By Robin Owens 7 days ago, Hardware
The best laptops for virtual machines available on the market.
A VM is a special virtual space that simulates an independent OS on your PC or laptop. In fact, by using virtualization software, you get a separate computer in the internal environment of your regular operating system.
However, your device must have the correct specs to make the Virtual Machine run smoothly. That’s why choosing a laptop for virtualization is a responsible process.
In this article, I will tell you about the main rules you should follow when choosing the best laptop for virtual machines. Besides, I have collected here standard models as well as top-notch 2-in-1 laptops, and tested them for you.
CPU: Intel Core i9 | GPU: Intel UHD Graphics 630, AMD Radeon Pro 5500M Graphics | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 1TB | Display: 16-inch (3072x1920) | Weight: 4.3 pounds
⊕ Amazing hardware
⊕ Improved Retina display
⊕ Apple Magic Keyboard
⊕ Fantastic audio capabilities
⊖ Expensive
This laptop is a great option for anyone looking for a powerful device with outstanding computing capabilities. It meets the needs of the most experienced users and is very popular with graphic designers, video editors, game developers, music producers and other creatives.
The MacBook Pro VM provides incredible performance, but the cost is very high. Therefore, if you need to find a device for ordinary office tasks, you should consider other options.
CPU: Intel Core i7-1065G7 | GPU: Intel Iris Plus graphics | RAM: 32GB | Storage: 1TB | Display: 13.4-inch (3840x2400) | Weight: 6.12 pounds
⊕ Stunning InfinityEdge display
⊕ Easy-to-use keyboard
⊕ Compact and sleek design
⊕ Awesome performance
⊖ Few ports
If you are looking for the best laptop for virtual machines running on Windows OS, then this product is worth checking out. This 13-inch laptop has almost no flaws and boasts amazing stable performance. However, not everyone can afford its price tag.
If you are ready to spend a substantial sum of money, then you will not be disappointed. The 10th generation processor, a comfortable keyboard, incredible display and great form-factor are the main advantages of this model.
CPU: Intel Core i7-9750H | GPU: NVidea GeForce RTX 2060 | RAM: 32GB | Storage: 1TB | Display: 15.6-inch (3840X2160) | Weight: 8.28 pounds
⊕ Thin chassis
⊕ Excellent connectivity
⊕ Convenient keyboard
⊕ Nice display with 4K support
⊖ Speakers lack bass and depth
This VM laptop features the Nvidia GeForce 2070 GPU and a 4K display. Despite its price, this model is a great option. Thanks to its powerful performance, the MSI P65 Creator can cope with almost any task, even the most difficult one.
This laptop has everything you need for work as well as for watching videos and playing games.
CPU: Intel Core i7-1065G7 | GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660Ti | RAM: 32GB | Storage: 512GB | Display: 15-inch (3240x2160) | Weight: 7.79 pounds
⊕ Webcam quality is above average
⊕ Brilliant 4K touch display
⊕ Quiet even at high load
⊕ Good speakers
⊖ Upgrade options aren’t available
The Microsoft SurfaceBook 3 can be connected to a keyboard (with an integrated discrete graphics card) on two sides. Even the tablet part itself outperforms most entry-level laptops in terms of power. Microsoft has made significant improvements in some aspects of this model.
In the new-generation version, the speakers have become louder. This laptop for running virtual machines includes an excellent 4K display, a powerful combination of a processor and a video card, fantastic build quality and materials, as well as a technological hinge mechanism. The keyboard and touchpad are very comfortable to use.
CPU: Intel Core i7-9750H | GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 1TB | Display: 15.6-inch (1920x1080) | Weight: 4.39 pounds
⊕ A nice option for work and play
⊕ A slim and light device in a robust body
⊕ Backlit keys
⊖ Overheats
⊖ Lack of webcam
The ROG Zephyrus M features an incredible combination of the latest design and powerful hardware. This i7 virtualization laptop is great for both work and play. It includes a Pantone Validated 240Hz screen, the 9th Gen Core i7 CPU and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 GPU.
If you are a content creator, video editor or designer and you like to spend your free time playing computer games, then this option is a perfect solution for you.
CPU: Intel Core i7-1065G7 | GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 | RAM: 32GB | Storage: 512GB | Display: 13.4-inch (1920x1080) | Weight: 5.99 pounds
⊕ Lightweight and thin
⊕ Amazing 4K display
⊕ Supports Wi-Fi 6
⊕ Lots of input/output ports
⊖ Sometimes the fan is a bit noisy
The XPS 13 2-in-1 is the best laptop for virtual machines if you want a powerful device packed in a compact shell. This ultra-portable model is very lightweight, but it still boasts high productivity.
It is suitable for complex tasks and can satisfy the needs of the most experienced users. The features a classic, reliable design and comes with a 6-core processor for a truly powerful performance.
CPU: Intel Core i7-9750H | GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 1TB | Display: 15.6-inch (3840x2160) | Weight: 5.51 pounds
⊕ Great computing power
⊕ Noiseless performance
⊕ Nice keyboard
⊖ Inconvenient trackpad
⊖ Lacks an extra storage slot
This innovative Asus model features a unique dual-screen design. The creators of this laptop took a bold decision with two 4K screens. The additional screen will come in handy, especially if you are going to use the device like a laptop for running virtual machines.
Unfortunately, this is not the most compact option on this list as the second screen has increased its size. In terms of performance, it is very fast and powerful, which will suffice to complete any task.
| Image | Name | Features | |
|---|---|---|---|
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MacBook Pro
Our choice |
CHECK PRICE → | |
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MSI P65 Creator
Premium choice |
CHECK PRICE → | |
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Dell XPS 2-in-1
Affordable choice |
CHECK PRICE → |
To choose the best VMware laptop, you should opt for the model that features a good, modern CPU. The latest-generation Intel and AMD processors are powerful enough for you to create one or several virtual machines. The Core i5 or Quad-Core AMD CPUs are decent options. If you can afford a modern i9 laptop, go for it.
A graphics card is not a key element for the best laptop for virtual machines or a good laptop for Microsoft Office. You must pay special attention to the RAM and processor and invest more in them as these two elements will ensure successful operation.
Try to get the highest possible RAM your budget can afford. The best high-performance laptops have incredible storage capacities and clock speeds. If you are planning to create one or two VMs, then 8 GB of RAM will be enough. Opt for 16 GB of RAM if you are going to have multi-machine setups or 32 GB for ultra-complex ones.
A choice between HDD or SSD depends on your preference and budget. HDDs are the best option if you create lots of virtual machines. An SSD laptop is a good option if you do not plan to create more than 1-2 virtual environments.
If you are looking for a good laptop for VMware, then consider buying the MSI P65 Creator (also known as the best MSI gaming laptop), MacBook Pro or Dell XPS 2-in-1.
If your laptop has 16 GB of RAM and you have created three virtual machines on it, then all RAM will be evenly distributed between the main OS and virtual environments. Each of the systems gets 4 GB of RAM, and everything will work well if none of them exceed this limit. However, the system speed will not change if you bring RAM up to 32 GB on your VMware laptop.
If the system has 8 GB of physical RAM, then you should set a minimum of 4 GB. If you are going to simulate a real working environment and your device has 16 GB of RAM or more, then 8 GB is recommended.
