A laptop computer is the perfect midpoint between the portability of phones and tablets and the high performance (and physical keyboard) of a desktop. While you can spend thousands, it’s perfectly possible to get solid performance for a reasonable price.
Your phone might be able to do pretty much anything a computer can do, but nothing beats the feel of a real keyboard beneath your fingertips. But if you don’t have the space, budget or desire to purchase an expensive and complicated desktop computer, a laptop may be the perfect solution.
If you’re looking for a no-nonsense model for checking your emails, watching Netflix and light web surfing there are options that won’t break the bank for PC, Mac and Chromebook users.
We’ve focused on the best value-for-money laptops that might not have all the bells and whistles found on more expensive models but have enough power to handle daily internet tasks and are easy to use.
Dell Inspiron 15
The Dell Inspiron is probably the best budget Windows laptop on this list. Retailing for $598 in Australia, the Inspiron 15 has a 15-inch ultra-HD screen and boasts a 12 Gen Intel Core i5 processor and 8GB RAM, more than enough for everyday tasks like checking emails and surfing the web.
It’s got all the major ports including HDMI, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C port that supports DisplayPort and power delivery, a headphone jack, and a full-sized SD card reader, which is pretty good for the price point.
HP Pavilion Plus 14
The latest in HP’s long-running Pavilion series is the closest thing to an all-round laptop you can get. The 2024 model comes with the Windows 11 Home Operating system, 16GB RAM, a super-fast 512GB SSD and a bright 14-inch OLED display with a 16:10 aspect ratio. Meaning you can see more of what’s on the screen without having to scroll.
It can be a little pricey, retailing for around $1000, but can often be found on sale for much less. It’s fairly good value for the specs and is perfect for someone looking for a trusted name and a little extra performance.
Lenovo Idea Pad Slim 3
The Lenovo Idea Pad Slim 3 is a Chromebook – a laptop that runs on Google’s ChromeOS operating system, and not Windows or macOS. Chromebooks are usually cheaper, lighter and easier to use than other laptops and make extensive use of Google’s cloud storage services over physical memory.
The $449 Lenovo Idea Pad Slim 3 has enough under the hood to complete the basics, letting you surf, stream, work online with ease. The vibrant 14″ HD display and powerful MediaTek processor ensure webpages and videos come through crisp and clear, while the 128GB of storage gives you ample room for downloads, documents and more.
The Idea Pad Slim 3 has 4GB RAM and Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, and weighs just 1.3kg.
Macbook Air 2020
It’s hard to include any Apple laptop on a list of value-for-money laptops, but many people can’t do without the Apple macOS ecosystem. It all depends on what you’re used to using. If you need to have an Apple laptop, your best bet on a budget will be a refurbished 2020 Macbook Air 13.
You can find one in good condition for around $800-$850, which is certainly not cheap, but is probably the cheapest you’re going to find for a like-new Macbook.
On the specs front, despite being four years old, the 2020 Macbook Air 13 still packs a punch. It has 8GB Ram and Apple’s lightning-fast M1 chip inside, a 13.3-inch OLED display, 256GB SSD and Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth connectivity.
All the latest models are awful, keyboard too far forward, too much space given to that finger pad in the front, keys have no depth, my typing has never been this bad, I pine for my 12 year old Dell that died
I use a MacBook Air (new in 2015) and it is brilliant, no longer has support from Apple for its operating system, bright 13″ screen and backlit keys.
I also have to use a Dell Inspiron 15 for our croquet club and it is an absolute piece of junk in comparison. The touch pad is super sensitive (I have to use a mouse instead), no backlit keys and Windows 11 is soooo hard to navigate compared to Mac OS.
I use my laptop every day, often for at least a couple of hours a day. I replace my laptop every 2 to 3 years. IMHO, as a 75yo, I want a clear easy to read screen, good easy to use backlit black keyboard and good performance – in that order. So far my best laptop has been a 2in1 Lenovo (recent purchase) which is great for all 3 needs. My previous was a 2 year old HP Pavilion that had a terrible screen (even in great conditions) but good keyboard, and before that a Dell Inspiron which finally collapsed after 4 good years. Dell was a great laptop, but poor keyboard. Just my opinion as a user.
I find an I phone an I phone 15 pro and an older iPod air is sufficient.
When we talk about “value for money”, I have found that the Apple laptops are well ahead. Superficially they are expensive to purchase, but you are getting more than a bit of hardware.
Their operating system presently OS 15 is stable and secure. Updates for greater security are free for many years. They come with a word processer, spread sheet, presentation application, email, web browser and video and photo applications at no additional cost.
The present generations offer up to 20 hours of battery life.
If you have a relatively recent iPhone, you can screen mirror on the laptop to make it easier to read. Photos taken on your iPhone can be shared/transferred onto the MacBook with only a couple of key strokes.
I use my MacBook Pro often for periods greater than 12 hours a day as I read the news, compile and respond to emails, and can do full video editing, viewing and up loading to YouTube. Easily six to eight years of full compatibility of operating systems with very good ergonomics of the keyboard.