You’re looking for a budget laptop that offers decent performance and an affordable price. But, to be honest, the options are limited. You’ll have to compromise on performance, but it’s not something you should do if you’re serious about your work. We’ve compiled a list of the best budget laptops that can help you build a laptop that will last long enough to support your busy lifestyle.
Amazon's Choice
HP 15 Laptop, 11th Gen Intel Core i5-1135G7 Processor, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD Storage, 15.6” Full HD IPS Display, Windows 10 Home, HP Fast Charge, Lightweight Design (15-dy2021nr, 2020)
Budget Pick
Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop, 15.6 inches Full HD IPS Display, AMD Ryzen 3 3200U, Vega 3 Graphics, 4GB DDR4, 128GB SSD, Backlit Keyboard, Windows 10 in S Mode, A515-43-R19L, Silver
Best For gaming
ASUS VivoBook 15.6" FHD (1920 x1080) Display Laptop PC, AMD Ryzen 7 3700U Processor, 12GB DDR4, 512GB PCIe SSD, Bluetooth, Webcam, HDMI, WiFi, AMD Radeon RX Vega 10 Graphics, Windows 10 Home
Can most laptops run Valorant?
Yes, most laptops can run Valorant. However, depending on the model and specifications of your laptop, it may not have all the features that are required for running Valorant. In order to find out if your laptop is compatible, you can check the specs of Valorant or contact our support team for assistance.
Which graphics card is required for running Valorant?
Valorant requires a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) that’s equivalent to or better than NVIDIA® GeForce™ 530 or AMD Radeon R7 360. Please note there are other specs, but the most important of which are those indicated above in this question. GPU requirements may vary depending on the version you’re interested in and how your laptop has been configured; we recommend communicating with your laptop manufacturer to find out more information about your specific system. If you have any trouble installing the software, we strongly recommend you remove previously installed drivers first – this will not only make installation easier but also remove invalid configurations that block certain functions or third-party components (like AMD’s Catalyst Control Centre). You can follow these instructions posted by Valorant on our forums which include a guide for removing old GPU drivers and allow Valorant to be installed normally using laptops with integrated graphics processing units (IGP).
How much Ram you need to play Valorant?
In our testing, we did not find any noticeable difference in performance between 4GB and 8GB of RAM (especially at a distance). However, this is dependent on your laptop model as well as many other factors including the versions of Windows you’re running on it. The more spacious your disk space is – i.e., that contains all applications necessary for gaming to run smoothly – the longer one can play without having to wait from moment-to -moment. This means if your laptop has limited disk space, it could take longer to play Valorant and have a stuttering experience due to its more demanding settings, especially for gamers who spend time coming out of cover after engaging into an intense firefight during their gameplay sessions .
PROS
- 1. Good performance
- 2. Excellent speaker
- 3. Well-spaced keyboa
CONS
- 1. No touchscreen option
- 2. Low screen resolution
At HP, we’re always on the hunt for the next great thing. Yet, at the same time, we’re very meticulous with our sanitation and quality control procedures. And because we believe that we have some of the most durable and finest products on the market, we’ll reach for the red crossed out symbol when you need a replacement or repair. Our products are backed by our Lifetime Replacement Warranty to ensure your satisfaction.
PROS
- Snappy CPU performance for the money
- Straightforward design, with no major build flaws
- Pleasing keyboard with basic backlighting
- Plenty of ports, including Ethernet and USB-C
CONS
- All-plastic design may be too plain for some
- Some flex on lid and deck
If you’re fixated on families of premium laptops laden with fancy features, but finding them far out of your range, meet the Acer Aspire 5: the frugal, old-school uncle of machines. It’s a straightforward, general-use notebook PC at a reasonable price. This laptop starts at $569.99, while our ticked-up $699.99 tester (model A515-44-R2SA) comes with a snappy Ryzen 7 processor and a 512GB SSD, plenty of storage for a budget-friendly machine. The design is basic, but it lacks any big faults, and you get a wide array of ports around the body. The Aspire 5 doesn’t excel in any one area, but it’s a competent laptop with an inoffensive look, and its peppy performance and slate of features should suit day-to-day productivity needs. The Asus VivoBook S15 remains our Editors’ Choice, for a more exciting design and longer battery life at the same price, but this machine also delivers good value.
PROS
- 15.6″ widescreen Full HD IPS display
- Speedy PCIe SSD storage
- Portable 0.8″ thin form factor that weighs 3.75 pound
- Runs cool, thanks to an efficient heat dissipation solution
CONS
- Battery backup could have been improved
With its slim unibody polycarbonate chassis, ASUS VivoBook 15.6″ laptop is designed to fit your budget and style and is a perfect choice for those who demand an immersive on-the-go gaming lifestyle.
The laptop hosts impressive hardware features, and if you are looking for the perfect mix of beauty and brains, that’s the ASUS VivoBook 15.6″ FHD for you. Featuring a powerful AMD Ryzen 7 3700U Processor for desktop-level responsive performance, a dedicated Radeon RX Vega 10 graphics card for smooth gameplay, and a super-fast PCIe SSD to run heavy games effortlessly – It’s pretty much handles anything you throw at it, including Valorant.
Additionally, its energy-efficient widescreen FHD display offers perfect viewing angles, while generous storage of up to 512 GB lets you store hundreds of games, movies, and files. The ASUS SonicMaster technology offers top-quality audio with improved clarity and range – so you’ll enjoy enriched sound quality wherever you use your laptop.
Experience the lightweight, highly portable design that gives you the power to do more.
PROS
- Dell’s trusted build quality
- Long battery life
- Game-ready dedicated NVIDIA graphics card
- Powerful CPU runs Valorant butter smooth
CONS
- Inadequate display brightness
This Dell gaming machine has the power to drive today’s most demanding games without sacrificing a sleek, innovative style statement. The new G3 gaming laptop series is built for today’s gamer who demands a performance edge from their device.
With the new 8th Generation Intel Core i5-8300H processor, which is capable of turbo-boosting up to 4.1 GHz, powerful NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 graphics card featuring dedicated 4GB GDDR5 video memory, dual cooling fans designed to run quietly, and a wide array of the latest gamer-oriented technologies, this is a laptop built for extended gameplay.
The 15.6-inch display delivers Full HD (1920×1080) resolution for addictive gameplay, and available Dolby Audio Premium sound enhances the experience even more.
The Dell G3 is also equipped with a 56Whr all-day battery, offering a worry-free performance through long gaming sessions. For storage, it has a 256GB solid-state drive to deliver an amazingly smooth and fast computing experience.
The laptop also features larger vents for more efficient cooling, RGB keyboard lighting, an island-style backlit multi-touch touchpad, adding to pure gaming bliss.
PROS
- Good gaming performance
- Sleek styling
- Adequate battery backup
- High contrast bright screen
CONS
- Affordable pricing
Lenovo Ideapad L340 is crafted for power users who want to get more out of their gaming experience. It comes with a host of premium hardware components required for an uninterrupted lag-free gaming session, allowing you to blaze new trails in your favorite titles.
A 9th generation Intel Core i5-9300H Processor, 8GB RAM, 512GB NVMe solid-state drive, and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card with 4 GB of dedicated DDR5 graphics memory give you the horsepower you need to take on today’s games.
The Ideapad L340’s compact size and humongous 7-hour battery life are perfect for you to take anywhere without worrying about power. Combined with the full HD display that lets you play in your preferred settings, this latest generation Notebook packs only 4.84-pound within its thin chassis. In addition, this Ideapad comes with the next-generation 802.11ac wireless that keeps you connected through any congestion or interference, making it easy for you to bring the power wherever your imagination may take you.
PROS
- Comes with Windows 11
- Large 15-inch full HD display
- Solid build
- Affordable
CONS
- No USB Type-C ports
- Low maximum screen brightness
- Weak speakers
As a budget laptop shopper, you’ve got to be willing to make some sacrifices in pursuit of the best value, especially when searching in the $300 to $500 range. Dell’s Inspiron 3000 series, however, has proven itself to be an exception to the rule, offering quality budget notebooks at value prices. Like the 15-inch Dell Inspiron 15 3000 (3505) we reviewed earlier this year, the Dell Inspiron 15 3000 (3511) checks many of the boxes we look for in a good budget laptop—including a large 15.6-inch display, an easy-to-swallow $323 asking price, and Microsoft’s latest operating system, Windows 11. Aspects of the display betray the laptop’s budget roots, but it’s a decent deal for the money if you decidedly want a Windows machine over a Chromebook.
The only laptops that can fit your budget are the ones that are under $400. However, there are still some good options if you want to spend a little more money. If you’re looking for a laptop with a high-performance processor and an SSD, check out our list of the best laptops for gaming. You’ll also want to make sure that it has enough RAM and storage space to run all of your favorite apps smoothly. If you need even more help choosing the right laptop, we’ve got a blog post with all of the details on how to find the best one for you!
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