If you are someone who wants to become a music producer or DJ, there are a few factors to keep in mind while buying a laptop for your creative endeavors. You need to have a good combination of processor and memory for your DAW (digital audio workstation) to function properly. Hence, storage is a must, considering higher bitrate files accumulate a lot of space on your device. Finally, you need to have numerous storage options to support all attachments and peripherals.
Now that we’ve cut all the requirements down, let’s take a look at some of the best laptops for music production and DJs you can buy. For your convenience, we have divided the list into segments based on their price points: Buying the best laptops for DJ, here’s everything you need to read this post.
Every year, the fast-paced music and tech industry produce more efficient and profitable laptops.
Although, based on their specifications, not all of them are suitable for all DJs. So you are never alone if you are a little bewildered in this quest.
This is a completely honest article that summarizes the best laptops for DJs and answers all of your burning questions to help you make a selection.
We have compiled this list of 9+ Best DJ Laptops Under $500 on the market to help you make an informed choice. We’ve also included a buyer’s guide to help you prioritize various items based on your needs.
What kind of laptops are used for DJing?
Music creation requires specialized software and technologies that require compatibility to support complex systems.
Fortunately, among the plethora of other laptops, there are some great DJ laptops that make the game absolutely smooth for you.
These laptops are preloaded with specific software and must meet certain system specifications not only for creating music but for mixing as well.
A laptop like this would have fast RAM and is one of the fastest processors, among other things. It is because you will be using this laptop to get your digital audio workstation working and you don’t want any lag.
Additionally, these laptops have adequate storage space to hold all your music tracks, regardless of their size, and should be mobile and sturdy enough to survive any falls if you plan to take them on the road.
Whenever we want a laptop that meets all of these specifications, our options become limited. However, depending on your budget, you can choose between expensive and reasonably cheap ones.
This studio was created to help you make an informed choice when shopping for the best laptop for DJing.
Best DJ Laptops Under $500 | Comparison Table 2022
Top Quality | 5-Star Pick | Great Prices
| Image | Title | Brand | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acer Chromebook Spin 311 Convertible Laptop, Intel Celeron N4020, 11.6" HD Touch, 4GB LPDDR4, 32GB eMMC, Gigabit Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, Google Chrome, CP311-2H-C679 | Acer | Check Price | |
| ASUS VivoBook L203MA Ultra-Thin Laptop, Intel Celeron N4000 Processor, 4GB LPDDR4, 64GB eMMC, 11.6” HD, USB-C, Windows 10 in S Mode (Switchable to Pro), L203MA-DS04, One Year of Microsoft Office 365 | ASUS | Check Price | |
| Acer Aspire 5 A515-46-R14K Slim Laptop | 15.6" Full HD IPS | AMD Ryzen 3 3350U Quad-Core Mobile Processor | 4GB DDR4 | 128GB NVMe SSD | WiFi 6 | Backlit KB | Amazon Alexa | Windows 10 Home (S mode) | Acer | Check Price | |
| HP 2021 Newest 14in HD Laptop Light-Weight, AMD Athlon 3050U(Up to 3.2GHz), 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD + 64GB eMMC, 1 yr Office365, WiFi, Bluetooth 5, USB-A&C, HDMI, Webcam, Win10S,w/Ghost Manta Accessories | HP | Check Price | |
| 2022 Newest Dell Inspiron 3000 Laptop, 15.6 HD Display, Intel N4020 Processor, 16GB RAM, 512GB PCIe SSD, Online Meeting Ready, Webcam, WiFi, HDMI, Bluetooth, Win10 Home, Black | Dell | Check Price | |
| HP High Performance Pavilion 15 15.6" FHD Touchscreen Laptop, 11th Gen Core i7-1165G7, WiFi-6, Backlit Keyboard, USB-C, HDMI, Iris Xe Graphics, 16GB RAM, 512GB PCIe SSD, Win 10, Fog Blue | HP | Check Price | |
| BMAX Y13 13.3" 2 in 1 Convertible Laptop, FHD(1920 x 1080) Touchscreen , 8GB DDR4, 256GB SSD, Intel Quad Core N4120, WiFi, Bluetooth, USB-C, Windows 10, Thin and Light All-Metal Body | Bmax | Check Price | |
| ASUS L410 MA-OB24 Ultra Thin Laptop, 14” FHD Display, Intel Pentium Silver N5030 Processor, 4GB RAM, 128GB Storage, NumberPad, Windows 10 Home in S Mode, Star Black | ASUS | Check Price | |
| HP Stream 11.6-inch HD Laptop, Intel Celeron N4000, 4 GB RAM, 32 GB eMMC, Windows 10 Home in S Mode with Office 365 Personal for 1 Year (11-ak0020nr, Diamond White) | HP | Check Price |
Prices and images pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Best DJ Laptops Under $500 | 2022 Products Overview
1. Acer Chromebook Spin 311
- Chromebook runs on Chrome OS - An operating system by Google that is built for the way we live today. It comes with built-in virus protection, updates automatically, boots up in seconds and continues to stay fast over time. (Internet connection is required).
- All the Google apps you know and love come standard on every Chromebook, which means you can edit, download, and convert Microsoft Office files in Google Docs, Sheets and Slides.
- Get access to more than 2 million Android apps from Google Play to learn and do more.
- Chromebooks come with built-in storage for offline access to your most important files and an additional 100GB of Google Drive space to ensure that all of your files are backed up automatically.
- Acer CP311-2H-C679 convertible Chromebook comes with 11.6” HD Touch IPS Display, Intel Celeron N4020, 4GB LPDDR4 Memory, 32GB eMMC, Google Chrome and up to 10-hours battery life.
2. ASUS VivoBook L203MA
- Efficient Intel Celeron N4000 Processor (4M Cache, up to 2.6 GHz)
- 11.6” HD (1366 x 768) Display with HD webcam
- Compatible with Google Classroom; run Google Classroom on Microsoft Edge or Internet Explorer 11
- 64GB emmC Flash Storage and 4GB LPDDR4 RAM
- Windows 10 in S mode (upgradeable to Windows 10 Home)
- One Year of Microsoft Office 365 Included
- Slim and Portable: 0.7” thin and weighs only 2.2 pounds(battery included)
- USB Type-C (Gen 1), USB Type-A, HDMI, MicroSD connectivity (USB Transfer speed may vary. Learn more at ASUS website)
- Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) for speeds up to three times faster than 802.11n
- Windows 10 in S mode is the new standard in app and cloud based operating systems. Windows 10 in S mode is a 100% app based version of Windows where applications are verified and tested for quality on the Microsoft store.
3. Acer Aspire 5 A515
- Powerful Productivity: AMD Ryzen 3 3350U delivers desktop-class performance and amazing battery life in a slim notebook. With Precision Boost, get up to 3.5GHz for your high-demand applications
- Maximized Visuals: See even more on the stunning 15.6 Full HD display with 82.58% screen-to-body, 16:9 aspect ratio and narrow bezels
- Backlit Keyboard and Fingerprint Reader: Biometric fingerprint reader and Windows Hello sign-in options help keep your Acer PC secure
- Internal Specifications: 4GB DDR4 on-board memory (1 slot available); 128GB NVMe solid-state drive storage (1 hard drive bay available) to store your files and media
- Acers Purified.Voice technology, features enhanced digital signal processing to cancel out background noise, improve speech accuracy and far-field pickup, which not only makes calls clearer, but makes talking to Alexa easier than before.
- Using Alexa on your PC is as easy as asking a question. Just ask and Alexa can check your calendar, create lists, play music, answer questions, read the news and more.
- Secure Operating System: Windows 10 Home (S mode) comes with advanced security features built right in, like protections against phishing and malicious software so you dont have to think twice when navigating to a new webpage or downloading an app
- Connections: 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 Dual-Band 2.4GHz and 5GHz featuring MU-MIMO technology; 10 100 1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN; Bluetooth 5.1
- Ports For All Your Accessories: USB 3.2 Type-C, 2 USB 3.2 Gen 1 (1 Power-off Charging), USB 2.0, HDMI 2.0 with HDCP support, headphone speaker line-out jack, Ethernet (RJ-45), DC-in for AC adapter
4. HP 14 inch HD Laptop
- ✔【14 HD Display】14 HD(1366 x 768) Display with micro-edge bezel design, WLED-backlit, BrightView, Enjoy your entertainment with the great quality and high-definition detail of 1 million pixels
- ✔【AMD Athlon Mobile Processor with Radeon Graphics】 AMD Athlon Silver 3050U (2.3 GHz, up to 3.2 GHz). This laptop is powered by AMD which gives good performance with efficiency. It can also do simple gaming thanks to its integrated AMD Radeon graphics.
- ✔【Upgrade to 8GB RAM】Substantial high-bandwidth RAM to smoothly run your games and photo- and video-editing applications, as well as multiple programs and browser tabs all at once
- 【Upgrade to 64GB emmc + 128GB SSD】Speedy solid-state drive for seanless performance and reliable multitasking, allows you to store a large number of files, improving the reading speed of large files, ensuring daily use and the speed of opening large files, reduce the time of application and file loading
- ✔【Activate 1 Year MS office 365 & Win10 in S mode】(About switch to regular Win10, see the detail in Product description) Activate pre-installed Office: 1.Launch any Office app > 2.Start your activation by signing in with your Microsoft account(Create a account if you dont have one yet) > 3.Click Activate Office > 4.Sign in your account and follow the next prompts. > 5.Complete Step 1,2 and 3 > 6.Click on Refresh once Office is ready > 7.Open a document and accept the license agreement.
5. Newest Dell Inspiron 3000
- 【Dell Inspiron Laptop】16GB high-bandwidth RAM to smoothly run multiple applications and browser tabs all at once; 512GB PCIe NVME M.2 Solid State Drive for ample storage space.
- 【Processor】Intel Celeron Processor N4020 (2 cores, 2 Threads, 4MB Cache, Base Frequency at 1.1 GHz, and Up to 2.8 GHz at Maximum Turbo Speed)
- 【Display】15.6-inch HD (1366 x 768) Anti-Glare LED-Backlit Non-touch Display, Intel UHD Graphics with Shared Graphics Memory
- 【Tech Specs】802.11ac 1x1 WiFi and Bluetooth, 1 x SD Card Reader, 1 x USB 2.0, 1 x Wedge-shaped lock slot, 1 x Power, 1 x HDMI 1.4b, 2 x USB 3.1 Gen 1, 1 x Headphone & Microphone Audio Jack
- 【Operating System】Windows 10 Home-The Windows 10 Home operating system offers built-in security and app like Mail, Calendar, Photo, Microsoft Edge, and more to help keep you safe and productive
6. HP High Performance Pavilion 15
- 15.6 diagonal, FHD (1920 x 1080), touch, IPS, micro-edge, BrightView, 250 nits, 45% NTSC, Intel Core i7-1165G7 (up to 4.7 GHz with Intel Turbo Boost Technology, 12 MB L3 cache, 4 cores)
- 512GB PCIe SSD Storage, 16GB DDR4-3200 SDRAM (2 x 8 GB)
- Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 (2x2) and Bluetooth 5 combo (Supporting Gigabit file transfer speeds), 2 x USB 3.1 Gen1, 1 x HDMI, 1 x USB 3.1 Type-C Gen1, SD Card Reader, Headphone/Microphone Combo Jack
- 1 multi-format SD media card reader, HP Wide Vision 720p HD camera with integrated dual array digital microphones
- Full-size island-style Cloud Blue Backlit keyboard with numeric keypad, B&O Play Audio with Dual Speakers, Microsoft Windows 10 Home (64 bit)
7. BMAX Y13 2 in 1 Convertible
- Maximized Your Visuals: 13.3 super narrow-bezel touch screen (1920x1080) native resolution. IPS technology for wide viewing angles. Convertible design - allows you to switch between high-functioning laptop and portable tablet forms. The durable hinge makes it quick and simple to transfer to tent, stand, and tablet mode.
- Powered by 2021 Newest Upgraded Intel N4120 processor up to 2.6GHz (4 Cores, 4 Threads, 4M Cache), running faster and more stable, thank to 256GB Solid State Drive and 8GB high-bandwidth DDR4 RAM, large storage for best performance, enhance all day productivity.
- Built to Connect: Comes with 2xType-C port for your speedy data transfers, power delivery and video out, whats more, build in fast charger DC port, lastest 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, Windows 10 64-Bit, stereo speakers, Micro SD card reader, SSD expansion slot plus headset jack and integrated webcam.
- Awesome Backlit Keyboard: Works in two states: On/Off, 2-level adjustable backlight allows you to adjust your keyboards brightness manually by F2, provide you with better visibility in low light environments or even no light.
- Ultra-Thin and Light laptop: Typical weight of 2.8 lb/1.25Kgm for 13.3. Elegantly slim at 12.1x8.2x0.6, all mental body design makes it both portable and stylish.
8. ASUS L410 MA-OB24 Ultra Thin
- Efficient Intel Pentium Silver N5030 Processor (4M Cache, up to 3.1 GHz)
- 14” Full HD (1920x1080) Display
- 128GB eMMC Flash Storage and 4GB DDR4 RAM
- Windows 10 in S mode with One Year Microsoft 365 Personal included
- Slim and Portable: 0.72” thin and weighs only 2.87 lbs (battery included)
- USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C, USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, HDMI (*USB Transfer speed may vary. Learn more at ASUS website)
- Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) for speeds up to three times faster than Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n)
- Windows 10 in S mode is a 100% app based version of Windows where applications are verified and tested for quality on the Microsoft store. If you want to install an app that isnt available in the Microsoft Store, youll need to switch out of S mode for free, which is easy and fast.
9. HP Stream 11.6-inch HD Laptop
- STUDY, STREAM, SHARE: Between home, school and work, you need a PC that wont quit. Post, play and stay productive all day with the affordable and portable HP Stream 11
- KEEP YOUR PROJECTS SAFE: Experience peace of mind that comes with the most secure Windows ever built with Office, Microsoft Edge, Bing Search, Windows Defender and more
- OFFICE 365 FOR ONE YEAR: Get full access to Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, OneNote, Access, and 1 TB of OneDrive Storage for one year
- PROCESSOR: Intel(R) Celeron(R) N4000 Processor, Dual-Core, 1.1 GHz base frequency, up to 2.6 GHz burst frequency
- DISPLAY: 11.6-inch diagonal HD AntiGlare WLED-backlit display (1366 x 768); 73% screen to body ratio
- MEMORY: 4 GB DDR3L-1600 SDRAM (not upgradable)
- STORAGE: 32 GB eMMC
- LONG BATTERY LIFE: Up to 12 hours (video playback), up to 8 hours and 30 minutes (wireless streaming)
- THIN, LIGHT AND PORTABLE (unpackaged): 13.27 inches (W) x 8.90 inches (D) x 0.70 inch (H); 3.17 pounds
- OPERATING SYSTEM AND WARRANTY: Windows 10 Home in S Mode and 1-year limited hardware warranty with 24-hour, 7 days a week web support when shipped from and sold by Amazon.com.
Factors to consider
Owning a laptop with lots of RAM and long battery life is essential, but what keeps these desirable attributes? Of course, making that decision isn’t easy, and that’s where this article comes in to help you get up – and – run on stage in no time, probably.
Here are all four main things to consider when searching for the best laptop for DJing.
Number of USB ports
What are the essentials a DJ needs every day? An additional sound card is required. DJ Controller is a program that allows you to control your music.
To use your laptop with a mouse and pad controller, you’ll need a laptop with at least three USB connections. If all three of these parts aren’t really normal for you, be sure to think about all of your options and pick the best one.
Complete DJ setup
Are you trying to embarrass yourself with such a dead laptop? In fact, you may forget to bring the mains adapter with you to the stage at some point. Certainly not!
Battery life
Hours and hours of travel and shows mean you don’t always have access to the electrical outlet to charge your devices.
In fact, there are times when you even forget to take the power lead with you to the stages, so are you going to embarrass yourself with a dead laptop?
Obviously not! Fortunately, some laptops have long-lasting batteries that can really run for up to 15-20 hours without sophisticated software, allowing you to get through the day.
RAM
Since we all know how valuable RAM is for a perfect laptop, we mean laptops with 8GB or more if you want your gadgets to run more smoothly.
Since everything else can be tweaked to suit your needs, having decent RAM is also a sign of reliability.
However, if you plan to use more sophisticated software like Serato & Abele Tonno and T Traktor, 16GB of RAM is recommended to accommodate the heavy features.
CPU and processing speed
The processing power and speed are another factor of extreme interest, as while using virtual instruments, plugins and effects of various types, the PC needs to calculate a more or less conspicuous series of data and needs to do so. quickly.
Preferably, it is better to have workstations that work with multiple cores and with a clock speed of 2.0 gHz and up.
Memory disks
Speed isn’t just an important aspect when playing or running a VST or plugin; it also applies to the memory of the saved data. It is therefore advisable to have a workstation with SSD (Solid State Drive) disks as they allow for faster loading of data (as well as any sound libraries).
The disk capacity should be at least 512GB. Depending on usage and production load, you may need more space in the future but, to start, it is still large enough to work with peace of mind for a reasonable amount of time.
How to search for a good DJ laptop?
It can be difficult to determine which laptops are suitable for the job and which ones should be avoided.
If you are looking for a music production laptop, there are a few things you should think about before making a purchase.
And they are not the same as what other creatives require in a computer. So you might want to upgrade to some of the best laptops if they don’t have the right form factor specs.
You’ll need one of the best processors to power your laptop, as well as plenty of RAM to house all the audio tracks and plug-ins you’re using in your digital audio workstation, be it Logic, ProTools, or something else.
You’ll also need a lot of storage space for all the audio files and samples you’ll need to keep close at hand.
Additional Tips: Best DJ Laptops 2022
Whenever it comes to producing music without interruption, there are several elements to consider.
Consequently, selecting the best laptop for DJing is a difficult task. Each music producer may have different needs when it comes to using a laptop for composing and mixing.
They should choose a device that helps them achieve their goals based on these requirements. Overall, investing in something as vital as a laptop can enhance or destroy the future of your DJ career.
As a result, going out of your way and selecting an alternative that is not only popular but suits you well isn’t really a bad idea.
Make a note of everything you need in your Djing laptop after reading the buying guide, then browse the best laptops for DJing again, then choose the one that suits your needs.
Frequent questions
What laptops do professional DJs use?
Professional DJs can use a laptop based on the Windows or macOS operating system. It should have a good screen, an audio out port and a good processor capable of playing music and loading it quickly.
How much RAM should a laptop used by DJs have?
A DJ laptop should have at least 8GB of RAM, and it’s also recommended that the machine have 16GB of RAM, making the device future-proof.
How much storage should a laptop used by DJs have?
A laptop with 128GB of memory is more than enough if a DJ only uses software. However, a professional DJ should opt for one with at least 512GB of storage, who likes to store custom DJ music that has been created locally.
Do you need a laptop to DJ?
Yes, a good-sounding pair of headphones and a laptop will be a DJ’s best friend. Be sure to select the one that offers high fidelity audio output, and should also have additional ports for connecting to an external speaker or audio system.
Do you need a MacBook laptop to DJ?
Most DJ software, such as Virtual DJ and Pro DJ, is available for both Windows and macOS operating systems. Therefore, you can use a MacBook or Windows laptop to DJ without any hassle.
Why do DJs use Mac laptops?
Most professional DJs use MacBook laptops, as they offer good battery life and good sound performance. Compared to Windows-based laptops, macOS machines crash less frequently, giving the DJ peace of mind, especially while performing live in front of a crowd.
Conclusion
DJing is now considered a very noble profession, where artists earn a lot of money and respect. If you’re into it, you can consider any of the laptops that offer the right balance between regular use and DJ-related tasks.
Some of these laptops offer a lot of performance and storage which makes these machines good for gaming and can be used for other applications as well.
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