The 5 Best Laptops with LTE Connectivity

Have you ever wished your laptop would act – well, more like your phone, especially when it comes to data connections? The answer is LTE, the widely used wireless data transmission standard / general term for mobile data connections from 4G onwards. Laptops with LTE technology can connect with cellular data signals, just like your phone, allowing them to use your carrier’s plan for more reliable internet, especially in areas where Wi-Fi is available. Fi may not be a smart security option or choice.

The key is that LTE is constantly evolving (the name literally means long term evolution). The latest laptops to hit the market come with what’s now simply called 5G, the latest high-speed, high-security connection, if your carrier currently offers it. Since the 5G rollout began, you’ll probably want to look for a laptop with technology that supports the 5G standard, which uses a different radio spectrum and requires new components. Here are your best options, as well as some choices for saving money with an older version of LTE.

The best

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano

The 13-inch Nano is one of the smallest ThinkPads Lenovo has yet made, and although weighing less than 2 pounds, it still includes powerful technology, like the 11th Gen Intel Core i5-1120G7 (base model). , 16 GB of memory, and a 512 GB PCIe SSD for storage. Some features, like storage or additional screen / touchscreen protection options, can be upgraded if you’re willing to jack up the price.

Although the screen may be small, it offers 2160 x 1350 “2K” resolution for a crisp Windows experience and higher resolution gaming options. You won’t be able to increase settings much with onboard Intel Xe graphics, but they perform much better than integrated GPUs from past generations. A privacy-compatible webcam and fingerprint reader are built into this compact model, which also supports Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1. You also get the latest Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 connections for high speed data transfers.

All of this combined makes the ThinkPad X1 Nano the best LTE laptop upgrade we’ve found, and the perfect way to replace an older laptop with all of the latest specs in an extremely portable package.

The rest

Surface Pro X

If you have no interest in paying for 5G in the near future and don’t mind upgrading to a new laptop when you’re ready to do so, then traditional 4G LTE is probably all you’ve got. need, and a way to save money on your purchase. We suggest the Surface Pro X as a reasonable compromise.

The laptop is created with the SQ1 ARM processor, a joint effort between Microsoft and Qualcomm designed for highly mobile devices. The base model starts with 8GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD, although you can upgrade to 16GB and 512GB of storage if needed.

The display is a slightly larger 13-inch model with a high resolution of 2880 x 1920, and it boasts smaller bezels than the standard Surface Pro 7. You’ll get two USB-C ports, a Surface Connect port, and a nano-SIM slot for LTE connectivity – but keep in mind that if LTE connectivity is native to the laptop, you’ll still need the right card. SIM, which is not always included.

Since the Surface Pro X is intended for professionals, there is also a TPM chip for corporate security management, Windows Hello sign-in support, and BitLocker support to help you improve and manage your security. Unfortunately, the Surface Pro X hasn’t been updated for Wi-Fi 6 yet. You’ll also want to save money for the Surface Type Cover ($ 140) and Surface Slim Pen ($ 145). , which are not included in the base price.

HP Elite Dragonfly G2

This 13-inch 2-in-1 business laptop is perfect for working remotely around the home or for professionals who know they’ll be on the go frequently – and we appreciate the plethora of customization options and accessories from hospitality available which can make it even more suited to a specific business environment. It also allows you to include an AT&T or Verizon SIM card, in addition to the preinstalled Gemalto eSIM card.

Inside, you can outfit this Dragonfly with an 11th generation Intel Core i7-1185G7 processor, between 8GB and 32GB of RAM and several integrated Iris XE graphics options. Storage can range from a relatively thin 128GB PCIe NVMe SSD to full 2TB SSD storage. The display offers potential upgrades to Ultra HD, but even at HD levels it still has capabilities. touch screen.

Like the Nano, the Dragonfly G2 also offers Wi-Fi 6 and two Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 ports, as well as an HDMI 2.0b connection and a SuperSpeed ​​USB-A port. When choosing your mobile broadband technology, make sure you choose the Qualcomm Snapdragon option, which is LTE that supports 5G.

Dell Latitude 9510

If portability is lower on your list and you’re more interested in a bigger screen to help you handle more complex tasks, you’ll probably prefer this 15-inch Latitude model. In addition to the larger HD display (which can be upgraded to a touchscreen if you prefer), the base model starts with a 10th generation Intel Core i5-10310U quad-core processor with integrated Intel UHD Graphics, 16GB of RAM and 128 GB PCIe NVME SSD.

The laptop includes useful Dell software, such as automatic battery monitoring and enhancement, and the sleek design keeps the laptop at around 3 pounds so you can still carry it around with ease. Connection options include Wi-Fi 6, USB-A 3.2, Thunderbolt 3 / USB-C, and HDMI 2.0.

Note that the Dell Latitude 9510 comes with an alternate design that gives it 2-in-1 capabilities if you’d rather have a tablet option as well. We like the somewhat rugged clamshell option, especially with the mid-sized screen, but that depends on what you prefer for work or travel.

Galaxy Book Flex2

A 2-in-1 focused on design and art, Samsung’s first 5G laptop was originally called the Flex 5G, but now it’s just the Flex2. The 13-inch Full HD laptop includes a 13-megapixel camera that faces outwards for taking more detailed photos and comes with the S Pen for sketches or similar projects. Like other Samsung devices, the laptop includes a small nook to safely store the stylus when not in use.

The internals are also fully updated and ready for 2021 with an 11th Gen Intel Core processor (i7 or i5 options both available), integrated Intel Iris XE graphics, 8 GB of RAM and up to 512 SSD. Go for storage. Ports include Thunderbolt 4, USB-C, and USB-A 3.0, as well as support for Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1. With all of these components, the Flex weighs just under 3 pounds, but is still light enough to be carried around whenever needed.

If you’re interested, you’ll have to wait until the Galaxy Book Flex2 rolls out in North America, although orders are currently available in the UK and Europe. Since the inventory is already limited as is, the NA release date can see inventory go very quickly, so be prepared to act quickly.

Check the order information and stock alerts on the Samsung website.

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