12 Best Laptops Under $1500: (Reviewed, Rated, and Compared)

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Looking for a great laptop but don’t want to spend a fortune? Finding the best laptop for your needs can be a daunting task. You don’t want to sacrifice quality because you’re on a budget.

There are so many different brands and models to choose from, all with their own set of features and benefits. It’s hard to know which one will work best for you.

This article will review 12 of the best laptops under $1500. We’ll tell you about their features and benefits, as well as what to look for when purchasing one. Plus, we’ll give you our thoughts on each model to decide which is the best for you.

So whether you’re a student, business professional, or need a new laptop for everyday use, read on for some great recommendations!

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What to expect from the best laptop under 1500 dollars?

First, let’s look at what you can expect from the best laptop under $1500.

Generally speaking, these laptops offer great value for your money. They have powerful processors and plenty of RAM, making them perfect for heavy-duty use. They also come with high-resolution displays and fast storage options, so you can work on your projects or watch your favorite movies with ease.

Most of these laptops also come with a wide variety of ports, so you can easily connect to all of your devices. Plus, they typically have decent(ish) battery life, so you can work or play for hours without having to recharge.

When you’re looking for the best laptop under $1500, you should expect quality. You’ll find laptops with faster processors, more RAM, and better graphics. They’ll also be thinner and lighter than lower-priced models.

But don’t worry – you won’t have to sacrifice features or performance just because you’re on a budget. The best laptops in the sub $1500 bracket come packed with various features, from large screens to backlit keyboards, meaning you can play games. Plus, they’re powerful enough to handle most tasks you’ll throw at them.

So if you’re looking for a great laptop that doesn’t break the bank, take a look at our minimum and recommended system requirements below!

	Minimum System Requirements	Recommended System Requirements
CPU	Intel Core i5	Intel Core i7
RAM	8GB	32GB
Storage Space	256GB SSD	1TB SSD
Display	14 inch (1920 x 1080) FHD IPS	15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080)
Graphics	NVIDIA GeForce GTX 2050 2GB	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 6GB
Battery	5-6 hours	8-10 hours

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12 Best Laptops Under $1500: Compared

CLICK any image to see Reviews and Ratings on Amazon

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12 Best Laptops Under $1500: Reviews

1. ASUS ROG Strix G17 (Best Overall Pick)

2. MSI Stealth 15M (Best Runner Up)

3. ASUS TUF Dash (Best Value for Money)

4. Apple MacBook Pro (Best with MacOS)

5. Razer Blade 15 (Best Laptop for Content Creation)

6. Acer Nitro 5 (Best Acer Laptop under $1500)

7. Samsung Electronics Galaxy Book Pro (Best Portable Laptop)

8. Dell Latitude 5520 (Best for Professionals)

9. HP Envy (Best HP Laptop)

10. Lenovo Legion 5 (Best Lenovo Laptop under $1500)

11. Apple MacBook Air (Best Value Apple Laptop)

12. HP ENVY x360 (Best 2-in-1 Laptop)

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Video: Ultimate BUDGET Laptop Buying Guide

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Buying guide: How to choose the best laptop under 1500 in 2022?

You can get a good laptop for under $1500. But if you are looking for a top-spec computer with the latest tech, then you might better spend your budget on something else entirely!

You can expect the 10th gen H-series processor to be followed by a top of line RTX 20 series or GTX 16 GB graphics card. We’re looking for at least 16 gigabytes for this price point for RAM. Many machines offer more, though.

$1500 is a good price point for most professional and academic processes. If you need your device to edit 4K videos, perform machine learning, or run AI models, increase the budget to 2000 dollars!

Here’s the guide to what features to look for when buying a laptop for less than $1500.

Screen Size & Resolution

Screen size is important, but it’s not the only thing you should consider. Your screen’s resolution also matters, especially if you plan on doing any graphic design or photo editing work on your laptop. You’ll want to find a model that offers a high pixel density so that you can see every detail. The ideal screen size for gaming is 15.6 inches or larger, while smaller models are better suited for productivity-oriented tasks like writing or spreadsheet work.

If you’re looking to watch movies or TV shows on your laptop, then consider a machine with an IPS display that offers the best possible viewing angles and color accuracy. You may also want to purchase an Ultra HD (UHD) screen – these offer four times as many pixels per inch as standard HD screens.

If you’re planning on gaming, it’s important to get a model with at least a 120Hz refresh rate. That way, your games will look smooth and fluid when playing them at high frame rates (ideally 60 fps).

If you want to use your laptop outside, having a screen with an anti-glare feature will mean you can still see what’s on it even when the sun is shining bright.

RAM

RAM is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing a laptop. The more RAM your device has, the more tasks it can handle at once. So if you plan on doing any multitasking or AAA gaming, then you’ll want to make sure that your chosen model comes with plenty of RAM. 16 gigabytes is the minimum we would recommend for this price range.

Storage Capacity

Another important factor to consider is your laptop’s amount of storage. If you plan on storing a lot of files or media on your device, then you’ll want to get one with a large hard drive or SSD. You can also combine a small internal drive with an external one for added storage space.

If you don’t need much internal storage, the best option for your budget might be a laptop with just 128 gigabytes of SSD. This drive is fast and efficient but doesn’t offer much room for storing music or movies (large files). You can also consider models that come with a built-in cloud storage solution like Dropbox or iCloud, as this can help free up some internal storage space.

SSDs have dropped in price a lot in recent years, and many of the laptops we reviewed come with at least 512GB SSD storage included, with many tipping the 1TB point.

Graphics Card

The graphics card is another important factor to consider when choosing a laptop for less than $1500. This component is responsible for rendering the images and animations you see on your screen, so you’ll want to make sure that it’s powerful enough to handle the games and applications you plan on using. Generally speaking, the better the graphics card, the quicker the response time will be, and this is vital in most games where you are playing online against another human opponent.

We recommend choosing a laptop with a dedicated graphics card from the RTX 20 or GTX 30 series for gaming. These offer some of the best performance currently available, so you can be assured of smooth gameplay even when playing the most demanding titles.

CPU

Another feature to consider when choosing a laptop for less than $1500 is the CPU. This component is responsible for handling all of the tasks that your device performs, so you’ll want to make sure that it’s powerful enough to handle everything you plan on using your laptop for.

By far, an Intel Core processor is the most popular, with the Intel Core i7-series 11th Gen CPUs being the best options currently available for this price range. They offer good performance and are affordable without sacrificing too many features or capabilities. They also tend to last longer than their AMD equivalents, which can be beneficial if you plan on keeping your laptop for several years. This is especially important as you’ll need to buy with future-proofing in mind.

Ports & Connectivity Options

It is important to consider the ports and connectivity options when buying a laptop for less than $1500. Most laptops come with a USB Type-C port, which allows you to connect external devices like smartphones or cameras directly through this interface (without needing an adapter). The latest models also feature Thunderbolt four ports, connecting multiple devices simultaneously and at high speeds.

If you need to attach an external monitor or TV, you’ll want to ensure that your chosen laptop has an HDMI port. This will allow you to do so without needing any extra adapters. Other ports like Ethernet and SD card readers are also useful, so make sure to check for these before making your final decision.

Battery Life

You’ll want to consider the battery life of your chosen laptop. This will give you an idea of how long the device can last without plugging in. Laptops with long battery life are ideal for people who need to work on the go, as they don’t have to worry about their device running out of power in the middle of a meeting.

All laptops we reviewed offer battery lives over six hours, with some going as high as twelve hours. This should be more than enough for most people’s needs, but it is something to keep in mind if you know that you’ll be away from an outlet for extended periods.

Keyboard & Trackpad

The keyboard and trackpad are the two most important aspects of any laptop, so ensuring that your chosen device has a good one is important. All laptops have keyboards, but not all keyboards are created equal! Some are better suited towards gaming. Others have keys that are spaced too closely together, which can be uncomfortable to use for extended periods.

The trackpad is also important, as it is the primary way that you’ll interact with your device. Some trackpads are made from cheap materials that feel unpleasant to touch and offer poor tracking performance. Others come with a variety of features that can make navigation easier.

Weight & Size

The size and weight of a laptop are important factors to consider. If you’ll be carrying it around with you every day, then something light would be preferable so that it doesn’t weigh too heavily on your shoulders or back. However, if portability isn’t an issue for you, a heavier and larger laptop might be a better option.

Keep in mind that the bigger the laptop, the more expensive it will be. All of the laptops we reviewed weigh between four and six pounds, so you won’t have to worry about any of them being too heavy to carry around.

Durability

To keep weight down, most laptops are made from plastic. While this makes them lightweight, it also means that they’re not as durable as other materials like aluminum. If you’re someone who tends to be rough on their devices, you’ll want to make sure that the laptop you choose is made from a durable material.

All laptops we reviewed are built from high-quality materials that should withstand some wear and tear. However, if you know that you’re going to be using your device in an environment where it might get damaged, then you may want to consider buying a case or cover for added protection.

Warranty & Support

Your laptop will come with a manufacturer’s warranty that covers any problems that may occur during the first year of ownership. This is usually limited to issues related to manufacturing defects and does not include normal wear and tear.

Some laptops also come with a warranty that covers accidental damage, which can be helpful if you’re prone to dropping your device or spilling liquids on it. This coverage usually lasts for two or three years and can save you from having to pay for costly repairs.

Most laptops come with online help articles for troubleshooting common issues and phone and live chat options for speaking with a support agent when it comes to technical support. Some manufacturers even offer in-person repairs at authorized repair centers, although this is less common than it used to be due to the increase in mail-in service options.

If you have any questions about your device that are not answered by its manual or online support, you can always contact the manufacturer’s customer service department for assistance.

Operating System

11 of the 12 laptops we reviewed come with Windows as their operating system. While other options are available, such as macOS and Chrome OS, Windows is still the most popular option and compatible with most software and applications.

If you’re not familiar with Windows or don’t want to deal with any potential problems that may arise, then you may want to consider a laptop that comes with macOS. Apple’s operating system is user-friendly and has fewer learning curves than Windows.

The newer versions of Windows have mixed reviews, with some people loving the new features and others finding them confusing and difficult to use. If you’re on the fence about whether or not to upgrade to Windows 11, it might be a good idea to wait until Windows has had a few more updates and becomes more stable.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Conclusion

If you’re looking for the best laptop that won’t cost more than $1500, then this article is perfect for you! We’ve reviewed 12 of the best laptops on sale today and highlighted their benefits. From cheap but capable models to high-end gaming rigs with all sorts of cool features, we have something for everyone’s needs.

Whether you want a compact machine or one with an expansive display, our buyer’s guide will help point out what specs are important when it comes time to purchase your next laptop under 1500 dollars. Just be sure to keep the most important features in mind when making your decision, and don’t forget to read our reviews!

What do you think? Which model appeals most to you? Let us know in the comments below to better tailor our advice to suit your needs!

Empire Laptops is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you.