The perfect low-cost laptop computer for 2023

Low cost laptops are getting higher and higher. The query to ask is: what’s most vital, and what are you keen to sacrifice? Even the very best low-cost laptops aren’t good in each space — they’ve some strengths however reduce corners to attain their value tags. You’ll be able to nearly actually discover a funds laptop computer with a touchscreen, a premium-looking chassis, an HDMI port, a backlit keyboard, or stylus help. However you might want to think about which of these options you need probably the most and which you’ll go with out.

My present choose for the very best funds laptop computer of 2023 is the Gateway 14. It’s a tool you possibly can simply discover for nicely beneath $500, and it nails the fundamentals whereas offering glorious battery life and quite a lot of totally different enjoyable colours — in addition to user-accessible storage. It’s an awesome choose for individuals who need to purchase a practical, enticing laptop computer for as low a value as attainable.

But when cow spots don’t float your boat, to not fear. I’ve acquired a various listing of ideas right here for you at a wide range of sub-$1,000 value factors, together with gaming laptops, enterprise laptops, convertibles, Chromebooks, and extra. A few of my favorites on this class embrace the Asus Chromebook CX5, the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3, the HP Pavilion Aero 13, and the HP Victus 15. Many of those laptops additionally seem on our finest laptop computer, finest Chromebook, and finest pupil laptop computer lists. 

CPU: Intel Core i5-1135G7 / GPU: Intel Iris Xe / RAM: 16GB / Storage: 512GB / Show: 14.1-inch IPS show, 1920 x 1080, 60Hz, no contact choice / Dimensions: 13.1 x 8.75 x 0.75 inches / Weight: 4 kilos

If you happen to’re searching for the very best specs you may get for as low a value as attainable, your finest wager is the $279 (as of this writing) Gateway 14. This cow-spotted (in spirit) machine is available in just a few funky colours that may stand out from the gang. (The mannequin I reviewed is a daring brilliant blue.) It provides a number of the finest specs you may get for beneath $400 in addition to a superb port choice and speedy efficiency. There’s even an empty drive slot so you possibly can stick in as a lot storage as you want.

There are just a few compromises to concentrate on. The microphones are weak, for one, and the touchpad is clunky and loud. Nevertheless, these are cheap compromises to make for the Gateway’s low value, particularly since they’re each simply remedied with exterior peripherals. Within the grand scheme of the laptop computer market, the Gateway 14 provides unparalleled specs, efficiency, and battery life for its value. Plus, it appears tremendous cute.

Learn my Gateway 14 assessment.

CPU: Intel Core i5-1135G7 / GPU: Intel Iris Xe / RAM: 16GB / Storage: 128GB / Show: 15.6-inch IPS, 1920 x 1080, 60Hz, contact choice / Dimensions: 14.08 x 9.48 x 0.73 inches / Weight: 4.3 kilos

The Chromebook Flip CX5 actually is that good. It’s sturdy sufficient to resist all types of jolts and jostles in a backpack or briefcase, and has a singular velvety texture that’s very nice to carry. Add a large port choice, a clean and comfy keyboard, and a vivid show, and also you’ve acquired a chassis that may maintain its personal in opposition to loads of midrange Home windows laptops. 

Efficiency is equally spectacular. I by no means as soon as heard its fan in testing, even when pushing a workload that slowed most units down. Battery life is kind of passable, simply lasting a day. And the audio system delivered a number of the finest audio I’ve ever heard from a Chromebook. Whereas the CX5 isn’t an ideal machine, it’s probably the greatest ones we’ve ever examined beneath $700. General, funds customers who don’t thoughts Chrome OS received’t be disillusioned on this machine.

Learn my Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 assessment.

CPU: MediaTek 8183 / GPU: Arm Mali-G72 MP3 / RAM: 4GB / Storage: 128GB / Show: 10.5-inch IPS, 1920 x 1200, 60Hz, contact choice / Dimensions: 10.06 x 6.58 x 0.31 inches / Weight: 1.12 kilos

If you happen to just like the Duet’s dimension and removable kind issue however are keen to spend on one thing a bit extra upscale, you might discover the Asus Chromebook Removable CM3 to be a more sensible choice. Just like the Duet, the CM3 is a ten.5-inch 16:10 Chrome OS pill with a cloth cowl, kickstand, and removable display screen. However the CM3’s kickstand folds a number of methods: you possibly can crease it lengthwise to face the pill up like a laptop computer or fold it the brief means and stand the pill up horizontally. Plus, it comes with a built-in USI stylus and roomy keys with a stunning quantity of journey. Battery life was additionally fairly spectacular: I averaged near 13 hours of steady work. 

The place the CM3 lags a bit behind the Duet (and different low-cost laptops you might strive) is the ability. Its MediaTek processor generally is a bit sluggish in comparison with extra pricier choices. However the CM3 nonetheless provides a stunning variety of perks for its sub-$400 value and makes an awesome pupil driver or secondary machine.

Learn my Asus Chromebook Removable CM3 assessment.

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5625U, Ryzen 5 7535U, Ryzen 7 5825U, Ryzen 7 7735U / GPU: AMD Radeon / RAM: 8GB, 16GB / Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB / Show: 13.3-inch IPS, 1920 x 1200/2560 x 1600, 60Hz, no contact choice / Dimensions: 11.69 x 8.23 x 0.67 inches / Weight: 2.2 kilos

If you happen to’re searching for a funds Home windows laptop computer that’s thinner and lighter than the Envy x360 whereas delivering related category-topping efficiency, the $669 HP Pavilion Aero 13 is an efficient alternative for you. It has a strong eight-core Ryzen processor, which is likely one of the quickest processors for skinny and lightweight laptops that you may get. Not solely does it carry out nicely, however it’s additionally unbelievably gentle at simply 2.1 kilos, and it comes with a blindingly brilliant 16:10 display screen. It’s a standout in battery life, too — I averaged nearly 11 hours of steady work. 

HP did have to chop just a few corners to attain these advantages at this value level. The audio on my assessment mannequin wasn’t nice, and the machine shipped with some low-cost bloatware put in. However the Pavilion Aero 13 is superb in nearly each different means, and it received’t disappoint if you happen to’re searching for a practical, low-cost Home windows PC.

Learn our HP Pavilion Aero 13 assessment.

CPU: Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 / GPU: Qualcomm Adreno graphics / RAM: 4Gb, 8GB / Storage: 128GB / Show: 10.95-inch IPS, 2000 x 1200, 60Hz, contact choice / Dimensions: 10.16 x 6.48 x 0.31 inches / Weight: 1.14 kilos

If you happen to’re searching for an absurdly low-cost Chromebook that completely will get the job carried out, it is best to undoubtedly be wanting on the Duet 3. It is a nice, tiny laptop computer for funds customers with a magnetic removable keyboard and kickstand. The display screen even helps USI styluses, although a stylus isn’t included on this value. The keyboard is included, nevertheless, as are the keyboard and kickstand, which makes for a fairly stable package deal for a sub-$400 value.

Whereas I don’t advocate the Duet 3 for work use, it’s fairly usable for social media use, leisure, and multimedia viewing. It has a pointy, brilliant, 11-inch display screen, and the keyboard and touchpad are surprisingly snug. As a bonus, it’s simply 2.09 kilos, which makes it nice for carrying round in a backpack or a handbag.

Learn our Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 assessment.

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 6600U / GPU: AMD Radeon 660M / RAM: 8GB / Storage: 256GB / Show: 13.3-inch IPS, 1920 x 1200, 60Hz, no contact choice / Dimensions: 11.69 x 8.31 x 0.59 / Weight: 2.71 kilos

The Lenovo ThinkBook 13S appears lots like Lenovo’s high-end ThinkPad laptops. However it’s far more inexpensive than these ThinkPads, with fashions at present beginning beneath $900.

I used to be pleasantly shocked by its sharp 16:10 show and its beneficiant port choice. The audio is loud and clear. The machine lacks a number of the artistry of the ThinkPad line, however brings the identical performance and high-quality construct.

Learn our Lenovo ThinkBook 13S assessment.

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600H, Ryzen 7 5800H, Intel Core i5-13500H, Core i7-13700H, Core i7-12700H / GPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600H, Ryzen 7 5800H, Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050, RTX 3050 Ti, RTX 4050 / RAM: 8GB, 16GB / Storage: 512GB, 1TB / Show: 15.6-inch IPS, 1920 x 1080, 60Hz/144Hz, no contact choice / Dimensions: 14.09 x 10.04 x 0.93 / Weight: 5.05 kilos

Gaming laptops are identified to be pretty costly, however the HP Victus 15 provides surprisingly good body charges for a sub-$700 value. The bottom mannequin is out there with a GTX 1650, whereas those that need to run probably the most demanding titles and don’t thoughts spending a bit extra can go for an RTX 3050, which provides $90 to the value. (There are even RTX 3050 Ti fashions, if you happen to’re actually a frame-rate perfectionist.)

I examined the GTX 1650 mannequin, and it had no drawback with lighter esports titles. The 144Hz display screen, which is a big bonus at this value level, was a pleasure to observe. You must count on to bump some settings down if you need trendy AAA titles to completely make the most of the show. On the skin, the Victus has a pleasant, unobtrusive look, and a portable-enough five-pound chassis.  

Learn our HP Victus 15 assessment.

CPU: Intel Core i5-1240P, Core i5-12500H, Core i5-1235U, Core i7-12700H, Core i7-1255U/ GPU: Intel Iris Xe, Nvidia GeForce RTX 2050 / RAM: 8GB, 16GB / Storage: 256GB, 512Gb, 1TB / Show: 14-inch IPS/OLED, 2240 x 1400/2880 x 1800, 60Hz, no contact choice / Dimensions: 12.34 x 8.83 x 0.72 inches / Weight: 3.09 kilos

The HP Pavilion Plus 14, at present accessible for $799, stretches what most would contemplate a funds value. However this 14-inch laptop computer has an opulent OLED, 2.8K, 90Hz show that far outclasses its value. It’s additionally the thinnest Pavilion HP has ever constructed, and at simply 3.09 kilos, it’s fairly straightforward to hold round in a backpack or briefcase. 

The webcam additionally provides just a few distinctive (and at occasions hilarious options). Auto-framing retains you focused as you progress round your convention space, backlight and low-light changes preserve you wanting sharp, and “BRB Mode” can freeze your feed and stick a “BRB” signal on the underside to let your coworkers know you’ll be proper again. The primary draw back to think about is that battery life isn’t nice – I acquired slightly below 5 hours to a cost out of my take a look at unit, a typical end result for a laptop computer with an OLED display screen.

Learn our HP Pavilion Plus 14 assessment.

CPU: Intel Core i5-1235U, Core i7-1260P / GPU: Intel Iris Xe / RAM: 8GB / Storage: 256GB / Show: 114-inch IPS, 2560 x 1600, 60Hz, contact choice / Dimensions: 12.31 x 8.82 x 0.71 inches / Weight: 3.09 kilos

If you happen to’d favor a extra conventional Chromebook with a clamshell kind issue, the $479 Acer Chromebook Spin 714 is an inexpensive choice that’s all-around glorious. It has a stunning 16:10 show, suitable with a garaged stylus, that delivers a pointy image and brilliant, vibrant colours with loads of vertical house.

The display screen alone would make the Chromebook Spin 714 a standout, however it has quite a lot of different strengths as nicely, together with an awesome keyboard, all-day battery life, and a complete port choice, together with an HDMI, along with Thunderbolt 4. It’s an particularly good purchase at a reduction (which you’ll usually discover).

Learn our Acer Chromebook Spin 714 assessment.