If you’re looking for the best value laptop for the year of 2025, look no further. This article will give you a list of the top laptops with the best features for this price range, and how they stack up against the competition.
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 (AMD)
If you’re looking for a laptop that’s powerful enough for work and plays well for movies, then the Lenovo Flex 5 is the one for you. It’s not cheap, but it’s also not a subpar piece of hardware.
The IdeaPad Flex 5 is based on the AMD Ryzen 5000 U hardware platform. This chip has plenty of horsepower and can run complex games on lower settings.
Lenovo is known for its iconic Yoga series design, and the Flex 5 takes that same design and applies it to a more affordable segment. The IdeaPad Flex 5 is available with either an Intel i5 or Ryzen 5 CPU.
Lenovo also offers the Flex 5 in an attractive Graphite Grey colour. Although this is a premium device, it feels sturdy and is relatively thin.
When you purchase the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex, you get a digital pen that you can use to write and draw. You can configure the buttons on the pen to be any combination you want.
You also get fast charging. The battery lasts for up to 12 hours of use, which is great.
The screen on the Flex 5 is decent, with a resolution of 1920 x 1080. However, the brightness only goes up to 250 nits.
The IdeaPad Flex 5 also features a fingerprint reader. You can use it to unlock the computer, change the boot order, and reset the system.
Apple MacBook Air (M1)
The Apple MacBook Air (M1) is the best value laptop for the money. It’s slim, light, and offers great performance. This is a great entry level Mac for anyone looking to get into the Apple fold.
The M1 has an impressive list of features. These include an ARM-based Apple M1 chip, Dolby Atmos audio support, and an improved Magic Keyboard.
While the Magic Keyboard isn’t the most convenient keyboard in the world, it does a good job. If you’re looking for a more ergonomic typing experience, you might want to consider a MacBook Pro or Air.
Aside from the Magic Keyboard, the M2 has a few new and improved features. It’s faster, better performing, and lasts longer. However, it’s not quite as pretty as the Air.
The M1 also has an impressive graphics chip. Although it’s not as fast as the Air’s, the processors are still great at gaming.
You’ll notice a significant improvement in battery life as well. On our test, the M2 lasted five hours and 21 minutes before needing a charge. That’s two and a half hours more than the Air.
One of the biggest perks of the M2 is the bigger screen. As a result, you’ll get an even larger area for displaying pictures, videos, and other important content.
Dell XPS 13 (9300)
If you are looking for the best value laptop, you may want to consider the Dell XPS 13 (9300). This laptop is an update to the already excellent XPS laptop. It features improved speakers, a new keyboard, and an updated hardware platform. In addition, it is slightly larger in display size than last year’s model.
The Dell XPS 13 9300 is a reliable laptop that can handle most tasks. It is a great choice for business professionals and creatives. However, it is not ideal for gaming. You’ll want to look at the Acer Nitro 5 or the Dell XPS 15 if you are searching for a laptop that can take on the latest games.
The Dell XPS 13 is built with solid materials. The keyboard has a smooth feel and a crisp clicker. It also has a fingerprint reader in the power button. While the trackpad isn’t large, it responds well to pinching and zooming.
The XPS 13 also offers excellent battery life. While it’s not quite as long as the previous XPS models, the battery should still last a full day.
If you’re looking for a laptop with more ports, you might want to look at the Dell XPS 17 (2022). This one offers powerful hardware in a sleek design.