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The best laptops under $1,000 you can buy: Expert tested
Why you can trust ZDNET
ZDNET's reviewers spend weeks to months testing each laptop on this list, using it for both everyday tasks like browsing, streaming, and gaming, to more performance-intensive work like photo and video editing. We aim to give you a view into how each laptop could actually fit into your life and workflow, and the pros and cons of their various features like performance, display, and battery life.
What to Consider
Design
Performance
Storage and RAM
Purpose
Value
Gone are the days of huge PC towers taking up desk space to achieve powerful performance. Computers with an abundance of power can now be condensed into a slim laptop with a lower price tag than some high-end models. Many of the best laptops under $1,000 are lightweight and offer lightning-fast speeds, highly detailed graphics, and up to 1TB of storage space to meet all of your creative or professional needs.
Also: The best laptops under $500
What is the best laptop under $1,000 right now?
My pick for the best laptop under $1,000 overall is the M2 MacBook Air, thanks to its solid performance, portability, and HD display. With the March release of the M3 MacBook Air, the previous M2 model received a price cut. This is great news because the device is well known for its portability and awesome performance but not for its affordability. Of course, the M2 MacBook Air isn't the only option out there. With this in mind, check out my top picks for the best laptops under $1,000.
The best laptops under $1,000 of 2024
Apple M2 MacBook Air
Best laptop under $1,000 overall
The best laptop under $1,000 overall is the M2 MacBook Air, which was also named ZDNET's Product of the Year for 2022. It's a fantastic machine for a variety of reasons. The M2 SoC (system on a chip) gives the device a much-needed performance boost. It lets you quickly transfer enormous files, render videos, compress them, and create multimedia-intense PowerPoints. The M2 MacBook Air can do all of this without blinking.
Professional and casual users alike will appreciate the Liquid Retina display, which can simultaneously show 1.07 billion shades of color. Granted, it may not be as stunning as the screen on the MacBook Pro, but you still get a roughly 2K resolution image (2,560 x 1,664 pixels). Having a screen this nice does come at a cost. The M2 MacBook Air has a slightly worse battery life than the 2020 model, lasting about 16 hours instead of 17 hours.
Review: Apple MacBook Air (M2, 2022)
Despite the slightly short battery life, the device is a premiere laptop, no matter how you look at it. As ZDNET's editor-in-chief Jason Hiner wrote in his hands-on review, "the M2 MacBook Air is... the first redesign of the... product line in over a decade, and Apple has delivered a hardware design that impresses" on both form and function.
Apple M2 MacBook Air tech specs: CPU Model: Apple M2 | RAM Memory: 8GB | Hard Disk Drive: 256GB SSD | Screen Size: 13.6 inches
Gigabyte G5 KF
Best laptop under $1,000 for gaming
Gaming laptops tend to be rather expensive, and for good reason. They often house some of the industry's best hardware configurations. They're so good that these machines can also be found among the best video editing laptops. Finding an excellent, inexpensive gaming laptop can be tricky, although it is possible. Case in point: the Gigabyte G5 KF. It may be cheap, but don't let the low price tag fool you because it's quite a beast. It houses a 12th Gen Intel Core i5 processor with a Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 graphics card, ensuring powerful performance.
Moreover, the G5 KF comes with a 15.6-inch Full HD (1,920 x 1,080 pixels) display sporting a high refresh rate of 144Hz. The refresh rate, if you're not familiar with it, is the frequency of how often a screen updates itself. The higher the rate, the smoother the output will be. This is important because video games benefit significantly from high refresh rates. They ensure you never miss the action and can see everything coming at you.
As good as the G5 HF is, it has some downsides. Multiple user reviews on Amazon complain about how loud the fan can get (gaming laptops require robust cooling systems to keep operating at an optimal temperature). The device can still get hot despite the noise, making typing more difficult.
GIGABYTE G5 KF tech specs: CPU Model: 12th Gen Intel Core i5-12500H | RAM Memory: 8GB | Hard Disk Drive: 512 GB SSD | Screen Size: 15.6 inches
Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in1
Best 2-in-1 laptop under $1,000
2-in-1 laptops offer unique utility due to their flexibility: one minute, you could use it as a traditional laptop typing away on the keyboard, and the next, you'd be drawing on it like a tablet after flipping the display around. Their form factor allows them to tackle all sorts of workloads. Among the low-cost options, the Lenovo Yoga 7i is the best.
The Yoga 7i's success is due to three factors: its hardware, its display, and its design. First, the device houses the decently powerful Intel Core Ultra 5 alongside 16GB of RAM, making it robust and speedy enough to handle a wide array of tasks easily. Additionally, it offers a good amount of storage courtesy of its 512GB SSD.
Also: Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in1
Regarding its display, you'll receive a 16-inch Full HD touchscreen. ZDNET Editor Kyle Kucharski referred to it as "dynamic... [adding] another dimension to Windows" and allowing "flexible usage."
However, it is not particularly bright, maxing out at 300 nits (you're better off not using this laptop under the sun). Design-wise, Lenovo made several great choices: It's slim yet durable, and the hinges feel particularly strong, minimizing screen wobble.
Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 tech specs: CPU Model: Intel Core Ultra 5 Series 1 | RAM Memory: 16 GB | Hard Disk Drive: 512 SSD | Screen Size: 16-inches
Dell Inspiron 16
Best 16-inch laptop under $1,000
Dell's Inspiron series is known for having some of the best work laptops in its lineup, and for good reason. They deliver solid performance, plenty of storage space, and a great, high-resolution display, all at a reasonable price. This tradition of reliability continues with the company's latest refresh for the Inspiron 16.
Dell decided to ditch AMD hardware for this model and equip the laptop only with Intel chips. Because of this change, the new Inspiron 16 is a bit more expensive but is still worth the cost. Inside is a 13th-generation Intel Core i5-1334U alongside an integrated Iris Xe GPU. There is no Meteor Lake chipset, but you can still expect outstanding performance from this engine. It'll be able to handle a whole day's work with ease. Plus, it has more RAM, too, at 16GB instead of 8GB.
Like before, buyers get a full terabyte of storage and a large, 16-inch Full-HD Plus (1,920 x 1,200 pixels) display. The glass is covered with an anti-glare coating, ensuring images come through crystal clear under direct sunlight. Of course, we can't forget the rugged aluminum body, which lets it survive being tossed and turned in your bag while traveling.
The Inspiron 16 offers multiple configuration options to boost its performance; however, doing so will increase the price tag considerably, with some going past $1,000.
Dell Inspiron 16 tech specs: CPU Model: 13th Gen Intel Core i5-1334U | RAM Memory: 16 GB | Hard Disk Drive: 512 GB SSD | Screen Size: 16 inches
HP Pavilion Plus
Best screen for a laptop under $1,000
Being a budget laptop doesn't necessarily mean you have to offer a subpar experience. Case in point: the HP Pavilion Plus, which has a fantastic screen. It starts strong, as the base model houses a 1,920 x 1,200 pixel resolution IPS (in-plane switching) display. An IPS screen is notable because it outputs more color and has better viewing angles than an LED display.
One step above that, you have the WQXGA options, which outputs at a resolution of 2,560 x 1,600 pixels. Not only is it an IP screen, but it's also covered in an anti-glare coating to ensure clarity. And it's been certified for Low Blue Light to keep your eye from getting tired of staring at a screen all day. Then, at the top, HP offers a stunning 2.8K resolution OLED screen. This is the cream of the crop as the option can show off a vibrant array of colors and abyssal blacks in high quality.
The problem with the OLED option is that it is the most expensive of the three. It requires you to get the AMD Ryzen 7 7840U processor, increasing the cost of the laptop to over $800. It is still relatively cheap compared to other OLED laptops, but it may be out of budget for some people. Regardless of the price, the Pavilion Plus is a great device.
HP Pavilion Plus tech specs: CPU Model: AMD Ryzen 5 7540U | RAM Memory: 16 GB | Hard Disk Drive: 512 GB SSD | Screen Size: 14 inches
Acer Aspire 3
Best value laptop under $1,000
The Acer Aspire 3 has earned its spot as the best laptop for value. It's the cheapest option here and serves as a solid work machine. The device has an AMD Ryzen 3 7320U processor, an integrated AMD Radeon graphics card, and 8GB of RAM. It's a lightweight laptop that can handle various tasks, from internet browsing to writing documents and streaming movies. Due to its mid-range hardware, the Aspire 3's battery can last quite a while – about 11 hours on a single charge, according to Acer. You should know the
If you check out the Amazon reviews for the laptop, you'll notice many people like the display. The summary explicitly points out that users enjoy how it "provides crisp visuals and vibrant colors." That's probably because Acer gave their model a 15.6-inch Full HD resolution (1,920 x 1,080 pixels) IPS display.
Like the previous Pavilion Plus, IPS tech allows the computer to show vibrant colors. It even supports Acer BlueLightShield, which lowers the amount of harmful blue light sent to your eyes. Another great feature worth mentioning is its large cooling fan, which ensures the model is at an optimal temperature at all times.
Acer Aspire 3 tech specs: CPU Model: AMD Ryzen 3 7320U | RAM Memory: 8GB LPDDR5 | Hard Disk Drive: 128 GB | Screen Size: 15.6 inches
Asus Zenbook 14
Best work laptop under $1,000
ASUS isn't known for its work laptops. People associate the name with gaming hardware, but you'd be surprised what the Zenbook 14 can deliver. It houses an Intel Core Ultra 5 125H alongside an NPU or neural processing unit. NPUs are a relatively new piece of tech that has become quite common in 2024 laptops. They improve overall hardware performance, which is great to have on low-end models.
While the Zenbook 14 is less powerful with the integrated Intel graphics card and 8GB of RAM, the NPU makes up much of the slack.
Review: Asus Zenbook 14
One area the laptop excelled in was battery longevity. During our initial tests, it lasted 12 straight hours before running out of juice. Be aware that this length of time was achieved without battery save mode turned on. With the feature active, there's a good chance it would've gone for much longer. Additionally, it comes with a vibrant OLED screen displaying a Full HD resolution (1,920 x 1,200 pixels) image.
Also, remember that the Zenbook 14 can become warm when the hardware is pushed to its limits.
Asus Zenbook 14 tech specs: CPU Model: Intel Core Ultra 5 | RAM Memory: 8 GB | Hard Disk Drive: 512 GB | Screen Size: 14-inches
What is the best laptop under $1,000?
The best laptop under $1,000 is Apple's M2 MacBook Air. It delivers on multiple fronts: great performance, a nice screen, a lightweight design, and so on. But that doesn't mean you should discount the other options. They're all solid picks. Below is a table where we compare the best laptops by price, their CPU, storage size, and screen size to make the decision process easier.
With all big decisions comes a lot of research. Thankfully, we did a lot of the heavy lifting for you regarding searching up the key specs of the best laptops under $1,000. Below is a table comparing the best laptops in this list by price, CPU model, and screen size to help make the decision process more manageable.
| Best laptop under $1,000 | Lowest price available | CPU | Screen size | Storage size |
| Apple M2 MacBook Air | $950 | M2 | 13.6 inches | 256 GB |
| GIGABYTE G5 KF | $800 | 12th Gen Intel Core i5-12500H | 15.6 inches | 512 GB |
| Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 | $700 | Intel Core Ultra 5 | 16 inches | 512 GB |
| Dell Inspiron 16 | $450 | 13th-Gen Intel Core i5 1334U | 16 inches | 1 TB |
| HP Pavilion Plus | $640 | AMD Ryzen 5 7540U | 14 inches | 512 GB |
| Acer Aspire 3 | $300 | Intel Core i6-8265U | 15.6 inches | 256 GB |
| Asus Zenbook 14 | $800 | Acer Ryzen 3 7320U | 15.6 inches | 128 GB |
Which is the right laptop under $1,000 for you?
The best laptop is the one that meets your needs. There isn't a one-size-fits-all computer. The MacBook Air, as great as it is, is a bad pick for people who want a gaming laptop. Mac hardware just isn't built for that. Small laptops aren't recommended for those who are looking for a large screen.
Read the chart below to find out which device works best for you.
| Choose this best laptop under $1,000.... | If you want.... |
| Apple M2 MacBook Air | A laptop that's perfect for Apple users. Harnessing its M2 chip and 8GB of memory, this MacBook Air model offers solid performance plus a high-quality screen. |
| Gigabyte G5 KF | The best cheap gaming laptop. Cheap doesn't mean it's a slouch as this model packs in a GeForce RTX GPU and 12th-Gen Intel processor |
| Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 | The best 2-in-1 laptop. Lenovo's machine delivers great performance and a hi-res display inside a slim, portable form factor. |
| Dell Inspiron 16 | A great work laptop with a huge display. In addition to its 16-inch screen, the model offers a full terabyte of storage, great hardware, and a durable body |
| HP Pavilion Plus | A lap top with a fantastic screen. The Pavilion Plus sports multiple screen options that are all great, peaking with the 2.8K OLED screen. It can output a stunning array of colors. |
| Acer Aspire 3 | The best value laptop under $1,000. It's a solid work machine capable of tackling multiple types of tasks and can up to 11 hours on a single charge. |
| Asus Zenbook 14 | The best work laptop under $1,000. It's a machine that utilizes AI to push mid-range hardware above and beyond what it can normally do alone. |
Factors to consider when choosing a laptop under $1,000:
A great laptop doesn't have to cost a fortune. To determine the best laptops under $1,000, there are several factors you need to consider.
- CPU Model: A good processor allows your computer to complete workloads quickly and understand the task at hand. Look for a newer processor boasting faster speeds to guarantee a high-performing machine.
- RAM Memory: Consider how much memory you will need for your computer. If you deal with a lot of files, you'll need more RAM than the average user.
- Screen size: It's usually a matter of preference when it comes to picking out the best screen size. Laptops under $1,000 tend to have small display screens, ranging from 12.3 inches to 15.6 inches. It is possible to find laptops that are both bigger and smaller than this specific range.
- Price: Cost is, of course, the most important factor here, so pay attention to that price tag. We find that the best devices range between $500 to $800, depending on the make and model you choose.
How did we test these laptops?
Here at ZDNET, we receive a lot of laptops to check out and review. Taking into account the model from the past, any of them could've made the list. So, it's important we separate the best from the rest. To do this, we follow the guidelines in the previous question. We look at what kind of processor the device has, the amount of memory, the size of the screen, and how much it costs. From there, the laptops are tested for quality. We run labor-intensive apps to how well they perform.
Once all that is done, we come to a consensus on what the best ones are and put them together on a list. It can be tricky at times to pick the winners, although some are a no-brainer.
Are gaming laptops under $1,000 good?
Yes, of course. You can find solid gaming laptops that cost less than $1,000. However, keep in mind that you get what you pay for. Cheap gaming laptops aren't exactly known for their power. They won't have the same level of performance as a more expensive machine. If you're a casual gamer or don't care that much about having the best graphical performance possible, then a mid-ranger computer will provide a great experience.
If you are going to get a computer for gaming, you're better off buying a proper desktop although those can be expensive.
Is it worth buying an old laptop?
Many of the laptops featured on this list came out in the last few years or so. You can save even more money by buying an older model, but there is a limit to how far you can go. At a certain point, it becomes detrimental to own an old machine because it's so out of date. Windows 10, for example, is scheduled to receive its last official update on October 2025. You could keep your own Win 10 laptop past that date, but after a while, you'll begin to experience performance degradation. It won't be as fast plus you'd be less secure against new online threats.
We recommend keeping a laptop for five years before considering an upgrade.
Is it worth repairing a laptop?
It is definitely worth fixing your old laptop if you want to hold onto it. iFixit is an online retailer where you buy spare parts for multiple laptop brands, including Lenovo, Acer, and HP. Apple has its own repair service for MacBooks too.
Making repairs does require you to have a bit of technical knowledge. It's not super difficult as these retailers offer step-by-step guides on how to fix hardware. However, repairs can be expensive, especially when it comes to Apple. Replacing the battery on the M2 MacBook Air costs an estimated $160.
Are inexpensive laptops cheaply built?
No. Cheap laptops can have a build on par with higher-end models, if not better in certain cases. With this in mind, it's important you take frequent care of your machine regardless of how much it costs. Under $1,000 is still pretty expensive and it would be a shame if your laptop stops working.
There are multiple things you can do to ensure a laptop's longevity. For example, make sure it's well-ventilated. Place your device on a desk or hard surface, and not on a pillow or something soft. Heat can get trapped on soft materials. We also recommend installing updates as they come. These patches often introduce new protections against malware or you can always get antivirus software.
Who makes the best laptops under $1,000?
Just about every major laptop manufacturer develops a mid-range laptop: Apple, HP, Acer, Dell, and so on. All of our favorites, and arguably, the best ones are here on this list.
What is the best touchscreen laptop?
The best touchscreen laptop is the HP Spectre x360. We recommend checking out its entry earlier in the list, but to give you a quick rundown on why we like it so much, the device comes with a stunning 2.8K OLED display, which is perfect for working on. What's more, it has an IMAX-boosted sound system, making it ideal for watching movies. And it has a 9MP webcam, ensuring you look good in video calls.
We also recommend laptops from the Microsoft Surface Pro series. They didn't make the list, but they're still great picks. Surface Pro laptops come in a variety of different sizes and specs combinations. So much so, you're bound to find the perfect one for you.
Are there alternative laptops under $1,000 worth considering?
Absolutely. There are a ton of cheap laptops out there. We would've to have included more, but for the sake of brevity, we kept the list short. Down below are a few more choices from the big-name brands and more that are worth your consideration.