The best laptops under $1000 that will get the job done
The humble computer has changed a lot over many years, we've gone from having a big bulky computer for the family to share to carrying around a computer in our pockets.
From tablets to smartphones, we do so much in a portable way, but many times you really do need the tactile precise feeling of a keyboard, and not everyone has a work laptop just handed out by the IT department.
So in this guide, we'll take a look at what to look for when buying a laptop and offer you some great options at affordable prices too.
What to look for when buying a laptop
There are five key elements to consider when buying a laptop.
The processor
The old "intel inside" sticker and that famous jingle is now ingrained in our minds and for good reason. But which processor is best? Intel has a wide range, but for simplification, think of a series of good-better-best decisions. Firstly the type of processor, in Intel's case you are looking at Athlon, Celeron and Core as the rankings good up to best.
Then in each, there are (of course) different models. That matters most with the Core processors, where an Intel Core i3 is the good, the Core i5 the better and the Core i7 the best.
RAM
Moving onto the RAM or "memory" of your computer, this is its ability to think and store information on the fly – it's not about the data you save (we'll get to that). RAM helps a computer process decisions, and the more the better. 4GB is the bare minimum, but 8+ is most certainly desirable. If you're doing video or photography editing, you might want to look at 16, 32, or even more.
Hard drive
When it comes to actual storage for you, the owner, that's your hard drive. These days it's hard to find an old-fashioned "spinning disk" drive or HDD – instead, we've moved to SSD (solid state drive). To be honest, I think this is an important decision to make, any spinning disk is going to be slower and decrease your performance, so consider that if it's a choice between the two.
Screen size
Of course, this matters a lot, you will see 13-inch and higher-sized laptops – 15 inches is where laptops start to get quite big, so think about the size of the bag you're carrying, as well as the weight of the item. 13-14 is the optimal size these days.
Those features are consistent across all laptops.
Brand
Then comes brand. While many brands are household names, there are certainly others that are not. Your only decision here is really any concern you have about support and after-sales service. Trusting a bigger brand might be a smarter move, but you might save upfront by looking at newer options.
And finally, consider the look, the finish, and features like whether it is convertible (folds over onto itself to be used like a tablet), or if the screen is a touch-screen or not.
After that, it's all about fitting into your budget.
Great picks for your next laptop under $1,000
NOTE: Prices are accurate at time of publishing.
Acer Aspire 3
Price: $799
Processor: Intel Core i3
RAM: 4GB
Hard drive: 128GB SSD
Screen size: 15.6 Inch
While this Acer might not fold and flip, it does have a solid Intel Core i3 processor for all your everyday tasks.
A decent size at 15.6 inches this bigger screen means great content viewing, but also a good work area.
A 128GB hard drive won't be enough to store all your family photos but use the cloud for those things and that will be plenty for basic use, documents and working from home or school.
Leader Convertible 347PRO
Price: $649
Processor: Celeron
RAM: 4GB
Hard drive: 128GB SSD
Screen size: 13.3 inches
A value option from a brand that doesn't have the exposure of the others here. But it's got some of the goods you might have wanted at a higher end.
Convertible format, touch screen and even a stylus for writing/drawing on the screen.
It's not power-packed but will do all that most people need from a daily driver. With a battery life of 8 hours, it will last the average school day – but don't forget to charge it every night!
Lenovo Ideapad V14
Price: $739
Processor: Athlon
RAM: 8GB
Hard drive: 256GB SSD
Screen size: 14
Simple and affordable, this choice is a great brand with good storage and memory.
Lenovo has the credibility and for this value you're getting a 256GB SSD hard drive for fold storage, and 8GB of RAM to keep things snappy.
It's a nice "iron gray" colour which gives it a great look and feel.
Six hours battery life is good, but might be an issue if your kids are driving it hard at school.
Still, awesome value overall.
Lenovo Yoga C740
Price: $999
Processor: Intel Core i5
RAM: 8GB
Hard drive: 512GB SSD
Screen size: 14 Inch
If you can meet these specifications in a laptop at this price, you know you're onto a winner.
This is a convertible laptop that will fold around onto itself to work like a tablet, stand like a tent to use it to watch your streaming shows and, of course, sit in classic laptop style too.
Lenovo is a top-notch brand, one of the biggest in the world so you can expect great support, plus it ticks all those specification boxes.
A standout here is the massive 512GB solid state drive, something you'll struggle to find at this price point
This would be a great school computer, and also one that will last a user or family for daily use.
If you can meet these specifications in a laptop at this price, you know you're onto a winner.
Acer Swift 1
Price: $599
Processor: Celeron
RAM: 4GB
Hard drive: 128GB SSD
Screen size: 14 Inch
Weighing in at just 1.3kg, and with a battery life of up to 17 hours, this is a cracking great option for school or those who work remotely.
In really simple terms, this is nothing fancy, but a solid unit.
Fingerprint unlock for easy startup, and enough performance for those doing basic web and communication tasks like email, banking, social media as well as the usual office apps like documents and spreadsheets.
But a cracking price!
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