\n<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re a student looking for an affordable laptop, I have bad news and I have good news. The bad news is that computer prices are out of whack due to the ongoing RAM and storage crunch<\/a>, making some a little pricier than they used to be<\/a> and others wildly more expensive<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nThe good news? Despite that, there are still many great options, including the selection we\u2019ve tested and highlighted below.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nBefore you go for the cheapest option you can still find, consider biting the bullet on a more powerful laptop, especially if you\u2019re buying for a college student. Prices are likely to continue rising well into next year<\/a> \u2014 especially since all the memory being made through 2027 is already allocated<\/a>. You can get a mostly tolerable laptop for under $500 and a good one for around $700, but spending more to get something like a MacBook Air gets you better build quality and enough performance headroom to last through four years of college and well beyond. (Many Verge<\/em> writers and editors are still using M1 MacBook Airs from 2020). But even the modest options below (new or refurbished) should easily be good for more than a few years. The key is to avoid something that feels slow or janky on day one, if you can. It\u2019ll only get worse from there.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nIf your school or curriculum recommends certain laptops or minimum specs, then you already know what to aim for. If not, our rule of thumb is to go with a Mac running Apple silicon or a Windows laptop running Intel or AMD chips released in the last few years. (For Windows machines, don\u2019t go any older than 2022 or 2023 \u2014 Intel\u2019s 13th-gen \u201cRaptor Lake\u201d or AMD\u2019s Ryzen 7000 series.) Snapdragon X chips are also great options unless you\u2019re a college student who needs to run specialized software not compatible with Windows on Arm (or if you want to play games).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nBut try to get 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage or more if you can \u2014 especially for college students. Eight GB of RAM is workable on macOS with the MacBook Neo, but Windows laptops struggle a bit with it. And for the most budget-conscious or anyone shopping for younger kids, a quality Chromebook is still great.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$599<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nImpressive performance for the price<\/li>\nPerfect for a middle school or high school student<\/li>\nThe best mechanical trackpad around<\/li>\nSolid speakers and screen<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nSmall limitations: 8GB of RAM, slow storage, no keyboard backlighting, and only 20W charging with the included charger<\/li>\nWish it weighed a little less, and its colors were more vibrant<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nThe MacBook Neo is the easy pick for students from middle school to high school who need a laptop. There\u2019s still no beating its balance of build quality and good-enough performance at this price. Students and teachers can get it starting at $599<\/a>, and Apple offers refurbished models for $599<\/a> for the rest of us as well. If you can justify spending an additional $100, it\u2019s worth getting the model with twice the storage and a Touch ID fingerprint sensor, which makes logging in and entering passwords much less of a hassle.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nThe A18 Pro chip is powerful enough for most high school students (and adults), and everything from its trackpad to its speakers and screen range from good to great, which is not the case for Windows laptops in this price range. Its only shortcoming by comparison is having just two USB-C ports. The 8GB of RAM and 256GB of base storage mean a student eventually pushes the limits of what this laptop can do sooner than a more powerful MacBook Air, but the Neo is still significantly cheaper.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\nRead our review of the MacBook Neo<\/a>.<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nThe best laptop for college<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$1299<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nStill one of the best laptops around<\/li>\nFaster processor and twice as much RAM as the Neo<\/li>\nStarts with more (and much faster) storage<\/li>\nGreat battery life and speakers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nStarting price is higher than M4 generation (though you get more storage for it)<\/li>\nThe MacBook Neo now exists and costs much less<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Neo is the best cheap laptop, but the MacBook Air is still the best laptop for most people, and the standard recommendation for college students. Every part of it is a step up from the Neo: It has a much more powerful processor, and it starts with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of much faster storage. And few laptops can match the Air\u2019s overall build quality. It also means spending $1,299 (or $1,199 for students<\/a>) on a 13-inch model, or $1,499 for the 15-inch. It\u2019s a shame the Air no longer starts at $999 like it did just last year, but it\u2019s still worth springing for if you\u2019re buying for the long term.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Airs have been so good for so many years now, you don\u2019t miss out on much by buying a refurbished model if it\u2019s substantially cheaper. Keep an eye on Apple\u2019s refurb store<\/a>, and retailers like Best Buy sometimes have great deals<\/a> too.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\nRead our review of the latest MacBook Air<\/a>.<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nA Windows laptop nearly as nice as a MacBook Air<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$700<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nAsus\u2019s Zenbook A14 is a bit of a MacBook Air wannabe, but it\u2019s a compelling alternative if you value a superlight Windows laptop with long battery life. The 2025 model sports an Arm-based Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus chip, a nice 14-inch OLED display, and a sleek textured beige finish.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nRead More<\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nAsus Zenbooks are some of the sleeker, better-looking Windows laptops, and the Zenbook A14 is Asus\u2019 wannabe MacBook Air. It has a good Snapdragon X Plus chip, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and a lovely OLED display in an ultra-light chassis (it\u2019s just 2.4 pounds \/ 1.09kg), all for $1,000 or as low as $700 on sale<\/a>. It even has a solid port selection, with one USB-A, two speedy USB4, and HDMI 2.1. I really enjoyed the larger Zenbook A16 version<\/a> when I reviewed it, but the A14 is even lighter and significantly cheaper. Like its larger sibling, the A14 is coated in Asus\u2019 Ceraluminum finish that gives it a nice textured feel and unique look. (It\u2019s a beige laptop!)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nA cheap laptop with a great processor<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$520<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nA great, well-rounded processor in a cheap laptop (if you get it on sale)<\/li>\nLots of ports, including Thunderbolt 4<\/li>\nVery good battery life<\/li>\nCan lightly game on ultra-low settings<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nWashed out screen with noticeable light bleed<\/li>\nBad speakers<\/li>\nPoor build quality<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nAcer\u2019s Aspire 14 AI didn\u2019t impress me with its screen, speakers, or build quality when I tested it against the Neo<\/a>, but for $500 or $600<\/a> on sale, which it often is, it\u2019s hard to beat. It has a solid Intel Lunar Lake processor, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and a bunch of speedy ports. Getting two USB-A, two Thunderbolt 4, and HDMI 2.1 on a $600 laptop? Hell yeah.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nA Lunar Lake chip means you get great battery life, and you can even do some light gaming. Its screen isn\u2019t pretty and everything creaks, but with the money you save you can overcome some of its shortcomings with a mouse and monitor. Just keep in mind that the appeal of this laptop is what you\u2019re getting for the price. If the deal winds change and Aspire 14 AIs are selling for $700 or more, consider something else.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\nRead our review of the Acer Aspire 14 AI.<\/a><\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nA formidable 16-incher for about $500<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$517<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nAn affordable laptop with a large 16-inch display, plenty of ports, and excellent battery life thanks to a Qualcomm Snapdragon X processor.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nRead More<\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nI\u2019m still testing the HP OmniBook 3 for a full review, but I\u2019ve used it enough and I like it enough at around $500<\/a> to give it a nod. Its speakers and screen are not good quality, but they\u2019re slightly better than the Acer Aspire above \u2014 just don\u2019t look too close, or you\u2019ll notice that its 1920 x 1200 resolution isn\u2019t very sharp at this scale. At 16 inches you\u2019re getting a big screen for cheap, but this laptop doesn\u2019t feel <\/em>large, as it weighs only 3.65 pounds \/ 1.66kg and is about 0.63 inches \/ 16mm thick (at its hinge, where it\u2019s slightly thicker). And its sizable battery and efficient Snapdragon X chip allow it to last long on a charge. Plus, it\u2019s got an ample-sized numpad for you numbers people.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nConsider a refurbished ThinkPad<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$592<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nLenovo ThinkPads are workhorse enterprise laptops, making older refurbished models a great pickup on the cheap. The T14 Gen 4 from 2023 came with Intel Raptor Lake chips, a 14-inch 1920 x 1200 IPS display, and plenty of ports \u2014 among them, Thunderbolt 4.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nRead More<\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nThinkPads are awesome. They have great keyboards and trackpads, sturdy builds, lots of ports, and even a TrackPoint. They\u2019re typically very expensive when bought new, and they have a reputation for lasting a long time. They\u2019re Lenovo\u2019s business line, so there\u2019s a constant stream of used ThinkPads entering the secondhand market when companies refresh their fleets. That makes them a great candidate for buying refurbished or used. Lenovo sells many refurb units directly<\/a>, so you know you should be getting something in good shape. Many of them are still expensive, but this ThinkPad T14<\/a> is an attractive example, offering a 13th-gen Intel chip, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage for around $700. Or for a bit more you can get this ThinkPad L14 Gen 5<\/a> with a newer Intel Meteor Lake chip for around $1,000.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nAnd for the more adventurous folks out there, you can pick up an even older ThinkPad on the cheap and install Linux to give it new life<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nOur go-to pick for a cheap Chromebook<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$300<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nExcellent look and build<\/li>\nSharp 1080p display<\/li>\n1080p webcam with AI features and physical shutter<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nNo touchscreen option<\/li>\nStiff touchpad<\/li>\nBattery life could be a bit <\/em>better<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nA Chromebook is good for web browsing, doing homework, and nailing the basics of browser-first computer use \u2014 when done well. The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is a mainstay of The Verge<\/em>\u2019s laptop recommendations, despite being a few years old. It\u2019s very affordable at just $350<\/a>, and even with its 12th-gen Intel chip and 8GB of RAM it\u2019s more than serviceable for ChromeOS. Google\u2019s new Googlebooks<\/a> are coming in the fall, but some early<\/a> leaks<\/a> are pointing at those potentially being pricier laptops (making me wonder what exactly their appeal will be<\/a>).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nA great convertible Chromebook<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$599<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nExcellent battery life<\/li>\nSpeedy performance<\/li>\nStylus support<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nCrummy, muffled-sounding speakers<\/li>\nNo biometric login<\/li>\nFeels slightly pricey at $700 when a Lenovo with OLED and more RAM is just $50 more<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nIf you can afford a slightly pricier, newer, and better Chromebook than the Asus, check out the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514. Its full price of $749<\/a> is a bit much, but when discounted to $600 like it is at the time of this writing it can be worth it. The Arm-based MediaTek Kompanio Ultra in this Chromebook paired with 12GB of RAM gives it very good performance and excellent battery life. And since it\u2019s a convertible, it\u2019s also great to use with an optional stylus for note-taking, drawing, and sketching.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\nRead our review of the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514<\/a>.<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nFollow topics and authors<\/strong> from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/svg><\/span>Antonio G. Di Benedetto<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
The good news? Despite that, there are still many great options, including the selection we\u2019ve tested and highlighted below.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Before you go for the cheapest option you can still find, consider biting the bullet on a more powerful laptop, especially if you\u2019re buying for a college student. Prices are likely to continue rising well into next year<\/a> \u2014 especially since all the memory being made through 2027 is already allocated<\/a>. You can get a mostly tolerable laptop for under $500 and a good one for around $700, but spending more to get something like a MacBook Air gets you better build quality and enough performance headroom to last through four years of college and well beyond. (Many Verge<\/em> writers and editors are still using M1 MacBook Airs from 2020). But even the modest options below (new or refurbished) should easily be good for more than a few years. The key is to avoid something that feels slow or janky on day one, if you can. It\u2019ll only get worse from there.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nIf your school or curriculum recommends certain laptops or minimum specs, then you already know what to aim for. If not, our rule of thumb is to go with a Mac running Apple silicon or a Windows laptop running Intel or AMD chips released in the last few years. (For Windows machines, don\u2019t go any older than 2022 or 2023 \u2014 Intel\u2019s 13th-gen \u201cRaptor Lake\u201d or AMD\u2019s Ryzen 7000 series.) Snapdragon X chips are also great options unless you\u2019re a college student who needs to run specialized software not compatible with Windows on Arm (or if you want to play games).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nBut try to get 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage or more if you can \u2014 especially for college students. Eight GB of RAM is workable on macOS with the MacBook Neo, but Windows laptops struggle a bit with it. And for the most budget-conscious or anyone shopping for younger kids, a quality Chromebook is still great.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$599<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nImpressive performance for the price<\/li>\nPerfect for a middle school or high school student<\/li>\nThe best mechanical trackpad around<\/li>\nSolid speakers and screen<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nSmall limitations: 8GB of RAM, slow storage, no keyboard backlighting, and only 20W charging with the included charger<\/li>\nWish it weighed a little less, and its colors were more vibrant<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nThe MacBook Neo is the easy pick for students from middle school to high school who need a laptop. There\u2019s still no beating its balance of build quality and good-enough performance at this price. Students and teachers can get it starting at $599<\/a>, and Apple offers refurbished models for $599<\/a> for the rest of us as well. If you can justify spending an additional $100, it\u2019s worth getting the model with twice the storage and a Touch ID fingerprint sensor, which makes logging in and entering passwords much less of a hassle.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nThe A18 Pro chip is powerful enough for most high school students (and adults), and everything from its trackpad to its speakers and screen range from good to great, which is not the case for Windows laptops in this price range. Its only shortcoming by comparison is having just two USB-C ports. The 8GB of RAM and 256GB of base storage mean a student eventually pushes the limits of what this laptop can do sooner than a more powerful MacBook Air, but the Neo is still significantly cheaper.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\nRead our review of the MacBook Neo<\/a>.<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nThe best laptop for college<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$1299<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nStill one of the best laptops around<\/li>\nFaster processor and twice as much RAM as the Neo<\/li>\nStarts with more (and much faster) storage<\/li>\nGreat battery life and speakers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nStarting price is higher than M4 generation (though you get more storage for it)<\/li>\nThe MacBook Neo now exists and costs much less<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Neo is the best cheap laptop, but the MacBook Air is still the best laptop for most people, and the standard recommendation for college students. Every part of it is a step up from the Neo: It has a much more powerful processor, and it starts with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of much faster storage. And few laptops can match the Air\u2019s overall build quality. It also means spending $1,299 (or $1,199 for students<\/a>) on a 13-inch model, or $1,499 for the 15-inch. It\u2019s a shame the Air no longer starts at $999 like it did just last year, but it\u2019s still worth springing for if you\u2019re buying for the long term.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Airs have been so good for so many years now, you don\u2019t miss out on much by buying a refurbished model if it\u2019s substantially cheaper. Keep an eye on Apple\u2019s refurb store<\/a>, and retailers like Best Buy sometimes have great deals<\/a> too.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\nRead our review of the latest MacBook Air<\/a>.<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nA Windows laptop nearly as nice as a MacBook Air<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$700<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nAsus\u2019s Zenbook A14 is a bit of a MacBook Air wannabe, but it\u2019s a compelling alternative if you value a superlight Windows laptop with long battery life. The 2025 model sports an Arm-based Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus chip, a nice 14-inch OLED display, and a sleek textured beige finish.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nRead More<\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nAsus Zenbooks are some of the sleeker, better-looking Windows laptops, and the Zenbook A14 is Asus\u2019 wannabe MacBook Air. It has a good Snapdragon X Plus chip, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and a lovely OLED display in an ultra-light chassis (it\u2019s just 2.4 pounds \/ 1.09kg), all for $1,000 or as low as $700 on sale<\/a>. It even has a solid port selection, with one USB-A, two speedy USB4, and HDMI 2.1. I really enjoyed the larger Zenbook A16 version<\/a> when I reviewed it, but the A14 is even lighter and significantly cheaper. Like its larger sibling, the A14 is coated in Asus\u2019 Ceraluminum finish that gives it a nice textured feel and unique look. (It\u2019s a beige laptop!)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nA cheap laptop with a great processor<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$520<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nA great, well-rounded processor in a cheap laptop (if you get it on sale)<\/li>\nLots of ports, including Thunderbolt 4<\/li>\nVery good battery life<\/li>\nCan lightly game on ultra-low settings<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nWashed out screen with noticeable light bleed<\/li>\nBad speakers<\/li>\nPoor build quality<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nAcer\u2019s Aspire 14 AI didn\u2019t impress me with its screen, speakers, or build quality when I tested it against the Neo<\/a>, but for $500 or $600<\/a> on sale, which it often is, it\u2019s hard to beat. It has a solid Intel Lunar Lake processor, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and a bunch of speedy ports. Getting two USB-A, two Thunderbolt 4, and HDMI 2.1 on a $600 laptop? Hell yeah.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nA Lunar Lake chip means you get great battery life, and you can even do some light gaming. Its screen isn\u2019t pretty and everything creaks, but with the money you save you can overcome some of its shortcomings with a mouse and monitor. Just keep in mind that the appeal of this laptop is what you\u2019re getting for the price. If the deal winds change and Aspire 14 AIs are selling for $700 or more, consider something else.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\nRead our review of the Acer Aspire 14 AI.<\/a><\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nA formidable 16-incher for about $500<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$517<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nAn affordable laptop with a large 16-inch display, plenty of ports, and excellent battery life thanks to a Qualcomm Snapdragon X processor.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nRead More<\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nI\u2019m still testing the HP OmniBook 3 for a full review, but I\u2019ve used it enough and I like it enough at around $500<\/a> to give it a nod. Its speakers and screen are not good quality, but they\u2019re slightly better than the Acer Aspire above \u2014 just don\u2019t look too close, or you\u2019ll notice that its 1920 x 1200 resolution isn\u2019t very sharp at this scale. At 16 inches you\u2019re getting a big screen for cheap, but this laptop doesn\u2019t feel <\/em>large, as it weighs only 3.65 pounds \/ 1.66kg and is about 0.63 inches \/ 16mm thick (at its hinge, where it\u2019s slightly thicker). And its sizable battery and efficient Snapdragon X chip allow it to last long on a charge. Plus, it\u2019s got an ample-sized numpad for you numbers people.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nConsider a refurbished ThinkPad<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$592<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nLenovo ThinkPads are workhorse enterprise laptops, making older refurbished models a great pickup on the cheap. The T14 Gen 4 from 2023 came with Intel Raptor Lake chips, a 14-inch 1920 x 1200 IPS display, and plenty of ports \u2014 among them, Thunderbolt 4.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nRead More<\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nThinkPads are awesome. They have great keyboards and trackpads, sturdy builds, lots of ports, and even a TrackPoint. They\u2019re typically very expensive when bought new, and they have a reputation for lasting a long time. They\u2019re Lenovo\u2019s business line, so there\u2019s a constant stream of used ThinkPads entering the secondhand market when companies refresh their fleets. That makes them a great candidate for buying refurbished or used. Lenovo sells many refurb units directly<\/a>, so you know you should be getting something in good shape. Many of them are still expensive, but this ThinkPad T14<\/a> is an attractive example, offering a 13th-gen Intel chip, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage for around $700. Or for a bit more you can get this ThinkPad L14 Gen 5<\/a> with a newer Intel Meteor Lake chip for around $1,000.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nAnd for the more adventurous folks out there, you can pick up an even older ThinkPad on the cheap and install Linux to give it new life<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nOur go-to pick for a cheap Chromebook<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$300<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nExcellent look and build<\/li>\nSharp 1080p display<\/li>\n1080p webcam with AI features and physical shutter<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nNo touchscreen option<\/li>\nStiff touchpad<\/li>\nBattery life could be a bit <\/em>better<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nA Chromebook is good for web browsing, doing homework, and nailing the basics of browser-first computer use \u2014 when done well. The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is a mainstay of The Verge<\/em>\u2019s laptop recommendations, despite being a few years old. It\u2019s very affordable at just $350<\/a>, and even with its 12th-gen Intel chip and 8GB of RAM it\u2019s more than serviceable for ChromeOS. Google\u2019s new Googlebooks<\/a> are coming in the fall, but some early<\/a> leaks<\/a> are pointing at those potentially being pricier laptops (making me wonder what exactly their appeal will be<\/a>).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nA great convertible Chromebook<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$599<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nExcellent battery life<\/li>\nSpeedy performance<\/li>\nStylus support<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nCrummy, muffled-sounding speakers<\/li>\nNo biometric login<\/li>\nFeels slightly pricey at $700 when a Lenovo with OLED and more RAM is just $50 more<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nIf you can afford a slightly pricier, newer, and better Chromebook than the Asus, check out the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514. Its full price of $749<\/a> is a bit much, but when discounted to $600 like it is at the time of this writing it can be worth it. The Arm-based MediaTek Kompanio Ultra in this Chromebook paired with 12GB of RAM gives it very good performance and excellent battery life. And since it\u2019s a convertible, it\u2019s also great to use with an optional stylus for note-taking, drawing, and sketching.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\nRead our review of the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514<\/a>.<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nFollow topics and authors<\/strong> from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/svg><\/span>Antonio G. Di Benedetto<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
If your school or curriculum recommends certain laptops or minimum specs, then you already know what to aim for. If not, our rule of thumb is to go with a Mac running Apple silicon or a Windows laptop running Intel or AMD chips released in the last few years. (For Windows machines, don\u2019t go any older than 2022 or 2023 \u2014 Intel\u2019s 13th-gen \u201cRaptor Lake\u201d or AMD\u2019s Ryzen 7000 series.) Snapdragon X chips are also great options unless you\u2019re a college student who needs to run specialized software not compatible with Windows on Arm (or if you want to play games).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
But try to get 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage or more if you can \u2014 especially for college students. Eight GB of RAM is workable on macOS with the MacBook Neo, but Windows laptops struggle a bit with it. And for the most budget-conscious or anyone shopping for younger kids, a quality Chromebook is still great.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
$599<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nImpressive performance for the price<\/li>\nPerfect for a middle school or high school student<\/li>\nThe best mechanical trackpad around<\/li>\nSolid speakers and screen<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nSmall limitations: 8GB of RAM, slow storage, no keyboard backlighting, and only 20W charging with the included charger<\/li>\nWish it weighed a little less, and its colors were more vibrant<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nThe MacBook Neo is the easy pick for students from middle school to high school who need a laptop. There\u2019s still no beating its balance of build quality and good-enough performance at this price. Students and teachers can get it starting at $599<\/a>, and Apple offers refurbished models for $599<\/a> for the rest of us as well. If you can justify spending an additional $100, it\u2019s worth getting the model with twice the storage and a Touch ID fingerprint sensor, which makes logging in and entering passwords much less of a hassle.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nThe A18 Pro chip is powerful enough for most high school students (and adults), and everything from its trackpad to its speakers and screen range from good to great, which is not the case for Windows laptops in this price range. Its only shortcoming by comparison is having just two USB-C ports. The 8GB of RAM and 256GB of base storage mean a student eventually pushes the limits of what this laptop can do sooner than a more powerful MacBook Air, but the Neo is still significantly cheaper.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\nRead our review of the MacBook Neo<\/a>.<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nThe best laptop for college<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$1299<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nStill one of the best laptops around<\/li>\nFaster processor and twice as much RAM as the Neo<\/li>\nStarts with more (and much faster) storage<\/li>\nGreat battery life and speakers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nStarting price is higher than M4 generation (though you get more storage for it)<\/li>\nThe MacBook Neo now exists and costs much less<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Neo is the best cheap laptop, but the MacBook Air is still the best laptop for most people, and the standard recommendation for college students. Every part of it is a step up from the Neo: It has a much more powerful processor, and it starts with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of much faster storage. And few laptops can match the Air\u2019s overall build quality. It also means spending $1,299 (or $1,199 for students<\/a>) on a 13-inch model, or $1,499 for the 15-inch. It\u2019s a shame the Air no longer starts at $999 like it did just last year, but it\u2019s still worth springing for if you\u2019re buying for the long term.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Airs have been so good for so many years now, you don\u2019t miss out on much by buying a refurbished model if it\u2019s substantially cheaper. Keep an eye on Apple\u2019s refurb store<\/a>, and retailers like Best Buy sometimes have great deals<\/a> too.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\nRead our review of the latest MacBook Air<\/a>.<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nA Windows laptop nearly as nice as a MacBook Air<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$700<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nAsus\u2019s Zenbook A14 is a bit of a MacBook Air wannabe, but it\u2019s a compelling alternative if you value a superlight Windows laptop with long battery life. The 2025 model sports an Arm-based Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus chip, a nice 14-inch OLED display, and a sleek textured beige finish.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nRead More<\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nAsus Zenbooks are some of the sleeker, better-looking Windows laptops, and the Zenbook A14 is Asus\u2019 wannabe MacBook Air. It has a good Snapdragon X Plus chip, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and a lovely OLED display in an ultra-light chassis (it\u2019s just 2.4 pounds \/ 1.09kg), all for $1,000 or as low as $700 on sale<\/a>. It even has a solid port selection, with one USB-A, two speedy USB4, and HDMI 2.1. I really enjoyed the larger Zenbook A16 version<\/a> when I reviewed it, but the A14 is even lighter and significantly cheaper. Like its larger sibling, the A14 is coated in Asus\u2019 Ceraluminum finish that gives it a nice textured feel and unique look. (It\u2019s a beige laptop!)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nA cheap laptop with a great processor<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$520<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nA great, well-rounded processor in a cheap laptop (if you get it on sale)<\/li>\nLots of ports, including Thunderbolt 4<\/li>\nVery good battery life<\/li>\nCan lightly game on ultra-low settings<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nWashed out screen with noticeable light bleed<\/li>\nBad speakers<\/li>\nPoor build quality<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nAcer\u2019s Aspire 14 AI didn\u2019t impress me with its screen, speakers, or build quality when I tested it against the Neo<\/a>, but for $500 or $600<\/a> on sale, which it often is, it\u2019s hard to beat. It has a solid Intel Lunar Lake processor, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and a bunch of speedy ports. Getting two USB-A, two Thunderbolt 4, and HDMI 2.1 on a $600 laptop? Hell yeah.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nA Lunar Lake chip means you get great battery life, and you can even do some light gaming. Its screen isn\u2019t pretty and everything creaks, but with the money you save you can overcome some of its shortcomings with a mouse and monitor. Just keep in mind that the appeal of this laptop is what you\u2019re getting for the price. If the deal winds change and Aspire 14 AIs are selling for $700 or more, consider something else.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\nRead our review of the Acer Aspire 14 AI.<\/a><\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nA formidable 16-incher for about $500<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$517<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nAn affordable laptop with a large 16-inch display, plenty of ports, and excellent battery life thanks to a Qualcomm Snapdragon X processor.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nRead More<\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nI\u2019m still testing the HP OmniBook 3 for a full review, but I\u2019ve used it enough and I like it enough at around $500<\/a> to give it a nod. Its speakers and screen are not good quality, but they\u2019re slightly better than the Acer Aspire above \u2014 just don\u2019t look too close, or you\u2019ll notice that its 1920 x 1200 resolution isn\u2019t very sharp at this scale. At 16 inches you\u2019re getting a big screen for cheap, but this laptop doesn\u2019t feel <\/em>large, as it weighs only 3.65 pounds \/ 1.66kg and is about 0.63 inches \/ 16mm thick (at its hinge, where it\u2019s slightly thicker). And its sizable battery and efficient Snapdragon X chip allow it to last long on a charge. Plus, it\u2019s got an ample-sized numpad for you numbers people.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nConsider a refurbished ThinkPad<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$592<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nLenovo ThinkPads are workhorse enterprise laptops, making older refurbished models a great pickup on the cheap. The T14 Gen 4 from 2023 came with Intel Raptor Lake chips, a 14-inch 1920 x 1200 IPS display, and plenty of ports \u2014 among them, Thunderbolt 4.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nRead More<\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nThinkPads are awesome. They have great keyboards and trackpads, sturdy builds, lots of ports, and even a TrackPoint. They\u2019re typically very expensive when bought new, and they have a reputation for lasting a long time. They\u2019re Lenovo\u2019s business line, so there\u2019s a constant stream of used ThinkPads entering the secondhand market when companies refresh their fleets. That makes them a great candidate for buying refurbished or used. Lenovo sells many refurb units directly<\/a>, so you know you should be getting something in good shape. Many of them are still expensive, but this ThinkPad T14<\/a> is an attractive example, offering a 13th-gen Intel chip, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage for around $700. Or for a bit more you can get this ThinkPad L14 Gen 5<\/a> with a newer Intel Meteor Lake chip for around $1,000.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nAnd for the more adventurous folks out there, you can pick up an even older ThinkPad on the cheap and install Linux to give it new life<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nOur go-to pick for a cheap Chromebook<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$300<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nExcellent look and build<\/li>\nSharp 1080p display<\/li>\n1080p webcam with AI features and physical shutter<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nNo touchscreen option<\/li>\nStiff touchpad<\/li>\nBattery life could be a bit <\/em>better<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nA Chromebook is good for web browsing, doing homework, and nailing the basics of browser-first computer use \u2014 when done well. The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is a mainstay of The Verge<\/em>\u2019s laptop recommendations, despite being a few years old. It\u2019s very affordable at just $350<\/a>, and even with its 12th-gen Intel chip and 8GB of RAM it\u2019s more than serviceable for ChromeOS. Google\u2019s new Googlebooks<\/a> are coming in the fall, but some early<\/a> leaks<\/a> are pointing at those potentially being pricier laptops (making me wonder what exactly their appeal will be<\/a>).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nA great convertible Chromebook<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$599<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nExcellent battery life<\/li>\nSpeedy performance<\/li>\nStylus support<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nCrummy, muffled-sounding speakers<\/li>\nNo biometric login<\/li>\nFeels slightly pricey at $700 when a Lenovo with OLED and more RAM is just $50 more<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nIf you can afford a slightly pricier, newer, and better Chromebook than the Asus, check out the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514. Its full price of $749<\/a> is a bit much, but when discounted to $600 like it is at the time of this writing it can be worth it. The Arm-based MediaTek Kompanio Ultra in this Chromebook paired with 12GB of RAM gives it very good performance and excellent battery life. And since it\u2019s a convertible, it\u2019s also great to use with an optional stylus for note-taking, drawing, and sketching.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\nRead our review of the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514<\/a>.<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nFollow topics and authors<\/strong> from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/svg><\/span>Antonio G. Di Benedetto<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
The MacBook Neo is the easy pick for students from middle school to high school who need a laptop. There\u2019s still no beating its balance of build quality and good-enough performance at this price. Students and teachers can get it starting at $599<\/a>, and Apple offers refurbished models for $599<\/a> for the rest of us as well. If you can justify spending an additional $100, it\u2019s worth getting the model with twice the storage and a Touch ID fingerprint sensor, which makes logging in and entering passwords much less of a hassle.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nThe A18 Pro chip is powerful enough for most high school students (and adults), and everything from its trackpad to its speakers and screen range from good to great, which is not the case for Windows laptops in this price range. Its only shortcoming by comparison is having just two USB-C ports. The 8GB of RAM and 256GB of base storage mean a student eventually pushes the limits of what this laptop can do sooner than a more powerful MacBook Air, but the Neo is still significantly cheaper.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\nRead our review of the MacBook Neo<\/a>.<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nThe best laptop for college<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$1299<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nStill one of the best laptops around<\/li>\nFaster processor and twice as much RAM as the Neo<\/li>\nStarts with more (and much faster) storage<\/li>\nGreat battery life and speakers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nStarting price is higher than M4 generation (though you get more storage for it)<\/li>\nThe MacBook Neo now exists and costs much less<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Neo is the best cheap laptop, but the MacBook Air is still the best laptop for most people, and the standard recommendation for college students. Every part of it is a step up from the Neo: It has a much more powerful processor, and it starts with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of much faster storage. And few laptops can match the Air\u2019s overall build quality. It also means spending $1,299 (or $1,199 for students<\/a>) on a 13-inch model, or $1,499 for the 15-inch. It\u2019s a shame the Air no longer starts at $999 like it did just last year, but it\u2019s still worth springing for if you\u2019re buying for the long term.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Airs have been so good for so many years now, you don\u2019t miss out on much by buying a refurbished model if it\u2019s substantially cheaper. Keep an eye on Apple\u2019s refurb store<\/a>, and retailers like Best Buy sometimes have great deals<\/a> too.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\nRead our review of the latest MacBook Air<\/a>.<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nA Windows laptop nearly as nice as a MacBook Air<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$700<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nAsus\u2019s Zenbook A14 is a bit of a MacBook Air wannabe, but it\u2019s a compelling alternative if you value a superlight Windows laptop with long battery life. The 2025 model sports an Arm-based Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus chip, a nice 14-inch OLED display, and a sleek textured beige finish.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nRead More<\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nAsus Zenbooks are some of the sleeker, better-looking Windows laptops, and the Zenbook A14 is Asus\u2019 wannabe MacBook Air. It has a good Snapdragon X Plus chip, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and a lovely OLED display in an ultra-light chassis (it\u2019s just 2.4 pounds \/ 1.09kg), all for $1,000 or as low as $700 on sale<\/a>. It even has a solid port selection, with one USB-A, two speedy USB4, and HDMI 2.1. I really enjoyed the larger Zenbook A16 version<\/a> when I reviewed it, but the A14 is even lighter and significantly cheaper. Like its larger sibling, the A14 is coated in Asus\u2019 Ceraluminum finish that gives it a nice textured feel and unique look. (It\u2019s a beige laptop!)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nA cheap laptop with a great processor<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$520<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nA great, well-rounded processor in a cheap laptop (if you get it on sale)<\/li>\nLots of ports, including Thunderbolt 4<\/li>\nVery good battery life<\/li>\nCan lightly game on ultra-low settings<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nWashed out screen with noticeable light bleed<\/li>\nBad speakers<\/li>\nPoor build quality<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nAcer\u2019s Aspire 14 AI didn\u2019t impress me with its screen, speakers, or build quality when I tested it against the Neo<\/a>, but for $500 or $600<\/a> on sale, which it often is, it\u2019s hard to beat. It has a solid Intel Lunar Lake processor, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and a bunch of speedy ports. Getting two USB-A, two Thunderbolt 4, and HDMI 2.1 on a $600 laptop? Hell yeah.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nA Lunar Lake chip means you get great battery life, and you can even do some light gaming. Its screen isn\u2019t pretty and everything creaks, but with the money you save you can overcome some of its shortcomings with a mouse and monitor. Just keep in mind that the appeal of this laptop is what you\u2019re getting for the price. If the deal winds change and Aspire 14 AIs are selling for $700 or more, consider something else.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\nRead our review of the Acer Aspire 14 AI.<\/a><\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nA formidable 16-incher for about $500<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$517<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nAn affordable laptop with a large 16-inch display, plenty of ports, and excellent battery life thanks to a Qualcomm Snapdragon X processor.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nRead More<\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nI\u2019m still testing the HP OmniBook 3 for a full review, but I\u2019ve used it enough and I like it enough at around $500<\/a> to give it a nod. Its speakers and screen are not good quality, but they\u2019re slightly better than the Acer Aspire above \u2014 just don\u2019t look too close, or you\u2019ll notice that its 1920 x 1200 resolution isn\u2019t very sharp at this scale. At 16 inches you\u2019re getting a big screen for cheap, but this laptop doesn\u2019t feel <\/em>large, as it weighs only 3.65 pounds \/ 1.66kg and is about 0.63 inches \/ 16mm thick (at its hinge, where it\u2019s slightly thicker). And its sizable battery and efficient Snapdragon X chip allow it to last long on a charge. Plus, it\u2019s got an ample-sized numpad for you numbers people.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nConsider a refurbished ThinkPad<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$592<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nLenovo ThinkPads are workhorse enterprise laptops, making older refurbished models a great pickup on the cheap. The T14 Gen 4 from 2023 came with Intel Raptor Lake chips, a 14-inch 1920 x 1200 IPS display, and plenty of ports \u2014 among them, Thunderbolt 4.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nRead More<\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nThinkPads are awesome. They have great keyboards and trackpads, sturdy builds, lots of ports, and even a TrackPoint. They\u2019re typically very expensive when bought new, and they have a reputation for lasting a long time. They\u2019re Lenovo\u2019s business line, so there\u2019s a constant stream of used ThinkPads entering the secondhand market when companies refresh their fleets. That makes them a great candidate for buying refurbished or used. Lenovo sells many refurb units directly<\/a>, so you know you should be getting something in good shape. Many of them are still expensive, but this ThinkPad T14<\/a> is an attractive example, offering a 13th-gen Intel chip, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage for around $700. Or for a bit more you can get this ThinkPad L14 Gen 5<\/a> with a newer Intel Meteor Lake chip for around $1,000.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nAnd for the more adventurous folks out there, you can pick up an even older ThinkPad on the cheap and install Linux to give it new life<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nOur go-to pick for a cheap Chromebook<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$300<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nExcellent look and build<\/li>\nSharp 1080p display<\/li>\n1080p webcam with AI features and physical shutter<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nNo touchscreen option<\/li>\nStiff touchpad<\/li>\nBattery life could be a bit <\/em>better<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nA Chromebook is good for web browsing, doing homework, and nailing the basics of browser-first computer use \u2014 when done well. The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is a mainstay of The Verge<\/em>\u2019s laptop recommendations, despite being a few years old. It\u2019s very affordable at just $350<\/a>, and even with its 12th-gen Intel chip and 8GB of RAM it\u2019s more than serviceable for ChromeOS. Google\u2019s new Googlebooks<\/a> are coming in the fall, but some early<\/a> leaks<\/a> are pointing at those potentially being pricier laptops (making me wonder what exactly their appeal will be<\/a>).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nA great convertible Chromebook<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$599<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nExcellent battery life<\/li>\nSpeedy performance<\/li>\nStylus support<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nCrummy, muffled-sounding speakers<\/li>\nNo biometric login<\/li>\nFeels slightly pricey at $700 when a Lenovo with OLED and more RAM is just $50 more<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nIf you can afford a slightly pricier, newer, and better Chromebook than the Asus, check out the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514. Its full price of $749<\/a> is a bit much, but when discounted to $600 like it is at the time of this writing it can be worth it. The Arm-based MediaTek Kompanio Ultra in this Chromebook paired with 12GB of RAM gives it very good performance and excellent battery life. And since it\u2019s a convertible, it\u2019s also great to use with an optional stylus for note-taking, drawing, and sketching.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\nRead our review of the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514<\/a>.<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nFollow topics and authors<\/strong> from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/svg><\/span>Antonio G. Di Benedetto<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
The A18 Pro chip is powerful enough for most high school students (and adults), and everything from its trackpad to its speakers and screen range from good to great, which is not the case for Windows laptops in this price range. Its only shortcoming by comparison is having just two USB-C ports. The 8GB of RAM and 256GB of base storage mean a student eventually pushes the limits of what this laptop can do sooner than a more powerful MacBook Air, but the Neo is still significantly cheaper.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
$1299<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nStill one of the best laptops around<\/li>\nFaster processor and twice as much RAM as the Neo<\/li>\nStarts with more (and much faster) storage<\/li>\nGreat battery life and speakers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nStarting price is higher than M4 generation (though you get more storage for it)<\/li>\nThe MacBook Neo now exists and costs much less<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Neo is the best cheap laptop, but the MacBook Air is still the best laptop for most people, and the standard recommendation for college students. Every part of it is a step up from the Neo: It has a much more powerful processor, and it starts with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of much faster storage. And few laptops can match the Air\u2019s overall build quality. It also means spending $1,299 (or $1,199 for students<\/a>) on a 13-inch model, or $1,499 for the 15-inch. It\u2019s a shame the Air no longer starts at $999 like it did just last year, but it\u2019s still worth springing for if you\u2019re buying for the long term.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Airs have been so good for so many years now, you don\u2019t miss out on much by buying a refurbished model if it\u2019s substantially cheaper. Keep an eye on Apple\u2019s refurb store<\/a>, and retailers like Best Buy sometimes have great deals<\/a> too.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\nRead our review of the latest MacBook Air<\/a>.<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nA Windows laptop nearly as nice as a MacBook Air<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$700<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nAsus\u2019s Zenbook A14 is a bit of a MacBook Air wannabe, but it\u2019s a compelling alternative if you value a superlight Windows laptop with long battery life. The 2025 model sports an Arm-based Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus chip, a nice 14-inch OLED display, and a sleek textured beige finish.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nRead More<\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nAsus Zenbooks are some of the sleeker, better-looking Windows laptops, and the Zenbook A14 is Asus\u2019 wannabe MacBook Air. It has a good Snapdragon X Plus chip, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and a lovely OLED display in an ultra-light chassis (it\u2019s just 2.4 pounds \/ 1.09kg), all for $1,000 or as low as $700 on sale<\/a>. It even has a solid port selection, with one USB-A, two speedy USB4, and HDMI 2.1. I really enjoyed the larger Zenbook A16 version<\/a> when I reviewed it, but the A14 is even lighter and significantly cheaper. Like its larger sibling, the A14 is coated in Asus\u2019 Ceraluminum finish that gives it a nice textured feel and unique look. (It\u2019s a beige laptop!)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nA cheap laptop with a great processor<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$520<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nA great, well-rounded processor in a cheap laptop (if you get it on sale)<\/li>\nLots of ports, including Thunderbolt 4<\/li>\nVery good battery life<\/li>\nCan lightly game on ultra-low settings<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nWashed out screen with noticeable light bleed<\/li>\nBad speakers<\/li>\nPoor build quality<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nAcer\u2019s Aspire 14 AI didn\u2019t impress me with its screen, speakers, or build quality when I tested it against the Neo<\/a>, but for $500 or $600<\/a> on sale, which it often is, it\u2019s hard to beat. It has a solid Intel Lunar Lake processor, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and a bunch of speedy ports. Getting two USB-A, two Thunderbolt 4, and HDMI 2.1 on a $600 laptop? Hell yeah.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nA Lunar Lake chip means you get great battery life, and you can even do some light gaming. Its screen isn\u2019t pretty and everything creaks, but with the money you save you can overcome some of its shortcomings with a mouse and monitor. Just keep in mind that the appeal of this laptop is what you\u2019re getting for the price. If the deal winds change and Aspire 14 AIs are selling for $700 or more, consider something else.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\nRead our review of the Acer Aspire 14 AI.<\/a><\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nA formidable 16-incher for about $500<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$517<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nAn affordable laptop with a large 16-inch display, plenty of ports, and excellent battery life thanks to a Qualcomm Snapdragon X processor.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nRead More<\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nI\u2019m still testing the HP OmniBook 3 for a full review, but I\u2019ve used it enough and I like it enough at around $500<\/a> to give it a nod. Its speakers and screen are not good quality, but they\u2019re slightly better than the Acer Aspire above \u2014 just don\u2019t look too close, or you\u2019ll notice that its 1920 x 1200 resolution isn\u2019t very sharp at this scale. At 16 inches you\u2019re getting a big screen for cheap, but this laptop doesn\u2019t feel <\/em>large, as it weighs only 3.65 pounds \/ 1.66kg and is about 0.63 inches \/ 16mm thick (at its hinge, where it\u2019s slightly thicker). And its sizable battery and efficient Snapdragon X chip allow it to last long on a charge. Plus, it\u2019s got an ample-sized numpad for you numbers people.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nConsider a refurbished ThinkPad<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$592<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nLenovo ThinkPads are workhorse enterprise laptops, making older refurbished models a great pickup on the cheap. The T14 Gen 4 from 2023 came with Intel Raptor Lake chips, a 14-inch 1920 x 1200 IPS display, and plenty of ports \u2014 among them, Thunderbolt 4.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nRead More<\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nThinkPads are awesome. They have great keyboards and trackpads, sturdy builds, lots of ports, and even a TrackPoint. They\u2019re typically very expensive when bought new, and they have a reputation for lasting a long time. They\u2019re Lenovo\u2019s business line, so there\u2019s a constant stream of used ThinkPads entering the secondhand market when companies refresh their fleets. That makes them a great candidate for buying refurbished or used. Lenovo sells many refurb units directly<\/a>, so you know you should be getting something in good shape. Many of them are still expensive, but this ThinkPad T14<\/a> is an attractive example, offering a 13th-gen Intel chip, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage for around $700. Or for a bit more you can get this ThinkPad L14 Gen 5<\/a> with a newer Intel Meteor Lake chip for around $1,000.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nAnd for the more adventurous folks out there, you can pick up an even older ThinkPad on the cheap and install Linux to give it new life<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nOur go-to pick for a cheap Chromebook<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$300<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nExcellent look and build<\/li>\nSharp 1080p display<\/li>\n1080p webcam with AI features and physical shutter<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nNo touchscreen option<\/li>\nStiff touchpad<\/li>\nBattery life could be a bit <\/em>better<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nA Chromebook is good for web browsing, doing homework, and nailing the basics of browser-first computer use \u2014 when done well. The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is a mainstay of The Verge<\/em>\u2019s laptop recommendations, despite being a few years old. It\u2019s very affordable at just $350<\/a>, and even with its 12th-gen Intel chip and 8GB of RAM it\u2019s more than serviceable for ChromeOS. Google\u2019s new Googlebooks<\/a> are coming in the fall, but some early<\/a> leaks<\/a> are pointing at those potentially being pricier laptops (making me wonder what exactly their appeal will be<\/a>).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nA great convertible Chromebook<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$599<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nExcellent battery life<\/li>\nSpeedy performance<\/li>\nStylus support<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nCrummy, muffled-sounding speakers<\/li>\nNo biometric login<\/li>\nFeels slightly pricey at $700 when a Lenovo with OLED and more RAM is just $50 more<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nIf you can afford a slightly pricier, newer, and better Chromebook than the Asus, check out the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514. Its full price of $749<\/a> is a bit much, but when discounted to $600 like it is at the time of this writing it can be worth it. The Arm-based MediaTek Kompanio Ultra in this Chromebook paired with 12GB of RAM gives it very good performance and excellent battery life. And since it\u2019s a convertible, it\u2019s also great to use with an optional stylus for note-taking, drawing, and sketching.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\nRead our review of the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514<\/a>.<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nFollow topics and authors<\/strong> from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/svg><\/span>Antonio G. Di Benedetto<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
The Neo is the best cheap laptop, but the MacBook Air is still the best laptop for most people, and the standard recommendation for college students. Every part of it is a step up from the Neo: It has a much more powerful processor, and it starts with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of much faster storage. And few laptops can match the Air\u2019s overall build quality. It also means spending $1,299 (or $1,199 for students<\/a>) on a 13-inch model, or $1,499 for the 15-inch. It\u2019s a shame the Air no longer starts at $999 like it did just last year, but it\u2019s still worth springing for if you\u2019re buying for the long term.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Airs have been so good for so many years now, you don\u2019t miss out on much by buying a refurbished model if it\u2019s substantially cheaper. Keep an eye on Apple\u2019s refurb store<\/a>, and retailers like Best Buy sometimes have great deals<\/a> too.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\nRead our review of the latest MacBook Air<\/a>.<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nA Windows laptop nearly as nice as a MacBook Air<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$700<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nAsus\u2019s Zenbook A14 is a bit of a MacBook Air wannabe, but it\u2019s a compelling alternative if you value a superlight Windows laptop with long battery life. The 2025 model sports an Arm-based Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus chip, a nice 14-inch OLED display, and a sleek textured beige finish.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nRead More<\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nAsus Zenbooks are some of the sleeker, better-looking Windows laptops, and the Zenbook A14 is Asus\u2019 wannabe MacBook Air. It has a good Snapdragon X Plus chip, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and a lovely OLED display in an ultra-light chassis (it\u2019s just 2.4 pounds \/ 1.09kg), all for $1,000 or as low as $700 on sale<\/a>. It even has a solid port selection, with one USB-A, two speedy USB4, and HDMI 2.1. I really enjoyed the larger Zenbook A16 version<\/a> when I reviewed it, but the A14 is even lighter and significantly cheaper. Like its larger sibling, the A14 is coated in Asus\u2019 Ceraluminum finish that gives it a nice textured feel and unique look. (It\u2019s a beige laptop!)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nA cheap laptop with a great processor<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$520<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nA great, well-rounded processor in a cheap laptop (if you get it on sale)<\/li>\nLots of ports, including Thunderbolt 4<\/li>\nVery good battery life<\/li>\nCan lightly game on ultra-low settings<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nWashed out screen with noticeable light bleed<\/li>\nBad speakers<\/li>\nPoor build quality<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nAcer\u2019s Aspire 14 AI didn\u2019t impress me with its screen, speakers, or build quality when I tested it against the Neo<\/a>, but for $500 or $600<\/a> on sale, which it often is, it\u2019s hard to beat. It has a solid Intel Lunar Lake processor, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and a bunch of speedy ports. Getting two USB-A, two Thunderbolt 4, and HDMI 2.1 on a $600 laptop? Hell yeah.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nA Lunar Lake chip means you get great battery life, and you can even do some light gaming. Its screen isn\u2019t pretty and everything creaks, but with the money you save you can overcome some of its shortcomings with a mouse and monitor. Just keep in mind that the appeal of this laptop is what you\u2019re getting for the price. If the deal winds change and Aspire 14 AIs are selling for $700 or more, consider something else.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\nRead our review of the Acer Aspire 14 AI.<\/a><\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nA formidable 16-incher for about $500<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$517<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nAn affordable laptop with a large 16-inch display, plenty of ports, and excellent battery life thanks to a Qualcomm Snapdragon X processor.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nRead More<\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nI\u2019m still testing the HP OmniBook 3 for a full review, but I\u2019ve used it enough and I like it enough at around $500<\/a> to give it a nod. Its speakers and screen are not good quality, but they\u2019re slightly better than the Acer Aspire above \u2014 just don\u2019t look too close, or you\u2019ll notice that its 1920 x 1200 resolution isn\u2019t very sharp at this scale. At 16 inches you\u2019re getting a big screen for cheap, but this laptop doesn\u2019t feel <\/em>large, as it weighs only 3.65 pounds \/ 1.66kg and is about 0.63 inches \/ 16mm thick (at its hinge, where it\u2019s slightly thicker). And its sizable battery and efficient Snapdragon X chip allow it to last long on a charge. Plus, it\u2019s got an ample-sized numpad for you numbers people.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nConsider a refurbished ThinkPad<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$592<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nLenovo ThinkPads are workhorse enterprise laptops, making older refurbished models a great pickup on the cheap. The T14 Gen 4 from 2023 came with Intel Raptor Lake chips, a 14-inch 1920 x 1200 IPS display, and plenty of ports \u2014 among them, Thunderbolt 4.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nRead More<\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nThinkPads are awesome. They have great keyboards and trackpads, sturdy builds, lots of ports, and even a TrackPoint. They\u2019re typically very expensive when bought new, and they have a reputation for lasting a long time. They\u2019re Lenovo\u2019s business line, so there\u2019s a constant stream of used ThinkPads entering the secondhand market when companies refresh their fleets. That makes them a great candidate for buying refurbished or used. Lenovo sells many refurb units directly<\/a>, so you know you should be getting something in good shape. Many of them are still expensive, but this ThinkPad T14<\/a> is an attractive example, offering a 13th-gen Intel chip, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage for around $700. Or for a bit more you can get this ThinkPad L14 Gen 5<\/a> with a newer Intel Meteor Lake chip for around $1,000.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nAnd for the more adventurous folks out there, you can pick up an even older ThinkPad on the cheap and install Linux to give it new life<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nOur go-to pick for a cheap Chromebook<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$300<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nExcellent look and build<\/li>\nSharp 1080p display<\/li>\n1080p webcam with AI features and physical shutter<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nNo touchscreen option<\/li>\nStiff touchpad<\/li>\nBattery life could be a bit <\/em>better<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nA Chromebook is good for web browsing, doing homework, and nailing the basics of browser-first computer use \u2014 when done well. The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is a mainstay of The Verge<\/em>\u2019s laptop recommendations, despite being a few years old. It\u2019s very affordable at just $350<\/a>, and even with its 12th-gen Intel chip and 8GB of RAM it\u2019s more than serviceable for ChromeOS. Google\u2019s new Googlebooks<\/a> are coming in the fall, but some early<\/a> leaks<\/a> are pointing at those potentially being pricier laptops (making me wonder what exactly their appeal will be<\/a>).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nA great convertible Chromebook<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$599<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nExcellent battery life<\/li>\nSpeedy performance<\/li>\nStylus support<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nCrummy, muffled-sounding speakers<\/li>\nNo biometric login<\/li>\nFeels slightly pricey at $700 when a Lenovo with OLED and more RAM is just $50 more<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nIf you can afford a slightly pricier, newer, and better Chromebook than the Asus, check out the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514. Its full price of $749<\/a> is a bit much, but when discounted to $600 like it is at the time of this writing it can be worth it. The Arm-based MediaTek Kompanio Ultra in this Chromebook paired with 12GB of RAM gives it very good performance and excellent battery life. And since it\u2019s a convertible, it\u2019s also great to use with an optional stylus for note-taking, drawing, and sketching.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\nRead our review of the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514<\/a>.<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nFollow topics and authors<\/strong> from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/svg><\/span>Antonio G. Di Benedetto<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
The Airs have been so good for so many years now, you don\u2019t miss out on much by buying a refurbished model if it\u2019s substantially cheaper. Keep an eye on Apple\u2019s refurb store<\/a>, and retailers like Best Buy sometimes have great deals<\/a> too.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\nRead our review of the latest MacBook Air<\/a>.<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nA Windows laptop nearly as nice as a MacBook Air<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$700<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nAsus\u2019s Zenbook A14 is a bit of a MacBook Air wannabe, but it\u2019s a compelling alternative if you value a superlight Windows laptop with long battery life. The 2025 model sports an Arm-based Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus chip, a nice 14-inch OLED display, and a sleek textured beige finish.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nRead More<\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nAsus Zenbooks are some of the sleeker, better-looking Windows laptops, and the Zenbook A14 is Asus\u2019 wannabe MacBook Air. It has a good Snapdragon X Plus chip, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and a lovely OLED display in an ultra-light chassis (it\u2019s just 2.4 pounds \/ 1.09kg), all for $1,000 or as low as $700 on sale<\/a>. It even has a solid port selection, with one USB-A, two speedy USB4, and HDMI 2.1. I really enjoyed the larger Zenbook A16 version<\/a> when I reviewed it, but the A14 is even lighter and significantly cheaper. Like its larger sibling, the A14 is coated in Asus\u2019 Ceraluminum finish that gives it a nice textured feel and unique look. (It\u2019s a beige laptop!)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nA cheap laptop with a great processor<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$520<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nA great, well-rounded processor in a cheap laptop (if you get it on sale)<\/li>\nLots of ports, including Thunderbolt 4<\/li>\nVery good battery life<\/li>\nCan lightly game on ultra-low settings<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nWashed out screen with noticeable light bleed<\/li>\nBad speakers<\/li>\nPoor build quality<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nAcer\u2019s Aspire 14 AI didn\u2019t impress me with its screen, speakers, or build quality when I tested it against the Neo<\/a>, but for $500 or $600<\/a> on sale, which it often is, it\u2019s hard to beat. It has a solid Intel Lunar Lake processor, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and a bunch of speedy ports. Getting two USB-A, two Thunderbolt 4, and HDMI 2.1 on a $600 laptop? Hell yeah.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nA Lunar Lake chip means you get great battery life, and you can even do some light gaming. Its screen isn\u2019t pretty and everything creaks, but with the money you save you can overcome some of its shortcomings with a mouse and monitor. Just keep in mind that the appeal of this laptop is what you\u2019re getting for the price. If the deal winds change and Aspire 14 AIs are selling for $700 or more, consider something else.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\nRead our review of the Acer Aspire 14 AI.<\/a><\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nA formidable 16-incher for about $500<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$517<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nAn affordable laptop with a large 16-inch display, plenty of ports, and excellent battery life thanks to a Qualcomm Snapdragon X processor.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nRead More<\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nI\u2019m still testing the HP OmniBook 3 for a full review, but I\u2019ve used it enough and I like it enough at around $500<\/a> to give it a nod. Its speakers and screen are not good quality, but they\u2019re slightly better than the Acer Aspire above \u2014 just don\u2019t look too close, or you\u2019ll notice that its 1920 x 1200 resolution isn\u2019t very sharp at this scale. At 16 inches you\u2019re getting a big screen for cheap, but this laptop doesn\u2019t feel <\/em>large, as it weighs only 3.65 pounds \/ 1.66kg and is about 0.63 inches \/ 16mm thick (at its hinge, where it\u2019s slightly thicker). And its sizable battery and efficient Snapdragon X chip allow it to last long on a charge. Plus, it\u2019s got an ample-sized numpad for you numbers people.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nConsider a refurbished ThinkPad<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$592<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nLenovo ThinkPads are workhorse enterprise laptops, making older refurbished models a great pickup on the cheap. The T14 Gen 4 from 2023 came with Intel Raptor Lake chips, a 14-inch 1920 x 1200 IPS display, and plenty of ports \u2014 among them, Thunderbolt 4.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nRead More<\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nThinkPads are awesome. They have great keyboards and trackpads, sturdy builds, lots of ports, and even a TrackPoint. They\u2019re typically very expensive when bought new, and they have a reputation for lasting a long time. They\u2019re Lenovo\u2019s business line, so there\u2019s a constant stream of used ThinkPads entering the secondhand market when companies refresh their fleets. That makes them a great candidate for buying refurbished or used. Lenovo sells many refurb units directly<\/a>, so you know you should be getting something in good shape. Many of them are still expensive, but this ThinkPad T14<\/a> is an attractive example, offering a 13th-gen Intel chip, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage for around $700. Or for a bit more you can get this ThinkPad L14 Gen 5<\/a> with a newer Intel Meteor Lake chip for around $1,000.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nAnd for the more adventurous folks out there, you can pick up an even older ThinkPad on the cheap and install Linux to give it new life<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nOur go-to pick for a cheap Chromebook<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$300<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nExcellent look and build<\/li>\nSharp 1080p display<\/li>\n1080p webcam with AI features and physical shutter<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nNo touchscreen option<\/li>\nStiff touchpad<\/li>\nBattery life could be a bit <\/em>better<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nA Chromebook is good for web browsing, doing homework, and nailing the basics of browser-first computer use \u2014 when done well. The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is a mainstay of The Verge<\/em>\u2019s laptop recommendations, despite being a few years old. It\u2019s very affordable at just $350<\/a>, and even with its 12th-gen Intel chip and 8GB of RAM it\u2019s more than serviceable for ChromeOS. Google\u2019s new Googlebooks<\/a> are coming in the fall, but some early<\/a> leaks<\/a> are pointing at those potentially being pricier laptops (making me wonder what exactly their appeal will be<\/a>).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nA great convertible Chromebook<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$599<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nExcellent battery life<\/li>\nSpeedy performance<\/li>\nStylus support<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nCrummy, muffled-sounding speakers<\/li>\nNo biometric login<\/li>\nFeels slightly pricey at $700 when a Lenovo with OLED and more RAM is just $50 more<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nIf you can afford a slightly pricier, newer, and better Chromebook than the Asus, check out the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514. Its full price of $749<\/a> is a bit much, but when discounted to $600 like it is at the time of this writing it can be worth it. The Arm-based MediaTek Kompanio Ultra in this Chromebook paired with 12GB of RAM gives it very good performance and excellent battery life. And since it\u2019s a convertible, it\u2019s also great to use with an optional stylus for note-taking, drawing, and sketching.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\nRead our review of the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514<\/a>.<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nFollow topics and authors<\/strong> from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/svg><\/span>Antonio G. Di Benedetto<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
$700<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nAsus\u2019s Zenbook A14 is a bit of a MacBook Air wannabe, but it\u2019s a compelling alternative if you value a superlight Windows laptop with long battery life. The 2025 model sports an Arm-based Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus chip, a nice 14-inch OLED display, and a sleek textured beige finish.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nRead More<\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nAsus Zenbooks are some of the sleeker, better-looking Windows laptops, and the Zenbook A14 is Asus\u2019 wannabe MacBook Air. It has a good Snapdragon X Plus chip, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and a lovely OLED display in an ultra-light chassis (it\u2019s just 2.4 pounds \/ 1.09kg), all for $1,000 or as low as $700 on sale<\/a>. It even has a solid port selection, with one USB-A, two speedy USB4, and HDMI 2.1. I really enjoyed the larger Zenbook A16 version<\/a> when I reviewed it, but the A14 is even lighter and significantly cheaper. Like its larger sibling, the A14 is coated in Asus\u2019 Ceraluminum finish that gives it a nice textured feel and unique look. (It\u2019s a beige laptop!)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nA cheap laptop with a great processor<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$520<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nA great, well-rounded processor in a cheap laptop (if you get it on sale)<\/li>\nLots of ports, including Thunderbolt 4<\/li>\nVery good battery life<\/li>\nCan lightly game on ultra-low settings<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nWashed out screen with noticeable light bleed<\/li>\nBad speakers<\/li>\nPoor build quality<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nAcer\u2019s Aspire 14 AI didn\u2019t impress me with its screen, speakers, or build quality when I tested it against the Neo<\/a>, but for $500 or $600<\/a> on sale, which it often is, it\u2019s hard to beat. It has a solid Intel Lunar Lake processor, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and a bunch of speedy ports. Getting two USB-A, two Thunderbolt 4, and HDMI 2.1 on a $600 laptop? Hell yeah.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nA Lunar Lake chip means you get great battery life, and you can even do some light gaming. Its screen isn\u2019t pretty and everything creaks, but with the money you save you can overcome some of its shortcomings with a mouse and monitor. Just keep in mind that the appeal of this laptop is what you\u2019re getting for the price. If the deal winds change and Aspire 14 AIs are selling for $700 or more, consider something else.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\nRead our review of the Acer Aspire 14 AI.<\/a><\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nA formidable 16-incher for about $500<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$517<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nAn affordable laptop with a large 16-inch display, plenty of ports, and excellent battery life thanks to a Qualcomm Snapdragon X processor.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nRead More<\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nI\u2019m still testing the HP OmniBook 3 for a full review, but I\u2019ve used it enough and I like it enough at around $500<\/a> to give it a nod. Its speakers and screen are not good quality, but they\u2019re slightly better than the Acer Aspire above \u2014 just don\u2019t look too close, or you\u2019ll notice that its 1920 x 1200 resolution isn\u2019t very sharp at this scale. At 16 inches you\u2019re getting a big screen for cheap, but this laptop doesn\u2019t feel <\/em>large, as it weighs only 3.65 pounds \/ 1.66kg and is about 0.63 inches \/ 16mm thick (at its hinge, where it\u2019s slightly thicker). And its sizable battery and efficient Snapdragon X chip allow it to last long on a charge. Plus, it\u2019s got an ample-sized numpad for you numbers people.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nConsider a refurbished ThinkPad<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$592<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nLenovo ThinkPads are workhorse enterprise laptops, making older refurbished models a great pickup on the cheap. The T14 Gen 4 from 2023 came with Intel Raptor Lake chips, a 14-inch 1920 x 1200 IPS display, and plenty of ports \u2014 among them, Thunderbolt 4.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nRead More<\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nThinkPads are awesome. They have great keyboards and trackpads, sturdy builds, lots of ports, and even a TrackPoint. They\u2019re typically very expensive when bought new, and they have a reputation for lasting a long time. They\u2019re Lenovo\u2019s business line, so there\u2019s a constant stream of used ThinkPads entering the secondhand market when companies refresh their fleets. That makes them a great candidate for buying refurbished or used. Lenovo sells many refurb units directly<\/a>, so you know you should be getting something in good shape. Many of them are still expensive, but this ThinkPad T14<\/a> is an attractive example, offering a 13th-gen Intel chip, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage for around $700. Or for a bit more you can get this ThinkPad L14 Gen 5<\/a> with a newer Intel Meteor Lake chip for around $1,000.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nAnd for the more adventurous folks out there, you can pick up an even older ThinkPad on the cheap and install Linux to give it new life<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nOur go-to pick for a cheap Chromebook<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$300<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nExcellent look and build<\/li>\nSharp 1080p display<\/li>\n1080p webcam with AI features and physical shutter<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nNo touchscreen option<\/li>\nStiff touchpad<\/li>\nBattery life could be a bit <\/em>better<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nA Chromebook is good for web browsing, doing homework, and nailing the basics of browser-first computer use \u2014 when done well. The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is a mainstay of The Verge<\/em>\u2019s laptop recommendations, despite being a few years old. It\u2019s very affordable at just $350<\/a>, and even with its 12th-gen Intel chip and 8GB of RAM it\u2019s more than serviceable for ChromeOS. Google\u2019s new Googlebooks<\/a> are coming in the fall, but some early<\/a> leaks<\/a> are pointing at those potentially being pricier laptops (making me wonder what exactly their appeal will be<\/a>).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nA great convertible Chromebook<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$599<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nExcellent battery life<\/li>\nSpeedy performance<\/li>\nStylus support<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nCrummy, muffled-sounding speakers<\/li>\nNo biometric login<\/li>\nFeels slightly pricey at $700 when a Lenovo with OLED and more RAM is just $50 more<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nIf you can afford a slightly pricier, newer, and better Chromebook than the Asus, check out the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514. Its full price of $749<\/a> is a bit much, but when discounted to $600 like it is at the time of this writing it can be worth it. The Arm-based MediaTek Kompanio Ultra in this Chromebook paired with 12GB of RAM gives it very good performance and excellent battery life. And since it\u2019s a convertible, it\u2019s also great to use with an optional stylus for note-taking, drawing, and sketching.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\nRead our review of the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514<\/a>.<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nFollow topics and authors<\/strong> from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/svg><\/span>Antonio G. Di Benedetto<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
Asus\u2019s Zenbook A14 is a bit of a MacBook Air wannabe, but it\u2019s a compelling alternative if you value a superlight Windows laptop with long battery life. The 2025 model sports an Arm-based Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus chip, a nice 14-inch OLED display, and a sleek textured beige finish.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Read More<\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nAsus Zenbooks are some of the sleeker, better-looking Windows laptops, and the Zenbook A14 is Asus\u2019 wannabe MacBook Air. It has a good Snapdragon X Plus chip, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and a lovely OLED display in an ultra-light chassis (it\u2019s just 2.4 pounds \/ 1.09kg), all for $1,000 or as low as $700 on sale<\/a>. It even has a solid port selection, with one USB-A, two speedy USB4, and HDMI 2.1. I really enjoyed the larger Zenbook A16 version<\/a> when I reviewed it, but the A14 is even lighter and significantly cheaper. Like its larger sibling, the A14 is coated in Asus\u2019 Ceraluminum finish that gives it a nice textured feel and unique look. (It\u2019s a beige laptop!)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nA cheap laptop with a great processor<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$520<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nA great, well-rounded processor in a cheap laptop (if you get it on sale)<\/li>\nLots of ports, including Thunderbolt 4<\/li>\nVery good battery life<\/li>\nCan lightly game on ultra-low settings<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nWashed out screen with noticeable light bleed<\/li>\nBad speakers<\/li>\nPoor build quality<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nAcer\u2019s Aspire 14 AI didn\u2019t impress me with its screen, speakers, or build quality when I tested it against the Neo<\/a>, but for $500 or $600<\/a> on sale, which it often is, it\u2019s hard to beat. It has a solid Intel Lunar Lake processor, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and a bunch of speedy ports. Getting two USB-A, two Thunderbolt 4, and HDMI 2.1 on a $600 laptop? Hell yeah.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nA Lunar Lake chip means you get great battery life, and you can even do some light gaming. Its screen isn\u2019t pretty and everything creaks, but with the money you save you can overcome some of its shortcomings with a mouse and monitor. Just keep in mind that the appeal of this laptop is what you\u2019re getting for the price. If the deal winds change and Aspire 14 AIs are selling for $700 or more, consider something else.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\nRead our review of the Acer Aspire 14 AI.<\/a><\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nA formidable 16-incher for about $500<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$517<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nAn affordable laptop with a large 16-inch display, plenty of ports, and excellent battery life thanks to a Qualcomm Snapdragon X processor.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nRead More<\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nI\u2019m still testing the HP OmniBook 3 for a full review, but I\u2019ve used it enough and I like it enough at around $500<\/a> to give it a nod. Its speakers and screen are not good quality, but they\u2019re slightly better than the Acer Aspire above \u2014 just don\u2019t look too close, or you\u2019ll notice that its 1920 x 1200 resolution isn\u2019t very sharp at this scale. At 16 inches you\u2019re getting a big screen for cheap, but this laptop doesn\u2019t feel <\/em>large, as it weighs only 3.65 pounds \/ 1.66kg and is about 0.63 inches \/ 16mm thick (at its hinge, where it\u2019s slightly thicker). And its sizable battery and efficient Snapdragon X chip allow it to last long on a charge. Plus, it\u2019s got an ample-sized numpad for you numbers people.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nConsider a refurbished ThinkPad<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$592<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nLenovo ThinkPads are workhorse enterprise laptops, making older refurbished models a great pickup on the cheap. The T14 Gen 4 from 2023 came with Intel Raptor Lake chips, a 14-inch 1920 x 1200 IPS display, and plenty of ports \u2014 among them, Thunderbolt 4.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nRead More<\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nThinkPads are awesome. They have great keyboards and trackpads, sturdy builds, lots of ports, and even a TrackPoint. They\u2019re typically very expensive when bought new, and they have a reputation for lasting a long time. They\u2019re Lenovo\u2019s business line, so there\u2019s a constant stream of used ThinkPads entering the secondhand market when companies refresh their fleets. That makes them a great candidate for buying refurbished or used. Lenovo sells many refurb units directly<\/a>, so you know you should be getting something in good shape. Many of them are still expensive, but this ThinkPad T14<\/a> is an attractive example, offering a 13th-gen Intel chip, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage for around $700. Or for a bit more you can get this ThinkPad L14 Gen 5<\/a> with a newer Intel Meteor Lake chip for around $1,000.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nAnd for the more adventurous folks out there, you can pick up an even older ThinkPad on the cheap and install Linux to give it new life<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nOur go-to pick for a cheap Chromebook<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$300<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nExcellent look and build<\/li>\nSharp 1080p display<\/li>\n1080p webcam with AI features and physical shutter<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nNo touchscreen option<\/li>\nStiff touchpad<\/li>\nBattery life could be a bit <\/em>better<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nA Chromebook is good for web browsing, doing homework, and nailing the basics of browser-first computer use \u2014 when done well. The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is a mainstay of The Verge<\/em>\u2019s laptop recommendations, despite being a few years old. It\u2019s very affordable at just $350<\/a>, and even with its 12th-gen Intel chip and 8GB of RAM it\u2019s more than serviceable for ChromeOS. Google\u2019s new Googlebooks<\/a> are coming in the fall, but some early<\/a> leaks<\/a> are pointing at those potentially being pricier laptops (making me wonder what exactly their appeal will be<\/a>).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nA great convertible Chromebook<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$599<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nExcellent battery life<\/li>\nSpeedy performance<\/li>\nStylus support<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nCrummy, muffled-sounding speakers<\/li>\nNo biometric login<\/li>\nFeels slightly pricey at $700 when a Lenovo with OLED and more RAM is just $50 more<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nIf you can afford a slightly pricier, newer, and better Chromebook than the Asus, check out the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514. Its full price of $749<\/a> is a bit much, but when discounted to $600 like it is at the time of this writing it can be worth it. The Arm-based MediaTek Kompanio Ultra in this Chromebook paired with 12GB of RAM gives it very good performance and excellent battery life. And since it\u2019s a convertible, it\u2019s also great to use with an optional stylus for note-taking, drawing, and sketching.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\nRead our review of the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514<\/a>.<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nFollow topics and authors<\/strong> from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/svg><\/span>Antonio G. Di Benedetto<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
Asus Zenbooks are some of the sleeker, better-looking Windows laptops, and the Zenbook A14 is Asus\u2019 wannabe MacBook Air. It has a good Snapdragon X Plus chip, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and a lovely OLED display in an ultra-light chassis (it\u2019s just 2.4 pounds \/ 1.09kg), all for $1,000 or as low as $700 on sale<\/a>. It even has a solid port selection, with one USB-A, two speedy USB4, and HDMI 2.1. I really enjoyed the larger Zenbook A16 version<\/a> when I reviewed it, but the A14 is even lighter and significantly cheaper. Like its larger sibling, the A14 is coated in Asus\u2019 Ceraluminum finish that gives it a nice textured feel and unique look. (It\u2019s a beige laptop!)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nA cheap laptop with a great processor<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$520<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nA great, well-rounded processor in a cheap laptop (if you get it on sale)<\/li>\nLots of ports, including Thunderbolt 4<\/li>\nVery good battery life<\/li>\nCan lightly game on ultra-low settings<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nWashed out screen with noticeable light bleed<\/li>\nBad speakers<\/li>\nPoor build quality<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nAcer\u2019s Aspire 14 AI didn\u2019t impress me with its screen, speakers, or build quality when I tested it against the Neo<\/a>, but for $500 or $600<\/a> on sale, which it often is, it\u2019s hard to beat. It has a solid Intel Lunar Lake processor, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and a bunch of speedy ports. Getting two USB-A, two Thunderbolt 4, and HDMI 2.1 on a $600 laptop? Hell yeah.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nA Lunar Lake chip means you get great battery life, and you can even do some light gaming. Its screen isn\u2019t pretty and everything creaks, but with the money you save you can overcome some of its shortcomings with a mouse and monitor. Just keep in mind that the appeal of this laptop is what you\u2019re getting for the price. If the deal winds change and Aspire 14 AIs are selling for $700 or more, consider something else.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\nRead our review of the Acer Aspire 14 AI.<\/a><\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nA formidable 16-incher for about $500<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$517<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nAn affordable laptop with a large 16-inch display, plenty of ports, and excellent battery life thanks to a Qualcomm Snapdragon X processor.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nRead More<\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nI\u2019m still testing the HP OmniBook 3 for a full review, but I\u2019ve used it enough and I like it enough at around $500<\/a> to give it a nod. Its speakers and screen are not good quality, but they\u2019re slightly better than the Acer Aspire above \u2014 just don\u2019t look too close, or you\u2019ll notice that its 1920 x 1200 resolution isn\u2019t very sharp at this scale. At 16 inches you\u2019re getting a big screen for cheap, but this laptop doesn\u2019t feel <\/em>large, as it weighs only 3.65 pounds \/ 1.66kg and is about 0.63 inches \/ 16mm thick (at its hinge, where it\u2019s slightly thicker). And its sizable battery and efficient Snapdragon X chip allow it to last long on a charge. Plus, it\u2019s got an ample-sized numpad for you numbers people.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nConsider a refurbished ThinkPad<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$592<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nLenovo ThinkPads are workhorse enterprise laptops, making older refurbished models a great pickup on the cheap. The T14 Gen 4 from 2023 came with Intel Raptor Lake chips, a 14-inch 1920 x 1200 IPS display, and plenty of ports \u2014 among them, Thunderbolt 4.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nRead More<\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nThinkPads are awesome. They have great keyboards and trackpads, sturdy builds, lots of ports, and even a TrackPoint. They\u2019re typically very expensive when bought new, and they have a reputation for lasting a long time. They\u2019re Lenovo\u2019s business line, so there\u2019s a constant stream of used ThinkPads entering the secondhand market when companies refresh their fleets. That makes them a great candidate for buying refurbished or used. Lenovo sells many refurb units directly<\/a>, so you know you should be getting something in good shape. Many of them are still expensive, but this ThinkPad T14<\/a> is an attractive example, offering a 13th-gen Intel chip, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage for around $700. Or for a bit more you can get this ThinkPad L14 Gen 5<\/a> with a newer Intel Meteor Lake chip for around $1,000.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nAnd for the more adventurous folks out there, you can pick up an even older ThinkPad on the cheap and install Linux to give it new life<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nOur go-to pick for a cheap Chromebook<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$300<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nExcellent look and build<\/li>\nSharp 1080p display<\/li>\n1080p webcam with AI features and physical shutter<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nNo touchscreen option<\/li>\nStiff touchpad<\/li>\nBattery life could be a bit <\/em>better<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nA Chromebook is good for web browsing, doing homework, and nailing the basics of browser-first computer use \u2014 when done well. The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is a mainstay of The Verge<\/em>\u2019s laptop recommendations, despite being a few years old. It\u2019s very affordable at just $350<\/a>, and even with its 12th-gen Intel chip and 8GB of RAM it\u2019s more than serviceable for ChromeOS. Google\u2019s new Googlebooks<\/a> are coming in the fall, but some early<\/a> leaks<\/a> are pointing at those potentially being pricier laptops (making me wonder what exactly their appeal will be<\/a>).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nA great convertible Chromebook<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$599<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nExcellent battery life<\/li>\nSpeedy performance<\/li>\nStylus support<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nCrummy, muffled-sounding speakers<\/li>\nNo biometric login<\/li>\nFeels slightly pricey at $700 when a Lenovo with OLED and more RAM is just $50 more<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nIf you can afford a slightly pricier, newer, and better Chromebook than the Asus, check out the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514. Its full price of $749<\/a> is a bit much, but when discounted to $600 like it is at the time of this writing it can be worth it. The Arm-based MediaTek Kompanio Ultra in this Chromebook paired with 12GB of RAM gives it very good performance and excellent battery life. And since it\u2019s a convertible, it\u2019s also great to use with an optional stylus for note-taking, drawing, and sketching.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\nRead our review of the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514<\/a>.<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nFollow topics and authors<\/strong> from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/svg><\/span>Antonio G. Di Benedetto<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
$520<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nA great, well-rounded processor in a cheap laptop (if you get it on sale)<\/li>\nLots of ports, including Thunderbolt 4<\/li>\nVery good battery life<\/li>\nCan lightly game on ultra-low settings<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nWashed out screen with noticeable light bleed<\/li>\nBad speakers<\/li>\nPoor build quality<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nAcer\u2019s Aspire 14 AI didn\u2019t impress me with its screen, speakers, or build quality when I tested it against the Neo<\/a>, but for $500 or $600<\/a> on sale, which it often is, it\u2019s hard to beat. It has a solid Intel Lunar Lake processor, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and a bunch of speedy ports. Getting two USB-A, two Thunderbolt 4, and HDMI 2.1 on a $600 laptop? Hell yeah.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nA Lunar Lake chip means you get great battery life, and you can even do some light gaming. Its screen isn\u2019t pretty and everything creaks, but with the money you save you can overcome some of its shortcomings with a mouse and monitor. Just keep in mind that the appeal of this laptop is what you\u2019re getting for the price. If the deal winds change and Aspire 14 AIs are selling for $700 or more, consider something else.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\nRead our review of the Acer Aspire 14 AI.<\/a><\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nA formidable 16-incher for about $500<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$517<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nAn affordable laptop with a large 16-inch display, plenty of ports, and excellent battery life thanks to a Qualcomm Snapdragon X processor.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nRead More<\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nI\u2019m still testing the HP OmniBook 3 for a full review, but I\u2019ve used it enough and I like it enough at around $500<\/a> to give it a nod. Its speakers and screen are not good quality, but they\u2019re slightly better than the Acer Aspire above \u2014 just don\u2019t look too close, or you\u2019ll notice that its 1920 x 1200 resolution isn\u2019t very sharp at this scale. At 16 inches you\u2019re getting a big screen for cheap, but this laptop doesn\u2019t feel <\/em>large, as it weighs only 3.65 pounds \/ 1.66kg and is about 0.63 inches \/ 16mm thick (at its hinge, where it\u2019s slightly thicker). And its sizable battery and efficient Snapdragon X chip allow it to last long on a charge. Plus, it\u2019s got an ample-sized numpad for you numbers people.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nConsider a refurbished ThinkPad<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$592<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nLenovo ThinkPads are workhorse enterprise laptops, making older refurbished models a great pickup on the cheap. The T14 Gen 4 from 2023 came with Intel Raptor Lake chips, a 14-inch 1920 x 1200 IPS display, and plenty of ports \u2014 among them, Thunderbolt 4.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nRead More<\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nThinkPads are awesome. They have great keyboards and trackpads, sturdy builds, lots of ports, and even a TrackPoint. They\u2019re typically very expensive when bought new, and they have a reputation for lasting a long time. They\u2019re Lenovo\u2019s business line, so there\u2019s a constant stream of used ThinkPads entering the secondhand market when companies refresh their fleets. That makes them a great candidate for buying refurbished or used. Lenovo sells many refurb units directly<\/a>, so you know you should be getting something in good shape. Many of them are still expensive, but this ThinkPad T14<\/a> is an attractive example, offering a 13th-gen Intel chip, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage for around $700. Or for a bit more you can get this ThinkPad L14 Gen 5<\/a> with a newer Intel Meteor Lake chip for around $1,000.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nAnd for the more adventurous folks out there, you can pick up an even older ThinkPad on the cheap and install Linux to give it new life<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nOur go-to pick for a cheap Chromebook<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$300<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nExcellent look and build<\/li>\nSharp 1080p display<\/li>\n1080p webcam with AI features and physical shutter<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nNo touchscreen option<\/li>\nStiff touchpad<\/li>\nBattery life could be a bit <\/em>better<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nA Chromebook is good for web browsing, doing homework, and nailing the basics of browser-first computer use \u2014 when done well. The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is a mainstay of The Verge<\/em>\u2019s laptop recommendations, despite being a few years old. It\u2019s very affordable at just $350<\/a>, and even with its 12th-gen Intel chip and 8GB of RAM it\u2019s more than serviceable for ChromeOS. Google\u2019s new Googlebooks<\/a> are coming in the fall, but some early<\/a> leaks<\/a> are pointing at those potentially being pricier laptops (making me wonder what exactly their appeal will be<\/a>).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nA great convertible Chromebook<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$599<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nExcellent battery life<\/li>\nSpeedy performance<\/li>\nStylus support<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nCrummy, muffled-sounding speakers<\/li>\nNo biometric login<\/li>\nFeels slightly pricey at $700 when a Lenovo with OLED and more RAM is just $50 more<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nIf you can afford a slightly pricier, newer, and better Chromebook than the Asus, check out the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514. Its full price of $749<\/a> is a bit much, but when discounted to $600 like it is at the time of this writing it can be worth it. The Arm-based MediaTek Kompanio Ultra in this Chromebook paired with 12GB of RAM gives it very good performance and excellent battery life. And since it\u2019s a convertible, it\u2019s also great to use with an optional stylus for note-taking, drawing, and sketching.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\nRead our review of the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514<\/a>.<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nFollow topics and authors<\/strong> from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/svg><\/span>Antonio G. Di Benedetto<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
Acer\u2019s Aspire 14 AI didn\u2019t impress me with its screen, speakers, or build quality when I tested it against the Neo<\/a>, but for $500 or $600<\/a> on sale, which it often is, it\u2019s hard to beat. It has a solid Intel Lunar Lake processor, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and a bunch of speedy ports. Getting two USB-A, two Thunderbolt 4, and HDMI 2.1 on a $600 laptop? Hell yeah.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nA Lunar Lake chip means you get great battery life, and you can even do some light gaming. Its screen isn\u2019t pretty and everything creaks, but with the money you save you can overcome some of its shortcomings with a mouse and monitor. Just keep in mind that the appeal of this laptop is what you\u2019re getting for the price. If the deal winds change and Aspire 14 AIs are selling for $700 or more, consider something else.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\nRead our review of the Acer Aspire 14 AI.<\/a><\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nA formidable 16-incher for about $500<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$517<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nAn affordable laptop with a large 16-inch display, plenty of ports, and excellent battery life thanks to a Qualcomm Snapdragon X processor.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nRead More<\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nI\u2019m still testing the HP OmniBook 3 for a full review, but I\u2019ve used it enough and I like it enough at around $500<\/a> to give it a nod. Its speakers and screen are not good quality, but they\u2019re slightly better than the Acer Aspire above \u2014 just don\u2019t look too close, or you\u2019ll notice that its 1920 x 1200 resolution isn\u2019t very sharp at this scale. At 16 inches you\u2019re getting a big screen for cheap, but this laptop doesn\u2019t feel <\/em>large, as it weighs only 3.65 pounds \/ 1.66kg and is about 0.63 inches \/ 16mm thick (at its hinge, where it\u2019s slightly thicker). And its sizable battery and efficient Snapdragon X chip allow it to last long on a charge. Plus, it\u2019s got an ample-sized numpad for you numbers people.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nConsider a refurbished ThinkPad<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$592<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nLenovo ThinkPads are workhorse enterprise laptops, making older refurbished models a great pickup on the cheap. The T14 Gen 4 from 2023 came with Intel Raptor Lake chips, a 14-inch 1920 x 1200 IPS display, and plenty of ports \u2014 among them, Thunderbolt 4.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nRead More<\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nThinkPads are awesome. They have great keyboards and trackpads, sturdy builds, lots of ports, and even a TrackPoint. They\u2019re typically very expensive when bought new, and they have a reputation for lasting a long time. They\u2019re Lenovo\u2019s business line, so there\u2019s a constant stream of used ThinkPads entering the secondhand market when companies refresh their fleets. That makes them a great candidate for buying refurbished or used. Lenovo sells many refurb units directly<\/a>, so you know you should be getting something in good shape. Many of them are still expensive, but this ThinkPad T14<\/a> is an attractive example, offering a 13th-gen Intel chip, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage for around $700. Or for a bit more you can get this ThinkPad L14 Gen 5<\/a> with a newer Intel Meteor Lake chip for around $1,000.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nAnd for the more adventurous folks out there, you can pick up an even older ThinkPad on the cheap and install Linux to give it new life<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nOur go-to pick for a cheap Chromebook<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$300<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nExcellent look and build<\/li>\nSharp 1080p display<\/li>\n1080p webcam with AI features and physical shutter<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nNo touchscreen option<\/li>\nStiff touchpad<\/li>\nBattery life could be a bit <\/em>better<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nA Chromebook is good for web browsing, doing homework, and nailing the basics of browser-first computer use \u2014 when done well. The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is a mainstay of The Verge<\/em>\u2019s laptop recommendations, despite being a few years old. It\u2019s very affordable at just $350<\/a>, and even with its 12th-gen Intel chip and 8GB of RAM it\u2019s more than serviceable for ChromeOS. Google\u2019s new Googlebooks<\/a> are coming in the fall, but some early<\/a> leaks<\/a> are pointing at those potentially being pricier laptops (making me wonder what exactly their appeal will be<\/a>).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nA great convertible Chromebook<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$599<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nExcellent battery life<\/li>\nSpeedy performance<\/li>\nStylus support<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nCrummy, muffled-sounding speakers<\/li>\nNo biometric login<\/li>\nFeels slightly pricey at $700 when a Lenovo with OLED and more RAM is just $50 more<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nIf you can afford a slightly pricier, newer, and better Chromebook than the Asus, check out the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514. Its full price of $749<\/a> is a bit much, but when discounted to $600 like it is at the time of this writing it can be worth it. The Arm-based MediaTek Kompanio Ultra in this Chromebook paired with 12GB of RAM gives it very good performance and excellent battery life. And since it\u2019s a convertible, it\u2019s also great to use with an optional stylus for note-taking, drawing, and sketching.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\nRead our review of the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514<\/a>.<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nFollow topics and authors<\/strong> from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/svg><\/span>Antonio G. Di Benedetto<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
A Lunar Lake chip means you get great battery life, and you can even do some light gaming. Its screen isn\u2019t pretty and everything creaks, but with the money you save you can overcome some of its shortcomings with a mouse and monitor. Just keep in mind that the appeal of this laptop is what you\u2019re getting for the price. If the deal winds change and Aspire 14 AIs are selling for $700 or more, consider something else.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
$517<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nAn affordable laptop with a large 16-inch display, plenty of ports, and excellent battery life thanks to a Qualcomm Snapdragon X processor.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nRead More<\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nI\u2019m still testing the HP OmniBook 3 for a full review, but I\u2019ve used it enough and I like it enough at around $500<\/a> to give it a nod. Its speakers and screen are not good quality, but they\u2019re slightly better than the Acer Aspire above \u2014 just don\u2019t look too close, or you\u2019ll notice that its 1920 x 1200 resolution isn\u2019t very sharp at this scale. At 16 inches you\u2019re getting a big screen for cheap, but this laptop doesn\u2019t feel <\/em>large, as it weighs only 3.65 pounds \/ 1.66kg and is about 0.63 inches \/ 16mm thick (at its hinge, where it\u2019s slightly thicker). And its sizable battery and efficient Snapdragon X chip allow it to last long on a charge. Plus, it\u2019s got an ample-sized numpad for you numbers people.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nConsider a refurbished ThinkPad<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$592<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nLenovo ThinkPads are workhorse enterprise laptops, making older refurbished models a great pickup on the cheap. The T14 Gen 4 from 2023 came with Intel Raptor Lake chips, a 14-inch 1920 x 1200 IPS display, and plenty of ports \u2014 among them, Thunderbolt 4.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nRead More<\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nThinkPads are awesome. They have great keyboards and trackpads, sturdy builds, lots of ports, and even a TrackPoint. They\u2019re typically very expensive when bought new, and they have a reputation for lasting a long time. They\u2019re Lenovo\u2019s business line, so there\u2019s a constant stream of used ThinkPads entering the secondhand market when companies refresh their fleets. That makes them a great candidate for buying refurbished or used. Lenovo sells many refurb units directly<\/a>, so you know you should be getting something in good shape. Many of them are still expensive, but this ThinkPad T14<\/a> is an attractive example, offering a 13th-gen Intel chip, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage for around $700. Or for a bit more you can get this ThinkPad L14 Gen 5<\/a> with a newer Intel Meteor Lake chip for around $1,000.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nAnd for the more adventurous folks out there, you can pick up an even older ThinkPad on the cheap and install Linux to give it new life<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nOur go-to pick for a cheap Chromebook<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$300<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nExcellent look and build<\/li>\nSharp 1080p display<\/li>\n1080p webcam with AI features and physical shutter<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nNo touchscreen option<\/li>\nStiff touchpad<\/li>\nBattery life could be a bit <\/em>better<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nA Chromebook is good for web browsing, doing homework, and nailing the basics of browser-first computer use \u2014 when done well. The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is a mainstay of The Verge<\/em>\u2019s laptop recommendations, despite being a few years old. It\u2019s very affordable at just $350<\/a>, and even with its 12th-gen Intel chip and 8GB of RAM it\u2019s more than serviceable for ChromeOS. Google\u2019s new Googlebooks<\/a> are coming in the fall, but some early<\/a> leaks<\/a> are pointing at those potentially being pricier laptops (making me wonder what exactly their appeal will be<\/a>).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nA great convertible Chromebook<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$599<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nExcellent battery life<\/li>\nSpeedy performance<\/li>\nStylus support<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nCrummy, muffled-sounding speakers<\/li>\nNo biometric login<\/li>\nFeels slightly pricey at $700 when a Lenovo with OLED and more RAM is just $50 more<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nIf you can afford a slightly pricier, newer, and better Chromebook than the Asus, check out the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514. Its full price of $749<\/a> is a bit much, but when discounted to $600 like it is at the time of this writing it can be worth it. The Arm-based MediaTek Kompanio Ultra in this Chromebook paired with 12GB of RAM gives it very good performance and excellent battery life. And since it\u2019s a convertible, it\u2019s also great to use with an optional stylus for note-taking, drawing, and sketching.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\nRead our review of the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514<\/a>.<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nFollow topics and authors<\/strong> from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/svg><\/span>Antonio G. Di Benedetto<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
An affordable laptop with a large 16-inch display, plenty of ports, and excellent battery life thanks to a Qualcomm Snapdragon X processor.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Read More<\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nI\u2019m still testing the HP OmniBook 3 for a full review, but I\u2019ve used it enough and I like it enough at around $500<\/a> to give it a nod. Its speakers and screen are not good quality, but they\u2019re slightly better than the Acer Aspire above \u2014 just don\u2019t look too close, or you\u2019ll notice that its 1920 x 1200 resolution isn\u2019t very sharp at this scale. At 16 inches you\u2019re getting a big screen for cheap, but this laptop doesn\u2019t feel <\/em>large, as it weighs only 3.65 pounds \/ 1.66kg and is about 0.63 inches \/ 16mm thick (at its hinge, where it\u2019s slightly thicker). And its sizable battery and efficient Snapdragon X chip allow it to last long on a charge. Plus, it\u2019s got an ample-sized numpad for you numbers people.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nConsider a refurbished ThinkPad<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$592<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nLenovo ThinkPads are workhorse enterprise laptops, making older refurbished models a great pickup on the cheap. The T14 Gen 4 from 2023 came with Intel Raptor Lake chips, a 14-inch 1920 x 1200 IPS display, and plenty of ports \u2014 among them, Thunderbolt 4.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nRead More<\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nThinkPads are awesome. They have great keyboards and trackpads, sturdy builds, lots of ports, and even a TrackPoint. They\u2019re typically very expensive when bought new, and they have a reputation for lasting a long time. They\u2019re Lenovo\u2019s business line, so there\u2019s a constant stream of used ThinkPads entering the secondhand market when companies refresh their fleets. That makes them a great candidate for buying refurbished or used. Lenovo sells many refurb units directly<\/a>, so you know you should be getting something in good shape. Many of them are still expensive, but this ThinkPad T14<\/a> is an attractive example, offering a 13th-gen Intel chip, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage for around $700. Or for a bit more you can get this ThinkPad L14 Gen 5<\/a> with a newer Intel Meteor Lake chip for around $1,000.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nAnd for the more adventurous folks out there, you can pick up an even older ThinkPad on the cheap and install Linux to give it new life<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nOur go-to pick for a cheap Chromebook<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$300<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nExcellent look and build<\/li>\nSharp 1080p display<\/li>\n1080p webcam with AI features and physical shutter<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nNo touchscreen option<\/li>\nStiff touchpad<\/li>\nBattery life could be a bit <\/em>better<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nA Chromebook is good for web browsing, doing homework, and nailing the basics of browser-first computer use \u2014 when done well. The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is a mainstay of The Verge<\/em>\u2019s laptop recommendations, despite being a few years old. It\u2019s very affordable at just $350<\/a>, and even with its 12th-gen Intel chip and 8GB of RAM it\u2019s more than serviceable for ChromeOS. Google\u2019s new Googlebooks<\/a> are coming in the fall, but some early<\/a> leaks<\/a> are pointing at those potentially being pricier laptops (making me wonder what exactly their appeal will be<\/a>).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nA great convertible Chromebook<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$599<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nExcellent battery life<\/li>\nSpeedy performance<\/li>\nStylus support<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nCrummy, muffled-sounding speakers<\/li>\nNo biometric login<\/li>\nFeels slightly pricey at $700 when a Lenovo with OLED and more RAM is just $50 more<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nIf you can afford a slightly pricier, newer, and better Chromebook than the Asus, check out the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514. Its full price of $749<\/a> is a bit much, but when discounted to $600 like it is at the time of this writing it can be worth it. The Arm-based MediaTek Kompanio Ultra in this Chromebook paired with 12GB of RAM gives it very good performance and excellent battery life. And since it\u2019s a convertible, it\u2019s also great to use with an optional stylus for note-taking, drawing, and sketching.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\nRead our review of the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514<\/a>.<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nFollow topics and authors<\/strong> from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/svg><\/span>Antonio G. Di Benedetto<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
I\u2019m still testing the HP OmniBook 3 for a full review, but I\u2019ve used it enough and I like it enough at around $500<\/a> to give it a nod. Its speakers and screen are not good quality, but they\u2019re slightly better than the Acer Aspire above \u2014 just don\u2019t look too close, or you\u2019ll notice that its 1920 x 1200 resolution isn\u2019t very sharp at this scale. At 16 inches you\u2019re getting a big screen for cheap, but this laptop doesn\u2019t feel <\/em>large, as it weighs only 3.65 pounds \/ 1.66kg and is about 0.63 inches \/ 16mm thick (at its hinge, where it\u2019s slightly thicker). And its sizable battery and efficient Snapdragon X chip allow it to last long on a charge. Plus, it\u2019s got an ample-sized numpad for you numbers people.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nConsider a refurbished ThinkPad<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$592<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nLenovo ThinkPads are workhorse enterprise laptops, making older refurbished models a great pickup on the cheap. The T14 Gen 4 from 2023 came with Intel Raptor Lake chips, a 14-inch 1920 x 1200 IPS display, and plenty of ports \u2014 among them, Thunderbolt 4.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nRead More<\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nThinkPads are awesome. They have great keyboards and trackpads, sturdy builds, lots of ports, and even a TrackPoint. They\u2019re typically very expensive when bought new, and they have a reputation for lasting a long time. They\u2019re Lenovo\u2019s business line, so there\u2019s a constant stream of used ThinkPads entering the secondhand market when companies refresh their fleets. That makes them a great candidate for buying refurbished or used. Lenovo sells many refurb units directly<\/a>, so you know you should be getting something in good shape. Many of them are still expensive, but this ThinkPad T14<\/a> is an attractive example, offering a 13th-gen Intel chip, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage for around $700. Or for a bit more you can get this ThinkPad L14 Gen 5<\/a> with a newer Intel Meteor Lake chip for around $1,000.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nAnd for the more adventurous folks out there, you can pick up an even older ThinkPad on the cheap and install Linux to give it new life<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nOur go-to pick for a cheap Chromebook<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$300<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nExcellent look and build<\/li>\nSharp 1080p display<\/li>\n1080p webcam with AI features and physical shutter<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nNo touchscreen option<\/li>\nStiff touchpad<\/li>\nBattery life could be a bit <\/em>better<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nA Chromebook is good for web browsing, doing homework, and nailing the basics of browser-first computer use \u2014 when done well. The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is a mainstay of The Verge<\/em>\u2019s laptop recommendations, despite being a few years old. It\u2019s very affordable at just $350<\/a>, and even with its 12th-gen Intel chip and 8GB of RAM it\u2019s more than serviceable for ChromeOS. Google\u2019s new Googlebooks<\/a> are coming in the fall, but some early<\/a> leaks<\/a> are pointing at those potentially being pricier laptops (making me wonder what exactly their appeal will be<\/a>).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nA great convertible Chromebook<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$599<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nExcellent battery life<\/li>\nSpeedy performance<\/li>\nStylus support<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nCrummy, muffled-sounding speakers<\/li>\nNo biometric login<\/li>\nFeels slightly pricey at $700 when a Lenovo with OLED and more RAM is just $50 more<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nIf you can afford a slightly pricier, newer, and better Chromebook than the Asus, check out the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514. Its full price of $749<\/a> is a bit much, but when discounted to $600 like it is at the time of this writing it can be worth it. The Arm-based MediaTek Kompanio Ultra in this Chromebook paired with 12GB of RAM gives it very good performance and excellent battery life. And since it\u2019s a convertible, it\u2019s also great to use with an optional stylus for note-taking, drawing, and sketching.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\nRead our review of the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514<\/a>.<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nFollow topics and authors<\/strong> from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/svg><\/span>Antonio G. Di Benedetto<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
$592<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nLenovo ThinkPads are workhorse enterprise laptops, making older refurbished models a great pickup on the cheap. The T14 Gen 4 from 2023 came with Intel Raptor Lake chips, a 14-inch 1920 x 1200 IPS display, and plenty of ports \u2014 among them, Thunderbolt 4.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nRead More<\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nThinkPads are awesome. They have great keyboards and trackpads, sturdy builds, lots of ports, and even a TrackPoint. They\u2019re typically very expensive when bought new, and they have a reputation for lasting a long time. They\u2019re Lenovo\u2019s business line, so there\u2019s a constant stream of used ThinkPads entering the secondhand market when companies refresh their fleets. That makes them a great candidate for buying refurbished or used. Lenovo sells many refurb units directly<\/a>, so you know you should be getting something in good shape. Many of them are still expensive, but this ThinkPad T14<\/a> is an attractive example, offering a 13th-gen Intel chip, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage for around $700. Or for a bit more you can get this ThinkPad L14 Gen 5<\/a> with a newer Intel Meteor Lake chip for around $1,000.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nAnd for the more adventurous folks out there, you can pick up an even older ThinkPad on the cheap and install Linux to give it new life<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nOur go-to pick for a cheap Chromebook<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$300<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nExcellent look and build<\/li>\nSharp 1080p display<\/li>\n1080p webcam with AI features and physical shutter<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nNo touchscreen option<\/li>\nStiff touchpad<\/li>\nBattery life could be a bit <\/em>better<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nA Chromebook is good for web browsing, doing homework, and nailing the basics of browser-first computer use \u2014 when done well. The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is a mainstay of The Verge<\/em>\u2019s laptop recommendations, despite being a few years old. It\u2019s very affordable at just $350<\/a>, and even with its 12th-gen Intel chip and 8GB of RAM it\u2019s more than serviceable for ChromeOS. Google\u2019s new Googlebooks<\/a> are coming in the fall, but some early<\/a> leaks<\/a> are pointing at those potentially being pricier laptops (making me wonder what exactly their appeal will be<\/a>).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nA great convertible Chromebook<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$599<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nExcellent battery life<\/li>\nSpeedy performance<\/li>\nStylus support<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nCrummy, muffled-sounding speakers<\/li>\nNo biometric login<\/li>\nFeels slightly pricey at $700 when a Lenovo with OLED and more RAM is just $50 more<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nIf you can afford a slightly pricier, newer, and better Chromebook than the Asus, check out the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514. Its full price of $749<\/a> is a bit much, but when discounted to $600 like it is at the time of this writing it can be worth it. The Arm-based MediaTek Kompanio Ultra in this Chromebook paired with 12GB of RAM gives it very good performance and excellent battery life. And since it\u2019s a convertible, it\u2019s also great to use with an optional stylus for note-taking, drawing, and sketching.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\nRead our review of the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514<\/a>.<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nFollow topics and authors<\/strong> from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/svg><\/span>Antonio G. Di Benedetto<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
Lenovo ThinkPads are workhorse enterprise laptops, making older refurbished models a great pickup on the cheap. The T14 Gen 4 from 2023 came with Intel Raptor Lake chips, a 14-inch 1920 x 1200 IPS display, and plenty of ports \u2014 among them, Thunderbolt 4.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Read More<\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nThinkPads are awesome. They have great keyboards and trackpads, sturdy builds, lots of ports, and even a TrackPoint. They\u2019re typically very expensive when bought new, and they have a reputation for lasting a long time. They\u2019re Lenovo\u2019s business line, so there\u2019s a constant stream of used ThinkPads entering the secondhand market when companies refresh their fleets. That makes them a great candidate for buying refurbished or used. Lenovo sells many refurb units directly<\/a>, so you know you should be getting something in good shape. Many of them are still expensive, but this ThinkPad T14<\/a> is an attractive example, offering a 13th-gen Intel chip, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage for around $700. Or for a bit more you can get this ThinkPad L14 Gen 5<\/a> with a newer Intel Meteor Lake chip for around $1,000.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nAnd for the more adventurous folks out there, you can pick up an even older ThinkPad on the cheap and install Linux to give it new life<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nOur go-to pick for a cheap Chromebook<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$300<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nExcellent look and build<\/li>\nSharp 1080p display<\/li>\n1080p webcam with AI features and physical shutter<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nNo touchscreen option<\/li>\nStiff touchpad<\/li>\nBattery life could be a bit <\/em>better<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nA Chromebook is good for web browsing, doing homework, and nailing the basics of browser-first computer use \u2014 when done well. The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is a mainstay of The Verge<\/em>\u2019s laptop recommendations, despite being a few years old. It\u2019s very affordable at just $350<\/a>, and even with its 12th-gen Intel chip and 8GB of RAM it\u2019s more than serviceable for ChromeOS. Google\u2019s new Googlebooks<\/a> are coming in the fall, but some early<\/a> leaks<\/a> are pointing at those potentially being pricier laptops (making me wonder what exactly their appeal will be<\/a>).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nA great convertible Chromebook<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$599<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nExcellent battery life<\/li>\nSpeedy performance<\/li>\nStylus support<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nCrummy, muffled-sounding speakers<\/li>\nNo biometric login<\/li>\nFeels slightly pricey at $700 when a Lenovo with OLED and more RAM is just $50 more<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nIf you can afford a slightly pricier, newer, and better Chromebook than the Asus, check out the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514. Its full price of $749<\/a> is a bit much, but when discounted to $600 like it is at the time of this writing it can be worth it. The Arm-based MediaTek Kompanio Ultra in this Chromebook paired with 12GB of RAM gives it very good performance and excellent battery life. And since it\u2019s a convertible, it\u2019s also great to use with an optional stylus for note-taking, drawing, and sketching.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\nRead our review of the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514<\/a>.<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nFollow topics and authors<\/strong> from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/svg><\/span>Antonio G. Di Benedetto<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
ThinkPads are awesome. They have great keyboards and trackpads, sturdy builds, lots of ports, and even a TrackPoint. They\u2019re typically very expensive when bought new, and they have a reputation for lasting a long time. They\u2019re Lenovo\u2019s business line, so there\u2019s a constant stream of used ThinkPads entering the secondhand market when companies refresh their fleets. That makes them a great candidate for buying refurbished or used. Lenovo sells many refurb units directly<\/a>, so you know you should be getting something in good shape. Many of them are still expensive, but this ThinkPad T14<\/a> is an attractive example, offering a 13th-gen Intel chip, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage for around $700. Or for a bit more you can get this ThinkPad L14 Gen 5<\/a> with a newer Intel Meteor Lake chip for around $1,000.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nAnd for the more adventurous folks out there, you can pick up an even older ThinkPad on the cheap and install Linux to give it new life<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nOur go-to pick for a cheap Chromebook<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$300<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nExcellent look and build<\/li>\nSharp 1080p display<\/li>\n1080p webcam with AI features and physical shutter<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nNo touchscreen option<\/li>\nStiff touchpad<\/li>\nBattery life could be a bit <\/em>better<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nA Chromebook is good for web browsing, doing homework, and nailing the basics of browser-first computer use \u2014 when done well. The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is a mainstay of The Verge<\/em>\u2019s laptop recommendations, despite being a few years old. It\u2019s very affordable at just $350<\/a>, and even with its 12th-gen Intel chip and 8GB of RAM it\u2019s more than serviceable for ChromeOS. Google\u2019s new Googlebooks<\/a> are coming in the fall, but some early<\/a> leaks<\/a> are pointing at those potentially being pricier laptops (making me wonder what exactly their appeal will be<\/a>).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nA great convertible Chromebook<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$599<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nExcellent battery life<\/li>\nSpeedy performance<\/li>\nStylus support<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nCrummy, muffled-sounding speakers<\/li>\nNo biometric login<\/li>\nFeels slightly pricey at $700 when a Lenovo with OLED and more RAM is just $50 more<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nIf you can afford a slightly pricier, newer, and better Chromebook than the Asus, check out the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514. Its full price of $749<\/a> is a bit much, but when discounted to $600 like it is at the time of this writing it can be worth it. The Arm-based MediaTek Kompanio Ultra in this Chromebook paired with 12GB of RAM gives it very good performance and excellent battery life. And since it\u2019s a convertible, it\u2019s also great to use with an optional stylus for note-taking, drawing, and sketching.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\nRead our review of the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514<\/a>.<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nFollow topics and authors<\/strong> from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/svg><\/span>Antonio G. Di Benedetto<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
And for the more adventurous folks out there, you can pick up an even older ThinkPad on the cheap and install Linux to give it new life<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nOur go-to pick for a cheap Chromebook<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$300<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nExcellent look and build<\/li>\nSharp 1080p display<\/li>\n1080p webcam with AI features and physical shutter<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nNo touchscreen option<\/li>\nStiff touchpad<\/li>\nBattery life could be a bit <\/em>better<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nA Chromebook is good for web browsing, doing homework, and nailing the basics of browser-first computer use \u2014 when done well. The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is a mainstay of The Verge<\/em>\u2019s laptop recommendations, despite being a few years old. It\u2019s very affordable at just $350<\/a>, and even with its 12th-gen Intel chip and 8GB of RAM it\u2019s more than serviceable for ChromeOS. Google\u2019s new Googlebooks<\/a> are coming in the fall, but some early<\/a> leaks<\/a> are pointing at those potentially being pricier laptops (making me wonder what exactly their appeal will be<\/a>).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nA great convertible Chromebook<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$599<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nExcellent battery life<\/li>\nSpeedy performance<\/li>\nStylus support<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nCrummy, muffled-sounding speakers<\/li>\nNo biometric login<\/li>\nFeels slightly pricey at $700 when a Lenovo with OLED and more RAM is just $50 more<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nIf you can afford a slightly pricier, newer, and better Chromebook than the Asus, check out the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514. Its full price of $749<\/a> is a bit much, but when discounted to $600 like it is at the time of this writing it can be worth it. The Arm-based MediaTek Kompanio Ultra in this Chromebook paired with 12GB of RAM gives it very good performance and excellent battery life. And since it\u2019s a convertible, it\u2019s also great to use with an optional stylus for note-taking, drawing, and sketching.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\nRead our review of the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514<\/a>.<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nFollow topics and authors<\/strong> from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/svg><\/span>Antonio G. Di Benedetto<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
$300<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nExcellent look and build<\/li>\nSharp 1080p display<\/li>\n1080p webcam with AI features and physical shutter<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nNo touchscreen option<\/li>\nStiff touchpad<\/li>\nBattery life could be a bit <\/em>better<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nA Chromebook is good for web browsing, doing homework, and nailing the basics of browser-first computer use \u2014 when done well. The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is a mainstay of The Verge<\/em>\u2019s laptop recommendations, despite being a few years old. It\u2019s very affordable at just $350<\/a>, and even with its 12th-gen Intel chip and 8GB of RAM it\u2019s more than serviceable for ChromeOS. Google\u2019s new Googlebooks<\/a> are coming in the fall, but some early<\/a> leaks<\/a> are pointing at those potentially being pricier laptops (making me wonder what exactly their appeal will be<\/a>).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nA great convertible Chromebook<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$599<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nExcellent battery life<\/li>\nSpeedy performance<\/li>\nStylus support<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nCrummy, muffled-sounding speakers<\/li>\nNo biometric login<\/li>\nFeels slightly pricey at $700 when a Lenovo with OLED and more RAM is just $50 more<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nIf you can afford a slightly pricier, newer, and better Chromebook than the Asus, check out the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514. Its full price of $749<\/a> is a bit much, but when discounted to $600 like it is at the time of this writing it can be worth it. The Arm-based MediaTek Kompanio Ultra in this Chromebook paired with 12GB of RAM gives it very good performance and excellent battery life. And since it\u2019s a convertible, it\u2019s also great to use with an optional stylus for note-taking, drawing, and sketching.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\nRead our review of the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514<\/a>.<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nFollow topics and authors<\/strong> from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/svg><\/span>Antonio G. Di Benedetto<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
A Chromebook is good for web browsing, doing homework, and nailing the basics of browser-first computer use \u2014 when done well. The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is a mainstay of The Verge<\/em>\u2019s laptop recommendations, despite being a few years old. It\u2019s very affordable at just $350<\/a>, and even with its 12th-gen Intel chip and 8GB of RAM it\u2019s more than serviceable for ChromeOS. Google\u2019s new Googlebooks<\/a> are coming in the fall, but some early<\/a> leaks<\/a> are pointing at those potentially being pricier laptops (making me wonder what exactly their appeal will be<\/a>).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nA great convertible Chromebook<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n\n$599<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nExcellent battery life<\/li>\nSpeedy performance<\/li>\nStylus support<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nCrummy, muffled-sounding speakers<\/li>\nNo biometric login<\/li>\nFeels slightly pricey at $700 when a Lenovo with OLED and more RAM is just $50 more<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nIf you can afford a slightly pricier, newer, and better Chromebook than the Asus, check out the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514. Its full price of $749<\/a> is a bit much, but when discounted to $600 like it is at the time of this writing it can be worth it. The Arm-based MediaTek Kompanio Ultra in this Chromebook paired with 12GB of RAM gives it very good performance and excellent battery life. And since it\u2019s a convertible, it\u2019s also great to use with an optional stylus for note-taking, drawing, and sketching.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\nRead our review of the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514<\/a>.<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nFollow topics and authors<\/strong> from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/svg><\/span>Antonio G. Di Benedetto<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
$599<\/span><\/p>\n\n\nThe Good<\/h4>\n\nExcellent battery life<\/li>\nSpeedy performance<\/li>\nStylus support<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\nThe Bad<\/h4>\n\nCrummy, muffled-sounding speakers<\/li>\nNo biometric login<\/li>\nFeels slightly pricey at $700 when a Lenovo with OLED and more RAM is just $50 more<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nIf you can afford a slightly pricier, newer, and better Chromebook than the Asus, check out the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514. Its full price of $749<\/a> is a bit much, but when discounted to $600 like it is at the time of this writing it can be worth it. The Arm-based MediaTek Kompanio Ultra in this Chromebook paired with 12GB of RAM gives it very good performance and excellent battery life. And since it\u2019s a convertible, it\u2019s also great to use with an optional stylus for note-taking, drawing, and sketching.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\nRead our review of the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514<\/a>.<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nFollow topics and authors<\/strong> from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/svg><\/span>Antonio G. Di Benedetto<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
If you can afford a slightly pricier, newer, and better Chromebook than the Asus, check out the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514. Its full price of $749<\/a> is a bit much, but when discounted to $600 like it is at the time of this writing it can be worth it. The Arm-based MediaTek Kompanio Ultra in this Chromebook paired with 12GB of RAM gives it very good performance and excellent battery life. And since it\u2019s a convertible, it\u2019s also great to use with an optional stylus for note-taking, drawing, and sketching.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\nRead our review of the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514<\/a>.<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nFollow topics and authors<\/strong> from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/svg><\/span>Antonio G. Di Benedetto<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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