A tight budget does not mean you have to settle for a slow or outdated laptop. Many affordable models today offer solid performance for work, classes and everyday browsing, and some even pack in extras like bright displays or long battery life. Whether you need something for school, travel or streaming, there are plenty of budget laptops that deliver more value than you might expect.
Since the options can be overwhelming, we tested a wide range of devices to find the best budget laptops that offer dependable performance without stretching your wallet.
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The best cheap laptops of 2026
Devindra Hardawar for Engadget Best budget laptop overall MacBook Air (13-inch, M4) Read our full Apple MacBook Air M4 review Screen size: 13.6-inch | Touchscreen: No | CPU: Apple M4 | GPU: 8-core GPU | RAM: 16GB | Storage: Up to 2TB | Weight: 2.7 pounds | Battery life: More than 18 hours | Available ports: MagSafe 3 charging, 3.5mm headphone jack, 2x Thunderbolt 4 Apple’s M4-equipped 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air remain the best ultraportables you can buy today, and now they’re also better deals starting at $999 and $1,199, respectively. That’s $100 off the previous generation, but it’s no knock on the quality of these laptops. Both MacBook Air models remain remarkably fast, incredibly thin and light, and deliver excellent battery life. They’re basically everything you’d want in a premium productivity notebook. Sure, it would be nice to see more than two USB-C ports and a screen that’s faster than 60Hz, but most buyers likely won’t notice these deficiencies. (And if they really bug you, you can always consider the 14-inch MacBook Pro.) While the MacBook Air’s design hasn’t changed from the 2022-era M2 model, it’s still attractive today, and it also holds up well against Windows ultraportables. The Air isn’t Apple’s fastest computer, but it’s one of the company’s most iconic machines, one that’s elegantly crafted in ways that PC makers rarely accomplish. Its smooth metal case still feels great to hold, and its thin and light design makes it easy to travel with. The 2.7-pound 13-inch Air still feels impressively sturdy for its weight, and the 3.2-pound 15-inch model doesn’t feel that much heavier. (And for many, the larger screen is worth the portability sacrifice.) Both MacBook Air models lasted for well over 18 hours in our tests, so they’ll likely last you two work days without needing to be juiced up. And while they’re far from gaming PCs, we were still impressed to see them run the graphically intensive game Lies of P at 60fps in 1080p. Unfortunately, with the price cut on the M4 Air came the phasing out of the MacBook Air M3 from Apple's official lineup. However, you can still find that laptop floating around on sites like Amazon for now. If you can find the 16GB RAM configuration, new or refurbished, for $899 or less, it's a solid alternative. You can even find some M2 MacBook Airs still available online, but we'd only recommend grabbing that if you find it for $799 or less. — Devindra Hardawar, Senior Reporter Pros Fast performance
Thin and light design
Great keyboard
Best-in-class touchpad
Excellent battery life Cons Could use more ports
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