BUDGET LAPTOPS
- TIPS & TRICKS
- Eke out more performance by disabling heavy apps at startup. Hit Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, then look for the ‘Startup apps’ option.
- Don’t forget to register
to claim an extra year of warranty. You’ll be sorry if you need it.
- It may only offer small power-saving gains, but there’s no denying that dark mode on Windows is easier on the eyes.
Acer Swift Lite (i5-1334U)
from R12 000 | makro.co.za
You may think a five-digit price tag disqualifies Acer’s new Swift Lite from the budget category, but we dare you to find a laptop this decent at a similar price. Acer’s efforts shirk the budget standard Intel Celeron CPUs, instead delivering the 13th-gen Intel Core i3-1315U that’ll go up to a Core-i5-1334U if you can spare the cash. 8GB of RAM and a snappy 512GB NVMe SSD round out the internal specs, while a bog-standard 14in FHD+ makes the thing that much nicer to look at.
Stuff says ★★★★★
It won’t win any design awards, but Acer’s Swift Lite is a contender for anyone looking to stretch their budget bucks.
• NOW ADD THIS
LOGITECH M220 SILENT WIRELESS MOUSE
Long-term trackpad use is never fun. This wireless critter is silent, so you won’t disturb anyone. Not even yourself.
R350 | incredible.co.za
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 (i3-1215U)
R7 500 | evetech.co.za
There will always be trade-offs with budget-focused laptops – less memory or a less capable screen to keep the price in check – yet this IdeaPad manages to offer impressive specs (even though it pushes up against the ‘budget laptop’ limit rather closely). The 12th-gen Intel Core i3 CPU offers decent entry-level performance, 8GB of RAM means you’ll survive opening an extra tab or two, the 15.6in FHD display won’t hurt your eyes, and a 512GB SSD provides snappy storage.
Stuff says ★★★★★
There’s enough here to make it seem like your budget PC isn’t… well, a budget PC.
Asus Vivobook Go 15 (7320U)
R8 600 | firstshop.co.za
Technically this 15.6in notebook from Asus is a budget unit but that hasn’t stopped the Taiwanese tech wizards from giving you an OLED display. There’s also an AMD Ryzen 3 7320U chipset inside, with attendant Radeon graphics. The first inkling of ‘budget’ creeps in at the maximum allocation of 8GB of RAM. That’s also supplied, at least. 512GB of NVMe storage and a 42Wh battery makes Asus’ bigger, better Go a serious contender for your laptop budget this cycle.
Stuff says ★★★★★
This one makes its Ryzen shine.
Asus Vivobook Go 15 (N150)
★★★★★ R7 800 | firstshop.co.za
If you don’t mind the hit to the processor, Intel’s version will take you where you need to be.
Proline V146 (5700U)
★★★★★ R6 300 | pcshopper.co.za
A wonderful mix of affordability and power, the Proline V146 makes a strong case why it should be your daily driver.
Packard Bell Montenero-C82PRO
★★★★★ R6 000 | incredible.co.za
You won’t often find something quite as competent at this price – especially not one with room for an upgrade.
Asus CR1100 Flip (N4500)
★★★★★ R6 900 | giftguide.co.za
Don’t focus on the Celeron processor or 4GB RAM. Focus on the flexible screen and affordable price.
HP 250 G10 (N100)
★★★★★ R7 000 | takealot.com
It won’t bend, but it’ll go anywhere. A generous keyboard and FHD display are just the icing on the cake.
Asus X515 (i3-1115G4)
★★★★★ R8 800 | giftguide.co.za
If you can do without a FHD screen, the X515 performs respectably.
Packard Bell Carrera F3
★★★★★ R9 000 | computermania.co.za
It has its faults but we’d argue you’re getting more than your money’s worth here.