By Robin Owens 13 days ago, Hardware
Light and fast laptops under $700.
When we speak about the best laptops under $700, we expect these devices to be qualitative, with solid design and decent characteristics. Of course, less expensive small laptops may feature a bit dull screen, or have a subpar sound system, but to produce a functional and cheap device, the manufacturers have to compromise some features.
A laptop under 700 dollars won’t possess impressive characteristics, but it should have a limited number of flaws. Such a device is likely to offer relatively broad functionality and good performance. From the best 14-inch laptops to bigger devices - you will find many decent options below.
Today you don’t have to spend much money to purchase a solid laptop, because the market is full of powerful, but affordable models that have extensive functionality for performing various tasks. However, it doesn’t mean that choosing a right laptop is an easy task, as such a variety of models may confuse you.
You need to be patient and experienced enough for selecting the best device that will suit your computing or gaming needs. To make this task easier, we have created this guide that describes the best laptops under $700.
CPU: Intel Core | GPU: Intel Iris Graphics | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 256GB | Display: 13-inch | Weight: 2.96 pound
⊕ Compact and light construction
⊕ Comes in various color options
⊕ Durable battery
⊕ A fair price as for a Mac device
⊖ Lack of touch screen
⊖ Only few ports
⊖ Doesn’t support Wi-Fi 6
Many users consider the MacBook Air as the best laptop under 700 USD that operates Mac OS, as it is one of the company’s newest models. Unfortunately, the manufacturer hasn’t released a new laptop in two years, and it could introduce a 13-inch model in the nearest future that would be thinner and more expensive, but it has not happened yet. For today, the MacBook Air remains one of the greatest options for educational or professional use.
CPU: Intel Core i5 | GPU: Intel UHD Graphics | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 512GB | Display: 14-inch | Weight: 3.62 pound
⊕ Affordable
⊕ Long-lasting battery and great keyboard feel
⊕ Loud audio system
⊕ Stylish hybrid construction
⊖ Indecent 128GB SSD
⊖ Glossy display
Pavilion is one of the most reliable manufacturers that design affordable and highly functional laptops. The lid of the laptop and lower display rim are decorated with the company’s circular logo. An updated four-slash logo can be seen on the upscale systems of the gadget. By grasping the screen corners or mashing the keyboard, you will feel only a little bend.
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 4700U Octa-Core | GPU: Radeon Graphics | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 512GB | Display: 14-inch | Weight: 3.36 pound
⊕ High-quality aluminum construction
⊕ Extensive functionality for the price
⊕ Solid performance
⊖ Second-rate, non-touch display
⊖ A little bit clumsy keyboard layout
Acer Swift 3 is a great affordable laptop. It has a premium aluminum construction and really good input devices. Its touchpad deserves special praise, as it allows for different multi-touch gestures. The Acer Swift 3 is a popular Ultrabook under $700 that offers extensive functionality for the price. The laptop has even more advantages including quality design, solid performance, long-lasting battery, stylish look, etc. However, Acer Swift 3 has some flaws such as a dull screen and poor speakers.
CPU: Intel Core I5-8265U | GPU: Intel UHD Graphics | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 512GB | Display: 13-inch | Weight: 2.6 pound
⊕ IPS screen
⊕ Great brightness
⊕ Matte display
⊕ Excellent speakers
⊖ Doesn’t support 4K
⊖ Inconvenient keyboard
Although ZenBook 13 cannot boast super-fast functioning, but it has other great features such as a high-quality screen and a smooth keyboard. A stylish blue aluminum chassis and a shiny golden Asus logo on the lid makes a laptop an attractive offer. The lip of the laptop stretches along the hinge, and when it is lifted, the keyboard takes up a bit more space. The typeface of the keyboard, as well as hinge edges, are painted red with attractive rose gold. All in all, this model is a great laptop under 700 dollars for various computing needs.
CPU: 4-Core Intel Core i5-1035G1 1.0 GHz | GPU: ntel UHD Graphics | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 512GB | Display: 17-inch | Weight: 7.67 pound
⊕ Compact aluminum chassis
⊕ Vivid Full HD touch screen
⊕ Great sound quality
⊖ Battery life is short
⊖ Small solid-state drives
⊖ Thunderbolt 3 port is absent
Fitted with the Ice Lake processor line-up from Intel, Dell Inspiron is the latest model from the brand that is similar to its 15-inch predecessor. This device has been refreshed with 10nm CPU Intel and it is fitted with an Ultra HD IPS screen, which is better than TN-version. All these enhancements make Dell Inspiron the best laptop under 700 dollars for an average user. The laptop comes with a configurable MX230 dedicated GPU that ensures high-quality graphics. Probably, the overall performance of the laptop was affected by the cost cutting, but there are no significant drawbacks that would worsen the performance of the device.
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 4600H | GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 512GB | Display: 15-inch | Weight: 4.37 pound
⊕ Solid performance
⊕ Compact design
⊕ Bang & Olufsen powerful audio system
⊖ Dull screen
⊖ Slow file transfer
The HP Pavilion Gaming is widely regarded as the greatest laptop under 700 dollars for gaming needs. The device has rich functionality and comes with a dedicated Nvidia graphics card. Other notable features are a great keyboard and a solid performance that allow you to run the majority of games at reasonable configurations. With an appealing black plastic chassis, HP logo in the center of the lid, as well as the green keyboard backlighting, HP Pavilion Gaming attracts users with its original design. By grasping the corners of the display or mashing the keyboard deck, you will feel a considerable level of bend.
CPU: Intel Core i5-9300H | GPU: GTX1650 8GB | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 256GB | Display: 15-inch | Weight: 4.10 pound
⊕ Compact and light construction
⊕ Excellent graphics
⊕ Competitive pricing
⊖ Not capacious battery
MSI GF63 Thin is an affordable gaming laptop that features compact and stylish construction. This model is similar to a more expensive GS65 Stealth Thin laptop as it has narrow bezels, backlit keyboard, and great aluminum finishing. MSI GF63 Thin can operate Intel Core i5 or i7 processor, as well as Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 or GTX 1650 Ti graphics. We could probably name it as the best laptop under 700 if it wasn't for the short battery life.
CPU: Core i5-8300H | GPU: NVidia GTX 1050 Ti 4GB Graphics | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 256GB | Display: 15.6-inch | Weight: 5.51 pound
⊕ Great Full HD gaming screen
⊕ The storage space can be expanded
⊕ Solid webcam performance
⊖ Dim screen
⊖ Inconvenient keyboard
Acer Nitro 5 AN515 is one of the most popular affordable gaming laptops that feature a great range of specs. Boasting a Full HD screen and well-built construction, the laptop is also equipped with an Intel Core i5-8300H processor that is powerful enough for handling the majority of current games, even the demanding ones. Fitted with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 with 4GB graphics, the laptop has extensive storage capabilities, namely 8GB RAM of DDR4 memory and 256GB HHD. Equipped with two front-firing speakers, Acer Nitro can brag about excellent audio characteristics. If we add its solid performance to all the advantages mentioned above, we can probably name this model as the best laptop under 700 bucks.
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 R5-3550H | GPU: GeForce GTX 1650 Graphics | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 256GB | Display: -inch | Weight: 4.85 pound
⊕ Great construction and design
⊕ 120Hz screen
⊕ Solid performance
⊕ Convenient keyboard
⊖ No Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C ports
⊖ Relatively small 8GB RAM
Asus TUF is a great gaming laptop under 700 dollars that is a solid option if you are tight on budget. Incorporating a new Nvidia GTX1650 GPU, this device boasts great functionality. This device is capable of taking your gaming experience to a new level at a relatively low price. Many users praise this model for its rich functionality that allows performing various tasks fast and easily. So, if you made up your mind to buy this laptop, you won’t get disappointed with your choice.
CPU: Intel Core i5 | GPU: Intel HD Graphics | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 128GB | Display: 13-inch | Weight: 2.85 pound
⊕ Convenient keyboard and touchpad
⊕ High-quality screen
⊕ Durable battery
⊕ Various color options and great choice of chassis materials
⊖ Lack of fingerprint reader
⊖ It could have more ports
Microsoft Surface laptops come in various sizes, colors, materials, as well as feature a great variety of functions. This particular model has a 13.5-inch screen and a powerful Intel Core i5 processor. Its body is made of Sandstone metal. Other color varieties are Black, Platinum, and Cobalt Blue. Microsoft Surface can also have a 15-inch screen, but such models are only available in Black and Platinum color options. The laptop can brag about a convenient keyboard that will allow you to perform various computing tasks without problems. Moreover, the device features a durable battery that ensures smooth and trouble-free work.
| Image | Name | Features | |
|---|---|---|---|
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MacBook Air
Our Choice |
CHECK PRICE → | |
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HP Pavilion x360
Budget |
CHECK PRICE → | |
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Acer Swift
Professional |
CHECK PRICE → |
The functionality of any laptop greatly depends on various characteristics, but the most important feature is a powerful processor that can ensure quick functioning. If you are looking for a device that can perform various tasks, then choose i5 laptops (with Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5). However, if your daily work only requires fulfilling some basic tasks, an Intel Core i3 or AMD Ryzen 3 will be able to handle such operations.
These manufacturers are the leading brands in producing quality CPU chips, so you should make sure that your future laptop under 700 dollars has the central processing unit made by these companies. Although Intel is more popular and produces CPUs for the majority of modern laptops, AMD is not a less reliable brand that is also worth your attention. However, there is one considerable difference between Intel and AMD, as the first one manufactures chips for more premium models, whereas the second one creates chips for gaming laptops under 700 dollars.
One more aspect that ensures the laptop’s capability to perform multiple tasks simultaneously is its RAM. The best MSI gaming laptop should have lots of RAM to be able to run resource-intensive games without decreasing the operation speed. Sufficient RAM amount also eliminates the problem of lagging while switching between browser tabs, or various open software.
When we speak about the best high-performance laptops, then you should consider the models that operate at least 8GB of RAM. This aspect is very important for a laptop for video editing under $700, as the process of video creation or modification involves multitasking.
Many users consider that the best laptop under 700 bucks should have a huge storage space, and think that this aspect is one of the most important ones when we speak about choosing a decent model for performing various tasks. HHD offers more storage capacity, but SSD is more reliable and doesn’t break down so often as hard-disk drive.
Of course, larger HHDs are more affordable than SSDs but can bring you many inconveniences when failing to function correctly or breaking down. Solid-state drives incorporate fewer elements, so they are more reliable and are likely to serve you for a longer time. Besides, HHDs are built of mechanical parts, whereas SSDs utilize electrical components – one more reason, why solid-state drives are sturdier.
While choosing a perfect laptop for your needs, pay attention to its durability. The great news is that most laptop models that can be found on the market today feature sturdy construction and are durable enough for serving you for a long time. The most frequent materials that are used for manufacturing a laptop chassis are metal, plastic, or their mix.
If you have not purchased any of these laptops yet, this guide will help you choose the right device that won’t harm your budget.
Maybe, you can offer your version of an affordable laptop that you have already tried and evaluated its functionality. Check out our other laptop reviews that will help you find the perfect devices within different price ranges and for various purposes.
A considerable advantage of the Dell brand is that it produces processors that boast faster performance and are more reliable if compared to HP laptops with the same functionality. Nevertheless, HP is popular because its standard and 2-in-1 laptops have a robust construction and more durable batteries that allow using these devices heavily. So, it is quite difficult to say which brand you should prefer, as each of them has its pluses and minuses.
Most affordable laptops use 8GB RAM that is actually enough for performing the majority of tasks. What is more, 8GB of RAM is a good amount for running the current games without any failures. So, if you are a gamer and looking for a decent, but an affordable laptop, choose the models with 8GB RAM and you won’t get disappointed.
No, this company is not Chinese. The abbreviation HP stands for Hewlett Packard. This brand was created by Bill Hewlett and David Packard who are Americans. So, this company traces its origin to the USA.
