Best Laptops for Pentesting

ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15

SPECIFICATIONS

Display: 15.6-inch, WQHD (2560 x 1440), (240Hz) | CPU: Intel Core i9-12900H (14 Cores, 20 Threads) | dGPU: NVIDIA RTX 3070Ti (8GB) | RAM: 16GB DDR5-4800 SO-DIMM (Upgradable) | SSD: 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD | Battery: 90WHrs, 4-cell Li-ion (Lasts up to 7 hours) | Weight: 2.30 Kg (5.07 lbs) |

When cracking into piles of files and doing custom research and development, powerful dGPU assistance is required for unprecedented task handling. Instead of losing grip by spending tons of time with only CPU power, we find RTX 30-series GPUs capable of some great results, specifically, when it is a combination of 14 Cores beast Intel Core i9 12900H CPU and high-end RTX3070 Ti (8GB), the result will appear on your screen in minutes rather than days.

The Asus Rog Strix Scar 15 has been redesigned this year with fantastic technology. It is a desktop-grade powerhouse, disguised as a gaming laptop, and we truly adore it for its ability to be so powerful and pro-efficient. The hardware workload is undoubtedly plentiful for pen testing, but at $1,999, it’s a great deal for world-class security professionals.

It carries Asus’s top performance in a superior 15-inch body that can handle anything. This has the advantage of the MUX switch for fluid, quick performance without passing through the Integrated Graphics unless you need battery life out of the Optimus.

The RTX 3070Ti is battle station ready and can reach its limits of 150W OC, so no more going back to the desktop for doing hard research and password cracking, this can be your portable workstation that is pleasant to the economy and well designed from cooling to visuals.

Razer Blade 14

SPECIFICATIONS

Display: 15.6-inch, WQHD (2560 x 1440), (240Hz) | CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX (8 Cores, 16 Threads) | dGPU: NVIDIA RTX 3080 (8GB) | RAM: 16GB DDR4-3200MHz | SSD: 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD | Battery: 61.6WHr, (Lasts up to 6 hours) | Weight: 1.78 kg / 3.92 lbs |

Razer has developed a fantastic hybrid of Nvidia and AMD platforms with an increased power supply of 230W, which makes deploying professional-grade penetration testing more efficient, reliable, and quick.

Compared to the Razer Blade 13 generation before it, the Razer Blade 14 model from 2025 is based on the current AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX high-performance chipset, which works well with the top-of-line RTX3080 discrete graphics processors, but it couldn’t be more respectful to the battery life and gets around only 6 hours of usage, which is still a respectable amount for the most powerful lightweight ultrabook.

The 14-inch Quad HD panel, which is 100% sRGB, individually factory calibrated with 165Hz FreeSync Premium, not only makes gaming more enjoyable if you’re into it, but it also feels good working on research projects and video editing while traveling thanks to the ultra-lightweight design that makes it easy to pack in any bag for your trip.

It crams a surprising amount of power into a small, fashionable, and lightweight package. Overall, this Razer laptop is unquestionably a worthwhile purchase and even works nicely as the best laptop for Solidworks and 3D modeling.

MSI GE76 Raider

SPECIFICATIONS

Display: 17.3″ FHD (1920×1080) 144Hz, | CPU: Intel Core i7-11800H (8 cores 16 threads) | dGPU: NVIDIA RTX 3060 (6GB) | RAM: 32GB DDR4-3200MHz (Upgradable) | SSD: 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD | Battery: 4 cells (99.9Whr), (Lasts 7 hours at max) | Weight: 2.89 kg / 6.39 lbs |

The GE76 Raider gaming laptop from MSI’s top line has been one of our favorites since its release in 2022. The GE76 Raider has an all-metal design constraint, like many high-end laptops, and it meets our requirements for a pen-testing workstation by including a Core i7-11800H CPU and RTX 3060 graphics power. This is combined with 32GB of DDR4 running at 3200 MHz, which is necessary for cyber security applications involving Kali Linux.

It is not very compact, if you prefer, the 17.3″ chassis of MSI GE76 Raider is the most cutting-edge with full-size Numpad and pack with more ports that are usually restricted. The 144Hz panel is more of a refreshment for scrolling infinitely, and connectivity is excellent thanks to the Killer E3100 LAN with 2.5GbE and the Dual Band Killer WiFi 6E AX1675. This makes it possible to test and break internet security for Penetration testing challenges from the comfort of your work desk.

As indicated by our experience, the Thunderbolt 4 connector, and the HDMI video port offer blazing 4K 120Hz and 8K at 60Hz output, astounding productivity that no other laptop cares about the future-proofing your investments.

Apple MacBook Pro 13 (M2 Chip)

SPECIFICATIONS

Display: 13.3” Retina display (2560×1600) | CPU: M2 (8 Cores 10 GPU Cores) | RAM: 8GB Unified | SSD: 256GB SSD | Battery: 58.2Wh, (Last 17 hours at max) | Weight: 3.0 pounds (1.4 kg) |

Apple M2 introduced the next-generation Apple silicon processor, which offers significant improvements over M1. We’ve seen the difference between M1 Pro Max and M2 this year. The new M2 is a well-received improvement that includes several new components, such as encoding/decoding engines, media engines, additional 10-core GPUs, more efficient 8-core CPUs, and significantly faster unified memory architecture.

After doing a comparison, we concluded that the M2 values money has greater battery life, and is superb with all-new hardware. However, if you already possess an M1 Pro or Max, wait to upgrade until the M2 Max is released for the new Mac. Though M1 Ultra is still ahead of everything else.

Additionally, even though the MacBook Air has the same M2 processor, we consider the Apple MacBook Pro 13 from this year to be better for professionals since it features active cooling with a fan spinning to cool the circuitry and no-distracting notch. In our experience, Apple’s MacBook Pro with M2 has been demonstrated to be one of the best ultralight and ultrathin laptops for Pentesting and we name it a true workhorse machine, to be precise.

The Touch Bar, which was removed from the M1 Pro and M1 Max models from the previous year, returned with the new Apple MacBook Pro with an M2 chip and also featured a standard 15.4:10 aspect ratio, Retina display. Now that we have seen what has been brought back, there is new hope that Apple may soon abandon the Magic Keyboard in favor of a more natural-feeling keyboard for typists

Overall, satisfaction with the new Apple MacBook Pro 13 with the M2 chip, and is worthwhile for cyber security specialists to get laid on the job longer, expecting 17 hours at most, and allow it elegantly do all Pentesting chores, and it’s cheaper than most gaming laptops.

ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14

SPECIFICATIONS

Display: 14” QHD+ 120Hz (2560×1600) | CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS (8 Cores 16 Threads) | dGPU: AMD Radeon RX 6700S (8GB GDDR6) | RAM: 16GB (DDR5-4800 SO-DIMM) | SSD: 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVME SSD | Battery: 76WHrs, 4-cell Li-ion, (Lasts 10 hours plus) | Weight: 1.72 Kg (3.79 lbs) |

If there is a device that is more powerful than a Mac in a comparable 14 inches size, it is the Asus Rog Zephyrus G14 (2022) model, which has elevated the previous year’s flagship design to new heights and provides an excellent working experience as the best budget multi-purpose laptop at an affordable price of $1,894.

The specifications are excellent, resulting in a performance beast that has won several honors, including the CES Innovation Award 2022 for exceptional design. KitGuru Must Have Award, The Verge Awards at CES 2022, and several others.

In our comparisons, Asus’ 2022 Rog Zephyrus G14 outperforms Apple’s MacBook Pro (M2) in several ways, including a better Quad-HD+ (Dolby Vision support) display with a fast refresh rate of 120Hz, similar brightness with 500-nits but much faster with 3ms response, better and larger SSD storage, better RAM capacity, and faster hardware from AMD Advantage Flagships technologies, which includes the Ryzen 9 6900HS processor and AMD’s Radeon RX 6700S graphics processor (8GB GDDR6).

This is merely a desktop replacement in a tiny footprint, but it beats the Mac for innovation thanks to its AniMe Matrix lid screen, which is featured for minigames and vibrant animations that show off the user’s personality. It also supports rapid charging, with a 100W USB Type-C charger capable of charging up to 50% in 30 minutes, faster than my smartphone!

The true advantages for internet entrepreneurs and ethical hackers are the upgradeable Wi-Fi 6E cards, a complete range of interfaces, including Ethernet jacks and multiple Type-C ports, as well as other future-proof features like RAM, SSDs, and batteries are replaceable and upgradable, so that penetration testing may continue to be done effectively even after many years of use.

ASUS ZenBook Pro 15 OLED

SPECIFICATIONS

Display: 15.60 inches OLED 120Hz (1920×1080) | CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX (8 Cores 16 Threads) | dGPU: RTX 3050Ti (4GB GDDR6) | RAM: 16GB LPDDR4X on board | SSD: 1TB NVME PCIe Gen 4.0 SSD | Battery: 96WHrs, 3S2P, 6-cell Li-ion, (17 hours plus) | Weight: 2.00 kg (4.41 lbs) |

Yet it’s another Mac killer from Asus, that offers more performance than most ultrathin laptops, and yields more battery life of over 17 hours, that worth the title of best ultrabook for Pentesting under $1500.

For uncompromising business, the ZenBook Pro 15 OLED from Asus is a great ultrabook. It is made for entrepreneurs and creative workers who want exceptional quality and mobility, which makes it a welcome trait for cyber security professionals and students who frequently do mobile penetration testing and battle unattractive workstations.

You can maximize your potential with the least amount of time thanks to the highly efficient AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti GPU, which are both renowned for their great impact on graphics power. The ZenBook Pro 15 OLED is unlike the large Rog series and more of a business laptop; beautiful appearance, a quieter experience, and much more vibrant visuals on a premium OLED screen, making coding pleasant rather than boring.

If you’re wondering what makes this laptop ideal for pentesters, here are five reasons why:

1. It boasts a 550nits HDR peak brightness with 100% DCI-P3 best-in-class color gamut.
2. 70% less harmful blue light, so your eyes stay safe.
3. Crisper pictures at any brightness level, even in battery-saving mode.
4. Support true black HDR 600 technologies to fulfill media demands.
5. A 120Hz fluid refresh rate, which is 0.2 milliseconds quicker with maximum motion clarity.

With all of that, the Asus ZenBook Pro 15 OLED is an excellent choice for a versatile creator machine, and its hardware is comparable to that of the best laptops for After Effects and content creators.

HP Omen 16

SPECIFICATIONS

Display: 16.1″ QHD (2056 x 1440), 165 Hz, (3 ms RT) | CPU: Core i7-12700H (14 Cores 20 Threads) | dGPU: RTX 3060 (6GB GDDR6) | RAM: 32 GB DDR5-4800 MHz (Upgradable) | SSD: 1 TB PCIe NVMe TLC M.2 SSD | Battery: 6-cell, 83 Wh Li-ion polymer, (7 hours plus) | Weight: 2.3 kg (5.05 lbs) |

The new HP Omen 16 is one of the most up-to-date laptops on our list that meets the requirements for the best Pentesting laptop. It is a pleasing addition to HP’s finest laptop ‘Omen’ series; this time, HP goes above and beyond our expectations by providing us with a huge battery, a larger and more vivid display, and top-notch hardware, to be the best laptop for cyber security professionals at $1,889.

In contrast to the AMD-powered Omen from last year, HP preferred Intel for the 16-inch model, however, rumors suggest, that a new AMD version will be available at the end of the year, till that we may continue using HP Omens with Intel CPUs that are superior to the previous generation for a solid reason: mobile workstation performance.

The Intel i7-12700H is comparable to the Intel i9 power since it has the same number of 12th Gen silicon, derived from the 6 Power + 8 Efficiency CUs, adding up to a total of 14 Cores combined. It also has a maximum turbo frequency of 4.70 GHz with 20 threads, which in the Cinebench R23 multi-core CPU performance test, gained a 24% increase over last year’s (2021) HP Omen with AMD hardware.

Other than that, the 165Hz screen on the new chassis looks to be an improvement over the 144Hz from last year. It even features a faster, higher-speed PCI Express Gen 4 interface SSD with faster transfer rates, and added an updated Killer Wi-Fi 6E over Wi-Fi 6, as well as a bigger (by around 17%) battery with 83 watt-hours as opposed to the previous model’s 70.9 from Omen 2021 model.

Acer Predator Helios 300

SPECIFICATIONS

Display: 15.6″ Full HD (2560 x 1440) 165Hz | CPU: Intel i7-12700H (14 Cores 20 Threads) | dGPU: RTX 3070Ti (8GB GDDR6) | RAM: 32 GB DDR4 SDRAM (Upgradable) | SSD: 512GB PCIe M.2 SSD | Battery: 58 Watt-hour Li-ion, (7 hours max) | Weight: 2.17 kg (4.8 lbs) |

The Acer Predator Helios 300 (2025) model is a versatile performance full-size laptop and one of the better-value options with a base price of ($1,329). This benefits a complete metallic chassis that is robust to last many years to come, making it a fairly rugged laptop for backpacks.

In our comparisons, the Helios 300 performed much quicker than the ZenBook Pro 15 and even faster than the 2022 predecessor. This time it received an upgraded base with Nvidia RTX 3070Ti (8GB GDDR6) GPU and Intel leading i7-12700H for an extra boost of 14 Cores, with many high-end features like MUX switch which is a great advantage for penetration testing with the full potential of dGPU.

Even the basic model can honor all of the most difficult BackTrack Linux tools and expand the screen to two 4K monitors side by side utilizing the integrated mini DisplayPort and USB-C connection that supports Thunderbolt 4, making it a viable hardware option for potential users, who seek most value for money.

This year, Acer makes several modifications, including an all-new hinge for a more streamlined design, an ergonomic deck, a lid with a more premium feel, and a tiny logo that is better than the previous one. Additionally, the beautiful brushed metal throughout the chassis feels durable to the touch. However, the typing experience is comparable, with the same smoothness and keycaps as the last gen.

The nicest part about the new hardware is the 15.6″ inch clean 1440 panel with (165 Hz) G-Sync compatibility, so if you ever wish to play at high FPS other than being a security professional and hobbyist, this is the laptop for you. It’s a beast at a cheaper price than the competition.

Lenovo Legion 5 (AMD)

SPECIFICATIONS

Display: 15.6″ QHD (1920 x 1080) 165Hz | CPU: Intel i7-11800H (8 Cores 16 Threads) | dGPU: RTX 3060 (6GB GDDR6) | RAM: 16 GB, DDR4-3200MHz (SODIMM) | SSD: 512 GB SSD M.2 2280 PCIe QLC | Battery: 4-cell, 80Wh, (6 hours plus) | Weight: 2.4 kg (5.3 lbs) |

Students can better understand what a low-cost Pentesting laptop can be! We recommend the Lenovo Legion 5 as a budget-friendly solution for just $1,025, which is a suitable range for information technology students and those planning to enter the workforce as full-time Penetration testing professionals in the field of cyber security.

When you are on a tight budget and searching for a robust gaming notebook with a brilliant screen and a large cooling system, the 15-inch Legion 5 with an AMD Ryzen 7 5800H and RTX 3050Ti dGPU is an option for doing mainstream computing and also gentle on the pocket. If you need more options for designing work laptops, check out our list of the best laptops for Cricut Design Space.

In addition to powerful hardware, we’ve prioritized exceptional build quality. You shouldn’t be concerned about the graphics because Lenovo didn’t skimp on the basics and necessities and included a 165Hz FHD screen. Additionally, the hinge is dependably sturdy and, in our opinion, lasts longer than the Dell G15.

The only major drawback is the Realtek RTL8852ae Wifi 6 card, which is buggy and needs to be replaced if it is possible, find Intel WiFi 6E which is currently at less than $50. Though we are happy with the amount of thickness it has, not for the portability, but cooling, it stays away from the thermal throttling issues which most sim laptops do.

In addition, the webcam is still fuzzy, still, images are great, but when you move, it’s lousy, as the model from last year, although the safety button is appreciated for turning the camera off from the hardware.

As we mentioned before, Lenovo had to make it inexpensive, thus they used cheap Wireless cards and speakers. Everything else is great for the price. Last but not least, the chassis is tough to handle rugged jobs, and its RGB 4-zone keyboard will provide you with the fastest typing experience available for programmers, coders, and editors on a laptop.

Acer Nitro 5 (AN515-58-725A)

SPECIFICATIONS

Display: 15.6″ FHD (1920 x 1080) 144Hz | CPU: Intel i7-12700H (14 Cores 20 Threads) | dGPU: RTX 3060 (6GB GDDR6) | RAM: 16GB, DDR5 (Upgradeable) | SSD: 512GB PCIe Gen 4 SSD | Battery: 57.8Wh, (5 hours plus) | Weight: 2.4 kg (5.3 lbs) |

To meet both your professional and gameplay demands, we are confident in recommending our final option, which we believe works well for high-performance workloads. Acer Nitro 5 is the little cousin of the Acer Helios 300, and it is a complete redesign over last year’s model with increased speed and power for desktop work without throttling.

If we determine how well it performs for Penetration testing tasks. There is a top-tier Intel i7-12700H CPU with 14 cores of incredible computing power, and what’s more, it is also capable of advanced Cyber security Penetration tasks using the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060, making it unquestionably the best gaming laptop for hacking. But, there are two major drawbacks: its price tag is $1,350, which is more expensive than last year, and the battery is not long-lasting.

The design has been completely revised from the previous year’s model, the hinge has been adjusted to resemble Lenovo’s Legion series, the ergonomics are more professional, and sharp, and 4-zone RGB is flashy and the robust cooling system handles heat very well.

There are no more red accents on the lid surface, or at the back air vents. The all-black design is better suited to professionals, and new features include a Killer Wireless card from Intel WiFi 6 with an Ethernet controller, as well as a Thunderbolt 4 port at the rear, which can accommodate up to three external displays at once.

To summarise, the Acer Nitro 5 is worth it for professionals, and if you need other options, you can see our list of the best laptops for lawyers and advocates. It’s a great deal for top-tier hardware and unrivaled performance, but not so much for quality feelings. The chassis is plastic, but the hardware is workstation grade, so you can expect this machine to do work affordably.