5 Best Laptops for Finance in 2023

In today's fast-paced and data-driven financial landscape, having the right tools at your disposal is crucial to staying ahead of the curve. 

Whether you're an accounting professional, financial analyst, or a savvy investor, a reliable laptop is an asset that allows you to tackle complex calculations, conduct in-depth market research, and make informed decisions with confidence. 

However, with the multitude of options available, choosing the perfect laptop for finance can be an overwhelming task.

This article will explore 5 of the best laptops for finance that excel in meeting the challenges faced by financial professionals in the modern world.

Best Overall: Dell XPS 13

★ 5.0/5

Key features:

• Exceptional build quality

• Lightweight and slim for portability

• Crisp and vibrant display

• Comfortable typing experience

• Decent battery life

Downsides:

• Lacking in performance capabilities

• Only 2 USB-C ports

• Additional dongles and docks may be needed

• No OLED display in high resolution

The Dell XPS 13 is a popular choice for finance professionals and ranks first on our list of the best laptops for finance this year.

The model we reviewed had an exceptional screen as well as great build quality, performance, and battery life. However, with the introduction of Intel's 12th and 13th Gen processors, the XPS 13 falls behind in terms of power and efficiency compared to Apple and AMD offerings.

Dell has divided its XPS 13 line into the XPS 13 Plus, which prioritizes power, and the regular XPS 13, which focuses on portability and battery life at a slightly lower price point.

The webcam and microphones are decent but not exceptional, while the speakers are certainly not loud enough for public use. The port selection is limited, with only two USB-C/Thunderbolt 4 ports, and the need for dongles or docks to connect multiple peripherals while charging is a drawback.

In terms of performance, the reviewed XPS 13 model with a Core i5 processor and 16GB of RAM showed lower benchmark scores compared to similar models. While it performs well for everyday tasks, it struggles with resource-intensive programs like Lightroom and Premiere.

On the positive side, the XPS 13 has improved cooling, maintaining lower temperatures even under heavy workloads. The battery life, although not as long as the MacBook Air, is considered good compared to most competitors.

Overall, the Dell XPS 13 is still regarded as one of the best Windows laptops available, offering excellent build quality, portability, and a decent price for its specifications. However, it falls short in terms of performance and efficiency when compared to MacBooks, highlighting the current state of the Windows laptop market.

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Best for Remote Work: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon

★ 4.5/5

Key features:

• Exceptional performance to handle demanding tasks

• Range of connectivity options (HDMI, USB, etc.)

• Durable build quality

• Lightweight design is great for portability

• High-quality webcam and audio

Downsides:

• Comes at a premium price

• Subpar warranty package

• No SD card slot

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 laptop is one of the best laptops for finance due to its exceptional features and performance. 

We gave it a 4.5-star rating and praised its OLED screen option, high-performance capabilities, and webcam quality, solidifying its status as an Editors' Choice among many prominent electronics reviewers. 

The laptop is designed for portability, making it convenient for professionals on the go. It offers a range of connectivity options, including HDMI and USB Type-A ports, which are not found on its main competitor, the Dell XPS 13. 

The build quality is premium, with a carbon-fiber lid and magnesium alloy base that have passed MIL-STD 810H tests for durability. The keyboard is backlit and provides a snappy and responsive typing experience, while the touchpad works smoothly and securely. 

The laptop also features a high-quality webcam with a privacy shutter and quad-array microphones, while the audio output from the speakers is loud and clear. The display offers wide viewing angles, good contrast, and sharp images, although it lacks OLED technology and high-resolution options. 

In terms of performance, the Lenovo ThinkPad excels in productivity tests, delivering fast and efficient performance for everyday office tasks. It’s equipped with 12th Generation Intel Core processors and Wi-Fi 6E for improved videoconferencing and wireless connectivity. 

The battery life is decent, lasting up to 12 hours on a full charge. Overall, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 is an excellent choice for finance professionals, providing exceptional features, durability, connectivity, and performance.

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Best for Multi-Tasking: HP EliteBook 840 G9

★ 4.5/5

Key features:

• Highly professional and durable design

• Versatile port selection

• Strong security features

• Business-class reliability

Downsides:

• Dim display with large bezels

• High-end price tag

• Occasional fan noise

• Pre-installed software

The HP EliteBook 840 G9 is a compact and lightweight business-class laptop that incorporates features from the pricier 1000 series PCs. 

Sporting a sleek and professional design, the laptop boasts an all-aluminum body that not only looks stylish but also offers durability and resistance to disinfection. Its slim profile and tapered front edges make it effortless to open. 

As for the display, the laptop features a 14-inch LED-backlit Full HD panel that serves its purpose well. However, it falls short with its 16:9 aspect ratio and large bezels. 

On the positive side, the bezels are smaller than its predecessor, and the display benefits from an anti-glare coating, enhancing productivity by reducing glare.

Under the hood, the EliteBook 840 G9 houses powerful internal components such as 10th-generation Intel Core processors, up to 16 GB of RAM, and up to 512 GB of SSD storage. These specifications deliver excellent performance for various productivity tasks. 

In terms of connectivity, the laptop offers modern options like Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5, NFC, and even optional 4G/LTE support. Its wide selection of ports caters to both contemporary and legacy devices, eliminating the need for dongles.

Audio performance is exceptional on the EliteBook 840, thanks to the upward-firing stereo speakers tuned by Bang & Olufsen. On the video front, the webcam impresses with a wide field of view, a privacy shutter, and Windows Hello facial recognition capabilities. 

The keyboard and touchpad offer high-quality input experiences, facilitating comfortable and accurate typing. Despite these minor flaws, the laptop's lightweight construction contributes to its portability, and it offers satisfactory battery life.

Windows 10 Pro comes pre-installed on the EliteBook 840 G9, accompanied by several HP management, security, and utility software. While some of these bundled apps prove useful, consolidating or reducing the number of pre-installed applications isn’t possible.

Regarding pricing and configurations, the base model of the EliteBook 840 G9 starts at $999 with a Core i5 processor, 16 GB of RAM, and 256 GB of SSD storage. Other EliteBook models equipped with a Core i7 processor, more RAM, and 512 GB of storage carry a higher price tag of $2200 or more. 

We recommend sticking closer to the base model considering the laptop's business-class nature, as it justifies the costs. However, for individual users, we recommend exploring HP's Spectre lineup for more affordable prices, modern components, stylish designs, and potential trade-offs in terms of legacy ports.

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Best for Graphics: MacBook Pro

★ 5.0/5

Key features:

• Powerful performance

• Gorgeous mini-LED display

• Long-lasting battery life

• Best-in-class speakers

• Abundant ports and connectivity

• Efficient Apple Operating System

Downsides:

• Price is higher than competitors

• Contains some non-upgradable components

• Occasional thermal performance issues

• Dependency on macOS

Built by Apple, the MacBook Pro laptops in 14 and 16-inch sizes offer impressive power, long battery life, excellent speakers, and stunning Mini-LED displays. 

MacBook's have long been considered among the top laptops on the market, although their high price tags may deter some buyers.

The laptops feature a sleek design with a good selection of ports and a color-matched MagSafe charger. The M2 Pro and M2 Max chips deliver outstanding performance, making the MacBook Pro suitable for a wide range of tasks. 

The Mini-LED displays provide vibrant visuals, and the keyboards and trackpads offer a comfortable and responsive user experience. The battery life is commendable, and the webcam captures high-quality images. However, the absence of facial recognition in the notch is certainly a missed opportunity.

The macOS Ventura operating system comes with useful features and a clean interface as well. The laptops are not easily upgradable, as the RAM and SSD are soldered to the motherboard. 

Overall, the MacBook Pro laptops offer top-notch performance and premium features, but potential buyers should be prepared for the high cost of customization options.

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Best Value: Microsoft Surface Laptop 4

★ 4.0/5

Key features:

• Strong performance

• Good battery life

• Trusted brand and software

• State-of-the-art audio

• Comfortable keyboard

Downsides:

• Limited ports

• Competitors’ designs are sleeker

• Low-resolution webcam

Microsoft's Surface Laptop 4 is a powerful and sleek device that delivers strong performance, impressive audio, a comfortable keyboard, and good battery life. While its design may be slightly dated, it still offers a great user experience for finance professionals.

The laptop is available at different prices on various platforms, but you may be able to get it for as low as $699 on Microsoft’s website.

It has several advantages compared to competitors, including a light and slim design, comfortable keyboard, high-quality speakers, and good battery life. However, there are also a few cons, such as the need for more ports, thick bezels that are not visually appealing, and a need for a better webcam.

In terms of specifications, the Surface Laptop 4 is equipped with an 11th-Gen Intel Core i7 CPU (Core i5 also available), 16GB of RAM (8GB and 32GB options available), a 13.5-inch touch-screen display, a 512GB SSD (256GB and 1TB options available), and various ports including USB-C, USB-A, Surface Connect port, and a headphone jack. 

The Surface Laptop 4 is an evolution rather than a revolution compared to its predecessors. While Microsoft has improved the laptop's components, it hasn't made significant changes to the design.

The keyboard and touchpad are high-quality, allowing for a comfortable typing experience and smooth and accurate touchpad. The addition of Dolby Atmos technology enhances the laptop's audio performance, providing a loud and clean sound experience.

The battery life of the Surface Laptop 4 is considered one of its selling points, although it falls short of Microsoft's claims. It lasted nearly 11 hours in web surfing tests, which is an improvement over the previous model but doesn't match some of its competitors.

In conclusion, the Surface Laptop 4 is praised for its premium components, elegant design, and improved battery life. Although there are areas for improvement, such as thinner bezels, a better webcam, and more ports, it is still regarded as one of the best Windows laptops available.

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The bottom line

Selecting the best laptop for finance is a crucial decision that can significantly impact productivity and efficiency in the financial industry. 

By considering key factors such as processing power, storage capacity, display quality, and security features, finance experts can make informed choices that cater to their specific needs. 

The laptops mentioned in this article, including the versatile Dell XPS 13, the powerhouse MacBook Pro, and the reliable Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon have proven to be exceptional options for finance professionals seeking reliability, performance, and portability. 

Ultimately, by investing in one of these top-tier laptops, finance experts can enhance their workflow, optimize their data analysis, and stay ahead in a rapidly evolving industry.

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