Picking out the best laptop for programming is a hard task. You will want to gravitate towards one that can properly support the programs you want to develop. In this post, we have listed the best laptop for programmers.
Usually, the laptops that have a processor with four or more cores, a minimum of 8GB RAM and an SSD are the ones that are preferred and suggested.
All these combined will give you the best components to work with while programming to ensure speedy compile times and good performance.
Another key component is that you want a laptop that will handle the programming and be portable and sleek.
It does not compulsorily have to be a big machine, but it needs to be powerful enough to handle the programming.
Therefore, this post helps to choose the best laptop on the market right now for programming.
Top 3 Best Laptop For Programmers
1. DELL XPS 15
What We Like
- 8GB-64GB RAM,
- 256GB-1TB SSD
- Intel Core i5-i7 CPU
What Is Missing
- 15-inch screen might be too large for some
2. Apple Macbook AIR (M1, 2020)
What We Like
- FaceTime HD camera
- Superfast SSD storage
- 16-core Neural Engine
What Is Missing
- It does not have a fan
3. Huawei Matebook 13
What We Like
- Intel Core i5 – i7
- 256GB – 512GB SSD
- Nvidia GeForce MX150 2GB GDDR5
What Is Missing
- There are only two USB-C ports.
10 Best Laptop For Programmers In 2023
- 1. DELL XPS 15
- 2. Apple Macbook AIR (M1, 2020)
- 3. Huawei Matebook 13
- 4. Dell Xps 17
- 5. Macbook Pro 13-Inch (M1, 2020)
- 6. Dell Inspiron 14 5000
- 7. Lenovo Thinkpad P1 (GEN 2)
- 8. Microsoft Surface Laptop 3
- 9. HP ENVY 13
- 10. Google Pixelbook Go
1. DELL XPS 15
DELL XPS 15
This laptop boasts of a 10th generation Intel Core i5-i7 CPU, with 8GB-64GB RAM and 256GB-1TB SSD.
The Graphics are Intel Iris Plus Graphics – Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Ti and with 15.6” Screen FDH+ (1920 x 1200) IPS – UHD + (3840 x 2400)
The Dell XPS 15 (2020) is on everyone’s radar right now as it is being considered one of the best laptops for programming right now.
It has wonderful components that combine to give you a good working experience, such as excellent build quality, a stunning design and some of the most powerful mobile components.
Though it is a powerful laptop, it is also thin and light which means that though it is a premium laptop that can handle programming, it is also comfortable and easy to carry around.
The high-resolution 15.6-inch display is great to work with, and with its high-end processors, it can compile code extremely fast, making it the top choice for some programmers.
Another good component of this laptop is its excellent battery life which means you will not always be tethered to a socket while working.
On the upside, if you go for the model with a GPU by Nvidia, you can test out your games while coding them.
Pros
- 8GB-64GB RAM,
- 256GB-1TB SSD
- Intel Core i5-i7 CPU
- It performs pretty fast.
- It has an eye-catching design.
Cons
- 15-inch screen might be too large for some
2. Apple Macbook AIR (M1, 2020)
Apple Macbook AIR
This laptop is being praised for its specs such as the Apple M1 (8-core) CPU, the Integrated 7-core GPU, 8GB-16GB RAM, 256GB-2TB SSD.
Moreover the laptop has a screen with 13.3 inches, 2560 x 1600 Retina True Tone Display with backlit LED, IPS.
The Apple MacBook Air has brought out yet another good laptop for programming with many good updates since the previous one.
This one has the same Apple-made M1 chip, just like the Pro, which means it is very suitable for programming.
This promises a boost in performance and extremely good battery life.
The M1 chip is so powerful that it does not take a long time to compile code which will have a big impact on workflow.
The Macbook is lightweight and easy to carry around due to its lightweight design. It does not compromise on battery life either as it boasts a good and long battery life.
Pros
- FaceTime HD camera
- Superfast SSD storage
- 16-core Neural Engine
- 18 hours of battery life
- Apple-designed M1 chip
Cons
- It does not have a fan
3. Huawei Matebook 13
Huawei Matebook 13
This laptop boasts a CPU 8th generation Intel Core i5 – i7 with Graphics Intel UHD Graphics 620 and Nvidia GeForce MX150 2GB GDDR5 with 8GB RAM and 256GB – 512GB SSD.
The Size of the laptop is 21.1×28.6×1.2cm and its weight is 1.3kg with OS Windows 10.
The Huawei MateBook 13 is considered one of the best laptops in the market right now for programming, especially for people on a budget that want good coding performance.
Huawei is generally known for its good smartphones, and now it is winning over people with its good build quality laptops and its good features.
It also has a good and reasonable price for the specs you’re paying for. It is also super lightweight and easy to carry around.
Pros
- Intel Core i5 – i7
- Value for money
- 256GB – 512GB SSD
- Nvidia GeForce MX150 2GB GDDR5
- It has a good processor performance
Cons
- There are only two USB-C ports.
4. Dell Xps 17
Dell Xps 17
Key Highlights
- Intel Core i7-10750H
- 16GB DDR4 at 2933MHz,dual channel
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB GDDR6
This laptop has been praised for its CPU, which has up to 10th Generation Intel Core i9-10885H with graphics up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 6GB GDDR6 Max-Q.
It has RAM up to 64GB DDR4-2933MHz and storage up to 2TB M.2 PCIe NVMe.
Its size is 248.05 x 374.45 x 19.5 mm with a weight of 1.48kg and an OS which is 2.11 kg.
If you are searching for an outstanding laptop for programming with a big, high-resolution screen, then the Dell XPS 17 is the perfect device for you.
Programmers know that writing lines and lines of coding on a small screen is never fun or good, which is why this laptop has a good 17-inch display so you can have enough space to work and have multiple apps and windows open.
However, the laptop’s weight is a little bit more than other laptops, but it should be fine and portable, and you should be able to carry it around with relative ease.
However, it has a gorgeous design, and it does not compromise on its cutting edge components that will compile code fast.
Pros
- Bluetooth 5.1
- Intel Core i7-10750H
- Wi-Fi 6 AX1650 (2×2)
- 16GB DDR4 at 2933MHz,dual channel
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB GDDR6
Cons
- Limited ports
5. Macbook Pro 13-Inch (M1, 2020)
Macbook Pro
Key Highlights
- Storage: 256GB – 2TB SSD
- Integrated graphics 8-core GPU
- RAM: 8GB – 16GB unified memory
This laptop boasts a CPU with an Apple M1 chip with an 8‑core CPU with Integrated graphics 8-core GPU and RAM: 8GB – 16GB unified memory.
It has a screen with 13.3-inch 2560 x 1600 LED-backlit Retina display. There is storage: 256GB – 2TB SSD with dimensions (H x W x D): 30.41 x 21.24 x 1.56 cm.
The MacBook Pro is a brilliant laptop for programming.
The Apple M1 chip has been widely regarded as a brilliant chip that allows apps to run with ease and compile code quickly.
One feature that has been praised a lot by critics is the Touch Bar across the top of the keyboard.
It gives you quick access to tools and shortcuts, which can speed up workflow.
The best feature noted is the keyboard that is reliable and extremely comfortable to work with.
It has a long battery life; some say it is also the longest battery life ever seen on a MacBook.
Pros
- Good battery life
- Ios apps compatible
- Storage: 256GB – 2TB SSD
- Integrated graphics 8-core GPU
- RAM: 8GB – 16GB unified memory
Cons
- Limited ports
6. Dell Inspiron 14 5000
Dell Inspiron
This laptop has been praised for its CPU with Intel Core i5-8265U (quad-core, 3.9GHz Max Turbo Boost).
Alone with the graphics: NVIDIA GeForceR MX150 2GB GDDR5.
It has RAM: 8GB and storage: 256GB SSD. It has a size of 32.4×23.2×1.9cm with a weight of 1.48kg and OS: Windows 10.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5000 is an amazing all-rounder laptop for programming, and it is a reasonable price but comes without skimping on features or performance.
It is a dependable laptop that will keep up with any demands while programming.
The Dell laptop has a high resolution and an extremely good quad-core processor, and fast SSD storage.
This laptop is perfect for those on a budget, but it does not skimp out on its features or visuals, and it is a good laptop worth considering.
Pros
- Value for price
- Storage: 256GB SSD
- Premium screen quality
- Good specs and features
- NVIDIA GeForceR MX150 2GB GDDR5
Cons
- Not particularly powerful for 3D
7. Lenovo Thinkpad P1 (GEN 2)
Lenovo Thinkpad P1
Key Highlights
- Six-Core Intel Core i7
- It has incredible performance.
- It has the best display on a laptop.
This laptop boasts a CPU of Six-Core Intel Core i7 / Xeon with graphics: Nvidia Quadro T1000-T2000.
It has a storage of 256GB-4TB and RAM: 8-64GB with a size of 36.2×24.6x17mm. It weighs 1.7kg. It has OS Windows 10 Home / Pro.
This laptop has been regarded as one of the best laptops to take programming to another level.
It is a good and powerful workstation that offers professional-grade Xeon processors with up to six cores, an Nvidia Quadro T2000 graphic card and up to 64GB of memory.
Its 15.6-inch 4k display is not only touch-sensitive, but it is colour-accurate as well.
The laptop has a good amount of storage. It is capable of brilliant visual design work and has a heavy lifting processor with intensive tasks.
The Lenovo laptop is extremely praised for coding as well. It is superbly built, and it has a healthy selection of ports.
Pros
- 1TB HDD + 128GB SSD
- Six-Core Intel Core i7
- It has incredible performance.
- It has the best display on a laptop.
Cons
- Wired Ethernet has moved to a new ‘mini’ standard.
8. Microsoft Surface Laptop 3
Microsoft Surface Laptop 3
It has been praised for its CPU Intel Core i5 – i7 / AMD Ryzen 5 / AMD Ryzen 7 with graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics / AMD Radeon Vega 9 / AMD Radeon RX Vega 11.
There is 8GB – 16GB RAM with 128GB, 256GB, 512GB or 1TB SSD storage.
It has a screen of 13.5-inch PixelSense (2,256 x 1,504) / 15-inch PixelSense (2,496 x 1,664)
If you’re particular about working on Windows 10 apps, then the surface laptop 3 is the best bet for you.
Since Microsoft makes it, it is a good showcase for windows 10, and it will run perfectly on the operating system.
It is a well operating system that can run any tool or application.
This laptop has a good stylish design with a solid aluminium shell and a very good and comfortable keyboard.
The newest version comes in a matte black colour, and it comes with extremely good specs that promise good performance and will not compromise on the power either.
Though it is not the cheapest option out there, it promises a good performance.
Pros
- 8GB – 16GB RAM
- CPU Intel Core i5 – i7
- AMD Radeon RX Vega 11
- It has excellent battery life
- There is a choice between Intel and AMD CPU
Cons
- There are too few ports for its size.
9. HP ENVY 13
HP ENVY 13
Key Highlights
- 10th Gen Intel Core i5-1035G1
- HP Wide Vision HD camera
- 13.3 inch, FHD (1920 x 1080)
This laptop boasts a CPU: 8th generation Intel Core i5-i7 with graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620, Nvidia GeForce MX150 2GB GDDR5.
It has good storage, 256-512GB SSD and 8GB – 16GB RAM. It has a good screen with Full HD (1,920 x 1,080)
The new HP Envy 13 is a fantastic pick for programmers looking for a stylish yet dependable laptop to work on.
HP has made some new upgrades to this laptop by reducing the size and weight. It has a high-quality touch-sensitive display which is both powerful and super portable.
It gives a good luxurious feel as the design has a beautiful look and feel.
It will also be secure and will be protected in case of a few knocks and bumps.
The keyboard has been regarded as a good keyboard, and the trackpad is good and extremely comfortable, which are both important aspects for long coding sessions.
Pros
- 10th Gen Intel Core i5-1035G1
- HP Wide Vision HD camera
- 13.3 inch, FHD (1920 x 1080)
- 10th Gen Intel Core i5-1035G1
- Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics
- Memory & Storage: 8GB DDR4
Cons
- There is no 4K option.
10. Google Pixelbook Go
Google Pixelbook Go
Key Highlights
- Intel UHD Graphics
- Up to 12 hours battery life
- It has an amazing ‘hush’ keyboard.
This laptop has been praised for its CPU with Intel Core m3 – Intel Core i7.
It has graphics Intel UHD Graphics 615. Its storage is 128GB-256GB eMMC with 8GB-16GB RAM. It has a 13.3-inch Full HD screen (1,920 x 1,080) or 4K LCD touchscreen.
A Chromebook is a good choice for programmers since its Google software and services provide good support and good performance.
It is an upgrade from the previous, more basic models, and it is designed to compete with the bigger laptop manufacturers, but the price is still reasonable and affordable.
It has impressive hardware that includes an Intel Core i7 processor, a choice of 8GB or 16GB RAM and a large and vibrant 1,920 x 1,080 screen or 4K touch screen if you want to show off.
This all makes it a fantastic laptop for programming on, with a performance that matches most Windows 10 laptops, but with an incredibly long-lasting battery that means the Pixelbook Go will keep on going even after many Windows 10 laptops give up the ghost.
Pros
- Intel UHD Graphics
- Up to 12 hours battery life
- It has an amazing ‘hush’ keyboard.
Cons
- There is no biometric login.
Buying Tips For Best Laptop For Programmers
Screen size
Screen size is very important as a small and crowded screen is not optimal while doing lines and code lines. It’ll be easier to read the code on a 15-inch screen than on a smaller one, and making adjustments will be simpler. However, the bigger the display, the more you sacrifice portability.
Memory
Memory is also a big factor; a good laptop with good storage and good RAM is essential. 8GB RAM or, ideally, 16GB RAM is a good option. Heavyweight development environments depend on memory and will run better with more RAM.
Intel Core Processor
Getting a good laptop with an Intel Core i5 processor is a minimum. However, that level is not extremely advanced; it will guarantee enough performance, especially if you’re doing things like working with complex website layouts with a lot of background code. However, if you’re working with more complex programs, you need to compile faster with a faster processor.
Battery
It is exhausting and interruptive to find a socket every two to three hours to charge up your laptop. Therefore, the laptop needs to have a good and reliable battery that will be long lasting and give 10+ hours of screen time.
Graphic Processing
Graphic processing is really important, especially if you wish to do game development or something that involves graphic intensive web development; you have to make sure you have a good graphic processing unit. It will make sure that it loads fast and does not put any extra pressure on the CPU alone.
Final Thoughts On Best Laptop For Programmers
Choosing a laptop for programming can be difficult, especially now with many good options on the market.
There are many things to consider, and hopefully, this post has broken it down to make it easier to choose between.
In this fast-paced world, it is vital to be productive and the better the laptop’s quality, the more will get done, which is the goal.
Laptops are important tools for any developer that needs a powerful machine to work on while also being portable and having a good battery life.
Keep in mind the different aspects that you need to consider before making a purchase.
And lastly, decide on an effective and good product which will meet all your needs to make your work easier.
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