Best Business Laptops

For Every Office

By Erica Rascón on Nov 13, 2014 in Technology

Today’s professionals can’t afford to miss a beat. Fulfilling client expectations often requires constant connectivity and reliable mobile access. We’ve narrowed down some of the best laptops for professionals that deliver the power, durability, and advanced features that you need to stay on top of the competition.

Best Overall We hear so much about the Apple MacBook Air that we figured tech magazines must be getting some sort of kickback. Truth is, the MacBook Air family has earned its reputation. The ultralight, 3lb machine is effortless to lug around, which comes in handy when you’re running through airport terminals or dashing to a cab. Professionals can choose from 11” and 13” monitors, both offering quality displays at a wide variety of angles, perfect for quick meetings or demos around the machine. A sensitive touchpad makes navigation quick and easy. Both MacBook Air models come with a 1.4-GHz Intel Core i5 processor, which is powerful enough to get you through most work functions, though not the best available in its class. With 4GB of RAM and 512GB SSD you’ll enjoy speedy, robust operations even with multiple programs running. The FaceTime HD camera provides crisp, clear images so that you can get the most out of your web conference. With a battery life of 12 hours, you can complete the average workday without being tied to an outlet.

Best Ultrabook While MacBooks are receiving their due, the Dell XPS Series—with screens ranging from 12”-18”—is causing a rumble of its own. It offers a matte aluminum casing that’s lightweight, durable, and exquisitely designed. The contoured keypad makes content creation more comfortable on the wrists and hands. The responsive touchpad facilitates easy operation, though with an optional Quad HD+ (3200×1800) touch display you may not need a touchpad very often. All XPS models can handle up to 4th Generation Intel® Core™ i7, maximizing power and speed to accomplish the most complex tasks and media editing without missing a beat. Even amongst the larger screen options, the XPS remains one of the lightest Ultrabooks of its class. Heads up– it lacks an SD card slot.

Best Durability Plan to be away from the office for more than 11 hours, perhaps while bucking and dipping through rough terrain during a tour of potential development options? The Dell Latitude Rugged 14 Extreme goes anywhere that you go and can handle some of the toughest work environments on the planet. It’s drop-proof, dust-proof, snow-resistant and even scoffs in the face of sand (though anywhere with sand warrants a vacation more than working). Under the hood, the Rugged 14 Extreme has a fourth-generation Intel Core i5 processor, an Nvidia GeForce graphics card for brilliant media, and a Windows 8.1 Pro operating system. Although it’s equipped with a relatively lightweight and quick 512GB solid-state drive, it’s still a whopping 8lb. It packs a punch for its weight, though, with two Ethernet ports, a DVD burner, a HDMI port, an SD card reader, two serial ports, USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports, and several others–all ports have an intricate protective system to fend off grit and fluids. Top off this Dell with a built-in 4G LTE with GPS and you’re ready to be productive just about anywhere.

Best Battery Life If you really just need a laptop that can make it through the day with you and deliver when you need it to, the Lenovo ThinkPad X240 is your machine. With more than 20 hours of battery life, even your longest workday can be completed untethered. Avoid overpaying for features that you don’t need and won’t use while enjoying all of the functions you need to work quickly and competently: a 4th Generation Core Series processor provides speed and power while working with multiple programs. An optional full-HD touch screen makes navigation a breeze. As a bonus, the machine is built to take the occasional drop or spill, and it’s MIL-SPEC tested to endure a chilly night in your trunk or a searing summer day.