What was once considered a 'special skill' in the early 2000's, is now a staple wherein you need to know how to use the suite of Microsoft Office programs. Most notably would be Word, Excel and PowerPoint. But these days, as technology and software evolves, you're going to need some of the best laptops for Microsoft Office to keep up with demands. But before that, let's take a more in depth look into what you can expect from Microsoft Office.
How It All Started
Microsoft Office, a suite of programs that effectively changed the way the world works. Originally released back in the 1990's, Microsoft Office initially only came with Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint and Microsoft Excel. Over the years, as the software gained in popularity, Microsoft expanded to add in even more features, programs, and other useful ways to do pretty much any and everything. From writing essays and documents, to accounting, creating presentations, databases, to now creating cloud storage options like OneDrive, communications tools like Teams, and a bunch more.
It's basically an all in one starter set for anyone looking to work in a professional setting, in almost every industry you can imagine. Think about it, almost every job you could think of will need some basic use of either Microsoft Word, or knowing how to use functions within Microsoft Excel.
What is Microsoft Office?
Now, I can understand that some of you may be a little confused on what Microsoft Office truly is. You're probably familiar with some of the programs within Microsoft Office, but there's actually two versions of Microsoft Office. Now, what's the difference between Office 365 and Microsoft Office? Well essentially, Microsoft Office is usually a one time payment where you purchase the office suite according to various categories such as Home, Business and Professional. They consist of different programs according to which version you get.
Office 365 on the other hand is a subscription service for businesses, schools and individual usage. This contains all of their most recent productivity tools and services, segmented via various tiers of subscriptions. These subscriptions range in price, and limits some features and programs on lower priced subscriptions. There's even a version of a Web only versions of Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Unlike with the standalone Microsoft Office bundle, you'll have to pay either monthly or annually to keep accessing Microsoft's services.
The major, major differentiator here is that Office 365 is available only online, while a normal Microsoft Office plan will be available offline for life. Depending on which you fancy, and if you were keen on the whole host of extras provided by Microsoft, your purchase may vary with other users. Either way, you're still getting one of the most influential, popular productivity tools around, so you'll be good either way. You're going to need a laptop with Microsoft Office regardless, it's just a matter of where you access it.
Windows or macOS?
Another pertinent question some of you may ask, "Should I get a Windows or macOS laptop?"
To be frank, it doesn't really matter unless you're truly looking for some niche features. For the most part, the debate between having a Windows 10 enabled laptop vs the latest macOS running core MS Office programs is practically inconsequential. But there are a few missing features that you don't get on macOS such as Microsoft Publisher and Microsoft Access. There are other minute differences between programs on Windows 10 and macOS such as the ability to embed fonts and use digital ink is not available on Apple's macOS.
Otherwise, things like basic use of Microsoft Word, Excel, and the ensuite of MS Office programs is pretty similar. Now it's more a matter of which OS you're more comfortable with.
These days, most users are capable of using both Windows and macOS. However, there are differences within both operating systems that might influence this decision. First, let's check out Windows 10.
Windows
Windows 10 is Microsoft's most recent, fully fledged operating system. There's a bunch of different versions of Windows 10 such as; Windows 10 Home, Windows 10 S, Windows 10 Pro, etc. For the most part, if you're just the average everyday consumer, you're going to run across Windows 10 Home which is a fully fledged version of the operating system. The latest Windows operating system truly is great; it's simple, fully packed with great useful features like Cortana, fingerprint sign in options, prompt security updates, protection and a whole host of universal Windows apps.
macOS
macOS on the other hand, is a trickier beast to decipher. Most consumers will already have a distinct preference between Windows and Apple OSs', and many may want to jump in on the Apple train. Don't get me wrong, they've got a great laptop lineup with really intuitive features, with the caveat being a high, premium price tag. If you were willing to learn, or are used to Apple's UI, ecosystem and products, you shouldn't face too many issues. Their laptops are well built, have great in-built features, and are very attractive in terms of design and aesthetic. But for those already comfortable with Windows' OS, you might want to stick to that to fully optimize the MS Office experience.
Minimum & Recommended System Specs
1. Minimum System Requirements
Based on these specs from the official Microsoft support page, the best laptops for Microsoft Office don't exactly need high-end flagship specs. Considering that MS Office is probably the most basic, and most popular tools around, this is no surprise. Though surprisingly, they did mention relatively high specs for word editors and database programs. First off, they've mentioned you're going to need a dual-core 1.6GHz processor or better, 4GB of RAM and at least 4GB of storage on your laptop. For macOS, you're going to need an Intel Processor, 4GB RAM and 10GB of storage space.
Now something that I should mention, for macOS, there's a severe limitation that might affect some users. Based on what the support page mentioned, Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Office is only supported on the three most recent macOS versions. Meaning at one point, users with an Apple MacBook Pro from 2016-2017 may lose Microsoft Office support if they haven't already. Something to consider if you're looking for a long lasting laptop for future use.
Otherwise, specs for both operating systems are fairly simple to match up to. Let's now take a look at what we'd recommend you deck out the best laptop for Microsoft Office with.
2. Recommended System Specs
As you can see here, we're upping the ante quite in terms of the hardware the best laptops for Microsoft Office will have. Mainly as having the aforementioned specs will be the easiest way to futureproof your laptop. A laptop with these specs as a base will ensure you get consistent performance in Microsoft Office, as well as a longer laptop life span. Any less than this, and you may face issues in the long run such as slowdowns, lag, system crashes, and more.
3. Processor
To start things off, we've recommended finding a laptop with a Quad-Core processor with at least 2.5GHz processing speed. This will equate to a number of processors such as the 7th Gen Intel Core i5-7300HQ, 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8550U processor, or equivalent. The Intel Core i5-7300HQ and Intel Core i7-8550U are slightly outdated, but they're still very capable in terms of performance for Microsoft Office. The easiest way to ensure consistent, long-lasting performance is by getting one of the latest Intel Core processors like a 10th/11th Gen Intel Core i7 or Intel Core i5 processor.
Next up is the RAM and storage capacities the best laptops for Microsoft Office should have.
4. RAM/ Storage
For the most part, these two specs are somewhat flexible. In regards to the RAM, I will recommend copping at least a 8GB DDR4 RAM capacity. Mainly as a 8GB DDR4 RAM is a great balance of speed and capacity. You could opt to replace the 8GB DDR4 with higher, faster RAM variants like a 16GB DDR5 / DDR6 RAM, but this is probably going to cost you a bit more.
In regards to the storage, you're going to want at least a 256GB solid state drive (SSD). You could also opt for hard drive capacities such as a 512GB SSD or a 1TB HDD. The only time you should opt for a hard drive rather than a solid state drive is when the laptop includes a 1TB HDD or higher. A great combination would be a 256GB SSD + 1TB HDD, giving you the best of both worlds.
5. Display
For the display, we're recommending the best laptop for Microsoft Office have at least a Full HD (1920 x 1080) display. This is mainly because a FHD screen is now the norm for most laptop manufacturers, and is the base for most content you can find online. Plus, if you're going to be staring at a screen all day, at least make it a good looking one, right?
A Full HD display is also great if you were planning to use your laptop as an entertainment console for some light gaming, online streaming, etc. All work and no play makes for a dull boy, after all.
6. GPU
Lastly, we're going to be talking about the graphics card the best laptop for MS Office would have. Frankly speaking, you're not going to need a really powerful graphics card, and would be fine with a number Integrated graphics cards such as the Intel HD Graphics 620 or Intel UHD Graphics. For users looking to get some gaming done, or who needs to use graphic design, editing, or similar software to invest in a laptop with a little extra GPU power. Something like the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti, or equivalent AMD GPUs would be more than sufficient for these tasks.
Now that we've gone through most of the things we should know, let's check out some extra features that will greatly enhance your experience with Microsoft Office.
Other Things To Consider
1. Display
The display on your laptop is one of, if not the most, important spec you should consider. As I mentioned above, we're going to be recommending a base variant of Full HD for the resolution. It is easily the most accessible, widely used display panels around. Another important factor that comes with the display is the screen size. This is mainly up to personal preference, ranging from a 12-inch screen to a 14-inch screen, and a 15.6-inch screen. Whichever screen size you do end up going for, Microsoft Office and similar programs won't really be affected.
Unless you have bad eyesight in which case I'd recommend finding a bigger screen size like 15.6-inch.
There's also another factor that is by the day becoming the norm in the laptop industry. And that is the inclusion of a touch screen panel on your laptop display. You could also opt for a 2-in-1 laptop with a touch screen to fully optimize how and when you work. It's a great addition, but not very integral to the core Microsoft Office experience. Additional display tech like enhanced color accuracy, higher brightness, anti glare, and blue light neutralizers will be great bonus features, adding in even more value to the display.
2. Backlit Keyboard
Another essential I think every laptop should have is a comfortable keyboard. Keyboards come in all shapes and sizes, but one of the best things about a backlit keyboard is the flexibility it gives the user. If you're accustomed to finishing up assignments and reports late at night, in a dark room, you're going to want a backlit keyboard. It will be a great addition to any laptop we feature simply because it's practical. Not to mention a backlit keyboard looks waaay cooler than any number of plain, boring, non-backlit keys.
The keyboard is a very important piece of hardware, especially for consumers looking specifically to find a laptop for Microsoft Office. You're going to be typing a lot in any number of programs on your laptop. Ensuring you have a comfortable keyboard that's nice to type on will be beneficial in the long run as you'll be able to work that much more efficiently. Just a little life hack, ya' know.
3. Portability
One last aspect that doesn't really translate all too well on paper is the 'portability' aspect of a laptop. Now, I'm assuming those of you reading this are students going to start courses in university, or you're looking for a new laptop for work, or you just really love Microsoft Office? Either way, portability plays an important role in your daily quality-of-life aspects with the laptop. If you were looking for a capable laptop to handle the arsenal of Microsoft Office programs while you're shifting through classes and moving from meeting to meeting, a lightweight durable laptop is essential.
For the portability aspects, we mainly consider two factors: Battery Life and Weight. Pretty simple actually. A long battery life and a light laptop will equate to a very portable laptop. Battery life is pretty self explanatory, as a long battery life is equal to how long you can use the laptop without being tethered to a charger. The lighter your laptop is, the easier it is to bring around with you on day to day activities. It's that simple, really.
Now that we've finally highlighted everything you need to know, let's get straight our search!
Best Laptops For Microsoft Office
1. Apple MacBook Pro
The Apple MacBook Pro is a fantastic, high-end laptop with Apple's latest macOS. The only downside pretty much, is the premium price tag you need to pay for Apple's hardware. But to be honest, their devices are pretty much worth it based on how long they last and on its dependable performance. The Apple MacBook Pro comes with a 13-inch Retina display with some great on-board display features such as 500 nits of brightness, P3 wide color support and True Tone technology to automatically adjust white balance to your surroundings.
And of course, being an Apple MacBook Pro, we're met with a solid build quality and possibly my favorite in terms of aesthetics. It's just so clean and satisfying to look at and use. Though, good looks aren't the only thing that makes the Apple MacBook Pro an enticing purchase.
Under the hood we're met with some capable performance led by an 8th Generation Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB DDR4 RAM and a sizable 512GB SSD storage. While the 8th Gen Intel Core i5 processor may seem lacking, for Microsoft Office performance, you should be more than powered up to take on even the largest Excel databases. There's a bunch more features that make the laptop stand out like up to 10 hours battery life, Apple exclusive Touch Bar & Touch ID, Thunderbolt USB Type-C port charging, and weighs in at 3.02lbs. All together, a powerful, attractive, well-built laptop for those looking to jump in on Apple's hardware and ecosystem.
2. Microsoft Surface Laptop 3
Ever since I first reviewed the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3, I've always equated it to Apple's MacBook Pro lineup in terms of premium, best-in-class laptops. Mainly because, well, Microsoft knows what they're doing. They do own the operating system all Windows laptops are running on, so this might very well be the best laptop for that simple fact. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 is the latest innovation in their laptop line up and features a unconventional 13.5-inch PixelSense display with touch screen capabilities. Overall, the laptop aesthetic is another personal favorite with this deep matte black, metal chassis that screams high-end build quality and aesthetics, which I greatly appreciate.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 also features some pretty great internal specs well optimized for Microsoft Office. I mean, who better to get a laptop from to handle Microsoft Office, other than Microsoft themselves?
The laptop features a 10th Gen Intel Core i5-1035G7 processor, 8GB RAM and a 256GB SSD. The only meh part about the laptop would be the 256GB SSD, but you can choose to upgrade it to a 512GB SSD or 1TB SSD for a higher price. Some other great features you can expect from the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 is up to 11.5 hours battery life, USB Type-C port, SD card reader, fast charging to get you 0-80% in an hour and weighs in at a light 2.79lbs. All in all, if you wanted to experience Microsoft Office and Windows at its very best, look no further than the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3.
3. Acer Aspire 5
Next up we've got the Acer Aspire 5 which is a pretty capable, affordable laptop well built to handle anything Microsoft Office throws at you. That's being modest really, based on that spec sheet we can expect stellar performance in most CPU intensive tasks. Starting things off we've got a 15.6-inch Full HD LED-backlit IPS display with pretty standard bezels all around the display. Not the best screen-to-body ratio we've seen, but still, a capable, great looking display. You also get Acer exclusive Acer Color Intelligence to bring out crisper, natural colors on screen.
Otherwise, the overall aesthetic and design border on being too 'simple', with a standard laptop look and aluminum top cover and silver tone color contrasted by the black keyboard. The bland looks might not be much to write home about, but the beauty of the Acer Aspire 5 really comes out under the hood. You know, on the inside, where it truly matters.
Powering the Acer Aspire 5 is an impressive 11th Generation Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor, 16GB RAM and a generous 512GB SSD. So far, the Acer Aspire 5 is looking to be a solid best laptop for MS Office with impressive internal specs, specifically one of the latest 11th Generation Intel Core i7 processors. You can expect some formidable performance from this one. Some other standout features you can expect from the Acer Aspire 5 includes a fingerprint reader, backlit keyboard, a full array of ports including a USB-Type C port, HDMI port with HDCP support, an elevated hinge for a more ergonomic typing experience and up to 8.5 hours of battery life.
4. Dell XPS 13
The Dell XPS 13 is an outlier on the list, being 2-in-1 functional laptop with an impressive overall package. One of the latest in the premium Dell laptop lineup, the Dell XPS 13 does range up there in terms of price. On the display we're getting a 13.4-inch Full HD+ touchscreen with a great screen-to-body ratio. It's evenly distributed across all four corners, making for a unique design aesthetic. All around the Dell XPS 13 you're going to find a well-built aluminum chassis and a white-silver color scheme which comes off really well.
Besides the attractive design, you're getting some impressive internals that makes the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 laptop a great deal. Powering the Dell XPS 13 is one of the latest 10th Generation Intel Core i7-1065H7 processor, 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD storage in the hard drive. The processor is further supplemented by Dell Power Manager which uses adaptive performance to predict and supply additional performance to the CPU as needed. A great addition to bring about great performance on the Dell XPS 13.
The Dell XPS 13 also comes with some great extras that makes it a more worthwhile purchase. This includes a Micro SD card reader, Fingerprint reader, Thunder Bolt 3 USB-Type C port for charging and an additional USB-Type C port, 8 hours of battery life and Lid Sensor to automatically turn on your laptop just by flipping the lid up. A powerful, attractive laptop from Dell with the only downfall being the higher price tag.
5. HP Pavilion 15
One of the best laptops from HP released last year has to be the HP Pavilion 15. The HP Pavilion 15 is powerful, has a gorgeous design and a super affordable price tag for what you're getting in the package. Starting things off we've got a 15.6-inch Full HD micro-edged display resulting in a gorgeous, compact screen within a smaller laptop chassis. It's a really eye-catching display, all thanks to the narrow bezels around the display frame. Similar to some of the other laptops on the list, the HP Pavilion 15 comes with a minimalistic, premium design with a silver color adorning the chassis.
Onto the internals where the HP Pavilion 15 truly starts to shine. Powering the laptop is an 11th Generation Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor, 16 gigs of RAM and a 512GB SSD storage capacity. With these specs, you're well equipped to handle pretty much anything. A capable processor supplemented by sizable RAM and SSD storage makes this one of the best we've seen so far. The only thing that I can pick out from the spec sheet is the Intel Iris Xe graphics GPU, which should be capable to handle light gaming and design work. It's just not as powerful compared to the rest of the HP Pavilion 15.
But that's not all folks, the HP Pavilion 15 is packing a trick or two up its sleeve including 8 hours of battery life, fast charge getting 0-50% in 45 minutes, a backlit keyboard, SD card reader, HDMI port and B&O tuned speakers. In terms of value-to-spec ratio, this definitely ranges up there as a solid contender for best laptop for Microsoft Office.
6. Dell Inspiron 15 7000
The Dell Inspiron 15 7000 comes into the arena swinging with what looks to be the most well-rounded spec sheet, handling each and every component fairly well. On the display the Dell Inspiron 15 7000 is equipped with a standard 15.6-inch Full HD WVA display with anti-glare for better viewing angles. The display frame, similar to the Dell XPS 13 comes with slim, narrow bezels all around the display. Otherwise, the laptop design is similar to most in the list with a silver color all around the laptop which makes for a clean, simple look. Definitely attractive.
Taking a gander under the hood, we're met with some pretty impressive specs. The main CPU unit in the Dell Inspiron 15 7000 is the 9th Generation Intel Core i7-9750H with 16GB RAM and a jaw-dropping 1TB SSD storage. To complete the package, you're also getting a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 GPU which makes for a decent graphics card. Not the highest end around, but definitely is better than an integrated graphics card that most of the laptops in the list are equipped with. If you needed to get some video/image editing and graphic design work done as well, this should be the right fit for you.
Other great extras supplementing the performance on the Dell Inspiron 15 7000 includes a Micro SD card reader, HDMI port 2.0, Thunderbolt 3 port and up to 14 hours of battery life. For those needing a well-rounded laptop, the Dell Inspiron 15 7000 is a great choice for most consumers.
7. Lenovo IdeaPad 330
The Lenovo IdeaPad 330 is a laptop that personifies what a laptop is at its very core. It doesn't do anything too exciting to accommodate a lower price tag. Starting things off we've got a a 15.6-inch HD touchscreen display which as you can tell, leaves a lot to be desired. It's definitely not the best laptop display around since it's only housing a HD resolution, but for the price point its an understandable missing spec. Where the laptop makes up for it though is with decent performance and internal specs.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 330 features an 8th Generation Intel Core i5-8250U processor, 8GB RAM and a massive 1TB HDD. Note that this is a HDD and not a SSD, which means things won't load up as fast in comparison. But you do get plenty of storage at an affordable price point, so that's a plus for the Lenovo IdeaPad 330. The laptop also features Intel HD Graphics 620 integrated GPU which definitely is lacking but will serve well for the Microsoft Office suite of programs. This truly is a 'bare essentials' laptop, which has its selling point with a decent spec sheet and affordability.
You're also getting a full array of ports with the Lenovo IdeaPad 330 including: USB Type-C, 2x USB 3.0, HDMI port, RJ-45 connector, media card reader and an optical drive. You also get 5 hours of battery life and Dolby Audio speakers. So if you wanted something a little old school with a built-in CD tray, this might be the right laptop for you.
8. ASUS VivoBook 15
Last up on the list, we're getting a truly affordable laptop with impressive internals when you look at the price tag. This could very well be the best cheap laptop for Microsoft Office on the list because none of the other laptops even come close to the price segment the ASUS VivoBook 15 is in. The biggest draw on this laptop will be the impressive 15.6-inch Full HD NanoEdge bezel display which features super narrow bezels netting the laptop a 88% screen-to-body ratio. This makes the laptop stand out even more since you don't really see build quality and displays like this, in this price range.
Here's where the ASUS VivoBook 15 takes a bit of a hit as a laptop. Powering the device is a 10th Generation Intel Core i3-1005G1 processor, 8GB of RAM and a measly 128GB SSD. Now, I know you might be thinking this isn't very appealing at all, but to handle Microsoft Office and other similar programs, this laptop is very well equipped for the task. The only thing holding it back from being a fully fledged best laptop for Microsoft Office would be the 128GB SSD. For the GPU, the laptop comes with an Intel UHD Graphics which should be more than sufficient for basic tasks.
The ASUS VivoBook 15 also features some great extras like the ErgoLift hinge for a better typing experience, fingerprint reader, a backlit keyboard and up to 7 hours of battery power. All these specs together combine to create a great productivity laptop with enough extras peppered in to make it an attractive package.
Conclusion
We've seen some of the best laptops for Microsoft Office with each having their own niches, and price tags. However, we're going to have to crown only one as the very best.
Today, our winner is none other than the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3!
The Surface Laptop 3 does everything you need it to and look good doing it. It's a potent combination of powerful internals, eye-catching aesthetics, and a pretty great value for the money. The perfect Microsoft Office companion, was destined to be one of Microsoft's very own devices.
