A good work - from - house laptop has a few important requisite . First , it needs to have a decent webcam . The whole theme of remote work often bet on replacing in - someone meetings with video calls — so have a laptop with a becoming webcam , display , and microphone is primal .
You also in all probability call for your employment - from - abode laptop to have decent larboard natural selection . While some people are fine working off just a undivided laptop computer screen , many will want to connect one , two , or even more external proctor . You may also have some peripherals and accessories to tie . For all that , a broad regalia of fast , high - ending built - in ports is handy .
Beyond those two factor , the other elements you want in a work - from - home laptop are the same you ’d want when hopping for the overall best laptop computer . Performance , battery life , keyboard , progress tone , and all of the other important components of thebest laptopsneed to be in berth too — hopefully without break the bank .
The best overall laptop for working from home
MacBook Pro M4
MacBooks might not be the go - to choice for IT departments , but if you ’re someone who can nibble your own outback work laptop , you ca n’t do well than one of the latest M4 MacBook Pros . Unless you demand the excess GPU performance , you in all likelihood do n’t require to go for the M4 Pro or M4 Max either — the M4 will do you just fine , which means you ’ll want to stick with the 14 - in model .
But what you get in return is the ultimate work - from - home laptop . It has the in high spirits resolution webcam on any laptop we ’ve review , ensuring you ’re capture the piercing image in video recording call . It also has top - of - the - line mike and loudspeaker system , mean you could even take claim without require to always use headphones and an outside microphone . In my own testing , the webcam timber is the best of any laptops I ’ve used , not only due to its sharpness but also its great scurvy - luminousness performance .
The M4 MacBook Pro also come with a great array of interface , admit HDMI 2.1 , three Thunderbolt 4 ports , and a full - size SD plug-in time slot . It can sustain up to three external monitors , two of which can be 5 grand resolving power and one at 4K. The only thing it ’s miss is USB - A , so if you have some older accessories or peripherals to connect as part of your workstation , you ’ll require a USB hub , dock , or dongle .
And , of course , beyond the ports and webcam , you ’ll find a fantastically fast laptop computer that wo n’t skip a beat on nearly all workloads — so long as you could give the price tag .
The best budget work-from-home laptop
Asus Zenbook 14 OLED (2024)
You might think bribe a $ 700 laptop would present some compromises . But not the Zenbook 14 OLED .
Really , the only forfeiture you ’re make by opting for a laptop computer of this price is the central processing unit . Because it use an Intel Core Ultra Series 1 mainframe , you ’re getting significantly less battery lifespan than with a new laptop computer . But the performance is there . The OLED display is there . And it ’s surely a slender , portable laptop .
More than that , the Zenbook 14 OLED has a great selection of port , admit two USB - C ports , USB - A , and HDMI 2.1 . It also has a 1080p webcam , which might not be the high resolution tv camera in the world , but should do the legerdemain when it comes to your daily video calls . For $ 700 , that ’s a really self-coloured deal .
The best work-from-home 2-in-1 laptop
HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14
The HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 matches a passel of what the Zenbook 14 organic light-emitting diode has . It has the same OLED control panel with a 120Hz refresh rate and resolution , the same interface survival of the fittest , and very standardised dimensions for the bod . So why yield more for the HP ?
Well , you ’re dumbfound two major improvements . First off , it comes with Intel ’s latest - gen processors , the Core Ultra Series 2 . These are much more efficient chip that provide immensely meliorate battery life . Do n’t expect a huge improvement in public presentation — at least not outside the quicker integrated GPU .
The other upgrade the OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 gets you over the Zenbook 14 is the higher - closure camera . It ’s a 9 - megapixel webcam , which is significant improvement to sharpness over 1080p , as tested in our review of the laptop .
On top of all that , it come with a touchscreen and 360 - degree hinge , which can come in handy bet on your work organization .
The most powerful work-from-home laptop
Asus ProArt P16
There ’s never been a rival to the MacBook Pro quite like the Asus ProArt P16 . It comes with a 4 K 16 - column inch OLED display , Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 , and either an RTX 4060 or 4070 . The RTX 4060 conformation comes in well under $ 2,000 too . And while it ca n’t be configure without the distinct graphics like the M4 MacBook Pro , if you ask that supernumerary performance , the ProArt P16 deport .
It also comes with a 1080p webcam , and a very alike organisation of ports as the other laptops in this lean . It even throws in a full - size SD card time slot for good measure . Do n’t buy this if you do n’t need the GPU performance , of course , but if you require a MacBook Pro - comparable gimmick for work that sticks with Windows , the ProArt P16 is as good as it gets .
The best MacBook Air for working from home
MacBook Air 15
The MacBook Air 15 - inch is only marginally inexpensive than the MacBook Pro , but you could get either the M2 or M3 model for fairly cheap these Day . Yes , technically , you ’re devote a second extra for the premium feel and Apple logo on the palpebra , but you ’re get fantastic battery lifespan in a super - lean chassis .
There is one jolly heavy caveat here , though , which is the port . Not only are you circumscribed to just two Thunderbolt 4 ports but the MacBook Air can only tolerate one external monitoring machine ( or two , if have the laptop lid closed while using it ) . I realise that does n’t make it the best work - from - base laptop for some , but permit ’s not forget : not everyone needs more than one outside monitor to use for distant work . If you just need a more low-cost MacBook with a undivided , orotund showing , the 15 - in MacBook Air will accommodate your needs .
The best work-from-home Chromebook
Acer Chromebook Plus 515
Not many people seek out a Chromebook for remote work , but if you ’re look for something seriously cheap , Chromebooks are your only option . And in that case , I recommend the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 . Despite only cost a few hundred bucks , the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 has a full 1080p webcam , an Intel Core i3 processor , 8 GB of RAM , and 128 GB of storage . The package is n’t the prettiest , primarily due to the large bezels edge the 16:9 aspect ratio concealment .
The webcam is 720p , and let ’s be honorable , that ’s not the best . It was the standard a few age ago , so while it ’s not preferred , it is n’t horrible for a laptop computer this brassy .
What to consider
What are the most important factors in a work-from-home laptop?
Remote work can take all shapes and forms , depending on the practical app you ’ll be running and the case of workplace you call for to do . But in addition to the introductory stuff you want in a laptop , there are two areas of importance on a work - from - home laptop that are unique to conceive . The first is the webcam . If you ’re move from in - bureau work to remote employment , that ’ll most likely necessitate doing telecasting calls in place of in - person meetings . That ’s why you ’ll want to pick a laptop with a decent built - in webcam . 1080p is the criterion , but if you’re able to find something that ’s even sharp , you ’ll get a clearer image , disregardless of the lighting conditions .
second , you belike also want something with good outside monitor support and lots of port . You might have multiple monitors to associate , or even some extra peripheral equipment .
What screen size is best for a work-from-home laptop?
If you rely primarily on international monitor , you probably wo n’t be too interested if your oeuvre - from - family laptop is a 13 - inch , 14 - column inch , or 16 - inch laptop . Lots of remote workers shut the lid of their laptop entirely and just use large external admonisher . But not everyone does , and if you be after to utilize the laptop computer ’s screen at all , you ’ll plausibly want something a bit larger . 14 - inches is seemly size , but if you do n’t have an external monitor , a 15 - inch or 16 - column inch display might be a practiced estimate .
Just remember that if you design to connect up external monitor lizard , you take to ensure that the laptop computer you bribe can really supports those monitors with its built - in ports .
What accessories do you need for your work-from-home laptop?
If you ’ve already picked out your laptop , there are a few crucial piece of work - from - home accessories you’re able to pick up to sweeten your home office setup . Choosing one of the serious monitors is a good first step , whether you require one , two , or even three . From there , you ’ll probably want to grab at least one of thebest mice — and maybe even one of thebest keyboards .
That should be enough to get you started . Some next stone’s throw from there , though , might be aThunderbolt dock , anergonomic office chairperson , or even astanding desk .
Why you should trust us
We ’ve reviewed 100 of laptop computer over the years , and XII this year alone . We critique each and every twist in contingent , running the most important bench mark and tests to ensure that the performance , display , and battery life are up to snuff .
And more than that , I ’ve been primarily work from home base for years now and have been doing my laptop testing in that context . Over those years , I ’ve become aware of the annoyance points in removed body of work , and what features laptop need to help . While everyone ’s specific employment will tweak those needs , considerations like the timbre of the webcam and the embrasure you postulate are nearly universal .
How we test
When we try laptops , we do n’t just stop at presentation examination and running CPU and GPU performance bench mark — we also use these devices as our main devices as we work . So , when the webcam caliber is piteous or the laptop ca n’t support my extraneous monitor lizard , I comment .
But of course , those mental testing we run are n’t insignificant . know how strong the multi - core CPU carrying out is or how long the stamp battery lasts will matter for a work - from - dwelling laptop computer too , peculiarly if you care the ability to work on in different parts of your house like I do .
