Best Business Laptops of 2022

Business laptops have progressed beyond the basic IBM ThinkPads and Dell Latitudes that permeated every boardroom across America. That kind of no-frills laptop still exists, but it’s no longer the default choice next to the attractive, quick, and moderately priced models we’ve selected here. A good business laptop needs enterprise-level security that can be deployed from a centralized IT department. It needs to be cost efficient yet fast enough to run for several years without any upgrades. Good battery life, Wi-Fi, and an ample number of USB-C ports are essential.

Choosing the right business laptop is just as important as choosing services for your business like credit card processing, CRM software, point-of-sale software, payroll software, and business phone services. To select our Best Business Laptops, we chose models from our Best Laptops of 2022 rating that have a battery life of at least 14 hours, at least 8 gigabytes of RAM, and a solid state hard drive (SSD). Two of our choices are also 2-in-1 laptops. Read on to learn all about our Best Business Laptops of 2022.

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Our Best Business Laptops of 2022 Rating

Compare the Best Business Laptops of 2022

Best Business Laptops in Detail

MacBook Pro 13-inch (2020) » Buy at Amazon Best Business Laptop of 2022 4.2 U.S. News Rating Special Limited-Time Offer: Take $287 OFF now! Warranty 1 Year Memory 8 GB - 16 GB

Pros: Very fast eight-core M1 CPU

Long battery life Cons: Screen resolution limited to 2K

Pricier than PC competitors

MacBook Pro 13-Inch:

Rated No. 1 in our Best Business Laptops rating, the MacBook Pro 13-inch is quite a powerhouse even when compared to Apple’s larger and faster 14- and 16-inch models. It’s a default choice for many graphics and video professionals who want the most speed in the smallest footprint. The new M1 chips are blazing fast. While the sleek design has been copied by every PC manufacturer, Apple remains the king of quality and simplicity. You’ll pay a premium for it, however. Plus, unless a MacBook Pro is configured with a dual-boot option, it can be difficult to integrate with a Windows-dominated business environment. Many business users would do better with a more affordable PC laptop or the MacBook Air. But if your business is primarily Apple-based or your team absolutely needs Apple products, the MacBook Pro never disappoints when it comes to performance or ease of use.

Read more in our MacBook Pro 13-Inch review.

MacBook Air M1 (2020) » Buy at Amazon 3.7 U.S. News Rating Special Limited-Time Offer: Take $50 OFF now! Warranty 1 Year Memory 8 GB - 16 GB

Pros: Nearly as powerful as the more expensive MacBook Pro 13-inch

Great battery life Cons: Bested by some sleeker, lighter Windows-based machines

Lack of cooling fan limits performance

MacBook Air 13-Inch:

Coming in at No. 2 in our rating, the MacBook Air has the same M1 chip as the MacBook Pro 13-inch and can keep up with more powerful computers that are larger and heavier. The Air's battery life is exceptional, and its screen is brilliant. But the Air's performance still lags behind some Windows-based laptops that are just as thin and have nearly as long-lasting batteries. The Air also doesn’t come with all the enterprise-level security features that the MacBook Pro has. Plus, without a cooling fan, under heavy use, the Air can’t keep up with the MacBook Pro. It’s a good choice if you’re shopping for Apple on a budget, but less so if you want to equip an entire office.

Read more in our MacBook Air 13-Inch review.

Dell XPS 13 » Buy at Dell 3.4 U.S. News Rating Warranty 1 Year Memory 8 GB - 32 GB

Pros: 4K display

Slim and light design Cons: Only two USB-C ports

720p webcam

Dell XPS 13:

Dell has a convincing Apple alternative with the XPS 13, which places third in our rating. It’s lighter and sleeker than the MacBook Pro 13-inch and costs hundreds of dollars less. While the webcam is only average, the facial recognition is a welcome addition to the fingerprint scanner. Dell’s displays are very sharp in high definition or 4K, and the screen bezel is among the thinnest on the market. You’ll find a long battery life, fast performance, and customer service that’s specifically tailored to businesses and is separate from Dell's consumer lineup of laptops. Dell’s software is more focused on enterprise and security, including its Protected Workspace app that lets users run programs with sensitive information outside of the normal Windows shell. The XPS 13 is also available as a 2-in-1 convertible for even more flexibility and value.

Read more in our Dell XPS 13 review.

Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio » Buy at Amazon 3.2 U.S. News Rating Special Limited-Time Offer: Take $260 OFF now! Warranty 1 Year Memory 16 GB - 32 GB

Pros: Excellent, high-refresh-rate touch screen

Tablet-based design with unique pivoting screen Cons: More expensive than many 2-in-1 laptops

Underperforms many 2-in-1 laptops

Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio:

Tied for No. 4 in our rating of Best Business Laptops, no other tablet or 2-in-1 laptop is quite like the Surface. At first glance, it’s an ordinary silver laptop. With a gentle nudge, the screen can pivot over the keyboard like a picture stand. Press it down, and the screen lies flush with the base to act as a tablet. It’s an innovative design meant to woo creatives by offering the greater performance of conventional laptops with a tablet form factor. The Microsoft Surface also has a stylus pen that magnetically attaches to the frame and can be used during meetings, presentations, or business travel. The display is clear and offers a 120-Hz refresh rate. On the downside, the Surface is slower than many other 2-in-1 laptops that are nearly as stylish and much cheaper. As a result, it may work best as a secondary business computer rather than your only machine.

Read more in our Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio review.

Acer Swift 3 » Buy at Amazon 3.2 U.S. News Rating Special Limited-Time Offer: Take $180.99 OFF now! Warranty 1 Year Memory 8 GB - 16 GB

Pros: Good quality

Low-cost Cons: Poor tactile feel of keyboard and trackpad

Basic design

Acer Swift 3:

Also tying for No. 4 in our rating, the Acer Swift 3 is a basic business laptop that's quick, offers a wide array of ports (including HDMI and USB-A), and doesn’t go overboard on the design. For many business users, the Swift 3 is a perfect choice, especially with starting prices at less than $700. The display’s 3:2 aspect ratio presents a squarer image that’s better for viewing office documents, especially at the 13.5-inch size. For the price, you do give up a good amount of speed and battery life compared to more expensive options like the Dell XPS 13 and Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch. Plus, the keyboard and touchpad score low in most professional reviews for tactile feel and overall quality. But on a budget, the Swift 3 is a good choice for businesspeople who need maximum portability and decent performance.

Read more in our Acer Swift 3 review.

Lenovo Yoga 9i » Buy at Lenovo 3.0 U.S. News Rating Special Limited-Time Offer: Take $55 OFF now! Warranty 1 Year Memory 8 GB - 16 GB

Pros: Unique design that will appeal to some users

Better than expected GPU performance Cons: Upgradeable memory

Top features limited to Shadow Black model

Lenovo Yoga 9i:

Like the HP Spectre x360 14, the Lenovo Yoga 9i is a good performer that offers some high-end features beyond its 2-in-1 rotating screen. For example, the speaker bar is mounted on the hinges and rotates separately from the screen so you can hear sound in any of the laptop’s various working positions. The touchpad is covered in smooth glass. The top of the aluminum case is finished in smooth, black leather. The stylus slides into the base and charges so it’s always ready whenever you need it. These flourishes, most of which are only on the Shadow Black model, are what make the Yoga 9i stand out from competitors. It may be too fancy for some businesses, but if you’re looking to impress clients and improve workflow, the Yoga 9i is a great choice.

Read more in our Lenovo Yoga 9i review.

How Much Does a Business Laptop Cost?

Latops are one of the most popular types of computer, according to the research firm Canalys , and business use is one of the primary reasons people buy a laptop. The base price of our Best Business Laptops of 2022 ranges from $899.99 for the Acer Swift 3 to $1,599.99 for the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio. At the low end of that price range, you will typically find quality construction with aluminum chassis, bright HD displays, solid state disk drives, at least two USB-C ports, Wi-Fi connectivity, Windows 10 or 11, Intel Core i5 processors, and 8 GB of memory. Battery life with HD displays in this segment typically ranges from 12 to 20 hours. Most business laptops have fingerprint readers, although some companies choose not to enable them for security reasons. Midrange prices bring faster processors, more memory, and better designs (including 2-in-1 convertibles). At the top end, you’ll find more powerful hardware and higher-res displays.

How to Buy a Business Laptop

Because laptops come with different screen sizes, processor types, and other options, buying one can be confusing. However, the basic steps in purchasing a laptop are relatively simple. To buy a business laptop:

Decide how you will use the laptop Pick an operating system Choose the screen size and resolution Choose the processor, storage, and memory Select a manufacturer

When buying a business laptop (or any laptop), according to Avi Greengart, founder and lead analyst at the consultancy Techsponential , it's important to first consider what you will be using it for. Business laptops typically need to handle documents, email, video meetings, and web browsing. They must connect seamlessly to a company’s intranet and cloud-based servers, and most importantly, be remotely managed and secured by an IT department. Business laptops tend to be upgraded only every three to four years once a company has fully depreciated them for tax deductions. As for manufacturer, this is less of a consideration. Research firm Gartner reports that the top four in terms of U.S. market share in the first quarter of 2022 were Dell, HP, and Lenovo. However, many other brands sell perfectly fine business laptops as well.

Our Best Business Laptops of 2022 rating doesn't include laptops with dedicated graphics processors or displays larger than 14 inches. Those machines cost more and are better suited for more demanding photography, design, and video tasks like gaming. Instead, our picks for the best business laptops combine the quickest speed at the best value.

Every Windows laptop comes with either Windows 10 or Windows 11. While you will have to decide which version works best for your organization, upgrading to the Professional edition is required to deploy all of the enterprise-based security features. Look for a business laptop with at least a 256 GB SSD, 8 GB of memory, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, at least two USB-C ports, and either Intel or AMD Ryzen quad-core processors that can reach peak speeds above 3.0 GHz. Also look for a display with at least 1920 x 1200 resolution for crisp viewing and a weight of around 3 pounds or less so the machine won't weigh you down. Upgraded models have brighter, more color-accurate displays in higher resolutions. Top-of-the-line business laptops have features like touch screens and stylus pens, which may be useful in creative fields.

Apple laptops share many features with Windows-based machines but often have significantly faster CPUs and longer battery life. However, you won't find touch screens or 2-in-1 designs.

Types of Laptops

There are several types of laptops that are best suited for different users. These include:

Traditional laptops: From small to large, these laptops are meant for consumers in all price ranges. They can be ultraportable or a desktop replacement with all the best features. Screen size, performance, and battery life ultimately determine their intended use.

2-in-1 laptops: Sold in 13- to 15-inch screen sizes, these laptops have screens that can rotate a full 360 degrees. They offer multiple working positions and unique ways to interact with content, such as by touch screen or stylus pen. They are among the most stylish laptops, too.

Business laptops: Business laptops need to be fast enough to last for several years but not too fancy. They used to be very utilitarian, but now some of the best choices for businesses are from the traditional laptop market. Security features such as fingerprint readers and enterprise-level management are essential in this segment.

Chromebooks: Chromebooks run Google's Chrome OS and store most or all of their data in the cloud. These machines are quite affordable and often cost less than $400, making them suitable as a child's laptop or a secondary machine for a home or business. However, they are slower and have less functionality than other types of laptops.

Gaming laptops: Gamers demand the highest frame rates and fastest processors available. Gaming laptops thus have dedicated graphics chipsets with 4 to 8 GB of video memory, displays that can refresh much faster than other laptops, and the quickest SSDs and memory configurations. Gaming laptops are also an excellent choice for video editing. However, they can cost upwards of $3,000.

Best Laptops of 2022

Our 360 Methodology for Evaluating Laptops

What is Adobe Illustrator?

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Illustrator or Illustrator is a vector graphics editing program published by Adobe. It is useful for designing logos, clip art, blueprints, and other precise, resolution-independent illustrations. Illustrator was first released in 1987 for the Apple Macintosh; today it also runs on Microsoft Windows. The current version is Illustrator CC.

Additional AI information

The native file format for projects created in Illustrator is the proprietary AI format, but it can also save files as EPS (encapsulated postscript). It can export graphics to PDF, JPEG, and other graphics formats, although some or all vector editing information may be unavailable if those files are imported back into Illustrator.

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Adobe Illustrator

Students

Illustrator is available to students through Adobe Creative Cloud. Students can purchase a Adobe Creative Cloud annual subscription at considerable discount off educational pricing through the KU Bookstore Tech Shop.

Adobe Creative Cloud is also available to students at no cost in all centrally-managed public computer labs.

Faculty & Staff

Illustrator is available to faculty and staff through Adobe Creative Cloud at no cost in all centrally-managed public computer labs. Faculty and Staff can also access Adobe Creative Cloud on their KU-owned workstation and at home using their KU Online ID and password.

Under the KU licensing agreement with Adobe, faculty and staff can install Creative Cloud on a maximum of two devices.