Best Laptop For Data Science

Whether you’re a savvy student or well on your way to the top of the Data Science career ladder, your laptop is a key piece of equipment. Though you might utilize the cloud and external computers, a local workstation is imperative for success. However, those working at snail’s pace on old and temperamental machines will struggle to analyze their data fast enough. Investing in a newer, slicker laptop will not only boost your productivity, but help you finish work faster than ever before.

If you aren’t especially tech savvy, knowing what to look for in a decent laptop capable of handling all of that data can be tricky. Not to worry, though, as we’ve prepared a list of five laptops, each equipped with more than enough power.

Want to know exactly what features you should be keeping an eye out for? Our Buyer’s Guide succinctly outlines every characteristic you should be considering, in a way that computer newbies can actually understand and interpret.

Likewise, if you have any questions we haven’t quite covered there, it’s worth checking the FAQ. As we’ve taken the time to gather up and answer the most common inquiries from other customers, it’s likely yours is one of them.

Need A New Laptop Now? Here’s Our Top Pick:

1. Acer Aspire 5 FHD Laptop

With a full HD 15.6 inch LED display in widescreen, encased in beautiful shiny silver, the Acer Aspire 5 is a thing to behold. And at half the price of the leading Macbook laptop, it’s easily our number one choice for this list.

Having been upgraded to DDR4 16GB RAM, it’s more than capable of multitasking and running multiple applications at once is a breeze. Data sets will be analyzed far quicker than average, too, thanks to an AMD Ryzen 3 graphics card.

Proffering both a 1TB HDD and a 128GB SSD, the Aspire 5 has the best of both worlds. That’s an absolutely huge storage space, with more than enough room for large files, and will also revitalize the regular performance of the laptop generally.

Running the latest version of Windows 10, with three USB ports (one 3.1 and two 2.0 respectively) and an HDMI port that supports HDCP, it has all of the connections you’ll need for work or study. 6 hours of battery life is ideal for a full day of learning

Pros:

• Full HD display, 15.6 inches – lightweight at under 4lb
• 16GB RAM, plenty of data for analysing data
• New Windows 10 right out of the box
• 3.50 GHz CPU speed

Cons:

• Combines SSD and HDD, rather than opting for a more powerful version of the former

2. Dell Inspiron 15 3000 HD Laptop

Impressive color, clarity and anti-glare are all achieved effortlessly with the energy efficient LED screen on this beautiful Inspiron 15 300 from Dell. 15.6 inches and weighing just over 4lb, it’s petite yet powerful, and great for data science on the go.

16GB of DDR4 RAM paired with a 512GB PCIe SSD offers high-bandwidth and smooth, speedy program operation. You’ll have plenty of space for all of your data, and downloads will occur at far greater speeds than you’re used to.

AMD Radeon Graphics with shared video memory offers excellent image quality and will ensure all data presentations run smoothly. Plus, the full sized standard keyboard and numeric keypad allow for comfortable, accurate typing all the time.

Running the most secure Windows ever, 10 Home in S mode, you’ll find increased responsiveness and the speediest boot times. There are 2 USB 3.2 ports, a single USB 2.0 port, an SD card reader and an HDMI port, for all your connectivity needs.

Pros:

• 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD for maximized speed and storage
• AMD Athlon Silver 3050U processor, dual core two-way processing
• Attractive, sturdy dark gray casing
• Free 32GB USB card as part of your purchase

Cons:

• May not be powerful enough for deep learning

3. HP Business i5 7200U Laptop

Offering the same specs as the Inspiron, at a more affordable price, the i5 7200U from HP’s business range also runs with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD card. Though slightly smaller, at 14 inches, it’s still just as impressive in our opinion.

The WLED display is crystal clear, providing a decent image quality via the AMD Radeon graphics card. At only 3.24lb, it’s slightly sleeker than comparable devices, which could just swing it for students with busy schedules.

Two USB Type-A and one USB 3.1 Type-C ports and a classic HDMI ensure you’ll be able to hook up to all of your devices and accessories, no problem. Plus, the 3-cell lithium ion battery has plenty of power to keep you going all day long.

Right out of the box, you’re Windows 10 Home in S mode, though it’s easy to switch to the standard version by following the instructions provided. With the AMD Athlon Silver S050U processor, all of your data should load up nice and smoothly.

Pros:

• Lightweight, portable laptop that packs a punch
• Running up-to-date software Windows 10 Home (S version – can be changed)
• 512GB SSD, 16GB RAM; plenty for data scientists
• More affordable than other laptops with similar specifications

Cons:

• Only fourteen inches – could prove too small for some

4. ASUS VivoBook 15 S513 Laptop

For data scientists looking to wield serious power – provided they have extra money to spend! – look no further than the VivoBook 15 from Asus. Yes, it’s a few hundred dollars more than our other choices, but it’s absolutely worth the price jump.

Packing a Ryzen 7 4700U GPU, as well as a 1TB SSD, this has the processing capabilities of a far more expensive gaming laptop. That, plus 8GB of DDR4 RAM, in more than enough to run data sets, even those on the larger side.

The 15.6 inch, full HD NanoEdge bezel display offers a stunning 85% screen-to-body ratio, making for some truly beautiful visuals. Plus, presenting your data is easier than ever before, given the 178 degree wide viewing angle created.

Ergonomic and backlit, the keyboard makes for efficient work even in the evenings, whilst the inbuilt fingerprint sensor, activated by Windows Hello, allows for even greater protection with encryption you can actually trust.

Pros:

• Luxurious Full HD 15.6 inch display, NanoEdge beze
• Added security via inbuilt fingerprint sensor; backlit keyboard
• 1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD for impeccable speeds
• Multiple USB ports and the standard HDMI connector

Cons:

• Only has 8GB of RAM, but given the Ryzen 7 GPU, with up to 4.1GHz of processing power, it shouldn’t be too big a deal

5. Lenovo ThinkPad E15 Business Laptop

We may have saved the most expensive laptop for last, but it also happens to be the most impressive. From Lenovo’s ThinkPad range comes the E15, packed with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD. It’s beautiful to look at, and even more so to play on.

You may be wondering why there are laptops above, also with those specs, for hundreds of dollars less. Well – they don’t also have the 10th generation i5-10210U Quad Core processor, with Intel’s patented Turbo Boost Technology!

Alongside all of that power, there’s a full HD 15.6 inch LED display, with anti glare and Intel’s UHD graphics. Running on Windows 10 Professional 64 bit, you’ll have access to so many more features that are useful for data science.

With a long life, 3-cell lithium ion battery, you’ll be able to work on the go undisturbed. There’s even a FHD low-power display option, offering you an extended boost of juice that could keep you going for days at a time.

Pros:

• 15.6 inch, Full HD anti glare LED screen with ISP technology
• Intel Core i5-10210U quad core processing, up to 4.2GHz
• 512GB SSD plus 16GB RAM, running Windows 10 Professional
• Impressive battery life and power saving modes

Cons:

• Pretty pricy, but a worthwhile investment if you’ve got the cash

Buyer’s Guide

For an incredibly tech-based subject such as data science, getting a laptop that looks good and won’t weigh you down are the least of your concerns. Those factors still matter, sure, but there are more important things to consider. Such as…

Operating System

The majority of programs you’ll be using should be compatible with any operating system, but the most universally accepted option is Windows. The more up to date your software is, the better, with Windows 10 being the most current version.

Coding software and languages you can expect to be utilizing include:

• Python
• MatLab
• Rapid Miner
• R
• SAS
• Stata
• SPSS
• RStudio

You’re free to use Mac OS X or other systems like Linux if you’d prefer – many data scientists do! – but you’ll have a much easier time on a Microsoft computer when it comes to software downloads. Don’t say we didn’t warn you!

Memory

Important for analyzing large datasets without an endless lag, an appropriate amount of RAM or Random Access Memory for your chosen laptop is crucial. Otherwise, you’ll be wasting quality work time waiting for pages to load and numbers to crunch!

Around 16GB of RAM is recommended at minimum, but if you can afford to spring for higher, then you won’t regret it. It is of course possible to upgrade the existing RAM of some laptops, but if you don’t know how to do so it’s better left to an expert.

Storage

Most newer laptops utilize an SSD or Solid State Drive over the more traditional hard drives as it is. However, making sure you have an SSD with enough memory, at least 256GB if not more, is also important when it comes to speedy analysis.

An added advantage of using SSDs over their predecessors is that, because they don’t actually move, your laptop will be far quieter when you’re working. It’ll also be a whole lot less likely to overheat when you’re clocking some serious data.

Portability

For any student or employee, carrying a bulky, heavy laptop around is not just annoying, but can be the root of some serious back pain. The likelihood is that you already have enough massive textbooks to lug between home and campus anyway!

Ensuring your display is large enough to visualize all of your information, at least fifteen inches in size, is important. That said, opting for the lightest laptop that doesn’t compromise on sturdiness is always advised, for the sake of convenience.

Battery Life

A laptop that can stay juiced up for a decent portion of the day is a must for most students. This is less important if you’re regularly working from home, but hey, sitting at a desk every day can get really repetitive.

Sure, some lecture halls and teaching spaces have outlets, but then you have to remember your charger and hope there’s a socket free and… you get the picture. Having a really decent battery life is the making of a quality laptop.

Frequently Asked Questions

What GPU does a data scientist need?

This really depends. Your school, college or employer might provide you with access to external servers and much greater computer power. GPU’s are very expensive to purchase, and can run up thousands of dollars in expenses.

For those looking to perform deep learning or other more extensive data investigations, you’re going to want to seek out a “gaming laptop”, as the CPU found in a regular one isn’t able to cope with such huge amounts of information.

Check out this explanation on what GPUs are and whether or not you need them from Towards Data Science for more information.

Are data science and machine learning the same thing?

Yes and no. Data science is an umbrella term for a variety of different disciplines, whilst machine learning is a subsidiary of data science. Encompassing things like analytics and engineering, it’s used as a collective for multiple subjects.

When discussing ‘data’ more generally, the information may not have even originated from technological sources, whilst machine learning always involves the study of computer generated data.

Can you use a Macbook for data science?

In short, yes. Many data scientists use Macbooks as they’re easier to connect to virtual operating systems, but you can get exactly the same hardware capabilities for half the price when you opt for a Windows laptop.