Best Affordable Laptops

We recently got our hands on the HP 14″ Ultralight Laptop, and we were impressed by its portability. At just 3.24 pounds, it’s a breeze to carry around campus or to coffee shops. The sleek white design looks clean and modern, fitting in well in both classroom and office settings.

The 11.5-hour battery life is a standout feature. We used it for a full day of web browsing, document editing, and video streaming without needing to plug in. This makes it great for students who move between classes or professionals who work on the go.

Performance-wise, the Intel Celeron N4120 processor and 8GB of RAM handled basic tasks well. We could comfortably run multiple browser tabs, write documents, and watch videos. But don’t expect to do heavy multitasking or run demanding software.

The 14-inch HD display is okay for everyday use, but the 1366×768 resolution isn’t the sharpest. Text and images look a bit fuzzy compared to Full HD screens. The 64GB eMMC storage fills up fast, so we recommend using cloud storage or the included 128GB microSD card for extra space.

One quirk is that it comes with Windows 11 in S mode, which limits you to Microsoft Store apps. We switched out of S mode to install Chrome and other programs we use daily. The process was simple but worth noting for less tech-savvy users.

For the price, this HP laptop offers good value for basic computing needs. It’s not a powerhouse, but it’s a solid choice for students, casual users, or as a secondary machine for simple tasks.

We tested this HP 14 laptop for a week of everyday use. Its slim build made it easy to carry around, and the battery lasted through a full workday. We liked having Microsoft 365 apps ready to go.

The 64 GB of storage filled up fast. We had to be careful about what we kept on the laptop. The Intel Celeron chip felt sluggish when we opened lots of browser tabs or tried to edit photos.

The 14-inch screen looks a bit fuzzy. Text and images weren’t as crisp as we’d like. But for checking email and writing documents, it works fine. The keyboard felt good enough for typing.

We tested the Acer Aspire 3, and it left us impressed with its performance for the price. The 15.6-inch Full HD IPS screen is a standout feature, offering sharp visuals and good color accuracy. We found it great for watching videos and working on documents.

The laptop feels snappy thanks to its AMD Ryzen 3 7320U processor. We had no trouble running multiple apps and browser tabs at once. The 8GB of RAM helps keep things smooth, though power users might want more.

One drawback is the 128GB SSD. It’s fast, but we filled it up quickly. You might need an external drive for extra storage. The lack of a backlit keyboard is also a bummer for typing in low light.

We like how light and thin this laptop is. It’s easy to carry around in a bag. The battery lasted us about 8 hours of regular use, which is decent for a budget laptop.

The Windows 11 S mode can be frustrating if you need to install apps outside the Microsoft Store. But you can switch out of it for free if needed.

For students, casual users, or anyone on a tight budget, we think the Acer Aspire 3 offers good value. It handles everyday tasks well and won’t break the bank.

The Lenovo V15 G4 packs a punch with its 13th Gen Intel i7 processor. We found it zips through everyday tasks and even handles more demanding work like photo editing with ease. The 16GB of RAM lets us keep lots of browser tabs and apps open without slowdowns.

We love the roomy 1TB SSD, which gives us plenty of space for files and loads programs quickly. The 15.6-inch screen is big enough for comfortable work, though we wish it was a bit brighter for outdoor use.

While not the lightest laptop around, the V15 G4 is still easy to carry. We like the variety of ports, including USB-C and HDMI. The webcam’s privacy shutter is a nice touch for security-minded users. Battery life is decent – we got through most workdays on a single charge.

We’ve spent time testing the Lenovo V15 Gen 4, and it’s a solid choice for everyday work tasks. The AMD Ryzen 5 chip zips through basic programs and even handles light multitasking well. We noticed apps open quickly thanks to the speedy SSD.

The 24GB of RAM is a standout feature at this price point. We had no trouble keeping lots of browser tabs open while working on documents. The 1TB of storage is also more than enough for most users’ files and programs.

We found the 15.6-inch screen clear enough for office work, but it’s not the brightest. You might want to boost the brightness in well-lit rooms. The keyboard feels nice to type on, but the touchpad can be hit-or-miss. We ended up using a wireless mouse for better control. Battery life seems decent – we got through most workdays on a single charge.

The VGKE B15 surprised us with its solid performance for the price. We found the 15.6-inch Full HD screen bright and clear, making it easy to work on documents or enjoy movies. The anti-glare coating was a nice touch, reducing eye strain during long work sessions.

We liked the backlit keyboard, which made typing in low light a breeze. The number pad was handy for data entry tasks. The fingerprint reader worked well, letting us log in quickly and securely.

Under the hood, the Intel Celeron J4125 processor handled basic tasks smoothly. We could browse the web, use office apps, and stream videos without issues. The 12GB of RAM helped with multitasking, though we noticed some slowdown with too many tabs open. The 256GB SSD felt a bit tight, but it kept the system responsive.

We’ve been using this Lenovo V15 for a few weeks now, and it’s impressed us with its performance. The AMD Ryzen 5 5500U chip zips through basic tasks like web browsing and document editing. We opened dozens of browser tabs and ran multiple apps at once without any slowdowns.

The 16GB of RAM really helps with multitasking. We switched between apps smoothly, even with memory-hungry programs open. The 512GB SSD offers plenty of space for files and programs, and it boots up Windows 11 Pro in seconds.

We like the full HD screen for watching videos, but the colors look a bit washed out. The keyboard feels nice to type on, and the number pad is handy for data entry. Battery life is okay – we got about 6 hours of real-world use. The plastic body doesn’t feel premium, but it keeps the weight down for easy carrying.

The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 surprised us with its audio quality. We loved how the up-firing speakers sent sound directly towards us, making movies and music more immersive. The 16-inch screen with its 16:10 aspect ratio gave us plenty of space for work and play.

We found the AMD Ryzen 5 processor zippy enough for everyday tasks and light multitasking. The 512GB SSD provided quick boot times and snappy file access. Battery life was a pleasant surprise, easily lasting through a full workday.

The laptop’s build quality felt solid, though it’s a bit heavy at 4.19 pounds. We appreciated the backlit keyboard and fingerprint reader for quick logins. The FHD webcam with a privacy shutter was handy for video calls. While 8GB of RAM was okay for basic use, we wished for more when running multiple apps.

We’ve spent some time with this HP laptop, and it’s a capable machine for everyday tasks. The 16GB of RAM really shines when running multiple apps and browser tabs. We didn’t experience any slowdowns or lag during our testing.

The 15.6″ screen is nice and big for working on documents or watching videos. The anti-glare coating helps reduce eye strain. We like the full-sized keyboard with number pad, which makes data entry a breeze.

On the downside, the 128GB of storage filled up faster than we expected. You might need an external drive for extra space. The plastic body also doesn’t feel as premium as some pricier laptops. But for the price, it’s hard to complain too much.

We appreciate the inclusion of WiFi 6 for speedy internet connections. The webcam works well enough for video calls. Battery life seems decent – we got through most of a workday on a single charge.

For students or anyone on a budget who needs a reliable laptop for basic computing, this HP model fits the bill nicely. Just be aware of the storage limitations. The one-year Microsoft 365 subscription adds some nice value too.

We recently got our hands on the Lenovo IdeaPad 1, and we were pleasantly surprised by its capabilities. This laptop is a breeze to carry around, weighing just 3.5 pounds. We found it perfect for working on the go or moving from room to room at home.

The AMD Ryzen 5 processor handled our daily tasks with ease. We opened multiple browser tabs, worked on documents, and streamed videos without any lag. The 512GB SSD gave us quick boot times and fast file access. We liked that we could store plenty of files without worrying about running out of space.

Battery life was a standout feature for us. We got through a full workday on a single charge, which was great for productivity. The rapid charge feature came in handy when we needed a quick power boost. We appreciated the privacy shutter on the webcam, letting us control when we’re visible during video calls.