Best Home Laptops

When we tested this HP laptop, we were impressed by its generous 32GB of RAM. This allowed us to keep lots of browser tabs and apps open without slowdowns. The 1TB SSD also gave us tons of fast storage for our files and programs.

The 15.6-inch touchscreen was nice to have, though we didn’t use it as much as we expected. Its HD resolution looked a bit fuzzy to our eyes, especially when viewing photos or videos. For basic home use like web browsing and documents, it worked fine.

We found the Core i3 processor adequate for everyday tasks, but it struggled with more demanding jobs like video editing. The laptop stayed cool and quiet during our testing. Battery life was average at around 6 hours of real-world use. While not amazing, we think this HP offers good value for home users wanting lots of memory and storage on a budget.

We got our hands on this HP 17″ laptop and were impressed by its size. The big screen is great for watching videos or working on spreadsheets. We found the keyboard comfortable for long typing sessions.

The 32GB of RAM let us run lots of programs at once without slowdowns. Opening files and booting up was quick thanks to the 1TB SSD. We liked having so much storage space for our photos and documents.

While using it, we noticed the screen isn’t as sharp as some others. It’s fine for basic tasks, but not ideal for photo editing. The laptop handled everyday jobs well, but struggled with graphics-heavy games. We missed having a DVD drive for our old movies.

We’ve been testing the Lenovo IdeaPad 1, and it’s clear this laptop punches above its weight class. The AMD Ryzen 5 5500U processor zips through everyday tasks with ease. We opened dozens of browser tabs, streamed videos, and edited documents without a hitch.

At just 3.5 pounds, this laptop is a breeze to carry around the house or take on the go. The 15.6-inch screen gives plenty of space for work or play, though we wish it were a bit brighter for outdoor use. Battery life is a high point – we got close to 10 hours of real-world use before needing to plug in.

We like the privacy shutter on the webcam, a nice touch for video calls. The speakers are decent for a budget laptop, but don’t expect room-filling sound. While the plastic body keeps the price down, it does feel less premium than some pricier options. Still, for the price, we think the IdeaPad 1 offers great value for home users who need a capable, no-frills laptop.

We’ve been using this Lenovo V15 Gen 4 for a few weeks now, and it’s proven to be a capable machine for home use. The 24GB of RAM really shines when we’re juggling multiple apps and browser tabs. We don’t experience any slowdowns, even with resource-heavy programs running.

The 1TB SSD is a game-changer for storage and speed. Our files load quickly, and the laptop boots up in seconds. We appreciate the extra space for our growing photo and video collections without needing an external drive.

The AMD Ryzen 5 processor handles our daily tasks with ease. From video calls to spreadsheet work, we haven’t encountered any performance hiccups. The battery life is decent too, lasting us through most of a workday on a single charge.

We do wish the display was a bit brighter. At 300 nits, it’s fine for indoor use, but it can be hard to see in bright environments. The touchpad is also hit-or-miss – sometimes it works great, other times it’s frustrating to use. We ended up connecting a wireless mouse for better control.

While we haven’t had any issues, some users report problems with charging. It’s worth keeping an eye on this if you decide to purchase. Despite these minor drawbacks, we find the Lenovo V15 Gen 4 to be a reliable workhorse for everyday home computing needs.

We’ve been using the Acer Swift X for a while now, and we’re impressed by its power in such a compact package. At just over 3 pounds, it’s easy to carry around all day. The AMD Ryzen 7 processor and NVIDIA RTX 3050 Ti graphics card tackle demanding tasks with ease.

The 14-inch Full HD screen is great for most work, but we noticed it can be hard to see outdoors. We love the long battery life – we got through a full workday without needing to plug in. The Swift X handles photo editing smoothly, and even some light video editing.

We did run into a few snags. The keyboard backlight is uneven, which can be annoying in low light. When pushing the laptop with intense tasks or gaming, it gets quite warm. But for everyday use, it stays cool and quiet. All in all, we think the Acer Swift X offers great value for its mix of power and portability.

We tested the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 and found it to be a solid choice for everyday computing needs. The 12GB of RAM let us run multiple apps and browser tabs without slowdowns. We liked the spacious 512GB SSD, which gave us quick access to files and programs.

The 15.6-inch Full HD screen was clear, but we wished it was a bit brighter for outdoor use. We appreciated the anti-glare coating, which helped reduce eye strain during long study sessions. The keyboard felt comfortable for typing, though we noticed some flex in the chassis.

Battery life was decent, lasting us through most of a school day. We enjoyed the included year of Office 365, which saved us some money on productivity software. While the Celeron processor handled basic tasks well, it struggled with more intensive applications. For web browsing, word processing, and light multitasking, this laptop should meet most students’ needs.

When we tried out the HP Stream 14, we found it to be a mixed bag. Its eye-catching pink color and slim design caught our attention right away. At just over 3 pounds, it’s easy to carry around all day.

The 14-inch screen is okay for casual use, but we noticed it wasn’t very bright or sharp. Text and images looked a bit fuzzy. The keyboard felt good enough for typing emails and short documents.

We liked the long battery life – it lasted through a full workday with no problem. The included year of Office 365 is a nice bonus too. But when we tried to do anything more than basic web browsing or word processing, the laptop felt slow and sluggish. Opening multiple browser tabs or running several apps at once made it struggle.

The 64GB of built-in storage filled up fast. We had to rely on cloud storage for most of our files. The extra storage from the docking station helped, but it’s not as convenient as having more space on the laptop itself.

We tested this HP laptop and found it to be a capable machine for everyday tasks. The 16GB of RAM lets us keep many browser tabs and apps open without slowdowns. We appreciate the spacious 1TB SSD, which provides quick access to files and fast boot times.

The 15.6-inch screen is big enough for comfortable viewing, but we wish it had a higher resolution. Text and images look a bit fuzzy compared to Full HD displays. Still, it’s fine for basic web browsing and document work.

Battery life impressed us, lasting through a full workday on a single charge. The laptop feels light enough to carry around easily. We like having both USB-A and USB-C ports for connecting peripherals. The built-in webcam and microphone work well for video calls.

While not a powerhouse, this HP laptop handles everyday computing needs smoothly. It’s a good pick for students or anyone wanting a budget-friendly home computer for basic tasks.

The Acer Aspire 3 impressed us with its sleek, travel-friendly design. At just 3.92 pounds, it’s easy to carry around. The 15.6-inch Full HD IPS screen offers vivid colors and wide viewing angles, making it great for work and entertainment.

We found the AMD Ryzen 3 7320U processor capable of handling everyday tasks smoothly. The 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM helps with multitasking, though we noticed some slowdowns with too many browser tabs open. The 128GB SSD is quick but fills up fast, so you might need external storage.

The laptop’s thermals worked well during our tests. We didn’t feel much heat, even after hours of use. The Wi-Fi 6 connectivity kept our internet speeds zippy and stable. While the keyboard isn’t backlit, it’s comfortable to type on, and the large trackpad is responsive.

We recently got our hands on the HP 255 G10, and it’s a decent performer for the price. The laptop feels light in our hands, making it easy to carry around the house or to the office. Its 15.6-inch screen gives us plenty of space to work, though we wish it was a bit brighter for outdoor use.

The AMD Ryzen 3 processor zips through everyday tasks like web browsing and document editing. We noticed it can handle multiple apps at once without slowing down too much. The 16GB of RAM and 1TB SSD also help keep things running smoothly. We like that we can store lots of files without worrying about running out of space.

While using the laptop, we found the keyboard comfy for typing. The built-in number pad is handy for quick calculations. We’re not big fans of the touchpad, though – it feels a bit small and not as responsive as we’d like. The battery life is okay, lasting us through most of a workday, but heavy users might need to keep the charger handy.