PLC programming is the lifeline of a business operation, and without the right laptop, the whole assembly line can come to a screeching halt.
PLC programming demands a high-performance laptop. If your current machine is not powerful enough for the job or you are fresh out of college, you might want to invest in the best laptop for PLC programming before things go south at the workplace.
After all, you don’t want to be that guy who angers his supervisor within the first week, do you?
If you are in the market for a laptop, there are many options to consider, but which one should you choose? Finding the right laptop for your PLC programming needs is quite challenging, but don’t worry.
We have compiled an expertly crafted list of the 7 best laptops for PLC programming, which will help you make a more informed decision.
So, without further ado, let’s begin.
In a hurry? We care about your time! Have a look at our top 3 favorite picks when it comes to the best laptops for PLC programming in 2024!
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1. Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon – Best Overall
The Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon has been the staple laptop for professional and business use because of its unwavering performance, excellent build quality, and enhanced feature set.
This laptop comes with the latest Intel i7-1365U 10-core processor, which has a maximum clock speed of 5.2 GHz. 10 cores are more than enough for running PLC programming software such as Step 7, Tia Portal, or RsLogix 5000 without a hitch.
The thing that separates the Thinkpad lineup from other laptops is its upgradability. From the factory, this particular variant comes with 32GB LPDDR5 RAM alongside a 1TB PCIe SSD and is priced around $2000.
However, users can also choose different configurations or add extra RAM and storage later with relative ease.
The Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon has cool features that enhance user experience. The laptop’s screen can lay flat in a 90° orientation and supports touch input as well. Talking about the technical specs of the screen, it has a resolution of 1920 x 1200 with a 16:10 aspect ratio.
Due to the 16:10 aspect ratio, the screen is much taller and has smaller bezels than a conventional 16:9 display, making it pretty.
While working inside plants and factories, a significant problem that many PLC programmers face is their laptop overheating.
The excellent thermal ventilation system of the Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon ensures this laptop keeps a moderate operating temperature even under full load.
Besides all these features, the Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon has a trick up its sleeves. This laptop has a built-in SIM slot and supports 5G data, which can come in handy if you are operating where Wi-Fi signals are terrible.
Above all, the main selling point of this laptop is its robust build quality. Everything you touch feels high quality. The backlit keyboard is pleasant to type on, and each keystroke provides satisfying feedback. The keyboard is also spill-resistant.
The Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon has a decent I/O but isn’t perfect. You get 1x HDMI, 2x USB-C thunderbolt 4.0, 2x USB-A Gen 3.2, 1x 3.5mm audio/mix jack, and 1x Kensington lock.
The omission of an Ethernet LAN and SD card slot means that you will need a dongle if you carry a lot of USB sticks.
Besides the lackluster I/O, the only drawback of the Lenovo Thinkpad is its weak battery life. The 57 Wh battery only lasts for 5 hours before needing a top-up.
Luckily, the laptop supports fast charging, and with the supplied charger, you can top up the battery to 80% in just 60 minutes.
Overall, based on everything discussed earlier, the Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon is a complete package. It is a reliable, dependable, and powerful laptop that can do any job, making it the best laptop for PLC programming.
2. HP Envy – Best Performance
The HP Envy is a jack-of-all-trades laptop that can cope with anything you throw at it. At the heart of the laptop is an Intel i9-13900H, the most powerful processor of all laptops in this round. The Intel i9-13900H has 14 cores running at a clock speed of up to 5.4 GHz.
Like the processor, the rest of the specs of this laptop are also top-notch. The HP Envy comes with 32 GB DDR5 RAM, which showcases brilliant multi-tasking performance.
Switching between different applications is a breeze on this laptop, and never once did we encounter any lag or stutter.
The laptop also provides plentiful storage for all your files, media, and documents with a 2TB PCIe SSD. The PCIe SSD installed on this laptop is fast and has excellent read and write speeds, resulting in a buttery smooth experience.
If you want more graphics horsepower, you will be pleased to know that the HP Envy comes with a dedicated Nvidia RTX 4060 graphics card. Having a dedicated Nvidia graphics card will help accelerate the workload.
The highlight of the HP Envy is its screen. The 16” 2560 x 1600p resolution screen is not only alluring to look at, but it also acts as a touchscreen, which will be quite handy when you are working on executive reports and summaries.
This laptop has high-end specs, so we were quite worried about the heat buildup. While this laptop does get hot under load, it never overheated, which is quite reassuring of the great thermal design of the HP Envy.
Coming to the I/O, we are quite pleased with what HP has done. From left to right, we have 1x USB-A Gen 3.2, 1x 3.5mm audio/mic jack, 1x SD card slot, 2x USB-C with Thunderbolt 4 support, 1x USB-A Gen 3.2, 1x HDMI 2.1, and 1x barrel style power connector.
The HP Envy 16 also stands tall in the battery life department. The 83 Wh battery propels the laptops for 7-8 hours before needing a recharge.
The HP Envy 16 is close to being a perfect laptop, but it has flaws. The keyboard of this laptop is not the most comfortable to type on. The keys feel mushy as opposed to being tactile, hence hampering the typing speed and precision.
3. Asus Zephyrus G14 – Best Battery Life
The Asus Zephyrus G14 is compact and lightweight, with serious performance capability under the hood. This laptop comes with the 8-core Ryzen 9 6900 HS processor.
Although the Ryzen 9 6900HS has two less cores than the competing Intel processors, the performance difference is quite marginal.
On the other hand, the Ryzen 9 6900 HS is a lot more efficient than its Intel counterpart, which allows Asus to pack such a powerful processor in a small 14” laptop chassis.
To supplement the high-performing Ryzen 9 6900 HS processor, Asus has installed a dedicated AMD 6700S graphics card in this laptop.
The combination of the Ryzen 9 6900 HS and the Radeon RX 6700S results in this laptop bulldozing through any demanding software programs used for PLC programming.
To ensure smooth multitasking, the Asus Zephyris G14 comes with 40 GB DDR5 RAM, which doesn’t miss a beat when switching between the different applications or opening many tabs on Chrome.
The storage capacity of the Asus Zephyrus G14 is 1TB, and it comes in the form of a PCIe SSD.
When it comes to design, the Asus Zephyrus G14 is a standout. Unlike other laptops, this Asus comes with a white color scheme, making it more attractive than its competitors.
The Asus Zephyrus G14 is also built quite well. It is constructed out of magnesium alloy, a rigid and robust material.
PLC Programming requires a lot of typing and scrolling through endless data sheets. The Asus Zephyrus G14 fares quite well due to its excellent tactile keyboard and gorgeous 2560 x 1600p 120 Hz refresh display.
The 120Hz refresh rate is a game changer, making the screen more fluid and responsive. Therefore enabling a better user experience when running different PLC programming software on the laptop.
The Asus Zephyrus G14 has the best battery life out of all the laptops on this list. It can easily last 8-9 hours on a single charge, which is quite remarkable.
In terms of the I/O, the Asus Zephyrus G14 supports 1x HDMI, 2x USB-C (no thunderbolt), 1x 3.5mm audio/mic jack, 2x USB-A 3.2, and 1x micro-SD card slot.
The only minor flaw we have encountered with the Asus Zephyrus G14 is its distorted speakers. The sound of the two 5W speakers is muffled and lacks clarity.
However, that is easily fixable with a headphone or a portable speaker. So, if you are in the market for a powerful compact laptop that lasts a whole day on battery backup, look no further than the Asus Zephyrus G14.
4. LG Gram 17 – Best Large Screen
The LG Gram 17 is the thinnest and lightest 17” laptop ever produced by any manufacturer. It is an engineering marvel weighing only 2.51 grams with a thickness of just 0.69”.
LG has not sacrificed performance when bringing the thickness of this laptop down. At the heart of this laptop is a 12-core Intel i7 1360P. This processor can achieve a maximum clock speed of 5.0 GHz and handle anything you throw at it.
The configuration of the LG Gram 17 we have tested came with 16GB DDR5 RAM, and it was priced around $1377. For most PLC programmers, 16GB should be fine for day-to-day multitasking.
However, if your needs require more RAM capacity, choose a different configuration because the RAM is soldered onto the motherboard on this laptop. Hence, it is not user upgradeable.
The LG Gram 17 comes in either a 1TB or a 2TB storage configuration. The 2TB variant is only $50 more than its 1TB counterpart, making it the defacto choice.
The main selling point of the LG Gram is its large 17” screen. LG has done a fantastic job at eliminating screen bezels, leading to a 16:10 aspect ratio. The large screen of the LG Gram 17 is a perfect replacement if you are accustomed to working on a desktop monitor.
The LG Gram 17 is not just about the screen. It has a very admirable I/O with a good variety of ports. The laptop comes with 1x HDMI, 2x USB-C Thunderbolt 4, 2x USB-A 3.2, micro-SD card slot, and 1x Kensington lock.
As you have observed, this laptop does not have a traditional charging port, and it can be charged via any of the USB-C ports located on the laptop. Therefore, you do not need to carry a sizeably bulky charger with the LG Gram 17.
For such a thin and lightweight laptop, I was expecting the LG Gram 17 to have horrible battery life. Contrary to my expectations, the LG Gram 17 comfortably lasted 7-8 hours on a single charge, which is impressive.
On the whole, the LG Gram is a 17” thin and lightweight laptop that does not skimp on performance. It doesn’t have any direct competitors, so if you like the idea of using a large laptop that is portable and powerful, you cannot go wrong with the LG Gram 17.
5. Lenovo T14 G3
The Lenovo T14 has demonstrated to be an absolute workhorse of a laptop. Featuring a 12-core Intel i7-1260P processor, this laptop has exceptional performance capability.
It will breeze through any PLC software you throw at it, including the heavy hitters Tia Portal, Step 7, or RsLogix 5000.
With 24GB LPDDR5, this laptop ensures you can efficiently multitask and switch between different applications, such as PLC software and Slack, without any noticeable delay.
The reason for picking up the intel version of the Lenovo T14 over the AMD counterpart is due to expandable RAM capacity. This model supports a maximum RAM capacity of 56 GB, so you can always add more RAM if needed.
If you are working on multiple designs and assembly lines, you will need to store a lot of files on your laptop. This laptop’s 1TB SSD storage capacity is plentiful, and having an NVME SSD means the files will load up quicker, saving valuable time.
While not the prettiest laptop by any stretch of the imagination, the Lenovo T14 is built like a tank. Minor scuffs should be a non-issue, and you can roam the work site without worrying about damaging the laptop.
Lenovo markets the T14 as a premium business laptop, which means it gets some useful features that professionals appreciate. We particularly find the built-in fingerprint sensor a great addition to security and privacy.
The 1080p webcam provides a crisp picture quality when needed, and when not in use, it is handy to close the webcam using the manual shutter.
Last but not least, this laptop comes with all the ports you will need. From left to right, it has 1x Ethernet, 2x USB-C, 1x HDMI, 1x USB-A 3.0, 1x 3.5mm audio/mic combo jack, 1x Kensington lock, and 1x USB-A 3.0 port.
The Lenovo T14 G3 has the worst battery life out of all the laptops in this roundup after the HP Probook 450 G9. The 52.5 Wh barely lasts for 3-4 hours before needing a recharge.
Considering that this laptop costs $1140, the battery life drawback of this laptop can be overlooked.
6. HP Probook 450 G9 – Best Value For Money
The HP Probook 450 G9 is a value-to-money machine that is ideal for people just getting into the PLC Programming field.
Residing at the core of this laptop is the 10-core Intel i7-1255U processor. Despite being a generation older, this processor produces decent performance and is neck and neck compared to the latest more generation laptops.
The advantage of buying this slightly older laptop is that you get a great deal on it. It is priced at around $1079, and for that money, you get a laptop with 32GB RAM and a 2TB PCIe SSD, making it a stellar deal.
The HP Probook 450 G9 also comes with dedicated Nvidia MX570A graphics. Although this is Nvidia’s entry-level graphics solution, having it will greatly help in software programs that require fiddling with automated designs.
Besides its value-to-money proposition, the HP Probook 450 G9 is an impressive laptop with many useful features. It contains a physical fingerprint scanner mounted under the arrow key. A dedicated fingerprint scanner is much more secure than a fingerprint key.
In terms of the I/O, the HP Probook 450 G9 contains a decent selection of ports for everyday needs. It comes with 1x HDMI, 1x USB-C with Thunderbolt 4 support, 2x USB-A 3.2, 1x 3.5mm audio/mic jack, 1x Ethernet LAN, and 1x Kensington lock.
The one major deal-breaker that can potentially dissuade you from buying the HP Probook 450 G9 is its battery life. This laptop’s 42 Wh battery is quite abysmal and only provides a battery backup of 3 hour.
All in all, if you are on a budget and looking for a value-to-money laptop for PLC programming, the HP Probook 450 G9 should be at the top of your list.
7. Dell Inspiron 16 5630
The Dell Inspiron 16 is a great laptop you can get for PLC programming, which will not break the bank.
It is powered by the latest Intel i7-1360P processor, which is approximately 12-15% more powerful and 5% more efficient than its previous generation i7-1260P counterpart.
This version of the Dell Inspiron 16 comes with 16GB LPDDR5 RAM, which should be enough for most PLC programmers. However, if you want more, make sure to get this laptop’s higher configuration, as the RAM is soldered on and cannot be upgraded.
Luckily, the storage drive of this laptop is upgradeable; however, you won’t need to. The Dell Inspiron 16 comes with a 1TB PCIe SSD, which provides ample storage for all your files and is plenty fast to boot.
Design is the one area where the Dell Inspiron 16 triumphs over its competitors. This laptop has a gorgeous 16:10 display with minimal bezels, providing more screen real estate.
As far as the technical performance of the display is concerned, the screen is quite vibrant, with decent color accuracy and a brightness of 300 nits.
If you observe closely, the laptop’s keyboard deck lifts up ever so slightly when the screen lid is opened. Although this may seem redundant, it is a cunning design solution to let more airflow into the laptop.
Such beneficial quirks can be seen all around the laptop, such as the 5W front-firing speakers. Speakers at the top lead to better stereo separation and a richer sound.
While this laptop has many high points, it has its flaws. For starters, it does not come with an Ethernet port, although we are pleased to report that the Wi-Fi 6E works quite well.
On the topic of ports, this laptop comes with 1x HDMI, 2x USB-A Gen 3.2, 1x 3.5mm audio/mic jack, and 1x Thunderbolt 4.0.
The Dell Inspiron 16 5630 has a 64 Wh battery, providing only 5-6 hours of backup. So, have a charger on standby; it will come in handy.
All things considered, the Dell Inspiron 16 5630 is a great machine, and if you can look past its few negatives, it will serve your PLC programming needs quite well.
Conclusion
This was our list of the top 7 best laptops for PLC programming in 2024. The list contains unique laptops catered to different types of buyers. To iterate, we always emphasize getting the right laptop for your needs, and for your ease, we have categorized the laptops as well.
PLC programming is a rigorous job requiring individuals to always be on their toes. The right tools, especially the laptop, can help make this job easier. I hope your next laptop purchase through our list will greatly benefit you in your PLC programming endeavors.