The best laptop for writers in 2024: the top picks for authors, bloggers, and journalists
We're on the hunt for the best laptop for writers available today
1. Best overall
2. Best Windows
3. Best MacBook
4. Best 2-in-1
5. Best 2-in-1 Chromebook
6. Best Ultrabook
7. Best budget
8. Best 5G
9. How to choose
10. How we test
The best laptops for writers set themselves apart from most of our 'best of' lists, because for once we're not putting performance at the fore. For a writer looking for the ideal laptop to work on their next script or novel, a beefy graphics card or high-end CPU isn't a necessity - so we have to look elsewhere.
Writing might not require the most powerful internal components, but there are plenty of important factors to consider here. Portability, good battery life, and a well-designed physical chassis are all vital elements, especially for anyone planning to write on the go. We've paid particular attention to the keyboard and trackpad when curating this list, since writers will spend plenty of time typing away.
With all the various options out there, though, it's easy to get overwhelmed. Fortunately, not only have we extensively tested all of the laptops on this list ourselves, but all of us are writers, so we know intuitively what you need and which laptop out there is right for you because they are great for us.
With these criteria in mind, these are our picks for this year's best laptop for our fellow writers out there. Our selections span the crème de la crème, from the best 2-in-1 laptops to the best MacBooks, best Chromebooks, and best Windows laptops for filling up that digital blank page with your written work.
The best laptop for writers in 2024
Why you can trust TechRadar
Below you'll find full write-ups for each of the best laptops for writers in our list. We've tested each one extensively, so you can be sure that our recommendations can be trusted.
The best laptop for writers overall
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
Google Pixelbook Go may not be the most powerful Google Chromebook – that title belongs to Google Pixelbook – but it is currently the best Chromebook in our view. It’s also still plenty powerful without the premium price.
Additionally, it has a few things going for it beyond the specs. Its battery life, for instance, is a little over 11 hours, so you can write for ten hours and still have enough juice left for unwinding with a good Netflix show. It also boasts an incredible keyboard, perfect for long hours of typing, and that rare 1080p webcam so you come out sharp as a tack when video conferencing with clients.
Google may have sacrificed some useful features for the price, but this is an excellent laptop for writers.
Read the full review: Google Pixelbook Go
The best Windows laptop for writers
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
As writers, we know what it takes for a laptop to be an excellent portable for wordsmiths, and we recommend this new entry to Microsoft’s Surface line. It comes with a comfortable keyboard, a stunning screen, and an Alcantara finish that helps make typing a more luxurious experience.
Writers who travel or prefer to work at cafes will appreciate its lightness. At just 0.57 inches thick and weighing in at just 2.79 pounds (1.3 kg), carrying around in your bag while commuting is a breeze. But even with the Surface Laptop 4 being so thin, it still feels incredibly robust.
Freelancers will also love that it’s affordable. Its insufficient ports cannot stop this from being a great laptop for writers.
Read the full review: Surface Laptop 4
The best MacBook for writers
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
Apple's next-generation M2 model builds on its predecessor, the MacBook Air (M1, 2020), and has made some upgrades that writers will appreciate, like a larger 13.6 screen, new 1080p FaceTime HD camera, and, of course, blazing fast M2 processor.
While still the company's thinnest and lightest laptop for writers, this redesigned M2-powered Air is more powerful, bigger, and lighter than ever, touting a performance worthy of video and photo editing, let alone seeing writers through that book or those articles they're working on.
That's without mentioning its brilliant battery life, which is a boon for those always on the road. According to Apple, you'll enjoy up to 15 hours of wireless web browsing or up to 18 hours of video. That's a full day's work before needing to plug it in - especially handy if you're regularly moving.
Read the full review: MacBook Air (M2, 2022)
The best 2-in-1 laptop for writers
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
Everyone is on the 14-inch bandwagon, including HP’s flagship line, the Spectre x360. The older 13-inch model has always secured a place in the best laptop guides, so it’s no surprise that the 14-inch is following in its footsteps.
This new model comes with the same attractive gem-cut design and a bit more prowess, thanks to the Tiger Lake chips that power it. Plus, it has a larger screen and more screen real estate.
The Spectre x360 is just the ticket for authors, journalists, and bloggers who need to spread out, whether they’re writing their next piece, researching, or fact-checking. Upgrade to the OLED touch display model, which boasts a 3K2K screen, and not only is there even more screen space, but any media consumption after work is even more immersive thanks to the stunning OLED-quality visuals.
Read our HP Spectre x360 review.
The best 2-in-1 Chromebook for writers
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
Before Google rolled out the Pixelbook and showed us exactly what the best Chromebooks should be, the Asus Chromebook Flip was the Google laptop many Google laptops aspired to be.
The Asus Chromebook Flip was a game-changer with a full Intel Core processor and a full-HD display. These days, in the shadow of the Google Pixelbook, the Asus Chromebook Flip is the best Chromebook for you if you want the Pixelbook’s key features but cannot afford its steep price.
The Asus Chromebook Flip has been specifically designed for tablet use, with a clever magnetic clasp that pulls the screen lid tight to the notebook's underside. This neat detail helps the 2-in-1 Chromebook feel like one solid machine rather than a foldable electronic one.
If you're on a budget, this is one of the best Asus laptops.
Read the full review: Asus Chromebook Flip
The best Ultrabook for writers
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
The Dell XPS line has been putting out bangers for years, and the 2022 version of the compact XPS 13 ultrabook is no exception - even if the aesthetic redesign from the 2020 model proved somewhat controversial within the TechRadar team.
In any case, this is still a fierce productivity laptop for students or fast-moving professionals, ultra-portable thanks to its lightweight chassis and 13.4-inch display, now loaded with even better performance thanks to Intel's 12th-gen laptop CPUs.
The webcam is only 720p (unlike the superior 1080p ones found in many modern ultrabooks) and its compact design means it sacrifices physical ports for a thinner frame, but with an entry price of just $899, it's very hard to argue against the Dell XPS 13's price-to-performance offering. This is without a doubt one of our favorite compact laptops right now.
Read our full Dell XPS 13 (2022) review
The budget laptop for writers
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
If you're looking for a great-value Windows laptop for writing on, then the Acer Aspire 5 (2022) remains an excellent budget choice. This 14-inch laptop cuts a few corners to hit its low price, but there aren't enough compromises her that would make this laptop a bad choice for any writer.
We tested the entry-level model which comes with an 11th-gen Intel processor. That's quite an old CPU these days, but it's still a dependable workhorse that will keep Windows 11 running without issue, and thanks to its efficient design, it'll also give you good battery life as well, allowing you to write almost anywhere
If you're a writer looking for an affordable laptop to work on that's also dependable, this remains a very strong choice. For a newer model, check out the Acer Aspire 5 Spin 14 (2023).
Read our full Acer Aspire 5 (2022) review
The best 5G laptop for writers
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
Microsoft's Surface Pro 9 5G builds on the design changes that the Surface Pro 8 introduced for an even more powerful and portable experience. .
As a 5G system, the Surface Pro 9 5G stands ready to keep you connected at home and on the go without the need for a Wi-Fi connection, making this an ideal solution for writers on the go. It also comes with the new Windows 11 operating system pre-installed and one of the best webcams we’ve used on a laptop.
With its bigger screen, nested and slim pencil, and day-beating battery life, the Surface Pro 9 5G moves Microsoft's Surface line in the right direction, but the custom ARM chip brings with it a host of hiccups.
Read the full review: Surface Pro 9 5G
How to choose the best laptop for writers for you
When choosing the best laptop for writers, there are several key factors you'll want to consider when weighing up your options. First and foremost, have a budget in mind. Given the wide range in costs, this could immediately whittle down the options, allowing you to focus only on those you're able and willing to afford.
Next, consider any platform preferences you have. Used to working with Windows? Will you only consider Apple? Happy to go for Google? This factor will ensure you're only looking in the right place.
After that, consider what you'll be using it for. Generally, writers may not necessarily need the fastest processing speeds or largest storage options. Still, journalists who are also expected to store and edit imagery may need more powerful machines.
If so, consider features like CPU, graphics, RAM, and storage capacity. Finally, think about other features you might find useful. Those regularly on the move may want something robust but light, while others may find use in the versatility provided by laptops that can convert to tablet form, too.
The best laptop for writers: How we test
With a wealth of options for the best laptop for writers, we've aimed to provide a thorough rundown of the top options on the market. We've done this by pitting each laptop's key features against each other, analyzing speed, power, storage, graphics, and screen size.
Given the particular requirements of writers and journalists, however, we've also made a point to note other factors that could prove key in your decision-making. As many writers spend a lot of time in front of their screens, we've looked at what each laptop's display offers, including whether additional considerations like blue light filers are included.
For the same reason, we've also considered ease of use and comfort, trackpad performance, port and storage options, and - for those regularly on the move - we've also tested each laptop's battery life and portability.
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Muskaan is TechRadar’s UK-based Computing writer. She has always been a passionate writer and has had her creative work published in several literary journals and magazines. Her debut into the writing world was a poem published in The Times of Zambia, on the subject of sunflowers and the insignificance of human existence in comparison.
Growing up in Zambia, Muskaan was fascinated with technology, especially computers, and she's joined TechRadar to write about the latest GPUs, laptops and recently anything AI related. If you've got questions, moral concerns or just an interest in anything ChatGPT or general AI, you're in the right place.
Muskaan also somehow managed to install a game on her work MacBook's Touch Bar, without the IT department finding out (yet).
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