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Top 13 Best Laptop For Pentesting 2023 [Latest Reviews]

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You’ve arrived at the right place if you’re seeking the Best Laptop For Pentesting. They must deal with unexpected and sophisticated issues, thus they must have all of the essential strain defenses. Your laptop is the most important piece of equipment you have. As a result, choose it carefully.

Are you looking for a laptop that can be used for Pentesting or ethical hacking? If you’re a professional, ethical hacker, or even a newcomer to the industry seeking the finest laptop to run Kali Linux (or any GNU / Linux developed primarily for general computer security and auditing) and perform penetration testing, I can tell you that this will be of assistance.

You may run Kali Linux by dual booting or utilizing virtualization tools like VirtualBox or VMware, as you may already know. Whatever method you use to run Kali, you’ll need a laptop that can handle it without any problems.

The Dell Inspiron 15 7000 is the ideal laptop for pentesting. It is the perfect tool for hackers. This laptop comes in black and silver, among other colors. The laptop has a quality appearance thanks to its shiny and brushed exterior.

This laptop is portable and lightweight. This laptop’s screen measures 15.6 inches. Its screen is anti-glare and has an excellent brightness level. Working in a dark room is possible thanks to the illuminated display and excellent definition.  

I produced a final list of the Best Laptops For Kali Linux And Pentesting In 2022 after reviewing several laptops and chatting with various security experts. This article will always assist you in choosing your laptop and will give you the greatest possibilities available.

Now, without wasting any more time, let’s look at which laptops are suited for pen testing. Finally, there is a fantastic guide that will assist you in quickly picking Computers For Pen Testing.

In a Hurry??? Check Top 3 Laptops For Pentesting Below…

[amazon table=”17854″]

Our Recommendations

ImageProductGlobal RatingPrice
Acer Predator Helios<br>

Acer Predator Helios

  • 4.5 out of 5 Stars
Price
Lenovo IdeaPad L340 Gaming<br>

Lenovo IdeaPad L340 Gaming

  • 4.7 out of 5 Stars
Price
Dell G5 15 Gaming

Dell G5 15 Gaming

  • 4.2 out of 5 Stars
Price
Dell Inspiron 5000 Touchscreen

Dell Inspiron 5000 Touchscreen

  • 4.1 out of 5 Stars
Price
ASUS VivoBook Thin

ASUS VivoBook Thin

  • 4.2 out of 5 Stars
Price
Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop

Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop

  • 4.6 out of 5 Stars
Price
Dell Inspiron i5577

Dell Inspiron i5577

  • 4.0 out of 5 Stars
Price
Alienware 17

Alienware 17

  • 3.0 out of 5 Stars
Price
Lenovo IdeaPad Y700

Lenovo IdeaPad Y700

  • 4.0 out of 5 Stars
Price
Dell XPS 15

Dell XPS 15

  • 4.4 out of 5 Stars
Price
Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop

Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop

  • 4.6 out of 5 Stars
Price
Lenovo ThinkPad T490

Lenovo ThinkPad T490

  • 4.2 out of 5 Stars
Price
OEM Lenovo ThinkPad E15 Gen 2

OEM Lenovo ThinkPad E15 Gen 2

  • 4.3 out of 5 Stars
Price

List Of Top 13 Best Laptop For Pentesting 2023

Following is the list of Pentesting laptops.

Our Top Pick Pentesting Laptop – Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop

Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop

The Acer Nitro 5 is another top device for ethical hacking and pen testing. The list below includes some of the laptop’s key features. The laptop has a sleek design and a glossy black shell. The laptop’s metal body gives it a high-end appearance.

A 15.6-inch LED display is present on the laptop. The laptop’s display is backlit. A detailed view is available with the light level adequately set. The keyboard is simple to use and operates quietly. The keyboard’s buttons are fragile and easy to press. The keyboard’s touchpad is simple to operate. It has fantastic audio quality. The laptop’s dual speakers provide crystal-clear audio.

Personal Review

I’m pleased to report that I was very moved and satisfied. I tested my PC, which has 256 GB of NVME SSD storage and 8 GB of RAM, and it performed three times as quickly as a SATA SSD. I added 8GB of more RAM, a 1TB NVME hard drive, and a 1TB SATA hard drive to the computer.

The computer’s speed astounded me; even with the initial setup, the machinery proved pretty quick. The equipment is used for mastery exercises, photo and video editing, basic programming, and video games. The crew handles everything flawlessly.

Pros
  • Big screen
  • Long-lasting battery
  • Lightweight
Cons
  • No SD slot

Runner Up Pick Pentest Laptop – Lenovo ThinkPad T490

Lenovo ThinkPad T490

Lenovo ThinkPad T490 is the most excellent laptop to get if you want to learn how to hack. These are the laptop’s features that you need to be aware of. The laptop is flat in design and has a traditional appearance.

The laptop’s display has two thin and two thick bezels. It sports a 14-inch LED display. The laptop’s screen has a 1920 x 1080 resolution. The laptop’s brightness can be readily changed. It has a good keyboard with straightforward keys.

The keys are easy to press because of their precise size and cut. The touchpad includes two buttons and is touch-sensitive. Additionally, a fingerprint sensor is included for a more secure login. The audio may be better than you would want. Headphones can therefore be helpful.

Personal Review

I’ve used Lenovo laptops for the past few years, and they’re top-notch and work as advertised.

Pros
  • Durable design
  • Fast processor
  • Comfortable keyboard
Cons
  • No DVD/ CD ROM

Best Seller Penetration Testing Laptop – OEM Lenovo ThinkPad E15

OEM Lenovo ThinkPad E15 Gen 2

Do you want to know which laptop beginners should choose for hacking? If so, the OEM Lenovo ThinkPad 15 is the solution. The 4.3-pound laptop sports a stylish aluminum shell. It features a strong body and an excellent display. The laptop’s 15.6-inch display is on an anti-glare screen. It features a 1920 x 1080 resolution.

The fact that this laptop’s keyboard is spill-resistant is its best feature. The uniform spacing between each key allows for quicker typing. The Dolby speaker system provides excellent audio. Additionally, the dual speakers enable users to enjoy depth and bass simultaneously.

Personal Review

This laptop’s 1T SSD and 32GB of RAM perform flawlessly. It has been my best cost-to-performance computer to date. This laptop should be used as a work tool. Also, keep in mind that this is not a gaming laptop.

Pros
  • Backlit keyboard
  • Long-lasting battery
  • HQ graphics
Cons
  • The cooling system can be noisy.

Customer Pick Best Laptops For Ethical Hacking – Acer Predator Helios

Customer Pick

Specfications

Brand: Acer
Series: Acer Predator Series
Screen Size: 15.6 Inches

Acer’s Predator Helios 300 is the boss. When it comes to the Best Laptop for Pentesting, it is among the top ten. This laptop is not only attractive, but it also performs well.

When it comes to appearances, the Acer Predator Helios 300 is tough, especially since the lid is made of metal – specifically aluminum. The remaining components are made of durable plastic. It comes with a 15.6-inch screen and weighs 5.95 pounds. Its backlit keyboard shines red and is extremely bright; owing to this illumination, you can easily operate in the dark.

It is well-suited to the Windows 10 operating system. It has 16 GB of RAM storage space, which can be expanded to 32 GB. Then there’s the 256 M.3 Solid State Drive. If you want to upgrade the SSD as well, there is a slot on the laptop.

It has a 2.8GHz Intel 7th Generation Core i7-7700HQ Processor with Turbo Boost Technology that can go up to 3.8GHz an extra 1GHz. Its powerful processor also ensures that the fan inside runs quietly and effectively, so you won’t have to worry about overheating when working on demanding activities.

As a result, this laptop can run Kali Linux, VMware, and other associated software, making pentesting a breeze. On one side, it features a USB Type C port, a memory card reader, an Ethernet socket, and HDMI, while the other has two USB 2.0 ports.

For those who like to play games on this laptop, the GPU is the NVIDIA GTX 1060 6GB VRAM, which is quite remarkable considering the price.

When it comes to battery life, it can last up to four or five hours when performing routine chores. However, whether running Kali Linux, pentesting, or doing anything else that requires a lot of power, the pentesting laptop can only last two hours.

The Acer Predator Helios 300 has a number of advantages and disadvantages that have earned it a spot on our list of the Best Pentesting laptop to buy in 2022.

Personal Review

This laptop performs wonderfully! It’s perfect for medium-to-heavy gamers like me. Online browsing, video streaming, and other applications work well, particularly speedy web browsing. It may even be overpowered for such duties, which is excellent. The ISP screen is gorgeous, with excellent viewing angles and a slight brightness decrease at 50+ degrees, but it’s still viewable.

Pros
  • Excellent
  • It is possible to update the RAM storage space and the Solid State Drive.
Cons
  • It’s a bit on the pricey side.
  • It’s pretty large.

Top Rated Laptop For Kali Linux: Lenovo IdeaPad L340 Gaming

Top Rated

Specifications

  • Brand: Lenovo
  • Series: L340 Gaming
  • Screen Size: 15.6 Inches
  • Color: Black
  • Hard Disk Size: 512 GB
  • CPU Model: Core i5
  • Ram Memory Installed Size: 8 GB
  • Operating System: Windows 10
  • Card Description: Dedicated
  • Graphics Coprocessor: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650

One of the most recent gaming laptops on the market is the Lenovo Ideapad L340. You can both play games and carry out heavy-duty duties like pen testing. This is the Ideapad laptop series. The design is simple and clean, with plenty of light to work with.

The display screen is a 15.6-inch HD IPS display that gives you great images of what you’re working on. Not to mention, it contains Vantage Eye Care mode, which minimizes light emission and decreases eye strain.

The Intel Core i5-9300H 9th Gen processor powers it. This machine is a force to be reckoned with, with its 4GB of dedicated NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card and 512GB SSD disc. You have the option of working in either speedy or silent mode.

It weighs little more than 4 pounds and has 4-hour battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad L340 Gaming Laptop has a number of advantages and disadvantages that have earned it a spot on our list of the Best Laptop for Pentesting to buy in 2022.

The product has a 4.1 out of 5-star rating and has garnered over 140 positive replies. It has superb characteristics, making it a good choice for pentesting professionals in the field. When buying a laptop for pen testing, the processor is the first consideration. The Intel Core i5 processor is required if you want your Kali Linux to operate as smoothly as butter.

Personal Review

This is an excellent laptop with a gorgeous blue backlit keyboard, an SSD for lightning-fast program load times, and an IPS screen for excellent viewing angles. It’s not the best gaming laptop available, but if you want a work laptop with a bit of gaming power thrown in, this is the one to get. Very Recommendable.

Pros
  • It’s perfect for working on high-strength assignments.
  • You may enjoy a pleasant viewing experience with the Vantage Eye Care mode.
  • It is powered by a 9th Generation CPU.
  • It has 512GB of storage and a dedicated NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card.
Cons
  • For some people, the 4-hour battery life may be insufficient.

Best Kali Linux Laptop: Dell G5 15 Gaming

Budget Pick

Specifications

  • Brand: Dell
  • Series: Vulcan 15
  • Screen Size: 15.6 Inches
  • Color: Black
  • Hard Disk Size: 256 GB

The Dell G5 15 is a laptop designed for gaming. That isn’t to say it can’t be used for pen testing. The hardware setup is suitable for gaming and penetration testing. Dell designed the device to withstand a lot of use. The display is 15.6 inches HD IPS Anti-Glare LED-Backlit. Excellent visual graphics are provided to users. You’ll be pleased to find that it’s powered by an Intel Core i7-9750H CPU from the 9th generation.

With an additional 1TB of storage and a 256GB SSD, you get a lot of storage space and a lot of longevity and reliability. With two speakers, the speakers are great for gaming. A backlit keyboard allows you to work or play in low-light environments. Unfortunately, the laptop is large and hefty, weighing more than 8 pounds with a 5-hour battery life. It costs more than $1000, which is acceptable given its efficiency.

The Dell G5 15 Gaming Laptop has a number of advantages and disadvantages that have earned it a spot on our list of the Best Laptop for Pentesting to Buy. The laptop has a product rating of 4.1 stars out of 5. It is the Amazon laptop of choice, which is a good enough incentive to go with it. The Dell laptop has earned over 50 good reviews from happy customers.

Personal Review

I wouldn’t suggest it for traveling because the battery life could be better and it’s a big laptop. However, I strongly advise it if you intend to keep this at home to use for work. Even with YouTube and Spotify playing in the background, the laptop could complete all necessary tasks when RAM, SAP2000, and AutoCad were run simultaneously.

Pros
  • The laptop has a large amount of storage space.
  • For high-performance activities, it is efficient and reliable.
  • It can also be used in dimly lit locations.
  • An Intel i7 processor is embedded.
Cons
  • It weights approximately 8 pounds, which may be too much for certain individuals.

Best Pentesting Laptop: Dell Inspiron 5000 Touchscreen

Editor;s Choice

Specifications

  • Brand: Dell
  • Series: Vulcan 15
  • Screen Size: 15.6 Inches
  • Color: Black
  • Hard Disk Size: 256 GB

The Dell Inspiron 13 5000 is a 2-in-1 convertible laptop that includes all of the tools you’ll need for pen-testing. With the grey tone, the design and body of this laptop are outstanding. The hinge is also sturdy, allowing you to use the laptop in four different configurations.

It is powered by an Intel Core i7-8550U processor from the 8th generation. With 8GB of RAM, you can multitask as well. The fact that it comes with 256GB of SSD is noteworthy. This is a Windows 10 compatible 15.6-inch HD IPS Truelife LED-backlit touch-screen display. The laptop is illuminated, allowing us to operate it in a variety of settings. It is incredibly portable due to its weight of almost 3 pounds.

The battery life is 5 hours, which may not be enough for heavy users in some situations. The Pros and Cons of the Dell Touchscreen 2-in-1 Inspiron 5000 that earned it a spot on our Best Laptop for Pentesting are listed below. It is a little more expensive, but it is still cheap. If you’re searching for a powerful laptop at a reasonable price, this is the one to choose.

Personal Review

It’s relatively small and lightweight, making it ideal for carrying to work or school. The laptop is well-built and should be able to withstand minor damage. The battery is excellent. It can run for 8 to 12 hours on a single charge.

This is when using Word typically (average screen brightness, no sound while browsing). Both the touchpad and the screen function flawlessly. Both of them have worked for me without any problems. The sound quality is excellent. The exhibit is lovely.

Pros
  • This is a convertible laptop that can be used in two ways.
  • The laptop has a gleaming finish.
  • It is prepared with an Intel Core i7 processor.
  • The laptop has a large storage capacity of 256GB.
Cons
  • The battery life is only 5 hours, thus it’s not ideal for students or heavy users.

Top Kali Linux Laptop: ASUS VivoBook Thin

Specifications

  • Brand: ASUS
  • Series: Asus VivoBook F510
  • Screen Size: 15.6 Inches
  • Hard Disk Size: 1000 GB
  • CPU Model: Core i5 Family

The ASUS VivoBook F510UA is a slim and light notebook from ASUS. This laptop, like the Acer Aspire 5, is a budget-friendly option. It has a width of 0.8 inches and weighs slightly more than 3.5 pounds. It has 8GB of RAM and an Intel Core i5-8250U processor from the 8th generation.

The visuals are of good quality that do not cause eye strain. A 15.6-inch HD WideView display with ASUS Splendid visual optimization technology provides crystal clear visuals for pentesting and processing.

You can also use a fingerprint sensor to sign in to the laptop with just a single touch. The laptop’s sole disadvantage is that it has a battery life of only 5 hours, which is not awful. The ASUS VivoBook F510UA has a number of advantages and disadvantages that have earned it a spot on our list of the Best Laptop for Pentesting.

The laptop has a product rating of four stars out of five. Clients have given it more than 500 good reviews. It is cost-effective. Not to add, it has a number of useful functions. You should seriously consider purchasing this laptop.

Personal Review

Stunning quality, MacBook-style, and robust yet thin. Fast charging, high-quality metallic, and long battery life. Very smooth keyboard touch, with no ventilation or overheating noises. SSD for booting is relatively quick, and a second 1TB drive is used for storage and auxiliary apps. I only regret not getting a keyboard with backlighting. I suggest it.

Pros
  • It is a laptop that is extremely efficient.
  • The ASUS Splendid visual enhancement technology makes for a comfortable viewing experience.
  • With the i8 Intel processor, performance is excellent.
  • It is reasonably priced, making it ideal for students.
Cons
  • The battery life is only 5 hours, leaving you wanting more.

Best Laptops For Penetration Testing: Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop

Specifications

  • Brand: Acer
  • Series: A515-43-R19L
  • Screen Size: 15.6 Inches
  • Color: Silver
  • Hard Disk Size: 128 GB
  • CPU Model: Ryzen 3 3200U

The Acer Aspire 5 is an excellent budget laptop for students interested in pursuing a career in pen testing. When you’re on a tight budget, the Acer Aspire 5 will come in handy.

The laptop has a silver and aluminum appearance that is unobtrusive. It is also lightweight, weighing less than 4 pounds and just 0.7 inches in width. It has a 15.6-inch HD LED-backlit IPS display that gives you the greatest possible viewing experience.

Because the Acer BlueLight Shield does not strain your eyes, you can work for long periods of time on the laptop. It has 8GB of RAM and an Intel Core i5-8265U processor from the 8th generation. You’ll be happy to learn that the laptop has a battery life of more than 9 hours.

The Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop has a number of advantages and disadvantages that have earned it a spot on our list of the best Pentesting laptop.

Personal Review

The keyboard is AMAZING. The keyboard has a sturdy, fluid feel about it. The “feel” of a keyboard and typing is essential because I am a typist. My hands flit across this keyboard! As I type, the letters flow together to form words.

It’s fantastic to have the tiny numeric pad to the right. More giant fingers might not like it because the keys are a touch smaller, but it’s ideal for doing a lot of math. The “backspace” button is more significant than on other keyboards.

Pros
  • Because of its light weight, it is easily transportable.
  • It has a lovely glossy and gleaming finish.
  • The image quality is outstanding.
  • With the 8th generation Intel processor, performance is excellent.
  • The battery life is approximately 9 hours.
  • It’s one of the most affordable laptops for pen testing.
Cons
  • Occasionally, the performance falls short of your expectations.

Top Rated Best Pentesting Laptop: Dell Inspiron i5577

Specifications

  • Brand: Dell
  • Series: I5577-7342BLK-PUS
  • Screen Size: 15.6 Inches
  • Color: Black
  • Hard Disk Size: 512 GB
  • CPU Model: 8032

Another Dell model, the Dell Inspiron i5577-7342BLK-PUS, is our last pick for the best laptop for pentesting in 2022. It is appealing to the eye, has excellent characteristics, and is reasonably priced.

It has a 15.6-inch display with a screen resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. The screen is a TN panel, which, while not the finest in terms of color fidelity and sharp graphics, is enough for ethical hacking. It features a 16 GB DDR4 RAM storage capacity, which you can extend if you desire, and a 512 GB Solid State Drive. When compared to other laptops with 3 SATA SSDs, we can assure you that this SSD is extremely fast.

This tablet, like the IdeaPad we looked at earlier, boots up in approximately ten seconds at most. This laptop is up to the task of running Kali Linux, pen-testing, and other difficult tasks. Its processor is the 7th generation Intel Core i7-7700HQ Quad-Core Intel Core i7-7700HQ Quad-Core Intel Core i7-7700HQ Quad-Core Intel Core i7-7700HQ Quad It features a 2.8 GHz base frequency that may be increased to 3.8 GHz.

The graphics card is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050, which is rather good. The keyboard is also illuminated, allowing you to work in both bright and dark environments. It weighs 5.66 pounds and runs on the Windows 10 operating system.

When performing light chores on this laptop, the battery life can last up to 10 hours. However, you’ll get roughly 4 hours of battery life while pentesting or running Kali Linux before it needs to be charged.

The Pros and Cons of the Dell Inspiron i5577-7342BLK-PUS that gained it a spot on my list of Laptops for Pentesting to get in the 2022 list are listed below.

Personal Review

The 2 in 1 ultra-thin laptop is smaller and lighter than this one but isn’t as huge and heavy. I previously owned a 17.3″ laptop, so this is little by comparison. However, the 15.6 has a large enough screen to support numerous windows while multitasking.

Excellent battery life. Although I haven’t timed it, it appears exceptional. Although it consumed a lot of juice, my device handled Player Unknown Battlegrounds well. It is quick and receptive. Its three USB 3.0 connections and Ethernet are excellent features.

Pros
  • This laptop has a good price-to-performance ratio.
  • It offers a fast processing speed and excellent performance.
  • It comes at a reasonable cost.
  • The battery life is outstanding.
Cons
  • If color accuracy and viewing angles are important, this display will disappoint you.

Editor Choice Laptop For Pentesting: Alienware 17

Specifications

  • Brand: Alienware
  • Series: 17 R4
  • Screen Size: 17.3 Inches
  • Hard Disk Size: 1128 GB
  • CPU Model: Core i7

If you thought the Lenovo IdeaPad is tough, wait until you see this. The Alienware 17 R4 is a one-of-a-kind laptop. In 2022, it is also one of the best laptops for pentesting. Let’s take a closer look at what this monster has to offer.

It has a 17.3-inch display screen. The construction is excellent, with the majority of the elements being constructed of metal. There are two variations of this model now. One variant features an HD screen, while the other has a QHD screen.

If you’re looking for a laptop with long battery life, go for one with an HD display. Its battery will last longer than the others. The display panel is an IPS, and though the color accuracy isn’t great, it doesn’t detract from the overall quality of the device’s display.

It has an adobe RGB of 71% and sRGB of 92 percent, which is more than adequate. Furthermore, an ethical hacker will be unconcerned about a sharp display if the device they receive has lagging issues or underperforms.

It has 16 GB RAM storage space and a 256 GB SSD + 1TB HDD combination. The SSD has a transfer rate of 1662 MB/ 649 MB. The HDD has a writing speed of 123 MB and a read speed of 128 MB. It has a 7th-generation Intel Core i7 processor.

As a result, you won’t experience any latency or slow processing while running Kali Linux, pentesting, or other relevant software on this device. This laptop’s GPU is the NVIDIA GTX 1070 dedicated graphics, which is more than adequate for your professional demands and decent for gaming. It has a high thermal design power, ensuring that your laptop does not overheat even when doing demanding work.

The Alienware 17 R4 features a backlit keyboard, allowing you to operate in the dark. The backlight’s many color options are a fascinating feature. For the backlit keyboard, you can choose any color you like. Its screen is anti-glare, so you won’t be distracted by shadows when using it in public. The trackpad on the Alienware 17 R4 is modest but responsive. This laptop has a special function called the Tobii eye tracker, which you can use instead of the trackpad.

This functionality is not as responsive as the trackpad, so don’t expect it to be. But, in the end, it works, which is plenty for an alternative. The operating system on this laptop is Windows 10. It’s massive, weighing in at 9.7 pounds.

Needless to say, this is not a laptop that you can simply fold, throw in a bag, and walk out the door with every time. We agree with the maker when he calls it a desktop replacement. If it’s any comfort, we know that ethical hackers don’t carry their laptops about with them all the time. It contains a USB 3.0 port as well as an HDMI port.

Personal Review

As other users claimed, the laptop is precise as advertised, with no issues whatsoever and no heating issues. I haven’t encountered any issues yet, and everything functions precisely as advertised. Additionally, it appears more excellent in person.

The only drawbacks are that it’s a little bulky and the screen isn’t color-accurate for a video editor or designer like me, but the gtx 1070 performs and looks fantastic in games. I suggest it for gamers; however, if you require highly high color accuracy, you should get a laptop with a greater sRGB and AdobeRGB content.

Pros
  • It’s a device with a lot of processing power and a lot of performance.
  • The Alienware 17 R4 is sturdy, sturdy, and can endure falls from small heights thanks to its design.
  • It has a very responsive trackpad that, when combined with its processing speed, will make your work much more fun.
Cons
  • It’s a hefty piece of equipment.
  • It is most likely the most expensive item on the list.

Best Laptop For Pentesting: Lenovo IdeaPad Y700

Specifications

  • Brand: Lenovo
  • Series: Ideapad Y700-17ISK
  • Screen Size: 17.3 Inches
  • Color: Black
  • Hard Disk Size: 1 TB

Lenovo outdid itself with the IdeaPad Y700. The size of this laptop is the first thing that anybody notices. It’s a big machine. But, hey, it’s got a punch, so that’s ok.

The screen of the IdeaPad is a staggering 17.3 inches. If that’s too much for you, the Y700 laptops are also available in 15.6-inch and 14-inch sizes. Let’s stick with the 17.3-inch model for now. It’s an excellent laptop for pentesting, and if you’re curious why, then keep reading.

The screen is full HD, featuring an IPS display and a 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution. It also includes an anti-glare functionality, so you can work productively in high-light environments or even outside with few distractions.

Furthermore, the visual quality is adequate for a laptop with an HD display of the specified resolution – it is not outstanding, but neither is it subpar. As a result, the display is suitable for pentesting. It has a red-backlit keyboard with two brightness settings that you can adjust as needed. The JBL speakers on both sides, just above the keypad, are a unique feature of this laptop. They provide a loud and clear audio quality when used in conjunction with a Dolby Home Theater, which is a benefit for an ethical hacker who is an audiophile.

This device’s trackpad isn’t as responsive as we’d like it to be. Fortunately, this omission on the part of the producers can be remedied with the use of an external mouse. This laptop includes 16 GB of RAM and a 128 GB SSD + 1 TB HDD combination hard disc.

It can run Kali Linux and perform pentesting operations swiftly and smoothly thanks to a 6th-generation Intel Core i7-6700HQ processor. The tablet boots up in roughly ten seconds thanks to the 6th generation processor, which is rather good for a laptop. The GPU isn’t the best in the world, but it gets the job done. It’s an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M 4GB graphics card that works reasonably well.

A memory card reader and a USB 2.0 port are located on one side of the laptop. The other includes an Ethernet port, two USB 3.0 connections, and an HDMI port. The Windows 10 operating system is installed on this gadget, which weighs 7.72 pounds. When performing routine duties, the battery lasts roughly 6 hours. It can last up to two hours when running Kali Linux and pentesting before requiring a recharge.

Personal Review

It has all the features I was looking for in a laptop. 17.3″ screen is large and sharp, backlit keyboard, i7 Intel processor, plenty of storage (1TB), 4 USB ports, and overall laptop design that looks like carbon fiber. Windows 10 is new, but I’m learning as I go. I cannot stress how great this thing is. I’m a very content dude-Nik.

Pros
  • It is one of the cheapest laptops on this list, costing less than a thousand dollars.
  • It’s durable and can endure minor mishaps.
  • The speakers are fantastic.
  • It features a smooth and flawless performance, as well as a fast processing speed.
Cons
  • Its trackpad takes a long time to respond.
  • This laptop is a hefty beast.

Best Budget Pentest Laptop: Dell XPS 15

Specifications

  • Brand: Dell
  • Series: 9550-3628
  • Screen Size: 15.6 Inches
  • Color: Silver/Grey
  • Hard Disk Size: 256 GB
  • Ram Memory Installed Size: 8 GB

Here’s another fantastic laptop that can be used for everything from pentesting to gaming. It’s a versatile laptop that’s one of the best for pentesting, gaming, and multitasking. For good reason, the Dell XPS 15 is a high-end device for professionals who aren’t on a budget. Its characteristics and features are simply too amazing to be true.

It has a 15.6-inch Infinity 4k IPS touchscreen display. This device’s screen resolution is 3840 x 2160 pixels, making it one of the greatest laptop displays available. Of course, the graphics on it are razor-sharp because of the high resolution, and it has excellent color accuracy and viewing angles. While we’re on the subject of the display, it has Adobe RGB of 99 percent and sRGB of 96 percent, which is nearly 100 percent. Is it possible to beat that?

It boasts an almost borderless screen, with a 15.6-inch display that fits into a notebook that is closer to 14 inches. It has a backlit keyboard, so you can work comfortably during the day and in dim lighting. If touchscreen laptops aren’t your style, this laptop also comes in a non-touchscreen variant with identical capabilities. Let’s have a peek at the processor. The Dell XPS 15 is equipped with an Intel Core i7-7700HQ CPU, which is capable of handling Kali Linux and allowing you to do pentesting without difficulty.

It includes a 16 GB DDR4 RAM storage space that may be increased if desired. The Solid State Drive has a capacity of 512 GB and has written and read speeds of 1550 MB and 3000 MB, respectively. So you can be confident that whatever processing chores you do on this laptop will be quick and painless.

The GPU is an NVIDIA GTX 1050 dedicated graphics card, which is ideal for both Kali Linux and gaming. On one side, it includes a USB 3.0 port and an SD card reader, while on the other; it has a USB 3.0 port, a USB Type-C Thunderbolt port, and an HDMI port.

It’s powered by Windows 10 and weighs 4.41 pounds, making it one of the lightest laptops with a screen larger than 15 inches. When conducting normal operations, the battery life can last up to 7 hours, but when using Kali Linux and pentesting, it can only last three hours.

Personal Review

Stunning Dell XPS 15 15.6-Inch Full HD Laptop. Dell has gone above and beyond! I’ve had no issues at all, and the laptop works well! In the end, the laptop has a high-end, solid feel.

Pros
  • It’s quite portable.
  • The display on the screen is superb.
  • This laptop features a high degree of performance and a fast processing speed.
  • Its appearance gives it a sleek aspect.
Cons
  • This equipment is not inexpensive.

How We Tested Laptops For Pentesting?

On all of the PCs and laptops we evaluate, we conduct a variety of benchmarks. We utilize our internal benchmarks to evaluate performance, including photo editing, video encoding, and multitasking speeds, and combine those results to produce an overall score.

This outcome will always be cited in the evaluation, but we reserve the right to refer to specific test findings if they indicate anything remarkable. We do these tests on Windows and macOS, but we also compare operating systems using the cross-platform Geekbench 5 test, which provides different results for single- and multi-core activities.

We may include other benchmarks, such as PCMark 10, and workstation tests like Cinebench R23 or SPECViewPerf 2020. We utilize the results of these tests to compare the performance of various devices empirically.

Still, we’ll also evaluate how well the benchmarks capture the experience of using a device. We may recommend which laptops or PCs are most suited for various workloads and job functions, such as routine office duties or more difficult content creation projects.

While some of our evaluations of a laptop’s display will be based on our subjective impressions of how it appears to the unaided eye, we also put each screen through a colorimeter test to gauge its maximum brightness and color reproduction.

We assess Adobe RGB and DCI-P3 if screens are particularly calibrated to match this color profile. However, we primarily test against the sRGB color gamut, which is the principal color space that digital displays are typically set to reflect.

To ensure consistently similar results across devices, we charge the battery, set the screen to a preset brightness level of 170cd/m2, and put the laptop into flight mode. The duration takes for the laptop to reach a crucial battery level and enter hibernation mode is timed while a looped video is being played.

Product Comparison

Comparatively speaking, the Acer Aspire 5 is the most excellent choice if you’re seeking the best ethical hacking laptop at an affordable price. Here are a few of the laptop’s key specifications. It measures 2.16 by 38.16 cm, and it weighs 4.85 pounds.

It has a solid plastic chassis and a textured exterior. It is easily capable of being rotated around in reverse. This laptop’s screen measures 15.6 inches. It features a 1920 x 1080 resolution. It’s an excellent alternative for hacking because of its high-quality display.

An anti-glare IPS panel display is included with the laptop. Faster typing is made possible by the laptop’s lightweight keys and lighted keyboards. The touchpad is angled slightly to the left to make it easier for fingers to glide across it.

The Dell G5 15 has a gaming-related appearance. It is lightweight, weighing only 2.1 kg. It has decent ports and thick bezels. The laptop’s 15.6-inch screen is anti-glare and boasts a display. The screen has a 247-nit brightness level. A backlit display is present. This laptop’s keyboard has bright white lettering and blue lighting. It enables consumers to read the typefaces clearly, even in a dimly lit space.

The 15-inch LED display on the Apple MacBook Pro is made of glass. The laptop has a 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution. It is one of the best laptops for cybersecurity because of the eye retina display and anti-glare technology. You can use the laptop for extended periods without experiencing any annoyance.

Best Laptop For Pentesting Buyer’s Guide

Guidelines are given below, which help you to choose the best system for you.

Battery Life

This is an important aspect of any laptop that many people overlook before purchasing one. In my opinion, a laptop that can provide you with at least 1 hour of battery life while using Kali is an excellent option. On this list, I’ve mentioned laptops with good battery life; you should take a look at them.

Storage

In my perspective, a 256GB SSD laptop would suffice. A hard disc will suffice if you are on a tight budget. Unless I’m on a tight budget, I’ll always go for an SSD over a hard disc.

Graphics Card

It is not necessary to have specialized graphics in order to run Kali Linux; an integrated graphics card will suffice. If you’re buying a laptop for a long time, I recommend choosing one with a dedicated GPU. That’s why I’ve made all laptops with a dedicated GPU available to everyone.

Ram

For this occupation, I recommend a laptop with at least 8GB of RAM. In my opinion, a 16GB computer would be the best option. That is why I have recommended the majority of 16GB laptops in this article. Don’t go below 8GB unless you’re willing to deal with some problems.

Processor

I would absolutely recommend this laptop for Kali Linux or pentesting if you have an Intel Core i5 processor with a powerful motherboard. Though you have a larger budget, choose the Core i7 CPU; nevertheless, even if it is less expensive, avoid the Core i3 processor. If you use Core i3 processors to run Kali, you will have a lot of performance concerns.

Performance

No matter what you’re buying a laptop for, you shouldn’t get one with outdated or obsolete specs. Here are the three factors that influence a laptop’s performance.

Conclusion

Choosing the Best Laptop For Pentesting might be tough, especially with so many options available. When it comes to using the Pentesting program, you should obtain a laptop with a high-quality processor so that you don’t have any problems while using it and the laptop can support the software.

Another significant consideration is your financial situation. Make certain that the laptop you choose is within your budget. By reading this post, you will be able to identify the finest laptop for pentesting that meets all of your needs. Make sure to read the entire article before deciding on a laptop that meets your demands and makes running the Pentesting program easier.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is the point of pentesting?

A penetration test, often known as a pen test, is an attempt to assess the security of an IT infrastructure by exploiting weaknesses in a safe manner. These defects could be found in operating systems, services, and applications, as well as incorrect setups and unsafe end-user behavior.

Is it permissible to conduct pentests?

Despite the fact that the operation is carried out with the customer’s and penetration testing provider’s mutual consent, it is nevertheless considered hacking under a number of US state laws. They all have one thing in common: anyone who makes illegal, unauthorized use of computer systems is breaking the law.

Is it true that pentesters are hackers?

Penetration testing is a legal practice that can be considered beneficial rather than detrimental. It’s part of an ethical hacking technique that focuses solely on breaking into the information system.

Is pen testing a viable career option?

Penetration testing is a unique profession. You infiltrate firms using their technology and then show them where their flaws are so they may be addressed. It’s a position for nice individuals who can also do horrible things. In the late 1990s, I began penetration testing and eventually established a consultancy firm.

Pentest is carried out by whom?

Internal pen test – An ethical hacker conducts an internal pen test using the company’s internal network. This type of test can help you figure out how much damage an employee can do from behind the company’s firewall.

Is it against the law to Pentest without a permit?

Without the consent of the system owner, you should never begin testing. Penetration testing without authority is likely to be illegal in many jurisdictions, thus your actions may have legal ramifications. This can lead to harm or incorrect testing results.

What is the best laptop for pentesting?

Reviews of the Best Laptops for Pentesting [Top Picks]
MacBook Pro is an Apple product.
The Acer Predator Helios 300 is a laptop computer manufactured by Acer.
XPS 15 by Dell
The Lenovo Idea Pad Y700 is a tablet computer.
Alienware 17 R4 Pentesting

Which laptop do the majority of hackers use?

Laptops are well-known in the gaming world, and hackers love them. Dell’s high-end laptop brand Alienware features customized and powerful motherboards, CPUs, graphics cards, and RAM. With a 17.3-inch display, this laptop provides an incredible viewing experience.

Is it more common for hackers to use a Mac or a PC?

When comparing PCs and Macs, most users believe Macs are safer and believe PCs are more prone to hacking. However, Mac users are just as vulnerable to cybercrime as PC users. Despite this, Mac is far more practical for its customers than PC due to its cutting-edge specifications.

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