Overview
You don’t need to spend $1,500 to get a good laptop. The under-$600 segment has improved dramatically. You can now get solid IPS displays, capable AMD or Intel processors, and enough RAM for real multitasking. Here are our top picks.
Our Picks
1. Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5, $599 (Best Overall)
The IdeaPad Slim 5 is the best budget laptop you can buy right now. The Ryzen 7 7735U handles Chrome tabs, Office, and light photo editing without breaking a sweat. The 16 GB of RAM puts it ahead of most competitors at this price, and the aluminum lid gives it a build quality that punches above its weight.
Best for: College students, remote workers, and anyone who wants a reliable daily driver without overspending.
2. Acer Aspire Go 15, $399 (Best Under $400)
The Aspire Go 15 is the entry-level pick for people who need a functional laptop on the tightest budget. The Ryzen 5 7520U handles web browsing, email, documents, and video streaming without issue. 8 GB of RAM is the main limitation. It works, but heavy multitaskers will feel the ceiling.
Best for: Light users, first-time laptop buyers, and anyone who primarily browses the web and uses office apps.
What to Look For
When shopping under $600, focus on:
- RAM: 16 GB is ideal. 8 GB works for light use but limits multitasking. Avoid 4 GB, it’s unusable in 2026.
- Display: IPS panel minimum. TN panels have washed-out colors and terrible viewing angles. 1080p (1920x1080) is the standard, so don’t accept less.
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 5/7 or Intel Core i5 12th gen+. Avoid Intel Celeron or Pentium, as they struggle with basic tasks.
- Storage: 256 GB SSD minimum, 512 GB preferred. Avoid eMMC storage and hard drives, they’re painfully slow.
- Build quality: At this price you won’t get aluminum everything, but the chassis should feel solid, not creaky.
What to Avoid
- 4 GB RAM: Windows 11 alone uses 3-4 GB. There’s nothing left for your apps.
- eMMC storage: It’s flash storage like an SD card, not a real SSD. Extremely slow.
- Intel Celeron/Pentium: These are low-power chips that struggle with anything beyond a single Chrome tab.
- HD (1366x768) displays: Low resolution makes text blurry and gives you no screen real estate.
- Heavy laptops: Some budget 15” laptops weigh 5+ lbs. Unless you’re leaving it on a desk, that’s a dealbreaker for daily carry.