Kali Linux is an operating system consisting of a collection of software and programs that helps in hacking, pen-testing, and particularly digital forensics. Kali Linux offers lots of programs for penetration testing like Armitage, Nmap, Metasploit, SQL injection, and many more.
If you’re learning hacking, penetration testing, or any other form of security testing, you will definitely need to run Kali Linux on a machine that supports the software. Especially, when you intend to deploy the software on a laptop.
When it comes to choosing the best laptop for Kali Linux, there are a few things you need to take into account. The most important factor is the hardware that is compatible with Kali Linux.
For hacking and pen-testing, you will need to have powerful WiFi and network support to run specific tools to perform penetration being a hacker. The laptop is a device that supports your activities for hacking and pentesting.
Make sure your laptop has either an Intel or AMD processor and at least 4GB of RAM. You’ll also need a built-in wireless adapter or a PCMCIA wireless network card. There are certain requirements that your laptop must fulfill in order to run different programs efficiently.
You should also consider the size of your laptop, and its weight. Kali Linux is a resource-consuming operating system, so you will need a laptop with more powerful hardware to get the most out of it.
Kali Linux also offers a number of tools for penetration testing and security auditing. So, if you’re looking for a laptop that can handle both regular tasks and more specialized tasks, then you must make the right choice.
Kali Linux is an operating system that is used for hacking and penetration testing. It is a Debian-derived Linux distribution and comes with a wealth of resources for testing the security, and also a collection of tools for carrying out various tasks in this area.
To get the best out of the Kali Linux operating system, you will need a laptop that has powerful specs, but that doesn’t mean it needs to be expensive.
When choosing the best laptop for Kali Linux, it is important to consider the hardware that is compatible with the operating system.
You might need a fingerprint reader or smart card authentication in case you need physical access to the machine. You can find laptops with these features at online retailers like Amazon. Now that you know what to look for in a laptop, let’s take a look at some of the best laptops for Kali Linux.
Best Laptop for Kali Linux
Image | Name | Features | Price |
Apple MacBook Pro | M1 Chip with 8-Core CPU and 8-Core GPU, 16GB Memory, 512GB SSD, Space Gray | Check Price | |
Lenovo Legion 5 15 | AMD Ryzen 7 5800H Processor, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 512GB NVMe SSD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050Ti | Check Price | |
Acer Predator Helios 300 | Intel i7-10750H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 6GB, 15.6″ Full HD 144Hz 3ms IPS Display | Check Price |
Best Budget Laptop for Kali Linux
1. Apple MacBook Pro – Top Rated Laptop
The Apple MacBook Pro is a popular laptop that is compatible with Kali Linux. It has an Intel i5 or i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and a built-in graphics card. It also has a fingerprint reader and touch bar.
This laptop is perfect for someone looking for a powerful machine that can handle both regular tasks and specialized tasks. It is a pricey laptop, but you will get the most out of it because it can be used for both work and play.
Apple MacBook Pro makes a great impression right out of the box. It starts up quickly and has a lot of power under the hood. You can do just about anything on this machine, from coding to video editing. The touch bar is also a nice addition, and it comes in handy for certain tasks.
Apple’s M1 System-on-Chi is the first Mac-exclusive system on a chip. It is designed for MacBook Pro, and it even allows this device to start up more quickly.
The Apple MacBook Pro comes with four Thunderbolt 3 ports that are compatible with devices like hard drives or ethernet adapters. You can also charge your laptop via any of these ports because they all use USB-C.
The Apple MacBook Pro has an amazing display that can be viewed from any angle. It also makes use of True Tone technology, which adapts the color temperature to your surroundings for a more natural viewing experience.
Apple’s macOS Mojave is the latest version of this operating system, and it comes with new features like a system-wide dark mode and the ability to take screenshots from a menu.
The Apple MacBook Pro has a Touch ID sensor that works with Apple Pay, making it easy to purchase items at any compatible store. However, this feature is useless if you don’t have an iPhone since there are no apps for Android or any other operating systems.
Apple MacBook Pro offers plenty of processing power, an amazing display, and a range of features that are designed to make your life easier. This is the best laptop for Kali Linux because it’s totally compatible with this operating system, but also powerful enough for more demanding tasks.
The only downside to this laptop is that it is expensive, but if you’re looking for a powerful machine that can handle both regular and specialised tasks, then the Apple MacBook Pro is a good option.
Pros:
-Compatible with Kali Linux
-Touch bar
-Fingerprint reader
-4 Thunderbolt 3 ports
-True Tone technology
-macOS Mojave
Cons:
-Expensive
2. Lenovo Legion 5 15 Gaming Laptop
The Lenovo Legion 5 is a budget-friendly laptop that is compatible with Kali Linux. It comes with an Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a built-in graphics card.
The Lenovo Legion 5 has a matte black finish and a red backlight that makes it stand out from other laptops. It also comes with a built-in numeric keypad, which is something you don’t often see on budget-friendly laptops.
The Lenovo Legion 5 is a good option for someone who wants a budget-friendly laptop that is compatible with Kali Linux. It comes with an Intel Core i5 processor, which is powerful enough for most tasks, and it even has a built-in numeric keypad that you don’t often see on budget-friendly laptops.
This laptop doesn’t have the best battery life, so you’ll need to be prepared to charge it often. It also doesn’t have a lot of storage space, so you’ll need to invest in an external hard drive if you plan on storing a lot of files on your laptop.
The Lenovo Legion 5 is a high-spec laptop that is compatible with Kali Linux. It comes with an Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a built-in graphics card.
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly laptop that is compatible with Kali Linux, the Lenovo Legion 5 is a good option. It comes with an Intel Core i5 processor, which is powerful enough for most tasks, and it even has a built-in numeric keypad that you don’t often see on budget-friendly laptops.
This laptop doesn’t have the best battery life, so you’ll need to be prepared to charge it often. It also doesn’t have a lot of storage space, so you’ll need to invest in an external hard drive if you plan on storing a lot of files on your laptop.
Pros:
-Support Kali Linux environment
-Built-in numeric keypad
-Comes with 8GB of RAM
-Highly portable
Cons:
-Average battery life
-Limited storage space
3. Acer Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop
Acer Predator Helios 300 is the best laptop for Kali Linux for certified ethical hackers, pen testing, or security experts who like to run the operating system smoothly. This laptop has been tested on this operating system and remained the favorite laptop for experts.
The Helios 300 is the most versatile and supportive laptop for Kali Linux. It comes with an Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and a built-in graphics card. It has a red backlight that makes it stand out from other laptops.
It also comes with a built-in numeric keypad, which is something you don’t often see on gaming laptops. This laptop features Intel Core i7-10750H 6-Core Processor that expertly handles great workload and multiple tasking on the laptop.
This laptop is perfect for gamers because it comes with a built-in graphics card and 16GB of RAM. It’s also perfect for people who need to use multiple programs at the same time because it comes with an Intel Core i7 processor.
It features NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 6GB GDDR6 graphics card which can be overlocked to make it even more powerful.
This is one of the best laptops for running Kali Linux as this has impressive features and powerful specs.
The laptop has sturdy and rugged construction that makes it resistant to excessive heat and high CPU usage. However, the cooling pad would help to run the system smoothly.
To summarise, the Acer Predator Helios 300 is a versatile laptop that’s perfect for gamers and people who need to run multiple programs at once. Overall, a great laptop to run Kali Linux.
Pros:
-Works with Kali Linux
-NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 6GB GDDR6 graphics card
-16GB of RAM
-Comes with a built-in numeric keypad
Cons:
-Average battery life
4. MSI GF65 Thin 9SD-004
MSI GF65 is a pretty decent option if you’re planning to buy a laptop for running Kali Linux. It is the best laptop in performance with dominating features than the rest of the laptops available on the market.
This laptop has a creative design, showcasing a pretty curvy build and a shining outlook. The laptop remains cool while running multiple applications and durable enough to sustain a heavy workload single-handedly.
Laptops are a great option if you’re looking for ray tracing and DLSS power, which are not easy to come by in the desktop world. But fortunately, this laptop features an NVIDIA GeForce GTX1660Ti 6 GDDR6 graphics card that makes it worth buying. It is an ideal laptop for pen-testing and hacking.
This laptop benefits from a revolutionary cooling system that minimizes throttling. Additionally, this notebook supports Wi-Fi 6 so you can make use of online updates and resources in Kali Linux OS and other Distros, if and when they become available.
Even though you might not be the best ethical hacker or penetration tester, 8 hours of battery life is fine for your needs.
Pros:
-Powerful process and huge memory
-Wifi 6 support
-16GB of RAM
-Excellent cooling system
-Long battery life
Cons:
-A bit heavier
5. HP Newest ProBook 450 G8 Business Laptop
HP has been the best selling brand in the last few years. It has been tested as the best laptop for Kali Linux 2022 and even it did not disappoint us in other areas of performance. HP ProBook not only impresses everyone with its smart look and appearance, but it also brings the desired features and specifications to this windows laptop.
You must be thinking that with so many features like full HD display, 11th Gen Core i5 processor, LED-backlit keyboard, Iris Xe Graphics card, massive 32GB RAM, and 1TB SSD, would you think of any other machine? Certainly not!
These specifications not only make it the best gaming machine, but an allrounder for any particular task. This machine fulfills kali Linux laptop requirements and gives it the best for tasks such as pen-testing.
HP ProBook 450 is a remarkable business laptop that makes your life easier and is available on the market at an amazing price tag that everyone can afford. Since this laptop has a whopping solid state drive (SSD) and RAM, so you would need more up-gradation in the future.
If you read about the specs of this laptop, you will be amazed at what’s not included in this smart and portable machine. Everything is there and all these things make it the best computer for Kali Linux.
Pros:
-Front HD camera
-2 array microphone
-32GB of RAM ad 1TB SSD storage
-Excellent processing speed and performance
Cons:
-It would have been better if it come with 2 slots for SSD drives.
What Are the System Requirements for Kali Linux?
Kali Linux is undoubtedly a powerful operating system that needs powerful hardware or at least it should have minimum specifications to run the software smoothly. The following are essential system requirements that you must ensure in a laptop while buying a laptop to get the maximum performance:
Hardware | Minimum Specifications | Recommended Specifications |
Processor | Core i5 (8th Generation) | Core i7 (9th Generation) |
RAM | 1GB | 8GB |
Hard Disk | 128GB | 1TB |
Battery | 5 hours | 8 hours or more |
Screen Size | 13.3″ FHD | 15.6″ FHD |
Graphics Card | NVIDIA GeForce MX150 with 2GB RAM | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 or higher with 4GB |