The Best Carry On Luggage With Laptop Compartment For Travel

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If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the best carry-on luggage with a laptop compartment is, then we recommend the Victorinox Werks Traveler 6.0 Frequent Flyer as the best one.

For people who travel a lot with a laptop, they will definitely understand that buying reliable carry-on luggage with laptop compartments is a necessity that you should always consider. 

This type of luggage is perfect for certain situations…

It saves you from the hassle of removing your laptop out of the main compartment of your suitcase during the TSA screening.

Some people like to pack everything into one small suitcase rather than carrying an extra backpack for a laptop.

With a lot of luggage being sold in the market, how do you know what is the best carry on luggage with laptop compartment to buy? 

Read on.

At a Glance: Our Top 5 Recommendations

Luggage Details Our Score  
[No products found. Victorinox Werks Traveler 6.0 Frequent Flyer
  • Carry-on Size: 19″
  • Type: Softside
  • Laptop size: 15.4”
  • Warranty: 1+10 years
[No products found. DELSEY Paris Titanium International Carry-on
  • Carry-on Size: 19″
  • Type: Hardside
  • Laptop size: 15.6”
  • Warranty: Limited 10 year
[No products found. Travelpro Crew Versapack Expandable Luggage
  • Carry-on Size: 20″
  • Type: Softside
  • Laptop size: 15.6”
  • Warranty: Lifetime warranty
[No products found. COOLIFE Carry-on Luggage
  • Carry-on Size: 20″
  • Type: Hardside
  • Laptop size: 15”
  • Warranty: 2-year
[No products found. Rockland Titan Hardside Carry-On Spinner Luggage
  • Carry-on Size: 19″
  • Type: Hardside
  • Laptop size: 15”
  • Warranty: 5-year

What Do We Look For In Carry-on Luggage With Laptop Compartment?

1. Hardside vs Suitcase

Obviously, there are 2 types of luggage available: hardside luggage and softside luggage.

You might find some sellers use different terms like hardshell and softshell luggage. Both are the same things.

Hardside luggage is very popular nowadays but some travelers still prefer softside.

Ther’s no right or wrong, it is just a matter of personal choice.

Here is the quick comparison of both luggage:

Hardside Softside
Pros
  • Made with high-tech plastics such as ABS and polycarbonate
  • Often features a 50/50-split opening
  • Better security with integrated locks
  • Can be stacked easily
Pros
  • Made of fabrics that move and yield (nylon, polyester, Cordura)
  • Come with exterior pockets
  • Can be flex and compress to fit into tight spaces
  • Take up less room to store at home 
Cons
  • Scratches easily
  • Slim chance of over stuffing
  • Too rigid
  • Hard to squeeze into tight spaces
Cons
  • Won’t provide much protection against impact
  • Vulnerable to ripping

digitravelist.com

2. Size

Carry-on baggage allowance can vary according to the airlines.

As a rule of thumb, any size of luggage less than 21-inches is considered as carry-on luggage.

You don’t want to choose any luggage larger than that because most of the international and domestics airlines won’t allow you to carry them into the cabin.

And, we don’t think the overhead cabin compartment would fit them either.

According to IATA (International Air Transport Association):

As a general guide, carry-on baggage should have a maximum length of 22 in (56 cm), a width of 18 in (45 cm), and a depth of 10 in (25 cm). These dimensions include wheels, handles, side pockets, etc.

We think the 19-20 inches suitcase is an ideal size for hand carry.

If you choose the 21-inch one, you should pay attention to the actual overall dimensions of the luggage (including the wheels) before buying.

3. Quality

We all agree with the equation,

high-quality luggage = high-quality materials + workmanship.

Bad materials won’t make the suitcase last longer when it gets consistent abuse. 

For the hardside suitcase, the polycarbonate material is superior to polypropylene. However, it’s not as lightweight as the ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) material. 

Most top luggage brands manufacturers like Samsonite and Victorinox make the suitcases from the polycarbonate materials although some might used the ABS to cut the costs.

As for the softside luggage, both polyester, Cordura, and nylon fabrics are great. They are strong, water resistants, and durable. 

Some fabrics are graded with the Denier rating as the indicator of their durability. Read here for more details.

Apart from materials, the wheels must be strong and durable against the rough surface when you drag it in the airport or in the cities.

4. Laptop Compartment

This is what we looking for when choosing the best carry-on suitcase with a laptop compartment.

The suitcase should have at least a separate pocket or compartment to hold a laptop or tablet.

Most suitcases like these have outside zippered compartments for quick access. The top brand like Victorinox has a special cube or packs for electronic devices.

We’ve found that there is plenty of luggage can fits up to 15-inches laptops. However, to find the carry-on suitcase that can hold a large laptop a bit tricky.

Unless you store them in the clothes compartment (not in the laptop pocket).

5. Features

What we want from the modern carry-on luggage are useful functional features like:

  • TSA lock system to secure the bag
  • Plenty of pockets to keep things organize and neat
  • Expandable for extra space
  • USB charging port to recharge the devices
  • Strong and smooth telescoping handler

In our opinion, the first three features above are the most important.

We need the TSA locks to secure our items. Some suitcases have double locks.

And the storage for us to carry as many items possible in one small bag, especially that is the only bag you bring for your trips.

The USB charging port is awesome to have but we think many travelers don’t miss it.

6. Price

Most top brand luggage will be pretty expensive.

It reflects the quality of materials, designs, warranty, value, and so on. Thus, this expensive luggage most likely attracts those business travelers or someone with a big budget.

However, we found tons of great carry-on luggage with a laptop compartment that won’t break a bank.

The bottom line, choose the luggage that meets your needs and budget.

7. Warranty

Warranty is absolutely a must when buying a suitcase.

The good thing is that most manufacturer provides the warranty as part of the after-sales service.

In general, they will cover the manufacturing defects in material and workmanship. 

In some cases, they will replace the bad suitcase in accordance with the warranty terms and conditions stated.

Therefore, you need to check the warranty details, especially for the expensive suitcases.

The Best Carry On Luggage With Laptop Compartment Reviews

Let’s take a quick look at what are the best carry on luggage with laptop pocket available to you, and whether they’re worth to buy on your next trips.

Victorinox Werks Traveler 6.0 Frequent Flyer

Best Softside Luggage for Frequent Business Traveler

Put aside the premium Victorinox brand name…

If you’re looking for the most functional bag that is capable to pack as many clothes and electronics devices in the smallest package, the Victorinox Werks Traveler 6.0 Softside Carry-On is a perfect choice.

No products found.

Check out this luggage on Amazon now

It is one of the Victorinox Swiss Army Werks Traveler 6.0 collections. You can find a similar suitcase with the hardside version here.

The best feature of this carry-on case in our opinion is the packing bag (pack MORE system) for shirts to minimize wrinkling.

In addition, there is one laptop sleeve for a 15.4-inch laptop.

There are some interesting features that come with Victorinox Werks Traveler 6.0:

  • Expandable up to 4 cm for extra space
  • Removable tri-fold pack for suits pants or blazer
  • A little nice shelf to store sim card, ID tag and pen
  • An integrated USB charging port 
  • Self-cleaning YKK zipper
  • High-quality “Hinomoto wheels with Lisof® silent tires
  • Standard TSA lock

We are impressed! 

Obviously, it is designed for frequent business travelers in mind. For non-business travelers might find these too much.

The Victorinox Werks Traveler 6.0 Frequent Flyer carry-on suitcase is covered with 1+10 years warranty:

  • Year 1: Victorinox Total Protection Program. Includes manufacturing defects, normal wear and tear, airline handling, and transit damage.
  • Years 2 to 11: Victorinox Quality Warranty Program. Includes manufacturing defects and normal wear and tear with the exceptions of seams, stitching, fabric, and zipper tape.

Overall, this suitcase is very expensive for a small size carry-on bag. However, if you have a deep pocket, this quality suitcase will serve you long-lasting and will become your best travel companion.

Pros:

  • Excellent functionality features
  • Plenty of removable packs
  • High-quality material and zippers
  • 1+10 years warranty

Cons:

  • Very expensive for a small size luggage

>> See VICTORINOX WERKS pricing on Amazon <<

DELSEY Paris Titanium International Carry-on

Best Work-Trip Hardside Luggage

Say Bonjour! to the DELSEY Paris Titanium International Carry-on. This modern medium size hardside carry-on suitcase is ideal for business and leisure trips. 

This suitcase is expandable about two inches which allows you to slightly overpack just in case you have to extend your trips more than two nights.

No products found.

Check out this luggage on Amazon now

It’s integrated with TSA lock which is a must-have security feature to prevent theft. 

What I really like about this suitcase is the separate large front compartment for holding a 15.6-inch laptop. This is great for quick access for a laptop and protects it from scratch with other stuff.

The suitcase is lightweight thanks to the 100% polycarbonate materials. However, it still gets scratch easily despite the matte metallic finish.

Like most hardside luggage, there are chances that the suitcase gets damage and crack from strong impacts. But worry not, it is covered with a limited 10-year warranty.

The DELSEY carry-on luggage measures 21.75 x 13.75 inches has a height of 9.75 inches. It should fit perfectly on the overhead compartment of most flights and trains.

Pros:

  • Lightweight and easy to roll
  • Expandable for extra storage
  • External laptop compartment for easy access
  • 10-year warranty

Cons:

  • Some complaints with handler and zippers
  • The material is scratch-prone

>> See DELSEY PARIS pricing on Amazon <<

Travelpro Crew Versapack Expandable Luggage

Best SoftSide Luggage

If all you want to take with you is just one carry on, the 20-inch Travelpro Crew Versapack Expandable luggage is probably a perfect choice for you.

We are impressed with every detail and feature of the Travelpro suitcase is designed with the rigors of today’s travel in mind. 

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From a high-quality nylon fabric (with DuraGuard coating) to smooth-rolling “360-degree magnatrac spinner wheels”, from its height-adjustable PowerScope handle features to its very cool USB charging port.

It is versatile and customizable with a variety of interchangeable Travelpro exclusive zip-in organizers (sold separately), a great feature for you to keep organized. 

The suitcase measures 21.5 x 14 x 9 inches to comply with standard airline regulations of 22 x 14 x 9 inches. Just make sure you don’t overpacking, that way you won’t be in for any surprises.

One of the drawbacks of this luggage is that it lacks stability. When you keep a lot of heavy stuff on the front pockets like a 15.6-inch laptop, power bank, toiletries, and etc, the bag tends to fall forward.  

Despite this drawback, the Travelpro Crew Versapack Expandable luggage is still one of the best softside luggage to consider. It backed by a Travelpro’s lifetime limited warranty.

Pros:

  • Great organization features
  • USB charging port
  • Expandable for extra storage
  • Travelpro’s lifetime limited warranty

Cons:

  • Lack of stability
  • Does not come with a TSA lock

>> See TRAVELPRO CREW pricing on Amazon <<

COOLIFE Carry-on Luggage 

Best Value Hardside Carry-on Luggage

The COOLIFE 20-inch carry-on is perfect for travelers who are looking for the best quality, modern design, and lightweight luggage that won’t break the bank.

With the dry weight of 6.7 lbs, it is the most lightweight carry-on luggage on our list. It is made of ABS and polycarbonate materials which are lightweight and durable.

No products found.

Check out this luggage on Amazon now

The design is similar to DELSEY Paris Titanium International Carry-on where there is a front zippered compartment for a 15-inches laptop, tablet, and documents.

Here is what we like, there is a convenient feature where you can access the main compartment from the front laptop compartment by unzipping the zippered laptop pocket.

The suitcase has a lot of small pockets and dividers for separating your toiletries, shoes from clothing. Smart!

However, this COOLIFE suitcase is NOT expandable. So, you might need to consider bringing an extra bag to keep your souvenirs.

The  COOLIFE 20-inch carry-on suitcase comes with a 2-year warranty which okay but absolutely the best compare to the rest.

Overall, we think this suitcase is worth considering for the price. If it had the expandable feature, it would be almost perfect.

Pros:

  • Extremely lightweight
  • A lot of pockets and compartments
  • Affordable

Cons:

  • Can’t expand
  • 2-year warranty

>> See COOLIFE CARRY-ON pricing on Amazon <<

Rockland Titan Hardside Carry-On Spinner Luggage

Best Hardside Luggage on a Budget

When searching for a carry-on suitcase, the Rockland brand might not come into mind but they are a great alternative to popular brands like Samsonite, Travelpro, and Tumi.  

The Rockland Titan Hardside Carry-On Spinner is a perfect medium size carry-on suitcase with laptop compartment for a traveler on a budget.

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Check out this luggage on Amazon now

A dedicated 15-inch laptop pocket is located on the front zippered compartment for quick access.

This 19-inch suitcase measures about 19 x 13 x 9 inches and expandable when you need more storage for your items. 

What we love about this Rockland Titan suitcase is that it simple yet practical. It doesn’t have many pockets or dividers. That’s mean you have a large space to keep some large items inside.

When it comes to security features, this suitcase is lacking the TSA lock mechanism which is not a dealbreaker in our opinion as there are plenty of accessories available out there.

Overall, we think Rockland Titan is no-frills carry-on luggage with a laptop compartment that caters to travelers on a budget. 

Pros:

  • Lightweight
  • Separate laptop pocket
  • Affordable
  • Easy to maneuver

Cons:

  • Lack of security features
  • Decent overall quality

>> See ROCKLAND TITAN pricing on Amazon <<

Which One Should You Get?

Our vote: Victorinox Werks Traveler 6.0 Frequent Flyer

We are impressed with the functionality features this bag has. The smart organizational pockets and packs really help keep stuff well organize and safe.

The high price tag surely puts people off. But considering what it has to offer, it is a great long term investment especially if you’re frequent international travelers.

So, when it comes to softside luggage, we think Travelpro Crew Versapack Expandable Luggage is the best option. Great quality, great organizational features too.

The bottom line, it is a matter of personal preference and budget.

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