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As a writer, it's important that you have the right tools at your disposal to make your masterpieces. Why work on pen and paper when you have the world of technology at your disposal to write those words in a flash?
Typewriters simply won't do anymore, in which case it's time to invest in the modern writer's best friend - the laptop.
There are a bunch of great laptops on the market that you can fully take advantage of. The only thing is, what is going to be the best choice for your creative prowess?
If you aren't well versed in the world of laptops it can be a little bit difficult to know what laptop you should buy.
We are here to solve that problem for you better than Sherlock Holmes ever could!
Here are our picks of the best laptops for writers. We've also written a nifty buyer's guide to help you to make the best possible decision for you.
1. MacBook Air
This is certainly the best option out there for anyone that absolutely adores Mac OS operating systems. The Macbook Air is the pinnacle of fantastic Mac laptops, and it surely will not disappoint if you're a writer in need of a high quality laptop.
This premium laptop is ideal for a wide variety of reasons. For starters, the keyboard is perfect for writing, with a compact layout that will still allow your fingers to glide across it with ease while you churn out some golden words. The traveling distance on the keyboard is actually only around ½-1mm, though this can largely depend on the model that you choose.
In addition to this, this Macbook truly sticks to the 'Air' title, as it's incredibly light. It's thin and so it can fit in a laptop without a lot of trouble.
The laptop also has incredible battery life. In fact, you can use this for around 13 hours and still have some battery left over, which is perfect if you're someone that's often on the move. Of course, the biggest issue with this laptop is that it's certainly not ideal if you're on a budget.
This is one of the most expensive laptops out there so it's only one for when you have extra money to splash out on a swanky new laptop.
Pros
- Mac OS operating system
- Comfortable to type on
- Portable
Cons
- Very expensive - not ideal if you're on a budget
Buy Here: Amazon
 Apple 13" MacBook Air Core i5 CPU, 8GB RAM (2017 Model 128GB)
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2. ASUS ZenBook
If the Macbook Air was just a little too expensive for you or if you're a bigger fan of a windows operating system, then the ASUS ZenBook may be just what you need.
This laptop is ideal if you're on a bit more of a budget but you still want a laptop that can tick all of the boxes as far as high quality laptops are concerned.
The ASUS ZenBook features an 8th generation Core i5 Processor, so it's ideal for good processor speed. In fact, it's actually a little faster than the Macbook Air.
It performs pretty well, loading up pages online in a flash - perfect for research. It also features a 13 inch HD screen, so there's plenty of space for you to see all of your work in front of you.
The laptop also features 8GB of RAM, and weighs a mere 2.5 lbs. This means that it's simple to carry it from A to B. It looks attractive too, so you can truly write in style! Of course, it is not without its pitfalls.
Perhaps the main issue with this laptop is that the keyboard can take some getting used to but practice makes perfect!
Pros
- Affordable
- High performance
- Lightweight
Cons
- The keyboard can take a little getting used to
Buy Here: Amazon
ASUS ZenBook 13 Ultra-Slim Laptop- 13.3” Full HD Wideview, 8th Gen Intel Core I5-8265U, 8GB LPDDR3, 512GB PCIe SSD, Backlit KB, Fingerprint, Windows 10- UX331FA-AS51 Slate Grey - 13.3 inch wide-view full-HD NanoEdge bezel display
- Intel Core i5-8265u processor (6M Cache, upto 3.9 GHz)
- Fast storage and memory featuring 512GB PCIe M.2 SSD and 8GB LPDDR3 RAM
- Extensive connectivity with HDMI, USB type C, Wi-Fi 5 (802.11AC) and Micro SD card reader (USB transfer speed may vary. Learn more at Asus website)
- Sleek and lightweight 2.5 pounds aluminum body for comfortable portability
3. Lenovo Yoga 730
This laptop from Lenovo is ideal if you want to be able to do some incredibly easy typing! Keyboard aside though, there are a whole bunch of things to love about this impressive laptop.
Again, this is a laptop that boasts a high amount of performance. A high quality CPU, RAM and SSD really make this laptop stand out from the crowd. The laptop features a high quality keyboard that is easy to use much like the Macbook air. Your fingers will travel rather quickly across the keyboard too.
Furthermore, the laptop is very portable. It can also last for a long time in terms of battery, so it's great for when you're working in a coffee shop and you're nowhere near a power outlet.
In fact, it also has another fun addition - it has a touchscreen! This may not be to every writer's tastes but we thought it was worth mentioning. It should be noted that there are some users that have reported that the fan is loud on the laptop, but this doesn't appear to be the case with every unit.
Pros
- High performance
- Easy to use keyboard
- Portable
Cons
- Some users have said that the fan is noisy
Buy Here: Amazon
Lenovo Yoga 730 2-in-1 13.3" FHD IPS Touchscreen Business Laptop/Tabelt, Intel Quad-Core i5-8250U 8GB DDR4 256GB PCIe SSD Thunderbolt Fingerprint Reader Windows Ink Backlit Keyboard Win 10 - 13.3” FHD(1920 x 1080)IPS LED backlight Multi-touch Display
- 8th Intel Quad Core i5-8250U(16/3.4GHz, 6MB), Integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620
- 8G DDR4 2400MHZ, 256G PCIe NVMe SSD
- 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.1, JBL speakers, 1x USB Type-C with Thunderbolt, 2xUSB 3.0, 1xHeadphone/microphone combo jack. 1 x HDMI
- Windows 10 Home 64-Bit, Backlight Keyboard, Up to 10.5 hours Battery Life
4. Acer Aspire E15 E5-575
The Acer Aspire E15 E5-575 is a very versatile laptop which is ideal if your budget is particularly tight. Indeed, this laptop is so affordable you'll hardly believe it when you see the price tag! It's a best seller on Amazon and that's for a good reason!
The laptop runs on a Windows operating system so you can do a lot on it, from running basic level games, to of course, writing. The laptop features have an SSD PCIe NVMe so it's a bargain to be able to get a laptop at this price point.
The laptop has 128GB for storage, which is a little bit of an issue if you aren't just using the laptop for writing, but if that's your sole purpose it certainly does the job.
If the storage space is an issue for you, then it's actually possible to upgrade it fairly easy with a 1TB HDD or an extra SSD. It's incredibly smooth to type on, coming along with a backlit, full size keyboard.
Of course, this may be a better option if you are mostly going to be working stationary as it's pretty heavy, featuring a 15 inch screen.
Pros
- Affordable - perhaps the most so on this list
- Backlit keyboard
- Versatile
Cons
- Bulky
Buy Here: Amazon
Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop, 15.6 inches Full HD IPS Display, AMD Ryzen 3 3200U, Vega 3 Graphics, 4GB DDR4, 128GB SSD, Backlit Keyboard, Windows 10 in S Mode, A515-43-R19L, Silver - AMD Ryzen 3 3200U Dual Core Processor (Up to 3.5GHz); 4GB DDR4 Memory; 128GB PCIe NVMe SSD
- 15.6 inches full HD (1920 x 1080) widescreen LED backlit IPS display; AMD Radeon Vega 3 Mobile Graphics
- 1 USB 3.1 Gen 1 port, 2 USB 2.0 ports & 1 HDMI port with HDCP support
- 802.11ac Wi-Fi; Backlit Keyboard; Up to 7.5 hours battery life
- Windows 10 in S mode. Maximum power supply wattage: 65 Watts
5. ASUS Chromebook C202SA-YS02
The ASUS Chromebook C202SA-YS02 is yet another fantastic option if you are on a budget. This laptop is ideal especially if you are fond of chromebooks.
The laptop actually has pretty decent performance for writers, even if the hardware doesn't necessarily reflect that. They are ideal for typing, browsing the web and watching videos - just don't try and use them for hardcore gaming!
They're fantastic as far as battery life is concerned too, with battery life even better than macbooks!
The laptop is very durable too, so you could probably toss it from a 9 storey building without there being much more than a scratch. Of course, that would constitute as one of those 'don't try this at home' moments. You don't want to waste your hard earned cash, do you?
Pros
- Good performance for writing
- Decent battery life
- Durable
Cons
- You can't use them for much more than basic tasks - no gaming on this laptop!
Buy Here: Amazon
Sale
ASUS Chromebook C202 Laptop- 11.6" Ruggedized and Spill Resistant Design with 180 Degree Hinge, Intel Celeron N3060, 4GB RAM, 16GB eMMC Storage, Chrome OS- C202SA-YS02 Dark Blue, Silver - Ready for drops and spills with rugged construction with reinforced rubber guards, easy grip handles, and a spill resistant keyboard
- Lightweight 2.65 pound body and rugged construction that can be dropped from 3.9 feet so you can take it anywhere without disruption
- 11.6 inches HD 1366x768 anti-glare display, with 180 degree hinge for easy viewing
- Powered by the Intel Celeron N3060 Processor (2M Cache, upto 2.48 GHz) for fast and snappy performance
- 4 GB DDR3 RAM; 16GB flash storage; No CD or DVD drive; Power adapter: Input: 100 -240 V AC, 50/60 Hz universal. Output : 19 V DC, 2.1 A, 40 W
Best Laptop for Writers Buyer's Guide
There are a lot of great laptops on the market, so it can sometimes be a bit of a challenge to decipher which one will be the best possible choice for you.
There are a lot of things that should be considered when you are trying to buy a laptop and it can get a little overwhelming when you've never bought one before. With that being said, here are a couple of things that you should think about when buying a laptop if you are a writer.
Screen
The size of screen that you get is largely going to depend on your preferences. On the one hand, if your laptop has a smaller screen it normally means that it's going to be a lot more portable.
On the other hand, it means there is also less space on the screen to work. If you also want to use the laptop for other things such as gaming or programming then this can be a little problematic as you may struggle to see what you're doing.
If the only purpose of your laptop is going to be for writing, then you should be able to make a 13 to 14 inch laptop work for you. A laptop of this size will be great as you can carry it about with you, from one coffee shop to the next.
If you don't tend to hop around the globe very much, then you can get away with a 15 inch laptop which will be a little bigger to carry but will also give you more working space.
You don't really need to have a 17 inch laptop. The exception to this is if you prefer to remain in one place while you are working and want something closer akin to a desktop while still having some degree of portability.
Screen Resolution
Screen resolution is important - you don't want to get anything that's much below HD. In fact, even some budget laptops can give you at least 1920 x 1080 screen resolution so there's absolutely no reason why you should get a laptop with poor screen resolution.
If you have more pixels it will likely be much easier for you to read what's in front of you. It will also allow you to be able to put two windows next to eachother so you can multitask with ease.
Operating System
There's always a lot of debate about what is the best operating system but again, this is another factor that is largely going to depend on your own tastes and interests. Windows is the operating system that is most commonly used.
This is mainly as a result of the fact that it's more functional to use and there's more versatility with it. In addition, it works well with a lot of other office based programs such as Microsoft Word and Excel, pivotal tools for many writers. In this regard, if you prefer these systems then a microsoft operating system may be the better choice for you.
With that being said, there are certainly some benefits of opting for Mac OS instead. Mac OS features a crisp, modern look and involves a bunch of extra programs exclusive to OS - for instance, if you enjoy writing your own music as a side hobby then you can use Mac OS with the program Garage Band.
The only issue is that once you go to Apple operating systems you're kind of stuck there. If you can't get to grips with the system, your choices are to spend hours looking at an online tutorial or buying a new laptop. Ultimately you just need to find something that will work well for you.
The last option is a Chromebook. These usually have ChromeOS operating systems. They don't give you as much functionality as Windows or macOS.
With that being said these operating systems also don't come with any threats of malware and other nasty business. It's certainly a good choice if you're going to be using the laptop to write but it isn't really ideal for many other things so keep that in mind.
Battery Life
Battery Life is absolutely essential to consider when you're buying a laptop.
At an absolute minimum, you want an option that will provide you with at least 8 hours of battery. This means that if you are a bit of a distance away from a power outlet you can still keep working without sprinting to your nearest power outlet when the battery is dying.
If you do tend to work on the move a lot then this is even more important to consider. You may even need more battery life than just this.
Main Specifications
If you're buying a laptop, there are some specifications that it should have at the very minimum. To start with, even if on a budget it should be possible to get a processor that's i5 or i7.
You should also be looking for 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB SSD. It's always a good idea to opt for an SSD because they can help you to load your laptop programs much more easily.
