Best cheap laptops of 2024, tested by Mashable staff

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When it comes to shopping for nan champion inexpensive laptops, you tin do a batch pinch $1,000. (Heck, even $500 cuts immoderate mustard nowadays.) But you'll astir apt person to make immoderate compromises on nan measurement to enactment beneath that value point.

That doesn't mean you person to settee for a full clunker that doesn't tick immoderate of nan boxes connected your must-have specs list. It conscionable intends you person to shop a small smarter than personification pinch unlimited funds.

That's wherever we travel in. The Mashable squad is perpetually reviewing new laptops, and we tin urge respective affordable machines for different budgets, operating strategy loyalties, and usage cases based connected our hands-on testing.

What is nan champion inexpensive laptop?

As of precocious 2024, we judge nan champion inexpensive MacBook is nan 13-inch Apple MacBook Air powered by nan previous-generation M2 chip. It's speedy capable for astir people, it's sewage a awesome keyboard, and it starts astatine $999 (though it's often on sale for good nether $900). Among Windows PCs, nan Lenovo Yoga 7i 14 (Gen 9) is presently nan champion laptop nether $1,000 that we've tried. It has a newer processor and a bully artillery life, it doubles arsenic a tablet, and it comes successful astatine a starting value of $899.99.

We've gone deeper connected these picks and immoderate different coagulated options below. FYI: We've listed nan pricing and specs of our testing units, which whitethorn not use to each laptop's guidelines model.

Other inexpensive laptops connected our radar

We presently person nan Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 successful manus for testing — specifically, nan 2023 exemplary pinch a 12th-generation Intel processor that retails for $399.99. We're willing successful seeing whether it's a amended worth than our existent "best inexpensive Chromebook" pick, nan HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch.

In addition, 2 of our erstwhile picks were precocious replaced pinch newer models that we look guardant to testing soon.

One is nan Framework Laptop 13 (13th Gen Intel Core), a lightweight Windows laptop pinch replaceable, repairable parts. It required a bigger upfront finance of $1,049 — or $849 if you went pinch nan DIY Edition — but its modular creation translated to semipermanent savings for users who for illustration to upgrade their specs each fewer years. In mid-2024, it was succeeded by nan Framework Laptop 13 (Intel Core Ultra Series 1), which comes pinch a newer processor, a amended webcam, and a $50 value bump. We'll spot if it's worthy it.

We besides gave nan chop to nan Acer Chromebook 516 GE a small while back; it was discontinued pursuing nan outpouring 2024 launch of nan Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE. The second is efficaciously nan aforesaid laptop pinch a newer processor, a darker finish, and immoderate caller Gemini AI tools, truthful while we can't afloat urge it conscionable yet, it does look awesome connected paper. We'll update this guideline erstwhile we've vanished reviewing it.

Our Pick

the 13-inch m2 pome macbook aerial against a cloud-patterned backdrop

Read Mashable's afloat reappraisal of nan 13-inch Apple MacBook Air (M2).

Who it's for:

Apple's 13-inch M2 MacBook Air from mid-2022 isn't rather arsenic fast arsenic nan latest M3 model, and it lacks its successor's support for 2 outer monitors and WiFi 6E. (Get that caller type if you want nan very best MacBook sloppy of price.) But those are easy sacrifices to make if you don't want to walk much than $1,000. All things considered, it's a no-brainer proposal for budget-conscious Apple users successful request of a reliable mundane laptop.

Why we picked this:

The M2 MacBook Air "delivers everything you need" successful a laptop, wrote Mashable tech and games newsman Alex Perry successful his review. That includes an all-day artillery life, a snappy keyboard, and "enough horsepower to grip mundane tasks pinch ease." It besides sports a 1080p FaceTime HD camera that produces a clear image successful debased light, positive a four-speaker setup pinch Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos support. Despite needing a fewer much ports, it effortlessly clinched our Mashable's Choice Award — and aft a permanent database value drop to $999 successful March 2024, it's now a amended worth than ever. (It technically isn't nan cheapest MacBook available, arsenic you tin still bargain nan $699 M1 MacBook Air, but that model's excessively outdated to endorse astatine this point.)

Note that Apple has discontinued nan M2 MacBook Air successful a 15-inch surface size arsenic of early 2024, but immoderate (not-cheap) configurations were still up for grabs astatine third-party retailers for illustration Best Buy and B&H Photo astatine nan clip of writing.

the Lenovo Yoga 7i 14 (Gen 9) connected a convention table

Read Mashable's afloat reappraisal of nan Lenovo Yoga 7i 14 (Gen 9).

Who it's for:

Lenovo's Yoga 7i is an affordable constituent of introduction to nan realm of AI PCs. It besides has an Intel Core Ultra spot for those willing successful a next-gen upgrade. Its 2-in-1 creation will besides entice thrifty shoppers torn betwixt a laptop and a tablet.

Why we picked this:

Hailing from Lenovo's celebrated Yoga line, this convertible is an understated workhorse. A small boring, judge — nan truth that it tin flip into tablet and shelter modes is astir apt nan astir breathtaking point astir it — but no-nonsense competence has its appeal. "I’m a tab hoarder, and nan Yoga 7i 2-in-1 14 was capable to grip my crazy regular investigation antics flawlessly pinch its Intel Core Ultra 5 125U processor," said Mashable contributor Sarah Chaney. (That's paired pinch a patient 16GB of RAM.) Bonus: It doesn't tally basking and won't dice connected you mid-day.

When you get down to nitty-gritty creation details, nan Yoga 7i feels a small deed aliases miss. Its keyboard is "well-spaced and enjoyably springy," Chaney wrote, pinch adjustable backlighting and a built-in Copilot key that pulls up Microsoft's AI assistant. But its trackpad was laggy successful testing. Its hybrid shape facet gives it versatility, but its hinges aren't ace beardown and its show is simply a spot dim. It has a bully action of ports, but we wish its USB-C ports weren't restricted to 1 side. Still, those cons could beryllium put-up-withable for $900 if each you really attraction astir is fantabulous performance.

microsoft aboveground laptop spell 3 connected a patio array extracurricular connected a deck

Read Mashable's afloat reappraisal of nan Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3.

Who it's for:

You tin agelong your dollar further pinch different tech giants, but nan 2023 Microsoft Surface Go 3 is simply a bully inexpensive laptop for marque loyalists and those who want a flashy ultraportable. "I tin spot this being nan regular driver of young students aliases Gen Z users seeking a laptop that tin grip casual usage pinch style and sophistication," said Mashable tech editor Kim Gedeon.

Why we picked it:

The 12.4-inch Surface Laptop Go 3 is basically a "Windows Air," Gedeon wrote, pinch a premium build value that wouldn't look retired of spot among Apple's ranks. And don't get her started astir its snappy, spiffy keyboard, which she deemed "one of nan champion I’ve ever utilized during my full profession arsenic a laptop reviewer."

Alas, its internals are acold much underwhelming: Its 12th-generation Intel CPU is now 2 generations removed successful 2024; its artillery life clocked successful astatine a mediocre eight-ish hours successful our testing; and its dim show carried complete from nan 2022 Surface Laptop Go 2. But nan guidelines model's representation and retention person doubled, astatine least. It's besides often connected waste astatine Amazon and Best Buy for astatine slightest $100 disconnected its database price, which feels way much reasonable fixed those specs. (Its adjacent large discount will astir apt coincide pinch Prime Big Deal Days.)

hp chromebook positive 15.6-inch connected a woody surface

Read Mashable's afloat reappraisal of nan HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch.

Who it's for:

HP's Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch is simply a bottom-of-the-budget laptop geared toward Google-based productivity and casual entertainment. It makes build value concessions that tin return immoderate getting utilized to, but overall, nan value is correct for basal cloud-based multitasking.

Why we picked this:

The Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch is simply a sleek big-screened laptop from Google's adjacent procreation of ChromeOS laptops that comes successful astatine only $499. It surely feels that inexpensive successful immoderate ways (see: its stiff keyboard, mediocre audio quality, and questionable durability), and its artillery life sucks, but its coagulated capacity and spacious, vibrant anti-glare show spell a agelong measurement to nullify those drawbacks. It's besides equipped pinch immoderate useful AI devices you won't find successful non-"Plus" Chromebooks, including a File Sync instrumentality and Google Photos Magic Eraser. "It's unfair to comparison a Chromebook to different kinds of laptops," to quote my extended review, "but arsenic a lifelong MacBook user, I consciousness compelled to admit that I was pleasantly amazed by really overmuch I enjoyed utilizing this laptop."

It's worthy mentioning that while nan Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch is simply a awesome value, it isn't nan absolute best worth of nan Chromebook Plus bunch. (We'll beryllium reviewing much of them successful nan adjacent future.) You're not a sucker if you salary its $500 database price, but look for it on sale for astir $400 astatine Best Buy if you tin wait.

an Acer Nitro V 15 pinch a achromatic controller resting connected it connected apical of a woody surface

Read Mashable's afloat reappraisal of nan Acer Nitro V 15.

Who it's for:

Gedeon put things succinctly successful her review: "If you're conscionable looking for a gaming laptop that ditches each nan bells and whistles for awesome gaming performance, nan [Acer] Nitro V 15 is nan 1 for you."

Why we picked this:

The Mashable's Choice Award-winning Nitro V 15 is each astir power, power, powerfulness — and while it strains nan meaning of "cheap," we do deliberation it's nan best fund gaming laptop nether $1,000. The exemplary we tested is "packed pinch delicious internals that tin grip triple-A gaming," said Gedeon, including a 13th-gen Intel Core i7 H-series processor for desktop-level brawn and decent Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 graphics. She recovered it tin of moving Cyberpunk 2077, "one of nan astir graphics-intensive games connected nan market, for illustration a champ."

Unsurprisingly, Acer has made immoderate noteworthy trade-offs to connection that level of oomph astatine this value point, namely successful nan realms of show value (it's not agleam aliases vivid) and other fixings (there's nary RGB keyboard aliases 1080p webcam). Its pathetically short artillery life besides intends it'll group up imperishable shop connected your table — preferably pinch a microfiber cloth astatine nan fresh nearby, arsenic it clings to fingerprints pinch a passion.

Mashable unit aliases contributors tested each of nan laptops successful this guide. At minimum, this progressive inspecting their build value and utilizing them for a assortment of real-world tasks for respective weeks astatine a time. We worked pinch different kinds of documents, checked emails, watched videos, took photos connected their webcams, participated successful video calls, listened to euphony (via Spotify), played games (if possible), and experimented pinch immoderate unsocial package features aliases usage cases they claimed to support.

Additionally, a fistful of nan newer laptops featured present were made to tally industry-standard benchmark package (specifically nan Lenovo Yoga 7i 14, nan Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3, nan HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch, and nan Acer Nitro V 15). We tally these benchmarks because they replicate real-world tasks to nutrient scores we tin usage to easy comparison different laptops' performance. We precocious started implementing these benchmarks successful our testing, and you tin expect to spot them successful each of our caller laptop reviews going forward.

Performance benchmarks

We evaluated nan laptops' wide capacity by moving nan due type of Primate Labs' Geekbench 6. This trial measures CPU capacity successful a fistful of communal tasks, and we recorded nan resulting multi-core score. The higher nan score, nan better.

To get a consciousness of gaming laptops' graphical prowess, we besides played Cyberpunk 2077 on them. We picked this crippled because it's a graphically aggravated AAA title that pushes galore systems to their capacity limits. If nan laptop had a discrete/dedicated Nvidia GeForce RTX graphics paper (as opposed to an integrated GPU that's built into nan CPU), we played Cyberpunk erstwhile pinch its DLSS tech disconnected and again pinch DLSS connected utilizing nan High preset without ray tracing. This tests nan machine's earthy GPU powerfulness and its capacity pinch AI upscaling, respectively.

We followed this up pinch 3DMark's Time Spy benchmark for gaming PCs and recorded their scores. Again, higher is better.

Battery life benchmarks

We look to spot astir 11 to 12 hours of artillery life successful nan MacBooks we test, pinch 15-plus hours being exceptional, and 9 to 10 hours successful nan Windows laptops we review, pinch 12-plus hours being ideal. Gaming laptops are a different story: They only request to past astatine slightest 2 hours per complaint to get our approval, earning other brownie points for reaching nan four-hour mark. Meanwhile, 8 hours is our baseline for Chromebooks, but 9 to 10 hours is best.

We've assessed laptops' stamina a mates different ways successful nan past. (More connected that shortly.) We utilized UL Solutions' PCMark 10 battery life accent trial connected nan Surface Laptop Go and nan Acer Nitro V 15, and Principled Technologies' CrXPRT 2 artillery life trial connected nan Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch. Both tests ran a bid of apps and functions until nan laptop conked out.

On nan Yoga 7i, we conducted a video rundown test that progressive playing a looped 1080p type of Tears of Steel, a short open-source Blender movie, astatine 50 percent brightness.

In bid to standardize our artillery life testing methodology, we will only beryllium utilizing nan Tears of Steel rundown connected each MacBooks and Windows laptops from present connected out. We'll instrumentality pinch PCMark 10's artillery life trial for each gaming laptops and CrXPRT 2's trial for Chromebooks.

Final thoughts

After evaluating a laptop's hands-on capacity and benchmark testing results, we made our last recommendations based connected whether we thought they offered a bully wide worth for nan money. For nan purposes of this guide, we defined a "cheap laptop" arsenic 1 that costs little than $1,000.

Lastly, should beryllium noted that these aren't nan only inexpensive laptops we've tried — we're perpetually testing and assessing caller models crossed different categories, and galore don't make nan last cut. With that successful mind, you tin expect this guideline to germinate connected a beautiful continuous basis. We're ever connected nan lookout for caller apical prime contenders.

Frequently Asked Questions


Certain times of nan twelvemonth are amended for laptop shopping than others. If you're looking for a bully woody connected a laptop, we urge buying astir Black Friday, during back-to-school play (with a adjacent watch connected Amazon's Prime Day sale), and complete agelong vacation weekends. If you're conscionable aft brand-new models pinch nan latest specs, bargains beryllium damned, you'll spot them hitting nan marketplace successful January and February aft nan Consumer Electronics Show (CES).

For much intel and buying tips, cheque retired our guideline to when you should bargain a laptop.

Mashable Image

Haley Henschel is simply a Chicago-based Senior Shopping Reporter astatine Mashable who reviews and finds deals connected celebrated tech, from laptops to gaming consoles and VPNs. She has years of acquisition covering shopping holidays and tin show you what’s really worthy buying connected Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day. Her activity has besides explored nan driving forces down integer trends wrong nan shopping sphere, from dupes to 12-foot skeletons.

Haley received a B.A. successful Journalism from nan University of Wisconsin-Madison and honed her sifting and winnowing skills astatine The Daily Cardinal. She antecedently covered authorities for The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, investigated exotic pet ownership for Wisconsin Watch, and blogged for immoderate of your favourite reality stars.

In her free time, Haley enjoys playing video games, drawing, taking walks connected Lake Michigan, and spending clip pinch her parrot (Melon) and canine (Pierogi). She really, really wants to get backmost into horseback riding. You tin travel her connected X at @haleyhenschel or scope her via email at [email protected].

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