With the world on Zoom now, having the right laptop for video conferencing is essential. Video conferencing requires a good internet speed, a great camera, decent sound quality, and the right processor. But which laptop is best for video conferencing?
First, let’s talk about the important features you need in a laptop that is used for video conferencing such as Zoom meetings. You need a laptop that is capable of running several different applications simultaneously without lagging.
You should choose a good laptop with at least 8GBs of ram, and an i5 processor or better. You should also choose a laptop that has an HDMI port because video conferencing may require one.
The Camera
You’ll still see top-selling laptops with a 720p camera. I have to say that the top reason I upgraded my computers this year was to have the 1080p camera on board. Since video conferencing is all about visual communication, you need a good quality webcam with lots of pixels to allow your face to be seen more clearly.
You can use an external camera, but it is convenient to have it built into the computer.
The Sound Quality
You want a laptop that can record high-quality audio so that everyone on the call can understand every word that is being said. You want to make sure the sound is loud enough, but you also want it to be clear.
The Internet
Your laptop should be equipped with at least a dual-band wireless adapter alongside an Ethernet port in case your WiFi isn’t reliable or just doesn’t work for some reason. A good internet connection is important because if the quality of your internet speed is bad, it will affect the quality of your video conference.
These are all the important things you need when looking for a laptop to use for video conferencing. Now let’s talk about which laptops are best suited for these needs.
Microsoft Surface Pro
The Microsoft Surface line of laptops is often picked by people looking to use their laptops for video conferencing. While there are several to choose from, let’s zero in on the Surface laptop studio for business.
With the 1080p HD video, you’ll be more like yourself on camera, as it improves skin tone . With two Studio Mics, your voice is crisp. With the NVIDIA® RTX™ A2000 laptop GPU, you can take your streaming to the next level.
Lenovo Idea Pad 530
The Lenovo Idea Pad is a mid-range laptop with a high-performance processor. With 8GB of DDR4 RAM, this laptop has the power to run several applications at once without lagging or crashing.
The AMD Ryzen 5 5500U Mobile processor delivers a Powerhouse performance. It has 256 GB of SSD storage. This isn’t an ideal storage size if you are going to store playbacks, but you could use an external monitor.
AMD Radeon 7 Graphics gives you the power to do it all. You can use your laptop for intense gaming or spend hours editing video content for your next Zoom meeting.
My only complaint with this one is that it’s still got a 720p camera.
Google Pixelbook Go
Starting with the fact that this laptop has a 1080p high definition camera on board, it’s among the best laptops for video conferencing.
Your battery can last up to 12 hours. And when you do need to charge it, 20 minutes’ worth of charge can get you up to two more hours of use.
When you are on a zoom call, that last-minute battery can make the difference in your call staying live.
The Pixelbook Go is lightweight, weighing in at just about 2 pounds. They also added a grip design to make it more carriable.
It starts up in just a few seconds and offers antivirus software, and a Titan C security chip.
The touchscreen is HD so you’ll get an incredible picture. As suggested previously for great sound, the Pixelbook Go is built with dual stereo speakers.
It’s affordable, stacked with features, and ready for your video conference.
MacBook Pro with M1 Pro and M1 Max
I’m a mac user, so imagine my delight when Apple finally rolled out a MacBook Pro with a 1080p camera.
The new MacBook Pro features a 1080p camera, the most superior audio system in a notebook, and the most outstanding connectivity ever in a MacBook Pro!
The Apple MacBook Pro with Touch Bar is available in 14- and 16-inch variants, and it delivers groundbreaking performance whether on battery or plugged in, as well as exceptional battery life that enables workflows impossible on a laptop.
Available October 26, 2021, the MacBook Pro is the way to go, for us Apple users, and those that want to convert!
Summary
The best laptop for video conferencing is the one that’s right for you and your needs. As long as you have a good enough connection to make the call clear and crisp, a webcam with a high definition camera, speakers not just for listening but to make sure yours is audible, and a lightweight laptop so you won’t get fatigued talking for long periods of time, you can video conference anywhere with anyone!
My vote is to get the 1080P camera. You’ll thank me later.
FAQs
What is the best laptop for video conferencing?
Microsoft Surface Studio, the just-released Apple Macbook Pro with 1080P camera, or the Pixelbook Go.
What are some laptops that are good for video conferences?
Which laptop has a 1080p camera?
MacBook Pro with M1 Pro Max, or the Google Pixelbook Go.
