Finding the perfect laptop without spending a fortune isn’t as difficult as you might think. These days, the best cheap laptops still pack a lot of punch and offer great features without the premium price tag. Whether you need a laptop for work, school, streaming, or just to stay connected, there are plenty of affordable options for your everyday needs. There’s no need to settle for outdated technology. Many affordable laptops today come with decent processors, long battery life, and even sleek designs that don’t overwhelm your style.
Of course, not all budget laptops are created equal. That’s why we’ve compiled our top picks to help you get the most bang for your buck. From Chromebooks for students to Windows laptops for effortless productivity, there’s something for everyone.
What to look for in a budget laptop
First, Engadget considers anything under $1,000 to be “budget” in the laptop space. There are two reasons for this. Even the most affordable flagship laptops typically start at $1,000 or more, and when you go much cheaper than that (say, $500 or less), you start to see compromises in performance. Typically, you can find the best cheap laptops with a good balance of power and price in the $500 to $1,000 range. However, this guide covers our top picks across a wide range of price points. There are many great options from the lower end of the budget spectrum to the higher end of the budget spectrum.
Probably the biggest thing to look for in a cheap laptop is build quality and a good spec sheet. While you may be able to find configuration options with the latest generation CPU chipsets, you may also need to choose one with a slightly older processor. We recommend looking for a model with solid state drive (SSD) storage instead of a traditional hard drive, as SSDs offer faster performance. If you can find a PC with modern internals, it’s worth the investment. However, using a CPU that is just one generation later may not make a noticeable difference in performance.
In addition to the processor, you also need to consider the amount of memory and storage you need for your daily driver. For the former, we recommend a laptop with at least 8GB of RAM. Anything less will make it difficult to multitask and manage all your web browsing tabs. The latter is a little more personal. The actual amount of onboard storage you need depends on the number of apps, files, photos, documents, etc. you store locally. As a general rule of thumb, try to choose a laptop with at least a 256 GB SSD (this only applies to macOS and Windows machines, as Chromebooks are a little different). This ensures plenty of space for your programs and files, as well as room for future operating system updates. And if you need a machine for light productivity or Android emulation, some laptops natively support Android apps, giving you even more versatility.
Once you’ve determined the best performance you can get while sticking to your budget, it’s also worth considering a few different design aspects. We recommend laptops with IPS displays for better viewing angles and color accuracy, but premium models with OLED displays are becoming more common, offering deeper blacks and more vibrant colors. can be provided. Also be careful about port selection. Many lower-priced models have an abundance of ports, while higher-end models tend to reduce the number of connections in favor of minimalism. If connectivity is important to you, look for options with USB-C, USB-A, HDMI, and audio jacks.
Speaking of practical features, when shopping for a budget-friendly gaming laptop, keep an eye on GPU performance. Integrated graphics are fine for casual users, but a dedicated GPU will improve gaming and creative workloads. We also recommend checking the refresh rate of your screen. Because higher rates make a noticeable difference in both games and scroll-heavy apps.
Notes on refurbished laptop computers
If you need a new machine and don’t want to spend a lot of money, refurbished laptops are also an option to consider. Purchasing refurbished technology can be difficult if you’re not familiar with a brand or seller’s policies regarding what is classified as “refurbished.” But it’s not impossible. For laptops, we recommend contacting the manufacturer directly for playback devices. Apple, Dell, and Microsoft all have formal remanufacturing processes to ensure machines are properly working and in good condition before devices are returned to the market. Third-party retailers like Amazon and Walmart also have their own repair programs for laptops and other gadgets.
