The best laptops under $1,000 will give you great performance, impressive battery life, and portability without breaking the bank. what does this mean? It doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg to get an amazing laptop.

Depending on who you are and what you need, there are some characteristics you’ll be willing to sacrifice – others, not so much. For example, if you only need a laptop for casual web surfing and productivity apps, you should be fine with a low-end CPU. However, if you’re constantly on the go and use your laptop outside, you might not be able to sacrifice a high-brightness screen or a laptop with good battery life.

That said, there are plenty of great sub-$1,000 options out there, whether you need a business laptop for working on the go, a gaming laptop that lets you sip on a budget, or a 2-in-1 laptop. Which allows you to turn your laptop into a tablet.

Which is the best laptop under $1,000?

The best 2022 laptop under $1,000 is the HP Envy 13 (2021), which makes it the best ultrabook on the market today for its price. Starting at $849, the 11th-generation Intel CPU in this Envy 13 delivers faster performance and longer battery life than you’d expect from a sub-$1,000 laptop. Highlights include a sleek aluminum design, a comfortable keyboard, an excellent 1080p display, and a great selection of ports. It also has Thunderbolt 4 connectivity.

Apple’s mighty M1 MacBook Air is also a great option, priced under $1,000. If you prefer macOS to Windows 10, there is no better option than this. Be sure to check out the best MacBook deals to catch some of the best deals.

While some laptops have a retail price of over $1,000, you’ll find plenty of great laptop deals that can turn these expensive notebooks into affordable laptops. For example, one of the best 2-in-1 laptops in the market, the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (2020) costs $1,078. However, some deals have brought it below $1,000. Be sure to keep an eye out for the latest ongoing offers. Also, you may want to consider whether you should buy a refurbished laptop.

There are too many great contenders on this list though, so check out the best laptops under $1,000 below.

Best Laptops Under $1,000 You Can Buy Now

01. HP Envy 13 (2021)

HP addressed nearly every shortcoming of the previous Envy 13, a laptop that already had very few flaws. The latest model introduces a Thunderbolt 4 port and reduces the display bezel, resulting in a modern, compact design.

Everything else about the Envy 13 is either better or as good as ever. The 1080p display is bright and vivid, typing on the keyboard is a pleasure, and you still get Thunderbolt 4 input along with two USB Type-A ports for connecting mice, keyboards or webcams. The winning formula has been improved by bringing onboard 11th generation Intel CPUs. Our Core i5 model impressed in real-world and benchmark tests, and the Envy 13 lasted about 11 hours on a charge.

The Envy 13 gets you almost a flagship level laptop for no flagship price.

02. Asus ZenBook 13 UX325EA

There’s just something about the ZenBook. They’re beautiful, incredibly thin and lightweight, and thanks to Asus, they have some ace in their digital sleeves. In the case of the Asus ZenBook 13 UX325EA ($999 review, starting $949), the secret sauce is Intel’s new Tiger Lake chips. Under Intel’s new Evo initiative, Intel Tiger Lake chips offer more powerful performance, longer battery life, and Thunderbolt 4 and Wi-Fi 6. Plus, you get the added bonus of the ZenBook’s beautiful yet durable chassis.

03. HP Envy x360 13 (2020)

The HP Envy x360 13 is the best 2-in-1 laptop for the money. While it doesn’t come with a stylus (nor does the Surface Pro), the Envy is 2-in-1 so you can flip it into tent or tablet mode. What makes it such a great value is its all-aluminum design and Herculean AMD Ryzen processor.

In our testing, we found that the Envy x360 13 with Ryzen 5 4500U CPU could beat laptops with 10th generation Intel chips. This specific Envy costs just $800 and can outpace laptops that cost more than $1,000, including the overpriced MacBook Pro. Beyond that, the Envy x360 13 features a bright, vivid 13.3-inch display and a comfortable keyboard.

There’s very little we like about the Envy x360. If you can get over the lack of a Thunderbolt 3 port and IR camera, this is the ultimate money-saving laptop.

You’ll find that the latest HP Specter x360 13 (2021) delivers faster performance and longer battery life in an even smaller chassis. However, its best configuration is above the $1,000 line. If you’re willing to spend a little more, we recommend the latest version.

04. MacBook Air (M1, Late 2020)

If you prefer macOS to Windows 10, go with the Apple MacBook Air. The biggest improvement over this year’s model is the new M1 chip, which delivers excellent performance and great battery life, making the new MacBook Air the fastest ultrathin laptop ever.

Apple’s mighty M1 MacBook Air takes the cut thanks to its stellar $999 price tag. Even better, you’ll find plenty of deals reducing that price even further. You get unmatched performance with a battery life of 14 hours and 41 minutes. It’s a combination you’ll only get from the best Windows 10 laptops, and even they can’t compete in face-to-face performance.

Apple’s least expensive 13.3-inch model is also its most portable, coming in at just 0.6 inches thick and 2.8 pounds. It’s one of the best college laptops out there, and for those looking to spend less than $1,000, you’re in for a treat.

05. Dell G5 15 SE (2020)

The Dell G5 15 SE (2020) is a great mainstream gaming laptop thanks to its wild CPU performance, great battery life, and bright 15.6-inch display. With its AMD processors, the system consistently outpaced the competition. The notebook also impressed with its battery life lasting over 7 hours. Throw in an AMD graphics card that can hold its own on even the most demanding AAA titles and you’ve got a certified winner.

Plus, the laptop has a display with a seriously comfortable keyboard that’s equal parts bright and vivid. And we’re fans of the iridescent silver paint above the hood and healthy port offering, which lets you attach all of your essential peripherals. The Dell G5 15 SE (2020) is one of the best gaming laptops you can get for the price.

06. Acer Chromebook Spin 713 (2021)

The Chromebook Spin 713 carves a niche for itself for the enthusiast or professional crowd, as well as students and mobile professionals alike. Its powerful processor makes it perfect for running heavy Android or Linux apps. It also has an ample selection of ports and a bright and vivid display. The Spin 713 proved to be a great performer with its 2.4-GHz Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor, 8GB of RAM, a 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD, and Intel Iris Xe graphics. Plus, it has average battery life, coming in at 10 hours and 35 minutes on the Laptop Mag battery test.

There’s a lot to like about the Acer Chromebook Spin 713, no matter what you’re using it for. Enthusiast writers will love the keyboard and extra screen real estate, while multimedia mavens will love the streaming capabilities of Google OS. The notebook offers a great 2-in-1 form factor that feels a lot more high-end than you’d think for its price tag. It’s durable enough for daily use, and powerful enough to replace the functionality of many full-fledged laptops. Plus, the battery life is top-notch.

07. Lenovo ThinkBook 14s Yoga

The Lenovo ThinkBook 14s Yoga dares to be different – ​​it wants to stand out from all the other sub-$1,000 business convertibles on the market. While it didn’t blow us away when we tested it, it consistently won silver medals in every department.

We’re suckers for a garaged stylus, the all-aluminum ThinkBook 14s Yoga includes a smart pen that has its own silo for fast charging while it’s not in use. With strong performance and good performance, the ThinkBook 14s Yoga is a 2-in-1 that’s ideal for business users who hate scuffling for a pen that never seems to be within reach.

08. Microsoft Surface Pro 7

The Microsoft Surface Pro 8 is available now, but it misses its shot at being on this list as it tops the $1,000 mark. We still recommend it a great 2-in-1 laptop option, so be sure to check out our Microsoft Surface Pro 8 review.

The Surface Pro 7 takes an excellent laptop from last year’s Surface Pro 6 and powers it. Where battery life impresses, the new 10th generation CPUs deliver excellent performance in our synthetic and real-world testing.

The design hasn’t changed at all, but the Surface Pro 7 now has a USB-C port for charging and connecting peripherals. Microsoft still sells the comfortable Alcantara-clad Type Cover and super-responsive Surface Pen, which make it easy to make or take notes on this tablet’s vivid and bright 12.3-inch display.

There is still scope for improvement. For example, the Surface Pro 7’s display bezels are chunky and storage/RAM upgrades are inexplicably expensive. Still, it’s one of the best 2-in-1 devices out there, and an excellent choice if you’re traveling.

The updated Microsoft Surface Pro 7+ comes with 11th-generation Intel Core processors, but the best configurations you’ll find are well above the $1,000 limit.

09. Samsung Galaxy Book (2021)

Samsung Galaxy Book 2021 is taking the company on the road to greatness. Its 11th Gen Intel Core i5 processor not only impresses by delivering great overall performance for a $750 laptop, but its nice keyboard, port diversity, and slim design make it a promising notebook for professionals.

Still, there are some cogs that require some polishing to keep the machine flowing. While the laptop’s thin bezels make the most of the 15-inch display, the panel itself is dull. Samsung needs to do something about its terrible touchpad and webcam, too. That said, these aren’t deal-breakers, especially since it offers exceptional performance for a laptop that’s well under the $1,000 mark.

The Samsung Galaxy Book is a good laptop, especially for those who have other Samsung devices.

10. Asus ZenBook 13 UM325S

The Asus ZenBook 13 UM325S is a great ultraportable laptop. It boasts of great performance, great battery life, a lovely OLED display, and powerful speakers. The only drawback is its compact design. It’s surprisingly portable, but it does make the keyboard and touchpad somewhat uncomfortable to use.

But overall, the ZenBook 13 is one of the best ultraportable laptops out there, as long as your hands are small and you can get used to its keyboard.

11. Acer Swift 3 (2020, AMD Ryzen 7 4700U)

The Acer Swift 3, with an AMD Ryzen 7 4700U CPU, blew us away with its overall performance on our Geekbench 5.0 benchmarks. Not only did the Acer Swift 3 outpace laptops within its price range, but it also outperformed some top-tier, premium laptops like the Dell XPS 13.

Acer Swift 3’s battery life is also good. You’ll get over 11 hours from the Acer Swift 3, which will last you all day. Equipped with a powerful CPU and great battery life, the Acer Swift 3 will only set you back $649, which is totally unheard of nowadays. However, for the price, you have to sacrifice a great screen as the Acer Swift 3 has a dim display.

Still, the Acer Swift 3 will give you a lot of bang for your money. We highly recommend it.

12. Realme Book

The Realme Book is the company’s first attempt at adding a laptop. If it were readily available in regions around the world, but not in the UK or Europe, we would give it an Editors’ Choice award.

If you’re getting serious MacBook Air vibes about this metal wedge, you’re not alone. Even the simple white packaging is inspired by Apple. However, this laptop comes with an 11th generation Intel processor, Windows 10, and a Realme logo on the front instead. You get a decent ultra portable one at an impressively affordable price. If you need something small and light enough to conquer daily workloads and enjoy casual entertainment on the go, Realme has made a seriously appealing choice – so it’s a shame most of us would buy it. Can’t.

This was what Realme had to say about the availability:

“Due to the current global situation, a combination of manufacturing and market forces have combined, which means that despite the dedicated work of our team, this time around we are not able to launch the Realme Book in Europe as initially planned. We continue to work. It’s hard to bring the best products to our users and we can confirm that future versions of the products are very much in our plans for Europe. We love realme and our fans. Looking forward to sharing what’s to come in the future.”