Laptops have become omnipresent, and hardly anything can be done without this life-changing device. Even in the stock markets, traders are now switching from the traditional desktop to laptops for some reason. In this review, we are going to list some of the latest and best laptops for trading in 2023. If you are a trader of cryptocurrencies, CFD, or the real stock market, then you must have a good laptop as an initial investment in trading.
Gone are those days when the stock trading software required the fastest CPU and powerful graphics. All you need are certain specifications in the laptop that will support the software. Day trading has become famous nowadays, where you can earn money from home. Our below collection of laptops is correctly selected for day trading as well.
Once you have decided to shift from conventional desktops to laptops, you need to know the ones that will support the stock trading software. Not all laptops will be suitable for stock traders, and thus, you need to know the specifications so that you can select the right one.
Below is the list of essentials that you need to consider before you buy a laptop for online or offline trading. There is a lot more to buying the right laptop than only supporting the trading software. The laptop for stock traders will be left on virtually for the entire day and thus must withstand so much. Also, stock traders are buying the laptops so that they can take the device with them while on vacation.
We have compiled a list of laptops based on these points and the reviews to simplify your buying procedure. Before jumping into the list, let’s have a look at the most frequently asked questions about laptops for trading.
List of Best Laptops for Trading
Microsoft Surface Pro 6
Start with the best Windows 10 laptop for stock trading, which is the Microsoft Surface Pro 7. It is the latest launch from Microsoft, and traders have loved it since then. It has all the necessary features to make it worth buying. This tablet cum laptop is the most appropriate option to purchase and also comes in many variants. Though it looks a bit expensive, you have various options to select and cut the cost.
The upgraded hardware, portability, and battery life are the major points that should be seen by any stock/CFD/Cryptocurrency traders.
Specifications:
• 8th Gen GHz Intel Core i7
• 16 GB RAM
• 128GB-1TB SSD
• Windows 10 Pro
- Lightweight
- Fast processor
- Portable/Touch Screen
- Good battery life
- Difficult to use on the lap
HP Premium Flagship Pavilion X360
HP Pavilion series is another model which is full of powerful hardware and affordable cost. This model comes with the latest 8th Generation i5 processor with the 1.6GHz base frequency, but surprisingly it can be boosted up to 3.4GHz. This is another convertible 2-in-1 laptop you must consider, but much cheaper than the Surface Pro 6. The hardware combination should run any trading applications without issues on this laptop. HP gives the freedom to customize the laptop with different sizes of RAM and Hard disks including the mechanical and SSD disks.
Specifications:
• 8th Gen Quad-Core 1.6 GHz (boost up to 3.4GHz)
• 8/12/16 GB DDR4 RAM
• SSD to HDD hard drive
• USB 3.1, USB 3.1 Type-C, and HDMI ports
- Affordable Price
- 8th Gen Quad-Core processor
- Convertible Laptop cum Tablet
- Lots of disk space
- Missing i7 Processor
Dell Inspiron 5000 Full HD
Though there are several Dell XPS models available in the market, I have included this laptop for its price and the configuration it provides. This is another touch screen and a less weight laptop which is good for stock traders. It comes with the latest 8th Gen i7 processor, 16GB RAM, and 128 GB SSD + 1TB normal HDD. The combination of SSD and HDD provides faster and plenty of space for storage. The i7 processor and 16GB RAM are good configurations to analyze and run chart applications while trading.
The laptop has the below-mentioned specifications:
• Intel Core i7-8550 processor up to 4.0 GHz
• 16GB RAM
• 128GB SSD + 1TB HDD
• Windows 10 Home Pre-installed
- SSD+HDD Disks
- Full HD Touch Screen
- Plenty of RAM
- Shared display
Apple 13″ MacBook Pro, Retina, Touch Bar
One of the most preferred and reliable laptop brands in the market is Apple, and the stock traders have loved their Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch Laptop. You are sure to have the best trading experience with this one. The macOS, Faster processor, 8GB RAM, and 512GB SSD disk should handle any kind of trading and analysis software without glitches. You can adjust the type of processor (i7 and i5) and the disk size to match your budget. But always, get the higher configuration if possible. If your trading application requires macOS, then this is the best laptop to get for your trading activities.
Specifications:
• Intel Core i5/i7
• Latest Quad-Core Processor
• 8GB RAM
• Intel Iris Pro Graphics
• 512GB PCIe-based flash storage SSD
- Responsive touch bar
- Durable
- Fast processor, SSD Storage
- Superfast boot
- Expensive
- No Windows Programs
Acer Aspire E 15 Laptop
Here is the latest version of Acer’s flagship laptop. The starting price of this laptop will tempt you to get one because of the specification it has. Acer is famous for producing powerful computers at a low cost compared to other manufacturers. Acer Aspire 15 Laptop Computer has everything the stock trader may need. 8th Generation i5 processor, 8GB RAM, and 256GB SSD disk are good enough to produce the required computing power. This is one of the budget-friendly laptops for under 600 dollars.
Specifications:
• 8th Gen Intel Core i5 (Boost up to 3.4GHz)
• 8GB RAM
• 256GB SSD
• GeForce MX150
- Low Price
- The excellent hardware configuration for the price
- Normal build quality
- Not for power users
Newest Premium Flagship Lenovo 330S
It is a portable notebook that is built by Lenovo considering mid-range business users. Various options are available to customize the hardware configuration such as RAM and disk storage. It is a pretty new model to the market which is yet to receive customer feedback. We have listed it here because of its famous series, hardware specification, and starting price.
It can handle any programs and requests regularly used by stock, CFD, and cryptocurrency traders. The eye-catching 15.6 inches full HD screen managed by Intel UHD Graphics 620 is an added advantage.
Specifications:
• 8th Gen Intel Core i5
• 128GB to 1TB SSD and 1 to 2TB HDD (2 Slots for the hard disk)
• 4GB/8GB/20 GB RAM
- Reasonable Price
- Great Build quality
- Can customize to meet the budget
- i5 processor
Razer Blade Stealth 13.3″ Laptop
The main purpose of this laptop is gaming, which indicates how powerful it is. It is the latest model from the Stealth series with upgraded hardware. The latest 8th Gen i7 processor and 8GB RAM are part of the base model of this laptop. Even though this series has several options with higher hardware combinations to meet the gaming requirement, this specific model is suitable for stock traders under budget. Also, the SSD disk of 256GB can give a better I/O rate to the disk to make all processing fast. Since it is 13 inches screen laptop, it is compact and portable that could be convenient for trading.
Specifications:
• 8th Gen i7 Processor
• 8GB RAM
• 256GB SSD
• Reasonable price for Razer Laptop
• Multiple connectivity options
- Excellent Design
- Backlit keypad
- The great Hardware configuration for the price
- Only 8GB RAM
ASUS ZenBook Ultra-Slim Laptop (8th Gen Processor)
If you are looking for a stylish and thin but Windows OS laptop, here is the right laptop from the ASUS brand. It is the new model with an 8th Generation i5 processor but already sold a lot and got good customer feedback. A full HD screen with an ultra-slim body makes this laptop stylish and good for carrying around. While buying you can select the 7th Gen processor which is much cheaper than the 8th Generation processor. Always consider investing a good amount of money while choosing the laptop. It is a one-time purchase, and laptops are not easy to upgrade. Though it is a thin laptop it has all the connectivity ports. The built-in fingerprint scanner that can work with Windows 10 Hello feature is an added advantage for stock traders for security purposes.
Specifications:
• Built-in fingerprint reader
• 13.3-Inch wide-view Full-HD Display
• Windows 10 Pre-installed
• 8th Gen Intel i5-8250U 1.6 GHz Processor
• 256GB SSD
• 8GB DDR3 RAM
- Sleek and lightweight
- Quick boot
- Quality built
- Backlit keypad
- Not upgradable
These are the 8 best laptops for stock trading that can help you trade with ease. But before you make your final decision do spare some time reading the following buying guide.
Buying Guide:
It is essential to consider the essentials before buying the laptop for this purpose to ensure that you have taken the right decision. Here goes the list of important factors but make certain that you consider these options along with your list of requirements as well as budget and only then make a decision.
Reputable brand laptops
This factor is known to be one of the most crucial things to consider. When buying the laptop for the stock market trading, it is vital that you purchase a laptop from a reputable brand like Apple, Dell, Lenovo, HP to name a few. Saving some dollars on an inferior quality laptop is impractical. Make sure you do not make such a mistake because that will cost you a lot in the future.
CPU
The present generation of the multi-core 64 bit CPU such as Core i3, i5, and i7 or even the older ones including Core 2 Duo, Core 2 Extreme, and Core 2 Quad are powerful enough to handle the stock trading software and working. It is wise to buy the latest versions to be on the safe side.
RAM
This is one thing that you need to max out. Get as much RAM capacity as possible in your budget. You need at least 4GB RAM if you have a 64-bit Operating System. Also, multitasking becomes simpler and smoother on the 64 bit OS.
Graphics cards
The entry-level laptops will be equipped with integrated graphics adapters such as the Intel GMA 4500MHD which are usually sufficient for displaying 2D stock trading data and basic 3D gaming. The higher-end devices are equipped with great versions such as the Nvidia Quadro NVS series or ATI Mobility Radeon 3000/4000 series which gives you a smoother and more efficient experience.
Screen size
In case you are looking for a laptop that you will carry with you while travelling then the 14 inches or 15 inches laptop will do. On the other hand, if you have no plans of taking it with you and need a desktop replacement then, a 17 inches laptop will be helpful, though there are hardly any options available on this screen size. Choose the LED-backlit display that is 25% brighter, has crisper colors, and also consumes less power.
Battery life
One of the most important things that you need to consider while buying the laptop for stockbrokers is battery life. The laptop needs to be connected to the battery always to keep the functions going on without any difficulties. A laptop having an average battery life of 6 hours should suffice most trading needs.
Hard drive
The 80 GB 5400 rpm hard drive will be enough, but it would be good if you could opt for a faster 7200 rpm ones and the ramp capacity of 180 GB or even more. Solid State Drives are ideal options but may cost more. So, consider your budget and then make a selection.
FAQs
We can do most of the trading activities online these days; hence we do not need to sit and do trading at one place all the time. Desktop computers give the freedom to upgrade hardware specs to meet the trading software/tools requirements. But if you do trading at the physical stock market where you need to visit or do trading with friends in different places every time, or you learn to trade at a college/institute where you need to carry your computer, then the laptop is the ideal choice. Since nowadays we can buy powerful laptops that can be connected and extended to multiple display monitors, laptops are the preferable computer for trading.
Yes, you can. That could be the best way to do day trading nowadays since most of the trading platforms work via the Internet. All of the leading trading software/platforms support Windows OS, hence you should be able to do day trading on a laptop with a proper internet connection. Since the laptop is portable, you can carry it anywhere with you to not miss any opportunities in trading.
Browser-based trading tools can work on most laptops starting with 4GB of RAM. But if you open multiple web browser tabs, trading graph software, and your trading platform tool, we suggest going for 8GB RAM. Preferably 16GB RAM can work well because fast processing is so critical in day trading.
The above mentioned is the list of the best laptop for stock traders that you can consider buying. Every laptop has different features and prices, thus consider your needs and budget before you make the buying decision.