Best laptops for programming of 2024
We reviewed the best programming laptops for macOS and Windows
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The best laptop for programming can make coding and software engineering workflows smoother, delivering robust performance.
Our team has reviewed over 1,800 laptops, Chromebooks, and MacBooks, including thebest laptopsandbest business laptops.
For programmers, we recommend the Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (or 16-inch, if you need extra screen space). Performance is outstanding with this machine, and with the flexibility to boot in Windows or macOS, it’s the obvious choice for most coders.
We’ve rounded up our top programming picks below for Windows and Mac. Each device has been extensively tested by us, comparing specs, benchmarking performance, and assessing essentials like storage, speed, and overall design.
We’ve updated our list to highlight our favorite top models for 2024, swapping out older laptops for the latest models from Apple, Acer, and Lenovo.
Quick list
Best overall
Best laptop for programming overall
Powered by the M2 chip, the Apple MacBook Pro 14in is a high-performance machine with easily the best screen on a laptop right now. Ideal for complex workloads and booting in macOS or Windows.
Read more below
Best on a budget
Best laptop for programming on a budget
The Acer Aspire 5 doesn’t cost much, but it has some great specs and will easily power through general computing tasks.
Read more below
Best for Windows
Best Windows laptop for programming
The Lenovo ThinkPad T16 is a business laptop that offers the complete package for programming on Windows. The keyboard offers one of the best typing experiences around.
Read more below
Best for gaming
Best lightweight laptop for programming
With a slim profile, elegant design, and workstation-like specs, the Razer Blade 14 is a great pick for those running complex workloads and triple-A games.
Read more below
Best for business
Best programming laptop for business
Our top-rated Lenovo ThinkPad, the X1 Carbon features a neat 14-inch screen, 32 GB RAM, up to 12 hours battery life, and weighs 2.47lb. Couple that with the ThinkPad’s famously comfortable keyboard and it’s near-perfect.
Read more below
Best for students
Best programming laptop for students
The Apple MacBook Air is the perfect choice if you prize portability paired with power. A sleek laptop that weight little, ideal for carrying to multiple locations.
Read more below
Best laptop for programming overall
1. Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
Our expert review:
As our pick for best laptop for programming, the Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch is well-equipped to tackle coding and software engineering projects. This, after all, is a device capable of professional-grade photo and video editing. Better still, you can boot it in Windows, too, giving you a bit more flexibility.
While you could opt for a model with the newer M3 processor, we found performance on the M2 Pro and M2 Max chips to be excellent - and more than enough for those developing apps for iPhones.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch delivers breathtaking power, portability, and an XDR display with 1600 nits of peak brightness. Port selection is good, including an SD card slot, an HDMI port, and three Thunderbolt 4 ports. We also found battery life to be exceptional, lasting over 19 hours on a single charge in our battery tests.
Whether you need a machine with this sort of power will depend on the complexity of your workloads, but it’s a beautiful device with outstanding performance.
For a big screen alternative with boosted power, see ourApple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M3 Max) review. For cheaper options, M1 MacBooks still get our seal of approval.
Read our fullApple MacBook Pro 14-inch review
You could save on Apple products with ourApple coupon codes.
Best laptop for programming on a budget
2. Acer Aspire 5
Our expert review:
The Acer Aspire 5 is an impressive little machine considering its relatively low cost. Performance proved excellent under benchmarking, and the robust design means it feels like it can take a knock or two.
Topping out with an Intel Core i7 (i5 is available) and up to 32GB RAM, it’s a capable machine that easily powered through general computing tasks. So, you should have no issues running programming applications.
But it is a budget pick for a reason, and we noted a few corners cut. Chiefly, we were disappointed with the battery life, which lasted just 6.5 hours in theTechRadarbattery tests. We would’ve liked to see a good few hours extra there. Nor will the Aspire 5 handle seriously complex workloads well. But for the price and the specs, it’s a highly capable laptop.
Read our fullAcer Aspire 5 review
Best Windows laptop for programming
3. Lenovo ThinkPad T16
Our expert review:
For us, the ThinkPad T16 is the complete package when it comes to programming. As a business laptop, the large 16-inch, 16:10 display is bright, crisp, easy on the eyes, and equipped with up to Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 7 Pro and up to 32GB RAM, it will easily cut through almost all coding tasks without breaking a sweat. Our review unit certainly never skipped a beat throughout testing.
Durable in design (it’s rated MIL-STD 810G), we found the T16 sturdy in hand, if a little weighty. Performance was, as expected, exceptional for standard workloads. What really sets this programming laptop apart is the keyboard with num-pad. Yes, you can hook up an external keyboard, but ThinkPads still offer just about the best typing experience you’ll get on a modern keyboard.
As far as alternatives go, beyond the MacBook Pro 16-inch, check out ourLenovo ThinkPad T14s reviewfor a neat, more portable version. If you need more graphical performance, see ourLenovo ThinkPad P16 review.
Read our fullLenovo ThinkPad T16 review
Best laptop for programming and gaming
4. Razer Blade 14
Our expert review:
Perfect for programming and gaming, the Razer Blade 14 is our pick for those who want to work hard and play hard.
This is a slim, lightweight, workstation-like machine that can effortlessly handle high-complexity workloads - everything from video editing to triple-A games. As such, expect great performance for coding.
That was our experience, reviewing the Razer Blade 14, as it powered through a range of general computing tasks and gaming tests to see how well it measured up. However, we did notice the fans getting slightly louder during heavier tasks. Nor is this a cheap coding laptop, retailing at around the $2000 / £2000 mark.
Still, it’s a beautiful device that also delivered a pleasing typing experience with precise control on the trackpad. For a budget alternative, see ourHP Victus 15 review- it’s a phenomenally good gaming laptop considering the price.
Read our fullRazer Blade 14 review
Best programming laptop for business
5. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon
Our expert review:
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 is the best programming laptop for business professionals thanks to the sleek, durable design, highly comfortable keyboard, and premium price.
During our own review, the machine breezed through a range of tasks, from using basic office apps to content creation like video editing. So, you’ll have no trouble coding with this laptop.
Like almost all ThinkPads, the keyboard here is comfortable to use for extended periods of time - an essential requirement for coders, and one the X1 Carbon Gen 12 capably meets. Yes, the keyboard and trackpad have seen a slight redesign which feels spacious, and we found them very comfortable for extended writing.
Elsewhere, the laptop is incredibly slim and lightweight. We love the physical camera cover, which is perfect for business users. The screen isn’t as bright as we’d like, but will be fine indoors and can be upgraded. Overall, a robust laptop for coding comfortably in professional settings.
Read our fullLenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon review
Find great deals on laptops withour Lenovo promo codes.
Best programming laptop for students
6. Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3)
Our expert review:
The Apple MacBook Air 13-inch is our top recommendation for students - and anyone else who wants an ultra-lightweight and slim laptop for coding on the go. You’ll get plenty of power from this machine, but it’s also super-portable, sleek, and robust in design.
The latest version, powered by Apple’s impressive M3 processor, still clocks in at around the $1000 / £1000 mark, making it extremely good value relative to the performance here. For standard day-to-day use, performance was brilliant, feeling fast, fluid, responsive - as you’d expect from Apple - and remained good, but not great, even during more intensive workloads. Better still, you can actually game on this laptop now - perfect for down-times. In battery tests, too, the MacBook Air lasted over 14 hours on a single charge, so it’ll last you all day on campus without issues.
On the other hand, it’s still a fairly expensive machine, even if it should easily last you the length of your course. For cheaper alternative, an M1 and M2 MacBook Air will offer a similar performance, or for Windows, there’s no shortage of suitable ThinkPads.
Read our fullApple MacBook Air review
Best laptop for programming: Honorable mentions
Dell XPS 15:Formerly our top pick for Windows users, the 2022 delivered “laptop perfection”. However, we found the latest model was good but pales in comparison.
Read our fullDell XPS 15 review
Microsoft Surface Laptop 7:In its way, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition is one of the best laptops for programming, productivity, and more. A well-rounded high-performer.
Read our fullMicrosoft Surface Laptop 7 review
Dell XPS 17:If you prefer programming on a large laptop screen, the Dell XPS 17 is an excellent choice. Elegant and professional, we found this machine was a performance powerhouse.
Read our fullDell XPS 17 review
Best laptop for programming: FAQs
What is a programming laptop?
A programming laptop is designed for rapid, consistent code testing and boasts impressive processors and RAM. Just as important as what’s under the hood, the laptop must be easy and comfortable. A quality keyboard is a must for typing all that code. A display that won’t strain your eyes after hours of use is also essential. And if you spend most of your time traveling on the road, consider thebest thin and light laptopsfor better portability, such as one of thebest Ultrabooks.
All in all, programming laptops focus on a few main components. Regardless of the brand, if these four elements are high in a laptop, there’s a good chance it will perform well as a programming laptop.
Do you need a powerful laptop for programming?
Programming is one of those tasks that does not demand high-powered devices. However, a programmer can benefit greatly from a high-powered machine. Therefore, answering this question takes more than just a yes or no. Programming is possible on medium to slower devices, where the problem lies in loading and editing the projects. So, if you have large or complicated programs you are working on or do not have the time to sit and wait for your computer to render your projects, we suggest a more powerful laptop.
If you choose more power, you will be able to run your workflow smoother and faster, and you’ll be able to test your projects live much faster.
Which laptop processor is best for programming?
The Apple MacBook Pro is our pick for best programming laptop. See our full reviews above - we’ve tested, reviewed, and rated all of these machines to ensure they perform well and deliver what you need.
Generally, the newest and best laptops will always run well for programmers. However, if you want to spend a little less, any processor that is an 8th-generation intel processor or beyond should be able to operate for you. If you are an Apple fan, we have seen both Intel and Apple silicon work great for programming.
For more options, we’ve reviewed thebest Lenovo ThinkPadlaptops and theBest MacBook Prolaptops, which will have more than enough power for programming.
What laptop screen size is best for programming?
As mentioned above, this question is hard to answer without knowing more details. Essentially, it is up to personal preference. We have individuals on our team that swear by different-size screens for many reasons. This also can change based on whether you use an external monitor as your main display. The portable route would be to pick up something with an 11 - 14 inch display. This keeps the device maneuverable on a train, in a coffee shop, or on the go while still giving enough screen real estate to get work done. A 15-inch screen or larger becomes quite cumbersome, but at the same time, it grants significantly more space to see your work.
How much RAM does the best laptop for programming need?
Depending on the level of programming you are doing, different levels of RAM will be needed. For basic programming, 4GB of RAM is manageable. As file sizes get more complex or even larger, this laptop with only 4GB RAM may take longer to process. However, it can still get the job done in most basic jobs.
As the jobs get more complex in emulators and virtual machines and simply massive projects, it’s usually best to choose a laptop with upwards of 8 - 16GB of RAM or more.
How to choose the best laptop for programming
When choosing which laptop for programming is best for you, there are several variables to consider.
First and foremost, where do you plan on using this device? If your primary use will be at a desk, plugged into a whole setup with an external monitor(s), keyboard, and mouse, things like screen size and keyboard matter a little less. If a good keyboard is important, it’s worth noting that thebest Lenovo ThinkPad laptopsare renowned for their excellent keyboards and overall typing experience - having owned several ThinkPads, we can confirm this first-hand.
If you’ll be using your laptop around campus, the office, at a coffee shop, on the train, at multiple workspaces, or even on the couch, then you’ll need a device like thebest rugged laptops, built to withstand everyday travel or thebest UltraBooks, which won’t weigh you down on the go.You’ll want to consider the laptop’s battery life. An all-day battery means you won’t have to lug around a charger everywhere. But if you’re mostly going to have your setup in one place, then a lower battery capacity will be fine too. In our tests, we’ve been very impressed with the battery life of thebest MacBook Prolaptops running the M2 chip, but plenty of Windows laptops for programming can last all-day.
If you work with many space-consuming files, opt for a programming laptop with high storage - and pair it with thebest cloud storagefor increased file security. Otherwise, you’ll have to carry an external hard drive around with you as well. Lastly, look for the connectivity ports, security features, display, and pricing.
Focus on the laptop’s internals for laptops that will be used with peripherals. This includes the processor, RAM, and internal storage. Laptops are notoriously low on port selection, so if you plan on connecting lots of peripherals like thebest keyboards for programmersor thebest monitors for a dual set-up, check what options are available to you. Thebest laptop docking stationsare portable hubs that can help you connect to a range of devices both at home and on-the-go.
For programming laptops that will be used on the go frequently or consistently, elements such as the keyboard and screen, as well as the trackpad and storage, become very important as that will be your full workstation. You’ll also want to decide whether you want a Windows, macOS, or Chromebook device - as all offer very different experienced and capabilities.
How we test the best laptop for programming
✅ More than1,800 laptops, Chromebooks, and MacBooksreviewed✅15 yearsof product testing✅ Over16,000 productsreviewed in total✅ Nearly200,000 hourstesting tech
We’ve tested hundreds of laptops and computers for business use, from thebest laptops for video editingto thebest video editing PCs, to help you find the device that’s right for you.
Our testing process is rigorous. Whether we’re exploring the ins and outs of thebest laptops for photo editing, or assessing the pros and cons of thebest workstations, we use a combination of tasks to see how each device compares to the competition - and what it offers users.
These tests are a mix of benchmark and real-world applications that allow us to spot where some laptops shine above others and give us insight for our scoring and overall review of a given laptop. A few of these tests, in no particular order, include:
We also consider overall ease of use, our real-world experience using these laptops as daily drivers during our testing, and the overall feel of these elements coming together to create a laptop for programming.
To test the best laptop for programming, we’ve looked at various aspects, like CPU, GPU, portability, storage, and design. We evaluated their overall performance and what kind of users they’d be best suited for. We analyzed their battery lives, security features, and display, and checked if they included additional accessories. We also considered their connectivity ports, weight, and pricing, among other things.
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Steve is TechRadar Pro’s B2B Editor for Creative & Hardware. He began in tech journalism reviewing photo editors and video editing software at the magazine Web User, where he also covered technology news, features, and how-to guides. Today, he and his team of reviewers test out a range of creative software, hardware, and office furniture. Once upon a time, he wrote TV commercials and movie trailers. Relentless champion of the Oxford comma.
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