Top 7 Best Laptops For Programming: 1st Pick For Coders And Developers (2021 Reviews)

best laptops for programming

If you are looking for the best laptop for programming, you are in the right place. We have researched all the best notebooks for software developers like you. Below, you will find many options suitable for different developers, such as people who deal with complex enterprise systems in Java or C # or freelance web developer.

Before moving on to the list, keep in mind that there are a few things you need to think about before buying the best laptop for coding.

Top 7 Best Laptops For Programming 2021

#1 Best Overall: Dell XPS 15 9570 Laptop

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Dell laptops are efficient and admired around the world. The XPS 15 9570 is suitable for those who work with the PC and do not intend to change notebooks for several years.

The XPS 15 is the best laptop for programming on our list, with its aluminum lid and inconspicuous base. The soft plastic inside is sufficient protection for the minor components. But its excellence is not about the materials, it is about how these materials form an enjoyable experience for the person using them. The XPS 15 is serious about delivering quality.

Despite premium materials, users will not feel bulky. The XPS 15 is bigger in real-life than the advertising pictures but still lighter than the MacBook Pro 15. You will feel the size and weight in your bag, but it is still compact compared to other gaming laptops. We had no problem slipping it into the notebook pocket of the medium-sized backpack.

Pros

  • Excellent performance
  • Fantastic display
  • Non-invasive webcam position
  • Wonderful selection of ports
  • Excellent keyboard and touchpad

Cons

  • Generic design
  • Limited gaming performance

The display bezel is thin. The original XPS 15 launched with insanely thin bezels, and Dell has kept those bezels without compromising webcam placement.

#2 Best Laptop For Python Programming: ASUS Vivobook K571 Laptop

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Computers in this series of AUS are neither compact nor light like those in the Vivobook Slim or Zenbook Pro line. Vivobook K571 is an excellent multimedia option built on modern platforms with dedicated graphics. It can handle multitasking, demanding loads, and even gaming to some extent.

It comes with 16GB of RAM that is an extensive amount to handle the principal programming languages such as C++ or Python. The SSD is 256GB. But remember that if you need more space, you can always connect an external USB hard drive.

Pros

  • Well-built construction
  • Fans always active, even during daily use
  • Excellent keyboard and touchpad  
  • Solid performance  
  • Great for daily use  
  • Loudspeakers        

Cons

  • Low-quality aluminum
  • Some problems with wireless over long distances

The screen is matte black. The keyboard is back-lit. For the best laptop for coding, Vivobook K571 can handle all coding languages with an overall price that will not bankrupt you.

#3 Laptop For Web Programming: HP Pavilion 15 Laptop

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The HP Pavilion 15 is an affordable laptop that devalues ​​most of the competition. It is an ideal option for students and office workers to consider.

The HP Pavilion 15 is the ultimate programming laptop. It has a 15.6-inch FHD 1080p display that outputs images and text in maximum clarity. It comes with a standard voltage i5 processor, 8GB RAM, and 256GB SSD which makes it ideal for encoding complex applications and games.

Pros

  • Affordable price
  • Efficient performance
  • Outstanding speakers

Cons

  • The display quality is below average.

HP Pavilion 15 is a high-end laptop and perfect for web programming on Visual Studio or any other programming application.

#4 Best Laptop For PHP Programming: Lenovo IdeaPad S145 Laptop

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Choosing the best laptop for coders while keeping costs relatively low could be a difficult thing. Lenovo’s 15-inch IdeaPad S145 aims to do exactly these tasks with balancing style, functionality, and portability.

The IdeaPad S145 is one of the best notebooks for PHP Programming. It may not be full of features or have top hardware but the 330S will satisfy most of your requests. It leaves a cue for all other similarly priced notebooks to consider.

Pros

  • Convenient function
  • Quiet and efficient
  • Compact and durable

Cons

  • Not excellent build quality
  • Battery life not optimal

It is great for gaming, AutoCAD, Solidworks, and similar tasks. There is plenty of storage and memory to keep running smoothly.

#5 Best Laptop For .Net Programming: 2020 LG Gram Laptop

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While other 17-inch laptops look big, bulky, and heavy to carry around, the 2020 LG Gram is thin and light. It is easy to underestimate at first, you will feel more like a budget Chromebook than a productivity machine.

But you should not criticize it too fast. Besides being the lightest 17-inch notebook on the market when it came out, the 2020 LG Gram has some credits, including being a CES Innovation Awards Honoree.

It has all the credentials to be the best laptop for the coder, especially .Net programming. It boasts optional USB-C charging, decent battery life (up to 19.5 hours according to LG), an excellent selection of ports, an incredibly bright display with a 16:10 aspect ratio, and all the power necessary for productivity.

Pros

  • Incredibly thin and light
  • Loads of power for high productivity
  • Affordable price for what it offers

Cons

  • At maximum volume, the sound is distorted

It also has a fingerprint sensor for easy access, a Kensington lock for added security, and a sturdy metal alloy frame that is resistant to shocks, dust, and extreme temperatures.

#6 Best Value for Money: Apple MacBook Pro

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If you read this article, you must know Apple and its MacBooks. Love them or hate them, we have never seen a user take a middle ground. If you are a programmer who has always used Windows and want to try a Mac, it is the right machine for you. But it depends on what you are looking for:

  • Do you do web or app development? The MacBook Pro is the best laptop for developers.
  • Do you want to develop for the iPhone and iPad? You need a Mac.
  • Do you use Visual Studio and are you comfortable with it? Forget the Mac.
  • Do you develop industrial programs? Forget the Mac.
  • Do you want to use a Linux distro? Forget the Mac.

If you have never programmed before and you want to buy a laptop to start, then a MacBook is not for you. You better start with a Windows laptop to save money.

For the best laptop for programming, the MacBook Pro could not be missing, especially if you are an Apple developer. The MacBook Pro has a great processor and lots of RAMs that are ideal for programming.

Despite the compact chassis, the product features a stunning 3072 x 1920 pixel display in 16:10 format for productivity. The device also features amazing speakers and a very comfortable keyboard.

Pros

  • Excellent keyboard
  • Efficient performances      
  • Long-lasting battery life

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Heavyweight

If the Android models do not interest you, this PC will not disappoint you.

#7 Best for Limited Budget: ASUS Chromebook C523NA-DH02 Laptop

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Premium Chromebooks take up their own space in the laptop market, bridging the gap between powerful traditional laptops and student Chromebooks. Asus Chromebook Flip C523NA is one of the few products in this market niche.

It offers top performance, many features, boasts premium build quality, and an affordable price. It is a perfect handset for Android developers who want a state-of-the-art handset.

Pros

  • Lightweight and compact
  • Affordable
  • Powerful

Cons

  • Low processing speed

What more do you want from a mobile workstation? A 17-inch screen with a Full HD IPS display will allow you to work with a wider viewing spectrum than the canonical 15 or 13-inch notebooks.

Features to Consider When Choose Laptop For Programing

Portability

Before buying a laptop, try the laptop for yourself. For example, take it with your hands, check its weight and dimensions, turn it on/off, try some programs to test the portability of the laptop.

CPU

When you have to buy a notebook, think exactly what you will need and why you will use it. It will allow you to choose the model with the characteristics that best suit your needs. For example, the best notebooks for programming must also have the best processors (CPU) so that they can compile and execute code as efficiently as possible. Thankfully, most current notebooks come with extremely high-performance CPUs with many cores and impressive clock speeds. It makes the search a lot easier.

The CPU is the most important element in choosing a laptop. There are two major manufacturers of computer processors on the market:

  • Intel: It divides the processors for laptops into the series: Atom, Celeron, Pentium, Core M, and Core.
  • AMD: It divides the processors for laptops into APUs: E series, A series, FX series, Ryzen series, and Micro series.

Screen

When choosing a laptop, you should first consider the screen size. Remember that larger dimensions will also correspond to greater weights and consumption.

There is no limit to your preferences. In theory, the higher the screen resolution, the better from a qualitative point of view. However, remember that too high resolution on a screen with an inadequate diagonal. For example, 1,920 × 1,080 pixels on an 11-inch screen could create an annoying problem in displaying images and characters regularly., resulting in eyestrain.

Memory

Besides the performance CPU, you need to have a good amount of RAM. And if you have to run complex code, you probably need a large hard drive. We also recommend that you get a notebook with an SSD disk because you will develop much faster. As they say, time is money.

The RAM of the computer is a volatile memory with random access and allows any computer in operation to store information on running programs. The greater the amount of RAM installed in the laptop, the greater the number of programs that will be available.

Graphics

If you must edit photos and videos, or manage technical design applications such as CAD, CAE, and CAM or rendering or 3D graphics, then you could choose a notebook with a 15.6-inch diagonal. It represents the best compromise between weight and size with a panel technology possibly of the IPS type.

Storage type and capacity

The hard drive, also called secondary memory or mass memory, is the main bottleneck of all laptops and computers. Nowadays, there are also solid drives on the market, better known as SSDs. They are nothing more than the devices that offer much better performance than classic hard drives.

For this reason, try to buy a laptop equipped only with this new type of hard disk. It is a flash memory with a capacity of at least 250 GB.

Keyboard

As for the keyboard, our advice is to choose a laptop possibly equipped with a numeric keypad, especially if you need to use programs such as Excel.

FAQs

Is CPU Important For Programming?

The term CPU means Central Processing Unit. This component follows the instructions dictated by the programs and controls the operation of the computer. Besides, it determines the speed at which data travels between the various disks.

For example, if you have a lot of files on an internal hard drive that needs to be used by a program installed on Local Disk C, you will need a good CPU functioning so as not to overload your computer.

The CPU executes programs. Then, it governs and controls the hardware of the entire computer. It maintains the programs and data that the program requires for processing in memory. The CPU reads and addresses the main memory.

A good CPU allows the PC to work better. It allows you to use multiple programs at the same time without crashing and perfecting the speed of all performances. A higher frequency in Hertz (Hz) ensures higher processor speed. Similarly, a high number of cores that make up the CPU allows you to have multiple data processing centers.

How Much Ram Is Good For Programming?

The minimum amount of RAM recommended for a laptop should be at least 8GB (DDR4 type) with a working frequency in MHz as high as possible.

What Laptop Screen Size Is Best For Programming?

Typically, a 15.6-inch diagonal should already be fine in most cases. However, if you intend to use the notebook especially in programming, then it would be appropriate to prefer a screen with a diagonal of 14 inches.

What Is The Best Laptop For Gaming And Programming?

It is an ASUS Vivobook K571 laptop. The model launched on the market in 2019 has 10th generation Intel Core i7 or i9 processors and offers 4K Ultra HD screens with exceptional colors (100% RGB coverage).

What Is The Best Laptop For Programming Students?

ASUS Vivobook K571 features a 15.6-inch Full HD display with an 86% screen to body ratio and a 78% viewing angle. The manufacturer has designed this laptop to offer an extraordinary possibility of use through the inclination of the keyboard at 3.5 degrees that allow you to better facilitate the typing of the keys.

Final Words

Programming is an activity heavily influenced by the tools you use. With software, we are talking about Integrated Development Environments (IDEs). Operating system (Windows, macOS, or a Linux distro), Profiler, and other miscellaneous tools.

Dell XPS 15 9570 laptop is the best laptop for programming on this list. If you want the best laptop for coding in Python, the ASUS Vivobook K571 laptop is an excellent option.

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