Buying Guides

Best Laptops for Outdoor Use In 2023

Best Laptops for Outdoor Use
Written by Ehsan Batt

Laptops have become a basic necessity for many years and especially in this pandemic. Everything is, be it learning or business has shifted to the internet. You can’t perform all activities from your smartphone. It has its limitations besides a relatively small screen. A laptop is our ultimate choice now.

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Staying at home makes it difficult to set a fixed routine for everyone. People like to work when they feel fresh and active. It doesn’t matter if it’s night or day time. If you’re a freelancer, a student, or any other business employee you must understand the working environment has a direct effect on your mental working capacity.

Sometimes you want to enjoy the fresh breeze while sitting in a park or even in your home garden and getting your projects done. Your laptop must be capable of enduring sunlight to give you a clear view of the laptop screen.

Glossy laptops have a glare that reflects in sunlight, and therefore, disrupts your work. These laptops cannot be used in a setting with high light intensity for the same reason. Therefore, You must opt for a matte screen laptop to enjoy working on a sunny day.

You might find this useful: Best Laptop Screen for Sunlight Outdoor Usage

Here we’ve listed the top 10 best laptop screens for sunlight usage.

Salient Features To Keep In Mind While Buying a Sunlight-Readable Laptop

Bright display matte screen:

Yeah, your laptop is perfect to use at night but what about day time? When you’re trying to work in sunlight, does it still give you the same result? Like the bright screen, clear and readable images, or easy keyboard typing.

Most of the laptops come with a display brightness of 200-300 nits which is not very much suitable to work outdoors. A brightness level of 350nits is necessary to work in sunlight. For brightness, you can say higher is better.

Besides display brightness, another significant factor is the screen’s panel finishing. Laptops with glossy screens act as a mirror in sunlight. They reflect light and make it difficult to work outdoors. You constantly need to adjust angles to minimize this reflection to get a better view. Here’s where the matte screen works the best. Matte display screens accompany anti-glare coating to reduce reflection to a minimum.

Powerful build quality:

You want to work in bright daylight then your laptop must have a sound body to endure scourging sunlight. It’s not like sitting in a room and using your laptop. You also need a sturdy laptop body to avoid damage in case of drop off.

Also, you don’t need a laptop too heavy to carry. Choose the brightest screen laptop with a metallic body. It’ll have both durability and brightness.

Portability:

Of course, it’s a must-have quality to be checked before buying a sunlight-readable laptop. Thin bezel, compact design, and portable laptops are the best choice. You want to carry it on the go so it must be portable enough to not break your shoulder. A 14-inch display with a sleek and portable body and a matte screen will work best to use in bright daylight.

Battery life:

Battery life is a very important factor. Obviously, who wants to charge a laptop every two hours while interrupting working mode. However, it’s quite challenging to find a laptop with the best display, compact design, and longer battery life.

A powerful processor and SSD storage shall also be given due importance. But you must consider displaying brightness for outdoor use.

Let’s have a look at the 10 best brightest screen laptops.

10 Best Laptops for Outdoor Use In 2022

The following 10 models compete with each other not just for the best outdoor laptop screens but great battery timing, rugged built and utility as well. One laptop might be expensive and have more features while the other could be much portable but have a little bit less battery life – the choice of purchase would be yours.

Best Laptops for Outdoor Use
$1,234.50
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4 new from $1,234.50
2 used from $399.00
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$760.19
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3 used from $760.19
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$1,199.99
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3 new from $1,199.99
5 used from $720.00
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$1,072.82
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3 new from $1,072.82
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out of stock
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$1,999.00
$2,099.99
in stock
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$799.00
in stock
2 new from $799.00
1 used from $599.00
as of April 29, 2024 6:47 pm
Amazon.com
Last updated on April 29, 2024 6:47 pm

 

Best Laptops for Outdoor Use

1. Dell XPS 13 9830: (Portable and sunlight-readable laptop)

Lenovo ThinkPad T490s 14" FHD (1920x1080) Low Power IPS 400nits Anti-Glare Display Ultrabook - Intel i7-8565U Processor, 8GB RAM, 1TB PCIe-NVMe SSD, IR 720p Camera, Windows 10 Pro 64-bit

$1,234.50  in stock
4 new from $1,234.50
2 used from $399.00
Amazon.com
as of April 29, 2024 6:47 pm

Features

  • Intel Core i7-8565U Quad-core 1.80GHz (Up to 4.60GHz) Processor
  • 8GB DDR4 2400MHz RAM, 1TB PCIe-NVMe SSD (1,800 MB/s Read / 1,800 MB/s Write)
  • 14" FHD (1920x1080, 400 nits) IPS, Low-power, anti-glare with IR Camera Display
  • Intel UHD Graphics 620, Windows 10 Pro 64-bit, 3 Year Lenovo Warranty
  • *Hard Drive Upgrade | View Product Description for complete details and specifications

CPU: Intel Corei7-8565U | GPU: Intel UHD Graphics 620| RAM:16GB | Screen Size and Resolution: 13.3Inches, 3840×2160 | Screen Type: Glossy Screen Brightness:  400 Nits | Weight: 13.8 Ounces

Dell XPS 13 9830 offers a stylish look and up to date specs.

It supports extraordinary features to enhance your working experience. It is a touch screen laptop with 13.3 inches display and 4K resolution. This ultra-sharp resolution makes the image quality more crisp and exciting. Plus for outdoor usage, it provides 400 Nits brightness.

If we take a deeper look in its specs, it has Intel Corei7-8565 U processor with 16GB RAM and SSD storage. You can multitask without a pause or lack in speed. Also, Dell has finally placed the webcam on the top bezel.

It also gives you the advantage of a 10-13 hour battery life which is extremely important for the scope of this discussion.

With these tempting features and lightweight Dell XPS 13 9830 makes a perfect choice to carry with you or to work in bright sunlight.

[i2pc pros_icon=”icon icon-thumbs-o-up” cons_icon=”icon icon-thumbs-o-down” show_title=”false” title=”Pros & Cons” show_button=”false” pros_title=”Pros” cons_title=”Cons” ][i2pros]Sleek and compact design

10 hours of battery life
Thunderbolt- ports availability
4K Touch-enabled display and fingerprint sensor[/i2pros][i2cons]Not suitable for heavy graphics work[/i2cons][/i2pc]

Last updated on April 29, 2024 6:47 pm
2. Lenovo ThinkPad T490S: (Best laptop screen for sunlight usage)

Dell New 2019 XPS 13 9380 Core i7-8565U 16GB 512GB PCie SSD 4K 3840x2160 Touch Screen (Win 10 Pro)

$760.19  in stock
3 used from $760.19
Amazon.com
as of April 29, 2024 6:47 pm

CPU: | Intel Corei7-8565U GPU: | Intel UHD Graphics 620 RAM: | 8GB Screen Size and Resolution: | 14Inches, 1920×1080 Screen Type: | Matte  Screen Brightness: | 400 Nits Weight: | 12.3 Ounces

This Lenovo ThinkPad supports the best features to maximize user experience. It provides a wide display with sharp resolution, high brightness to make it perfect for outdoor use.

Moreover, it is packed with Intel Corei7 Processor, 8GB RAM, and 1TB NVMe SSD storage to give you amazing working experience.

It’s more stylish and compact with a 14 inch HD display and 400 Nits brightness to use it in broad daylight without any inconvenience. Its screen has an anti-glare coating to avoid reflection and use it naturally even in sunlight.

It is also really very lightweight to carry with you anywhere. Overall it’s the best choice considering both portability and durability.

[i2pc pros_icon=”icon icon-thumbs-o-up” cons_icon=”icon icon-thumbs-o-down” show_title=”false” title=”Pros & Cons” show_button=”false” pros_title=”Pros” cons_title=”Cons” ][i2pros]Longer battery lifespan
Thunderbolt-3 and USB Type-C ports
Anti-glare coating and amazing display quality[/i2pros][i2cons]Pricey
Absence of dedicated GPU[/i2cons][/i2pc]
3. Microsoft Surface Book 2: (Best Sunlight readable laptop)

Microsoft Surface Book 2 15" (Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM, 512 GB)

$1,199.99  in stock
3 new from $1,199.99
5 used from $720.00
Amazon.com
as of April 29, 2024 6:47 pm

CPU: Intel Corei7-8650U GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 RAM: 16GB Screen Size and Resolution: 13/15Inches, 3260×2160 | Screen Type: Glossy | Screen Brightness: 402 Nits | Weight: 4.2 Pounds

Microsoft surface book 2 is jam-packed with almost all the features one needs in a laptop. Although its brightness display isn’t that much, you can use it outdoors effectively.

It is available in 2 configurations. If your job doesn’t require rigorous use you can choose the one with Corei5, 8GB RAM, and 256GB SSD storage. Otherwise, the high-end model with upgraded specs would work best.

It houses the latest Intel Corei7-8650U processor, 16GB RAM, and 1TB SSD storage. You can boot in seconds and your performance won’t compromise.  Another plus point is, it has a dedicated GPU so you can use it for gaming and designing as well.

Surface Book is available in 13 and 15 inches size, with its sharp resolution and 402 Nits brightness it is an amazing sunlight-readable laptop. You will get a long battery life of 10-15 hours and more if you switch to “Best Performance”.

Overall it’s an amazing and potent machine. If you can spend a hefty amount for your laptop, Surface book 2 is the ultimate choice.

[i2pc pros_icon=”icon icon-thumbs-o-up” cons_icon=”icon icon-thumbs-o-down” show_title=”false” title=”Pros & Cons” show_button=”false” pros_title=”Pros” cons_title=”Cons” ][i2pros]2-in-1 design with touchscreen
Suitable for drawing and taking notesx

Long battery life of 10-15 hours
Amazing display and dedicated GPU[/i2pros][i2cons]Very expensive
Limited ports[/i2cons][/i2pc]

$1,199.99
in stock
3 new from $1,199.99
5 used from $720.00
as of April 29, 2024 6:47 pm
Amazon.com
Last updated on April 29, 2024 6:47 pm
4. Lenovo ThinkPad X1YOGA: (Powerful laptop for outdoor use)

Lenovo 14" ThinkPad X1 Yoga 3rd Gen Touchscreen LCD 2 in 1 Ultrabook Intel Core i7 (8th Gen) i7-8550U Quad-core (4 Core) 1.8GHz 8GB LPDDR3 256GB SSD Windows 10 Pro 64-bit (English) Black, 20LD001KUS

$1,072.82  in stock
3 new from $1,072.82
Amazon.com
as of April 29, 2024 6:47 pm

CPU: Intel Corei7-8550U | GPU: Intel UHD Graphics 620 | RAM: 8GB | Screen Size and Resolution: 14Inches, 1920×1080 | Screen Type: Glossy | Screen Brightness: 477 Nits | Weight: 3.08 Pounds

Thinkpad is one of the most versatile models of the YOGA series. It offers you tempting features and specs to have it now.

Besides its eye-catching look, it supports the Intel Corei7-8550U processor with 8GB RAM and 256/512 GB SSD storage. Moreover, it has a convertible design. You can use it as a tablet or laptop depending on your mood.

Another amazing feature is its rise and fall keyboard. It automatically rises when you convert it into a laptop. A wide display of 14 inches, sharp resolution, and 477 nits brightness make it perfect for outdoor usage.

Talking about its durability, it has been tested for 12 military-grade requirements and passed 200 quality checks.

So yes, if you’re looking for a portable and durable machine with robust performance and amazing battery life this must be your choice.

[i2pc pros_icon=”icon icon-thumbs-o-up” cons_icon=”icon icon-thumbs-o-down” show_title=”false” title=”Pros & Cons” show_button=”false” pros_title=”Pros” cons_title=”Cons” ][i2pros]Longer battery life with rapid charge technique
Convertible design with rising and fall keyboard
HD display and unmatchable image quality[/i2pros][i2cons]Non-availability of dedicated graphics
Memory cannot be upgraded[/i2cons][/i2pc]
5. Samsung Notebook 9: (Potent Machine for Outdoor Usage)

Samsung Notebook 9 Pen 15"-Intel Core i7-16GB Memory-512GB SSD

 out of stock
Amazon.com
as of April 29, 2024 6:47 pm

CPU:  Intel Corei7-8565U | GPU: Intel UHD Graphics 620 | RAM: 16GB | Screen Size and Resolution:  15Inches, 1920×1080 | Screen Type: Glossy | Screen Brightness: 500 Nits | Weight: 7.8 Ounces

Samsung Notebook 9 is one of the brilliantly designed laptops with the latest Corei7-8565U processor and 16 GB RAM to give you fast speed.

It offers a higher brightness of 500nits which makes it more than perfect for outdoor use. The image quality won’t compromise either you’re using it inside or outside. It doesn’t have a perfect matte screen but the glossy screen has the perfect glare to avoid reflection.

A built-in stylus pen, the weight of less than 3 pounds and longer battery life add more value to its high-end specs.

You’ll get a bigger screen, light-body, robust performance, and outstanding brightness with Samsung notebook 9.

[i2pc pros_icon=”icon icon-thumbs-o-up” cons_icon=”icon icon-thumbs-o-down” show_title=”false” title=”Pros & Cons” show_button=”false” pros_title=”Pros” cons_title=”Cons” ][i2pros]Convertible design with 360 screen rotation

Lightweight; 2.80 pounds
Active stylus and higher brightness
Consistent and robust performance with amazing battery life[/i2pros][i2cons]No dedicated GPU
Need an additional adapter for using other peripherals[/i2cons][/i2pc]

Last updated on April 29, 2024 6:47 pm
6. MacBook Pro: (Outclass and brightest screen Apple Laptop)

Apple MacBook Pro (13-Inch, 8GB RAM, 256GB Storage, 2.3GHz Intel Core i5) - Space Gray (Previous Model)

 out of stock
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as of April 29, 2024 6:47 pm

CPU: Intel Corei5 |GPU: Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640 | RAM: 16GB | Screen Size and Resolution: 13.3Inches, 2560×1600 | Screen Type: Glossy | Screen Brightness: 504 Nits | Weight: 4.47 Pounds

Apple is known for its extraordinary designs and latest technologies. For example, Apple’s legendary retina display is known for its highest color accuracy and brightness.

Apple MacBook Pro is the ultimate choice as it offers vivid images, sharp resolution, and most importantly the higher brightness to make it perfect for outdoor use.

You cannot doubt Apple’s durability and portability. They are lightweight and give a sexy glossy look that you can’t overlook, although its price is not digestible for everyone.

It supports Corei5 Processor with 16GB Memory and a full metal body that you can’t take your eyes off. So unless you’re a die-hard fan of windows you can’t ignore Apple MacBook Pro if you’re looking for a laptop for outdoor use.

[i2pc pros_icon=”icon icon-thumbs-o-up” cons_icon=”icon icon-thumbs-o-down” show_title=”false” title=”Pros & Cons” show_button=”false” pros_title=”Pros” cons_title=”Cons” ][i2pros]Outstanding brightness and durable metal body
Retina display and sharp resolution
Lightweight and longer battery life[/i2pros][i2cons]Very expensive[/i2cons][/i2pc]
7. HP Elitebook 4SU71UT: (Extraordinary Brightest Screen laptop)

HP EliteBook 4SU71UT 13-13.99 Inch Notebook PC (1.9GHz Intel GMA 3150 Core i7 8650U Processor 16GB RAM 512GB SSD - Windows 10 pro), Silver

 out of stock
Amazon.com
as of April 29, 2024 6:47 pm

CPU: Intel Corei7-8650U | GPU: Intel GMA 3150 | RAM: 16GB | Screen Size and Resolution: 13.3Inches, 1920×1080 | Screen Type: Glossy | Screen Brightness: 700 Nits | Weight: 2.76 Pounds

HP EliteBook offers unmatched display quality and color brightness in comparison to any other laptop.

Brightness is not the only tempting factor in this laptop. It’s an amazing laptop considering its latest processor Intel Corei7-8650U with 16GB RAM and integrated graphics. Additionally, it has Corning Gorilla Glass 4 for better protection of its touch screen.

Look at its brightness level, 700 Nits makes it undoubtedly the best laptop for outdoor use. It will be the best option for graphic designing and color-sensitive tasks.

Thin bezels, aluminum body, slim design, extreme durability, and clear cut edges make it blazing beauty an ultimate choice for users.

The only downfall is the price. If you can afford it don’t look any further. Just go and grab it.

[i2pc pros_icon=”icon icon-thumbs-o-up” cons_icon=”icon icon-thumbs-o-down” show_title=”false” title=”Pros & Cons” show_button=”false” pros_title=”Pros” cons_title=”Cons” ][i2pros]Highest brightness and color display
Comprehensive battery and outstanding performance
Professional design and utmost durability[/i2pros][i2cons]Significantly higher price
No dedicated graphics[/i2cons][/i2pc]
8. Dell XPS 15: (Another powerful laptop from Dell for Outdoor use)

Dell XPS 15 laptop 15.6", 4K UHD InfinityEdge Touch, 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9750H, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB GDDR5, 1TB SSD storage, 16GB RAM, XPS7590-7565SLV-PUS

$2,099.99
$1,999.00
 in stock
6 used from $999.00
Amazon.com
as of April 29, 2024 6:47 pm

CPU: 9th Gen Intel Corei7-9750h | GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 | RAM: 16GB | Screen Size and Resolution: 15.6Inches, 3840×2160 | Screen Type: Glossy | Screen Brightness: 500 Nits Weight: 5.5 Pounds

Dell XPS 15 is yet another powerful laptop from Dell series. It empowers a powerful combination of strong hardware and software with a dynamic range.

It gives a higher brightness level of 500 nits with 4K ultra HD sharpness to give more clear images without the need to zoom in. Even though its structure is glossy its anti-reflective technology makes it more than perfect to use outdoors.

It bears the latest and incredible 9th gen Intel Corei7-9750h processor 16GB RAM, and dedicated graphics. You will see no compromise on performance and speed. And with its dedicated graphics, you can perform video editing, gaming, and broadcasting with more speed.

In short, you’re getting the world’s smallest laptop with an infinity edge display to enhance user experience.

Even with a sleek and stylish look, its durability, portability, and battery life is beyond amazing.

[i2pc pros_icon=”icon icon-thumbs-o-up” cons_icon=”icon icon-thumbs-o-down” show_title=”false” title=”Pros & Cons” show_button=”false” pros_title=”Pros” cons_title=”Cons” ][i2pros]Ultra-sharp 4K resolution
Powerful processor and amazing sound quality
Maximum viewer experience with infinity edge display[/i2pros][i2cons]A bit pricey
Little heavier in weight comparatively[/i2cons][/i2pc]
9. HP Envy x2: (Portable bright screen laptop)

HP Envy x2 12-inch Detachable Laptop with Stylus Pen and 4G LTE, Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 Processor, 4 GB RAM, 128 GB Flash Storage, Windows 10 (12-e091ms, Silver/Blue)

$799.00  in stock
2 new from $799.00
1 used from $599.00
Amazon.com
as of April 29, 2024 6:47 pm

CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 | GPU: Integrated Qualcomm Adreno 540 GPU | RAM: 4GB | Screen Size and Resolution: 12.3Inches, 1920×1280 | Screen Type: Matte | Screen Brightness: 486 Nits | Weight: 1.0 Pounds

HP Envy x2 laptop is insanely lightweight with extraordinary battery life.

Its unique feature is built-in 4G LTE connectivity which means you don’t have to depend solely on Wi-Fi to keep things going. It is convertible to either laptop or notebook mode due to its 2-in-1 design.

Moreover, you can carry it with you anywhere to work outdoors as it offers 486 nits of brightness which is more than enough to work in sunlight. Its anti-glare matte look makes it even more appealing as it won’t reflect, so you don’t need to adjust angles.

A display of 12.3 inches with sharp resolution and Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor makes it an amazing choice. Corning Gorilla Glass integration enhances its durability.

[i2pc pros_icon=”icon icon-thumbs-o-up” cons_icon=”icon icon-thumbs-o-down” show_title=”false” title=”Pros & Cons” show_button=”false” pros_title=”Pros” cons_title=”Cons” ][i2pros]Outstanding battery life
Built-in 4G LTE
Convertible design and beautiful display[/i2pros][i2cons]A little compromise on speed[/i2cons][/i2pc]
Last updated on April 29, 2024 6:47 pm
10. Huawei MateBook X Pro: (Premium laptop for Outdoor use)

Huawei MateBook X Pro Signature Edition Thin & Light Laptop, 13.9" 3K Touch, 8th Gen i5-8250U, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD, 3:2 Aspect ratio, Office 365 Personal Included, Mystic Silver - Mach-W19B

 out of stock
Amazon.com
as of April 29, 2024 6:47 pm

CPU: Intel Corei5-8250U | GPU: UHD 620 | RAM: 8GB | Screen Size and Resolution: 13.9Inches, 3000×2000 | Screen Type: Glossy | Screen Brightness: 458 Nits | Weight: 2.93 Pounds

Looking for a thin bezel ultra-stylish laptop for outdoor use? Look no further, Huawei MateBook X PRO offers you the laptop of your choice.

Huawei continues to push the boundaries with its Intel Corei5-8250U processor 8GB RAM and 256 GB SSD storage. For the first time, it offers a wide display with 91% screen to body ratio for 13.9 inches screen.

Matebook X PRO has a higher brightness of 458 nits to work uninterrupted in broad daylight. With its 3K display and sharp resolution, it will give a clear and vivid color view of images.

Latest ports connectivity and no bloatware enhance the boot performances to the maximum level. Overall, it’s a lightweight, portable, and durable laptop with much longer battery life.

[i2pc pros_icon=”icon icon-thumbs-o-up” cons_icon=”icon icon-thumbs-o-down” show_title=”false” title=”Pros & Cons” show_button=”false” pros_title=”Pros” cons_title=”Cons” ][i2pros]USB Type-C and USB Type-A ports
Wide display and longer battery
Sharp resolution and exquisite performance[/i2pros][i2cons]Limited availability
Touchpad a little uncomfortable[/i2cons][/i2pc]

Final Verdict

Usually, laptops are used to work inside like in offices or even home. Rarely, you want to go out to enjoy the view while working. Only limited options are available in this category of laptops for outdoor use.

However, we tried to search for it for you and make it easy to choose one of your needs. Besides the display, you also need to see durability and portability.

Microsoft Surface Book 2 is the one that seems perfect in every aspect. You can also check others as per your specifications.

FAQs

Q: Does sunlight affect the laptop badly?

Ans: Well, it depends on your laptop. If it has a powerful cooling system and doesn’t get hot quickly there is no problem. Otherwise, take care and don’t use it in direct sunlight.

Q: Does an anti-glare protector work?

Ans: Yes, as most of the laptops come with glossy screen types it needs an anti-glare protector to avoid reflection. It also protects the laptop’s screen from dust and fingerprints.

Q: How high a temperature can a laptop withstand?

Ans: Now, most of the electronic components come with a semiconductor which can withstand a temperature of 50-95 degrees F (10-35 degree C). Avoid direct sunlight and avoid temperature higher than this range. It might affect your laptop badly.

About the author

Ehsan Batt