If you’re looking for power that can rival the best desktop PC but has the portability to easily use on the go, look no further than the best mobile workstations. Laptops have generally gotten thinner and lighter over the years as have internal components like processors and graphics cards. Luckily, these mobile workstations take advantage of shrinking internals to slim down as well while offering more power than ever.
No matter what you’re doing, these portables have the power for a lot of different uses, whether you’re doing some video editing and rendering or want something that can hang with the best business laptops on the market. Because of the amount of horsepower they hide under the hood, not to mention their reliability, they offer great value since you’ll be able to get quite a few years out of them before needing to upgrade. In fact, some of them can go head-to-head with some of the best desktop workstations available.
We’ve gathered our picks of the best mobile workstations 2021 has to offer here to help you find your next portable. You’ll find some great options, especially now with Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals rolling out.
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If power and portability is what you’re looking for, there’s no better choice right now than the MacBook Pro 14-inch (2021). It’s more of a creative laptop than a business one. However, if you need a workstation for your creative tasks that you can carry anywhere, its M1 Pro or M1 Mac chip comes with a lot of processing and graphical prowess. That’s while touting a battery life that’ll last you even past your work hours. Ports abound, including the returning MagSafe port, as well as that stunning XDR display with 1600 nits of peak brightness.
Read the full review: MacBook Pro 14-inch (2021)
One of the most powerful mobile workstations out there, the Gigabyte Aero 17 (2021) comes with a lot of power, a gorgeous display, and a whole lotta ports. Best yet, it’s priced well below its less-powerful rivals, making it a better proposition even if you have a more flexible budget. It isn’t by any means perfect. The battery life could use a bit of a boost, for example. But, for how much you’re paying and for the other things you’re getting in return, it’s a minuscule sacrifice.
Read the full review: Gigabyte Aero 17 (2021)
No matter what you’re looking for in a computer, the MacBook Pro 16-Inch (2021) can probably handle it. That’s thanks to Apple’s in-house M1 Pro and M1 Max (if you choose to upgrade) that can blaze through any application you can think of. The Pro also comes with an incredible display, as well as plenty of ports including next-gen Thunderbolt 4 ports. All that performance does come at a price, as even the base model costs a lot. But, considering how powerful this laptop is, it’s worth the price of entry.
Read the full review: MacBook Pro 16-Inch (2021)
There are very few laptops that are more powerful than the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 6. This 2-in-1 workhorse delivers excellent battery life of up to 14 hours, and if you’re going to be working long hours, this is the mobile workstation you’ll want to be working in. It also comes with a breathtaking 16:10 display as well as many security add-ons, features business professionals will appreciate. We’re also pretty sure that they’ll appreciate its SD card slot and garaged stylus.
Read the full review: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 6
For a 17-inch laptop, the Dell XPS 17 (2020) is impressively thin and light, especially when you consider the fact that it boasts powerful specs for that top-notch performance that content creators require. Among the best mobile workstations out there, this is practically the whole package, touting a big, gorgeous screen, fantastic battery life that will last you the entire day and a gorgeous design on top of everything else. That’s without even mentioning its mid-range price of entry, giving the MacBook Pro 16-inch a good run for its money.
Read the full review: Dell XPS 17 (2020)
The HP Envy 15 (2020) may have been meant for creative professionals looking to get away from the Macbook Pro. However, its versatility, thanks to all the customizable options when purchasing, makes it ideal for a number of different uses, whether you’re looking for a reasonably priced ultrabook or one that can tackle gaming. It can be upgraded to have some serious RAM and storage, up to an Intel i9, as well as an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 and a beautiful 4K display. And, even in its souped up configuration, it comes in at a decent price especially when compared to similar offerings from Dell or Apple.
Read the full review: HP Envy 15 (2020) review
For those who think that MacBook Pros are overpriced but still need a powerful mobile workstation, there’s the Acer ConceptD 7. This formidable laptop capable of handling complex and demanding tasks such as 3D rendering, thanks in part to its Nvidia RTX graphics, was designed specifically with creative professionals in mind. Beyond that sheer power it delivers, it also offers decent port selection, a minimalist solid white design and that stunning Pantone-validated 4K IPS display. Obviously, it’s still pretty pricey, but if you’re looking for a Windows-powered MacBook alternative for video and photo editing, it’s a great option.
Read the full review: Acer ConceptD 7
Thanks to that powerful M1 chip, the MacBook Pro 13-inch (M1, 2020) boasts a major upgrade in power and battery life. It delivers the kind of performance and battery life that business professionals need and deserve. Its performance is so impressive, in fact, that it can easily handle 4K - and even 8K - videos. That’s while keeping the same sleek, compact, and lightweight chassis that creative pros want. If you’re looking for a powerful laptop keeps things smart and classy, you’ve got a winner here.
Read the full review: MacBook Pro 13-inch (M1, 2020)
Do you have a lot of cash to spare and require a powerful mobile workstation? Look no further than the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme mobile workstation, whose impressive specs are only the beginning. You’ll also appreciate working with that bright and crisp 15.6-inch screen, especially if you’re getting the 4K version, as well as all that storage space if you go all out. Though, fair warning, this isn’t exactly the lightest laptop you’ll lug around, so investing in a sturdy backpack with padded straps is ideal for stowing it in.
Read the full review: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme mobile workstation
The ThinkPad T-series is a no-nonsense design with a focus on robustness over style. Even so, the T460s' 18.8mm thickness is within 1mm of the MacBook, and it's actually lighter at 1.4kg. It's not as powerful as some of the workstation laptops in this list, but it's not as expensive either, which makes it a great choice if you're looking for an accomplished workstation laptop for less hardcore workloads, while also keeping to a budget.
Read the full review: Lenovo ThinkPad T460s
- Want more choices? Check out our list of the best laptops
How do I choose a workstation PC?
- TechRadarPro Q&A with Anu Herranen, Director of New Product Introduction, Advanced Compute and Solutions at HP Inc.
There are a couple of basic questions you need to ask yourself before choosing a workstation. The first is simply to think about the work you need it to support. Do you need fantastic graphics performance, or to analyze huge data sets in hours, rather than days? Do you need to be able to do a range of tasks concurrently? Which applications or operating system are you relying on?
The next step is to think more broadly about how and where you will use your workstation. Are you always in the field, therefore need a lightweight device, combined with great battery life? Or like so many of us today, do you need something that you can use at home, but doesn’t take up much space so you’re able to hide it away when not working? What audio experience do you need? Do you need to be able to work collaboratively?
Reliability is another key factor in choosing a workstation PC. Imagine that you are in a hospital environment analyzing CT scans: your computer needs to run 24/7 all year round and must never fail. Likewise, a NASA astronaut in a space station cannot ever take the risk of having their computer fail due to system crashes, component breakdowns and sluggish performance.
Some have undergone hundreds of thousands of hours of extensive testing under extreme conditions, where frequency, voltage and temperature are varied in such a way that it goes beyond what one could call normal operating conditions.
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