The first thing you should know about GIS software is that its value is centered on the use of maps and the creation of various graphic displays of geographic information. GIS software, which is designed to store, manage, and display data in a way that is useful to you as a user, allows you to create maps based on various characteristics, such as cities, countryside features, or roads.

This capability is what makes GIS software so valuable to users, especially those who want to understand the geographical elements that make up a specific area. ArcGIS is one such software system that is gaining popularity among those who want to create maps and share location-based insights.

GIS software’s usability is, of course, dependent on experience, but it also heavily relies on the right tools – which is where this page comes in.

If you work in GIS (Geographic Information System) and are looking for the best ArcGIS laptops in 2021, you’ve come to the right place. There are numerous GIS software options available, including RIGS, QGIS, Mapu Publisher, MapTuted, and MapInfoProfessional, but ArcGIS is one of the most popular and powerful.

It is difficult to find the best laptops for GIS and ArcGIS. Especially if you aren’t a computer whiz. No need to worry, because we’ve tested and rated the best laptops for ArcGIS and ArcGIS Pro.

Every workplace has gone digital these days. Today’s work and applications are all created online using specialized software such as GIS and ArcGIS. However, in order to meet such intricately designed software, some hardware tools are required.

Geographic Information System (GIS) is a powerful computer system that processes, manipulates, stores, and analyses geographic data while archiving GS, for viewing and mapping geographic images. All of this processing, analysis, and capturing necessitates high-end laptops outfitted with hardware and software specifications tailored to such requirements.

Right now, there are some incredible laptops on the market. However, not all GIS and Arc IS are appropriate for professionals. As a result of many hours of research and user feedback, we were able to compile a list of the 13 best laptops for ArcGIS professionals. This guide will highlight laptops that can easily run GIS and ArcGIS systems, allowing you to focus on your work.

What Should You Look for in a GIS and ArcGIS Laptop?

Processor Prerequisites

To begin, we must identify the processor specifications required to run ArcGIS effectively. A laptop’s processor generates pulses that synchronize the device’s various operations. In essence, it determines performance, and ArcGIS software requires a processor with a clock speed of 3GHz or higher.

The CPU core is the processing unit that executes actions, which means that a CPU with multiple cores can perform various calculations much faster than a single-core CPU. While this is generally regarded as a good thing, some systems and software are incompatible with multi-core processors, so it is always worth double-checking. A quad-core processor with hyperthreading support is recommended for ArcGIS.

When looking for the perfect device, many low-cost laptops will meet and enable both of these requirements.

Memory Prerequisites

We’ve probably all experienced the frustration of not having enough memory on your device. Whether it’s a TV recorder that can’t store any more episodes or a phone that won’t let you take any more photos, device memory is a constant stumbling block that affects not only usability but also performance. ArcGIS is no exception.

To run ArcGIS software properly, a minimum of 4GB of memory (RAM) is required, with 8GB recommended for high performance.

When choosing your device and memory storage, keep in mind that computer memory (RAM) acts as a temporary store for your current projects, so 8GB is the safer option for those who like to multitask and keep multiple things open at once.

Requirements for Graphics

ArcGIS is a visual software that relies on 3D graphics and high-resolution imagery. As a result, graphics are an important factor to consider when purchasing a laptop device, especially since the graphics chip that determines graphic memory is embedded in each device and cannot be upgraded in the future.

ArcGIS requires at least 256MB of graphics memory, whereas ArcGIS Pro requires at least 4GB of dedicated graphics memory to handle 3D rendering and visuals.

If you intend to use ArcGIS frequently, purchasing a dedicated graphics card will reduce the strain on your processor and increase the usability of your device, allowing it to operate at peak performance.

Storage Prerequisites

If you want to use the ArcGIS desktop version, your laptop must have at least 4GB of storage space. ArcGIS Pro requires a much larger 32GB hard drive.

While the original version of ArcGIS does not require a lot of storage, investing in a laptop with SSD is a good way to ensure you are ready to store more data in the future, as the SSD acts as a storage drive that is faster, more reliable, and more efficient than traditional HDD (Hard Drive) technology.

Required Resolution for ArcGIS

Assume you’re going to invest a lot of money in ArcGIS and other GIS mapping technologies. In that case, you will notice that the visual power of the generated images is superior to the program’s proficiency.

The primary requirement is a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels. However, choosing a laptop with full HD resolution is a better way to conclude this. The better the resolution, the better the experience, which is entirely dependent on your budget.

Let’s talk about GIS and ArcGIS laptops now.

1. APPLE MACBOOK PRO

This is one of the most powerful laptops available for CPU-intensive tasks such as video rendering, but we still wish Apple had addressed the lack of full-screen touch support and completely revamped the keyboard. Bolder moves are required.

Features:

• The latest update brings an even more powerful Core i9—an eight-core chip with a maximum boost speed of 5GHz—to a macOS laptop for the first time since last year’s MacBook Pro refresh. Both chips use the same “Coffee Lake” microarchitecture, but the Core i9 in the 2019 MacBook Pro is from Intel’s most recent 9th generation. Last year’s model’s 8th generation chip has six cores and a maximum boost speed of 4.8GHz. The new laptop also includes an upgraded AMD Radeon Pro Vega graphics processor with a rarely seen type of fast video memory.
• The first oddity is the keyboard, which is a slightly updated version of Apple’s infamous butterfly-switch design, which has been a feature of MacBooks since 2016. Using butterfly switches produces an extremely stable key (even if you hit it off-center, the depression is even), but also an extremely short distance to travel when pressing the key. You don’t type; instead, you tap like you would on a smartphone.
• The Touch Bar, which is exclusive to Apple, is a narrow, touch-sensitive display with contextual controls that change depending on the app you’re using. Because Macs lack touch capability on their main screens, this is your only chance to interact with macOS via touch. The Touch Bar comes standard on every 15-inch MacBook Pro.
• Large speaker grilles extend from the top of the Touch Bar to the bottom of the keyboard on either side of the keyboard, taking up the entire margin between the keyboard and the chassis’s edges. The speakers on the MacBook Pro are among the best I’ve heard on a laptop of this size in a long time.
• The 15.4-inch LED Retina display is another standout feature. This panel uses in-plane switching (IPS) technology to increase viewing angles and has a bright 500-nit backlight. Its 2,880-by-1,800-pixel resolution isn’t quite 4K, but the colours are as vibrant and the text is as sharp as any 4K display in a recent laptop. This is due in part to support for the P3 colour gamut. Apple’s automatic True Tone white-balance adjustment is also in play. Depending on the light source in the room, the latter makes the colours on the screen appear warmer or cooler.
• The MacBook Pro includes a 3.5mm audio jack as well as four USB Type-C ports. The USBs are arranged in a row of two on each side of the chassis. However, that is the entire I/O complement. To connect to an external display, you’ll most likely need a USB Type-C-to-DisplayPort or Type-C-to-HDMI adapter, as well as an Ethernet adapter for wired networking. The silver lining is that, in addition to functioning as standard USB ports, all of the USB Type-C ports support the Thunderbolt 3 interface and its 40Gbps maximum data rates.
• Wireless connectivity consists of the standard 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0. Support for the 802.11ax wireless standard, also known as Wi-Fi 6, is oddly absent. Wi-Fi 6 is still in its early stages, with only a few routers and other devices supporting it, but it is the Wi-Fi of the future.
• Arc Ice or ArcGIS Pro will not run by default on an Apple MacBook; to install it, you will need to install Windows OS on the machine using Boot Camp. So, if you don’t want to take some extra steps, this isn’t the tool for you!
• With a powerful 2.6 GHz Intel i7 processor, you can expect this Apple machine to be a powerhouse. By creating an animal for each of you, you can achieve turbo boosts of up to 45 GHz.

Pros:

• Excellent performance on CPU-limited workflows in test configuration.
• A stunning Retina display.
• Large and precise trackpad.
• There are four Thunderbolt 3 ports.

Cons:

• Expensive when configured, with a prohibitively expensive top-capacity SSD.
• The distance between key locations remains very short.
• Bezels could be slimmed down.
• There are no dedicated video output ports or USB Type-A ports.

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2. MICROSOFT SURFACE BOOK

The Surface Book 3 is an ambitious device that aims to combine the best qualities of all three current laptop genres into a one-stop-shop. Digital artists and on-the-go professionals who require the portability of a detachable tablet as well as significant graphics horsepower will likely benefit the most from it. However, anyone with deep enough pockets could revel in this category-defying device’s unique capabilities. Nothing else compares to the Surface Book 3 from Microsoft or any other mainstream laptop manufacturer. It makes a compelling case for being the ultimate Windows device.

Features:

• It has a quad-core Intel Core i7-1065G7 CPU with a base clock speed of 1.3GHz, 32GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti GPU for graphics output. It measures 0.9 by 13.6 by 9.9 inches and weighs 4.2 pounds with the keyboard attached. The heavyweight is not unusual for a 15-inch laptop, but when the keyboard is removed, the display weighs a much more manageable 1.8 pounds.
• An Nvidia Quadro RTX 3000 GPU and a 1TB or 2TB SSD are also available for the 15-inch Surface Pro 3. While the Quadro RTX 3000 isn’t significantly more powerful than the GTX 1660 Ti for general use, it may benefit users of professional apps with independent software vendor (ISV) certification that are specifically designed to run on Quadro chips.
• Two USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A ports, one USB Type-C port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a full-size SDXC card reader are included. This is by far the best physical connectivity of any Microsoft laptop, with only two USB ports and a headphone jack on the 15-inch Surface Laptop 3.
• The headphone jack on the Surface Book 3 is the only connector located in the display portion, with all other ports located on the keyboard base. In the top left corner of the display, there is a power button and a volume rocker.
• Bluetooth 5.0 and Wi-Fi 6 are available for wireless connectivity (802.11ax). That’s a significant improvement over the Surface Book 2’s older 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and it gives the Surface Book 2 a slight advantage over the MacBook Pro, which still uses this older standard.
• Some of the physical features of the Surface Book 3 are nearly identical to those of its predecessors, which is a good thing. The keyboard is consistent, with comfortable backlit keys that are quiet, satisfying to tap, and offer a good amount of travel without being mushy. The touchpad, which offers responsive tracking and a very stable clicking mechanism, has remained largely unchanged.
• The display is the same excellent PixelSense display that is available on the Surface Book 2. It has a stunning screen with a native resolution of 3,240 by 2,160 pixels, a contrast ratio of 1,600:1, and 10-point multi-touch support. That pixel count would qualify as 4K if it were a 16:9 display, but it uses the taller 3:2 ratio, which is uncommon in laptops in general but standard on Microsoft’s PCs. Not only is 3:2 useful for some digital artists, but it also allows you to see more of a webpage or other vertical document before scrolling.
• The Surface Book 3 has two cameras, just like its predecessor. A 5-megapixel front-facing camera with IR sensors allows for face-recognition logins to your Windows account, and an additional 8-megapixel rear shooter is located on the upper left side of the back of the display, near the power button. Both cameras capture 1080p video, and while they aren’t as sharp or capable as most high-end phone cameras, they are an improvement over the noisy, dull video captured by most 720p laptop webcams.
• The speakers are located on the tablet’s two top corners; there are no speakers in the keyboard dock. They do an admirable job for tablet speakers. They’re loud enough to be heard from a reasonable distance, if not booming.
• While the Surface Book 3 is not a gaming laptop, its graphics capabilities indicate that it could be used as one. Microsoft actually encourages it. The Surface Book 3 includes support for the Xbox Wireless Controller, and the company claims that it is “the best Surface for immersive gaming.” However, if you frequently run an ISV app that makes use of GPU acceleration to run more efficiently, you will reap significant benefits from the graphics oomph. These include scientific and AI apps, as well as some apps for creating multimedia content.

Pros:

• Outstanding performance with one-of-a-kind features.
• Excellent battery backup.
• Lightweight.
• Design that is both sleek and sturdy.
• Convertible can function as both a laptop and a tablet.
• Excellent display quality.

Cons:

• The cost is prohibitively expensive.
• Thunderbolt 3 is not currently available.
• If you want to purchase the Surface Pen, there will be an additional cost.

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3. ACER PREDATOR HELIOS 300

The 2020 Predator Helios 300 from Acer continues to do what this line has always done well: provide an upscale metal chassis and features in the face of mostly plastic competition. It’s better than ever this time, with a super-smooth 240Hz display and dominating the gaming performance charts for notebooks in this class.

Features:

• The IPS screen has a refresh rate of 240Hz, which is the unstated standard for premium gaming notebooks in mid-2020. It’s a winning combination for high-speed fragging, with a 1,920-by-1,080-pixel resolution and an advertised 3ms response time.
• Outside of gaming, the display is so smooth that it’s easy to appreciate. Simply clicking and dragging a window or minimizing it is a novel experience. A practical anti-glare surface, plenty of brightness, and good color round out the package. There is no Nvidia G-Sync support (click here for a primer on the technology), but it’s difficult to find without spending a few hundred dollars more.
• The short and quick key throws on the keyboard allow for some fast typing. A slight bump on the W key aids your fingers in finding it. The WASD and arrow key clusters have thicker borders to make them appear brighter, as seen in the image below. (The effect is more visible from above.)
• The Predator Helios 300 can accommodate up to three drives via two M.2 slots, one of which is occupied by a 512GB solid-state drive and a traditional 2.5-inch bay. It would be simple to add a 1TB or even a 2TB hard drive for cheap storage, which would eliminate the need to constantly swap games off the included drive due to space constraints. This level of upgradeability is a fantastic feature that many thinner notebooks lack.
• The Predator Helios 300 is equipped with a powerful Intel Core i7 processor that can reach speeds of up to 3.8 GHz at Turbo speeds, allowing you to easily install powerful software such as GIS and RKGS without experiencing any system glitches. enables you to run from In terms of storage, you’ll get 16GB of RAM for fast processing, as well as 256GB of SSD and 1TBHD, making it a total beast.
• There is no need to compromise on graphics because an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 graphics card is built-in. It allows you to use real-time imagery with your GIS and Arc IS to make everything more realistic. You won’t find a better combination of specs with 7 hours of battery life!
• The port selection for the 2020 Predator Helios 300 remains unchanged. The left edge is adorned with a pair of USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A (5Gbps) ports, an audio combo jack, and a Killer E2600 Ethernet port. On the right, you’ll find a USB Type-C port (10Gbps), another Type-A port, and video outputs for HDMI and mini-DisplayPort. Thunderbolt 3 isn’t included, but it’s not expected in this price range. The Kensington-style cable lock slot on the left rear corner is useful in public areas. The location of the power jack around the back is convenient because it means one less cord sticking out from the side.
• The Predator Helios 300 lacks built-in biometric features such as a fingerprint reader, which is common among gaming notebooks. Its 720p webcam, while properly positioned above the display, provides no better or worse image quality than the cams found on most laptop PCs in this price range.
• The Predator Helios 300 has built-in overclocking, which can be accessed by pressing the Turbo button above the keyboard or by using the Predator app.

Pros:

• Durable.
• Budget-Friendly.
• Extraordinary Storage Space.
• Rapid Cooling System.

Cons:

• Not so impressive Battery Life.
• Very Bulky.

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4. DELL INSPIRON i5577

The Dell Inspiron i5577-7342BLK-PUS is intended to be a solid gaming laptop with nearly all of the specifications that a gamer looks for in a decent laptop. You will receive all of the features required to play the most recent AAA titles. Its portability allows you to stay in touch no matter where you are. It is an excellent laptop choice not only for gamers, but also for writers, programmers, photo editors, and office workers.

Features:

• From a display standpoint, we’re more than willing to give Dell credit for a job well done. The screen-to-body ratio is acceptable, giving you more real estate to interact with various types of content. Furthermore, the 15.6-inch display is Full HD, allowing you to view content in the highest resolution possible.
• With 4GB DDR5 video memory, Dell’s New NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Graphics delivers crystal clear content on the FHD screen, making gaming easy and streaming of your favorite movies and television series enjoyable.
• Using it usually drains the battery for a maximum of 6-hours; additionally, if you want to run software such as GIS, you can expect a 2-hour session with complicated tasks and programs. It is an appropriate choice for you if you intend to purchase a laptop solely for the purpose of using GIS; this may come in handy.
• The speakers are powerful enough to fill a large room. And the sound produced is of the highest quality for the price point. The speakers, of course, do not have the best bass. And don’t expect them to sound like the latest Bluetooth speakers. At the very least, they perform admirably at the end of the day.
• The Windows 10 operating system is available on many Dell laptops. The Dell Inspiron i5577 5328BLK PUS follows suit. Windows 10, known as the most robust operating system in modern technology, allows you to do more with this laptop than you could with Windows 7 Professional.
• The laptop is fully equipped with an 802.11ac Wi-Fi card, which promises faster internet connections. In fact, this is a far superior standard to Broadcom radios or Intel, which are commonly found in personal computers. The card hierarchies prioritize some types of internet traffic over others in order to create more bandwidth.
• This laptop has a plethora of useful ports. A Micro SD card slot, a USB 3.0 port, and a Noble lock slot can be found on the laptop’s right side. Two USB ports, a 3.5 mm audio jack, and a priority charging connector are located on the left side of the device. There are also lights whose primary function is to inform the user of the amount of battery life remaining even when the laptop is turned off.

Pros:

• The build quality is excellent.
• Outstanding performance.
• The graphics are fantastic.

Cons:

• The laptop is a little heavy and bulky, making it less portable.
• The battery backup is running low.
• The system is running a little loudly.
• A TN panel does not perform as well as an IPS display.

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5. MICROSOFT SURFACE PRO 6

The Microsoft Surface Pro 6 isn’t for everyone. It’s for people who will truly benefit from having a detachable 2-in-1 that’s small enough to carry around and versatile enough to use as a tablet or laptop.

Features:

• The Surface Pro 6 follows in the footsteps of previous models, albeit with a minor tweak. With the kickstand extended 165 degrees, you still have three primary modes: tablet, laptop, and studio.
• The Surface Pro 6’s metal kickstand is still easy to use. As you type, this 2-in-1 bounces around a little in your lap, but it feels sturdy and stable enough. The only real criticism levelled at the design is the somewhat thick bezels surrounding the display. When compared to the Dell XPS 13, it appears to be a little less modern.
• The Surface Pro 6 weighs only 1.7 pounds as a tablet and 2.4 pounds with the keyboard attached. The 12.9-inch iPad Pro, by comparison, weighs 1.4 pounds as a slate and 2.28 pounds with its keyboard.
• Call it stubbornness or simply a desire to stick with its proprietary docking connector, but Microsoft refused to embrace USB-C on the Surface Pro 6 for whatever reason. That means you can’t charge with USB-C or connect to a growing number of USB-C peripherals and Thunderbolt 3 docks. If you want to output to multiple monitors at the same time, you’ll need to use Microsoft’s Surface Connect port to connect to the company’s $199 Surface Connect dock.
• Aside from the Surface Connect port, the right side of the device has a USB 3.0 port and a mini DisplayPort. The headphone jack is located on the left side. The microSD card slot is located beneath the kickstand if you want to expand the storage.
• The Surface Pro 6’s 12.3-inch PixelSense display is one of the best you’ll find on a 2-in-1. At 2736 x 1824 pixels, this panel is not only sharp, but also bright and colourful.
• The Surface Pro 6’s two front-firing speakers produce loud and clear audio.
• The typing experience on the Surface Pro 6’s keyboard is exceptional for a 2-in-1 device. Given how thin the Type Cover is, the layout provides 1.3 mm of key travel, which is comfortable. In comparison, the keyboard on the iPad Pro has only 0.5mm of travel.
• The Surface Pro 6’s glass touchpad is as precise as ever. Scrolling was smooth, and gestures like three-finger app switching worked well. 
• Microsoft charges an additional $99 for the Surface Pen, but if you’re purchasing the Surface Pro 6, this accessory is well worth it. The pen not only has 4,096 levels of sensitivity and a rubber eraser on the back, but you can also use tilt for shading in various apps. The Surface Pen is also useful for annotating in apps like Microsoft Edge, making handwritten notes in the Mail app, and pencilling in edits in Microsoft Word.
• The Surface Pro 6 outperforms the previous Surface Pro in terms of performance, thanks to its 8th-generation, quad-core Core i5-8250U processor and 8GB of RAM. (Serious power users can upgrade to a Core i7 processor and 16GB of RAM.)
• The Surface Pro 6’s Intel UHD 620 graphics card is certainly powerful enough to handle casual games. This 2-in-1 achieved 80.9 frames per second in the Dirt 3 racing game, for example. That outperforms the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 (74 fps) and the Samsung Notebook 9 Pen (47 fps).
• The Surface Pro 6’s improved endurance is without a doubt its best feature. The Surface Pro 6 lasted a solid 9 hours and 20 minutes on the Laptop Mag Battery Test, which involves continuous web browsing at 150 nits of screen brightness. This is nearly two hours longer than the 2017 Surface Pro (7:30) and more than three hours longer than the ThinkPad X1 (5:59).
• The Surface Pro’s rear 8-MP camera will suffice in a pinch, and this slate is certainly light enough to use as a camera in the field. The 5-megapixel front-facing camera will suffice for Skype chats and other video-calling apps. The front camera also supports Windows Hello, making it simple to log in to the Surface Pro 6 by simply starting from the front.

Pros:

• Accessibility in two ways.
• Portable and lightweight.
• Both affordable and long-lasting.
• The battery life is excellent.

Cons:

• Expensive stylus.
• There are a limited number of connectivity ports.

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6. ASUS ZENBOOK 13 UX333FA

If thick bezels and a heavy laptop feel aren’t your thing and you prefer the finer things in life, the ASUS Zenbook 13 is an appealing option. As an engineer, GIS student, or academic, you are well aware that analysing spatial location and working with data on ArcGIS pose every risk of clogging a standard laptop. However, this laptop will exceed your expectations and deliver a solid performance that is in sync with your workload.

Features:

• The UX333 is, of course, smaller, even smaller than a standard piece of A4 paper, but slightly thicker and roughly the same weight, at 1.23 kg (2.71 lbs). The laptop is available with either a glass-covered screen, as in our test model, or a non-glare screen, in which case it weighs only about 1.1 kg / 2.4 lbs.
• The Asus UX333 series is available in Royal Blue or Icicle Silver, and we have the former here. It looks stunning and makes this notebook stand out from the crowd, but it also shows smudges and finger oil easily, so keep a cleaning cloth nearby. The silver version hides smudges and even potential scratches much better. Knowing Asus, they may not even offer the silver version in some regions, so you’ll have to settle for the Blue or another device.
• This laptop has two USB-A ports, one USB-C port, and full-size HDMI, whereas thinner alternatives only have USB-C ports and require adapters. At the same time, there is no Thunderbolt 3, and the USB-C port does not support charging, and there is no full-size card reader, only a slow microSD reader.
• This laptop has a miniaturised keyboard, which may affect your typing experience, especially if you have large hands. Unlike most modern laptop keys, which are usually square and 15 x 15 mm in size, these are rectangular and only 15 x 13 mm in size, making the layout vertically cramped. A tiny right-Shift key and narrow arrow keys are also crammed into the lower-left corner, as is a Power button in the top-right corner.
• The UX333 has a 13-inch screen with millimetric bezels around the sides, as the name suggests. Because of the 2.9 mm side bezels and especially the 3.3 mm chin, Asus claims a 95 percent screen-to-body ratio for this laptop, the highest of any existing notebook on the market.
• The standard version of the UX333, which we have here and will find in most regions, has a layer of protective glass on top of the panel, but non-glare versions are also available. They are lighter (1.1 kg / 2.4 lbs) and far more practical in well-lit environments without the glare of glass.
• ASUS Zenbook 13 has a fantastic SSD that works well with its 16GB RAM. With a massive 512GB PCle SSD, the Zenbook 13 can bite off more than it can chew and still come out on top! Furthermore, you know that an 8th Generation Intel Core i7-8565U processor will be incredibly fast at retrieving data from files, running apps, and managing lag-free multitasking.
• The NVIDIA GeForce MX250 is absent from this model, and instead, ASUS has included the more average Intel UHD Graphics; cutting corners to keep the price under a thousand dollars is understandable. Although Intel UHD graphics may not be the ideal GPU for a gaming laptop, your GIS tasks should be able to run smoothly.

Pros:

• High-quality design.
• Excellent performance.
• Excellent battery life.

Cons:

• Display is dim.
• The keyboard is a little cramped.

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7. ASUS VIVOBOOK S S410UN-NS74

ASUS’ VivoBook series is one of its most popular. The VivoBook series is highlighted by incredible hardware combined with aesthetic design at an affordable price. You can’t deny that some of the features associated with the VivoBook series are difficult to find in some of the more expensive and premium brands. S410UN-NS74 is a new ultrabook in the ASUS Vivobook series that has received some intriguing features that make it a standout performer in its league. The 14-inch ultrabook market is crowded, but very few devices offer an unrivalled combination of beauty and performance.

If you are looking for a laptop that works well with GIS and meets all of your requirements for performance, portability, and design, look no further because there is only one product that can meet all of your requirements, and that is none other than the ASUS VivoBook S S410.

Features:

• While we are accustomed to smartphones with thin bezels, Asus’ VivoBook and ZenBook series have also embraced the trend. Asus refers to it as the NanoEdge display. Asus has managed to fit a 14-inch Full HD (19201080 pixels) LED panel into a frame that would normally fit a 13-inch display on the VivoBook S14. This results in a fantastic screen-to-body ratio of 77 percent.
• The Full HD panel has an anti-glare coating on the top, allowing for a 178-degree viewing angle. It also keeps reflections and shadows from interfering with your viewing experience. When we were consuming content on the go, the combination of a Full HD panel with anti-glare and its compact design seemed nearly perfect.
• Splendid, an Asus utility, is also loaded to control the colours reproduced. There are numerous presets to choose from, ranging from vivid to eye comfort mode. Furthermore, Asus’ Tru2Life Video technology improves and boosts contrast by a whopping 150 percent, enhancing the video viewing experience.
• The VivoBook is equipped with an Intel Core i7-8550U chipset. The quad-core CPU runs at 1.8GHz (up to 4.0GHz on Turbo) and is supported by 2GB of Nvidia GeForce MX 150 graphics memory. 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD are required for this configuration.
• This configuration puts it in a sweet spot between running high-demand tasks and casual gaming. However, the GeForce MX 150 will not be able to provide much relief to graphics-intensive games, so keep that in mind when making your choice.
• The chiclet keyboard on the ASUS VivoBook S14 (S410UN-NS74) does the job, but it’s unremarkable. Seasoned typists will be disappointed by the keyboard’s shallowness, but it will suffice for the majority. The keys are perfectly shaped and sized, and they are backlit. The backlit keyboard has three brightness settings that users can select from. There is nothing wrong with the VivoBook S14’s keyboard, but if a good keyboard is a priority, there are better options available.
• Because this is a 14-inch laptop, there is a rather large touchpad beneath the keyboard, which was accurate and smooth in our testing. With Windows Hello, a fingerprint reader beside the trackpad allows users to quickly log in to the laptop.
• The VivoBook S14 includes a USB 3.1 Type-C port, a USB 2.0 port, an HDMI port, and an SD Card slot. Users will be able to connect a variety of peripherals, including external displays and projectors. One of the disadvantages of portability is the lack of a DVD reader/writer on the laptop.
• The Asus VivoBook S14 has two 2W downward facing speakers. To improve the overall audio experience, the laptop also supports the company’s proprietary SonicMaster technology. Despite being downward facing, the audio output is muffled.
• The VivoBook, on the other hand, supports fast charging, so if you run out of juice, you can rest assured that it will not die on you.

Pros:

• The battery life is adequate.
• A sturdy design with excellent build quality.
• Outstanding performance.
• The presentation is quite impressive.
• It is portable and lightweight.

Cons:

• The GPU could have been improved.

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8. HUAWEI MATEBOOK X PRO

One of the best luxury laptops on the market is the Huawei Matebook X pro. It’s a beautiful piece of engineering, with a silhouette that flatters Apple’s house, but performance and display that show it’s far more than an imitator. The Matebook X pro is a serious challenger to Apple’s easy dominance in the ultralight laptop category, and the device of choice for those looking for a MacBook that runs Windows.

Features:

• Because of the careful weighting of the base and screen, you can open the lid with a single finger. The recessed chiclet keyboard appears too shallow for much travel at first glance, but once you start typing, the suspension of the keys feels satisfying and comfortable to tap away on.
• The button-sized fingerprint scanner in the top right corner of the keyboard also functions as a power button, allowing you to turn on the laptop and log into your Windows account with a single press.
• The attention to detail doesn’t stop once you’ve cracked it open. The 13.9in, 3000 x 2000px display is crisp and bright, with a slight brightness drop-off at sharp viewing angles but otherwise consistent colour reproduction.
• Because of the 3:2 screen ratio, the Huawei Matebook X pro’s screen is almost exactly the same size and shape as a sheet of A4 paper. This is significantly taller than a traditional 16:9 widescreen display and far more practical for tasks like web browsing and document editing.
• What distinguishes it is its 3K resolution, which Archangels professionals cannot overlook for imaging if it is to become one of the best laptops for ArcGIS.
• The matebook X pro’s display is a touchscreen, which provides some convenience for those who prefer to tap on things rather than use the touchpad but necessitates a glossy display that is difficult to see outside or when facing away from a large window. Your treacherous fingers, as with any touchscreen display, quickly transform the screen into a greasy Jackson Pollock painting.
• Four front-firing speakers on either side of the keyboard provide adequate sound for a laptop this thin. Speakers require a lot of space to perform well, which is why laptop speakers are often tinny and hollow. The Matebook X Pro, on the other hand, mitigates this effect somewhat through clever engineering and audio post-processing. There’s enough volume behind the bass to give music and entertainment enough dimension that you can leave your headphones at home.
• The webcam on the Huawei Matebook X Pro 2022 is still hidden beneath a fake key on the top row, which pops up like a car headlight when pressed. Why? Of course, to preserve the sanctity of the edge-to-edge display. There simply isn’t enough space above the screen for a webcam, at least not without adding a notch – which is unthinkable on a laptop – or a thick border around the edge of the screen, which would ruin the aesthetic. Huawei considered its options and compromised, opting for a flawless display over a rationally placed front-facing camera.
• The Huawei Matebook X Pro is powered by an 11th generation Core i7 processor and 16GB of memory. This is more than enough power to handle your day-to-day tasks, such as working with memory-hungry Chrome tabs and streaming Netflix movies, as well as spreadsheets, databases, and emails.
• This laptop’s generous memory allows for creative work as well as manipulating large files, so post-processing digital photographs as well as audio and video editing are well within its wheelhouse.
• The integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics can happily handle less graphically intensive games: anything with fewer than two dimensions, as well as some lighter 3D games that aren’t aiming for high-end photorealism, can be handled without breaking a sweat.
• The Matebook X Pro isn’t a gaming laptop by any means, but it can throw a few polygons around when necessary. When running multiple applications or games at the same time, the fans increase to a low, audible whirr, but the matebook X pro is generally very quiet and well behaved, even when working hard to keep itself cool.
• The matebook X pro has two Thunderbolt USB-C ports, one of which is used for charging, and a 3.5mm audio jack on the left side. On the other side, you’ll find the rarest of things in 2021: a full-size USB-A port for connecting virtually any peripheral in the world.
• The matebook X pro has an average battery life for a laptop of this size and screen resolution. The laptop lasted about 10 hours with near-constant use, dozens of open browser tabs, music playing, and various pieces of software running. That should be enough to get you through a working day without the need for a charger, assuming you arrive at your destination with a fully charged laptop.

Pros:

• Excellent battery timing.
• Lightweight.
• There is enough storage.
• Processing speed is quick.

Cons:

• Connectivity ports are low.

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9. ACER ASPIRE E15

The Acer Aspire E 15 is up next. This laptop meets the needs of GIS students and professionals in terms of battery backup, performance, and display.

Features:

• Despite being made of plastic, this laptop has a very solid construction and will undoubtedly last a long time if handled with care. It has a 15.6-inch 1080P IPS display that provides accurate colour rendition and excellent viewing angles.
• Aside from having more screen real estate and a larger keyboard, one of the main reasons to buy a large laptop is to pair it with a DVD drive, which will bring your old movie collection to life. The tray-loading drive on the Aspire E 15 protrudes from the right edge and can read and write DVDs, tasks that cloud storage and USB drives have largely replaced.
• A port for connecting the 65Wh power adapter, a USB 2.0 port, and a headphone jack are also located on the right edge. On the left, there’s a Kensington-style lock slot receptacle, a USB Type C connector, an HDMI output, and two USB 3.0 Type A connectors. That’s a pretty standard complement for a 15-inch laptop, but Acer goes above and beyond. 
• The Aspire E 15 also has a VGA display output (for connecting to older monitors or projection systems) and an Ethernet jack, so you’ll be well prepared not only to connect to legacy technology, but also to avoid poor Wi-Fi connectivity. However, if you have good reception, the Wi-Fi radio supports 802.11ac, and there is also Bluetooth.
• With a native display resolution of 1,920 by 1,080 packed into the 15-inch panel, the Aspire E 15 provides enough screen real estate to comfortably use two app windows side by side, something that smaller laptops cannot do. While this resolution is low in comparison to quad HD or 4K displays, it is far superior to the 1,366-by-768 resolution that was common for budget laptops a few years ago. The backlight on the panel was bright enough to be seen in the fluorescent-lit PC Labs, and the matte finish virtually eliminates glare. However, there is no option for a touch screen.
• Above the display is a 720p webcam that is adequate for Skype calls but produces grainy still images. On the lower deck, you’ll find a full-size keyboard with a number pad, which is standard for laptops with this screen size. The keys are backlit and surprisingly sturdy for a low-cost machine. There is some flex in the middle of the board, near the G and H keys, but the extremely solid key switches more than compensate.
• The Aspire E15 is powered by an 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8550U processor, which ensures excellent performance when running programmes on GIS software. If you like to multitask with your laptop, the 8GB DDR3 RAM with a GeForce MX150 GPU is essential. Given the memory capacity of this laptop, it can easily run multiple programmes at the same time.
• The laptop has an average GPU that allows for light gaming and a 256GB SSD storage capacity that is expandable with an additional storage slot for you to install an SSD/HDD requirement.
• In terms of battery life, the laptop can now be expected to last up to 12 hours on a single charge.

Pros:

• Strongly constructed.
• Awe-inspiring display with accurate colour reproduction.
• Featuring a plethora of features and delivering outstanding performance.
• Long battery life.

Cons:

• It must be handled with caution.
• In terms of portability, it is relatively heavy.

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10.  ASUS ZENBOOK 15 

The Asus ZenBook 15 (UX534FTC-AS77) is a fantastic all-around laptop that checks off a lot of productivity boxes. It combines a Comet Lake processor with a dedicated graphics card to handle everything from work to light gaming, and it has one of the best portable screens available.

Features:

• The Asus ZenBook 15 (UX534FTC-AS77), like its predecessors, is a beautiful machine that fills a niche with little competition. It reintroduces the beloved Screenpad 2.0 in a nicely crafted compact and light 15-inch chassis, with enough muscle to provide solid everyday performance, some gaming abilities, and decent battery life at a very competitive price.
• The UX534FTC-AS77, like most ZenBooks, is a stunning machine. The Icicle silver chassis is adorned with Asus’ signature concentric circle pattern and exudes class and luxury. If you want to compare it to other 15-inch ultrabooks, the Asus logo in the centre of the lid looks unrivalled.
• Another unique feature is Asus’ proprietary ErgoLift hinge, which slightly raises the keyboard deck for a more comfortable typing experience. For one thing, the raised deck allows for better cooling and, as a result, better performance. Additionally, it creates some space between the flat surface and the bottom-mounted speakers for improved audio.
• The 13.9 x 8.7 x 0.7-inch ZenBook 15 weighs 3.6 pounds and lives up to its billing as one of the world’s most compact 15-inch professional systems. When compared to the MacBook Pro 16 (4.3 pounds, 0.6 inches), the Dell XPS 15 (4.5 pounds, 0.7 inches), and the HP Spectre x360, the ZenBook 15 UX534FTC is lighter and smaller (4.6 pounds, 0.8 inches).
• The port selection is quite broad, allowing for the use of a wide range of displays and peripherals as needed. A USB 3.1 Type-A Gen 2 port, a USB 3.1 Type-C Gen 2 port, HDMI, an SD card reader, and a power jack are located on the right side. Another Type-A Gen 2 port and a headset jack can be found on the left side. Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 are used for internet connectivity.
• ScreenPad, which is powered by the ScreenXpert software, is designed to improve productivity by enhancing the Microsoft Office experience. The LCD touchpad has a resolution of 2160 x 1080 and a refresh rate of 60 hertz. It is located on the large touchpad, and you can enable or disable it by pressing F6.
• The 15-inch display is an engineering and design marvel. Asus squeezed a 15.6-inch, 1920 x 1080 display into a 14-inch chassis. To top it all off, the laptop has ultra-slim bezels. It isn’t as thin as the InfinityEdge bezels on the Dell XPS 15, but it’s still very impressive.
• The display looks fantastic thanks to the thin bezels and high contrast. The green scenes in the Planet Earth 1080p trailer look fantastic against the blue skies. The trees in the cascading landscapes can be seen because the details are so sharp.
• The 5.1 x 2.6-inch touchpad on the ZenBook UX534FTC is more than adequate for navigating documents and web pages as well as performing Windows 10 gestures. Without lag, you can perform pinch-to-zoom, two-finger scroll, and three-finger tap. The pad’s bottom corners provide springy feedback accompanied by a satisfying click.
• The Asus ZenBook 15 is a capable ultraportable laptop. Whatever you want to use the laptop for, it can handle it; no matter how you use it, it works and performs well.
• The Asus ZenBook 15 is one of the first laptops to use Intel’s 10th Generation Comet Lake processors, with a 1.8GHz Intel Core i7-10510U processor, 16GB RAM, and 512GB SSD storage. After the 8th Generation Whiskey Lake chips, the 14-nanometer Comet Lake processors are the next class. The new chips are all about improved performance, especially on heavy workloads and multitasking, with over 16% better overall performance than previous-generation chips.
• For projects that require multitasking, the laptop can perform admirably. In Google Chrome, you can open 30 tabs, half of which will be streaming YouTube or Twitch videos while the other half will be working on a massive spreadsheet in Google Docs. Even with all of that, you will not notice any signs of slowing, even when you begin to run formulas.
• If you want to play modern AAA games on the ZenBook 15, the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q GPU (with 4GB of VRAM) isn’t the best option, but it’ll do the job, albeit at lower resolutions. That’s reasonable given that this discrete graphics card isn’t designed for heavy gaming, but rather to provide a performance boost for mid-level content creation and multitasking.
• Two screens are preferable to one, but the real issue is battery life. With the ScreenPad 2.0 turned off, the Asus ZenBook 15 lasts just over 8 hours 36 minutes.

Pros:

• Excellent display.
• Excellent performance.
• Slim and light.
• Battery life is extended.

Cons:

• It might take some time to get used to the trackpad.

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11.  LENOVO THINKPAD E590

The ThinkPad E590, today’s hero, is a direct successor, if not simply a refresh, to the ThinkPad E580 series. It is aimed at the small to medium-sized business market, which is not overly concerned with raw performance. The most important features, however, are security, usability, and battery life.

Features:

• This laptop is made of aluminium and plastic, with the former covering the lid and the latter covering the rest of the chassis. Despite its mostly plastic body,it is very sturdy and well-constructed. A quick glance at the technical specifications confirms the resemblance to its predecessor – 19.9 mm profile and 2.12 kg weight.
• When you shift your attention to the keyboard, you can see one of the best units on the market so far. It is very comfortable to type on due to its long key travel and clicky feedback, and it is not overly loud, so it would suffice in a quiet environment.
• On the left side, there is a Type-C 3.1 (Gen. 2) connector that also serves as a charging port, followed by an HDMI 1.4b, two USB Type-A 3.1 (Gen. 2) ports, and the Jack. There is an RJ-45 connector, a USB Type-A 2.0 port, and a microSD card slot on the other side.
• The LG LP156WFC-SPDB Full HD IPS panel on the Lenovo ThinkPad E590 is model number LG LP156WFC-SPDB (LEN40BA). It has a diagonal of 15.6′′ (39.62 cm) and a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. It has a 16:9 screen ratio, a pixel density of –142 ppi, and a pitch of 0.18 0.18 mm. When viewed from a distance of 60cm (24′′) or greater, the screen becomes Retina.
• It has a maximum brightness of 280 nits in the centre of the screen and an average brightness of 270 nits across the entire area, with a maximum deviation of 13%. On a white screen, the Correlated Color Temperature is 6250K, which is slightly warmer than the optimal for the sRGB standard of 6500K. Before profiling, the average colour temperature across the grey scale is even warmer – 6300K.
• The Lenovo notebook can also be customised in the Lenovo store. There are three processor options: the Intel Core i5-8265U, the Core i7-8565U, and the Core i3-8145U. The AMD Radeon RX 550X is included in the more expensive models; otherwise, the Intel UHD Graphics 620 is in charge of GPU performance. 
• In terms of memory, Lenovo sells the ThinkPad E590 with 8, 16, or 32 GB DDR4-2400 RAM out of the box. The ThinkPad should be able to be upgraded to 64 GB (two RAM slots with 32 GB modules). The E590 is also very upgradeable in terms of mass storage, as it can accept SSD storage of 128, 256, or 512 GB, as well as an HDD of 500 GB or 1 TB.
• Lenovo has very well optimised the active cooling system of the ThinkPad laptop E590, as the fan is generally turned off when the laptop is idle. Of course, this changes under load, but even then, the fan remains relatively silent – exactly what a 15.6-inch laptop with an Ultra Low Voltage processor should be. The fan on the HP ProBook 450 G6 is much louder and more frequent in comparison.

Pros:

• IPS display with a matte finish.
• The construction is sturdy.
• The keyboard is very comfortable.
• Excellent trackpad/trackpoint combination.
• The operation is quiet.

Cons:

• The cooling system is insufficient.
• GPU can only work in short bursts at full clock rate.
• Only a 12-month guarantee is provided.
• There is only one microSD card slot.

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12.  LG GRAM 17

Crazy visuals, extremely long batteries, extensive connectivity, and massive drives – it’s time to discuss the LG Gram 2022 edition. The LG Gram 17 is remarkable in that it weighs only 2.98 pounds despite having a much larger chassis and up to four additional inches of screen real estate. Almost all other ultraportables have 13.3- or 14-inch displays.

Features:

• It has a 10th generation Intel Core i7-1065G7 processor, and Iris Plus will suffice for your GIS projects. This version of the processor performs admirably in your buds, allowing you to create 4K content, edit high-resolution photos and videos, and engage in intense gaming sessions! LG Gram has also added Thunderbolt 3 to this model, allowing you to enjoy full versatility in a single port speed data transfer, as well as show 5K videos while charging.
• The display’s best feature, of course, is its size. A 17-inch display can accommodate two windows side by side in a useful way, such as displaying the majority of a website or enough lines of a spreadsheet to avoid excessive scrolling. On a 13- or 14-inch screen, using two app windows side by side is technically possible, but not very practical.
• The touchpad on the Gram 17 has also been improved. It no longer feels mushy, and the pad no longer wobbles or flexes when tracing your finger across it, as it did with the previous version. It appears to be a much more stable platform.
• There’s a lot of room for input/output ports on a large laptop, especially one this thick, and the Gram 17 has plenty. There is a full-size HDMI output, three USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A ports, one USB Type-C port, a headphone jack, and a power adapter connector. There’s even a microSD card slot, which was once common but is rapidly becoming obsolete in the age of cloud storage. Photographers will appreciate the inclusion of the Gram 17 on the list.
• If you spend a lot of time online, you’ll appreciate that the Gram 17 has the most up-to-date wireless connectivity options, including 802.11ax Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi 6) and Bluetooth 5.0 for wireless connections to peripherals.
• The Gram 17’s 1.5-watt stereo speakers and HD webcam are sufficient for quick Skype calls. While the camera cannot log you in to Windows by recognising your face, the power button includes an integrated fingerprint reader that allows for one-touch logins.
• The keyboard is advanced, comfortable, and easy to see in low light.
• If you have a deadline coming up in a day and a large portion of your GIS work is still unfinished, this laptop will assist you in completing it wherever you are. Its incredible battery will allow you to work for up to 17 hours.
• The 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD (2 x 512GB) transfers data from the hard drive and provides additional storage space for important GIS files. The average for its other major fish springs is 16 GB DDR4 RAM. To top it all off, the LG Gram has a memorable 17 thin bezel IPS LCD screen with an amazing resolution of 2560×1600.

Pros:

• It’s as light as a feather (2.98lb/1.35kg).
• Display that is large and of high quality.
• Performer who works quickly.
• Port layout has been refined.
• Fans operate quietly.
• Extremely long battery life.

Cons:

• There is no touchscreen.
• The layout of the keyboard is still an issue.
• Keyboard is a little spongy.
• McAffee advertisements.
• Palm rejection issues plague the trackpad.
• The webcam is incompatible with Windows Hello.
• There is no HDR or WCG.

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13.  DELL G5 15 5587

The Dell G5 15 Laptop is another excellent laptop in the G5 series for all students pursuing Gl as a career through Dell. There is no doubt that this is one of the cheapest and best laptops for ArcGIS to run smoothly.

Features:

• The hood of the G5 15 is a black, plastic void with a glossy red Dell logo stamped right in the centre. The grey vents on the laptop’s hinge and lip would be cool if they didn’t remind me of how heavy and thick the laptop is. The weight is concerning, as it is only 0.6 pounds lighter than the MSI GT63 Titan 8RG (6.7 pounds), which includes a full Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080.
• The left side includes a Noble Lock slot, a power jack, an RJ45 port, one USB 3.1 port with always-on charging, and a 2-in-1 SD card slot, while the right side includes an HDMI 2.0 port, one Thunderbolt 3 port, two USB 3.1 ports, and a headphone jack. To keep up with competing systems, Dell should have included a Mini DisplayPort.
• Despite its low key travel, the Dell G5 15’s keys are surprisingly springy and well-spaced, which almost makes up for how cliche and edgy they appear. The keys moved only 1.2 millimetres, falling short of the 1.5-to-2.0-mm travel comfort zone. They do, however, necessitate a solid 74 grammes of actuation force, which exceeds the 60-gram minimum for comfortable typing.
• The 4.1 x 3.1-inch touchpad on the laptop has a soft, matte texture and a shallow click. It reacted to Windows 10 gestures such as two-finger scrolling and three-finger tabbing.
• The Dell G5 15’s panel measures 219 nits of brightness, which is well below the 284-nit category average.
• Dell includes MaxxAudioPro, which allows you to fine-tune the speakers with options such as Midnight and Intelligent Noise Reduction. The audio is serviceable with this app, but even with the best settings, the G5’s speakers don’t sound great.
• Thanks to its Intel Core i7-8750H processor, 8GB of RAM, a 128GB SSD, and a 1TB 5,400-rpm HDD, this beast can run 30 Google Chrome tabs, three 1080p YouTube videos, and the Xbox app.
• It is a processing powerhouse that runs on the latest 8-generation Intel Core i7 processor, with a turbo speed of up to 3.9GHz. Thanks to IPSFHD, which has a 15.6-inch screen display, true-color, and amazing clarity, as well as a high colour richness.

Pros:

• Affordably priced and robust.
• Graphics are much better.
• There are numerous connectivity options.

Cons:

• It doesn’t have a great battery life.
• It is bulky and heavy.

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Conclusion

When you are a GIS and RKGS professional, finding the best laptops for ArcGIS to meet your needs can be difficult. Hopefully, this guide has assisted you in locating the best laptops for GIS & ArcGIS PRO in terms of both hardware and software.

In this diverse digital market, it can be difficult to find the perfect pair of glasses, so having a helping hand is always the best option. So, pick a laptop that you believe is best suited to your needs and easily install your GIS and Archie GS software on it without any hassle or unnecessary time lag.

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)

What is the best laptop for GIS work?

The MSI GS65 Stealth has everything you need if you need a laptop for your geographic information system (GIS) department. The MacBook Pro is the top-of-the-line model in the MacBook line. A stylish, long-lasting, and feature-rich 14th-generation notebook laptop The most recent Microsoft Surface model, the Surface Pro 6, as well as the Asus 14″ Ultrabook.

Is it possible to run ArcGIS on a laptop?

There will be no problems as long as you have multiple processors. The amount of RAM you have is determined by the amount of work you want to do as much as anything else.

How much RAM am I going to need for GIS?

RAM is required for complex geographic information system (GIS) operations. ArcGIS requires at least 8GB of RAM to run.

Can ArcGIS be run on a Mac?

For this to work, the Mac must be configured to run Windows in order to run ArcGIS Desktop or ArcPro. ArcGIS is not supported by ESRI in its applications.

Is an SSD (Solid State Drive) required for a GIS laptop?

In a nutshell, no, despite the fact that most low-cost laptops include SSD storage. Having SSD capability means you can store more data safely without affecting your laptop’s booting and processing times. SSD is also more durable, uses less energy, and is more reliable in general than HDD (Hard Drives).

How high of a Resolution do I require for ArcGIS?

If you’re heavily invested in ArcGIS and other GIS mapping technology, you’ll know that the visual strength of the images produced is critical to the program’s effectiveness. Because visual accuracy is important when layering different maps on top of each other and creating different projects, laptop resolution is one of the more important decisions.

The official requirements state that you need a resolution of at least 1280 x 800 pixels, but an easier way to determine this is to simply choose a laptop with full HD resolution – as a minimum! The higher the resolution you can invest in, the better your experience will be; however, this is heavily dependent on your budget. While the low-cost laptops will almost certainly all provide the minimum resolution recommended by ArcGIS, those with higher resolutions will cost you a little more.