If you’re in the market for a new laptop, but don’t have a lot of money to spare, you’ll want to take a look at these best budget laptops of 2023. These models all have very reasonable price tags, but offer a high level of quality, too. Here are some of the top options, ranked from best to worst.
Lenovo IdeaPad 3i
If you’re looking for a new laptop, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3i is a solid budget choice. Featuring a Full HD display, an Intel Core i3 processor, and 128GB of SSD storage, this laptop is suitable for most tasks.
This budget laptop is also a great choice for students. It’s inexpensive, light, and easy to carry around. However, you’ll want to keep an eye out for deals, as it’s normally priced at $329.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3i includes a fingerprint reader built into the power button. There’s also a 720p HD camera. Although not as good as a DSLR, the camera is still serviceable.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3i has an impressive array of ports. Two USB 3.1 (Gen 1) ports, HDMI, a 4-in-1 card reader, and a power connector are just a few of the features.
Acer Aspire 5
If you want a great laptop that has a solid performance, and an eye-catching display, you should consider Acer’s Aspire 5 series. These budget-friendly laptops offer a wide array of options, from quad-core processors to SSD storage and dedicated graphics. And the Aspire 5 offers an extra bonus, like the ability to use USB-C.
The Aspire 5’s keyboard is comfortable to type on, with a decent number pad and some nice key travel. It’s not as crisp as other laptops in its price range, though.
You can get an Aspire 5 with a Core i7 processor. That processor pairs with a 128GB SSD and NVIDIA GeForce RTX GPU. But you also have to choose from a range of RAM and storage options. For example, the base model has 8GB of RAM.
ASUS Vivobook 16
While Asus has a long list of high-end laptops, there are also several budget options. These are perfect for the student or budget conscious consumer looking for a machine to get some work done at home.
The HP Pavilion 15-bs511 laptop is a good choice for anyone looking for a simple laptop to use for light web browsing. It features an Intel Celeron processor, 4GB of RAM, and 32GB of on-board storage. You can add more storage through USB ports.
The Dell Inspiron 14’s screen is competent, but its backlighting is a bit dimmer than is ideal for work. Likewise, the Asus VivoBook S15’s screen is a decent size and offers a Full HD resolution.
One of the best things about the Asus VivoBook S15 is its price. For less than $1000 you can have a sleek and slim laptop with a fast CPU, an HDMI port, and an SD card reader.
Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5
If you’re looking for a budget laptop that offers good battery life and a great webcam, look no further than the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5. It’s a two-in-one Chromebook that’s part metal, part plastic.
Despite its relatively compact form factor, the Duet is powerful enough to handle multitasking. While it’s not as portable as an iPad, it offers a great screen and a sturdy build.
The Duet also comes with a handy kickstand. When placed on a table, it makes it more stable for touchscreen use. However, it’s a bit unstable, so it’s not as practical for lap usage.
The Duet comes with a good-quality keyboard, which is better than most detachables. Although the keys aren’t backlit, they’re large enough to allow for comfortable typing. In addition, the travel of the keys is decent.
ASUS TUF Dash 15
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 is an all-in-one gaming laptop that is well-rounded and offers solid performance. It is also great for multitaskers, content creators, and power users.
Asus’s TUF line is targeted at a budget audience. They use a utilitarian approach to design, but offer a good amount of software features. These include a self-cleaning mechanism and software-based artificial intelligence that blocks background noise.
Among its main selling points, the TUF Dash 15 has a fast 240-Hz display. Asus also uses an IPS panel and Nvidia G-Sync. This enables smooth frame rates for eSports titles.
The Dash F15 has a slim chassis, which isn’t common among modern gaming laptops. Two 83-bladed liquid crystal polymer fans pull heat away from the CPU and GPU.