Writers have no shortage of ways to get their words out to the world, but it all starts with a keyboard and mouse if you work from the PC. That’s one of the first areas people consider when looking for the best laptops for writers, but it’s far from the only important factor.
We’ll discuss what goes into finding the perfect laptop in our guide, along with tips — whether you’re shopping online or locally. We’ve also rounded up five of the best laptops for writers currently available, featuring a mix of systems from MacBooks to nimble machines running Chrome.
The top laptops for writers come in a variety of sizes and styles. While you won’t find any models on our list with mechanical keyboards, we chose laptops that are comfortable to use with excellent battery life, responsive trackpads, and bright displays.
So, after researching the options, our picks for the best laptops for writers are:
- Best Overall: LG Gram 17
- Best Mac: MacBook Air 2023
- Best 2-in-1: HP Envy x360
- Best for Cloud Workers: Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i
- Best Budget: HP Pavilion
Best Overall: LG Gram 17 Laptop
- 16GB LPDDR5 RAM plus 1TB NVMe Gen 4 M.2 SSD
- Intel Evo 13th Gen Core i7-1360P processor
- 17-inch anti-glare IPS display
- Windows 11 OS
- Lightweight at only 3.2 pounds
The LG Gram 17 is the Best Overall laptop for writers who prefer large displays and want plenty of power. This popular laptop is available in a variety of configurations, but this model sports a speedy Intel chip and enough battery to last throughout an entire workday.
LG isn’t a name we generally associate with high-end laptops. That changed with the Gram, thanks to a sturdy MIL-STD-rated aluminum shell and premium specifications. The large 17-inch panel has a 16:10 aspect ratio with a 99% DCI-P3 color gamut. This attractive laptop gets its power from a 13th-generation Intel i7 CPU and 16GB of LDPDDR5 RAM.
If you’re not impressed by the tech specs, you will be by the battery life. The Gram can go for around 14 hours with an 80Wh battery and tops off quickly as well. The keyboard is comfortable to use with a deck large enough to accommodate a number pad and function keys. At just under three pounds, this laptop is lightweight and easy to tote around with a compact power adapter.
It’s hard to find a fault with the LG Gram, especially considering the current Intel chip and the price. While it’s large, it’s still lightweight and has battery life that ranks among the best laptops on the market today. We chose the LG Gram with 16GB of RAM and a 1TB hard drive, but it’s not too expensive to double the memory and storage on this laptop. Check out the LG Gram 17 on Amazon.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| It has a spacious 17-inch display with a resolution of 2,560 x 1,600. | The laptop will be too large for some users. |
| The laptop is under 3 pounds with MIL-STD certification. | Half the RAM is soldered, and half is swappable. |
| It has a 13th gen Intel i7 processor and 16GB of RAM. | |
| Battery life of up to 14 hours, depending on your usage. |
Best Mac: MacBook Air 2023
- 8-core M2 chip
- 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display
- 16GB RAM
- 512GB SSD storage
- 1080p FaceTime HD camera
The best laptop for writers looking to work on the Mac OS instead of Windows is the MacBook Air 2023. It’s the company’s most affordable laptop and it’s a system that has received a significant boost in recent years thanks to Apple’s own silicon chip.
One of the many highlights of the MacBook Air is the design. This skinny laptop is lightweight and easy to tote around. That’s key if you enjoy writing from different locations, and the 15.3-inch panel is a beauty to behold. The Liquid Retina display helps keep your eyes fresh, and you’ll also be thrilled with the backlit Magic Keyboard.
Ports are a bit light on the MacBook Air, but it has plenty of power and battery life. The company’s new 8-core M2 processor plays a part in that with optimization and efficiency. Apple claims the battery can last for up to 18 hours. While that’s a reach, you can expect a solid 13-16 hours from the new MacBook Air. Other noteworthy features include a six-speaker sound system, Touch ID, and an improved FHD webcam.
The MacBook Air is one of the company’s more popular PCs and an excellent choice for writers embedded in Apple’s ecosystem. The new M2 processor makes a huge difference with power and performance, and battery life is superb. This option has 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD storage, but the MacBook Air is available in several sizes depending on your needs. Check out the MacBook Air 2023 on Amazon.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The battery life is fantastic. | It’s expensive outside of the base configuration. |
| It utilizes Apple’s new M2 processor. | There are only two Thunderbolt ports. |
| The laptop has a vivid 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display. | |
| It’s lightweight with a streamlined design. |
Best 2-in-1: HP Envy x360
- AMD Ryzen 7 5825U processor
- AMD Radeon graphics
- 15.6-inch Full HD display
- 8GB RAM
- 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
- Comes with Windows 11 Home
Writers looking for a 2-in-1 will love the HP Envy x360, which allows users to unleash their creativity with its flexible design. It’s one of the best convertible laptops for the price and has respectable specifications across the board.
The HP 15-eu1026nr is an AMD-powered machine with a Ryzen 7 5825U under the hood. That chip is backed by 8GB of RAM, and there’s 512GB of solid-state storage to work with. As it’s a new PC, you can look forward to Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 along with dual 10Gbps USB-C ports. It supports fast charging, although the x360’s battery life varies from 7-9 hours in most cases.
You won’t have trouble running Microsoft Office or Word from this laptop, and you can do it in style. The x360 is a good-looking machine with a sound system from Bang & Olufsen and metal chassis. It’s light and flexible, considering you can use it as a tablet or in tent mode. The latter makes adding a mechanical keyboard easy while giving users new ways to work.
There’s a lot to love with this laptop, from its flexible nature to the price. People find it comfortable to use, and it’s well-built with a display that’s easy on the eyes. The battery life isn’t the greatest, although fast charging helps bring this laptop back to life relatively quickly. Check out the HP Envy x360 on Amazon.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This 2-in-1 has a 15-inch FHD display with EyeSafe protection. | The battery life could be better. |
| It can go into tent or tablet modes. | You only have 8GB of RAM to work with. |
| There is a speedy, modern processor in the Ryzen 7 5825U. | |
| The laptop has excellent connectivity options. |
Best for Cloud Workers: Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i
- 2-in-1 Chromebook
- Intel Core i3-1115G4 processor
- 13.3-inch FHD touch display
- 8GB RAM
- 256GB storage
IdeaPads are a great choice for writers, and if you’re looking for a laptop running Chrome, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i is a fantastic choice. This hybrid laptop isn’t as powerful as other models on our list, but it is perfect for writers who work from the cloud.
Powered by Chrome, this laptop has an Intel Core i3-1115G4 processor and 8GB of RAM under the hood. That may not sound exciting if you’re into tech specs, but it’s an 11th gen chip. The laptop has 256GB of storage and a 13.3-inch display with a resolution of 1,920 x 1,080. That panel is attached by a flexible hinge, which allows the Lenovo 82M7004HUX to go into tent or tablet mode.
While not built for gaming unless you use the cloud, the Flex 5i is quite capable. The Chrome OS allows you to seamlessly connect to services like Google Docs and Drive. There are countless Chrome-based plugins you can install to tighten up your grammar, and you can look forward to a solid 8-10 hours of power, depending on your usage.
Chromebooks have long been a favorite of students and freelancers who need something simple to get online. There are models in this class with more power and larger screens, but we chose the Lenovo Flex 5i because it’s affordable, versatile, and comfortable to use during extended sessions. It’s the same type of laptop this article was created with, although I chose a Flex with Windows, an i7, and 16GB of RAM. Check out the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i on Amazon.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The Flex 5i has a lightweight, convertible design. | The Chrome OS limits your choice of software. |
| There is a bright 13.3-inch touchscreen display. | It’s well-built but a bit hefty for its size. |
| It has dual USB Type-C 3.2 ports. | |
| The computer has a great price point. |
Best Budget: HP Pavilion
- 15.6-inch HD touchscreen with anti-glare
- Intel Core i3-1115G4 processor up to 4.1GHz
- 16GB RAM
- 1TB SSD storage
- Up to 11 hours of battery life
- Type-C HDMI
- Windows 11 Home
Finding a budget-friendly laptop that runs Windows 11 is tricky, but the HP Pavilion Touchscreen Laptop is a wise choice for writers who are tight on funds. While it can’t convert like the HP x360, it provides a lot of bang for the buck.
This laptop has the same processor as Lenovo’s Chromebook, but that’s where the similarities end. The Pavilion has 16GB of RAM alongside a 1TB solid-state drive. There’s plenty of storage for files and memory enough to handle any software you might want. The display is large at 15.6 inches, but the resolution tops out at 1,366 x 768.
An anti-glare display on the screen is a nice touch, and we also like the narrow bezels around that panel and the keyboard. It’s not the thinnest laptop on our list, but it won’t weigh you down at only 3.75 pounds. Connectivity options include Bluetooth 5.0, dual-band Wi-Fi, and a few USB ports, one of which is a USB Type-C.
With a price tag under $500, this version of the HP Pavilion is affordable, with enough power to handle any software you could use for writing. Battery life is around 7-10 hours, and while the processor is an Intel i3, it’s only a few years old. Check out the HP Pavilion Touchscreen Laptop on Amazon.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| It has solid specifications for the price. | The display resolution is only 1,366 x 768. |
| There is a 15.6-inch anti-glare touchscreen display. | There aren’t many ports. |
| It has an 11th gen Intel processor and 16GB of RAM. | |
| The Pavilion has a 720p webcam with dual-array microphones. |
How to Pick the Best Laptop for a Writer: Step by Step
If you’re a seasoned writer or just getting started, a laptop can be one of your best tools. They allow you to leave traditional desks behind and craft tales or articles from anywhere you’d like. To choose the best laptop for your needs, you’ll want to consider the display and how comfortable the laptop is to use, along with areas like battery life and features.
- The Display
- Battery Life
- Connectivity
- Comfort
The Display
Resolution is important with any display, but the size and type of panel are just as important when you’re a writer. Both of these factors have an impact on price. Large displays give you more room to work with, but they usually increase the weight of the laptop, along with the price tag.
Most laptops have displays between 13 to 17 inches in size. That 4-inch swing can have a dramatic impact on how you work. Narrow bezels shorten the gap, however. When considering a laptop with a large display, consider where you’ll use it and then think about how it can handle direct sunlight or glare.
Brightness is essential in the fight against glare, but so are matte displays and anti-glare coatings. Another feature to consider with displays is technology that makes things easy on the eyes. EyeSafe is a good example, but many companies use various techniques and tech to help ease the burden on your eyes.
Battery Life
One of the draws of using a laptop for writing is that it allows you the freedom to roam. Tired of sitting at a desk but still need to crank out 2,000 words? Well, you can do that from the couch or a comfy recliner. Outdoors is also an option, provided you have a solid display, but you won’t get far if the laptop has poor battery life.
We highly recommend buying a laptop with the best battery life you can get — as long as it doesn’t compromise the system in other areas. 13-inch laptops can have fantastic battery life but will be too small for some people to work from comfortably. Alternatively, a 16-inch laptop may have a larger battery, but it could drain faster due to the big display.
While you can always use power-saving modes to preserve battery life on a laptop, there’s no substitute for an optimized laptop with a large battery. How much juice you actually get from a laptop varies by usage, so keep other activities in mind outside of writing.
Connectivity
Connectivity isn’t as important as a great display and solid battery life, but it is something writers should not overlook. It’s also an area that can be confusing to newcomers. Wi-Fi 6 is a great feature to have, but most people will be just fine with an older version.
Dual-band Wi-Fi connectivity and a relatively current version of Bluetooth are more important. This enables you to seamlessly connect to peripherals and other gadgets. When considering ports, more is better, especially if you plan to use external drives, printers, and similar accessories. While it’s not uncommon to find a laptop with dual USB ports, anything over that should be considered a bonus.
Comfort
Choosing a display that’s comfortable to use for extended periods is an important part of finding a great laptop to write from. It’s also something that’s fairly easy to figure out, considering manufacturers like to talk about display technology and features that take away eye strain.
When it comes to keyboards, trackpads, and ergonomics, things aren’t quite so simple. Unless you can find a laptop in a showroom to test out, there’s no way to know how a keyboard or trackpad will perform. If you plan to use a mouse, the latter isn’t an issue, but a laptop with a clunky keyboard can slow you down considerably.
What to Know Before Buying a Laptop for Writing
Whether you’re buying a laptop to work from or just plan to write creatively, don’t forget about features. Comfort, battery life, and an easy-to-read display are key, but so are creature comforts like fingerprint scanners and webcams.
Touchscreen displays have become more common, while fingerprint scanners are harder to find on laptops in this class. From personal experience, I’ve gotten far more use from a fingerprint scanner than a touchscreen display. The ability to log in quickly and securely is fantastic — wiping fingerprints off the screen, not so much.
Webcams can also allow users to log in to their PCs quickly or video conferences with clients and colleagues. 1080p or FHD webcams are preferred, but this is an area you can always upgrade with an add-on. An extended warranty should also be on the table. Most laptops have one-year guarantees, and adding a longer warranty can provide you with extra peace of mind.
Using the Best Laptop for Writing: What It’s Like
Have you ever used a laptop? If so, writing poems, content, or dissertations from one won’t be much different unless it has a better keyboard and display than you’re used to. It’s an entirely different experience from using a desktop PC, however.
The best laptop for writing should be comfortable to use and easy on your eyes. Design doesn’t matter as much as features that reduce eye strain or conserve battery life. Those factors alone can ensure an enjoyable experience whether you prefer Windows, Chrome, or the Mac OS.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Undrey/Shutterstock.com.
