As IT professionals know very well, a good laptop is unmatched in delivering the best quality of work. Of course, a tablet and desktop PC also have their own distinct qualities. However, there is nothing quite as useful as having the comfort of a high-powered computer that is also easy to carry around. Hence, although the other two devices are definitely useful, it’s the humble laptop that is like no other hardware.

Programmers, coders, software developers and engineers are professions which depend greatly on the quality of a laptop. From keyboard and port options to processing power and the type of operating system, there are a number of factors that come into play when choosing the perfect laptop for a professional programmer or coder. Even display size should be taken into account – after all, can you imagine trying to find a coding error on the 7.1 x 4.3-inch screen of a GPD Pocket laptop?

• SEE MORE Fired programmer denies planting virus
• SEE MORE The IT Pro Podcast: Picking a programming language
• SEE MORE The ultimate guide to becoming a programmer
• SEE MORE How to become a computer programmer without a degree

However, the most important quality when searching for the best laptop for programming and coding is its ability to make work not feel like work. This means that the perfect device needs to combine all the most helpful features with being a pure pleasure to use – without constant lagging, heavy lifting, or bad design.

Taking all of these issues into account can seem like an overwhelming task when you have limited time to find a new laptop. Hence, IT Pro has collated some of the best offerings on the market, based on the most common programming, coding, software development, and engineering needs.

Display size

The size of the display will make an enormous difference to certain developers. More specifically, it will matter more to those with smaller external displays, or no external displays at all.

If using a laptop, most programmers opt for at least one external monitor in addition to their laptop’s built-in screen for maximum productivity. However, some programmers own multiple external displays and don’t need to have their laptop open at all, having it simply act more like a mobile tower computer rather than an all-in-one workhorse.

Laptops typically come in sizes ranging from 13 inches to 16 inches, but the short answer is bigger is better in nearly all cases. Looking at multiple lines of code between project files can be tricky on smaller screens and running a simulator on the same window can make for an uncomfortable experience if coding just on the laptop itself.

If you go for a smaller display, make sure you have a good amount of screen estate in your overall set-up, such as one or two external 27-inch displays. They don’t need to be expensive, 4K panels – programming values space over resolution.

Type of keyboard

There are so many factors that differentiate one keyboard from the next, and what keyboard is considered best can be quite subjective. The type of key switch, size of the keyboard, and how much you can customise it also come into play so, above all else, it’s worth getting hands-on with a variety of keyboards before you buy to find your favourite type of configuration.

What’s more objective, though, is the need for a comfortably sized keyboard. Key switches come in myriad different styles but keyboard sizes typically have just the two: keyboards with number pads and those without them. You will often find the number pads on laptop keyboards go unused in programming and they can, in certain installations, offset the keyboard away from the centre of the display, which can be off-putting if using the laptop’s keyboard to type regularly, rather than an external board.

Key switches also vary significantly between laptops and keyboard manufacturers. Membrane keys are most commonly found on less expensive office keyboards while mechanical keys come in different sensitivities and levels of tactile and audible feedback. The latter are trendier but are found less commonly on laptops and need to be thoroughly tested before buying as they can be an acquired taste.

Processing power and storage

Software or web development isn’t typically the most compute-heavy workload when compared to job functions that involve things like video editing and running data analyses, for example. Regardless, the likelihood of having multiple applications running at the same time, as is the case in most office environments, will demand high-performance hardware such as CPUs and RAM to get the job done efficiently.

It’s also worth considering the amount of storage space you will need and type of storage required. We recommend going for as much storage as you can afford and choosing solid state drives (SSDs) over traditional hard drive disks (HDDs).

SSDs have historically been much more expensive than HDDs but prices have dropped considerably in recent years and the slightly pricier type of drive will allow you to access the files you need at lightning speed, comparatively speaking.

Our picks for best computers for programmers

Below you can find some of our top picks for programmers choosing their next computer. Each one has its own unique selling point and a reason why it will be favoured among different individuals.

Apple MacBook Air (M1, 2020)

Best laptop for a programming and coding

IT Pro

MacBook Airs have been Apple’s answer to the ultra-portable notebook for a number of years now, but with the addition of the company’s in-house processor, the M1 chip, they are now serious contenders for professional workloads too.

All that extra power gained in recent years has not raised the price of the series of notebooks either. Starting at $999, the MacBook Air will suit almost all programmers, coders, and software developers, with all major IDEs able to run on it without any issues.

If you’re a mobile developer using the Swift or SwiftUI programming languages, you will need a Mac in order to program for Apple’s ecosystem and Xcode is not available on other operating systems.

Our full review of the Apple MacBook Air M1.

Dell XPS 13 (OLED, 2021)

Best for those looking for high quality

IT Pro

Dell’s XPS range has always been the main rival to Apple’s line of MacBooks and for good reason. The XPS line consistently packs incredible performance into a small, aesthetically pleasing form factor which also brings with it a stunning display, each and every time.

However, what you gain with a great-looking screen, you lose in battery life, as it now lasts only about eight hours on a charge when most rivals last about 10 hours, though most programmers won’t be working on battery power all that often. Dell has also eliminated almost all of the bezel in this version, including the bezel below the screen.

For $1,649, you get an Intel Core i7-1185G7 CPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB NVMe SSD. The keyboard isn’t as clicky as the MacBook Air, but it isn’t overly rigid either.

Our full review of the Dell XPS 13.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3 laptop

Best for those looking for a solid typing experience

IT Pro

If money is no object, then the Lenovo X1 Extreme should be on your wish list. For $2,993, you get a 10th Generation Intel Core i9-10885H processor with vPro (2.40 GHz, up to 5.30 GHz with Turbo Boost, 8 Cores, 16 Threads, 16 MB Cache).

These ThinkPads come with a 15.6″ UHD (3840-by-2160-pixel) OLED, anti-reflective, anti-smudge, touchscreen with Dolby Vision and HDR. These are powered by an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti Max-Q 4GB graphics card.

Those that have used ThinkPads in the past will know that they’re a joy to use. They’re perhaps best know for their keyboards, which provide longer travel times than most others on the market – in other words, it takes fractionally longer for each key to travel to the backplate, and back to a resting position. The result is a keyboard that provides exceptional feedback while typing, much like more expensive mechanical keyboards.

Pair this with exceptional build quality, and you’ve got one impressive machine.

However, if you love the typing experience on MacBooks, you may find ThinkPads to be overly cumbersome.

Our full review of the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme.

HP Spectre x360 (2021)

Best for those in need of flexibility

IT Pro

The HP Spectre x360 is a two-in-one laptop that can double as a tablet. The most recent iteration sports an 11th-generation Intel Core processor and Intel Iris Xe graphics. It is also made to the Intel Evo certification, meaning it reaches a certain level of responsiveness, performance, and battery life.

The laptop is slim, powerful, and will boot up quickly. With a battery life of around 13 hours, you don’t have to keep this plugged in when you are on the go, so you can code from anywhere. This is a solid choice for anyone looking for flexibility in a device.

Prices start from around $1,349.

Our full review of the HP Spectre x360.