Best Laptops for Coding, Programming & Development in 2020
Many of the applications and websites that we use daily have an experienced coder behind the scenes making sure things look and work the way they are supposed to. Having the best tools helps make any job easier. While we featured our best laptops for coding back in 2019, we thought we’d circle back around and offer up and update so you can have the absolute best tech at your fingertips.
Before we jump into our list though, let’s look at your checklist for your next laptop for coding, programming & development in 2020.
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Shopping list for your next coding laptop
Processor
Having enough horsepower goes far when it comes to compiling code for your latest project so you want to make sure you have one of the best processors out there. While there are a lot of options that have enough cores, threads as well as high clock speeds, your ultimate focus should be on finding the fastest processor you can afford.
Memory/Storage
When it comes to coding having a good amount of both RAM and storage is essential. You should have at least 8GB of RAM and it should be very fast to handle the programs you will be using. Consider using an SSD for storage as it will speed up your project especially considering all of the applications and files that you’ll use every day.
Keyboard
Programming and coding require a lot of typing and having a substandard keyboard just won’t get the job done. Having a keyboard with excellent travel as well as comfort can help you get things done, especially on those long nights where you have a major coding session to complete.
Best Laptops for Coding, Programming & Development in 2020
- HP Spectre x360 (2019) — $1549
- Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme laptop — $1599
- Huawei MateBook 13 — $874
- Apple MacBook Air (2019) — $949
- Microsoft Surface Pro 6 — $2249
- MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2019) — $688
- Google Pixelbook — $ 1616
- Asus Chromebook Flip — $599
- Microsoft Surface Book 2 (13.5-inch) — $1030
- MacBook Pro with Touch Bar (13-inch, mid-2019) — $1499
Best Laptops for Coding in 2020 Compared
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Best Overall
Best of The MacBooks
A High-End Affordable Chromebook
Best 2-in-1
Most Powerful
Title
Huawei Matebook 13 Signature Edn. Laptop — 13" 2K Touch, 8th Gen i5, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD, Office…
Apple 15" MacBook Pro with Touch Bar, Intel Core i7 2.6GHz, Pro 555X, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, Space…
ASUS Chromebook Flip C302 2-In-1 Laptop- 12.5” Full HD 4-Way NanoEdge Touchscreen, Intel Core M7…
Microsoft Surface Book 13.5 Inch 2 in 1 Laptop (Intel Core i7, 256GB, 8GB RAM, Windows 10) with…
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme
Google Pixelbook (i7, 16 GB RAM, 512 GB)
Prime Status
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-
-
Star Rating
-
-
Reviews
92 Reviews
-
1,892 Reviews
13 Reviews
-
138 Reviews
CPU
8th generation Intel Core i5 — i7
9th-generation Intel Core i7 — i9
Intel Pentium 4405Y — Intel Core m3–6Y30
Intel Core i5 — i7
up to 8th-generation Intel Core i7
7th-generation Intel Core i5-i7
Graphics
Intel UHD Graphics 620 , Nvidia GeForce MX150 2GB GDDR5
AMD Radeon Pro 555X — 560X, Intel UHD Graphics 630
Intel HD Graphics 515
Intel HD Graphics 620 — Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti with Max-Q design
Intel HD Graphics 615
RAM
8GB
16GB — 32GB
4GB
8GB — 16GB
up to 64GB
8–16GB
Screen
-
15.4-inch, 2,880 x 1,800 Retina display
12.5-inch, FHD (1,920 x 1,080) LED-backlit anti-glare
13.5-inch 3,000 x 2,000 PixelSense Display with touchscreen
15.6” FHD (1920 x 1080) — 15.6” 4K UHD HDR (3840 x 2160) multi-touch
12.3" LCD 2400x1600 (235 PPI)
Storage
256GB — 512GB SSD
512GB — 4TB SSD
32GB — 64GB eMMC
256GB, 512GB, or 1TB PCIe SSD
up to 1TB SSD
128GB, 256GB, or 512GB SSD
Price
$874.99
$2,249.00
$599.99
$1,030.00
$1,349.00
$1,649.00
Buy Now
Best Overall
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Title
Huawei Matebook 13 Signature Edn. Laptop — 13" 2K Touch, 8th Gen i5, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD, Office…
Prime Status
-
Star Rating
Reviews
92 Reviews
CPU
8th generation Intel Core i5 — i7
Graphics
Intel UHD Graphics 620 , Nvidia GeForce MX150 2GB GDDR5
RAM
8GB
Screen
-
Storage
256GB — 512GB SSD
Price
$874.99
Buy Now
Best of The MacBooks
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Title
Apple 15" MacBook Pro with Touch Bar, Intel Core i7 2.6GHz, Pro 555X, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, Space…
Prime Status
-
Star Rating
-
Reviews
-
CPU
9th-generation Intel Core i7 — i9
Graphics
AMD Radeon Pro 555X — 560X, Intel UHD Graphics 630
RAM
16GB — 32GB
Screen
15.4-inch, 2,880 x 1,800 Retina display
Storage
512GB — 4TB SSD
Price
$2,249.00
Buy Now
A High-End Affordable Chromebook
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Title
ASUS Chromebook Flip C302 2-In-1 Laptop- 12.5” Full HD 4-Way NanoEdge Touchscreen, Intel Core M7…
Prime Status
Star Rating
Reviews
1,892 Reviews
CPU
Intel Pentium 4405Y — Intel Core m3–6Y30
Graphics
Intel HD Graphics 515
RAM
4GB
Screen
12.5-inch, FHD (1,920 x 1,080) LED-backlit anti-glare
Storage
32GB — 64GB eMMC
Price
$599.99
Buy Now
Best 2-in-1
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Title
Microsoft Surface Book 13.5 Inch 2 in 1 Laptop (Intel Core i7, 256GB, 8GB RAM, Windows 10) with…
Prime Status
-
Star Rating
Reviews
13 Reviews
CPU
Intel Core i5 — i7
Graphics
Intel HD Graphics 620 — Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050
RAM
8GB — 16GB
Screen
13.5-inch 3,000 x 2,000 PixelSense Display with touchscreen
Storage
256GB, 512GB, or 1TB PCIe SSD
Price
$1,030.00
Buy Now
Most Powerful
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Title
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme
Prime Status
Star Rating
-
Reviews
-
CPU
up to 8th-generation Intel Core i7
Graphics
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti with Max-Q design
RAM
up to 64GB
Screen
15.6” FHD (1920 x 1080) — 15.6” 4K UHD HDR (3840 x 2160) multi-touch
Storage
up to 1TB SSD
Price
$1,349.00
Buy Now
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Title
Google Pixelbook (i7, 16 GB RAM, 512 GB)
Prime Status
Star Rating
Reviews
138 Reviews
CPU
7th-generation Intel Core i5-i7
Graphics
Intel HD Graphics 615
RAM
8–16GB
Screen
12.3" LCD 2400x1600 (235 PPI)
Storage
128GB, 256GB, or 512GB SSD
Price
$1,649.00
Buy Now
HP Spectre x360 (2019)
One of the best 2-in-1 laptops gets an upgrade
CPU: Intel Core i5 — i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 | RAM: 8GB — 16GB | Screen: 13.3-inch full HD (1,920 x 1,080) — UHD (3,840 x 2,160) touchscreen | Storage: 256GB — 2TB PCIe SSD
The Spectre line from HP has always been know for its striking design quality and with the x360 that is most certainly the case. With a gem cut design, many might think that it’s a fragile laptop as well but that isn’t the case at all. Packed with a Whiskey Lake processor from Intel, up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, this is one of the best laptops available for programming and on top of all that, the long battery life it comes with is a major bonus.
Learn More — $1549
Latest Price on Amazon:
3 Reviews
Newest HP Spectre x360 15t Touch 10th Gen Intel i7–10510U, 4K IPS, 3 Years McAfee Internet…
- Include Windows 10 Professional, HP International Premium Warranty, 3 Years McAfee Internet Security(activation required), HP Stylus Pen, and HP Sleeve by BEST LAPTOP an HP Authorized Partner
- Newest Intel 10th Gen. i7–10510U (1.8 GHz, up to 4.9 GHz, 8 MB cache, 4 cores)+NVIDIA GeForce MX250 (2 GB), 16GB DDR4 RAM(2x8GB), 512 GB Intel SSD + 32 GB Intel Optane memory
- 15.6" diagonal 4K IPS micro-edge WLED-backlit (3840 x 2160), HP TrueVision FHD IR Camera with digital microphone, Fingerprint reader; Privacy Camera Kill Switch
- Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX 201 (2x2) and Bluetooth 5 Combo (Supporting Gigabit file transfer speeds), 2 USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C with Thunderbolt 3 (40 Gb/s signaling rate, Power Delivery 3.0, DisplayPort 1.4, HP…
- Full size backlit keyboard, Bang & Olufsen, quad speakers, HP Audio Boost, HP Imagepad with multi-touch gesture support, microSD card reader
$1,549.95
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme
A powerful laptop at a premium price
CPU: up to 8th-generation Intel Core i7 | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti with Max-Q design | RAM: up to 64GB | Screen: 15.6” FHD (1920 x 1080) — 15.6” 4K UHD HDR (3840 x 2160) multi-touch | Storage: up to 1TB SSD
Easily the best laptop that Lenovo has released, the ThinkPad X1 comes in many different configurations, all built to help you program and code like a superstar. No matter your needs or budget, Lenovo has an option for you. Even at its most basic iteration, ti is still a powerful laptop with up to an 8th-generation Intel Core processor and Nvidia graphics card built inside of a carbon-fiber and aluminum shell built to survive your office or out in the field.
Learn More — $1599
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Dazzle yourself & others; amazing audio; listens to your every word
- Supported Docking-ThinkPad Thunderbolt Workstation Dock (Docking station sold separately)
$1,349.00
Huawei MateBook 13
The best laptop for coding
CPU: 8th generation Intel Core i5 — i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 , Nvidia GeForce MX150 2GB GDDR5 | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 256GB — 512GB SSD | Weight: 2.8lbs | OS: Windows 10
In every category, there is always one choice that is above all the rest and that is the case with the MateBook 13 from Huawei. Loaded with an 8th-generation Intel Core processor, 8GB of RAM and up to 512GB of Solid State Drive Storage, this laptop has the specs you need to handle all of your coding needs. A high-resolution 13-inch screen only helps to reflect the affordable price that you can buy this laptop for.
Learn More- $874
Latest Price on Amazon:
92 Reviews
Huawei Matebook 13 Signature Edn. Laptop — 13" 2K Touch, 8th Gen i5, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD, Office…
- Thin, light & portable: weighs only 2.86 pounds (or less with integrated graphics) and measures 11.26” wide x 8.31” deep x .59” high
- Fullview touch Display: feels larger than 13” — thin Bezel at only 4.4mm, 88% screen-to-body ratio, 2K (2160x1440) touchscreen, 200ppi, 1000: 1 contrast ratio
- Powerful performance: 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8265U Processor boosts performance up to 40% over its predecessor.
- Innovative cooling design: Huawei Shark fin design 2.0 cooling solution reaches up to 8, 000 revolutions per minute and increases airflow approximately 25% more than conventional laptop fans
- Includes compact Mate dock 2.0: USB-A port, USB-C port, HDMI port and VGA port. Includes 1 year office 365 personal and 1 year manufacturer warranty
$874.99
Apple MacBook Air (2019)
An amazingly thin and powerful laptop
CPU: 1.6GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 617 | RAM: 8GB — 16GB | Screen: 13.3-inch (diagonal) 2,560 x 1,600 LED-backlit display with IPS technology | Storage: 128GB — 1TB SSD | Dimensions: 11.97 x 8.36 x 0.61 inches (30.41 x 21.24 x 1.56cm; W x D x H)
At under an inch thick, the MacBook Air from Apple is an amazing piece of technology. With its upgrade that now includes a Retina display and improved hardware, the performance you can get from this laptop is outstanding. The thin and light design means its perfect for tossing in a bag and taking it with you but still has the power inside to make any programming session a breeze. Not only does the Retina display help everything look better, but it can also make it more comfortable to work on.
Learn More — $949
Latest Price on Amazon:
1,350 Reviews
Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, 8GB RAM, 128GB Storage, 1.6GHz Intel Core i5) — Gold (Previous Model)
- Stunning 13.3-Inch Retina Display with True Tone
- Touch ID
- Dual-core 8th-Generation Intel Core i5 Processor
- Intel UHD Graphics 617
- Fast SSD Storage
Microsoft Surface Pro 6
The best Windows tablet available
CPU: 5th-Generation Intel Core i5-i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 | RAM: 8–16GB | Screen: 12.3-inch, 2,736 x 1,824 PixelSense display | Storage: 128GB-1TB SSD | Connectivity: 802.11ac Wi-Fi; Bluetooth 4.1 | Camera: 8MP rear-facing, 5MP front-facing | Weight: 1.73 pounds | Size: 11.5 x 7.93 x 0.33 inches (W x D x H)
Sometimes, no matter how hard you try to avoid it, you will have a situation where working at your desk all day isn’t viable. When that happens, having the Surface Pro 6 can be a godsend. Up to 16GB of RAM and a quad-core processor help you compile code quickly and efficiently. While the touch screen is nice to have, you will want to pay extra for the type cover as coding on a touch screen is not ideal. Even though there are newer versions of the Surface out there, the 6 offers great hardware at an affordable price.
Learn More — $688
Latest Price on Amazon:
Sale
470 Reviews
Microsoft Surface Pro 6 (Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 128GB)
- A best in class laptop with the versatility of a studio and tablet
- More power now with the new 8th Generation Intel Core processor
- Ultra slim and light, starting at just 1.7 pounds. Sensors : Ambient light sensor, Accelerometer, Gyroscope
- All day battery life, with upto 13.5 hours of video playback
- Pair with our signature type cover in luxurious Alcantara material and rich colors for a full keyboard experience
$727.98
MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2019)
The best MacBook for coding
CPU: 9th-generation Intel Core i7 — i9 | Graphics: AMD Radeon Pro 555X — 560X, Intel UHD Graphics 630 | RAM: 16GB — 32GB | Screen: 15.4-inch, 2,880 x 1,800 Retina display | Storage: 512GB — 4TB SSD | Dimensions (H x W x D): 34.93 x 24.07 x 1.55cm
If you’re developing software that’s going to be used on macOS, you will find yourself considering the MacBook Pro for the best laptop that you can program on. With new updates to the processor as well as having enormous amounts of RAM available, the MacBook Pro as the speed to keep up with anything you do. With a 15-inch Retina display and up to 4TB of storage, it has the tech you need to get anything done as long as you can afford it.
Learn More — $2249
Latest Price on Amazon:
Apple 15" MacBook Pro with Touch Bar, Intel Core i7 2.6GHz, Pro 555X, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, Space…
- Apple 15" MacBook Pro Touch Bar Computer — Intel Core i7 2.6GHz — Pro 555X — 16GB RAM — 512GB SSD — Space Gray (Mid 2019) — 87W USB-C Power Adapter — 2m USB-C Charge Cable — Original Box — ** Item…
- Processor: 2.6GHz 6-core Intel Core i7, Turbo Boost up to 4.5GHz, with 12MB shared L3 cache
- Memory: 16GB of 2400MHz DDR4 onboard memory
- Storage: 512GB SSD
- Graphics: Radeon Pro 555X with 4GB of GDDR5 memory and automatic graphics switching
$2,249.00
Google Pixelbook
The best Chromebook for Programming
CPU: 7th-generation Intel Core i5-i7 | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 615 | RAM: 8–16GB | Screen: 12.3" LCD 2400x1600 (235 PPI) | Storage: 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB SSD
No one should be surprised to see the Pixelbook from Google on our list. Powerful enough to stand toe to toe with the MacBooks and Surfaces out there, the Pixelbook is a great option for those who prefer to work with ChromeOS. While the operating system isn’t as good for programming as macOS or even Windows, the support it offers Android makes this a no-brainer for Android developers.
Learn More — $1616
Latest Price on Amazon:
138 Reviews
Google Pixelbook (i7, 16 GB RAM, 512 GB)
- Meet Google Pixelbook, the high performance Chromebook. It’s the first laptop with the Google Assistant built Inches Press the Google Assistant key on your keyboard or say “Ok Google” to get…
- Features 7th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB RAM and 512GB for storage. The long lasting battery delivers up to 10 hours of use and it’s fast charging so you can get 2 hours of use in 15 minutes
- 4 in 1 design adapts to whatever you’re doing with laptop, tablet, tent and entertainment modes. Access to favorite apps including Google Drive, G mail, YouTube, Ever note, Slack, Infinite Painter,…
- Pixelbook’s super thin and lightweight design measures 10.3 millimeter and weighs 2.45 pounds. Features a 12.3 inch 360 degree touchscreen display, a sleek aluminum body, Corning Gorilla Glass and a…
- Powered by Chrome OS with automatic software updates so you’ll always have the latest virus protection. It starts up in less than 10 secs, stays fast throughout the day, and won’t slow down over…
$1,649.00
Asus Chromebook Flip
A high-end affordable Chromebook
CPU: Intel Pentium 4405Y — Intel Core m3–6Y30 | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 515 | RAM: 4GB | Screen: 12.5-inch, FHD (1,920 x 1,080) LED-backlit anti-glare | Storage: 32GB — 64GB eMMC
With its great touchscreen, premium build and powerful components, the Chromebook Flip is a great option for any programmer out there. While not featuring a lot of the programming tools that Windows or macOS may be able to offer, it is still one the best laptops from Asus for programming, especially if you’re into web development.
Learn More — $599
Latest Price on Amazon:
1,892 Reviews
ASUS Chromebook Flip C302 2-In-1 Laptop- 12.5” Full HD 4-Way NanoEdge Touchscreen, Intel Core M7…
- The flexible 360 Degree hinge and 12.5" full HD touchscreen lets you use the C302 in tablet or laptop mode
- Intel Core Processor with 64GB storage and 8GB RAM for fast and efficient performance with a bright backlit illuminated keyboard
- Extremely lightweight at 2.65 pounds with the protection of a sleek aluminum metal body
- Starts up in seconds and lasts all day, thanks to a long battery life rated up to 10 hours
- With the Google Play Store, you can access a rich library of apps, games, music, movies, TV, books, magazines, and more, all from your Chromebook.
$599.99
Microsoft Surface Book 2 (13.5-inch)
The best 2-in-1 on the planet
CPU: Intel Core i5 — i7 | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 620 — Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 | RAM: 8GB — 16GB | Screen: 13.5-inch 3,000 x 2,000 PixelSense Display with touchscreen | Storage: 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB PCIe SSD
If you’re a coder, you owe it to yourself to take a look at the Surface Book 2 from Microsoft. With components that are powerful enough to handle just about anything you throw at it, there’s a reason why many call it the most powerful 2-in-1 on the planet. While this is the 13-inch model, the 15-inch model is packed with even stronger components and has a price to match all those upgrades.
Learn More — $1030
Latest Price on Amazon:
13 Reviews
Microsoft Surface Book 13.5 Inch 2 in 1 Laptop (Intel Core i7, 256GB, 8GB RAM, Windows 10) with…
- Microsoft Surface Book features an Intel Core i7 processor, 256 GB of storage, 8 GB RAM, and up to 16 hours of video playback
- Enhanced graphics performance with NVIDIA GeForce 2GB GDDR5 memory
- 13.5 inch PixelSense Display works perfectly with Pen and touch (Surface Pen included)
- Featuring Windows Ink, a way to naturally capture notes at the speed of thought — with no need to be logged in
- Windows Hello is the password-free sign-in that gives you the fastest, most secure way to unlock your device
$1,030.00
MacBook Pro with Touch Bar (13-inch, mid-2019)
A great compact laptop for coding
CPU: 8th-generation Intel Core i5–8th-generation Intel Core i5 | Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics 645–655 | RAM: 8GB — 16GB | Screen: 13.3-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display with IPS technology; 2,560 x 1,600 | Storage: 128GB — 2TB SSD | Dimensions (H x W x D): 30.41 x 21.24 x 1.49cm
In the past, release that Apple made may have had the speed that users wanted but it was usually quite heavy or vice versa. With the 13-inch MacBook is light enough to carry around with you all day and is one of the best Macs developed period. With a quad-core processor and up to 16B of RAM, this laptop is certainly fast and its think and light design make it a perfect choice of those on the go.
Learn More — $1499
Latest Price on Amazon:
Sale
716 Reviews
New Apple MacBook Pro (13-inch, 8GB RAM, 256GB Storage) — Silver
- 8Th-generation quad-core Intel Core i5 Processor
- Brilliant Retina Display with True Tone technology
- Touch Bar and Touch ID
- Intel Iris Plus Graphics 655
- Ultrafast SSD
$1,697.00
Best laptops for coding in 2020
Coding can be a great career for anyone and if you already work in this field, you know how important having the right technology s so you can succeed. Hopefully, our list of the Best Laptops for Coding & Programming in 2020 has given you some ideas for what your next laptop might be.
