7 Best Laptops for Working from Home in 2023

Over the recent years, we saw a substantial change in how numerous jobs are performed. What started out as a temporary solution during the pandemic slowly became a standard way of working. So whether you’re a freelancer, a digital nomad, or someone who recently started working outside of the office, having a reliable laptop is essential. 

But what should you look for when buying a new laptop for working from home? Since not all jobs and users require the same features from a laptop, finding the right one is not as straightforward as you might think. 

In this article, we’ll try to answer all these questions and more. We’ll also review some of the best laptops suitable for remote work and explain what makes them a good investment. 

Intrigued? Let’s dive right in.

Minimum & Recommended System Requirements

The system requirements can vary based on the type of work you do. So the table below should serve as a general guideline of what any modern laptop should at least pack depending on the price range.

For example, our table with the minimum system requirements is a good starting point if you’re looking for a decent laptop for Zoom video conferencing and other non-demanding tasks. But if you also need a good laptop for programming, stick to the recommended side in our specs table.

Important note: Engineering, architecture, and 3D modeling are a few professions that require a more high-end laptop to handle graphically demanding applications. If you fall under these categories, you might want to check out the best laptops for 3D modeling or our favorite CAD laptops.

Top 7 Laptops for Working from Home

Without further ado, let’s look at in-depth reviews of laptops that will make working from home much more enjoyable and productive.

1. Long Battery Life + 17″ Display: LG gram

LG gram

• CPU: 2.2GHz Intel Core i7 1260P
• RAM: 16GB DDR5
• Storage: 1TB SSD
• Display: 17-inch WQXGA (‎2560 x 1600)
• GPU: 4GB ‎NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2050
• Battery: Up to 12 hours

$1,499.00

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What if you could have a large screen AND an incredible battery life? Well, LG Gram is one laptop for working from home that does exactly that — and is lightweight.

The great 17” display comes with high resolution (2560 x 1600). This translates to very comfy work, no eye strain, and is perfect for content creators, data and analytics, and everyday tasks.

The panel’s resolution is the same as MacBook Air’s, and it saves battery while providing awesome visuals. LG Gram sports a strong 15-hour battery life — useful if you’re often out and about, or just can’t be bothered with looking for a charger.

Besides, the internals are powerful: a 12th Gen. i7 and a dedicated RTX 2050 can handle most of professional software. They may not be as powerful as MacBook M2 or gaming laptops, but they will get the work done without lags.

I couldn’t believe how light the machine is: at 3.17 lbs, it’s one of the lightest 17-inch laptops on the market.

Of course, there are some drawbacks to combined power and portability. In LG Gram’s case, the chassis is a bit flimsy, and the laptop can get hot under intense pressure. Still, it’s nothing a good cooling pad can’t solve.

Overall, LG Gram is a great laptop for people who are often on the go and appreciate long working hours without having to charge the device. Its 17” panel makes it quite enjoyable to work on while not sacrificing the portability.

2. Best Value: Acer Aspire Vero

Acer Aspire Vero

• CPU: 1.3GHz Intel Core i5-1235U
• RAM: 16GB DDR5
• Storage: 2TB SSD
• Display: 14-inch FHD (1920 x 1080)
• GPU: Integrated Intel Iris Xe
• Battery: Up to 8 hours

$599.00

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Acer Aspire Vero is an evergreen remote work laptop with great value for money. Powerful specs, strong portability and excellent storage bring great ROI.

The laptop runs on a 12th Gen. i5 and an integrated Intel Iris Xe. For this price, it is a strong combo that will fly through everyday tasks, especially when you factor in the latest-gen DDR5 RAM, and 16GB of it. It’s a perfect machine for accountants, office workers, translators, and data warriors.

Add to that 8 hours of juice and 3.3 lbs of weight, and you’ve got yourself a work buddy you can easily take to your favorite cafe, that won’t give up on you.

Furthermore, with 2TB of storage, this is one of the laptops with greatest capacity on this list, and it will take a lot of time to fill it up.

A 14” screen works for most people. It’s a hi-res, slim-bezel display, with pretty good contrast. Personally, I prefer small laptops when working outdoors, but that may not be the case with you.

Acer is not the prettiest thing on the market — the blocky design seems a little outdated, although the machine has a very comfy, responsive keyboard.

Though integrated GPU does pose limits in terms of work you can do, Acer Aspire Vero is an amazing, affordable choice if you’re not doing GPU-intensive work.

3. 2-in-1 Powerhouse with Touchscreen: Dell Inspiron 7620

Dell Inspiron 7620

• CPU: 2.2GHz Intel Core i7 1260P
• RAM: 64GB DDR4
• Storage: 2TB SSD
• Display: 16-inch FHD (1920 x 1080)
• GPU: Integrated Intel Iris Xe
• Battery: Up to 13 hours

$1,449.00

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If you want to add a little flair to your home office, Dell Inspiron is a great touchscreen laptop for working from home. With massive RAM, beautiful display, and loads of storage, this is a versatile machine that suits lots of jobs.

The star of the show is the 16” FHD touchscreen panel which looks gorgeous and is super responsive. I especially like the contrast and saturation on this screen, though it could have been a little brighter.

Inspiron houses a 12th Gen. i7 and the integrated Intel Iris Xe. Coupled with whopping 64GB RAM, this machine flies through everyday tasks, multiple tabs, and is particularly good for anyone working with large datasets and complex projects.

Granted, you won’t be playing any AAA titles at high fps because of the Intel Iris — if that’s something you’re interested in, I’d recommend Dell’s OLED version with a dedicated GPU.

For all the functionality Inspiron offers, it’s surprisingly portable. With 4.5 lbs of weight and a 13-hour battery life, I thought what Dell did is actually quite impressive for a 16” convertible.

The 7620 version is an upgrade from a massively popular Dell Inspiron 7610. The chassis still looks and feels great and sturdy, although I would have liked if Dell kept the numpad.

Overall, if you need a powerful, sleek convertible for working from home, Dell Inspiron is a sound choice that will remain calm under fire.

4. For Gaming and Work: ASUS TUF Gaming F15

ASUS TUF Gaming F15

• CPU: 2.5GHz Intel Core i5-12500H
• RAM: 16GB DDR4
• Storage: 512GB SSD
• Display: 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080)
• GPU: 4GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050
• Battery: Up to 7 Hours

$849.99

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So you like a gaming break every now and then, and who can blame you? ASUS TUF Gaming is an excellent work hard, play hard laptop that’s got you covered.

With a 12th-gen. i5 H-processor and a strong, dedicated GPU, TUF is one of the fiercest laptops on this list, performance-wise. Whether you’re gaming, creating content, editing photos and videos, or even dabbling with 3D modeling, TUF Gaming is up to the task(s).

Plus, the whole thing just looks sleek. I love the polished feel of the chassis and the elegant look.

Furthermore, TUF sports a 15.6” display with a high refresh rate that’s awesome for first-person shooters, eSports, and fast maneuvers while gaming.

If your job involves a lot of typing, I’m happy to report that the keyboard feels very tactile and comfy. There’s also TUF’s signature yellow backlight, which I personally dig a lot.

Portability-wise, TUF’s step ahead compared to most gaming laptops. At 7 hours of battery life, and 4.85 lbs of weight, it’s not the most portable laptop on the list, but still pretty good for everyday commute.

Of course, with great specs usually comes high temperature, and TUF is no exemption. The machine’s been known to get hot every now and then, though a good cooling pad will solve this.

If you want to play the latest AAA titles on a laptop that’s great for working from home — and doesn’t cost an arm and leg — you should definitely consider ASUS TUF Gaming.

5. Best from Apple: MacBook Pro M2 16

MacBook Pro M2 16

• CPU: 3.5GHz Apple M2 12-Core
• RAM: 16GB DDR5
• Storage: 512GB SSD
• Display: 16.2-inch Retina XDR (3456 x 2234)
• GPU: Integrated Apple 19-Core
• Battery: Up to 15 hours

$2,199.99

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Any list of laptops for work is bound to include a MacBook Pro. The latest M2 model builds on Apple legacy and gives even more benefits than its predecessors.

MacBook Pro’s core rests on Apple’s M2 chip. The wonderful processor, coupled with 16GB RAM, handles any task you throw at it truly like a Pro. No lags, smooth experience, super versatile — it doesn’t matter what job you do, MacBook will excel at it.

The thing with MacBook’s architecture is that the M2 processor optimizes the battery life. Pro’s battery really lasts 15-16 hours. This means you will often charge the battery and forget about it for the next 2 days.

Long battery life is also due to smart choices Apple makes when it comes to displays. I love how the Liquid Retina display is easy on the eyes, doesn’t drain battery, and is super bright at 1000 nits.

And the whole thing weighs only 4.8 lbs of super-sleek, sturdy, polished body, which is an amazing feat for a 16” laptop. Well, not LG Gram amazing, but still.

The main issue with MacBooks is that some software might be incompatible with the Mac OS, so make sure to check that before buying.

And, yes, Macs are known to be pricey — but they will last a loooong time.

Ultimately, MacBook Pro M2 is easily one of the top picks for working from home or office. If money is not the issue, I wholeheartedly recommend it.

6. Cheapest Laptop (Windows in S Mode): Acer Aspire 3

Acer Aspire 3

• CPU: 2.4GHz AMD Ryzen 3 7320U
• RAM: 8GB DDR5
• Storage: 128GB SSD
• Display: 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080)
• GPU: Integrated Radeon 610M graphics
• Battery: Up to 16 Hours

$318.00

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Laptops have come a long way in terms of price-to-value offer, and Acer Aspire 3 is one budget laptop for work that proves it. For an affordable price, you can get strong performance, ridiculous portability and a beautiful display.

Aspire 3 runs on a newer Ryzen 3 processor, like Lenovo’s famous IdeaPad 3 series. Coupled with 8GB of fast DDR5 RAM, this laptop is great for everyday tasks, mutltasking, and conference software.

Plus, the battery will run, and run — for hours. In my tests, I got around 13-14 hours of juice — which is perfect if you don’t want to plug in the charger every now and then.

Add to that the weight of mere 3.77 lbs, and it’s safe to say this is a pretty portable machine.

I like what Acer did with the display — the 15.6” panel hits the sweet spot between the size and battery life. Aspire has an IPS panel, so it’s super-crisp, vivid and practical for viewing documents without straining your eyes.

As for graphics, the integrated Radeon GPU does the job well, but don’t expect to play any newest titles or excel in tasks like photo and video editing.

If you want to boost Aspire’s capabilities, I’d recommend upgrading the RAM. 8GB is pretty much the norm nowadays, and upgrading to at least 16GB will work wonders for your workflow.

It’s tough to beat Acer’s price. If you want a good budget laptop for working from home, I’d seriously consider Aspire.

7. Budget Convertible: HP Pavilion x360

HP Pavilion x360

• CPU: 2.4GHz Intel Core i5-1135G7
• RAM: 8GB DDR4
• Storage: 256GB SSD
• Display: 14-inch FHD (1920 x 1080)
• GPU: Integrated Intel Iris Xe
• Battery: Up to 8 hours

$489.99

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Whoever said that convertibles have to be expensive? HP’s Pavilion x360 is a 2-in-1, sleek — and fun — laptop for working from home that happens to be quite affordable.

Yes, the display flips all the 360 degrees back, and has responsive multitouch. The 14” panel looks crisp, and I love the ability to shake up the way I work every now and then.

The whole thing looks very classy and elegant, like some of the best HP’s office laptops. Sleek black chassis comes with a compact keyboard and spacious trackpad, so it’s awesome for long typing sessions.

Moreover, like Aspire 3, this is a portable laptop. At 3.55 lbs, it’s super easy to carry around. While 8 hours doesn’t outrank MacBook or even Aspire, it’s still enough for a full workday.

Performance-wise, Pavilion comes with an 11th Gen. i5 and an Intel Iris Xe GPU. In my tests, this combo outperforms Aspire 3, and works great with general tasks and productivity. 

However, similarly to Aspire, the integrated GPU does limit its visual capabilities. And I’d upgrade the RAM to 16GB.

Still, if you don’t mind the 14” screen, I’d consider HP Pavilion. It’s a rare convertible at this price, and the one that will make your job that much more interactive for years to come.

Buying Guide for Laptops for Working from Home in 2023

Let’s look at the most important things you need to keep in mind when choosing your next laptop for working from home.

1. The Hardware Requirements Depend on the Type of Work You Do

To make the most out of your purchase, the first thing to do is decide what tasks you’ll be using your new laptop for.

For example: if you are a writer, journalist, accountant, or something similar to these professions where most of the job is done by using MS Office and web browsers, you can get by with a budget laptop featuring low to mid-range hardware components. On that note, we recommend going for something with a reliable processor like the Intel Core i5 or an AMD Ryzen equivalent. 

But on the other hand, if you work in creative fields like 3D modeling, and photo and video editing, besides a capable processor, you’re also going to need a good dedicated GPU. If you fall under these or other similar categories, look for a laptop that packs some of the latest generations of NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphics cards. 

2. Get Enough RAM and Storage 

RAM plays a crucial role in the optimal performance of your computer, not just for heavy-duty applications but for everyday activities as well, and how much you really need ultimately depends on you. 

For example, music producers who need a reliable laptop for FL Studio or other professions like programmers, 3D artists, engineers, etc, may need a lot of RAM (32GB or higher) for handling large and complex projects.

On the other hand,  for users working on spreadsheets, word processors, and browsers, a 16GB RAM laptop is more than enough. 

Storage also depends on your needs, and obviously more is always better, but it also costs more. That being said, going for a 512GB SSD is a good starting point for most users, and if that proves to be insufficient, you can always upgrade or get external storage. 

3. Choose an Ergonomic Keyboard and a Reliable Trackpad 

An ergonomic setup should be high on any remote worker’s list – health is wealth. Besides sitting up straight, you need to ensure that the keyboard is comfortable enough.

So make sure the laptop you’re purchasing has a keyboard with well-spaced keys and an overall comfortable layout. 

Of course, choosing the type of keyboard is mostly a personal preference because not all users have the same taste. But based on our research and personal experience, keyboards with deeper, more clicky, and tactile keys provide a smoother typing experience and thus are more popular among remote workers. 

Having a spacious and responsive trackpad is also super important for improved productivity. Unfortunately, those are not as common as you would expect, especially when it comes to budget laptops. But if you dislike using trackpads altogether, the good news is you can always get a decent mouse for cheap. 

4. Consider the Display Quality

Working from home isn’t painful, right? Well, with a poor laptop display, it can be. Low-quality displays (anything below the FHD IPS panel) will make you focus more on the screen, and cause your eyes to strain. Though you might be able to sleep it off, long-term effects are worse.

Be sure to purchase a laptop with a high-resolution IPS screen. The Full HD IPS panel has become entry-level now, though many laptops out there still come without the IPS feature. The IPS technology provides better viewing angles, and makes the display more pleasant to look at for long hours. 

Last but not least, graphics designers, 3D artists, video editors, or other similar professionals should aim for displays with good color accuracy in order to get a precise representation of their designs.

5. Get a Decent Mic and Webcam 

Zoom meetings and webinars are a necessary evil when it comes to remote work. For that matter, having a good-quality webcam and a built-in microphone is essential.

Unfortunately, finding a laptop with good audio/video internals can be more difficult than it should be, even with high-end machines. So before making a purchase, we suggest going over the user reviews in this segment. 

6. Think About Portability, and Battery Life

While the popular term is working from home, the amazing thing about it is that remote work can be done from wherever you want. So if you want to enjoy lattes from the local café during working hours or get the occasional getaway to your favorite beach resort, having a laptop with decent battery life and portability means you won’t have to leave your assignments behind.

That being said, if you care about portability, look for laptops between 3 and 5 lbs and enough battery juice to handle the full 8 hours of work.

FAQs about Laptops for Working from Home

Verdict

Hopefully, we helped you get a clear understanding of what makes a good laptop for working from home. 

Obviously, there are plenty of things to consider before choosing your next productivity tool, as there is no one-size-fits-all. That’s why we tried to make this article as comprehensive as possible and offered laptops with various features and price points. 

For those who are still hesitant to choose, here is a short recap: 

• If you’re looking for a reliable and powerful Windows laptop for a fair price, we’d recommend the LG gram. This model also boasts exceptional battery life and a gorgeous 17-inch display. 
• For the die-hard Apple fans, who need a reliable machine for content creation, nothing beats the MacBook Pro M2 16. 
• For professionals who also like to play video games, the ASUS TUF Gaming F15 is a nicely packed and capable machine. 

Finally, if you’re hungry for more information about how to buy the most suitable laptop for your needs, perhaps our comprehensive laptop buying guide could help. And if you’re wondering if gaming laptops are good for work, we got you covered. 

And now over to you. Did you find your  perfect match, or do you have any other questions we might have left unanswered? Let us know in the comment section below.