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Best laptop for Podcasting
Podcasting is one of the most popular types of media in the United States. At the end of 2019, a survey by Edison Research showed that 51 percent of Americans have ever listened to a podcast with 32 percent listening within the last month.
If you’re thinking about starting a podcast of your own, you’ll need a few tools to do it properly. Of course, you’ll need some audio gear but the fundamental tool for every podcast is a good computer.
Laptops are a great option for podcasters. Let’s look at how to choose the best laptop for podcasting.
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| Image | Title | Price | Prime | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | New Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, 16GB RAM, 1TB Storage, 2.3GHz Intel Core i9) - Space Gray | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
 | Dell XPS 13 9310, 13.4 inch FHD+ Touchscreen Laptop - Intel Evo Core i7-1185G7, 16GB LPDDR4x RAM, 512GB SSD, Windows 10 Pro - Platinum Silver (Latest Model) | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
 | New Dell XPS 15 9500 15.6 inch UHD+ Touchscreen Laptop (Silver) Intel Core i7-10750H 10th Gen, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 1TB SSD, Nvidia GTX 1650 Ti with 4GB GDDR6, Window 10 Pro (XPS9500-7845SLV-PUS) | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
 | Microsoft Surface Pro 7 – 12.3" Touch-Screen - 10th Gen Intel Core i5 - 8GB Memory - 128GB SSD (Latest Model) – Platinum (VDV-00001) | Prime | Buy Now | |
 | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 8th Gen 8 Intel i7-10510U,4K UHD(3840 x 2160) HDR 500 nits, IR,16GB,1TB NVMe SSD, Win10Pro ,Weave Top | Prime | Buy Now |
What’s Best for Podcasting: Laptops vs. Desktops
You can use a laptop or a desktop computer to produce your podcast. Both are perfectly capable of handling everything that needs to be done.
But laptops offer the advantage in portability. If you expect to ever do remote interviews or want to be able to record an episode from anywhere in the world, it’s hard to beat the versatility of a laptop.
Specifications to Look for In the Best Laptop for Podcasting
Producing audio content for a podcast isn’t quite as resource-intensive as it would be for video but it still needs a reasonably powerful computer. If you’re planning to edit your own show, create your own show art, and do most of the production work yourself, you’ll need to make sure your laptop meets certain specifications.
RAM
The minimum amount of RAM you need for recording a podcast is 8GB but if you can afford to upgrade to 16GB or even 32GB, you’ll be happier. More RAM will improve your laptop’s performance and extend its usefulness for at least an extra year or two.
Processor (CPU)
The CPU isn’t quite as important as it is for applications like video editing and gaming but it still plays a part in the overall process. Look for a laptop with at least an Intel Core i5 processor but an i7 is even better.
And if you’re considering a Mac, look for one of the latest models running the M1 Apple Silicon CPU.
Storage
Audio files use a lot of storage space, especially if you record at a higher bitrate. Make sure you get at least 1TB of internal storage but the more you have, the better.
Most laptops don’t have upgradeable storage so you need to make this decision with the long-term value in mind.
External Ports
You’ll need to connect other tools for podcasting to your laptops, such as a mixing board, microphone, and external recorders. Make sure your laptop has enough ports and all the necessary types of connections including USB-C, Thunderbolt, and USB 3.
Our Recommended Podcasting Laptops
The following models are our top picks for podcasting laptops.
Apple MacBook Pro
Apple’s MacBook Pro is one of the best options for podcasting. The build quality is excellent, Apple’s service and support are the best in the industry, and the battery life is better than most other brands, especially on the new M1-based models.
You can spec the MacBook Pro with anywhere from 8GB to 64GB of RAM and up to 4TB of storage, depending on the model. Just keep in mind that if you choose a Mac, you’ll need to use macOS-based applications to produce your podcast.
Pros:
- Display quality
- Battery life
- Customer support
- Performance
Cons:
- More expensive than the competition
- Lack of external ports
- Ninth-generation 8-Core Intel Core i9 Processor
- Stunning 16-inch Retina Display with True Tone technology
- Touch Bar and Touch ID
- AMD Radeon Pro 5500M Graphics with GDDR6 memory
- Ultrafast SSD
- Intel UHD Graphics 630
- Six-speaker system with force-cancelling woofers
- Four Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports
- Up to 11 hours of battery life
- 802.11AC Wi-Fi
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Dell XPS 13 or XPS 15
Dell’s XPS line of laptops comes in either a 13-inch or 15-inch configuration, depending on how you value screen size vs. portability. They have a 4K touchscreen display and are available with the latest Intel i7 CPUs.
The XPS series includes several USB-C ports, some of which also support the high-speed Thunderbolt standard.
Pros:
- High-resolution touchscreen display
- Plenty of external expansion ports
- Long battery life, especially for a Windows laptop
Cons:
- Strange placement of the built-in webcam
- No USB Type-A (USB 3) ports built-in
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inch FHD+ Touchscreen Laptop – Intel Evo Core i7-1185G7, 16GB LPDDR4x RAM, 512GB SSD, Windows 10 Pro – Platinum Silver (Latest Model)" />
inch FHD+ Touchscreen Laptop – Intel Evo Core i7-1185G7, 16GB LPDDR4x RAM, 512GB SSD, Windows 10 Pro – Platinum Silver (Latest Model)" />
inch FHD+ Touchscreen Laptop – Intel Evo Core i7-1185G7, 16GB LPDDR4x RAM, 512GB SSD, Windows 10 Pro – Platinum Silver (Latest Model)" />
inch FHD+ Touchscreen Laptop – Intel Evo Core i7-1185G7, 16GB LPDDR4x RAM, 512GB SSD, Windows 10 Pro – Platinum Silver (Latest Model)" />
inch FHD+ Touchscreen Laptop – Intel Evo Core i7-1185G7, 16GB LPDDR4x RAM, 512GB SSD, Windows 10 Pro – Platinum Silver (Latest Model)" />
inch FHD+ Touchscreen Laptop – Intel Evo Core i7-1185G7, 16GB LPDDR4x RAM, 512GB SSD, Windows 10 Pro – Platinum Silver (Latest Model)" />
inch FHD+ Touchscreen Laptop – Intel Evo Core i7-1185G7, 16GB LPDDR4x RAM, 512GB SSD, Windows 10 Pro – Platinum Silver (Latest Model)" />
inch FHD+ Touchscreen Laptop – Intel Evo Core i7-1185G7, 16GB LPDDR4x RAM, 512GB SSD, Windows 10 Pro – Platinum Silver (Latest Model)" />
inch FHD+ Touchscreen Laptop – Intel Evo Core i7-1185G7, 16GB LPDDR4x RAM, 512GB SSD, Windows 10 Pro – Platinum Silver (Latest Model)" />
inch FHD+ Touchscreen Laptop – Intel Evo Core i7-1185G7, 16GB LPDDR4x RAM, 512GB SSD, Windows 10 Pro – Platinum Silver (Latest Model)" />
inch FHD+ Touchscreen Laptop – Intel Evo Core i7-1185G7, 16GB LPDDR4x RAM, 512GB SSD, Windows 10 Pro – Platinum Silver (Latest Model)" />
inch FHD+ Touchscreen Laptop – Intel Evo Core i7-1185G7, 16GB LPDDR4x RAM, 512GB SSD, Windows 10 Pro – Platinum Silver (Latest Model)" />
inch FHD+ Touchscreen Laptop – Intel Evo Core i7-1185G7, 16GB LPDDR4x RAM, 512GB SSD, Windows 10 Pro – Platinum Silver (Latest Model)" />
inch FHD+ Touchscreen Laptop – Intel Evo Core i7-1185G7, 16GB LPDDR4x RAM, 512GB SSD, Windows 10 Pro – Platinum Silver (Latest Model)" />
inch FHD+ Touchscreen Laptop – Intel Evo Core i7-1185G7, 16GB LPDDR4x RAM, 512GB SSD, Windows 10 Pro – Platinum Silver (Latest Model)" />
inch FHD+ Touchscreen Laptop – Intel Evo Core i7-1185G7, 16GB LPDDR4x RAM, 512GB SSD, Windows 10 Pro – Platinum Silver (Latest Model)" />
inch FHD+ Touchscreen Laptop – Intel Evo Core i7-1185G7, 16GB LPDDR4x RAM, 512GB SSD, Windows 10 Pro – Platinum Silver (Latest Model)" />
inch FHD+ Touchscreen Laptop – Intel Evo Core i7-1185G7, 16GB LPDDR4x RAM, 512GB SSD, Windows 10 Pro – Platinum Silver (Latest Model)" />
- 13.4 FHD+ (1920 x 1200) InfinityEdge Touch Anti-Reflective 500-Nit Display
- 11th Generation, Intel Core i7-1185G7 Processor (12MB Cache, up to 4.8 GHz)
- 16GB 4267MHz LPDDR4x Memory Onboard, 512GB M.2 PCIe NVMe Solid State Drive
- Intel Iris Xe Graphics with shared graphics memory
- Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650 (2 x 2) and Bluetooth 5.1
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
- Enjoy a 16:10 display that features a stunning edge-to-edge view, now with 922k more pixels on 4K Ultra HD+.
- Equipped with 100% Adobe RGB, 94% DCI-P3 color gamut, VESA certified DisplayHDR 400, and Dolby Vision, this display delivers more than 16 million ultra-vivid colors that are 40 times brighter than ever before
- With a 62% larger touchpad, 5% larger screen, and 5.6% smaller footprint, every element is carefully considered—from its inlayed stainless logos to its high-polished diamond-cut sidewalls
- Integrated Eyesafe display technology helps reduce harmful blue light.
- Corning Gorilla Glass 6 is tough, damage resistant, durable, elegant and allows for no flex in its disp
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Microsoft Surface Pro
The Microsoft Surface Pro is a 2-in-1 computer that works with a detachable keyboard. With the keyboard attached, it works like any other laptop but if you remove the keyboard, it becomes a handheld tablet.
Unlike Apple’s iPad tablet, the Surface Pro is a fully-functional PC with an Intel i7 CPU, up to 16GB of RAM, and up to 1TB of storage. It supports any software that runs on Windows 10.
Pros:
- 2-in-1 design with detachable keyboard
- High-resolution display
- Touchscreen and stylus support
- Supports all Windows apps in a tablet form factor
Cons:
- No Thunderbolt support on the USB-C port
- Only available with one size display (12.3”)
- Next-gen, best-in-class laptop with the versatility of a studio and tablet, so you can type, touch, draw, write, work, and play more naturally
- Faster than Surface Pro 6, with a 10th Gen Intel Core Processor – redefining what's possible in a thin and light computer. Wireless : Wi-Fi 6: 802.11ax compatible. Bluetooth Wireless 5.0 technology
- More ways to connect, with both USB-C and USB-A ports for connecting to displays, docking stations and more, as well as accessory charging
- Standout design that won't weigh you down — ultra-slim and light Surface Pro 7 starts at just 1.70 pounds.Aspect ratio: 3:2
- All-day battery life upto 10.5 hours, plus the ability to go from empty to full faster — about 80% in just over an h
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon Gen 8
Lenovo’s Thinkpad series of laptops give Apple a run for its money in build quality and reliability. The Thinkpad X1 Carbon Gen 8 is one of the first 14-inch laptops to be mobility-certified by Intel.
It’s available with either the i5 or i7 processor and up to 1TB of internal storage. The X1 Carbon is rated up to 19.5 hours of battery life, one of the longest of any laptop.
Pros:
- Excellent battery life
- High-quality display
- Built-in fingerprint reader for security
- Great keyboard with trackpad and Trackpoint mouse
Cons:
- A lot of preinstalled applications
- Only available with a 14-inch display
- Outstanding Battery Life: Rated Up to 19.5 hours (MM14) and Up to 13.5 hours (MM18) by MobileMark 2014, an industry standard PC performance benchmark. Actual results will vary depending on your system's usage and settings, including power management and screen brightness.
- With WiFi 6 AX201 802.11AX (2 x 2) Wireless, you get fast and reliable connections, even on networks with lots of devices attached. Rapid Charge boosts battery life up to 80% in just an hour. Weighs only 2.40 lbs
- HD 720p webcam with ThinkShutter privacy cover, Fingerprint Reader, Backlit Spill resistant US English Keyboard, Bluetooth 5.0, Dolby Atmos Speaker System, 4 x 360-degree far-field microphones
- Ports: 2 x USB-C 3.2 (Gen 2) Intel Thunderbolt 3 (DisplayPort, Data transfer), 2 x USB 3.2 (Gen 1) (1 always on), HDMI 1.4, Network extension for Ethernet/side mechanical docking, Headphone / mic combo
- Tested against 12 military-grade requirements from the Arctic wilderness to desert dust storms, from zero gravity to spills and drops, you can trust this laptop to handle whatever life throws your w
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Conclusion
There’s Never Been a Better Time to Start a Podcast
It might seem like the podcast market is getting saturated but there’s unlimited potential for new shows. Start with the best laptop for podcasting and a few other podcasting essentials and you’ll be on your way to a loyal podcast following.
And if you’re in the market for the best laptop for any other purposes, Laptops Champ is here to help. We do all the research to find the best laptops so you don’t have to. Be sure to get in touch with us if you’re looking for something we haven’t reviewed yet.
