Every day, thousands of people from all around the world are trading with crypto and forex, but there is still no perfect solution.
Some of them use laptops, but there is one big problem.
They can’t find a good laptop that will work for crypto and forex traders.
This is why I decided to create this guide where I will teach you about the best laptop for trading, and more importantly, the best budget laptop for trading in the future.
And if you’re looking for a laptop that’s going to help you trade and monitor your charts effectively in your day-to-day life, then I think this will be a good one for you.
Let’s get started.
Best Laptop for Trading Forex, Crypto and Stocks 2023
The best laptops for trading forex, crypto and stocks have become increasingly popular, with more traders using them to trade currencies, stocks and other financial instruments.
The rise of the online trading industry has seen the demand for these laptops grow, so if you’re looking to trade with a laptop and have a budget in mind, this article will help you to find the right laptop for your needs.
Laptops can be expensive, so before you start looking at laptops, it’s a good idea to know what to look for.
That is why I have curated this list for you below is not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Instead, each of the laptops in this list will have pros and cons, but all of them are superb when it comes to everything that matters when buying a laptop for forex trading.
Quick Recommendations:
Apple Macbook Pro – Everything you could ask for.
Apple MacBook Air – Super Light, Super Powerful.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 – Compact and Powerful.
Dell Inspiron 15 – Strong Setup, Very Affordable
Alienware m15 R4 – Engineered for gaming, excels for trading.
Razer Blade 14 – Small, Light, and Extremely Fast.
Acer Nitro 5 – Excellent Budget Laptop.
HP Pavilion 15 – High-Quality Specs without Breaking The Bank.
The contenders:
Apple Macbook Pro – Everything you could ask for.
This thing is blazing fast.
If you want to invest in a laptop that will stand the test of time, then going all out on this one is certainly the most viable!
I’ve had some Apple laptops for 8 years+ and in its final days still competing against mid-priced laptops.
The Apple MacBook Pro is one of the world’s best all-around laptops. It is an ultrafast workstation with a beautiful design that fits perfectly in your hand.
It has a gorgeous display that allows you to view high-resolution images at 100% zoom, along with a large trackpad that makes it easy to use. Its wide array of connectivity options and its powerful performance allows you to get things done fast.
If you want a notebook with both style and performance, you’ll love the Apple MacBook Pro.
The most exciting feature of this model is that it was equipped with an advanced Apple chip M1 Pro or M1 Max to provide a fast and stable computing experience.
This is also accompanied by a powerful graphics engine and a large memory capacity.
There is no end to the number of charts you have open with this laptop, so if you are a heavy user – this could be the perfect trading partner for you.
The Key Specs:
- You can expect a massive leap in performance from your MacBook Pro with the Apple M1 Pro or M1 Max chip.
- Up to 2x faster performance to fly through pro workflows quicker than ever.
- Super long battery life – up to 21 hours.
- Get up to 64GB of memory so you can run things at optimal speed
- Get up to 8TB of SSD so that you can store an abundance of documents and data, whilst accessing them at lightening fast speeds.
- Up to 16-inch Liquid Retina XDR display to visualise your charts with crystal clear clarity.
Reviews and Rating:
The Apple MacBook Pro has received an average of 4.5 stars out of 5 from verified customer purchases.
CHECK PRICESApple MacBook Air – Super Light, Super Powerful.
A budget-friendly Apple laptop that packs heavyweight punches thanks to the M1 chip.
The beauty behind Apple products is that everything is engineered to work harmoniously with each other and since releasing the M1 chip, they’ve managed to transform their already powerful products into superpowers.
With that being said, the Apple MacBook Air is smaller (as the name suggests), so if you want the power but don’t mind a smaller screen – this could be for you.
The new MacBook Air is a powerful, stylish, and reliable laptop for people who want to work wherever they are.
It features an all-new chip, the M1, for faster processing, more energy-efficient graphics, and better overall performance.
It is very well built and sturdy.
This one has been given all the latest tech and is very sleek.
It is perfect for an on the go user who wants to travel light but needs the power to get work done.
The Specs:
- The Apple M1 chip delivers up to 3.5x faster performances compared to it’s predecessor.
- 8GB superfast RAM that will make your system super responsive and support multiple tasks that take up a lot of RAM normally.
- Up to 18 hours of battery life, making this a real power house for mobile users.
- 13.3″ Retina display will enhance the visuals of any trading chart with a crisp, clear image.
Reviews and Rating:
The Apple MacBook Air has received an average of 4.8 stars out of 5 from verified customer purchases.
CHECK PRICESMicrosoft Surface Laptop 4 – Compact and Powerful.
Okay enough with the Apple products, they are not for everyone.
But for those that like the Apple looks and power, but want to stick with Windows then I have a few amazing alternative laptops for you.
This is the latest version of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 4.
This is one of the best laptops on the market.
It has a gorgeous display that makes everything look incredibly sharp and colourful.
It has a good keyboard as well as a sturdy body.
If you’re looking for a laptop that has a good battery life, this is the one for you.
The Key Specs:
- Exclusive AMD Ryzen Microsoft Surface Edition processor that unlocks 70% more multitasking power and speed than ever before.
- It’s incredibly thin, lightweight, and has a premium design.
- Has a large, high quality 15″ screen for you to view your charts.
- 512 GB SSD storage
Reviews and Rating:
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 has received an average of 4.6 stars out of 5 from verified customer purchases.
CHECK PRICESDell Inspiron 15 – Strong Setup, Very Affordable
Dell is an innovative company that has changed the way we work with computers and gadgets.
The company offers a large variety of devices that are available in different colours, sizes, and other characteristics.
This laptop comes with a lot of exciting features that will satisfy your needs as a trader.
It has a powerful processor that gives you the best performance in this category.
The 16GB of RAM can give you a smooth and lag-free experience with the latest software.
This laptop also has a solid-state drive that can store all of your important data.
This is an amazing laptop with a beautiful design and top-notch performance.
The screen is a pleasure to use and the battery life is amazing.
Well worth a consideration considering what you get for your money.
The Key Specs:
- 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) Anti-Glare LED Backlight Touch Narrow Border WVA Display
- A stunning 15.6″ FHD screen with anit-glare LED.
- The AMD Ryzen 7 5700U 8-core/16-thread Mobile Processor with Radeon Graphics
- 16GB 3200MHz DDR4
- 512GB PCIe NVMe Class 35 Solid State Drive
Reviews and Rating:
The Dell Inspiron 15 has received an average of 4.1 stars out of 5 from verified customer purchases.
CHECK PRICESAlienware m15 R4 – Engineered for gaming, excels for trading.
If you are looking for a high-quality laptop that can meet your needs, then this is a great option for you.
It has everything that you need, such as the latest technology, the best graphics card, and a great display.
Alienware laptops are known for their beautiful design and their performance.
This model is no exception to this rule, being one of the best gaming laptops in its class.
It features a powerful processor and a high-resolution display.
The Alienware m15 R4 is an ideal gaming laptop for those who want a solid computer for all of their entertainment needs.
What this also means is that it’ll be an amazing laptop for trading stocks with.
The high-quality video and sound are perfect for your favourite movies and games.
The Key Specs:
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphics to empower the amazing visuals this machine can deliver.
- Alienware Cryo-Tech optimizes component cooling, which maximizes overall performance and keeps your laptop cool to the touch.
- One of the thinnest and lightest Alienware laptops in it’s history.
- High quality 15.6″ 4K OLED display.
- 16GB of RAM
- 1TB SSD Storage
Reviews and Rating:
The Alienware m15 R4 has received an average of 4.2 stars out of 5 from verified customer purchases.
CHECK PRICESRazer Blade 14 – Small, Light, and Extremely Fast.
This laptop is loaded with the latest technology that can allow it to run extremely fast.
If you are looking for something that you can use to play games on then this might be the perfect laptop for you.
It comes with a large screen that you can easily see what you are doing at a glance.
It also has enough processing power to handle the latest games.
The Key Specs:
- The award-winning RTX architecture built into the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 Series provides world class graphics.
- The AMD Ryzen 5000 Series processors deliver world class performances across every aspect of working with a laptop.
- An ultra crisp display from the 165 Hz QHD 14″ display
- Vapor Chamber Cooling: This keeps the laptop quiet and removes the heat through the evaporation & condensation of an internal fluid, thus keeping the laptop running smoothly and cool even under intense workloads.
- 16 GB RAM to provide plenty of memory for your trading needs
- 1TB SSD Storage giving you an abundance of space to store data and giving you immense speeds to retrieve them.
Reviews and Rating:
The Razer Blade 14 has received an average of 4.3 stars out of 5 from verified customer purchases.
CHECK PRICESAcer Nitro 5 – Excellent Budget Laptop.
This Acer Nitro 5 laptop is definitely a perfect choice for traders as it has a powerful rig and a stunning design.
With an amazing 17.3 inch screen, you can load up your charts and view multiple stocks at once without having to worry about the size of your screen or the quality of your display.
It has an Intel Core i7 processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050Ti graphics card, and a lot more.
You also get an impressive 1TB solid-state drive (SSD) to store all of your data, 16GB RAM, and many other great features.
The new Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop is a great all-rounder and is packed with a lot of the latest technology.
The Acer Nitro 5 is a sleek, lightweight laptop that fits perfectly in your bag. It’s not bulky at all and it’s designed with a metal frame, so it looks great and will also feel great when you’re playing games.
The Key Specs:
- 17.3″ QHD 165 Hz screen ensuring you’ll always see a crystal clear display that is sharp and smooth.
- Powerful 11th gen Intel Core i7 CPU
- 16 GB RAM
- Built in graphics card: NVidia GeForce RTX 3060 which features RTX architecture.
- Great cooling system due to Acer’s CoolBoost technology which allows the fan speed to automatically increase when needed.
- Massive 1TB SSD storage
Reviews and Rating:
The Acer Nitro 5 has received an average of 4.2 stars out of 5 from verified customer purchases.
CHECK PRICESHP Pavilion 15 – High Quality Specs without Breaking The Bank.
With long-lasting battery life, stunning graphics and an incredible array of powerful capabilities, the new HP Pavilion 15-inch notebook is the perfect choice for serious traders with a budget sub $1,000.
With up to eight hours of battery life, the HP Pavilion 15.6” FHD laptop gives you the freedom to stay productive all day long.
The HP Pavilion 15 Laptop is a great choice for someone who wants a powerful laptop that can also be very portable.
It has a high-resolution, full HD display and an 8-core AMD Ryzen 7 processor with Radeon Vega 10 graphics, which means it will offer plenty of power for any kind of computer usage, from casual to intensive gaming.
This laptop is a very versatile machine.
The Key Specs:
- Incredible detail brought to life with the 15.6″ FHD display.
- The AMD Ryzen 7 5700U accelerates the performance of the laptop to world class with their new architecture that delivers multi-core processing – perfect for trading.
- An insane 32GB memory to unleash the machines true potential.
- 1 TB SSD which provides you with massive storage space.
Reviews and Rating:
The HP Pavilion 15 has received an average of 4.5 stars out of 5 from verified customer purchases.
CHECK PRICESMy Verdict on the Best Laptop for trading 2023
I’m going to level with you.
My choice is like any investment.
What can I buy now that will pay me dividends later, and am I getting the best value from it right away?
I could go for a cheap, budget laptop for trading – which would work – but you may have to buy a new laptop again in 1 to 2 years because technology and software are developing at a tremendous pace that upgrading will become a certainty.
If you do go for a budget laptop for trading, then hopefully you’ll have made more than enough money by then to afford something with more longevity by then.
So here are the best laptops for trading that you should seriously consider:
Apple MacBook Pro M1 Max
It’s by FAR the best laptop on the market and the steep cost upfront now, will last you several years (or longer?).
You should read all the reviews about it, it’s just an endless stream of praises from the industry experts and customers alike.
A cheaper alternative is the Apple MacBook Air M1
And for those that prefer windows:
The HP Pavilion 15 seems like an absolute steal for the price considering the hardware you get from it.
However, not all hardware is created equally.
So if you want to get something more robust, then try the Acer Nitro 5.
How to Buy A Laptop for Trading
This list has given you the best laptops for forex trading that is currently available on the market.
I can appreciate there is a lot of information and technical jargon when it comes to buying any desktop computer or laptop, so below, I have shared the top metrics to look at to help your research:
CPU
CPUs are essential to the day use of a laptop, especially for trading crypto.
The CPUs are the central processing units. They are the brains of the computer. When you press the power button on your computer, it is your CPU that starts up and executes programs.
It is the CPU that runs the operating system and all of the applications you use. It’s also the CPU that processes your data.
Just remember the faster the CPU the better.
Memory
The memory of a laptop is just as important as this is what allows you to run so many programs at once.
It also stops the computer from hanging up or lagging.
Something you never want to experience when entering or exiting a trade!
Memory, or RAM (which stands for Random Access Memory ), is the main storage area of a computer.
RAM allows data to be read and written very quickly.
It’s very important to have high RAM when it comes to buying a laptop for trading stocks.
Storage
Storage is done through the SSD or HDD of a laptop.
SSD = Solid State Drive.
HDD = Hard-disk Drive.
HDDs are significantly slower than SSDs and are used in budget laptops due to their affordability.
However, if you want something lightening fast, then SSDs are the only way.
Power
This results in the time the battery life has before you need to recharge it.
The examples in the list above are well above average when it comes to battery life and recharging times.
Screen Size
Screen size is an important factor because small screens (sub 13″) make it difficult for you to have many apps open at once to gather as much intel on an asset as possible.
Also, sometimes a bigger picture can help you notice market movements quicker and easier.
With laptops, you are not limited to just the one screen size however, there are plenty of options for you to plug in an external monitor too.
Important Trading Tools All Laptops for Trading Will Run
There is no point in investing in a computer for trading if you can’t run the trading software.
Fortunately, the requirements of most trading software are ridiculously low.
Let’s have a look at the most popular ones:
TradingView
TradingView, in my honest opinion, is one of the best trading platforms available.
(You can read my TradingView Review here).
The best thing is you just need to have a browser running, which means it can run on virtually every computer on any budget.
It’s always updated and your work is saved in the cloud, so you’re support and resistance levels will be saved. This is a massive time saver.
This is one of the lowest demanding trading tools you can use and will work on 100% of the laptops mentioned in the list above.
MetaTrader 4
Also known as MT4, MetaTrader 4 is a web-based financial trading software package from MetaQuotes Software Corp.
It has some similarities to other online trading programs but it is distinguished by its extensive array of analytical tools.
It can provide services like forex, stocks, indices, commodities, contracts for differences, etc. via the software.
MT4 is a very popular trading platform that has a high uptake with brokers across the globe.
Every single laptop will run this software with ease.
However, do note, that it is developed for a Windows-based operating system BUT most brokers have transformed it so it can work on both Apple and Windows computers.
MetaTrader 5
MT5 is the updated, but less adopted version of MT4.
MetaTrader 5 is an automated trading software system for Forex, Futures, Indices, Options, Commodities, Cryptocurrency, Stocks, ETFs and Futures.
It can be used for Online Trading, Mobile Trading and Web Trading.
MT5 tends to have greater features for a wider range of assets such as futures and options trading.
Most traders only use MT4 still though.
These are some of the most popular trading tools available to retail traders.
Most forex brokers provide free access to their own web-based trading platform too, so you have an abundance of platforms across a spectrum of trading laptops.
This might be pedantic but if your laptop crashes or slows down to a halt at the wrong time, it could cost you a high-quality trade entry and lose out on the opportunity to profit.
Or worse:
Prevent you from exiting a losing trade and costing you more money.
(Stop losses should always be used)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Graphics Card Important For Forex Trading?
Most laptops come with an integrated graphics card on the motherboard. When it comes to trading the markets, a dedicated graphics card is not necessary.
But it can certainly help improve overall performance.
With that being said, one of the best performing laptops right now, that beats those that have a dedicated graphics card, uses only its integrated graphics card.
If you want to use your laptop for gaming as well, then I’d look at one with a dedicated graphics card such as:
Should I Use SSD or HDD?
SSD is more expensive but it is significantly better. I’d always go SSD vs HDD with every laptop available.
HDD does bring the budget of the laptop down a notch, but the speed is a casualty and not worth it in my opinion.
How Much Memory Would I Need For Trading?
With the right CPU and SSD set up, memory can be relaxed a little in terms of needs.
However, with today’s demands in processing resources, you want to be aiming for 8GB as an absolute minimum.
This is part of the system that will allow you to keep your trading platform operating as smooth as possible.
So if you have the budget to hit the 16GB+, certainly do that.
How Much Storage Should I Need For Trading?
If you are using browser-based trading tools, then not that much storage will be taken up by your trading platform (or if you use their dedicated desktop application — it’s around 150-250MB).
If you download data and use excel spreadsheets etc. then this also comes into consideration, but again, not much room is taken up.
I could give you the minimum amounts and say that is enough, but in reality, it never is as most people say 128GB is enough to work with… It’s not.
Because after the operating system is installed, it’s going to leave you with around 60-80GB of free space, which is nothing.
The way SSDs are designed, the idea is whatever you think you need – then double it – is a good formula to work with.
Ideally, you want to aim for a minimum of 250GB as an absolute minimum.
Do You Need A Fast Computer For Trading Forex?
Quite simply, yes. You don’t need a supercomputer that costs $100,000 nor do you need a top of the line machine built for high-end gaming.
You need something that is fast and well built to manage multiple platforms at once.
Thankfully, nowadays, trading platforms are not as resource hungry on the machine thanks to cloud software.
However, a fast computer for forex trading in my opinion is a must.
Wrapping This Up
After reading this article, you’ll have a much better idea about what you should buy in the near future.
So there we have it, a list of the best laptops for trading, crypto and stocks.
I’ve shared a lot of golden nuggets with you today and I hope you take them on to improve your trading.
Which laptop are you going to buy?
Let me know by messaging me on social media, I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Even better, share this article on social media to help other traders benefit too.
(It can be your one good deed for the day!)
(Disclaimer: I am a participant of the Amazon Associates scheme which means I can earn a commission on anything you purchase through the links on this page. This will not add any costs to you. So if you find this guide helpful, I’d be grateful for your support by purchasing through the links below).