5 Best Value Laptops Right Now
When you need a new laptop, you need something that can work hard but doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. If you really want value, these five laptops are all currently affordable while offering something special.
Lenovo Chromebook Duet
You can find a Lenovo Chromebook duet on Amazon for as low as $269. As a Chromebook, it is lightweight and minimalist. Its hardware is ideal for searching the web, having virtual meetings, word processing, and other traditional productivity tasks. It’s pretty much the least amount of money you can spend on a reliable laptop. But, for those who spend a lot of time gaming or editing videos and pictures, this is not the device for you.
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go
If you need a little more power under the hood, the Surface Laptop Go is a great option. The surface series has been respected as a value computing option for years, and at $649.99, the Go lives up to that reputation. It has a great mid-tier processor, a very fast hard drive, and enough RAM to work hard day in and out. While this laptop still isn’t great for heavy video processing, for just about any task, it will do great, and you likely won’t need an upgrade for half a decade or more.
Let’s give an honorable mention to the Surface Go 2 tablet, which is only $385. Its performance is comparable to the Laptop Go, but it has a smaller screen and keyboard.
Acer AN515
If you want a value option that can break into heavier video processing, then this is a great option. It’s available for around $750, and it includes a dedicated graphics card that can handle games and video editing software. It’s fast all around too. You probably won’t find a better bang for your buck among laptops with dedicated video processing.
MacBook Air 13.3
Macs are not known for being cheap, but if you’re in love with the Apple ecosystem and want to save a few dollars, then the Air 13.3 is the best option. With the newer M1 chips, they are fast, have a long battery life, and cost a lot less than top-of-the-line MacBook Pros. A new Air 13.3 will start at about $1,000, but you can get a certified refurbished or pre-owned laptop for as little as $500.
Acer Swift 3
We’ve covered the lowest cost, better performance, video editing, and Mac options. The last on the list is the most durable value laptop. The Acer Swift 3 is often marketed for students, and that’s because it comes in a durable frame. It’s designed for a little more use and wear. Despite that, it has the most powerful default processor on this list. It’s still light and fast, and it can certainly last for the entirety of a school career. It is currently retailing at $634.
Those are your five best value laptops right now.
