7 Best Stock Trading Laptops in 2024

By Robin Owens 17 days ago, Hardware

Perfect stock trading laptops to become productive trader.

stock trading laptops

Successful stock trading doesn’t necessarily mean talent plus fortune. It’s also about effective tools and the ability to use them to your benefit. Like all business areas these days, stock trading can’t do without computer systems. Your productivity and effectiveness directly depend on the laptop you use, so it’s essential to choose the most suitable stock trading laptop that meets your requirements.

Top 7 Stock Trading Laptops

  1. MacBook Air 13 - Our Choice
  2. Microsoft Surface 3 - Lightweight
  3. Dell XPS 15 - With fingerprint scanner
  4. Microsoft Surface Go 2 - 2-in-1
  5. Lenovo IdeaPad 3 - Affordable
  6. MacBook Pro 13 - Portable
  7. Acer Aspire 5 - Budget

If you are in stock trading for a long time, you probably know how important is to have a reliable laptop compatible with trading software. The high-tech market provides a wide choice of devices suitable for different needs and requirements. You can choose between different sizes and styles. However, an ideal solution is a trading laptop combining functionality, reliability, durability and a reasonable price.

1. MacBook Air 13

Our Choice
stock trading laptop macbook air 13

CPU: Intel Core i3 | GPU: Intel Iris Plus | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 256GB | Display: 13.3-inch | Weight: 2.8 pound

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⊕ Retina display with True Tone
⊕ Magic Keyboard with backlighting
⊕ Long-lasting battery
⊕ Speedy SSD storage
⊖ Lacks an SD card slot

Apple 13.3 MacBook boasts great portability and fast performance. With a 3d Generation Intel dual-core processor and 8 GB DDR4 RAM, it can successfully serve as a trading laptop supporting necessary programs. Users enjoy its bright and clear Retina Display perfectly suitable for stock charts and other market visualizations. A user can use this MacBook for up to 10 hours without plugging it in. You will enjoy a pleasant typing experience and a high-accuracy trackpad capturing your every move.

2. Microsoft Surface 3

Best lightweight laptop
stock trading laptop microsoft surface 3

CPU: Intel Core i7 | GPU: Intel Iris Plus | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 256GB | Display: 13.5-inch | Weight: 2.8 pound

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⊕ Fancy design
⊕ Enhanced speed and performance
⊕ Long battery life
⊕ Remarkable connectivity options
⊖ Without a fingerprint reader

Judging from its specs and features, the Surface Laptop 3 will easily cope with all stock trading tasks. It features the latest Intel 10th-generation Intel Core i7 processor with 16 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage space. These parameters are more than enough to surf the net and run trading software. It is a compact laptop for stock trading with a cool trackpad and convenient keyboard. It boasts a 13.5-inch PixelSense interactive touchscreen providing high contrast and low glare optimal for your eyes. Microsoft Edge enhances your productivity on the Internet; OneDrive cloud storage keeps your valuable files safe while Office 365 guarantees a convenient working experience. The Surface Laptop 3 has a long-lasting battery that offers up to 11.5 hours of use, which is quite a nice feature in comparison with alternatives in this price category.

3. Dell XPS 15

With fingerprint scanner
stock trading laptop dell xps 15

CPU: Intel Core i7-9750h | GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 256GB | Display: 15.6-inch | Weight: 5.51 pound

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⊕ OLED InfinityEdge display
⊕ Fingerprint scanner
⊕ Dell Mobile Connect
⊕ Wi-Fi 6 technology
⊖ Doesn’t support Windows Hello Face Recognition

Dell XPS 15 comes with a 4K UHD OLED and a 9th Gen Intel Core i7 Processor. Besides, it features Anti-Reflection Infinity-Edge technology. This trading laptop provides a smooth viewing experience regardless of the angle you are looking at the screen from. Thanks to the powerful CPU, you can run any stock trading program, and it will not freeze or lag. The GTX 1650 4 GB GDDR5 graphics card guarantees that you will be able to use all trading software. Being slim (11-17mm) and lightweight (4 pounds), the Dell XPS 15 is considered to be one of the lightest 15-inch laptops in the world.

4. Microsoft Surface Go

Best 2-in-1 laptop
stock trading laptop microsoft surface go 2

CPU: Intel Pentium Gold 4425Y | GPU: Intel HD Graphics 615 | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 128GB | Display: 10.5-inch | Weight: 1.2 pound

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⊕ Compact body
⊕ Touchscreen PixelSense display
⊕ Decent battery life
⊕ Impressive cameras
⊖ Comes without a type cover

Surface Go 2 is powered with an 8th Generation Intel Pentium Gold processor and runs Windows 10 Home. It features a 2-in-1 design with a 10.5-inch PixelSense touchscreen. You get a high-quality picture with perfect contrast and low glare. You can use this device as a tablet or laptop. As it comes without a keyboard, you have to additionally buy this accessory if necessary. It is a trading laptop with a front-facing 5 MP camera, IR sensors for Windows Hello Face Recognition and a rear 8 MP camera enabling you to record 1080p video clips.

5. Lenovo IdeaPad 3

Best affordable laptop
stock trading laptop lenovo ideapad 3

CPU: AMD Ryzen 3 3250U | GPU: Radeon Vega 3 | RAM: 4GB | Storage: 128GB | Display: 15.6-inch | Weight: 4.84 pound

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⊕ Almost bezel-free display
⊕ Physical webcam shutter
⊕ High-quality sound
⊕ Reasonable cost
⊖ Weak battery

Lenovo IdeaPad 3 has great potential for becoming a good stock trading laptop. It features the latest AMD Ryzen 3 3250U mobile processors with Radeon Vega 3 graphics that make the device faster and more effective. You can easily run several trading programs without any lags. A 15.6-inch HD screen with thin bezels and 1366 x 768 resolution provides a bigger viewing area and guarantees impressive picture quality. The IdeaPad 3 features Dolby Audio Technology for high-quality sound. The only essential drawback is the battery that can continuously work only for 5-6 hours.

6. MacBook Pro 13

Best portable laptop
stock trading laptop macbook pro 13

CPU: Intel Core i5 | GPU: Intel Iris Plus Graphics 645 | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 256GB | Display: 13.3-inch | Weight: 3.1 pound

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⊕ Compact body
⊕ Touch ID
⊕ Stereo speakers
⊕ Force Touch trackpad
⊖ Fragile construction

Apple is the most world-known brand producing high-tech devices. Every laptop they release impresses users with up-to-date technologies and advanced features, and the MacBook Pro 13 is not an exception. It is suitable for stock trading specialists as well. It features a 13-inch full HD display. Below the screen, you will find a convenient Touch Bar to manage music, video and other files. A speedy processor, macOS, 8 GB of RAM and a 256 GB SSD are perfect for running stock trading programs. Moreover, a powerful 1.4 GHz Intel Core i5 processor with up to 3.9 GHz turbo boost enhances greatly an overall performance. This stock trading laptop will not disappoint you on the go, as it lasts up to 10 hours on one battery charge.

7. Acer Aspire 5

Best budget laptop
stock trading laptop acer aspire 5

CPU: AMD Ryzen 3 3200U | GPU: Vega 3 | RAM: 4GB | Storage: 128GB | Display: 15.6-inch | Weight: 3.97 pound

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⊕ Portable construction
⊕ LED-backlit IPS screen
⊕ Long-lasting battery
⊕ Impressive connectivity options
⊖ Lacks a USB-C port

AMD Ryzen 3 3200U mobile processor, 4 GB of RAM and a 128 GB SSD disk make the Acer Aspire 5 a decent option for stock traders. Its AMD U series processor contributes to the longer battery life, and you can work for up to 7.5 hours without recharging. This trading laptop features a 15.6-inch display that is perfect for working with diagrams, charts, etc. It has a Full HD LED-backlit IPS screen with a 1920 x 1080 resolution. Thanks to the keyboard backlighting, the laptop is suitable for poorly lit environments. Besides, it has a number pad.

Image Name Features  
stock trading laptop macbook air 13
MacBook Air 13
Our Choice
  • RAM: 8GB
  • Storage: 256GB
  • Display: 13.3-inch
  • Weight: 2.8 pound
CHECK PRICE
stock trading laptop microsoft surface 3
Microsoft Surface 3
Lightweight
  • RAM: 16GB
  • Storage: 256GB
  • Display: 13.5-inch
  • Weight: 2.8 pound
CHECK PRICE
stock trading laptop dell xps 15
Dell XPS 15
Powerful
  • RAM: 16GB
  • Storage: 256GB
  • Display: 15.6-inch
  • Weight: 5.51 pound
CHECK PRICE

How to Choose the Stock Trading Laptop?

best stock trading laptop

CPU

Seamless performance is something everyone requires from a computer. Whether you are a business shark or a hardcore gamer, nobody wants to lose money because of a slow processor. Therefore, your stock trading laptop should be powered with a fast CPU. You can start with a Core i3. However, if you can afford a Core i5, buy it and you will definitely avoid any lags. Such a processor is available almost in all Surface Pro alternatives.

RAM

You are mistaken if you think that adding RAM makes your computer faster, but mind that enough RAM is necessary to guarantee seamless performance. You need it to run various programs. Therefore, RAM is an essential parameter for a stock trading laptop. Today, 8 GB is a standard, and you can also add extra 8 GB if necessary. Having 16 GB, you can be sure that any software will work on your laptop. However, even 8 GB is enough to run stock trading programs. Issues might arise if you have 4 GB. Just to be safe, get a laptop with at least 8 GB of RAM.

Storage Space

If you choose among the latest laptops, you will want something with an SSD instead of an HDD. SSDs are faster, however, you will have less storage space. Computer machines with solid-state hard drives usually have 128-500 GB.

Graphics Card

For a good stock trading laptop, it is enough to have an integrated graphics adapter, like an Intel GMA 4500MHD. It is also suitable for basic 3D games. If you need a smoother viewing experience, consider some high-performance laptops powered with advanced versions, like the Nvidia Quadro NVS or ATI Mobility Radeon 3000/4000 series.

Battery Life

best stock trading laptop

Choosing a laptop for stock trading, you should carefully consider battery capacity. When analyzing some stock-related stuff, you shouldn’t get distracted by the level of your battery charge.

To get a laptop with a long-lasting battery, choose among those with power-efficient processors. If it is a CPU by Intel, it should have a ‘U’ suffix in the name. Such processors are energy-saving and offer longer battery life.

For a stockbroker, it is enough to have a laptop that will work for 6-7 hours on a single charge.

FAQ

  • • Can you trade stocks on a MacBook Air?

Of course, you can. Apple laptops are considered to be the best all-purpose devices. The latest MacBook Air will serve as a great stock trading laptop.

  • • Can you day trade on a laptop?

Today, day trading is performed via the Internet so you can’t do without a computer machine. You need it to access financial markets and trade. You might also need to use a smartphone to call your broker.

  • • Is 8 GB of RAM enough for stock trading?

If your budget is limited, 8GB of RAM is a minimum requirement for a trading laptop. However, if you can invest more, get 16 GB to ensure lag-free performance.

  • • Are gaming computers good for stock trading?

High-end gaming laptops are perfect for stock trading. They have decent RAM and impressive graphics cards.

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