If you’re a gamer or programmer, you will know the headache of a sluggish machine and the pros of having a powerful laptop.
Coding doesn’t need the most expensive laptop necessarily. However, it needs something that can process; complex images, emulation, testing, and running apps, games, and websites that you have created.
TABLE OF CONTENTS: BEST LAPTOP FOR PROGRAMMING AND GAMING
- Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop – The Best Choice
- Samsung Chromebook ProXE510C24 – Enjoy the Chrome Environment
- Acer Aspire 5 10210U – Laptop for Casual Gamers
- HP 15.6 HD 2019 – The Best Mid-Range Laptop
- Acer Aspire E 15 8250 – Aesthetic Prince
- ASUS ZenBook 13 UX331UA – Multitasking King
- New Apple MacBook Pro2.3GHz – Powerhouse
- Lenovo Thinkpad E590 – Say Goodbye to Vulnerability
- ASUS ROG Strix Hero Edition – Sucker for High Performance in Gaming
- HP Stream A4-9120E – Study Partner
Top 10 Best Laptop for Programming and Gaming in 2023
Coding can be done on any laptop, but most programmers wish to have more than just a laptop: a laptop that can run and test their codes without any glitches and run games smoothly when bored.
Hop onto the best gaming laptops under $1500 if you’re more into high-end games.
Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop - Best Laptop for Programming and Gaming
- Widescreen LED-backlit IPS Display.
- 802.11ac WiFi for faster traveling.
- Color intelligence technology.
- Comfortable backlit keyboard.
- Desktop-class performance.
CPU and GPU
The Acer Aspire 5 comes with the AMD Ryzen 3 3200U Processor with a base clock of 2.6GHz and up to 3.5 GHz with the Turbo boost. It is a perfect processor for daily-life computer chores that include; surfing the internet, spreadsheet calculation, and other similar tasks.
Also, it comes with the AMD Radeon Vega 3 Mobile Graphics, which are sufficient to play games on low and medium settings. Some games that can be run include Fortnite, Minecraft, Roblox, and other similar games. However, backing it with a dedicated card will do wonders.
RAM and Storage
Aspire 5 has 4GB DDR4 RAM that comes with the entry-level specs, which is, however, too little RAM in terms of playing games as your laptop won’t be able to run them or won’t run well. A sweet spot for games with decent speed is 16GB, but it depends on the budget.
Additionally, it features a 128GB PCIe NVMe SSD that allows you to store a large amount of data. The best thing about this SSD is that it transfers data at a speed of up to 12Gbps.
Keyboard and Display
This model of Acer has a backlit keyboard, which is quite a comfortable place to put your fingers on. However, if you’re a programmer, having a backlit keyboard shouldn’t significantly impact your typing as long as you’re a beginner because you will have to struggle in the dark or dim light.
It has a 15.6-inch Widescreen LED-backlit IPS FHD (1920 x 1080) display to give you a brighter display. Simply put, it is better to show pictures in more accurate colors.
Things I don’t like
The major problem with this model is that Windows is in S-mode (safe mode), which means that it will not allow you to download apps, software, or games outside the Microsoft store. To get rid of the S-mode, you would need to buy Windows Home or Pro and install it.
- Thin and light.
- Good performance and battery life.
- Affordable.
- Windows in S-mode.
Samsung Chromebook ProXE510C24 - Enjoy the Chrome Environment
- 900 MHz Intel Core m3-6Y30 Dual-Core .
- Smooth multitasking.
- Touch-screen and stylus pen.
- Runs Android apps.
- Super thin and lightweight.
CPU and OS
The Samsung Chromebook Pro comes with the Intel Core M3 6Y30 2.2GHz processor, which is pretty good for gaming and running applications that are related to programming as it helps in giving a fine quality speed along with decent visuals, according to Intel.
The new and notable thing about this model is the OS it has. It uses the Chrome OS designed by Google to work solely with web applications, which makes it a perfect laptop for web developers and designers. It also comes with a stylus pen, which can be helpful if you’re into designing.
RAM & Storage
The Chromebook Pro comes with 4GB LPDDR3 RAM; it helps reduce the memory system’s power consumption, higher data rate, enhanced power efficiency, and bandwidth.
It has 32GB of eMMC storage. However, it is slightly better than that of the HDD with a transfer rate of 400 MB/s. Due to the insufficient storage space, it is nearly impossible to store games and IDEs that take up a huge amount of space.
Keyboard and Display
The keyboard is quite decent in terms of typing and placing your fingers on it, as you will easily feel the soft keys under your fingers. Chromebook Pro gives a pretty good place to put your fingers for typing.
It has a 12.3’ display with 2400 x 1600 resolution and 400 nits; the 400 nits make it pretty much brighter to take it outside to begin working on the laptop.
Drawbacks
The battery doesn’t give a good backup time as we expect from a laptop. Furthermore, it’s only good if someone is introverted and loves to stick to one place and have the charger with himself all the time.
Also, the storage space is extremely low, which cannot fulfill the needs of a programmer and a gamer.
- Thin and light.
- Brilliant & 360-degree rotating display.
- Built-in virus protection.
- Built-in pen.
- Not good battery life.
- Low storage space.
Acer Aspire 5 10210U - Laptop for Casual Gamers
- Maximized Visuals.
- Fingerprint scanner for security.
- Widescreen LED-backlit IPS Display.
- NVIDIA GeForce MX250 .
- Latest 10th Gen processor.
CPU and GPU
The Acer Aspire 5 comes with the latest Intel Core i5-1021U (10th Gen) Processor, perfect for playing games that fall under its category. It can hold up tough tasks decently that is thrown at it.
It has the NVIDIA GeForce MX250 2GB dedicated card, which helps in uplifting its performance in playing games, running apps that need graphics cards, etc. Also, you can play high-end games with low settings. Although games like Far Cry 5, Resident Evil 2, Forza Horizon 4, etc, were played using the MX250 card, a test conducted by Yasin Erkan.
RAM & Storage
As an entry-level spec, 8GB DDR4 RAM comes with this model Acer, which is quite sufficient with MX250 to play games at decent settings along with other apps that are used by programmers.
To boost the loading speed, it has a 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD that significantly improves the data transfer speed and enhances the boot time of Windows. Also, the storage is quite sufficient for storing a handful of games.
Keyboard and Display
For programmers, the keyboard and display are where they spend most of their time. And the keyboard of Acer Aspire 5 reflects the sponge feelings when pressed.
Furthermore, it has a 15.6” Widescreen LED-backlit IPS display with 1920 x 1080 resolution, which helps deliver true colors and graphics. Also, it has a good viewing angle and is suitable for outdoor use.
What do I not like?
Due to the low dedicated graphics card speed, this laptop doesn’t fancy high-end games. It can run them but won’t give you the quality you expect.
- Powerful Sound.
- Good Performance.
- Comprehensive connectivity.
- Premium look.
- Not good for high-end games.
- Spongy keyboard.
HP 15.6 HD 2019 - The Best Mid-Range Laptop
- High-bandwidth RAM for smooth performance.
- Integrated Intel UHD 605 graphics card.
- WLED-backlit touchscreen display.
- HD-class picture resolution.
- The value for money!.
CPU and GPU
HP’s this model 15.6″ HD 2019 features the Intel Pentium N5000 2.7GHz processor, which is the successor of the N4200 with a 200MHz higher boost clock for better performance. It is much better for doing your coding.
It is backed with an integrated Intel UHD 605 graphics card, which is good in the low-end segment and does not entertain any sort of the most modern games. It fancies low-demanding games such as Sims 4 and Dirt Rally.
RAM and Storage
This model of HP comes with 8GB DDR4 RAM, which is enough to get your favorite games on your list with minimum settings. Furthermore, it can run daily-life apps and games without any glitches. However, increasing the RAM can do wonders.
Moreover, it has a 1TB HDD storage to store a decent amount of data, software, and games. The HDD allows you to carry your whole studio without you anywhere.
Keyboard and Display
The keyboard is of average quality; as soon as you press the keys, they feel like pushing down a hard rubber. Also, the keys are a bit shallow. A person who is addicted to a desktop keyboard will don’t like the keyboard built.
In addition, it features a 15.6” HD SVA WLED-backlit display, a touchscreen with a resolution of 1366 x 768. The touch display has an HD-class picture resolution to give you excellent visuals and graphics.
Things I don’t like
As the laptop gets used enough, it begins to become slower. An excessive amount of stored data makes it the reason to slow down the performance and functionality of the laptop.
- Decent Keyboard.
- Great Speakers.
- Beautiful design.
- Becomes slower over time.
Acer Aspire E 15 8250 - Aesthetic Prince
- Latest Generation processor.
- Widescreen LED-lit IPS display.
- Latest 802.11ac WiFi for faster browsing.
- Easy Multitasking.
- Longer Battery backup.
CPU and GPU
Acer Aspire E15 is backed with the latest processor model: the Intel Core i5-8250U Processor that can go up to a whopping 3.4GHz with Turbo Boost: a strong companion for performing multitasking and handling heavy tasks.
Alongside the latest processor, it features the NVIDIA GeForce MX150 2GB GDDR5 dedicated graphics card: sufficient enough to play most of the games at medium to low settings on 1080p. It can technically run any game if you just dial down the resolution or the graphic settings.
RAM & Storage
This model is armed with 8GB RAM, allowing your laptop to run any game or software as long as you don’t start off putting a lot of pressure on it by opening up heavy apps. 8GB is enough to tick most apps and games’ minimum requirements field.
It comes with a 256GB SSD, which is quite enough for storing a decent amount of data, apps, and games. However, if anyone has a huge amount of demanding software, games, and data, they will need to add an external hard drive, store files in the cloud, or increase the storage space.
Keyboard and Display
The keyboard is relatively responsive, snappy to the fingertips, and big enough to place your fingers on them comfortably. However, the numeric keypad seems a bit squished. Overall, the keys are pretty good in response, hence, being a good fit for programmers and gamers.
Not to forget that it comes with an awesome 15.6-inch display with a 1920 x 1080 resolution. Apart from being of decent size, the Acer has disappointed everyone with its dull display. It still is good to go for indoor usage, but not suitable to use near a bright window or outside.
The Other side of this laptop?
The display doesn’t seem to please most of the users as it is dull. Not suitable to take it outside for usage. Furthermore, it is also a bit heavy compared to other laptops and might also irritate you for its size.
- Comfortable keyboard.
- Sleek and sturdy design.
- Long battery life.
- Fast processing.
- Heavy .
Dull Display
ASUS ZenBook 13 UX331UA - Multitasking King
- Core i7-8550U Quad-Core Processor.
- Lightning-fast storage.
- Comfortable portability.
- Fastest web browsing battery life.
- Nano-edge bezel display.
CPU and GPU
Asus ZenBook 13 features the Intel Core i7 8th Gen Quad-Core processor that can go up to 4.0GHz with Turbo Boost. Also, it consists of 6MB, which significantly helps the processor access the data and performs its calculation without waiting for the RAM all the time.
It is backed with Intel UHD 620 that is efficient for playing heavy games. However, a dedicated card is still needed to play games at a smoother pace.
RAM and Storage
It has a built-in 8GB LPDDR3 RAM that is sufficient for running most of the applications alongside games. It can still be upgraded, but it solely depends on a person’s preference.
It has a 256GB SATA SSD to give you enough space, which helps boot Windows faster, has instant-load performance, and better system responsiveness. Not only that, but you will see a drastic performance change with SSD, making multitasking a non-issue.
Keyboard and Display
Asus ZenBook has mimicked Apple’s butterfly mechanism but hasn’t made much improvement. Although, it is still a decent keyboard with good feedback. However, the keys are delayed before they return to their place.
The ZenBook has a nice aesthetic and a decent screen. It has a 1920 x 1080 resolution. Furthermore, it features IPS technology that produces much better viewing angles and colors. However, it still is a bit dim, so you cannot take it outside and begin working on it.
Drawbacks
Apart from featuring everything great, the display is not bright enough to take it outside and use it as you will start to struggle to see what is happening on your screen.
- Crystal Clear display.
- Backlit keys.
- Solid performance.
- Thin & light shell.
- Dim screen.
- No thunderbolt 3.
New Apple MacBook Pro2.3GHz - Powerhouse
- 9th Gen Core i9 Processor.
- 16-inch Retina Display with True tone technology.
- Ultrafast SSD.
- Touch Bar and Touch ID.
- New Magic Keyboard.
CPU and GPU
The New Apple MacBook Pro features the latest and most powerful Core i9 9th Gen 2.3Ghz processor and goes up to 4.8Ghz with the Turbo boost. It is the fastest processor in terms of usage and encourages running any heavy application.
Also, it has an AMD Radeon Pro 5500M 4GB GDDR6 memory that adds significant high performance to the laptop and makes it stand out among its competitors. It delivers twice the speed of its predecessor.
RAM & Storage
MacBook Pro consists of 16GB of 2666MHz DDR4 RAM to skyrocket the performance in terms of speed, productivity, and quick processing. That is enough RAM to run heavy applications and software.
Furthermore, it features 1TB of Ultrafast SSD, which guarantees super-fast speed and a lot of storage; carry your whole studio with you. It is the best laptop for programmers, helping in loading apps in a blink of an eye and transferring files with super fast speed.
Keyboard and Display
The 16-inch Pro has introduced Magic Keyboard, which gives the best typing experience. It has a scissor mechanism that offers 1mm of essential travel, a stable key feel, and an Apple-crafted rubber dome that helps store more potential energy for responsiveness.
When it comes to the display, it has 500 nits of brightness, true tone functionality, and P3 Wide Color support. It features a 3072 x 1920 resolution at 226 pixels per inch.
Connectivity and Warranty
The only thing that we didn’t like is the price, which makes it expensive and out of reach for most people.
- Sleek Design.
- Fastest performance.
- T2 chip for enhanced security.
- Expensive.
Lenovo Thinkpad E590 - Say Goodbye to Vulnerability
- 8th Gen Intel Processor.
- Biometric Authentication.
- Industry-standard quality.
- Rapid Charge technology.
- Integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620.
CPU and GPU
Lenovo ThinkPad E590 has the Intel Quad Core i5-8265U 1.6GHz processor along with 4 Cores, 8 Threads, and a 6MB Smart Cache. Not only that, but it can go up to 3.90GHz with Turbo technology.
It also features an integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620 card, which is perfect for playing games like Witcher 3 and Dishonored 2.
RAM and Storage
To give you more storage and speed, ThinkPad E590 has 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD as entry-level storage, which can also be upgraded. The reason it has an SSD is that the SSD allows the laptop to process things faster and eliminate being sluggish.
A 16GB DDR4 RAM comes with it to boost performance. It has excellent speed that is suitable for running heavy games with more than-average settings. Also, heavy applications can be used with minimum glitches as well, which is good news for programmers.
Keyboard and Display
E590 comes with a whopping 15.6-inch Anti-Glare display with 1366 x 786 resolution. It can support an external digital monitor through USB Type-C or HDMI, supporting dual independent displays.
Additionally, the keyboard is of pretty decent quality because it features revolutionary responsive keys with a beautiful round shape at the bottom. It has a numeric keypad as well. Due to the responsive keys, they feel alive under their fingers.
When you press the keys, they have a very nice audible click. These features make it the best laptop for programmers.
What’s wrong with this one
ThinkPad E590’s speakers are of average quality and do not provide the kind of vibes you would expect from a laptop when playing games. However, attaching headphones would work for you.
- Sleek design.
- Solid and shock-resistant.
- Powerhouse.
- Decent keyboard with integrated number pad.
- Average sound card.
- A limited selection of ports & connectors.
ASUS ROG Strix Hero Edition - Sucker for High Performance in Gaming
- 3.9GHz processor (Boost Clock).
- GTX 1050 Ti 4GB.
- Maximum contrast and clarity.
- Aura RGB Lighting Keyboard.
- Anti-ghosting technology.
CPU and GPU
Armed with the latest 8th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, this beast outperforms a handful of competitors in the game. As the name identifies, it is the HERO in most of the regions due to its sick performance and optimized system.
It features an awesome NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050Ti 4GB graphics card to make its performance worthwhile. As claimed by Asus, its advanced GPU can boost performance in HD games compared to its predecessors.
ALSO CONSIDER: Review of the top 10 best ASUS gaming laptops
Furthermore, it is developed with the latest technologies: supporting DirectX 12, which features provide smoother, more power-efficient, and speedy gameplay.
RAM and Storage
It comes with a 128GB PCIe NVMe SSD along with a 1TB FireCuda SSHD to uplift your OS drive speed and increase your high-capacity storage.
Furthermore, it features a mind-blowing 16GB DDR4 RAM that is efficient for loading up heavy software and games on your laptop.
Display and Keyboard
This beast features a wrecking 120Hz display with dope wide-view technology that helps decrease gameplay lags. And the 94% NTSC color gamut delivers an extensive color range, which is equal to 130% of sRGB.
Additionally, it is 20% brighter than the low-end IPS panels, which makes it outshine its competitors. It significantly helps differentiate enemies without any hassle and encourages you to destroy them with enhanced accuracy.
It comes with a desktop-inspired keyboard with four customizable RGB-backlit zones allowing you to stay focused on your game and comfortably place your fingers on the keys.
The other side
Apart from the pros of this giant, it messed up at the battery: making it not everyone’s cup of tea when it comes to giving a great backup time. But, if you stay in one place, it can also be overlooked.
- Gaming Beast.
- Super smooth Visuals.
- Sync-enabled desktop-style keyboard.
- Short battery life.
HP Stream A4-9120E - Study Partner
- 1TB of cloud storage.
- Dual-Core a4-9120e Processor.
- HD SVA bright View WLED-backlit Display.
- 1-year full access to Office 365.
- Extremely Portable Excessive Design.
CPU and GPU
This model of HP comes with an AMD Dual-core A4 1.5GHz processor, which can go up to 2.2GHz with Turbo technology. The processor is quite suitable for daily-life usage. However, it will struggle with running heavy software.
Moreover, it features an integrated AMD Radeon R3 Graphics card, a good companion for delivering nice graphics and visuals.
Storage and RAM
HP Steam A4 has 4GB DDR4 RAM, which is not upgradeable. But it is enough to run apps and games with decent speed.
Furthermore, it comes with 64GB eMMC storage, which is slightly faster than the HDD. However, the storage is not enough to store a lot of apps and games. It can be extended up to 128GB, which is much better than that 64 GB.
Keyboard and Display
It has a 14-inch diagonal display with HD SVA bright VIew WLED-backlit alongside 1366 x 768 resolution, which makes it stand out. It helps in providing the colors to be superior, rich, and vibrant.
Also, the keyboard is pretty much normal in terms of pressing the keys, which does not fully provide the vibes that most laptops’ keyboards deliver.
Drawbacks
If you’re using the HP Steam A4 for your work, it is a good one, but it gets slower when it is used excessively. The main reason behind it is the RAM and processor that make it become a tortoise later on.
- Tuned Stereo speaker.
- Sleek Design.
- HD display.
- Becomes slows when used.
Best Laptop for Programming and Gaming
Buyers Guide
Getting a laptop that will tick all your desired fields would significantly reduce time and increase productivity. One should never overlook the below-mentioned parts/domains to achieve such factors.
Therefore, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind before buying the best gaming laptop for this budget.
Furthermore, if you’re more into games and schoolwork, you can check out this list of the best laptops for school and gaming.
Graphics Card
A Graphics card is highly recommended and necessary if you have a knack for gaming, as it helps uplift the graphical representation of the game along with other visual improvements.
However, programmers don’t feel the urge to need a GPU or graphics card. But, if you’re a video editor or graphic designer, you’re more likely to need an above-average card to improve your work significantly.
Most gamers need to add a dedicated card to turn their average laptop into a gaming beast. Although improving other specs is also necessary, the Graphics card adds impressive improvements in smoothly running a game’s visuals.
NVIDIA or AMD graphics cards normally run any game that you wish to play. However, your laptop also needs to meet the minimum requirements of playing a game.
Needless to say, if budget is not your issue, then I would highly encourage you to pick a laptop with the latest version of a graphics card and other specs to experience rocket speed in your gaming and programming.
Moreover, if your budget is tight, you can look at the best gaming laptops under $700, which have laptops with good specs and are budget-friendly.
RAM
The more the RAM, the more it will help improve performance. What else would a programmer want from a laptop that has lightning speed?
To get your laptop to that level, you would need to increase the RAM so your device can do things quickly and save you a lot of time.
If you’re a web developer or a software developer, then you’re most likely to need more RAM to process things faster and run your applications. As far as gaming is concerned, programming apps and games share the same traits; you will have to have more RAM to run your favorite games or applications.
To sum up, adding more RAM to your laptop is a good step because your processor will efficiently and quickly read data from the RAM than the hard drive.
Normally, nowadays, laptops come with 8GB of RAM with entry-level specs. However, if you get 16GB RAM, it will significantly improve the speed of your laptop. Also, you can increase it further if you work on heavy applications or games.
Processor
The latest your processor is, the faster it will get things done for you.
A processor’s clock speed specifies how quickly the CPU interprets and retrieves the instructions.
A programmer and a gamer have to look for the processor before spending money on buying a laptop because their work solely depends on the processor. If it’s fast enough to process data/instructions, then you’re good to go, and if not, good luck with wasting your money.
Choosing the latest processor is essential as it is the only option for optimum performance.
Furthermore, if you’re looking for a processor on a fixed or tight budget, then the Core i5 is the best option. However, the Core i7 can be a bit costly, but it’s worth it. Also, you can go through this list of the best laptops under $800 to pick up your budget-friendly laptop with good performance.
However, picking up the diamond — the latest one in the game- is always recommended, which outperforms any other competitor in the long run.
SSD
SSD is similar to HDD but with more advancements. It can boost the speed of opening up applications way too quickly compared to HDD.
It significantly adds huge value to the performance of your device. Furthermore, if Windows is installed in the SSD, it will help boot it up in a matter of seconds.
Most of the laptops come with 256-512GB of SSD as entry-level specs. But increasing it is not an issue.
Another notable feature of SSD is that it stores the data using flash memory instead of storing it on magnetic platters, which is the key to its faster performance and fame.
If you need power, speed, portability, efficiency, and durable data storage, then SSD is the best option.
Keyboard & Screen
For programmers, the essential thing in a laptop is its Keyboard and Display.
The keyboard is where a programmer spends most of his time, and if the keyboard fails to please the fingers of a coder, then there’s a high chance of changing the laptop.
For programmers, do yourself a favor and pick up the one with the best keyboard and superior, comfy keys, as you already have an idea about how much typing needs to be done.
When it comes to the display, it needs to be pretty decent as you will be looking at it for a more extended period, and you don’t want it to lower your eyesight in a couple of months.
Pick up a laptop with a high resolution and powerful display that does not strain your eyes when you work.
Also, if you have trouble looking for the ideal laptop with the best resolution and display: here is the list of the best laptops under $1000 with a great display.
Keeping these two things in mind before picking a laptop would ideally increase your interest in using the laptop. Hence, you will be indulged in working for a longer time.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the optimal Processor for Programming?
For most of the programmers, the Core i5 processor is working fine. But, if you’re into software development and gaming, you need the latest processor to achieve your goals without hassle.
Is a dedicated graphics card essential for programming?
Not necessary for programming, but if you’re more into video editing, graphics designing, and gaming, then it should be your foremost priority to get a decent graphics card to make things quick.
Will SSD be enough to boost up the speed?
SSD does significantly boost the speed of your laptop. However, if you get enough RAM with it, then it will do wonders. Also, SSD will help to boost your Windows pretty much faster and open up apps and games.
How much RAM should I get to run apps and games smoothly?
Normally, 8GB RAM is enough to run mediocre-sized apps and games. But getting 16GB or higher will skyrocket the speed of your laptop. However, it is not necessary to get 16GB, but only if you use high-end apps.
What other things should I look for besides the specs?
For a programmer, the keyboard and display matter the most as they will spend most of their time on it. If you get a laptop with a comfortable and smooth keyboard and a top-notch quality display, then you’re more likely to love your laptop naturally.
Conclusion: Best Laptop for Programming and Gaming
Since you have gone through our list of the best laptops for programming and gaming in 2023, I hope now you are clear enough to choose your laptop wisely.
A high price does not define the product to outshine every time. Instead, observe the technicalities of the laptop and how it can solve your problems.
If you didn’t find your go-to laptop here, you can check out this list of the best gaming laptops under $1200, which are budget-friendly, pretty fast to process things up, and put an end to your miseries.
Thanks for this amazing content for the best laptops for programming