Top 8 Best Laptops For Video Conferencing in 2023 – Reviews & Dedicated Buyer’s Guide

Video conferencing is one of the most sought-after communication technologies today. It allows holding face-to-face meetings without being together physically in the same room. For a seamless video conferencing experience, you need an excellent visual display and top-notch audio quality, whether you are the organizer or a participant.

However, picking the best laptop for video conferencing isn’t easy. There are a lot of enticing laptops on the market, and you could easily buy a sleek PC and miss out on the crucial features. 

The success of video meetings hinges on the user’s video conference setup, which includes the laptop. When you set out to buy a laptop, you will be looking at a combination of features. Besides great visuals and audio, there is more to consider since you are not just looking for a laptop to attend online meetings. 

Here is what makes the best laptop for video meetings:

1. Should support popular video conferencing applications such as Zoom, Whereby, Webex, Skype, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams,  and so on.
2. Should have a high-quality webcam, speaker, and mics to output crisp, clear video and audio.
3. Have multiple connections to let you connect other devices such as a plug-and-play webcam, mic, speaker, and monitor if you want to upgrade your video conferencing setup.  
4. Suit your personal needs. For instance, if you are a video editor and you will be presenting, the laptop should be strong enough to support the video editing software and also let you share the screen and run multiple software at the same time. 
5. Unless you are looking for a laptop just for Zoom video conferencing, the best video conferencing laptop should also serve as your daily work laptop. 
6. Should suit almost any type of video conference, including company meetings and collaborations, webinars, online classes, job interviews, family video calls, training, product demos, and distance diagnostics, among others. 

We have compiled a list of the best laptops for video conferencing in this article. By the time you are done reading it, you will be ready to make a well-informed purchasing decision depending on your specific needs and budget. Without further ado, let us get started. 

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Top Laptops for Video Conferencing – Our Reviews

Here is the best laptop for video calls and its runner-up.  The comparison takes into consideration a lot of different dynamics. It is not all about the top specs but also practicality, functionality, and pricing.

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1. Best For Video Conferencing Overall: Apple MacBook Air With M1 Chip (13″)

Our top pick for the best laptop for video conferencing is the Apple MacBook Air. Unlike the previous MacBook Air versions, the new version runs on the new M1 Chip, Apple’s processor, instead of an Intel processor. The new processor now supports both iOS (iPhone) and iPadOS (iPad) apps, including games!

Apart from being one of the thinnest and ultra-portable MacBooks, the MacBook Air delivers up to 18 hours of battery life. And if you are a light user, the battery can last up to 30 hrs! With just two hours of charging, you can video conference the whole day without worrying about the battery draining. 

Even though it’s among the expensive laptops, something that makes this MacBook a great Zoom video conferencing laptop is that it doesn’t have a fan, so it remains silent during online meetings. The fanless design also helps to keep it lightweight and slim.

The 13” MacBook Air has one of the most user-friendly Operating Systems, and It’s available in 8GB RAM and 256 or 512GB SSD storage. 

The latest MacBook Air model features the Magic Keyboard making it easier to type and take notes during video calls. The keyboard design also eliminates issues with broken keys and dust, which were common with the previous keyboard design.

You’ll also love the Touch ID sensor that allows you to use fingerprints to power and sign in to the laptop. While there are many Windows laptops that have fingerprint scanners, there is none that can match Apple’s in terms of speed and reliability. Also, if you will be using a MacBook for the first time, you will appreciate the oversized touchpad and how effective it is with gestures such as swiping, pinching, or zooming. 

For the webcam, the MacBook has a 720p webcam. It has 2 USB Type-C ports that support DisplayPort, Thunderbolt 3,  and charging. Also, with an adapter, these ports support VGA & HDMI cables. 

The Apple MacBook Air has 3 built-in microphones that Apple says “Focuses on your voice.” This will come in handy during video calls, and you can expect a great audio output.

The MacBook Air is Apple’s best-selling laptop, and the 2021 model just got better. This lightweight laptop makes a great daily use machine even for demanding tasks such as 4k editing in Final Cut Pro.

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2. 13.3-inch Apple MacBook Pro with Intel Processor

The 13″ Apple MacBook Pro is another respectable laptop from the MacBook line. Unlike its predecessor, it comes with updated internals and a better keyboard. When you compare it with the 16-inch MacBook Pro, the quality display which is 13 inches edges its counterpart in portability.

Apple has abandoned their butterfly design keyboard and now has a refreshed traditional-scissor keyboard with this model. The new scissor key switches come with a dedicated escape key and Touch ID fingerprint scanner for unlocking the device. Unlike the previous model, this keyboard also has a touch bar. This is a significant improvement.

This laptop also has a dedicated headphone jack on one side and 4 Thunderbolt 3 ports, and a FaceTime HD camera. Even though the camera lacks the highest specs, the camera works incredibly during video calls.

The other outstanding aspects of this laptop that you cannot ignore are the speakers. The quality of the sound that these speakers produce is unbeatable. The base is quite impressive, but overall the sound is well-balanced.

In regards to powerful performance, the Intel Core i5 does not disappoint. It comes with top-notch integrated graphics. As a result, this MacBook can handle video editing and photo editing tasks. This laptop will help you accomplish most of your basic tasks without a problem. From a video calling and sound quality standpoint, it is an outstanding device with which to use for meetings, with an unparalleled level of performance.

The 13.3 inch MacBook Pro is ideal for somebody looking for a small-sized powerful laptop. If you like to multitask, this laptop is a good fit.

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3. Best Budget Laptop for Online Video Conferencing – Acer Swift 3 Thin & Light Laptop

The Acer Swift 3 is our pick for the best budget-friendly laptop, especially for students.  This ultrabook is available with either AMD or Intel Core processors, ranging between $600 and $1000 depending on the CPU, RAM, and storage configuration. 

Even with the $600 model, this laptop checks every box of a decent video meeting laptop. A decent  HD Webcam, 8GB RAM, and 256GB are sufficient to run most video conferencing software such as zoom, Microsoft teams, Google Meet, among others. 

The Acer Swift 3 is an ultra-thin laptop with appealing aluminum and magnesium-aluminum finishes. This robust frame protects its  14 inches Full HD screen, especially when carrying it to class, library, or office.

You don’t need to worry about this laptop going off in the middle of an online class or zoom meeting. It gives you about 11.5 hours for light duties on a full charge. For non-stop heavy-duty tasks, you’ll only have about 5 hours, which is still decent.

Thanks to the Acer Purified Voice technology and two built-in mics, this laptop delivers clear communication and filters out background noise, including typing clicks. We also love the fingerprint scanner for fast and secure access.

Moving on to connections, the Acer Swift 3 has USB 2.0, a USB 3.0, and an additional USB-C Thunderbolt port. You also get a headphone/mic jack just in case you will need to connect a microphone to this laptop.  Its built in webcam and mic are good enough for video meets and video calls with family and friends. However, they may not be ideal for professional Twitch and Youtube streaming.

Regarding multiple tasks, Acer Swift 3 matches the challenges; however, it depends on the specs.  Running the ever-demanding Google chrome with several tabs open is possible, and the laptop will not become sluggish. It is also ideal for lightweight gaming activities.  With its 8GB Ram, this laptop will handle your photoshop loading effortlessly. You will not experience any hang-ups while editing photos.

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4. Lenovo IdeaPad 3 – 14″ Video Calling & Conferencing Laptop

If you are looking for a cheaper video conferencing laptop than the Acer Swift 3, the Lenovo IdeaPad is worth checking. This laptop not only has good looks but also performs incredibly well for a laptop costing less than $600. No doubt there are Lenovo laptops that perform even better. However, they are likely to cost you more. If you are looking for a great and affordable online conferencing laptop, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3  stands out. 

The IdeaPad 3 is a compact laptop with a high-resolution 14-inch display. With a 1920 x 1080 display, this cheap laptop has a great video output. If you like to watch movies, make family video calls, this screen holds up.  Apart from that, you get a crystal clear Dopoundsy Audio, which is more than adequate for work and entertainment. 

Lenovo IdeaPad has anAMD Ryzen 5 3500U Processor, 256 SSD storage space, and 8GB RAM. In short, this laptop will support all online conferencing software.  On such a mobile processor, this laptop will chew over activities such as extensive web browsing, word processing and computing tasks.

​​Lenovo IdeaPad is quite a reliable machine for work and online meetings. With the latest AMD Ryzen processor, you get above-average performance. Its multi-core processing ability allows you to run several programs concurrently. While this is not the best laptop for heavy editing and programming software, it handles tasks with medium complexity well.

If you value privacy, you will be happy to know that Lenovo IdeaPad 3 has a physical web cam shutter. This lets you cove the webcam when you are not using the webcam. You also get three USB-A ports, a 3.5 mm headphone jack, an HDMI port, and an SD card reader slot. This allows you to connect your laptop to other peripherals such as an external hard disk, external speakers, and your TV.

Weighing 1.7 kilograms makes the Lenovo Idea quite portable. Its sturdy build means it can last for several years. 

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5. Best 2-in-1 Laptop for Video Calling – Microsoft Surface Pro 7

The Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is our recommendation for those looking for the most travel-friendly 2-in-1 laptop for video conferences.  

The Microsoft Surface Pro comes with a distinct combination of hardware, providing excellent performance.  It is a small laptop that will fit in your bag with the utmost ease. You can work on a plane or train during your travels. Unlike the Pro 6, Microsoft Pro 7 comes with USB-C, which replaces the mini display port. With the USB-A and the USB-C ports, you can connect this laptop to various docking stations and multiple displays.

The other notable update is the 10th Gen Intel Core i5 processor with Intel® Iris™ Plus Graphics (i5, i7). These graphics may not be meant for the latest Call of the Duty game, but they allow you to draw and write naturally on the screen. In terms of seamless connectivity, you have the wifi 6 technology and Bluetooth 5.0 technology at your disposal. 

The Pro has a quick charge feature. The best part is that you can charge it from 0-80% in an hour.  When using several applications at the same time, you get a solid 8 hours. For a device of its size, this is impressive.  The 12.3 inches touch screen automatically adjusts to the prevailing lighting conditions for your comfort. 

Additionally, the Pro comes with a notable microphone set up. This is one of the reasons the Microsoft Surface Pro is on this list.  With such a microphone set up, you’ll not have a problem getting your message across.

Microsoft Surface Laptop Pro 7 is another solid choice for a zoom conference device. reaffirms the commitment of Microsoft in making leading computing gadgetry. It is an amazing 2-in-1 device that serves as a high-end laptop and as a tablet.

 

Its 12.3 pixelSense displays set it apart from its competition, thanks to its phenomenal 2736 x1824 resolution and slim design.  The display produces high-quality visuals during a video call. Its versatility makes it a great device for work and entertainment. You can use it to stream Netflix, on-screen writing, photoshop, video editing, and so on.

If you love art and drawing, this laptop is perfect for you. The Microsoft Pro 7 comes with an even better pen that will help you avoid the jitters when drawing diagonal lines.

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6. Best for Video Conferencing & Gaming – Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop

The Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop is our recommendation for gamers and editors who video conference. 

The Acer Nitro 5 Gaming leads the way in the best laptops for budget gaming. It is an affordable mid-range laptop with a lot to offer. Acer Nitro 5 is a stylish, lightweight PC with distinctive edges. Its dimensions are 10 inches x 14.3 inches x 0.1 inches. This makes it quite portable. Acer packs in a lot of performance in this laptop for a price that ranges around $1000.

In screen size, you can get the Acer Nitro 5 in 15.6-inch or 17.3-inch sizes. Its display is crisp and clear. And this makes it a worthy contender in the video meetings & conferencing laptops category. On the left-hand side, you get 2 USB ports, an audio jack, and an RJ45 port that meets your ethernet connectivity needs. You get an HDMI port, USB 1, and USB type C port on the right-hand side. Another notable quality to mention is the advanced Wifi 6  and webcam. 

Acer Nitro 5 is built with 16GB of RAM and an AMD Ryzen 7 5800H processor.  Its storage space is 256GB NVMe SSD. When you subject it to heavy-duty activities, its battery lasts 5-6 hours. The Acer Nitro 5 also comes with a keyboard backlight if you sometimes use it in a dull lit room. Its high specs also make it ideal for photo and video editing tasks.

Even though the Acer Nitro 5 is more of a gaming laptop, it handles video conferencing apps easily. Its gaming specs enable it to run many applications together. Its keyboard tends to be quiet and offers 1.5 mm of travel. And it is incredibly comfortable to type on for long hours. Besides that, you get about 10.5 hours of battery life for light usage and 6-7.5 hours for heavy usage.

The 15.6 inch quality display allows Acer Nitro 5 to accommodate several camera feeds from your friends or colleagues during a video call. The Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop edges out its counterparts with its Nvidia GeForce Graphics card. This means that you’d be getting the best graphics in a video meeting laptop.

The Nitro 5 is not a laptop for gamers only but also for someone who likes to mix a little bit of work and entertainment o a PC. It is ideal for college students.

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7. Budget Video Calling Laptop for Students – Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5

The Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 is our recommendation for online classes for elementary and middle school students. 

First off, this incredible device is quite affordable. You pay around $450 for the top-level model. It is a convertible laptop, a Chromebook that feels solid and good on the hands. 

The Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 is a versatile device that you can use as a laptop and also a tablet.  It comes with a decent 14-inch touch screen and a decent 720HD webcam that delivers a superb picture. The screen has spectacular viewing angles with a resolution of 1080p FHD, an aspect ratio of 16:9, and a brightness of 300 nits. With a 10 hours battery life, this device is the ideal laptop for Zoom classes.

What’s more, is that the Lenovo Chromebook Flex boasts of Intel Core i3-10110U processor. This guarantees you top-performance without any sluggishness during video calls. It Intel Integrated Graphics ensures you of a high definition video output.

The Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 is also a 2-in-1 laptop combining touchscreen and keyboard.  It is built with 2 stereo speakers that face the user. Therefore, it guarantees you a high-quality sound when video calling.

Its keyboard has additional key travel that allows you to type with minimal mistakes. On some models, you also get a backlight keyboard. You get a USB type C port on both sides of this laptop for your charging and data transfer needs. And you also get a USB Type-A port. When using this device in tablet mode, the volume buttons on the side will come in handy. For connectivity purposes, you get the latest Bluetooth 5.0 technology and Wifi 6.

For its price, it is elegant and the best Chromebook in its category. The crisp display and widescreen views deliver an excellent video calling experience.

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7. HP Pavilion 15 Laptop

The HP Pavilion Laptop allows you to do more at the same time. It is a mid-range laptop with premium performance. While it may not be the smallest laptop on this list, it is portable.  A large micro-edged Full HD screen gives you a great video and picture experience. And the XG graphics are responsible for its crystal clear visuals. Additionally, it can handle light gaming. 

On the left side of this laptop, you get a full-size HDMI port, a Gigabit Ethernet port, a USB type C port, and a combo microphone/headphone jack pin. You get a charging port, a Kensington security slot, and two standard USB Type-A ports on the right side. It comes with a 15.6” IPS touch screen with a resolution of 1920-1080 FHD, which is perfect for video chats.

The HP Pavilion laptop is a quite capable video conferencing student laptop, but it can suit anyone looking for good performance. Its Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor and Iris Xe Graphics make it fast for general and slightly intensive tasks. 

Its battery will charge from 0-50% in slightly under an hour. It will last enough to allow you to work or host online meetings while on the go. With WIFI 6 capability, you should enjoy reliable connectivity that’s up to 3X faster. 

The HP Pavilion 15 comes with amazing audio with dual HP speakers. If you are looking for the most authentic audio, this laptop is the real deal. You may not get much bass from these speakers but the sound quality is decent.

HP does an exceptional job with its laptops, and the HP Pavilion Laptop is no exception. It is a powerful and sturdy laptop that lasts for a long time. However, you can only squeeze out 8 hours from its battery.

We cannot fault the performance of the HP Pavilion much as it has all it takes for multitasking and zoom conferencing. You run multiple software programs on this PC. It will not limit you in any way, especially if working on the go is not your forte.

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8. Dell Inspiron 15 3000

Dell has done well with the Inspiron 15 3000. It may not be an i7 laptop but it comes with quite a decent Intel N4020 Dual-Core processor. Users can expect a good output for mid-range duties such as streaming videos, video conferencing, and other day-to-day tasks.

The  15.6 HD display with an Anti-Glare LED-Backlit is great for entertainment, Zoom meetings, and Skype meetings. What makes it stand out is the size and spectacular viewing angles. In regards to design, it is an elegant laptop. This laptop is an inch thick and comes with a well-finished plastic casing with a fine texture.

The Dell Inspiron 15 3000 boasts high-definition audio. It comes with two stereo speakers, which deliver a stable sound. With this affordable laptop, you get a reasonable number of ports and a combo-style mic/headphone.

The Dell Inspiron 15 3000 has a simple but comfortable keyboard. Its travel distance is reasonable, and the key switches are stable. The buttonless touchpad gives ample room to maneuver when typing. Also, its tracking pointer responds well.

You can get 5-7.5 working hours when this laptop is fully charged. You also get 3 Type-A USB ports, 2 on the left side and one on the right side. These should be enough for your needs.

If you are going to use this laptop for complex tax, the performance could be lackluster. However, it is good enough for video calls and meetings.

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What to Look For in a Video Conferencing Laptop – Buying Guide

If you want to buy a solid laptop for your online conferencing endeavors, consider the following features. The camera and sound quality should take center stage. Nonetheless, other factors will either make or break your experience. 

High Quality Webcam for Improved Video Calls  

The quality of your laptop’s camera will determine your video food output. A low resolution translates into poor clarity. High-definition videos will come in handy, resulting in better video quality. Most laptops pack a 720P webcam, which is not bad for video calls. However, a 1080HD webcam will undoubtedly pack more punch and give you the ultimate video meeting experience. 

The bottom line is that the higher the camera resolution, the better it is for video calls. High resolution will give you a TV-like feel. Nonetheless, such resolutions demand a good, fast and reliable internet connection. Otherwise, the video calling experience can become sluggish.

You can also upgrade your camera by buying an external webcam that attaches to laptops, such as the Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920.

Processor/CPU

There are various types of processors in the market.  These are the brains of a PC. If you want to make video calls without sound and visual interruptions, you need a laptop with a high-quality processor. The trick here is to check the specs requirements of the software you are using. For instance, Zoom recommends at least a Dual-core 2Ghz processor. However, you also need to consider other factors, such as what you will be doing. If you are a video editor and you will be presenting, the first consideration will be your editing software requirements. 

RAM

When it comes to video calling, you need a laptop that can run conferencing applications without any qualms.  This narrows down to the random access memory, which is popularly known as RAM. It is temporary storage capacity that stores data for immediate use. Having enough RAM allows running several software programs simultaneously.  During a video call, you may use an application such as Zoom and photo or video editor for presentation. Both software programs will run concurrently. For this reason, you need a   laptop with 8GB RAM but not less than 4GB. Anything below will curtail your conferencing experience.

Wifi Requirements

The best hardware will not prevail against bad internet connectivity. However, an old PC may struggle to run various applications concurrently. As a result, your video stream will hang or skip some parts when teleconferencing. Without that in mind, you are better off buying a new device. It comes with the latest technology. Therefore, you will enjoy seamless wifi connectivity. Poor wifi connectivity does not always indicate a problem with your hardware. It could be coming from your internet provider. 

A great laptop should support the latest wireless protocols. It should not only receive but also transmit data at breakneck speed. A laptop with WIFI 6 capable wireless card is ideal for video calling.

Display

A large screen display performs much better in video conferences, usually coming with a higher screen resolution. It will accommodate all the feeds from various cameras with the utmost ease. A laptop with a less than 13” screen size may underperform. Getting the image quality just right means you need the best displays for online conferencing laptops; which are:

• 13 inch
• 15.6 inch
• 17.3 inch
• 18.4 inch

Battery Life

We buy laptops for their portability and convenience. With that in mind, the battery capacity matters.  Video calls consume more power due to the visuals and audio. While some laptops have a battery that can last for 16 hours, others will only last for a few hours.

 If you take all your meetings from the office, an average battery capacity should do. But if you intend on making video calls from any location while on the move, you need a laptop with a huge battery capacity. 

Audio Quality Requirements

To communicate effectively, you should be audible during a video conference. Your colleague or friend on their side needs to hear you.  The best laptop should have superb built-in speakers.

 On top of that, make sure that the PC has an in-built microphone.  The best microphones filter undesirable noise and enhance communication.  It is imperative to test the microphone before settling on a particular video conferencing laptop.

If the specs describe a laptop’s microphone as studio-ready, then you are close to getting a premium video-calling PC. 

Latest Operating System

Apple’s Mac OS and Windows support most online conferencing software programs such as Zoom and Skype effortlessly. Go with an OS that offers more in terms of compatibility with an advanced laptop for video calling applications. Apart from that, you will use it for a long time without worrying about getting the latest updates.

Video Graphics Card

People largely associate the best graphics card with gaming, video editing, and so on. What you may not know is that graphics chips play an integral role in conferencing. Even though your video calls do not need advanced graphics performance, you are better off with good graphics. 

Laptops without heavy graphics have processors that play the role of graphics cards.  While they may perform averagely, a separate graphics card assures you a more enjoyable experience. 

Intel UHD cards are good enough for video calls. But if you are also eyeing gaming, they’ll fall short. The Nvidia GeForce Graphics are indisputably the best in any laptop. 

Portability

Portability is paramount if you travel a lot.  If you are always on the move, a medium-sized laptop will be great for you. Besides the smaller screen size, it also doesn’t weigh much. You can carry it easily in your backpack.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Conclusion

With our wide range of options, we hope we have given you plenty of excellent laptop selections for a Zoom laptop capable of handling the most demanding online meetings.

The MacBook Air is our pick for the best video conferencing laptop in the market. It multitasks effortlessly. And it will accommodate most of your business, gaming, or video conferencing software programs without a problem. You will be utterly satisfied with this amazing laptop. 

However, if you are on a tight budget but you need to make video calls frequently for whichever reasons, the Lenovo Flex 5 is a serious contender for a budget laptop. It will allow you to do a lot of things without having to pay top dollar. What makes it stand out is its portability and versatility With those few remarks, the ultimate decision on which device would suit your needs rests with you. The list above provides a lot of great options for your consideration.