Python is a programming language that is used to build different automation scripts, software and apps. This general-purpose language is not specialized for certain issues but just creates different programs and functions and is even used at high-profile companies such as Facebook, Intel and Microsoft.
I being a programmer with over 16 years of experience have tried and tested different laptops, I really understand the importance of a good laptop that is powerful and designed to work on different programs and for purposes such as programming.
I know it’s hard to look for a suitable programming laptop as the choices are so diverse but don’t worry, I totally understand! I have tested, tried and used all of these 9 best laptops for Python programming on a Budget for a period of time to make them enough for me to recommend them to you.
To use Python on Windows for web development it is suggested you have a different setup for the development environment, rather than installing this on Windows directly you can install and use it through the Windows sub-system for Linux.
For this at least 8GB RAM is required to run code editors smoothly, few programs might run with as little as 4GB of system memory but modern programming models strive for 8GB for peak performance.
Being a programmer, the first main thing is to select a laptop, what kind you have, its RAM, whether it is comfortable to use, budget-friendly, carries smooth performance and whatnot.
Once you have embraced this journey and found your perfect programming laptop, no one can stop you from a comfortable coding experience.
9 Best Laptops for Python Programming on a Budget
I have selected for you some of the best options after practically working with all of them in my daily life. Before you continue make sure you also roughly know which IDE you may be using so you know the specifications meet, they should do for all of them below as they are all somewhat powerful.
You should keep in mind that there are no set-in-stone laptop requirements that you should look out for! It is the overall package the laptop offers with different combinations such as Screen size, RAM, CPU, dimensions and even weight for carrying it.
Below are the 9 laptops I used for Python over the past months which you should definitely consider:
- Apple Macbook Pro (M2 Chip and Above) – The Best Laptop for Python programming, period
- Microsoft Surface Pro 9 – A beautiful and lightweight laptop for Python programming
- Lenovo ThinkPad E15 Gen 4 – Best Budget Python programming Laptop
- LG Gram 17 – Most Agile Laptop for Python programming
- Acer Predator Helios 300 – Overkill Laptop for those who want to code Python and even host their own repositories
- HP Envy Laptop 17 – Top Python Programming Laptop preferred by students
- Dell XPS 13 – Robust and Compact Python programming laptop in a budget
- Dell Inspiron 14 – A middle-ground choice of Laptop for Python programmers
- Lenovo IdeaPad 3 – A powerhouse of a laptop with great battery life for Python programming
Apple Macbook Pro (M2 Chip and Above) – The Best Laptop for Python programming, period
Key Specifications:
|
Resolution |
2048 x 1536 |
|
Screen size |
14 and 16 Inch variant available |
|
RAM |
DDR4 |
|
Disk Space |
1 TB |
|
GPU |
Integrated |
It takes its power and efficiency further than ever. It will give you great performance whether it is plugged in or not. It now comes with a longer battery life, so you don’t need to carry a charger everywhere. This M2 Max is the most efficient chip ever, why am I saying this?
Well, from my personal experience, I can say it delivers a next-generation CPU and GPU designed around high-bandwidth unified memory. It has run any macOS Python IDE as smoothly as butter when I installed and used it without any issues or stutters.
So the Apple MacBook Pro 16.2 inches with liquid Retina XDR display USB-C Power adaptor, USB-V to Magsafe3 cable (2m) is a great option, so do try it.
Microsoft Surface Pro 9 – A beautiful and lightweight laptop for Python programming
Key Specifications:
|
Screen size |
13 inches |
|
Resolution |
2880 x 1920 |
|
Touch capability |
10-point multi-touch |
|
Wireless Connectivity |
5G, WiFi and Bluetooth |
If you want a versatile 2 in 1 laptop and tablet then this is a powerful 12th generation Intel core i7 processor. You don’t need to be in the hassle of carrying your charger everywhere as it has 14.5 hours of battery time. The touch screen is smooth and a responsive 13-inch PixelSense touchscreen.
One thing which I have been bothered with it’s heavier when compared with other 2-in-1 devices available. Plus, what is the behavior to buy the Surface Slim Pen 2 and keyboard separately, this is what makes the buyer someone especially like me just back off and get one that has everything in one box at one price.
Lenovo ThinkPad E15 Gen 4 – Best Budget Python programming Laptop
Key Specifications:
|
Screen Resolution |
1920 x 1080 (HD) |
|
Color |
Mineral Metallic |
|
Memory |
24GB DDR4 SDRAM 3200 MHz |
|
Touch screen |
No |
| GPU |
AMD Radeon Graphics |
| Camera |
1080p HD and includes a shutter for extra privacy |
This is a high-performing 15.6-inch laptop that gives a business/corporate look BUT has all the characteristics of a programming laptop. It’s all to ask in for a good programming laptop; sleek display, state-of-the-art speakers and audio, in-built security, easy on the pocket, reliability, Intel UHD graphics and whatnot.
I had the opportunity to work with this model and there were unique features like high-definition audio, TrackPoint, a backlit keyboard, anti-glare coating and a numeric keyboard.
Check Lenovo ThinkPad E15 Gen 4
LG Gram 17 – Most Agile Laptop for Python programming
Key specifications:
|
Size of Screen |
17 inches |
|
Disk Space |
1 TB or 512 GB |
|
RAM |
16 GB |
|
Processor |
Core i7 or Core i5 |
|
GPU |
Intel Iris Xe (Integrated Graphics) |
This is pro-fast and has great battery life. You will find its display enough for creators. I have not used it, but many say that its reliability is questionable, whereas input devices are subpar.
The company has prepared this model intending to provide you with a thin yet light laptop that offers solid performance and great battery life.
These are ultra-lightweight machines which means take them anywhere you go without much of a hassle. Plus, the battery size, you don’t need to worry for about 9.5 hours of non-stop power, 12 hours of video playback, and an 80 Wh battery.
Acer Predator Helios 300 – Overkill Laptop for those who want to code Python and even host their own repositories
Key Specification:
|
OS |
Windows 10 Home or Pro (Free Upgrade) |
|
Processor |
Intel Core i7 (13th Gen and Above) |
|
GPU |
Nvidia RTX Series with 6GB VRAM |
|
Display Size |
17.3 inches |
|
Memory Card Reader |
No |
It comes with excellent performance records which is expected for a Core i7 CPU paired with 16GB RAM and Nvidia RTX GPU. This is a highly specced laptop that you can also use to host your own GitLab or GitHub repositories locally for your projects.
If you are into games with a lot of passion, this is a good gaming laptop. It carries state-of-the-art cooling; custom engineered 5th Gen AeroBlade 3D fan technology, and liquid metal thermal grease chilling effects on an already industry-leading 13th-generation Intel CPU.
This is not a spectacular option but yes you can say it is worth every penny you are paying. It has limited portability but top-notch performance.
Check Acer Predator Helios 300
HP Envy Laptop 17 – Top Python Programming Laptop preferred by students
Key Specifications:
|
Screen Size |
17.3 inches |
|
Disk Space |
4 TB |
|
RAM |
64 GB |
|
OS |
Windows 10 or 11 |
|
Battery Life |
55Wh Lithium-Ion Battery 90W AC adapter – On average based on my usage on battery it lasts around just under 2.5 hours off charger. |
This has been upgraded and customized professionally. This can be upgraded to 32 GB DDR4 SDRAM 3200 MHz RAM, 2TB PCI-E NVMe and for storage comes with a solid-state drive.
It can run compile multiple scripts and execute a lot of Python libraries at the same time saving you time if you are in a rush or have a tight deadline.
This is known for its high performance and good design. It comes with a long-lasting battery life, is powerful in nature, is versatile and displays an impressive.
Dell XPS 13 – Robust and Compact Python programming laptop in a budget
Key Specifications:
|
Screen Size |
13.4 Inch |
|
RAM |
8 GB |
|
HDD |
512 GB |
| OS |
Windows 11 Home and Pro |
| Connections |
Bluetooth 5.0 and WiFi 2.4 / 5GHz (b/g/n) |
This is a combination of great performance and outstanding battery life in a slim, and svelte package that shall be as much computer as most of you will ever need.
Dell XPS 13 is ultraportable and designed for general productivity such as text formatting, video playback and web browsing.
In this Laptop Webcam, WiFi and Bluetooth come integrated. Thunderbolt 4 with DisplayPort and power delivery x2 USB-C to USB-A 3.0 adaptor is also available.
Dell Inspiron 14 – A middle-ground choice of a Laptop for Python programmers
Key Specifications:
|
Screen Size |
14 Inches |
|
Disk Size |
256 GB or 512 GB |
|
Operating System |
Windows 10 or Windows 11 (Upgradable) |
|
CPU |
Core i5 or Core i7 (11th Gen to 12th Gen) |
| GPU | Intel Iris Graphics Xe |
It uses an Intel 10th generation core i5-1035G1 CPU with a midrange processor in the core line which promises a solid quad-core performance.
This is peppy enough for most productivity use but what makes it unattractive is an uninspired, plastic-heavy design.
A fast laptop as it carries up to HD+ displays and components which deliver faster time to productivity.
This is a hard-to-quantify machine which is great if you are a student. It has all it takes to be a good; gorgeous chassis, decent battery life and good display.
Lenovo IdeaPad 3 – A powerhouse of a laptop with great battery life for Python programming
Key Specifications:
| RAM |
12GB DDR4 |
|
Battery life on normal Python scripting session |
3-4 hours |
|
Disk Space |
256GB SSD + 1TB HDD dual storage |
|
Camera |
0.3 Megapixel front camera |
|
GPU |
AMD Radeon graphics |
This is an efficient yet reliable laptop with a powerful 12th generation Intel Core Processor, a Dolby audio for you to entertain yourselves, and a physical webcam shutter for some privacy.
For how long I have used this it surrounds the balance of power and portability.
There are a few issues which are found like storage capacity is very much limited you can say around 256 GB, camera resolution is also low. There is no existence of RJ45 connector for wired internet.
Features to Consider when Choosing a Laptop for Python Programming
You need to keep in mind a few things while choosing a laptop, it must have a processor of Intel Core i5 or equivalent AMD processor, a minimum of 8GB RAM, 16GB or more for resource-heavy tasks, 256GB or larger storage, I would say go for 512 GB an have a cloud storage service for backup, integrated for most of the tasks, a dedicated GPU for GPU-accelerated libraries, battery life of at least 3.5/4 hours with a sturdy keyboard, touchpad and light design.
A light design goes a long way in mobility. I remember that when I was traveling and taking my Macbook Pro, it was much smoother than carrying a heavier laptop such as the Acer Predator Helios.
Minimum Hardware Requirements a Python Programming Laptop Should Have
|
OS |
Microsoft Windows 11/10 or macOS running at least 64-bit versions. You can also consider Ubuntu 22.04 and above |
|
GPU |
1 GB GPU with 25 GB/s Bandwidth or at least 2 GB of memory, integrated Intel graphics or AMD Radeon APU-based GPUs are also good |
|
RAM |
8 GB DDR4 or DDR5 |
|
Resolution |
1920 x 1080 (HD or Full HD) |
|
Processor |
1.8 GHz Quad Core, usually found in Intel Core i5 10th Gen and above or AMD Ryzen |
|
Disk Space |
256 GB SSD or NVME drive |
Other articles you may like:
- 9 of the best Python IDE for ChromeOS Laptops.
- Comprehensive and Detailed Python Venv Guide.
- A guide for writing, editing and dumping Python YAML.
- Learn Python Fast If you are just a beginner and started coding recently.
Conclusion: Which Laptop are you Picking for Python programming?
Well, this was the end for the 9 best Python Programming laptops on a budget for 2024 that you can get. I have shared everything I could about my time and usage with these laptops in my ownership over the months. You can’t go wrong with the MacBook Pro from Apple, Surface Pro with its tablet-like design and ThinkPad for its robust agility, you can’t go wrong with any of these really. Thank you for reading!
