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Budget Laptops in 2024 (Under $1000)
Buying a laptop is a big decision for a buyer. Various buyers look for different things before making a purchase. Some customers, such as professionals, look for a laptop’s latest features and mobility. Some consumer groups, such as gamers, digital creators, etc, look for a laptop’s raw power and creativity. Some, like students, new job entrants, housewives, etc, look for value for money. Most of the time these consumers are first-time buyers and they may not require too many features in a laptop.
For them, the laptop market provides various budget laptops that have decent features and provide value for money and utility. In this article, we are going to explore 5 budget laptops in 2024 that are under $1000 and provide good value for money with amazing utility.
1. Apple MacBook Air Laptop M1 (2020)
Even 4 years after launching, the Apple MacBook Air (M1 Chip) is still going strong and makes it to the list of top budget laptops in 2024. While at the time of launch, the Apple MacBook Air M1 (2020) was a premium laptop, the newer versions of Apple MacBooks with M2 chips have taken its place as a premium and default option. However, the Apple MacBook Air Laptop with M1 Chinp (2020) is still one of the best Apple Laptops. The features of this laptop are top-class which beat any other budget laptops in 2024 and with a price cut, it has become one of the top budget laptops in 2024.
However, the updation of the software may become an issue as Apple generally provides support for a laptop for older laptops for 5-7 years. Barring that, Apple MacBook Air Laptop M1 (2020) is still an amazing laptop, even after 4 years of its release. Weighing only 1.25 kg and with a 1.6 cm thickness, it is the lightest budget laptop on the list. It comes with an M1 chip which has 8-core and provides a fast performance. The laptop comes with an integrated Apple GPU which has 7-core (Some machines may have 8-core GPU). The reviewed version comes with 256 GB SSD storage and 8 GB RAM. Higher storage and RAM are available at higher prices.
The machine runs on MacOS and provides an astounding battery life of 18 hours which is a boon to working professionals and students. Its battery life is the best among all the budget laptops in 2024. The laptop has a 13.3-inch display with 2560 x 1600 pixels and highest nits of 400. HD images and videos come alive on the screen and it has good visibility even in the Sunlight. It has two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports with charging and display facilities. It has Wifi 6 and Bluetooth version 5.
Overall, Apple MacBook Air M1 (2020) is still one of the best laptops available in the market and is one of the best budget laptops in 2024.
Specifications
- Processor: Apple M1 8-core
- GPU: Integrated 7-core GPU (8-core in some machines)
- Operating System: MacOS
- Storage: 256 GB SSD
- RAM: 8 GB
- Display: 13.3-inch + 2560 x 1600 pixels
- Active Battery Life: 18 Hours
- Wireless Connectivity: Wifi 6.
- Bluetooth: 5
- Wired Connectivity: Two Thunderbolt / USB 4 Ports
- Price: $999 (Apple’s Website)
Pros & Cons
Pros
- M1 CPU with 8-core with 7-core integrated GPU
- Easy to carry. Lightest budget laptops in 2024
- 18 hours of battery life
- Two Thunderbolt / USB 4 Ports
- Amazing 13.3-inch display with 2560 x 1600 pixels and max 400 nits
Cons
- ‘Costliest Laptop‘ among budget laptops in 2024
- Less Storage (256 GB) at this price level
- No latest Bluetooth or Wifi
- Almost 4-year-old model. Launched in 2020 and software support may end by 2027
Score
Functions | Score |
Performance | 9/10 |
Power | 8/10 |
Display | 8.5/10 |
Storage and RAM | 6.5/10 |
Battery | 9/10 |
Connectivity | 7.5/10 |
Value for Money | 6.5/10 |
Overall Score | 55/70 |
2. ASUS VivoBook 16-Inch (2023)
Asus VivoBook 16-inch (2023) is a good entry in the list of budget laptops in 2024. Weighing a little less than 2 kg, it has a thickness of 2 cm only. With 35 cm in length and 25 cm in width, the laptop is one of the easy-to-carry budget laptops in 2024. Its 16-inch WUXGA display comes with 1920 x 1200 pixels and a 16:10 aspect ratio. Its thin bezel takes only 11-12% of the entire body of the laptop. The display is good but can be dim at times. The touchpad
The laptop comes with AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS CPU which has 8-core and 16-thread and can hit the max speed up to 5.2GHz. It is equipped with AMD Radeon 9 GPU which does a decent enough job. It has 1 TB SSD storage and 8 GB RAM which can be extended for another 8 GB. Along with pre-installed Windows Home, the laptop provides a decent performance and is good for multi-tasking. However, the laptop may not be suitable for heavy graphics work or games.
The laptop has 3 USB slots – one USB 3.2 Generation 1 Type-C which is used for charging, one USB 3.2 Generation 1 Type-A, and one USB 2.0 Type-A. The laptop has the latest Wifi 6E and Bluetooth Version 5.3, giving the laptop good wireless connectivity which is good for working professionals and students. The laptop can give up to 8 hours of battery life which is decent and can get through work hours or college sessions.
All in all, this laptop deserves its place among top budget laptops in 2024 and will serve well those who are looking for value for money.
Specifications
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS
- GPU: AMD Radeon 9
- Operating System: Windows 11 Home
- Storage: 1 TB SSD
- RAM: 8 GB. 8 GB Extendable
- Display: 16-inch WUXGA + 1920 x 1200 Pixels
- Active Battery Life: Up to 8 Hours
- Wireless Connectivity: Wifi 6E.
- Bluetooth: 5.3
- Wired Connectivity: Three USB Slots. USB 3.2 Generation 1 Type-C + USB 3.2 Generation 1 Type-A + USB 2.0 Type-A
- Price: $799 (Amazon)
Pros & Cons
Pros
- AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS
- Light and Portable
- Wifi 6E + Bluetooth 5.3
- 16-inch WUXGA display with 1920 x 1200
- 1 TB SSD storage
Cons
- Not suitable for high-end graphics works or heavy gaming
- Battery drains faster with high levels of usage
- No Thunderbolt 4 port
Score
Functions | Score |
Performance | 7.5/10 |
Power | 7/10 |
Display | 8/10 |
Storage and RAM | 8/10 |
Battery | 7/10 |
Connectivity | 8/10 |
Value for Money | 8.5/10 |
Overall Score | 54/70 |
3. Lenovo IdeaPad 3i 15-inch (2023)
Lenovo IdeaPad 3i 15-inch (2023) is a good entry in the list of top budget laptops in 2024. Weighing around 2.2 kg and with a thickness of 2 cm, carrying this laptop in college sessions or work is not a tough task. This Intel-powered laptop comes with Intel’s Core i5-1155G7 11th Generation CPU with a max speed of 4.5 GHz. The laptop is equipped with an Intel Iris Xe GPU. It runs on Windows 11 Home. Both the GPU and operating systems could have been of higher versions. Still, it does the job. The laptop has 1 TB SSD storage and 8 GB of RAM which can be extended up to 16 GB.
The laptop has a 15.6-inch Full HD display with 1920 x 1080 pixels. It is one of the few budget laptops in 2024 to have a touch screen. The display does a decent job with a 120 Hz refresh rate and max nits of 300. Watching HD movies or scrolling through favorite HD images would be a satisfying viewing experience. Some light games can also be played with ease. However, too much heavy graphics work may not be suitable.
Like most of the other budget laptops in 2024, this Lenovo laptop also lacks Thunderbolt 4. However, it tries to make up for it by providing three USB slots – one USB-A Generation 2.0, One USB-A Generation 3.0, and one USB-C Generation 3.2. It has Wifi 6 and Bluetooth version of 5.1. The battery could last up to 10 hours for study projects or office work. However, heavy graphics work or continuous movies or gaming could drain the battery faster.
Like other budget laptops in 2024, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3i focuses on value rather than power and features. For students and new job entrants, this laptop provides decent features with good value for money, earning it a place in the best budget laptops in 2024.
Specifications
- Processor: Intel Core i5-1155G7 11th Generation
- GPU: Intel Iris Xe
- Operating System: Windows 11 Home
- Storage: 1 TB SSD
- RAM: 8 GB. 8 GB Extendable
- Display: 15.6-inch + 1920 x 1080 pixels + touch screen
- Active Battery Life: Up to 10 Hours
- Wireless Connectivity: Wifi 6.
- Bluetooth: 5.1
- Wired Connectivity: Three USB Slots. USB-A Generation 2.0 + USB-A Generation 3.0 + USB-C Generation 3.2
- Price: $599 (Amazon)
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Intel Core i5-1155G7 11th Generation
- Thin and Light
- 15.6-inch display with touchscreen
- 1 TB SSD storage
Cons
- GPU is not powerful enough
- No Thunderbolt 4 port
- No latest Bluetooth or Wifi
Score
Functions | Score |
Performance | 7/10 |
Power | 6.5/10 |
Display | 9/10 |
Storage and RAM | 8/10 |
Battery | 8/10 |
Connectivity | 6.5/10 |
Value for Money | 8.5/10 |
Overall Score | 53.5/70 |
4. HP ProBook 450 G10
The HP ProBook 450 series was launched by HP way back in 2013. Its latest version, HP ProBook 450 G10, has been launched in April 2023 with updated features. This laptop weighs 1.7 kg and has a thickness of 2 cm, making it easy to carry for working professionals and students. It is equipped with Intel Core i5-1335U 13th Generation which has a max speed of 4.6 GHz. It has an integrated Intel UHD Graphics. This Windows-powered laptop comes with Windows 11 Pro and provides satisfactory performance in professional and graphics-related works. However, it may not be suitable for high-intensity gaming or ultra-HD graphics.
The laptop is equipped with a 15.6-inch full HD display with 1920 x 1080 pixels and has a max nits of 250. It has a refresh rate of 60 Hz and an aspect ratio of 16:9. The quality of the display is decent and it plays HD movies and games well enough. However, ultra-HD videos and images may not display their full potential. It has the most RAM (32 GB) among all the budget laptops on the list and comes with 1 TB of SSD storage. The battery lasts for a solid 9-10 hours for professional work and other study-related activities. However, gaming activities and movie watching may drain the battery faster.
The HP laptop has a total of 4 USB ports – two USB Type-C, which can be used for charging and display, and two USB Type-A. The laptop has good wireless connectivity options. It is equipped with the latest Wifi 6E and Bluetooth version 5.3. Overall it is a decent laptop with some good features which makes it a worthy entry in the list of top budget laptops in 2024.
Specifications
- Processor: Intel Core i5-1335U 13th Generation
- GPU: Integrated Intel UHD Graphics
- Operating System: Windows 11 Pro
- Storage: 1 TB SSD
- RAM: 32 GB
- Display: 15.6-inch + 1920 x 1080 pixels
- Active Battery Life: 9-10 Hours
- Wireless Connectivity: Wifi 6E.
- Bluetooth: 5.3
- Wired Connectivity: Four USB Slots – Two USB Type-C and two USB Type-A
- Price: $849 (Amazon)
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Intel Core i5-1335U 13th Generation
- Windows 11 Pro
- Latest Wifi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3
- 32 GB RAM
Cons
- Integrated Intel UHD GPU is not powerful enough
- The display refresh rate is only 60 Hz
- 2nd Highest Priced (After Apple MacBook Air M1) Budget laptop in the list
Score
Functions | Score |
Performance | 8/10 |
Power | 7.5/10 |
Display | 6.5/10 |
Storage and RAM | 8.5/10 |
Battery | 8/10 |
Connectivity | 8/10 |
Value for Money | 6.5/10 |
Overall Score | 53/70 |
5. Dell Inspiron 15-Inch (2023)
Dell Inspiron 15-Inch (2023) is another decent entry in the list of top budget laptops in 2024 that keeps it simple but effective. Weighing only 1.6 kg and with 2 cm thickness, the laptop is one of the lightest budget laptops in 2024. The laptop comes with 13th Generation Intel Core i5-1335U with 10-core and 4.6 GHz max speed. It comes with integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics which is good for office work, studying, and some light gaming activities. However, graphic intense games may not be suitable for this machine.
It comes with pre-installed Windows 11 Pro which is a level up compared to some of the budget laptops in 2024. It has 512 GB SSD storage and 16 GB of RAM, providing lots of storage and random memory. This Dell laptop has a 15.6-inch Full HD 1920 x 1080 pixels display with a 60 Hz refresh rate. It has a max nits of 250 which provides a satisfactory viewing experience. However, too much bright environment may dull the display. Also, ultra-HD graphics, images, and videos may not come out with a full spectrum of colors.
The laptop provides three USB ports – a USB 3.2 Generation 1 Type-A, a USB 3.2 Generation 1 Type-C, and a USB 2.0. It is equipped with Wifi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1. The versions of the Wifi and Bluetooth are subject to operating systems and country of usage. Still, with the price tag of $809, not having the latest Wifi and Bluetooth version is a letdown. Although, the laptop has a solid battery backup of 9-10 which is suitable for working professionals and students. Overall, Dell Inspiron 15-Inch (2023) is a decent entry in top budget laptops in 2024.
Specifications
- Processor: Intel Core i5-1335U 13th Generation
- GPU: Intel Iris Xe
- Operating System: Windows 11 Pro
- Storage: 512 GB SSD
- RAM: 16 GB
- Display: 15.6-inch + 1920 x 1080 pixels
- Active Battery Life: 9-10 Hours
- Wireless Connectivity: Wifi 6.
- Bluetooth: 5.1
- Wired Connectivity: Three USB Slots. USB 3.2 Generation 1 Type-A, USB 3.2 Generation 1 Type-C, and USB 2.0 Generation 3.2
- Price: $809 (Dell)
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Intel Core i5-1335U 13th Generation
- Windows 11 Pro
- One of the lightest budget laptops in 2024
- 16 GB RAM
Cons
- GPU is not powerful enough
- The display refresh rate is only 60 Hz
- No latest Bluetooth or Wifi
- The price is a little higher compared to other budget laptops in 2024
Score
Functions | Score |
Performance | 8/10 |
Power | 8/10 |
Display | 6.5/10 |
Storage and RAM | 8/10 |
Battery | 8/10 |
Connectivity | 6.5/10 |
Value for Money | 7.5/10 |
Overall Score | 52.5/70 |
Read More
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*This article is for information purposes only. Do not make any critical decisions based solely on the information provided in this article. Do your own research properly before making any decision.