Are you new to android development and wondering which laptop is best for Android studio? Well, we’re here to help!

Since late 2014, Android Studio is the official integrated development environment (IDE) for building Android applications to be submitted to the Google Play Store. Along with its code editing features, Android Studio includes an emulation software for running applications as they’re work in progress. Android Studio and the Software Development Kit, which can be downloaded directly from Google, can require some power in order to run smoothly. If you’re new to Android development, you  might be confused which laptop is best for Android Studio. In this short guide, we’ll try to cover the things you should check before buying a laptop for Android development , and also give you some recommendations. First, let’s have a look at the official system requirements for Android Studio:

Android Studio Minimum System Requirements:

Windows

  • Microsoft® Windows® 7/8/10 (32- or 64-bit)
  • 3 GB RAM minimum, 8 GB RAM recommended; plus 1 GB for the Android Emulator
  • 2 GB of available disk space minimum,
    4 GB Recommended (500 MB for IDE + 1.5 GB for Android SDK and emulator system image)
  • 1280 x 800 minimum screen resolution

Mac

  • Mac® OS X® 10.10 (Yosemite) or higher, up to 10.13 (macOS High Sierra)
  • 3 GB RAM minimum, 8 GB RAM recommended; plus 1 GB for the Android Emulator
  • 2 GB of available disk space minimum,
    4 GB Recommended (500 MB for IDE + 1.5 GB for Android SDK and emulator system image)
  • 1280 x 800 minimum screen resolution

What to consider when looking for a laptop for android development?

As you can see, finding a laptop for Android Studio isn’t that hard. In fact, even a budget laptop with an i3 processor can run Android Studio. But if you’re planning on taking your development skills to the next level, you’ll shortly find out that Android Studio can be quite hungry on resources sometimes, especially the RAM.  So, here are our recommendations on how to choose the best laptop for android studio and android development in general:

Processor and RAM: First things first, you’ll need a powerful processor. An 8th generation Intel Core i5 or higher is best for running Android Studio. Coupled with that, you’ll also need a lot of RAM. If you’re on a budget, aim for a laptop that has at least 8 GB of RAM. Though, the higher the better. In a moment we’ll be reviewing both budget and high-end laptops of different sizes, all of them covering the above mentioned specs. As a side note, a dedicated graphics card is not strictly necessary for running Android Studio at its best. That is, unless you’re going to develop games or you want to play them on your laptop. However, dedicated graphics always helps, and it can a little boost to the emulator.

Storage: If you want to buy a laptop for running Android Studio, you’ll better choose one with an SSD rather than the classic HDD storage. While Android Studio can run just fine on a traditional drive, an SSD will  enable your laptop to boot faster and run smoothly. The difference is actually remarkable, even if SSDs are relatively more expensive. Below, all of our recommended laptops for Android Studio are packed with an SSD, or are hybrid as in they have a HDD unit for additional storage space.

Display: For most developers, the bigger the screen size is, the better. For Android Studio, you’ll have to open different palettes side by side; which can be frustrating if you’re using a small laptop. We recommend getting a laptop with at least a 15 inch display, and with a resolution of at least 1920X1080. A laptop with an IPS display is also recommended, as they produce better colors and offer wider viewing angles.

Keyboard: Because the keyboard will be your interface for typing the code, it’s actually important to check if the laptop you’re considering has a good enough keyboard, or if the keyboard has a weird layout. Some people consider the numeric keypad essential, while others don’t. It’s actually a matter of personal preference, but it’s worth checking before buying a laptop for Android Studio, and for programming in general.

 

So,now that you have an idea what to consider when looking for a laptop for Android development, let’s check our recommended best laptops for Android Studio.

Best Laptops for Android Studio and Android Development:

 

Acer Aspire E 15  E5-576G-5762

The Acer Aspire E 15  E5-576G-5762 is a great all-purpose laptop, considering its low budget. It has a 15.6” Full HD display and it features an 8th generation Intel Core i5 processor, with 8 GB of RAM. The Aspire E 15 runs a 256 GB SSD, which is a big plus, and includes a dedicated entry-level Nvidia GeForce MX150 graphics card.

If you’re looking for an affordable laptop, the Aspire E15 is hands down the best laptop for Android Studio you can find at this price category. You might also consider that you’ll be able to upgrade its ram up to a total of 32 GB DDR3 RAM, which is always good news.

The Aspire E 15 is a great option for an affordable price. On top of that, this laptop offers 15 hours of battery life on everyday usage, which is actually impressive.

Processor Intel Core i5-8250U Processor
RAM 8GB
Storage 256GB, SSD
Graphics Dedicated, NVIDIA GeForce MX 150
Screen 15,6 inch, 1920X1080, IPS
Connectivity and Ports 1 – USB Type C  port

2- USB 3.0 port

1- USB 2.0 port

1 – HDMI port,

Card reader, Bluetooth 4.1, DVD/RW

Battery up to 12 hours battery life

 

Dell G5587-7866BLK-PUS

At double the budget, we recommend the Dell G5587-7866BLK-PUS, a 15.6” Full HD gaming laptop. It’s packed with an 8th generation Intel Core i7 processor and 16 GB of RAM. It offers a hybrid solution, with a 128 GB SSD and 1 TB of HDD for additional storage space. The G5587-7866BLK-PUS includes a dedicated Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti graphics card, with 4 GB of RAM.

The G5587-7866BLK-PUS is a powerful laptop that will run Android Studio smoothly, and also enabling you to play a few AAA games on the side. It has a rather sleek design, featuring a backlit keyboard with a separate number keypad.

The G5587-7866BLK-PUS is a strong option for an Android developer, as it covers all of the needs of a geek heart. It is also one of most affordable gaming laptops out there, in case you like to have some fun once you’re done developing apps 🙂

Processor Intel Core i7-8750H Processor
RAM 16GB
Storage 128GB SSD + 1TB HDD
Graphics Dedicated, NVIDIA GeForce 1050Ti
Screen 15,6 inch, 1920 x 1080 IPS
Connectivity and Ports 1 – USB Type C

3 – USB 3.0

1 – HDMI port

Card reader, Bluetooth 4.2

Battery Up to 6 hours battery life

 

Asus VivoBook Pro N705FD-ES76

At the same price range, we have the Asus VivoBook Pro N705FD-ES76 is a thin and portable 17.3” Full HD laptop. It features an 8th generation Intel Core i7 8565U processor and 16 GB of RAM. The VivoBook Pro 17 is also dual-drive, with 256 GB of solid state drive for high-speed booting and 1 TB of HDD storage space. It has a dedicated Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 graphics card, with 4 GB of RAM.

There are a few reasons why the VivoBook Pro 17 is one of teh best laptops for Android Studio; starting from the wide view 17 inch display, and the consistent performance this laptop offers, whether you’re developing an android app, editing videos, or even playing your favorite game. The VivoBook Pro 17 has the power to handle all that!

The VivoBook Pro 17 is ultimately a laptop we’d recommend, with the neat inclusion of a backlit keyboard, a fingerprint reader and an additional USB Type-C port.

Processor Intel Core i7-8565U Processor
RAM 16GB
Storage 256GB SSD + 1TB HDD
Graphics Dedicated, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 with 4GB of GDDR5
Screen 17,3 inch, 1920 x 1080 IPS
Connectivity and Ports 1 – USB Type C

1 – USB 3.1

2 – USB 2.0

1 – HDMI port

Card reader, Bluetooth 4.2

Battery Up to 7 hours battery life

 

Dell XPS 9380

The Dell XPS 9380 is a high end 13.3” 4K (3840×2160) touch screen laptop. It features an 8th generation Intel Core i7 processor, 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of solid state drive for the best performance. It includes the Windows 10 Pro operating system.

The XPS 9380 is an exquisitely beautiful and portable machine. It comes with a high definition narrow bezel designed display, a backlit keyboard and a fingerprint reader. We’d recommend this laptop to any developer who is always on the go.

The XPS 9380 is definitely one of the best laptops compromising between ease of use, portability and high performance.

Processor Intel Core i7-8565U Processor
RAM 16GB
Storage 512GB, PCie SSD
Graphics Dedicated, NVIDIA GeForce MX110
Screen 15,6 inch, 3840×2160 IPS
Connectivity and Ports 2- Thunderbolt 3 ports

1- USB Type C

Card reader, Bluetooth 4.1,

Battery up to 9 hours battery life

 

Asus UX550GE-XB71T

At a similar price range, last we have the Asus UX550GE-XB71T, a 15.6” 4K (3840×2160) touch screen laptop. It’s packed with an 8th generation Intel Core i7 processor, with 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of solid state drive. The ZenBook Pro 15 includes a dedicated Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti graphics card, with 4 GB of RAM. It comes with the Windows 10 Pro operating system.

The ZenBook Pro 15 is a high-end laptop that is not only capable of running Android Studio,  but also your favorite videogames. You’d be surprised to see the goodies it’s packed with, considering its sleek chassis design.

The ZenBook Pro 15 is a powerful laptop solution for an Android developer, offering both high performance and a great, fast-charging battery with up to 9.5 hours on everyday usage.

Processor Intel Core I7-8750HK Processor
RAM 16GB
Storage 512GB, SSD
Graphics Dedicated, NVIDIA GeForce 1050Ti
Screen 15,6 inch, 3840×2160 , IPS
Connectivity and Ports 2- USB Type C // thunderbolt

3- USB 3.0 port

1 – HDMI port,

Card reader, Bluetooth 4.1,

Battery up to 9,5 hours battery life

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here