10 Best Budget Laptops 2026 in the United States

The Dell 15 DC15250 is a solid choice in the budget laptop category, especially for users needing reliable everyday performance for work, study, or casual use. Its Intel Core i5 processor, while listed at a base speed of 900 MHz, is from the 13th generation family and should handle multitasking and common software smoothly. The standout feature here is the 16GB DDR4 RAM, which is generous for this price range and helps with running multiple applications without slowing down. Storage is ample with a 512GB SSD, offering fast boot times and plenty of space for documents and media.

The 15.6-inch Full HD display with a 120Hz refresh rate provides clear and smooth visuals, which is a nice bonus for streaming videos or light gaming. The anti-glare coating and Dell’s ComfortView technology help reduce eye strain during extended use. At about 3.6 pounds and under an inch thick, the laptop is reasonably portable, though not ultra-light, which is typical for a 15-inch budget model. Build quality appears sturdy with ergonomic touches like a backlit keyboard, numeric keypad, and angled hinges for comfortable typing.

Battery life is supported by energy-efficient features and Express Charge, which helps you get back to use quickly. Connectivity includes multiple USB ports (two USB 3.0 and one USB 2.0), memory card slot, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), covering most everyday needs. The absence of an optical drive is standard nowadays and not a drawback for most users. This Dell laptop offers strong memory and storage, a sharp display, and practical features for daily use, making it a great pick for students and professionals on a budget. However, if you need high-end processor power for very demanding tasks, you might want to consider options with faster CPUs.

The Dell 15 DC15255 laptop is a solid choice for anyone looking for a budget-friendly machine that handles daily tasks smoothly. Powered by an AMD Ryzen 5-7520U processor and 8GB of fast LPDDR5 RAM, it offers enough speed for web browsing, office work, and light multitasking without much lag. Its 512GB SSD storage means quicker startup and file access compared to traditional hard drives, providing a good balance between performance and storage capacity for most users. The 15.6-inch Full HD display with a 120Hz refresh rate is impressive in this price range, offering clear and smooth visuals, which is nice for watching videos or casual gaming. The laptop also comes with AMD Radeon 610M graphics, which can handle basic games and media but isn't designed for heavy gaming or demanding creative software.

Build quality is decent, featuring a carbon black finish and ergonomic keyboard with a numeric keypad, making typing comfortable for longer periods. Weighing just over 4 pounds and having a slim profile, it’s reasonably portable for everyday carry. Connectivity options include two USB 3.0 ports and one USB 2.0 port, plus Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, covering most needs, though it lacks newer USB-C ports, which might limit future-proofing. Battery life details aren’t specified, but adaptive thermals suggest the laptop manages heat and power efficiently, which should help with longer usage between charges. The inclusion of a built-in HD webcam and 1-year onsite service adds convenience and support. One thing to note is that it does not have an optical drive, which is common nowadays but worth considering if you need one.

This Dell laptop suits students, office workers, and general users seeking reliable performance and good screen quality on a budget, but it’s less ideal for gaming enthusiasts or those needing extensive connectivity options.

The Dell 15 DC15250 is a budget-friendly laptop designed for everyday tasks like browsing, streaming, and light office work. It runs on an Intel Core i3 processor, which is good enough for basic computing but might feel slow with heavier programs. With 8GB of DDR4 RAM, it can handle multiple apps at once without much trouble. The 512GB solid-state drive (SSD) offers plenty of fast storage, so you’ll get quick startup and file access compared to traditional hard drives.

The 15.6-inch Full HD display with a 120Hz refresh rate is a nice plus, providing smooth visuals for browsing and videos, and the anti-glare coating helps reduce eye strain during longer use. Dell’s ComfortView feature also helps reduce blue light, which is good if you spend many hours in front of the screen. Battery life is supported by energy-efficient features and Express Charge, meaning it can last through most of a workday and recharge quickly when needed.

In terms of build, it’s fairly lightweight at just over 4 pounds and slim at 0.75 inches thick, making it portable enough for school or commuting. The laptop includes a numeric keypad which is handy for typing numbers or calculations. Its connectivity options include two USB 3.0 ports, one USB 2.0 port, and wireless support with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth, covering most everyday needs. The Intel UHD integrated graphics limit gaming or graphic-intensive tasks, and the processor’s base clock speed is relatively low for demanding software. The laptop lacks an optical drive, which is common today but worth noting if you need it. The build feels basic but durable, fitting its budget category. This Dell 15 model is a solid pick for students, home users, or anyone needing a reliable, affordable laptop for standard tasks without high-end performance requirements.