5 Best Laptops for Writers and Authors
So, you’ve decided to throw away the old typewriter and enter the 21st century.
Now it’s time for you to start your next novel on a sleek, new machine. But not just any machine… You should opt for one of the best laptops for writers!
But aren’t all keyboards the same? Nope.
What about the screens? Double nope.
There’s actually quite a bit to look for when looking for laptops especially when choosing your next writing platform. But don’t worry, I got you covered. I’ve gone out and done the research on what I find to be the 5 best laptops for authors!
Let’s check it out.
The Best Laptops for Writers
1. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 (Best PC)
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Laptop, High Performance Windows Laptop, (Intel Core i7, 16 GB RAM, 512GB SSD, Windows 10 Pro), 20KH002JUS
- Brand Lenovo, Model 20KH002JUS
- Product Type: Ultrabook, Processor Manufacturer: Intel, Processor Type: Core i7, Processor Generation: 8th Gen, Processor Model: i7-8650U, Processor Speed: 1.90 GHz, Processor Core: Quad-core (4 Core), Standard Memory: 16 GB, Memory Technology: LPDDR3, Solid State Drive Capacity: 512 GB, Screen Size: 14", Display Screen Type: LCD,
- Display Screen Technology: In-plane Switching (IPS) Technology, Screen Resolution: 1920 x 1080, Touchscreen: Yes, Graphics Controller Manufacturer: Intel, Graphics Controller Model: UHD Graphics 620, Graphics Memory Technology: LPDDR3, Graphics Memory Accessibility: Shared, Wireless LAN: Yes, Wireless LAN Standard: IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, Ethernet Technology: Ethernet, Bluetooth: Yes,
- Front Camera/Webcam: Yes, Finger Print Reader: Yes, HDMI: Yes, Total Number of USB Ports: 4, Number of USB 3.0 Ports: 2, USB Type-C: Yes, USB Type-C Detail: 2 USB Type C, Network (RJ-45): Yes, Operating System Platform: Windows, Operating System: Windows 10 Pro (English), Operating System Architecture: 64-bit,
- Keyboard Localization: English (US), Number of Batteries: 1, Number of Cells: 3-cell, Input Voltage: 120 V AC, Input Voltage: 230 V AC, Color: Black, Height: 0.6", Width: 8.5", Depth: 12.7", Weight (Approximate): 2.49 lb, Package Contents: ThinkPad X1 Carbon 6th Gen 20KH002JUS Ultrabook, Lithium Polymer Battery, AC Adapter, Limited Warranty: 3 Year,
My top pick of the best laptops for writers is the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon. This Lenovo claims to be an Ultra-No Brainer choice.
Serious words there, Lenovo. But they back every one of them up. It weighs in at just under 2 and a half pounds putting it in contention for the lightest laptop around. And it’s power… Oh boy. It comes available with an 8th Gen Intel Core vPro. Couple that with 16 GB of memory and 1 TB of SSD storage, and you have one heck of a machine. But it isn’t just all muscle. It comes with some awesomely awesome features including:
- Intel Thunderbolt 3 Technology
- Rapid Charge Capability–Go from 0 to 80% Battery in just one hour!
- Voice Command capable with Cortana Premium
- ThinkShutter
- and much, much more!
There’s definitely a reason this PC takes our spot at Numero Uno!
2. Apple MacBook Air (Best Mac)
Apple MacBook Air (13-Inch, Previous Model, 8GB RAM, 128GB Storage, 1.6GHz Intel Core i5) - Space Gray
- Stunning 13.3-Inch Retina Display
- Touch ID and the latest Apple-designed keyboard and force touch trackpad
- Dual-core 8th-Generation Intel Core i5 Processor with Intel UHD Graphics 616
- Fast SSD Storage and 8GB memory
- Stereo speakers with wider Stereo sound
Now this girl, she ain’t a Mac user or Apple fanatic. I had an iPhone 4s back in the day and that was it. (And yep. I had a Zune.) But you got to give credit where credit is due. Apple’s MacBook Air is so awesome, it’s making me thinking twice about buying a Mac. These laptops pride themselves on being the thinnest and lightest full function laptop around (important for a laptop for writers), and the newest model isn’t any different. But that’s not it, the MacBook Air boasts some seriously luxurious features. It comes equipped with Touch ID–meaning all you need is your fingerprint to unlock it. Or it’s newly revamped backlit keyboard for your darkly lit pleasure. And with up to 16 GB of memory and 1.5 TB of SSD storage, this laptop will be sure to handle any task thrown its way.
3. Microsoft Surface Go (Best for On the Go Writers)
Microsoft Surface Go with Type Cover Bundle 10" Touchscreen PixelSense Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y 128GB SSD Windows 10
- Microsoft Surface Go 2-in-1 design (laptop / tablet / studio mode) smallest and lightest
- 10" Touchscreen PixelSense (1800 x 1200) Display | 8MP Rear-Facing Camera | 5MP Front-Facing Camera
- Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y Processor (1.60 GHz) | Intel HD Graphics 615 | Window 10 in S mode
- 4 GB Memory | 128 GB SSD | WiFi 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.1 | Stereo speakers with Dolby Audio Premium
- Include Type Cover | 1x USB-C | 1x Surface Connect Port | 1x Headphone Jack 1x microSDXC Card Reader for expandable memory
Powerful enough to be a laptop. Portable enough to be a tablet. What exactly is the Microsoft Go?
It’s an amazing hybrid that finds its way onto our list of the best laptops for writers.
The Surface Go comes with a ten inch Pixel Sense display that provides touch screen capabilities and touch pen use. Or simply connect the keyboard and it turns into a mini-laptop. Since the case and the keyboard are one in the same, this is an awesome laptop for writers who tend to work away from home. Whether you’re adventure blogging from Cebu or writing that screenplay at your local coffee shop, the Surface Go is perfect for you.
Wrapped neatly inside its Gorilla Glass shell is up to 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB SSD storage. A unique and awesome tablet/laptop experience.
4. Lenovo Yoga C930 (Best Battery Life)
Yoga C930 2-in-1 13.9" Touch-Screen Laptop - Intel Core i7 - 12GB Memory - 256GB Solid State Drive - Iron Gray
- Windows 10 operating system Brings back the Start menu from Windows 7 and introduces new features, such as the Edge web browser that lets you mark up web pages on your screen.
- Built for Windows Ink With Windows Ink compatible computers, you can take notes on screen, mark up photos and screen shots, or create content through Ink-enabled apps.
- 13.9" Full HD touch screen for hands-on control Finger-touch navigation makes the most of Windows 10. The 1920 x 1080 resolution boasts impressive color and clarity. IPS technology for wide viewing angles. Energy-efficient LED backlight.
- 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8550U processor Ultra-low-voltage platform. Quad-core, eight-way processing provides maximum high-efficiency power to go. The Intel Turbo Boost technology delivers dynamic extra power when you need it.
- 12GB system memory for full-power multitasking Plenty of high-bandwidth RAM to smoothly run your games, photo- and video-editing applications, as well as multiple programs and browser tabs at the same time.
Are you into Yoga? Cause I sure am!
Well, the Lenovo Yoga anyway. This girl can barely touch her toes. But I digress. In our second entry from Lenovo, the Yoga is another one of those unique platforms of the computing world. It’s another hybrid. One part laptop, one part tablet, and all parts awesome.
The Yoga really focuses on its audio and video quality. With the elite models using Dolby Atmos tech and 4k Dolby Vision, the Yoga more than provides an adequate A/V experience. They can also come equipped with fingerprint recognition and Cortana voice commands. But maybe the coolest part is its battery life. The Yoga can last up to 15 hours on a single charge. Now that’s some real power.
5. Acer Chromebook (Ballin on a Budget Award)
2018 Acer CB3-532 15.6" HD Chromebook with 3x Faster WiFi, Intel Dual-Core Celeron N3060 up to 2.48GHz, 2GB RAM, 16GB SSD, HDMI, USB 3.0, Webcam, 12-Hours Battery, Chrome OS
- This chromebook is 15. 6 inch notouch screen; Intel HD Graphics 400 with shared graphics memory
- Intel Celeron Dual-Core N3060 1. 6 GHz, Up to 2. 48GHz
- 2GB DDR3L 1600 MHz; 16GB eMMC Flash Memory, No Optical drive
- SD card reader; 1 x USB 2. 0; 1 x USB 3. 0; 1 x HDMI; 1 x Headphone output/Microphone input combo . Bluetooth4. 0, 802. 11ac, HD Webcam
- Chrome OS, Only 2. 76 lb, Color: Black
If you’re looking a machine to get the job done on a budget, then the Acer Chromebook is the one for you. It’s lightweight and portable. It has the computing power to get your writing work done. And… it’s substantially cheaper than most options on the market. It runs on a homegrown Google OS which performs well enough as is. However, this Google OS does cause some problems for writers or users. Most of the third-party tools that writers may want to use such as Scrivener and Publisher Rocket do not support Chromebook. There just isn’t a market for it yet. But perhaps with the growing popularity of Chromebook and Google’s OS, changes could be just around the corner.
What to Look for When Buying a New Laptop
Buying a laptop isn’t a decision you should run head first into. It’s a major purchase that requires care and thought. You need to make sure you have enough for your current needs. And maybe some future needs as well. Do you plan on holding video conferences or need webcam capability? Do you plan on using your computer as a hardcore gaming platform or for casual writing? Or are you going to be doing some hardcore writing?
Coordinating your needs should be your first step.
Important Tech Specs for a New Laptop for Writers
Let’s take a look at some of the specifics that writer would need to analyze prior to purchase.
OS (Operating System)
In our list of the Best Laptops for Writers, there are three different OS’s. Windows. Mac. and Google. But which do you prefer? I’ve clearly stated my love for PC, but many writers actually prefer Mac. Macs are known for their caterings to creative and artistic folk such as authors. They also have exclusive programs for authors such as Vellum! Most writers using Google normally do so because they’ve purchased a Chromebook based on our next reason.
Budget
When purchasing a new laptop, you definitely need to consider your budget. Look, here’s a truth bomb. Not all of us writers end up as Stephen King. And some of us can’t necessarily leave our day jobs to pursue writing just yet. But that doesn’t mean you should give up on a new machine. Just be wary of your budget. Now, Chromebooks are generally the least expensive option you’ll find. They’re not terrible and easy on the wallet. But they lack certain luxuries provided by other platforms. Macs, on the other hand, tend to be on the more expensive side of things, but that’s not to say PCs aren’t expensive either. They can definitely get up there. But they also have many more cheaper options than Mac.
Keyboard and Touchpad
If you didn’t think that the keyboard would be a major factor when choosing the best laptops for writers… You might be in the wrong field. Test out the keys before you pick it up. Are they tactile enough? Is there enough vertical space for the keys to travel? Some keyboards have wider sets between individual keys which can be better (or worse) for smaller (or larger hands). Also, if you’re a full-time writer, you don’t want a flimsy keyboard. Trust me. I’ve been through enough keyboards to realize this. Another thing that I made sure my laptop has when it comes to keys is… a backlit keyboard. Seriously, this has come in handy more often than not.
Another thing to check is the touchpad. If you don’t plan on using an external mouse, your touchpad will be your chief way of navigating your screen. Macs are famous for their awesome touchpads and the different commands that can be executed from them. Me… I find them to be too complicated for my taste. I actually prefer to use an external mouse.
What Laptop Should I Get?
Well, I can’t necessarily answer that for you. Everybody has different needs. For example, I have a very heavy hand and spend almost 6 hours a day on my keyboard. So, I needed something that could handle my oafishness. I also needed a backlit keyboard and many plugs for external devices such as a mouse, phone, and others.
I’m also not a fan of Mac. Just my personal preference. I’ve just been using Windows since the DOS days and reuse to head over to the light side of Mac. That’s why I’m on Windows. I also need a heavy graphic card for web design and video editing. So, my setup will probably be worlds apart from a casual writer’s.
But that’s just my two cents. Either way, let me know what setups you’re running in comments below! Love to hear what going on with my fellow writers.
Cheers,
