Professional Writers require exceptional laptops that can provide a comfortable typing experience throughout the day and don’t stress out the eyes. However, each writer has a very specific set of requirements, and based on the nature of those needs, that person requires a very specific type of laptop.
In this article, I’ve carefully curated a list, discussing seven of the best laptops from various categories for different types of writers. based on what you’re looking for, there should be a perfect match for you in here, so be sure to pay attention to the smaller details as well.
Table of Contents
What Makes a Great Laptop for Writing?
No matter what field of work you belong to, when you’re a writer, there are a few factors that you’ll need to take into consideration while choosing your laptop. I’ve summarized these factors in the below list,
- Writers require excellent keyboards as they’ll be typing on them for several hours at a time. So, buying a laptop with a good keyboard is a must. However, gaming keyboards don’t do as well in typing, so Ultrabooks and Professional (Creator and Business) laptops are going to be your best choices.
- Most writers don’t need the best specs available in the market to get their work done. However, having a fast processor, 8GB or more RAM, and fast storage, speeds up the overall workflow on a daily basis. If you’re also going to do graphics work, it’s better to get a good GPU as well, but for the majority of you out there, this one’s skippable.
- The display needs to be good too with low blue-light emissions and minimizing any harm caused to the eye. You’re going to spend a lot of time looking at this display, better to make sure it isn’t ruining your vision.
- While a long-lasting battery is recommended, if you’re sitting in front of a power socket all the time, some compromises in the battery life can be acceptable. However, if that’s not the case, it’s better to get something with great battery life.
- Portability is another huge area you need to focus on, if you need to carry your laptop every day, you must ensure that it isn’t too heavy. Carrying a lot of weight on your shoulders can cause pain on a daily basis and can also end up having medical complications in the long term.
- Lastly, your budget is going to play a huge role in your purchase decision. While cheaper laptops come with crappy keyboards, you also don’t need to spend a fortune in most cases. However, spending a decent amount of money while purchasing your laptop, is going to be beneficial in the long run.
Now, that we’re clear on the basics, let’s jump right into the list of products I’ve selected for you.
Best Laptops for Writers – The Selection
My list of the best laptops dedicated to writers has been divided into three different segments that include products for specific types of user needs, various budgets, different performance capabilities, and more. Based on what you’re looking for, go to a segment that seems ideal for you.
Compact and Easy-to-Carry Laptops
The most common type of laptops writers use are those that fit in a backpack easily, are thin & light, have good displays, and come with great battery life. I have a total of four laptops for you in this segment.
Apple Macbook Air M2
When we’re talking about writing on laptops, the Macbook Air has been one of the most reliable choices since Apple switched to scissor switches. Now, with the Macbook Air M2, things have gotten way more interesting. With a refreshed design, a better display, more power, and all-day battery life, this is probably the best thin & light writers can buy right now.
Design and Performance
Apple has finally replaced the several-year-old design with a new chassis resembling the new Macbook Pro series. It’s in a more rounded-squared-off shape and it comes in a new Midnight color option alongside the old trusty choices. The chassis is built out of Aluminum and the 13.6-inch QHD IPS display now comes with much thinner bezels with a Notch on top which houses the camera. It weighs around 2.7 lbs which makes it lighter than its predecessor.
The Macbook Air comes with the new M2 chip which brings new capabilities alongside a boost in performance. You can start at 8GB RAM and 256GB but it’s available in 8GB/16GB/24GB of RAM alongside 256GB/512GB/1TB/2TB SSD storage. However, do remember that the 256GB SSD is a bit slower (~1500 Mbps) this year.
The performance is great for a laptop with no active cooling (fan) built in. You get a significant bump in performance compared to the M1 and the efficiency gains really pay off. Unlike Windows laptops, you don’t lose performance while using the laptop on battery power which will come in handy if you need to work in a cafe or library and it’s silent, so it won’t attract unwanted attention at those places.
Keyboard and Trackpad
The scissor mechanism has given Apple keyboards a massive edge in typing performance and the keyboard on the M2 Macbook Air is no exception. Apple made sure that the keyboard is clicky, has good travel, and is slightly better than the M1 Macbook Air. Personally, this year I didn’t feel any noticeable difference when compared to the 13-inch Macbook Pro. There is white backlighting and Touch ID is built into the Power Button.
Apple hasn’t used a traditional trackpad with mechanical buttons and opted for a solid glass surface with their Haptic Engine underneath. This eliminates physical clicks and acts on haptic feedback instead. The wide, spacious, and smooth glass surface handles tracking and navigation extremely well. It also enables pressure sensitivity features which improve usability.
Battery Life and Charging
There is a 52.6 Wh Battery inside the M2 Macbook Air and it provides excellent battery life. Apple claims 18 hours of video playback and 15 hours of web browsing which is the same as the M1 Macbook Air. However, the actual battery life will be less and dependent on your specific workflow. However, with medium usage, you can probably get through a single day’s work in a single charge.
The base variant (8GB, 256GB) comes with a 30W charger in the box, but you can get the 35W Dual USB Type-C port charger or the 67W fast charger for an extra $20. All higher configurations come with these new charges though and you can choose which one of the two you want. Apple has also brought the magnetic MagSafe connector to the M2 Air, so it no longer occupies one of the USB Type-C ports.
Connectivity and Inputs
Coming to Wireless Connectivity, you get Wi-Fi 6 with Bluetooth 5.0 and they both perform flawlessly on this laptop. The Inputs are fairly limited though. There are two USB 4.0 Type-C ports with support for Thunderbolt 3, a 3.5mm Headphone jack with support for High Impedance Headphones, and the MagSafe charging port. If you need anything else, you’ll need to use dongles.
There’s also a new 1080P webcam housed underneath the Notch and it’s a significant upgrade over the M1 Macbook Air. It has crisper visuals, better dynamic range, and it benefits from the new ISP in the M2 chip.
Pricing
With the new design and better features, Apple also increased the prices this year. The Macbook Air M2 (with an 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 8GB RAM, and 256GB SSD) starts at $1199, but the price will go up fast if you go for more RAM and/or Storage. In case you want the 10-core GPU option, it’ll cost you $100 extra.
Get the Macbook Air M2 for,
- The premium build quality and easy-to-carry weight
- Industry-leading Keyboard and Trackpad
- Excellent performance in a Thin & Light laptop
Don’t get the Macbook Air M2 if,
- You’re planning to do CPU-intensive tasks for long periods of time (as there’s no active cooling)
ASUS Zenbook S13 OLED
For the Windows camp, if I had to choose a portable laptop that has a better display than the Macbook Air with good battery life and a great keyboard, the Zenbook S13 OLED from ASUS has to be my go-to choice. Powered by AMD’s 6000 series CPUs and dazzling with a crispy 90Hz 2.8K OLED display, this laptop is a great choice for writers.
Design and Performance
In terms of design, the Zenbook S13 OLED looks premium and modern, trading blows with the M2 Macbook Air, thanks to its thinner bezels. The overall profile is slim, a bit more on the business side, and surprisingly enough, it’s also lighter than the Macbook at just 2.43 lbs. The 13-inch 2.8K OLED Display comes with perfect blacks, 100% DCI-P3 coverage, and alongside having Touch support it is also brighter at 550 nits peak.
AMD’s Ryzen 6800U (28W) competes directly with Intel’s P-series, and although CPU performance might just be Intel’s cake, this one has a slightly more powerful integrated GPU and way better energy efficiency. With 16GB RAM and 1TB SSD Storage, this laptop is excellent for all-day workloads and some light photo editing.
Keyboard and Trackpad
ASUS is using their trusty Chiclet-style keyboard that comes with 1.4mm travel. Although Apple makes better keyboards for typing, Zenbook keyboards are still one of the best on the Windows side, and the one on the S13 isn’t an exception. Long periods of typing are comfortable and the keys are clicky with white backlighting underneath and a Fingerprint Sensor.
The trackpad is pretty good too with a spacious glass surface and a smooth tracking experience. However, there are some cursor-skipping issues from time to time. This should be patchable with a driver update, but it isn’t confirmed to arrive just yet, so keep that in mind if you get this laptop.
Battery Life and Charging
Windows still can’t match Apple’s efficiency standards (with Apple Silicon), but thanks to the power efficiency gains in Ryzen 6000 series, the 67Wh battery in the Zenbook S13 OLED, should last you more than 8 hours with medium use. When you’re out of juice, you can use the supplied 65W Type-C Power Adapter (which supports Fast Charging) to juice it up.
Connectivity and Inputs
On the connectivity side, you’re getting the faster Wi-Fi 6E alongside Bluetooth 5.0. However, the inputs are more of the same story with three USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports and a 3.5mm Headphone Jack. However, you do lose Thunderbolt support as it’s exclusive to Intel and Apple. There is support for DisplayPort 1.4 and USB Power Delivery though. This one also comes with a basic 720P webcam.
Pricing
The Zenbook S13 OLED is currently selling for $1299.99, so it isn’t quite as affordable, but with a better display, faster SSD with 1TB storage, and good battery life, the price is somewhat justified.
Get the Zenbook S13 OLED for,
- Great performance in a Thin & Light profile
- The gorgeous OLED display
- Really good battery life
- A great keyboard for typing
Don’t get the Zenbook S13 OLED if,
- You need Thunderbolt support
Dell XPS 13
If you want to go for something slightly more affordable on the Intel route, the Dell XPS 13 can be the way to go. Compared to the more expensive Plus model, the regular XPS 13 provides a better typing experience while also being the better value for the money. For writing professionals, this is a pretty good laptop.
Design and Performance
Dell’s industrial approach to build quality makes them the second runner-up for consistent design after Apple. The XPS 13 is no exception and with a full Aluminum build (even on the keyboard deck) this time around, and an almost bezel-less 13.4-inch 60Hz IPS display, it’s a stunner all the way around. It weighs about 2.59 lbs.
The performance on the 9W 12th gen U-series (i5 and i7) CPUs, is not great for intensive use. However, for writers, these are still pretty good and also more energy efficient compared to the P-series used in the XPS 13 Plus. With 8GB RAM and 512GB SSD Storage, the base i5 model should be the best value.
Keyboard and Trackpad
The keyboard is pretty good and you can type comfortably for hours on it. There is a nice amount of travel and it also has backlighting in case you’re working with the lights off, at night. The trackpad feels smooth, tracking is accurate, and there aren’t any cursor-skipping issues. The overall typing and tracking experience on the XPS 13 feels premium.
Battery Life and Charging
There is a 51Wh battery which is pretty close to the M2 Macbook Air, but don’t expect the battery life to be that long. However, it has a lower wattage (9W) chip which results in better battery life compared to the 15W U-series and 28W P-series chips, so it still should give you plenty of battery backup. The supplied power adapter is a 45W unit and it uses USB Type-C for charging.
Connectivity and Inputs
For connectivity, the new XPS 13 comes with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 which is great, but the inputs are where things get a bit messy. There are two USB Type-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 support. The 3.5mm headphone jack has been removed and I’m personally not a fan of this. The 720P webcam is again, pretty basic with below-average image quality.
Pricing
The XPS 13 starts at $999 for the i5-1230U variant with 8GB RAM and 512GB SSD, but you can upgrade to an i7-1250U with 16GB or 32GB RAM and 1TB SSD. You can also upgrade the display to a Touch panel and as you upgrade any of the specs, the price is going to go up.
For writers, the base model, in my opinion, is the one to consider. If you have a higher budget, get something else.
Get the XPS 13 for,
- The industrial design
- Good typing and tracking experience
- Long battery life
Don’t get the XPS 13 if,
- You’re planning to do CPU-intensive work
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5
Microsoft’s own Surface line-up has been the default for a large number of writers and creative professionals. The new Surface Laptop 5 is a small but significant upgrade over the Surface Pro 4. It comes with the 12th Gen U-series chips but this time we’re getting the more powerful 15W CPUs for elevated performance levels.
Design and Performance
The design hasn’t really changed and it still comes with those slightly thicker bezels around the 3:2 Pixelsense IPS display available in 13.5-inch and 15-inch sizes. The chassis is made out of Aluminum and you get an optional Alcantara option for the keyboard deck. This is definitely one of the best-looking ultrabooks out there but weighs slightly more at 2.86 lbs (13.5″) and 3.44 lbs (15″).
The 15W i5-1235U and i7-1255U chips are available for both models. Combine that with up to 8GB/16GB/32GB RAM (32GB only in the 15″ model) and 256GB/512GB/1TB SSD storage (1TB only in the 15″ model), and you get a nice day to day performance. This is still not an intensive-use laptop, but it’s a lot better than the 9W chips.
Keyboard and Trackpad
Microsoft usually has great keyboards and trackpads in the Surface lineup and the Surface Laptop 5 is no exception. Writers will love the approach as the typing experience is great with smooth tracking and navigation experience to go along. The trackpad is spacious and although it isn’t as big as the Macbook, it’s still good enough for comfortable tracking.
The 720P webcam gets the job done, but as you may expect, the quality isn’t anything special. However, compared to a lot of the other laptop webcams in its segment, this one’s slightly better.
Battery Life and Charging
Microsoft claims about 18 hours of battery life on the 13.5-inch model while the 15-inch variant is rated a bit lower at 17 hours. These are the best-case scenarios recorded in controlled environments, so don’t expect the exact numbers. But, in the Windows camp, getting 10+ hours (on both models) of battery life is great and in this case, that is being helped by the 15W U-series chips.
The 65W charger is impressively compact, supports fast charging, and has a USB Type-A port in case you need it. It attaches magnetically using the Surface Connect technology which is just as secure as the MagSafe connector on the new Macbooks.
Connectivity and Inputs
When it comes to connectivity, Microsoft has stuck with Wi-Fi 6 instead of the newer Wi-Fi 6E and it also has Bluetooth 5.1. The port situation is a mixed bag with a USB 4.0 Type-C Thunderbolt 4 port, one USB 3.1 Type-A port, a 3.5mm Headphone Jack, and the Surface Connect port. I still think this is a better solution than USB Type-C-only setups, but maybe another Thunderbolt 4 port would have been nice.
Pricing
The Surface Laptop 5 starts at $999 for the 13-inch variant (8GB, 256GB) and $1299 for the 15-inch variant (8GB, 256GB), but you can get better specifications for more money. However, Microsoft charges a lot for these upgrades, so spend your money responsibly.
Get the Surface Laptop 5 for,
- The premium build quality
- One of the best typing and tracking experiences in Windows
- Excellent battery life
Don’t get the Surface Laptop 5 if,
- You need a lot of performance from your laptop
The Best Big Screen Laptop For Writers
Some writers require a giant screen to work on, but don’t necessarily need the extra performance, the thickness & weight, and massively reduced battery backup due to jacked-up internals. This segment is very hard to shop for, but I do have quite an exceptional laptop for you.
LG Gram 17
The only big-screen laptop that currently nails all the essentials for writers while still maintaining a slim profile and a reasonable price, is the LG Gram 17. It’s not only the lightest 17-inch laptop out there, but it also has an optional dedicated GPU option.
Design and Performance
LG has taken a slight detour from the mainstream for their Gram laptops and used Magnesium alloy instead of Aluminum to keep the weight down. This has allowed them to keep the weight at just 2.98 lbs for the regular variant and just 3.16 lbs if you want the dedicated GPU. The build quality is pretty good and the laptop is surprisingly thin. The 17-inch 60Hz QHD IPS display has good color accuracy and thin bezels.
Equipped with 12th Gen P-series chips (i5-1240P and i7-1260P), the Gram 17 is way more powerful than the U-series and combined with up to 16GB/32GB RAM and 512GB/1TB SSD storage, it can handle day to day tasks with a breeze and take on some intensive tasks on as well. If you need more graphics power, there is also an RTX 2050 option.
Keyboard and Trackpad
LG had a lot of space on the keyboard deck, so the Gram 17 actually comes with a full-size number pad. The keyboard itself is clicky and it provides a comfortable typing experience. The trackpad is great too with smooth tracking and navigating experience. The webcam is much better as well with a higher 1080P resolution.
Battery Life and Charging
The P-series of chips aren’t as energy efficient as the U-series, so to combat this, LG is using big batteries in this thing. The variant with the integrated GPU comes with an 80Wh battery while the other one with the RTX 2050 gets a bigger 90Wh battery. Still don’t expect more than 8 hours with mixed usage. The 65W USB Type-C power adapter supports fast charging, so topping the laptop up isn’t take very long either.
Connectivity and Inputs
The Gram 17 comes with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.1 on the wireless side. The availability of wired inputs includes two USB 4 Type-C ports with Thunderbolt 4, two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, a 3.5mm Headphone jack, and a MicroSD card slot. in case you need to connect a bunch of peripherals, this is a great option.
Pricing
LG’s MRPs are usually a bit high but the actual selling prices are actually pretty reasonable for what they’re offering. If you’re getting this laptop, I think the i7-1260P variant with 16GB RAM and 1TB storage provides the best value.
It should cost you less than $1399 with the integrated GPU and less than $1699 with the RTX 2050.
Get the Gram 17 for,
- The large 17-inch QHD display
- The widest selection of Inputs
- The RTX 2050 GPU option
Don’t get the Gram 17 if,
- You need super-long battery life
Also Read: TSMC’s Price Increase May Affect Apple, NVIDIA, AMD, and Others
The Powerhouses – For Writing and More
In the end, the power users who need as much performance as they can get for intensive workloads while still getting the flagship writing experience they deserve can choose from the below options. I’ve selected two of the most practical laptops for this segment and depending on if you prefer Windows or macOS, the selection should be easy.
Apple Macbook Pro 16 (M1 Pro)
The Macbook Pro 16 is currently one of the most capable laptops out there and for writers who require a lot of power for other intensive tasks to go with their daily typing adventures, I can’t probably suggest anything better. However, I’m only recommending the M1 Pro variant as the M1 Max variant is going to be overkilled in this case.
Design and Performance
Being the flagship laptop from Apple, the Macbook Pro 16 has excellent build quality. The chassis is machined out of Aluminum and it is a bit thicker with a weight of 4.7 lbs. So, while it’s not too heavy, it’s not lightweight either. The bezels are thin and you now get a notch on top. That 16.2-inch 120Hz Mini-LED display is one of the best in the business with excellent color accuracy, great contrast, and a peak brightness of 1600 nits.
The M1 Pro enables next-level performance and you don’t lose performance while using the Macbook unplugged which is an issue with Windows laptops. Writing and related tasks fly with no hiccups and even the more intensive tasks like 4K video editing and graphic design are going perform without issues. You get 16GB and32GB RAM options with the M1 Pro variant with up to 8TB (512GB for the base model) superfast SSD storage.
I recommend getting the base 16GB RAM and while 512GB SSD is going to be enough for a lot of you, upgrade to 1TB if you can.
Keyboard and Trackpad
Apple is using their trusty scissor switches here as well, but the typing experience is going to be much better compared to the 13-inch Macbooks. This is the kind of keyboard on which you can type on, all day. The trackpad is slightly better as well and it’s using the same pressure-sensitive technology, so all those features are present here as well. You also get Touch ID built in.
The 1080P webcam is one of the best available on any premium laptop and the image quality during video calls is better than the Macbook Air M2’s 1080P unit.
Battery Life and Charging
There is a 100W battery inside which is the biggest capacity allowed on an airplane. But, while the regular M1 is one of the most efficient laptop processors ever produced, the M1 Pro is much more power-hungry as it’s also a major leap forward in sustained performance. However, you can still get a comfortable 8-10 hours with mixed usage which is a lot for a performance-oriented laptop. The rated 21 hrs backup time is only for video consumption.
There is a 140W power adapter in the box with support for Apple’s magnetic MagSafe connector. It is indeed capable of fast charging and the cable is braided, so it’s also more secure.
Connectivity and Inputs
Apple is also using Wi-Fi 6 alongside Bluetooth 5.0 which ensures good wireless connectivity on the Macbook Pro. For wired inputs, you’re getting a full-size HDMI 2.0 port alongside three USB 4.0 Type-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 support, an SD (SDXC) card slot, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and the MagSafe charging port. So, other than USV Type-A, you shouldn’t require any more dongles with this one.
Pricing
The Macbook Pro 16 base model (16GB, 512GB) retails for $2499.00, but it’s now heavily discounted all the time and you can save $200-$300 extra on the MRP. In my personal opinion, you should spend slightly more to get the 1TB storage option (retails for $2699.00).
Get the Macbook Pro 16 for,
- Best-in-class performance
- The gorgeous Mini-LED display
- Excellent typing and tracking experience
- A great selection of ports
Don’t get the Macbook Pro 16 if,
- You’re also planning to play games
ASUS Zenbook Pro 16
If you need a high-performance Windows laptop, I recommend the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16. I’m recommending this one over the more popular 16X model as by giving up the OLED display and the elevated keyboard, you’re getting way better value for your money and better graphics performance as well.
Design and Performance
The Zenbook Pro 16 has a similar design language as its higher-end sibling. With a solid aluminum chassis and thin bezels around the display, this laptop looks and feels premium. That 16-inch QHD IPS display is excellent with 100% DCI-P3 coverage, a 165Hz Refresh Rate, and it’s also Pantone Validated. The keyboard area is flat, but I actually prefer that over the elevated keyboard in the 16X.
It’s slightly heavier as well at 5.07 lbs, but it’s still lighter than the Studiobook 16 and you should still be able to carry it around without any issues.
It’s running Intel’s 12th Gen i7-12650H which has 10-cores (instead of 14 on the i7-12700H), but you’re still getting the same number of performance cores (6P+4E), so the compromise is very slim in that department. Combined with 32GB RAM and 1TB of Internal Storage, it’s already a powerhouse. On top of that, you’re also getting the RTX 3070 Ti and which runs on NVIDIA Studio Drivers.
Keyboard and Trackpad
As you may expect this is a high-performance professional laptop, so of course, ASUS hasn’t cheaped out on the keyboard and trackpads. The keys have a nice amount of travel, muted yet pronounced clicking mechanism, and a full number pad, and the Fingerprint Sensor is built into the power button. The trackpad uses a glass surface and Windows Precision Drives for a top-notch tracking and navigation experience.
You’re also getting ASUS Dial, but in this case, it’s virtual and located on the top-left of the trackpad. This will speed up your creative tasks remarkably.
Battery Life and Charging
The H-series CPUs need a lot of power and add the 3070 Ti in there and clearly, the overall power consumption of this laptop is significantly higher. While the company is using a massive 90Wh battery, you still shouldn’t expect more than 7-8 hours with mixed usage. As this is a Windows laptop, you’ll need to keep the device plugged in if you need to use all of its power.
Connectivity and Inputs
The Zenbook Pro 16 comes with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5 for wireless connectivity. However, the real star of the show is the versatile collection of wired inputs. You get a full-sized HDMI 2.1 port, one USB 4.0 Type-C port with Thunderbolt 4, two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports, one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port, one USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A port, a LAN port (2.5 gigabits), a MicroSD slot, a 3.5mm Headphone jack and the DC charging port.
The 720P webcam isn’t going to break any records for you but it’s usable in video calls and the quality is actually better than some of the competition.
Pricing
Even with all these high-end specifications the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16 still manages to provide great value for the money. It’s priced at $2099.99 (32GB, 1TB) and you should be able to find it cheaper during sales.
This makes the regular Zenbook Pro 16 a much better pick for writers compared to the 16X which will appeal much better to creative professionals who need an OLED display.
Get the Zenbook Pro 16 for,
- The flagship-level keyboard and trackpad (with ASUS Dial)
- Widest selection of ports in its segment
- The RTX 3070 (for GPU-intensive creative work and gaming)
Don’t get the Zenbook Pro 16 if,
- Over 5 lbs is a bit too heavy for you
Best Laptops for Writers – My Takeaway
As writers, we have to put up a lot of words every day alongside fulfilling other professional needs for the same. So, our laptops require those special characteristics to support our daily workflows.
The above list of products has been created for every type of writer out there and you should find something exactly according to your specific needs. If you still have any comments or questions, feel free to ask me in the comments section and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
