10 Best Laptops for Data Science in 2024

Data science is booming, and having a reliable laptop is important for both students and professionals in this field.

Data scientists rely heavily on their laptops for tasks like data cleaning, analysis, and running complex algorithms. Choosing the right laptop can have a significant impact on your productivity and efficiency in this field.

Whether you’re just starting out in data science or you’re a seasoned professional, choosing the right laptop is important. With so many options available, it can be difficult to find the right one for your needs.

In today’s market, there is fierce competition among manufacturers to release the latest and most powerful laptops for data science tasks. But navigating this sea of options can be overwhelming.

In this article, we’ll go into detail about the coding skills required for data scientists, explore the top laptop recommendations for this role, and provide valuable insights to help you make an informed decision.

What to look for in a Laptop for Data Science?

Powerful Processor

A significant amount of computational power is required to run data science algorithms, especially when dealing with large datasets (in the millions) or running complex machine learning models.

To efficiently run these algorithms, look for a laptop with the latest generation and a high-performance processor, such as the Intel Core i7, i9, or AMD Ryzen 7 and 9 processors.

Also Read: What is Processor? Here’s Everything You Need to Know

Dedicated Graphics Card (GPU)

Most laptops have built-in graphics that work fine for regular tasks. But when dealing with massive datasets running complex machine learning, or deep learning tasks on lots of data, you’ll need a special graphics card.

Not all data science jobs need this dedicated graphics card, but it can make machine learning much faster.

People often like the latest NVIDIA graphics cards, like the ones in the latest GeForce or RTX series with at least 4GB VRAM.

Also Read: What to Look for in a Graphics Card? Everything You Need to Know

Sufficient RAM

Data analysis and machine learning can be memory-intensive, especially with noisy, structured, unstructured data.

Choosing a laptop with a minimum of 16GB of RAM is a good idea. Look for RAM that is both the latest and fastest (measured in MHz).

For handling large datasets and complex calculations, 32GB or more is ideal.

Fast and Enough Storage

Data scientists require laptops with fast storage drives to manage and process large datasets efficiently and to train machine learning models that demand rapid data access.

Look for a computer with a minimum of 256GB solid-state drive (SSD) for speedy data access, and 512GB+ will be ideal. For large datasets, consider external storage or cloud solutions for additional space.

Also Read: 13 Best SSD Laptops [Every Budget]

Great Display Quality

A high-quality display is essential for data scientists because it enhances accuracy, efficiency, and comfort while working with data.

When choosing a laptop, look for features like high resolution, wide viewing angles, accurate colors, and low blue light emission to ensure a productive and comfortable work experience.

Look for at least a 13-inch Full HD (1920×1080) or higher-resolution, 60Hz refresh rate screen.

Many laptops come with a standard 15.6-inch display, but if you prefer a larger screen, options are available for data science.

Data Science Laptop Requirements

Specs	Minimum	Recommended
Screen	Full HD (1920 x 1080)	Full HD+ (1920 x 1200) or more
CPU	12th Gen Intel Core i3 or equivalent AMD Ryzen 3	12th, 13th Gen Intel Core i5, i7 or equivalent AMD Ryzen 5,7
GPU	Intel UHD or equivalent AMD Radeon Vega graphics	NVIDIA GeForce RTX or equivalent AMD Radeon RX series graphics
Memory	4GB	16GB or more
Storage	128GB SSD	512GB SSD or more
Battery	2 Hour	4 hours or more
Operating system (OS)	Windows 10	Windows 11, macOS, or Linux

What is the best laptop for data science?

Choosing the best laptop depends on your budget and specific needs.
All the laptops we reviewed for running data science algorithms are excellent choices.

In this table, we’ve listed some of the most expensive laptops at the top and more affordable options at the bottom, so if you’re on a budget, consider the more affordable options at the bottom first and work your way up to the most expensive and powerful laptops at the top, and choose accordingly.

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1. Apple MacBook Pro (M2 Pro)

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Specifications

CPU (Processor)	Apple M2 Pro Processor (up to 10-core CPU)
GPU	Apple 16-core GPU
RAM	16GB, 200GB/s memory
Storage	512 GB SSD
Screen	14.2-inch 3024×1964 pixels Liquid Retina XDR Display, 1600 nits, 120Hz
Weight	3.5 pounds (1.60 kg)
Battery	70 Whr, Li-Po, with 67W USB-C Power Adapter (up to 18 hours)
Others	Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, Touch ID, 3 Thunderbolt 4 ports, 1080p FaceTime HD camera

It is the universally admired Apple that features one of the best laptops for Data Science students in terms of performance and high-end multitasking.

This really classy MacBook comes with some furious and never-before-seen specs due to the integration of the M2 Pro chip into it.

This next-level beast has a 10-core processor, delivering some 2.8x faster processing than ever, and a 16-core GPU, ensuring a 5x snappier graphics processing for graphic-intense tasks. Machine learning has been made 11x faster with the 16-cored quick Neural engine.

The 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR 120 Hz display with mesmerizing 1600 nits of brightness and True Tone tech support delivers vivid colors and incredible overall visuals, and the ultra-responsive, efficient, and quiet keyboard makes the work amusing.

Running advanced NLP tasks, like training transformer models, can require much computer power. So, to perform tasks smoothly, it has an active cooling feature that sustains blazing-fast performance, making this Macbook one of the best for Data Science students.

Its plenty of 512 GB SSD storage and 16GB 200GB/s memory enable you to do all the feverish multitasking fluently. Thanks to the M2 Pro Chip, the storage is expandable up to 8TB.

It has a remarkable battery stand, i.e., 18 hours with one charge, the best to date. The 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6E guarantees high-speed wireless connectivity and does snappy data transfers with three Thunderbolt/USB 4 and other ports.

Data science tools and libraries work well on Unix-based systems like Linux or macOS. But lots of data scientists also use Windows laptops, so pick the one that works best with the tools you like to use.

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2. Alienware X16 R1

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Specifications

CPU (Processor)	13th Gen Intel Core i9-13900HK (24 MB cache, 14 cores, 20 threads, up to 5.40 GHz)
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 (12 GB GDDR6 VRAM)
RAM	32 GB LPDDR5 6000 MT/s
Storage	1 TB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD
Screen	16-inch QHD+ (2560×1600) 240Hz, 100% DCI-P3, 3ms, NVIDIA G-SYNC
Weight	6.0 lbs (2.7 kg)
Battery	6 Cell, 90 Whr, Lithium-ion
Others	Thunderbolt 4, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, Windows 11 Home, Backlit keyboard

The Alienware X16 R1 is one of the newest additions to the gaming laptops. With a unique mechanical keyboard, powerful graphics, and central processors, this unit is an upgrade over the previous X15.

The design still has those signature Alien features, and the build quality is at par with the best. Compared to the X15, there are a few differences.

The body is made of solid aluminum, and it’s very sturdy. Talking about its weight, it weighs 6.0 pounds (2.7 kg), so it’s not a lightweight.

All the ports are located on the backside of the laptop. You get two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports, a headphone jack, an Ethernet port, a USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port, a Thunderbolt port with a display port and power delivery support, an HDMI 2.1 port, and a slot for your microSD card.

The 16-inch QHD+, 3ms response time, NVIDIA G-SYNC display is breathtaking. It offers 100% DCI-P3, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. This panel provides a 240 Hz refresh rate for rendering your data science complex projects.

The Alienware X16 R1 comes with a different graphics unit and core. It has an Intel Core i9-13900HK processor, which is powerful enough for data processing tasks, and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 graphics with 12 GB GDDR6 VRAM to handle deep learning workloads.

The 2.6 GHz clock speed that can be overclocked to 5.4 GHz is more than enough throttle to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the other components in terms of performance. Its faster clock speeds can greatly reduce the time needed for complex data analysis and machine learning algorithms.

With 32 GB LPDDR5 6000 MT/s memory and a 1 TB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD, things will be as snappy for you as they were for me—enough RAM and storage to process high-end applications and store all your important files and documents.

Playing high-end games and performing deep learning and big data processing tasks on the unit certainly takes temperatures to a higher level. However, Alienware’s Cryo-Tech cooling technology maintains system stability and performance.

One of the biggest upgrades to date in this laptop is the mechanical keyboard that delivers a 1.8mm key-travel. Each stroke feels heavenly. It has a backlit keyboard and provides per-key AlienFX lighting.

The battery of this unit is quite impressive. It has 6 Cell, 90 Whr, Lithium-ion battery, providing a decent battery life.

Alienware X16 R1 has the latest Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and is powered by Windows 11 Home operating system.

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3. ASUS ROG Strix G16

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Specifications

CPU (Processor)	13th Gen Intel Core i7-13650HX (2.6 to 4.9 GHz, 24M Cache, 20 Threads, 14 cores)
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, 6GB GDDR6
RAM	16GB DDR5 4800 MHz Memory
Storage	512 GB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD
Screen	16-inch, FHD+ 16:10 (1920×1200 pixels), anti-glare display, 100% sRGB, 165Hz
Weight	5.51 lbs (2.5 Kg)
Battery	6 Hours
Others	Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, Windows 11 Home, Backlit Keyboard

The ASUS ROG Strix G15 is the best laptop for Data Science students at its highest possible levels. From the CPU to other powerful components, the computer can easily provide Data visualization, Big data processing, and Statistical analysis tasks.

This is the 13th-generation Intel Core i7-13650HX Processor laptop. It pushes forward with 14 cores and 20 threads, leaving Core i7 and the like way behind. That is evident from its 2.6 GHz clock speed that can be taken up to 4.9 GHz Turbo speed.

ASUS ROG Strix G15 has the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 graphics with 6GB GDDR6 VRAM and can quickly accelerate machine learning and deep learning workloads.

With 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD storage, you can work with larger datasets and run multiple applications. The laptop has you covered in terms of multi-tasking and blazing-fast data transferring.

ASUS ROG Strix G16 has ROG intelligent cooling technology to solve optimization problems using algorithms like genetic algorithms or simulated annealing, and you might need a lot of computer power, resulting in generating more heat.

The Strix features Thermal Grizzly’s Conductonaut Extreme liquid metal on the CPU and has Tri Fan technology with total surround vents to cool down your laptop.

Even in terms of display, the panel is a 16-inch treat to the eyes, with bezels almost non-existent. The FHD+ display portrays true colors and covers a 100% sRGB color gamut, coupled with the 165 Hz refresh rate.

The design is otherworldly and has an aluminum chassis on the top. The weight is 5.51 pounds (2.5 Kg), and you can take it anywhere.

ASUS ROG Strix G16 has a backlit keyboard. The RGB keyboard has two color areas and many options in the ASUS ROG app. There’s no Numpad, and none needed to be honest.

A good internet connection using Wi-Fi 6 or Ethernet is crucial for getting big datasets and accessing cloud resources. It has Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 wireless connections. Talking about ports, it has two USB-A 3.2 ports, two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type C ports with Thunderbolt 4, an HDMI, an Ethernet, and an audio jack.

Read our ASUS ROG Strix G16 Gaming Laptop Review

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4. Acer Predator Helios 16

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Specifications

CPU (Processor)	13th Gen Intel Core i7-13700HX Processor (16 MB Cache, 8-core, 2.3Ghz to 5.0Ghz)
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 8GB GDDR6
RAM	16GB DDR5 4800MHz
Storage	1TB Gen 4 SSD
Screen	16-inch QHD+ (2560 x 1600) LED-backlit IPS Display, 165Hz refresh rate
Weight	5.73 lbs (2.59 KG)
Battery Life	Up to 6 hours
Others	Thunderbolt 4, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.0, Windows 11 Home, RGB Backlit keyboard

Having a great keyboard layout, top-tier graphics card, snappy fast processor, and ultra-fast refresh rates is enough to keep one bewitched, which this monster laptop satisfies wholeheartedly; what more can you ask at such an affordable price point?

The Acer Predator Helios 16 has all the goodies under and over its hood in its compact design.

This laptop is designed for hardcore gamers and high-end performance tasks. Because this laptop rocks, it has a 16-inch QHD+ LED-backlit IPS display with a screen resolution of 2560 x 1600 and a 165hz refresh rate with a 3 millisecond response time.

This laptop gives you more space on the screen for complex data projects, making it easier to use data visualization and analytics tools, making it one of the best laptops for Data Science students.

It has a 13th-generation Intel Core i7-13700HX Processor with a base clock speed of 2.3 GHz and can rev up its maximum clock speeds to 5.0 GHz.

The laptop also comes with a massive power-hungry dedicated graphics card, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, which has 8GB GDDR6 VRAM and 16GB of DDR5 RAM with 4800 MHz of frequency to ensure you get the maximum possible speeds without bottlenecking the performance and enough storage capacity of 1TB Gen 4 Solid-state drive to contain all your precious files and your favorite games.

This laptop has a lovely RGB backlit comfortable keyboard, which can be fully customized. Moreover, the typing experience is extremely pleasant, and the touchpad is positioned strategically to ensure maximum comfort for the user.

Its cooling technology can cool the laptop well while performing parallel computing, like running multiple processes simultaneously.

The Acer Predator Helios 16 is also packed with plenty of user interfaces such as two USB Type-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 support, an Ethernet jack for wired internet connection, three USB Type-A, an HDMI port, an audio combo jack, and a Micro SD card reader. The laptop also supports the latest WI-FI 6 technology, which delivers data with minimal input lag.

There are plenty of power-hungry components, such as the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, which has rendered the lithium battery on the laptop to perform way less than expected. This laptop weighs 5.73 pounds (2.59 Kg) and will last roughly 6 hours on normal usage.

Read our Acer Predator Helios 16 Review

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5. Apple MacBook Air M2

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Specifications

CPU (Processor)	Apple 8-core M2 chip CPU and 16-core Neural Engine Processor
GPU	Apple 10-core M2 GPU
RAM	8GB Unified Memory
Storage	256GB SSD
Screen	15.3-inch Liquid Retina Display (2880×1864) pixels, LED-backlit, 500 nits brightness
Weight	3.3 pounds (1.51 kg)
Battery Life	Up to 18 hours
Others	Two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, Fingerprint sensor

This is the ultimate choice for Data Science students like you. It is Apple’s best machine in terms of battery backup, performance, build quality, etc, and unquestionably the best laptop for Data Science students.

This MacBook Air has an M2 monster chip, which is a beast in providing good battery backup. A longer-lasting battery lets you work on data science projects without staying close to a power source. If you work on the move, find a laptop with a good battery that lasts, and this MacBook will provide an 18-hour battery backup.

An Octa-core CPU ensures a 1.4x faster than MacBook Air(M1), providing ultra-ripping performance, a 10-core GPU for some 5x more zealous graphics processing, and a 16-cored Neural Engine for electrically fast machine learning.

Besides, the 8GB Unified Memory and 256GB SSD can show outstanding results regarding supersonic bootups, other operations, ruthless multitasking, etc.

When you adjust machine learning models with different settings, doing many experiments can use a lot of CPU power. Still, the Apple MacBook Air M2 is fully optimized, and there will be no heating issue, even though it has a fanless design.

The 15.3-inch LED-backlit Liquid Retina Display, instilled with the classy True Tone, 500 nits of brightness, and P3 wide color technology, leaves no stone unturned in delivering some extremely sharp, vivid, and finest visuals.

The 1080p FaceTime HD Camera has a tri-mic array for crystal-clear communications.

Is MacBook Air good for data analysis?

The Apple MacBook Air with the M2 chip is an excellent choice for data science students and analysts. It’s like a powerful laptop with a long-lasting battery, perfect for working on data projects anywhere.

It’s really fast and great for running complex data tasks. Also, it won’t get too hot. The screen shows things in amazing detail and is excellent for video conferencing.

Read our Apple MacBook Air M2 Review

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6. Dell XPS 13 Plus

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Specifications

CPU (Processor)	13th Gen Intel Core i7-1360P (18 MB cache, 16 threads, 12 cores, up to 5.00 GHz Turbo)
GPU	Intel Iris Xe Graphics
RAM	16 GB LPDDR5, 6000 MT/s
Storage	512 GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD
Screen	13.4-inch FHD+ (1920×1200) 60Hz, Touch, Anti-Reflect, 500 nits, InfinityEdge
Weight	2.77 lbs (1.26 kg)
Battery Life	3 Cell, 55 Wh, 60W AC Adapter Type-C
Others	Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5, Windows 11 Home, Backlit keyboard, Fingerprint reader

Data Science requires focus, sheer will, and commitment, and having lousy equipment on your hands is never a good idea if you want to reach the apex.

The Dell XPS 13 Plus is a perfect fit since it has everything you need.

Since viewing your projects and working on them all day and even at night is tiring, this laptop has a 13.4-inch FHD+ display to prevent withering. It has an InfinityEdge 60 Hz display, which makes the screen look even more spacious.

Moreover, the 1920×1200 resolution is reinforced with touch capabilities to add convenience and versatility. The screen is backed by 500 nits brightness to deliver a refreshing dose of colors you never had before.

As for what’s under the hood, the latest 13th-generation Intel Core i7-1360P does a phenomenal job with its 12-core and 16 threads to provide a seamless experience, all thanks to its 18MB cache memory and a 5.0Ghz turbo boost, which makes running complex data analysis and machine learning algorithms much faster.

Dell XPS 13 Plus even has a crazy fast 16 GB LPDDR5 RAM, clocked at 6000 MT/s frequency to provide you the fastest speed possible. And since being a student means you would want to store all your files, documents, images, and projects securely in one place, this highly productive machine has 512 GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD storage in its belly.

Laptops are quite known for convenience, and blazing-fast wireless features empower them, which is why the manufacturer has also integrated the latest Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2.

The first steps of cleaning and changing data can use many resources, especially with big datasets. So, it has an excellent cooling function to keep your system cooler with increased fan speed.

As for keyboard layout and design, it has a smooth, touch-friendly keyboard and Zero-lattice Keyboard, providing a comfortable touch typing experience. On the contrary, it does have a Platinum backlit keyboard with a fingerprint reader, so that’s pretty handy.

In terms of connectivity, the Dell XPS 13 Plus has only two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports with DisplayPort and Power Delivery support. It has a USB-C to USB-A 3.0 adapter and a USB-C to 3.5mm headset adapter included in the box for faster connections.

Dell XPS 13 Plus has a 3-cell, 55 Wh battery with a 60W AC Adapter (Type-C) and mind-blowing runtime on mixed-use, which is magnificent. The battery recharges to 80% in less than an hour with ExpressCharge.

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7. Acer Nitro 5

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Specifications

CPU (Processor)	12th Gen Intel Core i5-12500H (6 cores, 12 threads, Boost up to 4.5 GHz)
GPU	4GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050
RAM	8GB DDR4 3200MHz
Storage	512GB NVMe Gen 4 SSD
Screen	15.6-inch full HD (1920 x 1080) widescreen LED-backlit IPS display
Weight	5.51 lbs (2.5 kg)
Battery Life	Up to 7 hours
Others	Red Backlit Keyboard, Thunderbolt 4, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, Windows 11 Home

Acer Nitro 5 has heavy-duty hardware specifications and a 144hz refresh rate screen, so it is worth every penny of investment.

If you are looking for a high-performance laptop for Complex Data Visualization with a fast and minimal input lag display, look no further, as the Acer Nitro 5 has a 15.6 Full HD IPS display panel with a maximum display resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels.

The laptop also comes with a powerful graphics card from the NVIDIA Lineup and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050, which can accelerate deep learning workloads and ensure you play your favorite games at higher resolutions with little to no frame rate compromise.

The laptop also has a 12th generation Alder Lake chip, the Intel Core i5-12500H, which has a six-core processor and 12 threads that support multi-threading, making it suitable for things other than gaming, such as big data processing, text mining, video editing, rendering, etc.

It also has 8GB DDR4 RAM and 512GB NVMe Gen 4 SSD storage space. Since it has SSD storage, it can quickly get your data, minimize application loading time, and improve your laptop’s overall responsiveness.

Running complex simulations or mathematical models can be computationally intensive, so it has a dual fan cooling technology and a quad-exhaust port to move hot air out.

To connect to external projectors and larger screens, the laptop has an HDMI 2.1 port and the latest Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 for wireless connectivity. Speaking of ports, it has four USB Type-A ports and one USB Type-C port.

The Acer Nitro 5 comes with a lithium-ion battery and delivers excellent battery backup of up to 7 hours, and it has a Red backlit keyboard to work in dim light as well.

Read our Acer Nitro 5 Review

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8. Lenovo LOQ 15

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Specifications

CPU (Processor)	13th Gen Intel Core i5-13420H (8 core, 12MB cache, 12 threads, 3.40GHz to 4.60GHz)
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050, 6GB GDDR6 VRAM
RAM	16GB DDR5 RAM 5200 MHz
Storage	1TB M.2 PCIe Gen4 SSD
Screen	15.6″ FHD (1920 x 1080), IPS, Anti-Glare, 350 nits, 144Hz, LED Backlight, Narrow Bezel
Weight	5.28 lbs (2.4 kg)
Battery	60Whr, 4-cell, Lithium-polymer (up to 7 Hours)
Others	Backlit Keyboard, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5, Windows 11 Home

Lenovo LOQ 15 has a sturdy, strong chassis and a fully customizable keyboard. The Intel technology rendered me spellbound as every aspect of this laptop calls for premium quality, and it is tough not to keep things free from bias.

Its fast 15.6-inch display offers a Full HD experience, and watching movies on the 1920 x 1080p resolution gives off a splendid feel to the eyes of viewers.

What makes it so special is that the screen has sharp visual output. Moreover, the 144hz refresh rate minimizes blurring in competitive video games and can provide smoother and more responsive visuals.

The 8-core processor of Intel Core i5-13420H can handle multitasking with its lightning-fast processing. You can be assured that the Lenovo LOQ 15 can handle powerful tasks with ease with super snappy processing speeds combined with dedicated NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 graphics, which has a whopping 6GB GDDR6 VRAM that accelerates machine learning and deep learning workloads.

It has 16GB DDR5 RAM with 5200 MHz memory to minimize the stutters and frame rate drops.

Moreover, the laptop has a massive 1TB M.2 PCIe Gen4 SSD storage capacity to keep all your files, operating system, and games for faster transfer rates and minimal boot times.

In addition, the laptop has a unique cooling feature with two high-speed fans and bigger openings, ensuring quiet and powerful cooling.

Designed for durability, the keyboard is robust and features a premium finish. Additionally, the backlit keyboard enables you to work in low-light conditions.

The keys are equipped with 100% anti-ghosting technology and have a 1.5mm key travel, providing a tactile and responsive typing experience.

Talking about ports, it has three USB-A 3.2 ports, a USB Type-C port, an HDMI port, an Ethernet port, and a super speedy power jack that charges the 60Whr lithium-polymer battery very fast.

The power department is a bit flawed with shorter battery life, as it can only produce runtimes up to 7 hours while having the WIFI turned on and screen brightness to 50%.

Lenovo LOQ 15 is powered by Windows 11 Home.

Read our Lenovo LOQ 15 Gaming Laptop Review

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9. HP Pavilion 15

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Specifications

CPU (Processor)	13th Gen Intel Core i5-1335U (1.3 GHz to 4.6 GHz, 10 cores, 12 threads, 12 MB cache)
GPU	Intel Iris Xe Graphics
RAM	16 GB DDR4 RAM
Storage	512GB PCIe SSD
Screen	15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) Touchscreen BrightView IPS Micro-edge Display
Weight	3.86 lbs (1.75 Kg)
Battery Life	3-cell, 41 Whr, Lithium-ion (6.5 Hours)
Others	Backlit Keyboard, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, Windows 11 Home

The all-new HP Pavilion 15 is equipped with the latest 13th-generation Intel i5-1335U processor, boasting 10 cores, and an integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics card.

With 16 GB of DDR4 RAM and a 512GB PCIe SSD, the laptop offers the flexibility to upgrade RAM and storage to meet evolving data science requirements.

The HP Pavilion 15 boasts a 15.6-inch FHD Touchscreen BrightView IPS Micro-edge display with a screen resolution of 1920 x 1080, providing an exceptional visual experience, ideal for tasks like text mining.

Data cleaning and preprocessing, especially with large datasets, can be resource-intensive and potentially heat your laptop, but the built-in fan helps manage the temperature.

The laptop is powered by a 3-cell, 41 Whr, Lithium-ion battery, delivering a reliable battery life of up to 6 hours and 30 minutes, which should be sufficient for mixed-use scenarios in this price range.

Weighing just 3.86 pounds (1.75 kg), the HP Pavilion 15 is highly portable, making it easy to travel.

Regarding ports and connectivity, it features Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless connections. On the port side, you’ll find one HDMI 2.1, one USB Type-C port, two USB Type-A ports, a Headphone/Microphone Combo Jack, and an AC Smart Pin.

The laptop comes equipped with a full-sized backlit keyboard with a numeric keypad, enabling comfortable night-time work, and it runs on Windows 11 Home.

Read our HP Pavilion 15 Review

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10. MSI Thin GF63

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Specifications

Processor	12th Gen Intel Core i5-12450H (8 Core, 1.3-4.5 GHz)
Graphics	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2050
RAM	8GB DDR4 3200MHz Memory
Storage	512GB NVMe SSD
Screen	15.6-inch FHD IPS LED-backlit 144Hz Display
Weight	4.10 lbs (1.86 kg)
Battery Life	Up to 6 hours
Others	Backlit Keyboard, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, and Windows 11 Home OS

Budget restrictions are one of the painful causes of having your dreams to create your career in data science shattered, but what if I tell you there is a workaround? The MSI GF63 is here to save the day and will ensure you play your games without hurting your financial standings. It is one of the most affordable options for data science students.

However, MSI Thin GF63 has a super-efficient Max-Q designed NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2050 that delivers buttery smooth frame rates.

Moreover, to keep things from getting bottlenecked, this laptop has 12th-generation Intel Core i5-12450H, which has 8 cores and 12 threads and ensures seamless multitasking, all credits due to the 12MB smart cache and 4.5 GHz clock boost.

It has 8GB DDR4 RAM with 3200Mhz memory and 512GB NVMe SSD, so it is easy to determine whether or not this laptop is fit for data science students. Though RAM is less, you can upgrade it up to 32 GB. Having more RAM in your computer lets you work with bigger data sets and use multiple applications simultaneously. If it had 16GB or more of RAM, it would have been really helpful for doing data science tasks well.

As for the display, it has a 144hz refresh rate, and the viewing experience, even from odd angles on the 15.6-inch Full HD IPS screen, delivers results beyond your imagination.

The overall experience with the MSI GF63 is quite splendid, and it even has plenty of ports, such as one USB Type-C port, three USB 3.2 Type-A ports, an Ethernet port, an HDMI port, and an audio combo jack to connect your gaming headset. There is no Thunderbolt port.

It is a portable laptop and weighs only 4.10 pounds (1.86 kg). The battery backup of this laptop is up to 6 hours upon regular use and is powered by Windows 11 Home.

Read our MSI Thin GF63 Gaming Laptop Review

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How to choose the best laptop for a data scientist?

Before choosing any laptop for a data scientist, you should consider some essential factors.

Processor

The processor is like the boss of a computer. It’s in charge of making everything work. When you buy a laptop for data science, it’s important to get a good and latest-generation processor.

Why a powerful processor is needed in a laptop for data science?

In data science, you do tricky math and work with big data sets. A powerful processor helps you do this math quickly.

Here’s when you need a strong processor for data science:

1. Cleaning and preparing data.
2. Training smart computer models.
3. Doing math and stats.
4. Making data look pretty.
5. Using smart models for real-life stuff.

Having a strong processor helps you work faster and better in data science, making it easier to find answers in data and solve tough problems.

What is the best processor for data science?

The best processor for data science depends on your specific needs and budget. However, high-performance processors with multiple cores and threads are often ideal for data science tasks.

For advanced notebooks

Latest generation:

• Intel Core i9
• AMD Ryzen 9
• Intel Xeon W-3000 Series

For mid-range laptops

Latest generation:

• Intel Core i7
• AMD Ryzen 7
• Intel Xeon W-2000 Series

For cheap laptops

Latest generation:

• Intel Core i5
• AMD Ryzen 5

Data science involves complex mathematical calculations such as statistical analysis, matrix operations, and machine learning algorithms.

Training machine learning models, especially deep learning models, is computationally intensive. The powerful processor accelerates model training, reducing the time required for experiments and model development.

Graphics Card

Choose a good graphics card that can handle programming, gaming, and other heavy tasks well. If you pick a powerful one from the beginning, your laptop will work smoothly for at least the next three to four years.

Choosing a graphics card for a data science laptop involves considering specific tasks like machine learning, data visualization, and basic data analysis.

Deep learning tasks, being more demanding, require a dedicated GPU. Look for laptops with dedicated NVIDIA or AMD Radeon GPUs, preferably RTX series, for optimal performance. Options like NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4000 series or AMD Radeon RS 6800 excel but are pricier. The NVIDIA GeForce 3000 series or AMD Radeon RS 6700 series are cost-effective for less intensive tasks.

Check for CUDA and Tensor Cores, which are crucial for tasks in frameworks like TensorFlow. They are particularly useful for training neural networks.

Higher VRAM aids in running machine learning algorithms and enhancing deep learning techniques.

Consider the GPU architecture for optimized performance and ensure compatibility with specific data science tasks and frameworks like TensorFlow, PyTorch, etc.

Recommended Laptop/PC Requirements for Running APPs related to Data Science

The minimum and recommended laptop/computer requirements will depend on the data size you are working with and the time it takes. The following requirements are for general purposes only. You will need more powerful components if you are running large amounts of data.

Python with Jupyter Notebooks System Requirements

Component	Minimum Requirement	Recommended Requirement
Operating System	Windows, macOS, or Linux	Windows, macOS, or Linux
Processor	Intel Core i3 or equivalent with 1GHz or higher	Intel Core i5 or equivalent with 2GHz or higher
RAM	2GB	4GB
Disk Space	10GB	20GB
Graphics Card	Not required	Not required (recommended for data visualization or machine learning tasks)

RStudio System Requirements

Component	Minimum Requirement	Recommended Requirement
Operating System	64-bit Windows, macOS, or Linux	64-bit Windows, macOS, or Linux
Processor	Intel Core i3 or equivalent with 2GHz or higher	Intel Core i5 or equivalent with 2.5GHz or higher
RAM	1GB	2GB
Disk Space	500MB	2GB
Graphics Card	Not required	Not required (recommended for data visualization)

Anaconda System Requirements

Component	Minimum Requirement	Recommended Requirement
Operating System	Windows 7 or later, macOS, or Linux	Windows 10 or later, macOS, or Linux
Processor	Intel Core i3 or equivalent with 2 GHz dual-core or faster	Intel Core i5 or equivalent with 4 GHz quad-core or faster
RAM	4 GB	8 GB
Disk Space	3 GB	10 GB
Graphics Card	Not required	NVIDIA GTX 960 or equivalent

Spyder System Requirements

Component	Minimum Requirement	Recommended Requirement
Operating System	Windows 10 (64-bit), macOS 10.14 (Mojave) or later, or Linux 64-bit	Windows 11 (64-bit), macOS 12.3 (Monterey) or later, or Linux 64-bit
Processor	2 GHz or higher	3 GHz or higher
RAM	4 GB	8 GB
Disk Space	5 GB	10 GB
Graphics Card	Not required	NVIDIA GTX 960 or equivalent

TensorFlow and PyTorch System Requirements

Component	Minimum Requirement	Recommended Requirement
Operating System	Windows 7 or later, macOS 10.13 (High Sierra) or later, or Linux 64-bit	Windows 10 or later, macOS 11 (Big Sur) or later, or Linux 64-bit
Processor	2 GHz dual-core or faster	3 GHz quad-core or faster
RAM	4 GB	8 GB
Disk Space	5 GB	10 GB
Graphics Card	Not required	NVIDIA GTX 960 or equivalent

SQL Databases System Requirements

Component	Minimum Requirement	Recommended Requirement
Operating System	Windows 64-bit, Linux 64-bit, or macOS 64-bit	Windows 64-bit, Linux 64-bit, or macOS 64-bit
Processor	Intel Core i3 or equivalent	Latest Gen Intel Core i5 or equivalent
RAM	4 GB	8 GB
Disk Space (Free)	10 GB	20 GB
Graphics Card	Not required	Not required

Tableau System Requirements

Component	Minimum Requirement	Recommended Requirement
Operating System	Windows 64-bit or macOS	Windows 64-bit or macOS
Processor	Intel Core i3 or equivalent	Latest Gen Intel Core i5 or equivalent AMD
RAM	4 GB	8 GB
Disk Space (Free)	10 GB	20 GB
Graphics Card	1024×768 resolution with true color	Discrete graphics card with 1GB of VRAM

Tableau can work for multiple users simultaneously; for this, you will need more RAM in your laptop or computer because the load will be higher when multiple users work.

What data size you want to work with also matters; if there is more data, more processing and memory will be required.

Another important point is that if you work on more complex visualizations like map search, you will need more processing power and memory in your laptop or PC.

FAQs

Final Words

Selecting the right laptop for data science requires thoughtful consideration of both components and budget constraints. Start by understanding the nature of your work, the functions required, and the software required.

To ensure optimal performance, prioritize key hardware components like a powerful processor, ample RAM, fast storage, and a capable graphics card. Additionally, consider factors like display quality and battery life while balancing your budget.

For tasks like machine learning and data visualization, investing in a laptop with robust components ensures smooth operation and future security. Our guide identifies essential components tailored to performance features and price, making your decision-making process simple. Choose the most suitable and cost-effective option based on your specific needs and budget.