Bradley and I have been digital nomads for around 5 years now.
And one of the most important things we’ve invested in is our laptops.
They are what we use to run our business and if they didn’t work well, then we’d be in trouble!
Over the years, we’ve used a number of brilliant laptops for travel, and we thought it would be a good idea to give you some guidance on the best travel laptops on the market this year.
We’ve done a lot of research, and we’ve included all the best ones we’ve found, including the laptops we currently use, and laptops we have previously used.
So, if you’re in search of a laptop to suit your travel needs, then look no further. We’ve got you covered!
Want a quick answer? Our top pick is the Asus Zenbook 13.
The best laptops for travelers excel in many or all of the following categories ...
Before actually thinking about the features and specs of the laptop, make sure you know your budget. It’s also worthwhile to compare laptops on a similar price point so you can choose the best one, without spending more than you should.
The portability of a laptop matters too, especially for travel. Is it lightweight and small enough to make it convenient to travel with? Would it need a suitcase to fit? How heavy is it to lug around on a two-week backpacking trip? Can it breeze through airport security?
These are just some questions to consider in terms of your laptop’s weight and size. It helps to know what you need!
Longer battery life typically correlates with a higher price tag, but if you’re working on the road, having a long battery life can make your life so much easier!
Even if you’re stuck on a long flight or train journey where you can’t plug your laptop into a power source, a powerful laptop means you can still work.
Again, you’ll pay more for more storage, but think of this as a long-term investment. Storage is especially crucial if you create content such as videos and photos, as they take up more space than mere word documents.
An option is to buy an external hard drive to expand your storage capacity. It can be a great alternative if you don’t have the budget to buy a higher storage capacity to begin with.
RAM (Random Access Memory) is where your laptop stores data before processing them, and its size affects how well your laptop can handle “multi-tasking”.
Imagine editing photos on Lightroom, then writing a blog article on Google Docs, and then watching a YouTube video (p.s. Check out our channel). Having a large RAM lets you switch between tasks smoothly.
Here’s a quick summary of the most common RAM sizes:
Of course, the more RAM, the more expensive the laptop, so it’s important to strike a balance between what you need your laptop to do, and your budget.
If you are running editing programs and high-resolution videos, you should also prioritize the processing power. Trust us, this will make working on your laptop so much more enjoyable.
The CPU is like the heart and brain of your laptop. For high-power activities like video editing, you need to go for at least an i7, although the i9 is now on the market and the most powerful.
We opted for high processing power as Adobe Premier Pro can be very demanding for video editing, especially during the rendering process. Cloud/browser based video editors like Clipchamp may be less demanding for laptops with lower processing power.
i5 will work for a travel laptop if you’re not doing anything too heavy, or don’t mind editing at a buffering pace and have a lot of patience. However, anything less than an i5 processor (i3) will not be suitable as a travel laptop unless you just plan on answering emails and surfing the internet.
A separate graphics chip allows gamers, 3D designers, and high-res video editors to run their programs without taking up a ton of RAM and slowing the overall performance of the computer.
I use an i7 CPU and this allows me to edit video footage, including 4k very easily, and I can edit on Lightroom, Photoshop, and After Effects without any issues. It can also perform multiple of these tasks at one without crashing, which is a real testament to the quality!
Apple may seem like the quintessence of all technology brands, but if you don’t already use their products or like the Apple software system, there is no point in getting an Apple laptop.
But if you already use Apple and want easy integration with their other products, then it would make sense to choose one of their laptops.
For us, we don’t like Apple products and opt for Windows instead. It has never let us down so far, and there are so many more options to choose from!
Weight: 1.11 kg
Battery Life: Up to 13 hours
Specs: Intel® Core™ i7-1165G7 Processor, 16 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD
Display: 13.3", Full HD 1920 x 1080p
Operating system: Windows
In terms of weight, size, power and price, we decided that the ASUS Zenbook 13 comes out top as the best travel laptop you can currently buy.
It's not the most powerful on this list, but it is still an absolutely amazing piece of kit and is the exact laptop I have been suing since late 2018 on our trip to Sri Lanka.It is still working 100% the same as it did when we first bought it and I have used it to run our website for more than 3 years now.
It does everything most travelers could possibly need, and more; and costs roughly 40% less than it's slightly more powerful counterparts (the DELL XPS 13 and Apple MacBook Air 13 - both discussed below).
Battery life is also a key component of any great travel laptop and the ASUS Zenbook 13 boasts up to 18 hours of battery life, which in addition to its compact and ultralight design, makes it perfect for travelling.
Plus, the Zenbook 13 is the world’s thinnest 13” laptop that still has complete I/O ports, including USB-A and HDMI. It's small enough to even fit in my Loctote Flak Sack, which is testament to it's power-to-size ratio.
If you like having a number pad but don’t want to carry large laptops around, the innovative ASUS ScreenPad 2.0 will excite you! You can activate this feature and watch the touchpad light up.
Weight: 1.27 kg
Battery Life: Up to 4 hours
Specs: 11th Generation Intel Core i7-1195G7 Processor, 16 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD
Display: 13.4", Full HD 1920 x 1080p
Operating system: Windows
I would say that the DELL XPS 13 is definitely my second top pick for travel laptops.
Perfect for those of you that need a slightly more powerful laptop that the ASUS Zenbook 13 and are happy to pay the higher price tag.
But why is it better than the XPS 15? (discussed below).
Well, it’s not quite as powerful, but has a lower price tag, smaller screen size, weighs less, and is absolutely perfect for 90% of travellers. It’s what we would travel with if we didn’t need the video editing capabilities of the XPS 15.
At only 1.27 kg, it can easily fit into your backpack and you won’t even remember it’s there! Perfect if you’re moving around a lot and don’t want a heavy laptop. (On that note, be sure to check out the range of digital-nomad-friendly backpacks from Solgaard).
The Dell XPS 13 has an Infinity Edge screen that is nearly borderless, so you can still enjoy beautiful colors on this display. Whether it’s for watching films or editing videos, a large screen can be very useful!
Moreover, it features the Killer 1535 Wireless-AC card, which means you will get impeccable Wi-Fi performance. It can be a lifesaver if you are travelling and working somewhere with limited connection.
Weight: 2.05 kg
Battery Life: Up to 13.5 hours
Specs: Intel Core i7-10750H Processor, 8 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD
Display: 15.6", Full HD 1920 x 1200p
Operating system: Windows
If you’re a video editor, then you can’t go wrong with the Dell XPS 15. It’s the one we currently use and has proven to be absolutely amazing.
You can edit 4K videos without lagging and multitask with no problem. In fact, it’s probably one of the best laptops on the market today.
It is pretty thin and easy to store in a van (as we are currently travelling in), but it’d be excellent to travel with even if we were still using a backpack.
With incredible performance and storage space, the Dell XPS 15 is a great choice if you need a high-performance laptop and aren’t too bothered by its relatively heavier weight.
One minor issue is that this laptop overheats easily. While this doesn’t actually shut down the system or affect its running, you can feel it get super hot, which is quite uncomfortable.
Top tip: If you are editing a lot, and want the extra screen space, I have been using the Duex Max Portable Screen Monitor. You plug it in via the USB port and it's a convenient way to have some extra woring space.
Weight: 1.29 kg
Battery Life: Up to 18 hours
Specs: Apple M1 chip and Octa-core Processor, 8 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD
Display: 13.3", Quad HD 2560 x 1600p
Operating system: MacOS Big Sur (11.0)
Maybe Windows isn’t your thing, and you prefer using Apple OS for your travel laptop. In that case, our top recommendation would be the MacBook Air M1. It’s thin, premium-looking, and incredibly fast.
And because it's so slim and lightweight, it can even fit in most decent camera backpacks; great if you already carry lots of tech with you when travelling.
Obviously, the new Apple M1 chip offers astounding performance. It’s 3.5x faster and has excellent thermal efficiency. There is no fan inside the machine so it operates silently.
Better yet, it can perform heavy tasks without using up too much battery, which means you can use this laptop for up to 18 hours! We cannot stress how life-changing this can be, especially for a digital nomad who moves around a lot.
There are also additional features such as the Retina Display screen, True Tone technology, and massive 512 GB solid state drive for instantaneous loading. Plus, the updated Touch ID sensor ensures all your data is secure while you’re on the road.
"The MacBook Air M1 is the latest MacBook series with a custom Apple designed processor in it, tuned for the efficient execution of MacOS applications compared to the old ones. The design is thin and lightweight, similar to a ChromeBook but has the processing power of a high end laptop making it a perfect choice for travelling.
I used to travel with my ChromeBook, but it was not sufficient for travel content creation applications, whereas the MacBook solves this problem. All the Adobe applications (Lightroom, Photoshop and Illustrator) as well as Davinci, designed for video creation, work smoothly on this laptop with efficient battery usage.
This laptop is a perfect combination to go with the latest Iphone 12 Pro as your blogging camera and have all your travel content easily accessible to share on social media on the same day. MacBook Air M1 is certainly an optimized laptop from Apple with user experience in mind, perfect for travellers, due to its weight and content creation capabilities."
Weight: 1.4 kg
Battery Life: Up to 20 hours
Specs: Apple M1 chip and Octa-core Processor, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD
Display: 13.3", Quad HD 2560 x 1600p
Operating system: MacOS Big Sur (11.0)
Again, if you're an Apple-fan and want the most powerful travel laptop you can get, look no further than the MacBook Pro 13”. It’s a true workhorse that can handle any intensive tasks while on the go.
Its M1 chip is obviously an advantage, but we also love that it features the Magic Keyboard. With a redesigned scissor mechanism and 1 mm of key travel, as well as an integrated Touch Bar, you can now streamline your workflow and make it super effective.
And if you thought the MacBook Air has a great battery life, then the MacBook Pro 13” is exceptional. Imagine having up to 20 hours of playback when using Apple TV, or 17 hours of wireless browsing!
It’s slightly heavier, but at 1.4 kg this is still a lightweight travel laptop that can easily fit in your backpack.
Our only complaint would be the low standard of 256 GB SSD, which despite being quite large, is still only half of most laptops nowadays. Considering the steep price tag, it’s also disappointing that the MacBook Pro 13” doesn’t come with a 1080p webcam.
"I took my 13 inch Macbook Pro around the world for 14 months and couldn’t have been any happier with it. Its fast graphics performance, large storage, long lasting battery and retina display made video and picture editing a breeze. I also love the thin sleek look of it.
The 13” Macbook Pro is on the high end of laptops for price, however it’s worth the splurge if you plan to use large programs for video or picture editing on your travels. The 13” size and 3 lbs weight also make it easy to store and carry around in your backpack."
Weight: 1.3 kg
Battery Life: Up to 9.5 hours
Specs: Intel® Core™ i5-10210U Processor, 8 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD
Display: 13.3", Full HD 1920 x 1080p
Operating system: Windows
The HP Envy 13.3” laptop offers a stylish design and powerful performance, while its relatively affordable price tag makes it the perfect go-to laptop for those on a tighter budget.
It’s the first travel laptop we ever bought and is what we used for our first ever 4 month backpacking trip around South America.
We personally feel that this laptop could be the best laptop for travel photography, mainly because of its incredible performance. The NVIDIA GeForce MX450 graphics also lets you edit videos with relative ease, though you can still expect a certain degree of buffering.
The HP Envy has a screen with 400 nits, which is pretty bright and useful for working in bright spaces. Some might find the reflective screen a little distracting, but we don’t think it should be a problem for most.
Even better, you can get the model which supports a 4K display for stunning graphics and accurate colors. You can use this to view mesmerizing images at 8.2 million pixels!
Weight: 1 kg
Battery Life: Up to 10 hours
Specs: Intel® Core™ Celeron N3350 Processor, 4 GB RAM, 32 GB eMMC
Display: 11.6", HD Ready 1366 x 768p
Operating system: Chrome OS
Those on a budget would love the ASUS C223 11.6" Chromebook, which in our opinion is probably the best budget travel laptop on the market today.
It’s extremely lightweight and has a thin profile (this is one of the thinnest Chromebooks). In addition to the 10 hour battery life, it really is an excellent travel companion.
However, this laptop is only suitable for basic functions like writing blog posts and basic internet browsing. It’s not capable of heavy tasks such as video or intensive photo editing.
If all you need is a laptop to stream Netflix, Facetime your friends, reply to emails, and other less demanding tasks, this Asus Chromebook is perfect.
And coming in at under $200, it's even a viable gift for backpackers.
Weight: 0.77 kg
Battery Life: Up to 10.5 hours
Specs: Intel® Core™ i5-1035G4 Processor, 8 GB RAM, 128 GB SSD
Display: 12.3", Quad HD 2736 x 1824p
Operating system: Windows
The Microsoft Surface Pro 7 may not be the best choice for creative workers, including graphic designers and video editors, but it excels for business functions.
This 2-in-1 model which combines a laptop and tablet into one device is perfect for the travelling businessman or entrepreneur.
In terms of versatility, it’s an absolute dream! You can use it in Tablet, Laptop, or even Studio Mode, depending on what you need at the moment. Unfortunately, you have to purchase the keyboard and pen separately, and the extra costs can add up.
However, this makes room for plenty of personalization as you can choose any color or design you want for each of the accessories.
The Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is also very lightweight, at just 0.77 kg. Meanwhile, the high-resolution PixelSense Display and Dolby Audio Premium ensure you can enjoy a good movie comfortably.
Weight: 1.5 kg
Battery Life: Up to 10 hours battery life
Specs: Intel® Core™ i5-1035G1 Processor, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD
Display: 14", Full HD 1920 x 1080p
Operating system: Windows
Compared to a laptop, a notebook is essentially its smaller, cheaper, and less powerful counterpart. But don’t worry, that doesn’t mean it’s bad!
In fact, if you’re looking for a more portable and versatile option for non-intensive tasks, then you might be better off buying the LENOVO IdeaPad Flex 5. It’s not the lightest 2-in-1 laptop, but the design is still slim enough to fit in your laptop backpack.
This model is also something of an in-between. It’s both a laptop and tablet, while the touch screen and 360-degree hinge let you switch between modes easily.
You can be writing articles one second, scrolling through images the next, and catching up on your favorite show after that.
Also, the 10-hour battery life is pretty impressive. You can easily take only the IdeaPad to a nearby cafe or local library, and you won’t need to charge it the whole day!
Weight: 1.3 kg
Battery Life: Up to 19.5 hours
Specs: Intel® Core™ i7-1065G7 Processor, 8 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD
Display: 13.3", Full HD 1920 x 1080p
Operating system: Windows
The HP Spectre x360 i7 has a 16:9 aspect ratio, which makes it excellent for streaming your favorite films and shows. Not to mention that the near borderless display is stunning too.
Aside from that, you can use this laptop to work on almost anything. It has a pretty powerful processor and 8GB RAM so you can multitask and handle heavy tasks comfortably.
However, the true charm of the HP Spectre x360 is in its exterior. It has an exquisite gem-cut design that feels premium, while the all-aluminum body is both durable and beautiful.
This HP laptop has some excellent security features too, including a fingerprint reader and privacy switch for the camera.
Lastly, true to its name, you can easily flip the screen 360-degree to get the desired viewing angle. It also works well on Tent mode for viewing texts or watching.
"I love my HP Spectre 360 i7 because of its top-of-the-line quality, while still being light and small enough to bring along without it being a hassle. It fits easily in my carry-on or day pack without taking up needed space.
I find that flipping between laptop and tablet modes is helpful when trying to get some work done or entertain myself, in smaller spaces such as during a train ride, on an airplane, or in the back seat of the car.
When you are a travel writer, you need to be able to easily get work done on the go. The touch screen is helpful as well when you cannot have a full desk setup. It is one of the best ultra-portable travel laptops I have had, without having to sacrifice power or usability."
Weight: 1.27 kg
Battery Life: Up to 17 hours
Specs: Intel® Core™ i7-1165G7 Processor, 16 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD
Display: 13.3", Full HD 1920 x 1080p
Operating system: Windows
Another excellent travel laptop to consider is the DELL Inspiron 13. This is another versatile model that you can use in Laptop, Tablet or Tent Mode.
Like the IdeaPad Flex, you can use the DELL Inspiron 13 in different viewing modes and fold the screen into Tablet Mode. However unlike the Microsoft Surface laptop, you cannot actually detach the monitor from the keyboard.
Moreover, it has spectacular battery life of up to 17 hours. This is truly incredible, considering the powerful performance it also offers. With 16 GB RAM and 512 GB SSD, you can use this laptop for editing or even gaming.
You’ll also love the Windows Hello feature, which uses the webcam to automatically unlock the computer. Additionally, you can use the privacy shutter to feel more secure when browsing.
Weight: 1.46 kg
Battery Life: Up to 13.5 hours
Specs: Intel® Celeron® N4020 Processor, 4 GB RAM, 64 GB eMMC
Display: 14", Full HD 1920 x 1080p
Operating system: Chrome OS
If you’re looking for a budget Chromebook to bring with you on your travels, the HP 14a 14" Chromebook is a brilliant choice.
We recommend this for simple tasks that can be done easier on a laptop than a smartphone. From researching or planning your journey, to streaming blockbuster films, and catching up on social media.
Plus, the virtually borderless Full HD screen is great if you’re planning to watch lots of movies or shows on the road!
Not to mention that it offers high-quality audio, thanks to the custom tuning by experts over at Bang & Olufsen.
One of the biggest drawbacks of using the HP 14a, much like other Chromebooks, is that you cannot run desktop-based software. This includes Microsoft Office, Photoshop and any graphics-intensive game. Instead, you can run them on a browser, but this will limit the functionality.
With that said, you can access Google Play, which means you will have a pretty much endless choice of apps for your every need. It’s great if you prioritize user-friendly interface and convenience over powerful performance.
If your job requires the use of a laptop and you’re planning to work while travelling, it’s a good idea to invest more and buy a higher-grade laptop. This is especially important if your work is related to your travels, for example if you’re a travel blogger or vlogger.
It’s better to spend more in the beginning than getting a bargain and discovering later that you can’t work because your laptop is unreliable!
Are you going to use your laptop just for entertainment on long journeys? Watching Netflix and browsing the internet in the evenings? For planning your travels? Editing photos and videos?
It’s great to know what you’ll be using your laptop for so you can buy accordingly, as some laptops are better suited for certain tasks.
For example, if you’re going to be editing, you might want a laptop with excellent colors and fast performance. Alternatively, for watching films, it’s nice if your laptop has high-quality audio and resolution.
If you solely want it to help plan upcoming trips, booking accommodation and finding what to do, then something more basic will be fine.
Travelling with a backpack immediately reduces the size and weight of the laptop you should buy. After all, you wouldn’t want your laptop to take up half the capacity of your bag.
If you plan on traveling with a larger suitcase, you might have more room for a larger laptop when packing for your trip. This also means you can enjoy more flexibility in terms of price. If you want a recommendation for a great laptop backpack, check out our Matein review.
Just like buying any gadget or electronic device, you should only buy a laptop within the price range you’re comfortable with. Our top tip is to set a budget before even starting your research.
It will help you stick to it and not be enticed by the latest technologies and cool features which you might not necessarily need. Plus, it helps to be realistic of what a certain price point can get you.
After so long spent saving money for your travels, you don’t want to blow too much on an unnecessarily high performance laptop.
If you’ve been pondering over the idea of whether getting a laptop for travel is the right choice for you. Let’s delve into some of the top benefits and reasons why getting a laptop for your travels is an awesome decision.
Yes, phones have become extremely powerful and practical that you can probably perform most simple computing tasks on it. But working on a laptop is much easier and more motivating.
Even with things such as replying to emails, writing blog posts, or editing travel photos, you’ll find that a laptop allows you to do them faster. If you’re a creative individual, you may find it impossible to function on the road without a laptop.
Imagine being stuck in a hotel room with poor WiFi, or on extremely long train journeys with nothing else to do. A good laptop equals an excellent source of entertainment, whether that’s video games or watching downloaded movies.
Sure, you can do all these on a phone, but any film or TV show will surely seem more exciting on a laptop screen! Additionally, it is easier to play games together on a laptop than on a phone.
If you take a lot of photos and videos throughout your travels, investing in a laptop can be worth it. It’s especially true for individuals who create for a living and might be worried about losing your content.
There are more ways to backup files on your laptop than on a phone. This includes an external hard drive, on the laptop itself, or cloud services - more options, more security!
Finally, a laptop can make planning your travels infinitely easier! It’s much simpler to book hotels, train tickets and flights, as well as map your journey on a laptop interface.
There is quite literally more space to search, open multiple tabs and plan your route, which can be frustratingly difficult on a small screen. You’ll be more efficient, which can probably save money.
The Dell XPS 13 would be a good option for blogging because it’s lightweight and perfect for running all aspects of a blog.
We personally use the XPS 15, but that’s because we like the bigger screen for video editing. If you’re like us and “vlogging” as well as blogging, then the XPS 15 would be a better investment. Otherwise, the XPS 13 should be enough!
Chromebooks offer the best value for money. Out of the two listed above, we recommend going for the HP Chromebook, simply because the software in HP laptops works well. We have also used HP in the past and have never had any issues with it.
Strictly speaking, the Microsoft Surface Pro 7, weighing just 0.77 kg, would be the lightest travel laptop around. But it’s a 2-in-1 tablet and laptop that is more suitable for business purposes and lightweight functions. But if you’re planning on doing more intensive tasks, the ASUS Zenbook would a better bet.
Not if you’re planning on working remotely. This includes running a business, blogging, vlogging, or anything that requires heavy work, even editing pictures. A smaller laptop would still be a better investment than a tablet.
But if you simply want to stay connected on a bigger screen, watch Netflix, or reply to emails and do meetings, then a tablet would work perfectly. It’s much lighter, smaller, and more portable than even the most lightweight laptop.
As you can see, there are a LOT of fantastic options out there.
Ultimately, which travel laptop you go for depends on …
Regardless of which sort of traveller you are, you should be able to find the perfect laptop from the list above.
Now, over to you …
Which laptop do you think you will go for?
Do you have any other ideas that aren’t on this list?
Just drop a comment below and let me know!
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