Best Laptop Brands for 2022

Best Cheap Laptop Brands

A laptop needn’t cost you a huge chunk of cash, and the competition between brands means great prices for the consumer.

Despite this, don’t be tempted by brands you don’t recognise, as these are likely to offer poor after-sales support and could let you down. Stick with the brands mentioned on this page and you’ll be set.

In terms of value, most brands offer entry-level laptops, but we think that Acer and Asus offer the best low-cost models with their Aspire and VivoBook ranges. The cheaper laptops won’t be powerhouses, but will get the bulk of daily tasks done.

Another option is a Chromebook. These are notably cheaper than a traditional Windows laptop, though they function a little differently. Think of them as the Chrome web browser, with a keyboard! They’re great for web browsing, emailing, and streaming video.

They may not be as flexible and offer the range of abilities of a Windows machine, but the average web user and social media fanatic won’t mind, and the Google office suite offers everything that Microsoft Office does, and is fully compatible with those programs.

If you’re spending under $300

If your budget is under $300, then your options are limited. At this price, you’ll mainly be looking at Chromebooks. Pick one of these up and you could even have change to spare, although be aware that it won’t offer the full range of features that you’d expect from a Windows or Apple laptop. For those looking to browser the web, stream video and send emails, a Chromebook will more than do the job.

Check out the Chromebooks offered by Asus and Acer for a good option.

If you’re spending under $500

$500 won’t net you the laptop of your dreams, but it will get you a decent starter. You should be aiming for an i3 Intel processor at this price, which will prove powerful enough for the casual user and should be future-proof for a few years.

Consider something from the Acer Aspire or Lenovo ThinkPad ranges. Not head-turners by any means, but they will get the job done.

If you’re spending up to $750

With a budget of $750, you’ll be able to grab a laptop that will serve you well and be able to complete most of the tasks you throw at it. Serious gaming and heavy duty video editing will be out, but it’ll cope with anything else. Aim for an i5 processor from at least the 9th generation of chips, and go for a model with a solid state drive so that it’s speedy to boot and start programs. At this price range you can bag yourself a great laptop for work or pleasure.

Consider something from the Acer Swift or Spin ranges, or a Lenovo Yoga if you find the the idea of a laptop/tablet hybrid appealing.

If you’re spending up and over $1,000

If you have a budget of $1,000 and up, people will tell you to get a MacBook, and honestly, they’re not wrong. The Air, Apple’s entry level laptop, starts at $849, and is an excellent all-rounder that can still pack a punch despite not being the top-end Apple model.

If you’re looking for something that can run more demanding software, such as an graphics intense programs, consider the MacBook Pro instead.

If you’re after a Windows machine, Dell’s XPS range is an excellent alternative to the MacBook, and can be purchased with a dedicated graphics card at the high end. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 is another serious contender, and one of the best Windows laptops you can buy if you’re spending around the $1,000 mark.