This article discusses the best laptops for software development and programming in 2024. We have listed some cost-efficient notebooks that allow working from almost anywhere without compromising performance.
Top Rated Budget Laptops
Last update on 2024-10-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Nowadays, it’s not very hard to find a thin, lightweight notebook with robust performance thanks to the latest super energy-efficient chips. It doesn’t matter how complex a project you’re working on; these thin notebooks will get your covered. A portable device is helpful if you work from home and in the office.
In this challenging time, many of us aren’t very financially stable but don’t worry; there are several great budget laptops for software development and programming that offer great value for money. We have picked the best, so you don’t have to spend much on your new programming laptop.
If you’re in a hurry, check out our top choices:
- Apple MacBook Air M2 (for
) - DELL XPS 13 9310 (for
)
)
)Best Laptops for Software Programming in 2024 – Buyer’s Guide
So, what makes an excellent laptop for software development and programming?
Let’s start with the processor, there are several factors to consider, such as cache size, frequency, and thermal design power, but the number of cores is essential. A multi-core processor allows quickly compiling and testing your codes, enhancing productivity.
We recommend at least 16GB RAM. If you can get 16GB+ of memory, it would be the best choice because sooner or later, you might require it. If you’re choosing only 16GB of RAM, make sure your laptop is upgradeable in the future.
How can we forget a laptop screen on which our eyes are glued for a whole day? A bigger screen is always the best option, but you must consider the balance with the portability. Usually, a laptop with 14 or 15-inch is an ideal choice in most cases; it can provide enough room for running multiple programs side by side and won’t drag you down while carrying around. However, a 17-inch laptop can give you an extensive working area, but you have to sacrifice portability; choose wisely.
The keyboard is another thing we engage with the most in a laptop. Especially if we talk about the programmer, it plays an essential role in productivity. It’s always a good practice going with the same layout. It means if you’re using a keyboard with the dedicated number pad, don’t choose a TKL layout and vice versa. We have only selected the best programming laptops that offer reliable and comfortable keyboards.
Now let’s talk about dedicated Graphics. Do we need it as a programmer or software developer?
It depends on the environment you’re in. If you’re into game development, you should consider a discrete GPU with sufficient VRAM per the application’s requirements.
Look at our top-rated programming and software development laptops based on the above criteria.
QUICK OVERVIEW:
Best programming laptops at a glance
| ACER ASPIRE 5 CHEAPEST OPTION |
| View at Amazon |
| HP VICTUS BEST IN BUDGET |
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| HP PAVILION 14 X360 BEST BUDGET 2-IN-1 |
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| LG GRAM 15 BEST BATTERY LIFE AND LIGHTEST |
| View at Amazon |
| LENOVO THINKPAD E15 BEST MID-RANGE |
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| MICROSOFT SURFACE LAPTOP 4 BEST PORTABLE |
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| ACER PREDATOR HELIOS 300 POWERFUL GAMING |
| View at Amazon |
| HP ENVY 13 BUDGET PREMIUM |
| View at Amazon |
| APPLE MACBOOK AIR MOST PREMIUM |
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| ACER CHROMEBOOK SPIN 713 BEST CHROMEBOOK |
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| DELL XPS 13 9310 BEST WINDOWS |
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| MICROSOFT SURFACE LAPTOP STUDIO ULTIMATE CHOICE |
| View at Amazon |
Last update on 2024-10-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Best Laptops for Software Developments in 2024 – Reviews
1. Acer Aspire 5 (Cheapest Laptops for Programmer and Software Developer)
Weight: 3.88 lbs | Processor: Ryzen 5 5500U @4.0GHz | GPU: AMD Radeon | Memory: 16 GB | Storage: 512GB PCIe SSD | Screen: 15.6-inch , 1920 x 1080 | Battery Life: 11-hours | OS: Windows 11 Home
Don’t judge this laptop by its price; it’s a fantastic machine backed by an AMD Ryzen 5 5500U processor, 16GB memory, and 512GB SSD storage, which can handle programming work effortlessly.
Despite having a 15.6-inch large display, this buddy falls under the 4 lbs category. On top of that, it features a whopping battery life, which is excellent. You can code on this machine wherever you want.
The Aspire 5 offers several connectivity options, including USB 3.2 Type A (power-off charging), USB Type-C, and HDMI. You can add a second display for multitasking, transfer data at a faster speed, and charge your smartphone. Some other essential features such good webcam and a backlit keyboard are available.
If you’re looking for a bargain laptop for programming, it’s a complete package.
PROS
- Attractive price
- Good performance
- Impressive battery life
- Full keyboard layout
- Upgradable design
CONS
- Mediocre screen
2. HP Victus (Best Budget Laptop for Coders and Developers)
Weight: 5.06 lbs | Processor: i5-12450H @4.40GHz | GPU: GeForce GTX 1650 4GB | Memory: 16GB | Storage: 1TB PCIe SSD | Screen: 15.6-inch 144Hz , 1920 x 1080 | Battery Life: 5.75-hours | OS: Windows 11 Home
Victus is a newer gaming series in the HP library along with Omen and Pavilion. It offers robust and slimmer machines at an attractive price. This 15.6-inch Victus notebook is powered by 12th Gen Intel Core i5-12450H, 16GB memory, 1TB SSD, and Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 4GB dedicated GPU. The i5-12450H is an Octa-Core processor, which helps compile and test codes quickly.
These specifications are promising; you can run intricate projects on this buddy efficiently. It could be an ideal choice for game developers. If needed, you can extend its memory and storage capacity in the future.
There are no complaints regarding performance, but it comes at a cost: battery life. Also, it’s a bit heavy machine compared to the previous recommendation despite having the same size.
The full HD screen with 144Hz is not bad for programming; you can enjoy gaming sometimes. The webcam quality is also justified and provides decent video calling.
It also features a full-size keyboard with backlit, which comes in handy working late at night. Along with an HDMI, it supports DisplayPort over USB Type-C so that you can hook two monitors.
HP Victus could be a great choice if you need a budget programming laptop with gaming capability.
PROS
- Impressive performance for a budget laptop
- Great pricing
- Great array of ports
- Available with AMD or Intel
- Good quality display
CONS
- Frivolous battery life
- Bulky
- No RGB backlit
3. HP Pavilion 14 x360 (Best 2-in-1 Budget Laptop for Programming)
Weight: 3.55 lbs | Processor: i5-1135G7 @4.2GHz | GPU: Intel Iris Xe | Memory: 8GB | Storage: 256 GB SSD | Screen: 14-inch touch , 1920 x 1080 | Battery Life: 8-hours | OS: Windows 11 Home
The HP Pavilion 14 x360 is a lightweight convertible 2-in-1 notebook; you can use it for taking notes or drawing in tablet modes. The pricing is also good considering its features.
This portable machine is powered by the Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor, 8GB memory, and 256GB SSD, which is a bit lower but easily upgradable.
The HP Pavilion x360 comes with a 14-inch touch screen packed with 1080p resolution, which provides a good viewing experience. It’s a small notebook; therefore, it has a TKL keyboard (without a numeric keypad) which might be a deal breaker if you’re used to that standard version.
USB Type-C and HDMI ports are provided, which allows for connecting an external monitor and faster data transfer.
If you’re planning to buy a portable laptop that allows coding in a coffee shop but also plays a tablet role, you can consider the HP Pavilion x360 14.
PROS
- Reasonable performance
- Affordable pricing
- 2-in-1 design with touchscreen
- Handy
- Somewhat good backup
CONS
- Low storage and memory but upgradable
- TKL keyboard without backlit
4. LG Gram 15Z95N (Lightest Laptop for Programming with Longest Battery)
Weight: 2.47 lbs | Processor: i5-1135G7 @4.2GHz | GPU: Intel Iris Xe | Memory: 16GB | Storage: 512GB SSD | Screen: 15.6-inch , 1920 x 1080 | Battery Life: 21-hours | OS: Windows 11 Home
If you’re trying to solve your on-the-go working problem, the LG Gram 15 might be the piece of your incomplete puzzle. It is the lightest notebook on this entire post despite having a 15.6-inch screen which is incredible itself. On top of that, according to LG, it offers the most extended battery life of up to 21 hours. However, it might be different in real-life scenarios, but it will still be a clear winner.
It’s equipped with a full-size backlit keyboard, but it slightly flexes while typing. However, it’s not a big deal, but it could be problematic for some.
The fingerprint reader in the power button provides the fastest and most convenient login experience; just touch it once, and you’re done.
The 15.6-inch display is backed with full HD resolution ensuring crisp and vivid picture quality. A narrow bezel containing a large screen won’t let you feel you’re using a full-size notebook.
Regarding performance, it comes with 11th Gen Intel i5-1135G7, 16GB memory, and 512GB high-speed SSD, perfect for programming. This machine won’t let you down unless you’re in a gaming environment.
With the support of the Thunderbolt 3 port, you can connect an external display, charge your laptop, and transfer data at blazing fast speed. Despite being skinny and lightweight, this machine is durable and passed the MIL-STD-810 test of durability, so you don’t have to worry about daily life hurdles.
If tedious desks aren’t made for you, you can consider LG Gram 15. It offers fantastic performance and a marathon battery without being heavy on your shoulder.
PROS
- Good quality display
- Powerful performance
- Marathon battery life
- Ultralightweight
- Thunderbolt 3
- Backlit keyboard
- Power button built-in Fingerprint sensor
CONS
- Despite LG durability claims, the body looks flimsy.
5. Lenovo ThinkPad E15 Gen 2 (Best Mid-Range Laptop for Developers and Programmers)
Weight: 3.75 lbs | Processor: i7-1165G7 @ 4.7GHz | GPU: Intel Iris Xe | Memory: 32GB | Storage: 2TB PCIe SSD | Screen: 15.6-inch , 1920 x 1080 | Battery Life: 8 hours | OS: Windows 11 Pro
This notebook incorporates an Intel Core i7-1165G7, 32GB memory, and 2TB PCIe SSD storage. It provides stable performance during programming and multitasking.
The ThinkPad’s keyboard and trackpad quality is fantastic; it has spill-resistant and backlit features. It’s pretty satisfying for anyone who types a lot, such as a programmer or writer. Whether we talk about durability or convenience, you won’t disappoint.
With a fingerprint reader integrated with the power button, TPM 2.0 module, and Webcam Privacy cover Lenovo ensures reliable security. Also, it accompanies Thunderbolt 4 port, which is a Swiss army knife for connecting displays, transferring data, or even charging your device.
Altogether, if you don’t want to spend much on premium range notebooks and looking for a durable and reliable machine, the Lenovo ThinkPad E15 is worth considering. It’s backed with robust performance, an efficient keyboard, and good battery life. I know its weight falls under the gray area, but it’s bearable. What else do you need as a programmer?
PROS
- Anti-glare display
- Robust performance
- Highly durable and secure
- Amazing quality backlit keyboard
- Lovely battery life with Rapid Charge
- Thunderbolt 4
- Fingerprint sensor
CONS
- A bit heavy but not the heaviest
- Slightly costly
6. Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 (Best Portable Notebook for Programming)
Weight: 2.84 lbs | Processor: i7-1185G7 @4.3 GHz | GPU: Intel Iris Xe | Memory: 16 /32 GB | Storage: 512GB – 1TB NVMe SSD | Screen: 15-inch touch , 2496 x 1664 | Battery Life: 16.5-hours | OS: Windows 11
Durable, elegant, powerful, and versatile, Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 is one of the favorite choices of professionals. This notebook is skinny and lightweight, perfect for on-the-go use.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 is available in a 13.3/15-inch touch display with 201 PPI density, which is just brilliant and can deliver superb picture quality. You can also use it for designing or editing photos.
You don’t have to worry about durability as it offers a whole metal body that ensures a longer lifespan. Also, it’s one of the most portable laptops on this list.
The battery life is also quite impressive; backed by fast charging, it can last up to 16.5 hours with a single charge.
The Type-C port provides the most versatile connectivity; you can connect external displays and storage devices or even charge this buddy with that single cable. A USB Type-A port is also provided for backward compatibility. Remember, if you want to connect an external display, you’ll need a USB Type-C hub.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 supports Windows Hello with a built-in HD camera which provides seamless authentication. Also, with the support of dual far-field Studio Mics and Dolby Atmos powered speakers, you can perform high-quality video calling.
In the performance, this Laptop 4 is available in several configurations; you can pick an Intel Core i5, Core i7, AMD Ryzen 5, or AMD Ryzen 7 processors, supported by up to 32GB memory and 1TB SSD storage.
Undoubtedly, this laptop is expensive, but an Intel Core i5 or Ryzen 5 model with 16GB memory and 512GB would be sufficient for programmers and developers, which is fairly cheaper.
PROS
- Premium quality PixelSense display
- Available with different configurations
- Longer battery life with fast charging
- Solid metal build with portability
- Higher security with TPM 2.0 and Windows Hello
- Brilliant performance
CONS
- Expensive
- Only two USB ports
7. Acer Predator Helios 300 (Powerful Gaming Laptop for Programming)
Weight: 5..51 lbs | Processor: i7-11800H @4.6GHz | GPU: RTX 3060 6GB | Memory: 16GB | Storage: 512GB PCIe NVMe + Extra slot | Screen: 15.6-inch 144Hz , 1920 x 1080 | Battery Life: 6-hours | OS: Windows 11 Home
You should consider a laptop with a powerful GPU if you’re into game development or do some heavy-graphics activities. The Acer Predator Helios 300 gaming laptop offers pretty decent features for a great price.
This machine is packed with an Intel Core i7-11800H paired with 16GB memory, 512GB PCIe SSD storage, and NVidia RTX 3060 dedicated GPU. Even with the heavy-graphics application and latest AAA titles, it won’t kneel. Overall the performance is satisfying; you can do rigorous multitasking and compile intricate code; it won’t disappoint you.
However, it’s a bit lousy in terms of battery life and portability, but it’s not very surprising for a robust gaming machine, at least at this price.
Regarding connectivity options, it has everything you need USB 3.2 Type-C, HDMI, Mini DisplayPort, RJ 45, and USB 3.2 Type-A.
This gaming machine features a 144Hz IPS LED-backlit display with full HD resolution and 3ms response time, which is marvelous. It’s not only ideal for gaming, but you can also use it for designing or editing.
If you need a powerful laptop with substantial graphics capability, the Acer Predator Helios 300 might be a viable option that provides excellent value for the money.
PROS
- Great full HD display
- Outstanding performance
- Available with different configurations
- Upgradable design
- Extensive connectivity options
- A brilliant thermal system with the Aeroblade 3D Fans
- Durable build quality with metal chassis
CONS
- A bit thick and heavy
- Inferior battery life
- It might produce noise during the heavy load
8. HP ENVY 13 (Budget Premium Intel Evo Notebook for Software Programmers)
Weight: 2.88 lbs | Processor: i5-1135G7 @4.2GHz | GPU: Intel Iris Xe | Memory: 16GB | Storage: 512GB PCIe SSD | Screen: 13.3-inch , 1920 x 1080 | Battery Life: 11-hours | OS: Windows 11
It’s an Intel Evo-certified notebook; therefore, you can trust some features without a second thought, such as battery life, responsiveness, fast charging, camera quality, and connectivity options.
This thin notebook is packed with an Intel Core i5-1135G7, 16GB memory, and 512GB PCIe SSD storage. It can deliver stable performance even with rigorous multitasking.
This buddy is perfect for traveling or carrying around, thanks to its lightweight and compact design. It features a 13.3-inch full HD micro-edge display that provides vibrant image quality with higher accuracy. Additionally, it comes with a backlit keyboard and a fingerprint reader. Don’t worry about its durability, as it’s supported by a high-quality all-metal case built to last.
Hp Envy has done a great job with a whopping 11+ hours of battery life on mix-usage. Also, with the fast charging, it can get 50% within 30 minutes.
Durable metal body, robust performance, longer battery life, compact design, and decent keyboard, everything seems perfect for a programmer. This year the pricing also looks reasonable.
PROS
- Vivid and bright display
- Speedy performance
- Backlit keyboard
- Fingerprint sensor
- Thunderbolt 4
- All-day battery life
- Lightweight and compact
CONS
- Plastic touchpad
9. Apple MacBook Air (Most Premium Notebook for Programmers)
Weight: 2.75 lbs | Processor: Apple M2 | GPU: integrated | Memory: 8GB | Storage: 512 GB SSD | Screen: 13.6-inch , 2560 x 1664 | Battery Life: 15-hours | OS: macOS
No one can deny that Mac is undoubtedly a great operating system for programming, especially if you want to develop in Xcode for iPad, Mac, and iPhone, then you’ll need a Mac. However, you must spend more to get an ample hardware configuration than Windows machines.
The best part of Mac OS is that you can also taste the Windows operating system. This latest MacBook Air is more powerful and offers longer battery life than its previous models.
The design is completely changed, becoming slimmer and more lightweight. If we talk about the performance, there is a massive improvement as it’s coming with the Apple M2 chip, 8GB memory, and 512GB SSD storage, which is enough in most situations. You can configure your Air with up to 24GB memory and 2TB storage.
The performance is incredible, but if you want more, you can consider the MacBook Pro with M1 Pro or M1 Max chip according to your budget.
The best thing about MacOS is higher security and more stability; even you won’t face many malware or virus issues.
The keyboard quality of the MacBook Air is also excellent; it can provide an efficient and cozy working experience. The latest MacBook Air promises a blazing 15 hours of battery life.
If you have a reasonable budget and looking for a durable, portable, and reliable machine for programming, you can go with MacBook Air M2. Keep in mind, if you’re into game development, then going with a MacBook Pro would be much wise choice.
PROS
- Premium Liquid Retina display
- Outstanding performance
- Highly reliable and durable
- Lightweight and portable
- Touch ID
- Noise-free fanless design
- Two Thunderbolt 4 ports
CONS
- Lack of ports
- Expensive
10. Acer Chromebook Enterprise Spin 713 (Best Chromebook for Programmers)
Weight: 3.02 lbs | Processor: i5-1135G7 @4.2GHz | GPU: Intel Iris Xe | Memory: 16GB | Storage: 256GB SSD | Screen: 13.5-inch touch , 2256 x 1504 | Battery Life: 7.5-hours | OS: Chrome OS
If you’re an Android developer, a Chromebook would be more viable for the best Google services and software. A Chromebook supports Android software natively, which is another plus point.
The Acer Spin 713 is one of the best Chromebooks available, whether we talk about performance, design, or reliability. It’s Intel Evo certified, just like HP Envy 13.
This Chromebook is available with 11th Gen Intel Core i5-1135G7, 16GB memory, and 256GB SSD storage. The performance is impressive; you can do rigorous multitasking conveniently.
This notebook is designed for business users in mind; therefore, it features Thunderbolt 4, dual USB Type-C, HDMI port, a backlit keyboard, and Wi-Fi 6. A 13.3-inch 2K IPS LED-backlit touchscreen ensures a vibrant and crisp image quality. It is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass.
Spin 713 comes up to 7.5 hours of battery life with fast charging support. Therefore, it can provide up to 4 hours of backup with just a 30-mins of charging. The battery life isn’t promising compared to the previous model and falls under the average range.
Usually, due to ChromeOS, you won’t be able to run full desktop applications such as Adobe Photoshop or Microsoft Office because Chromebooks are specially designed for online apps. However, it comes with a Chrome Enterprise upgrade which features several advanced features such as a remote desktop, application virtualization support, multi-layered security, preference syncing, and cloud or native printing. It means you can also use the full-featured Windows application locally.
This Acer Chromebook Spin 713 offers top security, robust performance, portability, higher durability, and a quality keyboard, and it must be because it has an Intel Evo badge. However, the battery life doesn’t meet the expectation and could have been better.
PROS
- Fantastic 2K touchscreen with Gorilla Glass Protection
- Powerful hardware
- Somewhat good battery life with fast charging
- Highly durable design
- Fantastic keyboard with backlit
- Handy and compact design
CONS
- ChromeOS has some limited functionality, but it depends on the requirements.
11. Dell XPS 13 9310 (Best Windows Laptop for Software Development and Programming)
Weight: 2.8 lbs | Processor: i7-1195G7 @5.0GHz | GPU: Intel Iris Xe | Memory: 16GB | Storage: 512GB PCIe SSD | Screen: 13.4-inch touch , 3840 x 2400 | Battery Life: 14-hours | OS: Windows 11 Home
Packed with the latest Intel 11th Gen Core i7-1195G processor, 16GB memory, and 512GB PCIe SSD storage, the Dell XPS 13 9310 could be a reliable option for programmers.
This machine accompanies a 13.4-inch touch screen, which is available with full HD and 4K resolution; you can choose as per your requirements. The best thing about the display is that it’s not only highly sharper but also comes with a 100% sRGB color gamut so that you can use it for color-sensitive tasks such as photo editing or graphics designing.
The screen is anti-reflective and backed with 500 nits; it’s ideal for outdoors. This latest model comes with an InfinityEdge bezel and an innovative camera, which makes video conferencing more realistic.
In terms of durability, the latest XPS 13 is crafted from a single block of aluminum, so it’s very durable. This newest model offers a power button built-in fingerprint and a lid sensor that makes your login and power-on experience quicker. Additionally, you’re getting the Thunderbolt 4 port, the most versatile connectivity solution for laptops.
If you are looking for a long-lasting, mighty, handy, and durable notebook loaded with the latest features and security, the Dell XPS 13 9310 could be your daily companion.
If you have graphics-heavy requirements, you can check out its big brother DELL XPS 15 9510.
PROS
- A gorgeous 4K display with InfinityEdge bezel
- Mighty Intel Core i7 processor
- Utmost durability with a metal unibody
- Thunderbolt 4 port
- Power button built-in fingerprint reader
- Easy to carry
- Fantastic keyboard and touchpad
- Incredible battery life
CONS
- No dedicated GPU
- Expensive
12. Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio (Ultimate Laptop for Software Programmers)
Weight: 4.0 lbs | Processor: i7-11370H @4.8 GHz | GPU: RTX 3050 Ti 4GB | Memory: 16 /32 GB | Storage: 512GB – 2TB NVMe SSD | Screen: 14.4-inch touch , 2400 x 1600 | Battery Life: 10.5-hours | OS: Windows 11
It is speculated that Microsoft has replaced the Microsoft Surface Book lineup with the latest Laptop Studio model. No doubt, this notebook is the flagship model that features cutting-edge technology and features.
With a 14.5-inch PixelSense Flow display and an innovative convertible 2-in-1 design, Microsoft’s latest Surface Laptop Studio could be an excellent choice for programmers. This machine has several configurations; you can choose from Intel Core i5 to Intel Core i7 with 8GB -32GB memory and 256GB – 2TB storage range.
This portable machine comes with Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti 4GB GPU, making it capable of processing heavy graphics. You can use it for game development without any hassle.
Regarding connectivity options, this machine incorporates the latest two Thunderbolts with a Surface connect port. You might need an adapter for connecting other devices.
When it comes to battery life, according to Microsoft, this buddy can last up to 18 hours on typical device usage, which is impressive.
However, Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is one of the most expensive laptops in 2024; you must purchase the accessories separately. But this machine is one of the rarest species, which comprises that robust hardware configuration within insane portability.
PROS
- Incredible quality PixelSense Flow display
- Innovative 2-in-1 design
- Available in different variants
- Outstanding battery life
- Sturdy build quality
- Insane portability
CONS
- Very costly
Best Notebooks for Programming and Software Development in 2024
Hopefully, we have answered your question about the best laptops for programming; if you have any query or suggestion, please comments below. Thanks for reading, have a great day. 🙂
