No matter if you’re a developer or just stepping into the world of coding, you naturally want to own the right device to save you from all kinds of unwanted issues. You wouldn’t want to run into a system error or freeze screen when you’re about to compile your codes successfully after a long day of work.
Knowing that writing codes is a wearing task, we want to help you out with choosing the ideal laptop for your programming. These laptops promise reliable and top-notch performance, providing you with a worry-free system to work on.
Editor
Jennifer chevron_right
Table of Contents
8 Best Laptops for Programming in Malaysia
Why it’s our top pick:
“For most students and beginners, code-writing is tough. We’re certain that you wouldn’t want to make your life tougher for coding on a crappy laptop. And that’s why we recommend the Acer Aspire Vero as it is powerful, reliable yet affordable.”
Overview:
Compact and lightweight, the Acer Aspire Vero is merely 1.8kg. It has a thin profile so you can easily slip it into your backpack and use it anywhere, anytime. The 15.6-inch FHD display with IPS technology ensures a wide and comfortable view. You can find ample I/O ports on both sides including Type-C, USB 3.2, HDMI and RJ-45.
The dual built-in microphones work together with a 720p HD webcam to provide you high-quality conference experience. Furthermore, you get an amazing battery life that can last up to 7 hours on a single charge.
Performance:
Faster and better than the i5-1135G7, the Acer Aspire Vero is equipped with the Intel Core i5-1155G7. This quad-core processor runs at a base frequency of 2.5GHz and up to 4.5GHz for turbo boost speed. You can multitask and load multiple coding programs seamlessly with 8GB RAM and 512GB SSD.
A little downside is its integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics that is not suitable for GPU intensive tasks like gaming. However, this shouldn’t be a major concern as your primary objective is to code using this laptop.
Specs:
- CPU: Intel Core i5-1235U
- GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 512GB SSD
- Display: 15.6-inch, 1920x1080 pixels (FHD), IPS
- Weight: 1.8kg
- Ports: 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 1x USB Type-C, 1x USB 2.0, 1x HDMI 2.0, 1x 3.5mm headphone/speaker jack, 1x RJ-45
- Dimensions: 363.4 (W) x 238.5 (D) x 17.9 (H) mm
For those who prefer a Ryzen CPU, the ASUS Zephyrus G14 is a lightweight 14 inch powerhouse of a laptop that can handle anything from graphically demanding gaming to intensive programming.
Overview
We recommend the model which utilises AMD’s top of the line Ryzen 9 5900HS, an octa-core CPU running at a base clock speed of 3.0 GHz. Alongside those specs, the laptop also has an RTX3060 graphics card with 6GB of VRAM, which is more than capable of running the latest games on the highest setting at 1080p. To boot, the laptop also has 16GB of RAM, upgradeable to 24GB, and has a 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD.
Other features include a WQHD resolution screen display which runs at a refresh rate of 144Hz. For your convenience, there is also a fingerprint reader near the power button as well as a 76WHrs battery that’s chargeable through USB-C.
Performance
As expected for a laptop with top of the line specs; reviewers with about the same specced laptop of this model performs smoothly at everything. Whether it is for productivity, gaming, or programming work, the Ryzen powered laptop can do it with ease.
The Ryzen processor is also suitable for programmers in the game industry, as the multicore performance of the device is more suitable to their workload. Its biggest weakness though, especially in this era of remote working, is the lack of a webcam.
A good laptop for programming doesn’t need to cost an arm and leg. You can get the new Dell Inspiron 15 3000 below RM3000.
Overview:
Crafted in a classic carbon black chassis, the Inspiron 15 features a 15.6-inch FHD WVA display with three-side narrow borders that delivers an immersive edge-to-edge FHD viewing experience. Its expansive keyboard is nice to type on, with larger keycaps and a numeric keypad. You also get all the essential ports including USB 3.2, HDMI and a headphone jack for peripheral connections.
Performance:
The Inspiron 15 gives the speed you need thanks to the 11th-generation Intel Core i3 processor. And with its 8GB RAM and 512GB SSD, it helps you to compile your codes faster while ensuring seamless multitasking. To compromise its small battery pack, the laptop can quickly recharge the battery up to 80% in an hour.
Specs:
- CPU: Intel Core i3-1115G4
- GPU: Intel UHD Graphics
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 512GB SSD
- Display: 15.6-inch, 1920x1080 pixels (FHD), WVA, anti-glare
- Weight: 1.85kg
- Ports: 1x SD card reader, 1x USB 2.0, 1x headset jack, 1x HDMI 1.4, 2x USB 3.2
- Dimensions: 358.5 (W) x 235.56 (D) x 17.5-18.99 (H) mm
Macs are generally safer and more invulnerable against malware, viruses and other malicious attacks, making them the more preferable choice by some professional developers. In this case, we think that the MacBook Pro 14” might be the best MacBook for programmers.
Overview:
The MacBook Pro 14” is the perfect balance between the 16” and 13”. It has the most ideal screen size of 14.2-inch with Liquid Retina XDR technology, and supports a native resolution of up to 3024x1964. This new MacBook offers more interface ports than ever, including three Thunderbolt 4 ports, an HDMI, a 3.5mm headphone jack and more.
It comes with the Magic Keyboard, an ambient light sensor, a Touch ID and a Force Touch trackpad for precise cursor control. The battery life is expected to last around 11 hours when running wireless web.
Performance:
Powered by the Apple M1 Pro chip, the MacBook Pro 14” delivers game-changing performance, maxing out your productivity. You can be worry-free from a sudden blank screen or system error when writing codes thanks to the responsive and stable system.
Its large 16GB of unified memory allows you to run more apps simultaneously without any sluggish experience. Starting up, launching apps and opening project files are so much faster with the 512GB SSD storage.
Specs:
- CPU: Apple M1 Pro
- GPU: Apple M1 Pro
- RAM: 16GB
- Storage: 512GB SSD
- Display: 14.2-inch, 3024x1964 pixels, Liquid Retina XDR
- Weight: 1.6kg
- Ports: 3x Thunderbolt 4, 1x HDMI, 1x SDXC card slot, 1x MagSafe 3, 1x 3.5mm headphone jack
- Dimensions: 312.6 (W) x 221.2 (D) x 15.5 (H) mm
Why it’s our top pick:
“For most students and beginners, code-writing is tough. We’re certain that you wouldn’t want to make your life tougher for coding on a crappy laptop. And that’s why we recommend the Acer Aspire Vero as it is powerful, reliable yet affordable.”
Overview:
Compact and lightweight, the Acer Aspire Vero is merely 1.8kg. It has a thin profile so you can easily slip it into your backpack and use it anywhere, anytime. The 15.6-inch FHD display with IPS technology ensures a wide and comfortable view. You can find ample I/O ports on both sides including Type-C, USB 3.2, HDMI and RJ-45.
The dual built-in microphones work together with a 720p HD webcam to provide you high-quality conference experience. Furthermore, you get an amazing battery life that can last up to 7 hours on a single charge.
Performance:
Faster and better than the i5-1135G7, the Acer Aspire Vero is equipped with the Intel Core i5-1155G7. This quad-core processor runs at a base frequency of 2.5GHz and up to 4.5GHz for turbo boost speed. You can multitask and load multiple coding programs seamlessly with 8GB RAM and 512GB SSD.
A little downside is its integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics that is not suitable for GPU intensive tasks like gaming. However, this shouldn’t be a major concern as your primary objective is to code using this laptop.
Specs:
- CPU: Intel Core i3-1115G4
- GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 512GB SSD
- Display: 15.6-inch, 1920x1080 pixels (FHD), IPS
- Weight: 1.8kg
- Ports: 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 1x USB Type-C, 1x USB 2.0, 1x HDMI 2.0, 1x 3.5mm headphone/speaker jack, 1x RJ-45
- Dimensions: 363.4 (W) x 238.5 (D) x 17.9 (H) mm
In this laptop is a Ryzen 7 5800H processor and an eight core 3.2Ghz CPU which is of a 6GB RTX 3060 variant. Along with 16GB of RAM, there is also a 1TB SSD for smooth multitasking and all-round operation of the system.
On to the screen; the 15.6 inch IPS 1080p panel has a refresh rate of 165Hz, with a maximum brightness of around 300 nits for you to enjoy pleasing visuals that aren’t too contrasted and such.
For your ease of use, there are also two USB-A ports and two USB-C ports which can be used to connect to an external monitor, as well as a full sized SD card slot. Additionally, the is full sized keyboard is fitted with a number pad for easy number-input.
However, the small form factor of the laptop does mean its thermal will be running hotter than average when doing intensive tasks. This means that you can’t spend too long gaming at once, since it might impact the longevity of the laptop. Otherwise, it’s a great laptop that is priced rather affordably for its high end specs.
Lenovo Legion Slim 7 Specs:
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 7-5800H
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX3060
- RAM: 16GB
- Storage: 1TB SSD
- Display: 15.6-inch, FHD 1920x1080P, IPS, anti-glare, 165Hz
- Weight: 1.9kg
- Ports: 4x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 1x headphone/microphone combo jack, 1x USB-C PD, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x SD card reader
- Dimensions: 356 (W) x 252 (D) x 18.9 (H) mm
Who Is This For?
The Lenovo Legion Slim 7 Gen 6 packs a powerful Ryzen CPU along with a more than capable RTX GPU that makes it both a great programming and gaming laptop.
Overview
Engineered for visual clarity, the IdeaPad 5 Pro’s display features narrow bezels with a 16:10 aspect ratio. The extra-wide screen offers more on-screen space for you to work on which minimises the strain on your eyes over extended hours. What’s more, it has low blue light technology to further reduce eye fatigue.
The IdeaPad 5 Pro delivers impressive performance with the AMD Ryzen 7-5800H, along with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX3050 graphic card. You can work in Ultra-Performance Mode whenever you need extra power.
With an improved thermal cooling system, it cleverly optimises the airflow and thermal saturation to keep your system cool. You can also enjoy seamless multitasking and short loading time thanks to its huge 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD.
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro Specs:
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 7-5800H
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX3050
- RAM: 16GB
- Storage: 512GB SSD
- Display: 16.0-inch, 2560x1600 pixels, WQXGA, IPS, anti-glare, 100% sRGB
- Weight: 1.9kg
- Ports: 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 1x headphone/microphone combo jack, 2x Thunderbolt 4, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x SD card reader
- Dimensions: 356 (W) x 251 (D) x 18.4 (H) mm
Who Is This For?
If you don’t have an external monitor or you’re always on the move, you’ll certainly appreciate the large 16.0-inch screen of the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro. It gives you a better view so you don’t have to squeeze your eyes when coding.
Overview
With a high definition AMOLED display, you can enjoy vibrant images with crystal clear detail. The 13.5-inch diagonal 3K2K display supports multi-touch that enables you to interact directly with your finger. Its 3:2 aspect ratio display also gives you more area to work with, increasing your productivity while offering the most comfortable view.
On top of that, it has a fingerprint reader, an amazing Bang & Olufsen audio system, and a full set of I/O ports. Its battery life is superb too, lasting up to 17 hours on a single charge.
The Spectre x360 Convertible shines in performance with its Intel Core i7-1255U that delivers a fast and snappy system. Its huge 16GB memory and 1TB SSD storage make multitasking and running multiple programs effortless. Moreover, there’s support for Wi-Fi 6 technology which is always a bonus to have, allowing you to enjoy faster and more stable internet speed. productnation
HP Spectre x360 2-In-1 Convertible Specs:
- CPU: Intel Core i7-1255U
- GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- RAM: 16GB
- Storage: 1TB SSD
- Display: 13.5-inch, 3000x2000p, AMOLED, multi-touch, anti-glare, IPS
- Weight: 1.36kg
- Ports: 2x Thunderbolt 4, 1x SuperSpeed USB Type-A, 1x headphone/microphone combo, 1x microSD media card reader
- Dimensions: 298.3 (W) x 220.4 (D) x 16.9 (H) mm
Who Is This For?
Getting a 2-in-1 or convertible laptop for programming is a great idea, especially when it’s highly versatile and often has long battery life. If you’re considering one, the HP Spectre x360 Convertible is an excellent choice.
Ryzen or Intel for Programming?
Although AMD used to be the lesser, budget option to Intel, since the release of their Ryzen lineup, AMD have carved a name for themselves as the multicore king of CPUs. Whereas, Intel still holding the crown for single core performance.
The difference to think about is that Ryzen and Intel have different mindset when it comes to building their CPUs. For Intel, they focus on their chip’s single core performance, while Ryzen is focused on putting multiple powerful cores onto their CPU.
- What this means is that for people looking for a powerful processor that is designed to do one thing at a time efficiently, they go for Intel.
- Programmers generally only run a few applications at a time, so an Intel CPU would seem an obvious choice.
- Ryzen, meanwhile, is useful for users who are looking to multitask several heavy applications at once.
- This is really useful for modern games, which utilizes multi core power to run games more efficiently.
The choice might seem obvious then, Intel is the best for programming right? Yes, but not in all cases. Game development has become a bigger industry lately, and Ryzen’s multi core CPU is also perfect for game programmers, who often have to run multiple applications in order to test out their games. So unless you’re a programmer coding a AAA game, you can easily opt for Intel. Otherwise, go with AMD.
Laptop or desktop for programming?
Here’s the common question, whether to choose a laptop or desktop for programming? To be honest, there’s no exact answer as both devices have their strengths and weaknesses. We’ll compare them based on the three main factors below and in the end, the final judgement is for yours to make.
Mobility:
The clear winner for this section is the laptop. Unarguably, it’s more versatile and portable, giving you the freedom to program anytime and anywhere.
- Laptops are generally lightweight and compact; even the bulkier gaming series offers higher mobility than the desktop counterparts.
- A desktop computer is only suitable to use in a fixed place. Although small form factor desktops are available such as the MSI Pro compact desktop that features a 2.6L chassis, it’s doesn’t make sense to carry a desktop around.
- Not to forget; you’d have to bring the other PC components like a monitor, keyboard and mouse to operate a desktop computer.
Ergonomic:
Ergonomics is a hot topic nowadays, getting more attention than ever. With a proper posture, it will keep your spine healthy and prevent back pain.
- We cannot deny that the desktop computer has an upper hand in ergonomic as you get more space and versatility to find your most comfortable posture.
- You can determine the distance to the screen, how to place your keyboard and mouse, how big is the screen size and others on your desktop setup.
- However, all these are pretty limited for adjustment on the laptops as most of them are already fixed (touchpad, keyboard size, screen size, etc.).
- At most, having a laptop means you are able to sit anywhere on different surfaces to adjust the right ergonomics for your body.
Price-to-performance ratio:
The price-to-performance ratio or in simple words, value for money, should be a major concern for most users.
- Generally, we would say that the average price of a desktop is lower than that of a laptop of similar specifications. Speaking of this, we exclude the cost of other desktop components particularly the monitor, keyboard and mouse.
- In the long run, we think that it’s reasonable to include the maintenance and repair costs in this discussion.
- A desktop is normally cheaper to maintain. It’s less prone to wear and tear and damage since you’re working on it in a fixed place.
- The laptop, on the other hand, has a higher possibility of defects and malfunctions as you’re moving it regularly. It also has a built-in battery which has a limited lifespan.
- However, note that you do not need a powerful computer to do programming work. So in terms of what the laptop has to offer here, it’s the “ready-to-use” aspect of it compared to a computer which you’d usually build from scratch.
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