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Why you might want to consider business laptops for your work
Freelancing gives you the freedom to work when and where you want, but that freedom means nothing if your laptop slows you down.
Imagine working on a big project with a tight deadline, and suddenly… your laptop freezes or crashes. Or maybe you’re on an important video call with a client, and your battery dies despite showing 20% just minutes ago.
That’s why choosing the right laptop is crucial. You need something reliable, fast, and portable with good battery life and strong multitasking performance—especially if you work on the go.
While popular brands like HP, Dell, and Apple offer great choices (like the older-gen MacBook Air), there are hidden gems that provide excellent performance at a much better price. So, After reviewing tons of laptops, here are the ones we think are the best budget laptops for freelancing in 2025.
| Laptop | Processor | Memory | Storage | Display | Weight | Battery Life | Ports | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lenovo ThinkBook 16 G6 | AMD Ryzen 5 7430U | 16GB RAM (upgradable to 32GB) | 512GB SSD | 16" 1920x1200, 300 nits | 3.8 lbs | Good, lasts a full workday | HDMI, Ethernet, 2x USB-A, 2x USB-C, SD card, Mic port | All-around performance, strong multitasking |
| Acer Aspire 5 | Intel Core i5-13420H | 16GB RAM | 512GB SSD | 15.6" Full HD, Touchscreen | 4.0 lbs | Decent | HDMI, 2x USB-A, Mic port | Budget-friendly everyday use |
| Acer Swift Go | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | 16GB RAM | 512GB SSD | 14" OLED, 90Hz, 400 nits | Under 3 lbs | Good battery, fast charge | 2x USB-C, HDMI, USB-A, MicroSD slot | Portability, AI-powered performance |
| ASUS Vivobook 15 | AMD Ryzen 5 7520U | 8GB RAM (non-upgradable) | 512GB SSD | 15.6" Full HD | 3.6 lbs | Fast charge, 60% in 50 mins | USB-C, USB-A, HDMI | Affordable, remote work |
| Acer Nitro 5 | Intel Core i5-13420H | 8GB RAM (upgradable to 16GB) | 512GB SSD | 15.6" Full HD, 144Hz | 4.66 lbs | Limited under heavy use | Multiple USB-A, USB-C (Thunderbolt 4), HDMI 2.1, Ethernet | Power users, gaming, content creation |
1. Lenovo ThinkBook 16 G6 – A powerful & versatile choice but not a budget laptop
Lenovo make some excellent business laptop options, but the Lenovo ThinkBook 16 G6 stands out for freelancers whom need power, reliability, and flexibility. It comes with an AMD Ryzen 5 7430U Hexa-core processor and 16GB of RAM, which can be upgraded to 32GB if needed.
While it is a mid range option, it’s good a great 16inch full HD display with 1920×1200 resolution with 300 nits of brightness, which is decent but not the brightest. However, the larger screen makes multitasking and content creation much easier and the 10-Core i5-1335U is a powerful processor which helps with that too!
Now, most business laptops need to be both small and powerful. This laptop is great for work task performance but the size may make it a little tricky to take around easily. For something smaller, the Lenovo Thinkpad E14 G6 Business Laptop is a really good option. It’s got a huge 24GB of RAM, 1TB SSD storage, combined with the AMD Ryzen 5 7530U Processor and AMD Radeon Graphics.
While this one isn’t as powerful as the 16 G6, it’s still very capable of handling smooth multitasking and everyday work like researching, coding and office applications. The 14 inch screen size and light weight of only around 3 pounds makes it more portable too.
On another note, the ports on the Lenovo ThinkBook 16 G6 are one of its biggest strengths:
- HDMI & Ethernet port – Great for a stable wired internet connection (underrated for freelancers).
- 2 USB-A & 2 USB-C ports – One of which is for power.
- SD card reader & mic port – Perfect for photographers and content creators.
- Fingerprint scanner – Adds extra security.
Final Thoughts: Even though it’s a bigger screen this laptop is lightweight at around (3.8 lbs), it’s reliable, and powerful, making it one of the best business laptops in this price range. But for something cheaper, lighter and less powerful, the ThinkBook 14 G6 is a great business laptop choice too!
2. Acer Aspire 5 – Budget-Friendly & Stylish
Acer are another brand that offer some great business laptops for freelancers. For those wanting a sleek, budget-friendly laptop without sacrificing performance, the Acer Aspire 5 is a solid choice.
Inside this package, it has an Intel Core i5-13420H processor, 16GB RAM, and a 15.6-inch touchscreen display, making it a flexible option for freelancers working on different tasks.
It’s not built for gaming or heavy workloads, but it excels at multitasking, streaming, and daily productivity, and it’s proven to be a great choice for people looking for a reliable everyday laptop in a low price range.
But keep in mind, the port selection is more limited especially when compared to the Lenovo:
- 1 HDMI port – Good for connecting to an external monitor or TV.
- 2 USB-A ports & a mic slot – Basic but functional.
Final Thoughts: If you need an affordable, stylish laptop for light work, browsing, and entertainment, the Aspire 5 is a great value pick.
| ✅ Pros | ❌ Cons |
|---|---|
| 16GB RAM & Intel Core i5-13420H for smooth performance | Not the best option for high-end tasks |
| Touchscreen display adds extra functionality | Display quality may not be top-tier |
| Great value for money for students & professionals |
3. Acer Swift Go – Display focused for creative works
The Acer Swift Go is usually a higher-end laptop, but thanks to recent discounts, it’s currenyly a great budget-friendly option for freelancers. However, I’m not sure how long that will last, so it may not be able to stay on this list.
One of its standout features is its 90Hz OLED display, offering crisp colors, deep blacks, and a fast response time. The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor provides fantastic performance for everyday tasks and demanding applications. It’s also very portable, at only 14inches and around 1.25kg it’s a laptop you’d want to take when traveling. This one is packing alot of AI tech as well, which is supposed to boost it’s performance and make it more efficient.
Additional highlights include:
- Ultra-portable design – Under 3 lbs and 14-inch screen, making it easy to carry.
- AI-powered features – Includes Intel AI Boost, which enhances AI processing, though it relies on system memory.
- Better ports than the Aspire 5 – Includes 2 USB-C ports and a microSD card slot for expanded storage.
Final Thoughts: If you need a premium, lightweight laptop with AI-enhanced performance and an incredible display, this is a fantastic deal and makes it one of the top business laptops—if you can find it on sale.
| ✅ Pros | ❌ Cons |
|---|---|
| Vibrant 14" OLED touchscreen (100% color gamut) | Only 8GB RAM, struggles with demanding software |
| Great port selection: HDMI, 2 USB-C, 2 USB-A, microSD | No Ethernet port, requires an adapter |
| AI-powered performance boosts efficiency & battery | Not ideal for power users needing high performance |
| 8-hour battery life for all-day use | |
| Intel Core Ultra 5 handles everyday tasks well | |
| Super lightweight (2.87 lbs) for easy portability |
4. ASUS Vivobook 15 – Affordable & Reliable for Remote Work
If you’re on a tight budget but need a solid, everyday work laptop, the ASUS Vivobook 15 is an excellent option in this business laptops list.
It’s not jam packed with amazing hardware, but it has enough to power it for smooth web browsing and everyday tasks. But it’s main attraction is it’s low price. It comes with 8GB RAM, a 512GB SSD, and a 15.6-inch Full HD display when you combine it with the Ryzen 3 processor, making it good for basic freelancing tasks like document editing, web browsing, and video calls.
There are so many varients of this model but when you pay a little more you can get the Ryzen 7-7730u processor combined with 16GB of RAM and a huge 1TB SSD. Giving you much better performance and storage and it still pretty good value. The screen size gets a little larger and makes it 16inches so just consider that too, especially if portability is a priority.
Other standout features include:
- Fast charging – 60% in just 50 minutes, reducing downtime.
- 720p webcam with a privacy shutter – Great for client meetings.
- Military-grade durability – Ensures it can handle daily wear and tear.
However, RAM and storage are non-upgradable, so if you need more power, consider upgrading as mentioned above or check out these other laptops on the list.
Final Thoughts: If you just need a reliable, budget-friendly laptop for everyday work, this is one of the best value business laptops.
5. Acer Nitro 5 – The Best Budget Powerhouse
Not necessarily centered around business laptops, this one is more targeted for use as a gaming laptop or even a video editing laptop. But still think it’s a great choice simply for the power. Especially if you’re someone who needs a business laptop to run more demanding software. The Acer Nitro 5 is pretty awesome for video editing, gaming, and even light 3D work. So, given it’s value to performance, I have to add it to this list for best business laptops.
But do keep in mind, this one will be heavier than the others, and it’s bigger too. That’s expected though as it’s packing more hardware like a decent GPU and fan to cool it.
So what is inside? Well, this model is equipped with an Intel Core i5-13420H processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 GPU, it can handle intensive tasks that other budget laptops can’t.
The 15.6-inch Full HD display has a 144Hz refresh rate, making it smooth for gaming and video editing, though its color accuracy isn’t the best.
Port selection is one of the best on this list:
- Multiple USB-A ports – Great for external drives and accessories.
- USB-C (Thunderbolt 4) & HDMI 2.1 – Supports fast data transfer and multiple monitors.
- Ethernet port – Provides a stable internet connection for online work.
Final Thoughts: If you need power for content creation, gaming, or multitasking, this is one of the best high-performance budget laptops available.
Final Thoughts: Which Laptop Should You Choose?
Here’s a quick summary based on your needs:
✔ Best All-Around Laptop → Lenovo ThinkBook 16 G6
✔ Best Budget Option → Acer Aspire 5
✔ Best Display & Portability → Acer Swift Go
✔ Best for Remote Work → ASUS Vivobook 15
✔ Best for Heavy Tasks & Content Creation → Acer Nitro 5
Check for Deals!
Laptop prices fluctuate, and many of these models go on sale frequently. Check the latest prices before purchasing in the links above!
We hope you was able to find the best business laptop for you through our business laptops list. If you’re still sure about which laptop to choose, try our Laptop Finder Quiz and be matched with instant recommendations.
And if you’re interested in laptops that are more focused on gaming and video editing instead of business laptops, check out our other articles on the links below.
