One of the best parts of making a living as a digital nomad or as a work-from-home professional is the job’s flexibility. As a general rule of thumb, you need to have fancy equipment as your everyday companion, which you can use to connect while traveling in different places and connecting from your favorite chilling spots.
The only equipment you need as a digital nomad is a reliable laptop. In fact, it’s so crucial that you should be very keen when selecting one. The more connected you are, the more opportunities you’ll get. However, selecting the best laptop for traveling can be tough. With so many options to choose from, choosing one that suits your traveling and working needs can be challenging.
However, we’ve created a handy buying guide that will help you choose the best laptop that suits your style, needs, and budget, along with 5 top-notch laptops for digital nomads.
Contents
Why Do You Need a Travel Laptop?
So, how do travel laptops differ from the regular ones? What’s special about them?
Easy to Carry
When on the go, a regular laptop can be a great bother and occupy valuable space in your backpack. Digital nomad laptops are lighter and slimmer than regular machines making them easy to carry around.
Long-Lasting
One issue that hits travelers is that they can’t always get a place to charge their laptops. Therefore, many travel laptops come with long-lasting battery life to help you work for long hours. Additionally, these machines are durable and lightweight.
It’s a Lifeline
Your laptop is key to your existence and helps you to work on your projects anytime, anywhere. Make sure that you have the best laptop for remote work with you because, without it, you’d be unemployed and stay idle at home.
Travel Laptop Accessories
A good laptop is crucial, but it’s only part of the fun. If you work all day long, you might need the following extras.
Laptop Stand
If you bend on your laptop screen all day long, you might change your posture, and after some time, you might get a painful and stiff neck and back. To solve this problem, go for a laptop stand that will help you stay straight since the laptop sits higher. These stands are foldable and very lightweight.
External Keyboard
Since your laptop sits higher on the stand, you’ll need an external keyboard to work effectively. However, there are super light and thin keyboards that can easily fit in your backpack.
Mouse
Even if you don’t use a laptop stand, a mouse makes your work more comfortable. Go for a wireless mouse since it’s the most convenient.
External Drive
An external drive is crucial if your laptop doesn’t have too much storage space and you’ve tons of data and photos to save.
Mobile Hotspot
You should always carry a mobile hotspot with you. Internet may not be stable in every café or hotel you visit. If you use can’t your phone’s hotspot, then you’ll need a better way to stay connected.
Laptop for Digital Nomads Buying Guide
The laptop you choose is dependent on your work needs. The following aspects are things that all digital nomads should keep in mind. However, the features you prioritize will depend on your needs.
Portability
Portability is crucial mostly when on the go. You’ll want a laptop that’s lightweight so that you don’t end up with too much weight on your backpack. Your laptop’s size is also crucial since the size correlates with its weight. Although small travel laptops have low storage space and processors, they are highly portable and affordable. If you’re always on the go, go for a lightweight laptop.
Operating System
When looking for the best laptops for nomads, you need to consider the operating system you’ll need. Some software performs flawlessly on a specific OS, so ensure you know what you need to get the work done. Here are the most common operating systems used.
- Microsoft Windows– This is the most familiar OS and comes fully packed with loads of features that help you do almost any computing task.
- Apple macOS– This operating system is powerful and user-friendly and can run a wide range of software.
- Linux– This is an excellent choice for most developers since it’s more powerful, flexible, secure, and fast than most systems.
- Chrome OS- This is a simple and secure OS that’s mostly installed on small laptops and tablets. It’s most effective in web surfing and lacks the functionality of other systems.
Durability
A good travel laptop should be strong enough to withstand the tough life on the road. Always check the type of material used in its construction. An aluminum chassis is more durable than a plastic case. Also, check if the laptop comes with a good warranty that allows you to swap a damaged or faulty laptop easily.
Battery Life
If you’re always on the go, you need a good battery that helps you work remotely. It may be possible that the places you visit do not have charging points, so it’s important to go for a laptop with long battery life.
RAM
RAM is used to store data and machine code. Therefore, as a digital nomad, you need a laptop with at least 4 GB RAM for the best productivity.
Best Laptop for Digital Nomads Reviews
Apple MacBook Air
If you’re looking for a cheap, light, and fast travel laptop, this is a good bet. The Apple MacBook Air gives you effortless comfort when on the go. This laptop comes with a Dual Core 5th Gen Intel Core i5 processor that offers you a smooth and fast traveling experience. It comes with a 13.3 LED-backlit display that supports millions of clear colors.
The Apple MacBook Air features Intel HD Graphics 6000 that offers outstanding images. It comes with 128GB SSD storage and 8GB memory that helps you store crucial work files and every travel moment. With this laptop, you’ll enjoy up to 12 hours of battery life that will help you stay connected all day long.
Features
- 13.3” Retina display
- Touch ID
- Backlit Magic keyboard
- 8 GB RAM
- 2 Thunderbolts 3 ports
- 2560×1600 resolution
Pros
- Excellent battery life
- High resolution
- Fast SSD storage
- High-quality stereo speakers
- Lightweight
Cons
- Expensive
- Has no card reader
Lenovo Flex 5 14″ 2-in-1 Laptop
If you’re operating on a budget but still looking for a high-quality travel laptop, this is a good choice. This budget laptop has an attractive design that looks way more expensive than it actually is. Although it’s not as thin as some more expensive models, it has room for a built-in card reader, 2 USB-A, and USB-C ports for connecting to other devices.
The Lenovo Flex 5 14″ 2-in-1 Laptop has a 1920×1080 resolution and has 16 GB RAM and 256GB SSD storage. The battery life and weight are what you’d expect from a low-budget machine, with up to 10 hours of battery life and 1.6 pounds of weight. It also comes with an outstanding keyboard, which is comfortable to type on.
Features
- 14” Full HD display
- AMD Ryzen 5 4500U processor
- 1960×1080 resolution
- AMD Radeon Graphics
- 16 GB RAM
- 56GB SSD storage
Pros
- Excellent graphics
- Thin, lightweight, and stylish
- Affordable
- Has several ports
- Sufficient storage
Cons
- Quite heavy
- The screen can be dim in bright light
Acer Spin 3 Convertible Laptop
The Acer Spin 3 Convertible Laptop is a powerhouse that features 16GB RAM, an i7 processor, and 512GB of storage. This convertible 2-in-1 laptop comes with a pair of USB-A ports, HDMI port, and SD card reader. It has an excellent battery life that’s sufficient for a long workday in a coffee shop.
This laptop comes with a 360-degree hinge that helps you convert it from a laptop display to tent or tablet mode. It comes with a fast CPU and 12 hours o battery life that helps you meet all your daily computing needs.
Features
- 14-inch Full HD IPS display
- 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8565U
- 16GB RAM
- Backlit keyboard
- Fingerprint reader
Pros
- Great battery life
- Convertible laptop
- Clear and loudspeakers
- Impressive specifications
Cons
- Lacks USB-C ports
- A bit heavy
Apple MacBook Pro with Intel Processor
Are you looking for a powerful travel laptop that has excellent graphics performance and a strong processor? Look no further! The Apple MacBook Pro with Intel Processor comes with an 8th Gen Quad-core Intel Core i5 processor that offers excellent speeds. With this laptop, you can take your productivity to the next level, thanks to its dynamic and contextual controls with the Touch Bar.
Features
- 13-inch THD display
- 8GB RAM
- 512GB SSD storage
- macOS operating system
- 3.1lb weight
Pros
- The touchpad has amazing shortcuts
- Wide stereo sound
- Ultra-high bandwidth
- Excellent data transfer
Cons
- Has an average battery life
Microsoft Surface Pro FJR-00001 Laptop
Are you looking for a decent laptop that comes with various functionalities? Well, this hybrid laptop helps you study, play, or work virtually anywhere with ease. This laptop offers you up to 13.5 hours of battery life and 2 pounds of weight and is extremely beautiful and versatile.
The Microsoft Surface Pro FJR-00001 Laptop offers exceptional performance and speed thanks to its strong Intel Core processor. What’s more, you can transform it into laptop, studio, and tablet modes for perfect typing and drawing when on the go.
Features
- 7th Gen Intel Core M processor
- 128GB storage
- 4GB RAM
- 1.69 lbs weight
- 12.3” LCD screen
Pros
- All-day battery life
- Ultra-portable design
- High speed and performance
- Rich colors
- Attractive design
Cons
- A bit pricey
- Lacks USB Type-C
Conclusion
This guide will help you find the best laptop for digital nomads. If your job requires you to have a high-quality laptop, you’ll find a good option here.
If you’re operating on a budget and need to do basic computing tasks, you don’t need to spend a fortune. There are affordable laptops with impressive specs out there.
Good luck!