The best laptops of 2024 under $1,000: Expert tested and reviewed

The best laptop under $1,000 is the M2 MacBook Air, which we also branded ZDNET’s Product of the Year for 2022. It’s a fantastic machine for a variety of reasons. The M2 SoC (system on a chip) gives the device a much-needed performance boost. It lets you handle enormous files, render videos, compress them, and create multimedia-intense PowerPoints. The M2 MacBook Air can do all of this without blinking.

Professional and casual users alike will appreciate the Liquid Retina display, which can simultaneously show 1.07 billion shades of color. Granted, it may not be as stunning as the screen on the MacBook Pro, but you still get a roughly 2K resolution image (2,560 x 1,664 pixels). Having a screen this nice does come at a cost. The M2 MacBook Air has a slightly worse battery life than the 2020 model, lasting about 16 hours instead of 17 hours.

Review: Apple MacBook Air (M2, 2022) review: Sleeker, faster – and more expensive

Despite the slightly short battery life, the device is a premiere laptop, no matter how you look at it. As ZDNET’s editor-in-chief Jason Hiner wrote in his hands-on review, “the M2 MacBook Air is… the first redesign of the… product line in over a decade, and Apple has delivered a hardware design that impresses” on both form and function.

Apple M2 MacBook Air tech specs: CPU Model: Apple M2 | RAM Memory: 8GB | Hard Disk Drive: 256GB SSD | Screen Size: 13.6 inches

Finding an affordable gaming laptop can be tricky. These typically possess high-end hardware because stronger chipsets and graphics cards ensure the best gaming performance possible. All that comes at a cost — literally. It’s very common to see these laptops go well over $1,000, $2,000, and, in some cases, $3,000. But the HP Victus 15 is not bogged down by such outrageous prices. So, what do you get?

Don’t expect it to be a total powerhouse, as it has an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 graphics card. It’s not current-gen hardware, but the RTX 3050 is still solid to this day. Gamers will be able to enjoy the latest games in high resolution. The 144 refresh rate ensures velvety smooth gameplay. Its battery life isn’t too bad either for a gaming laptop, as it can last over eight hours on a single charge.

Even if you’re not a big gamer, we still recommend this device to everyone. It’s more than capable of handling light workloads, and its slim form factor allows the Victus 15 to fit inside a bag easily. However, we warn you that it is a bit heavy at around five pounds. 

HP Victus 15 tech specs: CPU Model: Intel Core i5-12450H | RAM Memory: 8GB | Hard Disk Drive: 512 GB SSD | Screen Size: 15.6 inches

Due to their flexibility, 2-in-1 laptops offer unique utility. One minute, you could use it as a traditional laptop, typing away on the keyboard, and the next, you’d be drawing on it like a tablet after flipping the display around. Their form factor allows them to tackle all sorts of workloads. Among the low-cost options, the Lenovo Yoga 7i is the best.

The Yoga 7i’s success is due to three factors: its hardware, its display, and its design. First, the device houses the decently powerful Intel Core Ultra 5 alongside 16GB of RAM, making it robust and speedy enough to handle a wide array of tasks easily. Additionally, it offers a good amount of storage courtesy of its 512GB SSD.

Review: The 2-in-1 laptop that I recommend for college juggles work and play seamlessly

Regarding its display, you’ll receive a 16-inch Full HD touchscreen. ZDNET Editor Kyle Kucharski referred to it as “dynamic… [adding] another dimension to Windows” and allowing “flexible usage.” 

However, it is not particularly bright, maxing out at 300 nits (you’re better off not using this laptop under the sun). Design-wise, Lenovo made several great choices: It’s slim yet durable, and the hinges feel particularly strong, minimizing screen wobble.

Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 tech specs: CPU Model: Intel Core Ultra 5 Series 1 | RAM Memory: 16 GB | Hard Disk Drive:  512 SSD | Screen Size: 16-inches

Lenovo’s IdeaPad 3i is recommended for anyone looking for a laptop they can take with them from point A to point B and anywhere in between. It’s a lightweight machine, weighing 3.74 pounds and measuring 0.7 inches at its thickest. Don’t be fooled by its thin visage, because the device packs decent muscle. It houses an Intel Core i7-1255U processor alongside 16GB of DDR4 RAM, enabling speedy performance. The hardware is supported by AI features such as Smart Wireless, which ensures that Wi-Fi connections don’t suddenly drop.

Also: Lenovo’s excellent IdeaPad 3i is about to be $300 off at Walmart – and I don’t expect the deal to last

It sports a full HD touchscreen that allows you to enjoy high-resolution content. The glass is even covered in an anti-glare, maintaining visibility under brightly lit conditions. Lenovo’s model also has a 720p webcam and two 1.5W Dolby Audio speakers for immersive video calls. The major downside to the IdeaPad 3i is its battery doesn’t last very long, at about six hours.

If you’re looking for a lightweight laptop that can last the whole day, we suggest the IdeaPad Slim 3i with the Intel Core i5-1335U. It isn’t as powerful, but the second configuration can run up to 10 hours on a single charge.

Lenovo IdeaPad 3i specs: CPU Model: Intel Core Ultra 7 1255UH | RAM Memory: 16GB | Hard Disk Drive: 512GB | Screen Size: 15.6-inch Full HD Display

The Acer Aspire Go 15 has earned its spot as the best laptop for value. It’s the cheapest option on our list and serves as a solid work machine. The device has an Intel Core i3-N305 processor, an integrated Intel UHD graphics card, and 8GB of RAM. It’s a lightweight laptop that can handle various tasks, from internet browsing to writing documents and streaming movies. Due to its mid-range hardware, the Aspire 3’s battery can last quite a while — about 10 hours on a single charge, according to ZDNET Editor Kyle Kucharsaki.

Review: This Acer laptop is my go-to recommendation for budget shoppers (and it’s on sale)

If you check out the Amazon reviews for the laptop, you’ll notice many people like the display. The summary explicitly points out that users enjoy how it “provides crisp visuals and vibrant colors.” That’s probably because Acer gave their model a 15.6-inch Full HD resolution (1,920 x 1,080 pixels) IPS display. 

Like the HP Pavilion Plus, IPS tech allows the computer to show vibrant colors. It even supports Acer BlueLightShield, which lowers the amount of harmful blue light sent to your eyes. Professional users will appreciate the good port selection, including USB-C, HDMI, and two USB-A inputs.

Another great feature worth mentioning is its large cooling fan, which ensures the model is always at an optimal temperature.

Acer Aspire 3 tech specs: CPU Model: Intel Core i3-N305 | RAM Memory: 8GB LPDDR5 | Hard Disk Drive: 128 GB | Screen Size: 15.6 inches

OLED isn’t just for expensive laptops, and the Asus Zenbook 14 is proof of that. It has the best screen out of all the entries on this list, sporting a Full HD OLED display. The resolution may not be super high, but it does ensure vibrant colors and deep blacks. It’s made even better by the thin bezels surrounding the glass, enabling a 16:10 aspect ratio. This makes the screen appear bigger than it actually is.

Another great aspect of this laptop is how energy-efficient it is. During our tests, the model ran for about 12 hours on a single charge before we ran for the power adapter. Part of this longevity is due to the optimizations applied to the OLED display as well as the hardware it runs. Under the hood is an Intel Core Ultra 125H, an integrated Intel graphics card, and 8GB of RAM.

Review: One of the most versatile laptops I’ve tested also has one of the best displays

A configuration like that won’t demand too much from the battery. Something like this would mean the Zenbook 14 delivers poor performance, but it’s no slouch either. It houses an NPU or neural processing unit that utilizes AI to support the CPU and GPU “by taking some of the load off them.” 

This ASUS model is also ultra-lightweight, clocking in at under three pounds. Contrary to its thin design, the laptop is quite tough thanks to a body made primarily of aluminum and a screen sporting Corning Gorilla Glass.

Asus Zenbook 14 specs: CPU Model: Intel Core Ultra 5 125H | RAM Memory: 8 GB | Hard Disk Drive: 512 GB SSD | Screen Size: 14 inches

On the surface, the Asus Vivobook 15 looks pretty unassuming. It just seems like your average everyday work laptop—nothing special. That may be the case to a certain extent, but this device is a highly capable, low-budget machine sure to outshine its rivals. 

Asus sells this model across multiple configurations, and they’re all cheap. We highly recommend getting the Vivobook 15 with 40GB of RAM and the 1TB SSD. Having that amount of memory will make multitasking a breeze. You will never have to worry about your computer slowing down during peak workloads. Apps will run faster, the Vivobook can do highly intensive tasks, and you’ll enjoy speedy internet browsing. 

The laptop also has an interesting ErgoLift design, meaning the display lifts the computer when opened. This does two important things. First, it forces the keyboard to sit at a slanted angle, allowing for comfortable typing. Second, it ensures good airflow so the heat from the bottom vents has a place to go and isn’t trapped underneath.

As mentioned earlier, you have multiple options. The Vivobook 15 is available in a 2TB configuration if you want extra storage. For those who want to save extra money, Asus offers lesser configuration at a lower price. Don’t worry about missing out on memory. The other laptops have a good amount of RAM for tough workloads.

Asus Vivobook 15 tech specs: CPU Model: Intel Core i7-1255U  | RAM Memory: 40 GB | Hard Disk Drive: 1 TB | Screen Size: 15.6-inches

The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441 may be the most expensive option on this list, but it is well worth the price. It runs on Qualcomm’s recently released Snapdragon X chipset, which excels at multitasking. During testing, it easily handled over 50 open Chrome tabs with video playing seamlessly and several AI features running in the background. The laptop kept performing at a high level. It didn’t falter even once.

One of the Inspiron 14’s standout features is its exceptional battery life. Our real-world tests saw the device running for over 14 hours straight, surpassing most Intel-based laptops. It can power through a full day without needing frequent recharging.

Review: One of the best college laptops I’ve tested is not a MacBook or Lenovo ThinkPad (and it’s $200 off)

Its 14-inch Quad HD Plus display is covered in an anti-glare coating, ensuring visibility under bright conditions. The aluminum chassis adds much-needed sturdiness while allowing the model to resist fingerprints keeping it looking clean. And it even weighs a mere 3.17 pounds for easy carrying.

Because it’s so thin, the Inspiron 14 Plus 7441 has few port options. You only get five, including two USB-C inputs and an SD card slot. It would’ve been if it had more, but it is a worthwhile tradeoff considering everything else on the laptop.

Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441 specs: CPU Model: Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus | RAM Memory: 16GB | Hard Disk Drive: 512GB | Screen Size: 14-inch QuadHD Plus