If you’re reading this, chances are, you’re searching for information about the “best telescope for deep space”. If you’ve read any of our posts in the past, you’ll know that we love to give our readers the best information possible. So today, we are going to take a look at some professional telescopes and also some telescopes that are better suited for beginners. Hopefully by the end of this post you will have a better idea about what telescope is best suited for your needs.
Best telescope for deep space and planets
Last updated on May 26, 2017 – Looking for the best telescope for deep space and planet astrophotography? What are the best telescopes for deep space astrophotography? As a long time astrophotographer (since 1986) I have used a number of different telescopes to photograph deep space objects. There is nothing better than photographing with a telescope that is just right, a telescope that has been matched to your requirements.
Among all Best Telescopes available in the market, Vixen’s fluorite apochromatic refractor offers you the crispest viewing images of deep space objects. These telescopes are designed to work best in low-light situations, a perfect choice for amateur astronomers who wish to study deep space and galaxies.
Thousands of amateur astronomers around the world are training their telescopes on objects far out in our universe. If you take this seriously, then you need a telescope that is up to that task.The telescopes below are up to par. They are some of the best rated and most popular on the market.
If you’ve never heard of deep space astrophotography (sometimes it’s called DSO) before, you’re about to discover one of the coolest hobbies there is: photographing space objects. When I first stumbled across this hobby, it was love at first go. I’m hooked — and now I want to share my knowledge on how to get started with space sky photography.
Best off the shelf desktop pc
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Can’t find the information you were looking for above? Check out more articles best desktop computer for small business 2020, best desktop computers 2020 and best desktop 2021.Don’t forget to hit the “share” button with family and friends if you found this article useful
Best desktop PC for 2022
We choose the best options for tower PCs, all-in-ones and desktop Macs you can buy right now.
Compact performance for gamers and creators
Dell XPS Desktop 8940 Special Edition
Jump to details
$960 AT DELL
Affordable Mac upgrade
Mac Mini M1 (2020)
Jump to details
$649 AT AMAZON
Jumbo screen all-in-one
HP Envy 32 (Update: Out of stock)
Jump to details
SEE AT AMAZON
High-end all-in-one for creatives
Surface Studio 2 (Update: Out of stock)
Jump to details
$4,199 AT TARGET
Even though laptops and tablets make up roughly 80% of the PC market, one out of every five computers sold is a good old-fashioned desktop. And why not? If you already spend your day tethered to a big-screen monitor, a desktop PC as your home computer makes a lot of sense. And when it comes to longevity, it’s hard to beat a desktop PC. Plus, a desktop computer offers more power and expandability than a laptop, and a powerful processor, along with a quality hard drive or solid state drive for storage are especially important if you’ll be using your device for something like photo editing or as a gaming PC.
A desktop computer is generally going to come in the form of either a tower or an all-in-one (with an integrated screen), though there are smaller designs for tighter spaces. And while you can find Windows and Macs for as little as $500 to $700, Chrome and Linux fans have plenty of affordable options, too.
While laptops still occupy the majority of our editors’ time and effort with CNET’s hands-on reviews, we’ve rounded up recent products to bring you the very best desktop PC options, which are listed below. This list starts with models we’ve tested, and then moves on to more generic configurations. We haven’t explicitly tested those specific models in the latter batch, but the specs listed should deliver considerable value for the price, based on our experience with similarly configured laptops we’ve tested. Unless otherwise indicated, the products listed below don’t include a monitor, keyboard, mouse or webcam. You’ll need to bring your own or buy them separately. We update this best desktop PC list periodically.
Desktop PCs: Tested and recommended
These are the best desktop PC models that we’ve recently tested and can recommend based on our hands-on experience.
Sleek and speedy
iMac M1 2021 (24-inch)
Dan Ackerman/CNET
Apple has fully redesigned the iMac with a body so ultrathin that it could easily be confused with a jumbo-screen iPad. It’s now built on the same superfast M1 chip found in Apple’s late-2020 MacBook Air and Mac Mini (see below), with a gorgeous 24-inch screen replacing the previous 21.5-inch version. The 1080p webcam is a big upgrade over the MacBook’s 720p model, and the rainbow of available colors — hearkening back to the 1999 iMac G3 — is a welcome addition. Just be prepared to spend up for the myriad storage and accessory upgrades. (Note that the larger 27-inch iMac has yet to be revamped, and is still running an Intel processor.) Read our 2021 Apple iMac review.
$1,499 AT APPLE
$1,500 AT BEST BUY
Compact performance for gamers and creators
Dell XPS Desktop 8940 Special Edition
Josh Goldman/CNET
While we like all-in-ones for their convenience, they’re not easy to upgrade, if they can be at all. Dell’s XPS Desktop is compact and quiet enough for a small workspace but can be loaded with an 11th-gen Core i9 processor, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 graphics card, up to 64GB of memory and 4TB of storage — and there’s still room inside for more. And if you have modest needs now but want the room to add in components down the road, the base XPS starts at just $608. Want to spend a bit less? Check out the more affordable desktop computer options recommended further down the page. Read our Dell XPS Desktop 8940 review.
$960 AT DELL
Affordable Mac upgrade
Mac Mini M1 (2020)
Dan Ackerman/CNET
If you’re looking for the most affordable Mac out there, the news is good nearly all around. Apple’s smallest desktop computer was among the first to get upgraded to the lightning-fast M1 processor, which runs rings around comparable Intel-powered Macs in terms of speed and performance. Unlike MacBook laptops, the Mini boasts legacy ports like USB-A and HDMI, too. The 256GB and 512GB models will run you $699 and $899, respectively, at the Apple Store, but the good news is that they’re now frequently on sale at other retailers for $50 to $100 less. More and more Mac apps are adding compatibility for the M1 platform, and Apple’s Rosetta 2 software runs most legacy apps in a fairly speedy compatibility mode, but if you still want native Intel support, a Core i5 version of the Mini remains in the line for $1,099. Read our hands-on experience with the 2020 M1 Mac lineup.
$649 AT AMAZON
$700 AT BEST BUY
Jumbo screen all-in-one
HP Envy 32 (Update: Out of stock)
Sarah Tew/CNET
This Windows take on the basic iMac design hit stores in early 2020, and it shows in its somewhat dated specs: a ninth-gen Intel CPU and a spinning hard drive backing up the 256GB solid-state drive. That said, you get a gigantic 32-inch 4K display powered by an integrated Nvidia GTX 1650 video card (which can handle some decent games) in a reasonably attractive package. We’d like to see a refresh with newer internals, but in the meantime, you’d be hard-pressed to find an all-in-one with a bigger screen than these HP desktops. Read our review of the HP Envy 32.
SEE AT AMAZON
High-end all-in-one for creatives
Surface Studio 2 (Update: Out of stock)
Sarah Tew/CNET
What if the iMac had support for touchscreen and stylus input? That’s basically the pitch for Microsoft’s Surface Studio 2, a Windows-powered all-in-one that seals the deal for artists with its ability to tilt the 28-inch screen back like a drafting table. The original model was woefully underpowered, and the latest model still doesn’t deliver all the bells and whistles we’d expect at this lofty price, but its unique design may have you overlooking those flaws and reaching for your credit card anyway. Read our Microsoft Surface Studio 2 review.
$4,199 AT TARGET
Other recommended desktop PCs
We haven’t reviewed the specific models below, but we have reviewed systems using very similar hardware. These general configurations should serve you well, especially if you shop around for frequent deals.
Basic Windows PC tower (starting around $620)
The specs we’d suggest for a basic Windows 10 machine:
Intel Core i5 (9th-, 10th-gen) or AMD Ryzen 5 (3000 or 5000 series)
Default integrated graphics (such as Intel 630 or baseline AMD Radeon)
512GB or larger NVMe SSD drive
12GB of RAM or more (16GB preferred)
Four or more USB 3.1 / 3.2 ports with USB-C and USB-A formats (at least one or two on the front)
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless
At least one PCI-E (x16) expansion slot (for adding a video card)
A DVD or Blu-ray optical drive (if you need it for legacy software or media)
With those specs in mind, you should be able to find a good PC tower from brands like Dell, Acer, Asus or HP for between $500 and $600. Here are some that fit the bill, offering a great bang for the buck if you don’t need a laptop:
Acer TC-895-UA92 ($669)
This 10th-gen Intel Core i5 configuration includes everything listed above, along with Wi-Fi 6 compatibility and a keyboard and mouse, too.
SEE IT AT AMAZON
HP Pavilion Desktop TP01-1140 ($620)
This system offers a capable AMD Ryzen 5 CPU, and HP throws in a mouse and keyboard.
SEE IT AT AMAZON
PC tower for light gaming and creative duties (starting around $900)
Want to do some PC gaming, or do you spend time editing photos or video? You’ll want to level up the above configuration with more RAM and better graphics options. Expect price points to be between $800 and $1,200 — and even higher if you go for a more bleeding-edge video card.
Nvidia GTX/RTX or AMD Radeon RX graphics card (GPU)
16GB of RAM or more
350-watt (or more) power supply
Looking for a gaming computer with more muscle? Check out our list of best gaming PCs.
HP Pavilion Gaming Desktop TG01-1076z ($900)
This HP rig boasts an AMD Ryzen 5 CPU and Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 GPU, a 400-watt power supply, 16GB of RAM and tosses a 1TB spinning hard drive on top of the 512GB SSD. Base price is $900, but we’ve seen it on sale for as low as $750. (This was out of stock when we last checked.)
SEE AT HP
Dell G5 gaming desktop tower ($1,390)
This Dell model has nearly the same specs as the HP above, but with a 10th-gen Intel Core i5 in place of the AMD Ryzen. We’d previously seen this for $1,050, but it appears to be currently selling for closer to $1,400. (We’ve seen it hit as low as $750.)
AMAZON
Basic Windows All-in-One (starts around $800)
An “all-in-one PC” (also known as AIO PC) is basically a Windows version of an iMac. That means the PC “guts” are essentially built into a monitor or its base. Unlike the PC towers listed above, all-in-ones generally offer no ability to upgrade the graphics card, and maybe not even the storage or RAM. The advantage is having fewer cables, however, since everything is integrated into the body.
Recommended specs for an all-in-one are mostly similar to the basic tower above, albeit with compromises because of space considerations. Don’t expect an optical drive, for instance, and know that performance is often a step down from “real” desktop models because some all-in-ones use laptop components to better maximize available space. You’ll want a large screen with good resolution. The sweet spots we’d suggest are:
24 inches at 1,920×1,080 (aka 2K or 1080p)
27 inches at 2,560×1,440 (aka 1440p)
32 inches at 3,840×2,160 (aka 4K)
The 24-inchers are good for kids, but adults should probably go for 27 inches and up. Expect to pay at least $800 at that latter size, especially if you want to avoid underpowered Intel Core i3 or AMD Athlon CPUs. The Surface Studio 2, HP Envy 32 (above) and Apple iMacs (below) are examples of high end all-in-one computers, but here’s a more reasonably priced alternative.
Acer Aspire C27-962-UA91 ($800)
While the screen on this Acer Aspire model is a spacious 27 inches, resolution is only 1080p (also known as 2K) — but that’s par for the course below the $1,000 price point. This model also lacks a DVD drive and USB-C ports. That said, you get a 10th-gen Intel Core i5 CPU, on-board Nvidia MX graphics (not as good as a GTX or RTX card, but better than average), half a terabyte of SSD storage and a built-in webcam (along with a keyboard and mouse).
SEE IT AT AMAZON
What about an iMac 27-inch or Mac Pro?
apple-imac-27-inch-2017
The current iMacs still run Intel chips. Faster M1 versions are on the way, and worth waiting for most people.
Sarah Tew/CNET
While you’re paying a big premium for the Apple name, an iMac is generally a great option for Apple fans who want an all-in-one computer with a superior display. And now that the 24-inch iMac has gotten a fresh overhaul, complete with the M1 chip, that’s a great starting point (see above).
Looking for other Mac desktop options? That’s a bigger challenge. The iMac Pro was recently discontinued by Apple, and the 27-inch (non-Pro) iMac has yet to get its Apple silicon upgrade, so it remains available with older Intel chips.
As for the Mac Pro: It offers serious workstation-level performance, but with an entry price point of $6,000, it’s effectively for pro users only. Meanwhile, the hardware — which debuted in late 2019 — runs on an Intel platform, which Apple is now moving away from with its aforementioned Apple silicon chips. Here, too, rumors of a “Mac Pro Mini” (Apple silicon CPU inside a smaller chassis with fewer, if any, internal expansion slots) mean that waiting is the prudent option here, as Apple has pledged to complete its transition away from Intel before the end of 2022.
Chromebox, Mini PCs and other niche options
When it comes to desktop PCs, towers and all-in-ones represent the vast majority of the market. There are alternatives, but in the 2020s, they generally represent increasingly narrow slices of that market.
machines01.jpg
Left to right: The HP Mini, Acer Revo, Intel Compute Stick and Apple Mac Mini. The Mac is the only one that’s been recently updated.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Mini PCs: Following the debut of the Mac Mini in 2005, Windows PC makers experimented with similarly tiny designs. In the wake of likable small models like the Acer Revo One and HP Pavilion Mini, we even saw (woefully underpowered) “PC on a stick” offerings starting in 2015, but interest seems to have ebbed since then. Outside of specialty vendors like Beelink, the best choices in this mini PC size are probably the Intel NUC (Next Unit of Computing), most of which are sold as hobbyist options, requiring some BYO additions like user-supplied storage, RAM and other components — including the operating system. See more bare-bones Mini PCs at Newegg.
Chromeboxes: If you’re looking for very basic computing — browsing the web, email, social media, YouTube and the like — the Chrome operating system is the most affordable route for home computing. This Google operating system effectively is little more than the Chrome web browser. That makes it easy for multiple users (only a Gmail address is needed to log in), and — because there’s no heavy operating system beyond the browser — viruses aren’t really an issue. Colloquially known as “Chromeboxes” (versus a “Chromebook” laptop), these systems don’t have beefy CPUs, RAM or storage requirements. That said, if you need any software beyond browser-based web apps, or if you don’t have excellent broadband, you’ll want to stick with Windows or Mac options above. Expect to pay between $200 and $500 for a Chrome-based desktop. But the closer you get to that $500 price point, the more you should consider stepping up to a Chromebook laptop or a basic Windows tower (see above) for just a bit more. See Chromebox options at Amazon.
Linux PCs: No, Windows, Mac and ChromeOS are not your only operating system options. There’s a wide world of Linux operating systems out there, many of which are effectively free. You can get PCs with Linux preinstalled, but the better, more affordable option is probably installing it (or dual-booting) on a used Windows PC. Another option is the Endless Mission PCs, which cost between $79 and $229 and run a custom Linux-based OS.
Raspberry Pi: You may have heard of a small computer that’s no bigger than a paperback book, and can be had for about $150. That’s the Raspberry Pi, and it’s 100 percent real and very cool — if you’re a hobbyist looking to build your own Lego-style computer and install your own custom Linux operating systems. We just wouldn’t recommend it as a primary computer if you’re looking to run mainstream software. See the Raspberry Pi 4 kit at Amazon.
Dell HP Microsoft Apple
Desktops
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Best Graphics Card for Gamers and Creatives in 2022
Picking a new AMD or Nvidia graphics card can be difficult, though finding one at a sensible price can be harder. We’ll help you get started with everything you need to know.
Lori Grunin headshot
Lori Grunin
Feb. 18, 2022 4:00 a.m. PT
0
Nvidia GeForce GT 1030
Cheapest upgrade from an integrated GPU
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$154 AT AMAZON
AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT
Top entry-priced choice for basic photo editing
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$347 AT AMAZON
AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT
Top choice for 1080p and midrange photo editing
Jump to details
$599 AT AMAZON
AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT
Best option for good 1440p, top quality 1080p, entry video editing
Jump to details
$900 AT AMAZON
Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 or RTX 3070 Ti
Excellent option for best 1440p or entry 4K gaming, midrange video editing
Jump to details
$1,030 AT AMAZON
Show more (1 item)
If you’re like most people, you’re probably using a graphics card that’s several years old. And for PC gaming, video editing, animation and other graphics-intensive activities, that few years is forever in terms of performance. A lot has changed in the past few years, so chances are you’re no longer using the best graphics card available for your needs, which may take advantage of modern technologies like smart resolution upscaling, ray-tracing acceleration and a whole lot more. Meanwhile, games and software used for tasks like 3D design and video editing have become more demanding, sometimes even to do the same old things.
Even if you simply need the basics for streaming video or surfing the web, a new graphics card can make your system feel snappier overall compared to an equivalent older model by improving video decoding acceleration, redrawing your screens faster, or any of a myriad of processing tasks that you don’t think about.
But this is still a bad time to shop for a new video card. They’re actually a lot easier to find than they were a year ago, but many continue to be in the LOL-try-to-get-one-for-a-rational-price phase. Prices for anything you can find remain out of control, and while they’re not nearly as high as they were six months ago, they remain substantially higher than the manufacturers’ fantasy launch-target prices: Some casual calculations I made showed a range of about +30% to +130% difference between the press-release prices and the cheapest recommendable card I could find for a given current-generation chip.
Still, if you’re ready to throw down some cash for a new graphics card now, we hope this can offer some guidance on what to look for and which GPUs make sense for your budget and needs. While you can make some judgments based on specs like the manufacturer, graphics chip, amount of video memory, memory and gaming clock speeds, power requirements and other factors, they’re imperfect predictors of how any particular model will perform in your games or creative applications.
Nvidia GeForce GT 1030
Cheapest upgrade from an integrated GPU
Zotac
If you’ve got an old desktop with integrated graphics that don’t support the current versions of graphics programming interfaces such as DirectX 12 or Vulkan, or you have a game that won’t run unless it detects dedicated graphics memory (these have 2GB) or if you just want to make your Windows experience feel a little more snappy or smooth, a GT 1030-based card can help. It’s designed with lower power requirements than most other discrete GPUs, so it can fit in systems with small power supplies and compact designs. Unlike most gaming graphics cards, 1030-based cards can be low-profile and take up just a single slot for connectivity, and are quieter because they only require a single fan.
Don’t expect to game with the GeForce GT at 1080p — 720p at best, unless a game is very lightweight. But Fortnite, CS:GO, League of Legends and other popular multiplayer games generally fall under the “can play on a potato” umbrella, so you don’t need to worry as much if they’re your go-tos. In some cases, games may simply go from unplayable to a little less unplayable. If you do want to play games, though, spring for versions with DDR5 memory, not DDR4; it can make a noticeable difference. That’s why you’ll see some offerings for less than $130. For a simple speedup, the cheapest decent one I’ve seen is $115.
$154 AT AMAZON
$150 AT BEST BUY
AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT
Top entry-priced choice for basic photo editing
Asus
Since much basic photo editing still isn’t very GPU-intensive, a fast, high-core-count CPU still gives you a lot more performance value for the money than a higher-powered graphics card. The GPU does matter for the experience and smooth display rendering, but for smallish images and single-screen editing you shouldn’t have any issues.
The RX 6500 XT kind of wins here by default; it hits the basics and its price is much lower than step-up cards, which seem to run upward of $400. That’s partly because the markup over its $199 manufacturer-recommended price is the least of any cards I looked at, leaving it in the sub-$300 range. You’ll find it in two-fan and three-fan configurations (the latter is usually overclocked).
$347 AT AMAZON
AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT
Top choice for 1080p and midrange photo editing
Lori Grunin/CNET
Once again, this becomes my pick somewhat by default because AMD’s real prices are far less out of whack than Nvidia’s; its performance falls between the RTX 3060 and RTX 3060 Ti, where its manufacturer’s price sits, but its actual price is lower overall than the RTX 3060, and far lower than the 3060 Ti, which would normally be my pick here. If you can find a decent model of the latter for between $600 and $700, then you might want to go with it. Read Asus ROG Strix RX 6600 XT OC review.
$599 AT AMAZON
AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT
Best option for good 1440p, top quality 1080p, entry video editing
Lori Grunin/CNET
Though $900 and up feels like an awful lot to pay for this card, it’s a lot better than the $1,100-plus the RTX 3070 Ti costs at the moment. But it’s not a consolation prize: Its performance weaves below and above the RTX 3070 Ti, but the extra memory, 12GB vs. 8GB, can make a big difference in game quality choices and video editing performance. Read AMD RX 6700 XT review.
$900 AT AMAZON
Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 or RTX 3070 Ti
Excellent option for best 1440p or entry 4K gaming, midrange video editing
Lori Grunin/CNET
The RTX 3070 Ti is generally a better GPU than the 3070 (but not worlds better) and the prices currently overlap significantly — they’re roughly the same as the closest AMD competitors — making it a toss-up. You can find individually cheaper RTX 3070 cards, though. The RTX 3070 Ti has higher memory bandwidth, which can impact video editing fluidity and some workstation graphics applications, so you might want to lean that way if you need to. I still think that $1,000-plus is a lot to pay for either of these cards, which were originally targeted to cost within the $500 to $600 range. Read our RTX 3070 hands-on.
$1,030 AT AMAZON
AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT or Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti
High quality 4K gaming, pro video editing, 3D
Lori Grunin/CNET
As with the step-down price segment, the RX 6800 XT generally outperforms the RTX 3080, though it can be roughly the same as the RTX 3080 Ti, especially at higher resolutions and in professional graphics applications, thanks to the better memory bandwidth and more video memory. And this is one case where the AMD cards are just as overpriced as their Nvidia equivalents, costing upward of $1,500. But if you use workstation or video-editing software that takes advantage of Nvidia CUDA acceleration, the 3080 Ti is your best bet. Read our Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti review.
$1,779 AT AMAZON
GRAPHICS CARD FAQS
What’s important to consider when shopping for a graphics card?
Power requirements: Always check the power needs of a card against your power supply’s output. Don’t forget to take the other cards and devices in your system into account concerning power usage.
The most powerful GPU on the planet won’t make a difference if your CPU is the bottleneck (and vice versa) — think overkill.
You’ll see a lot of price variation across cards using the same GPU. That’s for features such as overclocking, better cooling systems or flashy (literally) designs.
Dual-card setups are usually more of a pain than they’re worth. Video editing is usually the exception, depending upon application support.
If you want a card for content creation, game benchmarks aren’t usually representative. To research those, start by running a search on “workstation GPUs” or, for example, “best GPU for Premiere.” It’s important to match the GPU to the application, because, for instance, Nvidia RTX A-series GPUs (the workstation GPUs formerly known as Quadro) are generally more powerful than their AMD Radeon Pro or WX series equivalents, but application developers who are tight with Apple — which doesn’t support Nvidia GPUs — optimize their applications for AMD GPUs. The biggest example of this is Blackmagic Design’s DaVinci Resolve video editor.
For photo editing, it may no longer suffice to use a low-end or middling graphics card, though it depends on your software. With the latest generations of Photoshop and Lightroom, Adobe has begun to expand its use of AI-related technologies in meaningful ways. For instance, Photoshop’s new Replace Sky and Neural Filters can take advantage of GPU hardware designed to accelerate AI to speed them up, such as the Tensor cores in Nvidia’s RTX cards. But if you don’t have at least 32GB of memory, graphics applications may get a bigger boost from upgrading that before the GPU, unless the graphics card is really old.
For video editing, the amount of memory on the card can have a big impact on real-time performance as you work with higher-resolution video (4K and up).
Running games at 4K requires significantly more video memory than 1440p or lower, at least 8GB.
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Does Nvidia G-Sync or AMD FreeSync make a difference?
If you’re sensitive to screen artifacts caused by a disconnect between the rate at which your monitor updates and the frame rate at which you’re playing, or you’re interested in proprietary technologies like Nvidia’s Latency Analyzer to help improve your gameplay by reducing lag, then you should definitely at least look into what each of them offers. Otherwise, get the appropriate GPU for your needs and work with what you get. Read What are Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync and Which Do I Need?.
Relative performance of recent GPUs
FAR CRY 5 (1080P)
MSI Aegis RS (RX 6800)
76
MSI Aegis RS (RX 6500 XT)
89
MSI Aegis RS (RTX 3050)
105
MSI Aegis RS (RX 6700 XT)
124
MSI Aegis RS (RTX 3060)
128
MSI Aegis RS (RX 6600 XT)
128
MSI Aegis RS (RX 6800 XT)
131
MSI Aegis RS (RTX 3070 Ti)
133
iBuyPower Element CL (RTX 3070)
134
MSI Aegis RS (RTX 3080 Ti)
135
MSI Aegis RS (RTX 3060 Ti)
137
Intel NUC 11 Extreme Kit (RTX 3060)
137
MSI MEG Trident X (RTX 2070 Super)
138
Origin PC Chronos (RTX 3080)
170
NOTE: Longer bars indicate better performance (FPS)
FAR CRY 5 (4K)
MSI Aegis RS (RTX 3060)
52
MSI Aegis RS (RX 6600 XT)
54
MSI Aegis RS (RTX 3060 Ti)
66
MSI Aegis RS (RX 6700 XT)
74
iBuyPower Element CL (RTX 3070)
76
MSI Aegis RS (RTX 3070 Ti)
83
MSI Aegis RS (RX 6800)
92
Origin PC Chronos (RTX 3080)
96
MSI Aegis RS (RX 6800 XT)
97
MSI Aegis RS (RTX 3080 Ti)
109
NOTE: Longer bars indicate better performance (fps)
SHADOW OF THE TOMB RAIDER GAMING TEST (1080P)
MSI Aegis RS (RX 6500 XT)
49
MSI Aegis RS (RTX 3050)
86
MSI Aegis RS (RX 6600)
106
MSI Aegis RS (RTX 3060)
115
MSI Aegis RS (6600 XT)
121
MSI Aegis RS (RTX 3060 Ti)
130
MSI Aegis RS (6800 XT)
140
MSI Aegis RS (6800)
140
MSI Aegis RS (RTX 3070)
143
MSI Aegis RS (6700 XT)
144
Origin PC Chronos (RTX 3080)
164
NOTE: Longer bars indicate better performance (FPS)
SHADOW OF THE TOMB RAIDER GAMING TEST (1440P)
MSI Aegis RS (RTX 3050)
58
MSI Aegis RS (RX 6600)
68
MSI Aegis RS (RTX 3060)
81
MSI Aegis RS (RX 6600 XT)
81
MSI Aegis RS (RTX 3060 Ti)
97
MSI Aegis RS (RTX 3070)
116
MSI Aegis RS (RTX 3070 Ti)
123
MSI Aegis RS (RX 6800)
124
MSI Aegis RS (RX 6700 XT)
124
MSI Aegis RS (RTX 3080 Ti)
127
Origin PC Chronos (RTX 3080)
130
MSI Aegis RS (RX 6800 XT)
132
NOTE: Longer bars indicate better performance (FPS)
SHADOW OF THE TOMB RAIDER GAMING TEST (4K)
MSI Aegis RS (RX 6600 XT)
39
MSI Aegis RS (RTX 3060)
43
MSI Aegis RS (RTX 3060 Ti)
52
MSI Aegis RS (RTX 3070)
62
MSI Aegis RS (RTX 3070 Ti)
64
MSI Aegis RS (RX 6700 XT)
66
MSI Aegis RS (RX 6800)
69
MSI Aegis RS (RTX 3070 with DLSS)
77
MSI Aegis RS (RX 6800 XT)
79
MSI Aegis RS (RTX 3070 Ti with DLSS)
79
MSI Aegis RS (RTX 3080 Ti)
85
Origin PC Chronos (RTX 3080)
89
NOTE: Longer bars indicate better performance (FPS)
3DMARK TIME SPY
MSI Aegis RS (RX 6500 XT)
5,359
MSI Aegis RS (RTX 3050)
6,563
MSI Aegis RS (RTX 3060)
8,669
MSI Aegis RS (RX 6600 XT)
9,733
MSI MEG Trident X (RTX 2070 Super)
10,151
MSI Aegis RS (RTX 3060 Ti)
11,349
MSI Aegis RS (RX 6700 XT)
11,698
MSI Aegis RS (RTX 3070)
12,928
MSI Aegis RS (RTX 3070 Ti)
13,922
MSI Aegis RS (RX 6800)
14,261
Maingear Turbo (RTX 2080 Ti)
14,463
MSI Aegis RS (RX 6800 XT)
15,899
Origin PC Chronos (RTX 3080)
16,024
MSI Aegis RS (RTX 3080 Ti)
16,988
NOTE: Longer bars indicate better performance
3DMARK FIRE STRIKE ULTRA
MSI Aegis RS (RTX 3050)
3,534
MSI Aegis RS (RX 6500 XT)
3,542
MSI Aegis RS (RTX 3060)
5,187
MSI Aegis RS (RX 6600)
5,440
MSI MEG Trident X (RTX 2070 Super)
6,181
MSI Aegis RS (RX 6600 XT)
6,556
MSI Aegis RS (RTX 3060 Ti)
7,176
MSI Aegis RS (RX 6700 XT)
8,323
Maingear Turbo (RTX 2080 Ti)
8,435
MSI Aegis RS (RTX 3070)
8,533
MSI Aegis RS (RTX 3070 Ti)
9,132
Origin PC Chronos (RTX 3080)
10,509
MSI Aegis RS (RX 6800)
10,541
MSI Aegis RS (RTX 3080 Ti)
11,989
MSI Aegis RS (6800XT)
12,193
NOTE: Longer bars indicate better performance
3DMARK DXR (DIRECTX RAY TRACING)
MSI Aegis RX (RX 6500 XT)
5.19
MSI Aegis RS (RX 6600)
10.09
MSI Aegis RS (RX 6600 XT)
11.88
MSI Aegis RS (RTX 3050)
14.3
MSI Aegis RS (RX 6700 XT)
14.57
MSI Aegis RS (RTX 3060)
19.16
MSI Aegis RS (RX 6800)
22.12
MSI Aegis RS (RTX 3060 Ti)
26.08
MSI Aegis RS (RX 6800 XT)
26.59
iBuyPower Element CL (RTX 3070)
32.75
MSI Aegis RS (RTX 3070 Ti)
32.99
Maingear Turbo (RTX 3080)
46.74
MSI Aegis RS (RTX 3080 Ti)
58.83
NOTE: Longer bars indicate better performance (FPS)
SPECVIEWPERF 2020 SOLIDWORKS (4K)
MSI Aegis RS (RX 6600 XT)
58.26
MSI Aegis RS (RTX 3060)
77.05
MSI Aegis RS (RX 6700 XT)
78.81
MSI Aegis RS (RX 6800)
96.8
MS Aegis RS (3060 Ti)
105.18
MSI Aegis RS (RX 6800 XT)
108.57
MSI Aegis RS (RTX 3070)
121.89
MSI Aegis RS (RTX 3070 Ti)
137.21
Maingear Turbo (RTX 3080)
154.36
MSI Aegis RS (RTX 3080 Ti)
176.69
NOTE: Longer bars indicate better performance (FPS)
CONFIGURATIONS
Maingear Turbo (RTX 2080 Ti) Microsoft Windows 10 Home (2004); 3.8GHz Ryzen 9 3900XT; 32GB DDR4 SDRAM 3,600; 11GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti; 1TB SSD + 4TB HDD
MSI Aegis RS (RTX 3050) Microsoft Windows 10 Home (21H1); 3.8GHz Intel Core i7-10700K; 32GB DDR4 SDRAM 3,200; 8GB EVGA GeForce RTX 3050 XC Black ; 1TB SSD
MSI Aegis RS (RTX 3060 Ti) Microsoft Windows 10 Home (2004); 3.8GHz Intel Core i7-10700K; 16GB DDR4 SDRAM 3,000; 8GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Ti; 1TB SSD
MSI Aegis RS (RTX 3060) Microsoft Windows 10 Home (2H20); 3.8GHz Intel Core i7-10700K; 16GB DDR4 SDRAM 3,000; 12GB EVGA GeForce RTX 3060 XC Black Gaming; 1TB SSD
MSI Aegis RS (RTX 3070 FE) Microsoft Windows 10 Home (1909); 3.8GHz Intel Core i7-10700K; 16GB DDR4 SDRAM 3,000; 8GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Founders Edition; 1TB SSD
MSI Aegis RS (RTX 3070 Ti) Microsoft Windows 10 Home (21H1); 3.8GHz Intel Core i7-10700K; 32GB DDR4 SDRAM 3,200; 8GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Ti ; 1TB SSD
MSI Aegis RS (RTX 3080 Ti) Microsoft Windows 10 Home (21H1); 3.8GHz Intel Core i7-10700K; 32GB DDR4 SDRAM 3,200; 12GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti ; 1TB SSD
MSI Aegis RS (RX 6500 XT) Microsoft Windows 10 Home (21H1); 3.8GHz Intel Core i7-10700K; 32GB DDR4 SDRAM 3,200; 4GB Gigabyte Eagle 4G Radeon RX 6500 XT; 1TB SSD
MSI Aegis RS (RX 6600 XT) Microsoft Windows 10 Home (21H1); 3.8GHz Intel Core i7-10700K; 32GB DDR4 SDRAM 3,200; 8GB Asus ROG Strix Radeon RX 6600 XT OC; 1TB SSD
MSI Aegis RS (RX 6700 XT) Microsoft Windows 10 Home (2H20); 3.8GHz Intel Core i7-10700K; 32GB DDR4 SDRAM 3,200; 12GB AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT; 1TB SSD
MSI Aegis RS (RX 6800 XT) Microsoft Windows 10 Home (1909); 3.8GHz Intel Core i7-10700K; 16GB DDR4 SDRAM 3,000; 16GB AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT; 1TB SSD
MSI Aegis RS (RX 6800) Microsoft Windows 10 Home (1909); 3.8GHz Intel Core i7-10700K; 16GB DDR4 SDRAM 3,000; 16GB AMD Radeon RX 6800; 1TB SSD
MSI Trident X (RTX 2070 Super) Microsoft Windows 10 Home (1909); (oc) 3.8GHz Intel Core i7-10700K; 32GB DDR4 SDRAM 2,932; 8GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super; 1TB SSD
Origin PC Chronos (RTX 3080) Microsoft Windows 10 Home (2004); Intel Core i9-10900K; 16GB DDR4 SDRAM 3,200; 10GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 (EVGA); 1TB SSD + 500GB SSD
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Best Laptop for College 2022
Find an affordable laptop for every type of student.
Joshua Goldman headshot
Joshua Goldman
Feb. 23, 2022 8:00 a.m. PT
45
MacBook Air M1
Best MacBook for students
Jump to details
$999 AT APPLE
Lenovo Yoga 7i
Best all-purpose Windows laptop for students
Jump to details
$735 AT LENOVO
Acer Chromebook Spin 713
Best Chromebook for students
Jump to details
$699 AT BEST BUY
Gateway GWTN141
Best laptop for college under $500
Jump to details
$499 AT WALMART
Acer Swift 3
Best lightweight laptop for students under $700
Jump to details
$579 AT BEST BUY
Show more (2 items)
One of the most essential academic tools for a student continuing their education after high school is a quality laptop. Ideally, the best laptop for college is the one that lasts for your student’s entire college career. The best college laptop will also feature all the software needed to take notes, stream and complete your homework well and on time, without hardware issues. Additionally, it helps if you can fit it in your backpack.
Your basic, entry-level laptop computer that will do the job can be had for $300, but for a few hundred more, you can get a quality college laptop with longer battery life, a faster solid-state drive and overall better performance. With the current supply chain issues and chip shortages, you might think it’s hard to get your hands on a decent budget-friendly laptop for school. Luckily, it’s still possible to find laptops and two-in-ones with the latest processors from AMD and Intel. The only PCs you might have to wait for are those featuring the newer powerful 11th-gen Intel Core processors that promise to boost performance in laptops for gamers. There are a few models with those processors on the list below, and more will be available soon.
The majority of our picks for the best laptops for college run between $500 and $1,000. If you’re looking for a more affordable laptop — or if you’re open to an alternative to Apple’s MacOS and Microsoft Windows — we recommend checking out the best Chromebooks for students. On the flip side, if you’re searching for a more powerful laptop for college, or a gaming laptop that doubles as a college laptop, we have some suggestions for those, too. So if you’re ready to upgrade your tech, keep reading for our list of the best laptops for college.
MacBook Air M1
Best MacBook for students
Stephen Shankland/CNET
The newest, fanless Apple MacBook Air with 8GB RAM hits all the right notes for an Apple laptop (or any laptop computer, really). This powerful laptop is back to the old $999 starting price, and if you’re a teacher or student, you can take off an additional $100, thanks to Apple’s educational discount. The base model of this best laptop pick features Apple’s M1 processor with an eight‑core CPU, seven‑core GPU and 16‑core Neural Engine. Stepping up from the baseline MacBook model will bring you an eight-core GPU and double the storage capacity with a 512GB SSD, but you’ll be forking out an additional $250.
Like the previous Mac laptop models, the M1 Air has Apple’s Magic Keyboard, Touch ID, a Force Touch trackpad and a 13.3-inch Retina display. If you’re a college student, it’s hard to go wrong with the new MacBook Air. Read our MacBook Air M1 review.
$999 AT APPLE
$1,000 AT BEST BUY
$900 AT EBAY
Lenovo Yoga 7i
Best all-purpose Windows laptop for students
Sarah Tew/CNET
This thin 3-pound two-in-one with Intel Core is a solid Windows operating system choice for anyone who needs a college laptop for schoolwork. The all-metal chassis gives this Window laptop a premium look and feel, and it has a comfortable keyboard and responsive, smooth precision touchpad. The 14-inch display gives you more room to work than competing 13-inch models at this price. This is less expensive than the Lenovo IdeaPad or the Lenovo ThinkPad. As a two-in-one, you can use it as a laptop or tablet and it supports pen input with Lenovo’s optional Active Pen. Though it’s light on extra features compared with its premium linemate, the Yoga 9i, it does have one of Lenovo’s sliding shutters for the webcam that gives you privacy when you want it and a fingerprint reader for fast sign-ins. It also has a long battery life to boot.
$735 AT LENOVO
$843 AT AMAZON
Acer Chromebook Spin 713
Best Chromebook for students
Josh Goldman/CNET
Tired of trying to work on documents or spreadsheets on a small widescreen display? The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 uses one of Acer’s bright VertiView displays, a 13.5-inch 2,256×1,504-pixel touchscreen with a 3:2 aspect ratio. As the name implies, this Chrome OS laptop gives you more vertical room to work, but it still has the width of a typical 13.3-inch laptop with a 16:9 ratio. Between that and its battery life, which lasted nearly 13 hours in our tests, it’s a great laptop for getting more work done in a day — and it’s still thin and light enough for an everyday carry.
The latest version of this Chromebook is the first to receive Intel’s Evo verification, which means you’ll be getting the best possible mobile experience with this model. It’s also the first with Thunderbolt 4 support, which lets you connect to multiple external displays as well as providing fast data speeds and networking. Read our Acer Chromebook Spin 713 review.
$699 AT BEST BUY
$620 AT AMAZON
Gateway GWTN141
Best laptop for college under $500
Josh Goldman/CNET
Gateway was known for low-cost desktops and laptops in the 1990s. In the year 2020, the brand was revived for a new lineup of laptops and tablets sold exclusively through Walmart. Those models were recently updated with 11th-gen Intel processors and we tested both 15.6- and 14.1-inch models. The latter gets our vote as an inexpensive option for getting school work done while still being light enough to carry around campus for the day. The attention-grabber is the Intel Core i5 processor that provides reliable performance despite being paired with cheaper components. The keyboard is comfortable but not backlit and the touchpad isn’t the most precise. Also, the built-in fingerprint reader is hit-or-miss. Still, it has lots of ports so connecting a mouse or an external display isn’t an issue and the full HD resolution is decent, too, all things considered. Plus, the battery lasted a couple minutes shy of 10 hours on our streaming video test. Note: This laptop is currently unavailable at Walmart.
$499 AT WALMART
$805 AT EBAY
$510 AT AMAZON
Acer Swift 3
Best lightweight laptop for students under $700
Josh Goldman/CNET
A remarkable college laptop deal for simple tasks like email, word processing and much more, thanks to the new AMD Ryzen 5 and Ryzen 7 processors. This budget laptop has a backlit keyboard, a fingerprint reader and a USB Type-C port, too. The Acer Swift 3 is also an incredibly lightweight laptop — less than 3 pounds — for a machine that can be found for less than $700.
In addition to this Acer Swift, we’re also fans of the Acer Aspire 5, which has a larger 15.6-inch display. The Acer Aspire 5 is available in a variety of configurations starting as low as $385 but can go up to $711 if you want entry-level discrete graphics for basic gaming and content creation. Read our Acer Swift 3 (14-inch, 2020) review.
$579 AT BEST BUY
$822 AT EBAY
$650 AT AMAZON
Microsoft Surface Pro 7
Best Windows 2-in-1 for students
Sarah Tew/CNET
The Surface Pro 7, powered by a 10th generation Intel Core processor, remains the standard-bearer for Windows devices that work as both a Surface laptop and touch screen tablet, though this convertible laptop makes for a better tablet than it does for a laptop. (If you’re looking for the opposite in a student laptop, Lenovo’s two-in-one Yoga devices are better laptops than they are tablets.) In addition to the typical great performance and battery life you can expect, the seventh-edition Surface Pro finally gets a USB-C port. This Microsoft Surface laptop has got a super-portable size that makes it an ideal student laptop for high school and college students who may be carrying a lot of gear. Though this company still sells the Surface Pro without its essential Type Cover keyboard and Surface Pen included, it can frequently be found for relatively cheap — sometimes with one or both accessories. Read our Surface Pro 7 review.
$959 AT BEST BUY
$774 AT AMAZON
Dell G15
Best entry-level gaming laptop for students
Lori Grunin/CNET
Dell streamlined its G-series gaming laptops, going from three models down to just one Dell laptop — and it’s all for the best. Instead of having to decode the various feature and quality differences between them, there’s just one chassis available with a variety of configurations starting at $853. All of the processors can be paired with up to a 6GB Nvidia RTX 3060, 8GB or 16GB of memory and up to 1TB of storage. They’re basically a more budget-friendly gaming laptop version of those from its Dell Alienware division, but still capable of playing the latest AAA titles.
$863 AT DELL
$819 AT AMAZON
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45COMMENTS
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Best Cheap Gaming Laptop Under $1,000 for 2022
Good entry-level graphics chips can mean terrific performance for less money.
Joshua Goldman headshot
Joshua Goldman
Feb. 21, 2022 6:00 a.m. PT
Dell G15
Jump to details
$764 AT DELL
Acer Nitro 5
Jump to details
$780 AT BEST BUY
HP Pavilion Gaming 15
Jump to details
$800 AT HP
Lenovo Legion 5/5i
Jump to details
$880 AT LENOVO
Need a good gaming laptop but on a tight budget? No worries, we have got you affordable gaming laptops between $700 and $1,000. These laptops offer decent gaming performance for their value. Good bargains for these laptops tend to disappear quickly due to limited stock as a result of the microchip shortage.
That means that you’re not limited to low-res gaming on these machines and can get an immersive experience playing games like Fortnite, Minecraft, Apex Legends, CS: GO and PUBG. It still costs a pretty penny to get what’s considered an affordable gaming laptop, but frugal gamers can save even more money if they look for the best cheap laptop deals on a refurbished or open-box option from the likes of Best Buy, Amazon, Micro Center and Woot.
Also read: How to Buy a Gaming Laptop
The recommendations below are based on our reviews and testing and aim to help you get your ideal gaming experience on a cheap laptop. And if you want to improve your gaming and work-from-home experience, you may want to look into some inexpensive gaming gear to help you do it. We’ll update this list of the best cheap gaming laptop options as we review new products. Also, if you need help deciphering what specs to look for on a good, cheap gaming laptop, we’ve got some advice below.
Dell G15
Dell
Dell streamlined its G-series gaming laptops, going from three models down to just one — and it’s all for the best. Instead of having to decode the various feature and quality differences between them, there’s just one chassis available with a variety of configurations with an 11th-gen Intel processor or AMD Ryzen 5000 H-series processor. All of the processors can be paired with up to a 6GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060, 8GB DDR4 RAM or 16GB DDR4 RAM and 256GB SSD or 512GB SSD. They’re basically a more budget-friendly version of those from its Alienware division, but still capable of playing the latest AAA titles. Prices have been up and down lately due to supply issues, so if you’re a gamer on a budget you may have to wait to get the best deal. This gaming laptop has eight USB Ports and the laptop is available in two colors.
$764 AT DELL
$949 AT AMAZON
Acer Nitro 5
Sarah Tew/CNET
The Acer Nitro 5 is the best budget gaming laptop that comes in both 17.3- and 15.6-inch sizes. A 17-inch cheap gaming laptop is a rarity with entry-level gaming laptops; most sub-$1,000 gaming laptops have 15.6-inch displays, and the Acer’s larger screen lets the gamer sink in and get lost in the chosen gaming world. Unfortunately, the larger screens are currently just above $1,000 at the moment. This laptop comes with an 11th Gen Intel Core processor with 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD.
On the other hand, you can get this budget gaming laptop Nitro 5 with a 15.6-inch display for as low as $750 (currently unavailable), including an Intel Core i5-11400H processor, Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 graphics powered by Nvidia GPU architecture, and an FHD 144Hz refresh rate display. At this level, you’ll be able to play current games at FHD resolution with the graphics settings at medium to high, depending on the game you’re playing, of course. Still, Acer makes an affordable gaming laptop that packs in some nice extras like direct controls for power and cooling and upgrades access to memory and storage.
$780 AT BEST BUY
$701 AT AMAZON
HP Pavilion Gaming 15
Sarah Tew/CNET
It’s the bright screamin’-green backlit keyboard that really gives away that HP’s 15.6-inch Pavilion Gaming laptop isn’t just a normal midsize notebook. Sure, there are some pretty large rear fan vents, but otherwise the chassis is fairly tame and all black except for a slight green tint to the HP logo on the lid. Inside the gaming notebook is an excellent mix of components that are good for gaming as well as work. You can find ready-to-ship options at Walmart and Amazon, or configure your own at HP.com; however, the current shipping wait time is about a month. Read our HP Pavilion Gaming 15 review.
$800 AT HP
$746 AT AMAZON
Lenovo Legion 5/5i
Lenovo
The Legion 5 is an updated version of the Y540, which was one of our favorite gaming laptops for its design and best gaming laptop value. There are a few changes to this gaming machine’s design, but mostly it’s what’s inside that’s changed, including a choice between AMD (Legion 5) and Intel (Legion 5i) processors. Prices still start at just under $1,000 for the AMD models but if you can spend closer to $1,580, you’ll get more for your money. If you are a gamer who needs to keep costs down, the company’s budget gaming IdeaPad Gaming 3 laptop starts down around $699.
$880 AT LENOVO
$920 AT AMAZON
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Are budget gaming laptops worth it?
You can find a good budget gaming laptop but they certainly have performance limitations compared to more expensive laptops. The components necessary for an enjoyable PC gaming experience are expensive, which means even entry-level gaming laptops are still typically between $700 to $1,000. Also, because these models use lower-end components, the gaming performance they’ll have on today’s demanding AAA games might not hold up for future titles.
Budget gaming laptops are worth considering if you typically play older games or games that aren’t graphically demanding or you’re OK playing at reduced graphics quality to maintain fast frame rates. They’re also a suitable option if you’re looking for a laptop for work or school, but with enough graphics power for casual gaming during your downtime.
What should I look for in a cheap gaming laptop?
For the best gaming experience with a budget gaming laptop, you want to make sure you get the most graphics power affordable from the start since this can’t be upgraded later, unlike memory or storage.
A cheap gaming laptop with an entry-level Nvidia GTX 1650 normally starts around $700, though the current chip shortage has prices up and supplies low. That chip gives you enough graphics performance to play the newest demanding games at medium settings. Spending between $800 and $1,000 (or perhaps a little more) will get you a laptop with a GTX 1650 Ti, a 1660 Ti or even a 3050 Ti for a better gaming experience.
If you’re on a strict budget, again, go with an Nvidia GTX 1650 graphics chip. If you can afford to spend closer to $1,000, you’ll be better off in the long run as you’ll be able to play more demanding games now and later.
What other components should I look for in a cheap gaming laptop?
With the CPU, memory and storage, your choices are a little more flexible for a budget gaming laptop, especially the latter two. Because many games such as first-person shooters rely more on the graphics chip than the CPU, you don’t necessarily need the fastest available. Going with a more midrange CPU like an Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 is a safe bet.
Also, gaming laptops, especially cheaper ones, let you easily expand or upgrade your memory and storage. If you’re going to skimp, this is the best place to do it with the expectation you’ll upgrade eventually and put your cash into the GPU and CPU instead.
Beyond the graphics chip, look for:
A 10th- or 11th-gen Intel Core i5 or i7, or AMD Ryzen 4000 or 5000 series processor.
At least 8GB of memory (aka RAM) and the capability to add more post-purchase.
At least a 512GB solid-state drive or a combo of 256GB SSD storage and a larger hard drive.
Do budget gaming laptops have good displays?
Most of your money is going toward components, so the other parts — the display, keyboard and trackpad and build quality — are going to be OK, but not fantastic. This is why I lean toward models like the Dell G15, which has its power input and other ports on the rear for a cleaner setup when connected to external peripherals. It also has a decent battery life, which is something that typically falls by the wayside on cheap gaming laptops.
That said, display quality has improved on entry-level gaming laptops in the past couple of years, particularly when it comes to refresh rates. It’s now common to find 120Hz or 144Hz displays offered, which will make fast movement in your games look smoother and give you a more responsive experience. It’s not worth paying extra for, though, unless the GPU is capable of faster frame rates for your games, too.
SEE ALSO
Best gaming laptops for 2022
Best cheap gaming laptop under $1,000 to get in 2022
Best gaming desktops for 2022
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Best Laptop Under $500 for 2022
Here are the best budget-friendly laptops you can buy from Lenovo, Acer and others under $500.
Joshua Goldman headshot
Lori Grunin headshot
Joshua Goldman, Lori Grunin
Feb. 22, 2022 10:00 a.m. PT
99+
Gateway GWTN141
Windows
Jump to details
$499 AT WALMART
Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3
Chrome OS
Jump to details
$230 AT STAPLES
Acer Aspire 5
Windows
Jump to details
$408 AT AMAZON
Lenovo IdeaPad Chromebook Flex 5 2-in-1
Chrome OS
Jump to details
$372 AT AMAZON
Asus VivoBook 15
Windows
Jump to details
$440 AT AMAZON
Show more (1 item)
In the market for a budget laptop? It might be for your kid who’s studying or maybe you want it to play games or to have an extra device for work. With Chrome OS laptops (better known as Chromebooks), the “spend more to get more” mantra doesn’t hold true anymore, since you can get everything you need on a machine that’s less than $500 these days. If you’re considering buying one, here are the best budget laptops you can buy right now.
If you’re not entirely sure what to look for in a good budget laptop — other than price — jump to our buying advice, right below our recommendations. This advice is based on our years of testing and review experience to figure out what to expect from a laptop priced under $500. It’ll also let you know what to look for if you want to continue your budget laptop hunt on your own.
Use these picks to sort through the competition. Because there are a lot of cheap laptops that aren’t worth it, try not to make any rash decisions when buying.
Gateway GWTN141
Windows
Josh Goldman/CNET
Gateway was best known for low-cost desktops and laptops back in the ’90s. In 2020, the brand was revived for a new lineup of laptops and tablets sold exclusively through Walmart. Those models were recently updated with 11th-gen Intel processors and we tested both 15.6- and 14.1-inch models. The latter gets our vote as an inexpensive option for getting school work done while still being light enough to carry around campus for the day.
The attention-grabber is the Intel Core i5 processor that provides reliable performance, despite being paired with cheaper components. The keyboard is comfortable, but not backlit, and the touchpad isn’t the most precise. Also, the built-in fingerprint reader is hit-or-miss. Still, it has lots of ports so connecting a mouse or an external display isn’t an issue and the full-HD display is decent too, all things considered. Plus, the battery lasted a couple minutes shy of 10 hours on our streaming video test.
$499 AT WALMART
Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3
Chrome OS
Sarah Tew/CNET
This Lenovo Chromebook Duet (now called the Duet 3) is essentially a Chrome version of the first Microsoft Surface Go. Like the Go, the Lenovo Chromebook Duet is a 10-inch tablet with a detachable keyboard and touchpad– making it a compact touch screen laptop. Unlike Microsoft, though, Lenovo includes the keyboard. This Lenovo laptop also costs much less than the Microsoft Surface Go (including the Microsoft Surface Go 2), starting at $249 list for a 64GB version or $299 for one with 128GB of storage. The Lenovo Duet is essentially a smaller, albeit less powerful, Pixel Slate that makes more sense for more people with a cheap laptop price that’s more in line with what people expect a Chromebook to cost.
The Chromebook Duet screen is small, however, so if you’re regularly using it at a desk, we recommend attaching an external monitor to its USB-C port. You’ll probably want to connect a wireless keyboard and mouse, too.
$230 AT STAPLES
$255 AT LENOVO
$299 AT AMAZON
Acer Aspire 5
Windows
Sarah Tew/CNET
The Acer Aspire 5 15-inch clamshell continues to be one of the best laptop deals available. This sub-4-pound Windows laptop includes an AMD Ryzen 3 3350U processor, 4GB of memory and a speedy 128GB SSD. This budget laptop also features a USB 3.2 Gen 1 USB-C port, two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports, Ethernet and an HDMI port.
The Acer Aspire even has a backlit keyboard and fingerprint reader for quick sign-ins — rarities at this price. The 4GB RAM and 128GB solid-state drive storage don’t allow you to have many programs or lots of browser tabs open simultaneously but you can add more of both down the road.
$408 AT AMAZON
Lenovo IdeaPad Chromebook Flex 5 2-in-1
Chrome OS
Josh Goldman/CNET
This Lenovo laptop is somewhat small, with a 13-inch, full HD display, but this Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 delivers convertible laptop convenience as well as excellent performance and battery life for the money, thanks to an Intel Core i3-10110U processor, 4GB of memory and 64GB of SSD storage. The Lenovo Flex is not a great choice for outdoor use, since the display is pretty dim. There’s also an 8GB model with a 128GB SSD that comes in at just under $500. Read our Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 review.
$372 AT AMAZON
$366 AT WALMART
$559 AT EBAY
Asus VivoBook 15
Windows
Asus
Amazon currently offers an older Core i3 8GB model for about $400, a reasonable price for a Windows laptop with an Intel Core processor. You’ll also see listings with 4GB RAM, but that’s way too little memory for Windows, which barely gets by on 8GB. Don’t confuse it with the thinner, lighter, more expensive Asus VivoBook S15.
$440 AT AMAZON
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 2-in-1 laptop
Windows
Lenovo
The Windows version of the Flex two-in-one has the beefed up specs (at least over a Chromebook) necessary to run Windows, though probably not very fast — the dual-core Intel Core i3 processor and 4GB of RAM are the reasons the price is low. But it has a bigger full HD screen than the Chromebook model.
$429 AT WALMART
Are laptops under $500 any good?
As a rule of thumb, resist buying out of desperation — don’t spend $500 because you can’t find a cheaper laptop deal available, for example. Buying a need-it-now laptop can be like shopping for food while hungry. Even for a laptop, $500 can be a lot of money, and you’ll likely be holding onto it for at least three years, if the statistics Intel and PC manufacturers hurl at us are correct.
You can also try to make your current laptop last a little longer. If you need something to tide you over for a few months, dig into possible places to buy refurbished machines and explore nonprofit or educational discounts if you’re eligible. Also, if there’s something you really want in a laptop, like a touchscreen, a backlit keyboard, DDR4 RAM, an HD webcam, Intel UHD Graphics, AMD Radeon Vega Graphics or an HDMI port, check the manufacturer’s specs closely to make sure it has it. You’ll regret it if you don’t.
If you suspect you’ll be holding onto your new laptop for a while, see if you can stretch your budget to buy a slightly more expensive laptop to accommodate more than 8GB of RAM or a processor with more cores than you were otherwise considering. If you haven’t thought about it, look at AMD Ryzen processors as alternatives to Intel Core for Windows laptops or alternatives to Intel Celeron and Pentium for Chromebooks.
Even better, if you’re comfortable with it, think about an affordable laptop with a replaceable battery (if you can find one), upgradable memory, graphics card and storage, or all of the above. Furthermore, while you might be working remotely now, you won’t be stuck at home forever. Remember to consider whether having a lighter, thinner laptop or a touchscreen laptop with a good battery life will be important to you in the future.
Read more: Best monitors under $200 you can get right now
You can always add an external drive or two (or five, if you’re me) at some point down the road. But if your internal storage is the type of slow-spinning hard drive that comes in a lot of cheap laptop models, fast external storage is unlikely to help speed up loading Windows or applications. You can frequently set a system to boot from an external solid-state drive if necessary.
You may see references to Intel Optane in conjunction with slow (5,400rpm) spinning hard drives; Optane is fast solid-state memory that acts as a temporary storage space for frequently accessed files on the hard drive to speed things up. It helps, but not as much as an SSD drive.
And finally, if you’re replacing an old Windows laptop that’s not up to running Windows anymore, consider turning it into a Chromebook.
Watch this: Here’s why a Chromebook might be all the laptop you need
5:26
What are the trade-offs on laptops under $500?
As long as you manage your expectations when it comes to options and specs, you can still get quite a bit from a budget laptop model, including good battery life and a reasonably lightweight laptop body.
A bright spot is you don’t have to settle for a traditional clamshell laptop with a fixed display and keyboard. You can also get a convertible laptop (aka a two-in-one), which has a screen that flips around to turn the screen into a tablet, to position it for comfortable streaming or to do a presentation. Keep in mind that all convertibles work as both laptops and tablets. A touchscreen is a prerequisite for tablet operation, and many support styluses (aka pens) for handwritten and sketched input. Don’t assume a stylus is included, though.
One thing you won’t find at these cheap laptop prices: a MacBook or any other Apple laptop. An iPad will run you more than $500 once you buy the optional keyboard (though it might work out to less if you look for sales on the tablet or keyboard), which is above our budget here. A base-model iPad with an inexpensive Bluetooth keyboard and cheap stand for the iPad might suffice.
You’ll see a lot of cheap laptops listed as coming with Windows 10 S, a stripped-down and locked-down version of the operating system intended for use by schools — it only allows you to install applications from the Windows Store, forces you to use Microsoft’s Edge browser and includes a subset of the administrative tools in Windows 10 Pro. You can upgrade to the full version for free, though.
It doesn’t feel like there’s much to make the new Windows 11 a must-have upgrade, but if it’s going to be important to you for some reason, be careful about checking that the laptop will meet the requirements. These inexpensive models can be especially at risk of not making the cut.
It’s easier to find inexpensive Chromebooks than Windows laptops, making them one of the most popular budget laptops on the market, though we’re also seeing a lot more Chromebooks in the $500-to-$1,000 range. That’s because Google’s Chrome OS isn’t nearly as power-hungry as Windows (check the specs), so you can get by with a lower-end processor, slower storage and less screen resolution or RAM — just a few of the components that make a laptop expensive.
But the flip side is Chrome and Google apps are more of a memory hog than you’d expect, and if you go too low with the processor or skimp on memory, the system will still feel slow. Chrome OS is also a much different experience than Windows; make sure the applications you need have a Chrome app, Android app or Linux app before making the leap.
Since Chromebooks are cloud-first devices, however, you don’t need a lot of storage built-in. That also means if you spend most of your time roaming the web, writing, streaming video or playing Android games, they’re a good fit. If you hope to play Android games, make sure you get a touchscreen Chromebook.
For a cheap gaming laptop, though, you’ll still have to break the $500 ceiling to support most games. The least expensive budget laptops suitable for a solid gaming performance experience — those with moderately powerful discrete graphics processors — will run you closer to $700. Here are our recommendations if you’re looking for the best gaming laptop under $1,000.
Although, if you like to live on the bleeding edge, cloud gaming services such as Google Stadia and Microsoft Xbox Game Pass Ultimate’s Game Streaming will let you play games on laptops with specs that hit the under-$500 mark.
What to look for in laptops under $500
While Chromebooks can run Chrome OS-specific and Android apps, some people need the full Windows OS to run heftier applications, such as video-editing suites. If you want a good video editing laptop, the HP Chromebook with Intel Celeron processors provides 5.4 times high-resolution video editing than the basic HP laptop. With that comes a need for a faster processor with more cores, more memory — 8GB RAM is the bare minimum — and more storage for applications and the operating system itself. A lot of these have 4GB or 6GB, which, in conjunction with a spinning hard disk, can make for a frustratingly slow Windows laptop experience. But demands on Chromebooks are growing, so if your Chrome needs to run beyond the basics you should think about paying more for more memory and a faster processor.
A lot of Windows laptops in this range use AMD Athlon and lower-end A series or Intel Celeron and Pentium processors to hit the lower price. I don’t really recommend going with an Athlon instead of a Ryzen or a Celeron/Pentium instead of a Core: Windows is too heavy for them, and in conjunction with the 4GB memory a lot of them have, you may find them abysmally slow at best.
Because of their low prices, 11.6-inch Chromebooks are attractive. Samsung Chromebook has a fantastic screen and nearly 10 hours of battery life. But we don’t recommend that size for any but the youngest students. And if you’re both going to be looking at the screen frequently for remote learning, 11 inches can get really cramped.
SSDs can make a big difference in how fast Windows performance feels compared with a spinning hard disk, but they also push the price up. So if your budget can stretch a little and you want more storage, you may want to consider stepping up from base storage options to a 128GB SSD.
In the budget price range, you have to watch out for screen terminology when it comes to specs: An “HD” screen may not always be a truly high-definition screen. HD, which has a resolution of 1,920×1,080 pixels, is called “Full HD” so marketers can refer to lesser-resolution displays (1,280×720 pixels) as HD. In Chromebooks, HD usually refers to a screen with a resolution of 1,366×768 pixels. On the upside, the boom in 14-inch laptops trickles down to this price range, which allows for more FHD options in the size.
A frequent complaint I see is about “washed-out” looking displays with poor viewing angles. Unfortunately, that’s one of the trade-offs: A lot of these use TN (twisted nematic) screen technology, which is cheap but meh.
Pay attention to networking. Inexpensive models with older chipsets may only support Wi-Fi 3 (or 802.11b/g/n). Wi-Fi 3 is limited to 2.4GHz channels; those are slower than more recent chipsets with Wi-Fi 4 (aka 802.11ac) that add a 5GHz channel as well. I haven’t seen any laptops in this price range with Wi-Fi 6, the newest version; chances are you won’t have any Wi-Fi 6 access points to connect to, though, so you likely won’t miss it now. The specifications aren’t always correct on the shopping sites, so if you see a model that doesn’t seem to have Wi-Fi 4, double-check on the manufacturer’s site before ruling it out. Remember, Chromebooks are designed to work predominantly over the internet, so Wi-Fi speed and stability are crucial.
Considering all specs and options — battery life, storage space, screen resolution, screen size, core processor performance, general machine and battery performance — you’ll find some of our top picks for 2022’s best Windows laptops and Chromebooks under the $500 budget in the list above, along with their pros and cons.
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