There are certain pieces of equipment that are essential for a podcaster. You need a microphone, headphones, a mixer, and above all, a decent laptop.
Without a laptop, you’ll find it hard to research, script, record, edit, and upload your podcasts. To put it simply, without a good laptop, your podcast simply won’t exist.
Problem is, people don’t know what to look for in a laptop for podcasting. You need a laptop with a good amount of data and storage to handle all the audio, as well as a laptop that can run editing software without crashing.
If you’re stuck looking for a laptop for your podcast, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s our guide to help you find the best laptop for podcasting!
#1 HP 2021 14-Inch HD Laptop
Let’s be honest – you don’t need a fancy laptop for podcasting. You just need something that will get the job done smoothly, which is exactly what this laptop does.
The HP 2021 14-inch HD laptop is ideal for podcasters of all skill levels. This is a lightweight and sleek laptop that is ideal for small podcast setups, or even for editing on-the-go, as it won’t take up much room on a desk or in a bag.
It also has up to 10 hours of battery life, so you don’t have to worry about charging it when you’re editing away from a charging port.
Most importantly, this laptop has decent RAM, which is responsible for holding a certain amount of data in the laptop’s memory. This laptop has a 16GB RAM, which is ideal for running multiple applications and tabs at the same time without risk of crashing.
The 512GB solid state drive might offer less space than a hard drive, but it has no moving parts, meaning it provides a fast start-up and isn’t prone to making noise or overheating.
When testing this product, we found this was a huge benefit not often found in laptops.
Pros:
- Lightweight – Sleek design means this laptop can be transported easily
- Decent RAM – Lots of data for recordings and running applications
- Doesn’t overheat – No noise or overheating means the audio isn’t affected
Cons:
- Price – One of the most expensive laptops on our list
#2 HP Chromebook 11-Inch Laptop
For those who are new to the world of podcasting, or those on a budget, you don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on a decent laptop.
The HP Chromebook 11-inch laptop is ideal for beginner podcasters who might not be focussed on sticking to a strict schedule – instead, this laptop is great for getting the basic skills under your belt.
This incredibly slim and lightweight laptop is ideal for college students who are looking to get into podcasting. It’s as simple as it is high-quality, with a highly efficient battery life and the convenience of connecting other Android devices to the unit.
It is also equipped with a high-quality camera and microphone – ideal for those who don’t have access to a microphone or camera for their podcast just yet.
This laptop comes with a hard disk size of 32GB, which is enough to handle the applications and audio storage for podcasting. This flash memory size also means that this laptop is great for streaming video games and movies.
When testing this product, we appreciated how the battery could last for up to 15 hours and 45 minutes. This is ideal for editing podcasts while traveling.
Pros:
- Lightweight and long battery life – Ideal for recording, researching, and editing on-the-go
- Affordable – Suitable for those on a budget
- Meets podcast specifications – Ideal for beginner podcasters who want to learn the basics
Cons:
- Not for experts – Experienced podcasters might find this laptop isn’t suitable for their work
#3 HP 2021 HP Stream 14-Inch HD Laptop
Another great contender for podcasting is the HP 2021 HP Stream 14-inch HD laptop.
This laptop offers impressive resolution, delivering clarity and color as well as anti-glare technology, which is great for editing filmed podcasts. So, if you upload your podcasts to YouTube as well as streaming platforms, this laptop is the one for you!
This laptop comes with a 4GB DDR4 RAM, which isn’t the highest memory, but certainly enough to run multiple applications smoothly.
The 64GB eMMC flash memory makes up for this, so it has the capacity to store hours of footage and recordings. This also means that the laptop is suitable for use outside of podcasts, such as studying or working.
When testing this product, we were most impressed by the graphics.
Some podcasters like to upload their podcasts to YouTube for viewers who prefer visual podcasts, so if you wish to edit your filmed podcasts, this laptop will provide the best quality to do so. Plus, it’s not too expensive compared to other models!
Pros:
- High-quality resolution – Ideal for editing filmed podcasts to upload to YouTube
- Good flash memory – High storage capacity to hold hours of recordings and videos
- Versatile – Ideal for podcasting as well as studying, working, and entertainment
Cons:
- RAM – Not the highest RAM on our list
#4 Acer Aspire 5 A515-56-36UT 15.6-Inch Full HD Display Laptop
If you’re looking for a slightly bigger laptop than the previous options, check out this Acer laptop. With a 15.6” screen, this laptop offers more space to open multiple tabs – which is ideal for running several applications or browsers at once without the need for a monitor.
The highlight of this product is its solid-state drive storage. With a 4GB DDR4 RAM and an impressive 128GB SSD, this laptop is able to store hours of footage or recordings and run multiple applications at a time without crashing.
It is also equipped with dual-band Wi-Fi 6, which is 3 times faster than most other laptops, allowing for ultimate efficiency when connecting to the internet.
When testing this product, we appreciated the little details that make this a generally good laptop.
From the 130-degree tilt to the 3 fans to prevent overheating, Acer has thought of everything to provide a convenient laptop for any user. Plus, the addition of Alexa is a nice touch for convenience.
Pros:
- Lots of screen space – Large screen to open multiple applications and browsers at once
- Impressive storage – Can store hours of footage and recording, whilst running editing software and applications
- Thoughtful extras – Tilt and fans make for a convenient laptop for any use
Cons:
- RAM – Memory is only 4GB, which lacks compared to the SSD
#5 Lenovo Chromebook S330 14-Inch Laptop
The key to finding a laptop for podcasting is looking for one that is easy to use. That’s where the Lenovo Chromebook comes in, because it is as easy to use as a smartphone.
So, if you’re new to editing and recording podcasts, this Chromebook will make it easy for you.
This laptop is surprisingly powerful for a Chromebook. It is equipped with 64GB of storage, as well as 100 GB of cloud storage when linked to Google Drive. This is ideal for running multiple tabs and apps at the same time, including editing software.
When testing this product, we appreciated the details such as built-in virus protection, two speaker systems, Bluetooth connectivity, and its sleek design for working on-the-go.
Sure, it’s not overly complex for experienced podcasters, but it’s a good introduction to the world of podcasting for beginners.
Pros:
- User-friendly – Easy to use and navigate for new podcasters
- Lots of storage – Even more storage added when linked to Google Drive to store hours of recordings
- Convenient – Comes with handy features and is lightweight for working on-the-go
Cons:
- Just the basics – Does the job, but maybe not enough for experienced podcasters
Buyer’s Guide
If you’re new to podcasting and not sure what to look for in a laptop, here’s our handy buyer’s guide of factors to consider when choosing the best laptop for podcasting.
Internal Storage
The bigger the better when it comes to storage. While hard-drives are fine, these storage devices are often slow and inconvenient.
Most laptops come with a built-in solid-state device (SSD), which comes in various sizes and will download data digitally and quickly.
If you’re intending on storing a lot of recordings on your laptop, look for a unit with a high SSD figure.
Random Access Memory (RAM)
Random access memory refers to the amount of data available in the laptop. Again, the higher the figure, the better for podcasts, because you need a laptop that can withstand running multiple applications and storing hours of content with ease.
Ideally, you should look for a laptop with a minimum RAM of 4GB.
Editing Software
Of course, you need a laptop that can successfully run editing and recording software, such as Audition, Garageband, Audacity, WavePad Audio Editor, and more. A podcast cannot be completed without such software, so prioritize this above all else.
The same also goes for plugins, which can enhance the podcast audio by adding music, sound effects, and transitions. These plugins often come with high requirements, however, which require more RAM and a strong processor not often found in laptops.
For those who are more serious about podcasts, you might benefit more from a desktop than a laptop.
Convenience
If you’re new to the world of podcasting, or if you intend on using the laptop for multiple purposes aside from recording and editing a podcast, then you need to find a product that is convenient for you.
Make sure to consider the size of the screen, how lightweight the product is, the length of the battery life, and its visual quality.
You might want to edit and upload your podcasts to YouTube, for example, which would require a laptop with fantastic resolution to allow for good video quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Equipment is Needed for Podcast?
The key pieces of equipment needed for podcasts are a microphone, headphones, a laptop or desktop, mixing and recording software, and internet access.
You need to consider every step of podcast production, including the research, scripting, editing, and uploading, to identify what equipment is needed.
Are Gaming Laptops Good for Podcasting?
The key to choosing a laptop for podcasting is finding one with a good SSD, and given the fact gaming laptops often have a high SSD figure, then they can be technically used for podcasting.
Most laptops nowadays are transferable in terms of use, so some gaming laptops can be great for podcasting!
How much RAM do I need for Podcasting?
Ideally, you should look for a laptop that has 16GB of RAM for regular podcasting. However, if you’re not sticking to a tight schedule and if you just want to make a podcast for the fun of it, then you’ll only need a laptop with 8GB (or even 4GB) of RAM.
The more GB in RAM, the better – but this usually means that these laptops are more expensive.
