By Robin Owens 22 days ago, Hardware
What are the best laptops for surfing the Web?
Due to how handy platforms like Google Docs and MS Office Online turned out to be, more and more users are doing most of their work in an internet browser, which requires a proper device to provide great performance. When picking the best laptop for web browsing, you should consider aspects like size, weight, price, and functionality as well as your personal preferences.
All the options covered in this list are slim, lightweight laptops with several of them being 2-in-1 models that can be used as tablets by removing the keyboard. Whether you need a basic device that focuses on providing a convenient browsing experience or a more advanced machine, you’ll easily find the best laptop for internet below.
CPU: AMD Ryzen 3 3200U | GPU: Vega 3 Graphics | RAM: 4 GB | Storage: 128 GB | Display: 15.6-inch | Weight: 3.8 pound
⊕ Robust build
⊕ Fast CPU
⊕ IPS screen with terrific luminosity
⊕ Battery lasts a long time
⊖ Subpar display quality
⊖ WiFi performance
Aspire is the best laptop for internet use for people that are constantly on the move. It’s slim, lightweight, has a convenient backlit keyboard, and a sturdy aluminum lid.
The laptop is also supplied with quality speakers that offer rich bass and good volume. The amount of connectivity options is quite impressive as well, as Aspire comes with HDMI, USB 3.1, and USB 2.0 ports.
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 4700U Octa-Core | GPU: Radeon Graphics | RAM: 8 GB | Storage: 512 GB | Display: 14-inch | Weight: 2.65 pound
⊕ Slim body
⊕ Lightweight
⊕ Fingerprint Reader
⊕ Cool backlight
⊖ Touchscreen
Equipped with a robust magnesium-aluminum chassis, an impressive display-to-body ratio, and a durable battery, the Swift represents a fantastic laptop for internet surfing for users that have a hard time staying in one place.
This model manages to achieve unparalleled portability by weighing a mere 2.6 pounds and being 0.63" thick while being powered by the Ryzen 7 4700U CPU. The included 14-inch display has extremely thin bezels and allows you to view your favorite websites and streaming services in Full-HD resolution.
CPU: MediaTek MT8173C | GPU: PowerVR SGX543 | RAM: 4 GB | Storage: 64 GB | Display: 11.6-inch | Weight: 2.64 pound
⊕ Smooth design
⊕ Quality build
⊕ Good performance
⊕ Nice security
⊖ Subpar amount of storage space
If you’re looking for a convertible option, this might be the best laptop for internet access for you. It can be used in tent, tablet, laptop, or stand modes.
Not only that, but this model also offers an 11.6-inch IPS screen with touchscreen controls and an HD resolution, which is more than enough to both casually browse the web and watch an episode of your favorite series in great quality. Thanks to the provided array of USB inputs, you can connect any device or peripheral you need with ease.
CPU: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-1035G1 | GPU: Intel UHD Graphics | RAM: 8 GB | Storage: 256 GB | Display: 15.6-inch | Weight: 10.25 lb pound
⊕ Stylish look
⊕ Reliable design
⊕ Efficient CPU
⊕ Good battery
⊖ Rather heavy
It’s hard to match HP in terms of quality and this model does a great job of making the case for being the best laptop for internet activity. It’s offered at a fantastic price, provides solid performance, and looks like a high-end machine.
This laptop is also pleasantly slim and lightweight, meaning you can easily carry it around your house, pack it into your backpack, or bring it to your office while staying active online wherever you are.
CPU: Intel Celeron N4000 | GPU: Intel UHD Graphics 600 | RAM: 4 GB | Storage: 32 GB | Display: 11.6-inch | Weight: 2.37 pound
⊕ Lightweight
⊕ Solid battery
⊕ Slim chassis
⊕ Reasonable price
⊖ Could use more storage space
The Stream is a fantastic laptop for internet browsing on the fly. It’s thin, lightweight, and has an eye-catching, brushed finish design while being available in several color solutions. The laptop has a clean UI, solid hardware, and comes with the Windows OS, which is perfectly suited for all types of online activities.
Just put the Stream into your bag, and you’ll be able to use to connect to the network regardless if you’re at home, in your office, school, college dorm, or on the bus.
CPU: 10th Gen Intel Core i7-1065G7 | GPU: Intel Iris Plus | RAM: 16 GB | Storage: 512 GB | Display: 13.5-inch | Weight: 2.65 pound
⊕ Image quality
⊕ Touchscreen controls
⊕ Display design
⊕ Long-lasting battery
⊖ Mediocre audio quality
The Acer Spin is probably the best laptop for internet users that value versatility above everything else. It weighs a mere 2.65lbs, comes with a slim magnesium-aluminum body, and the 360-degree Dual-Torque Hinge mechanism that lets you pick between 4 modes.
The level of comfort and convenience offered by a convertible model like the Spin 5 simply can’t be matched by a regular laptop. The versatility of this Acer product is further supported by a heavy-duty battery and the entire package is offered at a much lower price than you'd expect given the specs of this model.
CPU: Intel Core i7 | GPU: Intel Iris Plus | RAM: 16 GB | Storage: 512 GB | Display: 15.6-inch | Weight: 4.08 pound
⊕ Thin chassis
⊕ Frugal
⊕ Durable battery
⊖ Lacks a VGA output
⊖ 1-year warranty
The Pavilion is a terrific laptop for internet browsing that offers all the hardware you need to watch streaming services, participate in video conferences, and hang out on your favorite social networks.
This model also offers Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5 support that far outperforms the speed provided by the previous iterations of these technologies. The durable battery packed into Pavilion’s slim body is just the cherry on top.
CPU: Intel Celeron N4000 | GPU: Intel HD 505 | RAM: 4 GB | Storage: 32 GB | Display: 14-inch | Weight: 10.25 pound
⊕ 1080p touchscreen
⊕ Stylish build
⊕ Well-thought-out design
⊕ Keys have a nice tactile feel and click
⊖ Disappointing speakers
⊖ Average performance
The Chromebook just might be the best laptop for internet use, as it comes with a 14-inch screen, stereo speakers designed by sound experts, and a battery that lasts for up to 12 hours, allowing you to watch your favorite Netflix series during an entire day on a single charge.
Additionally, this product comes with an Intel CPU and a solid amount of storage that ensures all data is processed instantly and you can browse Chrome and the Google Play Store with maximum convenience while enjoying a crisp, 1080p resolution.
CPU: Intel i3-1005G1 | GPU: Intel UHD Graphics | RAM: 8 GB | Storage: 128 GB | Display: 15.6-inch | Weight: 3.75 pound
⊕ Robust build quality
⊕ Stylish, beautiful aesthetic
⊕ Slim chassis
⊕ Consistently impressive performance
⊖ Subpar colors
⊖ Doesn’t offer Thunderbolt 3 support
Regardless if you need a laptop for surfing the web, work, or some casual gaming, this compact model definitely deserves your attention. It offers a frameless NanoEdge screen with extra-thin 5.7mm bezels, which equals to a stunning 88% display-to-body ratio that provides all the immersion you need.
The VivoBook manages to find a terrific balance between a big screen, stylish design, reliably good performance, solid array of connectivity options, and an attractive price.
| Image | Name | Features | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Acer Aspire
Our Choice |
CHECK PRICE → | |
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Lenovo Chromebook
Stylish |
CHECK PRICE → | |
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Acer Swift
Lightweight |
CHECK PRICE → |
Web browsing generally doesn’t require a powerful computer or laptop. That said, if you’re used to having a dozen tabs open in a demanding browser like Chrome and want to get the best laptop for internet activity, then you should probably focus on options that are equipped with a quality processor, 8GB or 16GB of RAM, and an SSD.
While you can get by even with 2GB of RAM, it’s recommended to get a laptop with at least 4GB if you want decent performance when having several tabs opened at the same time.
A regular laptop typically has a max resolution of 1366 by 768, but if you can afford to invest over $500, then it’s possible to get a model with a better resolution to enjoy superior graphics and higher detail.
If your primary web activities involve watching streams, movies, or YouTube videos, then getting a laptop with a Full-HD resolution becomes a lot more important since otherwise, you won’t be able to view content in its full visual glory.
Your choice boils down to 3 options: Windows, MacOS, and ChromeOS. All of them are well designed, but they look, feel, and operate differently. Regardless of which OS you pick, you’ll learn how to use it very soon due to how intuitive and user-friendly they all are.
When looking at how each OS differs from the rest, it’s possible to conclude that Windows is slightly more oriented at tech-savvy users, while MacOS is better suited for casuals. ChromeOS doesn’t offer as many software choices as the other two options, but that isn't an issue if you're interested in getting a laptop for internet only.
All you need to connect to the internet is an active Wi-Fi connection, a wireless router, and an OS that is compatible with wireless networking, which includes the latest versions of Windows, MacOS, and ChromeOS.
Yes, you can do that by using an internet cable and connecting it to your device.
Yes. For instance, Mobile Broadband offers terrific internet speeds by accessing the Verizon Wireless network.
If you’re on Windows, run the "Troubleshoot problem" utility (click the right mouse button on the network icon on the bottom right of your screen). Next, restart the OS and let it reinstall the WLAN driver. If that doesn’t solve the issue, then you’ll have to unscrew the bottom panel, open the laptop and reattach the WLAN card.
