Best laptop for writers in 2023 (Experts Recommended & Buying Guide)
What is the Best laptop for writers? A laptop is the writer’s best friend. That is not an exaggeration, because any writing job such as a blogger, journalist, author ..etc, will require you to spend at least 6-8 hours daily in front of your laptop, if not more.
Writers use laptops in so many things. From searching and gathering information to storing articles, books, and data. And as a writer, you will need powerful software packages for writing, editing, and grammar/ spelling checking.
You will also need to be comfortable with the laptop you are buying, as you will carry it with you most of the time to finish your next book or article, or to simply take notes when the inspiration hits.
No matter what kind of writer you are, you can have difficulty finding the perfect laptop for you.
Don’t worry though, we will guide you step by step to find the most convenient pc and make sure you know the necessary information to make this important decision.
The features you need to consider
But first things first! Let’s take a look at what you should consider in your laptop:
1- Keyboard
The most important feature you need to keep in mind. As a writer, a keyboard can be a deal-breaker for you. A badly designed keyboard can kill your productivity and worsen your mood. It should be highly responsive for better performance. The space between the keys shouldn’t be too small so that the typing errors would be avoided. It shouldn’t be too large either, so you get used to it easily.
Also, avoid the sleazy keyboards if you press hard on the keys. And if you type a lot at night or you are more comfortable in dim light, you might want to consider a backlit one as it will make things easier.
Don’t compromise here, you have to feel good while writing so that the ideas can flow.
2- Screen size and display
The screen features will be noticeable when you spend non-stop hours writing. You don’t need great graphic features though, but the minimum here is full HD. This is to ensure that you have a comfortable, high-quality screen display so that your eyes don’t hurt much.
The screen size plays a crucial role here. Most writers use a 14-inch screen, it will be good for writing and opening many tabs while searching, while still being able to carry it if you like writing in different places. If you need a lighter laptop as you travel a lot, or you don’t mind working with smaller screens, getting a 12.5 inch would be fine.
A 15 inch or more would be heavy to carry, but your eyes will be thanking you. If you don’t move a lot or you just can’t sacrifice the luxury of a great big screen, this size would be appropriate.
Remember that there are no rules here, choose whatever feels right for you.
3- Battery life:
Think about how many times you forgot to bring the charger with you. Or the laptop’s battery just died when you were in a perfect state of mind to write and you couldn’t find an outlet.
That is why a long-lasting battery is never a bad investment. You will need at least 8 hours of battery life so that it lasts your whole workday. The more the hours are, the less worried you are about any unfortunate events that could happen.
4- Price
The market now is more competitive than ever. That means that you can get a very good laptop at an affordable price. If you are just starting and you are tight on budget, don’t be discouraged. A $700 or lower laptop would be fine to start writing.
5- The technicalities
- Software: the most known one is windows. It is reliable and the Microsoft word is one of the most popular writing tools. The mac is really good too, but you have to make sure that you are comfortable using the Mac operating system as it is not the same as windows.
- RAM: it will enable you to run more applications and tabs more smoothly. A 4GB would be good. The 8GB is preferred.
- Processor: intel core i3 is not recommended as it is outdated. The best and most affordable is i5. The i7 will be costly.
- Storage: writer’s work is all you have, literally. Your portfolio of draft articles, manuscripts, edited scripts, published articles, work you want to get reviewed, or simply any new thoughts that you wrote down and want to check back later. This is simply your whole career in a device, so make sure the storage is convenient for you. Many laptops can be upgraded to higher storage with just a few dollars, and this is a very recommended choice. So any storage above 256GB should be sufficient.
Most writers actually save all their work on the cloud, in case anything happens to the
hard drive. The safest thing to do is to save two copies, one in the hard and the other in
the cloud.
There are a lot of other technicalities, if a feature is a deal-breaker for you, you should take care of it.
Our top 10 picks
We are going to review 10 of the best laptops for writers in the market to get you your perfect laptop, so here we go:
1- Asus ZenBook 13
ASUS ZenBook 13 Ultra-Slim Laptop 13.3” Full HD NanoEdge Bezel Display, Intel Core i5-1035G1 Processor, 8GB RAM, 256GB PCIe SSD, NumberPad, Windows 10 Home, Lilac Mist, UX325JA-AB51
- CPU: Intel i5-1035G1 (4 Cores, up to 3.6GHz)
- Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics
- Memory: 8GB RAM
- Screen: 13.3” LED-backlit FHD (1920×1080) FHD
- Storage: 256GB SSD
- Weight: 2.36 pounds (1.07kg)
The portability feature of this laptop is incredible. With less than three pounds in weight and a 13.3” screen, it is the perfect laptop for freelancers and travel writers. If you need something small and efficient that you can carry around without hurting your back or getting tired, this one would be perfect.
The battery of the Asus Zenbook 13 is remarkable. It lasts between 14 to 17 hours of daily use. That means it will last for a whole day without charging. And at the end of the day, it will fully charge in a little more than an hour. This will help you greatly with your productivity, and help you to avoid the dead battery’s unfortunate accidents.
The design of the laptop is marvelous. It is smooth, built with aluminum to be one of the best and most affordable ultrabooks ever. With 8GB RAM and 265GB SSD, the writing process would be easier as lags and other issues won’t exist.
However, the keyboard is not the best feature here. The space between the keys is small and it may feel uncomfortable after long typing sessions. It will only be appropriate for the small hands.
The laptop is perfect for writing and other basic tasks, but if you need a powerful processor, that is probably not the best one for you.
The price is also very affordable, it is below $800. And you get to choose from different models.
2- Google pixelbook
Google Pixelbook (i7, 16 GB RAM, 512 GB)
- CPU: 1.2GHz Intel Core i7
- Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 615
- RAM: 16GB
- Screen: 12.3-inch QHD (2,400 x 1,600, 235 ppi) LCD touchscreen (400 nits, 72% NTSC color, 3:2 aspect ratio)
- Storage: 512GB SSD
- Weight:2.45 pounds
A great high-performance Chromebook by google. It is perfect for writers who like a full android app system. It comes with access to all your apps and google assistant’s help. Such support is really great on a pc and it will make you feel comfortable with the possibility of access to the play store and other useful apps.
If you always write in different places, that laptop is super thin and lightweight. So it is no problem at all to take it with you anywhere with 2.45 pounds in weight and a 12.3-inch screen.
The screen’s features are amazing. A 360-degree touchscreen display will give you the luxurious experience you aim for.
But for such a pricey Chromebook, great performance is a must. Most of the portable laptops are low-performance devices, but google broke the rules here, and with 16GB RAM and intel core i7 CPU, the smooth performance is no surprise here.
The battery life in pixelbook is fairly normal. Google promises the battery lasts for 10 hours on a full charge. But you still can’t be sure if it lasts the whole workday.
This model is considered the most stunning device by google. A sleek aluminum body with corning gorilla glass.
The keyboard is one of the best in the market. The keys are well-spaced and the typing experience is just satisfying. Writing in the dark is also possible with the backlit keyboard.
You need to sacrifice a lot here. Although the laptop is quite expensive, it has most of the things a writer needs. It is really powerful and it can perform more than just basic tasks.
3- Lenovo Yoga 730
New 2018 Lenovo Yoga 730 2-in-1 15.6" FHD IPS Touch-Screen Laptop, Intel i5-8250U, 8GB DDR4 RAM, 256GB PCIe SSD, Thunderbolt, Fingerprint Reader, Backlit Keyboard, Built for Windows Ink, Win10
$646.99
- CPU: 1.60GHz Intel Core i5-8250U (quad-core, up to 3.40GHz with Turbo Boost, 6MB cache)
- Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620
- Memory: 8GB DDR4
- Screen: 13.3-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,080) IPS (multi-touch, anti-glare)
- Storage: 256GB SSD (PCIe)
- Weight: 2.62 pounds (1.19kg)
Here is a well-made laptop for writers. It is a high-quality built machine that is designed to handle your daily workload without much trouble. As an author or a day-to-day writer, you need something reliable and durable. And that is exactly what Lenovo offers here.
The performance is great and stands out. With a 1.6GHz Intel Core i5-8250U processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD, the laptop is perfect for the price. If you just get tired during the writing and need some good time, watching movies and playing games shouldn’t be a problem. Although graphic-intensive ones are not recommended.
The battery is supposed to last up to 11 hours of daily basic use. But it lasts less with more intensive media tasks. Not the best battery though, but it is enough for a whole workday.
The touchscreen in the device is top-notch. The touch response is smooth, and it could easily be turned to tablet mode. The features placement could be better though.
The Cortana virtual assistant is available. And the keyboard is responsive and accurate, but it will take some time to be comfortable with it.
If you seek productivity and you want a reliable machine, this one is for you.
4- Acer Aspire 5
Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop, 15.6 inches Full HD IPS Display, AMD Ryzen 3 3200U, Vega 3 Graphics, 4GB DDR4, 128GB SSD, Backlit Keyboard, Windows 10 in S Mode, A515-43-R19L, Silver
$329.00
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 3 3200U Dual-Core Processor (Up to 3.5GHz); 4GB
- Graphics: AMD Radeon Vega 3 Mobile Graphics
- Memory: 4GB RAM
- Screen: 15.6” 1920 x 1080 IPS LED
- Storage: 128GB SSD
- Weight: 4.19 pounds
If the price is your problem and you think you can’t find something reliable at this price, take a look at amazon’s best-seller laptop and think again. If you are just starting and you are tight on budget, this is exactly the kind of device you need.
Budget laptops aren’t famous for their nice design. But Acer did a great job making the design sleek and relatively thin. And although it is 4.19 pounds, you can feel it lighter than this. This laptop doesn’t look cheap at all, with its aluminum premium look that will make it feel more expensive than it actually is.
The screen is good and bright. The backlit keyboard is simple and responsive, as it gives a nice feeling of pressing the keys.
The performance is decent for such a price. This laptop is basically designed to handle productivity basic tasks, so typing shouldn’t be a problem at all. The processor is slow so it can’t handle this many programs at the same time. The integrated graphics aren’t great for editing photos or playing games, neither the processor can handle this.
The battery is not bad, managing to last between 5-7 hours. So it would be wise to have your charger with you all the time.
This device offers a reliable solution and it is really good for a budget laptop.
5- Microsoft Surface Laptop 2
Microsoft Surface Laptop 2 (Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 128GB) - Platinum
- CPU: 1.7GHz Intel Core i5-8250U (quad-core, 6MB cache, up to 3.4GHz boost)
- Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620
- Memory: 8GB LPDDR3
- Screen: 13.5-inch, 2,256 x 1,504 resolution PixelSense display (10-point multi-touch, 3:2 aspect ratio)
- Storage: 128GB SSD
- Weight: 2.76 pounds (1.25kg)
A very original experience from Microsoft that is worth considering. With an all-black design that is elegant and simple, Microsoft promises that this one is like any other.
This laptop may seem a bit ordinary, but the details are everything here.
The keyboard is so silent, which will achieve you the absolute silence experience. It is responsive but the space between keys is a bit large.
The performance is powerful and smooth. It will be an amazing writing experience. And if you are a blogger or a content writer, you will probably do a lot of research and get information from browsing the web. If you don’t want glitches or lags while doing this, and you need a simple experience, this laptop is for you.
It can also handle more than just typing or editing tasks. Gaming and media features will be a good experience thanks to the 8GB RAM. beware of the storage though, as the windows installation and updates will take a huge space. Or just save the important things on the cloud.
You can upgrade and get the 256GB SSD for a few more dollars, and we recommend it highly.
The battery life is competitive, as Microsoft promises 14 hours of normal use. The real is lower of course. But the battery feature is still one of the strong points here.
This laptop is simple, neat, and does the job. It will make you feel empowered, relaxed and you shouldn’t have much trouble with it.
6- Acer Swift 3
Acer Swift 3 Thin & Light Laptop, 14" Full HD IPS, AMD Ryzen 7 4700U Octa-Core with Radeon Graphics, 8GB LPDDR4, 512GB NVMe SSD, Wi-Fi 6, Backlit KB, Fingerprint Reader, Alexa Built-in
$623.96
- CPU: Intel Core i5-1035G1 (quad-core, 6MB Intel Smart Cache, up to 3.6GHz)
- Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics
- Memory: 8GB DDR4 (2,667MHz)
- Display: 14″ FHD 1080p IPS
- Storage: 512 GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD
- Weight: 2.7 pounds (1.2kg)
The perfect ultrabook for a decent price. If you are looking for the best investment, the Acer Swift 3 would be on your list with no doubt. This device was designed to be better and more powerful.
As a writer, you need to feel nice so you can put those words out there. The Acer’s minimalist design will definitely set the mood for you. The matte-silver finish is as sophisticated as a laptop can get. With a 14” screen display that would be perfect for opening more tabs and still see it clearly, also the 1080p display is excellent for watching. All of that without making the laptop too heavy to carry. In fact, it is still very thin and portable with 2.7 lbs, making the perfect combination of two great features.
The webcam and the built-in mic are pretty good also. You can hold online meetings or record interviews or podcasts easily.
And all your business needs will be satisfied as the performance of this pc is just another level. The processor and the 8GB RAM are well-prepared to get the job done. As a copywriter or freelance writer, you need to interact with clients. So you have to make sure that the laptop of your choice meets your needs.
The writing experience should be nice with spaced-well keys and a bright, colorful screen.
The battery lasts for about 7 hours. The device runs comfortably and barely gets overheated as the fans are effective and quiet while cooling.
If getting an ultrabook is a matter of life or death to you, and you don’t want to kill your budget, this would be a perfect choice for you.
7- Dell Inspiron 15 5000
2020 Newest Dell Inspiron 15 5000 Premium PC Laptop: 15.6 Inch FHD Anti-Glare NonTouch Display,10th Gen i5, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD, Intel UHD Graphics, WiFi, Bluetooth, HDMI, Webcam, Backlit-KB, Win10
- CPU: 10th Gen Intel Quad-Core i5-1035G1
- Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics
- RAM: 8GB
- Screen: 15.6-inch FHD(1980×1080
- Storage: 1TB SSD
- Weight: 4.03 pounds (2kg)
A premium pc by Dell that is definitely not cheap. This is not a laptop for basic tasks only, it is the exact opposite. The latest and Powerful 10th Gen Intel Quad-Core i5 Processor is made to be used. The smooth, speedy performance is perfect for constant research and navigating the web.
The overheating issue in most laptops is not a problem anymore, as the cooling system depends on a reliable fan even when you open so many tabs or software programs.
The screen is truly outstanding, 15.6-inch FHD(1980×1080) Anti-Glare LED-Backlit Display Narrow Border Stunning screen delivers a crisp, bright image that’s perfect for typing for many hours without hurting your eyes.
16GB DDR4 RAM for fast processing and intensive multitasking. 1TB SSD for system fast boot-up and running, it is SSD, which means it works much faster than HDD. So it will improve the whole performance of this pc.
Most laptops’ speakers are really low level. But not in the Dell Inspiron 15 5000. The built-in speakers are unique. The quality of the vocals is really good and not noisy at all.
The pc is fairly portable, but not the best option if you need it during your travels or cafe writing sessions. Also, it is quite expensive as it is more than just a typing laptop. But it will meet all your writing needs if you decide to purchase it.
8- HP Chromebook
HP Chromebook 14-inch HD Laptop, Intel Celeron N4000, 4 GB RAM, 32 GB eMMC, Chrome (14a-na0020nr, Ceramic White)
- CPU: 1.83GHz Intel Celeron N2940 processor (quad-core, 2MB cache, up to 2.25GHz)
- Graphics: Intel HD Graphics
- RAM: 4GB DDR3
- Screen: 14-inch 1,920 x 1,080 display
- Storage: 32GB eMMC
- Weight: 3.74 pounds (1696g)
Chromebook laptops are always seen as bad alternatives and not real laptops, but HP changed this with the HP Chromebook laptop.
Sometimes when you write, all you need is to focus. The authors are so familiar with this. When they write, they feel that any source of distraction will get them out of the zone. They turn the wifi off and they disable any notifications. All they need is just a writing tool and that is it.
If you feel this way too, we guess that you will like this Chromebook. Sometimes all you need is a simple writing laptop. Basically, like an old-fashioned typewriter that makes you focus without all the impressive technology features. And this laptop is designed for this.
This machine will offer you all the basic writing and editing tasks at a very affordable price. This Chromebook was literally made for writers. The 14” screen is perfect for your words. The trackpad is responsive and high quality, it is big and feels nice to have all this space. And our best feature, the keyboard, can handle the heavy load and the keys are well-spaced.
This laptop is not a powerful multitasking machine. And you will definitely need cloud storage for your files and documents as the 32GB won’t be enough at all.
The battery is supposed to last for 8 hours, but continuous use will drain it fast, so a charger is not something you can forget.
The screen is really top-notch here. 1920 x 1080 bright, vivid, and truly alive. The color saturation and contrast will make your texts and pictures appear sharp and beautiful.
If you always pictured yourself as an inspired author who writes in the cafe with no annoying distractions with a word document opened, this laptop is what you type in.
9- 2020 HP Laptop 17.3″
HP 2020 Newest 17.3 Inch Flagship Laptop?Computer (8th Gen?Intel Core i5-8265U 3.9GHz, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD, Intel HD 620, WiFi, Bluetooth, DVD, Windows 10)
- CPU: 8th Gen Intel Core i5-8265U @ 3.9GHz
- Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620
- Memory: 16GB RAM
- Display: 17.3 inches
- Storage: 256 GB SSD
- Weight: 5.40 pounds
Another laptop by HP in our list. Because you can’t beat this one at its price category. It got almost everything you need. With its soft, elegant black design which looks simple but yet outstanding.
This is a powerful reliable machine you can rely on. It is multi-tasking so that you can be as productive as possible thanks to the great processor and 16GB RAM. The speedy performance will surprise you. This is one of the most amazing laptops that will help you and save you a lot of unnecessary trouble.
If you are a fan of big screens, The 17.3” screen will make writing feel right. The high resolution will help you feel every little detail in the images and enjoy the vibrant, bright colors.
The comfortable keyboard and responsive trackpad make perfect sense why writers love this laptop so much.
The HP is famous for its great number of ports, It comes with 1xUSB, 2xUSB, 1xRJ-45, 1HDMI, and 1xHeadphone-out/microphone-in combo jack. So connectivity and sharing data are easy.
The laptop is not very portable due to its heavyweight. You can’t carry 5.4 Ibs for a long time. Although HP argues that it is portable. Overall, it is not recommended for traveling writers and it is more suitable to be placed in offices or homes.
Other than that, there are almost no problems with this laptop. It is highly recommended for writing, other business-related tasks, and also entertainment purposes.
Our editor’s pick: Apple MacBook Air
2020 Apple MacBook Air Laptop: Apple M1 Chip, 13” Retina Display, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD Storage, Backlit Keyboard, FaceTime HD Camera, Touch ID. Works with iPhone/iPad; Gold
$949.00
- CPU: Apple M1 (8-core)
- Graphics: Integrated 7-core GPU
- Memory: 8GB Unified PDDR4X-4266 MHz SDRAM
- Screen: 13.3-inch, 2,560 x 1,600 Retina True Tone display (backlit LED, IPS)
- Storage: 256GB PCIe SSD
- Weight: 2.8 pounds (1.29kg)
The most amazing yet affordable laptop by Apple. A one that is perfect for all writers. Apple made a laptop that is hard to beat at this price. That is why it is our choice for you with no doubt.
Apple made a competitive laptop and not over-priced at all. The functions will really make you put it into consideration even if you are not an Apple enthusiast.
The design is so iconic that you will just feel better gazing at it. Apple does know how to make a good product.
The top-notch design is not just what this pc has to offer. The M1 chip is what makes this model so remarkable and different. Apple made a huge effort to make its processor perfect and get rid of the intel processor. Apple made huge changes in this model, as this chip affected it greatly. It made the performance impressive, quick, and efficient. The colors are rich and full of life. The interface look is neat and modern. You can run all your IOS apps with no problem with this M1 unbeatable chip.
The battery is the best feature here. Imagine a 15-18 lasting battery and tell us you are not a bit relieved. You won’t need a charger your whole workday if not 2. If you don’t need to worry about your battery, won’t you be more inspired and productive?
There is no fan, which means that the fan annoying sound is no longer an issue.
The keyboard is my all-time favorite. The keys are flat and comfortable. It is responsive and well-made with a reliable touch ID button lying above the keyboard.
There is hardly anything wrong with this model. It is powerful, thin, and portable. The only case you shouldn’t buy it if you really don’t like Macs, but other than that it is our favorite laptop for any writer.
FAQs On Best Laptop For Writers
How Much Should I Spend on a Laptop?
Your budget is a personal choice for sure, you can get a perfect laptop for less than $1,000. You can also buy a very decent laptop for around $500 by choosing one of the recommendations above.
Buying a brand name will cost you more, such as the apple brand. But in general, the more money you spend, the better specifications, processing power and battery life you get.
What Are the Minimum Specs I Should Get as a Writer?
Our recommendation is to get at least 512 GB hard drive, 4 GB of RAM, an i5 processor or higher, and battery life of at least 6 hours. Those are the bare minimum to make your experience comfortable and more productive.
Which is Better, Windows or Mac?
It is totally your choice, as it is a matter of preference. If you are used to the Apple operating systems, or if you use an Iphone or Ipad, get a Mac. otherwise, windows is probably a better choice because it is cheaper and has more software compatibility with other devices.
What Does a 2-in-1 Laptop Mean?
2-in-1 detachable laptop is a mix of a laptop and a tablet. The keyboard is usually detachable or rotatable so you can use the touchable screen independently if you wish.
Do I need a Great GPU on a laptop as a Writer?
You don’t need a great GPU for your writing tasks. It is not a decisive factor when purchasing a laptop for writing. But if you need it for other work such as professional photography, design, or video editing, then a great GPU is definitely a necessity.
Some Final Thoughts
No writer doesn’t need a laptop. Whether you are an author trying to publish your next novel, or a journalist who writes news articles, or a copywriter in an advertising agency, or a content writer for a website, or any kind of a writer. We know your struggle, trying to get the perfect device that you are comfortable with is just not easy. And trying to balance between your needs and your budget can be tricky.
That is why this guide was prepared specially for you. With all the needed information in one place, so you don’t have to surf the whole web.
All you have to do now is figuring out what are the most important features for you, what are your favorite brands, and what would make a perfect laptop for you. Then go over this guide again and settle down on one of these laptops, and enjoy the writing experience.