Best Laptops for Programming

Programmers are in demand on the labor market, and this profession is becoming one of the most profitable.

Especially during the 2021 pandemic, when it is advisable to work from home.

In this case, a computer or laptop becomes a working tool. But not every machine is suitable for the workflow - the model must meet certain requirements.

When compiling the rating, we took into account only those models that are superior to their competitors in many ways.

We also took into account the opinion of experts, consumer reviews, and Rosstat statistics.

The selection of models was carried out based on the disadvantages and advantages, price, ratio of cost and efficiency of the configurations of each laptop.

Rating of the TOP 15 best laptops for programming 2020

Which laptop to choose for programming?

To work with codes you need a high-quality tool.

Here's what you should pay attention to::

• The screen and keyboard are the most important factors, since they affect the efficiency of work and the level of fatigue. The larger the diagonal, the better. Do not neglect eye protection systems - working with the code can take many hours;
• OS - depends on the programming environment, since iOS programming is impossible on Windows. But Apple products are suitable for development for Linux servers;
• memory and processor - the speed of code compilation will depend on them; the CPU must be high-performance and fast on one core.

What to pay attention to

Display and keyboard

Every day a developer writes hundreds of lines of small code, so the screen and keyboard are the most important factors when choosing. A 13-inch display will not be enough. The aspect ratio is also important: laptops with 16:10 or 3:2 screens are able to fit more lines.

Huawei MateBook X Pro. Photo: Artyom Bagdasarov / Lifehacker

For prolonged use of the keyboard, the backlight, large key size and travel depth of at least 1.3 mm are useful. However, the issue of convenience is always subjective, so it’s worth typing a couple of paragraphs of text on your laptop before purchasing.

In addition, it is important to avoid atypical layouts. For example, on Razer laptops released before 2021, the right Shift is small and located behind the arrow block, which makes it difficult to type quickly.

Touchbar in MacBook Pro 13″. Apple promotional materials

Some development environments like PhpStorm and IntelliJ often use the F1–F12 buttons. In modern laptops, they are also used as hotkeys to adjust brightness, volume and other settings. It is important that they can be switched to functional mode for use in development.

TOP 5 best laptops for programming by price/quality for 2020

Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro 15.6 GTX

The classic model with a standard design has no frills or logos: a gray body with a metallic sheen, well-polished material that does not leave fingerprints.

The main advantage of the laptop was its technical characteristics, which are not inferior in efficiency to well-known MacBooks, and this at a price several times lower than the cost of the latter.

In the maximum configuration, the cost of the device will not exceed 100,000 rubles.

The laptop is equipped with the latest generation processor, a good graphics adapter and enough RAM to work with web design and programming .

The standard diagonal display has some blue tints, but this can be solved by internal built-in calibration.

A special screen coating protects your eyesight during long-term use . The keyboard is relatively smooth and quiet, and the touchpad is sensitive but not overly sensitive. The latest generation wireless modules will allow you to connect the necessary equipment remotely.

The high level of mobility is also striking due to its compact size, light weight and energy-intensive battery, which lasts for 9 hours of active use.

Specifications:

• OS: Windows 10 Home;
• Video card: discrete (NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 / NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Max-Q);
• Screen diagonal: 15.6″;
• Resolution: 1920*1080;
• Matrix: IPS;
• Storage: SSD;
• Total storage capacity: 256…1024 GB;
• Processor range: Core i5 / Core i7;
• Number of cores: 4;
• RAM capacity: 8…16 GB.

pros

• modern CPU and graphics adapter;
• mobility due to low weight and size;
• efficiency and quality of components;
• quiet keyboard.

Minuses

• cooling is ineffective;
• Acoustics distort the sound at maximum volume.

ASUS VivoBook S15 M533IA

One of the new models, equipped with good hardware, making it suitable for web surfing, office programs, working in databases, development environments, making it an optimal choice for novice programmers.

8 GB of RAM will provide good multitasking. A standard diagonal display on a good matrix will allow you to work with web design and programming without causing eye fatigue.

The keyboard has a soft stroke, almost silent, with pleasant backlighting, adding comfort in work..

The key markings are somewhat faded, but this usually does not cause problems for those who touch-type.

The sound system is quite good, it does not rattle at maximum volume, but audiophiles will not like it.

The included carrying bag is a nice bonus that adds mobility to a lightweight and durable laptop.

Specifications:

• OS: Windows 10 Home / No OS;
• Video card: built-in (AMD Radeon Graphics);
• Screen diagonal: 15.6″;
• Resolution: 1920*1080;
• Matrix: IPS;
• Storage: SSD;
• Total storage capacity: 256…512 GB;
• Processor line: Ryzen 5;
• Number of cores: 6;
• RAM capacity: 8 GB.

pros

• good speakers;
• performance;
• comfortable keyboard;
• light and compact;
• carrying bag included.

Minuses

• poor keyboard readability.

HUAWEI MateBook D 14″NBL-WAQ9R

A lightweight laptop with a metal body is not only durable and portable, but also well-equipped.

It has no variations, so it is suitable for beginner programmers and students.

With a modern CPU and ample RAM, it's easy to handle multitasking, everyday tasks, and programming and web design work..

The metal case not only facilitates the design, but also increases heat transfer; however, in the cold season it quickly cools down when moving outside and requires time to gradually warm up to avoid the appearance of a concentrate inside the case.

The touchpad and keyboard have a soft smooth motion, good sensitivity, and silent operation.

The cooling system is inaudible under average load, but during long work sessions it can cause discomfort with noticeable noise. The standard 14-inch diagonal screen with a glossy finish is not equipped with eye protection, so it is recommended to take breaks during long periods of work.

Specifications:

• OS: Windows 10 Home;
• Video card: built-in (AMD Radeon Vega 8);
• Screen diagonal: 14″;
• Resolution: 1920*1080;
• Matrix: IPS;
• Storage: SSD;
• Total storage capacity: 512 GB;
• Processor line: Ryzen 5;
• Number of cores: 4;
• RAM capacity: 8 GB.

pros

• mobility and autonomy;
• price-quality ratio;
• metal case;
• adequate cooling;
• operating efficiency of components.

Minuses

• Cooling is noisy under heavy load.

ASUS ROG Zephyrus G GA502

The modern model is classified as a gaming one and has the appropriate equipment, although not the most powerful .

However, the laptop embodies everything that a web designer and professional programmer will need.

The components are of sufficient quality, the build quality does not cause problems due to good screen hinges, there are no unnecessary gaps or inconsistencies.

A hybrid processor with a good clock speed, a sufficient amount of RAM and a modern video card together will ensure excellent operating efficiency and multitasking.

Stylish design adds to the aesthetic component of the model - the metal case does not leave fingerprints and does not attract dust.

The display has thin frames and anti-glare coating. Lightweight and durable, it is very mobile, and thanks to its energy-intensive battery it maintains a high level of autonomy - up to 9 hours of active work.

Specifications:

• Type: gaming;
• OS: Windows 10 Home / No OS;
• Video card: discrete / discrete and integrated (NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti / NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti MAX-Q / NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Max-Q);
• Screen diagonal: 15.6″;
• Resolution: 1920*1080;
• Matrix: IPS;
• Storage: SSD;
• Total storage capacity: 512…1024 GB;
• Processor line: Ryzen 7;
• Number of cores: 4 / 8;
• RAM capacity: 8…32 GB.

pros

• light weight;
• high level of autonomy;
• quality of graphics adapters;
• large amount of RAM.

Minuses

• heating rate.

HONOR MagicBook 14

Honor model is suitable mainly for office work, but thanks to good configurations it will also be optimal for programming .

A special feature of the model is the location of the keyboard, which makes the screen larger. The webcam looks like a button, but is activated when pressed and hides back in the same way.

To achieve high mobility and lightness, we had to sacrifice the number of ports and the absence of a card reader, but this has virtually no effect on operation.

The simplest operations in graphic editors are a breeze; office programs do not cause any difficulties when launching.

The small size also affects the capacity of the battery, which can support a charge for 6 hours.

Specifications:

• OS: Windows 10 Home;
• Video card: integrated / discrete and integrated (AMD Radeon Vega 6 / AMD Radeon Vega 8 / NVIDIA GeForce MX150);
• Screen diagonal: 14″;
• Resolution: 1920*1080;
• Matrix: IPS;
• Storage: SSD;
• Total storage capacity: 256…512 GB;
• Processor line: Core i5 / Ryzen 5;
• Number of cores: 4 / 6;
• RAM capacity: 8 GB.

pros

• powerful components;
• unusual location of the webcam;
• optimal for beginner programmers and students.

Minuses

• noisy cooling;
• autonomy indicators leave much to be desired.

TOP 5 best budget laptops for programming

Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15ADA05

Lenovo model with a good configuration is equipped with a high-quality central processor and a powerful video card, sufficient RAM, but the volume of the solid-state drive is 256 GB, which is extremely low in 2021 .

At the same time, the system copes well with multitasking mode, the drive itself is very fast, provides good loading speed for the OS (not included in the package) and software, but the volume itself may not be enough even for the necessary software, not to mention projects.

The screen is coated with an anti-reflective compound, which protects vision and reduces the amount of glare from a bright light source.

The TN matrix suffers in viewing angles and color reproduction, so it will be difficult to work with graphics if necessary. The touchpad has good factory calibration, is responsive and sensitive.

The keyboard is soft, but somewhat noisy when actively used . The battery is of medium capacity, active use allows you to maintain autonomy for 6 hours.

Specifications:

• OS: DOS / Without OS;
• Video card: built-in (AMD Radeon Vega 8);
• Screen diagonal: 15.6″;
• Resolution: 1920*1080;
• Matrix: TN;
• Storage: SSD;
• Total storage capacity: 256 GB;
• Processor line: Ryzen 5;
• Number of cores: 4;
• RAM capacity: 8GB.

pros

• average autonomy at maximum load;
• ergonomics of the touchpad and keyboard;
• good configuration.

Minuses

• low storage capacity;
• TN matrix.

HP 15-db1274ur

The laptop is distinguished by its precise configuration and well-designed internal space, coupled with operational efficiency and sufficient mobility .

The quality of the equipment will not satisfy experienced programmers, but for amateurs and beginners, as well as for students, the model is quite effective.

Mobility is ensured by its small size, autonomy up to 10 hours and lightness.

The model has little overclocking to upgrade due to hardware limitations.

A display with a matte finish will also not be to everyone’s taste, but this option protects your eyesight when working on a laptop for long periods of time.

Specifications:

• OS: DOS / Without OS;
• Video card: built-in (AMD Radeon Vega 8);
• Screen diagonal: 15.6″;
• Resolution: 1920*1080;
• Matrix: IPS / TN;
• Storage: SSD;
• Total storage capacity: 512 GB;
• Processor line: Ryzen 5;
• Number of cores: 4;
• RAM volume: 8 GB.

pros

• mobility;
• appearance;
• thoughtfulness of the touchpad and keyboards.

Minuses

• low display brightness.

HUAWEI MateBook D 15.6″

A relatively inexpensive laptop running on the latest generation AMD CPU . High performance in office programs and graphics software, optimal speed when coding.

The disadvantage is the small storage capacity, although the SSD itself will provide high operating speeds.

Color rendering quality is somewhat behind that of more advanced devices, despite the good matrix.

There is enough RAM for multitasking, but for complex programming tasks this may not be enough, and hardware limitations will not allow you to increase the RAM.

It’s also difficult to call it gaming; it’s not at all suitable for game coding.

Specifications:

• OS: DOS / Without OS;
• Video card: built-in (AMD Radeon Vega 8);
• Screen diagonal: 15.6″;
• Resolution: 1920*1080;
• Matrix: IPS;
• Storage: SSD;
• Total storage capacity: 256 GB;
• Processor line: Ryzen 5;
• Number of cores: 4;
• RAM volume: 8 GB.

pros

• price;
• good CPU;
• speed of work.

Minuses

• small hard drive capacity.

Acer Aspire 3 A315-42G-R9XV

A good budget option cannot boast of supernatural characteristics (although a powerful CPU can compete with this), but it has good test performance indicators, so it is optimal not only for novice programmers, but also for amateurs .

A special feature of the model is the ability to purchase a configuration on the Linux operating system. The screen with a TN matrix cannot boast of good viewing angles, and the color rendering quality is also not the best.

Another advantage is almost silent operation, battery life is up to 7 hours, although users note a discrepancy between the declared and actual battery life without recharging.

RAM may be somewhat insufficient, as well as storage capacity - the latter leaves much to be desired.

Specifications:

• OS: Linux / No OS;
• Video card: built-in (AMD Radeon 540X);
• Screen diagonal: 15.6″;
• Resolution: 1920*1080;
• Matrix: TN;
• Storage: SSD;
• Total storage capacity: 256 GB;
• Processor line: Ryzen 7;
• Number of cores: 4;
• RAM volume: 8 GB.

pros

• fast processor;
• silent operation;
• case quality;
• doesn't heat up.

Minuses

• small media volume;
• TN matrix.

Xiaomi RedmiBook 14″ Ryzen Edition

An excellent combination of mobility, style and performance by the standards of 2021 . The AMD CPU package makes it very effective for simple tasks and programming software.

Easily handles graphics processing when needed, light gaming, and web design or modeling work.

It is not very suitable for professional work due to the lack of software power, but for students or beginning programmers it will be a good help for the next few years.

The display is of high quality, with thin frames and a good coating that protects your eyesight.

A fast solid-state drive with a medium capacity will more than provide its capacity.

Its autonomy is also quite good due to its good energy-intensive battery.

Specifications:

• OS: Windows 10 Home;
• Video card: built-in (AMD Radeon Vega 8);
• Screen diagonal: 14″;
• Resolution: 1920*1080;
• Matrix: IPS;
• Storage: SSD;
• Total storage capacity: 512 GB;
• Processor line: Ryzen 5;
• Number of cores: 4;
• RAM capacity: 8 GB.

pros

• vision protection system;
• work productivity;
• mobility;
• efficient storage.

Minuses

• no reserve for upgrade.

What kind of laptop should you have for programming?

1. The requirements will be very strict. Firstly, the resolution must be at least FullHD. But this requirement is only necessary for those who still want to work with graphics. And the picture just looks better.
2. At least 8 GB of RAM. The price of RAM is slowly increasing; you can increase the memory in the future if the laptop itself allows it. But it’s better not to skimp on this, since if you plan to run Apache, Mysql, Node.js in the background, this can significantly affect performance. Of course, 8 GB will be enough for such processes, but if you plan to use Microsoft Visual Studio and use open browser tabs, then it is better to take more.
3. SSD or 1 TB HDD memory. We recommend purchasing with an SSD, because... This is a great investment in future productivity. Speed ​​is very important for a programmer, so SSD is a really cool solution.
4. CPU. To be honest, having a decent processor would be nice, but definitely not as important as it was 5 years ago. These days, you don't need a high-end processor to process code. Whether you need a top-end processor depends entirely on what you're going to be working on. Obviously, if you need to deal with programming languages ​​like C++ all the time or you work with video/audio, then it's worth some more thought. But for almost everyone, from web developers to computer science students at university or school, having a mid-range processor is quite natural.
5. Availability of a dedicated video card. Let's remember the time when an integrated video card was only a thing in nightmares (until 2015). But now everything has changed and the presence of a built-in video card is gaining success almost every year. But if your plans are to develop games / 3D rendering, then you definitely need to buy a separate video card. And if you like to play games, then you will probably need a special graphics chip.
6. Long battery life. It depends on your preferences. If you stay at home all the time and don’t mind replacing your desktop computer, then you can use it at home with a wire connected to the charger. Another thing is that if you want to work on the street, in a park, on a bus or even in lectures, then battery life will be a priority. One way or another, you can find a laptop that will hold a charge for five hours when connected to Wi-Fi, but only if you reduce the brightness to a minimum.

TOP 5 best powerful laptops for programming

ASUS ZenBook 14 UM425IA-AM063T

Stylish, thin model - very powerful in its characteristics due to a large amount of RAM and the latest generation eight-core processor from AMD.

Two configurations on different CPUs will provide the necessary efficiency for both experts and beginner programmers for many years to come.

It also copes with everyday tasks with a bang - it will become not only a “workhorse”, but also a means of spending leisure time.

Despite the good hardware, it has a battery life of up to 11 hours – one of the most record-breaking indicators.

LED display backlight, matte finish, good resolution will not let your eyes get tired and will not cause discomfort while working.

The keyboard is quiet and smooth, almost silent, and the soft, confident touchpad allows you to fine-tune your pointer.

Specifications:

• OS: Windows 10 Home;
• Video card: built-in (AMD Radeon Graphics);
• Screen diagonal: 14″;
• Resolution: 1920*1080;
• Matrix: IPS;
• Storage: SSD;
• Total storage capacity: 1024 GB;
• Processor line: Ryzen 3 / Ryzen 7;
• Number of cores: 8;
• RAM capacity: 16 GB.

pros

• multi-core CPUs;
• amount of RAM;
• volumetric storage.

Minuses

• The video card may be somewhat weak.

Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro 15.6″ 2020

The 2021 build does not have the most powerful hardware, but during tests it shows quite high data..

Ideal for office programs and multimedia tasks, it works a little more difficult with games, so it may not be relevant for game programmers.

It is very effective for web design and software programming.

The display quality is ensured by a matrix with bright rich colors and good clarity.

A special coating protects vision during long work sessions.

10 hours of autonomy during active work are also very good indicators for energy-consuming hardware; not all models in this price category can boast of this characteristic.

Specifications:

• OS: Windows 10 Home;
• Video card: discrete and integrated (NVIDIA GeForce MX350);
• Screen diagonal: 15.6″;
• Resolution: 1920*1080;
• Matrix: IPS;
• Storage: SSD;
• Total storage capacity: 512…1024 GB;
• Processor range: Core i5 / Core i7;
• Number of cores: 4;
• RAM capacity: 8…16 GB.

pros

• battery capacity;
• high-quality display;
• SSD with good capacity;
• keyboard and touchpad.

Minuses

• overcharge.

ASUS TUF Gaming A17 FX706IU-H7119T

The gaming laptop has some of the best performance . Sky-high power among public sector employees is how experts and users characterize it.

It has the largest diagonal among all the models in our rating, but due to this it also has large dimensions and significant weight.

Close in quality to models in the ROG line . Excellent autonomy, ample overclocking and upgrade capabilities, support for Optimus and FreeSync at the same time, a powerful CPU - all this together makes the laptop one of the best for programming, including in a gaming environment.

There is no backlight or metal body here; they had to be sacrificed in order to increase performance and maintain pricing policy.

Specifications:

• OS: Windows 10 Home;
• Video card: discrete and integrated (NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti);
• Screen diagonal: 17.3″;
• Resolution: 1920*1080;
• Matrix: IPS;
• Storage: SSD;
• Total storage capacity: 512 GB;
• Processor line: Ryzen 7;
• Number of cores: 8;
• RAM volume: 8 GB.

pros

• CPU performance;
• relatively light;
• large screen;
• capacious battery.

Minuses

• noisy cooling;
• small touchpad.

HUAWEI MateBook X Pro 2020

Huawei laptop is considered relatively budget-friendly (although the cost above 120,000 rubles can be steep) .

This is a compact device featuring an LTPS matrix, which is difficult to find anywhere.

This matrix uses silicon crystals, the pixels glow independently.

This ensures high response speed compared to other matrices, image smoothness, reduces power consumption, but significantly produces blue tints.

The special PenTile structure contains a different number of standard color pixels. It is designed to compensate for the lack of blue pixels when they burn out.

The display is touchscreen, although it has the smallest diagonal in our rating.

It’s difficult to call a laptop super-efficient, but for light-duty programming tasks it will be a good help. Supports long-term battery life up to 13 hours of active use.

Specifications:

• OS: DOS / Without OS;
• Video card: integrated / discrete and integrated (NVIDIA GeForce MX250);
• Screen diagonal: 13.9″;
• Resolution: 3000*2000;
• Matrix: LTPS;
• Storage: SSD;
• Total storage capacity: 512…1024 GB;
• Processor line: Core i7;
• Number of cores: 4;
• RAM capacity: 816GB.

pros

• mobility;
• high non-standard resolution;
• LTPS matrix.

Minuses

• Pixels burn out during static operation.

ASUS ROG Strix G15 G512

The model from the gaming line of the famous Asus is suitable not only for gaming, graphics, video editing or modeling .

Due to a well-thought-out video card and an efficient central processor, it will be an excellent solution for programmers in the gaming environment and mobile application environment.

Multitasking does not slow down your work speed . It features a diagonal screen with a matte finish, a spacious solid-state drive, and a resource supply of components for the coming years.

Due to this, it becomes an almost ideal investment for both specialists and beginners and amateurs..

The keyboard is somewhat noisy in operation, and the backlight can irritate peripheral vision, but this is a matter of taste. The touchpad is accurate, with good basic calibration.

The disadvantage, like all gaming options, is autonomy.

Specifications:

• OS: Without OS;
• Video card: discrete and integrated (NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060);
• Screen diagonal: 15.6″;
• Resolution: 1920*1080;
• Matrix: IPS;
• Storage: SSD;
• Total storage capacity: 1024 GB;
• Processor line: Core i7;
• Number of cores: 6;
• RAM capacity: 16 GB.

pros

• processor power;
• storage and RAM;
• high quality screen.

Minuses

• easily soiled body;
• low autonomy.

The most powerful laptops for programming and modeling

If you plan on programming and modeling and don't compromise on performance or size, then the models below are your best bet.

DELL G7 17 7790

This device from Dell, even in its minimal configuration, offers serious hardware for any task. It has an Intel Core i5 9300H processor with four 2.4 GHz cores, 8 GB of RAM and 1128 GB HDD + SSD drives. In addition, the laptop boasts a powerful graphics chip - NVIDIA GeForce GTX 2060 Ti with 6 GB of memory. The battery in such a powerful device lasts a maximum of 4 hours. The screen here is 17 inches with a matte finish and FHD resolution. Set of interfaces: Lan, Thunderbolt 3, three Type-A, HDMI, audio output. The weight of the laptop is 3.14 kg. OS – Linux.

Price: average from 100,000 rubles.

ASUS M570

A fairly inexpensive device from Asus is a 15-inch model with an AMD Ryzen 7 3700U processor, an Nvidia GeForce GTX1050 video card and a 512 GB SSD drive. It has 8 GB of RAM. The screen has a matte finish and FHD resolution. Battery life – 9 hours. Connectors – LAN, 3 USB-A, USB-C, HDMI and combined audio. With good hardware and a discrete card, this laptop is quite light and weighs only 1.9 kg. A good and versatile option for those who not only work at home, but also take their laptop to the office. There is no OS.

Price: (Russia) average from 57,000 rubles.

Thank you for your attention! See you in the next articles! Sincerely, Rostislav Kuzmin.

Which manufacturer should you choose?

Laptops for programmers are a separate area of ​​development for many companies.

And yet, well-known brands remain leaders in this environment:

• Acer are durable laptops, equipped with good hardware at a budget price, but there are also gaming variations that are suitable for web designers and game programmers;
• Xiaomi is a young brand that has already gained popularity in many niches, including the laptop niche. The prices are quite affordable, and the performance sometimes amazes even the most picky users.
• Apple – those who work on programming for iOS and Linux simply cannot do without the creations of this brand. Reliable and high-quality, their power will last for the next few years, but the price is that not everyone can afford MacBooks.

We also recommend that you familiarize yourself with the selections of laptops in price categories: up to 70,000, 60,000, 50,000, 40,000, 35,000, 30,000, 25,000, 20,000 rubles.

Which laptop brand should I choose for programming?

Often buyers pay attention first of all to the company, brand, and only then to the internal content. There are companies that are trusted, but when choosing a laptop for programming, the rating will not help, since all manufacturers produce products with pros and cons.

The most popular:

• Lenovo is known for good laptops in all respects;
• Ideapad - mainly budget versions for home use;
• Asus - products are notable for their high quality and durability;
• Acer are good laptops, their products are inexpensive and popular.

The list goes on, each manufacturer has its own characteristics. It is better for you to focus not on the brand, but on the characteristics of the device, that is, on the elements of which it consists.