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Writing is an essential aspect of life, whether it’s for work, school, or personal use. As a writer, you often end up typing most of the time. Plus these days with lighter laptops, writing takes you to different places if you need a change of environment for fresh ideas sake or even getting out of the writers block.
The best laptop for writers should meet certain criteria. Firstly, the keyboard must be comfortable to type on for extended periods. Secondly, the laptop should have a long battery life to ensure you can write for hours without needing to recharge. Thirdly, the laptop should be lightweight, making it easy to carry around. Lastly, the laptop should have excellent performance to ensure you can multitask without any lag.
In this article, we’ll be discussing the best laptops for writers. We’ve spent countless hours researching and testing laptops to identify the ones that meet these criteria. Whether you’re a novelist, journalist, or student, we’ve got you covered.
Best Laptop for Writers : Our Shortlist
Here is a quick list of the best laptops for writing :
- Macbook Air M1 – Best Overall Laptop for Writers
- Acer Aspire 5 – Best Laptop for Writers on a Budget
- Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon – Best Premium Laptop for Typing
- Asus Zephyrus – Best Gaming Laptop for Writers
- Asus Vivobook
What makes a good laptop for typing / writing ?
There is no shortage of laptops on the market but here are a few criteria which should be considered specially for a laptop focussed on writing / typing :
Typing Comfort (Keyboard):
A comfortable keyboard is the most important for writing laptops. You want a good tacticle and well spaced keyboard. Typing should really be seamless and rather than a chore, it should feel pleasurable. Having a backlit keyboard is a plus for low-light situations.
If you simply cannot opt for a laptop with a better keyboard, consider opting for an external mechanical keyboard. IMHO: a mechanical keyboard makes typing much more fun.
Portability and Battery Life :
Many writers go to various places for inspiration and some of the best novels were also written from places which were not a laptop at a fancy table in home. “The murder on Orient Express” by Agatha Christie was written from a hotel in Instanbul. (Of course there were no laptops but you get the gist).
That’s why portability and battery life come into picture. Having a light weight laptop allows you to cary it without thinking much. Having a good battery life will save you the hassle of finding charging points everywhere.
Screen size and resolution:
You want a screen that is high resolution, comfortable to look at and has good color accuracy and viewing angles. This enhances your writing experience. A higher resolution screen will also offer sharper and clearer text. Depending on your preference and portability needs, you can choose between different screen sizes ranging from 11.6 inches to 17.3 inches.
Build Quality and Durability:
A durable and solidly built laptop handles the rigors of everyday use with ease. Durable materials like aluminum or magnesium alloy can protect your investment. Additionally, consider a laptop with a reliable hinge mechanism to prevent keyboard wobbling during typing.
Performance
The performance of a laptop depends on the processor, the memory (RAM), Hard Drive and the graphics card (GPU) . For writing purposes, you don’t need a very powerful processor or GPU, unless you also do other tasks such as video editing or gaming. However, you do need enough RAM to run multiple applications smoothly and since SSD is the norm these days so its a given.
Having said that, consider atleast 8 gb ram so that it can handle multiple applications. Also choice of processor and GPU depends on what additionally you might want to use a laptop for. Example if you also like gaming which helps you in getting fresh ideas then you might as well opt for a laptop with discrete GPU.
5 Best Laptops for Writers in 2023
Here are our experts’ picks for the best writing laptops
Macbook Air M1
The Macbook Air M1 is powerful with good processing power, has a long battery life, is light weight and is easy to learn and use, making it ideal for writers.
The Apple MacBook Air is a great choice for writers who want a powerful, easy-to-use laptop with a long battery life. The MacBook Air is packed with features that make it a great choice for writers, including a stunning Retina display, a fanless design, and compatibility with all your existing apps.
The MacBook Air is also environmentally friendly, made with a 100 percent recycled aluminum enclosure and using less energy for a smaller carbon footprint. With AppleCare, you can extend your coverage and reduce the stress and cost of unexpected repairs.
PROS
- Long Battery Life (18 Hrs) specially for writers on the go
- vibrant and clear retina screen
- Backlit and comfortable keyboard for typing
- light weight
CONS
- Doesn’t have as many ports as some other laptops
Overall, if you’re looking for a laptop that’s easy to learn, powerful, and environmentally friendly, the Apple MacBook Air is an excellent choice. It is also the lightest laptop on this list.
CHECK PRICELenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 is a sleek, small, and durable laptop that delivers unparalleled results and snappy experience for intensive applications or everyday tasks at work, school, or life. The laptop has a 14″ WUXGA (1920×1200) Low Power IPS 400nits Anti-glare display, which makes it easy to read and write for long periods without straining your eyes.
The laptop comes with Windows 11 Pro, which is perfect for business or education. The laptop has 2 x USB4 (supports Thunderbolt 4, DisplayPort 1.4a Alt Mode) (Power Delivery 3.0), USB 3.2 Gen 1, USB 3.2 Gen 1 (Always On), and HDMI, which makes it easy to connect to other devices. The laptop also has a headphone/microphone combo jack, which provides true sound quality.
The laptop’s fingerprint reader is a premium feature that adds an extra layer of security to your device. The laptop’s integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and fingerprint reader make it a great option for writers who need a laptop that can keep up with their needs.
PROS
- Super Thin and Light
- Quick and responsive with i7 and 1g GB RAM
- backlit keyboard with snappy, responsive typing feel.
- solid and durable build quality
CONS
- Short battery Life
Overall, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 is a great laptop for writers who need a powerful and reliable device. If you’re willing to pay a premium price for a laptop that delivers unparalleled results, this might be the laptop for you.
CHECK PRICEAsus Vivobook
If you’re looking for a laptop that can handle demanding tasks and provide an immersive viewing experience, the ASUS Vivobook 15.6″ FHD Screen Laptop is a solid choice.
This laptop offers high-speed RAM and a large amount of space, making it easy to run multiple applications and browser tabs all at once. The Intel Core i5-1135G7 Processor and Intel Iris Xe Graphics provide a powerful combination for handling demanding tasks, and the 15.6″ diagonal FHD IPS display with 83% screen-to-body ratio and narrow bezels offer an immersive viewing experience.
However, the battery life is not the best, with only about 1.5 hours of use before needing to be recharged. Additionally, the alpha keyboard is off-centered due to the number keys on the side, which may take some getting used to, and the internal speaker volume is not particularly impressive.
PROS
- Full Size Backlit Keyboard
- The high-speed enormous RAM make it easy to run multiple applications and browser tabs all at once
- backlit keyboard with snappy, responsive typing feel.
- solid and durable build qualtiy
CONS
- Short battery Life
Overall, the ASUS Vivobook 15.6″ FHD Screen Laptop is one of the great affordable laptops for writers and gets the job done. It’s is a solid option to consider specially if you are on this price range and are not happy with the looks of Acer Aspire 5.
CHECK PRICEAcer Aspire 5
Acer Aspire 5 is a laptop which is loved by many and hated by many :). For us this is one of the best budget laptop for writers.
Under the hood is an Intel Core i7 1165G7 processor. Though its only a 4 core processor, nonetheless it provides fast and responsive performance, making it easy to work on multiple projects at once. The Full HD IPS display is easy on the eyes and provides clear and sharp text, which is essential for writers who spend a lot of time staring at their screens.
The 16GB of memory and 512GB SSD provide plenty of storage space and fast load times, so you can access your files quickly and easily. Additionally one single charge lasts upto 8.5 hrs which is good considering the affordable price point.
One potential downside of this laptop is its integrated graphics card, which may not be sufficient for graphic-intensive tasks. Finally, the laptop’s USB 2.0 port may be slower than other ports, which could be a problem if you need to transfer large files quickly.
PROS
- Great Price and good value for money
- Good battery life
- Good Keyboard
CONS
- not sufficient for graphic intensive tasks
Overall, the Acer Aspire 5 is a great budget laptop for writers who want a reliable performance and want the maximum bang for the buck. It has plenty of storage space, fast performance, and a clear and easy-to-read display.
CHECK PRICEASUS ROG Zephyrus G14
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 is a light and compact laptop which packs a lot of power. With a ryzen 7 5800HS mobile processor, it delivers a fast performance across apps and games alike. If you are inclined towards gaming this laptop is for you.
with 16 GB ram, you don’t have to worry about opening millions of simultaneous tabs or keeping many applications open. The ram is more than enough for your workloads as a writer. It also sports a GeForce RTX 3060 6G graphics card enabling you to play heavy modern games pretty smoothly
Considering that it is a compact gaming laptop, the battery life on this laptop is amazing. Generally gaming laptops come with a battery life of 2-3 hours, but you can expect around 10 hrs of battery life from this laptop
PROS
- Great battery life for a gaming laptop
- Slim and Light
- Great keyboard with a responsive touchpad
CONS
- runs hotter under load
Overall, if you are a writer who also loves to game , the ROG Zephyrus G-14 is the best laptop for you. With its compact and slim design and a great battery life plus a comfortable keyboard, it will leave you satisfied. The addition of GeForce RTX 3060 6G is just cherry on cake
CHECK PRICEFAQ: top laptops for writers
What should a writer look for in a laptop?
When choosing a laptop for writing, you should consider factors such as the keyboard quality, screen size, battery life, and portability. A comfortable keyboard is important for long writing sessions, and a larger screen can help reduce eye strain. A laptop with a long battery life will allow you to work without being tethered to a power outlet, while a lightweight and portable laptop can make it easier to work on-the-go.
Best budget laptop for word processing?
If you’re on a budget, consider the Acer Aspire 5 or the Lenovo IdeaPad 3. Both are affordable laptops that offer decent performance and have comfortable keyboards for writing. They also have good battery life and are lightweight, making them easy to carry around.
Which laptop is best for online writing?
For online writing, you’ll want a laptop with a good internet connection and a reliable webcam. MacBook Air is a great option, as it has fast internet connectivity and high-quality webcam.
Best laptops for writers and podcasters?
For writers who also do podcasting, you’ll want a laptop with a good microphone and audio quality. The Dell XPS 15 and the MacBook Air are both excellent choices, as they have powerful processors, great audio quality, and comfortable keyboards. They also have large screens and long battery life, making them perfect for both writing and podcasting.
What is the best laptop for book writers?
Book writers need a laptop with a comfortable keyboard, a large screen, and plenty of storage space. The HP Spectre x360 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 are both great options, as they have high-quality keyboards, large screens, and plenty of storage space. They also have long battery life and are lightweight, making them easy to carry around.
Best laptop keyboard?
A comfortable and responsive keyboard is essential for writers. The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon and the Asus ROG Zephyrus are both known for their excellent keyboards, with comfortable key travel and responsive keys. The MacBook Air also has a great keyboard, with a shallow key travel that’s ideal for fast typing.