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 16 Laptop DC16251 offers a strong package for those seeking a budget-friendly laptop with solid performance and a large, comfortable display. Its Intel Core i7-150U processor, paired with 16GB of DDR5 RAM, ensures smooth multitasking and decent speed for everyday work, browsing, and light entertainment. The 1TB SSD provides ample, fast storage, making loading times quick and giving plenty of space for files and applications. The 16-inch display with a 16:10 aspect ratio and Full HD+ resolution delivers sharp and clear visuals that are a notch above typical budget laptop screens. Dell’s ComfortView Plus helps reduce eye strain by filtering blue light, which is handy for long use sessions.

At around 4.37 pounds and less than an inch thick, this laptop is fairly portable, though not the lightest option if you plan to carry it daily. The build quality feels solid with extras like an anti-glare screen, backlit keyboard, fingerprint reader, and a numeric keypad that adds to usability. Connectivity is well-covered with three USB 3.0 ports and modern Wi-Fi 6 support, ensuring fast wireless connections and multiple peripheral options. However, it uses integrated Intel graphics, so it’s not suited for heavy gaming or graphic-intensive tasks. The inclusion of onsite service for a year is a nice bonus that adds peace of mind.

This Dell laptop represents a balanced choice for students or professionals who want a large, sharp display, strong memory and storage, and reliable performance without a high price tag, provided advanced graphics or ultra-portability are not priorities.

The ASUS Vivobook Go 15.6” is a solid choice for those looking for an affordable laptop that covers the basics well. It comes with an AMD Ryzen 3 7320U quad-core processor, which is good for everyday tasks like browsing, streaming, and light multitasking. The 8GB of DDR5 RAM ensures smooth performance for most users without slowing down easily. Storage-wise, the 256GB SSD offers fast boot times and enough space for standard documents and media, though heavy users might need more storage or external options.

The full HD 15.6-inch display provides clear and vibrant visuals with decent brightness, making it suitable for video watching or casual work. Battery life is impressive in this category, lasting up to around 11 hours depending on use, which means less worry about finding a power outlet during the day. The laptop is also built to military-grade durability standards, so it can handle some rougher handling better than many budget competitors.

Port selection is basic but practical, including USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 ports along with WiFi 5 and Bluetooth 5.1 for wireless connectivity. The inclusion of a privacy shutter for the webcam is a nice touch for personal security. It weighs just over 5 pounds and is slim, making it fairly portable for daily commuting or school. On the downside, the integrated AMD Radeon graphics are enough for casual use but won’t support demanding games or heavy graphic tasks well. The 250-nit screen brightness is adequate indoors but may struggle in very bright outdoor conditions. Also, while the storage and memory are decent for budget users, power users might find them limiting over time. This ASUS Vivobook Go fits well for students, home users, or professionals needing a dependable, no-frills laptop for everyday activities without breaking the bank.