Best Laptops for Programming and Gaming in 2021

What should you look for in such a laptop?

Portability

When it comes to portability, the laptop itself should be no heavier than 4 pounds, have a battery that can endure at least 4 hours of active use, and it should also have a not-too-big screen size of about 14 inches. While not all people appreciate the portability aspect, it does become an issue when you buy a gaming laptop that basically cannot hold a charge.

Performance

As for the performance, besides having a strong processor, the computer should also include capable graphics so that the computer can also run games. It should also have an SSD of at least 500GB and preferably contain 16GB of RAM.

Editor's Choice:

When it comes to programming and gaming, the Acer Swift 3 is the best option. It has everything; it is powerful, lightweight, cheap, and has a battery life that lasts for up to 11.5 hours. The Acer Swift 3 is genuinely a laptop that could benefit any programmer. When it comes to gaming, it has a Ryzen 7 4700U, which includes Vega 7 graphics. While the integrated graphics won't outperform good dedicated graphics cards, it will be more than enough to satisfy anyone's gaming needs in such a situation. Overall, Acer Swift 3 is an outstanding all-around laptop that fits the needs of a wide range of people.

More notebook type laptops:

When it comes to performance, Ryzen 7 4700U is a beast in disguise. It is simply unbeaten with similarly priced Intel CPUs. It has impressive performance, which will provide a comfortable programming and gaming experience. As for the laptop itself, there is nothing special about the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 besides that it is an exceptionally budget-friendly option. It does have only 8GB of RAM, but considering the laptop's price, that is acceptable. Some verified buyers noted that the screen is a TN panel, which is less color-accurate when compared to IPS panels. Although it does not help, the color accuracy shouldn't be too big of a problem unless you are a designer or a photographer. Overall, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is a perfect laptop that combines high performance with a reasonable price.

Another great option is the Dell Inspiron 15. It also has Ryzen 7 4700U, which is the to-go processor for people who want to game without having a full-out gaming laptop. Besides the processor, there is nothing special about this laptop except it being cheap and reliable. It has 8GB of RAM, and 256GB SSD, which are on the lower end side, but it is acceptable at such a price.

The Dell XPS 13 is another possibility for people with higher budgets. Aside from its price, it is a perfect laptop for people who program and want to game on the side. The laptop features Intel's i7-1185G7, 16GB of 4267MHz RAM, and 512GB of SSD. Overall an excellent laptop for not so friendly price. Ryzen 5 4700U laptops perform similarly and can cost half as much.

The HP 15 is another excellent option for people looking to get an Intel-based laptop. It is pretty cheap and has all the expected specs. It has 8GB of ram, 256GB SSD, and nothing too special besides this.

More gaming type laptops:

When it comes to gaming, the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming has your back. It is a gaming laptop that is a little low-key but nonetheless a beast of a computer. It has a Ryzen 7 4800H and 1650 Ti 4GB combo, which will easily run any game out there. Considering that it is a gaming laptop, it is kinda heavy, coming at 6.93 pounds. While not ideal for carrying, one of the biggest selling points of this laptop is that it is cheap, so if you don't mind the weight or don't carry your laptop much, then this is the perfect laptop for programming and gaming.

The HP OMEN 15 is a compelling non-over-the-top gaming computer that has simple yet beautifully stealthy look. It comes with Ryzen's 7 4800H, GTX 1660 Ti 6GB, 16GB 3200MHz RAM, and 1TB SSD. It is also relatively light when compared to other gaming laptops, coming at 5.42 pounds. Overall, the HP OMEN 15 is a great choice for anyone who wants a low-profile beast.

The all-new 2021 Dell G5 15 is another great laptop for those looking to get the most out of their laptops. It has a Ryzen 7 4800H, RX 5600M 6GB, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. However, it has a poor quality webcam which could be a significant turn-off for people who have a lot of online meetings. Overall a great laptop from a well-known company.

On the higher side of the budget, Dell XPS 15 becomes a pretty appealing option. It has a powerful processor and decent graphics card with 16GB of 2666MHz RAM. It's unique that it has a 4K display, which is relatively uncommon in laptops. One downside to this laptop is that it only has 256GB SSD, and within such a budget, it simply doesn't cut it. If storage is important to you, keep in mind that increasing storage is one of the easiest and cheapest computer upgrades.

Coming from ROG, the new Zephyrus G15 will not disappoint you in its performance. It has the Ryzen 7 4800HS, a Ryzen 7 4800H but with a lower wattage (35W vs. 45W). It also has a powerful GTX 1660 Ti, 16GB of 3200MHz RAM, and 1TB of NVMe SSD. It is also relatively light, coming at 4.85 pounds. Overall a powerful and nice-looking laptop.