Ask a roomful of people what they look for in a work laptop, and you'll get a variety of responses, from a comfortable keyboard to all-day battery life to a lightweight sturdy body. Even the definition of work may differ for each individual. A graphics designer and an accountant have very different computing needs, for example. And everyone has a different budget, of course. What's not in doubt is that these five laptops below have specific qualities that make them suitable for work — at least for certain folks. And one of them could be the laptop for you.
Acer Swift Go 14
Text looks so sharp and crisp on the OLED screen of the Acer Swift Go 14 (S$1,698). It also offers good performance, and long battery life. But a surprising, but crucial feature is its above-average 1,440p webcam that makes you look better than ever in video calls.
Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023)
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (from S$2,899) is better than before, thanks to the new M2 processor that further improves the performance and battery life. If you need even more computing power, Apple also lets you customise it with lots of storage and memory. Battery life is excellent, as usual, and the laptop runs mostly cool, too.
Asus Vivobook 15X OLED
A big lovely OLED screen is the main selling point of the Asus Vivobook 15X OLED. It's also competitively priced at S$1,699. But while it's portable enough at 1.6kg, the battery life — thanks to that bright 15-inch screen — is middling. However, the webcam privacy shutter, and 180-degree hinge are handy features you'll want in a work laptop.
Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Carbon (13″, Gen 8)
Road warriors looking for the most portable notebook should check out the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Carbon (from around S$1,600). Yes, it only has two USB-C ports (and no audio jack!), but this sleek, carbon-fibre laptop is perfect for those who spend their time working out of the office. The keyboard is great, and the privacy shutter for the face recognition webcam is much appreciated.
LG gram Style 16
Stylish yet capable — that's the LG gram Style 16 (from S$2,899) in a nutshell. Thanks to a colour-shifting lid and palmrest, this ultra-portable laptop (only 1.2kg for a 16-inch model) will likely draw curious glances from onlookers. But it's more than capable, with a 16:10 OLED screen, face recognition webcam with privacy and security features, and good battery life.
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