Finding the best laptop for application development can be a daunting task. With so many different options on the market, it can be hard to determine which one is right for you. We want to make sure that the applications you develop stand out from the others.
We have compiled a list of what we think are great laptops to choose from while searching for the best laptop for application development. We will also provide tips on selecting the right laptop for your needs. So, whether you are a beginner or an experienced developer, read on to find out everything you need to know about choosing the perfect laptop for your next project!
Quick Shopping Tip
As an app developer, your primary concern should be the processing speed while searching for a laptop. You don’t need to worry about the graphics card as the tasks you desire to execute with a laptop don’t demand excellent graphics!
Hence, our primary focus should be the processor and memory. Who knows, maybe you’re a person that loves to travel while working. For that, we’ll keep portability in mind as well.
Our 8 Picks | Best Laptop for Application Development
Apple MacBook Air
Our Best Pick
The Apple MacBook Air is a laptop suitable for all purposes. Whether you’re a video editor, a businessman, or a developer, Macs are known to steal the show. They provide performance which is extremely difficult to compete.
Usually, you’ll find that the more performance-oriented laptops are bulky. However, the Apple MacBook Air is one of the thinnest and lightest laptops out in the market. If you are the type of person who works while keeping his laptop on his lap and sitting on a sofa, then due to its lightweight, you’ll love this laptop.
The M1 processor from Apple is made to deliver excellent results without any hiccups. Furthermore, the 8GB of RAM and the 256GB SSD will ensure smooth multi-tasking when you develop those breathtaking applications.
Apple won’t let you down if the display is important for you. You will enjoy working on the 13″ Retina display, appealing to the eyes. In addition, you’re also going to get long-lasting battery life. The lightweight of this machine and long battery life are a treat for travellers. The only con about this laptop is that it lacks ports. Otherwise, this laptop is as sweet as honey.
| Processor | Apple’s M1 Chip |
| RAM | 8GB RAM |
| Storage | 256GB SSD |
| Graphics | Apples 7-core graphics |
| Display | 13” Retina Display |
| Operating System | macOS |
| Battery Life | Up to 18 hours (Battery life varies with use) |
| Weight | Approximately 2.8 lbs (1.27 KG) |
Acer Swift 3
Our Second Choice
Suppose you want the best possible value without breaking your bank look no further than the Acer Swift 3. This laptop offers a remarkable combination of specifications at a very reasonable price.
The laptop is a very stylish-looking metal build, and the chassis has a matte finish to it. The black keys on the silver chassis seem pretty cool, and by the looks, this laptop can attract some attention while you take it out on a trip or in the office. The overall build of this laptop is pretty sturdy, and it seems like Acer has paid some attention to the design of this laptop.
Now, be ready to get your mind blown. This laptop comes with an incredible Octa-core Ryzen 7 processor with 8GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. While you’re still lost in its specs, let me remind you that this is not a thousand-dollar laptop but falls under 750$. Outstanding if you ask me.
The keyboard is backlit, and you also get a fingerprint scanner which ensures no intruder gets access to your laptop without your consent. If this is not enough, the weight of this laptop is also breathtaking.
This machine weighs only 2.7 pounds; what more do you want in a laptop? A good battery life, I hear you say? Well, hold your horses as you will get a battery life of up to 12 hours. With these specs at such a low price, this is one of the sweetest laptops out on the market.
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 5700U Octa-Core Processor |
| RAM | 8GB RAM |
| Storage | 512GB SSD |
| Graphics | AMD Radeon Graphics |
| Display | 14″ Full HD IPS 100% sRGB Display |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Battery Life | Up to 12 hours on average (Battery life varies with use) |
| Weight | Approximately 2.71lbs (1.2 KG) |
HP Pavilion 15
Our Budget Pick
For those that are tight on the budget but still want a laptop that can cooperate with them while they develop those fantastic applications, the HP Pavilion enters the party.
HP is offering remarkable value at a price tag of less than 600$. You are not only getting the 11th generation Core i5 processor but also 8 GB’s of RAM. If you ask me, this is something fantastic.
Even at a low price tag, HP is offering a 256GB SSD to ensure that your laptop doesn’t slow down while working and continues to provide bombastic performance.
This laptop may not be the best for people on the go, as it’s got some weight to it. Hence it won’t be very comfortable to carry around with you. Claims have been made that the battery life of this laptop can live up to the 8-hour mark, which is good considering this laptop is less than 600$.
The keyboard is somewhat hard to see in low light as the font is very thin, and it does not light up. But hey! Let’s not get too picky; we are getting some serious value at a pretty low price. Hence these small things can be ignored easily.
| Processor | 11th Generation Intel Core i5-1135G7 |
| RAM | 8GB RAM |
| Storage | 256GB SSD |
| Graphics | Intel Iris Xe Graphics |
| Display | 15.6″ FHD (1920 x 1080) display |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Battery Life | Up to 8 hours (Battery life varies with use) |
| Weight | Approximately 3.75 lbs (1.7 KG) |
LG Gram 15
You may think that it is not possible for a laptop to be lightweight and have a 15.6″ screen simultaneously. Well, LG has stunned the world with its Gram 15. The LG Gram 15 is a featherlight laptop having a 15.6″ screen to provide a better visual experience.
Performance-wise, this laptop from LG shines due to its 11th generation Core i5 processor, which is more than enough to handle application development tasks. Like the Macbook Air, this laptop is very travel-friendly as it also has an excellent battery life that can easily last more than a day on a single charge.
The 8GB RAM and the 512GB SSD combo are also great for developers, ensuring all their tasks are taken care of smoothly.
The LG Gram 15 is built of magnesium, which doesn’t feel very premium when touched, plus the display lid is relatively easy to bend. However, you’ll find the chassis of this device to be quite strong, which is a good sign.
On the rear of the laptop, you’ll also find a “gram” logo that adds to this machine’s stylish look. Overall the LG Gram is a great laptop to work on and an excellent travel companion.
| Processor | 11th Gen Intel Core i5-1135G7 |
| RAM | 8GB RAM |
| Storage | 512GB SSD |
| Graphics | Intel Iris Xe Graphic |
| Display | 15.6″ Full HD IPS (1920×1080) display |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Battery Life | Up to 21 hours (Battery life varies with use) |
| Weight | Approximately 2.47 lbs (1.12 KG) |
Asus ZenBook 13
The Zenbook 13 from Asus is as classy as you can get. It’s small and compact when it comes to size but delivers like a beast. You’ll find the feel of this laptop to be very premium, considering aluminum is the primary material used. Furthermore, its build quality and feel are sturdy and solid.
When it comes to performance, you have absolutely nothing to worry about. Asus has hooked this beautiful beast up with an 11th generation Core i7 processor, excellent to get all sorts of tasks completed like a boss.
Furthermore, this laptop will allow you to run and store all the heavy software simultaneously due to the 8GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD present inside this machine.
Although while searching for the best laptop for application development, the display is not important. However, the display of this laptop is so crisp and colourful that it deserves a lot of credit. A crispy and colourful display is a graphic designer’s dream as they tend to play with colours a lot.
By now, you probably don’t have any objections regarding the portability of this laptop. Its compact has a fantastic battery life that can last a whole day if you don’t use it too continuously and hence is another candidate to become your partner while on the go.
| Processor | 11th Gen Intel Core i7-1165G7 |
| RAM | 8GB RAM |
| Storage | 512GB SSD |
| Graphics | Intel Iris Plus Graphics |
| Display | 13.3” OLED FHD NanoEdge Bezel Display |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Battery Life | Up to 13 hours (Battery life varies with use) |
| Weight | Approximately 2.45 lbs (1.1 KG) |
Acer Predator Helios 300
Although the amount of horsepower present in this laptop is not required for tasks like application development, who knows, maybe you just love the aesthetics and look of a gaming laptop and want one for your work. Hence, we have included this powerhouse in our list for those who prefer gaming laptops for every purpose.
Being a gaming laptop, the Acer Predator is bulkier than the other laptops on this list. Furthermore, the battery compared to other laptops is also not good as gaming laptops are generally expected to sit on a desk most of the time. Hence, this laptop is not a good choice for people that like to travel with their laptops.
However, the specs of this laptop are not for the faint-hearted. With an 11th generation Core i7 processor alongside 16 GB of RAM, you can expect some serious performance. Application development for this laptop is nothing more than a piece of cake as it is designed to execute way more demanding and intense tasks.
The RTX 3060 GPU and the 144Hz is an addition that makes this laptop boss many others. However, we won’t go into its graphical capabilities as that’s not our topic today.
If you’re someone like me, you may find an RGB keyboard to be very appealing. Furthermore, you can customize the RGB lights in this laptop according to your desire to ensure that the laptop matches the theme of your setup.
| Processor | 11th gen Intel Core i7-11800H |
| RAM | 16GB RAM |
| Storage | 512GB SSD |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 |
| Display | 15.6″ Full HD 144Hz 3ms IPS Display |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Battery Life | 3-5 hours on average (Battery life varies with use) |
| Weight | Approximately 5.07 lbs (2.2 KG) |
Lenovo Flex 5
The Lenovo Flex 5 is one of the best and cheapest convertible laptops available. Its overall design is elegant, and the imprinted Lenovo logo on the rear of the lid adds a touch of professionalism. The graphite grey unicolour of this laptop may seem a bit dull to some, but that depends on an individual’s choice.
Without a doubt, you will not have any objections to the specs of this device. The Ryzen 5 4500U processor and the 16 GB of RAM will make you sail through your tasks with ease.
The 3.3-pound weight of this machine is neither too light nor too heavy. In addition, you can get an average battery life of approximately 10 hours from this machine which makes it capable of going with you on your journey. Furthermore, you can charge your laptop from 0 to 80% in just an hour, saving your precious time.
The digital pen you get alongside this laptop is a great addition. You can draw different diagrams or a flowchart before using the digital pen to get into the development phase.
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 4500U Processor |
| RAM | 16GB RAM |
| Storage | 256GB SSD |
| Graphics | AMD Radeon Graphics |
| Display | 14.0″ FHD (1920 x 1080) Touch Display |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Battery Life | 10 hours on average (Battery life varies with use) |
| Weight | Approximately 3.3 lbs (1.49 KG) |
Lenovo Ideapad 3
When we talk about budget laptops, Lenovo comes to our minds first as they have quite a few choices to pick from in the budget sector. The Lenovo Ideapad 3 is such an example. As for the price, this laptop falls under 500$, and the specs are still good enough for application development.
You will not find the overall build and chassis to feel too premium, but for a laptop under 500$, it’s not bad either. This device will look sleek while you work on it and will not disappoint in terms of performance.
The Intel Pentium Gold 7505 processor alongside 8GB of RAM will provide a smooth experience without any roller coasters while working. The 256GB SSD is also there to provide a fast boot-up time.
Furthermore, there are tons of options available on this laptop. If you are not satisfied with the 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD combo, you have to order an upgraded version from Amazon easily having specifications of up to 36GB RAM and 1TB SSD – crazy, right?
We think that we have given you enough laptops to choose from to start or continue your application development journey. We hope that you have found the best laptop for application development by now.
| Processor | Intel Pentium Gold 7505 |
| RAM | 8GB RAM |
| Storage | 256GB SSD |
| Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics |
| Display | 15.6″ (1920 x 1080) FHD Display |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Battery Life | Up to 10 hours (Battery life varies with use) |
| Weight | Approximately 3.74lbs (1.69KG) |
Buying Guide
Searching for the best laptop for application development can get complicated. For that we have listed a few factors which you should pay attention towards to find your perfect machine.
Processor
The processor is the most critical component of a laptop. It’s responsible for performing all the computer’s tasks and determines the laptop’s speed. When looking for a new laptop for application development, you should find that has a processor good enough to handle your tasks. If you use your laptop for rendering or video editing, you will need a more powerful processor than if you will only use it for basic tasks like web browsing and word processing.
RAM
RAM (random access memory) is the second most important laptop component. It determines how many tasks a laptop can handle at once and how quickly they will be completed. Most laptops come with 8 GB of RAM, but you can find some with 16 GB or even 32 GB. If you know that you will be using your laptop for more intensive tasks, you should get one with more RAM.
Storage
Storage is an important factor when selecting a laptop. The amount of storage you need depends on the type of files you plan to store on your laptop. If you plan to store many photos and videos, you will need a laptop with a lot of storage. If you plan to store only a few files, you may be able to get away with a laptop with less storage.
Another thing to consider when selecting a laptop is to think about the speed at which you would like your files to be transferred from the storage device. Though most laptops now have a hard drive, some have a solid-state drive to store data faster than a regular hard drive. Some laptops even allow the use of both to choose the speed you want. However, having an SSD in your computer is a must for super-speed in today’s era.
Battery life
Battery life is essential to consider when buying a new laptop. Laptops with long battery lives are ideal for people who need to work on them for hours without having to worry about their battery running out. You should test the battery life of any laptops you’re considering buying by using them until they die, which will give you a good idea of how long the battery will last with regular use.
Portability
Portability is an important factor to consider if you travel with your laptop often. Laptops are typically categorized as portable or heavy, indicating how heavy they are and how easy they are to carry around. Generally, the lighter the laptop is, the more expensive it will be. If you’re looking for something extremely portable but don’t want to spend too much money on it, then try finding a thin 13-inch laptop that weighs less than 3 lbs. We have multiple thin and light laptops on our list.
Price
Price is one of the most significant factors people consider when buying a new laptop due to its importance in determining what type of device someone can afford. The price of laptops can vary greatly, so it’s essential to find one that fits your budget. It would help if you also consider the other factors mentioned in this article when determining how much you’re willing to spend on a new laptop.
These are just some of the most important factors to consider when buying a new laptop. Make sure to do your research and ask around to see what other people recommend before purchasing. With so many different laptops on the market, it can be challenging to decide which one is right for you. By taking the time to consider all of these factors, you’ll be able to find the perfect laptop for your needs.
Make sure to keep these few factors in mind. They will help you find the best device for your needs and budget. Laptops vary greatly in price, portability, performance, and display quality, so it’s crucial to find one that meets your specific needs. If you’re not sure where to start, consult this guide to help you make the right decision.
Conclusion
We hope this post has helped you find the best laptop for application development that will suit your needs. After some research, we think the Apple Macbook Air is good enough to take the first spot on our list, while the Acer Swift 3 is our second choice. The Pavilion 15 from HP provides value while staying under 600$. Hence that has been selected as our budget pick.
Please know that this is a buying guide and not a review. A review is done by a person who has used the product, but a buying guide is a well-researched guide by someone who has detailed knowledge of a particular field. We love everything about laptops, hence we think that our buying guides will assist you immensely when hunting for a laptop.
For more laptop buying guides and information Visit here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are application developers?
Application developers are people who create software programs. These programs can be used directly by the user or facilitate other processes that are not directly under the user’s control.
For example, some application developers create programs for managing personal information, such as calendars and contact lists. Other application developers create programs that are used to manage the operation of some other software, such as Windows or Mac OS X. Others develop applications for end-users, such as word processing programs and video games.
Many organizations employ application developers, including large corporations (Microsoft, Google), commercial software publishers (Adobe, Intuit), and government institutions (NASA).
Is application development hard?
It can be. When people think of application development, they often think of simple phone apps built for a quick purpose. While this is true, there are many different kinds of application development.
There is normal app development on phones and computers, but web applications like WordPress or e-commerce platforms are also used. There’s also server-side application development for web applications, and there are many different ways to approach app development. Front-end developers are working on the overall look of the website or application, and back-end developers are working on the complicated stuff.
The term application development is certainly a broad one, but it’s something you can learn to do with a decent knowledge of programming. It’s hard because it takes a while to learn, and while you’re learning, you have to use your initiative and solve problems on your own.
It’s also hard because you need to find a specific theme or idea that is original and will make an impact. Once you’ve seen such a theme, it’s easier to implement and create accordingly with your concept in mind. That is how application development works.
More Laptop Buying Guides
Thank you for Reading!
