Top 10 Best Affordable Laptop Computers 2017: Compare, Buy & Save

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If you’re looking to spend a reasonable amount of cash on a PC, it has never been a better time to buy. Nowadays, there are many options for affordable yet high quality computers. On this list, we have a variety of machines for those who want the bare minimum Windows experience to the gamer who wants to be able to play the latest titles at fast frame rates.

Affordable is a bit of an ambiguous word, but every PC on this list is under $1,000, with the exception of the last one which is only slightly over at $1049.99. That said, if you want really cheap PCs, be sure to check out our other list, The Best PCs under $500, which showcases even more lower price options.

All that out of the way, here’s the 10 best affordable laptop computers from lowest to highest price.

1. HP Elitebook 8470p (Certified Refurbished)

HP Elitebook 8470p
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For those open to a used machine, this HP Elitebook offers solid performance for the price. It’s a pretty great deal. Boasting a zippy i5 processor and 8GB of RAM, this PC out punches considerably more expensive newer models. Of course, with used, there’s always a trade-off. The one shortcoming with this PC is its relatively slow hard drive. If you’re interested in this model, be sure to backup all of your data (Backblaze does this for only $5 a month) or replace the hard drive; it’s usually the first part to go.

Beyond this, however, this PC is a good deal for those who need a PC for student or workplace usage. The only other shortcoming is its low-res screen (1366 x 768), but for most users this won’t be noticeable.

Price: $274.89

Buy the HP Elitebook 8470p (Certified Refurbished) here.

Pros:

Full Windows 10 machine at a dirt cheap price
Value is great; performance is better than many much more expensive PCs
Large data drive
Amazon refurbished products include 30-day warranty

Cons:

Resolution could be better
Hard drive is 5400RPM and on the slow side; can be unreliable on a used machine

Find more HP Elitebook 8470p (Certified Refurbished) information and reviews here.

2. Acer Aspire 15.6″

Acer

The biggest perk of getting a new laptop as opposed to a refurbished one is that the hard drive is less of a concern. That said, this model isn’t quite up to the specs of the first one on our list. Its hard drive is twice as big, but it has half as much RAM and a slower i3 processor. It also weighs about a pound more and has a similarly low resolution screen. This PC is still a good deal if you want to get a new PC and just need the bare basics on a Windows PC. It has enough power for decent performance for student or office applications, but not much else.

Price: $449.99

Buy the Acer Aspire 15.6″ here.

‘Acer

Pros:

Decent specs for the price
Great for browsing online and document creation
RAM and hard drive are easy to upgrade
Includes disc drive

Cons:

Processor and RAM are low for Windows (takes a lot of system resources)
Display has low resolution

Find more Acer Aspire 15.6″ information and reviews here.

3. Asus VivoBook F510UA (Good for Photoshop, Video Editors)

Asus

This Vivobook is a really nice deal. It boasts a fast i5 processor and a good amount of RAM, plus it’s about the same weight as the first PC on our list. Unfortunately, it has a slow hard drive, but that can be replaced. This PC isn’t the editor’s choice (that honor goes to the computer below), but it’s a strong pick if you want an affordable computer with a good amount of processing power. If exporting video or photos (especially using external drives) is part of your day to day, this may be a better choice than the Swift below because having that extra processor speed will make things move a lot quicker. That said, if you don’t do that much of those things, the Swift is only $100 more expensive and adding in an SSD really makes using a PC a much better experience for general use.

Price: $499

Buy the Asus VivoBook F510UA here.

Asus

Pros:

New, fast 8th-generation i5 processor
Good RAM for the price
Large hard drive
Weight is less than comparable PCs
Cool looking screen nearly lacks a bezzle

Cons:

Hard drive is slow
No CD drive

Find more Asus VivoBook F510UA information and reviews here.

4. Acer Swift 3 (Editor’s Choice)

Swift 3 best i5,
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Acer

The Acer Swift 3 has a lot going for it. It boasts a decent processor, a good amount of RAM, and a pretty low weight. The biggest perk here, however, is its fast 256GB SSD. This makes every aspect of the PC much quicker for uses like moving files, loading (boot time), and virtually any application. The only downside to this PC is that its processor isn’t very fast for things like editing videos. Still, it should suffice for 1080P editing, it just won’t likely be a very smooth and seamless experience. In terms of gaming, it won’t do either. The reason this PC, however, is the editor’s choice is because for student and office use, it has everything you need to work effectively and pleasantly on document creation and most student or office applications.

Price: $697.98

Buy the Acer Swift 3 here.

Acer

Pros:

Solid price and balance for a document, work, or student PC
Good processor with enough RAM for decent multitasking
Cheap, relatively low weight
Compared to comparable Mac – half the price, twice the performance
Great battery life of up to 10 hours
Screen can be parallel to keyboard, 180 degree flexibility

Cons:

Its fan can be noisy
Easy to press on/off button

Find more Acer Swift 3 information and reviews here.

5. Dell Inspiron i5

Dell

Processor / Passmark Speed i5-7200U / 4686 | RAM 8GB DDR4 | Graphics Card Integrated | Hard Drive 1TB HDD (5400 RPM) | Weight 5.13lbs | Display 15.6″ 1080P, Touch display |

This Inspiron i5 downgrades the SSD, but it is slightly faster processor-wise and has equal RAM. The biggest benefit to this PC is its touch display. For those who like to draw or use other touch applications, this PC may be a better choice. However, it is considerably heavier. Fortunately, that extra weight includes a DVD/CD writing drive, which can prove handy for those who still use discs. Another perk here is its back-lit keyboard. Overall, this PC isn’t a stand out in any real way. It won’t do for video editing or gaming (at all), but if you want a touch screen, this is one of the best, most affordable ways to get it.

Price: $629.99

Buy the Dell Inspiron i5 here.

Dell

Pros:

DVD/CD writer drive
Backlit keyboard makes typing in the night easier
Good brand means reliability and good customer service
Track pad is solid
Slim

Cons:

Only really powerful enough for student or office use
Hard drive is on the slow side; worst spec on the computer

Find more Dell Inspiron i5 information and reviews here.

6. ASUS Zenbook UX330

ASUS

The Zenbook is essentially a much fancier Acer Swift (number four on our list). Compared to the Swift, the perks are pretty superficial. They have very comparable performance. With this computer, one carries a bit less weight and gets a built-in fingerprint reader. That said, the Zenbook is a really nice looking device. Comparing it to a Macbook, it blows that machine out of the water (the Zenbook’s processor is about 50% faster). For those who are looking for the form factor and vibe of a Mac on a PC laptop, the Zenbook is the most affordable way to do so. If you don’t care for looks or low weight, go with the Swift 3 instead.

Price: $699 (8 percent off MSRP)

Buy the ASUS Zenbook UX330 here.

ASUS

Pros:

Keyboard has back light
SD card reader out of the box
Sleek look with good build quality
Good specs for its weight and office performance

Cons:

Lack of a graphics cards means no gaming
Smaller screen means better pixel density, but it’s still 1080P

Find more ASUS Zenbook UX330 information and reviews here.

7. Dell Inspiron Pseudo 4K, 15.6″

Dell

If you’re looking to play Overwatch, for instance, and just to use this PC (not with an external display), then this is the most affordable way to do so. That out of the way, this PC has some weaknesses that mean it may be worth it to spend a few more bucks. The GTX 960M is a decent card, but it doesn’t compare to the GTX 1050Ti and you can get that on Acer model below. Another big point here is that the 1TB HDD is 5400 RPM, which doesn’t matter too much for games, but it can be annoying for other purposes. It also means the boot time is slower.

Still, if you’re at your budget max, this PC will do the job well. One other feature that some may like is its Pseudo 4k touch screen. Essentially, these screens use a technology that gives them more pixels than 1080P. It’s technically 4K, but functionally, it looks more like enhanced 1080P (not even 1440P).

If you want the bare minimum gaming PC and are at your budget max, go for this PC. If not, it’s recommended to spend just a bit more and get more bang for your buck.

Price: $827

Buy the Dell Inspiron Pseudo 4K, 15.6″ here.

Dell

Pros:

Good all around performer
Display has great solution (Pseudo 4K)
Excellent mobile processor
SD card reader built in
Graphics card means it can be used for gaming

Cons:

No disk or optical drive
Hard drive is slow at 5400 RPM
Heavy
Average battery life

Find more Dell Inspiron Pseudo 4K, 15.6″ information and reviews here.

8. Acer Aspire VX (Gamer’s Pick)

aspire video editing laptop,
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Acer

This is a PC with no compromises. If you’re a gamer, it has everything you need, including a fast GTX 1050Ti, an SSD, and tons of RAM. Sure, one could spend $50 more on the Helios 300, but chances are, unless you’re playing the very top of the line games, there’s no reason to insist on a GTX 1060. This PC gets the job done for everyone. It will play modern games at medium to high settings.

The one caveat is that if you would like a better display with an inferior processor, the model below has a prettier screen. Still, for most who want a powerful laptop capable of playing modern games, this is the way to go. If you want a desktop replacement, the Helios 300 may work out better for the most intense graphical applications and the like.

Price: $999 (5 percent off MSRP)

Buy the Acer Aspire VX here.

Acer

Pros:

Bright, high-quality display
Backlit keyboard
Solid performance for 1080P VFX and editing with its great graphics card
Snappy SSD with blazing fast, best-in-class processor

Cons:

Hard drive space will go fast as it is on the small side; upgrade will be necessary for those with large files
Helios 300 will perform better for games and video editing and is only $49 more (see more information on Amazon or the end of this list)

Find more Acer Aspire VX information and reviews here.

9. Acer Aspire Gaming, Editing, and Design PC

Acer

If you don’t need a GTX 1060 (such as on the Helios 300 below), then this is the PC to get. It boasts everything you need to do anything you would want to do at a PC at just under $1,000. Sure, you could spend $50 more, and get the Helios 300 below, but do you really need to do that? The Helios has an inferior display and on a day-to-day basis, having a good display is very important. This PC has a worse processor than the model above, but it has a great display and is otherwise very solid. If you’re a gamer occasionally, but primarily a student or using your PC for office applications, this model is preferable.

Price: $999 (5 percent off MSRP)

Buy the Acer Aspire Gaming, Editing, and Design PC here.

Acer

Pros:

Can play modern games at decent to good settings
RAM and SSD can be upgraded
Sound quality is solid
Good construction quality
Runs Overwatch and League of Legends smoothly

Cons:

No CD/DVD drive
Trackpad is off center
Includes some bloatware (unnecessary software that needs to be deleted for max performance)

Find more Acer Aspire Gaming, Editing, and Design PC information and reviews here.

10. Acer Predator Helios 300

Acer

Processor / Passmark Speed i7-7700HQ / 8943 | RAM 16GB DDR4 | Graphics Card GTX 1060 – 6GB | Hard Drive 256GB SSD | Weight 5.95lbs | Display 15.6″ 1920 x 1080, IPS 60HZ |

This is the best deal in gaming laptops on the market right now. Boasting a fast i7, plenty of RAM, and a wicked graphics card, the GTX 1060, this PC delivers in every way. The display is a bit dim, that’s it’s worse shortcoming, but the great thing about this computer, is that with that much power under the hood, one can easily use it as a desktop replacement at home. It may be heavy (almost six pounds), but it’s also heavy-duty. If you want to play modern games at high to ultra settings, this laptop has your back. That’s just not true of the GTX 1050Ti. It will struggle to play the most demanding games at the highest settings. This PC will struggle with very little. It’s a beast.

Price: $1049.99 (5 percent off MSRP)

Buy the Acer Predator Helios 300 here.

Acer

Pros:

Best gaming laptop in the $1000 price range; no contest
Backlit keyboard is nice for late night gaming sessions
Great for video or photo editing that utilizes graphics card (Photoshop is processor-only)
Wi-Fi is good; decent speakers

Cons:

Laptop can get very hot
Display could be brighter
Screen construction quality feels a bit cheap

Find more Acer Predator Helios 300 information and reviews here.

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