Find the best laptop for developers in 2026

Its 16GB of RAM and 512GB SSD provide ample power for multitasking and storage in a compact 1.41kg chassis featuring the unique Touch Bar. The high-resolution Retina display with True Tone and the excellent Force Touch trackpad enhance the premium user experience. This refurbished model is best for business professionals or students who prioritize macOS reliability, portability, and a quality keyboard in a proven design.

Its standout feature is the generous 32GB of RAM paired with an 11th Gen Core i7 processor, making it exceptionally capable for multitasking and business applications. The inclusion of Windows 11 Pro and a wide array of ports, including Thunderbolt, provides enterprise-grade security and connectivity in a portable 1.37kg chassis. This laptop is best for business professionals or students who need to run multiple virtual machines, heavy data analysis software, and dozens of browser tabs simultaneously.

Its standout feature is the Apple M4 chip paired with 16GB of RAM, delivering excellent performance in a remarkably thin and light 1.24kg chassis. The 13.6-inch Retina display offers sharp visuals with 500 nits of brightness, and its all-day battery life is a major asset for on-the-go use. This laptop is best for business travelers and students who prioritize extreme portability and seamless performance for productivity tasks over gaming capabilities.

Its standout feature is the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 processor with a 50 TOPS NPU, enabling powerful on-device AI tasks for a Copilot+ PC. The 2-in-1 design with a 14-inch 2K touchscreen and Corning Gorilla Glass offers versatile, durable input for creative work. This laptop is best for business professionals and students who need a portable AI-capable machine for productivity apps and light content creation.

Its 10-core Apple M4 chip and 32GB of RAM deliver exceptional performance for demanding tasks in an ultraportable 1.24kg chassis. The 13.6-inch Retina display offers sharp 2560x1664 resolution and 500 nits of brightness, making it ideal for detailed work. This laptop is best for business professionals and students who prioritize a powerful, silent, and highly portable machine for productivity and multitasking.

Its standout 16-inch OLED display with a 165Hz refresh rate offers sharp, vibrant visuals ideal for competitive gaming. The combination of an AMD Ryzen 9 HX-series processor and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 GPU provides robust performance for demanding tasks. This laptop is best for gamers and content creators who prioritize a premium, high-refresh-rate visual experience over extreme portability.

Its standout 24-core Intel 275HX CPU and RTX 5070 GPU deliver exceptional power for demanding AAA gaming and 3D rendering. The 16-inch 2.5K OLED display offers stunning contrast and a 165Hz refresh rate for a premium visual experience. This laptop is best for competitive gamers and professional content creators who need top-tier performance and a brilliant screen in a desktop-replacement form factor.

Its Intel 275HX CPU and NVIDIA RTX 5090 GPU deliver top-tier performance for demanding AAA gaming and professional creative workloads. The 16-inch Mini-LED display offers exceptional 240Hz refresh rates and 1200-nit peak brightness for a vivid, responsive experience. This laptop is best for competitive esports players and 3D animators who require maximum graphical power and a high-refresh-rate screen in a desktop-replacement form factor.