If you’re new to trading, or even an experienced trader looking to upgrade their laptop, picking one that is suitable for your needs can be extremely confusing, and you don’t want to waste precious trading time deciding on which laptop is right for you.
With such a wide variety of options, and all with varying features and specifications, it can be hard deciding, and comparisons can be too long and tedious.
Thankfully, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best laptops for stock trading right now so that you can decide which laptop suits your needs best, and helps you to make that purchase just a little bit easier.
OUR TOP PICK
The ASUS VivoBook is an excellent option for people who want to begin trading for the first time.
Its 11th Gen Intel Core i5 processor with 2.4ghz of processor speed, with the possibility of 4.2ghz of burst speed.
Means that you should have no real trouble or any lag when making real-time trading decisions, and the integrated Intel Iris XE graphics.
Alongside the crisp 1920x1080 Full HD Display, which helps to provide a beautiful and clear display, means that your visuals are taken care of too.
The VivoBook also has 8GB of DDR4 ram, which means that the VivoBook will run smoothly whenever you need it to.
However, in terms of storage, the VivoBook only has a 256GB SSD, which will be disappointing news to those who prefer to have larger storage, however, the caveat is that the SSD means that your Windows 10 O.S boots up incredibly fast upon turning on the laptop.
The VivoBook is also the perfect choice for traders who want security assured from the laptop, as it features a fingerprint scanner.
And the touchscreen display is also very responsive too. WiFi connectivity is limited to WiFi 5, but you will still be able to benefit from fast connections as standard.
Perhaps one of the standout features is the battery life, with an extended battery life of 5.5 hours, the ASUS VivoBook is certainly the perfect accompaniment to any trader.
Pros
- Crisp display.
- Fast SSD.
- Fingerprint scanner.
- Battery life.
Cons
- Storage space is lacking.
- Incompatible with WiFi 6.
EDITORS CHOICE
Anyone who knows anything about laptops knows just how good Macbooks are by now.
It features a gorgeous 16 inch full HD retina display as well as a touch bar beneath it where you are able to control all of your files, videos, and even your music.
The internal specifications of this new Macbook are, to put it simply, ridiculous.
Apple’s new M1 chip, alongside the 16GB of “unified memory” (Essentially RAM that is in the same unit as the processor and other components) and its immensely powerful graphics card mean that this Macbook Pro has all the power you need and then some.
Security is good on this Macbook too, featuring Apple’s Touch ID to ensure that your data is accessible by you, and you alone.
The storage is also secured too, with a 1TB SSD, with upgrades possible, which is also encrypted to protect your data.
Battery life is also at a premium too, with the Macbook being able to withstand 21 hours of heavy usage before needing to recharge, making it the ultimate companion for traders who need to be constantly monitoring their assets.
Pros
- Fantastic display.
- Super fast.
- Large battery life.
- Secured data storage.
Cons
- Not budget friendly.
- No USB Ports.
BEST VALUE
The HP Pavilion is another great choice for traders looking for a dependable laptop, featuring a 15.6” display, which provides a good quality picture.
But the most important feature is the immense Intel i7 core, with a top clock speed of 4.7GHZ, which makes your day-to-day tasks an absolute breeze.
The RAM is another great feature, with 16GB of RAM meaning that you won’t have to worry about having too many applications open.
Storage isn’t a problem either, with options ranging from 512GB up to 2TB of SSD, meaning that your files are stored securely and rapidly accessible too.
The Pavilion features a backlit keyboard, as well as a dedicated numeric keypad. Whilst also featuring 3x USB ports, a HDMI port, and WiFi 6 compatibility too.
Overall the Pavillion is a perfect option for high-level traders who want to be able to conduct their business without the stress or hassle of lag and crashes!
Pros
- Powerful Processor
- Large Storage
- WiFi 6 compatible
- Peripheral connectivity.
Cons
- Webcam quality.
- Trackpad sensitivity
RUNNER UP
The Microsoft Surface Pro 8 provides a radically different option if you’re looking for the most portable laptop for trading, doubling as both a laptop and a tablet.
So if you’re someone who travels regularly or is just generally on the move, this is definitely an option that you’ll want to explore further.
Its Intel i5 2.4GHZ processor may seem lackluster at first, but it is still incredibly versatile.
It also features an 8GB Ram and a 128GB SSD, which ensures that everything runs relatively smoothly. It should meet the minimum requirements for most trading software too.
Its lightweight nature combined with its 13-inch touchscreen display, as well as a 16-hour battery life, make it perfect for trading on the road.
However, it is important to note that peripherals such as keyboard and mouse are sold separately if you wish to utilize them.
Pros
- Portable design
- Great battery life
- Excellent display
Cons
- Processing power is lower than competitors
- Peripherals are not included.
RUNNER UP
The LG Gram 17 is a sleek and stylish option for any trader, with a 17-inch display featuring amazing color expression and a crisp quality, which means you won’t have to worry about any issues in picture quality.
The Gram also benefits from an 11th gen Intel i7, with built-in Intel Xe graphics, and 16GB of DDR4 RAM, so you shouldn’t have to worry about any issues with your laptop being able to keep up!
These specs also mean that it’s futureproofed too!
Two of the most notable aspects of the Gram however are both its durability and its battery life.
Despite being lightweight, it is extremely durable. And the battery life is astounding, being able to last 21 hours without needing to charge, meaning that you certainly don’t need to panic if you’ve forgotten your charger for the day!
With an excellent webcam, backlit keyboard, as well as multiple USB ports, a microSD card slot, and an HDMI port, the Gram is an incredibly well-designed laptop perfect for any sort of meeting.
Pros
- Powerful and futureproof processor and RAM.
- Durable
- Great battery life
Cons
- Users complained about speaker quality
RUNNER UP
The Lenovo IdeaPad is an excellent mid-range laptop option for any trader, with a 15.6” anti-glare display, and touchscreen capabilities too, which are extremely responsive and durable.
It is easy to see then why the IdeaPad has become such a dependable option for traders who want a stress free laptop that can perform every time.
The IdeaPad is no pushover in the processing department, utilizing an AMD Ryzen 7 4700U with a max speed of 4.1GHZ, as well as 8GB of DDR4 RAM. All your files are quickly accessible with the speedy 512GB of SSD too.
Security is good on the IdeaPad too, with a fingerprint scanner located on the laptop’s power button.
Additionally, it features 2 USB ports, an HDMI slot, a MicroSD card reader, as well as a 3.5mm headphone/microphone jack too. Battery life is good too, lasting 7 hours even on a full HD display.
Overall the Lenovo IdeaPad is a perfect choice for anyone looking to purchase a lightweight, durable, mid-range laptop to trade on.
Pros
- Excellent display
- Solid processing power
- Decent battery life
Cons
- Customers noted an occasional issue with the fingerprint scanner.
- Would benefit from larger storage.
RUNNER UP
The ASUS Zenbook 14 is a great choice for an everyday trader, meeting all expectations whilst being a powerful and reliable laptop that you can depend on to complete all of your daily tasks.
The Zenbook uses the Intel core i7 processor, with a top clock speed of 4.7GHZ, making it both powerful and futureproof.
Coupled with 8GB of DDR4 RAM and integrated Iris XE graphics, the Zenbook should have no issues in loading applications and is more than enough to handle any of your requirements whilst trading.
The 512GB SSD means that everything loads up rapidly upon powering up, and you can be safe in the knowledge that your data is safe thanks to the facial recognition sign-in, which is one of the most important things for any trader.
One of the unique features about the Zenbook is the dual screen, which means you can access trade information and numbers without having to have them located on the main screen panel, allowing you to multitask as you need.
Overall the Zenbook makes for a great laptop for trading and is certainly a reliable option.
Pros
- Unique dual screen
- Secure sign-in
- Lightweight
- WiFi 6 support
Cons
- Slightly lacking in RAM
Buyer’s Guide
It can be quite challenging when picking a laptop for stock trading, there are seemingly unlimited options and they all seem to do the same thing, so we’ve compiled a helpful buyer’s guide so you know what to look out for when purchasing a new laptop.
Storage And Memory
For maximum efficiency, you want to have a laptop that has both a large storage capacity as well as a large memory capacity.
If you run out of storage you’ll have to delete items, which is time consuming and would take away from the time you have available to trade. The idealistic capacity is between 1 - 2TB of storage.
Memory capacity is also equally important, it is what allows you to perform multiple tasks at the same time, which as any experienced trader knows, is something that you are required to do quite frequently!
Most laptops tend to have between 8-16GB of RAM, with more expensive options having up to 64GB of RAM. Realistically 16GB is the perfect amount and should ensure you experience no lag whilst running multiple applications.
Software Compatibility
Another important factor to consider when choosing a laptop is whether its specifications meet the minimum requirements as established by the software you’re going to be using.
If your laptop doesn’t meet the requirements then the likelihood is your experience with the software is going to be plagued with issues, or completely unusable.
Most software companies provide a list of their minimum requirements on their website, so you can check between this list and the listed specifications of any laptop you view to discern whether it will work with the desired software before you decide to purchase.
Portability
Something else that needs to be established when deciding what laptop is the best choice for you is understanding your routine.
If you’re someone who regularly travels, or just generally work outside of the home, in somewhere such as an office, or a cafe, then you will benefit greatly from choosing a laptop that is both lightweight and portable.
There’s nothing worse than having to carry a heavy laptop around all day, so ideally you want to find a laptop that can easily fit into a rucksack or laptop bag that allows you to transport it easily.
But you should also consider the dimensions of the screen too, as you don’t want to be sacrificing the quality of display and impede your ability to read what is on the screen either.
Additional Features
It’s also worth considering what additional features each laptop may have that give it an edge over the others, some laptops can also double as a tablet, which is extremely handy if you’re constantly on the move.
Whereas others utilise fingerprint scanning or facial recognition technology to ensure that your data is safe and inaccessible to possible thieves.
If you’re someone who has to participate in frequent business meetings, you should consider whether your laptop has a webcam, and if it does, is it adequate enough for you to use in a professional setting?
These are all important considerations, but ultimately what laptop is right for you comes down to the sort of functions you need it to perform reliably and on a daily basis, so as long as it has a powerful enough processor and adequate RAM.
Alongside some of the more niche features that may make everyday working life just that little bit easier, then it should be suitable for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
These are some of the most frequently asked questions surrounding what laptops are best for stock trading:
Are Gaming Laptops Good For Trading?
Despite having sufficient processing power, and high storage and memory capacity, generally, gaming laptops do not have a sufficient enough battery life for you to be able to trade all day without needing to charge your laptop.
Can I Use A Macbook?
As highlighted above, the newest Macbooks make for excellent trading laptops, and are some of the most powerful laptops on the market. So as long as your software is available on Apple OS, then you should be good to go.
What Is An Important Feature People Forget About?
Perhaps one of the most underrated features is a laptop’s trackpad, speed is of the essence when it comes to trading, and if you’re not fast enough then it is likely you'll miss out on potential buying and selling opportunities.
Your laptop’s trackpad needs to be both fast and responsive to ensure that your speed never suffers when trading.
Final Verdict
If you’re wanting something that’s ultra portable and can do the basic day to day trading tasks you need to, we recommend the Microsoft Surface Pro, with its ability to change from a tablet to a laptop making it lightweight yet incredibly versatile.
If you’re looking for something more mid-ranged, then either LG Gram or the ASUS Zenbook will make excellent choices, providing more than enough processing power and storage capabilities for your daily tasks.
Whereas if you want an absolute powerhouse, then the Macbook Pro is probably the best bet. Its processing power, graphic capabilities, vast storage capacity options, and immense battery life, make it rather unbeatable in nearly everywhere.
So as long as you don’t mind using Apple’s OS as opposed to Windows, then you’ll be fine.
If you enjoyed this article, you might enjoy our post on 'Why Is It Risky To Invest In A Commodity?'.
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