Write Like a Pro with the 5+ Best Laptops for Writers
In the past, writers had to lug around heavy notebooks and typewriters to write their stories. But now, with the advent of laptops, writers can take their work with them wherever they go.
And let’s face it, even laptops aren’t what they used to be. As a writer and filmmaker who’s owned my fair share of them over the years for use at home, in the office, and on a set, I’ve learned well what to look for in terms of performance, utility, weight, and portability.
In this article, we will discuss the best laptops for writers and what laptop features are most important for writers.
So whether you are a novelist, journalist, screenwriter, or student writer, check out my in-depth reviews and find out which might be the best laptop for writers for you!
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Best Laptop Overall for Writers
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Best Overall For Windows Users
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Best Chromebook For Writers
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4.8
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4.4
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Primary Rating:
4.2
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N/A
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$269.99
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What is the Best Laptop for Writers?
1. Overall: Apple MacBook Air
- Fantastic battery life
- Comes safely packaged
- The keyboard is backlit
- Speaker sound is high-quality
- Great Apple quality and features
- Expensive (buy the 2020 version for a great deal!)
Top Features
- Apple MacBook Air: Apple laptops are renowned for their reliability and performance.
- High-Resolution Display: The 13.3 inch Retina display meets writers’ specifications and is absolutely beautiful and perfect for editing documents, writing in word processing programs, or even video editing.
- Efficient Apple M1 Chip: Provides significantly faster performance with energy efficiency.
- Ample Memory: 8GB of unified memory for multitasking and quick access.
- Extended Battery Life: Up to 18 hours, ideal for long working hours.
- Seamless Compatibility: Integrates well with other Apple products and popular apps.
- Intuitive User Experience: User-friendly, especially for those familiar with Apple’s ecosystem.
- Eco-Friendly Design: Constructed with environmentally sustainable materials.
Pricing
The MacBook Air 2020 (the one featured in this article) is currently around $600 – $700, which is a great deal! The more current, 2024 version of the MacBook Air is more like $1000, making it a more expensive, premium laptop for writers.
Bottom Line
If you’re a writer who loves Macs, then the MacBook Air is the perfect computer. The Air has a beautiful display screen and great keyboard, making writing a pleasure.
And because it’s a Mac, you’ll enjoy all the benefits of using a Mac, including easy access to all your favorite writing software and the Apple ecosystem. Plus, the MacBook Air is lightweight and portable, so you can take it wherever you go. The MacBook Air is the perfect writing companion at home or on the road.
2. For Windows: Asus Vivobook
- Very affordable for all of its features
- The keyboard is backlit (great for writers!)
- Windows-based (not a Chromebook)
- Very light and portable
- The camera is pretty good for the cost
- Doesn't have much RAM as other laptops - may need to add more
- Battery life could be better
Top Features
- Superior Display: 15.6” Full HD screen size with ultra-slim bezels so you can see everything you need to write.
- Powerful Performance: Equipped with the latest Intel Core i3-1215U Processor and Intel UHD Graphics.
- Advanced Memory: Features 8GB DDR4 RAM and a 128GB M.2 NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSD for fast boot-up and data access.
- Extensive Connectivity: Includes multiple USB ports, HDMI, dual-band Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth for versatile connectivity.
- Durable Design: Slim, lightweight build that adheres to US MIL-STD 810H military standards for durability.
- Ergonomic Keyboard: Offers a comfortable typing experience with an ErgoSense chiclet keyboard.
- Intelligent Noise-Canceling: ASUS AI technology isolates human speech from background noise for clear communication.
Pricing
The Asus VivoBook Laptop is currently around $350 – $400.
Bottom Line
The Asus VivoBook Laptop S1 is fantastic for writers looking for a reasonably-priced laptop for everyday use, with a backlit keyboard and a quality visual display.
3. Chromebook: Acer Spin
- It's a great lightweight Chromebook!
- Can stand upright and be a screen, or be a laptop
- Good battery life
- Has a touchscreen
- The keyboard is backlit
- Only 4 GB of RAM memory
Top Features
- Sophisticated Processor: Features Intel Celeron N4020 Dual-Core Processor with burst speeds up to 2.8GHz.
- Enhanced Display: 11.6″ HD IPS touch display with durable Antimicrobial Corning Gorilla Glass.
- Efficient Memory: Equipped with 4GB LPDDR4 Memory and 32GB eMMC for optimal performance.
- Advanced Connectivity: Intel Wireless-AC 9560 offers high-speed Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0.
- Extended Battery Life: Promises up to 10 hours of usage.
- Light and Portable: Weighs 2.62 lbs, ideal for mobility.
- Google Integration: Comes with Chrome OS, built-in virus protection, and access to Google Play apps.
Pricing
The Acer Chromebook Spin is less than $200 currently, making it a fantastic budget laptop option!
Bottom Line
The Acer Chromebook Spin is a great choice if you’re looking for an affordable Chromebook that uses Google apps! It’s got great reviews, it’s light and portable, and it can act as a screen or as a laptop. The only big drawback is that is just has 4GB of RAM (but, what do you expect for under $200?).
4. Budget: Acer Aspire
- Very budget-friendly!
- Great value for the money
- Vibrant, beautiful screen
- Light and easily portable
- No touch screen
- Can be slow - only 4GB of RAM
Top Features
- Advanced Processor: Equipped with an 11th Generation Intel Core i3-1115G4 Dual Core processor and Turbo Boost Technology.
- Stunning Display: Features a 15.6″ Full HD IPS display with narrow bezels for immersive visuals.
- Ergonomic Design: The hinge design improves typing comfort, cooling, and sound quality.
- Memory Specifications: Includes 4GB DDR4 memory and 128GB NVMe SSD for efficient multitasking and storage.
- Enhanced Audio: Features Acer’s Purified.Voice technology for clear voice communication.
- Alexa Integration: Simplifies tasks with voice commands using Amazon Alexa.
- Secure OS: Runs on Windows 11 Home in S mode for advanced security.
- Connectivity Options: Offers a variety of ports, including USB 3.2 and HDMI.
Pricing
The Acer Aspire Laptop is about $350 currently, making it a fantastic budget laptop option!
Bottom Line
If you need an affordable, effective laptop for writing on, the Acer Aspire is a great one to check out. It has everything a writer needs (except maybe a bit more RAM) – it’s a lightweight laptop, it has a backlit keyboard, good screen image quality, solid battery life, and it even has Acer BlueLightShield technology to help protect your eyes from the blue light of a computer screen!
5. Mid-Range: HP Notebook Laptop
- Easy to set-up and use
- Has tons of RAM (32 GB) - makes it very fast!
- This is a reliable workhorse of a computer
- Has a nice touchscreen
- Keyboard is not the best (also not backlit)
Top Features
- Robust Memory: Upgraded to 32GB DDR4 SDRAM for efficient multitasking.
- High-Speed Storage: 1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD ensures rapid data access.
- Powerful Processor: Intel Core i3-1115G4 offers a balance of performance and efficiency.
- Interactive Display: 15.6-inch HD touchscreen with micro-edge and BrightView.
- Comprehensive Connectivity: Includes USB Type-C, HDMI, and Wi-Fi/Bluetooth options.
- Advanced OS: Runs on Windows 11 Home, providing enhanced user experience and compatibility with Android apps.
Pricing
The HP notebook is currently around $500, making it great value for the money.
Bottom Line
The HP notebook is a great mid-range computer for writers. It’s got a nice clear screen and tons of memory space. The main drawback is that the keyboard is not super high-quality, which might be a deal-breaker for some writers.
6. 2 in 1: MS Surface Pro 9
- This is a high-quality laptop with great specs
- Gorgeous screen resolution and picture quality
- It's thin and light, making it super portable
- Keyboard has nice bright backlighting
- The webcam is very clear
- The battery life could be longer
Top Features
- High-Performance: This is a Microsoft Surface Laptop Pro with Intel Evo platform and Intel Core processors.
- Advanced Display: 13-inch touchscreen with 2880 x 1920 resolution and Dolby Vision IQ.
- Versatile Design: Adjustable angle with built-in Kickstand and compatibility with Surface Pro Laptop Signature Keyboard.
- Digital Pen Compatibility: Enhanced note-taking and sketching with Surface Slim Pen 2.
- Optimized Camera: Ideal for video calls with updated positioning.
- Extended Battery Life: Up to 19 hours for uninterrupted use.
- Smart Connectivity: Links with phones for seamless integration and control.
Pricing
The MS Surface Pro 2 in 1 tablet/laptop is about $1000-$1100 currently.
Bottom Line
The MS Surface Laptop Pro is a great choice for writers who don’t mind spending more money to get a higher-quality device. I’d say that this is particularly well-suited to writers who need a versatile, portable device to take with them wherever they go. It’s also great for writers who also do video or photo editing, as the screen quality and resolution are top-notch!
Why Should Writers Use a Laptop?
A laptop is a personal computer powered by a battery for portable use. Laptops for writers are laptops specifically designed with writers’ specifications in mind.
Here’s a quick summary of the aspects that I’ve found to be most important in a laptop designed for writing:
- A backlit keyboard – so you can see the letters at night (great for those of us who need to see the letters when we are typing!).
- A large enough screen size – I go for 14 inches to 17 inches, personally.
- Long batter life – I look for a laptop with at least 5-8 hours of battery life.
- The right aspect ratio – I like 16:10 or 3:2 screen aspect ratio.
- Storage space – 250GB of storage space at least is my preference. I don’t always like saving my work to the cloud, so I need space on my laptop!
RELATED: Learn more about exactly what to look for in a laptop for writers here in this article!
Choosing a Laptop
If you’re looking for a new laptop and a writer, we hope this list has helped narrow down your choices.
All the laptops on this list are excellent options for anyone who spends their days (or nights!) pounding out words on the keyboard.
Whether you are using your laptop for writing books, short stories, or screenplays, you’ll find a fantastic laptop option on this list!
So go ahead and pick one that suits your needs, and get ready to start writing your next masterpiece!
Looking for more tools for writers? Check out these articles:
The Best Keyboards for Writers
