If you want to earn a competitive salary and have high job security in the cyber security industry, then pentesting might be the career for you. According to PayScale, the average salary of penetration testers is $87,845. To qualify for a high salary, you will first need to invest in one of the best laptops for pentesting.
This guide will cover the best laptops for pentesting under $1,000 and over $1,000. We will also discuss the essential components of a good pentesting laptop. Read on to discover the best options for pentesting laptops along with great choices for cheap laptops for pentesting.
How to Choose the Best Pentesting Laptop
There are several features and spec requirements a laptop must meet to become one of the best laptops for pentesting. However, if you want to get a job in penetration testing, then a powerful laptop that can handle operational security software is a necessity. Below are the top elements to consider while choosing a laptop for pentesting or ethical hacking purposes.
High SSD and RAM Storage Capacity
Getting a job in cyber security requires you to work with tons of heavy operations security software that requires a laptop with ample storage capacity. Laptops with SSD capacities ranging between 256GB to 512GB are optimal for pentesting requirements. You can also look into laptops with external storage ports and other options to increase the capacity.
Powerful Processor
Laptops with an Intel Core i5 processor or higher are a must for pentesting tasks. There are tons of budget laptops you can purchase that offer 8th generation or higher processors. You can also choose a laptop with powerful graphics units to perform password cracking and other ethical hacking jobs.
Affordable Price Range
The laptop’s price is another vital component to consider while choosing a laptop for pentesting. There is a multitude of pentesting laptops that can cost over $3,500 which can be very expensive for many people. You should look into the overall specs and compare them to the laptop’s price range to choose a financially compatible laptop.
Long Battery Runtime and Thermal Design Laptop
Cyber security software and ethical hacking tasks require immense processing power from your laptop. A high average battery life is a must for a good pentesting laptop so you can use it uninterrupted after a single charge. The ideal laptop has a good battery that can help you avoid overheating. You should also purchase a laptop with an incorporated thermal design and cooling fan system.
Compatible with the Kali Linux Operating System
The Kali Linux OS, one of many Linux distro options, is popular across penetration testing and cyber security jobs. As such, you must opt for a laptop that is compatible with Kali Linux OS and related downloads.
High Definition Screen Resolution and Apt Screen Size
A high-definition screen resolution is another essential element to factor in while choosing a laptop for pentesting. An HD screen is a crucial factor needed for scripting and testing purposes. You can also choose laptops that have a wide display ranging between 14 and 17 inches in size.
How to Find Cheap Laptops for Pentesting
- Use Black Friday and other holiday discounts. The first tip to find a cheap deal for a laptop for pentesting is to purchase it during the heavy discount season. Black Friday and Cyber Monday offer heavy discounts on electronics. You can also sign up on websites to get sale alerts.
- Buy your laptop directly from the official manufacturer. The prices of the laptops on the official manufacturer’s websites often tend to be cheaper than third-party retail websites. Along with cheaper prices, you can also get a warranty directly from the manufacturers. However, it is always best to check price ranges from various sources.
- Use your student, teacher, military, or other discounts. This tip applies to those with professions or backgrounds that are eligible for discounts. You can get student, teacher, veterans, or military discounts from several laptop manufacturers, if applicable, to help ease your budget constraints.
The Best Laptops for Pentesting in 2023
| Laptop | Manufacturer | Price | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| MacBook Pro | Apple | $2,499 | 16-inch display, 64GB of memory, 512GB SSD storage |
| Razer Blade Stealth 13 | Razer | $1,999 | 512GB SSD, 11th Generation Intel, Quad-Core processor |
| Alienware M15 R7 Gaming Laptop | Dell | $1,550 | 512GB SSD storage, NVIDIA GeForce RTX, 12th Generation Intel |
| Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop | Acer | $1,300 | 11800 H processor, 512GB SSD storage, IPS display screen technology |
| HP Envy 17t-ch000 | HP | $1,200 | 512GB SSD, 11th Generation Intel, Intel Iris Xe graphics |
| HP Pavilion 15 Laptop PC | HP | $1,000 | Intel Core i7 processor, 512GB SSD |
| Acer Nitro 5 – 2022 | Acer | $800 | 256GB SSD storage, 10300H processor, 15.6-inch screen with full HD display |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 | Microsoft | $800 | Windows 11, 19 hours of battery life, Intel Core i5 processor |
| Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 AMD | Lenovo | $680 | Integrated AMD Radeon graphics, 256GB SSD storage, fingerprint reader |
| Acer Aspire 5-A515-43 | Acer | $650 | Quad-Core processor, 512GB SSD, AMD Radeon RX Vega 10 |
Top Rated Laptops for Pentesting: In Detail
MacBook M1 Pro
- Best for: High-performance battery and multitasking
- Price: $2,499
According to Canalys PC Market Pulse statistics, Apple desktop and laptop shipments saw annual growth of 28 percent in 2021. The popularity of Apple’s MacBook Pro is constantly rising across the tech community. The reason for this popularity can be attributed to its excellent performance and graphics processing units, as well as its elegant design.
The MacBook Pro is an amazing laptop for pentesting and ethical hacking purposes. It has dedicated RAM for graphics, around 14 hours of battery life, and amazing speed for pentesting. The device also has exceptional sound quality.
Razer Blade Stealth 13
- Best for: High-speed processing
- Price: $1,999
Razer is famous for creating gaming and high-performing laptops. This Razer Blade Stealth 13 offers ample storage capacity, an NVIDIA graphics card, and a powerful quad-core processor making it an excellent laptop for pentesting.
Alienware M15 R7 Gaming Laptop
- Best for: Heavy processing and multitasking
- Price: $1,550
A gaming laptop offers efficient performance and amazing speeds that are essential components for a pentesting laptop. This Alienware M15 R7 gaming laptop offers Cryo-tech cooling and dual fan design technology that will allow you to use the laptop for heavy software. This laptop also includes multiple graphics processor ports and long battery runtime.
Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop
- Best for: Daily pentesting tasks
- Price: $1,300
The Predator Helios 300 gaming device is yet another powerful laptop for pentesting that supports Kali Linux OS, has ample storage space, and has an Intel Core i7 processor needed to handle ethical hacking tasks. It has a 15.6-inch display size and a dedicated graphics processing unit making it an ideal choice for cyber security purposes.
HP Envy 17t-ch000
- Best for: Use as a general pentesting and ethical hacking laptop
- Price: $1,200
Whether you want to become an ethical hacker or a cyber security analyst, having a laptop with the fastest processor, most RAM storage space, and efficient performance is something to look for. This HP Envy 17t has Iris Xe Intel graphics, an Intel Core i7 processor, a backlit display, fingerprint sensor, and a fast battery recharge time. In addition, it has an attractive design.
Best Laptops for Pentesting Under $1,000
HP Pavilion 15 Laptop PC
- Best for: Daily pentesting tasks
- Price: $1,000
If you are in search of a budget laptop with Windows 11 OS, an Intel Core i7 processor, and Intel Turbo Boost technology, then this HP Pavilion 15 is an ideal choice for pentesting. It has a fingerprint sensor, fast-charging battery, energy efficiency certification, and Iris Xe Intel graphics desirable for pentesting. You can also run Kali Linux on this device.
Acer Nitro 5
- Best for: Daily pentesting tasks
- Price: $800
The Acer Nitro 5 offers an affordable price for a laptop for pentesting and ethical hacking purposes. It has a 4GB graphics Intel dedicated memory, 256GB solid-state drive storage, and an Intel Core i5 processor. It is an excellent choice for pentesters looking for a lithium-ion battery with a wide display size, ample connectivity options, and amazing performance.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 4
- Best for: Long battery life
- Price: $800
The Microsoft Surface 4 laptop with two processors including AMD Ryzen and 11th generation Intel Core processor makes it a powerful and budget-friendly penetration testing laptop. It offers a high battery capacity and a powerful graphics processing unit for amazing performance for cyber security tasks. In addition, there are multiple color options.
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 AMD
- Best for: Pentesters on a budget
- Price: $680
If you are looking for a lightweight laptop that is portable with an integrated graphic card, then this Lenovo IdeaPad Flex is a great option. Though less powerful than the Lenovo ThinkPad, this convertible laptop is flexible and has a Windows 11 OS with an AMD Ryzen processor and a fingerprint reader. It also comes with an SD card reader, a 14-inch FHD display, and 256 GB SSD storage, making it a great laptop for hacking.
Acer Aspire 5
- Best for: Pentesters on a budget
- Price: $650
Acer Aspire 5 is a budget laptop that offers powerful graphics cards, a dual-core processor, a high-quality display, a large screen size, and ample RAM storage space at an affordable price. It also has IPS technology and seven-hour battery life. If you have a limited budget but are looking for a high-performing hacking laptop, then this Acer model is worth considering.
Should I Use a Laptop for Pentesting?
Yes, you should use a laptop for pentesting as this cyber security field requires all its operations and software tasks to be orchestrated on a laptop or a computer. Finding the best laptop for hacking and pentesting purposes requires you to consider a wide range of computing elements.
You should choose laptops that are compatible with Kali Linux, have a long-lasting battery life, powerful graphics processing unit, large solid-state drive, and a 5th generation or higher Intel Core processor. Typically, you will also want to choose a laptop with a sleek design since the aim is for the device to be easily portable.
Best Laptops for Pentesting FAQ
The top laptops to use for pentesting are the MacBook Pro, Razer Blade Stealth 13, Alienware M15 R7 Gaming Laptop, and Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop.
Yes, there are plenty of good-quality laptops for pentesting you can buy for under $1,000. Some of them are the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex, Acer Aspire 5, Microsoft Surface 4, and Acer Nitro 5.
Some of the essential elements that should be included in a laptop for pentesting are Kali Linux OS compatibility, Intel Turbo Boost, and a powerful graphics unit processor. You should also pick laptops with long battery life, ample connectivity options, a large disk size, and large RAM storage space.
The best laptops for hacking and ethical hacking purposes are the MacBook Pro, Alienware M15 R7 Gaming Laptop, Razer Blade Stealth 13, HP Envy 17t, and Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop.
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