Code Like a Pro: The 19 Best Laptops for Programming

Complete List: 19 Best Laptops for Programming

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A programmer needs one of the best processors in a good laptop, but a fast machine also means fast memory, which one of the best SSDs dictates to us. When coding and testing, the last thing you want is potentially long load times. A fast laptop will speed up loading, compiling, and launching projects. 

Hence, a quality laptop will optimize the programmer’s workflow. in this article, we will talk about the best laptops for programming with great battery life, an impressive operating system, and which programming specifications CPU to be categorized as a programming laptop and within a budget laptop.

Windows laptop is also a programming laptop that comes in today’s best deals; however, a leading digital publisher also emphasizes other future brands that will come up with the best laptops for programming.

It may also not be the first thing that comes to your mind, but you should be targeting a good screen and the best keyboard available today. You don’t want the screen to tire your eyes after hours of coding. Even less you want to deal with a lousy keyboard, given that you type most of the day.

Don’t worry if this sounds too complicated. We’ve handpicked our favorites to create our ranking of the best laptops for programming to help you choose the right one. Whether you’re looking for a Windows 10 PC, macOS, or even the best laptop for programming in 2021, we’ve got you covered.

1. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme

If you have the money to buy an unstoppable workhorse, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Mobile Workstation is your best laptop for programming. In 2021, the laptop continued to be the # 1 best Lenovo laptop for many reasons. Several configurations are available to the user, depending on the needs and budget. However, even in the basic configuration, the Lenovo laptop is powerful enough, equipped with a reliable video card in a carbon fiber and aluminum case in every office.

The ThinkPad X1 Extreme mobile workstation from Lenovo is the best laptop for programming if you have the money for an unstoppable workhorse. We consider this laptop to be among the greatest Lenovo laptops for a variety of reasons. It comes in a variety of configurations, depending on your requirements and financial situation, but even in its most basic form, it is already quite powerful, housing a strong graphics card in a durable carbon-fiber and aluminum body that will withstand any workplace or field.

The sole drawback? The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme has a price tag to match its strength because you get what you pay for. When laptop manufacturers give their products names like “Extreme,” it’s a sure hint that the design will be exceptional in at least one or more ways.

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme, on the other hand, pushes the envelope in terms of performance on practically all fronts by pairing an 8th-generation Intel Core i7 CPU with an Nvidia Max-Q GPU and gift-wrapping the result in an aluminum and carbon-fiber shell. On paper, this appears to be the laptop that enthusiasts of performance desire, but does it live up to the price and the hype?

This combination ranks right up there with the strongest portable laptops you can purchase as far as configurations go. The Core i7-8750H is a real six-core and twelve-threaded silicon beast, even though Lenovo didn’t go all out and employ the Core i9-8950HK or Xeon E CPU. It just needs one core to easily do most office computing chores, and it very well could have used the other five to evolve into sentience and rule the world.

2. HP SPECTRE X360 (2020)

HP’s latest Hybrid, the Specter x360, has received a significant update for 2021, bringing the specs to 10th Gen Intel Core processors with Intel Iris Plus Integrated Graphics, all within a stylish hybrid design with a striking cut. The laptop chassis gets smaller, increasing its portability, which quickly propels it to the top of the best programmer laptop.

The HP Specter series has always consisted of great devices. For this reason, it should be understood that when we talk about the next level for the series, HP has gone far. Not only is this one of the most excellent notebooks on the market – thanks to its neat design with stunning cut edges – it is quite well-grounded on the inside. The manufacturer has taken care of the long-lasting battery to offer one of the programmer’s best notebooks.

3. EliteBook x360 1040 G5

The EliteBook x360 1040 G5 is, without a doubt, one of the predators of the business world. The laptop is not perfect, but it has many useful features for the programmer, which makes up for its shortcomings. 

Behind the attractive design hides objective functionality that is implemented in a variety of ports, decent performance, and great sound. Simply put, this is a laptop for professionals looking for consistent, trouble-free performance, making the EliteBook the best laptop for programming in 2021.

4. MacBook Pro 16-inch

The greatest programming laptop is now available is Apple’s huge 16-inch MacBook Pro. The MacBook Pro 16-inch (2021) replaces the Intel-powered model from 2019 and offers a choice of Apple’s potent M1 Pro or M1 Max CPUs, which easily compile and run even the most sophisticated code.

The MacBook Pro 16-inch is not only speedy at compiling code; it is also powerful enough to run your code in test environments, including on simulated hardware, so you can examine how your game or application performs on a range of devices. If you’re a developer who specializes in Mac or iOS apps, this is a great option because of how well xCode operated on the MacBook Pro 16-inch.

The stunning 16-inch screen makes it easy to read pages of code, and the ProMotion adaptive refresh rate makes scrolling through the code snappy and fluid. The enhanced keyboard further enhances this laptop’s coding capabilities, which are already greatly enhanced by its excellent battery life, which enables you to continue coding all day long without having to plug it in.

5. Razer Blade 17

If you’re developing games, the Razer Blade 17 is a great laptop for coding. This laptop has the most recent, most powerful laptop GPU from Nvidia, the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti. Razer is well-known in the PC gaming industry. This enables you to work with sophisticated 3D games that employ cutting-edge technology, such as ray tracing, and you’ll be able to play your game later to verify how it functions.

However, it is not simply a gaming laptop because it is designed for creative professionals. If you are a programmer working on demanding projects, this is a laptop that is worth considering.

Although it is incredibly pricey, you get some of the best mobile technology currently on the market for your money. For those that want a lot of power, this is an excellent creative workstation thanks to its excellent build quality and a magnificent 17-inch screen. For additional details, read our review of the Razer Blade 17.

6. Dell Inspiron 14 5000

The Dell Inspiron 14 5000 is a fantastic all-purpose laptop for programmers. It is far less expensive than many of the laptops on this list without sacrificing performance or features. Given that it has a Full HD display with a high resolution, a quad-core processor, and quick SSD storage, this dependable laptop can handle all of your programming needs.

If you’re on a tight budget, want a laptop that will do everything you need it to do, and don’t care about visual flair or features that you’re never going to use in your day-to-day programming, then this is a laptop worth considering. Sure, it doesn’t have the premium style of its more expensive competitors.

7. Google Pixlebook Go

The Google Pixelbook Go is an excellent laptop for programming and the best Chromebook money can currently buy. Google’s newest Chromebook has a lower price than its forerunner, the Pixelbook, but it still includes many of the high-end features that came with the original, such as amazing battery life and one of the best laptop keyboards we’ve ever used, which is crucial when choosing a laptop for programming.

Although it runs Chrome OS rather than Windows 10, this won’t be a problem for the majority of programmers, especially web developers. This laptop may be configured to run Linux, which increases its adaptability as a programming machine. It has some exceptional specifications for a Chromebook, ensuring that Chrome OS runs smoothly on it and giving it performance on par with much more expensive Windows laptops and MacBooks.

Google’s normally expensive product range has become slightly more affordable for customers thanks to the Google Pixelbook Go. It is therefore a welcome addition to the lineup, especially for consumers on a tight budget who cannot afford the high price of the Google Pixelbook.

However, some compromises must be made to maintain its affordable pricing. The more expensive features, like fingerprint authentication, are absent from the Google Pixelbook Go. It’s also not exactly the most affordable Chromebook available. Additionally, even while its base configuration is reasonable, as you move up the specs ladder, the price increases, making it less of a good deal.

Is the Google Pixelbook Go even worth considering with these compromises? It does have some value. Its superb keyboard, long battery life, and 1080p webcam should be more than enough to persuade people to upgrade from their out-of-date laptops or tablets. And it’s still the cheapest way to access the Google product lineup.

8. MacBook Pro 14-inch

While some programmers might think that having a laptop with a larger 16-inch or 17-inch screen makes programming more comfortable, other people might find those laptops too enormous and heavy to carry around. Therefore, anyone looking for a powerful laptop for programming that is also more easily portable should consider the 14-inch MacBook Pro.

It offers comparable performance to the larger laptop thanks to its use of either the M1 Pro or M1 Max Apple CPUs, which are also included with the 16-inch variant. This means that you can choose this laptop without compromising performance if you need a highly powerful laptop for programming but also need something easily portable.

Because it has the same number of ports, including an SD card slot, an HDMI connector, and three Thunderbolt 4 ports, the smaller size does not imply it is missing out on the new design features Apple incorporated into the 16-inch model.

Apple is firmly back when it comes to creating the greatest laptops for creative professionals with the new MacBook Pro 14-inch (2021). The MacBook Pro 14-inch (2021) is an even more assured performance from Apple, packing significantly improved hardware thanks to the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips, which are follow-ups from the M1. The MacBook Pro 13-inch (M1, 2020) was a step in the right direction, thanks to Apple’s M1 chip that powered it.

9. Apple MacBook Air 

One of the smallest Apple models made a comeback last year with doubled potential. The novelty not only fixes the shortcomings of previous iterations, including the long-awaited keyboard replacement. 

MacBook Air is a stunning and best laptop for programming with new components that boost performance while lowering the price. Its lightweight and slim design allows you to slip it into any bag and carry it with you, and the dimensions are so small that programming is a joy, no matter the setting.

10. Macbook Pro 16

In search of the best laptop for programming, mainly if you write software for macOS, you come to the MacBook Pro sooner or later. And the new MacBook Pro 16, packed with cutting-edge processors and tons of RAM, is the fastest laptop in the series to ever leave the Cupertino labs. 

Slim, light, large, and stylish, it doesn’t look like a 16-inch elephant despite being diagonal. If you are worried that this diagonal car will be awkwardly large and create problems for your mobility, you are wrong.

Thin display panels give you extra screen real estate without increasing physical dimensions while the best components of last year are at work inside. Rounding out the experience are the best laptop speakers and, of course, the serviceable Magic Keyboard. This is the best MacBook for content creators.

11. Apple MacBook Air M1

The MacBook Air (M1, 2020) delivered several fantastic enhancements following a much-needed redesign, making it one of the top laptops for programmers. The slimmer, lighter, and more reasonably priced MacBook Air now has the same Apple-made M1 chip as the Pro, so it’s no slouch when it comes to programming even though the 14-inch MacBook Pro (also on this list) is more powerful. The best part is that the new MacBook Air costs the same as the outgoing model, so you save money while enjoying a considerable improvement in performance and battery life!

In our assessment of this laptop, we discovered that the M1 chip’s strength shortens the time it takes to compile code, which will significantly affect your workflow. With a seriously lightweight design that makes it easy to carry, the new MacBook Air is as portable as ever. This makes it ideal for programmers who frequently travel. The new MacBook Air boasts an excellent battery life since the M1 chip is both powerful and efficient.

The brand-new MacBook Air (M1, 2020) from Apple is a fantastic laptop, and thanks to some brilliant new features like Apple’s own M1 chip (which replaces the Intel processors the company previously used) and a better screen, the MacBook Air no longer feels like a compromise for creatives who can’t afford the higher asking price for the MacBook Pro.

The MacBook Air, a scaled-down version of the MacBook, was formerly a superb small and light laptop for everyday use but wasn’t particularly suited for demanding creative tasks like editing ultra-high quality videos or creating intricate 3D animated scenarios due to its low specs. However, this newest model has the same M1 chip as the new 13-inch MacBook Pro (M1, 2020), therefore for the first time, the MacBook Air can compete with the more expensive laptop. It is deserving of a place on our list of the greatest laptops for graphic design.

12. LG Gram 17

The LG Gram 17 (2021) is the best option if you’re looking for a large-screen laptop to code on. It boasts a stunning, spacious screen with high quality that offers you lots of workspaces. But because it’s so light, this laptop shows you don’t have to give up portability and comfort for screen size. This makes it convenient to carry around, making it ideal for frequent travelers.

During our testing, we also discovered that it has one of the longest battery lives of any Windows 10 laptop, largely because of the brand-new Intel 11th-generation processors. Therefore, you are free to work anywhere you please while being confident that the battery will easily last you a whole workday and beyond.

The LG Gram 17 combines an ultra-lightweight, slim shape, as well as exceptionally strong performance when it comes to creative applications, pulling off a technical feat that has so far proven elusive with the great majority of laptop designs. It comes in four different screen sizes, from 13.3 inches to the largest 17 inches model we’re evaluating today, which is claimed by LG to be the lightest 17-inch laptop in the world while weighing only 1.34 kg.

13. Asus ROG Flow Z13

This unusual laptop has an incredibly tiny form factor and is light while delivering amazing power. It may even be the most potent tablet PC we’ve ever used. It has a potent 14-core, 12th-generation Intel processor, which can easily handle all of your coding requirements. For those who wish to create and test games, it also has an RTX 3050 Ti graphics card. This laptop is really quick and perfect for folks who want a portable laptop to code on thanks to its 16GB of DDR5 RAM.

Although it features a thin keyboard, some users might not find it comfortable to code on it for extended periods. In that case, a larger keyboard may be required, which is simple to connect in. Although it costs a lot, this laptop is radically different and could change the way you code.

Although the Asus ROG Flow Z13 is an incredible technical feat, it is not without flaws. For better or worse, cramming an Intel Core i9-12900H 14-core CPU and RTX 3050 Ti graphics onto a tablet PC is utterly insane. Although it makes for an impressively capable tablet, the 12900H processor in particular can’t perform at its peak in such a small size. Similar circumstances apply to the ROG XG Mobile graphics dock’s Nvidia RTX 3080 graphics.

Even though the fact that everything functions are impressive, the ergonomics are a touch awkward, the physical connection feels flimsy, and the performance isn’t on pace with a good laptop using comparable parts, let alone a desktop. For some very particular workflows, there is still a lot of attraction, but it is crammed into an uncomfortable small niche.

14. MacBook Pro 13-inch (M2)

A fantastic laptop for programming is still the 13-inch MacBook Pro. It has Apple’s brand-new M2 chip, which is quicker than the M1 chip in the previous generation and enables it to run apps with ease and compile code swiftly. It will function flawlessly with your programming tools, and it still has the Touch Bar at the top of the keyboard, which gives you easy access to tools and shortcuts and can significantly speed up your workflow.

Additionally, the new 13-inch MacBook Pro offers an unusually extended battery life. We’ve tried it out for ourselves, and it works well. You can work all day and still have battery life. Although it is less powerful than the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, many programmers will find it to be a great investment.

The Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch (2020) is the first product to feature Apple’s new M2 chip, which has an 8-core CPU with four efficiency and four performance cores and a 10-core GPU, which is two more than the GPU in the Apple M1 chip powering the device and more than the M2 chip in the base model of the new MacBook Air.

Reviewing the MacBook Pro 13-inch (M2, 2022) is an odd experience. On the one hand, it functions superbly and has long battery life. However, there are many better laptops for creative workers out there due to their antiquated design, 720p webcam, and lack of connections.

The impending MacBook Air (M2, 2022), which has a larger screen, better webcam and speakers, and similar performance – but for less money – poses perhaps the largest challenge to the MacBook Pro 13-inch (M2, 2022).

Therefore, you’d be better off ignoring the MacBook Pro 13-inch (M2, 2022) and purchasing the MacBook Air instead, unless you’re completely set on purchasing a MacBook Pro or adore the Touch Bar (come on, there must be some of you out there).

15. Microsoft Surface Pro 8

Although the Surface Pro 8 has an entirely new design, its internals is faster than ever, making it the ideal choice for all of your demanding coding demands. Therefore, it’s not just a good choice for graphic designers, illustrators, and other creative workers.

Other positive features are the two Thunderbolt 4 connectors and the 2-in-1 design. Another noteworthy update is the larger screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, which gives you more room to spread out for a more fluid working. Some people will find the greater price to be a hindrance, but professionals could find it to be worthwhile.

Microsoft finally totally updated the Surface Pro lineup’s dated look with the Surface Pro 8. The inclusion of the Thunderbolt 4 port and other long-overdue design enhancements like reduced bezels and rounder corners make this the biggest update to this flagship tablet in years.

The Surface Pro 8 was once a contender for our list of the best tablets and is still easily recognized as a member of Microsoft’s main line of Windows-based devices. With these aesthetic modifications and some of the quickest hardware ever seen in a Windows tablet, it simultaneously feels like a new generation.

Unfortunately, all those desperately needed upgrades come at a higher cost. The Surface Pro 8 is also the most expensive, starting at $1,099 / £999 / AU$1,649 – significantly more than its predecessor, the Surface Pro 7, which started at $749 / £799 / AU$1,249 – which makes it more difficult to sell. However, Surface Pro owners who have been waiting for a decent update for years now have one that is worthwhile an upgrade.

16. CrowPi-L Raspberry Pi laptop

A package designed for young hackers is the CrowPi-L Raspberry Pi laptop. A tiny and powerful notebook that is perfect for starting one’s path into programming is the product of a fuss-free assembly procedure.

With the aid of an extension board that is connected to Pi’s GPIO header, the laptop may communicate with numerous electronic modules. The CrowPi-L is an ARM laptop appropriate for software development that has one HDMI port, two USB 3.0 connectors, and a Gigabit Ethernet jack.

The CrowPi-L is a low-cost PC that costs just over $200 but only supports 1366×768 pixels. Benchmark results reveal a Dual-core performance rather than a Quad-core, which is a result of the Pi’s inadequate cooling system. Having said that, the laptop has a lot of potential, so prepare to put some effort into fine-tuning it.

With a laptop built on the adored Raspberry Pi(opens in new tab) platform, Elecrow is experiencing deja vu. This edition is unique in that it is more streamlined than the CrowPi2(opens in a new tab) notebook and concentrates on being a straightforward laptop rather than a complex development kit that includes a laptop. Elecrow succeeds in doing so, and the CrowPi-L is a laptop for programming that even young children may use.

17. ASUS Chromebook Flip C436

Premium Chromebooks take their place in the market with full grace, filling the gap between classic laptops and low-cost Chromebooks. Perhaps the ASUS Chromebook Flip C436 is emerging as one of the best examples of the combination of performance, a wide range of features, a premium build, and a price that is less than the competition. All of this makes the laptop ideal for web developers looking for a new laptop.

18. Microsoft Surface Book 2 

Surface Book 2 is an excellent choice for any programmer, as Microsoft has created one of the most potent hybrid notebooks on the planet. After all, it boasts powerful enough components to handle just about any task, including light games in your spare time. If you want a larger display, a 15-inch model offers an even more powerful configuration, albeit at a significantly higher price.

19. Microsoft Surface Pro 7

This is the 7th recapitulation of Microsoft’s respected Hybrid Tablet. And despite the lack of dramatic changes that tablet fans have been waiting for for several years, the Surface Pro 7 offers several improvements over the previous generation. The new 2-in-1 tablet is aimed at professionals, driven by increased performance and increased functionality, allowing the Surface Pro series to replace a laptop again.

Excellent additions include USB-C and Wi-Fi 6 connectivity. A new set of 4-core processors and increased RAM will help you efficiently compile code from anywhere in the world; you can program even on the road. Just remember that you have to pay for the Type Cover keyboard – you don’t want to write code on the touchscreen keyboard, trust me.

 Conclusion

Choosing the best laptop for programming isn’t just about performance. Memory, speed, and a comfortable keyboard play an essential role when you code on your laptop. When looking for the right model, pay attention to clock speeds, number of cores, and threads.