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Today, we’re going to discuss some of the best laptops for writers and what it takes to make a great writing companion.
Aside from fewer distractions and a comfortable environment, your laptop needs to have plenty of speed and a great keyboard.
These four factors will make all the difference in the quality and consistency of your work. If you have a machine that struggles to multitask, your flow is going to come crashing to a halt and your work will suffer.
We know all too well how important it is to have a laptop that performs. We scoured the internet in search of the best systems to help you get your work finished and finished well.
After you read our reviews, be sure to refer to our Buyer’s Guide that immediately follows. It will help make your search easier by providing important details that factor into choosing the right laptop for your needs.
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A lot of great laptops made the list. But we felt Lenovo’s ThinkPad E490 was the most well-rounded of the bunch. Its keyboard blew us away with its comfort and accessibility.
If you’re looking for a laptop that performs well and works into a tighter budget, Acer has you covered. Their Aspire E15 has great battery life and plenty of connectivity; all at an affordable price.
Choosing the best two laptops wasn’t an easy task. There are plenty of wonderful models among our rankings with features that will leave you astounded. Read on to find out what they are.
All the features and power in the world don’t mean a thing if your keyboard isn’t comfortable. Thankfully, ThinkPad delivers on all fronts.
The E490 sports Lenovo’s award-winning ergonomic keyboard, giving you comfort and great feedback with every press.
Most keyboards found on laptops are square and straight. Lenovo’s ThinkPad has curved, concave keys. Each key press has nice travel and a great response. You feel more confident when you type, allowing you to work more precisely and finish faster.
In terms of features, the E490 has plenty to help make writing more enjoyable. It has a 14-inch, anti-glare display with a resolution of 1920×1080. It’s a bit on the small size by today’s standards, but it’s enough to accommodate your word documents.
The body of the unit is a tough polymer that should easily withstand normal travel and transportation. It gets fingerprints and smudges fairly often, but it’s nothing that will detract from your work.
The hinge feels sturdy and is capable of opening up to where the screen lays flat with the keyboard. If you find yourself needing connectivity often, fret not. The ThinkPad has USB ports o’plenty. And if you have an HDMI source, you can plug it into your laptop for a bigger display.
With some upgraded specs, the E490 is a snappy system that will easily handle your writing tasks and a whole lot more.
For such an affordable laptop, the Aspire E15 gives you plenty to work with. Its keyboard is great for typing, too, as it has a lot of connectivity.
The battery life is really high, giving you nearly 15 hours of continuous use. If your job requires you to write on the go, you’ll have no worries here.
The i5 processor is snappy and efficient. If you need to multitask, this is the model for you. It can handle your workload without getting sluggish or bogged down.
As far as what’s ‘under the hood’, you get plenty of speed with 2.2GHz. And you can upgrade it to 3.2 if you should so desire.
The LED display clocks in at 15.6 inches and has a widescreen resolution of 1920 x 1080. This makes your work easy to keep track of and richly displays text and images.
Being able to see your work is vital. The display provides plenty of room and the backlit keyboard makes it even better. The unit is a tad heavy at a little over five pounds, so you’ll want to take this into consideration if you prefer something lightweight.
Yes, this laptop is expensive. Yes, you could probably do without its unique dual displays. But as a writer, this is one heck of an innovative design that will no doubt serve you well.
Directly on top of the keyboard is a smaller touchscreen. You can use this for a slew of different applications. Drawing, writing, you name it. It looks great and is truly something to behold.
Of course, you’re going to pay for it. But don’t think you’re paying extra for the neat, new screen. You’re getting one powerhouse of a workhorse. You will be able to fly through your work with speed and gusto.
It has plenty of RAM and storage space to run and keep track of your writing projects. Need to jot down some notes as you go? Forget the yellow sticky pad. Just whip out the Asus stylus and start writing above the keyboard.
Want to get an even bigger picture than what your monitor allows? Ha! Child’s play. You can expand the image to make use of both displays, giving you maximum viewing pleasure.
Speaking of maximum, you get eight cores to power everything. Applications, games, and media are zippy and snappy.
If you can get over the high cost, you’ll have a laptop that sports a wonderfully-executed concept to near-perfection.
This is a great starter project for those just learning to get into the hobby. You get everything you need to begin, and the included tools are easy to handle.
When it comes to typing, comfort can make your break your production. This is what makes the XPS 9380 so impressive.
The area where your wrists naturally rest is finished with a soft-touch material. This takes the strain off of your hands to give you a more relaxed approach.
The keyboard gives you great response and feedback with each key pressed. They have a nice, clicky feel to them and are pressure-sensitive. You also get the wonderful addition of backlighting to illuminate typing.
The design is one of elegance and usability. With the InfinityEdge display, there are virtually no borders. Your images and text are crystal clear for great readability. It is exceptionally slim while housed in a streamlined case.
The processor packs plenty of power and serves to make your work snappy and efficient. Your work is handled with ease. You can run several windows without a hitch. No bogging down and no hiccups.
The battery life on the XPS 9380 is fairly decent. You should expect to get around 10 hours before needing to plug in.
The InfinityEdge display makes it seem like you have more screen real estate than you actually do. Coupled with the backlit keyboard, your work is better managed.
You’ll notice a running theme with quality keyboards, here. A great typing setup is highly sought after in the writing community.
Asus offers up a tight, full-sized keyboard that is comfortable and inviting. The CPU is plenty powerful to allow smooth operation without strain.
The battery holds up for nearly 10 hours, which should be plenty for those wanting to work detached.
If you ever decide to upgrade this unit, there’s an easy-access panel on the side that makes the process effortless. The anti-glare monitor gives you a good amount of screen at 15.6 inches.
For good measure, Asus included a fingerprint reader and TPM security. This model is a bit on the chunky side, but it’s lighter than it looks. It makes a great writing companion for travel or home use.
While its processor is a bit dated at this point, it should provide more than enough for your writing needs.
HP delivers a well-rounded laptop that should serve as a great assistant for your writing needs. Its battery life allows you to get plenty of work done on a single charge. Recharging is quick and efficient, as well.
The hard drive included is massive, offering up 2TB with 128GB of solid-state storage. With the Intel Core i5 processor, you get quickness and stability in all your work.
The keyboard is backlit to make your writing tasks as easy as possible. And if you need connectivity, HP has your back. There are two USB ports and Bluetooth to help with your additional tools and accessories.
Perhaps most incredible is the affordable price. It’s a great option for those on a budget who don’t want to sacrifice features for savings. The touchscreen is a big bonus, too. Writers know how convenient this can make their tasks.
There are a couple of small caveats that detract from an otherwise great laptop. Some of the materials used feel a little on the cheap side.
And you’d better make sure you’re using headphones for any and all media. The speakers just aren’t up to par, and serve to take you out of the experience.
This kit is perfect for beginners. The colors are sharp and vibrant. It comes with everything needed to get you started right away.
Fast, powerful, and great battery life. Microsoft gives you lots of reasons to choose the Surface Laptop 3.
When compared to the Surface 2, this upgraded model is actually twice as powerful and speedy. It has superb graphics and top-of-the-line power.
The battery should last you nearly 12 hours. And recharging to full takes a little over an hour. This is great for those who need a quality laptop while they’re on the go.
It’s pretty light, too. It weighs in at 3.4 pounds, making it great for travel.
The 2496 x 1664-resolution display is beautiful and crisp. This makes text and images clean and clear. Everything looks bright and accurate.
With all of this power, it’s a shame that you are limited in terms of connectivity. There just isn’t that much to play with. You’ll definitely want to pick up an extra hub to make room for your add-ons and accessories.
For writing, the display makes it a dream to read your work. It’s a very powerful unit with excellent battery life. But in terms of accessibility, you’re going to be disappointed.
Wow. This is one thin laptop. At under 9mm, it’s actually one of the thinnest available. This makes it a great option for those who travel and need something that’s easy to store and carry.
You get a widescreen display that makes keeping track of your work a breeze. It is both crisp and plenty large enough.
The processor is fast and powerful. The keyboard gives you backlit support to make your writing easier regardless of your environment. For added security, Acer implemented fingerprint ID technology.
There are a couple of drawbacks that keep this model from being the best choice in laptops. One, the battery life just isn’t all that great. You’re looking somewhere around five or six hours before needing to recharge.
Second, with all these features, expect to pay a handsome sum. It cost more than laptops with better hardware and similar features.
You get plenty to work with and it’s accessible enough. But the price leaves a lot to be desired. Especially considering that you can get comparable models for less.
Although this laptop has been around for a bit, it still makes a great companion for writers. We love a good keyboard, and Asus delivers where it matters.
Each key offers great tactile feedback with excellent travel and response. And if you get tired of typing, you can switch over to tablet mode for some light tapping.
The screen is a beauty, with bright, crisp details. While its spec won’t blow your socks off, it has an adequate amount that will serve writers well.
It is very lightweight, clocking in at well under three pounds. If you’re a traveling writer, you’ll love its 2-in-1 design. It’s a great way to mix up your writing style while you’re on the go.
The only real downside depends on how in love you are with Windows. As a Google-powered device, you’re going to have to get used to their operating system if you haven’t already.
On the upside, though, this means it supports Android apps right from Google’s Play Store. Want to take a break and play one of their gazillion games on your 12.5-inch display? No problem!
This kit is an excellent choice for beginners. You get a large number of colors. If your kit is missing any diamonds, chances are there will be a similar color to use in its place.
Let’s get the bad out of the way. This baby is expensive. Especially for a laptop that’s made by a company that most people equate with cell phones. But don’t let that turn you away. This is one powerful system that will leave you impressed if you take it seriously.
If you’re not familiar with them, Huawei (pronounced wah-way) is the second-largest smartphone manufacturer in the world. They trail only behind Samsung. That’s right; they even beat Apple. In 2019 alone, Huawei raked in nearly $122 billion in revenue.
Their MateBook X Pro Signature is thin and tough. It’s got the looks, and it’ll run circles around the competition. Maybe even best of all, there’s no bloatware preinstalled.
Most laptops come with all kinds of nonsense you’d rather the manufacturer left on the cutting room floor. Huawei is sensitive to your complaints, giving you a snappy stock unit that delivers across the board.
Its keyboard is comfortable and inviting. It has a lightweight body that weighs just a fuzz under three pounds. It’s a joy to use and traveling with it is a breeze. If you prefer using a touchpad instead of a mouse, the MateBook’s pad is large and accessible.
It boasts a stunning display with screen bezels measuring some of the thinnest in the world. Huawei did an excellent job of keeping the design in check. Nothing looks flashy or arrogant. It’s nice to look at and it gets the job done.
With so many superb features, you may be wondering why it’s so low on the list. Well, for a gaming computer, you’d expect to pay the price they’re asking. Sure, it’s on the low side of a great gaming system. But we’re talking about laptops for writers.
You may not need all the bells and whistles for the cost. While they are a step above much of the competition, it’s still a lot to pay if you simply need to type.
You get a fantastic setup with only the software you need. You won’t get bombarded with bloatware you don’t need. It’s fast and powerful, making short work of nearly anything you throw at it.
There sure is a lot that goes into finding the right laptop, isn’t there? Fear not, for we are here to help. We’ve put together a handy guide to walk you through the process. Our goal is to leave you better equipped in your quest to find the best laptop for your needs.
Let’s look at the most important aspects that go into giving you a great laptop for writing. These are the features that will benefit your writing the most.
This is where the rubber meets the road. If you have a poor keyboard, you may as well forget about getting any quality writing done. You want to make sure the keys are laid out in a manner that best suits your fingers.
Does it have a comfortable area for you to rest your wrists? Are the keys concave to where your fingers can comfortably type? Do they give you great feedback when you press them? Are the keys backlit to give you greater visibility?
These are all crucial questions that need testing to ensure they fit your needs. If you aren’t comfortable with the way the keyboard feels, move on.
At the least, you want to make sure the laptop has 4GB of RAM. Eight will certainly do better but isn’t a complete necessity.
The more RAM your laptop has, the faster you will be able to access important applications and processes.
This largely depends on your preference. Some writers like to have a large display to better see what they’re typing. But a large display isn’t all you want to consider.
You need to ensure that the resolution is suitable enough to clearly show text and images. If it has low resolution, fonts will be blurry and fuzzy. The higher the resolution, the crisper everything will look.
This is vital in ensuring that the laptop’s performance is up to par. At the minimum, you should have Intel’s i5 processor. Anything below will result in sluggish operations. For the optimal usage, look for a laptop with Intel’s i7 or above.
If you travel frequently, you will want a laptop that is under five pounds. This will greatly reduce stress and strain. Many of our entries are under three pounds, which is a very reasonable and convenient weight.
Maybe the second most important aspect behind a great keyboard. If the battery doesn’t hold up, it essentially makes having a laptop pointless. Look for a unit that can hold a charge for around nine hours. Anything more is gravy.