Top Laptops for Programming: Power and Performance

Did you know PCMag reviews over 100 laptops every year? They find the best laptops for programmers. Choosing the right laptop is key for coding and software development.

Programming needs powerful machines with great build quality and typing comfort. The Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch is often at the top with its M3 chip and display. Dell XPS 15 is the best Windows laptop, and the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 5G is a standout. Apple MacBook Air (M2, 2022) is also great for its light weight and performance.

Key Takeaways

PCMag reviews over 100 laptops annually to identify the best options for programmers.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch is a top choice for its powerful M3 chip and excellent display.
Dell XPS 15 is often regarded as the best Windows laptop for programming.
Microsoft Surface Pro 9 5G stands out in the Surface category for programming needs.
Lightweight laptops, such as the Apple MacBook Air (M2, 2022), offer great portability paired with strong performance.

What to Look for in a Programming Laptop

When picking the best laptop for programming, look at key factors. These ensure your device is powerful and productive. Details like processing power and port selection are important for smooth work.

Processing Power and RAM

A strong CPU is essential for complex coding tasks. An Intel Core i7-12700H or an Octa-core AMD Ryzen 9 processor boosts your workflow. Add at least 16GB of RAM for handling heavy apps and multitasking.

Top laptops for developers, like the Dell XPS 15 and the Alienware m17 R5 AMD Advantage, have these specs.

Display Quality and Size

A high-quality display is key for long coding hours. Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch has a top-tier screen for clear visuals. A 14-inch display offers more space for code and documents.

Keyboard Comfort and Build Quality

A good keyboard is vital for developers who type a lot. The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 has an excellent keyboard for comfort and feedback. Its build quality also ensures durability for daily use.

Port Selection and Connectivity

Multiple ports are essential for connecting various peripherals. Look for USB-C, HDMI, and USB-A ports. The Microsoft Surface Pro 9 5G has a good mix of ports for different needs.

Battery Life and Portability

For those always on the move, a laptop with long battery life and portability is key. Apple MacBook Air (M2, 2022) is light and has a long battery. It lasts over 10 hours, so you can code all day without needing a charge.

Apple MacBook Pro 14-Inch (2023)

The MacBook Pro 14-inch is a top pick for programmers. It uses the M2 Pro and M2 Max chips for unmatched performance. This makes coding better than ever.

The 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display is a highlight. It has a high 3,024 by 1,964 resolution. This means clear and accurate colors for coding and debugging.

Battery life is key for programmers. MacBook Pro lasts almost 20 hours. This means you can work without needing to find a power outlet.

The MacBook Pro has many ports, including HDMI and three Thunderbolt 4 ports. It also has Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 for strong wireless connections.

The M2 chip models support up to 96GB of memory. This lets you handle big projects or manage large datasets easily.

MacBook Pro is built to last but is also light. It measures 0.61 by 12.31 by 8.71 inches and weighs 3.5 pounds. The Magic Keyboard and haptic trackpad make typing and navigation smooth.

In summary, the MacBook Pro 14-inch (2023) is the best laptop for programming. It has a powerful M2 chip, great display, long battery life, and many connectivity options. Whether you choose the M2 Pro or M2 Max, you get a top-notch programming tool.

Dell XPS 15: Best Windows Laptop for Programming

The Dell XPS 15 is known as the best Windows laptop for programming. It balances power and portability well. It has the latest Intel Core i7-12700H CPU and Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Mobile graphics. This makes it great for coding tasks. Let’s look at its key features, performance, and design.

Key Features

12th-gen Intel Core i7 processor
Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Mobile graphics
Up to 32GB RAM and 1TB SSD storage
15.6-inch 4K UHD+ display
All-day battery life

Performance

Dell laptops are known for their top performance, and the XPS 15 is no different. Its Intel Core i7-12700H processor and Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Mobile GPU handle tough coding tasks easily. It’s built for efficiency, so you can multitask without a hitch and compile quickly.

Design and Build

Dell XPS 15 stands out for its sleek design and strong build. It’s made from brushed CNC aluminum and carbon fiber, giving it a luxurious yet durable feel. Its slim profile and light weight make it easy to carry around, perfect for programmers on the move.

Its 15.6-inch 4K UHD+ display is another highlight. It shows vivid colors and sharp details, making long coding sessions more enjoyable.

Specification	Detail
Processor	Intel Core i7-12700H
Graphics	Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Mobile
RAM	Up to 32GB
Storage	Up to 1TB SSD
Display	15.6-inch 4K UHD+
Battery Life	All-day battery

If you’re serious about programming on Windows, the Dell XPS 15 is a great choice. It offers the perfect mix of power, design, and portability.

Microsoft Surface Pro 9 5G

Microsoft Surface Pro 9 5G is slim and has great mobile connectivity. It’s perfect for developers who are always on the move. With 5G, you get fast and reliable internet. It comes in different setups, with RAM from 8 GB to 32 GB, great for tough coding tasks.

The Surface Pro 9 uses an ARM chip. This chip helps the battery last up to 19 hours. But, it might cause problems with some software that’s not ready for ARM.

Despite this, it’s strong enough for most coding tasks.

Here’s a comparison of some key features and prices of various Surface devices:

Device	Price Range	Battery Life
Surface Laptop (7th Edition)	$1,400 – $1,600	Up to 18 hours
Surface Pro (11th Edition)	$1,000 – $1,700	Up to 13 hours
Surface Laptop Studio 2	$4,000	4 hours
Surface Laptop Go 3	$780	6 hours

The Surface Pro 9 has a big touchscreen and a full-size keyboard. It’s light and easy to carry, but powerful. It’s a top pick for developers who need strong performance and can move around easily.

The ARM chip makes it fast and responsive. With 5G, it’s great for working anywhere, whether it’s a coffee shop or on the road.

“Microsoft Surface Pro 9 5G offers an unparalleled blend of speed, performance, and connectivity, ideal for developers who are always on the move.”

Best Lightweight Option: Apple MacBook Air (M2, 2022)

If you’re searching for a lightweight laptop that’s powerful and has great battery life, the Apple MacBook Air (M2, 2022) is your best pick.

Portability

The MacBook Air is known for being super portable. It weighs only 2.7 pounds, making it easy to carry around. This is great for commuting, traveling, or moving around your home.

Its slim design and strong build make it ideal for those who want a powerful laptop without it being too heavy.

Performance

MacBook Air (M2, 2022) has the M2 chip and 16GB of RAM, which can be upgraded to 24GB. This setup ensures it runs smoothly for all kinds of tasks, from basic coding to complex software compilation.

It also comes with a 1TB SSD, giving you lots of space for your files and projects. You won’t have to worry about it slowing down, making it a reliable choice for programming.

Battery Life

Battery life is key for anyone always on the move. The MacBook Air offers up to 8 hours of battery life on a single charge. This is similar to the MacBook Pro 14″ M1, so you can work for hours without needing to recharge.

Whether you’re coding, watching videos, or editing documents, this laptop can handle it all.

Display Quality

The display on MacBook Air (M2, 2022) is also top-notch. Its 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display offers amazing visuals with a high resolution of 2560×1664 pixels.

For even sharper images, you can use the BetterDisplay app. This makes it perfect for developers and creatives.

In short, the MacBook Air is a fantastic, lightweight laptop. It offers great performance, portability, and battery life for all your programming and creative needs.

Alienware m17 R5 AMD Advantage: Best 17-Inch Laptop for Programming

If you’re looking for a best gaming laptop that’s also great for programming, the Alienware m17 R5 AMD Advantage is perfect. It has a big 17-inch screen and powerful specs for both gaming and coding. It’s ideal for developers who need a lot of screen space and strong computing power.

Screen Size and Quality

Alienware m17 R5 has a huge 17-inch screen. It’s great for multitasking and long coding sessions. You can choose from a 360Hz FHD or a 4K UHD display, depending on your needs and budget.

These options ensure you get clear visuals whether you’re coding or gaming.

Performance

The Alienware m17 R5 is powered by an AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX processor. This makes it one of the most powerful laptops out there. It has an octa-core CPU for smooth multitasking and heavy programming tasks.

Its benchmark scores are impressive. It scores 5811 in GeekBench 5 and 5056 in Cinebench R20. This shows it can handle any task you throw at it.

Specification	Details
CPU	AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX
GPU	NVIDIA RTX 3080
RAM	Up to 64GB
Storage	Up to 2TB SSD
Screen Options	360Hz FHD or 4K UHD
Price	Starting at $2,350
Battery Life	6 hours 27 minutes

Alienware m17 R5 is also great for gaming. It scores well in 3DMark, making it perfect for both work and play. If you choose the Ryzen 7 6800H, you can save $300. This brings the price down to $2,050.

For a tighter budget, you can opt for a 1080p screen and 16GB RAM. This reduces the cost to $1,700.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12: Ideal for Business

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 is a top choice for business laptops. It has features perfect for professionals. It’s great for developers and business people who need reliability, performance, and good connectivity options.

The keyboard of the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 is one of the best. It makes typing easy for long hours. It has RAM from 8GB to 32GB for multitasking and demanding apps. Storage options range from 256GB to 1TB SSDs for fast data access and lots of space.

This laptop is one of the lightest in its class, weighing 2.5 to 2.9 pounds. It’s easy to carry around. Despite being light, it has a battery life of up to 15 hours. This means you can use it for a long time without needing to recharge often.

Specifications	Details
Display	2,880-by-1,800-pixel OLED, switchable 60Hz to 120Hz refresh rate
Processor	Intel Core Ultra 7 155H
Memory	16GB to 32GB RAM
Storage	512GB to 1TB NVMe SSD
Weight	2.47 pounds
Battery Life	Up to 15 hours
Connectivity Options	Two USB-C Thunderbolt 4, USB 3.2 Type-A, HDMI, audio jack

Professionals will love the connectivity options of the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12. It has two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, two Thunderbolt® 4 ports, an HDMI 2.0 port, a headphone/microphone combo jack, and a nano SIM slot. Some models even have touchscreens for better interaction.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 performs well in productivity tests, scoring over 4,000 points in PCMark 10. It’s great for running many apps at once or managing big projects. This Lenovo ThinkPad always delivers.

HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook: The Best Chromebook for Programming

HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook is a top pick for developers. It offers great performance, strong security, and is very portable. Let’s explore why it’s the best for Chromebook programming.

HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook programming

Performance

The HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook has an Intel Core i5-1245U processor. It also has 8GB of memory and a 256GB SSD. This makes it fast and smooth, even with tough tasks.

It also supports Intel’s vPro platform. This boosts performance and makes it easier to manage, perfect for work.

Security Features

Security is key for developers, and HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook delivers. It has a fingerprint sensor, a 5MP webcam, and Chrome OS’s security. These features keep your data safe, giving you peace of mind.

Portability

The HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook weighs 2.8 pounds. It’s a bit heavier than the MacBook Air but is very portable. Its design and 13.5-inch touch display make it great for working on the go.

It lasts about seven hours and charges fast. You can get 60% charge in just 54 minutes. This means you can stay productive all day.

Unique Features: It has Bang & Olufsen speakers, a backlit haptic trackpad, and WiFi 6 connectivity.
Port Selection: It has two USB Type-C ports, a USB-A port, HDMI, a microSD card reader, and a headphone/microphone combo jack. It meets all your connectivity needs.

HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook is a top choice for developers. It’s powerful, secure, and easy to carry. It’s perfect for Chromebook programming in a professional setting.

Best Laptop for Programming Overall: Apple MacBook Pro 14-Inch

Apple MacBook Pro 14-Inch is the top pick for programmers. It comes with powerful new chips and a great display. It has the latest M2 Pro and M2 Max processors, making it fast and portable.

Specifications

Processor: Available with M2 Pro or M2 Max chips
Display: 14-inch Liquid Retina XDR, over 400 nits brightness
RAM: Configurable up to 32GB for optimal performance
Storage: Starts at 512GB, expandable up to 1TB or more
Battery Life: Up to 18 hours
Weight: 3.5 pounds
Ports: Includes Thunderbolt 4 ports for versatile connectivity

Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Excellent portability Vibrant Liquid Retina XDR display User-friendly macOS Powerful M2 Pro and M2 Max chips	Higher price point Potentially limited screen size for some Need for adapters for certain peripherals

In conclusion, the Apple MacBook Pro 14-Inch is a top choice for programmers. It offers great performance, display quality, and portability. It’s the best laptop for those who need a reliable and powerful device.

Best Budget Pick: Lenovo ThinkPad E16

Looking for a best budget programming laptop? Lenovo ThinkPad E16 is a top choice. It balances performance and price, making it great for web development on a budget.

ThinkPad E16 comes with an Intel Core i5 processor. This processor is fast and reliable for coding and multitasking. It also has 8GB of RAM, which is enough for running many apps at once. But, upgrading to 16GB can make it even better for tough programming tasks.

The ThinkPad E16’s ThinkPad keyboard is a highlight. ThinkPad keyboards are known for being comfortable and precise. They’re perfect for long coding sessions. Plus, it has a num-pad, which is great for working with numbers.

The laptop has a 16-inch screen, which is great for multitasking. You can have many windows open without feeling cramped. It’s a bit bigger, but it’s easy to carry around, making it great for those who are always on the move.

Here’s a comparison table of ThinkPad E16’s key features:

Feature	Details
Processor	Intel Core i5 (upgradable to i7)
Memory	8GB (upgradeable to 16GB)
Storage	256GB SSD (upgradable)
Display	16-inch, Full HD
Keyboard	ThinkPad keyboard with num-pad

In summary, Lenovo ThinkPad E16 is a solid budget programming laptop. It’s perfect for coding classes or starting a programming career. This laptop gives you the tools you need to succeed.

Conclusion

Choosing the best laptop for programming depends on many things like budget and performance needs. We’ve looked at top laptops for software development in this article. Each one meets different programming needs.

Apple MacBook Pro 14-Inch (2023) and Dell XPS 15 are great for heavy coding. They have 16GB of RAM and 512GB SSD. These laptops cost between $1,799 and $2,499, making them a good investment for serious developers.

If you need a laptop that’s easy to carry but powerful, consider Apple MacBook Air (M2, 2022) and Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12. They are light but pack a punch. The ThinkPad X1 Carbon has a big 1TB SSD, perfect for storing lots of files. Prices range from $1,599 to $2,199.

For those watching their budget, Lenovo ThinkPad E16 and Acer Aspire 5 are good choices. They offer enough power and storage without breaking the bank.

Every laptop we’ve talked about meets specific needs, from big screens to gaming development. Finding the right laptop is key to improving your coding skills. Look at your needs and check out reviews from PCWorld and forums to make a smart choice. The right laptop can really boost your coding efficiency and help you succeed in your projects.

FAQ

What makes the Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (2023) the best programming laptop?

The Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (2023) is top for programming. It has powerful M2 Pro and M2 Max chips. It also has up to 96GB of RAM and a 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display.

It lasts almost 20 hours on battery. It also has many ports, like an HDMI port and three Thunderbolt 4 ports. These features make it great for programmers.

Why is the Dell XPS 15 considered the best Windows laptop for programming?

The Dell XPS 15 is great for programming. It has a 12th-gen Intel chip and RTX 3050 Ti graphics. It also has a premium design with a brushed CNC aluminum chassis and carbon fiber palm rests.

Its slim profile and long battery life are perfect for programmers. It’s a top choice for those who need power and style.

What should I look for in a programming laptop for web development?

For web development, look for at least 16GB RAM. A fast CPU is key for quick code work. A good keyboard is important for long coding sessions.

A large, high-quality display is also essential. Look for portability, long battery life, and ports for displays and peripherals.

Is the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 5G a good option for developers?

Yes, the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 5G is great for developers. It’s lightweight and has fast mobile internet. Its slim design, large screen, and long battery life are perfect for programming.

It’s a good choice, despite some issues with its custom ARM chip.

How does the Apple MacBook Air (M2, 2022) perform for coding?

The Apple MacBook Air (M2, 2022) is excellent for coding. It has an M2 chip and 16GB RAM. This gives it the power and performance needed.

It’s designed for portability and silent operation. It also has a long battery life, making it great for programmers on the go.

What are the advantages of using the Alienware m17 R5 AMD Advantage for programming?

The Alienware m17 R5 AMD Advantage is great for programming. It has a large 17-inch screen and an Octa-core AMD Ryzen 9 CPU. It’s also a gaming laptop, which is beneficial for developers.

Its big screen and high computing power are great for developers.

Why is the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 suitable for business programming needs?

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 is perfect for business programming. It has a famous keyboard, is lightweight, and has long battery life. It also has 32GB RAM and is reliable.

These features make it comfortable to type on and easy to carry. It’s ideal for professional settings.

What makes the HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook a top choice for developers?

The HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook is a top pick for developers. It’s powerful, secure, and has 5G options. It’s also designed for enterprise-level performance.

Its mobility features and high performance meet the needs of developers who value security and portability.

What is the best budget pick for a programming laptop?

The Lenovo ThinkPad E16 is the best budget pick for programming. It has a comfortable keyboard with num-pad and enough power for most tasks. It’s also a great value for coding classes or entry-level work.

By John Paul
(Disclosure: Contains affiliate links, but hey, gotta pay the bills somehow, right? I only recommend products I truly believe in.)