The best laptops for programming will offer portability, flexibility, and power in a thin and light package, meaning they're easy to stash for digital nomads but still powerful enough to code.
With so many laptops on offer these days, we've helped to whittle the selection down to only the best of the best, accounting for a variety of needs. To do so, we've personally tested every single laptop on this page, whether it's testing the speed, performance, power, display, or battery life, we've made sure every machine we've listed meets the standards needed for heavy coding work (see how we test laptops for more).
If it's time to fully revamp your setup, why not check out our guides to the best keyboard and best mouse. Plus, if you're a more stationary, at-home programmer, it's worth looking into the best monitors for programming to keep your eyes nicely catered for.
BEST LAPTOP OVERALL
MacBook Pro 16-inch (M3, 2023)
SPECIFICATIONS
REASONS TO BUY
REASONS TO AVOID
The release of the M3 MacBook Pro 16-inch was a blessing for programmers as it combines the incredible power of the new Apple chip with a brilliantly large and bright screen (1,600 nits, if you're asking). This means no squinting at a small screen with zero compromise on power and speed; hurrah!
The MacBook Pro's super-tight pixel density combined with MacOS also makes for the best font rendering of any laptop, which is perfect for long coding sessions.
You'll have more than enough battery to get you through the most intense coding session – this delivers an impressive 22 hours. In our review, we appreciated that there are a bunch of ports including HDMI and a memory card slot, so you can plug a second screen in directly and up your memory, too. There's also ProMotion and HDR (High Dynamic range).
And, of course, all MacBooks have the advantage of being able to compile iOS apps and have a Unix-style terminal, though it's also true that for some coding workflows, Windows is essential. Read our full MacBook Pro 16-inch (M2, 2023) review to find out more about why we rate this laptop.
BEST LAPTOP FOR GAME DEVELOPMENT
Razer Blade 18 (2023)
SPECIFICATIONS
REASONS TO BUY
REASONS TO AVOID
The Razer Blade 18 is the latest version of Razer's top-spec laptop, and it's better than ever with a larger screen, smaller bezels, and the latest Intel and Nvidia chips. It's a fantastic laptop for coding, but especially if you're working on games.
That's in no small part down to the hot new Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090, the fastest laptop GPU on the planet. This allows you to work with complex 3D games that use cutting-edge tech, like ray tracing, and you'll be able to play your game afterward to test how it runs.
It's not just a gaming laptop, however, as it's built for creative professionals, and this means if you're a programmer working on heavy-duty projects, this is a laptop well worth considering. It's very expensive, but for your money, you're getting some of the best mobile tech available right now. Combined with a great build quality, that stunning 18-inch screen, and the latest Intel 13th Gen CPUs, this is a brilliant creative workstation for people who need a lot of power.
BEST COMPACT LAPTOP FOR PROGRAMMING
Dell Precision 5470
SPECIFICATIONS
REASONS TO BUY
REASONS TO AVOID
The Dell Precision 5470 laptop may be smaller than some others on the list, but it comes loaded with a huge amount of power for its compact frame. In fact, our testing put its performance close to that of a 14-inch MacBook Pro with Apple’s M2 Pro chip, which is a superb laptop chip for graphic design work, and if you want the even newer 5480 model, it's physically the same but runs an even faster 13th Gen Intel chip.
Our reviewer loved it, and she is an official Apple obsessive – so that's saying something! We got over 12 hours of battery life from Dell’s Precision 5470 in our review, and the comfortable keyboard serves up an enjoyable typing experience. It’s all wrapped up in a superbly well-made chassis that feels well-built and exudes quality. So if you want portable power and are put off by some of the larger laptops on the market, Dell’s offering could be right up your street.
FAQ
How to choose a laptop for programming
Programming can be done on many different types of machines but many programmers want something more than just a basic laptop. While you don't necessarily need a powerhouse of a laptop to code on, if you need to compile your code, and test out the games you're working on, for example, then you'll want a laptop with plenty of RAM and a modern multi-core processor. They are able to compile code much more quickly. And, the less time you have to spend waiting for your laptop to complete complex tasks, the more time you have to do other things – such as take on more projects.
Screen size is really important when selecting one of the best laptops for programming. You'll get more on a 15-inch screen than a smaller one, for example, so it's easier to read through code and make GUI adjustments. Of course, with a bigger display you sacrifice portability.
Also consider getting an Intel Core i5 processor as a minimum – that level of power isn't exceptional but it will guarantee you enough performance, especially if you're doing things like working with complex website layouts that have a lot of background code. Large, complex programs compile faster with a faster processor.
Graphics can also be key depending on the development work you're doing. If you're working with game development in an environment such as Unreal Engine or Unity then you need to consider the graphical requirements of those apps. Don't miss our round up of the best graphics cards if this is something you might need.
And remember it's a good idea to use an operating system that's aligned with your goals. Want to develop in Xcode for the iPhone, iPad and Mac? Then you're going to need a Mac.
Plus, the faster your laptop can compile code, the less time you'll be spending waiting around, and that can mean you're more productive, and are able to take on more projects.
The best laptops for programming are essential tools for any developer that wants a powerful machine to work on, while also being portable enough that they can take it out and about with them, and work almost anywhere.
Meanwhile, you may also want to see our guide to the best laptops for Photoshop and best laptops for graphic design.
How much RAM do I need for coding?
If you're looking for a laptop for coding on, then you'll want to make sure it comes with plenty of RAM. The more RAM a laptop has, the better it is at multitasking, so you can have multiple apps running at once.
It'll also help you compile your code quickly, while also letting you test and run your apps and games. The faster you can do this, the more productive you'll be.
So, we recommend at least 8GB of RAM for coding on a laptop, but ideally you should go for 16GB, or if your budget can stretch to it, 32GB. That's only necessary for seriously heavy workloads, however.
How do we test?
Coding presents a quite specific remit for any laptop. High on the list of priorities is a decent screen that redenders nice, crisp text. It's so important for long coding sessions. In particular we consider pixel density and contrast, though support for touch is less of a priority.
Performance wise, you'll want a modern Intel or AMD CPU with at least 16GB of RAM. We test to ensure any laptop we recommend has sufficient performance for serious coding. On the graphics side of the equation, it will depend on the type of applications you're coding. Some are more graphically demanding than others. But in all cases we assess GPU performance to provide that important context.
Plenty of fast storage is also important, so we test both sequential throughput and random access. Keyboard quality is another super vital element for any serious coding session. So, we're looking for feel, comfort and responsiveness.
We also assess ergonomics, build and usability, chassis rigidity, trackpad response and more to build up a practical picture of how well a laptop performs in the real world rather than merely benchmarks.
Finally, battery life is surely critical, especially if you're coding on the move. Battery life is also an area where laptops can diverge dramatically. So, we careful evaluate just how long each model can survive away from mains power.