Write better, type faster: The best laptops for writers in 2024

Our writer Harvey Isitt tested this laptop for his full review of the ASUS Vivobook S 14 OLED. He found it to be a solid choice for students or anyone who needs a portable, high-performance laptop – and we think that makes it a perfect all-around choice for writers of all kinds. Perhaps the most overlooked feature for a writer's laptop is the display, which is why we appreciate this vibrant OLED display. Anyone who writes for long hours will find the definition and clarity a real plus, as it the rich colours and deep blacks that only OLED can deliver.

Although the all-metal design is undeniably stylish, we did find that it does attract fingerprints. That aside, the rest of the spec is also writer-friendly, will a stunning 15.5-hour battery life. That's more than enough for long writing or work sessions while you travel. We also love its wide port selection, and reliable performance – the latter coming courtesy of a brilliant Ryzen 7 processor, 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD for storing all of your work and apps.

Harvey summed up the Vivobook S 14 OLED as: "A fantastic choice for those wanting a high-performance laptop at a sensible price. Its vibrant OLED display offers deep blacks and stunning colours, making it perfect for at-home entertainment. I found it really nice to work on too, with that screen being nice on the eyes and the battery running throughout the day."

As budget laptops go, we think that the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 offers functionality, speed and simplicity at a price that makes it fantastic value for money. Equipped with a full HD 15.6-inch display and a backlit keyboard, it offers a comfortable viewing and a smooth typing experience that can take you through those long writing sessions. An i5 processor means it can comfortablyswitch between writing apps and web-based research. We also think it makes one of the best laptops under £500 in terms of bang for your buck.

It is, though, still a Chromebook – so while it has a robust build and light weight for writers on the move, don't expect it to run advanced applications. That said, its price, build and typically long Chromebook battery life make it ideal for writing wherever inspiration strikes.

We love this Acer Aspire 5 A515-57. Why? Because it's 15.6-inch display with eyecare features makes it the perfect size for most writers – the perfect balance between portability and practicality. But it's not all about the display. Under the hood the rest of the spec is even more impressive. The Intel Core i7, large 1TB SSD for storage and 16GB of RAM makes it a super tool for writers who want extra performance for entertainment and more resource-hungry applications. It has a well-arranged tactile keyboard too.

This laptop is lightweight with a fair battery life of 7.5 hours – but we wish it could have been closer to 10. That said, its silent operation, backlit keyboard and responsive precision touchpad makes it a top 15.6-inch laptop choice for writers seeking reliability and comfort for daily typing.

If you're a writer firmly in the Apple camp, there's nothing to rival the 2024 MacBook Air 13-inch. We think that this is a top-tier choice for writers, for a few reasons. You get a redesigned Magic Keyboard for comfortable typing and a vibrant 13-inch retina display that provides stunning clarity, reducing eye fatigue during long writing stints. Bear in mind, though, that it is only a 13-inch screen, so if you want more room you'll need to look at a more expensive version. Its M3 chip delivers exceptional speed and power efficiency, supporting even the most demanding applications if need be.

Ultralight and impressively thin, this MacBook Air boasts a seriously impressive battery life of 18 hours – more than ideal for writing on the move. With its silent operation and seamless macOS integration, we think this laptop offers a smooth writing experience that writers will find indispensable.

Although it's not the only 2-in-1 machine on our list, the Lenovo Miix 520-12IKB is a 2-in-1 laptop with extra features that make it super-versatile. If flexibility and portability is what you need as a writer, we think this has everything covered. Most notably, it includes a detachable keyboard and a 12.2-inch Full HD touchscreen that supports a Lenovo Active Pen for easy note-taking and editorial work. This is ideal for any writer who relies on handwriting and note-taking as well as typing. It's not the largest screen at only 12.2 inches, but we think that just adds to the versatility, making it super-portable. Powered by an Intel Core i5 processor, it handles writing tasks and can even tackle more intensive applications with ease.

This 2-in-1 design combines the utility of a laptop with the portability of a tablet, making it the logical choice for writers on the go, no matter where your work takes you.

Although we like the SAMSUNG Galaxy Book4 360 15.6-inch 2-in-1 laptop for many reasons, it's our choice for best high-end laptop. And that's simply because, for us, the best laptops are also flexible 2-in-1 models that allow you to use it for a wider array of tasks. Yes, a touchscreen might not be at the top of every writer's wish list, but it's a welcome addition for when you're not busy typing. A top-notch choice for writers who need adaptability and power, it boasts a 360-degree hinge for seamless transformation into tablet mode – ideal for jotting down notes or brainstorming sessions between writing. The 15.6-inch AMOLED display is also a welcome addition for writers who need more clarity.

Equipped with the latest hardware for swift multitasking, this laptop runs quietly and efficiently. Its long-lasting battery and comfortable, responsive keyboard make it a reliable companion for day after day of writing. You're getting a lot of power here over and above what the typical writer's needs, so you'll need to decide it the Samsung Galaxy Book 4 360 is worth it. But, if it is, you can't do much better for a wide range of features and power.

The Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 3 11-inch Snapdragon Chromebook is designed for writers looking for portability and convenience. What we really like about this ultra-compact 2-in-1 device are usability features like detachable keyboard and the vivid 11-inch touchscreen. That makes it perfect for typing away on the go on an excellent, clear display.

And, if you're really travelling light, this is incredibly slim ad comes in under a kilogram. Its Snapdragon processor ensures responsive performance across all your Chrome OS apps, especially when multitasking. Just don't expect too much performance from this, as it is a Chromebook after all. As such, it has a typically small amount of storage at 128GB. We'd have liked to see that doubled, but most writers' documents are tiny in file size so you'll be writing for years before you need to think about using an external SSD. The whole point of a Chromebook is that it performs simple tasks like writing documents extremely fast and comes with a long 12-hour battery life. On that basis, we think the IdeaPad Duet 3 is perfect for writers yearning for a truly mobile and affordable writing solution.

Fitted with an expansive 17.3-inch screen, we think the The ASUS Vivobook 17 is a fantastic choice for writers who appreciate a larger display for easier viewing and editing of large documents. Powered by a Celeron processor, it's not going to blow you away performance wise when it comes to intensive non-writing applications – but it does provide more than enough power for writing software, web browsing, and basic multimedia tasks. The well-spaced keyboard design is another of our favourite features, as it's large enough to ensure comfortable typing during short or long writing sessions.

This laptop isn't just about size; it's a laptop that'll last. With a robust build and efficient battery life, the Vivobook 17 is great for writers looking for a dependable workstation that supports their creative process, at home or on the move.

We like Acer's approach to its laptops, as it not only balances price, build and specification very well, but they often throw in some welcome extras. Here, with the Acer Aspire 3 17.3-inch laptop, you also get a whole year's subscription to Microsoft Office 360. So, if you're looking to write office documents or just get writing that novel, this is ready right out of the box.

However, you do only get 4GB RAM and 128GB of storage, which we would have liked to have seen doubled. That said, it does offer sufficient speed for writing software and simple day-to-day tasks. Its spacious keyboard designed for comfort ensures you can type for hours without strain. Practicality meets productivity in this model thanks to the larger screen, too. Overall, we think it makes a great choice for writers who also value a sturdy build from a renowned brand with all of the software you'll need thrown in.

The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 stands out as an impressive tool for writers, featuring a super-thin 13.5-inch display that brings your words to life with vivid clarity and sharp detail. While the latest generation processor ensures seamless multitasking and fast start-ups, our favourite feature is the keyboard. It's purposefully designed for comfort, with large well-spaced keys for such a compact laptop, making long writing sessions more manageable.

Although it comes with the latest Thunderbolt 4 port for connecting monitors and other peripherals, it is a bit light on ports elsewhere – with only one USB-3. Yes, for us, this laptop blends elegance with efficiency – all wrapped up in a sleek, lightweight design that is perfect for on-the-go writing. Its long-lasting battery life guarantees uninterrupted productivity, empowering writers to capture inspiration whenever it strikes.