Who said the best laptops can’t be affordable? All good laptops don’t need to cost you a fortune. We have compiled a list of the best laptops that are both well-performing and easy on the pockets. Right from portability and performance to battery life and build, the laptops under 1000 dollars have it all.

There might be some features that you are specifically looking for in a laptop. Depending on your need and who you are, there may be a few features that you are willing to let go of. Whereas, some other features might be crucial for you in a laptop. Go for the laptop having the features that you absolutely need in your system. For instance, frequent travelers need top-notch build and excellent battery life, whereas avid gamers can’t compromise on high-end graphics and CPU performance.

Whether you need a laptop for gaming, for business, or simply for web surfing and research purposes, there are plenty of budget laptops to choose from. We have curated a list of the top ten laptops under $1000 that have all the features you need.

Buying Guide

Shopping for a budget laptop is a herculean task as you have to search for the features you need all the while keeping the budget in mind. Let us give you a few pointers that would help you to find the best laptop under $1000.

Budget

While considering budget laptops, make sure you first rule out the features and specifications that you require. If your laptop use is limited to web surfing and a few apps, then it’s okay to go for laptops under $500 as they come with low-performance CPUs and you cannot multitask on them. However, if you have serious expectations from your laptop, make sure to look for laptops above $700. The best budget laptops that are both powerful and affordable come in the $700 – $900 range.

2-in-1 or Traditional?

Who doesn’t enjoy 2-in-1 laptops that can be converted into tablets? They are cool and awesome. However, traditional laptops tend to have high-performance and great features at a comparatively lower price than 2-in-1. So, if you want features and performance, then go for a traditional laptop.

Need For Battery

Battery backup is one thing most people can’t compromise on. But battery backup is an absolute priority for travelers and businessmen who are always on the go. Whereas, for people who remain indoors for most of their day, a little sacrifice on the battery performance can save a lot of bucks. We still recommend that, traveler or not, go for a laptop with a battery backup of at least 10 hours or more.

Specifications

A well-performing laptop comes with a good CPU. No matter your usage, go for at least a Core i5 CPU as anything less than that will hamper the laptop’s performance. Similarly, 256GB SSD and 8GB RAM should be the minimum storage and memory respectively. Likewise, nothing less than a 1080p screen configuration will do.

Look all you want for the other specifications that you require, but make sure that the memory, storage, and display specs are as specified above. If you are a creator or a gamer then you would also need heavy-duty graphics along with a high-end GPU, both of which are hard to find in a budget laptop. But we’ve added a few good gaming and creator laptops in the list below to help you choose.

Top Ten Laptops Under $1000

1.  Newest HP Pavilion Business Laptop

Pros

• 1 TB Storage disk
• Impressive screen size – 15.6”
• 16GB installed memory
• Dedicated card
• Intel Iris Xe Graphics coprocessor
• Full HD touchscreen
• Good screen-to-body ratio – 82%

Cons

• Battery life could be better
• No IR camera

Key Features

• The Newest HP Pavilion Business Laptop is overall a great laptop that comes with a 15.6” IPS touchscreen that is full HD. The impressive screen-to-body ratio of 82% enables you to run your laptop with just a touch. The multitouch-enabled glass is IPS WLED-backlit that is an edge-to-edge touchscreen. This means that you can control your PC with great ease.
• The laptop has a sleek design and is quite lightweight and hence can be carried with ease. This laptop also comes with the powerful Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor that makes it uber responsive and offers the connectivity you crave.
• Coming to the hard drive and memory, the Newest HP Pavilion Business Laptop has ample storage and memory. 1TB PCIe Nvme SSD upgraded storage along with 16GB DDR4 RAM is more than enough to enable seamless photo/video editing and non-stop gaming. These powerful features backed by excellent hardware make it a great choice when it comes to a budget laptop.
• Additionally, this laptop has several USB and Type-C ports along with HDMI and a microphone/headphone combo. Bluetooth and WiFi as well as the 32GB ES USB Card that is included in the system make it all the more impressive. All of these features and hardware are presented in a sleek design that is easy to travel with. All of this comes with stunning visuals backed by an Intel Iris Xe graphics coprocessor. 
• Go for this laptop if you don’t move around much and have a fixed workplace as the battery backup is not that impressive to last you all day. All the other features in the HP Pavilion Business Laptop make it the best laptop under $1000.

2.  ASUS TUF Gaming F17 Gaming Laptop

Pros

• Big screen – 17.3”
• Powerful NVIDIA graphics coprocessor
• Immersive surround sound
• Decent display
• RGB Keyboard
• Signature military-grade durability
• Dedicated gaming laptop

Cons

• RAM could be better
• The processor count could be better

Reasons to Buy

• The ASUS TUF Gaming F17 Laptop is made of military-grade durability for providing you with a tough gaming mode. Made entirely for gaming, this laptop comes with a big screen of 17.3” along with powerful NVIDIA-powered graphics.
• The decent display and immersive surround sound make your gaming experience enjoyable and real. The RGB keyboard is your cherry on the cake.
• This laptop has good connectivity with several ports for USBs and HDMI along with R145, audio jack, and Kensington Lock. So, you can pair it up with multiple devices at once for that pro gamer experience.
• The only drawback of this laptop is that it doesn’t have much when it comes to memory. Although it has 8GB RAM, you cannot multitask with gaming. For a more enhanced and smooth experience, 16 GB RAM is a perfect choice.

3. Acer Swift X SFX14 Creator Laptop

Pros

• Multi-touch gesture
• Powerful processor – AMD Ryzen 7
• Impressive graphics – NVIDIA GeForce
• 16;9 aspect ratio
• 100% sRGB display
• Thin and portable

Cons

• CPU speed of 1.9 GHz is not much impressive

Key Features

• The Acer Swift X Creator Laptop is the ultimate budget creator laptop with a powerful processor and impressive graphics. The full HD 14” LED IPS Widescreen with an aspect ratio of 16:9 is enough to enable smooth content creation and editing.
• This laptop from Acer comes with a fast-charging battery that lasts long enough. Lightweight and sleek, this laptop is easy to carry anywhere on the go.
• Multiple ports make it a desirable laptop for connecting several devices at once. It also features a biometric fingerprint reader and supports windows hello. Go for the Acer Swift X Creator Laptop if you want ultimate performance from a thin and truly portable laptop.

4. Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop

Pros

• Backlit Keyboard
• FHD Display
• Powerful processor – Intel Core i7
• NVIDIA powered Graphics
• Decent screen size – 15.6”
• Good CPU speed and processor count

Cons

• The memory could be better
• No RGB Keyboard

Reasons to Buy

• The Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop, priced under $1000 is powered by an Intel Core i7 processor that offers a powerful gaming experience. The best part about this gaming laptop is the graphics. Powered by the latest NVIDIA GeForce Graphics along with a 4GB dedicated VRAM and award-winning architecture, this gaming laptop has everything you need for the ultimate gaming experience.
• The screen size, at 15.6”, is widescreen and impressive with a 16:9 aspect ratio.
• A cool feature of this laptop is that you can visualize your laptop’s fan speed, power plan, loading performance, and component temperature instantly.
• Right from multiple ports to Alexa show mode to good battery life, this laptop has it all, except 8GB memory which could have been better and an RGB keyboard. Go for the Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop for the ultimate gaming experience.

5. HP Pavilion 17 Laptop

Pros

• Long battery life
• 1TB HDD + 256GB SSD
• Impressive Touch Display of 17.3” HD+
• Ample memory – 16GB RAM
• Office 365 for one year

Cons

• Not lightweight due to its 17-inches screen size.

Key Features

• The HP Pavilion 17 Laptop comes with an HD+ touch display on a 17.3” screen. The big screen size is definitely a plus when combined with a touch display and AMD Radeon Graphics. However, the processor is an outdated one and could have been better.
• At 4.58 lbs, this laptop is heavy and is not for people who are always on the go. However, the other features such as the connectivity, facilitated by several different ports, make it a decent budget laptop with a touch screen.
• This laptop comes with Windows 10 Home that can be upgraded to Windows 11 Home for free. Additionally, you also get one year of office 365 for free.

6. Dell Inspiron 15 FHD i7 Laptop

Pros

• Impressive RAM – 16GB
• Powerful Intel Core i7 Processor
• Decent Graphics – Intel Iris Xe Graphics
• Good screen size
• FHD display

Cons

• No optical drive

Best Features

• The Dell Inspiron i7 laptop boasts a beautiful FHD display with an anti-glare narrow border on a screen size of 15.6”. Powered by Intel Iris Xe Graphics Coprocessor, this laptop gives you a spectacular display and hence is a good choice for editing and creating content or binge-watching your favorite series.
• The powerful processor enables impressive responsiveness and offers a smooth multitasking experience. With an ergonomic hinge, typing and using the keyboard on this laptop has become so easy and convenient.
• The battery and portability of this laptop are a cherry on the cake and make your computing experience seamless.

7. ASUS ZenBook 13 OLED Ultra-Slim Laptop

Pros

• Windows 11
• Ultra-slim design
• Integrated card
• Impressive military-grade durability
• NanoEdge Bezel Display
• WiFi
• Built-in IR camera
• Lightweight and sleek

Cons

• The memory could have been better but you can upgrade it

• The ASUS ZenBook 13 is an ultra-slim laptop with a 13.3” full HD display. The laptop boasts of a NanoEdge bezel display that offers a 4-way wide view. The powerful graphics backed by an AMD Radeon Graphics coprocessor and an 8-core AMD Ryzen 7 5700U Processor offer a good combination of bandwidth and visuals.
• Made of military standard MIL-STD 810H, the ZenBook 13 offers excellent durability and reliability. This laptop is surprisingly sleek and lightweight for such robust hardware and durability. Weighing a mere 2.51 lbs, it can be carried anywhere with great ease.
• With multiple ports and WiFi, Bluetooth, HDMI, Type-C, and USB ports, this laptop offers extensive connectivity and can be connected on the go. Number Pad, built-in IR camera, and backlit keyboard all make it very cool and appealing. The best part about this laptop is that USB-C to audio jack adapter and USB-A to gigabit ethernet adapter are both included with it.
• Although the display, memory, and storage could have been a bit bigger, the weight, portability, durability, and other features make this laptop worth the money in the end. Go for it if you prefer a sleek and portable laptop and do not have much use for storage and memory.

8. HP Pavilion 15 Laptop, 11th Gen Intel Core i7

Pros

• Long battery life
• Compact Design
• Windows 11 Pro
• Micro-edge Display
• 16 GB RAM
• Intel Core i7- Processor – 11th Gen

Cons

• A bit heavy

Reasons to Buy

• The HP Pavilion 15 Laptop is a premium performance laptop powered by an Intel Core i7 processor and a long-lasting battery to last you through the day.
• Whether you want to create content and edit it or need a laptop for entertainment, this laptop is your best bet. Impressive graphics, decent screen size – 15.6”, along with stunning and crisp visuals make this laptop the ultimate performance laptop that is sure to offer you instant gratification.
• The HP Pavilion 15 laptop comes with an impressive memory and storage along with a full-sized keyboard with a precision touchpad. This laptop is also star-energy efficient and sustainable. What else could you ask from a laptop?
• The only downside of this laptop is it’s a bit on the heavier side. But it is still portable.

9. ASUS ZenBook 14 Ultra-Slim Laptop

 Pros

• Impressive RAM of 16GB
• Excellent CPU speed
• 1 TB Hard Disk
• Integrated card
• Windows 11 Pro OS
• Strong processor
• Infrared wireless communication
• IR webcam
• 14-inch full HD display

Cons

• At 5.57 lbs it’s not light in weight.

Key Features

• The ASUS ZenBook 14 is an ultra-slim laptop with really good features and a powerful processor. The CPU speed at 4.4 GHz is impressive and useful for people that need a fast laptop. This laptop boasts a 1 TB hard disk along with a spectacular 16GB RAM.
• ASUS ZenBook 14 is a sleek and powerful laptop that offers seamless connectivity with 3 USB ports, HDMI, BlueTooth & WiFi. To top it all, it comes with infrared wireless communication and supports windows hello.
• IR Webcam, NumberPad, Backlit keyboard, and ErgoLift hinge make it all the more appealing. The only issue with this laptop is its weight. Weighing 5.57 lbs, this laptop is certainly not for travelers or people who are on the move on a daily basis.
• Apart from the portability, this laptop from ASUS has it all. So, if you are a person that remains indoors at home or office, and need a laptop with quick connectivity, decent features, and powerful memory and storage, then go for ASUS ZenBook 14.

10. Newest Lenovo ThinkPad E15 Business Laptop

Pros

• Windows 11 Pro
• Full HD display
• Impressive screen size at 15.6”
• Excellent RAM – up to 40GB
• 1 TB SSD
• High connectivity with HDMI & Type-C USB

Cons

• Heavyweight laptop
• No backlit keyboard
• Meager CPU speed 2.1 GHz

Key Features

• The Newest Lenovo ThinkPad E15 is a Gen 3 Business Laptop featuring an impressive memory and storage with a RAM of up to 40GB and 1TB SSD. This laptop boasts enhanced bandwidth that enables seamless switching between apps and high-speed data transfer.
• This laptop comes with a big screen measuring 15.6” with a full HD display. The only shortcoming of this laptop, when the display is concerned, is that it doesn’t have a touchscreen display.
• As far as connectivity is concerned, you can connect it to several devices at once as it has 2 USB Type-A ports, 1 USB Type-C port, HDMI, Audio jack, WiFi, Bluetooth, and RJ-45 ports.
• Windows 11 Pro is great for professionals and makes it a decent business laptop. However, the meager CPU speed of 2.1GHz is a huge drawback for people who need a powerful processor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any good budget laptops?

As you can see from the above list, budget laptops are certainly good for several tasks including gaming, business, content editing, and so on. What matters is your requirements and usage. You can get powerful processors, excellent graphics, and impressive memory and storage in budget laptops. But finding all of these features in a single budget laptop is not possible.

A gaming laptop will not be able to help you much with content creation. Thus, while going for a budget laptop, make sure to rule out your requirements first and then choose one.

What to choose – Chromebook, Windows, or Mac?

Finding Mac OS in a budget laptop is not possible unless you opt for the basic MacBook Air. Chromebook is a good choice if your usage is limited to web browsing and productivity apps. However, for a wider range of software usage or content creation/editing purposes, Windows is your best bet.

Which processor is good for a laptop?

Intel Core i5 is a capable processor that can easily manage your productivity tasks without any lag. However, if you still need a more capable processor, then opt for AMD Ryzen 7 as it is overall quite faster and more powerful than most processors. Intel Core i7 is another excellent choice when it comes to processors. Intel Core i3 or Pentium Processors are quite slow and do not support extensive multitasking, let alone gaming or content creation.

How much RAM does my laptop need?

The simplest answer is 8 GB. Whether you need to multitask or work with complex apps, 8 GB is sufficient for you. However, for serious gamers and video editors/creators, 16 GB RAM is the best bet.

Is a 4K display laptop affordable?

Who wouldn’t love a laptop with a 4K display? Playing games on it or binge-watching your favorite shows and movies would be such a dream. However, a 4k display requires powerful specs along with a super-battery, as the 4K display drains the battery real fast. To expect all these features in a budget laptop is a bit far-fetched. Yet, there are a few budget laptops that offer a 4K display and well-off features that you can go for. If you increase your budget a bit over $1000, then you can get excellent laptops with 4K displays.

Are touchscreen laptops affordable?

The short answer is – Yes. There are touchscreen laptops that come in the $799-$999 range. However, there may be a few shortcomings in these laptops that can be ignored if you really want to go for a budget touchscreen laptop. The Newest HP Pavilion Business Laptop is the best choice for a touchscreen laptop under $1000.

What is the storage capacity of budget laptops?

The storage capacity of budget laptops varies from 500 GB to 1 TB. The higher the memory and storage, the more expensive the laptop, or any other electronic device for that matter, becomes. In the end, the decision to go for either powerful features while compromising on the storage and memory or dropping features for them is yours. Storage, these days, is not an issue as far as laptops are concerned. Cloud storage has you covered! Additionally, an SD card can also solve your storage issues.

Conclusion

All the laptops on this list are well worth the money. Depending on your need and your willingness to compromise in a few areas, you can go with any laptop and you won’t be disappointed. If you still need all the features in one laptop, then you will have to increase your budget and move over the $1000 mark.

Which of these laptops have you tried? What has been your experience with a budget laptop?