3 Best Laptops Under $800: Nerdable’s Picks
Daniel Martin
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While the earliest laptop PCs were incredibly expensive and highly cumbersome to travel with, modern laptops now offer users a wide array of options that provide considerable utility without breaking the bank. In addition, thanks to the progression of Moore’s law driving down production costs while increasing the number of available semiconductors, consumers have more options than ever. Learn more about the affordable, best laptops under $800 and get yourself the technology you need without exceeding your budget.
What Should I Look For in an Affordable Laptop?
Although the phrase “you get what you pay for” certainly applies when purchasing laptops, you should consider your specific requirements before purchasing more technology than you need. If you are looking to engage in casual gaming and video chats, a laptop built for small business needs may not have sufficient graphics and audio to meet a game’s minimum requirements. You should also consider things like the overall weight, battery life, ability to connect to the internet and other devices, and its native audiovisual technology before finalizing your purchase.
Best 2-in-1 Laptop under $800: Microsoft Surface Go 3 – Available for $599.99 on Amazon
For those interested in an attractive, compact touchscreen laptop that won’t cause back pain during the daily commute, the Microsoft Surface Go 3 is an excellent option that weighs a mere 1.2 pounds. In addition, with eleven hours of battery life available (depending on settings and activities) and Fast Charging technology that restores as much as 80% of the total battery within an hour, you have relatively little risk of being left in the lurch. This laptop also features a responsive 10.5-inch 220ppi touchscreen, a removable Type cover, a Surface Pen, an adjustable kickstand, and a MicroSDXC Card Reader to expand the provided 128GB of storage.
For art students, old-school note-takers, or those working in creative fields like graphic design, the Surface Pen allows you to write and draw naturally and easily erase any errors as needed. Although the Surface Go 3 is somewhat limited, with only a single USB-C port built-in, users can easily acquire a Surface Dock 2 to access desktop charging and additional ports for connectivity.
The laptop also features a pair of studio microphones and both front and rear-facing 1080p HD webcams to provide quality video conferencing for work, social, or educational needs. The inclusion of Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 technology combined with the latest version of Windows 11 will help ensure that your new 2-in-1 laptop can effectively use the internet and easily communicate with other devices.
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Best 16’’ Laptop under $800: Dell Inspiron 16 Laptop – Available for $729.99 on Dell.
If you need a solidly built laptop that doesn’t skimp on the technology required for accomplishing your daily responsibilities as a student or businessperson, the Dell Inspiron 16 is an affordable PC that delivers reliable performance. More hard-wearing than some other laptops thanks to its high-quality aluminum exterior chassis, the Inspiron 16 includes a 512GB SSD hard drive, 16GB of DDR4 RAM, Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.2.
Do you spend a lot of time staring at screens for work, school, or pleasure? If so, the inclusion of ComfortView and anti-glare technologies will help reduce eyestrain, headaches, and other injuries associated with excessive screen time. Ethical consumers will also be interested in learning that this laptop has received certifications from both Energy Star and the US Commission for Environmental Cooperation as a testament to the unit’s energy efficiency.
This unit comes with two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, one USB 3.2 Gen 2×1 Type-C port with Power Delivery and DisplayPort technology, one audio jack, and one HDMI 1.4 port. The base model weighs a mere 4.12 pounds despite its size, making this an excellent laptop if you need a larger screen without carrying extra weight. The incorporation of ExpressCharge technology also allows for the computer to gain up to 80% of its maximum power after a single hour of charging, allowing users to stay mobile and not remain constantly tethered to a power outlet.
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Most Secure Laptop under $800: Acer Swift 3 Intel Evo Laptop – Available on Amazon for $557
While this unit may not have the most RAM or the most considerable amount of built-in storage, the Acer Swift 3 Evo Laptop is especially useful for those looking to address potential security issues using biometrics. Given that such technology is commonly found on more expensive laptop models, the inclusion of Acer Bio-Protection Fingerprint Solution will make it significantly harder for anyone to access your PC and its data without your authorization.
Rather than having to go through the time and trouble of inputting multiple passwords or launching programs and apps individually, you can use the Acer Bio-Protection Fingerprint Solution instead. This feature also seamlessly integrates with Windows Hello to provide additional security measures along with your PIN, facial recognition, and other advanced technology.
For videoconferencing, this laptop includes two built-in microphones running Acer’s proprietary Purified Voice technology combined with a 1280p x 720p HD webcam capable of supporting SDHR or super dynamic high-range functionality. Those interested in a laptop with excellent compatibility and port options will be delighted with the Acer Swift 3 Evo’s complement of a USB Type-C port, a USB 3.2 Gen 2 with data transfer speed up to 10 Gbps, a DisplayPort over USB Type-C, a Thunderbolt 4 and USB Charging port, a USB 3.2 Gen 1 port which offers power-off charging, a USB 2.0 port, and an HDMI 2.0 port.
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Thanks to advanced technology becoming more affordable and efficient with every generation of new laptops, there has never been a better time to upgrade to a new PC and take advantage of lower prices. Be sure to check out our other articles and learn more about how to best stretch your technology budget without compromising your needs.