A computer for a college student is a necessity but a good laptop can get expensive. Lucky for you for under $1,000 you can get Intel Core i5 processors full HD displays and even 2 gigabytes of dedicated graphics. We are going to show you some of the best budget laptops that can handle everyday computing and sometimes more.
Asus VivoBook S15 ($699.99)
The colorful Asus VivoBook s15 is a great example of a strong value budget laptop in 2020. There’d be little to criticize even if the price were a little bit higher. The build quality is first-class and the laptop remains plenty portable despite a 15.6-inch screen. It’s not a productivity powerhouse but it’s not meant to be and it performs near machines that are much more expensive. While it only comes in a single U.S. configuration option it delivers a slim design, multiple ports, long battery life, and good performance. If you’re looking for a daily laptop or a desktop replacement that’s travel friendly and won’t break the bank the Asus ViveBook s15 is easily the best we’ve seen so far.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14 ($674.99)
The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14 is one of the first systems to use AMD’s newest Ryzen mobile use series chips, which are also known by the codename Renoir and are designed for light laptops. The performance of the Ryzen 5 chip in this laptop is impressive. It has six cores and works well for demanding tasks like editing the occasional video or tweaking photos. This laptop also works as a two-in-one, so you can bend the screen around and use it in a tablet mode or stand it up and use it in a tent style.
The Lenovo Chromebook Duet ($299.999)
The Lenovo Chromebook Duet is a 10.1inch tablet that comes with a detachable keyboard and a kickstand for a low price. You can complain about it having only one port, a USB 2.0 type-c, but it’s nonetheless a full-fledged Chromebook in every way from comfortable typing to smart tablet gestures. It’s a nifty productive and streaming entertainment device. In addition to running Android apps via the Google Play Store, the Duet offers tethering to Android phones.
The eight-megapixel autofocus rear camera is snappy and the duet lasts just under 14 hours. It doesn’t have the fastest CPU but a lot of users should still be very happy with it because it has the look and feel of a product costing much more than the surface.
Surface Go 2 (starts at $399.99)
The Surface Go 2 is a worthy competitor to both conventional laptops and the Apple iPad in ways that it’s 2018 predecessor wasn’t. Improvements over the first Surface Go include better battery life, a slightly bigger display, and faster performance. it is not as powerful as a comparably priced laptop but it is much more versatile. Windows is more capable than the iOS software system for a large range of productivity and artistic apps. The built-in kickstand is incredibly useful, just make sure you budget for the keyboard attachment. The surface go-to isn’t cheap once you factor that in but for most casual users it’s a better choice than the more expensive surface pro 7.
Acer’s all-aluminum Chromebook 714 ($599)
Acer’s all-aluminum Chromebook 714 offers fancy features like Google Assistant, a comfortable backlit keyboard, a fingerprint reader, and a perky core i3 CPU and a 14-inch 1080p touchscreen. There’s one Achilles heel, it would be nice if the screen got a little brighter but it’s a cutting-edge and rugged feeling Chromebook for a good price and in many ways the most effective argument yet for Chromebooks within the business.
Dell Inspiron 13 5000 ($499)
The Dell Inspiron 13 5000 has a durable aluminum lid, keyboard deck, and premium styling with razor-thin screen bezels. This mid-range ultraportable has a 10th generation Intel Core i5 processor, 8 gigs of memory, and 256 gigs solid-state drive. The CPU and RAM will be good for years but the drive won’t hold a big library of photos and videos so you’ll want to use an external drive or cloud storage. The screen could be a bit brighter but ultraportables tend to be expensive so this Inspiron is a great value.
Dell Inspiron Chromebook 14 2in1($459)
Although pricey by Chromebook standards the Dell Inspiron Chromebook 14 2-in-1 isn’t your average Chromebook. It packs the type of features you’d expect in a premium PC or Macbook like an aluminum exterior, a backlit keyboard, and a vibrant display with AMR pen support. Its core i3 processor and 128 gigs of storage are plenty for Chrome OS. Battery life is only average but this Dell is definitely well equipped for $599.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5000 ($399)
The Dell Inspiron 14 5000 may be a mid-range laptop that occupies an in-between place on the pricing ladder. It delivers a solid performance with a 10th generation intel core CPU with the overall design dominated by more traditional ports and components. You do get three type-a USB ports and both a full-sized Ethernet jack and a full-size HDMI port. It has a plastic enclosure that gives off strong budget vibes and could use thinner bezel, a brighter screen, and maybe a USB C port or two. Even so, for the money, it is worth a look if you need something a notch or two above an entry-level model that has lots of physical ports.
