Copyright Expert Reviews Holdings Ltd 2022. Asus VivoBook 15 OLED laptop $800 $649 at Amazon (opens in new tab). Webcam privacy shutter and fingerprint reader, Relatively heavy for a 14-inch ultraportable. The 3100 offers perky browsing performance in a compact package, making it ideally suited for daily classroom life. Chromebooks are a great option if you're after a cheap laptop and this offering from Lenovo is one of the most compact, affordable and versatile around. Having said that, if you find yourself in need of a classroom companion for your workplace and youre trying to avoid over spending, the Microsoft Surface Laptop SE might be exactly what you need. Its Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU isn't a speed demon, but it's perfectly adequate for everyday productivity and creative apps, and just 1.54 pounds as a tablet (2.24 pounds with keyboard and kickstand). If you love the detachable 2-in-1 concept but balk at the cost of a Surface Pro or Apple iPad and accessories, the IdeaPad Duet 5 is the slate of your dreams. It's powered by an AMD Ryzen 5 processor, 8GB RAM, and a 512GB SSD. Available in scads of configurations from vendors like Amazon and Best Buy as well as Lenovo, it's a winning pick for families, students, and small-office entrepreneurs seeking a capable, flexible laptop. It also has Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth. In short, there's very little not to like about the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2. Not too heavy at 3.75 pounds, the VivoBook 15 doesn't feel cheap or flimsy. Its preinstalled Windows 11 S operating system limits you to software from the Windows Store, but you can convert to regular Windows 11 Home with a few clicks.
New Inspiron 16 2-in-1 laptop $1,000 $783.99 at Dell (opens in new tab). Its AMD Athlon Silver processor is slow compared to AMD's Ryzen or Intel's Core CPUs, and its screen brightness peaks at 220 nits instead of the 300 or higher we prefer, but check that bottom line again: $299. The laptop includes an AMD Ryzen 5 5600H processor with up to 4.25GHz speeds, 8GB RAM, a 512GB SSD, and AMD Radeon RX Vega6 graphics. Not only is this down to a low price, and a great laptop for productivity, it also has a Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti graphics card so it can be used for gaming in your spare time.
The display's colors are uneven and the system's 128GB solid-state drive is smaller than we'd like, but the model F512JA-AS34 we tested was a low, low $399.99, so it's hard to gripe. Lenovo's IdeaPad 1 14 proves that you can have a decent, and even enjoyable, Windows 10 experience on an under-$300 laptop, as long as you don't need USB-C ports and can make do with a basic processor. Gigabyte U4 laptop $949 $599 at Newegg (opens in new tab). It's pretty loaded and should be quite fast for you. If youre disconnected, there is still the option to operate offline in Chrome OS, and all the work will be backed up as soon as youre back online. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
You should consider one of these convertible systems if you primarily want the typing capability of a laptop, but occasionally would appreciate the lie-back, passive-consumption convenience of a tablet.
Then you've caught me testing gear and editing reviews of laptops, desktop PCs, and tons of other personal tech. HDMI, and Windows 10 S for the operating system. Wed like a bit more body to the keyboard and more warmth to the sound, but this is a fantastic, compact 2-in-1 that still comes in at a wallet-friendly price. Not only do you get a powerful machine, but you'll end up spending far less before heading back to school. Gateway Ultra Slim notebook $450 $199 at Walmart (opens in new tab). Asus TUF A15 gaming laptop $1,149 $849 at Microsoft (opens in new tab). The machine comes with one year of Microsoft Office 365. Acer Swift 3 laptop $690 $449.99 at Walmart (opens in new tab). This deal comes through Lenovo's official eBay storefront. Some applications, particularly games, have a minimum required RAM below which they will not function as intended. Some compacts and Chromebooks cost even less. Dell Inspiron 15 3000 laptop $430 $323.99 at Dell (opens in new tab). Unfortunately, that recommendation comes with the caveat that its only available for purchase for IT admins buying hardware for educational establishments. Asus VivoBook 15 laptop $450 $389.99 at Amazon (opens in new tab). For further in-depth breakdowns of our budget picks, take a look at our roundups of thebest laptops for college students, thebest laptops for kids, and thebest Chromebooks. This a Geek Squad Certified Refurbished laptop. That's a metaphor. A Solid Alternative to the Asus VivoBook 15. Enter HPs Chromebook X2. Today, it's possible to pick up a full-size, ultraportable, or 2-in-1 convertible Windows 11 notebook powerful enough for home, work, or school for $500. That's the sort of big ticket item you don't want to be impulse buying. The lack of power is made up for by bumper battery life, however, with the Duet lasting over 16 hours in our battery rundown test. If you spend most of your working hours in the cloud, a Chromebook will offer you much of the functionality of a regular Windows or Mac laptop, and it may well deliver longer battery life, depending on the model. Buying the best cheap laptop has never been simpler, provided you know where to look and what to avoid. Consumers seeking a real computer for the price of a toy need look no further. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time. Well, for starters, the HP Pavilion 14 is sturdily constructed and looks great. Windows Central is supported by its audience.
You shouldn't always expect a touch-screen display, however. It won't conk out halfway through the day, either, with a battery life of 9hrs 36mins in our video-rundown test. It has Wi-Fi 6, USB-C, and a 15.6-inch display on an IPS panel with 1080p resolution. You can definitely find PCs that will offer you enough performance to tackle your day-to-day tasks without a hitch. Switch into tablet mode and its also brilliant for game streaming or Netflix binges. Sure, $700 or $750 will buy you a better Chromebook, but the Acer isn't a penalty box. They tend to have dual-core processors, under 4GB of RAM and under 64GB of onboard storage. Chromebooksused to be little more than glorified netbooks running Google's Chrome OS. Dell Inspiron 14 5000 laptop $600 $538.99 at Dell (opens in new tab). Uses relatively slow AMD Athlon Silver processor, Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions. If you cut him, he bleeds savings. MultiVersus is blowing up on PC and Xbox because it knows what fans want, Intel loses $500 million in Q2 2022, cites 'sudden and rapid decline in economic activity', How to protect folder with password on Windows 11, MultiVersus tier list: All characters ranked, STALKER 2: Heart of Chernobyl preorder Bonuses, editions, and where to buy. Families on rock-bottom budgets or planning to give personal laptops to multiple kids will find the Inspiron 15 3000 a worthy choice. PCMag, PCMag.com and PC Magazine are among the federally registered trademarks of Ziff Davis and may not be used by third parties without explicit permission. You get an AMD Ryzen 5 5500U Mobile processor, 8GB RAM, and a 256GB SSD. Ive evaluated the performance, value, and features of hundreds of personal tech devices and services, from laptops to Wi-Fi hotspots and everything in between. We would love to recommend this laptop for anyone who only requires a laptop for basic needs. It is also equipped with a Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti graphics card. If you can get by with the capacity of a small SSD, we strongly favor opting for one, even over a roomier platter-based hard drive, for their durability. In terms of features, budget laptops will come with (almost always) at least one USB 3.0 port, and possibly a USB 2.0 port or two. If you click an affiliate link and buy a product or service, we may be paid a fee by that merchant. It boasts solid specs - an 11th-gen Intel Core i3 processor is backed by 8GB RAM and 128GB SSD - and, like other members of the Flip family, the CX5 is fully convertible so can be used as a laptop or tablet. That's over two hours longer than its predecessor. Intel Core and AMD Ryzen "C"-series processors tend to be found in the more premium class of Chromebooks. Microsoft Surface Laptop Go $700 $549.99 at Best Buy (opens in new tab). If you're the type who plugs in external storage, you might also want to check that it supports USB 3 (for faster file transfers) and has an SD or microSD card slot. Connection ports: The last thing you want to do is snag a bargain on a cheap old laptop, only to find that it doesn't support any modern connectors. Expert Reviews is a registered trade mark. Includes a 15.6-inch touchscreen and a new 12th-generation Intel Core i5 processor among other great specs. Yes, it's only $299 list price (and maybe less than that if you hunt around resellers). CPU: Unless you're a bit of a tech-head, you won't need to worry too much about the complexities of the Central Processing Unit (CPU). The lowest price we've ever seen for this laptop. Read our Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 review for more details, Key specs - Processor: Intel Core i5-1135G7; RAM:8GB; Storage:256GB; Screen resolution: 1,536 x 1,024p (touchscreen); Weight: 1.1kg. It has Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, and Amazon Alexa built right in. This 12-inch Chrome OS laptop weighs just 2.5 pounds and packs impressive performance, as well as a 3:2 screen aspect ratio that makes tablet operations feel more like holding a pad of paper than wielding an ungainly 16:9 widescreen 2-in-1. It also has an Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB RAM, and a 256GB SSD. We recommend that you buy a cheap laptop with as much storage as you can afford: you're probably not going to want to spend time clearing out your meagre 32GB storage drive every time it fills up with documents, images, videos or apps. Next, you'll want to make sure that the specifications are up to scratch. It uses integrated graphics and comes with Wi-Fi 5 plus multiple USB ports including USB-C. Comes loaded with Windows 10 Home in S Mode and a full version of Minecraft. Read our Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 Chromebook review for details, Key specs - Processor: 2.1GHz dual-core Intel Core i3-10110U or 1.6GHz quad-core Intel Core i5-10210U; RAM: 4 or 8GB; Storage: 128GB; Screen resolution: 1,920 x 1,080p; Weight: 1.35kg. It would be great if the IdeaPad 1 had a USB-C port and 8GB instead of 4GB of memory (don't expect to multitask much or open more than two or three browser tabs), but then it would cost considerably more. To make sure that the laptop you're buying can connect to your TV, for example, check that it has an HDMI port, rather than an outdated VGA port. You will receive a verification email shortly. You won't mistake it for one of Lenovo's ritzy ThinkPads, but you won't be mistaken if you buy it. One of Dell's latest and greatest with a 12th-gen Intel Core i5 processor, a 512GB SSD with NVMe, and 8GB RAM. Other features include Killer Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, and USB-C among other ports. So, what's so great about it? It has a built-in webcam,. Unclip the magnetic clip-on peripheral and you've got yourself a 10in tablet with an FHD display. 64GB of onboard storage should be a bare minimum; most smartphones offer at least that much storage nowadays. It also has a 16-inch display with 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution on an IPS panel. Its slim, lightweight and attractive with a great keyboard, ensuring this is a machine kids will actually enjoy doing their work on. Please refresh the page and try again. HP Stream 14-inch laptop $260 $190 at Amazon (opens in new tab). Open the smooth hinge and you'll be greeted by a keyboard that's immensely satisfying to use and a 12.4in, 1,536 x 1,024 touchscreen display that's crisp, roomy and accurate. Lenovos IdeaPad Duetis a good Chromebook option but small and underpowered. And while its a little larger and heavier than Microsofts pint-sized Surface Go 3, that means a bigger 11in screen and a more spacious keyboard. You get a laptop loaded with an AMD Ryzen 7 4800H processor, 16GB RAM, a 512GB SSD, and a Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti graphics card. As capable as it is affordable, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14 is a midsized convertible that gets the basics right. Reading this during the day? There's no reason to spend a fortune on a new portable PC when the best cheap laptop can hold its own against more expensive competition. If you can't tell an Intel Core i5 from a Ryzen 3, don't know the difference between a Chromebook and a laptop, or are simply looking for some buying advice, read on. The great part is there are truly some fantastic cheap Windows laptop deals out there, even now in late July after all the big sales events have come and gone. Performance is about what you'd expect from a Core i5-powered machine, which is to say that it doesn't set new records for power or speed but handles basic productivity tasks with relative ease. The IPS display is small compared with the other entries on this list but is of superb quality, covering 99% of the sRGB colour gamut with decent accuracy. With this laptop you'll get an AMD Ryzen 3 3250U dual-core processor, 128GB SSD for storage, and 4GB RAM. In fact, there's very little to dislike about the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 Chromebook. You can find faster and cheaper conventional Chromebooks, but the new Duet shines if you'd like a tablet that doubles as a laptop. J.D. Sold through Lenovo's official eBay store. Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro laptop $910 $469.99 at Microsoft (opens in new tab). This laptop from Medion is available for what is considered a bargain-basement price in the gaming arena. At $323, the Dell Inspiron 15 3000 (model 3505) we tested is even more affordable than the Asus VivoBook discussed above, with the same 1080p screen resolution and 128GB of solid-state storage. Keyboard quality is impressive and there are a pleasing number of connection options available too, including two USB-C ports, a USB-A port and Bluetooth 5. The dual-core 1.1GHz Intel Celeron processor is fast enough for classroom tasks and the display is also surprisingly strong, with a solid contrast ratio, plus an anti-glare coating and a matte-finish to keep distracting reflections to a minimum. The E10's other strong points are its solid and stylish chassis and mechanically impressive keyboard, which comes equipped with a numeric keypad. It handles general web browsing and streaming well enough but begins to struggle when running single-core heavy web-based apps. Pick a cheap laptop that offers ports that support whatever accessories you intend to use your laptop with. Designed to withstand the rigors of daily life in the classroom, at home, and in between, the Dell Chromebook 11 hits a trifecta: rugged, affordable, and great for kids. Acer Aspire 5 laptop $380 $274.99 at Amazon (opens in new tab). You get a machine with an Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB RAM, and a 512GB SSD. Apple won't sell you a new MacBook for less than a grand, but the days when you couldn't get a decent laptop for under $1,000 are long gone. Powered by an Intel Celeron N4000 processor, 4GB RAM, 64GB flash storage, and Windows 10 Home in S Mode. Some come with detachable keyboards, but most of these are far less comfortable for typing on your lap than a conventional laptop. The flashiest, fanciest laptops boast ultra-colorful, ultra-high contrast OLED screens. The latest Acer Chromebook 514 relies on an ARM Kompanio chip, but it's a reasonably peppy performer, certainly livelier than systems with low-end Intel Celeron or Pentium silicon (if not a match for Intel Core or AMD Ryzen processors). The Acer Chromebook 514 with an ARM Kompanio processor offers stylish design and above-average battery life at an affordable price. Lenovo IdeaPad 5i laptop $960 $654.99 at eBay (opens in new tab). READ NEXT: The best budget gaming laptops. He was there for the first Prime Day and has braved the full force of Black Friday. There was a problem. This is not the same as the flash memory used in a true solid-state drive (SSD), and it will feel a tad sluggish if you're used to an SSD. All rights reserved. Its impressively sharp 5-megapixel front and 8-megapixel rear cameras make it equally useful for Zoom meetings and snapping shots or videos as you make your rounds as a realtor, or record fender-bender damage as an insurance agent. The Asus VivoBook 15s mix of performance and ports adds up to a compelling budget-laptop offering versus like-priced alternatives, though a wishy-washy screen keeps it from top marks. Of course, as with anything cloud-based, you'll need to be online to access it. In part because of their added complexity compared with traditional clamshell designs, you won't find quite as many affordable ones, but there are a few Windows and Chrome OS-based models that cost $500 or below. RAM: Random Access Memory sounds complicated, but it's really just a measure of exactly how many tasks your laptop can handle at once (higher is better).
Its black textured plastic is handsomer than you'd expect; its keyboard is comfortable; and it packs no fewer than four USB ports. And its choice of Intel Core and AMD Ryzen processors and fairly generous memory and storage make it a thoroughly useful productivity and creativity platform for all kinds of users and applications. Make sure, though, when looking at one of the detachable tablets that you know what comes in the box. First, it's gorgeous to behold: the lid and keyboard are crafted from classy, matte-finish aluminium and it weighs just 1.1kg. (That's especially true with Chromebooks; more on them later.) Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 laptop $940 $549.99 at Best Buy (opens in new tab). We want you to find the best bang for your buck, so we'll be looking for great variety, great prices, and an abundance of features designed to help you be at your best. PCMag Digital Group. Chromebooks use Googles own operating system, Chrome OS, which differs from the Windows (or Linux) systems that you may be used to. Read our Lenovo IdeaPad Duet for more details, Key specs - Processor: MediaTek Helio P60T; RAM: 4GB; Storage: 64GB eMPC; Screen resolution: 1,920 x 1,080p; Weight: 0.92kg. These machines let you flip between a laptop and a tablet, by folding the keyboard out of the way. If Lenovo's Yoga series leads the way among 2-in-1 convertibles, Microsoft's Surface family stars among Windows detachables, which are lightweight tablets with snap-on keyboards that can both serve as laptops and challenge Apple's iPad slates. If you're not sure even the Dell's rugged design can stand up to your youngsters, four years of accidental damage protection is only $60 extra. It also has a Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti graphics card, Wi-Fi 6, and even works with Amazon Alexa to control your smart home. I know, I know. We're still opposed to cheap Chromebooks with dinky 11.6-inch screens, but we may have to change our stance on CPUs: Historically, we've warned that inexpensive models with ARM rather than Intel or AMD processors can be sluggish. A USB-C port would be nice, but you can't have everything.
You get a 15.6-inch display with 1080p resolution, fast Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and multiple USB ports for connecting peripherals. Convertible laptops are the show-offs of the notebook world, flipping and folding between laptop, tablet, and presentation easel modes with versatility that makes fixed-form-factor systems jealous. Yes, it could have more ports (you're only getting one USB-C and USB-A), but this is an exceptional, beautifully made and affordable main machine that won't let you down. In terms of speed, its a step up from the smaller Lenovo IdeaPad Duet, using Qualcomms Snapdragon 7c chipset to deliver decent everyday performance. However, it delivers a value-for-money package so compelling that we just had to include it. Ideally, you want a laptop that comes with Windows 10 pre-installed; if it's running Windows 8 or earlier, steer clear. Windows Central is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. So does Lenovo's IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook, a 13.3-inch tablet with snap-on keyboard, that's amazingly under $500. Lenovo ThinkBook 15 laptop $1,589 $776.99 at Lenovo (opens in new tab). If you see a laptop going for a rock bottom price, it might be because its incredibly outdated, uses cheap design materials or a combination of both.
The Microsoft Surface Go 3 is nice but slow, while the Surface Pro 8 is too expensive. The Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 is an excellent 2-in-1 convertible Chrome OS laptop with speedy performance, a reliable touchscreen, and an included stylus. The Duet is powered by a MediaTek CPU and unfortunately, this means performance is a little on the sluggish side. Above-average port selection, including USB-C and microSD, Better keyboard than most budget notebooks, Slightly superior performance to like-priced alternatives, Though not unique at this price, 128GB SSD is restrictive. Read our full Microsoft Surface Laptop SE review for more details, Key specs Processor: Dual-core, 1.1GHz Intel Celeron N4020; RAM: 4GB; Storage: 64GB eMMC; Screen resolution: 10.1 Full HD (1,366 x 768p); Weight:1.1 kg. PCMag.com is a leading authority on technology, delivering lab-based, independent reviews of the latest products and services. Inexpensive laptops are in short supply these days, with many of the best models going in and out of stock frequently. New York, Ultimately, cheap laptops aren't famed for their processing power, and you certainly won't be given much choice over what kind of CPU your laptop ships with. The best ones are listed below, and while we update this guide constantly, there's a good chance that at least one of our picks is back-ordered at any given time. Keep an eye on your inbox! It really is outstanding value for money even if it does push the boundary of what one would consider cheap. With both attached, it works as a laptop but take them off and its a sleek slate. The Dell Inspiron 15 3000 (3511) excels as a budget laptop that can handle day-to-day tasks and some very light gaming, and it even comes with Windows 11all for under $400. READ NEXT: Our guide to buying a refurbished laptop. Our review gave the Surface Laptop Go 4.5 stars out of 5 and called it one of The Best laptops. Get a bunch more done with this laptop that has an AMD Ryzen 7 5800U processor, 16GB RAM, and a 512GB SSD. The in-built speakers sound pretty poor and some may find the laptop's aesthetic a little business-like but those minor gripes aside, this is an affordable laptop that ticks all the right boxes. Except for the less-than-dazzling display and a few extra ounces to heft in tablet mode, you'd never know the Flex 5i wasn't a more costly convertible. Opt for these CPU lines if you need more than just the basics. To be sure, you should be ready to compromise in one or two aspects. Also, know that budget machines with this little local storage, among them many Chromebooks, are using what is called "eMMC memory" as their main storage. (, Read Great Stories Offline on Your Favorite, Dell Inspiron 15 3511 Intel i3 128GB 8GB RAM Laptop, Acer Aspire 5 Intel i3 128GB SSD 1080p 15.6" Laptop, HP 15 Intel i3 256GB SDD 8GB RAM 15.6" Touch Laptop, Lenovo IdeaPad 3i Intel i5 512GB SSD 14" Laptop, Acer Aspire 3 Intel i5 256GB SSD 8GB RAM 15.6" Laptop, PC Magazine Digital Edition (Opens in a new window), How to Free Up Space on Your iPhone or iPad, How to Save Money on Your Cell Phone Bill, How to Convert YouTube Videos to MP3 Files, How to Record the Screen on Your Windows PC or Mac, Read Our Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14 (2021) Review, Read Our Acer Chromebook 514 (2022, Kompanio 828) Review, Read Our Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook Review, Read Our Dell Chromebook 11 (3100) Review, Read Our Asus VivoBook 15 (F512JA-AS34) Review, Read Our Dell Inspiron 15 3000 (3511) Review, Acer Chromebook 514 (2022, Kompanio 828) Review, best 2-in-1 convertible and hybrid laptops, Gateway 15.6-Inch Ultra Slim (2022) Review, What to Do When Your Computer Screen Won't Show a Picture, The Best Laptops for College Students in 2022, The Best Laptops for Video Editing in 2022. Probably the least expensive way to treat yourself to a beautiful OLED display you're going to find. Its 1080p screen isn't the brightest or most colorful around, but has a snappy 144Hz refresh rate, and the GF66 can play even the latest titles at more than satisfactory frame rates. You can find cheaper budget laptops, but we don't think you can find a better one than Lenovo's IdeaPad 3 14, a 14-inch notebook that doesn't look or feel flimsy and combines a potent AMD Ryzen 5 processor with a decent full HD display and comfortable keyboard. Other budget systems, particularly Chromebooks and some under-$400 Windows laptops, will have only a small allotment (32GB or 64GB) of local storage, but compensate for it with generous offers of additional free cloud storage.
facebook comments: