The best cheap laptops for 2024, tested and reviewed (2024)

Read Mashable's full review of the 13-inch Apple MacBook Air (M2).

Who it's for:

The 13-inch, M2-powered Apple MacBook Air from mid-2022 isn't quite as fast as the latest M3 model, and it lacks its successor's support for two external monitors and WiFi 6E, but those are easy sacrifices to make if you don't want to spend more than $1,000. All things considered, it's a no-brainer recommendation for budget-conscious Apple users in need of a reliable everyday laptop.

Why we picked this:

The M2 MacBook Air "delivers everything you need" in a laptop, wrote Mashable tech and games reporter Alex Perry in his review. That includes a "solid battery life, a larger 13.6-inch display than previous models, a keyboard that’s to die for, and enough horsepower to handle everyday tasks with ease." It also sports a 1080p FaceTime HD camera that produces a clear picture in low light, plus a four-speaker setup with Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos support. Despite needing a few more ports, it effortlessly clinched our Mashable's Choice Award —and after a permanent price drop to $999 in March 2024, it's now a better value than ever.

Note that Apple no longer makes the M2 MacBook Air in a 15-inch size (as of early 2024), but it was still up for grabs at some third-party retailers like Best Buy at the time of writing.

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Read Mashable's full review of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3. We tested a configuration with 16GB of RAM.

Who it's for:

You can stretch your dollar further with other laptop makers, but the 2023 Microsoft Surface Go 3 is a good budget option for brand loyalists and those who want a flashy ultraportable. "I can see this being the daily driver of young students or Gen Z users seeking a laptop that can handle casual usage with style and sophistication," said Mashable tech editor Kim Gedeon.

Why we picked it:

The 12.4-inch Surface Laptop Go 3 is basically a "Windows Air," Gedeon wrote, with a premium build quality that wouldn't seem out of place among Apple's ranks. And don't get her started about its snappy, spiffy keyboard, which she deemed "one of the best I’ve ever used during my entire career as a laptop reviewer."

Alas, its internals are far more underwhelming: Its 12th-generation Intel CPU is now two generations removed in 2024; its battery life clocked in at a mediocre eight-ish hours in our testing; and its dim display carried over from the 2022 Surface Laptop Go 2. But the base model's memory and storage have doubled, at least. It's also frequently on sale at Amazon and Best Buy for at least $100 off, which feels way more reasonable given the specs.

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Read Mashable's full review of the Acer Nitro V 15. We tested a configuration with an Intel Core i7-13620H processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 graphics, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage.

Who it's for:

Gedeon put things succinctly in her review: "If you're just looking for a gaming laptop that ditches all the bells and whistles for impressive gaming performance, the [Acer] Nitro V 15 is the one for you."

Why we picked this:

The Mashable's Choice Award-winning Nitro V 15 is all about power, power, power. And while it strains the definition of "cheap," we do think it's the best gaming laptop under $1,000. The $999.99 model we tested is "packed with delicious internals that can handle triple-A gaming," said Gedeon, including a 13th-gen Intel Core i7 H-series processor for desktop-level brawn and nice NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 graphics. She found it capable of running Cyberpunk 2077, "one of the most graphics-intensive games on the market, like a champ."

Unsurprisingly, Acer's made some serious concessions to offer that level of oomph at this price point, namely in the realms of display quality (it's not bright or vivid) and extra fixings (there's no RGB keyboard or 1080p webcam). Its pathetically short battery life also means it'll set up permanent shop on your desk — preferably with a microfiber cloth at the ready nearby, as it clings to fingerprints with a passion.

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Who it's for:

The Acer Chromebook 516 GE (the "GE" stands for "gaming edition") is a budget-friendly beaut for gamers who are tired of trying to keep up with new titles' fancy hardware requirements, as well as those who frequently play on the go — it's pretty light for a gaming PC. However, a reliable internet connection and an outlet are musts.

Why we picked this:

Gaming Chromebooks are a relatively new species of budget gaming laptop, and the Chromebook 516 GE was one of the first models to hit the market back in late 2022. It kicked off the genre on a high note: It has plenty of ports, a 1080p webcam, an anti-ghosting RGB keyboard, and a quality (not cheap-feeling) build, said Mashable lead shopping reporter Dylan Haas.

It also performed shockingly well in our testing; while there was some expected fidelity loss, the games Haas streamed never once lagged or stuttered —including Cyberpunk 2077. But "[the] real showstopper is the laptop's display," he wrote. "[The] 16-inch, 1600p screen looks fantastic and boasts clear, bright, and vibrant colors." It would be nice if Acer bumped its battery life a bit, though.

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Note: We'll soon review the next-gen Framework Laptop 16. Preorders for it are now live.

Read Mashable's review of the Framework Laptop (2021).

Who it's for:

The 2023 Framework Laptop 13 is a bit of an investment upfront, but its modular design translates to long-term savings for users who like to upgrade their specs every few years. Even if you lack DIY wizardry, our reviewer found that the learning curve involved isn't too intimidating.

Why we picked this:

Unlike many consumer laptops, which have soldered-on parts, the Framework Laptop 13 has fully replaceable and repairable components. So, instead of buying another brand-new machine when your processor, RAM, storage, keyboard, or display conk out, you can simply Frankenstein in a different part —a great way to save money in the long run.

The best part is that almost anyone can do this: "It's with the tech coward's perspective that I am happy to report the Framework Laptop is nothing short of an industrial design miracle for newcomers," wrote reviewer Perry, who tested an older version. If you feel a little more confident in your computer-tweaking abilities, consider the fully customizable DIY Edition (which starts at $849) instead of the pre-built model.

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