May 19, 2019 Best Laptops for 2018 Lenovo Yoga 920. The pen-enabled Yoga 920 is as impressive for its design as it is. Razer Blade (2018) The newly upgraded Razer Blade is the perfect laptop for creative pros. HP Spectre x360 13 (late 2017) Like the 15.6-inch version, except, you know, smaller.
Whether you're shopping for a sub-$200 laptop, a lightweight laptop for work and play, a 2-in-1 laptop or a powerful gaming rig, the sheer number of choices can be overwhelming. To help you choose, we've picked the best laptops in every major category, based on our extensive testing, research and comparisons.
Looking for something a bit more specific? We've got guides to the best gaming laptops, best college laptops and best business laptops as well as Chromebooks and 2-in-1s. And if you need something that can last a really long time, check out our roundup of the laptops with the longest battery life. And creatives should check out our recommendations on laptops for photographers and video editors. Shopping on a budget? Check out our laptops under $500 roundup as well as our sub-$1000 gaming laptops page. And for even more comprehensive coverage, don't forget our annual Tech Support Showdown report and Best and Worst Brands, which was recently updated. And if you're counting down the days to a great bargain, check out our Amazon Prime Day 2019 page.
We also recently reviewed the 15-inch OLED Spectre x360, which went head to head with the MacBook Pro. Speaking of Apple, check out our review of the new MacBook Pro 13-inch with Touch Bar which earned four stars for its impressive performance and improved keyboard. If you're searching for a great sub-1,500 laptop, check out our review of the Dell G5 15 SE which earned an Editor's Choice award for its great performance, stylish design and vivid display.
We also recently reviewed the 15-inch OLED Spectre x360, which went head to head with the MacBook Pro. Speaking of Apple, check out our review of the new MacBook Pro 13-inch with Touch Bar which earned four stars for its impressive performance and improved keyboard. If you're searching for a great sub-1,500 laptop, check out our review of the Dell G5 15 SE which earned an Editor's Choice award for its great performance, stylish design and vivid display.
There are some exciting laptops on the horizon, including the 2-in-1 version of the Dell XPS 13, which packs a 10th Gen Intel U-Series CPU. There's also the Asus ZenBook Pro Duo, which is a dual-screen premium laptop that's armed with a Core i9 CPU and an Nvidia RTX 2060 GPU. Here are the best laptops to buy right now.
1. Dell XPS 13 (2019)
The Dell XPS 13 serves up a new color, a powerful Intel Whiskey Lake processor, a 4K display (and ditches the ridiculous 'nosecam') - all in a slim, lightweight chassis.
2. Acer Aspire E 15 (E5-575-33BM)
The Aspire E15 is a superb value, offering a vibrant screen and long battery life for less than $500.
3. Asus Chromebook C434
The Asus Chromebook Flip C434 is a portable 2-in-1 laptop with a premium design, a vivid 1080p display and all-day battery life.
The new Dell XPS 13 is a gorgeous thin and light laptop with great performance.
The best just got even better. Not only did Dell outfit the 2019 XPS 13 with a new Intel Whiskey Lake processor, but it also fixed one of the most annoying flaws of its predecessor. No longer does its webcam point up your nose, as Dell's engineers found a way to fit its webcam in a still-small top bezel. While the 4K model we tested offered lower battery life than some may need, we expect longer endurance on the model with a 1080p display.
- Strong performance
- InfinityEdge bezels with properly placed webcam
The Aspire E15 is a superb value, offering a vibrant screen and long battery life for less than $500.
The E 15 is one of the few laptops you can buy that still comes with a built-in DVD burner. It also packs in a plethora of ports, including USB Type-C, Type-A, VGA, Ethernet and HDMI connections. Despite the laptop's budget price, the Aspire E 15's screen can reproduce over 150 percent of the sRGB color gamut. This system also lasts over 8 hours on a charge. At 4.97 pounds, this laptop isn't particularly light, but it makes a great family or student PC that you keep within the home or the dorm.
- Long battery life
- Accurate sound
- Narrow viewing angles
If you want a Chromebook that's also convertible, the Asus Chromebook C434 is a fantastic option.
With a larger display, longer battery life and stronger performance, the new Asus Chromebook Flip C434 is one of the best Chromebooks we've ever tested. The 2-in-1 has a sleek, aluminum chassis and a panel that is both vivid and bright. Thanks to its Intel Core m3-8100Y processor, it's a reliable multitasker when combined with ChromeOS. And with over 9 hours and 58 minutes of battery life, this laptop can transition from work to play with ease.
- Thin display bezels
- Long battery life
- A tad pricey
Huawei's 14-inch MateBook D packs a solid AMD processor and touch-screen display into a sleek aluminum body for an affordable $629. This MacBook doppelganger also boasts long battery life, a comfortable keyboard and a pair of decent speakers. Its AMD processor and GPU performed well on our tests and also offers a solid keyboard. Its premium build and performance belies its affordable price. A.
- Very good graphics performance
- Long battery life
- Display could be brighter
Lenovo's moved away from its classic watchband hinge on the Yoga C930 in favor of a soundbar speaker that's both stylish and practical -- providing 360-degree audio and a place to store the digital pen. The C930 is just as versatile as its forebears, transforming with ease into a variety of use cases while doling out strong performance and lasting more than 10 hours on a charge.
- Thin and lightweight
- Long battery life
- Webcam cover
- Display could be brighter, more vibrant
Sporting a new look and the first-ever design that enables upgradeable graphics Alienware is ready to take its place as the king of semi-mobile gaming. The Area-51m doesn't look like anything we've ever seen from the brand. Armed with a desktop Intel Core i9 processor and one of Nvidia's superpowered RTX GPUs, it absolutely demolished every test we put in front of it with graceful aplomb. It's Alienware's first true desktop replacement and the most powerful and upgradeable laptop we've reviewed to date.
- Excellent graphics and overall performance
- All major components upgradable
The X1 Carbon's snappy, deep keyboard is its best feature. Combined with a soft-touch deck, the responsive keys will make you a faster and more efficient typist. The accurate TrackPoint and touchpad make navigation a pleasure. No matter which of its three screen options you choose, you'll get an extremely bright and colorful panel. However, the high-end, 2K HDR screen is one of the best we've seen on any laptop, providing nearly 500 nits of brightness and covering close to 200 percent of the sRGB color gamut. When you carry the ThinkPad X1 Carbon, you don't have to worry about battery life. In our tests, the laptop lasted over 11 hours on a charge.
- Long battery life
- Lightweight
- Mediocre webcam
Because kids need more than just a device that won't break, the Chromebook Flip C213SA provides more than adequate performance and the ability to run Android apps. Its 11.6-inch screen flips back so they can run it in tablet mode. Young typists will appreciate the C213SA's snappy keyboard, which provides the kind of feedback we normally see on professional productivity laptops. Asus's convertible lasts over 11 hours on a charge which is more than enough for school and after-school activities.
- Long battery life
- Good sound
- Poor cameras
The king of 2-in-1 detachables just got even better. Not only does the Surface Pro 6 last 2 hours longer than its predecessor, but it also boasts faster performance thanks to its 8th-gen quad-core processor. All of those gains are tied together in an elegant matte black design with a bright and colorful 2736 x 1824 display with smooth Surface Pen functionality for drawing and taking notes.
- Excellent battery life
- Comfortable keyboard
- 256GB option is pricey and a bit sluggish
Apple updated its 15-inch MacBook Pro with faster 9th Gen Intel processors, making it the fastest MacBook ever. In addition you get all-day battery life, with loud, warm audio, and a bright, colorful and sharp display. Throw in some seriously fast SSDs and you’ve got a system just waiting to help you create your next masterpiece. It's blindingly fast and with its improved Butterfly-switches and over 10 hours of battery life, it's also a good system to get some work done.
- Superior speed, Sharp, colorful display, Powerful sound, Lots of battery life
- Price starts high and gets crazy expensive, Still uses 'Butterfly' keyboard, No USB Type-A ports
The laptop's optional 4K display can reproduce an awesome 188 percent of the sRGB color gamut while registering a solid 282 nits of brightness. Its 45-watt Intel H series processor provides much stronger performance than the U series CPU in its smaller sibling while its Nvidia GTX 1050 graphics make it a legitimate content creation machine.
- Clear audio
- Strong performance
The Huawei MateBook X Pro is finally available in America, and it was definitely worth the wait. The 14-inch laptop packs a gorgeous super high-resolution display, a Core i7 CPU and a discrete Nvidia MX150 GPU so you can get some light gaming in on the go. A surprisingly comfortable keyboard, great audio quality and nearly 9 hours of battery life only serve to sweeten the pot.
- Exquisite screen
- Long battery life
Why Trust Us
Laptop Mag has been testing and reviewing laptops for over two decades. We test over 200 different models per year, subjecting each system to a series of rigorous benchmarks that provides a complete picture of performance, battery life and usability.
Our expert reviewers also use each product to see how it looks and feels in everyday situations. Because we see so many different notebooks, we can compare each to its direct competitors and give you an idea of how it stacks up to the average laptop in its price band.
How We Test Laptops
When we bring a laptop into our laboratory, our goal is to see how it would work if you brought it into your home or office. While we use a number of industry standard benchmarks such as Geekbench and 3DMark, we focus heavily on real-world tests that we have developed in-house.
To test endurance, the Laptop Mag Battery test surfs the web at 150 nits of brightness until the system runs out of juice. To judge pure processing power, we use a giant spreadsheet macro that matches 65,000 names with their addresses, a video transcoder that converts a 4K video to 1080p and the Geekbench 4 synthetic test. We measure graphics prowess with both 3DMark Ice Storm / Fire Strike and a series of actual game titles.
We use a colorimeter to measure screen brightness and color gamut while other instruments help us determine a laptop's key travel and ambient heat. See this page on How We Test Laptops for more details on our benchmarking procedures.
How to Find the Right Laptop
When shopping for a laptop, there's a lot to consider. To help you choose a system, we've put our up-to-date list of favorite notebooks above, along with five points to keep in mind when choosing a system.
Budget: What you get for the money.
You can find good cheap Windows laptops and high-quality Chromebooks for under $500. However, better mainstream laptops usually cost more than $700 and premium Ultrabooks can run over $1,000. The best gaming laptops can cost $2.000 and up, but you can play the latest titles at decent frame rates on gaming laptops under $1,000.
Screen Size: 12 to 14 inches for Portability
Knowing a laptop's screen size tells you a lot about its portability overall. If you want to use your computer on your lap or carry it around a lot, go for one with a 12, 13 or 14-inch display. If you want to use the computer on tables and desks and won't carry it around much, a 15-inch model may give you more value. Some gaming rigs, media machines and workstations even have 17 or 18-inch screens, but those are hardest to carry.
2-in-1 or Clamshell?
More and more of today's laptops are 2-in-1s with screens that either bend back 360 degrees or detach so you can use them as tablets. If you like the idea of using your laptop in slate mode for drawing, media consumption or just using it standing up, a 2-in-1 could be for you. However, you can often get better features or a lower price by going with a traditional clamshell-style laptop.
Battery Life: 8+ Hours for Portability
Unless you only plan to use your laptop on your desk, battery life matters. Even within the home or office, having plenty of juice enables you to work on the couch or at the conference table, without being chained to the nearest outlet. For the best portability, we recommend getting a laptop that lasted over 8 hours on the Laptop Mag Battery Test. The longest-lasting laptops endure for over 10 hours.
Specs: 1080p / Core i5 / 8GB Are Best Bets
You can spend a lot of time delving into specs, but here are the key components to think about. If you just want really good mainstream performance, go for a Core i5 CPU, 8GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD and a 1080p screen.
- Screen Resolution: Unfortunately, 66 percent of consumer laptops and 51 percent of business systems have low-res screens. If at all possible, get a display with a 1920 x 1080 (aka 1080p or full HD) or higher resolution.
- CPU: An Intel Core i5 provides good mainstream performance. Some budget systems will come with Core i3, Celeron or Pentium CPUs which are good enough for basic tasks, but not heavy mutltiasking. Get a Core i7 or a quad core processor (serial number ends in HQ or HK) for gaming or high-end productivity tasks such as video editing and 3D modeling.
- RAM: 8GB is ideal for most users. 4GB is acceptable for budget systems. Secondary laptops and Chromebooks may have less.
- Storage: Unless you're a gamer or a power user, 256GB of internal storage is probably enough. If at all possible, get an SSD (Solid State Drive) rather than a hard drive, because it's going to make your entire computer a lot faster.
- Graphics Chip: Gamers and creative professionals need to do some research and figure out which discrete GPU is good enough to run their favorite software. Everyone else will be happy with the built-in Intel HD Graphics that come on the CPU.
If you want to learn more about buying a laptop, check out our full Laptop Buying Guide. Gamers should read our Gaming Laptop Buying Guide and list of Best Gaming Laptops.
Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links.
The Rundown
- Most Popular:Acer Aspire E 15 at Amazon, “Offers a balance of modern hardware, performance headroom, features, and price.”
- Best Overall:ASUS Chromebook at Amazon, “It passes the 3.9 feet drop test and has a spill-resistant keyboard.”
- Best 2-in-1:Microsoft Surface Go at Amazon, 'Add one of the available Microsoft Type Covers and the Go instantly becomes a highly capable desktop-like computer.'
- Best for College Students:2018 Lenovo ideapad 320 at Amazon, “An excellent everyday laptop at a value price point.”
- Best Touchscreen:HP 15-BS013DX at Amazon, “This entry-level touchscreen from HP is an amazing value.”
- Best Budget:HP Notebook 15 at Amazon, “It will do the job for casual users that need to accomplish basic tasks in a timely fashion.”
- Best Value:HP Pavilion 15z at HP, “The design is sleek, with a simple yet polished look.”
- Runner-Up, Best Value:Dell Inspiron 15 3000 at Dell.com, 'You'll definitely have enough power for multitasking and day-to-day computing tasks on Windows 10.'
- Best for Business:Lenovo ThinkPad E485 at Amazon, “A 9-hour battery will help you keep working when you’re away from an outlet.”
- Best Visuals:Lenovo IdeaPad 330s at Amazon, “Expect decent performance out of this despite its budget price.”
Our Top Picks
Most Popular: Acer Aspire E 15
4.5
Another computer offering an excellent balance of modern hardware, performance headroom, features, and price is the Acer Aspire E 15 (E5-576-392H). Though hitting its budget price means there’s a lot of plastic to be found, some of it has been given a metallic appearance for a classier look.
Inside, the machine delivers an Intel Core i3-8130U processor. Given its low price, it’s nice to see such a modern CPU. That processor is paired with 6GB of dual-channel DDR4 memory and a 1TB hard drive. Both the memory and hard drive are stored inside an easily accessible compartment, so if you want to upgrade them, you can. There’s even a DVD-RW drive included.
Continuing to surprise us at this price point is the Acer Aspire's 15.6' display (hitting Full HD resolution) and the inclusion of 802.11ac Wi-Fi along with an all-day battery, a USB 3.1 Type-C, two USB 3.0 ports, and an SD card reader.
Best Overall: ASUS Chromebook C202SA-YS02 11.6'
3.7
Dropping hundreds of dollars on a laptop that’s bound to be dropped itself might seem a bit stressful, but a rugged laptop like this ASUS Chromebook will surely put your nightmares to rest. It houses an Intel Celeron N3060 Processor with 2M Cache, up to 2.48 GHz, plus 16GB of flash storage. (You’ll also get 100GB of free Google Drive storage for the first two years.) Its 11.6-inch, 1,366 x 768 anti-glare display tilts back 180 degrees for viewing at all angles.
Being a Chromebook, it’s not as powerful as other machines on this list, but what it lacks in brains it makes up for in brawn. It has 3 millimeters of reinforced rubber around its edges, which passes the 3.9 feet drop test, and a spill-resistant keyboard that can endure about a quarter-cup spill. On top of that, its durable and modular design makes it easy to swap in and out parts, should it need repair.
Check out our other reviews of the best ASUS laptops available on the market today.
Best 2-in-1: Microsoft Surface Go
3.3
It’s hard to argue against the success of Microsoft’s Surface lineup, and the Go is no exception. When in tablet mode, the 10-inch PixelSense touchscreen display is ideal for reading, writing, and games. With 1800 x 1200 resolution, text is crisp and clear. Add one of the available Microsoft Type Covers and the Go instantly becomes a highly capable desktop-like computer. Running Windows 10 S, the Go has complete access to Microsoft’s Marketplace for downloading thousands of applications. For business users, Microsoft’s entire suite of Office products runs superbly.
Weighing a mere 1.3 pounds, the Go is easily the most portable Surface yet. Its diminutive size doesn’t mean scant battery life either as it provides up to nine hours of daily use. Whether it’s a business or personal device, the Go has plenty of protection built in. Microsoft Defender protects against malware attacks while parental controls offer parents peace of mind. With Microsoft stores popping up in malls all over the country, you also have the option of bringing the Go right into a brick-and-mortar location for tech support.
Best for College Students: 2018 Lenovo ideapad 320 15.6'
3.1
Lenovo delivers an excellent everyday laptop at a value price point, combining the latest generation of Intel processing with a high-definition 15.6-inch screen. The computer is powered by an Intel Celeron N3350 dual-core processor with 4GB RAM and a 1TB hard drive. The computer also includes a DVD drive, a 4-in-1 memory card reader for easy transfer of files, as well as Bluetooth 4.1 and USB 3.0 port. Expect fast streaming, thanks to the latest 802.11ac wireless internet. The computer is also great for college students looking to watch movies in their dorm room, with a 15-inch anti-glare screen that looks great from every angle.
Interested in reading more reviews? Take a look at our selection of the best Lenovo laptops.
Best Touchscreen: HP 15-BS013DX
3.6
If you are a tactile learner, a touchscreen computer can come in handy. This entry-level touchscreen from HP is an amazing value at just under $500. It has an Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM and a 1 TB hard drive. The BrightView glossy 15.6-inch screen is powered by WLED backlight and shows movies and photos in 1366 x 768 HD. The 2 SuperSpeed USB 3.1 ports make transferring media a breeze, while built-in Bluetooth makes it easy to sync with mobile devices. Finally, an Intel HD Graphics 620 card can handle photo editing and even some basic gaming.
Check out our guide to the best touchscreen laptops you can buy today.
Best Budget: HP Notebook 15
3.1
The latest edition of the HP Notebook 15 is a surprising Windows 10 laptop that packs a lot of features into a sub-$300 machine. This laptop may not impress power-hungry users, but it will do the job for casual users that need to accomplish basic tasks in a timely fashion.
The Notebook 15 has a 15.6-inch screen with 1366-by-768 resolution, a 500 GB hard drive, an SD media card reader, a DVD/CD burner, as well as a VGA webcam with a digital microphone. For ports, there’s one Ethernet, one HDMI, two USB 2.0, one USB 3.0 and a headphone/microphone combo jack. One of the standout features of this model is its 4GB of RAM, which is incredibly important for keeping your machine running smoothly and not something we often see on models in this price range. (Usually, you’ll see models with a paltry 2GB of RAM, which is often not enough to keep things running at a fast clip.)
This machine measures 10 x 15.1 x .9 inches and is a little heavy at 4.74 pounds, so it’s probably not one you’ll want to carry around everywhere. It would make sense as a home or work laptop that’s mostly used in one place. Thankfully, it does offer 5.5-hour battery life, so if you do need to take it anywhere, it shouldn’t be a problem.
Best Value: HP Pavilion 15z
4
If you're looking for speed, capacity, design, features, and price, HP’s Pavilion 15z Touch pretty much delivers on all counts. The design is sleek, with a simple yet polished look complemented by an all-metal finish. Plus, at it's regular price point, there's enough wiggle room in your under-$500 budget to fit in a few upgrades where needed.
The base model includes a 15.6' HD touch display, an AMD Ryzen 3 2200U processor with Vega 3 Graphics, 8GB of DDR4 memory, and 1TB of storage on a hard drive. For a budget computer, these specs are quite impressive. Just keep in mind that as such, the price of this laptop can fluctuate, so keep an eye out for sales to get the best price.
Starting with the base model, you could still stay under $500 while upgrading to a quad-core Ryzen 3 2300U, upgrading to a Full HD IPS display, or adding backlighting to the keyboard. There’s plenty of room for even greater upgrades to the storage, memory, and processor, but expect those to push it past the $500 mark, so choose wisely if you choose to go this route.
Runner-Up, Best Value: Dell Inspiron 15 3000
Dell’s Inspiron 15 3000 is a solid, dependable laptop with decent specs for a device under $500. Running with a 7th-gen Intel i3-7020U processor — Intel’s mid-range chip — and 8GB of RAM, you’ll definitely have enough power for multitasking and day-to-day computing tasks on Windows 10. There’s even enough capacity for 16GB of RAM.
It’s heavier than other budget laptops at 4.95 pounds, so it isn’t the most portable. But if you value a sturdy build, a touchscreen, plenty of ports, and a DVD drive, the extra weight is worth it. Ports include two USB 2.0 ports and one USB 3.0 port, an HDMI port, an SD card slot reader, and a headphone jack. The DVD drive is optional.
The downsides: a less-than-stellar display, mid-range processing power, and no backlit keyboard. But for a budget laptop, the Dell Inspiron 15 3000is more than suitable for basic everyday use.
Best for Business: ASUS X540UA-DB31
Business users can get good mileage out of the Asus X540UA-DB31, even if the model name isn’t so user-friendly. The machine offers an excellent balance of performance and price, and it's exceptionally easy to work with. That’s because it has a 15.6' display with a Full HD resolution and matte finish for reduced glare, which is to say your eyes shouldn't be too strained after a long day at work.
The Asus X540UA-DB31 has a modern Intel Core i3-8130U processor, so you don’t have to worry about the budget price meaning old components. It also comes with 4GB of DDR4 memory, which will get you started with no issue but may be worth upgrading later on. One component that really demonstrates the machine's perfect blend of price and performance is the FireCuda SSHD, which combines an 8GB SSD with a hard drive for expansive storage accelerated by SSD speed.
If you need a work machine, this is a good option. And, thanks to its size, it offers a full keyboard. This will be especially handy if you often work with numbers since the number row is not nearly as easy to use as the number pad.
Best Visuals: Lenovo IdeaPad 330s
The Lenovo IdeaPad 330s doesn’t come in at the bottom of the budget barrel, but it hits a sweet spot between price and solid specs. With this model, you’ll be getting a decently sized 15.6' display while the laptop itself stays slim thanks to reduced bezels around the screen. Plus, the display is a Full HD IPS panel, offering clear visuals and great viewing angles.
Inside, the IdeaPad 330s packs a modern Intel Core i3-8130U dual-core processor paired with 6GB of DDR4 memory and a large 1TB hard drive. You should expect decent performance out of this despite its budget price. As a bonus, this laptop will be good for interfacing with external hardware as well.
As for connectivity, 801.11ac Wi-Fi is a good, recent protocol for connecting to wireless networks, and you’ll get Bluetooth 4.1. For fast USB connections, the IdeaPad 330s offers USB 3.1 and USB-C ports. And, if you’re doing work with any media, the 4-in-1 media card reader will come in handy.
Tested by
How We Tested
Our writers spent ten hours researching the most popular laptops under $500. Before making their final recommendations, they considered 60 different laptops, screened options from 11 different brands and manufacturers, and read over 100 user reviews (both positive and negative).
We then bought seven of those laptops under $500 and our reviewers spent more than 100 hours testing them. We asked our testers to consider the most important factors when using these laptops, from their price to their special features. We've outlined the major takeaways here so that you, too, know what to look for when shopping.
What to Look for in a Laptop Under $500
Form factor -Laptops have become so versatile that it’s almost hard to classify them. There are laptops, Chromebooks, netbooks, and 2-in-1s that convert into tablets. Laptops are standard clamshell computers, while Chromebooks are often a bit smaller and only run the Chrome OS and cloud-based apps. A netbook is even more portable, while a 2-in-1 is a laptop that transforms into a tablet. If you’re looking for a device to power your professional work, a laptop will probably do the trick. However, if you’re a student that will be taking a lot of notes, a detachable screen plus a tablet pen can double as a digital notepad.
Operating system -Some people are simply Apple people through and through and that’s perfectly fine. However, they’ll wind up paying a premium for all their products. If you’re not dead set on buying a Mac, and are happy with Windows, the price comes down while the number of your options goes up. Plus Windows has some amazing features for business users that will blow the Mac OS out of the water.
Screen quality -Whether you’re watching movies or just working in Excel, a high-quality screen still makes all the difference. The more pixels, the more content you can fit on-screen, and the sharper it will look. Many budget devices offer a standard 1366 x 768 screen, but if you can afford it, try to buy something with at least a 1920 x 1080 resolution, also known as Full HD.
Test Results: Acer Aspire E 15 (Most Popular)
4.5
What We Like
- High-quality display
- Good audio
- Great battery life
What We Don't Like
- Some internet connectivity problems
- Too much pre-loaded software
This laptop came highly recommended by our testers in terms of overall quality, processor capabilities, battery life, and price. Calling the speed “more than adequate,” one of our reviewers said, “I had no trouble browsing the internet, downloading average-sized files, and completing standard work/school tasks.” One of our testers mentioned that the laptop would disconnect from the internet periodically (“sometimes reconnecting on its own and sometimes requiring manual reconnection”) and also didn’t like all of the pre-loaded software. However, our reviewers felt the value outweighed the negatives. Bottom line: “It’s hard to compare this laptop to a powerful $2000 MacBook, but for such a fantastically low price, this laptop is an excellent choice,” declared one of our testers.
Test Results: ASUS Chromebook C202SA-YS02 11.6' (Best Overall)
3.7
What We Like
- Very portable
- Great value
- Impressive battery life
What We Don’t Like
- Limited features
- Screen on the smaller side
The ASUS Chromebook C202SA-YS02 11.6' received good ratings from our testers because it’s a no-nonsense laptop that you can depend on. “This is a great option for everything you need: online access, writing accessibility, and some extras,” one person said. Another tester described this model as “basic” but noted that she thought that was a good thing: “This is not a sleek, stylish Mac,” she said. “It’s no frills and gets the job done.” The battery also gets an A from our testers with one reviewer commenting, “For school, I'm positive this computer would last a full day and likely still have time for homework back at home.” Testers also say you’ll notice the laptop’s durability as soon as you hold it in your hands.
Test Results: Microsoft Surface Go (Best 2-in-1)
3.3
What We Don't Like
- Slower speed
- No keyboard included
One of our reviewers loved traveling with this device: “There were times when I completely forgot it was in my bag,” she declared. “Even with the Keyboard Type Cover attached (which is sold separately), the Surface Go remains light and svelte.” Our testers also loved its long battery life, and one reviewer thought it “felt sturdy and strong” and that it “could survive some bumps and scrapes.” In terms of downsides, one of our reviewers said its performance was “sluggish,” even when performing more basic tasks. One tester also wished that it came with a keyboard included: “While you can totally use the Surface Go as a tablet, I believe the best experience is achieved when using it in conjunction with the keyboard,” she said.
Test Results: 2018 Lenovo ideapad 320 15.6' (Best for College Students)
3.1
What We Like
- Beautiful unibody design
- Light and thin
- Great keyboard
What We Don’t Like
- Poor battery life
- No HD display
- Sluggish performance
“I think it's the perfect computer to use when curled in bed watching Netflix or a DVD,” one of our reviewers said about her experience with the Lenovo ideapad. “I could see my teenage cousin enjoying it — it's attractive, has a 'cool factor,' and his laptop needs are relatively limited.”
Test Results: HP 15-BS013DX (Best Touchscreen)
3.6
What We Like
- Attractive design with some premium touches
- Decent battery life
- Big hard drive
What We Don’t Like
- Touchscreen doesn’t feel great to use
- Lots of bloatware
One Lifewire reviewer summed up his experience with the laptop by saying, “In its price range, it’s much better than the products I’ve used before.” He thought this model had great value for the price. Our testers also appreciated this laptop’s storage capacity — 1 TB. You can certainly store a lot of photos, videos, or music with that amount of space.
Test Results: HP Notebook 15 (Best Budget)
3.1
What We Like
- Attractive design
- Good keyboard
- Decent stereo sound
What We Don’t Like
- Lots of bloatware
- Display isn’t full HD
- Mediocre battery life
“It has a nice 15-inch display, the processor is decent, and it has a fair amount of RAM for an under-$500 laptop,” one of our testers said about the HP Notebook 15. Our reviewers thought this laptop performed well, but they deducted most of their points for the setup process. One person was irked that she had to sign up for an outlook.com email address during the process. Fortunately, she went on to say, “Once it was set up, it seems pretty responsive and browsing the Web is fine.” Another reviewer remarked on the physical feel of the laptop, describing it as “plastic-y” compared to other models. Overall, our testers noticed that laptops that fell into the budget category—like this one—had cheaper-feeling builds, but that it didn’t affect performance.
4
What We Like
- Great design
- Solid build
- Responsive touchscreen
What We Don't Like
- No full HD display
- Display is slightly washed out
- Entire case flexes when using keyboard
This laptop was a winner with our tester for its design (including its two-tone metallic case) and its sturdy construction. While he liked its responsive touchscreen, he also thought that its display looked a bit faded. Overall, though, he thought it “was a very capable laptop” and that it “represents a massive leap forward from HP’s previous budget offerings.”