Finance majors have to do a ton of research while in college, and it continues even after they get into the labor force. From creating research papers to collecting data and working a ton on Microsoft Excel, the results all boil down to a good laptop.
But besides MS Excel, students now have to use a lot of other heavyweight software which can take a toll on the laptop if it is not equipped with the right configurations.
This is why we are going to talk about how to find the best laptop for finance majors.
The laptop you get should allow you to keep multiple tabs open, work on various software, finish a project while running MS Excel simulations in the background, and many more without having to face any slowdowns.
To know more about these required features and all the laptops that come with it, keep on reading.
Contents
PRODUCT | DISPLAY | CPU | GPU | PRICE |
---|---|---|---|---|
ASUS ChromebookFlip C434 | 14-inch(1920 x 1080) | Intel Corem3-8100Y | Intel HDGraphics 615 | |
Samsung GalaxyBook Flex | 13.3-inch(1920 x 1080) | Intel Core i7 | NVIDIAGeForce MX250 | |
Microsoft SurfaceLaptop 3 | 15-inch(1280 x 800) | AMD Ryzen 5 | AMD RadeonRX Vega 11 | |
Acer Swift 3 | 14-inch(1920 x 1080) | AMD Ryzen 74700U | RadeonGraphics | |
Acer PredatorHelios 300 | 15.6-inch(1920 x 1080) | Intel Core i7-8750H | NVIDIA GeForceGTX 1060 | |
Lenovo YogaC930 | 13.9-inch(3840 x 2160) | Intel Core i7-8550U | Intel UHDGraphics 620 | |
LenovoChromebook Duet | 10.1-inch(1920 x 1200) | MediaTek HelioP60T | ARM G72MP3 | |
AlienwareANW17-2143SLV | 17.3-inch(1920 x 1080) | Intel Core i74710HQ | NVIDIA GeForceGTX 970M | |
Lenovo LegionY7000 | 15.6- inch(1920 x 1080) | Intel Core i7-8750H | Nvidia GeForceGTX 1060 |
ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 is a fine choiceof a laptop for students who want a versatile device that can be used in tent, studio, and tablet modes. All this is thanks to the 360-degree hinge that it comes with, which makes these changes and rotations easily possible.
The Intel Core m3-8100Y processor is one that does not take up a lot of battery life and provides good power for the task at hand. Finance majors can easily use this for all their research without having to slow down due to the laptop itself.
You also get 4GB memory and Intel HD Graphics 615, both of which contribute to creating a fine visual experience, while making sure you get enough speed as you work.
The 64GB eMMC storage can well accommodate all sorts of basic research and files. But if you find you need an increase in space, you can add an external drive later on when required.
Display is also excellent as you get a four-sided NanoEdge display with a 100% sRGB color gamut on a full HD screen. Data and charts look good and you get to view more in the widescreen you get. Plus, it makes for a great entertainment device as well.
The Samsung Galaxy Book Flex comes in a slim and sleek design in a vibrant blue that makes it stand out from the rest. With a 360-degree hinge, it can be used in multiple modes according to the user's comfort.
You get the 10th Generation Intel Core i7 processor for the utmost productivity required as you rummage through all those MS Excel files and more.
For the display, you get a brilliant QLED touchscreen that packs 100% color volume. This provides the brightest and most vibrant colors on screen. Even if you use it outdoors under sunlight, you can still see all the details clearly instead of a matted-out display.
The Galaxy Book Flex also packs a heavy battery since it provides you with 20 hours of usage. As a finance major, pulling all-nighters tend to become the norm, and this shall help you out in those cases.
Sound by AKG is here to provide you with layers of sounds for when you ditch the research to enjoy a good video. This paired with the already great display makes this a fine entertainment device as well.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 proves to be a good choicefor finance majors and professionals alike thanks to its sleek outlooks and excellent features.
We especially love the spacious keyboard which lets you type out all you want comfortably. This comes in handy a ton when you are typing out pages upon pages of research or using all those large formulas.
With the AMD Ryzen 5 processor, you can expect a great speed for all sorts of work. While the 8GB RAM ensures that you can take on a handful of projects at once without fearing that your laptop with freeze.
Storage is just as impressive as you get 256GB SSD which provides speed as well as storage space both. If you think about all the files, lectures, and add-ins you will need, a storage like this will be sufficient.
Battery life goes up to 11.5 hours on mixed usage. This is the kind you should expect from top tier laptops as such, and will get you through all your classes from a single charge.
The Acer Swift 3 is well known to be the go-to laptop for those who are always on the run. As a finance major, you would relate, and it will continue soon after you graduate as well.
You get an aluminum & magnesium-aluminum metal chassis which provides strength and durabilityto the device. If you are clumsy, this is good to have.
Moreover, it weighs less than 3 pounds and is a mere 0.63 inches thick, making it easier to carry than most finance books out there.
The AMD Ryzen 7 4700U processor provides a ton of speed for all kinds of jobs as it hails from one of the most powerful series of processors out there.
You can definitely use this for class, projects, research and so much more. In fact, it can be used by finance professionals just as easily thanks to the speed and performance that you get.
Battery lasts up to 11.5 hours of usage. This easily gets you through classes or work for one day before it needs charging again. You do not always need to carry a charger this way, but given how lightweight the device is, carrying a charger won't pose a problem either.
The Predator Helios 300 is basically a gaming device that gives it a ton of excellent features all around that makes it suitable for pretty much every other job out there.
As a financial analyst, you will love this laptop because of the speed, performance, and graphics that it provides.
The Intel Core i7-8750H processor from the 8th generation makes sure the laptop can push out enough speed for the latest games, and that just means it is more than enough for data analysis.
Plus, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 graphics unit provides the clearest and finest details on screen. From colors to texture, you can experience it all.
Will you necessarily need this for data analysis? No. But having powerful features are helpful in general when you are dealing with high-end software.
You also get 16GB RAM and 256GB storage. While this is definitely enough for your work, you can upgrade them if you want and require it. Covers on the bottom are easily removable for a quick change.
We recommend that you go for a Full HD (1080p) display for a fine visual experience. But, since you will mostly be working with numbers, the resolution is not super important, and if a full HD display becomes too expensive you can settle for an HD display instead.
Besides the resolution, you need to check out the size. If you are looking to use this on a desk in your dorm or at home, we recommend you go for a 15-inch screen or bigger.
This will help you look at more data sets and more numbers at once. It is easier when you can see the numbers and the charts on one screen instead of having to scroll over and over again, because you will be doing it a lot.
However, if this is a laptop that you have to take to class or the library, go for screens below 15 inches. 13 to 14-inch screens provide the perfect balance between a lightweight and portable device while you get a decent screen space to work on.
The best laptop for finance will undoubtedly carry a good RAM. A good memory is required if you want to work on multiple projects simultaneously. And let us face it, as finance majors that is all we will be doing.
Go for at least an 8GB RAM if you want to have good speed while you multitask. And if your budget allows you to stretch it, go for a higher RAM of 16GB which will provide you with the ultimate speed you need.
Finance majors do not require a dedicated graphics card because they will not have a lot to do with the display.
But if you are keen on gaming with the same laptop or working on photo editing or side jobs of similar caliber, you can look into a dedicated graphics card.
Otherwise, just the integrated ones will be enough for your tasks as a finance student.
If you have ever worked on excel, you are aware that the moment a lot of data is put in or you run large formulas, the laptop starts to jam up. And this is just on a small scale.
So when you are working on larger simulations, you will want a laptop that has good enough power to stop the lagging. You should opt for a minimum of Core i5 processor or its equivalent of the AMD Ryzen 5.
And if you are close to graduating and want to use this same laptop in the future for your professional work, then definitely go for the Intel Core i7 processor or its equivalent of a Ryzen 7.
For long-lasting usage and easy updates, you should also look for processors that come from one of the latest generations. Preferably the eighth generation or ones after.
Apple MacBook Pro (15-Inch, Previous Model, 16GB RAM, 256GB Storage) - Space Gray - Walmart Link
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 7th Gen 14" Ultrabook - 1920 X 1080 - Core i7 i7-8565U - 16 GB - Walmart Link
Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop, 15.6" Full HD IPS Display, AMD Ryzen 7 3700U, RX Vega 10 - Walmart Link
Dell XPS 9570 Laptop 15.6" FHD, 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8750H CPU, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, - Walmart Link
Lenovo Yoga Book - FHD 10.1" Windows Tablet - 2 in 1 Tablet (Intel Atom x5-Z8550 - Walmart Link
Huawei MateBook X Pro Signature Edition Thin & Light Laptop, 13.9" 3K Touch, 8th Gen - Walmart Link
Dell XPS9360-5203SLV-PUS 13.3" FHD InfinityEdge Touch Screen- 8th Gen-Intel Core i5- 8GB - Walmart Link
1.ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 - Walmart Link
2.Samsung Galaxy Book Flex - Walmart Link
3.Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 - Walmart Link
5.Acer Predator Helios 300 - Walmart Link
Apple MacBook Pro (15-Inch, Previous Model, 16GB RAM, 256GB Storage) - Space Gray - eBay Link
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 7th Gen 14" Ultrabook - 1920 X 1080 - Core i7 i7-8565U - 16 GB - eBay Link
Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop, 15.6" Full HD IPS Display, AMD Ryzen 7 3700U, RX Vega 10 - eBay Link
Dell XPS 9570 Laptop 15.6" FHD, 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8750H CPU, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, - eBay Link
Lenovo Yoga Book - FHD 10.1" Windows Tablet - 2 in 1 Tablet (Intel Atom x5-Z8550 - eBay Link
Huawei MateBook X Pro Signature Edition Thin & Light Laptop, 13.9" 3K Touch, 8th Gen - eBay Link
Dell XPS9360-5203SLV-PUS 13.3" FHD InfinityEdge Touch Screen- 8th Gen-Intel Core i5- 8GB - eBay Link
1.ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 - eBay Link
2.Samsung Galaxy Book Flex - eBay Link
3.Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 - eBay Link
5.Acer Predator Helios 300 - eBay Link
As a college student, you might not think too much when buying a laptop. But when it comes to finance majors, a lot of things need to be considered because the laptop is an integral part of the education itself.
The best laptop for finance major will include a good processor, a great RAM for all the multi-tasking, a good battery life if you look forward to working outdoors, and many more features that depend on the user's preference.
We hope this guide has been of help. Check out all the features and how they work, so you can match them with your requirements to find the ideal laptop model.
About Dror Wettenstein
Dror Wettenstein is a software engineer and entrepreneur with more than 15 years of experience in the industry. He is the founder of TechTreeRepeat, a company that enables technical writers to publish their work faster and share it with readers across the globe. Dror has a master’s degree in computer science from San Diego State University and a bachelor’s degree in physics from UC Irvine.
When he’s not working on software projects, Dror enjoys writing articles and essays on various topics. He also likes playing guitar and spending time with his wife and two young children.
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