Top 8 Best Laptop for Programming in 2021

Are you looking for the best laptop for programming?

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.

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.

Best Laptop for Programming

Image	Title	Price	Prime	Buy
	Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Business Notebook: Intel 8th Gen i7-8750H (up to 4.1 GHz), NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050, 32GB RAM, 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD, 15.6" FHD IPS Display, Windows 10 Pro Professional		Prime	Buy Now
	HP Spectre x360 15T 2020 i7-10750H Hexacore, 16 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD, Nvidia GTX 1650Ti 4GB Graphics, 15.6 4K Touch, Wi-Fi 6, Win 10 Pro, Nightfall Black, HP Pen, 64 GB Tech Warehouse Flash Drive		Prime	Buy Now
	HP EliteBook x360 1040 G5 14" Touchscreen LCD 2 in 1 Notebook - Intel Core i5 (8th Gen) i5-8350U Quad-core (4 Core) 1.70 GHz - 8 GB DDR4 SDRAM - 256 GB SSD - Windows 10 Pro 64-bit - 1920 x 1080 -		PrimeEligible	Buy Now
	New Apple MacBook Air with Apple M1 Chip (13-inch, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD Storage) - Gold (Latest Model)		PrimeEligible	Buy Now
	New Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, 16GB RAM, 1TB Storage, 2.3GHz Intel Core i9) - Space Gray		PrimeEligible	Buy Now
	ASUS Chromebook Flip C436 2-in-1 Laptop, 14" Touchscreen FHD NanoEdge, Intel Core i3-10110U, 128GB PCIe SSD, Fingerprint, Backlit Keyboard, Wi-Fi 6, Chrome OS, Magnesium-Alloy, Silver, C436FA-DS388T		PrimeEligible	Buy Now
	Microsoft Surface Book 2 13.5" (Intel Core i7, 8GB RAM, 256 GB)		PrimeEligible	Buy Now
	Microsoft Surface Pro 7 – 12.3" Touch-Screen - 10th Gen Intel Core i5 - 8GB Memory - 256GB SSD (Latest Model) – Matte Black with Black Type Cover, Model: QWV-00007		PrimeEligible	Buy Now

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:

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 be in every office.

Pros:

• Lightweight
• Excellent performance
• Amazing construction quality
• Dual M.2 slots
• Surprising memory

Cons:

• Average speakers

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 really 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.

Pros:

• Phenomenal display
• Excellent keyboard
• Impressive construction quality
• Several ports
• Impressive design

Cons:

• Gets hot
• Battery life

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 to 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.

Pros:

• Unique design
• Convenient keyboard
• Impressive battery life
• Lightweight
• Speedy charging
• Thin
• Thunderbolt 3 ports

Cons:

• Noisy sometimes
• Expensive

4.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 allow 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.

Pros:

• Graceful design
• Decent display
• Speedy processor
• Impressive battery life
• Touch ID
• Amazing performance

Cons:

• Non-Upgradable RAM
• Slow

5.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 actually the best MacBook for content creators.

Pros:

• Wonderful Retina display
• SSD Storage
• Comfortable keyboard
• Great audio quality
• Powerful performance
• Good battery life

Cons:

• No microSD slot
• Expensive

6.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, wide range of features, premium build and price that is less than the competition. All of this makes the laptop ideal for web developers looking for a new laptop.

Pros:

• Smooth design
• Good battery life
• Speedy performance
• Great build quality
• Great display

Cons:

• Bad speakers

7.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.

Pros:

• Alloy construction
• Wonderful design
• Several configuration options
• Impressive battery life
• Amazing graphics
• Great touch display

Cons:

• Bad SSD Storage
• Pricy

8.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 several years, 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.

Pros:

• Solid keyboard
• Pen stylus
• Multiple ports
• Elegant design
• Beautiful Kickstand
• Powerful

Cons:

• Minor updates       
  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

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  Microsoft Surface Pro 7 – 12.3″ Touch-Screen – 10th Gen Intel Core i5 – 8GB Memory – 256GB SSD (Latest Model) – Matte Black with Black Type Cover, Model: QWV-00007

  • Next gen, best in class laptop with the versatility of a studio and tablet, so you can type, touch, draw, write, work, and play more naturally
  • Faster than surface pro 6, with a 10th gen intel core processor – redefining what's possible in a thin and light computer. Display Resolution - 2736 x 1824 (267 PPI)
  • More ways to connect, with both USB c and USB a ports for connecting to displays, docking stations and more, as well as accessory charging
  • Standout design that won't weigh you down — ultra slim and light surface pro 7 starts at just 1.70 pounds
  • All day battery life up to 10.5 hours, plus the ability to go from empty to full faster — about 80 percent in just over an hour

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  Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:

  Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

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.