Under $500 picks from our full guide: 5 tested laptops you can find for under $1,000: a Mac, a Windows all-rounder, a gaming laptop, a Chromebook and a cheap Copilot+ PC.
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The same laptop can cost very different amounts at different stores. PCWorld saw the Acer Nitro V 16 AI far higher on Amazon than at other stores, and the Swift 16 AI just under the budget line at Best Buy while other stores charged more.
Some of these only drop into budget at certain stores or during sales, so compare before you buy.
Our top picks
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#1 · Best Chromebook
Asus Chromebook Plus CX34
★★★★★4.2(13)
Web-based work, school and video calls on a tight budget.
A 14-inch Chromebook Plus with an Intel Core i5-1335U, 8GB of RAM and a 1920×1080 touchscreen. It runs ChromeOS only.
Why buy it: Picture a student who lives in the browser and Google apps, typing notes on a keyboard that PCWorld calls a highlight. It is fast for a Chromebook and costs roughly half of what most laptops on this list do. The catch: it runs ChromeOS only, and its battery life of about 13 hours is not class-leading.
Pros, cons & who should skip it
If your work lives in the browser, this Chromebook Plus is fast and simple. A Core i5 chip and 8GB of RAM keep everyday tasks smooth, the 14-inch 1080p touchscreen looks sharp and the keyboard is a highlight.
Pros
Zippy performance for a Chromebook
Great keyboard
Plenty of ports
Stylish design
Cons
Battery life is not class-leading
16:9 screen feels a bit cramped
ChromeOS only
Skip it if: you need Windows or macOS desktop software.
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#2 · Best everyday Windows laptop
Acer Aspire Go 15
★★★★★4.3(12)
Students and home users who want a regular Windows laptop
A 15-inch Windows laptop with a 1080p display. It has integrated graphics only.
Why buy it: Picture a family laptop for homework, email and video calls. PCWorld highlights the Aspire Go 15 for great battery life and a solid 1080p screen, BestReviews picks it as a budget laptop still worth using, and 8bittoast calls it the most consistently recommended budget laptop in its range in 2026. The catch: integrated graphics only, so it is not for gaming.
Pros, cons & who should skip it
PCWorld highlights the Aspire Go 15 for great battery life and a solid 1080p screen under $500, and BestReviews picks it as a sub-$500 laptop still worth using.
Pros
Great battery life
Solid 1080p screen
Practical everyday pick
Cons
Integrated graphics only, so not for gaming
Skip it if: You need discrete graphics or a premium display
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#3 · Best cheap Chromebook
ASUS Chromebook CX15
★★★★★4.3(98)
Anyone on a tight budget who needs a simple laptop
A 15-inch Chromebook with a tested battery life of 7 hours 26 minutes (Tom's Guide). It is a basic machine, not a premium one.
Why buy it: Picture a simple laptop for web pages, documents and video calls. PCWorld names it the best Chromebook in its low-price class, and Tom's Guide calls it one of the cheapest laptops it has tested that still does not disappoint. It is the cheapest pick in this guide. The catch: its 7 hours 26 minutes of tested battery is the shortest figure in this guide.
Pros, cons & who should skip it
PCWorld names the CX15 the best Chromebook under $200, and Tom's Guide calls it one of the cheapest laptops it has tested that still does not disappoint.
Pros
Very low price
Does the basics well
Cons
Battery life is shorter than pricier picks
Skip it if: You want long battery life or a premium feel
4 mistakes when buying a budget laptop
Paying the first price you see. PCWorld saw the Nitro V 16 AI far higher on Amazon than at other stores, and the Swift 16 AI just under the budget line at only one store.
Buying a weak configuration. iTechGuides warns that 4GB or 128GB models of the IdeaPad Slim 3 are weak for daily use. For the Vivobook 16, look for 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD.
Forgetting that a Chromebook runs ChromeOS only. The Chromebook picks cannot install Windows or macOS desktop software, so check your classes or work first.
Ignoring Windows on Arm. The IdeaPad Slim 3x has an ARM chip, so check that your apps support Windows on ARM.
FAQ
What is the best budget laptop for most people?
The Apple MacBook Neo. It is PCWorld's pick for best budget laptop, with about 13 hours of battery at 2.7 lb. Its multi-core performance lags.
What is the best gaming laptop on a budget?
The Acer Nitro V 16 AI. Its RTX 5050 averaged around 72 fps in Cyberpunk 2077 in PCWorld's review. The CPU, speakers and Wi-Fi 6 are weak spots.
Which Windows laptop has the best battery life?
The Acer Swift 16 AI. PCWorld measured about 17.5 hours. The IdeaPad Slim 3x claims up to 14 hours, according to Lenovo.
Is a Chromebook enough for school?
If your work lives in the browser, yes. The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is our Best Chromebook. Skip it if you need Windows or macOS desktop software.
Which cheap Chromebook is best?
The ASUS Chromebook CX15. PCWorld names it the best Chromebook in its low-price class. Tom's Guide tested its battery at 7 hours 26 minutes.
Picks come from PCWorld's hands-on laptop testing (updated Oct 2026), plus the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x from the 2026 reviews we summarize in our Black Friday guide. Specs and battery figures are for the configuration PCWorld tested; Amazon listings can differ, so check the exact configuration before buying. We don't show prices because they change daily, and some of these only dip under $1,000 at certain stores or during sales. Assumptions: "under $1,000" is based on the lowest prices reported in Oct 2026; list prices and some retailers (including Amazon at times) can be higher.
