Best laptop for writers: the 10 best laptops for authors and journalists

If you think that the best laptops for writers can be any laptop on the market, you’re sadly mistaken. Writers, much like photographers, video editors and designers, have specific needs when it comes to laptops, even if it seems to outsiders that all they need is a word processing software and a functional keyboard.

As a writer, you have specific needs you’ll want addressed in the laptop of your choosing. First and foremost, you don’t just need a functional keyboard. You need a keyboard that is comfortable to use, has a nice tactile bounce and is very accurate. In fact, you’ll need one of the best keyboards on a laptop, if you hope to type on it all day without fatiguing.

This is also true of displays. You’ll need one with an excellent display, one that lets you see things when you’re outdoors and isn’t eye-straining even when you’re indoors. Additionally, the best laptops for writers are ideally sleek and compact, because you never know when inspiration will strike. It could be on your couch in the comfort of your own home, or it could be at a park outside the city.

And, finally, because when inspiration does strike, you never know how many hours you’ll spend writing, it helps to have a laptop with a great battery life as well.

With these considerations in mind, we put together a list of the best laptops for writer this 2019. This way, you won’t have to scour the computing market yourself, and sort through hundreds of options. Take a look at our list, and keep an eye out for Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals. Who knows? You might just take one of these home at a bargain price.

Writing on a budget? These are the best laptops under $500

Best laptops for writers at a glance

Microsoft Surface Go
Asus Zenbook UX310UA
Asus Chromebook Flip
Surface Laptop 2
Microsoft Surface Pro 6
MacBook Air (13-inch, 2018)
Lenovo Flex 6 14
Acer Switch 3
Acer Chromebook R11
HP Spectre X360

If you’re looking for the best laptop for writers, but you want something with tons of modern aesthetic that’s portable to boot, you can’t go wrong with the Microsoft Surface Go. Sure, you’re going to have to buy the keyboard separate, but once you get it, you’ll have an insanely portable laptop that is a delight to type on. The gorgeous PixelSense display is great for watching some Netflix in your down time, too.

Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Go

When you’re a writer, sometimes you just need a sleek machine that’s powerful and portable – and the Asus Zenbook UX310UA is a prime example of this. It’s one of the best Ultrabooks for writers – you’ll get a brilliantly performing notebook that you won’t need to upgrade for years. And, thanks to its ultra-slim design, it’s easy to carry around, which will be great if you do a lot of writing while travelling. The keyboard is a decent size which makes writing on it a breeze. Like most Asus laptops, you can spec it out to be as cheap or powerful as you want.

Read the full review: Asus Zenbook UX310UA

This product is only available in the US and UK at the time of this writing. Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the MacBook Air (2018).

The best Chromebooks don’t run Windows or macOS. Instead, they’re powered by Google’s own Chrome OS – a super lightweight operating system based on the Chrome web browser. That might sound restrictive, but it’s a great way to save cash. Plus, if you’re going to primarily be writing, it’s a great choice, as Google Docs can be used as a word processor, and you also have the Chrome browser for research. The Asus Chromebook Flip is one of the best Chromebooks out there at the moment, offering truly premium build quality, a fabulous touchscreen and keyboard, on top of excellent performance. This is all while offering great value for the money.

Read the full review: Asus Chromebook Flip C302
See more like this: The best Chromebooks 2017

Even in the face of the best touchscreen laptops, sometimes you just want a powerful, traditional laptop that feels great to type on. And, while the Surface Laptop 2 does, in fact, have a touchscreen, everything else about it is the culmination of all the best laptops for writers. The keyboard is tactile and comfy, the screen is the perfect size and resolution, and it’s got plenty of power for all the Chrome tabs you’ll have open while researching. One of the only things that holds it back is the lack of Thunderbolt 3, but with everything else this laptop does right, it’s easy to see why it’s one of the best laptops for writers.

Read the full review: Surface Laptop 2

If you’re going to an event or traveling, you’ll want to get your writing done on a device that’s both lightweight and capable. And, the Surface Pro 6 is the best laptop for writing on the move. With the latest quad-core processors from Intel and plenty of RAM, you won’t be held back by the hardware. It’s just a shame that you have to buy the keyboard separately – but it’s still worth your time.

Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Pro 6

MacBook Air (13-inch, 2018) has modern and powerful components.

Last year's model of the MacBook Air brought a long-awaited refresh for Apple's lightweight MacBook, with a thinner, lighter and Retina display for the first time, it’s easily the best MacBook Air we’ve ever tested, and it makes it one of the best laptops for writers as well. It's thin and light design makes it perfect for carrying around with you, if you like writing on the go, and it's got modern - and powerful - components, such as 8th generation Intel Core processors, that helps it feel speedy and responsive. There's a new version out for 2019, but it only adds the True Tone feature, which isn't much use to writers, so we still think the 2018 model is the one to get - especially if it gets a price cut.

Read the full review: MacBook Air 2018

Lenovo is known for making some of the best laptops for writers – once you use one of its keyboards, it’s kind of hard to go back. The Lenovo Flex 6 14 is no exception. For a bargain price, you’re getting respectable components behind a beautiful and responsive touch screen. And, it’s light enough that it’s actually bearable to use in tablet mode – more than can be said of some of the best 2-in-1 laptops. If you’re looking for the best laptop for writers that can get a lot of work done on a budget, look no further.

Read the full review: Lenovo Flex 6 14

If you have your eyes on a Surface Pro, but you don’t want to spend that much money, the Acer Switch 3 is definitely up your alley. It’s designed around the same basic concept as the Surface Pro and it’s only a little less capable. However, for most tasks, especially if you’re a writer, it’s a brilliant little machine. What’s more, to add further value, this 2-in-1 laptop/tablet comes with the keyboard upgrade which means little extras to pay for. As usual, it comes in several different versions, with USB Type-C, 8GB RAM, an IPS display and an Intel Core i3-7100U processor coming with the more expensive option.

Read the full review: Acer Switch 3
See more like this: The best 2-in-1 laptops 2017

This product is only available in the US and UK at the time of this writing. Australian readers: Check out a fine alternative in the Microsoft Surface Go.

The Acer Chromebook R11 is probably the best cheap laptop around at the moment, and it's a great laptop for wirters. Like the Acer Chromebook Flip higher up this page, this laptop runs Chrome OS so does away with all the overheads that Windows brings. Consequently it's able to run nice and fast on less powerful components, which means a very cheap price! Its touchscreen is decent, though it's only HD, and it will flip to become a tablet too. What's more, it'll run practically all day thanks to its excellent battery life. So if you're looking for a capable but very cheap laptop that you can whip out and begin writing on, then this one is your best bet.

Read the full review: Acer Chromebook R11
See more like this: The best Chromebooks 2017

If you’re looking for a laptop that you can fold up and play with when you’re done writing for the day, look no further than the HP Spectre x360. Not only is this one of the best 2-in-1 laptops you can buy today, but thanks to the keyboard’s stiff force curve, you’ll find typing is a breeze for any touch typist. And, thanks to its long battery life, you’ll be able to write all day on this comfortable keyboard without having to worry about scrambling for your charger. That’s not to mention the beautiful 4K display, which will make text look nice and crisp with no pixelation.

Read the full review: HP Spectre X360