Table of Contents
The best laptops under $800
Laptop getting old?
Nowadays, we have to face the reality that our tools aren’t designed to last forever. Technology advances so quickly right now that all the gadgets you use may be outdated in a few years. But if you’re looking to upgrade your laptop, you might be surprised at the prices of laptops on the market.
Laptops aren’t as cheap as they used to be. And if you want a quality computer for a fair price, then you’re going to have to search far and wide.
But to make it easier for you, we’ve done the hard part. We’ve compiled the best laptops under $800 available on the market today in this list. We ranked the laptops based on their features, durability, and value for the money.
We also dove into the details of what makes each laptop a good option so you can find a model that fits your specific needs and preferences.
Best overall
Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14″ Laptop
Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14″ Laptop
This Lenovo IdeaPad can do it all. So, if you’re on the hunt for a budget laptop with a strong processor, decent graphics card, and great overall specs, this is the right option for you.
- Features:
- Durability:
- Ease of use:
- Value for money:
If you’re on the hunt for a budget laptop, any of the Lenovo IdeaPads will serve you well. But based on our research, we found that the IdeaPad 3 offers the best functionality at a great price. This laptop gives you an AMD Ryzen 5 processor and 8GB RAM.
This is far better than what other brands have to offer at this price point. So, if you want a budget laptop that you can use to perform a wide variety of tasks, you don’t need to look much further than this option. On top of that, it comes with a 256GB SSD, which is much faster than standard HDDs.
With that said, 256GB is pretty small nowadays. And while it might seem like a lot, you’ll be surprised at how fast you can fill that up. So, if you opt for this laptop, many customers recommend having an external hard drive where you can save some of your files.
But at the end of the day, this is a fast, well-designed, and affordable laptop. While we would’ve liked to see a bit more memory, there’s no denying that this is the top model in this price range.
Best affordable
Acer Aspire 5 Ryzen 3 3350U Laptop
Acer Aspire 5 Ryzen 3 3350U Laptop
You won’t find a laptop on the market with this power for a bargain price. While it’s not the most advanced model out there, it is ideal for basic and simple computer tasks.
- Features:
- Durability:
- Ease of use:
- Value for money:
This is one of the most affordable laptops on this list. But just because it’s affordable doesn’t mean it’s low quality. This Acer Aspire 5 is one of the top laptops under $800 while still having a lower price tag than most of the other models on this list. And despite the price, it comes with a Ryzen 3 processor and 4GB DDR RAM.
These aren’t the best specs on the market. So, this laptop may not be ideal for heavy video editing, music production, and gaming. However, if you need a reliable office laptop that can handle word processing and other basic tasks, this is a great pick.
One of the customer’s favorite features of this laptop is the display. This model comes with a 15.6-inch display. This isn’t the largest display, but it does make it easy to work and multitask on the computer.
Additionally, the laptop runs on Windows 11, making it very future-proof. So, compatibility and advanced features shouldn’t be a problem with this model. And considering the price, it’s hard to find any complaints about this laptop.
Best for gaming
ASUS TUF Gaming F15 Gaming Laptop
ASUS TUF Gaming F15 Gaming Laptop
This is a tried and tested gaming laptop. Customers worldwide praise this computer for providing them with all the specs they need at a fair price.
- Features:
- Durability:
- Ease of use:
- Value for money:
Typically, you have to bust the bank to get a gaming laptop. But ASUS is largely known as a great brand for budget-friendly high-performance laptops, and this model is no exception. Granted, it is closer to the $800-mark than others on this list, but once you see the specs, you’ll see why it’s well worth the price.
This laptop runs with the Intel i5 processor. This isn’t Intel’s best model, but it is good enough to run many modern games. Since most modern video games require a lot of computing power, the i5 processor and 8GB of RAM are ideal for the task.
On top of that, it has a 15.6-inch IPS display. Even if you don’t have an external monitor, this computer can run tons of high-definition games with ease. That way, you can fully immerse yourself in the visuals of modern video games.
With that said, this is one of the more expensive laptops on this list. But if you want a relatively cheap laptop that you can use for modern gaming, then this is a great pick for you.
Best for all-around use
Acer Swift 3 Laptop
Acer Swift 3 Laptop
This laptop can handle the task, whether you’re looking to type documents, create presentations, edit videos, or play games. And for the price, this is one of the most powerful laptops on the market.
- Features:
- Durability:
- Ease of use:
- Value for money:
If you’re looking for a work laptop, this is the one for you. The Acer Swift 3 is a great all-around workhorse that you can use for word processing, video editing, and more. On top of that, you can even use this laptop to play a couple of games during your off-time.
This laptop has one of the strongest processors on this list. The Acer Swift 3 runs on the AMD Ryzen 7 processor, which is capable of handling some of the toughest tasks out there. Granted, it won’t be as fast or quiet as a Ryzen 9, but for the price, it offers a lot of value.
On top of that, this laptop is very lightweight. So, if you plan on bringing the computer with you to work, a coffee shop, or on a trip, it can easily fit in your bag.
However, the one drawback that customers found is that the laptop heats up very quickly. This is likely because of the size and overall design. So, make sure that it has proper ventilation, especially when using the laptop’s full power.
Best 2-in-1 laptop
Lenovo Flex 5 14″ Laptop
Lenovo Flex 5 14″ Laptop
You won’t find a budget-friendly 2-in-1 as good as this Lenovo Flex. Instantly switch between laptop and tablet mode and accomplish different tasks in the process.
- Features:
- Durability:
- Ease of use:
- Value for money:
While they weren’t taken seriously, 2-in-1 laptops are all the rage nowadays. Being able to effectively switch between laptop and tablet mode offers a lot of functionality. Not only does it make it more portable, but it also makes the computer more versatile.
And if you’re shopping in the sub-$800 range, we found that the Lenovo Flex 5 is the best option available. This laptop performs incredibly well regardless of the mode you’re using, making it a true 2-in-1.
A lot of the time, a 2-in-1 laptop functions better as either a laptop or tablet and performs poorly when you switch to the other mode. But with this laptop, you can rest assured that both tablet and laptop modes work great.
On top of that, this laptop comes with a Ryzen 5 processor. This is likely why it performs so well in both modes as the Ryzen 5 CPU is one of the most sought-after models in today’s market.
With that said, many customers complained about the webcam and the RAM of the laptop. You always have to make some sacrifices when getting a 2-in-1, but the cons of the Lenovo Flex 5 are very subtle and don’t make a glaring difference.
Best for business
Microsoft Surface Laptop 3
Microsoft Surface Laptop 3
This laptop is a great pick for business. It has a sleek design, high-performance specs, and is all you need for running and managing your business.
- Features:
- Durability:
- Ease of use:
- Value for money:
A reliable laptop and computer is an essential business tool. You need a laptop for video calls, checking and sending emails, creating spreadsheets, and accomplishing other business tasks. And if you need a laptop to help you run your business, this is our most-recommended pick.
The reason we chose the Microsoft Surface 3 is the processor. This computer has an Intel i5 CPU, 8GB RAM, and a 128GB SSD. These are all great base specs that can help you take on various tasks. Granted, 128GB is fairly small, but you can always get an external hard drive to extend your computer’s memory.
However, the CPU and RAM are top-tier. You can edit videos, send emails, and do just about anything with this laptop. This laptop may not be the best pick for gaming, but you won’t have any complaints if you use it strictly for business purposes.
On top of that, this laptop uses modern USB-C charging. This is very convenient since many phones and other devices use the same charger. With this laptop, you can easily future-proof your gear for a couple of years.
Best for study
Asus Vivobook 15 Laptop
Asus Vivobook 15 Laptop
This is the ultimate study laptop. It can handle multiple tough tasks, has a great display, and the keyboard feels very nice on the hands, allowing you to type and work for much longer.
- Features:
- Durability:
- Ease of use:
- Value for money:
ASUS is slowly growing into one of the most reliable laptop brands on the market. And if you’re a student in need of a laptop on a budget, you can’t go wrong with this option. This ASUS VivoBook comes with a large display and strong components, making it great for the modern student.
To start, the display is large and high-quality. So, you can easily read sources, watch lectures, and have multiple windows open while still seeing clearly. Additionally, since it comes with the AMD Ryzen 5 processor and 8GB RAM, it has can handle some of the heavier computing tasks.
So, if you’re a student that needs to edit videos, create presentations, or relax with a couple of games here and there, this is a great pick for you. And since it has a backlit keyboard, you can easily type in the dark if you end up studying into the later hours of the night.
The one complaint we have with this laptop is uprgradeablity. If you’re looking for a basic laptop that you can slowly upgrade, this isn’t the one for you. It doesn’t have an additional RAM slot, and finding out how to change or upgrade the RAM is tough.
But if you’d rather stick to what you have and use your laptop as is until it reaches the end of its lifespan, this computer is a great choice.
Best for video editing
HP Pavilion x360 14” Touchscreen Laptop
HP Pavilion x360 14” Touchscreen Laptop
We found that this laptop has the best display and graphics card on this list. This is it’s great for video editing and similar projects.
- Features:
- Durability:
- Ease of use:
- Value for money:
Video content is all the rage nowadays. However, to make video content, you need a fairly decent laptop as editing software requires a lot of power. And with this HP Pavillion, you get the convenience of a tablet while still getting the high specifications needed for a video editing laptop.
To start, the laptop has an Intent i5 processor. It also comes with 7GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD storage. Again, if you plan on doing a lot of projects on this computer, it might be worth it to invest in an external hard drive as you’ll be surprised at how fast 256GB fills up.
Additionally, it comes with the Intel Iris Xe graphics. This makes for crystal clear images and fast video processing. This is why many people have used this to do some basic video edits.
With that said, there are some missing features on this laptop that are present on other HP Pavilion models. Particularly, customers missed the backlit keyboard and fingerprint scanning feature.
Since these are extra features, they don’t make that much of a difference in performance. However, it would have been nice to see these features on this laptop since you can find them on other Pavilion models.
Best slim
Acer Aspire 5 Slim 15.6″ Laptop
Acer Aspire 5 Slim 15.6″ Laptop
This is a thin, cheap, lightweight, but high-quality laptop. Don’t let the thin frame fool you; this laptop handle just about any task you throw its way.
- Features:
- Durability:
- Ease of use:
- Value for money:
Slim laptops are all the rage now. The thinner your laptop, the easier it is to pack and bring around. And if portability is a top priority for you, then this is a great laptop.
The Acer Aspire 5 is arguably one of our favorites on the market. The display is large and very high-quality. So, if you plan on watching movies, playing games, or editing photos and videos, this is a great choice. Additionally, it comes with a processor, which is more than enough to handle the basic computing task.
While it has a sleek and modern design, this laptop is one of the cheaper options on this list. So, if you’re looking for a slim laptop on a tight budget, this could be the model for you. Additionally, it comes with Windows 10, which is a recognizable and reliable operating systeem.
With that said, this isn’t the strangers model on the list. Since it’s very affordable and comes with a very thin frame, you have to compromise with power. But since it uses modern components, you can still expect this laptop to run as well as others on the list.
Best 17-inch laptop
HP Core i5 17-inch Laptop
HP Core i5 17-inch Laptop
This is one of the largest laptops you’ll find in this price range. With this model, you won’t have to worry about not seeing the images clearly as the large screen has got you covered.
- Features:
- Durability:
- Ease of use:
- Value for money:
Larger laptops usually come with very high price tags. But if you need a high-quality laptop on a budget, this is a great option for you. This laptop has a giant 17’’ display, which is significantly larger than most other models on this list.
The large display allows you to have multiple tabs open at a time. Additionally, the screen is also ideal for video editing, photo editing, and watching movies.
Since this laptop is affordable and has a large screen, it’s fair to assume that it isn’t that powerful. However, this is a very strong laptop that comes with the Intel i5 processor, allowing it to handle just about any task you throw its way.
It even has 8GB RAM and a 256GB SSD. This is comparable to many of the more “premium” models on the list. And while it comes with similar specs, it has the largest screen compared to other models in its range by far.
What to look for in a good laptop under $800
In the past, laptops were seen as sub-par computers. While they were portable and offered a lot of convenience, there was no doubting that they weren’t as powerful as desktop computers. But nowadays, things are different.
If you look at the market today, you’re going to find a bunch of laptops that can easily beat out fully-equipped desktops when it comes to the specs. You can edit videos, write documents, create spreadsheets, and even make music with a modern laptop.
But as technology has advanced, so have the prices and variety on the market today. So, you need to pay extra close attention to the choices on the market as there are so many available.
While it’s nice to have variety, it makes finding a laptop under $800 much more complicated.
So, how do you weed out the best picks?
In our experience, we found that it was much easier to choose a laptop when looking at specific features. That way, you have single points of comparison on which you can base your choice.
Below, you can find the key features that you have to consider when looking for a good laptop, even if you’re on a tight budget.
CPU
The first thing you need to consider is the CPU or central processing unit. This is the heart and brain of your computer and the component that does a lot of the heavy lifting. So, even if you compromise with the other features, you have to make sure the CPU is good.
With that said, don’t expect to see top-of-the-line processors in this price range. When shopping in the sub-$800 range, most of the models will have entry to mid-level processors at best.
That doesn’t mean these processors are bad. In fact, if you choose the right one, it might be able to compete with computers that are much more expensive.
For example, the AMD Ryzen 3 and 5 are great processors available on a budget. On the flip side, you can also go for the Intel i3 and maybe even i5 if you look hard enough.
Before choosing a processor, it’s always important to consider your needs. If you need a simple laptop for basic tasks, there’s a high chance you won’t need a robust processor. But if you need a true workhorse to do the heavy lifting, you may want to consider looking for stronger processing units.
Memory
The next thing to consider is memory. With computers, you have to deal with both RAM (random access memory) and ROM (read-only memory). For your RAM, you need a fair amount of memory. This will allow you to open multiple programs at a time and have your computer running smoother overall.
In this price range, 4GB-8GB RAM is a good range to consider. This is usually the RAM that comes with the computer and could offer a lot of functionality. But since there are some laptops that allow you to upgrade the RAM, you don’t have to focus to hard on this aspect at the start.
For your ROM, you need higher memory. This is because the ROM is where your files are stored. So, you would need at least 512GB-1TB to give you adequate memory. Luckily, this price range features many laptops with that type of memory.
When looking at the ROM drive, it’s best to look for laptops that have SSDs. This is a fairly new technology that offers much faster speeds compared to your standard HDD.
Display
You won’t be able to get the newest technology in this price range. So, it would be unfair to expect ultra-HD AMOLED displays. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take a look at the display specs of your laptop.
Ideally, you want a laptop with a big enough screen for you to do your work. Depending on the reasons you need a laptop, the screen size you need may vary. However, between 13-15 inches is usually a good benchmark if you can’t decide for yourself.
Additionally, you also need to find a laptop with a decent graphics card. The better the graphics card, the better your computer runs, especially when playing games.
Examples of some decent graphics cards in this price range are the Nvidia GTX 1650 Super Overclocked-4GB and the AMD Radeon 7 Graphics card,
Battery
Laptops are portable, so you need a laptop with decent battery life. That way, you won’t have to sit next to an electrical outlet just to do your work. So, when shopping for laptops, take a look at the battery installed and how long it can run.
Portability
Lastly, you may want to consider a laptop that’s lightweight and portable. That way, you can easily bring it with you to different workstations. Luckily, this price range is full of lightweight and hyper portable laptops that are sure to satisfy your needs.
FAQ
Can I get a good laptop for under $800?
Yes, there are tons of good laptops available for under $800. However, you still need to practice good judgment when shopping. So, make sure to consider all the specs of the laptop and why you need a laptop in the first place. When you do this, it will be easier for you to find a laptop that fits your needs.
What are the best laptop brands?
Some of the top laptop brands right now are Lenovo, ASUS, Apple, HP, Dell, Razer, and MSI. You can also check out Acer, Samsung, and Microsoft, as these companies are making waves in the tech industry right now.
How much RAM is enough?
Ideally, you would want to have at least 4GB of RAM. This is the standard for laptops nowadays, and most cheap laptops will have at least that much RAM. However, for more functionality without busting the bank, you can increase the RAM to between 6GB-8GB, as this will allow you to perform more tasks simultaneously.
