9 Best Travel Laptops for Digital Nomads
Digital nomads who work from wherever life and work take them have different requirements for their laptop computers than those working exclusively from home or the office. These digital nomads need systems that are portable and lightweight, with a long battery life, yet is secure, durable, and powerful to handle multitasking and certain resource-demanding programs.
Here are 9 of the best travel laptops for digital nomads from HP. But before getting into the laptop models themselves, let’s take a look at some of the specific features to consider when shopping for a travel laptop.
What to look for in a travel laptop
Portability
This may be the most important attribute in a travel laptop since there is nothing more annoying than having to lug around a large, heavy, and cumbersome system in addition to all of the other items that you’re traveling with. Or worse yet is trying to fit your laptop into an already-packed-to-the-gills carrying case.
Both the weight and size of your travel laptop are essential considerations. Ideally, you want to find a model that’s no more than 4 lbs, and one that’s 13 inches or less in width and less than 0.75 inches thick. We’ve included one 14-inch notebook in case you really need the screen real estate.
Battery life
Another important attribute of a travel laptop is its battery life. You may not always have ready access to a power supply or outlet to recharge when out and about, so it’s imperative to buy a laptop with robust battery life. And just what is a robust battery life, you may ask. A good rule of thumb is to look for one with at least 8 hours of charge to get you through a full work day.
Durability
A travel laptop is, by its nature, going to be bumped around and jostled more than a desktop PC that lives in your office. While the best travel laptops are lightweight and portable, they also need to be built with durability in mind.
Look for travel laptops that have a streamlined design with thoughtful attention to the chassis. In addition, look for those with compact storage devices such as solid-state drives (SSD). Because these don’t have moving parts, so they are resilient against data loss from drops or bumps.
Security
Traveling with a laptop means that it can be vulnerable to not only the elements, but also to prying eyes and bad actors. Try to find a laptop that protects against these threats with security features both inside and outside the system, above and below the operating system (OS).
Connectivity
Being able to connect your laptop to other devices, as well as having internet connectivity on the go, is very important. Be sure that you find a laptop that has several built-in ports such as USB for the former and wireless technology options for the latter.
Best travel laptops from HP
1. HP EliteBook notebook
Meet the demands of your business workday no matter where you’re working with the HP EliteBook 830 notebook. This 13.3-inch diagonal display laptop is thin, light, and very portable yet it is also packed with high-performance features such as a powerful quad-core 11th Gen Intel® Core™ vPro processor and Intel Iris® Xe graphics so you can quickly launch, create, and connect.
What makes it great for travel
- Weight: Starting at 2.74 lbs (non-touch); starting at 2.96 lbs (touch)
- Dimensions: 12.11 x 8.05 x 0.7 inches
- Battery life: Up to 14 hours and 15 minutes
- Durability: Distinctive, ultra-slim aluminum design
- Connectivity: Intel AX201 Wi-Fi 6 (2 x 2) and Bluetooth 5 combo, non-vPro; Intel XMM 7360 LTE-Advanced Cat 9; Qualcomm Snapdragon X55 5G LTE Cat 20
Security
- Instantly block prying eyes from the ability to view your screen with HP Sure View Reflect
- Find your PC with Tile using the mobile application even when it’s turned off
- Know if someone has tried to open your laptop’s cover thanks to HP Tamper Lock intrusion detection technology
Additional features
- Windows 10 Pro 64
- 11th Generation Intel Core i5 or i7 processor
- Integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- 13.3-inch diagonal, FHD (1920 x 1080), IPS, anti-glare, 250 nits, 45% NTSC display
- 8GB memory (RAM) up to 64GB
- 256GB SSD storage up to 2TB
- 720p HD camera
2. HP Elite Dragonfly notebook
The HP Elite Dragonfly series combines the best of consumer and business features into premium laptops that are perfectly suited for professionals who travel. The HP Elite Dragonfly G2 is no exception.
Starting at only 2.18 lbs, 0.63-inches high, and boasting a prolonged battery life with up to 24.5 hours, this x360 touchscreen laptop is ultralight, highly portable, and long-lasting. And with its impressive and elegant design, it’s one of the best laptops for work travel.
What makes it great for travel
- Weight: Starting at 2.18 lbs
- Dimensions: 11.98 x 7.78 x 0.63 inches
- Battery life: Up to 24.5 hours
- Durability: Built with lightweight magnesium; durable, iridescent dragonfly blue finish, diamond cut accents
- Connectivity: Intel Dual Band Wireless-AX201 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (2 x 2) WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5 Combo vPro
Security
- HP Sure View Reflect for defense against prying eyes
- Guard against malicious surveillance with HP Sure Shutter, an integrated physical shutter activated by a dedicated key on the keyboard
- Lock your laptop if it’s been physically opened or compromised with HP Tamper Lock
Additional features
- Windows 10 Pro 64
- 11th Generation Intel Core i5 or i7 processor with 4 cores
- Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- 13.3-inch diagonal BrightView LED FHD touchscreen with Corning Gorilla Glass display
- 16GB RAM up to 32G
- 256GB NVMe SSD up to 2TB
- 720p HD+IR camera with integrated electronic privacy shutter
3. HP Elite x2 convertible notebook
The HP Elite x2 G8 blends modern PC performance with the ultimate in tablet mobility for professionals who need the freedom to work from anywhere without compromising productivity, security, or privacy.
Featuring a stunning, ultralight, and detachable design that starts at only 1.83 lbs, this tablet offers enterprise-friendly, functional features in a 2-in-1 so that you can use it as a laptop or tablet.
What makes it great for travel
- Weight: Starting at 1.83 lbs (tablet); starting at 2.58 lbs (tablet with keyboard)
- Dimensions: 11.39 x 8.5 x 0.35 inches (tablet); 11.39 x 8.74 x 0.56 inches (tablet with keyboard)
- Battery life: HP Long Life 2-cell, 47 Wh Li-ion polymer; Fast-charging to 50% in 30 minutes
- Durability: Crafted from durable premium CNC aluminum with diamond cut accents; kickstand helps stabilize the PC
- Connectivity: Intel WiFi 6 AX201 (2x2) and Bluetooth 5 combo, vPro
Security
- Protect from prying eyes with the physical shutter of HP Privacy Camera
- Rear and front (IR camera enabled for facial recognition)
- Block others from viewing your screen with HP Sure View Gen 3
- Secure your system when you browse the internet or view untrusted documents with HP Sure Click
- Detect attacks or removal attempts and restore applications to their original state with the continuously operating HP Sure Run
Additional features
- Windows 10 Pro 64
- 11th Generation Intel Core i5 processor
- Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- 13.0-inch WUXGA+ (1920 x 1280) touchscreen display
- 8GB RAM up to 16GB
- 256GB NVMe SSD up to 2TB
- 720p HD IR camera (user-facing), 8MP rear camera (world-facing)
4. HP Spectre x360 convertible laptop
The HP Spectre x360 line of convertible laptops offer excellent durability, portability, and performance features. This HP Spectre x360 Laptop 13t touch is not only beautifully built with a gem-cut design and near-borderless display, but it’s also ultra-compact at a mere 2.88 lbs and 0.67-inches high.
With its 22-hour battery life, this is one of the best laptops for traveling abroad as you power through work (and play) using any of its four adjustable and convenient modes: laptop, tablet, stand, or tent.
What makes it great for travel
- Weight: Starting at 2.88 lbs
- Dimensions: 12.08 x 7.66 x 0.67 inches
- Battery life: Up to 22 hours
- Durability: Crafted from a single piece of aluminum; 360-degree-rotating hinges that are innovatively engineered, strong, easily adjustable, and protect the display
- Connectivity: Intel WiFi 6 AX 201 (2 x 2) and Bluetooth 5 Combo
Security
- Fingerprint reader
- Integrated FHD IR webcam with unhackable privacy camera kill switch
- Dedicated microphone mute button; optional integrated privacy screen
Additional features
- Windows 10 Home 64
- 10th Gen Intel Core i5 processor up to an Intel Core i7 (both 4 cores)
- Intel Iris Plus Graphics
- 13.3-inch diagonal FHD or optional 4K UWVA BrightView micro-edge AMOLED multitouc h display
- 8GB to 16GB RAM
- 256GB SSD storage up to 2TB
5. HP Chromebook x360 convertible laptop
Another x360 is also ideal as a travel computer. The budget-friendly HP Chromebook x360 has outstanding connectivity options, portability, and is affordably priced.
With an easy-to-use Chrome OS and access to popular Google apps, the versatility of a 360-degree hinge, and more, this Chromebook will help keep you busy.
What makes it great for travel
- Weight: Starting at 2.98 lbs
- Dimensions: 10.71 x 8.5 x 0.68 inches
- Battery life: Up to 13 hours and 15 minutes
- Durability: Optimized, streamlined, and premium metal design
- Connectivity: Intel Wireless-AC 9560 802.11 b/g/n/ac (2x2) WiFi and Bluetooth 5 Combo (MU-MIMO supported)
- Security: Kensington Nano Security Slot
Additional features
- Chrome OS
- Intel Celeron dual-core processor
- Intel UHD Graphics 600
- 12-inch diagonal HD+ touch display IPS micro-edge WLED-backlit multitouch-enabled edge-to-edge glass (1366 x 912)
- 4GB RAM
- 32GB eMMC storage
6. HP ENVY notebook
The HP ENVY 13-inch notebook equips you with the capability to work anywhere, and anytime with a powerful 11th Gen Intel Core i5 or i7 processor, up to a 2MB NVIDIA GeForce MX450 graphics card, and up to 16GB of memory.
Its long-lasting battery will fuel your day, and into your night, while its 4-sided, micro-edge display gives you more viewable screen space to see your creations.
What makes it great for travel
- Weight: 2.88 lbs
- Dimensions: 12.07 x 7.66 x 0.67 inches
- Battery life: Up to 18 hours
- Durability: Elevated keyboard hinge for easy, ergonomic typing
- Connectivity: Intel WiFi 6 AX 201 (2x2) and Bluetooth 5 combo (supporting Gigabit file transfer speeds)
- Security: HP Sure View Privacy Screen; camera privacy shutter
Additional features
- Windows 10 Home 64
- 11th Gen Intel Core i5 processor up to Intel Core i7 (4 cores)
- Intel Iris Xe Graphics up to NVIDIA GeForce MX450 (2GB)
- 13.3-inch diagonal FHD, IPS, BrightView, micro-edge, WLED-backlit display
- 8GB RAM up to 16GB
- 256GB SSD storage up to 1TB
7. HP ENVY x360 convertible notebook
To move around the world or just around town, check out the HP ENVY x360 convertible notebook. This notebook PC offers some of the same excellent features such as size, long battery life, connectivity, memory, and storage.
Built with high-performing AMD Ryzen processors and AMD Radeon graphics, you’ll have the flexibility to use one of four helpful modes for immersive experiences while working, creating, or playing.
What makes it great for travel
- Weight: 2.92 lbs
- Dimensions:12.07 x 7.66 x 0.65 inches
- Battery life: Up to 18 hours
- Durability: Tested, highly durable metal hinges with a long lifespan
- Connectivity: Realtek Wi-Fi 5 (2x2) and Bluetooth 5 combo and Intel WiFi 6 AX 200 (2x2) and Bluetooth 5 combo
Security
- HP Sure View Privacy Screen
- Camera privacy shutter
- Microphone mute button
Additional features
- Windows 10 Home 64
- AMD Ryzen 3 processor with 4 cores up to AMD Ryzen 7 4700U (8 cores)
- AMD Radeon Graphics
- 13.3-inch diagonal FHD multitouch-enabled display IPS, BrightView, WLED-backlit, 1000 nits
- 8GB up to 16GB RAM
- 128GB up to 1TB SSD storage
8. HP ProBook laptop
At less than 2.2 lbs and 0.71 inches high, the HP ProBook 635 Aero can easily accompany you virtually everywhere you go. And with its sleek and striking design, it will look good doing so.
This ultralight laptop is a performance powerhouse, too, with an AMD Ryzen CPU, reliable connectivity, and first-rate business security features that make it one of the best laptops for travel and work.
What makes it great for travel
- Weight: 2.2 lbs
- Dimensions: 12.11 x 8.05 x 0.71 inches
- Battery life: Up to 20 hours
- Durability: Robust all-metal chassis and aerodynamic edges; spill resistant, backlit HP Premium Keyboard with drain and DuraKeys
- facial recognition camera; manage authentication policies with HP Client Security Manager Gen6
- Connectivity: Realtek RTL8822CE 802.11ac (2x2) and Bluetooth 5 and Intel AX200 Wi-Fi 6 (2x2) and Bluetooth 5
Security
- HP Sure View Reflect
- Stay protected with HP Sure Start Gen6, the self-healing BIOS that automatically recovers itself from attacks or corruption
- Fortify data security with multiple authentication factors such as optional fingerprint sensor and IR
Additional features
- Windows 10 Pro 64
- AMD Ryzen 3 APU Processor with 4 cores up to AMD Ryzen 7 5800U with 8 cores
- AMD Radeon Graphics
- 13.3-inch FHD display
- 8GB up to 32GB RAM
- 128GB up to 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD
9. HP ZBook mobile workstation
Calling all creators, artists, architects, designers, engineers, and office power users on the go. The pro-level performance, color-accurate HP DreamColor display, and exceptionally secure HP ZBook Firefly 14 G8 Mobile Workstation is more mobile than ever.
At just under 3 lbs and 0.71 inches high, this mobile workstation is one of the best laptops for remote work – providing superb mobility for those who push typical business laptops past their limitations.
What makes it great for travel
- Weight: Starting at 2.98 lbs
- Dimensions: 12.73 x 8.45 x 0.71 inches
- Battery life: Up to 14 hours
- Durability: Designed for ultimate durability having undergone 19 intense MIL-STD 810H tests
- Connectivity: Intel WiFi 6 AX201 (2x2) and Bluetooth 5 combo, non-vPro
Security
- HP Sure View Reflect
- HP Sure Start
- HP Tamper Lock
- Defend against firmware and malware attacks with HP Sure Sense
Additional features
- Windows 10 Pro 64
- 11th Generation Intel Core i5 processor up to i7 with 4 cores
- Intel Iris Xe Graphics or NVIDIA T500 graphics
- 14-inch diagonal FHD IPS, anti-glare, HP DreamColor display
- 8GB up to 64GB RAM
- 256 GB up to 2TB SSD storage
Summary
The best travel-size laptops have an ideal combination of portability, durability, connectivity, and security features. While there is no one-size-fits-all for every unique requirement for the digital nomad, what these HP laptops have in common is that they offer an excellent cross-section of form factors, tons of performance, and productivity options that meet your traveling needs.
About the Author: Jolene Dobbin is a contributing writer for HP Tech Takes. Jolene is an East Coast-based writer with experience creating strategic messaging, marketing, and sales content for companies in the high-tech industry.
Popular HP Products
