There is no one definitive answer to what the best programming laptop is, as it depends on individual needs and preferences. However, some commonly recommended laptops for programming include:
- MacBook Pro: Known for its powerful performance, MacOS environment, and smooth user experience.
- Dell XPS 15: Offers a great balance of performance and portability, with a high-resolution display.
- Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon: Known for its durability and excellent keyboard, with strong performance capabilities.
- HP Spectre x360: Features a versatile convertible design, solid performance, and a long battery life.
- Asus ZenBook Pro Duo: Equipped with a unique dual-screen display, offering more screen real estate for coding and multitasking.
Ultimately, it's important to choose a laptop with sufficient processing power, RAM, storage, and a comfortable keyboard to meet your programming requirements.
Top Rated Programming Laptops of December 2024
1
Rating is 5 out of 5
Apple 2023 MacBook Pro Laptop M2 Max chip with 12‑core CPU and 38‑core GPU: 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR Display, 32GB Unified Memory, 1TB SSD Storage. Works with iPhone/iPad; Silver
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SUPERCHARGED BY M2 PRO OR M2 MAX — Take on demanding projects with the M2 Pro or M2 Max chip. M2 Pro has 12 CPU cores, 19 GPU cores, and up to 32GB unified memory. M2 Max has 12 CPU cores, up to 38 GPU cores, and up to 96GB unified memory.
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UP TO 22 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — Go all day thanks to the power-efficient design of the M2 Pro or M2 Max chip. And the MacBook Pro laptop delivers exceptional performance whether it’s running on battery or plugged in.
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BEAUTIFUL PRO DISPLAY — The 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display features Extreme Dynamic Range, over 1000 nits of brightness for stunning HDR content, and pro reference modes for doing your best work on the go.
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ADVANCED CAMERA AND AUDIO — Look sharp and sound great with a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, a studio-quality three-mic array, and a six-speaker sound system with Spatial Audio.
2
Rating is 4.9 out of 5
Apple 2023 MacBook Pro Laptop M2 Pro chip with 10‑core CPU and 16‑core GPU: 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR Display, 16GB Unified Memory, 512GB SSD Storage. Works with iPhone/iPad; Space Gray
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SUPERCHARGED BY M2 PRO OR M2 MAX — Take on demanding projects with the M2 Pro or M2 Max chip. M2 Pro has up to 12 CPU cores, up to 19 GPU cores, and up to 32GB unified memory. M2 Max has 12 CPU cores, up to 38 GPU cores, and up to 96GB unified memory.
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UP TO 18 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — Go all day thanks to the power-efficient design of the M2 Pro or M2 Max chip. And the MacBook Pro laptop delivers exceptional performance whether it’s running on battery or plugged in.
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FULLY COMPATIBLE — All your pro apps run lightning fast — including Adobe Creative Cloud, Xcode, Affinity Designer, Microsoft 365, and many of your favorite iPhone and iPad apps.
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BEAUTIFUL PRO DISPLAY — The 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display features Extreme Dynamic Range, over 1000 nits of brightness for stunning HDR content, and pro reference modes for doing your best work on the go.
3
Rating is 4.8 out of 5
Dell XPS 15 9520 15.6" FHD+ (Intel 12th Gen 14-Core i7-12700H (Beat i9-11980HK), 64GB DDR5 RAM, 2TB PCIe SSD, RTX 3050) Business Laptop, Backlit, Fingerprint, Thunderbolt 4, Webcam, Win 11 Pro
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12th Generation Intel Alder Lake Tetradeca-Core i7-12700H Processor (Base Clock 2.3GHz, Max Boost Clock Up to 4.7GHz, 14 cores, 20 Threads, 24 MB Cache); 64GB DDR5 4800MHz RAM, 2TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
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15.6-inch FHD+ (1920 x 1200) Non-Touch, Anti-Glare, IPS, 500nits, 16: 10, 100% Adobe RGB, InfinityEdge display; GeForce RTX 3050 4GB GDDR6 Dedicated Graphics - Expandable to 4 monitors via, Thunderbolt 4, Type-C. Max resolution of the External Monitors: 4K (3840*2160) @60Hz
4
Rating is 4.7 out of 5
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 14" FHD+ Touchscreen (Intel 12-Core i7-1260P, 32GB LPDDR5 RAM, 1TB SSD) Business Laptop, Backlit, Fingerprint, 3-Yr WRT, FHD Webcam, Wi-Fi 6E, IST Cable, Win 11 Pro
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Intel Core i7-1260P Processor with vPro (E-Core Max 3.40 GHz, P-Core Max 4.70 GHz with Turbo Boost, 12 Cores, 16 Threads, 18 MB Cache); 32GB LPDDR5-5200MHz RAM, 1TB PCIe SSD. Super long battery life, up to 13 hours. Razor thin body, just 0.60”; It weighs 2.48 pounds, ultralight design.
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14" WUXGA (1920 x 1200), IPS, Anti-Glare, 100% sRGB, 400 nits, 16:10, LED Backlight, Narrow Bezel, Low Power, Touch display; 1080p FHD RGB with webcam privacy shutter; Integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics; Supports external digital monitor via HDMI, Thunderbolt 4, Max external digital monitor resolution: 4K(3840x2160) @60Hz.
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2 x Thunderbolt 4 with Power Delivery and DisplayPort (USB4 Type-C), 2 x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, HDMI 2.0, Headphone / mic combo, Kensington lock slot; Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX 201; Bluetooth 5.1; Backlit Keyboard; Fingerprint Reader.
5
Rating is 4.6 out of 5
HP Newest Spectre Touch x360 14 in Ash Convertible Laptop 12th Gen Intel i7 10-Core Processor up to 4.7GHz 16GB DDR4 1TB SSD 13.5in 3K2K Backlit Keyboard Win 11 (14-EF000-Renewed)
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Manufacturer (Certified) Refurbished with 90 day HP Warranty (Extended Warranty Plans Available Directly from HP).
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Ultra-portable only .67-inch thin - Convertible x360; Windows 11 Home 64bit; Intel Evo - Latest 12th Gen Intel Core i7-1255U (up to 4.7 GHz with Intel Turbo Boost Technology, 12 MB L3 cache, 10 cores, 12 threads) + Intel Iris Xe Graphics; Full-size island-style backlit keyboard; Finger Print Reader
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16GB System Memory DDR4 RAM ; 1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD (Solid State Drive); Bang & Olufsen, dual speakers, HP Audio Boost;
6
Rating is 4.5 out of 5
ASUS Zenbook Pro Duo 15 OLED 12th Gen 15.6" Home & Business Laptop (Intel i9-12900H 14-Core, 32GB LPDDR5 4800MHz RAM, 1TB SSD,GeForce RTX 3060,60Hz Touch 4K Ultra HD (3840x2160), Win 11 Pro) with Hub
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【Upgraded】 Seal is opened for Hardware/Software upgrade only to enhance performance. 15.6" 4K Ultra HD (3840x2160) 60Hz Touchscreen OLED Display; Wi-Fi 6 AX201 Wifi, Bluetooth 5.2, 720p HD Webcam, Backlit, Active Pen.
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【Powerful Performance with Intel Core i9-12900H 】 12th Gen Intel Core i9-12900H 2.50GHz Processor (upto 5 GHz, 24MB Cache, 14-Cores, 20-Threads, 6 Performance-cores) ; GeForce RTX 3060 6GB GDDR6 Dedicated Graphics, .
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【High Speed and Multitasking】 32GB OnBoard RAM; 240W Power Supply, 8-Cell 92 WHr Battery; Celestial Blue Color, .
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【Enormous Storage】 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD; 1 HDMI, 2 Thunderbolt 4 (Type-C), No Optical Drive, Headphone/Microphone Combo Jack., Windows 11 Pro-64., 1 Year Manufacturer warranty from GreatPriceTech (Professionally upgraded by GreatPriceTech)
7
Rating is 4.4 out of 5
MSI GE76 Raider Gaming Laptop 2021 (1TB SSD, 16GB RAM) 17.3" FHD 144 Hz, Intel Core i7-1180H (11th Gen), NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060, Windows 10 64bit (Titanium Blue) 11UE-046 US Model
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OS - Windows 10 Home, CPU - Core i7-11800H 8 Core CPU Speed - 2.4 - 4.6GHz (boost)
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Screen Size - 17.3" Thin Bezel FHD, IPS-Level 144Hz, 45% NTSC Resolution - 1920x1080 (16:9) GPU - NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU Up to 1802MHz Boost Clock, 130W Maximum Graphics Power with Dynamic Boost.
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Memory - 16GB (8G*2) DDR4 3200MHz HDD Capacity - 1TB NVMe SSD HDD Interface - NVMe
8
Rating is 4.3 out of 5
Lenovo Flex 5 2-in-1 Touchscreen Laptop, 8-Core AMD Ryzen 7 5700U(Beat i7-1180G7), Backlit KB, Fingerprint, AMD Radeon Graphics, W/Stylus Pen, Win11 Home (16GB|512GB SSD)
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[Feature]: The IdeaPad Flex 5 gives you more creative choices, by blending performance, connectivity, entertainment and affordability, with a sleek design and feel | 360° flip-and-fold design | Touchscreen | Backlit Keyboard | Fingerprint reader | Integrated 720p Webcam with Privacy Shutter | Windows 11 Home
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[Processor]:AMD Ryzen 7 8-core Processor AMD R7-5700U 8 MB Cache, Base Clock 1.8Ghz, Max Boost Clock 4.3Ghz.
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[Display]: 14.0" Touchscreen IPS LCD with LED-backlit FHD (1920 x 1080) 250-Nits Display
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[Memory & Storage]:16GB 3200MHz DDR4 Memory | 512GB PCIE Solid State Drive (Boot SSD) ,Original Factory Box will be opened and resealed for Upgrade.
How often should laptops be replaced?
The frequency at which laptops should be replaced depends on several factors including the user's needs and preferences, as well as the laptop's performance and condition. On average, laptops are expected to last around 3-5 years before they start to significantly degrade in performance or encounter hardware issues. However, some individuals may choose to replace their laptops more frequently, especially if they require the latest technology or have specific performance requirements. Conversely, others may use their laptops for longer periods, especially if they are primarily used for basic tasks such as web browsing or word processing. Ultimately, the decision to replace a laptop depends on the individual's specific circumstances and satisfaction with the device's performance.
Is a 13-inch laptop good for programming?
Yes, a 13-inch laptop can be good for programming, depending on your needs and preferences.
Pros of a 13-inch laptop for programming:
- Portable: The smaller form factor makes it easier to carry around, which is great for programmers who travel or work in different locations.
- Cost-effective: Compared to larger laptops, 13-inch models tend to be more affordable, making it a suitable option if budget is a concern.
- Adequate display size: While a larger display might offer more screen real estate, a 13-inch laptop can still provide sufficient space for coding and navigating multiple windows or tabs.
- Energy-efficient: Smaller laptops generally consume less power, resulting in longer battery life, which can be useful for lengthy coding sessions on the go.
Cons of a 13-inch laptop for programming:
- Limited screen space: Some programmers prefer larger displays for better visibility and multitasking. If you often work with multiple windows or need to view complex code simultaneously, a larger screen might be more beneficial.
- Smaller keyboard: If you have larger hands or prefer a more spacious keyboard, typing on a 13-inch laptop might feel cramped.
- Limited upgrade options: Smaller laptops often have limited room for hardware upgrades, so if you anticipate the need for significant hardware upgrades in the future, a larger laptop could be a better choice.
Ultimately, the suitability of a 13-inch laptop for programming depends on your personal preferences, work requirements, and budget. It's important to consider the screen size, keyboard comfort, portability, and the specific programming tasks you'll be undertaking.
What is better for programming: a laptop or a desktop?
The choice between a laptop and a desktop for programming depends on the individual's needs and preferences. Both options have their own advantages and disadvantages:
Laptop:
- Portability: Laptops are portable and allow programmers to work from various locations.
- Flexibility: Can easily take a laptop to meetings, work remotely, or travel with it.
- Space-saving: Takes up less physical space compared to a desktop setup.
- Sufficient performance: Modern laptops can offer high processing power and performance capabilities.
Desktop:
- Power and performance: Desktops usually provide more powerful hardware configurations than laptops, making them suitable for resource-intensive tasks.
- Better cooling: They generally have better cooling systems as they can accommodate more efficient cooling mechanisms.
- Upgradability: Allows easier customization and upgrading of components such as processors, graphics cards, and memory.
- Dual-monitor support: Easier to set up multiple monitors, which can enhance productivity for programmers.
Ultimately, the choice depends on personal preferences, mobility requirements, workspace availability, performance needs, and budget constraints. Some programmers may prefer the flexibility and portability of a laptop, while others may prioritize performance and customization options provided by a desktop.
What laptop do most programmers use?
There is no specific laptop that most programmers use as it largely depends on personal preferences and specific programming needs. However, some popular laptop brands and models among programmers include:
- Apple MacBook Pro: Many programmers prefer MacBook Pros for their build quality, performance, and the convenience of the macOS system, which is known for its strong development environment.
- Dell XPS 15: The Dell XPS 15 is a Windows laptop known for its powerful specifications, high-quality display, and good build quality, making it suitable for programming tasks.
- Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon: The ThinkPad X1 Carbon is often favored by programmers due to its excellent keyboard, lightweight design, and durability. It also offers strong performance and long battery life.
- HP Spectre x360: The Spectre x360 is a popular choice among programmers, offering a combination of a versatile 2-in-1 design, powerful performance, and good battery life.
- System76 Gazelle: System76 is a company that specializes in Linux-based laptops optimized for development. The Gazelle model from System76 is well-regarded among programmers due to its open-source operating system compatibility and strong hardware specifications.
Ultimately, the choice of a laptop varies among programmers depending on their requirements, preferred operating system, budget, and personal preferences.
