Laptops for the Casual Worker
Laptops are the kings of versatility. Fully-featured to handle the same tasks as full-sized computers and yet small enough to carry around.
To achieve this, several compromises had to be made. You usually get less for your money with a laptop but if you need to work out of the house, a laptop is your best bet.
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 12-inch Touchscreen Laptop (THH-00001)
ranked #11 among Laptops priced over $875
A Surface device designed to be (relatively) affordable, this laptop by Microsoft can handle everyday tasks in style.
Who it's For
- Casual Worker
Compared Overall
| Bang for the Buck | |
|---|---|
| Versatility | |
| Power | |
| Storage Space | |
| Portability | |
| Battery Autonomy |
Specs
Operating System
Windows
Screen
12", 1536×1024(1536 × 1024, 1.6MP), Touch Screen
CPU
Intel Core i5-1035G1
GPU
Intel UHD Graphics
Memory
8 GB, Dual-Channel
Storage
128 GB total, Solid State (very fast)
Pricing
Asus VivoBook 15 M515 (M515DA-BS31-CB)
ranked #10 among Laptops priced $325-875
This laptop won't break any speed records, but it's a cost-effective solution to handle everyday homework and going online.
Who it's For
- Casual Worker
Compared Overall
| Bang for the Buck | |
|---|---|
| Versatility | |
| Power | |
| Storage Space | |
| Portability | |
| Battery Autonomy |
Specs
Operating System
Windows
Screen
15", 1366×798(1366 × 798, 1.1MP), Multiple Monitor Support
CPU
AMD Ryzen 3 3250U
GPU
AMD Radeon Vega 3 Graphics
Memory
8 GB
Storage
512 GB total, Media Card Reader, Solid State (very fast)
Pricing
Google Pixelbook Go (GA00519-US)
ranked #13 among Laptops priced over $875
This premium Chromebook comes with a few extras like an FHD touchscreen, extended battery life and some additional horsepower.
Who it's For
- Casual Nomad
- Multitasker
- Casual Worker
Compared Overall
| Bang for the Buck | |
|---|---|
| Versatility | |
| Power | |
| Storage Space | |
| Portability | |
| Battery Autonomy |
Specs
Operating System
Chrome OS, Android (Chrome OS)
Screen
13", 1920×1080(FHD, 1080p, 2.1MP), Multiple Monitor Support, Touch Screen
CPU
Intel Core m3-8100Y
GPU
Intel UHD Graphics 615
Memory
8 GB
Storage
64 GB total
Pricing
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15ITL05 Laptop (82FG00N5CC)
ranked #1 among Laptops priced $325-875
This laptop is an attractive choice if you need a computer to handle productivity tasks efficiently and more. Thanks to a capable CPU coupled with fas
Who it's For
- Aspiring Creative
- Multitasker
- Productivity-Focused User
Compared Overall
| Bang for the Buck | |
|---|---|
| Versatility | |
| Power | |
| Storage Space | |
| Portability |
Specs
Operating System
Windows
Screen
15", 1920×1080(FHD, 1080p, 2.1MP), IPS Display (incl. PLS, AHVA, etc.), Multiple Monitor Support
CPU
Intel Core i5-1135G7
GPU
Intel Iris Xe Graphics
Memory
8 GB, Dual-Channel
Storage
512 GB total, Media Card Reader, Solid State (very fast)
Pricing
Lenovo ThinkPad E15 Gen 2 Business Laptop (20TD003KUS)
ranked #8 among Laptops priced over $875
With an evident focus on the needs of businesses, this laptop might not have the most exciting look, but it is proven tech in a sturdy, easy-to-mainta
Who it's For
- Road Warrior
- Aspiring Creative
- Multitasker
Compared Overall
| Bang for the Buck | |
|---|---|
| Versatility | |
| Power | |
| Storage Space | |
| Portability | |
| Battery Autonomy |
Specs
Operating System
Windows
Screen
15", 1920×1080(FHD, 1080p, 2.1MP), IPS Display (incl. PLS, AHVA, etc.), Multiple Monitor Support
CPU
Intel Core i5-1135G7
GPU
Intel Iris Xe Graphics
Memory
8 GB
Storage
256 GB total, Solid State (very fast)
Pricing
HP 14-inch Laptop (14-dq2088ca)
ranked #7 among Laptops priced $325-875
If you need a laptop to handle simple homework efficiently without breaking the bank, this model could be the answer.
Who it's For
- Casual Nomad
- Casual Worker
Compared Overall
| Bang for the Buck | |
|---|---|
| Versatility | |
| Power | |
| Storage Space | |
| Portability | |
| Battery Autonomy |
Specs
Operating System
Windows
Screen
14", 1366×768(1366 × 768, 1MP), Multiple Monitor Support
CPU
Intel Core i3-1115G4
GPU
Intel UHD Graphics
Memory
8 GB
Storage
512 GB total, Media Card Reader, Solid State (very fast)
Pricing
HP x360 14-inch Touchscreen 2-in-1 Chromebook (14C-CA0030CA)
ranked #3 among Laptops priced $325-875
Who it's For
- Casual Nomad
- Multitasker
- Casual Worker
Compared Overall
| Bang for the Buck | |
|---|---|
| Versatility | |
| Power | |
| Storage Space | |
| Portability | |
| Battery Autonomy |
Specs
Operating System
Chrome OS, Android (Chrome OS)
Screen
14", 1920×1080(FHD, 1080p, 2.1MP), IPS Display (incl. PLS, AHVA, etc.), Multiple Monitor Support, Touch Screen
CPU
Intel Core i3-10110U
GPU
Intel UHD Graphics
Memory
8 GB
Storage
128 GB total, Media Card Reader, eMMC Storage (slow)
Pricing
HP ProBook 450 G8 15-inch FHD Notebook (28K93UT)
ranked #7 among Laptops priced over $875
This professional-grade laptop features everything I look for in a productivity-focused system, including fast storage, a 1080p screen and encryption
Who it's For
- Road Warrior
- Aspiring Creative
- Multitasker
Compared Overall
| Bang for the Buck | |
|---|---|
| Versatility | |
| Power | |
| Storage Space | |
| Portability | |
| Battery Autonomy |
Specs
Operating System
Windows
Screen
15", 1920×1080(FHD, 1080p, 2.1MP), Multiple Monitor Support
CPU
Intel Core i5-1135G7
GPU
Intel Iris Xe Graphics
Memory
8 GB
Storage
256 GB total, Media Card Reader, Solid State (very fast)
Pricing
Lenovo 14-inch Touchscreen Chromebook (82C10007US)
ranked #5 among Laptops priced $325-875
This serious-looking Chromebook is a bit larger, making things a bit easier to read while sacrificing some battery autonomy.
Who it's For
- Casual Worker
Compared Overall
| Bang for the Buck | |
|---|---|
| Versatility | |
| Power | |
| Storage Space | |
| Portability | |
| Battery Autonomy |
Specs
Operating System
Linux, Chrome OS, Android (Chrome OS)
Screen
14", 1366×768(1366 × 768, 1MP), Multiple Monitor Support, Touch Screen
CPU
Intel Celeron N4020
GPU
Intel UHD Graphics 600
Memory
4 GB
Storage
32 GB total, Media Card Reader, eMMC Storage (slow)
Pricing
Lenovo Ideapad Slim 7i (82A60015US)
ranked #9 among Laptops priced over $875
This laptop strikes a remarkable balance between power, ease of transportation and battery endurance. It even manages to pack a few attractive feature
Who it's For
- Road Warrior
- Aspiring Creative
- Multitasker
Compared Overall
| Bang for the Buck | |
|---|---|
| Versatility | |
| Power | |
| Storage Space | |
| Portability | |
| Battery Autonomy |
Specs
Operating System
Windows
Screen
14", 1920×1080(FHD, 1080p, 2.1MP), IPS Display (incl. PLS, AHVA, etc.), Multiple Monitor Support, Touch Screen
CPU
Intel Core i5-1135G7
GPU
Intel Iris Xe Graphics
Memory
8 GB, Dual-Channel
Storage
512 GB total, Media Card Reader
Pricing
HP x360 14-inch Chromebook (14c-ca0020ca)
ranked #2 among Laptops priced $325-875
This Chromebook can fold onto itself for those times a keyboard would get in the way, making it an attractive solution if you've been looking for a la
Who it's For
- Multitasker
- Casual Worker
Compared Overall
| Bang for the Buck | |
|---|---|
| Versatility | |
| Power | |
| Storage Space | |
| Portability | |
| Battery Autonomy |
Specs
Operating System
Linux, Chrome OS, Android (Chrome OS)
Screen
14", 1920×1080(FHD, 1080p, 2.1MP), IPS Display (incl. PLS, AHVA, etc.), Multiple Monitor Support, Touch Screen
CPU
Intel Core i3-10110U
GPU
Intel UHD Graphics
Memory
4 GB
Storage
64 GB total, Media Card Reader, eMMC Storage (slow)
Pricing
Acer 14-inch Chromebook 314 (CB314-1H-C1S4)
ranked #8 among Laptops priced $325-875
This Chromebook has a larger screen, helping readability without compromising ease of transportation too much.
Who it's For
- Casual Worker
Compared Overall
| Bang for the Buck | |
|---|---|
| Versatility | |
| Power | |
| Storage Space | |
| Portability | |
| Battery Autonomy |
Specs
Operating System
Linux, Chrome OS, Android (Chrome OS)
Screen
14", 1366×786(1366 × 786, 1.1MP), Multiple Monitor Support
CPU
Intel Celeron N4000
GPU
Intel UHD Graphics 600
Memory
4 GB
Storage
32 GB total, Media Card Reader, eMMC Storage (slow)
Pricing
Asus ExpertBook P2451 14-inch laptop (P2451FA-Q73P-CB)
ranked #6 among Laptops priced over $875
This laptop is all about productivity and security, and thanks to straightforward construction and detailed maintenance instructions, it can also be q
Who it's For
- Serious Multitasker
- Graphic Designer
- Serious Music Producer
- Productivity-Focused User
Compared Overall
| Bang for the Buck | |
|---|---|
| Versatility | |
| Power | |
| Storage Space | |
| Portability | |
| Battery Autonomy |
Specs
Operating System
Windows
Screen
14", 1920×1080(FHD, 1080p, 2.1MP), IPS Display (incl. PLS, AHVA, etc.), Multiple Monitor Support
CPU
Intel Core i7-10510U
GPU
Intel UHD Graphics
Memory
16 GB
Storage
512 GB total, Media Card Reader, Solid State (very fast)
Pricing
Asus ZenBook 14-inch Laptop (UM431DA-BH51-CB)
ranked #6 among Laptops priced $325-875
This premium-looking laptop is a solid choice for productivity on the go and thanks to its small size and plentiful ports, it gives you plenty of opti
Who it's For
- Aspiring Creative
- Multitasker
- Productivity-Focused User
Compared Overall
| Bang for the Buck | |
|---|---|
| Versatility | |
| Power | |
| Storage Space | |
| Portability | |
| Battery Autonomy |
Specs
Operating System
Windows
Screen
14", 1920×1080(FHD, 1080p, 2.1MP), Multiple Monitor Support
CPU
AMD Ryzen 5 3500U
GPU
AMD Radeon Vega 8 Mobile
Memory
8 GB
Storage
512 GB total, Media Card Reader, Solid State (very fast)
Pricing
Asus ExpertBook P1 15-inch professional laptop (P1510CJA-C71P-CA)
ranked #10 among Laptops priced over $875
This laptop is a pretty compelling solution for productivity and has a few enterprise-class features.
A few things are missing to make me happy: a
Who it's For
- Serious Multitasker
- Graphic Designer
- Productivity-Focused User
Compared Overall
| Bang for the Buck | |
|---|---|
| Versatility | |
| Power | |
| Storage Space | |
| Portability | |
| Battery Autonomy |
Specs
Operating System
Windows
Screen
15", 1920×1080(FHD, 1080p, 2.1MP), Multiple Monitor Support
CPU
Intel Core i7-1065G7
GPU
Intel Iris Plus Graphics
Memory
12 GB
Storage
512 GB total, Media Card Reader, Solid State (very fast)
Pricing
HP 14-inch (14-fq0008ca)
ranked #9 among Laptops priced $325-875
This laptop is as modest as it gets, but if you need more versatility than a Chromebook can offer, this could be worth a look.
Luckily, this laptop
Who it's For
- Casual Worker
Compared Overall
| Bang for the Buck | |
|---|---|
| Versatility | |
| Power | |
| Storage Space | |
| Portability | |
| Battery Autonomy |
Specs
Operating System
Windows
Screen
14", 1366×768(1366 × 768, 1MP), Multiple Monitor Support
CPU
AMD 3020e
GPU
AMD Radeon Vega 3 Graphics
Memory
4 GB
Storage
64 GB total, Media Card Reader, eMMC Storage (slow)
Pricing
Samsung Galaxy Book S (NP767XCM-K01CA)
ranked #12 among Laptops priced over $875
With a focus on ease of transportation and battery autonomy, this laptop is an excellent travel companion, even if you need to remain productive away
Who it's For
- Road Warrior
- Aspiring Creative
- Multitasker
Compared Overall
| Bang for the Buck | |
|---|---|
| Versatility | |
| Power | |
| Storage Space | |
| Portability | |
| Battery Autonomy |
Specs
Operating System
Windows
Screen
13", 1920×1080(FHD, 1080p, 2.1MP), Touch Screen
CPU
Intel Core i5-L16G7
GPU
Intel UHD Graphics
Memory
8 GB
Storage
256 GB total, Media Card Reader, Solid State (very fast)
Pricing
MSI GF75 Thin 17-inch laptop (GF75 10UEK-003CA)
ranked #2 among Laptops priced over $875
This powerful PC is a compelling option if you're looking to play games or handle graphical tasks away from your desk.
Who it's For
- Serious Video Editor
- Serious Gamer
- Serious Multitasker
- Graphic Designer
Compared Overall
| Bang for the Buck | |
|---|---|
| Versatility | |
| Power | |
| Storage Space | |
| Portability | |
| Battery Autonomy |
Specs
Operating System
Windows
Screen
17", 1920×1080(FHD, 1080p, 2.1MP), IPS Display (incl. PLS, AHVA, etc.), Multiple Monitor Support
CPU
Intel Core i7-10750H
GPU
Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060, 6 GB
Memory
16 GB, Dual-Channel
Storage
512 GB total, Solid State (very fast)
Pricing
Asus ROG Strix G15 15-inch Gaming Laptop (G513QC-BS91-CB)
ranked #1 among Laptops priced over $875
If you're looking for a relatively affordable computer for visual work and even gaming away from your desk, this laptop could be of interest. The abse
Who it's For
- Serious Video Editor
- Serious Gamer
- Serious Multitasker
- Graphic Designer
Compared Overall
| Bang for the Buck | |
|---|---|
| Versatility | |
| Power | |
| Storage Space | |
| Portability | |
| Battery Autonomy |
Specs
Operating System
Windows
Screen
15", 1920×1080(FHD, 1080p, 2.1MP), IPS Display (incl. PLS, AHVA, etc.), Multiple Monitor Support
CPU
AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX
GPU
Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050, 4 GB
Memory
16 GB
Storage
512 GB total
Pricing
Acer Nitro 5 15-inch Gaming Laptop (AN515-55-52H0)
ranked #3 among Laptops priced over $875
This laptop could be an attractive option if you need to work graphic creation suites away from the desk, and it can also handle quite a few games whe
Who it's For
- Serious Gamer
- Video Editor
- Graphic Designer
- Multitasker
Compared Overall
| Bang for the Buck | |
|---|---|
| Versatility | |
| Power | |
| Storage Space | |
| Portability | |
| Battery Autonomy |
Specs
Operating System
Windows
Screen
15", 1920×1080(FHD, 1080p, 2.1MP), IPS Display (incl. PLS, AHVA, etc.), Multiple Monitor Support
CPU
Intel Core i5-10300H
GPU
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650, 4 GB
Memory
8 GB
Storage
512 GB total, Solid State (very fast)