Computers have sent adorable robots to Mars and put mankind on the moon. You’d think we could find a great laptop without paying a fortune somewhere in the amazing technical utopia of our day.
What’s New?
All I need is a device that is both lightweight enough for me to carry about all day without experiencing back pain and strong enough to complete simple tasks.
Is it too much to ask for a cheap laptop that is light and quick enough? Thankfully, it is feasible, but there are costs and benefits.
Hardcore gaming and video editing are not supported, and the displays are not as sharp as those on more expensive versions.
We’ve tried a tonne of inexpensive laptops, and these will fulfil your needs for routine chores while still saving you money.
Watch the operating system; the majority still use Windows 10, although some provide a free upgrade to Windows 11.
Superior Overall
IdeaPad Flex 5 from Lenovo
The best low-cost laptop for most people is Lenovo’s AMD-based IdeaPad 5, which has a Ryzen 5 processor. You get a 256-gigabyte SSD, a tremendous 14-inch IPS display, 16 gigabytes of RAM, and enough power. It may be used as a tablet or in stand mode to view movies, thanks to the 360-degree hinge. Grab the digital pen ($40) to fully utilize the 2-in-1 design, even if there isn’t a storage compartment for it. A brighter screen would also be beneficial. The 512-gigabyte model is frequently on sale for just a few dollars more, and if you can get it for a comparable price, it is worth the extra cash.
The Ideal 15-inch Laptop
Aspire 3 by Acer (12th-Gen Intel, 2022)
Of the 15-inch laptops I’ve reviewed, the Acer Aspire 3 offers the best value. The model with an AMD 5000 series chip or an Intel Core i5, integrated graphics, 8 gigabytes of RAM, and a 15.6-inch IPS display is the one you ought to get (1,920 x 1,080 pixels). Despite being large and having a less-than-sharp display, it won’t strain your eyes. There are numerous ports (Ethernet, USB, USB-C, HDMI, and headphone jack), and it has sufficient power for most daily duties. At 4 pounds, this device is one of the lighter 15-inch budget laptops available, and the keyboard is passable. Unfortunately, the speakers aren’t extremely loud.
Optimal 13-inch Laptop
Go 2 For Microsoft Surface Laptop
The redesigned Surface Laptop Go 2 from Microsoft (8/10 WIRED Recommends) is a fantastic choice for college students and a good, affordable alternative to the MacBook. Adam Speight, a reviewer for WIRED, calls it “an utter joy to use.” The 11th-generation Intel chip, while not the newest, is more than sufficient for most individuals, and the keyboard is one of the best for typing essays. Choose the one with 8 gigabytes of RAM if you can afford it. Unfortunately, the battery life is not fantastic; we only got an average of seven hours.
Best Price
Dell Duet 5i
Although it technically exceeds our $700 cap, the Lenovo Duet 5i is a stylish hybrid laptop/tablet if you have the extra cash. It is Lenovo’s attempt to compete with Microsoft’s hybrid Surface computers and is mainly successful. In daily usage, I got well over nine hours of battery life, and the performance was more than adequate. This is better than the Surface we prefer. A delight is also the screen’s brightness and clarity.
The Duet 5i will have no issue keeping up if your primary use case is web browsing, viewing movies, and working on documents. This model has an Intel Core i3 chip, which will be slower than most other chips in this guide. Just be aware that the RAM and SSD don’t appear to be user-upgradable and look to be soldered.
Most Potent
Swift 3 by Acer (2021)
The Swift 3 from Acer in 2021 was fantastic, but it cost over $700 when it first came out. The price has dropped, making this notebook a better investment. With a 1,920 x 1,080-pixel IPS LCD display, it encases a potent 11th-generation Intel Core i7 engine, 8 gigabytes of RAM, and a 256 gigabyte SSD in a slim, straightforward design. (IPS displays are a little more excellent than some LCD varieties.) The Swift 3 has four USB ports, including one USB-C port, and received high marks for battery life in our video-based battery drain test. I’ve also tried the Intel i5 variant, which has a noticeably lower performance but even better battery life.
Best For Fans Of Chromebooks
Chromebook Lenovo Ideapad Duet 5
The Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook, a detachable laptop/tablet hybrid, is a fantastic, reasonably priced 2-in-1 if you’re all-in on Google’s ChromeOS. You may use it as a laptop or tablet, and the look is amusing (basically identical to the IdeaPad 5i above). The OLED display is fantastic and unusual for a computer at this price (you get inky blacks and vivid colors).
Duet 5 uses Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 ARM chip from Qualcomm, which contributes to lower prices. Even though it isn’t as powerful as Intel Core CPUs, ChromeOS should still work on it. I do advise paying the extra money for the top-tier model as it has the more potent Snapdragon chip.
Top Affordable Tablet
Apple Air iPad (2022, 5th Gen)
Do you require a low-cost laptop? Would a tablet suffice for you? For certain folks, the 2022 Apple iPad Air will be the ideal laptop substitute. The iPad Air is a terrific option if you want a device with a long battery life, one you can use to browse the web from the sofa, watch movies in bed, and still complete some work throughout the day. If you don’t want to spend so much money on the Air, you may choose between the more up-to-date, brand-new 10th-generation iPad ($449) or the iPad’s base model ($329), which is even less expensive.
The challenge is finishing the work. It works well if you primarily use word processing software, web-based applications, and other jobs that the iPad excels at. With iPad’s OS 16, Apple has also made progress in multitasking. Get an actual laptop instead if your job requires you to use software that is incompatible with the iPad.
Most Affordable Windows Tablet
Google Surface Go 3
The Surface Go 3 offers most of Windows’ capabilities in a relatively compact, light-weight package, though not all of it. Although we prefer the Lenovo Duet 5i to the Surface Go 3 as a laptop, when you’re not using it for work, the Surface Go 3 makes a great media device. There’s a lot to admire about this: It has a fanless design, a 10.5-inch display that is clear and bright, a MicroSD card slot to add more storage, and a cute small keyboard on the cover.
Problems? Compared to the previous model, the battery life is worse. Microsoft also provides the finer points: The lovely keyboard cover is still available separately for an outrageous $99. The cost nearly doubles if you add the keyboard and 8 GB of RAM.
How to Choose a Reliable Laptop
Computer Buying Advice
Consider the used or refurbished laptop market if money is tight and you want to get the best value or if you simply want to keep anything out of the landfill. I’ve had fantastic success purchasing old laptops from various merchants on eBay (both pros and regular people).
Make sure you understand the market to get the most excellent bargain. Find out what kind of machine will best meet your demands by conducting some study. The duller, business-oriented models are typically the simplest to find and, hence, the most incredible deals.
What’s More?
Aim for the following specifications: Try to purchase a laptop with at least a 13-inch display that is near to FHD, an Intel Core i3 processor from the 11th generation, 8 GB of RAM, and 128 GB of storage (ideally a solid-state drive) (1080p resolution).
Finding secondhand laptops on eBay: Look it up on eBay after you know what you want. Check the box to see only “Sold Listings” as you scroll down. Now sum together the prices from the previous 10 sales and divide by 10. Don’t spend more than that; that is the typical cost. The best offer is at the lowest price, so keep that in mind.
Digging Into More Details
After that, uncheck the Sold Listing box. Check out the range of prices between the cheapest and the average. You can think about those deals. Don’t bid or take part in any way. Just keep an eye on them to the very end to see how high the auctions ultimately go.
You’ll be able to tell whether you’ve found a bargain after you have a sense of the market and what you should spend. Wait until you see it. Wait to place a bid until the auction is nearing its conclusion. You don’t want the opportunity for the competing proposals to respond. Keep in mind that it’s not the end of the world if you lose out on something. On eBay, new items are constantly being listed.
