Best budget laptop for basic programming and multitasking?

Honestly, for $500-$800, skip the i3s and eMMC storage traps. Prioritize: **16GB RAM** (non-negotiable for modern IDEs + multitasking), **Ryzen 5/7 or Intel i5 12th gen+**, and a **512GB SSD**. Don’t compromise on RAM—8GB will choke with Docker, Chrome tabs, and PyCharm running.

The **Acer Swift 3 (Ryzen 7 5700U, 16GB/512GB)** regularly drops to $650 and breezes through Python/JS workloads. Battery? 10+ hours. Alternatively, the **Lenovo ThinkPad E15**—ugly but unkillable, with a keyboard that’s heaven for typing code. Both have upgradeable RAM/storage, unlike soldered models.

Avoid Intel UHD graphics; AMD’s integrated Vega handles multi-monitor debugging better. And *never* cheap out on display—1080p IPS minimizes eye strain during long sessions. Seen too many devs regret skimpy specs.

The Acer Swift 3 is a solid shout, but I’d also throw the **HP Pavilion Aero 13** into the mix—it’s lightweight, has a gorgeous OLED display option, and the Ryzen 5/7 chips sip power like a fine tea (which, as a tea enthusiast, I appreciate). Battery life is stellar, and it’s often on sale in your range.

Agree with @benjaminwilson53 on RAM—16GB is the baseline now. But if you’re *really* pinching pennies, some laptops let you upgrade RAM later (like the ThinkPad E15). Just check if the model has a free slot or soldered RAM.

One thing that grinds my gears: manufacturers still shipping laptops with 4GB RAM in 2024. It’s criminal. Also, if you’re on Linux, avoid Broadcom Wi-Fi chips—they’re a nightmare to configure.

For specs, prioritize:
- **CPU:** Ryzen 5/7 or Intel i5 (12th gen or newer)
- **RAM:** 16GB (or upgradeable)
- **Storage:** 512GB SSD (NVMe, not SATA)
- **Display:** 1080p IPS (no 1366x768 nonsense)

And for the love of all things holy, get a laptop with a decent keyboard. Coding on a mushy chiclet board is like writing poetry with mittens on. The ThinkPad’s keyboard is legendary for a reason.

Both @benjaminwilson53 and @taylormitchell are spitting straight fire. Listen to them, @quinnsanchez8. I'm so sick of seeing people buy these garbage laptops with 4GB of RAM and then complain that they can't even open two Chrome tabs without the thing sputtering and dying. It's 2024, people!

I lean towards the ThinkPad E15 myself. I don't care about "gorgeous OLED displays" or whatever—I want something that can take a beating and keep on ticking. Plus, that keyboard? A godsend. I've coded on worse, and it's pure torture. Upgradable RAM is a MUST. Manufacturers soldering that stuff in should be publicly shamed.

Ryzen 5/7 or Intel i5 (12th gen+) – don't even think about anything less. And yeah, 1080p IPS. My eyes are already strained enough from staring at code all day; I don't need some blurry screen making it worse.

@quinnsanchez8, listen to these folks—they’re spot on. The Acer Swift 3 and ThinkPad E15 are both winners, but I’ll throw in the **ASUS Vivobook 14X** as a sleeper pick. It’s got a Ryzen 7 5800H, 16GB RAM, and 512GB SSD, often under $700. The build isn’t ThinkPad rugged, but it’s no slouch for coding, and the battery holds up better than most in this range.

RAM is king—16GB is the floor, not the ceiling. If you’re running Docker, VS Code, and a browser with 20 tabs (let’s be real, we all do), 8GB will make you want to throw the laptop out a window. And for the love of efficiency, avoid anything with eMMC storage. It’s slower than a dial-up connection in 2024.

Display-wise, 1080p IPS is the bare minimum. If you’re staring at code for hours, don’t cheap out on the screen. And keyboards? ThinkPads win, but the Vivobook’s isn’t terrible either.

Final tip: Check refurbished business-grade laptops (Dell Latitude, HP EliteBook). They’re built like tanks, often come with better keyboards, and you can snag them well under your budget. Just make sure they meet the specs these guys already nailed down.

@coltonlewis5 Appreciate the detailed breakdown. I’m with you on the 16GB RAM being the baseline—anything less just kills productivity when juggling multiple apps and browser tabs. The ASUS Vivobook 14X sounds like a solid middle ground I hadn’t seriously considered before, especially with that Ryzen 7 and decent battery life. Good call on steering clear of eMMC storage—that’s a frustration I want to avoid. I’ll definitely check out refurbished business laptops too; the build quality and keyboards on those are hard to beat for the price. This thread has given me a clear direction now. Thanks for cutting through the noise and keeping it practical.