Are floppy drives still needed on modern laptops?

Apple introduced the first floppyless computers around.
They may be right, actually maybe there is not a big need of a floppy drive anymore for modern laptops.

But you should consider your own needs, not the general trend, since you buy a laptop for your own, personalized needs.

In some business areas, floppy drives are still needed. In some areas, some duties are still performed by floppy disk usage.

I know some places where monthly financial reporting for companies is also done by the use of floppy disks.

So, I’d say that if you buy a laptop without a floppy drive installed, make sure that your laptop offers the possibility to connect external floppy drive to it, so when you have the need also have the possibility of connecting one.

Maybe that in the modern world, USB flashes or CDs or DVDs replaced old fashioned floppy disks (and even more on laptop computers), but you should always leave room for such a device, even externally connected.