7 Best Laptops for Network Engineers in 2024
From this article, you will know what are the best laptops for network engineers you can buy and use in 2024, according to us.
Network engineering is a job function that creates, maintains, and evaluates the computer network within an organization. It is a crucial job to do as people in an organization have seemingly become more and more dependent on computer use to do their work these days.
One of the tools that can help network engineers to do their job is a laptop. A laptop’s portability and potential capability to run the software needed by a network engineer make it a necessity for many network engineers to have.
If you are a network engineer but you don’t have a laptop to support your work yet, it is probably the right time for you to buy a laptop. However, it can be confusing to pick the right laptop for a network engineer to use from many laptop models and specification choices out there. This is why Compute Expert has created a list of the best laptops for network engineers that you can use as your laptop-buying reference.
Want to know the laptops we recommend for network engineers and why they are the ones that we recommend? Let’s start digging into the list right away.
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| Image | View on Amazon | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Apple MacBook Pro M3 14 | ||
| Dell XPS 13 | ||
| Dell Latitude 5540 | ||
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon | ||
| HP EliteBook 840 | ||
| Asus Zenbook 14X OLED | ||
| LG Gram 15 |
Table of Contents:
What are the Best Laptops for Network Engineers?
Now, let us look deeper into the laptops that in our opinion should be great for a network engineer to use. Using one of these laptops should give you the laptop model and specifications you need to do your work much more optimally.1. Apple MacBook Pro M3 14
Apple MacBook Pro M3 14 is the first laptop we recommend on this list. Powered by the Apple silicon M2 Pro chip, this MacBook Pro is faster than most previous MacBook Pro generations and can provide you with the level of performance you need for your work.With the Apple M3 Pro support, you should be able to run the software you need without much problem. The RAM capacity in this MacBook (18GB) helps too as it provides space for a lot of multitasking. The Apple M3 Pro seems to make software more efficient in using the memory space so there should be plenty of room for you to open software and files simultaneously.
When you need to do video calls to do consultation sessions about computer networks with the people in your organization, the excellent camera, microphones, and speakers that this MacBook has should help you to get a clear communication experience. There are three Thunderbolt 4 ports on the sides of this MacBook that you can use to connect the external devices and dongles you need for your work.
The battery capacity of this MacBook is long-lasting with up to 18 hours of usage capacity so you shouldn’t fear losing power wherever you need to work. All in all, this Apple MacBook Pro 14 M3 can be an ideal laptop choice for a network engineer to use, looking at the things that it has as a laptop.
Key Features
- Screen Size, Resolution: 14.2 inches, 3024 x 1964 pixels
- Processor: Apple M2 Pro with 12 cores and a speed of 4.05 GHz
- RAM Capacity: 18GB
- Storage: 1TB SSD
- Battery Life (Estimation): up to 18 hours of usage capacity
Pros
- Excellent performance in supporting network engineers’ work
- Sleek and lightweight
- Three Thunderbolt 4 and HDMI ports
- Long-lasting battery
- Excellent display and sound outputs
- Excellent webcam and microphones
- Comfortable keyboard to type on
Cons
- No USB-A ports
- Notched display
2. Dell XPS 13
Dell XPS 13 is the next laptop we think can be great for a network engineer. As a laptop, this one has a highly portable design and can run software fast thanks to the specifications that it has.To back up its performance level, this laptop uses a 13th Gen Intel Core i7 processor and 16GB RAM. These are nice specifications to have and should have no problem in handling the tasks you give to it. When you need to use the battery, it can last all day on a single charge so you shouldn’t need a power outlet too much.
The design of this laptop is slim and light so bringing it around to do your work should be easy. It also has a premium build with a professional look in it to make you work comfortably in any professional setting you are in.
There is Dolby Vision support on this laptop’s display so you can expect good visual quality when you need to see something in detail with this laptop. Overall, this Dell XPS 13 can be a nice laptop to have should you need to buy and use a laptop for your work.
Key Features
- Screen Size, Resolution: 13.4 inches, 1920 x 1200 pixels
- Processor: 12th Gen Intel Core i7 with 10 cores and speed in the range of 1.1-4.7 GHz
- RAM Capacity: 16GB
- Storage: 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD
- Battery Life (Estimation): up to 12 hours of usage capacity
Pros
- Excellent performance in supporting network engineers’ work
- Premium build
- Sleek and lightweight
- Two Thunderbolt 4 ports
- Comfortable keyboard to type on
Cons
- No USB-A, HDMI ports, and SD card reader slots
- Average webcam quality
3. Dell Latitude 5540
Dell Latitude 5540 is a Dell laptop that many network engineers seem to use and are happy with. Although not as slim and lightweight as our previously discussed Dell XPS 13, it should still be portable enough to bring around during your work.Performance-wise, this laptop should be up to the task of the typical work of a network engineer. It has a 13th Gen Intel Core i7 processor and 16GB RAM capacity to back it up. These specifications should be enough to run the software you need as you maintain your organization’s computer network.
There is a full range of ports here with one Ethernet port and two Thunderbolt 4 ports ready to use so connectivity shouldn’t be a problem for you. The webcam that this laptop uses is a full-HD one to make you project your images clearly to the other sides as you do video calls.
This laptop has good keyboard quality too so you should be able to type comfortably with it should you need to during your work as a network engineer. All in all, this Dell Latitude 5540 can be just the laptop you need to work in your role as a network engineer optimally.
Key Features
- Screen Size, Resolution: 15.6 inches, 1920 x 1080 pixels
- Processor: 13th Gen Intel Core i7 with 10 cores and speed in the range of 1.7-5 GHz
- RAM Capacity: 16GB
- Storage: 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD
- Battery Life (Estimation): up to 8 hours of usage capacity
Pros
- Excellent performance in supporting network engineers’ work
- Solid build
- Quite portable design
- A full range of ports with two Thunderbolt 4 ports and one ethernet port
- A full-HD webcam
- Comfortable keyboard to type on
Cons
- Average display quality
4. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon is another laptop that seems suitable for the daily work of a network engineer. Coming from the popular Lenovo ThinkPad series, this splendid business laptop can handle many things to let you do your job without much trouble.The processor that this laptop uses is a 13th Gen Intel Core i7 processor. It is a quality processor that should be able to run the software you need for your work well. The RAM capacity is 16GB, which is plenty for you to open your software and files simultaneously while also managing the memory space consumption of rather complex software.
This laptop has a solid build with a sleek and lightweight design that should complement a network engineer well. It has passed military-grade tests so it should be quite durable from slight bumps or knocks. The hinge of this laptop is quite flexible as it is stretchable up to 180 degrees to make you able to work in a more comfortable viewing position.
The ThinkPad keyboard is one of the best for a laptop so you should have a comfortable typing experience when you need to input something to the software you use. Overall, this Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon is a laptop you might want to take a look at too when you want to buy a laptop for a network engineer to use.
Key Features
- Screen Size, Resolution: 14 inches, 1920 x 1200 pixels
- Processor: 13th Gen Intel Core i7 with 10 cores and speed in the range of 1.7-5 GHz
- RAM Capacity: 16GB
- Storage: 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD
- Battery Life (Estimation): up to 13 hours of usage capacity
Pros
- Excellent performance in supporting network engineers’ work
- Solid build
- Sleek and lightweight
- USB-A, Thunderbolt 4 USB-C, and HDMI ports
- Friendly-to-the-eye display
- Flexible hinge (stretchable up to 180 degrees)
- Comfortable keyboard to type on
Cons
- No SD card reader slots
5. HP EliteBook 840
HP EliteBook 840 is a great laptop from HP that you might want to consider too. It has excellent specifications which are needed to give capable support to the work of a network engineer.This laptop is fast when running the standard software you usually use for your daily work. This is because it has a 13th Gen Intel Core i7 processor and 16GB RAM capacity. The SSD storage space is 512GB which can give you enough room to store all the files you need internally.
There are USB-A, Thunderbolt 4 USB-C, and HDMI ports to connect your external devices and dongles. They should become handy whenever you need to check computer networks intensively. It also has an all-day battery so you can work with more mobility as you probably need to meet people in different places for your work.
Want a capable laptop to support your work as a network engineer? You probably want to check this HP EliteBook 840 more as a candidate for the laptop you may eventually choose to buy.
Key Features
- Screen Size, Resolution: 14 inches, 1920 x 1200 pixels
- Processor: 13th Gen Intel Core i7 with 12 cores and speed in the range of 2.2-5 GHz
- RAM Capacity: 16GB
- Storage: 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD
- Battery Life (Estimation): up to 13 hours of usage capacity
Pros
- Excellent performance in supporting network engineers’ work
- Great build
- Sleek and lightweight
- USB-A, Thunderbolt 4 USB-C, and HDMI ports
- Good friendly-to-the-eye display
- Excellent webcam quality
Cons
- No SD card reader slots
6. Asus Zenbook 14X OLED
Asus Zenbook 14X OLED is a class laptop that looks good and is portable in its design. It seems excellent for a network engineer to use too as it has fast performance and quality specifications required for the work support.This laptop uses a 13th Gen Intel Core i7 processor to run its operations. It is a nice processor in terms of performance that should give you adequate speed to run your software. The RAM capacity is 16GB to give you ample room for the software and files you need for your work.
The display of this laptop is a good quality one with slim bezels to maximize your viewports. It also has an ErgoLift hinge that can give you better cooling, typing position, and sound quality from this laptop as it follows the principles of an ergonomic design.
This laptop’s design suits professional work and it shouldn’t be hard to put it in your bag or hold in your hand as it has a sleek and lightweight form. All in all, this Asus Zenbook 14X OLED is something you might want to consider buying and using too as the laptop to support your network engineering work.
Key Features
- Screen Size, Resolution: 14.5 inches, 2880 x 1800 pixels
- Processor: 13th Gen Intel Core i7 with 14 cores and speed in the range of 2.4-5 GHz
- RAM Capacity: 16GB
- Storage: 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD
- Battery Life (Estimation): up to 10 hours of usage capacity
Pros
- Excellent performance in supporting network engineers’ work
- Solid build
- USB-A, Thunderbolt 4 USB-C, and HDMI ports
- Great display quality
- Comfortable keyboard to type on
Cons
- No SD card reader slots
7. LG Gram 15
LG Gram 15 is the last laptop we recommend on this list. It is an ultra-slim and lightweight LG laptop that can deliver excellent performance levels to support your work as a network engineer.This laptop is supported by a 13th Gen Intel Core i7 processor and 16GB RAM capacity. Looking at these specifications, it should be able to manage the tasks of the software you use smoothly. When you need to use the battery, it can support you on a full-day work before you have to charge it again.
This laptop is easy to handle as it has a highly portable design. Working with it on your hand should be simple because of its small weight. To keep the privacy of your work more secure, it has Presence Detection and Smart Display technology to blur its display from people who view it behind you.
There is a full range of ports with two Thunderbolt 4 ports on this laptop to make it easy for you to connect to the things you need for your work. Thus, considering its model and general specifications, this LG Gram 15 is a laptop that potentially can be the ideal partner for your network engineer’s work as well.
Key Features
- Screen Size, Resolution: 15.6 inches, 1920 x 1080 pixels
- Processor: 13th Gen Intel Core i7 with 12 cores and speed in the range of 2.2-5 GHz
- RAM Capacity: 16GB
- Storage: 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD
- Battery Life (Estimation): up to 13 hours of usage capacity
Pros
- Excellent performance in supporting network engineers’ work
- Sleek and lightweight
- Good battery
- A full range of ports with two Thunderbolt 4 ports
- A full-HD webcam
- Comfortable keyboard to type on
Cons
- May feel a little bit flimsy
What are the Things We Should Consider When We Buy a Laptop for a Network Engineer to Use?
Here are the things we think you should consider when you want to buy a laptop to support a network engineer’s work.- Processor. The software that network engineers might use for their work can be quite demanding as it may involve complex programming activities. Therefore, the laptop you buy should have an excellent processor. We recommend a laptop with at least a late-generation i7 or Ryzen 7 processor or an Apple silicon chip for this
- RAM capacity. You may often need your laptop to multitask or you may need to run software that eats up a lot of memory space when you work. Therefore, the laptop you buy should have a large RAM capacity to anticipate it. We recommend a laptop with at least 16GB RAM for this
- Storage. The laptop you buy should have adequate storage space as you may need to store a lot of files internally on your laptop for much easier access. We recommend a laptop with at least 512GB SSD storage space for this
- Ports. As a network engineer, you may often need to connect to various dongles and external devices to do your work maintaining your organization’s computer networks. Therefore, make sure the laptop you buy has the ports you need for that
- Portability. Network engineers may often need to bring around their laptops as they do their work from place to place. Thus, the laptop you buy should have the thickness and weight you are comfortable with
- Battery life. Network engineers should be able to work wherever they need to work optimally. However, the place you work might not have a power outlet ready for you to use and, thus, the laptop you buy should have an adequate battery life to anticipate that. A laptop with at least 6-8 hours of normal usage capacity should help you to stay productive all day on a single charge
Wrap Up
When you want to buy a laptop, you may want one that can support your work as a network engineer optimally. However, it can be hard to find a laptop like that from many laptop choices out there. This is why Compute Expert has created a list of the best laptops for network engineers for you to refer to.To summarize, here are seven laptops we think are excellent for network engineers to use in their work.
- Apple MacBook Pro M3 14
- Dell XPS 13
- Dell Latitude 5540
- Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon
- HP EliteBook 840
- Asus Zenbook 14X OLED
- LG Gram 15
We hope our list can help you buy the best laptop to support your daily work!
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