Computer programming isn’t all about algorithms, flowcharts, and code, one must understand the hardware also. It is the
ability to write codes and solve problems along with an excellent laptop that is really crucial.
A good way to stay ahead in the coding world is to make sure that you have the best laptop for programming which
will help you to transform your ideas into a reality without delays. In short, a perfect laptop
speeds up tasks and processes, which helps to increase productivity.
If you’re a designer, you can also check TOP-20 Laptops for Graphic Designers.
To discover the best laptops for programming, one should recognize what to search for. What are the fundamental
things, that all developers should know before they purchase the laptop for programming and coding? Let’s take a
look.
Last Update: June 21, 2021
Top-line laptops are great from almost all vendors. If you are tight on a budget then try to check “gaming” versions of laptops. Recently, their “gaming” laptops are coming with great screens, great keyboards, and great performance because they are made for professional gamers. And modern gamers demanding high performance and high quality from laptops! One caveat is that gaming laptops are usually heavier and noisier because of the built-in powerful GFX card and more advanced cooling system. But if you keep your laptop at home almost all the time then it can be a great option.
For programming, you’ll need to consider getting at least 256GB SSD. However, if you are a pro
developer then you will get more value from a 1TB drive. Speed is supercritical for compiling and testing, especially
large programming projects. You can also save money but buying a smaller hard drive option and then use USB hard drives.
Surprisingly, you can even run virtual machines from external hard drives. The negative thing is that you should plug
and unplug an external hard drive every time.
If you have to select between a smaller SSD (new technology) drive or a larger HDD (old technology) then go with
the first option: SSD (Solid State Drives). SSD drives are much faster and you can also expand storage with an
external drive later.
For developers, operative memory (RAM) is like water! The standard RAM included with laptops is around 4GB
but you should look for at least 8 GB of RAM pre-installed (as a minimum for
programming) that is adequate for basic programming. If you work on a serious project then look for at least 16
GB or even 32 GB of RAM to make sure it will be enough for the next 2-3 years. Anyway, for software
engineers, it is “prescribed” to purchase the best laptops for programming with no less than 8GB of RAM. In a perfect
world, you ought to run for a laptop with at least 16GB of RAM or more. That would cost more, however, this amount of
memory will be very useful when you will be developing software.
If you have to select between large RAM but less hard drive storage then you must go for a larger RAM! With a
smaller hardrive you can always use external HDD or SSD storage via USB. But you won’t be able to expand RAM in most
cases because there are a lot of laptops with non-expandable soldered RAM. And the only way to upgrade RAM, in this
case, is to buy another laptop only.
The main thing you spare with processing power is the compilation speed. However, this is an issue if your project is
huge. In any case, you ought to have a machine that intently coordinates your objective however much as could be
expected. Laptops that have an i7 or i9 multi-core processor are best for programming in 2021.
If you are selecting between having more RAM or a faster CPU, select more RAM.
What if you need to add RAM or replace Hard Drive with a larger one? Repairability is an important factor if you
understand that you will need to add more power to your laptop in the next year or two. Not all laptops allow doing
this. Some of them (like Apple
Macbook and many others) are made the way that it is almost impossible to replace a hard drive or
RAM. Apple Macbooks are expensive to repair outside the warranty: for example, replacing a single key on a keyboard
could cost from $500 to $700 because you will need to replace half of a laptop. Meanwhile, with some Lenovo Thinkpad
models, it will cost around $100 for the whole keyboard.
If you don’t have supervision then only look for at least a 13.3″ screen. The larger the better. 14″ to
16″ are good for programming while 17″ may be overkill because the size and the weight can be an issue. Go with
screens at least 1920×1080 (Full HD) or higher resolution as possible because you will need a screen
estate to work with the code, read documentation, run virtual machines, and so on. Be aware of 3K or 4K
screens (except Apple laptops) because of high speed
flickering on some screens, also 4K screens require more juice so the battery is running out faster with these
screens.
Working with laptop screens based on FN technology can be stressful because colors are changing when you change the
angle you look at a screen. Go with IPS or similar technology (e.g. Retina on Macbooks) when possible. If you go with 3K/4K screens then be aware of the so-called PWM issue with some 4K screens that is made almost invisible flickering that leads to a headache.
Screen brightness is measured in so-called NIT (1 NIT is equal to the light from 1 candle per square meter).
A recommended brightness in NIT for a laptop screen is 250 or higher. The higher the better.
The keyboard is actually super important and more important than non-programmers may think! We strongly advise you to
have a chance to look at the laptop and try to type on its keyboard somewhere in the offline store (just look for the
nearest Apple Store, BestBuy, Microsoft Store, or another computer store) before ordering it online. Look for a
specific model that is similar to the one that you are going to order online because some models may have slightly different configurations keyboard.
Also, select a US-English layout when possible because it is much easier to work on it with some widely used
shortcuts. For example, if you use Markdown formatting then having the”`” key right under the Escape key is much
easier than having it somewhere at the bottom in non-US layouts.
Warning about Apple Macbook laptops with the “butterfly” keyboard released before the 2021 year: The
Apple homegrown keyboard model was used in Macbooks produced from 2015 throughout 2019. These “new” “butterfly”
keyboards are having serious issues, breaking quickly and literally unrepairable at all (if one single
key fails you must replace the whole keyboard with the top case). Though Apple offers free replacement for these
keyboards (that involves replacing the top case that otherwise would cost $500+), see this page for details. Because
of that if you are buying a used Macbook, be careful and in general, you would want to avoid used Macbook laptops
with “butterfly” keyboards unless you make sure they will be replaced by Apple for free. Macbooks released
after 2021 switched back to “scissor” keyboards that are used by other vendors and are proven to be reliable and stable
for years, though there are still reports about minor issues with this keyboard too.
Based on the experience of many developers, up to 4.5 pounds (about 2 kg) is comfortable for traveling. Any additional
weight on top of it should be carefully considered.
So, please check the list of the best laptops for programming in 2021 along with the detailed descriptions of
each laptop.
Important: In 2021 Apple started moving Macbooks to use its new own M1 chip that makes it impossible to run Microsoft Windows on it natively! You will need a virtual machine to run Windows on it.
Apple MacBook Pro 16 comes or 16″ high-quality screens and features 2.5 GHz or higher Intel Core i7 (for 13.3 model)
or i9 (for 16-inch model) processor with up to 8 cores. The best thing about this laptop is that it comes with 16GB
of RAM (up to 64 GB) and up to 8TB of high-performance PCI-E flash storage, AMD Radeon Pro 5300M Graphics, and a
high-quality IPS Retina 16″ display that is really great for work in different light conditions and provides enough
space to work with coding, designs. You May 1 or more monitors through its integrated thunderbolt ports.
| Screen Size | 16-inch IPS Retina Display. |
| Screen Resolution | 3072‑by‑1920 for 16″ model |
| Processor | 2.7+ GHz Intel Core i5/i7/i9 |
| RAM | 16GB LPDDR4 (no upgrades!) |
| SSD Storage | 512+ GB (no upgrades!) |
Thunderbolt technology gives programmers a chance to connect with other devices swiftly with a data transfer
rate of 10 Gbps. It is also capable to run APIs like Python, Visual Studio, C# smoothly and as it is built on top of
the Unix-like system you have Terminal that supports most Unix commands out of the box. It is the best Apple laptop
for programming if you work on iOS apps or Unix-based applications or scripts.
Note: Before November 2019 Apple was selling a 15.4-inch version but it was replaced with a 16″
inch model at the same price, with added physical Esc key and a bigger screen!
Important note about the keyboard Macbook laptops that Apple have released from 2015 to 2019 years:
these versions do have issues with keys including double symbols, stuck keys, non-working keys. In 2019 Apple
started to free repair or keyboard replacement for these laptops.
Side Note 1: relatively low weight is also important for programmers carrying Macbook in their
backpacks. A lot of developers are using Macbook 13 inch version (or even a Macbook Air 13 inches with less power
but longer battery life). A lot of designers and developers are using the external display at work.
If you wear eyeglasses and you want to have as much as possible comfort when working outside your office is
strongly recommended to consider a 16-inch version because the weight difference is small but you will thank
yourself for having additional screen estate that makes a real difference!
Side Note 2: if you are a hardcore user of laptops (you work 8+ hours per day)
then strongly consider buying AppleCare extended warranty that extends the warranty from 1 year to 3
years. We know a lot of real-life cases where issues with the keyboard, screen, or battery appeared only after 2+
years of use. With AppleCare, these issues are fixed by Apple service centers for free in most cases. Otherwise, you
will need to pay $500-$700 for the repair because MacBooks are pretty hard to repair and some parts are simply
replaced, not repaired. AppleCare option is available not just from Apple Store but from many 3rd party stores
including online stores as well.
Side Note 3: Apple had issues with updated versions of their keyboard, such as keys that are not
working or click on the keyboard are too loud (with the 2015-2017 version of Macbook). Later versions released in
2018 and 2019 fixed issues with clicks and added increased protection against dust. Be aware that even if a single
key fails then you can’t just fix it yourself. You probably will need to replace the whole “top case” and this is
another reason to purchase AppleCare protection especially if you are writing a lot of code every day.
Update: Apple confirmed issues with keyboards and launched a free keyboard replacement program for
a lot of Macbooks models released from 2015 to 2019 years. If you bought a used MacBook or you own some of these
models, please check this page for more information and contact your local Apple authorized service
center to arrange the replacement of the keyboard.
Update 2: while the keyboard was reverted to the old “scissor” mechanism keyboard, still they can not compare to Lenovo Thinkpad Carbon X or Lenovo Ideapad Gaming 3 keyboards!
IMPORTANT NOTE: while Dell XPS laptops are great but there are a lot of complaints about the quality and issues in newly purchased laptops. When possible, instead of ordering online, try to have a chance to verify your very specific item before paying for the laptop. Sending back your laptop, working with their customer support to get issues fixed can be a pretty disappointing and long experience especially if you are not in the USA.
Dell XPS 15 and Dell XPS 17 is a brilliant piece of design that basically has all the necessary things that any computer programmer
wants in the best laptops for programming in 2021 when the Apple Macbook is not an option. It is really an amazing product on par with Apple Macbook Pro but for Windows when it comes to performance and
portability. It has a vivid screen, fast 1TB or larger SSD for storage, and 16GB of RAM with the help of which one can store large coding
repositories efficiently. Also, comparing to Apple Macbook, you can easily open it and upgrade your RAM and SSD!
The performance for every I/O operation is increased by SSD especially compared to laptops that use an
HDD. Along with performance this laptop boot faster. The best programming laptop files and scripts
programs that need to read and write to disk process much faster and scripts will compile much faster than on an
HDD.
| Screen Size | 15.6 inches |
| Max Screen Resolution | 3840 x 2160 |
| Processor | 3.8 GHz Core i7-740QM |
| RAM | 32 GB DDR4 (upgradable) |
| Hard Drive | 256 GB SSD (upgradable) |
| Graphics Coprocessor | geforce gtx |
| Graphics Chipset Brand | NVidia |
| Graphic Card | dedicated |
| Wireless Type | 802.11 A/C |
This laptop has all the best features and it is highly recommended for people who work as blockchain
developers, information security researchers, gaming programmers, or people who wish to code with Swift and
Java.
Side Note 1: Dell XPS provides a great screen, portability, and battery life. It is often seen as
the top choice for programmers among Apple MacBook and Lenovo Thinkpad. Apple, Lenovo, and Dell are the 3 top brands
if you are looking to have guaranteed performance plus portability as a programmer. Comparing to Apple Macbook, Dell
XPS provides an easy way to upgrade RAM and storage!
Side Note 2: There are a lot of complaints about issues with sound noise coming from speakers. If
you can, buy a laptop from your local store where you can verify that everything works OK before paying for it.
Side Note 3: Nobody likes buying an expensive laptop only to find it has issues with something. It is reported that Dell XPS models are still having issues with the quality so the best way is to find an offline store where you can test everything on the very specifс laptop before buying it.
Side Note 4: Dell XPS 17 comes with a smaller charger which however is not able to charge your laptop fully if the laptop is in use. I.e. if you work and charging, it may happen that the laptop will be discharging actually. Here is more on this issue.
The Lenovo X1 Carbon is an incredible and portable laptop that can run Linux well for people who work with
Oracle and Linux. Its 16GB memory gives programmers multitasking power and they can work on various coding
repositories. It also has an excellent keyboard!
Thinkpad is a well-known brand (previously owned by IBM) with a long history as a proven workhorse for many software
developers. It features a great keyboard, enough portability. What is also important, Lenovo provides up to 3 years
of warranty that is very useful for busy programmers.
| Screen Size | 14 inches |
| Max Screen Resolution | 1920 x 1080 |
| Processor | 2.6 GHz Core i7 5600U |
| RAM | 16 GB SDRAM (no upgrade) |
| Hard Drive | 256 GB (SSD) |
| Graphics Coprocessor | Integrated |
| Chipset Brand | Intel |
| Card Description | Intel HD Graphics 5500 |
| Wireless Type | 802.11 A/C |
This laptop offers 16GB of RAM (no upgrades) and a 256 GB or larger SSD hard drive. This laptop is a coder’s delight
as it provides enough power and portability at a good price.
Side Note 1: This laptop is a flagship Lenovo laptop and provides an excellent combination of
screen, keyboard, portability, and battery. But be aware that RAM is not upgradable.
Side Note 2: be aware of the 4K screen options! It looks better but it may cause a headache and hurt your eyes
because of the high rate of invisible flickering (here is the video).
The fastest way to verify is to shoot a video of the working laptop with your phone and to check it if you see a similar flickering on the screen.
Microsoft has given a perfect laptop with a catchy display and excellent configuration. The surface pro laptop is a
good choice for advanced Java and MongoDB developers. What is more, it also has 10.5 hours of battery life and the
powerful 10th generation of Intel Core processor which can run full desktop software easily, ensuring a smooth and
efficient workflow.
However, if you are wearing eyeglasses and you feel issues working with small screens, please consider
larger 13.3 or 15.4 versions called Surface Laptop 3 instead as they featuring larger
screens.
| Screen Size | From 12.3″, 13.3″ to 15.4″ |
| Max Screen Resolution | 2736×1824 pixels |
| Processor | 4 GHz 8032 |
| RAM | 16 GB |
| Hard Drive | 1 TB Flash Memory Solid State |
| Graphics Coprocessor | Intel Iris and HD graphics |
| Card Description | Integrated |
| Wireless Type | 802.11B, 802.11G, 802.11n |
| Number of USB Ports | 2 ports: single USB-C and single USB-A |
| Battery Life | 10.5 to 11.5 hours (for Surface Laptop 3) |
In this laptop, the fingerprint reading on the touch keyboard is pretty much faster and very accurate. In short,
Microsoft surface pro is the complete all-round package for programmers in 2019 if you are OK with a 12.3-inch
screen.
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15 is among the best laptops considering price vs quality vs performance ratios. It has a 15.6″
Full HD screen with AMD Ryzen™ or Intel processor and up to 16GB Memory with up to 1 TB SSD. It also
features a long-lasting battery, low weight, and USB-C port with charging and external display support.
-> Check it on the official website.
| Screen Size | 15.6 inches |
| Screen Resolution | 1920×1080 |
| Processor | AMD Razen or Intel |
| RAM | up to 16 GB DDR5 |
| Hard Drive | up to 1 TB SSD |
| USB Ports | 2 |
| USB-C Ports | 1 |
| Battery Life | up to 8 hours |
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15 is ideal for programmers that require speed, power, and portability comparable to Thinkpad X Carbon but at a more affordable price. The developers who code
in SQL, Python, Java, or those who handle data processing techniques such as MapReduce, Spark, and Hadoop, can opt
for this laptop. The build quality is not the same as on Thinkpads: for example, the lower case is made with
plastic. But overall features are best for its price (up to x2 lower comparing to Thinkpads or Apple Macbook with
similar configs). Be aware of non-upgradable RAM and the lack of dedicated GPU if you need it for machine learning
and data science!
Side Note 1: its low weight, large battery option makes it great as a cheaper alternative to Thinkpad X Carbon. But the keyboard on Ideapad is cheap and flat (though it works OK and is reliable) and is not as good as on Thinkpad X Carbon or even on Lenovo Ideapad Gaming 3.
Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 15 is a very powerful laptop with great performance and a dedicated NVidea GForce graphics
card. It also features a great keyboard plus upgradable RAM and upgradable storage! Because of the
dedicated graphics card, the weight is 2.2 kg which is 10% more than Apple Macbook Pro and up to 30% comparing to
Lenovo Thinkpad and Lenovo Ideapad.
Check it on the official website.
| Screen Size | 15.6 inches |
| Screen Resolution | 1920×1080 |
| Processor | AMD Razen or Intel |
| RAM | up to 16 GB |
| Hard Drive | up to 1 TB SSD |
| USB Ports | 2 |
| USB-C Ports | 1 |
| Battery Life | up to 6 hours |
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 15 is ideal for software developers that require a dedicated GPU card for machine
learning training and data science software development. The Upgradability of RAM and storage makes this laptop to be
future-proof. The great keyboard is comparable to the Thinkpad keyboard. Be aware of the increased weight compared
to other laptops because an additional 200 to 400 grams can make it uncomfortable for a lot of travel.
Side Note 1: the keyboard is actually great for typing but the green light backlit for the keyboard may cause a headache.
Side Note 2: consider the weight and the noise: because of the built-in GFX card, the laptop almost always running its fans. And the weight is pretty noticeable especially if you travel with it every day.
Dell XPS 13 is the 13.3 version of the Dell XPS 15 laptop. It provides great performance and portability but
considers Dell XPS 15 as the alternative because it may not be much different in terms of the price and the cost.
Important note: there are just two USB-c ports on the 13.3 version. But Dell XPS 15 provides 4
USB-c ports (similar to Apple Macbook Pro 16 though only 2 ports support thunderbolt).
| Screen Size | 13.3 inches |
| Screen Resolution | 1920 x 1080 |
| Processor | up to i7 |
| RAM | 8 GB (upgradable) |
| Hard Drive | 256 GB SSD (upgradable) |
| Graphics Coprocessor | Integrated |
This laptop combines the power of Dell XPS along with the portability and reduced weight comparing to Dell
XPS 15.
Side Note 1: Dell XPS provides a great screen, portability, and battery life. It is often seen as
the top choice for programmers among Apple MacBook and Lenovo Thinkpad. Apple, Lenovo, and Dell are the 3 top brands
if you are looking to have guaranteed performance plus portability as a programmer. Comparing to Apple Macbook, Dell
XPS provides an easy way to upgrade RAM and storage!
Side Note 2: There are complaints about the quality check of Dell XPS laptops. The best way is to buy at some offline location where you can try and check the quality right away. For example, there are complaints about a sound noise coming from speakers. If possible, find a way
to test the very specific laptop before purchasing it.
For people who are looking for cheap laptops for programming, the Lenovo ThinkPad E590, is one of the best choices
available. The amazing thing about this laptop is that it’s one of the few best developer laptops which packs 16 GB
RAM + 1TB SSD.
| Screen Size | 15.6 inches |
| Screen Resolution | 1366 x 768 |
| Max Screen Resolution | 1366 x 768 |
| Processor | 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5 |
| RAM | 12 GB DDR4 2133 |
| Memory Speed | 2133 MHz |
| Hard Drive | 1000 GB hybrid_drive |
| Graphics Coprocessor | Intel HD Graphics 620 |
Programmers love performance and speed. This laptop has all the best features. It makes it a
perfect choice for people who work as full-stack programmers. The combination of Intel i5 processor and DDR4 12 GB
Ram allows this laptop to handle application development, Hadoop programming including games or android
coding. The storage comprises 128GB SSD and 1TB SATA hard drive which is essential for people who work
as Big data developers. In short, we can say that ThinkPad is a powerful laptop for programming in
2021.
Side Note: Thinkpad is the famous laptop and desktop computer brand originally created by IBM. Then
Lenovo bought Thinkpad and they introduced some changes like changes in the keyboard. However, Thinkpads are still
one of the top brands for portable laptops because of their durability and quality.
This laptop is very stable. It can run for multiple days without a reboot, and the operating system is very
crash-proof. Asus P-series is ideal for programmers who write C and C++; Linux
scripting for Cron; also MySQL, dBase, and
Oracle database programming code and API development. It has the
best battery life of 18 hours and it can process large files swiftly.
| Screen Size | 14 inches |
| Max Screen Resolution | 1920 x 1080 pixels |
| Processor | 2.7 GHz None |
| RAM | 12 GB |
| Hard Drive | Flash Memory Solid State |
| Graphics Coprocessor | NVIDIA GeForce 940MX |
| Chipset Brand | NVidia |
| Card Description | Dedicated |
| Wireless Type | 802.11 A/C |
| Number of USB 2.0 Ports | 1 |
| Number of USB 3.0 Ports | 3 |
This is the best laptop for programmers who like to write code for API development. APIs are
created for particular platforms or functions, and every API will have the coding language of the
platform/device/site/service it’s created for. The ASUS P-series is an excellent laptop for API development.
This HP notebook has pretty much everything a programmer would want for basic application development. If you do
“lighter” software coding that doesn’t require too much graphics card or fast hard drive operations then this laptop
is perfect. In short, this laptop is ideal for programmers who write mostly HTML, CSS, and basic coding.
| Screen Size | 15.6 inches |
| Max Screen Resolution | 1920×1080 pixels |
| Processor | 2.3 GHz Intel Core i5 |
| RAM | 8 GB DDR3L SDRAM |
| Memory Speed | 1600 MHz |
| Hard Drive | 1 TB SATA |
| Graphics Coprocessor | shared |
| Chipset Brand | intel |
| Card Description | integrated |
| Wireless Type | 802.11 A/C |
| Number of USB 2.0 Ports | 2 |
| Number of USB 3.0 Ports | 1 |
| Average Battery Life (in hours) | 7.15 hours |
In short, this laptop is perfect for any programmers who also do WordPress/Shopify development and need to work with
HTML/CSS only.
Since 2020 Apple Macbook Air is powered by Apple M1’s own chipset which is different from Intel (previously used).
Windows can not be installed on Apple Macbook Air released in 2020 and later without hacks and virtual machines.
This Apple laptop is one of the best in terms of portability, battery, and computing power for work on the go! It is
light, portable, and powerful enough for programming with various programming languages including C++ programming
language coding. MacBook Air includes 256 GB SSD, Thunderbolt + USB-C ports, and pre-installed the most recent Mac
OS. This device is sufficient for coding, web, iOS, and Apple Mac development.
However, if you work on iOS or Android applications, you are a designer or you simply like to have
multiple screens then strongly consider 16″ inch Macbook Pro instead. Also, Macbook Air can be one of the best
laptops for programming on the go but it is more suitable for light coding. For data processing, machine learning,
massive datasets processing you should better go with a more powerful Macbook Pro 16 inch version instead.
| Screen Size | 13.3 inches |
| Processor | Apple M1 (not compatible with Intel) |
| RAM | 8 GB |
| Hard Drive | flash_memory_solid_state |
| Graphics Coprocessor | integrated_graphics |
| Chipset Brand | intel |
| Wireless Type | 802.11abg, 802.11 A/C, 802.11 a/b/g/n, 802.11A |
It is a simple yet powerful laptop that can handle almost everything you throw at it (except Windows! because of the
Apple CPU non-compatible with Intel) -> check it on Apple.com.
Important note about the keyboard in Apple Macbook Air laptops that were released from 2015 to 2019
years:
these versions may have serious issues with keys including double symbols, non-working keys, stuck keys. In 2019
Apple started to free repair or keyboard replacement for these laptops.
Side Note: Recent version of MacBook Air 13 added a high-resolution retina quality screen which
made this laptop to be an alternative choice to Apple MacBook Pro Retina. But check prices! The price for MacBook
Air 13 is almost comparable to MacBook Pro and you may want to go with the latter and trade bit of the weight and
2-3 hours of the battery in MacBook Air in exchange for more power and more RAM in MacBook Pro 13 Retina or even
better with Macbook Pro 16″ version.
Powered by Intel Core i7 and 16GB RAM with 512GB SATA 3.0 SSD, this top-of-the-line specced laptop can run
all programming virtual products pretty effortlessly and can likewise play all the most recent gaming.
Aside from this, it is additionally an exceptionally keen and ergonomically outlined laptop. Its shrewd double fan
configuration gives powerful cooling to keep this laptop dependably.
| Screen Size | 15.6 inches |
| Screen Resolution | 1920 x 1080 |
| Max Screen Resolution | 1920 x 1080 pixels |
| Processor | 2.8 GHz 8032 |
| RAM | 16 GB DDR4 |
| Hard Drive | 1000 GB Hybrid Drive |
| Graphics Coprocessor | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 |
| Chipset Brand | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 |
| Card Description | Dedicated |
| Graphics Card Ram Size | 4 GB |
| Wireless Type | 802.11 A/C |
| Number of USB 2.0 Ports | 2 |
| Number of USB 3.0 Ports | 1 |
Asus M580VD-EB54 is really a gaming laptop with effective elite equipment which is additionally reasonable
for programming and coding. That is why it’s here in the top picks of the best developer laptop in
2021.
Acer Chromebook CB515-1HT is one of the best programming laptops. This is because it has a zero air gap, which
enables programmers to experience improved screen clarity even in sunshine. The best thing about this laptop
is that it has a 2.48GH processor which is good enough for working with various programming languages like C,
C++, and frameworks like ASP.Net. This laptop is an excellent tool for programmers who work on small-scale software applications.
| Screen Size | 15.6 inches |
| Screen Resolution | 1366 x 768 |
| Max Screen Resolution | 1366 x 768 |
| Processor | 1.6 GHz Celeron D Processor 360 |
| RAM | 2 GB DDR3 SDRAM |
| Memory Speed | 1600 MHz |
| Hard Drive | 256 SSD drive |
| Graphics Coprocessor | HD Graphics 400 |
| Chipset Brand | Intel |
| Card Description | Integrated |
| Wireless Type | 802.11bgn, Bluetooth |
| Average Battery Life (in hours) | 7 hours |
The Acer Chromebook CB515-1HT offers computing power that meets the needs of machine language coders, and even
WordPress developers. If you are looking for a laptop that balances portability, power, and screen real estate, then
go for Acer Chromebook CB515-1HT.
This is one of the best laptops for programmers who work on various small-scale software applications.
Lenovo IdeaPad L340 AMD is among the best Lenovo programming laptops. It has a 15.6″ HD screen with AMD Ryzen™ 5
3500U and 8GB Memory with 256GB Hard Drive. The great thing about this laptop is that it has an 8 GB DDR4
SDRAM and is expandable to 16GB. -> Check it on Amazon.
| Screen Size | 15.6 inches |
| Max Screen Resolution | 1366×768 pixels |
| Processor | 2.7 GHz AMD A-Series |
| RAM | 8 GB DDR3 |
| Hard Drive | 1 TB Hybrid Drive (SSD + HDD) |
| Graphics Coprocessor | Intel HD Graphics 500 |
| Chipset Brand | amd |
| Card Description | Integrated |
| Number of USB 2.0 Ports | 1 |
| Number of USB 3.0 Ports | 2 |
| Average Battery Life (in hours) | 5 hours |
The Lenovo IdeaPad L340 is ideal for programmers that require speed when analyzing vast amounts of data. The
developers who code in SQL, Python, Java, or those who handle data processing techniques such as MapReduce, Spark,
and Hadoop can opt for this laptop.
This is one of the best laptops for coding and programming. This is because it has Intel Core i7-4810MQ and a 2.7
GHz Processor. It also has an 8 GB DDR3L RAM and 1 TB 7200 rpm Hard Drive with 17.3-Inch Screen.
| Screen Size | 17.3 inches |
| Max Screen Resolution | 1920 x 1080 pixels |
| Processor | 2.8 GHz Intel Core i7 |
| RAM | 8 GB DDR3L |
| Memory Speed | 1600 MHz |
| Hard Drive | 1 TB SATA |
| Graphics Coprocessor | NVIDIA GeForce |
| Chipset Brand | nvidia |
| Card Description | Dedicated |
| Wireless Type | 802.11.ac |
| Number of USB 2.0 Ports | 2 |
| Number of USB 3.0 Ports | 3 |
This is one fantastic laptop for full-stack programmers. It is a bit on the heavy, but great as a “desktop
substitute” for programmers who travel a lot and still prefer a powerful machine.
The MSI GT70 DOMINATOR DRAGON is designed for developers who are after the performance but also desire some
portability. We recommend it to game developers, graphics developers, and even full-stack developers.
This is a brand new laptop replacing T490 and T490s laptops. It is a very durable laptop that is perfect for
constant business use and coding. Among its TOP key benefits:
| Brand | Lenovo |
| Series | T Series |
| Colour | Black |
| Height | 8.9 Inches |
| Width | 13 Inches |
| Screen size | 14 Inches |
| Resolution | 1920×1080 |
| Weight | 1.27 Kg |
| Dimensions | 25.8 x 38 x 2.3 cm |
| Processor | Intel |
| Type | Core i7 or Core i5 |
| Speed | 1.6-3.9 GHz |
| RAM | 8 GB or 16 GB (Soldered) |
| Memory | DDR4 |
| Hard Drive | 256 or 512 GB SSD PCIe |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Pro |
| Keyboard | Backlit |
This is the best Asus laptop for programming. It has an 8th Generation Intel Core i9-8950HK Coffee Lake Hexa
Core Processor and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 with 8GB GDDR6. This is one amazing laptop for Big Data
developers.
| Brand Name | ME2 MichaelElectronics2 |
| Series | ASUS ROG G703GX-XS98K |
| Hardware Platform | PC |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Item Weight | 10.36 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 12.5 x 16.7 x 2 inches |
| Item Dimensions L x W x H | 12.5 x 16.7 x 2 inches |
| Processor Brand | Intel |
| Processor Count | 6 |
| Computer Memory Type | SODIMM |
| Hard Drive Interface | Solid State |
It also comes with several USB ports, a Giga-speed Ethernet card, and a decent battery life of up to 7 seven hours.
Whether you are a graphics developer, front-end developer, or big data developers, this laptop will meet your coding
needs.
This is the best budget laptop for programming. This is an ideal laptop for coders who love to play with
various programming languages like Python, SQL. The great thing about this laptop is that it has the 9th Gen
Intel® Core™ i7-9750H Processor and DTS Studio Sound with dual speakers.
| Screen Size | 17.3 inches |
| Max Screen Resolution | 1600 x 900 |
| Processor | 2.7 GHz Intel Core i7 |
| RAM | 8 GB SDRAM |
| Memory Speed | 2133 MHz |
| Hard Drive | 1 TB mechanical_hard_drive |
| Graphics Coprocessor | Intel HD Graphics 620 |
| Chipset Brand | intel |
| Card Description | Integrated |
| Wireless Type | 802.11.b, 802.11.g, 802.11.n |
| Number of USB 2.0 Ports | 2 |
The HP Pavilion Gaming – 17”-cd0095nr offers a balance between performance, portability, and price. For developers
who are not in need of rendering heavy graphics, but want more computing power from their laptops, this laptop can
meet their coding and rendering needs.
The Lenovo IdeaPad L340 15” is an unbelievable laptop that can operate Linux well for people who work with
Oracle and Linux. This is an ideal laptop for people who are working as Database Administrators. This
is the best cheap laptop for programming.
| Screen Size | 15.6 inches |
| Max Screen Resolution | 1366X768 pixels |
| Processor | 1.6 GHz Intel Core i5 |
| RAM | 8 GB DDR4 |
| Hard Drive | 1 TB Hybrid Drive |
| Chipset Brand | intel |
| Card Description | Integrated |
| Wireless Type | 802.11.ac |
| Number of USB 3.0 Ports | 2 |
Lenovo IdeaPad L340 is designed for Middle-Tier Developers, CRM developers, and DevOps Developers. It offers
the balance between performance and cost, thanks to its 2.7 GHz Intel® Core™ i7-9750H CPU and NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1050
GPU.
For programmers that want a balance between graphics and computing power, we recommend Lenovo IdeaPad L340.
This is one of the most advanced laptops for programmers who work as data scientists, playing with big data or
working with graphics. This laptop includes a digital touch screen with pen support along with a kill switch. This
laptop includes a vivid 4K display.
| Brand | HP |
| Colour | Dark Ash Silver |
| Height | 19 Millimeters |
| Width | 25 Centimeters |
| Screen | 15.6 Inches |
| Resolution | 3840 x 2160 |
| Resolution | 3840 x 2160 |
| Weight | 2.08 Kg |
| Dimensions | 35.9 x 25 x 1.9 cm |
| Batteries: | 1 Lithium-ion battery required. (included) |
| Item number | HP SPECTRE 15 |
| Processor | Intel |
| Type | Core i7 |
| Speed | 4.7 GHz |
| RAM Size | 16 GB |
Dell XPS 9370 is a sparkling piece of design that essentially has all the fundamental things that any computer
programmer desires a laptop for coding. It is indeed an astounding product when it comes to appearance and
portability. This is the best Dell laptop for programming.
| Screen Size | 13.3 inches |
| Screen Resolution | 3840 x 2160 |
| Max Screen Resolution | 3840 x 2160 |
| Processor | 4 GHz Intel Core i7 |
| RAM | 16 GB SDRAM DDR3 |
| Memory Speed | 2133 MHz |
| Hard Drive | 512 GB SSD |
| Graphics Coprocessor | Intel HD Graphics |
| Chipset Brand | Intel |
| Card Description | integrated |
| Wireless Type | 802.11.ac, Bluetooth |
| Number of USB 2.0 Ports | 1 |
The Dell XPS 9370 is ideal for programmers that need computing power and portability. For Desktop developers,
Embedded Developers, and Security Developers, this laptop can be a good choice.
Its 4 GHz Intel Core i7-8550U CPU, 16GB LPDDR3 2133MHz RAM, along with the Intel UHD Graphics 620 GPU, provide all the computing and rendering power needed for projects that aren’t rendering heavy.
This laptop has pretty much everything a coder would want for game development including up to 3 external 4K
displays that you can power through HDMI, Thunderbolt, and USB-C. This laptop also has a 15.6″ Thin Bezel LG FHD
144Hz 1920×1080 IPS Anti-Glare display LCD and an X-Rite Pantone Certified Display which is amazing for working with
computer graphics.
| Screen Size | 15.6 inches |
| Screen Resolution | 1920×1080 pixels |
| Max Screen Resolution | 1920 x 1080 |
| Processor | 4.1 GHz Intel |
| RAM | 16 GB |
| Hard Drive | up to 1 TB |
| Graphics Coprocessor | NVIDIA GeForce |
| Graphics Chipset Brand | NVIDIA |
| Graphics Card Type | Dedicated |
| Graphics Card Ram Size | 6 GB |
| External 4K Displays | Up to 3 |
The GIGABYTE AERO 15 laptop is designed for programmers that need both computing and graphics processing power.
Moreover, its 15″ screen helps to balance between portability and screen real estate. The only caveat is the price
and the case that looks not to be as durable as Lenovo Thinkpad or Apple Macbook.
This is top of the line specced laptop which can manage all programming virtual goods rather effortlessly and can,
moreover, handle mirror workstations. This laptop has the best processor for programming.
| Screen Size | 15.6 inches |
| Screen Resolution | 1920×1080 pixels |
| Max Screen Resolution | 1920 x 1080 |
| Processor | 4.1 GHz Intel Mobile CPU |
| RAM | 16 GB SO-DIMM |
| Hard Drive | 2 TB Hybrid Drive |
| Graphics Coprocessor | NVIDIA GeForce |
| Chipset Brand | NVIDIA |
| Card Description | Dedicated |
| Graphics Card Ram Size | 8 GB |
| Wireless Type | 802.11.ac, Bluetooth |
| Number of USB 3.0 Ports | 4 |
High-Level developers, game developers, and graphics developers need all the computing and graphics processing power
they can get. The customizable AORUS 15 RTX 20 Series is designed to meet such needs.
Its CPU, and NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 2070/60 GDDR6 GPU can process code and render graphics smoothly, allowing
programmers to get value for the money.
Powered by 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9750H 6 core processor up to 4.1GHz this laptop is one of the best programming
laptops. This laptop has all the useful characteristics and it is extremely prescribed for programmers who work as
blockchain developers, information security researchers, gaming programmers or people who wish to code with Swift
and Java.
| Screen Size | 15.6 inches |
| Max Screen Resolution | 1920×1080 pixels |
| Processor | 4.1 GHz |
| RAM | 16 GB DDR4 |
| Hard Drive | Flash Memory Solid State |
| Graphics Coprocessor | NVIDIA GeForce |
| Chipset Brand | NVIDIA® |
| Card Description | Dedicated |
| Graphics Card Ram Size | 6 GB |
| Number of USB 3.0 Ports | 3 |
The Razer Blade 15 RTX is designed to offer computing speed, powerful graphics rendering, and ample storage
space.
For programmers who are always on the move, at 15.6″, this laptop balances between computing power and portability.
This is an ideal laptop for web developers and people who work as a CMS developer. With up to AMD A-9 processing
capability, the IdeaPad S145 laptop is created to keep speed. It also has an arbitrary SSD storehouse, guaranteeing
even quicker reply times. This laptop has everything you require for coding.
The built-in speakers are powerful enough and the 15.6″ Full HD (1366 x 768) screen is huge enough to carry at
4.1 lbs. It contains all the ports you want like the HDMI port which you can use to attach smart tv and other
things.
| Brand | Lenovo |
| Series | Ideapad S145 |
| Colour | Grey |
| Height | 21 Millimeters |
| Width | 25.1 Centimeters |
| Screen Size | 15.6 Inches |
| Display Resolution | 1366 x 768 (HD Ready) |
| Weight | 1.85 Kg |
| Dimensions | 36.2 x 25.1 x 2.1 cm |
| Batteries: | 1 Lithium Polymer batteries required. (included) |
| Item model number | 81N3004DIN |
| Processor Brand | AMD |
| Processor Type | AMD A6 |
| Processor Speed | 3 GHz |
| RAM | 4 GB |
| Memory | DDR4 |
| Hard Drive | 1024 GB |
This Laptop is one of the best programming and gaming laptops. The FX505 AMD
Edition has cleared a set of sturdiness tests*, strongly sustaining differing circumstances including solar
radioactivity display, high elevation, and temperature limits.
It’s approved to survive day-to-day applications, from unexpected shocks to unexpected falls on a desk. Strong
and well-built, FX505 AMD Edition has been forced to the boundary to secure only the very best for programmers
and coders.
| Brand | Asus |
| Model | FX505DY-BQ002T |
| Name | TUF |
| Weight | 2.2 Kg |
| Dimensions | 26.2 x 36 x 2.6 cm |
| Batteries: | 1 Lithium Polymer batteries required. (included) |
| Item number | FX505DY-BQ002T |
| RAM Size | 8 GB |
| Ram Memory Installed | 8 GB |
| Ram Size | 32 GB |
| Ram | DDR4 |
| Hard Drive Size | 1024 GB |
| Interface | Serial ATA |
| Rotational Speed | 5400 RPM |
| Hard Disk | Mechanical Hard Drive |
| Optical Drive Type | None |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
This is one of the robust laptops for Data engineers. It is masterminded with extraordinary-performance
graphics and powerful overclocked processors to take you longer. It contains powerful CPUs and the most advanced
Intel Core processors.
| Brand | Dell |
| Series | Alienware m15 |
| Colour | Silver |
| Height | 18 Millimeters |
| Width | 36.3 Centimeters |
| Screen Size | 15.6 Inches |
| Resolution | 1920×1080 |
| Weight | 2.16 Kg |
| Dimensions | 27.5 x 36.3 x 1.8 cm |
| Batteries: | 1 Lithium-ion battery required. (included) |
| Item number | Alienware m15 |
| Processor | Intel |
| Processor | Core i7 |
| Speed | 2.2 GHz |
| RAM | 16 GB |
| Memory | DDR4 |
| Hard Drive Size | 1 TB |
The 17″ LG gram gives an awesome screen size without tilting the systems. The innovative layout and development of
this laptop support it to weigh less than 3 pounds*, so it’s simple to carry anywhere. This is an ideal laptop for
Security researchers.
| Brand | LG |
| Model | 17Z990 |
| Model Name | Gram |
| Model Year | 2019 |
| Item Weight | 1.34 Kg |
| Product Dimensions | 26.6 x 38.1 x 1.7 cm |
| Batteries: | 1 Lithium-ion battery required. (included) |
| Item model number | 17Z990 |
| RAM Size | 8 GB |
| Memory Slots Available | 1 |
| Flash Memory Installed Size | 512.0 |
| Ram Memory Installed Size | 8 GB |
| Ram Memory Maximum Size | 16 GB |
| Ram Memory Technology | DDR4 |
| Hard Drive Size | 512 GB |
| Hard Disk Technology | Flash Memory Solid State |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
Acer Nitro 5 is one of the most powerful laptops for programmers. This laptop has 8 GB of DDR4 system memory, and
the great thing about it is that it is up-gradable to 32 GB using two DDR4 SDRAM modules.
| Brand | Acer |
| Series | Nitro 5 |
| Colour | Shale Black |
| Height | 26 Millimeters |
| Width | 39 Centimeters |
| Screen Size | 15.6 Inches |
| Maximum Display Resolution | 1920 x 1080 (Full HD) |
| Weight | 2.5 Kg |
| Dimensions | 26.6 x 39 x 2.6 cm |
| Batteries: | 1 Lithium-ion battery required. (included) |
| Item number | AN515-52 |
| Processor | Intel |
| Type | Core i5 8300H |
| Processor | 2.3 GHz |
| RAM | 8 GB |
It is just a lightweight or you can say a correctly adjusted weight. The 1TB SSD/1TB HDD executes tasks flashing
quickly. The incorporated graphics card also supports a part in administration. the keyboard is very solid and easy
to type on, it is suitably backlit and friendly. The display is clear and sharp and anti-glare. This is the perfect
laptop for security researchers or full-stack programmers.
| Brand | AGB |
| Colour | Silver |
| Factor | Notebook |
| Screen | 15.60 Inches |
| Display Technology | LED |
| Resolution | 1080p Full HD |
| Weight | 1.9 Kg |
| Dimensions | 51.3 x 45.7 x 9.1 cm |
| Batteries: | 1 Lithium-ion battery required. |
| Item number | AG-1208 |
| Brand | Intel |
| Type | Core i7 |
| Speed | 2.70 GHz |
| Count | 1 |
| RAM | 32 GB |
The ZenBook 14 gives an ultra-sleek form and gives fluent production. This is simply the standard in the premium
laptop section for 2021 and a reliable rival to the MacBook Air. The new ZenBook 14 from Asus is lighter, more
graceful, more robust, and contains several great facilities matched to its ancestor. In other words, it ties in
plenty inside it to test MacBook Air. This is an ideal laptop for database administrators or programmers who work as
a data analyst.
| Brand | Asus |
| Series | ZenBook 14 |
| Colour | Royal Blue |
| Height | 18 Millimeters |
| Width | 31.9 Centimeters |
| Screen | 14 Inches |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080 (Full HD) |
| Weight | 1.35 Kg |
| Dimensions | 19.9 x 31.9 x 1.8 cm |
| Batteries: | 1 Lithium Polymer batteries required. (included) |
| Item number | UX434FL-A7801T |
| Processor | Intel |
| Type | Core i7 |
| Speed | 1.8 GHz |
| RAM | 16 GB |
| Memory | LPDDR3 |
| Maximum Memory | 16 GB |
| Hard Drive | 1 TB |
If you want to work on Android Studio, Visual Studio, or PostgreSQL then Acer Aspire E15 is the
best laptop for programmers in 2021. This laptop has 12 hours battery life and a 7th generation i5 processor along
with 8GB RAM and a lightning-fast Solid State Drive of 256 GB capacity. Not only this, but it has also NVIDIA
GeForce 940MX GPU with DDR5 2GB of video memory to handle any graphics demanding apps. This laptop is like water for
programmers. It is essential for C# developers and also for web designers/web developers because of all these
amazing features.
| Screen Size | 15.6 inches |
| Max Screen Resolution | 1920 x 1080 pixels |
| Processor | 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5 |
| RAM | 8 GB DDR SDRAM |
| Hard Drive | SATA |
| Graphics Coprocessor | NVIDIA GeForce 940MX |
| Chipset Brand | nvidia |
| Card Description | Dedicated |
| Graphics Card Ram Size | 2000 MB |
| Wireless Type | 802.11 A/C |
| Number of USB 3.0 Ports | 2 |
| Average Battery Life (in hours) | 12 hours |
Whether you are just a beginner or an advanced programmer, this laptop is going to be your programming buddy for the
foreseeable future.
This machine is masterminded with the precise, demanding requirements of the full stack programmers in mind. From
the latest processors to robust discrete graphics cards, they make each event more vivid and genuine. This laptop is
one of the most powerful programming laptops. Dual fans give an experience of constant working while the system
stays fresh.
| Brand | Dell |
| Series | G Series |
| Colour | Black |
| Height | 23 Millimeters |
| Width | 38 Centimeters |
| Size | 15.6 Inches |
| Resolution | 1920×1080 |
| Weight | 2.5 Kg |
| Dimensions | 25.8 x 38 x 2.3 cm |
| Batteries: | 1 A batteries |
| Item number | G3 3579 |
| Processor | Intel |
| Type | Core i7 |
| Speed | 2.2 GHz |
| RAM | 8 GB |
| Memory | DDR4 |
| Hard Drive | 1 TB |
What were the best laptops last year? Check this video:
So.. which one is the best for coding?
For Windows and Ubuntu based programming check Lenovo Ideapad and Lenovo Thinkpad series. For iOS and Mac OS X programming check Apple Macbook Pro 13/16. Consider Macbook if you
also do iOS, Android, or Unix coding or Web development. But be aware that almost all top laptops nowadays don’t
provide the ability to easily expand RAM or HDD. In most cases, you can’t do it even through a service center. So
you should get a configuration that will serve you for the next few years.
If you choose between getting more RAM or more storage then choose more RAM because you can always
attach external storage via USB but you won’t be able to add more RAM on any new Macbook model!
if you don’t need iOS development and you work on Windows mostly then please consider these:
Lenovo Thinkpad and Lenovo Ideapad. Thinkpad is a famous brand and was used by programmers as a portable,
powerful, durable, and upgradeable(!) machine. Lenovo Thinkpad is also Unix friendly and you can even run Mac OS X
on it using Hackintosh.
The best budget laptop is Lenovo Ideapad 5 15. If you also want to do some gaming then check Lenovo Ideapad Gaming 3. Have some money? Check Lenovo Thinkpad Carbon X and Dell XPS 15/17 (but beware to check the quality of your laptop in person! Lot of complaints on forums). Need iOS and Mac? Check Apple Macbook Pro 16.
About the Author
ByteScout Team of Writers
ByteScout has a team of professional writers proficient in different technical topics. We select the best writers to cover interesting and trending topics for our readers. We love developers and we hope our articles help you learn about programming and programmers.
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