When entering a hardware store in order to purchase a good computer, most buyers will prefer to choose a high-quality, inexpensive, budget laptop for the Internet, study or at home. Models of this class are presented on the market in the widest variety, since their capabilities are more than enough to carry out any daily tasks.
Also, buyers appreciate such devices for their low and, most importantly, reasonable price, which is still a rarity in gaming and professional solutions. To make it easier for you, we've compiled a list of the best low-cost laptops in 2020 that could be ideal tools for students, schoolchildren and office workers.
Content
Acer Extensa 2540-37WM
Usually, when choosing a laptop in the budget segment, users do not want to overpay for the Windows OS pre-installed on it. But the option without a system may also not suit every buyer at all. Acer's good and inexpensive Extensa 2540 laptop is the optimal solution. The operating system Linux is installed here, which is distributed free of charge. It is quite enough for typing, surfing the Internet and other simple tasks. At the same time, Linux loads less hardware, represented here by an Intel Core i3-6006U processor with a frequency of 2 GHz and 4 gigabytes of DDR4 RAM. The graphics in this model are built-in, which is good for the autonomy. The Acer Extensa 2540 can run for about 6 hours on battery depending on the usage. Otherwise, we have a classic laptop with a 15.6-inch screen, a standard set of ports and a not too fast hard drive.
Advantages:
- Good build
- Matte screen finish
- Decent processor
- Reasoned price
- Not a bad camera
Disadvantages:
- Slow hard drive
Dell Inspiron 3542
Dell has always been of excellent quality and the Inspiron 3542 is no exception. Despite the fact that the laptop is cheaper than 20,000 rubles, the reviews about it are the most positive. For its price, the device offers a preinstalled home version of Windows 10, an Intel Celeron processor clocked at 1.6 GHz, as well as 500 gigabytes of internal storage and 4 GB of RAM. Dell Inspiron 3542 has a standard set of wireless modules and ports, most of which are located on the left side. If you are still thinking about which is the best to buy a good and inexpensive laptop for your home, then this model may be an excellent choice. At the same time, the austere design, high-quality assembly and a very comfortable keyboard will appeal to both schoolchildren or students and office workers.
Advantages:
- Reliable and high quality case
- Convenient input devices
- Low cost
- Good selection of ports
- Virtually silent operation
Disadvantages:
- Availability of only one slot for RAM with a limit of 8 GB
- Budget screen
ASUS VivoBook Max X541SA
When you first look at the ASUS VivoBook Max X541SA, you might have conflicting opinions. On the one hand, in terms of value for money, this inexpensive laptop is a very interesting option among budget devices. However, an attempt to reduce the cost of the product by cutting down some important nuances may not please everyone. So just a couple of standard USB ports will not be enough. In addition, they are located next to each other, so there may be problems with their simultaneous use. Winchester, alas, is also far from ideal.Nevertheless, the model will appeal to those who need a laptop with an excellent build quality, light weight, good design and minimal features, like typing or surfing the Internet.
Advantages:
- Nice design
- Energy efficient platform
- Availability of USB Type-C
- Weight and dimensions
Disadvantages:
- Just a couple of USB Type-A ports and tight fit
- HDD speed and quality
HP 255 G5
If you have to pick a laptop on a very tight budget, then the HP 255 G5 might be an excellent choice. It is completely built on the AMD platform for low cost. At the same time, the A6 7310 processor with a clock speed of 2 GHz and the built-in Radeon R4 graphics perfectly cope with any daily tasks. The operative and built-in memory of the device is represented by a 4 GB bar of the LPDDR3 standard and a 500 gigabyte "screw" with a rotation speed of 5400 revolutions. The solution is not the best, but justified for its price within 30,000 rubles. The need to completely disassemble the case if you want to replace the RAM or drive is definitely not an advantage. However, although the laptop is inexpensive, it is well assembled, which can be seen in everyday use and during disassembly.
Advantages:
- Build quality
- Price-performance ratio
- A set of ports and wireless modules
- Silent operation
- Good cooling
Disadvantages:
- Not all keyboard buttons are full format
- Lack of hot swappable HDD and RAM
- Mediocre autonomy
ASUS X540LA
ASUS X540LA is an excellent choice for undemanding users. This laptop boasts autonomy and performance at a level sufficient for schoolchildren, students and office workers. Powered by an energy efficient Intel Core i3-5005U processor and integrated graphics, it delivers 4-6 hours of battery life at medium display brightness. The device has one USB 2.0 standard and a pair of 3.0. One of the latter, however, is represented by the Type-C format, and with the simultaneous connection of, for example, a mouse and an external drive, the user may feel a lack of connectors. The built-in storage is 500 gigabytes, which is enough for the needs of an ordinary user, but the pre-installed 8 GB of RAM is an important plus.
Advantages:
- RAM size
- Availability of USB Type-C
- Autonomy
- Price-performance ratio
- Relatively lightweight
- Works smartly
Disadvantages:
- Low viewing angles of the screen
- Few ports
HP Pavilion 11-u014ur x360
If you are constantly moving around the city, and you need to always have a convenient device at hand for accessing the Internet, typing text and opening files sent by colleagues, then the HP Pavilion 11-u014ur x360 transformer is the best choice that can be found for up to 30,000 rubles. There is absolutely everything you need for comfortable work: an Intel Pentium N3710 processor operating at 2 GHz, 4 gigabytes of RAM, an 11.6-inch IPS matrix with a resolution of 1366x768 pixels and a capacious battery that provides 10 hours of battery life. A very strange decision is perhaps the absence of an SSD in a convertible laptop, but otherwise we have a wonderful representative of its class for a very reasonable price. In addition, this model was created in collaboration with Beats Electronics. This means that the laptop has good sound, and you don't need a headphone to watch movies or YouTube videos comfortably.
Advantages:
- Quality matrix
- Touch screen
- Lightness and compactness
- Autonomy up to 8 hours
- Built-in acoustics quality
Disadvantages:
- Installing a hard drive, not a solid state drive
Lenovo B71-80
In the case of predominantly stationary work at home or in the office, you do not need to select a compact device. So the 17-inch screen in the Lenovo B71-80 laptop will give you more convenience in work both due to the increased diagonal and due to the increased resolution. The picture is bright, juicy, and the matte coating protects well from glare. Of course, for such a price, the manufacturer could add a matrix to a laptop with support for Full HD-resolution.But in this case, the load on the "hardware" would slightly increase, so this drawback cannot be called critical. And although the laptop is of course rather weak for games, you can work on it without annoying system "brakes". In terms of entertainment, the capabilities of the previous generation Core i5 and the not-so-recent Radeon R5 M330 graphics will not be enough for modern games. The presence of only 4 gigabytes of RAM affects performance in resource-intensive applications not in the best way.
Advantages:
- Good multimedia performance
- Capacious and fast onboard storage
- Large and high quality screen
- Comfortable keyboard
- Not easily soiled plastic case
Disadvantages:
- Inconvenient port locations
- Plastic around the keyboard can bend
Dell Vostro 5468
Dell Vostro 5468 is an incredibly interesting model with many advantages. Firstly, this is the most productive laptop in our review, and you can play some games on it without any problems. It can handle even the most advanced projects, even if you sometimes have to settle for low graphics settings. It is also the only laptop with a metal case in the rating, which, given the cost of the device, is good news. In terms of hardware, the Dell Vostro 5468 also outperforms many competitors. It has an Intel Core i5 processor of the current family and a fast 500 GB disk. At the same time, the laptop is equipped with a good discrete video card GeForce 940MX from NVIDIA. In conjunction with a processor and 4 GB of RAM, the device demonstrates an excellent result in projects of the level of GTA V. Alas, it was not possible to do without flaws completely, and after buying a Dell Vostro 5468 you will have to “enjoy” a far from the best screen.
Advantages:
- Lovely design
- Excellent performance
- Metal body
- Lightness and compactness
- Adjustable keyboard backlight (optional)
- Fingerprint scanner (optional)
Disadvantages:
- Bad matrix
Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E470
Looking for a lightweight and compact laptop for watching movies and the Internet? Then the Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E470 model is one of the most interesting options to buy. It has a 14-inch matrix with a resolution of 1366x768 pixels. The matte finish of the display and a good margin of brightness make it easy to use the device even outdoors. At the same time, the laptop has a good screen made using IPS technology, which guarantees excellent color reproduction and excellent viewing angles. Separately, it is worth noting the energy-efficient Intel Core i3-7100U platform, which provides excellent battery life of 8.5 hours. Minimum weight, small dimensions and no need to carry a charger with you make this inexpensive laptop with average performance one of the best options for lovers of maximum mobility. The fast HDD with a speed of 7200 rpm should also be given credit.
Advantages:
- Good performance
- Fast Winchester
- Light weight
- Excellent autonomy
- Perfect Matrix
Disadvantages:
- Soiled plastic
- Disassembly is required to replace the battery
Conclusion
Summing up, we can say with confidence that the rating of the best inexpensive laptops for 2018 - 2020 turned out to be very voluminous and interesting. Whether you want a compact device, a model with a large or a touch screen, a solution with a chic design or a simple appearance - in our rating there is sure to be an option for your needs. Among the inexpensive devices, there was even a place for fairly productive solutions suitable for gaming entertainment.
