This guide is for students pursuing degrees in Criminal Justice, Criminology, Law Enforcement, or Legal Studies, fields where research, critical thinking, data management, and communication intersect daily. When you’re analyzing case studies, accessing digital law libraries, writing policy reports, or working with crime mapping tools, you need a laptop that keeps up with both academic depth and digital agility.
Today’s criminal justice coursework blends traditional theory with modern tools. As a student, you’re handling tasks that include legal research, statistical analysis, ethics discussions, forensic science modules, and criminal database simulations. You may be writing lengthy papers, conducting remote interviews, reviewing surveillance footage, or analyzing crime trends—all of which require a machine that performs reliably, securely, and efficiently.
You’ve likely faced some common challenges. Low-end laptops often freeze with multiple browser tabs open. Slow processors can’t handle data sets or video content effectively. Weak battery life interrupts your study sessions. Insecure systems risk exposing sensitive information. And limited ports or poor webcams complicate online collaboration with classmates or professors.
We’ve designed this guide to help you select a laptop that meets the real academic and technical demands of your field.
We evaluate each laptop using five essential criteria that matter most for criminal justice students:
Performance and Reliability are crucial for students running research tools, citation managers, or virtual environments. We recommend at least an Intel Core i5 (13th Gen) or AMD Ryzen 5 7000 series, which ensures that tasks like PDF annotations, video lectures, and law enforcement databases run smoothly.
Memory and Storage support multitasking and digital organization. A configuration with 16GB RAM and a 512GB SSD offers quick access to files, efficient document handling, and space for reference materials, case files, and online coursework platforms.
Display and Clarity impact your reading and writing comfort. A 13″–15.6″ Full HD display with anti-glare coating is ideal for scanning legal documents, viewing evidence photos, or engaging in virtual mock trials. IPS panels improve readability over long hours.
Battery Life and Portability support your schedule. As classes, internships, or study sessions shift locations, you’ll want at least 8 hours of real-world usage and a form factor light enough for daily transport.
Security and Communication Features are non-negotiable. A trusted platform module (TPM), fingerprint reader, and solid webcam (720p minimum) enable both privacy and professionalism during interviews, virtual classes, and simulation assessments. Multiple USB ports and a reliable microphone round out usability.
These criteria are grounded in practical, career-facing scenarios. You may be preparing case analyses, participating in online courtroom simulations, or conducting field observations. Each recommended device supports not only coursework but also the technical exposure expected in criminal justice careers.
Looking ahead, we’ll highlight laptops that match these academic needs while offering future-ready performance. Some models cater to tight student budgets; others offer extra headroom for advanced simulations or law school preparation. We focus on reliability, user experience, and practical value.
You can also have a look at the best laptops for Law Students in addition to the best laptops for Political Science Students.
Best Laptops for Criminal Justice Students:
Contents
- HP - Pavilion 15.6 Laptop - AMD Ryzen 5
- Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop, 15.6 inches
- Dell Gaming G3 15 3500 - Laptop
- Razer Blade 15 Laptop i7 GTX 1660 Ti
- Acer Swift 5 Intel Evo Laptop
- HP Pavilion Laptop 17-inch
- Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 13.5”– Core i5
- Apple MacBook Pro M1 13-inch, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD
- LG Gram 14 FHD Laptop
- GIGABYTE AERO 15 OLED XC
- Lenovo Flex 5 14 inch Display
- MORE LAPTOP RECOMMENDATIONS
HP - Pavilion 15.6 Laptop - AMD Ryzen 5 |
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| CPU | AMD Ryzen 5 |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 |
| Display Size | 15.6 Inches |
| Display Resolution | 1920 x 1080 Pixels |
| RAM | 8 GB |
| Storage Space | 256GB solid state drive (SSD) |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Ports | USB, Ethernet, HDMI |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 20.43 x 12.13 x 2.72 inches |
| Weight | 4.4 pounds |
| Pros | Performance, Displa |
| Cons | n/a |
Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop, 15.6 inches |
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| CPU | AMD Ryzen 3-3200U Processor (2.60 GHz, up to 3.50 GHz Max Boost) |
| GPU | AMD Radeon Vega 3 Graphics |
| Display Size | 15.6 inches |
| Display Resolution | 1920 x 1080 pixels |
| RAM | 16GB DDR4 |
| Storage Space | 256GB SSD + 1TB HDD |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Ports | 1 x USB-A 3.1 (Gen 1), 2 x USB 2.0, 1 x HDMI, 1 x Ethernet, 1 x Headphone / mic |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 14.3 x 9.7 x 0.8 inches |
| Weight | 4 pounds |
| Pros | Premium Design, Large Storage |
| Cons | NA |
Dell Gaming G3 15 3500 - Laptop |
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| CPU | Intel Core i7-10750H |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 6GB GDDR6 |
| Display Size | 15.6 inch |
| Display Resolution | 1920 x 1080 pixels |
| RAM | 16GB 2933MHz DDR4 |
| Storage Space | 512 GB M.2 [PCIe] NVMe (SSD) |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Ports | USB, Ethernet, Audio Jack |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 10 x 14.39 x 0.85 inches |
| Weight | 5.18 pounds |
| Pros | Performance, Display |
| Cons | None |
Razer Blade 15 Laptop i7 GTX 1660 Ti |
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| CPU | Intel Core i7-10750H |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti |
| Display Size | 15.6 inches |
| Display Resolution | 1920 x 1080 Pixels |
| RAM | 16 GB DDR4 |
| Storage Space | 256GB SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Ports | Wi-Fi 6, Gigabit Ethernet, Thunderbolt 3, USB type-A and type-C ports, and HDMI |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 13.98 x 0.78 x 9.25 inches |
| Weight | 8.58 pounds |
| Pros | Performance, Price |
| Cons | Weight |
Acer Swift 5 Intel Evo Laptop |
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| CPU | Intel Core i7-1165G7 |
| GPU | Intel Iris Xe Graphics |
| Display Size | 14 inches |
| Display Resolution | 1920 x 1080 pixels |
| RAM | 16GB |
| Storage Space | 1TB SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Ports | 1 - usb type-c port usb 3.2 gen 2 (up to 10 gbps) displayport over usb type-c, thunderbolt 4 & usb charging, 2 - usb 3.2 gen 1 ports (one featuring power-off charging), 1 - hdmi port |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 12.56 x 8.15 x 0.59 inches |
| Weight | 4.62 pounds |
| Pros | Performance, Display Quality |
| Cons | NA |
HP Pavilion Laptop 17-inch |
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| CPU | 10th Generation Intel Core i7-10750H Processor |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti with Max-Q |
| Display Size | 17.3 inches |
| Display Resolution | 1920 x 1080 pixels |
| RAM | 16gb |
| Storage Space | 256GB |
| Operating System | Windows |
| Ports | USB Type-C 10Gbps signaling rate (USB Power Delivery, DisplayPort 1.4, HP Sleep and Charge), 3 SuperSpeed USB Type-A 5Gbps signaling rate (HP Sleep and Charge), RJ-45 Ethernet Port, 3.5mm headphone/microphone combo, AC smart pin, HDMI 2.0 |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 11.1 x 15.94 x 1 inches |
| Weight | 6.07 lbs |
| Pros | Performance |
| Cons | Storage, Weight |
Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 13.5”– Core i5 |
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| CPU | Intel Core i5 |
| GPU | Iris™ Plus graphics 950 |
| Display Size | 13.5 inches |
| Display Resolution | 2256 x 1504 Pixels |
| RAM | 8 GB LPDDR4 |
| Storage Space | 512 GB SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Ports | USB, Ethernet, HDMI, Audio |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 9.95 x 13.39 x 2.06 inches |
| Weight | 2.89 pounds |
| Pros | Lightweight, Good performance |
| Cons | NA |
Apple MacBook Pro M1 13-inch, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD |
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| CPU | Apple M1 chip; 8-core CPU with 4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores; 16-core Neural Engine |
| GPU | M1 8-core GPU |
| Display Size | 13.3-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display with IPS technology |
| Display Resolution | 2560-by-1600 native resolution at 227 pixels per inch |
| RAM | 8GB RAM |
| Storage Space | 256GB |
| Operating System | MacOS |
| Ports | Two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports with support for: Charging, DisplayPort Thunderbolt 3 (up to 40 Gbps), USB 3.1 Gen 2 (up to 10 Gbps) |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 13.41 x 11.97 x 0.61 inches |
| Weight | 3 Pounds |
| Pros | Performance, Battery Life |
| Cons | NA |
LG Gram 14 FHD Laptop |
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| CPU | Intel Quad-Core i7 |
| GPU | Intel Iris Plus Graphics |
| Display Size | 14 inches |
| Display Resolution | 1920 x 1080 pixels |
| RAM | 16 GB DDR4 |
| Storage Space | 512 GB SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Ports | 1 x USB Type-C Thunderbolt 3 (supports power delivery, display port, RJ45 gender), 2 x USB 3.1, 1 x HDMI, 1 x Micro-SD Card Reader, 1 x Audio Combo Jack |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 12.7 x 8.3 x 0.7 inches |
| Weight | 2.2 pounds |
| Pros | Long battery life, performance, Lightweight |
| Cons | None |
GIGABYTE AERO 15 OLED XC |
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| CPU | 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10870H (2.2GHz - 5.0GHz) |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Laptop GPU 8 GB GDDR6 |
| Display Size | 15.6 inches |
| Display Resolution | 4K/UHD 3840x2160 |
| RAM | 32 GB RAM |
| Storage Space | 1TB SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Ports | 1 x Thunderbolt 3 (Type-C), 1 x Mini DisplayPort 1.4 | 3 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (Type-A), 1 x HDMI 2.1 | 1 x UHS-II SD Card Reader |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 9.8 x 14 x 0.78 inches |
| Weight | 4.4 pounds |
| Pros | Performance, Display Quality |
| Cons | n/a |
Lenovo Flex 5 14 inch Display |
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| CPU | AMD 8-Core Ryzen 7 4700U |
| GPU | AMD Radeon |
| Display Size | 14 inches |
| Display Resolution | 1920 x 1080 pixels |
| RAM | 16 GB DDR4 |
| Storage Space | 512GB SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Ports | 2x USB ; 1x USB-C ; 1x HDMI –;1x Headphone/Microphone combo jack. |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 12.65 x 8.56 x 0.82 inches |
| Weight | 3.30 lbs |
| Pros | Performance, Lightweight |
| Cons | na |
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