Opt for these CPU lines if you need more than just the basics.All of these CPUs also host the silicon that runs the laptop's graphics. (That's especially true with Chromebooks more on them later.) That said, the $400-to-$700 Windows laptop market is mostly populated by systems based on the much peppier Core i3, Core i5, Ryzen 3, and Ryzen 5 families of processors. Intel's Celeron and Pentium processors (which power most of the under-$400 laptop set) have evolved to the point that they can support most of your web browsing and basic productivity needs without feeling sluggish.If you can get by with the capacity of a small SSD, we strongly favor opting for one, even over a roomier platter-based hard drive, for their durability.Other budget systems, particularly Chromebooks and some under-$400 Windows laptops, will have only a small allotment (32GB or 64GB) of local storage, but compensate for it with generous offers of additional free cloud storage. (A lower-resolution screen, which is a feature of some of these machines, can consume less power, all else being equal, and end up being a benefit of sorts.) (Photo: Zlata Ivleva)When it comes to storage, some inexpensive systems still use spinning hard drives, with capacities often at 500GB, but increasingly, inexpensive Windows machines opt for small-capacity solid-state drives (SSDs) of 128GB or 256GB capacity. The battery life for a cheap laptop should come in at a minimum of seven or eight hours, and these days, many will last quite a bit longer. (A 4GB RAM count remains more common in Chromebooks and under-$300 Windows laptops.) In terms of batteries, an ideal budget laptop has one with six cells or more. (If money is no object, check out our top-rated gaming laptops and ultraportables, as well as our favorite cheap gaming laptops.)In years past, many of the barest-budget Windows laptops would come with just 2GB or 4GB of main system memory, but nowadays, at least in the Windows sphere, most come with 8GB. The higher demands of AAA titles, though, still require a discrete GPU, which you won't find in this price range.You also may get an SD card slot. (Photo: Zlata Ivleva)In terms of features, budget laptops will come with (almost always) at least one USB 3.0 port, and possibly a USB 2.0 port or two. This is not the same as the flash memory used in a true solid-state drive (SSD), and it will feel a tad sluggish if you're used to an SSD. Also, know that some of these budget machines, including many Chromebooks, use what is called "eMMC memory" as their main storage.You shouldn't always expect a touch-screen display, however. Wi-Fi 6, hasn't made it down to the budget brigade yet in widespread fashion, though you will see it in a few models.)An HDMI output and a USB-C port are definite pluses, and you can find these on even some of the very cheapest models. (The newer 802.11ax, a.k.a.
![]() Best Laptop For Value Windows 10 Or MacOS(Photo: Zlata Ivleva)It will also likely cost you a lot less than other types of notebooks, as many Chromebooks come in at less than $300. If you spend most of your working hours in the cloud, a Chromebook will offer you much of the functionality of a regular Windows 10 or macOS laptop, and it may well deliver longer battery life, depending on the model. While these Chrome OS-based laptops are still resolutely web-centric, they now have fuller feature sets. Chromebooks: The Crème de la Cheap?Chromebooks used to be little more than glorified netbooks running Google's Chrome OS. Putty agent for macSome come with detachable keyboards, but most of these are far less comfortable for typing on your lap than a conventional laptop. The Best Cheap Tablets and Hybrids: 2-in-1s on a BudgetTablets rose in popularity throughout the 2010s, and though we have plenty of reviews of those—take a look at our overall roundup of the best tablets, as well as our favorites running the Windows 10 and Android operating systems—they are sufficiently different from traditional clamshell-style laptops that they don't always make good substitutes. Intel Core processors tend to be found in the more premium class of Chromebooks. ![]() The best ones are listed below, and we update this guide constantly, so you're always seeing our top recommendations for the highest-performing affordable laptops.For further in-depth breakdowns of our budget picks, take a look at our roundups of the best laptops for college students, the best laptops for kids, and the best Chromebooks. You can definitely find PCs that will offer you enough performance to tackle your day-to-day tasks without a hitch.
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