So you’re a futures trader(or looking to become one)? Let’s take a look at some of the best laptops for trading futures.
You can trade futures from any modern computer. You can also access trading platforms using a handheld device such as a mobile phone, tablet among others. Technology has simplified the process making it possible to trade with a simple device. Keep reading for the best laptops for trading futures.
A standard modern laptop with modest configurations is enough to start trading.
However, to better analyze trades and process data, you may require additional computing capacity and unique displays with better image quality.
If you boil it down, data forms the backbone of the entire trading industry. From GDP numbers to commodity prices, it’s all about the numbers. In such an environment, traders with the best data-crunching technology likely win.
As such, you need to invest in a reliable laptop that supports your work. Our list of the best laptops for futures trading will give you an overview of what to look for and offer recommendations.
Before that, however, let’s understand the futures market and why you need a robust laptop to trade.
What is the Futures Market?
The futures market facilitates the trade of commodities and other goods. Some of these include cereals such as soybeans, crude oil, pork bellies, among others.
A futures contract, which is the primary trading medium, is an agreement to buy or sell an asset at a future date and an agreed-upon price.
Various financial players use futures contracts and participate in the futures market. These include institutional investors, speculators, hedge funds, retail investors, among others. While most investors trade in cash, others want to take physical delivery of the commodities.
As you can already tell, trading requires heavy data crunching. The best futures trading laptops come with a critical hardware configuration that supports trading software and analysis.
Some of the features you should consider include:
Best Laptop for Trading Futures Essential Features
Display Real Estate – A large screen gives you the ability to keep an eye out for market changes. For example, keep track of critical indicators, charts, among others.
Fast Processor – Data powers the futures trading market. You need a powerful processor to keep up with the market dynamics.
Sufficient RAM – Low RAM can cripple your laptop and cost your futures trading business. RAM is cheap and essential. You can’t have too much RAM, and it will significantly improve your trading operation.
SSD Hard Drive – SSD Drives offer reliability, speed, and a long life-span. Lack of a spinning wheel in the drive helps it perform efficiently and with minimal heat.
Long-Life Battery – Whether traveling or prone to power disruptions, a reliable battery is a must-have in your trading setup. Even a short outage can cause you massive stress, not to mention potential losses.
Top Rated Laptops for Trading Futures
Based on the above, here is our list of the best laptops for futures trading you should consider.
The 2019 Dell Inspiron is one of the best laptops for futures trading. It packs a powerful 8th Generation Core i5 processor with a base frequency of 1.6 GHz going up to 3.4 GHz on Turbo Boost.
It’s a lightweight laptop making it easy to carry around. No matter where you’re trading from, you can count on Dell’s reliability to power your futures trading operation.
Other defining features include:
- 16GB DDR4 RAM
- 512GB SSD + 1TB HDD
- 15.6 Inch Touchscreen Full High Definition display
- Gigabit Ethernet port, 802.11ac Wi-FI, and Bluetooth Combo
- Backlit keyboard
- Windows 10 Home 64-Bit
The Lenovo IdeaPad 330 is our second futures trading laptop pick. This laptop is a performance powerhouse packing an impressive 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8550U Processor. Its frequency can go up to 4.0GHz on Turbo Boost.
While running and analyzing dozens of charts, the Lenovo IdeaPad provides the display real estate you need to keep all your analysis in one place. It sports a 15.6″ touch screen HD LED Backlit Display. The screen gives you a crisp image from any direction giving you the ability to notice even the smallest market movements.
Other notable features include:
- Low-voltage quad-core processor for maximum power efficiency
- 12GB DDR4 RAM for seamless multitasking
- 128GB SSD + 1TB HDD for extended data warehousing
- Gigabit Ethernet and 802.11ac WI-FI
- Windows 10 Home 64-Bit
- Ergonomic keyboard
For an even smoother futures trading experience, consider the ASUS VivoBook Pro 17. Asus is regarded as one of the best high-performance laptop makers. Their gaming laptops, for example, are the envy of many a hardcore gamer.
The VivoBook is no different. It continues in a long line of quality workmanship and packs a punch in terms of hardware configuration.
An 8th Gen Core i7-8565U powers this laptop. It’s paired with an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 with 4GB of dedicated memory for flawless visuals. An additional 16GB DDR4 RAM handles calculations while a 256GB SSD forms the core storage.
Other key features include:
- Durable Long-lasting battery with fast-charging technology
- Lightning-fast dual-band 2×2 Wi-Fi 5 (802.11AC)
- 1TB HDD additional storage
- Fingerprint security reader
- Windows 10 Home
2019 DELL XPS 13 9380 Laptop, 13.3″ 4K UHD 3840×2160 Touch Screen, Intel Core i7-8565U, 16GB Ram, 512GB SSD, Webcam On Top, FP Reader, Windows 10 pro (Renewed)
The 2019 DELL XPS 13 9380 Laptop is one of the best futures trading laptops. At just 13.8 ounces, it’s one of the most portable notebooks. It’s also very thin while packing a decent hardware configuration.
It sports an 8th Gen i7-8565U Processor and an additional 16GB LPDDR3 Ram for seamless processing. The Dell XPS also comes with a 512GB SSD.
While it carries a small display, just 13,3″, it makes up for it in quality. It’s an Infinity Edge Display that supports 4K Ultra HD (3840×2160).
Other notable features include:
- Intel UHD Graphics 620
- Fingerprint reader
- Windows 10 64-bit
- 802.11ac Wi-Fi
The HP Envy 17T Touch is a medium budget laptop. It comes with all the desirable futures trading configurations. It’s also a lightweight and portable machine. It can concurrently run multiple trading software.
This laptop is a one-stop solution for traders looking for high-performance computing at an affordable price. Its long-life battery is just the clincher. It’s most defining features include:
- 8th Generation Intel Core i7 8565U Quad-Core Processor with an additional NVIDIA GeForce MX250 graphics card
- Windows 10 Professional 64-Bit
- 16GB DDR4 RAM
- Intel 802.11b/g/n/ac (2×2) Gigabit WiFi
- Fast data access with 512GB SSD
Final Thoughts
All the above laptops offer an excellent alternative for futures trading. Therefore, as you look at trading laptops, keep in mind that you need at least 8GB RAM or higher for the best experience. Most trading software nowadays loads fully in the RAM to give traders a seamless trading operation.