Best Laptops under CA$700 for programming and development

No laptops found Under CA$700 for this category.

Best Laptops under CA$1,500 for programming and development

Best Pick

MSI Summit E16 AI Evo 16"

74.9 Developers Score
16" Intel Core Ultra 7 155H 32GB RAM 1024GB SSD Intel Arc Graphics
Why we recommend this

Its 16-core Intel Ultra 7 155H processor and 32GB of DDR5 RAM provide robust multitasking power for a business laptop. The standout is its 16-inch QHD+ touchscreen with a 165Hz refresh rate and stylus support, offering a premium creative canvas. This laptop is best suited for developers and content creators who prioritize a large, high-quality touch display for design and coding over gaming performance.

Read Full Review
Price CA$1,399
Check Price at Newegg.ca
Also available open box & refurbished:
MSI Summit E16 AI Evo 16" laptop

Great Alternatives

These options also score highly and may better suit your specific needs

MSI Modern 15 H

73.2 Developers Score
15.6" Intel Core 9 270H 32GB RAM 1024GB SSD Intel Graphics
Why we recommend this

Its 32GB of DDR5 RAM paired with a 14-core Intel Core 9 processor provides exceptional headroom for demanding multitasking and development workloads. The inclusion of a touchscreen and WiFi 6E connectivity adds modern versatility to its practical 1.9kg chassis. This laptop is best for developers running multiple virtual machines or data scientists working with large local datasets.

Read Full Review

MSI 16" Venture A16 AI+

60.4 Developers Score
16" AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 16GB RAM 1024GB SSD AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme
Why we recommend this

Its AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 processor and 32GB of DDR5 RAM provide robust power for creative tasks, while the 16-inch FHD+ touchscreen adds a direct, intuitive interface. The 1TB NVMe SSD ensures fast file access, and the inclusion of a discrete AMD Radeon GPU offers decent graphical support for light gaming or video editing. This laptop is best for creators who value a large touchscreen for digital art or photo editing and need substantial RAM for multitasking.

Read Full Review
MSI 16" Venture A16 AI+ laptop
Price CA$1,099
Check Price at Newegg.ca
Also available open box & refurbished:

Best Laptops under CA$3,000 for programming and development

Best Pick

MSI Summit 16" A16 AI+ 16.0"

80.7 Developers Score
16" AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 32GB RAM 1024GB SSD AMD Radeon Graphics 880M
Why we recommend this

Its AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 processor and integrated Radeon 880M graphics provide strong AI acceleration and general performance in a convertible 2kg chassis. The 16-inch 165Hz touchscreen display offers a smooth, interactive experience for productivity and media consumption. This Copilot+ PC is best for developers and professionals seeking a portable, AI-optimized Windows machine for coding and multitasking, not for demanding gaming.

Read Full Review

Great Alternatives

These options also score highly and may better suit your specific needs

MSI Prestige 16 AI+ 16"

80.4 Developers Score
16" Intel Core Ultra 9 386H 32GB RAM 1024GB SSD Intel Arc Graphics
Why we recommend this

Its standout feature is the Intel Ultra 9 processor paired with 32GB of RAM, providing significant power for AI-accelerated tasks. The 16-inch 120Hz display offers a sharp, fluid workspace for productivity and media consumption. This laptop is best for developers and content creators who need strong CPU performance for coding and AI workloads, but not for demanding 3D gaming.

Read Full Review

MSI Crosshair 16" HX AI

78.8 Developers Score
16" Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX 32GB RAM 1024GB SSD NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060
Why we recommend this

Its 16-core Intel 255HX CPU and RTX 5060 graphics deliver strong performance for high-refresh gaming and creative tasks, supported by a 240Hz QHD IPS display. The 90Wh battery and 32GB of DDR5 RAM provide solid endurance and multitasking headroom for a 2.5kg machine. This laptop is best for competitive gamers and content creators who prioritize raw frame rates and application performance over extreme portability.

Read Full Review

MSI Cyborg 15.6" 15 B2RW

75.5 Developers Score
15.6" Intel Core 7 240H 32GB RAM 1024GB SSD NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060
Why we recommend this

Its RTX 5060 GPU and 32GB of DDR5 RAM provide strong performance for modern gaming at its 144Hz FHD display. The 1.95kg weight offers solid portability for a gaming laptop, despite its average 55Wh battery. This machine is best for gamers who prioritize high frame rates and multitasking performance over extreme thinness or all-day battery life.

Read Full Review

MSI Katana 15.6" A15 AI Gaming Laptop 15.6”

75.1 Developers Score
15.6" AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS 32GB RAM 1024GB SSD NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070
Why we recommend this

Its AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS processor and GeForce RTX 4070 graphics provide stable, high-end gaming performance without throttling during long sessions. The 15.6-inch QHD 165Hz display offers a significant visual upgrade over common FHD panels for sharper detail and smoother motion. This laptop is best for competitive gamers and streamers who need consistent power for extended play and multitasking.

Read Full Review

MSI Thin Prestige 14 AI+ 14"

72.7 Developers Score
14" Intel Core Ultra 7 355 32GB RAM 1024GB SSD Intel Arc Graphics
Why we recommend this

Its Intel Core Ultra 7 355 processor and 32GB of DDR5 RAM provide robust performance for multitasking within its 1.36kg ultra-thin chassis. The 14-inch OLED display offers vibrant visuals for media consumption, supported by Intel Arc graphics with 16GB of dedicated VRAM. This laptop is best for business professionals and content creators who prioritize a portable, high-spec machine for productivity and creative software over gaming.

Read Full Review

MSI Vector 16 HX AI 16"

71.5 Developers Score
16" Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX 16GB RAM 1024GB SSD NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080
Why we recommend this

Its Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor and NVIDIA RTX 5080 graphics deliver top-tier performance for demanding games at its QHD+ resolution and 240Hz refresh rate. The inclusion of Thunderbolt 5 ports and a 90Wh battery supports both high-speed connectivity and reasonable mobility for its class. This laptop is best for competitive esports players and content creators who need maximum frame rates and rendering power in a 16-inch form factor.

Read Full Review

MSI 16" VenturePro 16

71 Developers Score
16" Intel Core 9 270H 32GB RAM 1024GB SSD NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060
Why we recommend this

Its 10-core Intel 240H CPU and discrete RTX 5050 GPU provide strong performance for gaming and creative tasks, supported by a 120Hz IPS display. The 32GB of DDR5 RAM and 1TB SSD offer excellent multitasking and fast load times, while the 16-inch multi-touch screen adds versatility. This laptop is best for gamers and content creators who need a powerful, touch-enabled workstation for demanding applications and media editing.

Read Full Review
MSI 16" VenturePro 16 laptop
Price CA$1,783

MSI Modern 14 F1MG-011US 14" Full HD Urban Silver 2024

58.4 Developers Score
14" Intel Core 7 150U 16GB RAM 1024GB SSD Intel Graphics
Why we recommend this

Its 1.49kg weight and 14-inch size make it a highly portable option with a generous 1TB SSD for storage. The laptop's four USB-A ports and HDMI output provide excellent connectivity for a device in this class. This machine is best for students or office workers who need a lightweight, well-connected laptop for productivity tasks and frequent travel.

Read Full Review

Premium Laptops for programming and development

Best Pick

MSI Vector 16" HX AI 2025

86.7 Developers Score
16" Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX 32GB RAM 2048GB SSD NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080
Why we recommend this

Its Intel 275HX processor and RTX 5080 graphics deliver top-tier performance for demanding games and creative tasks. The 16-inch 240Hz QHD display offers a smooth, bright visual experience, supported by a robust port selection including Thunderbolt and WiFi 7. This laptop is best for competitive gamers and 3D artists who require maximum frame rates and rendering power in a desktop-replacement form factor.

Read Full Review

Great Alternatives

These options also score highly and may better suit your specific needs

MSI Summit Flip EVO 13 in Touch 2-in-1 Ink Black, Black

81.9 Developers Score
13.3" Intel Core Ultra 7 155H 32GB RAM 1024GB SSD Intel Arc Graphics
Why we recommend this

Its standout 18-hour battery life and Intel Core Ultra 7 processor with Intel Evo certification deliver premium all-day performance in a CNC unibody chassis. The 2-in-1 design with MSI Pen 2 support and a 3.06 lb weight make it exceptionally portable and versatile for on-the-go use. This laptop is best for business professionals and students who need a reliable, all-day machine for presentations, note-taking, and multitasking across numerous applications.

Read Full Review

MSI Raider 18" 2025

79.4 Developers Score
18" Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX 64GB RAM 4096GB SSD NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
Why we recommend this

Its 18-inch Mini-LED display with 3840x2400 resolution and 120Hz refresh rate provides exceptional color and clarity for demanding visual tasks. The combination of an Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX CPU and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 GPU with 24GB VRAM delivers top-tier performance for intensive workloads. This laptop is best for professional 3D artists and game developers who require maximum graphical power and a large, high-fidelity screen for real-time rendering.

Read Full Review

MSI Stealth 16" A16 AI+

78 Developers Score
16" AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 32GB RAM 2048GB SSD NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti
Why we recommend this

Its 16-inch OLED display with a 240Hz refresh rate delivers exceptional contrast and motion clarity for gaming and media. The combination of a 50-core AMD CPU and a dedicated 12GB NVIDIA GPU provides robust performance for demanding creative tasks. This laptop is best for competitive gamers and content creators who prioritize a high-quality, responsive screen in a relatively portable 2.1kg chassis.

Read Full Review