10 Best Laptops Under 1000

Wally Nowinski
editor

Our experts used the PerfectRec decision engine to comb through our laptop database and find the best laptops under 1000 available in 2024. Here are our top picks.

Our criteria for the best laptops under 1000:

  • Budget: We focused on budget and budget only. These are the best laptops in our database between $750 and $1,000.
To consider others factors, try the PerfectRec decision engine to get your personalized laptop recommendation
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10 Best Laptops Under 1000

1
HP 15.6”

Envy x360 15"

BEST RATING
Operating Noise:
4.6
General: A-, Gaming/AI: B, Eng/Design: B+
Size: 15.6"
Overall Performance: Good
Portability: Med. thick, med. heavy
Battery: Very Good




Expert Summary
The HP Envy x360 15" is a versatile laptop with a convertible 2-in-1 design, which allows it to be used as both a laptop and a tablet. It has a lower midrange price and offers an OLED touchscreen with a standard resolution, suitable for general use and media consumption. The AMD Ryzen 7 processor coupled with ample RAM makes it a good candidate for everyday tasks and can handle some more demanding applications. Its portability is considered good, given its reasonable weight and battery life, which supports typical usage for a decent duration. Additionally, this laptop features a backlit keyboard and a number of USB-C ports, enhancing its functionality and ease of use. However, it may not be the best option for intensive gaming or heavy engineering tasks, as it lacks dedicated high-performance graphics capabilities. Overall, the HP Envy x360 15" could be a good fit for users seeking a combination of performance in everyday tasks with the flexibility of a tablet.
Pros
  • Convertible design for laptop and tablet use
  • Touchscreen with good color coverage
  • Backlit keyboard and fingerprint reader for convenience
  • Solid build and heat management
  • Good general performance for everyday tasks
Cons
  • Mediocre performance for 3D tasks and engineering
  • Limited port selection with no Thunderbolt
  • Average battery life
  • Heavier than some comparable models
2
Apple 13.6”

MacBook Air (2022)

BEST RATING
Build Quality:
5.0
General: A-, Gaming/AI: B, Eng/Design: B+
Size: 13.6"
Overall Performance: Good
Portability: Very thin, very light
Battery: Excellent




Pros
  • High screen pixel density
  • Excellent battery life
  • Silent, fanless operation
  • Lightweight and portable
  • Strong general use performance
Cons
  • Not suitable for high-end gaming
  • Limited hardware upgrade options
  • Minimal port variety
  • No touchscreen available
3
HP 16”

Spectre x360

BEST RATING
Battery Life:
4.6
General: A-, Gaming/AI: B, Eng/Design: A-
Size: 16"
Overall Performance: Good
Portability: Med. thick, med. heavy
Battery: Very Good




Expert Summary
The HP Spectre x360, a 2-in-1 convertible, can serve as both a laptop and tablet and sits at an upper midrange price. It has a solid combination of a large screen, significant storage, and ample RAM, paired with an Intel i7 processor and integrated graphics, making it capable for general use and multitasking. Its higher battery capacity should offer long hours of typical usage, but the weight is a consideration for portability. Its assortment of ports, including USB-C and Thunderbolt, adds versatility for connecting peripherals. The build quality and display are noted for being high-quality, with a bright screen that supports touchscreen interaction. Its performance is sufficient for general work and some engineering applications, though dedicated gaming or intensive 3D rendering may be limited due to the absence of a discrete GPU. The keyboard and speakers are highly regarded, ensuring a comfortable typing experience and good sound quality.
Pros
  • Convertible laptop-tablet design
  • High-resolution touchscreen
  • Good battery life
  • Backlit keyboard with fingerprint reader
  • Multiple Thunderbolt ports
Cons
  • No dedicated number pad
  • Limited engineering performance
  • No hardware ray tracing support
  • Heavier than ultra-portables
4
BEST RATING
Operating Noise:
5.0
General: A-, Gaming/AI: B, Eng/Design: B+
Size: 16"
Overall Performance: Good
Portability: Thin, med. heavy
Battery: Good




Pros
  • Good portability for its size
  • High-quality backlit keyboard
  • Silent fanless operation
  • Full HD+ display with accurate colors
  • Solid build quality and heat management
Cons
  • Limited battery life
  • Limited high-performance capabilities
  • No hardware ray tracing or DLSS
  • No available RAM slots for upgrade
5
Dell 15.6”

XPS 15

BEST RATING
Operating Noise:
4.8
General: A-, Gaming/AI: B, Eng/Design: A-
Size: 15.6"
Overall Performance: Good
Portability: Med. thick, med. heavy
Battery: Very Good




Expert Summary
The Dell XPS 15 is positioned at a midrange price level, offering a substantial balance between performance and cost. For storage, it comes with a decent size, accompanied by a sizeable amount of RAM for multitasking. It is powered by a modern Intel processor, alongside an Intel Arc GPU which makes it suitable for general usage and some more intensive tasks like light engineering work, but it might struggle with very demanding 3D or machine learning tasks. You'll find the battery life suited for a full day's work. Its 15.6-inch display is an IPS type with a good resolution, although it's not a touchscreen. Portability is good, not too heavy nor too bulky, making it a solid choice if you need to move around with your laptop. There are multiple USB-C ports, including Thunderbolt 4, enhancing connectivity and data transfer speed. The laptop has a backlit keyboard and a fingerprint reader for extra convenience and security, an excellent build quality, and manages heat well. Overall, the Dell XPS 15 is versatile and well-rounded, fitting for general use, professional work, and some creative tasks, yet not the ultimate choice for high-end gaming or very demanding computational tasks.
Pros
  • Premium build quality
  • Excellent keyboard
  • Good general performance
  • Reliable heat management
  • High-resolution display
Cons
  • Average battery life
  • Limited gaming performance
  • No touchscreen option
  • Moderate portability
6
Acer 14”

Swift Go 14

BEST RATING
Portability:
4.7
General: A-, Gaming/AI: B, Eng/Design: A-
Size: 14"
Overall Performance: Good
Portability: Thin, very light
Battery: Good




Expert Summary
The Acer Swift Go 14 offers robust performance with its Intel Core Ultra 7 processor and Intel Arc graphics, suited for general use and capable of handling some engineering and creative tasks. The OLED display is of high quality, boasting a high resolution and color accuracy, which is great for visual work but not touch-enabled. This laptop is lightweight and thin, enhancing its portability, but the tradeoff comes in battery life, which is moderate. There are ample ports, including Thunderbolt, for connectivity, and features such as a backlit keyboard and fingerprint reader are present for convenience. It's described as having a lower midrange price, indicating a balance between affordability and features. Overall, it's a versatile choice for everyday use, with some capacity for more demanding applications.
Pros
  • High-resolution screen
  • Good for general use
  • Backlit keyboard
  • Good color coverage
  • Efficient heat management
Cons
  • Moderate battery life
  • Average 3D/Machine Learning performance
  • Limited port variety
  • No hardware ray tracing
7
Apple 13.3”

MacBook Air (2020)

BEST RATING
Build Quality:
5.0
General: B+, Gaming/AI: B, Eng/Design: B+
Size: 13.3"
Overall Performance: Good
Portability: Thin, very light
Battery: Excellent




Expert Summary
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) is considered to be at a midrange price level and offers 256GB of storage and 16GB of RAM. It's powered by the Apple M1 chip, which includes a 7-core GPU. The battery capacity is strong, supporting up to 15 hours of typical usage, which, alongside its weight of 2.8 pounds, makes it very portable. The 13.3-inch screen is an IPS panel with a resolution of 2560 x 1600, not a touchscreen, and has good color accuracy with full coverage of the sRGB space and almost full coverage of the DCI-P3 space, enhancing the display quality. It doesn't have a number pad but features a high-quality backlit keyboard and fingerprint reader for security. Connectivity includes two USB-C ports that support Thunderbolt and charging. The MacBook Air is fanless, thus operates silently, and is well-regarded for its build quality and heat management. Its performance is good for general use scenarios and fair for 3D/machine learning and engineering tasks, so while it's not tailored for intensive gaming, it's a reliable choice for everyday productivity and entertainment.
Pros
  • Lightweight and portable
  • Excellent build quality
  • Best keyboard quality
  • Silent, fanless operation
  • Good battery life
Cons
  • Only two USB-C ports
  • No touchscreen available
  • Limited upgradeability
  • Moderate performance for 3D tasks
8
BEST RATING
Operating Noise:
5.0
General: A-, Gaming/AI: B, Eng/Design: B+
Size: 16"
Overall Performance: Good
Portability: Med. thick, med. heavy
Battery: Good




Expert Summary
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635, priced in the lower midrange, comes with a sizable 16-inch display, offering a high-resolution screen great for productivity and media consumption. It runs on an AMD Ryzen 7 processor with integrated Vega graphics, providing good performance for general use and casual gaming, though not ideal for high-end gaming or intensive engineering tasks. With a weight of around 4.19 pounds, it's somewhat portable but there are lighter options if mobility is a priority. Battery life is fair, making it suitable for use on the go. Plus, it operates silently. It includes useful features like a backlit keyboard and fingerprint reader for added convenience and security, while its white color gives it a distinct look. If you're seeking a reasonably priced laptop for everyday use with a large screen and decent performance, the Inspiron 16 5635 is a solid choice.
Pros
  • Silent fanless operation
  • Good performance for general use
  • Excellent heat management
  • Backlit keyboard with fingerprint reader
  • Supports USB-C charging
Cons
  • Modest battery life
  • Limited gaming and engineering performance
  • Mediocre screen color accuracy
  • No Thunderbolt support
9
BEST RATING
Build Quality:
5.0
General: B+, Gaming/AI: B, Eng/Design: B+
Size: 16"
Overall Performance: Fair
Portability: Thin, med. heavy
Battery: Very Good




Pros
  • High-resolution screen
  • Strong build quality
  • Good heat management
  • Long battery life
  • Backlit keyboard with fingerprint reader
Cons
  • No touchscreen
  • Heavier than some laptops
  • Limited upgradeability
  • Not ideal for fast motion use
10
Lenovo 14”

Flex 5 14

BEST RATING
Battery Life:
4.6
General: B+, Gaming/AI: B, Eng/Design: B+
Size: 14"
Overall Performance: Good
Portability: Med. thick, light
Battery: Very Good




Expert Summary
The Lenovo Flex 5 14 is a 2-in-1 convertible that can be used as both a laptop and a tablet, making it versatile for various tasks. It's priced in the lower midrange and offers a fair balance of performance and features. With an AMD Ryzen 7 processor and 16 GB of RAM, it's a good choice for general use and capable of handling some engineering and 3D tasks, though not optimized for intensive gaming. It has a 14-inch IPS touchscreen display, a decent battery life, and is lightweight for portability. It also features a decent spread of ports including USB-C, and it charges via USB-C as well, but it lacks a dedicated number pad, yet it includes a backlit keyboard and fingerprint reader for convenience and security.
Pros
  • Convertible laptop and tablet functionality
  • Good battery life for typical use
  • Backlit keyboard with fingerprint reader
  • Portable with very good portability score
  • Decent screen color and general use performance
Cons
  • Screen brightness not suitable for outdoor use
  • Limited color range for professional editing
  • No Thunderbolt or Ethernet ports available
  • Speaker and webcam quality are only fair