Hackintosh is the modified version of Apple’s macOS that runs on non-Apple hardware. It has been a recent computing sensation because it allows users to get two experiences, excellent hardware with macOS features simultaneously.
Choosing a laptop for Hackintosh is not a simple task, especially when you are not familiar with this system and its shell commands. As it runs on hardware that isn’t meant for it, surely it will be having some great issues. Although fixtures are available for most of these problems, one should still be careful before choosing the best laptop for Hackintosh.
After extensive research, we have brought forward the nine best laptops for Hackintosh. All these models have compatibility for macOS, and an installation guide is also available for these models.
Let’s dive deep into the review.
- Dell XPS 15 9570 – Best Laptop for Hackintosh with 4K touch screen panel
- Lenovo ThinkPad T440s Ultrabook Laptop – Best Budget Laptop for Hackintosh
- Lenovo Yoga 920 – Best Laptop for Hackintosh with 7th generation CPU
1. Dell XPS 15 9570
Dell XPS 15 9570 is an excellent choice for the Hackintosh installation. It’s a powerful machine with 512 GB SSD storage and 16 GB RAM. It is evident from these figures that this laptop is ideal for multitasking. Moreover, you won’t face any storage trouble even after installing a double-boot macOS setup.
Moreover, from its 4k touch-screen to the Core-i6 2.2 GHz CPU, it has everything you can expect from your inexpensive MacBook alternative. With 2.2GHz clock speed, it is the best laptop for gaming, video editing, or demanding programs like AutoCAD.
15.6-inch large display with touchscreen support enables you to perform almost every task like a breeze. You can retain the touch-screen set-up on the macOS and can interact with Mac elements via touchscreen. Dell XPS comes with a dedicated GPU, NVIDIA GTX 1050 Ti making it a perfect gaming device, but unfortunately, this doesn’t work as you switch to macOS Mojave.
The Backlit Keyboard of Dell XPS is exceptionally shallow and is easy to use. Unlike MacBook Pro, the Arrow-keys form a proper T-shape. The trackPad is expansive and feels smooth and accurate while swiping and tapping.
The battery of Dell Xps can last for eight hours when continuously used. It also features automatic sleep and wake functions. You may find battery life a bit lagging if you are a Macbook Pro user, but most users don’t find it problematic.
In terms of ports and connectivity, the laptop has many options. These include one Thunderbolt 3, HDMI port, USB Type-A port, and an audio jack.
PROS
- 4k resolution touchscreen
- 6-Core 2.2 GHz CPU
- Backlit Keyboard
- Easy MacOS installation
CONS
- Dedicated GPU doesn’t work on macOS Catalina
- Only one Thunderbolt port
The Dell XPS has a 6-core intel processor with a clock speed of 2.2GHz, which works excellent for demanding applications like Adobe Premiere Pro and AutoCAD. Moreover, the 16 GB RAM found in this laptop is almost double the RAM found in other MA variants. From the touchscreen to a snappy backlit keyboard, every feature of this laptop is impressive.
2. Acer Swift 5
For the people obsessed with lightweight Ultrabooks and want a high-performance Hackintosh compatible device, consider Acer Swift 5. With a thickness of .59 inches and a weight of 2.14 pounds, the Acer Swift 5 is an Ultra-thin laptop that shows best-in-class Hackintosh compatibility.
It features 7th Gen Core-i7 CPU with a clock speed of 1.8 GHz. Moreover, it can be upgraded to 4.0 GHz if you want to run high-end apps like Adobe Premiere and Photoshop on your Hackintosh setup.
Powered with 16 GB RAM, multitasking is like a breeze on this laptop. You can quickly work on multiple tasks at a nice pace without draining much battery. The 512 GB SSD storage is huge enough to store all of your data, even after installing the Dual-boot Mac and Windows setup.
There isn’t any dedicated GPU in Acer Swift 5; instead, it uses an Intel HD graphic card. The absence of a dedicated GPU is not a big deal as it is not supported in the Hackintosh setup.
The 14-inch screen with a high-resolution 1920x1080p touchscreen panel is something superior that you cannot find in standard MacBook variants for this price. Moreover, typing on a high-quality Backlit keyboard is a real treat. The key arrangement on the keyboard is fantastic, but it may take time to get used to this arrangement if you’re new to this one.
The Fingerprint Sensor doesn’t work on this keyboard, and you will see the Apple Fingerprint ID feature on this laptop. One of the significant downsides you will face with this Hackintosh compatible model is the absence of a Thunderbolt 3 port. For connectivity, it offers a USB Type-C port and a standard HDMI port. The battery lasts upto 8 hours, with every feature working correctly.
PROS
- 16 GB RAM
- 7th Gen powerful processor
- 14-inch large touch screen
- Well-built keyboard
CONS
- Absence of Thunderbolt 3 port
- No Fingerprint scanner
The Acer Swift 5 is a powerful candidate for Hackintosh setup as it brings many unique features to you that you can’t expect from an ordinary MacBook at this price. The high-resolution touchscreen panel, backlit keyboard, and 16 GB RAM are some of the features that help it to become the best laptop for Hackintosh.
3. HP Spectre x360
HP Spectre x360 is one of the best two-in-one laptops that gives the advantage of portability with incredible performance. After making this device a Hackintosh model, you can enjoy a smooth macOS experience.
Powered with 7th Gen Intel Core i7 -8565U CPU, it’s powerful enough to run many applications smoothly. In case you want to use a laptop for content creation or video editing purposes on MacOS, the clock speed can be boosted from1.8 GHz to 4.0 GHz.
It features 16 GB RAM, which is enough for multitasking, and 512 GB SSD storage, enables you to store all of your stuff with a dual-boot Windows and Mac OS.
Moreover, it doesn’t come with a dedicated GPU and relies on an integrated Intel UHD Graphics. The absence of a dedicated GPU doesn’t make any difference, as it doesn’t get support from the MacOS in Hackintosh.
The 13.3 inch HD display with touchscreen support is something you won’t get in MacBook Pro or AIR. Navigating the screen and interacting with Mac features vai an HP touch-pen is an incredibly smooth experience.
Unlike Dell XPS and Acer Swift 5, this laptop comes with a standard keyboard with a limited typing experience. The fingerprint sensor is a missing feature in this device too. The trackpad is more expansive and exceptionally smooth to work with. That is why it is also one of the best laptops for artists.
For connectivity, you have all essential options like USB C-type and HDMI ports, but unfortunately, thunderbolt three-port is not an option.
The Battery life for a Hackintosh Build on this laptop is around 6 hours with a single charge, which is not as significant as its other features.
PROS
- Light-weight 2-in-one laptop
- 16 GB Ram for multitasking
- HD touchscreen panel
- Sufficient storage space
CONS
- No fingerprint sensor
- Subpar battery life
The HP SPectre x360is an excellent choice if you want to build a Hackintosh with incredible performance. With a 2-in-one convertible design and lightweight structure, the laptop is powerful enough to install dual-boot OS. at 4.0 GHz clock speed; it enables you to perform all the demanding tasks like content creation, video editing with quite ease.
4. Lenovo ThinkPad T440s Ultrabook Laptop
Lenovo ThinkPad is a dated version with powerful hardware, available at a reasonable price. Therefore it’s an excellent choice to build a Hackintosh and incredible performance with MacOS in general.
It features an intel core i5-4300u processor, which gives superior performance for most of the tasks. Powered with 8GB RAM, the laptop works perfectly for standard apps, but you can’t expect the high-end performance as for demanding apps as you find with a 16 GB RAM. The storage space you get with this model is a 256 GB SSD, which is adequate to keep most of your stuff in addition to the MAC setup.
The 14-inch HD display is an outstanding feature, enabling you to do most of your work efficiently and accurately. There is no dedicated GPU and the laptop stocks with integrated UHD Intel graphics.
The laptop’s best thing is that all of its essential hardware components work correctly with the MacOS Mojave. For connectivity, it includes USB 3.0, VGA port, and a Mini DisplayPort. With a basic but reliable keyboard, there is also a fingerprint sensor. It means you will have access to your Apple fingerprint ID at this Hackintosh LAPTOP.
The laptop boasts powerful hardware and is an excellent choice to build a Hackintosh with a limited budget. It is evident from its features that the computer isn’t capable of performing demanding tasks like content creation, video editing, or running high-end programs.
PROS
- Fingerprint sensor
- Robust performance
- Reliable hardware
- 14-inch large display
- Affordable
CONS
- Not suitable for high-end tasks
The laptop powered with 5th generation intel core i5-4300U processor and 8 GB RAM is an excellent choice to build a Hackintosh. With its limited but superior performance, it is an excellent choice for performing essential tasks like web browsing, Microsoft office, and other nominal applications.
5. Acer Aspire 5
Acer Aspire 5 is another moderately priced laptop that makes an excellent choice for making it a Hackintosh laptop. The laptop comes with an Intel Core i7-8565U CPU 8th generation processor that is powerful enough to run all the CPU-intensive apps like AutoCAD, Adobe Photoshop, or gaming.
The laptop features 8 GB RAM making multitasking possible, and 512 GB storage stores all of your stuff even when you want to dual boot the Windows and Mac Mojave operating systems.
The laptop has a 15.5-inch large display with a high-resolution 1920 x 1080; backlit IPS display with superior color saturation. It means watching movies and performing multiple tasks on this bright and wide display will be an exciting experience. The best part of the laptop is that almost all of its hardware component works perfectly with the MacOS. For connectivity, you have multiple options like USB 3.1 Type-C port. USB 3.1 1st Gen, USB 2.0 portland na HDMI port making it one of the best laptops for nursing students too.
The full-sized keyboard is highly responsive and also includes a fingerprint sensor. The touchpad of Acer Aspire 5 is highly responsive, clicky, and extremely wide. Navigating the large screen with its expansive trackpad isn’t any problem.
Powered with a 3-cell Li-ion battery, the laptop works perfectly for more than six hours. However, MacOS drains more battery, and the battery can withstand the 5 hours of continuous use.
PROS
- Excellent performance
- Powerful Ram and large storage
- 15.5 inch extra-Large HD display
- Inexpensive
CONS
- Standard Keyboard
- No Thunderbolt 3 port
Acer Aspire 5 is the best laptop for Hackintosh in the price range. Powered with 8th gen processors and 8 GB of RAM, it enables you to experience almost all MacOS features without any hassle. Moreover, the large HD display and fingerprint sensor are its other traits making it a strong candidate for Hackintosh.
6. ASUS ZenBook Flip 14
The ASUS ZenBook Flip 14 is one of the most potent Hackintosh laptops available out there. It has successfully installed Mojave and shows the best-in-class compatibility with macOS.
It boasts an Intel i5-8250U quad-core processor with a clock speed of 3.4 GHz clock speed, enabling it to run all the demanding and CPU-intensive apps like Game developing engines, Complies, and video editing software. Moreover, 256 GB SATA storage is large enough for storage purposes and can be expanded upto 512 GB if you need more.
For memory, both 8 GB and 16 GB options are available, which means you can quickly and easily multitask with this device. This laptop has much more to offer if we see these features compared to basic MacBook Pro or Air versions.
The 14-inch Full HD display gives a wide-angle view. Amazingly with a large HD display, this laptop weighs only 3.1 pounds and becomes a portable option.
The laptop has a sophisticated built-quilty. The keyboard is highly responsive and robust, with a fingerprint sensor included. It also has a dedicated GPU and built-in Bluetooth, but unfortunately, this feature doesn’t work with macOS.
You can also dual boot the Windows 10 and macOS while having a storage space of 512 GB. You may also find some issues regarding wi-fi connectivity and hardware compatibility, but they are minor as complete Hackintosh Guide is already available.
PROS
- Best performance
- GHz clock speed for multi-tasking
- 8GB/16GB RAM variants
- A wide-angle view with a 14-inch display
- Lightweight and portable
CONS
- The keyboard is not backlit
This laptop is highly efficient with its 16 GB RAM and quad-core Intel i5 processor. The best advantage you get with this laptop is its portability. Due to the lightweight and slim structure, the laptop is the best Hackintosh laptop for portable use.
7. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme
With a Carbon-fiber body and aluminum alloy interior, Lenovo ThinkPad X1 extreme has the sturdiest construction and is an excellent choice for Hackintosh. The model features Intel’s 8th Generation Core i7 processor that guarantees excellent and flawless performance even for the extensive application and programs. It has 16 GB of RAM, which means the laptop can handle competitive multitasking and excellent performance even on macOS.
The 512 GB SSD storage is sufficient to dual boot the windows 10 and macOS, and much space is left to store the other stuff.
In addition to these impressive features, this laptop also comes with integrated and dedicated graphics. Therefore it’s an excellent gaming device. The Integrated UHD graphics are Intel’s UHD 630, which are also highly compatible with macOS 15.1 and 15.2.
The dedicated GPU doesn’t work with macOS, and unfortunately, you need to disable the feature on your Hackintosh setup. Moreover, the Bluetooth and WiFi are built-in, but you may encounter problems regarding these features on macOS. The 15.6 inches large display with HD 1920×1080 resolution with backlight is incredible that you get with this ThinkPad X1 extreme.
PROS
- 8th Gen processor for excellent performance
- Full HD large display
- Excellent hardware
CONS
- Bluetooth and HDMI port do not work in macOS
The Lenovo ThinkPad has a sturdy construction and rugged interior that enables it to become the best laptop for the Hackintosh setup. This laptop features impressive CPU and memory, making a robust system to perform most of the tasks quickly and easily.
8. Lenovo Yoga 920
Lenovo Yoga 920 is a convertible laptop with excellent performance and remarkable portability. The laptop features an Intel Core i7-8550U processor that has a clock speed of 1.8 GHz. This speed can be boosted up to 4.0 GHz if you are interested in running CPU-extensive programs on the laptop. The content creators and gammers can use Turbo Boost to reach the maximum clock speed of 4.0 GHz.
The dedicated GPU is not present, and also it makes no difference as you need to disable the dedicated GPU in the Hackintosh setup.
Moreover, the powerful 16 GB DDR4 RAM makes multitasking a real delight on this laptop. Combined with these powerful features, it has a 512 GB SSD storage enabling you to store as much data as you want. You can dual boot the Windows and macOS on this laptop, and its large storage space lets you do so.
The best thing about this laptop is that almost everywhere, the component works perfectly when you install macOS Catalina.
All the ports, including USB and HDMI, are easily accessible on Hackintosh build also and connectivity is not an issue with this laptop. Moreover, it’s a sleek Ultrabook with a thickness of 0.5 inches. It’s a lightweight device, only 3.2 pounds, and is suitable for taking around everywhere.
The 13.0-inch 4K touch screen panel is a fantastic feature of this laptop. The touchscreen is supported in Hackintosh build also, and you can easily navigate the screen with a stylus pen. The keyboard and trackpad are of good quality and are highly responsive. Unfortunately, there are some support issues with some keys and trackpad on macOS.
Hackintosh users have reported some issues regarding Fn key and trackpad performance. Also, you won’t find any fingerprint sensor and miss Apple’s fingerprint ID feature. The battery lasts for around 10 hours for a single charge, which is an excellent feature for the power users.
PROS
- 8th Gen CPU for Robust performance
- Excellent hardware
- Large storage space
- Touchscreen support
- Stylus pen for precision
CONS
- Poor trackpad performance
- No fingerprint sensor
Powered with 16 GB RAM and 8th generation intel processors, this laptop has sufficient strength to run multiple programs like a Pro. This is an excellent laptop for Hackintosh as it features superior build-quality and an ideal Li-ion battery.
9. ASUS VivoBook S
ASUS vivoBook is another worthy option to build a Hackintosh-tanks to its superior built quality. It’s a reasonably priced laptop that features a high-resolution 1920×1080 15.6-inch display. It gives a wide-angle view, and the perfect color saturation gives the best viewing experience ever.
The Intel Core i7 CPU with a default clock speed of 1.8 GHz is fast and runs most of the tasks like a breeze, but if you are dealing with CPU-extensive programs, you can boost the clock speed upto4.0 GHz. Moreover, the 8GB DDR4 RAM is good enough for multitasking and running most of the programs smoothly and efficiently.
For storage purposes, you will get 128 GB SSD storage and 1 TB HDD, which means you have more than enough space to keep all your stuff like software, app, and personnel data, etc.. installing the macOS on SSD storage, enables you to work at an excellent speed and get a quick boot.
It has Intel HD UHD graphics that work perfectly with macOS Catalina forming a perfect combination of both. This VivoBook features a well-built, backlit keyboard that gives an excellent typing experience, and the trackpad is also highly responsive. The fingerprint sensor doesn’t work on the macOS Catalina, unfortunately.
Moreover, it has extensive connectivity options like USB 3.1, USB 2.0, and a standard HDMI port. Thankfully all these ports are accessible on Hackintosh build also. It offers an average battery life of around eight hours with perfect performance, which is pretty satisfying considering its price.
PROS
- 15.6 inches HD display
- Excellent performance
- Large storage space
- Reliable hardware
CONS
- The fingerprint scanner doesn’t work in Hackintosh build
- Limited 8 GB RAM
It’s a perfect choice for people who want to build a Hackintosh with an inexpensive laptop. This laptop’s Hackintosh build demands MacOS Catalina, highly compatible with its hardware components like the display panel and keyboard. Therefore you don’t need to make any significant changes before using this laptop for Hackintosh.
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Conclusion
Hackintosh is a distinctive way of integrating macOS into non-Apple hardware for getting a unique computing experience. All of the laptops reviewed in this article show the best-in-class compatibility for the macOS.
Moreover, every model has its Pros and cons. One should keep in mind that if you are not to run extensive programs like video editing software for the game cheating engine, there is no need to spend extra money on Flagship models. Instead, you can stick to some inexpensive models to build a Hackintosh.
As an ending note, I would like to recommend buying those laptops for Hackintosh that have minimum hardware compatibility issues with macOS and have reliable hardware.
Take a look at these products from the same price range, that are available right now on Amazon:
- Striking Visuals: The 15.6" 4K UHD True Pixel Display delivers true-to-life images with 100% AdobeRGB color gamut out of the box.
- Exceed Your Imagination: The 10th Gen. Intel Core i7 processor, delivers high performance with 8 cores boosting up to 5.1 GHz. Whether it's graphic design, video editing or 3D rendering, the Creator...
- Purpose Built: The MSI Creator 15 with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER is a RTX Studio high-performance laptop that contains the world's most powerful GPU, precision engineered into an ultra-thin...
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- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Max-Q 6GB GDDR6 with ROG Boost (Base: 982MHz, Boost: 1198MHz, TDP: 60W)
- AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS processor (8M Cache, up to 4.3GHz)
- 15.6” 240Hz 3ms PANTONE Validated IPS-Type Full HD (1920x1080) display
- 16GB DDR4 3200MHz RAM | 1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD | Backlit Precision Gaming Keyboard | Windows 10 Home
- 0.8” thin, 4.63 lbs ultraportable form-factor
- Aspect Ratio:16:9
- Welcome to the next generation of gaming performance with the AMD Ryzen 7 4800H mobile processor, 16GB 3200MHz DDR4 memory, and 512GB M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD storage
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- 【Detailed Configuration】Substantial high-bandwidth 12GB RAM to smoothly run your games and photo- and video-editing applications, as well as multiple programs and browser tabs all at once. A...
- 【Intel i7-1165G7】4 cores, 8 threads, 2.8GHz. The perfect combination of performance, responsiveness, and battery life. Enjoy the boundary-breaking performance
- 【15.6" LED-Backlit IPS Touch Screen FHD (1920 x 1080) Display】The 1920x1080 resolution boasts impressive color and clarity. Supports 1080p content.
- 【 Intel Iris Xe Graphics】All-new Integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics and integrated graphics to support richer gaming experiences and greater speed for designers and creators.
- 【Other Features】Standard Backlit Keyboard, Fingerprint Reader, 3Cell 45WH Lithium-Polymer Battery, Windows 10 Home (64 bit) OS
