Best cheap laptops in Australia

We’ve found the 9 best cheap laptops for every need.

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Ericka Pingol

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The best cheap laptops in Australia

When purchasing a laptop on a budget, the market offers many options that balance cost and capability. The key to choosing the best cheap laptop is to prioritise the features that align with your specific needs—whether it's for casual web browsing, simple office tasks, or media consumption. Factors such as processor speed, RAM, storage capacity, and battery life can significantly affect performance.

The team at Finder has searched far and wide, assessing laptops under $1,500 for this list. We considered key product features such as design, durability, and overall value for the price to find what we believe are the 9 best cheap laptops you can get right now in Australia.

Read more detail on our methodology below.

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Lenovo V15 G3

Best cheap laptop overall

Lenovo V15 G3
Image: Supplied/Finder

Pros

  • Suitable for daily use
  • Anti-glare screen

Cons

  • Not for heavy-duty tasks
  • Bulky

We picked the Lenovo V15 G3 as the best overall cheap laptop. This model also appears on our list of the best laptops you can get online.

It's powered by up to 12th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-1255U and Windows 11 Pro. This machine delivers reliable performance with integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics, ensuring smooth visuals for everyday tasks. You can multitask effortlessly with up to 16GB DDR4-3200 RAM. Plus, it offers plenty of storage options with up to two drives, 1x 2.5" HDD + 1x M.2 SSD.

There is also a 15.6" FHD (1920x1080) IPS, Anti-glare screen, which boasts sharp display quality with 300nits brightness, making it easy on the eyes during extended use.

However, it's worth noting that the Lenovo V15 G3 may not handle more intensive tasks like high-end gaming or advanced graphic designing. And the integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics may not perform well with these demanding tasks. But this should be fine for casual or basic professional use, but tech enthusiasts or hardcore gamers might find this limiting.

Lenovo Flex 5 14 inch

Best cheap 2-in-1 laptop

Lenovo Flex 5 14 inch
Image: Supplied/Finder

Pros

  • Large screen
  • Lightweight and easy to carry around

Cons

  • Battery life could be better
  • Some users find the touchscreen overly sensitive

For the best cheap 2-in-1 laptop, our team has chosen the Lenovo Flex 5 14", rated 4.3 out of 5 stars on Amazon.

This slim and lightweight laptop is perfect for everyday use, with its 2-in-1 design that allows you to switch between laptop and tablet modes effortlessly. The 360⁰ hinge allows you to use your device in the most comfortable and convenient way possible.

As for battery life, the Flex 5 offers up to 10 hours of use, charging to 80% in an hour. Plus, it is powered by AMD Ryzen 5 4500U, giving you the performance and speed to handle any task, whether it's work or entertainment. And with a 14-inch FHD touchscreen display, you can enjoy a clear and vibrant viewing experience.

Some users have reported that the touchscreen can be overly sensitive, leading to accidental taps or swipes. And while the battery life is good, it may not last as long under heavy usage. But overall, this model is still a fantastic choice under $1,500.

HP Victus 15.6 inch

Best cheap laptop for gaming

HP Victus 15.6 inch
Image: Supplied/Finder

Pros

  • AMD Ryzen 7 5800H Mobile Processor
  • Player-focused keyboard

Cons

  • May still be a bit pricey for some buyers
  • Subpar battery life

With a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon, our team recommends the HP Victus 15.6 as the best gaming laptop on a budget.

This gaming laptop packs a powerful punch with an AMD Ryzen 7 5800H Mobile Processor and 16 GB of DDR4 memory, making it capable of handling even the most demanding tasks while providing desktop-level performance. It also has an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Laptop GPU with 4 GB of dedicated memory for stunning graphics and smooth gameplay.

Customers love the player-focused keyboard on the HP Victus, which provides plenty of finger space and a bigger touchpad for accurate clicking. Others also mentioned that the dedicated OMEN Gaming Hub key is pretty handy, allowing easy customisation and control of the laptop's settings.

With its iconic Mica Silver finish and sleek, lightweight build, this laptop is perfect for taking on the go. And with its updated thermal design, you can game or stream longer without worrying about overheating.

Some didn't like that the battery life wasn't as long as expected, but with its powerful performance and affordable price, this trade-off is worth it for most gamers.

Acer Aspire 5

Best cheap laptop for students

Acer Aspire 5
Image: Supplied/Finder

Pros

  • Suitable for daily tasks
  • 15.6-inch display

Cons

  • Not for heavy-duty task
  • Doesn’t support video output

For students, our pick for the best cheap laptop is the Acer Aspire 5. On Amazon, it has a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.

With its 11th Gen dual-core processor, running at a base frequency of 3 GHz and turbo boost up to 4.1 GHz, you'll experience high performance and instant responsiveness.

Plus, it has an impressive upgrade to 20GB RAM and 512GB PCIe SSD. This boosted RAM allows flawless multitasking, while the lightning-quick SSD ensures super-fast boot-up and easy file access.

As for the display, it offers a 15.6-inch full display with vibrant, sharp and crisp colours. The laptop also has narrow bezels and an energy-efficient LED backlight. You also have a range of ports, including 1 USB 3.2 Type-C, 2 USB 3.2 Gen 1, USB 2.0, HDMI 2.0 with HDCP support, and an Ethernet (RJ-45) port.

But note that the USB 3.2 Type-C port doesn't support video output, so keep that in mind if you plan to connect it to a secondary display. And it's not the best for heavy-duty gaming and video editing since it only comes with integrated graphics.

For more options for students, check out our comprehensive guide here.

ASUS TUF Dash F15

Best cheap laptop for video editing

ASUS TUF Dash F15
Image: Supplied/Finder

Pros

  • 12th generation Intel i7 processor
  • Anti-glare coating

Cons

  • No SD card reader
  • Video quality isn’t the best

If you're looking for the best cheap laptop for video editing, we recommend the ASUS TUF Dash F15.

This laptop has a powerful 12th generation Intel i7 processor, with a base clock speed of 3.5GHz and a max boost clock of up to 4.7GHz. It also has a whopping 16GB of RAM and a lightning-fast 512GB SSD, making it perfect for handling large video files and multitasking.

There is also a 15.6" FHD display with an anti-glare coating and a high refresh rate of 144Hz, providing smooth and crisp visuals while editing. The laptop is equipped with the latest NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 graphics card, so you'll get a seamless video rendering and editing performance.

In terms of connectivity, it has multiple USB ports, including Thunderbolt 4 and a USB-C port with DisplayPort and power delivery capabilities. It also has an HDMI 2.0b port, audio combo jack, and RJ45 Ethernet port for all your connectivity needs.

Running on Windows 11 Home, the laptop also features a backlit keyboard, Dolby Atmos sound, and advanced noise cancellation technology. However, the video quality isn't the best. This may be a drawback for some. It also doesn't have an SD card reader, which may be important for some video editors.

Lenovo V15 G3

Best cheap laptop for work

Lenovo V15 G3
Image: Supplied/Finder

Pros

  • Suitable for daily use
  • Anti-glare screen

Cons

  • Not for heavy-duty tasks
  • Bulky

We also chose the Lenovo V15 G3 as the best cheap laptop for business. This Windows 11 Pro-powered laptop offers reliable performance with its integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics, making it a great choice for everyday tasks and multitasking.

In addition to its powerful specs, the Lenovo V15 G3 also has a 15.6" FHD IPS anti-glare screen with 300nits brightness, providing sharp display quality and making it easy on the eyes during long work hours.

However, keep in mind that this laptop may not be suitable for more demanding business activities such as graphic design or endless video conferences. The battery life of the Lenovo V15 G3 may also be a concern for business users who are constantly on the go. Overall, this laptop is a solid choice for budget-conscious professionals.

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 12.4 inch i5 256GB/8GB

Best cheap laptop for portability

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 12.4 inch i5 256GB/8GB
Image: Supplied/Finder

Pros

  • Sharp screen display
  • Portable

Cons

  • No dedicated graphics hardware
  • Still a bit expensive

The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 12.4" i5 256GB/8GB is our top choice when it comes to the best portable, budget-friendly laptop. With its ultra-lightweight design at under 2.5 pounds and vibrant 12.4" touchscreen, the Surface Laptop Go 3 is perfect for both work and play on-the-go.

Users enjoy its sleek, durable metal finish and a full-sized keyboard with a precision touchpad. It also boasts impressive performance with up to 16GB RAM and 256GB storage, allowing for easy multitasking.

When it comes to battery life, the Surface Go 3 does not disappoint, with up to 15 hours of usage on a single charge. And for added convenience, the fingerprint power button provides fast and secure login and access to OneDrive Personal Vault files.

However, this model has limited upgradeability. You can't upgrade the RAM or storage, so choosing a configuration that meets your needs from the start is important.

Acer Swift 3

Best cheap laptop for battery life

Acer Swift 3
Image: Supplied/Finder

Pros

  • Up to 16 hours of battery life
  • Comes with various ports for easy connection

Cons

  • Some reported issues with the touchpad and sensor
  • A little bulky

With a rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars on Amazon, the Acer Swift 3 takes the crown as the best laptop for battery life.

Its Intel Core i7-1165G7 Processor, paired with 8GB of LPDDR4X memory and a 256GB NVMe SSD, ensures high performance and responsiveness for all your computing needs. The Iris Xe Graphics also provides a great visual experience, making the Swift 3 perfect for media consumption.

And with up to 16 hours of battery life, this laptop is perfect for those who are always on the go.* Whether you're travelling, working remotely or attending all-day meetings. It also has ports such as USB Type-C, USB 3.2 Gen 1 and HDMI.

Some users reported issues with the touchpad and fingerprint sensor, but overall, the Swift 3 is still a great laptop for its long battery life and solid performance.

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 12.4 inch i5 256GB/8GB

Best cheap Microsoft Surface laptop

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 12.4 inch i5 256GB/8GB
Image: Supplied/Finder

Pros

  • Sharp screen display
  • Portable

Cons

  • No dedicated graphics hardware
  • Still a bit expensive

Our team has chosen the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 12.4" i5 256GB/8GB as the best cheap Microsoft Surface laptop.

Priced at $1,499, this laptop is at the higher end of what we'd consider budget-friendly, but it's still a great value for its features. It's compact and lightweight, making it easy to take with you on the go.

It has a vibrant 12.4" touchscreen, giving you plenty of screen real estate to work with. Plus, with up to 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, you'll have plenty of power and space for all your day-to-day tasks.
Battery life doesn't disappoint either, with up to 15 hours of use on a single charge. And for added security and convenience, the Fingerprint Power Button allows for one-touch sign-in and access to your files on OneDrive Personal Vault.

But despite its sufficient storage and RAM, this model does not include dedicated graphics hardware, which could limit performance for graphics-intensive tasks and gaming.

Logitech K380 Multi-Device Bluetooth Keyboard

Best Bluetooth wireless keyboard

Logitech K380 Multi-Device Bluetooth Keyboard
Image: Supplied/Finder

Pros

  • Up to 24 months of battery life
  • Has an easy-switch feature that lets you connect up to 3 devices

Cons

  • The build feels flimsy for some
  • Requires 2 AAA batteries

To save, you don't need to buy a new tablet or use an expensive laptop. And our pick for the best one is the Logitech K380 Multi-Device Bluetooth Keyboard. This has an impressive 4.6 out of 5-star rating on Amazon.

The K380 is slim and lightweight, making it easy to carry around and use on the go. It is also compatible with multiple devices, including computers, laptops, phones, and tablets. This means you can use it for all your work needs, no matter what device you are using.

The easy-switch technology allows you to connect up to 3 devices at the same time and switch between them with just a tap. This makes it perfect for those who need to work on different devices throughout the day. The keyboard also has programmable multimedia keys so that you can customise your typing experience based on your needs.

Note that this keyboard requires 2 AAA batteries, which may be a hassle for some users. However, the battery life is decent and can last up to 2 years with regular use. So you won't have to constantly worry about changing the batteries.

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Amazon prices last updated on 21 December, 2024 at 09:07 am
eBay prices last updated on 20 December, 2024 at 07:20 pm

Methodology

19
Brands considered
60+
Products compared
9
Best products chosen

Why you can trust our picks

For this guide, we only considered laptop models with an RRP of $1,500 or under. We considered cheap laptops from the following brands and eliminated any products that aren't widely available across Australia:

  • Acer
  • Asus
  • Apple
  • Lenovo
  • HP
  • Dell
  • Huawei
  • Alienware
  • AORUS
  • Gigabyte
  • LG
  • Samsung
  • Toshiba
  • Razer
  • MSI
  • Medion
  • CyberPowerPC
  • Prostar
  • Sony

We then considered our own testing experience, comparing the design, technical specifications and value for money for each range of laptops, prioritising things like battery life, size and weight, screen resolution and storage space.

We carefully researched each product and read online customer reviews. We ended up with what we believe are the 9 best cheap laptops in Australia.

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Why you can trust Finder Shopping best guides

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We're knowledgeable

Our editorial team has decades of experience testing and comparing products. We only use experienced journalists with proven track records.
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We're comprehensive

We assess hundreds of products for each guide to ensure you're getting a full overview of the market. All guides are regularly reviewed and fact-checked.
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We don't cut corners

Selections are based on our own research, comparisons and testing. We do not use automation software or AI. Every best guide follows a stringent methodology.
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Writer

Ericka Pingol is a writer for Finder specialising in reviews. She has previously written articles about property investment, finances, and health. She’s a huge fan of Tina Fey, bubble teas and dogs. Ericka has a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of the East, Manila and is currently writing her thesis for a Master’s degree in Communication See full bio

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