It is possible that you are currently looking for the cheapest laptop for programming available in the market but there is a problem
There are numerous programming and gaming laptops available in the market. Although most of them are quite expensive, a lot of them can be bought by those with a tight budget.
We can definitely say that you can code with a budget laptop as well as you can do with a high-end programming laptop but the only difference is the software or coding language that you use.
If the software you are using is extremely heavy like Android Studio etc then it will be difficult to program well with a budget programming laptop.
But if your requirements can be met with a budget laptop for programming then we have made a list of the best budget laptops for programming down below:
Image | Title | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
 | HP - Envy x360 2-in-1 15.6" Touch-Screen Laptop - Intel Core i5 - 8GB Memory - 256GB SSD - Natural Silver | ||
 | Lenovo Flex 5 14 2-in-1 Laptop, 14.0" FHD Touch Display, AMD Ryzen 5 4500U, 16GB RAM, 256GB Storage, AMD Radeon Graphics, Digital Pen Included, Win 10 | ||
 | Acer Swift 3 Thin & Light Laptop | 14" Full HD IPS 100% sRGB Display | AMD Ryzen 7 5700U Octa-Core Processor | 8GB LPDDR4X | 512GB NVMe SSD | WiFi 6 | Backlit KB | FPR | Amazon Alexa | SF314-43-R2YY | ||
 | 2020 Apple MacBook Air Laptop: Apple M1 Chip, 13” Retina Display, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD Storage, Backlit Keyboard, FaceTime HD Camera, Touch ID. Works with iPhone/iPad; Space Gray | ||
 | 2020 Apple MacBook Pro with Apple M1 Chip (13-inch, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD Storage) - Silver | ||
 | Google Pixelbook Go - Lightweight Chromebook Laptop - Up to 12 Hours Battery Life[1] - Touch Screen Chromebook - Just Black | ||
 | Dell XPS 13 9310 Touchscreen 13.4 inch FHD Thin and Light Laptop - Intel Core i7-1185G7, 16GB LPDDR4x RAM, 512GB SSD, Intel Iris Xe Graphics, 2Yr OnSite, 6 months Dell Migrate, Windows 10 Pro - Silver | ||
 | Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 13.5” Touch-Screen – Intel Core i5 - 8GB - 512GB Solid State Drive (Latest Model) - Matte Black |
Table of Contents
Best Budget Laptops for Programming in 2022
These laptops are quite high in demand for their multipurpose abilities.
Here are some of the best budget laptops for programming and gaming.
1. HP Envy x360
- 10th Gen Intel Core i5-1035G1 mobile processor
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Key features:
- 2 in 1 Laptop
- 15.6 inches touch screen display
- 8 GB RAM memory
- 256 GB hard disk storage
- Windows 10 operating system
- 10th Generation Intel Core i5 processor
- Intel UHD Graphics
HP Envy x360 is a 2 in 1 laptop with a 15.6 inches screen that comes with a touch screen display and easy accessibility.
It is integrated with the 10th Generation Intel Core i5 processor as well as the Intel UHD Graphics that provide great processing and display experiences to its users. The operating system in this laptop is Windows 10.
This laptop has 8 GB RAM memory and 256 GB of hard disk storage. It can be used in different forms, as per the requirements of the convenience of the user.
The camera of the laptop is also very impressive. This laptop is one of the best programming laptops and/or gaming laptops at a highly affordable price.
2. Lenovo Flex 5
- Thin, light, and stylish – This 2-in-1 laptop weighs just 3.64 pounds and is only 0.82 thick. Its soft and comfortable to the touch, with a durable paint that creates a better user experience. Digital pen included
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Key features:
- 14 inches FHD (1920 x 1080) Touch Display
- 2 in 1 Laptop
- 16 GB RAM memory
- 256 GB hard disk storage
- AMD Ryzen 5 4500U Processor
- AMD Radeon Graphics
- Windows 10 operating system
Lenovo Flex 5 14 inches 2 in 1 Laptop has a 14 inches Full High Definition, Touch Screen display and it comes with a digital pen as well.
The operating system in this laptop is Windows 10. It has the AMD Ryzen 5 4500U Processor and the AMD Radeon Graphics that ensure a quality processing performance and vibrant and appealing graphics.
This laptop has a RAM space of 16 GB and hard disk storage of 256 GB. Privacy and security are given great importance in the creation and manufacturing of this laptop as it comes with a fingerprint reader as well as a webcam privacy shutter.
The laptop is thin and light, and it has a great battery life of 10 hours.
3. Acer Swift 3
- Powerful Productivity: AMD Ryzen 7 5700U Octa-Core Processor with Radeon Graphics run your most demanding apps with lightning-fast responsiveness and hyper-efficient battery usage to keep you productive and entertained all day
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Key features:
- 14 inches Full HD IPS 100% sRGB Display
- AMD Ryzen 7 5700U Octa-Core Processor
- AMD Radeon Graphics
- 8 GB RAM memory
- 512 GB hard disk storage
- Windows 10 Home operating system
- Amazon Alexa built-in feature
Acer Swift 3 Thin & Light Laptop comes with the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U Octa-Core Processor and AMD Radeon Graphics.
It has a 14 inches Full HD widescreen LED-backlit 100% sRGB display with an 85.73% screen-to-body ratio.
It has the Windows 10 Home operating system and also comes with the Windows Hello with Fingerprint Reader.
This programming laptop has 8 GB RAM memory and 512 GB of hard disk space. It comes with a built-in Amazon Alexa feature as well as the Acer Purified Voice Technology that filters out all unneeded and unwanted noises or voices while the microphone is switched on.
This programming and gaming laptop is very light in weight and has a durable body.
4. Apple MacBook Air M1
- All-Day Battery Life – Go longer than ever with up to 18 hours of battery life.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
- Apple M1 chip with an 8-core CPU
- 13.3 inches Retina LED-backlit display with IPS technology
- Environmentally-friendly
- Apple 8-core GPU
- 8 GB RAM memory
- 512 GB hard disk space
- FaceTime HD Camera
The 2020 Apple MacBook Air Laptop powered by Apple M1 Chip comes with a 13.3 inches screen with a Retina display as well as an LED-backlit display with IPS technology.
It is equipped with the Apple M1 chip that has an 8-core CPU and the Apple 8-core GPU. This laptop is made from a 100% recycled aluminum enclosure and uses less energy for a smaller carbon footprint.
It has a RAM memory of 8 GB and hard disk space of 512 GB. It comes with a high-quality FaceTime HD Camera and a highly advanced microphone.
It offers to its customers a one-year limited warranty and up to 90 days of complimentary technical support. This programming and gaming laptop has an incredibly impressive battery life of 18 hours.
5. Apple MacBook Pro M1
- Apple-designed M1 chip for a giant leap in CPU, GPU, and machine learning performance
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
- 13.3 inches LED-backlit display with IPS technology
- Apple M1 chip with an 8-core CPU
- Apple 8-core GPU
- 16 core Neural Engine
- 8 GB RAM memory
- 256 GB hard disk storage
- 20 hours of battery life
2020 Apple MacBook Pro has a 13.3 inches LED-backlit display with IPS technology.
It comes with the Apple M1 chip with an 8-core CPU as well as the Apple 8-core GPU. It is also equipped with the 16 core Neural Engine that accommodates advanced machine learning.
This laptop has an 8 GB RAM space and 256 GB of hard disk memory. It also has an active cooling system that is good for sustaining the performance of the programming laptop.
It also has the FaceTime HD camera which provides an advanced image signal processor for clearer and sharper video calls. This laptop has a battery life of over 20 hours.
6. Google Pixelbook Go
- 13.3 inches high-quality display screen
- Lightweight
- Easy to carry
- Easy to hold
- Touch screen with stylus pen
- 8th Generation Intel Core Processor
- Titan C security chip
- 16 GB RAM memory
- 256 GB hard disk space
Google Pixelbook Go is an extremely light in weight, compact and portable laptop. It has a 13.3 inches high-quality display screen.
It is equipped with the 8th Generation Intel Core i5 Processor. It has a touch screen display that comes with a stylus pen for easy use. This laptop has an ergonomic design, which also aids in its portability.
This device has 16 GB of RAM memory and 256 GB of hard disk space. Its Titan C security chip and its built-in antivirus software protects and secures the user’s data with great efficiency.
It works with the Google Pixel, which allows the user to easily access their Pixelbook Go or Pixel Slate. The average battery life of this programming laptop is 12 hours.
7. Dell XPS 13
- WINDOWS 11: Free Upgrade to Windows 11 when available (see below)
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
- 13.4 inches screen
- Touch screen display
- Intel Core i7-1185G7
- 16 GB RAM
- 512 GB Hard disk size
- Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- Windows 10 Pro
Dell XPS 13 9310 Thin and Light Laptop comes with the 11th generation Intel Core i7-1185G7 processor.
It is extremely thin, light in weight, and compact in size, making it extremely simple and easy to carry and handle this laptop. It comes with a built-in Alexa feature and a warranty of free upgrade to Windows 11 whenever it is made available.
This laptop has a 13.4 inches Full high definition InfinityEdge Touch Anti-Reflective display. It also comes with Intel Iris Xe Graphics with shared graphics memory.
This device is also equipped with advanced thermal engineering and the latest Intel Dynamic Tuning Technology. While it is on the expensive side, it is surely one of the best laptops that can be bought in case of a good budget.
8. Microsoft Surface Laptop 4
- Power to do what you want with up to 70% more speed than before and an 11th Gen Intel Core processor.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
- 13.5-inch screen or 15-inch screen with touch screen and stylus pen
- 11th Generation Intel Core i5 or i7 processor
- Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- AMD Microsoft Surface Edition: AMD Radeon
- Windows 10 Home operating system
- 16 GB RAM space
- 512 GB hard disk storage
- Long-lasting battery life
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 is available in 2 models – one with a 13.5-inch screen and one with a 15-inch screen. Both of them come with a touch screen and a stylus pen.
This laptop has the Intel Iris Xe Graphics as well as the 11th generation Intel core i5 or i7 processor, which makes this laptop an excellent choice for programmers and gamers, with its amazing processing speed and excellent graphics. Its operating system is the Windows 10 Home.
This laptop has a RAM memory of 16 GB and hard disk storage of 512 GB. The keyboard of this laptop has an ergonomic design and is suitable and comfortable for long time use.
It also comes with a Surface Arc Mouse, which happens to be extremely thin and easy to carry. It also offers the Surface Earbuds to its customers. The laptop is highly affordable with a battery life of 17.5 to 19 hours.
Buyer’s Guide
It is extremely crucial for the buyer to know which laptop consists of what features and which of these features would be ideal for a device needed for programming and gaming, at an affordable cost.
The laptop that is finally bought should be able to meet the expectations of the buyer and perform well enough for its main task, which, in this case, is programming or gaming.
Here are some of the criteria that the buyer should keep in mind and consider carefully before making a final choice –
- Screen size – A laptop with a larger screen provides an extremely high-resolution display to the user. A laptop with a larger screen size allows an enjoyable and pleasurable display experience as well as a much more comfortable setting to work on the laptop for long hours. Such laptops are especially good for programming, gaming purposes, and enjoying the user’s multimedia to the fullest extent.
- Battery life – This is another vital feature that needs to be considered. It is usually suggested that a good laptop should have at least 9 or 10 hours of battery life. This factor mainly depends on the user and how long the device would be used. The programming and gaming laptop would be used for longer periods of things, and would, therefore, require a long-lasting battery, and thus it would be better to buy one that has the longest possible battery life.
- Storage capacity – The larger the RAM capacity of a laptop, the better it will perform. Large RAM memory will allow for higher processing speed and optimal functioning. The hard disk storage capacity will also affect how much data can be stored and maintained on the laptop. Programming laptops are generally available with greater RAM memory, as well as a larger hard disk capacity.
- Graphics – It can be easily inferred that a programming or gaming laptop would need good quality graphics. Since these laptops are mainly used for programming, gaming, and multimedia purposes, it is essential the customer checks which graphic card is installed in the laptop, what brand it belongs to and how well it functions. Until all of these requirements are not fulfilled according to their needs, the customer will not be able to fully and thoroughly enjoy their laptop.
Other factors that affect the choice of the buyer include the CPU, the processors, functioning speed, efficiency, comfort while working on the device as well as design and appearance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Are less expensive programming laptops as good as the expensive ones?
Ans. Yes, the less expensive programming laptops are just as efficient as the expensive ones. Their quality is in no way or manner compromised.
Q2. What is the required battery life for programming laptops?
Ans. A minimum of 10 hours of battery life is optimal for a programming laptop.
Conclusion
In this article, we have mentioned the 8 Best Budget Laptops for Programming that we could recommend for developers out there.
If you feel any of the laptops mentioned in this list should or should not be there then feel free to comment below with your reasoning for the same.
