Best business laptops 2024
Almost any business runs on technology these days and there’s a good chance that laptops make up a big part of that. Even more so post-pandemic with more remote and hybrid working than ever before.
Whether you’re looking for a laptop for yourself or employees, it can be a tricky thing to get right, especially when you don’t want to waste precious time or resources. Fortunately, we have picked the best laptops for business use from our expert reviews.
Tablets have advantages but for most companies, a laptop will always be the best solution. We have a wide range of options here in terms of prices, designs and features.
Each of the 10 laptops below are technically designed for consumers but offer a combination of hardware and software that’s very appealing. At the bottom of the page, you’ll also find an FAQ section with detailed buying advice and don’t forget to click through to our full in-depth review of any laptop you’d like to know more about.
Best business laptops 2024
1. Apple MacBook Pro 16 (late 2023) – Best Overall
Pros
- Excellent performance
- Gorgeous design and solid build
- Dazzling display gets brighter
Cons
- Space Black is only on M3 Pro/Max models
- Expensive
The MacBook Pro continues to go from strength to strength and this is a laptop that gets just about everything right.
It’s very similar to the previous generation so M2 users will be unlikely to feel a burning desire to upgrade but those still on Intel-powered MacBooks should make the jump now.
Apple’s design and build are, as usual, among the best available on the market although it’s a shame that the gorgeous black colourway is reserved for the Pro and Max models.
The speed of the M3 chips will see you through daily tasks with minimal fuss and the large and brighter screen will be a joy to do it on (though a 14-inch model might be more suitable for some). Add in the excellent keyboard and all-day battery life and there’s very little to put you off here unless you want Windows or the MacBook Pro is simply out of your budget.
2. Samsung Galaxy Book 3 Ultra – Best Windows
Pros
- Superb performance
- Stellar battery life
- Excellent 120Hz OLED display
- Solid 1080p webcam
Cons
- Expensive
- Underwhelming keyboard & trackpad
- Audio could be better
The Galaxy Book 3 Ultra is Samsung’s first attempt at an ultra-powerful laptop, but you wouldn’t know it. This is arguably the best laptop around for business, particularly if your work involves content creation.
Combining 13th-gen Intel CPUs with Nvidia RTX 40 Series GPUs yield predictably excellent performance. That includes all demanding creator-focused apps and even gaming, although that’s not what it’s designed for.
The 16in OLED display is a joy to use, especially with a slick 120Hz refresh rate. All-day battery life is still well within reach, while the webcam and port selection are both above average.
So, why isn’t it top of this list? The main reason is price, which makes it an unnecessary purchase for most people. With a mediocre keyboard and patchy audio, it’s not perfect either.
But if money is no object, this is a superb all-rounder that ticks almost all the boxes when it comes to business.
3. Huawei MateBook X Pro (2023) – Best 14in
Pros
- Stunning design
- Impressive keyboard & trackpad
- Solid performance
- 90W fast charging
Cons
- No discrete GPU
- Sub-par battery life
- No USB-A ports
Huawei has only added 13th-gen Intel CPUs to the 2023 MateBook X Pro, but wholesale changes weren’t necessary. This was already one of the best laptops for business use, and that’s even more true now.
Everything is centred around an excellent 14.2in touchscreen. It’s IPS LCD rather than OLED, but still boasts a 3K resolution and 90Hz refresh rate, and looks great.
A magnesium alloy build gives the device a premium look and feel, yet it remains impressively lightweight: at 1.26kg, it’s one of the lighter laptops of this size. But the keyboard and trackpad are arguably even more impressive, and among the best you’ll find in any laptop.
Performance is solid across all regular business tasks, but the lack of a discrete GPU means you may run into problems with anything more demanding. You’re also limited to USB-C ports, while battery life could be better, despite the inclusion of fast 90W charging.
But overall, the MateBook X Pro offers pretty much everything most people are looking for in a business laptop. If the options above aren’t to your liking, this is definitely worth considering.
4. Samsung Galaxy Book 3 Pro 360 – Best convertible
Pros
- Impressive performance
- Great 120Hz display
- Excellent design
- S Pen included
Cons
- Not the best battery life
- Underwhelming keyboard
- No discrete GPU
A convertible might not be your first thought when considering a business laptops, but the Galaxy Book 3 Pro 360 ticks pretty much all the boxes.
That 360° is one part of an attractive yet robust design, which looks the part without making any real compromises. Perhaps the only exception is the keyboard, which remains very usable but offers limited travel.
However, there’s plenty of performance here, despite the lack of a discrete GPU. The 120Hz OLED screen is a joy to use, especially when combined with the included S Pen.
It’s certainly Samsung’s best convertible laptop to date, and it could easily be your new best friend for business.
5. Huawei MateBook 16s (2023) – Best 16in
Pros
- Great 16in touchscreen
- Excellent keyboard
- Solid battery life
- Good everyday performance
- Lots of ports
Cons
- No discrete GPU
- No separate number pad
- Missing SD card slot
- Relatively expensive
Huawei’s 2023 MateBook 16s isn’t a big upgrade compared to the 2022 version, but it remains an excellent laptop for business.
The high-res 16in touchscreen is a joy to use, and there’s enough room within the slim top bezel for a decent 1080p webcam. A 13th-gen CPU is the only hardware upgrade, but it benefits both performance and battery life. The keyboard and audio experience are also impressive, while you still get a slick, premium design.
However, the MateBook 16s certainly isn’t perfect. Performance is limited during demanding tasks with no discrete GPU, while Huawei has decided against a separate number pad next to the keyboard despite there being plenty of space for one. While there are lots of ports, you’re missing out on an SD card slot, so might need an adapter.
These will be easy to overlook for most consumers. But whether they’re dealbreakers in a business environment is up to you.
If you’re looking for something more affordable, the 2022 MateBook D 16 is a great alternative.
6. Microsoft Surface Pro 9 – Best 2-in-1
Pros
- Lightweight and portable
- Excellent 120Hz display
- Solid performance & battery life
Cons
- Not enough ports
- Keyboard cover still sold separately
- Expensive
Provided you choose the Intel version, the Surface Pro 9 is a great choice if you want the flexibility of a 2-in-1.
It includes a laptop-sized 13in display, complete with 120Hz refresh rate for silky-smooth visuals. Paired with the premium surface design and solid performance from Intel’s 12th-gen chips, the Pro 9 nails the basics.
Other highlights include a great webcam, solid battery life and and excellent detachable keyboard – although the latter is sold separately. Adding that and a pen makes the device very expensive, while the port selection still needs work.
You might be tempted to go for the ARM version, which offers 5G support, new video calling features and even better battery life. But the performance issues and clunky experience with some apps simply isn’t worth it.
7. Asus Zenbook 15 OLED – Best display
Pros
- Great OLED display
- Compact, premium design
- Solid performance
- Good range of ports
Cons
- Underwhelming battery life
- Noisy fans
The display is an important part of any laptop, but it needs to be particularly versatile on a business laptop. The 15.6in, 2.8K OLED one on the Zenbook 15 OLED more than delivers, especially with its silky-smooth 120Hz refresh rate.
Performance, another top priority, is strong across all everyday tasks and some more demanding workloads, despite no discrete GPU alongside the Ryzen 7000 Series processor. A healthy port selection includes the fast USB4 (USB-C) connection, USB-A and full-size HDMI, while build quality and audio are both above average.
The price isn’t extortionate for these specs, but you will have to put up with mediocre battery life – a full day away from the charger is only just about within reach. And while built-in fans are effective, they’re quite noisy.
The Zenbook 15 OLED is still a solid option for business, but only if you don’t stray too far from a power source.
8. Acer Aspire Vero 15 (2023) – Best webcam
Pros
- Excellent 1440p webcam
- Eco-friendly design
- Solid battery life
- Good performance
- Decent display
Cons
- Annoying pre-installed software
- Feels a little flimsy
If your work involves regular video calls, look no further than the Aspire Vero 15. It has a crystal-clear 1440p webcam that handles colours and exposure much better than most built-in laptop sensor.
But that’s just one of the many selling points of this laptop. Another big one is its eco-friendly build, with part of the chassis and almost all of the packaging made using recycled plastic. However, unlike the Framework Laptop 13, internal parts can’t be repaired or upgraded.
Unless you need top tier performance, the combination of Intel’s Core i7-1355U (Core i5-1335U models are also available), Iris Xe integrated graphics and 16GB of RAM is plenty powerful enough. And despite an unassuming 56Wh battery, you can also expect all-day battery life.
Other highlights include an attractive 15.6in Full HD IPS LCD display, good port selection and that unique speckled finish. While annoying pre-installed apps in Windows 11 and underwhelming durability means there’s still room for improvement, the Aspire Vero 15 remains a fine option for business – especially for well under $1,000/£1,000.
9. Asus Zenbook 14X OLED (2023) – Most attractive
Pros
- Gorgeous design
- Superb OLED screen
- Plenty of performance
- Good ports and keyboard
Cons
- Underwhelming battery life
- No discrete GPU
If you want to handle business and look good in the process, Asus has a laptop for you.
The Zenbook 14X OLED features a stunning ceramic-like rear which helps it instantly stand out from the crowd. But the 120Hz OLED display is arguably even better, helping content to really come alive. Performance from Intel’s 13th-gen CPUs is solid too, even if there’s no option for a separate discrete GPU.
With lots of ports and a great keyboard (something that’s often sacrificed on a thin and light laptop), it’s easy to recommend the Zenbook 14X OLED. Battery life is the main thing that counts against it, but unless you spend a full day away from the power, it’ll cope just fine.
10. Dell XPS 17 – Best 17in
Pros
- Stunning design
- Solid keyboard
- Impressive battery life
Cons
- No OLED display
- Not enough ports
- Webcam only 720p
The XPS 17 might be expensive, but it’s a compelling device for business use.
Dell has packed an impressive amount of power into this thin and light chassis. Intel’s 13th-gen CPUs combine with Nvidia RTX 40 Series GPUs for great performance, even if it falls slightly short of some rivals.
You also get great battery life and an excellent keyboard, plus an attractive 17in display. The latter is one of the best panels around, but it’s IPS LCD rather than OLED. For content creators, this might be a dealbreaker.
Alongside a lack of USB-A and HDMI ports and a mediocre 720p webcam, the XPS 17 can’t be any higher in this list. As good a laptop as it is, these drawbacks are hard to excuse when you’re paying so much.
FAQ
How much do I need to spend on a business laptop?
That depends on your budget, but also your specific needs. While it’s possible to get something cheaper, most good business laptops cost in excess of $1,000/£1,000.
Budget laptops are worth considering, but may be limited in key areas such as display, performance or battery life. Meanwhile, the key limitation of Chromebooks is the software.
We’ve included some more affordable options here, but you may need to spend a bit more to ensure a great experience. But unless you have very specific needs, your business laptop can double as one for everyday use, so you’ll be getting plenty of value from it.
Which is the best operating system for a business laptop?
For most people, the answer to this question is Windows 11. There are so many different devices running the latest version of Microsoft’s operating system, and it’s compatible with the vast majority of third-party software. Your big decision here will be whether to go for Windows 11 Home or Pro.
However, you definitely shouldn’t rule out macOS. A MacBook currently sits top of this list, and it software makes more sense if you also own other Apple devices.
While Chromebooks can make good business laptops, ChromeOS is much more limited when it comes to features and app support. It only makes sense for a small percentage of people.
How important is security on a business laptop?
Very important. If you’re working away from the office or managing a business, you’ll be handling sensitive information relatively often.
Most security is handled effectively by all software developers, although Windows 11 users might want to consider antivirus or upgrading to Windows 11 Pro.
Many laptops also support face/fingerprint unlocking and the option to physically block the webcam, while some retain the Kensington Security Slot. Look into these features and see how important they are to you.
What other features are important in a business laptop?
A tough, durable build is important if you often use a laptop outside, but you might prefer something lightweight and portable for on-the-go productivity. For the latter, battery life is crucial.
It’s important to make sure the laptop you choose has the right specs for your line of work. Do you need a powerful processor and graphics card for demanding software or can you save money by getting something lower-end? That all depends on your workload and how your current device stacks up.
Also, make sure the display will suit your environment. Someone working outside will need to make sure the screen is bright enough to view, but there are plenty of dim screens out there that you’ll want to avoid.
Ports are often forgotten about, but a laptop is no good if you can’t plug a vital accessory in. Many laptops come with USB-C only now, so you might need an adapter or a hub.
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