Best Laptops For Virtual Machines in 2023 – Developer’s Choice

So does your job now demand you to perform security testing tasks, or do you want to ensure that your newly developed application is compatible with Linux and as well as on Mac Os? Well if that’s the case then it’s time to install a Virtual Machine on your current system.

However, think twice before attempting to create a Virtual Machine on an outdated laptop. Because, as you run another operating system within an already existing operating system, you’ll be sharing your laptop’s resources between the two. As a result, you’ll most likely experience never-ending lags and end up frustrated.

After hours of careful examination, we speculate that the 2020 Apple MacBook Air is a perfect laptop for virtual machines due to its exceptionally fast processor and mighty storage. Moreover, we’ve got a list of other options too, so just give this article a quick read to find out.

Let’s prevent this situation by getting a high-performance laptop, so you never regret splashing the money when you install multiple VMs on it.

Top 3 Picks for Best Laptops For Virtual Machines

Comparison Table for Virtual Machines (Developer’s Choice)

IMAGE	PRODUCT	RATING	PRICE
Best overall	2020 Apple MacBook Air Laptop Processor: Apple M1 Chip 8-core Screen Size: 13.3 Inches RAM: 8GB  Storage: 256GB	9.9	View on Amazon
Best for Learners	Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop Processor: AMD Ra: Dual-core Screen Size: 15.6 Inches RAM: 8 GB Storage: 512 GB	9.8	View on Amazon
Best on Budget	Lenovo Flex 5 14 2-in-1 Laptop Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 4500U Hexa-core processor Screen Size: 14 Inches RAM: 16 GB Storage: 256 GB	9.7	View on Amazon
Best For Virtualization	Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Touchscreen Laptop Processor: Quad-core 11th Gen Intel Core i7 Screen Size: 15.6 Inches  RAM: 12 GB Storage: 512 GB SSD	9.4	View on Amazon
Portable	HP 15 Laptop 11th Gen Intel Core i5-1135G7 Processor: 11th Gen Intel Core i5 Screen Size: 15.6 Inches  RAM: 8 GB Storage: 256 GB SSD	9.6	View on Amazon
Longest Battery Life	Microsoft Surface Laptop Go Processor: Intel Core i5 Screen Size: 12.4 Inches RAM: 8GB Storage: 256 GB SSD	9.2	View on Amazon
Best Graphics	HP Pavilion x360 Touchscreen Laptop Processor: 11Gen Intel Core i5 Screen Size: 14 Inches RAM: 8 GB Storage: 256 GB SSD	9.7	View on Amazon

How did we Test for Virtual Machines?

Laptopsfact team of experts and tech geeks, who have been dealing with virtual machines for so long, spent considerable time testing a bunch of laptops. After a thorough examination of all of those, they finally compiled the list of these 7 laptops which are perfect for running type 2 hypervisor. There were many factors that they kept in mind while doing the test, below are some crucial aspects of the selection criteria.

Multi-core CPU

An ordinary processor is fine for using a single OS but if you want to run multiple operating systems on your device then only a high-end CPU is going to work. So in the selection process, they preferred multi-core CPUs with high speeds so that these can offer amazing performance while working. 

Following are some processors that experts feel work well for virtual machines:

● AMD Ryzen 9 5900X 

● AMD Ryzen 7 3700X

● Intel Core i9 

● Intel Core i5

Great Storage and RAM

Now as we know that virtualization requires space so during the time of testing the laptops our team of experts made sure that the laptops they are going to choose come with an ample amount of storage so we chose laptops with at least 256GB SSD storage. Not only storage but RAM is crucial too especially when one is choosing a laptop for virtual machines. So in the examining process laptops that the team finalized are those with at least 8 to 16 GB of RAM.

Battery life

Yes, battery life matters equally for any laptop you’re going to choose. That’s why the expert’s selection criteria were based on this factor too. They included only those laptops in this final list having at least 5 to 6 hours of battery life.

This super light and stylish MacBook Air laptop are perfect for virtualization, especially if you’re someone who runs more than 10 VMs at a time. 

It comes with an 8-core CPU that not only increases its speed and performance but it’s exactly what you need for pen testing and heavy tasks. As we know in such cases you may need to run more than 20VMs, so compromising on speed and performance isn’t possible at all.

When it’s about using virtual machines how can anyone forget about RAM? So this one right here with 8 GB RAM not only makes your multi-tab browsing a piece of cake but all other tasks like accessing a big graphic file will become easier too. 

It is user-friendly, easy to learn, and use so even your 10-year-old can use it with proficiency. Some other features include wifi6, sharp text clarity, and a huge color range on display. Not only this but MacBook Air 2020 has a long battery life of 18 hours. So what else do you need? 

Technical Specifications

RAM	8GB
Storage	256GB
Screen size	13.3 inches
Operating system	Mac Os
CPU	8 core
GPU	8 core (Integrated)
Color	Gold

Acer Aspire 5 is what all an individual needs for their routine projects. It’s an amazing laptop that can do multiple tasks with perfection.

The dual-core AMD Ryzen processor is pretty good and fast which is why it can easily run 10 to 12 Virtual machines smoothly. However, upon testing our team of experts found out that, unlike MacBook Air, Acer Aspire can not run more than 15 VMs so it isn’t a great option for a tech geek. This is because the MacBook air features an 8-core processor while Acer Aspire 5 on the other hand has a dual-core processor.

Coming towards the RAM so it’s also pretty decent but as mentioned already this laptop is not for heavy virtualization. You can check your apps and take snapshots to save data quite easily.

One of the best things about this laptop is its mighty storage of 512GB which is why the performance is much better and you can store huge data in it.

They claim that the laptop has a battery life of 7.5 hours which we found out was true but the laptop gets shut down as soon as the battery reaches 3%. Overall, the sound quality is amazing but while testing the speakers we found out the synchronization issue that doesn’t happen persistently, however, at times the audio just doesn’t sync with the video.

Technical Specifications

RAM	8 GB
Storage	512GB
Screen size	15.6 inches
Operating system	Windows 10 Home
CPU	AMD Ra: Dual-core
GPU	AMD Ryzen 7 3700U Deon RX Vega (Integrated)
Color	Silver

Here we have the coolest laptop you have ever seen. It’s a portable two-in-one device with a lot of good stuff present inside at a decent price.

Lenovo Flex five has everything that you can expect from a good laptop. Its fastest AMD Ryzen 5 processor makes it an ideal laptop for virtualization as it is fast and efficient. 

The best part is its amazing flexible design that features a 360° hinge which is why the laptop has multiple moods including a tent, stand, and tablet. 

As far as its RAM is concerned it has a good 16GB of RAM which is decent enough for any sort of virtual machine-related use. Talking about the storage, it’s a 256GB SSD which is great at this price point.

 The integrated AMD Radeon GPU and 14 inches big screen offers an amazing immersive display and the narrow bezel on the sides increases the viewing area.

Lenovo flex 5 touch screen laptop comes with a digital pen and a power brick. Overall, the laptop is great considering the price and performance but the only issue it has is its low brightness level.

Technical Specifications

RAM	16GB
Storage	256 GB
Screen size	14 inches
Operating system	Windows 10
CPU	AMD Ryzen 5 4500U Hexa-core processor
GPU	AMD Radeon graphics (integrated)
Color	Graphite grey

We all are aware of the fact that Lenovo Ideapad is one of a kind and this one is too. With an amazing design and powerful hardware, this laptop has everything that one can ask for. 

Its 11th gen Intel Core i7 processor allows you to multitask and the system won’t freeze at all. You can enjoy playing games on it though it doesn’t have a dedicated GPU; the integrated one works quite well. It’s perfect for running 20 VMs. The Quad-core processor works great and the laptop has the fastest speed.

Lenovo IdeaPad 5 offers 12GB RAM which is good but Lenovo Flex 5 is offering 16GB at a lower price so if you’re more likely to spend less and get more then flex 5 is a better option. 

According to our team of experts, the laptop is too thin and delicate and through our surveys, we found out that many people complain about breaking the hinges. So be careful while using the laptop as it isn’t so strong. 

The seller is claiming that the operating system is windows 10 but while testing our team figured out that it is windows 11. Overall, the display and speakers work great and the storage is good enough too.  

Technical Specifications

RAM	12GB
Storage	512GB SSD
Screen size	15.6 inches (touch screen)
Operating system	Windows 10 Home
CPU	Quad-core 11th Gen Intel Core i7
GPU	Intel Iris Xe Graphics (integrated)
Color	Grey

Hp15 laptop is a thin and stylish device that is going to be an amazing addition to your gadgets. A 6.5mm micro-edge bezel display and 1080Hd resolution provide an immersive experience while watching videos and playing games. 

Talking about the processor so 11th Gen Intel Core i5 works great for virtual machines, you can easily multitask without worrying about freezing issues. 

Coming towards the battery life so according to the seller it’s 7 hours 15 minutes but upon testing our team found out it’s no more than 6 hours. However, the battery takes a minimum time to charge which is around 2 hours for getting completely charged.

Another drawback is the absence of a backlit keyboard which is an issue for people who work under dim light as the keys won’t be visible. Moreover, the Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 offer great connectivity and the wifi range is superb as well. 

With 8 GB RAM and 256GB SSD storage, this laptop is a perfect fit for someone who wants to buy a decent laptop for virtualization for under 600 bucks.

Technical Specifications

RAM	8GB
Storage	256 GB SSD
Screen size	15.6 inches
Operating system	Windows 10 Home
CPU	11th Gen Intel Core i5
GPU	Intel iris Xe graphics (integrated)
Color	Natural silver

With their amazing build quality and powerful hardware Microsoft never disappoints us. Its amazing design and platinum color provide a professional feel to the laptop. 

The best thing about this laptop is its operating system which is windows 10, it is the OS we all are familiar with and that’s the reason why it’s quite convenient to use. 

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As far as the battery life is concerned it’s 13 hours long as promised by the manufacturer but the downside is that it takes a lot of time to get fully charged. The processor is Intel core i5 and it works amazing for anyone whether the person is a professional or a student.

Nothing in this world is free from flaws and the same goes here, the screen size is quite small and for people with eyesight issues, this can be a problem.

Overall, it is an all-in-one laptop packed with advantageous features like a window hello button and a wireless mouse which is extremely ergonomic.

Technical Specifications

RAM	8GB
Storage	256GB SSD
Screen size	12.4 inches
Operating system	Windows 10 S
CPU	Intel Core i5
GPU	Intel UHD graphics (integrated)
Color	Platinum

With immersive audio quality and an amazing crisp display, this 2-in-1 HP pavilion is a wonderful laptop at this price. With the snappy booting time and fast processor, this laptop is exactly what you’re looking for. 

This laptop has an 11 Gen Intel Core i5 multi-core CPU which is great for virtualization and offers amazing performance. Its 14 inches long touch screen has a great resolution that we usually don’t expect from touchscreen laptops.

Coming to the RAM, 8 GB is good enough for dealing with virtual machines, and as far as the storage is concerned it has 256 GB which is perfect for regular use. Talking about the battery life so 8 hours 15 minutes is quite enough and this is exactly what they have promised and our expert team examined. 

Coming towards the overall quality, it’s great but when compared with Lenovo Flex 5 which is offering almost the same features at a lesser price we would say this one is a bit costly.

Technical Specifications

RAM	8GB
Storage	256GB SSD
Screen size	14 inches
Operating system	Windows 10 Home
CPU	11Gen Intel Core i5
GPU	Intel iris Xe graphics (integrated)
Color	natural silver

Take Away

Okay so that’s it we have shown you the seven best laptops that you can buy for virtualization. Are you still confused about making the final decision about which one you should go for?  Don’t worry we’ll help you.

So as an I.T professional or a tech geek you should go with Apple MacBook Air as it has a powerful CPU. In case, you are more into Storage and RAM then consider buying Lenovo Ideapad 5.  Lenovo Flex 5 will work great if you’re looking for a budget-friendly option. 

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