Streaming video is more popular than ever, and people often look for the best budget laptops for streaming they can find. Many budget laptops can perform enough to be able to stream without issues and you don’t have to spend a ton of money on a new computer. Good-budget laptops, like budget gaming laptops, can handle just about any streaming task. Budget gaming laptops are also popular among businessmen and professionals for the same reason; they can work with heavy-duty programs and still be used for personal entertainment, like streaming, when work ends. We have compiled many budget laptops to consider on this list. But first, let’s discuss what to look for in a budget laptop.
What To Look For in Budget Laptops for Streaming?
The most important thing is to know how long you can expect your laptop to last on a single charge. One way to determine whether or not a particular model will meet your needs is by looking at its watt-hour rating. This number tells you how much energy is stored in the battery and can give you an estimate of how much longer than everyday use will last before needing recharging.
A good rule of thumb is that if battery life drops below five hours per charge (and many budget laptops fall well below that threshold), then it might not be worth getting unless other factors outweigh this limitation for you.
Another thing to look at is the display. For budget laptops, we’re not really expecting vivid, clear colors akin to OLED screens. However, having a good display can really improve the streaming experience.
Acer Aspire 5
PROS
- Good specs
- Amazing display
- Price-to-performance ratio
CONS
- Can't play triple-A games
- Battery life can be better
Specs:
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 3 3200U
- RAM: 8GB – 16GB
- Storage: 512 GB – 1 TB
- GPU: AMD Radeon Vega 3
- Display: 15.6″
- OS: Windows 10
Powerful yet affordable, the Acer Aspire 5 makes the list for being one of the affordable, high-performing budget laptops for streaming. The Acer Aspire 5 also allows you to use it as your primary computer due to its powerful specs. The 15.6” Full HD display allows you to watch high-quality content without any hiccups in the sound or visuals along with the AMD Ryzen 3 3200U, at least 8GB RAM and 512 GB storage.
The battery life on this laptop is extraordinary at over 5 hours, just enough expectations for a budget laptop. However, if you want to play the newest triple-A games on this list, you may have difficulty playing at the highest graphic settings. Overall, the Acer Aspire 5 is a great starter laptop for streaming, especially for those who want to make the most out of their budget.
Acer Aspire 5
Acer Swift 3
PROS
- Great processor
- Good specs
CONS
- GPU not for heavy-duty graphics like video editing
Specs:
- CPU: Intel Core i7
- RAM: 8 GB
- Storage: 512 GB – 1 TB
- GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- Display: 14″
- OS: Windows 11
The Acer Swift 3 14” is an affordable laptop that comes packed with a lot of value. It’s one of the best budget laptops for streaming and provides a solid computing experience that has few performance bottlenecks when it comes to streaming your favorite movies, shows, or music.
With its Intel EVO Core i7-1165G7 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 512GB SSD storage combo, this machine can handle most tasks without issue while also offering enough power for everyday use such as browsing the web, checking email, and editing documents. In addition to all this power under the hood, you’ll also get a 14″ display that offers wide viewing angles ideal for sharing content either in person or over video calls like Skype or Zoom.
The Acer Swift 3 weighs around 2 pounds, making it light enough to carry around easily but still offers great battery life of up to at least 10 hours so you don’t have to worry about carrying around a bulky charger when traveling between meetings at different locations throughout your day at work!
Acer Swift 3
Apple MacBook Air M1
PROS
- Good specs
- Lightweight portable
- M1 Chip capable of heavy streaming
- Good battery life
CONS
- Storage expansion requires cloud
- Fanless design
Specs:
- CPU: M1 Chip
- RAM: 8 GB
- Storage: 256 GB – 512 GB
- GPU: M1 Chip
- Display: 13″
- OS: Mac OS
The MacBook Air is the most portable of all Apple laptops, weighing just 2.75 pounds. Its slim design makes it easy to carry around in your bag or backpack, so you can take it anywhere with you. The 13-inch screen size is a good size for watching videos, but if you want a larger display then you might like the 15-inch model instead.
In terms of speed and battery life, this laptop will not disappoint: it has an 8-core CPU processor that runs at 3.1 GHz GHz speeds with 8 GB RAM (memory) and 256 GB hard drive storage capacity for plenty of games or movies on demand. It takes up less energy than many other computers too; if you’re looking for something portable then this could be ideal for long journeys without needing regular charging breaks!
Apple MacBook Air M1
Asus ZenBook 13
PROS
- Good price-to-performance ratio
- Gorgeous OLED Display
- Strong specs
CONS
- No headphone jack
Specs:
- CPU: Intel Core i7-1165G7
- RAM: 16GB
- Storage: 512 GB
- GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- Display: 13.3″
- OS: Windows 11 Pro
Loaded with powerful specs such as Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM, and 512GB Storage, the Asus Zenbook 13 is a gorgeous budget option for those who can stretch enough to buy a good laptop for a solid price-to-performance ratio. Equipped with an OLED screen, this 13.3″ device displays beautiful, vivid pictures perfect for streaming. The Intel Iris Xe Graphics is great for streaming, though it may lag on graphics-heavy programs. But nevertheless, the Asus Zenbook 13 is a great option for those seeking budget laptops for streaming.
Asus ZenBook 13
Dell XPS 13
PROS
- Excellent specs
- Great performance
- Beautiful, luxurious design
CONS
- Poor webcam
Specs:
- CPU: Intel Core i7-1185G7
- RAM: 16GB
- Storage: 512 GB
- GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- Display: 13.4″
- OS: Windows 10 Pro
The Dell XPS 13 is our top choice for the best budget laptop for streaming. This laptop does everything you need it to, including casual gaming, video editing, photo editing, and streaming. With a powerful Intel Core i7 processor and 16 GB RAM, this laptop has no problem handling whatever tasks you throw at it. You can use this machine for school or work as well because of its long battery life (12 hours on a single charge) and portability (it weighs only 2.80 pounds).
You’re not going to find another computer with this much bang for your buck anywhere else on the market today. If you’re looking for something inexpensive yet powerful enough that won’t let you down when watching your favorite shows online while traveling then look no further than this little powerhouse by Dell.
Dell XPS 13
The Guide to the Best Laptops for Streaming
Laptops are a great choice when it comes to streaming. They’re portable, powerful, and have enough storage space to store all of your favorite movies and TV shows while you’re on the road. We hope that you find this guide useful in your search for the best budget laptops for streaming. There are many options available at different price points, so it might take some time before you find the right fit. However, with our recommendations, we believe anyone can make an informed decision about what device would work well for them without having to spend too much money upfront!
Frequently Asked Questions
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Are laptops good for streaming?
Yes. Laptops can be good for video streaming. Specs to look at should be display and display size, CPU cores, and battery life.