The Best Laptops for Hacking In 2025: Your Complete Guide

Nowadays, it feels like there are more types of laptops on the market than there are known viruses. The sheer volume of options can leave even the most logical of us feeling paralyzed.

That’s why we did the research for you.

We’ve combed through hundreds of laptops in search of the best laptop for hacking. Naturally, the best computer is IBM’s Quantum Computer, but as that’s a bit out of your price range, we’ve selected the best of the rest.

But, of course, there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to a hacking laptop. Every user has their own preferences. That’s why we’ve broken down our top picks into categories that address a user’s individual preferences. Let’s look at the best laptops for hacking.

Our Quick List of Best Laptops for Hacking

Technical and Practical Considerations

There are a number of computer components to consider before making your laptop purchase. Here are the most important pieces of hardware to consider.

CPU (Central Processing Unit)

The CPU, often referred to as the brain of the computer, is at the center of your computing experience. It’s the CPU you rely on when you want to solve sophisticated algorithms, run multiple programs at the same time, or perform an Nmap scan. The major players when it comes to CPU manufacturers are AMD and Intel.

Some CPUs are better for running multiple virtual machines than others. As a hacker, it’s vital that you can run various VMs simultaneously without compromising your speed.

RAM (Random Access Memory)

RAM plays a pivotal role in determining how many things you can do at once. If you're juggling multiple virtual machines, like having a Kali Linux setup and a Windows 10 VM for testing exploits against Windows Defender, you're going to need ample RAM or risk processes grinding to a halt. This doesn't mean you need to go crazy, but you need to consider what you intend to run and how much RAM that will require.

If you can only spend on either CPU or RAM, remember when it comes to virtualization you will run out of RAM before you run out of CPU cores.

Storage

Despite the importance of having a solid hard drive being at an all-time low due to the use of external hard drives and the cloud, they still have their use. External hard drives can be bulky and forgotten, and sometimes you want more control than cloud storage can provide. Internal laptop storage is reliable and accessible, so you’ll want to have at least 256 GB of SSD storage on your ethical hacking laptop.

GPU (Graphics Processing Unit)

The importance of a GPU depends on the type of hacking you’ll be carrying out. If you plan on using multiple dynamic GUIs at once or cracking passwords, then you might want to consider a better-than-average GPU. However, if you don’t intend on the aforementioned, a fast GPU may be of little significance when taking laptop components under consideration.

Display

If you’re going to be staring at your screen for nine hours a day you’ll want to take your viewing experience into account. Consider things such as the size, strain on the eyes, and resolution. Even if you plan on buying an accompanying monitor, your computer display will still most likely be the primary screen you interact with.

Be mindful of the trade-offs that come when using a large screen. Large screens make for a better viewing experience but also mean your computer will be less portable.

Our Top Picks for Best Hacking Laptops

As mentioned, there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to the best hacking laptop. Every penetration tester has their preferences. That’s why we’ve broken down our list of the best hacking laptops into unique categories.

Best Durability - Razer Blade Pro 17

Whenever you hear that a laptop has been designed for gaming purposes, there’s a good bet that it’s a more than capable hacking computer. Apart from its top-of-the-line graphics processing unit, it’s whip-fast, rarely overheats, and has a sleek minimalistic black aesthetic befitting of a hacker.

The Razer Blade Pro 17 wins the durability category due to its above-average weight and anodized surface, making it long-lasting and scratch-resistant. If you anticipate the 17-inch Razer Blade being a nuisance to carry around, you can always downsize to the 14” model. 

Best Portability - Acer Aspire 5

One of the most lightweight and portable laptops on the market, the Acer Aspire 5 is nearly twice as light as the Razer BladePro 17 and one-sixth the price. Despite being lightweight, is still boasts a 15.6-inch screen and 8 GB of RAM.

If you’re going to run Nmap, Wireshark, and Metasploit simultaneously, this isn’t the best computer for you. However, it is a solid choice for an on-the-go hacking computer that can perform penetration testing tasks that don’t require heavy lifting.

Best Battery Life - Lenovo ThinkPad Z16

Coming in at just under 15 hours, the Lenovo ThinkPadZ16 has one of the longest battery lives among top-of-the-line hacking laptops. If you’re an on-the-go hacker who doesn’t want to worry about having to charge your laptop, this powerful ThinkPad might be your perfect hacking sidekick.

This ThinkPad also offers a host of security features such as a fingerprint reader, facial recognition technology, and a webcam kill switch among other features.

When it comes to performance, it’s faster than comparable computers like the Acer Swift Edge 16 and the LG Gram 16. You shouldn’t have any problem running a couple of resource-heavy progams with the ThinkPadZ16.

Best Pre-Configured for Linux - Purism Librem 14

The Librem 14 ships with the Pure OS or Quebes OS operating systems, both of which are Linux distributions. Most laptops on this list do not come with a Linux distribution pre-installed.

More than just a pre-configured Linux laptop, the Librem 14 offers a host of security features, such as kill switches for the mic, camera, and wireless devices. It also comes with hardware tampering technology, PureBoot bundle, and the option of adding a privacy screen, among other security features.

A laptop pre-configured with Linux would be of no value if it didn’t have the hardware components to enable effortless hacking. Librem 14 lets users get the most from their hacking experience by offering a high-quality processor and 64 GB of RAM.

Best MAC - MacBook Pro 13” with M2 Chip

If you’re an Apple fan who is unwilling to change allegiances but doesn’t want to break the bank, Apple’s MacBook Pro with the M2 CPU might be right for you.

It’s portable, has great battery life, and has more than enough power provided by its 8 GB of RAM and M2 chip to run your favorite penetration testing programs on a virtual hacking VM

Best MAC Powerhouse - 2023 MacBook Pro with M3 Max Chip

If you want to run multiple VMs at the same time, crack passwords, and conduct vulnerability testing all at the same time without missing a beat, the M3-powered MacBook Pro has the capabilities you demand.

With a 40-core GPU, 48 gigs of RAM, and a terabyte of storage this MacBook might be the fattest laptop you’ve ever hacked with. The jewel behind this machine is the new and improved M3 CPU. The M3 rivals even the best CPUs in the market and can more than get the job done when it comes to running resource-heavy penetration testing programs.

Best Powerhouse - MSI Raider GE78 HX

When it comes to the best hacking laptop on the market the MSI Raider GE78 HX is a beast. If you’re a seasoned hacker working with resource-draining programs and don’t have time for your computer to compute ones and zeros you’ll want to rely on a monster of a laptop like the Raider GE78 HX.

To give you an idea of its power, its Geekbench compute score hit 21,063, the only laptop to reach 20,000 in 2023. The average gaming computer (most of which are popular among hackers) is 13,024. The MSI Raider GE78 HX is hands-down the fastest laptop on the market. This means there’s no need to use a dedicated cracking rig, the MSI Raider can get the job done all by itself.  

Conclusion

The only thing you have left to do is decide which specifications matter most to you. Do you need a light and portable hacking laptop, one that’s durable if banged around, or maybe one that’s just insanely powerful? Once you know what you’re looking for, review the aforementioned best laptops for hacking and choose one that satisfies your preferences.

While a powerful laptop is a must for any penetration tester, a computer is only as valuable as the hacker behind it. To level up your hacking game, learn from mentors, and make connections within the cyber security field, we recommend enrolling in StationX’s Master's Progam. Doing so will give you access to over 30,000 IT courses and labs, unlimited career mentorships, personalized study roadmaps, and more.

Here are a few hacking courses to refine your penetration testing skills:

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Anatomy of a Cyber Attack: Beginner Hacking with Metasploit!

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