The 5 Best Laptops for Small Businesses [All Budgets]

Laptops have become indispensable tools for businesses, excelling at managing spreadsheets, processing orders, facilitating video meetings, and crafting presentations for upcoming product releases. 

Until the day we can interact seamlessly through virtual reality, laptops remain crucial for small businesses. With numerous models available, choosing the right laptop can be challenging. Rest assured, we’ve consulted IT experts and business owners to simplify your decision-making process. 

This guide explores key features to consider when selecting the best laptop for your small business and provides insights into the top 5 laptop models to consider.

Choosing the right laptop is vital for small businesses, as it directly influences productivity, efficiency, and overall operations. To ensure your business is equipped with the optimal tools, it’s crucial to evaluate various factors tailored to your specific needs and priorities.

Here are important features and considerations when selecting the ideal laptop for your small business:

• Performance: The laptop should have sufficient processing power and RAM for efficient multitasking with business applications. A minimum of 8GB RAM is essential, while 16GB is advisable for more demanding tasks.
• Portability: Choose a lightweight and compact laptop for easy mobility. Models weighing approximately 3 pounds or less are ideal for this purpose.
• Battery Life: Aim for a battery life of at least 8 hours to maintain productivity throughout the workday.
• Security Features: Crucial security features, such as fingerprint scanners and TPM for encryption, should be present to safeguard sensitive business data.
• Connectivity: Ensure the laptop has essential ports such as USB Type-A, USB Type-C, HDMI, and Ethernet for seamless connectivity with peripherals and networks.
• Budget: Balance the features and specifications within your budget without compromising essential requirements.

We have researched and compiled a list of the top five laptops from reputable brands, featuring long-lasting batteries and powerful processors, essential for thriving in business environments. Continue reading to discover which model best suits your needs.

1. Apple MacBook Air M1

Best Value for Money

Pros

• The M1 chip provides exceptional speed
• Apps designed for Intel chips operate smoothly
• Long-lasting battery
• The screen is sharp and vibrant
• Compatible with iPhone and iPad apps

Cons

• Only two USB-C ports available
• Features thick bezels
• Heating issues are common

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↪ Specs

• Processor: Apple M1 8-Core Processor
• Memory: 8-16 GB RAM
• Display: 13.3-inch Retina Display, 2560 x 1600 resolution
• Battery: Up to 15 hours of web browsing, up to 18 hours of video playback
• Weight: 2.8 pounds

The MacBook Air M1 is an excellent choice for small business operators due to its remarkable M1 chip by Apple. This sleek laptop delivers outstanding performance, making it ideal for completing daily business tasks efficiently. 

Beyond speed, this laptop excels at multitasking. Whether you are managing financials, creating designs, or editing videos, the MacBook Air M1 ensures a smooth and seamless experience.

The option for up to 16GB of RAM and a significant 2TB of SSD storage offers ample capacity and speed for all your projects. The visuals are extraordinary, with the impressive Retina display enhancing everything from presentations to video meetings with vitality.

The MacBook Air M1 offers excellent connectivity for small businesses. Featuring Thunderbolt 3 ports, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.0, it provides easy access to the internet and other devices wherever business takes you.

The M1 chip enables superior performance compared to older models, with tests showing faster CPU and graphic processing. It runs on macOS 13.2 Ventura, offering convenient features for screen sharing and maintaining connectivity. 

Whether working from a home office, meeting clients, or while on the go, the MacBook Air M1 is an excellent choice for small business owners.

2. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon

Best Overall

Pros

• Good speed and long-lasting battery
• Top-notch keyboard for typing
• Thin and lightweight with multiple ports
• Decent speakers
• Very durable and built to last

Cons

• No slots for SD or microSD cards
• It's costly
• 4K screen option is no longer available

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↪ Specs

• Processor: 13th Gen Intel Core i7-1365U vPro 
• Memory: 16 GB LPDDR5-6400MHz (Soldered)
• Storage: 1 TB SSD M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4 Performance TLC Opal
• Display: 14″ WUXGA (1920 x 1200) IPS, Anti-Glare
• Battery: 57 Watt-hour battery (13 hours and 45 minutes battery life)
• Weight: 2.5 lbs

For small businesses requiring a robust, portable laptop for diverse tasks, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon is an outstanding option. Its stylish design, combined with premium features, makes it ideal for professional settings.

This laptop is notably lightweight, at just 2.5 pounds, allowing for easy transportation. Despite its slim and light design, its MIL–STD–810H certification ensures durability, protecting your investment from drops and daily wear.

The X1 Carbon is powered by an Intel Core i7-1365U vPro processor, offering enough power for multitasking and running business applications without lag. With 16GB of RAM, it supports smooth operations, even with demanding software.

The 14-inch touchscreen offers clarity and sharpness, providing ample workspace for managing spreadsheets, documents, and presentations, despite not being the brightest or most color-accurate screen available.

Security is critical for small businesses, and this laptop includes fingerprint recognition on the power button and an optional face-recognition camera for secure logins. Its rugged durability ensures resilience in daily professional life.

The laptop supports various peripherals through ports, including Thunderbolt 4, USB 3.2, HDMI, and a headphone jack, making it easy to connect to devices, displays, and accessories.

With its combination of portability, power, and robust security features, this laptop is a valuable asset for small businesses and startups, enabling productivity and security anywhere.

3. HP ProBook 450 G9

Best for Performance

Pros

• High-performance Intel Core i7 processor
• Durable with spill-resistant keyboard and wide numeric keypad
• Sufficient storage with 512 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
• Integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics for quality visuals
• HP security management tools for enhanced protection

Cons

• Limited GPU performance with power constraints
• Standard brightness at 250 nits may affect outdoor visibility
• Only 45% NTSC color gamut on the display

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↪ Specs

• Processor: Intel Core i7-1255U Intel Turbo Boost Technology
• Memory: 8 GB DDR4-3200 MHz RAM
• Storage: 512 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
• Display: 15.6″ diagonal, FHD (1920 x 1080), IPS
• Battery: HP Long Life 3-cell, 42 Wh Li-ion
• Weight: Starting at 1.74 kg

For those seeking a durable and high-performance laptop for small business needs, the HP ProBook 450 G9 exemplifies efficiency and resilience. It is tailored for professionals who require reliability and performance in their work equipment.

The ProBook 450 G9 stands out in its series by offering a robust set of features suited for both daily and demanding tasks, all while being budget-friendly.

Powered by Intel’s Core i7-1255U processor, this laptop is highly efficient, functioning quietly and staying cool even during intensive use, owing to its position in the Alder Lake-U series.

Thanks to Intel Iris Xe Graphics, the ProBook 450 G9 efficiently handles graphics-heavy activities, ideal for editing business videos or using specialized design software.

Its 15.6-inch Full HD display is bright and clear, offering reduced glare for extended productivity without eye strain, even in bright settings.

Ample storage and memory of a 512 GB SSD and 8 GB DDR4-3200 MHz RAM ensure swift start-up and efficient multitasking capabilities.

The HP ProBook 450 G9’s variety of ports, including a USB Type-C supporting 10Gbps data transfer, power delivery, and DisplayPort, along with multiple USB Type-A options, enhance connectivity options for devices and charging.

Additionally, it features an HD webcam with HP’s noise-reduction software, ensuring excellent audio and visual quality for business engagements.

Security features such as a fingerprint scanner, TPM 2.0, and HP Wolf Security provide robust protection against online threats, while the spill-resistant keyboard ensures resilience against minor mishaps. This makes the ProBook 450 G9 an ideal choice for startups and small businesses.

4. Dell XPS 13

Best for Multitasking

Pros

• Lightweight & portable design ideal for travel
• High-performance 12th Gen Intel Core i7 processor
• 512GB SSD offers ample storage space
• Bright and clear FHD+ display enhances visuals
• Integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics for quality graphics

Cons

• Limited port selection requires adapters
• High specs may impact battery life
• Premium features at a higher price point

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↪ Specs

• Processor: 12th Gen Intel Core i7-1250U 
• Display: 13.4″, FHD+ 1920×1200, Anti-Glare
• Memory: 8 GB LPDDR5, 5200 MT/s
• Storage: 512 GB PCIe x2 NVMe SSD
• Battery Life: 3 Cell, 51 Wh, Up to 12 hours with FHD+ non-touch
• Weight: 2.59 lb (1.17 kg) minimum

A dependable and high-performing laptop is crucial for small businesses, and the Dell XPS 13 provides an impressive solution through its exceptional features and robust capabilities.

The standout feature of the Dell XPS 13 is its 12th-generation Intel Core i7 processor, facilitating multitasking and demanding tasks with ease. Despite a base speed of 1.3GHz, it can boost to 3.9GHz, ensuring powerful performance without rapidly depleting battery life.

Storage and memory are outstanding in the Dell XPS 13, featuring 8 GB LPDDR5, 5200 MT/s memory, and a 512 GB PCIe x2 NVMe SSD, making it well-suited for diverse business tasks with efficient storage and multitasking management.

With unmatched connectivity options, the XPS 13 includes two Thunderbolt 4 ports for rapid data transfers and multi-device connections, enhancing productivity. The device also provides a microSD card reader for additional storage options and Wi-Fi 6 for reliable and fast internet access.

The Dell XPS 13’s 13.4-inch FHD Anti-Glare InfinityEdge display, with minimal bezels, enhances the viewing experience for presentations, video calls, and image editing. The optional touchscreen adds functionality for interactive tasks.

Elegantly designed, the XPS 13 combines style and resilience, prepared for daily professional demands while being lightweight for transportation, weighing a mere 2.59 lbs. This makes it perfect for travel to meetings or business trips.

For businesses, security is paramount, and the XPS 13 addresses this with an integrated fingerprint reader in the power button, alongside Windows Hello, ensuring secure yet quick access to your laptop.

5. Microsoft Surface 5

Best Efficiency

Pros

• Sleek & minimalist design with a new sage green color option
• Comfortable viewing without aggressive PWM
• Magnetic Surface Connect port for convenient charging and docking
• Decent battery life for productivity tasks
• Premium touchpad and keyboard experience

Cons

• Lacks a card reader for direct media access
• No Ethernet LAN port for wired internet connections
• Missing a security lock slot for physical device security

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↪ Specs

• Processor: 12th Gen Intel Core i7-1255U, Intel Evo platform
• Memory: 8GB, 16GB LPDDR5x RAM
• Storage: 256GB, 512GB Removable SSDs
• Display: 13.5″ PixelSense Display, 2256 x 1504 (201 PPI)
• Battery Life: Up to 18 hours
• Weight: Fabric 2.80 lbs, Metal: 2.86 lbs

The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 is a remarkable choice for small business owners, combining sleek aesthetics with powerful performance and versatility. Utilizing the latest 12th Gen Intel processors, it’s well-suited for the fast pace of modern business tasks.

Users can opt for an Intel Core i5-1235U or Core i7-1255U processor, with these 12th-generation CPUs enhancing efficiency and performance, aiding tasks such as data analysis and content creation.

The Surface Laptop 5 excels with its performance and storage options, offering 8 GB or 16 GB of LPDDR5x RAM and removable SSDs ranging from 256 GB to 1 TB, supporting efficient multitasking and ample data storage for work and personal use.

Renowned for its slim design and lightweight nature, the 13.5″ Surface Laptop 5 weighs only 2.80 lbs for the fabric version and 2.86 lbs for the metal variant, ideal for professionals frequently on the move. 

The PixelSense touchscreen display works seamlessly with the Surface Pen and Surface Dial, providing vibrant visuals and sharp details to enhance productivity and creativity, with a 3:2 aspect ratio for less scrolling through documents or online content.

Offering various connectivity ports, including a USB-C supporting USB 4.0 and Thunderbolt 4 for high-speed data transfers and external display support, it enhances versatility for connecting accessories, charging, and docking.

With up to 18 hours on a single charge, the 13.5″ model is a reliable companion for long workdays. Its portable design facilitates effortless transitions between office settings, client meetings, and remote work environments, making it highly suitable for small business owners.