Table of ContentsBest Mac Workstation LaptopBest for Mainstream Desktop-Replacement DutyBest for Ultraportable Bragging RightsBest For Big-Screen Windows ComputingBest for the Toughest Visual and Analytic Apps on EarthBest for Big-Screen-Starved Laptop GamersBest for Budget-Bound Small BusinessesBest for Premium Chromebook Productivity and VersatilityBest for Mac Users on the GoBest OLED Convertible 2-in-1 LaptopBest for Portable Drafting, Drawing, and Design Work on WindowsBest for Saving Money and the PlanetWhich CPU Type Is Best for Programming?Is 16GB RAM Enough for Programming Today?Which Storage Type Is Best for Programming?Is a GPU Necessary for Programming?What Is the Most Important Part of a Computer for Programming?Which OS Is Better for Programming?So, What Is the Best Laptop to Buy for Programming? 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: the processor (CPU), the memory (RAM), the storage (solid-state or spinning drive), and the graphics (GPU). (Credit: Brian Westover)From the design to the operating system (OS), the right machine has to be a good fit for your work. Here are some of the specifics you need 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 to focus on. Core counts and multi-thread processing are a good place to start, along with power ratings and even broader divisions, such as manufacturers.Multi-core CPUs with multiple processing threads are a must, letting you manage multiple tasks at once. These CPUs also handle complex tools, like virtual machines and compilers, in addition to simple tasks, like an integrated development environment, or IDE. (Credit: Molly Flores)Power ratings are another decent indicator of overall performance. While there is more nuance to it, a good rule of thumb is that the higher the wattage—presented as thermal design power (TDP) or "Base Power" on the latest Intel chips—the better the relative performance. Lower-wattage CPUs may not offer the same muscle, but they have the alternative 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 can provide an affordable alternative, and Mac users 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. But this is especially true for programmers because you'll need enough to support memory-intensive tasks, like running a virtual machine or emulators.Ask yourself: How much data are you loading into memory? In a professional environment, we recommend choosing a minimum of 16GB, but if you're working on memory-intensive applications, running virtual machines, or multitasking, you'll benefit from paying for more RAM.Which Storage Type Is Best for Programming?For most users, we recommend solid-state drives (SSDs) simply for 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. (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 only offer 256GB or 512GB drives, 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 something with an additional graphics processor? It's a common enough question for the average computer shopper, but programmers have a different set of needs.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 you want to use your machine for play as much as work. If that's you, you'll want a laptop that can play games when you're done debugging.Apple's integrated graphics in its M series processors are also great options for machine learning without a discrete GPU, especially in its new M3 models. That's not to say that it's less capable. The machine-learning capability built into the latest Mac processors is surprisingly powerful, thanks in large part to its unified memory approach allowing its GPUs access to much more memory than the highest-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. The 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 display 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 more common 16:9 panels most laptops use. (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 big one. While no laptop keyboard will provide the comfort and durability of something like one of the best desktop mechanical keyboards, you'll still benefit from a good set of keys. Reading reviews and/or trying the laptop in person are important here, for making this assessment.The same holds for the touchpad. It 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 a lot of systems very quickly. Our guide to operating systems provides a great overview of features and interface differences, but for programmers, it's more than your favorite flavor of computer. 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 one of the Apple laptops on our list. Conversely, if you need Windows, you'll want to stick to laptops running 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 a Linux package instead of Windows. The important thing here is to know what sort of work you're going to be doing on your system, and what OS is needed to support it.So, What Is the Best Laptop to Buy for Programming?We've chosen our top candidates among the more than 120 laptops we've tested and reviewed over the last year. Checked out our detailed summaries of each laptop above? Roll down the page to the spec breakdown below for much more on our picks.

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