The best MacBooks for developers are laptops that can quickly easily easily easily easily easily easily easily handle any programming task. These machines are designed to be powerful but still lightweight and portable. With a fast processor, plenty of RAM, and an advanced graphics card, you will never find yourself waiting on your computer again!
Here’s the shortlist to save your time
Top 8 Best MacBooks For Developers
The MSI Stealth 15M features a 15.6” 144hz display with an FHD resolution. See every game frame with increased refresh rates for a better gaming experience. The 11th Gen Intel Core i7 processor delivers high-performance cores and quickly takes on any game and application. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 graphics are powered by GDDR6 memory to deliver supercharged graphics performance when you need it most.
The MSI Stealth 15M is thin and light for gamers to carry daily for games, study, or work.
MSI’s new Z16 is designed for creators. It comes with a 16″ QHD+ 120Hz touch display, the latest 11th Gen. Intel Core i9 processor, and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card. The Z16 is powered by up to 32GB DDR4 2666MHz RAM and has 2x M.2 PCIe SSD slots, 1TB HDD, and an HDMI port for external monitors.
The HP Chromebook 11-inch Laptop is made for what you do. Whether you’re studying, gaming, or connecting with friends, it has the power to get things done. It comes with a powerful MediaTek mobile processor and full-size keyboard so that it can handle all of your tasks. The 11-inch display gives you plenty of room to work or play. Plus, it has an incredible 15 hour and 45-minute battery life (when wireless web browsing), so you can stay connected wherever you go.
The Acer Chromebook Spin 311 is a convertible laptop with a 360-degree hinge, so you can lay it flat or use it as a tablet. It comes with 4GB of memory and 16GB of storage and has an 11.6″ HD display that supports millions of colors. An Intel Celeron N4020 processor powers the system runs on Chrome OS and includes 100GB of Google Drive cloud storage for 2 years.
The 13.3-inch FHD display in this slim, light 360° convertible Chromebook features wide viewing angles for sharing content with friends and colleagues.
The Lenovo Flex 5 is a 2-in-1 laptop that combines an ergonomic keyboard and touchscreen to make it easy to interact with everything on your display. You can also use the Lenovo digital pen (sold separately) to quickly write, click or drag files right on the screen.
The Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 is a powerful, portable laptop with a 360° hinge that allows you to convert it into four different modes — laptop, tablet, tent, and stand. It has an InfinityEdge display with virtually borderless bezels for a stunningly immersive experience, whether you’re creating or consuming content. The XPS 13 2-in-1 includes the latest 8th Gen Intel® Quad Core™ processors and optional NVIDIA® GeForce® MX150 graphics for superior performance and power efficiency.
The HP Chromebook 14-inch HD Laptop is built for your life on the go, with a sleek design, powerful performance, and long battery life. The Google Play Store lets you access millions of Android apps, so you can edit documents at work or play games when hanging out with friends. The backlit keyboard and touchpad let you type comfortably, even in low light conditions. And with a thin and lightweight design, this laptop is easy to take wherever you need to go.
The ASUS VivoBook 15 F515 is a thin and light laptop that makes it easy to do everything you want. The full-HD display has an edge-to-edge NanoEdge bezel for a stunning 83% screen-to-body ratio. It’s perfect for enjoying widescreen movies, playing games, or getting work done on the go.
5 Things To Consider Before Buying The Best MacBooks For Developers
1. What do you plan to use the MacBook for?
Before buying any computer, this is an essential question because it will determine what hardware specs are needed and if the software will be compatible with your needs. If you plan to use a complicated software such as Photoshop or Premiere Pro, you will want a computer with a graphics card and more RAM than usual. Also, note that you might need extra USB ports and a more powerful processor than just the base model if you intend to use multiple external displays.
2. How much money can I spend on a MacBook?
There is no set price point – though entry-level laptops typically start at USD 1,000 – but there are always sales, and so even if you have to wait a little bit, you can find a great deal on a new laptop. Of course, even when not on sale, Apple still makes some of the best laptops in the world, so being patient may save you some money by getting more bang for your buck.
3. Is this MacBook Pro or MacBook Air my only option?
The beauty of Apple computers is that they have distinct lines of high-quality products, and it’s easy to figure out which one will fit your needs without being too complicated. However, sometimes there is overlap between two product lines, and you might be stuck wondering whether it’s better to buy a Pro or an Air if both are available at the same price point (for example). In such situations, I recommend going with the Pro instead of the Air because it’s better equipped to handle the workload needed for programming and development.
4. Are Black Friday/Cyber Monday/Christmas sales worth waiting for?
Of course, they are! Every year Apple has great deals around holidays, so if you can hold out for a bit, take advantage of lower prices during significant sale times. The best time to go hunting is about two months before Christmas so you can get an idea of how much you want to spend and what kind of laptop will fit your needs best. If not, just wait until December 25th (or even January 1st), when retailers tend to put all their unsold laptops up for clearance or deeply discounted rates. More information on which MacBook is best for you.
5. What is my return policy?
Last but not least, look over the return policy before buying any computer, especially if it’s a new model or an expensive one, so that you’re not disappointed with your purchase. Some places have 30-day returns while others offer 90 days; it just depends on where you decide to shop! Fortunately, Apple has some of the most lenient policies around, so even if there are problems with your MacBook, they will fix or replace any malfunctioning parts within reason.
3 Advantages Of Best MacBooks For Developers
1. You can use an external hard disk or SSD with your MacBook
As a developer, you need to have lots of storage space for installing multiple software and tools. In addition, you will get more space to keep all the data related to the projects you are working on. So, if you have a MacBook that has less storage capacity, you can replace the default hard drive with a higher capacity disk or SSD. Many third-party manufacturers provide high-capacity drives at a very reasonable price.
2. Run Windows in a virtual machine for cross-platform development
If you need to use tools that are only available on Windows operating system, you have no other option than to use a virtual machine. You can install Windows in a virtual environment and use your MacBook for the overall development.
3. Logging through remote desktop connection
If you use other team members to work on your projects, you need to share the screen to see what you are doing and guide you accordingly. There is no need to purchase a separate MacBook for the team member in such cases. You can connect with them through a remote desktop connection and do your work together.
To Wrap Up
The MacBook Pro is not the only laptop in town. It’s an attractive, powerful machine with a lot to offer. But it doesn’t have everything that developers need for their workflows. If you’re looking for the perfect Macbook for your needs, then here are our top 8 best picks! What’s your favorite?
