A good laptop does not have to be expensive: even with a limited budget, there are models that you can work on for years to come. We have figured out what the best laptop of the moment is.
This is a shortened version of one extensive comparison on Tweakers.
For this test we limit ourselves to a budget of no more than 500 euros. For that money, we looked for a model with a relatively smooth processor, at least 8 gigabytes of RAM and 256 gigabytes of storage. In addition, we wanted a screen with a resolution of at least 1,920 by 1,080 pixels.
The best buy: Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 15AMN8 (450 euros)
The Slim 3, like its predecessor, the IdeaPad 3, has been an excellent option for a long time. This new model is slightly thinner, but otherwise largely resembles its older brother.
For this amount you get a plastic laptop that feels sturdy and has a good balance of specifications. Consider, for example, Wi-Fi 6 and a USB-C port that also outputs video. The USB ports are nice and fast and you can connect an SD card directly to the laptop.
The screen has a good high contrast and a 1,080p resolution. You can hide the webcam above the image with a slider, if you fear that someone is secretly watching you. You can also connect an external monitor via the HDMI port, although you will make a better connection with the USB-C port. Finally, the built-in chip, a Ryzen 3 7320U, is very good.
Alternatief: ASUS Vivobook Go 15 E1504FA-NJ179W (429 euro)
ASUS has also made its laptop slightly thinner in this price segment. The exterior is made of plastic, but feels sturdy. In addition, under the hood you will find a slightly faster processor than on the Lenovo laptop: a Ryzen 5 7520U. On paper, that makes it slightly faster than our recommendation above.
It performs slightly less well on other fronts: for example, the USB ports on the left are slower and you cannot connect a screen to the USB-C connection. For external screens you can only use the HDMI connection, which does not allow you to display 4K resolutions at a smooth frame rate.
ASUS has also cut back on WiFi. The laptop has only one antenna that works with a slightly older, slower standard than Lenovo’s.
Most horsepower: Medion Akoya E16423 (400 euros)
This is the laptop you should choose if you mainly want raw horsepower. The Core i5-1155G7 chip that Medion used achieves the best performance. On the other hand, the build quality of this machine is not very good. The wafer-thin plastic feels cheap. When you hold it, it even bends a little. That doesn’t give us confidence for long-term use.
The resolution, at 1,920 by 1,200 pixels, is slightly higher than its competitors. A wide color range can also be shown. Unfortunately, the brightness level is a bit low in this image. The webcam has a mostly sharp resolution and the USB-C port can send video to a screen while you charge the laptop. Wireless internet is disappointing: you will find Wi-Fi 5 here instead of the modern Wi-Fi 6.
2023-12-09 04:17:36
#budget #laptop #moment #Live #smarter
