As a mobile app developer, you likely know that one of the most important things to have is a high-end working personal computer (PC) with great specs that will make your work productive and effective. This is because the days of software with light functionality used for the development of our apps are long gone. Software is now provided with many features so that we can get the most out of building mobile apps. As a result, you need a PC with high performance. In this post, we'll look at the most important computer specs for mobile app development.
Without further ado, let's get started.
What Computer Specs Do We Need for Mobile App Development?
The most important computer specifications for mobile app development revolve around what I like to call MOPS (memory, output, processing, and storage). A computer used for mobile app development must have these specifications in abundance.
Memory
We also refer to memory as random access memory (RAM), in a more technical sense. It allows us to multitask on our computer efficiently (i.e., with RAM, we can have many applications on our PC actively open simultaneously). As a mobile app developer, you should aim to have a PC with plenty of RAM so that it doesn't lag when you have numerous applications open. Now, in mobile development settings, the optimal RAM specification should be more than 16 GB. At least 8 GB or 12 GB of RAM will suffice. However, you should consider upgrading a lower RAM (i.e., one that's under 16 GB) as soon as possible.
Output (Resolution)
The resolution of your monitor display is another factor to consider when choosing a computer for mobile app development. A high-resolution monitor will allow you to capture all of the information you require without straining your eyes. For example, a computer with high resolution will portray an accurate color (i.e., sharp and high-contrast color) as opposed to a low-resolution monitor where the color display may be faded. For mobile app development, you should get a computer with 1920x1080 resolution or above.
Processing
Another vital part you should consider in computer specs for mobile app development is the processing unit. The processing unit is divided into two parts.
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
The CPU is commonly referred to as the computer's brain. It's responsible for boosting the computer's performance. The CPU enables us to run several processes in the blink of an eye. Having a CPU with a lot of processing capacity implies that you can run many processes at the same time. There are two major CPU manufacturers for Windows and Linux-based operating systems: Intel and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD).
Now, the greatest options for app development in Intel-based processors are the Core i5, i7, and i9 series and above. However, the AMD Ryzen CPU series is the best alternative. Anything less may cause the app development process to be jerky or freeze since the CPU will not have the power to manage all of the processes you run concurrently.
As of 2019, the macOS variants relied on Intel-based processors for their CPU; hence, the Core i5, i7, and i9 series are the best. From 2020 forward, macOS has its own processors known as the M1 and M2 chips. This processor has performed admirably in app development for macOS-based computers.
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Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)
We often refer to GPUs as graphics cards or video cards. A GPU is a processor primarily used to manage and optimize a computer's graphics and video performance. A GPU is essential when developing applications that require graphics, such as video editing software or gaming applications.
GPUs can be discrete hardware units (i.e., stand-alone hardware, separate from the computer) or integrated into the CPU. The discrete kind is the best choice. NVIDIA and AMD are two of the leading manufacturers of discrete GPUs. The Radeon series or higher is the best AMD GPU option, whereas the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 or higher, RTX 2060 or higher, and RTX 30 series are the top NVIDIA GPU options.
Storage
Storage is where we keep our files so we can access them later. We require a large amount of space for mobile app development in order to store our files and applications. There are two storage variants: hard disk drive (HDD) and solid-state drive (SSD). The HDD is a traditional method of storage but is already depreciating. Most modern computers don't use it as a storage type because it is much slower to retrieve data than SSDs. For HDD variants, a PC with at least 1 TB of storage is best for mobile development. However, for SSD-type variants, a PC with at least 512 GB of storage is a decent place to start for mobile app development.
What Specs Do We Need for Android Development?
Let's go over the hardware requirements for developing Android apps.
- CPU: The lowest processor type required is an Intel Core i5, but anything above that is highly recommended.
- Memory: The minimum standard for Android development is 8 to 12 GB (depending on the type of app you're building), but 16 GB and above is highly recommended.
- Storage: For an HDD, 1 TB of storage or above is best. For an SSD, 512 GB of storage or above is highly recommended.
In terms of software requirements, we can use various IDEs to build Android apps as long as they are up to date. However, Windows 10 and above is the recommended operating system for building Android apps.
Specs Needed for iOS Development
And now, let's go over the hardware requirements for developing iOS mobile apps.
- CPU: The lowest processor type required is an Intel Core i5, but anything above that is highly recommended.
- Memory: The minimum standard for iOS development is 8 GB of RAM, while 16GB or more is highly recommended.
- Storage: At least 256 GB of storage is necessary, while 512 GB or more is highly recommended.
In terms of iOS mobile app development software requirements, the minimal Xcode IDE version for developing apps is Xcode 11. However, Xcode 11 requires macOS Mojave 10.14.3 or later. This means that the version of the IDE used to build the iOS app should be at least 11, and something higher is strongly suggested. Additionally, the minimum Mac operating system used to build the iOS app should be macOS Mojave 10.14.3 or higher.
Some Computers to Recommend for Mobile App Development
Choosing a PC for mobile app development is a matter of personal preference. For example, you may prefer one brand over another, but the most important thing to remember is that the computer you choose should focus on the MOPS approach with high-performance specs, as mentioned previously.
In this section, we'll recommend a few computers that are often used in the mobile app development space. However, we won't be pointing to a specific product. We'll pick some top manufacturers of computers and their products commonly used for mobile app development.
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iOS Development
When deciding which Apple device to use for iOS development, you should consider the MacBook Pro and Mini models. These kinds of products will make your mobile development journey easier, but make sure their specifications are as high as the ones described above.
Android Development
There are numerous manufacturers in this segment. But we'll go over the most prevalent ones.
- HP: The Pavilion, Spectre, Envy, and Omen are the top HP laptops that are suitable for mobile development.
- Dell Technologies: For mobile development, Alienware, Inspiron, and G Series products are suitable.
- ASUS: ASUS's ROG products are excellent for mobile development.
- Lenovo: The Ideapad, Thinkpad, and Y Series laptops are ideal for mobile development.
Conclusion
Choosing a PC for mobile development is a personal choice, but one should choose a PC with high-performance specs, as we've talked about. In this post, we discussed the most important specifications to look for when purchasing a PC for mobile development.
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