Which business laptop is the best for your hybrid work environment?
Choosing the perfect laptop for both remote and in-office work requires meeting a tricky balance. You need dependable performance and build quality, so that it can withstand long work sessions and being haphazardly thrown into a backpack at a moment's notice. But it also needs to meet the security requirements and have remote management features that make it easy for IT departments to troubleshoot and maintain, even when it's not in the office.
HP Elitebook 860 G11
The HP EliteBook 860 G11 is the latest iteration in HP's premium business line-up. The 16-inch workstation tops out with the Intel Core Ultra 5 125U Meteor Lake-U CPU paired with 16 GB of DDR5-5600 RAM in dual-channel. That configuration comes with a 56 Wh battery.
Build quality is a strong point for the HP EliteBook 860 G11, with a tough all-metal chassis and spill-proof backlit keyboard design. HP also offers an optional privacy screen and HP Wolf Security suite.
HP EliteBook 860 G11's battery is on the smaller side, and the metal chassis picks up fingerprints quickly, but overall, it is a top pick for a hybrid work setup. The EliteBook isn't cheap, nor is it extremely expensive for what's on offer, at €1,428.08 on Tech Outlet in the EU.
Lenovo ThinkPad T16
The Lenovo ThinkPad T16 Gen 3 features comfortable ergonomics — with a convenient TrackPoint — dependable battery life, and upgradeable and serviceable internals and keyboard. The 16-inch ThinkPad T16 Gen 3 has a bright, 1,920 × 1,200 IPS display or a 3,840 × 2,400 semi-matte OLED display.
The only major drawback of the ThinkPad T16 Gen 3 was its somewhat disappointing performance, courtesy of the Intel Core Ultra 5 125U CPU. The ThinkPad T16 features an internal magnesium alloy frame and a black plastic outer shell that is robust, even if it is somewhat prone to picking up fingerprints and oils.
Lenovo ThinkShield offers additional BIOS security with firmware and hardware hardening. Lenovo also offers three years of on-site warranty support. The Lenovo ThinkPad T16 Gen 3 comes in at €1,104.96 at TechOutlet.
Dell Latitude 5550
The Dell Latitude 5550 is a 15.6-inch business-class laptop equipped with up to an Intel Core Ultra 7 155U, CPU. Much like the aforementioned Lenovo ThinkPad, it also features a plastic chassis with minimalist design language. The chassis is well-built and packs plenty of ports.
The Latitude 5550 is a little thicker than many other 15.6-inch business laptops, but it makes up for that with superior cooling, allowing the CPU to stretch its legs. The cooling fans are also quiet, even under load, which is useful for both office settings and working in a public spaces while travelling. The Latitude 5550 is one of the cheaper hybrid work laptops, coming in at €970 at Tech Outlet.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 7
Microsoft's Surface Laptop brings a lot to the table for hybrid work environments. In terms of design and build quality, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 is far ahead of the competition, with a solid aluminium case that measures in at just 18.3 mm thick.
The Surface Laptop 7 has a bright 600-nit, 120 Hz display, a haptic touchpad, and an Intel Core Ultra 268V CPU. Battery life is another strong point with the Surface Laptop 7. The Surface Laptop 7 also sports a touchscreen and support for the Surface Pen, which makes it great for taking notes. Microsoft's 1080p camera is class-leading and features Windows Hello-enabled IR capabilities for fast, secure access.
One major drawback of the Surface Laptop 7 is the lack of ports, with only a single USB Type-A port and two USB Type-C ports. This can be resolved with something like a Microsoft Surface Dock 2. Prices start at €1,439.39 on Tech Outlet in the EU.
Which hybrid business laptop is best?
While all four of the aforementioned business laptops are well-suited for hybrid work, thanks to their remote management and security features, solid build quality, and practicality, the best hybrid work laptop comes down to what you prioritise. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 is a great option if you need long battery life and a bright display for frequent travel and working in brightly lit environments. Meanwhile, the Lenovo ThinkPad T16 Gen 3 and Dell Latitude 5550 both deliver solid performance and build quality at a reasonable price. The best all-round hybrid work laptop has to be the HP EliteBook 860 Gen 11, thanks to its bright display, reasonable price, and solid — if not exceptional — battery life.
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