10 Best Laptops for Video Conferencing: Top Picks for 2024

My top pick for the best laptops for video conferencing is the new MacBook Pro M3, which ticks all the boxes.

What makes the new MacBook Pro stand out is the all-new M3 chip that offers a cutting-edge performance that goes way beyond online meetings. The 3K Liquid Retina XDR display offers a mind-blowing and sharp streaming experience. Coupled with the six-speaker Dolby Atmos audio system with spatial audio, the FHD camera, and the three studio-quality mics with noise cancellation, the new MacBook Pro is the best laptop you can buy for video calls and ultimate productivity.

Coupled with an amazing 18-hour battery life and (finally) improved connectivity, this is the best laptop you can buy.

If you prefer a Windows computer and have a smaller budget, I recommend the Acer Swift X, which I like for its powerful processor and graphics card, sharp screen, and full HD camera.

If you want to learn more, here are my top picks for the best laptops for Zoom meetings and video conferencing.

What is the best laptop for video conferencing?

• Best premium laptop for video conferencing: Apple MacBook Pro M3
• Best value-for-money laptop for video calls: Apple MacBook Air M2
• Best OLED laptop for video conferencing: ASUS Zenbook 15
• Best convertible laptop for video conferences: HP Spectre X360
• Best business laptop for Zoom meetings: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon
• Best budget laptop for video conferences: Acer Swift X
• Best screen-real-estate laptop for video conferencing under 1,000: Dell Inspiron 16 Plus
• Best convertible OLED laptop for Zoom meetings: ASUS Vivobook S14 Flip
• Best long-lasting convertible laptop for video calls: Lenovo Yoga 7i
• Best portable laptop for video conferencing: Microsoft Surface Pro 9

1. Apple MacBook Pro M3 (14.2”)

Best premium laptop for video conferencing

The new MacBook Pro M3 is probably the best premium laptop you can buy. While you don’t need a cutting-edge performance for video conferencing and online meetings, I assume you will use your new laptop for pretty much anything else. And if you want to do video editing, content creation, running demanding software, and casual gaming, the new MacBook Pro is my top pick.

The all-new M3 chip is available in multiple versions: M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max. This model features an M3 Pro chip with a 12-core CPU and an 18-core GPU with a 16-core Neural Engine, but you can get your hands on up to a 16-core CPU and a 40-core GPU.

The new M3 chip uses a new GPU architecture and Dynamic Caching, which translates into greater performance. Apple claims that the new M3 series can be up to 2.5x times faster in rendering and can offer up to 80% more CPU power than the M1 Max chip.

Apple improved the screen, too, which now features 600 nits of brightness and comes in 3K. The six-speaker Dolby Atmos audio system with spatial audio, the FHD camera, and the three studio-quality mics with noise cancellation will strongly benefit your video conferencing experience.

The best thing is that you now have ample connectivity with 3 Thunderbolt ports, an HDMI port, and even an SDXC card slot. The Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 ensure that you will have a fast and reliable wireless connection.

Overall, I’m impressed by what Apple has done with the new MacBook. Time will tell whether this laptop will stand the test of time, but as of now, this is by far my top pick.

Csaba’s Rating:

• Performance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Display: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Connectivity: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Battery life: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

What I like and dislike about the MacBook Pro M3:

2. Apple MacBook Air M2 (15.3’’)

Best value-for-money laptop for video calls

I’d say that the MacBook Air M2 is the best laptop for video conferencing and productivity with one caveat: connectivity. If you don’t mind carrying an adapter or a MacBook dongle, or you simply don’t need an HDMI port, this laptop will satisfy all your needs.

Technically, the M2 chip (which is at the heart of this MacBook) easily outperforms the M1 chip and earlier Intel-based MacBooks. It has an 8-core CPU, a 10-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine to provide cutting-edge performance, which you don’t even need for video calls.

I don’t want to speak about the esthetics. You either love it or hate it. However, one thing is for sure: you’ll love the silence that the new fanless design offers. I found that it doesn’t heat up at all.

The new, now larger 15-inch Liquid Retina screen offers a stunning streaming experience with 500 nits of brightness and vivid colors. (Just to make sure: most laptops come with 300 nits.) The six-speaker sound system supporting Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos together with the new FHD camera will bring your video conferencing experience to the next level.

Let’s speak about my ultimate favorite: battery life. This laptop offers up to 18 hours of battery life. This refers to video playback, which I can speak to because a single hour of streaming YouTube videos would drain my batteries by 1 percent! Cool, isn’t it?

Of course, if I turn on my camera, my batteries will drain more rapidly, but still, this single feature could be worth the price.

Overall, the new MacBook Air is one of the best laptops out there with multiple features making it a great candidate for online calls.

Csaba’s Rating:

• Performance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Display: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Connectivity: ⭐⭐
• Battery life: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

What I like and dislike about the MacBook Air M2:

3. ASUS Zenbook 15 OLED (15.6”)

Best OLED laptop for video conferencing

The ASUS Zenbook 15 laptop is a strong candidate for video conferencing on my list. I love ASUS Zenbooks for their built quality, design, and features, but this one stands out with its 2.8K OLED screen, Harman Kardon-certified Dolby Atmos sound system, full HD camera, and solid computing capacity.

The OLED screen is not only superb for crystal clear visuals, but it also supports a 120 Hz refresh rate along with a 0.2 ms response time, which makes this laptop an excellent choice for casual gaming, too. Overall, this is a vibrant screen with a very high contrast ratio.

Thankfully, this impressive feature set doesn’t come at the expense of computing power. The octa-core AMD Ryzen 7 CPU, 32 GB blazing-fast DDR5 memory, and 1 TB SSD leave no room for compromise.

You can connect this laptop to external devices like projectors via the HDMI port and USB ports. The battery life is in the medium range with up to 13 hours of claimed runtime, but, as you can expect, online video calls will drain the batteries more quickly.

We don’t have to complain about the packaging, either. The ASUS Zenbook 15 comes with a military-grade durability chassis that also received ASUS’ antimicrobial coating. It features a 180-degree hinge and weighs only 3.09 pounds, which makes it a great candidate for mobile meetings.

Overall, the Zenbook 15 remains one of my top picks for video conferencing and productivity.

Csaba’s Rating:

• Performance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Display: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Connectivity: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Battery life: ⭐⭐⭐

What I like and dislike about the ASUS Zenbook 15:

4. HP Spectre X360 (16’’)

Best convertible laptop for video conferences

The HP Spectre x360 is one of the best convertible laptops you can buy for video conferencing and productivity.

It offers decent speed thanks to the 13th Gen Intel Core i7-13700H processor with 14 cores, 20 threads, 24 MB cache, and a clock speed of up to 5.0 GHz turbo. Coupled with 16 GB of memory and 512 GB SSD storage, you can rest assured that this laptop will serve you in the long run.

The biggest selling point is the 16-inch 3K+ touchscreen, which offers a 100% sRGB color gamut, 400 nits of brightness, and an impressive 91% screen-to-body ratio.

This laptop offers a great video conferencing experience under various light conditions with clear visuals, vivid colors, and ample flexibility thanks to the 360-degree hinge, stylus pen, and touchscreen functionality. The Bang & Olufsen speaker system speaks for itself.

Despite the superior screen and powerful configuration, you can get a decent battery life, thanks to the 6-cell, 83-Wh battery.

It’s hard to get a grip on this laptop for business use and meetings, but it could have deserved the latest DDR5 RAM.

Overall, the HP Spectre X360 is a great choice for Zoom calls thanks to its flexible yet powerful configuration, superb screen, great audio system, and ample connectivity.

Csaba’s Rating:

• Performance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Display: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Connectivity: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Battery life: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

What I like and dislike about the HP Spectre x360:

5. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (14’’)

Best business laptop for Zoom meetings

Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 series are known as well-crafted, versatile business laptops with great keyboards and security features. This Gen 11 model is no exception. This laptop comes with a fingerprint reader, an FHD IR webcam with a privacy shutter, AI-based noise-cancelling mics, and Dolby Voice to accommodate your needs for video conferences. What’s more, this computer received the Zoom certification for offering exceptional Zoom experience under all Zoom products.

This laptop is powered by a 13th Gen 10-core Intel Core i7 series CPU with 12 MB cache and a max clock speed of 5.0 GHz turbo. 32 GB LPDDR5 memory ensures a great productivity and multitasking experience. Coupled with 1 TB fast SSD storage, you can rest assured that you buy a future-proof computer.

With the fast Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1, plus plenty of USB ports, this laptop offers ample connectivity. Screenwise, you get a 2.2K IPS panel with great color accuracy.

For this relatively high price, I missed a dedicated graphics card, a bit sharper screen, and more battery life. Otherwise, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon is a great option not only for video conferencing but also for business use and all-day productivity.

Csaba’s Rating:

• Performance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Display: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Connectivity: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Battery life: ⭐⭐⭐

What I like and dislike about the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon:

6. Acer Swift X (14’’)

Best budget laptop for video conferences

If you want to buy a new laptop within a budget that is a good fit for video conferencing and productivity, the Acer Swift X is a great choice.

It’s powered by a 12-core Intel Core i7 1260P processor, a dedicated NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 series graphics card, and 16 GB of fast DDR5 memory. This power goes beyond using Microsoft Teams or Google Meet. It will easily satisfy your creative projects and basic gaming needs.

However, this is not the end of the goodies. The Acer Swift X comes with a 14-inch display with a screen resolution of 2240×1400, featuring an impressive 92% screen-to-body ratio and 100% sRGB color gamut. Together with the 1080 p camera, a secure fingerprint reader, and the lightweight design, you get a timeless machine for your video conferences and everyday productivity.

It’s hard to get a grip on this laptop for this price range. Therefore, I continue to recommend the Acer Swift X as one of the most underrated business laptops on my list.

Csaba’s Rating:

• Performance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Display: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Connectivity: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Battery life: ⭐⭐⭐

What I like and dislike about Acer Swift X:

7. Dell Inspiron 16 Plus (16”)

Best screen-real-estate laptop for video conferencing under 1,000

The Dell Inspiron 16 Plus is a great model from the popular and well-established Inspiron series. The solid audio system, the full HD camera, together with the 16-inch 3K screen and excellent processor make this model one of the best laptops for video conferencing with demanding use.

Screenwise, you get a 16-inch 3K panel with a 100% sRGB color gamut. Although it features a standard refresh rate of 60 Hz and offers 300 nits of brightness only, with its vibrant colors and crisp visuals, this screen provides an excellent video conferencing experience for your Zoom meetings and beyond.

Coupled with the 1080 p webcam, the Dolby Atmos supporting stereo speakers, and ample connectivity, the Dell Inspiron 16 is a great choice for your online meetings.

At the heart of this machine, there is a 14-core Intel Core i7 processor, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 graphics card, and 8 GB of fast DDR5 memory, which makes this laptop computer suitable for content creation, video editing, and remote work too.

While this decent model could have deserved more memory, hard space, and a bit of powerful screen specs, it’s one of the best laptops you can choose for your video calls and virtual meetings.

Csaba’s Rating:

• Performance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Display: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Connectivity: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Battery life: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

What I like and dislike about the Dell Inspiron 16 Plus:

8. ASUS Vivobook S 14 Flip (14’’)

Best convertible OLED laptop for Zoom meetings

The ASUS Vivobook S 14 Flip is a lightweight 2-in-1 laptop. What I like most is the 2.8K OLED touchscreen, which has some impressive specs. It features 500 nits of brightness, a PANTONE Validated certificate, and a 100% DCI-P3 color gamut.

This screen offers a superior video conferencing experience with vivid colors, a wide viewing angle, and an impressive contrast ratio. Thanks to the 500-nit display, you can use this laptop for virtual events under various light conditions, like outdoors or while traveling.

The Vivobook Flip ticks all the boxes as well when it comes down to power. An octa-core AMD Ryzen 7 5800H processor is at the heart of this laptop, which is more than enough for productivity and online calls. 16 GB of memory and 1 TB SSD offer enough bandwidth for multitasking, streaming, and recording meetings.

Thanks to the 360-degree hinge and the stylus support, you can now enjoy your Zoom meetings with the convenience of a tablet. The FHD webcam together with the Harman-Kardon audio makes this laptop a great choice for your video conferences.

I only have two things to complain about. First is the average battery life. Second is the 60-Hz refresh rate of the screen, which is considered the standard among non-gaming laptops. However, these weaknesses are easily compensated by the impressive OLED screen and the powerful configuration. Overall, I think the Vivobook Flip is among the best laptops for video conferencing.

Csaba’s Rating:

• Performance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Display: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Connectivity: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Battery life: ⭐⭐⭐

What I like and dislike about the ASUS Vivobook S 14 Flip:

9. Lenovo Yoga 7i (16″)

Best long-lasting convertible laptop for video calls

The Lenovo Yoga 7i is a convertible laptop with many built-in features supporting your video conferencing experience.

First, it comes with an active stylus, a WUXGA touchscreen, a fingerprint sensor, and a 2-in-1 design to provide maximum flexibility for on-the-go meetings and creative projects. The Dolby Atmos-optimized speakers, noise-canceling mics, full HD webcam, and astonishingly long battery life will supercharge your online meetings and support crisp video meetings.

And the best thing is that it’s still a powerful laptop with solid computing capacity. The Lenovo Yoga features a 13th gen Intel Core i7-1355U processor with 10 cores and 12 threads, clocking 5.0 GHz at max speed. Coupled with 16 GB of DDR5 memory and 1 TB fast SSD storage, you can get your hands on a future-proof and reliable laptop.

The only major limitation is the screen, which is in the lower midrange with a moderate color gamut, refresh rate, and brightness. At least it’s a touchscreen and a 16-inch one.

Overall, the solid audio system, flexibility, FHD cam, impressive battery life, and powerful configuration make the Lenovo Yoga 7i one of the best laptops for video conferencing and beyond.

Csaba’s Rating:

• Performance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Display: ⭐⭐⭐
• Connectivity: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Battery life: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

What I like and dislike about the Lenovo Yoga 7i:

10. Microsoft Surface Pro 9 (13’’)

Best portable laptop for video conferencing

The Microsoft Surface Pro 9 offers the convenience of a tablet and the performance of a laptop for your Zoom conferences and online classes. This laptop has a sleek design and weighs only 1.94 pounds while offering an edge-to-edge touchscreen, Slim Pen support, and foldable design, all with a solid performance.

What I like about the Surface Pro is that the aesthetics and convenience don’t come at the expense of computing power and battery life. On a single charge, you can expect up to 15 hours of battery life, which is cool, given that Zoom calls can be demanding to batteries. And you get a full HD webcam, which will provide a more enjoyable and professional video conferencing experience.

The Surface Pro is powered by a 10-core Intel Core i5 CPU, which clocks 4.4 GHz at max speed and 8 GB of RAM (luckily, the latest and fastest DDR5 RAM). You also get a fast solid-state drive (SSD) of 256 GB, which is not too much, but, hopefully, you’ll use the cloud most of the time for storing your video recordings and files.

If you expect the pen and the keyboard to be in the box, you’ll be disappointed. I know I could have already used to it, but it’s a hard pill to swallow.

If you do meetings on the go, prefer working in tablet mode, and don’t do demanding work (e.g. video editing) on your computer, the Microsoft Surface Pro is one of the top laptops you can buy.

Csaba’s Rating:

• Performance: ⭐⭐⭐
• Display: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Connectivity: ⭐⭐⭐
• Battery life: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

What I like and dislike about the Microsoft Surface Pro:

Recommended specifications of a good video conferencing laptop: a buying guide

Although video conferencing doesn’t require a powerhouse, buying a future-proof new laptop is always a good idea.

Below, I provided the minimum and the recommended specifications for a video conferencing laptop. You can find more information in the Q&A section of this post.

Available space becomes important when you want to store your recordings locally for quick and easy access. Most video conferencing software offers cloud recording, depending on your plan. However, it’s always a good idea to have some free space on your hard drive for local recording.

Best laptops for video conferencing: FAQ

1. How much RAM do I need for smooth video conferencing?

I’ve found that having 8 GB of memory along with a solid processor is enough for a smooth video conferencing experience on most video conferencing platforms. 16 GB of RAM makes more room for multitasking; therefore, I’d opt for 16 GB if you have the budget. Technically, 4 GB of memory should suffice for Zoom meetings if you don’t want to run multiple applications in the background.

2. Do I need a dedicated graphics card for video conferencing?

Graphics cards are either integrated with your CPU or motherboard or sold separately. Video conferencing software like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Google Meet don’t require a dedicated graphics card. Most integrated graphics will easily handle video calls and streaming. Dedicated graphics become only important when you’re doing graphics-intensive tasks like video editing, gaming, or working with demanding software.

3. Can I use a Chromebook for video conferencing?

Although I’m not a big fan of Chromebooks, you can easily use them for video conferencing. That’s one of the main use cases where they excel. Zoom recently dropped its PWA app (Progressive Web App) for Chrome OS, which offers a desktop experience for your Chromebook. It updates automatically, so you don’t need to bother with manual updates. Google Classroom works well on Chromebooks because it’s part of the Google ecosystem.

4. What is a good resolution for a laptop webcam for video conferencing?

Most mid-range laptops come with 720 cams, even many expensive models, which is sad. I’ve found a great difference between my 720p webcam on my old MacBook Pro vs. my 1080p webcam on my new MacBook Air. Although a 720p cam will do the job for an online call, an FHD webcam offers a more pleasing video conferencing experience with sharper images and a more professional impression. If you have the budget and video conferencing is central to your work, I’d opt for a laptop with a 1080p webcam.

5. Which operating system is best for a video conferencing laptop?

Most video conferencing software works across multiple platforms (Windows, Mac, ChromeOS) as well as via the web. Your decision should be rather influenced by your personal preferences and the specific software you will use beyond video conferencing.

6. How important is battery life for video conferencing?

One of the major deciding factors when I buy a new laptop is battery life. Laptops are created for mobile work and battery life is just central to that. Video conferencing is no exception, either. Therefore, I recommend you choose a business laptop that lasts at least 6-8 hours, which is the bare minimum. Also, bear in mind that battery life claimed on paper (and in tests) can vary significantly based on individual usage, battery life, multitasking, configuration, and much more. Calculate with decreasing battery life if you turn on your camera.

To read more about the best laptops for increasing your productivity, check out my other guides:

• 10 Best Laptops for Zoom and Google Classroom in 2023
• 10 Best Laptops for Taking Notes (with Note-taking Tips)
• 10 Best Laptops for Project Management in 2023

Best laptops for video conferencing compared

Cover photo by Surface on Unsplash