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 laptops 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 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 (LTE)
Microsoft Precision touchpad drivers, FHD display with anti-reflective coating, 4G LTE, and 10th Gen Intel CPUs. Hold out for the updated 2021 models if you need 5G connectivity instead.
Also great: Microsoft Surface Pro X
The Surface Pro X is a bit of a departure from the standard Pro lineup. Instead of Intel hardware, it's powered by either a Microsoft SQ1 or SQ2 CPU. These ARM CPUs are essentially souped-up Snapdragon 8cx chips, complete with Adreno 685 or 690 integrated GPU. Coupled with up to 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, this is a wonderful 2-in-1 PC for creators on the move. A Snapdragon X24 wireless modem handles LTE connectivity no matter the model you choose.
The Pro X has a thinner body and a larger display with thinner bezel than the Surface Pro 7. The screen measures 13 inches and has a 2880x1920 resolution with 3:2 aspect ratio. It has excellent color, tons of brightness, and it's compatible with the Surface Pen and Surface Slim Pen for quality inking.
You get an IR camera above the display for Windows Hello security. As for ports, there are two USB-C, Nano-SIM, and Surface Connect. Be sure to have a look at our Surface Pro X SQ2 review for a much deeper dive into this awesome 2-in-1 PC.
Pros:
- Beautiful display with inking
- Thin and light design
- LTE comes standard
- IR camera for Windows Hello
Cons:
- No Wi-Fi 6
- ARM has some limitations
- No 3.5mm audio jack
Also great
Microsoft Surface Pro X (LTE)
This ARM-powered Pro brings LTE connectivity, a beautiful display, and excellent battery life, all in a thin and light chassis. If you love the Surface line, this is the way to go.
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.
Thin and light: 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 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. 4G LTE and 5G models are now widely available. Have a look at our ThinkPad X1 Nano review for a closer look.
Pros:
- Excellent battery life
- Gorgeous display options
- 11th Gen Intel hardware
- Durable and slim build
- Good audio
Cons:
- Expensive
Thin and light
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano
Lenovo's brand-new ThinkPad X1 Nano is a 2-pound 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 business: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga (Gen 6)
Lenovo brought 16:10 displays and 5G to the latest Gen 6 X1 Yoga, which has returned it to the top spot when it comes to convertible laptops. It's expensive, but you really get what you pay for. The design is impeccable, and it's dripping in additional security and ease-of-use features. You get human presence detection with the IR camera, a webcam shutter, dTPM 2.0 chip, fingerprint reader, and Kensington lock slot.
Add up to an 11th Gen Intel Core i7-1165G7 CPU, 16GB of LPDDR4x-4266MHz RAM, and a 1TB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD for awesome performance. The laptop is also Intel Evo certified so you can expect boosted battery life and quick response no matter what.
The new display options with 16:10 aspect ratio are incredible. Accurate color, up to a UHD+ resolution, anti-reflective finish, Dolby Vision, and HDR 400 will leave you pleased every time you open the lid. There's also a siloed active pen inking. Check out our ThinkPad X1 Yoga (Gen 6) review for more information.
Pros
- Intel Evo certification
- 16:10 display aspect ratio
- Optional 5G connectivity
- Four speakers
- Plenty of security features
Cons
- Expensive
- Business features overkill for casual use
Best business
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga (Gen 6)
With new display options, faster performance, better battery, presence detection, and a bunch of other premium features key to the ThinkPad line, the X1 Yoga (Gen 6) has never been better.
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 (LTE)
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 budget: Samsung Galaxy Book Go
In Executive Editor Daniel Rubino's Galaxy Book Go review, he mentioned that it was almost perfect other than the Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 processor. Well, that day is here. AT&T now sells the Galaxy Book Go with faster 8cx Snapdragon CPU and 5G, with an $800 price tag that really can't be beat.
This new model also comes with twice as much RAM (8GB) and a twice as much storage (256GB). It still has a beautiful, thin design that doesn't require a fan inside for cooling, and the keyboard and touchpad are still excellent. The 14-inch FHD display and seven hours of battery life aren't exceptional, but at this price it's easy to let it go.
If you're a student or active person who needs an always-connected device, this is a great way to go. It doesn't cost a lot, there are no major blind spots, and it's certainly affordable.
Pros
- Excellent build quality
- Nice size display, trackpad, keyboard
- Fanless thin design
- Windows 11-ready
- Samsung app ecosystem
Cons
- CPU performance is OK
- Display quality not the best
- Decent battery life
Best budget
Samsung Galaxy Book Go (LTE)
Samsung merges its excellent laptop design chops with a low-powered ARM processor to make a very affordable laptop that falls just short of being great. This model adds 5G, brings more RAM, and a faster processor to AT&T.
Best for the Apocalypse: Panasonic Toughbook 55 MK2
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 55 MK2 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 will land you well more than 20 hours. 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 up to an 11th Gen Intel Core i7-1185G7 CPU, 32GB of RAM, and 2TB of SSD storage, enough to handle any necessary productivity work. The touch display is set at either an HD or FHD resolution, with anti-reflective or anti-glare finish. It hits up to 1,000 nits brightness for working outdoors. And, of course, it includes 4G LTE connectivity so that you can keep in touch with any other survivors out there.
Pros
- 3 modular bays including removable SSD, bigger GPU
- Optional 4G LTE (dual SIM)
- Outstanding design, semi-rugged build quality
- Loud 92dB speakers
- Over 25 hours of battery life
Cons
- 16:10 display would be better
Best for the Apocalypse
Panasonic Toughbook 55 MK2
The Panasonic Toughbook 55 gets an update for 2021 with Intel 11th Gen, Iris Xe graphics, Thunderbolt 4, Wi-Fi 6, and boosts in RAM and storage. The changes make the Toughbook 55 the undisputed best semi-rugged PC for professionals.
Best workstation: HP ZBook Fury 15
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 is 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.
HP recently updated the ZBook Fury 15 to G8, complete with 11th Gen Intel Core and Xeon CPUs, NVIDIA RTX and AMD Radeon Pro GPUs, and Intel XMM 7360 LTE modem. Models are slowly becoming available next to the G7, which is still a top option.
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
If you need desktop-class performance from a laptop with 4G LTE connectivity, HP's ZBook Fury 15 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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