Coding and programming demand a lot from a laptop. You need sufficient processing power, memory, and storage space to run demanding software and tools smoothly. At the same time, you likely want a portable system with a comfortable keyboard and bright, sharp display for hours of uninterrupted workflow.
With so many options on the market, choosing the right programming laptop can get overwhelming. To help simplify your search, we‘ve thoroughly researched the latest models and selected the 5 best laptops for coding and programming in 2024.
How We Chose the Best Laptops for Coding and Programming
We began our evaluation by establishing a core set of criteria that the ideal programming laptop should meet:
- Processing Power: At least an Intel Core i5 processor or equivalent AMD chip able to handle intensive tasks without slowdown or lag
- Memory: 16GB RAM minimum to juggle multiple processes and data loads efficiently
- Storage: 512GB SSD or higher for fast boot and app launch times
- Display: 1080p screen with an aspect ratio above 16:9 for ample vertical space to view code
- Keyboard: Well-spaced, comfortable layout suitable for extended typing sessions
- Ports: USB 3.0, HDMI, or USB-C connections for accessories and external displays
- Battery Life: 8+ hours for mobile productivity between charges
Armed with these standards, we combed through spec sheets and real-world reviews of today‘s most popular laptop models from Acer, Apple, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and more.
We ruled out any systems that cut corners on processing power and memory, as well as niche models intended strictly for gaming. Models geared for general home and office work were also disqualified for lacking capabilities required by programmers.
Our top picks below deliver an ideal blend of performance, portability, features and value guaranteed to meet programmers’ demanding needs both now and for years to come.
The 5 Best Laptops for Coding and Programming in 2024
1. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 – Best Overall
The latest generation of Lenovo‘s venerable ThinkPad X1 Carbon continues to set the standard for premium ultraportable laptops geared for serious professionals.
Weighing just 2.49 pounds, the carbon fiber and magnesium alloy body houses some of the most powerful mobile components available. Configuration options scale up to a 12th Gen Intel Core i7 processor with vPro, 32GB LPDDR5 RAM, and 2TB PCIe SSD.
Out of the box, our recommended mid-tier configuration provides excellent value:
- 11th Gen Intel Core i5-1135G7 quad-core processor
- 16GB LPDDR4x RAM
- 512GB M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD
- 14” 1920×1200 IPS touchscreen display
- Backlit keyboard with soft-touch deck
This hardware combination delivers exceptional speed and responsiveness for compiling code, developing software, training models and handling most other coding tasks with ease. The screen’s 16:10 aspect ratio minimizes scrolling while displaying more lines of code at once.
With a claimed battery life beyond 15 hours plus Cat16 LTE for connectivity anywhere, the X1 Carbon is also remarkably portable. If premium construction, speedy performance, enterprise-grade security and sheer mobility top your most wanted list for coding on the move, Lenovo‘s newest ThinkPad X1 Carbon clearly deserves first place.
Ideal For: Software engineers, application developers and programmers needing top-shelf ultraportable performance
2. Dell XPS 15 – Best Battery Life
The Dell XPS 15 has been a long-standing favorite for programmers who frequently work on the go. In 2024, the 10th generation XPS 15 9520 brings a number of thoughtful improvements to bolster its appeal.
Highlights of our recommended mid-tier configuration include:
- 13th Gen Intel Core i7-13700H processor with 14 cores and 20 threads
- 16GB LPDDR5 RAM (expandable to 64GB)
- 1TB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD
- 15.6” 3.5K (3456 x 2160) OLED touch display
- 86Whr battery for over 15 hours run time per charge
- Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti GPU with 4GB GDDR6 RAM
This combination of next-gen processing architecture, fast RAM, AI acceleration and discrete graphics yield super smooth experience across everything from coding editors to Android emulators and Unity game engines.
The OLED panel’s vibrant color and contrast make visual assets really pop while eliminating eye fatigue over long sessions. Support for Dolby Vision transforms the screen into an impressive portable cinema for taking media breaks.
With the largest battery Dell has ever put into an XPS laptop, the 9520 also sets a new standard for unplugged longevity. If you need a full-featured powerhouse coding laptop capable of operating all day without being tethered to an outlet, the latest Dell XPS 15 clearly leads the pack.
Ideal For: Programmers and developers focused on sustained mobility above all else
3. Apple 16-inch MacBook Pro M2 Max – Best Display
The move to Apple Silicon over the past two years has made MacBooks more capable coding companions than ever for devs invested in the Apple ecosystem.
The freshly updated 16-inch MacBook Pro with next-gen M2 Pro and M2 Max silicon chips takes performance to new heights. Our recommended M2 Max configuration includes:
- 12-core Apple M2 Max chip with 12-core GPU
- 32GB unified memory
- 1TB SSD storage
- 16.2” mini-LED Liquid Retina XDR display (3456 x 2234 native resolution)
- Support for up to four external displays
Blazing fast and astoundingly efficient, Apple’s latest chip architecture blows away its Intel predecessors on native tasks while enabling advanced capabilities like machine learning.
The laptop’s breathtaking 16-inch screen puts a best-in-class panel in coders’ hands, with blazing peak brightness over 1000 nits, extreme contrast ratio exceeding 1,000,000:1 and smooth variable refresh rates up to 120Hz. It’s arguably the nicest LCD ever put in a laptop.
Like all MacBooks, you’ll pay Apple premium prices. But for developers already embedded within Apple’s ecosystem, no other laptop matches the performance, capabilities and stunning display of the new 16-inch MacBook Pro.
Ideal For: MacOS developers and iOS/iPadOS/watchOS/tvOS programmers
4. ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 – Best Value
You typically don’t associate gaming laptops with coding rigs, but the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 deftly straddles both worlds to deliver an exceptional programming experience at a mid-range price.
Our recommended 2024 configuration houses considerable power inside its thin magnesium-alloy frame:
- AMD Ryzen 9 Zen 4 processor
- 16GB DDR5 RAM (upgradeable to 40GB)
- 1TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD
- 14” 2.8K (2880×1800) OLED display
- Discrete AMD RDNA 3 mobile graphics
- 80Wh battery for 10+ hours run time
Though every bit as quick as premium ultraportables for development work, the Zephyrus G14 also packs enough pixel-pushing power for AAA gaming breaks thanks to AMD’s latest mobile chips.
The 14-inch screen strikes a nice balance between mobility and sufficient display real estate. Its 16:10 aspect ratio makes good use of the mid-size panel. OLED technology brings inky blacks for high contrast when working long into the nights.
Price remains the Zephyrus G14’s secret weapon. Despite bleeding-edge AMD silicon and a premium build, Asus’ gaming ultraportable costs hundreds less than comparably equipped business laptops. For coders seeking both productivity and play at a palatable price, the exceptional 2024 Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 can’t be beat.
Ideal For: Budget-conscious developers wanting power plus gaming capabilities
5. Acer Chromebook Spin 713 – Best Chromebook
While ChromeOS limits native coding capabilities compared to Windows and MacOS, Chromebooks like the Acer Spin 713 make excellent inexpensive secondary systems for web developers and cloud coders.
The recently refreshed Acer Spin 713 stands above other Chromebooks for programming thanks to:
- 12th Gen Intel Core i7 processor
- 16GB LPDDR4x RAM
- 512GB NVMe SSD storage
- 13.5" 2256×1504 IPS touchscreen display @ 60Hz
- Approximately 15 hours battery life
- Support for Linux via ChromeOS virtual machine
Equipped with Intel’s latest Alder Lake mobile silicon and ample memory, the Spin 713 tackles web development, JavaScript, Python and other tasks smoothly via Linux without performance compromises.
The 3:2 aspect ratio touchscreen gives you more vertical space to view and scroll through code. At 15.5mm thick and 3.1 pounds its reasonably slim and light. Battery life reaches nearly 15 hours thanks to the latest energy-sipping 12th Gen Intel processors.
If you primarily write cloud-based code and want to save money over premium Windows and Mac laptops, the Acer Spin 713 provides the best bang for buck while still delivering capable daily performance.
Ideal For: Web developers and cloud coders needing good mobility and battery life above all else
How to Choose the Best Laptop for Your Coding Needs
Beyond our top recommendations above, there are a few key considerations to keep in mind when picking out the right coding laptop for your own needs:
Identify Performance Requirements
Take inventory of the coding languages, frameworks, tools and programs you currently use or plan to use:
- Code editors + IDEs – Examples: Visual Studio Code, PyCharm, IntelliJ IDEA, Xcode
- Languages/scripts – Examples: Python, JavaScript, C++, Java, Ruby, SQL, Perl, R
- Platforms/OSes – Examples: Windows, MacOS, Linux distributions
- Specialized software – Examples: Android Studio, Unity, Unreal Engine
Identify your typical number of simultaneous apps and browser tabs. These workloads dictate how much processing power, memory and storage you‘ll require.
If you intend to use very demanding IDEs like Android Studio, work in Unreal Engine or do machine learning training, prioritize maximum processing muscle and RAM over other features.
Determine Display, Keyboard & Connectivity Needs
Carefully evaluate how you prefer to interface with laptops:
- Display Size: Do you need multiple monitors? Prioritize connection options for external displays like HDMI and Thunderbolt.
- Display Visuals: Will you be working with visually rich interfaces? An OLED or high color accuracy / contrast screen might suit you best.
- Text Scaling: Do you prefer smaller text and UI elements? Higher density 4K or Retina displays substantially increase usable screen real estate.
- Keyboard Comfort: Identify must-have keys like 10-key numeric keypad for data entry or adequate spacing/travel for long typing stints. Mechanical keyboards offer exceptional response.
- Input Devices: Would you benefit from using a stylus for graphic annotations or touch gestures to quickly navigate and scroll through code? 2-in-1 convertible laptops provide flexibility.
- Connectivity: Determine if USB-C / Thunderbolt ports for connecting monitors, high-speed Wi-Fi and cellular options suit your needs.
Carefully evaluating your interface preferences helps narrow laptop options to best support your preferred workflows.
Factor in Battery Life, Warranties & Service Plans
For maximum mobility, systems like the Dell XPS 15 capable of operating a full workday without AC power give you ultimate flexibility.
Additionally, enterprise-focused business laptops often come with longer base warranties plus premium support options. For example Lenovo ThinkPad models offer up to 5 years of on-site service standard for extra peace of mind.
Make Realistic Budget Assessments
Top-end laptops for intensive coding and development work still demand premium prices, especially for Macs. However, progress across the industry continually yields potent budget systems like the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 capable of meeting many programmers‘ daily processing and graphics needs at just over $1000.
Setting realistic budget expectations keeps potentially suitable options firmly within your reach. Prioritize must-have performance capabilities first while weighing premium features versus value carefully before overspending.
Wrapping Up
Whether optimizing workflows through a favorite code editor or pushing hardware to its limits with bleeding-edge game engines, the best laptops for coding and programming all share common fundamentals — top processing muscle, ample memory and speedy solid state storage.
Balancing sheer performance against mobility, display quality, battery life and connectivity determines which system ultimately best suits your development needs. Identify these factors for your workflow before zeroing in on a shortlist of suitable options.
We hope our thoroughly researched recommendations for the 5 best programming laptops of 2024 chart a clear course toward increased productivity and coding success regardless of budget.
