Great specs for every budget: The best laptops under £1,000

To keep as much of your funds as possible, consider the budget-friendly Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook. At under £300, the specs are naturally less impressive than what you would get from other laptops on this list. The most notable ones are the 4GB RAM and 64GB storage, but if you use plenty of memory sticks, this shouldn't be too much of an issue.

It's worth noting that this isn't just a lightweight laptop, it's a Chromebook. That means it runs on ChromeOS instead of Windows, and while that may take some getting used to, it's actually quite simple to navigate and use.

Whether you work from home or the office, you'll appreciate a laptop that makes video calls practical and convenient, and that's exactly what the ASUS Vivobook 15 does. The webcam quality is brilliant and sure to be ideal for those who have many online meetings. The Vivobook 15 also takes your sound environment into account here, as the fans are so quiet and efficient that they shouldn't be picked up during calls.

While the processor is a bit underwhelming, the rest of the specs are solid enough for typical desk work. A 512GB SSD is always appreciated for a work laptop, and the 15.6-inch screen is the perfect size that doesn't take up too much space while still being large enough to be comfortable on the eyes.

The ASUS TUF A15 is a standout budget-friendly gaming laptop that doesn't compromise on essential elements. It features a robust metal lid paired with a black plastic interior, offering a durable build quality typically seen in higher-end models. The laptop is relatively lightweight, making it a good option for gamers on the go.

It's important to note that the budget RRP comes with a cut in overall storage (512GB) and a less-than-ideal GPU. However, for the price, its specs are excellent and well worth the money, especially if this is your first gaming rig or if you're on a tighter budget. It's also a perfect present for youngsters wanting to make the jump to a dedicated gaming laptop.

All in all, a versatile and well-rounded option for gamers looking for solid performance on a tight budget, making it a top pick among the best gaming laptops of 2024.

The ASUS Laptop Zenbook 14 has many great features that make it worth your consideration, but our favourite is its battery life. It can last upwards of 18 hours on a full charge, which is more than double that of many other laptops, even on this list. It also charges quite fast, which is always nice if you don't want to be tethered to a socket. The other specs are solid as well, with the 16GB RAM being especially noteworthy.

This is another laptop with brilliant screen quality. It's an OLED display, meaning the pixels illuminate themselves, resulting in a much more vibrant and colourful picture. And at 550 nits of brightness, you can be sure you'll have no difficulty seeing the screen no matter how dark your surroundings get.

While sound might not be the first thing you think of when choosing a laptop, if you plan to watch movies or stream shows on it, you should consider models such as the Lenovo IdeaPad 1. Its speakers, optimised with Dolby Atmos, create a rich audio experience that most Laptops can't match. That's even more impressive when you factor in how affordable the IdeaPad 1 is.

As for the specs, there are strengths and weaknesses. On the strong side, you have the charging speed. With about 15 minutes of charge, you get two hours of playtime, so you won't be stuck next to a charging port for long. On the other side of the specs, you have the RAM and storage, which only come to a paltry 4GB and 128GB, respectively.

For a truly versatile laptop, you can rely on the HP Pavilion 16-ag0508sa. This is a fantastic all-rounder that can tackle just about anything you want it to. The specs are solid, with the AMD Ryzen 5 and 512GB SSD keeping load times quite swift. It also has an FHD touchscreen, so you have extra freedom to choose how to navigate with it.

We're also fond of this laptop's physical build. At roughly 1.79kg, it's very lightweight for a laptop this size, and the sleek and thin design reflects that as well. The screen bezels, which are relatively narrow and don't distract from the main display, further complement this.

Although the weight of the MSI Modern FHD Laptop might lead you to believe it's not ideal for travel, it more than justifies its placement here. The military-grade durability is exceptional, so you don't need to fret if it takes a bump or a drop at any point. The battery life is also very reliable, netting you around 12 hours off a single charge.

With the MSI Modern, you also won't need to think too much about ports and connections. It has USB-A, USB-C, MicroSD, and HDMI ports, so it can connect with countless different devices. The MicroSD is especially handy for any photos you take while travelling.

The HP Pavilion SE 14 may initially look like a fairly standard laptop, but its screen has many interesting features. At only 250 nits, it may not be the brightest screen, but the anti-glare design ensures that harsh sunlight won't prevent you seeing it. It's also flicker-free, meaning the refresh rate is consistent enough to minimise eye strain, so you can use it for long sessions at a time and feel less tired than with other models.

The i5 CPU, 512GB SSD, and 8GB RAM are all in line with similarily priced laptops, and the nine-hour battery life is respectable as well. The ports help the Pavilion stand out on its own, providing you with plenty of options for connecting other devices to the laptop. Of particular note are the three USB 3.0 and one USB-C port you get.

If you're not certain whether you'd be better off with a laptop or a tablet, we suggest the HP Pavilion x360 14-ek1511sa. This 2-in-1 design can be used as a traditional laptop or a touchscreen tablet, so you've got the freedom to choose your preferred design no matter where you take it.

In terms of specs, this is a solid all-rounder. The CPU and GPU are respectable, but the RAM and SSD storage are great for a tablet. The battery life is solid too, so you won't need to worry about it running out too often. The only dissapointment is the audio, but that can be ignored if you use headphones.