When we talk about the best budget laptops, there are many laptops available on the market, choosing laptops priced at $1000 is overwhelming and complicated, and I think you’ve come across this kind of case. There is an increasing number of people who are satisfied with their purchases. They said they had a decent machine with fast processors, enough RAM, a massive hard drive, and a powerful graphics card at an economical price, even if they had free shipping.
We have looked at more than a hundred laptops of all types and price ranges that work hundreds of hours. It’s a challenging job, and it gives us a good insight into what makes a good laptop and what holds a laptop back.
1. Asus ZenBook 13
ASUS ZenBook 13 Ultra-Slim Laptop 13.3” Full HD NanoEdge Bezel Display, Intel...
- 13.3 inch wide-view Full HD 4-way NanoEdge bezel display
- Latest 10th generation Intel Core i5-1035G1 Core Processor (6M Cache, up to 3.6 GHz) with Intel UHD graphics
- Windows 10 Home
- Fast storage and memory featuring 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD with 8GB LPDDR4X RAM
- 13.3 inch wide-view Full HD 4-way NanoEdge bezel display
- Latest 10th generation Intel Core i5-1035G1 Core Processor (6M Cache, up to 3.6 GHz) with Intel UHD graphics
- Windows 10 Home
- Fast storage and memory featuring 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD with 8GB LPDDR4X RAM
We have always liked the Asus ZenBook line and the new ZenBook 13, which only increases our appreciation. ZenBook is first and foremost about design; the blue flap with concentric circles makes your silver base laptop, just like the MacBook Pro. Oh, and by the way, the chassis is MIL-STD-810G tested to withstand some unsavory environments. If that’s not enough, the touchpad on the ZenBook 13 is a ScreenPad 2.0, or a small screen that can start programs, serve as a toolbar, or expand the 13.3-inch, 1080p panel.
Adding a cherry to this already sweet package is ZenBook 13’s excellent audio quality, a decent variety of port selection it offers despite being such a portable laptop, and outstanding performance supported by a discreet GPU. Overall, this is one of the best budget laptops that you can buy right now.
2. Dell XPS 13
Dell XPS7390 13" InfinityEdge Touchscreen Laptop, Newest 10th Gen Intel i5-10210U, 8GB...
- Dell XPS 13-7390 laptop - Intel 10th Gen Core i5-10210U
- 8 GB RAM, 256GB SSD
- Integrated Intel UHD Graphics, 13.3 Inch FHD IPS Touchscreen
- Bluetooth, Built-in Webcam, Wi-Fi, Multi-Touch Trackpad, Backlit Keyboard, Built-in Microphone
- Dell XPS 13-7390 laptop - Intel 10th Gen Core i5-10210U
- 8 GB RAM, 256GB SSD
- Integrated Intel UHD Graphics, 13.3 Inch FHD IPS Touchscreen
- Bluetooth, Built-in Webcam, Wi-Fi, Multi-Touch Trackpad, Backlit Keyboard, Built-in Microphone
- Windows 10 - Silver
Dell XPS 13 leads the $1000 list of our favorite laptops with the latest hardware and killer looks. The 13.3-inch Full HD InfinityEdge display is the show-runner that’s sharp, delivering a very bright and colorful image. What’s more, Dell has finally listened to the consumer’s plea and puts the webcam on the top edge of the screen on the new XPS 13.
Under the hood, the laptop is powered by the latest 10th generation Intel Core i5 processor combined with 8GB of RAM. So what does this pair of hardware configurations mean? Rewriting the same in simpler terms, the device can handle almost all tasks with ease. Although the laptop does not come with a superior graphics card and is supported by the built-in Intel UHD chipset, it can still stand up in the graphics segment.
3. HP Envy 13
HP Envy 13.3" 4K Ultra HD Touch-Screen Laptop - Intel Core i7-1065G7...
HP has a long tradition of making laptops you can rely on, and the HP Envy 13 is no different – it’s one of the best choices you’re going to find in the best budget laptops. We include it here because of its excellent balance between price and performance. This is a laptop that will last you a long time. The 13.3-inch, 1920 x 1080 resolution display is at the forefront here – bright and sharp and great for streaming video, surfing the web, and working on documents.
While creatives may want a little more in screen real estate, the smaller display size makes this a portable laptop, and thanks to its reliable build quality, it doesn’t feel like you have to be extra careful with it. With a choice of Intel’s Core processors inside and some compelling combinations of RAM and internal storage also available, this is a laptop ready to handle all but the most demanding tasks (don’t try to gamble on it). A special mention for the audio developed in collaboration with Bang and Olufsen, which sounds great.
4. MacBook Air 2020
Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD Storage) - Space Gray...
- Stunning 13.3-inch Retina display with True Tone technology
- Backlit Magic Keyboard and Touch ID
- Tenth-generation Intel Core i3 processor
- Intel Iris Plus Graphics
- Fast SSD storage
- Stunning 13.3-inch Retina display with True Tone technology
- Backlit Magic Keyboard and Touch ID
- Tenth-generation Intel Core i3 processor
- Intel Iris Plus Graphics
- Fast SSD storage
- 8GB of memory
- Stereo speakers with wider stereo sound
- Two Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports
- Up to 11 hours of battery life
- Force Touch trackpad
It’s incredible what a difference the right keyboard makes. Since 1999 the MacBook Air 2020 has the improved Magic Keyboard, which replaces the butterfly switch with a scissor mechanism that allows you to type much more comfortably. Apple has also upgraded the Air to the 10th generation Intel Core processors (from 8th generation). It’s a Y-Series chip (which is not as powerful as the U-Series CPUs), but it turned out to be enough for everyday use and basic multitasking.
Apple not only lowered the price by $100, but it also doubled the standard MacBook Air storage, from a 128GB SSD to a 256GB drive, which still offers lightning-fast read speeds. The MacBook Air also has great endurance, with a battery that lasts all day. It took 9 hours and 31 minutes (almost 50 minutes longer than the regular system) for our web surfing test to charge the MacBook Air fully. Add to that Apple’s relatively bright and colorful Retina display and surprisingly powerful speakers, and you have the best budget laptop for most Apple fans.
5. Microsoft Surface Laptop 3
Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 – 13.5" Touch-Screen – Intel Core i5 -...
- Clean, elegant design — Thin and light, starting at just 2.79 pounds, Surface Laptop 3 is easy to carry
- Choose from rich tone-on-tone color combinations: New Sandstone, plus Matte Black, Cobalt Blue, and Platinum
- Clean, elegant design — Thin and light, starting at just 2.79 pounds, Surface Laptop 3 is easy to carry
- Choose from rich tone-on-tone color combinations: New Sandstone, plus Matte Black, Cobalt Blue, and Platinum
- Improved speed and performance to do what you want, with the latest processors – Surface Laptop 3 is up to two times faster than surface Laptop 2
- More ways to connect, with USB-C and USB-A ports for connecting to displays, docking stations and more, as well as accessory charging
- All-day power on the go, with up to 11.5 hours of battery life, plus standby time when you’re away. Go from empty to a full battery with fast charging - up to 80% in about 1 hour
- Free Upgrade to Windows 11 when available (see below).
The Surface Laptop 3 for Business with Intel’s processors is a better laptop than its AMD sibling. It has better performance, longer battery life, faster hard drive, and Windows 10 Pro. If the gap in price would be wider – the Intel model is only $100 more expensive – then we could consider the AMD model. Still, we strongly recommend going to Microsoft’s online store and order the business edition instead.
Without considering Microsoft’s misleading “for business” designation, the Surface Laptop 3 is one of the best laptops. It has excellent performance, long battery life, a fast hard drive, and Windows 10 Pro. Plus, you get Microsoft’s sleek aluminum chassis and a beautiful display. If you’re a fan of Microsoft notebooks, this is the best budget laptops.
6. Acer Swift 3
Acer Swift 3 Thin & Light Laptop, 14" Full HD IPS, AMD...
- Aspect Ratio:16:9
- AMD Ryzen 7 4700U Octa-Core Mobile Processor (Up to 4.1 GHz) with Radeon Graphics; 8GB LPDDR4 Memory; 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD
- 14" Full HD Widescreen IPS LED-backlit display (1920 x 1080 resolution; 16:9 aspect ratio)
- Aspect Ratio:16:9
- AMD Ryzen 7 4700U Octa-Core Mobile Processor (Up to 4.1 GHz) with Radeon Graphics; 8GB LPDDR4 Memory; 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD
- 14" Full HD Widescreen IPS LED-backlit display (1920 x 1080 resolution; 16:9 aspect ratio)
- Intel wireless Wi-Fi 6 AX200 802.11ax; HD webcam (1280 x 720); Backlit keyboard; Fingerprint reader
- 1 - USB Type-C port USB 3. 2 Gen 2 (up to 10 Gbps) DisplayPort over USB Type-C and USB Charging, 1- USB 3. 2 Gen 1 port (featuring power-off charging), 1 - USB 2. 0 port and 1 - HDMI port
- Just 0.63" thin and 2.65 pounds and up to 11.5 hours of battery life
Another budget laptop in our best laptops for kids list, the Acer Swift 3, runs on AMD Ryzen CPUs. This laptop goes toe to toe with Dell’s XPS 13 and Apple’s MacBook Pro. That’s how fast the AMD Ryzen 7 4700U CPU is. The Swift 3 also features a comfortable keyboard, which features clicking keys that provide plenty of feedback. Students also save login time thanks to the Swift 3’s built-in fingerprint reader on the keyboard deck.
And all this power is packed in aluminum and magnesium to make it look like a champion, too. The only major caveat is the display, which is on the dull and boring side of the equation. If your student already has another large screen for watching the best Netflix shows, consider the Swift 3: it’s a surprising beauty. Overall, this is one of the best budget laptops.
7. Asus ZenBook 14
ASUS ZenBook 14 Ultra-Slim Laptop 14” Full HD NanoEdge Bezel, Intel Core...
- 14 inch 400nits Full HD (1920x1080), Anti-Glare IPS level NanoEdge bezel display
- Latest 10th generation Intel Core i7-1065G7 Core Processor (8M Cache, up to 3.9GHz) with Intel Iris Plus Graphics
- Fast storage and memory featuring 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD with 8GB LPDDR4X RAM
- 14 inch 400nits Full HD (1920x1080), Anti-Glare IPS level NanoEdge bezel display
- Latest 10th generation Intel Core i7-1065G7 Core Processor (8M Cache, up to 3.9GHz) with Intel Iris Plus Graphics
- Fast storage and memory featuring 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD with 8GB LPDDR4X RAM
- Built-in IR camera for facial recognition sign in with Windows Hello
- ErgoLift hinge, NumberPad, and backlit keyboard
A simply gorgeous laptop from Asus that we like to have in our best budget laptops list; if you want the perfect combination of power and style, this might be the case, and as a bonus, you get a trackpad that can also be used as a handy secondary display. If you look at the specs, you’ll see that this is a laptop that more than lends itself to any task you want to perform, even some low-resolution video editing and gaming (note the Nvidia GeForce option).
Despite all this raw power, the price is not too high. And then there’s the design: this is one of the best looking laptops we’ve seen, and even the display hinge is a work of art. It will rotate everything you need with aplomb, and it will look the part as you do it – what more do you need?
8. Acer Aspire 5
Acer Aspire 5 A515-55G-57H8, 15.6" Full HD IPS Display, 10th Gen Intel...
- 10th Generation Intel Core i5-1035G1 Processor (Up to 3.6GHz)| 8GB DDR4 Memory | 512GB NVMe SSD
- 15.6" Full HD (1920 x 1080) widescreen LED backlit IPS Display | NVIDIA GeForce MX350 with 2 GB of dedicated GDDR5 VRAM
- 10th Generation Intel Core i5-1035G1 Processor (Up to 3.6GHz)| 8GB DDR4 Memory | 512GB NVMe SSD
- 15.6" Full HD (1920 x 1080) widescreen LED backlit IPS Display | NVIDIA GeForce MX350 with 2 GB of dedicated GDDR5 VRAM
- Intel Wireless Wi-Fi 6 AX201 802.11ax | Backlit Keyboard | HD Webcam | Up to 8 Hours Battery Life
- 1 - USB 3.1 (Type-C) Gen 1 port (up to 5 Gbps), 2 - USB 3.1 Gen 1 Port (one with Power-off Charging), 1 - USB 2.0 Port & 1 - HDMI Port with HDCP Support
- Windows 10 Home
The Acer Aspire 5 proves that you don’t have to spend a lot to get a great laptop. This notebook has a full HD screen that is pretty bright, so it’s great for surfing the web, doing quick photo editing, and watching videos on Netflix, YouTube, or Disney Plus. And it has all the power you want for everyday tasks and multitasking, thanks to a 10th generation Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of SSD. It’s all packed in a pretty lightweight 3.8-pound package.
The biggest surprise with the Aspire 5 is battery life. This laptop lasted almost 9 hours on our web surf battery test, which is very good for a 15-inch system. There are a few things we don’t like about this budget laptop; while the lid is a premium aluminum, the rest of the laptop is made of plastic. You shouldn’t expect to play the latest games either. But overall, the Aspire 5 is one of the best budget laptops that you can buy right now.
9. Microsoft Surface Pro 7
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 128GB i5 8GB RAM with Windows 10 Pro...
Surface Pro 7 makes an excellent laptop in last year’s Surface Pro 6 and gives it a power boost. While the battery life is a hit, the new 10th generation CPU delivers outstanding performance. The design hasn’t changed at all, but the Surface Pro 7 now has a USB-C port for charging and connecting peripherals. Microsoft still sells the comfortable Alcantara Type Cover and super-responsive Surface Pen, making it easy to draw or take notes on the tablet’s vibrant and bright 12.3-inch display. Overall, this is one of the best budget laptops right now.
10. Acer Spin 5
Acer Spin 5 Convertible Laptop, 13.5" 2K 2256 x 1504 IPS Touch,...
- Aspect Ratio: 3:2
- 10th Generation Intel Core i7-1065G7 Processor (Up to 3. 9GHz) 16GB LPDDR4X Memory 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD
- 13.5" Acer VertiView 2K 2256 x 1504 Widescreen IPS LED-backlit Touch Display (3:2 aspect ratio) Intel Iris Plus Graphics
- Aspect Ratio: 3:2
- 10th Generation Intel Core i7-1065G7 Processor (Up to 3. 9GHz) 16GB LPDDR4X Memory 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD
- 13.5" Acer VertiView 2K 2256 x 1504 Widescreen IPS LED-backlit Touch Display (3:2 aspect ratio) Intel Iris Plus Graphics
- Intel Wireless Wi-Fi 6 AX201 802. 11ax Backlit Keyboard fingerprint reader up to 15 hours battery life
- 2 - USB 3. 1 Type C port supporting USB 3. 1 Gen 2 (up to 10 Gbps), DisplayPort over USB-C, Thunderbolt 3, USB Charging, DC-in, 2 - USB 3. 2 Gen 1 port (one featuring power-off charging) & 1 - HDMI 2. 0 port
- Co-Engineered for Mobile Performance by Intel and Acer Rechargeable Acer Active Stylus with Wacom AES 1. 0
A great feature set certainly adds a lot of value, and if you’re looking for the best 2-in-1 laptops, that’s one thing to keep an eye on. It’s that, combined with the affordability, makes the Acer Spin 5 (2020) a great candidate. This 2-in-1 laptop is not only versatile because of its form factors and excellent battery life. It also comes with a 3:2 display and feature-rich stylus that together give it that added benefit for students and professionals alike over its rivals: an easy and seamless note-taking experience. If you’re one of those people who disdain typing notes in class, this old-fashioned approach might seal the deal.
11. Asus Chromebook Flip C436
ASUS Chromebook Flip C436 2-in-1 Laptop, 14" Touchscreen FHD NanoEdge, Intel Core...
- 14 inch touchscreen Full HD 1920x1080 4-sided “frameless” NanoEdge Display around each side of the display that allows for a 14 inch screen to fit in the body of a 13 inch laptop footprint
- The Full HD display has a durable 360 degree hinge that can be used to flip the touchscreen display to tent, stand, and tablet mode
- 14 inch touchscreen Full HD 1920x1080 4-sided “frameless” NanoEdge Display around each side of the display that allows for a 14 inch screen to fit in the body of a 13 inch laptop footprint
- The Full HD display has a durable 360 degree hinge that can be used to flip the touchscreen display to tent, stand, and tablet mode
- Powered by the Intel Core i3-10110U Processor (4M Cache, up to 4.1 GHz) plus on board Gigplus Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) plus Bluetooth 5.0 for super-fast and snappy performance.
- 128GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD, 8GB RAM, and 2x USB Type-C (Gen 1) ports plus an illuminated chiclet keyboard (USB Transfer speed may vary. Learn more at ASUS website)
- The lightweight (2.58 lbs) magnesium-alloy chassis body makes the C436 both durable and beautiful for a timeless look that will never go out of style
The best overall Chromebook, the Flip C436, is an excellent successor to the Flip C302CA, our previous topper. Not only do the super small edges allow Asus to fit its large 14-inch screen in a smaller chassis than you’d expect, that display is both bright and colorful. What’s more, the aluminum design delivers a more premium feel than many other Chromebooks. Oh, and I almost forgot: it lasts over 10 hours on a single charge. Overall, this is the best budget laptops right now.
