If you're current portable machine is starting to struggle then it may be time to consider one of the best laptops under $1,000/£1,000. Let's face it, computers are an investment and they can get incredibly expensive, fortunately, you can save a good chunk of change and still get quality hardware made by the likes of Apple, Asus, Microsoft, and more to suit all your general needs.
What makes the best laptops under $1,000/£1,000 worth your time in 2024 is all to do with the advancements of the components inside. That's because even cheap rigs like these can feature some of the best laptop CPUs available. We've seen processors from AMD, Intel, and Qualcomm emerge inside of budget builds to great success whether you're interested in a more conventional x86 machine or want to go all in on ARM.
We should stress, given the price range here, that some of these machines aren't exactly going to rival the best laptops or the best gaming laptops in terms of raw horsepower or graphical fidelity. With that said, we've thoroughly tested every single machine in our roundup, and are recommending them for their aggressive price-to-performance ratio. There are also use cases to go over as well so you can make your decision.
While you'll find cheap gaming laptops below as well as choices for the best Chromebooks, we're also presenting you with choices for the best business laptops under $1,000/£1,000. It's a major benefit of the ongoing AI PC revolution; spending less to get more. To shortlist, we recommend checking out the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 and MacBook Air M1. For more details, continue reading below.
Aleksha McLoughlin is a regular contributor to TechRadar that writes hardware news, reviews, features and evergreen content. She was previously the Hardware Editor for TechRadar Gaming (TRG) where she looked after buying guides for the vertical as well. She has reviewed dozens of laptops in her time, too.
Best laptops under $1,000/£1,000: the quick list
The best laptop under $1,000 / £1,000 overall
The recently released Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 is powered by the mighty Qualcomm Snapdragon X chipset for superfast performance and an all day battery life.
Best MacBook under $1,000/£1,000
Despite the M1 MacBook Air's age, it's still a productivity powerhouse machine offering excellent performance, a tremendous battery life, and a super sleek design which few of its competitors can rival.
Best big screen laptop under $1,000/£1,000
The Asus Vivobook 17 is an excellent laptop with its huge 17-inch display and capable hardware for immersive working and media playback.
Best midrange laptop under $1,000/£1,000
The brand-new Acer Swift Go features a stunning 14-inch WUXGA display and benefits from the speed of Intel Meteor Lake processors, as well as integrated Arc graphics, all for a price that's hard to argue against.
Best gaming laptop under $1,000/£1,000
The Acer Nitro 5 won't be winning any awards for its raw gaming prowess, however, it offers a competitive entry point to solid 1080p gaming with strong build quality and a respectable screen.
Best touchscreen laptop under $1,000/£1,000
The HP Envy 13 x360 offers a level of versatility which few laptops in its price bracket can match with its 2-in-1 form factor. This includes a super compact 13-inch panel with a staggering 2880 x 1800p resolution.
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Best Chromebook under $1,000/£1,000
The Acer Chromebook Plus 516 SE redefines what a ChromeOS machine can be with a superfast 120Hz display, and the implementation of Intel Meteor Lake wrapped up in a lightweight and affordable package.
Best laptop for students under $1,000/£1,000
The Acer Aspire 5 (2022) brings a formidable productivity laptop to the table, or anywhere else you want to knock out an assignment. Its battery life will get you through most of the day with a quick recharge between classes, and while the performance is nothing special, the value definitely is.
Recent updates
Updated 6 July 2024 to the new format which optimizes mobile. Additionally, many older products were replaced with newer ones including the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE, and Acer Swift Go 14 (2024).
Best laptop under $1,000/£1,000 overall
Right at the cusp of the best laptops under $1,000/£1,000 is the recently released Microsoft Surface 7, an AI PC running the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus CPU with integrated graphics. As an ARM-based laptop, it ditches the traditional x86 architecture we've seen with Windows but to great success. Simply put, you can expect exceptional battery life combined with a bright and vivid display which can rival the Apple MacBook Air in many respects.
Speaking to said battery life, our testing revealed over 15 hours of web surfing with over 10 hours of constant media playback. The AI tools may be in their primordial stage, but you've also got Windows Copilot and Recall, which feature set should be rolling out fully over the next few months. The machine boots up incredibly quickly and lasts all day; if you're after a productivity powerhouse, this one delivers.
Furthermore, the Microsoft Surface 7 retains the company's premium build quality and super-sleek ultrabook status without the premium price tag, at least on the budget end of the scale. It weighs in at a mere 2.96lbs / 1.34kg with its aluminium chassis. It feels like a high-end rig, thanks to its 120Hz HDR display and near 1600p resolution, so you're getting a ton of bang for your back even in its most basic configuration.
Read our full Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 review
Best MacBook under $1,000/£1,000
We have chewed over whether or not to include a MacBook laptop in this article, especially because the M2 model is even pricier than its predecessor. Plus, there are excellent Windows options out there that will see you through your video renders for less. However, it is the best we want, and for the best laptop under $1,000/£1,000 for video editing, there’s none better than the MacBook Air M1.
If you stick with the base model, you’re still getting that powerful M1 chip that’s an absolute game-changer. Our tests have not only proven this laptop to deliver as promised – that is, slay through 4K video editing workloads – but that it’s also capable of handling 8K ones as well. And, that’s while having a fanless design and a thin chassis.
Not yet convinced? The 15 hours of battery life while web browsing or up to 18 hours of video should make you a convert. Yes, the M3 MacBook Air is more powerful and more recent, but there's still a ton of life in the 2020 model which is showing no signs of slowing down even nearly four years after it was unveiled.
Read our full MacBook Air M1, 2020 review
Best big screen laptop under $1,000/£1,000
Asus is among the best laptop brands and is lauded for its great-value products like the Asus VivoBook 17 which is still going strong despite its age. If you insist on getting a laptop while still needing plenty of display space, go for a 17-inch model like this one, which comes with impressive specs.
All that screen real estate combined with a 13th-gen chip from Intel equals a highly capable machine for less demanding creative workloads like photo editing and graphics design. You probably shouldn’t go for this one if you’re looking for a video editing laptop, as the integrated graphics inside mean that you’ll have to suffer through long video rendering times. We wouldn’t play graphics-intensive games on it either.
But, for everything else, this is the best 17-inch laptop under $1,000/£1,000. That’s especially because, for something so affordable, it comes with a nice set of premium features like a fingerprint sensor. Depending on your retailer and region, you can find this machine anywhere from $600/£600 up to $999/£999 which can run the most powerful Intel Core i9-13900H CPU and a larger SSD for more power.
Read our full Asus Vivobook 17 review
Best midrange laptop under $1,000/£1,000
As far as midrange options go, the latest Acer Swift Go 14 punches well above its weight. While it may not be much to look at, nor built as well as some more premium models, Acer's latest wallet-friendly ultrabook goes all in on function over form packing in either the Intel Core Ultra 5 125H or Ultra 7 155H for $829.99 / £749.99 and $799.99 (about £640) respectively.
For the money, you're getting an incredibly fast machine which benefits from a 14-inch WUXGA 1200p display at 400 nits brightness. It's a nice and responsive touchscreen as well, which can add a further layer of useability. Factoring in a price tag that's well under budget and you've got the makings of an all-star powerhouse for office and school use.
Additionally, the Acer Swift Go 14 is one of the newly released AI PCs meaning it has Windows Copilot ready to go as the chip features a dedicated NPU. It's not quite as robust as what you can do through a Snapdragon X chip, but you're paying far less here. The 1440p webcam also impresses, so if you're in and out of meetings often then you should be well-catered to here.
Read our full Acer Swift Go 14 review
Best gaming laptop under $1,000/£1,000
The Acer Nitro 5 (2022) is yet more proof that budget laptops are worth looking at even if you've got a more flexible budget. It might not have the sheer power to deliver smooth-as-butter gaming at the highest or ultra settings, but it’s more than enough to let you experience that new AAA game, albeit at slightly lower settings.
Its base configuration used to be higher, but it has since dropped down in price, now starting at well under $1,000/£1,000. That’s while delivering a solid performance. During our tests, this gaming laptop was able to deliver between 70-130 FPS in low settings and even get up to 50fps on ultra when running Total War: Warhammer III and Cyberpunk 2077. That’s not too shabby for a laptop at this price range.
As for the compromises, you’ll find those in the battery. Not only does it have abysmal battery life, but it charges slow as well. Best keep this one tethered to the electrical outlet.
Read our full Acer Nitro 5 (2022) review
Best touchscreen laptop under $1,000/£1,000
If you're torn on considering either a productivity laptop or a dedicated 2-in-1 tablet then the HP Envy 13 x360 is here to fill the gap. It starts at around the $900 / £800 mark, meaning it's well under budget, with a fantastic 2880 x 1800p resolution in its compact 13-inch display for unparalleled PPI. Furthermore, it's fully touchscreen, giving you more options to use the unit in traditional and more unconventional ways.
Bolstering this is the fact that HP often bundles in a smart pen which can be used to draw on the display. Whether you're taking notes in a lecture, or engaging in digital art, the HP Envy 13 x360 is a powerful and affordable way to have the best of both worlds in both the US and the UK. It's far from a gaming rig, however, with its integrated Xe Iris graphics, but that should be enough to fuel programs like Adobe Creative Suite.
Read our full HP Envy 13 x360 review
Best Chromebook under $1,000/£1,000
The reputation of Chromebooks is typically that they are affordable at the cost of power and performance. Well, that's not the case with the recently released Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE which packs in an excellent 16-inch, 16:10 WQXGA 2560 x 1600 display, complete with a 120Hz refresh rate, and 16GB RAM for a responsive experience that's ready for game streaming through PC Game Pass, Amazon Luna, and other similar services.
Outside of its cloud gaming potential, the Chromebook Plus 516 GE impresses with its excellent port selection and the choice of the Intel Core 5 120U with Intel Arc integrated graphics. These are far more up-to-date than what's typically found on Chromebooks, but Meteor Lake is present and accounted for, ready to take advantage of ChromeOS' lightweight functionality with its AI tools.
Most importantly, you can find this Chromebook for around $650 / £799 which, while being pricey for a ChromeOS machine, still undercuts our budget significantly. Those in the UK are paying more than in the US, undercutting its value, but we think it's worth considering if the above options don't have what you were searching for.
Read our full Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE (2024) review
Best laptop for students under $1,000/£1,000
Whether you want to spend closer to $300 or $900, Acer's Aspire 5 (2022) has you covered. With upgrade options for everything from display size to RAM and your choice of GPU, you can pick and choose the best build to fit your budget and scholarly requirements. There are also both AMD and Intel models on offer if you lean towards team red or team blue.
Despite its affordable price point, the Aspire 5 (2022)'s considerable build quality, chunky corners and all, impressed us. The last thing you want is a cheap, flimsy laptop that'll break at the drop of a hat, especially if you plan to carry it with you to school and back; you'll have no issues with the Acer Aspire 5 (2022) in that department.
It also offers Wi-Fi 6 connectivity for faster file transfers and stable video calls, which can come in handy if you need to attend any virtual lectures. That said, one of the few things you can't upgrade here is the 720p webcam - it'll work, but expect some visual noise and slow tracking. For the price, this customization and versatility is tough to beat.
Read our full Acer Aspire 5 (2022) review
Best laptop under $1,000/£1,000: FAQs
How to choose the best laptops under $1,000/£1,000 for you
With a $1,000/£1,000 budget, you have many options to choose from. Scratch that; you’ve got more quality options to choose from. And, that should make the decision-making process easier.
Still, there are things to keep in mind. Performance comes first above all else. At this price point, you might not be limited to bargain-basement options, but you’re also unlikely to find something with all the fancy frills. So, focus on what your day-to-day workload is.
If it doesn’t look demanding, you can maybe get something that balances power and features. However, if you do the occasional photo editing and a lot of multitasking, you might need to sacrifice some features to get something that’s slightly more powerful to stay under budget.
Also, think about where things might be non-negotiable for you. If you cannot have something that will weigh you down on your travels, find something that’s lightweight. If you need something that will last you an entire day without charging, find one that has all-day battery life.
Who makes the best laptops under $1,000/£1,000?
From our experience we've found that Asus, Acer, HP, and Microsoft make the best laptops under $1,000/£1,000. From our extensive testing for our reviews, we've found that while the build quality may not always be top tier, that's the trade-off for excellent performance for the money. This is particularly noticable with the Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop, which undercuts its competition and delivers lovely and smooth 1080p performance.
Is a laptop under $1,000/£1,000 worth it?
Yes, you can get a very capable laptop for work and even gaming for under $1,000/£1,000 thanks to advancements in mobile hardware as cheap processors are now much more powerful than in previous years.
How we test the best laptops under $1,000/£1,000
We put the laptops we test through rigorous testing and benchmarking to ensure that they are worth your hard-earned cash. Every laptop we test, we use as if it’s our work, personal, or gaming laptop, depending on its capabilities and power. We use it daily for most things and at least a week so we have an idea of how it fares in the real world.
We do oodles of benchmarking, of course, including its battery life. And, we test out not just its special features but also things like the keyboard, the trackpad, and the touch display. We use it to consume media and make video calls to check its speakers, webcam, and mic. Finally, once we’ve gathered all the data we need, we put them all together and consider their price to see if you, the consumer, get a lot of value from it.
For more information, see how we test laptops and desktops.
