Whatever type of traveler you are, you will need something slimline and lightweight so you can easily transport it. Battery life, RAM, and storage will also be crucial for some, especially traveling professionals.
Here are the best laptops for travel available today.
Q: Can I Repair My Laptop While Traveling?
In most cases, yes. But there are things to consider. First, it really depends on where you are. It is easier to repair a laptop in a developed country like the US or Japan. But, finding a reliable repair shop in the heart of Africa may be a little tricky. Yet, they do exist. Check any online reviews and ensure everyone is clear about what needs repairing and how much it will cost before handing over any money.
This model has 16GB of RAM and ample storage of 1TB. You can configure these at the time of buying to suit your own needs. However, be aware that you cannot change them after purchase. But, the best-selling point for travelers is the incredible battery life. With an impressive up to 20 hours of use, digital nomads working at the beach won’t feel the need to carry around cumbersome chargers.
The display bursts up to 500 nits of brightness with a 2560x1600 Retina display. Viewing your photos is a joy, and it’s also one of the best laptops for editing. The few that are better are heavier and bulkier machines.
Unfortunately, the FaceTime camera remains at 720p, which is a strange choice considering the MacBook Air M2 has 1080p. It may be a deciding factor if you are an on-the-go educator or business person attending online meetings.
Another drawback is that it only has two Thunderbolt 4 ports. Considering you will need one port when charging, this may not be enough for everyone, and you may want to consider a lightweight docking station.
You get the same excellent display of vivid colors and detail with an identical 500 nits of peak brightness. Therefore, photo editing is comparable to the MacBook Pro. But, the Pro performs better with intensive video editing. At the same time, watching movies and shows in your downtime is a pleasing experience. You also get an upgrade on the webcam, a plus for travelers and nomads attending online meetings, taking classes, or calling home. Another plus is the reintroduction of the popular MagSafe charger while retaining the two T4 ports. Excellent news.
However, you do need to compromise a little on storage space. Although the 256GB is still ample for most, it may not be enough for traveling professionals such as photographers or designers. Additionally, the battery life is a bit less, although still more than enough at 18 hours.
However, you should note that this is the device only. To turn it into a complete laptop, you will need to purchase a separate keyboard. You can also buy other accessories, such as the Surface Pen and mouse.
With 8GB of RAM, you can stream movies, browse the internet, send messages, and do other daily tasks with ease. Catching up on documents while sipping pina coladas by the pool is also a breeze. But it’s the webcam and battery life that are especially pleasing. Making calls home or even taking online classes look great. And, with its 11-hour battery life, nomads can spend a full day teaching or taking meetings without worry.
On the downside, traveling business people may find the screen too small for multitasking. Although, it is bright, vibrant, detailed, and indeed good enough for watching movies and shows while on the go. However, headphones are necessary when watching by the pool or on a flight. But, in a quiet hotel room, the audio is surprisingly decent. The battery does drain more quickly when playing video, capping out at four hours. In this instance, you may want to have a power supply handy.
You may be a digital nomad or someone on a short vacation who needs to keep in touch with work. Either way, if video conferencing is essential to you, then this laptop won’t fail you. It has features that make Zoom meetings, online classes, and webinars seamless. The gaze correction feature will make your eyes appear to be looking at the camera at all times. Background noise elimination and central framing are other valuable features. On top of looking great, you will also sound great with the dual far-field microphones.
The screen is bright enough for watching movies while indoors. But, at 450 nits peak brightness, viewing by the pool on a sunny day might mean the screen is difficult to see. However, it has a 120Hz refresh rate, a high resolution, and good contrast.
As with other Microsoft Surface devices, accessories are separate. Adding the keyboard to what is already a relatively expensive purchase may displease some. However, there are other options available, such as no 5G connectivity, that can make the device more affordable.
The 13.4-inch screen is the perfect size for travelers. It’s large enough for daytime productivity and a good size for evening entertainment. At the same time, the design and weight allow you to slip it into your bag for ease of travel. The display is bright at 500 nits peak with accurate color, excellent contrast, and sharp details. Additionally, the thin bezels give the screen a contemporary look.
For travelers needing a quality webcam, this device offers 720p only. It’s fine in a bright room but may lead to dull and pixelated video if your accommodation has low light. However, the battery life is good, and Dell claims that you can get up to 14 hours with low-intensity use. It is Intel Evo certified, meaning watching in HDR will give you up to nine hours of viewing pleasure.
The one issue that anyone should consider before buying is the keyboard. The keys have a very short travel distance. Although there is still a slight tactile click, it is minimal. If this is not a problem, because everyone has a different feeling, you will be buying an excellent 2-in-1 laptop. But, if you like clicky keys with longer travel distances, you might want to consider something more suitable.
For those times when you are traveling during the monsoon season, you can catch up on movies or shows in glorious 4K while waiting for the storm to pass. Images are natural and vibrant with excellent contrast. The 16:9 aspect ratio is good for watching movies, but you may find scrolling and productivity hampered by it when working. The superb display is rounded off with 500 nits peak brightness, and surprisingly good audio accompanies it.
The Dolby Atmos soundbar rotates and directs the audio straight to your waiting ears no matter which mode you have the device. Additionally, the rare presence of subwoofers means that low frequencies are clear. Movies and music feature more bass than other machines can offer, adding to the immersive experience.
With 2TB of storage, you can store all the entertainment you need to last your entire trip. Battery life is pretty good, too. You should get around eight or nine hours with everyday tasks and video playback. However, professional nomads or gamers using more intensive apps may need to look at more powerful options.
It’s a powerful and lightweight laptop that you can transport around with ease. Streaming, surfing, and creating content are seamless, while gamers can even have a decent experience. It doubles as an excellent entertainment source in your downtime or when flying. However, It has below-par battery life. So, on-the-go educators with a full day of classes and long-haul flyers will need to be near a power source.
One unique feature this laptop has is the ScreenPad. It’s larger than most trackpads, but it’s also a secondary screen. Some may see this as a gimmick, but others may find genuine uses for it. Anyone multitasking will find it particularly helpful. These tasks can include working on the main display while you chat with colleagues or enter data on the ScreenPad.
Another thing to consider, especially for digital nomads, is the average 720p webcam. It works well enough in a brightly lit room. But teachers and travelers joining online meetings may want to find something more suitable.
Another thing to consider is insurance. You might have it already, but are you sure it covers your laptop? Check the small print; if it isn’t covered, you should consider individual item insurance.
Q: Should I Bring a Laptop When Traveling?
You should consider how long you will travel and why you need one. A tablet may suffice if you are on a short vacation and won’t be working.
If you are a long-term traveler, such as a backpacker or a digital nomad, a laptop is advisable, certainly if you are a nomad. Backpackers can store and edit all their photos and videos, watch TV on rainy days, keep in contact with home and other travelers, and so on.
Nomads will need a laptop to work. The one they buy will depend on their job. Creatives like graphic designers and animators will need a powerful laptop to handle all the CPU-intensive apps they will use. But most nomads won’t need something so powerful. That is, of course, unless they are into graphics-intensive gaming.
