We tell you what you should review if you are thinking of buying a cheap laptop and spending little on your next computer.
When buying a new laptop, there are several sections that you should review. We already talked about all of them in our guide on what to look for when buying a laptop. However, this time we want to focus on the factors to take into account when you want to buy a cheap one. What minimum specifications should it include? What are the most relevant aspects in a reasonably priced team?
In this article, we answer these and other questions. The goal is none other than to help you choose a cheap laptop, but without giving up good performance. Make your purchase a success by reviewing the sections of this buying guide.
Screen
The screen it is a basic hardware element in any computer. When it comes to cheap laptops, you shouldn’t expect much. High-quality honeycombs are paid for and, therefore, you will not find great fanfare in this regard if your computer costs less than 400 euros.
However, we believe that there are two things that are essential today. First, that the screen is Full HD. Models with lower resolutions are still on the market, offering very poor display of interface elements. On the other hand, the brightness should exceed at least 250 nits. Otherwise, outdoors it will be very difficult for you to work with the equipment.
Processor
It is evident that, in the price range in which we move, the processor It may not be the most powerful on the market. But beware! On the market there are models with very modest processors that can turn any task into torture. The best thing is that, as long as it fits your budget, avoid the low ranges of Intel and AMD. It is not very difficult to find computers with a mid-range CPU at low-end prices.
On the other hand, little by little more and more teams are arriving with ARM architecture. Thanks to it, you will obtain a team with a generous autonomy, although only valid for executing very simple processes, such as web browsing, video conferencing or opening documents. The best thing is that, when buying a low-end model, you do not have great pretensions and you know very well what you are going to buy the equipment for. If you need to execute very heavy tasks, you will have no choice but pay a higher price for your new laptop to enjoy more benefits.
Storage
The storage in the low range it is usually scarce. In this sense, we believe that you should not settle for the minimum, because in the long run you will probably regret it. Take a look at these two points so as not to make a mistake when buying one of the cheap laptops on the market:
- storage technology. Be very careful with equipment with eMMC! For practical purposes, these laptops use an SD card as their primary storage drive. It is a very slow technology, especially when compared to SSDs. Make sure your laptop has a Solid State Drive (SSD) and not a mechanical one. Of course, avoid those with eMMC.
- storage capacity. If you don’t plan on saving a lot of files on your computer or installing too many applications, a 128 GB drive will suffice. The 256 GB and 512 GB options are more expensive, but are worth it when you want to store documents, photos, and videos. Also if you want to install a large number of programs. 64 GB drives (which are also usually eMMC) are not recommended, since the operating system takes up a good handful of gigabytes and you will have little space left for your things.
RAM
We believe that to enjoy a good experience, your team must come with 8GB of RAM As minimum. It is not difficult to find models that have such a quantity with really adjusted prices. Anything less, say 4 GB, will penalize multitasking a lot and prevent you from running multiple apps at the same time with acceptable performance. Take a look at our guide in which we tell you what it is and how much RAM you need on your PC and mobile.
Operating system
In the world of cheap laptops, we find two operating systems. On the one hand, you’ll see computers running Windows, a platform with a large amount of software and wide compatibility. However, there are also options with Chrome OS. Are the latter a good buy?
Laptops with Chrome OS are called Chromebooks. They run a version of Linux modified by Google that includes its Chrome browser as the central hub of all operations. That means seamlessly integrates with Google Drive, Docs, Photos and Android phones. The main advantage of this system is that it is lightweight and usually works better on computers with low specifications. The vast majority of applications are web and run through Chrome. If you are one of those users who do everything through the browser, a Chromebook will be a good purchase. In addition, the value for money of these teams is high.
Finally, one last warning regarding this section. Notice that the selected laptop comes with Windows or Chrome OS. Some models include FreeDOS or Linux distributions that you may find difficult to handle. In those cases, you will have to install Windows yourself, in addition to buying a license.
connectivity
What connections is it good for your new team to have? Here is a list of the most important ones:
- Wifiif possible last generation.
- Bluetooth. It is used to connect important peripherals, such as headphones or mice.
- USB-C. Ideal for connecting one of the best USB hubs and expanding the capabilities of the equipment.
- usb-a. Maximizes compatibility with USB devices.
- 3.5mm jack. You will need it to connect wired headphones or desktop speakers.
Price
After taking into account everything mentioned in the previous sections, it is time to address the last question: the price. We consider that a laptop is really cheap when it costs less than 400 euros. Our advice is that you do not get carried away only by the final price. It is true that there are equipment with very striking prices, but it is likely that the manufacturer has cut key specifications, such as RAM, CPU or storage.
If you are looking for the best experience, make a list of the models with the best specifications within your budget. Then try to find an offer for save on purchase, consulting various online stores or visiting physical stores. Remember that sometimes it is better to spend a little more and get superior benefits. In the long run you will surely appreciate it.
Best cheap laptop brands
There are certain manufacturers that have specialized in the marketing of cheap laptops. Others have several ranges, among which you will find economic options to work or study. What are the most recommended brands? Here is a list of our favourites:
- HP
- chuwi
- Teclast
- Medion
- Lenovo
- Acer
- ASUS
- samsung
- Alurin