7 Best Laptops for Working From Home & Remotely in 2024 [Fast, High-Performance + Affordable]

If you’re a remote worker, you regularly WFH, or you’re looking to escape the 9-to-5 and work for yourself, chances are you need a fast business laptop that can handle a variety of everyday creative tasks without lag.

You’ll also want something portable enough that it doesn’t come with back pain as an added feature when you lug it around from your home office to your couch or coworking space, and something with at least 8GB RAM and processing power to run as many apps at once as you need for remote working in any capacity.

Of course, those are just a couple of specs you’ll want to consider, and with so many different laptops for remote work on the market, it can be impossible to know which one is right for your work-from-home lifestyle without extensive due diligence.

That’s why my partner and I have compiled our collective decades of experience and research for you into this collection of the best laptops for working from home and remotely wherever else you wanna get sh!t done.

What’s more, I’m a PC guy and she’s all about Apple, so whether you’re a Mac Mama or a PC Papi, or you’re still unsure which model is the best laptop for working remotely or from home in your career, we’ve got you covered with 7 outstanding options.

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What Are the Best Laptops for Working From Home and Remotely in 2024?

Chiggidy-check it:

With more than two decades of working remotely between us, my partner and I have tried and tested more work-from-home laptop models than we can count, including multiple MacBooks and a plethora of PCs from brands like HP, Lenovo, ASUS, Acer, Samsung, and Dell.

Together, we’ve been able to combine our expertise in selecting the best laptops for all different work-from-home jobs that we’ve done ourselves, from freelance writing and editing to music production, programming and coding, photography/photo editing, and beyond.

Without further ado, here are our top picks for the best laptop for working from home and remotely:

1. Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 – Erik’s Choice: Best Overall Laptop for Remote Work
2. Apple MacBook Pro – Best Laptop For Photo Editing and Photoshop / Best Laptop For Graphic Design
3. Apple MacBook Air – Best Affordable Laptop For Remote Workers Who Prefer Apple
4. ASUS ZenBook 14X – Best Compact Laptop / Best Touchscreen Laptop
5. Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 – Best Lightweight Laptop for Working From Home / Best Laptop For Programming and Coding
6. Acer Aspire E 15 – Best Affordable PC Laptop Under $400 For Working Remotely
7. Dell XPS 17 – Best 17 Inch Laptop for WFH / Best Gaming Laptop / Best Laptop For Cricut Makers

Please note that we did not include the Microsoft Surface Book 3 or Microsoft Surface Pro because we’ve heard from numerous remote workers that these laptops were poor for WFH.

We also consider the HP Envy x360 as our laptop to avoid because I purchased one brand new from Best Buy and it completely crapped out within 5 weeks, just a few days after my window for returns ended. That mistake cost me just under $1,000 with no recourse.

I chose not to repair my defective HP Envy x360 and instead invested the same amount the diagnostics and repair would have cost into the cheapo Lenovo laptop I used prior to investing in my pick of the best laptop for working from home, Samsung’s amazing 2-in-1 laptop and tablet hybrid.

Now, let’s dig into the details of each of these powerful work-from-home laptops to discover why they made our list.

1. Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 (with Intel Core i7)- Erik’s Choice for the Best Laptop for Remote Workers Working From Home

If you’ve searched around the interwebs looking for remote work laptop recommendations like me, then you’ve probably seen a lot of Mac computers, the Lenovo Ideapad, and HP Spectre x360 listed among the top picks, but I bet you haven’t seen many sites recommending this amazing 2-in-1 piece of equipment from Samsung first.

Why, you ask?

Beats the hell outta me, but if I had to guess, it’s because those other review sites simply never tested it.

Because here’s the thing: I actually own an OG Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 and use it for my everyday remote work and working from home, and I absolutely love it.

Last year, the budget laptop that I’d been using for a good two or three years started to crap out, and I knew I needed to invest in another good laptop for remote work. But this time, I wanted something a whole lot better than the under-$300 laptop I was using.

Enter the Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360.

After weeks of research, in-store testing at my local Best Buy, and back-and-forth deliberation between this and the Microsoft Surface Pro, I went against my hesitant nature and bought myself one of these sleek PCs in Mystic Bronze with an 11th Gen Intel Core i7, 16 GB of RAM, 1 TB of internal storage, and a 64-bit Windows 11 operating system. It also came with a 15.6-inch AMOLED screen that makes everything look so so good.

At more than $1,400 after tax (including a $28 neoprene pouch for safer transport), it was the biggest investment I’d ever made in a remote work computer, and a decision I didn’t take lightly.

Now, a year later, let me tell you: this is by far the best laptop I’ve ever used for working from home or remotely in my 12-year remote career.

And now Samsung has come out with an even better model: The Galaxy Book3 Pro 360.

Here’s why Samsung’s newest Galaxy Book Pro 360 is our top choice for PC laptops for working remotely (don’t worry, Mac lovers: we got you).

Why the Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 is one of the best laptops for remote work:

The Galaxy Pro3 Book 360 is super lightweight, making it ideal for toting around in a remote workspace (or just having on your lap or laptop pad as you work from couch).

It also has the ability to morph into a tablet for ease of use if you’re a graphic designer, illustrator, or visual artist specializing in digital designs, making it one of the best 2-in-1 laptops.

Plus, it comes with its own stylus, so you don’t have to purchase it separately as you do with Apple products.

You can use the Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 to do writing and editing, music production, Zoom, and other video meetings, and run all of the same SEO tools and software that I use in my consulting business.

This is also one of the best PC laptops for photo editing and using Photoshop, Lightroom, or any other photo editing software because of the Super 3K AMOLED touchscreen and Intel Iris Xe graphics card.

While my professional photographer partner is Apple all the way, she admitted that she loved the look of my Galaxy Book Pro 360 and would be all about it if she wasn’t already committed to the MacBook for life.

Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 is also the best PC laptop for music production

One of the main reasons I purchased a laptop as powerful as the Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 is that I recently invested in a Maschine MK3 from Native Instruments for making music, and I knew that this was one of the best laptops for music production that wasn’t a Mac.

With so much speed and internal space to store the Maschine DAW, all of its sound libraries and expansion packs, and all the files of the music I create, I knew the Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 was the right choice for me. Plus, my smartphone is a Samsung Galaxy S22 5G and I use Samsung Galaxy Buds, so now my work-from-home laptop is part of the same brand ecosystem.

Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 Laptop Key Features and Specs:

• CPU: Intel® Core™ i7-1360P
• RAM: 16 GB RAM
• Weight/Portability: 2.58 to 3.44 lbs
• Graphics: Intel Iris Xe graphics
• Screen Size: 13.3 inch screen or 15.6 inch screen
• Screen Type: 3K AMOLED touchscreen
• Internal Storage: 512 GB SSD, or 1 TB SSD
• Battery Life: Up to 19 hours of battery life
• Color Options: Graphite and Beige
• Other Perks: Ultrathin; 360-degree foldability for 2-in-1 conversion to tablet; fingerprint sensor for secure sign-in; Wi-Fi 6E; keyboard comes with number pad
• Price Point: Starting around $1449.99

2. MacBook Pro 16-inch (Best WFH Laptop for Photo Editing & Photoshop)

If you’re like my partner and can’t get down with a PC as a creative, then the Apple MacBook Pro is the remote work laptop for you. Apple is known for making some of the best laptops for digital nomads and creatives working from home, and their top-of-the-line laptop is the best bet for any self-employed creative working remotely.

My partner loves the sleekness and portability of her MacBook Pro, a 15-inch model she purchased in 2019, and the newer models offer even better specs like the Apple M1 chip and super-fast Apple M2 chip.

These days, you can get a 14-inch screen or 16-inch screen with your MacBook Pro, or else you can go a bit smaller and more minimalist in power and storage with the brand new 13-inch screen model.

Whichever size you select, each model is available with the powerful features you know and love from Apple products for powering all your tools for working remotely, including their signature speedy Apple M1 chip in Pro or Max form, and unbelievably sharp graphics.

Why the 16-inch screen MacBook Pro is Apple’s best laptop for working remotely as a photographer and graphic designer

We chose the 16-inch model as our top pick of the best laptops for photo editing and Photoshop because of Apple’s unparalleled color and processing speed.

We also selected the Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch as the best laptop for graphic designers working from home because it offers the biggest canvas on which to craft their art without adding too much size and weight to bog them down.

At 4.7 pounds, it adds a little more than a pound to the smaller-screened MacBook laptop models, but for the short amount of time you’ll spend lugging it around versus using it on a desk or laptop stand, we think the larger screen is more than worth it.

MacBook Pro 16-Inch Laptop Key Features and Specs:

• CPU: Apple M1 Pro chip with 10-core CPU, 16-core GPU, and 16-core Neural Engine OR Apple M1 Max chip with 10-core CPU, 32-core GPU, and 16-core Neural Engine
• RAM: 16 GB, 32 GB, or 64 GB
• Weight/Portability: 4.7 lbs
• Graphics: AMD Radeon Pro 5600M GPU
• Screen Size & Type: 16-inch Liquid Retina XDR display (13-inch and 14-inch model also available with lesser specs)
• Internal Storage: 512 GB SSD or 1TB SSD Storage (Upgrades to 2TB, 4TB, and 8TB configurable storage available)
• Battery Life: Up to 21 hours of battery life
• Color Options: Space Gray or Silver
• Other Perks: Three Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI port, SDXC card slot, MagSafe 3 port; Magic Keyboard with Touch ID; Force Touch trackpad; up to 64 GB unified memory; 1080p FaceTime HD camera; Software installation upgrades available for Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro
• Price / Affordability: Starting at $2,499

3. MacBook Air (New model with M2 Chip) – Best Affordable Laptop for Apple Lovers Working Remotely

For remote workers who want the power, beauty, and portability of a MacBook Pro but can’t quite afford the hefty price tag, the Apple MacBook Air presents a fantastic budget laptop alternative.

Apple MacBook laptops are some of the best laptop options on the market. And for good reason: They are powerful, have a sleek design, and are user-friendly. If you’re looking for the best affordable Apple laptop, the Apple MacBook Air is your best bet.

It has a super-fast Apple M2 processor, plenty of RAM (with upgrades available), and a solid-state drive. Plus, it’s lightweight and portable with good battery life, making it perfect for working on the go.

I should have put the word “budget” in quotes because a brand new MacBook will still run you at least $1,500 before tax for the new M2 Chip model, but compared to the MacBook Pro, it offers sizable savings without sacrificing too much processing power.

My partner purchased a MacBook Air several years back after her original MacBook Pro laptop died after a good 4 years of intense work.

For a couple of years, it proved very useful, and we toted it to dozens of coffee shops around our locale to get shit done. But, she eventually upgraded to a newer MacBook Pro because she needed more power, speed, and storage space for editing and saving massive photo libraries.

Still, we highly recommend the MacBook Air to remote workers who can’t quite afford the MacBook Pro but still want to invest in something Apple to catapult their creative WFH careers in the right direction.

MacBook Air Key Features and Specs:

• CPU: Apple M2 chip with 8‑core CPU, 10‑core GPU, 16‑core Neural Engine
• RAM: 8 GB, 16 GB, or 32 GB
• Weight/Portability: 2.7 lbs
• Graphics: Apple M2 10-core GPU
• Screen Size & Type: 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone
• Internal Storage: 512 GB SSD, 1 TB, or 2 TB SSD
• Battery Life: Up to 18 hours of battery life
• Color Options: Midnight, Starlight, Space Gray, and Silver
• Other Perks: Two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports; Magic Keyboard with Touch ID; Force Touch trackpad; 35W Dual USB-C Port Compact Power Adapter; 1080p FaceTime HD camera; MagSafe 3 charging port; 2 Power Adaptor Options: Compact 35W Dual USB-C Port or 67W USB-C for Fast Charging
• Price / Affordability: Starting at $1,499

4. ASUS ZenBook 14X OLED (UX5400, Intel Core i7 chip) – Best Compact WFH Laptop w/Touchscreen

The ASUS ZenBook 14 OLED with a 12th Gen Intel Core i5 or i7 processor is another remarkable laptop for remote work. In fact, this is our pick for the best compact laptop with a touchscreen.

While the price point is comparable to Mac computers and other higher-end laptop models, we found the ASUS ZenBook 14 OLED to be one of the best laptops for remote work thanks to its strong performance, outstanding display, and portability.

One of the most impactful features for remote workers who rely on constant video conferencing is the ASUS ZenBook AI noise-cancellation technology. This feature makes for noise-free video conferencing meetings, which can be a game-changer if you live and work from home in a loud location or you have kids or pets around.

Consider the following features of the ASUS ZenBook 14 OLED if you’re buying a laptop for remote work:

Key Features and Specs

• CPU: Intel Core i5 or i7 Processor
• RAM: 16 GB RAM
• Weight/Portability: 3.06 lbs
• Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
• Screen Size: 14 inch screen, 2.8K (2880 x 1800) OLED 16:10 aspect ratio
• Internal Storage: 512 GB SSD
• Battery Life: About a 6 to 8-hour battery life
• Color Options: Ponder Blue
• Other Perks: 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 2x Thunderbolt™ 4 supports display/power delivery, 1x HDMI 2.1 TMDS, 1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack, Micro SD card reader; Backlit Chiclet Keyboard, 1.4mm Key-travel, ASUS NumberPad 2.0; Secure Fingerprint login, Wi-Fi SmartConnect
• Price / Affordability: Starting at $1,399

5. Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 13.3-inch laptop (Best Lightweight Laptop for Programming & Coding; Great for Bloggers)

The Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 is an exceptional choice for those who need a durable business laptop for remote jobs like programming and coding.

According to Lenovo’s website, the company uses “the US Department of Defense’s MIL-STD 810H standards to create a balance of value and durability for our ThinkPad laptops. We test against 12 standards and more than 200 quality checks to ensure they run in extreme conditions. These tests cover harsh variables like Arctic wilderness and desert dust storms, including temperature, pressure, humidity, vibration, and more.”

While it only has 256 GB SSD or 512 GB SSD storage and a relatively small 13.3-inch screen, the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 packs a mighty punch with an AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 6650U processor and is an ultra-lightweight laptop for remote working at just 2.78 pounds.

The Lenovo ThinkPad was the standard issue laptop when I worked in a hybrid office role as a content marketing manager at a B2B SaaS, and the software engineers I worked with always raved about how awesome the ThinkPad was for coding.

Personally, I thought it was an awesome laptop for blogging because I could carry it around the office with one hand it was so light, and the keyboard was easy to get accustomed to. So, if you want a laptop that’s lightweight that you can use for writing long-form content all day, this makes for a great choice.

Plus, it has a good battery life of up to 18 hours plus, making this the best laptop for digital nomads who work without (or lose) their power adaptors constantly, and with an AMD Radeon graphics card, you’ll love the way the screen looks no matter what you’re working on.

We prefer the ThinkPad over the Lenovo IdeaPad because it’s geared toward business as opposed to being geared toward consumer use at home. For people with remote jobs, it’s better to have a business laptop than something built merely for browsing the web, as the Lenovo IdeaPad is.

Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 Key Features and Specs:

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 6650U Processor (2.90 GHz, up to 4.50 GHz Max Boost, 6 Cores, 12 Threads, 16 MB Cache)
• RAM: 8 GB or 16 GB
• Weight/Portability: 2.78 lbs
• Graphics: AMD Radeon graphics card
• Screen Size: 13.3-inch screen size
• Internal Storage: 256 GB SSD, 512 GB SSD, or 1 TB SSD depending on model
• Battery Life: Just under a 14-hour battery life
• Color Options: Black, Gray, or Black Vegan Leather
• Other Perks: IR & 1080p FHD Hybrid camera; Windows 11 Home or Pro operating system
• Price Point: Starting at $1,355.40

6. Acer Aspire 5 (Best Affordable Budget PC Under $400 for Remote Work)

Forget the HP Envy x360: The Acer Aspire 5 is our pick for the best budget laptop for remote workers.

With an AMD Ryzen 3 5300U quad-core processor, the Acer Aspire 5 has enough power to complete a variety of tasks at once, but may not be ideal for work that requires exceptionally high processing power.

That’s why this is one of the best budget laptops for remote working and working from home as a writer, editor, copywriter, marketer, or other WFH profession that doesn’t require lots of internal storage, extra GB RAM, the most powerful Intel Core i5 or Intel Core i7 chips, or a special graphics card like the NVIDIA GeForce.

For an affordable laptop, the Acer Aspire 5 has 10 long hours of battery life, not quite as much as the HP Envy x360 and its 13-plus hours of battery life, but more than enough time for getting work done at your local cafe without your power cord.

As a mid-tier laptop model in the Acer Aspire series, and we think the Acer Aspire 5 is the best laptop for working at home starting under $400.

Key Features and Specs:

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 3 5300U Quad Core
• RAM: 8 GB RAM
• Weight/Portability: 3.88 pounds
• Graphics: AMD Radeon Graphics shared memory
• Screen Size: 15.6 inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) 16:9
• Internal Storage: 256 GB SSD
• Battery Life: Up to 10 hours of battery life
• Color Options: Pure Silver
• Other Perks: HD Camera, numerous ports for USB 2.0, 3.2, headphones, and more
• Price / Affordability: Starting at $399

7. Dell XPS 17 – Best 17 Inch Laptop for WFH / Best Gaming Laptop / Best Laptop For Cricut Makers

Sure, there’s the Dell XPS 13 which is sweet for a 13-inch laptop, but why go small when you can get our pick of the best laptop with a 17-inch screen with more powerful specs in the Dell XPS 17?

The Dell XPS 17 laptop is a significant investment starting at just under $1,849, but what makes it one of the best laptops for working from home and remotely is that it’s ultra-customizable.

Plus, even when you opt for just the minimal specs, it’s still one of the most powerful laptops you can buy with the biggest screen size you can get.

At a minimum, you’ll receive your Dell XPS 17 laptop equipped with a 12th Generation Intel i5 12500H processor with an 18 MB cache, 12 cores, 16 threads, and up to 4.50 GHz Turbo, with the option to upgrade to a more powerful 12th Generation Intel Core i7 and i9 chips should your remote job require it.

Like the Dell XPS 13 and XPS 15 models, the XPS 17 comes with 8 GB RAM for memory at a minimum, which is more than enough for freelance writers, editors, copywriters, and remote workers who don’t rely on high-bandwidth programs and apps for everyday tasks.

For those WFHers who require more memory, you can upgrade the XPS 17 to contain 16 GB (good if you plan on editing digital media and/or gaming), 32 GB (the necessary minimum for running professional apps and competitive gaming), or 64 GB RAM if you really plan on working your laptop to the extreme.

Graphics-wise, the Dell XPS 17 offers four video card options depending on your needs.

At a bare minimum, your laptop will come with an Intel UHD Graphics card in the 8 GB model, with the option to upgrade to Intel Iris Xe Graphics, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 with 4 GB GDDR6 and 60 W, or the top-of-the-line NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 with 6 GB GDDR6 and 60 W for those who might want to buy a laptop for remote work and gaming, or for work-from-home jobs that involve graphic design, video production, and photo editing.

While we love our Galaxy Book Pro 360 for music production, the XPS 17 is our second choice when it comes to the best PC laptops for music production.

According to Dell, “the XPS 17 is the first-ever laptop featuring Waves Nx 3D Audio for Speakers tuned by multi-Grammy Award-winning producer, Jack Joseph Puig.”

Plus, the hard drive can be customized to your needs, starting at a very respectable 512 GB SSD RAM, with the option to upgrade to 1 TB SSD, 2TB SSD, or a whopping 4 TB SSD if you deal with a humongous array of files (think wedding photographers, video editors, musicians, and other high-volume, large-file creatives).

Speaking of, it pays to mention that the XPS 17 is the preferred laptop for Cricut makers thanks to its large screen and customizability, so if that kind of creative work is part of your career, take a detailed look at the configuration options you can get with this powerful work-from-home laptop from Dell.

Key Features and Specs:

• CPU: 12th Generation Intel Core i5 processor – 12500H (18 MB cache, 12 cores, 16 threads, up to 4.50 GHz Turbo), 12th Generation Intel® Core™ i7-12700H (24 MB cache, 14 cores, 20 threads, up to 4.70 GHz Turbo); or 12th Generation Intel® Core™ i9-12900HK (24 MB cache, 14 cores, 20 threads, up to 5.00 GHz Turbo)
• RAM: 8 GB, 16 GB, 32 GB, or 64 GB RAM
• Weight/Portability: 4.87 pounds for non-touchscreen; 5.37 pounds for touchscreen
• Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics; Intel Iris Xe Graphics; NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050, 4 GB GDDR6 60W; NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060, 6 GB GDDR6 60W
• Screen Size:
• Internal Storage (Hard Drives): 512 GB SSD, 1 TB SSD, 2 TB SSD, or 4 TB SSD
• Battery Life:
• Color Options: Platinum Silver exterior, Black interior
• Other Perks: Waves Nx 3D Audio for Speakers, Fingerprint reader + Facial recognition, 4x Thunderbolt 4 (USB Type-C) ports with DisplayPort and Power Delivery, Headphone jack, Full-size SD card reader v6.0
• Price / Affordability: Starting at $1,849

FAQ About the Best Laptops For Working From Home & Remotely

Buying a laptop is never an easy decision, and you might still have a few questions about purchasing the right computer for working from home and remotely.

Here are some answers to common questions that most people have before investing in a laptop for remote work and working from a home office.

How did we pick the best laptops for working from home and remotely?

There are a ton of different factors that went into how we selected our top picks of the best laptop for working from home or remotely in each category.

From battery life, screen size, and color to the inner workings that determine a computer’s performance like CPU, RAM, and storage capacity, the following list shows the criteria we used to make our top picks of the best laptops for working from home and for digital nomads working remotely:

• CPU (Processor)
• RAM (Memory)
• Weight/Portability
• Graphics
• Screen Size
• Internal Storage (Hard Drive)
• Battery Life
• Color Options
• Other Perks
• Price Point

While we prefer at least a 13.5-inch screen (and, typically, over a 15-inch screen), along with 8 GB RAM, 256 GB or internal storage, and long battery life for our laptops, please note that some of our top remote work laptop picks offer multiple options for these configurations and specs, and we’ll make a note of these choices whenever it applies.

Hooooold up: WTF is CPU and GB RAM??

For non-techie folks looking for the best laptop for working from home and remotely, let me quickly explain some crucial computer jargon in layman’s terms:

CPU stands for “Central Processing Unit,” a.k.a. your computer’s “brain” that determines how fast it runs, loads pages, and handles multiple apps + programs.

Sometimes, instead of calling it a CPU, you’ll hear companies refer to the CPU as a computer processor or chip.

Intel makes some of the best CPUs for PCs, while Apple makes its own CPUs for its laptops. Always look to get the newest CPU models when purchasing a WFH laptop brand new. These days, the Intel Core i3 and Intel Core i5 processors are getting old, so look for newer generation Intel Core i7 chips at a minimum in PCs.

GB stands for gigabytes and is a measurement unit for a computer’s storage capacity.

RAM stands for Random-Access Memory and is akin to your laptop’s short-term memory. This is another vital computer component that affects a laptop’s speed and load time, overall performance, and ability to handle complex tasks and run more apps and programs simultaneously.

When it comes to RAM, the higher the GBs, the better, especially if you plan on performing intensive tasks for work, such as music production, photo, and video editing, animation, or even gaming on your breaks or after work.

Plan on buying a laptop with at least 8 GB RAM to ensure you don’t get frustrated with poor performance issues.

Should I buy a desktop or laptop to work from home?

Unless you’re comfortable being glued to one place when you’re at home working and you don’t ever anticipate working from a location other than your home office desk, your best bet is to invest in a high-quality laptop instead of a desktop.

A laptop allows you to move around from desk to couch to bed with your computer workstation, while a desktop anchors you in place and makes it a supreme hassle to move.

Ultimately, the choice is yours, but because my partner and I travel for work frequently and need the portability and flexibility of laptops for working remotely, we’ve always prioritized owning laptops over desktop computers.

But, that’s not to say you shouldn’t ever invest in a desktop all-in-one computer if you’re working from home.

My partner is obsessed with everything Apple, so of course she had to get herself a 21.6 iMac to complement her suite of Apple laptops (the Pro and Air), iPads, iPhone, iWatch, and other Apple accessories.

Does she use her desktop iMac? Well, she did. Currently, it’s in need of repair, as it hasn’t been turned on since we moved it to a new spot in our house. While it may be our fault that it’s not working, our iMac’s reality does not bode well for the recommendation of desktop computers.

Of course, I once purchased a $900+ HP laptop and had it crap out on me right after Best Buy’s grace period for returns ended, and instead of paying Geek Squad $300+ to diagnose and repair it, I took it as a sunk cost and purchased a budget laptop from Lenovo for slightly more than the repair would have cost (about $345)

I still use that under $400 laptop as a backup to my current remote work laptop, the Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 with a 15-inch screen, 11th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, 16 GB of RAM, and 1 TB internal storage in alluring Mystic Bronze that I purchased in August 2021 for around $1,400.

Which brand of laptop is most reliable?

Okay, so here’s a little secret about laptops: almost all laptop brands make reliable models these days, while many of the same brands also make some less-than-ideal laptops, so going by the brand is not a smart idea.

The best thing to do is consider what specs your remote job requires and make a list of the bare minimum you could consider.

Most WFHers will want a faster laptop, which means going for at least 8 GB RAM, if not 16 GB RAM at a minimum. Of course, you can opt for even more on some models (32 GB and 64 GB), but that will make the price significantly higher.

Also consider the processor, or CPU, that you require in a laptop. While you may not know specifically which CPU is right for you, understand that Intel makes a variety of models like the Intel Core i5, Intel Core i7, and Intel Core i9, with the higher numbers representing more powerful processors.

Not only that, Intel releases different generations of each of these chips, so you can often find older models with 9th, 10th, and 11th generation Intel i5 and i7 chips, for example, while the newer models are using their 12th generation chips (with the 13th generation CPUs soon to be released).

Then, depending on your remote job, consider how much internal storage you’ll need in your hard drive. A minimum of 256 GB is typically found in today’s budget laptops and most higher-end laptops.

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How much RAM do I need for remote work?

RAM stands for Random Access Memory and it is responsible for how easily your laptop can run multiple programs at the same time.

The amount of RAM you’ll want/need depends on the nature of your work-from-home job or jobs. Writers, editors, and people who don’t rely on heavy-duty programs and applications won’t need to splurge on extra RAM, so long as they get a fast laptop with at least 8 GB RAM.

This should be more than enough for remote workers to run (or simply join) Zoom meetings successfully and have other apps like Slack, Google Chrome, and Norton Anti-Virus software running simultaneously without lag.

People who work remotely doing photo and/or video editing, music production, or other creative work will want something better, with at least 16 GB RAM to power their processes.

Finally, those buyers who plan on using their remote work laptop for other purposes, namely gaming or making music, may want something even more powerful, which is where a 32 GB or 64 GB laptop would make the most sense.

What processor/CPU is best for working from home?

With a plethora of CPUs, a.k.a. Processors, you can find in a laptop, you might be wondering which processor is the best for working from home or remotely.

You’ll likely encounter two main brands of CPU when searching for laptop options: Intel and AMD, or Advanced Micro Devices.

Both brands offer reputable processors, so it’s not like you should strictly choose one over the other. While Intel may carry a strong reputation compared to AMD in some circles, we’ve worked remotely with laptops containing both CPU brands, and it’s not like one is necessarily better than the other.

If you opt for Intel, you should consider nothing less than a laptop with an i5 chip with the next-to-latest generation, if not the current generation. That ensures you’ll have quick and steady performance for your most important tasks, like video meetings, web browsing with Wi-Fi, writing/editing, and streaming music and video.

If you go with AMD, aim for a Ryzen 3 3600 at a minimum, which offers similar power to the Intel i5.

Remote workers who do video and photo editing regularly will want something more powerful, such as the Intel Core i9 so that they won’t encounter lag and performance issues when using high-bandwidth software like Photoshop, FinalCut Pro, and Lightroom.

Best Laptops for Remote Work and Working From Home: Wrapping it up

So there you have it! These are our picks for the best laptops for remote work and working from home. Hopefully, this list has helped you narrow down your choices and find the perfect laptop for using in your home office and taking with you to your favorite coworking space or cafe.

Looking for more products to configure the perfect home office setup? Check out our complete list of work-from-home essentials for more recommendations of the most important products for a highly successful remote work lifestyle.