With dozens of convertible designs that reinvent the traditional clamshell to take use of touch interfaces, your typical laptop doesn’t look the way it used to. While some touch-enabled PCs are truly slate tablets with hardware keyboards for notebook-style operation, other touch-enabled PCs also function as tablets with hinges that bend and fold. Simply put, there is too much variability in the laptop market for a single size or design to satisfy everyone’s wants.
Best Laptops for Programming
Dell XPS 15 9560
The Dell XPS 15 9570 is a great laptop if you want something that’s powerful enough to run any program you throw at it, yet thin and light enough to carry around all day long. It comes with a 6th-gen Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD storage, and a 4K display. You get a full-sized USB port, HDMI output, SD card reader, and a headphone jack.
Lenovo ThinkPad T480S
If you need a reliable workhorse, look no further than the Lenovo ThinkPad T480s. It packs a 6th-generation Intel Core i7 processor with 8GB of RAM, 256GB SSD storage, and a 1080p screen. There’s a full-size USB port, HDMI output and Ethernet port, plus a built-in webcam and fingerprint sensor.
HP Spectre x360 13t
HP’s Spectre x360 13t is a sleek convertible notebook that offers excellent performance and battery life. It features a 6th-generation quad-core Intel Core i7 CPU, 16GB of memory, and a 128GB solid state drive (SSD). It also includes a backlit keyboard, Dolby Audio Premium speakers, and a 720p HD webcam.
Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch 2018
Apple’s latest MacBook Pro is a powerhouse of a machine. It boasts a 6th-generation dual-core Intel Core i9 processor, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of PCIe flash storage, and a 4k Retina display. You’ll find a full-sized USB Type A port, HDMI output, two Thunderbolt 3 ports, and a headphone jack, along with a fingerprint scanner and Touch ID.
Acer Aspire E15
Acer’s Aspire E15 is a lightweight 2-in-1 hybrid that combines the power of Windows 10 with the versatility of Android. It sports a 6th-generation AMD Ryzen 5 3550U processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. It also includes a full-sized USB type-C port, HDMI output, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, and a fingerprint scanner.
Asus ZenBook UX305CA
Asus’ ZenBook UX305CA is a slim and stylish ultrabook that delivers stellar performance. It features a 6-core Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of memory, and either a 128GB or 256GB SSD. It includes a full-sized HDMI port, USB 3.0 port, SD card slot, and a fingerprint scanner, along with a backlit keyboard and touchpad.
Samsung Galaxy Book 12
Samsung’s Galaxy Book 12 is a premium tablet that doubles as a laptop. It features a 6.3-inch Infinity Flex Display, a 6th-generation Qualcomm Snapdragon 850 processor, 8GB of DDR4 RAM, and a 128GB SSD. It also has a microSD card slot, USB Type C port, and a rear camera.
