The best laptop for writers in 2024: the top picks for authors, bloggers, and journalists

We're on the hunt for the best laptop for writers available today

  • How to choose
  • How we test
  • ▶ Best overall
  • ▶ Best budget
  • ▶ Best 15-inch
  • ▶ Best Ultrabook
  • ▶ Best 5G
  • ▶ Best academic

MacBook Air 13-inch and 15-inch models, two of the best laptops for writers, against a techradar background

1. Quick list 2. How to choose 3. How we test 4. Top picks ▶ Best overall ▶ Best budget ▶ Best 15-inch ▶ Best Ultrabook ▶ Best 5G ▶ Best academic

The best laptop for writers requires a unique blend of features, prioritizing portability, long battery life, and a comfortable keyboard over high-end performance specs. 

Unlike typical requirements, writers benefit from laptops designed for ease of use and durability for on-the-go creativity. Our expertly curated list, tested by writers for writers, includes top picks across categories to suit various preferences like our top pick, the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch with M3 chip. 

If you're looking for a more budget-friendly option (we are writers, after all), the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook might be exactly what you need, while the premium Lenovo Yoga Book 9i offers an innovative dual OLED design that is perfect for writers in academia or anyone researching their next book.

We've tested all of the selections on this list extensively, and we're here to ensure you find the perfect match for drafting your next masterpiece, combining comfort, functionality, and reliability.

MacBook Air 13-inch (M3) with screen open

The best laptop for writers overall Apple's latest version of the MacBook Air proves that you can improve on perfection. It retains the stunning design of the last model but with a cheaper price and more powerful hardware.

Read more below

Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5

The best budget laptop for writers This 2-in-1 Chromebook offers incredible value for money, with a stunning OLED display and a decent keyboard for a detachable laptop, especially for the price.

An Apple MacBook Air 15 against a white background

The best 15-inch laptop for writers The MacBook Air 15-inch (M3) excels for writers, featuring a larger screen for better visuals and workspace, comfortable typing, quality audio, and powerful performance.

A Dell XPS 13 9315 against a white background

The best ultrabook for writers The Dell XPS 13 (2022) continues its legacy with impressive performance, ultra-portability, and a competitive price, despite a controversial redesign and fewer ports.

A Microsoft Surface Pro 9 against a white background

The best 5G laptop for writers The Surface Pro 9 5G enhances portability and power, featuring 5G connectivity, Windows 11, an excellent webcam, and long battery life, despite some ARM chip growing pains.

Lenovo Yoga Book 9i

The best laptop for academic writers Due to its unique dual-screen design, the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i is an innovative laptop that's a godsend for writers in academia who move back and forth between writing and research 

How to choose the best laptop for writers for you

When choosing the best laptop for writers, there are several key factors you'll want to consider when weighing up your options. First and foremost, have a budget in mind. Given the wide range in costs, this could immediately whittle down the options, allowing you to focus only on those you're able and willing to afford. 

Next, consider any platform preferences you have. Used to working with Windows? Will you only consider Apple? Happy to go for Google ? This factor will ensure you're only looking in the right place.

After that, consider what you'll be using it for. Generally, writers may not necessarily need the fastest processing speeds or largest storage options. Still, journalists who are also expected to store and edit imagery may need more powerful machines. 

If so, consider features like CPU , graphics, RAM, and storage capacity. Finally, think about other features you might find useful. Those regularly on the move may want something robust but light, while others may find use in the versatility provided by laptops that can convert to tablet form, too.

The best laptop for writers: How we test

With a wealth of options for the best laptop for writers, we've aimed to provide a thorough rundown of the top options on the market. We've done this by pitting each laptop's key features against each other, analyzing speed, power, storage, graphics, and screen size.

Given the particular requirements of writers and journalists, however, we've also made a point to note other factors that could prove key in your decision-making. As many writers spend a lot of time in front of their screens, we've looked at what each laptop's display offers, including whether additional considerations like blue light filers are included. 

For the same reason, we've also considered ease of use and comfort, trackpad performance, port and storage options, and - for those regularly on the move - we've also tested each laptop's battery life and portability. 

The best laptop for writers: our top picks

The best laptop for writers in 2024.

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Below you'll find full write-ups for each of the best laptops for writers in our list. We've tested each one extensively, so you can be sure that our recommendations can be trusted.

A MacBook Air 13-inch on a coffee table

The best laptop for writers overall

1. apple macbook air 13-inch (2024).

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

The Apple MacBook Air (M3, 2024) emerges as an unparalleled choice for writers, blending state-of-the-art design with functionality. This latest iteration presents a slim, lightweight form factor, enabling writers to easily carry it wherever their stories take them. Its modern aesthetics are complemented by a larger, vibrant display, achieved by reducing bezel size, which not only enhances the visual appeal but provides a delightful writing and reading experience.

Performance is where the MacBook Air truly shines for writers. With rapid boot times, seamless app performance, and the ability to handle multiple tasks effortlessly, this laptop ensures a smooth writing flow. The redesigned keyboard, in particular, offers a comfortable typing experience, making it perfect for long writing sessions without fatigue.

Battery life is impressive, with the MacBook Air lasting 16 hours on a single charge, outlasting many of its predecessors and ensuring that writers can work through the day without interruption. While the price is slightly higher than the M1 model, the advancements in design, display quality, and the more powerful M3 chip make the MacBook Air (M3, 2024) a more valuable choice for writers. It strikes an ideal balance between price, performance, and portability, standing out as a superior tool for writers seeking a reliable, high-performing laptop designed to cater to their specific needs.

Read the full review: Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3)

A Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook on a wooden table

The best budget laptop for writers

2. lenovo ideapad duet 5 oled chromebook.

The Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 OLED Chromebook is a top choice for writers seeking affordability without sacrificing quality. 

Its standout feature for flexibility—morphing from laptop to tablet with a detachable keyboard—paired with an impressive battery life exceeding 16 hours, ensures uninterrupted writing sessions. 

Writers will appreciate the high-quality, Ultrabook -standard keyboard for comfortable, long-term typing, and the option to add a Lenovo Active Pen stylus for note-taking or editing. The Duet 5's performance is reliable for all writing needs, powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen2 processor and 8GB of RAM, ensuring smooth operation across web browsing and content creation tasks. 

Its 1080p OLED display delivers stunning visual clarity, making it easier on the eyes during extended writing periods. Despite a price initially higher than its predecessor, the Duet 5's value has increased over time, offering unparalleled value in the 2-in-1 Chromebook market. This makes it an ideal, cost-effective solution for writers looking for a dependable, versatile, and portable writing companion.

Read the full review: Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook

A MacBook Air 15-inch on a desk

The best 15-inch laptop for writers

3. macbook air 15-inch (m3, 2024).

The MacBook Air 15-inch (M3) is a dream for writers who prioritize screen space, offering an expansive display without significantly increasing weight or compromising on design. 

Its larger screen provides more pixels for an immersive writing and editing experience, making it ideal for those who work with extensive documents or require multiple windows open side-by-side. 

Despite sharing the same performance specs and design aesthetics as its 13-inch counterpart, the 15-inch model boasts enhanced typing comfort with larger palm rests and additional speakers for improved audio quality, adding value to the writing process. 

While it matches the smaller model in battery life, the inclusion of a potent M3 chip ensures that this laptop remains a powerful tool for writers. Priced competitively, especially when considering the savings compared to higher-end models, the MacBook Air 15-inch (M3) stands out in the market for offering a perfect balance of functionality and portability for writers seeking a larger visual workspace.

Read the full review: Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M3, 2024)

A Dell XPS 13 9315 on a desk

The best Ultrabook for writers

4. dell xps 13 (2022).

The Dell XPS line has been putting out bangers for years, and the 2022 version of the compact XPS 13 ultrabook is no exception - even if the aesthetic redesign from the 2020 model proved somewhat controversial within the TechRadar team.

In any case, this is still a fierce productivity laptop for students or fast-moving professionals, ultra-portable thanks to its lightweight chassis and 13.4-inch display, now loaded with even better performance thanks to Intel 's 12th-gen laptop CPUs.

The webcam is only 720p (unlike the superior 1080p ones found in many modern ultrabooks) and its compact design means it sacrifices physical ports for a thinner frame, but with an entry price of just $899, it's very hard to argue against the Dell XPS 13's price-to-performance offering. This is without a doubt one of our favorite compact laptops right now.

Read our full Dell XPS 13 (2022) review  

A Microsoft Surface Pro 9 5G on a table in a backyard

The best 5G-connected laptop for writers

5. surface pro 9 5g.

Microsoft 's Surface Pro 9 5G builds on the design changes that the Surface Pro 8 introduced for an even more powerful and portable experience. . 

As a 5G system, the Surface Pro 9 5G stands ready to keep you connected at home and on the go without the need for a Wi-Fi connection, making this an ideal solution for writers on the go. It also comes with the new Windows 11 operating system pre-installed and one of the best webcams we’ve used on a laptop. 

With its bigger screen, nested and slim pencil, and day-beating battery life, the Surface Pro 9 5G moves Microsoft's Surface line in the right direction, but the custom ARM chip brings with it a host of hiccups.

Read the full review:   Surface Pro 9 5G  

A Lenovo Yoga Book 9i on a desk in an office

The best laptop for academic writers

6. lenovo yoga book 9i.

The Lenovo Yoga Book 9i stands out as an exceptional tool for academic writers, offering a unique dual-screen functionality that enhances productivity and multitasking without adding bulk. 

Its innovative design allows for a versatile work environment, mimicking a multi-monitor setup for expansive research, writing, and editing tasks. This design versatility ensures that academic professionals can find the most comfortable and efficient setup for their work, whether drafting articles, compiling research, or juggling multiple tasks simultaneously. 

Powered by the Intel Core i7-1355U processor, the Yoga Book 9i balances robust performance with efficiency, avoiding overheating common in slim laptops, making it ideal for long writing sessions. 

Despite its dual OLED screens, the laptop offers up to 9.5 hours of battery life, extendable to over 12 hours with one screen turned off, ensuring it can last through extensive work sessions. 

While the Yoga Book 9i is priced at a premium, its cutting-edge features, from the dual-screen setup to its portable design and efficient performance, justify the investment for those in academia looking for a laptop that can keep up with their demanding, multi-faceted workflows.

Read the full review:   Lenovo Yoga Book 9i

Today's best deals on laptops for writers

Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox.

Get the hottest deals available in your inbox plus news, reviews, opinion, analysis and more from the TechRadar team.

John Loeffler

John (He/Him) is the Components Editor here at TechRadar and he is also a programmer, gamer, activist, and Brooklyn College alum currently living in Brooklyn, NY. 

Named by the CTA as a CES 2020 Media Trailblazer for his science and technology reporting, John specializes in all areas of computer science, including industry news, hardware reviews, PC gaming, as well as general science writing and the social impact of the tech industry.

You can find him online on Threads @johnloeffler.

Currently playing: Baldur's Gate 3 (just like everyone else).

  • Matt Hanson Managing Editor, Core Tech
  • Muskaan Saxena Computing Staff Writer
  • Collin Probst

ChromeOS adopts a new default font – and surprisingly, I don’t hate it

If Apple debuts the M4 chip in an iPad, it tells me it's losing faith in its MacBooks – but I won't be giving mine up

Fujifilm Instax mini 99 review: Instant fun!

Most Popular

  • 2 7 new horror movies in May 2024, on Prime Video, Paramount Plus, Shudder and more
  • 3 I went looking for the inventors building real Star Wars lightsabers and was surprised at what I found
  • 4 iPhone 16 Pro: latest news, rumors and everything we know so far
  • 5 I ran an entire marathon with a Garmin, an Apple Watch and Strava – here are all the differences
  • 2 How to play Game Boy games on your iPhone with new iOS emulators
  • 3 A dangerous new malware is targeting Macs of all kinds — here's how to stay safe
  • 4 Microsoft is tying executive pay to security performance — so if it gets hacked, no bonuses for anyone
  • 5 Best Buy launches big-screen TV sale - 8 best deals from $369.99

best laptops for essay writing and research

  • Reviews TV REVIEWS   v1.11 HEADPHONES REVIEWS   v1.7 MONITOR REVIEWS   v2.0 SOUNDBAR REVIEWS   v1.3 MOUSE REVIEWS   v1.5 KEYBOARD REVIEWS   v1.3.1 PRINTER REVIEWS   v1.2 VACUUM REVIEWS   v1.3 PROJECTOR REVIEWS   v0.8 TOASTER REVIEWS   v1.0 BLENDER REVIEWS   v1.0 KEYBOARD SWITCH REVIEWS   v1.0 SPEAKER REVIEWS   v0.8 CAMERA REVIEWS   v0.12.1 LAPTOP REVIEWS   v0.8.2
  • In Progress
  • Newsletters
  • Table of Contents
  • Best Laptop
  • Best Windows
  • Best Mid-Range
  • Best Budget
  • Best 2-In-1 Tablet

Notable Mentions

Recent updates, all reviews, the 6 best laptops for writers - spring 2024 reviews.

Best Laptops for Writers

For most writers, CPU performance isn't really important, as text formatting requires very little processing power. As long as you can open a dozen or more browser tabs simultaneously along with a few applications without the system bogging down, it's enough to handle a writer's typical workload. The user experience is far more important. You'll want a thin and light laptop that you can easily carry around, a long battery life, a sharp display that doesn't tire your eyes, and a spacious and comfortable keyboard. Fortunately, there are tons of ultraportable laptops on the market that check all those boxes. This article will help you narrow your options and, hopefully, help you choose the right laptop for your needs.

We've bought and tested over 105 laptops. Below, you'll find our recommendations for the best laptops for writers you can buy. You can also see our recommendations for the  best laptops , the best Chromebooks , and the best Windows laptops .

Best Laptop For Writers

Apple MacBook Air 13 (2022) Design Photo

The best laptop for writers we've tested is the Apple MacBook Air 13 (2022), a premium ultraportable. It has a compact design that makes it well-suited for on-the-go use, and its battery lasts easily through a full workday. The overall user experience is excellent, as it sports a sharp, bright display, a spacious keyboard, and a large haptic touchpad. Apple's M2 SoC is plenty fast and can easily handle most writers' workloads, like text processing, web browsing, and video playback. If you want more screen space, the M2 Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) —or the M3 model, which we'll get into shortly—is a good choice, too. It's the same device but with a 15.3-inch screen and better speakers. The increased screen real estate is great when you need to keep your reference material on one side while writing, and you also get more space on the keyboard deck to rest your wrists.

As you may already know, Apple has released newer versions of the MacBook Air 13 and 15 with its M3 SoC. These new models only have a few changes, including Wi-Fi 6E, slightly better performance, and support for two external displays, although the latter only works with the laptop closed. If you don't need these upgrades, you can still get the 13-inch M2 version, which has received a $100 USD price cut, but the 15-inch M2 model has been discontinued, so you can only get it through third-party sellers, marketplaces, and Apple's refurbished section. We'll have full reviews of both newer models soon.

See our review

Best Windows Laptop For Writers

LG gram 14 (2023) Design Photo

If you prefer a Windows laptop, get the LG gram 14 (2023) instead. This 14-inch model is great for on-the-go use, as it has a compact design and weighs only 2.1 lbs. While not as sturdy as the Apple MacBook Air 13 (2022) above, it still feels very well built with its magnesium alloy chassis. The user experience is great; it has a sharp and colorful display, a tactile keyboard, and a responsive touchpad. Performance isn't a problem, as the Intel 13th Gen CPUs are more than adequate for most writer's workloads, and battery life is excellent at around 11 hours of light use. Its outstanding port selection includes two USB-As, two USB-C/Thunderbolt 4s, a MicroSD card reader, and an HDMI. Alongside its great 1080p webcam is an IR facial recognition camera, so you can log in quickly and get to work.

Another option is the ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED (2024) , also a 14-inch ultraportable. It has a sturdier all-aluminum build and a nicer 120Hz OLED display with touch and stylus support. Its higher resolution OLED display comes at the cost of battery life, though, as it lasts only around eight hours of light use. It's also more expensive and harder to find at this time.

Best Mid-Range Laptop For Writers

Lenovo Yoga 7i 16 (2023) Design Photo

Our best mid-range pick is the Lenovo Yoga 7i 16 (2023). This 2-in-1 convertible has a large 16-inch screen, a great keyboard, and all-day battery life. It feels very well-built, though not as premium as a MacBook, but sturdy. It's also relatively thin and light for a 16-inch model, so it's easy to carry around. There are two display options, an FHD+ and a QHD+ panel; we recommend the latter, as it looks sharper and gets brighter to combat glare. Support for pen input is present, which is handy when you need to mark a passage for correction or editing. Performance isn't a problem; its Intel 13th Gen CPUs are more than adequate to handle most writer's workloads. The battery lasts over 12 hours of light use, even on a model with a QHD+ display, and it charges quickly over USB-C. There's a fingerprint sensor and an IR camera, so you can log in quickly and get to work.

If you want a more compact laptop that's easier to carry, get the Acer Chromebook Spin 714 (2022) , a 14-inch 2-in-1 Chromebook. Naturally, you won't get as much screen space for split-screen multitasking, but it's more portable, and its battery lasts even longer at over 13 hours of light use. It also supports pen input and comes with a stylus that you can dock into the side of the laptop for transport. Availability might be a problem since this is an older model. If so, you can check out the newer 2023 model, which we haven't tested but expect to perform similarly. It has a faster Intel 13th Gen processor and a higher resolution webcam. You can get the 2023 model on  Amazon  or at  Best Buy . One last thing: Chrome OS is limited in the types of applications you can install, so if you use a writing app, just make sure you can access it through the browser or via an Android app.

Best Budget Laptop For Writers

Acer Swift 3 14 (2020) Design Photo

We recommend this 14-inch Windows ultraportable, the Acer Swift 3 14 (2020), for those on a budget. Acer's Swift models aren't exactly considered budget, but because this is a 2020 model, the price has decreased considerably. For around $500 USD, you can get an Intel Core i7 configuration with 8GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. The Intel 11th Gen CPU is two generations behind Intel's latest offerings but still adequate for light tasks like text processing. The battery lasts easily through a typical workday with plenty to spare, so you don't have to worry about bringing a charger.

Build-wise, this laptop has a mostly metal chassis that feels sturdy. It has a sharp and reasonably bright IPS display, a decent keyboard, and a small but responsive touchpad. Ports include two USB-As, one USB-C, a full-size HDMI, and a headphone jack. The USB-C supports Thunderbolt 4, allowing you to connect up to two 4k displays with a single cable. There's a fingerprint sensor so you can log in quickly and get straight to work. Unfortunately, the webcam's video quality is bad; the image looks underexposed, and the microphone sounds staticky.

Best Cheap Laptop For Writers

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook 14 (2023) Design Photo

The best cheap laptop we've tested is the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook 14 (2023). You can find this laptop for as little as $300 to $500 USD. Writing isn't particularly CPU-intensive, so any CPU and RAM configuration will do. However, we highly recommend getting the Core i3-N305 CPU with 8GB of RAM if you're a relatively heavy multitasker. If you have trouble finding it elsewhere, you can get this configuration (paired with a touch-sensitive FHD display) from  Lenovo . The 1080p display looks sharp and gets bright for use in most indoor settings. Battery life is outstanding at around 13 hours of light use.

Naturally, there are some downsides to a budget-friendly laptop like this one. The keyboard feels spacious but mushy, and the touchpad is small and not always responsive. The webcam is surprisingly good, though, especially for a cheap Chromebook. Port selection is decent; you get two USB-As, a USB-C, and an HDMI port. The USB-C supports charging and video output. There's no fingerprint sensor or facial recognition camera, which is unfortunate but expected for such an inexpensive device.

Best 2-In-1 Tablet For Writers

Microsoft Surface Pro 8 (2021) Design Photo

The best 2-in-1 tablet for writers we've tested is the Microsoft Surface Pro 8 (2021), a tablet PC with a kickstand and detachable keyboard. This form factor makes the Surface Pro incredibly versatile. You can use it as a traditional laptop or as a tablet, and you can also draw and take handwritten notes. It works with Microsoft's Slim Pen 2, and there's a slot on the type cover keyboard to store and charge the pen. The stylus and type cover keyboard are separate purchases, though, so you'll have to factor them into the overall cost of the device. It has an excellent 1080p webcam for video calls and a facial recognition IR camera to log in quickly.

As for the overall user experience, it has a very sharp 3:2 display. It gets bright enough to combat glare and has a 120Hz refresh rate to make pen input feel more responsive. The keyboard feels spacious and tactile; however, typing with the device on your lap can be challenging because all the weight is in the display, and the type cover keyboard isn't super stable. Also, the kickstand can dig into your legs if you wear shorts. The battery lasts around seven hours of light use, which is respectable for a tablet PC, and you can charge via USB-C.

As you may already know, Microsoft has released the Surface Pro 9. It's essentially the same device but with faster Intel 12th Gen processors. The Surface Pro 9 is easier to find in stock, but if you don't need the performance increase and are willing to look around, you can save a good chunk of cash with a Surface Pro 8 since it's an older device and often on sale.

  • ASUS Zenbook 14 Flip OLED (2023): The ASUS Zenbook 14 Flip OLED (2023) is a great alternative to the LG gram 14 (2023) if you prefer a 2-in-1 convertible. It has a nicer 2.8k OLED display with stylus support, but its battery life is shorter at around eight hours of light use, and the display doesn't get as bright. Also, keep in mind that OLEDs are susceptible to permanent burn-in. See our review
  • Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 (2022): The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 (2022) is a good alternative to the LG gram 14 (2023). It's available in a 13.5- or 15-inch size, so you can choose the size that best suits your needs. It has a premium all-aluminum build, a sharp display, a comfortable keyboard, and a responsive touchpad. However, its battery life isn't as good, and its port selection is much more limited. Also, the display doesn't handle reflections all that well. See our review
  • Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1 (2023): The Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1 (2023) is a good alternative to the Lenovo Yoga 7i 16 (2023). It has a slightly sturdier build and a better touchpad; however, it doesn't support Thunderbolt 4 or USB4, and its battery life is shorter. Also, the Dell is only available with an FHD+ and doesn't support pen input. See our review
  • ASUS Vivobook 16 M1605 (2023): If you want a larger screen, the ASUS Vivobook 16 M1605 (2023) is a good alternative to the Acer Swift 3 14 (2020). It has a better keyboard and touchpad, but its USB-C doesn't support video output, and its battery life is much shorter at around eight hours of light use. See our review

Apr 04, 2024: Small text edits to provide information about the new M3 MacBook Airs. Added the LG gram 14 (2023) as the 'Best Windows' pick, with the ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED (2024) as an alternative.

Feb 01, 2024: Verified that all picks are valid and available. No change in recommendations.

Dec 04, 2023: Replaced the Lenovo Chromebook C340 15 (2020) with the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook 14 (2023) because the C340 is near the end of its OS support.

Oct 06, 2023: Replaced the Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1 (2023) with the Lenovo Yoga 7i 16 (2023) because the Lenovo has longer battery life and is available with a sharper, brighter display.

Aug 10, 2023: Added the Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1 (2023) as the 'Best Mid-Range' pick and moved the Acer Swift 3 14 (2020) to the 'Best Budget' category because the Acer's price is more in-line with the budget tier. Also moved the Lenovo Chromebook C340 15 (2020) from the 'Best Budget' category to the 'Best Cheap' category, replacing the Acer Chromebook 315 (2020).

Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best laptops for writers to buy. We factor in the price (a cheaper laptop wins over a pricier one if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no laptops that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).

If you prefer to make your own decision, here's the list of all of our laptop reviews. Keep in mind that most laptops are available in various configurations, and the table only shows the results of the model we tested, so it's best to see the full review for information about other variants.

Best laptops for writers 2024

These are the best laptops for writers that you can buy this year

  • Best overall
  • Best budget
  • Best keyboard
  • Best 2-in-1
  • Best High-End
  • Best graphics
  • How to find the right laptop
  • How we test
  • Why trust Laptop Mag

HP Envy 13 (2021) review

1.   The list in brief 2.  Best overall 3. Best budget 4.  Best keyboard 5.  Best 2-in-1 6.   Best high-end 7.   Best graphics 8.  How to find the right laptop 9.  How we test 10.   Why trust Laptop Mag

The best laptops for writers let you plop down on a couch and type away during any given workday, and there are plenty of options to get the job done, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. 

You'll generally want a portable laptop with a comfortable keyboard, and solid performance to run all your text editing and planning software with ease. Another must-have for writers is excellent battery life, so your laptop can keep up with your late-night or travel work. Some of the best on this list can even hit as high as 15 hours of longevity, and for some, that's a necessary part of their purchasing decision.

Not all writers have the same needs, so we've picked a selection to best fit your individual demands. Maybe you need something that can balance both gaming and writing, or something that won’t break the bank with its price, or maybe even a 2-in-1 laptop for extra versatility. 

There are even laptops that compromise between each of these categories, with some being fine for light gaming with more of a focus on writing, or some being great at gaming yet still functioning well for productivity. 

Regardless, this list of the best laptops for writers will help in finding the right device for you.

Claire Momo Tabari

Momo Tabari graduated with a bachelor's degree in Journalism & Media Studies at Brooklyn College and has been covering tech for four years. She has written over a hundred reviews and has plenty of experience testing and critiquing laptops.

MacBook Air M3

Best overall

The Macbook Air M3 has some of the best battery life, a satisfying keyboard, and performance that can keep up with anything you'll throw at it. On the Laptop Mag battery test, which involves continuous web surfing over Wi-Fi at 150 nits, the Macbook Air lasted 15 hours and 13 minutes.

Read more below

Acer Chromebook Plus 515

Best budget

You don't need to break the bank to get a great laptop for writing — the $400 Acer Chromebook Plus 515 is proof. It includes everything a writer needs and more at a price that's easy for the average writer to afford, whether you're a pro or just getting started. 

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon

Best keyboard

The X1 Carbon also boasts outstanding battery life, managing 13 hours and 45 minutes of runtime on the Laptop Mag battery test at 1080p (web surfing over Wi-Fi at 150 nits). The keyboard is top-notch 

Best laptops for writers: Lenovo Yoga 9i (Gen 8)

Best 2-in-1

Delivering a gorgeous 2880 x 1880 OLED display with mouthwatering vibrancy, phenomenally loud and impactful speakers, superb SSD speeds, a satisfying keyboard, excellent productivity scores and decent battery life, this 2-in-1 impressed.

Best laptops for writers: Samsung Galaxy Book 3 Ultra

Best high-end

As the name suggests, this laptop takes everything that we like about the recent entries in the Galaxy Book line and then adds an Intel 13th Gen H-Series CPU and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 40-series GPU, while keeping the laptop below 4 pounds. 

Lenovo Legion 5 Pro

Best graphics

Lenovo Legion 5 Pro is the perfect gaming laptop for writers, boasting powerful RTX 4070-performance, a gorgeous display, sturdy build, and an exceptional keyboard for the average person who both plays and writes.

The best laptop for writers in 2024

Why you can trust Laptop Mag Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test .

Best overall laptop for writers

1. apple macbook air m3.

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

The Apple MacBook Air M3 is one of our best overall laptops and we cannot recommend it enough. It provides performance, portability, and long battery life with a satisfying keyboard and stunning 13.6-inch display.

On the Laptop Mag battery test , which involves continuous web surfing over Wi-Fi at 150 nits, The MacBook Air M3 lasted 15 hours and 13 minutes which is far longer than a standard work day. When determining what makes the best laptop for writers, longevity is one of the top priorities. 

It needs to be able to sustain you on-the-go, and no matter if you're working longer hours than expected and don't have an outlet anywhere nearby, the relief you'll feel from knowing your laptop can last more than 15 hours is unbeatable. MacBooks are perfect for this, and the company has only gotten better, with the M3 lasting a whole hour longer than the M2. 

MacBooks are notorious for their great-feeling keyboards, and if you want a springy and quiet one to keep your fingers happy while typing the day away, look no further. This is all alongside your documents looking fantastic on the 13.6-inch Retina display.

As for performance, the MacBook Air M3 decimated the premium laptop average with its Geekbench 6 overall multi-core score of 12,087 and still holds its own today. It also boasts staggering SSD speeds, managing 3,031 megabytes per second in our file transfer test. It even has spatial audio capabilities and a smooth trackpad. Plain and simply, all of these features make it a great overall pick for writers.

See our full MacBook Air M3 review .

Back to the top ⤴

Best budget laptop for writers

2. acer chromebook plus 515.

While premium features are nice, all you need to write is a great keyboard and enough processing power to comfortably run some of the best writing tools . It's safe to say that most people looking for a good laptop for writers want something that lets them get their work done without spending much money, especially if you're in college and don't have the cash for the other choices on this list. 

Thankfully, you can get all you need and more without demolishing your wallet. The Acer Chromebook Plus 515 is just $399, making it one of the most affordable laptops for writers out there. But don't let the Chromebook Plus 515's low price fool you. 

This budget-friendly laptop delivers packs in a lot of value and more than enough performance to keep up with a writer's demands. The display is bright, clear, and vivid and you've got plenty of ports for things like a mouse or external hard drive. The top-firing speakers are also perfect for writers who need a little background noise to get in the zone.

It's also not much of a surprise that it has a lightweight Intel Core i3-1215U processor, and while this is a couple of generations old, it's fitting that on the Geekbench 6 overall performance test, it managed a multi-score of 5,052. This is below the 5,246 Chromebook average, but it's hard to argue with its price point.

The chiclet keyboard might not be fancy, but it delivers an excellent typing experience. The keys are snappy and responsive with white backlighting and comfy but clear lowercase white legends. Overall, it's hard to go wrong with the Chromebook Plus 515. The only downside is its battery life, which could have been higher but still lasted over 8 hours in our tests. 

See our full Acer Chromebook Plus 515 review .

Back to the top ⤴ 

Best keyboard for writers

3. lenovo thinkpad x1 carbon (11th generation).

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon’s secret ingredient lies in its keyboard. And it hasn't changed much in years because the snappy, tactile key switches are a signature of the X1 Carbon line. The X1 Carbon Gen 11 also boasts an impressive battery life of 13 hours and 45 minutes on the Laptop Mag battery test.

On the Geekbench 5.5 overall performance test, its multi-core score of 8,628 is solid and beats the premium laptop average of 7,768. It also benefits from an incredible SSD transfer rate, which can be excellent for moving files around, duplicating 25GB of multimedia files in 16 seconds at 1,704 megabytes per second. This is far above the average of 1,382MBps.

However, its long battery life and solid performance make it no surprise that it makes sacrifices in some avenues. Its 69% coverage of the DCI-P3 color gamut is significantly below the 94% category average, and if you're a stickler about color depth, you won't be satisfied watching movies on it. Its also relatively dim at 327 nits of brightness, again falling behind the average of 391 nits. Both color and luminescence are what you'll have to give up for its incredible battery life.

Like most ThinkPads, the X1 Carbon can survive harsh conditions, as it’s been tested against 12 military-grade durability tests . Don't go thinking this is a rugged laptop, as it weighs only 2.5 pounds and is just 0.6 inches thick. So it's a good choice for writers on the go. Although the X1 Carbon Gen 11 starts at a premium price, it’s worth it for the keyboard alone. Though the lightweight but durable design, solid performance, and decent battery life don't hurt.

See our full Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (11th Generation) review .

Best 2-in-1 laptop for writers

4. lenovo yoga 9i (gen 8).

Lenovo's Yoga 9i Gen 8 is a serious improvement over the previous generation, with a gorgeous OLED display, excellent performance, and decent battery life. This makes it a great option for writers who want a 2-in-1 platform. 

While it isn't our first pick as the best laptop for writers, it is good to keep in mind that it is personally my favorite laptop ever. With the combination of its clicky keyboard, sturdy chassis, and awesome display, I have loved using it to write. In fact, it is our best 2-in-1 laptop . 

It also has a solid longevity of 10 hours and 10 minutes, and while that's pretty good, it's nowhere near some of the other laptops on this list (with the MacBook Air M3 going above 15 hours).

We normally advise writers searching for laptops to focus less on screen color, but if you're someone who wants the best of both worlds, its OLED display channels a mouthwatering 142.1% coverage of the DCI-P3 color gamut, absolutely demolishing its competition in panel vividness. While its 353 nits of brightness isn't quite as high as some might like, it's still bright enough to take on the go without issue.

It's also especially important that 2-in-1 laptops are sturdy, as feeling like they might snap from the slightest movement will give you an anxiety attack. And luckily, the Yoga 9i's aluminum chassis is so rigid (in a good way) that I'm never worried when placing it in diverse positions.

The only complaint we have with this 2-in-1 is that the display could stand to be a bit brighter, but its easily one of the best laptops out there for writers who need a 2-in-1 that can keep up with all of their daily needs.

See our full Lenovo Yoga 9i (Gen 8) review .

Best high-end laptop for writers

5. samsung galaxy book 3 ultra.

Samsung 's super-charged Galaxy Book 3 Ultra comes with an Intel 13th Gen H-Series CPU  and an  Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU , all while keeping the laptop below 4 pounds. This portable powerhouse is the thinnest and lightest RTX 40-series laptop that we've reviewed so far, which does mean it has a bit less battery life than some of its competitors on this list.

On the Laptop Mag web surfing battery test, the Samsung Galaxy Book 3 Ultra averaged 9 hours and 3 minutes. But it will absolutely crush any task you can set before it in that time, though heavy GPU use will mean even less battery life. So if you need to travel or work long hours this may not be the best laptop for your workflow.

On the Geekbench 5.5 overall performance test, its Intel Core i7-13700H processor achieved a multi-core score of 12,212. This is quite a bit better than the premium laptop average of 10,621, and frankly, it's on par with some of the best scores you can get from 13th Generation Intel processors. You won't have to worry about productivity speeds with this beast.

And of course, as this is built with a RTX 4050 graphics card, you can expect decent budget gaming performance. On the Assassin's Creed Valhalla test at 1080p, it managed 54 frames per second at the highest graphics. If you're someone who mostly just plans to play indie titles or older games, this GPU will absolutely kill. New games won't run perfectly, and you might have to make sacrifices for high performance, but it should still be able to handle it.

The only other problem with the Galaxy Book 3 Ultra is its starting price. Beginning at $2,199, this light-weight high performance laptop can easily break the bank. For writers, we've found that this beast boasts more than enough power and portability to be a great pick for those can afford it.

See our full Samsung Galaxy Book 3 Ultra review .

Best Graphics for writers

6. lenovo legion 5 pro.

The Lenovo Legion 5 Pro is not only one of our favorite budget gaming laptops , but it is perfect for writers. Boasting superb RTX 4070 performance that outperforms its many competitors without a sweat, alongside excellent productivity scores to satisfy your needs in everyday tasks.

And of course, a vital aspect of any laptop for writers is the keyboard, and you will not be disappointed by the Legion 5 Pro, as it boasts my favorite ever. In fact, I wrote a piece describing it as my keyboard soulmate . Between the touchpad, the arrow key nook, and only 1.5mm of key travel, it stands out and excels as one of the best for quickly getting work done without feeling slowed down by awful design.

And if you want something both great at gaming and writing, this hits a perfect balance. Its RTX 4070 graphics card performed the best when compared to RTX 4070 GPUs on competitors. It managed 110 frames per second in Borderlands 3 when compared to the  Razer  Blade 14 (98 fps), Origin EON16-S (106 fps), and  MSI  Katana 15 (99 fps). It also beat these laptops in Red Dead Redemption 2, Metro Exodus, Dirt 5, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, and Grand Theft Auto V. It was defeated once by the EON16-S in Far Cry 6.

While the Legion 5 Pro doesn't have the best display, it is surprisingly high quality for a laptop at this price point. It also has a surprisingly powerful audio system. And with an AMD Ryzen 7 7745HX, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD, this laptop has excellent non-gaming performance as well. It achieved a Geekbench 6 score of 13,063, took only 4 minutes and 5 seconds to convert a  4K  video into 1080p resolution through the HandBrake app, and has 2,150 megabytes per second transfer rate. Its performance is unbelievable.

See our full  Lenovo Legion 5 Pro review .

How to Choose the best Laptops for writers

Do your intensive daily workloads require more RAM than the average Joe? Are you a video editor who needs extra storage? Are you a power user who wants a beefy GPU? Sorting through the best laptops to fit your lifestyle is a tricky business.

Budget: What you get for your money

You can find decent Windows laptops and high-quality  Chromebooks  for  under $500 . However, better mainstream laptops usually cost more than $700 and premium  Ultrabooks  can run over $1,000. The  best gaming laptops  can cost $2.000 and up, but you can play the latest titles at decent frame rates on  gaming laptops under $1,000 .

Screen Size: 12 to 14 inches for Portability

Knowing a laptop's screen size tells you a lot about its portability overall. If you want to use your computer on your lap or carry it around a lot, go for one with a 12, 13 or 14-inch display. If you want to use the computer on tables and desks and won't carry it around much, a 15-inch model may give you more value. Some gaming rigs, media machines and workstations even have 17 or 18-inch screens, but those are hardest to carry.

Design: 2-in-1 or Clamshell?

More and more of today's laptops are  2-in-1s  with screens that either bend back 360 degrees or detach so you can use them as tablets. If you like the idea of using your laptop in slate mode for drawing, media consumption or just using it standing up, a  2-in-1 could be for you . However, you can often get better features or a lower price by going with a traditional clamshell-style laptop.

Battery Life: 8+ Hours for Portability

Unless you only plan to use your laptop on your desk, battery life matters. Even within the home or office, having plenty of juice enables you to work on the couch or at the conference table, without being chained to the nearest outlet. For the best portability, we recommend getting a laptop that lasted over 8 hours on the Laptop Mag Battery Test. The  longest-lasting laptops  endure for up to 15 hours.

How We Test the best laptops for Writers

We put each laptop through extensive benchmark testing — both synthetic and real-world — before they end up in the hands of our reviewers. We evaluate each aspect of the laptop, including its performance, battery life, display, speakers and heat management.

In our benchmark testing, we use a Klein K10 colorimeter to detect the brightness and sRGB color gamut of the laptop's display. For performance testing, we run the laptop through a gauntlet of benchmarks, including Geekbench 5.5, 6.1/6.2, and 3DMark professional graphics tests. 

To determine real-world performance, we task the laptop to convert a 4K video to 1080p resolution and to duplicate a 4.97GB multimedia file. Our real-world graphics test is the Cid Meier's Civilization V: Gathering Storm benchmark at 1080p resolution.

We also run heat tests by playing a 15-minute full-screen video and measuring temperatures in different areas of the laptop. Last but not least, our battery test consists of continuous web surfing over Wi-Fi at 150 nits of brightness. For MacBooks and premium Windows 11 laptops, a runtime of over 9 hours is considered a good result whereas gaming laptops and workstations that can stay powered for longer than 5 hours deserve praise. 

These tests are complemented with extensive hands-on testing from our reviewers who critique everything from the laptop's materials to the feel of its touchpad.

See this page on  How We Test Laptops  for more details on our benchmarking procedures.

Why Trust Laptop Mag

Laptop Mag reviews over one hundred different laptops every year, from paperweight ultralights to everyday workhorses to lumbering gaming notebooks that scorch the frame rates of even the hottest AAA games. We're not just experts in the laptop field, as we go one step further by meticulously testing smartphones, tablets, headphones, PC accessories, software, and even the latest in gaming. 

We are 100% independent and have decades of experience to help you buy with confidence. In fact, Laptop Mag has been testing and reviewing products for three decades, and we continue to deliver trustworthy reviews you can rely on. 

Our experienced team of writers and editors scour the available information about the laptop and put it through its paces to determine which is best for you. But before they start, the testing team subjects each system to a rigorous regimen of synthetic and real-world tests to see how a system handles the type of work and games you’re most likely to throw at it. 

Our editorial trustworthiness is enforced by one of the world's largest technology publishers,  Future Publishing . As a company, we have unrivaled experience across every tech sector — and we're the group's specialist for all things mobile tech. 

Stay in the know with Laptop Mag

Get our in-depth reviews, helpful tips, great deals, and the biggest news stories delivered to your inbox.

Momo Tabari

Self-described art critic and unabashedly pretentious, Momo finds joy in impassioned ramblings about her closeness to video games. She has a bachelor’s degree in Journalism & Media Studies from Brooklyn College and five years of experience in entertainment journalism. Momo is a stalwart defender of the importance found in subjectivity and spends most days overwhelmed with excitement for the past, present and future of gaming. When she isn't writing or playing Dark Souls, she can be found eating chicken fettuccine alfredo and watching anime.

  • Laptop Mag Staff

Save $500 on the latest Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon with Intel Ultra CPU

Dynabook's new featherlight business laptop may challenge the best from Lenovo, Dell

iPad Pro lacks the AI software to match its powerful M4 chip, but that could change soon

Most Popular

  • 2 Google Pixel 8a vs. Google Pixel 8: What's the difference?
  • 3 4 truths about the new iPad Pro M4 you need to know
  • 4 Newegg PC Gaming Week Extended: 7 best deals worth your while
  • 5 Google Pixel 8a deal: Snag it for just $399 now and get a free $100 Best Buy gift card

best laptops for essay writing and research

The best laptops for writers

These are the best laptops for writers: perfect for everything from blogging and essays to working on that novel.

  • 1. Best overall
  • 2. Best budget
  • 3. Best Windows
  • 4. Best mid-range Windows
  • 5. Best 3:2
  • 6. Best Android hybrid
  • How to choose
  • How we test

A product shot of the top 3 best laptops for writers on a bright purple background

Jump to the quick list↴ 1. Overall : MacBook Air (M2) 2. Budget : Acer Chromebook 3. Windows : Surface Lap Studio 2 4. Mid-range : Acer Aspire 5 5. Best 3:2 : MateBook X Pro 6. Android hybrid : Lenovo Tab P12 How to choose FAQs How we test

Let's be straight. The top pick of laptops for writers don't need to be expensive. They don't need  to have a beautiful OLED screen and enough power under the hood to create a AAA game. Ultimately, the best laptops for writing need a really great keyboard; they need to turn on and be ready to take your words immediately; and they need a great battery that you don't have to worry about. 

Of course, it's highly likely that you will also want a beautiful screen that's easy on the eyes when tapping away for several hours at a time. And let's also presume that you'll want to move about this it, so portability is important as well. Well, we've considered all these factors, in order of importance, to bring you a pretty solid list of possibilities. For me, if all you need to do is writing, and you're on a budget, the Acer Chromebook 314 is the one to go with for around $200. It's cheap, portable, is fast and the 14-inch screen and keyboard are pretty good. 

If you want the next level, the MacBook Air (M2) offers an excellent keyboard, a lovely design, probably more power than you'll need for just typing, and excellent screen and battery life. This is our best overall pick, as it excels in all the important areas (apart from its relatively big price tag or $999). 

Note that when we review a laptop, we make sure to look beyond the pure specs or raw benchmarks, and get a feel for how it is to work and live with the machine over a prolonged period of time. We've done it for all our laptop guides – from the best laptops for graphic design to the best laptops for watching movies .

MacBook Air M2 (15-inch)

Money to spare? This ticks all the boxes if you're looking for a laptop for both writing and other, more processor-intensive tasks. It has a fine keyboard, a great design, an excellent screen and includes a super-fast M2 chip (cheaper than the M3), great webcam and excellent battery life. Read more below

Profile shot of the Acer Chromebook 314

This Chromebook is a great choice for writing and happens to be one of the cheapest options here. Slimming everything down, Chrome OS is perfect for those that want to avoid any extra fuss in their laptop. It's got amazing battery life and supports the major word-processing apps. Read more below

Surface Laptop Studio 2

If you're looking to for a premium Windows machine that's nicely future-proof, here's our top pick. This 2-in-1 device can be used as a tablet or laptop for greater flexibility. It also has one of the best keyboard-screen-stylus-support combos around right now. Read more below

Acer Aspire 5 2022

If you're in between budget and premium and want to maximise value, the Acer Aspire 5 is a great pick. It's solid and dependable, won't cost you a fortune and performs well in terms of performance and for every day writing. Read more below

Profile shot of the Huawei MateBook X Pro (2022) laptop

A 3:2 aspect ratio can be great in a laptop for writing since it offers more vertical space, so more space for writing. The Huawei Matebook X Pro complements that with a great keyboard, nice touchscreen and capabilities for creative work. Read more below

Load the next 4 products ↴

Lenovo Tab P12

Offering excellent bang-for-buck value, the Lenovo Pad P12 is a good pick at the budget end of the hybrid machine spectrum. It has superb battery life and an optional detachable keyboard. portability and durability are strong points here. Read more below

  • Back to the top ⤴

The best laptops for writers in full

Why you can trust Creative Bloq Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test .

The best laptop for writers overall

CB

01. MacBook Air M2 (15-inch, 2023)

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

If all you want to do is write on your laptop, it doesn't need to be a particularly powerful one. However, you may want to do other things that are more processor intensive, whether that be watching films, editing photos, or playing games. That's why I've chosen the MacBook Air (not Pro) with M2 (not M3) chip as the overall top laptops for writers.

With the ultra-fast M2 chip and a bigger, beautiful display, it could be the perfect option for running creative software. It sports the latest M2 chip, making it super fast. Our reviewer found it coped brilliantly on everything from day-to-day tasks like browsing the web and writing up documents to editing 4K video and using Photoshop ’s AI tools. Battery life was great too, lasting an entire day, even when performing creative tasks. Apple claims up to up to 18 hours Apple TV app movie playback, which is just one hour more than our testers squeezed out of the device in our looping movie test.

The 1080p FaceTime HD webcam is also great for writers who need to make a lot of video calls (these days that’s most of us), and you also get a fantastic Retina display which, in combination with MacOS , makes for just about the crispest, cleanest font rendering that we have witnessed on a laptop. If you're writing for long periods of time, that's going to make it more comfortable on the eyes than a lesser display.

Overall, then, this is overkill if all you're going to do is writing. But if your writing workflow also requires a lot of web research and watching videos, or if you also want a laptop for other things like creative work or gaming, then you'll certainly see the difference for the extra spend. See our full MacBook Air (M2, 2022) review for more details.

The best budget laptop for writers

A photo of the Acer Chromebook 31, one of the best laptops for writers

02. Acer Chromebook 314

If you're looking for a cheap laptop for writing, a Chromebook is the way to go. At around $200, they cost less than Windows laptops, and much less than the MacBook Air above, but offer great battery life since they require little power. Just bear in mind that Chromebooks take their name from the fact that they run Chrome OS, not Windows, so you can't use every Windows app you might be used to.

That isn't a problem for writing since there are word processors available for Chrome OS, including both Microsoft Word and Google Docs. This Chromebook also has very little internal storage, so you'll be saving work to the cloud. Unlike in the past, you no longer need to be connected to the internet to use a Chromebook though, so you can work pretty much wherever you want.

Some Chromebooks feel a little too small to be comfortable as laptops for writers but when we reviewed it, we found the 14-inch Chromebook 314 to be a nice size, and the keyboard is well laid out and comfortable to use. We found the screen to be good for writing too, with an anti-glare, matte finish. All in all, this is a solid top choice as the best laptop for writers on a budget, just be sure to option the 1080p screen; the standard lower resolution display isn't great. See our hands-on Acer Chromebook 314 review for more details.

The best premium Windows laptop for writers

Surface Laptop Studio 2, one of the best laptops for writing, on a desk

03. Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2

If you want to treat yourself to a truly premium Windows laptop for writing, then the Surface Laptop Studio 2 fits the bill. Newly updated from the the original Surface Laptop Studio with 13th Gen Intel CPUs, it offers a lot more power than you need for word processing – and costs a lot more than you really need to pay for a laptop for writing – but our reviewer found the keyboard to be a real pleasure to write on. On top of that, the touch screen is gorgeous, and has stylus support, which could come in handy for note-taking if you're inclined.

This is a 2-in-1 device, which means it also converts into a tablet format, which we found could be useful for reading over and correcting writing when on the move, even on the train. It's not the most portable 2-in-1, but you get great battery life and we found that it runs Windows 11 very well. For more details, read our Surface Laptop Studio 2 review .

The best mid-range Windows laptop for writing

Best laptops for writers; a photo of a Acer Aspire 5, one of the best laptops for writers, on a desk

04. Acer Aspire 5

If you're waiting for that first novel advance before splashing too much cash, there are plenty of mid-range Windows laptops for writers. Our reviewer found this to be  a solid and dependable device for those who don't want to spend a fortune. With a plastic body, it doesn't exactly have a premium feel but it's solid enough to carry around.

It also performs well considering the price, especially if you're going to be sticking to word processing tools. We found that the keys don't have the most travel, but the keyboard is well laid out for writing on. Overall, the Aspire 5 is a great affordable laptop for writers on a budget but feel that a Chromebook like number 2 on our list would be too restrictive. See our full Acer Aspire 5 review for more details.

The best 3:2 laptop for writers

A blue Huawei MateBook X Pro laptop

05. Huawei MateBook X Pro

Most laptops have a traditional widescreen aspect ratio of 16:9. That's great for watching movies, but not necessarily the most convenient format for writing, which often requires scrolling up and down on vertically oriented documents. An aspect ratio of 3:2 gives you more vertical space, allowing you to see more text on the screen at once. And it also works better for graphic-design work, so is the perfect ratio if you're a writer who also likes to or needs to work on more demanding visual software.

Huawei delivers all of that with the MateBook X Pro, and a very nice touchscreen it has too. It's more than powerful enough for writers who also need to use design software regularly – and the keyboard is comfortable to work on. It's nice and fast too, and our reviewer found opening apps and documents to be a nippy process.

The downside is that if you're in a country like the US, which has blocked access to many Huawei devices and services, you don't get the benefits of the wider Huawei ecosystem. However, if you don't care for ecosystems and just want a premium laptop for writing and doing visual work on, we found the Huawei MateBook X Pro to be a decent option. See our in-depth Huawei MateBook X Pro review for all the details.

The best Android hybrid laptop for writers

Lenovo Tab P12

06. Lenovo Tab P12

The Lenovo Tab P12 is another great choice for those looking for the best laptop for writing on a budget. An optional detachable keyboard turns this tablet into a compact little laptop that we found very convenient to carry around. And as it's an Android rather than Microsoft Windows device, it's much cheaper than most laptops.

It also boasts a huge 10,200mAh battery that easily lasted all day with heavy use and multiple days with lighter use when we tried it. So you could comfortably take this away with you and write somewhere remote for a couple of days, and still have battery life left.

There are some downsides though. The keyboard is small and not as comfortable as other laptops in this list. We'd suggest using the Lenovo Tab P12 as option for quickly jotting down notes, rather than typing up pages and pages of text in one go. But, with the portability and long battery life, the Lenovo Tab P12 lets you note down your thoughts whenever inspiration strikes.

How to choose the best laptop for writing

We've whittled the options above down to the six best laptops for writing available right now, but the right one for you will depend on your budget and needs. Setting a budget is important in light of the increased cost of living, so we’ve included laptops at a variety of price points to cover all bases to help you choose the right model for you.

Sure the Apple MacBook Air (M2) is a wonderful laptop that is more than capable than offering the best writing experience around. But the far more reasonably-priced Acer Aspire 5 or Chromebook 315 might give you everything you need. Thinking about which value-adding features you’ll actually use is key, too. For example, a touch screen is nice to have, but if you’re unlikely to make use of it, it’s not worth the extra investment.

What makes a good laptop for writing?

As we mentioned in our introduction, some of the key factors in choosing the best laptop for writers include comfortable screens and keyboards, battery life and portability. If you can find a laptop that delivers in these areas, you’re on to a winner. There are some other nice to have features to look out for, too. For example, anti-glare screens if you work outside often. You might also value having a touch screen or writing pad if you’re an avid note-taker.

Historically, storage has also been a consideration, but with the rise of cloud storage, many writers only worry about this if they don’t have regular WiFi access. Plus, USB storage is a perfectly viable option.

Should I get a MacBook or a Windows laptop?

Ultimately, this is a question of preference, but there are a few differences between MacBooks and Windows laptops for writers. While many writers have more experience with Microsoft Word, the software will set you back financially whereas the slightly less sophisticated Pages on Mac comes free. Of course, you could also just use Google Docs if you're regularly connected to WiFi and confident in its Offline Mode. 

MacBooks are generally more pricey, as are Mac-compatible peripherals, but can last longer than more budget-friendly Windows laptops. We can’t definitively say Mac or Windows is better for your personal writing preferences, but we will say that the MacBook Air (M1, 2020) is at the top of our list for a reason.

How we tested the best laptops for writers

We tested our picks of the best laptops for writing during our full reviews of each product. When we reviewed each laptop, we performed a series of benchmark tests in order to evaluate their performance, display brightness, speed and colour accuracy and battery life. However, writing doesn't make particularly heavy demands on a laptop so performance benchmarking isn't hugely revealing in this context, but we still consider those test results to ensure that every laptop delivers the performance you would expect given its specifications.

The one benchmarking area that we paid specific attention to when compiling this guide is battery life, since this does make a diffeence if you're writing in different locations. We test battery life under both light loads, which is what writing text amounts to, as well as watching video and more intensive tasks to build a picture of how long a laptop lasts in various usage scenarios.

Screen quality is another area worthy of attention in a laptop for writing, including brightness, contrast, resolution and refresh rate. Ergonomics, and in particular keyboard quality, are also important considerations. We also consider build quality and connectivity in coming to an overall evaluation of each laptop.

Most importantly, our reviewers use each laptop over a period of at least two weeks to get a real feel for what it's like to live and work with the machine. We also take into consideration customer reviews and feedback from our contributing writers, many of whom write on the machines that we recommend above every day as part of their work.

For options for other uses, see our picks of the best laptops for video editing and the best laptops for game development.

Get the Creative Bloq Newsletter

Daily design news, reviews, how-tos and more, as picked by the editors.

Matt Hanson

Matt has been a technology journalist for over 15 years, writing for publications such as T3, MacFormat and Creative Bloq. He's a managing editor of TechRadar, Creative Bloq's sister site, where he can be found writing about and reviewing laptops, computers, monitors and more. He often writes for Creative Bloq, helping creatives find their perfect laptop or PC.

  • Beren Neale Ecom Editor

Related articles

Apple's new iPad Pro is hiding a delightful optical illusion

Home » Laptop » Laptop Buyer's Guide » Best laptop for writers 2024: top picks for authors, journalists & more

Best laptop for writers 2024: top picks for authors, journalists & more

If you want to know what makes the best laptop for a writer, read on!

Share this article...

Best laptop for writers 2024: top picks for authors, journalists & more

WePC is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Prices subject to change. Learn more

MacBook Air 2022 (13.6″, M2)

Shop on Amazon

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 (14″)

Dell xps 13 (intel i5-1135g7).

If you’re looking for the best laptop for writers (or more accurately: typists), whether you be an author, journalist, general copywriter, or any other person who specializes in crafting language on the page, then we’ve got an array of options for you to look at. Covering a variety of sub-types, price points, and sizes, you’re sure to find a laptop here that will suit your needs.

What makes a good laptop for writers?

The key things that you should look out for in a laptop for writing are a good quality keyboard, a screen you can comfortably look at all day, sufficient battery life, and portability to fit your needs. Other things that should also be considered are sufficient ports and sockets for your needs, whatever they may be, and of course, the thing that affects everybody regardless of what type of laptop they’re looking for: price. For further discussion on this, have a read of our Things to consider when choosing the best laptop for a writer section further down the page.

In the unlikely event you don’t find what you’re looking for here, please do also have a read of our best laptop for students guide, as well as the best laptop deals and best gaming laptop deals pages that we continuously update with the latest offers.

Best laptop for writers: first look

CPU & graphics

Max Refresh Rate

2560 x 1664

Screen Size

Intel Core i5-1135G7 / i7-1165G7 / i7-1185G7

Intel Iris Xe (iGPU)

up to 16GB LPDDR4x (4266MHz)

up to 1TB SSD

1920 x 1200 / 3840 x 2400

Intel Core i5-1135G7

Intel Iris Xe

256GB/512GB SSD

13.3”

Microsoft Surface Pro 8

Intel Core i5-1135G7 / i7-1185G7

13-inch, 2280 x 1920 pixels, 120Hz

128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB SSD

Touchscreen?

2x USB-C with Thunderbolt 4, Surface connect port, Headphone jack

Lenovo ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook (Gen 1, 13.3″)

AMD Ryzen 3 3250C

Radeon integrated graphics

16GB DDR4 RAM

64GB / 128GB / 256GB

13.3-inches

Google Pixelbook Go (13.3″)

8th Gen Intel Core m3 i5/i7

8GB/16GB DDR4 RAM

Best laptop for writers: in-depth review

Best laptop for writers with mac os.

  • fairly powerful M2 chipset
  • bright and colorful screen
  • excellent battery life
  • superb build quality
  • solid speakers
  • solid webcam
  • looks great
  • light and portable
  • most options limited to 8GB of RAM
  • higher-specced RAM & SSD options can get pricey
  • webcam notch on top of screen can be irritating

The most popular laptop for authors overall, and also widely used by journalists on the go, the Apple MacBook Air is a top-notch thin and lightweight laptop with exceptional build quality and battery life. It’s not as powerful as the more commonly known MacBook Pro , but for writers’ needs it doesn’t have to be – and the more slimline design, lighter weight, and cheaper price make it the better option of the two.

In contrast with most Apple products, you can actually pick up a MacBook Air for a relatively reasonable price, although upgrades to the memory and storage above the standard 8GB RAM / 256GB SSD do cost an unfortunate amount. Still, unless you’re prone to opening a huge amount of tabs in your web browser or need to download video files or other large files, you can probably get by on these base memory and storage specs as a writer.

There are two different sized options for the latest 2022-2023 MacBook Air with M2 chipset: 15″ and 13″ (you can compare both in our 15-inch MacBook Air vs 13-inch MacBook Air guide). If portability is a priority and you don’t mind using a smaller screen, then the latter is probably more up your street, otherwise the 15-inch gives more screen real estate, but is still very portable; besides this, both laptops are very similar. The M2 chip in both is powerful – well beyond what you’ll need for writing – but if you’re doing a bit of video editing on the side or running other more demanding software it’s ideal. It’s also very energy efficient, meaning the M2 models have a fantastic battery life of around 11-13 hours of general usage and web browsing. Older generation MacBook Airs are also available for less money, and though the battery life is slightly less impressive, you’ll still get a good 9-11 hours out of them.

The chiclet keyboard is of excellent quality, as long as you don’t mind the stiffer key feeling common to MacBooks, and the trackpad is also sturdy, clicky and responsive. The webcam is of good quality and it has a decent microphone, and the speakers are far better than you’ll find in most Windows laptops.

Finally, the Liquid Retina display has a great peak brightness of around 500nits, meaning you can comfortably use it outside.

Best Windows laptop for writers

  • arguably the best laptop keyboard for typing
  • matte screen minimises reflective glare
  • very tough build quality
  • additional security features
  • somewhat pricey
  • utilitarian aesthetic

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon isn’t the nicest-looking machine out there, but if you prize practicality, then the excellent keyboard, tough design, superb battery life and matte screen to reduce glare all make it an idea pick for any writer on the move.

The Lenovo ThinkPad series has earned its reputation as the premier choice for business laptops. The latest addition, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 , boasts the most potent CPU options, specifically featuring Intel 13th gen laptop CPUs, and utilizes the latest DDR5 RAM technology. The ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 , comes equipped with Intel 12th gen laptop CPUs and also DDR5 RAM. However, our top recommendation is the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 , thanks to its cost-effectiveness and notably long battery life – you simply don’t need the power of the later models for writing.

The Gen 9 comes with a hugely impressive 13-15 hours of battery life. All generations feature a unique keyboard design that strikes a balance between a low-travel chiclet keyboard (similar to a MacBook) and a more tactile mechanical keyboard that’s easier on the fingers for a lengthy typing session. The kkeyboard features ergonomically shaped keys of optimal size and spacing, reducing typing errors and arguably offering the best laptop keyboard for typing on the market. The trackpad is also of high quality, and the entire laptop adheres to military standards, boasting a MIL-STD 810G certified chassis. This rugged construction can withstand drops, rough handling, and extreme temperature variations, making it ideal for writers with a mobile lifestyle.

Security features are robust, encompassing the standard Kensington lock, fingerprint sensor, and Windows Hello compatibility, along with TPM 2.0 data encryption to protect your files. ThinkShield software adds an extra layer of security, which is especially valuable for business users handling sensitive documents. The laptop offers a solid array of I/O ports, including an HDMI port and an optional Nano SIM slot, and some configurations even include an RJ-45 ethernet port.

For those who find the X1 Carbon series a bit too pricey, the ThinkPad E14 G3 is another 14-inch option to consider. While it may have slightly inferior speakers and a webcam compared to the X1 Carbon line, it retains many of the benefits, including the matte screen, rugged design, security features, and excellent keyboard.

Best MacBook alternative for writers

  • Nice, bright 16:10 screen
  • Good quality keyboard & trackpad
  • Decent to great battery life, depending on the model
  • Looks great
  • Terrific build quality
  • Micro SD card reader
  • overall port coverage could be better
  • Newer models can be pricey

If you’re after a Windows laptop with the elegant design and nice aesthetics of an Apple laptop, then the Dell XPS series is a great MacBook alternative , with the XPS 13 being a worthy replacement for the MacBook Air.

The Dell XPS 13 has a sturdy yet slimline and portable design and looks great. Although not up there with the MacBook Air in terms of screen brightness, it’s still good enough to be used outdoors and again has a 16:10 screen to maximize vertical headroom when typing in a document or web browsing etc. These laptops have been around for several years, which means you can find older refurbished models at budget-friendly prices while still enjoying the benefits of a high-quality machine. The keyboard and trackpad quality on XPS laptops are also both good, ensuring a satisfying user experience.

The Dell XPS 13 has been around for a few generations now and you can pick up an older, less powerful model for cheaper which will do just fine for writing purposes. In terms of battery life, it varies depending on the model, but even the worst have a respectable battery life, with the best of the series being impressive – reaching up to around 11 hours.

Although the port selection on these laptops might be somewhat limited, you do get a MicroSD card reader, which is useful. If you do buy a newer model, be aware that you’ll probably end up paying quite a bit of money, but you do at least get a high quality device for your hard currency.

The best convertible laptop for writers

  • 2-in-1 functionality
  • Sharp 120Hz screen with great sRGB color replication
  • Solid speakers
  • Good build quality
  • Now available for a reasonable price
  • No USB-A ports
  • Optional keyboard & stylus/pen can get pricey

The Microsoft Surface Pro series is consistently one of the most popular 2-in-1/convertible laptops/tablets year on year. Offering the versatility of both a laptop and a tablet in a single device, it’s the ideal pick for writers who would like both but can’t pick between the two. Although the Surface Pro 9 is the latest model, the Surface Pro 8 is pretty much the same design, only with a less powerful CPU and DDR4 RAM, however these aren’t really necessary for the average writing task, and it’s available for substantially cheaper.

Unlike traditional 2-in-1 laptop designs that feature a hinge allowing the bottom section to fold back into tablet mode, the Surface Pro more closely resembles a tablet with a detachable keyboard that can be magnetically attached to the bottom. It also features a built-in kickstand for easy propping. Operating on the Windows system, it functions like a laptop but offers touchscreen capabilities, stylus/pen support, and the portability of a tablet.

The Surface Pro features two USB-C ports and a headphone jack, along with a 13-inch, 2280 x 1920, 120Hz display. The screen sports a high resolution and pixel density (267ppi), making it suitable for detailed work. The peak brightness of around 330 nits is adequate – being fine for indoor use, though probably not good enough for using outside. The color replication however covers over 100% sRGB, and it offers a color accuracy of approximately 1.24 (average deltaE*00) – not really important for writing but if you’re doing any graphic design/color-accurate work on the side this could prove useful.

The biggest drawback of the device is the absence of a USB-A port, though this can at least be addressed by using a separate USB hub plugged into one of the USB-C ports. It’s important to note that not all retailers include the keyboard or stylus with the device, so potential buyers should be aware of this, and the cost of these additional accessories can add up. Despite these negatives though, overall this is a top-class product.

Best ChromeOS laptop for writers

  • Good keyboard & trackpad
  • Very good build quality for a Chromebook
  • Convertible 2-in-1 design
  • Comes with stylus & dock
  • Can be difficult to find for sale with more than 4GB RAM
  • Disappointing battery life (only around 7 hours)

Chromebooks are a great way to pick up an affordable device for writing on. These are essentially laptops that run on an operating system called Chrome OS, which is heavily focused on the Google Chrome browser for its functions, including the running of almost all applications. This means that Chromebooks are pretty reliant upon the internet to function properly, so if your internet connection is haphazard then you may not want to consider them, although in recent years Chromebook offline functionality has improved, and certainly extends to being able to write/type on them and save your work whilst offline. You will most likely be using Google Docs etc. for your work, however versions of Microsoft Office are also available.

The plus side of being very cloud-reliant is that Chromebooks don’t require as powerful processors, nor the same size batteries to run them, so are often thinner and lighter, and almost always cheaper than laptops with the same level of build quality/other features. You can read our Chromebook vs laptop guide for more information on this.

The Lenovo ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook resembles the Lenovo ThinkPad series is some ways, albeit to a more budget level. It still offers a fairly durable build (though it’s not military grade like the ThinkPad X), it’s compact and portable and includes features like a fingerprint scanner for added security and a webcam shutter for privacy. The keyboard on this Chromebook is comfortable to type on, and the trackpad is responsive, providing a satisfying user experience. Additionally, it features an old-school red trackpoint in the middle of the keyboard for those who prefer this navigation option.

The “Yoga” in its name indicates its 360-degree hinge, which allows it to function as a convertible 2-in-1 device. This flexibility enables you to use it as a tablet, making use of the touchscreen and the included stylus, which conveniently has a storage slot. This feature is beneficial for note-taking and creative tasks. While the battery life of around 7 hours isn’t the best, it should still be sufficient for most of a day of writing when put on battery saver mode.

Despite being an older model, the Ryzen CPU in this Chromebook performs quite well for a device in its category. Memory and storage options vary, ranging from 4GB to 16GB of RAM and 32GB to 128GB of SSD storage – you’ll want to avoid the 4GB RAM option, which just isn’t enough these days, even for a writer.

Best ChromeOS laptop for writers with a quiet keyboard

  • Quiet keyboard of good quality
  • Good 1080p webcam
  • Good battery life for a Chromebook
  • Only USB-C ports
  • Older models have shorter time to update expiration

The Google Pixelbook Go is another great Chromebook pick for any writers out there, particularly those looking for a nice quiet typing experience. The keyboard is not only nice to type on, but is one of the most silent you’ll find, which could be useful if you often work on public transport, in libraries, or late at night in shared accommodation.

Besides this, the PixelBook Go has various other impressive features that mark it of a higher quality than your average Chromebook. The webcam is a full HD 1080p camera, capable of shooting 60FPS video, and is generally of a higher quality than you’ll find in a lot of Chromebooks. The overall build quality is good, including the crucial hinger area, and the battery life extends to an impressive 9-11 hours of general, non-demanding usage on battery-saving mode.

In terms of downsides, you only get a couple of USB-C ports, so you’ll probably want to pick up an adapter if you’re planning on using a mouse or attaching any other peripherals/external storage. Additionally, most Google Pixelbook Go models came out in 2019 or 2020 so are a good few years older now. Whereas this wouldn’t be much of an issue for a Windows laptop, for a Chromebook this means the Auto Update Expiration (AUE) date is closer than is ideal – past this point the Chromebook will no longer be supported by future ChromeOS updates, effectively reducing its functionality by a substantial amount (read more about this on our best Chromebook page). Do be sure therefore to doublecheck when a particular Pixelbook Go’s AUE is with the seller/on the retailer’s site before you make your purchase.

Things to consider when choosing the best laptop for a writer

Before going ahead with a laptop purchase, make sure you consider the following factors. These should be at the forefront of your mind when shopping for a new laptop for a new laptop for writing/typing work.

What’s the best keyboard for a writing laptop?

Although some keyboards are objectively better than others, personal preference features heavily when picking a keyboard, whether it be for a desktop or the one your laptop comes with, so you should try and work out which type you prefer before pulling the trigger on a purchase. Although people can generally adapt to any keyboard after a short period of use, if your job is specifically that of a writer then you’re going to want a comfortable keyboard to both increase your typing speed, reduce the number of typos/errors you make, and to reduce fatigue on your hands over time.

Most laptops have some sort of membrane keyboard, which can vary considerably in quality. MacBooks use chiclet-style keyboards which are good quality but require a fair bit of actuation force to depress, which isn’t to everyone’s tastes when doing a lengthy day’s typing, though again some people will prefer it. Mechanical keyboards are rare outside of gaming laptops, however, some (like the Lenovo ThinkPad series) come with a key action that is somewhere in between membrane and mechanical – offering a similar typing experience to the latter.

Finally, finding a sufficiently well-backlit keyboard is also important if you’re going to be typing in low-light conditions.

What screen should you opt for when buying a laptop for writing?

Size is the first obvious consideration when it comes to a laptop’s display: bigger displays mean more space for work on the screen, opening multiple windows etc., however, this usually means a larger laptop as a whole, which will be heavier and with greater dimensions, making it less portable. Most people prefer a 14-inch or 15-inch laptop as the right balance between these two factors, although you can go smaller (13-inch) or larger (16, 17, or 18-inch laptops ), depending on your preference. In terms of aspect ratio, 16:10 screens or thereabouts is the ideal as you get a bit more vertical room to view documents/web pages, whilst also not really impacting the overall size of the machine. 16:9 screens will still suffice though.

Besides screen size, display brightness is also important. A peak brightness of around 250nits or more is what you want for a comfortable indoor viewing experience, but comfortable outside use will likely require a peak brightness of around 400nits or more, depending on the level of sunlight.

Finally, there’s the panel type. IPS displays are by far the most common, and these are usually glossy screens, which provide a nice clear viewing experience when watching video media, but have high amounts of light reflection, which can lead to discomforting screen glare when you’re trying to work near a light source. There are rare options available however with matte screens that minimize reflections (the Lenovo ThinkPad series for instance), which is ideal for a lengthy typing session. OLED laptop screens are also becoming increasingly available, which provide rich deep blacks and high contrast ratio, but these are again almost always glossy and are targeted more at video media viewers. Providing the screen brightness is sufficient however, even glossy screens can be used outdoors.

What battery duration should you aim for?

The rate at which laptops consume battery life varies substantially depending on what energy settings you have enabled. The battery life figures we quote in our mini reviews for each of our suggested picks are usually what you’ll get with battery saving mode switched on, Bluetooth off but Wi-Fi left on, brightness turned down to around 50% of the settings or 120nits, and the laptops being used over the testing period for general web browsing with a couple of hours watching YouTube – i.e. not running any more demanding programs than that. All this considered then, you want to be aiming for a battery duration of around 8 hours or more to cover a working day. For gaming laptops and the like this is quite a big ask, but for generally lower-powered writing laptops this is a respectable figure that will provide you with flexibility.

How much RAM and storage do you need?

These days you want to be aiming for 8GB or RAM as a minimum. 16GB is the ideal and is basically plenty for any writing laptop – you’d only really need more than this if you’re also running some high-end creative software as well, or if you like to open a stupidly large amount of tabs in your browser, or multitask with several programs running simultaneously.

Looking at storage, Word documents and the like don’t take up much file space, though if you’re going to be downloading lots of images, audio media, or video media whilst you’re writing, you may want to supplement your SSD size further. For a Windows or Mac laptop, 256GB of SSD storage is a reasonable starting point for most authors, and if you don’t want to spend the money on upgrading the SSD/HDD to a larger size, then you can always pick up an external SSD .

Best laptop for writers FAQs

What laptop do most authors use.

Whilst we haven’t done an in-depth statistical analysis of what laptops authors are using, doing a bit of Googling on the subject reveals one laptop that stands out well above the others as the most popular: The MacBook Air. Famous authors not limited to Stephen King, Chris Cleave, Junot Díaz, J.K. Rowling, and Lauren Weisberger have all gone on record as using this device, and it’s also very popular among journalists and other online copywriters.

Of course, this doesn’t mean it’s the right laptop for your writing needs, and we’ve compiled a list of different sorts of devices with different keyboards, screens, and overall design that might suit you better.

Do writers need a laptop?

Every writer has their own process and preferences, so it’s impossible to say that every writer needs a laptop, however any professional writer will find life to be substantially more conveniant if they have a portable typing device that they can use to electronically edit their work, upload to their editors, send and recieve emails on, and browse the web for their research. In short: if you’re a writer, it’s probably a very good idea to get a laptop.

Best laptop for writers: Final Word

You now know what the best laptop for writers is, at least the one that fits your particular needs needs. If you didn’t find what you were after, however, do have a read of our myriad other laptop guides in the dropdown menu above, including our best gaming laptop , best OLED laptop , best 4K laptop guide, best laptop for computer science , and more!

Aaron Ritchie

Trusted Source

WePC’s mission is to be the most trusted site in tech. Our editorial content is 100% independent and we put every product we review through a rigorous testing process before telling you exactly what we think. We won’t recommend anything we wouldn’t use ourselves. Read more

Best laptop for Engineering Students & Professional Engineers January 2024

Best OLED laptop in April 2024 for creatives, gamers & more

Best AMD Ryzen 7000 series laptop

Best Intel 13th gen laptop in 2024 – gaming & productivity

  • Meta Quest 4
  • Google Pixel 9
  • Google Pixel 8a
  • Apple Vision Pro 2
  • Nintendo Switch 2
  • Samsung Galaxy Ring
  • Yellowstone Season 6
  • Recall an Email in Outlook
  • Stranger Things Season 5

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

The best laptops for writers from Apple, Dell, HP, and more

A person typing on a Huawei MateBook X Pro laptop at a table.

Whether you’re a web writer posting on WordPress on the daily or an upstart novel writer, you’ll probably want a laptop to do at least some of your work on. The needs, however, for a writer are different than the usual laptop categories like gaming laptops or even business laptops . A laptop for writers doesn’t need a super high refresh rate, high-powered processor, or any extra frills. It  can have those, of course, and become a more multifunctional machine, but the core purpose of this laptop should be the production of copy, script, and story.

What follows is our attempt to boil the thousands of viable laptops out there into a list suitable for those entering the writing profession or hobby with earnest fingers and a sound mind. Writing is also a tremendous part of our profession, so we have trial and error to show what works. For example, your romantic visions of sitting in the coffee shop and writing for several hours will come true. However, the bulk of your most productive writing will almost certainly be done on your home desktop computer . The following list looks for balance between the desires of the laptop writing lifestyle and the reality that follows.

The best laptops for writers

  • Best overall: 
  • Best Apple: 
  • Best 2-in-1: 
  • Best for freelancers: 
  • Best budget:

How to choose a laptop for writers

At the time of this writing, our guide to the best laptops presents four primary factors to focus on when determining what laptop to get: Performance, Portability, Build quality, and Price. Without a doubt, those four factors are still important. For you, they may even be the most important. However, when looking at laptops for writers as a subset of all laptops, there are some things that hold more decision weight than they would on another laptops.

  • Best HP laptop deals: Get a 17-inch workhorse for $370 and more
  • Best gaming laptop deals: Alienware, Razer, Asus and more
  • Dell’s XPS 13 for $599 deal is back, and who knows for how long

This category is not a surprise. What might be a surprise is that it isn’t all about cost and getting fancy. While you can write thousands of words a day on a super budget keyboard if it feels comfortable to you, there are some things that might be important to you later on that aren’t obvious now.

Consider what type of writing you’ll be doing to see if you’ll want a numpad . Whether you’re writing out numbers ($149, was $249) or blocks of data for analysis, straight up numbers are important. But even if you are a sci-fi novelist, the numpad makes keyboard shortcuts easier. For example, you can always do a double n-dash (–) to make an m-dash (—) but isn’t Alt+0151 so much more satisfying? Not to mention more accurate on character counts. Depending on your specialty, you may find others that are critical. Have a British editor? Ask for a raise in Alt+0163 British pounds. If this factor is important to you, be warned that  numpads are rare on laptops.

Mechanical keyboard adherents may hate to hear it, but the traditional membrane keyboards (aka  chiclet keyboards ) commonly seen on ASUS or HP laptops are likely the way to go. Mechanical taps might be fun for  you and make you sound productive, but won’t make you the most popular patron of the local library, coffee shop, or bookstore. Besides, low-profile keyboards can be nice in their own right.

Much simpler than the keyboard, ports are still important. You’re going to want USB-A, USB-C, and HDMI ports on your laptop. Preferably on both sides so you can lay out things in a convenient manner. For example, if you want an for a second monitor on the go, make sure you have a USB-C connection on the side you usually set up your second monitor.

The trackpad can be a shockingly frustrating aspect of writing. Popping your cursor over select words isn’t too bad, but highlighting specific lines in a document can be super irritating if you have to hold the primary mouse button down while moving the cursor. Many a web writer has made the error of including a comma or period in their hyperlink as a result of using a bad trackpad when they should have been using a wireless mouse.

Webcam and mic (possibly)

If writing is a business in addition to a hobby or passion for you, you might want to consider the quality of your webcam and mic. For example, if you have a client that likes to hop on a call (which does happen) these can be indispensable. But don’t worry tremendously about this. Many, if not most, of your best clients will barely have an inkling of what your voice sounds like. And, unless you work in the incredibly lucrative Amazon beauty products affiliate niche, your clients are unlikely to care about your appearance. In other words, a good webcam and mic on your laptop are a possible nice-to-have, not a must.

How we chose these laptops for writers

The following laptops were picked by looking for laptops that are high quality that also emphasize the qualities that we outlined above. There’s also a heavy overlap between the laptops on this list and our other laptop buying guides throughout the site. It only follows that the best laptops for writers will be good for other purposes.

HP 15.6-inch Touch-Screen Full HD Laptop

While run-of-the-mill HP laptops don’t exactly turn heads or make for exciting stories in the tech world, if you need to get your head together and just write, that’s a good thing. This is a serviceable laptop, with an affordable price, comfortable keyboard, and no fancy extras. While you can still comfortably watch YouTube videos on its 1080p screen, it isn’t about to become your next gaming laptop , which is ultimately a good thing.

If you want a numpad, this is a decent laptop that actually has one without getting stuffy in the keys. This is accomplished by making the laptop bigger than most, nearly 16 inches. This might make space an issue on small round tables at the local coffeeshop but shouldn’t be a problem. You should also know that the laptop has the typical lopsided port arrangement, with USB-A’s on the left and the USB-C and HDMI ports on the right, so plan accordingly if that matters to you.

MacBook Pro 14-inch (2023)

Apple’s MacBooks are a popular study and work machine already. They’ve never been known for being compatible with a wide array of games, they run well, and have historically been less virus prone than Windows laptops. Among the best MacBooks , the MacBook Pro 14-inch stands out for its quiet keyboard and decent power level. While you won’t get as much value out of the M2 chip as a writer as you would in other careers, it will still be valuable for any software you end up using.

For professionals, the 1080p webcam and three-mic array will be appreciated during client meetings. When you want to use a secondary monitor, you’ll appreciate the HDMI 2.1 connectivity, at least if you have the right HDMI cable for the job. The only downsides to this laptop are its cost, which is typical of MacBooks in general, and the lack of a numpad (also typical of MacBooks). But, at the same time, it has the MacBook quality you’ve come to expect.

Microsoft Surface Pro 9 (2022)

Writers are increasingly turning to 2-in-1 laptops for their work as people who have grown up with tablets are finally needing to type longer-form documents. There’s been a lot already said about the Microsoft Surface Pro 9, our top pick among the best 2-in-1 laptops . Our Microsoft Surface Pro 9 review praised it for its design, build, and premium features. It also took a kind look at the Microsoft Surface Pro 9’s most important feature for writers, the Type Cover keyboard.

This keyboard, which is bought separately from the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 will define how you feel about it. On the one hand, it allows you more keyboard customization than any other laptop as you can buy a of your choice. But, on the flipside, you usually  have to , as they’re mostly sold separately. The ability to remove the keyboard at will, however, can save it from the damage that it might otherwise get as you knock it about while using the 2-in-1 for tablet mode.

Dell XPS 13 Plus

Your freelancing, despite how it may feel at times, is a business. As a result, you may consider treating yourself to one of the best business laptops . It is a high-quality machine that is small (13-inches) and super lightweight while still packing a punch in the specs department. Our Dell XPS 13 Plus review highlights the laptop’s unique design, lightweight chassis, and its upgraded (compared to prior models) webcam.

As a writer, you’ll likely be most interested in this laptop’s zero-lattice keyboard, which takes up the full horizontal space of the laptop’s base. The keys look unique and also  feel unique, giving you 1mm of travel on each press before giving in to a satisfying clack. Equally interesting is the haptic feedback presented by the trackpad. Once you get used to it, it might help you line up the cursor better for precision copy-and-paste or other edits.

Acer Aspire 3

One of the best budget laptops is the Acer Aspire 3, and it should also work out quite well for your writing career. It has a thin numpad to the side for when you need it, but won’t crowd out the all important letters if you’re the type that doesn’t like a numpad. We particularly appreciate this laptop’s inclusion of a USB-A port on both sides, making connections easy and convenient. While writing is usually software light, if you do end up doing software reviews, you’ll appreciate the Wi-Fi 6 the Acer Aspire 3 has, but don’t expect to have a great time writing game reviews on it, as it doesn’t have the GPU for gaming. Ultimately, this is a very serviceable laptop that will get the job done and keep you away from too many other distractions.

This article is managed and created separately from the Digital Trends Editorial team.

Editors' Recommendations

  • Best laptop deals: Save on the Dell XPS 14, MacBook Pro 16 and more
  • HP Envy deals: HP’s most popular laptop starts at $630
  • Best Dell laptop deals: Cheap laptops starting at $280
  • Best Buy Spring sale: Save on TVs, laptops, appliances, and more
  • 219 laptops are discounted in Best Buy’s Spring sale — From $159
  • Best Products

Mark Coppock

Mark has been a geek since MS-DOS gave way to Windows and the PalmPilot was a thing. He’s translated his love for technology into a marketing, consulting, and freelance writing career aimed at helping people use technology to enhance their lives. At Digital Trends, he reviews laptops and desktops, including the latest from HP, Dell, Lenovo, Apple, and more, and writes news and easy to understand how-to articles about the computing industry as a whole.

When he’s not writing, you’ll find him reading and watching science fiction, taking photos with his family, and obsessing over Indiana University basketball.

Laptop Reviews

Best Budget Laptops Best 2-in-1 Laptops Best Business Laptops Best Laptops Under $1,000

Owning a powerful and efficient business laptop is one of the best things you can do for yourself as a business owner. This isn’t to say that you need to run out and drop $3,000 on the most expensive PC you can find; especially since a machine costing upwards of a $1,500 is probably overkill for most folks. Still, it pays to get all the features you’ll need from a business PC, and we’re here today to give you a crash course on the subject.

Brands like Apple, Lenovo, and Dell are some of the top names for business-optimized laptops. Not only do we have recommended models for each company, but we’re going to break down all the most important criteria for business PCs, too.

Hybrid and remote employment has reached an all-time high in countries around the world. This is why it’s important to own the kind of PC that can handle everything you need for both work and play. Work-from-home laptops should check all the important boxes for the average computer, with criteria like processing power and battery life being paramount.

We here at Digital Trends know a thing or two about working from home, and we’ve funneled a lot of our expertise into this buying guide. The five laptops we’ve selected are incredible for several reasons, and we’re about to get into the nitty-gritty of who each model is for, and why you should (or shouldn’t) buy it.

Dell has been around for a couple of decades now, and is one of the best laptop brands out there, with a massive variety of options to pick from, whether you want something on the high-end or something budget friendly. That said, one of Dell's most well-known models is the XPS lineup; Dell's answer to the MacBook and a solid alternative if you're looking for the same sort of Apple hardware performance and size at another brand. Of course, much like MacBooks, they can be quite expensive, which is why we've gone out and found all the best Dell XPS deals we could find and compiled them for you below. So, be sure to check out all the options thoroughly, or, if you haven't quite found what you're looking for, check out our lists of the best Dell laptop deals and laptop deals in general. Best Dell XPS 13 deals

The Dell XPS 13 is the smallest in the Dell XPS line. It's great for commuters and students. These laptops don't generally have powerful GPUs, but they're fast, reliable and sleek.

The 7 Best Laptops for Writers

Choosing the best laptop for writing is essential. If you're a writer in need of a new device, we're here to help.

  • Brand Google
  • Storage 128GB SSD
  • CPU Intel Core i5-8200Y
  • Brand Apple
  • Storage 256GB
  • CPU Apple M1
  • Storage 64GB
  • CPU Intel Core m3-8100Y
  • Brand Microsoft
  • Storage 128GB
  • CPU Intel Core i5
  • CPU ‎Intel Core i7
  • 9.00 /10 1. Premium pick: Google Pixelbook Go
  • 9.60 /10 2. Editors choice: Apple MacBook Air (2020)
  • 8.80 /10 3. Best value: ASUS Chromebook Flip C434
  • 8.80 /10 4. Microsoft Surface Pro 7
  • 8.00 /10 5. Dell XPS 13 2-in-1
  • 9.40 /10 6. Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th Generation)
  • 6.80 /10 7. HP Spectre x360

Deciding on the best laptop for writing might seem straightforward. However, there are many considerations writers need to account for when investing in a new laptop. Whether you write as a hobby or as a professional, certain laptops are better than others.

One of the most important considerations is a comfortable keyboard. Then, you'll want to think about the weight of the device and whether it can handle your applications. For working away from home, you'll need a device with excellent battery life.

To make things easier, we've found the best laptops for writers available today.

1. Google Pixelbook Go

The Google Pixelbook Go is an excellent all-around choice for writers looking for a long-lasting battery and a comfortable keyboard. The laptop runs Google's Chrome OS operating system. This lightweight software doesn't tax the laptop's resources, leaving more space for your writing tasks.

Additionally, the Google Pixelbook Go has a high-quality camera so that you can look sharp and clear on your video calls and remote meetings. Despite the flagship hardware, the Pixelbook Go won't break the bank.

This device comes with an Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. As a result, you can open multiple tabs, run your favorite Android apps, and listen to music or stream videos without overloading the Pixelbook Go.

  • Full access to Google Play Services and the Google Play Store
  • Speedy Intel Core m3-8100Y CPU
  • Runs Google's lightweight Chrome OS operating system
  • Operating System: Chrome OS
  • CPU: Intel Core i5-8200Y
  • GPU: Intel UHD Graphics
  • Storage: 128GB SSD
  • Battery: 12 hours
  • Display (Size, Resolution): 13.3-inch, 1920 x 1080
  • Camera: 1080p
  • Speakers: Dual front-firing speakers for better surround sound
  • Memory: 8GB
  • Ports: 2x USB-C, 3.5mm headphone jack
  • Network: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 2x2
  • Dimensions: 12.25 x 8.12 x 0.57 inches
  • Weight: 2.33 pounds
  • Brand: Google
  • Model: Pixelbook Go
  • 12-hour battery life
  • High-quality camera, ideal for meetings on-the-go
  • Excellent keyboard experience
  • Android app support through the Google Play Store
  • No USB-A ports
  • Average audio performance

2. Apple MacBook Air (2020)

The Apple MacBook Air (2020) comes with a range of benefits for any professional or hobbyist writer. For instance, the redesigned MacBook Air comes with an incredible 18-hour battery life, ideal for long writing sessions away from home.

Additionally, the new Apple M1 chip brings a significant leap in performance, allowing the MacBook Air to handle demanding tasks that would have otherwise required you to invest in the much more expensive MacBook Pro model. The cherry on top is that iPhone apps can be run directly on macOS thanks to the M1 platform.

The MacBook Air (2020) is available in three colors: gold, space gray, and silver. You can also configure the laptop with up to 16GB of RAM and up to 2TB of onboard storage. If you work a lot in coffee shops or in public, then you'll be pleased with the laptop's Touch ID sensor for secure biometric login.

  • 18-hour battery life
  • Runs macOS and is compatible with many iPhone apps
  • Available in storage configurations up to 2TB
  • Operating System: macOS
  • CPU: Apple M1
  • GPU: Apple M1
  • Storage: 256GB
  • Battery: 18 hours
  • Display (Size, Resolution): 13.3-inch, 2560x1600
  • Camera: 720p
  • Ports: 2x Thunderbolt 3, Headphone Out
  • Weight: 2.8 pounds
  • Brand: Apple
  • Lightweight and portable
  • High-resolution 13.3-inch Retina Display
  • Only USB-C Ports
  • Lower quality webcam than expected for the price

3. ASUS Chromebook Flip C434

The ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 is suitable for writers looking for a long-lasting battery when away from a power outlet. This affords you greater flexibility on where you write, rather than being tied to a desk all day.

The laptop runs Google's lightweight Chrome OS operating system. Although this intuitive software is good for all users, it's particularly well-suited to existing Google users or those with Android smartphones.

The 2-in-1 convertible design means you can easily switch between the traditional laptop for optimal productivity and a more relaxed or portable experience in tablet mode.

  • Intel Core M3-8100Y Processor
  • 2-in-1 convertible design
  • Runs Google's Chrome OS operating system
  • CPU: Intel Core m3-8100Y
  • GPU: Intel UHD Graphics 615
  • Storage: 64GB
  • Battery: 10 hours
  • Display (Size, Resolution): 14-inch, 1920x1080
  • Memory: 4GB
  • Ports: USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C
  • Weight: 2.97 pounds
  • Brand: ASUS
  • 10-hour battery life
  • Chrome OS is a lightweight and efficient operating system
  • Heavier than its predecessor
  • Unsuitable for heavy multitasking

4. Microsoft Surface Pro 7

The Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is an incremental update to the Surface Pro line of Windows devices. It comes with a built-in kickstand, making it ideal for note-taking, idea generation, drawing, and editing. There's also support for the Surface Pen. Although the design has remained similar over a few generations, the Surface Pro 7 comes with a 10th-generation Intel processor and removable SSD. The lightweight device is highly portable, making it ideal for writers on the go. In addition, if you choose to purchase the keyboard attachment, the device is versatile and adaptable.

  • Available in two colors
  • Three modes, including laptop, studio, and tablet
  • Built-in kickstand
  • Surface Pen support
  • Operating System: Windows 10 Home
  • CPU: Intel Core i5
  • Storage: 128GB
  • Battery: 10.5 hours
  • Display (Size, Resolution): 12.3-inch, 2736 x 1824
  • Camera: 8MP, 5MP
  • Ports: USB 3.0, USB-C
  • Weight: 0.78kg
  • Brand: Microsoft
  • Good performance
  • Removable SSD
  • Wi-Fi 6 support
  • No Thunderbolt Port
  • Keyboard sold separately

5. Dell XPS 13 2-in-1

The Dell XPS 13 is one of the best laptops available for any use, so it makes an ideal all-around option for writers with multiple interests. The laptop is available in many configurations, with an Intel Core i7 CPU as standard for the 2-in-1 laptop and tablet edition.

Given the high-performance processor, the laptop should be able to handle almost any task, including everyday use, image and video editing, and even some light gaming. Since it's a convertible laptop, you can rotate the lid to enable tablet mode and use the display as a touchscreen.

  • ‎Intel Core i7 processor
  • 1920x1200 resolution
  • CPU: ‎Intel Core i7
  • GPU: Intel Iris Plus
  • Display (Size, Resolution): 13.4-inch, 1920x1200
  • Ports: 2x Thunderbolt 3, Headphone out, microSD card
  • Weight: 3.70 pounds
  • Brand: Dell
  • Impressive resolution
  • Great performance
  • No USB-A port
  • Shallow keyboard

6. Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th Generation)

The Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th Generation) tablet is an excellent option for writers that are always on the go. This tablet is lightweight, with long battery life, and a fantastic display. You could truly take it anywhere. However, as with most Apple products, this tablet isn't cheap.The iPad Pro runs iPadOS, a modified version of Apple's mobile operating system designed for tablets. This comes with additional features not available to iPhones, like app multitasking. You can pair portable keyboards via Bluetooth for enhanced productivity or use the on-screen keyboard in a pinch.

  • Apple A12Z Bionic CPU
  • 2732x2048 resolution
  • Runs Apple's tablet-focused operating system, iPadOS
  • Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
  • CPU: Apple A12Z Bionic
  • Operating System: iPadOS
  • Battery: 36.71Wh
  • Ports: USB-C
  • Camera (Rear, Front): 12MP/10MP, 7MP
  • Display type: 12.9-inch, 2732 x 2048
  • Excellent battery life
  • iPadOS supports app multitasking
  • Rear camera unsuitable for Night Mode and portraits
  • Quite large, even when in tablet mode

7. HP Spectre x360

The HP Spectre x360 is an excellent alternative to Microsoft's Surface range of Windows laptops. However, unlike those devices, the Spectre x360 doesn't have a detachable tablet. Instead, the touchscreen rotates up to 360 degrees to convert the laptop into a touchscreen tablet. This laptop comes with Windows 10 Home pre-installed, an Intel Core i7 CPU, 16GB of DDR4 RAM, and a 512GB SSD. Fortunately, the Spectre x360 weighs just 2.88 pounds, making it portable for writing wherever you are. For audiophiles, the laptop is equipped with Bang & Olufsen speakers. There are also two USB-C ports and a microSD slot. Additionally, the integrated webcam is compatible with Windows Hello for biometric login.

  • Intel Core i7 CPU
  • Integrated webcam is compatible with Windows Hello
  • CPU: Intel Core i7 CPU
  • GPU: Intel Iris Plus Graphics
  • Storage: 512GB
  • Battery: 14 hours
  • Memory: 16GB
  • Ports: USB 3.1, 2x USB-C, microSD card reader
  • Weight: 2.88lbs
  • Comfortable keyboard, especially over long periods
  • 14-hour battery life
  • Bang & Olufsen speakers
  • No HDMI port
  • Expensive option

Q: What Should I Choose: A Regular Laptop or Convertible?

This depends on what you're intending on using your laptop for. For example, if you want to play touchscreen games, digitally draw, or you're simply looking to have a laptop and tablet in one instead of buying both separately, a convertible model will work well for you.But be mindful that these convertible laptops can have a higher price point. So if you want an entry-level laptop on a budget, or you're only looking to use your device for writing, answering emails, or surfing the web, then you might want to stick to a regular, non-convertible model.

Q: Why Does the Type of CPU Matter?

The CPU is one of the most vital parts of a laptop. This unit is responsible for controlling all other parts of your device, and its efficiency is important when it comes to performance speed. Essentially, the better the CPU, the faster and more efficiently your laptop will function.

Q: How Much Should I Focus on a Laptop's Battery Life?

This depends on where you do the majority of your writing work. If this is usually at home, where you have access to both your charger and power outlet, then your device's battery life won't matter too much.However, if you spend a lot of time writing in cafes, libraries, or even outside, your access to a power outlet may be limited, and so it helps to have a laptop with long and reliable battery life.

logo

Best Laptops For Writers in 2024

best laptops for essay writing and research

Featured in this article

Apple macbook air 13.3-inch display screen laptop.

featured

Acer Aspire 5 A515 15.6-inch Display Screen Laptop

featured

HP 17.3-inch Display Screen Laptop

featured

Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch Screen Laptop

featured

Acer Enduro N3 14-inch Display Screen Laptop

featured

Lenovo Ideapad 3i High-Resolution Webcam Laptop

featured

If writing is a significant part of your job, you're probably searching for a laptop that can assist you in your work. With countless laptop options available, it's easy to become overwhelmed when trying to select the best one for your writing needs. The ideal writing laptop should possess features like a backlit keyboard, a spacious keyboard, and more, to make typing comfortable and effortless.

To assist you in your search, we've compiled a list of the top laptops for writers, suitable for all types of writing tasks, from novels and notes to business proposals and books.

See Also: Top best Smartphone of 2024

Buying Guide

It's 2024, and writers no longer use pen and paper to write their thoughts. A laptop is their writing pad now. The best laptops for writers give them so much more freedom and the ability to make corrections, go back and forth effortlessly, and so on. If you are into any form of writing and are currently looking for a good laptop, you have arrived at the right place. Here are a few tips you would like to consider while buying your laptop.

  • Laptop Size : If you are glued to your seat while doing your writing work and don’t generally take the laptop out, a larger 15.6-inch laptop would be ideal. If you travel a lot with your laptop, the size could be a little smaller, say 14-inches. You can always increase the font size to suit your vision.
  • Weight : Once you decide on the size, the weight will correspondingly change. You should expect between 3 and 5 pounds as the weight of the laptop.
  • Processor : A regular Intel processor Core i7 or even the latest generation Core i5 will do for writers' laptops. Choose the one you feel you will be comfortable using. This may even depend on which laptop you are currently using. There is no point in choosing a less powerful processor than the one you are used to.
  • RAM : 8GB RAM should provide the comfort level of swift shuffling between pages and other tasks. Less than 8GB of Ram could be a compromise. Make your choice.
  • Color : Since you are engaged in creative work, look for attractive colors among the laptops for writers lined up for you. Try and avoid the back and silver options if feasible.
  • Battery : You need a long battery life while out with your laptop. The latest models have up to 8 hours of battery life. Check the details before ordering.
  • Storage : You will have a higher storage requirement as all your work has to be saved for future reference. Printing and keeping a hard copy is a passé. You should feel comfortable with around 1TB of onboard storage.
  • Backlit Keyboard : A backlit keyboard is quite useful for use in dark environments. After choosing your laptop model for writing work, you can ask the seller to ship the machine with the backlit keyboard. It may cost a little more.

Top Best Laptops For Writers of 2024

Premium quality laptop with backlit keyboard.

best laptops for essay writing and research

When buying a laptop, a writer looks for two important things – a bright screen and a comfortable keyboard. The Apple MacBook Air features a 13.3-inch display screen that produces a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. Apart from consuming multimedia content, the screen is apt for doing writing work.

The keyboard is sturdy and features a backlit function. Your hands will not get strained even if you type for long hours. The design of the laptop is very sophisticated, and it is available in three different color options, gold, silver, and space gray. The M1 chip by Apple works at a processing speed of 3.1 GHz and ensures efficient operations.

  • It is a good option for writers who want to invest in a high-end laptop that fosters their creativity and imagination.
  • It is also recommended for those planning to buy a premium quality laptop with advanced features.
  • Backlit keyboard
  • Vibrant display screen
  • Fast-performing processor
  • Available in multiple color options
  • The screen is not touch-enabled

Budget-Friendly Laptop with Good Connectivity Support

best laptops for essay writing and research

The Acer Aspire 5 comes with a 15.6-inch display screen with a 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution and a 16:9 aspect ratio. Dual stereo speakers produce high-quality audio output. The front-facing 720p webcam is highly useful for users who regularly engage in virtual conferences. The design of the laptop is simple but appealing to the eyes.

One of the major highlights of the laptop is its processor. The 11th Generation Intel Core i3-1115G4 CPU registers an operating speed of 4.1GHz and ensures high-end efficiency for the device. Since Alexa comes as a pre-installed app on the laptop, you can use it to give voice commands and complete many basic computing tasks without using your hands.

  • Recommended for writers looking for a moderately priced laptop to invest in.
  • It is also a good option for those who wish to get a well-performing laptop with a 15-inch screen.
  • 720p webcam
  • Sharp display screen
  • Super-fast processor
  • Low-bandwidth RAM
  • No backlit feature on the keyboard

Mid-Range Laptop with Stable Processor

best laptops for essay writing and research

This HP laptop features a 17.3-inch display screen with 1600 x 900 pixels resolution. Though the screen does not offer touch functionality, the quality of visuals it produces is very high. Since the screen is made with non-reflective material, you can type for long hours in a sunny, outdoor location without facing any issues.

The 11th Generation Core i3-1115G4 CPU operates at a processing speed of 3 GHz and gets the laptop working at a good speed. Optimally charged, the battery lasts close to 7-8 hours. Since the battery life offered by the device is not adequate, it would be advisable to carry a charger when traveling.

  • A very suitable option for writers planning to invest in a laptop with a large, non-reflective screen.
  • Also recommended for those who are looking for a medium-budgeted laptop that helps perform personal and professional tasks.
  • Large display screen
  • Reliable processing unit
  • High-resolution webcam
  • Good connectivity support
  • Moderate battery life

High-End Laptop with Strong Battery Life

best laptops for essay writing and research

The Apple MacBook Pro features a gorgeous 16-inch display screen that produces high-quality visuals. The screen makes the experience of watching movies, browsing the internet or writing long drafts truly enjoyable. One of the reasons professional writers prefer this laptop over others is because of its battery life. When you charge the battery optimally, the battery lasts for as long as 21 hours. Therefore, you do not necessarily have to carry a charger when you move around with this device.

Available in two color options (silver and space gray), the design of the laptop is highly sophisticated. The Apple M1 Pro chip ensures the device runs extremely fast at all times. The laptop comes in two storage variants. While one model features a 512 GB hard disk, the other comes with a 1 TB hard disk. The 1080p HD webcam makes the process of doing video calls far more fun and engaging. The device features a very comfortable keyboard that makes typing easy.

Why You Should Buy This?

  • Recommended for writers who wish to invest in a premium-quality laptop that offers great battery support.
  • If you have been planning to buy a MacBook for a while, this would be a good device for you to invest in.
  • 1080p webcam
  • Robust performance
  • Powerful battery life
  • Excellent audio-visual output
  • No USB-A port
  • Premium pricing

Well-Built Laptop with Responsive Fingerprint Reader

If you wish to own a highly durable laptop, you must be willing to pay the price for it as well. The Acer Enduro N3 is a rugged laptop that is built to last. It does come at a premium price but offers enough to justify its cost. The laptop features a 14-inch display screen with a 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution.

Writers are often concerned about the security of their work. Since this laptop comes with a fingerprint reader, you can ensure that all your drafts remain safe inside the laptop. Another highlight of the device is its battery life. When charged optimally, the battery lasts for as long as 13 hours.

  • With its compact structure and tough build quality, it proves to be the ideal laptop for those who travel frequently.
  • It is also recommended for writers planning to invest in a premium quality laptop.
  • Durable structure
  • Strong battery life
  • High-definition screen
  • Responsive fingerprint reader
  • No optical drive
  • Low bandwidth RAM

15.6-inch Display Screen Laptop with Good Storage Support

best laptops for essay writing and research

As a professional writer, you need to speak to your team, collaborators, or those who have hired you regularly through video calls. Therefore, you need a device that conveniently helps you participate in virtual conferences and calls. The Lenovo Ideapad 3i comes with a high-quality webcam that offers great clarity. The microphones, too, are very good and pick up voice commands easily.

The laptop has a 15.6-inch display screen with 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution. Apart from doing writing work, you can use this high-definition screen to binge-watch movies and shows. The device has multiple connectivity ports, including a 3.5mm headphone jack and a microSD card reader. The hard disk offers storage space extending up to 1 TB.

  • A very good option for writers looking for a medium-budgeted laptop with an excellent webcam and a sturdy keyboard.
  • It is also recommended for individuals particularly interested in a laptop that offers adequate storage support.
  • 1 TB hard disk
  • Durable keyboard
  • Multiple connectivity options
  • Average audio output
  • Brightness levels could be higher

Frequently Asked Questions

What about the software on the laptops for writers.

Laptops are generally supplied with a Windows Home operating system. Some brands add a trial version of MS Office, valid for a month. No other software is included. There have been sporadic complaints of some laptop makers adding a lot of bloatware. You should be wary of this. You should download and install any other special software you need for your writing work.

Can I connect any external devices to the laptop for writers?

You should be able to connect devices depending on the connectivity ports available on the laptop – for – writers you have bought/are going to buy. There are USB ports and an HDMI port as well. Check the specifications. There are no fixed standards for connectivity. Each laptop manufacturer follows a separate style.

Can the laptop for writers be used for other purposes, like gaming?

The laptop for writers is another device for many activities, including gaming. However, not all games can be played on the laptop due to hardware constraints. Some issues with the keyboard may also crop up. Whatever light games can be played with the mouse can be played on these laptops.

Is there an international warranty available on laptops for writers?

You may be worried about the international warranty since you travel a lot, and if the laptop were to develop a snag overseas, it could pose a challenge. Check with the seller and the laptop manufacturer if an international warranty can be included in your case. Many companies have this option.

Can the laptop be used to make presentations on large screens?

Yes, mostly all presentations can be made using the laptop. The laptop has to be connected to the LCD projector through an HDMI cable, and the laptop’s display is then mirrored onto the large screen. You can use the mouse to keep changing the pages in your presentation or run a video.

Whether you are a poet, an essayist, a blogger, or a fiction writer, you will have to digitize work and need a laptop. Writers need screens that are bright and big and also easy to read. These are some of the best laptop options for writers with excellent keyboards. The space between keys is important, so check out keyboard ergonomics while selecting a laptop for writing purposes. However, if you write a lot, it would be beneficial to go in for a separate, full keyboard. There are many lightweight USB keyboards available. You can also opt for a backlit keyboard for writing in low-light conditions.

Join our newsletter

subsc

🚀 Trusted source for tech since 2012

© COPYRIGHT © 2012- 2024 . TECHNOBEZZ.COM: ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REGISTERED TRADEMARK.

  • Best Laptops
  • Best Phones
  • Best Desktops
  • Best Products
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy

There are no ads set to this area or maximum limit of ads on a single page has been reached

DiscoverGeek | Search Engine for Geek Merchandise

The 6 Best Laptops for Writers and Authors in 2021

When it comes to laptops for writers, whether it be novelists, poets, copywriters, journalists, bloggers, or whatnot, there are specific needs that must be met so that the writing process can be as smooth and productive as possible.

best laptops for essay writing and research

We hope you love the products we recommend! Just so you know, DiscoverGeek may collect a share of sales from the links on this page. This helps us to keep the lights on at night ;)

Contrary to what one may think, having a working keyboard and an updated version of Microsoft Word aren’t enough to deem a product the best laptop for authors. Of course, these two things are still important. In fact, the keyboard alone comes with several requirements, such as tactile feedback, bounce, accuracy, reliability, and comfort when using.

It’s just that, there are various other necessities to make for a great writing experience, such as an excellent display that isn’t straining to the eyes, a compact and sleek profile that is easily portable for writers on the go, and variable storage options for all those drafts and typescripts.

With all these different considerations to take into account, finding the best laptops for writers can be a bit hard- but we’re here to help. Here’s the ultimate review and buying guide on the best laptop for writers in 2021.

Recommended Laptop Specs

There are many different features that need to be considered when buying a laptop for writing, but the most important ones are as follows:

  • Keyboard: for writers, the most important factor is arguably the keyboard, since it influences your comfort while working, as well as your typing speed and accuracy. Try to look for the most comfortable keyboards with the right amount of loudness and bounce you prefer. The keyboard should also be backlit for working in low light conditions.
  • Touchscreen: some writers prefer writing by hand or adding lots of notes on their drafts, so if this sounds like you, a touch screen display may be a great investment. This way, all your writings are still consolidated in one soft copy, but you get to enjoy the “freedom” that comes with a good ol’ pen and paper.
  • Battery life: the beauty of modern laptops is that they all come with a decent battery life, but to make sure that you’re getting the most productivity out of your device, especially when working outdoors, look for a laptop with more than 4 hours of juice.
  • Storage: regardless of where you want to store your files, having a decent amount of built-in storage is always a good idea, so don’t go anywhere less than 256 GB, and if you can, choose an SSD over an HDD.
  • Weight: again, if you often work outside the office, portability is a big issue, so make sure that the laptop doesn’t weigh more than 4 pounds.
  • Processor: these days, any decent laptop should at least have an Intel i5 CPU.
  • Graphics: unless you’ll be performing heavy tasks on your laptop, there’s no need for advanced graphics cards.
  • RAM: at least 4GB of RAM is a must, but if you can, go for 8GB or more.
  • Software: Windows or Mac- it’s really up to you!

You can also read “ How I found the best laptop for writers ” for more information, or head down to our buying guide below to get a glimpse of what makes for a good laptop for writers.

Top 6 Laptops for Writers

Finding the best laptop for writing a book or copy can be difficult and time-consuming, so, to help you spend more time with your craft and less time browsing the net, here’s a compilation of the best laptops for writers in 2021. All of our picks below come with decent keyboards, just the right amount of processing power, and excellent features for on-the-go productivity.

Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop

Laptops for Writers Top 1

Our top pick for the best laptop for typing is the Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop, which is a relatively affordable choice that comes with a 10th generation quad core Intel i5 CPU and 8 gigabytes of RAM to accommodate all your multitasking needs.

It’s equal parts portable and powerful, making it ideal for everyday computing needs. This laptop can take on just about any complex job, and of course, it allows you to fuel your creativity with its backlit keyboard, full HD display with crisp and sharp visuals, and thin bezels on a 15.6 inch frame that offers more space for you to work with.

Not only that, it also comes with 256 gigabytes of ultrafast SSD to let you access large files and manuscripts at the fraction of a second. Overall, the Acer Aspire 5 is a great writing computer that offers a great balance of specs, features, and cost.

  • Powerful processing and exceptional performance
  • Excellent screen quality and brightness
  • Lightweight profile with slim bezels
  • 7.5 hours of battery life

Also check out: Acer Aspire E 15

Asus Chromebook C202 Laptop

Laptops for Writers Top 2

Another amazing option is the Asus Chromebook C202 Laptop, which is particularly ideal for students and individuals who are always on the move, thanks to its rugged design and construction that is guaranteed to meet intense usage demands and the daily rigors of working in and out of the office or classroom.

Aside from being highly resistant to damage and being virtually unbreakable, it’s also easy to maintain, which effectively maximizes usage. This means you can spend more time working and playing instead of updating, upgrading, and troubleshooting.

Our favorite feature, however, is the spill-proof keyboard. That, and the bumper frame made of tough rubber surrounding all edges, along with the nano-molding technology that protects all the laptop’s critical components. Simply put, it’s a great choice for the best Chromebook for writers.

  • 1 year free Google 100GB Cloud storage
  • Excellent overall build quality
  • Vibrant, crystal clear images
  • Highly versatile range of applications

Lenovo Flex 14 2-in-1 Convertible Laptop

Laptops for Writers Top 3

Taking the third spot is the Lenovo Flex 14 2-in-1 Convertible Laptop, which is a reliable and practical mid-range laptop that features a 14 inch touchscreen display and comes with a useful active pen made for drawing, writing, and more.

Naturally, this means you can use the laptop in tablet, tent, or laptop mode, giving you uninhibited productivity. It’s also pretty lightweight and comes with various ports for maximum connectivity, including an SD card slot.

Among the many great features of this laptop is the AMD Ryzen 5 3500U CPU that never fails to display files, images, and videos in superior quality. It also comes pre-installed with Windows 10, and the built-in webcam comes with TrueBlock to give you maximum privacy on demand. All in all, it’s deserving of the title of best laptop for screenwriting.

  • Touchscreen display and multiple viewing modes
  • Easy to use, operate, and maintain
  • High resolution webcam with privacy mode
  • Fast-charging battery reaches 80% capacity under an hour

Also check out: 2019 Newest Lenovo IdeaPad

HP Chromebook 14-Inch Laptop

Laptops for Writers Top 4

Taking the fourth spot is the HP Chromebook 14-Inch Laptop, which is among the best laptops for writers on a budget. It’s a reliable choice that comes with an AMD dual core processor, allowing you to work and play for an entire day.

This laptop brings a lot to the table despite its low price. For one thing, it features a 14” backlit anti-glare screen which displays even the smallest details in perfect clarity. The laptop can also be rotated 180 degrees, which means you can write or read in the most comfortable position no matter where you are.

Moreover, this laptop also comes with dual speakers that makes for an immersive audio experience, and boasts of a long battery life of more than eight hours. Now, by no means is it the best in terms of advanced features and extras, but it’s definitely a worthy option if you’re looking for cheap laptops for writers.

  • Budget-friendly model with basic features
  • Easy to use and access even for beginners
  • Reliable processor for performing a variety of tasks
  • Compatible with Android applications

Asus Chromebook Flip C302 2-In-1 Laptop

Laptops for Writers Top 5

You should also check out the Asus Chromebook Flip C302 2-In-1 Laptop, which comes in a 14 inch package featuring ultra-thin bezels and a full HD display to give you a 13-inch footprint. As the name suggests, this laptop can be flipped or used in a variety of angles in order to comfortably cater to your every need when writing or reading.

In other words, it’s a versatile device that can be used in laptop, tablet, tent, or stand mode. It’s also pretty easy to use, thanks to the backlit LCD screen. It even comes with several ports for accessing media files and the like.

Furthermore, this laptop comes with an Intel Core m3-8100y CPU to support multiple tabs and various applications without freezing or lagging. The Asus Chromebook Flip comes in a lightweight yet sturdy aluminum body, making it easily portable.

  • Thin, portable, and lightweight profile
  • Adjustable viewing positions
  • Backlit keyboard and display
  • Great value for money

Acer Chromebook CB3-131-C3SZ

Laptops for Writers Top 6

Finally, you might also want to consider the Acer Chromebook CB3-131-C3SZ, a practical Chromebook that allows you to harness your full potential with its Intel Celeron CPU that works well for various programs and software needs, fitting for a true master of words.

This cloud-based laptop is a future-proof device that’s perfect for beginners and professional writers alike- its cloud storage solution makes your data and files accessible and safe, and at a mere $300, it’s one of the best laptops for writers on a budget.

We really like the fact that this model features a robust aluminum cover that looks sleek and polished. It’s resistant to fingerprint marks and smudges, too. And, the laptop features a high definition display that is perfect for travelers and on-the-go individuals.

  • Affordable and lightweight option
  • Chrome OS for easy accessibility and usage
  • Backlit keyboard and built-in SD card reader
  • High quality webcam and audio speakers

Also check out: Aspire 3 A315-53-55Y1

How To Find The Best Laptop For Writers

Here’s the thing- there is no single best computer for writers that works for every user. Each of us have different needs, goals, and workflows, for one thing. In other words, what may be a great laptop for someone may be completely useless to another.

As such, it’s important to ask yourself these questions before you make a decision:

  • Do I need more power or more portability?
  • How much does screen size matter to me?
  • Which operating system do I prefer?
  • How much am I willing to spend on a laptop?

Answering these questions will help you find the best laptop that suits your needs and requirements the most. You can also check out this article, The preferred writing instruments of famous authors , if you want to copy your idols in terms of how they like to write.

That said, if you want to find good laptops for writers, there are certain things that need to present no matter what, such as the following:

Reliability

Regardless of your profession, if you are planning to use a laptop for work, it needs to last long and perform well for a considerably long time in order to give you the most value for your money. In other words, it needs to be reliable.

We are talking about both the laptop’s hardware and software. On one hand, it needs to be well-built and rugged enough to withstand everyday rigors. The screen, hinges, and other materials should be of high quality and resistant to wear and tear.

On the other hand, the software components should allow for scaling, upgrading, and customization. Think of it this way: the best laptops for writers 2019, or even last year, likely won’t be the best ones today.

Portability

Unless you will work exclusively in your office (or home), you need a laptop that is portable enough so that you won’t feel strained or inconvenienced carrying it around whenever you do go out and work someplace else.

As such, the laptop must be small enough that it comfortably fits in your laptop bag or backpack. It shouldn’t weigh too much that it weighs you down and makes you think twice about bringing your laptop outside.

Affordability

As a writer, you likely won’t need any advanced configurations and componentry that programmers and developers require, since you won’t be running serious software programs like AutoCAD – meaning, there’s no need for the best laptop for SolidWorks and the like.

Sure, you may want a couple of gaming-ready specs for your downtime, but if we’re solely talking about work needs, you simply need a laptop that lets you write and browse the net.

What this means is that you have a lot more leeway in terms of how much you spend on your laptop. Even with a tight budget, you can find good laptops for writers. Do understand, however, that better features come with higher costs.

Battery Life

Again, if you plan on working outside your home or office a lot, one of the many things you need is a decent battery life so you don’t have to be constantly on the lookout for nearby power outlets and charging stations.

A reliable battery life on a laptop means that you can work, write, and create anywhere, anytime- even when you’re in a meeting, inside a classroom, at a coffee shop, in the middle of your commute, or on a plane.

journalist working on laptop

Writing for hours on end all days of the week means that your laptop keyboard will be subjected to steady wear and tear. Meaning, you need a well-built keyboard that is rugged rather than flimsy. It should be intuitive, appropriate, and accurate so as not to hinder your workflow. Ideally, the keyboard should also be backlit so you can work under any light condition.

If you happen to find a promising laptop with a not-so-satisfying keyboard, you can also consider buying an external keyboard. There are lots of great options on Amazon , so you’re sure to find the best laptop keyboard for writers in no time.

Travel Distance

Travel distance refers to how far each key needs to travel down in order to register its corresponding character. This is important since it directly affects typing speed. Generally, a high travel distance is better as it makes the keyboard more responsive, and if you’re buying cheap laptops for writers, low travel distance keyboards are out of the question anyway.

Now, a low travel distance isn’t a bad thing, per se. It’s just that most keyboards with low travel distance are poorly made, hence the bad rap. That said, it’s entirely possible to find great quality keyboards on thin laptops, as long as you’re willing to shell out a few extra bucks.

To put it simply, keyboards with higher travel distances are more noisy to type with, since there’s a lot of click and bounce for every stroke. It can be a good thing for people who like hearing that typewriter kind of noise.

But for others, low travel keyboards are the way to go, since they offer a more silent and inconspicuous performance, which is more appropriate in public settings and shared workspaces.

The layout of the keyboard basically determines how much space there is around and between each key. Conventional keyboards mash all the keys together, while islands allow for more space and breathing room.

Choosing one over the other is entirely a matter of preference. On one hand, island keyboards will take up more space but work better for those with big hands, but conventional keyboards may be easier to work with for those with slim, nimble fingers.

Backlighting

The most important thing when it comes to the keyboard is the backlighting, since this allows you to conveniently and efficiently work anytime of the day or night, without having to turn on the lights around the house or use your table lamp, which may both be too bright anyway.

Screen Display

While writers don’t need to have professional, gaming-level display specs, having a reliable display is still a must so that you can read and write comfortably without straining your eyes. For one, this means having a display that is safe to stare at for hours, and offer clear imagery. 

Screen Size

When it comes to the screen size, there are a few things to consider. Basically, aside from portability, how big the screen is will affect what and how much you see, and how you work.

An 11-inch screen will be the most portable, but will prove too small to let you open multiple windows simultaneously. 15 or 17-inch laptops, on the other hand, are the most comfortable on the eyes, but are too heavy and bulky for working outside the office. The perfect size, therefore, is a 13-inch screen that offers just the right amount of space, keyboard size, and portability.

You’ll also want to take a look at the laptop’s brightness levels and how easy it is to adjust this setting. If you will often be working at al fresco settings, you’ll want a high maximum brightness to let you see what you’re working on against the harsh sun. For premium laptops, the brightness levels are typically better and more easily adjustable.

Operating System

Another important consideration is the operating system. There are a few options to pick from- Windows, Mac, Linux, and Chromebook- each with their pros and cons.

Windows, for instance, is the most popular, most user-friendly, and easiest to explore, but it also requires constant updates and antivirus protection. Meanwhile, IOS is a more high-end, exclusive, polished, and trendy OS that makes for effortless explorations.

When it comes to laptops for writers, Linux isn’t really a consideration, since it can feel too complex for simple word processing tasks. At the opposite end of the spectrum, however, is ChromeOS, which is a convenient, accessible, and easy to use cloud-based software. It even comes with access to Google Cloud for various computing services.

For great Macbooks, check out the Apple MacBook Air – Space Gray or this older Apple MacBook Air – Silver . You can also search Amazon for more Apple MacBook Air options.

Some might say that all modern laptops have enough processing power for basic tasks such as word processing, but that may not always be true. Sure, when it comes to Chromebooks for writers, the CPU doesn’t really matter since everything is cloud-based, and Apple products always have a decent CPU among other hardware, but Windows devices are another thing.

Many Windows laptops come with weak CPUs even in this day and age. We are talking about Core i3 CPUs, Celerons, and Pentiums. If you want to run more than two programs simultaneously, stay away from these processors.

When it comes to the RAM or random access memory, here’s what you need to consider: A 2GB RAM won’t do any good no matter how simple and inconspicuous of a task you’re performing, since it’s just about what the OS alone requires to run. So, unless you want to wait for ages when loading MS office, go for at least 4GB of RAM.

This will be enough for Chromebooks and Macbooks, although it may be a little slow for Windows if you will be doing a lot of multitasking. In this case, opt for 8GB RAM.

Having a decent storage capacity is always a good idea whether you’re saving all your files on the laptop or uploading them on the cloud. But, aside from storage capacity, you also need to account for speed and reliability. These are important in letting you access files quickly, and keeping your files protected.

It’s no argument that solid state drives are infinitely better than hard disk drives, but it’s also a well-known fact that SSDs are still more expensive. The best way to deal with this is to go for a mix of the two. Having just enough SSD capacity will make searches and load times faster, and having a sizable HDD will let you store more files.

Regardless of your storage type and size, you should always make sure you have a reliable back-up solution, whether that’s keeping copies of your files on an external hard drive or uploading them to Dropbox.com .

Of course, this won’t be an issue if you use cloud-based services, since your files will always be on the cloud, and Google will be backing up your data for you. You won’t even have to work on MS Word then upload your files online after- you can type your thoughts directly on Google Docs and each word is saved real-time. No more clicking the save button every 5 minutes!

Writers’ Laptops FAQs

How much do I need to spend on a decent writer’s laptop?

The great thing about laptops for writing is that they don’t cost a lot. With a budget of $500 to $1000, you’ll have plenty of options and are sure to find the best laptop for typing. You can even find a lot of decent options for much less. Of course, higher prices typically indicate better specs and features, so that’s one thing to consider.

Are Mac laptops better than Windows laptops for writing?

There are pros and cons to Windows and Mac laptops, so it’s really about your personal preference as to whether you prefer a more affordable, more accessible, and widely compatible device or a more high-end and secure alternative.

Are Chromebook laptops great for writing?

Yes! The beauty of Chromebooks is that almost everything is cloud-based so you don’t have to worry about storage space, backing up files, losing your progress due to crashes, and slow boot-ups. The only catch is you need a decent internet connection, especially when working on cloud-based software like Google Docs (unless you enable the offline function).

Which MacBook laptop is the best for writing?

We highly recommend the Apple MacBook Air as the best laptop for writers. It’s not too terribly overpriced, and it comes with a great set of specs and features. It’s high powered without being an overkill, and it’s perfectly lightweight and portable as well.

You can watch this Youtube video about the Apple Macbook Air for more information, or read How MacBook Air changed J.K Rowling’s life . 

Is it a good idea to buy renewed or refurbished Macbooks?

Yes. refurbished Macbooks look, feel, and work like new, so they are almost always a good idea to invest in. You’ll be getting a great laptop at a fraction of its original price.

Take a look at the Renewed Apple MacBook Air (2015) with Intel i5 for example, or the Renewed Apple MacBook Air with Dual Core i7 if you want a better CPU. The only catch is some renewed laptops may not come with warranty, so that’s something to take note of.

The best laptop for writers, like the Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop , increases your comfort and productivity while writing. It should come with an excellent keyboard, a decent screen, and a long battery life to allow for hours of comfortable and productive content creation.

How about you? What’s your favorite writing computer?

More From: Geek Gifts

Best Laptop for Accounting

Best Laptop for Accounting – Accounting Computers in 2021

Tim

Best Laptop for Blogging – Reviews and Buyer’s Guide

Best i5 Laptops

5 Best i5 Laptops in 2021 – Complete Buying Guide

led keyboard laptops

Top Backlit Keyboard Laptops – Complete Buying Guide

Best Laptop with CD Drive

Best Laptop with CD Drive in 2021 Including DVD Drive

Best Document Cameras For Zoom

8 Best Document Cameras For Zoom Calls and Conferences

Email address:

State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

The Best Laptops for Scientists: Enhance Your Research and Analysis

As a scientist, your work demands a laptop that can keep up with your rigorous research and data analysis. Finding the best laptop for scientists that suits your needs can be a challenging task, considering the wide range of options available in the market. Whether you’re conducting complex simulations or analyzing large datasets, choosing the right laptop is crucial for maximizing your productivity and efficiency. In this article, we’ll explore the top laptops tailored to meet the specific needs of scientists, helping you make an informed decision for your next research companion.

Table of Contents

Best Laptops For Scientists – Compared

Overview of laptops for scientists.

Laptops for scientists are essential tools for conducting research, analyzing data, and collaborating with peers. When choosing a laptop, scientists prioritize portability, processing power, and compatibility with specialized software. Many scientists prefer lightweight laptops with long battery life, enabling them to work in the lab, in the field, or while traveling to conferences.

In terms of processing power, scientists often require laptops with robust CPUs and sufficient RAM to handle complex computational tasks and large datasets. Additionally, it’s important for scientists to ensure that the laptop is compatible with software used for data analysis, scientific programming, and simulation.

For scientists working in fields such as biology, chemistry, or engineering, a rugged and durable laptop is also preferred to withstand the rigors of fieldwork and lab environments. Overall, laptops for scientists prioritize portability, processing power, compatibility with specialized software, and durability to meet the unique demands of scientific research.

01. Apple MacBook Pro

The Apple MacBook Pro is a sleek and powerful laptop that sets a high standard for performance and design. The vibrant Retina display, fast processor, and impressive battery life make it a top choice for professionals and creatives. The Touch Bar adds a touch of innovation, and the solid build quality ensures durability for daily use. Its impressive performance and seamless integration with other Apple devices make it a valuable investment for those in creative fields.

While the MacBook Pro’s price may be a deterrent for some, its premium features and reliability make it a worthwhile investment for those in need of a high-performance laptop. Whether for work or play, the MacBook Pro delivers the power and versatility to meet the demands of modern computing.

  • High performance and speed
  • Retina display with vibrant colors
  • Long-lasting battery life
  • Sleek and portable design
  • User-friendly operating system
  • Excellent build quality
  • High price point
  • Limited port selection

02. Dell XPS 15

With its sleek design and impressive performance, the Dell XPS 15 is a powerhouse laptop. Its 4K display delivers stunning visuals, making it perfect for creative professionals and entertainment enthusiasts. The powerful processor and ample storage ensure smooth multitasking and seamless performance for even the most demanding tasks.

The slim and lightweight build makes it easy to carry around, while the long battery life keeps you productive on the go. The XPS 15’s top-notch build quality and array of connectivity options further enhance its versatility, making it a top choice for those seeking a high-performance laptop for work and play.

  • High-resolution display
  • Powerful performance
  • Sleek and stylish design
  • Long battery life
  • Good keyboard and touchpad
  • Short battery life
  • Higher price compared to other similar laptops

03. HP Spectre x360

With its sleek and elegant design, the HP Spectre x360 is a versatile and high-performing laptop. The 13.3-inch 4K display delivers stunning visuals, while the 360-degree hinge allows for easy conversion into tablet mode. The Intel Core i7 processor ensures smooth multitasking and performance for work or entertainment.

The long battery life and fast charging capabilities provide great convenience for on-the-go use. The premium build quality and advanced features make the HP Spectre x360 a top choice for those seeking a reliable and stylish laptop.

  • Versatile 2-in-1 design
  • Lightweight and portable
  • High-quality display
  • Fast performance
  • Display can be prone to glare and reflections
  • Battery life may not be as long as other ultrabooks
  • Can be relatively expensive compared to other similar laptops

04. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 21HM002DUS Black Laptop, i7-1355U, 16GB, 512GB...

Last update on 2024-04-02 / Affiliate links / #ad / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

The backlit keyboard and smooth touchpad offer a comfortable typing experience, and the integrated webcam and microphone deliver clear video conferencing capabilities. Overall, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon stands out for its blend of portability, performance, and security, making it an excellent choice for professionals who value productivity and mobility.

  • Lightweight and portable design
  • Powerful performance with 10th Gen Intel Core processors
  • Durable carbon fiber construction
  • Secure and reliable with robust security features
  • High-resolution display with vibrant colors
  • Expensive compared to other laptops with similar specs
  • Limited port options

05. Microsoft Surface Laptop 4

Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 15” Touch-Screen – Intel Core i7 - 32GB - 1TB...

  • High-quality build and design
  • Versatile and powerful performance
  • High-resolution touch display
  • Comfortable keyboard and trackpad
  • Relatively high price

Benefits of Investing in Laptops for Scientists

In today’s digital age, the use of laptops has become essential for scientists across various disciplines. With the increasing reliance on technology for research, data analysis, and collaboration, having a high-quality laptop has become a necessity for scientists. One of the primary reasons scientists need to invest in laptops is the portability and flexibility they offer. Whether working in a laboratory, field site, or office, scientists require a portable computing device to access, analyze, and manipulate data on the go.

Moreover, the computational demands of scientific research, such as modeling complex systems or running data-intensive simulations, require powerful processing capabilities that can be provided by the best laptops for scientists. Additionally, with the rise of remote collaboration and digital communication, having a reliable and efficient laptop is essential for scientists to engage in virtual meetings, share results, and collaborate with peers from different locations.

Furthermore, the best laptops for scientists typically offer specialized features such as robust security measures to protect sensitive research data and long battery life to sustain extended periods of fieldwork or travel. This ensures that scientists can work efficiently and securely, even in challenging environments. Therefore, investing in the best laptops for scientists is crucial for enabling seamless, efficient, and productive scientific research and collaboration in today’s technology-driven world.

Choosing the Right Laptop for Your Scientific Needs

When selecting a laptop for scientific activities, several crucial factors should be taken into account to ensure optimal performance and seamless workflow. From processing power and memory capacity to portability and battery life, it is essential to prioritize features that cater to the specific demands of scientific research and data analysis. In this section, we will explore the key considerations that scientists should keep in mind when choosing the right laptop for their needs.

Processing Power

Choosing a laptop with ample processing power is crucial for scientists, as it directly impacts the speed and efficiency of data analysis, simulations, and modeling. Complex scientific software and algorithms often demand significant computational resources to run smoothly and deliver timely results. Whether working with large datasets, conducting simulations, or running statistical analyses, a laptop with high processing power ensures that scientists can work on their tasks without delays or performance bottlenecks. With sufficient processing power, scientists can execute their research and experiments more efficiently, leading to increased productivity and better outcomes in their scientific pursuits.

Memory And Storage Capacity

Choosing laptops for scientists requires consideration of memory and storage capacity. Scientists often work with large datasets, complex simulations, and sophisticated software tools. Adequate memory and storage are crucial for handling these demanding tasks efficiently. A laptop with ample RAM ensures smooth multitasking, while a sizable storage capacity accommodates extensive data storage and analysis. Additionally, scientists may run memory-intensive applications or perform data-intensive computations, requiring sufficient memory and storage resources. Moreover, efficient data management and analysis are essential for scientific research, making memory and storage capacity integral considerations when selecting laptops for scientists.

Graphics Capabilities

Considering the graphics capabilities of a laptop is essential for scientists as it directly impacts visualization and data analysis tasks. From rendering complex molecular structures to analyzing intricate graphs and charts, a powerful graphics card can significantly enhance the efficiency of scientific research. Whether conducting computational simulations, image processing, or 3D modeling, a high-performance GPU can accelerate data visualization and computation, saving time and enabling more detailed analysis. Therefore, when choosing laptops for scientists, it’s crucial to prioritize graphics capabilities to ensure seamless and efficient handling of visually intensive tasks, ultimately facilitating groundbreaking discoveries and advancements in various scientific disciplines.

Portability

Choosing a laptop for scientists involves considering various crucial factors, with portability being a primary concern. Scientists often work in various environments, from laboratories to field research locations, requiring a laptop that is easy to transport. Portability enables researchers to easily carry their laptops for presentations, conferences, or collaborative projects. Additionally, the ability to work on the go enhances productivity and efficiency, enabling scientists to capture ideas and data wherever they are. A portable laptop also offers flexibility, allowing scientists to work in different settings and adapt to diverse research requirements. Therefore, considering portability is essential when selecting laptops for scientists.

Battery Life

Choosing laptops with long battery life is crucial for scientists, as they often work in various environments, from the lab to the field. A durable battery ensures uninterrupted access to data and resources, allowing researchers to work efficiently and without interruptions. Long battery life is especially critical for fieldwork, where access to power sources may be limited. Additionally, scientists frequently need to run complex simulations and data analysis, which can be resource-intensive and drain battery quickly. By considering battery life when choosing laptops for scientists, researchers can ensure a reliable and consistent performance, wherever their work takes them.

What Are Some Important Factors To Consider When Choosing A Laptop For Scientific Research And Analysis?

When choosing a laptop for scientific research and analysis, it’s important to consider processing power and RAM to handle complex data processing and simulations effectively. A high-performance CPU and ample RAM will be beneficial for running computational software and handling large datasets. Additionally, a laptop with a dedicated graphics card may be crucial for tasks such as data visualization and rendering 3D models.

Portability is another key factor to consider. Since researchers often work in different environments, a lightweight and durable laptop with a long battery life is essential for conducting research in the field or during conferences. Additionally, a high-resolution display and comfortable keyboard can enhance productivity during long hours of analysis and writing.

Can You Recommend A Laptop With Excellent Computing Power And Performance For Running Data Analysis Software And Simulations?

Sure! One of the best laptops for running data analysis software and simulations is the Dell XPS 15. It offers excellent computing power with its Intel Core i7 processor, up to 64GB of RAM, and a dedicated graphics card. The high-resolution display and fast SSD storage also make it ideal for handling large datasets and running complex simulations. Another great option is the MacBook Pro, known for its powerful performance and ability to handle intensive computing tasks. With its high-performance processors and ample RAM, it can efficiently run data analysis software and simulations, making it a top choice for professionals in this field.

Are There Any Specific Features Or Specifications To Look For In A Laptop For Scientific Writing And Publishing?

When selecting a laptop for scientific writing and publishing, it’s essential to prioritize processing power, memory, and storage. A high-performance processor (such as Intel Core i5 or i7) will handle complex data analysis and multitasking effortlessly. Additionally, aim for at least 8GB of RAM for seamless operation and rapid retrieval of information. Furthermore, ample storage space, ideally SSD for faster boot-up and file access, is crucial for storing large datasets and research materials. A comfortable keyboard, high-resolution display, and long battery life are also vital considerations for extended writing and editing sessions. Additionally, look for a laptop with versatile connectivity options, including USB, HDMI, and SD card slots, to facilitate data transfer and collaboration with colleagues or journals.

Which Laptops Offer The Best Combination Of Portability And Battery Life For Scientists Who Need To Work On The Go?

For scientists who need to work on the go, some of the best laptops that offer a great combination of portability and battery life are the Apple MacBook Air and the Dell XPS 13. The MacBook Air is known for its lightweight design and long battery life, making it perfect for carrying around during fieldwork or research trips. The Dell XPS 13 is also highly portable and boasts a long battery life, providing scientists with the flexibility to work from anywhere without worrying about running out of power.

Both of these laptops are popular choices among scientists due to their balance of portability and battery life, allowing for seamless productivity on the go.

The Bottom Line

In a world driven by innovation and discovery, the right tools are essential for scientists to push the boundaries of knowledge. With our in-depth reviews and comprehensive buying guide, we have highlighted the best laptops for scientists that cater to their unique needs. Whether it’s data analysis, coding, or running simulations, these laptops provide the power and versatility required for scientific research. Invest in the best laptops for scientists to elevate your work and ensure seamless collaboration, analysis, and exploration.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

TechSpectacle

The Best Laptops for Writers in 2024

By marcus burst | updated on march 24, 2022.

We contacted writers and respected newspaper editors from around the globe for their opinion on the best laptops for writing. Below we narrowed that list down to the best 5.

Lenovo ThinkPad E15 Gen 2 15.6' Glossy...

Finding the perfect laptop for a writer can be a daunting task, which is why we gathered feedback before determining the most important features that a writer might look for in a laptop.

The feedback allowed us to make an informed comparison of the laptops, followed by a decision on which one best suits the needs of a writer.

Best Laptop For Writers Featured Image

The 5 Best Laptops for Writers

Here’s a quick list of the five best laptops for writers:

#1 Laptop for Writers With the Best Keyboard

After much thinking and deliberation, we finally crowned the Lenovo ThinkPad E15 the winner.

Lenovo have long been crowned king of the keyboards with their springy, tactile keys offering a satisfying typing experience.

The Thinkpad E15’s keyboard is both spill-resistant and sturdy, it feels tough and well-made. The sturdiness most likely comes as a result of Lenovo’s strict testing which certifies the laptop to military-specifications.

Speed is not an issue for the E15, with an Intel i5-6200U processor and 16-32GB of RAM to ensure you’ll never have an issue multitasking again. The included 512GB solid state hard drive aids in fast boot times and responsive applications.

Lenovo ThinkPad E15

The E15 has a 15” screen, which is the sweet spot in terms of portability and screen space. A 15” screen will give you plenty of room to have windows open side-by-side and work to your full potential.

If portability is important to you, then the E15 won’t let you down. At just 3.8 lbs and 0.8 inches thick, you won’t have any trouble taking the laptop around with you.

A 12-18 hour battery life is achievable depending on the battery configuration, which gives you a full days work and more without needing to find a charger, or a powerpoint!

The Lenovo has a number of security features to protect you and your data. Your laptop is protected with an in-built fingerprint reader that ensures secure storage of your data.

On top of the screen you’ll find a 720P HD webcam with face tracking and wide angle technology, which allows you to have video calls with superb quality. Dual noise-cancelling microphones ensure that limited background noise gets picked up during the call.

In the event of any misfortune, Lenovo has a one-year manufacturer’s warranty which should give you some peace of mind.

With all of these features, the Thinkpad E15 fits the bill as the best laptop for writers.

  • 【Upgraded】 Seal is opened for Hardware/Software upgrade only to enhance...
  • 【Powerful Performance with Intel Core i5-1135G7 Quad Core】 11th Gen Intel...
  • 【High Speed and Multitasking】 16GB DDR4 SODIMM; 65W Power Supply, 3-Cell 45...

The Four Other Writer’s Laptops We Tested

Whilst we did crown the Lenovo as the winner, the other four laptops we shortlisted are still fantastic options and would not look out of place in the hands of a writer.

Dell XPS 13

Dell XPS 13

Dell has opted for a Quad HD 13.3” display, as well as a Dual core i5-6200U CPU, 8GB of RAM and a well-sized 256GB SSD.

Weighing at just 2.8 lbs and measuring at 0.6 inches thick, the XPS 13 is definitely a worthy writers laptop.

The only reason the XPS 13 was second is that we felt that typing on the E15 was a slightly better experience, but it was truly neck-and-neck.

Apple MacBook Air

Apple MacBook Air

If you are regularly working away from your desk, you will enjoy the freedom that the MacBook Air provides.

The Air is responsive thanks to its 256 GB SSD hard drive and i5 processor. 8GB of RAM ensures you can run multiple applications at once without the dreaded rainbow spinning wheel.

Where the MacBook really shines is if you have the whole Apple ecosystem . Combining an iPhone with a MacBook gives you some fantastic options such as seamless copy-pasting, text forwarding, iCloud syncing etc.

The reason the MacBook Air isn’t #1 is because we feel like the laptop really shines when paired with an iPhone. As we can’t be certain everyone owns an iPhone, we couldn’t give this laptop the top spot.

Dell Chromebook 3120

Dell Chromebook 3120

Where Chromebooks really shine is their ability to deliver fast speeds due to the SSD hard drive and limited storage. Chromebooks are designed to have small hard drives, in this case 16GB, with most of your files stored in the cloud with an application like Google Drive.

The Chromebook 3120 has an excellent 12-hour battery life and small form factor with its 11.6” screen, making it really easy to carry around.

An adequate 4GB of RAM allows you to have plenty of browser tabs open without experiencing slowness. The keyboard is good, but not great, and is outclassed by the other laptops in our list.

Apple MacBook Pro

Apple MacBook Pro

There is a reason we’ve included a second MacBook on the list and that’s because Apple has done a wonderful job in making their laptops comfortable to type on for extended periods of time.

best laptops for essay writing and research

The MacBook Pro comes with the 15.4” Retina display with incredible pixel density which really makes text and pictures ‘pop’ out at you.

A modestly sized 256GB SSD, 16GB of RAM and i7 Processor allow you to multi-task even the most intensive applications without a problem.

For the portable writer, 9 hours of battery life should be more than enough for you to move around throughout the day without running out of charge.

Apple has done a great job to get the weight of their once heavy laptop down to a measly 4.5 lbs and measure up at 0.7” thickness.

Like the Air, we feel like the full potential of the Mac is unleashed when you also have an iPhone and for that reason we couldn’t give the MacBook Pro our #1 spot.

How we chose the best laptop for writers

To accurately determine the best laptop for writers we scoured the web for reviews, including the good and the bad, and conducted interviews with writers around the globe to find out what they think the most important features in a laptop are.

The following features were determined from the feedback, ranked in order of highest priority, to the lowest:

Screen Size

Battery life, portable and lightweight.

With these features in mind, we set out to find laptops that fit our criteria and then narrowed it down to five that excelled in the aforementioned areas.

The most important consideration when choosing the best laptop for writers

From the feedback we received, there was an overwhelming number of people who responded that the most important feature of a laptop for writers is a good keyboard.

With writers getting down anywhere from 2k to 10k words a day , you can see why they place such a huge importance on their keyboard.

As a writer, your job of writing, whether it be blogging, journalism or some other form, is likely your primary job that brings home the bacon. Just like a tradesman wouldn’t buy a cheap power tool, you shouldn’t skimp on the item that makes you your money.

Chiclet style keyboards are quite popular these days and are a reference to the American gum brand. Chiclet keyboards are characterised by both their flatter, bezel-separated look and low-profile, low-travel keys, a far cry from the mechanical keyboards popping up in some gaming laptops .

Ultimately, you want to find a keyboard that is comfortable to type on for hours at a time that doesn’t hurt your hands and wrists.

Obviously it’s quite difficult to ‘try-before-you-buy’, but a trip down to the local electronics store or trying out a colleague or family members laptop can go a long way to finding one that you find comfortable.

Best Laptop For Writers - Lenovo Thinkpad T460 Keyboard

Other considerations when choosing the best laptop for writers

As well as the keyboard, other factors were taken into account to determine the best laptop for writers.

As it turns out, writers have the need, the need for speed! (I’m sorry). If you’re a writer yourself then you would know the feeling of having multiple browser windows open with double the amount of tabs open in each one.

I’ve seen plenty of users sit there with 5 different Google Chrome windows open during my years in IT, and some browsers can be real memory hogs.

The best laptops for writers will have sufficient RAM and an adequate CPU to deal with the multitasking that is required for the job.

Along the same vein, multitasking is quite a bit easier when you have plenty of screen real estate. Having a larger size screen allows you to sit two windows side-by-side and improve your productivity.

As a writer, I wouldn’t recommend any less than a 13” screen, otherwise you will struggle to read your own writing! Full HD screens will have larger resolutions, which will give you a further increase in screen space.

If you’re a writer that loves to produce work on your laptop in different parts of the house, office, or even outside, a long battery life could be critical factor for you.

Alternatively if you have some interesting tendencies like Truman Capote , the author of Breakfast at Tiffany’s and In Cold Blood such as needing to write lying down in bed or on a couch, an extended battery life is definitely something to consider.

Going hand in hand with the previous point on battery life, portability is important if you are often moving around the house or workplace.

A laptop that is light is ideal in this situation and will allow you the freedom to work wherever you feel most comfortable without having to carry a large weight around.

Portability is also closely related to screen size. Often laptops with larger screen sizes are heavier, so you should weigh up your top priorities when making a final decision on which to buy.

The bottom line

The Lenovo ThinkPad E15 is just such a fantastic all-rounder that we couldn’t not give it the title of the best laptop for writers!

When you combine its fantastic keyboard, portability, battery life, specs, it is pretty unbeatable.

In saying that, the competition was very fierce and it was a very slim victory for the E15 with the MacBooks and Dell’s right behind its tail.

Whilst we did crown the Thinkpad E15 as the winner, the other four laptops we reviewed are still fantastic options and you won’t be disappointed if you purchase any of the ones we’ve recommended.

  • IdeaPad vs. ThinkPad: Finding the Superior Lenovo Laptop
  • 20 Best Laptops for College Students in 2024 – By Major
  • Most Reliable Laptops – Our Top Picks Rated, Reviewed, & Compared

Marcus Burke

For five years, Marcus has been reviewing laptops, tablets, and other tech gear for techspectacle.com. He has a degree in Computer Science and worked for a few years as a technical consultant, testing software and providing technical solutions for various organizations. He’s passionate about reading, playing video games, and just writing for fun.

8 thoughts on “The Best Laptops for Writers in 2024”

Excellent commentary,well thought out. I should not be surprised that Lenovo is your considered first choice. I used to go to a deli in Santa Monica and always saw a young man diligently working on his laptop. Since I was a total non-tech person who needed to know more I inquired as to his choice. He proceeded to tell me about all the different products he had used, all his research and why now he was only using a Lenovo. That has always stayed in my mind.

I agree with you, a 1080p screen gives good screen estate. It allows you to have two Word documents open side by side. In general, I wouldn’t want to skimp on a laptop. Spending 700-1000 bucks ensures you will get a quality piece of electronics.

Thanks Marcus for this guide, Few days back, I bought the Macbook Air for my work from here and after using it, I must say, it’s one of the best laptop to provide portability and productivity. One should definitely go for it!

Thanks for this. More especially and important to me I liked the buying guide at the end of the post.

Thanks For sharing the review for the best laptop, I personally use Dell Chromebook and MacBook Air for my work. Chromebook is best for the feature but MacBook has amazing feature that other laptop does not have.

Regards Mathew Brown

Great post. For me as a writer, the winning combination is my 13.3 inch MacBook Air with Scrivener. It’s a weight, battery life, backlit keys and comfort is ideal for my needs and Scrivener works best on macOS.

Thanks for the guide, I bought the MacBook Air 2020 and It works like charm. I’m in love with this device, way better than my old laptop. It’s perfect for writers like me who are always typing and trying to get things published.

Hey yeah no problem 🙂 Glad my article could help you out. The 2020 version is most definitely a beast of a laptop for any writer out there.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

TechSpectacle Logo

Accessories

The logos and other trademarks displayed on the TechSpectacle.com are the property of their respective trademark owners and does not necessarily indicate any affiliation or the endorsement of Tech Spectacle. We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site which helps to support our work and doesn't cost you anything extra. Tech Spectacle is also a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program.

Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | Terms and Conditions

© 2017-2023 TechSpectacle.com. All rights reserved.

Finished Papers

Write essay for me and soar high!

We always had the trust of our customers, and this is due to the superior quality of our writing. No sign of plagiarism is to be found within any content of the entire draft that we write. The writings are thoroughly checked through anti-plagiarism software. Also, you can check some of the feedback stated by our customers and then ask us to write essay for me.

best laptops for essay writing and research

Customer Reviews

Finished Papers

Cookies! We use them. Om Nom Nom ...

best laptops for essay writing and research

best laptops for essay writing and research

"The impact of cultural..."

best laptops for essay writing and research

We do not tolerate any form of plagiarism and use modern software to detect any form of it

Essay Help Services – Sharing Educational Integrity

Hire an expert from our writing services to learn from and ace your next task. We are your one-stop-shop for academic success.

Original Drafts

best laptops for essay writing and research

Avail our cheap essay writer service in just 4 simple steps

  • Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Times Insider

A Reporter With Expertise in the Uncertainty of Nutrition

With a Ph.D. in nutritional biology, Alice Callahan bridges the gap between a science and the readers who just want to be told how to eat.

In an illustration, a woman sits at a table with writing implements  and foodstuffs like fruit, eggs, salt and silverware. Against the wall is a shelf with laboratory equipment.

By Terence McGinley

Times Insider explains who we are and what we do, and delivers behind-the-scenes insights into how our journalism comes together.

Nutrition studies are “notoriously” hard to draw conclusions from, according to Alice Callahan.

She would know. Ms. Callahan writes about nutrition for the Well section at The New York Times. She also has a Ph.D. in nutritional biology.

Before transitioning to journalism about 10 years ago, Ms. Callahan worked as a researcher. Now she is devoted to explaining the evidence, debates and breakthroughs in her field using language people can understand. Reconciling an uncertain science with a hunger for guidance is a challenge when there are many people who just want to be told how to eat.

“I just try to, as much as possible, stick to what we know and be honest about what we don’t know,” she said in an interview. “Readers can make their own judgments about what to do with that information.”

For example, in an article published this week, Ms. Callahan reviewed the science on ultraprocessed foods , those common supermarket items made with industrial methods. Americans get many of their calories from these foods. There is a correlation between consumption of them and chronic diseases, but the evidence that they directly cause disease is limited.

In a phone conversation from Eugene, Ore., where she lives with her spouse and two children, Ms. Callahan spoke to Times Insider about her transition from the laboratory to the laptop, and her recent reporting. The following conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

Why did you transition from scientific researcher to journalist?

I always loved words and writing, but I also really liked science. I went into science initially because I could see more obvious career options. I got a Ph.D. in nutrition at U.C. Davis and worked in physiology and nutrition research for a few years. But in science, you have to focus your attention on very specific areas, and I wanted to be able to learn about many different things. Writing about science, I realized, would allow me to do that.

When I transitioned to writing, I was a new parent and I was focused on questions about how to make good choices in parenting. I’d been trained to read scientific studies, interpret them and understand their limitations. That was an “aha” moment for me: I can do this thing that I enjoy, which is writing, and translate the research so that it is useful for everyday decisions.

It sounds like journalism allows you to explore the world of nutrition in a way that research did not. Is that right?

I think that is true. Nutrition is a really interesting field because we all have to eat. It’s a constant challenge for researchers in the area to be thinking, what does this mean for people? I think of myself as trying to bridge that gap between the research and helping us all understand what it means.

People want nutrition advice they can act on. How do you decide what to write about?

I’m watching the science for new studies and new developments. In the case of ultraprocessed foods, it’s a relatively new area in scientific literature; there’s been a lot of focus on it over the last few years; there are real policy questions and implications around it. That was an obvious target.

How would you describe your personal approach to nutrition? What are your priorities when you and your family sit down for a meal?

Overall, I would say I’m really flexible, and I want to be relaxed about food. I’m not a purist about anything. I’m not interested in — for myself, or for my family — any sort of restrictive diet. I want a lot of variety, and I enjoy foods from every food group. A priority for me is preparing meals that my family will enjoy together.

I spend so much time talking with nutrition experts, and I hear them repeat their best advice over and over again: a Mediterranean-style diet or something similar is a great guide for a balanced, healthy way of eating. Trying to eat more whole foods and less ultraprocessed foods is an aim of mine, but I’m never strict about it. I’m a busy working parent. My pantry does have boxed mac and cheese, breakfast cereals, chips and instant noodles. We eat those foods when we need easy meals.

We are members of a farm-share program in the summer. My family has our own chickens, so we have fresh eggs. We often build meals around things that are filling our fridge. I aim to have about five servings of fruits and vegetables a day. That’s a common recommendation from health organizations.

Do you think interest in nutrition has increased in the United States in recent years? And has that led to better nutrition?

I think it’s fair to say that there’s a national obsession with diet and nutrition. But when you look at the history of that obsession, it’s guided by what celebrities are doing, or what’s trending on social media, or what new diet books are being published. I think it often leads people astray and leaves them feeling confused, overwhelmed and frustrated, especially if they are trying these radically different ways of eating that make them feel worse, or diets that make them feel better for a little while but they can’t stay with them.

If you talk to nutrition experts, the advice they give is pretty standard and kind of boring, and not exciting enough to light up social media.

I try to meet those conversations that are happening, whether they are helpful or not, and bring in the science — what evidence we really have — and turn to expert sources for their help in interpreting it.

A Guide to Better Nutrition

Ultraprocessed foods are clearly linked to poor health. But scientists are only beginning to understand why .

Calorie restriction and intermittent fasting both increase longevity in animals, aging experts say. Here’s what that means for you .

A viral TikTok trend touts “Oatzempic,” a half cup of rolled oats with a cup of water and the juice of half a lime, as a weight-loss hack. We asked the experts if there was anything to it .

Sodium is everywhere in our diets. But how much salt is too much ?

Patients were told for years that cutting calories would ease the symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome. But research suggests dieting may not help at all .

IMAGES

  1. Best Laptops For Writers To Buy In 2020

    best laptops for essay writing and research

  2. The 5 Best Laptops for Writers to Buy in 2021

    best laptops for essay writing and research

  3. 15 Best Laptops For Writers On a Budget

    best laptops for essay writing and research

  4. Best Laptops for Writers in 2023

    best laptops for essay writing and research

  5. The 5 Best Laptops for Writers in 2022

    best laptops for essay writing and research

  6. Top 10 Best Laptops for Writers in 2020

    best laptops for essay writing and research

VIDEO

  1. Model Question Set-2075 /Basics of Academic Writing-424/ /Exam Preparation

  2. Model Question Set-2076 /Basics of Academic Writing-424/ /Exam Preparation

  3. Crafting Words: Top 5 Laptops for Writers to Ignite Your Creative Flow!

  4. 10 Lines Essay On Laptop

  5. Model Question Set-2074 /Basics of Academic Writing-424/ /Exam Preparation

  6. The Laptops we ACTUALLY use!

COMMENTS

  1. The best laptop for writers in 2024

    The best 5G laptop for writers The Surface Pro 9 5G enhances portability and power, featuring 5G connectivity, Windows 11, an excellent webcam, and long battery life, despite some ARM chip growing ...

  2. The 6 Best Laptops For Writers

    9.2. Battery Life (Web Browsing) 10.9 hrs. See all our test results. The best laptop for writers we've tested is the Apple MacBook Air 13 (2022), a premium ultraportable. It has a compact design that makes it well-suited for on-the-go use, and its battery lasts easily through a full workday.

  3. Best laptops for writers 2024

    6. Lenovo Legion 5 Pro. View at Lenovo USA. View at Walmart. View at Amazon. Best graphics. Lenovo Legion 5 Pro is the perfect gaming laptop for writers, boasting powerful RTX 4070-performance, a ...

  4. Best Laptops for Writers in 2024: The Write Life's Top Picks

    The HP Elite Dragonfly (starting at $1,399.99) is an easy option for writers whose busy schedules require versatility. It's not the cheapest 2-in-1 laptop out there, but the HP Elite Dragonfly doesn't skimp on high-quality features that make it just as powerful as a traditional laptop.

  5. The best laptops for writers

    Jump to the quick list↴1. Overall: MacBook Air (M2) 2. Budget: Acer Chromebook 3. Windows: Surface Lap Studio 2 4. Mid-range: Acer Aspire 5 5. Best 3:2: MateBook X Pro 6. Android hybrid: Lenovo Tab P12 How to choose FAQs How we test. Let's be straight. The top pick of laptops for writers don't need to be expensive.

  6. 10+ Best Laptops for Writers in 2024 (May)

    Quick List: Best Writing Laptop 2024. MacBook Air 2023 — Best Overall (Editor's Choice) Dell Inspiron 16 — Best For Copywriters. Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 — Best for Research and Writing. LG Gram 17 — Best for Word Documents. Acer Aspire 5 — Best for Creative Writing. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 9th Generation — Best Laptop Keyboard.

  7. Best laptop for writers in 2024

    Next on our list is the Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 laptop, which, in our opinion, is the best 2-in-1 laptop for writers. With exceptional performance, great battery life, and a stunning display, the Yoga 7i is a perfect blend of a traditional laptop and tablet. The laptop is powered by the Core i5-1335U processor, which belongs to the 13th-gen CPU ...

  8. Best laptop for writers 2024: top picks for authors, journalists ...

    Best MacBook alternative for writers. Dell XPS 13 (Intel i5-1135G7) Shop on Amazon. CHECK PRICE. If you're looking for the (or more accurately: typists), whether you be an author, journalist, general copywriter, or any other person who specializes in crafting language on the page, then we've got an array of options for you to look at ...

  9. The 9 Best Laptops of 2024

    Why we like this one: The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 (A3SP14-31PT) in any of our recommended configurations— 37NV, 38YA, or 32M6 —is fast enough to meet most people's computing needs. Plus, it ...

  10. The best laptops for writers from Apple, Dell, HP, and more

    The best laptops for writers. Best overall: HP 15.6-inch Touch-Screen Laptop. Best Apple: MacBook Pro 14-inch (2023) Best 2-in-1: Microsoft Surface Pro 9 (2022) Best for freelancers: Dell XPS 13 ...

  11. The 7 Best Laptops for Writers

    Dell XPS 13 2-in-1. 9.40 /10 6. Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th Generation) 6.80 /10 7. HP Spectre x360. View All. Deciding on the best laptop for writing might seem straightforward. However, there are many considerations writers need to account for when investing in a new laptop. Whether you write as a hobby or as a professional, certain laptops ...

  12. Best Laptops For Writers In 2024

    The Apple MacBook Air features a 13.3-inch display screen that produces a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. Apart from consuming multimedia content, the screen is apt for doing writing work. The keyboard is sturdy and features a backlit function. Your hands will not get strained even if you type for long hours.

  13. Best College Laptops: Tested Picks for Research, Writing, Gaming and

    You can use the same laptop for gaming and your studies. The Zephyrus G14, with its AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS and AMD Radeon RX6800S, delivers gaming-grade performance, but also has some features great ...

  14. The 6 Best Laptops for Writers and Authors in 2021

    Overall, the Acer Aspire 5 is a great writing computer that offers a great balance of specs, features, and cost. Powerful processing and exceptional performance. Excellent screen quality and brightness. Lightweight profile with slim bezels. 7.5 hours of battery life. Also check out: Acer Aspire E 15.

  15. Best Laptops for Writers 2024 (It's Time to Write for Money)

    The Best Laptop for Writers. Now let's dive into the laptops themselves and which laptop for your writing will work for you. 1. MacBook Air. MacBooks have been a favorite for writers for a long time. The Air version is very lightweight and powerful. There is an average 13" inch display, which is right in the middle for laptop screen sizes.

  16. Best Laptops for Doctoral Students: A Guide to Finding the Perfect Fit

    As a doctoral student, your laptop is an essential tool that can greatly impact your academic journey. Finding the best laptop for doctoral students is crucial for handling demanding research, writing, and data analysis tasks. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore top-rated laptops that cater to the specific needs of doctoral students, ensuring reliable ... <a title="Best Laptops for ...

  17. The Best Laptops for Scientists: Enhance Your Research and Analysis

    Overall, laptops for scientists prioritize portability, processing power, compatibility with specialized software, and durability to meet the unique demands of scientific research. 01. Apple MacBook Pro. The Apple MacBook Pro is a sleek and powerful laptop that sets a high standard for performance and design.

  18. The 5 Best Laptops for Writers in 2021

    Below we narrowed that list down to the best 5. Lenovo ThinkPad E15 Gen 2 15.6" Glossy... Check Price on Amazon. DELL XPS XPS9350-4007SLV 13.3-Inch... Check Price on Amazon. Sale. Apple 2020 MacBook Air Laptop M1 Chip,... Check Price on Amazon. Finding the perfect laptop for a writer can be a daunting task, which is why we gathered feedback ...

  19. Best Laptops For Essay Writing And Research

    The best online essay services have large groups of authors with diverse backgrounds. They can complete any type of homework or coursework, regardless of field of study, complexity, and urgency. When you contact the company Essayswriting, the support service immediately explains the terms of cooperation to you.

  20. Best Laptops For Essay Writing And Research

    1555 Lakeside Drive, Oakland. Extra spacious rarely available courtyard facing unit at the Lakeside…. Bedrooms. 2. Total orders: 5897. Bennie Hawra. #29 in Global Rating. You are going to request writer Estevan Chikelu to work on your order.

  21. Best Laptops For Essay Writing And Research

    Progressive delivery is highly recommended for your order. This additional service allows tracking the writing process of big orders as the paper will be sent to you for approval in parts/drafts* before the final deadline. What is more, it guarantees: 30 days of free revision; A top writer and the best editor; A personal order manager.

  22. Best Laptops For Essay Writing And Research

    Grab these brilliant features with the best essay writing service of PenMyPaper. With our service, not the quality but the quantity of the draft will be thoroughly under check, and you will be able to get hold of good grades effortlessly. So, hurry up and connect with the essay writer for me now to write. Create New Order.

  23. Best Laptops For Essay Writing And Research

    1 (888)814-4206 1 (888)499-5521. Nursing Business and Economics Psychology Management +86. Open chat. Yes, all of our papers are completely free from any type of errors and plagiarism. 4.8/5. View Property.

  24. A Reporter With Expertise in the Uncertainty of Nutrition

    With a Ph.D. in nutritional biology, Alice Callahan bridges the gap between a science and the readers who just want to be told how to eat.