They’re low-power chips, but they can still handle mainstream processing. On the inside, the 15-inch model comes with AMD Ryzen 7 and Intel Core i7 processors. ![]() The Surface’s body is only 14.7mm thick and it only weighs 1.54kg, so it’s lighter than most 15-inch productivity laptops, and its battery life stretches beyond twelve hours. The soft keyboard is comfortable, and the exterior is robust enough to handle life on the road. The 15-inch version is our preferred choice, and there’s lots to like: the 3:2 display has a high resolution, impressive quality, and top-notch compatibility with Microsoft’s excellent Surface Pen. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 is a great laptop for programming if you want a stylish, lightweight device with great battery life and a touchscreen. And while it does have a couple of Thunderbolt ports and an SD card slot, there’s no HDMI output and no full-size USB connectivity. They’ve got 16:10 aspect ratios, which deliver extra vertical space, and the slightly wayward color accuracy doesn’t impact on programming.Įlsewhere, the XPS 15 has enough battery life to make it through your working day. For programming, we’d recommend the higher-resolution IPS or OLED displays, which are both excellent. The XPS is available with three screens: two IPS models and one OLED panel. And while the Dell XPS 15 is not cheap, prices start at £1,999 / $2,299 for a notebook with a high-resolution screen, so it’s more affordable than a MacBook. It’s easy enough to upgrade this machine with more memory and storage, and you even get a modest Nvidia GPU for extra graphical grunt in content-creation tools. Both are excellent: the Core i7 chip can easily tackle most mainstream programming situations, while the Core i9 part is well-suited to running virtual machines and emulated environments too. On the inside, the XPS is available with Intel Core i7 and Core i9 processors. It looks fantastic, with a robust aluminum body, and its keyboard is comfortable and fast – ideal for long days of typing. ![]() ĭell’s XPS machines are the firm’s answer to Apple’s MacBook Pro, so it’s no surprise that the Dell XPS 15 is impressive. Read our full Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (2021) review.This is the sort of laptop that will last for years, though, and it’s an unbeatable programming machine. There is a newer M2 version out now as well, which we're currently testing, but it's largely the same machine with a slightly faster chip. It’s expensive, too: the model we reviewed costs $2,899/£2,799. Some people won’t like the camera notch, and the MacBook is a little heavier than many other productivity portables. It looks superb, and it’s got rock-solid build quality.ĭownsides are minimal. ![]() The keyboard is crisp and comfortable, so it’s well-suited for all-day typing, and this machine has an SD card slot, three Thunderbolt ports and Magsafe power connectivity. Its 3456 x 2234 native resolution and 1000-nit brightness level means everything looks gorgeous, and you’ve got the width and on-screen space to spread work around. The battery easily lasts a full day, too. Combine that with the 32GB of memory and the 16-core graphics chip and you’ve got a machine that will handle any programming situation, from complex coding and compiling to running virtual machines. Professionals have long favored Apple’s machines, and that remains true with the MacBook Pro 16 – it ticks every box required for high-end programming.Īpple’s 10-core M1 Pro processor is a powerhouse. We've got plenty of other coding content, too, including an explanation of the difference between coding vs programming, a beginner's guide on how to learn to code, and a guide to the best online coding courses. With these criteria in mind, we’ve tested a bunch of laptops to find the best options out there. Intense work like this deserves a spacious canvas. We also tend to favor laptops with larger screens for coding and software development. Laptops with basic graphics chips won’t be able to keep up. Want to make games? Buy a laptop with a dedicated Nvidia, AMD or Intel graphics card inside. But for the long haul, there are some points to consider when shopping for a laptop.Ī great processor and generous amount of RAM are must-haves, as you don't want to be slowed down or limited by your tools. What makes a good laptop for coding? For the early stages, almost any computer you can get your hands on will help. ![]() And if you do not want to use a desktop PC, or at least not exclusively, you'll need a laptop. However, you first need a PC with which to start that journey. Learning to code is a great way to discover how some of this stuff works, not to mention a healthy way to forge a career. So much of our lives is enmeshed with technology these days. Tackle coding tasks on the go with the best laptops for coding and programming.
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