8 Best Laptops for Astrophotography & Astrophysics 2024

Are you an astrophysicist looking for a laptop to help with your projects? If so, you are in the right place. We are bringing to you the best laptops for astrophotography and astrophysics. After some research, we have found 8 laptops that could fulfill all your requirements.

After reading about the astrophysics software and its requirements, we concluded that they need some specific specs. Any laptop that cannot support mid-range tools is not for this purpose. So, we researched to provide you with the best buying guide.

In this article, we’re going to cover laptops with great spec sets. Some of them are gaming laptops, and their performance is down. Before making your final decision, make sure you also compare the features of each device. So, let’s get started.


Our 8 Picks | Best Laptops for Astrophotography and Astrophysics


Apple MacBook Air

Our Best Pick

Apple MacBook Air (Best Laptops for Astrophotography and Astrophysics)

Apple is well known for its latest technology, smartphones, and MacBooks. Though someone has taken a bite off their apple, no single feature is missing in any of its products! With this laptop on the market, Apple has overcome its biggest drawback: poor battery life.

The slim and compact design of this laptop is worth its cost. Moreover, the Apple Logo will attract everyone around you, everywhere! But the actual power is in its processor. The latest chipset technology can afford all the heavy calculations of astrophysics.

Why Did We Choose It?

The first reason for its selection is its crystal clear 13.3 inches retina display that offers more colorful and vibrant pictures. The 2560-by-1600 resolution that makes 227 pixels per inch on the screen can give you a stunningly accurate output.

The CPU is 8-core, with four performance cores and four efficiency cores, increasing the processing speed by almost 3x its previous model. Moreover, the CPU has a 16-core neural engine with the SoC Apple M1 chip.

To enhance the processing speed further, the laptop is equipped with 8 GB of unified memory to multitask seamlessly. To store files at the office or at work, you have 258 GBs of secondary storage. Also, it is compatible with all Apple Store applications.

Regarding weight and battery life, Apple Macbook Air is second to none. The average battery life of 18 hours allows you to use it throughout work. Moreover, the 2.8 pounds weight of this laptop makes it feel like you are carrying an empty bag.

The interface is quite simple and easy to learn. The fanless design feature allows you to work in peace without even the noise of cooling fans. 100 percent recycled aluminum enclosure makes it a perfect example of environment-friendly products.

If you have ever used an Apple smartphone or laptop, you would know the difference that keeps it above the other brands. If you can afford it, we would say that it is the best choice for astrophotographers who admire Apple devices.

ProcessorApple’s M1 Chip
RAM8GB RAM
Storage256GB SSD
GraphicsApple’s 7-core graphics
Display13” Retina Display
Operating SystemmacOS
Battery LifeUp to 18 hours (Battery life varies with use)
WeightApproximately 2.8 lbs (1.27 KG)
Pros
  • Extremely lightweight
  • Super fast
  • Superb keyboard and trackpad
  • Excellent battery life
  • Top-notch display
Cons
  • Greatly lacks ports
  • Webcam is not good

LG Gram 16

Our Second Choice

LG Gram 16

Here is the best choice if you are looking for a lightweight laptop with a huge display. Besides being lightweight, the laptop does not compromise the picture display and processing speed. However, you do have to compromise with its high price.

The design and build quality are also second to none. This laptop’s strong processor and primary memory are ideal for any business or office work. Hence it is a combo where you can find several mind-blowing features in a single piece.

Why Did We Choose It?

If you are after a laptop with all the features and are not serious about its low price, go with this one. The 16-inch WQXGA IPS LCD provides you with a crystal clear view that does not affect your eyes on long exposure.

This laptop has the 11th generation Intel core i7-1165G7 processor that is too fast to process large formulas and expressions. It has Intel XE graphics to give you a more vibrant and clear display of the structures and diagrams.

16GB DDR4 RAM and 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD are also included for multitasking with high speed. It has multiple connectivity options, such as four USB ports, an SD card reader, an HDMI port, and a 3.5mm audio jack.

Don’t worry if you continuously use your laptop at work. The battery life is incredible: up to 17 hours after complete recharge depending on usage, and we guess that is more than enough. The 2.6 pounds weight of this laptop is almost as though you are carrying nothing in your bag.

Some other features of this laptop include an HD webcam that allows you to attend meetings without any hesitation. Moreover, this laptop’s backlit keyboard and Alexa built-in are notable features.

It’s incredible to see a laptop with strong performance and a clear display with long battery life. Although it is a bit pricey, you must ignore the price if you want an all-in-one laptop. We guarantee that you’ll never complain about its performance. 

Processor11th Generation Intel core i7-1165G7
RAM16GB RAM
Storage1TB SSD
GraphicsIntel Xe Graphics
Display16″ (2560×1600) IPS Display
Operating SystemWindows 10
Battery LifeUp to 17 hours (Battery life varies with use)
WeightApproximately 2.62 lbs (1.88 KG)
Pros
  • Superb battery life
  • Featherlight & Slim
  • Fast multitasking
  • Great portability
  • Fantastic display
Cons
  • Glossy display
  • Non-expandable RAM

Acer Swift 3

Our Budget Pick

Acer Swift 3

The Acer Swift 3 is another best laptop for astrophysics. It is more advanced than other laptops in this category. It provides impressive performance and can handle anything you fire at it. Its dual-channel thermic mechanisms disseminate temperature, which makes the system cool.

It has an AMD Ryzen processor, which will let you do everything more agilely. Multitasking and heavy projects, such as astrophysics and astrophotography imaging, will be done faster and more efficiently.

Why Did We Choose It?

The Acer Swift 3 comes with a 14 inches Full HD IPS display with precise and crisp colors. You will enjoy fast refresh and deep colors with a 16:9 aspect ratio. This way, it offers you outstanding resolution during work time.

Moreover, this thin, light laptop also stars AMD Ryzen 7 4700U Octa-Core processor. So, with the AMD Ryzen processor, it will present an ultra-responsive rate with breathtakingly immersive performance. Its 8 GB of RAM has added more power to the processor for super-fast speed.

The system also comes with a 512 GB M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD that can be upgraded if necessary. If you need more storage, you can add HDD as the provided SSD will give speed. Besides all this, this laptop has a powerful AMD Radeon graphic card for clear and stunning graphics.

You will get many ports, such as one USB 3.2 Type-A port, a Type-C port, and extra three USB Type-A ports. There is also one HDMI port and one USB Type-C port with Thunderbolt 4 support. Its powerful battery will provide up to 11.5 hours of backup for your project.

The Swift 3 is one of the most outstanding Acer laptops. You can use it for all your subsequent computing needs, especially astrophotography. Thus, Acer Swift 3 is an ideal choice for anyone looking for a budget laptop at an affordable price.

ProcessorAMD Ryzen 7 4700U
RAM8GB RAM
Storage512GB SSD
GraphicsAMD Radeon Graphics
Display 14″ FHD (1920 x 1080) Display
Operating SystemWindows 10
Battery LifeUp to 12 hours (Battery life varies with use)
WeightApproximately 2.71 lbs (1.2 KG)
Pros
  • Thin, lightweight, and portable
  • Great for multitasking
  • Excellent battery life
  • Affordable and budget-friendly
Cons
  • Speakers are not competent
  • No SD card reader

Asus ZenBook Pro Duo

Asus ZenBook Pro Duo

Are you after a high-performance laptop with stunning looks and elegant design? Here is what you need. This laptop’s ultra-fast and strong processor makes it compatible with all kinds of use, from office work to gaming.

ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo is a unique laptop, and the feature that makes it so popular is its wild-looking dual screen. Yes, you read it right. It is a dual-screen laptop; to add more, it works by finger touch. But that’s not the end. There are many more features to add.

Why Did We Choose It?

With this laptop on the market, ASUS has shown its worth and capacity to produce the latest laptops with stunning designs. Ninety percent of buyers are buying this laptop for its dual-screen feature and others in the package.

This laptop comes equipped with the latest 10th generation Intel Core i7-10750H processor to manage complex tasks in astrophysics. The 4K UHD display of 15.6 inches provides a crystal clear display with OLED technology.

Though the laptop is a bit heavy, it’s designed so that you can easily place it on your lap without being uncomfortable. However, using it on a table would be better as it generates more heat. But don’t worry about the heat, as the fans are there to deal with it.

16GB DDR4 RAM can seamlessly perform multiple functions and several heavy tasks in astrophysics. Moreover, 1TB of secondary storage is available, so you don’t have to clear the memory at the end of every month.

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 GPU lowers the load on the CPU while processing high graphics or some output. Other features include writing with a stylus, a palm rest, a backlit keyboard, and several handy built-in apps to boost productivity.

On the negative side, the battery life of this laptop is not good at all, with only up to 5 hours of backup on a single charge.

Processor10th Generation Intel Core i7-10750H
RAM16GB RAM
Storage1TB SSD
GraphicsGeForce RTX 2060
Display15.6” 4K UHD NanoEdge Touch Display
Operating SystemWindows 10
Battery LifeUp to 5 hours (Battery life varies with use)
WeightApproximately 5.5 lbs (2.5 KG)
Pros
  • Astonishing dual screens
  • Fast processor with clear display
  • Compatible with any type of use
  • Strong base & lid
  • Stylus included
  • Silent under loads
Cons
  • Short battery life
  • Heavy weight
  • Pricey
  • No SD reader & RJ-45
  • Second display is granier

Razer Blade 15

Razer Blade 15

Razer Blade 15 is one of the high-spec laptops meant for top-notch performance. Thanks to its powerful hardware, this is the best laptop for running any software. Some techies call it the MacBook Pro of gaming laptops, directly reflecting its performance.

Razer Blade 15 is a gaming-based laptop with decent looks and an attractive design. You can carry this laptop anywhere, whether it’s your university, office, or workplace. If you don’t want to compromise on quality, you should ignore its price.

Why Did We Choose It?

Finding a combo of style, design, and features is rare, but Razer has made it possible. If we look at the chassis of Blade 15, it seems to be a luxurious touch. Its 15 inches Full HD display offers vibrant colors and clarity at its essence.

We get a super processor in Razor Blade 15, a 10th Core i7 processor that doesn’t lag in processing. You can throw any software on it; even with other tasks, it’ll never slow down. We have not seen any complaints yet from users in terms of performance.

There is more to have next in this model. You get 16GB of DDR4 RAM and 256GB of the fastest drive to help open your tools quickly. It comes with an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti graphics card, which gives your display better visuals and improves CPU speed.

We have multiple connectivity options for connecting your laptop to other devices at your workplace. There are two Thunderbolt 3 ports, a must-have in such a laptop, three USB-A ports, and an HDMI port. Sadly, the battery life is poor, up to 6 hours only.

Razer Blade 15 is pretty good in every way. Powered by high-quality components, it runs fast and smoothly. Overall, it provides decent performance.

Processor10th Generation Intel Core i7-10750H
RAM16GB RAM
Storage256GB SSD
GraphicsNVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti
Display15.6″ FHD (1920 x 1080) 120Hz
Operating SystemWindows 10
Battery LifeUp to 6 hours (Battery life varies with use)
WeightApproximately 4.56 lbs ( 2.06 KG)
Pros
  • Solid build quality
  • Excellent display
  • Powerful components
  • Two thunderbolt ports
Cons
  • Short battery life
  • Gets hot sometimes

Acer Nitro 5

Acer Nitro 5

You might be worried about seeing a gaming laptop on the list of best laptops for astrophotography. Just relax, and let us tell you that gaming laptops are best for astrophysics or astrophotography tasks. Its high-end GPU and CPU play a major role in keeping it working smoothly.

Acer laptops have a unique design and their red color at night gives a feeling of euphoria. This laptop has a strong processor with the latest technology, hard drives, and RAMs for seamless performance.

Why Did We Choose It?

Acer Nitro 5 is a gaming laptop with a 9th Generation Intel Core i5-9300H Processor. However, this processor also works best for astrophysics tasks. Though the processor power is 2.4 GHz, the turbo boost technology can increase it to 4.1 GHz.

This laptop has 8GB DDR4 RAM and a 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD to perform multitasking seamlessly. NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 GPU and 4GB of dedicated GDDR5 VRAM help the CPU process high-quality graphics.

8 hours of average battery time and multiple connectivity options make it a perfect choice for office workers. The HD webcam allows you to attend office meetings from home without worrying about the quality of your video.

The laptop has the latest Acer cool boost technology and twin fans to deal with the heat produced. Other features include a backlit keyboard, Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200 802.11ax, 3 USB ports, and one memory slot for additional upgrades.

The price of this laptop is second to none, and the features are surely the best. Also, we cannot ignore its attractive and elegant design hence it is highly recommended!

Processor9th Generation Intel Core i5-9300H
RAM8GB RAM
Storage256GB SSD
GraphicsNVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650
Display15.6″ FHD (1920 x 1080) Display
Operating SystemWindows 10
Battery LifeUp to 8 hours (Battery life varies with use)
WeightApproximately 5.07 lbs (2.3 KG)
Pros
  • Strong processor for multitasking
  • Decent battery life for a gaming laptop
  • Red keyboard backlight
  • Great typing experience
  • Affordable pricing
  • Good upgradeability
Cons
  • Fans get loud
  • Color inaccurate
  • Dim display
  • No SD card reader or Thunderbolt port

Samsung Galaxy Book Flex Alpha

Samsung Galaxy Book Flex Alpha

The Samsung Galaxy Book Flex Alpha is another best laptop for astronomy and astrophysics. It is a more powerful laptop with superior power than ever before. When you’re ready to invest the money, take comfort in getting a package with unrivaled productivity.

The Samsung Galaxy Book also contributes a powerful processor and Intel Ultra HD Graphics Card. As a bonus, the screen is surrounded by solid speakers in a highly sophisticated design. The laptop has every feature you could ask for.

Why Did We Choose It?

While looking at the 13.3-inch display, the panel is witnessing like a light prism and blasts you with the full force of a rainbow at a high refreshing rate. So, this screen will present the entire color spectrum in intense brilliance and under any light conditions. Because of its accurate color reproduction, this laptop has gained popularity at such a price point for astrophotography.

The Samsung Galaxy, coupled with the latest 10th Gen Quad Core- i7-10510U processor, enables this laptop to be more agile and faster for loaded files and enormous pictures. Besides, it is also powerful with a clocking frequency of 1.8GHz that can be turbo-boosted boost up to 4.9GHz. It is also powerful, with impressive RAM of 12GB DDR4 for speedy operation.

Similarly, the 512GB SSD storage capacity will be sufficient for you, and you can also upgrade it as per your needs. They also outfitted this sleek monster with Intel Ultra HD Graphics so that you can take pictures and make videos at high resolutions at ultra settings.

So in touch with its ports. You will get two USB 3 ports, colored standard blue, and one SD card reader on its right side. You will also find one HDMI port and a USB Type C port.

You will love and appreciate the Galaxy Book Flex Alpha for its appearance and performance. It saves you time while you work on your projects. Faster picture file loading, video or picture editing, and making notations on the job pictures are what it can do perfectly.

Processor10th Generation Intel Core i7-10510U
RAM12GB RAM
Storage512GB SSD
GraphicsIntel UHD Graphics
Display13.3″ QLED FHD Touch Screen (1920 x 1080) Display
Operating SystemWindows 10
Battery LifeUp to 18.5 hours (Battery life varies with use)
WeightApproximately 2.62 lbs (1.19 KG)
Pros
  • Slim, lightweight, and gorgeous design
  • Powerful processor for optimal performance
  • Impressive hardware for an affordable price
  • Great battery life
  • Cool features
Cons
  • No USB-C charging
  • No Thunderbolt port

Asus TUF Dash 15

Asus TUF Dash 15

ASUS has continuously shown its caliber of producing top-quality laptops for the last few years. ASUS TUD Dash 15 is a multidimensional laptop that you can use for any purpose, from gaming to office work or personal use.

The amazing battery life of this laptop makes it ideal for transport as you can use it continuously for up to 16 hours. This laptop is armed with an Intel brand processor, famous for its strong processing power and widely used in laptops.

Why Did We Choose It?

8 GB DDR4 RAM and NVIDIA chipset with core i7 processor work together to increase the processing speed of this laptop. Moreover, 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD storage is enough to store thousands of photos and drawings.

The 15.6 inches IPS full HD display makes you feel things are real. The crystal clear images and razor-sharp text reduce strain on your eyes when continuously used for several hours. The GeForce RTX 3050 Ti graphics card helps process high-quality graphics within seconds.

The lithium-ion batteries of this laptop can last up to 16 hours when used continuously. Even with 19.9 mm thickness, it still meets the MIL-STD durability standards to make it compatible with everyday rough use. To add more, only 4.4 lbs of weight with all these features makes it a traveler’s choice.

4 USB ports, one HDMI port, and an RJ45 LAN port provide multiple connectivity options faster data transfer rate. The turquoise LED lights behind the keyboard look stunning at night. Overall, this laptop is perfect for aesthetic-oriented people who want to enjoy work.

Processor11th Generation Intel Core i7-11370H
RAM8GB RAM
Storage512GB SSD
GraphicsNVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti
Display15.6” 144Hz FHD (1920×1080) Display
Operating SystemWindows 10
Battery LifeUp to 6-8 hours (Battery life varies with use)
WeightApproximately 4.4 lbs (2.0 KG)
Pros
  • A lovely color scheme and appearance
  • CPU and GPU best match with the price
  • Quite under loads
  • 144Hz refresh rate screen
Cons
  • Webcam is not that good
  • No USB-C charging

Conclusion

After our research, we think that the Apple MacBook Air is a great option when searching for a good laptop for astrophotography or astrophysics. While the LG Gram 16 is our second choice because of its lightweight design and powerful performance. If you don’t want to spend a fortune on a laptop, you can resort to the Acer Swift 3, having a perfect balance of power, portability, and affordability. Thank you for going through our article; we hope that this buying guide proved to be helpful!

Please know that this is a buying guide and not a review. A review is done by a person who has used the product, but a buying guide is a well-researched guide by someone who has detailed knowledge of a particular field. We love everything about laptops, so we think our buying guides will assist you immensely when hunting for a laptop.

For more laptop buying guides and information, Visit here.


Frequently Asked Questions

How much RAM do I need for astrophotography?

Ideally, you want to have 8GB RAM or more to get the most out of astrophotography.

How do I connect my DSLR to my laptop for astrophotography?

You can connect your DSLR to your laptop by using a USB cable. This is the most common way to connect the two devices, and it’s also the simplest. With this method, your DSLR will act as if it’s a USB storage device, and you’ll be able to view the photos and videos you’ve taken on your laptop.

Is 16GB of RAM enough for Photoshop?

Yes, 16GB of RAM is enough to provide a smooth experience while using Photoshop.

Is 32GB RAM overkill for photo editing?

32GB of RAM is great for heavy video editing tasks, but 32GB of RAM is overkill for photo editing. 8GB-16GB RAM is perfect for photo editing.


Thank you for Reading!

Sareer Ahmad
Sareer Ahmad is a techie who loves to write about tech gadgets, especially laptops. With years of experience and deep expertise in laptops, he has written hundreds of blogs in this niche.