This article will review top performing macOS & Windows based laptops balancing cost, power, durability and most importantly cater to those of us in the programming and engineering world.
In order to choose the right laptop, there are some key features that you’ll want to consider in order to make an educated decision. They are:
Processing Power (CPU)
Memory (RAM)
Hard Disk Drive
Screen Size
Battery Performance
Available Communication Ports
Operating Systems
It should be noted that most programmers or engineering students will need to run multiple software packages. This can include, PLC Programming software, HMI development software, CAD software, and multiple operating systems to support legacy systems via virtual machines.
In addition to this, portability and battery life is an important factor as well in choosing the best laptop for PLC programming.
Key Specifications
CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS 8 Core – 16 Thread Processor, 3.0 GHz (Max Turbo Frequency 4.6 GHz)
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 w/ 8 GB GDDR6 (Features Max-Q Techonologies | Max TGP 100W – Boost Clock 1290MHz)
RAM: 16 GB (1 x 8 GB On-Board + 1 x 8 GB) of fast DDR4 3200MHz memory
Storage: 1 TB M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe SSD
Display: 6″ Matte QHD 165Hz 3ms IPS-Level
Output: 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Type-A), 1 x MicroSD Card Reader (312MB/s), 1 x HDMI 2.0b, 1 x RJ45 Port, 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Type-C), 3.5mm Audio Jack
Weight and Size: 19 lbs, 13.97 x 9.59 x 0.78 inches
RGB: 4-zone RGB N-Key rollover and ROG Overstroke technology.
Key Specifications
CPU: 10th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-10750H (2.6GHz, 12MB 6 Cores, up to 5.00GHz)
GPU: NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX 2060 Max-Q
RAM: 16 GB DDR4 SDRAM
Storage: 512 GB SSD and 32 GB Octane
Display: 6″ FHD display 1920 x 1080 300Hz FHD anti-glare
Output: 1 x Thunderbolt 3 ( Type-C), 1 x Mini DisplayPort, 3 x SuperSpeed Type-A, 1 RJ-45, 1 x HDMI 2.0a, S•D Multi-Format Card Reader.
Weight and Size: 4 lbs, 0.9” thin
RGB: 4 zone RGB keyboard
Key Specifications
CPU: 10th Generation Intel Core i7-10750H 6-Core Processor (Up to 5.0GHz)
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 with Max-Q Design with 8 GB of dedicated GDDR6 VRAM
RAM: 16GB DDR4 2933MHz Dual-Channel Memory
Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD (2 x M.2 Slots | 1 Slot Open for Easy Upgrades) & 1 – Available Hard Drive Bay
Display: 3″ Full HD (1920 x 1080) Widescreen LED-backlit IPS Display (144Hz Refresh Rate, 3ms Overdrive Response Time, 300nit Brightness & 72% NTSC)
Output: 1 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x Mini DisplayPort, 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (Type-A), 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Type-A), 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Type-C).
Weight and Size: 39 lbs, 15.89 x 11.02 x 0.97 inches
RGB: 4-Zone RGB Backlit Keyboard
Key Specifications
CPU: 1?0th Gen Intel Core i7-10870H (2.2GHz – 5.0GHz)
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU 6 GB GDDR6
RAM: 16 GB DDR4 SDRAM
Storage: 512 GB SSD
Display:6″ Thin Bezel UHD 3840×2160 Samsung AMOLED Display (VESA Display HDR 400 True Black, 100% DCI-P3)
Output: 3x USB 3.2 Gen1 (Type-A), 1x Thunderbolt™ 3 (Type-C), 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x mini DP 1.4, 1 x 3.5mm Headphone/Microphone Combo Jack, 1x UHS-II SD Card Reader, 1x DC-in Jack, 1x RJ-45
Weight and Size: 4 lbs, 9.8 x 14 x 0.78 inches
RGB: GIGABYTE Fusion RGB Per-Key Backlit Keyboard
Key Specifications
CPU: 11th generation Intel core i7-1165G7 ( 4.7 GHz apple_ci7 )
GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 (96EU)
RAM: 16GB LPDDR4X 4266MHz RAM
Storage: 1TB NVMe™ SSD M.2 2280
Display: 17” WQXGA (2560 x 1600) IPS LCD Screen
Output: 2 x THunderbolt 4 (Type-C), 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Type-A). 1 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x Micro SD/ UFS Card Reader.
Weight and Size: 98 lbs, 14.97 x 10.24 x 0.7 inches
RGB: No, Only Back-lit Keyboard
Key Specifications
CPU: 10th Generation Intel Core i7-10750H 6-Core Processor (Up to 5.0GHz)
GPU: NVIDIA® GeForce RTX 3070 Laptop GPU 8GB GDDR6 VRAM
RAM: 16GB DDR4 2933MHz Dual-Channel Memory
Storage: 512GB PCIe SSD + available M.2 slot for easy SSD upgrades
Display: 6″ Full HD 144Hz, 100% sRGB, 4.9 mm bezel, factory calibrated
Output: 1 x Thunderbolt™ 3 (USB-C), 3 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (USB-A), 1 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, 1 x Gigabit Ethernet, 1 x HDMI 2.1 output (Up to 4K 120Hz)
Weight and Size: 6 lbs, 9.25 x 13.98 x 0.78 inches
RGB: Single-zone RGB Powered by Razer Chroma™ anti-ghosting keyboard
Key Specifications
CPU: 10th Generation Intel Core i7-10870H (8-Core, 16MB Cache, up to 5.0GHz Max Turbo Frequency)
GPU: NVIDIA® GeForce RTX 3070 Laptop GPU 8GB GDDR6 VRAM
RAM: 16GB DDR4 2933MHz Memory
Storage: 1TB PCIe M.2 SSD
Display: 6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) 300Hz 3ms 300-nits 100% sRGB color gamut
Output: 1 x MicroSD-Card Reader, 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (Type-A), 1 x HDMI 2.1b with HDCP 2.2 Output, 1 x Mini DisplayPort 1.4 Output, 1 xThunderbolt™ 3 Port, 1 x Alienware Graphics Amplifier Port, 1 x Killer™ Networks E3100x Gigabit Ethernet NIC 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A with Powershare Technology
Weight and Size: 50 lbs, 10.86 x 14.19 x 0.78 inches
RGB: 4-zone RGB N-Key rollover and anti-ghosting technology.
Key Specifications
CPU: 11th Generation Intel® Core™ i7-1165G7 (12 MB Cache, 4 Core, 8 Threads, 2.80 GHz to 4.70 GHz, 17.5W)
GPU: NVIDIA® T500, 2 GB GDDR6
RAM: 16 GB, 2 x 8 GB, DDR4, 3200 MHz, dual-channel
Storage:2 2280, 512 GB, Gen 3 PCIe x4 NVMe, Class 40 SSD
Display: 15-inch, FHD 1920 x 1080, 60 Hz, anti-glare, touch, 45% NTSC, 250 nits, wide-viewing angle
Output: 1 x RJ-45 Ethernet port, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type A port, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type A port with PowerShare, 2 x Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports with Power-in, 1 x HDMI 2.0 port, 1 x Universal audio port
Weight and Size: 5 lbs, 14.09 x 9.13 x 0,56 inches
RGB: No, Single point, backlit keyboard
Key Specifications
CPU: Intel Core i7-10870H 2.2-5.0 GHz
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX3070 8GB GDDR6
RAM: 32GB (16G*2) DDR4 3200MHz ; 2 Sockets, Max Memory 64GB
Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD
Display: 3″ FHD (1920×1080), 300Hz 3ms, IPS-Level | 1920×1080 16:9
Output: 1x RJ45, 1x SD (XC/HC), 1x (4K @ 60Hz) HDMI, 1x Mini-DisplayPort, 2x Type-A USB3.2 Gen1, 1x Type-A USB3.2 Gen2, 1x Type-C (USB3.2 Gen2 / DP), 1x Type-C USB3.2 Gen2x2
Weight and Size: 39 lbs, 1.08 x 15.63 x 10.57 inches
RGB: Per-Key RGB gaming keyboard by SteelSeries
Key Specifications
CPU: Intel Core i7-10870H 2.2-5.0 GHz
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX3080 Max-Q 8GB GDDR6
RAM: 32GB (16G*2) DDR4 3200MHz ; 2 Sockets, Max Memory 64GB
Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD
Display: 6″ Thin Bezel FHD, IPS-Level 240Hz 3.5ms close to 100%sRGB | 1920×1080 16:9
Output: 1x RJ45, 1x (4K @ 60Hz) HDMI, 3x Type-A USB3.2 Gen1, 1x Type-C (USB3.2 Gen2 / DP)
Weight and Size: 25 lbs, 0.92 x 14.09 x 10.51 inches
RGB: Per-Key RGB gaming keyboard by SteelSeries
Apple macOS
Apple MacBook Pro MGXA2LL/A - Check & Buy on Amazon
Turbo Boost up to 3.4 GHz.
6 MB shared L3 cache.
15.4-inch IPS Retina Display.
2880-by-1800 resolution.
16 GB 1600 MHz DDR3L RAM.
Apple MacBook Air with Apple M1 Chip - Check & Buy on Amazon
Up to 16GB of super-fast unified memory.
2560×1600-resolution Retina display.
Comes with True Tone technology.
Includes 8- core CPU on M1.
Face Detection Uses the Neural Engine.