How to Choose the Perfect Laptop for Business Travel

Dec. 10 2022

As business travel picks up in the post-pandemic world, you might be looking for a new laptop. If you’re not sure how to choose, we have some tips on what to consider as you decide on your purchase.

The first thing to consider when choosing a laptop for business travel is how easy it is to just pack up and go. Three factors to look at here are chassis size, thinness, and weight. Of course, laptops are portable by nature, but you should aim to the most compact model that will suit your needs.

Laptop sizes are usually determined by their screen size, which is measured diagonally and is described in inches. Most mainstream machines are sized anywhere between 13 to 17 inches, which doesn't include bezels (the frame around your display).

Thanks to design that allows for remarkably thin bezels, some laptops come with a larger screen size than the body of the laptop would suggest. For instance, laptops with ASUS NanoEdge design fit a 14-inch screen into a chassis size normally used for a 13-inch laptop.

Good travel laptops are also thin. Some machines are designed with maximum portability in mind while others compromise on thinness to pack more powerful components and more connectivity options. Travelers who need a laptop for simple tasks such as communication and word processing will likely want to choose a thinner variant.

Finally, you should also pay attention to the weight of the device. Usually, if a laptop is thin, it will also be lightweight.

Our recommendation:

For business travelers who primarily need a laptop to edit spreadsheets or other documents, or who need to be able to connect with colleagues using videoconferencing tools, we recommend choosing a 13-inch or 14-inch laptop with less than 2 cm thickness (preferably closer to 1.5 cm) that weighs as close to 1 kg as possible.

Zenbook S 13 OLED perfectly fits the bill, here. It’s the world’s lightest 13.3-inch 2.8K resolution OLED laptop.

However thin and light your laptop is, you want it to be able to handle any task you throw at it. Whether you’re working on spreadsheets or editing photos for presentations, you want a machine that has enough power to keep workflows moving smoothly.

Your laptop’s operating system is key to smooth performance. Microsoft Windows is still a leading choice, as it offers seamless, expansive software coverage―which is especially important for professionals.

You will then want to look at the specifications of the laptops you’re considering.

Most important is the CPU (aka processor). There are many ways to judge the processor's power, but to simplify the choice, consider these facts. The two types of processors that are most commonly used in laptops are Intel and AMD. Each of these companies applies a tiered naming rule for their products―e.g., Intel® Core™ i3, i5, i7, and i9; AMD Ryzen™ 3, 5, 7, and 9). Models with the same number level―e.g. Intel® Core™ i3 and Ryzen™ 3―perform similarly. As a rule of thumb, the higher the number, the stronger the CPU.

The second thing to look at is RAM. This refers to the amount of memory your computer can access quickly, which translates into how many processes you can run in parallel, or how many apps you can have open at once without your computer slowing down. That will determine how well you are able to multitask. Measured in GB, once again, the higher number, the better.

Our recommendation:

To ensure that your laptop can perform all the functions you need, we recommend choosing a laptop with at least an Intel® Core™ i5 or AMD Ryzen™ 5 CPU. We also recommend at least 8 GB of RAM.

For this level of performance, Zenbook 14X OLED is ideal. It’s a thin, portable laptop that handle any everyday work task―and then some.

Your laptop’s storage translates into how many files you can keep on your laptop. This spec is especially important for travelers, because when you are on the go, very often you will use your laptop without an internet connection.

There are two types of storage: HDD and SSD. The latter is faster and much more suitable for travelers, as it is more immune to damage from vibration, unlike an HDD. SSD memory also helps boot your laptop faster.

Our recommendation:

Aim for an SSD drive with no less than 512 GB of storage space. If you deal with a lot of large files, we strongly recommend going with 1 TB of storage. You may want see if the laptop you’re considering has an expansion slot―because it makes it easy to add storage space in the future.

Thin laptops often compromise on connectivity. Certain useful ports such as HDMI® or USB-A might not be available in the thinnest laptops. This is okay for some, but others will eventually end up buying a hub or a dongle for the connectivity they need. And that's not only an additional cost but also another item to carry around.

USB-C and Thunderbolt™ 4 are quickly becoming the new standard for laptop ports. You may want to buy a laptop with one of each to ensure flexible connectivity in the future.

An audio jack port is also a useful connectivity option for travelers. Wireless headphones are popular, but it’s nice to have an option to plug your headset in, if there is the option.

Our recommendation:

As the bare minimum, we recommend buying a laptop with 2 USB-C ports (at least one with power delivery support to enable notebook power bank charging) and an audio jack. Having at least one USB-A port is also advisable. Finally, an HDMI port is a nice option, as it makes it easy to display media in a larger format.

If you're a frequent flier or work in cafés often (where table space can be limited), you may benefit from owning a 2-in-1 laptop. These devices are essentially a cross between a laptop and a tablet, and they come in various formats. Some laptops feature a detachable keyboard; some come with a 360° hinge that allows you to flip the screen around to the back; and others come with a foldable OLED screen, allowing you to use them flat like a tablet or folded like a laptop, giving you the versatility of six different usage modes.

For many, a convertible "flip" laptop is the optimal solution. These machines offer great flexibility and perform like regular laptops (vs. laptops with a detachable keyboard, which are usually more similar to tablets in their performance). They usually feature a touchscreen, and some of them are compatible with styluses. You can flip them completely around and lie them flat on the table to start annotating or to make handwritten notes.

Another situation when “flip” laptops are useful is when you have very limited space and cannot comfortably open a regular laptop (e.g. while flying). You can use the device like a tablet or simply flip the screen 300° degrees and stand the device on the table to view the full screen.

Our recommendation:

Thin and portable convertible laptops are a great go-to device, as they perform like laptops while providing the versatility of a tablet. Zenbook S 13 Flip OLED is a wonderful choice for travelers who need a flexible device.

At a slightly higher price point, one of the most versatile laptops on the market right now is the Zenbook 17 Fold OLED, featuring an eye-catching foldable OLED screen. This laptop can be used in six different ways and is perfect for those who often switch between a desk and working on the go.

Traditional laptops suffer from poor visibility in some situations that you may face when on the move. When you dim your screen while using the laptop in the dark, you can’t see very well; and when showing others your screen, they will struggle to see content clearly unless standing almost directly in front of the screen. These challenges are common in most laptops that still employ LCD technology for their displays. LCD screens use backlighting to illuminate pixels. When dimmed, the amount of backlight reaching the pixels is equally decreased, including the portions of the screen that should remain fairly vivid, resulting in a loss of color richness and contrast and leading to low image quality.

Choosing an OLED laptop carries multiple benefits. The pixels in these displays are individually illuminated, meaning they project imagery with amazing clarity and contrast even in low brightness (for example, when working on a plane when the lights are off). The color depth is also exceptional. You will notice this particularly in black areas of the screen.

OLEDs also carry various other benefits, including the fact they emit much less harmful blue light and are flicker-free, which helps reduce digital eye strain. Viewing angles are also much broader than LCD displays, making in-person collaboration easier.

Our recommendation:

When choosing a business travel laptop, we recommend choosing one with an OLED screen. You will get better imagery and reduced blue light and eye strain.

Learn all you need to know about OLED screens

When on the go, you may be away from an electrical outlet for extended periods. You will want a laptop that can keep working for long hours on a single charge. That’s why it’s important to check the battery specs when choosing a laptop for business travel.

While the battery size is a good indication of how long you can expect to work between charges, it doesn't tell the whole story. Various hardware and software solutions are employed in laptops to increase their battery life.

For instance, the MyASUS app can help optimize battery life, ensuring the longest-possible usage without charging.

User habits also play a role in battery life. If you’re a content creator and often use your laptop for editing or designing, you may want to invest in a dedicated creator laptop that is optimized to run well with creative software.

Our recommendation:

Aim for no less than eight hours of battery life. If you cannot see battery life in the spec table, look for laptops with batteries that indicate a minimum of 60 watt-hours.

Often overlooked, the keyboard and touchpad on your laptop can determine whether your experience is comfortable—or not. When selecting a laptop, make sure to try the keyboard and see if it suits your preferences.

If you don’t have a chance to try it (e.g., when purchasing online), here are some pointers for what to look for.

First of all, even in a small laptop (13- or 14-inch), you will want a regular-sized keyboard. Some laptop keyboards have what’s called an edge-to-edge design to enlarge the keyboard layout.

You will also want to consider key travel for good tactile feedback. Dished keycaps are another feature to consider, as they help ensure accurate, comfortable typing.

If you use spreadsheets a lot, you will also appreciate a number pad. Some laptops embed a number pad in the touchpad.

Our recommendation:

If you can try various laptops, select one with a keyboard and trackpad that feel the most comfortable and accurate.

If you don’t have a chance to try before buying, select one with an edge-to-edge, full-sized (19.05 mm key pitch) keyboard with dished caps and long (at least 1.4 mm) key travel.

Many ASUS laptops feature either an ASUS NumberPad 2.0 or an ASUS ScreenPad. Those technologies augment what the touchpad can be, adding additional functionalities in a tap.

See how NumberPad 2.0 works in the video below. Note, if the touchpad is also a screen―ASUS ScreenPad™―you’ll be able to extend your work space, which is a real bonus!

For business travelers of all kinds, videoconferencing is a vital tool. But video calls on the move can suffer from weak connections or from background noise, making it difficult to communicate with colleagues.

To determine how well your laptop is prepared to handle online calls, look at a couple of things.

First, the built-in camera is something to consider. Cameras come in various resolutions and placements. If you often have online calls, a 720p HD camera is the minimum, and a 1080p is preferred.

You will also want to make sure the laptop you’re considering has a built-in microphone. If your laptop features AI noise-cancellation technology, it will likely provide much better audio. Noise-cancellation software analyzes audio input and filters out unwanted background noise, delivering a much better signal to those at the other end of an online call.

Our recommendation:

ASUS Zenbooks are built with the needs of business travelers in mind. They all feature high-resolution cameras on the top of the screen, high-quality microphones, and all come equipped with AI noise cancellation software that helps deliver clear sound. Whichever Zenbook you choose, you can rest assured online communications will be smooth.

The best business travel laptops allow a good enough experience without any external accessories such as a Bluetooth mouse or headphones, or laptop power banks.

The material used to make a laptop another key consideration. Some laptops are more durable than others, allowing you to carry them without a sleeve or protector.

Our recommendation:

Get a laptop with high-quality speakers (e.g. Harman Kardon-certified ones in Zenbook S 13 OLED), a large touchpad, and a strong battery.

If you do have a strong preference for using accessories, aim for those that will work without a hub or a dongle—look for plenty of I/O ports.

Check if the laptop is certified for durability. For instance, many ASUS laptops have been awarded a US Military Grade standard badge for how tough they are.