With one of the best laptops for programming, you can code from anywhere. And it’s not too hard to choose one. But there are a few things you should keep in mind as you narrow down your search.
When running and testing code, you need enough speed so that your workflow isn’t limited by what your portable can do. To keep up with your projects, look for the best processors and the fastest RAM. Get a fast SSD with a lot of space as well. Projects and files shouldn’t take too long to load. Each laptop we review has been put through a full set of tests, both in the lab and in the real world, to help you pick the best one.
We’ve put together our top picks for the best laptops for programming, whether you want a MacBook Pro, a Windows 11 laptop, a powerful Chromebook, or even a Linux-powered laptop. You’ll also find some that aren’t too expensive and will save you a bit more than the best laptops under $500. Read on to find out which one is best for you, and don’t forget to use the price comparison tool we’ve included to get the best deal.
WHAT IS A PROGRAMMING LAPTOP?
A laptop for programming is built with powerful processors and RAM so that code testing won’t slow it down. Just as important as what’s inside is how easy and comfortable it is to use. To do all that coding, you need a good keyboard. And you need a screen that won’t make your eyes hurt after hours of use. If you spend most of your time on the road, you might want to get something thin and light, like one of the best Ultrabooks, to make it easier to carry.
All in all, programming laptops focus on a few main things:
- Processors
- RAM
- Keyboard
- Storage speed
Even if the laptop is from a different brand, if these four things are high, it’s likely that it would work well as a programming laptop.
The Best Laptop For Programming In 2023
1. HP Spectre x360 (2021)
SPECIFICATIONS
- CPU: 11th-generation Intel Core i5 – i7
- Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- RAM: 8GB – 16GB
- Screen: 13.3″ FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS BrightView micro-edge WLED-backlit multitouch – 13.3″ diagonal 4K (3840 x 2160) UWVA BrightView micro-edge AMOLED multitouch
- Storage: 256GB – 2TB SSD
The HP Spectre x360 (2021) 2-in-1 laptop has been updated a lot since last year. It now has 11th-generation Intel Core processors and Intel Iris Xe graphics, and its 2-in-1 design and new gem-cut chassis put it at the top of our list of the best laptops for programmers.
The HP Spectre line has always had devices that look amazing. So, when we say that the Spectre x360 takes things to a higher level, that should mean something. With its gem-cut design and slim profile, this laptop is one of the most beautiful ones on the market right now. It’s also tough on the inside.
HP gave this an impressively long battery life, which means you’re getting one of the best laptops on the market, hands down. It is also the best laptop for programming right now because of this.
HP just put out the HP Spectre X360 (2022). But because of problems with the trackpad and the fact that the expensive OLED screen isn’t worth it for programmers, we’ve decided to keep the 2021 model in this list and keep it at the top.
2. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme laptop
SPECIFICATIONS
- CPU: up to 8th-generation Intel Core i7
- Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti with Max-Q design
- RAM: up to 64GB
- Screen: 15.6” FHD (1920 x 1080) – 15.6” 4K UHD HDR (3840 x 2160) multi-touch
- Storage: up to 1TB SSD
Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Extreme mobile workstation is the best laptop for programming if you can afford an unstoppable workhorse.
We think this is one of the best Lenovo laptops for a lot of reasons. It can be set up in different ways, depending on what you need and how much money you have. Still, even at its most basic, it’s pretty powerful. It has a good graphics card and is made of carbon fibre and aluminium, so it can be used in the office or out in the field.
The one bad thing? You get what you pay for, and the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme is as powerful as it is expensive.
3. MacBook Pro 13-inch (M2, 2022)
SPECIFICATIONS
- CPU: Apple M2 with 8-core CPU
- Graphics: Integrated 10-core GPU
- RAM: 8GB – 24GB
- Screen: 13.3-inch 2560 x 1600 display with P3 and True Tone technology
- Storage: 256GB – 2TB SSD
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 30.41 x 21.24 x 1.56 cm
Even though it doesn’t have a new look, the Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch (M2, 2022) is a welcome update to Apple’s least expensive MacBook Pro. The new M2 chip from Apple gives it better performance and longer battery life than its predecessor. Our tests have shown that it performs better than both the M1 model and Microsoft’s Surface Laptop 4 in both single-core and multi-core CPU tests.
It has more than enough power to handle intensive tasks like video editing, so programmers can be sure it will handle their daily coding needs. This is done while keeping things cool and quiet. We found that even when doing hard tasks, the fans hardly ever turned on. It also lasted more than 15 hours and cost the same as its predecessor. If you need a cheaper MacBook Pro for programming, it’s hard to do better than this one.
4. HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook
SPECIFICATIONS
- CPU: Intel Core i5-1245U with vPro
- Graphics: Intel Iris Xe
- RAM: 8GB DDR4
- Screen: 13.5-inch
- Storage: 256GB
The HP Elite Dragonfly is the best Chromebook for business right now. It works really well, looks great, and has a decent battery life. This Chromebook is the only one with Intel vPro security features, which go above and beyond what you can find on the consumer market.
The basic configuration has extra security features that make it a good laptop for programmers no matter what they need to do. This Chromebook is great for programming because it has so much raw power. Also, the keyboard is easy to use all day because it is comfortable.
The Elite Dragonfly Chromebook can connect to 5G/LTE networks, which is useful now that 5G is starting to roll out.
The Elite Dragonfly Chromebook is beautiful inside and out, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better Chromebook for your business in terms of security, performance, and connectivity.
But this Chromebook starts at more than $1,000, making it by far the most expensive Chromebook.
5. MacBook Pro 14-inch (2021)
SPECIFICATIONS
- CPU: Apple M1 Pro 8-core – M1 Max 10-core
- Graphics: Integrated 14-core – 32-core GPU
- RAM: Up to 64GB
- Screen: 14-inch Liquid Retina XDR display
- Storage: Up to 8TB
The MacBook Pro 14-inch (2021) is great for both creative workflows and programming. Taking the MacBook Pro to its highest level, this M1 Pro or M1 Max-powered laptop blows the rest away with amazing power, an equally amazing battery life, and an XDR display with 1600 nits of peak brightness. The SD card slot, HDMI port, and three Thunderbolt 4 ports help make sure you have all the accessories you need.
The MacBook Pro 14-inch (2021) is not only a very powerful laptop, but the battery life is also very good. This workstation has a beautiful screen, great speakers, and a built-in microphone, so you don’t need to plug anything else into it.
The MacBook Pro 14-inch (2021) is a great laptop because its specs have been improved. After falling behind, Apple is back on top when it comes to displays, and the 14-inch MacBook Pro has the best screen you can find on a laptop right now.
But the 14-inch MacBook Pro is probably too much for a lot of people. The MacBook Air (M1, 2020) is still the best laptop for you if you won’t be throwing complex tasks at it.
HOW DID WE TEST PROGRAMMING LAPTOPS?
We’ve been putting laptops through a variety of tests for years to see how they compare to each other. These tests are a mix of computer simulations and real-world tasks. They let us see where some laptops are better than others and help us decide how to score and review a given laptop. Among these tests, but not in any particular order, are:
- BatteryBar
- YouTube playback
- GeekBench
- CrystalDiskMark
- Novabench
- 3DM Timespy
- Browserbench Speedometer 2.0
- Passmark
We also think about how easy it is to use as a whole, how we felt using these laptops as our daily drivers during our testing, and how all of these things made us feel as a whole.
