Do you want to integrate some cardio into your daily routine? You probably hate biking outside or running, and you’re definitely not a gym-goer, then you should give Zwift a try.
What is Zwift?
Zwift is a virtual game that lets you connect your turbo trainer to your computer, iPad, iPhone, or TV. It allows you to cycle with other cyclists in other cities, virtually, cities like Richmond, London, and the fantastic island of Watopia.
Why is Zwift so popular?
It allows you to virtually connect with other riders, going from normal boring outdoor cycling to one that takes place in the comfort of your home. You can train using some of the specially designed workouts, and you have the option to compete with other people as well. If you ride your bike frequently, Zwift can act as your electronic trainer. Frequent training and careful monitoring of your performance will improve your physical condition.
What do you need to use Zwift?
Besides the computer, you will have other types of equipment to use Zwift and, above all, a Turbo Trainer. A Turbo Trainer is a kind of household electric bicycle that can be connected to the computer. It is simply a device that allows you to ride a bike, stationary at home. And that’s exactly why they’ve become the must-have training gear for the winter season.
Turbo trainers have a power meter and resistance system, making your bike harder to pedal, like real bicycle gears. It will measure the power output and send that data to your Zwift avatar online. It makes for a real-life experience. For example, if you go down, the resistance will decrease, and when you go up, it will increase, etc.
Zwift can work with any turbo trainer because you have a power meter on your bike. If you don’t have a power meter, you will need a speed sensor on your bike, and you can use XPower.
You can also get Smart Turbo trainers designed specifically for the Zwift but can be quite expensive.
What are the requirements of the Zwift laptop?
Laptops are the most common choice for Zwift due to their ease of use and versatility. Well, you may not be able to enjoy the game on your old computer due to Zwift’s heavy software requirements. Here are the specs you’ll need in a laptop:
Operating System: Windows 7 × 64 bit, OSX 10.8
Memory: 4 GB
Hard Disk: 4 GB of free space
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo
Graphics: 1 GB dedicated GPU or integrated Intel HD 400 / AMD R5
These are minimum requirements, so all of the above is more than enough to run smoothly. However, before choosing a laptop, make sure you consider them all. Laptops are somewhat difficult to flip, so think carefully about which one would be best for you.
We’ve reviewed the Best Laptops for Zwift in 2021 and listed their key features, software specs, pros, and cons.
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Acer Aspire E 15 E5-575G Laptop
This laptop has a 15.6 inch widescreen Full HD display and is comfortable to view from all angles. It features LED backlighting and innovative Acer Color Blast technology, which provides crisp images and well-balanced colors. It is also supported by the 7th Generation Intel Core i5-7200U processor, up to 3.1 GHz.
This is a powerful laptop that will run the Zwift app smoothly and many other apps, games, videos, and photos. The graphics [GPU] is equipped with the NVIDIA GeForce 940MX graphics chip, which has 2 GB of GDDR5 video memory.
This laptop’s battery ranks among the longest-lasting batteries, providing up to 12 hours of battery life. This makes the laptop convenient to use as you don’t need to plug it in before starting your workout.
It is also fully equipped with a 256 GB SSD drive, SD card reader, Bluetooth 4.1, Gigabit Ethernet, HD webcam, USB 3.1 Gen 1, two USB 3.0 ports, one USB 2.0 port, and one HDMI port with HDCP support. The maximum screen resolution of the laptop is 1920 x 1080 pixels.
The laptop’s appropriate resolution for better viewing, quality RAM, graphics display, and battery make it the perfect choice. It allows you to enjoy excellent graphics, impressive screen quality, and resolution.
SPECIFICATIONS
Processor 8th Generation Intel Core i5-8250U processor (up to 3.4 GHz)
NVIDIA GeForce MX150 2GB GPU
Screen size 15.6 inch
Full HD screen resolution (1920 x 1080)
8 GB RAM
256 GB solid-state flash memory storage
Windows 10 operating system
Ports 4 USB ports
Dimensions (L x W x H) 15.02 x 10.2 x 1.19 inches
Weight 5.27 pounds
PROS
Sharp image
Quick start-up time
Versatile connectivity
High-quality graphics card.
Adequate space and storage
Adequate battery life
CONS
Its touchpad is quite responsive
2. Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Zwift Laptop
Another Acer product that will serve you more than just the Zwift app is the Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop. This laptop is dedicated to gaming, and it has a sleek and futuristic look and display due to its crisp lines and angles. Its bright red-backlit keyboard gives it a more powerful look. It comes with two fans featuring Coolboost technology for increased cooling and sleeping capacity.
This function allows you to adjust the cooling process according to your needs manually. This feature is also convenient to use if you use the laptop for more than the Zwift app, as the extra cooling will help maintain its temperature.
The laptop is powered by a 7th Generation Intel Core i5 processor, and the laptop will run and display the game smoothly and quickly without any interruptions. Its GeForce GTX 1050 Ti [GPU] graphics display with 4 GB of GDDR5 video memory keeps running smoothly. This laptop weighs 5.51 pounds and has a maximum screen resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels.
SPECIFICATIONS
Processor 7th Generation Intel Core i5-7300HQ processor (up to 2.5 GHz)
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti GPU with 4 GB of dedicated GDDR5 VRAM
Screen size 15.6 inch
Screen resolution 1920 x 1080 pixels
4 GB RAM
1TB SSD storage space
Windows 10 operating system
1x USB 3.0 ports; 2x USB 2.0; Network (RJ-45); HDMI output; 1 USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C port
Dimensions (L x W x H) 10.5 x 15.9 x 1.1 inches
Weight 5.95 pounds
PROS
It has an elegant design
Large screen for various games
Easy to use
It works well
CONS
Its frame is made of plastic.
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HP 255 G6 Business ZWIFT Laptop
As the name suggests, this HP notebook features a 15.6-inch wide, high-definition (HD) display with a maximum resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. Powered by the 7th Generation AMD A6 Dual-Core A6-9220 with 2.5GHz, the laptop will run the Zwift app smoothly and without issues. And it only takes a few seconds to power up, so there won’t be any frustrations waiting for the system to boot.
You will still get a much better experience than using the Zwift companion app on your phone. What you will notice a big difference is in the GPU. You get an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card with 4GB of dedicated GDDR5 VRAM. It’s definitely a potent GPU, but it’s a major downgrade compared to the RTX series.
You will still be able to cycle on a little higher settings, with a smooth 60 FPS, but you will surely notice some degradation. Additionally, you’ll miss out on RTX features like ray tracing, although Zwift doesn’t support it, so that won’t be a problem. Despite this, we understand HP’s decision not to use an RTX series card to dramatically increase the cost without providing the same degree of performance improvement.
It has 8GB DDR4 video memory and 256GB SSD. Another thing that users of this system love about this laptop are that it already has Windows 10 pro-64 bit. Preinstalled, making the laptop ready to use once it arrives at your doorstep.
There is a DVD burner, 802.11 ac wireless LAN, 2 USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports, Bluetooth 4.2, USB 2.0, VGA, a headphone/microphone combo jack, and an HDMI port. Overall, this laptop is relatively easy to use and weighs just 4.14 pounds, making it easy to carry.
SPECIFICATIONS
2.8GHz Intel Quad-Core i7-7700HQ Processor (Turbo up to 3.8GHz, 6MB Cache)
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050TI GPU (4 GB GDDR5
Screen size 17.3 inch
Screen resolution 1920 x 1080 pixels
12 GB DDR4-2133 SDRAM RAM
Storage 1 TB SATA 7200 rpm; 128 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
Windows 10 operating system
Ports Multi-format SD media card reader; HDMI: 1; RJ-45: 1; USB 3.0: 2; USB 2.0: 1; Headphone / microphone combo jack: 1
Dimensions (L x W x H) 16.3 x 10.98 x 1.17 inches
PROS
Quick Start
It has a large screen to display
It is light in weight
Adequate storage space
CONS
It has a sensitive touchpad.
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Lenovo IdeaPad HD ZWIFT 15.6 inch Laptop
This laptop is an advanced addition to the Lenovo family, and it is ideal for multitasking as you can use it for Zwift and many other heavy applications. Its seventh-generation AMD A6-9225 dual-core accelerated processor delivers smooth performance with all your favorite apps and games. Its 4GB of DDR4 RAM and 500GB hard drive let you run and display multiple things simultaneously.
The laptop has a 15.6 inch HD display with a maximum screen resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. The laptop is also energy efficient and has an LED backlight for better color compensation and better contrast balance on the screen.
The Lenovo IdeaPad has HDMI, USB 3.0, USB 2.0, 10/100 Ethernet, and a headphone/microphone combo jack. It comes out of the box as it already has Windows 10 64-bit pre-installed. It weighs 4.63 pounds. Heavy and 0.9 inches thick, which makes it easy to carry.
SPECIFICATIONS
Processor 8th Generation Intel Core i5-8250U mobile processor, 1.6 GHz ultra-low-voltage platform Quad-core
Intel UHD Graphics 620 graphics processor
Screen size 15.6 inch
Screen resolution 1366 x 768
4 GB DDR3 RAM
1TB hard drive storage space
Windows 10 operating system
Ports 1 x HDMI; 802.11 ac Wi-Fi technology delivers internet speeds up to 3 times faster than other laptops; Bluetooth 4.1; 1 USB Type-C port and 2 USB 3.0 ports
Dimensions (L x W x H) 14.02 x 9.53 x 0.76 inches
Weight 2 pounds
PROS
It is ideal for multitasking.
This laptop has enough storage space
It has a thin frame and is light.
It has a low power display.
CONS
It doesn’t have the best picture from all angles.
5. HP Pavilion 17 High-Performance Laptop for Zwift
Another versatile and very easy-to-use laptop is the HP Pavilion laptop. This is an everyday device that you can use at work and school when you don’t feel like riding a virtual bike. It has a 7.3-inch (HD) display with HP BrightView technology and is also backlit.
The maximum resolution is 1600 x 900 pixels. This laptop has quality RAM and a powerful processor that enables smooth system operation and multitasking. This is the Intel Core i5 4210U with Intel HD 4400 graphics. It is 1.7 GHz with an increase of up to 2.7 GHz.
It also comes with a 4GB DDR3L SDRAM and 1TB 5400RPM SATA hard drive. Another great feature of this laptop that many other laptops lack is the SuperMulti DVD burner. This is difficult to find today with the advent of online storage.
This laptop also includes 802.11b / g / n WLAN, 10/1000 BASE-T Ethernet LAN, multi-format digital media card reader, 2 SuperSpeed USB 3.0 ports, HD webcam, USB 2.0 port, headphone jack/microphone, and HDMI.
SPECIFICATIONS
9th Generation Core i5 4.1 GHz processor
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 GPU
Screen size 17.3 inch
Screen resolution 1920 x 1080
8 GB DDR4 RAM
256 GB SSD storage space
Windows 10 operating system
USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C ™, 3 USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A, RJ-45, HDMI, headphone / microphone combo ports
Dimensions : 23.5 x 13.5 x 2.8 inches
Weight 6.04 pounds
PROS
It has a DVD burner.
Adequate storage space
Versatile connectivity
BrightView technology
CONS
Its battery does not last long.
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Acer Predator Helios 300 Best Budget Laptop ZWIFT
The latest 7th Generation Intel Core i7-7700HQ processor in this laptop will run Zwift smoothly and smoothly at all times. Its 2.8 GHz can go up to 3.8 GHz with TurboBoost technology. It has Windows 10 64-bit pre-installed. Another thing that gives this laptop multitasking capability is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 graphics chip. It has a 6GB GDDR5 VRAM.
It has a 15.6 inch HD display with a maximum resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. Its large screen makes Zwift look better with its balanced contrast and crisp colors. This laptop comes with 16GB DDR4 DRAM and 256GB SSD. With this level of RAM and SSD space, Zwift will run smoothly. It has an expandable empty drive slot that is suitable for 2.5 inch hard drives.
Depending on the apps and games you use on the laptop, the battery can last up to 7 hours. It has an iron red backlit keyboard that illuminates the keys and edges of the touchpad.
Although this function is not required for virtual cycling, it is useful for playing other games. Another great feature of this laptop is the large keys which make typing faster and more comfortable than ever.
Of course, it has a long battery life and Zwift compatible performance. The GPU and screen make this a great buy for its price. And finally, it has enough power to meet the needs of gaming.
SPECIFICATIONS
Processor 2.8 GHz Intel Core i7-7700HQ processor
NVIDIA GTX 1060 6 GB graphics processor
Screen size 15.6 inch
Screen resolution 1920 x 1080 pixels
16 GB RAM
256 GB SSD storage space
Windows 10 operating system
Ports 1 – USB 3.1 (Type C) port (Gen 1 up to 5 Gbit / s), 1 – USB 3.0 port (with stop charging), 2 – USB 2.0 ports, 1 – HDMI 2.0 port with support HDCP
Dimensions : 15.3 x 10.5 x 1.1 inches
Weight 5.95 pounds
PROS
It Has a large screen
Compact
Easy to use
It has an excellent cooling system.
Adequate price
CONS
Its metal exterior shows all fingerprints.
- Affordable Dell i5-7300 Laptop Zwift
If you want to put back an old laptop, DELL is a great option to be. Due to its features, this laptop is versatile and ideal for multitasking. The 7th Generation Intel Core i5-7300 HQ Quad Core processor will run its virtual cycle smoothly with ease and without problems.
And this laptop supports many programs, games, applications, etc. It comes with 8GB DDR4 2400MHz up to 32GB RAM with additional memory sold separately.
This laptop has a 15.6-inch screen with a maximum resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. It is an anti-glare screen with an LED backlight for maximum comfort for the eyes. You can see the screen from all angles. Although this laptop is portable, it weighs 5.82 pounds which may feel too heavy for some people.
The laptop already has a 64-bit Windows 10 installed. All you need to do is install the Zwift app, and you can continue with your virtual cardio.
SPECIFICATIONS
Quad-core AMD Ryzen 5 2500U CPU 2.0 GHz processor
AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 GPU
Screen size 13.3 inch
1920×1080 FHD screen resolution
8 GB DDR4 RAM
Storage Space 256 GB SSD
Windows 10 operating system
Ports 1x USB 2.0, 1x USB 3.0 with PowerShare, 1x USB Type-C, 1x HDMI, 1x SD card reader, 1x headphone / microphone combo jack
Dimensions: 12.7 x 8.8 x 0.7 inches
Weight 3.84 pounds
PROS
It’s great for school and work.
Has adequate storage space
Versatile
It has an anti-glare screen.
CONS
Your screen does not bend too much
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Zwift 15.6 inch laptop Acer ChromeBook C910-54M1 Cheaper
This weighs 4.85 pounds and isn’t as tedious as other laptops when it comes to carrying it around unless you want to dedicate it to the Zwift app. The laptop’s 2.20GHz Intel Core i5-5200U Dual Core processor makes it easy to run the game, making the device suitable for multitasking.
If you’re one of those people who like to open multiple tabs at the same time, you’ll love how flawlessly it works. Its 4 GB of DDR3L SDRAM memory and 32 GB SSD hard drive support the processor, allowing for smooth performance and fast booting. Intel HD Graphics 5500 helps improve the experience.
This laptop also has a 16-inch screen with a maximum resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. Its battery can last up to 7 or 9 hours, although that depends on how you use it. It also comes with Chrome OS already installed to use once you receive it; You can also install your favorite apps and programs.
This laptop is practical, with a crisp image and an anti-glare screen. With its user-friendly specifications, it will be easy for you to run Zwift anytime you want.
SPECIFICATIONS
Processor Intel Celeron N3160 processor up to 2.24 GHz
Intel HD GPU
14-inch screen size
Screen resolution 1920 x 1080 pixels
4 GB RAM
32 GB of storage space
Chrome OS operating system
2x USB 3.0 ports, 1x HDMI (with HDCP support), 1x headphone / speaker combo jack
Dimensions: 9.31 x 13.43 x 0.67 inches
Weight 4.41 pounds
PROS
Versatile
It is easy to work with
Probably the fastest Chromebook.
CONS
It takes time to start.
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Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Series Gaming Edition Laptop – Most Recommended
This laptop runs the virtual cycle smoothly and is suitable for a wide range of other operations. It’s one of the easiest-to-use laptops out there, and for this reason, many Zwift users would recommend you buy it.
The 7th Generation Intel Quad-Core i5-7300 HQ has 2.50 GHz and can go up to 3.50 GHz with Turbo Boost technology. It has a good GPU, 8GB 2400MHz DDR4 memory, and a 1TB 5400RPM hard drive with an 8GB cache.
The GPU is supported by the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 graphics chip with 4 GB of GDDR5. The laptop’s screen is 15.6-inch full HD, with a maximum resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. It has anti-glare features and LED backlighting. Also, the performance and graphics are suitable for other games.
This laptop is already pre-installed with Windows 10 64-bit, with a 2-in-1 card reader, 802.11 ac wireless LAN, USB 3.0, Bluetooth 4.2, and 2.4 and 5 GHz dual-band. It has the same power as all other laptops. for Dell games, it doesn’t have a look that stands out in public places.
SPECIFICATIONS
8th Generation Intel Quad-Core i7-8550U processor (1.8 GHz base frequency, up to 4.0 GHz with Intel Turbo Boost Technology, 8 MB cache, 4 cores, and 8 threads)
2 GB MX130 GPU
Screen size 15.6 inch
Screen resolution 4K touchscreen (3840×2160)
16 GB SO-DIMM DDR4 RAM
256 GB SSD storage space
Windows 10 operating system
Ports Type C, HDMI, USB Type A 3.1 Gen 1, 802.11ac Wi-Fi + BlueTooth Combo | Illuminated keyboard
Dimensions : 9.6 x 14.2 x 0.7 inches
Weight 4.8 pounds
PROS
Has a quick start
It is easy to use
Windows 10 64-bit is preinstalled.
Price to pay
CONS
It doesn’t have a lot of viewing angles.
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Lenovo 320-15ABR Laptop
This laptop has a 2.7GHz Quad-Core processor and can go up to 3.6GHz, which is among the best options for virtual cycling. Its AMD Radeon R7 graphics ensure it runs smoothly and looks better every time.
Windows 10 64 bit is preinstalled on the laptop, and you just need to install the Zwift app. Its 15.6-inch display supports a maximum resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels and features LED backlighting for greater power efficiency.
This laptop can multitask, which is due to its 8GB system memory and high bandwidth RAM. It helps to run all apps and programs smoothly if you are someone who opens multiple tabs simultaneously.
The device has a built-in graphics chipset with shared memory so that you have crisp picture quality for movies, photos, internet browsing, games, etc. It has a Bluetooth 4.1 interface, USB Type-C, and 2 USB 3.0 ports and supports MultiMedia, SD, SDXC, SDHC card formats.
SPECIFICATIONS
Processor Intel Core i7-6560U processor (3.2 GHz Turbo, 2.2 GHz base)
Intel HD Graphics GPU
Screen size 13.3 inch
Full HD screen resolution (1920 x 1080)
8 GB RAM
Storage Space 256 GB SSD
Windows 10 operating system
USB ports, HDMI, audio jack
Dimensions: 12.09 x 0.55 x 8.42 inches
Weight 2.6 lbs
PROS
It has a sharp image
It’s easy to use
Great for multitasking
CONS
The battery only lasts up to 2 hours.
What factors should you consider when looking for the best laptops for Zwift?
You have to consider the most important aspects to get one of the best laptops for Zwift. These are the following:
A laptop for Zwift should have
The operating system must be Windows 7 x 64 bit and OSX 10.8
Intel Core 2Due processor
At least 4 GB of RAM
1 GB dedicated GPU or integrated Intel HD 4000 / AMD R5
Minimum 4 GB of free space in HD
Above all, these are the minimum requirements that a laptop must meet for Zwift. Please note that the Zwift can run on Windows, iPhone, iPad, iOS, or AppleTV. On top of that, there is also a beta version of the app released for Google Play users.
Once you’ve met these conditions, here are some more valuable considerations. He understands:
Processor
Actually, Zwift isn’t a CPU-intensive game, but we recommend at least an 8th gen Intel i5 and above. It’s a small component of any best city rooftop gaming laptop that processes the instructions it runs on. Therefore, make sure you have a laptop with a brilliant processor; otherwise, you won’t get what you expect from your laptop, such as a monitor for reading documents. If your laptop has an Intel technology processor, make sure it is the latest generation processor and has more cores or not.
RAM
For RAM, we suggest at least an 8GB laptop that allows you to get optimum performance. Plus, if you like having many offline data like heavy images, videos, files, and games, make sure that the laptop you choose has an incredible amount of built-in storage. In addition to checking how much storage a laptop has, you need to check what type of storage it offers. Always remember that SSD storage is much faster and more reliable.
GPU
When it comes to Zwift, the GPU is pretty essential. If you want to unlock the ultra setting, you need to get a laptop with a relatively powerful GPU. It is also essential to enjoy a large group of runners or races. This ensures that you will not experience any delays.
We did extensive research and found that a GTX 1050 should be the bare minimum for the Zwift laptop. While for ultra setups, you should spend a bit more on the GPU. This way, your future will also be secure.
Additional features
Overall, there are a few other considerations when getting one of the best Zwift laptops. We recommend that you specifically look for the screen. For the best experience, you should consider at least a 15.6-inch FULL HD display. You should also see the connectivity options.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Do I need a laptop for Zwift?
Well, it’s not particularly necessary to buy a Zwift laptop if you have an iPad. Also, all gaming laptops have enough specs for Zwift. So if you have one of the two, you shouldn’t buy it. If not, you can.
Can I work with Zwift on a tablet?
If you have the best tablet for Zwift, then no more hassle. You can do it.
Will Zwift Run work on my laptop?
Yes, Zwift will work on your laptop. But, the question you should be asking yourself is, how good-looking do you want it to be? The more powerful the laptop, the more realistic the Zwift will look.
The system requirements for Zwift provided will give you a good idea of what kind of hardware you need to run Zwift.
You can also select any of the laptops listed in this article, which saves you time and energy.
Which computer do I need for Zwift?
A computer that meets Zwift’s minimum requirements.
The conclusion
Zwift makes a satisfying workout at home convenient and easy. One of the best ways if you want to increase your cardiovascular gains and have fun at home. That’s it for the best laptops for Zwift.
Overall, we’ve provided a list of the best laptops for Zwift. These are the best options available on the market. These models have Zwift graphics, as well as all the necessary specifications.
We assure you that it is worth every penny. Also, if you are looking for Zwift on an iPad or laptop, both are good options.