If you are about to launch your freelancing career, you will need a reliable laptop, but cheap laptops might be your top consideration. Regardless of your tasks, you would need a laptop that can withstand long hours of work. But with so many choices on the market, it can be tough to know where to start.
In this blog post, we will take a look at some of the best cheap laptops you can buy in 2023. Read further to help you decide as we discuss the features of each laptop. Learn about the things you need to look for when buying a laptop, even a cheap one, at that.
Top 5 Cheap Laptops to Start Your Freelancing Career in 2023
· Acer Aspire 5
· Lenovo IdeaPad3
· Dell Inspiron 15
· HP 15
· Asus VivoBook 15
Acer Aspire 5
Acer Aspire 5 is one of the best budget laptops in the market. It is packed with features that make it a great value for the price. The Acer Aspire 5 has a 15.6-inch Full HD IPS display, an Intel Core i3-1115G4 processor, 8GB of DDR4 RAM, and a 512GB NVMe SSD. It also has an NVIDIA GeForce MX350 with 2 GB of dedicated. The battery life is also good, providing up to 7 hours of use on a single charge.
The Intel Core i-3 processor will handle simple computing tasks such as MS Office applications, Google Workspace, simple photo editing in Canva, and web research. This laptop will be good for those who are starting their Virtual Assistance career.
Price: Php 36, 995
Where to buy: Acer Flagship Store in Shopee
Lenovo IdeaPad (Gaming) 3 and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is one of the best budget laptops on the market. Their laptops often have a military-grade rating making them durable. The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is a popular choice among students and office workers alike.
It has 15.6 inches and a resolution of 1920×1080 Full HD, making it perfect for browsing the web or working on documents, and even watching your favorite series on Netflix. The laptop is powered by an Intel Core i5 processor and has 8GB of RAM, so it can handle multitasking. It has a storage capacity of 256 GB and a video card of NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650. Plus, with a battery life of up to 8 hours, you can work all day without worrying about recharging. Its weight is 2.25 kg.
With this laptop, you can do photo editing using a photo editor of your choice and even do simple video editing. However, if you are doing heavy video editing, such as editing with color grading, we recommend that you upgrade to another processor and expand your RAM. You can also do some gaming with this laptop. However, you must ensure that you have enough space for others you need for work because gaming software can take up a lot of memory space.
Another Lenovo alternative to the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming Laptop 3 is the Slim 3. The difference with Slim 3 is that it has integrated Intel UHD Graphics. This means your laptop might struggle with some heavy graphics editing. It is also lighter, having a weight of only 1.7 kg, so you can bring it anywhere with you.
Price of Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3: Php 39,999
Price of Lenovo IdeaPad 3: Php 22,000
Where to buy: Lazada GAMEXTREME Flagship Store
Dell Inspiron 15
The Dell Inspiron 15 is another great productivity cheap laptop on our list. It has a 15.6-inch display with 1366 x 768 (HD), an INTEL CORE I5 1135G7, 8GB of RAM, and a 512 GB SSD hard drive. Its video card is NVIDIA GEFORCE MX350 2GB GDDR5. The battery life is decent, at about 5 hours, and it comes with Windows 10 pre-installed, but some come with Windows 11. It is comparatively lighter, weighing 1.85 kg, which is not bad for a 15-inch laptop.
Just like the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3, you can also do some photo editing and light video editing with this laptop. Multitasking is also possible with this machine. You can open several tabs if you are doing some research.
Price: Php 37,300
Where to buy: Lazada GAMEXTREME Store
HP 15
HP Pavilion is the cheapest laptop on our list, but the features are not compromised. It has a large 15.6-inch display and a powerful 6-core AMD Ryzen 5 5500U Processor. Additionally, it comes with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB solid-state drive. It also comes with AMD Radeon Graphics, which are good for casual gaming and light graphic work.
HP designed this with a 6.5 mm micro-edge Full HD anti-glare display perfect for long work hours. It is also fast charging, so if you are the type who likes to travel while working, this might be a good option for you. However, it is a bit heavier than the other laptops, weighing 3.75 kg.
Price: Php 35,000
Where to buy: Lazada GAMEXTREME Flagship Store
Asus VivoBook 15
Asus VivoBook 15 is one of the best budget laptops in the market. It is packed with features that make it a great choice for users looking for a cheap laptop. Some of its key features include a 15.6-inch Full HD display, an AMD Ryzen 5, 16GB of DDR4 (RAM), and 512 GB SSD. These features are powerful enough for you to run heavy programs such as Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop. You can also try running Adobe Premiere Pro to edit videos. With its comparatively bigger RAM, this is a really good investment for freelancers.
Price: Php 41,000
Where to buy: Shopee dr.hp shop
What to Consider When Buying a Cheap Laptop
Now that we have provided you with some laptop brands and models, it is time for you to decide which one to purchase. To help you decide, we included a list of the things you should consider when buying a laptop.
Operating system in Cheap Laptops
When it comes to buying a laptop, one of the most important things to consider is the operating system. There are a few different options out there, and each has its own pros and cons.
Windows is by far the most popular choice, and for a good reason. It is easy to use, stable, and compatible with a wide range of software and hardware. However, it can be prone to viruses and malware, and updates can sometimes be a hassle. Often, cheap laptops run on the Windows operating system.
macOS is a great option if you want something simple and elegant. It’s also fairly secure and stable and the interface is clean, making it user-friendly. But, of course, it is not compatible with Windows-based software or hardware. However, it is pricey. The cheapest brand-new unit you can get is the 13-inch MacBook Air, M1 2020, for Php 61,740.50 at the Power Mac Center. That is why if you notice, we did not include any Mac laptops on the list.
Linux is a great choice for power users who are comfortable with its learning curve. It is extremely customizable and can be made to look and feel like almost any other operating system out there. Plus, it’s free! However, it’s not as user-friendly as Windows or macOS, and compatibility can be an issue. Users of Linux systems are often programmers.
Processor
The processor is the heart of your laptop and one of the most important factors to consider when purchasing a new one. There are two main types of processors on the market today, Intel and AMD. Both offer various options to choose from, so it is important to compare each specification before making a decision.
When it comes to raw power, Intel generally offers the best options. Their top-of-the-line processors can outperform AMD’s offerings in both single and multi-core performance. An Intel processor is usually the way to go if you are looking for a laptop that can handle demanding tasks like video editing or 3D modeling.
However, AMD has been closing the gap recently, and their latest processors offer excellent value for money. If you are on a budget, an AMD processor is a great choice that will not sacrifice too much in terms of performance. Generally, either type of processor will be more than enough for day-to-day use, such as browsing the web, watching videos, or working with documents.
So, which processor should you choose for your new laptop? It really depends on your needs and budget. If raw power is your top priority, go with an Intel processor. However, an AMD processor is a great option if you’re looking to save some money without sacrificing too much performance.
Display quality of Cheap Laptops
When shopping for a laptop, it’s important to consider the quality of the display. A good display will have high resolution and be clear and bright. It’s also important to ensure that the display is the right size for your needs. A larger display is a better option if you also plan on using your laptop for gaming or watching movies. We also recommend a bigger screen if you work on spreadsheets and databases.
Weight/ Portability
If you are a digital nomad who wants to travel while working, then considering the weight of the laptop is a must for you. If you also like working in cafes or co-working spaces, then choose a laptop that is not more than 2kg in weight.
Conclusion
As you can see, many great cheap laptops are out there. So, if you are in the market for a new laptop and you are on a tight budget, consider Acer Aspire 5, Lenovo IdeaPad3/ Slim3, Dell Inspiron 15, HP 15, and Asus VivoBook 15. Just be sure to do your research and read reviews before making your final decision. Ensure that the shop you buy your laptop from is legitimate and issues an official receipt for warranty purposes.
To guide you further as you begin your freelancing journey, we provided a list of the seven must-have tools for freelancers in 2023.
