Best Lifestyle laptop
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As smartphones have become more powerful, most tasks once needing a computer can be done with the gadget in your pocket. For watching movies and doing many other things needing a larger screen, tablets are cheaper, lighter, and just as good. Show
Still, when it comes to getting proper work done, you just cant beat a proper laptop. Youll soon hit the limits of a mobile device, since Android and iOS are designed to do one thing at a time, using a touch interface. Most work tasks are not. Many professional tools are limited or unavailable for mobile operating systems, and everything from writing to coding and editing photos or video footage is much faster and easier on a laptop than anything else. Weve been traveling with portable computers for well over a decade, from the tiniest netbook to the most powerful Macbook Pro, and know what works and what doesnt. After checking out dozensof the latest models, of all shapes, sizes, and prices, were confident these are the best laptop options for travelers in 2022. Whether youre on a super-tight budget or have plenty to spend, travel full time or just want something for an upcoming vacation, weve got you covered. Theres even a killer digital nomad setup for under $1000 thatll let you work all day, anywhere youve got cell service! Note that we havent included Chromebooks in this list, as we view them as a separate and more limited type of device. Theyre still appropriate for some travelers and digital nomads, however, so if youd like recommendations for those as well, you can find them here. Best Travel Laptop: Dell XPS 13
$999.00 Buy from DellRunner-Up, Best Travel Laptop: Apple Macbook Air M1
$1,015.00 Buy on AmazonBest on a Budget: Lenovo Flex 5 14
$717.98 Buy on Amazon Last updated: 2022-01-02 at 13:12Best Value for Money: Acer Spin 3
$789.99 Buy on Amazon Last updated: 2022-01-02 at 13:12Best 2-in-1 Laptop: HP Envy x360 13
$1099.99 Buy from HPBest for Traveling Light: Microsoft Surface Go 3
$390.39 Buy from Microsoft Buy on AmazonBest Windows Tablet: Microsoft Surface Pro 8
Buy from Microsoft Buy on Amazon Best Travel Laptop: Dell XPS 13The Dell XPS 13 range has been around for a long time. We reviewed the first version way back in 2012, and a followup model in 2015, and were impressed with them both. At the time, all the talk was how they compared to Apples Macbook range. Apples laptops have stagnated somewhat in recent years though, in design if not performance, while Dell has continually improved not only the specifications of the XPS 13 but its size, features, and battery life as well. The end result? After years of refinement, were confident in saying the Dell XPS 13 is the best laptop for most travelers in 2022, especially those who work online. The first thing youll notice about the latest XPS 13 is just how small it is. The bezels around the screen are tiny, coupled with a slim, tapered body thats under 12 wide and a 2.6 pound (1.2kg) starting weight. Its simply easier to carry around or use on an airline tray table than the competition. Its an attractive laptop, too. Theres a distinctive gorgeous white variant available, as well as the silver and black carbon fiber design weve seen in the past. Even the little things like the tiny lights on the side to show the remaining charge are stylish and understated. Despite its small stature, the XPS 13 is crammed full of high-end components. Dell bills it as the most powerful laptop in its class, and independent benchmarks confirm this isnt just marketing speak. You can choose between the latest Intel 11th-generation i3, i5, and i7 processors, with up to 32GB of RAM. The solid-state drive tops out at a whopping 2TB, with three screen options: an FHD+ (1920×1200) standard or touch screen, a 3.5K (3456×2160) OLED touchscreen, or a UHD+ (3840×2400) touchscreen. The FHD+ screens are significantly cheaper, but we also prefer them for another reason: battery life. The higher resolutions of the 3.5K and UHD+ displays also means higher battery usage. Youll get over 14 hours of streaming video out of the XPS 13 with the cheaper screens, and less than two-thirds of that with the other model. Dont get me wrong, the OLED screen in particular is stunning, with rich colors and deep blacks. Its just that the battery life drop, for most people at least, isnt a trade-off worth making, especially when it costs a few hundred dollars extra as well. Id suggest saving your money and sticking with one of the FHD+ displays. The keyboard is firm and accurate despite the small amount of key travel, and I was surprised how quickly and quietly I was able to type on it. The trackpad, too, is smooth and reliable, easily one of the best on the market. Ever since the XPS 13 first came out, people complained about the webcam being positioned at the bottom of the display. Dell finally shut the detractors up by moving it to the usual place at the top of the screen a couple of years ago, and theyve stuck with that approach here as well. Perhaps inevitably from such a slim laptop, there are no USB-A sockets, so youll need to use the included dongle for older accessories. The two USB C ports are used for everything from charging to connecting a monitor, and wed love to see a third. As is often the case these days, if you need more ports, youll be looking at a USB hub to get them. Theres also a MicroSD card slot in the side, while security is handled by Windows Hello-based facial recognition and a fingerprint reader built into the power button. Attractive, powerful, and reliable, theres an awful lot to like about the latest Dell XPS 13, and almost nothing not to. With the best mix of size, power, and price right now, its easily our top travel laptop pick in 2022. Pros
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Buy from Dell Runner-Up, Best Travel Laptop: Apple Macbook Air M1Years ago, Apples Macbook Air consistently made it to the top of our best laptops for travel list. It was small, light, and powerful enough to get real work done, in a market with few alternatives. Things changed quickly, though. Apple stopped updating the Air, right when other companies started putting out lighter, faster, cheaper machines. At the same time, Apple itself slimmed down its Macbook Pro, to the point where if you preferred the companys ecosystem, it was clearly the model to buy. For years, we confidently predicted Apple would kill the Macbook Air. After ignoring it for years, however, the company proved us wrong. Not only did it not stop selling that model, the Air finally starting getting significant updates, none more so than the most recent one. Apples switch from using Intel chips to its own custom versions has paid big dividends in both speed and battery life, and for most people, its now very much the best Apple laptop to travel with. As usual with Apple gear its well-built and reliable. The Air comes in a couple of flavors: both have an M1 processor, but the more-expensive model has a slightly faster graphics processor and upgrades the base storage from 256 to 512GB. Both versions come with 8GB of RAM, and you can configure them with up to 16GB of RAM and 2TB of storage. It weighs just2.8 pounds (1.3 kg), and uses Apples gorgeous Retina (2560×1600) True Tone screen. The display crisp and vibrant, and adjusts white balance and brightness based on the ambient light for more natural colors. The laptop has two USB C Thunderbolt ports, and as with many other current laptops, these double as charging sockets.Other than a headphone jack, there are no other connectors, so youll end up with various dongles and accessories in your bag. Thats a common story with many laptops in 2022, unfortunately, and the Air is no exception. Apple has had big problems with the Macbook keyboard in recent years, but its finally changed the design to eliminate the ongoing problems with sticking and non-working keys. The trackpads on Apple laptops have long been some of the best around, and that trend continues here. Battery life is rated at up to 18 hours of streaming, a couple of hours less than the equivalent Macbook Pro. In the real world, itll easily get you to the end of a long flight or work day unless youre really pushing the machine hard, likely with plenty of juice to spare. Overall, the latest Macbook Air simply gets almost everything right for travelers. Its small and light, with great battery life and is plenty powerful enough for any work or leisure task youre likely to want to do. The only real limitation is a lack of ports and the same mediocre webcam Apples been forcing on its laptop users for far too long. Youre paying a premium compared to most of the equivalent Windows machines. Thats hard to justify on the hardware alone, since high-end Windows laptops have got much better in that regard, but there are still benefits to owning Apple. Youll get much better integration with your iPhone or any other Apple gear you own, for example. Theres also the comfort of being able to walk into an Apple store or service agent around the world for support if you need it. Both of those things have real value. In the past, weve always suggested that macOS-loving digital nomads should go for the power of the Macbook Pro instead. With the extra speed found in the latest version of the Air, however, were no longer making that distinction: the Macbook Air is our top pick for most Apple fans in 2022. Pros
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Best on a Budget: Lenovo Flex 5 14If youre tight for cash but still want a laptop appropriate for travel, there arent many good options. Machines tend to be big and heavy, with poor battery life and specifications, and are often made from cheap materials that dont stand up well to life on the road. One of the few to buck the trend is the Lenovo Flex 5 14, a 2-in-1 device thats surprisingly affordable for what it offers. Because the screen folds backward to let you use it in stand or tablet mode, its a much better option for watching shows on long flights than a standard laptop. The design of most budget laptops is usually an afterthought at best, but thats not the case here. The Flex 5 14 is an attractive device, that looks and feels far more expensive than it actually is. Its specifications, too, are better than youd expect. While many budget machines skimp on things like RAM and storage, youll get an impressive 16GB/256GB thats better than what comes by default in many more expensive laptops. The Vega 6 graphics card consumes some of that memory, but even so, this laptop is a solid performer thats easily capable of handling most tasks youll throw at it. The Flex 5 14 isnt as thin as some of its more expensive competition, but thats not necessarily a bad thing. The extra depth means theres room for an inbuilt card reader, along with a USB-C and two USB-A ports for connecting other accessories. Oddly theres a round power socket on the side of the laptop, but it ships with a USB-C charger. The FHD (1920 x 1080) resolution is fine for a 14 display, and theres also an HDMI port for connecting to an external monitor if youve got one available. Weight and battery life are about what youd expect from a budget travel laptop, at 3.6 pounds (1.6kg) and up to ten hours respectively. The keyboard, so often the downfall of machines like these, is comfortable to type on, and the trackpad is better than most at this end of the market. If graphic design is your thing, the Flex 14 is powerful enough to run many design tools and ships with Lenovos Active Pen stylus for drawing or writing directly onto the touchscreen. That screen can be a little dim and reflective in sunlight, though, so youll likely end up using it mostly indoors. Other than the weight and to some degree the battery life, this is a 2-in-1 laptop with few compromises for travelers who need a machine that can handle a proper workload, but dont want to blow their entire travel budget on it. Pros
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Buy on Amazon Best Value for Money: Acer Spin 3Want to get the best bang for your buck? If you cant justify spending a thousand dollars or more on our top picks, take a look at the Acer Spin 3 instead. While its not as sleek or lightweight as the XPS 13 or Macbook Air, the Spin 3 is a powerful machine. Shipping with an i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage, the specs rival those found on many high-end laptops, in a machine costing several hundred dollars less. Its also a convertible 2-in-1 device, letting you use it as a tablet or watch movies in stand mode by folding the screen backward. Ive typically found 13 or 14-inch devices too large to use regularly as a tablet, but its surprising how often Ill fold the screen back to watch movies on a plane or in bed. The port selection, however, is a bit odd. Youll get a pair of USB-A ports, a microSD card reader, and an HDMI port forconnecting to an external monitor, but only one USB C port thats also used for charging. Thats pretty unusual these days, although how much it will affect you depends entirely on the accessories you use. Still, its something to bear in mind. Youll get the latest WiFi 6 chipset, as well as an integrated stylus for graphical work that lives in a small slot on the side of the laptop when not in use. Battery life is rated at up to 11 hours, although you wont get that in the real world. Even so, it should be enough to get you through a long flight or day working in a coffee shop if you dont push it too hard. This latest version of the Spin 3 chopped half a pound from its base weight, which makes it much more appropriate for travel than its predecessors. At 3.3 pounds (1.5kg), its still towards the higher end of the lightweight laptop range, but its not going to break your shoulder every time you move between coffee shops either. Overall, the Spin 3 offers strong value for money and makes few significant compromises. If you need a powerful machine thats equally at home doing real work or binge-watching your favorite show, and dont want to spend a fortune on it, you could do an awful lot worse than the Acer Spin 3. Pros
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Best 2-in-1 Laptop: HP Envy x360 13Weve mentioned a couple of 2-in-1 devices already, but since theyre priced toward the lower end of the market, they come with compromises in specs or weight.If youre after something better that still wont break the bank, the best option right now is HPs Envy x360 13. This isnt actually HPs premium convertible (thatd be the Spectre x360), but the Envy x360 offers higher specs for the same or less money, and we think its a better choice for most people. If theres a sale on, or youve got the money for the luxury design of the Spectre, by all means buy it. If not, the Envy is where its at. HP makes a few different versions of the Envy x360 13, but for us the choice about which one to buy is pretty clear. The AMD Ryzen-powered model (13-ay1035nr) offers better bang for your buck than the Intel equivalents, with no real compromises other than the lack of Thunderbolt 4 support. For around $1000, you get a lot. A speedy Ryzen 7 CPU, 16GB of RAM, and 512B of storage makes for an impressively powerful machine for just about any purpose. Youll get a 13.3 FHD (1920×1080) touchscreen, a pretty standard resolution for a 13 laptop that provides better battery life than the 4k models. Youll also get a pair of USB-A ports, a single USB C port, and a microSD slot. Wed prefer to two USB C ports instead of one, but other than that, its a useful-enough selection. A mechanical webcam privacy shutter is an unusual and welcome extra: simply press a button on the keyboard and itll snap into place automatically. Weighing just under three pounds (1.3kg,) its not the lightest laptop youll find, but its good for a convertible and doesnt feel particularly heavy in a carry-on or day bag. Battery life is reasonable, at around 15 hours with the standard screen. Youll almost certainly get a full days work out of it unless youre really pushing it hard. If you do run out of juice, you wont have to wait long before youre up and running again. Fast charging is built in, and will get you back to 50% in just half an hour. A stylus is included in the box for those who plan to draw or write on the screen. The keyboard is pretty good, which is far from a given on Windows laptops in this price range. Keystrokes are firm and responsive, and although its not the quietest keyboard in the world, its far from being the loudest. The trackpad also works well, but could do with being a bit taller, since it can feel cramped at times. The Envy x360 13 is a fast, well-built machine, as good for binge-watching your favorite shows on a long flight as it is for working out of a cafe all day. Its great value for money, with very few downsides. As a result, its our top 2-in-1 laptop pick for travelers in 2022. Pros
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Buy from HP Best for Traveling Light: Microsoft Surface Go 3At first glance, Microsofts Surface Go 3 is a bit of an odd machine. Its a tablet computer with a 10.5 screen that weighs a little over a pound, with a starting price under $400 yet it runs Windows 11. The Pentium Gold processor inside the base model of the Go 3 wont set any speed records, but you can still run most lightweight Windows apps and even play a few basic games without the machine becoming unusably slow. That said, wed recommend upgrading to the Core i3 model instead. The processor is dramatically faster, and since the upgrade comes with double the RAM and extra, faster storage as well, the end result is a much quicker machine. The optional Type cover adds a keyboard and trackpad as well as protection, and its surprisingly enjoyable to type on.In reality it should be included in the base price, but its not. Battery life is rated at up to 11 hours, and youll likely get around six or seven in the real world depending on what youre doing. That battery life isnt quite enough to get you all the way through a long-haul flight or full work day, but its getting close. On the upside, because the Surface Go 3 can charge via either the Surface Connect or USB-C ports, youve always got the option of using a portable battery like this to power it (and all your other devices) back up again. Its an attractive, well-built machine, and the bright, colorful 1920×1280 display is dramatically better than youd expect at this price point. Since storage is quite limited, the microSD slot is essential, since its the perfect place to dump photos, movies, and other stuff you want to access on the road. The adjustable kickstand lets you change the angle of the Go to suit whatever youre doing. It can sit fully upright when youre typing, on an angle when youre watching TV shows on the plane, or fold down entirely when youre reading in bed. Microsofts Surface Pen also works with the Go 3, making it a pretty good graphics tablet as well. It runs Windows 11S out of the box, which can only access apps from the Windows store, but theres a free one-way upgrade to Windows 11 Home available. While that $399 price point looks great in the marketing material, youre likely to pay quite a bit more. The base model only comes with 4GB of RAM, a Pentium Gold processor, 64GB of sluggish storage, and no Type cover.Those specs arent enough to run heavyweight Windows apps, and youll need the keyboard and trackpad to do any real work. The upgraded version has a much better processor, 8GB of RAM, and a faster, 128GB drive. Its very much our pick for anyone who wants to do more than the bare minimum with this machine.Once youve done that and added the Type cover, the cost jumps to over $700. Thats not unreasonable for a machine of this quality, but its still quite a bit more than that starting price. The cover adds an extra half-pound of weight as well, bringing it up to 1.7 pounds (770g) total. Theres nothing else like it on the market, though, so its still easy enough to recommend.If youre after an attractive, superlight machine that performs well as both an entertainment device and productivity tool, its definitely worth a look. Get Us in Your InboxGet our regular email updates with the latest travel tech news, tips, and articles. We'll also send over our free 25-page guide, packed with useful hints and adviceto get you started! OK! Thanks!Please check your email for a message from us. You'll need to click the button in that email to confirm your details. The Killer Digital Nomad Setup?For digital nomads andother remote workers, the higher-end Surface Go 3 will soon have another trick up its sleeve: an LTE-enabled model. Drop in a data SIM, and youve got a small, lightweight laptop that can get connected anywhere youve got cell service. If youre from the US, this is an ideal use for Google Fis international roaming. If not, a local SIM will do the job equally well; you might just need to switch to a different one when you change countries. It can automatically switch to using cell data if theres no alternative, and back to Wi-Fi when you get within in range.Sure, using LTE for hours drops the battery life a bit, but again, a decent power bank deals with that problem. Throw all of this together, and forunder $1000 including the cover and portable battery, youve got a tiny computing setup that lets you work all day from almost anywhere on the planet.Could this be the killer digital nomad rig? For some people, quite possibly. If youd prefer a larger screen or need a lot of processing power, youll need to look elsewhere. If most of your work is web-based or usesstandard productivity tools, however, this option is seriously worth considering. Pros
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Buy from Microsoft Best Windows Tablet: Microsoft Surface Pro 8As good as Microsofts Surface Go (above) is, it has its limits for full-time use. The screen is a bit small, the battery life is a couple of hours too short, and the slow CPU is a problem whenever you fire up Photoshop or open several tabs in your browser. If you want a tablet thats a complete laptop replacement, youll need to step up to the Surface Pro 8. Running the latest processors and configurable with up to 32GB of RAM, performance is the match of any other travel-sized Windows laptop. Its an attractive and well-made device, and you can even pick your favorite color scheme. The tablet itself is available in black or platinum, while the cover comes in a range of colors and materials. The 13 screen is a better size for long work stints, with a 120Hz refresh rate that improves everything from scrolling to fast-moving images. At up to 13 hours, battery life should also be long enough to get you through a lengthy flight or all-day work session. The biggest change from the previous model is Microsoft adding a second USB C Thunderbolt 4 port to the Surface Pro, and removing the USB-A socket. Thatll suit some people down to the ground, and annoy anyone wanting to use older USB accessories without needing a dongle. Another change from the Surface 7, albeit a less welcome one, is the loss of the microSD slot. Its not really necessary for adding storage, at least, since the Pro canbe configured with up to a 1TB drive and lower capacities are user-replaceable for the first time. The typing experience is better than on the Go, since the keyboard is closer to being full-size. The optional Surface Pen 2 is also compatible if youre a graphic artist or prefer to write rather then type. Importantly, despite all of its high-end specifications, the Surface Pro remains lighter than almost any standard laptop.The tablet itself weighs just under two pounds (896g), and adding the Type Cover brings it up to a total of 2.6 pounds (1.2kg). The Surface Pro isnt a cheap option, especially since the keyboard cover again isnt included by default. Just like the Go, though, theres nothing else out there with the same mix of weight and performance. Its few competitors have similar pricing, but just dont perform as well in one area or another. The i5 model with 8GB of RAM and 256GB is the best mix of cost and performance, and what wed recommend for most travelers. If youre after a version thats even lighter, check out the Surface Pro X. We dont recommend the X model for most people due to slower performance and compatibility issues with some software, but it makes sense for a certain subset of travelers. For the rest, however? The Surface Pro 8 is where its at. Pros
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Check price from Microsoft Main image via StockSnap, XPS 13 image via Dell, all other images via Amazon. About the Author Dave DeanFacebook TwitterFounder and editor of Too Many Adapters, Dave has been a traveler for 25 years, and a geek for even longer. When he's not playing with the latest tech toy or working out how to keep his phone charged for just a few more minutes, he can probably be found sitting in a broken-down bus in some obscure corner of the planet. Share on TwitterShare on FacebookShare on Pinterest |
