If you need to take quick notes on your laptop for your MBA classes, Zoom meetings, or even business transactions, then you understand how important a good laptop can make things easier.
While you might not need plenty of storage for typed notes, you need a fast laptop that can load fast as you type or surf the internet. You also need a laptop with a comfortable keyboard and smooth touchpad to allow you to type fast.
If you use your laptop in a dark room, a laptop with backlit keyboard will be a lifesaver, since you can take notes even in the dark. There are plenty of other features to consider.
If you are in a hurry, here is a summary of the best laptop for note taking:
1. Acer Swift 3 – Best Budget
2. 2020 Apple MacBook Air Laptop– Most Popular
3.Dell Inspiron 15 FHD– Best Value
Minimum Requirements for a Laptop for Note Taking
- AMD Ryzen 5/ Intel Core i5 processor/Apple M1 Chip processor
- Backlit keyboard
- 14’’ FHD display
- 256GB SSD/ 500GB HDD storage capacity
- 8GB RAM
- Lightweight and portability
4 Best Laptops for Note Taking Reviews
Lenovo Flex 5 Laptop
- 14’’ FHD touchscreen
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
- 16GB RAM
- 256GB Storage
- AMD Radeon Graphics
This laptop features the AMD Ryzen 5, a powerful processor that is capable of handling light and heavy laptop tasks. Lenovo flex 5 laptops have good quality AMD Radeon graphics that render high-quality images to the 14’’ FHD display.
If you are not a fan of clutter, this laptop has a narrow bezel on four sides to provide more viewing area on the display. This laptop allows you the freedom to choose how to use it as it can bend at a 360-degree angle. You can use it as a tablet when taking notes or stand mode when watching your favorite show on Netflix.
If you frequently use zoom for studying or business meetings, this laptop has a good webcam. The webcam has a privacy shutter to improve internet security; it is closed by default, and you can open it when streaming videos.
If you transfer files from external devices, you will find the multiple USB ports, HDMI port, and card reader satisfactory. You also get a 256GB SSD to store your files. If you need more storage, you can upgrade this storage, or use an external storage drive.
Pros
- The 360-degree hinge enhances laptop usage
- The webcam has a privacy shutter
- Powerful processor with good graphics
Cons
- The USB port is not compatible with a USB hub
2020 Apple MacBook Air Laptop
- 13” Retina Display
- Apple M1 Chip
- 8GB RAM
- 512GB SSD Storage
- FaceTime HD Camera
- Touch ID
The 2020 Apple MacBook Air is a great choice for note-taking.
This laptop’s M1 chip is a powerful processor for gaming, studying, programming, and other high-demanding laptop tasks. The laptop has an elegant silver color. It features a retina display whose images are sharp, and have realism.
If you want a laptop with a long battery life, you cannot go wrong with this Apple MacBook air. It has 18 hours of battery life that can last throughout the day.
This laptop’s RAM delivers an improved multitasking experience and ensures that the laptop speeds are not affected when opening huge files. The laptop’s 512GB SSD provides decent storage for your files.
This laptop delivers great images on facetime. The facetime camera is engineered with face detection and makes your skin tone look natural and clear.
Pros
- Long battery life
- Powerful M1 chip
- High-quality facetime camera
- Sufficient storage
Cons
- It is pricey
Acer Swift 3
- 14″ Full HD IPS
- AMD Ryzen 7 5700U Octa-Core Processor
- 8GB RAM
- 512GB SSD
- WiFi 6
Acer Swift 3 is a thin and lightweight laptop, perfect for note-taking, even if you are working outdoors. It features an incredibly powerful AMD Ryzen 7 processor. The processor delivers unbelievably fast speed even for the toughest laptop tasks such as data analysis.
The laptop’s 14’’ FHD display is backed by powerful Radeon graphics to not only display clear, realistic images but also improve laptop speed. This laptop features display technology such as an RGB display with 85.73% screen-to-body and narrow bezels.
If you surf the internet often, this laptop has Wifi 6 capabilities that enhance the utilization of wifi technology such as beamforming and MU-MIMO. This enhances wifi connectivity for you to get the best online experience.
Acer Swift 3 is not just compatible with Alexa, it has features that make your interaction with Alexa amazing. It features enhanced digital signal processing which cancels noise and makes speech clearer.
Pros
- Sufficient SSD storage
- Noise cancellation features to enhance interactions with Alexa
- Thin and lightweight
- Fingerprint reader for easier windows access
- Has Wifi 6 capabilities
Cons
- The fan is loud
Dell Inspiron 15 FHD
- 15 FHD Touchscreen Laptop
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
- AMD Radeon Graphics
- 32GB RAM
- 1TB SSD
- Backlit Keyboard
Dell Inspiron 15 not only offers a large antiglare display for note taking but also features AMD Ryzen 5 5500U that is more powerful than i7-11370H. This laptop comes with a reliable graphics card that boosts laptop performance and display.
This laptop is reliable for running resource-demanding games and programs. The 32GB RAM delivers incredible speed even for the heaviest of apps. The laptop also includes a whole 1TB SSD for storage of files, media, and data.
Pros
- Sufficient RAM for multitasking
- Anti Glare display
- Powerful processor and graphics
Cons
- It is expensive
Factors To Consider When Buying a Laptop For Note Taking
Laptop size
The laptop size determines how the keyboard fits in and allows room for you to have a good note-taking experience. 13’’ laptops or larger are good for note-taking.
Portability
Thin and portable laptops are good for note taking. You can carry the laptop around in your backpack, and even use it when travelling by train or airplane.
Storage
Laptop storage should be sufficient for you to store files and media. SSD storage is better than HDD as it delivers better speeds and consumes less power.
Conclusion
If you need to take notes on your laptop often, you need a laptop that offers comfort and convenience. This not only means getting the right size for your laptop, but also reliable laptop specs such as RAM, storage, graphics card, and processor.
