00:00Looking for a new laptop but don't want to drain your bank account?
00:03Whether you're gearing up for school year, need a productivity upgrade, or just want
00:06the best value for your dollar, I've reviewed and rounded up the best budget laptops you
00:10can buy right now.
00:12From Chromebooks to gaming machines, the prices get lower as the picks go on, meaning there's
00:16something here for everyone.
00:18And as always, you can check out links to all the products in the description at any
00:21point during this video.
00:23We're starting with the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3X.
00:26It's a machine that punches well above its weight and keeps up with laptops that cost
00:30double.
00:31In other words, it feels way more premium than its price suggests, and that's why it's
00:34at the top of my list.
00:36The IdeaPad Slim 3X is thin, lightweight, and built for day-to-day tasks like writing papers,
00:41shooting video, or running office apps without a hitch.
00:44This is also one of the best laptops around for battery life, holding up for a full day
00:48of work or class, and the keyboard is surprisingly comfortable.
00:52Before you come at me, I know that $750 isn't exactly the most budget budget laptop on this
00:56list, but I promise you there are cheaper options coming.
00:59But the performance makes the IdeaPad Slim Max tough to beat, especially if you can find
01:03it on sale.
01:04This is a serious bargain.
01:07Now if you have your heart set on a MacBook, but the price is scary, I don't blame you.
01:11But you actually can buy a MacBook Air at a huge discount if you're willing to get something
01:16that's a few years old by Apple standards.
01:19In case you notice, yes, this is not an M1 MacBook Air you're seeing in this video.
01:23And that's just to point out that even M2 and M3 MacBook Airs are usually on sale.
01:27So again, as long as you're not afraid to get something that's been on the market for
01:30a minute, don't count MacBooks out.
01:32The M1 MacBook Air is still absolutely a good buy in 2025.
01:35You can always find it under $700 right now.
01:38I've even seen it under $600 this year, which is a bargain for that stellar battery life and
01:42smooth macOS experience.
01:45The M1 chip might not be the newest, but it's still way faster than most Windows laptops at
01:49this price range and can handle high demand workloads.
01:53Students and professionals alike will love how portable it is, plus you get years of software
01:56support.
01:57So even though it is an old laptop, it's still a great bargain.
02:02If gaming is your priority when you're shopping for the best budget laptops, the Acer Nitro
02:05V15 is where value meets performance.
02:08For underground, you're getting an RTX 3050 GPU, 141st display, and enough horsepower to
02:13play most modern titles at respectable settings.
02:16It's not the slimmest machine and the fans can get a lot when you're pushing it.
02:20But when you're gaming, that power is what counts.
02:22And it might not be easy to find a laptop with this kind of performance at this price range.
02:26So you get what you get.
02:28Remember gaming laptops are generally more expensive, sometimes a lot more expensive than
02:32your average Chromebook or school machine.
02:34That said, for students who want one laptop that can handle both classwork and some late
02:38night gaming, the Nitro V15 delivers.
02:41Okay.
02:42I just mentioned Chromebooks, and I think we can all agree that Chromebooks don't always
02:46deserve the spotlight.
02:47But the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus is the exception.
02:51This machine runs Chrome OS relatively fast and smoothly thanks to the Intel Core i3 processor,
02:55which is not the latest and greatest processor, but it's good for what it is.
02:59Chromebook Plus branding guarantees extra features like built-in video editing and AI-powered
03:03productivity.
03:04This 2-on-1 design flips into tablet mode, which makes it super versatile for students
03:07or casual users.
03:09The keyboard and screen punch above its price, and battery life can easily go a full day.
03:13Of course, it's not meant for heavy software like Photoshop or PC gaming, but for anyone
03:17who lives in Google Docs, Zoom, or streaming apps, it's a total bargain.
03:21Depending on sales, it's usually the best budget laptop under $500 you'll find.
03:25Overall, really excellent value for a Chromebook.
03:29Finally, the Acer Aspire Go 15 is proof you don't have to spend big to get a laptop that
03:35simply gets the job done.
03:37It's easily the best budget laptop under $300, especially considering that big 15-inch display.
03:42It's perfect for basic tasks, browsing, writing, email, streaming, you name it.
03:46Connectivity is also key to success with this laptop.
03:48With a pair of USB-A ports, a USB-C port, HDMI out, a headphone jack, that's a pretty nice
03:53selection of ports.
03:55Longevity is normally an afterthought in cheap laptops, but with over 10 hours in our battery
03:59testing, this is sure to last you for a full workday.
04:02It's definitely not flashy, the plastic build may feel a little cheap, and performance is
04:05strictly entry-level, but if you just need a laptop that works well without breaking the
04:09bank, the Aspire Go 15 is the go-to choice.
04:14There are a lot of cheap laptops out there, but you want to know you're actually getting
04:17something that's good value.
04:19That's why our team is constantly reviewing new laptops to keep our list of the best budget
04:23laptops up to date.
04:24Which one from this video are you eyeing?
04:26Let me know in the comments, and if this video helped you out, make sure to subscribe for
04:29more buying guides, reviews, and roundups.
04:31Until next time, I'll catch you later.
04:33See you later.
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