The most common mistake that new programmers make is believing that they need a best-in-class high end laptop with tons of RAM, blistering graphics and mountains of SSD storage to suit their needs. That’s actually not the case. Whether you’re tidying up the back end code on an app using Javascript or mapping data points in Python, most coders can get by with fairly meager specs and low end components. The best laptop for programming doesn’t need to be the most powerful laptop around. It just needs to be properly specialized to best suit your needs.
That’s why we’ve put together this review list. We’ve identified 10 of the best contenders for the top programming laptop in 2022. We’ll also provide you with information on the specs you need to pay attention to and help you properly prioritize them.
- The 10 Best Laptops for Programming
- Acer Aspire E 15
- Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 14″ FHD Business Ultrabook Laptop
- ASUS Chromebook Flip
- Apple 13.3″ Silver MacBook Air
- HP Pavilion X360 15.6″ Convertible Touschscreen 2-in-1 Laptop
- Lenovo Chromebook Convertible Laptop
- Microsoft Surface Pro 6
- Dell Inspiron 13 5000 13.3″ FHD Touch
- Razer Blade Stealth 13 Ultrabook Laptop
- Google Pixelbook
- Laptop For Programming Buyer’s Guide
- CPU
- Memory
- Operating System
- Hard Drive
- Screen Size and Resolution
- Portability
- Keyboard
- Graphics Card
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Do I Need a Powerful Laptop for Programming?
- Is XPS 13 good for programming?
- Is Mac Better for Programming?
- Which Lenovo laptop is best for programming?
The 10 Best Laptops for Programming
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Acer Aspire E 15
A good programming laptop doesn’t have to cost you much, a fact that the Acer Aspire E 15 demonstrates well. The six gigabytes of dual RAM memory is a little lower than we generally recommend for this type of laptop, but it’s still capable enough to provide you with the memory you need for most programming projects, and the roughly $300 price tag makes this Acer a strong contender among the best laptops for those still learning the ins and outs of programming.
And while the central processor here is only an Intel i3, it’s an eighth-generation model, so it will give you significantly better performance than a previous gen. All told, the Acer Aspire E 15 is one of the best laptops for programming, but if you want a laptop that can double as a gaming rig or perform complicated data analysis, you may want to go bigger with more RAM, a larger SSD or better graphics. If this sounds like you, then read on for more of the best laptops for programming.
| Display | 15.6″ FHD Screen |
| Central Processor | 8th generation Intel Core i3-8130U |
| Memory (RAM) | 6 GB |
| Hard Drive | 1 TB HDD Storage |
| Dimensions | 15.02 x 10.2 x 1.19 inches |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Home |
Pros
- Sports a battery life of up to 13.5 hours
- MU-MIMO tech offers more stable Wi-Fi
- Includes both USB 3.0 and USB C ports
- Acer TrueHarmony delivers crisp audio
Cons
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 14″ FHD Business Ultrabook Laptop
The ThinkPad by Lenovo has become synonymous with producing the best laptops in the business world. They have a reputation for prioritizing productivity and efficiency rather than just chasing the latest technological trends, so when you decide to drop a grand on a ThinkPad, you can be confident that you’ll get a quality machine that outpaces its price in terms of performance. Glancing just at the specs may give you a bit of hesitation. Lenovo has opted to include an outdated sixth-generation processor so they could fit in an i5, and this laptop only comes with 8 GB of RAM.
But the features that can’t be quantified in raw numbers are where this laptop for programming really excels. The keyboard is one of the best we’ve found on a laptop in this price range, and the entire frame is very lightweight and thin. It may be boring, but it’s a laptop that gets the job done better than most, and so could be perfectly suited to programmers.
| Display | 14″ FHD Screen |
| Central Processor | 8th generation Intel Core i3-8130U |
| Memory (RAM) | 8 GB |
| Hard Drive | 1 TB SSD Storage |
| Dimensions | 12.7 x 8.5 x 0.6 inches |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Home |
Pros
- i5 Processor provides dual-core processing power
- Touch fingerprint reader provides easier access
- Comes with a 720p webcam
- RAM memory is easy to upgrade
Cons
ASUS Chromebook Flip
If you need a laptop for programming that just covers the core basics, the ASUS Chromebook will treat you right. Not only is it one of the cheapest laptops for coding on our list with a price tag of barely over $200, but it’s also incredibly lightweight and capable of bringing with you anywhere. Just keep in mind that this is a Chromebook through and through, so it comes with the limitations built-in. For example, the operating system is a proprietary build, and some compatibility with Softwares may not be as good as other options.
This Chromebook is all about filling in the fundamentals. The Celeron processor is capable if not exactly extraordinary, and the 16 GB of flash memory isn’t exactly going to impress, but it does get the job done. But this is an incredibly rugged machine. Its waterproof design is also resistant to drops. Combined with the price, that makes it one of the best choices if you need a backup laptop for light programming purposes.
| Display | 11.6″ FHD Screen |
| Central Processor | Intel Celeron N3060 |
| Memory (RAM) | 4 GB |
| Hard Drive | 16 GB flash memory storage |
| Dimensions | 11.6 x 0.9 x 7.9 inches |
| Operating System | Chrome OS |
Pros
- best laptops at an incredibly budget price
- Exceedingly resistant to shock and water
- Can boot up in a matter of seconds
- Adequate RAM and SSD Storage for non-demanding tasks.
Cons
Apple 13.3″ Silver MacBook Air
MacBooks aren’t particularly cheap, but they do offer some of the best specs around and the solid design sensibilities that Apple is known for. It you want a programming laptop and you love the Apple ecosystem, we recommend this lightweight and modestly sized version of the Apple MacBook Air. It sports decent hardware despite promising an ultra thin 0.68 inch thickness, and the CPU is a meaningful fifth generation Intel Core i5.
The GPU on this Apple, meanwhile, is a respectable Intel HD Graphics 6000 that can even support some light gaming. The 8 gigabytes of RAM and 128 gigabyte SSD are pretty standard for a laptop for programming, but they’re certainly welcomed, and Apple boasts a battery life of 12 hours on a single battery charge to keep you programming while on the move. This 13 inch Apple coding laptop with retina display may not be built for development, but it checks off some of the most important boxes for one of the best laptops for programming
| Display | 13,3″ 1440 x 900 Screen |
| Central Processor | 5th generation Intel Core i5 |
| Memory (RAM) | 8 GB |
| Hard Drive | 128 GB SSD Storage |
| Dimensions | 12.8 x 8.9 x 0.07 inches |
| Operating System | macOS |
Pros
- An inexpensive choice for an Apple MacBook
- Battery life can run up to a half a day
- Good graphics and screen for demanding programmers
- Supported by a one year Apple warranty
Cons
HP Pavilion X360 15.6″ Convertible Touschscreen 2-in-1 Laptop
The Pavilion X360 from HP is one of the most interesting programming laptops we’ve seen in a long time as well as being one of the best. That’s thanks to the convertible touchscreen design, a choice made more interesting by the inclusion of a sizable 15.6 inch screen. The flexibility here is really good, and if you’ve made an investment in a solid external programming keyboard, the ability to position the screen however you want is incredibly convenient in a way a traditional laptop isn’t. This can allow you to create a programming workspace that works for your particular flow, allowing you to potentially increase productivity.
Beyond the innovative design, the specs are about what you’d want for a $500 laptop for the most part. It’s among the best laptops that we’ve reviewed, but it doesn’t top the range. This laptop may use an i3, but it’s from the eighth generation, and it opts for a large traditional hard drive rather than an SSD. But the biggest appeal comes from the 20 GB of RAM when you account for the Intel Octane memory.
| Display | 15.6″ FHD Screen |
| Central Processor | 8th generation Intel Core i3-8130U |
| Memory (RAM) | 20 GB (4GB DDR4 RAM, 16GB Intel Octane) |
| Hard Drive | 1 TB HDD Storage |
| Dimensions | 9.57 x 14.09 x 0.75 inches |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Home |
Pros
- One of the larger convertible laptops around
- Supplemented with 16 GB Intel Octane memory
- Good full island keyboard is also backlit
- Supports both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections
Cons
Lenovo Chromebook Convertible Laptop
The Chrome operating system and the convertible laptop are a combination as perfect as peanut butter and jelly, and Lenovo hits the sweet spot with the development of their C330. The 11.6 inch screen is a whole lot more manageable and easy to carry with you than the HP Pavilion laptop above, and that makes it one of the best choices for programming professionals who regularly travel. But if you prefer a more spacious keyboard, you’ll definitely want to be sure to invest in a separate wireless model.
And for a budget priced Chromebook, the features and specs here certainly outperform the typical laptop for programming. While you probably won’t want to use it for more labor intensive tasks, as a backup machine, a travel laptop, or a way to get in some less intensive front end programming, it can be the best laptop option to complement to an existing laptop for programming.
| Display | 15.6″ FHD Screen |
| Central Processor | MediaTek MT8173C |
| Memory (RAM) | 4 GB |
| Hard Drive | 64 GB eMMC Storage |
| Dimensions | 11.5 x 0.77 x 8.48 inches |
| Operating System | Chrome OS |
Pros
- Lots of memory for a Chromebook
- Exceptional battery life due to no moving parts
- Good USB port availability for better connectivity
- Incredibly lightweight, slim, and portable
Cons
Microsoft Surface Pro 6
The convertible Microsoft Surface is singlehandedly the coolest new laptop design to come to the laptop market in the past few years, but the Microsoft Surface Pro featured here is more than just a nifty looking convertible. It offers pretty decent specs as well. The Intel Core i5 processor is the eighth generation, offering significantly more processing power than most of the other laptops you’ll find on this list, and that’s not even accounting for the peppy SSD storage or the decent and expandable 8 GB of RAM.
But there’s no doubt that the convertible touch screen nature is the big selling point here. The Surface Pro 6 weighs in at less than three pounds while still sporting a decent 12.3 inch display, and it can run all day. The battery life is rated at up to 13.5 hours of video playback in a single charge which should be enough for even the busiest of programmers.
| Display | 12.3″ 2736 x 1824 Screen |
| Central Processor | 8th generation Intel Core i5 |
| Memory (RAM) | 8 GB |
| Hard Drive | 128 GB SSD Storage |
| Dimensions | 2.68 x 12.8 x 9.21 inches |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Home |
Pros
- Quick SSD Storage & 8GB RAM
- Lightweight and highly compact laptop
- Bright and clear high resolution screen
- Battery life can last a full day
Cons
Dell Inspiron 13 5000 13.3″ FHD Touch
The Dell Inspiron 13 might not look quite as cool as the Microsoft Surface range of laptops, but it covers most of the same bases and offers comparable specs for less money. All told, it’s one of the best laptops we’ve found in terms of value for a programming laptop. A 250GB SSD hard drive, eighth-gen Intel i5 processor, and 8 GB of RAM are some very strong specs at this price, and they would be even if this convertible laptop didn’t come with touchscreen navigation.
And unlike the Surface, the Inspiron 13 sports a full 13 inch display. It’s not the biggest laptop on our list, but it offers a respectable amount of graphics real estate for sure. The situation with ports here is also very generous. In addition to offering connections for USB 3.1 and 3.0, this laptop also comes with a dedicated SD card reader slot and an HDMI output for connecting to a larger external monitor for larger graphics.
| Display | 13.3″ FHD Screen |
| Central Processor | 8th generation Intel Core i5 |
| Memory (RAM) | 8 GB |
| Hard Drive | 256 GB SSD Storage |
| Dimensions | 8.85 x 12.76 x 0.79 inches |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Home |
Pros
- Good graphics, SSD and RAM for a reasonable price
- Can fold into multiple forms
- Good assortment of ports
- Responsive keyboard suited to programmers
Cons
Razer Blade Stealth 13 Ultrabook Laptop
The name alone should inform you that the Razer Blade Stealth is a laptop designed for gaming, but the same performance specs that make this a great machine for playing Call of Duty also makes it one of the best laptops for programming. This is arguably the best model we’ve found for high end programming like game development thanks to the inclusion of the latest generation Intel Core i7 processor and the impressive 16GB of RAM that comes right out of the box. And despite the spacious screen, generous battery life and strong internals on this laptop, it still comes in surprisingly slim and lightweight. The thin bezel helps you really feel the size of the screen here, and you get great graphics quality thanks to the inclusion of an elite GeForce MX150 graphics card. And despite all that, the Razer Blade Stealth boasts a battery life of up to 13 hours – some of the best in the category.
| Display | 13.3″ FHD Screen |
| Central Processor | 8th generation Intel Core i7 |
| Memory (RAM) | 16 GB |
| Hard Drive | 256 GB SSD Storage |
| Dimensions | 8.27 x 11.9 x 0.58 inches |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Home |
Pros
- Some of the best internals around
- Tons of different connectivity options
- Keyboard offers 16.8 million backlighting options
- Good battery life – 13 hours on a single battery charge
Cons
Google Pixelbook
The Google Pixelbook is trying to prove that the Chromebook design can be used to achieve powerful results, and it mostly manages to succeed on that front. A seventh-gen i5 processor, 128GB SSD for storage and 8 GB of RAM serve as the core for a pretty strong package at a pretty great price. Chrome OS may not be the most practical choice for programming, but Google is making a great argument that it can actually be a viable alternative to more traditional operating systems.
And this laptop sports a design that manages to both be compact and durable. The aluminum body is incredibly sturdy, while the display itself is protected by hardy Corning Gorilla Glass. There’s also customizable backlighting on the keyboard. And although it comes with significant safety features, the Pixelbook will never be a pain to lug around. It weighs in at less than two and a half pounds.
| Display | 12.3″ 2400 x 1600 Screen |
| Central Processor | 7th generation Intel Core i5 |
| Memory (RAM) | 8 GB |
| Hard Drive | 128 GB SSD Storage |
| Dimensions | 11.43 x 8.69 x 0.44 inches |
| Operating System | Chrome OS |
Pros
- Aluminum frame and Gorilla Glass screen
- Google Assistant built right in
- Very thin and lightweight design
- Can boot up in less than 10 seconds
Cons
Laptop For Programming Buyer’s Guide
We’ve worked on a lot of review and buying guides for laptops here at ISITRATED.com, but the best laptops for programming fill something of a unique niche. They don’t require the beefy specs that we emphasized in our guide to the best gaming laptops of 2022, but the core shopping principles from there apply. The fundamentals are pretty similar to what you’d find in our best laptops for writers in 2022, but there are some unique wrinkles that you have to keep in mind when programming in 2022.
Further complicating a search for the best laptop for programming in 2022 is the fact that every coder’s needs is going to be different. The languages you use, the nature of your projects, and your experience level are all going to have a different effect on what qualify as the best laptops for programming for specific users. With that in mind, there are some universal features and specs to take into consideration when coding, and we can help you understand them so you can find a laptop for programming that suits your needs today and is prepared to grow with you in the future.
If you find yourself confused by the specs in our review list or you just want to know more about what the best laptops for programming in 2022 look like, keep reading for the advice you need. After we cover the key specs and features, we’ll address answers to some of the most commonly asked questions we hear from users.
CPU
The central processor does all the computations for your computer. And while good processing power is arguably the most important consideration for most laptops, it’s especially important when seeking out the best laptop for programming. For most coding related purposes, we consider the Intel Core i5 the middle of the road. This quad-core processor is going to be powerful enough to provide decent performance for most programming tasks.
If you’re mostly doing web design or looking for an entry level laptop for programming, an i3 will probably be fine, and we recommend an Intel Core i7 processor (preferably an eighth gen Intel Core i7), if you’re using your programming skills for serious game development. The CPU you pick will have a major effect on your speed and performance, and it’s not usually viable to replace, so it’s the spec you should pay the most attention to when seeking out a laptop for coding, regardless of the languages you write in.
The generation of a central processor also matters. The eighth generation of Intel chips constitute a pretty seismic iteration over the generations that came before, so investing in an eighth generation quad core, possibly I7, processor from Intel can provide you with lightning-fast performance in all of your programming, designing and coding applications.
Memory
Our main goal when seeking out the best laptop for programming is to maximize the speed and performance of both your laptop itself and the applications you’re most likely to use. That’s why the memory or RAM of a laptop is so critical for programming. When applications need to store data that needs to be easily accessed or record rules that will frequently be referenced, they use the memory. And good RAM performance can have a massive effect on the speed of your machine.
We recommend that the sweet spot for memory coverage for programming or development is about 8GB of RAM. 4GB of RAM is a decent amount of coverage for light coding and for those still learning the fundamentals of programming, but you’ll want to scale that up sooner rather than later. 16GB of RAM is going to be the best if you find yourself juggling multiple programs at once or work in resource heavy software like a game development engine. Fortunately, RAM is usually pretty easy to replace or upgrade, and many laptops comes with easy access compartments that allow for plug and play RAM upgrades.
Operating System
The operating system a laptop runs on is actually going to be the most important factor you need to consider when looking for a machine for programming. After all, the operating system is going to be where you spend most of your development time. An interface that feels comfortable to you is going to be incredibly important, but so is the software and features that are built into any given OS. They can vary significantly, so it’s important to take a hard look at the advantages and disadvantages of each.
That said, it’s just important that you take the time to get to know the software that each platform supports so you can find an option that suits your sensibilities. As a programmer, chances are that you’re going to spend significantly more time designing your code and performing bug fixes than you will actually writing code, so having interfaces you’re comfortable with is crucial when shopping for the best laptop for programming.
And as a final consideration, if you plan on your development targeting a specific operating system rather than being cross platform, you’re best off developing using a laptop that uses that operating system. If your development is instead intended to be ported to multiple different formats, you’re best off picking the OS you’re most comfortable with.
Linux
Linux is our favorite operating system for coding, but we can recognize that getting comfortably with Linux can involve a pretty steep learning curve, particularly for users who are still getting used to their laptop. But Linux is arguably the most highly flexible operating system you’ll find. Linux comes with countless distributions, each with their own unique quirks and characteristics, and the open source nature gives you the leverage to tweak the interface to suit your needs.
Linux is also the most lightweight operating system around, so it’s great if you’re looking for a portable solution. You can simply download a Linux installation to a flash hard drive and slot it in as necessary, a great choice if you want to run Linux for programming but keep your day to day software and profiles accessible through a Windows or MacOS distribution directly on your laptop.
Windows
Windows 10 Home is the version of Windows that’s going to appear in practically any modern laptop for programming, and it’s a pretty great choice for programming and development. For starters, the wide adoption and open development systems of Windows means that any software you develop for them is going to have a broader audience than if you developed in Linux or Windows. So for programming and coding across platforms, it’s often smart to use a Windows laptop and port it to the other operating systems as necessary.
MacOS
That said, iOS is one of the hottest platforms for app and game development, so it makes sense to have a MacBook if that’s the market you’re going after. But the notably closed source standards of Apple means that they aren’t always the best choice for development. Metaprogramming is prohibited on the Apple operating system.
That said, a lot of programmers cite MacOS as their favorite. For one, Macs offer exceptional security against viruses and other malicious threats. But the growing love that developers have for MacOS largely comes down to two issues: the quality of Apple hardware and the presence of the UNIX command line makes them arguably the best choice if you’re working across multiple languages. UNIX can work with practically any language you can imagine and you can expect testing to work as it will in the wild. It’s an advantage that can really only otherwise be duplicated with a dual boot Windows and Linux machine.
ChromeOS
There’s still a lot of skepticism at how well ChromeOS works as a coding platform, but there’s no skepticism that these are lightning fast, highly secure, and incredibly portable and inexpensive machines that are great for light coding. But ChromeOS is also one of the most limiting platforms around thanks to the fact that it’s running essentially off of an adapted Chrome browser.
That said, the ChromeOS has become increasingly more feasible for coding in the past few years. That’s thanks to a combination of browser-capable online tools that replicate many of the features of an IDE as well as the recently added ability to run Linux directly through the user interface of your Chromebook.
Hard Drive
When shopping for the best laptop, one of the big decisions to make is what hard drive you need. A traditional hard drive is inexpensive and can offer you a lot of storage for your dollar. A solid state drive (SSD) costs more and has less capacity, but the single piece design and smooth performance means you get great loading and processing speed as well as the best durability. Even if you drop your laptop, chances are that you won’t damage an SSD.
For most programmers, the decision for a hard drive will almost always be an SSD. It may cost you a little more, but the ability to process information at fast speed is crucial for programming, and storage capacity is going to be much less important, particularly with the variety of cloud storage solutions available. If you’re also looking to use yor programming laptop for gaming, you may want to look at a traditional hard drive, but an SSD is otherwise going to probably be your best option.
Screen Size and Resolution
The average laptop screen is about 15.6 inches, and that’s usually a good choice for programming or any other productivity-driven task. And while you need an easy to read screen, resolution isn’t going to be that big of a deal. While we recommend a 1920 x 1080 FHD panel for programmers, you don’t need to make the upgrade to 4K. And if your screen is smaller than about 15 inches, you can go with a lower resolution than 1920 x 1080. It’s also important to bear in mind that if you will be using your laptop for programming from home, then you can utilise the HDMI output to connect to an external screen, giving you more graphics real-estate and increasing your productivity.
More important than the resolution is the sort of features that make a display easy to work with. A retina display offers some of the best and crispest performance for your display, but you’ll only find a retina display in Apple model laptops. No matter what screen you decide to focus on, you should make sure that it uses anti glare screen coating. An anti-glare screen is especially useful if you find yourself regularly traveling or working outdoors. If you are spending a lot of time in direct sunlight, then glares and reflections in the screen can pose massive distractions, ultimately making you less productive.
Portability
What’s the point of getting a laptop instead of a tower if you can’t take it with you everywhere? That’s where the dimensions come in. While convertibles that can shrink down to the size of a tablet are obviously the most portable options around, they aren’t the only choice to pick from. You can find even larger display laptops that weigh in at less than a couple pounds, and manufacturers have got good at shrinking down the profile of their laptops. How much you travel with your laptop will obviously have a role to play in what the best laptop for programming is going to be for you.
But a smaller frame can be an inconvenience as well. Smaller dimensions usually mean a smaller display and a smaller keyboard. Considering that a legible screen and a responsive keyboard are some important factors, that should definitely have an impact on what size you should be looking for.
Another factor to take in to consider with portability is the battery life. If you are planning to make a living while working on the road, you need a laptop that will be able to last between intervals. Fortunately a lot of laptops these days are gaining longer battery lives with the inclusion of solid-state drives, or SSD, more efficient components in the RAM and also larger capacity battery. Aside from this, it’s important to factor in the charge time and the run time to ensure you’re not going to be left without battery power at a time that matters the most.
Keyboard
Coding is a precise craft, one where a single missed keystroke can render an otherwise meaningful block of code illegible and lead to a lot of wasted time. That’s why it’s important to find a laptop with the best keyboard for your needs. That said, it’s not the biggest priority to take into consideration.
Why? Because you can always invest in an external keyboard. While a detached keyboard will take up more space in your travel bag (and maybe add one or two pounds), they generally allow you to get better performance than you would out of a shoddily built keyboard attached to your laptop. If you’re looking for a great model, be sure to check out our guide to the best keyboards for programming in 2022.
Graphics Card
A good graphics card is one of the most important things to look for when looking for a gaming laptop, but it’s practically inessential when seeking out the best laptop for programming. You’re going to spend most of your time in a text editor or IDE, and so the speed and quality with which your graphics card can process images isn’t going to matter in the slightest. If you’re going to deprecate any spec, the graphics card should be the first to go. You don’t need something like the graphics NVIDIA GeForce. Instead, you should be fine with an integrated graphics card like the Intel UHD Graphics 620.
If you’re looking for an entry level or mid-range laptop for coding, that shouldn’t be a concern. Most laptops with an Intel Core i5, i7, or i3 processor (at least those in Intel’s eighth generation) use the Intel UHD Graphics 620. If you’re using coding for the development of a modern and graphics-heavy game in Unity, you may want to look for something more sophisticated, but an integrated graphics card will be a more than reasonable choice for most programmers and coders.
It’s important to assess how much of your workload is centred around graphics. Do you find yourself editing graphics to display properly on screen when programming a website? In this case you should probably investigate a programming laptop that has a dedicated graphics card to keep up with your graphics-heavy workflow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I Need a Powerful Laptop for Programming?
No. If you’re serious about programming and coding, you’ll definitely want something that goes beyond the specs of an entry level laptop. Processing power is important, as is RAM. But the vast majority of programmers can get by with a fairly middle of the road laptop. Our review list for the best laptops for programming includes a wide variety of prices ranging from budget friendly models to more expensive laptops. If you read our guide carefully and identify the features and specs that are most important to programming, (and pay less attention to the features that don’t matter, such as graphics), you can get one of the best laptops for programming for a very reasonable price.
Is XPS 13 good for programming?
Well Dell’s XPS 13 didn’t quite make the cut for our review list, it came very close. From the eighth gen Intel Core i5 processor to the respectable amount of SSD storage to the 8GB of RAM built in, it checks off all the boxes as one of the best laptops for programming. While we opted instead to include the Inspiron from Dell as one of the best laptops for programming, due to its more innovative design, the 13 inch Dell XPS could serve as a suitable substitute for other laptops on our list and one of your best options if you want a reliable workhorse laptop.
Is Mac Better for Programming?
While there are a lot of great reasons to own an Apple Mac, we generally would caution against using a Mac for coding. Apple Macs can offer some of the best specs, especially in their pro models and the screens and graphics are extraordinary, but the proprietary nature of Macs mean that the OS is a lot more limited for programming than other operating systems. We’ve included a great MacBook Air on our list for those that just prefer the Mac operating system, but despite the good battery life and speedy processor (although not quite an I7 processor), it’s not our first choice when picking out a coding laptop. You can check the guide above for more information on the advantages and disadvantages of each operating system.
Which Lenovo laptop is best for programming?
We like the Lenovo ThinkPad laptop. Unlike the Lenovo brand Chromebook that shows up in our list, it’s one of the best no-frills and by the books computers, but it’s also one of the best deals around. The specs offered, especially the storage and RAM are great for their price and offer a level of consistency in performance that most laptops have a hard time replicating. Lenovo is typically synonymous with laptops for business, and as such they have a lot of features from stock that can be useful, including great battery life and generous storage. If you’re looking for one of the best laptops for programming on a budget, then a laptop from Lenovo could definitely fit the bill.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for the best programming laptop in 2022, you can consider this guide your crash course. Whether you’re an experienced laptop shopper or someone who can’t distinguish an i7 Processor from a retina display, there should be something for you here. And we’re confident in the quality of every model we’ve highlighted on this list to be the best laptop option for you.
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