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Contrary to what some people may think, a laptop doesn’t need to cost a fortune to have high-quality features. In fact, there are some excellent choices for less than $1,000, which still give you ultra-fast performance, a long battery life, and a beautiful, high-resolution screen. Whether you need a laptop for your job, to play video games, or for everyday family use, there are plenty of excellent options to choose from that will fit your budget.
Aside from the price range, the best laptop for you depend on what you need it for and how you plan to use it. For instance, if you need a laptop for photo and video editing, then you should focus on models that have wide screens, powerful processors, high RAM and storage, and impressive resolution. If you’re on the go the whole day, look for a lightweight laptop with long battery life. Your decision ultimately boils down to personal preference.
In this guide, we’ll go through some of the best laptops for less than $1,000, although their prices may exceed that slightly depending on which online shops and websites you visit. But in general, they usually don’t exceed the $1,000 price range.
Apple has always made among the best laptops on the market, but they often come with a hefty price tag. The latest models are always on the more expensive side, but you can always go for previous models if you want to save on cash. The MacBook Air (M1, Late 2020) is by far the best laptop you can find for this price range. Its price has plummeted over the years, and you can get it for about $800 in 2022.
The MacBook Air is actually considered an affordable alternative to the MacBook Pro, as these two laptops have similar features. Not only is the MacBook Air the most lightweight laptop in the MacBook series, but it also has the M1 chip with an 8-Core CPU. Thanks to these two features, the MacBook Air performs 3.5 times faster than previous MacBook Air models. In addition, it has the best battery life and can last the whole day. It comes in three colors: gold, silver, and space gray. Its stunning 13.3-inch Retina display has a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels. If you use this laptop to stream movies and TV shows or if you like to edit photos and videos, you won’t be disappointed. The breathtaking Retina display makes colors more vibrant and the pictures more vivid. With 8GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD storage, you’ll have enough room to store all your files, apps, and programs. In terms of ports, the MacBook Air comes with two Thunderbolt 3 inputs and a headphone jack. Since it’s compatible with all Apple devices, you can use the MacBook Air to reply to texts, talk to people, and use all the apps you already have installed on your iPhone and iPad.
There are plenty of other features that make this laptop an excellent choice, such as the FaceTime HD camera, three built-in microphones, and the magic keyboard. Taking all these features into consideration, the MacBook Air is sure to meet all your needs.
Impressive battery lifeLightweightExcellent performanceApple’s fastest 8-Core CPU
A limited number of ports
The Acer Swift 3 offers some impressive specifications, given its price. With its AMD Ryzen 7 4700U Octa-Core processor, you’ll be able to multitask – play video games, and use complex programs that take up a lot of storage space. Speaking of storage, the Acer Swift 3 packs 8GB of computer memory and 512GB of flash memory. It also comes with smart technology, such as the embedded fingerprint reader and the Cortana productivity assistant. Another great aspect of this laptop is its battery life.
The Acer Swift 3 can function for 11.5 hours without having to be charged, giving you flexibility throughout your day. Its stunning 14-inch LED screen has a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and a 16:9 aspect ratio (82.73% screen-to-body ratio), allowing you to see even more detail. Its ultra-slim design and lightweight (2.6 pounds) make it highly portable, so you can take it with you and finish your tasks on the go. It also comes with a backlit keyboard, two built-in microphones, and an HD webcam.
When it comes to ports, the Acer Swift 3 features one USB 2.0 port, two USB 3.2 ports, an HDMI port, and a headset/speaker port. If you’re looking for an affordable laptop that will deliver exceptional performance and last throughout the day, then the Acer Swift 3 might just be the right option for you.
Satisfactory performanceGreat battery lifeAMD chipLightweight and ultra-thin design
Dim displayNo card reader
The HP Envy x360 is another laptop that you can fold and use as a tablet. Thanks to its futuristic design, you can fold the keyboard into tent or tablet mode. Although it might be a bit heavier than other products (weighing in at 2.86 pounds), its ultra-slim flip-and-fold design still makes it portable. The 11-hour battery life is another feature that allows you to take your laptop with you while you’re on the go. The high-definition 13.3-inch display is another characteristic that makes the HP Envy x360 worth considering. With a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, the three-sided micro-edge display allows you to see the screen even more clearly.
The 11th Generation Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor allows you to do multiple things at once on this laptop. Thanks to this powerful processor, you’ll also receive instant responsiveness and best-in-class connectivity. In terms of storage, the HP Envy x360 has 8GB of RAM and 512GB of flash memory storage. The HP Envy x360 also comes with a backlit keyboard, a fingerprint reader, and a scratch-resistant touchpad. These features allow for quick access and easy use. Although this laptop might be on the pricier side, it’s definitely an option to consider. It has all the required specifications you might look for in a laptop, and it can be used as a tablet too.
High-definition displayAdaptable performancePowerful 11th Generation Intel Core i7Impressive battery life
HeavyIt doesn’t have a Thunderbolt port
For those searching for adaptability and versatility, look no further. The Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is a 2-in-1 laptop, which means that it can also be used as a tablet. In fact, you can use it in laptop mode, tablet mode, and studio mode. You can also use it with the Surface Pen in studio and tablet mode. However, this accessory is usually sold separately. You can choose between models with 8GB or 16GB RAM, but the 16GB variant would be the better option if you have heavier tasks. The maximum storage option you can get is 256GB, which is pretty decent if you don’t need to store that many large files.
Its battery life is around 10.5 hours, giving you enough time to use it outside of your home without having to charge it. And even when it’s time to charge your laptop, it won’t take up much of your time since it can charge by 80% in just over one hour. One of the perks of using the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is that you’ll be able to upgrade to Windows 11 free of charge, at least when it becomes available. This laptop weighs only 1.70 pounds, making it one of the most portable devices out there.
With an incredible 2736 x 1824 resolution, its 12.3- inch screen displays every detail in vibrant colors. Let’s not forget about its 10th Gen Intel Core Processor, which helps deliver speedy performance. If you want a laptop that you can use as a tablet, and that has a long battery life, then consider the Microsoft Surface Pro 7.
2-in-1 laptop and tablet10th Gen Intel Core ProcessorAffordableUltra-slim design
It doesn’t support Thunderbolt 3 portsThe Surface Pen isn’t included in the price
The ASUS Zenbook offers amazing specifications for a low price. The best thing about this laptop is that it’s extremely versatile. In other words, you can use it for multitasking: working, playing video games, or programming. Its AMD Ryzen 5 CPU can handle it all. Another attractive factor is its beautiful slim design. This laptop is also 2.65 pounds, which makes it ideal in situations when you need to work in the field. Its ergonomic backlit keyboard, which can be tilted at a 145-degree angle, is another reason to consider this laptop. This feature allows you to use it comfortably, whether you’re working at your desk or on your sofa. Using this feature automatically activates the enhanced cooling system. Its 14-inch display has a 1920 × 1080 resolution with 400 brightness nits. Its screen also has a 90% screen-to-body ratio, which almost makes it borderless.
What’s most impressive about this laptop is its battery life which can last the whole day. ASUS claims that the Zenbook 14 can function for 22 hours without charging. It also comes with a lot of ports – one USB 3.0 type A port, one USB 2.0 type A port, an HDMI port, and a headphone jack. The only flaw it has is that it doesn’t come with an audio jack or a fingerprint sensor. It has 8GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD storage.
Lightweight145° keyboard tiltAffordableExcellent battery lifePowerful performance
No fingerprint sensorNo audio jack
The Acer Aspire 5 is another excellent option for a reasonable price. Not only does this laptop fit your budget, but it might be able to meet all of your requirements as well. It has a beautiful 15.6-inch full HD screen with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. Thanks to the narrow-bezel design, the picture will come to life. It also features Acer Color Intelligence and Acer Blue Light Shield technology, which enhance your visual experience and protect your eyes.
The 11th Gen Intel Core i5-1135G7 CPU will enable fast performance, multitasking, and intense productivity tasks. But this laptop is quite heavy, weighing almost four pounds. Which means it might not be as portable as some other options. It does, however, have a great port selection, including an Ethernet jack, an HDMI port, three USB type A ports (two USB 3.2 and one USB 2.0), and a USB-C port. Aside from the ports, the Acer Aspire 5 also comes with a backlit keyboard, two built-in microphones, an HD webcam, and a fingerprint reader. On the other hand, it has a battery life of only eight hours, which might not be sufficient for everybody.
A large number of portsSlim design15.6-inch HD displayPowerful performance
Short battery lifeHeavy
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