The best budget laptop for the year 2025 isn’t as hard to find as you might think. Just take a look at some of the latest and greatest models to come out in the past few years and you’ll be in good hands. Here are a few of the top choices:
Lenovo IdeaPad 3i
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3i is a budget laptop that offers some decent features. It’s good for students or occasional users. But, while the build is solid, the display isn’t great.
A 14-inch screen with Full HD resolution is great for day-to-day tasks, but the colours don’t pop. The speakers are good, but they lack bass, and there isn’t much sound output.
The keyboard is fairly good, and it has a dedicated function row. The trackpad is also good, but isn’t backlit. However, it is responsive.
A full-size SD card slot, HDMI, USB-A and a headphone jack round out the ports. Though the port count is decent, the USB-A port is a bit slow.
Acer Aspire 5
The Acer Aspire 5 is one of the cheapest full-size laptops on the market. It offers a competent processor, decent graphics, and a good display. But its battery life is not great, and it falls short on creative tasks.
Acer has designed the Aspire 5 to offer fast performance for users who are constantly connected. Aspire 5 models have 13th-generation Intel Core(tm) Processors1 that are able to handle multitasking. They also feature LPDDR5 memory and SSD-based storage. Those who want to use discrete Nvidia-branded graphics can purchase a dedicated GPU.
Acer Chromebook Spin 311
If you’re looking for a Chromebook with great performance and a long battery life, the Acer Chromebook Spin 311 might be the right choice for you. The Chromebook Spin 311 has a durable build, a solid keyboard, and plenty of connectivity options. But it’s also affordable and a good value.
Acer’s Chromebook Spin 311 is a solid 2-in-1 convertible laptop. It’s durable, lightweight, and affordable. Despite the low price, it has a lot of features. From USB-C charging and a microSD port to a Kensington lock securing mechanism, it’s a versatile machine.
Dell Inspiron 14
If you are looking for an affordable Windows laptop that can do it all, Dell’s Inspiron 14 is a solid choice. It has a solid keyboard, good performance, and a sturdy design that doesn’t feel cheap. But there are a few weaknesses that make it less than perfect.
The keyboard is not as comfortable as a traditional one, and the keys do not travel as far. The trackpad is stiff and doesn’t offer a great amount of travel. Some of its ports are also lacking. There’s a single USB-C 3.2 Gen 2×2 port, a microSD card reader, a headphone jack, and a fingerprint reader.
HP Pavilion x360
The HP Pavilion x360 is a 2-in-1 laptop with a versatile design that’s easy to move around. It’s also fast. Unlike most budget 2-in-1s, it has a full HD display and a powerful processor.
One of the main drawbacks of the HP Pavilion x360 is its poor color gamut. In particular, it has very little coverage of the commonly-used sRGB color space. Sadly, it’s impossible to use this laptop for color-critical work.
Another disadvantage is the poor battery life. This laptop is only capable of about eight hours of light productivity.
ASUS ZenBook
Acer’s newest budget laptop, the Aspire 5 (also known as the ZenBook 2025) has a lot to offer. The Aspire 5 comes in a wide range of configurations starting from under $400 and is a great choice for those looking for a cheap but powerful machine.
One of the most impressive features is the screen. The 14.5-inch 2.8K screen is an eye-popper. In addition to the display, the ZenBook also has a touchpad that doubles as a second display.
Battery life isn’t quite as good as some rivals. Fortunately, the Aspire 5 isn’t too heavy to carry around. It can last six hours of full-power usage without charging.
Razer Blade 17
If you are looking for a jack-of-all-trades gaming laptop, you may want to consider the Razer Blade 17 (2025). This powerful machine is a good choice if you are in the market for a premium, high-quality laptop. It’s also ideal for those who need a computer that is versatile enough to handle everyday tasks, as well as creative applications.
The Razer Blade series is known for its sleek design and powerful components. While the price may be a little higher than the competition, you’ll get a machine that is built to last.