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If, like most people, your Laptop needs revolve around internet browsing, watching HD movies, and working on Office applications, then you don’t to dish out thousand bucks for the latest notebook.
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Nowadays, a ‘budget’ laptop doesn’t refer to a machine with a low battery life and low-powered processor. It actually means the opposite. The best budget laptops of 2017 now offer more processing power than the average user requires. So let’s go through what it takes to find the perfect laptop that fits your needs and budget.
Best Laptop for 2017 – (Best Budget Top 5)
Basically in this guide we are going to talk about finding the best laptop at various price points especially best laptop under 500 and 1000.
I am going to explain to what you need to look for in a laptop, and we’ll talk about components like graphics cards and keyboards that you can use to enhance your laptop experience.
For your convenience, there is also a comparison chart of the top 10 best budget laptops, followed by comprehensive review of the 5 most popular laptops for 2017. But first, let us discuss whether you actually need a laptop or not!
When is the Best Time to Buy a Laptop
There is no ‘best time’ so to speak. It all depends on what you want to do with a laptop. Sometimes customers pay $1200 for a laptop which goes on sale just after a month, or a new model comes out in couple of months.
So the first thing you need to determine is why you are looking for a laptop. For instance, do you need a gaming laptop or an office laptop? Or you just want to surf the internet, in which case even a Chromebook will suffice. More on this in the next section.
Is urgency the more important factor, i.e. do you need the laptop right away? Here are some scenarios in which you can’t delay the purchase:
- Your current laptop is broken
- You need to gift a laptop to someone
- You are starting college
In these scenarios, you will simply have to get something in your price range right away. However, if there is no urgency, and your old laptop can make it a few more months, then it is better to wait for a great discount or even new technology.
The top laptop brands release new laptops around Easter time, after the summer holidays, and the holidays. You can expect the best deals during the back-to-school season (July to August) and the holidays (November and December).
And it is during the last days of these seasons that you can expect the lowest prices. But do note that there is no guarantee that the laptop you are planning to get will be any cheaper in August or December, but you may get a newer model altogether.
It also happens that a manufacturer discontinues a previous model without putting it up for sale first. In this case, you may find a third-party retailer, but don’t expect any discounts.
Some customers also fear that their laptop will become obsolete if a newer version is released soon after. However, the majority of laptops, especially from Apple and Windows don’t get any major any changes for at least 12 months.
What to look for in a Laptop – Read Carefully before Deal
Whenever you are buying a laptop, it is essential to know what to look for in a laptop. This information is highly useful if you want to get the best deal.
Don’t Be Betrayed by the Price Tag
As mentioned earlier, the newest ‘budget laptops’ all surpass the average user’s benchmark of what a powerful laptop is. This is the way it has been for the last 3 years especially. Before that, even a $1000 price-tag was rejected by customers looking for a powerful machine.
If you haven’t been in the market for a while, you can get a Windows laptop or a Chromebook for about $300, which will cater to all your web browsing needs. You can even get a decent gaming laptop for $800. So don’t be betrayed by the price tag.
Consider the Specs
Will you be carrying your laptop around a lot? If yes, then you need a smaller screen size, thinner form and light weight. Consider an 11-inch to 13-inch laptop with around 15mm thickness weighing no more than 3 pounds.
This will make travelling convenient, but you will have to compromise a little on power and battery life.
Choose a Design that You Love
For the most part, laptops in the same price range tend to perform similarly, regardless of the brand. This is because their specs and components are mostly the same (see chart below).
So get a laptop whose design appeals you. Someone appreciates a large touchpad while another prefers a metal body over plastic ones. So get something you will ‘like’ using.
Top 10 Best Under Budget Laptop – (Comparison Table)
Now that we have discussed the features you should be looking for in the best cheap laptop, here is a list of the top 10 best budget laptops for 2017. This will also give you an idea of the kind of features you get in the budget category.
| Laptop | Processor | Memory | Graphics Card | Storage | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HP 14-inch Laptop Read Full Review | 1.8 GHz E2-7110 | 4GB | AMD Radeon R2 | 32 GB emmc | CHECK PRICE |
| Dell Inspiron Flagship Read Full Review | 2.5 Ghz Intel Core i5 | 8 GB SDRAM DDR3 | AMD Radeon R5 M335 | 1 TB HDD 5400 rpm | CHECK PRICE |
| ASUS F556UA-AB54 NB Read Full Review | 2.5 GHz Core i5-5287U | 8 GB DDR4 SDRAM | Integrated graphics | 256 GB Flash Memory Solid State | CHECK PRICE |
| Acer Aspire E5-575G Read Full Review | 2.3 GHz Intel Core i5 | 8 GB DDR4 SDRAM | NVIDIA GeForce 940MX | 256 GB flash memory solid state | CHECK PRICE |
| Apple MacBook Air 13.3 Read Full Review | 1.6 GHz Intel Core i5 | 8 GB DDR3 SDRAM | Intel integrated graphics | 128 GB | CHECK PRICE |
| Acer Aspire E 15 E5 | 2.4 GHz Intel Core i3 | 4GB | Intel HD Graphics 620 | 1000 GB Mechanical hard drive | CHECK PRICE |
| ASUS F556UA-AB32 15.6-inch | 2.3 GHz | 4GB | Intel HD Graphics | 1000 GB Mechanical hard drive | CHECK PRICE |
| ASUS ZenBook UX330UA | 2.5 GHz | 8 GB DDR3 SDRAM | Intel HD Graphics 520 Integrated | flash_memory solid_state | CHECK PRICE |
| Acer 15.6" Chromebook | 1.6 GHz Celeron N3060 | 2GB | - | 16 GB emmc | CHECK PRICE |
| Dell Inspiron i7559 | 2.6 GHz Intel Core i7 | 8 GB DDR3L SDRAM | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M 4GB GDDR5 | 1 TB Hybrid HDD + Flash Cache | CHECK PRICE |
Top 5 Best Laptop Full Review for Best Pick
Buying a laptop is not an easy affair, even when you know what to look for. That is why reviews are invaluable. So here we review 5 of the best budget laptops that we feel you will find highly useful.
Best Laptop Under 300 – HP 14-inch Laptop, AMD E2-7110
When you are scanning the market for the best laptop under 300, you will find HP 14-AN013NR AMD E2-7110 second to none.
The large screen offers a great HD display, which makes this a great laptop for watching movies while you do your daily computing tasks smoothly.
The laptop is extremely lightweight and thin, weighing less than 4 pounds and measuring 9.5×13.6×0.9 inches. It features a turbo silver body.
The plastic body features textured linear groves to give it a sturdy look that complements its light structure. This laptop, however, comes only in turbo silver which may not appeal to everyone.
The HP 14-inch AN013nr has a limited battery life of up to 5 hours. Also, the AMD E2-7110 processor is not cut out for heavy computing tasks and gaming.
The 4GB of RAM however provides reliable everyday performance for daily tasks like running email clients, surfing the web, or watching HD movies. Storage is a plus point with this laptop thanks to its 32GB SSD.
- 14-inch HD screen
- Resolution: 1920×1080 pixels
- 802.11 A/C Wi-Fi
- 1 USB 3.0 port
- Weight:3.9 pounds
- 9.5 x 13.6 x 0.9 inches
- 4GB RAM
- 32GB emmic storage
- 1.8 GHz E2-7110 processor
| Pros | Cons |
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Best Laptop Under 500 – Dell Inspiron 15 i5559-4682slv Signature Edition
Next in line is the Dell Inspiron 15 i5559-4682slv Signature Edition, which in my estimation is the best laptop under 500.We highly recommend this laptop for general use and as a desktop replacement. However, this is not a gaming laptop because it doesn’t come with a dedicated graphics card.
This laptop features a prominent a 15-inch screen with LED display and full HD resolution. Apart from the large screen, the laptop features a sleek design with a modern-looking backlit keyword.
In addition, this Dell laptop is also lightweight and extremely thin, with a depth of less than 1 inch. And weighing less than pounds, you can easily carry it around wherever you like.
The Dell Inspiron 15 i15558-5718SLV is packing power with the dual core 4th generation Core i5 and 8GB of RAM. This makes it one of the best budget laptops for multitasking.
You will be able to run multiple programs and open several tabs at once without experiencing any kind of lagging. And a 7-hour battery life ensures that you continue working uninterrupted for a long time.
- 15.6 inch screen
- 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5
- 8 GB SDRAM DDR3 RAM
- 1 TB HDD 5400 rpm storage
- 802.11A, 802.11bgn, Bluetooth wireless
- 7 hour battery life
- Windows 10
| Pros | Cons |
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Best Laptop Under 600 – ASUS F556UA-AB54
A third selection is the ASUS F556UA-AB54 15-inch laptop. It is truly the best laptop under 600 and a great purchase for 2017 because it features the 7th generation Intel Core i5 processor, among other amazing features. Let’s have a look.
The ASUS F556UA defines elegance. It has beautiful golden exterior that adds class to its thin body. It is lightweight as well, weighing only 5.1 pounds.
This makes a great choice for business professionals who cannot only carry this machine around but also make a good impression on their clients thanks to its classy look.
This laptop works perfectly for tasks like video editing and graphic design. Even on the most complex tasks, you will not experience any lag.
Along with the 7th generation Intel Core i5 processor, it also features the latest hardware, especially a USB Type-C port. And since it is has a low power processor, you get up to 7 hours of battery time.
- 15.6 inch screen
- Resolution: 1920*1080 pixels
- 2.5 GHz Core i5-5287U
- 8 GB DDR4 SDRAM
- Integrated graphics
- 802.11 A/C wireless
- 1 USB 2.0 and 1 USB 3.0 port
| Pros | Cons |
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Best Laptop Under 700 – Acer Aspire E5-575G-53VG
If you can expand your search to the best laptop under 700, then the Acer Aspire E5-575G-53VG is your best bet. And if you are a gamer, perhaps this is the only laptop in the price range that will suit you.
The Acer Aspire E5 is meant for laptop gaming enthusiasts and features a vivid 15.6-inch HD screen. It’s lightweight and thin, and weighs just a little over 5 pounds. The machine features a plastic body with a shiny black color.
Apparently Acer did not focus much on the color scheme and design of this laptop as compared to other models, and perhaps they invested more on the performance side.
The laptop comes integrated with the 6th generation Core i5 processor which combined with the graphics card and the 8GB RAM offers impressive speed and power to run the heaviest games. You can also perform other tasks on this laptop, such as photo and video editing without experiencing lag.
- 15 x 10.2 x 1.2 inches
- Weight: 5 pounds
- Intel Core i5
- Windows 10 pre-installed
- 8GB DDR4-SDRAM (upgradable)
- 256GB SSD
- Nvidia GeForce 940 MX graphics card
| Pros | Cons |
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Best Laptop Under 1000 – Apple MacBook Air 13 inch
In the beginning we talked about how laptops in the same price range perform similarly, and that you are actually investing in design.
Apple is the only company that takes it up a notch and charge almost exclusively for its logo! In our final pick, we have the Apple MacBook Air 13 inch which according to many is the best laptop under 1000.
Whether you like it or not, the MacBook Air 13 features the same design that has been in this range of laptop s for 5 years. But that maybe because the design has proved durable.
It features an aluminum body which feels smooth when you open and shut the lid. Aluminum is also easy to clean, though it is prone to scratches.
One of the best things about the MacBook Air 13 is its impressive 12-hour battery life. The RAM enables faster speeds, and the MacBook Air 13 also proves to be a pretty decent gaming laptop, though serious gamers will feel its use to be limited.
Since Apple makes both hardware and software for its products, the resulting performance is uniquely smooth and reliable. So is the case for the MacBook Air.
It also features a 720p camera which is good enough for lively FaceTime and Skype sessions.
- 13.3 inch screen
- Resolution: 1440×900
- 1.6 GHz Intel Core i5
- 8 GB DDR3 SDRAM
- 128 GB
- Integrated graphics
- 12 hour battery life
| Pros | Cons |
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Bottom Line
So there you have it. Hopefully this guide helped you understand and appreciate the ins and outs of what it takes to buy the best laptop on a budget.
The post Top 5 Best laptop under 500 and 1000 – Review for Best Pick appeared first on ProductOnDeal.
