Best Linux Laptop for Developers – There are no specific hardware requirements for choosing a Linux Laptop. However, for having the Best Linux Laptop for Programming, your laptop should meet these requirements to avoid lags, debugging issues, and testing issues.
OVERVIEW
Linux is a great operating system for programming, as you can work with a ton of useful programming software. Well, above we’ve mentioned the Best Linux Laptops for Developers which are the top picks from developers who are using Linux Distro.
ROUND UP
Dell’s XPS 13 remains one of the best choices available for Linux laptops. But if you want an Apple alternative that’s an incredibly capable platform for the Linux OS, the MacBook Air is your best bet, both powerful and affordable with all the signature Apple design flourishes you expect from Cupertino.
back to menu ↑1.GPD Micro
Features
- GPD MicroPC has a Strong Performance with Ultra Low Power Consumption: Intel N4120 processor, four cores, four threads, and thermal design of 10W;Graphics: lntel HD Graphics 200,Up to 700Mhz;
- GPD MicroPC is Compatible for IT fields and more with its rugged exterior: Network communication, electric power, exploration, mining, archaeology, education training, manufacturing, service chain, call center, business services, public institution, government military and many more;
- RAM/ROM: 8GB LPDDR4 RAM/256GB super capacity M.2 SSD for fast read and write speed (read:576MB/s, write: 465MB/s), replaceable, and infinite capacity expansion; Battery: 2 × 3100mAh, In series
- RJ45 interface for wired network access, and wireless Wi-Fi 2.4G/5G dual bands and compatible with BT 4.2 for dual-channel max. transfer rate of 433Mbps;Built-in one RS-232 serial interface, widely used in industrial control and automation;Three USB 3.0 interfaces to maximize extended USB devices;One full-featured Type C charging interface for audio, video and data transmission;One microSDXC slot for manual backup or migration of data in a network-free environment;
- Screen: 6 Inches Gorilla Glass 4, Sharp full-fit dazzling screen.(Not Touch Screen).OS:Windows 10 Pro Or Ubuntu MATE 18.10.Weigh Only 440 grams,Easy to Take In Your Pocket On the GO!!
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2.Dell XPS
Features
- 13.4" FHD+ (1920 x 1200) InfinityEdge Touch Anti-Reflective 500-Nit Display
- 11th Generation, Intel Core i7-1185G7 Processor (12MB Cache, up to 4.8 GHz)
- 16GB 4267MHz LPDDR4x Memory Onboard, 512GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD
- Intel Iris Xe Graphics with shared graphics memory
- Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650 (2 x 2) and Bluetooth 5.1
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3.Apple MacBook Air
Features
- Apple-designed M1 chip for a giant leap in CPU, GPU, and machine learning performance
- Go longer than ever with up to 18 hours of battery life
- 8-core CPU delivers up to 3.5x faster performance to tackle projects faster than ever
- Up to eight GPU cores with up to 5x faster graphics for graphics-intensive apps and games
- 16-core Neural Engine for advanced machine learning
- 8GB of unified memory so everything you do is fast and fluid
- Superfast SSD storage launches apps and opens files in an instant
- Fanless design for silent operation
- 13.3-inch Retina display with P3 wide color for vibrant images and incredible detail
- FaceTime HD camera with advanced image signal processor for clearer, sharper video calls
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4.Lenovo Legion
Features
- 9th Generation Intel Core i7-9750H Processor (2.60 GHz, up to 4.50 GHz with Turbo Boost, 6 Cores, 12 Threads, 12 MB Cache)
- 15.6" Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS, anti-glare, 300 nits, 144Hz Display
- 1 TB Hard Drive 7200 RPM + 512 GB PCIe Solid State Drive
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 6GB
- Backlit Keyboard, Wifi ac, Bluetooth, Windows 10
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5.Acer Aspire
Features
- 8th Generation Intel Core i3 8130U Processor 2.2 GHz (Up to 3.2GHz)
- 15.6 inches Full HD (1920 x 1080) widescreen LED lit Display
- 6GB Dual Channel Memory, 1TB HDD and 8x DVD
- Up to 13.5 Hours of battery life
- Windows 10 Home. Operating System Architecture 64-bit
- TIP: try a battery pin-hole reset procedure, a different AC adapter, or pressing the key combination FN + F6 to make sure the system is outputting the video to the notebook's internal display
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6.HP 15.6″
Features
- Intel Pentium Silver N5000 up to 2.7GHz Quad-Core Processor, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD
- 15.6" HD (1366x768) Touchscreen SVA WLED-backlit Display, Intel HD Graphics 605
- 2 x USB 3.1, 1 x USB 2.0, 1 x HDMI, 1 x Headphone Out/Microphone in Combo Jack, 1 x RJ-45
- Ethernet, 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5, Media Card Reader, HD Audio with Stereo Speakers
- Windows 10 Home, 4.5 lbs, 3-cell lithium-ion, Webcam, Jet Black
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7.Acer Swift
Features
- AMD Ryzen 7 4700U Octa-Core Mobile Processor (Up to 4.1GHz) with Radeon Graphics | 16GB LPDDR4X Memory | 512GB NVMe SSD
- 14" Full HD Widescreen IPS LED-backlit Display (1920 x 1080 resolution; 16:9 aspect ratio)
- Intel Wireless Wi-Fi 6 AX200 802.11ax | Backlit Keyboard | Fingerprint Reader
- 1 - USB Type-C port USB 3.2 Gen 2 (up to 10 Gbps) DisplayPort over USB Type-C & USB Charging, 1 - USB 3.2 Gen 1 port (featuring power-off charging), 1 - USB 2.0 port & 1 - HDMI port
- Just 0.63" thin and 2.65 lbs and up to 11.5 hours of battery life!
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8.ASUS ZenBook
Features
- Innovative screen pad: 5.65-Inch interactive touchscreen trackpad that adapts to your needs for smarter control and multitasking
- App switcher on screen pad: easily move docked Windows between your main display and screen pad Display
- 13.3 inch wide-view full HD 4-way NanoEdge bezel Display
- Latest 10th generation Intel Core i7-10510u Core Processor (8M Cache, up to 4.9 GHz) with discrete graphics NVIDIA GeForce MX250
- Fast storage and memory featuring 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD with 16GB RAM
- Built-in IR camera for facial recognition sign in with Windows Hello
- Extensive connectivity with HDMI, USB Type C, Wi-Fi 6 (802.11Ax), Bluetooth 5.0 and Micro SD card reader (USB transfer speed may vary. Learn more on Asus website)
- Sleek and lightweight 2.8 lbs for comfortable portability
- Mil-std 810G military standard for reliability and durability
- Carry Sleeve and USB3.0 to RJ45 cable are included
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9.Lenovo ThinkPad
Features
- ▌Please Read Before Purchasing ▌This brand new laptop is upgraded from a base model. The manufacturer box is opened and resealed to install the parts to achieve the specifications as advertised. One-year warranty for upgraded RAM / SSD from Issaquah Highlands Tech. One-year original warranty for remaining components from Lenovo. 8GB DDR4-2666MHz RAM, 256GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
- The Latest ThinkPad E-series E15, A Successor to E590, Features 15.6" Full HD (1920x1080) TN Anti-glare 220nits Display,Integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620 - Supports external digital monitor via HDMI or USB Type-C, Max external digital monitor resolution: 4K(3840x2160)
- AMD Ryzen 5 4500U Processor (6 Cores 6 Threads, 2.3Ghz base clock speed, up to 3.8Ghz, 4MB cache), the Average CPU Mark can score 11278 in the CPU Benchmarks, which is more powerful and better than the 11th Gen INTEL i7-1165G7 CPU
- No Optical Drive, 1 x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-C (Power Delivery and DisplayPort), 2 x USB 3.1 Gen1 (1 always on), 1 x USB 2.0, 1 x HDMI 1.4b, 1 x RJ-45, 1 x Audio Combo Jack
- Windows 10 Professional 64-bit, Ideal for Student, Home, Professionals, Small Business, and School Education
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10.ASUS VivoBook
Features
- Powerful and efficient 8th Generation Intel Core i5-8250U Processor 1.8 GHz (Turbo up to 4.0 GHz)
- 15.6" FHD (1920 x 1080) Wide View color-rich display.Wireless Data Network 802.11AC Bluetooth 4.1 Battery:3 Cells 42 Whrs Battery
- High performance 256GB SSD and 8GB DDR4 RAM
- Slim 14.2" wide, 0.7" thin; 0.3" ASUS Nano Edge bezel with 80% screen-to-body ratio
- Comprehensive connections including USB 3.1 Type-C (Gen 1), USB 3.0, USB 2.0, and HDMI; Dual band 802.11ac Wi-Fi
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Best Linux Laptop for Developers- BUYER’S GUIDE
back to menu ↑Performance
Performance is something important when you are choosing your desired laptop. However, codes are just text, which you can write in a notepad or ever a typewriter. But, programming isn’t just about a piece of code. It is about testing, optimizing and debugging the error in the program. These things are only possible when you have excellent processing power. To gain a good processing power for your laptops, you must have a minimum of Intel Corei5 processor with a minimum of 2.5GHz frequency.
back to menu ↑RAM Memory
Today any Operating System required a minimum of 4GB of RAM, which I don’t think is suitable for multi-tasking. While programming, you’ll have to go through many tests, and some software love to consume a large amount of RAM. So, our minimum recommendation will be 8GB of RAM. Well, if you’re not on a budget, you should go for 16GB of RAM.
back to menu ↑Display & Screen Size
Programming is a piece of code, where developers have to pay attention to every detail. If there’s any “inverted comma or semi-colon” is missing the whole program is ruined. So sharp and detailed display plays a vital role in programming.
Most Linux laptops come with a display of about 1366 x 768 pixels, which is a high-quality display, but they do not provide any space for multi-tasking.
However, a 4k display panel is excellent for multi-tasking, but for getting a 4k panel your pocket has to be filled with cash. By getting a 4k display panel, your laptop’s battery will drain like water, which is not suitable for a programmer or developer.
So, what can be the best display of a Linux laptop for programming? Here’s the answer. We recommend choosing a laptop with a FULL HD display panel having a minimum 1920×1080 pixels resolution.
back to menu ↑Portability
There’s a large variety of laptops in the market right now. They are available in different sizes in the market. If you are a programmer used to program at a particular place and don’t need to carry your laptop more often, then a 15-inch notebook is considered the best. A bigger laptop has more power and screen where you can do multi-tasking.
Otherwise, if you’re a traveller or work in different places, you should get a 13-inch or 14-inch laptop. Smaller size laptops are lighter, more powerful and have better battery life. If you plan to but a 2-in-1 or a touchscreen laptop, that will be better, but it will add up some extra bucks. I suggest you better go for a touchscreen laptop.
back to menu ↑Storage Memory
You always need a fast storage device, and you can either use HDD or SSD. The performance of your Linux laptop also varies on your storage space and storage type. If you have a good processor and high RAM, you can still struggle with heating issues of a Hard Disk Drive.
Getting an SSD will give you better performance over a standard hard drive. You will get Fast Linux Boot uptime, better compiling and testing the applications. You can know more about SSD vs HDD here to finalize your choice.
Talking about the size, you should get a minimum of 256GB of SSD. If you have some extra bucks, you can choose a 512GB or a 1TB of SSD, which will give you extra space for the backups. If you’re short on money, you can select a smaller size SSD where you can install your Operating System for the best performance. Your remaining stuff like, images, codes or videos will be stored in the large external hard drive.
back to menu ↑Keyboard
Keyboard quality is the main thing that you’ll need while programming. Since you’re always coding, the keyboard must be comfortable and have a compact layout. A laptop that has decent travel and soft-touch keys are the best ones to consider.
The laptop keyboard has an extra key, Yes, the function key. Some of the laptop keyboards come with odd layouts where the Function key and Control key is repositioned, and some have smaller Enter or Backspace keys. Having a keyboard with these unusual layouts may take some time for you to get used to.
back to menu ↑Battery Life
Yes, battery life is the most important thing you should be curious about. Linux is a light-weight operating system that may give you some extra juice. Always choose the laptop by checking the reviews of customers, do not select a laptop based on the expected battery life.
Besides, if you are traveling or working for a long time, you can have a power bank, which is a great tool to recharge your laptop.
back to menu ↑Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Will installing Linux affect my laptop’s warranty?
A: This all depends on the manufacturer and circumstances. Unfortunately, sometimes it does. Some manufacturers provide explicit warnings about this on their paperwork, so make sure to check beforehand.
Q: Can I install Linux on an older laptop?
A: In most cases, you can install Linux on an older computer. Most laptops will have no problems running a Distro. The only thing you need to be wary of is hardware compatibility. You may have to do some slight tweaking to get the Distro to run properly. It’s important to remember that there are many different Distros out there. Chances are, you can find one to work with a slightly older laptop.
Q: Can I create my own Linux Distro?
A: You can create your own Distro through the use of a compiler, though it’s not recommended. Compilers take the source codes of software and create your own unique Distro. The process takes a lot of time and requires advanced computer knowledge to complete.
Q: Can Linux be installed on Apple computers?
A: Linux can be installed on Apple computers with the right Distro. Of course, you’ll need to check hardware compatibility beforehand, as many Apple computers contain unique features not found on traditional PC laptops.
Q: Is Linux difficult to learn?
A: This all depends on the particular Distro you choose. Most Distros come with their own unique graphical interface that imitates a traditional desktop. They’re designed to be user-friendly, especially to those migrating from a conventional operating system. Most of the features will feel familiar, allowing you to learn Linux relatively quickly.
Q: Is Linux compatible with popular software titles?
A: Not all games and programs you used on your traditional operating system are going to work on Linux. Some developers offer a Linux version of their titles. If they don’t you may need to find a way to work around compatibility issues. Luckily, there are many free Linux programs that emulate the Windows platform, allowing you to play games.
WRAP UP
If you’re someone that dares to be different, then one of the best Linux laptops are a perfect way to embrace this open-source OS with a portable form factor. Linux is an operating system that many consumers, businesspeople, and developers swear by. It may not have the same support that the other big operating systems have, but it’s still a very capable, not to mention free, operating system. There are at least a few laptops out there that come with Linux pre-installed, but your options are limited. The fact is that the majority of major computer manufacturers simply don’t build laptops with Linux — but the trade-off is that there’s plenty of room for smaller companies, many of which are quite good.
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