Best Laptops for proggramming 2020

 Programming can be done on many different types of machines but many programmers want something more than just a basic laptop. Screen size is really important when selecting a laptop for programming. You'll get more on a 14-inch screen and higher than a smaller one (it's easier to read through code and make GUI adjustments. Of course, with a bigger display you sacrifice portability).

 

The best laptops for programming are much more than devices that can run code editors. While you don't necessarily need a powerful machine for programming on, spending a little more on a device with plenty of RAM and a modern multi-core processor can really pay off, as they are able to compile code much more quickly. And, the less time you have to spend waiting for your laptop to complete complex tasks, the more time you have to do other things – such as take on more projects.

The best laptops for programming will help you test and run the apps, websites or games you've created with ease (jump to the in-depth what to consider section for more information). With this in mind, we've rounded up the best laptops that coders and developers can use for day-to-day work.

Bear in mind that ergonomics make a big difference if you're going to be at your machine for hours on end – as most of us are. It's a good idea to complement your laptop with some top accessories too, to get the best out of it. Check out our guides to the best keyboard, the best mouse and best monitor.

1. MacBook Pro MPXV2LLA

This Apple MacBook Pro  happens to be the first on my list considering its speed, strength and well placed shape design(beautiful). It hard to determine the best computer/laptop for programmng especially when you have to consider several factors, but, nevertheless, this Apple MacBook Pro MPXV@LLA has to be considered a great for those who wants to bomb into massive programming jobs.

Details:

CPU: 10th generation Intel Core i3 - i7 | Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 13.3-inch (diagonal) 2,560 x 1,600 LED-backlit display with IPS technology | Storage: 256GB – 2TB SSD | Dimensions: 11.97 x 8.36 x 0.63 inches (30.41 x 21.24 x 1.61cm; W x D x H).

After a much-needed refresh, the MacBook Pro MPXV@LLA has had a few choice updates that makes it one of the best laptops for programming in 2020. New 10th generation Intel processors in the 2020 model are much faster, which speeds up the time it takes to compile code - which will have a big impact on your workflow. The new MacBook Pro is also as portable as ever, with a seriously lightweight design that makes it easy to carry around with you - and perfect for programmers who do a lot of travelling.

However, it's important to note that the entry level model of MacBook Air (2020) doesn't come with the new Intel 10th generation processors. Instead, it sticks with 8th generation processors and slower RAM, making it not as good a graphic design laptop as the more expensive models.

2. Dell XPS 15

If you're after the best laptop for programming, then we can't recommend the Dell XPS 15 (2020) strongly enough. Dell's latest flagship laptop is about as close to perfect as you can get, packing some of the very latest components into a thin and light design that's as gorgeous to look at as it is easy to carry around.

Details:

CPU: 10th-generation Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics - Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Ti | RAM: 8GB – 64GB | Screen: 15.6" FHD+ (1920 x 1200) IPS - UHD+ (3840 x 2400) | Storage: 256GB – 1TB SSD

It comes with a stunning 15.6-inch display, which can come in a range of very high resolutions, which makes it an excellent choice for graphic designers who are looking to buy a new laptop. It's got some of the most powerful mobile components on the market right now, including a discrete graphics card in some configurations, which means this can compile code incredibly fast - making it one amongst the best laptops that every programmer will want.

3.   Dell Inspiron 14 5000

The Dell Inspiron 14 5000 is a great all-round laptop for programming. There are three key things to look for if you want a great modern laptop – a Full HD (1,920x1,080) IPS display, a quad-core processor (at least) and speedy SSD storage. Aside from that, it’s easy to get fixated on bells and whistles when talking about laptops but many coding tasks don’t require anything particularly exotic.

Details:

CPU: Intel Core i5-8265U (quad core, 3.9GHz Max Turbo Boost) | Graphics: NVIDIA GeForceR MX150 2GB GDDR5 | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 256GB SSD | Size: 32.4x23.2x1.9cm | Weight: 1.48kg | OS: Windows 10

Dell’s Inspiron 14 5000 ticks all these boxes, and guarantees great running performance and an excellent system for all computing tasks, including more taxing processing jobs. The starting specification gets you the aforementioned high-resolution display, a quad-core Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of memory and a 256GB SSD, with a sleek build and a starting price that really isn’t too extortionate. Go up a level and there’s 1TB of storage and a Core i7 processor. There's also a 2-in-1 version of this machine, but that's not what i'm referring to here on this blog post

4.  Huawei MateBook 13

For a (relatively) modest asking price, you’re getting all the power of a Core i5 or Core i7, a crisp, bright, high-resolution 13-inch display, and loads of SSD storage. It makes Apple (and other high-end manufacturers) look like thieves. When it comes to portability, performance and price, this is a brilliant all-rounder for newbies programmers or even experts who wants to save much.

Details:

CPU: 8th generation Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 , Nvidia GeForce MX150 2GB GDDR5 | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 256GB - 512GB SSD | Size: 21.1x28.6x1.2cm | Weight: 1.3kg | OS: Windows 10

It is no doubt that Huawei stormed into the phone market with its excellent, competitively priced range of handsets, and now it’s done it again with laptops: this portable has great specs for coding work.

What’s more, it’s super portable too, weighing just 1.3kg and less than 1.5cm thick. This is worth a look before considering anything else.

5. Microsoft Surface Laptop 3

As it comes from Microsoft, the Surface Laptop 3 effectively offers a pure Windows 10 experience, making it a benchmark for testing and developing Windows software. It has a great design, a solid aluminium shell and a very comfortable keyboard. Windows programming on Microsoft’s own hardware...

Details:

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
 

The newest version comes in matte black and offers fairly meaty specifications, with a Core i7, up to 16GB of memory, 1TB SSD storage and a high-resolution 13.5-inch screen that works with Microsoft’s Surface Pen stylus.

There are a lot of other variants, too, meaning you can get the power that you want. It isn't as cheap as some options out there but you do get a superb laptop, now with USB-C.

6. MacBook Air

After a much-needed refresh, the Apple MacBook Air (2020) has had a few choice updates that makes it one of the best laptops for programming in 2020. Although it’s not quite the powerhouse the MacBook Pro is (or some high-end Windows laptops), it now has a bright Retina display, which is a great upgrade over the dated screen. A brilliant laptop for graphic design, that is what i will say.

Details:

CPU: 10th generation Intel Core i3 - i7 | Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 13.3-inch (diagonal) 2,560 x 1,600 LED-backlit display with IPS technology | Storage: 256GB – 2TB SSD | Dimensions: 11.97 x 8.36 x 0.63 inches (30.41 x 21.24 x 1.61cm; W x D x H)

New 10th generation Intel processors in the 2020 model are much faster, which speeds up the time it takes to compile code - which will have a big impact on your workflow. The new MacBook Air is also as portable as ever, with a seriously lightweight design that makes it easy to carry around with you - and perfect for programmers who do a lot of travelling.

However, it's important to note that the entry level model of MacBook Air (2020) doesn't come with the new Intel 10th generation processors. Instead, it sticks with 8th generation processors and slower RAM, making it not as good a graphic design laptop as the more expensive models.

7. Asus Zenbook UX-430

Despite dated stereotypes of programmers being stuck in bedrooms and offices, many coders see the profession as highly sociable – whether it’s working together on group projects, or attending one of the numerous workshops and conferences that exist all over the country. Asus Zenbook UX-430 is portable and affordable, the Zenbook is a great laptop for programming too.

Details:

CPU: 2.4-2.7GHz Intel Core i3-i7 | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce 940MX | RAM: 4-16GB | Storage: 128-512GB | Size: 32.4x22.5x1.59cm | Weight: 1.25kg | OS: Windows 10 Home Pro

In that case, you might prefer an alternative to the bulkier laptops we’ve suggested and instead, put portability at the top of your wish list. The 13-inch Asus Zenbook UX-430
is an ultraportable option – weighing just 1.25kg and measuring 15.9mm – without a massive price tag. However, even though the Zenbook is slim and well priced, it has a specification that’s still great for coding work.

8. Google Pixelbook Go

For Android developers, a Chromebook  might seem a natural choice for the best possible integration with Google’s software and services, with full support for running Android software natively. However, many Chromebooks are designed to be highly affordable, with lower-spec features and performance suffering to bring the price down. An excellent Android development platform capable of running full-fat Linux

Details:

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

The Pixelbook Go is an upgrade from more basic models, designed to compete with the bigger laptop manufacturers. It still runs ChromeOS, which supports Google’s Android Studio development tools, but the hardware is right up there with a standard Windows laptop. You can also run Linux apps as well.

The Pixelbook Go is certainly the best Chromebook ever made. It packs some impressive hardware, including an Intel Core i7 processor, a choice of 8GB or 16GB RAM and a large and vibrant 1,920 x 1,080 screen or 4K touch screen if you really want to show off.

9. HP Envy 13

The latest HP Envy 13 is a great pick for programmers. HP recently made big changes to this popular 13-inch laptop by reducing the size and weight. Coupled with a high-quality touch-sensitive display, it’s both powerful and super portable. A premium all-metal laptop for coding work.

Details:

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

Perhaps the most noteworthy change is the stunning all-metal design, covering the keys and around the screen area that absolutely earns this laptop the ‘Envy’ moniker.
The keyboard has plenty of travel, with page up and down keys, and the trackpad is large enough to be extremely comfortable - both critical aspects of a laptop for long coding sessions.

10. HP Pavilion DM4 1060US

HP Pavilion DM4-1060US is a Windows 7 laptop with a 14.00-inch display that has a resolution of 1366x768 pixels. This is old i know, but believe me, it is worth the list greatly. I have used this kind of laptop(precisely the with Beats Audio) for over 6days non-stop, expecially when running my machine learning experiments on some enormous data species. That is whether it is a web development, mobile development programming jobs, you are good to go.

Details:

CPU: 2nd generation Intel Core i5 | Graphics: Intel Graphics | RAM: 4GB - 6GB | Screen: Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) | Storage: 320HHD  - 500HHD

This will is the end of our list of best laptops used for programming - 2020. It is comprehensive, yet we can assure you that there are some great laptops which are strong and effective in this field/job.

 

The Question is:

What to look for when choosing a laptop for Programming:

Memory is also key. Heavyweight development environments such as Visual Studio will run better with a healthy dollop of RAM and we'd recommend considering a minimum of 8GB but 16GB ideally.

Factors to consider when purchasing a laptop for your programming job(s):

• Processor Speed, e.g: 2.5GHertz
• Memory (RAM) e.g: 6GB of RAM
• Screen Size (Display) e.g: 14Inchs
• Battery e.g: 5hours duration
• Others includes: Design(Shape), Backlight on Keyboard(night usage), Updated OS(like for windows, window 7 has goon out of date i.e no maintenance from principal company).
  

And remember it's a good idea to use an operating system that's aligned with your goals. Want to develop in Xcode for the iPhone, iPad and Mac? Then you're going to need a Mac.

 

Also consider getting an Intel Core i5 processor as a minimum – that level of power isn't exceptional but it will guarantee you enough performance, especially if you're doing things like working with complex website layouts that have a lot of background code. 

Large, complex programs compile faster with a faster processor.

Graphics can also be key depending on the development work you're doing. If you're working with game development in an environment such as Unreal Engine or Unity then you need to consider the graphical requirements of those apps.