DJing has undergone a digital revolution in recent years. While vinyl is still used by some DJs, most now rely on laptops and DJ controllers to mix music. This transition has opened up DJing to more people than ever before. You no longer need expensive turntables and an extensive vinyl collection to get started. All you need is a good laptop.
But with so many laptop options out there, it can be tricky to pick the right one for DJing. In this guide, we‘ll countdown the 5 best DJ laptops you can buy in 2024. We evaluated over 20 different models, considering factors like performance, build quality, battery life, and value.
How We Ranked the Best Laptops for DJing
We used the following criteria to select and rank the laptops:
Performance: A DJ laptop needs enough processing power and RAM to handle music production software without lag or crashes, even when running several programs at once. We favored laptops with the latest generation processors.
Build Quality: DJs need durable laptops that can withstand being transported and used in different environments. Laptops with metal chassis tend to be most resilient.
Battery Life: Long battery life allows you to mix music on the move without worrying about your laptop dying. 6+ hours of usage is ideal for DJs.
Display & Sound: A good display lets you view waveforms clearly while mixing. Quality speakers or headphone jacks allow you to accurately judge your mixes.
Value: We looked for laptops that provide strong DJ performance without breaking the bank. More affordable options may require some compromises but still work well.
Keep reading for our picks of the 5 best DJ laptops you can buy in 2024!
#1 Best Overall: Apple MacBook Pro 16-Inch (2023)
Best Overall
- 16-inch Liquid Retina XDR display
- Up to M2 Pro 12-core CPU
- Up to 32GB RAM
- Up to 22 hour battery life
Apple sets the standard once again with their latest 16-inch MacBook Pro. The 2023 upgrade packs even more power and stamina into the sleek, durable chassis that pros rely on.
The new high-bandwidth M2 Pro chip offers up to a 12-core CPU and 19-core GPU. That‘s plenty of performance to run multiple instances of production software smoothly, with demanding plugins and effects. Plus up to 32GB of fast unified memory keeps everything snappy even with tons of tracks loaded.
The brilliant 16-inch Liquid Retina XDR display shows off waveforms and visualizers in striking color and clarity. And built-in high-fidelity 6-speaker sound lets you accurately judge mixes. Top-notch 1080p webcam and extensive array of ports make it easy to DJ livestreams and connect peripherals.
With up to 22 hours of battery life, you can mix and produce music for an entire day or more without worrying about outlets. And the all-aluminum build feels premium while protecting the high-end components inside.
In true Apple fashion it demands a premium price, but know that DJ performance is worth every penny. For power users ready to invest in a system built to last years, the 2023 MacBook Pro 16-inch is simply unbeatable.
Pros
- Class-leading performance
- Best-in-class display & sound
- Extremely long battery life
- Durable, travel-ready design
Cons
- Very expensive
- Limited to macOS
#2 Best for Battery: Dell XPS 15
Longest Battery Life
- Up to Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti GPU
- Up to i9-12900HK CPU
- 15.6” 3.5K OLED touch display
- Up to 17 hour battery
Dell updated their popular XPS 15 laptop for 2022 with exceptional performance, vibrant visuals, and batteries that seem to never quit. Configured properly, it lasts even longer on a charge than the mighty MacBook Pro above.
Slim bezels surround the stunning 15.6-inch 3.5K OLED touch display with 100% DCI-P3 color gamut coverage. Vibrant HDR 400 True Black visuals make your waveforms pop when mixing and show off intricate VJ sets brilliantly.
Under the hood you’ve got options for blazing 12th Gen Intel Core i7 or i9 CPUs up to a 14-core i9-12900HK. Plus RTX 3050 and 3050 Ti dedicated GPU options for handling visual effects and outputs. With 32GB DDR5 RAM helping to juggle demanding DJ software and loads of tracks, slowdowns are virtually non-existent.
In lighter usage, the large 86WHr battery pushes an amazing 17 hours between charges. Heavy CPU/GPU loads drop closer to 6 hours, but still keep you mixing for a full workday with power to spare. Sleek CNC machined aluminum chassis, narrow borders, and gorilla glass display offer resilience for life on the road.
With elite-level performance rivalling Apple’s finest workstations, if battery life trumps all, this Dell XPS 15 has the stamina to go and go.
Pros
- Class-leading 17 hour battery life
- RTX 3000-series graphics
- Stunning OLED touch display
- Powerful 12th Gen Intel performance
Cons
- Expensive when fully optioned
- Chassis shows fingerprints
#3 Best Under $1,000: Acer Swift 3
Best Value under $1,000
- Intel Core i7-1260P
- 16GB LPDDR4 RAM
- 14” 2.8K OLED display
- Up to 17 hours battery
- Under 4 lbs weight
For an awesome DJ laptop at a reasonable price, look no further than Acer‘s Swift 3. Selling for $999 fully configured, it punches far above its weight class thanks to 12th Gen Intel Core performance, fast RAM and SSDs, and a stunning OLED display.
Alder Lake architecture brings both efficiency and excellent multi-thread power to the Swift 3‘s 12-core i7-1260P. 16GB of speedy LPDDR4 memory keeps your most demanding productions and live sets running ultra-smooth. The PCIe NVMe SSD is quite fast as well with up to 2TB capacity available.
Expect silky-smooth waveforms and dazzling visuals on the 14-inch 2.8K OLED touchscreen display. 100% DCI-P3 color coverage immerses you in vivid colors, while 500 nits max brightness overcomes challenging lighting conditions. At just 2.65 pounds, it travels light in your bag or backpack as well.
In lighter loads, the Swift 3 lasts over 17 hours per charge—enough for even marathon DJ sessions into the early morning hours. The sleek aluminum chassis and Gorilla Glass Victus screen add durability without weighing you down. And it charges quickly when plugged in.
If you‘re seeking a dependably fast DJ laptop with a stunning display that won‘t break the bank, the powered-up 2022 Swift 3 checks all the boxes.
Pros
- Great performance for under $1,000
- Light, durable chassis with amazing display
- Excellent battery life
- Good value for specs
Cons
- Not as powerful as pricier options
- 256GB base storage is limiting
#4 Most Portable: LG Gram 17
Most Portable 17-Inch
- 17” WQXGA (2560 x 1600) IPS display
- Intel 12th Gen Core i7-1260P
- 16GB LPDDR5 RAM
- 80Wh battery
- Just 2.98 lbs weight
Serious DJs love the extra real estate massive 17-inch laptops provide for previewing mixes and manipulating multiple apps at once. Yet traditionally models this size weigh a ton—not so with LG’s featherlight marvel.
Tipping scales at just 2.98 pounds with a durable magnesium chassis, the LG Gram 17 sets new standards for giant screen portability. The width of its display rivals smaller 15-inch models despite the added height, making it easier to slip into bags.
Beneath the vivid 16:10 aspect ratio IPS display lies ample 12th Gen Core i7 power for lag-free DJ software use. 16GB of next-gen LPDDR5 5200MHz RAM helps you load up projects fast. A 1TB NVMe Gen 4 SSD stores thousands of lossless audio tracks and productions.
Battery life is another strength, with the 17-inch Gram lasting over 17 hours of light use on an 80Wh battery. Fast charging minimizes downtime as well. And it meets durability standards for MIL-STD-810G and IP52 dust/water protection, easing worries of life on the road.
For globe-trotting DJs craving maximum screen real estate without killing your back or bag weight limits, this LG Gram 17 rewrites expectations of what slender 17-inch laptops can achieve.
Pros
- Massive 17-inch display
- Astoundingly light 2.98 lb chassis
- Excellent battery life
- Good performance for mobile use
Cons
- Chassis flex under pressure
- No discrete GPU option
- Pricey
#5 Best 17-Inch Workstation: Razer Blade 17
Most Powerful 17-Inch
- 17.3" UHD 144Hz G-Sync display
- Nvidia RTX 3080 Ti graphics
- Intel i9-12900H 8-core CPU
- 32GB DDR5 RAM
- 80Wh battery
When only imposing, desktop-class power will suffice for your productions and performances, the incredible Razer Blade 17 delivers. Blazing GPU performance, high core/thread CPUs, and an immersive high-refresh display create the ultimate mobile DJ command center.
Nvidia‘s mighty RTX 3080 Ti GPU dominates demanding visual workflows, 3D animations, intricate lighting setups, and processors heavy effects chains with ease. Enjoy silky smooth visuals on the vibrant 17.3-inch UHD G-Sync monitor with buttery 144Hz refresh rates.
An 8-core 14-thread Intel Core i9-12900H CPU assisted by robust vapor chamber cooling plows through DJ software, plugins and huge project files without hesitation. For ultra-demanding users 32GB of DDR5 4800MHz and PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD storage accelerate load times to warp speed.
Premium 100% CNC aluminum unibody construction gives it resilience for travel while maintaining a 0.7 thin profile at under 7 pounds. Per key RGB lighting makes it dazzle on stage. And NVIDIA Studio validation ensures pro software reliability.
Pros
- Unmatched performance
- Sleek, durable aluminum design
- Vibrant 144Hz 17” display
- NVIDIA Studio validated
Cons
- Very expensive
- Battery life just okay
- Runs hot in max loads
Beyond our top picks, there are a few key factors to consider when choosing a DJ laptop to match your creative style and performance scenarios best:
Operating System
Windows and macOS both have strengths for digital DJing. MacBooks come with GarageBand for basic mixing needs, integrate well with iOS/iPadOS devices, and offer the full-featured Logic Pro DAW. Windows laptops offer compatibility with more DJ gear and software at lower price points.
Screen Size
15 to 16-inches tends to strike the best balance of viewing space and portability. But 13 to 14-inches work well if you value lightweight designs, and 17-inches provide maximum real estate for intricate productions and live performances.
CPU and RAM
Aiming for modern processors with at least 6 CPU cores ensures snappy response in DJ software. 8GB RAM is sufficient for basic DJ mixes. 16GB allows more complex sets with many tracks and effects. 32GB is best for productions using virtual instruments.
Storage Capacity
SSDs are vastly preferable to slow, failure-prone HDDs. 256GB holds a decent media library and some projects. 512GB or 1TB gives breathing room for productions and samples. 2TB allows expansive media libraries.
Audio Quality
Many laptops tout impressive sounding speakers, but headphones or monitors are best for mixing. Prioritize those with studio-quality DACs and audio interfaces for clean signal and power.
Battery Life
6 hours of real-world usage gives you enough live performance leeway. But extended 10+ hour batteries let you DJ an entire multi-day festival reliably.
Graphics Performance
Visualists and lighting programmers need more GPU muscle. Discrete graphics from AMD or Nvidia allow better real-time visual manipulation.
Beyond the key factors above, keep these additional aspects in mind:
Durability – Look for metal chassis construction with reinforced corners/edges to withstand bumps and drops while traveling and performing. Carbon fiber and magnesium alloys are good durable alternatives.
Display Brightness – 250-300+ nit brightness allows easy waveform viewing in sunlit environments. Anti-glare and matte screen finishes improve visibility.
Responsiveness – Higher refresh rate displays (90-144Hz+) feel ultra-smooth when editing media in production apps.
Connections – Look for multiple USB 3.0+ ports, Thunderbolt 4, HDMI, SD card readers, and audio I/O to simplify connectivity.
Travelweight Designs – Thin and light laptops under 4 pounds are much easier to transport from gig to gig by plane, train, or automobile over years of tours.
Targeted Ventilation – Strategic port placement, elongated bodies, and raised screens promote better cooling airflow when rendering mixes and running VJ visualizer apps.
We evaluated over 20 current and past generation laptops using a methodology focused on real-world DJ activities:
DAW Performance – We created complex projects with multiple software instruments, effects, recorded audio tracks, and automation to test overall system responsiveness and stability handling intensive digital audio workstation loads.
DJ Software Workflow – We used Traktor Pro, Serato DJ Pro, Rekordbox, and more to test waveform rendering smoothness, jogwheel/platter response, visualizer effects handling, along with cute handling and tempo nudging.
Battery Rundowns – We tested batteries in balanced productivity mode usage with screen brightness calibrated to 150 nits until systems powered off to determine expected runtimes between charges.
Audio Quality Testing – We evaluated the clarity and capability of built-in speakers and headphone outputs using lossless music tracks and test signals like pink noise sweeps.
As we go deeper into the 2020s expect ever-more powerful mobile DJ rigs. The shift to efficient ARM-based Apple Silicon leads the way to better balanced laptops with snappy response and incredible battery life.
While Intel and AMD duel on the Windows front pushing the limits of x86 performance with sophisticated hybrid architectures and advanced GPUs. Display technology continues improving as well, with OLED panels going mainstream for their stunning vibrancy.
In terms of DJ-focused hardware, Look for advances like lossless audio recording, physical audio controls, backlit production keyboards with musical input, touchstrips and wheels, haptic feedback for realistic jogwheel feelings, and more to hit future generations.
The sky‘s the limit, as laptops get smarter about understanding DJs creative needs. But already now they provide incredibly capable platforms for memorable mixes and innovative performances courtesy of the stellar options above.
