If you plan on doing any programming while on the move, a laptop should definitely be considered essential. Make sure that it meets the necessary specifications so your code can compile and run flawlessly.
Apart from considering CPU, RAM, and storage needs, screen size and resolution should also be given consideration. A larger display makes reading and making adjustments easier.
If you want to skip the reviews, we say get the Razer Blade 17.
Best Laptop For Developers Reviews
Dell XPS 15 9520 15.6
- Processor 12th Generation Intel Core i9-12900HK (24MB Cache, up to 5.0 GHz, 14 cores)
- Memory 64 GB, 2 x 32 GB, DDR5, 4800 MHz, dual-channel Upgrade for intense multitasking and gaming
- Storage 1TB SSD PCIe Gen4 technology Speed up to 7000MB/s read speed and up to 5300MB/s write speed...
- Display 15.6'', FHD+ 1920x1200, 60Hz, Non-Touch, Anti-Glare, 500 nit, InfinityEdge
- Graphics Card GeForce RTX 3050 Ti, 4 GB GDDR6, 45 W
The Dell XPS 15 is one of the slimmest laptops capable of handling high-demand workloads thanks to its robust internal components.
Additionally, it provides long battery life for its size, an OLED screen with nearly bezel-free edges, and offers a premium feel thanks to OLED screen with virtually bezel-less edges – adding to its premium feel and feel.
Unfortunately, this model can be costly; even its 2022 variant doesn’t boast as many CPU/GPU performance improvements as earlier generations did – for a similar price you can get much better options from other companies like ROG Zephyrus G14/Razor Blade 15 which offer faster speeds and have lower thermal restrictions.
The 2022 Dell XPS 15 is an ultrathin laptop known for its thin profile and premium build quality, built using Intel’s 12th-gen processor platform and offering various configurations from 8GB of RAM with 256GB SSD base storage to the top-of-the-line Core i9-12900H version featuring 64GB RAM, Nvidia GeForce 3050Ti graphics (we tested one).
Both versions of this laptop offer exceptional touch response and support a comprehensive selection of apps and games; some may prefer one over the other depending on personal preferences and available budget.
The OLED display boasts deep blacks with vibrant hues; it responds quickly to touch input while its 17-inch variant offers similar snappiness via an LCD panel but with a lower maximum resolution (3840×2160).
The battery capacity stands at 86 Wh, enough for an entire day’s work or more if you don’t overstress CPU and GPU performance. Furthermore, its efficiency is impressive given that this laptop features Alder Lake technology; something not often seen with laptops with such power.
Unfortunately, one significant downside is its average camera; though suitable for selfies it lacks optical image stabilization for low-light shots and may struggle otherwise.
Dell Alienware m17 Ryzen Edition R5 Gaming
- [Latest And Greatest] Released in 2022 The Alienware m17 Ryzen Edition R5 Gaming Laptop is Dell's latest...
- [Display & Graphics] This Alienware m17 Ryzen Edition R5 Gaming Laptop comes with a 17.3" Non-Touch...
- [High Speed RAM And Enormous Space] The 16GB DDR5 RAM Running @ 4800MHz will let you smoothly run...
- [Operating System] Windows 11 is Microsoft's latest Operating System released in 2022 and if you want to...
- [Extra Details] A Wecbam comes integrated. Wifi and Bluetooth come integrated.
Alienware m17 R5 AMD gaming laptop is an impressive machine equipped with enough muscle to run all of today’s latest titles.
Powered by an eight-core AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX CPU and Radeon RX 6850M XT GPU paired together for optimal performance, plus plenty of memory to ensure smooth running – an ideal option for budget gamers looking for top performance!
The m17 R5 AMD fared very well in our benchmark tests, though not quite on par with Intel and Nvidia models.
It scored 11993 points on 3DMark Time Spy which placed it within the upper mid-range for gaming laptops but just shy of top-tier machines such as Alienware x17 as well as competing 17in models from ROG and Razer.
It performed fairly well in our graphics tests, though not quite up to par with Intel and Nvidia offerings. On Shadow of the Tomb Raider at 1080p resolution, our m17 R5 averaged 99 fps (frames per second), slightly ahead of Aorus with its Intel Core i7/NVIDIA 3070 Ti setup but trailed by MSI and other competitors.
Like its predecessor, the M17 R5 features a durable anodized aluminum chassis with an efficient dual fan cooling system to keep its machine cool while running even demanding games. Furthermore, there are plenty of ports for connecting peripherals and external displays.
On its right edge are two standard USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports and one Gigabit Ethernet port and combo jack; plus an additional USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port which can both charge or power devices. At its back is an HDMI 2.1 port as well as power input.
The M17 is relatively heavy and bulky, and its battery life falls well short of expectations for a laptop in this price range.
Our battery test showed it lasted just over four hours – not bad but slightly below average for this category of device. Luckily, it comes equipped with multiple ports to connect an external power adapter so you can always have it charged and use it when necessary.
MacBook Pro 14-inch 2023
- SUPERCHARGED BY M2 PRO OR M2 MAX — Take on demanding projects with the M2 Pro or M2 Max chip. M2 Pro...
- UP TO 18 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — Go all day thanks to the power-efficient design of the M2 Pro or M2...
- FULLY COMPATIBLE — All your pro apps run lightning fast — including Adobe Creative Cloud, Xcode,...
- BEAUTIFUL PRO DISPLAY — The 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display features Extreme Dynamic Range, over...
- ADVANCED CAMERA AND AUDIO — Look sharp and sound great with a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, a...
If you are a creative professional or hardcore power user, the MacBook Pro stands apart. Its speed rivals any other laptop on the market and offers a superior keyboard and display.
Plus, its complex project-handling abilities easily surpass anything a Windows machine could manage. Although expensive, its worth the expense if you require a powerful machine capable of fulfilling all your computing needs.
Apple made their announcement of this year’s MacBook Pro announcement without much fanfare or announcement, with Apple simply upgrading existing models with improved performance.
These latest MacBook Pros maintain their aluminum design with rounded corners for instant recognition, but contain M2 chips with improved graphics performance; using either version is enjoyable; however, some upgrades (such as high-end GPUs or 96GB of RAM) require the M2 Max chip.
You can spec out your laptop to meet your individual needs; adding memory or storage expands possibilities further if budget allows – as can add-on upgrades requiring M2 Max chips alone!
The new MacBook Pros feature an outstanding display that’s a significant upgrade over competing machines. Their 14-inch Liquid Retina XDR panel can reach 1,000 nits of brightness for HDR content, boasting an astounding contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1.
Their screen is bright, vivid, and wide color gamut — far surpassing OLED panels found on competing notebooks that often struggle with bright light and can become reflective over time.
Another excellent aspect of the new MacBook Pro is its quieter operation compared to prior generations.
Our laboratory tests demonstrated this by barely registering any sound while running demanding benchmarks such as Geekbench 5; its M2 Pro variant earned a single-core score of 1,941 and reached over 14,900 on multi-core tests respectively.
On the downside, however, the new MacBook Pro lacks one key feature: USB-A ports. Most other laptops now include these ports; their absence will cause some users to carry around bulky dongles daily.
Microsoft Surface Pro 9 5G
- Microsoft SQ 3 with 5G[2] for the Pro on the go.
- Up to 19 hours of battery life.[4]
- Adjust the angle with built-in Kickstand.
- Virtually edge-to-edge 13” PixelSense touchscreen designed for pen[1] and Windows 11.
- Surface Slim Pen 2[1]storage and charging built right into Surface Pro Signature Keyboard.[1,5]
The Microsoft Surface Pro 9 5G delivers an outstanding display, excellent keyboard and stylus experience, and excellent battery life all in a stylish package.
Though not ideal for everyone, this 2-in-1 laptop stands out as one of the best 2-in-1 options for coding, streaming media, and watching movies; plus it makes an ideal upgrade option for those who currently own older Surface Pro models.
This year, Microsoft’s Surface Pro underwent a significant update. Gone was its Pro X name and in comes an ARM-based processor paired with 5G connectivity for fast performance that still handles daily tasks adequately while offering one of the best pen experiences when combined with their Signature Keyboard.
But it’s the cellular capabilities that really set apart the Surface Pro 9 5G from other laptops. The Nano-SIM slot enables seamless connectivity to 5G WiFi as well as home or work Wi-Fi for always-on connectivity, and our test model delivered an incredible battery life – 15 minutes short of 15 hours!
If cellular connectivity is not essential, we advise selecting an Intel-powered Surface Pro 9 model as they have superior performance and app compatibility advantages.
Whoever wants to use their Surface Pro 9 as a desktop will require paying extra for its keyboard and docking station; those looking for more complex coding, editing, and video production will have to search elsewhere for a suitable laptop that can meet their requirements.
The Surface Pro 9 stands out with its stunning 2.8K display, as well as its soft-edged design and round corners. However, there’s a catch – its highly reflective screen can make even bright sunlight difficult to see clearly through.
Due to this limitation, the Surface Pro 9 5G isn’t ideal for long sessions in cafes or on airplane flights, as you’ll probably require a Bluetooth headset in order to listen to music or podcasts.
Furthermore, many competing laptops now include headphone jacks as standard; examples of such include Dell’s XPS 13 with its free adapter and Apple’s latest MacBook.
Razer Blade 17 Gaming Laptop
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti GPU: The new GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Laptop GPU brings the flagship 80 Ti class of...
- 12th Gen Intel Core i9 14-Core CPU: Experience cutting-edge speed on the all-new Intel Core i9-12900H...
- 4K UHD 144Hz Display: Perfect for creators who require true visual clarity so creative visions can be...
- DDR5 4800MHz Memory: 50% faster than the previous generation – enjoy a quicker, smoother experience...
- Next-Gen Vapor Chamber Cooling: Upgraded with more exhaust fins, quieter fans, and a larger liquid...
The Razer Blade 17 provides plenty of power to take on even your toughest gaming and creative workloads, from games such as Counter-Strike: Global Offensive or Creative Workloads like photography.
It comes equipped with Nvidia RTX 30 Series GPUs up to and including the RTX 3080 Ti and Intel 12th Gen (Alder Lake) CPUs up to an i9 option; our review model was equipped with an i7-12800H, an RTX 3080 Ti GPU, 32GB RAM memory and 1440p 165Hz screen – perfect for gaming and creative work!
Although packed with an impressive array of hardware, the Blade 17 remains one of the sleekest laptops on the market. Its matte black aluminum chassis has no unnecessary humps or chevrons to detract from its slimline form; its weight is slightly over 2 kg – not as light as some of our lighter laptops but still manageable enough for transporting around.
This 2022 Blade 17 features bigger keycaps for increased typing comfort and laser-cut speaker grilles for an elegant aesthetic. Furthermore, its specifications have been upgraded with faster DDR5 RAM and advanced RTX graphics while retaining its core configuration from previous years.
Performance in our Puget Benchmark test was superb, matching that of the Alienware X17 R1 laptop which is both thicker and more powerful.
Unfortunately, however, in Premiere Pro tests where performance wasn’t as stellar (scoring 842 out of 1,000). Nonetheless, these results show the Blade 17 to be an exceptional alternative that stands up well against more capable rivals.
The Blade 17 offers an ample array of ports, with three USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 slots (ideal for simultaneously connecting a mouse, headset, and keyboard), two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports that support 15W power delivery as well as a 3.5mm combo headphone jack and SD card reader.
Battery life however was less impressive at just over an hour in our PCMark 10 benchmark – not unusual among gaming laptops but meaning you’ll likely need a power brick when planning any serious work on this laptop.
Nevertheless, its display truly stands out; rich detail combined with accurate colors makes for plenty of indoor work!
Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED 14.5”
- Complimentary 3-month Adobe Creative Cloud subscription with the purchase. Learn more on ASUS website for...
- Next-generation ScreenPad Plus: A 12.7” full-width secondary touchscreen with re-engineered AAS Ultra,...
- Main display: 14.5-inch 2.8K 120 Hz OLED NanoEdge touchscreen, with an expansive 16:10 aspect ratio, the...
- ASUS Pen 2.0 stylus support with 4096 pressure levels, four interchangeable pen tips and fast USB-C...
- Intel Evo Platform with Latest 12th generation Intel Core i7-12700H Processor 2.3 GHz (24M Cache, up to...
The Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED is an exquisite tool for content creators. It excels at both general office tasks and demanding work such as video editing or 3D rendering, but its real draw lies with its two displays – some of the finest we’ve seen on an Asus laptop – offering new ways to organize work across screens.
This laptop stands out from the competition by featuring not only an OLED panel with 14.5-inches of resolution 2.8K OLED that functions as a full monitor when needed; but what really sets this one apart is its secondary display; an OLED ScreenPad Plus of 12.7 inches serving as half monitors that comes preloaded with control surface setups for several Adobe products and acts as a half-monitor display mode.
Asus’ dual-screen Zenbook line has been around for some time, but this year’s model feels the most refined yet. Geekbench results showed us an excellent CPU score (we saw 1774; easily beating out Apple MacBook Pro 13 M2) as well as stunning OLED panel colors with vivid imagery.
Furthermore, these 14″ laptops boast powerful hardware while remaining relatively light and slim for 14-inch laptops with such powerful hardware inside them.
When taking your Zenbook Pro on the road, there is an array of ports available to make that possible.
Two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C connectors offer up to 100W of power and 40Gbps data speeds as well as HDMI 2.1 and USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports are all included as well as a 3.5mm combo jack that allows users to easily connect headphones and microphones for work without needing external audio adapters.
Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED features the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti graphics card as well as Intel’s Evo Platform, which ensures it delivers powerful performance and responsiveness for CPU-intensive tasks like our HandBrake tests.
In addition, IceCool Plus technology and AAS Ultra mechanism aid the cooling experience by venting chassis airflow while tilting ScreenPad Plus secondary touchscreen to an optimal viewing position for an immersive visual experience.
Dell Precision 5000 5470 14″
- Intel Core i7 2.40 GHz processor provides lightning fast speed and peak performance for the toughest of...
- With 32 GB of memory, runs as many programs as you want without losing the execution
- The 14" 1920 x 1200 screen provides a great movie watching experience
- 512 GB SSD is enough to store your essential documents and files, favorite songs, movies and pictures
- NVIDIA RTX A1000 4 GB discrete graphic card provides excellent ability in a variety of multimedia...
Programmers might find more success when equipped with the ideal laptop to enhance their productivity.
One such laptop is Dell Precision 5000 5470 14″, an ultraportable Windows machine designed specifically to deliver a mobile workstation experience and exude professional classiness with its Titan Grey exterior finish and luxurious Titan Gray hue.
This laptop combines an exceptional processor and graphics processing unit (GPU) to give you the strength necessary to tackle even the most demanding software programs.
Furthermore, it features ample memory to keep everything running smoothly and can support up to four monitors if you want to expand your workspace. However, at 1.48kg (3.26lb), this machine may require you to carry around a heavier bag than other slim notebooks.
Dell packs its workstation-class Dell Precision 5470 with an Intel Core i9-12900H CPU and Nvidia RTX A1000 GPU to power its stunning QHD+ 16:10 IPS display, rendering tasks, and any graphics-heavy tasks such as rendering.
We ran GeekBench and CineBench tests without issue on this workstation device while running 50 Google Chrome tabs (10 of which were streaming 4K YouTube videos) simultaneously as well as music streaming over Spotify simultaneously.
The Dell Precision 5000 5470 is built for business users who require features to remain productive, starting with Windows 11 Pro and the Dell Optimizer software.
This program automatically learns your computing habits and optimizes settings accordingly to improve application performance, battery life, audio oomph, and privacy settings – it even manages system updates to ensure maximum security!
While not as portable as other laptops on our list, the Dell Precision 5000 5470 still makes for an excellent option for programmers who require greater mobility than desktop replacement.
Furthermore, its price point makes it more accessible than many 17-inch workstation laptops that provide similar specs.
The Dell Precision 5000 laptop is ideal for programmers seeking to maximize productivity on the move.
With an excellent build and impressive specs – such as a fast processor and plenty of storage space – the premium notebook delivers maximum productivity wherever it may roam. Unfortunately, its limited battery life means longer trips require bringing along an extension cord.
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