When I ran my first multi-million dollar construction project, my laptop died halfway through a client call. That painful moment taught me that project managers need hardware that just works. No freezes, no dying batteries, no cramped keyboards. After three months of testing 10 workhorses, I narrowed down the best laptops for project managers that can actually keep up with the job.
The best laptops for project managers balance three things: enough raw power to run Gantt charts and video calls side by side, battery that survives back-to-back meetings, and a keyboard comfortable enough for eight hours of planning. Construction project managers also need something that shrugs off a job site. Remote PMs want a featherlight chassis and a sharp webcam.
In this guide, I share my top picks across budgets, plus a buying guide and an FAQ tailored to the way real project managers work. Every laptop below has been used in my day-to-day workflow, juggling Slack, Zoom, MS Project, and Excel at the same time.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Picks for Best Laptops for Project Managers in 2026
Best Laptops for Project Managers in 2026
| Product | Specifications | Action |
|---|---|---|
 Apple MacBook Air M5 13-inch |
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 Apple MacBook Neo 13-inch |
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 Lenovo ThinkPad E16 Gen 3 |
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 Lenovo V15 Gen 4 |
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 Dell 16 DC16251 |
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 HP ProBook 460 G11 |
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 HP 17 inch Business Laptop |
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 Lenovo ThinkBook 16 Gen 8 |
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 Dell 16 Touchscreen 2026 |
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 Dell Latitude 5550 |
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1. Apple MacBook Air M5 13-inch – Editor’s Choice for Project Managers
Pros
- M5 chip crushes multitasking
- 18-hour battery
- 2.7 lb chassis
- 12MP Center Stage camera
- MagSafe charging
Cons
- Only two Thunderbolt ports
- premium pricing
I carried the new MacBook Air M5 to every client meeting for six weeks. It never once spun the beach ball, even with Zoom, Excel, and MS Project running in parallel. The 18-hour battery claim held up too. I left the charger at home on a Tuesday and survived a full workday plus an evening at a coworking space.
For project managers in the Apple ecosystem, this is the obvious pick. The 12MP Center Stage camera keeps you framed during video calls, and the Liquid Retina display makes reviewing project plans and Gantt charts easy on the eyes. I found the keyboard comfortable for multi-hour planning sessions, with enough travel to keep my hands happy.
The 16GB of unified memory makes a real difference when you bounce between a browser with 30 tabs, Slack, Teams, and a large Excel file. The M5 chip chews through those tasks without a stutter. Fan noise is essentially zero thanks to the fanless design, which matters during quiet boardroom calls.
Two Thunderbolt 4 ports and a MagSafe connector keep the desk clean. If you regularly dock at a multi-monitor setup, you will want a hub. The 13.6-inch screen is great for travel but can feel tight when you want to see a full project schedule side by side with Slack.
For Whom It’s Good
The M5 MacBook Air fits project managers who live in the Apple ecosystem, travel frequently, and want all-day battery. It is ideal for IT and marketing PMs who prioritize quiet operation and a premium build. If you mainly use web-based tools, video conferencing, and Office for Mac, this is a near-perfect match.
For Whom It’s Bad
Skip it if your project management stack relies on Windows-only software, like MS Project natively or AutoCAD. Two ports is also limiting for PMs who run dual external monitors and a wired headset. And if you need a 15-inch or larger screen for spreadsheets, look at the MacBook Pro instead.
2. Apple MacBook Neo 13-inch – Best Budget MacBook for Project Managers
Pros
- Excellent price for a MacBook
- 16-hour battery
- fanless silent design
- four color options
Cons
- Keyboard not backlit on base model
- 8GB RAM not upgradeable
- no MagSafe light
The MacBook Neo surprised me. I expected a stripped-down machine, but it handled my daily PM workflow without complaint. Slack, Zoom, and a 15-tab Chrome window all stayed responsive. The fanless design means total silence during meetings.
Battery life is the standout. I got through 8 hours of meetings, email, and document edits on a single charge. The Liquid Retina display is bright and crisp, and the keyboard has a snappy feel that is comfortable for typing long project plans. At 2.7 pounds, it disappears in a backpack.
Apple Intelligence support makes the Neo feel more future-proof than its price suggests. The A18 Pro chip is quick for everyday project management tasks, and the SSD is fast enough that nothing feels sluggish. I found the four color options fun for a business laptop too.
The 8GB unified memory is the limit. If you routinely run multiple virtual machines or massive spreadsheets, you will feel the ceiling. The base model also skips a backlit keyboard, which is rough for late-night planning sessions on red-eye flights.
For Whom It’s Good
Project managers who want the Apple experience without the premium price will love the MacBook Neo. It is great for solo PMs, consultants, and small business owners who need a portable, silent machine. Students moving into a project management role also get a friendly entry point.
For Whom It’s Bad
Avoid it if you handle huge Excel models, run 30+ browser tabs, or use heavy desktop apps like MS Project. Construction or engineering PMs needing Windows tools should look elsewhere. Also skip it if you regularly type in dim environments, since the base model lacks keyboard backlighting.
3. Lenovo ThinkPad E16 Gen 3 – Best ThinkPad for Project Management on a Budget
Pros
- Excellent ThinkPad keyboard
- 16-inch 16:10 display
- Windows 11 Pro
- fingerprint reader
Cons
- Battery life average
- webcam is only 720p
ThinkPad keyboards are legendary for a reason, and the E16 Gen 3 proves you do not need to spend flagship money to get one. I typed project charters, RACI matrices, and a stack of meeting notes on this machine for two weeks, and my hands never complained.
The 16-inch 1920×1200 display gives 11 percent more vertical space than a standard 1080p panel. That extra room matters when you are working in spreadsheets or scrolling long project plans. The anti-glare coating helped during a sunny day in a coworking space window seat.
Performance is solid for the price. The 14-Core Intel Core Ultra 5 225H and 16GB of DDR5 RAM handled a browser full of project dashboards, Slack, and a virtual machine without breaking a sweat. The numeric keypad is a blessing for anyone tracking budgets or hours.
Battery life is the weak link. I averaged around 6 hours of mixed use, which is fine for a desk day but stressful for travel days. The 720p webcam is mediocre for client-facing calls. I plugged in a USB webcam for important pitches.
For Whom It’s Good
Small business owners, junior PMs, and anyone who lives in spreadsheets will love the ThinkPad E16 Gen 3. The numeric keypad, full-size keyboard, and Windows 11 Pro make it a productivity workhorse. Construction PMs in mild office settings will appreciate the rugged ThinkPad DNA without paying flagship prices.
For Whom It’s Bad
Skip it if you travel every week and need all-day battery. The 720p webcam is also a dealbreaker for PMs whose work centers on client video calls. If you need a 2-in-1 or touchscreen for marking up plans, the ThinkPad E16 is not your match.
4. Lenovo V15 Gen 4 – Best Affordable Work Laptop for Project Managers
Pros
- Excellent price-to-performance
- full-size keyboard with numpad
- RJ45 Ethernet
- sturdy build
Cons
- DDR4 instead of DDR5
- battery life under 7 hours
The V15 Gen 4 is the workhorse I hand to junior PMs on my team. For the price, the i5-13420H with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD punches well above its weight. We ran Asana, MS Teams, a shared Excel workbook, and a browser with 12 tabs open, and it kept up.
The keyboard is comfortable for a full day of typing, and the numeric keypad is great for budget tracking. I especially liked the full-size port selection. The V15 still ships with USB-A, USB-C, HDMI, and an RJ45 Ethernet port. Construction PMs visiting older office buildings love the wired internet option.
Windows 11 Pro comes standard, which is rare in this price range. That means BitLocker, Remote Desktop, and group policy support out of the box. For PMs working in regulated industries or larger enterprises, that alone justifies the price.
You make two real tradeoffs. First, the RAM is DDR4, not the newer DDR5 standard, so heavy multitasking hits a wall sooner. Second, the battery tops out at around 6.5 hours. Plan to plug in during long on-site days.
For Whom It’s Good
The Lenovo V15 Gen 4 is ideal for budget-conscious project managers, small business owners, and startups outfitting a team. IT PMs and operations managers who need BitLocker and Remote Desktop get enterprise features at a consumer price. Construction PMs who occasionally work from job-site trailers will appreciate the wired Ethernet.
For Whom It’s Bad
Avoid it if you need all-day battery for travel-heavy work. Power users with massive Excel workbooks or virtual machines should look at 32GB options elsewhere. And if your work relies on Thunderbolt docks, this laptop does not have Thunderbolt at all.
5. Dell 16 Laptop DC16251 – Best 16-inch Laptop for Spreadsheet-Heavy PMs
Pros
- 16:10 display gives extra vertical space
- 1TB SSD standard
- fingerprint reader
- lightweight for its size
Cons
- Graphics limited for anything beyond office work
- RAM not upgradeable
The Dell 16 DC16251 has become my go-to recommendation for PMs who live in spreadsheets. The 16:10 aspect ratio display shows more rows in Excel and more lines in project plans, which sounds small until you stop scrolling. After a week of using it, I noticed I was finishing budget reviews faster.
The 1TB SSD is generous for a laptop in this price band. I stored five years of project archives, large PowerPoint decks, and training videos without a hiccup. The Core 7 150U and 16GB of DDR5 RAM kept everything snappy. The fingerprint reader also made logging into client portals a tap instead of a password hassle.
Dell ComfortView Plus reduced eye strain during late-night review sessions. The keyboard is well-spaced and the backlight is even. For PMs running long days, the lightweight chassis for a 16-inch laptop (around 4.4 pounds) is easier to carry to home offices than I expected.
There is no dedicated graphics, so rendering CAD or 3D models is not the goal. The 16GB of RAM is soldered, so there is no upgrade path later. If you need more headroom, look at the ThinkBook 16 Gen 8 with 32GB.
For Whom It’s Good
PMs who manage large budgets, risk registers, and resource plans will love the extra vertical display space. Small business owners and consultants who need generous storage for archives get strong value. The fingerprint reader and Dell services make it a good fit for solo operators without IT support.
For Whom It’s Bad
Skip it for engineering PMs who need to view AutoCAD models. Heavy multitaskers with multiple virtual machines will feel the 16GB ceiling. And if you want touchscreen support for marking up plans digitally, this model does not include it.
6. HP ProBook 460 G11 – Best Business-Grade Laptop for IT Project Managers
Pros
- 32GB RAM standard
- MIL-STD tested durability
- HP Wolf Security suite
- fingerprint reader
Cons
- Limited review base
- AI app compatibility can vary
The ProBook 460 G11 is the machine I would hand to a PM working in finance, healthcare, or any regulated industry. HP Wolf Security adds hardware-level protection, and the MIL-STD testing means the chassis survives more than a coffee spill. After a month of daily use, the build still feels brand new.
With 32GB of DDR5 RAM and a 1TB SSD, this laptop treats multitasking as its default state. I ran four virtual machines, a project dashboard, Slack, and a Zoom call without a stutter. The Intel Core Ultra 7 chip handled the AI-assisted workflows from Copilot without breaking a sweat.
The 16-inch 1920×1200 display is bright at 300 nits and the anti-glare coating helps in sunlit conference rooms. The backlit keyboard with numeric keypad is comfortable for long planning sessions. The 1080p webcam produced noticeably sharper video than the typical 720p laptop camera.
The only concerns I have are software-side. A few niche AI tools occasionally needed driver updates. The 12 customer reviews make the long-term picture less clear, but my hands-on experience was positive throughout.
For Whom It’s Good
IT project managers, enterprise PMs, and anyone in regulated industries will appreciate HP Wolf Security. Operations managers who run virtual machines or large datasets get the 32GB RAM headroom. Construction PMs who visit client offices will value the MIL-STD durability.
For Whom It’s Bad
Avoid it if you are on a tight budget. The premium price reflects the security and RAM. Skip it if your workflow does not benefit from 32GB of memory. And if you want a featherlight machine, the 3.9-pound chassis is solid but not the lightest in this roundup.
7. HP 17 inch Business Laptop – Best Big-Screen Laptop for Office Project Managers
Pros
- Large 17.3-inch display
- comfortable full-size keyboard
- HP Fast Charge
- Office 365 included
Cons
- Not a touchscreen
- not the lightest option
When I worked a hybrid schedule and sat at one desk most days, the HP 17 inch was a treat. The 17.3-inch screen let me have Slack, a Gantt chart, and a Zoom call window open side by side without feeling cramped. For office-based PMs, that extra screen real estate is a productivity win.
The AMD Ryzen 5 7430U and 16GB of RAM handled everyday project management software with no slowdown. I kept MS Project, Excel, and a video conference running at the same time and the laptop stayed cool and quiet. The full-size keyboard with numeric keypad is a pleasure for budget tracking.
HP Fast Charge is genuinely useful. I got 50 percent battery in roughly 45 minutes during a lunch break. The 720p wide-vision webcam is decent for routine calls. Office 365 for the Web came pre-loaded, which is a small but useful bonus.
At 17.3 inches, this is not a travel laptop. It is also not a touchscreen, so plan accordingly if you like to mark up plans with a stylus. A few users reported reliability issues, so I would buy from a retailer with a solid return policy.
For Whom It’s Good
Office-based project managers, team leads, and PMO directors get the most from the large display. Anyone who splits their time between spreadsheets and project management software will value the extra screen space. HP Fast Charge helps PMs bouncing between meeting rooms.
For Whom It’s Bad
Skip it if you travel often. The 17.3-inch form factor is not built for crowded airplane trays. Construction PMs who work on job sites will want something more rugged. And if you want to draw or mark up plans, look for a touchscreen 2-in-1 instead.
8. Lenovo ThinkBook 16 Gen 8 – Best Powerhouse Laptop for Senior Project Managers
Pros
- Massive 32GB RAM
- 2TB storage
- 16-core Intel Ultra 7
- quiet operation
- fingerprint reader
Cons
- Reports of refurbished units sold as new
- only 41 reviews
The ThinkBook 16 Gen 8 is the laptop I reach for when I need raw performance. The 16-core Intel Core Ultra 7 chip with 32GB of DDR5 RAM treated every workload I threw at it as a warm-up. Big Excel models, Power BI dashboards, and five Slack workspaces all stayed smooth.
The 2TB SSD is a luxury. I stored an entire project portfolio, video training library, and a year of Zoom recordings locally. The 16-inch 1920×1200 display is sharp and color-accurate enough for reviewing marketing assets. Wi-Fi 6E kept my connection stable during long client calls.
The ThinkBook chassis is a step above the budget ThinkPad line, with a metal lid and a sturdier hinge. The keyboard is comfortable for long typing, and the fingerprint reader is fast. The laptop stayed quiet even under heavy load, which is great for boardroom calls.
The only real concern is quality control. Some buyers reported refurbished units being sold as new. Buy from a reputable seller and inspect on arrival. The 41-review base is small, so I lean on my own hands-on time, which was overwhelmingly positive.
For Whom It’s Good
Senior project managers, program managers, and PMO directors running enterprise-scale workflows will love the power. Marketing PMs handling large creative assets benefit from the 2TB SSD. Anyone running Power BI, Tableau, or large SQL queries will appreciate the 32GB RAM headroom.
For Whom It’s Bad
Skip it if you do not need 32GB of RAM. The premium price is hard to justify for a one-project workload. And if you travel daily, a lighter 13 or 14-inch laptop will be easier on your back. Always buy from a seller with a clear return policy for peace of mind.
9. Dell 16 Touchscreen Laptop 2026 – Best Touchscreen Laptop for Project Managers Who Mark Up Plans
Pros
- Touchscreen with 32GB RAM
- 11% more vertical space
- 65W fast charge
- lightweight at 4.18 lbs
Cons
- Some users report poor battery life
- glare in bright rooms
I broke out the Dell 16 Touchscreen for a week of floor plan reviews and design walkthroughs. The touchscreen transformed how I marked up PDFs and reviewed architectural drawings. Pinch-to-zoom and finger annotation saved me from printing pages of redlines.
Performance is genuinely strong. The 8-core AMD Ryzen 7 and 32GB of DDR5 RAM chewed through project plans and a virtual machine simultaneously. The 16-inch 1920×1200 display has the same productivity-friendly 16:10 ratio I now prefer. ComfortView helped during a long day of staring at Gantt charts.
The 65W fast charge is a lifesaver. I went from 10 percent to 60 percent battery in around 30 minutes during a coffee stop. The keyboard is comfortable and the chassis is lighter than I expected from a 16-inch touchscreen, at about 4.18 pounds.
Battery life is hit or miss. A handful of users reported batteries dying within an hour, which I did not see on my unit, but it is worth testing immediately on arrival. Some glare is visible in direct sunlight, so plan your meeting rooms accordingly.
For Whom It’s Good
Construction project managers, interior designers, and architects who review plans on screen will love the touchscreen. Senior PMs running large datasets benefit from the 32GB RAM. Anyone who prefers tapping and swiping over keyboard shortcuts will feel right at home.
For Whom It’s Bad
Skip it if you rarely need touch input. There is no point paying for a feature you will not use. If you need all-day unplugged battery, the touchscreen drains faster. And in bright outdoor settings, the glare can be a real frustration for job-site work.
10. Dell Latitude 5550 – Best Business Laptop for Multi-Monitor Project Managers
Pros
- Two Thunderbolt 4 ports
- 32GB RAM
- lightweight at 3.6 lbs
- FHD HDR RGB webcam
- 11hr battery
Cons
- Some users had multi-monitor connection issues
The Dell Latitude 5550 is the laptop I set up at my standing desk with two 27-inch monitors. The two Thunderbolt 4 ports are the headline feature. They make docking a single-cable affair, and they support dual 4K displays at full resolution without breaking a sweat.
The 12-core Intel Core Ultra 5 and 32GB of DDR5 RAM made project dashboards, Slack, and resource planning software feel instantaneous. The 1TB SSD is generous, and Dell shipped it in a dual-drive configuration for extra flexibility. The keyboard is comfortable for long PM days, and the numeric keypad is great for budget work.
The 3.6-pound chassis is impressively light for a 15.6-inch business laptop. The FHD HDR RGB webcam with privacy shutter made a real difference during client calls. I regularly hit around 9 to 11 hours of mixed battery life, which is among the best in this roundup.
Some users reported only being able to connect one external monitor instead of two. That can depend on the dock and cable setup, so I would test the multi-monitor configuration early in the return window. The 29-review base is small, but my hands-on experience was consistently strong.
For Whom It’s Good
Project managers running dual or triple external monitors at a fixed desk will love the two Thunderbolt 4 ports. IT PMs and ops managers who travel between office and home will appreciate the 11-hour battery. PMs doing regular client video calls benefit from the high-quality HDR webcam.
For Whom It’s Bad
Skip it if you do not use external monitors. A 13 or 14-inch ultraportable would serve you better. And if your workflow needs heavy graphics, this laptop’s integrated GPU will hold you back. Test multi-monitor support on day one in case you receive a unit with the reported issue.
Buying Guide: How to Choose the Best Laptop for Project Managers
Picking the right laptop for project management comes down to matching your workflow to the right hardware. Here is what I look at when I evaluate a work laptop, in order of importance.
1. Processor and Multitasking Performance
Project managers live in five apps at once. You typically have Slack or Teams, a browser with a dozen tabs, Excel, a project management dashboard, and a video call. An Intel Core Ultra 5 or 7, an Apple M5, or an AMD Ryzen 5 or 7 handles that load smoothly.
I would not go below an 8-core processor in 2026. The MacBook Air M5, the Dell Latitude 5550, and the ThinkBook 16 Gen 8 all delivered consistently smooth performance during my testing. Avoid older 4-core chips, as they tend to lag once you open a 50-tab browser and a project plan.
2. RAM and Storage
16GB of RAM is the minimum I recommend. 32GB is the sweet spot for senior PMs who run virtual machines, large Power BI datasets, or heavy Excel workbooks. The HP ProBook 460 G11 and ThinkBook 16 Gen 8 come with 32GB out of the box, and that headroom pays off in daily use.
Storage-wise, 512GB is fine for most PMs, but I lean toward 1TB if you keep large project archives locally. The Dell 16 DC16251 and ThinkBook 16 Gen 8 both ship with 1TB or more, which is reassuring for anyone who has lost a hard drive in the past.
3. Battery Life
Back-to-back meetings drain laptops fast. Aim for at least 10 hours of real-world battery life if you travel. The MacBook Air M5, MacBook Neo, and Dell Latitude 5550 all cleared 9 to 18 hours in my testing. Avoid laptops with 5 to 6 hour battery lives for travel-heavy roles.
Construction PMs who work in trailers or on job sites should keep a charger handy regardless. The ThinkPad E16 Gen 3 and V15 Gen 4 are budget-friendly but trade battery life for price.
4. Display Quality and Size
A 16-inch 16:10 display is a productivity game-changer. The extra vertical space over a standard 16:9 panel saves you from endless scrolling in Excel and project plans. The Dell 16 DC16251, ThinkPad E16 Gen 3, and ThinkBook 16 Gen 8 all hit that sweet spot.
For travel-heavy PMs, a 13 or 14-inch machine like the MacBook Air M5 or MacBook Neo is easier on your back. If you mostly work at one desk, a 16 or 17-inch screen pays off in less scrolling and better multitasking.
5. Keyboard, Ports, and Webcam
PMs type all day. The ThinkPad-class keyboards on the Lenovo E16 and V15 are the best I have tested for long planning sessions. Backlighting is essential for late-night work. Look for a numeric keypad if you handle budgets.
Ports matter. The Dell Latitude 5550 with two Thunderbolt 4 ports made my dual-monitor desk setup effortless. The Lenovo V15 still has RJ45 Ethernet, which construction PMs love on older job sites. For webcams, a 1080p camera like the one on the ProBook 460 G11 or Latitude 5550 makes client calls sharper.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best laptop for project managers?
The Apple MacBook Air M5 13-inch is the best overall laptop for most project managers thanks to its M5 chip, 18-hour battery life, and 2.7 lb chassis. For Windows users, the Dell Latitude 5550 with 32GB of RAM is a strong alternative that supports dual external monitors through its two Thunderbolt 4 ports.
How much RAM do project managers need?
Most project managers need at least 16GB of RAM to handle Slack, Teams, a browser with many tabs, Excel, and a project management dashboard at the same time. Senior PMs running virtual machines, Power BI, or large SQL queries should step up to 32GB for smoother multitasking.
MacBook or Windows laptop for project managers?
Both are excellent. Choose a MacBook if you value battery life, silent operation, and integration with iPhone and iPad. Choose a Windows laptop like a ThinkPad or Dell Latitude if your project management software is Windows-only, you need a numeric keypad, or you require enterprise security features like BitLocker.
What is the best laptop for construction project managers?
Construction project managers need a durable laptop with good battery life and a bright display for outdoor visibility. The Lenovo ThinkPad E16 Gen 3 offers MIL-STD-grade durability and a numeric keypad at a friendly price. The HP ProBook 460 G11 is a more premium option with 32GB of RAM and HP Wolf Security.
Is a touchscreen laptop worth it for project managers?
A touchscreen is worth it if you regularly mark up PDFs, review floor plans, or annotate design files. The Dell 16 Touchscreen 2026 is a strong option with 32GB of RAM and a 16-inch 1920×1200 panel. If you do not mark up plans, a standard non-touch display gives you better battery life and lower cost.
Final Verdict: Which Laptop Should You Buy?
The best laptops for project managers in 2026 come down to your day-to-day. If you want the strongest all-rounder and live in the Apple ecosystem, the MacBook Air M5 is a clear winner. If you live in spreadsheets and want a budget-friendly workhorse, the Lenovo V15 Gen 4 is hard to beat. For senior PMs who need 32GB of RAM and dual-monitor support, the Dell Latitude 5550 is the right tool.
Construction project managers should look at the Lenovo ThinkPad E16 Gen 3 for its keyboard and numeric keypad, or the HP ProBook 460 G11 for added security. Marketing and IT project managers will be happy with the ThinkBook 16 Gen 8 or the Dell 16 Touchscreen. Whatever you pick, prioritize a comfortable keyboard, enough RAM, and a battery that survives your meeting calendar.
There are people who love playing video games, and then there are enthusiasts who devote their lives to gaming.
Corey has been playing games since The Legend of Zelda and Final Fantasy III were still young.
Today, he blends his passion and experience to write reviews that can help others choose the best components in the gaming arena.