Having tasted the Digital nomad life myself I can say with full certainty that notebook is the essential tool for such a modern day nomad. Whether you are an internet marketer, writer or a programmer working for a company in another country, laptop is your closest non-breathing friend. Indeed, there are so many different kinds of Digital Nomads that pointing out a single best notebook for everybody would be an impossible task. Thus, I have gathered several options to choose from – and I’ll explain why they would be a good buy for you.

1. Samsung Chromebook 3

Samsung Chromebook 3 is the essential choice for el cheapo digital nomads. You will have tough times finding a less expensive rig than this, so what could be a better choice for a starving artist than Chromebook? Well, it’s certainly not the fastest laptop around with Intel Celeron processor and embedded MultiMediaCard drive. But if you are not a demanding user at all you could make this Samsung work very well on your travels.

Just remember that because it is a Chromebook the difference from Windows is noticeable. Surely it will have many similar programs than Windows (office and all most common ones), but Chrome OS does not support Windows-based programs – it’s a different operating system after all.

Why is it good for digital nomads?

• It’s dirt cheap. If you only write or edit texts, you don’t probably need anything fancier than this.
• The 11.6 inches display translates to wonderful portability. The thing weighs just 2.5 pounds.
• Like all Chromebooks, also this model has a phenomenal +10 hours battery life.

Click to buy Samsung Chromebook 3 on Amazon!

2. HP Stream 11.6″

The HP Stream is a direct competitor of the above Chromebook. So what is the difference? Well, operating system. In this laptop it’s the familiar Windows 10. Compared to Chromebook, you’ll be sure that all the programs you know will run, and there’s no learning curve for new tricks. If familiarity is what you’re after you would probably want to pick this Stream. But remember, it’s far from a powerhouse with Celeron processor, so only get it for entry-level use.

Why is it good for digital nomads?

• Also this model is very cheap. It will be easy on a starting digital nomad’s wallet.
• The performance is enough for text editors, MS Office Stack and other less-demanding programs digital nomads are often interested in.
• At 2.6 pounds it’s very lightweight to carry with you.

Click to buy HP Stream 11.6″ on Amazon!

3. Acer Aspire E5-575G-53VG

Acer Aspire E5-575G-53VG is a real cookie-cutter notebook. It’s alright for most tasks, it costs the average and has average screen size. The performance is not bad with 6th generation Core i5 processor, 8GB RAM and 256GB solid-state drive. If you’re a digital nomad who spends a part of his day with heavy-duty programs, this would be a much better choice than the cheaper laptops. It also offers gaming capabilities thanks to the GeForce 940MX graphics card.

Why is it good for digital nomads?

• The Acer Aspire offers decent performance for occasional Photoshop & similar work.
• If gaming is a popular pastime of yours, consider the installed dedicated graphics an advantage.
• Despite all of this, the battery life is still long-lasting at around 8 hours of web surfing experience.

Click to buy Acer Aspire E5-575G-53VG on Amazon!

4. Microsoft Surface Pro 4

Microsoft Surface Pro 4 is a compact 12.3 inch laptop/tablet hybrid with a tolerable price tag. Its performance stems from the Intel Core M processor, 4GB RAM and 128GB solid-state drive – however there are other makes of this notebook that also offer better processor, RAM and storage drive. The current model is decent enough for most digital nomads ranging from writers to programmers.

Why is it good for digital nomads?

• If something is lightweight, this is. It weighs just 1.7 pounds. What can beat that?
• The Core M version will reach +8 hours battery life on low-demanding use – obviously a good thing for on-the-go people.
• You don’t need to invest in tablet because this unit has a detachable keyboard. In another words, the Surface Pro 4 turns into a tablet when you remove the keyboard.

Click to buy Microsoft Surface Pro 4 on Amazon!

5. Acer Aspire S 13

Not everybody likes Acers but I don’t have any bad experiences with this company. Indeed, also most people who bought this Acer Aspire S 13 seem to dig it. The price is quite affordable if you take a look at what you are getting: Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB memory and 256GB solid-state drive. Solid performance plus sweet 1080p screen for demanding users are present.

Why is it good for digital nomads?

• There are no problems with performance – even if you’re a programmer, expect this Acer run smooth and clean.
• On the other hand, if you’re a traveling digital artist, you will most likely dig the compact yet sharp 13.3″ Full HD screen.
• The Core i5 version will easily reach more than 6 hours battery life. That is quite good considering the components.

Click to buy Acer Aspire S 13 on Amazon!

6. Apple MacBook Air (13.3″, Core i5)

I can’t skip an Apple laptop on such a list. Especially this Apple MacBook Air with 13.3 inches display and i5 processor looks like a digital nomad notebook. It’s compact while performance is on par with Windows laptops. And there’s also the added benefit of owning a MacBook: it can be a statement and you can convey a certain image that you couldn’t with a bland Windows notebook.

Why is it good for digital nomads?

• If you want to appear as hip and cool, do not disregard Apple.
• But it doesn’t just look good – there’s Core i5 and 128GB solid-state drive for fast operations!
• Battery life is among the best of laptops. You should be getting over 10 hours constantly.

Click to buy Apple MacBook Air on Amazon!

7. Razer Blade Stealth

If you only demand the best, you have no other choice but shell out a lot of money. For a laptop like Razer Blade Stealth. It’s a notebook geared towards power users, such as programmers and heavy Photoshoppers. In case you are a digital nomad in those professions you’ll most certainly appreciate the Core i7 processor, 512GB solid-state drive and compact yet clear 12.5″ 4K display this beast offers. Only for the serious laptop seekers!

Why is it good for digital nomads?

• If the other notebooks in this list looked too weak for you, this will not. I can guarantee it.
• The Razer Blade Stealth has heavyweight components but no heavy weight, mere 2.8 pounds.
• The aluminum shell with just 0.52 inches thickness looks professional, and it has gathered positive reviews talking about high quality and solid built.

Click to buy Razer Blade Stealth on Amazon!

This list is compiled from some best selling, great price-performance ratio laptops of 2017 that are also suitable for digital nomads. If you are in disagreement with the post, please share what you think in the comments below!