The best Windows 10 Pro and Windows 11 Pro laptops in 2024: top notebooks for productivity

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REASONS TO BUY
REASONS TO AVOID
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REASONS TO BUY
REASONS TO AVOID

Finding the best Windows 11 Pro laptop can be a daunting task, especially given all the incredible options on the market. Fortunately, we're here to help you sort the wheat from the chaff as we focus on laptops that come with Windows 11 Pro pre-installed, providing advanced users and professionals the enhanced features, control, and security they need directly out of the box. 

While Windows 10 Home suffices for the average user, Windows 11 Pro offers the cutting-edge updates and comprehensive tools essential for demanding business tasks and power users seeking the utmost in functionality and customization.

For those ready to embrace the latest Microsoft has to offer, including innovative features of Windows 11 alongside the professional-grade capabilities of the Pro version, our curated list of the best laptop models with the latest Microsoft professional OS is designed to meet these specific needs without the hassle of upgrading from Home editions. 

Our top picks for the best Windows laptop models with Windows 11 Pro are selected for their superior technology, powerful performance, and the ability to leverage the full potential of the operating system's advanced features.

Each laptop has been rigorously tested and compared to ensure they stand out in crucial areas such as processing power, memory, graphics performance, battery longevity, and overall design quality. We also weigh factors like connectivity options, portability, and value for money to provide a well-rounded view of what each model offers. 

Discover our recommendations for the best Windows 11 Pro laptops, and let our price comparison tool assist you in finding the most competitive deals online. Whether you're seeking premium hardware to match the professional capabilities of Windows 11 Pro or a reliable workhorse for business and advanced personal use, our guide aims to help you make an informed decision with ease.

The best Windows 10 Pro and Windows 11 Pro laptops in 2024

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Below you'll find full write-ups for each of the best Windows 10 and Windows 11 Pro laptop models in our list. We've tested each one extensively, so you can be sure that our recommendations can be trusted. 

Windows 10 Pro

HP Elite Dragonfly

(Image credit: HP)

The best Windows 10 Pro laptop overall

Best Windows 10 Pro laptop for the traveling professional

Specifications

CPU: 8th-generation Intel Core i5 – i7
Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620
RAM: 8GB - 16GB
Screen: 13.3" diagonal Full HD touch display – Full HD touch Sure View display
Storage: 256 GB SSD

Reasons to buy

+
Impeccable design
+
Excellent battery life

Reasons to avoid

-
Pretty expensive

The HP Elite Dragonfly is our pick for the best Windows 10 Pro laptop thanks to its combination of portability and power. It’s also one of the most beautiful business laptops we've tested in a long time, touting a thin and light design – complete with incredible speakers, a sublime keyboard, and the optional 550 nits 4K display – that’s absolutely hard to contend with. 

This hybrid gets our coveted five-star rating, which already says a lot as we don’t give that out lightly. And, did we mention it also boasts an excellent battery life, which gets you a long way when working on the go?

But a feature that might appeal to traveling professionals is the LTE integration that'll allow users to enjoy hassle-free internet connectivity wherever they are. 

Read the full review: HP Elite Dragonfly

best Windows pro laptop: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon

The best business Windows 10 Pro laptop

The best all-round Windows 10 Pro laptop

Specifications

CPU: Intel Core i7-7600U vPro
Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 620
RAM: 16GB
Screen: 14-inch, 2560 x 1440 pixels
Storage: 1TB SSD

Reasons to buy

+
Smaller and lighter in every way to previous versions
+
Improved Microsoft Precision Touchpad

Reasons to avoid

-
Expensive

Lenovo's range of ThinkPad laptops are some of the very best business laptops ever made – not to mention, one of the best Lenovo laptops to consider if you want business grade capabilities, and with Windows 10 Pro installed, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon is our pick for the best all-round Windows 10 Pro laptop money can buy. 

It comes in a slim and stylish design, yet packs a lot of power into its svelte body, with a powerful Intel Core i7-7600U vPro processor, 16GB of RAM, and a battery life of up to 15.5 hours. Despite its sleek build, it has lots of ports: 2 x USB Type-C, 2 x USB Type-A, 1 x HDMI 2.0, 3.5mm combi jack, and a Kensington lock. 

If you're looking for an absolute workhorse of a Windows 10 Pro laptop, then this is a fantastic choice.

Read our full review: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon

Acer ConceptD 7

(Image credit: Acer)

The best creative Windows 10 Pro laptop

The best Windows 10 Pro laptop for creatives

Specifications

CPU: 9th-generation Intel Core i7
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 – 2080
RAM: 16GB – 32GB
Screen: 15.6" 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) 16:9 IPS
Storage: 1TB

Reasons to buy

+
Very powerful
+
Cheaper than MacBook Pro
+
Good selection of ports

Reasons to avoid

-
Expensive
-
Plain design
-
Not as thin and light as MacBook Pro

This formidable Windows 10 Pro laptop is capable of handling complex and demanding tasks such as 3D rendering, thanks in part to its Nvidia RTX graphics, and was designed specifically with creative professionals in mind. 

Beyond that sheer power it delivers, it also offers decent port selection, a minimalist solid white design, and that stunning Pantone-validated 4K IPS display. Worried about the white design getting dull and yellow-ish over time? The laptop has a stain-resistant coating that'll protect it from yellowing and marking from dirt, ink, and coffee. 

The Acer ConceptD 7 is a versatile device in terms of connectivity. It has 1 x Thunderbolt 3 USB Type-C, 3 x USB 3.1, 1 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x mini DisplayPort 1.4, and an Ethernet port for wired networking. 

Obviously, it’s still pretty pricey, but if you’re looking for a Windows-powered MacBook alternative for video and photo editing, it’s a great option.

Read the full review: Acer ConceptD 7

Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (2019)

(Image credit: Dell)

The best Windows 10 Pro 2-in-1 laptop

Versatile Windows 10 Pro laptop that's sleek and powerful

Specifications

CPU: 10th-generation Intel Core i3 – i7
Graphics: Intel UHD – Iris Plus Graphics
RAM: 4GB – 16GB
Screen: 13.4" FHD+ (1920 x 1200) InfinityEdge Non-Touch Anti-Glare – 13.4" UHD+ (3840 x 2400) InfinityEdge Touch Anti-Reflecitve
Storage: 256GB – 512GB SSD

Reasons to buy

+
Stunning, extremely portable design
+
Great performance
+
Gorgeous, responsive screen

Reasons to avoid

-
Battery life is just ok
-
Only decent sound
-
Lid hard to open

You’ll be hard-pressed to find fault in the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (2019). Design-wise, not only is it incredibly compact and lightweight, but it also boasts that gorgeous responsive display, stunning woven design, and an easy-to-use keyboard. But, it’s more than just looks. 

It’s pretty impressive as well when it comes to performance, thanks to its 10th-generation Intel Core processors and Intel Iris Plus graphics. The display is made of Corning Gorilla Glass 5, so the touchscreen will feel incredible beneath your fingertips. Its bezels are exceptionally thin too, which not only gives you more screen real estate but also gives the laptop a stunning minimalist look.

You can get this brilliant 2-in-1 with Windows 10 Pro installed, which means it's earned its place in this list.

Read the full review: Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (2019)

The best Windows 11 Pro laptops

Dell Latitude 9330 2-in-1

Best Windows 11 Pro Laptop overall (Image credit: Future)

The best Windows 11 Pro laptop overall

Best Windows 11 Pro Laptop overall

Specifications

CPU: 12th Gen Intel Core i7
Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7
RAM: 16GB
Screen: 13.3 inches
Storage: 500GB

Reasons to buy

+
2-in-1 design allows for greater flexibility
+
Responsive touchscreen
+
Quick processor
+
Lightweight design and build
+
Privacy and security features built-in

Reasons to avoid

-
Not a 4K display
-
Expensive compared to competition

Dell's Latitude line has always been one to keep an eye on for business uses. This iteration is no exception. The 2-in-1 capabilities, multi-point touchscreen, snappy response, and powerful internal computing power makes this a dream to work on. 

To make this laptop more interesting, there are a handful of built-in privacy and security features to make sure that your work stays your work. These include privacy detection, auto lock when you walk away, the ability to unlock with Windows Hello, and more.

All of the laptop's ports are on the sides, with two Thunderbolt ports on the left and one USB-C on the right with a headphone jack as well.

Read the full review: Dell Latitude 9330 2-in-1 Laptop

An MSI Creator Z17 on a wooden table

Best Windows 11 Pro laptop with stylus support (Image credit: Future)

The best Windows 11 Pro laptop for creators

Best Windows 11 Pro laptop with stylus support

Specifications

CPU: 12th-gen Intel Core i7 – i9
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 TI – Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 TI
RAM: 8GB – 16GB
Screen: 17 inches
Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD – 2TB NVMe SSD

Reasons to buy

+
Excellent build quality
+
Great performance
+
Beautiful 17 inch screen

Reasons to avoid

-
Expensive
-
Weak speakers

The 17-inch MSI Creator Z17 is a powerful laptop with stylus support and Windows 11 Pro installed. This machine is excellent for a creator's workstation due to the powerhouse CPU and graphics under the hood. It also has quieter fans, allowing for more prolonged and tedious work sessions without having the laptop sound like a fighter jet taking off.

Read the full review: MSI Creator Z17

How to choose the best Windows 10 Pro laptops for you?

When choosing the best Windows 10 Pro laptops for yourself, start by evaluating what kind of tasks you need the laptop for and the features that are essential for you.

Based on your requirements, you'll want to narrow down the laptop's specs, like the CPU, RAM, GPU, storage, and screen size. If you're going to use the laptop for gaming or heavy graphical editing, then it's best to opt for a powerful one with a large screen and competent graphics card and CPU.

Look out for the laptop's connectivity options. Sleeker and lighter ultrabooks often lack plenty of ports but offer great portability. 

If you're mostly on the road and primarily need the laptop for general business work, then a lightweight and thin 13-inch model should serve you well. 

Also, look out for the keyboard's quality, battery life, speaker performance, webcam, and overall design.

The best Windows Pro laptops: How we test

We've tested and compared the best Windows 10 Pro laptops on numerous points, from their CPU and graphics to their size and connectivity options. 

We evaluated their overall performance, how well they ran different apps, their battery life, and the size and quality of the screen. We examined the weight and sleekness of the laptops, along with their overall design and durability. If they had features that made them travel-friendly, we made sure to mention that. 

We tested the keyboards, trackpads, webcams, and speaker performance and also checked whether they included LTE integration, among other aspects. 

John Loeffler
Components Editor

John (He/Him) is the Components Editor here at TechRadar and he is also a programmer, gamer, activist, and Brooklyn College alum currently living in Brooklyn, NY. 


Named by the CTA as a CES 2020 Media Trailblazer for his science and technology reporting, John specializes in all areas of computer science, including industry news, hardware reviews, PC gaming, as well as general science writing and the social impact of the tech industry.


You can find him online on Threads @johnloeffler.


Currently playing: Baldur's Gate 3 (just like everyone else).

With contributions from