If you’re looking for the best laptop for GIS, you’ve probably come to realize that these days there are a lot of options. When it comes to ESRI software, it used to be that you were limited to only a few laptops that could handle the burden of running ArcGIS and ArcGIS Pro.
However, times have changed and there are now many different laptops on the market capable of running GIS software. The good news about this is that you can save money by buying a less expensive laptop and still run your GIS software without any issues.
In this article we will talk about what things you should look at when choosing a GIS laptop as well as talk about our top recommendations. We’ll also discuss some of the different uses of GIS laptops so you can make sure you get one that is right for your needs.
1. Microsoft Surface Book Laptop
Series | SURFACE BOOK 2 IN STOCK |
Brand | Microsoft |
Specific Uses For Product | Personal, gaming, business |
Screen Size | 13.5 Inches |
Operating System | Windows 10 Pro |
With the advent of laptops and tablets, the demand for portable devices has been immense. Nowadays, most of us are carrying laptops with us wherever we go. This is not to mention the tablets, smartphones, and other such devices which have become an integral part of our lives. Therefore, as you’re looking for a new laptop, there are certain features that are indispensable as opposed to others. As a GIS professional, you need to find one that is better than average in terms of its portability.
2. Dell Inspiron i5577
Series | I5577-7342BLK-PUS |
Brand | Dell |
Specific Uses For Product | Personal, gaming |
Screen Size | 15.6 Inches |
Operating System | Windows 10 Home |
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The Dell Inspiron i5577 is one of the best laptops for learning GIS in 2021. It is affordable, small in size, and has a huge hard drive with a 40 GB storage option. You get 8 hours of battery life with the charger provided and it starts up in around 7-8 minutes from shut down. It easily handles 4K/60fps video or even gaming on high settings with ease. You could easily use it as a media PC or use its ports for connecting devices like graphics cards.
3. ASUS Vivobook S S410UN-NS74
Series | VivoBook 14 |
Brand | ASUS |
Specific Uses For Product | Personal, Business |
Screen Size | 14 Inches |
Operating System | Windows 10 Home |
Nevertheless, there is so much more to this laptop than just the design and build quality. This laptop functions on the latest 8th Gen Intel Core i7 866OU Quad-Core processor, which allows you to run the GIS applications as smoothly as possible. Also, it has a RAM of 8GB DDR4 with a 2GB Nvidia GeForce MX150 GPU. In addition to this, you get 256GB of SSD storage capacity for your data, which makes sure that your details are kept intact.
4. Apple Macbook Pro
Model Name | MacBook Pro 13-inch |
Brand | Apple |
Specific Uses For Product | Multimedia |
Screen Size | 13 Inches |
Operating System | Mac OS |
The 2018 Macbook Pro has taken the world of computer hardware to a new level, every hardware component is designed at par with its competitors. From its great design to its elegant speakers, Apple Macbook Pro is a premium laptop that both developers and designers will love. With this product, you won’t need to upgrade for many years as it continues to get the latest processor technology and all other specs on it can easily be upgraded as well. You don’t need to buy any accessories apart from the phone cases coz u have already got everything in your hand.
5. Acer Predator Helios 300
Series | Acer Predator Series |
Brand | Acer |
Specific Uses For Product | Personal, gaming |
Screen Size | 15.6 Inches |
Operating System | Windows 10 |
The Acer Helios 300 features a 15.6 inch full HD IPS display with NVIDIA G-SYNC technology and anti-glare coating, which runs at a refresh rate of 144 Hz and is capable of displaying 16.7 million colors without affecting the picture quality (the added NVIDIA G-SYNC technology enhances the display). It has an anti-glare display, which makes it easier to read even when you are outside under bright sunlight. The Acer Predator Helios 300 also features a 256 GB SSD along with a 1 TB HDD, which gears up the system to run pretty fast while doing multiple tasks.
6. Acer Aspire E15 Laptop
Series | Acer Aspire |
Brand | Acer |
Screen Size | 15.6 Inches |
Operating System | Windows 10 Pro |
CPU Manufacturer | Intel |
The Aspire E15 is a low-priced gaming laptop that comes with an 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8550U, assuring an excellent performance. This helps keep the laptop cool even when it is in use for an extended period of time. This laptop comes with GeForce MX150 GPU which delivers a great gaming experience at an affordable price. This laptop doesn’t overheat even when being used for long periods and is a very reliable device to be used as your main computer.
7. ASUS TUF
Brand | ASUS |
Screen Size | 15.6 Inches |
Human Interface Input | Microphone, Keyboard |
CPU Manufacturer | AMD |
Processor Count | 4 |
When you open the box, the first thing that hits you is how light it is. It’s genuinely surprising how thin the chassis is given that it’s packing such a punch. The weight is on the light side for a gaming laptop and the thickness is comfortable for typing as well. Weighing at 5.3 lbs, it doesn’t feel heavy to lift around at all, Weighing in less than other competitors at just 5.3 lbs, this laptop is super portable and hassle-free to take with you wherever you go. According to ASUS, this notebook is 19% lighter than previous models, weighing only 5.3 lbs without sacrificing durability or power.
8. Microsoft Surface Pro 7
Series | Surface Pro |
Brand | Microsoft |
Specific Uses For Product | Personal |
Screen Size | 12.3 Inches |
Operating System | Windows 10 Home |
The Surface Pro is unique in the laptop/convertible market as the only device to ship with an Intel U-Series processor and a fanless design. The device’s ability to operate for hours on end without a single cooling fan is amazing, but hardly the only feature that can be found on this Windows 10 tablet hybrid.
9. Acer Predator Helios 300
Series | PH315-53-72XD |
Brand | Acer |
Specific Uses For Product | Multimedia, Personal, Gaming |
Screen Size | 15.6 Inches |
Operating System | Windows 10 Home |
It’s a fine piece, but we’ve seen it before. Most gaming laptops from other manufacturers have the same processor and almost the same hardware configuration as well. So how does Acer Predator Helios 300 stand out? Sleek new design aside, there’s the software — the Predator Sense app that lets you configure the laptop for increased gaming performance or longer battery life (that would be using less power-hungry components).
10. Razer Blade 15
Series | Razer Blade |
Brand | Razer |
Specific Uses For Product | Personal, gaming, business |
Screen Size | 15.6 Inches |
Operating System | Windows 10 Home |
At a first glance at the Razer Blade 15, you will notice its sharp and thin design. It’s basically a gaming laptop with GIS software installed in it. I met up with a friend of mine who studies GIS, her school recommended the use of the Lenovo Thinkpad with ArcGIS 10. However, she complained about its heavyweight when carrying around all day for classes, and at the same time she was tired of having an external USB drive plugged into her laptop to store data, so she decided to look for something else. That’s how I became involved in finding a new laptop for GIS students.