A good budget laptop should provide you with a lot of power and reliability at an affordable price. However, it can be hard to find one that is reliable, has a solid build, and is not too bulky. To help you out, we’ve created this quick guide to the best budget laptops on the market.
Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5i
The Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook is a budget laptop that offers a lot for its price. It’s a Chrome OS convertible that supports Google Play Store and Android apps. However, it’s a little thin and doesn’t have a detachable keyboard.
Lenovo offers the Flex 5i in several configurations. You can opt for a Core i3 processor, 4GB of RAM, and up to 8GB of memory. These specs give you plenty of power to run Google Docs and other multitasking applications.
While the Flex 5i’s battery life is slightly short, it’s a good enough unit to get you through the day. It’s also a solid device, though it is a bit on the thick side at just under 3 pounds.
As for the display, it’s not the most vivid or brightest available on the market. But it’s still a pretty decent screen.
Dell Inspiron 14
If you’re looking for a budget laptop, the Dell Inspiron 14 is a good choice. It offers plenty of power and a sturdy design. Plus, it has a 2-in-1 option for added versatility. However, it’s not quite as smooth or colorful as some of its competitors.
The laptop’s keyboard offers a good blend of comfort and performance. It has decent ergonomics, and its low-profile design allows for comfortable typing.
The Inspiron 14 features an 11th-gen Intel Core i5 processor, which is more powerful than the Core i3 found in the Inspiron 14. Also, the Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics processor provides enough horsepower to run light photo editing or games at a decent frame rate.
On the downside, the Inspiron 14’s display isn’t as bright or colorful as more expensive laptops. Additionally, its backlighting is dim.
Acer Aspire 5
If you’re looking for a budget laptop, Acer Aspire 5 is a good choice. It offers solid performance and a fast NVMe SSD. Depending on the configuration, you can get one with an AMD Ryzen processor or an Intel Core i7 processor.
Aspire 5’s keyboard is comfortable and easy to type on. However, its overall build quality is quite flimsy. Some users will find the Aspire 5 to be uncomfortable to carry in a backpack. There isn’t a lot of room to tilt the screen forward.
Despite its low price, the Aspire 5 has a fairly good display. Compared with other models in its category, the Aspire 5’s 15.6-inch IPS panel has a decent contrast ratio and good color reproduction. But it’s not particularly bright.
Samsung Chromebook 4+
Samsung Chromebook 4+ is one of the best budget laptops you can buy right now. This device is priced at around $200, but you can often find it for less than that. It’s one of the cheapest Chromebooks on the market, which is great for students. But it has its drawbacks.
One of the biggest drawbacks is the screen. The 11.6-inch display only has a resolution of 1366 x 768, and a low resolution isn’t always a good thing. For example, you can’t play 1080p videos on YouTube, but you can still watch 720p videos.
Another drawback is the battery. It can last up to 10 hours, but it’s not going to get you through the entire day, and it’s not the best. However, it’s still enough for everyday activities.
Apple MacBook Pro
The MacBook Pro is a powerful, luxurious laptop designed for creative professionals. It features an M1 chip, a high-resolution display, and powerful audio.
The 14-inch model offers great value. It’s compact and portable, and carries similar specs as the larger sibling. This laptop has a miniLED display, miniLED backlighting, speakers, and a 120Hz refresh rate.
The 16-inch model is a little bigger and carries a faster processor. This version also features an SD card reader, three USB-C ports, and a 1080p webcam.
With a base price of $4,999, the MacBook Pro isn’t exactly cheap. Still, it’s the best budget laptop on the market. You get a solid build, long battery life, and plenty of ports.
It’s worth checking out if you’re looking for a new laptop. It can handle 4K video editing, raw photo editing, and complex music production.