Whether you’re looking for a computer to help run your small business or just want something that’s light and portable for school, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get a good laptop. But with so many models offering similar specs at vastly different prices, it can be hard to tell which ones are truly worth their sticker price. That’s why we’ve scoured the web for the best budget laptops for 2023—read below for more information
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Lenovo IdeaPad 3
PROS
- Good performance
- Touchscreen display
- Fingerprint scanner
- USB-C port
- Upgradeable RAM
CONS
- Sound and display mediocre
Specs:
- CPU: Intel Core i3-1115G4
- RAM: 8 GB
- Storage: 256 GB
- GPU: Intel UHD Graphics
- Display: 15.6
- OS: Windows 11 Home
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is one of the greatest budget laptops that performs well above its price. Falling around the $400 range, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 gives the best value for the money for it has enough power to handle everyday tasks like surfing the web, emailing, streaming video, and even light gaming.
The 15.6-inch budget laptop has an Intel Core i3-1115G4 processor with 8GB of RAM and 256GB SSD storage. It comes with Windows 11 Home pre-installed as well—adding up to an excellent performance. With a USB-C port available, a touchscreen display, fingerprint scanners, and other connectivity and input devices available, this best laptop offers versatility like no other.
Lenovo IdeaPad 3
Microsoft Surface Go 2
PROS
- Good performance
- Portable and light
- Stylish design
- Swappable SSD
- Affordable
CONS
- Lackluster webcam
- Accessories Sold Separately
Specs:
- CPU: Intel Core i5-8250U
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 256 GB
- GPU: Intel UHD Graphics 620
- Display: 13.5″
- OS: Windows 10 Home
If you want something other than the Lenovo laptop above, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is an alternative choice for those who want budget laptops at the same specs with decent performance and battery life. Weighing just 1.7 pounds, it is one of the lightest laptops in this budget laptop list. This makes it easy to carry around in a bag or purse, even if you’re traveling with other things like books or water bottles. It also comes with a decent battery life, lasting around 8 hours, which isn’t great compared to some other options on this list but still good considering its size. In comparison, both the Apple MacBook Air (2019) and Apple MacBook Pro (2019) lasted over 12 hours—but these are larger more expensive models falling around the same battery life expectations.
The 1366×768 resolution screen provides good image quality without being too bulky on your desk—measuring 13.5 inches diagonally.
Microsoft Surface Go 2
Dell Inspiron 15 5000
PROS
- Large display
- Solid, sturdy build
- Comfortable keyboard input
- Spill-resistant keyboard
- 720p camera
CONS
- Heavy (at 4 pounds)
Specs:
- CPU: Intel Core i5-1035G1
- RAM: 8 GB
- Storage: 256 GB
- GPU: Intel UHD Graphics
- Display: 15.6″
- OS: Windows 10
For budget laptops with a more recent CPU, the Dell Inspiron series takes the best powerful budget laptops list. With a 10-generation Intel Core i5-1035G1 and solid specs across the board, this laptop makes a powerful device for students and professionals alike. Considering this a Dell brand, the Inspiron 15 will incorporate a number of excellent design elements from the more expensive XPS laptop series while maintaining the usual Inspiron build quality. With a weight of a little under 4 pounds, it is not the lightest laptop, but it does include a superb spill-resistant keyboard, Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth connectivity, and a top-mounted 720p camera for video conferencing.
Dell Inspiron 15 5000
Acer Aspire 5
PROS
- Great price-to-performance ratio
- Affordable
- FHD display
- Port selections
- Upgradable specs
CONS
- Battery life
- Trackpad
Specs:
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 3 / Ryzen 5 / Ryzen 7
- RAM: 4 GB – 8 GB
- Storage: 128 GB – 512 GB SSD
- GPU: AMD Radeon Graphics
- Display: 15.6″
- OS: Windows 11
The Acer Aspire 5 is a well-rounded budget laptop with up to a customizable AMD Ryzen 7 processor, up to 8 GB of RAM, and up to 512 GB SSD. The 15.6″ FHD has a matte finish and the laptop comes with an AMD Radeon Graphics card that can play games like Fortnite at medium settings. Because of its powerful specs and performance, the battery life may be abysmal to some. And the trackpad can be a bit more comfortable, but nevertheless, for its price, the Acer Aspire 5 and its variants are probably the best budget laptops for people who want customizable specs on a tight budget.
Acer Aspire 5
HP Victus 16
PROS
- Customizable specs
- Affordable gaming laptop
- Backlit keyboard
- Stylish design
- Attractive 16" display
- 1080p resolution
CONS
- Flimsy hinge
- No biometrics
- No Thunderbolt port
- Heavy
Specs:
- CPU: 12th Gen Intel Core i5-12450H
- RAM: 8 GB – 64 GB
- Storage: 512 GB – 2 TB SSD
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650
- Display: 15.6″ FHD
- OS: Windows 11
The newest HP Victus 16 is a budget gaming laptop equipped with 12th gen Intel Core i5 processor, up to 64 GB RAM, and up to 2 TB SSD. It also has a 15.6-inch FHD IPS display, running with an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650, making it suitable for moderate gaming sessions as well as long hours of heavy work such as photo editing or research. This device also comes with Windows 11 Home operating system preinstalled on it.
Its battery life can last up to 7 hours of usage per charge, depending on the usage patterns, making it a decent choice considering its power. The RAM of this laptop is expandable depending on your budget and your choice. However, its flimsy hinge, lack of Thunderbolt ports and biometrics, and heavyweight (around 3.75 pounds) leave more to be desired. But for its price, it’s certainly a great entry point for gaming budget laptops.
HP Victus 16
Even in a Tight Budget You Can Get a Well-equipped Laptop
There are at least a few dozen budget laptops available for around $500, and this list compiles the best ones so far. Even if you don’t care about getting the very best laptop money can buy, it’s still worth spending a few extra bucks on your laptop to get something that highlights the best features.
Most models on this list cost between $400 and $500—but there are outliers that go lower or higher than that price point while still offering great specs. For budget laptops always look at the minimum like 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD storage space, Intel Core i5 processors, and even backlit keyboards (if you can) so you can get the most out of your money.
The laptops on this list are all excellent buys in their own right, and they’ll offer plenty of value even if they don’t exactly represent the best that their respective brands have to offer. We hope this buying guide has helped illuminate and widen your options.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What should I know when buying a laptop?
For budget purposes, the 5 things you must know when choosing a laptop are: 1. CPU and its generation 2. RAM size 3. Storage size 4. GPU 5. Screen size