The best laptop for programming we've tested is the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021). This premium model feels incredibly well-built and provides a fantastic user experience. Its 16-inch display gives you plenty of room to see more of your codes at once and gets bright enough to combat glare.
While you don't necessarily need a powerhouse of a laptop to code on, if you need to compile your code, and test out the games you're working on, for example, then you'll want a laptop with plenty of RAM and a modern multi-core processor. They are able to compile code much more quickly.
A laptop with 4GB of RAM should suffice. However, application or software developers who need to run virtual machines, emulators and IDEs to compile massive projects will need more RAM. A laptop with at least 8GB of RAM is ideal. The requirement goes even higher for game developers.
The Operating System: macOS vs Windows
macOS is built on top of Unix. This makes Mac computers developer-friendly because most web and database servers are based on Unix. On Windows, you can get a similar experience with the PowerShell, but it won't be the same. Another benefit of macOS is security.
Many software developers prefer to use Macs because of the high quality of the hardware and the operating system. The Macbook is well-built and has a reputation for being reliable. It also has a sleek design that many people find appealing.
MacBooks Are Ideal for Developers
8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage would be just enough for basic coding; however, more memory often means better performance for heavy-duty tasks. The M1 or M2 MacBook Air models would be good enough if you're on a budget.
For most coders (other than those working on huge, complex projects), the RAM needed to run your operating system properly will suffice for programming, which is why we recommend 8 to 16 GB of RAM for the task.
So, then is 8GB of RAM good for coding? Well, it's definitely a lot better than 4GBs. If you are on a tight budget, 8GB should be enough to do most programming tasks. You should be able to run a few applications like Spotify, have a few browser tabs open, and a lightweight text editor as mentioned above.
For many developers, 8GB of RAM is plenty for coding. However, for those frequently using multiple programming languages and software development tools simultaneously, 16GB of RAM may be more than they need.
So, the truth is that Desktop computers usually offer a better price to performance ratio than Laptops, but they don't have the portability that laptops do have. And if you are a programmer, you don't need a ton of power, so you may be better choosing a Laptop because it'll give you plenty of portability.
256gb is probably enough for most programming, though I'd buy 512 if I could get it. If you do photos or video or lots of music, 512 is barely enough. If this is your “work” machine, don't skimp. If you MUST choose, get the memory, and an external hard drive.
Intel CPU: Quad core 2GHZ or Higher. AMD CPU: Quad core 3GHZ or Higher. 8 GB RAM minimum recommended.
Programmers should consider a 256GB SSD, which is fairly standard for most coding computers. This drive is much faster than other options, and it allows you to load files faster and more effectively.
As a general rule, 8GB of RAM should be sufficient for most programming tasks. However, if you know you will be working with large files or running multiple programs simultaneously, you may want to opt for 16GB or even 32GB of RAM.
32GB of RAM is considered high and is generally overkill for most users. For most everyday use and basic tasks such as web browsing, email, and basic office work, 8GB of RAM is more than enough. Even for gaming or video editing, 16GB is typically sufficient.
Memory: 4 gigabytes (GB) or greater. Storage: 64 GB or greater available disk space. There might be more storage requirements over time for updates, and to enable specific features within the OS. For more information, see Windows 11 specifications.
16GB is the recommended amount of RAM for playing most games and will provide a noticeable increase in performance from 8GB. You will also be able to run applications in the background without affecting gameplay.
The MacBook Pro 13-inch (M2, 2022) is a great MacBook for programmers who need more power than the MacBook Air, but don't need the power (or can't afford) the MacBook Pro 14-inch.
MAC run full-time on a UNIX-based operating system and they are thus more developer-friendly. With a UNIX-based command line, programming is easier as you are able to run programs in almost any language. UNIX is also more secure by default compared to Windows.
A Macbook Air, Pro or any Laptop with 8gb RAM is enough to run an IDE + a few Dockers in the case of local development. For example, Zookeeper and similar apps. I personally run a 16gb on a Macbook Pro M2 chip, which is overkill for many.
Linux isn't that far behind in work-share with 40 percent of developers noting they use Linux in their work life (40 percent say they also use Linux for personal use as well). Apple's macOS trails in third with a 33 percent share for work use (and a 31 percent personal share).
PCs are more easily upgraded and have more options for different components. A Mac, if it's upgradeable, can upgrade only memory and the storage drive. A PC user can select from many motherboards, processors, storage drives, video cards, graphics cards, audio cards, and memory.
It's absolutely overkill… unless it's not. As others have noted, running VMs and/or containers can start to chew up RAM, and that's the kind of stuff that you might be needing to do as a modern coder.