Key Points
- Overall, the Lenovo Thinkbook 15 is one of the best laptops for finance when considering performance, ergonomics, and affordability.
- The best laptops for finance include high-performing processors, plenty of storage for large data models, and an ergonomic keyboard with a number pad.
- Generally, those in the finance field may have to sacrifice portability for performance.
- The price for finance laptops ranges from $1,000 to $4,000, so take care of your equipment.
- Because AI is finding many uses in the field of finance and FinTech, it’s wise to purchase a laptop with a 13th gen Intel or Ryzen 9 processor to keep up with advancements.
When it comes to choosing a laptop for finance, you’ll want to prioritize performance. A modern processor alongside at least 1TB of storage is practically required for the massive amount of data those in the industry work with.
But with all that performance, the price increases drastically. And the bigger the computer, the less portable it becomes. So how do you know what hardware you need to support your work?
History-Computer’s Best Laptops for Finance
For this article, we’ve reviewed dozens of models to bring you the best finance laptop for your needs. They meet all the requirements for using programs like QuickBooks and for managing tons of information at once. Here are our recommended models.
- Best Overall: Lenovo Thinkbook 15
- Best for Performance: HP Zbook Fury G9
- Best for Budget: Dell G15
- Best 2-in-1 Laptop: Lenovo Yoga 7i
- Best for AI: Samsung Galaxy Book3
Best Overall: Lenovo Thinkbook 15
- Screen: 15.6 inches in size, FHD resolution, IPS panel type
- Includes Intel's 12th generation i7 CPU
- Storage: 1TB SSD, RAM: 16GB DDR4
- Operating system: Pro edition of Windows 11
With the right amount of performance at an affordable price, the Lenovo Thinkbook 15 is one of the best laptops for finance overall.
When dealing with massive amounts of data, you need a computer that can keep up with processing. The Thinkbook 15 includes a 10-core Intel i7 processor, one of the latest CPUs on the market. It’s optimized with 2 performance cores, which should have no problems handling programs like Xero at their maximum capacity.
Lenovo installed a 1TB SSD for plenty of storage. This means you can work with huge data models without risk of error. And to ensure your programs work seamlessly, the Thinkbook 15 comes with a capable Intel Iris Xe graphics card.
Lenovo’s business laptop also includes modern features. It has both USB-C and Thunderbolt 4 ports, allowing for optimal and versatile data transfer. And, its Bluetooth 5.2 and Wi-Fi 6 capabilities enable superior wireless connectivity.
The Thinkbook 15 is a workhorse when it comes to tasks such as bookkeeping, but it’s certainly nothing to look at. As far as design goes, it’s a pretty dull computer. And its keyboard/number pad seems like an afterthought. But for an excellent price of $1,029, you’re paying for reliability. Check out the Lenovo Thinkbook 15 on Amazon.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| High-performance CPU | Dull design |
| Modern connectivity | Poorly designed keyboard |
| Dedicated graphics | |
| Affordable price |
Best for Performance: HP Zbook Fury G9
If you work with the largest information models and need the best tool on the market, the HP ZBook Fury G9 is a powerful option.
When the stakes are high, you don’t want to take a chance with reliability. The HP ZBook Fury G9 features the most powerful CPU available, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage. With these specs, you’ll never experience bottlenecks, memory loss, or security breaches, even with multiple programs running.
The ZBook Fury comes with all the bells and whistles: 2 USB-C ports, Thunderbolt 4, DisplayPort 1.4, and an SD card reader. But all of its features and hardware make it the heaviest laptop on our list. At over 8 pounds, it’s twice the size of our next model. So don’t expect to pack this with ease.
The lack of portability isn’t the only drawback of the ZBook. At nearly $3,500, this is a laptop that you’ll have to commit to. Fortunately, it features the latest components, so you can expect it to stay relevant for years to come. But still, that’s hardly a price you pull the trigger on easily. Check out the HP ZBook Fury G9 on Amazon.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Powerful hardware | Not very portable |
| High-end connectivity | High price |
| Great investment |
Best for Budget: Dell G15
- Screen: 15.6 inches, FHD resolution, 120Hz refresh rate
- CPU: AMD's Ryzen 7
- Storage: 1TB SSD, RAM: 32GB
- OS: Home edition of Windows 10
If you need a powerful device without the cost, the Dell G15 gaming computer doubles as an excellent laptop for finance.
Advertised as a budget laptop for casual gamers, The G15 actually has everything you need for financing tasks such as tax preparation. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800H has 8 cores and a clock speed of 3.2Ghz. This is ideal for running programs like QuickBooks at top speed.
We’re particularly impressed with the G15’s memory. At 32GB, it can handle as many programs as the Zbook, but at a price point of less than $1,000. So how does Dell get away with such a solid bargain?
For one, its graphics card is unimpressive as far as modern gaming computers go. So while it lies at the bottom of that market, it works perfectly fine for business. Additionally, its hefty hardware makes it bulky and heavy, so portability isn’t its strong suit. And for all its performance, the G15 comes with an older model lithium battery. Once you power everything going on, this Dell laptop can last for only 5 hours before needing a charge. Check out the Dell G15 gaming computer on Amazon.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Powerful CPU | Lackluster graphics card |
| Plenty of RAM | Limited battery life |
| Affordable price |
Best 2-in-1 Laptop: Lenovo Yoga 7i
- Screen: 16 inches, 2560*1600 pixel resolution, 400nit brightness
- Features touchscreen capability
- CPU: Intel's 12th generation i5
- Storage: 1TB SSD, RAM: 8GB LPDDR5
For portability, the Lenovo Yoga 7i makes for a great 2-in-1 option that you can take along anywhere your work takes you.
If you find yourself taking notes and working with data on your feet, the Lenovo Yoga 7i offers the versatility and performance you need. It might be small, but it’s packed with a 12th gen Intel Core i5 processor and 1TB of storage.
We really like the Yoga 7i for its flip-and-fold design. You can use it like a laptop in the office or a tablet in the field. And at just over 4 pounds, it’s incredibly easy to pack in a bag.
The only issue we see with Lenovo’s 2-in-1 is the limited memory. With only 8GB of RAM, you’re not likely to run multiple programs at once. But this is a small price to pay for portability. And at $800, it also doubles as an affordable option. Check out the Lenovo Yoga 7i on Amazon.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Great portability | Limited RAM |
| Flip-and-fold design | |
| Excellent processor | |
| Affordable |
Best for AI: Samsung Galaxy Book3
- Screen: 16 inches, 3K resolution, 120Hz refresh rate
- Includes a fingerprint reader
- CPU: Intel's 13th generation i7
- Storage: 1TB SSD, RAM: 16GB
With AI integrating nicely into the finance field, the Samsung Galaxy Book3 comes built with advanced technology in mind.
By now, you’ve surely heard about the productivity advantages of artificial technology. With the ability to compile, analyze, and predict patterns in a matter of seconds, you can drastically enhance your workflow by utilizing it. Samsung recognizes this and included the AI performative, 13th gen Intel Core i7 into their latest Galaxy Book.
It’s a stellar laptop across the board; 16GB of RAM, 1TB of storage, a clean AMOLED display, and plenty of ports — it’s hard to go wrong here. Of course, you’ll have to familiarize yourself with the Galaxy ecosystem, but that’s small change for the performance and ergonomics you’re getting.
The only reason this model doesn’t make our best overall is that it’s slightly overpowered for the tasks you need. And for three hundred dollars less, you can get a comparable laptop that works perfectly fine. But if you’re impressed by the Galaxy Book 3, it’s on Amazon for just $1,349.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| AI integration | Slightly overpowered |
| Great performance | |
| AMOLED display | |
| Competitive price |
How to Pick the Best Laptops for Finance: Step-by-Step
When choosing the best laptops for finance, there are three primary considerations.
- Performance
- Display and Features
- Price
Let’s review each one of these aspects in more detail.
Performance
The ever-increasing amount of information requires more processing power to handle it. Therefore, we recommend choosing a laptop with a modern CPU. 12th generation Intel or Ryzen 9 models have the best capacity for supporting large models. They’ll also accommodate you better as we enter an age of artificial intelligence.
In addition to the powerful processor, you want enough memory to run multiple financing programs and plenty of storage for the data you’re trying to work with. In fields such as bookkeeping and accounting, we recommend 16GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD storage.
CPUs can handle most of the heavy lifting, but you’ll save your system with a decent graphics card to support it. We recommend a mid-tier GPU such as the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 or AMD Radeon RX 6600.
Display and Features
Those in finance can agree that a number pad is mandatory for efficient workflow. To find it included on the native keyboard of a laptop, you’re looking for a display size of 15 inches or larger. You can go smaller, but that means you’ll need an external number pad and the appropriate port to support it. If you choose to go this route, ensure your laptop offers the right connectivity.
With the larger screen size, comes a hit to portability. Many laptops with a 15-inch display weigh four to five pounds, making them tougher to pack in a bag. You can find more versatile laptops that are 2-in-1, but prepare yourself for less memory than usual.
Price
Because of their high-performance capabilities, those in the finance industry can expect to spend no less than $1,300 for an efficient model. Those on a budget might find options around $1,000, but those that need a top-tier laptop might need to spend over $3,000.
The largest factors that influence price include CPUs and memory. You can save quite a bit by opting for 8GB of RAM but don’t expect to run more than one program at once. And older generation processors can typically handle your workload, but won’t support the AI integration that’s coming soon.
What to Know Before Buying a Laptop for Finance
Before you buy a laptop for finance, you might consider a gaming device. After all, they’re powerful enough to run large video games, which parallels the system requirements for finance data.
However, there’s one small difference, and that’s in the GPU. Today’s modern gaming models include state-of-the-art graphics cards that can handle visuals at 4K resolution and 120FPS. Your programs don’t need to do this. They just need a capable graphics card to help with your processing.
So be careful when considering a gaming computer. If you take a careful look at the system’s GPU, you could potentially save yourself hundreds of dollars.
Using a Laptop for Finance: What It’s Like
When users tested the best laptops for finance, they first compared performance. Every computer was able to run QuickBooks with massive amounts of data. However, the Dell G15 was the first to show signs of fatigue, as it features an older CPU. The Samsung and Lenovo Thinkbook handled the test well, but the HP Zbook was incomprehensibly efficient.
Next, users tested the display and ergonomics. The Thinkbook was easy enough to use, but its curved keys and tight number pad made it less appealing than the Samsung Galaxy Book 3. Users particularly enjoyed the versatility of the Lenovo Yoga 7i, which has a well-designed keyboard alongside touchscreen features.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©TippaPatt/Shutterstock.com.
