With 2017 dwindling down to its final days, now is the right time to find deals to upgrade your laptop.
As the computing needs for your small business increases, finding out what is available will let you make an informed decision before you purchase one. And one of the more important considerations in this process is the budget.
The addition of each $100, $250 or $500 dollars allows you to purchase laptops with increasingly more powerful features. And depending on the industry you happen to be in, these features will dictate how efficient you become moving forward.
Looking Within Your Budget
When you are gauging the merits of all the laptops within your budget, you should consider factors that are important for your specific needs. If your accountant friend praises a particular brand and model, it may not be the right fit if you are a graphics designer.
12 Best Laptops Under $1000
Take your time and research the market. In no time at all, you will find what you need within your budget. In the meantime, here are 12 laptops between $500 and $1,000 that will give you a general idea of what is available to you.
2018 Flagship HP Pavilion
The HP Pavilion line offers a wide price range. This 2018 flagship comes loaded with some heavy duty hardware for the $949 price tag. It starts with an 8th Generation Quad Core Intel Core i7-8550U processor, NVIDIA GeForce 940MX card with 4GB, 16GB DDR4 SDRAM, and 256GB solid state drive (SSD) storage.
The graphics card and ample RAM will make content on the 15.6″ diagonal FHD IPS BrightView WLED-backlit display (1920×1080) appear without any lag, even for the most power intensive applications.
Connectivity includes 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.0, along with 2 x USB 3.1, 1 x USB 2.0, 1 x USB Type-C, and an HDMI port.
Apple MacBook Air
The $866 price of this MacBook Air makes it affordable for people looking to take advantage of the Apple OS. Although it doesn’t have the specs of the other laptops on this list, the brand enjoys high adoption rates in creative industries. For small businesses in this sector looking for an Apple laptop, this MacBook Air might be the answer.
The laptop comes with an Intel Core i5-5250U 1.6GHz processors, 8GB LPDDR3 RAM, and 128GB SSD storage. This powers the 13.3″ display at 1440 x 900, which is one of the reasons you can get such a long battery life, up to 12 hours. It has wireless 802.11 B, G, n connectivity.
Microsoft Surface Pro 4
Just like the MacBook Air, the Surface Book by Microsoft also commands a premium price. However, the $979 price for this Surface Pro 4 makes it an affordable option. It comes with a screen that is smaller at 12.3″ but it has more features and a 2736×1824 pixel resolution. The Intel Core i5 processor is also more powerful at 3GHZ, and it is paired with a 256GB SSD and 8GB of RAM.
The wireless connection supports 802.11abg and it includes one USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 port. And when it comes to battery life, it delivers 10 hours depending on use.
Samsung Notebook 9
The Samsung Notebook 9 is on the high-end of the laptops on this list, but the portability, great screen, and powerful specs make the price worth considering. For the $939 price tag, you get an Intel Core i5, 2.3GHz (Turbo up to 2.8GHz), 8GB RAM, 256 SSD and a 13.3-Inch Full-HD LED display.
At 1.9lbs it is a light laptop you can get, and with up to 10 hours of battery life, you can carry it all day. If you are outside of the office you can use the wireless 802.11 A/C connectivity to work remotely.
Lenovo Yoga 720
Lenovo Yoga 720 comes in one dollar shy of $1,000. At $999, this laptop has some premium features, which includes a 7th Generation Intel Core i7-7700HQ Quad-Core Processor 2.8 GHz, 8 GB DDR4 SDRAM, and 256GB SSD.
The 15.6-inch Full HD IPS display has a 10-point multi-touch screen with Windows Ink capability to use the Yoga 720 as a tablet. The connectivity has 802.11 A/C Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.1 to work remotely, and you can connect multiple peripherals with 1 USB Type-C port, 1 USB 3.1 port, and 2 high-speed USB 3.0.
ASUS P-Series
Battery life of up to 18 hours, 7th Gen Intel Core i7 7500U 2.7GHz (Turbo up to 3.5GHz) dual-core “Kaby Lake” processor, 12GB of RAM, 512GB SSD, and Nvidia GeForce 940MX discrete graphics for $969. This ASUS P-Series laptop has great specs for the price, which includes a 14-inch anti-glare FHD display so you can work outside.
With 3 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB2.0, and 1 x HDMI you can connect a range of peripherals while in the office. And you get all this in a device that weighs 4.3 pounds, not exactly light but look at all the specs.
Dell Inspiron 17 7000
The 2-in-1 concept is a very sought after feature for many businesses. And the Dell Inspiron 17 7000 delivers it in a 17″ full HD 1920 x 1080 display. At $899, directly from Dell, you will also get 7th Generation Intel Core i5 dual core processor, 12GB of DDR4 RAM, 1TB of storage and an NVidia GeForce 940MX graphics card.
The connectivity has 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.2 along with USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C, USB 3.1, and a USB 2.0 port. As to battery life, the 56 WHr, 4-Cell battery can deliver 6 hours and 40 minutes, not bad for a 17″ full HD device.
Acer Spin 5 2-in-1 Laptop
The Acer Spin 5 2-in-1 laptop also comes in at $999, and it has specs that match the price. An 8th Generation Intel Core i7-8550U processor (up to 4.0GHz), 8GB DDR4 RAM, and 1TB HDD of storage will give you the power and speed to tackle almost anything.
The battery can go up to 10 hours to power the 15.6″ Full HD (1920 x 1080) widescreen IPS multi-touch display. And you can connect through the 802.11ac Wi-Fi featuring MIMO technology and Bluetooth 4.1 to communicate with your colleagues or access resources from your office.
A fingerprint reader, 1x USB 3.1 Type C, 2x USB 3.0, 1x USB 2.0 port, and 1x HDMI port with HDCP support round up some of the key features.
HP Touch-Screen
The price point has gone down to $764, but this HP has some great specs. It comes with a 7th Gen Intel Dual-Core i7-7500U at2.7GHz, 15.6″ touch screen 1366 x 768 display, 12GB for RAM, and 1TB of storage.
The versatility of this HP allows it to work whether you are in laptop or tablet modes because the wireless network connectivity-High-speed wireless LAN are built into the screen. The ports include a USB 3.1, 2.0 and an HDMI.
Acer Swift 3
Like the Acer Spin 5, the Swift 3 comes from a brand known for packing in a lot of features. And even at $699, it is delivering an8th Generation Intel Core i5-8250U Processor (Up to 3.4GHz), NVIDIA GeForce MX150 with 2 GB of dedicated GDDR5 VRAM,8GB LPDDR3 RAM, and 256GB SSD storage.
A 14″ Full HD (1920 x 1080) widescreen IPS display and 802.11ac Wi-Fi featuring 2×2 MIMO technology supply the imagery and connectivity with a battery life of up to 10 hours. A USB 3.1 Type C, 2x USB 3.0, 1x USB 2.0, and an HDMI make up the ports.
Dell i5770-5463SLV-PUS Inspiron
At slightly lower than the Acer Swift, the Dell i5770-5463SLV-PUS Inspiron is a deal to be had for the $655 price tag. An 8th Generation Intel Core i5-8250U processor, 8GB 2400MHz DDR4, 1 TB HDD, and a 17.3″ HD anti-glare LED-backlit display are included.
An SD card reader, USB 3.1 and 2.0 port also come part of this laptop.
Asus VivoBook Flip
The Asus VivoBook Flip is being offered here at $599, and although it is the lowest priced laptop on the list, you will get some very premium specs. An Intel Core i5-7200U Processor, 2.5GHz (3M Cache, up to 3.1GHz), 8GB DDR4 RAM, 256GB SSD storage, and a 15.6-inch 1366×768 touchscreen top the key features.
So far so good for $599, but you also get 802.11n wireless connectivity, USB 3.1 Type-C, USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 ports. The VivoBook can be used in tablet, tent, stand, and laptop modes so you can work from anywhere.
Quality Over Price
A great price always gets our attention, but when it comes to finding the laptop for your small business, quality should be the biggest driver. A quality product from a brand you have experience with will pay dividends in many more ways. Try to find a balance between what you can afford and a quality you can live with.
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