10 Best Laptops for Programming in 2024 [Expert Picks]

Laptops for programming are great for convenience. With the right one, you can code from practically anywhere at any time, even at your favorite cafe — or on a plane! And with the right specifications, you can compile and test your code, even if you’re working on a video game.

But with so many options available, it can be challenging to choose the right one. We’ve found the 10 best laptops for programming in 2024, including the latest MacBooks running Apple silicon chips and Windows machines running 12th-generation Intel chips (or the AMD equivalent).

Below, you’ll find a handy buying guide to help you choose the right machine for you. As a bonus, we’ve included our top contenders for the best computer for coding, including recommendations for various use cases, preferences, and budgets.

Let’s get right to it!

Featured Laptops for Programming [Editor’s Picks]

• MacBook Pro 16” M2 - The Best Laptop for Coding Overall
• Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3i Gen 7 - Best Mid-Range Coding Laptop
• Razer Blade 17 - Best for Gamers + Best Large Display
• MacBook Air 13” M2 - Best for Portability

The Importance of a Good Laptop for Programming

While it’s possible to use older laptops for programming, assuming they have enough RAM and decent overall specifications, most programmers want coding computers with enough processing power to compile and test their code efficiently.

Good laptops for coding will need to be very powerful for some programmers to handle intensive projects like game development.

Key Factors When Choosing a Laptop for Programming

Processor

Aim for 10th-gen Intel processors and up (or the AMD equivalent), and look for multi-core processors, as more cores mean more processing power. If you want to use a MacBook as a laptop for coding, M1 and M2 chips offer more than enough processing power, even at the base model.

RAM

We don’t recommend less than 8GB with Windows, but 16GB is the sweet spot. You can also upgrade to more for heavier workloads and multitasking. MacBooks running Apple silicon can get by on the default of 8GB for most use cases.

Graphics Card

Programmers won’t always need a discrete (separate) graphics card/video card/GPU. Integrated GPUs like Intel UHD graphics, Intel Iris Xe graphics, or AMD Radeon graphics are enough for general coding. The same goes for Macs with graphics cores integrated into their M1/M2 chips.

If you work on graphically intense projects, you’ll probably want a discrete GPU. At a minimum, we recommend the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30XX series (or the AMD equivalent).

Display

If you value portability, choose a laptop with an 11-13 inch screen (though we wouldn’t recommend less than 13”). To avoid eye strain and have more screen real estate, aim for 15” and up. You should also aim for a minimum of Full HD (FHD) 1080p, or 1920 x 1080 pixels.

Storage

We wouldn’t recommend below 512GB. If you need more storage, you can always expand to cloud or external storage solutions. 

Battery Life

If you know you’ll be on the move, then the best laptops for coding should offer you enough juice to last you through the day. This may be less important to you if you don’t think you’ll spend prolonged periods away from a power socket. 

Other Considerations When Choosing a Coding Laptop

• Operating System: Choosing the right operating system is essential as some tools are OS specific. Windows and macOS are the most common, but you can also install Linux.

• Build Quality and Durability: Choose a machine that is durable enough for your needs!

• Price and Value for Money: It can be tempting to spend more, but only do so if you can comfortably afford it.

• Portability and Weight: If you want to bring travel with your laptop, choose a small and lightweight model.

• Keyboard and Touchpad: The best laptops for software development will offer comfortable touchpads and keyboards. Subpar keyboards and touchpads will feel cheap and may ruin your experience while causing issues with ergonomics.

The 10 Best Programming Laptops in 2024: Our Top Recommendations

1. MacBook Pro 16” M2 - The Best Laptop for Coding Overall

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Why we chose this laptop:

The recently released 16” M2 Pro and M2 Max MacBook Pro is our choice for the best coding laptop overall.

This machine is definitely up there in price, but it’s incredibly powerful, has a glorious display, and comes in two powerful models. It’s also upgradeable to an insane 96GB of RAM and 8TB of storage, but unless you’ll be doing some extremely heavy work, the base M2 Pro model is more than enough.

One of the things we like most is that it’s loaded with ports, including HDMI and SDXC. And if you’re worried about being able to run Windows, you’ll be glad to know that running Windows 11 on Parallels is now officially supported.

Pros

• Amazing battery life
• Highly configurable (at greater cost)
• Beautiful display
• Tons of screen real estate
• Incredibly powerful
• Plenty of ports
• Supports multiple external displays

Cons

• Expensive
• No numpad
• Can feel bulky due to its size

2. Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3i Gen 7 - Best Mid-Range Coding Laptop

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Why we chose this laptop:

The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3i is one of the best laptops for IT professionals. It’s relatively affordable, configurable, and the RAM is user-upgradeable, which is good as it only has 8GB built in.

This laptop also has a discrete GPU that allows for gaming and other graphically-intense tasks. It even has a numpad to make coding easier, though Lenovo has made compromises on battery life and portability.

Pros

• Relatively affordable
• Has a numpad
• Plenty of screen real estate
• Configurable
• Discrete GPU

Cons

• Only 8GB RAM by default
• Subpar battery life
• On the heavy side

3. MacBook Pro 13” M2 - Best Balance Between Power and Portability

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Why we chose this laptop:

Users looking for the perfect mix between portability and power might enjoy the 13” MacBook Pro M2. This model is lightweight, offers amazing battery life, and provides enough power to do what you need. It’s also configurable with more RAM and storage if necessary.

This model has a slightly smaller display compared to the M2 MacBook Air, but it does have built-in cooling fans to ensure your machine runs optimally, no matter the workload.

Pros

• Powerful
• Configurable
• Portable
• Excellent battery life
• Built-in fans for cooling give this model an advantage over the MacBook Air

Cons

• Few ports
• No numpad
• 720p webcam
• Only supports 1 additional external display

4. Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 - Best for Windows Users

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Why we chose this laptop:

The most recent iteration of the Microsoft Surface Laptop comes in two sizes: 13.5” or 15”. Both feature a beautiful touchscreen display and integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics, and you’ll also have powerful 12th-generation Intel Evo chips within.

We included this laptop as it is incredibly portable and features amazing battery longevity. It’s a great choice if you don’t need a discrete GPU.

Pros

• Amazing battery life
• 2 sizes to choose from
• Powerful 12th-gen Intel CPUs
• Lightweight and portable

Cons

• Few ports
• Camera 720p only
• No discrete GPU

5. HP Spectre x360 16” - Best 2-in-1 Convertible

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Why we chose this laptop:

The HP Spectre x360 16” is in contention for the best software development laptop thanks to its powerful specifications. This machine stands out on our list thanks to its touchscreen and included stylus. If you’re looking for versatility, this laptop is one to consider.

The HP Spectre x360 also wins if you value battery life, with up to 17h of juice depending on usage. You also get a powerful 12th-gen i7 CPU and 16GB of RAM. The only drawback with this laptop is a lack of a discrete GPU, but that only matters if you need one.

Pros

• Plenty of ports
• Comes with a stylus
• Convertible
• Beautiful display
• Powerful
• Great battery life

Cons

• No discrete GPU
• No numpad

6. MacBook Air 13” M2 - Best for Portability

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Why we chose this laptop:

The MacBook Air M2 features an updated design that takes away the taper that Air clamshells featured in the past.

This model has a slightly larger display, a better webcam, and even more power than the previous M1 model. It’s the ultimate ultraportable, thanks to its amazing battery life and lightweight design.

Pros

• Extremely lightweight and portable
• Amazing battery life
• Configurable
• Powerful
• Beautiful display
• MagSafe 3 charging port
• 1080p webcam

Cons

• No numpad
• Midnight colorway is a fingerprint magnet
• Few ports
• No built-in cooling fans to prevent thermal throttling
• Only supports one external display

7. Dell XPS 13 9320 - Best Windows Ultraportable

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Why we chose this laptop:

For a laptop in the same segment as the MacBook Air, the Dell XPS 13 does a lot right. It’s a nifty Windows ultraportable, though its battery life doesn’t quite touch the MacBook Air’s. Nevertheless, this laptop is worth a look, especially with its beautiful display options.

Pros

• Lightweight, small, portable
• Comes in touch or non-touch
• Powerful
• Configurable

Cons

• Battery life is so-so
• Few ports
• 720p webcam
• No discrete GPU

8. Razer Blade 17 - Best for Gamers + Best Large Display

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Why we chose this laptop:

The Razer Blade 17 is in contention for best laptop for software development if you want a larger display. Not only will you get a 17.3” screen, you’ll also get it in QHD (2K) resolution.

You also get the choice between the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060, 3070ti, and 3080ti, giving you all the graphics power you need. With so much power, you should expect this machine to be battery-hungry, so plan to be near a power socket for prolonged use.

Pros

• Extremely powerful
• Tons of ports
• Beautiful display
• Great for gaming and game devs
• DDR5 RAM

Cons

• Battery life is quite short, around 3h
• DDR5 RAM expensive to upgrade
• No numpad on a laptop this size

9. MacBook Pro 14” M2 - A More Portable MacBook Pro Running M2 Pro/Max

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Why we chose this laptop:

The updated 14” MacBook Pro is essentially the smaller version of the 16” model. It’s still incredibly powerful and offers many of the same specifications and configurations as its bigger brother, while remaining more portable and lightweight.

It would be remiss of us not to include this machine on this list, as it’s certainly in contention for the best computer for coding.

Pros

• Smaller, more portable version of the 16” model
• More affordable than the 16” model
• Amazing display
• Incredibly powerful
• Plenty of ports
• Supports multiple external displays

Cons

• Still expensive
• No numpad

10. LG Gram 17 - An Ultraportable Laptop with a Large Display

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Why we chose this laptop:

The LG Gram 17 is a massive machine. At 17”, it has screen real estate to rival the Razer Blade 17, without the massive price tag to match.

For programmers who don’t do a ton of graphically-intensive tasks, the LG Gram 17 is a fantastic machine, especially considering that it’s a mere 3lbs!

Pros

• Amazing battery life
• Beautiful display
• Has a numpad
• Super lightweight for its size!
• Affordable considering the specs and display size

Cons

• No discrete GPU

Which Coding Laptop Should You Choose?

The right coding laptop for you depends on your specific needs. However, we do have a few recommendations:

• Best overall coding laptop: MacBook Pro 16” M2 (Pro/Max)
• Best Mac to balance portability and power: MacBook Pro 13” M2
• Best for Windows users: Microsoft Surface Laptop 5
• Best for portability: MacBook Air M2.
• Best convertible laptop: HP Spectre x360 16”
• Best for coders that want to game: Razer Blade 17

Want to find the best laptop for cyber-security? Check out:

The Best Laptops for Hacking

Conclusion

The best laptops for programming are those that suit your needs best. Remember that you don’t have to buy the most expensive or the most powerful machines for programming unless you really need the beefed-up specifications.

But if you want the best of the best, the MacBook Pro 16” is the one to beat — and if you want to code and game on a larger screen, we recommend the Razer Blade 17.

If you’re still unsure which model to buy, decide what you’ll need your machine for most, then take another look at our buying guide above!

Want to learn how to code? Check out:

The Best Coding Apps in 2024

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What Is the Best Laptop for Programming?

Some may only need a mid-range laptop, while others need extremely powerful machines featuring topped-out specifications and discrete GPUs. If you want the best overall programming laptop, check out the MacBook Pro 16” M2 (Pro/Max).

2. Do You Need a Powerful Laptop for Programming?

Not necessarily. Most mid-range laptops are capable of programming and compiling code efficiently. If you plan on working on game development or need to compile a ton of code, you might want a more powerful machine.

3. Which Laptop Processor Is Best for Programming?

Programmers benefit most from the newest higher-end processors available. Any multicore Intel processor 8th gen+ (or AMD equivalent) will work for those looking to spend less. Apple fans can rejoice as Apple silicon (M1, M2) also works great for coding.

4. What Laptop Screen Size Is Best for Programming?

This largely depends on personal preference. Larger displays mean more screen real estate, letting you display more content while reducing the strain on your eyes. However, if portability is significant, laptops with 11-13-inch displays can work well.

5. How Much RAM Do I Need for Programming?

4GB can be enough for basic programming, but we don't recommend going below 16GB if you want to multitask efficiently. 8GB is the lowest we would recommend for Windows users. For Mac users on Apple silicon, 8GB is fine, thanks to macOS-optimized M1/M2 chips, but more won’t hurt!

6. Which Laptop for Programming Is Best for You?

As you choose the best computer for programming for your specific situation, always remember to consider what you intend to use your laptop for. Don’t just think of what coding projects you’ll work on, but also consider things like general usage, multitasking, and other use cases. If you’d prefer to just get the latest and greatest, check out the MacBook Pro 16” M2 (Pro/Max).