Working from home is the new normal and we're here for it. You just can't argue with rolling out of bed and joining a meeting in your pyjamas. But it's not all good news.
Working remotely also means investing in all the devices and tech you need to work efficiently in the office. That means you're going to have consider dropping some cash on a desk chair, keyboard, mouse, set of headphones, and — of course— a laptop.
But of the many, many laptops available, which one will best suit you and your WFH needs? Don't buy anything hastily. We can help in this particular department.
What is the best laptop brand?
There's no doubt that all the best players make topnotch laptops. You can't go wrong with Apple, Dell, and Microsoft. And all those brands make our roundup. But they're not the only game in town. Other brands — Lenovo, Huawei, and Acer also make the list. Every manufacturer is bringing something slightly different to the table.
What are the most important laptop features?
Finding the right laptop for you is not easy, but the process can be made a little easier by understanding what makes a laptop tick. There are important inner components that every laptop has and it’s important to know what they are:
CPU — This is the central processing unit, sometimes called the processor. It controls and communicates all of your laptop’s functions, including how fast it operates. If you’re a video editor or graphic designer, or do anything that means installing and running big-time software, look for a machine with a solid CPU processor.
GPU — This is the graphics processing unit, otherwise known as the graphics card. This is responsible for your laptop’s visuals. You might not need eye-popping graphics for emails or spreadsheets, but for design work, choose a decent GPU.
RAM — Random-access memory gives your computer short-term memory for running various applications at the same time and using them as and when you need access. When you switch between all the different apps and files in your dock, that's the RAM at work. We recommend 8GB of RAM as a good starting point.
Storage — Laptops usually come with hard-disc drive (HDD) or solid-state drive (SSD) storage. HDD is essentially a piece of metal inside the machine that holds all of your info. SSD stores the info on little flash-memory chips. A HDD typically holds far more than SSD, but HDD is much slower. The laptops we've chosen have SSD.
Display — The first thing that catches your eye on a computer is its display. We recommend a 1080p resolution minimum. Some laptops have touchscreens too.
Battery — If you're WFH you might need something with plenty of juice, depending on your workload. Though presumably you'll be sat comfortably near a plug socket. Either way, a laptop with around 11 hours battery is respectable.
Other features to look out for are size and weight. You don't want to be stuck with something too hefty if you need to travel for work. Look at ports too, particularly if you plan on using add-ons and other devices in collaboration with your laptop.
What is the best laptop?
It's always nice to have options when making a purchase, but too much choice can pose a problem. How are you supposed to know which laptop is best for you when everything looks good in its own way? It's important to do your own research, but we've done most of the hard work and lined up a selection of your best options to make the whole process much easier.
We've tracked down the very best laptops from top brands like Apple, Dell, Microsoft, and more. These devices have been chosen because they offer everything that you need for working from home, with something for every budget. We're not going to pick a favourite, because all of these devices offer features that improve the remote working experience.
These are the best laptops for working from home in 2024.
