10 Best Laptops For Travelers

What Is Better For Travel? A Laptop Or A Tablet?

When traveling, the first thing we want to do is to pack lightly. As such, both a tablet and a small and light laptop are good options. However, your final decision depends on what are you planning to use your device for while on the road. If you are planning to surf the web and Facetime your loved ones, then a tablet is a great option. However, if you are planning to do some serious work, then it is definitely better to pack a laptop. A 2-1 laptop/tablet may be the best alternative – this way you will get the best of both worlds.

Why Do You Need A Laptop When You Are Traveling?

Having a laptop on the road is essential. It enables you to stay in touch with your family and friends, do some work, process your photos and videos, book flights and accommodation, do some research about the destination, and do many other necessary things. You just have to make sure to choose a light, compact, and slim laptop, that won’t add a large amount of extra weight or space and is relatively well protected against hard knocks and other misfortunes. Here are some other good reasons why traveling with a laptop is a good idea.

For increased productivity

If you are planning to do any kind of creative work on the road, having a laptop is a must. A laptop is a vital piece of travel equipment, especially for photographers, filmmakers, writers, freelancers, digital nomads, and other kinds of remote workers. It is much simpler and quicker to do any kind of serious work on a laptop than on a tablet or a smartphone – mostly due to the much greater computing power, a larger display, and a keyboard. Performing any kind of work, may it be writing, content creation, graphic design, programming, or sending emails, is much faster on a laptop. Besides, many creative software programs simply don’t run (or have a greatly reduced functionality) on tablets or smartphones. In addition, running multiple apps and programs simultaneously may be challenging on a tablet or a smartphone, while laptops are designed for multitasking.

For important photo and video backups

While traveling, we all turn into photographers, and naturally, we want to store all our precious memories and keep them forever, so that we can recall these wonderful moments for the rest of our lives. Therefore, it’s very important to regularly back up all your photos and videos and copy them from your camera’s SD card to a storage device – a laptop, a USB flash drive, an external hard drive, or online storage. While laptops have SD card slots, the majority of other storage devices don’t have them, which means that in order for you to copy the files on other devices, you first have to connect to a laptop. In addition, laptops have much more free storage space than smartphones and can therefore serve as storage devices themselves. There are ways to back up files from an SD card without a laptop, however, they are quite time-consuming and complicated.

For necessary travel related work

Even if you are not planning to do any kind of creative work during your trip, you will have to do some essential travel-related tasks, such as booking hotels, tours, flights, and other means of transportation. To do so, you will have to log into your online accounts, enter a ton of personal information, and do a whole lot of reading and writing. All of these tasks are much easier to accomplish on a laptop than on other electronic devices. Moreover, some online visa application forms can only be completed on glitchy Government websites that perform poorly or don’t perform at all on smartphones.

For enhanced entertainment

In addition to many exciting moments and crazy adventures, travel also consists of long flights, train rides, and bus rides. During these moments it is very handy to have a supply of entertainment that will help you pass the time and shorten the long commutes. Of course, you can watch movies, play games, and read e-books on a laptop, however, doing it on a laptop’s large display will provide a much more enjoyable and immersive experience, plus it will reduce the risk of developing eye strain.

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The Top 10 Best Laptops For Travelers

1. Dell XPS 13 – Best For Travelers

Currently, this is considered the best overall travel laptop on the market. It is a high-quality and high-performance device with a processor up to 10th Gen Intel i7 1065G7. It has up to 32 GB of RAM and up to 1 TB storage. The device has a 13.4-inch Infinity Edge IPS display, covered with Corning Gorilla Glass 6, which makes it durable and scratch-resistant and it comes with Full HD (1920 x 1080) or 4K Ultra HD (3840 x 2400) resolution and in touch or non-touch configuration. In addition, it supports Dolby Vision – the gold standard for HDR in TVs. It has an impressive battery life of more than 12 hours (up to 21 hours). The high-quality keyboard is edge-to-edge, backlit, rather large, and user-friendly. Sound quality is high as well. Bottom-mounted speakers provide a clean and considerably loud sound. The device also features Eyesafe technology, a fingerprint sensor, a widescreen 720p webcam, and much more.

2. MacBook Air 2020 – Best For Travelers

If you prefer a Mac operating system, this may be the best travel laptop for you. It is a high-performance device by a reliable manufacturer with up to 1.2 GHz quad-core Intel Core i7-1060NG7 processor, 8 GB (configurable up to 16 GB) of RAM, and up to 2 TB PCle-based SSD storage. The design is aesthetically pleasing and durable. It has a 13.3-inch Retina QHD (2560 x 1600) IPS display with no touch option. The display is slightly dimmer than Dell’s, therefore it may be less suitable for outdoor use. However, it features the True Tone technology, designed to always provide ‘true’ colors, regardless of the surrounding lighting conditions. The device features a backlit Magic Keyboard, which is very comfortable and user-friendly. Its stereo speakers support Dolby Atmos playback and produce a very loud and clear sound with profound bass. The battery should last somewhere between 8 and 10 hours off a full charge.

3. Microsoft Surface Pro 7 – Best Laptops For Travelers

Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is considered to be the best Windows tablet. You can use it as a regular laptop or a tablet, which makes it very practical and versatile. It has a thin and light design and can offer stable performance. It has an Intel Core i3, i5, or i7 processor, 10th Generation, up to 16 GB of RAM, and up to 1 TB of SSD storage. The device has an attractive yet compact design and a small 12.3-inch screen with great brightness and vibrant colors. The speakers provide an average sound. The keyboard is almost full-size and it’s very user-friendly, plus, the device also features an optional Surface Pen for sketching and taking notes. The device’s average battery life (10.5 hours) should get you through a long flight.

4. MacBook Pro 13 2020 – Best Laptops For Travelers

This is considered the best travel laptop for professionals, especially the ones with any kind of creative work. The MacBook Pro 13 2020 is another high-performance laptop with up to 2.3 GHz 10th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, 8 GB (configurable up to 32 GB) of RAM, and up to 4TB PCle-based SSD storage. It has a 13.3-inch QHD (2560 x 1600) IPS Retina non-touch display that supports True Tone technology. The high-quality stereo speakers support Dolby Atmos surround sound and provide a slightly softer and quieter sound than MacBook Air’s. Like MacBook Air, this Apple model also has a backlit Magic Keyboard, which may be a bit more comfortable to type on for long periods, thanks to the lack of any sharp edges. Its battery life is similar to MacBook Air’s (up to 10 hours).

5. HP Spectre x360 – Best For Travelers

This high-performance laptop is considered one of the best 2-in-1 laptops currently available. A 2-in-1 laptop is basically a hybrid between a traditional clamshell-opening laptop and a tablet, which gives them greater versatility. It has an up to 1.3 GHz Intel Core i7-1065G7 quad-core processor, up to 16 GB of RAM, and up to 2 TB of upgradeable SSD storage. The 13.3 –inch touchscreen low-power display with great contrast comes in Full HD (1920 x 1080) WLED or 4K (3840 x 2160) AMOLED. The dual Bang & Olufsen speakers with HP audio boost produce a slightly lower sound quality than some others on our list – they lack bass and may suffer from mild distortion. The battery is promised to last about 8-10 hours of normal use after a full charge with a Full HD display. With 4K AMOLED display, it’s a bit less. It has a backlit user-friendly keyboard with deep key travel and it offers some cool 2-in-1 features, such as an HP Pen to sketch on the touch screen.

6. ASUS ZenBook 13 – Best For Travelers

This high-quality device is considered an exceptionally compact and robust laptop for working on the road. It has an Intel Core i5-8250 processor, 8 GB of RAM, and 258 GB of SSD storage. With these specs, it can offer stable performance and allows multitasking. It has a light and slim design and the 13.3-inch Full HD display with solid sharpness, brightness, and color quality provides a great viewing experience. The sound quality and volume aren’t bad, but it’s not great either. The laptop comes with a comfortable backlit keyboard and plenty of connectivity ports. It has a great battery life, especially considering the price (up to 12 hours of web searching).

7. Lenovo Flex 14″ 2-in-1 – Best Laptops For Travelers

This high-performance device is considered the best budget laptop for travelers. It has an AMD Ryzen 5 3500U 2.10 GHz Quad-Core processor, 8 GB of RAM, and 256 GB of SSD storage. Like HP Spectre x360, this is also a convertible laptop with a sturdy design. It has a glossy 14-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) touchscreen display, which brightness levels are on the low side, therefore it may be less than ideal for outdoor use. In addition, it comes with a pair of Harman Kardon speakers, which produce a decently loud and clear sound. The backlit keyboard is well laid out and comfortable for typing. It comes with the Active Pen, which allows you to take notes and to sketch on the touchscreen. It has an average 8-hour battery life, however, its integrated Rapid Charge technology enables swift charging (it charges 80% in just one hour).

8. Acer Aspire E 15 – Best Laptops For Travelers

This powerful device is considered the most affordable travel laptop for business. Considering the reasonable price, it has great features and specifications. It has an Intel Core i3, i5 or i7 processor, an 8 GB RAM memory, and 256 GB of SSD storage. It has a rather large (considering that it is a travel laptop) 15.6-inch display with Full HD resolution. It has versatile connectivity ports and good performance capable of supporting moderate multitasking. The unique speaker design limits audio distortion delivers a wide range of bass and boosts volume. The large QWERTY keyboard is backlit and comfortable. It has a decent battery life that should last almost a whole day.

9. Samsung Chromebook Pro – Best Laptops For Travelers

The best Chromebook laptops are Acer Chromebook, HP Chromebook 14, and Samsung Chromebook Pro. Just because we have covered some other models from both Acer and HP, we have decided to include the Samsung Chromebook in our list of best laptops for travelers. It is a relatively affordable 2-in-1 device with a light and sleek design. It is powered by an Intel Core m3 processor, with 4GB of RAM and 32GB of eMMC storage. Its 11.6-inch display provides a clear image and vivid colors. The speakers aren’t very loud, but they do produce a clear sound. The keyboard is island-style, soft, and a bit jammed, so the typing experience is mediocre. The battery life isn’t impressive either – it should last around 7 hours.

10. Lenovo Ideapad – Best Laptops For Travelers

Lenovo is one of the best ultra-lightweight laptops in the budget price range. It has up to an Intel Pentium N3710 processor, 500 GB of storage, and 4 GB of RAM. It has a 15.6-inch HD (1366 x 768) display, an average JBL stereo speaker with Dolby Audio, and a decent keyboard that provides an average typing experience. The design is nice and sleek, the performance can support web surfing, editing documents, and viewing movies, and it has average 9-hour battery life. This device is pretty basic and it lacks many of the superb features the other travel laptops on this list have, however, it is pretty reliable and good at performing simple processes, especially considering the low price.

What To Look For Before Buying The Best Laptop For Travelers?

Here is a list of the most important characteristics to consider before buying the best laptop for travelers.

1. Long time Battery Life

Battery life is a very important feature, especially on the road, where, unlike at home, you are not able to plug the device into electricity at any moment. A good battery capacity and battery backup time are both essential for travelers and they both depend on various factors. For example, laptops with dedicated graphics cards and ultra-high-resolution displays consume more battery. On the other hand, standard HD screens and Intel ‘U’ product line processors are known for lower power consumption without compromising performance.

Make sure to buy a laptop with at least an 8-hour battery life during a normal performance (including playing videos). To know the device’s battery life for certain before purchasing it, you can cross-check official estimates and the findings of reviewers who have conducted battery life tests.

2. Size And Weight

Size and weight are both important characteristics to consider before making a final decision. Obviously, it’s more convenient to carry a small and light laptop in your backpack than to carry a large, heavy one. 13 inches is considered the most optimal portable size and when it comes to weight, somewhere between 1 kg and 1.5 kg is considered the sweet spot.

However, bigger and heavier laptops tend to be more efficient than their smaller relatives. At the end of the day, it really depends on your personal preferences. If you already have a travel laptop bag, make sure the device fits into it comfortably.

3. Storage Space

Internal storage space is another important consideration when buying a travel laptop. As you will probably need quite a lot of inbuilt storage space due to all the photos and videos that you will likely take, make sure not to buy a device with too little storage, as this way you could find yourself constantly running out of space and having to delete files. The average user should choose a device with at least 256 GB of storage, which is enough to store some movies, e-books, music, docs, apps, and even some light games. Content creators that work with large photo and video files, serious gamers, and huge movie collectors, on the other hand, should opt for at least 512 GB (or even 1TB) of storage. It’s impossible to have too much internal storage, however, keep in mind that more storage means more money and it doesn’t make any sense to buy the costly additional storage if you are not planning to use it. Besides, you can always rely on USB flash drives and external hard drives for additional storage.

4. Operating system

This may also be an important consideration, however, it depends mostly on personal preferences. Some of us are big Mac OS fans, while others prefer Microsoft Windows devices. Each of these two main operating systems has its own set of pros and cons, however, both are very good.

Mac OS only runs on Apple laptops, while all the other companies and manufacturers use Windows. All currently available 2-in-1 laptops also only come with the Windows operating system. Artists, designers, and other individuals with creative jobs tend to opt for the Mac OS. Virtually everyone else (almost 90% of all laptop and desktop users), including gamers, abide by Windows. Apple laptops are considered aesthetically pleasing, longer-lasting, virus-resistant, more compact, and very reliable, plus, it’s easy to repair them abroad, as there are lots of authorized Apple service centers around the world. However, they are much more expensive than Windows devices with similar specs, less upgradeable, and much less customizable. Mac users find it hard to replace any internal components, plus their devices are only compatible with other Mac devices.

5. Processing Power: CPU and RAM

The Computing Processing Unit (CPU), or chip is a very important consideration. As the CPU is basically the device’s brain, you may want to buy a laptop with the latest and best CPU chip, especially if your work requires speed and efficiency.

Also, make sure to consider the device’s Random Access Memory (RAM) – the device’s immediate memory. Enough RAM enables the device to work quickly. The best laptops for travelers have at least 8 to 16 GB of RAM.

6. Portability

When it comes to the best laptops for travelers, portability is definitely a vital component to consider. A travel laptop is supposed to be sleek and compact, small and light. Make sure it fits perfectly into your carry-on bag and that it can be stored in tight spaces. From the practicality point of view, it’s best to choose a 13 or less inch device and one that is less than 18 mm thick. When it comes to weight, it’s best to choose a device that weighs anywhere between 1 kg and 1.5kg. There are some even lighter devices, but those tend to have lower specs. While some time ago you had to choose between portability and performance, nowadays, you can find many portable laptops with great specifications and long battery life.

7. Keyboard quality

Another rather important consideration is the keyboard quality. For writers, bloggers, journalists, and other users who tend to use the keyboard regularly, it is especially vital to choose a device with a high-quality and user-friendly keyboard. Depending on what kind of work you are planning to do on the device, you may want to consider buying a laptop with detachable keyboards. This feature can prove to be very useful on many different occasions. If you tend to work in low-light conditions and areas, you should also consider choosing a laptop with a backlit keyboard.

8. Price

Last, but not least, you have to consider the price before buying a travel laptop. After all, your budget is probably limited. But that’s okay – nowadays, there are lots of great laptops available at affordable prices. The best policy is to pay just the right amount of money to get the specifications, characteristics, and features you truly need. Don’t pay more for extra storage or processing power, if you don’t really need it. Windows laptops tend to be cheaper, but if you are a loyal Mac user with lots of other Apple gadgets, it may be better to choose the latter.

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What To Consider About A Laptop Before Traveling?

In addition to the most important characteristics listed above, you should also consider the following before choosing a travel laptop that is right for you.

1. Do you prefer Mac, Windows, or Chrome OS?

As we have mentioned before, you have to ask yourself whether you are more of a Mac or a Windows user. People with all kinds of creative jobs tend to prefer durable, reliable, and compact Apple devices, especially if they have other Apple devices, such as iPhones, Apple watches, or iPads. The majority of people all over the world, however, tend to opt for Windows-powered devices, which are way more versatile, compatible with other devices of various different manufacturers, support both facial recognition and fingerprint login, have touchscreen support, and are more customizable and upgradeable. Windows devices offer by far the largest rand of options for the best laptops for travelers. In addition to those two major operating systems, there is also a small number of Linux and Chrome OS users (only about 3%). Chrome OS is a simple and secure operating system, usually available on small portable laptops, however, it is mainly limited to surfing the internet, writing emails, and scrolling through social media. Some professional software programs, such as Adobe Photoshop don’t work with Chrome OS.

2. What will you use your laptop for?

Whether you only need the device for surfing the web or if you intend to do some serious work is an important question. For running complicated programs, photo/video editing, heavy gaming, and multitasking you will need a laptop with great processing power and advanced specs. Otherwise, you can choose a less expensive device with lower specs.

3. Which laptop size would be ideal for you?

If you have a small backpack that complies with certain size requirements, then make sure to buy a laptop that fits into your bag perfectly. Professional laptop backpacks tend to meet all your needs, however, some backpacks can’t fit laptops larger than 15 or 13 inches.

4. Is there sufficient storage capacity?

As cloud services aren’t always available or convenient on the road, especially if there is a poor internet connection or if you are on an airplane, make sure to buy a laptop with sufficient storage capacity. Try to estimate how much storage you will need for all your photos, videos, and other files, and buy the device accordingly. Generally, HDD laptops are cheaper, while SSD laptops are much faster.

5. A whole day battery life

As mentioned above, make sure to opt for a device that will last a whole day even if you are in planes, trains, buses, or other means of transportation, where there aren’t any charging points or if all the power outlets at airports, bus stations, restaurants, and hostels are already taken. If your battery dies during a very important task, or during a long flight where there is no other entertainment available, it can be a pretty nasty experience. To make sure this doesn’t happen, choose a laptop with at least an 8-hour battery life.

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What Are The Accessories Needed For A Laptop While Traveling?

• Laptop Stand

Working on your laptop and bending down to the screen all day changes to posture and causes neck or back pain. To avoid this kind of issues, make sure to use a laptop stand. It will place your screen higher and thus straighten your back and neck. Nowadays, most laptop stands tend to be light and foldable, which makes them a convenient piece of accessory even when you’re on the road.

• External Keyboard

If you are planning to use the laptop stand, we recommend you to use an external keyboard as well. After all, it’s rather difficult to type if your keyboard sits higher above the table. Luckily, external keyboards are usually light, thin, and very portable.

• Mouse

You will also need a mouse. Using a mouse makes whatever you are doing simpler and faster. Having a mouse is especially necessary if you are using a laptop stand. Make sure to opt for a wireless mouse, as having tons of cables lying around in your backpack is highly impractical.

• External Drive

If you have lots of photos, videos, movies, music, games, or other files to save, if your laptop doesn’t have a lot of storage, or if you wish to be safe and have a backup copy of your data, make sure to use an external drive.

• Laptop Sleeve

This is probably the most important accessory on our list. While traveling we are sometimes unable to handle our luggage with utmost care – sometimes we are in a hurry and have to run with our bag, at times other people handle our luggage, or you may experience a bumpy bus ride. Therefore, it’s crucial to store your laptop in a laptop sleeve, which is designed to protect the device from scratches, knocks, and liquid spills.

• Mobile Hotspot

Depending on where you going, the internet connection may be poor in many hotels, airports, or restaurants. As sometimes it may be too expensive to create a hotspot on your phone, you should consider using another hotspot, such as Skyroam.

FAQs

How to choose the best travel laptop?

Some prefer small laptops, others prefer laptops with a lot of internal storage, then again the third ones may be looking for the most affordable device. As each of us has our own preferences, it’s best to carefully review the characteristics and specifications of the laptops listed above and choose based on those specs. That being said, you can find the top 10 best laptops for travelers in the third chapter.

What is the smallest travel laptop?

The smallest Mac OP travel laptop is the MacBook Air, one of the smallest Windows travel laptops is the ASUS ZenBook (which is also considerably cheaper than the former).

What is the best battery life laptop for travelers?

Any laptop that has a battery life longer than 8 hours is the best battery life laptop for travelers. Currently, Asus ExpertBook B9450 is considered one of the best travel laptops for battery life.

What size is the best for a travel laptop?

Again, it depends on your preferences. Some consider 13 inches to be the most optimal portable size.

Should I travel with a laptop or a tablet?

As we have mentioned before, the decision on whether to travel with a laptop or a tablet depends mostly on what are you planning to use your device for. A tablet is a good option for surfing the internet and checking up on your family and friends. For serious work, such as writing, content creation, photo/video editing, graphic design, etc. it’s definitely better to opt for a laptop. However, the best option overall might be a 2-in-1 laptop/tablet, as this kind of device tends to provide the best of both worlds.