Thinking of running QuickBooks Desktop for your business? Or you already do, but you are having a poor experience with the system’s performance? I’ve made a detailed compilation for you on the best laptop for QuickBooks.
Running QuickBooks desktop seamlessly has some basic requirements which I’ll discuss shortly. Asides the basic requirements, there’s also a need to do it in style. In style I mean, running it on the best laptops designed for business.
Most laptop brands have specific laptops that are designed for business, and they are usually designed to favour portability, security, longer battery life, and high productivity. Any of these business laptops will do well for running QuickBooks.
To run QuickBooks easily, these are the following system requirements your system should have.
What are the System Requirements Needed to Run QuickBooks Desktop?
Just like I said earlier, there are basic requirements stated by Quickbooks that’s needed to run its desktop version. The computing power needed for running QuickBooks is not as much compared to very heavy software like AutoCAD or video editing apps that demand lots of graphics power and CPU performance.
Please note, these are requirements to run Quickbooks desktop, not the other software solutions like QuickBooks online, or QuickBooks self-employed. There is also Quickbooks Mac, a separate software solution for MacBooks. If your MacOS if from 10.12(Sierra) and higher, you are all sorted out.
Let’s see briefly QuickBooks laptop requirements:
- Operating system: Quickbooks work perfectly on the Windows 7 SP1, 8.1 and 10 version. If you are running Windows 8.1, it must have the Update 1 installed to have an effective performance.
- Memory & CPU: the installation of QuickBooks desktop requires a disk space of 2.5 GB, However, this is bound to increase as there will be additional data that will take up space as you use the software. Also, you need at least a RAM of 4 GB to run QuickBooks on a PC. Any system processor above 2.4 GHz will perfectly run
- Display: the ideal screen resolution for QuickBooks desktop starts from 1280 X 1024. You should also set your DPI settings to default if you’ll be using an extended display unit.
Other requirements:
If you are installing QuickBooks desktop from a DVD installation disk, the laptop should have a 4x DVD-ROM drive. However, this is not necessary for you if you’ll be downloading the software from their server, via the internet. This method is easier for me and certainly would if you have fast internet to download the software.
Also, to fully enjoy the payroll and all the online features of Quickbooks desktop on your laptop, a stable internet connection of at least 1 Mbps is needed. Your laptop should also have at least an Internet Explorer 11 version.
If all these are in place, you definitely have no problem running the QuickBooks software on your laptop.
Let’s move on to see the best laptops for Quickbooks.
Comparison Chart of Top 10 Best Business Laptops for Quickbooks
The following Laptops count as the best laptops for Quickbooks because of the outstanding productivity they offer, the CPU performance, design, and portability. The list is in no particular order, they all do well to run QuickBooks desktop without any hassles.
Model | CPU | System Storage | Battery Life | Weight |
---|---|---|---|---|
Apple MacBook Pro 15” | Intel Core i7 | 256 GB expandable to 4 TB | 10 hours | 4.02 lb |
Huawei Matebook X Pro | Intel Core i7 | 512 GB | 12 hours | 2.93 lb |
Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon | Intel Core i7 | 512 GB expandable to 1 TB | 5 hours | 2.49 lb |
Dell Inspiron 13 5000 | Intel Core i7 | 256 GB | 7 hours | 3.45 lb |
Dell XPS 13 | Intel Core i7 | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB,2TB PCIe Solid State Drive | 12 hours | 2.93 lb |
ASUS Zenbook UX330UA | Intel Core i7 | 256 GB | 12 hours | 2.8 lb |
HP Elitebook X360 1030 G3 | Intel Core i7 | 128 GB expandable to 2 TB | 14 hours | 2.76 lb |
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme | Intel Core i7 | 1 TB | 7 hours | 3.76 lb |
MSI Laptop PS2 | Intel Core i7 | 512 GB | 6 hours | 2.62 lb |
Microsoft Surface | Intel Core i7 | 1 TB | 17 hours | 4.02 lb |
Now, let’s get in to details of each best laptop for Quickbooks.
Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch 2018
Specification
Processor | 2.2 GHz 6-core Intel Core i7 processor |
Ram | 16 GB |
Storage | 256 GB expandable up to 4 TB |
Battery Life | 10 hours on iTunes movie playback |
weight | 4.02 Ib |
Highlights
The Apple MacBook Pro packs a 2.2GHz 6-core Intel Core i7 processor, making it a very fast laptop. The system performance is aided by the addition of a 16 GB RAM size expandable Up To 32 GB.
The MacBook weighs 4.02 Ib making it very portable, the thin design makes it very stylish as well. It has a hard disk drive of about 256 GB expandable up to 4 TB, though this might be small if one would use this laptop for other purposes other than Accounting (in which case you might need to purchase an external hard disk drive). However, its storage capacity is more than enough to install and run QuickBooks Mac effectively.
Another important thing is the battery life. The 2018 15-inch MacBook Pro uses a Built-in 83.6 watt-hour lithium-polymer battery. It could use up to 30 hours on standby mode and up to 10 hours respectively on wireless Web and iTunes movie playback. You can be sure to have a great experience at work with this laptop.
Huawei Matebook X pro
Specification
Processor | Intel Core i7 8550U/ i5 8250U processor |
Ram | 8 GB, 16 GB |
Storage | 512 GB |
Battery Life | 12 hours |
weight | 2.93 Ib |
Highlights
This laptop and the Dell XPS 13 are rivals of the Apple MacBook Pro 15 inch 2018. So if the MacBook is more than you can afford, you can try this or the Dell XPS 13.
The Huawei Matebook X pro is a touchscreen notebook. It works smoothly and very fast since it uses the 8th Generation Intel Core i7 8550U/ i5 8250U processor. It also uses the NVIDIA GeForce MX150 graphics card and comes with 2 GB GDDR5.
It’s 91% screen to body ratio makes it ideal for proper views. It has a weight of 2.93Ib – lighter than the Apple MacBook; this proves that it is very slim and light. Matebook X pro has an external hard disk drive of about 512 GB
The Matebook X pro uses a 5.74 Wh battery. It uses up to 12 hours while playing a video (+/- 1hr 30min) with all other unnecessary options turned off.
It packs a whopping resolution up to 3000 x 2000 pixels and it’s HD.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon
Specification
Processor | Intel Core i7 8550U/ i5 8250U quad-core processor |
Ram | 8 GB, 16 GB |
Storage | 512 GB expandable up to 1 TB |
Battery Life | 15 hours |
weight | 2.49 Ib |
Highlights
The Lenovo ThinkPad uses an 8th Gen Intel Core i5-8250U (quad-core) and has a RAM of 16 GB. The screen resolution is 2560 x 1440 px.
ThinkPad X1 carbon comes in a very lightweight design, about 2.49 Ib, and it is very sleek. The hard disk space is 512 GB (256 GB and 1 TB also available). This is more than adequate for running QuickBooks desktop.
It uses an Integrated 3 cell Li-Ion 57 Wh with Rapid Charge technology. The Rapid Charge technology allows it to charge 80 % within an hour. The battery lasts up to 15 hours.
Dell Inspiron 13 5000 full HD 2-in-1
Specification
Processor | Intel Core i7 8550U/ i5 8250U processor |
Ram | 8 GB expandable up to 16 GB |
Storage | 256 GB SSD |
Battery Life | 7 hours |
weight | 3.45 Ib |
Highlights
Dell Inspiron 13 uses Intel Core i5-8250U; it has 8GB of RAM expandable to 16 GB. It is a touch-enabled device and you can rotate the screen to 360 degrees. The presence of these two attributes makes it ideal as a 2-in-1 PC.
It weighs about 3.45 pounds. It has a solid state drive of 256 GB and an Intel UHD Graphics 620 graphics card.
The Dell Inspiron 13 uses a 42 Wh battery. Which should last up to about 7 hours surfing the net using Wi-Fi. Whilst this system can be reviewed as a mediocre by many blogs. It is one of the cheapest out there that fits the purpose of accounting and would wonderfully perform if chosen. Its specifications are more than enough for QuickBooks and any other minor thing one would love to do.
Dell XPS 13
Specification
Processor | Intel Core i7 8550U/ i5 8250U processor |
Ram | 8 GB, 16 GB |
Storage | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB,2TB PCIe Solid State Drive |
Battery Life | 12 hours |
weight | 2.93 Ib |
Highlights
This product is one of a kind. It uses the 8th Generation Intel Core i5 8250U / i7 8550U and its RAM size is customizable up to 16 GB.
It has a large screen to body ratio and weighs about 1.2 kg. It comes in with 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB,2TBPCIe Solid State Drive (note: you could notify dell to customize the laptop according to your desire.)
The Dell XPS 13 uses a 52 Wh battery and lasts about 12 hours.
Asus Zenbook 13″ Ultra Slim Laptop
Specification
Processor | Intel Core i7 8550U/ i5 8250U processor |
Ram | 8 GB expandable up to 16 GB |
Storage | 256 GB SSD |
Battery Life | 12 hours |
weight | 2.8 Ib |
Highlights
Asus Zenbook uses 8th Generation Intel Core i5 8250U / i7 8550U with 8GB of RAM. It uses an integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620 graphics card.
Zenbook weighs about 2.8 Ib, which is very light. It has an Ultra-fast solid state drive of 256 GB. It has an additional spec which is worth mentioning, this is its high maximum resolution of up to 3200 x 180 with a QHD resolution of 276 PPI.
Asus Zenbook uses a Li-Polymer battery and is estimated to last about 12 hours under certain conditions, such as with Wi-Fi enabled, display brightness set to 60% or 150 cd/m2.
HP EliteBook x360 1030 G3
Specification
Processor | Intel Core i7 8550U/ i5 8250U processor |
Ram | 16 GB SDRAM |
Storage | 128 GB SSD expandable up to 2 TB |
Battery Life | 14 hours |
weight | 2.76 Ib |
Highlights
The HP EliteBook is customizable to 8th Generation Intel Core i7 or i5, HP EliteBook x360 uses a 16 GB SD RAM. The storage is also customizable to different sizes from just 128 GB to about 2 TB Solid state drive. Its weight would vary according to the different configurations but it starts from about 2.76 Ib.
Hp x360 uses the Intel’s Intel® UHD Graphics 620 graphics card and has a battery life of about 14 hours. It uses a 56.2 Wh HP Long Life 4-cell, Li-ion battery.
This system is perfect for office use and is one of the best choices for accounting purposes.
Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Extreme
Specification
Processor | 2.60 GHz Intel Core i7 8850U 6 core processor |
Ram | up to 64 GB |
Storage | Up to 1 TB SSD |
Battery Life | 7 hours |
weight | 3.76 Ib |
Highlights
They come in two major types (depending on configuration). The full HD non-touch and the 4k touchscreen. X1 Extreme uses the 8th Generation Intel Core i7 8850H 6 core processor with a speed of about 2.60GHZ with up to 64 GB of RAM if configured. It comes with an NVIDIA Graphics Card.
The two types of X1 Extreme has two different starting weights. The FHD non-touch has a weight starting from 3.76 Ibs. The 4k Touchscreen has a weight starting from 4.06 Ibs. It uses up to about 1 TB PCle Solid State drive. It also supports up to the same size of SSD to make up to about 2 TB.
Lastly, its battery is speculated to last about 14 hours, and it also employs a rapid charge technology which charges the battery to up to about 80%
MSI Laptop PS42
Specification
Processor | Intel Core i7 8550U/ i5 8250U processor |
Ram | 16 GB |
Storage | 512 GB |
Battery Life | 6 hours |
weight | 2.62 Ib |
Highlights
The Msi PS42 does not fall behind all the other laptops mentioned thus far. It uses the 8th Generation Intel Core i7 with 16 GB of RAM.
It is very light and weighs about 2.62 lb. It also has a very high screen to body ratio (80%)
Depending on your choice you could choose whether you would go with either of the following categories: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design, 4GB GDDR5 (8RC) or NVIDIA GeForce MX150 2GB GDDR5 dedicated graphics (8RB), or the Intel® integrated graphics (8M)
The laptop has a poor battery life of about 6 hours.
Microsoft Surface Book 2
Specification
Processor | Intel Core i7 8650U quad-core processor |
Ram | 16 GB |
Storage | 1 TB PCIe 3.0 SSD. |
Battery Life | 17 hrs |
weight | 4.02 Ib |
Highlights
Microsoft Surface book 2 is one of the most amazing PC in the market. It uses a 1.9GHz Intel Core i7-8650U (quad-core, 8MB cache, up to 4.2GHz with Turbo Boost) with a graphics card of either Intel UHD Graphics 620 or the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 (6GB GDDR5 VRAM)
The surface book 2 uses a 16 GB RAM chip. It has a storage capacity of about 1 TB PCIe 3.0 SSD. Despite its large surface, it maintains portability and lightweight 4.02 Ib.
The Microsoft Surface Book 2 has an excellent battery life of about 17 hours.
Final Verdict
All these best laptops for Quickbooks do perfectly well to run QuickBooks desktop and give you enough room to do it in style with outstanding qualities in:
- CPU performance
- System Storage
- Battery Life
- And Extreme Portability.
You can check the most recent prices on Amazon using the links on each item. Cheers!