Always Coding? Here Are 5 Best Laptops For Programming To Buy In 2023

Laptops are excellent companions for programmers, and every coder relies heavily on their machine every day. Likewise, it’s only fair that you purchase a laptop that best suits your coding needs every now and then. This list contains our picks of the best laptops for programming that you should get in 2023.

Professional programmers depend on their laptop/machine for almost everything and would be in trouble if that machine broke down. Hence, you should own a laptop that wouldn’t let you down when you most require it. However, there are some things that you should keep in mind while choosing the best laptops for programming.

5 Best laptops for programming in 2023

Note: Laptops mentioned in this list aren’t in any order of preference.

• 1. MacBook Air M1: Best mid-range laptop
• 2. Samsung Galaxy Book2 Pro 360: All-rounder Windows laptop
• 3. Acer Aspire 5 A515-57: Best budget laptop
• 4. ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2022): Best Windows laptop for multiple usage patterns
• 5. Apple MacBook Air M2: Overall best for graphic design

1. MacBook Air M1: Best mid-range laptop

It’s 2023, and the two-year-old MacBook Air M1 is still an extremely relevant machine for programming. It’s an incredibly thin and light machine with a great display and long-lasting battery life. Apart from that, the M1 chip is still quite powerful, and you can rely on it to withstand heavy workflows and multiple projects efficiently.

Moreover, you get a great set of speakers and an excellent headphone jack with a DAC, so you wouldn’t have to worry about the audio. It also houses two Thunderbolt ports to connect an external display whenever you require. The MacBook Air M1 is a suitable choice for the best laptops for programming because it’s a budget-friendly laptop for professionals with incredible performance.

Buy from BestBuy ($799.99)

2. Samsung Galaxy Book2 Pro 360: All-rounder Windows laptop

First up, the Galaxy Book2 Pro is an excellent media device that not only does well for programming all day but also offers rock-solid performance. It houses a 15.6-inch 1080p AMOLED display which is astounding for long-viewing hours. Apart from that, it has a tremendous 12th-gen Intel Core i7 CPU that can handle almost anything you throw at it.

You can also convert it into a tablet and use the included S-Pen for creative tasks. The Galaxy Book2 Pro is ideal for programmers mainly for its excellent performance, great battery, decent keyboard, and Thunderbolt ports. Overall, it’s conveniently among the best laptops for programming in 2023.

Buy from BestBuy ($1149.99)

3. Acer Aspire 5 A515-57: Best budget laptop

Finally, the Acer Aspire 5 makes it to the list of the best laptops for programmers. The budget-friendly Aspire 5 checks most boxes and is an ideal laptop choice for everyday programmers. You get a lot of value for the price, including adequate performance and battery life.

The Aspire 5 houses a 12th-generation Intel Core i5 CPU, which can complete everyday tasks. Moreover, the large FHD display with an IPS panel will ensure excellent color accuracy, which is essential to consider for long viewing hours. All in all, you get a solid package for the price, which is excellent for intermediate programmers on a budget.

Buy from Amazon ($469.98)

4. ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2022): Best Windows laptop for multiple usage patterns

Next up, the infamous ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 makes it to the list of the best laptops for programming. While it may seem like any other gaming laptop, there’s much more to it than it seems. G14 is an all-rounder package with excellent performance, great battery life, and a color-accurate display.

Housing a Ryzen 9 6900HS and AMD Radeon 6800S graphics, it is a powerhouse that can handle anything you throw at it. Likewise, you can use the performance not just for your machine-learning models but also for occasional gaming. On top of it all, it only weighs 3.64 pounds or 1.65 kg, making it highly portable. During sales, you can get a $200 discount on the current price, so be sure to wait if you can.

Buy from BestBuy ($1399.99)

5. Apple MacBook Air M2: Overall best for graphic design

The MacBook Air M2, the latest MacBook Air, is the most popular device for many user types. Likewise, it’s easily among the best laptops for programming in 2023. You get a solid package with adequate performance, an excellent display, and all-day battery life for a competitive price compared to relevant Windows machines.

The M2 Air is one of the few laptops that offer adequate performance, an excellent keyboard, long-lasting battery life, and exceptionally lightweight. It’s a great choice if you’re a programmer and couldn’t go wrong with it. To save some money, you can even opt for refurbished M1 MacBooks to get the most out of what you pay.

Buy from BestBuy ($999.99)

Things to remember about laptops for programming

While you can pick up any laptop and start programming on it, some factors will improve your experience.

Keyboard: While programming, you interact the most with a laptop’s keyboard. Hence, an ideal laptop for programming should have a keyboard that doesn’t have much flex and has decent per-key travel.

Display: If you tend to stare at a screen continuously, it better be of excellent quality. An ideal laptop should have a display that has high brightness, high color accuracy, and an IPS/OLED panel, so you don’t hurt your eyes.

Ports: The average user often lets the ports on a workstation laptop go unnoticed. If you’re buying a laptop for work, it must have essential ports like USB-C ports (including Thunderbolt) to connect external displays, which most programmers prefer.

Portability: If you’re programming, you wouldn’t need a laptop that weighs a lot but instead has adequate performance (even for your AI and ML projects) and is easy to carry around.

Which laptop can help you the best?

Anyone can indeed code on any laptop there is, but why not pick the best that lets you enjoy the process? Although OEMs don’t manufacture customized laptops for coding, they still make ones best suited for programmers. If you’re having trouble choosing one, we recommend going for the MacBook Air M2 for the best overall experience or the ASUS Zephyrus G14 if you also want it for casual gaming. However, the Acer Aspire 5 is the best choice for programmers on a budget.

Like this list? Check out the best laptops for graphic design in 2023.