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 #9 among Laptops priced $1000-1500
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 10, S Edition
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
MSI Stealth GS66 12UHS-216CA 15-inch Gaming Laptop (GS66 12UHS216CA)
ranked #7 among Laptops priced over $1500
If you need a gaming PC you can take on the road with you and can afford to iron out most compromises, this could be the laptop you need.
Who it's For
- Serious Video Editor
- Serious Gamer
- Hardcore Graphic Designer
- Serious Multitasker
Compared Overall
| Bang for the Buck | |
|---|---|
| Versatility | |
| Power | |
| Storage Space | |
| Portability |
Specs
Operating System
Windows 11, Pro Edition
Screen
15", 3840×2160(4K, UHD, 8.3MP), IPS Display (incl. PLS, AHVA, etc.), Multiple Monitor Support
CPU
Intel Core i9-12900H
GPU
Nvidia Geforce RTX 3080 Ti, 16 GB
Memory
32 GB, Dual-Channel
Storage
1 TB total, Solid State (very fast)
Pricing
Google Pixelbook Go (GA00519-US)
ranked #9 among Laptops priced $400-1000
This premium Chromebook comes with a few extras like an FHD touchscreen, extended battery life and some additional horsepower.
Who it's For
- Multitasker
- Casual Worker
Compared Overall
| Bang for the Buck | |
|---|---|
| Versatility | |
| Power | |
| Storage Space | |
| Portability | |
| Battery Autonomy |
Specs
Operating System
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
MSI GE76 Raider 17-inch Gaming Laptop (GE76 12UGS-268CA)
ranked #6 among Laptops priced over $1500
This powerful PC would be a bit cumbersome to carry around on a regular basis, but if you can't dedicate a spot for your gaming PC, this format works
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 11, Home Edition
Screen
17", 1920×1080(FHD, 1080p, 2.1MP), IPS Display (incl. PLS, AHVA, etc.), Multiple Monitor Support
CPU
Intel Core i7-12700H
GPU
Nvidia Geforce RTX 3070 Ti, 8 GB
Memory
32 GB
Storage
1 TB total, Media Card Reader, Solid State (very fast)
Pricing
Asus ExpertBook P1 15-inch professional laptop (P1510CJA-C51P-CA)
ranked #8 among Laptops priced $1000-1500
This laptop is a compelling solution for productivity and has a few enterprise-class features.
Under the hood, I have a few notes: a bit of RAM is
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 10, Pro Edition
Screen
15", 1920×1080(FHD, 1080p, 2.1MP), Multiple Monitor Support
CPU
Intel Core i5-1035G1
GPU
Intel Iris Plus Graphics
Memory
8 GB, Dual-Channel
Storage
512 GB total, Media Card Reader, Solid State (very fast)
Pricing
Asus ROG Strix Scar 15-inch Gaming Laptop (G533ZW-BS91-CB)
ranked #3 among Laptops priced over $1500
If you need to bring your Gaming PC on the road with you, this could be a serious contender. Thanks to its high-end components, you can expect impress
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 11, Home Edition
Screen
15", 1920×1080(FHD, 1080p, 2.1MP), IPS Display (incl. PLS, AHVA, etc.), Multiple Monitor Support
CPU
Intel Core i9-12900H
GPU
Nvidia Geforce RTX 3070 Ti, 8 GB
Memory
16 GB, Dual-Channel
Storage
1 TB total, Solid State (very fast)
Pricing
Asus Chromebook Flip C434 (C434TA-DSM4T)
ranked #11 among Laptops priced $400-1000
Chromebooks can be quite versatile, but the most affordable models can come a little short for more advanced users. By investing more in a model like
Who it's For
- Multitasker
- Casual Worker
Compared Overall
| Bang for the Buck | |
|---|---|
| Versatility | |
| Power | |
| Storage Space | |
| Portability | |
| Battery Autonomy |
Specs
Operating System
Android, Chrome OS
Screen
14", 1920×1080(FHD, 1080p, 2.1MP), Multiple Monitor Support, Touch Screen
CPU
Intel Core m3-8100Y
GPU
Intel UHD Graphics 615
Memory
4 GB
Storage
64 GB total, Media Card Reader
Pricing
Lenovo ThinkPad E15 Gen 3 15-inch Business Laptop (20YG003DUS)
ranked #1 among Laptops priced $1000-1500
This business-grade laptop is a natural fit for anyone with an appetite for productivity thanks to its powerful specs and speedy storage.
Thanks to
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 10, Pro Edition
Screen
15", 1920×1080(FHD, 1080p, 2.1MP), IPS Display (incl. PLS, AHVA, etc.), Multiple Monitor Support
CPU
AMD Ryzen 7 5700U
GPU
AMD Radeon RX Vega 8
Memory
8 GB
Storage
256 GB total, Solid State (very fast)
Pricing
Lenovo ThinkPad E15 Gen 2 Business Laptop (20TD003KUS)
ranked #6 among Laptops priced $1000-1500
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 10, Pro Edition
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
Lenovo ThinkPad E15 Gen 3 Business Laptop (20YG003EUS)
ranked #3 among Laptops priced $400-1000
This business-focused laptop is a natural fit for anyone with an appetite for productivity thanks to its powerful specs and speedy storage.
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 10, Pro Edition
Screen
15", 1920×1080(FHD, 1080p, 2.1MP), IPS Display (incl. PLS, AHVA, etc.), Multiple Monitor Support
CPU
AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
GPU
AMD Radeon RX Vega 7
Memory
8 GB
Storage
256 GB total, Solid State (very fast)
Pricing
Lenovo Ideapad Slim 7i (82A60015US)
ranked #7 among Laptops priced $1000-1500
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 10, Home Edition
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 14-inch Laptop (14-fq0038ca)
ranked #8 among Laptops priced $400-1000
This cost-efficient laptop could be a compelling option for everyday tasks and entertainment. It's not the most powerful PC out there, but it has a qu
Who it's For
- Multitasker
- Casual Worker
Compared Overall
| Bang for the Buck | |
|---|---|
| Versatility | |
| Power | |
| Storage Space | |
| Portability | |
| Battery Autonomy |
Specs
Operating System
Windows 10, Home Edition
Screen
14", 1920×1080(FHD, 1080p, 2.1MP), IPS Display (incl. PLS, AHVA, etc.), 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
HP x360 14-inch Touchscreen 2-in-1 Chromebook (14C-CA0030CA)
ranked #2 among Laptops priced $400-1000
Who it's For
- Multitasker
- Casual Worker
Compared Overall
| Bang for the Buck | |
|---|---|
| Versatility | |
| Power | |
| Storage Space | |
| Portability | |
| Battery Autonomy |
Specs
Operating System
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
Asus C523NA 15-inch Chromebook (C523NA-BB02-CB)
ranked #12 among Laptops priced under $400
With an unusually large screen for a Chromebook, this model trades some of its portability to give the user additional room to work. If you find readi
Who it's For
- Casual Worker
Compared Overall
| Bang for the Buck | |
|---|---|
| Versatility | |
| Power | |
| Storage Space | |
| Portability | |
| Battery Autonomy |
Specs
Operating System
Android, Chrome OS
Screen
15", 1366×768(1366 × 768, 1MP), Multiple Monitor Support
CPU
Intel Celeron N3350
GPU
Intel HD Graphics 505
Memory
4 GB
Storage
64 GB total, Media Card Reader, eMMC Storage (slow)
Pricing
Lenovo ThinkBook 15 Gen 2 ITL Laptop (20VE006UUS)
ranked #3 among Laptops priced $1000-1500
Designed with a focus on productivity, this laptop is strong enough to get complex jobs done, even if you tend to handle several of those at once.
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 10, Pro Edition
Screen
15", 1920×1080(FHD, 1080p, 2.1MP), IPS Display (incl. PLS, AHVA, etc.), Multiple Monitor Support, Touch Screen
CPU
Intel Core i7-1165G7
GPU
Intel Iris Xe Graphics
Memory
16 GB, Dual-Channel
Storage
512 GB total, Solid State (very fast)
Pricing
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 14-inch Gaming Laptop (GA401QM-BS91-CB)
ranked #2 among Laptops priced over $1500
This laptop does a decent job both as a gaming PC and as a laptop you can carry around all day. If a 14" screen is comfortable to you, this is a compe
Who it's For
- Serious Video Editor
- Road Warrior
- Serious Gamer
- Serious Multitasker
Compared Overall
| Bang for the Buck | |
|---|---|
| Versatility | |
| Power | |
| Storage Space | |
| Portability | |
| Battery Autonomy |
Specs
Operating System
Windows 10, Home Edition
Screen
14", 1920×1080(FHD, 1080p, 2.1MP), Multiple Monitor Support
CPU
AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS
GPU
Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060, 6 GB
Memory
16 GB
Storage
1 TB total, Solid State (very fast)
Pricing
Asus ExpertBook P1 15-inch professional laptop (P1510CJA-C71P-CA)
ranked #5 among Laptops priced $400-1000
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 10, Pro Edition
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 Laptop (14-fq0008ca)
ranked #9 among Laptops priced under $400
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 10, S Edition
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
Asus C523NA 15.6" Chromebook (Touch) (C523NA-DH02)
ranked #11 among Laptops priced under $400
With an unusually large screen for a Chromebook, this model trades some of its portability to give the user a larger picture to work with (but not nec
Who it's For
- Casual Worker
Compared Overall
| Bang for the Buck | |
|---|---|
| Versatility | |
| Power | |
| Storage Space | |
| Portability | |
| Battery Autonomy |
Specs
Operating System
Android, Chrome OS
Screen
15", 1366×768(1366 × 768, 1MP), Multiple Monitor Support
CPU
Intel Celeron N3350
GPU
Intel HD Graphics 500
Memory
4 GB
Storage
32 GB total, Media Card Reader, eMMC Storage (slow)
Pricing
HP 14-inch Laptop (14-dq2088ca)
ranked #6 among Laptops priced $400-1000
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 10, Home Edition
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)