A wide variety of different laptops are released every year, and it feels like the numbers continue to grow.
Most devices, especially those on the more expensive side, are very capable all-rounders. There are plenty of great laptops for business which are marketed towards consumers, and vice versa.
This makes your decision on which to choose all the more complicated, which is where this article comes in. We’ve reviewed many of the best laptops you can buy, some of which are excellent for getting work done.
The options below are ranked, but you may find that something lower down the list works best for you. With detailed information on price, design, display, performance, battery life and more, you can be sure that the laptops below are great options. But it’s still worth reading our buying advice at the bottom of the page before you buy.
Best business laptops 2022
1. LG Gram 17 – Best Overall
Pros
Stunning large display
Thin and lightweight
Superb performance
Cons
Expensive
Software tweaks not for everyone
For many business tasks, a regular laptop display simply won’t cut it – you need something with extra screen real estate.
With that in mind, allow us to introduce you to the LG Gram 17. It represents the pinnacle of laptop design right now, offering a huge 17in (2560×1600) display within a chassis that’s just 17.8mm thick and 1.35kg in weight.
It’s powered by Intel’s 11th-gen processors, alongside up to 16GB of RAM and a bumper 1TB SSD on high-end models. If that’s not enough, you also get stellar battery life from the 80Wh cell.
The below-par trackpad and speakers – our two biggest complaints about the 2020 model – have also both been addressed by LG, making this the best big-screened laptop you can buy.
There is now a 2022 version, but aside from the latest Intel 12th-gen CPUs it’s essentially the same device. However, you may want to consider the slightly smaller LG Gram 16, which is also an excellent option.
Read our full
LG gram 17 (2021)review
2. Huawei MateBook 14s – Best all-rounder
Pros
Powerful with lots of ports
Great keyboard
Excellent 90Hz display
Webcam above the display
Cons
Plain design
Thunderbolt 4 only on top-spec model
Webcam only 720p
The MateBook 14s is the
best laptop you can buy right now, making it an easy recommendation for business users.
It’s one of the few consumer laptops to have a 90Hz display, making everything on the 14.2in, 2560×1680 display feel more fluid and responsive. It works in tandem with Intel’s 11th-gen chips – you get a choice of i5 or i7 here – for excellent performance, even without a discrete GPU.
The keyboard is also one of the best you’ll find anywhere, while Huawei has even returned the webcam to its rightful place above the display. You also get all-day battery life (for most tasks) and quad speakers, all within an 1.43kg chassis. If you don’t need the extra screen real estate of the LG Gram devices, this is the next best thing for on-the-go business.
There’s also a new of the MateBook 14s, but once again its an iterative update with the latest Intel CPUs.
Read our full
Huawei MateBook 14s (2021)review
3. Apple MacBook Air (M1) – Best Mac
Pros
Fantastic performance
Great battery life
Useful pre-installed software
Cons
Sub-par webcam
Limited port selection
The release of the M1 chip transformed the MacBook Air from a solid everyday device to one of the most powerful laptops you can buy.
It delivers incredible improvements to performance and power efficiency, with the latter yielding a big boost to battery life.
Much of the rest of the device is unchanged, although you do get the much-improved Magic Keyboard alongside the already excellent trackpad.
You also shouldn’t overlook the wide range of software that’s either pre-installed or free to download on macOS – everything from Pages and Keynote to GarageBand and iMovie are included at no extra cost. This may avoid the need to spend extra on software.
Be warned though, the webcam and port selection still isn’t great, while you’re limited to just one external display. You may also prefer the 2022 MacBook Air or 14in/16in models of the MacBook Pro.
Read our full
Apple MacBook Air (2020) M1review
4. Huawei MateBook 16s (2022) – Best 16in
Pros
Great display
Excellent everyday performance
Fast charging
Lots of ports
Cons
No discrete GPU
No separate number pad
No SD card slot
If it wasn’t for the LG Gram, the MateBook 16s would comfortably rank as the best big Windows laptop you can buy.
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. Huawei has embraced Intel on the 16s with strong results from the 12th-gen CPUs. Decent battery life is supplemented by impressive fast charging speeds, all within a slick, premium design.
But the MateBook 16s isn’t perfect by any means. 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 it. While there are lots of ports, you’re missing out on an SD card slot so might need an adapter.
However, all these things would be easy to overlook for most consumers. Whether they’re dealbreakers in a business environment is up to you.
If you’re looking for something more affordable, the latest MateBook D 16 is a great alternative.
Read our full
Huawei MateBook 16s (2022)review
5. Huawei MateBook X Pro (2021) – Best Premium
Pros
Great performance
Stunning design
Solid battery life
Cons
Slightly tired design
Poor webcam placement
Huawei has once again made an extremely luxurious laptop which will suit business users who want just about everything to be high-end.
The design is especially attractive so the X Pro is a great choice if you want to make a statement when you get it out of your bag at a meeting.
There’s plenty of power on offer too with up to an Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM, Nvidia MX250 graphics and 1TB storage. We’re also in love with the keyboard, although the webcam is awkwardly placed here so this isn’t a good choice if you need to make regular video calls.
The 2022 version is even better, but it’s not yet available to buy.
Read our full
Huawei MateBook X Pro (2021)review
6. Samsung Galaxy Book 2 Pro – Best Design
Pros
Vibrant display
Stunning design
Great port selection
Cons
Underwhelming battery life
No discrete GPU
Expensive
Work can be done from almost anywhere these days, and the Galaxy Book 2 Pro is the latest evidence of this. Within an impressively thin and light design, Samsung has managed to pack in all the premium features most business users are looking for.
They include great performance from Intel’s 12th-gen CPUs, alongside the option for 5G on high-end models. It’s equipped with a high-quality 15.6in OLED display, while you also get a full-size keyboard with separate numberpad.
Despite being just 11.7mm thick, Samsung has still found room for a generous port selection, which adds USB-A and HDMI to the usual USB-C ports. There’s also a Full HD webcam and dual speakers for a solid video calling experience.
It’s far from perfect, with mediocre battery life and a lack of some high-end specs, but the Galaxy Book 2 Pro is a great option for business users who value portability.
7. Microsoft Surface Pro 8 – 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
In terms of pure versatility, the Surface Pro 8 is unmatched on this list. The tablet itself weighs just 891g – that’s lighter than almost all laptops.
You’ll have to deal with Windows 11’s limitations as a tablet, but the stunning 13in display makes up for it. This is still LCD rather than OLED, but a 120Hz refresh rate makes it feel like a big upgrade. Microsoft has also managed to increase the screen size while maintaining almost the same total footprint.
But the upgrades don’t end there, with better cameras, improved battery life and updated Intel chips under the hood.
However, it’s the keyboard cover that transforms the Surface Pro 8 into a true business device. The latest iteration delivers the most convincing typing experience yet, with a dedicated spot for the new Slim Pen 2 stylus. The trackpad is also much more usable, although most people will still need to connect a mouse.
Unfortunately, these are all accessories you’ll need to pay extra for. Alongside a higher starting price and limited ports, you may want to think twice before making the Pro 8 your next business computer.
Read our full
Microsoft Surface Pro 8review
8. Dell XPS 15 (late 2021) – Best Keyboard
Pros
Great performance
Excellent keyboard
Attractive display
Robust design
Cons
Expensive
Limited ports
Average battery life
Dell’s XPS line is a mainstay of this chart, and with good reason – they still offer one of the finest laptop experiences money can buy.
The latest XPS 15 is no different, combining a stunning design with plenty of power under the hood. The latter comes from Intel’s 11th-gen chips, which deliver great performance alongside the RTX 3050 Ti discrete GPU.
You now have a choice between LCD or OLED displays, with resolutions up to 4K. However, you’ll have to be content with a 60Hz refresh rate. Ports are also limited, with no USB-A unless you connect an adapter or hub.
But it’s good news elsewhere, with great speakers and an excellent keyboard which sets it apart from most laptops you can buy right now. Considering its design, durability is impressive too.
If you can tolerate average battery life and a high price tag, this is a great option for business.
Read our full
Dell XPS 15 9510 (late 2021)review
9. Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 – Best Convertible
Pros
Impressive performance
Great battery life
S-Pen stylus support
Cons
Relatively expensive
No dedicated GPU
Display lacks brightness
The Galaxy Book Pro 360 is the
best 2-in-1 laptop you can buy, but it’s equally adept at being used for business.
As the name suggests, the device has a 360-degree hinge, meaning it can be used at an angle to suit your workflow. Powerful 11th-gen Intel chips deliver great performance, while battery life is a highlight thanks to the 68Wh cell.
The included S-Pen attaches magnetically to the back of the device, allowing for easy note-taking and digital artwork. A Full HD AMOLED display is also impressive, although it doesn’t get particularly bright.
It would also be great to have a dedicated GPU, especially at this premium price point. Still, this is definitely worth considering unless you need a business laptops for the most demanding tasks.
Read our full
Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 (2021)review
10. Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 – Best range of specs
Pros
Solid performance
Great display
Impressive battery life
Cons
Dated design
Loud fans
Prices climb quickly
The Surface Book line has traditionally been Microsoft’s business-focused laptop line, but its retirement means the Surface Laptop 4 is the best best for most people.
This latest model has only minor upgrades over its predecessor, but a choice of capable Intel or AMD chips and a useful boost in battery life will be enough for newcomers to choose it over the
Surface Laptop 3.
You can choose between 13.5in and 15in models once again, with both benefitting from an excellent touchscreen display. The premium experience is topped off by a smooth Alcantara fabric on some 13.5in models.
However, this is very much a cautious upgrade from Microsoft. We’re still waiting for an updated design, so you’ll have to make do with the sizeable bezels. An annoying fan also kicks in regularly, and it quickly gets expensive if you want a lot of power.
If you’re looking for something more exciting, it’s also worth considering the Surface Laptop Studio. It offers 3-in-1 functionality thanks to a flexible hinge, but you will pay significantly more for it than the Laptop 4.
Read our full
Microsoft Surface Laptop 4review
Business laptop buying guide
So which laptop is going to please everyone? It won’t be the same one for every situation (if only it were that simple). The first thing you’ll need to do is choose which software you prefer. Is Windows, macOS or ChromeOS best for you and your business?
Even if you’re set on a Windows device, there are two more key decisions to make. Most Windows 10 devices are eligible for a free upgrade to
Windows 11, but do you need the extra features available on Pro as opposed to Home?
Here’s how the two compare.
Price is a factor, of course. Some high-end laptops are indeed excellent but you may want to save some money while still getting decent performance. Thankfully those laptops do exist and that’s why a Chromebook might be a great choice, especially if your needs aren’t demanding.
Some of the laptops in this list are higher priced, but they often represent good value considering the features and specifications they have. We’ve included a range of different prices and options.
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. Hardware security features such as a fingerprint sensor or physical camera shutter are useful, but battery life may be top of your priority list.
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 compares.
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.
Find out how we test laptops, which forms the basis of each of our in-depth reviews.
