If you want to be a professional penetration tester and need to install and run Kali Linux, then you will soon figure out that running Kali on old hardware can be a little sluggish. If you are looking for laptops that will allow you to install and run this powerful operating system with minimal hiccups, then our article about the 8 best laptops for Kali Linux needs to be read.
When you’re going to buy a laptop to run Kali Linux then there are many factors to consider along with price and memory. The first thing one should get their hands on is a solid gaming laptop because it won’t only be sufficient in running Kali Linux but also could run any other heavy software as well.
One of the many reasons why all ethical hackers love Kali Linux is due to its flexibility and easiness of use. It makes penetration testing much easier for users who are just starting out. Clicking few buttons and voila, you have your own pentesting lab that gives you the convenience to practice as much as you want.
In this guide, I will share my list of recommended laptops for Kali Linux. These laptops have been picked in accordance with certain requirements one should have when using Kali Linux as their primary OS.
What is Kali Linux?
Kali Linux is a powerful hacking operating system and an open source project. It’s popular among aspiring white-hat hackers and security professionals because of its offensive capabilities.
In A Hurry? Here’s Our Top Picks For Kali Linux…
- Intel Core i5-10300H
- 8GB RAM
- 512GB SSD
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB
- AMD Ryzen 7 5800U
- 16GB RAM
- 512GB SSD
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050Ti 4GB
- AMD Ryzen 7 5800H
- 16GB RAM
- 512GB SSD
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050Ti 4GB
- Intel Core i7-11800H
- 16GB RAM
- 1TB SSD
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050Ti 4GB
- Intel Core i7-11800H
- 16GB RAM
- 512GB SSD
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 8GB
- Intel Core i7-11800H
- 16GB RAM
- 512GB SSD
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 6GB
- Intel Core i7-11800H
- 16GB RAM
- 512GB SSD
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 6GB
- Intel Core i9 12900H
- 32GB RAM
- 1TB SSD
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti 16GB
Best Laptops For Kali Linux – Top 8 Picks
1. ASUS TUF F15 – Best Budget Laptop For Kali Linux
Quick Overview Of Hardware Specifications
- Intel Core i5-10300H Processor
- 8GB RAM
- 512GB SSD
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB
- 15.6 Inch Full HD IPS Display
- Up to 8 Hours Battery Life
- 14.13 x 10.08 x 0.97 inches
If you want an affordable gaming laptop that can also handle kali linux and penetration testing, the ASUS TUF Gaming F15 is a solid choice. This laptop has all of the hardware necessary for ethical hacking, including a fast processor and dedicated graphics card.
To start with, it has a quad-core Intel Core i5-10300H processor which can go for up to 4.5 GHz under the turbo boost. It’s a reasonably fast CPU for most ethical hacking tasks, making it easy to run virtual machines with different operating systems.
Regarding the graphics, it features NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 GPU with 4GB VRAM which is more than capable of playing games at 1080p resolution. However, this graphics card doesn’t meet the requirements to play major AAA titles at high settings. Further, it is equipped with 8GB DDR4 RAM which provides enough memory to run multiple programs simultaneously without issues.
Thanks for providing 512GB PCIe SSD storage, which is enough space to hold several large files or programs. Additionally, there are two RAM slots on this laptop, so you can easily increase its memory if needed. There are multiple USB 3.2 type-A ports on this laptop, so you’ll have plenty of room to connect devices like external hard drives or flash drives.
What’s more, it features MIL-STD-810H military standard construction that makes it resistant to drops and falls. The battery life is also decent of this notebook, it provides up to 8 hours of battery backup so you will not have to carry your charger all the time with you.
What We Like:- Good specs for the price
- Easy to upgrade components
- Decent battery backup
- Fast charging feature
- Military-Grade toughness
- Heavy in weight
2. Acer Swift X – Best Affordable Laptop For Kali Linux
Quick Overview Of Hardware Specifications
- AMD Ryzen 7 5800U Processor
- 16GB RAM
- 512GB SSD
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050Ti 4GB
- 14 Inch Full HD IPS Widescreen LED-backlit Display
- Up to 12 Hours Battery Life
- 12.71 x 8.35 x 0.7 inches
The Acer Swift 5 SFX14-41G is one of the affordable Kali Linux laptops for pen-testing. It is a premium machine with a super sleek design and it comes with a 14-inch Full HD IPS display that features an ultra-thin bezel. To add to this, the display has good viewing angles and accurate colors. The screen comes with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels so you get to see some great clarity in your work.
Moving on to the internals, it is powered by AMD’s Ryzen 7 5800U processor which is an 8-core chip that clocks at 2.0GHz base speed and can go for up to 4.4GHz with its boost mode engaged. For graphics, the laptop comes with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti GPU with 4GB GDDR6 VRAM which should be able to handle most graphic-intensive tasks without any issues.
You also get plenty of RAM as well as storage on this laptop as it comes with 16GB of LPDDR4X memory and 512GB NVMe SSD storage so you don’t have to worry about running out of storage space or RAM anytime soon or while using Kali Linux on this notebook.
Apart from this, it features a fingerprint reader and comes with Windows Hello support, so you can use your fingerprint to unlock the laptop quickly and securely.
What We Like:- Thin & light strong metal body
- Resourceful Ryzen 7 5800U CPU
- Screen quality is excellent
- Long lasting battery life
- Fingerprint reader & backlit keyboard
- Lack of ethernet port & card reader
- Webcam is mediocre
3. Lenovo Legion 5 – Best Value For Money Laptop
Quick Overview Of Hardware Specifications
- AMD Ryzen 7 5800H Processor
- 16GB RAM
- 512GB SSD
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050Ti 4GB
- 15.6 Inch Full HD IPS Display
- Up to 5 Hours Battery Life
- 21.2 x 13.5 x 3.3 inches
The Lenovo Legion 5 is a powerhouse laptop at an affordable price, which offers excellent performance and is well suited to be used as a workstation. This laptop is powered by the AMD Ryzen 7 5800H processor, which has 8 cores and 16 threads, it is a powerful chip and is capable of running Kali Linux with ease.
Plus, it offers 16GB of RAM which is more than enough to run Kali Linux and any other applications you might be using at the same time. The 512GB storage is great since it gives you plenty of space for all your files without needing an external drive.
On the graphics front, it comes with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050Ti 4GB graphics card, which is ideal for using Kali Linux to perform penetration tests on networks, websites, and web apps. Moving on to the display, it features a 15.6-inch FHD display with IPS technology, so you get vibrant colors and wide viewing angles.
Besides the specs, the keyboard has 4-zone RGB backlight, which enhances your gaming experience by illuminating the keys in different colors based on your actions in games. Overall, if you’re looking for an affordable gaming laptop that can also run Kali Linux then this Lenovo Legion 5 gaming laptop could be the best option for you.
What We Like:- Remarkable CPU for the price
- Excellent screen with color accuracy
- Enough memory and storage
- Support latest WiFi 6 & Bluetooth 5.0
- Webcam with e-shutter
- Laptop is quite heavy
4. Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop – Best 17 Inch Laptop
Quick Overview Of Hardware Specifications
- Intel Core i7-11800H Processor
- 16GB RAM
- 1TB SSD
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050Ti 4GB
- 17.3 Inch Full HD IPS Display
- Up to 8 Hours Battery Life
- 15.89 x 11.02 x 0.98 inches
The Acer Nitro 5 is one of our favorite options in the list of best laptops for Kali Linux. It comes packed with all the features you’re looking for in a Kali Linux laptop.
To start with power, it has a very powerful 11th Gen Intel Core i7-11800H processor, and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050Ti GPU to back it up. Further, it is combined with 16GB DDR4 memory and it can be upgraded up to 32GB.
In terms of storage, a huge 1TB of NVMe SSD it has got, which offers fast reads and writes speed and it is more than enough space to store your projects and other data. One of the most important aspects of this laptop is its big 17.3 inch FHD IPS display and it has a 144Hz refresh rate which makes everything look smooth and fluid.
What’s more, it features a dual fan system that keeps the laptop cool even when it’s used for extended periods of time. Moreover, its Killer Wi-Fi 6 connectivity ensures you have a consistent internet connection while you’re using Kali Linux tools to hack wireless networks or access your target device remotely.
All in all, this is one of the best laptops for Kali Linux due to its large FHD display and powerful hardware specs that provide a great experience while using kali linux.
What We Like:- Big 17 inches screen
- Powerful i7-11800H 8-core chipset
- Empty slot for memory & storage
- Acer dual fan cooling system
- Plenty of port options
- Audio quality is mediocre
- Battery could be better
5. MSI GL66 11UGK-001 – Best Bang For The Buck
Quick Overview Of Hardware Specifications
- Intel Core i7-11800H Processor
- 16GB RAM
- 512GB SSD
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 8GB
- 15.6 Inch Full HD Display
- Up to 3.5 Hours Battery Life
- 0.94 x 14.13 x 10.2 inches
Next up, we have the MSI GL66 11UGK-001 gaming laptop which comes with all the latest components which are required to run kali linux efficiently.
The laptop is powered by an 11th generation Intel Core i7-11800H processor that can be overclocked up to 4.6GHz for optimum performance. You also get an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 GPU that can handle any heavy task and high-end games without any hiccups.
On top of that, the MSI GL66 has 16GB of RAM, which makes it great for multitasking in Kali Linux. In terms of storage, it offers a 512GB SSD with plenty of storage space. It provides enough room for Kali Linux and your favorite tools, such as Metasploit and Nmap.
Since this computer was designed for gaming, it comes with a 15.6-inch Full HD 144Hz display that makes everything look smooth whether you’re playing games or running a security scan. Moreover, to keep performance from dropping over time, this laptop uses Cooler Boost Technology to prevent overheating during intense sessions of pentesting or hacking.
It also has a built-in 720p HD webcam to support video calls or stream games on Twitch or YouTube. Apart from your work if you like to play games then you get a backlit keyboard that comes with RGB lighting to improve your gaming experience.
What We Like:- Latest CPU & GPU
- 144Hz high refresh rate screen
- High speed Wifi 6 connectivity
- Fully customizable RGB keyboard
- Excellent cooling system
- Doesn’t have Thunderbolt port
6. Acer Predator Helios 300 – Best For Ethical Hacking
Quick Overview Of Hardware Specifications
- Intel Core i7-11800H Processor
- 16GB RAM
- 512GB SSD
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 6GB
- 15.6 Inch Full HD IPS Display
- Up to 6 Hours Battery Life
- 14.31 x 10.04 x 0.9 inches
The Acer Predator Helios 300 offers a powerful combination of price and performance for a gaming laptop, putting it among our top picks for the best laptops for Kali Linux. It features a 144Hz display, which is great for competitive gaming. It also has an incredibly fast CPU and GPU combo, so you can power up Kali Linux in no time.
In terms of performance, it is powered by an 11th-generation Intel Core i7-11800H processor and 16GB of DDR4 RAM, which is plenty to run Kali Linux. This processor is paired with Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card with 6GB of VRAM that easily handles 3D graphics and animations.
This is a perfect combination of specs for running multiple programs at once, with little to no lag or stutter. Storage space on this machine is handled by 512GB of SSD and if you want more storage space, you can upgrade it by adding another SSD or hard drive through the additional slots available in this laptop.
Regarding the display front, it has a 15.6-inch LED-backlit IPS display with a fast 144Hz refresh rate, which means you can enjoy a silky smooth gaming experience. In addition, you’ll also love the 3ms overdrive response time, which means your games will be responsive.
In terms of connectivity ports, it comes with Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, 3 x USB Type-A port, 1 x USB Type-C port, a mini Display port, and an HDMI port.
What We Like:- High speed i7-11800H CPU
- Memory & storage both are upgradable
- Thunderbolt 4 support
- Gaming aesthetic
- AeroBlade fan with 89 blades
- Can’t use USB type-C port for charging
7. Alienware M15 R6 – Best Overall
Quick Overview Of Hardware Specifications
- Intel Core i7-11800H Processor
- 16GB RAM
- 512GB SSD
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 6GB
- 15.6 Inch QHD Display
- Up to 3.5 Hours Battery Life
- 10.73 x 14.02 x 0.89 inches
Alienware is a sub-brand of Dell, so there’s no surprise to see the M15 R6 on this list. The Alienware M15 R6 is a powerful laptop that has an excellent cooling system and can handle any task you throw at it. This laptop looks very sleek due to its magnesium alloy body and the lightweight build quality.
To start with, it features a beautiful 15.6 inch screen with QHD (2560 x 1440) resolution and an impressive refresh rate of 240Hz. Moving on, it packs the latest Intel Core i7-11800H 11th gen CPU running at a speed of 2.3 GHz and under the turbo boost it can go for up to 5.0 GHz. Further, this i7 processor is combined with the 16GB DDR4 RAM and 512GB NVMe SSD.
This gaming laptop comes preinstalled with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 6GB GDDR6 graphics card which will let you enjoy your games or other graphical applications seamlessly. All these specs make this laptop one of the best laptops for Kali Linux.
Above all, you also get Alienware Cryo-Tech cooling system which ensures that the internal temperature of the laptop remains optimal at all times. Moreover, the laptop offers plenty of ports for connecting accessories and peripherals.
What We Like:- Stunning QHD display
- Build quality is sturdy
- Memory is upgradable
- Excellent cooling system
- Blazing fast 240Hz refresh rate
- Slightly thick & bulky
8. ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 – High Performance Laptop
Quick Overview Of Hardware Specifications
- Intel Core i9 12900H Processor
- 32GB RAM
- 1TB SSD
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti 16GB
- 15.6 Inch Quad HD IPS Display
- Up to 3 Hours Battery Life
- 13.94 x 10.2 x 1.07 inches
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 is a high-performance gaming laptop with the latest and most powerful Intel Core i9 12900H CPU and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080Ti GPU. It is a top of the line laptop that comes with multiple high-end specs which can handle almost any kind of task.
It has a 15.6” inches QHD display with 2560 x 1440 pixels of resolution which provides even better visuals than a Full HD display. The screen has thin bezels which makes it look super sleek and attractive.
When it comes to the processor, it has the latest 12th Gen Intel Core i9-12900H CPU which is one of the best processors on the market today. with 8 cores and 20 threads, it allows to run several programs simultaneously. On top of that, it has a base clock speed of 2.5GHz, but this can go up to 5.0GHz when all cores are active during heavy multitasking.
Along with this, we have a massive 32GB DDR5 4800MHz RAM, which is more than enough for running Kali Linux smoothly. And it has 1TB NVMe SSD storage space, so you will not have to worry about running out of space anytime soon.
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti GPU of this laptop is extremely powerful and can run graphics related tasks without any problem. And since it is a newer GPU from NVIDIA, you will have no problem in running Kali Linux on this laptop.
Further, it runs on Windows 11 Pro, which is the latest version of the operating system. Moreover, the laptop has a per-key RGB keyboard that offers great customization options to the users.
What We Like:- Most powerful 14 cores i9 12900H CPU
- Massive 32GB RAM
- Remarkable RTX 3080 Ti GPU
- Attractive thin bezel display
- GPU MUX switch
- Doesn’t have a webcam
Things To Consider Before Buying A Laptop For Kali Linux – Buying Guide
Kali Linux is a Debian-based Linux distribution designed for penetration testing and digital forensics. It comes with a powerful suite of system analysis, security, and pentesting tools which are commonly used by professionals.
Because it has such strong system monitoring and security features, Kali Linux is also very resource-intensive. So it’s important that you get a good laptop to run it on.
Luckily, there are plenty of laptops on the market that can run Kali Linux successfully. But for that you just need to know what to look for when choosing one.
1. Processor/CPU
Since Kali Linux is resource-intensive, you want your laptop to have the most powerful processor possible, so you can access all the tools in the software suite without slowing down your computer.
We recommend getting at least an Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 processor if you want to use all the tools in Kali Linux effectively. If you can afford it, go for an i7 or Ryzen 7 for even better performance.
2. RAM/Memory
Having 8GB of RAM is recommended to run Kali Linux well. However, if you can afford 16GB or more, we recommend getting that instead because RAM is relatively cheap these days. Plus it will future proof your laptop so Kali Linux won’t slow.
3. Graphics Card/GPU
Well, for kali linux or penetration testing there is no need of high end dedicated graphics card, some low end GPU is also sufficient. But having a decent GPU like 2GB of NVIDIA MX 250 or 4GB NVIDIA GTX 1650 GPU makes your system future proof.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Which laptop works best with Linux?Well, it depends upon you, if you are a beginner and working on small projects then choose a laptop with an Intel i5 CPU, 8GB RAM, and decent dedicated GPU is good to go.
But for professionals, the best laptop is the one which comes with an Intel i7 processor, 16GB memory, and 4GB dedicated graphics card.
For a beginner or those who is looking for a budget-centric laptop, they can go with intel i5 or similar AMD Ryzen 5 series laptops. But if you can afford to spend a good amount of money and want a smooth working experience then I recommend to buy a laptop with an intel core i7 or an equivalent Ryzen 7 laptop.
Can 4gb RAM run Kali Linux?As per the Kali Linux official system requirements, 4GB is enough. But the thing is that once you will buy a laptop you will use it for some other apps also and for that you need sufficient RAM like at least 8GB. Otherwise, your system will get started to lag when doing multitasking.
Final Verdict
Thank you so much for reading this article to the end. I hope that you liked this best laptops for kali linux article and also have got an idea about which laptop is best for kali linux.
Before you make buying decision, make sure to go through each and every laptop in the list. Because each and every laptop is unique by its own, so choose as per your personal preferences.
All the laptops of the above list are top of the line and come highly recommended by us. But still if we have missed anything please let us know by just commenting below.
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