When it comes to buying a laptop specifically for DJing, it’s such a vitally important part of your set-up that it’s really worth taking the time to find the exact model for your needs out of all the different options available.
The best DJ laptop needs to have decent processing power, RAM, battery life, quality display, have enough connectivity, and you’ll want to take how light and portable it is into account too, as well as looking for something rugged enough to withstand the rigours of gigging. It’s a balance that requires a little research, but myself and the MusicRadar team discuss all of these important factors in our reviews below, as well as delivering the tech stats you need for a quick overview of each unit.
We’ve included PCs and Macs across all budgets but have left out some of the premium - and much higher priced - models as the average DJ arguably wouldn’t require their processing power.
However, every choice we’ve recommended here is more than capable of running all the top DJ applications like Rekordbox, Traktor, Serato, Ableton and Virtual DJ with ease.
My no.1 choice goes to the brilliant Apple MacBook Air M3. Even though the M4 range is now available, this model still easily cuts the mustard and has become a firm favourite with DJs.
If you’re still deciding between a Mac or PC, head to our FAQs section at the bottom of this guide where you'll find the pros and cons of each. You’ll also find more information on the kind of laptop specifications you need to check and compare, along with our detailed buying advice and info on how MusicRadar test laptops for DJs.
Our top picks
The Air M3 is now available in two sizes: 13-inch and 15-inch, but for DJing we prefer the extra real estate offered by the 15", and would certainly recommend this machine if you have the funds. The M3 Air is slightly better than the equivalent base model MacBook Pro as it boasts the bigger screen and equal power, but costs less. We also love the overall performance, silent running and sleek design.
Acer's Swift X14 has both a powerful CPU and GPU all squeezed into a slim Ultrabook form. Add in a gorgeous OLED screen to this mobility and you have a great laptop DJ option. Considering what this laptop can deliver in terms of the power versus size and that price, I really do think it's a great value contender.
The Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro delivers a similar look and feel to an Apple MacBook, so if you've been tempted by the Apple route but prefer the Windows environment, this could be the DJ laptop for you. Performance-wise, it delivers as much power as the MacBook Air 13" M2 but sits below the Air M3 included in this round-up.
Best overall
✅ Buy if you want a powerful Apple machine that is both portable and well-designed: This is one of the best-designed laptops out there and great for mobile use and any DJ application.
❌ Avoid if you don't have the cash or simply prefer the Windows environment: There are cheaper PC options in this guide that will give you a lot of what this machine delivers, for less outlay.
Build quality: ★★★★½
Battery life: ★★★★½
Ease of use: ★★★★½
Overall: ★★★★½
Apple have now released their M4 range of laptops, but their Apple Air M3 is still widely available, and remains my choice for best overall DJ laptop.
It comes in two sizes, 13-inch (actually 13.6-inch) and 15-inch (15.3-inch). Having tested a smaller 13-inch M2, I prefer the extra real estate offered by the 15", and would certainly recommend that M3 machine if you have the funds. The MusicRadar team also discovered by testing both models that the bigger 15" model has a much better sound than the 13”.
We also carried out several benchmark tests between the Air M2 and this M3, and found that in Ableton Live we got a 25% uplift in performance, so a significant power boost over the older model. It will be interesting to see if this trend is continued with the M4.
In the meantime, we've also included the base-model MacBook Pro in this round-up, and while that machine certainly delivers the storage specs you might need, the M3 Air is a slightly better buy as it boasts the bigger screen and equal power, but costs less.
Combine these factors with the performance, silent running, sleek design and larger screen, and we think the 15-inch Air M3 is one of just two Apple picks for laptop DJs.
"The MacBook Air M3 might not look like much of an upgrade over the M2, but for music production it makes a surprisingly powerful leap, and the extra screen real estate provided by the 15-inch model is essential."
Read more: Apple MacBook Air M3 review
Best on a budget
✅ Buy if you want one of the most portable and powerful Ultrabooks around: This is a compact machine to take on the road that delivers a surprising amount of power considering its size.
❌ Avoid if you need battery power: The Swift underperforms in this regard so if this is an important factor for you, there are many here that last longer.
Build quality: ★★★★½
Battery life: ★★★½
Ease of use: ★★★★½
Overall: ★★★★½
Acer's Swift X14 has both a powerful CPU and GPU all squeezed into a slim Ultrabook form. Add a gorgeous OLED screen to this mobility and you have a great laptop DJ option, and it's among the best Ultrabooks you can get.
The price starts very reasonably but can ramp up depending on the spec. However, considering what this laptop can deliver in terms of the power versus size and that price, we think it's a great value contender. Its only downside is the battery life of around eight hours when running at full power, which is among the lowest in this buyer's guide.
The OLED screen is the real star of the show - especially great for environments that aren't well lit. Performance wise there’s little the Acer Swift X14 can’t do, which is not something you can say about all Ultrabooks.
The Acer Swift X14 is by no means perfect, but the pros outweigh the cons, especially for the DJ who doesn't want to lug a heavy laptop around, and we think it is one of the best compact choices out there.
Best Mac alternative
✅ Buy if you like a MacBook feel but prefer the Windows OS: You might not be able to afford the real Apple deal but this gives you a great MacBook aesthetic in a cheaper Windows body.
❌ Avoid if you want a real Apple: If you prefer the arguably more streamlined Apple approach then save that cash and go for the real thing.
Build quality: ★★★★½
Battery life: ★★★★
Ease of use: ★★★★½
Overall: ★★★★½
The Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro delivers a similar look and feel to an Apple MacBook, so if you've been tempted by the Apple route but prefer the Windows environment, this could be the DJ laptop for you. Performance-wise, it delivers as much power as the MacBook Air 13" M2 but sits below the Air M3 included in this round-up.
You can buy the Galaxy Book4 Pro with both 14" and 16" OLED screens and these are a real bonus, especially in dimly lit clubs, delivering a lovely image quality and 120Hz refresh.
While you won't be using your laptop speakers to play out live, they could help you get your mixes together, and this is the one area where the Galaxy Book4 falls down next to an Apple.
Finally, the 14 hour battery life on the Samsung is decent, but you'll find better performing models here if that is important to you. Overall though, the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro delivers a fantastic pro Apple experience within a Windows world.
Best for storage
✅ Buy if you want some serious MacBook Pro power and storage: This is the more mobile and cheaper Pro, and a great option if you don't want to pay the extra for the larger 16".
❌ Avoid if you are lacking the budget: While the cheapest one we recommend comes in at under £$2k, you are never more than a couple of mouse clicks away from upgrading to a reduced bank balance.
Build quality: ★★★★½
Battery life: ★★★★★
Ease of use: ★★★★½
Overall: ★★★★½
We could have easily included the 16" MacBook Pro in this guide simply because it is one of the best music laptops out there, but unfortunately its cost puts it out of reach for most, and you probably won't need its power for DJing. However, this 14" MacBook Pro represents a cheaper way of getting that mobile power, although you should be careful as you can easily spec it up to a price that gets close to the 16".
The MacBook Pro 14" range can be complicated - there is a spec for everyone - but we'd say aim for the bottom-end 8GB memory model which should suffice for most DJ tasks. The potential storage capacity options are huge (as is their price) so it's there if you need it, although we'd also recommend the cheaper external storage route.
The 14" MacBook Pro is a great machine, but has many options so you will have to work out which one you need with some care. However, whichever one you opt for will easily handle any DJ task you throw at it
Best for ports
✅ Buy if you want one of the latest and greatest PC laptops: It looks great, has an exceptional performance and good mobility, not to mention a fantastic OLED screen.
❌ Avoid if you are looking for something cheaper or longer lasting: The price can easily ramp up and the battery can easily power down.
Build quality: ★★★★½
Battery life: ★★★½
Ease of use: ★★★★½
Overall: ★★★★½
The latest laptop in Dell's popular XPS line boasts a powerful new processor and amazing OLED display, and we think it looks better than just about any other Windows laptop out there. It's also one of the smaller XPS laptops, so wins out on portability and is great to take from gig to gig.
The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor and the Nvidia RTX 4050 graphics deliver a powerful performance across all tasks - in some cases matching or exceeding a MacBook Pro 14-inch - so will easily handle most DJ applications.
The speakers are also a plus, offering a much better sound than other machines in the XPS range. Ok, this might not be important for gigging but great for creating set lists and auditioning tunes.
Overall, the Dell XPS 14 9440 is a powerful performer with its only letdown being a poor battery life. It's expensive, but one of the best Windows laptops you can buy right now.
Best touchscreen
✅ Buy if you want touchscreen control: It's not a deal-breaker for most DJs, but it's a nice feature if you have the extra budget.
❌ Avoid if you need plenty of storage: Unless you have some cash to splash, the cheaper models lack the storage, coming in at only 256GB for the most budget-friendly configuration.
Build quality: ★★★★
Battery life: ★★★★½
Ease of use: ★★★★
Overall: ★★★★
I'm yet to be convinced by the idea of using one of Microsoft’s 2-in-1 Surface devices for DJing purposes, but the brand’s pure laptop counterpart makes for a solid mid-priced option.
These machines come in a variety of configurations with Intel chips and at least 8GB of RAM, meaning whatever you go for, you should be able to comfortably run all major DJ software.
The main thing to look out for is storage space – the cheapest models have just a 256GB SSD, which is likely to get full of music fairly rapidly.
Microsoft devices have a great build quality, stylish design and come in at a pleasingly light weight. I/O isn’t the most extensive that you’ll find, but there are both USB-4 and USB-3.1 ports here, plus a separate Surface Connect port.
Oh, and it’s touchscreen too, which is far from an essential feature for DJs, yet still nice to have.
Best for power
✅ Buy if you want gaming-level power: There's more grunt than you'll ever need under the hood of the Razer, making it an ideal one-stop-shop for DJing, music production and any other creative pursuit.
❌ Avoid if you purely want a DJ laptop: You won't need such an almighty machine if you need a laptop mainly for DJing.
Build quality: ★★★★
Battery life: ★★★★
Ease of use: ★★★★
Overall: ★★★★
Razer are best known for their gaming laptops, which tend to boast powerful specs and often feature eye-catching RGB lights. The Blade 14 Studio Edition is a slightly classier-looking laptop aimed at crossing over into the creative market.
These Windows machines come in a variety of configurations, but they’re powerful across the board, with an AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS in the 14, and Intel Core i9 chips in the 16 and 18 models, and at least 32GB of RAM, upgradable to 96GB.
The 14, which is the most basic iteration has a 1TB SSD onboard, plus graphics capabilities that outstrip most machines in this round-up.
There’s certainly more here than most standard DJs need – and you certainly pay for that power. However, if you’re after a PC laptop that can handle the DJ booth, studio and also some serious gaming in the green room, then this is the best DJ laptop for you.
Best 2-in-1
✅ Buy if you want a flexible 2 in 1 machine: The Surface Pro doubles as a tablet so is one of the most flexible devices here, and you can use it for DJing and entertainment.
❌ Avoid if you don't want a touchscreen: You do end up paying a fair bit more for something you might not need.
Build quality: ★★★★½
Battery life: ★★★★
Ease of use: ★★★★
Overall: ★★★★
As one of the most flexible and portable devices in this round-up, the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 is a great option for the mobile DJ, and one that can be used equally well on the road as it can for entertainment on your downtime.
The screen is also great thanks to a 120Hz refresh rate, so you won't be missing anything in those dark clubs, although its size doesn't offer the biggest real estate to run those DJ applications.
The 15.5 hours battery life is also very good compared to most laptop PCs here, although you might expect it given the machine's diminutive size.
Overall, this is probably the most flexible laptop here – given that it doesn't have to be just a laptop! However, you will have to judge whether its small screen might be a hindrance. Otherwise it's a great mobile option.
"The Microsoft Surface Pro 9 is a powerful machine that will make light work of any heavy lifting in your music production workflow."
Read more: Microsoft Surface Pro 9 review
FAQs
How to choose the best DJ laptop for you
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Although digital DJing set-ups can come in many different shapes and sizes depending on the software and controller used, DJ laptop requirements generally remain pretty straightforward.
We’re assuming here that you’re using one of the three most popular DJ software applications – Serato DJ Pro, Traktor Pro or rekordbox DJ. There are of course other options and you should always check system requirements before committing to buying, but most DJ applications will make similar demands of your laptop’s CPU.
The first thing to consider is processing power. Most DJing applications require a minimum of 8GB, but it’s not advisable to run your laptop up to the edge of its capabilities, especially when you’re out playing gigs and reliability and stability are crucial. So we’d recommend machines with 16GB or above.
DJing software tends to be less processor-hungry than running music production platforms with lots of plugins, so you can get away with a little less power if you’re only going to use your machine for DJing.
And what type of DJing will you be doing? Because if you’ll be using your laptop away from home, travelling to clubs and festival gigs, then weight, build quality and general portability all become more important. Also, you’ll need to consider battery life if you’re planning on using your laptop to prepare tunes pre-gig or to stream videos while on the road.
Do I need my DJ laptop to be portable?
If you’re using your DJ laptop away from a home setup – regularly travelling to bars, clubs or festivals – then portability becomes a significant factor. Battery life may play a role here too, particularly if you’re likely to spend time in transit preparing for your next set, or simply streaming videos or music to keep yourself entertained on the road.
How much storage and connectivity do I need?
There are two other major considerations when choosing which DJ laptop is right for you: storage and connectivity. Streaming is becoming more common within DJing software, but certainly, for the moment, almost all DJs are going to be travelling to gigs with a hard drive full of downloaded tracks. These will likely be higher quality and therefore larger file formats so a decent-sized SSD (Solid State Drive) is essential.
If your machine doesn’t have enough built-in memory then USB or SD card ports for external storage might be the answer, but you need to consider how many connections you’ll require.
Obviously you’ll need at least one port to connect your DJ controller, then another if you want to connect external devices (and maybe another if you want to charge your phone during the gig too).
Which is better for DJing, a PC or a Mac?
If you ask a Mac owner which is better for DJing, they’ll tell you it’s a Mac, and if you ask a PC owner the same question, they’ll tell you to opt for a PC. The reality is that Serato, rekordbox, Traktor, Ableton and Virtual DJ all run perfectly well on either Mac or PC, and either choice can serve you perfectly well for laptop DJing.
The Apple platform’s famed slick, integrated approach, along with the ease with which you can step up from DJing to music production, is hard to fault, and their current M-powered processors mean your foreseeable power needs are well covered.
However, while myself and the MusicRadar team have included a couple of Macs here, they come at a price that will be out of reach for many.
PCs are the most realistic option for many and there are plenty of outstanding PCs, perfectly capable of delivering the same DJIng experience as Apples. And as well as a substantial price advantage over Apple machines, PCs can offer more customisation options and can be easily upgraded, particularly their all-important memory.
The user’s experience using any of the leading DJing software platforms on either a PC or Mac will be similar, so your decision may well come down to which operating system, Windows or macOS, works best for you. It’s definitely worth becoming familiar with both so you can make an informed decision.
How we choose the best DJ laptops
Here at MusicRadar, we are experts in our field, with many years of playing, creating and product testing between us. We live and breathe everything music gear related, and we draw on this knowledge and experience of using products in live, recording and rehearsal scenarios when selecting the products for our guides.
When choosing what we believe to be the best DJ laptops available right now, we combine our hands-on experience, user reviews and testimonies and engage in lengthy discussions with our editorial colleagues to reach a consensus about the top products in any given category.
First and foremost, we are musicians, and we want other players to find the right product for them. So we take into careful consideration everything from budget to feature set, ease of use and durability to come up with a list of what we can safely say are the best DJ laptops on the market right now.
Find out more about how we test music gear and services at MusicRadar.
Why you can trust us
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MusicRadar has been in operation from 2007 and has been helping people on their musical journey since then. No matter if you're a producer, guitarist, drummer, keyboardist, DJ or general music enthusiast, you'll find useful information across the site, while our team of experts and industry pros regularly put instruments and gear through their paces to help you make an informed decision.
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Meet the experts
I'm the Managing Editor of Music Technology at MusicRadar and former Editor-in-Chief of Future Music, Computer Music and Electronic Musician. I've been messing around with music tech in various forms for over two decades. I've also spent the last 10 years forgetting how to play guitar. Find me in the chillout room at raves complaining that it's past my bedtime.
Harold Heath is a UK music writer and author. A DJ since the late 80s, Harold also produced a few hundred singles and remixes and two artist albums, and worked as a performer, ghostwriter and music-technology teacher. His first book Long Relationships: My Incredible Journey From Unknown DJ to Smalltime DJ was published in 2021.
Andy has been writing about music production and technology for 30 years having started out on Music Technology magazine back in 1992. He has edited the magazines Future Music, Keyboard Review, MusicTech and Computer Music, which he helped launch back in 1998. He owns way too many synthesizers.
Latest updates
28/05/25: The guide has been updated to include the Microsoft Surface Laptop 6 and Razer Blade 14. Verdict panels have been added where applicable, while all the laptops featured now have star rating panels. The FAQ section has been rewritten and expanded, while a section on why you can trust the MusicRadar team has also been included. We've also added a new "meet our experts" section.
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