Top 7 best laptops for programmers and coding in 2025

Recommending a laptop for coding and programming isn’t as easy as it once used to be. Earlier, the recommendation was straightforward: you needed plenty of RAM, a powerful CPU to compile your code, and perhaps a large display for comfort. Today with the rise of AI and smarter coding assistants, you might also need a powerful GPU if you’re running a local LLM, or perhaps even an NPU if you’re optimising your code or are using tools that benefit from one.

Apple MacBook Air M4

Coding apps for Apple devices require the use of Apple’s XCode integrated development environment (IDE). A good place to start is Apple’s M4 MacBook Air, which can be had for under Rs 96,000 on Croma. The base config comes with 16 GB RAM and 256 GB of storage, which is just enough for a fresher. More advanced users will want to upgrade the storage, and if necessary, the RAM as well.

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Given that Microsoft’s Visual Studio Code and Android Studio also work on Mac, we’d say that the Air is the best laptop for programming and coding for someone who’s learning to code or wants to develop apps for mobile devices.

Apple MacBook Pro M4 16-inch

More serious coders might want to consider the Apple MacBook Pro with M3 Max. This beast of a machine retails at an eye-watering Rs 2,89,994 but offers the best value to those who need a high-end laptop for coding on all platforms. This version comes with 36 GB RAM and 1 TB of storage.

If you need a local LLM or AI model, most will fit nicely in the MacBook Pro’s 36 GB of shared RAM, but you also have the option to upgrade to 96 GB (for an exorbitant fee).

Lenovo LOQ 15ARP9

This budget gaming laptop might seem like an unusual choice, but it’s perfect for coders and students who need access to Nvidia’s CUDA features but don’t want to splurge on overpriced PRO series GPUs. At Rs 72,000, you get a laptop with 24 GB of RAM, and RTX 3050 GPU, and a Ryzen 5 CPU.

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You’ll need a more powerful CPU and GPU for more demanding coding tasks, but for everyone else this laptop has plenty to offer. There is a Ryzen variant with a 4050 available for Rs 84,990 if you need it.

ASUS ROG Strix G16

The Strix G16 is for those looking to run small, local LLMs at speed on laptop GPUs. The CPU is a powerful Core Ultra 9 275HX and you get an RTX 5070 Ti with 12 GB VRAM for the GPU. There’s also plenty of RAM (32 GB, expandable to 64 GB), and 1 TB of fast storage. It also doesn’t hurt that you have a large, 16” display to code on, and that you can game on it in your free time.

It’s not cheap though, as the unit will set you back Rs 2,59,990. This unit also comes with an NPU, albeit not a very powerful one. The MacBook Pro mentioned earlier is a better choice if you work with Apple devices and/or larger LLMs that won’t fit in 12 GB of VRAM. 

HP Omen 16

If you need a more powerful NPU you can go for the HP Omen 16. It comes with a Ryzen AI 7 350 SoC that features a 50-TOP NPU. That number means that the Omen 16 is fully compliant with Microsoft CoPilot+, allowing you to use certain AI features, including coding assistants such as those found in VSCode.

The rest of the specs are also good for coding as you’re getting 24 GB of RAM, 1 TB of storage, and an RTX 5060 Ti that you can put to use running smaller AI models at speed. This laptop can be had for Rs 1,47,990.

ASUS ZenBook 1

For more traditional coding, the ASUS ZenBook 1 is a great option. It’s an ultrabook so is very light and easy to carry, but comes with a powerful CPU (Intel Core Ultra 9 285H) and 32 GB of RAM. It also comes with a small NPU (13 TOPS) that can help in some scenarios. There is no GPU, however, and the thin design will have an impact on compile times. Yours for Rs 1,32,990.

ASUS ROG Strix Scar 16

If you’re looking for overkill, you’ve found it! The Strix Scar 16 costs as much as a cheap car or expensive bike (Rs 4,24,990), but it’s for AI programmers (and gamers), who brook no compromise. You’re getting a powerful Intel Core Ultra 9 CPU, and more importantly, an RTX 5090 with a generous 24 GB of VRAM.

This will allow you to run much larger AI models at about the fastest speed you can expect from a consumer-grade laptop. Included in the price is 32 GB of RAM and a 2 TB NVMe SSD. This is a true desktop replacement that will make sense to programmers and coders who are working with AI.

Whether you’re just starting to code as a fresher or an experienced programmer, there’s at least one laptop here that will satisfy your needs.

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On the off chance that there isn’t, you can still head to Croma.com or head to a nearby Croma retail store to check out some devices for yourself (and bag some fantastic deals while you’re at it).