Best laptops for coding and programming 2025: Our best picks for working on the move

The best laptops for coding and programming will feature the latest hardware and be capable of being pushed to the limits. You'll ideally be able to work across multiple programs at once, thanks to a hearty amount of RAM, while retaining a great chunk of graphics power to help with a diverse set of workloads.

You'll want at least 16GB RAM and a machine that demonstrates fast multi-threaded performance. That's why we've tested a range of laptops, from ultraportables to workstations, to round up the most capable machines out there for programming across a variety of disciplines. Whether you want a machine to work with on the move or a hybrid 2-in-1, we've got you covered.

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The quick list

Best laptops for coding & programming we recommend in 2025

Best laptop overall

Ideally, programmers will need the best components and a healthy dose of RAM for a laptop that can handle the right sort of workload. There's little that you can put past MacBook Pro 16-inch (M4 Pro) given its custom Apple silicon is among the best that money can buy.

It also comes packaged with 18 GB RAM as a minimum, as well as integrated graphics cable of handling any machine learning or artificial intelligence (AI) related tasks. This is given a boost thanks to the newly integrated Apple Intelligence features that enhance on-device AI workflows.

That all comes packaged with a sharp 16-inch Liquid Retina XDR display that can shine incredibly brightly — and a rich collection of ports such as HDMI and Thunderbolt 4 ports to keep you connected at all times. Beyond its core hardware, we are also impressed with the battery life MacBook Pro 16-inch (M4 Pro), which Apple claims can reach up to 24 hours — although in reality this is much more likely to reach the high teens. The MacBook Pro 16-inch (M4 Pro) also comes with a fast charger as standard.

You may well consider the MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4), which is powerful enough to handle compiling tasks while also being suitable for coding on the go — but you get that little extra firepower with the MacBook 16-inch (M4 Pro). You also benefit from a much larger display to really immerse yourself in your work. It's less versatile, for obvious reasons, but still light enough to transport reasonably comfortably and work on the move — you won't need to worry much about plugging it into an external monitor either where none is available.

This is not a cheap laptop, however, and might be considered overkill if you don't require a machine that can handle the more intensive tasks, in which case you should consider the M4 version — which is still plenty good enough.

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Most powerful laptop for programming

The MacBook Pro 16-inch (M4 Max) is an absolute beast and the most powerful laptop that a coder or programmer can buy — but it comes at a heavy cost.

The M4 Max chip is the best Apple has to offer right now and barely breaks a sweat no matter what you throw at it — including the most intensive machine learning model training tasks. The M4 Max also comes with a 30-core GPU to handle graphics rendering or AI workloads, so you can guarantee you have a machine set up for anything, Indeed, whether you work with graphics, with AI, or compiling code on a daily basis, this laptop can take on the world and leave you with plenty of capacity to spare. That, coupled with its excellent battery life.

You also benefit from one of the best displays that you can find in a laptop, which is particularly useful if you're working with visuals or in game development. Its GPU core count also means you can plug it into several external monitors and expect things to continue running smoothly, depending on how you need to use the device.

It's worth saying, however, that most professional software engineers or developers will be just fine using the M4 Pro MacBooks or even the base M4 model, depending on their specific needs. The M4 Max is really only reserved for those who either have the cash to burn or want a machine that can take on the most intensive tasks. In that sense, if you're striving for value, we'd look elsewhere — given you may end up having a lot of spare capacity that goes unused.

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Best Windows laptop for programming

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Dell's newly redesigned family of laptops has taken the line of premium Windows machines in a new direction, with the Dell Pro 13 Premium one of the most interesting laptops for coding and programming.

The new Dell Pro 13 Premium replaces the previous XPS line and includes the latest components — including an Intel Ultra 2 258V CPU. While it's pricey, this machine also packs a punch in terms of its battery life, meaning you can last close to 25 hours on the move without needing to recharge.

The new design resembles a MacBook Pro in many ways, but it's far less inspiring due to the gray coating on its chassis. That said, the build quality is excellent and it is exceptionallylightweight. We enjoyed using it immensely on the go, as a result, although typing using its keyboard might take some getting used to due to the short travel distance of its keys. This very much carries on the theme we saw in the recent XPS laptops. The panel is also a little underwhelming, but good enough for most uses outside of any visual-based work and extensive video playback.

This machine is also highly functional, with an array of ports at your disposal, including USB-A and HDMI. That means you can enjoy a clutter-free experience while working on the move. This is a little pricey, and it is predominantly aimed at professionals, but is certainly a worthwhile investment if you're looking for a great Windows machine to code with.

Read our full Dell Pro 13 Premium review.

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Best for coding on the move

You aren't likely to find a dedicated graphics card in a lightweight 2-in-1, which is one of the main reasons we were drawn to the Asus ProArt PX13. While this machine is designed for creatives, you can certainly make the most of its high-end hardware and great graphics output if you're a programmer or software engineer.

One of its most appealing features is its hybrid form factor, meaning you can switch up between the conventional clamshell form and various tablet or touchscreen configurations. Weighing just 3 lbs (1.4 kg), it's a great choice for those who need great performance in a compact package so they can code while away from the desk.

Under the hood is a blisteringly fast AMD processor and a fantastic Nvidia graphics chip – meaning you can run all kinds of software or compile code with ease. The 3K OLED display is also gorgeous, with deep inky blacks and vibrant colors. All of this comes at a steep cost, however, so make sure you're really going to make the most of its hybrid form factor.

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Best budget laptop

Microsoft has just refreshed its range of Surface Laptop devices — which is now in its seventh generation — with 13.8-inch and 15-inch versions that come fitted with powerful internal hardware in a compact and portable package. The AI-ready PCs are a great fit for programmers on a budget who want to make the most of their hard-earned dollars while finding a machine that's powerful enough to run demanding tasks.

Although we have reviewed its larger cousin, the 15-inch variant, we especially love how portable the 13.8-inch version is, weighing almost 3 lbs — and it comes with a high-end ARM-based Qualcomm chip that rivals Apple's custom silicon, alongside a crisp LCD touchscreen display. All of this comes at just under $1,000 — which is a fantastic deal given how much many high-end machines can go for. There are one or two compromises you will be making, however, including the fact you don't get as much storage space with this configuration — just 256 GB.

There's also the fact that the new Microsoft Surface Laptops are, unfortunately, a little plain-looking to the eye. Microsoft has also ditched the soft Alcantara material that lines the keyboard and trackpad for an all-aluminum design that sits in line with other machines. As a result, this clean-cut and minimalist design lacks some oomph and won't be for everyone, especially those looking for a laptop with a bit more flair. But that says nothing about the same fantastic build quality you should expect from high-end Surface machines, and they certainly feel great to use regardless.

Thanks to the in-built NPU, you also benefit from amazing battery life and performance can reach new heights thanks to the fact you can offload a lot of intensive workloads to this smart little component, which traditionally a CPU or GPU may have handled. For under $1,000 you could do much worse than the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, although consider upgrading to a more beefed up version for a little more storage space.

Read our full Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition review.

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Best lightweight laptop for coding

The HP Elite Dragonfly line of business notebooks was an exceptional family of devices that married style with substance — boasting an exquisite design and build quality coupled with premium components for a high-powered overall experience. That is until HP reportedly discontinued it. But you can still pick up the final entry in the family, the HP Elite Dragonfly G4, for under $2,000 — and it's plenty powerful to run many programming workloads.

For something so light to feel so premium is also a boon — but has, by now, come to be expected from a manufacturer that specializes in versatile machines. Not only does it only weigh just 2 lbs approximately but it includes a full plethora of ports including two USB-Cs with Thunderbolt 4, a USB-A port with Power Delivery, HDMI and a headphone / mic combo jack — which is far more than you may expect in even many high-end 16-inch laptops. This really is a laptop unlike many others.

Despite the HP Elite Dragonfly Gen 4 featuring the previous generation CPU, we would still recommend it as the best lightweight laptop you can use. The platform at the heart of the HP Elite Dragonfly G4 should be capable enough of handling moderate-to-heavy workloads, but the lack of a GPU might also bite if you want something that can lean into the machine learning space or if you wish to work with visuals. Similarly, the display is nothing to scream about at the sight of OLED panels but offers clear and crisp visuals.

There's little putting past it for the majority of tasks you'll need a high-end machine for — and ultimately it's not going to be beaten for how lightweight it is. If you can move past the lack of state-of-the-art components in a machine that is, by now, approximately a year old, you will have a fantastic device at your hands that is perfect for using to work on the move.

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Best laptop for graphics

Although a gaming laptop may not be your first instinct when looking for the best laptop for coding or programming, these machines are engineered for high performance and smooth graphical output — and often come with stellar screens. That is certainly true for the Razer Blade 16 (2025), which acn give your coding endeavors a productivity boost – let alone a device that you can use to spin up the latest gaming titles. We especially love its minimalist design and impressively premium build quality — it looks stunning and it feels great to use.

Beneath the bonnet, its internal components are among the best you can find with an AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 processor with an extremely powerful Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 graphics card. Alongside 16 GB RAM and 1 TB SSD in the base configuration, you have a machine built for workstation-level performance. The inclusion of the Nvidia chip also means you can comfortably rely on this machine for intensive video or 3D rendering tasks alongside compiling code. If you're working with visuals or graphics too, in game development, for example, you will also love the vibrance of the 16-inch OLED display. This technology tends to reproduce vibrant colors and exceptional contrast — with a black illumination level of practically zero — meaning deep and inky blacks. But it also benefits from a super-smooth 240 Hz refresh rate, and a QHD+ resolution.

There are a few downsides, including the fact it's a bulky machine and very heavy, so don't expect to have an easy time lugging it around with you if you're often on the move. It's also steeply priced — although we wouldn't go so far as to say it represents poor value for money, because you're still getting a monstrously powerful machine and a stunning display in a well-engineered and exquisitely designed chassis. Gaming laptops, however, also tend to have weaker battery life than their cousins designed purely for maximum productivity, so you'll need to bear that in mind too when considering the Razer Blade 16 or any gaming machine for that matter.

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Best hybrid/2-in-1 laptop

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The HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 is easily one of the best devices from the manufacturer's new line-up after it migrated away from the Envy and Spectre branding of old. What makes this a great laptop for coding and programming is its versatility and lightweight nature — with sleek dimensions and a great build quality.

Under the hood, the Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) processor is an upgrade on last year's in terms of its efficiency, which translates into a longer battery life. The performance gains are marginal, which is the only downside, but the graphics output is much improved. Connectivity options are relatively limited, unfortunately, with only three USB-C ports at your disposal — so you'll need to carry an dock if you're away from the desk. That's a minor price to pay for its compact dimensions, though.

The crowning glory, however, is a crisp and vibrant 120 Hz OLED panel that draws you into its display. This is an absolute delight to use and makes it a wonderful option to work with on the go. Combine this with a great keyboard and touchpad and you have an excellent machine on your hands that is a delight to use.

Read our full HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 review.

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Our expert consultant

Keumars Afifi-Sabet

Keumars is the technology editor at Live Science. He has written for a variety of publications including Space.com, ITPro, The Week Digital, ComputerActive and TechRadar Pro. He has worked as a technology journalist for more than five years, having previously held the role of features editor with ITPro. His expertise reviewing laptop goes back seven years, and he's gotten hands-on with models of all different shapes, sizes and price points in this time.

Best laptops for coding and programming frequently asked questions (FAQs)

How we test laptops

Choosing the best laptop for coding and programming could feel like a bit of a minefield, but much of it depends on how advanced your needs are. You may, for example, only need a low-budget machine if you're just starting out, or you could do with something that's more heavy duty with a powerful GPU if you're a seasoned software engineer or want to dabble in machine learning.

We test all our laptops to the same standard whether MacBook or Windows, running various benchmarks and tests — as well as getting hands-on with the machine — to determine what it's like using it and how it performs depending on what you might be looking for in a device. We run CPU and GPU benchmarks using Geekbench 6 to test a laptop's performance, while we run CrystalDiskMark to test how well its hard drive or SSD can handle data transfers.

Testing a laptop's display involves using a specialized display calibrator that can detect brightness levels, color accuracy, color volume, any undersaturation or oversaturation in the RGB space, as well as distortions against what we expect. We compare and contrast these results to determine how well the display may be suited to, say, video editing or other uses.

We also test the battery life of all laptops we review in a consistent way to make comparisons viable. We run a looped video in specific conditions with all automatic brightness and contrast settings turned off and we measure how long the laptop lasts before it runs out of battery.

Beyond benchmarking, we use these laptops day-to-day and run informal stress tests like playing several 4K YouTube videos at once, browsing, and using other applications a typical user might open. We also type with the device and get a general feel for what it's like carrying it around with us.