10 Best Laptops Under $700 (March 2026) Models Tested

Finding the right balance between performance and price used to mean settling for a plastic chassis and a washed-out screen. However, I’ve found that the $700 price point is currently the sweet spot for incredible value, especially when researching the best laptops under $700 available today. Over the past three months, our team tested more than two dozen mid-range machines, from capable daily drivers to surprisingly powerful gaming rigs. We put these devices through their paces to find out which ones actually deliver on their promises.

The landscape for budget machines has shifted dramatically this year. With the introduction of Copilot+ AI features, new processors from Intel and AMD, and RTX 4050 GPUs creeping under the $700 mark, you no longer have to make painful sacrifices. Whether you need a machine for your home office or you’re looking for the best laptops for college students, there is an option that fits perfectly into your workflow.

I’ve compiled this guide to help you navigate through confusing specs and marketing jargon. If you’re cross-shopping, you might also want to check out our gaming laptops under $700 guide or explore the best laptops under $600 if you want to save a bit more. Let’s look at the absolute best options available right now.

Top 3 Picks: Best Laptops Under $700 (March 2026)

Quick Overview: Best Laptops Under $700 (March 2026)

1.Acer Aspire 14 AI Copilot+ (1TB) – Best Premium Productivity

I tested the Acer Aspire 14 AI as my daily driver for a week, and it completely changed my expectations for a $650 machine. The jump to the Intel Core Ultra 7 processor makes everything from heavy spreadsheet work to light photo editing feel incredibly snappy. The real standout, however, is the battery life. I managed to get through two full workdays on a single charge.

What makes this specific model an easy recommendation is the generous 1TB SSD. In this price bracket, you almost always get stuck with 512GB, which fills up faster than you’d think. Having that extra breathing room, combined with the fast 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM, makes it feel like a much more expensive laptop.

The Copilot+ AI features are baked right into Windows 11, and the dedicated NPU (Neural Processing Unit) handles background tasks efficiently. The IR face recognition for Windows Hello is flawless, logging me in before I even had time to fully sit down. It’s housed in a surprisingly lightweight aluminum chassis that tips the scales at just 3.09 pounds.

The screen is a 14-inch WUXGA IPS panel, which provides excellent contrast and brightness. However, it is limited to a 60Hz refresh rate. While that’s fine for office work and content consumption, anyone used to a 120Hz phone screen might notice the difference when scrolling through long documents.

For whom its good

This is the perfect laptop for power users, remote workers, and college students who need reliability above all else. If your day consists of dozens of browser tabs, Office applications, and video calls, the massive battery and ample storage make it the top choice.

For whom its bad

Gamers should look elsewhere. The integrated Intel Arc 140V graphics are fine for very light, casual games, but it lacks the dedicated GPU required for modern 3D gaming titles. Video editors working with heavy 4K timelines will also want something with more graphical muscle.

2.Acer Nitro V Gaming – Best Gaming Display

Finding a laptop with an RTX 4050 under $700 is a victory, but the Acer Nitro V sweetens the deal with a 165Hz display. I loaded up some fast-paced shooters to test the panel, and the clarity during rapid movement is exceptional. It completely outperforms the standard 144Hz screens usually found in this budget category.

The inclusion of a Thunderbolt 4 port is extremely rare at this price point. It allowed me to connect my high-speed external storage and an extra monitor through a single hub effortlessly. The Intel Core i5-13420H handles modern titles surprisingly well, especially when leveraging DLSS 3.5 to boost frame rates in demanding games.

However, the Nitro V ships with only 8GB of DDR5 RAM. In 2026, 8GB is a serious bottleneck for gaming. The good news is that Acer makes it very easy to pop off the bottom panel and add a second 8GB stick. You will need to budget an extra $30 for that RAM upgrade right away.

The cooling system consists of a dual-fan setup that keeps the GPU temperatures in check. The trade-off is the noise; when I fired up Hogwarts Legacy, the fans spun up with a noticeable whine. You’ll definitely want a good headset when pushing this laptop to its limits.

For whom its good

Budget-conscious gamers who play competitive multiplayer titles will love the high-refresh-rate display and low-latency Killer Ethernet connection. It’s also great for tinkerers who don’t mind upgrading their own RAM down the line.

For whom its bad

Anyone who needs to use their laptop away from an outlet for long periods. The battery drains rapidly, especially when the dedicated GPU kicks in. The loud fan noise also makes it a poor choice for quiet environments like a library or a shared office.

3.Acer Aspire 16 AI (Snapdragon) – Best Large Screen Copilot+

The Acer Aspire 16 AI is a fascinating look into the future of Windows laptops. Powered by the Snapdragon X processor, this ARM-based machine delivers an experience closer to a smartphone. I was constantly impressed by the instant wake times and the fact that it runs completely cool to the touch even when multitasking heavily.

The display is the real star here. Getting a 16-inch, 120Hz touchscreen with 100% sRGB color accuracy for $550 is nearly unheard of. Working on large spreadsheets or having multiple documents open side-by-side felt spacious and comfortable. The inclusion of the latest Wi-Fi 7 standard means this laptop is highly future-proofed for home networking.

Because it uses an ARM processor, battery life is phenomenal. I easily managed two full days of typical web-based work and streaming before reaching for the charger. The 45 TOPS NPU breezes through all the local Copilot+ tasks seamlessly.

The only hurdle is the ARM architecture itself. While most everyday apps (Chrome, Office, Zoom) run natively and beautifully, some older, obscure x86 software has to run through an emulator, which can hit performance. If you rely on specialized, legacy software, you’ll need to verify its compatibility first.

For whom its good

Students and content consumers who value a massive, beautiful touchscreen and all-day battery life will adore this machine. It’s the perfect laptop for writers, researchers, and anyone living primarily in a web browser.

For whom its bad

Professionals relying on niche enterprise software or specific VPN clients (like some older versions of GlobalProtect) might encounter compatibility issues. Gamers should also avoid this, as many PC games will simply not run on the ARM architecture.

4.HP Victus 15.6 Gaming – Best Plug-and-Play Gaming

If you don’t want to open your new laptop to install RAM, the HP Victus is the obvious choice. Shipping with 16GB of DDR4 memory right out of the box, I was able to download my Steam library and start playing immediately. The RTX 4050 handles modern games beautifully at 1080p on the crisp 144Hz anti-glare display.

What I appreciate most about the Victus is its stealthy design. The Mica Silver finish and understated logo mean you can take this to a business meeting or a college lecture without screaming “gaming laptop.” It even includes a fingerprint reader for quick logins, a feature rarely seen on budget gaming rigs.

Performance during my testing was rock solid. The Intel Core i5 and RTX 4050 maintained high frame rates without aggressive thermal throttling. It also includes an SD card slot, making it a very capable machine for photographers who need to edit on the go.

The main downside is the portability. Weighing in at 5.13 pounds, it is noticeably heavy in a backpack. The all-plastic build also has a bit of flex around the keyboard deck. The battery life is adequate for a gaming laptop but will leave you hunting for an outlet after about four hours of mixed usage.

For whom its good

Gamers who want a machine that works perfectly right out of the box with zero upgrades required. Its subtle design also makes it a great choice for professionals who like to game after hours.

For whom its bad

Anyone looking for an ultra-portable device to carry around campus all day. The heavy weight and bulky power brick make it cumbersome for frequent travelers.

5.Acer Aspire 14 AI Copilot+ (512GB) – Best Value AI Pick

Getting into the Copilot+ ecosystem for under $500 used to be impossible, but this base model Acer Aspire 14 AI changes that. I tested this model side-by-side with its more expensive Core Ultra 7 sibling, and for daily productivity, the difference is negligible. The Core Ultra 5 processor paired with 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM flies through everyday tasks.

The battery life on this unit is simply staggering. I left my charger at home for two days straight while working from coffee shops, and it never dipped below 20%. The aluminum chassis gives it a premium feel that punches way above its price tag, and at just over three pounds, it’s a breeze to carry.

The main compromise here is the storage. The 512GB PCIe SSD is fast, but it can fill up quickly if you store a lot of media or large applications locally. The 14-inch WUXGA IPS display is bright and sharp, featuring a convenient 180-degree lie-flat hinge for collaborative work.

The keyboard is comfortable, featuring a dedicated AcerSense AI key that brings up system tools quickly. While it lacks a dedicated GPU, the integrated Intel Arc graphics are more than capable of handling high-resolution video playback and basic photo editing without a hitch.

For whom its good

Writers, students, and remote workers who prioritize extreme battery life and portability but are on a strict budget. It offers the best dollar-to-performance ratio for general computing in this lineup.

For whom its bad

Data hoarders who need massive local storage will outgrow the 512GB drive quickly. As with all models in this line, the lack of a dedicated GPU makes it unsuitable for gamers.

6.Dell 15 Laptop – Best Mainstream Productivity

The Dell 15 is the quintessential workhorse laptop. What struck me immediately during testing was the comfortable keyboard, complete with a dedicated numeric keypad. If your day involves endless spreadsheets or data entry, this feature alone makes it a top contender. The lifted hinge design angles the keyboard perfectly for long typing sessions.

Dell managed to squeeze a 120Hz display into a very affordable package. Scrolling through web pages and documents feels incredibly smooth compared to standard 60Hz panels. The Intel Core i5-1334U processor paired with 16GB of RAM handled my messy workflow of 30+ Chrome tabs and heavy Excel macros without any stuttering.

The primary weakness of this machine is its battery life. In my testing, I only squeezed out about 3.5 hours of continuous use before needing a charge. This is a laptop that needs to stay relatively close to an outlet. I also noted that the cooling fan exhausts directly onto the bottom of the screen hinge, which can get warm during heavy use.

It’s worth noting the peace of mind that comes with the Dell badge. This model includes a 1-year Dell Onsite Service warranty, which is a massive bonus if you rely on your laptop for business and can’t afford to mail it away for weeks.

For whom its good

Accountants, data analysts, and home office users who need a reliable, comfortable keyboard with a numpad and don’t mind staying plugged in. The 120Hz screen is a nice bonus for eye comfort.

For whom its bad

Road warriors who need all-day battery life will find the 3-hour runtime unacceptable. The integrated graphics also rule it out for gamers and heavy video editors.

7.Lenovo LOQ Essential – Best for VRAM-Heavy Games

The Lenovo LOQ Essential surprised me by packing an RTX 4050 with 8GB of VRAM into a sub-$620 laptop. That extra video memory makes a huge difference in texture-heavy games, allowing you to crank up settings higher than competing laptops with 6GB GPUs. I found the 15.6-inch 144Hz screen particularly impressive, boasting 100% sRGB coverage for vibrant, accurate colors.

Despite being a gaming laptop, it has a very clean, professional look in Luna Grey. The cooling system is highly efficient; during light web browsing and YouTube viewing, the fans are practically silent. It also comes with 3 months of PC Game Pass, giving you immediate access to hundreds of games to test the hardware.

The major flaw in this machine’s design is the RAM configuration. It ships with 8GB of DDR5, but there is only one RAM slot available on the motherboard. This means you can upgrade the capacity, but you can never run memory in dual-channel mode, which limits maximum CPU performance in certain CPU-bound scenarios.

The processor is an older Intel Core i5-12450HX. While still very capable for gaming, it runs hotter and less efficiently than the 13th-gen chips found in rivals, contributing to a lackluster 6-hour battery life during non-gaming use.

For whom its good

Gamers who play titles with large texture packs that demand high VRAM will benefit immensely from this specific GPU configuration. The color-accurate screen also makes it viable for amateur photo editing.

For whom its bad

Power users who understand the performance hit of single-channel memory will be frustrated by the lack of a second RAM slot. It’s also not ideal for users needing long battery life away from the wall.

8.MSI Thin 15 B13VE – Best Premium Build Gaming

Sitting right at the $700 budget cap, the MSI Thin 15 feels like a machine that should cost significantly more. The almost entirely metal chassis is a stark contrast to the plastic builds typical of this price tier. It is rigid, cool to the touch, and surprisingly slim at just 0.85 inches thick.

Performance is stellar right out of the box thanks to the included 16GB of DDR4 RAM and the RTX 4050. I tested it with World of Warcraft and Counter-Strike 2, easily hitting over 130 FPS on maximum settings. The USB-C port conveniently supports display output, allowing me to easily hook up my dual-monitor setup at home.

The slim design comes at a cost to thermals and battery. Because there is less room for air to circulate, the fans have to work overtime, getting quite loud during intense gaming sessions. When running games unplugged, the battery completely drains in under two hours.

A minor aesthetic gripe is the keyboard backlight. It only illuminates in a single color (blue), so if you prefer customizable RGB lighting, you are out of luck. However, the keys themselves offer great travel and a solid typing experience.

For whom its good

Gamers who want a slim, premium-feeling metal laptop that looks adult and professional. It’s perfect if you plan to keep it plugged into the wall 90% of the time.

For whom its bad

Anyone who games on battery power or needs a quiet laptop for a shared space. The loud fans and short battery life make it a poor travel companion.

9.HP 17.3 Business Laptop – Best Large Screen

Finding a 17-inch laptop in the budget category is difficult, making this HP 17.3-inch model a rare find. The massive screen real estate is a game-changer for my older eyes and for anyone who hates constantly switching between tiny windows. It feels more like working on a desktop replacement than a portable laptop.

This specific listing is a bundle, which includes a handy docking station and a set of earphones. The Intel Core i5 10-core processor paired with 16GB of RAM made multitasking seamless. Despite the large screen, the battery life is surprisingly robust, easily lasting through a full workday of typing and browsing.

The main drawback of the large screen is the resolution. At 1600×900, it is noticeably less sharp than the Full HD 1080p screens found on smaller laptops. Text isn’t quite as crisp, though the sheer size of the display makes everything very readable.

Storage is also tight. The laptop itself only has a 256GB internal SSD, meaning you will need to rely heavily on cloud storage or external drives if you save a lot of files. It’s definitely geared toward office work rather than media storage or gaming.

For whom its good

Seniors, users with vision difficulties, or home office workers who want a massive screen and don’t want to buy an external monitor. It’s excellent for basic browsing and spreadsheet work.

For whom its bad

Users who need high-resolution clarity for photo or video editing will hate the 900p screen. It is also quite bulky, making it a terrible choice for students carrying a backpack around campus.

10.Lenovo IdeaPad 1 Student – Best Ultra-Budget Pick

If you have a strict $400 hard limit, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 is one of the best laptops under $700 for shoppers who want to spend far less and still get solid everyday functionality. At $399, getting a machine with 12GB of RAM, a massive 640GB of mixed storage, and a free year of Microsoft Office 365 is a strong value proposition. I set this up for basic web browsing and word processing, and it handled the fundamentals without issue.

The 15.6-inch Full HD display is surprisingly decent for the price, featuring an anti-glare coating that reduces reflections in bright rooms. It’s also lightweight at 3.42 pounds, making it easy to carry in a backpack. The rated 9-hour battery life means you can comfortably get through a typical school or workday without packing the charger.

However, you do need to manage expectations with the Intel Celeron N4500 processor. It’s not built for heavy multitasking. Opening multiple demanding web pages or running background updates while working can cause noticeable slowdowns. Boot times and large app launches require patience.

The build quality reflects its budget positioning — it’s fully plastic and skips premium extras like a backlit keyboard or fingerprint reader. This is a strictly functional device designed to get you online, handle documents, and cover the basics affordably.

For whom its good

Students on the tightest of budgets, young children getting their first laptop, or anyone who only needs a basic machine for checking email, watching YouTube, and typing documents.

For whom its bad

Anyone who needs to multitask heavily, edit photos, or play games. The Celeron processor will severely bottleneck any demanding software or heavy browser usage.

Buying Guide: Choosing the Best Laptop Under $700

When shopping for a laptop in the $700 range, you are looking at the sweet spot of value. You don’t have to settle for cheap plastic shells anymore, but you still need to know exactly which components matter most. Here is how to navigate the specs.

CPU: AMD vs Intel vs ARM at $700

In 2026, the processor landscape is incredibly diverse. The Intel Core Ultra series (like the Ultra 5 and Ultra 7) offers the best balance of power, battery life, and Copilot+ AI integration for daily productivity. If you see older Intel Core i5 12th or 13th Gen chips (usually ending in H or U), they are still great, but slightly less battery efficient.

The wildcard is the Qualcomm Snapdragon X (ARM processor). It offers incredible battery life (often 18+ hours) and runs very cool. However, because it uses a different architecture, a small number of older, legacy Windows apps might run slowly or not at all. If you just use web browsers and Office, ARM is fantastic.

RAM Requirements: Why 16GB is the Sweet Spot

Do not buy an 8GB laptop for general productivity unless you plan to upgrade it yourself. For Windows 11 to run smoothly with a web browser and a few background apps, you need 16GB. If you look closely at our list, almost all our top productivity picks feature 16GB of RAM. If you are shopping for laptops with 16GB RAM, you have great options under $700.

Storage: Navigating SSD Types

At this price point, you should expect a 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD as the standard. If you save a lot of photos, videos, or play games, 512GB will fill up in a few months. Look for models offering 1TB, or models that explicitly allow you to open the bottom case to add more storage later.

Gaming vs Productivity Laptops

A $700 gaming laptop (like the Acer Nitro V) will have a dedicated graphics card (like the RTX 4050). It will play modern games well. However, it will also be heavy, loud, and have a terrible battery life (2-4 hours). A $700 productivity laptop (like the Acer Aspire 14 AI) will have integrated graphics. It can’t play heavy games, but it will be incredibly light, silent, and boast 15+ hours of battery life. Choose your priority; you cannot have both at this price.

What to Avoid (Red Flags)

Avoid any laptop under $700 that features a 720p screen (often listed as 1366×768); insist on at least 1080p (FHD or WUXGA). Avoid eMMC storage if it is the only drive in the computer, as it is much slower than a true SSD. Finally, avoid gaming laptops with GTX 1650 or RTX 3050 GPUs; in 2026, you should demand an RTX 4050 at the $600-$700 price point.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Recommendations

The $700 budget cap in 2026 offers remarkable versatility, which is exactly why this price range dominates searches for the best laptops under $700. If you need a machine strictly for work, school, and long battery life, the Acer Aspire 14 AI (Core Ultra 7) is the undeniable king of the hill. It brings premium features and a massive 1TB SSD to a price point where competitors usually cut corners.

If your focus is entertainment and gaming, the Acer Nitro V and HP Victus prove that you can get solid 1080p gaming performance without spending a fortune — as long as you’re willing to sacrifice battery life and portability. Before hitting the checkout button, decide whether raw gaming power or all-day endurance matters more to your daily workflow..