TOP 5 Best Laptops for Coding & Programming in 2025

Whether you’re a programming hobbyist or a seasoned software engineer, you’ll need a laptop that allows you to do your best development work quickly. the gadgetex has been testing laptops for four decades, so we understand the special requirements that programming places on a computer. We review over 100 laptops each year, giving our editors and analysts the expertise to handpick the best laptops for programmers. MSI’s Prestige 16 AI Evo is our current top pick, with a stunning 4K OLED display, impressive battery life, and a surprisingly light design.But different developers have different needs, so we’ve selected a range of other options for every programming budget and workflow. In this article, you’ll find a detailed buying guide and spec-by-spec breakdown that’ll help you find the best laptop for programming for you.

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Last update on 2025-04-11 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

TOP 5 Best Laptops for Coding & Programming in 2025

1.MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo

Last update on 2025-04-11 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

The “AI Evo” in this laptop’s name combines the touted neural processing component of Intel’s Core Ultra chips with the chipmaker’s branding for advanced ultraportables, though the 16-inch Prestige weighs a little more than our limit for that class at 3.31 pounds. All Prestige 16 AI Evo models use the CPU’s Intel Arc integrated graphics, though MSI also offers an AI Studio variant with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 discrete GPU.

Our test unit (code B1MG-005US) costs at B&H and 99 cents more at Micro Center. It has a Core Ultra 7 155H (six Performance cores, eight normal and two low-power Efficiency cores, 22 threads), a 1TB NVMe solid-state drive, a generous 32GB of memory, Windows 11 Home, and an OLED non-touch screen with a resolution of 3,840-by-2,400 pixels. Best Buy will save you if you settle for a 1,920-by-1,200 IPS panel, or you can match our Prestige’s price with a faster Core Ultra 9 processor but an IPS screen and only 16GB of RAM. The $1,649 flagship version includes a 2TB SSD and Windows 11 Pro.

Its Stellar Gray color is ultraconservative, but the Prestige looks sharp in a seamless magnesium-aluminum chassis that measures 0.75 by 14.1 by 10 inches. That roughly matches the HP Envy 16 (0.78 by 14.1 by 9.9 inches), though the HP is much heavier at 5.17 pounds, as is the Gigabyte Aero 16 at 4.6 pounds. The MSI has passed MIL-STD 810H torture tests for travel hazards such as shock, vibration, and high and low temperatures; there is some flex if you torque the screen corners but none when you press the keyboard deck.

The 16-inch display is surrounded by medium-thin bezels. The 1080p webcam above it has a sliding privacy shutter and supports infrared face recognition—one of two ways to avoid typing passwords with Windows Hello, as the power button includes a fingerprint reader. The lid opens 180 degrees to lie flat, and the F12 key inverts the screen image for a colleague sitting across from you.

The majority of the MSI’s ports—one HDMI, one USB 3.2 Type-A, and two USB-C Thunderbolt 4—are at the back, with audio and Ethernet jacks joining an SD card slot to the right. There is a Kensington lock slot on the left edge. The compact AC adapter features a USB-C port. Intel Killer Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth are standard.

Before you punk kids leave my lawn, gather around and let me tell you how fortunate you are to have a better-than-4K OLED screen on an affordable laptop. Why, in my day, we were grateful for 1,024-by-768 resolution and 16 colors—hey, where has everyone gone? Oh, well, suffice it to say that the MSI’s 16:10-aspect-ratio display is a standout, with razor-sharp details, no pixelation around the edges of letters, plenty of brightness, and incredible contrast.

Before you punk kids leave my lawn, gather around and let me tell you how fortunate you are to have a better-than-4K OLED screen on an affordable laptop. Why, in my day, we were grateful for 1,024-by-768 resolution and 16 colors—hey, where has everyone gone? Oh, well, suffice it to say that the MSI’s 16:10-aspect-ratio display is a standout, with razor-sharp details, no pixelation around the edges of letters, plenty of brightness, and incredible contrast.

The MSI’s bottom-mounted speakers aren’t sensational—they produce full but not especially loud sound even at top volume—but aren’t harsh, tinny, or boomy, either. There’s not much more than a hint of bass, but vocals and instrumentals are clear, and you can make out overlapping tracks. DTS audio software offers music, movie, game, and custom presets—the last with treble, bass, and vocal boost and stereo-effects adjustment—and an equalizer. 

The 1080p webcam supports Windows’ updated videoconferencing effects (auto framing, eye contact, and background blur). It captures slightly soft-focus but well-lit and colorful images with minimal noise or static, ranking well ahead of many notebooks’ cheap 720p cameras.

2.Apple MacBook Pro 16-Inch (2024, M4 Pro)

Last update on 2025-04-11 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

With the 16-inch MacBook Pro, Apple has once again stolen a march on the leading mobile workstation laptops. The M4 Pro-equipped version reviewed here competes with some of the best silicon from AMD, Intel, and Nvidia, particularly for content creation. In addition to the blazing speeds, Apple now offers the must-have nano-texture display feature, which reduces screen glare and reflections. The company has also added its Center Stage webcam technology to the MacBook Pro, which is useful but not quite as exciting as the nano-texture screen. The 16-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Pro earns an Editors’ Choice award for high-end mobile workstations, thanks to its all-day battery life.

Raising the MacBook Pro’s screen size to 16.2 inches necessitates a significant price increase over the entry-level 14-inch model.At the very least, the 16-inch model includes the M4 Pro processor as a CPU baseline. The 16-inch MacBook Pro starts at $2,499. It includes the M4 Pro, 24GB of unified memory, and a 512GB solid-state drive, as well as everything else that all 16-inch MacBook Pro models include, such as Thunderbolt 5 connectivity.

All MacBook Pro models are available in either Apple’s silver or Space Black finishes, and configuration upgrades range from, depending on the part. Processor upgrades are the most expensive, while doubling the storage capacity of the 512GB SSD costs.

This section of the review is relatively simple to write: Apple changed nothing about the MacBook Pro laptop design except for the optional nano-texture display and the transition to Thunderbolt 5 connectivity.

The 2024 16-inch MacBook Pro has the same dimensions and weight as last year’s model, and none of the connection options have changed or increased in number beyond the Thunderbolt upgrade: three Thunderbolt 5 ports, an HDMI-out, an SD card slot, and an audio jack. I’m still a fan of Apple’s MacBook keyboard and trackpad: they’re consistently among the best on any laptop, from the touchpad’s smooth comfort to the keys’ uniform, bright backlighting.

Similarly, the display remains the same mini LED Liquid Retina XDR panel, which can display 3,456 by 2,234 pixels at up to 120Hz using Apple’s ProMotion variable-refresh rate technology. The nano-texture option adds material between the glass and the pixel layer, reducing glare and reflections in direct lighting.

And it works. The nano-texture display is an improvement over the traditionally glare-prone MacBook displays and a wise upgrade on Apple’s part. If you look at the screen from a 170-degree angle and move closer to the front, you’ll notice the glare disappear. As someone with sensitive eyes who uses Night Shift constantly, it also helps to soften the bite of the display’s thousands of mini LED backlights.

To be clear, it’s one of those display upgrades that will make it difficult to use other screens once you’ve gotten used to it. However, when Apple includes free upgrades such as a new Center Stage webcam with Desk View, I can’t help but balk at the price of an alternative display option. Frankly, this option, like the webcam improvements, should be included in the price.

3.Dell Precision 5690

Last update on 2025-04-11 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

The 5690 gives Dell a stable of three 16-inch laptop workstations. The Dell Precision 5680 is still available, but it and the deluxe 7680 (which can hold up to 128GB of memory and three solid-state drives versus the 5690’s maximum 64GB of RAM and two SSDs) use Intel’s previous 13th Gen processors rather than the Core Ultras found in the new model.

The starting price of 5690 includes a Core Ultra 5 135H processor, Intel’s vPro IT management technology, and 16GB of memory. It’s embarrassed to be seen around real workstations because it only has a 256GB SSD and Intel Arc Pro integrated graphics rather than one of the five discrete GPUs available.

The Precision 5690, like last year’s model, features an aluminum chassis with polycarbonate and a glass fiber palm rest that have all passed MIL-STD 810H torture tests against travel hazards such as shock, vibration, and extreme temperatures. The laptop measures 0.87 by 13.9 by 9.5 inches and weighs 4.46 pounds, making it smaller than the more expandable (up to 128GB and four SSDs) HP ZBook Fury 16, which measures 1.13 by 14.3 by 9.9 inches and weighs 5.3 pounds.

The slimline HP ZBook Studio 16 G10 is the lightest in the group, weighing 3.81 pounds, while the 16-inch Apple MacBook Pro weighs 4.8 pounds.You’ll feel virtually no flex if you grasp the sturdy system’s screen corners or press the keyboard deck. Stylishly thin bezels surround the display, though I was disappointed to see the webcam centered at the top lacks a privacy shutter. The camera at least includes face recognition, which joins a fingerprint reader built into the power button to give you two ways to skip typing passwords with Windows Hello.

In addition, the box includes a USB-C to USB-A dongle, which addresses the omission. You also don’t need a USB-C DisplayPort adapter to connect an external monitor because the left edge includes an HDMI port (along with an audio jack and a SmartCard reader). This laptop includes Intel Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth as standard features.

Dell’s 1080p webcam is slightly noisy but produces reasonably bright and colorful images. It also supports Windows Camera’s new auto framing, eye contact, and background blur features. Dell’s Optimizer software (more on that shortly) improves video calls by reducing background noise on both sides of the conversation.

Aside from that glitch, the keyboard has a great typing feel: soft and shallow on the press, but snappy and responsive. The large touchpad has no buttons, which I dislike on mobile workstations because many CAD and other specialized programs require the middle mouse button. (To be fair, Windows allows you to specify a three-finger tap for this function.) Its haptic feedback produces a faint, halfhearted click.

Quad speakers, which include bottom-mounted subwoofers, produce loud and clear audio even when boomy or prone to echoing at high volumes. The vocals and instrumentals, including the drums, are crisp and enjoyable; overlapping tracks are easily discernible, and there is a surprising amount of bass. There is no software equalizer or preset music, movie, or game modes, which are common on consumer laptops, but I did not miss them.

4.Lenovo ThinkPad E14 Gen 5

Last update on 2025-04-11 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

The ThinkPad E series provides the essentials; these models are ideal for home users, college students, and small businesses looking to save money. Businesses that require remote management features like Intel vPro will need to upgrade to the ThinkPad L series (such as the Lenovo ThinkPad L15) or the top-tier T series (such as the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s). These lines also include more premium features. However, the E series will suffice for the most basic requirements.

My ThinkPad E14 review sample is black, but Lenovo also offers it in Arctic Gray for a different look. I like the classic ThinkPad look, so this test model meets my expectations. It’s an average 14-inch size, measuring 0.7 by 12.3 by 8.6 inches, and weighs 3.11 pounds, just missing our three-pound ultraportable cutoff. The ZenBook 14 OLED (0.67 by 12.34 by 8.69 inches; 3.06 pounds) shares nearly identical dimensions. The pricier Acer Swift Go 14 is only a tenth of an inch thinner (0.59 by 12.3 by 8.6 inches) but weighs 2.91 pounds.

This ThinkPad is impressively well built for its price; Lenovo claims it meets MIL-STD-810H standards for durability. The lid is aluminum, and the chassis, while plastic, is reassuringly sturdy and flex-resistant. My only complaint is that both the lid and chassis show fingerprints easily.

The port selection includes one Thunderbolt 4, one USB Type-C (10Gbps), one USB 2.0, an HDMI 2.1 video output, an Ethernet jack, and a 3.5mm audio combo jack. Thunderbolt 4 is surprising on a low-cost laptop and a significant advantage for connecting a multi-monitor docking station. Bluetooth 5.2 and Wi-Fi 6 are standard, but there is no option to upgrade to Wi-Fi 6E, even on Lenovo’s customizable models in this family.

The keyboard is always the selling point for ThinkPads in my opinion, and the ThinkPad E14 does not disappoint. Its snappy and direct key feel helped me come close to my personal best in the MonkeyType typing test, at 117 words per minute and 99% accuracy. The two-level white backlighting is sharp; the layout is ideal (dedicated Home, End, Insert, and Delete keys along the top, with the arrow keys properly separated); and the top row contains numerous useful shortcuts. The included Lenovo Vantage app allows you to swap the Fn and Ctrl keys in the lower left. (First-time ThinkPad buyers should try it as-is!

5.Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition

Last update on 2025-04-11 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

First, what is a “Aura Edition”? In a nutshell, it’s Lenovo’s take on the “Now with AI!” sticker-on-the-box craze, which is being adopted by an increasing number of tech vendors. We’ll go over it in more detail later, but it’s a result of the Carbon’s late-model Intel processor’s beefed-up neural processing unit (NPU).

In terms of pricing, while two grand is steep nowadays, enterprise notebooks such as ThinkPads, Dell Latitudes (or, er, now Dell Pros), and HP EliteBooks cost far more than their consumer counterparts. Furthermore, the first X1 Carbon Gen 13 models skip the entry-level (Core i5, full HD IPS screen) configurations and go straight to the good stuff: Our $1,999 test unit (model 21NS0014US) combines Intel’s Core Ultra 7 258V “Lunar Lake” processor with a 14-inch, 2,880-by-1,800-pixel OLED non-touch display, a generous 32GB of RAM, and a 512GB NVMe solid-state drive.

Surprisingly, the Carbon is now more of an ultraportable than ever, weighing only 2.17 pounds, down from 2.42 pounds last year. The Dell XPS 13 and Apple MacBook Air have smaller screens but weigh half a pound more, while rival business systems like the Dell Latitude 7455 (3.17 pounds) appear portly in comparison. The Carbon enters territory previously occupied only by LG’s Gram series, and feels marvelously light, like picking up a magazine rather than a computer.

That is not to say it feels flimsy. It has passed MIL-STD 810H tests for travel hazards such as shock, vibration, and temperature extremes, as have all ThinkPads. There’s only a little flex if you grab the screen corners or mash the keyboard deck, and the top lip that houses the webcam, with its sliding privacy shutter, is simple to open with one hand. With Windows Hello, you can use the face-recognition camera and fingerprint reader on the bottom row of the keyboard to avoid typing passwords.

If Lenovo had stopped after adding two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports to the Carbon’s left side, it would have matched the XPS 13’s port configuration. However, there is a 5Gbps USB Type-A port on that side (a nano SIM slot for optional mobile broadband will be available in early 2025, according to the company), as well as an audio jack, another USB-A port, and an HDMI monitor port on the right. The shirt-pocket-sized AC adapter includes a USB-C plug. Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth manage wireless connections. That loadout is nearly impossible to beat.

The webcam’s 1080p resolution is today’s minimum, but it captures brightly lit and colorful videos and images with no noise or static. (It also supports Windows’ auto-framing and background-blur Studio Effects, which are powered by the neural processor in the Lunar Lake chip.) The audio is only medium-loud, but it sounds good, not harsh or tinny, and it has a noticeable amount of bass. You can easily identify overlapping tracks. Dolby Access software includes dynamic, music, movie, game, and voice presets, an equalizer, and VoIP optimization.

Which CPU Type Is Best for Programming?

While all of the advice in our guide to selecting the best processor remains valid, coders should pay special attention to a few details. Core counts, multi-threaded processing, and power ratings are all good places to start.

Multi-core CPUs with multiple processing threads are essential because they allow you to manage multiple tasks simultaneously. These CPUs can handle complex tools like virtual machines and compilers, as well as simple tasks like an integrated development environment (IDE).

Is 16GB RAM Enough for Programming Today?

The rule of thumb for RAM is always the same: more is better. This is especially true for programmers, who will require enough memory to run memory-intensive tasks like virtual machines and emulators.

Consider how much data you’re loading into memory. In a professional setting, we recommend at least 16GB of RAM; however, if you’re working on memory-intensive applications, running virtual machines, or multitasking, 32GB or more RAM will be beneficial.

Which Storage Type Is Best for Programming?

For the majority of users, we recommend solid-state drives (SSDs) over traditional hard drives due to their faster performance. However, in programming, where you may be accessing multiple files at once or storing a large number of support files and programming tools, speed is critical. An SSD is essential; a traditional spinning hard drive will only slow you down.