The 5 Best Laptops for Small Businesses [All Budgets]

Laptops have become essential tools for every business, much like an additional brain that’s exceptional at managing spreadsheets, processing orders, facilitating video meetings with multiple people simultaneously, and crafting presentations for upcoming product releases. 

They serve as the primary tools for small businesses until the day we can seamlessly connect with our phones via virtual reality. With countless models available, selecting the right laptop can be a daunting task. Fear not; we’ve consulted IT experts and business owners to streamline your search. 

In this guide, we’ll explore key features to look for in the best laptop for small business and review the top 5 laptops you should consider.

Choosing the right laptop is crucial for small businesses, as it directly impacts productivity, efficiency, and overall operations. To ensure your business is equipped with the best tool for the job, it’s essential to consider a range of factors that align with your specific needs and priorities.

Here are some features and considerations when selecting the best laptop for your small business:

• Performance: The laptop must feature sufficient processing power and RAM to handle business applications effortlessly. The minimum RAM should be 8GB, with 16GB recommended for more demanding tasks.
• Portability: Opt for a lightweight and compact design for easy mobility. Laptops weighing around 3 pounds or less are ideal for portability.
• Battery Life: Aim for a battery life of at least 8 hours to sustain productivity throughout the workday.
• Security Features: Essential security features such as fingerprint scanners or TPM for encryption should be included to protect sensitive business data.
• Connectivity: Essential ports such as USB Type-A, USB Type-C, HDMI, and Ethernet should enable seamless connectivity with peripherals and networks.
• Budget: While considering features and specifications, ensure the laptop falls within your budget range without compromising essential requirements.

We’ve researched the market and compiled a list of the top five laptops from well-known brands. These laptops have long-lasting batteries and powerful processors, providing everything needed to thrive in business activities. Continue reading to find out which one is the perfect fit for you.

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, up to 18 hours of video playback
• Weight: 2.8 pounds

The MacBook Air M1 is a top choice for anyone running a small business due to its powerful M1 chip by Apple. This sleek laptop packs a punch, making it perfect for those needing strong performance to complete their day-to-day tasks. 

It’s not just about speed; this laptop excels at multitasking. Whether managing numbers, designing, or editing videos, the MacBook Air M1 performs smoothly, ensuring a seamless work experience.

You can choose up to 16GB of RAM and a massive 2TB of SSD storage, providing ample space and speed for all your projects. The visuals on this laptop are truly remarkable. With its impressive Retina display, everything from presentations to video meetings appears more vibrant and lively.

Connectivity is another highlight of the MacBook Air M1, a great advantage for small businesses. It features Thunderbolt 3 ports, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.0, making it easy to connect to the internet and other devices wherever your business ventures.

The M1 chip enables this laptop to outperform older models, with tests indicating more rapid CPU and graphics processing. It runs on macOS 13.2 Ventura, which adds handy features for screen sharing and staying connected. 

Whether you’re working from your home office, meeting clients, or working on the go, the MacBook Air M1 is an excellent laptop 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

If you’re running a small business and need a powerful laptop that is easy to carry and great for all kinds of tasks, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon is a solid choice. It’s stylish and packed with top-notch features, perfect for work.

This laptop is incredibly light, weighing just 2.5 pounds, making it easy to transport. But don’t let its slim and light design fool you—its MIL–STD–810H certification makes it robust enough to handle drops and daily challenges, ensuring your investment is secure.

The X1 Carbon is powered by an Intel Core i7-1365U vPro. This provides it plenty of power to multitask, run business applications, and stay up to date with your busy schedule without lag, especially with 16GB of RAM supporting seamless operations even with heavy software.

The 14-inch touchscreen ensures clarity and sharpness, though it may need to be brighter and more color-accurate than some competitors. Nevertheless, it provides ample space for work, such as managing spreadsheets, documents, and presentations.

Security is paramount for small businesses, and this laptop offers a fingerprint reader on the power button and a face-recognition camera option for secure logins. It also boasts the same rugged durability certification, ready to tackle the challenges of daily work life.

This laptop includes several ports for connecting peripherals: Thunderbolt 4, USB 3.2, HDMI, and a headphone jack. It’s easy to connect to other devices, displays, and accessories.

With its portability, power, and strong security features, this laptop is a valuable choice for small businesses and startups. It ensures that you remain productive and secure wherever you are.

3. HP ProBook 450 G9

Best for Performance

Pros

• High-performance Intel Core i7 processor
• Durable with spill-resistant keyboard with 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

If you’re seeking a robust and high-performing laptop for your small business, the HP ProBook 450 G9 is an excellent example of high efficiency and strong durability. It’s designed for small business professionals who demand reliability and power in their work tools.

It stands out in the ProBook series by offering a good mix of features suited for daily needs and demanding tasks without straining your budget.

This laptop is driven by Intel’s Core i7-1255U processor, making it exceptionally efficient. It belongs to the Alder Lake-U series and competes effectively against similar processors. The ProBook 450 G9 operates quietly and remains cool, even during demanding tasks.

Featuring Intel Iris Xe Graphics, the ProBook 450 G9 handles graphics-intensive activities adeptly, such as editing business videos or using demanding graphic design software.

Its 15.6-inch Full HD screen is bright and clear, producing sharp and vibrant visuals. The screen features a special coating to reduce glare, allowing for extended work hours without eye strain, maintaining productivity even in bright or reflective settings.

The laptop provides ample storage and memory, with a 512 GB SSD and 8 GB DDR4-3200 MHz RAM. This ensures quick startup and the ability to handle multiple tasks without slowing down.

The HP ProBook 450 G9 offers a versatile array of ports, including a USB Type-C port capable of 10Gbps data transfer, which supports power delivery and DisplayPort connections. It also includes three USB Type-A ports with a 5Gbps signaling rate, including one for charging and one for power, as well as an AC power input.

Additionally, it features an HD webcam, complemented by HP’s noise-reducing software, making business meetings excellent in both visuals and sound quality.

Security is a priority, with options like a fingerprint scanner, TPM 2.0, and HP Wolf Security to protect against online threats, making it ideal for startups. The ProBook 450 G9’s keyboard is spill-resistant, ensuring that a minor mishap won’t ruin your day.

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 reliable and powerful laptop is essential for small businesses. The Dell XPS 13 is both a solution and a game-changer with its exceptional features and robust performance.

The Dell XPS 13’s standout feature is its 12th-generation Intel Core i7 processor, making multitasking and executing demanding tasks a breeze. Despite its base speed of 1.3GHz, capable of boosting to 3.9GHz, it’s engineered to perform well without swiftly draining the battery.

The Dell XPS 13 excels in storage and memory capabilities, featuring 8 GB LPDDR5, 5200 MT/s memory, and a 512 GB PCIe x2 NVMe SSD. These specifications ensure efficient handling of storage demands and multitasking, rendering it ideal for various small business tasks.

Featuring unrivaled connectivity, the XPS 13 offers two Thunderbolt 4 ports for rapid data transfers and connections to multiple displays or devices, boosting productivity. It also includes a microSD card reader for additional storage options and Wi-Fi 6 for fast, reliable internet connections, vital for any business environment.

One of the Dell XPS 13’s key features is its 13.4-inch FHD Anti-Glare InfinityEdge display. The nearly edgeless screen enhances the visual experience of presentations, video calls, and image editing with crisp and detailed visuals. The optional touch screen adds another layer of functionality for interactive tasks and presentations.

Its design radiates both style and durability, prepared to handle daily professional duties while being lightweight for easy transport, weighing merely 2.59 lbs. This makes the XPS 13 ideal for travel to meetings or business journeys.

Security is paramount for small businesses, and the XPS 13 addresses this need with a fingerprint reader embedded into the power button. Together with Windows Hello, it ensures secure yet quick access to your laptop, protecting your business data.

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: 56GB, 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 device for small business owners, combining a sleek aesthetic with powerful performance and notable versatility. It operates on the latest 12th Gen Intel processors, making it equipped to handle the brisk tempo of modern business tasks.

Choose between an Intel Core i5-1235U or Core i7-1255U processor. With these 12th-generation CPUs, you can enjoy improved efficiency and greater power, allowing business users to smoothly handle data analysis or content creation tasks.

The Surface Laptop 5 shines in performance and storage capacity, equipped with 8 GB or 16 GB of LPDDR5x RAM options and removable SSDs ranging from 256 GB to 1 TB. This configuration ensures the laptop can efficiently manage various tasks and store significant data, making it a versatile choice for both work and personal use.

The Surface Laptop 5 is distinguished by its svelte design and lightweight build, with the 13.5″ version weighing just 2.80 lbs for fabric and 2.86 lbs for metal. It’s ideal for small business professionals always on the go. 

The PixelSense touchscreen display seamlessly integrates with the Surface Pen and Surface Dial, offering vibrant colors and sharp details to enhance your productivity and creativity. Its 3:2 aspect ratio reduces scrolling when navigating documents or online content.

The Surface Laptop 5 boasts a range of connectivity ports, including a USB-C port supporting USB 4.0 and Thunderbolt 4 for high-speed data transfers and external display support. 

It also features a USB-A 3.1 port for traditional USB devices, a 3.5mm headphone jack for audio needs, and a Surface Connect port, enhancing its versatility in connecting various accessories, charging, and docking.

The 13.5″ model delivers up to 18 hours on a single charge, positioning the Surface Laptop 5 as a reliable companion for long workdays. Its easily portable design enables small business owners to effortlessly transition between office settings, client meetings, and remote work locations.