Are you a developer? Our respect!
Developers are serious and focused people. You do what the rest of the world use. You need a stable and reliable tool for work.
Like a bus driver can’t wait until the brakes work on the road, you can’t allow yourself to distract on annoying freezes and system crashes!
It’s reasonable that to produce a better product you need a better workplace.
You can write code on almost any laptop. However, your productivity will surely increase when you inhibit the habit of using one of the best laptops for developers.
There are different types of development, and each of them has its own tool. There is no single solution that suits everyone at the same time.
Choosing the profession of a programmer, you may worry if the laptop will require too much investment.
Let’s discuss the best laptops for developers on the market. This article will introduce you to laptops, which are the best for software and game development for the price starting from $795 up to $3,000. You will surely find the most suitable laptop for programming among these options!
Contents
- Key To Decision Making For Buying The Best Laptop For Development
- Best Laptops for Developers & Programmers In 2022
- 1. Dell XPS 15 Laptop – Editor’s Pick
- Specifications
- 2. Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 – A Programmer’s Choice
- Specifications
- 3. 2019 Apple MacBook Pro – Perfect Pick for Coders & Coding Tasks
- Specifications
- 4. LG Gram Laptop – PowerPack Performer
- Specifications
- 5. Razer Blade Pro 17 Gaming Laptop – Best Laptop For Coding & Game Development
- Specifications
- 6. ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo UX581 – Highest Rated Laptop for Programmers
- Specifications
- 7. LG Gram 16Z90P Laptop – Updated Pick For Developers
- 8. Huawei MateBook X Pro Signature Edition – Best Budget Laptop For Developers
- Specifications
- 9. 2020 HP 15 15.6″ HD Touchscreen Premium Laptop – Well Balanced Pick For Budget
- Specifications
- 10. Lenovo ThinkPad E15 Gen 2
- 11. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme 2nd Gen – Top Pick For Coders Around The Globe
- Specifications
- 12. HP Elite Dragonfly Multi-Touch 2-in-1 Laptop – Ideal for Web & Software Development
- Specifications
- You’re Not Alone! – Frequently Asked Questions on Laptops For Coding
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
- Conclusion
Key To Decision Making For Buying The Best Laptop For Development
Sometimes details can ruin even the best impression of the product. A clutch not fitting a dress, no spare wheel in the car, or an uncomfortable chair may become a reason that you don’t enjoy your expensive investment.
Let’s remember about such things and make an advanced choice!
- Wi-Fi module
If you are tired of the slowness of the laptop in a wireless network, you can replace the Wi-Fi module.
I recommend replacing this component also for security reasons since a chip released a long time ago can only support outdated security algorithms instead of the current encryption algorithm.
Best customizable laptops will allow you such ab ability!
- Battery
Over time, laptop batteries inevitably lose their capacity, reducing the battery life.
Replacing the battery in a laptop is not difficult. It’s enough to write the model of your laptop and the word “battery” in Google, and you will find both the original battery and an advanced high-capacity battery in stores.
Appearance matters
- Screen size and quality
I would start choosing a laptop from the screen, and not from the processor, as most users do. If you have a fast processor with a small and poor-quality screen, you will get much less pleasure from working and playing on such a laptop than on a laptop with a high-quality screen of sufficient size.
In other words, I think it is better to take a laptop with a high-quality and sufficiently sized screen, but a little weaker CPU than a laptop a little more powerful, but with a poor-quality or too small screen. You’ll not always feel the difference in performance, but you will always feel the quality and size of the screen.
You may be surprised, but many people choose a laptop not by its technical characteristics, but by its appearance. Glossy or vice versa matte cover, embossed logo, keyboard backlight, beautiful case included bright color or patterns – all this can be a decisive factor in choosing a device.
I pay little attention to other things: the webcam, the number of USB ports, etc. But the appearance of the product has always been an important indicator for me.
Do not be afraid to look unique and feel free to buy something that will bring you joy and satisfaction just by its appearance.
Steps of selection
Nobody can answer whether an egg or a chicken appeared first. Same for the selection of the best laptop for developers.
Here, I’d like to show you which stages I pass through when choosing the best laptop for coding.
- Step 1 – Choose CPU
Since you need a laptop for development, it is advisable to start your choice by studying processors. Modern software development tools are very demanding on processor resources (Yeah, that’s how these processors work in a nutshell). It is important that your projects are loaded and compiled quickly. Therefore, do not skimp on the processor. The ideal option would be if the processor can be overclocked or upgraded.
- Step 2 – Choose screen
You will have to spend long hours behind the screen. Make sure that your eyes are not tired. This will help you keep your eyes healthy – your main tool in development, not counting your brains.
- Step 3 – Choose a hard drive
Unlike HDD technology, SSD drives start your computer in just a few seconds. Even these seconds are spent mostly on checking network services and establishing an Internet connection.
Almost all modern laptops already have SSDs installed. Some laptops allow you to install a larger SDD disk. If you ever want to increase the amount of disk space, please carefully read the specification of your laptop.
SSD sizes differ even from the same laptop’s manufacturer.
All other things are no longer so important when choosing a laptop for a developer. Memory, keyboard, ports are not critically determining the effectiveness of your work as a developer.
Expiry date prolongation
- I look and see!
There is a famous meme about how mother came to visit, wiped the TV screen, and it suddenly turned out to be colored!
Of course, a layer of dust is unlikely to bring the image on our laptop screen to a monochrome state. However, the laptop screen also requires our attention and care. Alcohol-free wipes can help you to cope with this task easily and safely.
- I eat and clean!
Developers always have a laptop nearby. They eat, sleep and have fun with it.
You may be surprised, but according to statistics, the dirtiest place in a laptop is the keyboard. Crumbs, chips, stubs, pencil shavings are clogged
between the keys. It is not surprising that the keyboards are the first to fail.
Try to keep the working surfaces of your laptop clean. A burned-out keyboard can cause the project deadlines to be disrupted.
- I touch and feel!
Undoubtedly, the level of security of working on a laptop is very high.
You will not get an electric shock and will not get hurt by sharp edges.
Yet you spend long hours at your laptop. Therefore, you should not neglect the simple rules of electrical safety.
The most vulnerable place for a developer in his laptop is the power cord. It is always twisted, frayed, and exposed. It can interfere with other radio-electronic devices in the immediate vicinity.
Pay attention to the wires that surround you when working on a laptop, ensure your safety.
Best Laptops for Developers & Programmers In 2022
1. Dell XPS 15 Laptop – Editor’s Pick
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A thin case enclosed an excellent design with a serious filling. The monitor, with its 15.6 inches, provides a 4K image with a color coverage of 100% sRGB and a screen brightness of 500-nits. It is perfect for developers of web applications and computer graphics elements working with visual objects in high resolution.
Screen
The laptop is equipped with a 15.6-inch screen with an amazing 4K UHD resolution (3840 x 2160) and thin frames.
You will be able to edit photos and make videos with the pleasure of the juiciness and brightness of the picture.
Battery
Sometimes you need to handle pictures and videos as soon as possible, right after shooting. It’s a rather “heavy” task in terms of battery resources.
This laptop has a built-in 97Whr battery, which is equipped with 6 cells.
This will allow you to work with photos and videos right on the spot and create applications with stunning graphics.
Keyboard
You will get undoubted pleasure from the backlit keyboard.
In addition, far not all laptops on the market are equipped with a fingerprint scanner. This laptop has such an ability.
It will provide you the total safety and confidence in the projects you are working on.
- The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 4GB video card will reveal its perfect abilities in video rendering, and working with graphics
- High-speed Intel i7 9th Generation processor has 6 cores, which will allow you to quickly process graphics
- A high-speed 1TB SSD hard drive will boot the system in 2 seconds
- The extreme capacity of the 97Whr battery will allow you not to look for an outlet during the day and process photos right on the spot
- Bright, with extreme resolution, the screen will delight you with its rich colors
Specifications
- Brand: Dell
- Operating System: Windows 10
- Processor Type: Intel i7-9750H
- Screen Size: 15.6 Inches
- RAM: 16 GB
Pros
- Display with 4K resolution, 100% sRGB color coverage, and 500-nits brightness
- A discrete Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 4GB GDDR5 video card that allows not so much to play as to work with video and graphics
- 16 GB of RAM with the possibility of increasing it
- Backlit keyboard
- Large 1 Tb SSD hard drive
- A fast processor that instantly responds to the tasks set
Cons
- Probably you’ll need to upgrade a video card soon for game development
2. Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 – A Programmer’s Choice
Microsoft’s Laptop 3, built according to the classic Wintel scheme, has an extremely fast Intel i7 processor, a 1 TB SSD hard disk, and 16 GB RAM. The main task is to develop graphical projects, as it has an amazing keyboard and touch screen.
Design
If you are used to working at the productive system and value the stylish products, you’ll need to try this laptop. It has an incredibly light design combined with high efficient hardware.
Developers of computer games can appreciate it in scalable projects with many visual settings of the games.
Autonomy and fast charging
This laptop is very compact indeed.
Due to its compactness, the operating time is up to 11.5 hours, which is not short for such consuming tasks which developers solve at their work.
You will also enjoy the ability to quickly charge the battery up to 80% in 1 hour.
Screen
Not every laptop allows you to work with it, as with a tablet or smartphone, that is, by clicking on the screen. This opportunity will be available to you I this laptop.
Moreover, there is the opportunity to work with a stylus. It increases the scope of application and emphasizes your status and desire for high style.
You can scroll through the code and switch between programs directly on the screen of your laptop.
- Lightweight laptop of just 1.27 kg
- High-performance Intel i7 processor
- Built-in SSD ensures fast boot and operation of the system
- The built-in video card will allow you to watch movies and work on a presentation without restrictions
- The touchscreen screen supports working with a stylus
Specifications
- Brand: Microsoft
- Operating System: Windows 10 Home
- Processor Type: Intel i7
- Screen Size: 13.5 inches
- RAM: 16 GB
Pros
- Stylish screen
- Extreme performance
- The amount of RAM can be increased to 32 GB
- The system has a maximum hard disk installed, which allows you to store large projects
- The ability to display the image on an external screen
Cons
- The lack of a discrete video card does not allow us to recommend a laptop for connoisseurs of games at maximum settings. However, you buy it for work, not for games, right?
- Due to the small size, the keyboard doesn’t have an additional NumPad block, which can reduce the speed of program development in some cases.
3. 2019 Apple MacBook Pro – Perfect Pick for Coders & Coding Tasks
For those who work on programming for iOS and Linux, it is simply impossible to do without the offspring of this brand. Reliable and high quality, their capacity will be enough for the next few years. However, the price is that not everyone can afford this laptop.
We consider this laptop as one of the best laptops for programming and gaming.
Apple products need no introduction. So, it concerns this configuration either. This is both a top-end processor and a huge amount of memory on the hard disk. It’s perfect for developers and video rendering.
CPU
This laptop’s CPU is undoubtedly one of the fastest. It belongs to the 9th generation, which means the new technology of manufacturing and orientation on high-performance tasks.
Your projects will work at the first call and never hang.
You will feel comfortable in any loaded tasks.
Screen
The display has high contrast and brightness. On a bright day, sitting at an angle, opposite the window, you will not even feel discomfort.
It’s considered to be great for developers of web applications, web design, and computer games development.
If you are in these spheres, this laptop would become a perfect choice.
Touch ID
The company made a unique offer on this laptop.
We can use touch buttons at the top of the keyboard like in modern keyboards for PCs.
It will allow you to change their functions for the tasks required only by you. It turns out that you will be able to customize the keyboard to your needs and get access to frequently required commands.
- 6 speakers that will unlock incredible sound around you
- Extremely capacious 96 Whr battery save laptop power for up to 11 hours
- It’s light enough 2 kg for 16 inches
- High-performance graphics will be engaged in video rendering and photo display at the highest level
- The ability to connect 4 monitors, which opens up incredible opportunities for creating excellent programs, graphic drawings, high-resolution video editing
Specifications
- Brand: Apple
- Operating System: Mac OS
- Processor Type: Intel i9
- Screen Size: 16 Inches
- RAM: 16 Gb
Pros
- It was just the extreme processor for 2019. Still, it’s in the top list of the most efficient CPUs in laptops for developers
- Stunning juicy picture of a high-resolution monitor
- The presence of a discrete video card will allow you to effectively use 4 monitors in your work
- Built-in protection system based on a fingerprint scanner will protect your laptop in difficult situations
- An efficient cooling system will not allow you to get hot at the most important moment of work
Cons
- For resource consuming apps, I’d advise increasing the hard disk to 8 TB or use external storage
4. LG Gram Laptop – PowerPack Performer
The laptop with a screen size of 17 inches weighs only 1.35 kg, which allows you to hold it with one hand. At the same time, it has a balanced power, a capacious hard drive, and a full-size keyboard, which allows us to recommend it for software developers.
Dimensions and weight
On this laptop, you can simultaneously discover an incredible combination of large size and low weight.
We know that as a developer, you are used to opening many windows at once – with code, debugging, browser, executable file, and so on.
Therefore, without losing the size of your favorite screen and the location of windows on the screen, you can travel to various locations and meetings. At the same time, do not carry a heavy huge backpack everywhere.
Hard drive
The laptop has a low weight. As mentioned above, this did not affect the screen size. Nevertheless, the developer still needs a capacious hard drive.
And this laptop boasts an extremely large amount of available space on two SSD disks.
You will not need to carry external hard drives with you.
Working hours
The processor of this laptop works at adaptive frequencies.
If you load a resource-intensive application developing a project, the processor will perform calculations without delay, using all its power.
If you don’t compile the project at the moment but only code it, for now, the processor will reduce its frequency automatically.
This feature of the laptop provides a high working time – up to 17 hours.
- The huge display is great for developing programs
- A large amount of RAM and hard disk ensure the operation and storage of a large number of projects, including complex projects
- The presence of energy conservation systems will allow the laptop to stay without power for up to 17 hours
- A high-performance Intel processor of the 7th generation provides both energy-saving and mobility, as well as excellent work on creating programs
- Excellent full-size keyboard with quiet and soft keys
Specifications
- Brand: LG
- Operating System: Windows 10 Home
- Processor Type: Intel i7
- Screen Size: 17 Inches
- RAM: 16 GB
Pros
- A full-size keyboard and a large monitor screen allows you to focus on creating programs
- The presence of a fingerprint scanner quickly unlocks the laptop
- Thoughtful energy saving will allow you to save battery power
- The 10th generation processor has high performance and low power consumption
- Extremely low weight for this size
Cons
- It charges slowly, so we recommend charging it in the off state
- There are two hard drives in this configuration, which will require thinking about the division of data into logical disks
5. Razer Blade Pro 17 Gaming Laptop – Best Laptop For Coding & Game Development
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When developing games, it is necessary not only to create them but also to test them. The Razer Blade Pro 17 Gaming Laptop 2019 is perfect for this. It will also be useful for video rendering since it has a discrete video card and high processor power.
This rather young brand has already managed to gain its popularity in the niche of laptops. The prices are quite budget-friendly, and the performance sometimes amazes even the pickiest users.
Screen
The screen has an extreme refresh rate of 240 Hz along with the top video card for 2019. This balance makes it possible to conduct any checks on the performance of games. The screen also has a color coverage of 100% sRGB, which allows it to be recommended for working with graphics and when developing graphics-heavy Web applications.
CPU
The processor has a high clock frequency and can change it depending on the system load and the needs of the developer.
Part of the calculations for processing the dynamic image is performed on the central processor, along with the video card. Therefore, you can’t lower the frame refresh rate set by the monitor.
This is reflected in the extreme smoothness of the game that you are developing.
Cooling system
In this laptop, the manufacturer has seriously improved the cooling system relative to previous models. The laptop remains cold under significant loads. This allows you to load it with the most demanding tasks and not worry about overheating.
You can open, code, and run multiple projects at the same time. The laptop will not let you down and will not freeze at the most inopportune moment from overheating.
- An excellent combination of top-end laptop components
- The ability to choose developments from testing high-performance games to developing heavy web applications
- A large display with extreme characteristics will allow you to choose a variety of work from video editing, working with graphics, to testing games or heavy web applications he color backlighting of the keyboard will color the workspace
- A large number of ports for connecting peripheral devices
Specifications
- Brand: Razer
- Operating System: Windows 10
- Processor Type: Intel Core i7-9750H
- Screen Size: 17.3 Inches
- RAM: 16 GB
Pros
- A monitor with a high frequency and a large color coverage will display all the details of both dynamic scenes and shades of various drawings
- Relatively thin aluminum case
- An excellent combination of top-end processor power, video card, and monitor
- Biometric protection based on Windows Hello works even in the dark thanks to infrared sensors
- The presence of a card reader will allow you to transfer information from your phone or camera without using adapters
Cons
- The Full HD resolution of the laptop will require you to supplement it with a high-resolution monitor for full-fledged work on high-performance applications.
6. ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo UX581 – Highest Rated Laptop for Programmers
Asus are tenacious laptops equipped with good hardware at a budget cost. Though we can find some game variations. They will suit web designers and can become the best laptops for game development.
The concept of the laptop is aimed at web designers who will be able to unlock the potential of an additional touch screen in the keyboard area along
with a stylus. However, there can be more possibilities for using the second screen since the necessary windows can also be placed in the lower part when developing programs. This is possible due to the combination of actually two monitors at 15.6 and 14 inches.
Moreover, this laptop is not only ideal for development, programming, or coding tasks, in fact, but it’s also a perfect fit for people belonging to the graphic editing and video animation fields as well. Yeah, it’s a great beast that operates programs like photoshop & filmora without any hassle.
Additional screen
This laptop is really worthy of seeing it at least once.
You will undoubtedly want to buy such a laptop after seeing it once.
The potential of its multitasking depends only on you. You can draw graphic elements of sites with a stylus on the touch-sensitive additional panel. If you want, you can place additional application windows there, or simply extend the main screen down for long functions and procedures in your code.
Main screen
I can’t but say that the main screen is touch-sensitive and has the amazing image quality and excellent resolution.
So far, there has not been a single developer who would complain about the image quality, resolution, or frequency of the screen of this laptop.
The laptop is great for creative projects and creating new graphics solutions in game development.
Components
The laptop allows you not to think about the speed of work and the need for an upgrade.
Its entire filling consists only of top-end components that reveal its full potential. It will allow you to create masterpieces of desktop, mobile or web applications, as well as render the video you need for your game or movie.
- A modern processor provides the excellent performance
- Together with an advanced video card, working in graphics applications becomes a rest
- Two touch monitors of 14 and 15.6 inches, which seriously increase the multitasking of a laptop
- The kit includes a Pen Stylus and a wrist stand, so you don’t have to buy anything more
- The resolution of the main 4K screen provides
Specifications
- Brand: ASUS
- Operating System: Windows 10 Pro
- Processor Type: Intel Core i7-9750H
- Screen Size: 15.6 Inches
- RAM: 16 GB
Pros
- Stunning design
- 4K touch screens, with the second screen built into the keyboard unit
- Top-of-the-line filling that reveals the possibilities of the second screen
- The presence of a stylus and a keyboard stand in the kit
- Large color coverage, allows you to work with high-quality graphics
- A large hard drive will accommodate complex projects
Cons
- Two screens really consume a lot of energy, so it is advisable to have access to charging at any moment
7. LG Gram 16Z90P Laptop – Updated Pick For Developers
Programmers and developers require a laptop with high reliability and decent performance. Display and keyboard are very important too, as these features will ensure the program in an efficient manner. LG Gram 16Z90P laptop comes with a highly reliable processor and great display features. It is one of the best high-end laptops in the market and suitable for various purposes including programming, editing, etc.
Excellent performance
The laptop uses the 11th generation Intel core i7-1165G7 Processor with Intel Xe Graphics to deliver outstanding performance for programmers and developers. You can expect smooth performance with no delays or lags with the i7 processor. The laptop can be a great thing that’s ever happened to your professional life. It uses Windows 10 Home operating system and has an HD web camera to support video conferences or online meetings.
Display & Memory
With 16- inch IPS LCD and 2560×1600 screen resolution, you can effortlessly perform activities. The laptop comes with 16GB LPDDR4X 4266mhz RAM to deliver the best performance for various tasks like designing, browsing, editing, and multitasking. Expect high productivity with 1TB PCIe Solid State Drive.
Efficient keyboard
Programmers constantly dwell on the keyboard for continuous typing. The laptop is equipped with extra-large keys to support easy and fast typing. The elevated key pitch stroke will enhance your typing experience. The 16:10 widened touchpad will enable easy control of the laptop. The power button is blessed with a fingerprint feature to instantly power ON with your single touch. Yeah, it’ll improve your typing efficiency and that’s the reason we consider it among our top choices of best laptops for developers & coders out there.
- Comes with 11th gen Intel core i7-1165G7 Processor with Intel Xe Graphics for seamless performance
- Memory of 16 GB RAM and 1 TB SSD to save plenty of files and documents
- Comfortable keyboard with extra-large keys and fingerprint reader
- Has 16- inch IPS LCD with 2560×1600 screen resolution
- Long battery life is expected as it comes with an 80Wh battery
- Comes with multiple ports including Thunderbolt 4 port and has built-in Alexa
SPECIFICATIONS
- Brand: LG
- Operating System: Windows 10 Home
- Processor Type: Intel core i7-1165G7
- Screen Size: 16 Inches
- RAM: 16 GB
Pros
- Comes with Thunderbolt 4 port for high-speed data transfer
- Has built-in Alexa and fingerprint reader
- Long battery life with just a single charge
- DTS:X Ultra supports 3D Audio Rendering
- Full metal body with great durability
- Thin design with a lightweight, a travel-friendly laptop
Cons
- Quite expensive
8. Huawei MateBook X Pro Signature Edition – Best Budget Laptop For Developers
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The letter X in the name of this laptop tells us that it is very different from the Macbook D line, both in terms of cost and hardware. The X series includes extremely top-end laptops with a 3:2 screen, thin, aimed at the same audience as those described above in this review. The company annually increases the processor power and updates the cooling system for its reliable and stable operation. The laptop has fresh Intel processors of the eleventh generation and a discrete Nvidia MX video card.
Design
The laptop continues attracting views. It’s available in two branded color designs: “Emerald green” and “Space gray”. Having a color choice is quite a rare phenomenon in the world of powerful laptops for developers.
Externally, the ultrabook looks flawless and standard-stylish. It is hardly possible to change anything else in it for the better.
Screen
The response time shows how quickly the device’s display can change the color of the image from one to another. An insufficiently fast response can lead to the deformation of moving image fragments, the appearance of shadows, and blurring. This laptop has no such problems.
In addition, some devices set the brightness of the screen by quickly turning the LEDs on and off instead of simply lowering the voltage of their power supply. This method often leads to streaks or ripples on the image, as well as to rapid eye fatigue and headache.
On this laptop, such a problem will not bother you either. It just doesn’t exist.
Hard drive
Huawei buys SSDs from various companies, including Samsung, Western Digital, Lite-On, and Toshiba. Our laptop has a Samsung PM981a, a high-quality NVMe drive often found in gaming laptops and laptops for developers.
A fast and bulky hard drive will save all your projects. You don’t have to carry external memory devices everywhere.
Also, it’s not just a common developer’s laptop, in fact, it suits well to almost all engineering field students for their academic projects and similar tasks as well. Yeah, it’s too good to go with at this price on the market.
- Frameless screen with a useful area of 91% provides the widest possible view and emphasizes every smallest detail. The 3:2 aspect ratio makes the laptop very convenient for reading and working with documents.
- The laptop is equipped with a sensitive touch screen on which you can scroll, zoom and tap. The touch screen allows you to take a screenshot in an instant
- This is a professional laptop that does not take up much space in the bag, has a thickness of about 14.6 mm, and weighs only 1.33 kg
- Just one touch and your smartphone and laptop will be combined into one multifunctional device. You don’t even need an internet connection to do this. The smartphone screen will be displayed on the laptop, and you will be able to drag and drop files between devices, as well as use the same keyboard and mouse to edit files on the laptop and correspond on the smartphone.
- Advanced Intel Core i5 9th generation processor
Specifications
- Brand: HUAWEI
- Operating System: Windows 10 Home
- Processor Type: Intel Core i5 1.6 GHz
- Screen Size: 13.9 Inches
- RAM: 8 GB
Pros
- New processors spend less energy even in the absence of a discrete graphics card while providing greater performance
- The complete absence of any third-party software in the test laptop, including even utilities from the manufacturer. Only Windows 10 is installed here
- The laptop does not lag behind other laptops with exactly the same GPU in terms of graphics performance
- The laptop does not heat up, including because there is no dedicated video card, and makes very little noise, which is important for the long-term work of the developer
- In idle time, when showing the desktop, the laptop consumes only 6-11 watts, depending on the power consumption profile and screen brightness. With more serious loads, the consumption is kept at around 33 watts. And this is a few watts less than competing ultrabooks with the same CPU and GPU.
Cons
- The recoil of pressing the keys on the keyboard is very small. If you are used to hitting high keys, here you will have to adapt to a completely different style of code typing.
9. 2020 HP 15 15.6″ HD Touchscreen Premium Laptop – Well Balanced Pick For Budget
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This laptop gives pleasure to its users due to its good performance. It is suitable for web programmers. The laptop has a large screen for landing web pages, a modern processor, and a hard disk.
If you take into account the price of this device, then this model may become the best laptop for programming that you can afford.
CPU
The performance of the CPU is constrained due to the absence of a separate GPU. However, there are 4 multithreaded cores on the processor, so you can simultaneously run a couple of heavy-weight development applications at the same time.
Software without requirements for processing complex graphic scenes optimally spends processor resources.
Screen
In this laptop, the color reproduction of the screen is not too high, but it is absolutely enough to perform typical video viewing tasks. The screen is covered with an anti-glare film, which reduces the load on the eyes. You will feel comfortable doing your projects. Also, compared to ordinary 11 inches screen laptop, this one is better in all aspects of development & programming or coding.
The most attractive feature of the screen is that it is touch-sensitive.
Price
For students and junior developers, it will be very pleased that the price of this laptop does not exceed $800. Of course, you won’t be able to play the latest versions of the games. You shouldn’t get upset about this. After all, you buy a laptop for work, not for games.
- The 10th generation CPU is already an indicator of performance. However, especially attractive is that its frequency can be increased from 1.0 GHz to 3.6 GHz.
- The keyboard is quiet, but with a sufficient height of the keys, so we will feel the pressure. There are additional keyboard buttons.
- The hard disk is connected according to the PCIe standard. This standard is much faster than the traditional SATA.
- The laptop has 16 GB of RAM installed.
- The company уйшззув the laptop with a battery with a capacity of 41 Цh.
Specifications
- Brand: HP
- Operating System: Windows 10 Home
- Processor Type: Intel Core i5 10th gen
- Screen Size: 15.6 Inches
- RAM: 16 GB
Pros
- The laptop has a bright large display
- Modern processor provides high performance
- The laptop weighs less than two kilograms
- The touch screen can be a decisive factor in favor of choosing this laptop
- The laptop will not require you to upgrade RAM, there is already a lot of it.
- A beautiful and comfortable keyboard will not let you get too tired when writing a lot of code
Cons
- Some users remark on the average battery life of the laptop while intense usage
10. Lenovo ThinkPad E15 Gen 2
Lenovo makes some of the best laptops for professionals and ‘business laptops’. Talking of professional laptops, if you are a developer, you might just want to check out their ThinkPad E15 (2nd Gen) laptop, which offers you just the right kind of specs for all your software, programming, and networking needs. Here’s a closer look at the laptop –
CPU/GPU/RAM/Storage
The laptop runs on Intel’s quad-core i7 processor (11th generation). This is the latest version of the processor as of now and gives you immense processing power which ensures that developers can run all their heavy-duty software, virtual machines, and other apps that are useful to them. The laptop also comes with Intel’s latest Iris Xe Graphics Coprocessor, which gives you another boost and ensures that your processing-intensive tasks such as compiling code and testing software is done with ease!
In addition to a powerful CPU/GPU combination, devs also need to have a lot of memory and storage at their disposal. Especially if they’re testing across different Operating Systems using virtual machines, the RAM becomes even more important. The laptop features 32GB of RAM, which will ensure that you never run out of memory while running virtual machines or while compiling your code.
Battery, Cooling, and Keyboard
Let us now take a closer look at the keyboard of this laptop. Keyboards are important for developers because they often spend long hours typing away long chunks of code – and you need a keyboard which is well spaced as well as backlit! This laptop takes care of both these needs, as it provides you with a rather sturdy and backlit keyboard. Lenovo’s ThinkPad laptops are known to be rather durable when it comes to prolonged usage and this is no exception.
The laptop provides an average battery life of a little over 12 hours, which ensures that you will never run out of battery at work and you can last almost an entire workday on a single charge, even if you’ve forgotten to carry your charger! Lastly, when it comes to keeping the laptop cool, the Lenovo ThinkPad does a good task here too, but if you are using it for extended hours and for compiling a ton of code, you might just have to get an additional cooling pad to keep things really cool.
Security, Upgrades, and Warranty
The laptop is quite secure and comes with a fingerprint reader which ensures that you can provide biometric authentication to protect all your important files. This is just another added security feature which can be pretty useful to devs who want to protect their code or other intellectual property with an additional security layer. The laptop also allows you to upgrade your RAM and storage with ease if you need to expand them later, which is another really cool feature. Lastly, you get a 1-year warranty period on this laptop.
If you happen to be looking for the best laptops for developers, this laptop from Lenovo has got to be it! Consider buying it for all its power-packed features and an incredible battery life. Also a good fit for someone who wants really powerful specs for other reasons such as gaming, video editing or 3D modeling. However, developers can make the best use of it!
- Powered by Intel Quad Core i7-1165G7 + Intel Iris Xe graphics
- 32GB RAM + 1 TB SSD storage
- Runs on Windows 10 Pro (64 Bit)
- 15.6″ FHD (1920×1080) IPS display
Specifications:
- Brand: Lenovo
- Operating System: Windows 10 Pro
- Processor Type: Intel Core i7 (11th Gen)
- Screen Size: 15.6 inches
- RAM: 32GB
Pros and Cons of Lenovo Thinkpad E15 Gen 2
Pros
- Backlit and well-spaced keyboard makes it great for typing
- Lots of memory and processing power – ideal for developers
- Long-lasting battery life of over 12 hours
- Added security features via a fingerprint reader
Cons
- Can heat up upon prolonged usage
11. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme 2nd Gen – Top Pick For Coders Around The Globe
The configuration of the laptop is optimal for the development of databases and complex applications that are demanding on the amount of memory and space on the hard disk. A high-performance Intel i7 processor that processes requests to databases facilitates this.
An extreme amount of RAM of 32 GB together with a 1 TB hard disk will allow you to focus on work and quickly receive responses to the sent requests.
Memory
Processing, searching, indexing, hashing, changing data – this is not a complete list of tasks that need a lot of RAM.
Any intelligent computing also involves storing intermediate results in a quick access zone.
Therefore, this laptop will really please you with the maximum possible amount of RAM.
Hard drive
Sometimes the developer creates and processes too large files that simply do not fit into RAM. In such cases, the operating system transfers them to the hard disk and loads them in parts, as needed, into RAM. Therefore, a large and fast hard drive for such projects becomes very desirable.
On this laptop, you will be able to receive and write data from the hard disk with minimal delays.
CPU
Information processing and decision-making are carried out by a high-performance processor in this laptop. It fully reveals the potential of working with big data.
If your application belongs to the field of AI, Big Data, Data Science, or Machine Learning, you can safely rely on this processor.
- A full set of ports for peripheral devices will allow you to connect both an external monitor and an external data storage if necessary
- The presence of a discrete video card expands the scope of the laptop and allows you to work with graphics-demanding applications
- The laptop is equipped with high-speed protocols for exchanging information when working with databases
- The monitor with Dolby Vision HD 400 technology provides the best contrast between light and dark areas of the screen
- The relatively small weight of 1.7 kg for the top filling is a compromise, allowing you to take the laptop on any trip if you need it
Specifications
- Brand: Lenovo
- Operating System: Windows 10
- Processor Type: Intel Core i7-9750H
- Screen Size: 15.6 Inches
- RAM: 32 GB
Pros
- Powerful processor
- Extreme amount of RAM
- The presence of a video card is a bonus and allows you to relax a little after work
- A spacious hard drive will save all project data
- Fingerprint scanner ensures your privacy
Cons
- The laptop has top-end hardware and a bright screen, so the operating time depends heavily on the system load and screen brightness.
- It is necessary to check the screen flicker that some users see. However, it is possible to connect an external monitor.
12. HP Elite Dragonfly Multi-Touch 2-in-1 Laptop – Ideal for Web & Software Development
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High-class developers need a laptop that combines performance, stylish design, portability, reliability, as well as increased data storage security.
And to do all this without compromises, since during a pandemic you have to work not only in the office but from anywhere. The answer to these needs can be this laptop.
Hard Drive
This laptop has an unusual data storage system. This is 512 GB of TLC 3D NAND memory paired with 32 GB of Optane-type memory. All this is connected on one SSD, and the idea is that a small and fast-thinking Optane module processes requests to not the fastest QLC NAND memory and speeds up many of them, especially those that are repeated often.
If you like original solutions in your programs, you may also like this technical solution.
Peripherals
The kit includes a stylus, the device folds into a tablet, there is a fingerprint scanner and an infrared camera for logging into Windows Hello.
In addition to traditional USB connectors, the laptop has USB A, HDMI, a fingerprint scanner, a screen rotation sensor, a magnetometer, a gyroscope, a light sensor, and a Hall sensor.
Safety
HP paid much attention to safety in this laptop. For example, Sure Click technology helps protect your computer from malware, ransomware, and viruses while browsing websites and attachments.
There is a BIOS system with a self-healing function. Sure, recovery technology with built-in image reinstallation provides fast and secure automatic recovery from anywhere on the network.
Sure Sense uses powerful AI capabilities with deep learning technologies to identify previously unknown attacks and isolate them to prevent infection.
The screen is darkened on the sides so that people nearby can’t watch your work.
- The laptop can rightfully be attributed to the category of super-portable devices. It has compact dimensions, and it weighs only 999 g.
- The overall performance of the laptop is at a high level. It has a fast hard drive, a fast processor, the latest generation Wi-Fi, and a 4G LTE communication module with 4×4 antennas
- The laptop is super convenient. A touch screen with a brightness of up to 1000 nits, support for a stylus, several form factors, a quiet keyboard – you will enjoy these features to the fullest
- Battery life of up to 24 hours, there is a fast-charging by Type-C
- Emphasis on ensuring security. This laptop has a whole range of technologies to preserve the privacy of the projects that you are developing
Specifications
- Brand: HP
- Operating System: Windows 10 Pro
- Processor Type: Intel Core i5
- Screen Size: 13.3 Inches
- RAM: 8 GB
Pros
- This is an ultra-mobile laptop with very low weight
- The developers tried not to cut the processor power to reduce weight.
- HP Elite Dragonfly with an initial weight of less than 1 kg will provide you with complete freedom of movement when working on projects
- Built-in privacy screen. Instantly protect yourself from prying eyes with the HP Sure View feature
- The touch screen rotates 360 degrees
Cons
- It may seem to someone that a screen with darkened sides is inconvenient. If you are used to shaking your head from side to side all the time, you will immediately feel this effect
You’re Not Alone! – Frequently Asked Questions on Laptops For Coding
1. Laptop = PC?
Many would argue that a laptop can become a full-fledged replacement for a PC. For developers of backend services, it’s still more like a mobile continuation. You install servers, protect your office network, use billing systems, and monitor users’ activities through a workstation usually. Designers also like to use big screens of PC.
We all remember fond marketers and traders surrounded by three or four monitors. Though it’s more due to the tradition.
Laptops are highly demanded mobile apps development, database administration, and support. Web and desktop apps developers don’t complain.
The opportunities given by modern laptops are sufficient to develop whatever you want.
If you aren’t going to sit at the office from 9 am to 18 pm, one of the best laptops for software development is for you!
2. Maybe I’d better buy a cheap but weak laptop?
The worst thing that exists in the PC world might be a very weak budget laptop for a developer. The positions “no difference in the office”, “suitable for an accountant”, “suitable for the first time” are flawed.
At first, a weak laptop can demonstrate acceptable performance in simple tasks. But this is up to three tabs in the browser, or the first background update of the operating system, which will eat up all the resources. Low productivity can lead to the loss of not only time but also, possibly, money, not to mention nerves.
If the terrible thing has already happened and a weak laptop has already been purchased, an SSD hard drive and additional RAM will help you speed it up. However, it will cost hundreds of dollars.
3. Can I save it on the screen matrix?
Programmers write code. For hours they look at the same black screen and don’t’ even blink.
For a person who is used to a good monitor, budget laptop matrices will become a real punishment from heaven. For a developer who is used to stare at the lines of code, there’s no matter which color scheme the screen supports.
All that you need is a wide viewing angle, high screen frequency, and regulated contrast on your laptop.
4. All keyboards are the same, right?
An important factor for a developer’s laptop is the keyboard.
In addition to the well-known difference between the American and European layouts, manufacturers can show real miracles of ingenuity, and it’s good if it’s limited to unformatted arrows and the Enter key of the original form. My friends have a wonderful ASUS ultrathin book with a “Power” button in place of “Delete” – a funny replacement, but not for the owner. A cursory search on the Internet showed that this “brilliant” idea came to the mind of many manufacturers.
As developers have a large amount of work with the keyboard, you need to evaluate it thoroughly. Preferably in the store and by touch. Even if you like it tactically, you need to check whether all the buttons are in their place.
5. One more port, one less… Never mind?
When buying a laptop, it is necessary to look at it from all sides and count the input holes. It is clear that they affect the thickness depends, but please leave a couple of classic ports.
If you plan to connect a mouse, flash drive, card reader, HDD, and other peripherals, think about this question in advance. Otherwise, you will have to buy hubs, and this is additional weight, wires, and costs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
1. Why do developers need a power-packed laptop?
Developers often need a power-packed laptop so that they can ensure that all their code is compiled in time. Having a laptop that is rather low-power will take a really long time for them to compile their code, which often runs into tens of thousands of lines. Having a powerful CPU+GPU combination is the only way in which this could be dealt with faster. Besides that, some devs also need to run virtual machines and other software that they might be testing on, and hence there’s a strong need for a high-power laptop.
2. Are gaming laptops good for developers?
Yes, gaming laptops generally meet the needs of most developers because they carry high-end CPU/GPU combinations, as well as a large RAM and storage. All of these are features that even developers would appreciate. Gamers generally need these to run all their favorite games, but for developers, this would be useful in running heavy-duty software and compiling large chunks of code. Both of these tasks can easily be performed by good quality gaming laptops. Besides, gaming laptops are also better equipped for handling the heat that is generated with high-processing tasks.
3. How to ensure your laptop isn’t heating up?
To make sure that your laptop isn’t heating up, first make sure that all your heat ducts are clean and that there’s no dirt or dust particles jamming these exits. It is these vents from where the heat is dissipated. You can clean them up using a brush from time to time. Besides that, you can use a cooling plate or a cooling pad and keep your laptop over it to provide an extra boost to the laptop’s cooling efforts. Lastly, use it in an air-conditioned room to make sure the temperatures around your laptop don’t rise.
4. How long should the battery life be in a developer’s laptop?
A developer’s laptop requires at least 8 to 10 hours of battery life because sometimes you might end up coding for long hours, and even the compiling tasks take quite a bit of time. In case someone’s doing it outdoors without the access to a charger, the laptop needs to have a decent battery to last till that is completed. When it comes to battery it is always ‘the more the merrier’ regardless of the user being a gamer, developer or a student! You can be doing anything but you will always appreciate more battery life.
Conclusion
If you are a professional developer, this laptop will be far not the first in your life.
While you communicate with a laptop throughout the day, you have opened a browser with a large number of tabs, a virtual machine, several development environments, and so on.
For this reason, you should focus on an efficient CPU and comfortable keyboard rather than on a discrete video card and capacious battery.
When compiling the review, we took into account only those models that are largely superior to competitors.
We also took into account the opinion of specialists, consumer reviews, and sales statistics.
To work with codes, you need a high-quality tool. Therefore, laptops for programmers are a separate area of development for many companies. Well-known brands remain the leaders in this environment.