Is the Lenovo IdeaPad Laptop Good for Programming?

The Lenovo IdeaPad laptops are some of the most popular laptops on the market. They are known for their low price and their functionality as a work-horse and productivity laptop. However, many people are wondering if the Lenovo IdeaPad is a good laptop for programming. The short answer is yes; the Lenovo IdeaPad is a good laptop for programming.

Having said that, to give you a better understanding of why the Lenovo IdeaPad is a good laptop for programming, I will be discussing some of the features of the Lenovo IdeaPad that you need to consider if you are looking to purchase one for your programming needs. Also, I will be discussing some of the best Lenovo IdeaPads series that are suitable for programming.

Related Post: Are Lenovo Laptops Good for Gaming?

Is the Lenovo IdeaPad Good for Programming

Is the Lenovo IdeaPad Good for Programming?

Lenovo IdeaPad laptops are good enough to handle most programming needs in as much as the Lenovo laptop you are buying comes with a good processor and enough RAM (minimum of 4GB RAM or more). 

Generally, there are no specific requirements for a programming laptop. Unlike using your laptop for gaming, programming does not require an intense or demanding computer. 

However, if you are an experienced programmer or are planning to do more advanced programming, you will need a more powerful laptop. In this case, you should consider upgrading to a higher-end model with a better processor and more RAM to handle more intensive projects like deep learning and AI mapping (ideally, any laptop above 8GB RAM).

So, if you are just getting started as a programmer, any laptop with a minimum of 4GB RAM or over will do.

Also, if you are a game developer who uses programs like Unity and Unreal to create games, you would want to avoid buying the Lenovo IdeaPad and rather go for higher models.

However, there is a slight caveat to that as well because you would need to ground yourself in java development before moving on to the higher-end development tools. With java, you can make basic games and even some android games, which an IdeaPad should be able to handle.

Again, I would like to point out that developing games using java at the beginning or intermediate level would be fine on the IdeaPad, but once you get to some of the more advanced jobs and projects, you might want to consider upgrading to a higher-end model.

Finally, I would like to point out that if you have plans on developing games or programs within or for the Apple ecosystem, then you should start with a Mac book and begin to familiarize yourself with Apple’s ecosystem because Apple’s ecosystem is not an open-source system like Android.

Why are Lenovo IdeaPad Laptops Good for Programming_

Why are Lenovo IdeaPad Laptops Good for Programming?

Lenovo IdeaPads are not the best Laptops for programming, but they do have some good qualities about them that can be generally seen amongst them that make them good for programming.

A Good Keyboard

Lenovo is known for making very good keyboards, and this is something that is seen across the board for their laptops, but while their ThinkPads have the best keyboards, the IdeaPads come in for a close second.

A good backlit keyboard is the most important feature of any laptop for a programmer because it is where they write code. So, having a good keyboard allows you to write code for a long time, and you can easily spend a long time coding on the keyboard of an IdeaPad. A good keyboard that is tactile and allows you to code for an extended period is extremely useful, especially if you are on a deadline or on a roll.

A solid Processor

As I had previously stated, programming does not require a very powerful processor to carry out a variety of tasks. The only time your processor is put through its paces is when you are compiling or running your code, and on a basic core i5 processor, you should be able to compile your code very quickly.

 Most IdeaPads have a core i5 processor, so it should be fine on that part. However, if you are carrying out more intensive and advanced programming tasks, then you should get something with a bit more power. However, if you are a beginner looking for a laptop to code with, an IdeaPad would definitely be a good choice for you to use.

Enough RAM

Most IdeaPads tend to come with 8GB of RAM and, for now, should be an industry standard when it comes to programming. As I had previously mentioned, programming does not put a lot of stress on your computer. Some of the things that run in the background for you when you are programming are usually IDEs.

These are Integrated Development Environments, and they don’t require a lot of RAM space; at the beginner level, a 4GB RAM would suffice. However, keep in mind that you will also be running other software and programs in the background. So, your best bet is to stick with 8GB RAM to account for any other programs or software you may be using.

How to Get the Most Out of Your Lenovo IdeaPad Laptops for Programming

How to Get the Most Out of Your Lenovo IdeaPad Laptops for Programming

Lenovo IdeaPads are usually very low-maintenance laptops, so they should work just fine for you, but here are some tips to get the most out of your programming endeavours.

Always be close to your charger

IdeaPads are notorious for their weaker batteries on average, so having your charger nearby would always be a good idea.

Don’t be at Max Brightness.

Another thing you can do to conserve your battery life is to keep your screen brightness below 50%. I know it may sound unintuitive to reduce your brightness when coding, but you don’t need a high brightness to see text on screen, especially when you are indoors. I personally don’t like my screen on high brightness because I get a bit nauseated when looking at a very bright screen for a long time.

Get an External Mouse

The trackpad on the IdeaPad can get worn out very quickly, so by using another mouse; you can avoid those issues and move quickly when working. I personally like the flow of working with a mouse in hand and moving between that and a keyboard.

4 of the Best Lenovo IdeaPads for Programming

I know it can be difficult to find a good laptop to code with, so I’ve compiled a list of the best Lenovo IdeaPads for programming.

The Lenovo IdeaPad 3

1.  The Lenovo IdeaPad 3

This version of the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 comes with AMD’s Ryzen 5 CPU, which is an absolute beast of a processor and it comes packed with AMD’s Radeon 7 GPU. A GPU is not very necessary for programming, but if you want to do some light gaming on the side, then this is the laptop for you.

It has a slight drawback to it, though, as it only has a 256GB and 500GB SSD variant available. I wish it had a 1TB SSD version, but for its price range, I’m not surprised. However, it does come with 8GB of RAM, which is very useful. It also has a 14” FHD screen, so you should be able to see all the code you are writing and watch a good movie while you’re at it. I found this model on Amazon for a cool $500.

SpecsProsCons
CPU; AMD Ryzen 5Good DisplayLow storage
GPU; AMD Radeon 7Good CPUBattery could be better
Storage: 8GB RAM, 256/500GB SSD  
Display; 14” FHD  
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5

2.  The Lenovo IdeaPad 5

The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 is another solid entry from Lenovo that should be a good option for any programmer, and at $620 on Amazon, it is a good price range for anyone looking to start their programming journey.

It has an 11th-generation core i5 processor, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage, making the IdeaPad 5 an excellent choice for programmers. However, it only has an Intel iris xe graphics card, which is a bit of a letdown, but because it is not a gaming laptop, you should be able to do a lot of programming on it while also doing some light gaming on the side.

SpecsProsCons
CPU; Intel Core i5-11052HGood DisplayBattery could be better
GPU; AMD Radeon 7Good CPUMinimal Amount of Port Diversity
Storage: 16GB RAM, 512GB SSDAnti-glare screen 
Display; 14” FHD  
Lenovo IdeaPad L340 17-inch,

3.  Lenovo IdeaPad L340 17-inch,

The Lenovo IdeaPad L340, is an excellent laptop for programmers. It has a 17” FHD screen, which would allow you to spot any errors in your code very quickly. I like the fact that it comes with a 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9750H Processor because it gives you a lot of power to carry out a lot of tasks. Couple that with its impressive NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card, and you have a very impressive laptop that you can code with and also game with.

The laptop also has 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, and the keyboard is also backlit, so you should be able to see everything you are typing. This is a very impressive laptop, and I think it would be a perfect fit for any coder/gamer; at $1600, it should be worth looking at

SpecsProsCons
CPU; Intel Core i7-9750HGood DisplayA bit pricey
GPU; NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650Very Good CPU 
Storage: 16GB RAM, 1TB SSDAnti-glare screen 
Display; 17” FHD  
The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5

4.  The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5

This is another IdeaPad 5 that I like, it can flip and fold, and it is also a touchscreen laptop. Now I don’t know how much the touch screen would aid in programming, but I like the fact that it is there. Something that is very useful there would have to be the inclusion of AMD’s Ryzen 7 processor, which gives it a supreme boost in performance, as well as its FHD display that should allow you to see all the code you want to write. I found this model on Amazon for $950, which is a solid bargain if you ask me.

SpecsProsCons
CPU; AMD Ryzen 7 4700UGood DisplayBattery could be better
GPU; AMD RadeonGood CPU 
Storage: 16GB RAM, 512GB SSDNo anti-glare 
Display; 15.6” FHD  

Final Thoughts

Overall, IdeaPads are not the most popular laptops for coding/programming. However, they can still be very useful for most programmers that do not require high-resource-intense laptops. As I early mention, if you are just getting into coding/programming, an IdeaPad should suffice for your needs. 

I hope you found this article helpful. Thanks for reading!

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About Lenovo

Lenovo is a Chinese multinational technology company with headquarters in Beijing, China, and Morrisville, North Carolina, United States. It designs, develops, manufactures, and sells personal computers, tablet computers, smartphones, workstations, servers, electronic storage devices, IT management software, and smart televisions.

Lenovo was founded in Beijing in 1984 as Legend by a team of engineers and was initially focused on manufacturing televisions. It eventually shifted to personal computers, becoming the market leader in China. Lenovo went public on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 1994 and acquired IBM’s personal computer business in 2005.

References: Lenovo.

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Sam Wilson

Who is Sam Wilson? I am a professional writer with more than 5 years of experience in the field. A technology lover with a passion for all things tech-related. I am also fascinated by the ways in which technology can help us do things that we never thought possible.

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