Those of you who have been trading stocks for quite a while would have to remember the days when you had to be glued to your desktop just so you don’t miss out on your dream trade, right?
Well, you won’t have to worry about that anymore. Thanks to how much more powerful laptops have become recently, with some models having fantastic CPI, RAM, display, and portability, you have the freedom to roam as you please without taking your eyes off the stock market.
If you think that you’ll have to skim through hundreds of laptops to find the perfect one for you, then don’t worry, because we’re here to do that for you. In this article, we covered our top 5 choices of the best laptops for stock trading in 2022 for every budget and need.
Contents
Best Laptops for Stock Trading Compared
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
New Apple MacBook Pro | ||
HP 15 DY-1036NR | ||
ASUS VivoBook 15 | ||
Acer Predator Helios 300 | ||
Lenovo Ideapad L340 |
5 Best Stock Trading Laptops Reviewed
1. New Apple MacBook Pro
Specs:
If you’re looking for one of the best laptops on the market for stock trading, then take a look at the new Apple MacBook Pro. It sports a handful of features that makes trading anywhere a breeze.
Performance
Thanks to the 6-Core Intel Core i7 Processor found inside the new MacBook Pro, you don’t have to worry about your device hanging while completing a trade. If that doesn’t impress (and it does), the MacBook Pro has a 6-Core Intel Core i9 variant as well.
The MacBook Pro also impressed with its 16GB RAM and 512 NVMe SSD. Using multiple trading programs like MintBroker, SierraChart, etc., runs smoothly and efficiently.
The other impressive thing about the MacBook Pro is that it uses an SSD. The solid-state drive is a lot quicker than your standard hard disk drive and much more durable.
Solid-state drives are much more reliable because they have fewer parts in it, making the risk of breakdowns so much lower (almost non-existent!), and because it’s a 512GB SSD, there’s loads of room for you to run your programs, and Mac’s OS as well.
Portability
One of the things the MacBook is well-known for is its portability (and that’s a major reason with why I use one), and the new MacBook Pro model doesn’t disappoint, weighing in at just 4 pounds.
The MacBook Pro also fits in just about any laptop bag and is extremely comfortable to use in tight spaces like on a flight or on the train because it has a height of 0.64 inches and a width of 14.09 inches.
Display and TouchBar
The MacBook Pro has a retina display with 3077×1920 resolution, meaning the display is crisp and clear. This doesn’t just make trading much more comfortable on your eyes but also brings movies to life (because we all deserve a break now and then).
You won’t have red, tired eyes from staring at your screen while trading thanks to the Retina Display, which is known for having less strain on your eyes compared to other screen types.
To top it off, The MacBook Pro is the first in the entire MacBook series to have a 16-inch display, making viewing so much clearer and more convenient.
Apple also has a TouchBar that makes actions on trading programs much more convenient. The TouchBar has custom options based on each program, like on ProTrader, where you’ll get options to complete or set up trades in seconds.
Battery Life
Your laptop’s portability doesn’t just rely on its size, but its battery life too, and the MacBook Air delivers just that. Its battery lasts up to 12 hours, making working on-the-go, from the beach, in a café, on the train, etc., easy. (If there’s no charging point around, there’s no problem.)
Other Benefits
The MacBook Pro also makes use of Thunderbolt technology, which supports transfer speeds of up to 40 Gbps, and makes data transfer and back-up take just a couple of seconds or minutes for it to perform.
Drawbacks
Apple products are priced for premium users, so if your budget goes up to and over $2000, then it’s well worth the consideration. Though the MacBook Pro won’t give you any trouble for years, Apple’s technology also makes its repairs quite costly.
Not all trading software is compatible with Mac OS, so make sure that your software of choice is compatible with it before making a purchase.
Pros
- Delivers an excellent 12 hours of battery life
- It is light and compact
- Run multiple programs and browser windows with ease
- TouchBar shows custom options based on the software you use
- Thunderbolt ports allow data transfer at 40GBPS
- Retina Display produces an immersive display
Cons
- This laptop will cost you $2000+
- Repair cost with MacBooks are higher
- Not all trading platforms support Apple
2. HP Laptop 15 DY-1036NR
Specs:
HP has always provided quality laptop devices for business users, and this notebook is no exception. The HP Laptop series has always delivered quality and still manages to keep in style with its simple, sleek design.
Best Features
Those looking for a solid laptop for business and work purposes shouldn’t have to look further than what HP has to offer. This HP Notebook takes less than 10 seconds to start thanks to its 8GB of RAM and 256GB SSD. Your trading programs should run smoothly on the HP.
The 15.6-inch WLED display is no joke either. It has a matte screen, which makes it less prone to glare and easier to use in brighter light. The HP Laptop 15 also has a high screen-to-body ratio, which won’t be a distraction while staring at the screen over an extended period.
HP also pairs functionality with style. Despite its primarily plastic body, the HP is sturdy and portable. It weighs in at just 3.75lbs, so trading on-the-go is easy.
You’re able to get up to 100% full charge from the battery in less than 2 hours, and the laptop is meant to last for quite a while without being plugged in. Depending on how heavy the programs you use are, you can get up to 8 hours out of the HP, adding to its portability.
If you like to use your laptop to watch movies on Netflix, then this laptop is also a good choice because its speakers are high-quality.
Drawbacks
The only issue with the HP is that sometimes the fan likes to start spinning loudly, which isn’t too bad but can still be quite a distraction if you’re using heavy programs that eat up the CPU.
If your trading software is quite heavy, you might experience less than the 8 hours that you’d expect from the HP as well.
Working in a dim room might also be a problem because its keyboard is unlit. The silver color against the dark print for each key might make the keyboard hard to read, but if you type intuitively, the keyboard isn’t an issue.
Pros
- Smooth processing makes for smooth program running
- Quick to charge to 100%
- WLED display with a high screen-to-body ratio
- Sleek, professional, sturdy design
Cons
- Mixed battery life
- Fan sometimes spins loudly
- Unlit keyboard
3. ASUS VivoBook 15 (Best Laptop for Trading on a Budget)
Specs:
If you’re new to the trading industry, and you want a decent device to help you kickstart your trading career, the ASUS VivoBook 15 might be the best choice. It’s a good device just shy of $400, making it the ideal choice for beginner traders on a budget.
Best Features
The main issue with much cheaper devices is that they oftentimes hang and lag quite frequently, but you won’t have to worry about that with the ASUS VivoBook 15. If you’re just starting trading, you might only be using one trading software, so this might be the device for you.
The VivoBook 15 comes with minimal bloatware, bad because it sports 8GB of RAM with a 128GB SSD, your programs are going to load quickly. While 128GB of storage isn’t anything to write home about, you can just as easily expand this by buying another SSD for the device.
The startup is also quite convenient and much more secure because it comes with a fingerprint sensor. It also has a comfortable touchpad, meaning you won’t need to have to carry a mouse on you when you’re on the go.
The VivoBook 15 has a comfortable, backlit keyboard, which might not be a necessity for most traders, but adds a nice, stylish touch.
It’s also portable because it weighs in at just 3.75lbs, and has a sturdy body, despite being made primarily of plastic.
Drawbacks
If you’re looking for a laptop to work on and use in your leisurely time, the VivoBook isn’t a great choice to make. It’s terrible for streaming with poor speakers that sound reminiscent of my mobile phone’s speakers, and a display that’s nothing more than average.
The VivoBook also comes in Windows S-mode, which isn’t much of a problem, but you will need to look up instructions on how to turn it off if you want the full Windows experience.
If you’re a trader on the go, you better have your charger handy on you, because this laptop doesn’t live up to its advertised 10-hour battery life. It reaches up to 7 hours at best, but if you’re fond of browsing and trading at the same time, this might be a dealbreaker for you.
Pros
- Comfortable keyboard and trackpad
- Costs less than $400
- Upgradeable storage and RAM
- Fingerprint sensor for added security
- Lightweight and sturdy design
Cons
- Terrible speakers
- Average display
- Poor battery life
4. Acer Predator Helios 300 (Best Laptop for Mining Cryptocurrency)
Specs:
The next laptop on this list is an absolute beast; if there’s one kind of laptop that’s powerful enough to run all kinds of software for trading without any hiccups, it’s a gaming laptop.
Here’s what you need to know about one of the most popular gaming laptops out on the market.
Best Features
Coming from Acer’s Predator series of gaming laptops, the Helios 300 is one of the most powerful devices on the list. With its 9th Generation i7-9750H 6-Core processor, an astonishing 16GB of RAM and 512 GB SSD, the Helios 300 is one of the most powerful laptops on the market.
You’ve got to be wondering how these specs might help anyone who isn’t a gamer, and that’s going to be because cryptocurrency traders can use this laptop for mining bitcoins and other cryptocurrencies (which you can now do while enjoying your favorite cup of coffee).
The Helios 300 has a clear 15.6″ Full-HD IPS display, but that isn’t the most fantastic feature about this laptop; the Helios 300’s display supports a 144mH, 3ms response time. This might sound complicated, but frankly, it just means that your laptop won’t be lagging, blurring, or ghosting on its screen.
It’s also got a backlit keyboard, meaning any trading and gaming you want to do won’t stop, even in the dark.
Another issue that some users worry about with using a gaming PC is that they perform so well, they need to keep cool.
Fortunately, the Helios 300 comes with the 4th Gen AeroBlade 3D Fan Technology, meaning it comes with multiple fans and vents that are strategically placed to ensure your laptop won’t overheat.
Acer’s Predator laptop line also comes with its very own control center called PredatorSense, which gives you full control of the laptop’s fan speed, keyboard lighting, overclocking, game profiles, and so on.
The PredatorSense control panel also has an extremely important control called the Killer DoubleShot Pro, which lets you set certain apps and programs take up more bandwidth than others; in your case, you’d be giving that priority to your installed trading and mining apps.
Finally, the speakers of the laptop give you an immersive audio experience, so even if you don’t have headphones or a portable speaker, working while listening to your favorite music is pleasant.
Drawbacks
The Acer Predator Helios 300 is fantastic altogether, except for the fact that it will cost you over $1000, and that it has a battery life of just up to 4 or 5 hours (though most gaming laptops last for the same time length).
Pros
- Powerful enough to mine cryptocurrencies
- Supports high-end gaming
- It has a backlit keyboard
- Multiple fans and vents keep the laptop cool
- Get full control over gaming profiles, keyboard lighting with PredatorSense
- 144Hz, 3ms Response Time ensures no blurring or ghosting
- Prioritize bandwidth for important programs with Killer DoubleShot Pro
- Comes with high-quality speakers
Cons
- Low battery life as the battery lasts for just 4-5 hours
- It will cost you over $1000
5. Lenovo Ideapad L340
Specs:
If you’re the type who works hard and plays hard, but the Acer Predator isn’t quite in your budget, then take a look at the Lenovo Ideapad L340. It’s much less conspicuous but still packs a punch, and perfect for your trading (and gaming) needs.
Best Features
The best thing about the Lenovo Ideapad L340 is that it’s a laptop you can use to watch your stocks while still on the go and won’t set you back too badly in terms of cost.
The Ideapad has a 9th Gen Intel Core i5 processor, paired with 8GB of RAM, so you’re sure to run your trading programs without a hitch. With its 512GB SSD, your storage is less prone to any breakdowns and will boot within seconds.
It’s also quite office-friendly thanks to its minimalist design and blue accents, as opposed to the usually bulky body and red accents you get with most other gaming laptops. The Ideapad also comes with a backlit keyboard, which you can turn on to low or bright, or off altogether.
The Ideapad has a couple of design features that might appeal to those looking for a traditional laptop, rather than a 2-in-1 convertible. It’s quite slim for a gaming laptop, and quite portable, meaning working on-the-go is still possible. Its screen doesn’t rotate over 180-degrees, but that isn’t a necessity for traders or gamers.
We mentioned that one of the biggest concerns with gaming laptops was that they’re prone to overheat, but the Ideapad also has a reasonably quiet fan and cools your laptop down so that it doesn’t heat up to the point where you can’t touch it.
The Ideapad has a 15.6” full high-definition display, which is fantastic for keeping track of your stocks through your software of choice.
Drawbacks
There are a couple of downsides to the Ideapad. The keyboard might be an issue for some users, as it takes a little while to get used to, and the trackpad isn’t the best. It tends to register gestures incorrectly, and you aren’t able to install new drivers for it.
The Ideapad also doesn’t have an extra RAM or memory slot, so you’d need to purchase extra accessories to add another hard drive.
Its battery life is nothing to write home about either, lasting for a little over 3-4 hours. It’s good enough to get a couple of things done, but you’d need to frequently keep searching for somewhere to charge up.
Pros
- Also supports heavier trading and gaming platforms thanks to its 9th Gen i5 processor
- Has 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD
- Quick to startup
- It has a backlit keyboard with varying settings
- Discreet and sleek design
- Comes with high-quality speakers
Cons
- Low battery life as the battery lasts for just 5-6 hours
- No extra RAM and hard drive slot
- Faulty trackpad
FAQ
Q1: How much RAM do I need for Trading?
If you’re just starting with day-to-day trading, I’d suggest getting a laptop with at least 8GB RAM. But if you’ve got years of trading experience, then something more powerful, with 16GB RAM, would be ideal for running multiple trading programs, browsing tabs, etc. You don’t want to have to worry about any hanging shenanigans when you could be making a life-changing trade.
Q2: Is a MacBook good enough for trading?
The MacBook Pro is well worth the money if you’re a professional trader who’s been in the business for years. They’re sleek, classy, and powerful, meaning you can keep a close watch on the rising and falling trends of the market wherever you are, and you won’t face any issues running all the programs and browser tabs you need without any hassle.
Q3: Are gaming laptop good enough for trading?
Gaming laptops, like the Predator Helios 300 or the Ideapad L340, are some of the most powerful laptops out on the market, and perfect for trading, gaming, and tons of other tasks. These laptops tend to be in a higher price range (except for the Lenovo), so unless you’re a gamer and a trader, you might be better off looking at other devices.
Q4: How do I set up dual monitors for trading?
If you need some help with setting up multiple monitors to do more trades and don’t know what you need to do, take a look at the video below, which should answer all your questions.
Conclusion
That ends our list for the top 5 trading laptops for 2022. These laptops should do the trick, whether you’re trading on the Forex market, or mining and trading cryptocurrencies.
If you’ve been using a different laptop and have had fantastic results, let us and our readers know about it in the comments below. If you’ve got any questions for us that we weren’t able to cover, drop that in the comments down below too, and we’ll get back to you ASAP.
Till then, happy trading!
