Whether you need long Battery Life, powerful performance or just something affordable, there's a great business laptop for you. Read on for our top picks for 2015.
Best Overall Business Laptop
Lenovo ThinkPad T450s
Lenovo's ThinkPad T450s is made for business, with fast performance, long Battery life and the best keyboard anywhere. That's why the 14-inch notebook — an update to our former favorite machine, the T440s — is our pick for the best overall work laptop. The machine boasts a sharp full-HD display, a durable design and perks like Lenovo's TrackPoint pointing stick, which offers more precise navigation than the touchpad. Plus, the notebook gets an incredible 15 hours of battery life (see chart below) if you opt for Lenovo's extended battery. It's not the thinnest, lightest or sleekest laptop around, but we think it's the most well-rounded work machine on the market.
Key features:
- TrackPoint pointing stick
- Hot-swappable battery
- Fingerprint reader (optional)
- Solid state drive (optional)
- Touch screen (optional)
- Desktop dock compatible (not included)
Best Ultraportable Laptop
HP EliteBook Folio 1020
Business notebooks don't have to look basic. HP's EliteBook Folio 1020 combines enterprise-worthy security and military-grade durability in a laptop that looks more like a MacBook Air than a ThinkPad. You also get a shockingly good keyboard that offers deeper keys and better feedback than we've come to expect in a superthin notebook, plus a sharp and vibrant 12.5-inch display and a speedy solid-state drive (check out the chart below). The EliteBook Folio 1020 isn't perfect, though. Its clickless touchpad is polarizing, and its battery life is a bit below average. But overall, it's our favorite system for business users who prize portability above all else.
Key features
- Thin and light design
- Small footprint
- Fingerprint reader
- Solid state drive
- Touch screen (optional)
- Desktop dock compatible (not included)
Best Laptop/Tablet Hybrid
Microsoft Surface Pro 3
Microsoft's Surface Pro 3 is a tablet that's designed for use with a keyboard, even though the accessory is sold separately. The Type Cover keyboard is one of the better tablet keyboards you'll find, with a superthin and light design (see chart below) and a pretty good trackpad. The tablet's 12.2-inch tablet display is spacious and supersharp, providing a surprising amount of real estate to work on. The Surface Pro 3 includes a stylus, so you can take notes right on the pressure-sensitive display. The built-in kickstand comes in handy for note taking, providing a good angle for writing.
Key features:
- Thin and light design
- 2-in-1 hybrid (detachable keyboard sold separately)
- Pressure-sensitive display
- Pen included
- Solid state drive
- Touch screen
- Desktop dock compatible (not included)
Best Small Laptop
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 12
The ThinkPad Yoga 12 is my favorite business notebook with a screen under 13 inches. You get a compact 12.5-inch screen, an industry-leading keyboard and good battery life. And true to its name, the Yoga 12’s screen can fold backward a full 360 degrees so you can use it like a tablet. Plus, the machine comes with a top-notch Wacom pen digitizer and a built-in stylus, so you can take notes right on the notebook’s display. And since it’s a ThinkPad, you get great business features like an extra-durable design, a TrackPoint pointing stick and a desktop docking port. Plus, it matches up very well against non-hybrid competitors in terms of performance (see chart below).
Key features:
- TrackPoint pointing stick
- Excellent keyboard
- Hot-swappable battery
- Hybrid design
- Wacom stylus included
- Desktop dock compatible (not included)
Best Chromebook
Toshiba Chromebook 2
Chromebooks aren't for everyone, but they're an affordable alternative for business users who have only basic computing needs. Toshiba's Chromebook 2 is the best overall package, offering a sharp, 13-inch display; a slim, lightweight frame; an impressive 8 hours of battery life; and faster performance than competing Chromebooks (see chart below). And you get all that for an affordable $329. Like other Chromebooks, this model runs on Chrome OS, which is not compatible with software made for Windows or Mac computers. Regardless, the Chromebook 2 is a great bargain for users who primarily want to check email, browse the Web and run basic apps.
Key features:
- Thin and light design
- Chrome OS
- Solid state drive
- Affordable price point
Best Budget Laptop
Asus EeeBook X205TA
At just $199, the Asus EeeBook X205TA feels like a steal. The notebook includes a good 11-inch display; an attractive, lightweight design; good performance (see chart below); and a decent, well-spaced keyboard. You also get nearly unbeatable battery life: The EeeBook X205TA ran for an epic 12 hours and 5 minutes in our battery test. You'll have to make some concessions, though: The device's touchpad could be better, and its webcam isn't great. Still, this is a laptop that provides an excellent bang for your buck.
Key features:
- Thin and light design
- Small footprint
- Long battery life
- Affordable price point
Best Value Laptop
Asus ZenBook UX305
This affordable notebook gives its more expensive rivals a run for their money. Retailing for just $699, Asus's ZenBook UX305 is a terrific bargain, with a slim design and a nice 13.3-inch display. You also get performance comprable to pricier machines (see chart below) without a noisy fan, thanks to the low-power Intel Core M processor inside, as well as more USB ports, more internal storage space and longer battery life than you'll find in other systems in its price range. And at just 2.64 lbs., the UX305 is light enough that it won't weigh you down on your commute. Other notebooks are faster and have sharper screens, but dollar for dollar, the ZenBook UX305 is hard to beat.
- Thin and light design
- Affordable price point
- Long battery life
- Solid-state drive
Best Battery Life Laptop
Lenovo ThinkPad X250
If endurance is your top priority, Lenovo's ThinkPad X250. It's the longest-lasting system we've tested, running for an amazing 15 hours and 12minutes (see chart below). That's only with Lenovo's extended 6-cell battery attached, though; the notebook's basic default battery offers average endurance of roughly 8 hours. Still, a slightly bulkier battery -- which protrudes a bit from the notebook's underside -- is a small price to pay for this kind of longevity, especially if you want a machine that can last through any business flight. Battery life aside, you also get a durable design and an excellent keyboard.
Key features:
- Long battery life
- Durable design
- Excellent keyboard
- TrackPoint pointing stick
- Fingerprint reader (optional)
