Best laptop for programming in the UK: how to choose

What a programmer actually needs

• Memory: 8 GB is a minimum for light work; 16 GB is more comfortable for editors, browsers, containers and emulators together. Check whether it can be upgraded later.
• Storage: a solid-state drive, with room for projects, dependencies and virtual machines.
• Processor: a recent mid-range chip is enough for most development; heavy builds, games and machine learning want more.
• Screen and keyboard: you will look at it all day. Check key feel and screen brightness in a shop if you can.
• Battery life as tested, not the capacity on the box.
• Operating system: if your tools run on Linux or need a specific OS, check that the laptop supports it well before you buy.

Buying in the UK

Laptops in the UK are mostly bought from Currys, Argos, Amazon UK and the makers' own stores. What differs there:

• Prices include VAT, so the number on the label is what you pay.
• UK consumer law gives you a short period to reject a faulty product and then further remedies; know it before accepting a refusal.
• Check the keyboard layout. Many laptops sold abroad have a US layout, and UK layouts differ in a few keys that matter when you code.

Compare your shortlist

Once you have two or three models, put them side by side. Name them in compare⁄io and say what you do — "web development, two hours a day on battery, budget in pounds" — and it researches each with a live web search and shows where the facts came from. See also how to compare laptops side by side and the weighted decision matrix if you want to score them yourself.