
Key Features:
- Ultra-Lightweight
- High resolution (2K)
- IPS screen makes it easier to view from different angles
- Built-in Alexa functionality
My Take:
The LG Gram 16″ is the perfect laptop for those seeking an ultra-lightweight device with a large display. It offers impressive performance, long battery life, and an array of ports to ensure you have all the connectivity options you need.
I love that this laptop offers built-in Alexa functionality so I can manage tasks hands-free from anywhere. I also appreciate the high-resolution IPS display which makes it easier to view from different angles. This makes long hours of working from home much easier on the eyes.
Overall, I think this is an excellent laptop for those who need a powerful device with portability and style. It’s perfect for remote workers who are looking for an all-in-one solution.
This laptop is also a good Windows alternative to Macbook Air laptops.
6. Lenovo Legion 5 Pro Gen 7 (16” AMD)
Overview:
If you’re looking for a powerful laptop that can handle both work and gaming, the Lenovo Legion 5 Pro Gen 7 (16” AMD) Gaming Laptop is the one for you.
Its large 16-inch display and powerful AMD Ryzen 7 processor are ideal for gaming and professional work.
The Legion 5 Pro is equipped with an impressive refresh rate of 165z on the 2K panel that gives you a smooth gaming experience without any input lag or stutter. It also features a thermal design that facilitates cooling and ensures your laptop runs quietly and efficiently.
It also has a robust fan system with an expansive heat pipe layout!
Technical Specifications:
- AMD Ryzen 7-5800H processor, 8-core
- 16″ FHD 165Hz refresh rate display (IPS)
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 6GB graphics card
- 1TB SSD storage
- 32GB DDR4 RAM
Key Features:
- Anti-glare screen
- IPS panel
- High refresh rate display
- Large display size
- Powerful graphics card for heavy computing work
- Good RAM for multitasking
- Excellent cooling system
My Take:
The Lenovo 5 Pro Gen 7 (16” AMD) Gaming Laptop is a highly capable device for both professional and recreational use.
Its top-notch performance makes it an excellent option for those who require a laptop that can seamlessly transition between work and play.
One feature that I really appreciate is its anti-glare display since this would make it easier on your eyes if you’re planning to use it for work.
Moreover, this is a powerful Windows laptop that can even rival the Macbook Pro laptops.
7. Apple Macbook Pro M1 14″ (2021)
Overview:
For the first in this list, we have the Apple Macbook Pro with M1 Chip!
The Apple Macbook Pro laptop is no stranger to us. And many creatives and programmers use it for a really good reason.
The Pro lineup of Macbooks produced by Apple has been trusted by all kinds of users for its reliability.
With the first chip designed specifically for Mac, the M1 Macbook Pro laptops are made to be blazingly fast. Although it doesn’t run the latest Apple Silicon chip, it is still plenty fast for most applications!
It runs on the macOS operating system, which is really reliable when it comes to having a good machine to store all your important project files without having to worry about crashes.
It’s powered by Apple’s M1 processor and has 16GB of RAM, with possible upgrades up to 32GB. For storage, it comes with a standard 512GB SSD but can be upgraded to a whopping 1TB SSD!
The M1 Macbook Pro is also known to have a very good battery life, lasting up to 11 hours on a single charge. The only drawback is that it’s quite expensive, with high starting costs.
Technical Specifications:
- Processor: Apple M142
- RAM: 16GB (upgradable up to 32GB)
- Storage: 512GB SSD (upgradable to 4096GB)
- Battery Life: Up to 11 hours
- HDMI port
Unique Features:
- Fast (Powered by Apple’s M1 processor)
- All-day battery life
- Reliable
- Long-lasting
- Good integration with Apple devices
My Take:
The M1 Macbook Pro (2021) is the best laptop for working from home for Mac users. It’s powerful, has a lot of storage space, and has good battery life.
If you’re looking for a powerful and durable business laptop that can handle the demands of computing work or heaving creative editing, the M1 MacBook Pro (2021) is a great choice.
However, if you’re on a budget, the other laptops that may be more suitable for you.
Factors To Consider For a Laptop for Working From Home
When choosing the best laptop for working from home, it’s crucial to consider several factors that can impact your productivity and comfort.
In the following sections, we’ll delve into each of these factors in more detail:
1. Processor Performance
Evaluating the processor’s performance based on your work needs is a crucial step in choosing the right laptop.
The number of cores and the processor’s generation determine its multitasking capability, which is a must-have when working from home.
For general productivity, an Intel Core i5 processor is recommended, while multitasking may require the power of an Intel Core i7, or AMD Ryzen 5.
It’s worthwhile to invest in the most up-to-date generation of chips for optimal performance, but opting for a version from the previous year or, at maximum, two years ago can save you some money without sacrificing too much in terms of performance.
2. RAM Requirements
Determining the amount of Random Access Memory (RAM) needed for your work tasks is another important factor to consider when choosing a laptop for remote work.
RAM is a type of computer memory that stores data and programs while the computer is running, allowing the computer to rapidly access and process data, which is necessary for productivity tasks.
For general productivity, 8GB of RAM is recommended, while 16GB is suggested for heavier workloads, such as video editing or running multiple applications simultaneously.
It’s worth noting that Apple’s Silicon chips are highly optimized for Apple’s macOS, making additional RAM unnecessary in most cases.
3. Display Quality and Size
Considering display quality and size is essential for comfortable viewing and multitasking when working remotely.
A laptop’s display quality can influence ergonomics, productivity, and comfort during extended working hours, making it an important aspect to evaluate.
A screen with at least a full HD (1920 by 1080 pixels) resolution is recommended for optimal viewing, while the screen size and panel type should be based on your preferences and needs.
A larger screen may be advantageous if you’re engaging in a lot of creative work or activities requiring frequent multitasking.
However, if portability is a priority, a smaller display may be more suitable.
I would also go with a laptop with anti-glare properties to help with eye strain. Alternatively, you can get an anti-glare screen protector.
4. Storage Options
Comparing storage options such as Solid State Drives (SSDs) and Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) is crucial when selecting a laptop for remote work.
SSDs offer increased speed compared to HDDs, making them ideal for tasks that require quick access to data, such as gaming and video editing.
Additionally, SSDs provide increased reliability and durability due to their lack of mechanical components. However, they come at a higher cost compared to HDDs.
On the other hand, HDDs are more cost-efficient and offer larger storage capacities, making them suitable for storing large volumes of data. Their slower speed compared to SSDs can make them inadequate for operations that require quick access to data.
A hybrid setup combining the speed of an SSD with the large storage capacity of an HDD or a minimum of 512GB storage should be considered for optimal performance.
5. Connectivity and Security Features
Connectivity and security features play a vital role in ensuring a seamless and secure remote work experience.
When choosing a laptop for working from home, evaluate Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity and the availability of multiple ports for connecting external devices.
Built-in security measures such as antivirus software, secure boot, and encryption are essential for protecting your sensitive data from cyber risks.
Investing in a laptop with robust connectivity and security features not only enhances your productivity but also provides peace of mind while working remotely.
Tips for Creating an Efficient Work-From-Home Setup
Creating an efficient work-from-home setup is key to maximizing your productivity and comfort while working remotely.
Let’s explore these tips in more detail:
1. Ergonomic Workspace
Setting up an ergonomic workspace is crucial for reducing strain and improving productivity while working from home. An ergonomic workspace can decrease the risk of work-related injuries, such as neck, back, wrist, and shoulder pain, and enhance your satisfaction with your work environment.
To create an ergonomic workspace, invest in a comfortable chair with proper lumbar support, an adjustable desk that allows you to switch between sitting and standing, and ensure proper lighting to reduce eye strain.
By prioritizing ergonomics, you can create a workspace that promotes physical well-being and enables you to work more efficiently and comfortably throughout the day.
2. Wi-Fi Connectivity
Strong Wi-Fi connectivity is essential for seamless video conferencing, file sharing, and collaboration when working remotely. To ensure a reliable connection, evaluate the signal strength of your router and consider upgrading it or utilizing a Wi-Fi extender if necessary.
Upgrading your router can provide a faster and more stable connection, while a Wi-Fi extender can help eliminate dead zones and improve signal strength throughout your home.
By ensuring strong Wi-Fi connectivity, you can avoid disruptions during important meetings and maintain a productive and efficient remote work environment.
3. External Accessories
Investing in external accessories can greatly enhance your work-from-home experience, providing additional functionality and convenience. High-quality webcams, external monitors, and ergonomic keyboards and mice can improve your productivity and comfort while working remotely.
A high-quality webcam with a minimum of 720p resolution (preferably 1080p) is essential for clear video conferencing, while an external monitor can provide additional screen space for easier multitasking. Ergonomic keyboards and mice can help reduce strain on your hands and wrists, making long work hours more comfortable.
By incorporating these external accessories into your remote work setup, you can create a more efficient and enjoyable work environment.
Related Questions
What is the best laptop for work-at-home jobs?
For working from home, the Apple M2 MacBook Pro 16 (2023) is an ideal choice. It features a large 16-inch display, a comfortable keyboard and a touchpad, making it a great choice for day-to-day work tasks.
The M2 MacBook Pro 16 is powered by an Apple M2 Silicon processor, providing plenty of power for multitasking and running demanding applications. It also has a long-lasting battery, allowing it to last longer.
How do I choose a laptop for working from home?
When choosing the best laptop for working from home, consider size, RAM, display quality, power source, storage, and USB ports.
The Apple M2 MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2023) is a great choice that will meet your needs.
Are HP laptops good for working from home?
The HP Pavilion 15 offers reasonable pricing and top-notch components, making it a great choice for working from home. Its 1 TB hard drive and FHD touchscreen display are perfect for productive work days.
These laptops are good enough for remote working without busting your budget.
How much RAM do I need for general productivity tasks?
For general productivity tasks, 8GB of RAM is recommended; for heavier workloads, 16GB is suggested.
What are some tips for creating an efficient work-from-home setup?
Invest in ergonomic furniture, strong Wi-Fi connectivity, and external accessories to create an efficient work-from-home setup.
These investments will help you stay productive and comfortable while working remotely.
Final Thoughts
In summary, finding the perfect laptop for working from home is essential for maximizing productivity and comfort. Our top 7 picks for the best laptops for remote work in 2023 cater to various needs and budgets, providing options for creative professionals, business users, gamers, and everyday multitaskers.
With these tips and recommendations, I hope that you’re now better equipped to create an efficient and comfortable remote work setup that will help you thrive in your work-from-home journey.
Thanks for reading!
