If you are just starting off your career as a programming student or you are a professional programmer or a developer and planning to buy a normal usage laptop for your programming work then you are wrong.
Because if you want the best laptop for programming then it requires power, performance, and ability to do your work smoothly. There are thousands of laptops are available in the market and from that, some of them are budget-friendly while some of them are expensive.
But the thing is that not all the laptops are capable enough to handle your programming or coding work. Finding the best laptops for programming students is not an easy task as much as you think. You need to check many things depends upon which programming language you will use and what kind of programming you will do.
So which things are important to check for the best programming laptop? But you don’t need to worry about that because this comprehensive laptop buying guide will help you to buy the best laptop for a programming student or a developer. And here you will get all the answers to your question like how to choose the best laptop for programming and coding.
Before we move towards the list of the best laptops for programming students I suggest you check the below few important things which you need to consider.
What Are The Important Things You Need To Consider Before Buying A Laptop For Programming?
There are a number of programming languages are available which you can use for coding. To run multiple compilers, local servers, and code editors smoothly a programming laptop should be powerful enough to handle this heavy multitasking work.
What kind of configuration makes it ideal for programming? or what are the things that you should know before buying a laptop for programming and coding?
So let’s have a look here they are…
Operating System:
For programming and development, the most used operating system for many years is Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS. If you are an iOS app or software developer then you will have to buy a MacBook because Objective C and Swift require Xcode which is available only on Mac.
But if you are not an iOS app or software developer then Windows is the best option for you and also it supports almost all the programming languages. The MacBook is expensive than the Windows laptop, which many of us can not afford it.
Processor:
If you are a beginner or website/app developer then the laptop with Intel Core i5 processor is powerful enough to fulfill your requirements. But if you are into an intense gaming or software development work then I recommend you to buy a laptop powered by Intel Core i7 processor.
RAM:
To run compilers, local servers, a code editor, and a web browser smoothly at a time you need a good amount of RAM. If you are a web or app developer then its good to have at least 8GB of RAM. But if you are into game or software development programming then I recommend you 16GB of RAM to complete your work efficiently.
Graphics Card:
The latest processor’s integrated graphics are good enough to handle normal graphics-related programs. But it’s good to have a dedicated graphics card which helps to improve the overall performance of the laptop.
A laptop with 2GB of graphics card is good enough for programming and for occasionally gaming on your laptop. But if you are into gaming development then definitely you need a powerful dedicated graphics card.
Storage:
The laptop having with SSD delivers faster performance as compared to HDD and also the SSD you will find in a laptop which will cost you more than $600. The SSD help to boot the system fast and open your previously saved project quickly where you left off.
Almost all the laptops which come with the HDD provide you 1TB of storage space, while at the same price, SSD provides you 256GB or 512GB of storage space. So it’s all up to you if you want a faster performance with less storage space then go with SSD but if you want more storage space simply go with the HDD.
I hope now all your doubts are cleared and now you can choose the programming laptop for yourself.
Before we going to move towards the list of best laptops for programming students I suggest you first select the programming language which you want to use and then choose the operating system for your laptop. So it will help you to find the best laptop for programming from the below-given list.
Let’s begin…
Contents
- What Are The Important Things You Need To Consider Before Buying A Laptop For Programming?
- Quick Overview Of Best Laptops For Programming Students
- Best Laptops For Programming Students – Top 10 Picks
- 1) Acer Aspire 5 – Best Budget Laptop For Programming Student
- 2) Asus ZenBook 13 – Best Ultrabook For Programming Students
- 3) Acer Predator Helios 300 – Best Value For Money Laptop
- 4) MSI GF65 9SE-013 – Best Laptop For Programming And Coding
- 5) Alienware M17 – Best 17 Inch Laptop For Programming
- 6) ASUS VivoBook K571 – Best Powerful Portable Laptop
- 7) Dell G3 15 3500 – Best Dell Laptop For Programming
- 8) MSI GP65 Leopard 10SEK-048 – Best Laptop For Programming And Gaming
- 9) ASUS ROG Strix G15 – Best Laptop For Programming And Graphic Design
- 10) Apple MacBook Pro 16 – For Apple Developers
- Final Verdict
Quick Overview Of Best Laptops For Programming Students
Best Laptops For Programming Students – Top 10 Picks
1) Acer Aspire 5 – Best Budget Laptop For Programming Student
Acer Aspire 5 is our top choice for those who are looking for a budget laptop and that’s why we have added on top of the list of best laptops for programming students.
This Acer Aspire 5 is an affordable all-purpose laptop which you can use for programming and light gaming it can easily handle almost all the task which you will throw.
Display:
If you are concern about the display of this laptop then it has got 15.6 inches of full HD IPS display with Acer Color Intelligence which provides a crisp and clear visual experience. And the best thing about the display is it has Acer BlueLight Shield feature that keeps your eyes free from strain while you are working for a long.
Specs:
Speaking about the specifications of the laptop, it sports the latest 10th Gen Intel Core i5-1035G1 processor with turbo boost up to 3.6GHz.
The laptop is backed by 8GB of RAM and 2GB of NVIDIA GeForce MX350 dedicated graphics card, so it is good enough to handle almost all your tasks with ease. 512GB SSD this laptop has got which makes it the best budget laptop under $700 for programming.
Other Features:
Apart from this, the battery life of this laptop is powerful which provides you up to 8 hours of battery backup on a single charge. As far as the keyboard is your concern then it comes with a full size backlit keyboard so you can do your programming even in low light conditions.
Overall, this is a great laptop with great features at an affordable price which makes this Acer Aspire 5 to the best budget option in this list.
Hardware Specifications Of Acer Aspire 5
| Processor | (10th Gen) Intel Core i5-1035G1 Processor |
| RAM | 8GB RAM |
| Hard Disk | 512GB SSD |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce MX350 2GB |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Display | 15.6 Inch Full HD Widescreen LED-lit IPS Display |
| Weight | 5.79 Pounds |
| Battery Life | Upto 8 Hours |
2) Asus ZenBook 13 – Best Ultrabook For Programming Students
If you are a programming student and regularly you need to carry your laptop with you at your college and that’s why looking for a thin and lightweight notebook then this ASUS ZenBook 13 is the best option for you.
Speaking about the portability of this notebook first, it has packed all the powerful specs in 0.55 thin profile which weighs 2.62 pounds only, so you can easily carry around this ultrabook with you.
If we talk about the build quality of this sleek and lightweight ultrabook then it is built with all-metal and finished in Lilac Mist which looks very premium.
Display:
This ASUS laptop has got 13.3-inch of full HD NanoEdge display with 88% screen-to-body ratio which gives bright and clear immersive viewing experience.
Specs:
Let’s move towards the internals, it is powered by the 10th Generation latest Intel Core i5-1035G1 processor and backed by 8GB of DDR4 RAM to handle your multitasking work.
The only downside of this laptop is that it doesn’t come with a dedicated graphics card but its integrated Intel UHD graphics is good enough for programming and coding. It runs on the Windows 10 operating system and got all the required ports and slots.
The storage of this laptop is handled by 256GB of SSD which might be not enough for many but apart from that SSD is works better than the HDD drive.
Other Features:
As far as security is your main concern then its Windows Hello feature takes the security to the next level that allows you to unlock the device with facial recognition which is very quick and secure.
Moreover, it has fast charging technology that charges the battery up to 60% in 40 minutes and provides you up to 22-hours of long-lasting battery backup. This is the only laptop which has powerful battery life which makes it stand out from other laptops in this entire list.
So if you are a programmer or coder who regularly travels with a laptop then this is the best portable laptop for you.
Hardware Specifications Of Asus ZenBook 13 Ultra Slim Laptop
| Processor | (10th Gen) Intel Core i5-1035G1 Processor |
| RAM | 8GB RAM |
| Hard Disk | 512GB SSD |
| Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Display | 13.3 Inch Full HD Wide-view Display |
| Weight | 2.62 Pounds |
| Battery Life | Upto 22 Hours |
3) Acer Predator Helios 300 – Best Value For Money Laptop
Under the $1200 budget, this Acer Predator Helios 300 gaming laptop is the best bang for buck deals for you, which you can use for programming and gaming or anything else. Its black metal finished chassis with blue accents, which look more appealing and feel premium in hands.
Display:
Speaking about the display, it sports 15.6 inches of full HD widescreen LED-backlit IPS display which delivers consistent, brilliant color from any perspective.
Specs:
Speaking about the performance of this laptop, it is powered by the latest 10th Generation Intel Core i7-10750H processor which provides more power and more high-quality entertainment on the go. To handle multitasking work on this laptop with ease it comes with 16GB of DDR4 RAM.
On the storage front, it has got 512GB of SSD which is faster and secure than the HDD drive and it is enough space to store all your projects and other personal data. But the best thing is that it allows you to upgrade its storage space through its available empty slot for easy upgrades.
If you are concerning about the graphics of this laptop then it comes with 6GB of NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 dedicated graphics card.
Other Features:
Besides this, the battery backup of this laptop is decent which provides you up to 6 continuous hours of battery life. Moreover, to keep the system cool and stable during heavy multitasking for a long time it comes with All Metal AeroBlade 3D Fans.
Hardware Specifications Of Acer Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop
| Processor | (10th Gen) Intel Core i7-10750H Processor |
| RAM | 16GB RAM |
| Hard Disk | 512GB SSD |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 6GB |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Display | 15.6 Inch Full HD Widescreen LED-backlit IPS Display |
| Weight | 5.07 Pounds |
| Battery Life | Upto 6 Hours |
4) MSI GF65 9SE-013 – Best Laptop For Programming And Coding
This MSI GF65 9SE-013 is a pure gaming laptop, so if you are planning to buy the best laptop for programming and gaming then this one is for you.
Display:
It sports 15.6-inch of full HD IPS display with thin bezel design which immersed you into your own world.
Specs:
To make this machine powerful it is equipped with 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9750H processor and backed by 16GB of DDR4 RAM which is further expandable up to 64GB. The graphics of this device is handled by the powerful NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 graphics coprocessor with 6GB of dedicated graphics memory.
If you are concerning about the storage of this laptop then thanks for providing 512GB of SSD which helps to boot up the system fast and enough space to store all the personal and professional files and data.
Other Features:
As far as battery life is a concern, it provides up to 7-hours of battery backup. Apart from this, it has a Cooler Boost 3 technology which helps to keep this machine cool and stable while you are doing heavy multitasking work or an intense gaming session.
Moreover, it has a Crimson Red backlit keyboard that keeps you stay productive in any situation. All in all, this is the best laptop for gaming and programming which you can buy right now.
Hardware Specifications Of MSI GF65 9SE-013 – 15 Inch Gaming Laptop
| Processor | (9th Gen) Intel Core i7-9750H Processor |
| RAM | 16GB RAM |
| Hard Disk | 512GB SSD |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 6GB |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Display | 15.6 Inch Full HD IPS Display |
| Weight | – |
| Battery Life | Upto 7 Hours |
5) Alienware M17 – Best 17 Inch Laptop For Programming
Dell has launched this Alienware series laptops especially for gaming and this Alienware M17 comes from that series. Because of a dedicated gaming laptop, it has got a powerful configuration and this is the reason you can use this laptop for programming, especially for game development and graphics programming.
This machine is built with high-end materials like magnesium alloy, copper, and steel which gives rich look and feel.
Display:
Many of you may like to work on a big desktop size display and if you are one of them then you will definitely like this machine. Because it has got 17.3 inches of full HD display which gives amazing experience for coding on a big size display.
The screen has the fastest panel which offers a 300Hz of refresh rate and it gives smooth graphics and viewing experience while you playing games. And also the display screen has 100% sRGB color gamut and 300-nits brightness which delivers accurate colors and contrast.
On top of that, it has a unique technology that reduces blue light rays and take care of your eyes from strain and fatigue.
Specs:
Under the hood, it sports 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10750H processor and runs on the Windows 10 operating system. To handle heavy multitasking work or gaming on this machine it comes with 16GB of RAM which is good enough to deliver you smooth working experience.
The graphics on this device is backed by powerful 8GB of GDDR6 NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 dedicated graphics card.
On the storage front, it has got a huge 1TB SSD storage space, which is good enough space to store all your programming software, projects, and games.
Other Features:
Apart from this, it comes with Advanced Thermal Technology that optimizes and keeps the component cool and maximize the overall performance.
Hardware Specifications Of Alienware M17 – Best Laptop For Game Development
| Processor | (10th Gen) Intel Core i7-10750H Processor |
| RAM | 16GB RAM |
| Hard Disk | 1TB SSD |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 8GB |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Display | 17.3 Inch Full HD Display |
| Weight | 5.51 Pounds |
| Battery Life | Upto 4 Hours |
6) ASUS VivoBook K571 – Best Powerful Portable Laptop
The ASUS VivoBook K571 has got a powerful hardware configuration which is perfect for programming, coding or any other purpose it can handle any of your tasks with ease. If we see then the Asus has not compromised with this laptop from its performance to its build quality, which makes this laptop an ideal.
Display:
The display of this laptop is 15.6-inch full HD IPS 120Hz display which provides richer, deeper, and more accurate colors from up to 178-degree wide-angle.
On top of that, it has ASUS Splendid feature with two display modes such as “Normal mode” is ideal for daily tasks while “Vivid mode” optimizes the contrast for providing the best quality of photos and videos.
Specs:
Speaking about the internals of this laptop, this ASUS VivoBook K571 is powered by the latest 10th Generation Intel Core i7-10750H processor with turbo boost technology up to 5GHz. To handle multitasking work and deliver a smooth working experience the laptop is backed by 16GB of DDR4 RAM.
If you are concern about the graphics of this laptop then it has 4GB of NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 dedicated graphics coprocessor which will provide you flawless visuals. Thanks for providing a dual storage compartment of 256GB lightning-fast SSD and 1TB massive HDD which is more than enough to store all the data.
Other Features:
Moreover, the laptop comes with an illuminated chiclet keyboard with a number pad which will help you to do coding comfortably. Even after long hours of use keep the system cool it has ASUS IceCool technology.
Hardware Specifications Of ASUS VivoBook K571
| Processor | (10th Gen) Intel Core i7-10750H Processor |
| RAM | 16GB RAM |
| Hard Disk | 256GB SSD + 1TB HDD |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Display | 15.6 Inch Full HD IPS Wide View Display |
| Weight | 4.7 Pounds |
| Battery Life | Upto 5 Hours |
7) Dell G3 15 3500 – Best Dell Laptop For Programming
If you are looking for a programming laptop from Dell then this Dell G3 15 3500 is the best option for you. If we talk about the chassis of this notebook then its black finished chassis with eye-catching blue accents gives it to an amazing look. The build quality of this laptop is great which comes with a solid and well-constructed design.
Display:
It sports 15.6 inches of Full HD IPS display with 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution which delivers you sharp and accurate colors from a wide viewing angle. And also the display of this laptop is anti-glare which will never irritate you from the glare.
Specs:
Let’s talk about the innards, to make this laptop powerful it is equipped with the 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10750H latest processor and backed by 16GB of RAM which makes it perfect for the developers and graphics programmers.
To handle graphics of this laptop it comes with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 graphics coprocessor with 6GB of GDDR6 dedicated graphics memory. Thanks for providing a 512GB SSD drive which loads the applications faster and shorten the system boot time.
Other Features:
And the best thing about this laptop is that, it gives you the best performance even if you are doing intense work for long hours because it has dual-fan cooling system which keeps the system cool and stable. Moreover, the keyboard of this laptop is a full-size RGB-backlit enabled keyboard which helps you to do your work even in a low light condition.
Overall, if you have around $1300 budget then this Dell G3 15 3500 laptop is one of the best laptops for programmers and developers.
Hardware Specifications Of Dell G3 15 3500 Gaming Laptop
| Processor | (10th Gen) Intel Core i7-10750H Processor |
| RAM | 16GB RAM |
| Hard Disk | 512GB SSD |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 6GB |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Display | 15.6 Inch Full HD IPS Anti-Glare LED backlight Display |
| Weight | 9.08 Pounds |
| Battery Life | Upto 5 Hours |
8) MSI GP65 Leopard 10SEK-048 – Best Laptop For Programming And Gaming
This MSI GP65 Leopard 10SEK-048 is another laptop from MSI in this list. And MSI is one of the well-known laptop brands who manufacture dedicated gaming laptops only.
If you are looking for a high-performance laptop then this MSI GP65 Leopard gaming laptop is the best option for you which you can buy right now.
Display:
Speaking about the display, it has got 15.6 inches of full HD IPS thin bezel display with 100%sRGB color gamut.
Specs:
This gaming machine is powered by the latest 10th Generation Intel Core 10750H Six-Core processor and combined with 16GB of RAM to smooth heavy multitasking experience. It also has mammoth 6GB of dedicated NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 graphics, which makes this laptop suitable for game developers.
Thanks for providing 512GB of SSD drive, which is enough space to store all your personal and professional data. This gaming laptop runs on the Windows 10 operating system and got all the required ports and slots.
Other Features:
Moreover, it has a few interesting features such as SteelSeries Per-Key RGB Gaming Keyboard and Cooler Boost 5 technology.
Hardware Specifications Of MSI GP65 Leopard 10SEK-048 Gaming Laptop
| Processor | (10th Gen) Intel Core i7-10750H Processor |
| RAM | 16GB RAM |
| Hard Disk | 512GB SSD |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 6GB |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Display | 15.6 Inch Full HD IPS Display |
| Weight | 5 Pounds |
| Battery Life | Upto 5 Hours |
9) ASUS ROG Strix G15 – Best Laptop For Programming And Graphic Design
If you are looking for a laptop that you can use for programming and graphic design then this ASUS ROG Strix G15 is the best choice for you. Actually, ASUS has launched this ROG (Republic of Gamers) series laptops especially for gaming but as per its powerful internals, you can use for all purpose.
Display:
This gaming laptop has 15.6″ inches of full HD IPS display, which delivers smooth, responsive, and crisp images.
Specs:
Talking about the internals, this gaming machine is powered by the newest 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10750H Hexa-core processor with turbo boost technology up to 5.0GHz. It runs on the Windows 10 operating system and to take care of multitasking it is equipped with 16GB of RAM.
If you are concerned about the graphics of this device then it has got 6GB of NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 powerful dedicated graphics card with ROG Boost. For the storage, this laptop houses with 512GB SSD, which is good enough space to store all your projects, games, movies, etc.
Other Features:
Apart from this, it has got a full-size ASUS AURA SYNC customizable RGB gaming keyboard and bottom light bar which takes your gaming experience to the next level. It has a ROG Intelligent Cooling Thermal System with dual fans and anti-dust technology which forces dust and debris to exit from the chassis through the fan module’s two anti-dust tunnels.
Hardware Specifications Of ASUS ROG Strix G15 Gaming Laptop
| Processor | (10th Gen) Intel Core i7-10750H Processor |
| RAM | 16GB RAM |
| Hard Disk | 512GB SSD |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 6GB |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Display | 15.6 Inch Full HD IPS Display |
| Weight | 5.28 Pounds |
| Battery Life | Upto 4 Hours |
10) Apple MacBook Pro 16 – For Apple Developers
If you are using Swift and Objective C coder then Apple MacBook Pro 16 is the best option for you to build games and apps for macOS and iOS. This newest version of MacBook Pro features with touch bar and powerful hardware configuration.
Display:
This new MacBook Pro sports a 16-inch of True Tone Retina display with 3072 x 1920 pixels of resolution which provides you a better viewing angle. This MacBook Pro runs on MacOS Sierra operating system which gives you smoother working experience no matter what.
Specs:
Speaking about the specs of MacBook, it is powered by the latest 9th Gen Intel Core i7 processor and paired with 16GB of RAM. The graphics on this device is backed by 4GB of AMD Radeon Pro 5300M graphics coprocessor.
All together delivers you an amazing performance that can easily handle all your local servers, code editors, Safari browser with a number of tabs simultaneously without slowing you down. On the storage front, this notebook comes with 512GB of SSD which is sufficient to store all your programming files and data.
Other Features:
The only thing which may disappoint you is it comes with only four Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports, so if you have daily use of SD card then you need to buy USB-C SD card reader additionally to connect your SD card. The battery life of this latest model of Apple MacBook Pro 16 is good which lasts for up to 11 hours on a full charge.
Overall, this MacBook Pro 16 is a power-packed laptop that delivers you a solid performance which you can use for graphics programming, game development, and coding, etc.
Hardware Specifications Of Apple MacBook Pro 16
| Processor | (9th Gen) Intel Core i7 Processor |
| RAM | 16GB RAM |
| Hard Disk | 512GB SSD |
| Graphics | AMD Radeon Pro 5300M 4GB |
| Operating System | MacOS Sierra |
| Display | 16 Inch Retina LED-backlit IPS Display |
| Weight | 4.3 Pounds |
| Battery Life | Upto 11 Hours |
Final Verdict
So these are the top picks of best laptops for programming students which are chosen by me and my laptop expert team by keeping in mind all the requirements of programmers. I hope that this laptop buying guide which I have created by doing much research and hard work will help you out to buy the best laptop for programming.
Are you still confused? don’t worry feel free to ask me by commenting below.
Hello! I am Robbin Simmond a senior editor & writer of this blog. By profession, I am a computer hardware engineer with a passion for gaming and technology. With a deep understanding of the intricate workings of computers, I have spent years researching and testing the latest advancements in gaming laptops.