10 Best Laptops for Software Development – 2024 Buying Guide

People who work with software development know how much of a difference the laptop can make. With equipment that is outdated or slow, you will spend too much time waiting for things to be checked and then, when it is finally over, you will have to do it all over again when you make the corrections. Technology is improving every single day, and you can make your impact on it, only if you have the right laptop.

If you are looking to buy a new laptop that will help you finish your tasks faster and easier, you probably know there are too many types available on the market. Some of them offer the features you need and some will just make a hole in your pocket without giving you what you need.

To help you find the best equipment for software development that will stand the test of time, we created this buying guide. Use it to find what you need according to your budget.

1. Lenovo ThinkPad P1 (Gen 2)

Source: gearopen.com

Specifications:

CPU: Six-Core Intel Core i7 / Xeon

Graphics: NVIDIA Quadro T1000-T2000

RAM: 8-64GB

Storage: 256GB-4TB

Size: 36.2×24.6x17mm

Weight: From 1.7kg

OS: Windows 10 Home / Pro

If you want to know what money can buy, well this is it. It is a device for the professionals as it is not only slim, but it is a powerhouse. Experts say that this laptop has one of the best displays and the only negative side is that it is about $2000. However, if you can afford it, you should get it.

2. Huawei MateBook 13

Source: consumer.huawei.com

Specifications:

CPU: 8th generation Intel Core i5 – i7

Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620, NVIDIA GeForce MX150 2GB GDDR5

RAM: 8GB

Storage: 256GB – 512GB SSD

Size: 21.1×28.6×1.2cm

Weight: 1.3kg

OS: Windows 10

It is said that this is the best device if you need something that is portable and that is affordable. The price varies depending on the features you choose, but you can find it for about $1000. The negative side is that the RAM is only 8GB, but that should be sufficient for most things. Another thing that you may not like is that it only has two USB ports, but that should not make a huge difference.

3. MacBook Pro (13-inch)

Source: techradar.com

Specifications:

CPU: 8th-generation Intel Core i5 – 8th-generation Intel Core i5

Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics 645 – 655

RAM: 8GB – 16GB

Screen: 13.3-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display with IPS technology; 2,560 x 1,600

Storage: 128GB – 2TB SSD

Dimensions (H x W x D): 30.41 x 21.24 x 1.49cm

If you’ve used MacBook pro before, you know what you are getting. It is a great laptop and it has a lot of power. It is something that software developers will love because of the extra graphic options and platinum.fund suggests that with the right team and experts, you won’t need a miracle to start your own business. This device will definitely help you make your dreams come true, and the only negative thing is that the keyboard may be too small for some.

4. Dell Inspiron 14 5000

Source: produto.mercadolivre.com.br

Specifications:

CPU: Intel Core i5-8265U (quad-core, 3.9GHz Max Turbo Boost)

Graphics: NVIDIA GeForceR MX150 2GB GDDR5

RAM: 8GB

Storage: 256GB SSD

Size: 32.4×23.2×1.9cm

Weight: 1.48kg

OS: Windows 10

If you have a limited budget, then you should opt for this device. It will cost you about $800 and you can finish most of your tasks with it. However, if you need something for 3D programming, this is not the right one for you. Users say that the screen is the best feature of it, but if you upgrade it on i7, then the storage will go down to 128GB.

5. HP Envy 13

Source: pcworld.com

Specifications:

CPU: 8th generation Intel Core i5-i7

Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620, NVIDIA GeForce MX150 2GB GDDR5

RAM: 8GB – 16GB

Screen: Full HD (1,920 x 1,080)

Storage: 256-512GB SSD

One of the few devices that scream luxury. It is a great laptop for programmers because it has probably the best keyboard on the market. It is pretty affordable as well, as it costs about $800. The laptop looks great and it will definitely get the job done.

6. Microsoft Surface Laptop 3

Source: techradar.com

Specifications:

CPU: Intel Core i5 – i7 / AMD Ryzen 5 / AMD Ryzen 7

Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics / AMD Radeon Vega 9 / AMD Radeon RX Vega 11

RAM: 8GB – 16GB

Screen: 13.5-inch PixelSense (2,256 x 1,504) / 15-inch PixelSense (2,496 x 1,664)

Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB or 1TB SSD

Probably the best choice for people who need something durable, as the battery life of this device cannot be compared with anything else on the market. It comes with a price of about $1200 and it is pretty affordable compared to the features. Users complain that there are not enough USB ports in it, but that is something that can be easily fixed.

7. HP Spectre Folio

Source: theverge.com

CPU: Intel Core i5-8200Y – Intel Core i7-8500Y

Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 615

RAM: 8-16GB

Storage: 256GB SSD

Users who want to show their style should choose this amazing device. It looks luxurious and it is priced as an item like that. It costs about $2000 and it features a 2 in 1 design.

8. Asus Zenbook UX-430

Source: techinstyle.asus.com

Specifications:

CPU: 2.4-2.7GHz Intel Core i3-i7

Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 940MX

RAM: 4-16GB

Storage: 128-512GB

Size: 32.4×22.5×1.59cm

Weight: 1.25kg

OS: Windows 10 Home Pro

The price of the device is something that will draw you in, as it comes for about $600 and you will fall in love with how lightweight and portable it is. It’s one of the few laptops that you can choose the color, but if you want a quad-core option, then this is not the right device for you. It is kind of a balance between price and additional features, so you will need to decide how much of a power you really need.

9. Google Pixelbook Go

Source: techradar.com

Specifications:

CPU: Intel Core m3 – Intel Core i7

Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 615

RAM: 8GB – 16GB

Screen: 13.3-inch Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) or 4K LCD touchscreen

Storage: 128GB – 256GB eMMC

Experts recommend this laptop as the best one for Android developers. It has a great battery that won’t leave you hanging when you need it the most. It comes with a great keyboard and it costs about $1000. The only negative is that you won’t be able to protect your files to the maximum, as it doesn’t offer biometric login.

10. Apple MacBook Air

Source: krsk.au.ru

Specifications:

CPU: 1.6GHz dual-core Intel Core i5

Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 617

RAM: 8GB – 16GB

Screen: 13.3-inch (diagonal) 2,560 x 1,600 LED-backlit display with IPS technology

Storage: 128GB – 1TB SSD

A great device that comes with a price tag of about $1200. Users say that display is the best feature of it and it is really portable. The few negatives are that it is not as powerful as it should be and it doesn’t have too many graphic options.

Do you have a favorite laptop? No matter which one of these you choose, you are not going to regret it. Every device will help you finish your work and it only depends on what you need and how big your budget is.

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FAQ:

Q: What is the best laptop for software development and editing?

A: Best for high-end gaming, best laptop for software development and editing with awesome sound quality. Acers’ new laptop Acer Aspire 5 comes with outstanding features. First, the look and feel are sleek and elegant. Next is the processor i.e. AMD Ryzen 7 3700U processor. The operating system used is Windows 10 Home 64-bit.

Q: What is the best looking laptop on the market?

A: 1 Dell XPS 15. The Dell XPS lineup has been an amazing, great-looking laptop lineup for many years. We prefer the XPS 15 over the XPS 13 because you can … 2 MacBook Air (M1) 3 ROG Zephyrus G15. 4 Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano.

Q: How to choose the best laptop for programming?

A: And for smooth work, they need a faster device than the normal one to deliver the best results. The best features to look for in a programming laptop are RAM of size 8 GB or more, with a 5th or 7th generation processor. Apart from this, consider a hassle-free typing keyboard that has soft touch.

Q: What kind of processor should I get for my laptop?

A: So stay focused on having Intel core based CPU in your laptop. The Intel Core processors come up in basic three different formats such as Core i3, Core i5, and Core i7 whereas you can also found out Intel Core i9 processor as well in some of the larger laptop options.