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.
