Having a good laptop is a must for all cyber security experts or enthusiasts. This is because cyber security software runs on heavy requirements that are not supported by phones or notepads. Laptops are useful in installing cyber security tools, penetration testing, password cracking via a brute-force attack, observing system traffic and more tasks.
Some features of a good laptop include strong battery life, powerful Central Processing Unit (CPU), and good construction (display, keyboard and frame). The best laptops for cyber security have powerful CPUs, strong batteries and high random access memory (RAM) and storage space. The best laptops for cyber security are listed below.
- Dell Inspiron 15 7000
- MSI GL62M 7REX-1896US
- Asus ROG (GL703GE-ES73) Strix Scar Edition
- Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon
- Asus ZenBook UM431DA
- Alienware AW17R3-1675SLV
- CUK HP Pavilion 15
- Apple MacBook Pro MPXQ2LL/A
- Razer Blade Stealth 13
- Acer Aspire V 17 Nitro Black Edition
Table of Contents
1. Dell Inspiron 15 7000
Dell, a subsidiary of Dell Technologies, is a U.S. company that manufactures, repairs and sells computers. The is a 15.6-inch full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) display laptop with an 11th generation Intel processor.
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 comes with an 11th generation Intel Core i5 processor (up to 4.5GHz of speed), the Windows 11 operating system, 16GB of RAM and 256GB of hard drive space. For the laptop’s video card, Dell used Intel Iris Xe graphics. Dell Inspiron 15 7000 comes with a built-in 54WHr four-cell battery, Intel WiFi 6, three USB 3.2 Gen ports (two type-A; one type-C) and an HDMI 1.4 port.
The advantages of the Dell Inspiron 15 7000 include strong battery life, great graphics, an SD card slot and a backlit keyboard with a number pad. However, Dell Inspiron 15 7000 has only one Type-C port, the fan makes noticeable noise, and the system is quite heavy.
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 works perfectly with VMware and Kali Linux systems, making the product one of the best laptops for cyber security purposes. Dell Inspiron 15 7000 can be used for cybersecurity through launching brute-force attacks for password cracking, among other tasks.
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 has a price tag of $904.98 but is currently sold for $899.99 with a price match guarantee.
2. MSI GL62M 7REX-1896US
Micro-Star International (MSI) is an IT company based in Taiwan. MSI designs and manufactures computers and similar electronic products, including hardware such as motherboards, graphic cards and more. is a 15.6-inch (1920 x1080 pixels) FHD display computer with Intel Core i7 processor.
Other technical features of MSI GL62M 7REX-1896US include 8GB of RAM, 128GB of hard drive space, plus 128GB SSD, a GeForce GTX 1050 Ti graphics card and the Windows 10 operating system. MSI GL62M 7REX-1896US uses WiFi 5 and Bluetooth 4.2 and has one USB 2.0 port, three USB 3.2 ports (two Type-A; one Type-C), one HDMI port and an Ethernet LAN port.
The pros of using MSI GL62M 7REX-1896US include the laptop’s large storage capacity, a cooler boost 4 feature, a great display and a backlit keyboard. However, this laptop has a few downsides, such as a noisy fan, an average battery and bulky weight.
MSI GL62M 7REX-1896US is one of the best laptops for cyber security because the laptop has a Core i7 processor (up to 3.8GHz speed) with 8GB RAM, which makes running heavy programming languages, commands or hacks easier. MSI GL62M 7REX-1896US can be used to ensure cybersecurity by writing and running security codes or hacking software.
MSI GL62M 7REX-1896US costs $1,509 on Amazon.
3. Asus ROG (GL703GE-ES73) Strix Scar Edition
ASUSTek or ASUS Computer Inc. is a Taiwan-based electronics company specializing in manufacturing phone hardware and computers. The Asus ROG (GL703GE-ES73) Strix Scar Edition is a 17.3-inch laptop with an 8th generation Intel Core processor.
Some of the pros of using GL703GE-ES73 are the laptop’s ample storage space, fast response and crisp display, powerful processor, anti-dust cooling technology and a solid keyboard with a backlight. Despite these pros, GL703GE-ES73 still has a couple of downsides, such as the laptop’s high cost and the lack of a CD drive. Also, the trackpad can be improved, and on some occasions, the power button needs to be pressed more than once to work.
Asus ROG (GL703GE-ES73) Strix Scar Edition is one of the best laptops for cyber security because of the product’s powerful processor, strong battery, and extensive storage space and RAM. With the laptop display’s fast response and refresh rate, GL703GE-ES73 can be conveniently used for programming and coding to ensure the security of cyber systems.
Asus ROG (GL703GE-ES73) Strix Scar Edition is sold for $1,699 on Amazon.
4. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon
Lenovo is an American-Chinese tech company specializing in the design and production of electronics such as computers and smartphones. The Gen 9 is a 14-inch (1920 x 1200 pixels) display computer with 11th gen Intel Core i7 processor.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9’s processor has a 3GHz speed that can go up to 4.8GHz with Turbo Boost. This laptop boasts 16GB of RAM, 512GB of SSD and a 57Whr battery that lasts up to 19 hours. The product also features an Intel Iris Xe graphic card, the Windows 10 operating system and a fingerprint scanner. This laptop connects wirelessly using WiFi 6 and has two USB 4.0 Type-C ports, two USB-A 3.2 ports and one HDMI 2.0 port.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 has a couple of advantages, such as the Thunderbolt 4 feature of the Type-C ports, the 11th generation processor and strong battery life. This laptop also has a power button-integrated fingerprint scanner, 4G/5G network broadband, and an excellent backlit keyboard. However, the product has some demerits, starting with the laptop’s high price and the lack of an SD slot. Also, there’s no OLED screen option available, and the 720p webcam resolution isn’t the best in the market.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 is one of the best laptops for cyber security because of the laptop’s long-lasting battery, excellent processor and high RAM. The laptop can be used for cybersecurity by running cybersecurity software such as anti-phishing or anti-ransomware tools.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Gen 9 Carbon costs $1,730 on Amazon.
5. Asus ZenBook UM431DA
ASUSTek Computer Inc., or simply ASUS, is a Taiwanese electronics manufacturing company that specializes in phone hardware and computers, as mentioned above. The Asus ZenBook UM431DA is a 14-inch display laptop from ASUS’ ZenBook series.
Asus ZenBook UM431DA’s full HD display has a screen resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels with LED backlight and NanoEdge Anti-Glare technology. This laptop has an AMD Ryze processor (up to 3.7GHz when boosted), uses the Windows 10 operating system and AMD RadeonVega 8 graphics card. comes with 8GB of RAM, 512GB of SSD and a two-cell lithium-polymer 47WHrs battery that lasts up to 12 hours. This laptop uses WiFi 5 connectivity and has one USB 2.0 port, an HDMI port, two USB 3.1 ports (one Type-a; one Type-C) and an SD card reader.
Asus ZenBook UM431DA offers a few notable advantages, including a long-lasting battery, a fast booting process and construction durability. The laptop also has an SD card reader and a backlit keyboard. However, two downsides are that the computer doesn’t have a CD drive, and the RAM is soldered to the motherboard.
Asus ZenBook UM431DA is one of the best laptops for cyber security due to the AMD processor that can smoothly run multiple programs simultaneously, a strong battery that lasts up to 12 hours, and the high RAM and SSD. This laptop can be used to run Kali Linux for penetration testing to ensure the security of cyber systems.
The Asus ZenBook UM431DA costs about $800.
6. Alienware AW17R3-1675SLV
Alienware is a subsidiary of Dell that specializes in manufacturing alien-themed computers. is a 17.3-inch laptop from the Alienware 17 R3 series.
Alienware AW17R3-1675SLV offers a 17.3-inch full HD display with a screen resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. This laptop comes with 8GB of RAM and 1TB hard drive capacity. Alienware AW17R3-1675SLV uses an Intel Quad Core i7 processor (up to 2.6GHz), a GeForce GTX graphics card and the Windows 10 operating system. Other technical details include an eight-cell lithium-ion battery, four USB 3.0 ports (one Type-C) and one HDMI 2.0 port.
Alienware AW17R3-1675SLV’s advantages include a card reader that can read up to nine different types of media, Thunderbolt 3 technology, light and durable construction, a large display and an FHD webcam. Despite these merits, this laptop is considered pricey, has limited RAM slots and an average battery life.
Alienware AW17R3-1675SLV is one of the best laptops for cyber security because of the laptop’s excellent processor, high RAM and HDD space, and several connectivity options. The product can be used for coding, programming or hacking to ensure cybersecurity.
Alienware AW17R3-1675SLV is sold for about $3,180.
7. CUK HP Pavilion 15
HP Inc. is an American IT company that develops and markets computers and related hardware. is a 15.6-inch display laptop from the HP Pavilion series.
CUK HP Pavilion 15 has a 15.6-inch 4K display with a screen resolution of (3840 x 2160 pixels) and uses the 10th generation Intel Core i7 processor (up to 5GHz) and a GeForce RTX 2060 graphics card. This laptop runs on the Windows 10 Pro operating system, along with a whopping 32GB of RAM and 1TB SSD, plus 2TB HDD. CUK HP Pavilion 15 comes with four SuperSpeed USB ports (three Type-A; one Type-C), one HDMI 2.0 port and one SD card reader.
Some of the merits of CUK HP Pavilion 15 include the laptop’s high RAM and large storage space, crisp 4K display, an SD card reader, a strong battery and a backlit keyboard. However, this laptop lacks Thunderbolt 3 technology for the USB ports and is very expensive.
CUK HP Pavilion 15 is one of the best laptops for cyber security because of the product’s powerful processor, strong battery, and high RAM and storage capacity. CUK HP Pavilion 15 can smoothly run Kali Linux for penetration testing or can be used to defend against hacking.
CUK HP Pavilion 15 costs about $1,000.
8. Apple MacBook Pro MPXQ2LL/A
Apple Inc. is an American IT company that designs and manufactures computer hardware and software. is a 13-inch display laptop of the Apple MPXQ2LL/A series.
Apple MacBook Pro MPXQ2LL/A has a 13-inch Retina display with a screen resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels. This laptop runs on a 7th generation Intel Core i5 processor (up to 2.3GHz), macOS 10.14, and 8GB RAM with 128GB SSD. Apple MacBook Pro MPXQ2LL/A uses an Intel Iris Plus graphics card, has a 720p HD webcam and is powered by a lithium-polymer 54.5WHr battery that lasts an average of eight hours. This laptop uses 802.11ac WiFi connectivity and comes with two Type-C USB ports with Thunderbolt 3 technology.
Some of the pros of the Apple MacBook Pro MPXQ2LL/A include a long-lasting battery, a touch ID feature, crystal clear display, Thunderbolt 3 ports, and a lightweight and sleek design. Despite these pros, this laptop has limited ports that are only Type-C, the processor is of an old generation, and the RAM and SSD are much lower than other laptops.
Apple MacBook Pro MPXQ2LL/A is one of the best laptops for cyber security because of the laptop’s good processor, strong battery and moderate RAM. Apple MacBook Pro MPXQ2LL/A can be used for coding and programming and can run some heavy cybersecurity software programs.
Apple MacBook Pro MPXQ2LL/A costs $534.99 on Amazon but is currently sold for $505 at 5% off.
9. Razer Blade Stealth 13
Razer Inc. is an American-Singaporean technology company that designs and manufactures electronic products, including computers. is a 13.3-inch display laptop from the Blade Stealth series.
Razer Blade Stealth 13 has a 13-inch FHD display with a screen resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. This laptop runs on an 11th generation Intel Core i7 processor (up to 4.6GHz), 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage and the Windows 10 operating system (upgradable to Windows 11). Razer Blade Stealth 13 uses a GeForce GTX 1650 Ti Max-Q graphics card and is powered by a 53WHr battery that lasts up to 10 hours. This laptop uses WiFi 6 connectivity and comes with two USB 3.1 Type-A ports and two Type-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 technology.
The advantages of using Razer Blade Stealth 13 include a brilliant display, an excellent touchpad, Thunderbolt 4 technology and a long-lasting battery. This laptop also refreshes quickly and has a backlit keyboard. Despite these advantages, Razer Blade Stealth 13 lacks an HDMI port and an SD card reader.
Razer Blade Stealth 13 is one of the best laptops for cyber security because of the laptop’s excellent processor, high RAM and strong battery. This laptop can be used to run heavy coding software such as Black Box and BlackArch Linux for penetration testing.
Razer Blade Stealth 13 costs $1,800 but is currently sold for $1,500 at 16% off.
10. Acer Aspire V 17 Nitro Black Edition
Acer Inc. is a Taiwan-based electronics company that specializes in the production of desktop computers, laptops, tablets and other products. is a 17.3-inch display laptop from the VN7-792G series.
Acer Aspire V 17 Nitro Black Edition has a 17.3-inch Ultra HD display with a screen resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels. This laptop runs on a 6th generation Intel Core i7 processor (up to 2.6GHz), the Windows 10 operating system and a GeForce GTX 960M graphics card. Acer Aspire V 17 Nitro Black Edition comes with 16GB of RAM, 512GB of SSD and 1TB HDD storage capacity. The laptop uses WiFi 6 connectivity and includes one USB 3.1 Type-C port with Thunderbolt 3 technology, one HDMI port and two USB 3.0 ports. Acer Aspire V 17 Nitro Black Edition is powered by a three-cell lithium-polymer battery that lasts up to seven hours.
Some of the merits of Acer Aspire V 17 Nitro Black Edition include Coolboost technology to cool the system during use, stunning visuals and fast WiFi connectivity with MU-MIMO technology. The laptop also comes with an SD card reader and features Thunderbolt 3 for the Type-C ports and Turbo Boost Technology for the processor.
However, there are still downsides to using this laptop. The touchpad sometimes malfunctions, and the battery life could be improved. Also, the matte screen makes colors appear dull and sometimes blurry.
Acer Aspire V 17 Nitro Black Edition is one of the best laptops for cyber security because the product has a powerful and fast processor, high RAM, and a large and brilliant display. This laptop performs well in coding, programming or running penetration testing tools like Kali Linux.
Acer Aspire V 17 Nitro Black Edition costs about $1,700.
What are the Required Features of Laptops for Cybersecurity?
The most important laptop features required for cybersecurity are RAM, GPU, CPU and storage.
The RAM size determines how fast or smooth programs on a laptop will run. The minimum RAM size users should consider is 8GB. The best laptops for cyber security students run on 8GB of RAM. However, laptops with 16GB of RAM or 32GB of RAM allow users to simultaneously run heavy programs smoothly and are the best options for professionals or users who want the best results.
A good graphics card is important for crisp, stunning visuals. A good GPU should have at least 3GB of VRAM. For optimum results, a GPU between 4–6GB VRAM would be ideal. NVIDIA GeForce RTX or GTX are some of the best and most popular graphic processing units in laptops.
The CPU or processor does all the processing in a laptop. The type and speed of the processor determine how much and how fast data can be processed. The best laptop for cyber security professionals would run on Intel Core i5 or i7, with clock speeds between 2.5GHz and 5GHz. Users should also opt for the newer generation of processors, such as the 10th or 11th lineup.
Note:
Large storage capacity is important since several heavy programs will be installed. Storage capacity could either be in SSD or HDD, or both (most laptops come with both). SSDs are generally preferred because a laptop with SSD consumes less battery and boots faster than a laptop with HDD. Whether combining both or either, a storage size of 512GB upwards is ideal.Which OS is the Best for Cybersecurity?
Kali Linux is the best OS for cybersecurity. Kali Linux is free, open-source and specifically designed for penetration testing. The operating system comes with more than 300 pre-installed pen-testing programs. Kali Linux can be used for password hacking, assessing and exploiting system vulnerabilities, and more processes.
What Tools Should You Use in Your Laptop for Cybersecurity?
Using a good laptop for cybersecurity is great, but having the right tools on the laptop is even more important. The best cybersecurity software or tools are listed below.- Antivirus
- Message encryption software
- Password manager
- Virtual private network (VPN)
- Penetration testing tools
- Firewall
- Anti-phishing software
- Ransomware protection tools
Are Mac Laptops Safer than Windows for Cybersecurity?
Yes, one can say that Mac laptops are safer than Windows when it comes to cybersecurity. The popular debate of Mac vs. Windows in terms of security has been ongoing for years. Due to Safari’s safety functions and other Mac security features, Mac laptops have lower cyberattack rates compared to Windows laptops. However, Mac laptops are also susceptible to attacks. About 700,000 Mac users were victims of the Flashback Trojan virus because the users felt Macs were completely secure and thus did not install antivirus software.
What Laptops Do Hackers Use to Break Cybersecurity?
Hackers make use of good laptops with high specifications to break cybersecurity. The best laptop for hacking in 2023 is Dell Inspiron 15 7000. Other laptops used by hackers are listed below.
- Asus ROG (GL703GE-ES73) Strix Scar Edition
- Alienware AW17R3-1675SLV
- MSI GL62M 7REX-1896US