By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
World of SoftwareWorld of SoftwareWorld of Software
  • News
  • Software
  • Mobile
  • Computing
  • Gaming
  • Videos
  • More
    • Gadget
    • Web Stories
    • Trending
    • Press Release
Search
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Advertise
  • Contact
Copyright © All Rights Reserved. World of Software.
Reading: The Best Laptops for Programmers in 2025
Share
Sign In
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
World of SoftwareWorld of Software
Font ResizerAa
  • Software
  • Mobile
  • Computing
  • Gadget
  • Gaming
  • Videos
Search
  • News
  • Software
  • Mobile
  • Computing
  • Gaming
  • Videos
  • More
    • Gadget
    • Web Stories
    • Trending
    • Press Release
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Advertise
  • Contact
Copyright © All Rights Reserved. World of Software.
World of Software > News > The Best Laptops for Programmers in 2025
News

The Best Laptops for Programmers in 2025

News Room
Last updated: 2025/04/08 at 10:06 PM
News Room Published 8 April 2025
Share
SHARE

No matter if you’re a programming hobbyist or a seasoned software engineer, you need a laptop that enables you to do your best development work fast. PCMag has been testing laptops for four decades, so we understand the unique demands that programming places on a computer. We review more than 100 laptops annually, giving our editors and analysts the expertise to cherry-pick the best laptops for programmers. MSI’s Prestige 16 AI Evo is our current favorite, striking a perfect balance between power and affordability with a gorgeous 4K OLED display, impressive battery life, and a surprisingly light design. But different developers have different needs, so we’ve selected a range of other options for every programming budget and workflow. In this article, you’ll find a detailed buying guide and spec-by-spec breakdown that’ll help you find the best laptop for programming for you.

Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks

EDITORS’ NOTE

April 8, 2025: We replaced Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 with its newer ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition as Best Ultraportable for Programming. Also, Dell’s XPS 16 (9640) replaces the company’s XPS 17 (9730), now as Best Premium Laptop for Programming. We tested and evaluated 33 new laptops for inclusion in this roundup for this update.

Best Laptop for Programming Overall

MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo

  • Surprisingly affordable and surprisingly light
  • Handsome 4K OLED display
  • Epic battery life
  • Ethernet port and SD card slot
  • Only one USB-A port
  • Stiff keyboard
  • Perfectly fine rather than professional workstation or gaming performance

The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo is an efficient and affordable content-creation laptop well suited for programming. The Prestige 16 AI Evo offers a stunning 4K OLED screen and a potent Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor, making for a powerful big-screen laptop prepared for the incoming AI wave. Its display is easy to read, its keyboard is comfortable for extended use, and its battery life is impressive. Top it off with a built-in Ethernet jack and an SD card slot, and the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo is currently the best laptop for most programmers.

We recommend the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo for most programmers thanks to its comfortable big-screen design, peppy performance, and relative affordability. However, it relies on the Core Ultra 7’s integrated graphics rather than a discrete graphics processing unit, making it less capable for gaming, CGI rendering, and local AI workloads that need a GPU instead of an NPU-equipped processor.

Class

Desktop Replacement, Business

Processor

Intel Core Ultra 7 155H

RAM (as Tested)

32 GB

Boot Drive Type

SSD

Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)

1 TB

Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested)

Screen Size

16 inches

Native Display Resolution

3840 by 2400

Panel Technology

OLED

Variable Refresh Support

None

Screen Refresh Rate

60 Hz

Graphics Processor

Intel Arc Graphics

Wireless Networking

Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth

Dimensions (HWD)

0.75 by 14.1 by 10 inches

Weight

3.31 lbs

Operating System

Windows 11 Home

Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)

18:55

Learn More

MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo Review

Apple MacBook Pro 16-Inch (2024, M4 Pro)

Best Mac for Apple Developers

Apple MacBook Pro 16-Inch (2024, M4 Pro)

  • Dominant content creation performance
  • More than 24 hours of battery life
  • Game-changing nano-texture display option
  • Thunderbolt 5 support
  • Helpful Center Stage webcam upgrade
  • Only a minor performance boost over M3 MacBooks
  • Strangely priced configuration
  • Nano-texture display is an optional extra

If you need a mobile workstation laptop with macOS and more powerful Apple silicon, you want the 16-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Pro. Outfitted with the power of the 14-core M4 Pro chip, a 20-core GPU, and an impressive 48GB of memory, this is a speedy and powerful platform for developers. It keeps the familiar design of the MacBook Pro, dresses it up in a new Space Black color, and revs the engine with enough power for the most demanding projects while adding Thunderbolt 5.

Programmers needing an Apple laptop that can handle big datasets and the most daunting workloads will crave the power of the 16-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Pro. The recently revised MacBook Pro design delivers best-in-class performance and more than 25 hours of battery life, making it the cream of the Apple crop and the best choice for coders who need real power.

Class

Workstation, Desktop Replacement

Processor

Apple M4 Pro (14-core)

RAM (as Tested)

48 GB

Boot Drive Type

SSD

Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)

2 TB

Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested)

Screen Size

16.2 inches

Native Display Resolution

3456 by 2234

Panel Technology

Mini LED

Variable Refresh Support

ProMotion

Screen Refresh Rate

120 Hz

Graphics Processor

Apple M4 Pro (20-core)

Wireless Networking

Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3

Dimensions (HWD)

0.66 by 14 by 9.8 inches

Weight

4.7 lbs

Operating System

Apple macOS Sequoia

Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)

25:52

Learn More

Apple MacBook Pro 16-Inch (2024, M4 Pro) Review

Dell Precision 5690 angle 1

Best Workstation Laptop for Programming

Dell Precision 5690

  • Stunning 4K OLED touch screen
  • Blazing performance for its size
  • Elegant build with snappy keyboard
  • Not quite as fast or expandable as heavier rivals
  • No USB-A ports or webcam shutter
  • Mega expensive, as most mobile workstations are

When you need extra horsepower in a laptop, you need a workstation like the Dell Precision 5690. Our current category favorite combines an AI-enhanced Intel Core Ultra processor and Nvidia RTX 5000 Ada professional graphics with a stunning 4K OLED touch screen. It’s not the lightest, but it is surprisingly portable for a workstation with ISV certifications and blazing performance. The Precision 5690 is our pick for the most demanding programming applications.

If you’re in the deep end of development and need massive processing and multitasking resources, the Dell Precision 5690 is the workstation we recommend. The only downside? This high-end solution comes at a steep price.

Class

Workstation

Processor

Intel Core Ultra 9 185H

RAM (as Tested)

32 GB

Boot Drive Type

SSD

Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)

512 GB

Secondary Drive Type

SSD

Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested)

512 GB

Screen Size

16 inches

Native Display Resolution

3840 by 2400

Panel Technology

OLED

Variable Refresh Support

None

Screen Refresh Rate

60 Hz

Graphics Processor

Nvidia RTX 5000 Ada

Graphics Memory

16 GB

Wireless Networking

Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth

Dimensions (HWD)

0.87 by 13.9 by 9.5 inches

Weight

4.46 lbs

Operating System

Windows 11 Pro

Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)

17:11

Learn More

Dell Precision 5690 Review

Lenovo ThinkPad E15 Gen 5

Best Budget Laptop for Programming

Lenovo ThinkPad E14 Gen 5

  • Reasonably priced
  • Long battery life
  • Gold standard ThinkPad keyboard
  • Thunderbolt 4 uncommon for the price
  • Just $50 for touch-screen upgrade
  • Three-year warranty as tested
  • Middling performance, even with Core i7
  • Screen needs more color
  • Tinny speakers

As budget systems go, the enterprise-ready Lenovo ThinkPad E14 Gen 5 is a cut above, earning its place on your desk with Lenovo’s gold-standard keyboard and a sturdy clamshell design. A few features are unexpectedly premium, like the Thunderbolt 4 port and the 1080p webcam. Regarding creature comforts, the design is strictly business, with a straightforward clamshell chassis and an optional touch screen. Still, basic isn’t bad when it comes with remarkable durability and long battery life. If you want an office-ready laptop for coding, the ThinkPad E14 Gen 5 is hard to beat.

The Lenovo ThinkPad E14 Gen 5 is an ideal balance of penny-pinching efficiency and project-ready capability. It’s ideal for a company dev team or solo programmer who needs to look professional on a shoestring without sacrificing the ability to produce quality work.

Class

Business

Processor

Intel Core i7-1355U

RAM (as Tested)

16 GB

Boot Drive Type

SSD

Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)

512 GB

Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested)

Screen Size

14 inches

Native Display Resolution

1920 by 1200

Panel Technology

IPS

Variable Refresh Support

None

Screen Refresh Rate

60 Hz

Graphics Processor

Intel Iris Xe Graphics

Wireless Networking

802.11ax, Bluetooth 5.2

Dimensions (HWD)

0.7 by 12.3 by 8.6 inches

Weight

3.11 lbs

Operating System

Windows 11 Pro

Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)

11:53

Learn More

Lenovo ThinkPad E14 Gen 5 Review

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 right angle

Best Ultraportable for Programming

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition

  • A nearly perfect portable PC
  • Remarkably light
  • Gorgeous 2.8K OLED display
  • Fine keyboard
  • Generous array of ports for its size and profile
  • No SD or microSD card slot
  • WWAN option not available yet

Lenovo’s latest ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 is, far and away, the best ultraportable for programming, especially for coding on the go. It weighs just 2.17 pounds, making it one of the lightest options available. The laptop features a gorgeous 2.8K OLED display for enhanced visual clarity and color coverage, and the excellent keyboard enables comfier long coding sessions. The X1 Carbon’s generous port selection enhances its versatility, and its impressive durability—passing MIL-STD 810H tests—ensures it can withstand many common travel hazards while coding in transit. No wonder it got a 5-star rating and an Editors’ Choice award!

Whether you’re a programmer needing a lightweight laptop for coding on the go or a developer requiring a comfortable keyboard and high-resolution display for detailed work, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition is an excellent choice for software developers.

Class

Business, Ultraportable

Processor

Intel Core Ultra 7 258V

RAM (as Tested)

32 GB

Boot Drive Type

SSD

Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)

512 GB

Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested)

Screen Size

14 inches

Native Display Resolution

2880 by 1800

Panel Technology

OLED

Variable Refresh Support

Manual

Screen Refresh Rate

120 Hz

Graphics Processor

Intel Arc Graphics 140V

Wireless Networking

Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth

Dimensions (HWD)

0.56 by 12.3 by 8.5 inches

Weight

2.17 lbs

Operating System

Windows 11 Pro

Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)

19:49

Learn More

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition Review

Alienware m18 R2

Best Laptop for Game Developers

Alienware m18 R2

  • Blistering processing and gaming performance
  • Relatively approachable starting price
  • QHD+ 165Hz display with FHD+ 480Hz option
  • Optional mechanical Cherry MX keyboard
  • Expensive as tested
  • Heavy, even for its size
  • Screen could be brighter

Game devs need more than just a powerful CPU; they need graphics to match. The Alienware m18 R2 is our top pick for programmers working in gaming, thanks to its formidable 14th Generation Intel HX processor choices and top-tier Nvidia GeForce graphics for exceptional gaming and development performance. But it also has a large 18-inch screen providing ample space for development work and a durable, high-quality keyboard and touchpad that lend themselves to gaming, both as off-hours playtime and as serious work.

The Alienware m18 R2 is ideal for professionals who need a powerful machine for everything from programming and rendering to lengthy gaming (OK, game-testing) sessions. This flagship desktop replacement is the workhorse you want to make your imagined worlds a reality.

Class

Gaming

Processor

Intel Core i9-14900HX

RAM (as Tested)

32 GB

Boot Drive Type

SSD

Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)

2 TB

Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested)

Screen Size

18 inches

Native Display Resolution

2560 by 1600

Panel Technology

IPS

Variable Refresh Support

G-Sync

Screen Refresh Rate

165 Hz

Graphics Processor

Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU

Graphics Memory

16 GB

Wireless Networking

Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth

Dimensions (HWD)

1.05 by 16.2 by 12.6 inches

Weight

8.9 lbs

Operating System

Windows 11

Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)

6:45

Learn More

Alienware m18 R2 Review

Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714

Best Chromebook for Programming

Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714

  • New AI features supercharge ChromeOS
  • 12 months free Google One with Gemini Advanced
  • Versatile, durable 2-in-1 design
  • Intel Core Ultra processing and on-device AI
  • Excellent battery life
  • Clear, colorful touch screen
  • Pen not included
  • ChromeOS still has quirks

You’ll find several excellent options if you’re a Chrome dev who wants to stick with a Chromebook for making apps and extensions. But our favorite of them all is Acer’s Chromebook Plus Spin 714. This 2-in-1 design is remarkably flexible, but the real treat is the hardware inside, with an Intel Core Ultra 5 giving class-leading performance. Paired with a speedy SSD and a collection of Google’s latest AI tools (a 12-month subscription is included with purchase), it’s a super-useful tool for all kinds of creation, programming included. Our only real issue with it is that the stylus pen isn’t included.

The Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 is the best Chromebook we’ve seen to date, making it easy to name as our ChromeOS choice for programming. Its productive capability and advanced features make the Chromebook Plus Spin 714 an unbeatable pick.

Class

Chromebook, Convertible 2-in-1

Processor

Intel Core Ultra 5 115U

RAM (as Tested)

8 GB

Boot Drive Type

SSD

Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)

256 GB

Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested)

Screen Size

14 inches

Native Display Resolution

1920 by 1200

Panel Technology

IPS

Variable Refresh Support

None

Screen Refresh Rate

60 Hz

Graphics Processor

Intel Graphics

Wireless Networking

Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2

Dimensions (HWD)

0.71 by 12.4 by 8.8 inches

Weight

3.21 lbs

Operating System

Chrome OS

Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)

14:46

Learn More

Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 Review

Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 Gen 9 right angle

Best 2-in-1 Laptop for Programming

Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 Gen 9 (2024)

  • Striking OLED touch screen
  • Snappy performance
  • Lengthy battery life
  • Svelte design with remarkable soundbar hinge
  • USB-A and USB-C ports
  • Slightly pricey
  • No HDMI port or SD/microSD card slot
  • No mobile broadband option
  • Can’t cap the stylus pen

The Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 Gen 9 is the apex of 2-in-1 laptops, leveling up the previous award-winning model with Intel’s latest AI-enhanced Core Ultra silicon and enough RAM to make programming fast and smooth. But the real treat here is the superb OLED touch screen and elegant convertible design, which gives you a laptop when needed and a valuable tablet for testing your touch-screen apps. The Yoga 9i 14 Gen 9 ticks all the right boxes for performance and capability, adds lengthy battery life, and is one of the best designs you can get.

For the productivity-minded programmer, the Yoga 9i 14 Gen 9 provides a reliable, high-performance laptop, with the added benefit of touch and tablet functionality, all in a highly portable package. To be sure, it’s also for buyers with decently deep pockets.

Class

Convertible 2-in-1

Processor

Intel Core Ultra 7 155H

RAM (as Tested)

16 GB

Boot Drive Type

SSD

Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)

1 TB

Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested)

Screen Size

14 inches

Native Display Resolution

2880 by 1800

Panel Technology

OLED

Variable Refresh Support

Manual

Screen Refresh Rate

120 Hz

Graphics Processor

Intel Arc Graphics

Wireless Networking

Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3

Dimensions (HWD)

0.64 by 12.4 by 8.6 inches

Weight

2.98 lbs

Operating System

Windows 11 Home

Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)

17:52

Learn More

Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 Gen 9 (2024) Review

Microsoft Surface Pro 9 (Intel)

Best Tablet PC for Programming

Microsoft Surface Pro 9 (Intel)

  • Impressive performance and battery life
  • Outstanding cameras
  • Sleek design, with inking-friendly 3:2 screen
  • Two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports
  • User-upgradable storage
  • Essential accessories still not included
  • No more headphone jack
  • 5G only available with SQ3 processor
  • High starting price

Yes, newer Surface models are available, but for programmers who need x86 support, you still can’t top Microsoft’s Surface Pro 9. The tablet has some of the snappiest performance we’ve seen, and the keyboard cover and pen support remain among the best in the tablet business. The slate comes in Microsoft’s signature svelte design with a stylus-friendly 3:2 aspect ratio touch screen and well-performing cameras front and back. You’ll also find a helpful pair of USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports and user-upgradable storage, making the Surface Pro 9 the only Windows tablet to get when you need to code.

Most programmers prefer laptops, but if you want true laptop power in a slim and light tablet, then the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 (Intel) is easily the one we recommend. If you want the whole Windows experience with Intel x86 support, choose this classic over the newer Windows-on-Arm models.

Class

Detachable 2-in-1

Processor

Intel Core i7-1255U

RAM (as Tested)

16 GB

Boot Drive Type

SSD

Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)

256 GB

Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested)

Screen Size

13 inches

Native Display Resolution

2880 by 1920

Panel Technology

IPS

Variable Refresh Support

None

Screen Refresh Rate

120 Hz

Graphics Processor

Intel Iris Xe

Wireless Networking

802.11ax, Bluetooth 5.2

Dimensions (HWD)

0.37 by 11.3 by 8.2 inches

Weight

1.9 lbs

Operating System

Windows 11 Home

Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)

13:12

Learn More

Microsoft Surface Pro 9 (Intel) Review

 Dell XPS 16 (9640)

Best Premium Laptop for Programming

Dell XPS 16 (9640)

  • Sleek, slim aesthetic and inputs
  • Brilliant 4K OLED touch screen
  • High performance from Intel Core Ultra 7 and GeForce RTX 4070
  • Impressive battery life
  • Expensive
  • Not all design changes are improvements
  • USB-C ports only (though USB-A and HDMI adapter provided)

The Dell XPS 16 (9640) is a choice desktop replacement for programming, provided you’re OK paying a little extra for premium design and features. The XPS 16 has a slick futuristic look, a seamless touchpad integrated into the palm rest, an LED-lit strip of touch controls, and a 4K OLED touch screen. The display particularly wowed us with an eye-popping edge-to-edge panel and 90Hz refresh rate on top of the vibrant color and exceptional clarity. Equipped with Intel Core Ultra 7 and GeForce RTX 4070, the laptop delivers high performance suitable for demanding tasks and pairs it with more than 18 hours of battery life.

From luxury seekers to power users, this Rolls-Royce of coding machines brings high performance and a stunning display. If you need a powerful machine for programming, multitasking, and resource-intensive applications and want something portable without sacrificing screen size or performance, the Dell XPS 16 (9640) is the system to get.

Class

Desktop Replacement

Processor

Intel Core Ultra 7 155H

RAM (as Tested)

32 GB

Boot Drive Type

SSD

Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)

1 TB

Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested)

Screen Size

16.3 inches

Native Display Resolution

3840 by 2400

Panel Technology

OLED

Variable Refresh Support

None

Screen Refresh Rate

90 Hz

Graphics Processor

Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU

Graphics Memory

8 GB

Wireless Networking

Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth

Dimensions (HWD)

0.74 by 14.1 by 9.4 inches

Weight

4.7 lbs

Operating System

Windows 11

Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)

18:40

Learn More

Dell XPS 16 (9640) Review

Get Our Best Stories!


Newsletter Icon


Newsletter Icon

Lab Report

Sign up for Lab Report to get the latest from the experts at PC Labs delivered right to your inbox.

By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Thanks for signing up!

Your subscription has been confirmed. Keep an eye on your inbox!

The Best Laptops for Programmers in 2025
Compare Specs

Buying Guide: The Best Laptops for Programmers in 2025

A decent programming laptop will have the performance to support the unique demands of software development. That means looking closely at every aspect of the laptop: its processor (CPU), memory (RAM), storage, and graphics (GPU).

Apple MacBook Pro 16-Inch (2024, M4 Pro)

(Credit: Joe Osborne; Joseph Maldonado)

Your programming platform needs to be a good fit for your work, from the design to the operating system (OS). Here are some of the specifics to consider when shopping for your next laptop for coding and development.


Which CPU Type Is Best for Programming?

While all of the advice in our guide to choosing the right processor still applies, there are a few elements coders should focus on. Core counts and multi-thread processing, along with power ratings, are good places to start.

Multi-core CPUs with multiple processing threads are a must, as they let you manage multiple tasks at once. These CPUs also handle complex tools, like virtual machines and compilers, in addition to simple tasks, such as an integrated development environment (IDE).

The insides of a laptop, including the storage, processor, memory, and graphics processor.

(Credit: Molly Flores)

Power ratings are another decent indicator of overall performance. While the devil (or at least some nuance) is in the details, a good rule of thumb is that the higher the wattage—presented as thermal design power (TDP) or “base power” for the latest Intel processors—the better the relative performance. Lower-wattage CPUs may not offer the same muscle, but they have the benefit of being more battery-efficient. Knowing which you prioritize more between power and efficiency will help you find a good match.

The other question is the manufacturer. Intel is the biggest name in processors, but AMD chips offer fast, affordable alternatives, and MacBook buyers will be getting Apple Silicon by default.


Is 16GB RAM Enough for Programming Today?

The rule of thumb for RAM is always the same: More is better. This is especially true for programmers because they’ll need enough to support memory-intensive tasks such as running a virtual machine or emulators.

Ask yourself: How much data are you loading into memory? In a professional environment, we recommend a minimum of 16GB, but if you’re working on memory-intensive applications, running virtual machines, or multitasking, you’ll benefit from 32GB or more RAM.


Which Storage Type Is Best for Programming?

For most users, we recommend solid-state drives (SSDs) over old-fashioned hard drives simply for their snappier performance. But for programming, where you may be calling up several files at once or storing a huge number of support files and programming tools, speed is essential. An SSD is a must—a traditional spinning hard drive will only slow you down.

Some of the ports found on the Dell Precision 5690

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

Capacity is another question. When you need to store a lot of data locally, more storage is also a plus. While budget machines may offer 256GB or 512GB SSDs, you’ll probably need more than that, so we recommend a minimum of 1TB.


Is a GPU Necessary for Programming?

Trying to decide between a laptop with integrated graphics or one with a discrete graphics processor? It’s a common enough question for the average computer shopper, but programmers have a different set of needs.

Alienware m18 R2 with Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

If you need to leverage machine learning for your projects, a GPU-equipped system is a must. Nvidia’s GPUs contain dozens of its proprietary CUDA and Tensor cores, which can be harnessed for all sorts of extra processing. Plus, if you’re like most programmers, you love computers and want to use yours for play as much as work. In other words, you’ll want a laptop that can play games when you’re done debugging.

The integrated graphics hardware of Apple’s M-series processors is also a great option for machine learning without a discrete GPU, especially with the Apple M4 models. The machine-learning capability built into the latest Mac CPUs is surprisingly powerful, thanks in large part to a unified memory approach allowing its GPUs access to more memory than even some high-end discrete GPUs.


What Is the Most Important Part of a Computer for Programming?

Speedy performance may give you a boost in productivity, shaving off time when you’re compiling code, but those minutes saved will only help you out over weeks and months. A great display, on the other hand, will impact your comfort and capability immediately.

A larger screen will let you see more information at once, while a brighter, more vivid panel will give you better readability as you parse lines and lines of code. Similarly, a taller screen with a 16:10 or 3:2 aspect ratio will be helpful because it will provide more vertical space to work with than the 16:9 panels of older notebooks.

Apple MacBook Pro 16-Inch (2023, M3 Max) keyboard and touchpad

(Credit: Brian Westover)

Other features to watch for include anti-glare panels, blue-light mitigation, and touch screens. Touch capability may not be a must for every programmer, but if you’re developing apps for touch-screen devices, you’ll want to be able to test the touch input when needed.

The keyboard is another biggie. While no laptop keyboard will provide the comfort and durability of one of the best desktop mechanical keyboards, you’ll still benefit greatly from a good set of keys. Reading reviews or trying a laptop in person are important for making this assessment.

The same goes for the touchpad. A pad may not beat navigation with a mouse, but you want to maximize both capability and comfort, so check out the relevant portions of our in-depth reviews.


Which OS Is Better for Programming?

Finally, deciding which OS you need will sort out your system choices quickly. Our guide to operating systems provides a great overview of features and interface differences, but for programmers, the decision is paramount. If you’re developing software for iPhone and iPad, then it’s a safe bet that you’ll want to work on macOS, and that means buying a MacBook Pro. Conversely, if you need Windows, you’ll want to stick to laptops running Windows 11.

Microsoft Surface Pro 9 (Intel) with Windows 11

(Credit: Molly Flores)

Aside from those two major players, a few programmers may want to do things differently. If you’re a Chromebook diehard, you can still work with Microsoft Visual Studio code, Python, and any number of web-based applications. You can also work in Linux on a Chromebook, or buy some of the laptops on our list with Linux instead of Windows. The important thing is to know what sort of work you’re going to be doing and what OS is needed to support it.


Ready to Buy the Right Laptop for Programming for You?

We’ve selected our top candidates among the more than 200 laptops we’ve tested and reviewed over the last couple of years. Have you already checked out our detailed summaries of each laptop review? Return to the spec comparison chart for many more specifics and to make an informed buying decision.

Sign Up For Daily Newsletter

Be keep up! Get the latest breaking news delivered straight to your inbox.
By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Email Print
Share
What do you think?
Love0
Sad0
Happy0
Sleepy0
Angry0
Dead0
Wink0
Previous Article How to Check Your Qatar Visa Online with Just Your Passport Number
Next Article Oppo’s upcoming flagship tops the Galaxy S25 series in many aspects
Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Stay Connected

248.1k Like
69.1k Follow
134k Pin
54.3k Follow

Latest News

FBI issues warning about AI voice impersonations of US officials
News
How to Create a Waterfall Chart in Excel: 4 Simple Steps |
Computing
YouTube intros new top-podcast chart, letting you see exactly who’s influencing America
News
Your Guide to Choosing the Best Refurbished Electronics
Gadget

You Might also Like

News

FBI issues warning about AI voice impersonations of US officials

3 Min Read
News

YouTube intros new top-podcast chart, letting you see exactly who’s influencing America

3 Min Read
News

Second Fortnite submission to the App Store still stuck in limbo – 9to5Mac

3 Min Read
News

Shein and Temu shoppers get huge relief after rule get slashed in half

6 Min Read
//

World of Software is your one-stop website for the latest tech news and updates, follow us now to get the news that matters to you.

Quick Link

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Advertise
  • Contact

Topics

  • Computing
  • Software
  • Press Release
  • Trending

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

World of SoftwareWorld of Software
Follow US
Copyright © All Rights Reserved. World of Software.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?