Technology is great, isn't it? There's so much out there that's possible, and some things you never would have even imagined people would do. One such thing for me is a little something called Hackintosh, with which it is possible to run Apple's macOS operating system on unauthorized, unsupported hardware and computers.
This started waaay back in the early 2000's and I must admit, the potential and the reasoning people give to run Hackintosh is actually compelling. With that in mind, today, we're going to be highlight some of the very best Hackintosh laptops available to get you well equipped to run Apple's patented operating system on a non-Apple product.
But before we get into that, let's take a minute to better understand what "Hackintosh" really is, and why people would even attempt such a feat.
What is Hackintosh & Why Would You Use It?
Simply put, a Hackintosh is a laptop/computer running macOS. In contrast to other methods of getting an operating system to run on unsupported hardware like virtualization dual-boot and virtual machines, Hackintosh will run on macOS without any layers between the tools. This means you're going to get better performance with a Hackintosh laptop than you would on a virtual machine running macOS.
Some of the reasons users choose to 'make' a Hackintosh laptop would be simply because it's cheaper to use a high-end Windows 10 enabled laptop than some of Apple's pricey hardware and laptops like the MacBook Pro.
Why pay top dollar for macOS when you could basically create your own laptop running macOS for less? That's one of the justifications for it at least.
Some other reasons people run with Hackintosh laptops is because it's easier to manage, you can control the hardware your laptop comes with rather than following Apple's packaged laptops.
It's also easier to repair and upgrade and gives you a level of customizability you just won't find on something like the MacBook Pro. Not to mention if you were an app developer for iOS, you're going to need to use macOS in some shape or form to develop and work on your app. Hackintosh laptops represent a cheaper, easier alternative rather than shelling out a few thousand dollars for a similar hardware configuration you already have.
Even with all these advantages and possibilities with Hackintosh compatible laptops, there are problems that you may run into while trying to create the best laptop for Hackintosh.
The Problems With Hackintosh
Whenever you try to make one thing do something it isn't supposed to, you're bound to run into some problems along the way. Even the best Hackintosh laptop isn't safe from these issues.
One of the most fatal issues and problems you may face when getting a laptop for Hackintosh is your laptop or system straight up crashing, bricking the system from being used at all. Another 'problem' with Hackintosh laptops is the fact that it isn't exactly easy to do.
You really need to know what you're doing when you're messing around with EC configurations, inputting the wrong command in the terminal, or potentially messing up and none of your hardware is recognized anymore (USB ports, Bluetooth, Camera, etc.). With Hackintosh laptops, you may also run into issues even if you manage to install macOS on your laptop. You may not be able to access certain features, or some programs may straight up be incompatible due to some issues that you will have to take the time to figure out.
The next question that arises is are you willing to put in the time and effort to get a Hackintosh laptop? Are you willing to go through times where your laptop just doesn't work and you can't figure it out, even after countless hours of trial and error?
While the potential benefits of a laptop for Hackintosh is great, you might be better off purchasing a MacBook. There's too many things that can go wrong for the inexperienced user, so do consider if you're capable of handling all these problems before looking for the best Hackintosh laptop.
If you were still keen and willing to go through all this, well, let's take a look at the recommended system specs to find the perfect Hackintosh compatible laptop for you!
Recommended Hardware Configuration
The specs we're highlighting below are going to in some way affect the performance of the best Hackintosh laptop. Some of these are flexible, but we're going to whole heartedly recommend sticking to as many of the specs as you can to ensure your laptop performance when you run macOS versions like Catalina, Mojave, etc.
Since macOS Catalina 10.15 is the latest macOS version before BigSur 11, this might be the right Hackintosh version for you. Besides the operating systems version though, there are a few more specs that will at the very least help make thing easier as use the best Hackintosh laptop with minimal dips in performance.
Display
The first spec we're going to be talking about is going to be the display the best Hackintosh laptops are equipped with. The display is more often than not the first spec you go through when looking through a list of laptops as it's one of the most used pieces of hardware on any laptop. Since you are getting a laptop for Hackintosh, it's only fitting that your laptop comes with a somewhat similar display to the stunning Retina display on the MacBooks from Apple.
With that in mind, we're going to recommend you find a laptop with at least a Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 as a base spec. If you were willing to up the ante a bit, you could also look into an eye-catching 4K display. This might be out of your price range if you were trying to create a cheaper Hackintosh laptop, but if you've got the money, this should be an option to look into.
Processor
The processor plays an integral role in whether your a laptop can even be a Hackintosh laptop or not, let alone one of the best Hackintosh laptops around. This is because "Hackintosh-ing" relies on Intel processors being used on Macs as well as compatible Windows 10 laptops with a similar x86-64 computer architecture. As such, you should look into finding a laptop with a relatively recent processor as some older processors, as well as some AMD processors may run into issues installing the macOS operating system.
We're going to recommend you find a laptop equipped with a quad-core processor from the 8th Generation and above of either an Intel Core i5 or Intel Core i7. This equates to processors like the 8th Gen Intel Core i5-8265U, 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8550U, 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9750H, etc.
What's important here is to find a compatible Intel processor. Finding a recent, more powerful Intel processor is an added bonus to your laptop's performance potential.
RAM/Storage
The RAM and storage your Hackintosh laptop comes with will undoubtedly be crucial not only when you're setting up, but also when you're actually using the system. As such, we're going to recommend a standard RAM capacity of 8GB RAM as your base variant in the search for the best Hackintosh laptops. 8 gigs of memory is pretty reasonable and there are plenty of laptops out there that don't cost too much with 8GB of RAM at least. If you've got the cash though, it's recommended to upgrade to as much as you can afford.
For the storage, we're going to recommend finding a laptop with at least a 256GB SSD storage capacity. First off, a 256GB SSD storage should be the very least amount of storage capacity to look for. 256 gigs is a pretty solid size which should be more than enough for lighter users and those who utilize cloud storage platforms or an external SSD. You should already have a ballpark figure as to how much storage you need, so go with your gut.
Another important part of the storage capabilities for Hackintosh is going to be the "SSD" element of the spec. In 2021, most laptops are equipped with super speedy SSDs with great storage capacities. This also translates well for use with Hackintosh and macOS as SSDs will be very useful for installing macOS and booting as macOS supports APFS file system which in turn are very well optimized with SSD storage options.
Graphics Cards
The GPU your Hackintosh enabled laptop is equipped with is probably going to be the hardest spec to decipher and recommend. In reality, there are many things blocking you from simply choosing a certain GPU and macOS version. For the most part, this relates to laptops with a dedicated graphics card like an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050. This is because macOS actually doesn't support these graphics card all that much, meaning for those looking to use a Hackintosh to do video editing, gaming or other graphically intensive tasks you're going to have to properly research to see if your GPU is compatible with the version of macOS you're looking to install.
With that in mind, we're going to recommend you find just standard integrated graphic cards like an Integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620, Integrated Intel UHD 630, Intel Iris Plus, etc. These graphic cards are pretty well supported so you shouldn't run into too many issues with incompatible drivers and the like.
Those are pretty much all the considerations you're going to have to make about the hardware configuration of your optimized Hackintosh laptop. After all that, let's get straight into the list to find the right laptop for you!
The 5 Best Hackintosh Laptops
1. Dell XPS 15 9500
The first laptop we'll be featuring in our search for the best Hackintosh laptop is going to be the Dell XPS 15 9500. The Dell XPS 15 has a lot going for both in terms of specs and performance, as well as the design and aesthetic value the laptop brings to the table. The Dell XPS line has long been associated with this philosophy, making it an excellent partner on your Hackintosh journey. On the display, the Dell XPS 15 comes with a 15.6-inch FHD+ display and super slim bezels all around the screen. This results in a stunningly gorgeous screen-to-body ratio which seems to be at least 90%. The build quality is further accentuated with the carbon fiber palm rest which just looks so sleek.
For its performance, the Dell XPS 15 comes with a pretty solid combination of specs. Starting off with the processor, the Dell XPS 15 comes with a 10th Gen Intel Core i5-10300H, 8GB memory capacity and a 256GB SSD. A pretty standard setup as you can tell from the spec sheet. There are a few more variations on the Dell XPS 15, so if these specs don't tickle your fancy, check out the higher priced, better equipped laptops in the lineup.
A few more extra specs the Dell XPS 15 comes with that'll work great in tangent with Hackintosh includes 2x Thunderbolt 3 ports, fingerprint sensor, backlit keyboard, Wi-Fi 6 support, and up to 12 hours of battery life.
2. Acer Aspire 5
Next up, we've got a solid contender as the best cheap Hackintosh laptop around with a super solid spec sheet at a considerable discount from some of the other laptops on the list. Even with the lower price range, the Acer Aspire 5 comes with an admirable build quality and accompanying super powered specs, but more on that in a bit. First, we're going to talk about the screen which is a 15.6-inch FHD IPS display with narrow bezels on all 4 corners of the screen. Nothing too fancy, but definitely a looker still.
Under the hood the Acer Aspire 5 continues to impress and solidifies its standing as a solid Hackintosh compatible laptop. The first spec you'll notice on the Acer Aspire 5 is the 11th Generation Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor, 16 GB memory capacity and a sizable 512GB SSD. Based off just these specs, this laptop looks to be more than worth the money with one of the latest Core i7 CPUs running the show with a great supporting cast.
The Acer Aspire 5 has a few more features to look forward to including a backlit keyboard, fingerprint sensor, Wi-Fi 6 support, 82.58% screen-to-body ratio, and up to 8.5 hours battery life.
3. HP ProBook 450 G8
The next laptop we're featuring is another powerhouse with a lot to offer users looking to cash in on the Hackintosh lifestyle; the HP ProBook 450 G8. While on the outside, this laptop may look a little underwhelming with nothing much else going on, at the very least we can be assured of a premium build quality. The first spec we're going to go over on the HP ProBook 450 G8 is going to be the screen which is a standard 15.6-inch FHD IPS display. Nothing special, but the screen does have admittedly slim bezels on all four sides of the display frame.
Onto the internals is where the HP ProBook 450 really starts to impress with well stacked spec sheet. The laptop comes with an 11th Generation Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor, 16 gigs memory and a 512GB SSD. Overall, a definitely a great spec sheet even though it's only rocking a Core i5 which translates to a max 4.2GHz clock speed. Not the highest compared to some other processors we've seen thus far, but still a very good lineup.
The laptop has some more extra features to sweeten the deal including Windows 10 Pro, a full array of ports including 1x USB 3.2 Type-C, 3x USB 3.0, microSD card reader, backlit keyboard, and up to 10 hours of battery life.
4. ASUS ZenBook Flip 13
If you were looking for an undoubtedly high-end laptop with all the bells and whistles, look no further than the ASUS ZenBook Flip 13. This laptop has everything going for it, from the impressive internals to the gorgeous aesthetics and plentiful of extra features to complete the package. Add in a somewhat reasonable price point and the ASUS ZenBook Flip 13 comes out looking like a deal you can't refuse. The laptop features a 13.3-inch FHD OLED touch screen which not only has razor thin bezels with the NanoEdge design, but it's also a 2-in-1 convertible laptop, adding in even more value for your money.
On the internals, the ASUS ZenBook Flip 13 comes packed to the rim with great specs starting with the 11th Gen Core i5-1135G7 processor, 8GB memory capacity and a 512GB SSD storage space. All in all, this might be the 'best' laptop purely based off just how much you get in the entire package. Not only does it cover the bases well, it also peppers in some solid extra features like the built-in ASUS NumberPad 2.0 right on the trackpad to make up for the smaller form factor of the laptop. If you were on the hunt for a convertible laptop and wanted to use macOS on a touch screen, this may just be your best bet.
The party doesn't stop there as the ASUS ZenBook Flip 13 has quite a few more things to offer including a backlit keyboard, Wi-Fi 6 support, a full array of ports, Windows 10 Pro, weighs in at just 2.87lbs, ASUS AI Noise Cancelling tech, and up to 14 hours of battery life.
5. Microsoft Surface Book 2
The last laptop we'll be featuring today is another formidable 2-in-1 convertible laptop, the Microsoft Surface Book 2. While it isn't the absolute latest and greatest in the Microsoft Surface Book lineup, the Surface Book 2 is still a solid performer for the money. To be honest, this is one of my favorite looking laptops on the list due to it's simplistic, minimalist approach and the ability to fully detach the 15.6-inch PixelSense touch screen makes for a super portable, eye-catching laptop. The bezels around the display frame do leave a lot to be desired, but for the most part it's a pretty good looking laptop.
The Microsoft Surface Book 2 does come with some commendable performers including an 8th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of memory, and a humongous 1TB SSD storage capacity. That's quite a lot of performance for the money with the only slight downside being the slightly outdated 8th Gen processor. Still, you can expect some admirable performance as a Hackintosh laptop. This is also the only laptop on the list that features a dedicated GPU, the GeForce GTX 1060 which means you'll have to compromise slightly on the macOS version you can install on the laptop.
The laptop has a few more features to make it stand out including a full array of ports, front facing speakers with Dolby Audio Premium support, Windows Hello sign in options, Windows 10 Pro, enterprise security options, and up to 17 hours of battery power.
Conclusion
And that's all folks! We've gone through some of the very best Hackintosh laptops money can buy, going over a variety of features, genres of laptops and budgets. I'm certain you'll find at least one that'll catch your attention. But of course, we're going to have to pick just one as the undisputed Hackintosh champ.
And today, our winner is going to be the ASUS ZenBook Flip 13!
This laptop just has too much to offer at a reasonable price point considering everything you get for it. There's dependable, reliable performance, plentiful of extra features to take advantage of, and an undeniably 'sexy' look that's bound to catch some looks. What more could you ask for, really?
