Best Laptops for Writers, Journalists & Bloggers (Top Picks 2024)

When you write for a living, your laptop is your most important tool, which is why it’s important to get one that meets your needs.

But there’s no one best laptop for writers because different writers value different things.

That’s why today we are going to review the nine best laptops for writers.

We are confident that one of those laptops will be the right option for you.

Best laptops for writers 2020

Let’s start by looking at the best laptops for writers from the last year.

1. Acer Aspire E 15. A mid-range laptop that offers 1TB of storage space.
2. Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5. An affordable Chromebook that is lightweight, has a touchpad that you can write on (the pen is sold separately), and has an excellent audio system.
3. MacBook Air. A high-end lightweight laptop known for its sleek design.
4. HP Pavillion. A high-end laptop that is comparable to a small PC in terms of power but is also a great option for working on the go because of its long battery life (up to 8 hours!).
5. Asus Chromebook Flip. Another great Chromebook that is lightweight, has a comfortable keyboard and a touchscreen.

Best laptops for writers 2019

And here are the laptops that were considered the best laptops for writers back in 2019:

1. Acer Chromebook Spin 13. A Chromebook that is great for those who enjoy sketching and jotting down ideas on a touchscreen with a pen.
2. Lenovo ThinkPad T460. A mid-range laptop that is heavier than some of the other laptops on this list but also sturdier and more powerful.
3. MacBook Air. There’s a reason why this laptop is a favorite among writers – it’s one of the best options out there.
4. HP Premium. A solid budget option for those who only need a laptop for writing.
5. Asus Zenbook 13. A lightweight laptop that has an incredibly long battery life (up to 13 hours!).

Best laptop size for writers

Laptop screen sizes typically range between 13’’ and 16’’ although you can find laptops with both smaller and larger screens.

As a writer, you probably want to stay within the usual range, though.

It’s worth noting that screen size is not the only factor that determines the overall size of a laptop because the design matters as well.

For example, Macbook Air is known for being razor-thin thanks to Apple’s signature sleek design, while plenty of other 13’’ laptops are much bulkier.

When you are choosing a laptop, you should consider the tradeoff between power and portability.

Say, is it more important to you to be able to play computer games on your laptop or to be able to easily carry it with you wherever you go?

Generally, the larger the laptop, the more powerful it will be, though at some point you might be better off simply buying a stationary computer instead of a gargantuan laptop. This might be a good idea for a writer who is also a gamer.

There’s also something to be said about the relationship between the laptop size and how comfortable its keyboard is.

Typically, the larger the laptop, the more comfortable the keyboard, although high-end laptops tend to be an exception to this (e.g. MacBook Air).

Okay, now that we got all that out of the way, let’s take a closer look at the nine best laptops for writers…

Most comfortable laptops for writing

MacBook Pro 16” is the most comfortable laptop for writing.

People don’t think of writing as a job that puts a strain on the body, but every writer knows that it does.

We humans are not evolved for typing for hours on end. That’s why Carpal tunnel syndrome is a real threat in this profession.

That’s why as a writer you need to make sure that your laptop that makes typing as comfortable as possible

We believe that MacBook Pro 16” is the best laptop in this regard.

There are two reasons for that:

1. Its size allows for a large keyboard.
2. It was designed with computer programmers in mind.

You might think that as a writer, you don’t have anything in common with programmers, but you do – your work as a writer also revolves around typing on a computer for hours upon hours every day.

So if your top priority is comfort, then consider investing in a MacBook Pro 16’’.

Moreover, it’s also one of the most powerful laptops out there, which means that whatever else you want to do with your laptop, you probably can do it with a MacBook Pro 16’’.

That includes graphic design, composing music, audio editing, video editing, playing the latest computer games, you name it.

One caveat is that if you are a Windows user, switching to macOS (Apple’s operating system) might be quite an adjustment.

And yes, with a price that starts at $2,499, it’s certainly a high-end laptop. But it’s worth it for the comfort alone.

MacBook Pro Specs

Series: MacBook Pro

Brand: Apple

Screen Size: 16.2 inches

Display Resolution: 3456 x 2234 pixels

Operating System: macOS

Human Interface Input: Keyboard, touchpad.

CPU Manufacturer: Apple.

Color: Silver, Space Gray

Battery Life: Up to 14 hours wireless web

Connectivity Technology: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-C, 3.5mm headphone jack

Hard Disk Size: 512GB – 8TB SSD

RAM: 16 – 32GB unified memory, configurable for to up to 64GB.

Weight: 4.7 pounds

Best laptop for writing papers

Acer Chromebook is a great option for students. Source: Amazon.

You can write papers on any laptop that has a word processor installed.

However, students aren’t exactly known for being flush with cash, so the reality is that your writing laptop options might be severely limited by your budget.

If that’s the case, then you might want to look into Chromebooks, which are laptops that come with a preinstalled Chrome OS operating system and tend to be cheaper than their Windows counterparts.

One of the best Chromebooks for students is Acer Chromebook with a 15.6’’ screen that costs $379.

It has a comfortable keyboard, up to 12.5 hours of battery life, and a large screen with full HD and an anti glare display.

Of course, this isn’t a gaming laptop, so it probably won’t be powerful enough to play your favorite computer games on, but otherwise, it should provide everything that you need for your studies.

Acer Chromebook Specs

Series: Flagship 15.6″ Chromebook IPS TouchScreen

Brand: Acer

Screen Size: 15.6 inches

Display Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels

Operating System: Chrome OS

Human Interface Input: Keyboard, touchpad, touchscreen

CPU Manufacturer: Intel

Color: Silver

Battery life: Up to 12.5 hours

Connectivity Technology: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, USB

Hard Disk Size: 64GB SSD

RAM: 4GB DDR4 SDRAM

Weight: 4.19 pounds

Best 15-inch laptop for writers

HP 15 is the best 15-inch laptop for writers. Source: Amazon.

A laptop with a 13-inch screen might feel too small, meanwhile, one with a 16’’ screen might feel too bulky.

It’s probably safe to say that a laptop with a 15-inch screen offers a happy medium where the screen is large enough to enjoy watching documentaries on YouTube, but not so large that it would mean that the laptop is too heavy to carry around.

We believe that the best 15-inch laptop for writers is HP 15 that comes with a preinstalled Windows 10 operating system.

At 3.75lbs or 1.7kg it’s light enough to take it with you wherever you go. Moreover, its sleek design adds to its portability, since this laptop won’t take up all the space in your backpack.

Plus, it has a long battery life of up to 8 hours, so you won’t have to worry about running out of battery.

You also won’t have to wait around for apps to load or worry about the laptop crashing because you have too many windows open – its Intel Core i5 laptop processor ensures fast and reliable performance.

And when it comes to HP 15’s screen, it has full HD, an anti glare display, and ultra-wide viewing angles.

HP 15 Specs

Series: HP 15 Laptop

Brand: HP

Screen Size: 15.6 inches

Display Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels

Operating System: Windows 10 Home

Human Interface Input: Keyboard, touchpad

CPU Manufacturer: Intel

Color: Natural Silver

Battery life: 8 hours

Connectivity Technology: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, USB, HDMI

Hard Disk Size: 256GB SSD

RAM: 8GB ‎SSD

Weight: ‎3.75 pounds

Best mini laptop for writers

Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 is the best mini laptop for writers. Source: Amazon.

Okay, but what if the most important thing to you is portability, meaning that you want a laptop that is as small as possible?

Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 might be just what you are looking for. It weighs less than 3 pounds, it has a small 12.2-inch screen, and could probably fit in a trendy large handbag.

Moreover, you can use this device as a laptop, as a tablet, and even as an electronic sketchbook (it has a touchscreen + an in-built pen!).

Like all Chromebooks, it comes with a preinstalled Chrome OS operating system, which is something to keep in mind.

Also, Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 isn’t ideal as a primary writing laptop because you don’t want to be typing on a keyboard this small all day, every day.

It’s best to have one “proper” laptop to use at home and another mini laptop to carry with you when you need a change of scenery.

And at $279.95, this mini laptop is certainly affordable.

Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 Specs

Series: Samsung Chromebook

Brand: Samsung Electronics

Screen Size: 12.2 inches

Display Resolution: 1900 x 1200 pixels

Operating System: Chrome OS

Human Interface Input: Keyboard, touchpad, touchscreen, stylus

CPU Manufacturer: Intel

Color: Light Titan

Battery life: 10 hours

Connectivity Technology: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB

Hard Disk Size: 64GB SSD

RAM: 4GB LPDDR3

Weight: 2.98 pounds

Best laptop for writers under 500

Acer Aspire 5 is a great budget laptop. Source: Amazon.

On a tight budget?

You can still get a great writing laptop for under $500.

Acer Aspire 5 only costs $399 and comes with a pre-installed Windows 10 operating system.

It is a relatively large laptop with a 15.6’’ screen. However, despite its size, it’s quite light, weighing only 3.97 lbs or 1.8 kg. It also offers an average of 10 hours of battery life.

It’s also worth noting that Acer Aspire 5 is a stylish laptop. You know how budget laptops tend to look like huge black bricks? That is not the case here. It’s silver, thin, and sleek.

Of course, the downside is that at this price, you can’t expect a gaming laptop that would allow you to play the latest computer games.

So if that’s what you want to do in your free time, then this laptop isn’t the right one for you.

Acer Aspire Specs

Series: A515-46-R14K

Brand: Acer

Screen Size: 15.6 inches

Display Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels

Operating System: Windows 10 S

Human Interface Input: Keyboard, touchpad

CPU Manufacturer: AMD

Color: Silver

Battery life: 10 hours

Connectivity Technology: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB

Hard Disk Size: 128GB SSD

RAM: 4GB DDR4 SDRAM

Weight: 3.97 pounds

Best laptop for writing and gaming

Razer Blade 15 advanced gaming laptop is the best option for those who want a device that they could use for both writing and gaming. Source: Amazon.

And what if you are both a writer and an avid gamer?

Then it makes sense to look for a laptop that you can use for both of these activities.

Of course, as a gamer, you probably already know that gaming laptops aren’t cheap, so if you want one you need to be prepared to spend a couple of thousand dollars on it.

With that out of the way, we believe that the best option, in this case, is Razor Blade 15 laptop (the advanced gaming version as opposed to the base gaming one).

It is equipped with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 Series Graphics, Intel 11th Gen 8-Core CPU, and next-generation displays such as 360Hz FHD, OLED UHD, and 165z QHD.

This laptop even has vapor chamber cooling for maximized thermal performance so you won’t have to worry about it overheating.

It comes with a Windows 10 operating system which you can upgrade to the Windows 11 operating system for free.

This gaming laptop costs $1,279.99.

Razer Blade 15 Specs

Series: Blade 15 Advanced

Brand: Razer

Screen Size: 15 inches

Display Resolution: ‎2560 x 1440 pixels

Operating System: Windows 10 Home

Human Interface Input: Keyboard, touchpad

CPU Manufacturer: Intel

Color: Black

Battery life: 5 hours

Connectivity Technology: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB

Hard Disk Size: 1 TB SSD

RAM: 16 GB DDR4

Weight: 4.4 pounds

Best travel laptop for writers

MacBook Air is the best travel laptop for writers.

One of the main benefits of making a living as a writer is location independence – you can work from anywhere you want.

This is why writers often choose the digital nomad lifestyle where they travel the world for years on end while working remotely.

The best travel laptop for writers who live on the road is MacBook Air. At 2.8 lbs or 1.29 kg, it’s one of the lightest laptops on the market, which you will certainly appreciate after lugging your backpack around all day.

Moreover, when closed it’s only 0.63 inches or 1.61 cm thick, which means it is easy to fit this laptop into your backpack to begin with.

Also, for such a small laptop, it packs a lot of power, so you will be able to do pretty much anything on it except play computer games.

Of course, you need to keep in mind that this laptop comes with a preinstalled macOS operating system, which is something to consider if you are a Windows user.

And if you are worried about the price, MacBook Air is actually quite affordable, with the prices starting at $999.

MacBook Air Specs

Series: MacBook Air

Brand: Apple

Screen Size: 13.3 inches

Display Resolution: 2560 x 1600

Operating System: macOS

Human Interface Input: Keyboard, touchpad.

CPU Manufacturer: Apple

Color: Gold, Silver, Space Gray

Battery life: Up to 15 hours wireless web

Connectivity Technology: Wi-FI, Bluetooth, USB-C

Hard Disk Size: 256GB – 512GB SSD, configurable to up to 2TB

RAM: 8GB of unified memory, configurable to 16GB

Weight: 2.8 pounds

Best Chromebook for writers

Google Pixelbook Go is a great alternative to MacBook Air. Source: Amazon.

Are you a writer who loves working in coffee shops?

Then Google Pixelbook Go might be the perfect laptop for you.

As the name suggests, this laptop was designed for working on the go:

It weighs 2 pounds or 0.9kg, is 13 mm thin, and the grippable design makes it easy to carry. Plus, it offers up to 12 hours of battery life.

Google Pixelbook Go is one of the most comfortable writing laptops in the 13.3’’ screen category, with a quiet, backlit keyboard and a spacious touchpad.

Of course, as all Chromebooks, Google Pixelbook Go comes with a preinstalled Chrome OS operating system.

Also, at $649 it’s an affordable alternative to MacBook Air, so if you don’t like Apple products for some reason but want something that is easy to carry around, consider Google Pixelbook go.

Google Pixelbook Go Specs

Series: Pixelbook Go

Brand: Google

Screen Size: 13.3 Inches

Display Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels

Operating System: Chrome OS

Human Interface Input: Keyboard, touchpad, touchscreen, stylus

CPU Manufacturer: Intel

Color: Just Black

Battery life: Up to 12 hours

Connectivity Technology: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, USB-C

Hard Disk Size: 64 GB SSD

RAM: 8 GB

Weight: ‎2.33 pounds

Best MacBook for writers

Which MacBook is the best choice for you? Source: Apple.

Okay, so you decided that you want to go with a MacBook, but which Apple laptop is the best laptop for writers?

In order to answer this question, you need to figure out what’s more important to you, comfort or portability.

If you prefer comfort, then MacBook Pro 16’’ is the best option because it has a large keyboard and a 16-inch screen.

Plus, it’s an incredibly powerful laptop, so you will be able to play computer games on it as well.

However, at 4.7 lbs or 2.1kg, it’s also 1.9lbs or 810g heavier than MacBook Air, not to mention much bulkier.

This might not seem like a big deal, but if you are an aspiring digital nomad, then believe us, you don’t want any extra weight in your backpack.

Also, MacBook Pro 16’’ is much more expensive than MacBook Air, with the former’s pricing starting at $2,499 and the latter’s at just $999.

We have already discussed why MacBook Air is the best laptop for writers who travel a lot, so we don’t want to repeat ourselves.

In short, if you intend to primarily use your laptop at home + take it on an occasional trip, then MacBook Pro is a better option provided that you can afford it.

However, if you intend to live on the road, then going with MacBook Air makes much more sense.

FAQ

Here are some of the frequently asked questions about the best laptops for writers:

What laptop do most writers use?

It’s probably safe to say that the most popular laptop among successful writers is MacBook Pro because it has such a comfortable keyboard.

Moreover, it’s powerful enough to allow you to do just about anything, so you can also use it to listen to music, edit videos, play computer games, and more.

Which laptop has the best keyboard for typing?

MacBook Pro.

Are Chromebooks good for writers?

Yes.

They tend to be lightweight which means that you can easily carry them with you everywhere you go.

Ideal for the writers who love to work in coffee shops, libraries, etc.

Also great for traveling.

Which laptops can you write on?

You can write on any laptop.

All you need is a word processor (e.g. Microsoft Word).

That being said, when you are choosing a laptop for writing, you should consider what else you intend to do with it (e.g. listen to music, edit videos, play computers games). Make the decision accordingly.