Best Laptops for R Programming: 2019 Buyer’s Guide!

R is a programming language and free software environment for statistical computing and graphics supported by the R Foundation for Statistical Computing.  It is one of the top 20 programming languages in the world, in terms of popularity. R language is used among statisticians and data miners for developing statistical software, and analyzing data. If you’re a data analyst and looking for a laptop for R programming, then keep reading. Not only we will cover some of the things to consider when getting a laptop for programming, but we have also compiled a list of some of the best laptops for R programming available right now.

What is R programming language and what is it used for?

There are many tools available now on the market that can do data analysis and we all know that learning a new language is going to take some time. R is one of this programming language that was designed for data analytics and statistical computing.

It is one of the most well-known because many statisticians use it in order to perform research on markets. It is an open-source language and you can download it for free. This is great because you get the chance to look into details and understand how it is functioning.

R is also an integrated suite of software facilities for data manipulation, calculation and graphical display, called the R environment. This environment includes:

• an effective data handling and storage facility,
• a suite of operators for calculations on arrays, in particular matrices,
• a large, coherent, integrated collection of intermediate tools for data analysis,
• graphical facilities for data analysis and display either on-screen or on hardcopy, and
• a well-developed, simple and effective programming language which includes conditionals, loops, user-defined recursive functions and input and output facilities.

What to consider when buying a laptop for R programming?

If you are wondering on what you can use it you need to know that it works on all the popular platforms. No matter if you are a Windows, Linux or Mac user for sure you will be able to get it on your computer.

So, if you are working in this field and you just started using R programming or you already have a lot of experience you still need a laptop to do the work on. The main things you need to check at a laptop that you know you are going to do some programming in the R language are:

• RAM memory : the more the better because R is going to store all of the data in it.
• Processor : a lot of the things that you can do with R programming requires to be a single thread, so look for a processor that has a fast speed instead of one that has a higher number of cores.
• Keyboard : you are going to type a lot when you are programming so go for a type of keyboard that you know you are comfortable with and on which you can work many hours. A backlit keyboard laptop is also a nice feature, especially if you like working in low-light environments.

In addition to that, you should also consider if you will be using any other specific programs you will use; as they might have their own system requirements.  Also, if you will be commuting, or using the laptop at the office or school, you should also consider the laptops battery life and size, a 14 inch laptop will fit in this case.

Being more and more popular the R language for sure is going to be used in a lot of companies. We decided to make our list with the best laptops for programming in R language so check them out. Chances are really big that you will find a laptop that suits your needs and you will also understand even better what you need to look for.

Best laptops for R programming:

So, now that you have an idea what to consider when buying a laptop specifically for  programming, let’s check some of the best laptops for R programming we selected for you. We will update this list regularly, so if you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to ask us in the comments!

• Acer Aspire 5 A515-54-51DJ

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First on our list, we have the Acer Aspire 5 , one of the first options that come to mind when looking for great value for money; and regardless of the price tag, it’s actually one of the best laptops to get for R programming, especially if you’re a beginner. It has a 15.6″ Full HD display and it is powered by the 8th generation Intel Core i5-8265U. The build is solid and the 256GB SSD is perfect if you wanted some extra speed. 8GB of RAM is great for any programmer out there and the keyboard feels comfortable and it is also backlit.

It has 1 USB 3.1 Type C, 2 USB 3.1 Gen 1, 1 1 USB 2.0 and 1 HDMI port. The battery life is also good and it goes around 9 hours.

• Lenovo Thinkpad E590

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The Lenovo ThinkPad E590 is a great machine that can be used for sure with your R programming. It has a 14″ screen and it gets powered by a fast i5-8265U that goes up to 3.9 GHz if needed. The 8GB of RAM provides enough memory for this kind of programming languages that we know need resources and the 256GB PCIe SSD is great to save all the projects that you are working on.

It is quite light, with only 4.7 pounds,  and the battery is really durable, up to 13 hours. In terms of I/O, you get all the classic USB types (including USB C) and HDMI so for sure you will have no problem with this aspect.

• Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon

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Another great laptop from Lenovo is the ThinkPad X1 Carbon. It’s a really great piece of machine that has a 14″ screen with an anti-glare display. This laptop comes with an Intel Core i7-8565U, which can go up to 4,6GHz under load. And with 16GB of RAM , it means that any programming language that you are going to run on it is going to work perfectly. The 512GB SSD is great especially when you are dealing with larger file projects and you need that extra storage space.

One of the best aspects about the Thikpad X1 carbon is how lightweight it is; at only 2.40 lbs, this is one of the lightest power laptops available. The build quality is also very good, and it is on par with other Thinkpads.

• LG gram 15Z990-A.AAS7U1

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LG gram 15Z990 can be a real option for a programmer laptop. It is a simple model but has a lot of power due to its hardware. This laptop also comes with an i7-8565U, and can perform well with most software programmers might nned. It has 16GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD that works great when you need to move fast.

If we have a look at its battery life for sure you get 10+ hours of usage and this can be particular useful if you know you will be traveling a lot when working. The keyboard feels good and you can log in using your fingerprint.

Another thing that we liked about it is the fact that is passed seven industry-standard tests that show the military durability it has.

• Razer Blade 15

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For those of you looking for the most powerful and lightweight laptop, meet the Razer Blade 15. This laptop has a powerful i7-9750H 7 Core processor that has a speed of 4.5 GHz. The RTX 2060 is also very popular and it goes well with the specs of this laptop. And with 16GB of RAM, that you will have no problem using different programs in the same time and the 512GB SSD is going to be a perfect match with any type of work you might want to do it. The CNC Aluminum is also looking nice and it is Thunderbolt 3 compatible.

It has several ports that you can use from USB to HDMI and the battery life is quite good having around 6+ hours of use.