In software development, a good laptop can either make or break the job. Programming and coding require multitasking and the ability to compute millions of computations at a rapid rate. The usual consumer laptop won’t stand up to the job and can be a hindrance to efficient programming.
This is where a laptop specifically designed for coding is important, and it’s difficult to know which one to choose. In this article, we will answer a few common questions and provide a list of ten of the best laptops for coding to make the process easier.
Laptops for Coding | FAQs
1. What Is a Laptop for Coding?
Regular laptops can be used for programming, coding, and software development. However, a good, high-quality laptop is needed for coding, since using regular consumer laptops may become a significant hindrance.
2. What Are the Uses of a Coding Laptop?
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A laptop for coding is best used when completing software development, programming, or coding. Laptops with a graphics card and powerful processors can also be used for gaming or developing gaming software.
3. What Makes a Good Coding Laptop?
A laptop is good for coding if it has at least an 8th Generation Intel i5 processor or an i7 for VR and game development. It also needs to have at least 8GB of RAM or at least 16GB of RAM for VR and game development, a high-quality SSD, a high-resolution screen with a graphics card for game development, and a comfortable keyboard. The laptop should be resistant to heating and have a sturdy build.
How We Reviewed the Best Laptops for Coding
To compile our list of the best laptops for coding, we conducted extensive testing and research, which included consulting with coders to get their opinions on what models should be on this list.
Customer satisfaction was also an important consideration while coming up with our list. We reviewed the laptops based on their features, pros versus cons, price, and availability.
Overall Price Range
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Coding laptop prices can start from around $400 and reach up to around $2,200. Some higher-priced models may include features such as higher RAM, more powerful processors, anti-glare screens, expandable RAM, SSDs, and graphics cards.
Whether you’re looking for a higher- or lower-priced model, you will find one of the best laptops for coding for your budget and needs on this list.
What We Reviewed
- Apple MacBook Pro
- HP 2017 15.6″ Full-HD IPS UWVA Laptop
- Apple MacBook Air
- ASUS P2540UA-XS71 P-Series Professional Laptop
- LG Gram
- Dell Latitude E7470 Business Ultrabook
- Microsoft Surface Pro 6
- Lenovo 15.6″ ThinkPad E580
- Acer Aspire E 15
- Lenovo Yoga 710-15
Apple MacBook Pro
Features
First on our list of the best laptops for coding is the MacBook Pro, which has a large 15.4-inch screen with a 2,990 x 1,880 Retina display with back-lit LED, IPS, 500 wide color P3 gamut, and 500 nits brightness, ensuring that you can see coding with ease. The CPU is a powerful 6-core Intel Core i7 – i9 with 12MB cache, making it powerful enough to handle any programming software.
Apple MacBook Pro includes more than enough storage for all programming needs, with a 512GB – 4TB SSD and 16 – 32GB or RAM. For those developing gaming software or using the computer for gaming, it has an AMD Radeon PRO 540X – 560X, Intel UHD Graphics 630 card.
This laptop also comes with an improved keyboard when compared to the last MacBook that was released. It is lightweight, weighing only 4.02 pounds, and also includes Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, four Thunderbolt 3 USB jacks, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Pros
- Powerful processor
- Plenty of storage
- Great screen resolution
- Graphics card option
- 15.4″ screen
Cons
- Expensive
- Reliability issues with the keyboard
Where to Buy
This product is available on Amazon.
HP 2017 15.6″ Full-HD IPS UWVA
Features
The HP 2017 IPS UWVA is one of the more affordable options for the best laptops for coding. It has a large 15.6-inch, 1080p display, providing enough screen to make coding visible and comfortable. It uses an Intel 7th Generation i7-7500U processor.
Since this is one of the newest generations of processors, it is powerful enough to process millions of computations. It comes with a 1TB HDD, providing plenty of storage space, and has 16GB of RAM for seamless programming and multitasking.
This laptop also has a dedicated AMD Radeon R7 M440 graphics card with 4GB memory. This is complemented by integrated Intel HD Graphics 620; more than adequate for programming and coding. It runs on the Windows 10 Home 64-bit OS and includes Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities.
Pros
- Large HD display
- Powerful processor
- 1TB HDD
- 16GB RAM
- Graphics Card
Cons
- Customers report hard drive issues
- May run slowly when used a long time
Where to Buy
This product is available on Amazon.
Apple MacBook Air
Features
The MacBook Air is one of the best laptops for coding when coding with Objective C or Swift. It weighs less than three pounds, making it extremely sleek and lightweight. The 13.3-inch anti-reflective screen has a maximum resolution of 2560 x 1600 with a back-lit LED, 300 nits brightness, and IPS, providing maximum visibility.
The MacBook Air is equipped with a powerful 8th generation dual-core Intel i5 processor and comes with 8GB RAM in storage. It also comes with a 128GN- 1.5TB PCle 3.0 SSD for maximum storing capabilities. It includes Intel UHD Graphics 617. The MacBook Air also includes an SD card slot and Thunderbolt 3 port USB.
Pros
- Lightweight, sleek design
- Good screen resolution
- Powerful processor
- SSD
- Graphics card
- Lower price than alternative MacBook
Cons
- Less powerful than other laptops
- Customers complain that upgrades are too expensive
Where to Buy
This product is available on Amazon.
ASUS P2540UA-XS71 P-Series Professional Laptop
Features
The ASUS P2540UA-XS71 P-Series Professional Laptop is a top-of-the-line laptop. It has a large 15.6-inch screen with a matte finish that protects the eyes from fatigue and strain. It has a maximum resolution of 1920 x 1800 pixels, providing high definition, and also features integrated Intel graphics for handling programming language and basic games.
It features a powerful Kaby Lake 7th generation Intel i7-7500U processor that can handle multitasking and millions of computations with ease. It provides plenty of storage with 8GB DDR4 of RAM and 256GB SSD. It can run Visual Studio, Python, C#, or any other heavy API with ease. The battery can last up to 18 hours, and it also includes a TPM security chip and a fingerprint reader to keep files safe and for secure booting.
The ergonomically designed chiclet keyboard provides enhanced productivity and comfort, while the touch-pad can handle multi-gesture inputs for better control. Last, this laptop’s battery is removable, and it has an opening on the backside to upgrade the RAM easily. These features make it one of the best laptops for coding on this list.
Pros
- Affordable
- 15.6-inch HD screen
- Integrated Intel graphics
- Powerful processor
- Plenty of storage
- Long-lasting battery
- Chiclet keyboard
- Removable battery
- RAM easily upgradable
Cons
- A little heavily built
- Lack of powerful gaming performance
Where to Buy
This product is available on Amazon.
LG Gram
Features
In being lightweight and portable, the LG Gram is one of the best laptops for coding in this list. It weighs less than 2.5 pounds and features a slim body that lets you carry it anywhere without difficulty. Despite the lightweight and slim design, it comes with a large 15.6″ full HD IPS LCD screen for maximum visibility.
The laptop is powered by an Intel 8th Generation i5-8250 CPU to provide ample power for programming any application. It includes large storage of 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD that allows fast execution of multiple programs seamlessly. The 72Wh lithium battery provides a life of up to 19 hours. It also has a 3.0 USB port and an HDMI port.
Pros
- Lightweight and portable
- 15.6″ full HP screen
- Large storage
- Up to 19 hours of battery life
- USB and HDMI port
Cons
- Lower disk space
- No graphics card
Where to Buy
This product is available on Amazon.
Dell Latitude E7470 Business Ultrabook
Features
Next on the list of the best laptops for coding is the Dell Latitude E7470 laptop, one of the most high-end laptops included on our list. It comes with a powerful Intel dual-core 6th Generation i106300U processor. With two cores, this CPU can operate up to 3.0 GHz, making it perfect for handling programming tasks.
The 14-inch HD screen is large enough to reduce squinting and eye strain and comes with anti-glare LCD technology to prevent eye fatigue. It does not come with a graphics card, but includes integrated Intel HD graphics, so it’s perfect for programming and coding but may not be ideal for gaming.
It includes 8GB of DDR4 memory and a 256GB SSD that makes information retrieval fast and smooth. The built-in keyboard is designed for comfort throughout hours of programming use.
Pros
- Powerful dual-core processor
- Anti-glare LCD screen
- Plenty of storage space
- Comfortable keyboard
Cons
- No graphics card
- The screen is smaller than other models
Where to Buy
This product is available on Amazon.
Microsoft Surface Pro 6
Features
The Microsoft Surface Pro is both a laptop and tablet in one. This laptop is ultra-slim, weighing only 1.7 pounds, making it lightweight and portable. It comes with a 12.3-inch screen that reaches a maximum resolution of 2,736 x 1,824 pixels and includes Intel UHD Graphics 620.
It runs on a quad-core 5th generation Intel Core i5-i7, providing enough power for coding. The 8-16GB of RAM and 128-1TB SSD provide ample storage for all applications. The battery life can last all day with up to 13.5 hours of video playback. This laptop also comes with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.
Pros
- Relatively affordable
- Quad-core processor
- Laptop and tablet in one
- High-resolution screen
- Plenty of storage
- Long-lasting battery
Cons
- Type screen is an additional cost
- No graphics card
- No USB-C
Where to Buy
This product is available on Amazon.
Lenovo 15.6″ ThinkPad E580
Features
The performance and speed of the Lenovo Thinkpad E580 make it one of the best laptops for coding at an affordable price. It has a 15.6″ full HD display with a maximum resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels for maximum visibility. The screen includes anti-glare matte technology to reduce eye fatigue and damage.
It is equipped with a powerful 8th generation Intel i7 processor that allows it to handle even Android and game coding. The hybrid storage is comprised of 16GB DDR4 RAM and 1TB SSD, allowing faster data access and booting. This laptop has a full-size, ergonomic keyboard that has the optimum key travel for maximum comfort while coding.
It also undergoes strict testing for vibration, quality, and dustproof capabilities and includes an innovative cool palm rest. It comes with Windows 10 professional 64-bit installed.
Pros
- Powerful processor
- 15.6″ full HD display with anti-glare matte
- Large hybrid storage
- Cool palm rest
Cons
- The top holds fingerprint markings easily
- Touchpoint mouse may impede typing
Where to Buy
This product is available on Amazon.
Acer Aspire E 15
Features
The Acer E15 is the most affordable laptop on this list, with a large 15.6″ HD widescreen that has a maximum resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. It supports high performance with a powerful 8th generation Intel i5 processor. The 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD provide fast booting and application speed.
The easy-open window on the back side makes upgrading the RAM and SSD quick and easy. It also comes with the NVIDIA GeForce 150MX GPU with GDDR5 2GB of video memory, making it perfect for handling gaming applications. The 13.5-hour battery life allows for long periods of coding without plugging into a power source.
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Graphics card
- Powerful processor
- 15.6″ HD screen
- Ample storage
- Long battery life
Cons
- Not best for gaming
- Mediocre audio output
Where to Buy
This product is available on Amazon.
Lenovo Yoga 710-15
Features
Last but not least on this list of best laptops for coding is the Lenovo Yoga 710, which features a large 15.6″ HD display with touchscreen technology. It is backlit with LED lighting, features IPS technology, and comes with Intel HD Graphics 620. It also can be flipped and folded.
It comes with a 7th Generation Intel Core i5-7200U processor that operates at 2.5GHz. One notable feature is the turbo boost, which allows the processor to reach a clock speed of 3.1GHz. The laptop comes with 8GBs of DDR4 RAM that is expandable to 16GB and 256GB SSD. The four-cell lithium polymer battery delivers an average of eight hours of battery life.
Pros
- 15.6″ HD display
- Powerful processor
- Turbo boost feature
- Long battery life
Cons
- Customers report problems with screen reliability
- No graphics card
Where to Buy
This product is available on Amazon.
The Verdict
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After comparing the specifications of each of these laptops, we choose the Lenovo ThinkPad E580 as the best laptop for coding. This laptop is affordable and includes a large screen with HD resolution and anti-glare matte technology, a powerful processor, and hybrid storage.
Not only that, it includes extra features such as a cool palm rest and an ergonomic full-size keyboard with the optimum key travel for user comfort. The minor disadvantages to this laptop are far outweighed by the great features, and its affordability makes it perfect for any programmer to use.