12 Best Travel Laptops You Can Buy in 2022 [For All Budgets!]
The overall best travel laptop needs to be compact, lightweight, powerful, and affordable. And in our opinion, the ASUS Zenbook 13 comes out top here!Sure, it isn't the most powerful laptop on this list, if you want that then opt for the Dell XPS 13 or the Apple MacBook Air 13 . However, the reason this laptop makes our top pick is because it does 95% of everything the more powerful laptops do, but comes in atFor the vast majority of travelers, this laptop will do everything you need and last for years. It's the laptop I use and have used since the end of 2018.
So, if you’re in search of a laptop to suit your travel needs, then look no further. We’ve got you covered!
We’ve done a lot of research, and we’ve included all the best ones we’ve found, including the laptops we currently use, and laptops we have previously used.
Over the years, we’ve used a number of brilliant laptops for travel, and we thought it would be a good idea to give you some guidance on the best travel laptops on the market this year.
They are what we use to run our business and if they didn’t work well, then we’d be in trouble!
And one of the most important things we’ve invested in is our laptops.
Bradley and I have been digital nomads for around 5 years now.
Quick roundup of our top picks
What to look at when choosing a travel laptop
The best laptops for travelers excel in many or all of the following categories ...
1. Price
Before actually thinking about the features and specs of the laptop, make sure you know your budget. It’s also worthwhile to compare laptops on a similar price point so you can choose the best one, without spending more than you should.
2. Weight and Size
The portability of a laptop matters too, especially for travel. Is it lightweight and small enough to make it convenient to travel with? Would it need a suitcase to fit? How heavy is it to lug around on a two-week backpacking trip? Can it breeze through airport security?
These are just some questions to consider in terms of your laptop’s weight and size. It helps to know what you need!
3. Battery Life
Longer battery life typically correlates with a higher price tag, but if you’re working on the road, having a long battery life can make your life so much easier!
Even if you’re stuck on a long flight or train journey where you can’t plug your laptop into a power source, a powerful laptop means you can still work.
4. Storage Space
Again, you’ll pay more for more storage, but think of this as a long-term investment. Storage is especially crucial if you create content such as videos and photos, as they take up more space than mere word documents.
An option is to buy an external hard drive to expand your storage capacity. It can be a great alternative if you don’t have the budget to buy a higher storage capacity to begin with.
5. What RAM do you need?
RAM (Random Access Memory) is where your laptop stores data before processing them, and its size affects how well your laptop can handle “multi-tasking”.
Imagine editing photos on Lightroom, then writing a blog article on Google Docs, and then watching a YouTube video (p.s. Check out our channel). Having a large RAM lets you switch between tasks smoothly.
Here’s a quick summary of the most common RAM sizes:
4GB: Great for general browsing, word editing software, and writing emails.
Great for general browsing, word editing software, and writing emails. 8GB: Everything above, plus video calls and light photo editing. If you’re running a simple blog without doing anything too heavy, 8GB of RAM should be enough.
Everything above, plus video calls and light photo editing. If you’re running a simple blog without doing anything too heavy, 8GB of RAM should be enough. 16GB : You’ll need at least this amount for editing up to 4K videos and photos while multitasking. It’s the minimum RAM size for digital nomads. Trust us, it will make your life (and travel) much easier!
: You’ll need at least this amount for editing up to 4K videos and photos while multitasking. It’s the minimum RAM size for digital nomads. Trust us, it will make your life (and travel) much easier! 32GB: Usually used in gaming laptops or heavy video editing, and by that we don’t mean travel or Youtube videos, we’re talking movie quality stuff!
Of course, the more RAM, the more expensive the laptop, so it’s important to strike a balance between what you need your laptop to do, and your budget.
6. Processing Power
If you are running editing programs and high-resolution videos, you should also prioritize the processing power. Trust us, this will make working on your laptop so much more enjoyable.
The CPU is like the heart and brain of your laptop. For high-power activities like video editing, you need to go for at least an i7, although the i9 is now on the market and the most powerful.
We opted for high processing power as Adobe Premier Pro can be very demanding for video editing, especially during the rendering process. Cloud/browser based video editors like Clipchamp may be less demanding for laptops with lower processing power.
i5 will work for a travel laptop if you’re not doing anything too heavy, or don’t mind editing at a buffering pace and have a lot of patience. However, anything less than an i5 processor (i3) will not be suitable as a travel laptop unless you just plan on answering emails and surfing the internet.
A separate graphics chip allows gamers, 3D designers, and high-res video editors to run their programs without taking up a ton of RAM and slowing the overall performance of the computer.
I use an i7 CPU and this allows me to edit video footage, including 4k very easily, and I can edit on Lightroom, Photoshop, and After Effects without any issues. It can also perform multiple of these tasks at one without crashing, which is a real testament to the quality!
7. Do you have a software preference: Windows vs Apple vs Chrome OS?
Apple may seem like the quintessence of all technology brands, but if you don’t already use their products or like the Apple software system, there is no point in getting an Apple laptop.
But if you already use Apple and want easy integration with their other products, then it would make sense to choose one of their laptops.
For us, we don’t like Apple products and opt for Windows instead. It has never let us down so far, and there are so many more options to choose from!
Pros of Windows Operating System
Excellent compatibility with Microsoft software
Easier to upgrade
Familiar interface, even for non-techy users
More budget and model options
Cons of Windows Operating System
More vulnerable to virus and hackers
Windows updates may feel disruptive
The huge range of options can be overwhelming
TOP Windows Pick DELL XPS 13
If money isn't an issue, and you want the ultimate lightweight, high powered 13 inch laptop out there; then there is really no other choice. The DELL XPS 13 comes in well above any other compact travel laptop in terms of spec and performance and really is an incredible piece of kit. We actually opted for the DELL XPS 15 , simply because it had a higher power and resolution when it comes to video editing. Though in practice, the DELL XPS 13 would be a tremendous laptop even for high-power processing like editing videos. $1,656 on Amazon
Pros of Apple Operating System
Seamless integration with other Apple devices
Feels premium and very durable
Excellent for video, photo, and audio editing
Cons of Apple Operating System
Extremely pricey and limited choice
Few options for hardware
May need to buy tons of adaptors
TOP APPLE PICK MacBook Air 13
If you're an Apple guy/gal then the top travel laptop they currently have on offer is the MacBook Air 13. Just like the DELL equivalent, it's incredibly high powered but also sleek, lightweight and easily portable. It's actually more affordable than the DELL equivalent, and if you're used to and fond of the Apple operating system then it's almost a no brainer, this is the laptop for you. Except in the rare case where your job requires a slightly more powerful machine, in which case the MacBook Pro may be one to consider. $1,249 on Amazon
Pros of Chrome Operating System
Feels fast compared to Windows laptop of the same price
Easy set-up and usage
Chromebooks have great battery life
Cons of Chrome Operating System
Cannot run Windows software
Most web-based apps won't’ work without connection
Weaker build, screen and audio quality
TOP CHROME PICK ASUS Chromebook If you're simply looking for a travel laptop that allows you to browse the web, book tours and accommodation and occasionally watch some Netflix, then go with this. At less than $200 it's an incredible piece of kit. We actually used this laptop for a couple of years when we first started travelling and needed a cheap laptop for freelance copywriting. It's compact, lightweight and gets the job done so long as you're happy not downloading or needing any software.
$199 on Amazon
The 12 Best Travel Laptops
1. ASUS Zenbook 13 - Best overall travel laptop
Weight: 1.11 kg
Battery Life: Up to 13 hours
Specs: Intel® Core™ i7-1165G7 Processor, 16 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD
Display: 13.3", Full HD 1920 x 1080p
Operating system: Windows
In terms of weight, size, power and price, we decided that the ASUS Zenbook 13 comes out top as the best travel laptop you can currently buy.
It's not the most powerful on this list, but it is still an absolutely amazing piece of kit and is the exact laptop I have been suing since late 2018 on our trip to Sri Lanka.It is still working 100% the same as it did when we first bought it and I have used it to run our website for more than 3 years now.
It does everything most travelers could possibly need, and more; and costs roughly 40% less than it's slightly more powerful counterparts (the DELL XPS 13 and Apple MacBook Air 13 - both discussed below).
Battery life is also a key component of any great travel laptop and the ASUS Zenbook 13 boasts up to 18 hours of battery life, which in addition to its compact and ultralight design, makes it perfect for travelling.
Plus, the Zenbook 13 is the world’s thinnest 13” laptop that still has complete I/O ports, including USB-A and HDMI. It's small enough to even fit in my Loctote Flak Sack, which is testament to it's power-to-size ratio.
If you like having a number pad but don’t want to carry large laptops around, the innovative ASUS ScreenPad 2.0 will excite you! You can activate this feature and watch the touchpad light up.
Pros of the ASUS Zenbook 13
Excellent battery life of 18 hours Ultra-thin design but still complete I/O ports Unique NumberPad 2.0 technology
Cons of the ASUS Zenbook 13
Fan is easily triggered, which can be a bit loud You can’t upgrade RAM after purchasing Extra function keys may make keyboard feel cramped
2. Dell XPS 13 - Most powerful 13 inch travel laptop
Weight: 1.27 kg
Battery Life: Up to 4 hours
Specs: 11th Generation Intel Core i7-1195G7 Processor, 16 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD
Display: 13.4", Full HD 1920 x 1080p
Operating system: Windows
I would say that the DELL XPS 13 is definitely my second top pick for travel laptops.
Perfect for those of you that need a slightly more powerful laptop that the ASUS Zenbook 13 and are happy to pay the higher price tag.
But why is it better than the XPS 15? (discussed below).
Well, it’s not quite as powerful, but has a lower price tag, smaller screen size, weighs less, and is absolutely perfect for 90% of travellers. It’s what we would travel with if we didn’t need the video editing capabilities of the XPS 15.
At only 1.27 kg, it can easily fit into your backpack and you won’t even remember it’s there! Perfect if you’re moving around a lot and don’t want a heavy laptop. (On that note, be sure to check out the range of digital-nomad-friendly backpacks from Solgaard).
The Dell XPS 13 has an Infinity Edge screen that is nearly borderless, so you can still enjoy beautiful colors on this display. Whether it’s for watching films or editing videos, a large screen can be very useful!
Moreover, it features the Killer 1535 Wireless-AC card, which means you will get impeccable Wi-Fi performance. It can be a lifesaver if you are travelling and working somewhere with limited connection.
Pros of the Dell XPS 13
Extremely sleek and portable Infinity Edge Display with anti-glare finish Killer Wi-Fi performance, literally (Killer AX 1650 WiFi 6)
Cons of the DELL XPS 13
Only one USB-C port No USB-A port Awkward camera angle
3. Dell XPS 15 - Best travel laptop for video editing
Weight: 2.05 kg
Battery Life: Up to 13.5 hours
Specs: Intel Core i7-10750H Processor, 8 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD
Display: 15.6", Full HD 1920 x 1200p
Operating system: Windows
If you’re a video editor, then you can’t go wrong with the Dell XPS 15. It’s the one we currently use and has proven to be absolutely amazing.
You can edit 4K videos without lagging and multitask with no problem. In fact, it’s probably one of the best laptops on the market today.
It is pretty thin and easy to store in a van (as we are currently travelling in), but it’d be excellent to travel with even if we were still using a backpack.
With incredible performance and storage space, the Dell XPS 15 is a great choice if you need a high-performance laptop and aren’t too bothered by its relatively heavier weight.
One minor issue is that this laptop overheats easily. While this doesn’t actually shut down the system or affect its running, you can feel it get super hot, which is quite uncomfortable.
Top tip: If you are editing a lot, and want the extra screen space, I have been using the Duex Max Portable Screen Monitor. You plug it in via the USB port and it's a convenient way to have some extra woring space.
Pros of the DELL XPS 15
Super fast performance, excellent for travel vloggers and bloggers High-resolution screen for editing photos and watching films Excellent battery life, even when doing heavy work
Cons of the DELL XPS 15
It may feel a little too heavy for backpackers The price can be an investment It can overheat easily
4. MacBook Air M1 - 13 inch - Best Apple travel laptop
Weight: 1.29 kg
Battery Life: Up to 18 hours
Specs: Apple M1 chip and Octa-core Processor, 8 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD
Display: 13.3", Quad HD 2560 x 1600p
Operating system: MacOS Big Sur (11.0)
Maybe Windows isn’t your thing, and you prefer using Apple OS for your travel laptop. In that case, our top recommendation would be the MacBook Air M1. It’s thin, premium-looking, and incredibly fast.
And because it's so slim and lightweight, it can even fit in most decent camera backpacks; great if you already carry lots of tech with you when travelling.
Obviously, the new Apple M1 chip offers astounding performance. It’s 3.5x faster and has excellent thermal efficiency. There is no fan inside the machine so it operates silently.
Better yet, it can perform heavy tasks without using up too much battery, which means you can use this laptop for up to 18 hours! We cannot stress how life-changing this can be, especially for a digital nomad who moves around a lot.
There are also additional features such as the Retina Display screen, True Tone technology, and massive 512 GB solid state drive for instantaneous loading. Plus, the updated Touch ID sensor ensures all your data is secure while you’re on the road.
Pros of the MacBook Air
Excellent battery life lasting whole day (18 hours) M1 chip is incredibly fast and powerful Inclusive built-in software like iMovie and GarageBand can be useful
Cons of the MacBook Air
Limited connectivity with only two ports Doesn’t support multiple screen displays No embedded 4G/5G option
"Lightweight and power efficient, perfect for video content creation" Jumana Mundichipparakkal, Planet Hopper Girl "The MacBook Air M1 is the latest MacBook series with a custom Apple designed processor in it, tuned for the efficient execution of MacOS applications compared to the old ones. The design is thin and lightweight, similar to a ChromeBook but has the processing power of a high end laptop making it a perfect choice for travelling. I used to travel with my ChromeBook, but it was not sufficient for travel content creation applications, whereas the MacBook solves this problem. All the Adobe applications (Lightroom, Photoshop and Illustrator) as well as Davinci, designed for video creation, work smoothly on this laptop with efficient battery usage. This laptop is a perfect combination to go with the latest Iphone 12 Pro as your blogging camera and have all your travel content easily accessible to share on social media on the same day. MacBook Air M1 is certainly an optimized laptop from Apple with user experience in mind, perfect for travellers, due to its weight and content creation capabilities."
5. MacBook Pro 13 Inch - Most powerful Apple travel laptop
Weight: 1.4 kg
Battery Life: Up to 20 hours
Specs: Apple M1 chip and Octa-core Processor, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD
Display: 13.3", Quad HD 2560 x 1600p
Operating system: MacOS Big Sur (11.0)
Again, if you're an Apple-fan and want the most powerful travel laptop you can get, look no further than the MacBook Pro 13”. It’s a true workhorse that can handle any intensive tasks while on the go.
Its M1 chip is obviously an advantage, but we also love that it features the Magic Keyboard. With a redesigned scissor mechanism and 1 mm of key travel, as well as an integrated Touch Bar, you can now streamline your workflow and make it super effective.
And if you thought the MacBook Air has a great battery life, then the MacBook Pro 13” is exceptional. Imagine having up to 20 hours of playback when using Apple TV, or 17 hours of wireless browsing!
It’s slightly heavier, but at 1.4 kg this is still a lightweight travel laptop that can easily fit in your backpack.
Our only complaint would be the low standard of 256 GB SSD, which despite being quite large, is still only half of most laptops nowadays. Considering the steep price tag, it’s also disappointing that the MacBook Pro 13” doesn’t come with a 1080p webcam.
Pros of the MacBook Pro
Has one of the longest battery life for a laptop Fast and powerful performance from M1 chip Touch Bar and Touch ID fingerprint sensor Features Magic Keyboard for the best typing experience
Cons of the MacBook Pro
Lower storage standard at 256 GB SSD Webcam is only 720p, which is mediocre for its price Only two Thunderbolt or USB-C ports
"A sleek and lightweight computer with a powerful performance for video & picture editing" Cecily Protsack, Groovy Mashed Potatoes "I took my 13 inch Macbook Pro around the world for 14 months and couldn’t have been any happier with it. Its fast graphics performance, large storage, long lasting battery and retina display made video and picture editing a breeze. I also love the thin sleek look of it. The 13” Macbook Pro is on the high end of laptops for price, however it’s worth the splurge if you plan to use large programs for video or picture editing on your travels. The 13” size and 3 lbs weight also make it easy to store and carry around in your backpack."
Weight: 1.3 kg
Battery Life: Up to 9.5 hours
Specs: Intel® Core™ i5-10210U Processor, 8 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD
Display: 13.3", Full HD 1920 x 1080p
Operating system: Windows
The HP Envy 13.3” laptop offers a stylish design and powerful performance, while its relatively affordable price tag makes it the perfect go-to laptop for those on a tighter budget.
It’s the first travel laptop we ever bought and is what we used for our first ever 4 month backpacking trip around South America.
We personally feel that this laptop could be the best laptop for travel photography, mainly because of its incredible performance. The NVIDIA GeForce MX450 graphics also lets you edit videos with relative ease, though you can still expect a certain degree of buffering.
The HP Envy has a screen with 400 nits, which is pretty bright and useful for working in bright spaces. Some might find the reflective screen a little distracting, but we don’t think it should be a problem for most.
Even better, you can get the model which supports a 4K display for stunning graphics and accurate colors. You can use this to view mesmerizing images at 8.2 million pixels!
Pros of the HP Envy
Fast performance that is useful for editing high-quality images Bright display of 400 nits Powerful and excellent speakers
Cons of the HP Envy
Shorter battery life compared to other travel laptops No HDMI and Thunderbolt 3 Reflective screen makes it harder to see in outdoor work spaces
7. ASUS C223 11.6" Chromebook - Best budget travel laptop
Weight: 1 kg
Battery Life: Up to 10 hours
Specs: Intel® Core™ Celeron N3350 Processor, 4 GB RAM, 32 GB eMMC
Display: 11.6", HD Ready 1366 x 768p
Operating system: Chrome OS
Those on a budget would love the ASUS C223 11.6" Chromebook, which in our opinion is probably the best budget travel laptop on the market today.
It’s extremely lightweight and has a thin profile (this is one of the thinnest Chromebooks). In addition to the 10 hour battery life, it really is an excellent travel companion.
However, this laptop is only suitable for basic functions like writing blog posts and basic internet browsing. It’s not capable of heavy tasks such as video or intensive photo editing.
If all you need is a laptop to stream Netflix, Facetime your friends, reply to emails, and other less demanding tasks, this Asus Chromebook is perfect.
And coming in at under $200, it's even a viable gift for backpackers.
Pros of the Asus Chromebook
Very affordable, especially considering its fast performance Lightweight and thin, so it’s easy to carry around High-definition images for watching films and videos
Cons of the Asus Chromebook
Not suitable for heavy and intensive tasks Limited RAM of only 4 GB You can only use Microsoft products through subscription
8. Microsoft Surface Pro 7 - Best laptop for business travellers
Weight: 0.77 kg
Battery Life: Up to 10.5 hours
Specs: Intel® Core™ i5-1035G4 Processor, 8 GB RAM, 128 GB SSD
Display: 12.3", Quad HD 2736 x 1824p
Operating system: Windows
The Microsoft Surface Pro 7 may not be the best choice for creative workers, including graphic designers and video editors, but it excels for business functions.
This 2-in-1 model which combines a laptop and tablet into one device is perfect for the travelling businessman or entrepreneur.
In terms of versatility, it’s an absolute dream! You can use it in Tablet, Laptop, or even Studio Mode, depending on what you need at the moment. Unfortunately, you have to purchase the keyboard and pen separately, and the extra costs can add up.
However, this makes room for plenty of personalization as you can choose any color or design you want for each of the accessories.
The Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is also very lightweight, at just 0.77 kg. Meanwhile, the high-resolution PixelSense Display and Dolby Audio Premium ensure you can enjoy a good movie comfortably.
Pros of the Microsoft Surface Pro 7
Extremely lightweight and portable Switch between Laptop, Tablet and Studio Mode Sharp display and crisp images
Cons of the Microsoft Surface Pro 7
Keyboard and pen are sold separately No Thunderbolt port No fan means performance can drop when used for long
9. LENOVO IdeaPad Flex 5 - Best notebook for travel
Weight: 1.5 kg
Battery Life: Up to 10 hours battery life
Specs: Intel® Core™ i5-1035G1 Processor, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD
Display: 14", Full HD 1920 x 1080p
Operating system: Windows
Compared to a laptop, a notebook is essentially its smaller, cheaper, and less powerful counterpart. But don’t worry, that doesn’t mean it’s bad!
In fact, if you’re looking for a more portable and versatile option for non-intensive tasks, then you might be better off buying the LENOVO IdeaPad Flex 5. It’s not the lightest 2-in-1 laptop, but the design is still slim enough to fit in your laptop backpack.
This model is also something of an in-between. It’s both a laptop and tablet, while the touch screen and 360-degree hinge let you switch between modes easily.
You can be writing articles one second, scrolling through images the next, and catching up on your favorite show after that.
Also, the 10-hour battery life is pretty impressive. You can easily take only the IdeaPad to a nearby cafe or local library, and you won’t need to charge it the whole day!
Pros of the LENOVO IdeaPad
2-in-1 design with touch screen Durable, soft, and stylish chassis Privacy shutter for webcam
Cons of the LENOVO IdeaPad
Relatively heavy for a 2-in-1 model; not the most portable 250-nit display is quite dim 4GB RAM is unsuitable for heavy multitasking
Weight: 1.3 kg
Battery Life: Up to 19.5 hours
Specs: Intel® Core™ i7-1065G7 Processor, 8 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD
Display: 13.3", Full HD 1920 x 1080p
Operating system: Windows
The HP Spectre x360 i7 has a 16:9 aspect ratio, which makes it excellent for streaming your favorite films and shows. Not to mention that the near borderless display is stunning too.
Aside from that, you can use this laptop to work on almost anything. It has a pretty powerful processor and 8GB RAM so you can multitask and handle heavy tasks comfortably.
However, the true charm of the HP Spectre x360 is in its exterior. It has an exquisite gem-cut design that feels premium, while the all-aluminum body is both durable and beautiful.
This HP laptop has some excellent security features too, including a fingerprint reader and privacy switch for the camera.
Lastly, true to its name, you can easily flip the screen 360-degree to get the desired viewing angle. It also works well on Tent mode for viewing texts or watching.
Pros of the HP Spectre x360
Excellent and fast performance Great security features (fingerprint and face recognition Beautiful gem-cut design with all-aluminum body
Cons of the HP Spectre x360
Overheats quite easily Fan noise can be loud and distracting Maximum volume may produce harsh audio
"Conveniently flips into a tablet and is ultralight to bring along on any adventure" Debbie Fettback, World Adventurists "I love my HP Spectre 360 i7 because of its top-of-the-line quality, while still being light and small enough to bring along without it being a hassle. It fits easily in my carry-on or day pack without taking up needed space. I find that flipping between laptop and tablet modes is helpful when trying to get some work done or entertain myself, in smaller spaces such as during a train ride, on an airplane, or in the back seat of the car. When you are a travel writer, you need to be able to easily get work done on the go. The touch screen is helpful as well when you cannot have a full desk setup. It is one of the best ultra-portable travel laptops I have had, without having to sacrifice power or usability."
Weight: 1.27 kg
Battery Life: Up to 17 hours
Specs: Intel® Core™ i7-1165G7 Processor, 16 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD
Display: 13.3", Full HD 1920 x 1080p
Operating system: Windows
Another excellent travel laptop to consider is the DELL Inspiron 13. This is another versatile model that you can use in Laptop, Tablet or Tent Mode.
Like the IdeaPad Flex, you can use the DELL Inspiron 13 in different viewing modes and fold the screen into Tablet Mode. However unlike the Microsoft Surface laptop, you cannot actually detach the monitor from the keyboard.
Moreover, it has spectacular battery life of up to 17 hours. This is truly incredible, considering the powerful performance it also offers. With 16 GB RAM and 512 GB SSD, you can use this laptop for editing or even gaming.
You’ll also love the Windows Hello feature, which uses the webcam to automatically unlock the computer. Additionally, you can use the privacy shutter to feel more secure when browsing.
Pros of the Dell Inspiron 13
Excellent battery life Incredible performance for a 2-in-1 model Full HD screen with touchscreen or Active Pen support
Cons of the Dell Inspiron 13
Onboard memory cannot be upgraded Few ports and limited connectivity options On the heavy side for a 2-in-1 model
Weight: 1.46 kg
Battery Life: Up to 13.5 hours
Specs: Intel® Celeron® N4020 Processor, 4 GB RAM, 64 GB eMMC
Display: 14", Full HD 1920 x 1080p
Operating system: Chrome OS
If you’re looking for a budget Chromebook to bring with you on your travels, the HP 14a 14" Chromebook is a brilliant choice.
We recommend this for simple tasks that can be done easier on a laptop than a smartphone. From researching or planning your journey, to streaming blockbuster films, and catching up on social media.
Plus, the virtually borderless Full HD screen is great if you’re planning to watch lots of movies or shows on the road!
Not to mention that it offers high-quality audio, thanks to the custom tuning by experts over at Bang & Olufsen.
One of the biggest drawbacks of using the HP 14a, much like other Chromebooks, is that you cannot run desktop-based software. This includes Microsoft Office, Photoshop and any graphics-intensive game. Instead, you can run them on a browser, but this will limit the functionality.
With that said, you can access Google Play, which means you will have a pretty much endless choice of apps for your every need. It’s great if you prioritize user-friendly interface and convenience over powerful performance.
Pros of the Dell Inspiron 13
Affordable Chromebook for travel Large 14-inch screen for comfortable viewing Limitless app choices for everything
Cons of the Dell Inspiron 13
May not be the best for demanding tasks You can’t run desktop-based software Not suitable for offline work
Other things to consider when buying a travel laptop
1. Do you need your laptop for work-related purposes?
If your job requires the use of a laptop and you’re planning to work while travelling, it’s a good idea to invest more and buy a higher-grade laptop. This is especially important if your work is related to your travels, for example if you’re a travel blogger or vlogger.
It’s better to spend more in the beginning than getting a bargain and discovering later that you can’t work because your laptop is unreliable!
2. What else will you use your laptop for?
Are you going to use your laptop just for entertainment on long journeys? Watching Netflix and browsing the internet in the evenings? For planning your travels? Editing photos and videos?
It’s great to know what you’ll be using your laptop for so you can buy accordingly, as some laptops are better suited for certain tasks.
For example, if you’re going to be editing, you might want a laptop with excellent colors and fast performance. Alternatively, for watching films, it’s nice if your laptop has high-quality audio and resolution.
If you solely want it to help plan upcoming trips, booking accommodation and finding what to do, then something more basic will be fine.
3. How light and portable do you need your laptop to be?
Travelling with a backpack immediately reduces the size and weight of the laptop you should buy. After all, you wouldn’t want your laptop to take up half the capacity of your bag.
If you plan on traveling with a larger suitcase, you might have more room for a larger laptop when packing for your trip. This also means you can enjoy more flexibility in terms of price. If you want a recommendation for a great laptop backpack, check out our Matein review.
4. What are your budget constraints?
Just like buying any gadget or electronic device, you should only buy a laptop within the price range you’re comfortable with. Our top tip is to set a budget before even starting your research.
It will help you stick to it and not be enticed by the latest technologies and cool features which you might not necessarily need. Plus, it helps to be realistic of what a certain price point can get you.
After so long spent saving money for your travels, you don’t want to blow too much on an unnecessarily high performance laptop.
Reasons why you should travel with a laptop
If you’ve been pondering over the idea of whether getting a laptop for travel is the right choice for you. Let’s delve into some of the top benefits and reasons why getting a laptop for your travels is an awesome decision.
1. You’re more productive
Yes, phones have become extremely powerful and practical that you can probably perform most simple computing tasks on it. But working on a laptop is much easier and more motivating.
Even with things such as replying to emails, writing blog posts, or editing travel photos, you’ll find that a laptop allows you to do them faster. If you’re a creative individual, you may find it impossible to function on the road without a laptop.
2. Better access to entertainment
Imagine being stuck in a hotel room with poor WiFi, or on extremely long train journeys with nothing else to do. A good laptop equals an excellent source of entertainment, whether that’s video games or watching downloaded movies.
Sure, you can do all these on a phone, but any film or TV show will surely seem more exciting on a laptop screen! Additionally, it is easier to play games together on a laptop than on a phone.
3. Easier to backup photos and videos
If you take a lot of photos and videos throughout your travels, investing in a laptop can be worth it. It’s especially true for individuals who create for a living and might be worried about losing your content.
There are more ways to backup files on your laptop than on a phone. This includes an external hard drive, on the laptop itself, or cloud services - more options, more security!
4. Travel planning is much easier
Finally, a laptop can make planning your travels infinitely easier! It’s much simpler to book hotels, train tickets and flights, as well as map your journey on a laptop interface.
There is quite literally more space to search, open multiple tabs and plan your route, which can be frustratingly difficult on a small screen. You’ll be more efficient, which can probably save money.
Travel laptop FAQs
What is the best travel laptop for blogging?
The Dell XPS 13 would be a good option for blogging because it’s lightweight and perfect for running all aspects of a blog.
We personally use the XPS 15, but that’s because we like the bigger screen for video editing. If you’re like us and “vlogging” as well as blogging, then the XPS 15 would be a better investment. Otherwise, the XPS 13 should be enough!
What is the best cheap laptop for travel?
Chromebooks offer the best value for money. Out of the two listed above, we recommend going for the HP Chromebook, simply because the software in HP laptops works well. We have also used HP in the past and have never had any issues with it.
What is the lightest travel laptop?
Strictly speaking, the Microsoft Surface Pro 7, weighing just 0.77 kg, would be the lightest travel laptop around. But it’s a 2-in-1 tablet and laptop that is more suitable for business purposes and lightweight functions. But if you’re planning on doing more intensive tasks, the ASUS Zenbook would a better bet.
Is a tablet a better option than a laptop?
Not if you’re planning on working remotely. This includes running a business, blogging, vlogging, or anything that requires heavy work, even editing pictures. A smaller laptop would still be a better investment than a tablet.
But if you simply want to stay connected on a bigger screen, watch Netflix, or reply to emails and do meetings, then a tablet would work perfectly. It’s much lighter, smaller, and more portable than even the most lightweight laptop.
Which travel laptop is right for you?
As you can see, there are a LOT of fantastic options out there.
Ultimately, which travel laptop you go for depends on …
What you plan on using it for
How often you travel
How much space you have
Your budget
Regardless of which sort of traveller you are, you should be able to find the perfect laptop from the list above.
Now, over to you …
Which laptop do you think you will go for?
Do you have any other ideas that aren’t on this list?
Just drop a comment below and let me know!
Other gear guides you might like:
Best Laptop 2022
When it comes to choosing the best laptop, there really isn't a "one-size-fits-all" solution. After all, different users have different wants, different needs, so narrowing down the field into a single perfect choice is impossible. However, what we can do it to choose the best laptop by user type and application—which is exactly what we did. From the business-class to budget, ultraportable to ultraportly, these are the best laptops of 2022.
Best Laptop Overall
Striking the perfect balance between power, portability, and price, the MacBook Air M2 (2022) is our pick for the best laptop of 2022. It doesn’t quite reach the same performance levels as some of the faster, more powerful MacBook Pro models, but it doesn’t need to.
For most users, the MacBook Air’s M2 architecture is plenty powerful enough. Even the base model, which includes an 8-core CPU and 8-core GPU, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage can shred through demanding workloads quickly and with ease, barely exhibiting signs of effort.
Perfectly balancing power, portability, and price makes the MacBook Air M2 our pick for the best laptop of 2022.
Nearly as thin in size as the iPhone 14 and weighing less than 3 lb, the MacBook Air is as sleek and portable as ever. Combined with the power of its M2 architecture, the MacBook Air offers the perfect blend of performance and portability.
Finally, let’s not overlook cost. In addition to being super powerful and ultraportable, the MacBook Air is reasonably priced. It’s not cheap by any means, and depending on what configuration you go with, the cost can climb pretty quickly, but compared to other, uber-expensive laptops like the MacBook Pro, the MacBook Air’s price tag seems much more manageable.
When you put it all together: the power to tackle any task, portability that allows you to take it anywhere, and a price most people can work with, it becomes clear that MacBook Air M2 is the best laptop of 2022.
Best Laptop for Photo Editing
The MacBook Pro M1 (2021) is the best laptop for content creators, including photo and video editors. In terms of power: it’s simply unrivaled, capable of churning through creative tasks at speeds comparable to the highest of high-end PCs.
The MacBook Pro M1 is available in 14 and 16" configurations, but regardless of which model you choose, the Pro’s Liquid Retina XDR screen delivers gorgeous visuals with true-to-life colors that are perfect for photo and video editors.
The MacBook Pro M1 (2021) is the best laptop for content creators, including photo and video editors.
For a full rundown on why the MacBook Pro M1 is the best laptop for photo editing, be sure to check out our hands-on review of the MacBook Pro M1 (2021).
Best Laptop for Photo Editing on a Budget
Though primarily billed as a productivity laptop for users on the go, the ASUS VivoBook S15 actually makes for a pretty good photo editing laptop for users on a budget—provided you get the right model. The key specs are the screen and the processor. You’re looking for the 15.6” variant with a Full HD IPS display and a 12th Gen Intel Core processor, preferably the i5.
Why this model? The wide viewing angles and solid contrast you get from the IPS display will help make up for the VivoBook’s rather pedestrian 45% NTSC color gamut. Meanwhile, the Intel processor will boost overall performance, allowing you to run multiple editing applications at once.
Marketed as productivity laptop for users on the go, the ASUS VivoBook S 15 is also a solid choice for photo editors on a tight budget.
Make no mistake: the VivoBook S 15 is not a MacBook Pro M1 competitor. It's not even the same species. But for a third of the cost, the VivoBook S 15 returns high value and great photo editing performance.
Best Gaming Laptop in the World
ASUS's Republic of Gamers Strix SCAR 17 SE is the only laptop on our list that is a double award winner: not only did it receive our vote for the best gaming laptop in the world, it was also our pick for the laptop with the most ridiculous name. Look at that thing. Republic of Gamers Strix SCAR 17 SE. If you're not familiar with ASUS, you have no idea what those words mean. It's way too much.
ASUS 17.3" Republic of Gamers (ROG) Strix SCAR 17 (2022) G733 SE IceBurn Prisoner of Azkaban Gaming Laptop for Gamers
But then again, maybe that's the point. After all, what should you call one of the most roided-out, tryhard gaming rigs we've ever seen? Shouldn't it be something equally over the top, something that embodies just how truly broken this rig is? Just look at the specs on this thing.
For starters, it's huge. The 7 lb Strix SCAR features a 17.3" 1440p display with a 240 Hz refresh rate. Planning to hook it up to an external monitor? Go right ahead: the Strix SCAR houses a NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti GPU and features both DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.1 ports, so you can connect it to whatever monitor you want. 4K, 5K, 8K—sure, why not.
For its CPU, the Strix SCAR is running a 2.3 Ghz Intel Core i9-12950HX chip, which is probably overkill to begin with (unless you were planning on undertaking some super-intense, multiprong task like recording yourself playing a graphically demanding VR title while simultaneously streaming it live on Twitch), but nonetheless can be overclocked further up to 5 GHz.
In terms of storage, the Strix SCAR comes with two M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSDs, each with 1TB of storage, for a grand total of 2TB of installed memory. And, because 16 or even 24GB of RAM would have been a bit too reasonable, the Strix SCAR comes with a mind-boggling 32GB of DDR5 RAM, which you can juice up all the way to 64GB. That's psychotic.
Best Laptop for Writers
Although it was far from unanimous, our vote for the best laptop for writers goes to the Microsoft Surface Laptop 4. What made this category particularly difficult to decide was our individual preferences on keyboards and key switches. We all agreed that the best writing laptop should provide a first-class typing experience; however, we were divided when it came down to what type of keyboard and key switches delivered that experience.
Everyone agreed: The Surface Laptop 4 has an excellent keyboard that's a joy to type on.
Ultimately, we settled on the Surface Laptop 4, because it was the one laptop keyboard that was viewed positively by everyone on our team. The fact that it’s so light and portable—a plus for journalists and writers on the go—and that it has a bright, easily readable screen also factored in to our decision.
Best Business Laptop Computers
When choosing the best computer for business use, there are several essential features to consider.
A CPU to power your productivity
For the average office user, a dual-core processor will provide plenty of power for tasks like editing documents, creating presentations, and accessing websites. But if you're planning to run compute-intensive applications in photography, video, or 3D rendering, you'll need a CPU with more powerful processors. The most powerful professional laptops will have the fastest CPU speeds. It's ideal to choose a CPU based on the requirements of the applications you want to run. Some platforms will perform better with CPUs with a single core that cycles at a faster rate. Others will offer better performance with multiple cores with multithreading capabilities.
Convenient screen size and resolution
14-inch screens are considered the sweet spot for work laptops today. On-the-go or field-based workers may prefer laptops with 13-inch screens that are lighter and more portable. 17-inch screens can be a bonus for creative professionals or those who need more expansive views for multitasking. Every laptop user can benefit from a screen with a higher resolution. 4K laptops, for instance, provide an immersive visual experience.
The right form factor
The best professional laptops are built with durability in mind. Still, certain users will want even more durable devices. For workers in harsh and hazardous conditions, the right laptop will have protective casings that ensure optimal performance despite extreme temperatures, strong vibration, and the presence of dust and dirt.
Enough RAM for the apps you run
8GB of RAM will deliver acceptable performance for basic office productivity applications. Users working with large databases, complex photo editing, and high-definition video will want a minimum of 16GB of RAM. Users multitasking with large files or running highly demanding, processing-intensive workloads will see much better performance with 32GB of RAM or more.
The right graphics card for your applications
An integrated graphics card, built directly into the CPU, is suitable for most business applications. For users working with photos, high-definition video, or 3D graphic visualizations, a dedicated GPU is essential. Computers with integrated GPUs have the graphics and central processors in the same unit. By having a dedicated GPU, graphics related data can be processed separately, and more efficiently without slowing down the rest of the system. These applications will also benefit from the latest and fastest graphics cards.
A faster storage drive
While hard disk drives (HDDs) are less expensive and offer more storage, the more powerful laptops today are built with solid-state drives (SSDs). SSDs deliver much faster performance and are quicker to boot up and resume after sleep. With no moving parts, they offer greater stability and reliability, especially for mobile users who take their laptops on the go.
Backlit keyboard
The best business laptops have keyboards that are backlit for increased visibility. These keyboards allow users to work in situations with decreased lighting situations, such as air travel.
Longer battery life
To keep up with the pace of your business, Dell’s laptops offer batteries that can go for a full day between charges. But because certain features on laptops like touchscreen displays can significantly reduce battery life, you may need to consider which features are the highest priority.
