Data science is a crucial element in many professions and academics. So much so that data science is done on a major basis, with many top professions requiring a degree in it. And it makes sense, all types of data are computed on machines like personal computers and laptops. For example, it is needed in businesses, banks, finance departments, research centers, and data entry services. A normal person cannot easily calculate their finances or other types of data on a simple or scientific calculator, that’s why they need the best laptop for data science.
Just like the world isn’t black and white, there’s no “best” laptop for data science suitable for all kinds of data analytics. That having been said, there can be a number of laptops for you to choose from that are really the best laptops for data science. When choosing a laptop, you’ll have to consider many specifications such as the CPU clock rate, number of cores, RAM, storage, screen, and surprisingly, even the GPU. If you’re not a computer expert and all these terms seem confusing, this article will go through everything you need to know before buying the best laptop for data science.
Review Of Best Laptops For Data Science
These laptops are good enough to make it to our list of best data science and machine learning laptops to buy in 2020.
Quick Summary: Our Top Picks
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | ASUS VivoBook Thin and Light | Features: 15.6" Full HD, Intel Core i7-7700HQ Processor, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 256GB SSD + 1TB HDD, GeForce GTX 1050 4GB, backlit Keys - M580VD-EB76 Benefits: Game your way with NVIDIA graphics, Durable and stylish, Lifelike and vivid visuals, Intelligent Cooling, Immersive sound, Ergonomic backlit keyboard, 4K UHD Output with USB Type-C | View on Amazon |
 | Dell i5577-5335BLK-PUS Inspiron | Features: 7th Generation Intel Core i5-7300HQ Quad Core, 8GB 2400MHz DDR4 up to 32GB, 256GB SSD, 15.6-inch FHD Anti-Glare LED-Backlit Display. Benefits: More Power, Better Gameplay, Graphically Superior, Primed To Play. | View on Amazon |
Editor's Choice  | Dell XPS9560-7001SLV-PUS | Features: 15.6" Thin Bezel display, 7th Gen Core i7 (up to 3.8 GHz), 16GB, 512GB SSD, Nvidia Gaming GPU GTX 1050, Aluminum Chassis. Benefits: There is a special emphasis on the display qualities. The advanced processor and memory system provides the user with a durable and time-saving experience. | View on Amazon |
Best Features  | Lenovo 320 Business Laptop | Features: 5.6" FHD(1920x1080) Display Intel i7-7500U 2.7GHz Processor 12GB DDR4 RAM 256GB SSD NVIDIA GeForce 940MX Dolby Audio HDMI Bluetooth DVD±R/RW Windows 10. Benefits: It is a durable and time saving laptop. One of the best internal features, as well as crystal clear display. | View on Amazon |
1. Dell 15 – Graphically Superior
The Dell G15 is the first laptop that can be called the best laptop for data science and data analysis. The product has been rated 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon, by 75 customers. The product retails for $1,279, which is the above-average price for a data science laptop.
The laptop comes equipped with multiple connectivity options. On the right side, there is an HDMI port, a USB 3.0 port, as well as an Ethernet cable port. On the left side of the device, two USB 3.0 ports can be seen, with a 3.5 mm port for headphones. On the same side, there is an option to plug the charging wire into the laptop. The display of the screen is anti-glare.
The most noticeable feature is that the Dell logo at the top of the device is quite prominently placed.
Following are the features and specifications of the product.
Display
The size of the screen in this amazing laptop is 15.6 inches. Apart from the size, the resolution of the display is high definition. The screen displays everything in 1920 x 1080 pixels. The high-definition display gives the user a crisp and clear representation of colors and text, resulting in a good visionary experience.
Battery Capacity
Like many other laptops considered as the best data science laptop, this product also uses a Lithium polymer battery. Once fully charged, the battery can run up to 8 hours at maximum. This duration can prove to be a little short for some users but is not bad nonetheless.
RAM
This product comes with a preinstalled DDR4 SDRAM. The capacity of the Random Access Memory is 16 GB. An 16 GB RAM is oftentimes considered as “not enough” by advanced users of data science software. But it can still be used to provide a seamless experience if the computer is regularly checked for trash files and then deleted. On the contrary, the RAM is a DDR4 version, meaning that it is not of the conventional slow kind.
Processor
The Dell laptop has an Intel Core i7 processor fitted into the unit. The speed of processing is 4.7 GHz. The processing speed and durability are pretty impressive in this model.
Storage
As can be seen, the laptop is not a very high-end one. The internal storage, or the hard drive of the laptop, has a capacity of 512 GB. This capacity is contained by a flash memory solid-state drive. The capacity is not huge, like many other laptops that have them in TBs. Still, though, it is the best laptop for data science.
GPU
Now comes the most important quality of the laptop. This defines how the laptop processes and displays everything on the screen. It comes with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 graphics processor. The processor has a RAM size of 16 GB. The 16 GB RAM results in a seamless and smooth display of graphics, without any kind of lag.
Weight
The item weighs 5.55 pounds. It is not too heavy, as well as not too light. This is the standard weight for a good laptop. It can easily be carried around by the user without too much stress.
Operating System
Most modern laptops come with a certain operating system pre-installed. That certain operating system is Windows 11. The Core i7 Family also has the system installed and registered in the device.
Input and Output
The main input in this device is through the keyboard. The keyboard has a sleek and stylish design, with low-set keys. There is a number keypad given on the right side of the board, giving easy access to the digit keys. The touchpad, along with the two selection buttons, is given at the center bottom of the alphabetic keypad.
The output is through the high-definition screen and built-in speakers. The speakers have great sound quality for watching movies or participating in meetings.
If you want a good multipurpose laptop, which enables you to do big data analysis as well, choose this one. It is not as expensive as some other laptops the likes of it and can facilitate the user in a good way.
2. ASUS VivoBook 15 – Durable and stylish
This is another best laptop for data scientists, as chosen by many users.
The keyboard of the device is completely backlit. This feature enables the user to make good use of the laptop even in darkness. The exterior of the laptop is very stylish, with a chassis of dimensions 15 x 0.8 inches. The device is very thin and can be adjusted in any carrying space. The device is capable of providing 4K ultra-high-definition output through the USB 3.1 port, on external devices.
Following are the features and specifications of the product.
Display
This laptop comes with a 15.6″ inches standard display size. The resolution of the display is 1920 x 1080 pixels, making the display full of high definition. The high-definition display gives the user a rich color experience, along with an anti-glare quality.
Battery Capacity
The laptop comes with a Lithium polymer battery. The package contains the battery in question. According to the manufacturer, the charging speed of the device is ultra-fast. The battery charges up to 60% within 50 minutes of being connected to the charging cable.
RAM
The RAM of this device is also of a modern model. It contains a 12 GB DDR4 SDRAM. The 12 GB results in the least lagging in the processing of many functions. Multiple software applications can be used simultaneously with the help of this feature.
Processor
The processor installed in this device is the 11th generation Intel Core i5-1135G7 Processor 2.4 GHz (8M Cache, up to 4.2 GHz) and Intel Iris Xᵉ Graphics. There are 4 processors fitted in the unit in total. The i5 is an advanced processor, which makes sure that the computer runs smoothly. Through this quality, it can be the best computer for data researchers.
Storage
The internal storage capacity of the device is 512 TB. The laptop contains the traditional HDD. It leads to faster data reading and writing experience.
GPU
As the laptop is optimized for gaming along with multiple other purposes, it contains a very high-quality graphics interface. The device comes with an Intel Iris Xe Graphics, having a capacity of 12 GB as RAM. This quality prevents any kind of problems with the display and shows everything at the highest quality and speed possible.
Weight
The laptop is light in weight and can be carried easily. The weight of the product is 3.75 pounds. It is convenient to be kept on the lap and used as well.
Operating System
It comes with Windows 10 – Windows 10 Home is standard for many high-end laptops that are released in today’s era.
Input and Output
The keyboard of the device comes in a traditional style. The keys are small and thin, easy to be pressed. There is a numerical keypad, merged with the alphabetical keys on the right side. There are multiple input ports in the device. Two USB 3.1, HDMI, SD card, and USB 2.0 ports are available.
The display of the device is high definition. There is another output feature in this device, and they are built-in speakers. The speakers are set in 8cc chambers. They provide highly amplified and clear sound quality.
If your budget is on the medium side, then you should definitely make this purchase. After some time of use, you will see that this is the best laptop for data science and machine learning. It has all the features and specifications that an amazing laptop needs.
3. Dell 9310 XPS – Advanced & Durable
The Dell 9310 XPS is another product that is classified as the best laptop for data science, machine learning, and bioinformatics as well.
The keyboard of the device is backlit. It gives the opportunity to the user, to be able to work in darkness. It is good for overall vision as well.
Following are the features and specifications of the product.
Display
The display of this device is the most prominent feature of this model. The size of the screen is about average, with a 13.4″ inches display. But the resolution is the real advantage here. It comes with a 4K Ultra High Definition display. The resolution of the UHD is a whole 1920 x 1200 pixels.
The display is not just any kind of screen. It has a touch interface in it. It enables the user to input data in a better and more convenient manner.
Battery Capacity
The laptop requires a Lithium polymer battery. It is contained in the package itself. Once the user charges the battery fully, it can run for more than 12 hours, with full functioning. It is very convenient and makes the device user-friendly.
RAM
The device comes with a DDR4 16 GB RAM. This capacity enables the user to multitask, as well as execute various types of operations on the computer.
Processor
This feature of the device makes the laptop the best laptop for data science. It contains the Intel Core i7 1185G7 11th Generation processor. The processing speed can go up to 5 GHz. This is a very modern, strong, and durable processor. It provides the user with the ability to put as much load on the computer as they want to, and not fail.
Storage
A solid-state drive is fitted into the laptop. The capacity of the drive is 512 GB. It may be called a little less if compared to other devices, but it is still more than enough for basic purposes of data analysis.
GPU
Just like the display of the laptop is splendid, the graphics interface is too. An Intel Iris Xe Graphics is installed in the hardware. The memory of graphics available is 16 GB. This leads to the proper and perfect display of graphics on the screen. It does not need to be said that this laptop relies heavily on display properties.
Weight
The product is lighter than many laptops in weight. This item weighs 2.8 pounds only. It is not small in size, but still lighter to carry.
Operating System
As it is not a device made for highly professional individuals, the system comes pre-installed with Windows 11 Home, 64-bit. Although the operating system can be changed once the laptop is purchased, Windows 10 Home is still good enough for data analysts.
Input and Output
The most apparent input feature is the keyboard on a laptop. The device is equipped with a stylish keyboard, with a sleek design. Just like many other keyboards, the keys are thin and easy to press. The numeric keys are given at the top of the alphabetic ones, without any separate numeric keypad. The touchpad along with its keys is given at the bottom of the keyboard.
There is a 3 in 1 SD card reader, two USB 3.0 ports, and an HDMI port given on the sides of the laptop’s body. The port for the insertion of the charging wire is also given.
There are built-in speakers given in the device. The speakers are stereo, from MaxxAudio. These speakers provide clear and loud sound quality.
Extra Features
The keyboard of the device is backlit. It gives the opportunity to the user, to be able to work in darkness. It is good for overall vision as well. The data transfer rate of this laptop can go up to 40 GB/s, saving the time the user. An advanced docking system is included, containing a single cable for power, Ethernet, audio, and video.
It is the best laptop for data science, and the decision to buy this laptop is a beneficial one. As this model has many high-end features, it is very convenient for data analysts.
4. Lenovo ThinkPad P53S – Best Internal Features
This is a high-end laptop by Lenovo. The features of the device make up for the price, as it is the best laptop for data science.
The NVIDIA GeForce has a video memory of 16 GB. The laptop contains a slot for CD/DVD reading and writing.
Following are the features and specifications of the product.
Display
The display of the screen is 15.6″ inches, having a high-definition resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. The screen is said to be anti-glare, protecting the vision of the user.
Battery Capacity
A Lithium-ion battery is required to run the device. It is included in the package itself. The battery gives a life of 13 hours to the laptop, which is relatively very low.
RAM
There is a 16 GB DDR4 SDRAM installed on the device. It ensures that the user’s software and data run smoothly, and prevent crashes and failures.
Processor
An 8th Gen Intel 4-Core i7-8565U processor is installed on the device. Its speed of processing is 1.8 GHz. The i7 processor is a modern and strong processor, resulting in the durable performance of the device.
Storage
A 512 GB SSD hard drive comes in the laptop. This is the standard for many laptops used for data science.
GPU
The NVIDIA Quadro P520 2GB GDDR5 Integrated Graphics is the graphics component in this laptop. It provides amazing and non-lagging graphics to the user.
Weight
It is a relatively average-weighted device, perhaps on the heavier side. It weighs only 6 pounds.
Operating System
The device runs on Windows 11 Home. It is installed on a 64-bit system.
Input and Output
The keyboard of the device is well-spread. There is a numeric keypad on the right side of the board. The touchpad is given at the bottom of the keyboard, along with the selection keys. Two USB 3.0 Type-A, a USB 3.0 Type-C, a 3.5 mm headphone jack, an HDMI port, and a 4 in 1 SD card reader are available on the laptop.
The output includes two 1.5W Dolby Audio speakers and a high-definition display screen.
It is clearly the best laptop for data science in all ways. If you have the budget, you should definitely buy this laptop from Lenovo.
Conclusion
Keeping a written registry, or typing everything manually is a hassle. It consumes too much time, and the results might be full of human error. That is because the values of the calculation are oftentimes huge, and too much in number. To counteract that issue, computers made specifically for data science are used. In order to get the best out of your data science, you need to get your hands on the best laptop for data science.
After reading this article, you have sufficient knowledge to make the most suitable purchase for yourself. This was a guide to help you choose the best laptop for data science.
Writer Graham Grieve brings two decades of technical communications experience to The Holy Tech coverage. Isaac contributes articles on laptops, tablets and PCs, alongside various software and hardware guides. Isaac is a former newspaper journalist who also worked in tech communications for some of the country’s biggest corporations. He also counsels and creates material for other technology publications and hosts a podcast.
Isaac’s in-depth reporting and knowledge of hardware and software issues helps The Holy Tech’s readers learn how to choose the right products, or solve tricky problems.