Best Laptops Under $700 – The Best Budget Laptops

Everyone wants a high-end laptop, but your wallet often says “No.” No worries, though, because low-cost laptops can still offer good performance on a budget!

The definition of a “good” laptop at this price point will depend on your needs, so get ready to make a few trade-offs for decent performance.

Keep these trade-offs in mind while reading, and you’ll find a decent deal on a laptop that’ll suit your needs. Let’s get to it!

The 9 Best Laptops Under $700

Here are some of the best laptops under $700 you can get!

1) Best Overall – HP Pavilion 15 Laptop

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FEATURES

• 11th-gen Intel core i5 chip
• 16GB RAM
• 1TB SSD storage

The best laptop under $700 is the HP 15. This Pavilion is a premium laptop hiding in a budget model’s shell, and it’s clear why!

It has a 15.6-inch IPS full HD display that didn’t strain my eyes during testing, and it’s equipped with Intel Iris XE graphics to handle some light gaming.

Unfortunately, the Pavilion 15 doesn’t have a touch screen, but it doesn’t need one, thanks to its comfortable keyboard. I used this for a few hours and found the keys well-spaced.

I also didn’t experience any stutters or slowdowns thanks to the Pavilion’s 16GB of RAM and 1TB SSD. Don’t expect any speed issues with this laptop!

It has a few bloatware programs, but those are easily removed. Get the Pavilion 15 here.

PROS

• Full-sized keyboard
• Multi-format SD card reader

CONS

• Has some bloatware
• No backlit keyboard

2) Best Value – Asus Vivobook S 14 Flip

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FEATURES

• Ryzen 5 5600H chip
• 8GB RAM
• 512GB SSD storage

Next up, I’ve got the Vivobook S 14 Flip, a mouthful of a name, and a good touch screen laptop. It’ll perform well if you keep this in a tent, clamshell, or tablet mode.

I was impressed with its battery life, which lasted for 10 hours of solid video playback. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same about its speakers, which were okay at best.

No worries, as this laptop has an audio jack into which I quickly plugged my earphones. Apart from the combo audio and headphones jack, this laptop has a standard port selection.

Unfortunately, it supports USB-C charging, but I could not test it because the USB-C charger is sold separately. If you’ve gotten used to the 16:9 aspect ratio, prepare to relearn your laptops!

This Vivobook has a 16:10 aspect ratio, which helped me appreciate its 1920×1200 screen resolution. Unfortunately, the display isn’t very color-accurate, which is a shame.

Display aside, the Vivobook S 14 Flip is an affordable yet premium-feeling laptop. You can get it here.

PROS

• Long battery life
• Fingerprint reader for more security

CONS

• Heavy for a convertible
• No SD card slot

3) Best Budget – Acer Chromebook Spin 311

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FEATURES

• Intel Celeron N4000
• 4GB RAM
• 64GB eMMC

The best budget laptop I’ve got is the Acer Chromebook Spin 311. If the name didn’t tip you off, this is a Chromebook, which means it isn’t packing an Intel core i7 chip.

It has an Intel Celeron instead, which helps make this convertible laptop more affordable. Unfortunately, the Spin’s thin and light design doesn’t include an HDMI port, but that’s a minor gripe.

Speaking of thin, the Spin’s a very light laptop, clocking in at 2.62 lbs, which makes it ideal for bringing around the house for long calls or as a bedside device for late-night entertainment.

Thanks to its Chrome OS, it’s also handy for students who need to edit their Google Docs work or transfer files from their GDrive.

I recommend this laptop under $700 for anyone who needs a simpler device for light tasks and casual browsing. You can get it here.

PROS

• Handy and lightweight
• Snappy keyboard

CONS

• Stock storage is very small
• Dim screen

4) Best Ultrabook under $700 – Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3

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FEATURES

• 11th-gen Intel core i5
• 8GB RAM
• 256GB SSD storage

If you were expecting slim pickings for gaming laptops, allow me to surprise you. This IdeaPad Gaming 3 features an RTX 3050 GPU, an improvement over the older GTX 1650 card.

You can expect incredible gaming performance from this little laptop under $700, along with bonuses like a backlit keyboard for all-nighters. However, I do recommend upgrading the RAM.

This IdeaPad may be a budget gaming laptop, but it still offers a 120Hz screen for faster-paced action games like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Unfortunately, I found the display to be dim.

The display is a nice 15.6-inch and full HD resolution, but it’s a dim 250 nits. I prefer 300 nits displays, but this is perfectly usable.

With an RTX 3000-series card and a decent amount of RAM, the IdeaPad Gaming 3 is the ideal budget laptop for gamers. You can buy one here.

PROS

• RAM and SSD are upgradeable
• Comfortable full-size keyboard

CONS

• Stock RAM is small
• No SD card reader

5) HP Victus Gaming Laptop

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FEATURES

• 12th-gen Intel core i5 chip
• 16GB RAM
• 1TB SSD

Gaming laptops have always had a high barrier of entry, but HP’s worked to reverse that notion with their Victus line. This laptop proves you can get a good gaming laptop without breaking the bank.

Think of Victus as better than an HP Pavilion gaming laptop but not as fully-specced as an HP Omen. However, this budget laptop exceeds its price point by delivering great mid-range gaming!

In an interesting combination, HP has outfitted this laptop with an Intel i5-12450H and a GTX 1650, which initially seemed a bit uneven.

However, it proved its worth in my tests by hitting a 47FPS average in Elden Ring and knocking it out of the park in League of Legends. Of course, that power is paid for in battery life.

I wish the Victus had a longer battery life, as I could only get 2 hours of use with this laptop, even with the brightness turned down. Battery aside, the Victus is a good laptop.

You can get it here.

PROS

• Quiet cooling fans
• Good selection of USB ports

CONS

• GTX 1650 struggles in newer titles
• Plastic chassis feels cheap

6) Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook

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FEATURES

• Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8260A
• 4GB RAM
• 64GB eMMC

This is the second Lenovo IdeaPad I’ve featured, and I added it because of its incredible OLED display, which is a rarity even among non-Chromebooks.

If you work almost exclusively with Android apps and don’t mind the lack of Windows programs, then this IdeaPad is for you!

I’ve always been an Intel fan, but Duet’s Qualcomm CPU won me after discovering how speedy it was, especially for a Chromebook.

This laptop’s lightweight and speedy, but Lenovo leaned more into the “tablet” side of a convertible than the “laptop” side. Don’t expect any USB-A or HDMI ports from the Duet 5.

The Duet is light enough to fit in your bag but has enough charge to last you more than a full day, which is more than enough for me. Get one here.

PROS

• Extremely lightweight
• Incredible battery life

CONS

• Poor selection of USB ports
• Stylus sold separately

7) MSI GF63 Thin

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FEATURES

• 10th-gen Intel core i5
• 16GB RAM
• 1TB SSD

MSI’s GF line of laptops is designed to provide a perfect mix between performance and price, and the GF63 Thin lives up to that ideal.

This laptop’s thin and light design almost doesn’t appear to be a gaming laptop, but the red MSI logo is a clear giveaway. Like the Victus above, the GF63 has a GTX 1650 card.

I didn’t set any records in my game tests, but I got a clean 60FPS average in Fortnite. For a laptop under $700, that’s more than I could ask for.

I noticed slight flexing in this laptop’s mostly plastic chassis, but only when pressing down very hard. Otherwise, it stayed solid and unmoving.

It won’t run Cyberpunk 2077 with ray tracing, but it’ll run lighter titles perfectly. Get the GF63 Thin here.

PROS

• Affordable
• Tough chassis

CONS

• Thicker bezels

8) Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i

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FEATURES

• 11th-gen Intel core i3 chip
• 4GB RAM
• 256GB SSD

The Flex 5i is the Intel-equipped version of a formerly AMD-only convertible laptop, and I recommend this for power users and students who need something lighter for schoolwork.

At 3.3 lbs, the Flex 5i is still a light laptop, but it’s approaching normal-laptop weight. That said, I didn’t mind the weight much while using it.

It helps that this laptop has a 14-inch screen, which is the sweet spot between what I’d consider a hybrid and a standard clamshell.

Despite being a touch screen, the Flex 5i’s still equipped with a full HD display, which makes it great for binge-watching TV shows in bed.

I just wish this laptop wasn’t in S mode. It’s easy to fix but could be a hassle for some buyers. Get the Flex 5i here.

PROS

• Comfortable screen size
• Versatile flexibility

CONS

• Has Windows 11 S mode

9) Microsoft Surface Pro 7

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FEATURES

• 10th-gen Intel core i3 chip
• 4GB RAM
• 128GB SSD

The Microsoft Surface line of laptops are touchscreens designed for professionals who need to stay mobile. The Pro line is a more customizable approach to laptops.

The Pro 7 is a large tablet with a kickstand in its base model. However, adding a keyboard transforms it into a handy 2-in-1 that offers excellent performance.

Its touch screen is responsive and supports multi-touch gestures, which is a nice touch if you ever get tired of tapping, especially if you don’t have Microsoft’s keyboard.

Regardless of your configuration, you’re assured of a very long battery life with the Surface Pro 7. I got 11 hours and 30 minutes on a full charge.

The Surface Pro 7 may look dated, but it’s still a powerful and dependable laptop. Remember to back up your data because 128GB isn’t enough nowadays. You can get the Surface Pro 7 here.

PROS

• Decent selection of USB ports
• Windows Hello integration

CONS

• Pen and keyboard are sold separately
• Minimal storage space and RAM

Things to Consider When Buying a Laptop Under $700

Now it’s time to cover what makes a decent laptop. I recommend ticking off as many of these specs as your budget will allow so that you’re assured of great performance.

Budget

This one may seem pretty cut-and-dry, but let me explain! Yes, you’re buying a budget laptop, but see whether you can stretch your budget slightly.

Moving up to even $800 can help you find more powerful laptops. However, if you’re dead set on getting a laptop at an affordable price, I suggest using your savings to upgrade RAM or get external storage.

CPU and GPU

You can get an AMD or Intel processor with these laptops under $700. Some of these processors will offer excellent performance on a budget.

I recommend looking for an Intel Core i5 chip at a minimum so you can quickly breeze through basic tasks. If possible, get an Intel core i7 model for even better performance!

However, since you’ll be getting a laptop for under $700, expect to see more Intel core i3 models.

You’ll have a similar experience with graphics cards. I’ve included a few gaming laptops that are equipped properly, but most of these laptops are equipped with integrated graphics.

Display Quality and Resolution

I once had a laptop with a washed-out screen; it lasted me for a while, but I wouldn’t recommend it.

When looking for a laptop, ensure it has a screen resolution of 1920×1080 or full HD. This is the industry standard and will provide you with a sharper image.

I’d also pay close attention to your laptop’s brightness. Three hundred nits are my ideal brightness, but a 250-nits display is fine if you’re mostly indoors.

Connectivity

If you’re in a crowded workroom or a busy open workspace, you can’t rely on your laptop’s speakers and microphone for important video calls!

Ensure your laptop under $700 has a headphone jack to make taking calls and watching movies easier and enough USB ports to connect multiple devices as needed.

I’d also aim for at least 1 USB-C port for devices like phone chargers and USB hubs.

Storage Capacity and RAM

Whether using Windows laptops or Apple Macbooks, everyone needs a good amount of storage space. HDDs are cheaper and dependable, but a solid-state drive is faster and now widely available.

A good laptop should have at least 256GB of storage for longevity and to hold a decent amount of files, now, onto RAM.

Chromebooks run a more streamlined OS that will function fine with 4GB of RAM, but I recommend having at least 8GB since these are mostly Windows laptops.

16GB is perfect if you want to open lots of tabs simultaneously, but that’ll set you back more.

Battery Life

Battery power is part of what separates laptops from desktops, regardless of the price, and good battery life is essential if you can’t stay plugged in.

Ensure your laptop for under $700 has a minimum battery life of 7-10 hours. That will ensure you can get almost a full day’s work done before rushing to the nearest socket.

Weight and Build Quality

You’ll need a light laptop for everyday use if you’re always mobile. This will help you stay light on your feet without compromising on performance.

However, lighter laptops tend to have plastic chassis, which aren’t as durable as metal laptops. Premium features like a metal chassis have a higher price tag, so I recommend being careful.

Regardless of the material, pick a laptop that’s 1.5-2.5Kg. Remember that larger screen size, like 15.6 inches, will mean a heavier laptop!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Learn how to choose from the best laptops under $700 here!

Can You Get a Gaming Laptop for under $700?

If you want to play games in your off time, you don’t have to worry just because you have a budget device. You’ll find models like the HP Victus or the GF63.

I should mention that your discrete GPU will handle most games from the last few years, but most likely on low settings. You’ll need to increase your budget by one step to get a better GPU.

How Much RAM Does My Laptop Need?

You won’t need much RAM if you’re sticking purely to web apps and light browsing. I’d recommend getting a laptop with at least 4GB of RAM to run the Windows 10 operating system and Microsoft Office programs.

However, you’ll run into issues once you try to do anything more complex than web browsing. Theoretically, it’s best to get a laptop with at least 8GB of RAM.

Can You Do Video Editing on a Budget Laptop?

Videographers who can’t bring their main setup around may want an affordable notebook for longer days. I recommend getting a budget gaming laptop for video and photo editing.

A gaming notebook’s dedicated GPU and full HD screen will be invaluable for creative work and reviewing your video playback.

Summary

Here’s a quick recap of the best laptops under $700!

Best Budget – Acer Chromebook Spin 311

If snappy, affordable, and flexible is your aim, then the Chromebook Spin 311 has your back. The lightweight Chrome OS is a bonus, too!

Best Value – Asus Vivobook S 14 Flip

Its speedy processor, well-spaced keyboard, and responsive touchscreen make the Vivobook S 14 Flip ideal for creatives and power users.

Best Overall – HP Pavilion 15 Laptop

The best laptop under $700 is the Pavilion 15. This HP laptop is up to the task whether you’re web browsing or watching movies!

Conclusion

So those were my picks for high-performing and affordable laptops. Budget models have come a long way in the last few years, so you don’t have to settle for less.

I’ve given a few general suggestions here, but remember that your best laptop under $700 will depend on your needs.

Choose the features you can’t live without and use that to choose a new laptop under $700!