By Robin Owens 17 days ago, Hardware
Affordable AMD Ryzen laptops for gaming and streaming.
Although Intel-based laptops are still the market leaders, their AMD competitors have a powerful weapon in the form of 7-nanometer chips. With this technology, they are two years ahead of their opponents. Therefore, some experts believe that serious changes await us in this segment of computer equipment. Currently, you can get a cool AMD Ryzen laptop at a reasonable price.
If we talk about desktop computers, we should note that AMD processors are starting to win the highest positions in the field, especially with the latest Ryzen 3000 series.
However, Intel still holds the first place among mobile devices. Nevertheless, you can find some good Ryzen mobile laptops powered by AMD processors. Below, you can check out the best options in 2024.
CPU: Ryzen 5 | GPU: Radeon RX560X | RAM: 8 GB | Storage: 512GB | Display: 17.3-inch | Weight: 9.25 pound
⊕ Reasonable price
⊕ Solid build quality
⊕ Slim screen bezels
⊖ Low performance
⊖ Noisy system operation
⊖ Short battery life
The updated Asus product has a bit longer battery life and has demonstrated better results during tests. However, we still have some complaints about the performance (although it is improved) and in general, our previous opinion about TUF Gaming FX705DY has not changed. This model fully relies on AMD hardware. It's worth noting that this Ryzen gaming laptop has a new 5 3550H quad-core mobile processor.
CPU: Ryzen 7 | GPU: Radeon Vega 10 | RAM: 12GB | Storage: 256GB | Display: 15.6-inch | Weight: 3.80 pound
⊕ Reasonable price
⊕ Good battery life
⊕ Use Dropbox for a year without payments
⊖ Poor resolution
⊖ Too much feedback on speakers
This model may not seem like an ideal option if you are looking for a high-end device with impressive specs. However, it can safely claim to be one of the best inexpensive Ryzen powered laptops. Good battery life and a large 15.6-inch display are the strengths of this laptop. It is a good choice for ordinary tasks and work with media content. As for the performance, it is pretty good, but the laptop starts to slow down if you open more than six tabs. Also, the touchpad leaves much to be desired.
CPU: Ryzen 7 | GPU: Radeon Vega 10 | RAM: 8 GB | Storage: 512GB | Display: 14-inch | Weight: 3.36 pound
⊕ Premium-feel aluminum
⊕ Good value for money
⊕ Decent performance and a long battery life
⊕ Easy to carry
⊖ Speakers could be better
⊖ Poor gaming capabilities
Despite some drawbacks, the Acer Swift 3 can be the best Ryzen laptop for those who are looking for a low-cost device with decent specs. It boasts excellent battery life and amazing performance, which makes up for some of the speakers’ imperfections. This is one of the best Ultrabooks available on the market in 2024. It is very compact while maintaining a high-class performance. Overall, this is a good budget model if you need a laptop for everyday tasks and gaming is not your priority.
CPU: Ryzen 3 | GPU: Radeon Vega 3 | RAM: 4GB | Storage: 128GB | Display: 15.6-inch | Weight: 4.41 pound
⊕ Decent autonomous work
⊕ Modern components
⊕ Solid build quality
⊕ Nice performance
⊕ Affordable
⊖ Screen seems dim sometimes
The Acer Aspire 5 is one of the most popular laptops with Ryzen processors. As a mid-range device, it is capable of performing everyday tasks at a high level. What's more, it has a reasonable price, is great for media use, and boasts a long battery life. With the release of this laptop, the manufacturer has confirmed that mid-range devices are the best variant for those, who cannot afford to buy premium products. If you're not into professional video editing or graphic design, this Ryzen processor-powered Acer laptop is perfect for all your daily tasks.
CPU: Ryzen 5 | GPU: Vega 8 | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 256GB | Display: 14.0-inch | Weight: 3.5 pound
⊕ Fantastic performance
⊕ Durable construction
⊕ Convenient keyboard
⊕ Affordable
⊖ A bit dim screen
This laptop from Lenovo has a 14-inch screen, a sturdy chassis, an easy-to-use keyboard, and an appealing price tag. This is one of the best budget laptops with Ryzen processors in terms of performance. Its design doesn’t stand out from other laptops. The only unique thing is the specific Abyss Blue color. It is designed as a rectangle. You will see the Lenovo logo in one of the rounded corners. The undercarriage and a lid are made of durable plastic. The chassis doesn't feel too thick or thin.
CPU: Ryzen 5 | GPU: Radeon Vega 8 | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 256GB | Display: 15.6-inch | Weight: 6.1 pound
⊕ Fantastic machine
⊕ Compact and lightweight
⊕ Decent battery life
⊖ Materials could be better
⊖ Display isn’t bright enough
This is another worthy option from a world-famous brand. This black laptop has a 15-inch screen, boasts decent performance, security, and good connectivity. This is a quad-core AMD Ryzen laptop with 8GB of DDR4 RAM, 2.1 GHz, and a 256GB M.2 NVMe PCIe solid-state drive. This laptop has excellent connectivity options, including two USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A ports, a single USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C port, and a USB 2.0 Type-A port. A microSD card reader is also supplied. This Ryzen laptop is powerful enough to cope with multiple tasks. A discrete Trusted Platform Module (dTPM) chip reliably protects your confidential data. It is one of the best options for programmers due to its robustness and reliability.
CPU: Ryzen 3 | GPU: Vega 3 | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 256GB | Display: 15.6-inch | Weight: 3.75 pound
⊕ Good keyboard
⊕ Nice speakers
⊕ Great option for office needs
⊖ Not the best display
⊖ Very modest machine for the money
Although this Ryzen laptop has a number of shortcomings (low-resolution panel, a dim screen, and short battery life), its low price may attract buyers on a tight budget. Sure, it has a convenient keyboard and a pretty good performance for the money, but you should think twice before making a decision. It's not the worst budget laptop, so if sellers cut the price a little more, many people may want to buy it.
| Image | Name | Features | |
|---|---|---|---|
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ASUS TUF
Our choice |
CHECK PRICE → | |
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HP 15-ef0875ms
Budget |
CHECK PRICE → | |
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Acer Swift 3
Professional |
CHECK PRICE → |
If powerful components and premium design aren't your main goals, budget laptops may be a good choice. Currently, you can find inexpensive basic models up to $500. By the way, you can get a good Ryzen Threadripper laptop at an impressive discount if you go shopping on Black Friday, Prime Day, or Presidents' Day. Most budget options are good for checking emails or working with text editors. However, you have to spend more money if you need a computer to open multiple browser tabs or to deal with other complex tasks.
If you're ready to say goodbye to over two thousand dollars, then you can get a laptop with the most incredible specifications. However, you should consider that the most powerful options have their own nuances to keep in mind. Remember that due to the increased heating of powerful hardware, the cooling components are bulkier and need more space. If you want the best Ryzen laptop for gaming, you should be ready that it is unlikely to be compact or lightweight. Its dimensions will be quite impressive due to the large display, bulky cooling pipes, and ultra-fast GPU.
Typically, universal laptops, which are most popular among casual users, weigh up to three pounds and are about half an inch thick. These are the standard sizes if you want a compact, super-portable, lightweight AMD Ryzen laptop. In general, these models are optimal for most people. Laptops with such dimensions usually have 13-14-inch displays. However, you may stumble upon several 15-inch models that are still considered as ultraportable.
As a rule, manufacturers produce laptops with displays of the abovementioned sizes as 2-in-1 convertible models or in a standard “clamshell” form. Convertible laptops can be used as a tablet. They have a screen that you can rotate 360 degrees. Plus, you can arrange it to watch your favorite movies.
Modern laptop screens contain significantly more pixels than before. Thanks to this, you can enjoy clearer images, more natural colors, and sharper text. The number of pixels per inch is called the screen density. However, when choosing the best Ryzen laptop, you need to pay attention to its native resolution. It is shown in the number of vertical and horizontal pixels. Typically, laptops over $500 feature full HD resolutions.
Such models are also marked as 1080p displays. They have a resolution of 1,920x1,080 pixels or 1,920x1,200 pixels. Such screens include LCD panels based on IPS technology. This type of screen provides a high-quality picture when viewed from the side or oblique angle. If you want to buy a gaming Ryzen Vega laptop, then most likely it has a TFT (thin-film transistor) screen. These displays look a little faded and tend to shift colors when you look at them from an angle or from a side. This can be a serious nuance if you need to share your screen with other users.
If you want to make the most of the touch-screen support provided by Windows 10 and Chrome OS, you need to get a touch-enabled laptop with a stylus. Be careful as there are non-touch and touch versions of Windows 10 laptops. Check out the specification before making a final decision. As a rule, matte displays do not have touch technology support. At the same time, glossy screens usually include this feature.
When choosing a Ryzen gaming laptop, you should consider more than just the high refresh rate. Check whether it has a powerful GPU to handle your most demanding games and high refresh rates. The usual refresh rates for laptop screens are 60Hz. Mind that you will not get any benefit from a high-refresh screen if you play at 60 frames per second or less.
As a rule, most laptops designed for daily use have a built-in IGP (integrated graphics processor). Laptops with an IGP have Intel's UHD Graphics, HD Graphics, or Iris Plus. If we are talking about AMD options, then you need to look for Radeon Vega. The integrated graphics chip works with the same amount of memory. Therefore, you will not achieve better graphics performance if you expand the system memory of your Ryzen 3 laptop or other models.
If you need a laptop for gaming, then you should opt for a discrete GPU. You will get the best graphics performance for gaming (especially when it comes to 3D), even if you buy an inexpensive laptop with a GPU. However, be aware that some models include inexpensive dedicated graphics (such as the GeForce MX series). They are better than IGPs, but they are not good enough for advanced games. If you are an avid gamer, then Ryzen powered laptops with Nvidia's latest GeForce RTX GPUs are worth checking out.
A Ryzen laptop is a good option on today’s market. Great performance and high-end specs worth spending some money on. When it comes to Multi and Single-threaded tasks, the Ryzen U processors of 3 and 5 series are better than similar devices from Intel. Besides, they have more efficient energy management and better cooling.
By using additional processor cores, Ryzen outperforms its opponents in the speed of some operations. The extra cores are essential for better video game streaming across platforms like Twitch. Moreover, AMD is likely to prepare some more advanced hardware for the next Computex.
Laptops with 4GB of RAM can satisfy the needs of most users. If you are a graphic designer, serious gamer, or programmer, then you should opt for a Ryzen laptop with at least 8GB RAM as you have to perform more serious operations.
If you need a computer or laptop for daily use, then 32GB of RAM seems like a waste of money. However, this may turn out to be a good investment in the future. I think many users will appreciate the ability to overclock the RAM.
