We analyzed the Best laptops for Programming, Windows and macOS programming.
With reliable performance, the best laptop for programming may streamline software engineering and coding processes. Over 1,800 laptops, Chromebooks, and MacBooks—including the finest laptops and best business laptops—have been reviewed by our crew.
We suggest the Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (or 16-inch, if you require more screen real estate) for programmers. With its exceptional performance and ability to boot in both Windows and macOS, this machine is the logical choice for most programmers.
Below, we’ve included our best programming recommendations for Mac and Windows. We have thoroughly examined every device, comparing specifications, evaluating key features like speed, storage, and overall design, and benchmarking performance.
Recent Update:
By replacing outdated laptops with the newest models from Apple, Acer, and Lenovo, we’ve updated our list to showcase our top picks for 2024.
Table of Contents
The Best laptop for programmers in general
(Image credit: TechRadar)
1. Apple Macbook Pro (14-inch) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Our first selection
| Specifications | 1. CPU: Apple M2 Pro 10-core – M2 Max 12-core 2. Graphics: Integrated 16-core – 30-core GPU 3. RAM: Up to 96GB 4. Screen: 14.2in Liquid Retina XDR display 5. Storage: Up to 8TB |
| Best Offers of the Day | View at Apple Store (1TB) View at Apple Store (14-inch) View at Apple Store (512GB) |
| Goals for purchases | ✅M2 Pro and M2 Max chips ✅Almost 20-hour battery life ✅The best screen on a laptop ✅Boot in macOS or Windows |
| Causes for avoiding | ❌Screen may be a bit small for some ❌The price is high. |
The Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch, our choice for the best laptop for programming, is capable of handling software engineering and coding tasks. After all, this is a device that can edit photos and videos at a professional level. Even better, you have a little more flexibility because you can boot it in Windows.
Although a variant with the more recent M3 processor is an option, we thought the M2 Pro and M2 Max chips offered great performance, which is more than sufficient for those creating iPhone apps.
The 14-inch Apple MacBook Pro boasts an XDR display with a maximum brightness of 1600 nits, as well as amazing power and portability. There is a good assortment of connections, including three Thunderbolt 4 ports, an HDMI port, and an SD card slot. In our battery testing, we also discovered that battery life was outstanding, lasting more than 19 hours on a single charge.
The complexity of your workload will determine if you need a machine with this level of power, but it’s a stunning device with exceptional performance.
Check out our evaluation of the Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M3 Max) for a more powerful big screen substitute. We still recommend M1 MacBooks for less expensive solutions.
Read Full Review of Apple MacBook Pro: Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
Top-rated Windows laptop for programming
(Image credit: TechRadar)
2. Lenovo ThinkPad T16 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Expert performance
| Specifications | 1. CPU: Up to Intel Core i7 / AMD Ryzen 7 Pro 2. Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce MX550 and higher 3. RAM: Up to 32GB 4. Screen: 16inch 5. Storage: Up to 2TB |
| Best Offers of the Day | View at Amazon (1TB) |
| Goals for purchases | ✅Large 16-inch, 16:10 display ✅Best 86Wh battery for all-day use ✅Best keyboard experience |
| Causes for avoiding | ❌There are just two Thunderbolt 4 ports. ❌A bit heavy |
In our opinion, the ThinkPad T16 is the full package in terms of programming. The huge 16-inch, 16:10 display is bright, clear, and easy on the eyes for a business laptop. With up to 32GB of RAM and an Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 7 Pro processor, it can do nearly any coding assignment with ease. During testing, our review unit undoubtedly didn’t lag at all.
The T16 is graded MIL-STD 810G and has a durable build. However, it is a bit heavy to hold. As anticipated, performance was outstanding for typical workloads. The num-pad and keyboard on this programming laptop are what actually make it unique. Although an external keyboard can be connected, ThinkPads still provide the greatest typing experience available on a contemporary keyboard.
Regarding substitutes for the MacBook Pro 16-inch, our evaluation of the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s offers a stylish, more compact model. Check out our evaluation of the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 if you require better graphical performance.
Read Full Review of Lenovo ThinkPad T16: Lenovo ThinkPad T16
Budget-Friendly laptop for programming
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3. Acer Aspire 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
A reasonably priced laptop for coding
| Specifications | 1. CPU: Latest 13th Gen Intel Core i7 2. Graphics: NVIDIA Graphics 3. RAM: Up to 32GB 4. Screen: 14inch to 15.3inch 5. Storage: Up to 1TB |
| Best Offers of the Day | View at Amazon (1TB) |
| Goals for purchases | ✅Reasonably priced ✅Sturdy construction, weighing 1.7 kg ✅ Good battery life for the cost |
| Causes for avoiding | ❌Minimal performance. ❌720p webcam ❌Restricted port selection |
Considering how inexpensive it is, the Acer Aspire 5 is a powerful little device. Its solid build makes it feel like it can withstand a few bumps, and its performance during benchmarks was superb.
With an Intel Core i7 (i5 is also an option) and up to 32GB of RAM, it’s a powerful computer that can handle everyday computing duties with ease. Thus, you shouldn’t experience any problems when using programming applications.
However, there’s a reason it’s a budget choice, and we saw some compromises. The battery life, which only lasted 6.5 hours in the TechRadar battery testing, was the main source of our disappointment. We would have preferred to spend a couple more hours there. Workloads that are really complex will also be difficult for the Aspire 5 to handle. However, considering the cost and specifications, this laptop is quite powerful.
Read Full Review of Acer Aspire 5: Acer Aspire 5 review
Top-Rated laptop for business programming
(Image credit: PCMag)
4. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Our selection for experts in business
| Specifications | 1. CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 165U 2. Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics 3. RAM: Up to 32GB 4. Screen: 14inch OLED 5. Storage: Up to 1TB |
| Best Offers of the Day | View at Amazon (1TB) |
| Goals for purchases | ✅Excellent performance ✅lightweight design ✅Availability of LCD and OLED panels ✅Enhanced battery life ✅Redesigned keypad ✅Physical camera cover |
| Causes for avoiding | ❌Cost. ❌Poor webcam quality ❌Only one side’s port choices |
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12’s elegant, robust design, incredibly ergonomic keyboard, and high price make it the greatest programming laptop for business workers.
The computer easily completed a variety of tasks during our own review, including creating material like video editing and using simple office applications. Therefore, using this laptop to code won’t be a problem for you.
Like nearly all ThinkPads, the X1 Carbon Gen 12’s keyboard is comfortable enough to use for lengthy periods of time, which is crucial for programmers. Indeed, there has been a little revamp of the keyboard and trackpad, making them feel more roomy and pleasant for prolonged work.
The laptop is exceptionally light and thin in other areas. For business users, the actual camera cover is ideal, and we adore it. Although the screen isn’t as bright as we would like, it can be improved and will work well indoors. All things considered, a sturdy laptop that allows comfortable coding in work environments.
Read Full Review of Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon : Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon review
Programming and gaming laptop of the year
(Image credit: Laptop Mag)
5. Razer Blade 14⭐⭐⭐⭐
Play hard, work hard.
| Specifications | 1. CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS 2. Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 – 4070 3. RAM: Up to 32GB 4. Screen: 14-inch, QHD 5. Storage: Up to 1TB |
| Best Offers of the Day | View at Amazon (1TB) |
| Goals for purchases | ✅Fantastic, little design ✅Strong performance and specifications with a 140W GPU ✅Quick-refresh QHD+ screen |
| Causes for avoiding | ❌Cost. ❌Not the longest battery life |
Our choice for people who like to work hard and play hard is the Razer Blade 14, which is ideal for programming and gaming. This is a tiny, light, workstation-style device that can easily manage demanding tasks, such as triple-A games and video editing. Expect excellent coding performance as a result.
During our study of the Razer Blade 14, we saw how well it performed in a variety of normal computing workloads and gaming tests.
We did observe, though, that the fans became a little noisier when performing more demanding jobs. With a retail price of between $2000 to £2000, this coding laptop is also not inexpensive.
Nevertheless, it’s a stunning gadget that also offers a comfortable typing experience with accurate trackpad control. See our evaluation of the HP Victus 15 for a less expensive option; for the price, it’s an incredibly capable gaming laptop.
Read Full Review of Lenovo Razer Blade 14 : Razer Blade 14 review
Check the Best Gaming laptops in 2024 : Gaming Laptops
Student’s best laptop for programming
(Image credit: Tom’s guides)
6. Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3)⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Svelte, Light, and Slim
| Specifications | 1. CPU: Apple M3 (8-core) 2. Graphics: Up to integrated 10-core GPU 3. RAM: Up to 24GB 4. Screen: 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display 5. Storage: Up to 2TB |
| Best Offers of the Day | View at Amazon (1TB) |
| Goals for purchases | ✅Outstanding performance ✅Design without fans ✅Excellent battery life ✅Reduced cost |
| Causes for avoiding | ❌The base specs are a little lacking. ❌Support for external monitors seems compromised. |
We highly recommend the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch for students and anybody else looking for a thin and incredibly light laptop for on-the-go coding. In addition to having a lot of power, this machine is incredibly portable, stylish, and sturdy.
The most recent model, which is driven by Apple’s remarkable M3 processor, is still reasonably priced at about $1000 to £1000, which is incredibly good considering the performance. Performance was excellent for everyday use, feeling quick, fluid, and responsive—as you would expect from Apple—and held up well but not exceptionally well even under heavier workloads. Even better, you can now play games on this laptop, which is ideal for leisure time. The MacBook Air will last you the entire day on campus without any problems because it lasted more than 14 hours on a single charge in battery testing as well.
However, even though it should easily last you the duration of your course, it’s still a very pricey equipment. An M1 or M2 MacBook Air will provide comparable performance for a lower price, or there are plenty of appropriate ThinkPads for Windows.
Read Full Review of Apple MacBook Air : Apple MacBook Air review
Frenquently Ask Questions (FAQ’s)
What features should I look for in a programming laptop?
When selecting a laptop for programming, focus on performance and comfort. Look for a fast processor, at least 8GB of RAM, and SSD storage for quick file access. A comfortable keyboard and a display with good resolution are also crucial for extended work hours. For those who work on the go, lightweight models with long battery life are ideal.
Is a high-end laptop necessary for programming?
A high-end laptop isn’t always necessary for programming, but it can make a difference for complex tasks. Basic coding can be done on mid-range devices, but if you’re working with large codebases, virtual machines, or emulators, investing in a more powerful laptop can save time and improve efficiency.
What’s the ideal screen size for programming?
The perfect screen size depends on your work style. A smaller screen (11-14 inches) is great for portability, while a larger screen (15 inches or more) offers more space for multitasking and viewing multiple windows. If you use an external monitor, the laptop’s screen size becomes less critical.
How much RAM do I need for programming?
The amount of RAM required depends on the complexity of your work. For simple programming tasks, 4GB can suffice. However, for multitasking, working with large projects, or running emulators, 8GB to 16GB or more is recommended for optimal performance.
What are the best laptops for programming?
The best laptops for programming combine performance, comfort, and portability. Top picks include:
1.Apple MacBook Pro: Known for its seamless performance and durability.
2.Dell XPS 15: A powerful option with a stunning display and ample RAM.
3.Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon: Offers excellent keyboard ergonomics and reliability.
4.HP Spectre x360: A lightweight yet powerful choice for on-the-go developers.
These laptops are ideal for handling coding, testing, and multitasking with ease
How we evaluate which laptop is better for programming
To assist you in selecting the ideal equipment, we have evaluated hundreds of laptops and business computers, including the greatest laptops and PCs for video editing.
We have a strict testing procedure. We employ a variety of tasks to determine how each device stacks up against the competition and what it has to offer users, whether we’re delving into the specifics of the finest laptops for picture editing or weighing the advantages and disadvantages of the best workstations.
These tests, which combine benchmark and real-world applications, help us identify areas in which some laptops excel and provide information for our evaluation and rating of a particular laptop. Here are a couple of these tests, listed in no specific order:
- BatteryBar
- YouTube playback
- GeekBench
- CrystalDiskMark
- Novabench
- Passmark
The overall feel of these components coming together to produce a laptop for programming is another factor we take into account, as does our practical experience using these computers as daily drivers during our testing.
We’ve examined a number of factors, including CPU, GPU, portability, storage, and design, in order to determine which laptop is ideal for programming. We assessed their overall effectiveness and the kind of users they would work best with. We examined their display, security features, battery life, and whether or not they came with extra accessories. Among other things, we took into account their weight, connectivity ports, and cost.
How to pick the ideal laptop for programming
There are a number of factors to take into account while selecting the ideal laptop for programming.
First of all, where will you be using this device? Screen size and keyboard are less important if your main use will be at a desk, connected to a complete setup that includes an external display or monitors, keyboard, and mouse. Since we’ve had multiple Lenovo ThinkPads, we can attest to the fact that the best ThinkPad laptops are known for their superb keyboards and general typing experience, if that’s important to you.
You’ll need a device like the best robust laptops, which are made to handle daily travel, or the best UltraBooks, which won’t weigh you down while you’re on the go, if you want to use your laptop on campus, at the workplace, at a coffee shop, on the train, at different workspaces, or even on the couch.
You should think about how long the laptop’s battery lasts. With an all-day battery, you won’t need to carry a charger with you everywhere you go. However, a lower battery capacity will also work if you plan to keep your setup largely in one location. The battery life of the finest MacBook Pro laptops with the M2 chip has impressed us in our tests, although many Windows laptops for programming can run all day.
Choose a programming laptop with lots of storage if you deal with a lot of space-consuming files. For further file security, combine it with the best cloud storage. If not, you will also need to bring an external hard drive with you. Finally, check the price, display, security features, and connectivity ports.
For laptops that will be used with peripherals, pay close attention to the internal components. This covers internal storage, RAM, and the processor. Since laptops are known for having few ports, make sure you have enough options if you intend to connect a lot of accessories, such as the best keyboards for programmers or the finest monitors for a dual setup. When you’re at home or on the go, the finest laptop docking stations are portable hubs that enable you to connect to a variety of devices.
Features like the keyboard, screen, trackpad, and storage become crucial when programming laptops that will be used regularly or continuously while on the road because they will serve as your entire workspace. Additionally, you should choose between a Chromebook, Windows, or macOS device because each offers a very different experience and set of skills.
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