Computers have evolved since their launch. Now you have laptops that are more compatible and can be carried around, unlike proper personal computer setups. Laptops are great to use.
Students, employees, teachers, and other professionals use laptops to carry important files with them. Under-the-sun usage of electrical devices can be tricky, but there are many best laptops for outdoor use.
What to look for while buying a laptop for outdoor use?
There is a difference between using a laptop for outdoor and indoor use. Before buying a laptop, many factors should be considered, especially for outdoor use, as the weather is a prominent factor. Besides the weather, the laptop’s ability to be carried around easily should also be considered.
Below are the things you should keep in mind-
Size and form:- Different sizes of laptops are available on the market. They can go from 11.6 inches to 17.3 inches wide. Dispensing upon your usage, the size should be picked.
It is always wise to pick out a handy size for outdoor usage as it becomes travel-friendly. The thinner and smaller a laptop is, the easier it is to carry while going outside.
But, some thin laptops cannot handle high-end performance, so make sure you choose a lighter model that can handle a good performance.
Ultrabooks favor a lightweight and slim form factor with high-end performances. Notebooks offer a good blend of portability and power. Convertibles, on the other hand, expand themselves by adding the ability to fold away and convert to a tablet.
Screen quality:- Of course, the outdoors have sunlight which is a major factor when selecting the right laptop.
A good brightness level and an anti-glare display are a must for withholding the sun’s rays. The quality also is affected by choice of touch or non-touchscreen.
Usually, touch screens tend to be glossier for smooth interaction as they are touch-sensitive yet susceptible to glare. So, a non-touchscreen gives better outdoor usage.
Battery life:- Going outside with a charger can be hectic. This is why choose a laptop with a good battery life that can support high screen brightness and other applications to be used by you. Even in high-end settings, the battery should be able to handle the load.
Build quality:- A durable body is a must with the devices to be used outdoors. Any slip from your hand can cause you thousands of bucks for repair when talking about a laptop.
Choosing a strong, durable body with amazing strength that can withstand ruggedness, dust, and rain is very important.
Best Laptops For Outdoor Use – Our Pick👌
1. Samsung Galaxy Book Flex 13.3” QLED
This is one of Samsung’s amazing laptop creations in the market. Its sleek blue color of it makes it so attractive to work with. And also has an enabled S Pen.
It comes in two ranges of capacities- a 13.3” screen and a 15.6” screen, and configurations- 8 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD – Win HOME, and 16 GB RAM 512 GB SSD – Win PRO.
QLED display:-
It gives you the best streaming experience and browsing even under sharp sunlight with a maximum resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. On this gorgeous QLED touchscreen, you will find 100% color volume and vibrancy.
Create and watch anywhere with Galaxy Book Flex’s Quantum Dot technology which keeps the picture on the screen detailed.
Slim 360 degrees design has been seamlessly created for a 360-degree experience. Change it from a laptop to a tablet in a single rotation. The royal blue aluminum body makes it strong and durable while providing a unique shine.
Moreover, the backlit keyboard makes getting on with late-night projects easier.
Powerhouse processor:- There is minimal lag and near-instantaneous startup with the formidable Intel Core i7 10th generation processor and 512 GB of storage.
Long-lasting battery:- The battery is fast charging and lasts up to 20 hours, proving it to be one of the best laptops for outdoor use.
You can work and stream tirelessly on this device’s powerful battery. It has been completed with Wireless PowerShare’s ability to charge other wireless devices over the trackpad.
Wi-Fi 6:- You can download any content within seconds as the network speeds up to 3x faster than their previous generation of Wi-Fi.
Bluetooth Pen:- This screen is your canvas. You can use the pen available with this model by connecting via Bluetooth for multiple purposes.
You can take notes, use initiative gestures (to start a slideshow or adjust the volume), or sketch with perfection with the enabled S pen.
Windows 10 Home OS:- The ready-to-go built-in Windows 10 has proven to be a powerful operating system with features including all the familiar programs you love.
Thunderbolt Port:- There are 3 Thunderbolt ports with one USB-C port too.
Sound by AKG:- AKG provides a layered and textured sound bringing the elements on the QLED screen to life.
Secure and Smart:- The security features are improved and are now backed up by Windows Hello. You can trust your important files to be in safe hands.
It comes in two colors: gold or gray, and configurations- Wi-Fi or LTE + Wi-Fi.
Pros:-
- Comfortable keyboard
- The onboard S pen is useful
- It has a beautiful build
- The trackpad can wirelessly charge other devices like mobile phones
Cons:-
- Middling battery life
- Has limited configuration
2. Samsung Galaxy Book S – Best laptops for working outdoors
It is a very budget-friendly solution of the best laptops for outdoor use for the ones looking for a minimal job.
Power and Performance:- It has an Intel Core i5 processor with 256 GB of storage space, which can expand to up to 2 TB of storage. This Galaxy book S is fast and performs well amongst the range of laptops in this budget.
Super Thin and Light:- It is built in an aluminum chassis having a 13.3” Full HD touchscreen and a backlit keyboard. It also has a fan-less system weighing just a little over 2 pounds. It helps the device system stay cool and quiet all day long.
Long-lasting Battery:- A battery that stays longer and performs better. Its battery gives you enough power to keep up with the focus you need for your work life.
But, every battery life depends upon the computer’s settings, usage, and other factors.
Based on Samsung’s internal lab tests, local video playback time results show that it can last for 17 hours under default settings of volume and brightness without connection to a mobile network for Wi-Fi.
Pre-installed Applications:- It is very important to install applications on the computer.
And while having a pre-installed collection in Samsung Galaxy Book, it is easy for you to get along right after you purchase this model. It comes with a Windows 10 update or was later launched in October 2018.
Although, it requires a Microsoft account and an Android 7.0 and above mobile phone for compatibility.
Pros:-
- Long battery life
- Super thin and light
- A microSD card slot
- Fingerprint scanner
- Bright screen
Cons:-
- The resolution is on the lower side
- The processor struggles when the load increases a limit
- A bit slow charging even with a 25W power adapter
3. Dell XPS 13 9310 – Best laptop for use in sunlight
Priced at $1,499.99, Dell has brought you its new elite laptop option for outdoor usage. It comes with a one-year warranty as well. Dell has been improving its XPS series and experiencing the ultimate technology.
They give you four options of processors to select from-
Intel i3-1115G4 (4.10 GHz), i5-1135G7 (4.20 GHz), Intel i7-118%5G7 (4.8 GHz), and lastly, Intel i7-1165G7 (4.7 GHz). Only Core i5 and Core i7 have the powerful Intel iris Xe for the laptop’s GPU. But, the Core i3 version relies on Intel UHD Graphics.
Display and Web Camera:- Dell’s sharp IGZO partnership takes the top place of strong and sharp displays as one of the best laptops for outdoor use.
The display as[ect is 16:10 with a taller version than previous ones. The Full HD display is terrific, with colors being accurate at a remarkably high rate, along with 79% Adobe RGB, 79% DCI-P3, and 100% sRGB.
The brightness ranges from 62 nits at zero percentile to 569 nits, making it one of the brightness laptops under sunlight.
It also has an anti-reflective coating giving a true matte screen with retained vibrancy and contrast of colors without any eye strain. The touch screen works well too.
The InfinityEdge glass is very clean, even, and symmetrically placed. The Windows Hello IR has been incorporated with a 720p web camera. It works well with IR lenses.
Keyboard and Trackpad:- Dell’s XPS 13 (9300 and 9310) have a newly redesigned keyboard and work brilliantly.
Evolving from previous small chiclet keys, now the keys are 9 percent larger compared to the 2019 models. The keys on the keyboard are easy to hit for you, feel very even, and have adequate travel.
There is also two-stage backlighting, even on the white color version of the keyboard. The contrast is indiscernible in low lighting.
The trackpad is the best Dell has done in years, with a 17% increased version to 2019 models. It uses Microsoft Precision drivers. It is made from glass, is smooth, and has no scrolling errors or false readings.
Audio:- Dell’s XPS 13 has dual 2.5-watt speakers with a 4-watt peak. While the speakers are on a lower edge, the experience proves to be very satisfying because of the combined Waves MaxxAudio Pro software and Dell CinemaSound 2.0 tweaks.
The audio also seems clear and loud and has a functional resonance—just outstanding speakers.
It has got dual far-field microphones on the top edge of the display. It is satisfactory for teleconferencing software such as VoIP calls on Skype.
Benchmark and Battery:- Intel Evo badge and Iris Xe graphics with Intel Core give a much more powerful performance with 10 hours of strong battery life.
It has now been marked as one of the best office laptops and other outdoor uses. Even with the implementation of high-performance graphics and processors, the battery life does not get affected.
Moreover, this Dell model feels cooler and quieter than ever.
Pros:-
- It has the best 13-inch display quality for a Windows Ultrabook
- Has the latest specs for you
- It is perfect as an office productivity device for you
- Best for students
- An ultimate alternative to MacBook Pro with a touchscreen
Cons:-
- Serious gaming with streaming is not possible
- It does not support 4G LTE OR 5G
- It does not have a lot of ports
4. Dell XPS 15 9500 15.6” UHD+ Touchscreen
This model from Dell packs Intel 10th-generation power and NVIDIA graphics! It delivers workstation-like performance within the list of best laptops for outdoor use. It is revamped with the new InfinityEdge display, perfect for outdoor use.
The movies and games immerse perfectly. There are tweaks made in the touchpad, keyboards, and chassis, making it a very comfortable laptop to work with. Priced at $1,079, it gives a 4K screen to you with high-class configurations.
Design:- The XPS 15, launched in May 2020, gives one of a kind experience. It has a slim chassis with a smooth and sleek aluminum lid.
The edges are 0.71 inches, sharply constructed to contrast nicely with the soft-touch keyboard deck.
The keyboard is much better than previous versions, with a larger touchpad too. Some front-firing speakers lay elegantly on the deck. The biggest attraction of this model is the 4-sided Infinity Edge display ditching the thick bottom bezel included previously.
It weighs 4.5 pounds and has dimensions of 13.57 x 9 x 0.7 inches. It is roughly the same size as the 16-inch model of the MacBook Pro, which is 4.3 pounds with 14.1 x 9.7 x 0.64 inches. XPS 15 is 4 pounds lighter if you purchase the non-touchscreen version and a smaller 56Wh battery.
Ports: This model has 3 USB-C ports for connecting to external peripherals, displays, and charging. Two of the connecting ports are Thunderbolt 3 for extra-fast connectivity.
A full-sized SD card reader, a USB-C to USB-A converter port, and a headphone jack are included. You get a full-fledged port system in Dell’s XPS 15 9500 model.
Display:- There is no chunky bottom bezel for drifting the attraction from the main element of the 4-sided InfinityEdge display.
The gaming experience is truly a wonderful thing to look for in this model. The effects are dramatic, having a 92.2% screen-to-body ratio for maximum immersion during a stream or game.
It has a rich 3840 x 2400 resolution with colorful, vibrant RGB colors and remarkable detailing.
The blacks are true, deep, and rich, making editing and reading a breeze. It is bright for work during daylight, registering an average brightness of 434.2 nits.
A 132.2% sRGB color gamut backs up its real-world color performance. The screen space is so large that split-screen is easily possible, that even bouncing between documents, videos, chats, etc., is very manageable in XPS 15. The touchscreen has proved itself to be responsive and fluid.
Audio:- The top-firing speakers are one of a kind. The audio fills up a room effectively with no harsh bass.
The audio performance is amplified by the WavesMaxx Audio pro technology and Waves professional tuning, enhancing soothing rock music. There is a variety of EQ presets in the companion app.
XPS speakers sound louder and fullers when the Waves app is activated. Every genre of music and sound is crisp.
Pros:-
- It has an immersive and gorgeous display
- Speakers are loud and rich
- The keyboard and touchpad are comfortable
- It gives out an overall great performance.
Cons:-
- It gets loud under pressure
- The battery is not so great, rather so-so option
5. Dell XPS 17 (9700) 17″: The 17-inches King
This model of Dell is fully equipped with the creative tools needed for better fluid performance. The rendering of high-resolution graphics is splendid in this model.
It comes in ranges of RAM sizes- of 16 GB and 32 GB, hard disk sizes of 512 Gb and 1 TB, and lastly, sizes of- 15.6” standard and 17” standard.
Screen:- It has a stunning 4-sided Infinity Edge display with an amazing screen-to-body ratio of 93.7% with a 17-inch screen, making it 48% smaller than any 15-inch screen laptop!
PC-Smartphone Compatibility:- The Dell Mobile Connect is best for seamless wireless integration between the laptop and smartphones, allowing users to send texts, get notifications from the phone over the pc, and make calls.
Though, over iOS, this application is only limited to the transfer of videos and photos.
Two-time Better Performance:- Implementing high-end technology within XPS 17 makes it a one-of-a-kind solution for the best laptops for outdoor use. It has-
- 17 inch UHD+ InfinityEdge Touch and Anti-reflective screen with 3840 x 2400 px on 500 nit display
- 10th generation Intel Core i9
- NVIDIA RTX 2060 Graphics card
- 1 TB M.2 PCle NVMe solid-state drive and a 32 GB DDR4-2933MHz memory
XPS 17 delivers unprecedented performance with a thin form factor with the help of unique dual opposite outlet fans that increase fan airflow by nearly 30%.
Energy Efficiency:- XPS 17 has been recognized by the CES 2018 Best of Innovation Awards because of its black packaging trays that are a step beyond recycling.
75% of it is made up of recycled plastics, while the remaining 25% consists of ocean plastics collected from the coastal areas.
It is free of materials like mercury, phthalates, cadmium, and lead.
It is also EPEAT-registered and PVC/BFR-free. 90% of these models are easily reused and recycled. The packaging trays are also recyclable as they are made from bamboo.
Pros:-
- It has a roomy 17-inch display with a 4K resolution panel
- It has a comfortable keyboard and a big touchpad
- Excellent quality of audio and video
- Long battery life
- Surprisingly compact for a 17-inch display
- It has brilliant NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 graphics
- It has four thunderbolts consisting of an SD card reader and three ports.
Cons:-
- Highly expensive due to the high-end configurations
- A slight power drain during intense gaming sessions, even when plugged in with a charger
- Occasional coil whine
- No Type-A USB ports
6. Microsoft Surface Book 2
It has a completely detachable keyboard making it the best portable laptop in town and one of the best laptops for outdoor use with a performance Windows 10 performance.
If you love convertibles, this 2-in-1 Microsoft Surface is best for you. It has a well-built design and a high-resolution screen bright enough for daylight.
CPU and GPU:- This model from Microsoft has been launched with two variants. The first has an Intel Core i5 processor with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 for daily use.
The second variant is stronger with an Intel Core i7 processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050, making it the best option for graphic designers, other design students, and professionals.
Storage and RAM:- It also has two variants of RAMs for both variants. The first has DDR4 8 GB RAM and storage of 256 GB SSD, while the second variant is equipped with a huge RAM of 16 GB and 1 TB SSD storage. This is the reason why the Surface book has enough space for backups.
Display:- There are 13-inch and 15-inch models available. Each screen has ultra-HD graphics with a 3260 x 2160 and 267 PPI pixel density. The colors are rich, and visibility is easily visible from different angles.
The 3:2 aspect ratio makes it a great choice for reading and office use. The screen is ideal as a sunlight-readable laptop with a good bright screen of 402 nits.
Build Quality:- It is lightweight and gives you the option of a detachable keyboard, making it easier to decide what you need for the day- a laptop or a tablet.
This slim model has a brushed aluminum chassis making the overall design highly durable for outdoor use.
Portability:- Surface Book 2 weighs 3.6 pounds, letting you move anywhere without much burden on your shoulders. It is one of the best laptops for outdoor use and traveling purposes.
Battery Life:- Microsoft works hard on its batteries. Surface Book 2 has an amazing battery backup of 17 hours on a single charge. You can use the internet, watch movies, create, and edit with no serious drainage of the battery.
But there is some drainage when the parts are detached. This laptop has 2 built-in batteries in the display panel and one on the keyboard. When the lid is removed, the battery time reduces.
Connectivity:- A USB Type-C port was added in the keyboard section, a USB 3.0 port for charging, an SD card reader port, a headphone jack, and a mini-display port. It meets most of the connectivity requirements for someone with all Type-C devices.
Pros:-
- Powerful GPU and CPU
- Cooling technology is excellent
- It has a 17-hour-long battery life
- The screen is very bright, with more than 402 nits
- It is manufactured with premium alloy
- Has wireless support for Xbox
- It’s lightweight and slim
- It has a sharp, high-resolution colorful display
Cons:-
- On the expensive side
- The trackpad is very small
- No thunderbolt port included
- You need to buy the Surface pen separately for the touchscreen
- up-firing speakers are not there
7. Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Yoga 4th Gen
This model of Lenovo has been rated the best laptop at the 2018 CES because of its high processing power, robust security features, and best design.
Thinkpads have always taken the market by surprise with worthy laptops. It is also known to have passed the 12-grad military-grade regulations.
CPU and GPU:- ThinkPad X1 has the latest Intel corei7 8665U 8th generation processor with a cache of 8 MB.
The processor is boosted with four cores and 1.8 GHz speed, which is expandable to 4.2 GHz because of the turbo booster technology. This makes the laptop best for routine work, multitasking, playing games, and watching media.
The GPU is equipped with a graphic processor of Intel UHD 620, making it good for easing the gaming experience and high-end designing tasks, including editing and rendering, without any hang or lags.
RAM and Storage:- It comes in two variants. One with 8 GB LPDDR4 RAM and 256 GB SSD storage is best for daily routine office work. And the other with 16 GB LPDDR4 RAM and 512 GB SSD for fast storage, making it good for professional gaming and designing.
Display:- Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga has a 14-inch HD display with a high resolution of 2560 x 1440 and anti-sun glare technology on the screen.
The IPS produces a bright, sharp, colorful display for better outdoor visibility. The FHD display shows true colors and life-like graphics.
The laptop even allows the users to decrease the color warmth. The screen brightness is up to 477 units which is quite higher compared to many outdoor laptops without visibility issues.
Build Quality:- This model is durable and has passed 200 quality checks. It is specially built for scenarios like travel, work, or fun; weighing 3.08 pounds, it proves portable and travel-friendly.
Battery Life:- The battery goes strong for a long 15 hours. It is powered by a fast-charging system letting the users charge more than 80% within 60 minutes before going out.
Ports:- It has Thunderbolt 3 technology solving many connectivity issues and allowing a smooth data transfer four times faster than other types of ports. It is also equipped with a USB 3.0 port alongside a display port.
Keyboard and Touchpad:- If you are someone whose work is to type a lot, the ThinkPad keyboard and touchpad are built accordingly to suit the same purpose.
This model has a unique Rise and fall keyboard feature, which lets you swap between laptop and tablet mode.
ThinkPad Active pen:- Every touchscreen is better with a pen. The built-in signature active pen is rechargeable, contributing to the factor that makes this model one of the best laptops for outdoor use.
It helps with the clean purpose of signing documents, making notes, and sketching.
Pros:-
- Robust security features
- It is tested against military gradings
- Excellent battery life
- Powerful CPU and GPU
- 2 in 1 design allows you to change between laptop and tablet
- Has Thunderbolt 3 technology
- The display has colorful FHD touch
Cons:-
- There is no dedicated graphics card
- A little bit on the higher cost side
- The design looks a bit mainstream
8. Gigabyte Aero 17 – Best outdoor gaming laptop
If you are a gamer with NVIDIA RTX graphics and a powerful Intel CPU, the Aero 17 is one of the best gaming laptops for you.
It has the best laptop display for the eyes, making it suitable for outdoor use.
Design:- The chassis of Aero 17 is cut from CNC aluminum for a good smooth finish across the lid. It has a lithographed geometric accent and the Aero logo contrasting in the middle.
The heat vent is present along the back, and a grill on the bottom of the chassis feeds air into the cooling system of the laptop’s internal machine.
There are several ports on both sides and a vent towards the back. There Are separate microphone-in and headphone-out jacks, a Type-C port, and a full-sized SD card slot for video and photos. There is also an Rj-45 1 Gbps port for the wired network connection.
The keyboard is full-sized, and the trackpad has an in-built fingerprint reader. The backlit keyboard has a rainbow light shining from behind, giving it a proper gaming laptop look.
Performance:- The GPU is highly capable because of RTX 3080 with Max-Q in the Gigabyte Aero 17. The Core i9-10980HK performs well compared to many gaming laptops. This is why it has an excellent price-to-performance ratio.
Pros:-
- Has gorgeous display
- It is available at a great price
- Gives an outstanding performance
- An abundance of many ports
- It has an incredible build quality for durability
- best laptop display for eyes
Cons:-
- Fairly heavier than other options on this list
- It has an okay battery life
- Pretty much louder under heavy strain
- Runs hot when many applications are being worked upon
📗Some common FAQs
Can laptops be used outdoors?
Yes, laptops can be used outdoors. Opt for a lightweight, portable device that is adjusted to adequate brightness and fully charged. Use an external fan and an all-encompassing laptop case to protect and prevent overheating.
How can I get better outside my laptop?
Increase the brightness to an optimal level, sit in a clean and shady spot, face against the sun, and always use a case to protect your laptop from dust or debris.
Keep a battery-operated fan at hand in case the device heats up.
Is there a laptop that works in the sun?
The Getac V110 is one of the best laptops for regular outdoor use. It offers touchscreen capabilities and features a LumiBond display with Getac Sunlight Reading Technology.
Which laptop is best for day-to-day use?
The DELL Inspiron Core i3 11th Gen Inspiron 3511 is a good everyday laptop.
Which laptop is best for outdoor use?
The LG Gram 17Z90P, Acer Predator Helios 300, and Acer Swift 3 Thin & Light are popular choices for outdoor use.
How do I stop my laptop glare in the sun?
To reduce display glare, create a makeshift hood by attaching cardboard to your screen’s front edge. Further, you can apply tinted films to your screen to block reflected external light.
How can I use my laptop outside without overheating?
Clean your air vents, don’t sit under the sun, adjust your laptop’s setting accordingly, don’t place it on your lap, use a heat-dissipating stand, don’t leave it unattended in a car, and use a hand-held fan.
Can I take my laptop to the beach?
Remember to protect your laptop from sand to avoid any buildup in the air holes. Opt for a case, and zip it up securely in a plastic bag to prevent debris from entering.
How do I make my screen brighter outside?
Adjust your laptop’s brightness levels, use a hood, sit under a shady spot or wear polarized sunglasses to reduce glare.
What type of laptop screen is best?
A laptop screen with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels or more.
Q: Is it bad to take yeh laptop outside for a longer time?
A: Certainly not. If you have a laptop specially built for withstanding outdoor factors, you can take it anywhere and for however long you need. But, ensure you are in an environment of 50-95 degrees Fahrenheit.
Q: What to do if the laptop is heating up under the sun?
A: Choose a shady area and work under it. The heat of the sun might affect the cooling system. Lower your system settings for some time until the laptop cools off.
Q: Does overheating damage a laptop?
A: Yes, any electrical device can be damaged due to overheating. A hot processor can slow down the tasks over the computer and reduce the battery life as the cooling system must run vigorously.
Q: Can I use my laptop continuously for 12 hours outside?
A: Yes, you can. Many laptops are made for handling a heavy workload and, thus, are the best for outdoor use.
Q: Can I charge my laptop outside and use it simultaneously?
A: You can charge your laptop while using it outside and indoors. But it is always wise to charge it beforehand before running outside as you might not find charging ports.
The conclusion
Choosing the right laptop should be based on your work and the features you’re looking for. Outdoor use is not hectic when you have the right device that can easily handle your needs with a smooth performance.
All of the above-mentioned best laptops for outdoor use have different abilities for you to make your choice.
