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 With equipment that is outdated or slow, you will spend too much time waiting for things to be checked and then, when it is finally over, you will have to do it all over again when you make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)
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
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)
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
- BIGGER SCREEN, SMALLER FOOTPRINT - The HP 17.3 inch Laptop PC is about sustainability while blending performance and comfort
- THOUGHTFULLY CRAFTED - Crafted with sustainable, post-consumer recycled plastics and a comfortable, lifted keyboard so it feels good on your mind and...
- POWER THROUGH - Multitasking is easy and fast with the performance of an 12th Generation Intel Core i5-1235U processor, powerful graphics and speedy...
- EXPAND YOUR VIEW - Expansive 17.3-inch HD+ BrightView screen displays your photos, movies and games with the crisp quality of 1.4 million pixels
- STORAGE FOR YOUR MEMORIES - 512 GB solid-state drive storage is 15x faster than a traditional hard drive and has plenty of room to store your precious...
- 【Memory & Storage】Memory is 8GB high-bandwidth RAM to smoothly run multiple applications and browser tabs all at once. Hard Drive is 256GB PCIe...
- 【Processor】11th Gen Intel Core i3-1115G4 Dual-Core 3.0GHz Processor (6MB Intel Smart Cache, up to 4.10GHz) Intel UHD Graphics
- 【Screen】15.6" HD Touchscreen (1366 x 768) Display
- 【Ports】2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1 x USB 2.0 Type-A, 1 x HDMI, 1 x Combination Audio Jack, 1 x Multi-format SD Media Card Reader, Wireless-AC...
- 【Operating System】Windows 11 Home
- 【11th Gen Intel Core i3-1125G4 】3 GHz base frequency, up to 3.7 GHz with Intel Turbo Boost Technology, The 11th gen dual-core laptop brings the...
- 【17.3" HD+(1600x900) Anti-Glare LED IPS Non-Touch Display】17.3-inch diagonal, HD+, BrightView, 220 nits, 60% NTSC，boasts impressive color and...
- 【Upgraded Powerful Storage】16 GB DDR4 RAM, 1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD. Reams of high-bandwidth DDR4 RAM to smoothly run your graphics-heavy PC games...
- 【Win 11 S mode】You may switch win 11 S mode to the regular win 11: Update Microsoft App Store to the latest version. Press "Start button" bottom...
- 【External ports and Slots】2 SuperSpeed USB Type-A 5Gbps signaling rate; 1 USB 2.0 Type-A; 1 HDMI 1.4b; 1 RJ-45; 1 AC smart pin; 1...
- 【Upgraded to 32GB memory for full-power multitasking】 Plenty of high-bandwidth RAM to smoothly run your games and photo- and video-editing...
- 【Upgraded to 1TB SSD】Provides massive storage space for huge files, so that you can store important digital data and work your way through it with...
- 【Intel Core i3-1125G4】4-Core, 8 Threads, Base Clock 2.0GHz, Max. Boost Clock Up to 3.7GHz. Intel UHD Graphics.
- 【17.3" HD+ Display with Webcam&Mic】17.3-inch diagonal HD SVA BrightView micro-edge WLED. Webcam with Mic. Bundled with ROKC HDMI Cable.
- 【Connectivity】1 SuperSpeed USB Type-C, 2 SuperSpeed USB Type-A, 1 headphone/microphone combo, 1 HDMI 1.4b, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 【Windows 11 Home】
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti 4GB GDDR6 Graphics up to 1585MHz at 60W (75W with Dynamic Boost 2.0)
- Intel Core i5-11400H Processor (12M Cache, up to 4.5 GHz, 6 Cores)
- 15.6” 144Hz Full HD (1920x1080) IPS-Type display
- 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD | 16GB DDR4 3200MHz RAM | Windows 11 Home
- Durable MIL-STD-810H military standard construction
- Powerful Productivity: 11th Generation Intel Core i3-1115G4 Dual Core processor delivers unmatched speed and intelligence, enabling impressive...
- Visibly Stunning: Experience sharp details and crisp colors on the 15.6" Full HD IPS display with 82.58% screen-to-body, 16:9 aspect ratio and narrow...
- Ergonomic Typing: Ergonomically-designed hinge lifts the keyboard for comfortable typing, improved cooling, and a better sound experience
- Internal Specifications: 4GB DDR4 on-board memory (1 slot available); 128GB NVMe solid-state drive storage (1 hard drive bay available) to store your...
- Acer's Purified.Voice technology, features enhanced digital signal processing to cancel out background noise, improve speech accuracy and far-field...
- Robust performance : Intel Core i7-1165G7, 4 Cores & 8 Threads, 2.8GHz Base Frequency, Up to 4.70GHz Max Turbo Frequency, 96 EU Intel Iris Xe...
- Full HD Display : 14'' FHD (1920x1080) 250nits Anti-glare, micro-edge. Small and delicate body still with a full HD screen, taking into account the...
- Upgraded to 20GB DDR4 RAM : Substantial high-bandwidth RAM to smoothly run your games and photo- and video-editing applications, as well as multiple...
- Upgraded to 1TB NVMe SSD : Speedy solid-state drive for seanless performance and reliable multitasking, allows you to store a large number of files,...
- I/O Ports : 1 x USB-A 2.0, 1 x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, 1 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 (Support Data Transfer Only), 1 x HDMI 1.4b,1 x Card reader, 1 x...
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.