What Is The Best Mac For Developing Apps

Updated: September 11, 2020 | 15 min read

We review 10 best mobile app builders for people who want to make their own app and have little to no coding experience. We looked at leading app making platforms that have a proven track record in developing modern, functional and visually pleasing mobile apps.

Ever wondered why programmers use Macs? So did we. We’ve talked to our developers and found out why Macs are so great for programming—and not only on macOS and iOS. In this article, we’ll talk about the best Macs for app and web development and the best configurations of MacBook Air and MacBook pro for coding. We’ll also cover the minimum tech specs a computer should have for you to code comfortably.

Here’s our personal ranking of Macs for programming:

What is the best mac for developing apps using

Absolute best: MacBook Pro (16-inch or 13-inch)
Best alternative: MacBook Air (2020)
Best desktop computer: 27-inch iMac with 5K Retina display

Why choose a Mac for app development?

Just a few years ago the IT world was dominated by Windows-based computers. However, Apple machines have been steadily gaining popularity among developers in recent years. Why did programmers suddenly get so into Macs?

In a nutshell, the answer lies in the Unix command line. Most of the currently existing servers and file systems are built on top of Unix, so the Unix-based OS X / macOS is now everyone’s favorite. You can also benefit from macOS cross-platform compatibility and easily run both Linux and Windows.

On top of everything, the architecture of any Mac is exceptionally attractive. However, some models are more suited for coding than others—let’s see what the essential features are in the next section.

Recommended system requirements

First of all, it’s important to keep your Mac up to date—not just for coders, for any user. But programmers will especially benefit from it, since some essential software, such as Xcode, only works with the latest versions of the operating system.

Other specifications of high importance are listed below.

Screen

Having a large screen with a high-definition Retina display is important for app development. It’s likely that you’ll be using at least three windows simultaneously. A big display is what you need to fit all of them on the same screen and eliminate the need to constantly switch.

A 27-inch iMac with a 5K Retina display is the number one candidate in terms of screen size and quality resolution. The pixel-dense screen with 500 nits of brightness will make small letters and numbers of code look pleasantly smooth and pretty much perfect.

However, is a 27-inch screen really worth the money for a programmer? Not so sure about that. After all, nothing is preventing you from plugging in one or two separate displays to a smaller and more affordable MacBook Pro, or even an Air. You save money and you gain portability—what’s not to love.

When it comes to GPU, that’s not an important specification in programming unless you’re creating something very graphics-heavy, so we’re not covering that here.

CPU

https://dennin.netlify.app/imessage-app-wont-open-mac.html. Having a processor that is powerful enough to manage all of the essential app development software is crucial. It doesn’t have to be the best one on the market—a Mac Pro with its 28-core beast would definitely be an overkill. However, you want to make sure that you’re getting the best value for money.

In general, you don’t need to get anything too fancy. A dual-core i5 or even an i3 will suffice, even though you will benefit from a faster processor with more cores. If you’re running the latest versions of Xcode, i5 is the minimum requirement. However, if you use an IDE, a virtual machine, or work on a graphics-heavy project, you’ll need a Core i7 and substantially large RAM.

GPU

Unless you are working in game development, you shouldn’t be concerned about your graphics card. The default option that comes with any up-to-date Mac will do a perfectly fine job for creating an app.

RAM and storage

Of all the things that we have listed so far, random access memory is the most important. Xcode alone is very RAM-heavy, and along with other apps getting any work done will be a real struggle.

Currently, the minimum amount of RAM you need for a comfortable coding experience is 8GB. https://girlomg.netlify.app/how-to-turn-off-apps-on-mac-mini.html. Older MacBooks that have 4GB are out of the picture unless you manage to upgrade their RAM and install the latest versions of macOS. Ideally, you should be looking at 16GB and more to create a safety net for future updates.

As for storage, you don’t need much for programming, although we do recommend that you opt for a solid-state drive rather than a hard drive.

Battery life

Software development tends to be energy-costly. Consequently, battery life is something you shouldn’t ignore. Luckily, new generations of MacBooks offer up to 12 hours of battery life, particularly the 2020 MacBook Air. If you are into vintage and would rather buy an old or a second-hand model, be prepared to charge your laptop frequently and remain tied to your desk.

Ports

Make sure that your Mac has enough ports so that you can connect all of your peripherals. As a coder, you might want to use an external display, a keyboard, a mouse, or a flash drive. Some models of MacBook only have a pair of Thunderbolt 3 ports, such as the 2020 MacBook Air—in this case, you would need a USB hub. In contrast, a big desktop computer such as a 27-inch iMac has four USB-C ports and two Thunderbolt 3s.

The best Macs for software development

MacBook Pro for app development

Both the 2019 16-inch and the 2020 13-inch MacBook Pro are the ideal options for app development. In both the devices portability and light weight are combined with a powerful processor, high-definition Retina display, 8GB RAM, and 4 Thunderbolt 3 ports.

The new 13-inch MacBook Pro that arrived in 2020 will be a good solution for those who like the latest technological advances and don’t mind the smaller screen size. The base model has a 1.4GHz quad-core 8th Gen Intel Core i5 processor which can be upgraded to a 2.0 GHz quad-core 10th Gen Intel Core i5. Base 8GB RAM can be expanded to 16GB and 256GB storage can be boosted up to 512GB. The price range for this model is from $1,299 to $1,799.

Let’s compare it to the 16-inch MacBook Pro. This model replaced the 15-inch Mac in 2019 and has much better specs. The 2.6GHz 6-core 9th Gen i7 processor can be upgraded to a 2.3GHz 8-core 9th Gen i9, 16GB RAM and up to 1TB storage. The price range here is from $2,399 to $2,799.

Overall, although the 16-inch Pro has much better specs, the 13-inch one is enough for all of your programming needs.

Optimal specs for the 13-inch model:

2.0GHz quad-core 10th Gen Intel Core i5 CPU
16GB RAM
512GB SSD

Optimal specs for the 16-inch model:

2.6GHz 6-core 9th Gen i7 CPU
16GB RAM
512GB SSD

If you would like to have a bigger screen when you’re at your desk, get an external monitor. Don’t rush and buy the Pro Display XDR—there are a lot of affordable options that match its quality.

MacBook Air for app development

MacBook Air has always been a topic of controversy among creatives. It’s kind of borderline meeting the requirements for most professional users, including coders. What did we learn about Air?

The new 2020 release introduced to the world the most powerful Air yet. The tiny 1.27 kg laptop is equipped with an impressive 1.1GHz quad-core 10th Gen Core i5 processor with a Turbo Boost option up to 3.5GHz. 8GB built-in RAM (can be configured to 16GB) is combined with 512GB of SSD storage in addition to two Thunderbolt 3 ports and a 13.3-inch Retina display with True Tone. All of this in a cheapest MacBook you can buy—price ranging from $999 to $1,299.

Overall, we can say with confidence that this is a solid option for casual to medium-level app development and will serve you well—just like Apple products always do.

Optimal specs for MacBook Air:

1.1GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 CPU
16GB RAM
512GB SSD

iMac for app development

If you spend most of your time working at home, you might be looking for a stationary computer. In this case, it’s also worth investing in a device with a large display. Apple has got your back with a 27-inch 5K Retina display iMac.

The base model has 3.1GHz 6-core 10th Gen Core i5 processor with a Turbo Boost up to 4.1GHz 8GB of on-board RAM that can be configured to 32GB, 1TB fusion drive, two Thunderbolt 3 ports, and 4 USB-C ports. The price ranges from $1,799 to $2,299.

Compare it with the 21.5-inch iMac—the base model has a dual-core processor, which is a no-go for programming. A slightly more expensive variant has a 3.6GHz quad-core 8th Gen Core i3 processor, 8GB of RAM (configurable to 32GB), 1TB hard drive, and a Retina 4K display as opposed to 5K. It costs $1,299 or $1,499 for a slightly more advanced model.

The 27-inch model is slightly more expensive for something that only adds 6 extra inches to the screen, but if you decide to purchase the smaller iMac instead you will have to swap the hard drive for an SSD and upgrade RAM, adding extra expenses. Is it really worth it?

To sum it up, an iMac is an excellent choice for someone who doesn’t move around for work and prefers sitting at the desk.

Optimal 27-inch iMac specs:

3.1GHz 6-core 8th Gen Core i5 CPU
16GB RAM
512GB SSD

Mac vs. PC for software development

Both Macs and PCs are great for software development. When choosing the best computer for coding, we recommend considering the tools you like to use and their compatibility with both Windows and macOS. You should think about the type of language and framework that you work with.

Pros of coding on a Mac:

Macs are less susceptible to malware (although not completely virus-free)
Programs native to Apple don’t slow down the performance of a Mac
Macs are based on Unix, so they are more suitable for creating back-end web server code
Macs can run all major operating systems including Windows, Linux, Android, etc.
Apple offers great service and support

Cons of coding on a Mac:

Macs are usually more expensive than PCs
macOS is not the most popular operating system
There aren’t many third-party tools available on Mac

Pros of coding on a PC:

PCs’ hardware can be easily customized
There are a lot of third-party tools for graphics, debugging, and profiling
Windows has a lot of Linux functionality
There are more software programs, games, and utilities for Windows because of the number of users

Cons of coding on PC:

Windows devices are manufactured by companies other than Microsoft, so quality is not always guaranteed
Running macOS on PC creates an unstable environment that can interfere with your app development process
You can’t run Xcode on PC, so it’s impossible to develop macOS and iOS apps on non-Apple computers

These are the major pros and cons of both platforms. To avoid getting the wrong device, look out for cross-platform and hardware compatibility to avoid disruption to your work.

How to Optimize your Mac for Programming?

Having chosen a perfect Mac for your coding needs, it's high time to pick an app that will do all the routine tasks for you. By routine, we mean cleaning, optimization, and taking care of security and privacy too.

For you to code interruption-free, MacKeeper will be in charge of clean up space on Mac from accumulated junk files, duplicates, logs, and caches. It can even suggest deleting apps that haven't been used for a long time (read more: how to delete Anaconda from Mac or uninstall Java from Mac). In addition, it will keep your apps updated at all times for the seamless work of your Mac.

Finally, to fully focus on programming, let security and privacy tools in MacKeeper shield your Mac from viruses, online threats, or email breaches. Besides, you can use a built-in VPN to surf more securely or access websites that are geo-blocked.

Conclusion

You can go for any type of Mac depending on your needs—a powerful MacBook Pro, a super-light MacBook Air, or a stationary iMac with a big screen. Regardless of your choice of tech, always make sure to have the latest version of macOS installed on your computer to be able to run Xcode and avoid security threats.

FAQ

Is Core i5 enough for programming?

Depending on the type of coding you practice you might want to invest in a Core i7 processor or go with a cheaper Core i5. For example, a front-end web developer that only uses a text editor and a browser on an everyday basis will do just fine with an i5.

Is 4GB RAM enough for coding?

Generally speaking, 4GB RAM is not enough for most tasks required in modern-day programming. You’re looking at 8GB minimum to run Xcode alone, and that is if you don’t embark on anything too heavy. For more intense projects that need additional tools, consider investing in 16GB or more.

Do you need a powerful computer for coding?

What Is The Best Mac For Developing Apps

As a programmer, you don’t need a powerful computer at all. A quad-core i5 processor with 8GB RAM and 256GB of SSD memory will suffice. As for screen size and resolution, aim for a 13-inch Retina display to get the best coding experience.

Read more:

Types of Mobile Apps

Before we continue, I just want to quickly cover the different types of app development from a coding perspective. Generally speaking, mobile app developers can build an app in one of these three categories:

Native apps — Coded in a language that’s supported natively by a specific device’s operating system. (Example: native iOS app vs. native Android app).

Hybrid apps — Cross-platform development. Apps are coded in one language that can run on multiple platforms.

Progressive web applicaitons (PWA) — A lightweight app that runs in the URL of a device’s web browser. It looks and feels like a mobile app, but it’s not delivered natively on the device.

The most common topic you’ll hear when discussing mobile application development is the difference between native and hybrid apps. This has become the great debate for developers for quite some time now.

As I briefly mentioned above, native apps are built for a particular operating system. So if you want to develop an app for iOS and Android, you would need to build specifically for iOS and specifically for Android, separately.

There are pros and cons to this method, along with the others. We’ll take a closer look at the advantages and drawbacks of these app development methods as we continue through this guide.

Programming Languages for iOS Apps

The iOS platform was created by Apple. If you develop an iOS app, it will work across Apple devices like iPhones and iPads. Apps built using an iOS programming language can be made available on the Apple App Store for users to download.

In order to build an iOS app, you need to have an Apple developer account to get started. You’ll also need the Xcode IDE installed on a Mac computer (you can’t build and debug properly on a Windows computer).

Xcode comes with everything you need to create apps for all Apple devices. This development toolkit has a code editor, simulators, a debugger, and SDKs.

There are two native programming languages for iOS development—Objective-C and Swift.

Let’s take a closer look at each one of these Apple programming languages below.

Objective-C

Objective-C was the first programming language by Apple to support mobile applications on its platform. It’s an OO (object-oriented) language that uses syntax from C and the OO aspects of SmallTalk.

The language isn’t very developer-friendly. One of the drawbacks is that the syntax feels clunky, and the square brackets can be tough to debug.

Swift

Swift was introduced in 2014 as an Apple programming language. It was eventually available for development in Xcode the following year.

This language has quickly become the developers’ preferred choice when building an iOS app. The usage of Objective-C has declined since Swift’s arrival. For any modern applications built on Apple, Swift is heavily encouraged.

Compared to Objective-C, Swift is easier and more compact. Any Apple developer who already knows how to build with Objective-C shouldn’t have any issues switching to Swift.

Programming Languages for Android App Development

Android is an open-source software development platform run by Google. While Google has its own mobile devices for phones and tablets, other manufacturers, like Samsung, Huawei, and more also produce phones and tablets that are powered by the Android OS.

To build an Android app, you need to get the Android development toolkit that has debuggers, emulators, and the required SDK. The best integrated development environment (IDE) for Android app development is Android Studio. There are other options available, but Android Studio is definitely the most popular.

Android IDEs can typically be run on any OS, including Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Delete mac os update files. Deleting an app in the Finder is as easy as dragging an icon to the trash, entering your administrator password, then emptying the trash. At this point, OS X will move the app to the Trash, but if.

Let’s take a closer look at two Android programming languages—Java and Kotlin.

Java

Since Android was officially launched in 2008, Java has been the default development language to write Android apps. This object-oriented language was initially created back in 1995.

While Java has its fair share of faults, it’s still the most popular language for Android development.

Most of the other Android languages are considered a version of Java or a flavor of Java.

Kotlin

Google announced that it would start supporting the Kotlin programming language in 2017. It’s an alternative language to traditional Java for Android development. Even as a new language, it’s very popular.

Kotlin and Java are interoperable, meaning they can make use of the same information. All of your Java libraries can be accessed with Kotlin. From an execution standpoint, the Kotlin language complies with Java Bytecode. Overall, it’s considered a neater and cleaner version of Java.

Native Development Programming Languages

As I said before, all of the native application programming languages have their pros and cons. Whether you’re using Objective-C or Swift for Apple or using Java or some other flavor of Java (like Kotlin) for Android, these are the benefits and drawbacks.

Native Programming Pros:

Most control over the device
Low-level coding for cutting edge technologies that are added on to the device
Fastest access to latest and greatest features through your language
Fastest in execution bottom line

Native Programming Cons:

Slowest to develop
Most costly development method
Takes highest skilled and specialized app developers to build for iOS and Android
High barrier to entry

While native programming languages give you the most control over your app, they are difficult to learn and take a long time to develop. Unless you’re building a highly specialized app, you probably won’t need to go the native route.

Programming Languages for Hybrid Apps

Hybrid applications are developed once, but written with a programming language that works for multiple platforms.

Most commonly, a single development will work for both iOS and Android. Although some hybrid languages extend their functionality to other platforms, like PWAs (progressive web apps). This is nice to have for those of you moving into a more web-friendly environment.

When you’re building a hybrid application, you’re generally dealing with some sort of JavaScript-based language, framework, or toolkit.

Let’s take a closer look at some of these options below.

Xamarin and C#

Developed by Microsoft, C# (pronounced C sharp) is another object-oriented programming language. Microsoft eventually acquired the Xamarin framework, which allows app developers to program using C# against other frameworks.

Other low-code types of alternatives like OutSystems and Kony have an SDK that can be used with different languages, not just one.

Using an IDE for hybrid development, the C# code is cross-compiled to run natively on iOS and Android devices.

JavaScript Languages

The most popular hybrid languages use JavaScript frameworks. It’s kind of a general-purpose programming language for multiple use cases.

React Native
Appcelerator
Cordova/PhoneGap

These are just a few of the top options. Google even has some niche builders called Dart and Flutter.

React Native and Appcelerator

Reactive Native and Appcelerator both use JavaScript to communicate with pre-built functionality that is native to their framework. This allows you to manipulate the UI, collect data, and retrieve data so you can present it to the user.

Basically, this means that you’re heavily relying on JavaScript to manipulate native components. Programming an app this way has its pros and cons.

What Is The Best Mac For Developing Apps Free

React Native and Appcelerator Pros:

Using Java to manipulate something native
Access native functionality directly from JavaScript

React Native and Appcelerator Cons:

Doesn’t tap into things like HTML5 or CSS, which are technologies that are generally used with anybody developing in JavaScript to freely manipulate their own user interface

The barrier of entry to learning this programming method is around a medium level.

Cordova/PhoneGap

Cordova/PhoneGap and Ionic type frameworks are really just built on top of the Apache Cordova programming language. Hybrid applications using this language are built by porting over a web experience into a native experience.

What does this mean?

This method allows you to build just like you would do for a website. So if you’re a web developer, you’ll feel right at home here. It uses Javascript, HTML, and CSS. That web environment is ported over natively to iOS and Android.

Pros:

Low barrier to entry
Anyone with a web development background can easily start programming this way
Learning curve is easy

Cons:

Giving up a little bit of frame rate

If you’re developing a game or augmented reality (AR) app, this solution probably isn’t best language for you. Both of those require a higher frame rate.

MBaaS (Mobile Backend as a Service)

All of the hybrid frameworks and native languages to build mobile apps all have two things in common—they all need to be built from scratch, and they are all missing a major component.

Anybody who has developed a mobile application in the past understands that the app itself is only a portion of the entire environment and the total solution. You’ll also need a massive mobile backend as a service—better known as MBaaS.

What do you need an MBaaS for? Here are a few examples:

Host your data
Host user profiles
Compile analytics
Send push notifications

The list goes on and on. These are all servers living in the cloud that you need to develop as well to support your application. Unless you’re building a simple app, like a calculator, you generally need some type of user authentication, database, CMS, etc.

BuildFire JS

This is where the BuildFire JS comes into play.

The BuildFire JS framework allows you to build just like you would in a Cordova Hybrid platform. You can use web technology like JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. But this framework doesn’t force you to build everything from scratch.

Things like authentication and push notifications are built on top of an existing platform. That platform has all of the typical functionality that most apps need, like user logins, password reset functionality, access to databases, access to CMS platforms, and so on.

With the BuildFire JS, you only need to build what is unique to your specific application.

Analytics servers, databases, push notification servers, API gateways, and so much more are all part of the massive MBaaS provided by BuildFire.

All of this is bundled in an open-source environment that allows people to constantly add new features to the platform. You can integrate those features into your app without the worry of security problems or licensing.

Once all is said and done, and you’ve developed your app with BuildFire, there’s a backend control panel that allows you to administer your app over the air without having to deal with the hurdles of publishing and upgrades.

Since your app is built on a platform with an MBaaS, you won’t have to worry about any new policies, regulations, compliance issues, features, and more on iOS and Android. BuildFire makes sure that your app stays compliant.

Final Thoughts

What’s the best programming language for mobile app development? Prime photos app.

There is no right or wrong answer to what programming language you should learn or what framework you should invest in. All of the options listed in this guide are good and valid choices to consider. They each have pros and cons. There are even additional languages, like Python for server-side programming, and more.

You just need to find out what’s best for you, your business, and your goals.

What type of application are you building? What does the application need? Where do you want to put the most effort? Do you want to develop it once or multiple times?

What Is The Best Mac For Developing Apps Using

These are some of the questions that you need to ask yourself to determine where your time, effort, and resources are best served. Essential macos apps. At the end of the day, just make sure you can go to market quickly with the best possible app.

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