As a programmer, choosing the right laptop is one of the most critical decisions you’ll make. It’s not just about performance; it’s also about comfort, portability, and reliability.
With so many options available, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. I’ve put together this guide to help you navigate the best programming laptops of 2025.
In this article, I’ll walk you through my personal recommendations based on real-world usage and industry trends.
Breakdown of the best programming laptops in 2025
Programming laptops come in many shapes and sizes, but not all of them are created equal. Some are designed for performance, others for budget-conscious developers, and a few strike the perfect balance between work and play. Let’s dive into the details of the best laptops for programmers in 2025.
Apple 2023 MacBook Pro Laptop M3 chip with…
- SUPERCHARGED BY M3 — With an 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU, the Apple M3 chip can help you blaze through everyday multitasking and take on pro projects like editing thousands of photos or 4K video.
- BUILT FOR APPLE INTELLIGENCE — Apple Intelligence helps you write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly. It draws on your personal context while setting a brand-new standard for privacy in AI. Coming in beta this fall.
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Apple 2024 MacBook Air 15-inch Laptop with M3…
- LEAN. MEAN. M3 MACHINE — With a powerful 8-core CPU and up to 10-core GPU, the blazing-fast MacBook Air with M3 chip is a superportable laptop that sails through work and play.
- BUILT FOR APPLE INTELLIGENCE—Apple Intelligence is the personal intelligence system that helps you write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly. With groundbreaking privacy protections, it gives you peace of mind that no one else can access your data—not even Apple.*
Acer Swift Go 14 Intel Evo Edition Laptop | 14″…
- Ready, Set Go!: Say hi to the all-new Swift Go—your AI ready laptop featuring the Intel Core Ultra 5 Processor and verified as an Intel Evo Edition thin and light with Windows 11 and Copilot for Windows. A visually brilliant 14″ 2.8K OLED display and designed in an eye-catching, thin-and-light body with Windows 11 that’s great on the go!
- Unlock New AI Experiences: Whether you’re working, creating or playing, get the best of Intel Core Ultra 5 processor in an Intel Evo Edition laptop with a dedicated engine to help unlock AI experiences on the PC, the next level in immersive graphics, and high-performance low power processing, so you can perform for longer while unplugged.
Dell 2023 Inspiron 15 Business Laptop, 15.6″…
- Advanced Processor: Enjoy enhanced performance with the 12th Gen Intel Core i5-1235U Processor, featuring 10 Cores, 12M Cache, and speeds up to 4.40 GHz, ensuring seamless multitasking and reliability.
- Vivid FHD Display: Immerse in a brilliant 15.6″ diagonal FHD display (1920 x 1080 resolution) with Intel UHD Graphics, 120Hz refresh rate, WVA technology, and Anti-Glare coating for clear visuals even in bright conditions and an enhanced viewing experience.
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Apple 2024 MacBook Pro Laptop with M4 chip with…
- SUPERCHARGED BY M4 — The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M4 chip gives you spectacular performance in a powerhouse laptop built for Apple Intelligence.* With all-day battery life and a breathtaking Liquid Retina XDR display with up to 1600 nits peak brightness, it’s pro in every way.*
- CHAMPION CHIP — The M4 chip brings spectacular speed and capability to blaze through everyday activities and multitask across multiple productivity and pro apps.
HP Flagship Touchscreen Laptop Computer – Win 11…
- Superior Performance: Experience superior multi-tasking performance with the HP Flagship Touchscreen Laptop. Powered by the 12th Gen Intel 6-Core i3-1215U processor, clocked at up to 4.4 GHz, and with a 10 MB L3 cache, this dynamic processor adapts to your needs, ensuring smooth and efficient operation for all your tasks.
- Immersive Visuals: Enjoy stunning visuals on the 15.6″ diagonal HD touchscreen display. With a micro-edge design, BrightView technology, and 220 nits brightness, every photo, movie, and game comes to life with crisp clarity. The touch functionality adds convenience and interactivity to your computing experience.
【Win 11 Pro/MS Office 2019】 16″ Laptop…
- 16 inch 2.5K Superior Views: 16 inch Large size Anti-blue light eye protection screen(up to 92% screen ratio) with 16:10 aspect ratio,4-side 4mm Ultra-narrow bezels.With a resolution of Full HD IPS 2.5K(2560×1600)pixels, It offers a higher pixel density and a large viewing area compared to a 2K screen, resulting in sharper and more detailed visuals.
- Powerful and Efficient Processor: Intel 12th-gen Alder Lake N95 CPU (4C4T, up to 3.4GHz), with powerful multi-core design, performance is much higher than Pentium N5030 and Celeron N5095.Advanced manufacturing process technology and Intel UHD Graphics 1.2GHz, which is critical for applications such as gaming, graphic design and video editing.
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HP 17 Inch Laptop, Intel i3-1205G1, 32GB RAM, 1TB…
- 【MORE TO SEE, MORE TO ENJOY】The HP 17 Laptop features a 17.3 inch FHD (1920 x 1080), IPS (provide much wider viewing angles than the budget-class TN screens), anti-glare display. The laptop 17 inch screen provides a more immersive viewing experience, making it ideal for tasks that require a lot of screen real estate, such as video editing, graphic design, or gaming. For frequently multitasking or working with multiple applications simultaneously, the larger screen can enhance your productivity
- 【RESPONSIVE AND RELIABLE PERFORMANCE】The HP laptop 17 empowers to surf, stream, and do so much more with its powerful processor and graphics. Multitasking feels easy and fast with the performance of the Intel Core i3-N305 Processor (8 cores, 8 threads, up to 3.8 GHz) to power through even the most processor intensive tasks. A new level of graphics performance and crisp, stunning visuals with Intel UHD Graphics. Enjoy impressive performance for creating and entertainment with the hp i3 laptop
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Apple 2024 MacBook Pro Laptop with M4 Pro,…
- SUPERCHARGED BY M4 PRO OR M4 MAX — The 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M4 Pro or M4 Max chip gives you outrageous performance in a powerhouse laptop built for Apple Intelligence.* With all-day battery life and a breathtaking Liquid Retina XDR display with up to 1600 nits peak brightness, it’s pro in every way.*
- CHAMPION CHIPS — The M4 Pro chip blazes through demanding tasks like compiling millions of lines of code. M4 Max can handle the most challenging workflows, like rendering intricate 3D content.
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HP Windows 11 Pro 15 15.6″ FHD Business Laptop…
- 【Slim and Portable Design】With its thin and light design, 6.5 millimeter micro-edge bezel display, and 82% screen to body ratio, you can take this PC anywhere and see more of what you love.
- 【15.6″ FHD Stunning Visuals】Enjoy ultra-wide viewing angles and seamlessly perform multi-monitor set-ups with a 15.6-inch, Full HD, IPS, micro-edge, and anti-glare display. The Intel Iris Xe Graphics gives you a new level of performance with crisp, stunning visuals, plus the convenience of a thin and light laptop.
HP 17.3-inch Flagship Touchscreen Laptop – Win 11…
- 17.3″ HD+ Touchscreen Display: Experience vibrant visuals with 178-degree wide viewing angles and an anti-glare panel, making outdoor viewing easier and clearer
- Powerful AMD Ryzen 5 Processor: Boost productivity with the Ryzen 5 7530U processor, featuring a 2.0 GHz base frequency, up to 4.5 GHz burst speed, 6 cores, and a 16 MB cache for seamless multitasking and enhanced efficiency
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HP Ultra-Thin Everyday Laptop Notebook – Windows…
- 𝘿𝙞𝙨𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙮 & 𝙂𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙨 👑 This HP Notebook has Intel UHD Graphics, so you can enjoy smooth streaming of 4K content and gaming. The micro-edge 14-inch (1366 x 768) display with slim bezels maximizes the viewing area, creating an immersive viewing experience for all your multimedia needs.
- 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙤𝙧 & 𝙐𝙥𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙙𝙚 👑 HP 14 inch Laptop offers the ideal combination of performance, power consumption, and value, allowing you to run multiple applications and browser tabs simultaneously with ease. With up to 16GB of RAM, you can enjoy smooth performance and a seamless multitasking experience.
Popular
HP 14-inch Essential Portable Laptop – 1-Year…
- Vivid 14″ HD Display: Enjoy a user-friendly interface and crisp visuals, powered by Intel UHD Graphics, for seamless productivity and multimedia experiences.
- Boost Creativity with Microsoft 365: Unleash your ideas with smart assistance in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Write better, clarify data, and create stunning presentations with a 1-year subscription included
Best laptop for programming overall
1. Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
Specifications
- Processor: Apple M3 Pro (up to 12-core CPU, 18-core GPU)
- RAM: 16GB or 32GB
- Storage: 512GB to 8TB SSD
- Display: 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR (3024 x 1964)
- Battery Life: Up to 18 hours
Reasons to buy
- The M3 Pro chip delivers incredible performance for compiling code and multitasking.
- Battery life is exceptional, lasting through an entire day of intensive programming.
- The Liquid Retina XDR display is a dream for developers who need clarity and detail.
- macOS offers a Unix-based environment, perfect for software development.
Reasons to avoid
- High price point, which might be overkill for beginners.
- Limited gaming capability compared to Windows laptops.
Best laptop for programming on a budget
2. Acer Aspire 5
Specifications
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 7730U or Intel Core i5
- RAM: 8GB or 16GB
- Storage: 256GB to 1TB SSD
- Display: 15.6-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080)
- Battery Life: Up to 10 hours
Reasons to buy
- Affordable pricing without compromising on performance.
- Decent keyboard and trackpad for comfortable coding.
- Expandable RAM and storage options.
- Lightweight and portable for developers on the go.
Reasons to avoid
- Build quality feels a bit plasticky.
- The display isn’t as vibrant as higher-end models.
Best Windows laptop for programming
3. Lenovo ThinkPad T16
Specifications
- Processor: Intel Core i7-1360P or AMD Ryzen 7 Pro 6850U
- RAM: 16GB to 64GB
- Storage: 512GB to 2TB SSD
- Display: 16-inch WQXGA (2560 x 1600)
- Battery Life: Up to 14 hours
Reasons to buy
- The legendary ThinkPad keyboard is perfect for long coding sessions.
- Excellent build quality and durability.
- A wide range of ports, including Thunderbolt 4 and HDMI.
- Supports Linux, making it ideal for developers.
Reasons to avoid
- Slightly heavier than other laptops in this category.
- Premium price for the high-end configurations.
Best laptop for programming and gaming
4. Razer Blade 14
Specifications
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS
- RAM: 16GB or 32GB
- Storage: 1TB SSD
- Display: 14-inch QHD+ 240Hz (2560 x 1440)
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080
- Battery Life: Up to 8 hours
Reasons to buy
- Powerful GPU for gaming and graphic-intensive development.
- Sleek and portable design despite its performance power.
- High refresh rate display is perfect for gamers and developers alike.
- Solid build quality with an aluminum chassis.
Reasons to avoid
- Expensive, especially with higher-end specs.
- Runs warm under heavy load.
Best programming laptop for business
5. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon
Specifications
- Processor: Intel Core i7-1365U
- RAM: 16GB or 32GB
- Storage: 512GB to 2TB SSD
- Display: 14-inch WQUXGA (3840 x 2400) or WUXGA (1920 x 1200)
- Battery Life: Up to 15 hours
Reasons to buy
- Lightweight and ultra-portable for business travel.
- Enterprise-grade security features like a fingerprint scanner and webcam shutter.
- Long battery life for extended workdays.
- Supports docking stations for enhanced productivity.
Reasons to avoid
- Not ideal for GPU-heavy tasks like gaming or rendering.
- Premium price for business-focused features.
Best programming laptop for students
6. Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3)
Specifications
- Processor: Apple M3 chip (8-core CPU, 10-core GPU)
- RAM: 8GB or 16GB
- Storage: 256GB to 2TB SSD
- Display: 13.6-inch Liquid Retina (2560 x 1664)
- Battery Life: Up to 18 hours
Reasons to buy
- Extremely lightweight and portable for students.
- macOS is great for programming in Python, Swift, and other languages.
- Long battery life ensures it lasts through lectures and study sessions.
- Affordable compared to other MacBooks.
Reasons to avoid
- Limited port selection.
- Base model storage might be insufficient for larger projects.
Best laptop for programming: Honorable mentions
If none of the above laptops fit your needs, consider these honorable mentions:
- Dell XPS 15: A great all-rounder with a beautiful display.
- Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio: Ideal for creative coding and graphic-heavy apps.
- HP Spectre x360 14: A 2-in-1 option for flexibility and portability.
Best laptop for programming: FAQs
What is a programming laptop?
A programming laptop is designed to handle the specific demands of coding, such as compiling code, running multiple IDEs, and multitasking effectively.
Do you need a powerful laptop for programming?
Not always. It depends on the type of programming you do. Web developers may not need as much power as game developers or data scientists.
Which laptop processor is best for programming?
Processors like Intel Core i7, AMD Ryzen 7, and Apple M-series chips are great for programming.
What laptop screen size is best for programming?
A 14-16 inch screen is ideal, offering enough real estate without compromising portability.
How much RAM does the best laptop for programming need?
At least 16GB of RAM is recommended for smooth multitasking, but 8GB can suffice for beginners.
Is a 14-inch laptop too small for programming?
Not at all! A 14-inch laptop is a great balance between portability and screen size.
Do programmers use laptops?
Yes, laptops are favored by many programmers due to their portability and versatility.
Which is better for coding, PC or laptop?
A laptop is better for portability, while a PC might offer better performance per dollar.
Does coding require a high-end laptop?
Not always. A mid-range laptop is sufficient for most programming tasks.
How do I choose a laptop for coding?
Look for a fast processor, sufficient RAM, SSD storage, and a comfortable keyboard.
How do I know if my laptop is good for programming?
Test its performance under load, ensure the keyboard is comfortable, and check the display quality.
Why do programmers use old laptops?
Some programmers prefer older laptops because they’re already set up with their tools and workflows.
How good of a laptop do I need to code?
A laptop with a fast processor, 8-16GB RAM, and SSD storage will suffice for most coding tasks.
Why are monitors counterproductive for coders?
Monitors aren’t counterproductive; they’re a personal preference. Some coders find dual monitors enhance productivity.
Is computer programming becoming obsolete?
No, programming is evolving but remains a critical skill.
Are laptops becoming obsolete?
No, laptops are adapting to meet modern needs, including programming and portability.
What age do computer programmers retire?
Programmers can retire at various ages, depending on their career paths and personal goals.
Is 50 too old to be a programmer?
Not at all! Many people successfully transition to programming later in life.
Are computer programming jobs declining?
No, programming jobs continue to grow, especially in emerging fields like AI and cybersecurity.
How old is the average coder?
The average coder is in their mid-30s, but the field includes professionals of all ages.
How to choose the best laptop for programming
When selecting a laptop, prioritize performance, portability, display quality, and keyboard comfort. Consider your budget and the type of programming you’ll be doing.
How we test the best laptop for programming
I evaluate laptops based on real-world performance, battery life, build quality, and programming-specific tasks like compiling code and multitasking. I also consider long-term reliability and user feedback.
