The 7 Best Laptops for Accounting Reviewed
Working with numbers requires a computer ready to handle the workload. Whether you are in accounting, financial analysis, taxes, or any other related field, you need a laptop with a comfortable design and preferably a numeric keyboard built-in. A computer ready to worth with spreadsheets is easy, but one with the right equipment for complex numbers software warrants a larger processor and a solid-state drive.
We found the seven best options with the features you need, like long battery life, larger screen size, numeric keypads (with one exception), comfort for long hours, and the right hardware to work for any software quickly and efficiently. No matter which software you need, from Quickbooks to spreadsheets, these computers will get you working comfortably from home, office, or anywhere else you choose to work.
Best Laptops for Accounting
1. HP Envy X360
With the invention of 2-in-1 computers, you get more options for working on your computer with multiple views. One great example is the HP Envy X360 15 2020 Premium 2 in 1 Laptop that gives you a full 15.6 inch full HD touchscreen. Not only is this computer versatile but extremely portable too and completely ready for complicated software with impressive specifications, and you can customize the settings to your preferences.
We recommend the 16GB of RAM on a 1TB solid-state drive, which comes with an AMD Ryzen 5 processor with Hexa-core ready to work. All this comes at a reasonable price. If you want, upgrade to 32GB of Ram and up to a two terabyte hard drive, all with very respectable price tags. The laptop comes with 10 Home installed.
The screen is plenty large enough to have two windows open at the same time side by side, will still providing plenty of view. With a low bezel and multi-touch, the computer can fold over and work with a stylus (included) or flip over and work as a regular laptop with a full numeric keyboard. Moreover, the computer is secure with a fingerprint reader. You also get an HD wide vision camera with a microphone, Bluetooth, and even Bang and Olufsen dual speakers in case you like to listen to music while you work.
Another feature you will love about this laptop is the 14.25-hour-long battery life, ready to work with you all day. It’s also ready for Wi-Fi with wireless type 802.11ac; although it’s not quite Wi-Fi 6, it’s ready to connect anywhere. Finally, the laptop is a little heavy at 4.52 pounds making it portable but don’t carry it around on your back for too long.
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2. 2020 LG Gram 17-inch
If you want a traditional laptop with a massive screen, check out the 2020 LG Gram 17″ Ultra-Slim&Light Business Laptop. Despite the large screen, it’s just under three pounds and comes with better than HD with a WQXGA (2560 x 1600) IPS display. The only reason this option is lower on the list is the rather high price, but once you see what it comes with, you will consider this a bargain price. It can handle all of your computing needs and then some too.
Moreover, do anything you need with this computer as it offers an eight-generation Intel Core i7 processor, an impressive 32GB of RAM, and 1TB SSD. With specs like this, the computer will run for many years at top-notch speeds. Furthermore, the laptop has Windows 10 Home pre-installed so you can get to work faster. Despite the larger screen size, it’s on a smaller body like a 15.6-inch laptop, making it even more portable and exceptionally clear from any angle.
The laptop comes with a heavy-duty battery ready to last up to 17 hours for those who need to work long hours. It also includes an Iris Plus graphics card for better visuals. As for security, the laptop provides a fingerprint reader and supports Windows Hello Fingerprint. It also includes a webcam, Bluetooth, and cinema-worthy stereo.
The laptop is made with military-grade materials ready to withstand heat issues, dropping, water, and more. Also, the LG Gram includes a backlit keyboard with a full numeric keypad to make crunching numbers an easy task. Add in multiple ports, including a USB type-c, 3 USB 2.1, 1 HDMI, a micro-SD card reader, and an audio jack for more usability.
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3. Apple MacBook Pro
While the web is going on and on about the new M1 chip, it’s not yet available in the 16-inch size, which leaves the New Apple MacBook Pro Intel Chip Laptop as the best option for those in accounting. Running spreadsheets and accounting software needs size for easy visibility. Don’t worry, this is not an inferior laptop as it comes with so much ready to impress. However, it’s lower on the list for two reasons – the high price and the lack of a numeric keyboard.
With many companies running on macOS, it’s necessary to include this impressive piece of machinery. First, the MacBook Pro includes a massive 6-core 2.6GHz i7 processor with a turbo boost of up to 4.5GHz. Second, it has a 16GB of RAM for short-term memory and 512GB of SSD storage. Moreover, the computer has a Retina display for up to 500 nits of brightness and an AMD Radeon Pro 5000M series graphics card for ultra HD video.
Next, the MacBook Pro includes the proprietary Touchbar and impressive Touch ID for optimal security. The Touchbar allows for easy access to many settings such as brightness, sound, escape key, volume, apps, emojis, typing, suggestions, color, and function keys. All of this provides a more useful and simplistic keyboard for easier type. It also includes a built-in mic, camera, and six-speaker stereo with dual force-canceling woofers.
Although the price is high, the laptop will still be running strong in a decade. It comes with the incredible macOS with included apps like GarageBand, Safari, and extremely affordable word processing and other office necessities. All this, and it has an impressive 11-hour battery life with a weight of just 4.3 pounds, making it ultra-portable.
- Ninth-generation 6-Core Intel Core i7 Processor
- Stunning 16-inch Retina Display with True Tone technology
- Touch Bar and Touch ID
- AMD Radeon Pro 5300M Graphics with GDDR6 memory
- Ultrafast SSD
4. Asus ZenBook 14 Ultra-Slim Laptop
You are about to see two revolutionary laptops in the Asus ZenBook series; and the first is the Asus ZenBook 14 Ultra-Slim Laptop, and it’s first because it’s more affordable and provides a familiar layout. The ZenBook comes with a unique touchpad that turns into an extra screen. Use this extra screen for productivity as a numeric keyboard without increasing the size of the laptop for a more portable option.
Beyond using it as a keypad, you can use the screen pad touchscreen for app switching, handwriting, watching videos, jotting down notes, and so much more. It takes multi-tasking to a new level without sacrificing anything else you need on a laptop. It’s even lightweight at under three pounds and only half an inch thick, making it portable to an extreme, especially with the 14-inch size.
The ZenBook is ready to bring you comfort with a screen that automatically goes into an ergonomic layout for comfort. It comes with a bigger screen on a small laptop with full HD and NanoEdge bezel. With this option, you get an Intel i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, a 512GB solid-state drive, a GeForce MX250 graphics card, and Windows 10 Pro already installed.
Finally, the laptop includes Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) for access where ever you go. Add in a backlit keyboard, camera, quick keys, Bluetooth, and tons of ports, and you’re just getting a look at key features. Use it for meetings with the built-in speakers, microphone, and even voice control with Alexa. It even comes with a battery ready to last all day for extended meetings.
- Innovative ScreenPad: 5.65-inch interactive touchscreen trackpad that adapts to your needs for smarter control and multitasking
- App Switcher on ScreenPad: easily move docked windows between your main display and ScreenPad display
- Handwriting on ScreenPad: Take note or jot down your ideas by writing on the ScreenPad
- NumberKey on ScreenPad: Turn ScreenPad into a numeric keypad for easy numeric data entry
- 14 inch wide-view Full HD 4-way NanoEdge bezel display
5. ASUS Zenbook Pro Duo UX581LV
The ASUS ZenBook Duo UX481 Laptop brings new functions to a laptop, especially for those who multipurpose like accountants. What makes this laptop special is the secondary screen on the keyboard section of the laptop. With this unique setup, not only do you get more screen space but the keyboard changes too. Accountants just might like having the keyboard closer to the edge of the device.
Second, the extra display allows you to have multiple applications open without needing to reduce space on either. It’s a touchscreen too for the secondary screen, and you can use a stylus for extra benefit. Use the secondary screen as an organizer while keeping your main work on the main screen. You can even use Alexa to work the laptop for more benefits.
Next, the trackpad is off to the side and comes with two-click keys as well, but the best feature is the trackpad dual functions as a numeric keypad when you need it. Some people love the smaller smart trackpad in a more comfortable location, while others find it too different from the traditional style found in laptops. As for the specs, the laptop includes an Intel i9 processor, GeForce RTX 2060 6GB graphics card, 32GB of RAM, 2 TB SSD, and a 15.6-inch screen making this the only laptop you will need for a very long time for work or gaming.
Furthermore, the Zenbook Pro Duo also comes with dual fans for longevity and triple heat pipes. It also comes with a MicroSD card reader, audio jack USB ports, DC-in, and an HDMI port. Get ultrafast connectivity with up to Wi-Fi 6(802.11ax), all housed inside of a military-grade shell. Add in a webcam, Bluetooth, Windows 10 Pro, full HD, and a lightweight of just 3.5 pounds, and the battery lasts for around 6 hours on full system for an exceptional machine. However, the prices are sky-high for the advanced technology, which is why this is lower on our list.
6. Acer Aspire 3 15.6-inch
Save some money with the 2020 Acer Aspire 3 15.6″ FHD Laptop Computer, which comes with decent specs ready to work for the vast majority of accounting needs. More importantly, the laptop comes with a full keyboard, including a numeric keypad perfect for typing streams of numbers. Out of the box, the laptop is ready to impress with a comfortable shape and slim design.
First, let’s look at the hardware. The Aspire includes a 10th gen Intel Core i5 processor with 12GB of RAM ready to run quickly and efficiently. It also includes a 256GB solid-state drive, which works just fine if you don’t mind using cloud storage or external options. Also, you can choose 20GB of RAM and more hard drive space too if cloud isn’t an option, but the price will go up.
Lastly, the computer comes with everything else you need to work on all of your accounting needs as it includes a built-in webcam, microphones, an Intel UHD graphics card, Bluetooth, and speakers. Use it for light gaming, online meetings, or browsing the web. Add in full HD display, Windows 10 Home, and a decent battery life for a simple computer ready to work.
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7. HP Pavilion 15.6-inch
If you need a laptop on a budget, check out the 2020 HP Pavilion 15.6″ HD Laptop Computer. While it’s not the fastest option, it will save you money and work for spreadsheets and mid-range software needs like Quickbooks and most other software. However, if you are looking for a laptop capable of supporting gaming, this may not be the best choice for you if it needs to pull double duty.
The price is definitely right, and it provides extras added after the fact for an upgrade. With an Intel Pentium Processor, dual-core, and 16GB of RAM along with a 512GB solid-state drive, the computer will speed along and not stall on you while on the web or working on documents. It also comes with decent resolution on the screen with 1366 x 768 pixels with anti-glare and an energy-efficient micro-edge WLED screen.
Furthermore, the laptop provides a full numeric keyboard making crunching numbers an easy task. You can get on video with an Intel UHD Graphics 605, an HP TrueVision HD camera, and dual array digital microphones plus stereo speakers. The large screen still provides a long battery life and Bluetooth too. However, it only comes in bright red color many customers may not like, but it’s lightweight at just under four pounds.
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Buying Guide for Laptops for Accounting
Before you pick a laptop for your accounting needs, take a look at some key factors to determine the best option for you.
Software
Most software requires a little more processing power than older computers can support, which is why this list includes options with more power and capability. As a whole, look for a laptop with at least 8GB of RAM but 16GB if it’s within the budget. As for storage on the hard drive, opt for a minimum of 256 with more definitely offering more storage space. Also, make sure to get a solid-state drive for quick access to stored files.
Portability
The whole point of a laptop is they are portable and ready to go on quick notice. Size should factor into the equation as the larger, the better for visibility, but the laptop still needs to be small enough to fit into a bag comfortably. We recommend a 14 inch up to a 17 inch with 15.6 being the happy medium. Also, try to find a laptop that weighs less than five pounds for more comfort.
Keyboard
As an accountant, you work with numbers, which means you need a keyboard with easy access to numbers. Most of the laptops on this list include a dedicated numeric keyboard or a unique variation ready to help you type better. Do check the keyboard and location of the trackpad before purchasing to get the option that will suit you best.
Questions About Laptops for Accounting
Should I get a Windows-based computer or a Mac for accounting?
While Macs are amazing machines and more than capable of supporting any software, they do come with a couple of problems. First, the laptops do not come with numeric keypads. Second, the computer uses different spreadsheet software, which may not work as well if your company uses Excel. Check with your company to find out which they prefer you to use.
Will all of these computers keep my information safe?
Computers are only as safe as you make them. To keep your computer safe, choose an option with a fingerprint scanner, and make sure to have a smart password. Use howsecureismypassword.net to ensure your password isn’t easy to figure out, and try not to make your password simple. Also, change your password often for more security.
Do I need to worry about battery life?
If you plan on traveling often with your laptop, then you want a battery life ready to last all day. Some of the batteries for laptops now last as long as 20 hours, meaning even if you run processor-hungry software, it will still last all day long, meaning you can work far from home or office without issue.
Conclusion
For a happy balance of smart hardware function, pick the HP Envy X360 15 2020 Premium 2 in 1 Laptop. The laptop offers a touchscreen, multiple views, and a full keyboard, including a numeric keypad. Finally, the hardware is beyond sturdy and fast, ready to handle any software you need for your accounting needs.