The Best Laptops for Day Trading | Best Picks + Buyers Guide
Day trading is something that has become more common in recent times. With more and more people having access to the information and the knowledge necessary to trade in stocks. So it’s no surprise that people who have an acute awareness and admiration for business would become day traders themselves. And nowadays there are many ways to go about day trading. Whether by using an app on your phone or using a computer, both ways are completely viable. So let’s jump right into our list for The Best Laptop for Day Trading.
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Best Laptop for Day Trading Guide
But what if you’re someone who is constantly on the go and hasn’t got the time to sit down and do some day trading. Also not wanting to use your phone to trade in stocks because it’s nowhere near as easy. Well at that point you need a decent laptop to help you through the day. Whether you’re someone who wants a laptop that is the ultimate portable machine or something that’s perfect for home and on trips, we’ve got you covered. We’ve put together a list of some of the best laptops that you can get for day trading right now!
ASUS VivoBook L203MA Laptop
- Resolution – 11.6” 1366 x 768
- Memory – 4GB DDR4 RAM
- Processor – Intel Celeron N4000
- Weight – 2.2 Pounds
- Battery Life – 10 Hours
We’re starting this list off with an option that might appeal to those who want a laptop on a budget. We’ve gone for this laptop from ASUS for its portability and affordability. Right away you’ll notice that this is a fairly small laptop. Which makes it perfect for those that need something that can be carried around easily. It weighs in at 2.2lbs which makes it fantastic for just that purpose. This size does come with its own negatives though, but we’ll touch on that in just a second. This is a lightweight laptop and that goes for how it looks and how it should be used.
If we take a closer look at what is inside the laptop, some may find the specs a little disappointing. First up the screen is an 11.6” display with a 1366 x 768 resolution. It looks great but for those that like big screens so that every bit of information is very readable, it might be a little awkward. Battery life here is fantastic and you’ll get a lot of use out of the max of 10 hours. The 4GB of RAM is something that could be an issue for any traders out there that have a ton of tabs open at once.
For those who only do light trading and treat it as more of a hobby, this laptop will do just fine. This isn’t helped by the CPU which will also inhibit the ability to do some serious trading and information gathering but this isn’t the choice the trading pros should go for. This is a fantastic entry laptop that suits someone who is on a budget and just starting out with day trading.
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Affordable
- Fantastic Battery
Cons:
- Low End Specs
- Not for Experienced Traders
2020 Lenovo IdeaPad 3
- Resolution – 15.6” 1920 x 1080
- Memory – 8GB DDR4 RAM
- Processor – Intel i3-1005G1
- Weight – 5 Pounds
- Battery Life – 7.5 Hours
Next up we’ve got an entry that is good for those that want a generally great laptop that still has an affordable price. We’ve gone for this choice from Lenovo for its nice features at a lower price. The nice thing about Lenovo laptops is that they have a clean aesthetic that a lot of other brands don’t have. And this laptop is no different, with a slim body encased in a dark blue plastic. This laptop is both stylish and professional which lends it to being perfect for either situation.
Taking a closer look at what it offers though, this is a great laptop for lots of different uses. First up the screen is a 15.6”, 1080p display. It looks great with vibrant colors and lets you read all the information you’ll need to see very easily. The 8GB of RAM is very handy to have and is really something that’s recommended with Windows 10. Due to how much software it comes packaged with and how much memory can take up.
The extra RAM is also going to help with busier trading sessions that will involve you having a ton of chrome tabs open. The CPU here isn’t anything special, it’s a fairly low-end processor but it should get the job done. Though you may experience some general slowdown with heavier tasks. The battery in this laptop is fine, though be careful and pack a charger if you have a long day ahead of you. Now, due to the size, this laptop isn’t a great option for those who want something lightweight. It weighs in at 5lbs, so while it isn’t too heavy it might still be annoying to carry around everywhere. But if you’re aware of that and plan accordingly, this is a fantastic laptop to choose.
Pros:
- Great Aesthetics
- Great Screen
- Affordable
Cons:
- Average Battery Life
- Not Great for Portability
2020 HP 15
- Resolution – 15.6” 1366 x 768
- Memory – 16GB DDR4 RAM
- Processor – Intel Core i5-1035G1
- Weight – 4.49 Pounds
- Battery Life – 6 Hours
For our next option in the list we chose another great option for those that don’t want to spend a huge amount for a great laptop. We’ve gone for this option from HP for its features that make it great for trading. Firstly you’ll notice that this is a more professional looking laptop than any other on this list. With the silver and black colour scheme combining to make something that looks very smart. For those that want a laptop that looks a little less simple, check out some of the other options on this list.
Let’s take a look at what this laptop can actually do. The screen here is a 15.6” that outputs a 1366 x 768 resolution. Now it is a bit disappointing that this isn’t a 1080p screen but if you can get used to it, it gets the job done. It also helps that it acts as a touchscreen too and that extra bit of functionality can help out a lot. The 16GB of RAM is a really nice inclusion here since it’ll mean that the laptop will run a lot smoother in general.
Really handy during those more intensive trading sessions. The CPU here is a mid-range Intel i5 that is used in a bunch of different laptop models. It’s pretty good at dealing with fairly strenuous tasks and with day trading, that’s a big help. The biggest disappointing aspect of this laptop is the battery. Only having a max of 6 hours that can sometimes reach 7 if you’re using it lightly. It means you basically need to carry a charger with you everywhere you go in order to get even close to a full day’s use. Apart from that though, this is still a great laptop.
Pros:
- Professional Aesthetic
- Touchscreen
- Good Specs
Cons:
- Poor Battery Life
- Not Great for Portability
ASUS ZenBook 13 Ultra Slim Laptop
- Resolution – 13.3” 1920 x 1080
- Memory – 16GB DDR4 RAM
- Processor – Intel Core i7-8565U
- Weight – 2.6 Pounds
- Battery Life – 14 Hours
Next up we’ve got a laptop that is great for those who are well used to day trading and want something that can keep up with them. We’ve gone for this option from ASUS for its fantastic functionality and great aesthetics. Straight away you’ll notice that this laptop has a certain coolness about it. With its dark blue colour scheme and ultra slim design. This is a fantastic laptop to take with you from place to place or to simply have at your desk. It only weighs 2.6lbs too, which makes it fantastic for taking it with you wherever you need to go.
Let’s take a closer look at what this laptop can do now. First up we’ve got the screen, which is a 13.3”, 1080p display. It looks fantastic, bright vibrant colors and sharp definition add a lot to the user experience. The 16GB of RAM is again welcome here and it lends to a much smoother experience overall. Helped even further by the CPU here which is a great higher-end Intel i7 processor. It’s used in a lot of higher-end laptops and it should do a great job when it comes to day trading.
The battery life here is also fantastic, able to last up to 14 hours without needing a charge. Which is fantastic for those who are constantly on the go and rarely have time to give their laptop some charging time. Other little features include a number pad that is placed on the trackpad. Allowing you to input numbers in a much easier way which is really helpful for those who do day trading. Though the trackpad itself is a little annoying to use because of this. Overall this is a fantastic laptop that offers a ton of performance.
Pros:
- Great Screen
- Great Specs
- Fantastic Battery
Cons:
- Trackpad can be Fiddly
- Expensive
Acer Nitro 5
- Resolution – 15.6” 1920 x 1080
- Memory – 16GB DDR4 RAM
- Processor – Intel Core i7-9750H
- Weight – 7.68 Pounds
- Battery Life – 8 Hours
Our final option on this list is for those that want a laptop that focuses on pure performance. We’ve gone for this Acer laptop for its high-end specs and great style. First things first, this is a gaming laptop, so if you’re a professional who prefers something a little more understated this isn’t the laptop for you. But for those that do want something a little more flashy then this is great. The black body contrasts really well with the red trim and backlight of the keyboard. It has a great sense of style without being too ridiculous.
But let’s take a closer look at what this can do and it’s pretty impressive. First up, let’s look at the screen and this is a 15.6”, 1080p display that looks great. You won’t have any issues working on this screen and anything you use it for outside of day trading will look great. Again this is a laptop with 16GB of RAM which will mean it can run really smoothly the majority of the time. Unless you have a ton going on at once on the machine.
The CPU here is a ninth-generation Intel i7 processor which is fantastic and can keep up with busy sessions. So you shouldn’t have any issues at all when it comes to performance on this laptop. The battery life here is pretty good, able to last up to 8 hours. But if you’re looking for something that is for portable use, this is not a great choice due to how big and heavy it is. Weighing in at 7.68lbs, it might be too cumbersome for a few people. If you want something that’ll work great on a desk or for short trips, this is great. But anything beyond that, look for something lighter.
Pros:
- Great Screen
- Great Specs
- Good Battery
Cons:
- Not Very Portable
- Expensive
Best Laptop for Day Trading Buyer Guide
If you’ve come this far down the list and you still have no idea which laptop is best for day trading, don’t worry! In this section, we’ll be giving you some more information and tips that should help you out with your purchase.
Pick a laptop that fits in with your lifestyle
One of the most important aspects when deciding to buy a new laptop, or any bit of tech really, is how it’ll fit in with your day today. Spending your hard-earned cash on something that’s actually making your life harder is a little bit backward really isn’t it? So you need to pay careful consideration to whether a new laptop will fit in with what you do. For instance, if you travel a lot and use a laptop on the go, you don’t want anything big and bulky.
You want to aim to get a laptop that is light and portable with a good bit of battery life. But if you need a machine to work from home but don’t want to be stuck at a desk with a PC you can be a little freer with your choice. Aim to get a laptop that packs a lot of power and don’t be afraid to get something with a bigger screen. Battery life is less of an issue here if you’ll be home since you can charge it anytime.
More trading needs a better laptop
So if you’re just starting out with day trading and you aren’t all that experienced yet, you shouldn’t spend a lot on an expensive laptop. Instead, you should find a good budget laptop and work up from there. Trading isn’t necessarily an intensive task for a computer at the start. But the more you practice and become good at the art of day trading, the better the laptop will need to be.
You’ll have more tabs open on your browser and probably some software that will slow your laptop down even more. This is when you’ll need an upgrade and need to consider a laptop that has more RAM and a better CPU. For those that treat day trading as more of a hobby than anything else, you can stick with the lower end laptops. But for those who are serious about it, make sure you have a laptop that can keep up.
Buying Tips:
- Spend some extra money on a good quality mouse and mousepad. Using a laptop trackpad can be cumbersome and annoying after a while. And that’s not something you want to deal with when you’re busy with trades.
- There are a bunch of different platforms for day trading and they all have their positives and negatives. The most important thing to note is how easy they are to learn if you’re a beginner. And if you’re more experienced with trading, how many tools do they offer?
- Trading is a very serious hobby and you should do plenty of research into how it all works before fully embarking on it. It’s a high-stakes game sometimes and having a good amount of knowledge can take you far.
Verdict – Best Laptop for Day Trading
That’s it for our list of The Best Laptop for Day Trading. If it helped you out with finding the right laptop for you, don’t hesitate to let us know! Thanks for reading.
