Source: Windows Central
better
Business laptops
Windows Central
2022
Buying the best business laptop is very different from buying a device for education or casual consumer use. Priorities change, but a great laptop is still needed. Whether it’s Dell, Microsoft, Huawei, or HP, there are some really great business laptops out there.
Better overall: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon
Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central
You can’t look for a business laptop and at least think about the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon. The ninth generation model has finally been released, and as tacky as it is, it’s definitely the best yet. It maintains the same traditional design as its predecessors, including its trademark solidity and lightweight nature.
It still looks great from the outside, and the features that business customers care about are still there and true. New for 2021 are some nice improvements like the 16:10 display and for the first time 5G connectivity. Upgrading to the 11th generation of Intel CPUs also provides a performance boost and battery life.
Essentials like Windows Hello biometrics and a webcam privacy shutter are back for another year, as is the choice of ports that matter most. You’ll find Thunderbolt 4 USB-C, USB-A, and HDMI on the latest X1 Carbon, along with an expansion dongle in the box for more.
Fans of the red pointer will also be pleased to see it continues to live in the X1 Carbon. Whenever things change, they stay the same!
Positives:
- great screen
- Built-in privacy and security features
- Thin, light and durable
- Great battery life
- Lenovo fan red pointer
Negatives:
- get expensive
- Lacks inking support
better overall
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (9th generation)
Simply, a legend
A legendary name in business laptops, the X1 Carbon is pricey, but packed with premium hardware and features.
Best tablet: Microsoft Surface Pro 8
Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central
The Surface Pro is a tablet. It is also a laptop. You have the flexibility to use it as a convertible device but it is also completely keyboard free. This “tablet” packs an entire laptop inside. Throw in a stylus, kickstand, and great-looking screen, and you’ve got an incredibly versatile business machine.
The latest version, the Surface Pro 8, is incredibly flexible and brings out the best that Windows 11 has to offer. This device comes with 11th generation Intel processors, an impressive 120Hz display, Thunderbolt 4, optional LTE connectivity, and more. The design of the Surface Pro 8 is very similar to the Surface Pro X, which is also thin and light, which makes it very easy to carry around.
If you add a Surface Dock, this can be your desktop device in the office. Plug in the Type Cover and Surface Pen, your laptop to hit the road. It truly is a laptop for all situations.
Positives
- Fast Intel 11th Gen and Xe graphics
- Optional Enhanced 4G LTE is fast and reliable
- Thunderbolt 4 . port
- 120 Hz display
- Longest battery life yet
best tablet
Microsoft Surface Pro 8 2-in-1 Laptop
It’s faster with LTE
To cater to the enterprise market, Microsoft’s Surface Pro 8 brings some new features to its classic 2-in-1 laptop. With 11th generation Intel, Intel Xe graphics, Thunderbolt 4, 120Hz display, LTE option, and more, the Surface Pro 8 is an excellent choice.
Best rugged: Panasonic TOUGHBOOK G2.0
Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central
Not all work is done comfortably in the office. Many situations require something that can take a heavy blow. Industries like healthcare and construction, for example, would be a better fit for the virtually indestructible Panasonic TOUGHBOOK G2.
This chunky 2-in-1 can function as a tablet or laptop, and whatever the conditions, it will keep on working. The list of features that this laptop has is really amazing, but all of them have been added to meet the needs of the TOUGHBOOK buyer.
Thanks to its three-module design, the Panasonic G2 is the ideal rugged tablet with an optional keyboard that perfectly adapts to any task at hand. It has weaknesses, like a weak trackpad, but as a laptop you can go anywhere, do anything, it’s the best in the class.
Positives
- 3 modular slots including removable SSD
- Excellent show
- Optional 4G LTE (Dual SIM)
- Good performance and excellent battery life
best rugged
Panasonic TOUGHBOOK G2 (2021)
Go anywhere, do anything
The amazing TOUGHBOOK G2 delivers a great tablet and laptop experience inside a virtually indestructible chassis that really can go anywhere.
Best Ultra Portable Device: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano
Source: Lenovo
Buying a laptop for business use may also mean buying a laptop that can be carried around a lot. In this case, you would do well to have something that is compact and lightweight and will not take up much space in your bag. All while ensuring that the features you care about are not compromised.
It should come as no shock that the Lenovo ThinkPad lineup has something to offer. The X1 Nano is absurdly small and lightweight, coming with a hair over 2lbs. But despite its diminutive body, it packs everything discerning business customers want when purchasing a ThinkPad.
The obvious specs to highlight include an Intel 11th Gen processor, 16GB of RAM, 1TB of PCIe storage, and an optional 2K display. Perhaps most importantly, the traditional ThinkPad focuses on business-friendly features like the dTPM 2.0 chip, both fingerprint and infrared biometrics, a webcam cover, and cellular connectivity. Oh, and despite its small size, it retains the red pointer of the brand. It wouldn’t be a ThinkPad without it!
Positives
- Excellent show
- cellular communication
- Focuses on security with multiple biometric login forms
- Compact and light
- Detecting human presence
Negatives
- Higher spec models are more expensive
- small touchpad
- Limited port selection
The best ultra-portable
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano
5G, very light, yet powerful
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano is the 2-pound Ultrabook with up to an 11th Gen Core i7, 5G, 2K 16:10 display, and some of the latest Intel AI technology that makes this a smart laptop.
Best convertible car: HP EliteBook x360 1040 G8
Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central
HP’s top-of-the-line EliteBook x360 1040 might have a wordy name, but the laptop is fully functional. The latest version is thinner, lighter, with smaller bezels and optional 4G LTE connectivity while still maintaining the convertible form factor.
On the one hand, you still get a 16:9 aspect ratio. But on the other hand, for business clients, you get a lot of features. There are options for tile integration (tracking device), cellular, an NFC module, storage up to 2TB, a Wacom AES 2.0 stylus, and screens from a matte Full HD to Sure View Reflect with 1,000 nits of brightness and up to 4K UHD with touch.
It all sounds like the kind of convertible Ultrabook anyone would want to own. It’s sleek, slim and full of technology. Thoughtful software and hardware ripple through the EliteBook x360 1040, like a single press of a button to cover the webcam. Enjoy solid battery life, durable build quality, and surprisingly good sound, and you’ll get the winner.
Positives:
- Beautiful and sturdy all-metal construction
- Awesome keyboard and trackpad
- Impressive Voice for Enterprise
- Elegant New Presence Awareness Technology
- 4G LTE and pen options
Negatives:
- Still 16:9
- weak magnet for pen
- Strange behavior of alternating current
- Fans can be noisy
The best convertible car
HP EliteBook x360 1040 G8 Business Laptop
HP’s updated top-tier laptop continues to get thinner, lighter and better overall with the G7.
Best battery life: Dell Latitude 9410
Source: Dell
Everyone loves to have good battery life on a laptop, but it ranks higher on the priority list when buying for business use. This is where the Dell Latitude 9410 comes into its own because while it’s not the biggest physical battery you’ll see, it does have a long life.
The battery inside the Latitude 9410 has a capacity of 52Wh, whichever configuration you buy, but it has various additional features throughout the range. Some come with ExpressCharge, which can be charged up to 80% within an hour. Others are “long-life” batteries that come with a three-year warranty for peace of mind.
Thanks to Dell’s ultra-low-power display panels, the Latitude 9410 can deliver up to 27 hours of battery life, which is really nice, and in most cases, it can go two days away from the charger. It’s also FirstNet first responder ready and comes with a suite of Dell software and support.
The Latitude 9410 is also a convertible laptop with 10th Gen Intel processors, fast storage and RAM, plenty of port selection, and a great-looking screen. Not only will it last all day and then some, but it’s also a great laptop to use.
Positives:
- Best battery life
- ExpressCharge option for fast recharge
- Good performance in general
- big ports
Negatives:
- Not as strong as other options
Best battery life
Dell Latitude 9410
A laptop that will keep working when you stop
All-day battery life is always the goal, but the Latitude 9410 uses smart technology to break down that ideal and live long after you’ve been down all day.
minimum
Gone are the days of commercial laptops being some boring black box that was as heavy and thick as an encyclopedia. We’ve been there, and we’re glad those days are long gone with great laptops like Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon.
The lines between consumer, consumer and business user are getting closer and closer to each other, and this laptop is a prime example of that. It’s packed with business-friendly features, insanely good build quality, and as an added bonus, it looks great around a conference room table.
Remarkably, some of the best Windows laptops of recent times are those aimed at business customers. It’s great to see the corporate world, but it can provide a real ring to regular customers.
Credits – The team that worked on this guide
Richard Devine It is an editor in Windows Central. A former project manager and long-term tech junkie, he joined Mobile Nations in 2011 and has been found on Android Central, iMore, and Windows Central. Currently, you will find it covering all types of PC and games, and you can follow it Twitter and Instagram.
Brendan Lowry A writer at Windows Central and a graduate of the University of Auckland with a keen passion for video games, which he has been a fan of since childhood. You’ll find him doing reviews, editorials, and general coverage of everything on Xbox and PC. follow him Twitter.
Daniel Robino He is the executive editor of Windows Central. He’s been covering Microsoft since 2009, when this site was called WMExperts (and later Windows Phone Central). His interests include Windows, Surface, HoloLens, Xbox, and future computing visions. Follow him on Twitter: Tweet embed.
We may earn commission on purchases using our links. Learn more.
All our picks for the best laptops with USB-C ports
Looking for a new laptop with USB-C ports? Maybe you need Thunderbolt 4, or maybe Thunderbolt 4 isn’t for you. Either way, we’ve rounded up what we think are the best USB-C laptops available to buy today.
Comments
Post a Comment