Best Dev Laptop 2020
My huawei matebook x pro has just lost its USB for the second time. The first one was replaced under warranty. Since half the screws have fallen out of the back and since I only got 2 good years out of it, huawei is off the table. Can anyone recommend a super thin powerful laptop for dev work? I actually loved the huawei with Ubuntu but the manufacturing quality was so poor I just can't go back. Was thinking of going back to Macbook air but I'd like to plug in to 3 vga monitors at the office. Thanks for any recommendations.
Do not go back to a Macbook. I've been using Macbooks for ~10 years and their quality has been going consistently going downhill the past few years. I usually buy a new one every 1-2 years. I'm currently on a maxed out 16 inch Macbook Pro. Can't even connect an external monitor because of heating issues. Unless I mod the whole thing with cooling pads.
The last two times I bought a new one I thought "Not happy, but let's give Apple one more chance because they used to be good and everyone makes mistakes" - Regretted it every time. Keyboard issues (went to the Apple store 6+ times), Touchbar issues and it's annoying as a whole, overheating, GPU issues with external monitors, Bluetooth issues, and more. Next time will be the first time (really!) that I'm not buying a Macbook anymore.
I use a Dell Precision 5520 as my daily driver and have been very impressed. The things I like about it are a good backlit keyboard that hasn't been forced too thin, a bright screen I can see in sunlight, and a good battery life that hasn't significantly diminished as I have owned the laptop. The only complaint I have is it will sometimes turn itself back on in my bag and drain it's battery. The Precision 55XX line is basically their XPS line with a Quadro card baked in. The new 5550 model has a few spec bumps and a slightly nicer webcam placement and would be my recommendation if you need a Quadro card. Otherwise check out the latest Dell XPS line.
Purism seems cool if you are into that sort of thing. If you want a more mainstream Windows/Linux laptop go with the Dell XPS. (It has good Linux support because there is a version with Ubuntu preinstalled). The new Mac pro is also quite good.
Thinkpads. Great Linux support and a keyboard to die for.
I am now using an X1 Extreme Gen 2. (Amazon link: https://amzn.to/35BmH5y)
I'm tempted to try LG Gram 17" - or some similar large screen ultrabook. Getting fed up with macOS is part of the reason, but also so locked up into ecosystem with iCloud, etc.
You did not mention whether you will be using it as dev machine or something else.
In case dev, get Dell XPS Ubuntu. Latitudes with Ubuntu are even better (used one for 4 years).
Bought the MacBook Pro, due to all the hype. It already made me visit Mac service centre twice. One day it just refused to boot. Motherboard replaced. Second time due to battery swelling issue whole Touchpad, Keyboard and battery replaced. Regretting it now. Only useful if you are developing apps for iPhone/macOS.
The Dell XPS line from this year looks really solid. I would go for the 15 inch and use Windows + WSL2 instead of native Linux.
Also looking for the same. I haven't used it personally but Lenovo T14 AMD version has been getting rave reviews.
There is also Thinkpad Nano coming up in January. It is super thin and lightweight, not sure if it would be good enough for heaving programming though
I previously had (switched jobs a few weeks ago) a thinkpad x1 carbon 14" and it was an excellent laptop. I'm not sure how many monitors it could support, but I'd definitely recommend the line.
Thanks for everyone's input, i ordered the thinkpad x1 carbon, first ibm computer i've ever bought (for you younger folks, lenovo is rooted in ibm), will post on how it goes. thanks again.
I still think the MacBook Pro is the undisputed champ of dev machines. Lots of people seem to like the Thinkpad X1 Carbon for Windows stuff.
I have a Thinkpad X1 Carbon (gen 7) and it’s the best laptop I’ve ever owned (after several generations of various windows laptops and macbook models)
Fantastic keyboard, fantastic support from various BSDs and Linuxes, great build quality, good screen, has some USB-A and USB-C ports, doesn’t look silly.
Can not recommend this model enough.
The only downside is probably all the weird stuff Lenovo has done in the past - but those have all been on Windows. If you’re going to remove windows, I’m guessing it won’t matter that much.
I'm really enjoying my Razer Blade Stealth! Powerful, has a nice feel to it. I was looking for something similar to my old Macbook Pro, but without buying a Macbook - this was the closest I could find.
Runs Linux really nicely + as far as I can tell everything works. Also, the screen is gorgeous!
Have a look at ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14
Why does "super thin" matter, if "powerful" is important?