Work · alternatives · 2026

24 alternatives to The best computer for the study and work

Intel Core i3 / NVMe / WiFi 6 / RJ45 / Thunderbolt 3

Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes. Prices are shown for the 1 we have checked on their own sites. The best computer for the study and work launched in 2020; newer entries below may have overtaken it.

1. 1
   M1 MacBook Pro▲233

   With the M1 Pro or M1 Max chip

   2021 · apple.com · its alternatives →

2. 2
   New Mac Mini▲273

   The mini with a punch

   2018 · apple.com · its alternatives →

3. 3
   Microsoft Surface Laptop▲422

   Run 120B AI models locally on Microsoft's new Surface

   2017 · microsoft.com · its alternatives →

4. 4
   EDGE▲167

   The first modular work from home kit

   2021 · indiegogo.com · its alternatives →

5. 5
   Macbook Pro 13"▲249

   Magic Keyboard, double the storage, and faster performance

   2020 · apple.com · its alternatives →

6. 6
   CHIP▲250

   The world's first nine dollar computer (pre-launch)

   2015 · kickstarter.com · its alternatives →

7. 7
   The New Macbook Pro▲185

   A new Macbook Pro with the M1 chip

   2020 · apple.com · its alternatives →

8. 8
   Work Hard Anywhere▲216

   The best laptop-friendly cafes and workspaces

   2015 · apps.apple.com · its alternatives →

9. 9
   MiniPCs.zip – Charting the Pareto frontier of Mini PCs▲115

   The overall idea is to chart out the thousands of Mini PCs by benchmark and reveal the Pareto Front so you can get the most Compute per Dollar. Definitely a labor of love as I have a number of Mini PCs for my "homelab" (TrueNAS, piHole, Plex, basic stuff). It uses Gemini to extract specs from listings (since they're not often strongly categorized). Quick blog post here: https://luke.zip/posts/pareto-pcs/

   Jun 2026 · minipcs.zip · its alternatives →

10. 10
    Framework Desktop▲184

    The modular, mini PC for gaming and AI.

    2025 · frame.work · its alternatives →

11. 11
    New Mac mini with M4 Pro Chip▲424

    Apple's smallest desktop ever

    2024 · apple.com · its alternatives →

12. 12
    Mac minifrom $899/mo▲121

    Now with M6 and M5 Pro chips

    Aug 2026 · apple.com · its alternatives →

13. 13
    Mission Computers▲276

    A new breed of affordable desktop computers

    2017 · endlessglobal.com · its alternatives →

14. 14
    Prime Mini i5▲83

    Sustainable, durable & fanless mini-PC

    2021 · primecomputer.co · its alternatives →

15. 15
    Snapchat SPECS▲97

    Powerful computer built into lightweight see-through glasses

    Jun 2026 · specs.com · its alternatives →

16. 16
    Surface Book▲175

    The ultimate laptop by Microsoft

    2015 · microsoft.com · its alternatives →

17. 17
    Iris mini▲116

    Software for eye protection, health and productivity

    2016 · iristech.co · its alternatives →

18. 18
    Leave My Desk▲134

    Discover laptop-friendly cafés that have fast WiFi and more

    2022 · leavemydesk.com · its alternatives →

19. 19
    HaxMini▲74

    Portable & high performance gaming PC

    2021 · kickstarter.com · its alternatives →

20. 20
    Surface Pro 8 ▲84

    The most powerful Surface with a larger screen

    2021 · its alternatives →

21. 21
    The New Mac Mini▲108

    Apple's newest Mac Mini with the latest M1 chip

    2020 · apple.com · its alternatives →

22. 22
    The New Macbook Air▲151

    A new MacBook Air with the M1 chip

    2020 · apple.com · its alternatives →

23. 23
    MacBook Pro M3▲77

    Mind-blowing. Head-turning.

    2023 · apple.com · its alternatives →

24. 24
    Surface Laptop 5▲83

    Microsoft's latest Surface laptop

    2022 · its alternatives →

Ranked by how close each launch is in meaning, then by votes. Prices were read from each product’s own site when checked and can change. Refine with your own description →