A laptop is an essential tool for any web developer and programmer who wants a powerful machine to work on. The performance of the device is the very important best laptops for computer programming, and it should also be portable enough to make it convenient for the user to work almost anywhere they want.
If your work is related to the compilation of codes and test out the games you are working on, then you might not need a laptop to work on. The only feature that will help you do your work efficiently is ram and processor. You must go for a higher ram and the latest process to give your performance a boost. Laptops with high ram are mostly recommended as they are able to compile the code more quickly.
The lesser time it would take to complete your tasks, the more time you will have to spend on other things such as focusing on bringing more projects. Good graphics cards will also be important for web and game developers as they can work on graphically intensive projects and test the games they have made. The best laptops for computer programming will help you test and run the games, apps, and websites you’ve created with convenience.
A USER GUIDE TO BUY THE BEST PROGRAMMING LAPTOP
Picking up one of the cheapest laptops would not be a good thing if you are looking for something which can help you with your programming needs. Buying a computer, depending on what kind of programs you are developing, might actually help you in finding a good one.
However, the best laptops for computer programmers are ones that have a processor with 4 or more cores, at least 8GB of RAM, and of course, a good SSD. All these specifications allow you to compile your codes quickly, saving you time for other projects.
It is very easy for a programmer to compare the specifications in the table to buy the best laptop. However, one parameter you cannot find in the specification sheet is the keyboard. You’re going to be typing a lot as a programmer, so the keyboard is going to be just as important as all the specifications combined. Taking all these factors under consideration, here is a shortlist of the best laptops for computer programmers that might be best for your work.
| Image | Name | Price |
|---|---|---|
 | Lenovo ThinkPad | Check price |
 | ASUS VIVOBOOK S THIN & LIGHT LAPTOP | Check price |
 | GOOGLE PIXELBOOK GO | Check price |
 | HP SPECTRE 360 | Check price |
 | ASUS ZENBOOK PRO | Check price |
Lenovo ThinkPad
If your programming requires you to do tones of code compilation at work, then the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme is the best laptop for you. This powerful laptop is a complete winner in the market of notebooks for computer programmers for many reasons.
It comes with several handy specifications, depending on your requirements and budget. The most basic variant already is pretty powerful, packed with a high-end graphics card in a carbon fiber and aluminum package fit to survive in any environment.
By offering this model in the market, Lenovo has given the kind of computing experience on assuming is only possible with a powerful desktop packed in a large box. Lenovo succeeded in building a powerful portable workstation for computer programmers.
The Lenovo ThinkPad P1 is ideal for those who need a powerful workstation to program. This model offers professional-grade Xeon processors with up to six cores, an NVIDIA QUADRO T2000 graphics card, and up to 64GB of memory for quick coding.
The SSD storage can be increased up to 4TB for high performance. Lenovo ThinkPad is also offering a 15.6-inch 4K display, which is not only color accurate but touch-sensitive too. It is a great and powerful workstation, capable of performing all kinds of visual design work and heavy processor-intensive tasks also.
Lenovo ThinkPad Features
- Computer Memory Size: 16 GB CPU
- Model Manufacturer: Intel
- CPU Speed: 2.2 GHz
- Display Resolution Maximum: 1920×1080
- Screen Size: 15.6 inches
- Hard Disk Size: 512 GB
- Item Dimensions: 20.00 x 12.50 x 3.00 inches
- Item Weight: 6.00 lbs
- Operating System: Windows 10 Pro
- Processor Count: 6
- RAM Type :DDR4 SDRAM
ASUS VIVOBOOK S THIN & LIGHT LAPTOP
It is sporadic to find laptops with bold colors and designs these days, thanks to Asus VIVOBOOK for offering something slightly different to the market. It comes with a long-range of color choices and highlights, making this product different from mainstream laptops.
ASUS VIVOBOOK is a classy, sleek, and portable laptop that will look perfect in the hands of computer programmers. Given the funky looks and the price, one might think that Asus lacks in terms of features to make up for the aesthetics, but that is not the case. It offers so many different colors on a laptop. However, our prime focus here is on its performance for computer programmers.
The VIVOBOOK S thin & light comes with an Intel Core i7-8550U processor, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, GeForce Graphics card, making it one of the most influential and portable laptops available in the market today.
Furthermore, the VIVOBOOK S has a very unique Ergo Lift hinge design, which basically lifts the keyboard of the computer by a few degrees once it is opened for better typing.
The reason behind this laptop being so popular and attractive among computer programming students is the perfect combination of substance and good looks. Imagine running Visual studio, Eclipse, and NetBeans at their peak performance on this light-up machine.
It catches the attention of everybody around it. However, the only drawback of this laptop is its battery life. It hardly runs for 2 hours when running heavy programs, making it annoying to those who don’t like it all wired up.
ASUS VIVOBOOK S THIN & LIGHT LAPTOP Features
- Display size: 15.6-inch Full HD
- Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels
- Processor: 8th Generation Intel i5-8550U
- RAM Memory: 8GB DDR4 RAM
- Graphics Card: Intel Graphics
- Storage (SSD)Storage: 256GB SSD NVME
- Battery life: 5 Hours of Battery Life
GOOGLE PIXELBOOK GO
Google pixelbook is the highest performing Chromebook by google. It is the first-ever laptop with the built-in google assistant. Just press the google assistant button on your keyboard or say “Ok Google,” the google assistant is ready for help.
The pixelbook is offering a 7th generation Intel core i5 processor, 8GB ram, and 128GB storage for high performance. It comes with a long-life battery, which can go up to 10 hours of usage, and the fast charging allows you to use it for further 2 hours by only a 15-minute charging time.
Google Pixelbook is an excellent platform for web developers to carry out their coding more conveniently and professionally. This model is an upgrade for the more basic needs of a computer programmer and web developer, designed to compete with the more significant laptop manufacturers of the industry.
This variant still runs ChromeOS and supports google web development tools. However, hardware updates have been made to help programmers work more efficiently and save time.
There is no doubt that Pixelbook is the best Chromebook ever made. It packs some high-end hardware, including an Intel Core i7 processor, a choice between 8GB or 16GB RAM, and a color vibrant 4K screen if you want to show off.
GOOGLE PIXELBOOK GO Features
- CPU: 1.2GHz Intel Core i5
- Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 615
- RAM: 16GB
- Screen: 12.3-inch
- Storage: 256GB SSD
- Ports : 2x USB-C
- Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.2
- Cameras: 720p webcam
- Weight: 2.4 pounds (1.1kg)
- Size:11.4 x 8.7 x 0.4 inches
HP SPECTRE 360
HP Spectre 360 2-in-1 is one of the top advanced laptops for computer programmers who work as data analysts or the people who play with data in huge quantities. It offers an HP digital pen which enhances accuracy and advances your creativity to a whole new level.
You can calculate, write as well as sketch quickly with the all-new Spectre 360. This variant increases your programming abilities and gives a pleasant practical sense.
The HP Spectre has had a big upgrade in hardware specifications for 2021. It is offering 10th-generation Intel Core processors and Intel Iris Plus graphics card to help compile the code for programmers more conveniently.
Moreover, with the flawless 2-in-1 design and unmarked gem-cut chassis, the new variant has paved its path to becoming one of the top portable powerhouse laptops for programmers.
The HP Spectre series has always been critical when it comes to their performance. Therefore, when we say that the HP Spectre 360 takes things to a whole new level, we mean it.
Specter 360 is not only the most attractive and mesmerizing laptop in the market – with its gem cut design and sleek body, but also powerful on the inside. HP fitted all this hardware into a slim metal design with long battery life to make it more comfortable for the programmer to take advantage of its portability.
HP SPECTRE 360 Features
- CPU: 1.3GHz Intel Core i7
- Graphics: Intel Iris Plus
- RAM: 16GB
- Screen: 13.3-inch 4K
- Storage: 512GB SSD
- Ports: 1x USB-A 3.1, 2x USB-C 3.1
- Connectivity: Intel Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5
- Weight: 2.87 pounds
- Size: 12.04 x 7.66 x 0.67 inches
ASUS ZENBOOK PRO
Asus Zenbook came with a lot of new features and improved specifications. However, the wild-looking second screen is the reason that differentiates it from other laptops and gives it a name. It is not the first laptop featuring dual screens.
However, unlike many other companies, Asus found its way to create it shockingly for everyone. Asus, instead of wasting the front space for its logo, has filled it with a second 14’’ inch, IPS “ScreenPad Plus” screen. However, the ZenBook Pro Duo is not just a pair of fancy display screens; it is also a high-end performing laptop.
To make it efficient for programmers, it offers Intel’s best Core i9 laptop processor, 32GB DDR4 ram, NVIDIA RTX 2060 GPU, and a mesmerizing 4K LED panel for the main display screen. Increased performance is the PCIe 4.0 support, WIFI 6, and Rapid LAN ports, which help improve the command transfer speed and processing, which is essential for a computer programmer.
Unfortunately, with all these high-end specifications, the ZenBook Pro Duo still runs hot. The top-tier processor, high graphics card, and the absolute amount of pixels it has to push between the two continually running screens are the reasons behind heating up.
ASUS ZENBOOK PRO Features
- CPU: Intel Core i9
- Display: 15.6-inch 4K
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti
- Dimensions: 365mm x 251mm x 18.9mm
- Weight: 1.88kg
- Memory Up to 16GB
- Storage:1TB or 512GB PCIe SSD
- Ports: 2x USB Type-A, 2x USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C
- Battery10 hours
BUYERS GUIDE:
There are a few things one must take into consideration before buying a laptop:
Mobility:
Laptops come in different shapes and sizes. You need to find out the perfect size as per your requirements to be efficient on it.
Display:
The screen of a laptop is one of the most important features for programmers as programming involves staring at the screen for long periods. Sometimes you need to pay attention to details.
Processing Power (CPU):
The processor has great significance in boosting your performance. We would recommend the latest processor that will help you compile your codes more efficiently.
Memory (RAM):
Minimum, 8 GB ram, is recommended to run your functions smoothly. If you have excess cash, go for 16GB.
Storage type and capacity:
Getting an SSD should be your top priority. It will give you significant improvements in performance over a regular hard drive. Each operation will be a lot faster with an SSD than a standard hard drive.
Frequently Asked Question
What are the Best Laptops for Computer Programming in 2021?
- Lenovo ThinkPad X1
- Asus VIVOBOOK Thin & Light Laptop
- GOOGLE PIXELBOOK GO Programming Laptop
- HP SPECTRE 360
- Asus ZENBOOK Pro Best Performance Laptops for Computer Programming
Which is Better: A Laptop or Computer for Programming?
Both of them have their own drawbacks and advantages. The desktop offers better performance and is easily upgradeable. Meanwhile, the laptops are portable and come with a battery.
Is 16 GB of RAM Enough for Programming?
For the major development tasks, the 16GB ram is enough. Even its best choice for a game developer who deals with higher graphics.