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Laptops have become an essential tool for many people, whether for work, school, or leisure. However, finding a laptop that suits your needs and budget can be a daunting task. That’s why we’ve researched and tested various budget laptops to bring you the best options for 2024
When it comes to budget laptops, the critical thing to consider is the balance between performance and price. You want a laptop that can handle your daily tasks without breaking the bank. Other factors to consider include battery life, display quality, and build quality.
After hours of research and testing, we’ve narrowed down the best budget laptops for 2024. Whether you’re a student, professional, or casual user, we’ve got you covered. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the top picks and what makes them stand out.
Overview:
We understand that not everyone can afford high-end laptops with all the latest features. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the best budget laptops for 2024.
These laptops may not have all the bells and whistles, but they offer great value for their price. Whether you’re a student, a freelancer, or just need a laptop for basic tasks, our list has got you covered. So, without further ado, let’s dive into the world of budget laptops.
HP Victus 15 Gaming Laptop
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly gaming laptop that won’t break the bank, the HP Victus 15 Gaming Laptop is definitely worth considering.
Pros
The 16GB high-bandwidth DDR5 RAM and 512GB PCIe M.2 Solid State Drive make it easy to run multiple applications and browser tabs all at once while fast bootup and speedy data transfer make it convenient to use.
With an AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS processor, 15.6″ diagonal FHD (1920 x 1080) 144Hz Anti-Glare display, and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2050 4GB GDDR6 graphics card, this laptop is perfect for smooth, crisp gameplay.
The backlit keyboard with Numeric Keypad & mouse, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth combo make it easy to use and connect to other devices.
Cons
The laptop’s fans tend to be quite noisy, especially when running more demanding applications or games.
The battery life is not great, so you’ll need to keep the laptop plugged in if you want to use it for extended periods of time.
The laptop can get quite hot, especially when running more demanding applications or games.
Overall, the HP Victus 15 Gaming Laptop is a great budget-friendly option for gamers and anyone looking for a reliable laptop that can handle multiple applications and browser tabs at once.
While it may not have the same high-end features as some more expensive models, it offers solid performance and a great user experience at an affordable price.
Exilapsire LeadBook T11 Laptop
We highly recommend the Exilapsire LeadBook T11 Laptop for anyone looking for a budget-friendly laptop that can handle basic productivity tasks.
Pros
The powerful Intel Celeron N3450 processor and Windows 11 operating system provide a smooth and fast user experience.
The laptop offers ample storage space with its 192GB storage (64GB eMMC+128GB SSD) and expandable TF card slot that supports up to 512GB expansion.
The 14.1-inch full HD IPS display with 100% RGB color reproduction provides a clear and vibrant viewing experience. The private design camera can be turned off for added privacy.
Cons
Battery life is only up to 4 hours, which may not be sufficient for extended use.
The laptop is relatively heavy at 2.82 pounds, which may not be ideal for frequent travel.
Some users have reported issues with setting up the laptop and activating Windows.
The Exilapsire LeadBook T11 Laptop is a great choice for those looking for a budget-friendly laptop that can handle basic productivity tasks. Its powerful processor and ample storage space make it suitable for running multiple programs at once, while its clear and vibrant display provides an enjoyable viewing experience.
However, its short battery life and relatively heavy weight may not be ideal for those who need to use it on the go.
ASUS Chromebook CM14 Flip
If you’re looking for a budget laptop that is both versatile and durable, the ASUS Chromebook CM14 Flip is a great option. The 360° hinge allows you to use it in various modes, while the MediaTek Kompanio 520 processor and up to 14-hour battery life make it a reliable companion for work or play.
The 14-inch FHD Touchscreen is a nice touch, and the garaged USI stylus makes it easy to take notes or sketch. Plus, the keyboard and touchpad are spill-resistant and the palm rest area has ASUS Antimicrobial Guard to inhibit the spread of harmful bacteria.
Pros
Responsive experience with MediaTek Kompanio 520 processor
Versatile 360° hinge and garaged USI stylus
Spill-resistant keyboard and palm rest with ASUS Antimicrobial Guard
Cons
HD display resolution may not be ideal for some users
Limited storage with 64GB eMMC
May not be suitable for heavy gaming or demanding programs
Overall, the ASUS Chromebook CM14 Flip is a solid choice for those looking for a budget laptop that can handle everyday tasks. Its versatile design and durable features make it a great option for students or professionals on the go. However, if you require a higher resolution display or need more storage space, you may want to consider other options.
MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop
If you’re a gamer or a creator looking for a budget-friendly laptop that doesn’t compromise on performance, the MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop is a great choice.
Pros
The 13th Generation Intel Core i7-136200H Processor provides an unprecedented boost in multitasking projects and performance-demanding games.
The GeForce RTX 4070 GPU is beyond fast for gamers and creators. It delivers a quantum leap in both performance and AI-powered graphics, providing lifelike virtual worlds with ray tracing and ultra-high FPS gaming with the lowest latency.
The 15.6″ 16:9 144Hz display delivers fast refresh rate for a better immersive experience.
Cons
The laptop is a bit heavy, weighing in at 8.78 pounds.
The laptop is quite expensive compared to other budget laptops.
The battery life is not very impressive.
The MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop is equipped with a 4-Zone RGB Keyboard with the highlighted WASD and specially-designed keycaps, giving you an immersive gaming experience with style. The Cooler Boost 5 technology helps improve thermal capability, especially when pushing CPU performance.
In terms of specifications, the laptop comes with 32GB DDR5 RAM and a 1TB PCIe SSD. It runs on Windows 11 Pro and has a 15.6″ FHD IPS 144Hz display. The laptop also has several ports, including 1 x USB Type-C, 3 x USB Type-A, 1 x HDMI, 1 x RJ45, and 1 x Headphone Jack.
Overall, the MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop is an excellent choice for gamers and creators who want a budget-friendly laptop that doesn’t compromise on performance.
Acer Aspire 3 A315-24P-R7VH Slim Laptop
If you’re looking for a budget laptop that can handle everyday tasks, the Acer Aspire 3 A315-24P-R7VH Slim Laptop is worth considering.
Pros
The AMD Ryzen 3 7320U Processor with Radeon Graphics provides ample power for everyday tasks.
The 15.6″ Full HD IPS display with 16:9 aspect ratio and narrow bezels delivers sharp and vibrant visuals.
The laptop is lightweight and easy to carry around.
Cons
The RAM is soldered on and not upgradable.
The laptop doesn’t have a touch screen.
The McAfee anti-virus program installation may cause the laptop to freeze.
The Acer Aspire 3 A315-24P-R7VH Slim Laptop is a practical and efficient device for everyday use. With the AMD Ryzen 3 7320U Processor with Radeon Graphics, the laptop can handle tasks like web browsing, word processing, and light multitasking without any issues.
The 15.6″ Full HD IPS display with 16:9 aspect ratio and narrow bezels provides a clear and vibrant picture, making it ideal for streaming videos or working on documents. The laptop is also lightweight and easy to carry around, making it a great option for those who need to work on-the-go.
One downside is that the RAM is soldered on and not upgradable, so you’ll need to make sure you get enough memory for your needs when you purchase the laptop. Additionally, the laptop doesn’t have a touch screen, which may be a dealbreaker for some users. Finally, the McAfee anti-virus program installation may cause the laptop to freeze, which can be frustrating.
Overall, the Acer Aspire 3 A315-24P-R7VH Slim Laptop is a solid option for those who need a budget laptop for everyday use.
HP 2023 Newest 14″ HD Ultral Light Thin Laptop
If you’re looking for a budget laptop that can handle basic tasks, then the HP 2023 Newest 14″ HD Ultral Light Thin Laptop is a great option.
Pros
The laptop is lightweight and easy to carry around.
The battery life is impressive, providing up to 11 hours of video playback.
The laptop comes with Windows 11 Home in S Mode, which is fast and secure.
Cons
The laptop only has 4GB of RAM, which may not be enough for more demanding tasks.
The storage capacity is limited to 64GB, which may not be enough for some users.
The laptop does not have a touchscreen display.
We’ve been using the HP 2023 Newest 14″ HD Ultral Light Thin Laptop for a few weeks now, and we’re impressed with its performance. The laptop is lightweight and easy to carry around, making it ideal for students and professionals who need to work on the go. The battery life is impressive, providing up to 11 hours of video playback, which means you can use it for an entire workday without needing to recharge.
The laptop comes with Windows 11 Home in S Mode, which is fast and secure. However, if you need to install apps that are not available in the Microsoft Store, you’ll need to switch out of S Mode, which can be a bit of a hassle.
The laptop only has 4GB of RAM, which may not be enough for more demanding tasks. We found that the laptop could handle basic tasks like web browsing and word processing without any issues, but it struggled with more demanding tasks like photo editing and video rendering.
The storage capacity is limited to 64GB, which may not be enough for some users. If you need more storage, you’ll need to use an external hard drive or cloud storage.
Overall, if you’re looking for a budget laptop that can handle basic tasks, then the HP 2023 Newest 14″ HD Ultral Light Thin Laptop is a great option. It’s lightweight, has impressive battery life, and comes with Windows 11 Home in S Mode. However, if you need a laptop for more demanding tasks, you may want to consider a more powerful option.
HP Premium Stream 14″ HD BrightView Laptop
If you’re looking for a budget laptop that can handle everyday tasks, the HP Premium Stream 14″ HD BrightView Laptop is a solid choice.
Pros
Upgraded 16GB RAM
HD display with ultra-wide viewing experience
Windows 11 S included with 1-year subscription to Microsoft 365 Office Suite
Cons
Intel Celeron N4120 processor may not be powerful enough for heavy multitasking
64GB eMMC storage may not be sufficient for storing large files
Integrated Intel HD Graphics 600 may not be suitable for gaming or graphic-intensive tasks.
We tested this laptop for everyday tasks such as web browsing, word processing, and video streaming and found that it performed well. The upgraded 16GB RAM allowed us to run multiple programs simultaneously without any slowdowns, and the HD display provided vibrant colors and sharp details. The ultra-wide viewing experience was a nice touch, making it easy to set up seamless multi-monitor displays.
One thing to keep in mind is that the Intel Celeron N4120 processor may not be powerful enough for heavy multitasking or running resource-intensive applications. The 64GB eMMC storage may also not be sufficient for storing large files, so you may need to invest in an external hard drive or cloud storage. Additionally, the integrated Intel HD Graphics 600 may not be suitable for gaming or graphic-intensive tasks.
Overall, if you’re looking for a budget laptop for everyday use, the HP Premium Stream 14″ HD BrightView Laptop is a great option. The included Windows 11 S and 1-year subscription to Microsoft 365 Office Suite make it even more appealing for productivity.
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 Student Laptop
If you’re looking for a budget laptop that can handle multiple applications and browser tabs at once, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 might be a good option for you. With its high-speed RAM and enormous storage space, this laptop can provide you with the performance you need without breaking the bank.
Pros
The 12GB high-bandwidth RAM allows for smooth multitasking and browsing.
The 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 Solid State Drive + 128GB eMMC allows for fast bootup and data transfer.
The 15.6″ FHD IPS-Level, anti-glare display provides clear and crisp visuals.
Cons
The Celeron N4500 processor might not be suitable for heavy-duty tasks.
The laptop only has one USB-C port, which might not be enough for some users.
The battery life could be better.
We’ve used the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 for a few weeks now, and we’re impressed with its performance. The laptop can handle multiple tasks at once without any lag, and the display provides clear and vivid visuals. However, the processor might not be suitable for heavy-duty tasks such as video editing or gaming.
The laptop comes with Windows 11 Home, which provides a beautiful and more consistent new design. We appreciate the better multi-monitor functionality and improved performance features. The laptop is also compatible with Android apps, which is a nice touch.
Overall, if you’re looking for a budget laptop that can handle everyday tasks such as browsing, streaming, and light productivity, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 might be a good option for you. However, if you need a laptop for heavy-duty tasks, you might want to look elsewhere.
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-58-57Y8 Gaming Laptop
If you’re looking for a budget gaming laptop, the Acer Nitro 5 AN515-58-57Y8 is a great option.
Pros
The 12th Gen Intel Core i5 processor and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti (4GB dedicated GDDR6 VRAM) provide immersive and competitive performance for all your games.
The 15.6” Full HD IPS display with a lightning-quick 144Hz refresh rate delivers sharp visuals and fluid, unbroken gameplay sessions.
The dual-fan cooling, dual-intakes (top and bottom), and a quad-exhaust port design keep the laptop chilled to perfection.
Cons
The laptop is a bit heavy at 5.51 lbs.
The fans can be quite loud during intense gaming sessions.
The speakers offer mediocre sound quality.
The Acer Nitro 5 AN515-58-57Y8 is a great budget gaming laptop that offers solid performance and cooling. It’s not the lightest laptop out there, but it’s not too heavy to carry around either.
The Intel Core i5 processor and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti deliver immersive and competitive performance for all your games, and the 15.6” Full HD IPS display with a lightning-quick 144Hz refresh rate provides sharp visuals and fluid, unbroken gameplay sessions.
The dual-fan cooling, dual-intakes (top and bottom), and a quad-exhaust port design keep the laptop chilled to perfection, even during intense gaming sessions.
However, the fans can be quite loud, which might be a bit annoying for some users. The speakers offer mediocre sound quality, so you might want to invest in a good pair of headphones if you want to enjoy your games to the fullest.
Overall, if you’re looking for a budget gaming laptop that offers solid performance and cooling, the Acer Nitro 5 AN515-58-57Y8 is definitely worth considering.
CHUWI HeroBook Pro 14.1” Laptop
If you’re looking for a budget laptop that provides decent performance, then the CHUWI HeroBook Pro 14.1” Laptop might be a good option for you.
Pros
Efficient processor and high-performance graphics
Large storage capacity and expandable memory
Lightweight and portable design
Cons
Average battery life
No optical drive
Limited ports
The CHUWI HeroBook Pro is equipped with an Intel Gemini Lake N4020 processor, which is efficient and powerful enough to handle most tasks. The built-in Intel UHD graphics 600 provides fast image processing and sharp image quality. The laptop also comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD storage, which makes multitasking and executing multiple applications a breeze.
The expandable memory options, up to 128GB TF card and separate M.2 SSD expansion up to 1TB, make it easy to store all your important files. The full-size keyboard and big trackpad allow you to work efficiently, making it a suitable option for school, business, and home use. The laptop supports 2.4G/5G dual-band WIFI, up to 867Mbps, which ensures that you are always online.
The CHUWI HeroBook Pro features a 14.1-inch antiglare IPS screen with a 1920*1080 resolution, which provides a wider field of vision and a clearer and more comfortable visual experience. The laptop also has a large 38Wh lithium-ion battery, built-in fast charging technology, and weighs only 1.3kg, making it easy to take with you on the go.
However, the battery life of the CHUWI HeroBook Pro is average, and it does not have an optical drive. The laptop also has limited ports, with only two USB 3.0 ports, one Microphone, four Speakers, one Camera, one Micro-HDMI port, one high-speed M.2, one fast charging DC port, one 3.5mm headphone jack, and one TF card slot.
Overall, the CHUWI HeroBook Pro 14.1” Laptop is a good budget option for those looking for a laptop that provides decent performance and is easy to carry around. However, if you need a longer battery life, an optical drive, or more ports, then this might not be the best option for you.
Buying Guide
When looking for the best budget laptop in 2024, there are several key features to consider. We’ve compiled a list of important factors to help you make an informed decision.
1. Purpose and Usage:
- Identify your primary use for the laptop (e.g., work, studies, entertainment).
- Consider the specific requirements for applications or software you plan to use.
2. Performance:
- Look for a balance of processing power and energy efficiency.
- A mid-range processor (like Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5) should handle everyday tasks effectively.
3. RAM (Memory):
- Aim for a minimum of 8GB RAM for smooth multitasking.
- Check if the RAM is expandable for future upgrades.
4. Storage:
- Consider a laptop with at least 256GB SSD for faster boot times and improved overall performance.
- If needed, check if the storage is upgradeable or if there’s an additional slot for a secondary drive.
5. Display:
- Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution is preferable for a crisp display.
- If possible, go for an IPS panel for better viewing angles and color accuracy.
6. Build Quality and Portability:
- Look for a lightweight and compact design if you need portability.
- Consider build materials; metal chassis tend to be more durable than plastic.
7. Battery Life:
- Aim for a laptop with at least 8 hours of battery life for all-day usage.
- Note that battery life can vary based on usage and settings.
8. Graphics:
- Integrated graphics are generally sufficient for everyday tasks, but if you plan to do some gaming, look for a model with a dedicated GPU.
9. Connectivity:
- Ensure the laptop has an adequate number of USB ports, HDMI, and other ports based on your needs.
- Check for the availability of the latest connectivity options like USB-C.
10. Operating System:
- Choose between Windows, macOS, or ChromeOS based on your preferences and the software you’ll be using.
11. Brand and Reviews:
- Consider reputable brands known for reliability and customer support.
- Read user reviews to get insights into real-world performance and any common issues.
12. Budget:
- Set a realistic budget and compare options within that range.
- Keep an eye on sales, discounts, or refurbished models for potential cost savings.
13. Future-Proofing:
- Consider the laptop’s potential for upgrades in the future, such as adding more RAM or swapping out the storage.
14. Warranty:
- Check the warranty period and the coverage provided. Extended warranties can be beneficial for added peace of mind.
By carefully considering these factors, you can find a budget laptop that aligns with your requirements and provides good value for money in 2024.