After deciding which MacBook (Pro or Air) you need while shopping on the Apple web site the second page is meant to upsell some upgrade options including extra storage. Chances are you possibly wondering how much do you need to spend to make sure that you will not regret your decision in a year or two.
There is nothing worse than spending a couple of thousands of dollars on a MacBook and finding out soon that you need to spend even more on a new one because the old Mac does not have enough space.
The purpose of this article is to help you decide on MacBook specs and hopefully make your purchase future proof. After all, Apple laptops are very expensive and anyone who’s investing in those hopes to run them for at least 5 years or more.
So, is 128GB enough for MacBook? A 128GB MacBook will satisfy most users as long as the user regularly clears space from old applications and documents and/or uses other ways to extend the storage, such as iCloud or external hard drives.
I am using the cheapest configuration for MacBook Air 2020. 1.1GHz Dual-Core Core i3. 8 GB RAM. 256 GB Storage I use it for various programming tasks 1. Front End - I do HTML, CSS, JavaScript and Vue in VS Code. MacBook Air for programming. Requirements for programming laptops have changed significantly in the last 5-10 years. In the early 2010s and late 2000s, I remember constantly craving for more hard drive space. I had multiple desktops and each desktop had multiple hard drives, the more the better. In those days (pre-cloud) we had to run.
However, it is recommended to double the storage if possible for better MacBook performance.
Now, let’s get into details. Below I will review cases for college use, programming, gaming. I will also describe various ways to extend storage on your MacBook.
Several years ago Apple started soldering laptop components. It meant that the components perfectly fit and this allowed to produce the slimmest MacBooks ever. The downside of this approach is that MacBooks are nowimpossible to upgrade after the purchase. So, one needs to decide between 128GB and 256GB before making buying a new MacBook.
SSD storage on MacBook is needed to store the files. The files on your computer can be roughly placed in 4 categories:
So when assessing how much storage is needed you have to know (predict) how much space you will eventually need for those categories.
How much space should the Mac operating system take?
Do you know how much space is actually free out of the box on a 128GB MacBook?
If you were hoping that with the purchase of the base MacBook model you get entire 128GB disk space then I am sorry to disappoint you. On the brand new 128GB MacBook only 107.5GB space will be available for applications and documents.
The rest (about 20GB) will be immediately used by the MacOS system initially. Note that with more applications being installed on the MacBook and more the system gets upgraded the space taken by the system will only increase.
How much storage do I have on my Mac?
If you don’t know how to find out how much storage you have on your MacBook here are simple steps to find out:
Here is how my MacBook Pro with Mojave OS looks like:
As you can without a single document or new app, I am only left with 107.42GB. The interesting thing is that the storage size is displayed as 121.12GB, not 128GB as you might expect.
The space that is not available (hidden) is used by macOS for OS image, so in case your MacBook crashes or catches a virus you can always wipe out the system and restore to default settings without needing an OS disk.
How much free storage should I have on my Mac?
Before we review the storage requirements for applications and documents let’s discuss how much free space is needed on MacBook. If you ever wondered how a MacBook with 4 GB memory (RAM) can run applications that take 20GB on a disk the answer is that modern computers use the so-called virtual memory.
In the simplest terms, this means that operating system, e.g. macOS, only reads as little data as possible to the actual memory and when the application needs more data the macOS will simply load more when needed. This process is called swapping, macOS swaps data between RAM (memory) and disk (storage).
As a rule of thumb, it is recommended to have at free storage equal to 150% of computer’s RAM. For example, if the RAM on Mac is 8GB then the amount of free storage should be at least 12 GB.
Why is this important? Since we have so little storage in the first place, after accounting for system and free storage space we left with only 95.5GB = (107.5 – 12) for anything else.
Storage for Applications
The amount of storage required for a MacBook (or any computer) depends on the applications you need to have on it. While it is possible to store the documents in the cloud or external devices, the applications in most cases required to be installed on the internal storage.
So if you ask me how much storage is enough I will ask you which applications you are planning to use.
Let’s review some common user types and applications they typically use.
How much storage do I need on my MacBook for college?
As a college student, you will definitely need Microsoft office. If you run Office locally (and you can get a free copy from your college) then following are approximate space requirements for Office apps:
Total for all 3 apps is around 6GB.
Note that these numbers only for app software, they do not include Office documents which may be quite large. With some quick calculations and if we don’t need to install anything else we end up with 89.5GB (95.5 – 6) storage for your notes, lectures, books, email, and other documents.
Also, if all you do is browse the Internet, watch YouTube and don’t like Safari, you can install other browsers and they will need some space as well. Google Chrome gets installed with 418MB of files, while Firefox only needs about 200MB.
This doesn’t include a cache of course. Browsers, are famous for using cache in order to reduce network bandwidth (less time for you to wait), but this comes at the expense of storage space.
Verdict: For most college students MacBook Air with 128GB is good enough for the coursework. 128GB is enough storage to store hundreds (even thousands) of Word/Pages, Excel/Numbers, and PowerPoint/Keynote documents.
Is 128GB storage enough for Gaming?
Definitely not. Modern applications need a lot of disk space because they need to store different images, sounds, etc. Each game nowadays requires 10-20GB of storage. Install a couple of games and there will be no space left on the 128GB disk.
Is 256GB storage enough for gaming? The 256GB disk will be on the lower end for a gaming laptop.
However, there are ways to install multiple games on the MacBook. For instance, if you play games on Steam the application itself (the shell) is pretty small around 6MB.
Games themselves, however, require significant space. For instance, Counter-Strike Global Offensive takes up 20GB, Sid Meier’s Civilization VI about 15GB and Fortnite a little over 19GB.
Fortunately, Steam allows to install games on drives other than primary so you can install an unlimited number of Steam games on cheap external hard drives without investing in expensive primary storage.
So if the question is can you install Fortnite on external hard drive mac then the answer is yes, it is doable. And yes, it will run slower than from the primary disk. But it is far more important to have better CPU and Graphics for games like Fortnite than disk performance.
Verdict: Gamer laptops are the most demanding in terms of resources, including storage. With 128GB MacBook you will only be able to have 1 or 2 games at a time. If you don’t mind uninstalling the games you are not currently playing and installing them back again then 128GB may be enough.
Installing games on external storage is also an option. When purchasing a gaming MacBook first invest in better CPU and more RAM, and then in storage.
MacBook Air for programming
Requirements for programming laptops have changed significantly in the last 5-10 years. In the early 2010s and late 2000s, I remember constantly craving for more hard drive space. I had multiple desktops and each desktop had multiple hard drives, the more the better. In those days (pre-cloud) we had to run everything locally – databases, VMs, multiple tools.
While we, programmers, still install multiple tools, the most resource-hungry applications have moved largely to the cloud. Now I run databases and VMs either on Microsoft Azure and Amazon AWS.
However, the applications themselves grew in size as well. We use open-source libraries more often than before and many of them are not optimized for storage. Nowadays, even fairly simple applications come with dozens of nodeJS modules or other libraries.
Moreover, if you use source control (and you should) checking out branches or releases will double, triple and quadruple the space taken by the source code and executables.
When it comes to applications and tools the requirements also vary.
If you are just an HTML/CSS/JavaScript developer then you likely need a good text editor. For instance, Atom editor takes 520MB, while Visual Studio Code only 220MB (without plugins). If you need Photoshop for image editing then add another 3.5GB.
You need more resources if are building iPhone or Android apps. XCode is particularly bad with over 10GB space requirement. Java with Android library and simulator is another beast.
If you developing with Microsoft Visual Studio (yes, it is available on Mac) then expect 1.3 – 3.0GB storage taken.
So if you want to know my opinion on storage for programming MacBook, I’d say that 128GB will definitely be tight. Doable, but tight. If you are on a budget and need MacBook I would suggest choosing MacBook Pro with smaller disk over MacBook Air with a larger one. When it comes to programming the CPU is still more important.
How about VMs?
Previously, I never ran VMs on external drives because they were super slow. Recently, I tested a Virtual Box image on the external hard drive with the MBP and I was surprised to see how fast it was running. And I believe, this was because I have a super-fast external drive as well as great CPU and plenty of RAM.
While VMs are nice for the purpose of running multiple operating systems on the same hardware, some people prefer using Bootcamp.
Is 128GB enough for Bootcamp? Absolutely no. With Bootcamp one needs to split the drive. And while having 64GB for macOS is a challenge, running Windows 10 on the 64GB drive is essentially impossible.
Windows itself would take more than half of that space leaving almost nothing for other applications. For Bootcamp, I would not recommend anything less than 512GB.
Verdict: Nowadays programmers do not need as much storage as they used to 10 years ago. When purchasing a programming MacBook invest first in a better CPU. The only exception is when the programmer needs to have Bootcamp option.
Graphics Designers
Graphics designers need even more resources than programmers. Since they work with huge image and movie clips the storage requirements for Graphics designers are considerably high. I believe 128GB may not be enough even with external or cloud storage.
For these users, I would recommend getting as much storage as possible, as much RAM as possible and more powerful CPU (which means upgraded 15-inch MacBook Pro). It is true that most files the designers need could be archived away from the primary disk, but when editing image and video files you still need significant storage available on the main drive.
This could be hard to achieve after installing Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, GarageBand, and other essential apps.
Verdict: 128GB storage will be very challenging for Graphics Designers. A MacBook Pro with at least 256GB and additional cloud or external storage will be the most optimal solution.
Can I add more storage to my MacBook?
Unfortunately, the option of adding storage to MacBook is not available after purchase. However, while applications in most cases can only be installed on the primary disk, the majority of the documents (pictures, videos, last year presentations, old iTunes backups) can be archived and removed from the MacBook.
There are two main ways to archive old documents: cloud and external storage.
iCloud
While there are many cloud storage options unsurprisingly iCloud is the most compatible for Apple laptops. What’s cool about iCloud is that it automatically uploads your documents and clears your hard drive.
Let’s compare iCloud pricing with money needed to upgrade MacBook drive from 128GB to 256GB.
To upgrade MacBook from 128GB to 256 you need to pay an additional $200.
iCloud does not have option for 128GB, only 50GB, 200GB and 2TB (in the US).
If you go with the 200GB option the monthly plan currently stands at $2.99, which is equal to $35.88 per year. So instead of spending $200 for additional 128GB, you can have 200GB for 5.5 years. By that time you most likely going to have another laptop.
Moreover, you can share iCloud account if you have multiple MacBooks and iPhones and you can also share the same account with your family.
The downside of any cloud storage is that you always need internet. Fortunately, at least in the US free wifi is available in any Starbucks and in most organizations. In the worst case, you can always use internet tethering on your smartphone.
Microsoft OneDrive
Did you know that Microsoft Office 365 comes with at least 1TB of OneDrive space?
If you don’t have old Microsoft Office license and thinking about purchasing an Office 365 subscription you will be happy to find out that for $69.99 per year (or $6.99 per month) you can get Personal edition of the Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. And that includes 1TB of cloud storage. College students can get this even for free as far as I know.
External hard drives
The advantage of the external hard drives is obviously the ability to work offline. With the speeds of the latest drives, you will not see a big difference between documents (or applications) stored on internal or external disks.
All you need to know is which drives are best for your MacBook. If you need a recommendation then check: The Most Reliable External Hard Drive For Mac Ever.
The downside of the external devices is that you need to carry them separately while traveling. Another problem is that you may not have enough ports (especially with the latest 12-inch MacBook) to plug-in devices which means that you need adapters too.
Flash drives
While flash drives are normally smaller and slower than SSD drives they are way more convenient. If you deciding which Flash drive to buy check the ones I am using myself.
Macbook Air 2019 For ProgrammingSD Cards
There is a better solution for extending storage if you are buying a used MacBook (2015 or earlier). Transcend 256GB JetDrive Lite is an SD card which fits nicely in the expansion slot if your MacBook has one. The beauty of this approach is that you get an external drive of a decent size which is always inside the laptop.
You don’t have to plug and unplug it when transporting and it does not use USB ports so you can still use other devices which is super helpful.
Transcend cards are specifically designed for MacBooks. They are not some generic cards that people happen to use for both PCs and Macs. There are four different sizes so make sure to scroll down this Amazon page to find out which type fits your Mac.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I will earn a commission, at no additional cost to you. Read my full disclosure here.
The MacBooks I personally own
I am a lucky owner of three MacBooks and I am thinking about getting another one. The temptation to buy one was so overwhelming during 4th of July sale when I saw 12-inch MacBook for $849 ($450 off) so I had to keep distracting myself and work on this post instead.
By the way, if you want to know how to save up $500 on a new MacBook check my article here.
Here is my list:
I also have old Mac Mini which I use as a desktop (and I have Bootcamp on it too).
As you can see 2 of my laptops have 128GB storage. Have I ever regretted my decisions to buy base models? Frankly, never. Mostly because I have plenty of external hard drives and flash drives.
Still not decided?
If you still deciding if you need more storage, let me tell you one thing: No matter how much storage you have, if you do not clean MacBook regularly you will be out of space eventually. More storage just gives you more time between periodic clean-ups.
How are you supposed to know which applications you will possibly need? How are you supposed to know whether or not 128GB will be enough for you based on what your probable needs might be at some point in the distant future?
Let me share with you one interesting fact. I have a quiz on my site called “Which MacBook Should I Buy”. One of the questions on the quiz is “Are you a software developer?” with three answer options: Yes, No and Maybe in the future.
The interesting fact is that every single person who answered the quiz picked the last option. I highly doubt that all those people seriously considering a career change, but the fact is nobody can predict what they will do in the future and as a result, nobody can tell how much storage is enough.
But I hope that I helped to ease your stress and fear about buying a base model with 128GB. Because now you know that even if you find out that the storage on your MacBook is inadequate, you still have options to extend storage by other means.
Last piece of advice
Things have a tendency to accumulate and take all available space. That’s why you have to delete the files you don’t need. Make a habit of deleting garbage data at least once a month and maybe you will not even need external drives or cloud storage.
Following are the things you need to check and periodically clean:
If you still need help with selecting a proper MacBook then email me at [email protected].
By the way, while you exploring the topic of purchasing a MacBook there are two other posts you may like reading as well:
And final note
While working on this post I found out that I CAN upgrade SSD on my old MacBook Pro 2015 with Feather M13 SSD replacement. I’ve been thinking about this for two days and at the end I decided against the upgrade for two reasons:
This article is from “Which MacBook Should I Buy“ series.
Image credit: Apple
Hi guys! When I look back upon my twenty years of experience as an IT consultant, I wonder how many options in hardware we have today to choose from especially in the laptops. I am glad that I can share my experience through this buying guide on how to pick the best laptop for programming and coding. This is the year 2019 and laptop manufacturers are trying their best to set new benchmark in terms of performance, features and efficiency. I sincerely think that you cannot buy any laptop and use it for web development, android or iOS app development, python coding, Visual studio, C# or any other platform of software development of your choice.
Some programs need some minimum recommended specifications for smooth execution. If compilation and test execution of code is sluggish, it can be irritating, waste a lot of time and becomes a major deterrent. Remember if you’re planning a career in coding or are looking ahead to become a successful developer, your laptop is the key to success and a vital tool to achieve your dream career.
5 Features you must check before buying a laptop for programmingLaptop-built
Well, whatever high-end configuration laptop you own, if it is not robust then everything you do can fall apart. Do not go by looks or sleekness of the laptop. The material of construction used in making its external body, the quality of hinges and keyboard quality are important features to look for. Portability is required for some programmers or coders but it should not be compromised on the sturdy built of the laptop. In short, get a laptop that may not be sleek and smart but is well-built to bear rough and tough usage.
Heating
The laptop should be resistant to being heated up for extended period of time. The best laptops have the effective cooling system installed on the CPU and GPU chips of the motherboard. There are some laptop models, I have come across in the past that have heat dissipation vents on the lower (base) side. You should avoid buying such laptops and look for laptops with heating vents on the side of the laptop. Dissipating heat in a proper manner is the key to a cool and long running coding laptop.
CPU
The central processing unit is not the only but one of the features you should take care of while buying a laptop for programming students. Look for a laptop with a minimum Intel i5 processor. This is an intermediate between of i3 and latest i7 processor. Considering the budget and the future requirements, I think i5 would suffice all the programming needs. Remember, the processor is responsible for multi-tasking. Higher the processor specs, more applications you can run simultaneously.
Memory (RAM)
The RAM determines how fast the applications open and runs. Although 8GB will meet all the coding requirements considering the future releases of the programming languages, you must choose at least 12 Gb or 16 GB if your budget is flexible.
Storage
SSD (solid-state-drives) are much faster than SATA hard drives. So, I would recommend SSD over HDD. If you really need extra storage capacity for games or movies, you can go for a hybrid (SSD+HDD) storage option. But, if you want to use the laptop only for basic programming and coding assignments, a single SATA drive is more than sufficient.
Graphics
The graphics or the GPU determines the screen resolution of the screen. You have the option of either the onboard integrated display chip or the dedicated graphics chip with memory. See, the latest integrated graphics provided by Intel are not bad and can handle all the graphics requirement of a computer programmer or a developer. If you want to run some games along with your work, then definitely go for a minimum of 2Gb video RAM GPU. But be ready to pay more since this option will increase the price of the laptop.
Check for a minimum of 1366x 768 pixels of resolution. One more important tip, always buy an IPS display screen and not TNT. The IPS display is cool to eyes whereas TNT technology is cheap and can strain your eyes in short time.
Operating system
You have the option of going for Mac, Windows or Linux depending upon your software needs. If you are looking to work on X-code or iOS development, then Apple laptop is the only option. Windows supports most of the other programming platforms and software.
Reviews of 10 Best Laptops suitable for Programming1. ASUS P-Series P2540UA-XS71
After buying this laptop, you are going to secure your next four years for sure. You get all that you need in a perfect laptop like portability, robust design, security features and latest hardware. This is a top of the line laptop that is powered by kaby Lake 7th generation Intel i7 7500U processor and 8 GB DDR4 of RAM.
The ASUS P-series laptop comes with integrated Intel graphics that is enough for smooth handling of any programming language or basic games. The screen is 15.6 Inches in size with a matte finish that allows you to code for late hours without hurting your eyes. The laptop screen has a maximum resolution of 1920×1080 pixels that is good enough for both work and fun.
It has an ergonomically designed chiclet keyboard for comfort and enhanced productivity. The touch-pad is capable for multi-gesture inputs for better control. Other features include a fingerprint scanner, TPM chip for secure booting. The best part of this laptop is that it has an opening on the backside for easy up-gradation of RAM and the battery too is removable.
Highly recommended, this latest beast form Asus is not only a budget friendly laptop but is equally capable to run Python, Visual studio, C# or any other heavy API’s.
2. Lenovo ThinkPad E580 Notebook
It is the best budget laptop that is known for its performance and speed. ThinkPad from Lenovo is a respected series among business professionals. Lenovo E580 has all the ingredients in it that make it a perfect choice for programmers. Equipped with 8th generation Intel i7 processor and DDR4 16 GB Ram, this laptop can handle software development including game or android coding.
The ThinkPad is one of the robust machines in the laptop industry that undergoes stringent quality, vibration, and dustproof testing. You can code for longer durations without feeling any heat on the innovative cool palm rest of ThinkPad. It has full size ergonomic keyboard with optimum key travel that provides the best feel while programming.
The laptop comes with a hybrid storage that comprises of 1TB SSD. You can keep the OS and coding software in SSD for faster booting and data access.
The other feature that makes it the best pick for coding is its anti-glare matte screen. Moreover, it has a 15.6 Inch full HD display with a maximum resolution of 1920×1080 pixels. It comes with a pre-installed Windows 10 professional 64-bit. With the great all-round performance, Lenovo E580 is highly recommended.
3. Dell Inspiron i5770 17.3″ FHD Laptop
If you are a student of computer science or IT, Dell Inspiron is the best value for the money. Reasonably priced, this laptop is equipped with all the high-end features of a flagship model. The laptop has a fog-grey body finish and is robustly built. You get a full HD touchscreen with max. resolution of up to 1920×1080 pixels, which is great for web development or running a graphics software.
The Dell Inspiron is powered by latest 8th generation Intel i7 processor and 8Gb RAM which can be upgraded to 16GB. 1TB hard disk storage is enough for your documents and media needs and a bonus storage in the form of 128 GB SSD for faster OS booting. Another feature that the programmers would like is its backlit keyboard. So they can work with lights off in the room without disturbing other’s sleep.
This sleek and compact beast weighs only around 5 pounds. You can easily carry it in a backpack without feeling any strain on the shoulders. This powerful and reasonable priced laptop is perfect for developing the apps.
4. Acer Swift 3 Laptop
I won’t be wrong if I call it the best laptop of the year 2019 for coding and gaming segment. Whatever you want to run on it, it will impress you with its speed and graphics. The Acer Swift 3 model is equipped with NVidia GeForce MX 150 GPU with an impressive 2GB video RAM. The inbuilt GPU meets all the demanding graphics needs of playing and developing games.
At such an amazing price, the swift series laptop provides enough power for programming and designing needs. It is powered by 8th Generation Intel Core i7–8550U Processor with turbo boost technology and DDR4 RAM of 8 GB. To further boost the performance, the laptop is equipped with 128Gb SSD for quick booting and an addition storage device of 1 TB SATA HDD.
Acer Swift 3 comes with a full size backlit keyboard with tactile keys that are well separated for comfortable and speedy typing. You can work unplugged for the whole day since the battery offers a whopping backup of 12 hours. Other features include USB 3.1 Type C port, HD webcam, SD card reader and an FHD 15.6” screen.
This laptop is undoubtedly having all the premium features at a budget price and is highly recommended for students pursuing CS or Information technology degrees.
5. Apple MacBook Air New (2019)
If you wish to code with Swift or objective C, you need to buy a Mac laptop. This model from Apple is the latest launched MacBook you must seriously consider for developing iOS apps. Weighing less than 3 pounds, it is one of the lightest and sleek design MacBook, you can’t resist.
Apart from the mind boggling looks, this MacBook is a powerful machine equipped with 8th generationIntel i5 processor and 8 GB RAM. On the graphics front, the laptop has integrated Intel graphics (617) chip and a 13.3 Inches anti-reflective screen with a maximum of 2560×1600 resolution.
This latest MacBook is priced in mid-range and also features 256 GB SSD, SD card slot, thunderbolt 3 port and pre-installed with latest Mac OS. The hardware is enough for optimum performance while coding and developing games.
This model from apple is released in 2019 and has all the latest features and ports necessary for programming. Buy this exclusive MacBook Air at a budget price.
6. Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch Laptop
If you can spend little more, this is a high end model that is powered by latest 8th generation Intel i5 processor 2.3 GHz speed and 8 GB RAM for a powerful performance while reducing the power consumption compared to other laptop models. With graphics of Intel Iris Plus 655, the coders will be delighted with crisp and clear on-screen display.
The MacBook Pro comes equipped with a PCI-e based flash drive that has a capacity of 512 GB and speeds up the loading of apps and OS by at least 22 times. Talking about the speed, it offers the data transfer speed of 10 GBps with its innovative thunderbolt 3 technology.
The MacBook Pro is powered by Mac OS X El Capitan OS. You can work on the laptop on the go for 10 hours before recharging it. Said that, the MacBook has an intelligent power saving technology which automatically switches the graphics settings as per the needs.
Whether you do multitasking or run resource intensive coding apps, this is a machine you must pick for an all-round high performance and durability.
7. ASUS S510 15.6-inch Full-HD LaptopMacbook Air Vs Macbook Pro For Programming
Productivity and Portability are what this Asus S510 laptop offers. The sleek profile with thin bezel and a metallic body give it a premium and eye-catching appearance. It provides great efficiency as it is powered by latest 8th generationIntel i7 processor that is capable to handle any demanding workloads. The processing is done in such a way that the power is consumed in an optimum way to save the battery life.
A 512 GB SSD and 8 GB RAM ensures lightning fast booting of windows OS and quick launch of applications. The 15.6 Inches screen is fully HD with a max resolution of 1920×1080. The screen is anti-glare matte finish and the eye care mode reduces the blue light that is responsible for eye-fatigue.
Instead of a conventional Li-Ion battery, the S510 laptop battery is made from Lithium polymer that gives it 2.5 times more battery lifespan. Latest Asus laptops are always equipped with ice cool technology and S510 is no exception. It lets you carry out programming tasks comfortably without any heating issues.
8. Acer Aspire E15
Whether you intend to work on the android studio, IDLE or C #, this is an affordable and efficient laptop to consider seriously for programming. The Acer E15 comes with premium features and incredible design that is beyond expectation for a budget machine.
High performance is supported by a powerful Intel i5 processor (8th generation), 8GB RAM and a lightning fast Solid State Drive of 256 GB capacity. The icing on the cake is that there is an easy to open window at the back side for upgrading the RAM and SSD. At such a nominal price, you get NVIDIA GeForce 150MX GPU with GDDR5 2GB of video memory to handle any graphics demanding apps.
Other features that need a mention here are its 7-hour battery life for all day coding without plugging it to a power source. For clear and crisp visibility, the laptop has 15.6 inches of HD wide screen with max. resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels.
Buy this obsidian black beauty from Acer packed with powerful features and you won’t regret for sure.
9. Dell XPS9570 15.6 Inches
This Dell Laptop has a thin profile with bezel less display screen. Dell XPS 15.6″ is a great replacement of a MacBook for an all-round enhanced performance. With stunning looks and high end features, this is the best laptop for college students.
You can’t get a better display than Dell XPS with FHD display (1920×1080) that provides clear view even at the wide angle of 170 degrees. With a 100 Adobe RGB color, you can work in brad-day light without any hassles. With a dedicated GPU of NVidia Geforce 1050(4GB VRAM) and you can easily operate the apps in a more interactive way.
For enhanced usability, the keyboard is powered by a backlit to enable you to type in dimly lit areas. Dell XPS is capable of handling all the programming languages. It is powered by the eighth generationi5 processor and 8 GB RAM. The storage needs are taken care by ultra-fast 256 GB SSD. The battery life of 10 hours is also worth-mentioning.
Dell XPX is highly recommended for students looking for portability combined with performance. The laptop has got high star ratings around the globe for its astonishing features.
10. Asus Zenbook
This is again a mid-range Ultrabook with 13.3 Inches display screen. This compact and sleek Zenbook from Asus is quite popular among students and travelers. The sturdy body of the Zenbook is made of all-metallic (aluminum) with a silver finish that adds to the premium looks of this laptop. Apart from its durable construction, the Zenbook comes with some impressive specifications.
Asus Zenbook comes in various variants. This model UX333FA-DH51 is powered by Intel i5 processor (8th generation), 8GB RAM and a 256 GB SSD for faster loading of apps and OS. The laptop has full HD (1920×1080) 13.3 inches’ screen for clear images and graphic intensive apps.
The laptop is rightly priced and the features are perfect for those looking for software development work. The full-size keyboard is comfortable to work with 1.5mm key travel. It is pre-installed with windows OS and connectivity ports include HDMI, USB 3.1, Type-C, and micro SD card reader.
A budget Ultrabook with a thin profile, stunning performance, and 12-hour battery backup are enough to consider it for your programming needs.
Finally…Macbook Air For Programming Manual
This is a list of top 10 laptops which are best for all the programming or coding needs. I hope the buying guide and reviews of the hand-picked laptops will help you in making a right decision while picking the best laptop for programming.
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