The Best High-End Laptops for IT Teams: 2025 Buyer’s Guide

The best high-end laptops are built for the demands of modern IT teams. Whether you’re running scripts, troubleshooting endpoints, or supporting hundreds (or thousands) of users, these laptops can handle that.

In this article, our team at Atera has reviewed the best high-end laptops for IT teams. Whether you work with Windows or Apple OS or have a hybrid IT environment, we have listed options to choose from.

Before we review the best high-end laptops, we’ll go through the key considerations when buying one. Note: This article focuses on high-end laptops, but we also have an article on the best 2-in-1 laptops.

Key considerations when selecting a high-end laptop

These are the three key things to consider when buying a high-end laptops for your IT team:

1. Use case and team role

The first question to ask yourself is: how will I use the laptop?

This will decide the features you should prioritize. For example:

• If you’re a field engineer – battery life, weight, and durability are key
• If you’re an IT administrator – good ports, VMs, and remote management features come in handy
• If you’re a developer – high CPU & RAM and internal storage help improve the performance

No matter your IT department role, make sure also to prioritize security features in your high-end laptop. Look for built-in protections like TPM 2.0 chips, fingerprint readers, and IR cameras for biometric authentication.

2. Performance specs

Once you’ve identified how you’ll use the laptop, it’s time to match your needs with the appropriate hardware.

Here are the key performance specs to consider:

• Processor (CPU): For multitasking, running virtual machines, or compiling code, look for Intel Core i/5i7 processors. For data-heavy workloads, consider laptops with the Intel Core Ultra series.
• Memory (RAM): 16GB is the minimum for most IT tasks. For the most data-heavy workloads, 32GB or 64GB is a minimum.
• Storage (SSD): Most high-end laptops have internal storage space between 512 GB and 2TB. If you want to save money, choose 512 GB and invest in a portable SSD.
• Battery life: Most high-end laptops offer all-day battery life, so this isn’t something to overly worry about. Some options, like Apple, offer even a longer battery life of up to 20 hours. 

3. Warranty and technical support

Each of the top laptop manufacturers, such as Dell, Apple, Lenovo, HP, and Microsoft, has its own warranty and support policies for their high-end laptops.

Make sure you’re aware of the warranties before investing.

Most companies mention their warranty and technical support on their websites. Some companies, like Apple, offer extended warranties through programs like AppleCare+. Here are the benefits Apple promises:

The 5 best high-end laptops for IT teams in 2025

The five best high-end laptops for IT professionals are:

1. Dell Latitude 5550 – Best overall high-end laptop
2. Dell Latitude 7450 – Best enterprise IT department high-end laptop
3. Apple MacBook M4 Pro – Best Apple environment high-end laptop
4. Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Gen 13 – Best high-end laptop for remote work
5. Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 – Best flexible high-end laptop

Each of these top-rated high-end laptops has its unique strengths, so we have divided them into different categories. For a detailed review of each, keep on reading!

1. Dell Latitude 5550 – Best overall high-end laptop

The Dell Latitude 5550 is a highly popular 15-inch laptop among IT teams, and it is our choice for the best overall laptop and perhaps also the best high-end Dell laptop.

The base model is priced at $1,299, and the two upgraded versions are priced at $1659 and $1849. For most IT professionals, we recommend the $1849 version, as it comes with upgraded RAM of 32GB and an Intel Core Ultra 7 vPro processor.

One Reddit user commented on the Dell Latitude models: “My org has the big 3 ( Dell, Lenovo, Macs ) endpoints, and Dell has been the easiest to deal with, especially for remote users, as we can send instructions and walk users through remote OS installation if needed.”

Compared to other high-end laptops, the Latitude 5550 is more fairly priced while still offering strong performance. This makes it ideal for large-scale deployments.

(Specifications) Dell Latitude 5550	Price: From $1,299 Processor: Intel Core Ultra 5 / 7 vPro optional RAM: 16GB–32GB DDR5 Storage: Up to 2TB PCIe Gen4 SSD Display: 15.6-inch FHD, optional touchscreen Battery life: Up to 11 hours and 17 minutes Weight: 3.8 lbs (1.72 kg) Connectivity: Wifi 6E, optional 5G, HDMI, USB-A, Thunderbolt 4, Ethernet Security features: Fingerprint reader, IR camera, TPM 2.0, Dell SafeBIOS, SmartCard reader Management: Full Intel vPro support, remote BIOS/firmware updates Warranty: 3-year ProSupport standard
Reasons to choose this high-end laptop	According to many IT professionals on Reddit, the Dell Latitude 5000 series is the most reliable high-end laptop for IT.
Reasons to not choose this high-end laptop	According to a Reddit user, the Latitude 5000 series laptops are thick and heavy, especially when compared to the Latitude 7450

2. Dell Latitude 7450 – Best enterprise IT department high-end laptop

The Dell Latitude 7450 is highly comparable to the Latitude 5550 but is significantly lighter, which, according to Reddit users, you can really notice. The other key difference is the U-series processor, which will give you a longer battery life of 14 hours, which is nearly 3 hours more than the Latitude 5550 offers. 

All of these factors make the Latitude 7450 a great option for enterprise IT departments that value portability, good built-in features, and all-day battery life. As a minor drawback compared to the Latitude 5550, the base model only includes 256GB of internal storage. 

Users also report that while the built-in quality is better, performance isn’t as good as the Latitude 5550’s.

(Specifications) Dell Latitude 7450	Price: From $1,899 Processor: Intel Core Ultra 7 165U, vPro RAM: 16GB–32GB LPDDR5x  Storage: 256 GB on the base model Display: 14-inch FHD+ with ComfortView or optional QHD  Battery life: Up to 16 hours Weight: 2.33 lbs (1.058 kg) Connectivity: Wifi 7, optional 5G, HDMI, Thunderbolt 4, USB-A Security features: SmartCard reader, IR camera, fingerprint sensor, TPM 2.0 Management: Full Intel vPro support, remote BIOS/firmware updates Warranty: 3-year ProSupport included
Reasons to choose this high-end laptop	Lightweight, with built-in performance, and efficient in large-scale IT environments.
Reasons to not choose this high-end laptop	IT professionals on Reddit report that the performance is slightly less good than on the Latitude 5540 and 5540 models

3. Apple MacBook M4 Pro – Best Apple environment high-end laptop

If your IT team operates in an Apple environment, the Apple MacBook M4 Pro with the newest M4 chip is your best bet. The standard M4 Pro starts at $1,999 and goes all the way up to $7,049 with more RAM, storage, etc. The base model includes a 12-core CPU, 24 GB of RAM, and 512 GB of internal storage, which is enough for most IT management tasks.

One Reddit user commented on this model, “This machine is a beast. My day-to-day use involves writing and presentations, using Chrome tabs, AI tools, SPSS data processing, and light video editing. I find the 24-hour battery life promise delivers while the HDMI and extra ports come in handy for work needs.”

In fact, Apple promises 22 hours of video streaming for this model, which is why many IT professionals prefer it.

(Specifications) Apple MacBook Pro M4 Pro	Price: From $1,999 Processor: Apple M4 Pro (12-core CPU, 18-core GPU) RAM: 24GB on the base model Storage: 512GB on the base model Display: 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR Battery life: Up to 22 hours Weight: 4.7 lbs (2.13 kg) Connectivity: 3x Thunderbolt 5, HDMI, SDXC slot, MagSafe Security features: Secure Enclave, Touch ID, hardware-verified boot Warranty: 1-year standard, AppleCare+ optional
Reasons to choose this high-end laptop	22-hour battery life and top performance for dev and creative work.
Reasons to not choose this high-end laptop	Not ideal for Windows-centric enterprises or those requiring traditional BIOS-level control.

4. Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Gen 13 – Best high-end laptop for remote work

If you’re looking for a lightweight, high-end laptop for remote work, the Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Gen 13 is a great choice. It is a 14-inch laptop that weighs only 986g (2.17 lbs) in the base model. The prices start at $2,523.51 and include an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor, 32GB of RAM, and generous 1TB of internal storage. It has two Thunderbolt 4 ports, two USB-A ports, and HDMI for easy connectivity.

One IT professional on Reddit compared Lenovo to Dell and HP and said: “I personally had the best run and the most stable ones with Lenovo Thinkpad, but I had some bad issues with both Dell and HP. But then again, that might be because of the price range”

(Specifications) Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13	Price: From $2,523.51 Processor: Intel Core Ultra 7 RAM: 32GB Storage: Up to 2TB SSD Display: 14-inch OLED (2.8K) or FHD+, anti-glare options Battery life: Up to 15 hours Weight: Starts at 986g (2.17lbs) Connectivity: Wifi 7, optional 5G, HDMI, Thunderbolt 4, USB-A Security features: Facial recognition login, fingerprint sensor, TPM 2.0 Durability: MIL-STD-810H certified Warranty: 3-year Premier Support
Reasons to choose this high-end laptop	Built for travel and remote use.
Reasons to not choose this high-end laptop	It may throttle under heavy workloads. It is less suited for GPU-intensive tasks.

5. Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 – Best flexible high-end laptop

For IT teams operating in the Windows environment, Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is one of the most flexible options. 

What makes it highly flexible is its dynamic design, which allows users to switch between laptop, stage, and studio modes. One reviewer commented on this and said, “I love being able to flip it from tablet mode to laptop mode to type essays/emails and general browsing.”

The Surface Laptop Studio 2 includes an Intel Core i7-13700H processor, up to 64GB of RAM, up to 2TB of internal storage, and a 14.4-inch touchscreen.

(Specifications) Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2	Price: From $1,999 Processor: Intel Core i7-13700H RAM: 16GB on the base model Storage: 512GB on the base model Display: 14.4-inch PixelSense Flow touchscreen Battery life: Up to 16 hours on typical device usage Weight: 4.2 lbs (1.9 kg) Connectivity: USB-C/Thunderbolt 4, Surface Connect, headphone jack Security features: TPM 2.0, Windows Hello IR camera, SSD removable Special features: Adjustable hinge for studio, stage, and laptop mode Warranty: 1-year standard, extended options available
Reasons to choose this high-end laptop	A good option for presentations, demos, and design-centric IT work.
Reasons to not choose this high-end laptop	Heavier than most high-end laptops.

How to protect your high-end laptops from security threats

Most high-end business laptops include layered security through features like fingerprint readers, TPM 2.0 chips for hardware-based encryption, and BIOS-level security features like secure boot and automatic recovery.

While these are excellent first lines of defence, they’re not enough on their own. To fully protect your laptops, you need a multi-layer security that combines built-in security with broader endpoint management.

This is where IT management tools, such as Atera, come in. Atera’s all-in-one IT management platform enables you to:

✅ Monitor and manage your laptops in real time and receive alerts for potential issues

✅ Keep your OS and third-party applications up to date with the latest security updates

✅ Automate manual and repetitive tasks with Atera’s Copilot and automation

✅ Automatically discover devices connected to your network

✅ Remotely access and troubleshoot devices

And much more. Atera is the first IT management platform powered by a true Agentic AI technology through Action AI™. Atera is revolutionizing the way IT teams manage their IT infrastructures as the first Agentic AI product in the IT management space.

If this sounds interesting, you can easily get started by signing up for Atera’s 30-day free trial. You can also contact our sales team for a custom demo.