HP TECH TAKES /...
Exploring today's technology for tomorrow's possibilities
Subscribe
HP’s Best Value Laptops for UK Small Businesses
Harry Stewart
|
September 13, 2023
Small British businesses after the best-value laptops must strike a delicate balance between power, portability, and price. With limited coin in the company coffers, splashing out on a state-of-the-art machine mightn’t be viable. Aim too low on the price spectrum, though, and your workers will suffer sub-par performance and a subsequent productivity slump.
The sticker price and hardware specs aren’t the only factors a small business should consider. Portability, security, aesthetics, and collaboration tools all have a tangible impact on day-to-day business operations.
In this post, we’ll explain why doing your due diligence is essential, examine the key laptop shopping considerations, and present a few leading options from HP.
Why choosing the right small business laptop is critical
Whether shopping for one work laptop or a hundred, it’s worth doing your due diligence before hitting the “buy now” button.
Reliable, fit-for-purpose IT infrastructure helps streamline productivity across the entire team, ultimately bolstering company profits. Yet if you go large and invest in excessively expensive tech, you’ll overpay for top-tier hardware your team doesn’t actually need.
And while a no-frills laptop might look enticing for its rock-bottom sticker price, it may struggle to keep up with your day-to-day workflows. That notable productivity drop will rapidly outweigh any savings with the initial hardware investment. Finding the right balance is critical.
Small British businesses also need to consider portability. With face-to-face meetings back in fashion in the UK, agile staff need a lightweight, easy-to-carry device. From off-site client meetings to fast-paced business trips, a portable laptop is a godsend for workers on the go.
Although often overlooked, laptop aesthetics are pivotal to your company image. Sleek, boardroom-ready designs provide a more professional appearance than clunky, home-user-orientated laptops.
What to look for in a work laptop
As we can see, choosing the right device is a crucial decision for every small British business. But what are the hallmarks of a good work laptop? What tell-tale features should you look for when shopping around?
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution. The best business laptop depends on your budget and specific company needs.
Power
Hardware is the most critical consideration when investing in a work laptop. The tiny silicon-clad components under the hood make the difference between sluggish and butter-smooth performance.
Small British businesses with modest computational requirements (Microsoft Office, emails, web browsing, etc.) should opt for an Intel® Core™ i5 (or AMD Ryzen™ 5) with 8GB of RAM at a minimum. Anything less, and your staff will suffer non-stop frustrations due to sub-par performance.
Running specialist software suites or multi-tasking a multitude of tabs? Then it’s worth investing in a late-generation Intel Core i7 or Ryzen 7 with 16GB of RAM. That additional oomph lets you blaze through high-intensity apps and bolsters productivity for your everyday workflows.
If your company specialises in 3D modelling, machine learning, or video/animation rendering, a beefy workstation with a potent GPU is necessary. NVIDIA® and AMD both manufacture a wide selection of capable graphics cards catering to users of varying requirements.
Portability
Consider how often your personnel are on the move. Stationary staff that spend all day sitting in the office don’t need a slimline, feather-light device. A larger screen enhances readability and lets users multi-task side-by-side apps. Plus, bulkier laptops tend to be cheaper, and the savings stack up over numerous devices.
However, portability is a fundamental concern for highly-mobile workers whizzing between meetings and business trips. Aim for a slender, lightweight device to make life easier for your most agile personnel.
At the risk of stating the obvious, laptop size correlates to its weight. Many on-the-go workers feel 14-inch laptops offer a nice compromise between portability and on-screen real estate. Be wary of going any smaller; many professionals find tiny devices tiresome to read.
Another key portability factor is the power supply. A long-lasting battery life is crucial for on-the-go workers who won’t always have access to an AC plug.
Price
Every business has a budget. And it’s crucial to keep close tabs on yours to avoid overspend. HP sells a plethora of work laptops catering to small British companies of all sorts. From affordable business-ready devices to high-tech specialist workstations, we have a suitable option for everyone.
The HP ProBook Series offers respectable specs for a wallet-friendly price. This widely popular laptop range is a hit among small business owners with modest needs and fiscal means. If your day-to-day operations involve Microsoft Office, web browsing, and moderate multi-tasking, then give the ProBook a long hard look.
The next step up is the HP EliteBook Series, a premium work laptop range with superior performance and security features. Many feature a slender, slimline chassis and sleek, C-Suite-ready aesthetics. For workers who run demanding apps, multi-task numerous programs, or travel frequently, the HP EliteBook is hard to beat.
At the top of the work laptop price spectrum is the HP ZBook Series, a turbo-charged workstation with top-tier specs. Potent processors come coupled with high-performance GPUs, perfect for specialists tackling graphics-intensive tasks. From scientific analysis to video editing, 3D modelling and CAD, this high-octane product delivers the performance you need.
The best HP work laptops for small UK businesses
Ready to peruse a few options? We’ve compiled a shortlist of the best work-orientated HP laptops in the UK.
HP ProBook 450 G10 15.6" FHD Laptop
Hot off the factory floor, this nifty work-orientated device is the 10th generation offering (G10) from the HP ProBook 450 range. That means you get superior performance, battery life, connectivity, security, and collaborative tools than its G9 (or earlier) predecessors.
Boasting a speedy 13th Generation Intel Core i5 and 16GB of RAM, the HP ProBook 450 G10 packs enough grunt to crush your everyday workflows. Businesses that need silky-smooth performance for Microsoft Office, web browsing, and similar apps will get exceptional value from this budget-friendly device.
Multi-layered endpoint security keeps your data safe from prying eyes, while HP Sure Sense uses deep-learning AI to keep malware at bay. An HP Manageability Integration Kit helps streamline hardware management and image creation across a small, fast-paced enterprise.
What’s more, a durable 19 MIL-STD-tested design and lightweight frame make it suitable for hybrid workers and professionals on the move. Not quite content with the specs? This HP ProBook 450 G10 has an array of hardware configurations. Feel free to upgrade or downgrade as you please.
- Processor: Intel Core i5 1335U (13th Generation)
- Memory: 16GB RAM
- Storage: 512GB solid-state drive (SSD)
- Display: 39.6 cm (15.6”), Full High-Definition (1920 x 1080)
- Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics
- Weight: Starting at 1.79 kg
HP EliteBook 1040 G10 14” WQXGA Laptop – Core i7, 5G enabled
Need something with a little extra pep? This HP EliteBook 1040 G10 is a potent, ultra-portable machine. Powered by a 13th Generation Intel Core i7 355U and 32GB RAM, this mid-range device handles resource-intensive apps with ease. Consider this option (or an alternative EliteBook) if your everyday tasks demand top-tier performance using more than the standard Microsoft Office apps.
In-built Intel Iris® Xe Graphics offer slick visuals for presentations and videos, which look immaculate on its crisp WQXGA (1920 x 1200) display. And you won’t have to worry about storage thanks to its sizeable 1TB SSD.
On-the-move professionals will appreciate its portability-orientated design - the device starts at a slender 1.19 kg. You’ll get plenty of juice while on the move thanks to a 51 Wh Li-ion battery, which recharges in a jiffy via a tiny 65 W USB Type-C power cord. Best of all, mobile professionals can skip slow, unsecured WiFi in favour of its lightning-quick 5G-enabled broadband adapter.
Security is another strong selling point. With HP Wolf Pro Security Edition, hardware-enforced HP SureClick, and an optional fingerprint sensor, the HP EliteBook 1040 G10 offers enterprise-level protection. Can’t quite justify the price? You can tone down the hardware configurations for a more affordable rate or opt for the non-5G-enabled variant.
- Processor: Intel Core i7 1355U (13th Generation)
- Memory: 32GB RAM
- Storage: 1TB SSD
- Display: 35.6 cm (14”), WQXGA (1920 x 1200)
- Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- Weight: Starting at 1.19 kg
HP ZBook Power G7 15.6” Mobile Workstation
Fast-paced creatives seeking a sleek, high-performance workstation could opt for the HP ZBook Power G7. As one of the top-ranking ZBooks on the HP UK store, this popular device is a hit among 3D modellers, animators, and CAD specialists throughout Britain.
Although it’s an older G7 model, this timeless classic is far from obsolete. A zippy 9th Generation Intel Core i9 and 32GB of RAM power the device, and you get stacks of storage with a 1TB SSD. Meanwhile, a 4GB NVIDIA Quadro® T1000 gives you ample grunt for rendering images on the fly.
Its 15.6-inch screen sports a crisp 4K display, perfect for visual arts professionals who need a crystal-clear screen to present their creations. Rather invest in the latest tech? The yet-to-be-released HP ZBook Firefly G10 is currently available for pre-order.
- Processor: Intel Core i9 10885H (9th Generation)
- Memory: 32GB RAM
- Storage: 1TB SSD
- Display: 39.6 cm (15.6”), 4K UHD (3840 x 2160)
- Graphics: NVIDIA Quadro T1000 (4GB)
- Weight: Starting at 1.89 kg
Summary
From affordable, professional-level devices to high-performance workstations, HP offers a broad range of work laptops for small companies in the UK. But every business is different, so the first step is determining what’s right for you.
Once you’ve analysed your budget and unique IT needs, take another peek at our top recommendations. Can’t find the ideal option? We’ve got a solid selection of other ProBooks, EliteBooks, and ZBooks on sale at the HP UK Store.
