Last updated on July 14th, 2023 at 12:37 pm

Estimated reading time: 26 minutes

10 Best Laptops Are Tested by cyber security professionals

As a cyber security expert, you may need a portable computer that can work in multiple programming languages ​​and that can integrate heavy data into tasks such as password cracking easily. Alternatively, you will need to make sure that the machine you are getting can install Linux (Ubuntu) dual boot, use virtual machines, monitor network traffic, etc. But how?

Without knowledge of hardware and PC hardware, choosing the right laptop can be a daunting task, which is why after 173 hours of research, here are the 10 best options you can consider in 2022.

The basic requirements for cyber security are a powerful CPU like an Intel-based i7 / i9 or ZEN 3 AMD Ryzen 9. You will need at least 16GB of RAM to perform many tasks. Also, a fast NVMe SSD and a powerful mid-range GPU should be at the top of the list of priorities.

Before making this list, we consulted with 31 online security experts, and from their point of view you do not need an expensive portable computer, however, you should not deal with cheap $ 300 or sub-$ 400 laptops. After that, we spent 173 hours researching 51 laptops from reputable companies that came with enough juice and modern Intel / AMD CPUs to help you with secure online activities.

What else should you consider when choosing a cybersecurity laptop?

Not interested? Jump to the list!

Advanced components such as the i7-core processors can use virtual machines. The NVIDIA RTX-series graphics card will help your cause in recovering a GPU-encrypted password at a powerful computation calculator using hundreds of GPU characters to speed up the process.

Other things to consider on a cyber security portable computer with built-in quality, keyboard, and Battery life. Chances are, you will carry the device with you, and quality items on the chassis can extend the life cycle.

• Keyboard is your playground in network control and white hacker tools like Wire Shark. You will want a reliable and comfortable keyboard.

• Experts recommend a 15.6-inch display, preferably IPS. This site is a great place for complex applications and device portability. And many of the people we talked to used one or two external monitors too.

• Battery life is important but not essential. You can do most of your work at home and anywhere (remotely), and if you venture somewhere, extra battery juice may come in handy.

Our list is divided into 3 sections, the first 4 laptops are advanced machines that can not only do cyber-security-related work but can also help you play games that require resources, machine learning, 3D modeling, CAD, and image editing. , etc. Between 5-8 devices are budget devices suitable for working professionals and the last 2 options are cheap but powerful laptops suitable for students.

With flagship specifications, you will receive a future-proof device. We will start with high-end models, and offer mid-range proposals, and other budget options at the end.

This device basically examines almost every box, starting with a magnesium alloy chassis, a high-quality keyboard, and high-end specifications that provide desktop performance

Alienware from Dell is very popular with gamers and is associated with games. If you want high-performance, game laptops are usually the best choice. With Alienware M15 R3 you will not only be able to do your online security-related work but you can also do other things like video editing, running any Adobe CC applications, playing around with big databases, etc.

CPU & Graphics Card

You can easily use visible devices on this high-end device. Intel Core i7-10750H powerful 6-core 10th generation CPU with 5GHz turbo boost will not be a bottled system.

The RTX 2060 is a medium-sized graphics card with 240 tensor cores that you can use for similar processing of large data sets in TensorFlow and PyTorch libraries if you are also typing. The combination of 6GB VRAM and CPU can also help with network analysis tasks with sensitive information.

For gamers: RTX 2060 can use AAA game titles such as Cyberpunk 2077, World of Warcraft, PUBG, Fortnite, League of Legends, or Call of Duty: Warzone in moderation for FHD in advanced settings and comfortable FPS. We were able to score almost 90-100 FPS points in the highest settings.

RAM and Storage

Alienware has 16GB of RAM to support a powerful CPU. These components will make the system more responsive and faster, from a faster startup process to a faster application launch. With the 512GB PCIe SSD, you will have enough space for your projects, spreadsheets, documents, and other files. This RAM-SSD combo benefits both a heavy workload and in-depth user experience.

The device comes with Windows 10 Home, which is the second most advanced Pro version but sufficient for VM, network monitoring, and data collection.

Display

The display is a solid Alienware site. The FHD IPS screen has a 144Hz refresh rate that you can play in comfort with the 2060 GPU. More importantly, excellent brightness and 300-nit brightness will allow you to have beautiful photos even in bright sunlight conditions. You can grab a coffee and navigate the park protection application dashboard.

Design, Keyboard, and touchpad

The M15 R3 has a very interesting design to play with due to the visual signal and vent vents in the back. Dell has developed an advanced cooling system with copper technology, a vapor chamber, and a double exhaust design, which translates into a cooler machine even after a long data integration session.

The keyboard has different steering keys. It is free for long typing sessions and has a 1.7mm trip, with 4-zone RGB and anti-ghost technology. Typing lines in the command line, Wireshark, or Linux distros like Tens or Kodachi will be easier. The touchpad can be large, but it has intuitive glass technology, which provides accurate touch and responsiveness.

Ports And Weight

The chassis is thinner than other instruments, and it weighs 5.5 pounds [5.5 kg]. You will probably be satisfied with the boats. The Thunderbolt 3 port on your laptop will give you speeds of up to 40 Gbps or 10 Gbps via USB cable. You can connect your laptop to two 4K displays to better view network traffic and dashboards.

The battery is durable, lasting only 3-6 hours when used medium to heavy. If battery life is not your concern, you will prefer the immature performance of M15 R3 in handling VMs, network scanning, or data encryption. You will get a premium laptop display and built-in quality, so you can carry the device without worrying about its durability.

SPECIFICATION

• CPU: 1.8GHz Intel Core i7-10510U
• RAM: 16GB
• Storage: 1TB SSD
• Display: 15.6-nch 4K UHD Touch (3840 x 2160)
• GPU: 2GB NVIDIA GeForce MX250
• Battery: Up to 14 hours

The HP Specter x360 is a high-performance ultrabook from HP. It has a thin and strong body. You can use it as a tablet, and take notes, or put it in a tent space to make presentations. HP was also able to install a decent dedicated graphics card.

CPU and Graphics Card

The quad-core Intel Core i7-10510U CPU is a player. Although it is the 10th generation of Core processors, using John the Ripper or Wireshark to assess the risk will go smoothly. The MX250 is a low-level GPU that allows you to play games like Overwatch, Minecraft, Sims 4, and more at decent frames.

RAM and Storage

With 16GB of RAM and a fast CPU, you can use virtual machines smoothly. The Fast 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD enables a short start time, offers high performance, and makes the system faster and more responsive. The system is running Windows 10 Pro, a version with many security features.

Display

The HP Specter x360 is a 2-in-1 device with a large 15.6-inch IPS touchscreen. It has a 4K resolution, and your network list will look readable. Sharp editing and image quality make it an excellent multimedia device.

Build, Keyboard and Trackpad

The Classic Specter design with an aluminum body, black color with copper markings, and quality hinges result in a reliable, durable device. You can browse the screen the way you want, and with just 4.81 pounds, you can easily carry it.

The Chiclet keyboard has a shallow trip and a solid backplate. You won’t have to worry about living long, and if you get stuck in a dark server room, a backlight keyboard will be helpful. In addition to the reliable keyboard, the Specter packs a large precision touchpad with touch support.

Hole Management & Web Camera

The flexible ultrabook has all the latest holes. It has 2 Thunderbolt 3 ports for data transfer at speeds up to 40 Gbps. There is also an asset connection via USB 2.1. HDMI v2.0 and Thunderbolt enable connectivity with additional displays.

You will probably use a webcam and microphone at conferences and video calls in programs such as Skype or Zoom. HP used security features such as a webcam kill switch and a silent microphone button.

Battery

Despite all the performance, Specter offers up to 14 hours of autonomy on its 6-cell 84 Wh battery. You can work out without thinking about the charger.

You get a capable machine with a fast CPU, enough RAM for advanced tasks, and a fast SSD. If you ignore the cheap price tag, you also get powerful picture cards that can help with TensorFlow and other machine-learning apps. Game lovers will be thrilled to know that Call of Duty: Warzone or Assassins Creed: The Odyssey will play smoothly. The display and battery life are also strong points.

SPECIFICATION

• CPU: 3.2GHz Apple M1 Pro 10-core
• RAM: 16GB
• Storage: 512GB SSD
• Display: 16.2-inch XDR mini-LED (3456 x 2234)
• GPU: M1 Pro 16-core
• Battery: Up to 21 hours

The 16-inch M1 version is the current king of performance on Apple MacBooks.

CPU and GPU

The first CPU of the series is the Apple M1 Pro 10-core processor. With a 10-core processor, you can use Mac Virtual Machine but also Windows VM without interruption.

Innovators can use the M1 Pro 16-core with its video editing, music production, and focus on 3D modeling. With 16 cores, it has the power and bandwidth of a data shortcut, however, it has no support for machine learning applications that favor Nvidia Cuda cores. The GPU can use Battle Royale, MOBA, and other AAA games over 30FPS in Retina settings.

RAM and Storage

The MacBook has the fastest SSD on the market which is why you get fast booting and fast app performance. With a 512GB SSD and 16GB of RAM, using VMs, or data analysis at Wireshark will go smoothly.

Operating System

macOS is suitable for production applications such as After Effects, Premiere Pro, Photoshop, Illustrator, and all other applications in Adobe Creative Cloud. It is also very good at coding, and using cybersecurity functions such as hacking, and protecting networks from malware or other threats. However, it does not have open access to fishing applications and variants of the Windows ecosystem.

Display

This Pro version has thin bezels around the 500 nits bright 16.2-inch Retina display. You will have a clear picture of proper network monitoring and over-observation of the Queen’s Gambit after work.

Keyboard and Touchpad

A longer typing session will be comfortable on the most advanced keyboard of this series. You will find the traditional method of scissors, a better trip, and different keys. The touchpad pad is almost twice as big compared to the previous generation. It has glass surface and high accuracy.

Design, Hole Management, and Battery

The MacBook Pro still has an invisible aluminum design, and the most advanced cybersecurity experts will enjoy the durability and portability of just 4.7 pounds on a 16.2-inch laptop full of hardware components.

You can easily connect to three external monitors via Thunderbolt 4 ports. They offer high bandwidth and can transfer large files quickly. In addition to the powerful CPU and high cost of GPU, the portable computer has an amazing battery life of up to 21 hours. You can solve security problems for long hours without worrying about independence.

While macOS devices are not the first cybersecurity option, this 10-core CPU machine and fast SSD are capable of using VMs, data collection, and other complex functions. You will love the bright screen, 4-speaker sound system (best for listening to music), improved keyboard, and battery life.

SPECIFICATION

• CPU: 2.6GHz Intel Core i7-9750H
• RAM: 16GB
• Storage: 256GB SSD + 1TB HDD
• Display: 15.6-inch FHD IPS (1920 x 1080)
• GPU: 4GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650
• Battery: Up to 4 hours

For cybersecurity professionals who want the same functionality but do not want to spend too much money, the Asus Vivobook K571 may be the laptop of your choice.

CPU and GPU

Whether you need to take risk tests or set up a VM, the powerful Core i7-9750H with its high turbo clock and six-core will provide excellent performance. The Mid-range GeForce GTX 1650 GPU does not come with Tensor Cores, but 896 CUDA cores enable the same computer through multiple applications. The GTX 1650 can use games like CS: GO, Fortnite, and similar titles with 120 FPS in FHD format, a delight for game lovers.

RAM, Storage, and OS

Using a safe test environment on most virtual machines will not be a problem with 16GB of RAM. The Vivobook K571 has plenty of internal storage. The 256GB fast SSD will help with startup times, and you can store large analytics files and reports in an open 1TB HDD.

The device comes with pre-installed Windows 10 Home, an old selection of standard laptops, and more that are ready to use for network diagnostics or login testing.

Display Quality

The IPS display ensures rich colors. And the high update rate of 120Hz provides a clear picture so you don’t miss any details on the FHD screen when using diagnostics. You can choose to cover it in a wide range of colors, but you will be limited to 60Hz if so.

Keyboard and Touchpad

A backlight keyboard will help if you have to fix a night security breach. The chiclet keyboard has a shallow texture and a decent feel. A large touchpad with mouse buttons attached to the touch support if you need drag and drop actions immediately or otherwise, among the many supports.

Design, Weight, and Ports

The Vivobook K571 has a plastic box and a standard laptop design. It is strong enough and weighs 4.56 pounds. What it lacks in premium items, compensates for port access via 4 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen 1, HDMI for external monitoring connection, and a fingerprint reader for extra security.

Battery Life

Battery life with 42 Wh and maximum computer power will be up to 4 hours, which means you will need to carry a power adapter when traveling to a location to deal with safety issues.

Data analysis, VM configuration, and other performance-enhancing applications will go well with the Asus Vivobook K751 with its high CPU capabilities. The affordable price without certain instruments and whistles like the use of premium items is good for budget-conscious users.

SPECIFICATION

• CPU: 2.8GHz Intel Core i7-1165G7
• RAM: 32GB
• Storage: 1TB SSD
• Display: 15.6-inch FHD IPS (1920 x 1080)
• GPU: Intel Iris Xe
• Battery: Up to 12 hours

Thinkpad is a laptop for the Lenovo business series, and the Lenovo ThinkPad E15 is among the cheapest models. It has an Intel Iris Xe Integrated GPU with certified drivers for professional applications such as visualization, Animation, AutoCAD, and rendering in Cinema 4D. Laptop also comes with a nice standard ThinkPad keyboard and built-in quality.

CPU, GPU, and RAM

The 11th generation Core i7-1165G7 is a power-saving CPU for ultrabooks. The processor is not among the most powerful, but it is still a Core i7 with four cores. The 4.7GHz turbo frequency translates into the perfect performance of a gray box or network diagnostic. Besides, Running tasks that require hardware such as virtual machines will be free with its 32GB of DDR4 RAM.

GPU

The Iris Xe is not as fast as the graphics cards of the RTX 20650, 2070, and 2080, but its performance is comparable to the GTX 1060. The GPU may be better off with a dedicated GPU but the integrated Intel Iris Xe still does a good job.

Storage and OS

With a 1TB SSD, you will have enough space for network diagnostic software like Ping, Netstat, and Wireshark. The speed disk will help with system startup time and complete system response and applications.

The ThinkPad E15 comes with Windows 10 Pro and its own set of security features like Microsoft Defender Exploit Guard and Bitlocker, as well as robust VPN options.

Display and Peripherals

The 15.6-inch FSD IPS panel has excellent viewing angles but can have better performance than the operating system. The machine follows the old design of Lenovo business models. You will find a solid laptop that you will use every day. For only 3.9 pounds, you can manage ThinkPad in seamless office interventions, if that is the nature of your cybersecurity activity.

If you regularly type multiple commands on Linux distros or try to hijack a system at risk testing, the ThinkPad keyboard with asset trackpad and touchpad is ready for hard use. A wide and convenient location is among the best laptop input devices.

Ports

You will find the Thunderbolt 4 data transfer port as well as Type C USB and HDMI, an excellent option for connecting external monitors. Two additional USB 3.1 will suffice for all devices you plan to connect. You can work long hours to resolve security breaches without a power cord. The E15 has a battery life of about 12 hours.

With Lenovo ThinkPad, you will get a reliable, portable, and durable laptop. You will not need to question its endurance and independence, which is great in the face of stressful security breaches. The i7 CPU and 32GB of RAM will give you enough juice to do a corporate system test or risk, network diagnostics, or shut down virtual machines.

SPECIFICATION

• CPU: 1.3GHz Intel Core i7-1065G7
• RAM: 16GB
• Storage: 512GB SSD
• Display: 13.3-inch FHD IPS (1920 x 1080)
• GPU: 4GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti Max-Q
• Battery: Up to 10 hours

The Razer Blade Stealth 13 is an unusual model of a powerful ultrabook. The Potent 10th gen Core i7 and GeForce GTX 1650 Ti have excellent game performance. Ready for games often translates to the best of some difficult tasks like using cybersecurity tools like Bitdefender, Malwarebytes, etc.

CPU and GPU

10 nm lithography on Intel CPUs of type 10 brought greater power efficiency and a slight decrease in performance than 14 nm types. The Core i7-1065G7, however, has more than enough green power to use Kali Linux and VMs effectively.

Playing games like Cyberpunk 2077 or COD: Warzone will also not be a problem. The GTX 1650 Ti Max-Q will get a decent FPS in AAA games with a 1080p resolution.

RAM and Storage

Dual-channel, 16GB fast memory will help the CPU with cyber threat simulation situations. Along with a 512GB fast SSD, memory modules will ensure a short start time, ample storage space for large files, and fast software launch.

Display

Thin bezels make the 13.3-inch IPS screen stand out. Full HD and 120Hz resolution provide an essential smooth look to countless lines in cybersecurity diagnostics.

As expected in a smaller form, the keyboard is not full size. Apart from the lack of a numeric keypad, the keys have enough space. An RGB backlight will help in a dark workplace. Deep travel does not ruin the good typing experience, but you will need to practice if you regularly use desktop keyboards.

Keyboard and Touchpad

The glass touchpad area provides a smooth and responsive feel. It is large, accurate, and uses many touches without interruption.

Design, Holes, and Battery

The invisible aluminum frame and dark matte color create a striking design. In addition to stamina, features of a thin form and a weight of 3.24 pounds have an impact on portability. If you get stuck out of the office without a power cord, you will probably end up with up to 10 hours of battery life.

For connectivity, Thunderbolt 3 can connect an external monitor or provide up to 40Gbps data transfer, so you can transfer large files quickly in a cybersecurity emergency if every second counts. The Razer Blade Stealth 13 also features USB Type C and USB 3.0 Type-A.

Stylish design and high-quality construction are portable computer equipment for work. The touchpad is a top player, as are the CPU, and other components. The small size and high value may not be for everyone. If that is not the case, you will find an extremely reliable cybersecurity tool that can use VMs, Wireshark, and risk assessment without error.

SPECIFICATION

• CPU: 1.3GHz Intel Core i7-1065G7
• RAM: 16GB
• Storage: 1TB SSD
• Display: 14-inch FHD Touch (1920 × 1080)
• GPU: Integrated Intel Iris Plus Graphics
• Battery: Up to 15 hours

Premium design and flexible 2-in-1 features are the best playing card for Yoga laptops. The Yoga C940 adds an FHD indicator to those figures, but let’s see how hardware components accumulate in cybersecurity experts.

CPU and GPU

Although the i7-1065G7 is the tenth generation of Core CPUs, you will get excellent single-core and multi-thread performance when using VMware or testing software to detect network threats.

Integrated Intel Iris Plus Graphics is not the most powerful GPU on the market and while you are playing, you will need to adjust the data levels in modern games like Assassin’s Creed Odyssey.

RAM and SSD

Snappy system performance and heavy cybersecurity work will benefit from 16GB memory and a 1TB hard drive. Yoga C940 comes with Windows 10, the leading OS of online security experts. Supports multiple applications from 88% of all computers in the world running Windows, the OS option is obvious.

Display

The 14-inch FHD touchscreen looks amazing. It is not very reflective and has a very good color. Light measures 400 nits, good, but not the best in class.

Keyboard and Touchpad

The Numpad-free keyboard is not the best in production. Shallow movement does not interfere with the sense of typing. Quality is not at the level of ThinkPad, but you will not be disappointed with the Yoga C940 keyboard. The touchpad is large and accurate, and you can switch between the touch screen and navigating to network diagnostics.

Design and Ports

Signature quality standards allow for a variety of uses. You can explore it in tent mode and give the client a presentation, or take notes in a meeting in tablet mode. The aluminum case is sturdy, and it weighs 3 pounds, the laptop is sturdy and portable.

The laptop has a good selection of holes. You can transfer large pieces of data through the Thunderbolt 3 Type C quick port or connect it to new external monitors. There are two USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C / Intel Thunderbolt 3 (Power Delivery, DisplayPort) ports and one USB 3.0 port. 1 Gen 2 Type-A.

Battery Life

Battery life is about 15 hours, and you can adjust the volume when you turn it off. You can be mobile and work all day without charging it.

The Lenovo Yoga C940 is a stylish flexible device with significant independence. The Core i7 CPU will use all cybersecurity software easily. Network diagnostics, VMs, and other cybersecurity applications will work best with the help of 16GB memory and a fast SSD.

SPECIFICATION

• CPU: 1.8GHz Intel Core i7-8550U
• RAM: 16GB
• Storage: 512GB SSD
• Display: 13.5-inch FHD IPS Touch (3000 x 2000)
• GPU: 2GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050
• Battery: Up to 12 hours

Microsoft took the gun to MacBook Pro with the Microsoft Surface Book 2, and brought high-quality information and build quality. What’s worse is the price that exceeds the Apple flagship model.

CPU and GPU

Three generations of Intel Core i7 8550U still deliver high performance. And the high 4GHz turbo boost will push your system into heavy workload situations like using virtual machines. The GPU can support the performance of professional software with CUDA cores. Fortnite and CS: GO will go well if you like to play, but you will need to adjust multiple game settings in Full HD.

RAM and Storage

Doing more things between the Wireshark and the company’s security dashboard will be faster, as well as start-up time, thanks to 16GB of memory and a faster 512GB SSD. You can also save most of your active files and reports in open storage.

TPM Security

Surface Book 2 has Windows 10 Pro OS that comes with advanced security features. The laptop also has an HW TPM 2.0 business security chip and a biometric face recognition camera for Windows Hello Face.

Display

The display comes with a 3: 2 aspect ratio and a resolution of 3000 x 2000. The 13.5-inch touchscreen works very well. Suitable for Surface Pen sold separately. In addition to art professionals, cybersecurity experts will enjoy clean images with their huge list.

Keyboard and Touchpad

Our tests showed excellent keyboard performance, with adequate mobility and feedback. A backlit keyboard will be helpful in white night robbery attempts. The touchpad is open without any buttons, and you can use it with a touchscreen setting.

Design and Weight

The laptop has an aluminum alloy body and weighs only 3.62 lbs, which makes it stylish and a strong, reliable companion. You will find 3 USB ports, one of which is type C, but not Thunderbolt. Two more holes connect to the power adapter and docker.

Battery

Strong build quality and more than 17 hours of battery life will make Surface Book 2 an excellent choice for the most advanced cybersecurity experts.

You can present your findings for risk testing with Surface Book 2 in tent mode, or you can take notes when you take out the screen and use it as a tablet. A powerful CPU, sufficient RAM, and a GPU will provide excellent performance using cybersecurity software and functions by all means.

SPECIFICATION

• CPU: 2GHz AMD Ryzen 7 4700U
• RAM: 8GB
• Storage: 512GB SSD
• Display: 14-inch FHD IPS (1920 x 1080)
• GPU: AMD Radeon integrated
• Battery: Up to 11.5 hours

Acer has launched the practice of cheap ultrabooks. The winning formula includes thin laptops and premium items with slow-moving components. Acer Swift 3 has used AMD Ryzen 7’s new CPUs that offer higher performance at a lower cost.

CPU and GPU

Data breakage codes or cracks are important functions of the Ryzen 7 4700U. The CPU has eight cores and thrives on multi-wire systems. The integrated GPU does not make much difference to cybersecurity software but can use Dota 2, CS: GO, and Fortnite with decent 30+ FPS.

RAM and SSD

You will not need external drives or a large Cloud backup. The 512GB NVMe SSD has ample storage space if you do not skip games. However, 8GB of RAM is a minimum for modern mobile phones and can be bottled for VM or other heavy-duty applications.

Operating System

Swift 3 is a consumer portable computer, and it comes with Windows 10, which has no profile and security options but still offers the best OS for various cybersecurity software.

Display

You will find an old 16: 9 aspect ratio and FHD adjustment on the IPS display. It does not provide high levels of light but has excellent image quality, and you can work with the Wireshark on a 14-inch screen.

Keyboard and Touchpad

The smaller form means the keyboard does not have a Numpad and does not have a palm rest due to the high-quality touchpad. Soft clicks and in-depth navigation on the backlighted keyboard will work best for you as you try to whitewash the system with John the Ripper.

Design, Holes, and Battery

The Swift 3 has ultrabook aesthetics with a unibody metal case. It easily weighs only 2.6 lbs and is only 0.63 inches thin. You also get 3 USB ports (Type C one) and HDMI to connect external displays. The device covers a battery life of more than 11 hours.

The Acer Swift 3 is very affordable for the performance it offers. If you don’t mind 8GB memory, you can get a solid and lightweight ultrabook with excellent battery life. Performing CPU-based tasks will be easier with the highly capable Ryzen 7.

SPECIFICATION

• CPU: 1GHz Intel Core i5-1035G1
• RAM: 8GB
• Storage: 256GB SSD
• Display: 15.6-inch FHD (19920 x 1080)
• GPU