We’ve gathered a list of the 8 Best Laptops for IT Professionals & IT Students options we’ve reviewed in the past. We’ve also assembled a list of the best laptop choices that we’ve reviewed in the last 12 months, ranging from ultra-portable laptops to gaming systems capable of running highly.
We want to include as much variety as possible, including Windows 10 notebooks, Chromebooks, and MacBook’s. And if you can’t find a laptop that appeals to you right now, bookmark this page and return soon because we’ll be checking the laptop’s likes shortly.
Buying a new 8 Best Laptops for IT Professionals & IT Students is one of the most challenging technological purchases you can make. There is an astonishing number of products that do an endless amount of things. How do you find the Best laptop for information technology for your needs in this haystack of microchips?
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How to buy IT students & IT Professionals laptops
The first step in answering that question is determining what those needs are – and the truth is that for the vast majority of us, the response is simple tasks like sending emails, searching the internet, and watching movies or TV shows. In that situation, there’s good news and bad news: almost all new units on the market can do what you need them to do – but that can make defining whether the money you pay is a valuable investment challenging.
Should you go for inexpensive and happy or expensive and desirable?” As with most things in life,” he continues, “the more you spend, the better and quality will you get.”
But how valuable is that experience, that quality? £300 will get you the best laptop for information technology that might stream Netflix perfectly fine. But would you be better off paying more for the optional extras that will undoubtedly raise the price? Such as a fancy HD screen, good speakers, or 360-degree rests. And are the £300 models so poorly designed that you find it difficult to type on them after 20 minutes in a cafe or that they are too heavy to carry in your bag to work.
Best laptop for IT Professionals in 2021
These are the kinds of questions I had in mind when researching 8 Best Laptops for IT Professionals & IT Students for this article.
I tried to find the best laptop for IT students in 2021 for casual users. People looking for laptops that can handle the basics are designed to last but lack the flutter processing capacity that gamers, film editors, and software designers need. I’ve written a separate article about the best student laptops for that market.
Technical specifications, I found, were essential to the role process than you would think—anyone shopping for a new laptop used to spend hours comparing processing speeds and RAM.
On the other hand, 8 Best Laptops for IT Professionals & IT Students also have outstanding processors (most use Intel, some use AMD). I’ve included a detailed description of the benefits of various processors at the bottom of this article. Still, if you’re looking for a daily laptop, any of the options will probably be sufficient. On an Intel Core i3 processor, the only time I struggled during testing was when I had a lot of tabs open (the entry-level model).
Best buy IT Professionals & IT Students laptops
You won’t have to be worried about the operating system either. There are three options available here. Windows, Mac OS, and Chrome OS are the three operating systems available. All are excellent operating systems with slightly different approaches to tasks. They’re all intuitive, and they’ve all been extensively user-tested, so whichever one you choose, you’ll pick it up quickly, and it’ll feel natural in no time. Although Windows is a little more technical, Mac OS is a little more user-friendly, and Chrome OS has slightly less support for software developers. It won’t make much of a difference to the average user.
Finally, there’s storage. In the last few years in best Laptops for Zoom Video Conference, storage has changed immensely. You would be used to 8 Best Laptops for IT Professionals & IT Students with 500GB hard discs in comparison. There aren’t many phones with more than 256GB these days. Most suppliers prefer you to store your data on an external hard drive or in the cloud. I go into more detail about this in the FAQs section at the bottom of this article, so don’t be surprised if your notebook has less storage than you expected.
So, here are my top picks for the 8 Best Laptops for IT Professionals & IT Students for daily use, starting with my personal favorite without further ado.
Best Laptops for IT Professionals & IT Students| Reviews
“If you only want to use it to browse the internet, watch Netflix on-demand, and perform simple tasks in programs like Word, it’s fine then the 8 Best Laptops for IT Professionals & IT Students under £300 will avail,” says Phil Alford, Argos Head of Technology. “I would suggest devices above £400 for an excellent all-rounder to use for work applications like spreadsheets and presentations, while gaming and premium products start around £700.”
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14
In the list of 8 Best Laptops for IT Professionals & IT Students, the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 looks out as the odd man because it promotes gaming performance above all else. However, unlike previous gaming laptops, the Zephyrus G14 is an ultraportable machine that, thanks to its insane CPU speeds, relatively light 1.69kg weight, and long battery life, can double as a productivity powerhouse.
Key Features:
- Display: 14in FHD
- CPU: Ryzen 9 4900HS
GPU: Up to Nvidia RTX 2060 - Storage: 1TB
- RAM: 16GB
- Weight: 1.7kg
Pros
- Outstanding for games in Full HD.
- Amazing CPU speed
- Style that is extremely lightweight
- Exceptional battery life
- Affordable
Cons
- The absence of RGB lighting
- SSD speeds are not too good
- Lack of webcam
With a starting price of £1100, the Zephyrus G14 is currently our top recommended gaming laptop, and it’s a genuinely worthwhile alternative to the Dell XPS and Surface Laptop. To get the most out of it, you’ll need to be into your gaming, so if you want to play a bit of Fortunate, Mankind, or Sims on your lunch break, you can, then there is no better choice.
HP Honor Chromebook
Most decent and windows best laptops for information technology these days cost upwards of £1000, which is a pretty penny if you only need a system for web browsing and video streaming. The Honor MagicBook 14 is an excellent exception to the rule, as its overall performance is impressive, considering its £549.99 base price. Because the Chromebook 14 is half the price of most laptops, there are obliged to be compromised; the glossy display is below average, and the cam is uniquely positioned beneath the screen. However, we believe that the Chromebook’s respectable efficiency performance, ultraportable design, and excellent battery life more than make up for its flat screen.
Key Features:
- Display: 14in FHD
- CPU: Ryzen 5 3500U
GPU: Intel UHD - Storage: 256GB
- RAM: 8GB
- Weight: 1.4kg
Pros
- Premium student-friendly style
- Excellent value
- Enjoyable typing experience
- Productivity that is more than capable
- Affordable
Cons
- Location of the webcam on the keyboard
- Display is average
If you’re a student or have a tiny budget, the Honor chrome Book 14 may be the 8 Best Laptops for IT Professionals & IT Students for you. Spending more money would get you better quality, but no other laptop provides better value.
MacBook Air M1
The MacBook Air has arguably delayed the rest of the laptop pack in past years, but that has changed with Apple Silicon’s introduction. The MacBook Air M1 has had far faster CPU speeds than the rest of the laptops on this list. Although the laptop’s lightweight, its integrated GPU is powerful enough for 4K video editing and animation.
Key Features:
- Display: 13.4in, 2560 x 1600
- CPU: Apple M1
GPU: Apple M1 - Storage: Up to 2TB
- RAM: 8/16GB
- Weight: From 1.29kg
Pros
- Fast speed
- Long battery life
- Strong App service support
- Excellent keyboard
Cons
- The webcam is not so recommended
- The design is the same as before
- Two USB ports
Although we are discouraged that Apple has not introduced a more splitting design to compete with the Dell XPS, this is still a decent laptop. However, if you care about looks, you may want to wait for the speculated MacBook Air 2021, which is expected to arrive before the end of the year.
Honor Chromebook 14 Ryzen
These days, most decent Windows laptops cost upwards of £1000, which is a pretty penny if you only need a web browsing system and video streaming. The Honor chrome Book 14 is an excellent exception to the rule, as its overall performance is impressive given its £549.99 price tag. Following are the features of magic book 14 ryzen are;
Key Features:
- Display: 14in FHD
- CPU: Ryzen 5 3500U
- GPU: Intel UHD
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 256GB
- Weight: 1.4kg
Pros
- Premium student-friendly style
- Excellent value
- Enjoyable typing experience
- Performance is too good
- Affordable
Cons
- Location of the webcam on the keyboard.
- Average display
Because the chromebook 14 is half the price of the top 8 Best Laptops for IT Professionals & IT Students, there are obligated to be compromised; the matte display is below average, and the webcam is weirdly currently stable the screen. However, we believe that the Chromebook’s decent productivity performance, ultra-portable design, and excellent battery life more than makeup for its flat screen.
If you’re a student or have a limited budget, the Honor chromebook 14 may be the best laptop for you. Spending more money would get you higher quality, but no other laptop delivers better value.
MacBook Pro 16
The 16-inch MacBook Pro performs as assumed, with processing speeds and GPU performance far beyond each of the other laptops on this list.
Key Features:
- Display: 16in (3072 x 1920)
- CPU: 9th Gen Intel Core
GPU: Radeon Pro 5300M/5500M - Storage: Up to 8TB
- RAM: 8GB
- Weight: 2kg
Pros
- Extreme CPU Speed
- Prominent display
- Prominent Keyboard
- Performance is too good
- Thin with a smaller bezel
Cons
- High rated
- A tight-fisted port offering
- No Wi-fi 6
The 13-inch MacBook Pro M1 is also available now, but it can’t be considered a valid alternative to this powerhouse portable without a dedicated GPU. However, recommending Intel-powered Apple laptops at this time, especially with the MacBook Pro 2021 launching this year, is a significant concern. Apple has confirmed that Intel MacBooks will continue receiving software updates for the coming years. Still, the upcoming Apple-powered MacBook laptops are in the 8 Best Laptops for IT Professionals & IT Students, a better option.
Surface Laptop 3
The Surface Laptop 3 13-inch is the Windows Ultrabook that comes closest to challenging the Dell XPS 13. It contains impressive (albeit outdated) components, such as Intel’s 10th-generation Ice Lake processor with integrated graphics for casual gaming and Photoshop work.
Key Features:
- Display: 13.5in (2256 x 1504)
- CPU: 10th Gen Intel Core
- GPU: Intel Iris Plus
- Storage: Up to 1TB
- RAM: 8/16GB
- Weight: From 1.3kg
Pros
- Elegant & ultraportable design
- Exceptional performance
- The 3:2 ratio display is stunning.
- Performance is too good
- Different colors are avail
Cons
- Average battery life
- Thunderbolt 3 isn’t available.
One area where Microsoft arguably exceeds Dell is in terms of looks. The Surface Laptop 3 comes in four colors and has a very stylish design; the iconic Alcantara design is optional.
So, why isn’t Microsoft’s Surface Laptop 3 at the top of the list? The Ultrabook’s terrible battery life and the honestly outrageous loss of a Thunderbolt 3 port are enough flaws to keep it from taking the top spot. It’s also worth noting that the Surface Laptop Go, although with a smaller screen, is available for a lower price.
Acer Swift 3
Acer’s Ultrabook has several additional features, including a lighter frame (only 990g) and an Nvidia MX250 GPU option. So, why is it that Swift 3 gets left out? Its keyboard isn’t quite up to average better, and its design isn’t quite as stunning.
Key Features:
- Display: 14in FHD
- CPU: 10th Gen Intel Core
- GPU: Intel Iris Plus
- Storage: Up to 1TB
- RAM: 8/16GB
- Weight: 990g
Pros
- Good performance and high reliability
- Slim and light
- Affordable
- Performance is too good
- A fantastic port offering
Cons
- A couple of problems with the keyboard
It’s also important to note that the Acer Swift 3 with the cutting-edge Intel Tiger Lake CPU is also available. We haven’t had the opportunity to review this laptop yet, but we plan to do so soon.
Mentioning its price, the Acer Swift 3 has no right to compete with the best notebooks, so it does come with high-end specs like an Intel 10th Generation CPU, up to 16GB RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage.
HP Envy 13
The HP Envy 13 is similar to the Acer Swift 5 in that both provide good all-around performance, are reasonably priced, and have solid (if unremarkable) designs. While Swift’s light design is its unique feature, the HP Envy 13 excels at privacy and security. With the Envy, you can turn off the camera with a single click, and the Sure View feature on the screen helps keep snotty spammers out of your peripheral view. Such features make this a great business laptop, primarily if you work with sensitive information.
Key Features:
- Display: 13.3in FHD
- CPU: 10th Gen Intel
GPU: Intel Iris Plus - Storage: 512GB
- RAM: 8GB
- Weight: 1.3kg
Pros
- Exceptional privacy protection
- Affordable
- Performance is too good
- Mega design
Cons
- Fans that are really loud
The Envy 13 has all of the important specs to compete with Dell and Microsoft’s likes, even though it doesn’t look quite as pretty.
While faults like a glossy screen and noisy fans are irritations, they are not important enough to keep the 8 Best Laptops for IT Professionals & IT Students from being a valuable work and fun tool.
LG Gram 17
A couple of years ago, the 17-inch form factor seemed to be ancient, especially in productivity laptops. That was astonishing due to such devices’ size and weight, but the LG Gram 17 (2020) appears to be changing that. The Dell XPS 17 weighs 1350g, which isn’t far off from the lighter Dell XPS 13.
Key Features:
- Display: 17in QHD
- CPU: 10th Gen Intel
GPU: Intel Iris Plus - Storage: 512GB
- RAM: 16GB
- Weight: 1.4kg
Pros
- Light weighted
- Affordable
- 17 inch display
- Excellent battery life
- Outstanding CPU perfomance
Cons
- Gaming success is underwhelming.
As a result, users can enjoy Disney Plus’s products on a large screen without experiencing back cramps during their work commute. LG has now included Intel’s 10th Gen Ice Lake processor in the 2020 model. This allows for quick multitasking, but gaming and creative skills are still lacking.
If video streaming is a key focus, the LG Gram 17 (2020) is our favorite 17-inch laptop and one of the best laptops in general. However, the Dell XPS 17 (2021) was released last year, and it displaced the Gram as in the 8 Best Laptops for IT Professionals & IT Students.
Samsung Galaxy Book Flex
Our favorite 2-in-1 notebook is the Samsung Galaxy Book Flex, which comes with an S-Pen stylus that’s great for scribbling and sketching. The laptop’s beautiful QLED screen can flip over 360 degrees, making it into a homemade tablet. Although such Windows 10 “tablet” modes aren’t as user-friendly as those found on Apple or Android tablets, they give Flex many possibilities.
Key Features:
- Display: 15.6in FHD
- CPU: 10th Gen Intel
- GPU: Up to Nvidia MX250
- Storage: 512GB
- RAM: 8GB
- Weight: 1.2kg
Pros
- Stunning QLED display
- Bluish design
- Excellent battery life
- Outstanding CPU performance
Cons
- Wide Keyboard
- The Shift key has been squashed.
The Flex also has respectable performance and long battery life, typically lasting 10 hours while performing basic tasks. It also has a gorgeous blue design that sets it apart from the rest of the laptops on this list.
The device isn’t perfect, with a twitchy pivot and an external keyboard pose significant irritations. It’s also quite pricey, with the 13-inch model coming in at £1349. Because it costs a few hundred pounds more than the Surface Laptop 3, you’ll need to make the most of the “tablet” mode and stylus to explain the purchase.
MacBook Pro
The 16-inch MacBook Pro M1 is also available now, and without a dedicated GPU, it can’t be considered a genuine alternative to this powerhouse portable. For animation and 4K video editing, the 16-inch MacBook Pro is the best choice.
Key Features:
- Display: 16in (3072 x 1920)
- CPU: 9th Gen Intel Core
GPU: Radeon Pro 5300M/5500M - Storage: Up to 8TB
- RAM: 8GB
- Weight: 2kg
Pros
- Extreme CPU Speed
- Excellent display
- Performance is outstanding
- Thin with a smaller bezel
- Prominent Keyboard
Cons
- High rated
- Tight port offering
The 16-inch MacBook Pro executes, as expected, the best laptop for information technology, with processing speeds and GPU performance far above those of the other laptops on this list.
However, recommending Intel-powered Apple laptops is difficult, especially with the MacBook Pro 2021 launching this year. Apple has confirmed that Intel MacBooks will expect to deliver software updates for the foreseeable future. Still, the upcoming Apple-powered MacBook laptops will the 8 Best Laptops for IT Professionals & IT Students choice in the future.
Dell XPS 13
The Dell XPS 13 (Intel 11th Gen) is our favorite all-around laptop right now, with the best performance we’ve seen in a Windows ultrabook and immense looks thanks to the fantastic 16:10 Infinity Edge display.
Key Features:
- Display: 13.4in FHD/4K
- CPU: 11th Gen Intel Core
- GPU: Intel Iris Xe
- Storage: 512GB/1TB
- RAM: 8/16GB
- Weight: From 1.2kg
Pros
- A Windows Ultrabook has the best performance
- Stunning design
- Excellent battery life
- Outstanding CPU perfomance
- Brighten display
Cons
- High rated
- Limited Ports
The Intel 11th generation Processors (also known as Tiger Lake) have given this laptop a significant performance boost over its Dell XPS 13 (2020) predecessor, but at a higher price. If you want to use the integrated graphics and play games like Apex Legends and Fortinet, we think the extra cost is worth it, but it is a cheaper predecessor, still plenty powerful enough for day-to-day tasks.
There are a few minor flaws, such as the limited number of ports, but nothing that an adaptor can’t solve. If you’re looking for a massive, more powerful 8 Best Laptops for IT Professionals & IT Students, the Dell XPS 15 2020 is a great choice.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 3
The Surface Laptop 3 13-inch is the Windows Ultrabook that comes closest to challenging the Dell XPS 13. It includes excellent (albeit outdated) components, such as Intel’s 10th-generation Ice Lake processor with integrated graphics for casual gaming and Photoshop work. One area where Microsoft arguably exceeds Dell is in terms of looks. The Surface Laptop 3 comes in four colors and has a very stylish design; the iconic design is optional.
Key Features:
- Display: 13.5in (2256 x 1504)
- CPU: 10th Gen Intel Core
GPU: Intel Iris Plus - Storage: Up to 1TB
- RAM: 8/16GB
- Weight: From 1.3kg
Pros
- Good Performance
- Different colors are available
- Elegant & ultraportable design
- The 3:2 display
Cons
- Average battery life
- Thunderbolt 3 isn’t available.
So, why isn’t Microsoft’s Surface Laptop 3 at the top of the list?
The Ultrabook’s low battery life and the honestly insane lack of a Thunderbolt 3 port are enough faults to keep it from taking the top spot.
It’s also worth noting that the Surface Laptop Go, although with a smaller screen, is available for a lower price in 8 Best Laptops for IT Professionals & IT Students.
Acer Swift 5
Considering its price, the Acer Swift 5 has no right to compete with the best notebooks, so it does come with high-end specs like an Intel 10th Generation CPU, up to 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage.
Key Features:
- Display: 14in FHD
- CPU: 10th Gen Intel Core
GPU: Intel Iris Plus - Storage: Up to 1TB
- RAM: 8/16GB
- Weight: 990g
Pros
- Good Performance
- A fantastic port offering
- Good performance and high reliability
- Slim and lightweight
- Affordable
Cons
- A couple of problems with the keyboard
Acer’s Ultrabook has a few extra features, including a lighter frame (only 990g) and an Nvidia MX250 GPU choice. So, why is it that the Swift 5 gets left out? Its keyboard isn’t entirely up to par with the best, and its design isn’t quite as excellent.
It’s also worth noting that the Acer Swift 5 (2020) with the cutting-edge Intel Tiger Lake CPU is also available. We haven’t had the opportunity to review this laptop yet, but we plan to do so soon.
Asus ROG Zephyrus G15
Although this prioritizes gaming performance above all else, the Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 stands out in this list of laptops. However, unlike previous gaming laptops, the Zephyrus G15 is an ultraportable machine that, thanks to its crazy CPU speeds, relatively light0.8” thin, 4.85-pound weight, and long battery life, can double as a productivity powerhouse.
Key Features:
- Display: 15.6 in FHD
- CPU: Ryzen 7 4800HS
- Storage: 1TB
- RAM: 16GB
- Weight: 0.8” thin, 4.85 pound
Pros
- Amazing for games
- Good CPU speed
- Lightweight
- Good battery life
- Affordable
Cons
- SSD speeds are slow
- No webcam
- No RGB lighting
With a starting price of £1100, the Zephyrus G14 is currently our top recommended gaming laptop, and it’s a genuinely worthwhile alternative to the Dell XPS and Surface Laptop. You’ll need to be into your gaming to get the most out of it, so if you want to spend your lunch break playing Fortnite, Civilization, or The Sims, you can.
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