Picking the best laptop for programming doesn't have to be complicated, as on this page we've rounded up the top laptops you can buy for coding on in 2021.
No matter if you're a professional programmer, or you enjoy coding for fun, on this page there will be the ideal laptop for you.
So, what makes a good laptop for programming on? You'll want plenty of power, and that means having a modern multi-core processor from Intel, AMD or even Apple. That's right, since the launch of the new MacBook Air and MacBook Pro 13-inch last year, Apple makes its own M1 chips for its laptops, and it's proved to be an excellent move, with M1-powered MacBooks offering excellent coding performance.
You'll also want plenty of RAM to help you multitask. While coding itself in an integrated development environment (IDE) application doesn't require that much computing power, the more powerful the laptop you use, the faster it will compile your code when your testing it out, for example. If you need to do lots of compiling, then the time saved with a fast laptop can mount up, giving you more time to take on more projects, or kick back and relax.
The best laptops for programming should also have large high resolution screens that are comfortable to work on for long periods of time. The higher the resolution, the more code you can see at once, which cuts down on scrolling.
A great laptop for coding will also come with a brilliant keyboard that's comfortable and responsive, as you're going to be typing out a lot of code on it. Also, if you're doing game development, then you'll want a laptop that can play your game while you test it, so a laptop with a graphics card is worth considering.
Also, it's a good idea to complement your laptop with some top accessories too. Check out our guides to the best keyboard, the best mouse and best monitor.
With Black Friday 2021 coming on November 26, we should see some excellent deals for the laptops on this page start to pop up, so now's a perfect time to shop around, and our built-in price comparison tool can help you find the very best prices.
