Best Laptops for Lawyers

Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320

SPECIFICATIONS

Operating System: Windows 11 Home | Display: 13.3″ FHD+ (1920 x 1200p) | Webcam: (0.92 megapixel) 720p camera | Processor: 12th Intel Core i7-1280P (14 cores, 20 threads) | RAM: 32GB LPDDR5-5200 (soldered, dual-channel) | Storage: 512 GB M.2 NVMe SSD | WLAN: Killer WiFi 6E AX1675 | Battery: 3-cell (55 WHr), (Last up to 12 hours) | Weight: 1.25 kg (2.77 lbs) |

The Dell XPS 13 has always been highly praised as a top business laptop due to its impressive quality, including a clear and crisp display, lightweight design (under 3 pounds), large glass trackpad with Windows precision controls, long battery life (over 10 hours), comfortable and efficient keyboard, and a slim and durable profile that is sturdy enough to last years of abuse.

This year’s (2025) model comes with an innovative design and improved hardware, with much better build quality and a slew of enhancements. Dell has kept everything slim with only two USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports. What is distinctive is an invisible trackpad, down the island-style keyboard, which has previously been known for the most emphasized glass trackpads.

Here, the trackpad has grown in size with no apparent border, allowing you to swipe anywhere on the deck, and it will recognize all your finger gestures. While palm rejection and accidental click restrictions make this feature work seamlessly. However, there is a slight difference in muscle memory when it comes to real-world usage.

Your fingertips work smoothly when they are near the center underneath the space bar, but going far right and left may lack a response that makes you come back to the center for smooth clicks on an invisible touchpad.

The function keys have also taken a top spot, literally copying the Macbook touch bar, but not with a glass screen. Dell has built a backlit touch strip that contains the flat flap function keys, which work as touch buttons for playback, volume, display brightness, and regular stuff, but also take up the Escape key (Esc).

Though we’ve concerns about the trackpad’s size, which is enormous, it’s unclear how big it is. Another issue is the Esc key on the backlit touch strip, which is unsatisfactory because most of us like the real push button, and even MacBooks have the actual Esc button.

However, if you consider innovation a feature, this is what the new Dell XPS offers for lawyers. As computer geeks, we find the XPS 13 Plus a technical marvel that seems to be a “proof of concept” device. It is perfect for legal work and presentations with the most up-to-date and fancy features.

The internals of this year’s model had better battery life and thermal performance than the preceding Dell XPS 13 9310 notebooks, which had a slightly better OLED screen but low battery life with Intel 1185G7 processors.

In comparison, the new XPS 13 Plus has a slightly optimized FHD+ display that pairs nicely with energy-efficient Intel i7 12th-gen core P series CPUs. So far, it has a greater battery life of 12 hours while streaming Netflix and using the internet with Microsoft office tools, and the thermals feel slightly better than the previous generation.

Other noteworthy features include 60 Watt USB-C charging compatibility, which boosts mobility for travel anywhere. For $1,600, you are paying for a feature-rich PC that is tiny, powerful, and portable.

HP Pavilion 15

SPECIFICATIONS

Operating System: Windows 11 Pro | Display: 15.6″ FHD (1920×1080), IPS | Webcam: (0.9 megapixel) 720p camera | Processor: 12th Gen Intel Core Core i7-1255U | RAM: 16GB DDR4-3200 MHz (2 x 8 GB) | Storage: 512 GB M.2 NVMe SSD | WLAN: MediaTek Wi-Fi 6 MT7921 | Battery: 3-cell, 41 Wh Li-ion | Weight: 1.7 kg (3.86 pounds) |

The HP Pavilion 15 is a solid laptop that offers a sleek design, robust performance, and long-term reliability. It comes with a price tag of $750, which is reasonable considering its features and performance, but it has a battery life of up to 7 hours and 30 minutes on a single charge, which could be improved.

The reason we recommend this laptop is its sleek design, which appeals to professionals. Its metal build also provides toughness and durability, making it an ideal choice for attorneys who want to keep their laptops safe at work.

The fingerprint scanner works excellently for secure login, which is an essential feature for keeping your files safe and secure as a responsible litigator. The Intel i7-1255U chipsets inside operate 10 cores and 12 threads simultaneously making it powerful enough to handle online surfing and office work with ease.

We find no shuttering during intense workloads, no lag in input or processing operations, and it handles Microsoft Office better than a Thinkpad. This laptop’s slimline chassis is built of natural silver Aluminum, providing a comfortable grip and toughness. However, it does not have fancy touch panels and is more suitable for tough business work than casual use.

The 15.6″ display has a brightness of 250 Nits, which looks sharp, but it is not as crisp as HP Envy and Spectre series notebooks. Though, it is suitable for productivity but not for editing or creative work because it lacks 45% NTSC color-gamut standards. However, you can upgrade its WiFi for high-speed internet performance by choosing one of the best WiFi cards for laptops.

The good news is that HP has taken care of the big hassle by pre-installing Windows 11 Pro, which saves you from having to reinstall your professional operating system. Additionally, the laptop comes in 100% sustainably sourced packaging, which is a win for eco-warriors.

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro

SPECIFICATIONS

Operating System: Windows 11 Pro | Display: 14 inches (2880 x 1800) touchscreen, (60Hz) | Webcam: (2 megapixel) 1080p IR camera | Processor: 11th Gen Intel Core i7-11370H with 12MB Cache | RAM: 16GB LPDDR4x 4266MHz (2 x 8 GB) | Storage: 1000 GB M.2 PCIe SSD | WLAN: Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200 (802.11ax) | Battery: 4-cell, 70 Wh Li-ion | Weight: 1.45 kg (3.1 pounds) |

The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro is an excellent ultraportable laptop that offers a sleek design, a comfortable keyboard, and modern technology, all for an affordable price of $899. If aesthetics matter to you, the Slim 7i Pro’s slate grey color scheme gives it a professional, comfortable look that is hard to beat.

Compared to the Yoga Slim 7i Pro, which costs $1,000, the Slim 7i Pro is superior in design and color scheme. However, there are some compromises in the display department. If you don’t want to sacrifice performance, we have more professional 3D CAD options, including a list of the best laptops for Solidworks.

The Slim 7i Pro has a 14.0-inch diagonal length display with 2.8K (2880 x 1800) resolution, a touchscreen, and a 100% sRGB color gamut rating, making it excellent for multimedia use. However, Lenovo reduced the refresh rate to 60Hz, which may not be noticeable to some but could be a drawback for others who play games or watch movies.

Apple MacBook Air (M2 chip)

SPECIFICATIONS

Operating System: macOS Ventura | Display: 13.6 inches (2880 x 1800) IPS, touchscreen | Webcam: 1080p IR camera | Processor: M2 (8-core CPU, 10-core GPU) | RAM: 8GB LPDDR5x 4266MHz (Soldered) | Storage: 256 GB PCIe SSD | WLAN: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | Battery: 4-cell, 61Whrs Li-ion | Weight: 1.2 kg (2.7 pounds) |

Although 90% of legal firms use Windows OS professionally, only a small minority (10%) have adopted the use of the Apple ecosystem with macOS. Still, we find Macs are a premium alternative to Windows laptops and they are modern recommendations for legal professionals, especially with the release of the M2 MacBook Air.

We believe that the M2 MacBook Air will be a wise decision for counsel and attorneys who have previously used a MacBook Air for personal use. The device still boasts fanless hardware but with more power than ever before and a price tag of $1,050.

The latest M2 MacBook Air looks premium with substantial hardware and has outperformed the XPS laptop by running Windows 11 on Parallels (VM) in various cross-platform benchmarks. However, running Windows on a MacBook can be challenging for non-technical people. We have a separate guide for those interested in doing so.

The new M2 chip has several improvements over last year’s M1. It includes a new AI engine that keeps the performance at maximum for everyday tasks, making it perfect for the workplace. Additionally, the new MacBook Air offers a longer battery life of 12 hours at brightness levels of around 80%, which is superior to Intel’s Evo platform.

In our limited experience, the new MacBook Air with M2 is a portable and stylish ultrabook with great competence, but it falls short of our recommended list of best laptops for pentesting. However, the long battery life and improved hardware make it a good investment for agents like advocates and solicitors who want to adopt the Apple ecosystem.

Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED KD

SPECIFICATIONS

Operating System: Windows 11 Pro | Display: 15.6″ 4K UHD (3840×2160) AMOLED | Webcam: 1080p IR camera | Processor: 11th Gen Intel Core i7-11800H | RAM: 16GB DDR4-3200MHz, (up to 64GB) | Storage: 512 GB M.2 NVMe SSD | WLAN: Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200 (802.11ax) | Battery: 99Wh battery, (Last over 7 hours) | Weight: 2.30 kg (5.07 lbs) |

Who doesn’t enjoy unmatched color accuracy when viewing media files and unwinding after a long workday at the office? The Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED KD is a masterpiece of creator laptops that is premium in every way. It is our recommended desktop replacement for advocates in a tough business.

It boasts an immersive 4K-OLED screen experience that is perfect for making your mood pleasant and putting visuals at their very peak levels without stressing your eyes when reading documents, producing presentations, or utilizing video editing software for projects.

The Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED KD is the most powerful yet portable laptop for creators and professionals alike, such as lawyers, gamers, and VFX artists and video editors, to benefit from the Nvidia RTX 30-series GPU that allows it to do more than just broadcast and stream video conference calls.

Though it can conduct online meetings and conference calls with privacy, thanks to the slider on the camera, the webcam positioning is a bit awkward. You need to place it on a high surface or tilt it to obtain a facial view; otherwise, it’s a nose cam at the bottom of the screen.

You can play games and work on video rendering assignments as per your requirements, but that’s off-topic. What’s important to note is the sleek CLC aluminum chassis, which is heavier on the side but provides good strength with reinforced metal, making it more adaptable in a slim appearance when compared to traditional gaming laptops.

Other than appearances, the bright lights on the cover logo and RGB keyboard. If you’re not used to colorful keyboards, this can be a disadvantage, but it’s nothing to worry about among its dominant characteristics. These lights can be turned off using the Gigabyte control center. If you prefer other creator-grade laptops for high performance, we recommend checking our list of best laptops for After Effects.

There’s no need to worry about looking professional because the color choice is black with a simple pattern on the lid. Whereas the tough and heavy-duty metal chassis of the Gigabyte Aero 15 gives you the confidence to stay strong in any field work and achieve everything your work demands, we’ve experienced this laptop as a jack of all trades, and its a personal favorite for raw power.

Asus ZenBook 14

SPECIFICATIONS

Operating System: Windows 11 Home | Display: 14″ FHD (1920×1080) | Webcam: 1080p IR camera | Processor: 11th Gen Intel Core i5-1135G7 | RAM: 8GB LPDDR4X RAM, (16GB, 32GB) | Storage: 512 GB M.2 NVMe SSD | WLAN: Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200 (802.11ax) | Battery: 4-cell, 67Wh Li-ion | Weight: 2.58 kg (1.17 lbs) |

The ASUS ZenBook 14 is a business-grade notebook computer designed for professionals on the go who require a lightweight and slim laptop that can handle their workload. This laptop is equipped with advanced Intel processors and graphics, making it ideal for tasks such as video conferencing, email, web browsing, and document creation.

The primary standout feature of the ZenBook 14 is its sleek and cutting-edge design, while the unique Numpad that is integrated into the touchpad is handsome. Although the entire chassis is made of aluminum, the thin profile is only 13.9mm thick, making it simple to carry around and fit in almost any backpack.

The best thing about this ultrabook is its connectivity. Asus kept all the necessary ports, including HDMI, Thunderbolt 4 USB-C, USB Type-A, and a MicroSD card reader for users’ ease. Additionally, the active cooling system ensures that the laptop stays cool, even under heavy workloads.

With all the ports and tough constructions, the new ZenBook 14 weighs only 2.58 pounds, making it one of the lightest 14-inch laptops on the market. Its FHD display has a brightness of 400 Nits, which is great for outdoor use. The laptop is powered by an Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor, which provides robust performance for all types of productivity tasks.

During our time, we were pleased with its quick charging option. With just a 40-minute charge, the battery reaches 60% of the total capacity, and it lasts for around 10 hours of rough usage. This feature makes it an excellent choice for law firm professionals who need a laptop that can keep up with their busy schedules.

Overall, the ASUS ZenBook 14 is an excellent choice for public defenders looking for a lightweight and capable laptop for long-term use. While it lacks a dedicated graphics card, this is not an issue for legal firms. Its sleek and slim design, advanced processors, and long battery life make it a top contender in the business laptop market.

Acer Aspire Vero AV15-51-7617

SPECIFICATIONS

Operating System: Windows 11 Home | Display: 14 inches (1920 x 1080) LED | Webcam: (0.2 megapixel) 720p camera | Processor: 11th Gen Tiger Lake Core i7-1195G7 | RAM: 16GB DDR4 (8GB soldered, x 8GB DIMM) | Storage: 512 GB NVMe SSD | WLAN: Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200 (802.11ax) | Battery: 3-cell, 48 Wh Li-ion | Weight: 1.82 kg (4 lbs) |

The Acer Aspire Vero is a laptop that is specifically designed to be eco-friendly. It is made of recycled materials, with the chassis being composed of 30% PCR1 plastic, which helps to reduce CO2 emissions by around 21%. The keycaps are also made of 50% PCR plastic.

Despite being an eco-friendly laptop, there are a few compromises that Acer has made to keep the price down. The 3-cell 48Wh battery life is limited, offering just over 6 hours of use. Additionally, the speakers are disappointing in terms of volume and depth, so you may want to use an external Bluetooth speaker or headphones.

However, there are some positives to discuss. The ergo hinge is good for cooling and makes typing more comfortable, but the screen can’t be pushed beyond the 150-degree barrier, so you need to be careful not to damage the hinge. On the plus side, the laptop has a backlit keypad with number buttons, a fingerprint scanner in the trackpad, and no distracting branding.

The quad-core i7-1195G7 CPU provides good performance and is comparable to the i7-11370H found in the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro and the Asus TUF Dash F15. You’ll experience no glitches in performance, and the power conservation mode works better.

The Acer Aspire Vero also features every port you’ll ever need. On the left side, there are two USB-A gen-3 ports, one USB-C port, an HDMI port, a network (RJ-45) port, and a DC charging port. The right side is equipped with a USB 2.0 connector, a headphone and mic combo connection, a Kensington lock, and wireless and battery charge indicators.

In terms of the box contents, you will receive a free Vero sleeve made of recyclable materials. Acer also manufactures a wide range of related products, including mice, sleeves, carrying bags, and even external monitors.

Overall, the Acer Aspire Vero provides a great price-to-performance ratio. It has additional ports, a 1080p 15.6″ screen with a 100% sRGB color score, Wi-Fi 6 802.11ax WLAN, and a dual fan cooling system that keeps the temperature low. The benefits of this laptop outweigh the downsides, and the mirrored “R” and “E” keys serve as a continual reminder of the “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” message. However, the volcanic Gray coloring may not be to everyone’s taste.

Lenovo Flex 5

SPECIFICATIONS

Operating System: Windows 11 Home | Display: 14 inches (1920 x 1080) LED | Webcam: 720p camera | Processor: 11th Gen Tiger Lake Core i7-1195G7 | RAM: 16GB DDR4 (8GB soldered, x 8GB DIMM) | Storage: 512 GB NVMe SSD | WLAN: Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200 (802.11ax) | Battery: 3-cell, 48 Wh Li-ion | Weight: 1.6 kg (3.5 lbs) |

I must confess that I chose this laptop based on quality, productivity, and dependability. I had three options: the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U-powered Acer Aspire 3, the i7-1195G7-powered MSI Modern 15, and the Ryzen 5 5500U-powered Lenovo Flex 5.

It’s difficult to judge which laptop is superior because each has its perks. Each of the three is a mid-range laptop with respectable performance for everyday applications and light gaming. However, when I decided to choose only one, a few significant disparities stood out.

Price is a crucial factor that influenced my decision. The MSI Modern 15 costs a higher $768 and is comparable to MSI’s Prestige range of laptops, a premium range from a student’s perspective. In contrast, the Acer Aspire 3 costs $540, while the Lenovo Flex 5 has a price of $644. So, which laptop should be our final choice?

Another test we conducted was a reliability check, which is important to us. The MSI laptop was too pricey, so we eliminated it from consideration. The Acer Aspire 3 and Lenovo Flex 5 continued to be in direct rivalry, and both utilize AMD processors for enhanced performance.

Between the two, Acer Aspire has excellent features, but its software services are weak in our user experience. Additionally, it has an issue with abrupt shut-off caused by the motherboard switch that Acer hands-off to fix.

Therefore, the winner is the Lenovo Flex 5, and we think it’s an elegant notebook computer. It’s genuinely convertible, touchscreen, and performs exceptionally well in tasks like internet surfing and using Microsoft Office, all at a reasonable price. Most significantly, it has Lenovo Vantage software, which is superior to Acer’s Care software, and regularly updates drivers.

Lenovo has provided a good quality 720p webcam with this Flex 5 ultrabook, and there is a privacy shutter, which is a rare feature. When consuming media, the 65WHr battery stands great and passes the 10 hours of recorded time, though we use the power-saving mode at a lower brightness level.

Impressively, the integrated fingerprint reader is phenomenal for a 2-in-1 laptop’s security and is especially useful for attorneys. The backlit keyboard is only white but workable during night shifts. But like any other machine, compromises are made by the manufacturer.

The Lenovo digital pen is an optional accessory, and the laptop does not have USB Type-C charging. However, it does have a Type-C reverse power supply mode, which we would call a gimmick.

One issue you may encounter with its charging is that it may get stuck below 100%. If this occurs to you, don’t panic, it’s not a hardware issue, but rather a software issue. To resolve this, you can turn off Conservation Mode and switch to Rapid Charging in the Lenovo Vantage software.

This software feature is designed to ensure that the battery stays safe in the long run. It’s useful if you are using the laptop while it is charging. You can enable Conservation Mode to preserve the battery when you don’t need the laptop to remain working for extra hours on battery power.