What does the average writer look for in a laptop? The most obvious thing would be a keyboard that’s easy to use, but this isn’t the only thing they require. Characteristics like a sharp display, long battery life, and portability are also important.
Memory capacity and CPU performance also factor into the recommendations below, but they aren’t necessarily at the top. Why not? Because writing doesn’t really require a high-performance laptop.
Nothing else is needed as long as it can handle the preferred writing software, a dozen or so tabs on an internet browser, and maybe another few apps. If you’re a writer searching for your next laptop, you should review these laptops to see which could be a good fit.
Best 2-in-1 laptop: Microsoft Surface Pro 8
This PC also doubles as a tablet, with a convenient detachable keyboard and a kickstand. This means the Surface Pro is versatile, especially if you want to take handwritten notes or sketches.
For this purpose, you can get Microsoft’s Slim Pen 2, which integrates seamlessly with the Surface Pro 8, by purchasing a type cover keyboard. This allows you to charge and store the pen in a special slot on the type cover keyboard, making you less likely to lose it or run out of battery.
The 3:2 display is very sharp; users have noted that the brightness is strong enough to combat glare in most environments. The 120Hz refresh rate will make the experience feel responsive and smooth if you use a Slim Pen.
What about the keyboard? It’s tactile and spacious, one of the characteristics that got it onto our list.
The battery will last just over 7 hours, provided you aren’t demanding too much of the laptop during that time. It can be charged the conventional way or through a USB-C cable.
Best cheap laptop: Lenovo Chromebook C340 15
If you’re a writer who doesn’t have a huge budget, the Lenovo Chromebook C340 15 could be a good option.
The 15.6-inch display is nice and roomy, but the design is very light overall. This doesn’t mean you can’t rely on the battery; it’ll last around 12 hours with reasonable use.
It can be configured with either a Core i3 CPU or an Intel Pentium Gold CPU, giving you a smooth experience on Chrome OS.
Like the Microsoft Surface Pro 8, the Lenovo Chromebook C340 15 is a 2-in-1 laptop/tablet combo. It can be used in tent mode as a laptop, or you can flip the screen to use the device as a tablet. You’ll enjoy typing on the keyboard, and even though the touchpad is on the small side, it still registers each gesture and movement well.
Chromebooks aren’t known for having a lot of RAM, and this one is no exception, with a maximum of 4 GB available.
As far as brightness goes, you probably won’t notice anything unless you’re in a brightly lit room or a sunny outdoor environment, in which case you’ll probably have glare issues. However, the display does have adequate brightness for moderately lit rooms like the average office environment.
Best budget laptop: Acer Swift 3 14
Acer laptops aren’t usually described as “budget-friendly,” but we included this one because it’s a slightly older model (released in 2020). This makes it much more accessible for writers with a few hundred dollars but don’t want to splash out on pricier models.
The Acer Swift 3 14 comes with 512 GB of storage and 8 GB of RAM, which is more than adequate for the average writer. The battery can effortlessly get you through the workday with nearly 14 hours of moderate use; even if you forget your charger, you can still get everything done.
The chassis is mostly metal and has a sturdy feel. The IPS display is reasonably bright and relatively sharp, so you don’t have to worry about glare in most environments. This is a compact laptop at 14 inches; however, the keyboard is decent, and the small touchpad is responsive. You’ll find a headphone jack, full-size HDMI, USB-C, and USB-A.
Best mid-range laptop: Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1
Even though this is a 16-inch laptop, it’s still relatively portable. You can get it with a Ryzen 7 7730U or Ryzen 5 7530 CPU, which are more than adequate for any task a writer needs from their laptop.
The display is big enough to comfortably accommodate side-by-side windows, and it’s pretty bright.
The touchpad is both roomy and responsive, and even though the keyboard feels a little mushy, it’s still comfortable enough for hours of typing each day.
Plenty of ports are available, and the battery lasts ~10 hours with video playback or light use.
Best overall laptop: Apple MacBook Air 13
This premium, ultraportable laptop is designed to be light but sturdy. Many lightweight laptops trade battery power for portability, but the MacBook Air 13 offers nearly 11 hours of battery power with light use.
This laptop has a bright, clear display and a keyboard that you can comfortably use for hours.
The M2 SoC is fast enough to handle the typical writer’s workload, such as web browsing, video playback, and text processing.
The MacBook Air 13 is also fanless, so you’ll never be distracted by a whirring laptop. The only real disadvantage is the limited selection of ports; this device comes with a MagSafe charging port and two USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 ports.
Our Takeaway
The great thing about choosing a laptop as a writer is that you don’t have to spend much money on a top-tier device to get the needed performance.
Whether you’re looking for a comfortable keyboard, a long-lasting battery, or overall portability, there are plenty of options.
