With more people working remotely, video conferencing has become a popular option. You can hold meetings on the go without the need for face-to face meetings, which helps boost productivity, save time, and reduce travel expenses.
Though Zoom and Teams have become the most popular video conferencing software, there are other software with a sizable share of the market including Skype, Google Work Space, Webex Meetings, and GoTo meeting.
If you want to get the best quality video calls, your laptop should meet the minimum system requirements for the software. A good laptop will help you avoid the embarrassment of bad-quality images and sudden disconnection in the middle of conversations.
We spent 50+ hours testing and analyzing the best laptop for video conferences, and here are our top recommendations.
Minimum Requirements For Video Conferencing
When buying a laptop for video conferencing, ensure it meets the following minimum requirements:
- At least 4GB RAM or higher
- FHD resolution (1920+1080p)
- At least 256GB SSD or HDD
- Inbuilt HD camera
- 8+ hours battery life
- Good quality speaker
- At least 2 USB ports, one HDMI port, and an audio line out
- macOS or Windows 7, 8, or 10.
Best Laptop For Video Conferencing Overview: Top Picks
2020 Apple MacBook Air Laptop
- 8GB RAM
- 250SSD Storage
- Battery lasts 18 hours
- Apple M1 Chip and 8-core CPU
- Inbuilt webcam
This laptop is compatible with all video conferencing apps, making it ideal for this purpose. 2020 Apple MacBook Air features the Apple M1 chip and 8-core CPU for reliable speeds during video calls.
The laptop has a 13.3’’ display that shows images with high levels of realism. This laptop is easy to set up. You can buy, set up, and do a video conference in no time. It comes with ready-to-use apps.
If you hold extra long online meetings, this laptop call last the whole time. Its battery life can last 18 hours long, which is more than a day without charge. You can use it off grid in areas with no power.
This laptop comes with a reliable 256GB SSD that delivers fast speeds. It has 8GB RAM, which is sufficient and reliable for video conferencing, studying, gaming, and streaming.
Pros
- It comes with some pre-installed apps
- Amazing battery life
- Powerful processor
- High-quality webcam
Cons
- The battery is non-removable
Dell 9310 XPS 2 in 1 Convertible
- 32GB RAM
- 512GB SSD storage
- 11th Gen Core i7 processor
- Tablet mode (2-in-1 flip)
This laptop features an 11th Gen Core i7 processor and Intel Iris XE graphics that makes the laptop load stupid fast. You can stream high definition videos and still run other resource-demanding tasks in the background.
This laptop comes with a futuristic 32GB RAM that is sufficient to run any video conferencing software, and run other computer processes. It also comes with 512GB SSD storage.
Dell9310 XPS 2 in 1 has a 450-nit brightness that allows you to do video conferences outdoors. The brightness is also perfect when you want to enjoy a movie during a picnic.
The laptop has an XPS 13 webcam that delivers amazing videos with great sharpness for video conferencing. It also applies noise reduction features that give you high-quality video conferencing experiences.
This laptop has a fingerprint sensor that allows you to use your fingerprint to unlock your laptop; you can bypass your password everytime.
The laptop has an anti glare screen, which helps reduce the blue light and protect your eyes during the long online meetings.
Lastly, something we liked about this laptop is its tablet mode. The 360 degrees hinge allows you to flip the laptop into a laptop in seconds, and use it in any position.
Pros
- Powerful 11th generation processor
- 450-nit brightness for sharper images
- Anti Glare screen
- Sensitive fingerprint sensor
Cons
- It is expensive
- Short battery life
” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener nofollow”>HP ENVY 13 Laptop
- 8GB RAM
- 256GB SSD storage
- 11th Gen Core i7 Processor
- Touchscreen full HD display
- Battery lasts 13 hours
HP ENVY 13 features advanced security features that protect your privacy when doing high-profile and personal video conferences. This laptop has a powerful 11th gen processor that can handle even the most recent video conferencing software.
This laptop comes with Windows 10 Home installed, and you can upgrade it to Windows 11. It comes with 8GB DDR4 RAM, 256GB SSD, and Core i7 processor.
The laptop features a 13.3’’ screen with an 88% body-to-screen ratio. The full HD display (1920 x 1080) is great for streaming. Its battery lasts up to 13 hours on full charge, which is enough to last throughout the day.
This laptop has automatic health checks. It is capable of recovering from boot issues on its own. The laptop also protects itself from malicious attacks. If you are concerned about having a high level of privacy during video conferences, this laptop has an unhackable camera shutter and a mute button for the microphone.
Pros
- Unhackable camera shutter
- Full HD display
- Reliable battery life
- Has a microphone mute button
- Automatic PC health checks
Cons
- The display is not great when outdoors
Microsoft Surface Pro 6
- 8GB RAM
- 256GB SSD storage
- 8th Gen Core i5 Processor
- Battery lasts 13 hours
Microsoft Surface Pro 6 allows you to enjoy your video conferencing with its convertibility from a laptop to a tablet. It has an 8th Gen Intel Core i5 processor that is capable of handling all video conferencing apps.
This laptop has a battery life of over 13 hours, which gives you a full day of work and fun. It comes with Windows 10 installed. It comes with an 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD hard disk.
Microsoft Surface 6 features a lightweight design, weighing just 1.7 pounds, and you can pack it in your backpack and zoom at anytime and anywhere. This laptop helps you connect with art with its surface pen and eraser. It is also budget-friendly for these amazing features.
Pros
- It is affordable
- It is convertible
- The laptop is portable
- Long battery life
Cons
- It has a single USB port
Key Considerations When Buying a Laptop For Video Conferencing
Budget
There are reliable high-end, medium-end, and budget laptops for video conferencing. If you are a budget, you should find a laptop that meets the minimum requirements for video conferencing. With a budget of $500 to $1,000, you will be spoilt for choice.
Laptop Design
When buying a laptop, the design should suit your needs. For instance, if you move around with the laptop often, it should have a portable weight.
Processor
For laptop models like Dell, Hp, Acer, and Asus, the processor should be powerful enough to handle video conferencing apps.
RAM
A laptop for video conferencing needs sufficient RAM to run apps such as zoom and Microsoft teams. While 4GB RAM is enough to run most video-conferencing apps, an 8GB RAM and above is desirable to support high-qualify video calls.
Battery Life
At least 5 hours of battery life is good for video conferencing. With a minimum of 5 hours, you can have long video conferencing in areas where you cannot access power.
Display
Video conferencing requires a minimum of FHD display. This will give you clear images which makes the experience high quality.
Conclusion
When buying a laptop for video conferencing, you should make sure the laptop meets the minimum requirements to run the video conferencing apps. At a minimum, a good laptop should have 4GB RAM, 256GB hard disk, Core i5 and above, FHD display, and a long battery life.
The laptops we analyzed meet the minimum requirements for Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace, Skype, and other video conferencing apps. Some features like the RAM and hard disk can be upgraded if your laptop demands more speed and storage respectively.