Best Laptops for Web Developers (2023)

FAQs

Do I need a powerful laptop for web development? ›

A fast CPU and a decent amount of RAM is all that's needed for most web development work. Expensive graphics cards and ultra-performance CPUs aren't that much required. Most models fall into one of four price brackets: Budget —$150-350.

To allow for a reasonable amount of multitasking, researching, fast build times, and a responsive development environment, 16 GB of memory is a good minimum requirement. For extensive multitasking, memory-hungry tools and build processes, and virtual machines, at least 32 GB of memory may be worth the investment.

NET Core is one of the most popular and loved web-development frameworks to build web apps. Developers can create powerful apps faster with the ASP . NET Core Framework.

Linux and MacOS share the same "operating system ancestor" Unix. So, by developing on Macs you learn a lot of programs and concepts that are applicable when deploying, operating, and managing production web servers. MacOS also has a fantastic software package management tool called Homebrew.”

Programmers prefer using Macs because it's Unix-based, provides cross-platform compatibility, offers better security and stability, has a clean and polished UI/UX, and delivers an excellent build quality backed by excellent customer support.

If you're learning to code or have some experience programming, you've probably wondered whether a Mac or a PC is better for programming. Overall, a PC is a good option for gaming and offers a great variety of programs developed exclusively for Windows, while a Mac offers a better user experience and security.

PC with Windows is absolutely enough for web-development. But comparing devices in the same price range, I would prefer an apple device because MacBooks and their software are better by the quality. You will spend less time and effort to set up and support the development environment. Thanks for reading!

It depends on what web projects you are working on. If you are doing HTML and CSS only, you definitelly don't need extra GPU, but if you are creating WebVR, WebCL or WebGL apps, then it may be good to have better GPU.

Intel CPU: Quad core 2GHZ or Higher. AMD CPU: Quad core 3GHZ or Higher. 8 GB RAM minimum recommended. 500 GB Standard Hard Drive (250 GB Solid State Hard Drive)

How much RAM do I need for coding? ›

A laptop with at least 8GB of RAM is ideal. The requirement goes even higher for game developers. Game development environments, level design need powerful systems to run. We recommend finding laptops with 16GB of RAM, or something lower but the ability to expand the memory to 16GB at a later point.

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 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.

For gamers, 64GB is certainly overkill: 16GB will be fine for new title releases in the near future. It's what else is on your PC hoovering up the memory that might require it. Browsers can eat up several gigs, particularly if you have a bunch of tabs open and extensions loaded.

In most situations, 32GB of RAM can be considered overkill, but this is not always true. There are situations where 32GB is an appropriate amount to have. It is also a good way to futureproof your PC as requirements increase with time.

If you're running into bottlenecks in common desktop use, it's less likely to be because you don't have enough CPU cores and more likely due to something like not having enough RAM, especially if you're doing very heavy web browsing. So for common desktop use, 2-4 cores should be enough for your needs.

The single most fundamental tool in any web developer's arsenal is their PC — and a large part of that lies in the operating system they choose to work with. Granted, regardless of your choice of OS, the software your machine is running won't bring you success.

Is Python better on Mac or Windows? ›

Is it Better to Learn Python on PC or Mac? No difference between the Python that runs on a PC and one that runs on Mac. It most times boils down to personal preference. According to Stack Overflow's 2020 survey, 45.8% develop using Windows while 27.5% work on macOS, and 26.6% work on Linux.

Cross-Platform Compatibility

Working with MAC OS X, you are able to run all the major operating systems on your machine, which is a great advantage for programmers. It would be difficult to run OS X on a Windows laptop, and the only time that is possible is if you install hacked versions of OS X.

Dark mode appears soothing to the eyes because it offers better code syntax highlighting with lesser eye strains, increases concentration, and reduces power consumption for OLED screens. It is arguably better for programmers when compared to light mode.

Conclusion. Overall, the Macbook Air is good enough for programming, but the MacBook Pro is reccomended for those using Python, Ruby, java, web development, machine learning and many other programming related tasks.

MacBook Pro 13-inch (M1, 2020)

The M1 chip is no slouch when it comes to performance, either, so compiling and testing code is extremely quick as well. If you have the budget for it, this is a programming laptop that will last you for years.

macOS is one of the most versatile operating systems for developing software. Whether you're developing Android, iOS, web, or desktop apps, macOS has the tools to do it all. The biggest advantage of macOS is the ability to develop native iOS apps and many others through Xcode.

Unlike some iOS or some types of application development, the tools for web development are all operating system agnostic. You can write HTML, CSS, and JavaScript on Windows, Mac, Linux, and even ChromeOS if you're willing to get a bit creative.

Most software developers worldwide report the use of Windows operating system as their preferred development environment, as of 2021. Apple's macOS comes in third with 44 percent, behind the 47 percent of developers preferring Linux.

Should I use Windows or Linux for web development? ›

Web developers are primarily focused on developing websites and web applications that run on internet browsers like Google Chrome, Safari, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, etc. Hence, if seen from a stratospheric level, Windows is a better overall option as it permits you to work simultaneously with Linux.

Intel Core i5 and i7 processors work well for web development since they can render high-quality images and videos plus handle heavy computation programs. If you plan on doing a lot of multitasking, an Intel Core i7 processor may be your best bet, thanks to its Hyper-Threading technology that can prevent lagging.

The MacBook Pro is a great machine for full-time web developers, and is notably apt for those working with graphics and other types of digital media. Most won't hit trouble managing a localhost environment with heavy code and graphics, but even if you do (unlikely), every model is configurable to 16GB of memory.

A 512GB SSD is enough for routine programming needs.

Windows 10 is a good choice for coding because it supports many programs and languages. In addition, it has significantly improved over other versions of Windows and comes with various customization and compatibility options. There are also many advantages to coding on Windows 10 over Mac or Linux.

To allow for a reasonable amount of multitasking, researching, fast build times, and a responsive development environment, 16 GB of memory is a good minimum requirement. For extensive multitasking, memory-hungry tools and build processes, and virtual machines, at least 32 GB of memory may be worth the investment.

System requirements for Python Installation: 1. Operating system: Linux- Ubuntu 16.04 to 17.10, or Windows 7 to 10, with 2GB RAM (4GB preferable) 2. You have to install Python 3.6 and related packages, please follow the installation instructions given below as per your operating system.

For storing a decent quantity of data and all the programs, a laptop with 8 GB RAM and 256 GB SSD is enough.

Is graphic card necessary for Python? ›

A dedicated graphics card can be used with python and it's an essential part of the laptop. While you may not think a graphics card is a necessity, really can be, depending on what you plan to do on the laptop. They can be used for python programming, as well as, gaming, so you need to ensure that's available.

CPU and RAM

Sophisticated Python code and the applications you build later require a solid CPU. It's the heart of the computer after all. I recommend Intel i5 and i7 processors, especially 8th, 9th or 10th generation.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to properly learn coding without a laptop. More than 50% of developers get advice online at least once a day for their code, so without a laptop learning can be very difficult.

i5 and i7 are ideal for programming because they are robust, sturdy, and have better processing capabilities. They are ideal for coding, and you can deploy them to gaming and business productivity tasks. These are high-range processors that can make any computer efficient and fast.

Is a 13-inch laptop okay for programming? Absolutely. Having said that, I personally would go one or two screen sizes up, especially if it's the only computer you have. It will depend on whether you are using just a basic editor or a full IDE.

PC with Windows is absolutely enough for web-development. But comparing devices in the same price range, I would prefer an apple device because MacBooks and their software are better by the quality. You will spend less time and effort to set up and support the development environment. Thanks for reading!

Intel Core i5 and i7 processors work well for web development since they can render high-quality images and videos plus handle heavy computation programs. If you plan on doing a lot of multitasking, an Intel Core i7 processor may be your best bet, thanks to its Hyper-Threading technology that can prevent lagging.

The software integrates with the hardware seamlessly as well. Apple creates its software and hardware, which makes using their machines much more enjoyable and gives them an advantage over other companies that do not do the same. MacBooks tend to last a very long time without having any issues over the years of usage.

Do most web developers use Mac or PC? ›

The single most fundamental tool in any web developer's arsenal is their PC — and a large part of that lies in the operating system they choose to work with. Granted, regardless of your choice of OS, the software your machine is running won't bring you success.

Programmers prefer to use Macs over PC since Mac has a Unix-based development environment and access to many tools and coding libraries. It's also the platform of choice to develop iOS or macOS apps.

If you're learning to code or have some experience programming, you've probably wondered whether a Mac or a PC is better for programming. Overall, a PC is a good option for gaming and offers a great variety of programs developed exclusively for Windows, while a Mac offers a better user experience and security.

A common question for programmers is what processor to buy. i5 and i7 are ideal for programming because they are robust, sturdy, and have better processing capabilities. They are ideal for coding, and you can deploy them to gaming and business productivity tasks.

For programming purposes, you want to start with at least an 8th Generation Intel® i7 processor or an AMD Ryzen™ 5000 series processor.

It depends on what web projects you are working on. If you are doing HTML and CSS only, you definitelly don't need extra GPU, but if you are creating WebVR, WebCL or WebGL apps, then it may be good to have better GPU.

Is it Better to Learn Python on PC or Mac? No difference between the Python that runs on a PC and one that runs on Mac. It most times boils down to personal preference. According to Stack Overflow's 2020 survey, 45.8% develop using Windows while 27.5% work on macOS, and 26.6% work on Linux.

Most software developers worldwide report the use of Windows operating system as their preferred development environment, as of 2021. Apple's macOS comes in third with 44 percent, behind the 47 percent of developers preferring Linux.

Mac laptops are versatile, high tech machines that can get the job done. They will be able to handle most any coding and programming work you do. Especially if you're doing programming work for an Apple ecosystem, then a Mac is your best option.