We live in a society that is constantly online and connected. Checking Facebook in the morning and before bed has become a habitual action for most of us, and many people interact more online than they ever would in person. Between smartphones, tablets, laptops and even new “smart” watches, it’s not unusual to have at least one device on hand at all times, if not two or three. It’s only habit by now.
When we travel, we often disconnect to a certain level. Most phone plans don’t work abroad and WiFi isn’t always great. However, most of the time, there’s no desire (or need) to disconnect completely. For a short trip, packing your everyday electronics is no big deal, but travel can be rough on electronics, especially laptops. If you will be traveling frequently, or for more than a few days, it’s worth the extra effort to do some research and choose the best travel laptop for you.
Comparison Table of the Best Travel Laptops
Below is a list of the best laptops for traveling. Click on the laptop name to read reviews and check prices.
| Laptop | Type | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Acer Chromebook 14 | Chromebook | $ |
| Samsung Chromebook 3 | Chromebook | $ |
| Microsoft Surface Pro | 2-in-1 Hybrid | $$ |
| ASUS Transformer | 2-in-1 Hybrid | $ |
| HP Spectre x360 | 2-in-1 Hybrid | $$$ |
| Dell XPS 13 | Ultrabook | $$ |
| MacBook Pro | Ultrabook | $$$ |
| Asus Zenbook | Ultrabook | $$ |
Things to Consider Before Buying a New Travel Laptop
There are so many factors to consider, both about the laptop and your travel style. With so many options available, it can be difficult to choose the best laptop for traveling.
Here are a few important factors to consider when shopping around for the best travel laptop:
1.) Portability
Portability relates to the weight as well as the size. Weight is usually the most important portability factor as most travelers want to keep their bags as light as possible. The lighter the laptop, the more likely it is to be one of the best laptops for travel. The best laptop size for travel depends on your needs. Small laptops take up less space, but also usually have fewer capabilities.
2.) Battery Life
Some laptops only have a 2 or 3 hour battery life while others can last for almost an entire day. How important battery life is depends on your travel style and use of the laptop.
3.) Storage Space
Storage space varies greatly. Basic laptops generally have a much more limited amount of storage space. Therefore, they are unable to hold big programs or the thousands of pictures you take on every trip.
4.) Price
Price is probably the most important factor when choosing the best laptop for traveling. The budget you have will likely determine all of the other factors so it may be worth a splurge to purchase the best laptop for traveling. Consider it an investment in your travel future. However, you don’t necessarily need to spend $1000+ to get the best travel laptop for your needs. There are several mid-range options, which I’ll share below, that will fulfill most travelers’ needs.
What Type of Traveler Are You
Before you think about specs, first consider what type of traveler you are and the needs you’ll have for your laptop. The best travel laptop for a full-time digital nomad will be different than the best travel laptop for a casual traveler.
What will you use your laptop for? Will you be working while on the road or using it solely for staying connected on social media? Are you going to be binge-watching the latest Netflix original in your hotel room or editing the day’s photos in Adobe Photoshop?
The answers to these questions will help determine the best travel laptop for you.
Below, I’ve taken the three main subcategories of laptops – Notebooks and Chromebooks, 2-in-1 hybrid laptops, and Ultrabooks – and described the basic functions of each, as well as what type of traveler it may be suitable for.
Best Notebooks and Chromebooks
Notebooks is a general term for basic, budget laptops. They often have a small screen size, minimum storage space, around 16GB, and usually run on Windows 10. Most programs and games will run on a notebook. The best things notebooks have going for them is their small size and long battery life.
Chromebooks are different from all other laptops – they run entirely on Google’s operating system, Chrome OS. They are meant to be used primarily online with Google apps, like Gmail, Google Docs, and Google Calendar. There’s little storage on them and many programs, like Adobe Photoshop and Microsoft Word, cannot run on them. However, they do come with a very cheap price tag, are small enough for easy transport, and, on average, have a battery life of around 10 hours.
Notebooks and Chromebooks make the best travel laptops for travelers with basic needs, who need a laptop for staying connected and not much else. Whether you choose a Notebook or Chromebook is based entirely on preference – if you already use mostly Google-based apps, a Chromebook makes sense but if you’re a Windows-lover, go for a notebook.
Acer Chromebook 14
When choosing a Notebook or Chromebook, this Acer Chromebook 14 is definitely one of the best laptops for traveling. The 14” screen size is the perfect medium between the very small 11” and the standard 15”. It’s a very light laptop, making it ideal for putting in carry-on luggage. The 11-hour battery life, however, is what takes it from good to one of the best laptops for traveling. Other Chromebooks may have a similar battery life, but not at that price point.
Acer Aspire One Cloudbook
If your budget is under $200 and you want a laptop that runs on Windows, the Acer Aspire One Cloudbook is probably the one you want. Despite the minimal storage space, it’s still one of the best laptops for traveling when you have basic needs. It comes with Microsoft Office 365 and supports most basic programs. If you plan on storing lots of pictures, just grab an external hard drive before you leave.
Samsung Chromebook 3
A bit smaller than the Acer Chromebook 13, but with even better portability and the best price point on the market for any Chromebook.
Best 2-in-1 Hybrid Laptops
2-in-1 hybrid laptops are a nice compromise between bringing your iPad (or any other tablet) and a high-end laptop on a trip. There is a low price range with hybrids, starting below $200 and moving upwards of $1200. There are two styles that are important to consider – detachable and bendable. With the detachable variety, the keyboard detaches completely so you can have separate pieces. With the bendable types, the keyboard only flips around the back, often to prop up the screen, and the entire thing stays in one piece.
Hybrid laptops are a good option for those who want something more than a budget laptop and don’t want to be limited by the Chrome OS on a Chromebook. If you plan on using your laptop for basic blogging, social media, and storing photos, a hybrid is probably the best travel laptop for you.
Microsoft Surface Pro
The Microsoft Surface Pro is one of the most popular, higher end hybrid laptops. It boasts a 9-hour battery life and weighs just less than two pounds. The Microsoft Surface Pro is the best of both worlds, as you get a high quality laptop in the form of a tablet, but can quickly attach the keyboard to make it a complete laptop. Its versatility, portability, and advanced Microsoft technology make it the top hybrid laptop for traveling.
ASUS Transformer
For a more budget-friendly hybrid option, the ASUS Transformer is a good option for travelers. It’s small in size, with a 10-inch screen and also weighs under 2 pounds. However, there’s a lot of power in those 10-inches, as it comes with more memory than most other options. The keyboard detaches completely and, in general, the build is not as fragile as some other laptops.
HP Spectre x360
The HP Spectre x360 is one of the best Windows 10 convertibles currently available. It has a 13″ screen and weighs less than 3 pounds, but is also one of the bendable hybrids, with the keyboard just folding behind.
Best Ultrabook Laptops
Ultrabooks are high-end, top of the line laptops, which is shown in the price but also in the capabilities of the laptop. With an Ultrabook, you can do all of the things that are not possible on hybrid laptops and nearly anything else you can imagine.
The term “Ultrabook” gets thrown around by many companies these days. Be sure to check before you buy that you’re getting a true Ultrabook and not just a fancy mid-range laptop. Ultrabooks are marketed on being light and thin, while maintaining the same screen size of other laptops and a long battery life.
For travelers that maintain a business on the road or spend extensive time editing photos or working with large programs, an Ultrabook will definitely be the best laptop for traveling, regardless of your destination.
Macbook Pro 13″
For anyone running a business on the road or otherwise using a laptop frequently, the Macbook Pro 13″ is by far the best laptop for traveling. With a 13.3″ screen and weighing only 4 pounds, the Macbook Pro takes up virtually no room in any bag. It comes with an internal storage space much higher than the hybrids and Chromebooks, and functions overall at a much faster speed, even when using large design programs.
Dell XPS 13
Dell XPS 13 is the ultrabook for Windows-lovers. It’s a bit over a pound heavier than the Macbook Pro but otherwise has similar specs, including screen size and battery life. If the Macbook Pro isn’t your thing because you prefer Windows but you still need a high-functioning laptop on your trip, the Dell XPS is the best option.
Whether you need a laptop that can be used as a mobile office or just a simple device for staying connected, there are plenty of options available. To find the best travel laptop for you, remember to consider your travel style and what you will need the laptop for prior to shopping.
Thank you thank you thank you. Such an useful detailed post! I think “light laptop” is an relative definition. I used to consider my Asus Zenbook (1.25kg) was light until i became addicted to travel, 1.25kg turned out way too heavy!
I love an equipment strong enough for editting video now and then and the most important: light enough not to weighs down my backpack. Surface Pro seems suitable for my needs.
Made the switch from PC to Mac….finally and haven’t looked back. I’m not a fan of Apple eliminating USB ports, but other than that, couldn’t be happier.
I am looking for a new laptop and your list is helpful. Thank you.
got a laptop from Samsung, now dead after 10 years, time to change to notebook from acer
We have traveled extensively and love the Acer Chromebook R13, I believe Chromebooks are the future of Travel Laptops, especially hybrid modules that are both laptop and tablet. These are perfect for travelers of all ages, family travel and even business travel.
Perfect little list for me as I am in the process of getting a new laptop and that too primarily for travel
purposes. I’m fascinated with the Hybrids to be honest because besides looking cool they really make something life easy at times.
If you had to choose between the Mac Air and Surface Pro, which one would you suggest?
I’m planning to change my laptop this year. I think my Sony Vaio served me enough for the past 6 years. So it’s time to replace it. I’m torn between. A Macbook air well its pretty expensive or a model of Lenovo. This guide is so helpful.
Wow, 6 years is a long time. I think I have never owned a Windows laptop for more than 2 years. Around the 2 years mark they always started to act funky for some reason! If you don’t have the budget for a new Macbook Air maybe you can get a used one? On Ebay and Amazon you can often get some pretty good deals on used ones and many times they even still have warranty on them. I actually bought my Macbook Pro used on Ebay for half the price as a new one and it still had 2 years of apple care.
Ah bugger! I wish I had read this before I bought my HP Paviliion. Though I do love it dearly. It was so hard to find out information and this guide would have been perfect for me.
The HP Pavillion is one of the best hybrid laptops on the market, so you made a good choice (even without our guide haha).
This is one of the ultimate questions – which laptop is best? I just purchased mine a few months ago – a Lenovo. Great tips here and things to keep in mind. When you’re a nomad, this is one of the most important purchases to make so taking time to research is key.
Yea Lenova makes some pretty good laptops for a cheap price. The best one in my opinion is the Lenova Yoga Hybrid. Which did you end up getting??
This is such a useful post. We currently are carrying our 15 inch Macbook Pro around, but it does feel a bit heavy. Maybe a lighter one that can still run Photoshop well might be a better travel investment. Glad to know that there are many options in all kinds of budget.
Yea, I have a 13 inch Macbook Pro and it’s already too heavy for me. The only reason why I haven’t switched to a Macbook Air is because as a freelance designer I require a little bit more power. But for simple photo editing in Photoshop a Macbook Air is more than enough.
I used to have Macbook Air couple years ago. Lately, I added a Macbook Pro to keep it company ;). Choosing a right laptop could be quite a subjective matter and also so much depends on business and personal needs. You have some good starting points for those who might be lost in a sea of modern gadgets. Thank you for sharing. Cheers!
Absolutely, it all comes down to what you need the laptop for. There is no perfect laptop for everyone but you definitely can’t go wrong with a Macbook Air or Pro. ;D
This is a really good guide. We’ll be in the market for some new laptops pretty soon, and it is important to think about all the needs, pros, cons, etc. It can be a challenge to find just the right one, since what we do is a little different than most people. Thanks.
Glad we could help Corinne. If you travel with your laptop full-time you definitely want to get a lightweight one because carrying around a 15 inch that weighs over 5lbs get tiring very quickly ;D
I travel with my Macbook Air and I love it. I have no complaints about it. The battery is starting to wear out a bit but it’s four years old so it’s to be expected. When it’s time to replace I will definitely be replacing it with a new Macbook Air.
Yea my battery started to wear out around the four years mark as well but I think that is pretty good compared to many Windows laptops where the battery dies after a year or so.
I am not a digital nomad as of now. So I never carry my laptop while traveling. I work on my blog only once I am back from my trip. But these option are really good if I want to be a nomad one day. My 3 year old laptop is really heavy. I can not think of carrying it around.
Great points and comparative study! I have a Macbook Air, but I never take my laptop along while travelling. I make my notes on my phone’s MSOffice program, for use when I come back home. I suppose while on long-term travels, specially for travel bloggers, carrying laptops becomes essential.
We would probably do the same if we didn’t travel full-time. Even though the Macbook Air is pretty light it still weighs down our backpack quite a lot.
I love my MacBook Air for traveling! I’ve had three other MacBooks (I repace them every 3-4 years), but this was my first time switching to the MacBook Air. I’ve had it since November, and I absolutely love it. It’s so light and easy to travel with, but I’m not sacrificing anything that I had in a regular MacBook.
I still do run out of storage though, and I’m not in love with using an external harddrive for so much.
Yea the Macbook Air is the best travel laptop out there. Jazzy was skeptical at first, especially since she has never used a Mac before, but now she absolutely loves it.
Yea the storage thing sucks a little bit but with the invention of the cloud and everything it’s not so bad.