We are all aware of the fact that stock trading is a lot of fun, however, the one aspect that almost everyone completely ignores about it is that they are not really sure about how to get started or the laptop they are going to use for it. Sure, you can always do it on your desktop but most people need something that is portable.
A smartphone? Yes, it’s a great idea but having a larger screen is always better .This is the reason why most people prefer having good laptops that they can use for stock trading. Now, I can just pick up any laptop and get started but people do have preferences and we always have to look into those.
If you are looking for trading laptops at best buy or somewhere else, I completely understand but right now, the focus is looking at the best laptops you can find for day trading or any sort of trading, for that matter.
So, without wasting more time, let’s get started.
HP Spectre x360 – Best Overall Laptop for Trading
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CPU and GPU
The HP Spectre x360 is a laptop I have been using personally for as long as I can remember, and it serves as one of the best laptops for stock trading. As a stock trader, if you are searching for something that is small, portable, and offers good battery life, this is it.
It is packed with an Intel Core i7 1065G7 and an integrated Intel Iris Plus graphic chipset that will ensure that you are getting the best power efficiency and top of the line performance.
RAM and Storage
Fast RAM and storage are two things that are not only essential for day traders but everyone else, as well. The good news is that the HP Spectre x360 comes with 16 gigs of RAM and 512 gigs of SSD storage for super-fast operations and you will not be let down in terms of the performance of this laptop.
Keyboard and Display
Despite not being far from a trader, I cannot use a laptop if it does not come with a good keyboard and a display. Thankfully, I do not have such gripes as the Spectre sports a beautiful 13.3-inch FHD IPS micro-edge touch screen, and for keyboard, it uses a standard, backlit keyboard that looks really good and works even better.
Connectivity and Warranty
Connectivity and warranty are two of the important thing. Thankfully, the Spectre protects you in terms of that as it comes with a single microSD card reader, 1 headphone/microphone combo, 2 USB 3.1 Type-C Gen 2 Thunderbolt 3, and one USB 3.1 Gen 2.
For warranty, all HP laptops are covered with a standard, extendable one-year warranty.
Pros
Cons
4.7/5
Editor’s Rating
2. Asus ZenBook 15 – Best Trading Laptops with Two Screens
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CPU and GPU
The Asus ZenBook 15 is an impressive laptop that comes with an Intel Core i7 10510U chipset, and is powerful enough for all your trading needs, as well as charting, and other technical workloads without slowing you down. The surprise art here is the fact that this laptop also comes equipped with a mid-range Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q, which is a surprise to a lot of us.
RAM and Storage
For RAM and storage, the ZenBook 15 packs enough punch as it brings 16 gigs of RAM, as well as 512 gigs of NVMe compliant SSD. Which means that if you are in search of some speed and performance, then this laptop is definitely going to deliver that for you because you are not going to have any issues.
Keyboard and Display
Display is where the ZenBook 15 really shines as you are getting access to a 15.6-inch 4K resolution that has NanoEdge bezels and the 4K resolution is always good. Not just that, you are also getting access to a secondary screen, allowing you to keep track of more information with ease and without running into any issues.
The keyboard itself is fun to type at and while it cannot be called a fully mechanical keyboard, in term of performance, it does work really nicely without any hassles coming in the way.
Connectivity and Warranty
For connectivity, the ZenBook 15 has enough, you are getting a Type-C, a Type-A, HDMI, as well as latest wireless connectivity allowing you to have a good experience regardless of what your workflow is like. For additional peace of mind, the laptop is also covered by a one-year standard warranty for parts and labor.
Pros
Cons
4.4/5
Editor’s Rating
3. HP Pavilion 15 – Best Budget Laptop for Trading
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CPU and GPU
The good thing here is that you are getting access to an Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor that is going to allow you to use the turbo boost technology to take care of all your productivity tasks. If you are worried about this front, then there is not much to stress about, in the first place and you are good to go overall.
For The GPU, you are getting an integrated Intel Iris Xe and while it is not meant for gaming, the laptop itself is more oriented towards productive tasks, and therefore, this is not that big of an issue.
RAM and Storage
With the HP Pavilion, you are getting 16 gigs of RAM, which is more than enough to handle all the tasks that you are throwing at them and well, that is not going to have any issues. For storage, you are getting access to 512GB SSD which should handle all transfers with ease and there are not going to any hiccups that will hinder your experience.
Keyboard and Display
Moving forward, with the HP Pavilion, you are getting a 15.6-inch FHD IPS display that is more than adequate to let you handle the main tasks on your own without too much of a hassle. However, I would mention that this display is not for the creators, and therefore, cannot be used for color correction.
The keyboard is the standard HP keyboard that you get access to and it delivers good overall performance without any issues coming in the way. Thankfully, the keyboard itself is backlit, so that should not be an issue.
Connectivity and Warranty
The HP Pavilion 15 comes with a SuperSpeed Type-A port, a Type-C port, a full HDMI output, and support for the latest wireless connectivity, as well. The laptop is backed with a 1-year warranty which should be more than enough.
Pros
Cons
4.5/5
Editor’s Rating
4. Lenovo IdeaPad 5 – Best Lenovo Laptop for Trading
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CPU and GPU
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 does come with a pretty good CPU from the 10th generation. You are getting the Intel Core i5-1035G1, and while it might be just 1GHz, it does boost beyond 3GHz and gives you the performance you are looking for. You are also getting a built-in Intel GPU which is more than enough for the stock trading tasks that you are going to handle.
RAM and Storage
For RAM and storage, I have only picked the best laptops and in this case, you are getting 16 gigs of RAM, and 512 gigs of SSD. I do understand that it might sound like it is not enough but to be honest, the storage and RAM combination is what most people are going for in the modern day, and age. So, if it is performance you want, this is good for the price you are paying.
Keyboard and Display
A good keyboard goes a long way, to be honest. Thankfully, the Lenovo IdeaPad does not fall short when it comes to the keyboard and actually delivers a respectable experience when it comes to typing. For the display, you are getting a 15.6-inch FHD display with touch capability, so if you do want to go ahead and scroll your heart out, you have that option too.
Connectivity and Warranty
The connectivity options are what you would normally get with a laptop of this caliber; there is a single USB Type-C, a 3,5mm headphone jack, and SD card reader, along with a single HDMI port, as well. You are also getting the standard 1-year warranty which has become a norm.
Pros
Cons
4.5/5
Editor’s Rating
5. Dell Inspiron 15 – Best Dell Laptop for Trading
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CPU and GPU
Dell laptops have been known to among the most reliable, and the same can be said about the Inspiron 15 as it does bring a number of improvements, and good ones, to say the least. For starters, you are getting access to the Intel Core i5-1035G1 with 4 cores so you can crunch through those numbers.
Not just that, you are also getting the Intel UHD graphics which are more than enough for the type of tasks that you want to handle.
RAM and Storage
The laptop also comes equipped with 16 gigs of RAM and a whopping 1TB of storage, allowing you to have the experience you want and that too, without any issues. The laptop is going to ensure that you are getting your money’s worth.
Keyboard and Display
The 15.6-inch FHD display is more than enough to give you the view of what needs to be done and what needs to be ignored. Sure, it is not the brightest or highest in terms of resolution but what you do have access to is more than enough and you will not be let down. The keyboard is also good enough and if you want to go ahead and type on this keyboard, you will not be running into any issues.
Connectivity and Warranty
The laptop also brings 2x USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports, a single USB 2.0 port, and you are also getting HDMI output. Aside from this ,you can expect the latest wireless connectivity, and the whole package is backed by a 1-year warranty.
Pros
Cons
4.3/5
Editor’s Rating
6. LG Gram – Best Lightweight Laptop for Trading
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CPU and GPU
LG Gram, for the longest time, has been one of my favourite laptops due to how thin and lightweight it is. However, that is not the only chops this laptop has, to be honest. You are getting a 10th generation processor, and while the integrated GPU is not going to be able to play games, you are still getting something that is good.
RAM and Storage
You are also getting 8 gigs of RAM and 512 gigs of SSD; and while the RAM might not look a lot as compared to some of the other laptops that I have reviewed, having access to 8 gigs is still enough, this is something that I encountered in my testing. So, you are good to go.
Keyboard and Display
The keyboard and display are two of my favourite things on this laptop, everything is so thin and lightweight and at the same time, sturdy enough that your experience is not going to be in any hassle. That is something that I can guarantee you.
Connectivity and Warranty
For connectivity, you are getting the latest wireless connectivity options, you also have access to a USB Type-C for faster data transfer, 2x USB 3.1 ports as well as a microSD card slot and HDMI connection for better connectivity. LG also offers a 1-year parts and labor warranty on LG Gram, so you are good to go as far as the warranty is concerned.
Pros
Cons
4.4/5
Editor’s Rating
7. Apple MacBook Pro – Best MacBook for Trading
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CPU and GPU
The great thing about the Apple MacBook Pro is that it comes with Apple’s M1 chipset that offers 8 cores and is one of the most powerful mobile CPUs. If you are looking for performance, the laptop is going to deliver excellent performance in almost all the aspects.
For GPU, you are getting Apple’s 8 core graphics that is also just as powerful and will still deliver great performance for those interested. You are not going to be let down with this laptop in terms of how powerful it can be.
RAM and Storage
You are also looking at 8GB of RAM along with 256GB storage. However, if you are in search for higher storage and RAM, Apple does sell higher-end models so it should not really be a problem for anyone who is looking for more out of a laptop.
Keyboard and Display
The laptop also brings one of the most fun keyboards to work at, allowing you to easily sit anywhere and get started with your workflow without any interruptions. Speaking of the display, you are looking at super-high quality 13.3-inch FHD Retina display that is absolute gorgeous, so you are not really going to have any issues.
Connectivity and Warranty
Apple has gone back to the drawing board with the MacBook Pro and you are getting 2x USB 4.0/Thunderbolt ports for charging up or attaching more peripherals as well as all the other connectivity options that you might be looking for.
You are also getting a 1-year warranty, so you are all good to go. Normally, Apple devices have proven to be very reliable, so you are not really spending money on something that is not going to be good.
Pros
Cons
4.8/5
Editor’s Rating
8. Microsoft Surface Pro 7 – Best Portable Laptop for Trading
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CPU and GPU
I know a lot of people might end up scoffing at the fact that the Surface Pro 7 only brings a Core i5, but to be honest, for a laptop that is primarily going to be used for trading, you are not really going to need a lot of performance and in almost all the situations, you are more than okay. For the GPU, you are getting the integrated Iris Plus, which, again, is enough for the tasks at hand.
RAM and Storage
For RAM and storage, you are looking at 256 gigs of SSD and there is 8 gigs of RAM also available. Again, a lot of people might have issues with this but hey, you are not really going to need a lot of storage or RAM, for that matter. Especially when you are talking about stock trading so you should not have any issues.
Keyboard and Display
The laptop also brings a pretty good keyboard that will allow you to type on it with ease, and that too, without any complications. For display, you are getting a 12.3-inch PixelSense display, making this one of the most compact and portable laptops that I have reviewed so far. So, you really will not have any problems.
Connectivity and Warranty
Speaking of connectivity, you are not getting a whole heap of options. Sure, the basic ports are there and the laptop also brings wireless connectivity, but aside from that, you are not getting a lot of connectivity and that can be a concern for a lot of people, to be honest.
For warranty, you are looking at a standard 1-year warranty; something that has become a common factor in almost all the laptops.
Pros
Cons
4.6/5
Editor’s Rating
9. Asus VivoBook 15 – Best Affordable Laptop for Trading
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CPU and GPU
This time around, we are doing things differently as the Asus VivoBook 15 comes with an AMD Ryzen 5 3500U chipset. I do understand that AMD CPUs in the past were average at best but they have come a long way and the laptop does deliver good performance. For the GPU, you are looking at an integrated AMD Radeon Vega 8. So, you are all good there.
RAM and Storage
The laptop brings 8 gigs of RAM along with 256 gigs of SSD. While I was a bit skeptical about these things, in the first place. I have come to realise that for a laptop that is primarily going to be used for trading, this is more than enough and you should not really have any issues.
Keyboard and Display
The keyboard on the laptop is nothing out of this world, to be honest. It does work good, that I can assure you but aside from that, you are not looking at a lot. As far as the display is concerned, you are getting a 15.6-inch FHD display that should be able to prove itself and is going to be enough when it comes to the performance.
Connectivity and Warranty
For connectivity, you are getting the latest wireless connectivity options and aside from that, there is a Type-C, a Type-A port, and USB 2.0 ports as well for connecting, and you are getting a 1-year warranty that should be more than enough for you.
Pros
Cons
4.6/5
Editor’s Rating
Frequently Asked Questions
How much RAM do I need for day trading?
Honestly, it really does not matter as to how much RAM you are going to need for something such as trading, but still, just to be on the safer side, I would suggest that you are going with 8 gigs of RAM as that would be helpful.
Is 512GB enough for day trading?
Yes, yes, having this much storage is more than enough for day trading and if you want, you can always go ahead and expand the storage for better convenience.
Can you day trade on a laptop?
Contrary to what people might tell you, day trading on a laptop is completely normal and entirely possible. If you are new to this, the smaller screen might make you feel a bit out of place but other than that, it is not complicated at all.
best laptops for trading – The Buyer’s Guide
Now that you have gone through our best trading laptops, we are now going to focus on a buying guide that should help you decide the right way and not end up with something that is not even good. The purpose of having a buying guide is to ensure that you are not running into any problems and the performance of the laptop is good enough for the tasks you have to throw at it.
Below, you can find some of the tips that are going to help you.
The Platform You Want
You can start with the platform that you are interested in. There was a time when Windows was the preferred platform for a lot of people but thanks to Apple’s constant work towards making their laptops better, they have come a long way, and things have drastically changed, too.
Now, you have to choose between Windows, Mac, or Chrome OS, and all of these have their set of strengths and weaknesses. So, be certain that you are buying the right one and there are no issues.
What About a 2-in-1?
Over the past couple of years, 2-in-1 laptops have become a lot more common to be honest. There is nothing wrong with that, either. If you are in search of some good performance, this is a great way of ensuring that and you are not really going to run into any problems with these laptops, this is one thing that I can assure you.
However, do ask yourself if you are okay and happy with a 2-in-1 laptop and if itis portability and more accessibility you are searching for, it is a great offering that you cannot miss.
Choosing the Perfect Size
Gone are the days when bulky and massive laptops were the only ones available in the market. The modern-day laptops can also be thin and lightweight and the best part is that you are not really going to run into any portability issues. So, if you are interested in getting a thin and light laptop, you can just pick anything up and be done with it.
Checking Out the Keyboard and Trackpad
When you are investing in a laptop, the two of the most common things that are going to be important for you will be the keyboard and the trackpad. These are important and cannot be overlooked, at all. To be honest, I would highly suggest that you have checked out the keyboard and the trackpad before investing in a laptop as your experience matters a lot.
Specs Matter a Lot
Whether you are looking to go ahead and start stock trading with your laptop or you are planning on playing games. Specs matter a lot and they do matter all the time. So, you cannot really go with something that is not enough. You would need something good and reliable so you are not left wondering what you have just spent money on.
Why Would You Ignore the Battery Life
Battery life is a lot more important for stock traders as well as all sort of users. You do not want to get your hands on a laptop that can barely last a couple of hours. Thankfully, the good news is that modern laptops have become a lot better in terms of the overall performance.
Why? Well, you are now getting access to more energy efficient chips that can easily last through multiple hours. Plus, you now have fast-charging laptops, so that is just another added benefit that you are not going to have any issues with.
Budget is Very Important
Budget is one of the most important factors whenever you are looking at a laptop for stock trading, or for anything else, for that matter. Without having a proper understanding of the budget, you might not be able to get the laptop you want.
Thankfully, you have to keep this in mind and then go with the laptop you are looking for and that should give you a proper idea.
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Conclusion:
I do understand that buying the right laptop is not an easy job. Whether you are searching for a laptop that is going to be used for stock trading or something else, entirely, having access to something that is good and has a good performance is always an important factor and you are never really in a position to miss that out.
The purpose behind this article is to find you all the amazing laptops that you can get for your stock trading sprees. The good thing about stock trading and laptops is that in most cases, a reliable laptop is going to be more than enough for the performance and you are not going to regret it at all. So, be certain that you have spent the money on something that is reliable and works really well because that is what matters here the most.
