Best Laptops for Programming, Gaming, and Graphic Design

Pick from best laptops for the programming, gaming, video editing, graphic design, big data analytics, AI and Machine Learning.

by Editorial TeamUpdated

Programming, gaming, video editing, graphic design, AI, machine learning require heavy duty laptops with great GPU/CPU. As a result, you need a good laptop to excel at these positions, especially in programming. However, you may want a laptop that relates to programming and has essential software like MS office, excel, photoshop, video editing, or adobe software. With these things in mind, we have created a list of best laptops for programming, gaming, and other CPU/GPU intensive tasks.

Best Laptop for Programming and Video editing: Apple MacBook Pro, Retina, Touch Bar

We all know that the Linux operating system is the best for programming because it powers most of the enterprise and commercial computing along with supercomputing. Linux comes from the Unix operating system. And MacOS is built on Unix. So, Mac has a lot of similarities with Linux. Along with all the programming benefits of Unix operating system, you also get to enjoy regular software like Photoshop, MS Office, Excel and many more. So, whether your choice of programming language is Python, Java, or C++, this MacBook has you covered. If you want to develop app for the iOS and MacOS, this laptop becomes a necessity.

2.2GHz six-core Intel i7 processor with turbo boost up to 4.1GHz. 16GB RAM, 256 SSD storage, four thunderbolt 3 ports, 720p Facetime HD camera, Readon Pro 555 graphics with 2GB memory are available to do the heavy lifting for you. Touch bar, Touch ID, Thunderbolt ports, and backlit keyboard features are also essential for technical work.

Highlights

  • Up to 11 hours of battery life
  • Apple T2 Security Chip
  • Ninth-generation 6-Core Intel Core i7 Processor
  • Stunning 16-inch Retina Display with True Tone technology
  • AMD Radeon Pro 5300M Graphics with GDDR6 memory
  • Intel UHD Graphics 630
  • Six-speaker system with force-cancelling woofers
  • Four Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports
  • 500 Nits brightness
  • P3 wide color gamut
  • 266 MHz DDR4
Best Heavy Duty Laptop for Programming and Gaming: Acer Predator Helios 300

Intel Core i7 processor 2.8GHz with Turbo Boost up to 3.8GHz. Latest graphics from NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 with 6 GB dedicated GDDR5 VRAM. 15 inch full IPS display with red backlight. 16GB DDR4 memory with 256 SSD for faster read and write speed. On top of that, seven hours of battery to ensure longer hours of programming using the laptop when needed the most.

PredatorSense makes sure that laptop won't overheat, maintain CPU and system fan speed. The backlit keyboard is also an essential feature for all the night owls. And, there is a free space for an extra SSD whenever you need it. Furthermore, the laptop is VR ready to take the journey to the next level. Nowadays, VR is used everywhere from gaming to treating patients. VR programming is very much depended on the hardware, and this laptop can delivery all you need to get started today.

Highlights

  • 8th Generation Intel Core i7-8750H 6-Core Processor (Up to 4.1GHz)
  • NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Overclockable Graphics with 6 GB of dedicated GDDR5 VRAM
  • 16GB DDR4 2666MHz DRAM Memory & 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD
  • Gigabit Wi-Fi |Backlit Keyboard | USB 3.1 (Type C)
  • Dual All-Metal AeroBlade 3D Fan Cooling | Metal Chassis.Battery Capacity:3320 mAh
  • Up to 7-hours of battery life
Best Laptop for Programming, Gaming, Video Editing: Microsoft Surface Book 2

Microsoft surface book is one of the highest quality laptops out there. With 8th generation inten i7, 512GB storage, 16GB ram, and 17 hours of video playback, this laptop can handle whatever comes its way. Programming can feel very smooth, especially GPU intensive VR programming. It comes with enhanced graphics performance from the NVIDIA GTX 1060 with 6GB dedicated graphics. So, whether you want video editing, game developement, 3D animations, or interactive application developement, this laptop has you covered.

Other areas such as engineering, machine learning, artificial intelligence, bioinformatics, or spaceflight can advantage of a laptop like this. Because these fields depend on massive computation power, and this high-quality premium laptop can deliver efficiently. Another important feature is that it is 2 in 1 laptop meaning it can become a tablet simply by detaching the keyboard. With a good stylus, you can start using it anywhere you want.

Highlights

  • Intel Quad Core i7 Processor, 512 GB of storage
  • 16 GB RAM, and up to 17 hours of video playback
  • NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 discrete GPU w/6GB GDDR5 Graphics Memory
  • Vibrant PixelSense 15" Display
Best Budget-friendly Laptop for Programming: Lenovo Yoga 710 FHD

Seventh generation intel core i5-7200U, 2.5GHz, 3M cache, turbo boost up to 3.10GHz, Dual core, 256GB Solid State Drive, and Intel graphics 620 is perfect for programming and other heavy duty computation work. 360-degree flip and fold design, 10 points multi-touch full HD screen, thin and lightweight, compact design, fingerprint sensor, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.1, Dolby audio premium makes it even more appealing. With 8 hours of battery life, you can continue to produce programming applications for an extended period without a charge.

Highlights

  • 7th Gen Intel Core i5-7200U
  • 2. 5GHz, 3M Cache, Turbo up to 3. 10 GHz, Dual Core, Four Threads
  • 8 GB DDR4 memory, 256 GB Solid State Drive, Intel HD Graphics 620.
  • WiFi 802. 11 ac; Bluetooth 4. 1; USB 3.
  • 8 hour battery life.
  • 2 x JBL stereo speakers with Dolby Audio Premium.
Best Programming Laptop for Students: Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop

Computer programming is getting embedded into curriculum everywhere, and the student needs a powerful but affordable laptop to keep up with education. This powerful 8th generation Intel Core i7-8550U quad-core processor with turbo boost up to 4.0GHz can help students in coding. Other features such as 8GB DDR4 ram and 256 SSD. And 2GB dedicated NVIDIA GeForce MX150 graphics card. 1920x1080p display resolution, backlit keyboard, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, fingerprint reader, USB 3.1 Type-C, and light weighing only 3.2 lbs.

Aside from the technical features, the laptop looks and feels stylish and sophisticated. It is framed with the brush of Aluminum and just 0.7 inches thick. 14-inch full HD with an ultrathin bezel and nano display makes it look much impressive. Premium audio with ASUS sonic master gives you a high label audio experiences. And the lithium-polymer battery retains the charger three times more than the regular lithium-ion battery.

Highlights

  • AMD Ryzen 5 3500U Quad-core processor (Up to 3.7GHz)
  • 8GB DDR4 Memory | 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD
  • AMD Radeon Vega 8 mobile graphics
  • 15 6" Full HD widescreen LED-backlit IPS display
  • Up to 7.5 hours battery life
  • Acer TrueHarmony deeper bass and more volume
FAQ

What laptop is best for coding?

MacBook Air M1 Chip is the best laptop for coding. We recommned this laptop for all programmer/software engineers because M1 Chip has shown to be more powerful than other laptop chips. 16-core Neural Engine is great for Machine Learning applications.

Is i5 or i7 better for programming?

i7 is way better than i5 in terms of multitasking, video-editing, high-end gaming, and other similar heavy workloads. Also, i7 processors have higher cache memory than i5, which helps with frequent access data and repitative tasks. On top of that, price differences between i7 and i5 is small.

What is the best budget laptop for programming?

We recommned Acer Aspire 5 Slim as budget laptop for programming. It meets the minimum sets of specs or features we would look for in a programming laptop.

What kind of computer do I need for programming?

Here are the specs we recommened for programming - 8GB RAM or higher, 256GB SSD, 8-core CPU and GPU, and great Thermal System. Of course, these are the minimum specs we recommend. If you could go higher than that, It would be great because sometimes programming requires heavy computational power and responsiveness.

How much RAM do I need for coding or programming?

Most say that 8GB RAM is sufficient for programming. But in our experience, 16GB or higher RAM seems to have much faster and smoother programming experience, especially if you work in a team.

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