You don’t need to break the bank by buying a laptop for programming. In this article, I have compiled the best laptops for programming under $1000 so you can start developing right away.
It can be difficult choosing the perfect laptop for you, whether you’re an owner of an established software company or just getting started with programming.
How to Make Sure you Get The Best Laptop for Your Needs Without Breaking Your Budget?
With so many different laptops available online, it can be difficult to know where to start.
Here are a few tips to help you find the best laptop for programming according to your needs without breaking your budget:
- Know your needs: The first step is to assess your needs and what you will be using the laptop for. If you need a powerful laptop for android studio development, web development, or programming you will need to budget accordingly.
On the other hand, if you just need a basic laptop for internet surfing and word processing, you can find more affordable options
- Consider your budget: Once you know your needs, you can start to consider your budget. You may need to buy a laptop with lower specs if you have a limited budget.
The 7 Best Laptops for Programming Under $1000
Depending on your needs, you may value a laptop with a large screen or one that’s lightweight and portable. Following are the 7 best laptops for programming under $1000.
Each of these laptops has its strengths and weaknesses, so be sure to read the pros and cons of each laptop before making your decision.
ASUS Vivobook 17
The ASUS Vivobook 17 is a great laptop for anyone in need of a reliable and affordable computer.
It comes with an Intel Core i3-1115G4 processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD, making it a great choice for programming.
Specs overview
Performance: The most important thing is its Intel Core i3-1115G4 Processor which allows you to do heavy tasks like programming and android studio development.
Display: It comes with a 17.3″ Full HD 1080P Non-Touch Display with a 60Hz refresh rate.
Memory and Storage: With 16GB DDR4 RAM you can easily perform multitasking and a 1TB PCIe SSD allows you to store a huge amount of data and especially programs and software.
Design: The Vivobook 17 is slimmer, sleeker, and more stylish than ever. It’s 15.98″ x 10.08″ x 0.78″ in dimensions and the silver color gives a very modern look.
Editor’s Note
ASUS VivoBook 17 is a powerful and capable laptop that is perfect for programmers and developers.
I would highly recommend it as one of the best laptops for programming under $1000 because of its affordable budget.
| Pros | Cons |
| High system performance | The battery life could be better |
| Good battery life for a 17-inch programming laptop | |
| Comfortable keyboard |
Lenovo ThinkPad E15 Gen 2
The Lenovo ThinkPad E15 Gen 2 is a great laptop for programming for under $1000.
It features a 15.6-inch Full HD display, an AMD Ryzen 5 4500U, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. It also comes with a built-in fingerprint reader for added security.
Specs overview
Performance: It comes equipped with an AMD Ryzen 5 4500U 6-Core processor.
Display: The 15.6″ Full HD display of this laptop gives a better experience while using this laptop. Furthermore, its display provides 1920×1080 resolution.
Memory and Storage: The 16GB RAM (can be extended up to 48GB) of the laptop allows you to work on multiple pieces of software at once and provide enough power for most productivity tasks. Secondly, you can take full advantage of 512GB PCIe SSD.
Design: With a larger display with thinner bezels and a black color option Lenovo ThinkPad E15 Gen 2 provides a sleek and modern look.
Editor’s Note
Lenovo ThinkPad E15 Gen 2 is overall a great laptop for programming and mid-gaming with great specifications. But still, if you want to buy it you should consider visiting its Amazon page for more details.
| Pros | Cons |
| Powered by AMD processor | Looks a bit cheap and flimsy |
| 15.6-inch display with thinner bezels | The colors are not very accurate |
| Up to 48GB of RAM |
Acer Swift 3
The Acer Swift 3 is a great laptop for programming because it has an AMD Ryzen 7 5700U processor, 512GB NVMe SSD, and a 14-inch Full HD display.
It also comes with 8GB LPDDR4X memory.
Specs overview
Performance: This model comes equipped with an AMD Ryzen 7 5700U processor which provides a smooth and seamless programming experience.
Display: The 14″ full HD resolution IPS display allows for plenty of space for editing images or writing code.
Memory and Storage: 8GB RAM and 512GB NVMe SSD make it quick enough to handle even the most demanding jobs.
Design: The sleek silver-colored body with a backlit keyboard gives a modern feel and look.
Editor’s note
Finally, Acer Swift 3 is one of the best laptops for programming under $1000. Due to its high performance and specs.
It’s cheap—but if you’re looking for something that will last longer than two years or so while still being capable enough to do programming work then this might be what you’re looking for!
| Pros | Cons |
| Aluminum casing gives it a premium feel | Performance could be better in this range |
| Great build quality and design | |
| Many output ports |
Dell G15
The Dell G15 is a 15.6-inch laptop that packs a punch. It has an AMD Ryzen 7 5800H processor, 8GB of RAM, and 512GB SSD storage that lets you install all your favorite software.
You get NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti graphics for extra performance when it comes to gaming or programming in particular.
Specs overview
Performance: The AMD Ryzen 7 5800H processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti helps you to process huge amount of data and programs easily.
Display: The Dell G15 has a 15.6” FHD screen (1920 x 1080) which is great for programming.
Memory and Storage: It comes with 8GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage.
Design: With its gray color it comes with a backlit keyboard which makes typing easy in mid-light.
Editor’s note
It’s a great laptop for programming and gaming in this range. Furthermore, it’s easy to use and comes with Windows 10 preinstalled.
| Pros | Cons |
| Powerful hardware | Battery life is average (4-6 hours) |
| Excellent sound quality |
MacBook Pro
The Apple MacBook Pro (15.4-inch) is a great laptop for programming and other technical tasks. It comes with an Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD, and macOS X.
Specs overview
Performance: It’s great for programming because of its performance with the Intel Core i7 processor.
Display: The 15.4-inch (1920 x 1080 pixels) display offers plenty of real estate for different programming tasks.
Memory and Storage: It comes with 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD which allows you to do multi-tasking and store a huge amount of data.
Design: The silver color and thin metallic body of the MacBook Pro looks amazing.
Editor’s note
The overall performance and design of the MacBook don’t need any review. Many developers consider it the best laptop for programming.
Optimization of the Mac makes it one of the best laptops for programming under $1000.
| Pros | Cons |
| Very reliable and secure | Build in a close environment |
| Premium build quality | Keyboard issues (rare) |
| Highly optimized |
Dell Inspiron 15 3501
The Dell Inspiron 15 3501 is a 15.6-inch laptop with a 1920×1080 resolution and Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor. It has 16GB DDR4 RAM, and 512GB SSD storage.
Specs overview
Performance: Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor provides you with plenty of power to run any development smoothly.
Display: It has a 15.6-inch FHD display with a 1920×1080 resolution.
Memory and Storage: The best part about this Dell is that it comes with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage which means you can have plenty of space on your hard drive.
Design: It comes with a thin black body as well as a backlit keyboard with a number pad for easy typing in dimly lit environments.
Editor’s note
The Dell Inspiron 15 3501 is one of the best laptops for programming under $1000. It provides better specifications than any other laptop in this price range.
| Pros | Cons |
| Provides a better programming experience | The design could be better |
| Fast charging | Low screen brightness |
Microsoft Surface Book 2
The Microsoft Surface Book 2 has a 13.5-inch screen, 8GB RAM, and an Intel Core i5-7300U processor.
It runs Windows 10 Pro and comes with an excellent keyboard that’s comfortable to use for long periods.
Specs overview
Performance: It has an Intel Core i5-7300U processor, so it will run any program you throw at it without breaking a sweat.
Display: It has a 13.5-inch screen with 3000 x 2000 resolution, which means that its pixels are much more densely packed.
Memory and Storage: It comes with 8GB of RAM and 128 GB of hard disk which is quite low at this price range.
Design:
Editor’s note
The Surface Book 2 is the smallest and most lightweight laptop on our list but that shouldn’t be a problem if you’re looking for something powerful for programming.
| Pros | Cons |
| Thin and lightweight | Low storage in this price range |
| High screen quality |
FAQs
Are Dell Laptops Good for Programming?
Yes, Dell laptops are good for programming. They offer a variety of features that make them well-suited for the task, including a large monitor, a comfortable keyboard, and a variety of ports for connecting external devices.
Which is Better for Programming Laptop or PC?
This is a difficult question to answer as it depends on what you are looking for in a programming device.
If you are looking for portability, then a laptop might be the better choice. If you are looking for raw power, then a desktop PC might be a better choice.
Are Gaming Laptops Good for Programming?
Yes, gaming laptops are good for programming because they are usually powerful and have a large screen.
Hence, allowing you to run any programming software easily.
Do You Need a Powerful Laptop for Programming
No, you don’t need a powerful laptop for programming. A powerful laptop will make your programming faster and easier, but it’s not necessary.
Conclusion
Laptops are a key piece of equipment for anyone looking to get into programming. While many high-end laptops can be used for programming, they are often out of reach for many people.
In this article, I’ve discussed about the 7 best laptops for programming under $1000 that provide you better specs in a low price range.
What do you think other laptops should be on this list? Let us know in the comments.
