What Are The Best Laptops
The new MacBook Air M2 is the best laptop overall based on our testing. It delivers speedy M2 performance in a design that’s 20% smaller by volume and just 0.44 inches thick. You also get a bright and colorful 13.6-inch display and over 14 hours of battery life in our testing. At $1,199, the new Air is pricier than the Air M1, but we think it’s well worth the premium for the performance boost, MagSafe charging and sharper 1080p webcam.
Our pick for the best Windows laptop overall is the Dell XPS 13, which packs speedy performance and a gorgeous bezel-less display into an incredibly slim and lightweight design with decent battery life. If you can afford the more expensive model with an OLED touchscreen, it’s well worth the expense.
If you love the idea of an OLED laptop but want something a bit more affordable, Asus has an OLED-equipped Zenbook 13 that packs great power and amazing battery life, and it’s usually a few hundred bucks cheaper than the XPS 13.
If you want a laptop right now that’s guaranteed to run Windows 11 and show it off to full effect, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is a great choice. It’s a powerful, well-built 2-in-1 that can do some decent gaming or video editing.
If you’re willing to splurge, the MacBook Pro 14-inch with M1 Pro takes performance to new heights, and its 120Hz Liquid Retina display is gorgeous. This is the Mac for all the pros out there who want HDMI out and an SD card reader without having to use a USB-C adapter.
Is Buying A Chromebook Worth It
Chromebooks used to be little more than glorified netbooks running Google’s Chrome OS. While these Chrome OS-based laptops are still resolutely web-centric, they now have fuller feature sets. If you spend most of your working hours in the cloud, a Chromebook will offer you much of the functionality of a regular Windows or Mac laptop, and it may well deliver longer battery life, depending on the model.
It will also likely cost you a lot less than other types of notebooks, as many Chromebooks come in at less than $300. Just be sure you have easy access to stable Wi-Fi wherever you’ll use one, as Chromebooks have limited offline functionality and scant local storage.
Note that a Pentium or Celeron processor is adequate for a light-usage, budget-minded Chromebook. Intel Core and AMD Ryzen “C”-series processors tend to be found in the more premium class of Chromebooks.
Chromebook Vs Laptop: Whats The Difference
If everything you need to do can be done with Android apps or a web browser and you dont have a need for anything more, a Chromebook might be for you. Chromebooks rarely can be modified or upgraded, and generally dont have high specs as they run Chrome OS as opposed to a full Windows OS. Theyre a simple web-based workhorse. Laptops are a portable computer. Most can be modified or upgraded, have higher specs to run games, apps, and whatever else you install onto them.
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Hp Envy 17t Enormous Storage
The HP Envy 17t has an enormous storage laptop so if you happen to be working from home that deals with large files then this one is the best option.
In terms of power, this laptop is laced with the latest 10th gen Core i7 processor backed by 4GB NVIDIA GeForce MX330 graphics card that gives a powerful performance that can do any heavy tasks with ease.
The 16GB RAM makes sure you can make use of that power by enabling you to use multiple applications simultaneously without any compromise.
The display also wont disappoint as it has a large 17.3 inches IPS display that renders great image quality, also the bigger screen is perfect for online works that need detail precision.
Aside from the premium Windows 10 operating system, it has a three years McAfee subscription to further add security to your laptop against malware and viruses.
This powerful large laptop is perfect for online workers that demands power on their work, also the price aint that high compared to similar spec Windows laptop.
Recommended Configuration For HP Envy 17t
CPU: Intel Core i7-1065G7 | Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce MX330 | RAM: 16GB | Screen: 17.3-inch 1920×1080 Full HD IPS display | Storage: 256GB SSD + 1TB HDD | Operating System: Windows 10 | Battery Life: up to 9 hours | Weight: 6.14 lbs
Asus Vivobook 15 Best For Writers
This pick is for those online workers who dont deal with intensive tasks, this laptop can handle everyday tasks for those lightworkers like writers and such.
Powered by Core i3 processor and 8GB of RAM, opening multiple tabs and apps at the same time will never be your worry.
This laptop is very thin and lightweight that you can easily carry it around, perfect for those whos always on the go.
Asus VivoBook 15 features an Ergolift design to its keyboard that improves the typing position, a perfect match for writers and online workers who deal with a keyboard all day long.
Also the 15-inch display has a 4-way NanoEdge bezel that lets you see 88% screen to body ratio, a must-have display for workers who deal with numbers and letters.
You dont need to worry about connectivity as this laptop has comprehensive connections including USB 3.1 Type C, USB 3.1 Type-A, USB 2.0, and HDMI for your external peripherals.
Recommended Configuration For Asus VivoBook 15
CPU: Intel Core i3-8145U | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics| RAM: 8GB | Screen: 15.6-inch 1920×1080 FHD 2 way NanoEdge bezel display | Storage: 128GB SSD | Operating System: Windows 10 | Battery Life: up to 5 hours | Weight: 3.75 lbs
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The Dell G3 15 Is An Affordable Gaming Laptop With The Latest Nvidia Geforce Discrete Graphics
- Screen: 15.6 inches, 1,920 x 1,080, 120Hz refresh rate
- Processor: Starts with 10th generation Intel Core i5, Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Ti
- Operating system: Windows 10 Home
- Memory and storage: 8GB RAM, 256GB storage
Pros: Compact design, specs on par with more expensive models
Cons: Shallow keyboard and touchpad, dim screen
If you enjoy gaming, but don’t want to shell out $1,000 for a gaming PC, the Dell G3 15 might be a decent option for you.
A few factors make the G3 15 a solid option for gamers. The $734.99 base model comes with an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 GPU, a 10th-generation Intel Core i5 CPU, 8GB RAM, and a 256GB solid state drive. Those are solid specs that should be able to smoothly run most games you want to play, though you’ll want something more powerful if you’re trying to run more demanding tasks like VR. At 5.2 pounds, the G3 15 is also lighter and more compact than most budget gaming laptops
Dell recently released two new G15 laptops one with Ryzen processors and one with the latest 11th generation Intel CPUs for those interested in portable gaming on a budget.
Though we have yet to review these units, they have intriguing specs for a reasonable price. The G15 Ryzen Edition particularly stands out as it features AMD Ryzen 5000 series processors, Nvidia GeForce RTX 30 graphics cards and user-upgradable RAM. You can also choose a display with 120Hz, 165Hz or 360Hz refresh rates. Both Ryzen and Intel versions of the G15 laptops start at $899.99.
Choosing A Cheap Chromebook Vs A Cheap Windows Laptop
Our picks are for anyone who doesnt want to or cant spend more than $500 on a laptop. These models are good for anyone who just wants to browse the web, students who dont need special software, and people who work at home only occasionally. If you need a more powerful laptop, take a look at our guide to the best laptops.
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Can I Find A Good Display On A Budget Laptop
Definitely, but as with battery life or specific ports, you’ll need to pick and choose the right laptop. A good display will need to be a key component of the laptop, as color accuracy and contrast can be some areas where savings can be made on certain systems.
The best-looking screen of our budget recommendations comes with the HP Envy x360 13, which is yet another reason why it’s our pick for the best video editing laptop.
Best Laptop For Working From Home Under 40000
As per your requirements, we have listed the top 10 best laptops for work from home under 40000. These laptops are very helpful for all kinds of work from home projects including programming. You can not only use it for work from home purposes but also use multiple options. These are the most recommended by the users who have been using these laptops for 5 years to do all types of office and personal work.
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How To Choose The Best Budget Laptop Under 500
Buying a new laptop can be a daunting task even more so when you’re trying to shop under a specific price limit, as we are here. A lower price range often means less powerful components, but it doesn’t mean you have to settle for a cheap, throwaway product.
With very decent components continuing to drop in price, affordable laptops are boasting far more powerful specs, so your money goes further. It’s not going to be a portable gaming beast or a media powerhouse, but you’ll have enough grunt under the hood for surfing, editing documents and video streaming.
Apple MacBooks are out of the question at this sort of price, but fortunately Windows 10 has evolved to run very well indeed on less high-end hardware. We’ve also included a couple of our favourite Chromebooks in the list .
Down at this end of the market, prices fluctuate regularly, and retailers will often throw in special deals to tempt buyers, so don’t be surprised if some of the these prices go up and down spend some time comparing prices to figure out who’s offering the best cheap laptop for you.
Bear in mind that you’re not going to be getting the most powerful or the most feature-rich of laptops, but we think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at what you can bag at an affordable price point.
From vibrant displays to surprisingly robust CPUs, out list of the best laptops under £500 for 2021 has plenty of choice to offer buyers with less money to spend. Design and build continues to get better and better as well.
The Best Budget Laptops
Here are our picks for the best budget laptops for working from home.
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- Intel Quad-Core Pentium Silver Processor
This is a nifty machine that can keep up with a lot of hard work.
The RAM is on the light side but more than adequate for basic office work. If youre planning on using a lot of programs and tabs, youll need to up the RAM a little bit.
We love SSD storage. Its unusual on a machine this cheap but wonderful to see! Youll have plenty of space for files and programs.
This laptop also has 10 hours of battery life. This means that you can snuggle up on the sofa on those cold mornings with your work.
Our only gripe is the processor. Its not particularly powerful which means that it might run a bit slower with more intensive work.
- 3 USB ports, HDMI, headphone jack, and SD card reader
- 15.6 HD screen
- AMD Ryzen 3 processor
Lenovo IdeaPads are great laptops. They are 15-inch workhorses that can cope with the stress and strain of all your work.
This laptop has a 128GB SSD which is excellent to see at this price point. Youll have space for your software and files and some.
The 4GB of RAM is supported by the Ryzen 3 processor to make this laptop pretty speedy during everyday tasks. Its a great pairing, to be honest.
The screen is wonderfully large to help reduce eye strain while you work. Its also HD-ready and has narrow bevels so you can make the most of the screen. This laptop would be ideal for watching movies on after a long day of work.
Looking for more options?
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Laptop Recommendations For Other Remote Jobs
Digital marketers and developers arent the only two remote job groups in need of high-quality, affordable laptops. Here are a few more professions that need a reliable device to do remote work.
1) Teachers and online coaches
If youre teaching online, you dont necessarily need an expensive laptop, but it should have a few essential features to support numerous Zoom calls and help you edit content for your online classes. Here are the basic laptop specifications teachers and online couches should be looking for:
- At least 8 GB RAM.
- A minimum of 256 GB SSD.
- A 13 screen minimum.
- Low- to average-intensity CPU.
- High-quality webcam and keyboard.
On top of that, look for a laptop with decent battery life. It should be able to get you through at least 11 hours of work without a power cord in case you experience a power outage in your area.
2) Travel agents
If you work as a travel agent, you can choose any affordable laptop on the market. Since your job doesnt involve a lot of data processing, you can opt for the most basic features, including:
- A low-intensity CPU.
- A 13 screen.
- A minimum of 8 hours battery life.
What you definitely need in a laptop is a good-quality webcam. Since youll have to connect with your clients remotely, you will most likely have several Zoom meetings a day, making an advanced webcam that can transmit a high-quality image your top requirement.
3) Real estate agents
Here are the specs you might want to consider:
4) Insurance agents
Storage Type And Size
If you are a digital nomad looking for a computer, consider the storage size and type. There are two kinds of storage on a computer. You can get a solid-state drive or a traditional hard drive .
If you had to compare an SSD and an HDD, the SSD is an excellent option because it is much faster. However, it comes with a higher price. Look for an SSD that is 256GB or larger. An HDD will also work if you are on a tight budget.
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Are Desktops Cheaper Than Laptops
While there are some cases where a desktop can be cheaper than opting for a laptop , you’ll be hard-pressed to find everyday use desktops that can compete with these laptop prices.
For example, the most affordable HP desktop, the Envy TE01, starts at $450, while everything on this list is under $350. While you may get lucky and be able to take advantage of a really good sale or discount coupon from certain retailers, a desktop that sells for under $400 is very, very rare.
What Are The Trade
As long as you manage your expectations when it comes to options and specs, you can still get quite a bit from a budget laptop model, including good battery life and a reasonably lightweight laptop body.
A bright spot is you don’t have to settle for a traditional clamshell laptop with a fixed display and keyboard. You can also get a convertible laptop , which has a screen that flips around to turn the screen into a tablet, to position it for comfortable streaming or to do a presentation. Keep in mind that all convertibles work as both laptops and tablets. A touchscreen is a prerequisite for tablet operation, and many support styluses for handwritten and sketched input. Don’t assume a stylus is included, though.
One thing you won’t find at these cheap laptop prices: a MacBook or any other Apple laptop. An iPad will run you more than $500 once you buy the optional keyboard , which is above our budget here. A base-model iPad with an inexpensive Bluetooth keyboard and cheap stand for the iPad might suffice.
You’ll see a lot of cheap laptops listed as coming with Windows 10 S, a stripped-down and locked-down version of the operating system intended for use by schools — it only allows you to install applications from the Windows Store, forces you to use Microsoft’s Edge browser and includes a subset of the administrative tools in Windows 10 Pro. You can upgrade to the full version for free, though.
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Apple Macbook Air For Web Programmers & Consultant
With a robust design and sturdy body build, MacBook Air is reliable work from a home laptop for professionals. With elegant aesthetics you can surely bring your laptop in coffee shops.
This MacBook Air is fitted with the latest 10th generation Core i3 processor and backed by 8GB of RAM, this enables you to do any professional tasks without hassle. This MacBook might not be suitable for graphics-intensive tasks as it only has a Core i3 processor and an integrated graphics card but it could handle day to day computing very well.
If youre a web programmer or a consultant then this laptop is just right for you, these specs are great for your work needs and the price is very reasonable. You dont want to spend too much for MacBook Air with more powerful specs and would just be an overkill for your work, wont you?
It comes with a 256GB SSD but you can choose the 512GB variant if you need much larger storage space.
Recommended Configuration For Apple MacBook Air
CPU: Intel Core i3-10th Gen | Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics| RAM: 8GB | Screen: 13.3-inch Retina with True Tone display | Storage: 256GB SSD | Operating System: Mac OS | Battery Life: up to 11 hours | Weight: 5.36 lbs