In this guide we're going to be going through some of the best laptops for Kali Linux to get analysts and security professionals well equipped for pentesting, security auditing and other Kali Linux functionality. But before that, let's get through exactly what Kali Linux is, as well as the minimum and recommended system requirements we're going to need out of the best Kali Linux Laptops.
What is Kali Linux
In our daily lives, we're met with a plethora of technological devices and electronics that some of us can't even comprehend how it actually works. One such example of something most of you may be aware of, but don't really understand is the operating system Linux. What is Linux? Who uses it? Well, similar to Windows 10 and macOS, Linux is an operating system which controls both the hardware and software of any given device and manages communication between the two. Think of it as Linux being a race car driver, without him/her, the car (software/hardware) would just be a hunk of metal.
An operating system is needed ensure your car, smartphone, laptop, TVs, to even things like a fridges, cameras and smartwatches run efficiently; and most of these run on Linux. Or a form of Linux anyway. One such subsection of operating systems used for what's known as 'hacking', is Kali Linux which has defaulted as the operating system for ethical hacking worldwide. Kali Linux is a Debian-based Linux distribution which is used by professionals like penetration testers and analysts managing networks and cyber security. After all, someone's got to manage device and platform securities for all the networks, tech and systems we use on a daily.
Minimum System Requirements
Now here comes the tricky part, as Kali Linux doesn't specify much in regards to the minimum and recommended system requirements. What they do mention, which will in turn be the most important specs for a best laptop for Kali Linux will be in regards to the processor, RAM and storage. There are two main methods of installing Kali Linux, one would be to setup Kali Linux as a basic Secure Shell (SSH) server with no desktop with 128MB RAM and 2GB of hard disk space. However, for this, they still recommend getting at least 512MB of RAM capacity.
However, if you had a higher end setup, you can install the default Xfce4 desktop and kali-linux-default metapackage which requires at least 2048MB RAM and up to 2GB of space. But we'll talk about that more once we're going through the recommended system specs.
Processor
For now, let's talk about the processor and what the best laptop for Kali Linux should be housing. Now, there really is not much to decipher here as Kali Linux have outlined that your pretty much only need a processor that supports either amd64 (x86_64/64-Bit) or i386 (x86/32-Bit) platforms. Which luckily enough, most laptops support either or, but they recommend sticking to amd64 images whenever possible. Since nowadays, most processors and laptops support 64-bit due to overall better performance and reliability, that's going to be our base requirement in our search. For the most part, this would relate to any number of Intel Core i5 or Intel Core i7 processors.
While the naming strategy might be a little confusing, just because it's named amd64 doesn't mean you're going to need an AMD processor. You're welcome to use most Intel Core i7 processors which run on 64-bit platforms, which these days, most already do.
Inherently, you don't need super powered specs to handle Kali Linux and dip your toes in the world of hacking, its best to find powerful specs like one of the latest Intel Core i7 processors and supporting specs. Since people reading the list will probably have some inclination or need to get into Kali Linux and its hacking capabilities, I'm sure you're at least somewhat familiar with the Linux platform and operating system. To ensure consistent, reliable performance in the long run however, you're going to need a pretty heavy hitting laptop. That said let's check our the recommended system requirements the best laptops for pentesting would look like.
Recommended System Requirements
In contrast to the minimum system requirements, we're going to be highlighting what we think the best laptop for Kali Linux will have with the specs above. This covers the basic requirements stated by Kali Linux, and is based on the recommendation to install the default Xfce4 desktop and the kali-linux-default metapackage.
As I mentioned earlier, for this installation Kali Linux have recommended finding a laptop with at least 2048MB RAM (2GB RAM) and 20GB of disc space. Our recommendations are going to surpass those specs fairly easily but are necessary for Linux based programs and tools.
You don't want your dedicated laptop for Kali Linux to slow down, or crash constantly as you're running penetration tests or brute force cracking a service, do you? Not very 'hacker' if you ask me, especially with an abysmal rig to support them. That being said, these are the features that we think you should look for when you're looking for the best laptops for Kali Linux.
Display
While the display the best laptop for Kali Linux isn't a necessity, it's best to cover your bases with a well equipped, clear, and vibrant display with a high-resolution. For that, our recommendation is going to be a laptop with at least a Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution. This is a fairly standard resolution in the industry right now, where high-end and even affordable, cheap laptops for Kali Linux utilize this display panel as the base variant.
Most other content you're consuming on the internet like videos, games, and movies on Netflix will most often come with a base 1080p resolution, so you're well equipped for most tasks with a Full HD capable display panel.
While most of what you're doing on Kali Linux is text based, but that doesn't mean you should be looking at a blurry, smudged mess on screen does it? It just makes things easier to manage, and a great quality-of-life spec which you'll come to appreciate in the long run. Not integral for Kali Linux to function, but a pretty important spec overall to be the best laptop for Kali Linux.
Processor
Next up we're going to be talking about the processor. Now, as I mentioned earlier, in regards to the laptop processor you're going to need, the only thing Kali Linux has mentioned is in regards to being either a 32-bit or 64-bit platform. We're taking things up a notch and specifying a few processors to get a better understanding of what to look for in a the best laptops for Kali Linux.
We're going to recommend you find at least an Intel Core i5 processor from at least the 8th Generation lineup. This is because any lower than that, and you're not going to find that many laptops which equate to a value-to-performance ratio for what its worth. These days, most laptops have at least 8th Generation Intel Core processors or newer, making that our standard for our search.
However, we're also going to recommend finding at least an Intel Core i7 processor like the 9th Generation Intel Core i7-9750H, 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10870H or better to future proof your laptop performance. With these Intel Core i7 processors, you're more than likely to have a laptop that will run reliably for more than a few years.
Just trust me on that. Otherwise, that's pretty much all we're going to need to find for Kali Linux in terms of the processor. You could opt for lower powered processors like the Intel Core i3 or older Intel Core i5 variants if you were on a tight budget, but otherwise, Intel Core i5 and 8th Gen or above.
RAM
While the base spec requirement for Kali Linux for RAM isn't necessarily high, it's never a bad idea to have a little extra. Since you're going to be using Kali Linux to run various tools like Aircrack-ng, Wire Shark, Nessus, etc. it's going to eat up your RAM pretty quick. As such, we're going to recommend an 8GB RAM capacity as a base standard, but I'd advise investing in a little more. Having at least 16GB DDR4 RAM is as optimal as you could hope for on a laptop without breaking the bank.
You might not need it now as you're just getting started with Kali Linux and ethical hacking, but you're sure to need it in a year or two as you get more accustomed to the platform, using various tools.
Having plentiful RAM like a 16GB DDR4 will also help with more normal tasks like general web browsing, gaming, image/video editing, etc. perform its best. One genre of laptops that fits the description well would be a premium gaming laptop. I mean, it's already got the look of a 'hacker' with the bright neon lights and daunting design. That paired with the accompanying CPU and GPU performance makes for a well equipped gaming laptop, and overall performance beast for Kali Linux.
Storage
Another important spec that you should be looking for in the best laptops for Kali Linux is going to be the storage capacity. We're going to be taking a base storage capacity of 256GB SSD as this is the right blend of performance, capacity and price. But if you were in the market for something a little more powerful, it's best you find storage capacities of 512GB SSD or above as over time, you're going to need the storage space.
The Kali Linux operating system will take up about 20GB of storage space on your laptop, but that doesn't take into account the extra tools and applications you'll be downloading. While it's not necessary in the beginning, eventually, you're going to need that extra SSD storage space.
Another route if you were keen on getting a lower priced laptop but still wanting the storage, check some external SSDs which are fairly affordable in various storage sizes. It's not the most ideal since that's one more thing to lug around if you had programs/data stored on it, but it's a way to mitigate the higher priced storage capacities on some laptops. You're also going to need the storage space to keep your other programs, games, files, photos, music, etc. If you're able, we recommend finding a little extra RAM/Storage when possible.
Battery Life
Last up is going to be a spec that isn't essential in the long run for Kali Linux, but will prove useful in your day-to-day activities. A fast charging, long lasting battery life is a a very important spec to consider for any laptop you purchase, and more so for Kali Linux. While I may not be a hacker, I'm used to spending days and nights staring at a laptop screen typing away and writing. One thing I've learnt and come to appreciate, is a laptop with a long battery life capable of lasting me all day (or night) on a single charge.
Laptop battery life hasn't seen the same boom as the fast charging, high capacity batteries we've seen on smartphones, but it's getting there. For most users, I'll always recommend finding a laptop with a great battery life after confirming you're comfortable with the rest of the laptop specs.
It's kind of like after finding a car you really like, and choosing which model to get solely on the extras you get for the purchase. It's not a be-all-end-all spec, but once you have it, it's hard to live without it. A long battery life makes you feel productive and allows you to use your laptop comfortably without being tethered to a charger. If you were the type to enjoy working in outdoor spaces like parks or at cafes, restaurants, the library, etc. you're almost always going to appreciate a long lasting battery life. In this case, I'd say anything over 8 hours of battery life should be good enough as a base standard in our search.
Now that we've gone through all the important specs, let's get straight into the list to find the best laptops for Kali Linux!
The 5 Best Laptops For Kali Linux
1. Apple MacBook Pro
Our first laptop we're featuring is going to be one of the latest Apple MacBook Pro laptops from 2019. The reason we're featuring this older Apple MacBook Pro is because Kali Linux has highlighted that it's preferable to use the Intel Core processor lineup of MacBook Pro laptops rather than the latest M1 Chip Apple MacBook Pro. To be safe, we're recommending this one as it's supported by Kali Linux, so you'll have an easier time installing and using the operating system. The Apple MacBook Pro 2019 comes with a 16-inch Retina display with up to 500 nits of brightness and a P3 wide color gamut.
On the internals, the laptop comes with an impressive array of specs starting off with a 9th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM and a sizable 512GB SSD. Though the Core i7 is a slightly older processor, it should still serve well with 2.6GHz base clock speed, capable of ramping things up to 4.5GHz when needed. If you needed the graphical performance, the laptop comes with a AMD Radeon Pro 5330M and Intel UHD Graphics 630, which should be helpful for some light gaming and design work.
A few great extra features the MacBook Pro comes with includes Touch Bar & Touch ID, six-speaker setup with force-cancelling woofers, backlit Magic Keyboard, and up to 11 hours of battery life. This MacBook Pro is a great laptop if you were keen on dual-booting macOS and Kali Linux to enjoy the Apple ecosystem of software and hardware. You'll need to pay a pretty high price for it though, but if you've got it, why not?
2. Acer Predator Helios 300
For those looking for a capable laptop not only for Kali Linux, but possibly for some gaming as well, the Acer Predator Helios 300 is a solid choice. This is a Windows 10 laptop by default, meaning you're able to take advantage of the new Windows 10 in-built compatibility. And since it is a gaming laptop, you can expect some admirable performance. The Acer Predator Helios 300 comes with a 15.6-inch Full HD IPS display and a speed 144Hz refresh rate making things look and feel much smoother.
Under the hood, the Acer Predator Helios 300 gaming laptop comes with an impressive spec sheet starting off with a 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9750H processor, 16GB RAM and a 512GB SSD. This should be more than enough for beginners to Kali Linux with a capable processor and a sizable RAM and storage options. To bolster the graphics card, the gaming laptop comes with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070, so if you were into gaming, this will help you play some of the latest games as well. When you're not hacking, that is.
The laptop features a few more great extras that makes it a worthy purchase including a 4-zone RGB backlit keyboard, Windows 10 Home, all-metal AeroBlade 3D fan, Waves MAXXAudio tuned speakers and up to 6 hours of battery life. The ASUS Predator Helios 300 is a solid gaming laptop with impressive internals and a killer 'gamer' aesthetic, with the caveat being a higher than usual price tag.
3. Lenovo Legion 5
If you were in the market for a somewhat affordable, super capable gaming laptop then the Lenovo Legion 5 should be on that list. The laptop isn't the best in terms of a 'premium' gaming laptop with all the best features or fancy bells and whistles, but it comes with the core competencies done very well. The laptop features a 15.6 inch Full HD IPS display with a silky smooth 120Hz refresh rate. The configuration of the design is also a slight detour from the norm with an almost alien workstation aesthetic. Very futuristic, very gamer, inherently hacker aesthetic.
Onto the internal specs where the laptop truly starts to shine with a 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10750H processor, 16 gigs of RAM and a 512GB SSD. All in all, the laptop covers the processor and RAM requirements very well with the Intel Core i7 processor capable of up to 5.00GHz clock speed. And keeping to the gaming laptop roots, the laptop also features a mid-high range graphics card, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti.
Other than the capable performance, the Lenovo Legion 5 gaming laptop has few tricks up its sleeve including Harman/Kardon speaker setup, Dolby Atmos headphone support, TrueStrike backlit keyboard, ColdFront 2.0 heat management, and up to 7 hours of battery life.
4. HP Pavilion x360
Taking a step from gaming laptops to the productivity focused laptop genre, the HP Pavilion x360 is a capable 2-in-1 convertible laptop to help you in your day-to-day hacking activities. While you don't need a 2-in-1 capable laptop for Kali Linux, it doesn't hurt to have the flexibility to turn into one of four modes: laptop mode, tablet mode, stand mode or tent mode. To help you do this, the laptop features a 14-inch Full HD micro-edge touch screen display. The razor thin bezels nets you an 80% screen-to-body ratio, adding in some extra screen real estate in an admittedly compact form factor.
For the internal specs, the laptop features a great array of mid-range, affordable specs starting off with a 10th Gen Intel Core i5-1035G1 processor, 8 gigs of RAM and a 512GB SSD storage capacity. While this is a Intel Core i5 processor, you're still getting up to 3.6GHz frequency performance which should be more than capable for most users. To counteract a higher price tag, the laptop does miss out on a capable graphics card, opting for an integrated Intel UHD Graphics GPU.
For the most part, you're not going to need a capable GPU for Kali Linux so if you wanted a bare minimum, affordable laptop that happens to be a 2-in-1 laptop setup, the HP Pavilion x360 is a solid choice. A few extra features that make the laptop even more appealing includes Bang&Olufsen tuned speakers, media card reader, a backlit keyboard, 0-50% in 45 minutes fast charging and up to 9 hours of battery life. All in all, a very capable and affordable laptop well optimized to take on Kali Linux.
5. LG Gram
Our last entry to the list is going to be a laptop not that many will be accustomed to: the LG Gram. Yes, LG does make laptops in fact, and they're actually pretty capable performers in their own right. This version of the LG Gram laptop comes with a 15.6-inch Full HD LCD touch display. While the laptop does miss out on the crispness and deep blacks of a LED-backlit display, but with the 1920 x 1080 resolution you should be well equipped for most tasks. Just something to note about the LG Gram as it is a stark difference between LED and LCD display tech.
For the laptop performance, the LG Gram comes with a great lineup of specs including a 10th Gen Intel Core i7-1065G7 processor, 16GB of RAM and generous 1TB SSD storage capacity. Safe to say, you're well-equipped to take on most software and tasks with this beastly laptop spec sheet. It's a pretty great lineup, bringing best-in-class performance from all three specs, with the exception of the graphics card which is a lackluster Intel Iris Plus Graphics.
A few extra features the laptop comes with to spice things up includes DTS:X Ultra audio, fingerprint reader, backlit keyboard, Thunderbolt 3 port, and a whopping 17 hours of battery life. Overall, the LG Gram is a best-in-class laptop with admirable performance and a focus on productivity, with a bunch of features that translates well for Kali Linux and hacking.
Conclusion
Now that we've gone through some of the best of the best laptops for Kali Linux, we're going to have to pick just one as the very best of them all.
The laptop to be crown champion as the best is going to be the HP Pavilion x360!
What the laptop lacks in the very best internals, it makes up for with consistent performance, 2-in-1 capability and an affordable price tag. If you were just dipping your toes in the wide ocean known as ethical hacking, the HP Pavilion x360 is a great budget laptop that's sure to keep with Kali Linux and everything you're doing on the expansive operating system.
