Having a good laptop is essential for both students and professionals to be productive. Here are 5 budget-friendly options to consider:

The Acer Aspire E 15 is a solid, affordable option for basic tasks. It features an 8th-generation Intel Core i3 processor, 6GB of RAM and a 1TB hard drive. The 15.6-inch display and over 6 hours of battery life make it suitable for work and entertainment on the go. At under $350, it’s a great value for the performance.

For under $500, the Lenovo IdeaPad 330S offers an 8th-gen Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM and a 256GB solid-state drive for fast performance and boot times. The narrow-bezel 15.6-inch display provides an immersive viewing experience. A built-in fingerprint reader allows for easy logins via Windows Hello. With a metal chassis, it has a premium look and feel at an affordable price.

If you need a laptop for graphics or video editing, the Dell G5 15 Gaming Laptop is a solid option at around $700. It features a 9th-gen Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card. The 15.6-inch display has a fast 120Hz refresh rate and anti-glare coating for reduced eye strain. Despite the “Gaming” name, its all-black design is suitable for any setting.

For Mac users, the 13-inch MacBook Air starts at $999. It sports a vibrant Retina display, Touch ID, 8GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD. The latest model features Apple’s new Magic Keyboard and longer battery life. While the processor is slightly underpowered compared to Windows laptops in this price range, MacOS is optimized to run smoothly. The unibody aluminum design is also ultra-thin and portable.

If portability is most important, the Microsoft Surface Go 2 starts at $399. It features a 10.5-inch touchscreen, an 8th-gen Intel Core m3 processor, 4GB of RAM and a 64GB eMMC drive. At just 1.2 pounds, it’s extremely light yet provides good performance for everyday tasks. The built-in kickstand supports multiple angles. Add a Type Cover keyboard for a full laptop-like experience. The Surface Go 2 offers a good blend of affordability, portability and productivity.