A reliable laptop is the single most important piece of equipment for us as digital nomads - a fact that’s all too easy to learn the hard way.
My first laptop disaster happened in Krakow, a city I’m super familiar with and that has a wide range of technology stores. A frustrating but easy-to-solve problem. However, the second failure occurred in Borovets, a small ski town in Bulgaria. An equally frustrating, but much more difficult problem. I spent hours troubleshooting with tech support - wasting valuable time on the slopes.
But laptops need to be more than just reliable. It has to be powerful, it has to be lightweight, it has to be practical, and it has to look great while doing it all. Depending on your budget, this can be a real challenge.
We’ve worked to find, test, and round up the best digital nomad laptops for all different types of remote workers. In this article, we’ll share our recommendations and the criteria that you should look for in a quality laptop for remote work.
Best Travel Laptops for Digital Nomads: Our Top Picks
Whether you’re a location-independent programmer, a backpacking graphic designer, or a continent-conquering copywriter - we’ve found the best laptops for you to rely on around the world.
1. Apple MacBook Pro M3
Best Overall
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The Apple MacBook Pro (M3) needs no introduction. It’s the benchmark for digital nomad laptops and a fantastic piece of reliable tech with exceptional performance.
The latest iteration of the MacBook Pro comes with the much-anticipated M3 chip, 8GB of RAM, and 512 GB of SSD storage in its base configuration. These numbers can all be boosted in the Apple configurator to create a laptop with unparalleled performance.
There are, however, a couple of downsides to the MacBook Pro. Most users will be looking to upgrade from the already expensive base spec to a more powerful model. For example, upgrading from 8GB to 16GB of RAM or boosting the M3 chip to the M3 Pro.
This can quickly multiply the price and - depending on your budget - become an unaffordable solution. It may be the best that money can buy, but you might need a lot of it for your dream spec.
2. HP Pavilion Plus
Best Budget-Friendly Laptop
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The HP Pavilion Plus range is the go-to for budget business PCs that are perfect for digital nomads.
The 14” display is available in three tiers, the most impressive of which features an 8K (2880 x 1800) OLED that is shockingly good. The processor is powerful (Intel i5 or i7) and there’s 16 GB of RAM and the choice of 512 GB or 1 TB of internal storage. For a quality PC on a budget, this tailors to most nomads with light to moderate power requirements.
The only downsides lie in the webcam quality (upgrades are always available) and the lack of different RAM options. We will also note that HP Support is notoriously poor - worth noting when investing in a budget PC.
3. Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Gen 9
Best Laptop for Creative Professionals
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Creative professionals always get the most interesting tech and it’s no different with the Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Gen 9.
This 2-in-1 laptop is one of the best on the market and offers plenty of features for graphic designers, artists, photographers, and more. Use it in its standard laptop form, as a tablet with the Lenovo Slim Pen, or in “tent mode” for the best visuals. It’s versatile, it’s desirable, it’s a real quality piece of kit.
It is, however, expensive. For the same money, it’s contending for the base model MacBook Pro and that’s fierce competition to go up against. However, if you’re in the market for the 2-in-1 functionality, it doesn’t get better.
4. Dell XPS 15
Best Laptop for Developers
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The Dell XPS range has been looking threateningly good over the last few years and the current XPS 15 is the very best of the bunch.
There’s up to 16 hours of battery life, a quality 720p HD webcam, up to 32 GB of RAM, and a powerful processor that eats up everything you can throw at it. It has programming written all over it and is the laptop of choice for so many in the industry.
The only downside to the XPS 15 is the large screen size. At 15.6" it’s one of the largest featured, meaning a heavier weight of 4.21 lbs. There are now smaller options available, XPS 13 and XPS 14 models are available - but lack the features of the larger 15.
5. Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Edition
Best 2-in-1 Laptop
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The Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Edition gets our vote for the best 2-in-1 laptop for digital nomads, narrowly beating the Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Gen 9.
Microsoft has been on a roll as of late and the 11th Edition of the Surface Pro is a real thing of beauty. Available with a 2880 x 1920 LED or OLED screen, the Surface Pro looks absolutely incredible out of the box. A 14-hour battery life is on the fringes of enough, but at just 1.97 lbs, it’s the lightest laptop on our list.
Nomads will find huge benefits from the 5G model, allowing internet connection wherever they may find themselves, and invest in the Surface Pro Flex Keyboard for the ultimate functionality. It’s a little on the expensive side, but try and find an equivalent for less.
6. Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition (13.8”)
Best Lightweight Laptop
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Like the look of the Surface Pro but don’t require the tablet? The Microsoft Surface Laptop has to be the answer.
At just 2.96 lbs, it’s a lightweight competitor that punches well above its weight. Like the Surface Pro, it’s a real looker and with up to 22 hours of battery life, it can perform all day long. Choose between 16 GB and 32 GB of RAM, 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB of internal storage and a pair of powerful Snapdragon processors.
It’s available in four fantastic colorways (Sapphire, Dune, Black, and Platinum) and two screen sizes (13.8” and 15”). Both are touchscreen and although there is no OLED option available, the 3:2 aspect ratio and 2304 x 1536 resolution offer a super crisp display with a 120Hz refresh rate.
Essential Laptop Specs for Digital Nomads and How We Picked The Best
The number of personal computers out there in the modern world is staggering. But, when you cut the fat and develop criteria for digital nomads, the list soon shrinks. Here’s what we think you should look for in a remote work-ready laptop.
Battery Life
If you’re big into working in cafes and coworking spaces, battery life is the big one. We’ve searched for devices with a minimum of 10 hours, but 15+ is ideal for digital nomads.
Reliability and Durability
Choosing a reliable, durable laptop is one of our top recommendations for living as a digital nomad. Thinner laptops, such as the MacBook Air, aren’t best suited to frequent travel. Their ultra-thin, lightweight construction is a fantastic design, but we’ve heard enough horror stories of smashed screens to recommend the base model Mac or similar ultrathin PCs.
Portability
A heavy, clunky laptop that weighs down your pack isn’t good for anyone. We’ve searched for lightweight, portable devices with smaller screen sizes. A 14” laptop is large enough for most - anything larger may be unnecessary.
Performance
Your laptop should be able to keep pace with your day-to-day tasks. Whether you’re editing photos, programming, creating 3D designs, or copywriting - choosing a PC with enough power is paramount. We’ve chosen laptops with plenty of base model power with the option of high-performance configuration.
Display Quality
Last up on our list is the quality of the display. Most modern laptops offer perfectly adequate displays for the majority of users. However, those who value the highest quality should opt for an OLED upgrade or the Apple Liquid Retina display.
Other remote work gear you may also be interested in:
Ready To Choose Your Next Digital Nomad Laptop?
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We'll see you there, Freaking Nomads!
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