10 Best Affordable Laptops

The Dell Inspiron 14 5425 is a budget-friendly option with decent computing power, courtesy of the AMD Ryzen 7 processor, making it suitable for everyday tasks and some more demanding applications. It offers a satisfactory amount of storage and memory, with options for expansion. The integrated Vega 8 graphics can handle light gaming and graphical tasks, but may not be ideal for intensive gaming or high-end graphic design. With a weight that balances portability and build, it's a good fit for on-the-go use while maintaining a 14-inch display, which has a resolution favouring productivity and content consumption. Battery life is adequate for a day's work, and the laptop has a backlit keyboard, which is helpful in low-light conditions. Keep in mind, though, that while it's versatile enough for general use, professionals needing advanced computational or graphical capabilities may find it limited.

The Acer Aspire 5 15 is offered at a lower midrange price and is equipped with a 15.6-inch IPS screen with full HD resolution. It does not support touchscreen functionality. Powered by an Intel i5 processor with integrated Iris Xe graphics, it provides a balance of performance suitable for general use and can handle some light 3D and engineering tasks. It has a solid battery life but may not be ideal for intensive gaming, although casual gaming should be acceptable. With 512 GB of storage and 16 GB of RAM, it's capable of multitasking efficiently. The laptop is fairly portable at under 4 pounds and 0.7 inches thick and comes with a backlit keyboard, fingerprint reader, and a good array of ports including USB-C and HDMI. Its build and speaker quality are fair, while the keyboard and webcam are rated good. Overall, the Acer Aspire 5 15 well suits everyday tasks and modest design work.

The ASUS Vivobook 16X offers a balance between performance and price, being in the lower midrange category. It features a large 16-inch IPS screen with a 16:10 aspect ratio, suitable for productivity tasks but with a standard 60Hz refresh rate that's adequate for general use rather than fast-paced gaming. Powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 5800HS with integrated Vega 8 graphics, the laptop is capable of handling daily tasks and lighter creative workloads, though it's not designed for intensive gaming or high-end 3D rendering. Its battery life is suitable for several hours of typical usage, making it moderately portable at a bit over 4 pounds. The Vivobook 16X is equipped with 512GB of storage and 12GB of RAM, enhancing multitasking abilities. It also has a decent selection of ports including USB-C, HDMI, and an Ethernet port, plus a backlit keyboard with a number pad, enhancing utility for work and study. Overall, the Vivobook 16X is good for general use, fair for 3D/machine learning applications, and fair for engineering tasks.

The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 offers a balance between affordability and functionality, packing moderate performance with its AMD Ryzen 3 processor capable of handling everyday tasks smoothly. It comes with a sizeable 512GB storage and 8GB of RAM, ensuring ample space for applications and multitasking. While not designed for high-end gaming or intensive engineering software, its integrated Vega 6 graphics can support casual gaming and less demanding graphics tasks. Its large 15.6-inch IPS display provides a crisp and vivid full HD resolution but isn't suited for specialized color work due to moderate color coverage. The IdeaPad Slim 3 comes with a range of ports, including USB-C, and has reasonable battery life for typical use, but it may not be ideal for long periods away from a power outlet. Weighing over 3.5 pounds with a thickness of 0.7 inches, it offers moderate portability. The keyboard quality is good and it features a number pad, which is convenient for data entry, but the laptop isn't backlit, which could be a drawback in low-light conditions. It's a suitable choice for general use like web browsing, document editing, and media consumption, particularly for those on a budget.

The HP Envy x360 15" is a 2-in-1 convertible laptop, so it works both as a laptop and a tablet, offering flexibility if you like touchscreen capabilities or need a device that can double as a tablet. It has a lower midrange price and is quite light, which makes it easily portable. With an AMD Ryzen 5 processor and integrated Vega 7 graphics, it can handle general use like browsing, office tasks, and light multimedia creation but may not be best suited for intensive gaming or engineering software. The battery life is decent for typical usage, and the build quality is good. If your tasks are more demanding in 3D or machine learning applications, you may find its performance limited. The keyboard and webcam quality are marked as good, and it has a backlit keyboard with a number pad for easier typing in low light conditions. It also features a solid heat management system for sustained use.

The ASUS Vivobook 16 is a budget-friendly laptop with a large 16-inch screen, offering a substantial workspace suitable for general use and productivity tasks. It has a storage capacity that is ample for most users and a moderate amount of RAM for multitasking. Driven by an Intel i5 processor with integrated graphics, it is capable of handling everyday computing needs but might not be the best fit for very intensive 3D or engineering applications. The battery life allows for moderate use away from power outlets. It includes a backlit keyboard with a numeric pad, enhancing productivity for number-intensive inputs. With a good portability score, it is relatively easy to carry around, although there are more lightweight options available. While its IPS display provides decent color accuracy and viewing angles, professionals in photography or design who need precise color representation might consider other models. This laptop runs Windows 11 Home and has a combination of USB-C and HDMI ports for connectivity. It's not particularly suited for intensive gaming or advanced engineering software but will serve well for regular office applications, web browsing, and media consumption.