10 Best Business Laptops: For SMBs and Owners

Choosing the best laptops for business can be a tough decision. You need powerful and reliable machines, but it’s not as simple as picking a parking spot.

Your productivity, security, and day-to-day performance will depend heavily on the machine you choose.

That’s why it’s essential to find the right laptops for your business.

In this article, we’ve explained everything you need to know, from what makes a laptop a business laptop to the specific specs that matter most.

We’ve also curated a list of the 10 best business laptops, trusted and appreciated by us and thousands of other small business owners.

If you’re just looking to educate yourself before buying, you can read the detailed guide at the end of this article.

Or, if you want to save time, you can pick from our list of laptops that real businesses use for their day-to-day tasks.

These laptops are built to handle everything from SaaS tools and spreadsheets to CRMs. They’re fully compatible with demanding business applications like Salesforce, Microsoft Office 365, and AWS Elastic Beanstalk.

Whatever your business needs, whether it’s client management or more demanding tasks like video editing and graphic design, these laptops are designed to perform without slowing you down.

And to save you even more time, here’s one of the best all-around machines for most business tasks: a high-end MacBook.

Before moving forward to the list of the ten best business laptops, let’s answer the most common question people have: ‘What laptop should I buy for business?’.

Here are the minimum specs you need for business:

You can also check these desktops: 10 Best Business Desktop Computers In 2025

Now, let’s move forward to the best laptops for business owners and other professionals.

An Absolute Powerhouse: Apple MacBook Pro Laptop with M4 Max (Late 2024)

Review:

The 2024 MacBook Pro with the M4 Max chip is the ultimate choice for SMBs, startups, and business owners. If you’re a small business owner wondering, “What laptop should I buy for business?” — this is the one you need to handle virtually any business task.

The 2024 MacBook Pro is equally excellent for everyday office tasks and data-intensive workloads. It’s a complete, all-in-one solution for both business operations and creative professions.

We opened tons of tabs, along with apps like QuickBooks, Zoom, Skype, Slack, and several others simultaneously, just to push it to its limits and test its performance and reliability.

Not only did it remain fast and responsive, but it also didn’t heat up at all. That’s something I haven’t seen with many other laptops.

Its real strength lies in the M4 Max chip — the most advanced and power-efficient chip ever used in a professional laptop.

With a powerful 16-core CPU and 40-core GPU, this machine is built to handle even the most demanding tasks like business analytics, data science, and 3D rendering with ease. Its robust performance makes it a top-tier choice for businesses that require both speed and reliability.

The Apple 2024 MacBook Pro comes with two chip options: the M4 Pro and the M4 Max.

Both variants deliver exceptional performance, and you can choose the one that aligns with your business demands.

• M4 Pro: 16-core CPU, 30-core GPU, and 36GB of unified memory.
• M4 Max: 16-core CPU, 40-core GPU, and up to 128GB of unified memory.

Both chips are equally powerful for handling general business tasks, but for creative professionals and data-intensive workflows, the M4 Max offers incredible performance. Thus, for tasks like video editing, 3D rendering, or machine learning applications, you should go for M4 Max.

The M4 Max chip features 16 cores and advanced processing units capable of handling anything from AutoCAD to 3D modeling software with ease.

So, if you’re a business owner managing ERPs like SAP, Oracle Netsuite, Sage 300, Microsoft Dynamics 365, or iScala, this MacBook Pro will never let you down in any case.

Up to 128GB unified memory:

The 2024 MacBook Pro offers an impressive range of memory options, starting from 48GB of unified memory for standard office work and scaling up to an astonishing 128 GB.

Up to 8TB SSD storage:

Another standout feature is the up to 8TB of SSD storage, providing ample space for all your files, software, and media.

While 1TB storage is more than sufficient for most general business needs, creative professionals and users with data-heavy requirements will appreciate the option to upgrade to higher capacities.

I appreciate its memory and storage upgradeability options, as they are essential for staying future-proof.

Exceptional battery life:

The 2024 MacBook Pro sets a new standard with its all-day battery life. It lasted up to 21 hours on a single charge.

Whether you’re working on intensive tasks or simply attending back-to-back meetings, this laptop keeps up with your demanding schedule without needing frequent recharges.

Ports:

This MacBook Pro is a powerhouse when it comes to connectivity, featuring:

• Three Thunderbolt 5 ports for ultra-fast data transfer and connecting external devices.
• HDMI port to easily hook up additional displays, including support for 8K resolution.
• SDXC card slot for photographers and videographers who need seamless access to their camera cards.
• A MagSafe 3 port for reliable and secure charging.

Whether you’re connecting to external monitors, transferring data from cameras, or plugging into professional-grade equipment, the 2024 MacBook Pro offers the versatility and ports professionals demand.

This laptop is ideal for:

• Tech startups and software development companies
• Creative agencies offering video production, graphic design, or 3D modeling services
• Digital marketing firms manage large data sets and multiple applications
• Financial service providers running analytics, CRMs, and cloud-based tools
• Architecture and engineering firms using CAD and design software
• Educational platforms and e-learning businesses with remote teams
• Consultancies and agencies handling client data and business planning
• Media production companies working with audio editing and content creation

2025’s Highly In-demand Monster: Lenovo Gen 12 ThinkPad X1 Carbon

Review:

If you are looking for a powerful non-Apple laptop, the Lenovo Gen 12 ThinkPad X1 Carbon is the best laptop for any business.

Especially, it’s a great machine for people looking for a lightweight device to handle business tasks and more complex projects.

The Lenovo Gen 13 ThinkPad is also in the market, but this machine with incredible features is a huge bargain.

Just behind the later model, this model, which arrived in 2024, comes with Windows 11 Pro pre-installed, so you don’t have to worry about setting up your operating system or downloading software updates; it’s all included right out of the box!

The display has an anti-glare coating that helps ensure you can see your screen even when there’s plenty of light around, which is excellent for outdoor and indoor use after dark.

The keyboard uses island keys for easy typing, even if you’re wearing gloves, and each key provides tactile feedback so that you always know what you are pressing.

Performance-wise? This laptop is a real monster!

It handles everything I throw at it with ease. And since it’s an i7 chip with 32GB of RAM (and 512GB SSD), there’s plenty of space left over for other programs if you need them too!

Battery life is good enough, too, so it’s a great choice for business owners who often travel for business meetings. It’s compact and lightweight, so it doesn’t create any trouble.

In short, it’s an all-in-one solution for all your small business needs.

The only downside is that there isn’t much room for expansion inside this laptop (meaning you can’t easily upgrade it).

Overall, the Lenovo Gen 12 ThinkPad X1 Carbon is the 3rd best business laptop, especially for small business owners, entrepreneurs, and CEOs.

Best for small businesses: HP 16 EliteBook 660 G11 Business Laptop

Review:

The HP Elitebook 660 G11 Business Laptop is one of the best laptops for small businesses; it’s excellent for business and office use due to the following reasons.

The HP EliteBook design has evolved over time. The HP Elitebook 660 G11 is even more appealing than the HP Elitebook G7 and G8, which we had previously reviewed here.

The laptop has an Intel Ultra 5 12-core processor and 32GB DDR5 memory that’s enough to open tons of tabs and work on your routine apps. For instance, if you have to deal with Zoho, Hubspot, Slack, Shopify, Zoom for back-to-back meetings, and you might also handle your finances, you can do everything without any lag.

Another good part of this machine is its storage, you can store your photos, videos, and sensitive data.

What sets this laptop apart is how long it lasts between charges, even when using heavy applications like Photoshop or Autodesk Inventor!

This laptop also comes with Windows 11 Pro pre-installed, so you’ll be able to connect to wireless networks in your office easily or while on the go (though there’s no mobile data option).

The keyboard is comfortable to type on, even when you have to write long documents such as an essay or dissertation, due to its wide keys, which make it easy to type without making any mistakes when typing quickly.

In a nutshell, the HP EliteBook 660 G11 is a very good laptop for any business especially for small businesses. Whether it’s a home office, mobile office, or your in-house team, or you need an eye-catching machine, the HP EliteBook 660 G11 Business Laptop is one of the most suitable laptops for your business.

A budget powerhouse: 2024 HP Pavilion 15 Business Laptop

Review

After testing it under substantial workloads, we can confidently say, the HP Pavilion 15 is one of the best value laptops for small businesses. Many other business owners have also praised its ability to handle everyday business tasks with ease.

Whether you’re handling accounting software, managing customer relationships, collaborating with your team, or attending video meetings, the HP Pavilion 15 is great for each office task.

If you’re a small business owner who doesn’t have a high budget but requires a laptop that can handle demanding business tasks, then the HP Pavilion 15 Business Laptop is an excellent investment.

Overall performance:

The HP Pavilion 15 offers everything you need in a business laptop: long battery life, sturdy build quality, and an easy-to-use interface. These features are essential for professionals who require a reliable machine for day-to-day operations, whether working from home, in the office, or while traveling.

With 32GB of RAM and the Core i7 processor, it’s built to handle heavy multitasking.

The touchscreen is particularly useful for quick navigation between programs and files. It’s super responsive, allowing business owners to easily access documents, spreadsheets, or presentations during meetings or while working on the go.

Storage:

With 1TB SSD storage, you have more than enough space to store all your business documents, accounting files, client data, and more without worrying about running out of space anytime soon.

Plus, there is an SD card slot that allows you to expand storage or quickly transfer files from external devices, which is ideal for managing large business files or keeping backups.

Speakers:

They might sound a bit tinny depending on the audio content, but overall, they perform well for typical business use.

Portability:

At just over 5 pounds, this laptop is lightweight and easy to carry to meetings, workspaces, or when traveling for business, making it ideal for entrepreneurs who need a reliable machine for remote work.

Who is this for?

• This laptop is perfect for retail stores and digital marketing agencies.
• This laptop is great for e-commerce and dropshipping businesses.
• It’s also good for accounting and bookkeeping firms working with QuickBooks, spreadsheets, and financial data daily.
• In fact, it’s also a good business laptop for real estate businesses.
• It can be a great pick for remote customer support teams.
• And it’s a reliable laptop for consulting services and freelancers who need a cost-effective but powerful laptop for everyday business tasks.

Best 2-in-1 Touchscreen Business Laptop: Dell Inspiron 14 7440

Review:

The Dell Inspiron 14 7440 2-in-1 Business Laptop is one of the best business touchscreen machines with some incredible features.

Along with its great features, it’s affordable for most businesses. You get this powerful machine with i 7 processor, 1TB storage, and 32 GB memory for just under $1000.

This laptop is powerful enough to run all your applications simultaneously without slowing down or crashing. Additionally, as it’s lightweight, with the Dell Inspiron 14 7440 2-in-1 Business Laptop, you can take your work wherever you go.

This laptop has a 14″ full HD touchscreen display, so you can use it as a tablet or flip it around as a regular laptop.

It has a 12th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, 32GB RAM, 2TB SSD, and Intel Iris Xe graphics. You can consider it a budget workhorse for graphic design and 3D rendering.

And when it comes time to travel with your laptop, which is often the business demand, it’s lightweight enough that you won’t feel a burden!

The built-in fingerprint reader allows you to log in using just your fingerprint instead of typing in passwords every time, and also provides security for your confidential and personal data. It also comes with a built-in registered MS Windows 11 Pro.

To summarize, the Dell Inspiron 14 7440 2-in-1 Business Laptop is the best budget 360 laptop for small business owners who need a beautiful yet powerful machine for professional and personal use. Give it a try and you will be happy!

Businesses for which this laptop is a great fit:

• Creative agencies and design studios.
• Consulting firms.
• Marketing professionals and freelancers.
• Education and training businesses: A great laptop for online teaching, content creation, and conducting webinars.
• Financial advisors and small accounting firms.
• Healthcare consultants or clinic managers.
• Remote teams or hybrid businesses – Lightweight and versatile, ideal for professionals who switch between remote and in-office work.

Built for Business, Traveling, Engineering: ASUS ExpertBook B9

Review

The ASUS ExpertBook B9 Thin and Light Business Laptop is thin, lightweight, and durable. You can easily take it with you on business trips or meetings without worrying about damage from bumps or drops.

When you’re out, the first wish we have is that we don’t have to charge our machine, and this is where this laptop stands out. It can last up to 17 hours on a single charge.

It has a 14″ Full HD display with an anti-glare coating that provides clear visuals even in bright conditions.

The laptop comes with 16GB DDR4 RAM, so you or your employees can run multiple applications simultaneously without slowing down their workflow or productivity levels.

And you can run even the most prominent applications without a hitch. Plus, it’s upgradable if you ever need more space!

These features are great enough to run any of your online businesses, for instance, a marketing business. You can deal with clients, manage teams and store tons of data on your machine.

To conclude, this laptop is the perfect combination of power and portability. All this makes it the best budget laptop for small business owners and other professionals.

Laptop for Engineer, Designer, Architect and IST Hub: HP ZBook Power 15 G9 Mobile Workstation

Review

The HP ZBook Power 15 G9 Mobile Workstation is even more advanced than its predecessor, offering top-notch specifications that meet the needs of engineers, designers, architects, and other professionals who require high-performance computing.

The most surprising thing is that this powerhouse is available for under $1500. If we compare this machine to the other powerful laptop, it looks like a huge bargain.

I understand that the difference is mainly due to the CPU, but the Intel 12th Gen Core i5-12600H Processor (3.3 GHz, up to 4.5 GHz, 12 Cores, 16 Threads, 18MB L3 Cache) is powerful enough to meet the needs of designers, architects, video editors, and anyone requiring a high-end machine to handle extensive tasks.

It’s easy to use and comes with all the bells and whistles you want in a workstation: a massive 64GB of DDR5 RAM, and a whopping 4TB SSD for plenty of fast storage space.

What really sets this laptop apart is its exceptional design and rugged build. It’s crafted with durability in mind for intensive tasks.

The sleek chassis features a premium blend of aluminum and carbon fiber, offering a sophisticated, professional appearance while maintaining performance under heavy workloads.

Its NVIDIA T600 GPU adds extra graphics power, which is crucial for professionals who need excellent visual performance for design and rendering tasks.

The 15.6″ Full HD display provides sharp, vibrant images, perfect for detailed design work or video editing.

The ZBook Power also delivers impressive battery life; It lasts up to 15 hours.

For whom this Mobile Workstation is especially suitable:

• Architecture and engineering firms: It’s ideal for running CAD, Revit, SolidWorks, and other design-heavy applications smoothly.
• Video production and editing studios: This laptop is perfect for handling 4K video editing, rendering, and post-production work with Adobe Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve.
• Construction and real estate development businesses: It’s also great for using BIM tools, blueprint analysis, and 3D modeling on the go.
• Creative agencies: It’s a powerful choice for motion graphics, animation, and visual effects professionals using After Effects, Blender, or Maya.
• Product design and manufacturing companies: It’s built to support industrial design tools like AutoCAD, Fusion 360, or CATIA.
• IT and software development firms.
• Game developers and simulation businesses – With 64GB RAM and dedicated GPU, it’s perfect for game development, testing, and performance simulations.

2-in-1 Business Laptop under $1000: The Microsoft Surface Pro

Review:

The Microsoft Surface Pro 2-in-1 Laptop is a significant upgrade over its predecessors.

The most notable upgrade is the powerful Snapdragon X Plus (10 Core) processor, which enhances overall performance, offering faster speeds, better multitasking capabilities, and increased efficiency for demanding applications.

If you have used Microsoft Surface Pro earlier, with this performance boost, you can expect quicker boot times, smoother transitions between tasks, and overall improved responsiveness for your daily work.

16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage are good for most small businesses.

This machine is also available in many variations:

• 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD
• 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD
• 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD
• 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD

So, if you need more power and storage, you can get more with a few hundred dollars extra.

As you have noticed that it also comes with 32GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD storage, making it ideal for graphic designers and architects.

The Surface Pro 2-in-1 is incredibly versatile. You can use it as a laptop and tablet with Windows 11 Copilot+ PC. Thus, it’s ideal for professionals who need a flexible, portable solution for work on the go.

With a focus on both work and creativity, the Surface Pro supports a stylus for seamless note-taking, sketching, and graphic work in apps like Photoshop.

AI PC for Designers and Photographers: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2-in-1

Review:

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga is a tailor-made laptop for small business owners, professionals, designers, photographers, and managers who need a high-performance, ultra-lightweight 2-in-1 device at a reasonable price.

This lightweight machine is available for just under $1200.

Perfect for designers and photographers:

With its high resolution and vibrant color accuracy, designers can work on intricate details with precision, while photographers can view and edit high-resolution images without losing quality.

The 360-degree hinge and Precision Pen support make sketching, annotating, and editing seamless, transforming this laptop into a powerful digital canvas.

Whether you’re using Photoshop, Lightroom, Illustrator, or other creative software, this laptop ensures smooth and responsive performance.

Built for mobility and productivity:

At just 2.54 lbs (1.15 kg), this is one of the lightest professional laptops, making it perfect for on-the-go creatives.

Secondly, the long-lasting 12-hour battery life ensures you can work anywhere without worrying about frequent charging.

For photographers, the built-in microSD card reader allows quick and easy file transfers from cameras, while the versatile port selection ensures seamless connectivity with external displays, drawing tablets, and other peripherals.

Final Verdict:

If you’re a designer, photographer, or creative professional looking for a lightweight, powerful, and versatile laptop with an exceptional display, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga is an excellent choice.

Best Laptop for Creators, Photographers, and Designers: HP EliteBook X360 830

Review:

The HP EliteBook X360 830 2-in-1 Laptop is another best laptop for creators, photographers, designers, and small business professionals who need a powerful, versatile machine that adapts to their workflow.

This machine comes with an Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor and 16GB of RAM, which ensures seamless multitasking and great performance for routine office work.

The FHD touchscreen display (1920 x 1080 resolution) delivers stunning visuals with precise color accuracy. Thus, it’s ideal for professionals in photography and graphic design.

The 360-degree rotating hinge enhances usability, allowing easy transitions between laptop, tablet, and presentation modes.

For creative professionals, the IST Pen provides precise input for sketching, designing, and note-taking, making it an essential tool for digital artists and architects.

Business users will appreciate the backlit, spill-resistant keyboard, ensuring effortless typing in low-light conditions. The Windows 11 Pro with AI Copilot boosts productivity, offering smart automation and enhanced security features.

With a 1TB SSD, you’ll have ample storage for high-resolution projects, videos, and essential business. Plus, it has an impressive battery life of up to 10 hours.

How to choose a laptop for business?

As you know, business laptops differ slightly from personal laptops. They’re built to last longer and come equipped with features needed for demanding workplace tasks.

For example, they usually offer high performance, strong wireless connections, durable builds, and essential ports like HDMI and VGA.

So, to help you understand which laptop you should buy for your business, we have discussed in detail what to focus on:

Brand:

If you’re a business owner and buying a laptop, one of your first questions might be: Apple or Windows PC?

The short answer: Choose a top brand. Lenovo stands out as a leader in business laptops due to its reliable business-grade quality. Apple, however, offers enhanced security and a prestigious appeal, making it ideal for high-ranking roles.

All six major laptop brands are generally reliable for business use.

Display size, resolution, and GPU:

• If your work involves design, editing, or technical tasks, opt for a high-resolution display and a dedicated GPU. However, an integrated GPU can save you a lot of money, so if you don’t run data-intensive apps, go for an integrated GPU instead.
• Display size affects productivity. An uncomfortable screen reduces efficiency.

Processor:

The processor handles your inputs and runs applications. It’s a crucial part of a business laptop as performance depends on the processor.

• Look for high clock speed and large cache memory.
• Newer generation CPUs offer faster, more secure performance. So, you should always go for i5, i7, or i9.

RAM and storage:

More RAM means more multitasking.

• 42GB RAM – Bare minimum, suitable for basic browsing only.
• 16GB RAM – Ideal for most small business operations.
• 32GB or 64GB – Best for technical professionals handling demanding tasks.
• Secondly, always prefer faster RAM types like DDR4 or DDR5.

Storage (HDD vs SSD): SSDs are faster and more reliable than traditional HDDs.

• Always choose SSD for business use; it’s faster and more efficient.
• If you handle large files, opt for a 1TB SSD or more.

Ports and adapters:

Your laptop should have enough ports based on your needs. If you use external displays or peripherals, prioritize:

• HDMI
• Thunderbolt 3 or 4
• USB-C and Ethernet

Security features:

A business laptop must protect your data. Look for security features:

• TPM (Trusted Platform Module)
• Biometric login (fingerprint scanner or facial recognition)
• Strong OS-level encryption options

Collaboration features:

If you attend virtual meetings or manage remote teams, that’s what most of us do, so I believe you do, your laptop should have:

• High-quality built-in webcam
• Noise-canceling microphones
• Speakers that support clear audio output

Management and support:

Business laptops should support IT management tools and come with:

• Remote device management compatibility
• Comprehensive warranty and responsive customer support

Keyboard and touchpad:

Comfort matters. A poorly spaced keyboard or small touchpad can affect productivity, especially in the early days.

Battery life:

For business owners who travel frequently, battery life is a deal-breaker.

• Look for laptops offering at least 12 hours of battery life.
• This ensures you can work a full day without needing to recharge.