Looking for a new laptop? Here are my five picks for the best budget laptops, each selected specifically for the type of use.
5. 13-inch MacBook Air 2015 – $888 Click to buy from Amazon
You’re either a passionate Apple fan or a firm Apple avoider (I’m the avoider … I don’t even allow Apple products in my home).
The 13-inch MacBook Air, sitting at $888, has a 12-hour battery life and 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Unless you’re doing graphic design or programming, the 13-inch can match the MacBook Pro’s specs in a much less expensive machine.
4. Acer Chromebook 13 – $397 Click to buy from Amazon
If you’re not familiar with Chromebooks, they come with very little storage, instead relying almost exclusively on Apps: Gmail, Docs, Maps and Chrome. All of your files are stored on Google’s cloud and you need to be online to do much of anything.
With a 11-hour battery life, clear screen, and some power under the hood (4GB RAM and NVIDIA graphics), the Acer Chromebook 13 is my pick.
3. Dell XPS13 Ultrabook – $841 Click to buy from Amazon
Dude, you’re getting a Dell!
The XPS 13 is thin, light, and easy to use; but still packs a punch with solid specs and performance. With a 15-hour battery and priced less than the MacBook Air 13, the Dell XPS13 Ultrabook is a smart buy.
2. Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro 2-in-1 – $950 Click to buy from Amazon
All-in-One laptops are becoming more popular these days. As a matter of fact, I am writing this post on the Toshiba Satellite Radius P55W-B5220 (solid laptop, made better when I upgraded to Windows 10).
With an All-in-One, you can fold the screen back and use it like a tablet, then flip it back into laptop mode when needed. With a 13-inch screen and 7-hour battery life, the Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro 2-in-1 is great for watching a movie or reading an eBook on long trips or simply working while sipping that caramel macchiato at Starbucks.
1. MSI GE70 – $1,080 Click to buy from Amazon
Ahhh, my favorite category… the gaming laptop. Normally, I would have an Alienware here; however, these days, in this economy…Alienware is just too damn expensive!
The MSI GE70 is an excellent gaming laptop for the value-conscious. With a 17-inch screen and 12GB ram, you’re getting close to the same specs as an Alienware for less.
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