HP’s Spectre convertible 2-in-1 lineup has shared the same excellent keyboard for several generations now. Who it’s for: Anyone who wants the flexibility of a 2-in-1 but doesn’t want to give up an awesome keyboard. Why you should buy this: The HP Spectre line has the best keyboard you’ll find in convertible 2-in-1s, and the Spectre x360 14 offers writers what they want most. Read our in-depth Apple MacBook Air M1 review HP Spectre X360 14 Mark Coppock/Digital Trends We’ll highlight the Apple MacBook Air M1 here because if you’re mostly writing copy, then you don’t need the most power, but you’ll certainly appreciate the portability and price. But the keyboard is the one that will make writers the happiest. There are other reasons to buy a MacBook, including beautiful (and high-contrast) displays and the powerful new Apple M1 CPU. Of course, the keyboard uses the typical MacBook layout with no surprises. Perhaps most important, the key feel is consistent across the entire keyboard with great spacing, and there’s no wobble or other sensations that might contribute to fatigue. The keys respond immediately to every press and they bounce back quickly, making the Magic Keyboard pretty close to perfect for the fastest typists. This version employs more traditional scissor switches and adds a bit of travel - not a lot at 1mm, but more than before - and a crisp, precise, and responsive feel that no other laptop keyboard can duplicate. Some writers described it as feeling like typing on a block of wood.Īll that changed with Apple’s most recent MacBooks, which now use the company’s new Magic Keyboard. This keyboard had almost zero travel and a very abrupt bottoming action, creating an experience that many fast typists found exhausting. Once upon a time - and quite recently, in fact - Apple used its butterfly keyboard in its MacBook line.
Who it’s for: Anyone who wants to type at full speed with minimal fatigue and doesn’t need Windows 10. Why you should buy this: The MacBook Air is the best overall laptop for writers you can buy. The best laptop for writers at a glance:Īpple MacBook Air M1 Mark Coppock/Digital Trends
Depending on your needs, one of these laptops is bound to give you, the writer, the keyboard you’ve been looking for. Many of them show up in a variety of our best-of lists, including best laptops, best 2-in-1s, best Chromebooks, and more.
That’s why we’ve put together this list of the best laptops for writers across several categories. It’s not that we don’t care about performance, display quality (especially contrast, meaning black text on white backgrounds), and other laptop characteristics, but the keyboard is the one component that affects us the most.