9 Best Laptops For GIS & ArcGIS Professionals (2023) – Budget Picks

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Are you a GIS or ArcGIS professional in search of the perfect laptop? Look no further! Our expert team has compiled a list of the 9 Best Laptops for GIS & ArcGIS Professionals in 2023, with budget-friendly options that won’t break the bank. Don’t let slow processing or insufficient memory hold you back – upgrade to one of our top picks and take your work to the next level!

What is GIS & ArcGIS?

Geographical Information System or GIS is a highly powerful computer system designed to process, manipulate, store, and analyze geographical data whereas ArcGIS, on the other hand, is all about visualizing and mapping geographical images.

All this processing, analyzing, and capturing requires high-end laptops that are equipped with hardware and software specifications that are designed to cater to such requirements.

There are some highly amazing laptops in the market at present. But not all are suited for the GIS and ArcGIS Professionals. Thus after hours of research and feedback from the users, we were able to combine a list of the top nine laptops that are best suited for GIS and ArcGIS Professionals.

This guide will be highlighting the best laptops for GIS and for ArcGIS. These systems will run smoothly so that you can perform your tasks effortlessly.

Recommended Specs of GIS and ArcGIS Professionals Laptops

Before we move on to the list of the best laptops for GIS & ArcGIS, we must highlight the hardware and software specifications that a laptop must have to cater to the needs of GIS and ArcGIS Professionals. Here is the list of ArcGIS Pro System Requirements that we believe would be best suited for your GIS and ArcGIS (ArcMap) software.

These are the specs that we believe would be best suited for a GIS and ArcGIS Professionals who need to perform his task efficiently. But it might be hard to find all these in one laptop thus you can compromise on one or two of these to get the laptop that you believe would be best suited for your needs.

Best Laptops For GIS and ArcGIS

As said earlier, there are some great laptops on the market. The diversity is endless with different manufacturers offering different combinations of specs to end-users. You can easily find one of the best laptops for GIS and ArcGIS Professionals.

However, finding one is a hassle and requires extensive research. So to same your time and help you out, we decided to compile a list of the best laptops for GIS and ArcGIS Professionals. Let us go ahead and look at them in detail.

1. Dell Inspiron 15 5510 (Editorial Pick: Best Laptops For GIS)

If you’re a GIS or ArcGIS professional looking for a top-performing laptop that doesn’t break the bank, look no further than the Inspiron 5510.

Boasting a powerful 7th generation Intel i7 processor capable of running at lightning-fast speeds of up to 3.8 GHz, this laptop is up to the challenge of running heavy GIS software with ease. Plus, with 16GB of RAM and a speedy 512GB SSD, your booting system and high-end activities will be lightning-fast.

Not only does the Inspiron 5510 have the processing power you need, but it also has a sleek and customizable design that’s built to last. While the screen resolution and battery life could be improved, these minor drawbacks are well worth the incredible value you’re getting with this laptop. Upgrade to our editorial pick of the best laptops for GIS & ArcGIS mapping to take your work to the next level!

2. Huawei MateBook X Pro (Best Laptops For GIS: Touchscreen)

If you are looking for a powerful touchscreen signature laptop that is capable to run your powerful GIS and ArcGIS software then you should keep a lookout for the Huawei MateBook X Pro Signature Edition. In competition with the MacBook, the MateBook is the thinnest laptop with a 91% to 9% screen to body ratio – simply amazing!

The laptop is equipped with the powerful and fast processing 8th Generation Intel Core i7 which is paired with 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD storage. Apart from the processing and the design features, the laptop is also equipped with 12 hours battery timing which is unmatchable along with a hidden pop-up camera and a fingerprint reader.

However, what makes it stand out is its 3k resolution which is something ArcGIS Professionals can’t ignore for imagery making it one of the best laptops for ArcGIS.

3. Lenovo Thinkpad E590

Out of all the Lenovo series, Thinkpads are the best suited for professionals looking for high performing laptops which are equipped with fast processors and high-end storage space. Thus when it comes to GIS and ArcGIS professionals, the Thinkpad E590 is the best choice.

The laptop comes with the powerful Intel Quad Core i7-8565U Processor which will cater to the needs of your heavy ArcGIS software without slowing down the system. The fast processing speed paired with the 16GB RAM and 512 GB SSD storage makes it best suited for professionals looking for extra space on your laptops.

Other than that, it also comes with a 15.6-inch screen display that is paired with the Intel UHD 620 graphics card to provide much needed bright screen display. Even though, not the best option but is still perfect in this price range.

You can also rotate the hinge to 180 degrees and use the fingerprint reader for extra security. With the 12 hours of battery timing, you won’t need to charge the laptop throughout the day.

4. Apple MacBook Pro – 13 inches (Best Overall: Best Laptops For GIS)

If you an Apple fan and wish to get something from the MacBook series to cater to your GIS and ArcGIS software needs then we would suggest that you go with the MacBook Pro – 13 inches. Everything from the processor to the storage and the display is perfectly equipped to handle your GIS system needs.

The MacBook comes with the powerful, fast, and efficient working 9th-generation 6-Core Intel Core i7 processor paired with the 16GB RAM for boosting and 256SSD storage for your extra needs storage needs. The good thing here is that you can increase the storage space to 2 TB depending on your storage requirements but the higher you go, the pricier it gets.

For easy application, the MacBook comes with the touch bar instead of function keys which allows you to access all functions smoothly. Other than that the fingerprint feature provides extra security to your laptop and allows you to easily log in as well. The 10 hours battery life is also something one can’t ignore when it comes to MacBook.

5. Acer Predator Helios 300 (Best Laptops For GIS & Gaming)

Acer notebook at some point was perfect for everyday needs of students but when it comes to professionals needing powerful machines, then nothing can compete with the powerful Predator Helios 300 – One of the best laptops ever designed by Acer for high-end digital needs making it one of the best laptops for ArcGIS Professionals.

The Predator Helios 300 comes with the powerful Intel Core i7 processor that speeds up to 3.8 GHz at turbo speed and allows you to run your powerful software like GIS and ArcGIS smoothly without any system breakdowns. In terms of storage, you will be getting 16 GB RAM for fast processing along with the 256 GB SSD plus the 1 TB HHD making it a complete beast.

No need to compromise on the graphics with this one as you will find an inbuilt NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 graphics card. With that at your disposal, enjoy real-time imagery with your GIS and ArcGIS and make everything realistic. Packed with 7 hours of battery life, you won’t find a better combination of specs!

6. Razer Blade 15

If you are looking for something portable then the Razer Blade 15 would be the best-suited option for you as it is the smallest laptop on our list which is best suited for the GIS and ArcGIS professionals. Apart from the size, every other spec of the machine makes it powerful and highly suited for your heavy software like GIS, ArcGIS, GVSIG, etc.

You will find the fast processing 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8750H 6 core CPU system paired with 16 GM RAM for efficient performance. If you require more, you can always expand it to 32GB which an additional RAM. In terms of storage, it is unmatchable as it comes with a fast 128 GB SSD storage and an additional 1 TB HHD for all your heavy software, data, and files.

With the glass touchpad and the multicolored backlit keyboard, you can enhance your working experience and make it much more enjoyable. You will also find multiple external ports for connectivity allowing you to cater to your diverse needs. It is definitely one of the best laptops for GIS students and professionals.

7. Dell G5 15

Dell laptops are impeccable when it comes to professional activities. They are all equipped with high-end hardware along with powerful and well-designed software to cater to all your needs. But when it comes to GIS and ArcGIS professionals, they require something is simply out of the question which is why the Dell G5 15 is the best-suited laptop for them.

The system runs on the most powerful and latest Intel core i7 8th generation processor which is capable of boosting up the turbo speed of 3.9 GHz allows you to run multiple heavy software like GIS and ArcGIS on your system smoothly. The processor is paired with 16GB RAM for effective response time and storage space of 128GB SSD and 1 TB HHD.

In terms of display, you will experience true colors with the help of the IPS FHD on your 15.6-inch screen. Plus the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti that comes with the 4GB GDDR5 video graphics memory enhances your visual experience for your visual and imagery tasks, allowing you to have a realistic experience on your GIS.

8. Acer Aspire Laptop

If you are looking for one of the best laptops for GIS and ArcGIS professional tasks that is also very portable, then the Acer Aspire E15 is one of the best options available in the market. The laptop has made a name for itself in terms of specs and durability which are unmatchable by many.

The laptop comes with the latest 8th Gen Intel Core i5 Quad-Core processor which is powerful and fast enough to run multiple GIS tasks smoothly at the same time. Even in the budgeted range, it comes with 256 GB SSD and ITV HDD storage along with1 6 GB RAM for extra fast processing. It’s surely one of the best laptops for GIS and ArcGIS.

9. ASUS VivoBook S Thin & Light Laptop

If you are concerned with portability and are looking for something thin and lightweight for your ArcGIS tasks then you should consider the ASUS VivoBook S. it is one of the thinnest laptops available in the market which comes with an incredibly sleek design with 77% screen to body ratio.

Apart from the design, the laptop is equipped with the powerful 8th Generation Intel Core i7 8550U Quad-Core processor along with 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD storage space. The RAM for this laptop is less as compared to the other laptops on the list but that is what makes it one of the best laptops for GIS on a budget.

FAQ’s

Which laptop is our pick for best laptops for GIS and ArcGIS?

All the above-mentioned laptops are great for running GIS. But if you ask us to choose one then we would either go with the Huawei MateBook X Pro Signature Edition just purely biased appreciation for touchscreen, or the Inspiron 5510 for best overall in terms of ArcGIS pro system requirements. This masterpiece by Huawei comes with 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, and of course the latest 8th generation Intel Core i7 for super-fast processing which makes it perfect for your heavy software.

How much RAM do I need for GIS?

Since GIS and ArcGIS are heavy and powerful software that requires immense storage space and fast processing thus you need a system that comes with at least 2GB RAM. We recommend that you go with higher being at least 8GB for smooth performance but it all depends on your budget.

Can you use ArcGIS on Mac?

Yes, you can use ArcGIS on Mac by setting up a dual boot system. This means that you will be running two different operating systems on your Mac, one being the MAC OS and the other Windows operating system. Files and data stored in one OS will be available in the other as well but to switch between the two, you will have to restart the system every time.

BUYING GUIDE

Finding the best laptops for GIS and ArcGIS to suit your requirements can be a bit of a hassle especially when you are a GIS and ArcGIS Professional. Hopefully, this guide helped you find one of the best laptops for GIS and ArcGIS because these are the best ones in terms of both hardware and software.

It is hard to find the perfect combination of specs in this diverse digital market so having a helping hand is always a great choice. So choose the laptop that you believe would be best suited for your needs and invest in it right away to run your ArcGIS software smoothly on your laptop without any hassle or unnecessary time breaks.