Best Value Laptops 2023
Hi everyone, it's that time again! Here's my roundup of the best value-oriented laptops, by manufacturers with good reputations for quality and reliability.
As usual, I focus mainly on the lower end of the market, with students and bloggers in mind. Also, please note that if you choose to click my links and then you buy something, I may get a small commission at no cost to you.
Lenovo IdeaPad, $370: https://amzn.to/44MO2PA
Lenovo appears to be the king of deals right now!
Even though the processor in this laptop isn't the strongest [nor that weak, for most uses], the SSD and 12GB of RAM should make up for it in everyday usage. If I needed a new laptop, this would definitely be in the running.
However, if you're planning to use this for processor-intensive tasks like compiling code, this may not be powerful enough for your needs.
Key specs: AMD Athlon Silver 3050U, 12 GB RAM, 512 GB solid-state drive, 15.6" screen
Lenovo IdeaPad 3i, $310: https://amzn.to/3OdfBuf
Good entry-level option for someone who needs a basic, lightweight laptop. At $310, that's a deal! Even at $350, that's still a really good price. I'm personally not fond of the lack of a separate number pad, but not everybody needs one.
Key specs: Intel i3-1115G4 processor, 12 GB RAM, 256 GB solid-state drive, 14" Full-HD screen
ASUS Vivobook 15, $600: https://amzn.to/3OipnLA
Need something bigger or more capable than the Lenovo above? Here's a good option, and one I'd strongly consider for myself. At $600, that's a fair price on a capable machine.
Key specs: Intel i5-1135G7, 8 GB RAM, 512 GB solid-state drive, 15.6" Full-HD screen
Lenovo IdeaPad 1i, $360: https://amzn.to/43MsFwq
Another good value play, although again, it's a 14-inch laptop and therefore does not have a separate number pad. Still, a good deal and lightweight, too.
Key specs: Intel i3-1215U, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB solid-state drive, 14" screen
ASUS VivoBook Go 15, $470: https://amzn.to/3OD0lZb
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Solid price on a nicely-spec'ed new computer.
Key specs: AMD Ryzen 5 7520U, 8 GB RAM, 512 GB solid-state drive, 15.6" Full-HD screen
Update to add: ASUS VivoBook Go M515DA, $330: https://amzn.to/432o1Mb
Update (3/2/24) to add this one:
If you don't need a lot of storage, this is a great price on a well-built machine. The processor is okay but not overly strong, it has sufficient RAM and only 128 GB of hard-drive storage.
I have long trusted ASUS machines, and they've mostly been pretty good to me. This is likely to be a reliable option, and a good choice for those who don't want to spend much on a laptop (either because they have a more capable desktop already, or because they don't plan to use a laptop often).
ASUS VivoBook 14 M413 (refurbished), $400 unavailable: https://amzn.to/3QmoMev
This is a solid entry-level option, especially for light users or students. Caveat emptor, though, quality depends on who refurbished this device and how knowledgeable that person is. I've had both good and bad experiences with refurbs.
Key specs: AMD Ryzen 5 3500U, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB solid-state drive, 14" Full HD screen
ASUS TUF F15, $700: https://amzn.to/3YcH3wK
Want to save some cash on a gaming laptop? Here's your solution: a well-reviewed device that's loved by users (77% five-star rating on almost 2000 Amazon reviews!) and plenty capable. The RTX 2050 is a solid graphics card, though you might have to fiddle with the settings to get things to run smoothly on a more graphics-intensive game. To ensure a game runs smoothly, I would use 1080p and wouldn't go higher than 1440p, since this laptop only has a 1080p screen anyway.
It doesn't have the very latest hardware, but if you want the absolute newest, you'll have to pay a premium for it. Might as well sacrifice some bragging rights in order to save the cash. There are other configurations available, but there's a large price jump involved for most of them. Need a deal? This is the one.
Key specs: Intel i5-11400H, 8 GB RAM, 512 GB solid-state drive, 15.6" Full-HD screen, nVidia GeForce RTX 2050
