What are the best laptops for small business? In this modern business world, a computer has become an essential tool.
Moreover, since business is now more mobile than ever, a laptop seems to be one of the most useful tools for any successful business, small or big.
This small tool is powerful enough to help on every aspect of the business that includes, and is not limited to, its operations, marketing, product creation, advertising, accounting, management and administration.
Therefore, it is elementary that you take some time to choose the right type of laptop for your small business.
You must make sure that the laptop you choose comes with the right features, software, peripherals, and specs that will help your business operation on the whole.
However, given the magnanimous options, choosing the right laptop may be quite a daunting task.
To make the right choice of small business laptop, you must not only know the specs to choose but also what type of impact it will have on its performance and that of your business.
Take a look at some of these best laptops that you can use for your small business computing needs.
These devices are good for all types of computing tasks related to the business such as accounting and managing.
These are also good enough for other creative tasks as well such as photo editing, graphic designing, and more, but at amateur level.
Also follow the buying guide in the end for additional help.
Table of Contents
Laptops for Small Business Price
Functions and Benefits of Using Laptops for Small Business
There are different types of functions that are made easy by a laptop for small businesses.
For example, it helps in establishing better and more productive internal and external communications both by using emails, word processing, messenger systems, and conferencing.
It will also help the business in great ways to research the industry trends, trademarks, patents, as well as their potential clients and competitors using different proprietary databases and search engines.
You can also use your laptop to create different media production including video, audio, and graphics.
The laptop will help you a great deal in tracking, accessing and analyzing different data and storing them safely, both in the system as well as in the cloud, if the system configuration allows it. You can use different software, hardware and apps and different technology for that matter.
Your developers can use the system to create newer and better products and services and the internal HR processes will be much more simplified while creating payrolls using different software and/or online services.
The laptop will also help in web marketing, documentation, report generation, and presentation. It will significantly reduce the loads of paperwork and the cost of it as well.
The portability factor of the laptop will allow you to perform all your jobs from anywhere most effectively and productively apart from your workplace.
Minimum & Recommended System Requirements for Small Business
It is true that you will not need a top-of-the-line laptop for your small business but you must make sure that it comes with the minimum system requirements to run all the necessary apps and software smoothly. It must have an Intel Core processor of 2.0 GHz or more, 128 GB of preferably SSD storage, 4 GB of RAM, and a mid-level integrated graphics chip.
It will be better for you to have a system that comes with more than the minimum requirement so that it can meet with all the needs as and when your business grows. Here is the recommended list of hardware that you will need for making your system ready for the future.
Minimum system requirements: Intel Core i5 processor of the 8th generation | 8 GB of RAM | 128 GB SSD | Integrated Intel UHD graphics 620 or higher| 12.3 inches screen or larger | 1280 x 720 pixels resolution | 8 hours of battery life
Recommended system requirements: 8th generation Intel Core i7 or higher processor| 16 GB of RAM or higher | 512 GB SSD or larger | Dedicated AMD Radeon Pro 5300M or equivalent Nvidia GeForce graphics chip | 14 inches screen or bigger | 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution | 10 hours of battery life or more
5 Best Laptops for Small Business 2021:
1. Asus ExpertBook B9450 – Best Overall
Bottom Line: This lightweight laptop is considered to be the best overall for small business not only for the high performance assured by the 10th generation Intel Core i7 processor but also for its long battery life, good screen that can lay flat at 180 degrees, ergo lift design of the keyboard and more.
Key Features
- Screen: 14 inches
- Storage: 2x 1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
- RAM: 16 GB
- Processor: Intel Core i7 10510U
- OS: Windows 10 Pro
- GPU: Intel UHD Graphics 620
Pros
- The battery life is good enough to allow all day’s work on a single charge.
- The system comes with an excellent industrial design that ensures higher durability.
- The hinge is quite strong and allows opening the lid up to 180 degrees.
Cons
- There is no optical drive in the system.
- The display of this system does not come with the touchscreen feature.
- The GPU of this system is much slower in comparison to others.
This incredible device weighs as little as 2.2 pounds allowing a greater portability.
You can work on this system on the go for all day long, thanks to its long battery life making it overall best laptop for small business.
The narrow bezel all around the 14-inch full HD display provides more body to screen ratio.
The hinge allows opening the screen up to 180 degrees which allows the built-in HD IR webcam to capture better images.
This camera comes with a built-in webcam shield that provides a better protection as well.
The Intel core processor ensures a much better and higher performance at the professional level of this system and that too at quite a great speed.
This processor with 8 MG cache can operate at a high speed of 4.9 GHz.
It allows you to make the best use of the Windows 10 Pro operating system that comes with useful features like Windows Cortana, the personal digital assistant.
As for the durability of the machine, you can rely on the chassis built from magnesium alloy of Military Grade 810G standard.
The high capacity PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD storage and the 16 GB RAM also enhances the boot times of the machine enabling it to perform at a consistently higher level. This even allows you to multitask easily and confidently.
The keyboard is easy to type on due to the Ergo Lift Hinge design which offers a better typing position.
In addition to that, the backlit keys enable faster and more accurate typing even in the darker settings.
It is spill-resistant and therefore allows you to work on it sipping on your coffee without worrying about the spills.
The Number Pad is LED-illuminated which adds to your typing convenience when you have to crunch in numbers fast, even in the dimly lit settings. The light bar built-in this device is compatible with Alexa which will add to your user experience.
In this system you will get all those latest connectivity options that includes one USB 3.1 Type A Gen 2 port, one USB 3.1 Type C Gen 2 port, and Thunderbolt Gigabit Wi-Fi 6 dual band 802.11ax connectivity.
You will also get a dual band Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity option, HDMI and microSD card reader slot as well.
In short, this is one of the best laptops for the small business owners who travel frequently. Check out Asus ExpertBook B9450 Review.
2. Apple MacBook Pro – Runner Up
Bottom Line: With a 9th generation Intel Core i7 processor with six powerful cores and a fairly efficient graphics chip, this Runner up laptop will handle all computing needs of a small business quite successfully. It comes with a good retina display and audio, a long battery life, and other user-friendly features.
Key Features
- Screen: 16 inches
- Storage: 512 GB SSD
- RAM: 16 GB
- Processor: 9th generation Six Core Intel i7
- OS: Mac OS
- GPU: AMD Radeon Pro 5300M Graphics
Pros
- The keyboard is fantastic with decent key travel and improved tactile feedback.
- The screen is technically denser with logical resolution making it more gorgeous.
- The touch bar is good and adapts easily to the screen content.
Cons
- It is slightly heavier at 8.23 pounds making it a bit difficult to carry.
- The cost of BTO options for each incremental upgrade is quite high.
- The price of this laptop is pretty much on the higher side.
This system is quite fast and powerful to handle all your small business computing needs. The 9th generation processor with multiple cores adds to the speed in processing data.
The 16-inch Retina Display of this laptop comes with True Tone technology that provides stunning images produced by the quite powerful AMD Radeon Pro 5300M Graphics that comes with GDDR6 memory.
The keyboard is good enough to type on and the responsive Touch Bar and Touch ID feature will also impress you as well.
The SSD storage of this laptop is ultrafast which will not only hold more files but will also help in accessing them quickly.
You will have a more immersive listening experience with the six-speaker system of this laptop that comes with force-cancelling woofers.
This device is best for personal use as well as for small business computing needs. It is powerful and highly reliable.
It comes with a lot of user-friendly features such as the trackpad gestures and others that makes it all the more impressive and appreciable.
The Retina Display of the device comes with a native resolution of 2570 x 1600 and produces images at a pixel density of 277ppi.
The touch bar of this model instead of physical function keys makes it easy to operate and the touch ID will secure all your important business files, data and information.
The 100-watt-hour battery will last for as long as 11 hours to allow you to do all the day’s work in a single charge.
Finally, the Thunderbolt 3 as well as other ports in the system will provide you with plenty of connectivity options. Check out Apple MacBook Pro Review.
3. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon – Durability and High Performance
Bottom Line: In this laptop you will get one of the most durable devices with high performance when you use it for your small business. The display, the integrated graphics chip, the Intel Core i7 processor of the 8th generation, the long battery life, all will work together in perfect harmony for a faster result.
Key Features
- Screen: 14 inches
- Storage: 512 GB SSD
- RAM: 16 GB LPDDR3
- Processor: 8th generation Intel Quad Core i7 8650U
- OS: Windows 10 Pro
- GPU: Intel UHD Graphics 620
Pros
- The design of this system is amazing and classy due to the better finish.
- The system is super light in weight making it highly portable.
- The hardware components of this system make it high and fast performing.
Cons
- The fingerprint reader needs some improvement as it is very slow to identify the print.
- There are major noise and heat issues in this laptop.
- With no overclocking, the CPU keeps running at almost full power reducing battery life.
You will get everything that you need in a laptop for small business when you choose this device.
If you want high performance at low cost, then this is the laptop that you should go for without thinking twice.
The CPU, the RAM, the storage, the display, the GPU, and the battery life, you name it and you will get it all in this system.
Known for high performance, this laptop is also very durable due to its superb build quality. The fit, size, design and finish of the laptop makes it look classy.
The screen comes with the right amount of brightness, accurate color control and reproductions, and better resolution that you will appreciate while looking at the images on the screen.
The system comes with enough power, thanks to the CPU, RAM and storage that enables it to handle even some of the high-fidelity apps that you may need to use for your small business computing needs.
The system can boot up quickly and open a number of apps at the same time without any problem.
You can work for long hours in this light and portable system on a single charge. Check out Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Review.
4. HP Elite Dragonfly 8UY52UT – Versatile and Light in Weight
Bottom Line: This 2-in-1 laptop can also be use by small business owners most efficiently on the go for its versatility and light weight. The Intel Core i5 processor is fairly strong to support the 64-bit architecture of the operating system, the performance of the graphics chip and other activities of the system.
Key Features
- Screen: 13.3 inches
- Storage: 256 GB M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD
- RAM: 16 GB DDR3 SDRAM
- Processor: Intel Quad Core i5 8365U
- OS: Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
- GPU: Integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620
Pros
- This gorgeously designed laptop is light in weight and very portable.
- The battery life is quite long.
- The design of the keyboard is better and ensures better and faster typing.
Cons
- The audio system is not good and needs some tuning.
- The capacity of the SSD storage could have been a bit more.
- The ports are limited as compared to other laptops.
The Intel Core processor of this laptop operates at 1.6 GHz and the four cores can handle processing a large number of data for small businesses in quick time.
The LPDDR3 RAM and M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD will boot up the apps and software at a faster speed and the integrated UHD graphics will produce better, clearer and sharper images on the 13.3-inch full HD display that comes with 1920 x 1080 resolution.
You can make the best use of the 64-bit Windows 10 Pro operating system that comes with a lot of useful features.
All the hardware components and features of this two-in-one laptop will help you to stay productive in your office or on the road and even when you are abroad.
The 360° flip of the strong hinge allows you to use this laptop in different modes.
You will be able to see the images more clearly on the screen which comes with a higher screen to body ratio for the narrow bezels at the two sides of it.
At 16:9 aspect ratio these images are displayed at 1000 nits of brightness allowing you to see every detail easily.
The HDMI 1.4 port allows you to add an external display for even a better video output.
This laptop comes with a comfortable keyboard and a large number of security features as well such as an IR camera and a fingerprint sensor. Finally, the MIL SPEC 810 rate assures high durability of the machine.
The aluminum body, the display, the design, the weight, and the specs of this laptop redefines a business laptop and provides the users with exactly what they need. Check out HP Elite Dragonfly 8UY52UT Laptop Review.
5. Microsoft Surface Pro 6 – Value for Money
Bottom Line: In comparison to the other laptops in this list that can be used for small business computing, this device will produce a high value for money in return with its low cost, yet a high price-performance ratio. With a long battery life and an operating system with Cortana support, all jobs will be done easily.
Key Features
- Screen: 12.3 inches
- Storage: 128 GB SSD
- RAM: 8 GB SDRAM
- Processor: 8th generation Intel Core i5
- OS: Windows 10 Home
- GPU: Integrated
Pros
- The design of the laptop allows using it both as a tablet and as a laptop.
- The great ergonomics of the keyboard allows very easy and comfortable typing experience.
- The long battery life makes this system the most portable and usable for long hours.
Cons
- This laptop is certainly not to be used for extensive internet use and streaming videos.
- The number of ports in this system is limited.
- When the system reawakens from the sleep mode it has very bad wi-fi speed.
This is one of the best budget laptops for small business owners. With its versatility of using both as a laptop and as a tablet or a studio as well, this laptop provides a lot of power.
The 8th generation Intel Core processor performs at a high level making this ultra slim and light laptop weighing just 1.70 pounds most cost-effective and productive.
The 13.5-hour long battery life will enable you to work on it all day, even on the road.
With features like Bluetooth wireless 4.1 technology, ambient light sensor, accelerometer and gyroscope makes the Microsoft Surface Pro 6 a laptop that will enable you to stay productive and work in style.
This laptop will enable you to get productive all the way and all the day, no matter wherever you are.
The features and functionality of the system will allow you to take your creativity to the next level, thanks to the versatility of the system.
The best thing about this laptop design and feature is that it will enable you to personalize the device in such a way so that it suits your style.
Apart from choosing from the two available colors Platinum or bold new black, the system design also allows you to use the signature Type Cover when you use the device as a laptop, the Surface Pen when you use it as a tablet and the Surface Arc mouse as well.
With the Windows 10 Home operating system, you can use several useful features that you may be already familiar with such as the password free Windows Hello sign in, the Cortana intelligent assistant, and Office 365.
These will allow you to create your best work and do all your computing tasks in the most effective manner. Check out Microsoft Surface Pro 6 Review.
Things to Look for before Buying a Laptop for Small Business
The two most important things to look for in a laptop that you want to use for your small business are performance and portability.
Since this is a mobile world, and most of the business transactions are done digitally, it is extremely essential to buy a laptop that is small, sleek, light in weight and comes with all those useful features that you will need to manage all your business transactions, management and finance.
This will ensure that you or your employees can work on it anywhere and anytime and respond to the demands of your customers instantly.
The other major factors that will determine your choice of a laptop that will be best for your small business use are your budget which you should evaluate based on your needs and affordability.
It is also required to judge the performance of the system as well as the elements in it so that it is future proof and will be able to meet your future needs.
Therefore, to choose a laptop for your small business the most basic things that you should consider include your budget, the form factor, the specifications, and all these based on your long-term needs.
Setting a budget
Typically, you will get laptops that will cost you anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars. This is even before you add other components and accessories to it.
Therefore, you should set your budget by following a specific guideline.
This will ensure that the system meets with your business computing needs and you do not sacrifice performance for a cheaper machine or look for one that you cannot afford,
Start by knowing your needs and how you intend to use the laptop for your small business.
After that, determine the specs and features that will influence the performance of the system as well as your business.
The next step involves narrowing down your choice to those specific laptops that fit in your budget.
Right form factor
Apart from the features, you will also need to select the right form factor for the laptop for small business. For this, you will need to match the use cases with the available form factors.
If you have to travel quite a lot for your business and stay connected with your office, then a thin and light laptop will be the best possible choice for you.
However, make sure that it comes with a longer battery life so that you can work on it for a long time on a single charge.
On the other hand, you can choose a 2-in-1 or a convertible laptop if you are into sales and need to share any content with a customer while you are on the field.
These laptops usually come with a stylus and are much easier to use as you can quickly change it into a tablet mode.
Focus on the specs
When you want a high level of performance from your laptop for small business, you will need a faster processor.
This will enable you to finish your jobs in hand quickly, even if you have to run multiple programs for that at the same time.
You will also need to choose an adequate amount of RAM in the laptop for small business based on the complexity of the programs and software you want to use.
Similarly, you must also choose adequate storage space in your laptop to keep your files safe and easily accessible. Ideally, an SSD storage is better than an HDD because it will enhance the speed of the laptop and reduce the boot times of the apps.
Your future needs
You should ideally choose a laptop that will enable you to stay prepared for your future needs when your small business grows.
Therefore, choose a laptop to use for your small business that supports the latest developments in technology.
Ideally, it should support cloud storage, AI, and other features that will enable it to adapt and adopt the fast changes in the apps and software that you need to use often for your small business computing needs.
You will be better off if you choose a laptop that actually exceeds the minimum requirements for a laptop for small business by at least 50%.
This will ensure that your laptop continues to perform efficiently and is able to handle multiple programs and more data and not cause any frustration to you or to your workforce in just a few years.
Other features to consider
You will need to consider the type of operating system you want to use in your laptop for your small business computing needs.
This should ideally be your personal choice and your comfort level in using any operating system.
However, you will be better off if you use Windows 10 operating system because it comes with a lot of useful features.
However, make sure that your system is upgraded and will support this operating system. This will ensure that you get the full benefits of both productivity and security.
Battery life, as said earlier, is also a very important factor to consider especially if you are on the road most of the time.
A laptop with a longer battery life will make it more mobile as well.
A few laptops may come with an all-day battery life while others may last for just a couple of hours on a single charge.
There are different factors that will determine and affect the battery life of the laptop for small business which you also need to consider during your selection process.
These factors include, the screen size, the brightness, the type of processor, the operating system, the number of programs used at a time, and the amount of media used up.
When it comes to the graphics, there is no need to choose a laptop for your small business with discrete graphics.
It is enough to have a graphics processor integrated with the CPU because you will seldom use software and graphics intensive applications.
Finally, consider the connectivity options provided by the laptop.
You will want USB ports to connect different types of external devices such as a mouse or an external drive.
It is also required that the system comes with Bluetooth and wireless connectivity for using the wireless peripherals, as well as an audio jack.
Apart from wi-fi connectivity, an Ethernet or RJ 45 port in the device will also be helpful to work on it in different business environments.
If you want to go a step further and future proof your laptop for small business, you may also look for other connectivity options such as a Thunderbolt 3 port, USB 3.1 port, DisplayPort 1.2m and microSD slot.
All these will add to the capabilities of the laptop for small business.
FAQ:
How much RAM does a small business laptop need?
Ideally, for basic computing tasks for your business, a minimum of 4 GB RAM is necessary in a laptop. However, if you choose a system that comes with 8 GB of RAM it will further enhance the performance of the system as well as your user experience. Yes, you can even go for those high-end laptops that come with 16 GB of RAM but you will seldom need that much RAM.
What makes a small business laptop fast?
It is the hardware components in the laptop for small business that will make it fast and high on performance. Therefore, if you choose a Quad Core processor over a Dual Core variant, it will be much faster in comparison. Similarly, higher RAM and higher SSD based storage will also help the system to boot faster and load all necessary apps and software in a short time thereby making it perform faster.
Do I need good graphics for a small business laptop?
Ideally, no. This is because you will seldom use graphics intensive software or do Photoshop on your system. Any average graphics card will suffice all your business computing needs. However, if you want to play games on it at your leisure, a higher graphics card is recommended. Otherwise, it will be an unnecessary expense but will not be an overkill for sure.
Leave a Reply