Best Budget Laptops

Top choices among sub-$800 notebooks

Laptops priced at $800 and below are becoming increasingly powerful and packed with features. Although they're still not the best choice for graphics work or gaming, many cheap laptops sport faster processors, larger hard drives and more memory than you could find in this price range just a few years ago.

Among cheap laptops, the 14-inch Dell Inspiron 14z (*Est. $600 and up) rings up an affordable price without requiring too many sacrifices. It's available in a variety of configurations, but most reviewers look at an upgraded set up that includes a second-generation 2.4 GHz Intel Core i5-2430M processor matched with a relatively generous 6 GB of RAM and a roomy 640 GB hard drive. Spending another $50 will up that to 8 GB of RAM and a 750 GB hard drive. All configurations (including the base configuration, discussed below) include a CD/DVD burner, two USB 3.0 ports, HDMI output and Intel's Wireless Display 2 technology (WiDi), which allows you to wirelessly stream content to a TV equipped with a Netgear Push2TV adapter (*Est. $80). You can buy the laptop directly from Dell. While Staples sells a configuration called the Dell Inspiron 14z (i14z-6677DBK) (*Est. $849) , its price puts it just out of "cheap laptop" range.

Reviewers say the Dell Inspiron 14z is surprisingly capable for a cheap laptop -- and especially so when equipped with the Core i5 processor. "When you look at the key components of a mainstream laptop, the Dell Inspiron 14z (Core i5) excels at every single one them, whether it is excellent battery life, speed or feature set," says Cisco Cheng at PCMag.com. The thin, redesigned chassis earns approving remarks from reviewers, who suggest that users with a sense of style upgrade to the fire red paint job for an extra $30.

Other aspects of the physical design are a bit more hit and miss. The backlit, Chiclet-style buttons earn praise for their responsiveness and feel, but PC World contributor Loyd Case says that the offset space bar could distract touch typists. Reviewers have big problems with the touchpad, or rather, the touchpad's buttons, which are overly difficult to push. "At times, I had to consciously exert effort to press down the touchpad buttons," Case writes. The flimsy port covers are another nuisance to critics.

Those minor negatives don't sour the laptop for most critics, though. "Peeves like the stiff mouse buttons and port covers are small in the grand scheme of things," Cheng says. Performance is very good for mainstream computing tasks, such as surfing the web, watching movies or word processing. "Multitasking works very well even with multiple open windows, and everything from HD streaming video to basic multimedia editing runs well," Scott Stein writes at CNET.

In a comparison to similar notebooks, the laptop posts the best PCMark scores at PCMag.com and Laptop Magazine, albeit by a narrow margin. (PCMark is a benchmarking application that tests overall system performance.) Although the Intel HD integrated graphics limit this laptop's gaming prowess, reviewers say the PC is capable of playing casual games without issue and basic mainstream 3D games at low to mid graphics settings. Critics also say they appreciate the 65W battery's long battery life, which lasts anywhere from 5.5 hours to 8.5 hours in independent tests.

If you're looking to spend a bit less money and don't mind a dip in performance, the base configuration (*Est. $600 and up) is certainly worth considering. The component lineup is a little less impressive, but it includes a 2.2-GHz Intel Core i3-2330M processor, 4 GB of memory and a 500 GB hard drive. While it obviously doesn't offer the same performance as its more expensive sibling, Laptop Magazine's Michael A. Prospero says that "if all you're doing is surfing the web, checking Facebook, and doing e-mail, the Core i3 model will have all the power you need." The Core i3 configuration's battery also lasted an hour longer than the Core i5 version's in the publication's tests.

The HP Pavilion dv6 has been around in various configurations for a while now, and HP has rolled out versions featuring AMD's new "Fusion" CPUs. PCMag.com reviews the 15.6-inch HP Pavilion dv6-6145dx (*Est. $720) , a fixed configuration offered at Best Buy. The laptop features AMD's 1.8 GHz AMD A8-3500M processor, 8 GB of RAM and a 640 GB hard drive, as well as a discrete AMD Radeon HD 6620g graphics card.

Brian Westover calls the laptop "a mixed bag of pros and cons." Although the dv6-6145dx performs well for everyday tasks, such as web surfing and email, he says the AMD CPU simply doesn't provide the same oomph as an Intel Sandy Bridge processor, and it shows in CPU-intensive tasks like multimedia editing. The discrete graphics card, on the other hand, makes it a powerful gaming performer for a sub-$800 laptop. The laptop outpaces other cheap laptops in PCMag.com's 3DMark 2006 benchmark tests and matches up well with the publication's Editors' Choice winner for gaming computers, the Dell XPS 15z (*Est. $1,000 and up) , despite the fact that the Dell laptop costs nearly $300 more. It achieves a higher frame rate than the Dell in the system-intensive "Lost Planet 2," and manages to hit a very playable -- if not quite smooth -- 37.5 frames per second rate in "Crysis," a title that's notoriously tough on computers.

HP offers a similar Intel Sandy Bridge-based system in the form of the HP Pavilion dv6t Select Edition (*Est. $700 and up) . Standard configurations of the dv6t score well with other publications, but PCMag.com takes a look at the Select Edition specifically. The base version includes a 2.4 GHz Intel Core i5-2430M processor, 8 GB of RAM, a spacious 750 GB hard drive and extras like Beats audio technology, HDMI and USB 3.0 ports, a CD/DVD burner, a fingerprint reader and WiDi 2 support. The version tested by PCMag.com also adds a discrete AMD Radeon HD 6490M graphics card to the mix, which adds $75 to the total cost of the machine.

The HP Pavilion dv6t Select Edition outscores the dv6-6145dx in every single CPU-intensive benchmark test that PCMag.com threw at the two machines, especially in multimedia tests, and it matches scores with computers that are at the top of the class. The two laptops perform virtually alike in gaming benchmarks, with the Select Edition narrowly edging out the dv6-6145dx with a 6,259 3DMark 2006 score and a 41.2 frames per second rate in "Crysis." "Though it won't compete with the specialized rigs used by competitive gamers, the dv6t-SE has more than enough gaming horsepower for you to enjoy a few rounds of World of Warcraft and Portal 2," reviewer Brian Westover writes. The dv6t Select Edition's battery lasted just over six hours during testing. Like the HP Pavilion dv6-6145dx, the dv6t Select Edition fails to earn a PCMag.com Editors' Choice award, but as noted previously, the Editors' Choice -- the Dell XPS 15z -- costs more than $1,000.

The dv6t Select Edition and the dv6-6145dx aren't the only HP Pavilion laptops to score well. Several models from both the standard dv6 and dv6t lines also receive praise from reviewers. Users also seem to like the dv6 and dv6t lines overall.

Although it's not covered in any professional reviews that we found, users at numerous online retailers give the 17.3-inch Acer Aspire AS7741G-6426 (*Est. $650) high marks. At Amazon.com, where the laptop enjoys a 4.3-star rating, users say the Acer laptop provides a lot of bang for the buck despite having only a first generation Intel Core i5-480M processor. The laptop is a potent multitasker that is able to handle multiple programs at once, users say.

Most owners who weigh in on this laptop are not serious gamers, but the ones who are say the Acer AS7741G-6426's discrete AMD Radeon HD 6550M processor allows them to play mainstream games like "Dragon Age 2," "Fallout: New Vegas" and "World of Warcraft" without issues. The display also gets high marks for its bright and vivid colors. "The screen looks great, it's blazing fast, even the material used on the outside make this feel like a machine that should cost three times the price," says one owner. It's not unanimous praise, however; many users report having difficulties with the insensitive and left hand-orientated touchpad, and Newegg.com owner after Newegg.com owner complains about the heat generated by the machine.

As would be indicated by the use of a first generation core processor, although it's still available, this Acer configuration is getting a bit long in the tooth. The company is offering similar configurations built around a second generation Core processor. Prices are a little higher, but performance should be better still. However, there's still far too little user or other feedback for us to gauge actual performance and satisfaction.

Cheap business laptops

For business users on a tight budget, reviewers recommend the 13.3-inch Dell Vostro v131 (*Est. $800) . Although most reviewers test a higher-end $800 configuration, the base model starts at an affordable $500 with a second-generation 1.10 GHz Intel Celeron ULV processor, 2 GB of RAM, 320 GB hard drive and integrated Intel graphics. CNET, however, says to avoid the Celeron-based base configuration "at all costs." Upgrades include the more powerful Core i5 or i7 CPUs, 4 GB of RAM, larger hard drives, Windows 7 Professional and more. All configurations come with an HDMI port, an 8-in-1 card reader, a fingerprint scanner, Intel's WiDi 2 technology and three USB ports (including two USB 3.0 ports). They lack an optical drive, however. If you need an optical drive, the Dell Vostro 3550 (*Est. $550 and up) includes one and offers similar performance to the Dell Vostro v131, experts say.

The upgraded configuration critics test includes a second generation Intel Core i5 processor, 4 GB of RAM and a 500 GB hard drive, but it still rings up at around $800 and earns 4-star (out of 5) ratings from PCMag.com, Laptop Magazine and PC World, while CNET gives it a Very Good rating. The slim-cased Dell Vostro v131 weighs around 4 pounds, so reviewers say it's a good choice for business travelers, though PC World notes that "it's size and weight stretch the definition" of ultraportable. Battery life is much improved over previous Dell business laptops: The Vostro v131 outperformed the average laptop battery life rating in Laptop Magazine's strenuous tests and lasted more than seven hours for other reviewers. The overall feel and design of the backlit keyboard and trackpad are also praised, though several experts say the 13.3-inch display's brightness is average at best.

On the performance front, the Core i5-based Dell Vostro v131 holds its own against more expensive business laptops and outperforms similar laptops in Laptop Magazine's PCMark Vantage tests. Reviewers say the Dell laptop has no trouble with mainstream tasks or multimedia processing and encoding, but serious gamers will have to look elsewhere. Although PC World says that you may be able to play games at low resolution and the lowest graphical settings, CNET reports that they only achieved an unplayable 13.5 frames per second rate when they tried to play "Street Fighter IV" at the Vostro v131's native resolution. Critics say the speakers don't deliver much volume either, which further hurts the laptop's gaming chops.

The HP ProBook 4530s (*Est. $580 and up) also gets good reviews for business users. Like the Dell Vostro v131, the HP laptop comes in different configurations, but the base model -- the HP ProBook 4530s-XU015UT -- is available with a second-generation Intel Core i3-2310M processor, 4 GB of RAM, 320 GB hard drive and integrated Intel graphics. The HP ProBook 4530s has a larger 15.6-inch display, and all models come with a CD/DVD drive, built-in Bluetooth 3.0 and a 6-cell battery. Upgrade options include an Intel Core i5 processor and larger hard drive.

Laptop Magazine tests an upgraded model with a Core i5 processor that checks in at just over $700. Editors say the aluminum design looks better than most budget laptops, and it feels very sturdy. The Chiclet-style keyboard has good tactile feedback, and a full-size number pad will come in handy for business applications. Its five hours of battery life is in line with other business laptops. NotebookCheck.net tests the HP ProBook 4530s with a Core i3 processor and finds performance suitable for most business applications. "The combination of Intel's Core i3-2310M, and the integrated GMA HD 3000 graphics card, is more than enough for all office and many multimedia applications, especially since the performance advantage as well as the efficiency are better compared to the previous generation," says Felix Sold.

Graphics performance is one downside, so users shouldn't expect to do any serious gaming with the HP ProBook 4530s. We also saw one report that the cooling fan is very loud. The base HP ProBook 4530s-XU015UT configuration receives a lot of reviews at Newegg.com and Amazon.com, and while users rate the system very highly overall, several complain about the amount of bloatware HP installs on the machine. (Bloatware is applications added to a PC by its manufacturer, such as trials for various services.) One Newegg.com user spent four hours removing the unwanted programs, while another opted to wipe the hard drive and reinstall Windows 7 from scratch.