Best Laptops for DJs, best budget laptops for Djing [updated 2020]

If you’re new to DJing, you have probably asked yourself what equipment you will need and how much it will cost you. And since buying a full DJ setup can be quite costly, most beginners choose to start with just a laptop and perhaps a small DJ controller. There are a lot of free and open source DJ programs out there, and it a good way to know if djing is for you before investing your money.

Djing on a laptop has its own share of advantages and disadvantages: working with a laptop, it’s a compact system and you can carry your productions and music with you wherever you go. However, using only a touchpad and a keyboard isn’t the most practical way to mix music. And that’s why professional and advanced DJs prefer working with a DJ controller.

Best laptop for djing, what to consider when choosing a laptop:

First of all, most djing programs are not particularly demanding and therefore don’t require a powerful machine. Therefore, most laptops you can buy nowadays will do the job just fine and if you already have a laptop, you probably already have started djing with it. However, there a few things to consider when looking for a laptop for djing: you don’t want your laptop lagging or completely freezing in the middle of live set, do you? And that is exactly why you shouldn’t go with minimum requirements, but try to get the fastest laptop for you budget. Here are a few important factors when choosing a laptop for djing:

Processor:  Your laptop’s performance depends on it, the more processing power you can get, the better your laptop can handle heavy applications and multitasking. It is recommended to get a laptop with at least an Intel i5.

RAM: Some Djing and audio programs can really eat up your memory and to make sure your laptop is going to perform without lag, we recommend that you get at least a laptop with 8GB of RAM.

Hard drive technology: There are two types of drives: traditional mechanical drives, and solid state drives. And to make your laptop more responsive, we recommend that you get a laptop with an SSD. On the other hand, SSDs are more expensive and don’t offer as much storage capacity as traditional drives.

Screen size and resolution: Choosing the adequate display size and resolution is very important: this is what you will be staring at all the time, so it should be comfortable. Although it’s a matter of personal preferences, Djing on a small 13 inch notebook can be quite challenging, unless connected to an external display. Also, some Djing programs don’t display well on smaller screens/resolutions, imagine playing 4 decks on Traktor on a small display. This is of course a matter of personal preferences, because a bigger display has its advantages and downsides too, so think about it before making a decision.

Connectivity: Because you will need to connect your laptop to other audio devices, such as a DJ controller for example, you should make sure your laptop comes with at least 3 USB ports.

Battery life: Because portability is the biggest advantage of Djing on a laptop, battery life should not be overlooked. So to be able to carry your music with you, plug in some battery speakers and start Djing, choose a laptop with decent battery life.

Best budget laptops for Djing:

• Acer Aspire 5 A515-54G-5928

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The Acer Aspire 5 A515-54G-5928 is a refresh of the extremely famous Aspire 5. When it comes to providing great value for the money, the Aspire Aspire E15 E5-576G-5762 is simply unbeatable. For a price tag under 600$ you get an 8th generation i5 8265U processor, 8GB of RAM, a fast 512GB SSD, and a dedicated Nvidia GeForce MX250 graphics cards.

This laptop is prefect if you’re looking for a cheap laptop for djing, but also casual gaming and video editing. You can also add more RAM and a second SSD drive, and you have a multitasking beast.

• ASUS VivoBook S S510UA-DS51

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Just like the Aspire E15, the Asus VivoBook S S510UA-DS51 offers great value for the money. It comes with an 8th generation Intel core i5  8250U processor, 8GB of RAM, and a fast 256GB SSD.  This is quite a standard configuration when it comes to mid range laptops, and which gives optimal performance when dealing with day to day tasks.

But makes the Vivobook SS510UA a good pick as a laptop for djing is not just the specs, but also the slim and thin design. In fact, this 15 inch laptop weighs just 3,7 lbs, and has an amazingly thin 0.7” profile, which makes it a perfect choice if you’re looking for a lightweight laptop but don’t want to spend a lot of money on a more expensive ultrabook.

• Processor	Intel Core i5-8250U Processor
  RAM	8GB
  Storage	256GB, SSD
  Graphics	Dedicated, Nvidia GeForce MX150
  Screen	15,6 inch, 1920X1080
  Connectivity and Ports	1- USB type C port 1 – USB 3.0 ports 1- USB 2.0 port 1 – HDMI port Card reader, Bluetooth 4.1, Fingerprint Scanner, backlit keyboard,
  Battery	up to 15 hours battery life

•  Dell Inspiron 15 5000

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The Dell Inspiron 15 5000 is a mid range gaming laptop that packs plenty of power : it comes with an intel 7th generation i7 7700HQ processor, 16GB of RAM, a 512GB solid state drive, and a dedicated 4GB GDDR5 NVIDIA GTX 1050 graphics card.  When it comes to performance, the Inspiron 5000 15 has more power than you need:  The I7 7700HQ is one of the most powerful processors  that can be found on laptops, and thanks to the extra 2400 MHz RAM and fast SSD, this laptop surely can handle any djing or music production software with no lags.

Another fact that makes the Inspiron 5000 15 a good option if you’re looking to replace your old laptop, is that it comes with a dedicated graphics card. And while the GTX 1050 is not the best choice for intensive gaming, it is more than enough if you’re a casual gamer.

• Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-56L8:

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The Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-56L8 is a super thin notebook that comes packed with high level specs: an 8th Generation Intel Core i5-8250U Processor, 8GB of RAM, and a fast 256GB SSD for instant application opening. Built for productivity on the go, the Swift 3  is one of the best laptops for djing.

With a full HD 14 inch screen, the Swift 3 is neither too big or cumbersome, nor too small. Battery life is very good, and the included 3220mAh battery can give you up to 12 hours of runtime, according to the manufacturer.

As to be expected, given its thin design, the swift 3 has 3 USB ports: 1 USB type C, USB3.0, and 1 USB2.0 on the right.

• Dell Inspiron 15 5000 (5368):

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With its sleek design and solid performance, the Dell Inspiron 13 5000 is here to impress. Powered by an 8^th generation Intel i7-8550U quad core processor, 8GB of RAM, this 2 in 1 laptop is a good if you’re looking for a mid range laptop for djing. The Dell Inspiron 13 5000 also comes with a 256 GB SSD which makes opening programs and files almost instant.

The 13.3-inch anti-glare touch display has a native resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and provides good picture quality, thanks to the IPS panel. The Inspiron 13 5000 also comes with a pen (PN338M).

When it comes to connectivity, Dell Inspiron 13 5000 has 3 USB ports in total (2x USB 3.0, 1x USB 2.0). Unfortunately, this laptop doesn’t come with a USB type C port.

Battery life is good, with up to 8 hours of use. Build quality is also very good, with the chassis being mainly made of aluminum. The machine feels durable and well built.

• MSI GL62M 7RD-1407:

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The MSI GL62M 7RD-1407 is an affordable gaming laptop that offers great value for the price. The combination of the 7th gen Intel i5-7300HQ processor, 8GB of RAM, 256GB SSD  and the dedicated Nvidia GTX 1050 offers a solid performance, whether you’re playing games or doing your daily productivity tasks.

The MSI GL62M 7RD-1407 is also relatively portable, measuring about 0.9 by 15.4 by 10.5 inches and weighing 4.9 lbs. The chassis is mainly made of plastic, but the build quality is still very good and the laptop doesn’t feel cheap at all.

• Lenovo Yoga 730

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The Lenovo Yoga 730 is a stylish convertible that offers great value for the money.  It comes with an 8th gen Intel i5-8250U processor , 8GB DDR4 RAM, and a 256GB PCIe SSD.  The Yoga 730 is a great laptop for everyday use, and of course, can handle djing software with no problem.

The Lenovo Yoga 730  also sports a 15,6 inch Full HD IPS display, which offer accurate and sharp colors, and wide viewing angles. If you’re into watching videos, graphic design, or gaming, the Yoga 730 is the perfect match.

As for the connectivity, this laptop comes with 2 USB Type-C Thunderbolt 3, 1 x USB 3.0, HDMI and Ethernet port. . Battery life is decent, and Lenovo announces up to 8 hours of use.

• Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E570:

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The Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E570 is a reliable professional notebook that combines a 7^th generation Intel Core i5-7200U processor, and 16GB of RAM, and a 500GB Solid State Drive. This configuration is more than sufficient for most users, and the ThinkPad E570 can run most Djing programs such as Serato or Traktor with no issues.

The Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E570 also comes with a full HD 15,6 inch display that produces sharp colors and has good vieiwng angles thanks to the IPS panel.

The Thinkpad E570 also has plenty of connectivity options:  Two USB 3.0, one USB 2.0, HDMI, Ethernet (RJ-45), and even a VGA port. There is no USB type C however.

Best premium laptops for Djing:

Apple 15″ MacBook Pro

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There is no denying that Apple remains the number one choice for music makers and DJs, and there is a very good reason for that. Not only do you get the slick and fast OS X performance, but Macs also with top class specs.  And the newest Macbook Pro 15 is no exception. It comes with a  quad core 7th generation i7 7820HQ, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB solid state drive (one of the fastest in its class). There is no need to say that the Macbook pro 2017 will handle anything you throw at it with no lag (a lag during a live set, can you imagine?).

The Macbook pro 15 also features a colorful 2880×1800 pixels screen, which offers excellent color reproduction and impressive brightness. There also a discrete Radeon Pro 560 graphics card with 4GB memory, in case you’re into casual gaming, or video editing.

As expected at this price category, battery life is great, and you can get up to 10 hours from a full charge.

Dell XPS 9580

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If you’re looking for a PC equivalent of the Macbook pro, then the new Dell XPS 13 9580 is the first thing that comes to mind.  It features the newest 8th gen Intel Core i7-8565U , 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. The XPS 9580 is one of the best ultrabooks out there, with the perfect mix between performance, value, design, and battery life.

At only 2.9 pounds and 0.6 inch thickness, the XPS 9580 is very light and easy to carry around. The laptop also comes with a gorgeous 4K (3840×2160)  IPS display, one of the best of its class in terms of picture quality and brightness.