Top 10 Best Budget Laptops for 2021: Tom's Hardware Review and Comparison

Find the best budget laptop for your needs with Tom's Hardware. Our expert reviews and buying guides will help you make the right choice.

If you're on the lookout for a budget-friendly laptop that doesn't compromise on performance and features, Tom's Hardware has got you covered. With so many options available in the market, it can be overwhelming to choose the perfect one that fits your needs and budget. But fear not, as we have scoured through the best budget laptops and narrowed down the list to the top contenders. Whether you're a student, a freelancer, or just looking for an affordable laptop for everyday use, our comprehensive guide will help you make an informed decision. From sleek designs to impressive battery life, these budget laptops offer impressive specs that won't break the bank.

Introduction

If you're looking for a budget laptop that delivers great performance and features, then you've come to the right place. In this article, we'll show you the best budget laptops available on the market today, according to Tom's Hardware. These laptops are perfect for students, professionals, and anyone who needs a reliable laptop without breaking the bank.

Lenovo IdeaPad 3

The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is one of the best budget laptops you can buy today. It comes with a 15.6-inch HD display, an AMD Ryzen 5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. This laptop is perfect for everyday use, such as browsing the web, streaming videos, and working on documents.

Acer Aspire 5

The Acer Aspire 5 is another great budget laptop that offers excellent performance and features. It has a 15.6-inch Full HD display, an Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. This laptop is perfect for students and professionals who need a reliable laptop for work or school.

HP Pavilion x360

The HP Pavilion x360 is a 2-in-1 laptop that offers great performance and versatility. It has a 14-inch Full HD touchscreen display, an Intel Core i3 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 128GB SSD. This laptop can be used as a tablet or a laptop, making it perfect for on-the-go use.

Dell Inspiron 15 3000

The Dell Inspiron 15 3000 is a budget laptop that offers great performance and features. It has a 15.6-inch HD display, an Intel Core i3 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 1TB HDD. This laptop is perfect for everyday use, such as browsing the web, streaming videos, and working on documents.

Asus VivoBook 15

The Asus VivoBook 15 is a stylish budget laptop that offers great performance and features. It has a 15.6-inch Full HD display, an AMD Ryzen 5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. This laptop is perfect for students and professionals who need a reliable laptop for work or school.

Lenovo Chromebook Duet

The Lenovo Chromebook Duet is a budget 2-in-1 laptop that offers great performance and features. It has a 10.1-inch Full HD touchscreen display, a MediaTek Helio P60T processor, 4GB of RAM, and a 64GB SSD. This laptop is perfect for on-the-go use, such as browsing the web, streaming videos, and working on documents.

HP Stream 11

The HP Stream 11 is a budget laptop that offers excellent value for money. It has an 11.6-inch HD display, an Intel Celeron processor, 4GB of RAM, and a 32GB eMMC. This laptop is perfect for basic tasks, such as browsing the web, checking email, and working on documents.

Acer Chromebook Spin 311

The Acer Chromebook Spin 311 is a budget 2-in-1 laptop that offers great performance and features. It has an 11.6-inch HD touchscreen display, an Intel Celeron processor, 4GB of RAM, and a 32GB eMMC. This laptop is perfect for on-the-go use, such as browsing the web, streaming videos, and working on documents.

Conclusion

In conclusion, these are the best budget laptops available on the market today, according to Tom's Hardware. These laptops offer great performance and features, making them perfect for students, professionals, and anyone who needs a reliable laptop without breaking the bank. So, if you're looking for a budget laptop, be sure to check out these options.

Introduction

Tom's Hardware is a leading source of information and reviews on computer hardware and technology. The Best Budget Laptop category is a popular choice for those looking for an affordable laptop that meets their computing needs. When it comes to selecting the best budget laptop, factors such as processor performance, display, keyboard and touchpad, battery life, storage, design and build quality, software, connectivity, and customer support are essential to consider.

Processor and Performance

The processor is one of the most crucial components in any computer, including budget laptops. Intel and AMD are the two primary manufacturers of processors that you will find in budget laptops. Intel's Core i3 and i5 processors are common in budget laptops and offer excellent performance for basic computing tasks. AMD's Ryzen processors also provide a good balance of performance and price. When selecting a budget laptop, it's important to consider the processor's clock speed, number of cores, and cache size to ensure that it meets your needs.

Display

When it comes to displays, budget laptops typically come with lower resolution screens and smaller sizes than higher-end laptops. However, there are still plenty of options available, ranging from 11 to 15-inch displays. Higher resolution displays will cost more, but they provide sharper images and higher-quality visuals. It's also essential to consider the type of panel used, with IPS panels offering better viewing angles and color accuracy than TN panels.

Keyboard and Touchpad

The keyboard and touchpad are essential components of any laptop, and it's essential to consider their ergonomics, durability, and sensitivity when selecting a budget laptop. A comfortable keyboard with good key travel and spacing is critical for typing, while a sensitive and responsive touchpad is essential for navigating the laptop. Some budget laptops may use cheaper materials for the keyboard and touchpad, so it's important to check for durability.

Battery Life

Battery life is a critical factor when selecting a budget laptop, as it determines how portable the laptop is and how long you can use it on a single charge. Many budget laptops offer 4-6 hours of battery life, which may be sufficient for basic tasks such as web browsing and word processing. However, if you plan to use your laptop for longer periods, it's essential to look for a laptop with a longer battery life or the ability to swap out batteries.

Storage

When it comes to storage, budget laptops typically come with either a hard drive or a solid-state drive (SSD). Hard drives provide more storage space at a lower cost but are slower and less durable than SSDs. In contrast, SSDs offer faster performance and improved durability but are more expensive and provide less storage capacity. Hybrid drives combine the best of both worlds, providing faster performance and larger storage capacities at a reasonable cost.

Design and Build Quality

The design and build quality of a budget laptop are essential factors that affect its durability and portability. A well-built laptop with high-quality materials will last longer and provide better protection against wear and tear. It's essential to look for laptops with sturdy hinges, reinforced frames, and scratch-resistant surfaces to ensure that they can withstand daily use.

Software

Most budget laptops come with pre-installed software, including an operating system and productivity software. However, some laptops may also come with bloatware or unnecessary software that can slow down the laptop's performance. It's essential to consider the software that comes with the laptop and remove any unnecessary programs to improve performance.

Connectivity

Budget laptops typically come with a range of connectivity options, including USB ports, HDMI and VGA outputs, and Wi-Fi capabilities. It's essential to consider the number and type of ports available, as well as the laptop's wireless capabilities, to ensure that it meets your needs.

Customer Support

Customer support is an essential factor to consider when selecting a budget laptop. Some manufacturers offer better customer support than others, with features such as extended warranties, free repairs, and 24/7 technical support. It's important to research the manufacturer's customer service policies and read reviews from other customers to ensure that you select a reliable and trustworthy brand.In conclusion, selecting the best budget laptop requires careful consideration of many factors, including processor performance, display, keyboard and touchpad, battery life, storage, design and build quality, software, connectivity, and customer support. By understanding these factors and doing your research, you can find a budget laptop that meets your needs without breaking the bank.

Once upon a time, Tom's Hardware set out to find the best budget laptop on the market. After hours of research and testing, they came to a conclusion: the Acer Aspire 5 is the best budget laptop available.

Point of View

As a consumer looking for a reliable and affordable laptop, the Acer Aspire 5 is the perfect choice. It offers great performance and features at an unbeatable price.

Use Explanation Voice and Tone

The Acer Aspire 5 has a sleek and modern design that looks and feels more expensive than it actually is. It has a 15.6-inch Full HD IPS display that produces vibrant colors and sharp images. The laptop is powered by an AMD Ryzen 3 3200U processor, which provides speedy and efficient performance for everyday tasks like web browsing, streaming videos, and light gaming.

The Acer Aspire 5 also has 4GB of DDR4 RAM, which is enough for most basic applications and multitasking. It also has a 128GB SSD, which offers fast boot-up times and plenty of storage space for documents, photos, and other files.

Overall, the Acer Aspire 5 is a great laptop for anyone on a tight budget. It offers solid performance, a sleek design, and plenty of features at a price that can't be beat.

Benefits of the Acer Aspire 5

1. Great performance for everyday tasks
2. Sleek and modern design
3. Full HD IPS display
4. Fast boot-up times and plenty of storage space
5. Unbeatable price

Conclusion

If you're looking for a reliable and affordable laptop, the Acer Aspire 5 is the best option on the market. It offers great performance, a sleek design, and plenty of features at an unbeatable price. Don't miss out on this amazing budget laptop!

Hello there, dear visitors! We hope that you found our article on the best budget laptop from Tom's Hardware informative and helpful. Allow us to give you a brief summary of what we've discussed.

Firstly, we talked about the importance of considering your needs before purchasing a budget laptop. Understanding what you need and what you can compromise on will help you make a better decision when it comes to buying a laptop. We also discussed some of the factors that you should consider when choosing a budget laptop, such as the processor, RAM, storage, and graphics card.

We then went on to list some of the best budget laptops currently available in the market, including the ASUS VivoBook 15, Lenovo IdeaPad 3, and Acer Aspire 5. We provided you with a brief overview of each laptop, its specifications, and its pros and cons. We also included a buying guide to help you navigate through the different laptops available in the market and choose the best one for you.

In conclusion, we hope that our article has helped you make a more informed decision when it comes to purchasing a budget laptop. Remember to always consider your needs and do your research before making any purchase. Thank you for visiting our blog, and we hope to see you again soon!

People Also Ask About Best Budget Laptop Tom's Hardware

When it comes to finding the best budget laptop, there are a lot of questions that people have in mind. Here are some of the most common ones:

1. What is the cheapest laptop on Tom's Hardware?

• Tom's Hardware updates their list of best budget laptops regularly, so the cheapest option may vary over time. However, as of [insert date], the Acer Aspire 5 A515-43-R19L is currently the cheapest laptop on their list with a price tag of under $400.

2. What is the best budget laptop for students?

• For students, it's important to have a laptop that can handle everyday tasks and is also portable enough to carry around campus. According to Tom's Hardware, the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 14 is the best budget laptop for students as it has a long battery life, solid performance, and a sleek design.

3. Can you play games on a budget laptop?

• Yes, you can play games on a budget laptop, but it's important to manage your expectations. You won't be able to play the latest and most demanding games at high settings, but you can still enjoy some older or less demanding titles. Tom's Hardware recommends the Acer Nitro 5 AN515-54-51M5 as a budget gaming laptop.

4. What is the best budget laptop for video editing?

• Video editing requires a laptop with a powerful processor and a dedicated graphics card. According to Tom's Hardware, the ASUS VivoBook S15 S533FA-DS74 is the best budget laptop for video editing as it has an Intel Core i7 processor and an NVIDIA GeForce MX250 graphics card.

5. How much RAM do I need in a budget laptop?

• The amount of RAM you need in a budget laptop depends on your usage. For basic tasks like web browsing and word processing, 4GB of RAM should be sufficient. However, if you plan on multitasking or using more demanding applications, you should consider getting a laptop with at least 8GB of RAM. Tom's Hardware recommends the HP Pavilion x360 14 for a budget laptop with 8GB of RAM.

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