Want a laptop that can multitask with ease? Need a multi-core powerhouse that can edit your large video projects? Are you a professional and want a suitable choice for your everyday productivity?
Perhaps a student that needs a portable solution to carry to classes? Portable gaming on a budget? If this sounds like you (or even if it doesn’t), then our article has something in store for you.
The $700 market offers some stellar performance deals and great bang for buck. Choices are many at this price point, but good choices are few. In our write-up today, we’ve done the heavy-lifting and weeded out the unworthy to bring you the best laptops under $700.
Contents
Best Laptops Under 700 Dollars Quick Summary
| Image | Name | features | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall |  | Acer Aspire 5 A515-55G-57H8 |
| |
Best Slim Laptop |  | Acer Swift 3 |
| |
Best Battery Life |  | HP 15-dy1036nr |
| |
Best for Students |  | ASUS VivoBook 15 F512DA-NH77 |
| |
Best Touchscreen |  | HP 15-dy1020nr |
| |
Best Storage |  | Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17ADA05 |
|
What to Expect from a $700 Laptop in 2021
Our best laptop picks today are capable of productivity, light to medium level gaming with a mix of 720p to 1080p low to medium at 30 FPS+, heavier photo, and video editing, music production, along with rendering and media encoding.
A $700 laptop should have no less than 4 cores and 8GB of RAM, and our choices reflect that. Most laptops on our list will have at least a 256GB NVMe SSD, or an SSD/HDD storage combo. Battery life will range from 7-11 hours.
Some laptop models will have IPS displays more suited to editors, others will have touchscreen displays for ease of use. All our choices are under 20mm thick, with the majority sitting around 18mm.
1. Overall Best Laptop – Acer Aspire 5 A515-55G-57H8
Pros
> Fast 10th gen Core i5 CPU
> Dedicated Graphics with Dedicated VRAM
> Full HD color-accurate IPS display
> Backlit keyboard
Cons
> Slightly heavier than other 15.6” laptops
Specifications
CPU: Intel Core i5-1035G1 (4 cores/8 threads) 1.0 GHz base up to 3.6 GHz boost
RAM: 8GB DDR4 2666 MHz
Storage: 512GB NVMe SSD
Graphics: Nvidia MX350
Display: 15.6 inch 1920×1080 Full HD IPS
Operating System: Windows 10 Home
Battery Life: Up to 8 hours
Size: 14.31” x 9.86” x 0.71”/363.47 x 250.44 x 18mm
Weight: 4.19 lbs/1.9 Kg
Hardware
Our pick for the overall best laptop under $700 is the Acer Aspire 5. Coming with a 10th gen Intel Core i5-1035G1, with 4 cores and 8 threads and speeds up to 3.6 GHz, the Aspire 5 has excellent performance.
Featuring a dedicated Nvidia MX350 graphics card, with 2GB of dedicated GDDR5 memory, gaming, and rendering performance are greatly enhanced over integrated solutions.
8GB of snappy 2666 MHz DDR4 RAM means plenty of memory for applications with this laptop. A quick 512GB NVMe SSD ensures fast boot-up times, and faster loading times in applications and games.
Design and Display
This laptop is designed to be thin and lightweight. Dressed in Silver and trimmed in black, aesthetics are subtle and understated. Thin bezels complement the 15.6-inch 1920×1080 Full HD IPS display and help draw out vivid and color-accurate performance.
Weighing in just shy of 2 Kg, and at only 18mm thick, the Aspire 5 may be a little bulkier, but we think the performance trade-off is worth it. The battery life on this laptop is up to 8 hours on a single charge.
Connectivity
This laptops outstanding performance doesn’t stop, coming with the latest 802.11ax WiFi 6 wireless card, with up to 2.5x the speed of 802.11ac WiFi 5. Bluetooth 4.2 is featured as well, for seamless pairing with other wireless devices.
Two USB 3.1 gen Type-A ports and a 3.1 Type-C are in charge of high-speed data transfer, offering up to 5 Gbps of peak speed, as well as an additional USB 2.0 for other devices. An HDMI port for external display connections, and a Gigabit LAN port round our connectivity.
Features
As common with laptops at this price point, Windows 10 Home comes standard as the OS of choice. Acer laptops tend to come light on bloatware, so pre-installed apps are practically non-existent.
A backlit keyboard is featured for easier low-light typing, making it easier for your fingers to find their mark. An HD Webcam and dual stereo microphones ensure seamless communication. Also featured are stereo speakers, for good audio playback.
Conclusion
This laptop 5 packs a lot of hardware into its small body. Featuring one of the latest 10th gen Intel CPUs, and a dedicated graphics solution from Nvidia, this is one of the best performing laptops in the $700 price range.
Capable of 1080p low-medium gaming at a respectable FPS, the Aspire 5 not only takes the win for our best overall category, but it is also the best laptop for video editing under $700.
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2. Best Slim Laptop – Acer Swift 3
Pros
> Fast, powerful, and efficient 8-core CPU paired with snappy 3200 MHz RAM
> WiFi 6
> Full HD, color-accurate IPS display
> Long battery life
> Respectable gaming performance
Cons
> Only Two USB 3.1 ports, only one of which is Type-A
Specifications
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 4700U (8 cores/8 threads) 2.0 GHz up to 4.1 GHz
RAM: 8GB 3200 MHz LPDDR4
Storage: 512GB NVMe SSD
Graphics: Radeon RX Vega 7
Display: 14” 1920×1080 IPS
Operating System: Windows 10 Home
Battery Life: Up to 11 Hours
Size: 12.73” x 8.62” x 0.63”/323.34 x 218.95 x 16mm (W x D x H)
Weight: 2.65 lbs/1.2 Kg
Hardware
Our pick for the best slim laptop option for less than $700 is the impressive Acer Swift 3.
The Acer Swift 3 packs a powerful punch with its 4th generation AMD Ryzen 7 4700U CPU. Featuring 8 cores, 8 threads, and speeds of up to 4.1 GHz, it’s an absolute powerhouse.
Coming paired with the CPU is AMD’s Radeon RX Vega 7 Graphics, fully capable and ready for productivity, editing, and gaming. 8GB of high-bandwidth 3200 MHz LPDDR4 comes standard, further boosting performance.
For storage, a spacious and lightning-fast 512GB NVMe solid-state drive is spec’d for instant boot-ups and snappy response.
Design and Display
This laptop was designed to be as light, sleek, and portable as possible, without sacrificing performance. Aiding in this pursuit is an Aluminum and Magnesium alloy construction, helping shave weight down.
Its 14-inch 1920×1080 Full HD IPS display gives accurate color reproduction, and a vivid viewing experience, while maintaining an 82.73% screen-to-body ratio thanks to its 0.21” thin bezels.
Coming in razor-thin at just 16mm overall thickness, and weighing a mere 2.6 lbs, this laptop is a breeze to carry anywhere. With an astounding battery life of up to 11 hours, you’ll never have to worry about running out of power.
Connectivity
Enjoy unparalleled connectivity with the latest 802.11ax WiFi 6 wireless card, with up to 2.5x the speed of 802.11ac WiFi 5. Connect to external devices seamlessly with Bluetooth 5.0.
This awesome laptop comes with, one USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C with DisplayPort over USB capabilities, One 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A port with speeds of up to 10 Gbps, and a regular USB 2.0 port to take care of data transfer. An HDMI port is also available for screen sharing to external displays.
Features
The Acer Swift 3 comes standard with the Windows 10 Home Operating System. Perfect for gaming, productivity, and editing. For low-light situations a backlit keyboard is included, to make typing hassle-free.
A fingerprint reader is included with the laptop for ease of access and added security. Also included is an HD webcam and two microphones to ensure clarity during video conferencing and a built-in Alexa assistant.
Conclusion
The Acer Swift 3 wins our best slim laptop under $700 category easily. Coming in a good bit under our budget.
This laptop is packed with performance, with its 8 core CPU, 8GB of fast RAM, and Vega 7 graphics are fully capable of video editing, as well as being able to play the latest and greatest games at playable frame rates, albeit with settings turned down.
It has a long-lasting battery life, and the 512GB NVMe ensures a smooth overall operation.
3. Best Battery Life – HP 15-dy1036nr
Pros
> Snappy Intel 10th gen i5 CPU
> WiFi 6 connectivity
> Fast charging
> Best battery life
Cons
> Smaller storage
> Not suitable for gaming
Specifications
CPU: Intel Core i5-1035G1 (4 cores/8 threads) 1.0 GHz up to 3.6 GHz boost
RAM: 8GB 2666 MHz DDR4
Storage: 256GB NVMe SSD
Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics
Display: 15.6” 1920×1080 Full HD
Operating System: Windows 10 Home
Battery Life: Up to 10 hours
Size: 14.11” x 9.53” x 0.71”/358.4 x 242 x 18mm (W x D x H)
Weight: 3.75 lbs/1.7 Kg
Hardware
The laptop with the best battery life at 700 bucks is the HP 15-dy1036nr.
The HP 15-dy1036nr features the latest 10th gen Intel CPU in the form of a Core i5-1035G1. It is a 4 core, 8 thread CPU with speeds of up to 3.6 GHz. Paired with it is Intel’s integrated UHD Graphics, snappy and adequate for rendering and encoding workloads.
8GB of fast 2666 MHz DDR4 RAM covers your multitasking needs with speedy performance, and a snappy 256GB NVMe SSD is included for storage, ensuring blazing-fast boot speeds.
Design
Dressed up in all silver, with black bezel accents, this laptop gives off a very refined, professional look. Its 15.6 inch Full HD, 1920×1080 resolution display is crisp and clear. And is further complemented by thin bezels, which add to space and weight savings.
Coming in at 3.75 lbs, and a mere 18mm thick, this laptop puts on a respectable showing for its size without sacrificing portability and incorporates the best battery for a $700 laptop, with up to 10 hours of life available.
Connectivity
Seamlessly connect to wireless hotspots with 801.11ax WiFi 6, offering the best speeds and stability available.
Ensure reliable Bluetooth pairings and data transfer with Bluetooth 5.0, offering more range compared to BT 4.2. Featuring three USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports, one of which being Type-C, with speeds of up to 5 Gbps, enjoy quick data transfer between external devices. Also included is an HDMI 1.4b port, for screen sharing with external displays.
Features
As for most of our laptop lineup today, it comes as no surprise that Windows 10 Home is again the OS of choice. The HP 15 features HP Fast Charge, filling the battery up to 50% in 45 minutes, lowering downtime while charging, and making sure you’re good to go.
An HP Truevision HD Webcam comes standard for video conferencing and calls, along with dual digital microphones for crystal clear audio. Also included is McAfee LiveSafe antivirus software, and a 30-day Microsoft Office 365 trial.
Conclusion
With snappy performance, thanks to its 10th CPU, long battery life, a fast-charging function that lowers downtime, WiFi 6 connectivity, and respectable weight and portability for its size, the HP 15-dy1036nr gets our nod for the laptop with the best battery life at this price point.
We particularly enjoy its professional looks and crisp Full HD screen.
4. Best Laptop for Students – ASUS VivoBook 15 F512DA-NH77
Pros
> Powerful Ryzen 7 CPU and Vega 10 Graphics combo
> Respectable Gaming performance
> Clever design and classy aesthetics
> Backlit keyboard
Cons
> Battery life could be a bit longer
Specifications
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 3700U (4 cores/8 threads) 2.3 GHz up to 4.0 GHz boost
RAM: 8GB 2400 MHz DDR4
Storage: 512GB NVMe SSD
Graphics: Radeon RX Vega 10
Display: 15.6” 1920×1080 Full HD
Operating System: Windows 10 Home
Battery Life: Up to 8 hours
Size: 14.10” x 9.10” x 0.80”/357.2 x 230.4 x 19.9 mm (W x D x H)
Weight: 3.53 lbs/1.75 Kg
Hardware
For students looking for a good computer to work on, this is the best choice at the $700 price point.
Coming with a powerful AMD Ryzen 7 3700U, packing 4 cores, 8 threads, and up to 4.0 GHz boost, the ASUS VivoBook 15 isn’t lacking in the CPU department.
Complemented with Radeon RX Vega 10 Graphics, gaming on even the newest titles is possible at acceptable frame rates, albeit with some settings optimization.
Aiding the performance of this laptop is 8GB of 2400 MHz DDR4 RAM, ensuring smooth performance in every task. Rounding out our spec list is a 512GB NVMe solid-state drive, providing quick boot times and snappy application response.
Design and Display
Designed with a sleek, compact, Slate Grey body, this laptop’s aesthetics are subtle and sleek. Its 15.6” Full HD display is crisp and sharp and is complemented with a NanoEdge bezel.
Touting an 88% screen-to-body ratio, it aids in further saving space and helping achieve a more compact chassis.
Weighing in at only 3.5 lbs, and being just shy of 20mm thick, this laptop lacks little in the way of portability. Its battery is good for up to 8 hours on a single charge, great for extended use sessions.
Connectivity
An 802.11ac WiFi 5 and Bluetooth 4.1 combo wireless network adapter card comes standard with the VivoBook 15, providing quick and stable connections to both wireless routers and hotspots, and pairing to Bluetooth-enabled devices.
One USB 3.1 Type-C and One regular USB 3.1 Type-A (both Gen 1) are available for your high-speed data transfer needs, boasting up to 5 Gbps at their peak.
2 normal speed USB 2.0 ports are further available to connect even more devices. An HDMI port rounds out everything, offering an avenue to connect to external displays.
Features
Windows 10 Home is ASUS’s choice of operating system for the VivoBook 15, a perfectly adequate choice for most users. Aiding in typing is ASUS’ cleverly designed ErgoLift hinge, giving you a 2° keyboard angle for a more convenient position.
Speaking of the keyboard, it’s backlit, which helps your fingers find their place in low-light typing scenarios. Also featured is a Fast-Charging function, boasting 60% charge in under 50 minutes.
Other notable features of this laptop include a fingerprint sensor on the top right corner of the touchpad, an HD webcam, and ASUS’ SonicMaster audio.
Conclusion
Powerful performance in a compact body. The ASUS VivoBook 15 delivers excellent portability without sacrificing important features, battery life, or computing horsepower, and wins our best 700 dollar laptop for students category because of it.
5. Best Touchscreen Under $400 – HP 15-dy1020nr
Pros
> Long battery life
> Intuitive touchscreen experience
> Quick SSD performance
> 10th Gen i5 CPU
Cons
> Not suitable for gaming
Specifications
CPU: Intel Core i5-1035G1 (4 cores/8 threads) 1.2 GHz up to 3.6 GHz boost
RAM: 8GB 2666 MHz DDR4
Storage: 512GB NVMe SSD
Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics
Display: 15.6” 1366×768 HD Touchscreen
Operating System: Windows 10 Home
Battery Life: Up To 10 Hours
Size: 14.11” x 9.53” x 0.70”/358.5 x 242 x 17.9 mm (W x D x H)
Weight: 3.74 lbs/ 1.7 Kg
Hardware
The HP 15 is hands down the best touchscreen laptop available for less than 700 dollars.
It features one of Intel’s latest 10th generation CPUs in the form of the 4 core, 8 thread i5-1035G1. With speeds up to 3.6 GHz, and complemented by Intel’s integrated UHD Graphics, the i5 is plenty powerful for productivity and editing tasks.
8GB of quick DDR4 RAM ensures multitasking is a breeze, and a snappy 512GB NVMe SSD is provided for storage, for quick boot times.
Design and Display
As with its non-touchscreen sibling, this laptop has the same sleek and professional aesthetics, coming in natural Silver. It’s 15.6 inch 1366×768 HD resolution, touchscreen display provides crisp and clear visuals and an intuitive touch feel.
Weighing just 3.74 lbs, and being a mere 17.9mm thick, the laptop’s portability is great, especially when paired with a strong battery life that lasts up to 10 hours.
Connectivity
Wireless connectivity is handled by an 802.11ac WiFi 5/Bluetooth 4.2 wireless adapter card, for seamless internet connection and hassle-free pairings with smartphones, speakers, earbuds, and other BT devices.
All USB ports are USB 3.1 Gen 1 spec, with up to 5 Gbps data transfer speeds. Two of them are Type-A, along with one Type-C port. Also included is an HDMI 1.4b port, for seamless external display connections.
Features
Windows 10 Home is HP’s choice of operating system, as common on most computers on our list, and is more than adequate for any tasks at hand.
Bundled software includes McAfee’s LiveSafe antivirus, for added protection, as well as HP’s own Audio Switch, JumpStart, Support Assistant, Connection Optimizer, and BIOS Protection software.
Other notable features of this laptop include an HP TrueVision HD Camera with an integrated dual array digital microphone, dual stereo speakers, and an SD card reader.
Conclusion
A smooth and intuitive touchscreen experience, a fast 10th gen i5 CPU, 512GB of lightning-quick NVMe storage, 8GB of DDR4 RAM, all packed into a light and portable package.
The HP 15-dy1020nr is a worthy choice for our best touchscreen laptop category winner.
6. Best Storage – Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17ADA05
Pros
> Split storage, fast SSD for OS and important apps, large HDD for file/media storage
> Powerful Ryzen 7 + Vega 10 Graphics combination
> Good entry-level gaming performance
> Big screen
Cons
> Larger and heavier than smaller offerings
> Battery life could be a bit better
Specifications
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 3700U (4 cores/8 threads) 2.3 GHz up to 4.0 GHz boost
RAM: 12GB DDR4 2400 MHz
Storage: 128GB NVMe SSD + 1TB HDD
Graphics: Radeon RX Vega 10
Display: 17.3” 1600×900 HD+
Operating System: Windows 10 Home
Battery Life: Up to 8 Hours
Size: 15.83″ x 11.07″ x 0.78″/402 x 281.2 x 19.8mm (W x D x H)
Weight: 5.39 lbs/2.44 Kg
Hardware
Featured in our pick for the laptop with the best storage is a 3rd generation Ryzen 7 3700U CPU with 4 cores and 8 threads, and a boost clock of up to 4.0 GHz. Radeon RX Vega 10 Graphics are paired with the CPU for powerful rendering and encoding acceleration, as well as entry-level gaming performance.
A whopping 12GB of 2400 MHz DDR4 RAM ensures no problem running multiple applications simultaneously.
Finally, a 128GB NVMe SSD holds the OS installation and provides fast boot times, while a spacious 1TB HDD is there to hold any files or media. For anyone who needs a laptop with lots of storage, this is the best option for you.
Design and Display
The IdeaPad 3 is one of the larger laptop computers on our list, though, despite its larger size, it is still a sleek and thin package. The choice of Platinum Grey adds a professional look and feel.
Its 17.3-inch, 1600×900 HD+ resolution screen takes up most of this extra space and caters to those who want more display real-estate. The bigger size, despite only being 19.8mm thick, does add weight, however, coming in at 5.39 lbs.
Battery life is respectable with this laptop, at up to 8 hours of use from a single charge.
Connectivity
An 802.11ac WiFi 5 card comes standard on the Ideapad 3, providing fast and stable wireless connections.
For pairing with smartphones and other devices, Bluetooth 5.0 is conveniently spec’d, offering up to 2x the speeds, and 4x the range of 4.2.
Two USB 3.1 ports and a USB 3.1 Type-C port ensure seamless, high-speed data transfer between devices, with speeds of up to 5 Gbps.
Also included is an HDMI Port for connections to external displays.
Features
This laptop is pre-loaded with Microsoft’s Windows 10 Home operating system, providing a speedy and secure computing experience. Those who dislike bloatware should be happy to hear that bundled software is practically non-existent.
An HD Webcam, with a physical privacy shutter, is included, along with dual stereo microphones. Other notable features include stereo speakers and an SD-card reader.
Conclusion
Massive storage, massive RAM, and a powerful CPU describe the Ideapad 3 perfectly. Lenovo’s offering blows away the competition in our laptop with the best storage for $700 category and wins it by a country mile.
The only drawbacks with this laptop, are the larger size and heavier weight, but it’s a small sacrifice to make for what is offered.
The Verdict
There are so many good laptop models to choose from that we had a hard time choosing the absolute best laptops under $700.
Laptops in this range are starting to get even more powerful, and none of our picks have any less than 4 cores, and no less than 8GB of RAM.
Despite the myriad of choices available, we’ve bought you what we think are the best bang-for-buck laptops for each category. Each pick was selected with the best performance and highest quality in mind.
Buyers Guide to Help You Find a Great Laptop at this Price Point
This is a little section we’ve created to help you better understand the specifications and jargon for $700 laptops, that are thrown around both in the article and on other websites.
CPU
The CPU does most of the work, as it is the center of any system and tells everything else what to do when given a command or input. Speed is measured in frequency (GHz), and the number of cores/threads.
More cores are generally better, and higher speeds when comparing similar core-count CPUs is generally better.
Do not settle for any less than a 4 core/8 thread CPU for your laptop at this price range.
RAM
RAM is super-fast, temporary storage for files and data that the CPU needs immediate access to. More RAM is usually better, to a point, as having more RAM usually means being able to open more applications simultaneously without impacting performance.
RAM is also rated in frequency, and faster is better and means faster responsiveness. At this price point, it’s best to settle for no less than 8GB on your new laptop.
Storage
Storage is the place where your files, media, and other data are permanently saved so you can access them in the future. Different types of storage are available, but all of our picks use the best and fastest form, NVMe SSDs.
256GB is the minimum we’d recommend for your laptop unless otherwise paired with a hard drive for mass storage. 512GB being ideal at this price point.
Display
Display size is usually a personal preference, and most of the good laptops available at this price range carry a 15.6” display. Ideally, you want a 1080p display, but sometimes this has to be sacrificed for other features.
IPS displays are generally recommended for photo and video editors as they generally provide the most accurate color reproduction.
All of the laptops on this list feature displays with 200 nit brightness or better, though should you choose another option, this is the lowest we’d recommend going.
Portability (Size/Weight)
Display size also affects the overall size and weight of a given laptop choice. Smaller screens mean smaller bodies, and smaller bodies mean smaller weight. Though smaller screens also may be harder to read or see for some.
Larger screen sizes on laptops sacrifice portability and weight for a bigger screen that makes things easier to see or read. Though there are ways to lessen the weight and size penalty, like thin bezels and lightweight construction.
We’d recommend a 15.6” display model, with a weight under 4 lbs if you intend to be carrying it on your body a lot. Laptops in this size range should have adequate battery life and a good 1080p display.
Operating Systems (OS)
Microsoft Windows 10
Microsoft Windows 10 Home is the only OS featured on our list today. It is the most popular choice of OS in the world and is the best from a compatibility standpoint, with currently available software compared to other operating systems like macOS or Linux.
Windows 10 Pro is also available for those who need extra security features it offers, like; Bitlocker, Trusted Boot, Windows Sandbox, and native Remote Desktop capabilities.
But we feel most users will never use these extra capabilities. Windows 10 regularly receives performance and security updates from Microsoft, and they have said that Windows 10 will continue to receive updates indefinitely, so long-term support is guaranteed.
Purpose
Laptops in this price range can, and do, serve just about any purpose. From productivity to schoolwork, to video conferencing, photo and video editing, even gaming. These laptops are capable of most tasks you can throw at them.
Resale Value
Like most things, the resale value depends on an item’s age, and how well it was taken care of. If you sell the laptop within a year, or before newer next-gen hardware is released, you’ll likely get 70% of your money back with some patience.
Thanks for reading this article about the best laptops under 700 dollars. I hope that you found a model that is perfect for your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Which brand of laptop is most reliable?
Most laptop manufacturers have their good, and bad models. Though some have more good than others. After looking at the data available, recent surveys show that Lenovo is leading the market as most reliable overall, with ASUS trailing closely in 2nd place.
What are the best laptops under $600
At this price level, you will be able to get a solid laptop. You can read reviews on the best 600 dollar laptops here.
What type of things will I be able to do on a laptop at this price point?
Practically anything is possible on a $700 laptop. Productivity tasks are a breeze, video editing is handled well, media playback and video conferencing are no sweat. Even gaming is possible on the right $700 laptop.
If you would like to keep searching for your ideal laptop you should head on over to our laptops review section where you will find so many different models covered.
James Cosgrove has been the lead writer at GizmoFusion since 2019. He has a huge passion for the latest technology and gadgets. He loves to talk and write about this interest. He hopes that visitors to the website will find his reports informative and helpful when it comes to making the best choices for their needs.
