The Best Third-Party Laptops at Any Price
If I’ve learned anything from giving my friends tech buying advice over the past decade, it’s that not everyone wants to pay more for an Apple product, especially laptops. The company’s nifty aluminum technology is capable, but the starting price of the MacBook Air is still too high for the average person. Not everyone can afford to shell out over a thousand dollars for a new kit.
If you are one of these people, the good news is that there are other options. There are laptop PCs that can do everything Apple computers can do for a fraction of the cost, and they come in all shapes and sizes. Some of them can even be turned into tablets. Chromebooks have also had some success in recent years; Chrome OS now has access to an extensive library of Android apps, or you can use Android Studio to program your own. For the experienced computer user, even Linux compatibility is on the way, which will help turn Google’s cloud operating system into its own platform. As with PCs, many Chromebooks work like tablets.
Of course, one of the downsides to buying a laptop outside of the Apple store is that there are almost too many to choose from, so we’ve curbed it in by collecting a couple of well-rated laptops from a variety of trusted sources. and dividing them into price tiers so you can choose from what’s available within your budget. Better yet, everything featured here costs less than $ 1,300.
What you can get for under $ 500
Can’t afford to spend a lot on a new laptop? No problem. Whether you’re in school, running your own business, or just need something to watch Netflix, there are a few under $ 500 Chromebooks and Windows 10 laptops that can handle the task. They have enough hardware to handle spreadsheets and PDFs, web browsing, basic photo editing, and even casual gaming.
It’s not worth spending this small amount if you need a computer that can handle serious tasks like video editing or podcasting on the go. If you are looking for a machine like this, you better wait until this season’s laptops get cheaper. You might also consider buying refurbished computers from well-known brands like Dell and Lenovo. Caveats aside, here are some of the best options available to you in this price range:
Asus Chromebook Flip
Operating system: Chrome OS
Processor: Intel Core m3 / m5
RAM: 4 GB
Storage: 64 GB
Price (at time of publication ): $ 459.67
For those who can’t wait for the sale, the Acer Chromebook Flip is perfect for students and mobile workers alike. It was rated as one of the best laptops of 2018 by PCMag and one of the best Chromebooks by The Wirecutter . For under $ 500, it is available with an Intel Core m3 processor, although for better performance and consistency, you can buy it with a faster Core m5 processor for $ 150 more. Both models feature 4GB of RAM, up to 10 hours of battery life and a backlit keyboard. You can even flip the touchscreen to turn it into a tablet. This Chromebook Flip is also compatible with Android apps, so you have access to things like Adobe Lightroom and Snapseed for photo editing. And if you need more than 64GB of storage, you can insert a microSD card.
The Chromebook Flip has a few caveats. While it works with Android apps, you’ll find that not all of them can replace desktop apps like Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Office, and even simpler apps like Spotify. Playing games is another matter entirely, and many apps won’t work with the Chromebook Flip’s touchscreen like they do on a smartphone or tablet. The trackpad is also not the most responsive for precise scrolling, and it only offers two USB-C ports for external connections. Still, as the main internet browser, the Chromebook Flip is a decent option for those who don’t want to deal with the maintenance required by Windows or Mac.
Asus VivoBook Flip 14
OS: Windows 10
Processor: Intel Core m3 2.6 GHz
RAM: 4 GB
Storage: 64GB or 128GB
Price (at time of publication ): $ 474.99
If you don’t really like the idea of a cloud-based Chrome OS laptop, the Asus VivoBook Flip 14 is another affordable option that runs Windows 10. This is one of the best budget student laptops of choice by PCMag . Its Intel Core m3 processor is roughly on par with the performance offered in the Chromebook Flip, although even with 4GB of RAM, it’s not the most stable across multiple tasks. You have to deal with malware, which is relatively standard for Windows PCs at this price point. There is also only one USB-C port and a micro-USB port, the latter of which no one else uses and seems like a completely wasted space.
At least there is a standard SD card slot for uploading photos from your DSLR to your computer. You can also use this slot to add extra storage to the VivoBook’s 64GB SSD (or pay an extra $ 120 for the 128GB version). When you feel like watching a movie, you can flip the VivoBook’s keyboard backwards to turn it into a kind of touchscreen entertainment portal.
What you get for less than $ 800
Saving money is always an admirable goal, but sometimes the cheapest choice doesn’t quite fit the demands of your day-to-day job. Below $ 800, you should look out for budget Ultrabooks running Windows 10. These machines have pretty good processors and enough memory for some difficult tasks like working with multiple file types and recording sound, not to mention they offer the best battery life. They are great for students and anyone who needs a laptop to store large amounts of data.
However, be prepared for the term “ultrabook” to seem a bit wrong when you see players at this price point, because the design of the competition is awkward. Many budget Ultrabooks are more noticeable in size and don’t offer the sharpest screens, or the keyboard and mouse seem to be missing. These things can sometimes be remedied with external peripherals and a little patience, but if you can’t compromise, you might consider finding a few more hundred dollars and going for options under $ 1,300.
For those interested in Chromebooks, Google recently dropped the price of its flagship Pixelbook to $ 750, making it a great choice for both new users looking to convert and power users in need of an upgrade. The Pixelbook is one of the first Chromebooks with an Intel processor, which means it can do a lot more than cheaper options like the Asus Chromebook Flip. Chrome OS also supports Linux and Android Studio apps, making it a great choice for anyone looking to get into programming.
Google PixelBook
OS: Chrome OS
Processor: Intel Core i5 / i7
RAM: 8 GB or 16 GB
Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
Price (at time of publication ): $ 749
The Chromebook platform has been on the rise since Google announced its flagship Pixelbook late last fall. This laptop is impressive, offering nearly the same power as the base Windows Ultrabook. Along with the power of Google’s cloud operating system, this is a great option for both casual and avid users.
The Pixelbook is a 12.3-inch convertible laptop with the best screen, keyboard, and trackpad of any Chromebook on the market. It features an Intel Core i5 processor and 8GB of RAM, although it is also available with a Core i7 chip for heavier computing ( ZDNet said this particular model is “the best Chromebook to date”). With a minimum storage of 128GB, the Pixelbook holds more than other Chromebooks, and while its battery isn’t the longest, it’s still good enough for the power user.
The PixelBook also takes advantage of complex stylus input. The $ 100 Pixelbook Pen, sold separately, opens up precise writing and drawing capabilities right on the screen, although there are conflicting reports of how smoothly it works, like the iPad Pro with Apple Pencil or Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 with its S- Pen. …
Asus ZenBook
OS: Chrome OS
Processor: Intel Core i5
RAM: 8 GB or 16 GB
Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
Price (at time of publication ): $ 749
If Chrome OS still doesn’t feel like your cup of tea, take a look at one of the best budget ultrabooks available running Windows 10. The Asus ZenBook is, as Wirecutter put it, a “ridiculously good” laptop for students. and regular users. It offers the same specs as the well-proven Dell XPS 13, a comfortable backlit keyboard and plenty of battery life to run all day. If you want a computer that’s light enough to carry wherever you go, and compatible with most of the software you’ll need for work or school, the Asus ZenBook is worth a look at under $ 1,000.
Of course, the Asus ZenBook is not without its drawbacks. Its trackpad has received poor reviews for its reliability. There are also not many connection ports, although there is a USB-C port that you can use to connect an external adapter (note that this port does not charge the device). But if you want a computer that can do ordinary things and doesn’t cost exorbitant money, the ZenBook has some stamina.
What you get for less than $ 1,300
If your budget starts at around $ 1,000, be prepared to take advantage of the vast array of opportunities. There are so many Windows 10 laptops and Ultrabooks available for this price, although not all are equipped with what you might need. For example, you can buy the Lenovo Yoga 920 for $ 1,100 and get phenomenal battery life compared to the rest of the competition, but that comes at the expense of the weight and sleek design. These are not concessions to be made if you are always on the go.
For Chrome OS experimenters, nothing is available at this price other than a 256GB Pixelbook, which runs the same Core i5 processor as the $ 800 model.Since the Pixelbook launched late last fall, several new ones have appeared on the scene. players, including the Samsung Chromebook Plus v2, although none of them have the status of the flagship of the Google Chrome OS laptop. If you’re hoping for something new, rumors of a more powerful Pixelbook are on the horizon this fall.
Dell XPS 13
OS: Windows 10
Processor: Intel Core i3, i5, i7
RAM: up to 8 GB
Storage: up to 512 GB
Price (at time of publication ): $ 1,249.99
If you’re looking for an ultralight computer that’s powerful enough to handle your day-to-day computing needs, the well-earned Dell XPS 13 is your top choice. Not only is it light and thin enough to be transported around the world, but the model at this price has enough processing power to edit video on the go or batch process a ton of RAW files with an application like Adobe Lightroom CC. … The XPS 13 is a great general-purpose device for those who might need a little power but aren’t quite sure how much. It’s well tuned for heavy PC users who need Windows 10 on the go, or gamers who enjoy interacting with the guild while away from the rig. It’s also Wirecutter’s choice as the best Windows Ultrabook.
If you’re planning an adventure with the Dell XPS 13 in tow, you’ll be pleased to know that it has enough slots to connect the peripherals you need. There’s a Thunderbolt 3 and USB 3.0 port for connecting monitors and connecting your favorite wired mouse, and there’s also an SD card slot for fast photo transfer. Perhaps the only downside to the XPS 13 is that it doesn’t fold back into a tablet, although you can freely fondle its touchscreen as much as you like.