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Looking for the best laptop for crypto trading? To trade crypto or forex online, a serious trader must have a high-performance trading station, which is a computer. A PC that blocks and delays order execution can be detrimental to any online trading activity. That is why, if you want to be a professional cryptocurrency trader or miner, you must have the best laptop for crypto trading.
Cryptocurrency trading can be so profiting, provided you have all it takes to monitor the market. To do this, however, you will need a laptop that can handle high-end browsing and handle related software flawlessly. But as there are a lot of computer brands and different models on the market, choosing a trading laptop is not usually so easy. But don’t worry, we’ve done all the research for you. We’ve cherry-picked the 4 best laptops for cryptocurrency trading for the premium and budget buyers.
Are you in a hurry? For us, the Apple MacBook Air 13.3 is our favorite because it has all the bells and whistles crypto traders want. These include the 1.6GHz dual-core Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM, a 13.3-inch LED-backlit display with IPS technology, and an average of 12 hours battery run-time. But we advise you to read on to find the complete review and specifications of this model, among others.
4 Best Laptops for Crypto Trading
1. Best macOS laptop: Apple MacBook Air 13.3
Specifications
- CPU: 1.6GHz dual-core Intel Core i5
- RAM: 8 GB
- Storage: 128 GB
- Weight: 2.65 pounds
- Display: 13.3-inch LED-backlit display with IPS technology
- Battery life: ~ 12 hours
The Apple MacBook Air is one of the best laptops for crypto traders. You know well that Apple laptops are always the most popular devices for multiple uses. Trading enthusiasts all over the world prefer this excellently designed laptop because it meets all the requirements necessary for trading and mining cryptocurrencies.
The laptop features a stunning 13.3-inch Retina Display. However, while the newer version has True Tone technology, this one lacks that feature. With a resolution of 2560 x 1600, you’ll get fantastic image quality, making it a great choice for all your long-term market needs.
Apple products are undoubtedly expensive to choose from, but they are handy when it comes to the incredible lightness of the laptop. However, the MacBook Air comes at a relatively low price.
There’s nothing quite like it when it comes to MacBook design. The silver color is the standard option, and the weight is a great bonus for traders who want to carry it around all day. Additionally, 8GB of RAM and 128GB of SSD storage also meet the recommended requirements, which is amazing.
The most important aspect we look for is battery life. The laptop offers 12 hours of amazing battery performance which will be great for all traders to work through the day. This edition of the MacBook Air has tons of other features, such as Touch ID for unlocking fingerprint passwords, a perfectly smooth keyboard, the ability to expand RAM up to 16GB, etc.
Pros
- Sleek and light
- Excellent battery life
- Perfect RAM and storage memory
- Portable and easy to use
- Not as expensive as typical Apple products
Cons
- Doesn’t feature TrueTone technology
- The newer version has more hard drive storage
2. Our Premium Pick: ASUS ZenBook 13 Ultra-Slim Laptop
Specifications
- CPU: Intel Core i5-8250U Quad-Core Processor
- RAM: 8 GB
- Storage: 128 GB SSD
- Display: 13.3-inch widescreen with edge nano-screen in Full HD
- Weight: 2.50 pounds
- Battery life: ~ 14 hours
With a powerful processor and excellent battery life, Asus offers you an ultra-thin ZenBook. It has a 13.3-inch screen with a wide field of view in Full-HD Nano-edge bezel. An incredibly thin frame of only 0.5″ with a modern design; this could be a great option.
One of the chief features of this laptop is its remarkable battery life. With an extended capacity of approximately 14 hours, you can keep working all day without interruption. The 1.6 GHz Intel Core i5 processor brings powerful performance to this laptop. Having a great processor keeps the best of the system for a longer period. It has 8 GB of DDR3 RAM and 128 GB of SSD storage capacity, which is enough to store all your files and run all the software necessary for smooth stock trading.
Another important feature is that it offers high-resolution image quality, i.e., 4k display. Few laptops have this feature, which is an overall advantage. Plus, it’s super slim, weighing just 2.5 pounds, and you can carry it wherever you want and work remotely.
For better security, it has a fingerprint unlocking system. Furthermore, it comes with a beautiful backlit keyboard that helps you work even at night.
Pros
- Reasonable price
- Incredible battery life
- A powerful processor
- High-resolution display
- Lightness and durability
Cons
- Heating problems
3. Best for Battery Life: LG Gram Laptop
Specifications
- CPU: 8th generation Intel Core i5 processor
- RAM: 8 GB
- Storage: 256 GB SSD
- Display: 14 inch Full HD IPS screen
- Weight: 2.2 pounds
- Battery life: ~18.5 hours
The LG Gram Laptop is one of the best LG laptops for crypto and stock trading, recently launched by LG. The main features of this laptop are the extended battery life and build quality. With the 8th generation Intel Core i5 processor, you can enjoy the flawless performance of a robust system.
It has 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage memory to save data files on your system and run the necessary software to perform stock trades smoothly. Apart from being super light, this laptop is equipped with a 14-inch Full HD IPS screen which offers a pretty decent display. Even though it is light in weight, the durability of this machine is about the same.
As for battery life, it’s a beast. Incredible 18.5 hour capacity on a single charge. You can probably use it for two days before putting it back on charge. Pretty impressive, right?
Plus, if you’re a night owl, then the fantastic backlit keyboard would be perfect for all your trading jobs. Moreover, you can take advantage of the webcam at the top of the screen for any video conference or meeting during your working hours.
This laptop has multiple connectivity ports, a USB Type-C port for faster data transfer, Thunderbolt 3, two USB 3.0 ports for faster file transfer and loading, a microSD card reader, and an HDMI slot for secure connection to high definition displays.
Pros
- Highly durable and lightweight
- Outstanding battery life
- Multiple connectivity ports
- Perfect style and build quality
Cons
- No fingerprint scanner
4. Best Portable Laptop: Microsoft Surface Pro 6
Specifications
- CPU: 1.3 GHz Intel Core i5 processor
- RAM: 8 GB
- Storage: 256 GB
- Display: PixelSense Display 12.3
- Weight: 1.7 pounds
- Battery life: ~13.5 hours
The Microsoft Surface Pro 6 is an incredible 2-in-1 laptop that functions as a tablet. It is perhaps the most portable laptop for on-the-go traders. Weighing only 1.7 pounds, no other laptop could be so light and loaded with exclusive features.
The Intel Core i5 processor is not something you would have asked for as the CPU power does not exceed 1.3 GHz, but overall its performance is below what other models reviewed above offer. It has 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage. You can also get the 16GB variant of this laptop, which may increase the total cost.
Since this device meets the minimum requirements for crypto trading software to run on the system, no upgrades would be required.
Another sweet feature of the Surface Pro 6 is the 12.3-inch PixelSense display. It’s small, compact, and it’s a portable device meant to be taken anywhere on your travels. You can use it in three modes: the Laptop, Tablet, and Studio mode.
All laptop accessories such as keyboard and mouse are sold separately, which may cost extra, but if you are ok with buying this laptop, you should. This computer has a battery life of around 13.5 hours, which is excellent compared to other laptops in this price range. As a trader, this can come in handy at times. The only ports are a headphone jack, a surface docking port, a USB A 3.0 port, and a mini display port.
Be sure to check our reviews on best gaming mouses, in case you decide to use your laptop for gaming as well.
Pros
- Super light and portable
- Multiple usage modes
- Excellent battery life
- Sufficient RAM and storage
- Keyboard and mouse included
Cons
- No USB Type-C port included
Features to Consider Before Buying a Crypto Trading Laptop
The features of the laptop determine the speed at which you will execute trades and the type of software you can run. So, let us focus on some of the essential features you should consider before purchasing an ideal trading laptop.
1. Processor speed
The performance depends on the laptop’s processor and graphics card. If you select a fast one, your tasks get executed on the fly, but the price will be higher.
Depending on the number of cores, the GHz frequency, or the cache memory, the processor plays an essential role in the speed of the machine. Some processors have multiple cores. This allows them to process multiple tasks and improve performance compared to single-core trading computers. You will be looking for options for laptops with at least quad-core processors, which can range from 2.8 to 3.3 GHz.
2. RAM
Random Access Memory (RAM) is a short-term data storage memory. Having the right amount of RAM will speed up the operation of your computer. It allows multiple windows and tasks to work properly. When buying a trading computer, look for at least 8 GB options.
Try to buy a laptop with a little more RAM than you need, based on your budget. You can upgrade internally or externally if it has an extra slot.
If you are looking for a low-budget laptop, you can choose 8 GB of RAM. However, consider 16 GB of RAM or more (there are high-end models with 32GB RAM).
3. The hard drive
Before selecting a hard drive, you should consider what type of storage is in that laptop. Look for a trading computer with SSD (solid-state drive) as the primary hard drive. These hard drives are more reliable for quickly retrieving information.
Asides from the SSD hard drives, there are also HDD hard drives. Look for a laptop with an SSD as its primary storage drive. A solid-state drive is more reliable to provide information quickly and with lower boot speed. As for the hard drive storage, 128 GB is enough, but 265GB will be better.
4. The display screen
Always buy a laptop with a larger screen. You will need to see most of the graphics well; in such a way that it is not necessary to connect an external display.
Clear and visible graphics will help you make the best trading decisions. Therefore, a larger screen size provides operators with better graphics, etc.
If you prefer a smaller screen size, this means that you will occasionally have to strain your eyes, although you will have mobility without problems. Regardless of the size of your screen, it is vital to opt for a laptop with a high resolution.
5. Battery life
You will work at any time because the crypto charts change every time. Sometimes even a few extra seconds can lead to profit. If you prefer Intel systems, choose processors that end with the U-series: they consume less power and guarantee a longer battery life. Your laptop should be able to offer 13 to 20 hours of run-time.
Summary
Cryptocurrencies are always on the verge of fluctuation, and a trader needs to be constantly tuned to keep it all on track. Among other features, the chosen laptop must have RAM of at least 8GB or more, SSD hard drive storage, 10 to 20 hours of battery life, Intel i5 or higher, Windows 10, or macOS 10.14.
For us, the overall best is the Apple MacBook Air 13.3. It boasts features such as the 1.6GHz dual-core Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM, a 13.3-inch LED-backlit display with IPS technology, and an average of 12 hours battery run-time.
Those who want a higher-end model with a longer battery life will love the ASUS ZenBook 13 Ultra-Slim Laptop, and for those who need longer battery life, the LG Gram Laptop comes with an average of 18.5 run-time hours and can even reach 20 hours.
FAQs
Yes, you can day-trade on a laptop. But you will need a model with high RAM power. For day-trading, you will need nothing less than 16 gigabytes of RAM. Although 32 GB will be perfect, these laptops are expensive.
8GB RAM is the minimum requirement for crypto and stock trading, so it’s good enough for basic uses, especially for beginners and HODLers. However, if you’re running a lot of trading software or want to start day-trading, you’ll need more RAM.
A 4GB RAM is not bad for a laptop, but for professional and heavy-duty uses, you’ll need to upgrade the RAM or get a better laptop. For trading, you’d need at least 8GB.
A good trading laptop must have at least 8GB RAM, a powerful battery capacity that offers at least 13 hours, and a quad-core processor.