Need a laptop for Zoom meetings? These are our favorite options.
Best
laptops for Zoom meetings
Windows Central
2022
Attending Zoom meetings has become a common part of everyday life as of late, and whether you need to attend online classes or collaborate with your co-workers, having a device with a good webcam and microphone for Zoom video conferencing is important. Thankfully, there are plenty of affordable, yet capable laptops on the market that fit the bill. Our pick for best laptop for Zoom meetings is the HP Pavilion 15 since it features great specs, a nice display, and an excellent design, but there are several other strong alternatives as well.
Best overall: HP Pavilion 15
Source: HP
The design of the HP Pavilion 15 features a sleek and premium build that’s reminiscent of more expensive laptops. The keyboard and trackpad are both very comfortable to use, and you get plenty of peripheral connectivity options as well thanks to the inclusion of dual USB-A and a USB-C. Ultimately, the laptop is fantastic for use with Zoom as well as countless other productivity apps and programs, making it our top pick.
Pros:
- Great specs
- Quality display
- Excellent design
- Nice ports
Cons:
- Battery life falls slightly short
Best mid-range: Acer Aspire 5
Source: Windows Central
The design of the Acer Aspire 5 is decently thin and light and comes with both dual USB-A and a USB-C port for strong peripheral connectivity. The keyboard feels great, and the trackpad is solid too despite feeling a little loose. Overall, the Acer Aspire 5 is ideal for people who need a good laptop for Zoom but don’t want to pay upwards of $1,000.
Pros:
- Good specs
- Great webcam
- Clean audio
- Solid overall design
Cons:
- Display is lacking
- Trackpad is a bit loose
Best portable: Acer Swift 3X
Source: Windows Central
While the Acer Swift 3X’s incredibly mobile-focused build is the device’s highlight design feature, the keyboard is excellent as well. The trackpad resists clicks a little too much for our liking, but you do get excellent peripheral connectivity thanks to the inclusion of a Thunderbolt 4 port and dual USB-A slots. At the end of the day, the Acer Swift 3X is easily one of the best ultra-portable laptops you can get today if you need something for Zoom. It’s a little pricey, but it’s worth it.
Pros:
- Great specs
- Lovely display
- Strong battery life
- Portability-focused design
Cons:
- Trackpad resists clicking
- Pricey
Best budget: Dell Inspiron 15 3000
Source: Windows Central
The thin design of the laptop makes it easy to carry around, and both the keyboard and trackpad are enjoyable to use, too. The trackpad feels a little loose on the corners, but overall, it’s built well. Three USB-A ports are included for peripherals, which should be plenty of connectivity for most folks. Ultimately, the Dell Inspiron 15 3000’s quality specs, good design, and low price make it the ideal budget device for people who need something for Zoom.
Pros:
- Solid specs
- Nice display
- Good design
- Most affordable
Cons:
- No Wi-Fi 6
- Trackpad corners feel a little loose
Bottom line
Having a good device for Zoom meetings is very important these days, and thankfully, there are plenty of affordable and well-made laptops on the market that have a good webcam and microphone. Our favorite is the HP Pavilion 15 since it has quality specs, a good display, a great design, and a balanced price, but all of the other alternatives we mentioned are great as well.
If none of the options in this list is a good fit for your needs, make sure you review our roundup of the best Windows laptops. Alternatively, check out our list of the best budget laptops under $500 if you want something serviceable for a low price.
Credits — The team that worked on this guide
Brendan Lowry is a Windows Central writer and Oakland University graduate with a burning passion for video games, of which he’s been an avid fan since childhood. You’ll find him doing reviews, editorials, and general coverage on everything Xbox and PC. Follow him on Twitter.
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