Yes, you can write your code on many laptops, but in this article, I will help you get you your ideal laptop that will improve your productivity as a developer.
STEP 1: DEFINE YOUR NEEDS
To avoid overspending or understanding, you should determine your needs first.
What type of development you will be doing? this is the question that you should ask yourself.
Developing a gaming mobile app is different than developing a business app. Do you develop for iOS or Android?
Questions like that help a lot in getting the right choice for you.
STEP 2: DEFINE THE OPERATING SYSTEM
Long story short, if you don’t know what OS to go with, I recommend you macOS.
I was developing Android and iOS apps from the same Apple laptop. Windows laptops cannot develop Apple programs because the process requires you to use keys that you can get only get from an Apple computer.
WINDOWS
What makes Windows operating system popular is its large choice of configurations and price ranges offered.
Another thing that makes Windows a good choice for you as a web developer is the more application choices you get and the best support you can get in case something went wrong.
Windows OS is also a good choice for developers on a tight budget.
If you like other operating systems for their productivity advantages like the virtual assistant, with the later versions of Windows, you can have VA to check the weather, schedule appointments, or multi-task with multiple virtual desktops.
MAC OS
macOS is an easy-to-use operating system from Apple that can only be loaded on Mac laptops and desktops.
Unless you are developing Windows applications, MacOS makes a good choice for you if you can afford an Apple laptop.
What used to differentiate laptops with macOS from others is their high performance and high-definition screens that were less straining for developers’ eyes.
Situations, where macOS laptops are recommended, are in the case of developing programs for apple products, your developing work relies on a program that is available only on Mac, or you can work on multiple platforms, and spending more is not a problem for you.
CHROME OS
ChromeOS is a browser-based operating system from Google that is created first for students.
Chromebooks, laptops with the ChromeOS, are budget laptops that have less performance.
I can recommend you laptops with ChromeOS only if you are on a budget and you are developing apps for Chrome or ChromeOS.
STEP 3: DEFINE THE LAPTOP SPECS
CPU
Since you are a developer, I don’t see the need to explain what a CPU means.
- LOW-END CPUs: This price range includes anything from Intel Atom, Intel Pentium and Intel Celeron, and AMD E-Series. I recommend you avoid any cheap CPUs because they are designed only for very limited tasks like word processing.
- SLIGHTLY ABOVE LOW-END CPUs: The same thing with the previous CPU range, avoid CPUs like Intel Core m3, m5, and m7 because they can only perform basic tasks.
- MID-RANGE CPUs: CPUs like Intel Core i3 or i5 are able to execute your code flawlessly. Moreover, you can also multitask and open a multitude of Chrome tabs while using your developing programs.
- HIGH-END CPUs: If you are developing intensive programs like vector-based ones or large mobile applications, you should opt for high-end processors starting from Intel’s sixth- and seventh-generation Core i7 to the Intel Xeon.
STORAGE
Usually, developers store their needed files in the local storage space. This is why I recommend you at least 256Go of storage to not have to delete unused files every week.
Other than the storage space, I recommend you also SSDs over HDDs because they make your laptop faster at starting and launching programs.
RAM
As a web developer or programmer, you will need to run multiple virtual machines to test your code, so you will need more RAM than average laptop users.
- 8GB: This will not be enough for you as a programmer, especially if you are working on a Windows machine.
- 16GB: Laptops with 16GB of RAM should give you more than enough to develop any type of application.
- 32GB: Getting a new laptop with 32GB of RAM means you will not have to buy or upgrade your laptop in the following three years.
DISPLAY
For web developers on laptops, I recommend you anything that comes with at least a 15″ display. This way, you will have enough screen real estate to open multiple windows next to each other.
For resolution, you should get a display with at least Full-HD 1080p resolution to read your code without having to scroll too much or strain your eyes.
GRAPHICS
If you are developing or programming light desktop or mobile apps, an integrated graphics chip can do the job and save you money that can get you better RAM, display, or battery.
Dedicated graphics are the choice for developers of heavy programs like 3D
One graphic card that I can recommend to you is the Nvidia 10-series graphics card. It should give you more than enough power.
KEYBOARD
How comfortable the keyboard is is an important feature that many laptop buyers miss to look at.
Since you will spend many hours typing on your laptop, you should get a sturdy keyboard that will not fail in its first year of use.
If you are going for an Apple laptop, ask about the name of the keyboard model and look if it is reliable or not. For example, Apple Butterfly keyboards are known to be prone to failure.
TRACKPAD
Even if you will develop using an external mouse, the trackpad remains an important part of your laptop.
Your laptop trackpad should be large enough, with a glass or plastic finish that does not make your fingers stick a lot if they get slightly sweaty.
Responsiveness and multiple finger support are also important to be more productive in web development.
STEP 4: DEFINE THE LAPTOP DESIGN
TRADITIONAL OR HYBRID LAPTOPS
Now that you know which specs to look for, let’s see which laptop design suits you better.
Convertible, hybrid, or 2-in-1 all mean a laptop that can double as a tablet. Sometimes they come with a detachable keyboard and sometimes fold upon themselves.
Considering their cons like high cost and heavyweight, I recommend hybrid laptops only if you will be using their touchscreen every day.
WEIGHT AND SIZE
If you are looking for an easy-to-carry laptop because you may have to work sometimes from home or travel for work, you should highly consider the weight and size of every laptop.
For an easy-to-carry laptop for you as a web developer, I recommend you anything with at least a 15″ display and below 3 lbs.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I see that I shared everything, if you still have a question, do not hesitate to leave it in the comment below.
If you liked this buying guide, I recommend my interesting article Best Laptop for Programming and Gaming that has a detailed buying guide and a list of my recommended laptops for people with different budgets and needs.
