Choosing a new laptop is hard. There are a lot of great laptops out there, but also a lot of terrible ones. Some models have uncomfortable keyboards, aren’t very powerful, or have short battery life. Finding the best laptop for writers can be tough!
To help you find one that you’ll love, or as a gift for a budding writer, we compiled a list of the best laptops for writers. Read on to find out which ones we recommend.
What Makes A Great Laptop For Writers?
The laptop is considered the best productivity tool to work with because it provides flexibility to its users. However, due to the increase in popularity of smartphones and tablets, there is a continuous shift of demand of laptops and tablet PCs from the desktops. Therefore, the 9 Best Laptops For Writers has been created for those who are interested in this category.
It’s no surprise that writers spend a lot of time writing. We interviewed 37 bloggers who make their living from blogging and found out they spent almost 3-4 hours every day editing posts, which means an average week will see them putting in around 100+ hours total towards creating content for blog sites or other publications like magazines where articles are usually much longer than what we see with blogs because there is less space restrictions on copywriting styles used when crafting webpages; this also translates over into how long it takes someone to write one book depending upon topic area covered–it can take anywhere between 2 months.
Finding a laptop for writing work can be difficult. There are a lot of choices, and it just takes time to find one that has the perfect keyboard for writers. There are too many factors to balance. Fortunately, we have researched and found the best laptops for writing work. They have backlit keyboards and responsive touch pads that make typing easy on the fingers and encourage creativity with an expansive layout. From high-end models to budget-friendly options, we’ve got your writing needs covered.
As you’ve noticed, we’ve compiled a buyer’s guide to help you figure out what you should be considering before ordering. Without any further ado, let’s dive right in.
Minimum System Requirements:
| Minimum System Requirements | Recommended System Requirements | |
| CPU | 8th Gen Intel Core i5 | 10th Gen Intel Core i7 |
| RAM | 4GB | 16GB |
| Storage | 256GB SSD | 512GB SSD |
| Display | 13.3-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) | 15.6-inch FHD IPS (1920 x 1080) |
| GPU | Integrated Intel HD Graphics | Integrated Intel UHD / Iris Plus Graphics |
| Battery | Up to 5 hours | Up to 8 hours |
Best Laptops For Writers On a Budget
1. Acer Aspire 5 (Best Cheap Laptop For Writers Overall)
The Acer Aspire 5 includes an Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor and 8GB of RAM. People who are interested in graphic performance should know that the graphics card on this computer is Intel Iris Xe with 80 execution units, which is a big jump from Intel UHD graphics found on 10th generation Intel Core CPUs.
Display And Design
The Acer Aspire 5 Laptop packs a 14-inch, 1080p display and comes in at just .71 inches thick and 3.75 pounds. It’s not a featherweight, but it’ll easily slip into most laptop bags and is light enough that you barely notice you’re carrying it around. The power adapter is small and it’ll slip into a small pocket on a backpack, messenger bag, or purse.
The Acer Aspire 5 has a limited color gamut of 64 percent of the sRGB scale, so it doesn’t have the best color accuracy but it’s not awful either. I wasn’t really impressed with the webcam or the microphone, but for basic Zoom calls, they’re more than sufficient. The Acer Aspire 5 makes room for various old-school connections by having three USB ports (two USB 3.2 and one USB 2.0), full-sized HDMI, Ethernet, and a 3.5mm combo audio jack.
Performance
The Acer Aspire 5 promises respectable performance and speed at a low price. It packs four cores, 8 threads, and Intel’s Iris Xe graphics with 80 execution units. Acer didn’t slack on the RAM either, because it comes equipped with a whopping 8GB.
The Acer Aspire 5 from Intel packs a respectable processor and RAM, but is it the best around? It starts with a fairly low score of 3,902 which is unsurprising considering the faster Intel Core processors. The real issue is AMD, who competes in the mid-range laptop category. Ryzen 5 processors are found in laptops like the HP Envy x360 15. We test Handbrake in two different ways: one relying on raw CPU grunt and one that took advantage of the multi-threaded architecture of Intel’s i5-1135G7 processor.
Acer ships the Aspire 5 with a 53 watt-hour battery which is respectable for a budget laptop. This laptop avoids some typical budget laptop pitfalls. Windows laptops sold at this price or below often make extreme cuts — not so with the Aspire 5.
Pros
- Affordability
- Full-sized keyboard
- Thin and light 10th Gen i5 processor
- Sufficient storage space
- Dedicated graphics card
Cons
- Still an entry-level integrated GPU with a mediocre webcam
2. Apple MacBook Pro (Best with MacOS)
The Windows-powered ZenBook 15 that we showcased above has a great keyboard, but it gets beaten up in performance if you’re looking for something with an Apple logo.
If you’re on a tight budget but still want a laptop with great features and performance, then you should look into the MacBook Pro. It runs well, can have multiple Google Chrome tabs open, and is made with ergonomic components. It’s worth the investment if you are a researcher or writer.
It would be hard to talk about laptops without mentioning the MacBook Pro — it has amazing features, looks, and portability. But the one downside to this laptop is its price. Can you afford it?
Display And Design
If you’re looking for a laptop that does it all, the MacBook Pro is for you! It has a 16-core integrated GPU, which provides fluid images and excellent colors. It’s great for watching movies because of the display, which is also bright outdoors. The Touch Bar has a function, too – the keys on the keyboard have been replaced with the Touch Bar and it performs many different tasks depending on what you are doing.
For example, if you need to control volume or change the brightness, you can choose those tools from the Touch Bar and have them in front of you at all times. You can also use intelligent typing features like emoji and predictive text right on the Touch Bar as well.
Performance
The MacBook Pro is available in 13-inch and 16-inch models. The 13-inch model has 16GB of RAM and a 1 TB SSD, which can run for 21 hours on battery.
It’s revolutionary in that it elevates the notebook to an entirely new standard: a powerful portable computer with a variety of high-performance features that let your creativity run wild. A 2.3GHz quad-core 8th-generation Intel Core i5 processor and 8GB memory, together with a huge 512GB SSD and a beautiful Retina display showcase everything you create. The MacBook Pro is also loaded with a variety of other fantastic features, including two Thunderbolt 3 ports, a backlit keyboard for typing comfortably in low light, and a spacious palm rest for your hands.
Pros
- CPU and GPU performance is outstanding.
- Battery life is extended.
- Stunning exhibition.
- keys that are easy to use.
- Gorgeous display.
Cons
- Ports are limited.
- There is no card reader.
- There is no Ethernet jack.
3. Google Pixelbook Go – (Best Chromebook for Writers)
Google is coming to the game with a new, more affordable product that’ll cost the average person a lot less. It’s a welcome addition for those who can’t afford Google’s premium price tags, especially for budget-minded consumers. At the same time, it sacrifices some more premium features, like biometric login and a great value if you go for the higher specs models.
The Google Pixelbook Go is a new addition to Google’s product line, with some compromises and some benefits. Being the company’s most affordable laptop, it will suit those looking to upgrade from their tablets or very dated laptops. For those with the money, the Pixelbook is still the best choice. It boasts a 1080p webcam, great battery life, and an impressive keyboard, but for many, the Go is an ideal choice.
Display And Design
Though the Google Pixelbook Go is designed to be thin and light, its frame is made from a sturdy magnesium alloy that’s easy to grip. We saw this as a bonus, because we could also get to the ports and plugs easily. The laptop comes in two colors: “Just Black” and “Not Pink” (otherwise known as black and pink). We would have appreciated something in between these two, like white or straight anodized magnesium, but alas.
The Pixelbook Go is packed with a number of stellar features, including a keyboard that’s comfortable for desk work and top-firing speakers. Sure, the speakers can be tinny at the high end and aren’t designed for outdoor use, but they’re among the best of their size — most laptops of this size tend to come with speaker grates on the bottom.
The device also comes equipped with two USB-C ports that can charge the laptop and power a display, in addition to a 3.5mm headphone jack, which while not a lot of variety when it comes to connectivity, is just what you need. When it comes to display scaling, Chrome OS is capable of rendering 1,600 x 900 without a loss in quality.
Performance
The Pixelbook Go is a great option for people who want the same Chrome OS experience but on a more budget-friendly device. It has a rugged aluminum build with a keyboard that’s comfortable to use and surprisingly good speakers. The Pixelbook Go only has 2 USB-C ports, which might seem limiting, but it doesn’t have to be since Chrome OS can render at a higher resolution without any scaling.
The Google Pixelbook Go is even more impressive when it comes to battery life. Our local video playback test took 11 hours and 14 minutes to run the laptop all the way down, which closely aligns with Google’s promised 12 hours on a charge.
This might be a testament to the benefits of companies having the power to tune their own hardware and software. Plus, the Pixelbook Go can get up to two hours of charge from just 20 minutes connected to an outlet, which makes the laptop nearly unkillable in that department.
Pros
- Lightweight design
- Longer battery life
- Good value for money
- Excellent quality build
- Quicker boot time
Cons
- No SD card slot
- A lot of heat at the bottom during usage
4. HP Pavilion 15 (Best for Writing & Entertainment)
HP Pavilion Laptop arrangement has better than average processors, great designs quality, and intense RAM. They are also great for people who need a workstation for regular use. However, not everyone needs a top of the line machine. HP understands this and offers customer to choose different options according to their need. Available in various screen sizes with various specifications, the HP Pavilion arrangement offers the client convenience and quality at the same time.
Display And Design
Pavilion is a well-known series of laptops from HP Inc. They can be configured as per your needs, and you can get models that come with touchscreens or 360-degree screens that convert into tablets. I like the multifunctional usage for people who want to maximize the versatility of their laptop and want to use it as a tablet sometimes as well. One of my favorite features of touchscreen laptops is the preloaded apps. You can take notes and also draw on your laptop if you so desire. The choice is varied enough to match every need, so check it out to get the machine you’re looking for.
Performance
If you’re a Novel writer, you won’t need anything with an Intel i7 or i9 processor, but you still need adequate processing power. The intel i5 processor in this laptop is capable of providing that for you, and it’s not a cheap laptop. Considering the specs you get for the price – many people think it’s worth it.
With an Intel i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 1TB of hard drive storage, HP Pavilion 15 can handle just about anything you throw at it. It has a stunning 15.6-inch full-HD screen, takes little time to load, and has Windows 10 preinstalled on it.
HP provides users with the ability to customize their keyboard to be backlit and offers a sleek and sophisticated-looking body design that won’t turn heads like other notebooks might.
Pros
- There are numerous customizing possibilities available.
- It comes with a stylus that can be rotated 360 degrees.
- 1080p gaming at high image quality settings is possible.
- Battery life is adequate.
Cons
- There is no backlit keyboard.
- It’s a little heavy.
- There is no Thunderbolt 3 port.
5. Asus ZenBook 13 (Best Ultrabook)
Are you looking for a portable laptop that can handle any editing tasks you might consider it to do? If so, the Asus ZenBook 13 with Intel i7 and 8GB RAM is the perfect solution. Built with aluminum, the ZenBook 13 has a quick boot time and is lightweight enough to be carried around effortlessly. I admit that I’m biased, but it’s hard not to fall in love with this machine after seeing it. It has a crystal finish and elegant design that make it stand out among laptops.
Display And Design
The ZenBook 13 has a 13.3-inch, 1920 x 1080-pixel display (OLED) with a screen-to-body ratio of 88%. If you don’t have time to stare at your laptop, you might appreciate its blue-light eye care option, which reduces glare and protects your eyesight. Laptops should have a groove for easy lid lifting, but I often struggled with the ZenBook 13. I would finally obtain victory by jamming my nail into the tight gap and prying it open, only to find myself disappointed after finally opening the laptop. Once I opened the ZenBook 13, I was able to watch it angle itself into an optimal typing position thanks to the precision engineered ErgoLift hinge.
Performance
The ZenBook 13 is equipped with an Intel Core i7-8565U processor, 8GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. On paper, this sounds good, but let’s see how the notebook performs multitasking. I drowned the Asus machine with 30 browser tabs and two YouTube videos, and then launched a new Google Doc and plugged away. There was no lag or slowdowns, just as I expected. It’s not all good though. I didn’t like the cramped keyboard and found the touchpad difficult to use due to the inertial scrolling. However, there is some good news: the touchpad will scroll, zoom and more in Windows 10 with just two fingers.
Pros
- Outstanding battery life
- Intel HD Graphics 620
- OLED screen that is small and portable
- 1-year Accidental Damage Protection (ADP)
Cons
- Screen flickering
- No Thunderbolt 3
- Backlight bleeding
6. Lenovo Ideapad 130 (Best Under Budget)
The Lenovo Ideapad 130 is a budget-friendly laptop that has decent specs and features. It has bad viewing angles and a dim display, but it meets basic expectations for performance. I bought this laptop to use for some light computing operations, like Office work and browsing the web.
The Lenovo Ideapad 130 is an inexpensive laptop. It does not have the same quality as other laptops but it does have some compromises for the price. The screen, for example, is not very bright and is of a lower quality than you would find in most laptops today. The laptop’s casing, on the other hand, has many plastic parts that feel cheap to the touch. Each compromise is expected for a budget laptop.
Display And Design
The Lenovo Ideapad 130 is a well-built laptop, but it doesn’t have the design flair you would expect from more expensive models. It has a mostly plastic construction with some textures. To help reduce fingerprints, the plastic on the laptop feels slightly different to regular glossy plastics.
This laptop is on the heavier side, weighing 2 kg and measuring 375.6 x 253.4 x 22.7 mm. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have a touchscreen display and its touchpad is a little small. The keyboard on this model is really comfortable to type on though and there are extra shortcut keys that are optimized for Windows 10.
There’s a DVD-RW slot on the right side of the computer, as well as an SD card slot. You will also find 2 USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports on the left side with an HDMI and RJ-45 port, along with a headphone jack and an additional USB 3.1 Gen 1 port available.
Performance
The Lenovo Ideapad 130 comes with 4 GB of RAM. It has two slots for memory expansion. The most you can use is 20 GB per slot. If you like to multitask and run a lot of programs at once, this laptop will not be the most efficient. It can only do light multitasking, and it is able to handle about 1-2 programs at a time. With the limited number of preloaded apps, you’ll have a clutter-free desktop to help your efficiency.
The IdeaPad 130 comes with 500GB worth of hard disk drive storage, which is enough for most files and programs. Although it would be better to have an SSD because the storage performance is just okay. It scores a seven in this review because of its lackluster storage options.
The IdeaPad 130 features an AMD Radeon R2 Graphics card. But it’s not very good for gaming, so you can forget about playing graphically intense games. Another downside to this laptop is that you can’t use it for CAD packages, like Adobe Premiere Pro.
Onto the positives: the Lenovo Ideapad 130 is equipped with a 30 Wh Lithium polymer battery, which Lenovo says will last up to 6 hours. In a battery life test, it lasted for 4 hours 50 minutes with light browsing.
Pros
- Excellent battery life.
- comes with a DVD writer.
- good value for money.
Cons
- Touchpad with a dull screen is less effective.
7. Lenovo ThinkPad T480 ( Best for Freelance Writers )
Do you freelance or write your thesis on your laptop? Either way, you want it to run as fast as your brain can. The ThinkPad T480 is one such machine because it runs fast and allows you to work even faster. It has a huge battery life, snappy keyboard and loads of other features. Using this laptop means you can focus on work without any distractions.
This laptop comes with long battery life, so that means hours of work can be done before the battery dies. It comes with a large, responsive keyboard that doesn’t get in the way of doing some serious typing or gaming. In addition to being designed for groups, this laptop is also designed for productive individuals who want a speedy computer for editing photos and videos, writing a thesis or a freelance article, or playing video games too.
Display And Design
The ThinkPad T480s 1920 x 1080, nontouch screen was sharp and offered solid viewing angles. It could get bright enough to handle outdoor use or dimmed to the point where I could use it in bed with a sleeping person. Colors were accurate, but they didn’t pop. Fine details, like some medals on a military uniform, were easy to make out.
The ThinkPad T480 is durable and passed MIL-SPEC tests that subject it to extreme temperatures, humidity, dust, and more. It’s also endured Lenovo’s own bump tests. The laptop comes with an optional fingerprint reader, dTPM encryption, and optional infrared camera pad. The fingerprint sensor uses match-on-chip technology to make hacking less likely.
The latest 14″ ThinkPad T480 laptop comes with power-packed processors and an all-day battery. Built for heavy-duty, this laptop is light enough to go everywhere you go. Hi-res, upgradable RAM, a backlit keyboard and durable aluminum construction are just some of the features that make it perfect for the job. With enhanced security features to help safeguard your work, this ThinkPad is ready to work in any environment.
One of the best features of the laptop is its keyboard. I love my keyboard because it is durable, and it can handle being carried around and having to face extreme temperatures and dust. There’s no impact on the laptop, which makes it perfect for people who enjoy traveling and writing on the go.
Performance
The Lenovo Thinkpad T480’s Intel Core i5-8350U CPU, 8GB of RAM and 256GB PCIe SSD make it one of the fastest productivity laptops on the market. We ran it through a couple of synthetic tests The ThinkPads come with an Nvidia MX150 GPU on our review unit. That’s enough power to get any basic productivity task done, or to watch some media.
With the six-cell, 72-watt-hour battery, the ThinkPad T480 lasts 17 hours and 19 minutes. It lasts longer than any other laptop we’ve tested in the current generation and it scored 12,047 — 10% more than the average premium laptop. The T480s with the 7th Gen Core i5-8250U CPU got a nearly identical score of 12,044. Interestingly, the HP EliteBook 1040 G4 with a Core i5-7200U CPU had a much lower score of 8,360 on the same test.
The ThinkPads come with an Nvidia MX150 GPU on our review unit. That’s enough power to get any basic productivity task done, or to watch some media. With the six-cell, 72-watt-hour battery, the ThinkPad T480 lasts 17 hours and 19 minutes. It lasts longer than any other laptop we’ve tested in the current generation.
Pros
- Overall system performance is excellent.
- Port selection is diverse.
- Excellent input devices
- There are numerous customization options.
- Fingerprint scanner Snappy keyboard
- Optional IR camera for Windows Hello
Cons
- Surprisingly lower CPU performance when compared to T480s.
- Under load, there are hot spots on the bottom.
- The design is fairly standard and has only slightly changed over the years.
- heaviest among competitors
What To Look For When Buying The Best Laptop For Writing?
Before buying a laptop, you should keep the following in mind. If you are a freelancer, work in an office, or are a student who needs to type up notes on a laptop — always be mindful of these factors. Remember to think about things like power, portability, and cost.
1. Screen Size
When evaluating laptops, the paramount consideration is screen size. For example A 13-inch screen is perfect for someone who is always on the go. This is because smaller notebooks are lighter and more compact, and large laptops are bulkier. If you’re always moving around with your laptop, then a 13 or 14-inch display is good for you. If you don’t have to carry it around a lot, you can get one with a 15-inch screen. Somebody who mostly keeps their laptop on their desk should only buy a 17-inch display.
If you’re often on the go and need a laptop, it should be something small enough to carry around with you. This applies to a 13-inch display or smaller. If you never move your laptop or use it while out and about, you can opt for a bigger display — something about 15 inches.
Larger displays such as 17 inches should only be purchased by people who use their laptops primarily at home (or someone who doesn’t move them much).
2. Display Resolution
That’s right: I’m telling you to buy a laptop with 1080p resolution. Why settle for anything less? You can find laptops that have 1920 x 1080 screen resolution for under $400, so there’s no reason to settle. For example, on my Toshiba laptop, I’ve been able to write, work on Bear, and all at the same time. That’s because these machines allow for much more multitasking than those with a lower resolution.
3. Operating System
Choosing the right Operating System for you isn’t just about what you prefer in terms of design. For example, if you plan to work with a lot of Windows-based software, it would make sense to buy a laptop that runs on Windows. But what if you want to be part of Apple’s ecosystem? You can either like Mac OS better, or purchase an Apple device that runs on OS X. In general, Chromebooks come with a slightly different operating system, Chrome OS, and are considered less functional than Windows and macOS (although they are also virus-free). However, if all you need is to write your own content, this could be the best choice for you.
4. Battery Life
Getting a laptop means you will have to make a trade-off between battery life and performance, depending on your needs. For example, if you mostly work in one place where you can plug in the laptop for charging, you might want to consider getting a laptop with less battery life so that it can provide better performance. It’s essential to get a laptop that offers at least 8 hours of battery life. It’s also important to carry a power bank so that you can use your laptop even if there is no power outlet available. If you travel often, then you might want to look for laptops with even more battery protection.
5. Keyboard
First and foremost, you want a laptop with a responsive keyboard. While you’re on your laptop, you need to be able to type comfortably without compromising your experience. It’s also important to consider the size of the keys. Too large or too small and you may end up making a lot of errors. It’s also worth noting that while most keys are repetitive, you don’t want them to be squished together. A lack of space can make typing uncomfortable, not to mention difficult when hunting for essential keys like arrow keys and backspace. One last thing to remember about the keyboard is whether it is backlit. This might come in handy if you ever find yourself in those low-light conditions.
6. Key Specs
Planning to spend around $600 on a laptop? This is what you need to know. You’ll get a Core i5 or i7 processor, 8 GB of RAM, and a 256 GB SSD if you invest that amount of money. If you have a little more to spend, you might want to consider an AMD Ryzen Mobile chip. Solid-state drives help in loading programs faster than hard disk drives, so they’re essential here. I recommend getting the smaller SSD over the larger hard disk drive; while the latter can always be bought externally and connected.
7. Budget
It’s pretty easy to spend $700 on a writing laptop. There are many options for laptops at this price point. If you want something that’s better than just a writing laptop, though, it will cost $800 or more.
Conclusion
The Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop is our favorite recommendation for writers. It makes a great gift for writers, bloggers, journalists, and teachers looking to do some shopping within a budget.
A comfortable keyboard and long battery life will make all the difference in your content production. And don’t forget the laptop accessories, as they could make all the difference.
Best Laptops For Writers FAQs
How Much Should I Spend on a Laptop?
One of the first decisions you’ll have to make is whether you’re going to buy a laptop, or if you have one already, use it for your work. If you’re not sure, you might want to check out this article. It has an overview of the different options and a list of the laptops people might want to consider. The more you pay, the better specs you get. Unless you’re paying for the brand (MacBooks are more expensive because of Apple), you can find a great laptop for less than $1,000.
What Are the Minimum Specs I Should Get?
These are some of the specs that we recommend for laptops:
4 GB of RAM, an i5 processor or higher, a battery life of 4 hours, and a 256 GB hard drive.
Should I Get Windows or Mac?
Should you get a laptop running Windows or OS X? That’s a personal decision. If you’re used to using a Mac, get that. Otherwise, Windows machines tend to be cheaper and have more software compatibility.
