Having the right tech setup has become crucial for success when working from home. My dad used to always say “a person is only as good as their tools!” He couldn’t be more right! The wrong tools can hamper productivity and cause unnecessary stress. That’s why choosing the best tech for your needs is one of the most important investments you can make.
This article will cover the 7 top recommendations for technology purchases if you have – or are considering – a work-from-home job. The focus will be on laptops, monitors, webcams, headsets, routers, printers, and cloud storage. Having the proper setup with these key pieces of equipment can greatly enhance your ability to work efficiently and comfortably from home. We’ll go through what to look for in each and provide options at various price points to suit different budgets.
With the right technology, working from home can be an enjoyable and productive experience. Read on for the top purchases that can enable success in today’s remote work environment.
1. Laptop
A laptop is one of the most essential purchases for remote work. You need a reliable, fast laptop that can handle your daily workflow without any hiccups. Some key factors to consider when choosing a work-from-home laptop:
- Processor: Look for an Intel Core i5, i7 processor, or higher for optimal speed and performance when multitasking and running demanding programs.
- RAM: 8GB RAM is the minimum recommended, but 16GB is ideal if you frequently have many tabs and programs open.
- Storage: Aim for at least 256GB SSD storage for fast bootup times and data access.
- Display: A Full HD 1080p display provides crisp visuals for long work sessions. Go for 15-inch screens or larger if portability is not a top concern.
- Battery life: Look for 8+ hours of battery life for full day productivity without having to plug in.
Two of the best laptops recommended for remote work are:
- Dell XPS 13 – A compact 13-inch laptop packed with solid performance power from Intel Core processors and a beautiful nearly borderless InfinityEdge display. Expect around 12 hours of battery life.
- Apple MacBook Pro – The premium option for a seamless macOS experience. The M1 chip delivers excellent speed and efficiency. The 16-inch screen provides ample screen real estate, while still maintaining portability. Battery life is rated up to 20 hours.
Getting a high-quality, reliable laptop is a smart investment for your home office setup. Pay attention to the specs that align with your usage needs to maximize productivity in your remote work.
2. An External Monitor for Increased Productivity
Working from home means your laptop screen is likely your primary display for 8+ hours a day. While laptop screens have gotten larger and sharper over the years, they still don’t compare to the real estate and comfort that a desktop external monitor provides.
An external monitor allows you to have more applications and windows open at once without having to constantly switch between them. This makes it easier to multitask and stay on top of incoming notifications. A larger display also reduces eye strain and neck pain from constantly looking down at a small laptop screen.
When choosing an external monitor, you’ll want one that is at least 24 inches for adequate screen real estate. An LCD monitor with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 (Full HD) or 2560 x 1440 (Quad HD) will provide a sharp, high-quality image. LED monitors are ideal as they consume less energy and offer better contrast compared to LCDs.
Some affordable external monitor options to consider:
- Dell 24″ LED Full HD Monitor – $120
- Acer R240HY 24″ IPS Monitor – $130
- ViewSonic VA2419-SH 24″ Frameless Monitor – $140
- LG 27QN600-B 27″ QHD Monitor – $200
With a larger external monitor, you can boost your productivity and comfort when working from home. The additional screen space reduces eyestrain while allowing you to view more applications at once.
3. Invest in a Quality Webcam for Video Calls
A good webcam is essential for anyone working remotely and needing to hop on frequent video calls. The webcam built into your laptop simply won’t cut it for professional video conferencing.
When choosing a webcam, you’ll want one with at least 1080p resolution and a wide field of view. This will ensure you remain visible and in-focus during video calls. Webcams with 720p resolution can work, but the video quality won’t be as sharp.
It’s also ideal to get a webcam with a built-in microphone. This reduces setup and eliminates the need for a separate mic. Of course, if you want studio-quality audio, you’ll still need an external microphone. But a webcam with a built-in mic works well for casual video calls.
The Logitech C920S HD Pro and Razer Kiyo are two of the best webcams for remote work:
- Logitech C920S – With 1080p recording at 30 fps, a 78-degree field of view, and built-in mics, the C920S is a top choice. It produces clear, smooth video for professional video calls.
- Razer Kiyo – This webcam captures video at 60 fps for ultrasmooth motion. And it has a ring light to help illuminate you in dim offices. The built-in micrecords decent audio for most uses.
Investing in a quality webcamlike one of these options will significantly upgrade your video conferencing experience when working remotely. Crisp, professional video will make connecting with co-workers and clients much easier.
4. Headset
A quality headset is essential for anyone working remotely that needs to take calls or meetings. The headset you use can make or break your ability to communicate clearly while blocking out background noise.
When selecting a headset, you’ll want to consider sound quality, microphone quality, comfort, and whether you want a wired or wireless option.
Sound Quality
Sound quality is important to make sure you can hear callers clearly. Look for a headset with clear audio and noise cancellation features to block out any ambient sounds around you. Over-ear headphones often provide better sound isolation.
Microphone Quality
You’ll want a microphone that picks up your voice clearly while minimizing background noise. Look for a headset with noise cancellation in the microphone or omni-directional mics that focus on your voice over other sounds. Many headsets also have mute buttons for quick muting.
Comfort
When you’ll be wearing your headset for extended periods, comfort is key. Seek out lightweight headsets with comfortable ear cups and headbands that won’t squeeze your head too tight. Over-ear headphones with soft padding tend to be most comfortable for all day use.
Wireless vs Wired
Wireless headsets prevent you from getting tangled up in cords, which is ideal for moving around your home office. Bluetooth headsets connect easily to your computer or phone for call clarity. Just be sure they have sufficient battery life or quick charging capabilities. Wired headsets don’t need charging but limit mobility.
Recommended Headsets
Here are two great headset options for remote work:
- Jabra Evolve2 65 – Features excellent sound and mic quality with ANC. Comes in stereo or mono variants.
- Poly Voyager 5200 UC – A comfortable Bluetooth headset with boom mic and dedicated mute button. Works seamlessly across devices.
Investing in a quality headset optimizes your audio interactions and productivity as a remote worker. With top sound, comfort and wireless freedom, you can focus on your meetings and calls without disruptive background noise.
5. Fast WiFi Router
A reliable, high-speed internet connection is crucial for remote work. Using the default router provided by your internet service provider may not provide the best WiFi coverage and speeds for a home office setup. Investing in a high-quality WiFi router designed for home use can make a significant difference in your internet experience.
Look for a WiFi 6 router (also called 802.11ax) which supports faster speeds, increased range, and better performance when multiple devices are connected. A tri-band router has one 2.4GHz band for longer range and two 5GHz bands for faster short-range connections. Useful features include WPA3 encryption for better security, MU-MIMO for simultaneous streaming, and mesh capabilities to extend coverage.
Top recommendations for home office routers include the Netgear Nighthawk AX8, Asus RT-AX86U, and TP-Link Archer AX6000. These provide extremely fast WiFi speeds up to 1.8Gbps, 4-stream MU-MIMO, mesh options, robust parental controls, and 4+ Gigabit LAN ports to connect devices via ethernet. Investing in a high-end WiFi router helps ensure you have the speed and reliability needed for video calls, streaming, and cloud access when working from home.
6. Printer/Scanner
Having a printer and scanner at home can be invaluable when working remotely. Even though most tasks can be handled digitally, you may occasionally need to print or scan documents.
When selecting a home printer/scanner, look for one that has fast print speeds, high print quality, and the ability to scan in color. An all-in-one that can print, copy, scan, and fax is ideal.
The HP OfficeJet Pro 9015 is a great choice. It can print up to 22 pages per minute, features a 35-page automatic document feeder for the scanner, and has wireless networking built-in. The Canon PIXMA TR8520 is another good option with a 4800 x 1200 dpi resolution for printing photos and graphics. Both models are under $200.
If you’re looking for something more economically friendly AND environmentally friendly, check out the Epson EcoTank Printer product line.
Having a quality printer/scanner at home ensures you can handle any print or scan jobs that come up while working remotely. Just make sure to choose one that meets your speed and quality needs.
7. Cloud Storage
Cloud storage is an essential tool for work from home jobs. It allows you to backup your files and access them from anywhere. With cloud storage, your files are securely stored on remote servers and synced across all your devices.
Some key benefits of using cloud storage:
- Access your files from any device with an internet connection – work seamlessly from home, office, or on the go
- Data backup and recovery – if your local files are lost or device is damaged, your cloud files stay safe
- Collaboration – easily share files and folders with coworkers or clients
- More storage space – get significantly more space than your computer’s hard drive
Top services like Google Drive, Dropbox, Microsoft OneDrive, and Apple iCloud offer generous free tiers. For more storage space and features, premium paid plans are affordable too.
I recommend Google Drive for its tight integration with Google Docs and Gmail. 15GB of free space, powerful search, easy sharing, built-in document editing, and automatic sync make Google Drive the best overall cloud storage solution.
Dropbox is great for automating photo and file backups from your devices, sharing large files, and team collaboration. The basic free plan offers 2GB space.
No matter which service you choose, utilizing cloud storage protects your data and enables working seamlessly from anywhere. It’s an essential tech purchase for work from home.
BONUS: Password Manager
Remote work means accessing a lot of accounts and software outside of your company’s firewall. This makes using strong, unique passwords for every account extremely important. A password manager is an essential tool for managing all these passwords securely.
The best password managers not only store passwords but also help you generate strong, random passwords for each account. They autofill login forms so you don’t have to memorize dozens of complex passwords. Most also have auto-save capabilities that capture new passwords as you create accounts.
Leading password managers provide top-notch encryption to keep your passwords safe. They also have security features like two-factor authentication and emergency access options. Many offer valuable extras like password sharing, secure notes, and identity theft protection.
1Password and LastPass are two of the top choices available. Both make it easy to generate, save, and fill passwords across your devices. 1Password has more advanced features and a polished user interface. LastPass offers a free tier and works across more platforms. The best one for you depends on your specific needs and preferences.
Whichever solution you choose, using a dedicated password manager is essential for managing the proliferating number of accounts that come with remote work. Automated password features save you time while also making your accounts more secure.
This concludes our list of the 7 best tech purchases for work from home jobs. To quickly recap, the most important items to consider are a quality laptop, external monitor, webcam, headset, WiFi router, printer/scanner, and cloud storage. Investing in these essential tech tools and services will maximize your productivity, security, and overall work from home experience.
With the right technology, you can create a functional and professional home office setup. However, don’t forget that success also requires self-discipline, effective time management, and separation between work and personal life. Evaluate your needs and find the right balance of technology to enable your ideal work routine.
We hope this list gave you some helpful ideas and recommendations. Feel free to provide any feedback on other essential tech tools for remote work that we may have missed. The world of technology is constantly evolving with new innovations, and we always appreciate insights from readers on the latest gadgets and apps that enhance productivity and connectivity. Let us know what tech has been indispensable in your work from home job!
