Mac или windows для data science

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A Mac is a PC in the literal sense of the term, as PC stands for personal computer.

In common usage, however, in this article, the word PC would refer to a computer that runs on the Windows operating system, the Apple operating system.

Because Macs are UNIX-based platforms, they are popular among data scientists.

This isn’t to say that PCs aren’t a viable option.

In comparison to PCs, Mac computers are relatively costly.

The Mac also has the advantage of being compatible with more data science software and tools.

In this post, we’ll look at the differences between Macs and PCs, as well as the features that stand out as disadvantages or benefits of each operating system.

What to consider before purchasing any of the above systems

What OS is more suited to your specialty

Mac runs on a Linux/Unix-based OS that supports every data science language you can think of. Although, PC users need a specialized integrated developed environment to use certain data languages.

What system would be most appropriate for the niche you’d be exploring

A clear picture of what you would be handling, kinds of apps, and data to process.

What you like best: personal preferences

• What OS do you personally prefer? 
• Which do you deem easier to use?
• What UX/UX appeals more to you?

These are personal preferences that you should consider too.

Upgrading Plans

Most users make plans to upgrade their systems over time. Mac computers do not support or allow a lot of upgrades to be carried out. With windows computers, you can build your own PC, and gradually add better hardware. 

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Should You Buy A Mac?

If you desire the best learning and working experience in data science, then you should go for a Mac.

Macs are excellently built and to a degree offer more for a data scientist than a PC would. 

It is quite a popular fact that most data scientists prefer a Mac even with the expensive prices. 

A factor that is also considered is its compatibility with other tools used in data science. 

Macs are highly capable machines, strong and durable.

The Pros

High compatibility with data science softwares

This is a key reason why data scientists prefer Macs. It allows a lot of tools and software, such as tableau, anaconda, and more.

Reliable wi-fi

Mac OS computers are also known for their highly durable and powerful Wi-Fi card.

Lightweight

A Mac system is known for its lightweight, which makes it easier to work with. Easily transported and moved, you do not have to sit in front of a system for long hours without motion. 

Highly Usable

A Mac system is user friendly. Most data scientists spend long hours in front of a computer. The UI and UX make it bearable. 

The Cons

With all of the reasons above for why Mac is a great system for data science,  it also has a flip side.

There are a couple of cons, some of which are:

Apple Products Are More Expensive

A Mac is known to be pretty expensive, even more so is the compatibility with hardware.

The Mac system does not readily support hardware that is not from Apple, and it is relatively costly to purchase compared to a PC. 

No HDMI Port

Mac systems do not contain HDMI ports, which might not be much of a problem for some individuals, but it does become a problem when a presentation is to be done and you’re to use a projection.

Most data scientists would find this a little difficult to cope with.

Upgrading Is Not An Option

Almost impossible to add more RAM to a Mac.

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Best Mac for Data Science

The M1 chip Macbook Air is the most recommended for data science due to its features. 

This laptop comes with the M1 chip, excellent with GPU, CPU, and machine learning performance. 

This M1 chip compared  with an Intel or AMD processor is simply not close, edges them completely out with its great speed.

With up to 8 cores that can deliver 3.5x faster than the previous generation, and 16 core neural engines to handle projects faster coupled with sufficient battery power of 18 hours capacity.

The Macbook Air is not without flaws.

Standard improvements are not possible. 

It only comes in an 8GB configuration as normal, and while it can be upgraded to a 16GB model, there’s not much space for improvement with an Apple laptop.

The storage choices for the Macbook Air are limited. You may certainly upgrade to a larger storage capacity drive at the time of purchase, but this is a very expensive option.

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Should You Buy a PC?

PCs are the most used system in the world, in offices and generally, in most areas, a PC is most likely to be seen. 

One of the reasons for this is due to its easy compatibility with hardware.

The Pros

Relatively Cheap

A PC is by far a cheaper system than a Mac, it is easily affordable.

Supports upgrade

PCs support a lot of upgrades, a Mac system does not allow most hardware upgrades. 

When purchasing a system and considering carrying out an upgrade in the future, purchasing a PC would be better.

Has a subsystem for Linux

One of the reasons why a lot of people choose to use Mac computers is because of the UNIX experience. 

Since PCs can use Linux Ubuntu for Windows, you can replicate UNIX for PC.

The Cons

Requires constant maintenance and checks to ensure your PC is up to date and can carry out tasks appropriately. 

Slower speed with Data Science Tools

Data Scientists use many programs like Tableau, Anaconda, Python, and R. These programs run smoothly on Mac, but you might face issues of speed and compatibility when used on a PC.

Debugging is harder on PC

Debugging on a PC is quite a hard task and much easier in an OS. A PC is designed mostly for common people and not programmers.

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Tableau on Mac or Windows

Generally, all data science software is more compatible with the Mac system.

This tells us that Tableau works and runs better on Mac as well.

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Is it Better to Learn Python on PC or Mac?

No difference between the Python that runs on a PC and one that runs on Mac. 

It most times boils down to personal preference. 

According to Stack Overflow’s 2020 survey, 45.8% develop using Windows while 27.5% work on macOS, and 26.6% work on Linux.

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What Mac is Best for Deep Learning

Apple Macbook Pro is the most recommended option as it contains amazing features and specs.

If you like Mac OS and don’t need to rely on the GPU substantially, this is the laptop for you. 

Because of their Thunderbolt 3 connectors, Macbooks are capable workstations. 

Out of the dedicated GPU laptops, their battery life is also a clear winner.

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Can Tensorflow Run on Mac? 

If you use a Mac, you’re likely running Apple Silicon on one of the most recent devices. 

On M1 Macs, you’ll need to install Apple’s hardware-accelerated TensorFlow and TensorFlow Addons for macOS 11.0+ to use Apple’s ML Compute framework with native hardware acceleration.

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Machine Learning on Mac

Mac offers avenues for a better experience with Machine learning using their products. 

TensorFlow 2.4’s new TensorFlow macOS branch uses ML Compute to allow machine learning libraries to make full use of both the CPU and GPU in both M1 and Intel-powered Macs for considerably better training performance.

Selecting the best laptop for data science requires lots of aspects in mind. Whether you are a beginner in data science or a professional data scientist, you definitely want a perfect laptop that helps you to perform complex operations easily. So if you are looking for a laptop that makes your work easy, read this full article. In this article, I am gonna share the Best Laptops for Data Science Students and Data Scientists.

But before I discuss laptops for data science, you must understand the required configuration for data science laptops. In data science, you have to deal with data, analysis, and interpretation. So the requirements for a data science laptop are-

Requirements for Data Science Laptops

RAM

Any laptop for data analysis should have at least 8 GB of RAM. But I recommend getting at least 16 GB of RAM if you can afford it. Because RAM is important to deal with a large dataset. But if you think a 16 GB RAM laptop is a bit costly for you, you can go with 8 GB RAM, but don’t go below 8 GB.

Minimum Requirement- 8 GB RAM

Standard & Recommended Requirement- 16 GB RAM

GPU

If you are going to work on some machine learning & deep learning task, always look for advanced and newer graphics cards. My recommendation is an Nvidia GTX series GPU with at least 2GB VRAM. So the laptops that are good for gaming are often good for data science and data analysis.

Minimum Requirement- Intel Integrated UHD 620

Recommended Requirement- Nvidia GTX series GPU with at least 2GB VRAM

Processor

When it comes to the processor, I would recommend the i7 processor (7th generation). This is more powerful and can easily perform some quite large tasks. The i5 processor laptops also have good performance but it’s not good as i7. So if you are buying a laptop for several years, then go with an i7 or i9 processor.

Minimum Requirement- Intel Core i5

Recommended Requirement- Intel Core i7

Storage

Storage is an important factor when you are searching for data analytics laptops. But if you are working in a company, where everything stored on remote servers, then storage is not that important for you. But if you are doing your own work or doing work locally, then storage becomes the most important requirement for a laptop.

So I recommend going with SSD (Solid State Drive). SSD is a bit expensive but much faster. SSD is memory-based hard drives instead of disk-based hard drives. Especially when it comes to reading and writing the data off the disk, these are significantly faster.

However, if you think SSD is a bit expensive for you, you can go with HDD. HDD is much cheaper than SSD. But I personally recommend SSD.

If you are going with HDD, I would recommend 1 TB of storage space and if you are going with SSD, I would recommend at least 256 GB of storage space.

Minimum Requirement- 1 TB HDD or 256 GB SSD 

Recommended Requirement- 512 GB SSD or more.

Operating System-

When it comes to OS, it’s up to your preference. If you are a MAC lover or want to purchase their products, then it’s a great option for you.

But if you prefer Windows, that’s perfectly fine too. Many people choose Linux. So whatever OS you choose, almost all the applications and programming languages work perfectly fine.

NOTE-

If your budget doesn’t allow you to meet all the requirements that I have discussed, so the less important requirement is storage. Because it’s easy to add on or upgrade later. And if you are accessing remote servers for your work, then you don’t need much storage.

So, these are the requirements that you should keep in mind while choosing the best laptop for data science. I hope now you understood the requirements, so let’s start finding the Best Laptops for Data Science Students and Data Scientist-

1. Dell XPS 15 7590– Best Laptop for Data Analysis & Professionals

This is the perfect laptop for you if you are looking for a laptop that can handle technical and academic needs. There is an Intel Core i7-9750 processor on this laptop, so no issue of slow speed. Besides that, this laptop has NVidia GeForce GTX 1650 GPU which is powerful and grouped with 4 gigs of VRAM support. 

With respect to OS, you get Windows 10. This laptop has 16 gigs of RAM, which is good to handle complex statistical analyses easily. The 15.6-inch screen size is good enough. The weight of this laptop is merely 4 pounds and features USB 3.0, Thunderbolt, and other productive ports for improved functionality.

Dell also provides a responsive fingerprint scanner and excellent Wireless support to improve the security and connectivity of data scientists. This laptop has a powerful battery that lasts up to 14 hours.

In a nutshell, this Dell XPS 15 7590 is perfect for those data scientists, who want faster performance and excellent display quality.

2. Apple MacBook Pro– Best Laptop for All

I know most data scientists love MacBooks. As a data scientist, you have to focus on processors with multiple cores and the new MacBook Pro has 6. This MacBook Pro has a 512 GB SSD, which is too fast and provides enough capacity for data scientists.

The GPU of this MacBook is AMD Radeon Pro 5300M which works closely with 4 gigs of built-in VRAM. In terms of Display, Apple wins with the 16-inch screen featuring 3072×1920 pixels. This MacBook Pro is also known for the excellent Retina Display technology, supporting deepest blacks, liquid crystal enhancement, and precise visual alignment. 

It has a powerful battery that last up to 11 hours.

In a nutshell, Apple MacBook Pro is good for data scientists as well as data science students. It’s the most user-friendly option for those people getting into the field too. The best part of the Apple MacBook Pro is its excellent graphics support.

3. Asus ROG Strix Scar III– Best Laptop for Experienced Data Scientists

This laptop is the perfect choice for experienced data scientists who want powerful desktop replacement laptops. This laptop would satisfy all the diverse professional requirements of data scientists. Although it’s a gaming laptop, it can handle all applications and tools of data science.

This laptop has a 1 TB PCIe SSD storage unit that leads to ultra-fast processing and data rendering speeds. The high-end tools like SAP Lumira and PostgreSQL work perfectly fine with ROG Boost overclocking tech.

The best part about this laptop is you don’t need to worry about overheating because ROG features enhanced fans with 17 percent increased airflow. This ROG Strix Scar III has an exceptional display with a 17.3” Full HD screen flaunting a resolution of 1920×1080.

But this laptop has only 6 hours of backup that means in terms of battery, this laptop is not as good as other listed laptops.

4. Razer Blade Pro 17

For data science, processing power is an important requirement, and this Razer Blade Pro 17 has a top-notch Intel Core i7-9750H chipset. If you are working on deep learning and sentiment analysis, this laptop has NVidia GeForce RTX 2060 GPU grouped with 6 gigs of functional VRAM.

Besides this, there is a 12 GB of SSD storage unit that is fast and comes with dual-channel upgradeability. The display of this laptop is 17.3-inch which is a good addition for data analysts. Most data scientists work on additional screen space, but this laptop has a 17.3-inch 1080p panel which is the best alternative for the additional screen.

The additional features of this laptop are face unlock, IR sensor, and Windows Hello compatibility. In a nutshell, this laptop is good for those data science learners who are looking for screen size, cooling, and processing power.

5. 2023 Lenovo ThinkPad T490– Best Laptop for Data Analysis

This laptop is capable of holding a Unix-Like environment smoothly along with all the powerful specs required to run large data sets. This laptop is the perfect choice for those who want to install Linux Distros on a Windows laptop.

In this laptop, you can configure the RAM (8-40GB) and processor depending upon your needs. But this laptop is not good for those who want to work on parallel computing for Deep Learning/Machine Learning/Neural networks. Because ThinkPads do not have a dedicated GPU.

As the storage unit of ThinkPads is from 256GB-2TB SSD (varies from model to model), so you can test your code with as much data you can fit into its hardware resources.

6. Acer Swift 3– Best Laptop for Data Science Students

If you are a beginner in Data Science and looking to explore the caveats of data visualization, mining, and prototyping, then this Acer Swift 3 is the perfect laptop to invest in. This laptop has an NVIDIA GeForce MX 150 units that can support up to 2 gigs of VRAM.

The storage unit 256GB SSD is also efficient and supports the quickest possible boot-ups. This laptop has a powerful battery that lasts up to 12 hours without requiring a recharge. The 8 GB RAM helps you to handle basic statistical tasks, CRM alignment, and data visualization easily.

In terms of display, this laptop has a 14-inch Full HD screen with extraordinary clarity. The display resolution of this laptop is 1920 x 1080 pixels which also makes excellent visual quality.

7. Asus ZenBook 14– Worth for Money Laptop

In terms of style, creativity, and innovation, this Asus ZenBook 14 is a perfect choice. This laptop has excellent performance with the 10^th gen Intel Core i7-10510U processor. The storage unit  512GB PCIe SSD renders data faster.

You will get Windows 10 Pro edition installed on the laptop but this laptop also supports Linux Ubuntu installation. This laptop also has a powerful battery that lasts up to 12 hours. In terms of display, this laptop is awesome because of Nano-Edge display technology and the 14-inch screen with a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels.

Overall, this laptop is good for those people who are looking for a fast processor, excellent display, powerful battery, and attractive design. But this laptop is not good for those who are working on neural networks or deep learning.

8. 2023 Newest Acer Aspire 5– Best Affordable Laptop For Data Science Students

This is an affordable laptop for data science students who are in the learning phase and attend classes and code using small samples. If you see the price, you might think it’s a weak laptop, but this laptop has enough power to use Data Analysis Software/learn libraries, etc (on small samples only).

This laptop is a great option for getting started in data science, but later on, you have to upgrade the quality. But as a beginner, you will be able to do quite a lot with it. This laptop supports full HD resolution which is good. The battery of this laptop is average that lasts up to 6-8 hours.

And here the list ends!. So these are 8 Best Laptops for Data Science Students and Data Scientist. Now it’s time to wrap up.

Conclusion

I hope you found your best laptop among these 8 Best Laptops for Data Science Students and Data Scientist. I tried to list the laptops that meet the minimum requirement for data science. If you know of any other laptop that is best for data science, let me know in the comment section.

Summary of the Best Laptops for Data Science Students and Data Scientist-

1. Dell XPS 15 7590
2. Apple MacBook Pro
3. Asus ROG Strix Scar III
4. Razer Blade Pro 17
5. 2023 Lenovo ThinkPad T490
6. Acer Swift 3
7. Asus ZenBook 14
8. 2023 Newest Acer Aspire 5

All the Best!

Happy Learning!

FAQ

Thank YOU!

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Though of the Day…

‘ It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.’

– John Wooden

Choosing the right laptop as a data scientist is an important step. From accessing and hosting databases to running queries and code, you will need a laptop that’s powerful, durable, reliable, and portable. In this guide, I ranked and reviewed the 14 best laptops for data science, along with our top 5 choices, so you can pick the best one for you.

Are you looking for a new laptop that can handle your work as a data scientist?

When it comes to data, things aren’t as simple as using a basic laptop to host heavy data, servers, and clients, as well as run advanced queries and code. You’ll run slow (and maybe damage a weaker computer, depending on what you process).

You need something more powerful: a laptop built for handling these system-demanding processes.

This guide covers the best options based on 25 criteria: price, screen resolution, screen size, screen refresh speed, operating system, SSD Storage, RAM, CPU (speed, cores, threads, and cache), GPU (cores and memory), weight, battery life, keyboard size (partial of full), and ports (ethernet, USB-C/USB-A, headphone/mic, HDMI), and Webcam.

Data Science Laptop Requirements

Laptops have a number of specifications that drive performance and price. Here are the things you need to consider (and we review for each recommended laptop in this article).

Required specs for data science laptop (where choice is available):

• Screen Size (inch): 15 – 17 inches
• Screen Refresh Speed (Hz): 120Hz minimum
• Screen Resolution: 1920×1080 minimum
• Operating System: Windows 10 minimum or macOS
• SSD Storage (TB): 1TB (512GB is ok for those who won’t store large volumes of data locally) minimum
• RAM (GB): 16GB minimum
• CPU: Intel i7 11th Gen minimum, or AMD Ryzen 7 minimum
• CPU Speed (GHz): 4.6GHz (less is ok on budget laptops as long as you know they’ll run slow) minimum
• CPU Cores: 8 (except for budget laptops) minimum
• CPU Threads: 16 (except for budget laptops) minimum
• CPU Cache (MB): 16MB minimum
• GPU: NVIDIA 3050 (1650 acceptable for budget laptops) minimum
• GPU Cores: 2300 (except for budget laptops) minimum
• CPU Memory (GB): 8GB minimum
• Weight (pounds): 10 pounds maximum
• Battery Life (avg hours): 5 hours minimum
• Battery Life (performance hours): 2 hours minimum
• Keyboard: Full (partial is acceptable for top-tier laptops since the space is used for high quality speakers)
• Ethernet port: RJ45
• USB-A Ports: 1 (except for Top-Tier machines ) minimum
• USB-C Ports: 1 minimum
• Headphone port: 1 minimum
• HDMI port: 1 minimum
• Webcam: 1 minimum

Now that you know what to look for, let’s get started.

What is the best laptop for data science?

Here are my top picks for best laptop for data scientists:

1. Lenovo Legion 5 Pro
2. Razer Blade 17 Gaming Laptop
3. Dell XPS 17
4. HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop
5. MacBook Pro 14-Inch (2021)
6. Acer Nitro 5
7. Acer Predator Helios 300
8. MSI GE76 Raider
9. Asus ROG Strix G15
10. Asus ROG Zephyrus G15
11. MacBook Pro 16-Inch (2021)
12. Alienware M15 R6
13. Dell G15
14. Lenovo IdeaPad 3i

Lenovo Legion 5 Pro

Best Overall Laptop for Data Science

The Legion 5 Pro is essentially a hard copy of the IdeaPad i3, but with more power and increased image quality. It inherits a user-friendly ports system, and Lenovo’s support is usually good. You can think of it as a step-up from the Acer Nitro 5, though it comes at an increase in price of appx. $230, making it a good candidate for data scientists who are just past the beginner phase.

Our Rating: 9.6 / 10

Key Features

• Nahimic 3D audio provides nice listening
• First-ever 16 inch QHD laptop with 165Hz refresh (this means 2560 x 1440 pixels and has a 16:9 aspect ratio)
• Ryzen 7 + NVIDIA 3060 combination

Specifications (Specs)

• Screen Size: 16 inch
• Screen Refresh Speed: 165 Hz
• Screen Resolution: 2560×1600
• Operating System: Windows 11
• Hard Disk Drive/Storage/SSD: 1TB
• RAM: 16GB
• Computer Processing Unit (CPU):  Ryzen 7 5800h
  • Speed: 4.4GHz
  • Cores: 8
  • Threads: 16
  • Cache: 16MB
• Graphics Processing Unit (GPU): ‎‎‎NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
  • Cores: 3584
  • Memory size: 12GB
• Weight: 9.78 lbs
• Battery life: 6 hours average, 2 hours under high performance
• Keyboard: Full (with number pad)
• Ethernet: Yes, RJ45
• USB Ports: 3 USB-A, 1 USB-C
• Headphone Jack: Yes
• HDMI Jack: Yes
• Webcam: Yes

Brand Concerns

• Dell Customer Service score: 70/100
• Upgradability: Easy, can replace almost any part, though this may void your warranty

User Experience

With Windows 11 bugs fixed, the Lenovo Legion 5 Pro has a quality user experience. Though not styled as “sexy” as its Acer Nitro and Predator counterparts, the Legion 5 Pro has better visuals, runs faster, and has all the legacy ports you need. At 16 inches, it’s easy to transport but nevertheless packs 2560×1600 resolution and 165Hz refresh speed, making it the best user experience for the size. What’s more, it has a full keyboard built in, so you won’t need to purchase an external keyboard or number pad when hooking up to a larger monitor.

Pricing

The Lenovo Legion 5 Pro 16 inch is priced at $1,500 – $1,550 on Amazon (tip: add each laptop to you shopping cart to easily compare later).

What I like & Dislike

Like

• Often considered among the best customer service in the industry
• Rare blend of power and image quality for the price

Dislike

• Very weak battery life under high performance
• Not very stylish

It’s rare to find a powerful laptop in the $1,500 range with so much power, image quality, and decent customer service. I recommend the Lenovo Legion 5 Pro for beginners and experienced data scientists alike.

Razer Blade 17 Gaming Laptop

Most Powerful Laptop for AI & ML

If money is no object, the Razer Blade 17 is the best machine on our list. The specs speak for themselves — it’s loaded from start to finish with 144Hz refresh and 2560×1440 resolution, 1TB storage, 12th Gen i7 CPU and a NVIDIA 3070 Ti PLUS a coprocessor. The only way to make this machine better is more storage and upgrading to an i9 processor… but in truth, you won’t need to.

Our Rating: 9.4 / 10

Key Features

• Cinema-quality speakers
• Full HD display
• Easy-strike keys that make working fast more enjoyable
• Red-Green-Blue backlit keys

Specifications (Specs)

• Screen Size: 17.3 inch
• Screen Refresh Speed: 144Hz
• Screen Resolution: ‎2560×1440
• Operating System: Windows 11
• Hard Disk Drive/Storage/SSD: 1TB
• RAM: 16GB
• Computer Processing Unit (CPU): i7 – 12800H
  • Speed: 4.8 (highest on the list)
  • Cores: 14
  • Threads: 20
  • Cache: 24MB
• Graphics Processing Unit (GPU): NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti
  • Cores: 6144
  • Memory size: 8GB
• Weight: 10.33 lbs
• Battery life: 6 hours average, 3 hours under high performance
• Keyboard: partial
• Ethernet: Yes
• USB Ports: 2 USB-C, 2 USB-A
• Headphone Jack: Yes
• HDMI Jack: Yes
• Webcam: Yes, 1080P

Brand Concerns

• Razer Customer Service score: 90/100 — they’re excellent
• Upgradability: Easy, but rarely needed as this machine comes with the best

User Experience

With the exception of a full keyboard with number pad, the Razer Blade 17 is a powerful machine that delivers high-quality imagery, allows for easy connectability through its multiple ports, and runs fast and smooth. They’re called Razers for a reason!

Pricing

All its power comes at a price – the Razer Blade 17 comes in at $3,100 – $3,200 on Amazon.

What I like & Dislike

Like

• The Razer not only has the NVIDIA 3070i GPU, but also a coprocessor for impeccable graphic performance.
• Near-flawless user experience (except for the partial keyboard)

Dislike

• At 10 lbs, the Razer is heavy and not ideal for data scientists on the move.
• Partial keyboard (excludes number pad)
• RAM could be 32GB

All in all, the Razer is the highest performing machine on the list. Like most computers in this article, the Razer is originally built for gaming. It’s top-tier technology is needed for that kind of intensive load, and many data science tasks have demand on image quality, making this a great choice for analysts looking at machine learning and artificial intelligence programming (Python, R, SQL, etc.)

Dell XPS 17

Best Data Science Laptop for Graphics (+ Touchscreen)

The touchscreen technology on the Dell XPS17 takes some getting used to, but it’s easier to scroll and improved overall interaction with the screen. The image quality on the XPS17 is by far the best on our list. I like this one for data scientists who need to work long hours but don’t need to host databases or servers themselves (so it’s not recommended for freelancers).

Our Rating: 9.0 / 10

Key Features

• Touchscreen
• 4K Ultra HD Screen
• 3840×2400 resolution (best in class)
• 30FPS Webcam

Specifications (Specs)

• Screen Size: 17 inches
• Screen Refresh Speed: 120Hz
• Screen Resolution: 3840×2400
• Operating System: Windows 10 (avoid Windows 11)
• Hard Disk Drive/Storage/SSD: 1TB
• RAM: 32GB
• Computer Processing Unit (CPU): Intel i7-11800H
  • Speed: 4.6GHz
  • Cores: 8
  • Threads: 16
  • Cache: 24 MB
• Graphics Processing Unit (GPU): NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050
  • Cores: 2304
  • Memory size: 8GB
• Weight: 5.53 lbs
• Battery life: 9 hours average
• Keyboard: Partial
• Ethernet: No
• USB Ports: 4 USB-C, no USB-A
• Headphone Jack: Yes, double as microphone jack
• HDMI Jack: Adaptor sold separately
• Webcam: 30FPS Webcam

Brand Concerns

• Dell Customer Service score: 40/100
• Upgradability: Easy, can replace almost any part, though this may void your warranty

User Experience

The Dell XPS 17 user experience is best on our list. Given the best-in-class resolution and 4k UHD screen, the experience is comparable to Apple (see here for more information). That said, the computer will run slightly slower than other powerful Windows-based computers because of the i7 processor and NVIDIA 3050 GPU. For freelancers who need to do back-end hosting work, the tradeoff may not be worth it.

Pricing

The Dell XPS 17 with these specs is priced at $1,500 – $1,600 on Amazon, or get it directly from Dell.

What I like & Dislike

Like

• Best screen quality on the list
• Nice built-in webcam that’s largely unavailable on other list laptops
• Touchscreen technology for nice ease of use

Dislike

• No USB Ports, only Thunderbolt, which requires external
• No HDMI
• No Ethernet plug
• Slightly weaker CPU and GPU
• Not a full keyboard

All in all, the best way to decide on the XPS 17 is to ask yourself how important a high-quality screen is to you. If it’s not critical, you can get an equally-powerful machine with many more ports and functionalities, including a full keyboard (very important for me using data), in the Lenovo Legion 5 Pro.

HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop

Most Cost Effective Laptop for Data Science

I like the HP Pavilion for starters who are in the discovery phase of data science. However, I don’t recommend it for professionals who want a home computer for practice.

Our Rating: 7.5 / 10

Key Features

• Full keyboard
• Friendly legacy USB and HDMI ports

Specifications (Specs)

• Screen Size: 15.6 inch
• Screen Refresh Speed: 60 Hz
• Screen Resolution: 1920×1080
• Operating System: Windows 10
• Hard Disk Drive/Storage/SSD: 512GB
• RAM: 12GB
• Computer Processing Unit (CPU): Intel i5-9300h
  • Speed: 4.1GHz
  • Cores: 4
  • Threads: 8
  • Cache: 8MB
• Graphics Processing Unit (GPU): NVIDIA GeForce RTX 1650
  • Cores: 897
  • Memory size: 4GB
• Weight: 4.92 lbs
• Battery life: 8 hours average, 6-7 hours under high performance
• Keyboard: full keyboard
• Ethernet: Yes, RJ45
• USB Ports: 3 USB-A, 1 USB-C
• Headphone Jack: Yes
• HDMI Jack: Yes
• Webcam: Yes

Brand Concerns

• Dell Customer Service score: 30/100
• Upgradability: Easy, can replace almost any part, though this may void your warranty

User Experience

The pavilion is a user friendly laptop. It has an industry-standard 1920×1080 display resolution, a number of USB ports, HDMI, Ethernet, and a full size keyboard. However, the 60Hz refresh speed is notoriously low, which will hurt the image quality. And it’s i5 Intel processor and combined with the NVIDIA 16 series will run slow in high-performance scenarios.

Pricing

The HP Pavilion is affordably priced at about $860 on Amazon.

What I like & Dislike

Like

• Complete set of high-demand USB ports
• Full keyboard
• Has Ethernet and HDMI outlets unlike some more powerful laptops on the list

Dislike

• Very low screen refresh rate at 60Hz, low image performance
• Lowe performance CPU
• Low performance GPU
• Small RAM

The HP Pavilion is a great choice for beginners who want a budget PC to explore data science at home.

MacBook Pro 14-Inch (2021)

Best Mac Laptop for Data Science

Unlike Windows computers, the CPU and GPU on Apple products are so-called “integrated,” which means the M1 Max Chip processes system demand and graphics demand at the same time, producing a superior performance. It’s no secret that Mac products are one of the few machines on which you don’t sacrifice much. The 14 inch MacBook Pro has retina graphics, a super strong processor, beautiful display, and excellent storage (up to 8TB — yes, you read that right).

Our Rating: 9.4 / 10

Key Features

• Liquid retina XDR display
• 10-Core M1 CPU
• 16-Core M1 GPU

Specifications (Specs)

• Screen Size: 14.2 inch
• Screen Refresh Speed: 120 Hz
• Screen Resolution: 3024×1964
• Operating System: macOS
• Hard Disk Drive/Storage/SSD: 1TB
• RAM: 16GB (64GB unified memory)
• Computer Processing Unit (CPU): M1
  • Cores: 10
• Graphics Processing Unit (GPU): M1
  • Cores: 16
• Weight: 3.52 lbs
• Battery life: 17 hours
• Keyboard: partial (no number pad)
• Ethernet: No, adapter sold separately
• USB Ports: 3 Thunderbolt 4 (compatible with USB-C), 1 USB-A
• Headphone Jack: Yes
• HDMI Jack: Yes
• Webcam: Yes

Brand Concerns

• Dell Customer Service score: 75/100
• Upgradability: No, Apple products are not modifiable

User Experience

The MacBook Pro, and all Apple products for that matter, have the best user experience on the market. From image quality to performance, they are the best machines.

Pricing

The 14 inch MacBook Pro is priced at $2,200 – $2,300 on Amazon.

What I like & Dislike

Like

• High-quality liquid retina display
• M1 CPU and 16-core GPU deliver top-tier performance
• 14 inches is a comfortable compromise to the normal 16 – 17 inch screen size

Dislike

• Limited flexibility to modify the laptop
• Difficult to “leave” the Apple ecosystem once you’re deeply involved

The 14 inch 2021 MacBook Pro is my top pick as the best Apple laptop for data science. If you’re already involved in the ecosystem, I definitely recommend it. Though expensive, MacBooks last for several years, and are an investment you won’tneed to replace for years to come.

Acer Nitro 5

A Great 17 inch Mid-Tier Laptop with Style

The Acer Nitro 5 is a top pick for many reasons.

Acer invested more than $70 million on user experience and sold over $1 billion worth of performance machines in 2020, so they’re a trusted brand that you can count on to evolve in the future. The design is simple, with a backlit full keyboard and 144Hz (which means the page refreshes 144 times/second) HD display. And you have the choice of NVIDIA GPUs (I recommend the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050Ti) and either Intel’s i5 or i7 CPU (I recommend i7 — the i5 is not for people doing data science work).

The Acer Nitro 5 is VERY competitively priced for the power it delivers. Most power laptops in the $1000 – $1500 range give in on GPU or CPU to keep the price down, or they use a special operating system like the HP Pavilion that can’t keep up with Windows or macOS. The Acer Nitro hits a nice position of power, user experience, and price.

Our Rating: 9.5 / 10

Key Features

• The NitroSense key from Acer allows you to monitor your CPU and GPU temperatures, which is an advantage for those who plan to process a large amount of data.
• The Nitro 5 also has a Power-Off USB charging port, which is useful for traveling data scientists.
• Acer’s CoolBoost tech will also automatically increase fan speed to help the CPU handle advanced queries.

Specifications (Specs)

• Screen Size: 17.3 inch
• Screen Refresh Speed: 144Hz
• Screen Resolution: 1920×1080
• Operating System: Windows 10 (I don’t recommend Windows 11 because it has trouble handling data-heavy operations)
• Hard Disk Drive/Storage/SSD: 1TB
• RAM: 16GB
• Computer Processing Unit (CPU): Intel i7 11800H
  • Speed: 4.6GHz
  • Cores: 8
  • Threads: 16
  • Cache: 24MB
• Graphics Processing Unit (GPU): NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti
  • Cores: 2560
  • Memory size: 8GB
• Weight: 4.85 lbs
• Battery life: 8 hours average, 3-5 under high performance
• Keyboard: full (includes number pad), red backlight
• Ethernet: Yes, RJ-45
• USB Ports: 3
• Headphone Jack: Yes
• HDMI Jack: Yes
• Webcam: Yes
• Power-off USB Port: Yes (this allows you to charge your phone or other device using the computer battery even when it’s turned off)
• NitroSense Key: Yes, allows you to easily monitor GPU and CPU temperatures

Brand Concerns

• Acer customer service score: 20/100
• Upgradability: Easy, can replace almost any part, though this may void your warranty

User Experience

With Windows 10, you’re using some of the best operating system tech available. The full-size keyboard means you don’t need to buy an external keyboard, and you can connect to a larger monitor while using the built-in keyboard. The 17.3 inch screen size is industry standard, and I like the Nitro 5’s “cut” edges because it helps pack the laptop into backpacks and suitcases when moving between work and home or traveling.

Pricing

The Nitro 5 with i7 processor, Nvidia 3050 Ti GPU, Windows 10 is priced in the $1,000 – $1,500 range on Amazon, and you can also get it brand-new from Acer directly with full-service support and different combinations of specs.

What I like & dislike about the Acer Nitro 5

Like:

• Power for price, making it great for those on a budget
• Trusted brand
• Long-term investment in a brand ecosystem with high investments in R&D
• Nice user experience

Dislike:

• Charger is hard to plug in — can be frustrating when you don’t know, so be sure to push hard to plug in.
• Headset sound quality has to be set differently than headphones to get the same result, and the only mic available with headset setting in the built-in mic, which can be frustrating for users working in busy areas.
• Often considered worst customer service in teh industry

Product Updates

• Newer versions are downsizing to 15.6 inch displays while maintaining the full-size keyboard, cutting off extra space for easire portability
• Newer versions are moving to Windows 11 as Microsoft improves performance with OS updates
• It is possible to get the Nitro 5 with a powerful AMD Ryzen 7 CPU and a smaller disk size (256GB) for those who are moving to cloud-storage

Ultimately, the Nitro 5 is an all around powerful laptop in a reasonable price range, beat by the Lenovo Legion 5 Pro, which has slightly better power and screen quality. That said, if you want a cool-looking laptop in the same space, the Nitro 5 is recommended.

Acer Predator Helios 300

A Great 15.6 Inch Laptop with Style

In many ways the Predator Helios 300 is similar to the Nitro 5 (both made by Acer). The key differences are that the Nitro 5 has 1TB of SSD while the Predator has only 512GB, the Nitro has a NVIDIA 3050 GPU while the Predator has a NVIDIA 3060 GPU, the Nitro uses Windows 10 while Predator uses Windows 11 — and of course, the Predator is 1.4 inches smaller.

Overall, this means the Nitro is more powerful while the Predator delivers better visuals and is easier to pack, but just slightly. Most people choose Nitro because they like the red backlight and the Predator because they like the multi-color backlight and the Predator Sense app, which gives you deep analysis on the machine.

Our Rating: 9.5 / 10

Key Features

• Predator Sense Key allows you to monitor your system, overclock, create macros, customize RGB preferences and more
• USB Power-Off Charging allows you to power devices even when the laptop is turned off
• AeroBlade 3D Fan Technology that allows you to cool under high performance

Specifications (Specs)

• Screen Size: 15.6 inch
• Screen Refresh Speed: 144Hz
• Screen Resolution: 1920×1080
• Operating System: Windows 11
• Hard Disk Drive/Storage/SSD: 512GB
• RAM: 16GB
• Computer Processing Unit (CPU): i7-11800H
  • Speed: 4.6GHz
  • Cores: 8
  • Threads: 16
  • Cache: 24MB
• Graphics Processing Unit (GPU): NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
  • Cores: 3584
  • Memory size: 12GB
• Weight: 5.07 lbs
• Battery life: 7 hours average, under 5 hours under high performance
• Keyboard: full keyboard
• Ethernet: Yes, RJ45
• USB Ports: 3 USB-A, 1 USB-C
• Headphone Jack: Yes
• HDMI Jack: Yes
• Webcam: Yes

Brand Concerns

• Dell Customer Service score: 20/100
• Upgradability: Easy, can replace almost any part, though this may void your warranty

User Experience

With Windows 11, you’re using the best operating system tech available. However, the Predator has been reported to struggle to maintain its battery life. Other than that, the full-size keyboard is practical, and allows you to connect to a monitor without the need to for an external keyboard. The 15.6 inch screen size is on the high-end of industry standards, and I like the Predator’s “cut” edges because it helps to transport, as with the Nitro 5.

Pricing

The Predator is available on Amazon with the recommend specs here for $1,200 – $1,300.

What I like & Dislike

Like

• Very strong price-quality ratio
• Strong combination of power and ports (USB, HDMI, Ethernet)
• Cool look and feel with multi-color backlighting

Dislike

• Very short battery life (under 5 hours tested in the field)
• Acer has notoriously poor customer service

While there were some problems with Windows 11, Microsoft seems to have fixed the bugs on the Predator.

All in all, the Acer Predator Helios 300 is a great choice for those not looking for cutting-edge tech. It’s also a good for data scientists who don’t need terabytes of data to store locally (only 512GB SSD), and provides a strong alternative to the Acer Nitro 5 for those who want slightly stronger visual performance and a more portable size.

MSI GE76 Raider

A Great 17 Inch Mid-tier Laptop with a Little Extra Graphics Processing Power

The MSI GE76 Raider is a good mid-tier candidate for data scientists who like a colorful, stylish machine that sticks out from the Acer Nitro 5 & Predator with a slightly more powerful GPU, and for data scientist who like good customer service (MSI is much better than Acer).

Our Rating: 9.4 / 10

Key Features

• Cool look with colors bar on bottom pane
• Relatively light for the power
• Green-Purple backlit keyboard

Specifications (Specs)

• Screen Size: 17.3 inch
• Screen Refresh Speed: 144Hz
• Screen Resolution: 1920×1080
• Operating System: Windows 10
• Hard Disk Drive/Storage/SSD: 1TB
• RAM: 16GB
• Computer Processing Unit (CPU): Intel i7-11800H
  • Speed: 4.6GHz
  • Cores: 8
  • Threads: 16
  • Cache: 24MB
• Graphics Processing Unit (GPU): NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
  • Cores: 3584
  • Memory size: 12GB
• Weight: 6.5 lbs
• Battery life: 6 hours average, 1.5 hours under high performance
• Keyboard: Full (with number pad)
• Ethernet: Yes
• USB Ports: 3 USB-A, 1 USB-C, 1 Thunderbolt 4
• Headphone Jack: Yes
• HDMI Jack: Yes
• Webcam: Yes

Brand Concerns

• MSI Customer Service score: 65/100
• Upgradability: Easy, can replace almost any part, though this may void your warranty

User Experience

Using Windows 10, the MSI GE76 Raider is on the more advanced OSs from Microsoft (which is as good or better than Windows 11 for performance operations). It has a cool color bar spanning the front of the lower plane, and it competes with the industry standards in terms of resolution and performance. The full stack of ports (USB, Ethernet, HDMI) and full keyboard make it easy to use. Plus, it looks really cool.

Pricing

The MSI GE76 Raider is prices at $1,540 – $1,550 on Amazon.

What I like & Dislike

Like

• Very stylish
• Relatively light (6.5 lbs) for the power

Dislike

• Difficult to justify weaker performance against the Lenovo Legion 5 Pro since the two are in the same price range
• Key added value to this laptop is colors, which is less important for data science
• Decent customer service

The MSI GE76 Raider is a good mid-tier laptop for data scientists who want a cool looking machine. My take is that the Lenovo Legion 5 Pro is a better performing machine, and it’s typically slightly less expensive.

Asus ROG Strix G15

A Well-Priced Top-Tier Laptop that’s Good for Entry into the Powerful Laptop Space

The Asus ROG Strix 15 is a strong candidate for ML & AI because it has a strong combination of processors, memory, and cache of all laptops on the list, for a reasonable price. Against the obvious competitor in this level — the Acer Predator Triton 500 (not on our list) — the Asus ROG Strix 15 comes in 33% less expensive (~$1000).

Our Rating: 9.3 / 10

Specifications (Specs)

• Screen Size: 15.6 inch
• Screen Refresh Speed: 165Hz
• Screen Resolution: 1920×1080
• Operating System: Windows 10
• Hard Disk Drive/Storage/SSD: 1TB
• RAM: 32GB
• Computer Processing Unit (CPU): Ryzen 9-5900HX
  • Speed: 4.6GHz
  • Cores: 8 cores
  • Threads: 16 threads
  • Cache: 16MB
• Graphics Processing Unit (GPU): NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070
  • Cores: 5888
  • Memory size: 8GB
• Weight: 5.07 lbs
• Battery life: 8 hours average (2nd best on the list as rated in the field by real users)
• Keyboard: partial
• Ethernet: RJ45
• USB Ports: 3 type A, 1 type C
• Headphone Jack: Yes
• HDMI Jack: Yes
• Webcam: No

Brand Concerns

• ASUS Customer Service score: 65/100
• Upgradability: Easy, can replace almost any part, though this may void your warranty

User Experience

With great power comes a lot of heat. The Asus’s cooling system uses 4 fan outlets to keep cooling noise down while youprocess large amounts of data. While it doesn’t have a full keyboard or webcam, the laptop has 4 USB ports (2 on the back) so you can connect devices at your home and workspace without much interference. As with most powerful laptops, it’s a bit clonky, but this is counteracted by the standard 5 lbs weight. At 15.6 inches, the ROG Strix G15 is on the low end of industry standard sizes, and the 165Hz screen refresh speed makes it one of the more enjoyable user experiences.

Pricing

The ROG Strix G15 with Ryzen 9 CPU, NVIDIA 3070 GPU, and 32GB ram is priced in the $2,000 – $2,200 range on Amazon.

What I like & Dislike

Like:

• Best battery life on the list, as rated in the field by users
• Excellent price for power, competitive in the $2000 range

Dislike:

• Partial keyboard
• No built-in webcam
• WiFi card can be buggy at times and requires strong connection

In the end, the ROG Strix G15 is a great laptop for those who need a powerful laptop for a slightly higher price. Comparable alternatives like the Acer Predator Triton 500 are often priced 50% more.

Asus ROG Zephyrus G15

A Good Top-Tier Laptop with Strong Battery Life

One of the few items on this list with both an AMD Ryzen 9 CPU and NVIDIA 3080 GPU, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15 is second only to the Razer Blade 17 in terms of processing power. It’s a good choice for those who already have standalone keyboards and webcams, because those are not built in.

Our Rating: 9.3 / 10

Key Features

• Powerful AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS
• Powerful NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080

Specifications (Specs)

• Screen Size: 15.6 inch
• Screen Refresh Speed: 165Hz
• Screen Resolution: 2560×1440
• Operating System: Windows 10
• Hard Disk Drive/Storage/SSD: 1TB
• RAM: 16GB
• Computer Processing Unit (CPU): AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS
  • Speed: 4.6GHz
  • Cores: 8
  • Threads: 16
  • Cache:16MB
• Graphics Processing Unit (GPU): NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080
  • Cores: 8704
  • Memory size: 10GB
• Weight: 4.3 lbs
• Battery life: 8.5 hours average
• Keyboard: Partial (no number pad)
• Ethernet: No
• USB Ports: 2 USB-C
• Headphone Jack: Yes
• HDMI Jack: Yes
• Webcam: No webcam

Brand Concerns

• ASUS Customer Service score: 65/100
• Upgradability: Easy, can replace almost any part, though this may void your warranty

User Experience

The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15 packs a lot of power, so it won’t run slow or glitch. The HD 2560×1440 screen is a pleasure to use. However, since this is a top-tier machine, the ports are lacking. It has no USB-A type slots, no ethernet, and no webcam. For those who don’t already have these adaptors and external devices, this means you’ll need to purchase them separately. That’s why we rank this machine lower than the Razer Blade 17.

Pricing

Power comes at a price. The ASUS ROG Zephyris G15 is priced at ~$2,250 on Amazon.

What I like & Dislike

Like

• Very powerful machine with top-tier CPU and GPU
• Great display quality

Dislike

• Lack of built-in ports and legacy options such as USB-A
• No webcam built-in
• No ethernet socket
• Tendency to have key issues

Like the Razer Blade 17, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15 is built for gaming. The NVIDIA 3080 GPU really isn’t necessary for data science unless you plan to run self-developed visualization software or host a company’s database locally. Otherwise, a more user-friendly alternative is the Razer Blade 17 (though it is ~$1,000 more expensive).

MacBook Pro 16-Inch (2021)

Super Powerful Machine with Great User Experience for Those Who Like a Big-Screen MacBook

While larger screens are normal for Windows machines, this is a BIG screen for Apple. It’s the only reason why we pick the 14 inch over the 16 inch, but if you’re into the larger size and feel comfortable transporting 1 more pound of Mac, then you won’t find better than the 16 inch.

Our Rating: 9.3 / 10

Key Features

• Integrated CPU and GPU M1 chip for super fast performance
• Liquid retina XDR display
• 21 hours battery life (yes, you read that right)

Specifications (Specs)

• Screen Size: 16.2 inches
• Screen Refresh Speed: 120Hz
• Screen Resolution: 3456×2234
• Operating System: macOS
• Hard Disk Drive/Storage/SSD: 512Gb
• RAM: 16GB
• Computer Processing Unit (CPU): M1
  • Cores: 10
• Graphics Processing Unit (GPU): M1
  • Cores: 16
• Weight: 4.62 lbs
• Battery life: 21 hours
• Keyboard: Partial (no number pad)
• Ethernet: No, adaptor sold separately
• USB Ports: Thunderbolt (compatible with USB-C)
• Headphone Jack: Yes
• HDMI Jack: Yes
• Webcam: Yes, 1080p

Brand Concerns

• Dell Customer Service score: 75/100
• Upgradability: No, Apple products are not modifiable

User Experience

Just like the 14 inch, the MacBook Pro 16 inch has the best user experience on the market. From image quality to performance, they are the best machines. In our take, the 16 inch is quite large, so be sure you’re want a big screen.

Pricing

The 16 inch 2021 MacBook Pro is available on Amazon for $2,200 – $2,300.

What I like & Dislike

Like

• High-quality retina display
• Super fast M1 CPU/GPU
• Awesome customer service

Dislike

• Limited flexibility to modify laptop
• The 16 inch screen is a bit large for our taste

If you’re in the market for an Apple computer and like the big screen, this one is for you.

Alienware M15 R6

Great Top-Tier Laptop for Those Who Want Market Leading Refresh Speed (360Hz)

The Alienware M15 R6 is another powerful laptop at a reasonable price that’s known for its command center technology that provide additional controls over the hardware. With 360Hz refresh speed, you won’t find other laptops to compete with the HD image quality for streaming or gaming. However, this is less important for data science work, so we don’t rank it in our top 5.

Our Rating: 9.2 / 10

Key Features

• Alienware command center allows you to control power, thermal management, sound, lighting, macros
• Ability to control cooling modes
• Dynamic lighting controls with 16.98 million colors and shades

Specifications (Specs)

• Screen Size: 15.6 inches
• Screen Refresh Speed: 360Hz
• Screen Resolution: 1920×1080
• Operating System: Windows 11
• Hard Disk Drive/Storage/SSD: 1TB
• RAM: 32GB
• Computer Processing Unit (CPU): Intel i7-11800H
  • Speed: 4.6GHz
  • Cores: 8
  • Threads: 16
  • Cache: 24MB
• Graphics Processing Unit (GPU): NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070
  • Cores: 5888
  • Memory size: 8GB
• Weight: 5.93 lbs
• Battery life: 4 hours average, 2 hours high performance
• Keyboard: Partial (no number pad)
• Ethernet: Yes, RJ45
• USB Ports: 3 USB-A, 1 USB-C/Thunderbolt 4
• Headphone Jack: Yes
• HDMI Jack: Yes
• Webcam: Yes

Brand Concerns

• Alienware Customer Service score: 75/100
• Upgradability: Easy, can replace almost any part, though this may void your warranty

User Experience

At 360Hz, the Alienware M15 R6 has the fastest screen refresh rates on the list, making it enjoyable to use. The keys are highly responsive and make for a durable interface with heavy-operations you’ll perform as a data scientist. The light blue backlighting and backside circle give the laptop a stylish look and feel. The only downside on user experience is the absence of a number pad.

Pricing

The Alienware M15 R6 Gaming Laptop with 32GB RAM and NVIDIA 3070 GPU is priced at $1,940 – $1,950 on Amazon.

What I like & Dislike

Like

• Reliable brand
• Light blue backlighting creates nice look and feel
• Smaller 15.6 inch screen is convenient and uncommon for top-tier laptops like this one
• One of the lighter power laptops at less than 6 lbs

Dislike

• We typically like to see a more powerful processor in top-tier laptops (though the i7 help keep the price down)
• Partial keyboard (doesn’t include number pad)

The Alienware G15 R6 is a great laptop for those who want a portable, powerful machine for data science and would like to use it for streaming and other video-intensive operations. It’s 360Hz refresh speed is unmatched by competitors, and if you choose to upgrade the i7 processor to an i9, it’s arguably one of the best laptops for data science on the market.

Dell G15

Best for Those Who Want a Dell Laptop for Data Science and General Home Use

Our choice of the Dell G15 is the only one of two mid-tier laptop with less than 1TB SSD. This laptop is rare in that it has the standard Intel i7 processor, a powerful NVIDIA 3060 GPU, and Windows 11, all on a hard disk of only 512GB. It’s a great data science laptop for those who are into Dell and don’t require heavy solid state storage because they’re on the cloud. However, it won’t be a great choice for those who want to host a lot of data locally.

Our Rating: 9.1 / 10

Key Features

• Anti-glare screen
• Alienware-inspired cooling system with 4 air intake slots
• Incorporates Alienware Command Center for performance control

Specifications (Specs)

• Screen Size: 15.6 inches
• Screen Refresh Speed: 120Hz
• Screen Resolution: 1920×1080
• Operating System: Windows 11
• Hard Disk Drive/Storage/SSD: 512GB
• RAM: 16GB
• Computer Processing Unit (CPU): Intel i7-11800H
  • Speed: 4.6GHz
  • Cores: 8
  • Threads: 16
  • Cache: 24MB
• Graphics Processing Unit (GPU): NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
  • Cores: 3584
  • Memory size: 12GB
• Weight: 5.37 lbs
• Battery life: 8 hours average, 2-3 hours under high-performance
• Keyboard: Partial (no number pad)
• Ethernet: Yes, RJ45
• USB Ports: 3 USB-A, 1 USB-C
• Headphone Jack: Yes, doubles as mic socket
• HDMI Jack: Yes
• Webcam: Yes

Brand Concerns

• Dell Customer Service score: 40/100
• Upgradability: Easy, can replace almost any part, though this may void your warranty

User Experience

The Dell G15 is a standard, mid-tier gaming laptop with Windows 11 that provides a basic 1920×1080 resolution and 120Hz refresh speed, so the interface will be industry-standard. It’s NVIDIA 3060 GPU carries a strong 3584 cores that delivery. It provides a full laptop and USB-A & USB-C ports, which means you can plugin older and newer devices.

Pricing

The G15 is priced at ~$1,300 on Amazon.

What I like & Dislike

Like

• Alienware ventilation and command controls on an affordable Dell laptop
• Trusted brand
• Standard ports available

Dislike

• Limited local storage with only 512GB SSD
• At 5.37 lbs, it’s a little clunky for a mid-tier machine

If you like dell and are looking for a strong, standard laptop that you can use for data science and as a home computer, the Dell G15 is a solid choice.

Lenovo IdeaPad 3i

Best for Those Who Want a Budget Laptop that Packs 1TB Storage

The Lenovo IdealPad 3i is a budget laptop similar to the HP Pavilion. At $880, it’s an accessible laptop for data science. I rank the HP Pavilion higher for one reason: it’s Intel i5 processor is slightly more advanced and delivers better speed. It’s a nuance, but why not take more speed at a comparable price? Both have full keyboards, HDMI, Ethernet, and the same USB ports. There is one caveat: at 120Hz refresh speed, this Lenovo outperforms the HP Pavilion’s 60Hz, making the image quality slightly superior. For data science, I recommend speed over image quality.

Our Rating: 7.4 / 10

Key Features

• Full keyboard
• Good customer service
• Anti-glare display

Specifications (Specs)

• Screen Size: 15.6 inch
• Screen Refresh Speed: 120 Hz
• Screen Resolution: 1920×1080
• Operating System: Windows 11
• Hard Disk Drive/Storage/SSD: 1TB
• RAM: 16GB
• Computer Processing Unit (CPU): Intel Core i5-11300H
  • Speed: 3.1 GHz
  • Cores: 4
  • Threads: 8
  • Cache: 8MB
• Graphics Processing Unit (GPU): NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650
  • Cores: 896
  • Memory size: 4GB
• Weight: 4.96 lbs
• Battery life: 9 hours average, 7 – 8 hours under high performance
• Keyboard: full keyboard
• Ethernet: Yes, RJ45
• USB Ports: 1 USB-C, 2 USB-A
• Headphone Jack: Yes
• HDMI Jack: Yes
• Webcam: Yes

Brand Concerns

• Lenovo Customer Service score: 70/100
• Upgradability: Easy, can replace almost any part, though this may void your warranty

User Experience

As far as budget laptops go, the Lenovo IdeaPad has a standard user experience. With Windows 11, you have a familiar operating system, and the full keyboard makes data input easier. However, because of the weaker i5 processor, you will move slower on heavy data science analyses.

Pricing

The Lenovo IdeaPad is priced at $880 on Amazon.

What I like & Dislike

Like

• Standard Ports (USB-A, USB-C, HDMI, Ethernet)
• Webcam is available, while on some of the more powerful machines you have to purchase separately
• 120Hz refresh speed is storng for a budget laptop

Dislike

• Weak i5 CPU that will cause slower analysis
• Weak NVIDIA GPU that won’t perform well for visually-intense operations

All in all, the Lenovo IdeaPad is a strong candidate for beginners who want a budget data science laptop. However, like the HP Pavilion, you should be prepared to upgrade when you start performing advanced operations because the CPU and GPU will run slow.

Specs Comparison Table

This table provides a side-by-side comparison of each model on the list so you can easily see which is best for you. Scroll right to see all, or download the Excel here.

Spec	Lenovo Legion 5 Pro	Razer Blade 17 Gaming Laptop	Dell XPS 17	HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop	MacBook Pro 14-Inch (2021)	Acer Nitro 5	Acer Predator Helios 300	MSI GE76 Raider	Asus ROG Strix G15	Asus ROG Zephyrus G15	MacBook Pro 16-Inch (2021)	Alienware M15 R6	Dell G15	Lenovo IdeaPad 3i
Leader category	Best Overall	Most Powerful	Best Display	Most Affordable	Best Mac	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Rating (out of 10)	9.6	9.4	9.0	7.5	9.4	9.5	9.5	9.4	9.3	9.3	9.3	9.2	9.1	7.4
Tier	Mid-tier	Top-tier	Mid-tier	Budget	Top-tier	Mid-tier	Mid-tier	Mid-tier	Top-tier	Top-tier	Top-tier	Top-tier	Mid-tier	Budget
Price (USD, $)	$       1,529	$       3,199	$       1,665	$          858	$       2,299	$       1,340	$       1,170	$       1,549	$       2,099	$       2,249	$       2,299	$       1,949	$       1,299	$          879
Screen Size (inch)	16	17.3	17	15.6	14.2	17.3	15.6	17.3	15.6	15.6	16.2	15.6	15.6	15.6
Screen Refresh Speed (Hz)	165	144	120	60	120	144	144	144	165	165	120	360	120	120
Screen Resolution	2560×1600	2560×1440	3840×2400	1920×1080	3024×1964	1920×1080	1920×1080	1920×1080	1920×1080	2560×1440	3456×2234	1920×1080	1920×1080	1920×1080
Operating System	Windows 11	Windows 11	Windows 10	Windows 10	macOS	Windows 10	Windows 11	Windows 10	Windows 10	Windows 10	macOS	Windows 11	Windows 11	Windows 11
SSD Storage (TB)	1	1	1	0.512	1	1	0.512	1	1	1	0.512	1	0.512	1
RAM (GB)	16	16	32	12	16	16	16	16	32	16	16	32	16	16
CPU	Ryzen 7 5800h	i7 – 12800H	Intel i7-11800H	Intel i5-9300h	M1	Intel i7 11800H	i7-11800H	Intel i7-11800H	Ryzen 9-5900HX	AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS	M1	Intel i7-11800H	Intel i7-11800H	Intel i5-11300H
CPU Speed (GHz)	4.4	4.8	4.6	4.1	n/a for mac	4.6	4.6	4.6	4.6	4.6	n/a for mac	4.6	4.6	3.1
CPU Cores	8	14	8	4	10	8	8	8	8	8	10	8	8	4
CPU Threads	16	2	16	8	n/a for mac	16	16	16	16	16	n/a for mac	16	16	8
CPU Cache (MB)	16	24	24	8	n/a for mac	24	24	24	16	16	n/a for mac	24	24	8
GPU	‎‎‎NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 1650	M1	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080	M1	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060	NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650
GPU Cores	3584	6144	2304	897	16	2560	3584	3584	5888	8704	16	5888	3584	896
CPU Memory (GB)	12	8	8	4	n/a for mac	8	12	12	8	10	n/a for mac	8	12	4
Weight (pounds)	9.78	10.33	5.53	4.92	3.52	4.85	5.07	6.5	5.07	4.3	4.62	5.93	5.37	4.96
Battery Life (avg hours)	6	6	9	8	17	8	7	6	8	8.5	21	4	8	9
Battery Life (performance hours)	2	3	9	6.5	17	4	5	1.5	8	8.5	21	2	2.5	8
Keyboard	Full	Partial	Partial	Full	Partial	Full	Full	Full	Partial	Partial	Partial	Partial	Partial	Full
Ethernet port	Yes, RJ45	Yes, RJ45	No	Yes, RJ45	No	Yes, RJ45	Yes, RJ45	Yes, RJ45	Yes, RJ45	No	No	Yes, RJ45	Yes, RJ45	Yes, RJ45
USB-A Ports	3	2	0	3	0	3	3	3	3	0	0	3	3	2
USB-C Ports	1	2	4	1	4	1	1	2	1	2	4	1	1	1
Headphone port	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HDMI port	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Webcam	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

Data Science Laptop FAQ

Frequently Asked Question about Laptops for Data Science

How much RAM do data scientists need?

To perform advanced operations in python, SQL, and advanced Excel, data scientists need a minimum RAM of 16GB, but 32GB would be better. All the the laptops we recommend have 16GB or more, even the budget HP Pavilion.

Is 8GB RAM MacBook air enough for data science?

Some MacBooks before the 2021 MacBook Pros have less than 16GBs of RAM, including the MacBook air. This is not enough to perform advanced data science tasks. We recommend buying the MacBook Pro 14 inch (2021) or later.

Do you need a powerful laptop for data science?

In short, you need a powerful laptop for data science if you’re running advanced queries and code in SQL and Python, building AI & ML models, or hosting other data clients such as Tableau for visualization or R for statistical analysis. Advanced CPUs and GPUs are import for tactics like neural networks, fuzzy logic, decision tress, and evolutionary programming, and only powerful gaming-style laptops will have what you need.

Which processor (CPU) is best for data science?

The most powerful CPU for a data science laptop (not PC) is the AMD Ryzen™ 9 6980HX. However, very few data professionals need as much power as it provides. The best CPUs in machines we recommend are the AMD Ryzen™ 9 5900HS and the AMD Ryzen™ 9 5900HX. We recommend these in some of the laptops on our list.

Is Intel or AMD better for Data Science?

Generally speaking, AMDs processors are better. If you’re look for top-tier performance, we recommend you choose a laptop with the AMD Ryzen 9 (such as the ASUS ROG Strix or the ASUS ROG Zephyrus). However, Intel’s i7 processors are also a strong option.

Is Intel i5 enough for data science?

No, the Intel i5 is not a powerful enough CPU to handle data science work.

Is Intel i3 enough for data science?

No, the Intel i3 is not a powerful enough CPU to handle data science work.

Is a graphics card necessary for data science?

Yes, a graphics card is necessary in data science because you will need one to accompany a powerful CPU. That said, CPUs are more important than GPUs (graphics cards).

What’s the best GPU for data science?

The most powerful GPU for a data science laptop (not PC) is the NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 3090 Ti. However, most data professionals will not need the power it delivers. The best GPU for laptops we recommend is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080, which is found only in the ASUS ROG Zephyrus on our list.

What’s the best operating system for data science laptops?

The best operating system for a data science laptop is Windows 10. Windows 11 has had early problems handling high-performance operations, though these will likely be resolved with update rollouts.

If you’re in the Apple ecosystem, then the newest macOS is your best bet. This is the case for me, since I have all my data wrapped up in the Apple cloud and store all files on my computer and phone at the same time.

Best Windows Laptop for Data Science

Our top pick for the best overall laptop for data science is the Lenovo Legion 5 Pro.

Is an Apple Laptop Good for Data Science?

The newer Apple laptops (from 2021) have stepped ip processing and graphics power with their M1 units, making them strong candidates fro data science laptops, particularly if you’re already involved with the Apple ecosystem and store data on the Apple cloud.

What’s the best Mac laptop for data science?

We recommend the 2021 14 inch MacBook Pro. You will want to avoid older models because they don’t pack the processing power found in Apple’sM1 CPU and M1 GPU. While the MacBook Air can seem attractive because of its small size, it won’t perform on advanced functions in python, visualization software like Tableau and PowerBI, SQL, and overall AI & ML operations.

Best Budget Laptop for Data Science

Our pick as the best budget laptop for data science is the HP Pavilion.

Best Laptop for Data Science Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence

The most powerful laptop on our list is the Razer Blade 17, making it the best laptop for ML & AI. However, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus is a close runner up with a slightly slower CPU but almost half the price. If price is not a major factor for you, then the Razer Blade 17 is your best bet; otherwise, we recommend the ASUS Zephyrus.

What are the best data science laptop brands?

Beyond specs and price, you should always consider brand when buying a laptop, especially when it will be used for heavy operations like AI & ML, or even just data visualization with big apps like Tableau or Power BI. The key brand-concerns are customer service, and upgradability.

Customer Service

Customer service is important at the time of purchase. If there is a problem with the computer or it was damaged during shipping, you’ll want to be able to discuss with the customer service to fix the problem. The good news is Amazon typically handles these complaints well. That said, when you’re buying brand-new products directly from the source, make sure to check customer service.

We provide a customer service score for recommended laptops in our guide.

Upgradability

How easy is it to upgrade components in your laptop, such as the CPU or GPU? How easy is it to transfer data from one computer to a newer version. Each laptop has a degree of installation difficulty, so if you plan to do manual upgrades, keep this in mind. When upgrading to a new computer, is there anything preventing a cloud data transfer or external hard drive transfer?

We review upgradability for all recommended laptops in this article.

Summary

Buying a laptop for data science is a big decision. You need to find the right balance of power, style, and price. For data science, the most important elements are functionality. The best way to approach your purchase is to first determine your price cap, then think about whether you will host data locally on your machine. Finally, think about how you will be using your laptop (traveling often, leaving it at home). Once you have an idea, it will be much easier to choose the best one for you. One thing is sure, your standard home laptop probably can’t handle the data-heavy processes required in data science — so you can rely on this review to get your upgrade.

Happy data wrangling!

Conclusion

If you’re learning about data and want to understand what data analysts do, you can get our free Intro to Data Analysis eBook.