9 Best Rugged & Durable Laptops For All Your Needs
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What do you look for in a laptop? You want portability, right? That is your main concern when comparing a laptop to a desktop computer. If you can carry it around with you, then you are good. But, your life is not all libraries and coffee shops. Sure, you get your work done there, but you are more than that. You are an adventurer, an explorer, a digital warrior.
You need a laptop that is rugged, reliable, durable, and nearly indestructible. When you drop it, it should hold up. It should take the occasional knock. It should even be able to withstand a little heat and cold. Water, too. In essence, it should be built to last.
We are here to help.
In This Article
4 Best Fully-Rugged and Semi-Rugged Laptops
With so many options at your disposal, it can be hard to know what to choose. Well, worry, not. We have done the searching for you (our searches are not military-grade, but our laptops are). If you are looking for the best, then you cannot go wrong with these four laptops.
1. Dell Latitude 5430 Rugged Laptop
Pros 11th Gen Intel® processor
sRGB anti-glare screen
ExpressCharge™ capable battery Cons Small screen size
Small hard drive in the base model
Dell is known for its selection of affordable yet high-performance PCs, including those in its Alienware and rugged laptop ranges. The Latitude 5430 is one of its most durable high-spec rugged laptops, featuring an 11th gen CPU, 16 GB DDR4 RAM, and 512 GB SSD. The laptop’s exterior features a carry handle and balancing legs suitable for setting it sturdy and level on almost any terrain.
With a glove-capable touch screen, it’s easy to navigate necessary tasks quickly and conveniently while on the go. The screen is also powerfully bright at 1100 nits, making it perfect for outdoor daylight conditions. It’s IP-53 rated against dust, water, and dirt. Additionally, drop-tested and tested at temperatures of –20°F to 145°F to ensure it can withstand the toughest of conditions, just like its owner!
Security is also a top priority with the Latitude 5430, thanks to advanced fingerprint and smartcard readers. Other convenient features include up to 25 hours of battery life thanks to hot-swappable batteries. Plus, quick charging capabilities of up to 35% of battery per 20 minutes. Exactly the lengthier operation and shorter charge times required in outdoor and combat situations.
2. Dell Latitude 7330 Rugged Extreme Laptop
Pros 11th Gen Intel® processor
Fully customizable at extra cost
Customizable warranty and services Cons None
The Latitude 7330 forms part of Dell’s exemplary rugged laptop range. Its 11th gen Intel CPU, 8 GB RAM, and 256 GB SSD offer performance and speed. Designed to keep up in the toughest conditions, its IP-65 rated, tested from –20°F to 145°F, and drop-tested up to 6 feet. Its proprietary case-style chassis features a convenient carry handle and legs that balance it level and sturdy on any terrain.
The Dell Latitude 7330 may be more pricey than other similar-spec Dell rugged laptops, without considerable improvement in specs. However, the reason for this price discrepancy is due to it featuring a compact, speedy LPDDR4x 8 GB RAM module inside. Compared to traditional DDR4 sticks, it’s smaller, faster, and has lower energy consumption needs—all benefits appreciated when it comes to using and carrying a rugged laptop.
Its ultra-bright 1400 nits screen features a resistive, gloved-touch & 5G-capable touchpad designed to stay responsive in all types of outdoor conditions—be it rain or sunshine. With Wi-Fi 6E and 5G, users are ensured the best possible connectivity on the road. Thanks to FirstNet Ready capabilities, users are also ensured priority to nearby networks.
3. Panasonic Toughbook 40
Pros Upgradable with modular expansions
Configurable to high end specs Cons Expensive
The Panasonic Toughbook 40 certainly matches up to the rugged laptop competition. With an 11th gen Intel CPU, 16/32 GB RAM, and 512 GB/1/2 TB SSD, it has plenty going for it as far as specs and performance go. Its chassis is equally durable and usable, with a carry handle, utilitarian look, and ample IP66 rating against water and ingress. However, it features something else under the hood that makes it unique—modular areas and packs.
Related: Panasonic Toughbook G2 Review
Each expansion pack (xPAK) slots in and out of the relevant area, making upgrades and hardware changes or removal quick and convenient. The Toughbook 40 features eight different areas, including ones for a battery, memory, storage, keyboard, and four other additional expansion packs. Optional xPAKs include barcode & authentication readers, optical drives, and additional storage, I/O, and batteries.
Users can really customize their Toughbook 40 to fit their needs—and adapt it to each unique mission. Otherwise, the Toughbook 40 can either come with a 4G or 5G modem, both featuring FirstNet support, dual-SIM & eSIM slots, and CBRS Private LTE. Lastly, a 5MP infrared webcam with a privacy cover and Windows Hello facial recognition ramps up security.
4. GETAC S410
Pros Optional high-spec graphics card
Removable solid-state hard drives
Can hold up to 3 batteries Cons Low base specs
If you want power, then the Getac S410 has it. The processing power is already fantastic, but the optional Nvidia GeForce GTX Discrete GPU can transform this laptop into a monster, adding in complex processing for 3D graphics, rendering, CAD applications, and more. And, that extra power is only going to enhance your day-to-day operations.
The exclusive LumiBond technology gives advanced touchscreen control with touch, pen, or glove, and the adaptability of the touchscreen makes it a perfect laptop for moving from the office to your commute, to the great outdoors. The optional radiant FHD display gives you the richest and most vibrant viewing experience, no matter where you are.
The second battery adds longevity to your workday, letting you power through tasks, and the 1TB of storage with optional second onboard SSD gives you all the room and power that you need. This also gives you faster boot times and seamless multi-tasking.
The laptop’s first capacitive fingerprint technology adds an extra layer of security, and there are additional multi-factor authentication protocols too. The rugged and impact-resistant exterior protects all of that, withstanding drops, piercing, and collisions.
A wonderful business laptop that has versatility and customization. An already powerful laptop that can be upgraded with more power.
5 Best Durable (Business-Grade) Laptops
Along with fully-rugged and semi-rugged laptops, there is another category of laptop which we want to talk about, the kind which you want to be durable but not necessarily the laptop which you will take skydiving or mountain climbing with you. They are business-grade or business-rugged laptops.
Business-grade laptops are not as rugged as a fully- or semi-rugged laptop but, in an office environment, they get the job done and are protected. They still have features like shock- and water- resistance, and have reinforced cases. They outdo consumer-grade laptops and are well-suited to students or business people who spend a lot of time on the road.
Of course, they are also well-suited to anyone who wants a rugged and dependable laptop.
We went into a lot of depth about what to expect with consumer- and business-grade laptops with our ‘How Long Do Laptops Last & How To Make Them Last Longer’ article, where Henrik shared his personal experience of a 5-year-old Lenovo ThinkPad T440p, and that article tells you a lot about what you need to know about business-grade laptops.
We keep an eye on the most reliable brands and laptops, and this always seems to change considerably year on year, so it is hard to consistently recommend one brand or model but the differences from year to year are getting smaller.
Here are the 5 business-rugged laptops which are topping our list. We have either used or owned each of the laptops on the list, so we can vouch for their durability and performance.
The Most Durable Laptop Made By Dell: XPS 15 9520
Pros Fully customizable
High-end specs
Variety of screen size options Cons Lots of Dell bloatware
The Dell XPS 15 is a slimline laptop that is surprisingly durable, as well. Featuring a strong CNC machined aluminum chassis and carbon-fiber/woven glass fiber composite palm rest, it’s built to endure. It’s both scratch-resistant and less likely to warp, buckle, or crack—especially under pressure.
In terms of specs, this laptop exceeds expectations, with a 12th gen Intel CPU, Intel Iris GPU, Wi-Fi 6, 16 GB DDR5 RAM, and 512 GB SSD memory. As with many other Dell laptops, the XPS 15 is fully customizable, with various CPUs, OS systems, GPUs, RAM, hard drive, and screen size and type configurations. Buyers can even choose from the latest XPS or the older version, which is less customizable.
The new XPS 15’s larger 15.6” screen is perfect for more than just browsing, offering additional space to enjoy movies and media. Other key XPS 15 features include plenty of inputs, including Thunderbolt 4, USB Type-C 3.2, audio jack, and SD-card slots and ports.
The Most Durable Laptop Made By Lenovo: ThinkPad T14 Gen2
Pros Optional NVIDIA graphics
Slightly configurable
Great for business or pleasure Cons Low base specs
As an all-around rugged computer, this laptop excels. Lenovo uses an aluminum cover for durability and on select models an antimicrobial finish. The ThinkPad T14 Gen2 has passed 12 military-grade durability tests and hundreds of quality tests so that it is ready to run in any environment, from office desks to extreme weather.
The laptop was made with business, engineering, and creative use in mind, so it is a powerful machine that can run at high processing speeds all day long. A quad-core Intel processor keeps it running strong, and the computer uses a 1-terabyte SSD and can hold to 48GB of memory.
You can also run graphically intensive programs thanks to the top-tier graphics card and display. The 14” screen can even be upgraded with a security panel, which filters the display to ensure it is only visible for someone working at the computer, appearing black to anyone peeking over your shoulder.
The Most Durable Laptop Made By HP: ZBook Power 15.6” G9 Mobile Workstation
Pros 3-year warranty & optional support
Anti-glare screen
Optional NVIDIA graphics Cons Odd placement of power button
Laptops featuring non-plastic chassis’, particularly those made from durable aluminum such as the HP ZBook Power, tend to be more durable. The additional hardiness and scratch resistance provided ensure users don’t need to replace the laptop sooner because of exterior damage. The ZBook’s impressive specs include a 12th gen i7 Intel CPU, 32 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD, 15.6” display, and 720p HD webcam.
This hardy slimline laptop is also heavy on the security, being a G9 Wolf Pro Security Edition. With a fingerprint sensor and key HP Wolf Pro Security Edition features, it’s an excellent choice for SMBs looking to protect their sensitive data. These Wolf Pro Security technologies include next-gen antivirus, credential protection, threat containment, and cloud-based control.
However, the ZBook Power G9 also features HP Device Access Manager, Power On Authentication, Security Manager, Secure Erase, many other handy HP security features, and a smart card reader. Ports and slots available include a Thunderbolt 4 port and multiple USB Type-A ports.
The Most Durable Laptop Made By ASUS: Expertbook B9 (B9450)
Pros Wide-view anti-glare display
2 expansion slots
Good battery life Cons Mid-level specs
Not very customizable
Out of all the most durable laptops, the ASUS Expertbook B9450 has to be one of the lightest choices. This ultralightweight, slimline laptop features a unique magnesium alloy chassis offering noticeable weight reduction compared to aluminum. Supposedly one of the world’s lightest 14” business laptops, it weighs in at just 880 grams while measuring a slim 14.9 mm with a 14” display.
The Expertbook B9450 is also built with structural reinforcement and meets the MIL-STD 810H US military standard. It’s been in-house tested to ensure maximum durability from drops, shock, and pressure. Key security features include extensive hardware and technology, including NFC, face & fingerprint login, a Kensington lock slot, and a webcam shield.
A 12th gen Intel CPU, Iris Xe, 4 TB SSD space, and 8 GB RAM come standard on this model. With up to 16 hours of battery life and fast-charging capabilities of up to 60% battery per 44 minutes, it won’t let buyers down on the road, either. Other key Expertbook B9450 features include Wi-Fi 6E, Dolby Atmos, AI Noise-Cancelling, and an AI camera.
The Most Durable Laptop Made By Apple: MacBook Pro (14-inch)
Pros 2 distinct specs choices
3 screen size options Cons Lack of ports
Apple was the first laptop manufacturer to introduce the ultra-durable aluminum unibody laptop chassis, debuting on the 2008 MacBook Pro line. Besides being scratch-, drop-, and crack-resistant, this chassis offers a premium look and feel that has led to it remaining a MacBook staple ever since.
The latest MacBook Pro 14” is one of the hardiest laptops, with its case sometimes enduring long past it comes time to upgrade. Available in the classic silver and space grey tones, you can also select from smaller 13” and larger 16” MacBook models if 14” doesn’t suffice. Additionally, buyers can pick from various models featuring differing specs, such as 512 GB or 1 TB SSD storage, an 8/10-core CPU, or 14/16-core GPU.
Featuring Apple’s proprietary M1 Pro CPU & GPU chip, this laptop comes with other expected Apple tech and hardware. Namely, Thunderbolt 4 ports, a MagSafe 3 port, a Magic Touch ID keyboard, and a Force Touch trackpad. Do bear in mind that the chips on the 13”, 14”, and 16” MacBook Pro models vary. Only the 16” version is available with the M1 Max chip, the M2 on the 13”, and the M1 Pro on the 14” and 16”.
The Difference Between Fully-Rugged and Semi-Rugged Laptops
It does not matter if a laptop is fully-rugged or semi-rugged; it is still built to Military Specifications. So, what is the difference between the two?
Fully-Rugged Laptops
Fully-rugged laptops are the ones that are designed to function in the toughest climates. They can take almost anything you throw at them and still function and perform. Are you sending an email from the desert? Checking the stock market in the arctic? Or, working in a monsoon? Full-rugged laptops have waterproofed and sealed components, keeping the moisture, sand, and dirt out.
Harsh conditions often mean glare from the sun. Fully-rugged laptops are designed to reduce glare and work in the temperatures which often come with that glare. These laptops can withstand the extreme heat and cold of the most extreme places in the world.
Fully-rugged laptops are great for laborers, those in the military, and everyone else who is working outdoors or in extreme conditions.
Semi-Rugged Laptops
You may not know it, but the laptop which you use every day is quite possibly semi-rugged. These laptops are a small step up from the laptops we all know.
You will know that it is semi-rugged if it has a sturdier case (in some cases carbon-fiber reinforced-plastic), spill-proof keyboard, and a gel-mounted hard drive (which protects it from shocks and impacts). Like fully-rugged laptops, they can survive in extreme conditions, just not to the extent of their full-rugged cousins. They remain operational but may slow or freeze.
They are great for outdoor work but are not as suited for extreme conditions. You will find them used a lot with those who work in construction or utilities. The trade-off is that they are sleeker and thinner than fully-rugged laptops, often being more stylish and portable.
What To Know Before Buying a Rugged Laptop
Disclaimer: no laptop on our list is invincible – but they all come pretty close. Durability was a big factor in our choice, but we based our decisions on more than just that.
Durability
It goes without saying that a rugged laptop should last. This is not a laptop which only needs to be water-resistant and repel the coffee you just spilled; this is a laptop that needs to withstand the impact of falling on the hard ground as you are scrambling over rocks.
The laptops we chose all come with a tough outer shell which will hold up to impacts and falls. No matter what life throws at it, the laptop will hold up (however, we do not recommend throwing anything at your laptop).
Related: How Long Do Consumer, Business, and Gaming Laptops Last?
Performance
Durability is our main consideration, but you also need a laptop that performs. You are taking your laptop with you for a reason. We only chose laptops which can do just that. If you are used to a desktop computer or a regular laptop, then you have certain expectations.
CPU: You will be hard-pressed to find many high-quality laptops these days without an Intel Core processor, and that is not a bad thing. It is hard to discount Intel when buying a new laptop, and the Core i3, Core i5, Core i7, and the Core i9 are among the best processors out there. They have a great ability to handle multitasking and multimedia.
The Core i3 processor is usually found in entry-level machines with the Core i7 or Core i9 in the high-end laptops. The Core i9 is the best in terms of performance though it can get hot if you are using it constantly.
RAM: The more RAM you have, the more applications you can have on the go at any one time. More RAM means more your data is more accessible; great for video and photo editing or 3D modelling. You will want at least 8GB if you don’t have a lot of need, but 16GB is recommended.
Storage: You really can’t beat a solid-state drive (SSD) when it comes to speed. They work silently, are robust, and lightweight. Most manufacturers are now opting to use SSD in their laptops for these exact reasons. With an SSD, you have quick access to your data and programs, and your system will boot with ease. Look for at least 250GB.
Battery Life: In a perfect world, the stated battery life would be exactly what you get, but that estimation is exactly that: an estimation. There are so many variables in play that it is hard to accurately guess the life of your battery. Try to find one with lots of Watt-hours (Wh) or milliamp-hours (MAh)
The laptops we choose have a speedy processor at their core, fast drives, a ton of RAM, and wonderful batteries.
Screen Quality
If you are anything like me, you will be staring at your screen for hours at a time (and somewhere in that time, I do get some work done). You need a screen which is easy to look at and comfortable to use.
The first thing that you will want to consider is whether or not you want a touchscreen. This can make some of your daily tasks easier, however, they often come with an extra glossiness, needing extra protection and hardware, and that can make them harder to use for long periods. If you game, stream a lot of content, video or movie edit, then a touchscreen may not be for you.
The resolution is where it is at when you are choosing your screen (along with the size of the screen), and a 3840×2160 4K is one of the best that you can get. Look for a large screen with plenty of pixels.
Keyboard Quality
If you do a lot of typing, a comfortable keyboard is a must. A lot of keyboards try to squish in all they can, like extra keys and number pads, and this can lead to less room for your fingers. I have always found that less is more. A simple keyboard gives me the room to type and is comfortable all day long.
I like space around the arrow keys, instead of being cluttered with numbers, and a snappy tactile response from the keys is great too.
IP Ratings
When you see an IP rating on your laptop, such as ‘IP65,’ the IP stands for ‘ingress protection.’ This tells you a little about the waterproof or water-resistant rating of your laptop. It also tells you how good the laptop is at keeping out solids. You are looking at the two digits after the two letters, and the higher each one is, individually, the better rated the laptop is.
The first number deals with safety against solid objects. Let’s take a look:
2: You cannot stick your fingers into the device.
4: Nothing larger than 1mm in diameter can get in.
5: Some protection from dust and sand.
6: Complete protection from dust and sand.
The second digit denotes the protection from liquids:
1: Can resist some drips.
4: Resists splashing water.
5: Jets of water will not get in.
7: Can be immersed in less than one meter of water.
8: Can be submerged in up to 3 meters.
If you can find a laptop rated higher than 5, snap it up!
Affordability
You want a laptop with extra features, and that usually means extra cost. When we look at products, we always recommend spending a little more to get quality. This will save you money in the long run. You want quality materials, quality construction, and quality performance. Spend a little more now and save yourself a lot of money on repairs and replacements.
Top 8 Most Reliable Laptop Brands And Failure Rate Comparison
Updated:
There is a saying, if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys. Just like everyday consumer goods, the cheaper it is, the lower the quality. Some may argue Google Android phones offer better specification than Apple yet retain the same quality. Just look around, have you seen any android phone older than 4 years? Apple smartphones on the other hand last longer as they are built with higher quality with the goal of making money via their subscription fees.
It is hard to compare a product based on their specification alone. For instance, an iPhone’s 3000 mAh battery does not have the same quality as an Android 3000 mAh battery. The material may differ, so does the number of rechargeable cycles. The only way to know the overall product quality is to look at the average failure rate against similar competitors within the same industry.
01 – RescueCom Report 2019
Microsoft Surface is now King of Computer Reliability and Apple Recovers in the new RESCUECOM 2019 Holiday Computer Reliability Report.
1 – Brands percentage share of calls into RESCUECOM 1-800-RESCUE-PC call center
2 – Calculate percent of computers released on the market against the number of repair calls per brand.
3 – Assigned by RESCUECOM to simplify the reliability scoring system.
02 – RescueCom Report 2018
Samsung close behind Apple in RESCUECOM 2018 Computer Reliability Report. Milman is head of RESCUECOM, the industry leader in computer repair, which regularly provides data on their service records to give consumers information on which computers are the most reliable.
The market for computers is shrinking due to computing alternatives like tablets and phones. To be successful, manufacturers are going to have to spend more on research and development and rely less on older designs that worked years ago, but are not well suited to today’s very complex operating systems.
03 – Consumer Report 2016
Of all the laptop brands in the market, which is the most reliable and comes with the lowest failure rate? According to Consumer Reports, Apple stands out as being the most reliable laptop brand. Microsoft, on the other hand, is less reliable than most other brands.
Missing in the list are sub brands or smaller brands such as Razer, Alienware, Predator etc. These brands tend to have higher reliability than their parent companies’ products. Thus, gaming laptops are worth the price for their reliability, but in terms of performance, they are overkill for daily tasks such as surfing the web, word processing and photoshopping.
However, if you are looking for an industrial grade laptop, not those for the average consumer, Panasonic’s Toughbook and Toughpad tablets rarely fail. In fact, Panasonic mobile computers and tablets are nearly ten times more reliable than standard business laptops and tablets. Their laptops and tablets are designed to be used in a really harsh environment.
04 – SquareTrade Report 2009
Laptop reliability by manufacturer. They next turn their attention to the relative reliability of different laptop manufacturers. Their study data includes 9 brands with a minimum of 1000 units, which is enough to give us a statistically significant look at the 2 year failure rates. Figure shows the 3 year forecasted malfunction rates for the 9 brands (excluding accidental damage):
ASUS and Toshiba come out on top. With 3 year malfunction rates forecast to be under 16%, laptops from these two manufacturers are nearly 40% more reliable than Hewlett-Packard, the worst performer in our study. Sony and Apple also performed better than the average. The industry leader HP, which shipped nearly 16 million laptops in the past year according to IDCiii, ranked dead last in our reliability study with over one-fourth of laptops expected to malfunction in 3 years. Gateway and Acer, the #2 makers of laptops were also nearly as unreliable as HP, with an expected malfunction rate of over 23%.
05 – Computers And Laptops After Sales Service
Apart from reliability, the after sales service is equally important too. I’ve owned a great number of computer brands, such as Acer, Asus, Dell, and Sony. My Dell PC failed during the first year and Dell immediately replaced the part, no question asked. Sony did the same thing too when the hard disk failed. My Acer laptop died in the 3rd year, right after the warranty expires.
06 – Planned Obsolescence
Planned obsolescence, or built-in obsolescence, in industrial design and economics is a policy of planning or designing a product with an artificially limited useful life, so it will become obsolete (that is, unfashionable or no longer functional) after a certain period of time.
No company will admit they have this policy, but we can observe this from a products’ average failure rate and the company’s sincerity in fixing it by making available parts required to fix it. This is why I am a huge fan of Japanese products and also Apple. Products are not merely hardware, Apple on the other hand is known for updating their 4 or 5 years old iPhone with the latest OS. As for parts, it is easy to find spare parts for most Japanese brands.
Tips on choosing the most durable laptop: Business Grade Laptop
“What is the most durable laptop brand?”
“I’m looking for a future-proof laptop for work that lasts for years.“
If you’re looking for a laptop, either a new or used one, there are so many laptop brands out there, and so many models, making a decision becomes overwhelming.
Especially if you have past experience of having a laptop that doesn’t last long, broken right after the warranty expires. Even though you’re certain to treat it carefully and never drop it. We surely don’t want to make the wrong choice again.
It turns out that a tough and durable laptop can be recognized by certain characteristics.
This article is made especially for those of you who are looking for Windows laptops. For Mac, it’s easier to pick. Because Apple notebook models have limited choices: Macbook, Macbook Air, and Macbook Pro. Just The differences between the generations and specs.
But not everyone needs a Mac.
There are so many laptop choices these days. Too many brands and models with quick release cycle. Newer models always come around the corner within months. While this is a good thing. It makes it harder for us to pick up our ideal laptop. We have to spend more time doing research.
But you should pick a laptop that fits you. So, begin by figuring out what your needs are. What are you going to use it for, what features are considered important, and what is just nice to have. If you rarely play games, you don’t need a laptop with a GeForce GPU. If you travel a lot, look for a small and light laptop, along with a compact size charger.
Make sure to check the laptop specifications on the official web. Reading and watching reviews, unboxing videos, and others.
But there’s one thing that’s difficult to verify in the review. That is durability. Because it’s difficult to measure and only time will tell.
It’s difficult to rate laptop durability from a review
I’ve had an experience, I bought a laptop that people called the best bang for the bucks, the specs alone seem to be above the price. But two years later, the user community reported that my laptop model was defective in heat management, and rarely could pass three years in normal use. Fortunately, It’s a mainstream laptop that so many hacks and hardware modification article tips circulating to resolve the problem. Although still, after three years, my laptop got broken. For some of you perhaps 3 years is a good laptop life span. But not for me. I rarely used it, and expected to use it longer.
This article is written from the user and buyer’s point of view, not from the manufacturer’s perspective. So there’s no endorsement here. Everything is based on my research from sources, such as articles, forums, and my own experience, which hopefully can help you.
There’s one aspect that turned out to be very helpful in selecting a laptop, that is the laptop category: business-laptop and consumer-laptop. Why you should consider buying a business-grade laptop?
Source: Dell website.
The difference between a business-laptop and consumer-laptop
A business-laptop is made for business, enterprise, and office users. A laptop that commonly provided by the company for its employees.
Meanwhile, a consumer-laptop is for a general user, such as casual home user, student, and others. It’s easy to find in the market and has various models.
Each manufacturer has its own series for that type of laptop. For example, in Lenovo, the IdeaPad is for consumer series, while ThinkPad is for business series. In Acer, Swift and Spin is for consumer series. Meanwhile, the business series is called TravelMate.
That was based on the designation. However, we don’t have to follow it. It’s common for a casual home user to buy a business-laptop. And vice versa, many companies also use consumer-laptops.
So, which one is better?
If you prioritize durability and quality, consider a business-laptop. Why? Because a business-laptop is more reliable. It’s “just works”, trouble-free, easy to maintain, not get broken easily, and so on. It’s designed for an enterprise so it’s reliable. If it’s not reliable, imagine how much time and money spent by a company to take care of the problem.
Let’s take a look at the characteristics of each laptop.
Characteristics of Business-Laptops
1. Basic specifications. No wow factor.
You might say this kind of laptop is a bit outdated. For example, business-laptop computers typically use a CPU from the previous generation, though a new generation CPU has been released. Business-laptops aren’t obsessed with the latest tech. It gives priority to a proven specification that is reliable and battle tested. For example, graphics are usually an integrated one, not discreet. Because fewer components mean less failure. Except for some models that have a special purpose, eg: workstation, need graphic like Quadro.
2. Great build quality.
Business-laptops are tough to be carried around intensively by the employee within the office and on business trips. Often, employees don’t treat company laptops well enough since it’s not their own personal laptop. No sense of belonging. So a business laptop should be able to tolerate sloppiness, such as dropping or water spills.
Some laptops are even carried to rough places like factories. So the laptop must be sturdy. Common case materials used are reinforced plastic, carbon fiber, or magnesium casing, not an easily dented aluminum. Certain business-laptops typically have military grade certifications like MIL-STD 810G.
There’s even a laptop that is designed to be extremely rugged, for example Panasonic Toughbook. This kind of laptop has a unique design, with armor and bumpers making it suitable to be carried to rough places like oil rigs and mines.
Like a tank. Source: Lenovo website.
3. Internal components quality.
I can’t talk more about this object, because I only found a few sources, and these specs are not usually disclosed. But logically, a durable product must have a durable component, right?
In the DIY PC world, we can find a motherboard with the same processor socket and specifications at various price ranges. From cheap $50 to over $300. That’s because the components used (board material, capacitors, etc) are different in quality and grade.
Thus, business-laptop computers are expected to have better quality components, without “cost-cutting” too much in this regard.
4. Regular appearance. Boring.
The laptop appears too formal and boring. It prioritizes functionality over aesthetics look. The design also conservative, no fluorescent logos, or breakthrough designs that use characters like aliens or predators. But many prefer this kind of design.
Source: Dell website.
5. Limited features and gimmicks.
Colorful RGB keyboard lights? Forget it. Lots of speakers and tuned by well-known audio companies? Not important.
6. Specific keyboard.
Business laptops are serious when it comes to keyboards, particularly for hard-core typists. Typing needs to be satisfactory with good travel. Ideally, keyboard keys are not simplified for aesthetic reasons. They have stand alone supporting keys like page up, page down, home, and end buttons. However, for small size laptop, those buttons are often merged due to space limitation.
Distance between keys. The travel key is also quite deep. Source: Asus website.
7. Many pointing devices.
Business-laptops often give a track-point and track-pad at the same time. You might think it’s obsolete technology, but many hardcore typists sill like it better.
Look at the circle in the middle of the keyboard. Yep, it’s track-point. Source: HP website.
8. Non-glossy screen.
Business-laptop often uses a matte panel or even provided by an anti-glare layer (so it doesn’t reflect light). It’s optimized for work, instead of watching movie. However, screen quality is not always good. Some of them still using TN panels that have poor color. A business-grade laptop doesn’t necessarily mean that it would be suitable for graphic works. You have to pay attention to this. Make sure to check the screen specification. TN panel color is not as good as IPS (not as bright), and the viewing angle is also very limited (Certain people like it better for privacy reasons because others can’t peek from the side). Make sure the screen is IPS (or equal tech).
9. Pro Operating System.
Busines laptop typically comes with Pro edition of Windows, not home edition. Because pro version has specific features for business. For example, Remote desktop feature allows users to access the computer from another location. Or BitLocker gives storage encryption, to make the data safe in case you lose your laptop.
Pro edition. Source: Microsoft website.
10. Easier to maintain.
The battery can be replaced easily, or the lower casing can be opened easily. I ever watched video about how easy it is to replace Thinkpad LCD display (Its older model, though). There a lot of tutorials like this in Youtube. I think the newer Thinkpad models, especially the Thin/Ultrabook series, are generally not as flexible as they used to be.
11. Longer warranty.
Mostly business-laptop series has a longer warranty than consumer-grade laptops. It can be 2 or 3 years, or even more. The manufacturers are confident to provide a longer warranty because the products are not easily get broken and damaged. Of course, vendors don’t want to lose their reputation and money.
This relates to the quality of the components in point 3. Also because of a strong chassis that protects the internal components inside.
12. Data protection & security features.
Data in business are important, confidential, and related to money. Business laptop does not only provide fingerprint scanners (that are commonly found on modern laptops), but they also have additional security hardware, for example, the TPM (Trusted Platform Module) module. This additional chip works with the BitLocker feature in Windows Pro to encrypt data. In case a laptop is lost, others cannot read meaningful data stored in the storage. There are also other security additions such as a smart card reader which acts like a lock’s key when accessing data.
If the laptop still uses a hard disk (which is rare nowadays), there is an additional shock protection feature. Since hard disk is a sensitive mechanical device, when there’s a shock while the laptop running, this feature will automatically temporarily park the hard disk head, to avoid surface damaged and data corruption.
In addition, the solid build quality and external case at point number 2 above also guarantee the protection of the components in it.
13. Add-on docking accessories.
Usually, there are optional accessories such as docking to plug in multiple ports and displays for table settings. Some are attached to the laptop, and some are separate by using a USB.
Thinkpad docking. Source: Lenovo website.
Dell Latitude and its docking station. Source: Dell website.
14. Expensive.
This is the main drawbacks
