An excellent laptop is crucial when you have a remote job, but finding the right kind of laptop can be frightening with so many options available. Continue reading this article to learn about the best laptops for remote work. The list of criteria below will help you choose the perfect laptop for your specific remote job needs.
Some laptops can be quite expensive and may be out of your price range. However, don’t panic because there are many reliable options at reasonable prices. Stay tuned to learn five great tips for finding the best laptops under $1,000. Continue reading to find cheap laptops for remote work within your budget.
How to Choose the Best Remote Work Laptop
A good quality laptop for working from home is essential, so make sure you look for a suitable laptop with fantastic specs. Below is a list of important criteria to consider when searching for a reliable device.
Processor Speed
A processor, also called a central processing unit (CPU), is the circuit board in a computer, and it is a crucial part. It performs commands on behalf of programs on your computer. If you need a laptop for work, it should have a faster processor, such as an Intel Core i7 or i5.
A faster processor leads to a more expensive laptop. However, with the higher price comes powerful performance. You can buy an i3 processor with less processing power if you have a strict budget.
Long Battery Life
When choosing a laptop for remote work, a critical factor is how long the battery can last. The latest laptop models have batteries that can last between eight to 19 hours. Fantastic battery life gives you the luxury to work from anywhere you want. With a good battery, your battery won’t suddenly die, causing you to lose your work. Choose a laptop battery that can last at least ten hours.
Storage Type and Size
If you are a digital nomad looking for a computer, consider the storage size and type. There are two kinds of storage on a computer. You can get a solid-state drive (SDD) or a traditional hard drive (HDD).
If you had to compare an SSD and an HDD, the SSD is an excellent option because it is much faster. However, it comes with a higher price. Look for an SSD that is 256GB or larger. An HDD will also work if you are on a tight budget.
Laptop Size and Weight
If you work remotely, a bigger laptop is not ideal. You want to find the lightest laptop possible without sacrificing necessary tech specs such as a processor or storage size. Look for a computer with a good display size, for example, a 13.3-inch screen or bigger. This is especially important for digital nomads.
Functionality and Usability
When searching for the perfect laptop for remote work, you need to consider a few vital factors that make your remote work experience easier. Ensure the device has good screen quality because you will be working on it all day, and you don’t want to damage your eyes. A laptop with great keyboard ergonomics makes tying much easier. In addition, a good webcam will make video conferencing better.
Memory
Memory is also called random access memory (RAM), and it is an essential feature of a high-speed laptop. RAM temporarily stores files and programs that you use daily. RAM is there to ensure that when you open a frequently used program, it will open quickly. The standard memory size for laptops is 8GB. It is best to look for 8GB or 16GB of RAM.
How to Find Cheap Laptops for Remote Work
- Look for a laptop with a smaller CPU. If you don’t have much to spend on a laptop, you can look for an Intel Core i3 processor. However, bear in mind that this smaller processor is not as fast as an i5 or i7 CPU.
- Consider buying a laptop with less RAM. Memory comes in many different sizes, and the bigger the RAM, the more expensive the computer will be. Look for a device with 4GB or 8GB of RAM if you have a tight budget. Make sure that the size you select is still suitable for your needs though.
- Find a laptop with an HDD or a smaller SSD. You can consider buying a smaller 128GB SSD. However, it will likely fill up fast, and you may need an extra external storage device. Another cheaper storage option is an HDD. They are not as fast but will get the job done perfectly.
- Don’t buy the latest version of a laptop. Laptop brands constantly upgrade their technology and release new versions of devices. When you buy a computer, the previous model is typically a more budget-friendly option, and it will still meet all of your remote work needs.
The Best Laptops for Remote Work in 2023
| Laptop | Manufacturer | Price | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Surface Book 3 for Business | Microsoft | $1,699.99 | Powerful processor, long battery life |
| Dell XPS 13 | Dell | $1,359.99 | Light and thin, excellent screen-to-body ratio |
| Apple MacBook Pro | Apple Inc. | $1,299 | High speed, long battery life |
| Apple MacBook Air | Apple Inc. | $1,249 | Fast, lightweight, long battery life |
| HP Envy x360 | HP | $1,099.99 | Touchscreen, 360-degree flexibility |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 | Microsoft | $899.99 | Powerful processor, long-lasting battery |
| Acer Swift 3 | Acer | $899.99 | Long-lasting battery, extensive connectivity |
| Lenovo IdeaPad 5i | Lenovo | $849.99 | 90 percent screen-to-body ratio, enhanced security |
| Acer Aspire 5 | Acer | $669.99 | Powerful processor, FHD IPS display |
| Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 | Lenovo | $564.99 | High performance, 360-degree flexibility |
Top Rated Laptops for Remote Work: In Detail
Microsoft Surface Book 3 for Business
- Best for: Working on the go
- Price: $1,699.99
The Microsoft Surface Book 3 has an excellent battery life of 15.5 hours and is one of the best business laptops. A 13.5-inch screen displays impressive graphics thanks to its Intel Iris Plus GPU. The Intel Core i5 processor ensures that this touch screen 2-in-1 laptop runs at high speeds. It has 256GB SSD Storage and 8GB RAM, perfect for your remote work needs.
Dell XPS 13
- Best for: Daily tasks and video streaming
- Price: $1,359.99
The Dell XPS 13 is a high-end laptop with an Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of memory storage, and 512GB SSD storage space that enables high-speed performance. The integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics displays 100 percent standard red green blue color accuracy (sRGB) on a 13.3-inch screen. Plus, this lightweight laptop has brilliant battery life.
Apple MacBook Pro
- Best for: Daily tasks and high-power applications
- Price: $1,299
The MacBook Pro has an M1 Chip, an 8-core CPU, and an 8-core GPU and is a powerful laptop. It comes with macOS Monterey. In addition, the small M1 chip guarantees a high-speed experience with a 13-inch retina display. It comes with two USB 4 thunderbolt ports and a 20-hour battery life. This device has an average storage capacity of 256GB SSD and 8GB of memory, though this can be customized.
Apple MacBook Air
- Best for: Daily tasks and video calling
- Price: $999
The Apple MacBook Air has a light design and a small M1 processor chip making it a portable device with powerful performance. Although this laptop is an expensive option, it has an impressive 18 hours of battery life, a comfortable keyboard with magic keys, 512GB SSD storage, and 8GB RAM. There is also a cheaper option with just 256GB of storage.
HP Envy x360
- Best for: Daily tasks and creating
- Price: $1,099.99
The HP Envy x360 is a speedy laptop with an 11th Gen Intel Core i7 processor and 16GB of memory. Its Intel Iris Xe GPU shows impressive graphics on the 13.3-inch FHD display. This reliable device has a backlit keyboard, 512GB SSD storage space, a MicroSD media card slot, and around 11 hours of battery life.
Best Laptops for Remote Work Under $1,000
Microsoft Surface Laptop 4
- Best for: Daily tasks and streaming
- Price: $899.99
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 is a 13-inch laptop with 2265×1504 screen resolution and the Windows 11 operating system. Some amazing features of this reliable laptop include a high-quality keyboard and 19 hours of battery life. Users will also get an AMD Ryzen 5 processor and plenty of ports such as a headphone jack and two USB ports.
Acer Swift 3
- Best for: Daily tasks and streaming
- Price: $899.99
The Acer Swift 3 has an excellent processing speed because of its Intel Core i7 CPU, even though it is an affordable laptop. It has a 13.5-inch screen size, an impressive battery life of up to 14 hours, and comes with a free Windows 11 upgrade. It is one of the lightest laptops that can weigh as little as 2.62 lbs, and it has amazing security features such as a fingerprint reader.
Lenovo IdeaPad 5i
- Best for: Daily tasks
- Price: $849.99
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5i has Windows 11, an Intel Core i5 processor, and 8GB RAM ensuring excellent performance for a budget laptop. The Integrated Intel Iris Xe GPU displays impressive graphics on a 15.6-inch screen. It also has an SD card reader, an audio jack, and a fingerprint reader. It is also fantastic for remote work because of its decent battery life of around 11 hours.
Acer Aspire 5
- Best for: Daily tasks
- Price: $669.99
The Acer Aspire 5 has an Intel Core i5 processor and is a mid-range laptop with a slim professional appearance. This excellent laptop has a 14-inch screen with a full HD display and 512GB SSD storage space. It has a built-in webcam and a fingerprint scanner to enhance security. This device also has around 10 hours of battery life.
Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5
- Best for: Daily tasks
- Price: $564.99
The Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 has Intel UHD Graphics displayed on a 13.3-inch screen and an Intel Core i3 processor. This convertible laptop has two USB-C ports and an average 10 hours battery life. It has an affordable price but a relatively small storage size of 128GB SSD and only 4GB of RAM.
Should I Use a Laptop for Remote Work?
Yes, you should use a laptop for remote work because it allows you to work anywhere. Most remote jobs that pay well require you to have a portable device to work on. A laptop is an excellent option if you enjoy traveling while working, doing your work at the park, or simply working in different areas at home.
Having a good laptop makes your work easier and can be the first step to finding a remote job. Even in 2018 before the COVID-19 pandemic, 34.7 million full-time employees in the US were able to work from home. Further, after the pandemic is over, it can be expected that the number of people working remotely will be permanently heightened. Therefore, it is a great time to invest in getting remote working technology.
Best Laptops for Remote Work FAQ
Sticking with one of the two most popular operating systems, Windows or Apple, is a safe choice. However, you should choose a laptop with an operating system you enjoy using. Many people have debated which operating system is the best, but it all comes down to personal preference.
One of the disadvantages of working on a laptop all day is that sitting all day is not very good for you because it prevents blood circulation. In addition, looking at a screen all day can cause eyestrain and headaches. Plus, sitting down at a desk can also cause back, neck, and shoulder pain.
The highest paying job for remote workers is in software engineering, according to Indeed. Indeed also reports that the average yearly salary of a software engineer is $94,503.
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In 2022, you can find remote jobs with corporate giants such as Google, Facebook, Squarespace, Walmart, Uber, and many more. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many top companies are hiring remote workers across the country.
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