4 Features of the Best Laptops for Business & Personal Use

For business & pleasure

Laptops are excellent business investments for professionals who have to take their work anywhere. For people who work freelance or own a small business, that laptop is often also a personal computer. It must meet both professional and personal needs—not just emailing partners and videoconferencing with clients, but also calling family, browsing social media or watching movies.

That’s why the best laptop for business and personal use will have a little bit of everything. Let’s dig into some key features to look for in a laptop that will be active during business hours and your relaxation time.

1. Performance that serves a function

The most vital factor for any laptop, business or otherwise, is that it performs. Software should load with a click instead of a struggle and it certainly shouldn’t take several seconds to open an email. That’s why you should pay attention to the laptop’s processor—more than anything on this list, processors influence a laptop’s startup time, task management and even energy efficiency.

It is worth asking, however, what you will ultimately need the performance for. There is a large range of processors in today’s market—from dual to quad-core—and all can handle basic tasks like email or word processing. People who work in graphic design or render videos, on the other hand, will need a state-of-the-art processor capable of fine-grained or simultaneous multithreading.

That said, even if your work involves word processing or spreadsheets, there’s nothing wrong with using that high-end processor to run your favorite games after hours.

2. Full-day battery life

Battery life is highly variable for most electronic devices, depending on usage, frequently used software and even screen brightness. When choosing a laptop battery, the most important detail is time. Your laptop should last for a full business day—at least eight hours—before it needs to be recharged. 

When a retailer advertises battery life, it might not be clear what that means—are they referring to time spent sitting idly or heavy processing? Duration typically means the amount of time a battery discharges electricity at its maximum power rating before needing a recharge. While that doesn’t always take efficiency into account, duration is still a good baseline for everyday business activities. Your mileage may vary if you spend the day watching or creating high-definition video content.

3. Robust connectivity options

A laptop’s connectivity isn’t just about WiFi—it can also mean the ability to seamlessly connect any wired and wireless accessories in your workspace. For example, if you use any Bluetooth peripherals such as headphones or keyboards, you’ll need a laptop that can communicate with them. Then you have wired connections to consider. USB support is a must since it covers everything from wired accessories to portable storage drives.

Generally speaking, the more connectivity options your laptop supports, the bulkier it will be—there’s a reason phones and tablets limit themselves to a single all-purpose charging port. For a laptop with the best capability range, the baseline is usually WiFi, Bluetooth and USB support. If you do most of your work from a docking station, however, consider adding connectivity options like HDMI and ethernet ports that enhance functionality.

4. Portability & comfort

The primary benefit of working from a laptop is you can take it anywhere but that doesn’t mean every laptop is equally useful. An ultralight laptop may not suit the needs of a graphic designer, just as a portable desktop would be overkill for checking emails at the airport.

In other words, portability doesn’t just refer to size and weight—it also includes how readily you can use the features you actually need. Here are some characteristics you should keep in mind:

• Weight: Laptops typically range between 2 to 10 pounds. The heaviest models tend to be the highest-performing devices, but may not be comfortable on your lap for extended periods.

• Travel weight: Even if your laptop is a comfortable weight, what about accessories? Power cords, headphones and Bluetooth peripherals also take up space in your luggage, which is why some manufacturers include combined weights for everything packaged with a product.

• Monitor size: The average laptop screen is approximately 14″, but can range from 11″ to over 17″. That extra space can add weight but it also provides more visibility.

• Width, depth and height: These traits represent the physical space a laptop takes up while closed. They can be helpful when deciding on a laptop bag, although you might have to choose what’s more comfortable—working from your lap or a table.

• Port connectivity: As we discussed in the connectivity section, having a wide selection of ports gives you more options for connecting your laptop to other devices. For example, if your laptop supports USB-C charging, you can get power from a mobile charging station if outlets aren’t available.

Laptop manufacturers list each of these characteristics so you can choose the degree of portability that matters most. For example, an ultralight laptop will prioritize an efficient travel weight over monitor size. Meanwhile, a high-performance laptop can still be considered portable if it emphasizes port compatibility over width and depth. The key is figuring out the right balance of laptop features and portability characteristics that you can benefit from anywhere.

Choosing between laptops? Walmart can help.

Knowing the features you want from the best laptop for business and personal use doesn’t make choosing much easier. That’s where Walmart Business comes in. We offer a detailed selection of laptop and desktop computers that are suitable for work or play. If you’re looking for savings, a Walmart Business+ membership unlocks free shipping access,¹ free delivery from store on orders over $35² and 2% rewards back for purchases over $250.³ Oh, also the chance to save over $500 each year!⁴ Learn more here.

¹ Excludes most Marketplace items, freight and certain location surcharges.

² Restrictions apply. 

³ Rewards can only be used toward future purchases on Walmart Business. Additional terms apply.

⁴ Savings based on 1 free $35+ delivery order vs. $9.95 fee and 1 free shipping order under $35 vs. $6.99 fee biweekly, plus 2% Walmart Business Rewards on monthly order >$250 (average value of $400).