Best Laptops for Kali Linux (updated October 2022)
Are you a pen-testing enthusiast, security researcher, forensic analyst or a student who is just starting up learning Kali Linux? You should know that Kali Linux is a powerful Debian-based Linux distribution which is mainly used by penetration testers, security researchers, hackers, forensics analysts etc. If you are searching for a laptop for the same purpose, you have landed on the correct page.
In this article, I will discuss about minimum and recommended hardware specifications that are needed to run Kali Linux and I will also cover a few laptop models that are most suitable to run Kali Linux.
Minimum System Requirements for Kali
The minimum requirements for installing Kali Linux may vary depending on what you would like to install and your use case. Below are the minimum requirements that are needed to run Kali Linux:
- Processor: 32 or 64-bit CPU (single core) with 2.0GHz speed
- Memory: 128MB
- Storage: 2GB
- Graphics: HD graphics and monitor
- Internet: [Optional] Broadband connection
Please note that these are the bare-minimum requirements that your machine should have in order to be able to run Kali Linux. If you’re interested in running Kali Linux with default Xfce4 full desktop environment, please checkout the recommended system requirements coming up next.
Recommended System Requirements for Kali
Below are the recommended hardware requirements that your system should be to be able to run Kali Linux with default Xfce4 desktop environment:
- Processor: 32 or 64-bit (dual core) CPU with 2.0GHz speed or higher [Intel Core i5 or equivalent preferred]
- Memory: 2GB [8GB preferred]
- Storage: 20GB [SSD preferred]
- Graphics: HD graphics and monitor
- Internet: [Optional] Broadband connection
Please note that recommended requirements do not mean you will be able to use all the penetration testing tools with their best potential. There are a lot of tools in Kali that are resource intensive (such as BurpSuite, Metasploit etc.) which will obviously perform better if your system resources are above the recommended specifications.
Multitasking is another factor that you should definitely consider since Kali Linux will run various tools and services in background while you will be conducting your hacking sessions. Kali Linux is designed to run over a wide range of environment and hardware. You can install Kali Linux on single board computers (Raspberry Pi), ARM processor architecture (32/64-bit), Mobiles (Kali NetHunter), Docker containers, WSL containers, Virtual machines, USB stick (Live Boot).
Tip: The stronger and faster your system’s hardware is, the better your hacking experience with Kali Linux will be.
Recommended Laptops for Kali Linux
Apple MacBook Pro – Z11C000E4/Z11B000EM
This 13-inch Apple MacBook Pro is powered by the M1 chip – featuring the 8 core CPU (4 high-performance cores and 4 high-efficiency cores) and 8 core GPU to offer an incredible and unmatched performance. An advanced 16-core Neural engine for more machine learning power in your favorite apps. It is a power-house with longest-ever battery life of up to 20 hours.
Specifications
- Processor: Apple M1 Chip (3.2 GHz) – An ARM-based chip designed by Apple using cutting-edge 5nm technology
- Memory: 16 GB DDR4 SDRAM
- Storage: 512 GB PCIe-based onboard SSD
- Display: 13.3″ Retina display with True Tone and native resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels (227 ppi)
- Graphics Card: Apple M1 (8 cores)
- Battery: Built-in 58.2-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery with up to 20 hours long battery backup
- Weight: 3.0 pounds (1.4 kg)
Additional Features
- Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) wireless networking
- Bluetooth 5.0 wireless technology
- Full-size English backlit keyboard with ambient light sensor
- 720p FaceTime HD camera
- Stereo speakers with high dynamic range
- 3.5 mm headphone jack
- 61W USB-C power adapter
- Two Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports with support for: Charging, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt (up to 40 Gbps), USB 3.1 Gen 2 (up to 10 Gbps)
- Top-notch Apple hardware specifications
- 16-core neural engine for advanced machine learning
- Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) wireless networking
- Bluetooth 5.0 wireless technology
- 20 hours long battery backup