Thursday, February 18, 2021
Laptops are portable by nature, allowing you to tuck PC performance under an arm while you're on the go, but investing in one of the best Windows 10 LTE laptops can take mobility to the next level. Something with LTE connectivity, like HP's Spectre x360 13t, keeps you in the know no matter where you go. It's a premium convertible with an FHD touch display with pen support, Wi-Fi 6, and 10th Gen Intel Core processor (CPU) options. If it's not quite what you're looking for, our list of the best Windows laptop picks with LTE is below.
Best Overall: HP Spectre x360 13t
HP's 13-inch Spectre x360 has long toed the line of perfection, albeit with a few glaring flaws that held it back. With the late-2019 model, however, there's not much to dislike. It now uses Precision touchpad drivers for an optimal pointing experience. The bezel around the display has been shrunk down by 66% to fit more in line with other premium laptops on the market.
A camera still lives above the display despite the thin bezel, and it even manages IR facial recognition for secure logins through Windows Hello. The entire laptop has been shrunk down, and the top-firing speakers have been moved to the bottom, but HP still managed to cram in a relatively substantial 60Wh battery for long life between charges.
Unfortunately, if you want LTE, you have to forgo 4K AMOLED and, instead, opt for the FHD variant (with optional Sure View privacy screen) with a 10th Gen Intel Core i7-1065G7 CPU. Add up to 16GB of RAM and a 2TB PCIe M.2 solid-state drive (SSD), and enjoy Wi-Fi 6.
A new model of the HP Spectre x360 13 with 11th Gen Intel chips is available, though it doesn't yet offer mobile connectivity. Expect 5G connectivity sometime in the first half of 2021.
Pros:
- 10th Gen Intel Core CPUs
- Wi-Fi 6 and LTE connectivity
- Precision touchpad
- Big 60Wh battery
- Beautiful design
Cons:
- Speakers moved to bottom of chassis
- No 4K option with LTE
- Might not need a convertible
Best Overall
HP Spectre x360 13t
Hard to beat
Microsoft Precision touchpad drivers, FHD display with anti-reflective coating, 4G LTE, and 10th Gen Intel CPUs. Hold out for the 2021 models if you need 5G connectivity instead.
Also Great: Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus
The Surface Pro 7 Plus is a mid-gen refresh intended for Education and Enterprise markets. However, it can be purchased by anyone just by shopping at the Microsoft Store. There are several differences here that most people can appreciate, including the option to add 4G LTE connectivity.
Microsoft has bumped up the performance hardware to 11th Gen Intel CPUs, and Iris Xe integrated graphics (Core i5 is available with the LTE model), as well as 16GB of RAM. Up to a 256GB SSD can be added as well with LTE. You won't get the maximum performance available, but you will be able to stay connected everywhere you go.
The Pro 7 Plus also has a removable SSD with a small door on the back for access, and battery life is far superior even with LTE enabled compared to the standard Pro 7 (more than an hour more life for about 11 hours total). Check out our Surface Pro 7 Plus review for far more information.
Pros:
- 11th Gen Intel and Iris Xe are fast
- 4G LTE is quick and reliable
- Up to 32GB of RAM
- Removable SSD
- Best Pro battery life
Cons:
- Dated design, thick bezel
- No Thunderbolt
Also Great
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus
Faster with LTE
Addressing the needs of enterprise and education markets, Microsoft's Surface Pro 7+ brings a few new features to its classic laptop. With an option for LTE, removable SSD, and the latest Intel processors, Surface Pro 7+ should be an excellent choice out in the field.
Excellent Battery: Dell Latitude 7420
If you're looking for a laptop that blurs the line between consumer and business device, Dell's Latitude 7420 2-in-1 is a prime example. It brings all-day battery life, a durable all-metal body with a brushed aluminum or carbon fiber finish, and plenty of ports (including Thunderbolt 4). It might weigh a bit more than other convertibles, but it's durable and packed with features.
There are both standard notebook and 2-in-1 options of this laptop, and you can configure in many of them a Qualcomm Snapdragon X20 LTE modem for data connectivity everywhere you go. Dell otherwise has a ton of hardware options available, including an IR camera, fingerprint reader, and vPro CPUs.
For LTE models, it seems only FHD displays are configurable in both convertible and notebook forms. However, you have a choice of touch or non-touch, as well as brightness. Grab the 63Wh battery over the 42Wh option for the best results.
Pros:
- Multiple FHD display options
- Good audio
- Impressive battery life
- Premium build quality
- Great port selection
Cons:
- A bit heavy
- Expensive
Best Battery
Dell Latitude 7420 2-in-1
Excellent battery, super adaptive
Dell's Latitude 7420 refresh brings 11th Gen Intel Core hardware, long battery life, LTE connectivity, and your choice of 2-in-1 or notebook form.
Best Business: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano
Lenovo has added LTE connectivity to most of its X1 lineup at this point — including the X1 Carbon and X1 Yoga — but none of these really get us as excited as the new ThinkPad X1 Nano. Announced in late 2020, this is a 13-inch Ultrabook with a 2K display (2160x1350) with Dolby Vision and 450 nits brightness. Grab it in touch or non-touch, the latter using an anti-reflective finish.
Battery life and performance are excellent thanks to 11th Gen Intel Core hardware and Intel's Evo platform certification, and you're also getting two Thunderbolt 4 ports. This is a ThinkPad, so the keyboard is as good as it gets, and the laptop has plenty of security features, including an IR camera, fingerprint reader, and camera shutter. Sitting open, it can also detect when you're nearby to log you in as quickly as possible.
This laptop weighs in at just 2.12 pounds (962g) and is just 0.55 inches (13.87mm) thin, making it an excellent choice for life on the go. LTE models are rolling out based on region, so while you might not see the WWAN hardware available now, check back often for availability.
Pros:
- Excellent battery life
- Gorgeous display options
- 11th Gen Intel hardware
- Durable and slim build
- Good audio
Cons:
- 4G LTE availability is currently spotty
- Might want to wait for full 5G option
Best Business
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano
Super light and powerful
Lenovo's brand-new ThinkPad X1 Nano is a 2lb Ultrabook with up to an 11th Gen Core i7, 5G, a 2K 16:10 display, and some of the latest AI tech from Intel that makes this one smart laptop. The quoted 17 hours of battery life is not bad either.
Best Ultraportable: Microsoft Surface Go 2
The Surface Go 2 isn't precisely cut out for specialized work due to the hardware inside, but the tradeoff is a versatile, portable device with a lot to offer. If you're looking for a casual laptop to take with you wherever you go, this is it.
Performance hardware with LTE includes an Intel Core m3-8100Y CPU, 8GB of RAM, and a 128GB SSD, enough to tackle everyday productivity tasks and even some light gaming. The addition of 4G LTE options means you can stay connected just about everywhere, and you'll get a full workday of battery life from a charge. Wi-Fi 6 is also included.
The new larger 10.5-inch display has a 1920x1280 resolution and 3:2 aspect ratio; it's compatible with the Surface Pen for a stellar inking experience, and by adding a Type Cover, you get a true laptop. Ports include USB-C, a microSD card reader, and a 3.5mm audio jack.
Pros:
- Optional 4G LTE connectivity
- Premium compact design
- Touch display with inking
- Great battery life
- Intel Core m3 CPU for better performance
Cons:
- Limited ports
- Great battery life
Best Ultraportable
Microsoft Surface Go 2
Combination of size and power
Microsoft's most affordable Surface is the Go, yet it delivers a high-quality computing experience that you can take with you.
Best Thin and Light: Samsung Galaxy Book S
The Samsung Galaxy Book S is an ARM-powered 13-inch laptop that's incredibly thin and light. It weighs in at just 2.1 pounds (0.96kg) and measures just 0.24 inches (6.2mm) at its thinnest point. If you prefer a clamshell form factor and still want to carry something around with you everywhere, this makes a great choice.
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx handles core tasks like Office, Slack, Teams, Skype, and web browsing with ease, and it helps the battery hit more than 11 hours of life from a charge. Combined with LTE connectivity and instant-on, this is a laptop that's always ready to go, no matter where you are.
Audio from the speakers is surprisingly good. The FHD touch display might max out at that resolution and might have a 16:9 aspect ratio, but it delivers excellent contrast, vivid color, and about 380 nits brightness. One of the only things to look out for is the keyboard, which will take some getting used to due to the shallow key travel.
Pros
- Beautiful slim, all-metal chassis
- 11+ hours of battery life
- Excellent FHD display
- Robust audio
Cons
- ARM has some limitations
- Shallow keyboard
Best Thin and Light
Samsung Galaxy Book S
Crazy thin, all-day battery and always-connected
The Samsung Galaxy Book S delivers a super-thin, very light laptop with more than 11 hours of battery life and 4G LTE.
Best for the Apocalypse: Panasonic TOUGHBOOK 55
It's unclear whether or not LTE will still be functional when some sort of apocalyptic event happens. If it is, this is the laptop you'll want as you're rolling down the street in your armor-plated SUV.
Panasonic's 14-inch TOUGHBOOK is built into a modular magnesium alloy case. You can quickly swap out parts on the go, and there's even a heater for storage when you're working in extreme temperatures. A second battery can be added if you need a longer life, which Panasonic claims is somewhere around the 40-hour mark (no doubt a lot lower with real-time usage). Still, this is a laptop you can toss into the back of a truck at the start of the day and not have to worry about it.
Performance hardware includes an 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8665U CPU, 8GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD, enough to handle any necessary productivity work. The touch display is set at an HD resolution, but it includes layers to significantly cut down on glare and can reach up to 1,000 nits brightness. And, of course, it includes 4G LTE connectivity so that you can keep in touch with any other survivors out there.
Pros
- Will withstand just about anything
- Modular design for easy customization
- FHD display with 1,000 nits brightness
- Tons of ports
- Long battery life
Cons
- Heavy and bulky
- Expensive
- Display only HD
Best For The Apocalypse
Panasonic TOUGHBOOK 55
The right laptop for a tough job
With extreme durability, modular design, long battery life, and 4G LTE connectivity, this laptop can go anywhere you go.
Best Workstation: HP ZBook Fury 15 G7
Need the power of a mobile workstation and want to stay connected everywhere you go? HP's ZBook Fury 15 G7 is likely going to be a great fit. It's rather expensive, but that's expected from a laptop with this level of hardware. Models with configurable WWAN include up to an Intel Xeon W-10885M vPro CPU, NVIDIA Quadro RTX 5000 GPU, 64GB of DDR4-2666MHz RAM, and 4TB of M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD storage.
There are plenty of lesser configurations available, and you should be able to get exactly what you need even with 4G LTE included (HP doesn't limit a whole lot of hardware when the extra modem is included).
The workstation is packed with ports, you can add an IR camera for extra security, and a fingerprint reader is ready for quick logins. There are a ton of 15.6-inch display options, ranging from low-end FHD to high-end UHD with precision color tuning for design and development work. If you don't want to be tied to a desk with your workstation, this is the way to go.
Pros
- Huge performance from available hardware
- Large 97Wh battery
- Lots of ports
- Tons of display options
- Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 along with LTE
Cons
- Very expensive
Best Workstation
HP ZBook Fury 15 G7
Big but powerful
If you need desktop-class performance from a laptop with 4G LTE connectivity, HP's ZBook Fury 15 G7 is the way to go.
Bottom line
We're starting to see more of the best Windows 10 laptops come with LTE connectivity, and you should be able to find a device that suits your needs. If you're looking for the best Windows 10 LTE laptop, we recommend checking out the late-2019 HP Spectre x360 13t.
Its convertible design offers plenty of versatility, allowing you to use it as a tablet with an active pen or as a standard clamshell Ultrabook for serious productivity. The FHD touch display is an absolute stunner, and a whopping 66% has shrunk the bezel down for a far better screen-to-body ratio. This has ultimately changed the size of the chassis, making the Spectre x360 more portable than ever.
It's powered by up to a 10th Gen Intel Core i7 CPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 2TB M.2 PCIe SSD, giving you plenty of performance. It's not going to be a killer gaming machine, and it won't handle intensive specialized work, but it will cut through productivity tasks with ease. A massive 60Wh battery delivers solid battery life, and Wi-Fi 6 brings blazing wireless speeds. If you're on the move, LTE will keep you connected.
Those who want to invest in 5G instead of just 4G LTE should check out our collection of the best 5G laptops.
Credits — The team that worked on this guide
Cale Hunt is a staff writer at Windows Central. He focuses mainly on PC, laptop, accessory coverage, and the emerging world of VR. He is an avid PC gamer and multi-platform user and spends most of his time either tinkering with or writing about tech.
Daniel Rubino is the executive editor of Windows Central. He has been covering Microsoft since 2009, back when this site was called WMExperts (and later Windows Phone Central). His interests include Windows, Surface, HoloLens, Xbox, and future computing visions. Follow him on Twitter: @daniel_rubino.
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