Best Laptops for GIS 2024 (5 laptops for GIS)

GIS stands for Geographic information system. It is a system that creates, manages, analyzes, and maps all types of data.

It connects data to a map providing analysis using spatial context.

A GIS can integrate maps and database data with queries that provides a foundation for mapping and analysis which contributes to better communication and efficiency as well as improved management and decision making.

These laptop is one of the most important tools for GIS. A laptop is best used with working on maps while traveling.

GIS laptop has the capacity to run GIS applications, including some desktop applications. Such laptops have additional features needed to support work in this field. The laptop must have special requirements depending on what kind of GIS technology they are using.

GIS laptop models are different depending on the manufacturer, laptop type, hardware etc. There are laptop brands that are best suited for GIS software and technology while others are not fit to be used with GIS applications.

Geo laptop manufacturers include Dell, Panasonic, Acer Asus Toshiba and Lenovo among others all of which have laptop models best suited for GIS laptop applications.

Recommended Specifications for GIS Laptops

Product Reviews and FAQs

1. ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo UX581 Laptop

Best for GIS mapping

The ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo UX581 Laptop is a world’s best laptop that turns views into possibilities with the latest 10th generation Intel Core i7-10750H processor that has 12M Cache and boosted clock speed up to 5.0 GHz.

It is paired with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 discrete graphics that professional performance for ArcGIS System or other GIS services.

It has a 15.6 inch display with 4K UHD NanoEdge touchscreen for vivid visuals, and a 14 inch detachable screen that can work as a tablet or be placed into the included ASUS active stylus pen to use it as a graphics tablet. This combo comes in an aluminum chassis with diamond-cut edges, which makes it look elegant.

It is designed with a professional design that has US MIL-STD 810G military-grade standard to toughen the device.

It has 32GBs of RAM and 1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD for fast storage and memory. The ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo Laptop offers Wi-Fi 802.11ac and Bluetooth 5.0 for connection. It has an ergonomic backlit keyboard with four lighting zones, which can be customized to your preference if you want to save power or not the LEDs lit up when in use.

There’s a fingerprint sensor on the side of the laptop that can be used to unlock it quickly and secure your files. It has a Thunderbolt 3 port that can be used to connect eGPUs for professional level performance, it comes with two USB Type-A ports. If you are a geographic information system specialist, the ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo is available for you at around US$ 2,300.

2. HP Envy 17t CG

Best home and GIS business laptop

The Envy 17t CG is one of the best GIS laptop by HP. Its 17.3″ Full HD (1920×1080) that is 60Hz Touchscreen Display comes with the latest NVIDIA MX450 graphics program.

This graphics card has a 2GB of dedicated GDDR6 VRAM (4X more acceleration than the previous generation) that provides GIS field survey workflows with GPU accelerated Gis software.

It runs a 64-bit Windows 11 Home edition that is known for performance and professionalism.

In addition, it is loaded with 11th Gen 2.80GHz Intel Core i7-1165G7 Processor has 4 cores and a turbo frequency up to 4.70 GHz. It features the NVIDIA GPU with support for DirectX 12 API that enables GIS software to take full advantage of GIS processing services.

It also features 16GB DDR4 SODIMM, 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD + 1TB HDD is all set to handle the maximum data load to save or send without a lag. For the seamless and superfast connectivity, it has Wi-Fi 6 AX201, Bluetooth 5.0, 3 USB 3.1 (Gen 1), 1 HDMI, USB 3.1 Type-C (Gen 1), Headphone/Microphone Combo Jack, and SD Reader. 

It comes with a 1 Year manufacturer warranty offered by GreatPriceTech for its professional upgradation.

3. Lenovo IdeaPad 5

Best for designers and creators

First off, we have an 11th Gen Intel Core i7-1165G7 which is a 4 core 8 thread processor that runs at 2.8GHz. We then have 12GB of DDR4 RAM this helps give the computer an edge when gaming or running graphics software or doing anything else really. For storage, 512GB SSD which has no moving parts meaning less noise for you.

It also means faster speeds for installing games/software or backing up pictures onto your hard drive.

It also has a 15.6-inch LED backlit IPS touch screen  which has a resolution of 1920 x 1080 for crisp clear detail.

The graphics card is integrated Intel Iris Xe, which means it’s perfect for designers and creators who need excellent graphics in their work.

It also comes with an all-new standard backlit keyboard, fingerprint reader and 3 cell 45WH lithium polymer battery life with up to 7 hours per charge. Overall it gives you great performance and power with ease of portability in mind.

4. MSI Modern 14 Laptop

This laptop also features a 14 inch Full HD, anti-glare display with 1920×1080 resolution so you can view your map GIS files as they were meant to be seen. This laptop runs Windows 10 Pro OS with a dedicated graphics card to boost your creativity in 3D rendering, graphic design or video editing. With the capacity of 1TB SSD, this is still a fashionable, thin and lightweight it will easily fit into your backpack while providing outstanding performance on the go.

The MSI Modern 14 with NVIDIA GeForce MX450 is a laptop with a thin profile and enough power to handle the GIS industry, from creating maps to editing gpx files.

This laptop has an Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor 11th Gen chip with up to 4.2GHz turbo boost technology for smooth video rendering, photo editing capabilities and GIS processing tools. It also comes equipped with 8GB DDR4 3200 MHz RAM to meet your GIS needs in the field.

The NVIDIA GeForce MX Graphics card helps generate your maps while running gis processing software like QGIS or uDig or even OziExplorer gps mapping program, or Grass GIS gps mapping system with controlled speed and accuracy.

5. Razer Blade 15

Best for GIS professionals

Razer announced the Razer Blade 15, a professional laptop for GIS/gaming/creators with the new 11th Gen 2.3 GHz Intel Core i7-11800H processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Series graphics for the most powerful visuals ever.

With ‎32 GB DDR4 RAM, you can enjoy unrivaled performance and speed housed in the thinnest RTX laptop chassis, still with refresh rates of up to 360 Hz and QHD 240 Hz (G-SYNC).

The all-new Razer Blade 15 is the world’s smallest 15.6″ laptop with a 4mm bezel around its screen, weighing just 4.40 lbs.

A 1TB SSD provides easy saving and data rendering of data and the latest NVIDIA RTX GPUs give GIS professionals up to 3x faster performance in ray tracing rendering compared to previous laptops for GIS analysis and design, while the CNC aluminum unibody on this small GIS laptop remains cool to the touch during high rendering session. Thunderbolt 3 is all set to double the speed for seamless workflow.

FAQs

1. What is GIS? How useful is GIS?

GIS stands for geographic information system that captures, stores and displays data related to the positions on Earth’s surface. By relating seemingly unrelated information GIS can help individuals better understand spatial patterns in our world as well as relationships between different things such like locations of roads or land ownership.

2. How many GIS software exists?

GIS software varies by creator and type of GIS. Some are built solely for geographic information use while others allow both GIS and GIS analysis using GIS software. The information system and its (GIS) data also vary in how they are used and their intended audience. GIS can be used by scientists, researchers , or private businesses to understand patterns and relationships.

3. What information can a geographic information system display?

GIS systems can also display various types of geographical and historical information with the use of graphs, charts and maps in order to create a visual representation of data.

A GIS can display several types of data such as population, income per capita, location of waste disposal sites or hazardous waste generators, traffic patterns, environmental zones and others. An individual using a GIS may be interested in which areas of the city have the largest number of pollution sources, or which areas are home to high-income families.

Basic GIS software can show maps with symbols representing various features, but more advanced systems allow users to manipulate data and produce specialized maps that provide them with fully customizable views of information valuable for gaining new insights about an area.

4. What is the difference between gps and gis?

There is some confusion as to the difference between GIS and GPS (global positioning system). GPS uses satellites for locating something on the Earth’s surface – GIS uses GPS in conjunction with GIS software to enhance GIS data, allowing GIS users a better understanding of spatial patterns.

Final Thoughts:

There are so many things GIS can do for you, but what type of laptop is best to use? You have a number of options when it comes down to the hardware. For example, if your work is more mobile-focused and doesn’t require heavy graphics processing power then an Ultrabook might be right for you in order to keep the weight light.

If your needs are greater or more consistent in terms of performance then a gaming laptop may be better suited for that need. However, there truly isn’t one “best laptop” because it all depends on what’s needed by each individual. The user requirements varies on the basis of their industry and field they are working.