Is your current laptop great for traveling? If you aren’t sure if you should buy a new laptop, this post is for you. When I first left Canada in 2014, I didn’t bring my laptop.
After all, I wanted to travel so the last thing I wanted to do was to carry a heavy laptop around. When this two-month trip turned into a longer one, I started wondering how I could make money online. I decided to start blogging and to do so, I needed to get a new laptop.
As I was on a tight budget, I ordered a cheap one online. It was the slowest and heaviest laptop you could find back then. Let’s say it was a great tool to test my patience.
Quickly I realized it wasn’t a good digital nomad laptop. I needed a light laptop, a quick one, and a performing one. The budget wasn’t on my side, so when it broke, I got another heavy one which was also quite performant.
A couple of years later, I decided it was time to get a small, portable, light, and performant laptop that would be nomad-friendly.
Before we start, I’ll tell you all about my current laptop. Then, I’ll split the best laptops for digital nomads by categories so you can decide what’s more important to you.
Asus ZenBook 14 (My pick)
When I first looked at it, I thought it was too small. Now, I LOVE my ZenBook. It’s the smallest 14-inch laptop out there. It’s light, beautifully designed, and it fits perfectly in my luggage. I reckon it’s a great blogging laptop but also one of the best laptops for travel.
| Weight | 2.4lbs |
| Average battery life | 13 hours |
| Starting price | $1200 USD |
Best laptops for nomads: The lightest devices
If you are traveling frequently, then a light, easy to transport device might be the most important factor to you when shopping for a computer.
You might be looking for a laptop that you can easily pack with you in your carry-on bag without pushing your baggage allowance but is capable of getting your job done in an efficient manner. Without further ado, let’s take a look at the best travel laptop.
MacBook Air
If you are looking for the best laptop for digital nomads, the MacBook Air could be it! It’s one of the most popular laptops for digital nomads around the world.
It is a lightweight device that packs a punch and perfect for bloggers who need a reliable device for journaling and photo editing.
| Weight | 2.75lbs |
| Average battery life | 12 hours |
| Starting price | $1100 USD |
Dell XPS 13
A lot of digital nomads like to compare the lightweight Dell XPS 13 to the powerful Macbook Pro as they have quite a few similar features.
The unique thing about Dell computers is that it usually comes with Windows OS, however, you can purchase special Ubuntu editions if you prefer Linux. Another way that the Dell XPS 13 stands out amongst all the best laptops for digital nomads is the strong battery life for such a small device.
| Weight | 2.7lbs |
| Average battery life | 14 hours |
| Starting price | $1000 USD |
Huawei Matebook 13
Huawei is known for creating high-tech, reliable devices and they have slowly been breaking into the laptop market.
The Huawei Matebook 13 is ultra-lightweight and like the Dell computers, can be found loaded with Windows or Linux operating systems depending on your preferences.
| Weight | 2.8lbs |
| Average battery life | 10 hours |
| Starting price | $1000 USD |
Asus Zenbook 13
This ultrabook by Asus is another solid contender for those looking for a lightweight device. It is one of the most affordable laptops on the market where you don’t need to worry about sacrificing usability for price.
The clear downside to the Zenbook vs. the rest on this list is the significantly lower battery life.
| Weight | 2.5lbs |
| Average battery life | 8 hours |
| Starting price | $800 USD |
Drawbacks to a lightweight device
Something to consider when primarily searching for a lightweight device is that you will often be exchanging the weight for performance.
These laptops are tough little devices that can do a lot but some digital nomads that require a bit more might find these options a bit lacking.
Best laptop for nomad: The more durable devices
There are so many different remote employment opportunities out there and you are going to want to make sure you get a digital nomad laptop that fits your needs.
If you are looking for a tougher device that can handle your travels and your work, put one of these laptops on your list.
MacBook Pro
The MacBook Pro is unanimously the best laptop out there amongst Apple users and digital nomads alike.
There is no denying the power that the Macbook Pro can provide and it has the ability to upgrade its storage up to 1TB; which is suitable enough for most people and takes away the need to carry around an extra device with you.
| Weight | 3lbs |
| Average battery life | 10 hours |
| Starting price | $1300 USD |
Dell XPS 15
The Dell XPS 15 is the older sibling of the 13. It is bigger and capable of handling a lot more work than its lighter counterpart.
Equipped with an i7 processor and the superior Nvidia GTX 1050 Ti graphics card; programming, video editing, and even gaming will run smoothly for you on this laptop.
| Weight | 4.5lbs |
| Average battery life | 8 hours |
| Starting price | $1300 USD |
Drawbacks to a powerful device
Owning a durable laptop may be really important to you as a digital nomad but that does come with its own set of negatives to think about. The most obvious one is the weight.
The base weight for a tougher device is 4lbs and that only increases as your needs increase. Another thing that you have to accommodate for is battery life as you will be lucky to get 10 hours on one of these laptops,
The hybrid devices
If you are looking for something easy to use and take on the go with you, then a hybrid device may be more suitable for your needs. These are increasingly becoming the top choices amongst digital nomads because of their versatility.
Microsoft Surface
Microsoft has created a whole range of laptops that offer many different functionalities at a variety of price points.
The main benefits to these are that the are light, can be used as a tablet yet still run the Windows operating system.
Microsoft Surface GO
The Surface GO is the entry-level model that Microsoft offers and is an excellent travel companion. You can read a book or edit photos while bouncing from city to city with this device.
| Weight | 1.15lbs |
| Average battery life | 9 hours |
| Starting price | $450 USD |
Microsoft Surface Pro 6
If you like the idea of a hybrid device but want a laptop replacement, steer towards the Surface Pro 6. These machines are tougher than they look and is one of the best laptops for digital nomads looking for a balance between, size, weight, and functionality.
| Weight | 1.7lbs |
| Average battery life | 10 hours |
| Starting price | $800 USD |
Drawbacks to a 2-in-1 hybrid device
Lack of USB ports! Due to the size being so compact with these devices, you trade the ability to be able to plug everything you need into the computer.
Another thing that might be considered inconvenient with these devices is that they cannot sit up straight a 90 degrees. They can be propped up but their built-in stand, but this is still at an angle which can be bothersome to a few people.
Laptop Accessories
Wondering what else you should bring along with your laptop? Here are a few laptop essentials to help you during your digital nomad journey. Make sure to read about the best laptop stands and about the best VPN for Asia.
Eventually, I decided to invest in a portable screen. I picked the Asus Zen Screen and I love it! If you need to open multiple tabs to get work done, it’s an excellent investment.
FAQ
Let’s take a look at the popular questions regarding the best travel laptops for digital nomads and online entrepreneurs.
Which laptop is best for travel?
In my opinion, Asus ZenBook 14 is the best laptop for travel and for digital nomads.
Where should I put my laptop when flying?
Ideally, you won’t leave it in your check-in luggage as the airport staff has this tendency to throw luggage around. It’s better to bring it in your cabin luggage.
How do you choose the perfect laptop?
You need to decide what’s your biggest priority. Is it the weight, the portability, the battery life, the performance or the price? With this priority in mind, you should be able to find the right laptop.
