If you are looking for the best laptop or cheap ultrabook for programming in 2016, you are in the right page because here we will tell you about some of the best laptops for coding and programming that you can get in 2016. The best laptop for use by graphic designers won't be the average laptop you find everywhere in the electronics store, and it won’t be a tiny PC tablet or Eee PC; it must have certain features. A lot of these features are prized by gamers as well as by graphic designers. I know because I'm a gamer who also uses Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator (and has used Corel Draw and InDesign).
Are there any special laptops or ultrabooks made just for coding or programming purposes? The answer is no, but before you buy a laptop primarily for programming or coding purposes, there are certain things you have to consider so that you will end up buying the most optimal laptop tailored for your needs. The best programming laptops must have certain minimum specifications to run a compiler efficiently. If you are a complete beginner to choosing a computer, just remember that the most important thing in a good laptop is RAM. Start low at 4GB and aim higher. The higher you go, the more programs you will be able to run in the background. Graphic designers, like gamers, want lots of RAM.
2. Video Card
If you use your laptop for graphic design, you might be able to get away with a less expensive video card than a gamer might demand. Compromise on the video card if you must, rather than on RAM.
3. CPU
You’ll want a more-than-decent CPU (something with four cores or higher). Intel Core i5 or i7 is good. "Haswell" refers to fourth-generation processors like those in the 2014 MacBook Pro, which were a big step up from earlier "Ivy Bridge" and "Sandy Bridge" Intel processor lines.
4. Screen Size
As a graphic designer you need room to work. If you choose a laptop with a 13-inch screen, you'll regret it pretty quickly. Go for a diagonal measurement of 15 inches or more.
5. Portability
In the last couple of years, laptops and ultrabooks have become lighter and their batteries can go a longer time between charges. They have become way more portable, which can be fun. Then again if you do graphic design in an office or home setting, portability may not be a major consideration for you.
6. Color Quality
Depending on what kind of graphic design you do, color quality might be more important for you than for a gamer. IPS displays are better than older types.
You need to be more careful if you are into graphic based programming because in addition to other important features, you must make sure that your laptop has a dedicated graphic card for better rendering of your program. This is very important if you are a game developer. I am not a hardcore coder, but in the past, I have had the opportunity to learn Java programming and a graphic based programming called Alice. Without a well built laptop, you WILL encounter many problems like laptop taking a lot of time to open up the console, laptop, making loud noise, laptop overheating and many times you will end up re-starting the computer because it just stops functioning. Minimum requirements of laptops primarily used for coding or game developing.
At least Intel i5 or AMD A10 processor
At least 8GB of RAM, 12GB+ preferably
Dedicated graphics card with at least 2GB memory is very important for coding games.
At least 500 GB HDD or hybrid dual disk drive with at least some SSD
Below you will find some of the latest and highest rated laptops that are suitable for programming/coding for software developers and game developers in 2016. Since it is assumed you are a student, we have kept the budget in mind and the recommended programming laptops that are priced reasonably.
We will also tell you how you can customize a laptop exactly the way you dreamt of. We request you to read all the way!
Lenovo Z70 (80FG00DBUS) – Optimal laptop for programming under $1000-2016
If you do not mind carrying around 17 inch laptop, this powerhouse is a solid option for programmers and developers. This machine is equipped with lots of advanced features, making it one of the best laptops for coding. Hybrid disk drive with 8GB SSD and 1TB traditional HDD, 8GB RAM, 2GB GTX 840M graphic card from NVIDIA, and fifth generation Intel i7 processor that clocks in at 2.4GHz are the important features of this laptop that assures smooth coding for programmers. Weight is little over 6.5 lbs and the screen size is 17.3 inches. Yes, it is not so portable, but it can make your life easier at study table or work table.
This laptop has the latest Windows 10 installed. Price is well below $1000, and it is worth every penny!
SEE MORE SPECS AND EXACT PRICE OF Z50
We strongly recommend Norton™ Antivirus to protect your computer!
Acer Aspire E 15 E5-574G-52QU- Cheap coding laptop under $600-2016
We get emails all the time asking if there are the best laptops for programming under $5oo. We simply tell them, there are but you should really look at what Acer Aspire E5-573G-56RG has to offer for few more bucks!
Although we recommend a higher end product for programmers, we understand it all comes down to YOUR budget. For coders who are on a tight budget, Acer Aspire E 15 E5-574G-52QU just promises to be their best friend for years to come. Acer Aspire E 15 E5-574G-52QU can be purchased for cheap price of under $600. It probably is the cheapest programming laptop you can ever get in the 21st century.
It comes with 4GB dedicated GTX series graphic card, 1TB of hard drive, 8GB RAM, windows 10 operating system, and has 15.6 inch screen size, which is full high definition. Acer Aspire E 15 E5-574G-52QU is the pride of Acer with decent battery life of over 5 hours. Since it weighs about 5 lbs, you can carry it around in your backpack without breaking your back.
These advanced features make the Acer Aspire E 15 E5-574G-52QU a good choice for coding and at the same time costs much less than the others. Highly recommended if you are looking for a cheaper laptop for coding in 2016!
CHECK THIS ACER ASPIRE OUT!!
Predator 15 G9-591-70XR- Top class laptop for game developers and programmers under $2000 in 2016
This laptop is good for any programming language, but if you are a game developer, Predator 15 G9-591-70XR is a product you should seriously consider buying and the reasons are obvious. It is probably the best predator series laptop so far and it comes with the features that are beyond the imaginations.
Predator 15 G9-591-70XR comes with turbocharged 6th generation Intel i7 processor in addition to GTX series graphic card, 16GB RAM, 1TB+256GB SSD storage and 15.6 inch FHD screen. It has backlit full size keyboard for low light coding environment. It can be turned into a workstation laptop strictly for developing and programming purpose.
In addition, this laptop have other things to offer for developers and programmers. It comes with the cooling technology and predator dustfender technology to keep it clean at all times. Both features help achieve lag free, smooth running of the moving parts in the laptop which in absence can annoy developers and programmers with heat and noise.
We recommend this laptop for any programmers and we strongly recommend this programming laptop for game coders.
SEE PREDATOR 15 AT ACER.COM
Dell i7559-763- Superb laptop for programmers and great for game developers-2016
If your preference is a mediocre screen, then this is something you might want to consider buying for coding purposes. This Inspiron can be purchased for under $800 and has all the features you will need for programming.
It comes with 8GB DDR3L, 256GB SSD, 6th generation Intel i7 quad core processor (2.3GHz), 4GB GTX 960M graphics card from NVIDIA and latest windows 10 OS and talking about GPU, these are the best cheap ultrabooks with graphics cards. This newer introduction from Dell comes with FHD 15.6 inch IPS screen with anti-glare technology. All in all, this is a good choice for developers because of it has all the hardwares required for programming. What we love most about this Dell 7000 is its unbelievably affordable price of under $800 despite having all the latest hardwares installed in the device. This stylish Dell 7000 series is strongly recommended for students!
SEE MORE DETAILS OF DELL I7559-763
HP Pavilion 13-s128nr- HP budget 13.3 inch laptop for Programmers
HP Pavilion 13-s128nr is one of “the best” HP laptop for programming. t is cheaper as well for those looking for a budget laptop under $700. This HP laptop will do the job just fine with its loaded features. HP Pavilion 13-s128nr comes with 13.3 inch FHD screen, 8GB RAM, Intel i5 processor and has 128GB SSD. Besides being stylish and portable, this is a 2 in 1 hybrid laptop that can be used as both tablet and laptop. The screen is touchscreen, of course. It has Windows 1o OS preinstalled. Price is mediocre with the price tag of just under $700. It is great for beginners and students due to its portability and sleek design.
SEE MORE DETAILS OF HP PAVILION 13
Apple MacBooks- Different versions- Best MAC for programming-2016
It is not a mystery that a vast number of programmers prefer MAC OS X over windows OS or Linux and not to mention certain coding can only be done on Mac OS. Due to the increasing popularity of MacBooks these days, having both Windows laptop and MacBook makes reasonable sense. Prices can vary a lot between different versions of MacBooks. MacBooks with wider screens and retina display tends to cost more although they have similar hardware. We lobby 13.3 inch MacBook with retina display. Try to get more RAM and disk space rather than the bigger screen size if you have extra bucks to spend. You can shop MacBooks here. Good luck finding the best Mac for programming.
Conclusion
Above mentioned computers are our best ultrabook for programming recommendations. This article is written to help you find the best laptops for programming students or established coders and developers. Once again, the general guideline is that you should be looking for a laptop with 8GB or higher RAM, at least 500GB of hard drive, comes with a dedicated graphic card and has a powerful processor (i5/A10 or better).
Also, installing Linux OS is very popular among the programmers. Ubuntu could be your starting point if you like running Linux based operating system.
You can code any language like Java, C, C++, C#, objective-C, perl, Ruby, Python, Visual Basic .NET etc on the products we listed. You can start here if you like to do your own research and find other brands not mentioned here like ASUS, Sony, Alienware etc.
Any feedback to this article will be highly appreciated. Please share this post about the best laptops for programming.
Are there any special laptops or ultrabooks made just for coding or programming purposes? The answer is no, but before you buy a laptop primarily for programming or coding purposes, there are certain things you have to consider so that you will end up buying the most optimal laptop tailored for your needs. The best programming laptops must have certain minimum specifications to run a compiler efficiently. If you are a complete beginner to choosing a computer, just remember that the most important thing in a good laptop is RAM. Start low at 4GB and aim higher. The higher you go, the more programs you will be able to run in the background. Graphic designers, like gamers, want lots of RAM.
2. Video Card
If you use your laptop for graphic design, you might be able to get away with a less expensive video card than a gamer might demand. Compromise on the video card if you must, rather than on RAM.
3. CPU
You’ll want a more-than-decent CPU (something with four cores or higher). Intel Core i5 or i7 is good. "Haswell" refers to fourth-generation processors like those in the 2014 MacBook Pro, which were a big step up from earlier "Ivy Bridge" and "Sandy Bridge" Intel processor lines.
4. Screen Size
As a graphic designer you need room to work. If you choose a laptop with a 13-inch screen, you'll regret it pretty quickly. Go for a diagonal measurement of 15 inches or more.
5. Portability
In the last couple of years, laptops and ultrabooks have become lighter and their batteries can go a longer time between charges. They have become way more portable, which can be fun. Then again if you do graphic design in an office or home setting, portability may not be a major consideration for you.
6. Color Quality
Depending on what kind of graphic design you do, color quality might be more important for you than for a gamer. IPS displays are better than older types.
You need to be more careful if you are into graphic based programming because in addition to other important features, you must make sure that your laptop has a dedicated graphic card for better rendering of your program. This is very important if you are a game developer. I am not a hardcore coder, but in the past, I have had the opportunity to learn Java programming and a graphic based programming called Alice. Without a well built laptop, you WILL encounter many problems like laptop taking a lot of time to open up the console, laptop, making loud noise, laptop overheating and many times you will end up re-starting the computer because it just stops functioning. Minimum requirements of laptops primarily used for coding or game developing.
At least Intel i5 or AMD A10 processor
At least 8GB of RAM, 12GB+ preferably
Dedicated graphics card with at least 2GB memory is very important for coding games.
At least 500 GB HDD or hybrid dual disk drive with at least some SSD
Below you will find some of the latest and highest rated laptops that are suitable for programming/coding for software developers and game developers in 2016. Since it is assumed you are a student, we have kept the budget in mind and the recommended programming laptops that are priced reasonably.
We will also tell you how you can customize a laptop exactly the way you dreamt of. We request you to read all the way!
Lenovo Z70 (80FG00DBUS) – Optimal laptop for programming under $1000-2016
If you do not mind carrying around 17 inch laptop, this powerhouse is a solid option for programmers and developers. This machine is equipped with lots of advanced features, making it one of the best laptops for coding. Hybrid disk drive with 8GB SSD and 1TB traditional HDD, 8GB RAM, 2GB GTX 840M graphic card from NVIDIA, and fifth generation Intel i7 processor that clocks in at 2.4GHz are the important features of this laptop that assures smooth coding for programmers. Weight is little over 6.5 lbs and the screen size is 17.3 inches. Yes, it is not so portable, but it can make your life easier at study table or work table.
This laptop has the latest Windows 10 installed. Price is well below $1000, and it is worth every penny!
SEE MORE SPECS AND EXACT PRICE OF Z50
We strongly recommend Norton™ Antivirus to protect your computer!
Acer Aspire E 15 E5-574G-52QU- Cheap coding laptop under $600-2016
We get emails all the time asking if there are the best laptops for programming under $5oo. We simply tell them, there are but you should really look at what Acer Aspire E5-573G-56RG has to offer for few more bucks!
Although we recommend a higher end product for programmers, we understand it all comes down to YOUR budget. For coders who are on a tight budget, Acer Aspire E 15 E5-574G-52QU just promises to be their best friend for years to come. Acer Aspire E 15 E5-574G-52QU can be purchased for cheap price of under $600. It probably is the cheapest programming laptop you can ever get in the 21st century.
It comes with 4GB dedicated GTX series graphic card, 1TB of hard drive, 8GB RAM, windows 10 operating system, and has 15.6 inch screen size, which is full high definition. Acer Aspire E 15 E5-574G-52QU is the pride of Acer with decent battery life of over 5 hours. Since it weighs about 5 lbs, you can carry it around in your backpack without breaking your back.
These advanced features make the Acer Aspire E 15 E5-574G-52QU a good choice for coding and at the same time costs much less than the others. Highly recommended if you are looking for a cheaper laptop for coding in 2016!
CHECK THIS ACER ASPIRE OUT!!
Predator 15 G9-591-70XR- Top class laptop for game developers and programmers under $2000 in 2016
This laptop is good for any programming language, but if you are a game developer, Predator 15 G9-591-70XR is a product you should seriously consider buying and the reasons are obvious. It is probably the best predator series laptop so far and it comes with the features that are beyond the imaginations.
Predator 15 G9-591-70XR comes with turbocharged 6th generation Intel i7 processor in addition to GTX series graphic card, 16GB RAM, 1TB+256GB SSD storage and 15.6 inch FHD screen. It has backlit full size keyboard for low light coding environment. It can be turned into a workstation laptop strictly for developing and programming purpose.
In addition, this laptop have other things to offer for developers and programmers. It comes with the cooling technology and predator dustfender technology to keep it clean at all times. Both features help achieve lag free, smooth running of the moving parts in the laptop which in absence can annoy developers and programmers with heat and noise.
We recommend this laptop for any programmers and we strongly recommend this programming laptop for game coders.
SEE PREDATOR 15 AT ACER.COM
Dell i7559-763- Superb laptop for programmers and great for game developers-2016
If your preference is a mediocre screen, then this is something you might want to consider buying for coding purposes. This Inspiron can be purchased for under $800 and has all the features you will need for programming.
It comes with 8GB DDR3L, 256GB SSD, 6th generation Intel i7 quad core processor (2.3GHz), 4GB GTX 960M graphics card from NVIDIA and latest windows 10 OS and talking about GPU, these are the best cheap ultrabooks with graphics cards. This newer introduction from Dell comes with FHD 15.6 inch IPS screen with anti-glare technology. All in all, this is a good choice for developers because of it has all the hardwares required for programming. What we love most about this Dell 7000 is its unbelievably affordable price of under $800 despite having all the latest hardwares installed in the device. This stylish Dell 7000 series is strongly recommended for students!
SEE MORE DETAILS OF DELL I7559-763
HP Pavilion 13-s128nr- HP budget 13.3 inch laptop for Programmers
HP Pavilion 13-s128nr is one of “the best” HP laptop for programming. t is cheaper as well for those looking for a budget laptop under $700. This HP laptop will do the job just fine with its loaded features. HP Pavilion 13-s128nr comes with 13.3 inch FHD screen, 8GB RAM, Intel i5 processor and has 128GB SSD. Besides being stylish and portable, this is a 2 in 1 hybrid laptop that can be used as both tablet and laptop. The screen is touchscreen, of course. It has Windows 1o OS preinstalled. Price is mediocre with the price tag of just under $700. It is great for beginners and students due to its portability and sleek design.
SEE MORE DETAILS OF HP PAVILION 13
Apple MacBooks- Different versions- Best MAC for programming-2016
It is not a mystery that a vast number of programmers prefer MAC OS X over windows OS or Linux and not to mention certain coding can only be done on Mac OS. Due to the increasing popularity of MacBooks these days, having both Windows laptop and MacBook makes reasonable sense. Prices can vary a lot between different versions of MacBooks. MacBooks with wider screens and retina display tends to cost more although they have similar hardware. We lobby 13.3 inch MacBook with retina display. Try to get more RAM and disk space rather than the bigger screen size if you have extra bucks to spend. You can shop MacBooks here. Good luck finding the best Mac for programming.
Conclusion
Above mentioned computers are our best ultrabook for programming recommendations. This article is written to help you find the best laptops for programming students or established coders and developers. Once again, the general guideline is that you should be looking for a laptop with 8GB or higher RAM, at least 500GB of hard drive, comes with a dedicated graphic card and has a powerful processor (i5/A10 or better).
Also, installing Linux OS is very popular among the programmers. Ubuntu could be your starting point if you like running Linux based operating system.
You can code any language like Java, C, C++, C#, objective-C, perl, Ruby, Python, Visual Basic .NET etc on the products we listed. You can start here if you like to do your own research and find other brands not mentioned here like ASUS, Sony, Alienware etc.
Any feedback to this article will be highly appreciated. Please share this post about the best laptops for programming.
