Being an accountant in 2023 certainly requires having an exceptional laptop. You will need a high-powered laptop to use accounting software for automating various accounting operations, such as issuing payroll and making calculations. Regardless of the level of your accounting skills, you need to be using one of the best laptops for accountants to seamlessly perform your bookkeeping responsibilities.
The good news is you can get a powerful and affordable laptop for accounting without going overboard, financially. In this article, we’ll look at some of the best laptops for accountants under $1,000, in addition to those in the pricier range.
How to Choose the Best Accountants Laptop
Asides from the price of a laptop, there is a wide range of other factors to consider when making your final choice for an accounting laptop. These factors include the operating system, storage, keyboard, weight, and processor speed. Having a good laptop will help you to seamlessly handle accounting tasks and build a successful career in accounting. Let’s take a detailed look at the most relevant factors below.
Operating System
Do you prefer Windows OS, macOS, or Linux? Choosing the right operating system (OS) ensures that any accounting software is compatible and runs on your laptop without issues. Windows, Linux, and macOS are the three top operating systems with more advanced and updated versions coming out every couple of years.
Even though most accounting software packages are available for multiple operating systems, some accounting software is exclusive to select systems. If you have doubts about which operating system is the best for you, you should go with the one that your accounting software is available on.
Storage Capacity
The best laptops for accountants should have ample storage disk space. People often think that only creative tasks like video editing and gaming require a lot of storage space. However, you will need to store many large files as an accountant, as well.
You also need to decide whether you want a solid state drive (SSD) or hard disk drive (HDD). When choosing between SSD and HDD, we recommend SSD because it offers faster loading times, which is important for various accounting tasks. You should aim for a laptop with at least a 256GB SSD storage space.
RAM and Processor Speed
The RAM size and processor of a laptop influence how well programs function. Some accounting software can be quite heavy so you should aim for a laptop with at least 8GB of RAM and an Intel Core i5 or i7 or AMD Ryzen processor.
While the Intel processors may be more popular, the AMD Ryzen processor seems to be more powerful and durable. Regardless, both processors are great options that’ll have your software functioning without lagging or crashing while you work.
Screen Size and Resolution
As you’ll be working with lots of numbers and important data, it’s important to have a screen size and resolution that clearly displays these things. Aim for a 13-inch or 15-inch screen with a high display resolution. If you prefer a touch screen, you should go for the 15-inch display.
How to Find Cheap Laptops for Accountants
- Buy during discount periods. You can save money by targeting periods when laptop manufacturers offer special discounts, such as Black Friday and back-to-school months.
- Focus on performance rather than popularity. Oftentimes, people make choices based on trends, which is how popular brand laptops end up selling out, while their equal competitors can go unheard of. It’s very easy to find a cheap, high-performing laptop that works for your budget and accounting needs.
- Buy directly from the manufacturer. You should purchase your laptop from manufacturers, rather than retailers that increase the price. Most manufacturers will have an updated website with all of their available laptops.
The Best Laptops for Accountants in 2023
| Laptop | Manufacturer | Price | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lenovo ThinkPad E15 Gen 3 AMD | Lenovo | $1,559 | AMD Ryzen 7 5700 processor, 512GB SSD, 16GB of RAM, full HD display |
| Asus VivoBook Pro 16X | Asus | $1549.99 | Intel Core i7 processor, 1TB SSD, 32GB of RAM |
| LG Gram 14” | LG | $1,499.99 | Intel Core i7 processor, Intel Iris Xe graphics |
| Dell XPS 13 | Dell | $1,299.99 | Intel Core i3 processor, Intel Iris Xe graphics, 512GB SSD, 8GB of RAM |
| Apple MacBook Pro | Apple | $1,299 | Intel Core i5 processor, Apple M1, 256GB SSD, 8GB of RAM |
| Apple MacBook Air | Apple | $999 | Intel Core i3 processor, Apple M1 Chip, 256GB SSD, 8GB of RAM |
| HP Pavilion 15 | HP | $799.99 | AMD Ryzen 7 processor, 512GB SSD, 16GB of RAM |
| Lenovo Yoga C740 | Lenovo | $729.79 | Intel Core i7 processor, 32GB of RAM, 512GB SSD |
| Microsoft Surface Pro 7+ | Microsoft | $699.99 | Intel Core i3 processor, Intel UHD graphics |
| Acer Aspire 5 | Acer | $649.99 | AMD Ryzen 7, AMD Radeon™ RX Vega 10, 512GB SSD, 8GB of RAM |
Top Rated Laptops for Accountants: In Detail
Lenovo ThinkPad E15
- Best for: Accountants who use a lot of finance and bookkeeping software
- Price: $1,559
The Lenovo ThinkPad offers all of the specifications that an accountant needs to perform their daily tasks. It has a 15.6-inch display and a powerful AMD Ryzen processor. The 16GB of RAM and 512 GB SSD storage are more than enough to allow you to seamlessly operate your accounting and bookkeeping software. The battery life is another attractive feature as it offers nine hours.
Asus VivoBook Pro 16X
- Best for: Daily accounting tasks
- Price: $1,549.99
This is a perfect laptop for accounting students and professionals alike. It features a powerful Intel Core i7 processor which can speed up to 4.8 GHz. This allows it to handle all types of accounting software with ease. It also offers a host of other features such as a dedicated graphics card, built-in HD webcam, fingerprint reader, dual fans, and a full-sized keyboard.
The most impressive feature about this laptop is perhaps the 4K OLED screen display with ultra-slim four-sided NanoEdge bezels. This provides the rich, immersive, lag-free experience that accountants need when working with data.
LG Gram 14
- Best for: Accountants who want a lightweight, powerful laptop
- Price: $1,499.99
The LG Gram 14 is the right choice for professional accountants who need a powerful laptop that can run accounting tools like QuickBooks and Zoho with ease. It offers a fast Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and an integrated Iris graphics GPU that facilitates seamless accounting software usage.
It also provides other useful features like a 14-inch screen bright display, an impressive 18.5 hours of battery life, thunderbolt ports, an audio jack, and a numeric keypad, which helps accountants make faster entries.
Dell XPS 13
- Best for: Accounting professionals who need a powerful, yet portable laptop
- Price: $1,299.99
The Dell XPS 13 is a sleek yet, robust laptop that’s capable of handling rigorous accounting needs with precision thanks to a turbo clock speed of up to 4.10 GHz and 8GB of RAM storage. Its 512GB SSD storage offers enough storage capacity for storing large files. It also comes with integrated Iris Xe graphics which can efficiently handle medium graphics-intensive tasks while maintaining great screen resolution.
Apple MacBook Pro
- Best for: Accountants who love the macOS and compatibility with Apple products
- Price: $1,299
Because of the smooth user experience and magic keyboard, many accountants would love to work on an Apple MacBook laptop. The MacBook Pro 13 lives up to the expectations, with a powerful M1 8-core processor. It also comes with 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of SSD storage for speedy file reading, transfers, and writing.
Owners also enjoy a host of other features such as lightweight design, retina display technology, a comfortable keyboard, and thunderbolt ports. It also has an impressive extended battery life of up to 20 hours of usage. This is a great laptop for business as it is highly secure and has a fingerprint sensor.
Best Laptops for Accountants Under $1,000
Apple MacBook Air
- Best for: Students and professionals looking for an Apple laptop at a reasonable price
- Price: $999
If you are an accounting or finance student looking for a budget laptop from the MacBook family, the Apple MacBook Air is your best bet. Just like the MacBook Pro, it comes with an Apple M1 chip, retina display technology, integrated touch ID support through the fingerprint scanner, a headphone jack, and a powerful battery that lasts up to 12 hours.
HP Pavilion 15
- Best for: Accountants who need an affordable laptop with great display quality
- Price: $799.99
The HP Pavilion is another great laptop for accounting professionals due to its excellent performance. It features a powerful processor and a dedicated AMD Radeon graphics card which helps it handle powerful accounting software. It also has ample space to easily install large accounting applications and save large files.
Lenovo Yoga C740
- Best for: Those who want a lightweight laptop with a sleek design
- Price: $729.79
The Lenovo Yoga C740 is equipped with a powerful yet energy-efficient processor that can easily run nearly any accounting software or application. It’s known for never overheating even when running heavy apps like Zoho and QuickBooks. Overall, this is a portable, effective 2-in-1 laptop for the bulk of accountancy tasks at an affordable price.
It also features a 15.6-inch full HD display that offers stunning image quality. This makes it an excellent choice for viewing accounting information, presentations, and spreadsheets without any image distortion or lag.
Microsoft Surface Pro 7+
- Best for: Accounting students who want to work on the go
- Price: $699.99
The Microsoft Surface Pro 7+ allows you to complete accounting tasks in style, efficiently, and seamlessly. It’s a powerful and sleek touchscreen laptop for on-the-go productivity. In terms of storage, it could be better. It is equipped with a 256GB SSD storage space which helps accountants store spreadsheets and software files. However, current technology far exceeds this.
Acer Aspire 5
- Best for: Accountants looking for an affordable, yet sturdy laptop
- Price: $649.99
This is the cheapest laptop on this list. However, it is the ideal choice for those on a budget as it features an AMD Ryzen processor with a clock speed of up to 2.3 GHz that can easily handle most accounting programs. It also comes with an Intel Iris Plus graphics card, a 512GB SSD, and 8GB of RAM. Not only that, it has a built-in webcam, so accountants can easily attend meetings without the need for extra equipment.
Should I Use a Laptop for Accounting?
Yes, you should use a laptop for accounting. Although it is also okay to use a desktop or a powerful tablet, laptops provide a hybrid of both options without compromising on efficiency. Laptops are the best options if you’re always on the go and need portability and performance packed in one.
Having a powerful laptop made for accountants in your arsenal will also help you stay competitive in the field. This is important as accountants only have a seven percent job growth projection until 2030.
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Best Laptops for Accountants FAQ
The best laptop for accounting is the Lenovo ThinkPad E15 or the Asus VivoBook Pro 16X. However, if you are on a tight budget, an Apple MacBook Air is also a solid option that is a more affordable laptop with a compact design.
You need a lot of processing power because you’ll be working with spreadsheets and accounting software. The better your CPU, RAM, and storage, the faster your laptop will run. Large accounting software requires a lot of processing power, and you don’t want to wait hours for your computer to process or save projects.
While macOS is excellent for running accounting software seamlessly, Windows 10 OS also offers amazing compatibility with a wider range of software and tools. It ultimately depends on your personal experience and preference.
No, you can’t put QuickBooks on a Chromebook. The desktop and enterprise version for QuickBooks is not available for Chrome OS. However, you can work on QuickBooks by using QuickBooks Online through your web browser.
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