10 Best Laptops for Coding Compared for 2024

The best laptops for coding can execute thousands of lines of code in the blink of an eye without delays, glitches, or stuttering. Programming goes beyond typing endless lines of code, of course – as if that’s not challenging enough. Many say coding is just another word for multitasking, as you’re constantly running complex software for writing, testing, and compiling code and often doing so simultaneously.

Finding a great programming rig with a defined budget is no easy job,  though, as things aren’t always #000000 and #FFFFFF. Because of that, we’ve compiled a list of the 10 best laptops for coding – and the other 8 are great too. Binary jokes aside, here are the best programming laptops for all budgets.

The Best Laptops for Programming Ranked

We ranked the top 10 laptops for programming, with the Acer Aspire 5 as the overall #1. Here’s a brief overview of our top picks.

1. Acer Aspire 5 – Overall, the best laptop for coding in 2024. The hexacore 4GHz CPU is ideal when using multiple computer coding software programs. It has a decent graphics card that can efficiently run any graphic design app. A reliable and affordable laptop.
2. Acer Nitro 5 – An excellent multiprocessing laptop with a 12th Gen i7 CPU and a powerful GeForce RTX 3060. Supports coding, graphic design, building APIs, and browsing simultaneously, with no sweat.
3. MSI GF65 – Built to deal with the most complex tasks, the MSI GF65 supports the most demanding coding and video editing software. Thanks to its unique thermal design, this laptop remains cool after hours of intense work.
4. Apple MacBook Air M1 – Equipped with an 8-core CPU and a mid-level graphics card, this laptop is powerful enough to handle the most intense tasks. It has a battery that can last up to 18 hours.
5. Lenovo Flex 5 2-in-1 – This portable device can be used as a laptop or tablet, allowing you to complete tasks on the go. It has a 4 GHz CPU and 16 GB RAM.
6. Asus TUF F15 – With an i5 Core processor and GTX 1650 GPU, this machine is capable of running the most complex game development toolkits like Construct and Autodesk. It has 512 GB of storage, which can be upgraded if needed.
7. Lenovo Ideapad 3 – Thanks to its affordable price, this is one of the best laptops for programming and computer science students. It boasts a massive 20 GB RAM capacity and a decent 3 GHz Intel Core i3 CPU.
8. HP Stream 11 – Comes with a decent configuration and massive 64 GB storage. Its battery can last up to 13.15 hours.
9. ASUS Vivobook – This machine will provide you with a seamless experience when coding, programming, or browsing, and the lack of a serious graphics card is compensated for with a high-end i7 processor.
10. HP Pavilion 15 – Boasts a high-end CPU and a decent GPU for supporting intense tasks like gaming at 1080p. Has a 15.6-inch screen with 178-degree wide viewing angles.

The Best Developer Laptops Reviewed

Our analysts have picked the 10 best laptops for coding for 2024. Here are the best programming laptops, which stand out for their performance, portability, CPU, GPU, and pricing.

1. Acer Aspire 5 – Overall, the Best Laptop for Coding in 2024

The Acer Aspire 5 is at the top of our list as the best laptop for programming. It performs well under pressure, it’s reliable, and it’s surprisingly cheap.

It boasts a decent 15.6-inch-wide screen with an LED-backlit IPS Display. The supported resolution of 1920 x 1080 is good enough to deliver a crisp and clear image, which will benefit graphic design and creative programming tasks like front-end work.

The Acer Aspire 5’s main competitive advantage is the AMD Ryzen 5 5500U at its heart. The 4GHz hexacore processor is able to run multiple coding software programs simultaneously and corresponds to the basic requirements for code editors like Sublime Text, Atom, Brackets, Vim, Bluefish, among others.

The AMD Radeon graphics card is serviceable but doesn’t belong at the very top of the list of the best graphics cards of the year. This is especially true if you love gaming in 4K, which is challenging for this GPU. Still, you can enjoy playing at 1080p at ultra-high settings with no issues whatsoever. Entry-level graphic designers will also enjoy the high level of detail this GPU can deliver.

The 256GB SSD storage is large enough to support multiple apps, code editors, and, ultimately, more projects. You won’t have the problem of having to delete older folders to fit new programs.

The Aspire 5 looks great with its silver aluminum top cover. At the same time, this laptop is extra thin and extremely light. Thus, it’s ideal if you work remotely and love to change your working environment from time to time. And don’t worry if you forgot the power cable.

This machine has 11 hours of battery life. Unless you run super-complex apps, you’re good to go – and we rate this as the best computer for coding on our list.

Pricing

You can get the Acer Aspire 5 for only $463.88 on Amazon. This laptop is currently on discount, so if you’re fast enough, you might grab one of the best laptops for coding for a bargain.

The usual price of this item goes a little above the $500 mark, which is cheap for such an outstanding coding rig. The quality of its speakers isn’t the best, but it’ll hardly be a problem for most users.

2. Acer Nitro 5 – Full-Stack Developing Machine

The Acer Nitro 5 is one of the most potent laptops for coding. It boasts a newer-gen CPU and GPU, making it ideal for full-stack developers.

First, let’s mention the obvious – this laptop is visually stunning. It has a black case and a backlit keyboard, which adds to the aesthetically pleasing overall visual impression. And the Acer Nitro 5 delivers incredible power, primarily thanks to its newer-gen Intel Core i7 processor.

You can create web pages with incredible detail thanks to its Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060. This 5GB GPU is powerful enough to tackle the most demanding graphic design software you can throw upon it. The GPU relies on the latest architecture with Ray Tracing and Tensor Cores and is backed by streaming multiprocessors.

Running multiple software programs while having numerous StackOverflow tabs open is a burden for any machine, increasing the risk of overheating. Luckily, the Acer Nitro 5 is equipped with a dual-fan cooler and quad-exhaust port design. As a result, you get one of the best laptops for coding that stays cool during the most intense programming sessions.

This laptop is also equipped with Killer DoubleShot Pro with Ethernet E2600 and Killer WiFi 6 1650, which allow you to prioritize your internet traffic. You can use WiFi and Ethernet simultaneously while controlling speed and throughput – and you can check out some of the best WiFi routers, which will help you achieve the best results.

Pricing

The Acer Nitro 5 is a powerful and highly sought-after laptop for coding. Consequently, it’s sometimes out of stock on Amazon. Its usual price is around $1,000, which is a bargain considering that its CPU alone costs about $500 to $600.

In addition, this laptop comes with a high-end Acer mouse designed for maximum precision.

3. MSI GF65 – Perfect for Graphic Design and Video Editing

The MSI GF65 comes with a Core i7 CPU model and a GeForce RTX 3060 GPU. This is one of the best coding laptops and a great video and picture editing tool. It can run Inkscape, Sketch, Canva, DaVinci Resolve, Adobe Premiere Pro, and CyberLink PowerDirector 365 without breaking a sweat.

The GF65 can withstand the weight of the most intense video and picture editing sessions, primarily thanks to the RTX 3060 Nvidia graphics card. This GPU is powerful enough to render complex 3D models and can handle 4K video editing if needed.

Video and picture editing combined with coding is a resource-intensive task for any laptop. However, you won’t have any issues with this one, as it comes with a stunning 16 GB of RAM and a 10th Gen Intel Core processor. Its CPU has six cores and up to 5GHz single-core turbo speed.

The 15.6-inch display boasts an above-average refresh rate of 144Hz. The recommended minimum for graphic design is 120Hz. As a result, you can expect a smoother and more fluid picture with this laptop.

The GF65 has six heat pipes that simultaneously work to reduce the laptop’s temperature during high-intense sessions and maximize the airflow. You can code and video edit for hours without interruption.

This laptop is thin and light, so you won’t have any issues carrying it while commuting or traveling. The only downside is the power cable port, which is located in the middle of the laptop, which can make working from outside your home (like the coffee shop, for instance) slightly uncomfortable.

Pricing

The MSI GF65 price is $1,199. It is slightly pricier than some of its competitors. However, you need a stronger coding rig if you intend to perform more intensive programming and video editing work.

4. Apple MacBook Air M1 – Ideal for Programming in Python

The Apple MacBook Air M1 boasts the M1 chip with four high-performance and four high-efficiency cores. As such, this laptop can run several high-intense apps simultaneously.

Programming in Python does not require an overpowered machine. Indeed, an entry-level configuration will be more than enough as this programming language requires any modern operating system, 4 GB RAM, and at least 5 GB free storage. A low-end coding rig might be enough for web development in Python.

However, quantitative analysis, machine learning, and data visualization, as more complex programming tasks, still require a more modern machine. The MacBook Air M1 has 8 GB RAM and 256 GB hard disc space, which is enough to support additional tools every Python developer needs.

The MacBook Air M1 can easily handle coding software like IDLE,  Spyder, Jupyter Notebook, PyCharm, and PyDev, and code editors like Atom, Visual Code Studio, and similar.

Like many other Apple laptops, this one also stands out with an impressive battery lifespan. You can code with the MacBook Air for up to 18 hours, even when streaming movies and TV shows.

Pricing

The Apple MacBook Air M1 is priced at $1,000. However, if you grab it now, you’ll get a 20% discount for only $799, which is significantly cheaper than some other MacBook Pro alternatives like the MacBook Air M2, for instance. This item comes in three colors – gold, silver, and space gray.

5. Lenovo Flex 5 2-in-1 – Portable Laptop for Coding

The Lenovo Flex 5 2-in-1 is one of the best laptops for coding if you like working on the go. It is ideal for remote programmers and is highly appreciated for its portability.

The Flex 5 relies on the Ryzen 5 4500U CPU. This processor has a 2.3 GHz clock speed and a maximum frequency of 4.0 GHz. With decent speed and a high number of cores, this CPU is good enough to handle any demanding programming or coding tasks.

The processor is paired with a Radeon Graphics card. It can come in several GPU models. However, whichever you pick, you won’t be disappointed as lower-end graphics cards can come with up to 4.0 GHz clock speed, while the higher-end choices support up to 4.6 GHz frequency.

The Lenovo Flex 5 has 16 GB RAM and 256 GB storage, which is good enough to tackle any programming software you might use.

The Flex 5 is a thin and stylish laptop and weighs only 3.64 pounds. It’s super-easy to carry and, as such, ideal if you like changing your working environment once in a while. It has a 14-inch touchscreen laptop and comes in four modes – laptop, stand, tent, and tablet.

Overall, this laptop is great for multitaskers – and if you’re geared up to really get organized, we recommend checking out the best task management software packages to increase your efficiency.

Pricing 

With a $599.99 price tag, the Lenovo Flex 5 is among the more affordable laptops for coding. With its touchscreen, you also get a digital pen included in the bundle. This laptop is made of quality plastic and is designed to serve you for years.

6. Asus TUF F15 – Great for Game Developers

The Asus TUF F15 is a reliable coding laptop that boasts military-grade toughness and self-cleaning fans for maximum longevity.

Bringing games to life is no easy task. Advanced coding skills and knowledge of physics and math are all equally important if you wish to become a good game developer. Oh, and it’s a great laptop for coding too.

The Asus TUF relies on a Core i5 processor with a max turbo frequency of 4.30 GHz and has 8 GB of RAM. As a result, this laptop meets the requirements for some of the most complex toolsets, like Autodesk, which requires a minimum of 3+GHz CPU and 8 GB RAM.

On the other hand, using Construct requires at least 512 GB of dedicated video memory. This is also where the F15 excels, as it boasts a GTX 1650 graphics card by Nvidia. Playing 4K video games with this card might be a challenge. However, creating one using this video card will be a breeze.

Pricing

The Asus TUF F15 is priced at $737 on Amazon. Moreover, if you aren’t satisfied with the 512 GB storage or would like to replace memory, you can easily upgrade your laptop thanks to its pop-open screw design. Is it better to buy a mid-end upgradable laptop for $737 or a higher-end machine with an integrated GPU for $1K? It’s up to you to decide.

7. Lenovo Ideapad 3 – One of the Best Computers for College

The Lenovo Ideapad 3 stands out with a highly affordable price and a decent performance-per-dollar ratio. As such, it is ideal for college students.

The Ideapad 3 is among the best laptops for coding if you’re on a budget – specifically your parents’. While it doesn’t have the most massive storage – which is expected considering the price – this laptop does have a surprisingly high RAM of 20 GB.

It runs on a dual-core 3GHz i3 Intel Core processor, which is good enough to handle more demanding requests. You may struggle when running several apps at once – so the laptop may slightly slow down your working process.

However, the biggest downside is the integrated Intel UHD Graphics with a boost speed of 4.10 GHz. As a result, you might struggle if you need to run more complex programs for video editing, for instance. Still, the price justifies the quality, and we rate this as one of the best laptops for programming students.

Pricing

You can get this laptop for only $419.99. Considering the laptop’s configuration and material quality, the price is a true bargain. The overall impression is good, especially if we take into account that this laptop comes with 20 GB RAM, which is usually tricky to find for under $500.

Whether you’re studying computer science or programming, this laptop will serve you well.

8. HP Stream 11 – Best Cheap Laptop for Coding and Programming

The HP Stream 11 is among the cheapest laptops for coding you can find on the market.

It relies on a dual-core Intel Celeron N4020 CPU that has a 1.1 GHz base speed and a 2.80 GHz boost frequency. It can run almost any programming software without issue but will struggle if you simultaneously load it with multiple apps, which is only normal considering the configuration.

The best way to use this laptop is to tackle one task at a time. For example, you can use any coding editor like Atom, Sublime Text, Vim, UltraEdit, TextMate, or Bluefish with no issues. It won’t take too much time to execute your commands, even if you have 1,000+ lines of code.

However, if you intend to intensify usage of Stack Overflow combined with some of the best VPNs and throw in Adobe Illustrator, CorelDRAW, or GIMP into the equation – then you might face some bumps in the road, as the CPU usage could go to 100%. Use it wisely, and it’ll serve you well.

Pricing

There’s not much to discuss when the price of a laptop is $198.87, with a 12% discount. With the HP Stream 11, you’ll get a reliable laptop with a battery life of up to 13.15 hours – something you can only get from our picks with the Apple MacBook M1, which costs around $1K.

9. ASUS Vivobook – Best Used for Front-End Programming

The ASUS Vivobook boasts a massive storage of up to 1 TB and a high-end i7 CPU. It is one of the best laptops for coding, primarily thanks to its incredible processing power. Its i7 Core CPU offers a 3.90 GHz boost frequency, four cores, and eight threads. As such, this coding rig is equipped enough to handle multiple processes.

As a result, you can write in your selected code editor, export your project to GitHub, or edit pictures in Adobe Photoshop with no fuss. You’ll experience no glitches or bugs in the process.

While we can’t argue about its processing power, its graphics card is questionable. The Vivobook uses an Intel HD 6000 video card, which is equivalent to GeForce 820m. To put this into a more proper perspective, this GPU has an operating speed of 300 MHz, with a max boost of 950 MHz, 284 shading units, and six ROPs. Ultimately, it’s not enough to render any game launched after 2010.

Pricing

The Asus Vivobook costs only $695. Considering that its Core i7 CPU alone costs around $500, this laptop’s price looks like a true bargain.

Compared to its competitors in the same price range, like the Asus TUF F15, the Vivobook falls behind with its low-end graphics card. However, when it comes to CPU power and storage size, the Asus Vivobook stands out from the rest of the crowd.

10. HP Pavilion 15 – Great for Programming and Gaming

The HP Pavilion 15 can measure against the best gaming PCs thanks to its superb RAM and newer-gen CPU. It’s perhaps the best laptop for programming and gaming.

The Pavilion 15 relies on an i7 Core processor with a 1.30 GHz base and 3.90 GHz boost frequencies. On top of that, this CPU has four cores and a total of 8 threads. As a result, the HP Pavilion 15 is great for crunching, graphics, and video editing.

Furthermore, this laptop boasts Intel Iris Xe Graphics – great for coding and decent for gaming. When it comes to programming, this laptop will be up to its task. It’s reliable and will be able to run several apps simultaneously.

When it comes to gaming, its video card isn’t the most impressive you’ll find on the market. Especially when you compare it to Nvidia RTX cards, which can be faster by up to 900% times than Iris, still, this GPU, as it is, will be enough to run most games at 1080p. You shouldn’t expect to reach 60+ fps, but you’ll probably be close enough most of the time.

Pricing 

You can get the HP Pavilion 15 for $802.99. The real question is – does this laptop justify its price? In short, yes. The Pavilion 15 has 16 GB RAM and can deliver stunning graphics, whether you’re editing, streaming, or gaming.

The Market’s Top-Rated Coding Laptops Compared

Here’s a brief overview of the best laptops for coding, so you can have a better idea of what these different programming rigs offer:

Key Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Laptop for Coding

As the number of developers worldwide continues to grow, the demand for the best laptops for coding has increased significantly over the last few years. Consequently, a simple browser search stands between you and thousands of laptops for programming.

That said, here’s the best way to find a coding laptop that suits your needs best.

Processor

The CPU is at the heart of every coding laptop. Simply put, the strength of your processor will determine how fast your laptop will complete its tasks. With more processing power, your computer will think and work faster.

The best laptops for programming can execute millions of instructions per second, thanks to their physical cores. More cores bring more computational power to the laptop, thus allowing your machine to run more complicated tasks simultaneously.

As a programmer, you’ll often run several apps simultaneously. More often than not, you’ll use your code editor alongside database software, a team communication tool, and a browser with dozens of StackOverflow tabs opened.

A laptop with fewer CPU cores will struggle to cope with all the tasks. Thus, it’ll work slower. On the other hand, picking a laptop with at least four cores (quad-core) will make this process faster and struggle less when running multiple apps.

RAM

Because of that, you need to look for a laptop with a higher RAM capacity. For coding, you’ll need no more than 4 GB. Such a programming rig won’t be the fastest you’ve seen, but it’ll be good enough to get the job done.

For more complex tasks, like video editing, you should look for a laptop with at least 8 GB RAM. Finally, the best developer laptop for coding and video/picture editing should have at least 16 GB of random access memory.

Storage

Storage helps your laptop contain long-term digital memory. You can store files, photos, programs, movies, and projects. Every file you download and install on your machine will occupy space in the laptop’s storage. The more space you use, the slower your device will be.

As a programmer, you’ll need to install several applications to run and test your projects. Also, you’ll need help from several browsers and virtual machines to test your code and make sure it works as it should. Most of these apps and browsers need up to 10 GB to run properly.

However, you should consider that you’ll be installing additional apps and using your storage for multiple purposes. Thus, the best laptops for coding should have at least 256 GB.

Battery Life

Your laptop’s battery will determine how long your device can last on a single charge. Today, most laptops use lithium batteries, a popular concept used in cell phones, hybrids, and electric cars.

The way lithium-ion batteries work, with their high energy density and ability to recharge, made this concept extremely popular among laptop manufacturers. Today’s laptops can work up to several hours without being recharged.

So, what is the average battery life for the best laptops for developers? This depends on the computer itself and its battery quality. Good laptops for coding can last up to 8 hours before you plug them in. The best ones can last between 10 and 12 hours of intense coding before the battery reaches a critical level.

The laptop’s battery life depends on the complexity of tasks you throw at it. The time between two charges will be shorter if you combine coding, video editing, gaming, and streaming.

GPU

A graphical processing unit (GPU), as its name suggests, helps your laptop to display visual data. Its primary task is to render graphics and visually intense applications.

Coding relies on text input and processing. As such, these tasks are not graphic intense. Because of that, not all programmers need a sound graphics card. For example, code editors are light apps that won’t affect your GPU in the slightest.

However, you’ll need a powerful graphics card to complete more complex tasks like graphic design, game development, data visualization, and machine learning. For example, game developers writing AAA games using engines like Unity need a powerful GPU with at least 8 GB VRAM.

The graphics processing unit is an essential component that affects the price of the best laptops for coding. The effects of the pandemic on the graphics card market and increasing use in the gaming industry and machine learning have led to spikes in demand.

Finding a mid-to-high-end GPU in a under $500 coding laptop is now a reality. As a result, the best developer laptop does not cost an arm and a leg anymore. On the contrary, many high-end laptops are cheaper than their desktop counterparts.

Upgradeability

The best programming laptop today can become low-end in the future as computer technologies keep progressing. Spending money on a new computer is not the best budget-management solution. Because of that, many developers do one of two things – either buy future-proof computers or upgradeable laptops.

Buying a higher-end laptop is always a great solution. No matter how complex your work becomes, you’ll always have a tool to rely on. However, this is also a more expensive solution.

On the other hand, buying an upgradable machine allows you to manage your budget more easily.

Programming Laptop FAQs

Aleksandar Stevanovic

Software Reviews Expert

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Aleksandar Stevanovic

Software Reviews Expert

Aleksandar Stevanovic spent 10 years honing his craft as a freelance content writer. He has a degree in Economics, and extensive experience in software, crypto, and cybersecurity industries. He covers a multitude of topics, writing factual and informative articles, helping individuals better understand the intricacies of the online world. Over the last two years, his research focus shifted more towards tech and software content, as evidenced by his publications on CEX.IO, Business2Community, and Techopedia. He believes in simplifying complex topics and bringing them closer to like-minded individuals. His work is as detail-oriented as it is creative, and is designed to…

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