If you're looking for a laptop that does what it says, you're in luck. It's hard to see clearly with the multitude of offers, 1 in 2 PCs sold is a laptop. Before you buy, you need to consider certain criteria to understand your needs. Check out our guide to the best value laptops to find what you're looking for without breaking the bank!
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Our selection
"For professionals, Acer is a reference brand and this new generation Laptop proves it. A compact computer with a quality finish, it is powerful enough…"
"Lightweight and equipped with 4GB RAM, this new Ideapad 3 performs well with a 256GB SSD. With the help of its Core i3-1005G1 processor and…"
"Apple rarely disappoints and this is still the case with the MacBook Air with Apple M1. It combines power, reliability and autonomy at a more…"
"This Dell laptop seduces by its great autonomy and its outstanding performance. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card makes it the best option in…"
For professionals, Acer is a reference brand and this new generation Laptop proves it. A compact computer with a quality finish, it is powerful enough to perform various tasks, watch movies and even play your favorite PC games.
415 £ on AmazonA sturdy computer with a well thought-out design, this HP 15s-fq2002sf laptop model is versatile enough for everyday use. Its 15-inch Full HD anti-glare display offers high-quality rendering without being harsh on even the most sensitive eyes. The Intel Tiger Core i3 processor combined with the SSD storage makes it fast at runtime.
It seduces with its ultra-thin design as well as its options. With a 512GB hard drive and 4GB of RAM, it is ideal for storing all kinds of data. On the connectivity side, this HP 15s-fq2002sf benefits from an SD card port, three USB ports, an HDMI port and is equipped with Wifi modules for remote internet connection and Bluetooth 4.2 to facilitate file sharing.
Lightweight and equipped with 4GB RAM, this new Ideapad 3 performs well with a 256GB SSD. With the help of its Core i3-1005G1 processor and Intel® UHD graphics chip, you'll even be able to play games in addition to your daily activities.
343 £ on AmazonNo need to break the bank to get a powerful laptop! Lenovo has designed this IdeaPad laptop to satisfy every need. With a 14-inch Full HD screen with a TN panel, at 220 nits, it is perfect for all kinds of tasks. It's small and light, so you can take it with you wherever you go. The IdeaPad 3 is powered by a Core i3-1005G1 (2C / 4T) processor with a turbo 3.4 GHz.
Driven by an integrated Intel® UHD chip at 900 MHz and 8GB RAM, this laptop can play all types of data, video, audio with fast response and loading time. Its 256GB SSD hard drive is large enough to store all your data and offers a quick startup. You can work with peace of mind thanks to its estimated battery life of 7.5 to 10 hours.
Apple rarely disappoints and this is still the case with the MacBook Air with Apple M1. It combines power, reliability and autonomy at a more than fair price. You'd be wrong to miss out!
823 £ on AmazonIt's hard to beat the MacBook Air in its price range. It has a high-end display with its 13.3-inch Retina display. The latter broadcasts high definition images, sRGB 25% and True Tone technology, with its resolution of 2560 x 1600p. The videos of the camera are sharper, well helped by the Face Time HD and Neutral Engine.
Its real asset is its autonomy, huge, up to 18 hours. This is very useful to support the powerful processor of Apple: the M1. The latter has no less than 8 cores and 16 cores for the Neutral Engine. Coupled with 8 GB of RAM, this MacBook Air is more dedicated to Pro applications, such as After Effects or Photoshop. In order not to lose your work, store it in the 256 GB SSD.
This Dell laptop seduces by its great autonomy and its outstanding performance. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card makes it the best option in terms of gamer PCs at the moment.
799Gamers will be thrilled with this laptop! Its configuration and design make it a real asset for those who want a stylish and powerful PC. With a Ryzen 7 5800 H processor combined with an RTX 3060, this laptop has nothing to envy to other machines intended for video games. Its 16-inch Full HD screen displays impeccable image quality.
For storage, this Dell G15 Ryzen Edition is equipped with a 512GB NVMe SSD and 16GB RAM, offering phenomenal speed. On the design side, Dell designed it to be practical, light and portable at all times. All the details such as the air intakes, the LED light and the various connections and connections, not to mention the 720 px webcam sensor make this computer a real gem.
Any specific needs?
The best laptop offering the best value for money
The best laptop offering the best entry-level value for money
The best gamer laptop offering the best high-end value for money
The best laptop offering the best value for gamers
Your guide :
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| TOP OF THE TOP | CHEAP | TOP OF THE LINE | EXCELLENT | |
In accordance with our commitment, this buying guide does not contain any sponsored products. |
9/10 |
8/10 |
9/10 |
8/10 |
| OUR SELECTION |
HP 15s-fq2002sf
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Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14IIL05
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Apple MacBook Air with Apple M1
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Dell G15 Ryzen Edition 5515 AMD Ryzen 5 5600H
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For professionals, Acer is a reference brand and this new generation Laptop proves it. A compact computer with a quality finish, it is powerful enough to perform various tasks, watch movies and even play your favorite PC games.
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Lightweight and equipped with 4GB RAM, this new Ideapad 3 performs well with a 256GB SSD. With the help of its Core i3-1005G1 processor and Intel® UHD graphics chip, you'll even be able to play games in addition to your daily activities.
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Apple rarely disappoints and this is still the case with the MacBook Air with Apple M1. It combines power, reliability and autonomy at a more than fair price. You'd be wrong to miss out!
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This Dell laptop seduces by its great autonomy and its outstanding performance. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card makes it the best option in terms of gamer PCs at the moment.
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Display
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15″ Full HD anti-glare
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14″ HD LED 220 nits
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13.3″ 1600p
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15.6'' Full HD LED 120 Hz anti-glare
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Processor
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Intel Core i3-1115G4 Ice Lake (3.0 GHz, 2 cores)
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Intel Core i3-1005G1 (2C / 4T)
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Apple M1
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AMD Ryzen 5 5600H Cezanne (3.2 GHz, 6 cores)
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RAM
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8 GB
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8 GB
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8 GB
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8 GB
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Storage
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SSD M.2 512 GB
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SSD 256 GB
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512 GB
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SSD M.2 512 GB
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Autonomy
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6 hours
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Between 7.5 and 10 hrs
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20 hours
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7 hours
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Before any financial consideration, start by defining your needs: work, gaming, internet... This step will help you identify the components and therefore the hardware configuration adapted to your needs.
Whether Intel or AMD, the processor is the heart of any computer or mobile device with an operating system. Its frequency, expressed in GHz, provides valuable information about the speed of program execution and multitasking capabilities of the chosen machine. The higher the frequency, the faster the computer.
Some laptops use part of their processor for graphics. Usually, this is enough to make light work of applications and games that are not very demanding. But the limits are seen for gaming, graphics and anything else that requires graphics resources. In this case, you need a graphics card or GPU from Nvidia or AMD Radeon.
A
fast CPU is worthless without a RAM is not able to process the generated data quickly. The more RAM you have, the better the computer will be for multitasking and powerful software like Photoshop or Autocad. Count on a minimum of 4 GB of RAM, the ideal being 8 GB.
On the other hand, software, video games as well as movies, music and photos require a lot of storage space. You can choose between an SSD, which is fast but limited to 512 GB, or a SATA hard drive, which is slower but offers 1 or 2 TB of storage. The first option is recommended if you already have an external hard drive.
3
aspects to consider: screen size, its resolution and possibly its refresh rate. 13, 14, 15 or 17 inches, the screen will have to meet your needs: office automation, video games, streaming, browsing... Some will want a smaller screen for more mobility, others will choose larger for a better visual comfort.
Most of the time, the expression "best quality/price ratio" implies some concessions from the manufacturer
. The resolution will be limited to 1920 x 1080p, or even 1366 x 768 for entry-level models. For gamer laptops, consider a refresh rate of 120 or 144 Hz.
Check
for HDMI ports, at least 3 USB ports (3.0, 2.0, and USB3 Type-C), a Gigabyte Ethernet port instead of 10/100, an SD card reader, a DVD burner, a jack port, and a mic port. Of course, don't forget about Wifi, preferably ac, and possibly Bluetooth.
It is not necessary to have all these connections. The choice is yours. However, be aware that the HDMI port allows you to connect the laptop to a TV or a video projector and that the lack of USB ports can be a handicap to add peripherals (mouse, external hard drive and burner, speakers...).
This
last criterion conditions mobility. Since we're talking mostly about entry-level and mid-range laptops, don't expect the autonomy of a MacBook Pro or a Microsoft Surface 3
. But if you look hard enough, you'll find a machine capable of lasting 4 to 10 hours without recharging, half that for gaming and photo editing.
The
brand often influences the quality of a laptop. Opting for a manufacturer that is well ranked in the world is often a guarantee of quality. If possible, avoid buying returned or refurbished laptops. Their price is tempting, but the reliability remains very uncertain. Don't hesitate to pay a little more for a new and versatile machine. Storage, memory, graphics card and processor remain essential criteria for a good quality/price ratio.
The operating system displays the interfaces (icons, windows, tree structures...) that allow you to manipulate the files stored on the hard disk. Be aware thata laptop computer runs only one operating system at a time, including virtual machines and hard disks containing multiple operating systems.
Despite increased competition in recent years, Microsoft's operating system continues to power more than 9 out of 10 computers. Windows remains the most popular and familiar to the general public. And to better meet the needs of users, Windows 10 replicates many operational aspects of smartphones.
For all that, Window 10 has not abandoned commands from the keyboard and mouse. This operating system offers a wide range of choices and is suitable for all uses (gaming, social networking ...). On the other hand, you must subscribe to a monthly or annual subscription to benefit from the complete office suite and some essential services.
This operating system was invented by Google. Laptops equipped with it are called Chromebooks. Manufacturers have quickly seen the potential of Chrome OS, with its light and simple features that allow to sell the machine at a price defying all competition.
However, the strength of Chrome OS is also its weakness. This operating system requires an internet connection, often limiting its use to web browsing and social networking. Not to mention that most Chromebooks have a very limited storage capacity (32, 64 or 128 GB most of the time).
This is the operating system that powers all Apple computers. It is a proprietary platform, formerly known as OS X. We like it for its simplicity, the absence of crashes and the low sensitivity to computer viruses. However, the software is not always compatible with Mac OS.
For Apple fans, the essential is elsewhere. Mac OS remains an excellent operating system for all computing needs, with particular advantages for photo and video processing. And a Mac OS laptop is often considered as a luxury product.
There are many operating systems whose kernel is accessible for customization. They are called open source operating systems. Most of them are Linux, Ubuntu and all the other descendants of Unix, which by the way is also a distant ancestor of Mac OS.
Unfortunately, their free and open-source nature means that these systems are rarely found on a drinking computer. However, those who have a solid knowledge of computers can install one of these open source operating systems after the purchase of the laptop.
Most laptops are sold with the trial version of Microsoft Office, which can be used for 30 days. After that, you have to pay a monthly or annual license to continue using the office suite. In addition, many manufacturers add a software overlay to the operating system. Opinions about them are rather mixed. Finally, some add complete software (Adobe Reader, Cyberlink, VLC...). But they are mostly old versions or free downloadable software.
The price of a laptop varies from one to five times depending on the model. Whether it's a Chromebook, convertible, hybrid with detachable keyboard, notebook, ultrabook, gamer laptop or MacBook, there's something for everyone. And even the cheapest machines are suitable for family use, including browsing, office work and movies.Furthermore, the arrival of tablets has prompted laptop manufacturers to rethink their machines in terms of design, mobility and battery life. In addition, laptops have become considerably lighter and thinner. However, there are still limitations in terms of price, autonomy and scalability when compared to fixed PCs.
Half smartphone, half laptop, the tablet is the ultimate multimedia device. Thanks to the App Store and Google Store, it has access to millions of applications. The tablet can be used for most common purposes: e-mail, movies, photos, music and especially Internet browsing. It's also ultra-light and quick to boot, but its storage capacity and capabilities are still inferior to those of a laptop. For gaming, video editing, photo editing or other heavy-duty applications, the tablet is sorely lacking in power. Finally, its keyboard offers less typing comfort and it will never be able to evolve.
If you're looking for the functionality and power of a desktop PC, with mobility and reliability as a bonus, the laptop is for you. If you're looking for an alternative or complement without necessarily exceeding the performance of the laptop, the touchscreen tablet should delight you.There are other alternatives like the smartphone and especially the desktop computer. In general, this type of machine offers more power, many possibilities of evolution and costs less than the laptop. But forget mobility and compactness if you make this choice.
Paying the right price
No one likes to pay too much for their purchases, and that goes for a laptop too. But be aware that a fair price does not mean the cheapest possible price. Sometimes you have to pay more to get a quality product. To find the best value for money laptop, you should first list the features you want and then compare the models that match your needs. Getting the best value for money laptop guarantees you proper functionality and performance
Good build quality
Buying a best value laptop means getting a reliable, solid and stylish machine. Often, the brand influences the quality of the product. By choosing a world-famous manufacturer, you can be sure of getting the best quality. It also avoids unnecessary disappointment caused by a faulty machine.
Meets your needs
There are best value laptops to suit everyone's needs. Screen size, power, dimensions, battery life... there is a wide variety of models. You can find the product perfectly adapted to your uses: office, gaming, streaming, navigation...
Allows you to work anywhere
With a laptop, you can work, enjoy the internet and your storage space, at any time, wherever you are. It usually has a battery life of over 8 hours. It's also compact and lightweight for easy transport.
Comfortable to use
With a laptop at the best price/quality ratio, the comfort of use is perfect. Equipped with an Intel or AMD processor, it's powerful and fast. You can choose a larger screen with a better resolution for excellent viewing comfort. But don't forget that this type of laptop is prized for its practicality and performance. Choosing a laptop with a large screen means having more weight to carry.
In our opinion, the best brands of laptops value for money in 2022 are :
With its Ideapad range for everyday use and Legion for gaming, Lenovo remains the world leader in laptops. The Chinese manufacturer combines design, performance and reasonable price: an irresistible cocktail.
The American manufacturer remains a safe bet for anyone looking for a laptop at a good price. For gaming, entertainment, work or study, HP's offer includes machines adapted to all budgets.
During the decade of 2010, Asus has gained a considerable share of the global computer market. It must be said that its laptops appeal to a large number of people. Gamers are entitled to the ROG range and the others to Vivobook.
If you're looking for a laptop that offers the best value for money according to your needs, you're likely to find it at Acer. Whether it's the Aspire, Nitro, Swift or Predator, the manufacturer has a proven track record.
The Texan firm remains a stronghold in computing. Its XPS and Inspiron ranges continue to prove it year after year. In fact, Dell is one of the brands most considered by buyers during their comparison.
The diagram below will help you to get an idea of the typical prices for each price range (entry-level, mid-range and high-end).
However, more expensive does not necessarily mean better.
We therefore advise you to always consult our ranking before deciding, rather than blindly relying on price ranges.
Do not place the laptop on your lap.
If you do, the laptop will heat up faster, no matter how big it is or how well it is made. Also, avoid putting your running laptop on a bed or sofa, ideally a hard and flat surface like the table. For gamers, elevation, ventilated stand or air extractor will be mandatory.
Keep food and drink away from your laptop.
As tempting as it may be to drink (coffee, sodas, mineral water or any other liquid) near your laptop, an accident happens quickly. And eating on a laptop will cause crumbs to fall between the keys. This may generate bugs and damage to the circuitry, not to mention dirt.
Use a regularly updated antivirus software.
Internet downloads and removable devices (USB stick, SD card) are the main sources of viruses for a computer. Not installing an antivirus will hurt performance. And not updating the antivirus is the same as not having one installed at all!
Always keep your hands clean when using a laptop.
Clean hands make it easier to use the touchpad and tap on the keys. And there will be less chance of leaving dirt and stains on the laptop. Also, if you clean your hands before using the machine, you reduce the wear and tear on the coating caused by contact with sweat and small particles.
Do not crush the power cord under a chair.
Many users neglect the power cord and accidentally crush it under a chair leg. This can go on for hours and happens regularly. If this is the case, your power cord will not last very long. Finally, don't pull on it roughly when removing it.
The best value laptop depends on your needs and your budget. Read our buying guide to find out more.
Indeed, there are fewer and fewer burning drives on laptops. But the market is full of external DVD burners that can be connected to the laptop via a USB cable. This type of device is ultra compact and inexpensive.
Unfortunately, many value-for-money laptops have sub-optimal screen resolution. To check this, look at the laptop's data sheet and the reviews of previous buyers. Or test it in a shop.
The touch screen is not always a practical feature on a laptop. It's not as intuitive to use as a tablet, whether you're writing, browsing or drawing. Plus, you'll often have to clean up fingerprint smudges. Still, it has some advantages.
Manufacturers are making laptops thinner, lighter and more compact. Of course, gamer laptops are still not being slimmed down! However, it is now common to find laptops for home or business use that weigh less than 2 kg.
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