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: B+, Gaming/AI: B, Eng/Design: B+
Size: 13.6"
Overall Performance: Fair
Portability: Very thin, very light
Battery: Excellent




Expert Summary
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) is a midrange laptop that offers a solid blend of performance and portability, making it a good choice for general use. Its main processor and GPU are both Apple's M2 chip, which provides good general performance and can handle some lighter engineering tasks. Keep in mind, for 3D rendering, machine learning, or heavy gaming, the performance might not meet the demands of those intensive tasks. It features 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM, which is ample for everyday tasks, but may be limiting for more demanding applications. The battery life is commendable, providing up to 15 hours of typical usage, and its fanless design ensures silent operation. Its 13.6-inch IPS display with a high resolution and a 16:10 aspect ratio delivers clear and vibrant images with wide color coverage, but it does not have a touchscreen or high refresh rate. The MacBook Air is highly portable, weighing just 2.7 pounds and with a thickness of 0.44 inches, enhanced by its sleek build quality. For connectivity, it includes two Thunderbolt 4 ports but lacks Ethernet or HDMI ports. The keyboard and webcam quality are rated as excellent, adding to the appeal for professionals on the go. Notably, there are no available slots for RAM or storage expansion. If you prioritize a balance of portability, build quality, and overall performance for everyday tasks, the MacBook Air (2022) is a compelling option.
Pros
  • Excellent portability with lightweight design
  • Outstanding battery life for longer usage
  • Fanless operation for silent performance
  • Superb build and keyboard quality
  • Best-in-class web-cam and speaker audio
Cons
  • Limited to 8 GB RAM for multitasking
  • Entry-level GPU limits 3D tasks
  • No touchscreen or HDMI port
  • Not designed for high-end gaming
3
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
4
BEST RATING
Battery Life:
5.0
General: B+, Gaming/AI: B, Eng/Design: B+
Size: 13.3"
Overall Performance: Fair
Portability: Thin, very light
Battery: Best in Class




Expert Summary
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) with its midrange price offers a balance between cost and features. It has 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM, powered by the Apple M2 chip, which includes a 10-core GPU. This makes it well suited for general use and capable of handling some engineering tasks. Although its graphics performance may be limited for intensive 3D and machine learning applications, it offers excellent screen quality and a high-resolution IPS display. It does not have a touchscreen but boasts a 16:10 aspect ratio and a bright display with wide color coverage, good for media and design work. The MacBook is known for its premium build, silent operation, and a battery that can last for an impressive 20 hours of typical use. With its lightweight design, it scores well on portability. Additionally, it has two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt support, but lacks a dedicated number pad, Ethernet, and support for hardware ray tracing and DLSS, which are more relevant for gaming laptops. It charges via USB-C and offers a backlit keyboard and fingerprint reader for convenient security. This model is ideal for users looking for a portable laptop with long battery life and a focus on general use, productivity, and some creative tasks. However, if the focus is on gaming or GPU-intensive machine learning or 3D rendering work, it may not be the best fit.
Pros
  • High-resolution Retina display
  • Apple M2 chip powerful for general use
  • Long battery life
  • Premium build quality
  • Excellent keyboard and speakers
Cons
  • Limited to two Thunderbolt ports
  • No RAM or storage expansion
  • Only fair performance in 3D/machine learning tasks
  • No touchscreen or fast refresh rate
5
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
6
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
7
Acer 14”

Swift Go 14

BEST RATING
Portability:
4.7
General: A-, Gaming/AI: B, Eng/Design: B+
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
8
Lenovo 14.5”

Slim Pro 7 14

BEST RATING
Battery Life:
4.7
General: A-, Gaming/AI: B, Eng/Design: B+
Size: 14.5"
Overall Performance: Good
Portability: Thin, light
Battery: Very Good




Pros
  • Good battery life
  • High-resolution touchscreen
  • Portable and lightweight
  • Robust build quality
  • Backlit keyboard, fingerprint reader
Cons
  • Moderate fan noise
  • Limited engineering performance
  • No hardware ray tracing
  • No ethernet port
9
BEST RATING
Operating Noise:
5.0
General: B+, Gaming/AI: B, Eng/Design: B+
Size: 16"
Overall Performance: Good
Portability: Thin, med. heavy
Battery: Good




Expert Summary
The Dell Inspiron 16 5625 is priced in the lower midrange category, providing reasonable performance with its AMD Ryzen 7 processor and integrated Vega 8 graphics. With 512 GB of storage and 16 GB of RAM, it's suited for everyday tasks and can handle some more demanding applications. The 16-inch IPS display with a 16:10 aspect ratio and 1920 x 1200 resolution offers a larger work area and is touch-enabled. This laptop has a fair battery life for typical use. It is fairly portable, given its size and moderate weight, making it a balance between a workstation and a travel-friendly device. The combination of good keyboard and speaker quality alongside Windows 11 Pro makes it suitable for both work and entertainment. It has a backlit keyboard, a good port selection, including USB-C with charging support, but no Thunderbolt ports. It's not specifically geared for intensive gaming or high-end engineering tasks, as the integrated graphics limit its performance in those areas, but it works well for general usage and has silent, fanless operation.
Pros
  • Good battery life
  • Portable and lightweight
  • Silent, fanless operation
  • Backlit keyboard included
  • Touchscreen for easy navigation
Cons
  • Fair 3D rendering performance
  • Limited color accuracy
  • No hardware ray tracing
  • Average general performance
10
BEST RATING
Battery Life:
5.0
General: B+, Gaming/AI: B, Eng/Design: B+
Size: 13.3"
Overall Performance: Fair
Portability: Thin, very light
Battery: Best in Class




Expert Summary
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) is priced in the midrange and offers a solid balance of features for general use, creative tasks, and casual gaming. It comes with 512GB of storage and 8GB of RAM, powered by the efficient Apple M2 chip with a 10-core GPU. The 13.3-inch IPS display has a high resolution and supports wide color gamuts, but it’s not a touchscreen. Its compact size, light weight, and a battery life up to 20 hours make it very portable, and it has high-quality speakers and a backlit keyboard. Thunderbolt ports allow for fast data transfer and external display connectivity. Designed for silent operation, the MacBook Pro maintains a fanless design, ensuring quiet use. However, its GPU isn't suitable for intensive gaming or complex 3D tasks, and the system lacks upgrade possibilities, with no available RAM or storage slots for expansion.
Pros
  • Excellent build quality
  • High-resolution screen
  • 20-hour battery life
  • Silent, fanless operation
  • Good general use performance
Cons
  • Limited to 8 GB RAM
  • Average 3D/ML performance
  • No touchscreen or HDMI
  • No available RAM/Storage slots