If you’re always on the move and you need or want a laptop by your side you know the right laptop for this purpose should satisfy certain criteria. Doesn’t matter if you are backpacking across the world or you’re traveling for business purposes, a good laptop can be a lifesaver.
Having the right laptop with you can be the difference between a finished task and a failed attempt. We will show you the best travel laptops in this one-stop-shop resource, so you can get a lot done on your next trip and enjoy it.
Things to Consider as a Traveler
- Weight. You want the lap top to be as light as possible. Depending on the frequency and means of travel the weight can go up and down. A good advice is not to go over 4 lbs. (1.81kg), beyond this measure you are really starting to feel the weight.
- Size. If you travel a lot you want the laptop to be small in size to fit in the backpack or the suitcase. The smaller the laptop, the more space you get for other things. A recommended size would be between 11-13.9″. This size will make the laptop comfortable to carry around with you.
- Price. Your choice will depend a lot on your budget. You can’t get the laptop if you can’t afford it. On top of this, if you are on a budget the more you spend for the lap top the less you’ll have for your travel.
- Performance. If you are going to travel a lot, most likely that you’ll need a laptop to stay in contact with someone, for a meeting maybe or just to surf the web. Performance still matters. Even though you’re going to use the laptop on your trips, you need to balance the performance with the rest of the criteria. A powerful laptop can always come in handy.
Top 10 Travel Laptops Complete Chart
| Picture | Name | Size/Weight | Price | Rating (1-5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 1. Apple MacBook Air MD760LL/B 13.3-Inch Laptop (OLD VERSION) | 13.3" / 3 lbs | $$$$ | 4.5 |
 | 2. Apple MacBook Pro MGXA2LL/A 15.4-Inch Laptop with Retina Display | 15.4" / 4.5 lbs | $$$$ | 4.5 |
 | 3. Toshiba CB35-B3340 13.3-Inch Chromebook 2 (Full-HD Screen) | 13.3" / 3 lbs | $$ | 4.4 |
 | 4. Acer Chromebook 11 CB3-111-C670 (11.6-inch HD, 2GB, 16GB) | 11.6" / 2.4 lbs | $ | 4.4 |
 | 5. MSI GT70 Dominator-895 9S7-1763A2-895 17.3-Inch Laptop with nvidia 870m | 17.3" / 8.6 lbs | $$$ | 4.4 |
 | 6. ASUS Chromebook 12-Inch with Gigabit WiFi, 32GB Storage & 4GB RAM | 12" / 2.5 lbs | $$ | 4.4 |
 | 7. Alienware ALW17-5312sLV 17.3-Inch Gaming Laptop | 17.3" / 8.3 lbs | $$$$ | 4.3 |
 | 8. Asus ROG GL551JW-DS74 15.6-Inch IPS FHD Gaming Laptop, NVIDIA GTX960M | 15.6" / 6 lbs | $$$ | 4.3 |
 | 9. Lenovo Thinkpad X140e 20BLS00400 11.6" Business Ultrabook Laptop | 11.6" / 3.9 lbs | $$ | 4.3 |
 | 10. Samsung Chromebook 2 XE500C12-K01US 11.6-Inch (Silver) | 11.6" / 2.6 lbs | $$ | 4.3 |
Windows, iOS and Chrome
These are operational systems which run most of the computers nowadays including laptops. Every operational system has its pros and cons. You can do all of the tasks on Windows and iOS, but you are quite limited if you are using a Chromebook (laptops that are run on Chrome OS).
In order to experience all the opportunities a Chromebook has to offer you need a stable internet connection. All of your data is kept on the cloud, but in order to get to the data you need internet connection.
Windows is known for its versatility and wide usage all over the world. If you are going to use some special kind of software it’s 99% likely that it can be run on a Windows computer. The new Windows 8.1 brought a whole new range of online applications to act as a bridge with your smartphone.
The iOS on the other hand, is exclusive for the Apple products. It’s known for its stability and very low, almost none crashes. So if you are working with some sensitive data/information iOS is the choice to make. By having an Apple product you stand out from the rest. Apple really puts a lot into its brand.
As you can see the weight of the laptops varies within the range of 2.2 pounds up until 8.4 pounds. The tradeoffs to weight are performance and price. You can’t have all three to be ideal. A lighter laptop will have lower performance, or high performance but it will cost you a small fortune and the other way around.
Top 5 Best Travel Laptop Reviews
1. Apple MacBook Air MD760LL
The best of the best, the finest laptop you can find out there. Be that for traveling, for college or maybe for work the MacBook Air will be there for you even though you wouldn’t feel it your suitcase or bag. It has its name for a reason.
Weighing at just 3 pounds, this aluminum body laptop will provide you with the necessary performance and will give you the premium satisfaction you deserve. Its dimensions combined with its weight make it perfect for outgoing and people with dynamic lifestyle.
MacBook Air has a battery with average life of 12 hours. This is the laptop with the best battery out there. It has an 11.6 inch LED-backlit Glossy Widescreen Display showing astounding images, be that outdoors or inside. This machine will make your travel a real delight.
Fast as lightning, reliable and for its dimensions a powerful machine. This machine is designed for people who want the best and nothing but the best.
The price is relatively low if you consider all the features that you get with this product. It will last longer than you probably expect. Choosing this laptop is a long-term investment which pays out!
2. Apple MacBook Pro MGXA2LL/A
This is the jewel of Apple. On the outside it looks like a state of the art aluminum laptop machine with smooth and sleek design. Apple always tries to offer premium products with exceptional touch. This is not an exception to that principle.
It has an ultra-modern Retina Display giving you the best visual performance available. The difference between a Retina Display and a Normal Display is the pixel density, meaning the Retina has more pixels/square inch giving a much clearer image at a higher resolution.
Powered by a battery which will last up to 8 hours, it will give you the edge you need to finish any task with or without a charger. The performances this laptop can achieve make it a titan among the laptops with the looks of a superstar.
Run on iOS X Maverick it will make you fall in love at first sight. Reliable, safe and efficient, the MacBook Pro will deliver satisfaction to your travels.
3. Toshiba CB35-B3340
Weighing at just 3 pounds this model is the right thing that you need for that backpacking. You are hardly going to feel it in your bag. Its compact dimensions of 13.3 inches in diagonal make it perfect for people always on the move. Its body is made of plastic, but it feels so solid. The sharp edges and the curves make it stand out from the rest of the Chromebooks.
The battery has an average life of 9 hours and it will serve you when you need it. It has 1 USB 2.0 port and 1 3.0 USB port. It also has a HDMI output for that presentation you wanted to show on your meeting.
The Chrome OS is a fast and easy to use OS. All you need is a stable internet connection to get to your data on Google Drive. You get free space to 100 GB. It provides you the means to have your data available on other devices too. In case you forgot something before you left home, check your Google Drive, it’s probably stored there.
4. Acer Chromebook 11 CB3-111-C670
All that you need is packed right in here, in this 2.4 pounds 11.6 inch laptop. Light as a feather it will be there for you when you need it. Whatever you require is at the tip of your fingertips.
An 8.5 hours lasting battery will make sure you receive the full Chrome OS experience. Considering the dimensions of this laptop, it is real beast. Fast as a lightning it will allow you to surf/browse and get to your data within seconds. Of course, the drawback here is that you do need an internet connection to experience the full potential of this product.
It has an 11.6 inch Anti-Glare Display making it perfect for outdoor use.
This laptop can be your best friend; you just got to give it a chance. It will not disappoint you. It has the highest value for money among the Chromebooks.
5. MSI GT70 Dominator-895
The name says it all, a true Dominator. The best travel laptop you can find on the market with a Windows OS. It is a really powerful machine, but it comes with a tradeoff to its weight and dimensions.
Weighing at a staggering 8.6 pounds it can be a heavy burden on your shoulder. It can be a problem for those who travel on foot. Otherwise you won’t notice the drawback. It can’t match with what the Apple MacBook Air has to offer in terms of its physical parameters and it can’t compete with the Apple MacBook Pro overall.
It has extra number of USB ports, 3x 3.0 USB and 2×2.0 USB ports. Just in case you need extra inputs for your devices.
The MSI GT70 Dominator is the perfect deal for you if you need a ton of power and you don’t have any special preferences to the dimensions and the weight of the laptop.