The 3 Best Workstation Laptops of 2024

The best workstation laptop we've tested is the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2024). Configurable with Apple's M4 Pro and Max SoCs, this premium workstation packs a ridiculous amount of processing power, allowing you to tackle even the most CPU- and GPU-intensive tasks. It also provides an amazing user experience, thanks to its exceptionally sturdy build, 120Hz Mini LED display, spacious keyboard, large haptic touchpad, and full-sounding speakers. Port selection is excellent; you get three USB-C/Thunderbolt 5s, an HDMI 2.1, a full-size SD card reader, and a high-output headphone jack for hard-to-drive headphones. The only downside is that the RAM and storage aren't user-replaceable, and the upgrades are insanely expensive. If you want a more portable, affordable model and don't mind a smaller screen, get the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2024) instead. It's essentially the same laptop, but its speakers don't sound as good as its larger sibling.

Our recommendation for Windows users is the Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 (2024), a 16-inch workstation laptop that can handle intensive workloads. It has multiple display options, including an OLED panel with full DCI P3 coverage. You also get Lenovo's beloved keyboard, a haptic touchpad, Wi-Fi 7, and an excellent 1440p webcam. While its Intel Meteor Lake processors won't give you as much CPU processing power as a maxed-out MacBook Pro, you can get more raw GPU performance if you go with one of the higher-end GPUs, like the NVIDIA RTX Ada Generation 3000 or RTX 4070. RAM configuration maxes out at 64GB, though you can upgrade it up to 96GB. Unfortunately, this laptop gets hotter and louder under load, and none of the available displays get as bright as the MacBook Pro's Mini LED panel.

Our mid-range pick is the Dell Precision 5690 (2024). This 16-inch model is very similar to the Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 (2024) above, as it's also available with Intel Meteor Lake CPUs and NVIDIA NVIDIA RTX Ada Generation Laptop GPUs. You can get this laptop with the higher-end RTX 4000 and 5000 Laptop GPUs, which aren't available on the Lenovo laptop. The downside is that you can only get up to 64GB of soldered RAM, which might not be enough for some extremely memory-intensive tasks. It also has fewer display options, as it's only available with an FHD+ IPS or 4K+ OLED, both running at 60Hz.

The keyboard feels great to type on for extended periods—no complaints there. As for the touchpad, it's large and responsive, though it's a traditional diving board touchpad, which isn't bad in and of itself, but definitely a step down from the MacBook Pro's haptic touchpad. Other minor compromises include the port selection and webcam; there's no USB-A port, so a dongle might be necessary for some peripherals, and while the webcam is decent, it's a bit disappointing for such an expensive device and when compared to the picks above.

The best budget workstation laptop we've tested is the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition (2023). It's a gaming laptop, so it isn't available with professional GPUs, which are better optimized for tasks like 3D modeling. Also, its RAM configuration maxes out at a measly 32GB. That said, it can still be a good option if you have a very limited budget and your workload isn't overly demanding. You can configure this model with a Ryzen 7 7735HS or Ryzen 9 7940HS CPU paired with an AMD Radeon RX 6700S or Radeon RX 7700S, which are fairly capable. Display options include a 165Hz FHD+ or a 240Hz QHD+ panel. We recommend the latter, as its increased sharpness improves text clarity and has a higher peak brightness to combat glare.

This laptop sports a solid port selection for peripherals and external displays, including two USB-Cs, an Ethernet, and a true HDMI 2.1 port. No Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 support, though. Its build quality is excellent for the price, and its battery life is outstanding at nearly 13 hours of light use. The keyboard feels comfortable, albeit slightly mushy, and the touchpad is large and responsive. Unfortunately, there are a few other drawbacks besides the lack of Thunderbolt 4 support, like its bulky design and loud fan noise. Also, its 720p webcam is sub-par, and there are no biometrics, like a fingerprint sensor or facial recognition camera.