Best Laptops Under $700 in 2026: 12 Picks Compared on Specs

By Paul Syverson · Last updated Oct 20, 2026

For most people, the 256GB MacBook Neo is the laptop to start with under $700: Apple's A18 Pro chip, a 13-inch 2408 by 1506 screen, a maker figure of up to 16 hours of video streaming and a weight of 1.23 kg. For Windows, the HP 255 G10 pairs an eight-core Ryzen 7 7730U with 16GB and 512GB at 1.5 kg. This budget is where mainstream processors and 16GB become common. Picks come from stated specifications and maker information; nobody tested the units.

12 picks from 149 laptops that match this guide with a price we can quote today. Every price below is live and carries the moment it was read.

The picks at a glance

Which one should you buy?

• For students who want the longest battery: The MacBook Neo carries Apple's figures of up to 16 hours of video streaming and up to 11 hours of wireless web in a 1.23 kg body. See pick 1
• For Windows office work: The HP 255 G10 has an eight-core Ryzen 7 7730U, 16GB of memory, 512GB of storage and Windows 11 Pro at 1.5 kg. See pick 2
• For light gaming and photo apps: The Acer Aspire 5 is the only laptop in this pool with an NVIDIA GeForce card, an RTX 2050 with 4GB of video memory. See pick 5
• For a large screen at a desk: The HP OmniBook 3 17.3 has the largest screen here and 512GB of storage from HP's current OmniBook line. See pick 8

The 12 picks

1 Best overall under $700

Apple 2026 MacBook Neo 13-inch Laptop with A18 Pro chip

CPU

Apple A18 Pro

RAM

8 GB

Storage

256 GB

Screen

13 in

Weight

1.23 kg

OS

macOS

$689.99 (as of 10/20/2026 15:20 PDT - Details)

View on Amazon

The MacBook Neo is the lightest pick at 1.23 kg and the only one with a maker battery-life figure: Apple quotes up to 16 hours of video streaming from a 36.5 Wh battery. Its 13-inch screen runs at 2408 by 1506 and 500 nits, per Apple. The limits are memory, fixed at 8GB, and two USB-C ports.

Pros

• 1.23 kg, the lightest pick
• Up to 16 hours of video streaming and 11 hours of wireless web, per Apple
• 2408 by 1506 screen at 500 nits, per Apple
• Apple A18 Pro with a 6-core CPU, per Apple

Cons

• 8GB of memory, the only amount Apple offers
• 256GB of storage in this configuration
• Two USB-C ports, one limited to USB 2 speeds, per Apple

Good fit if

• Students and writers who work away from outlets
• Buyers already using an iPhone and Apple services

Skip if

• You need Windows programs or PC games
• You keep large media libraries on the laptop

Verdict: The best-documented portable laptop in this range, if macOS and 8GB suit you.

2 Best Windows laptop under $700

HP 255 G10 15.6" FHD Business Laptop

CPU

AMD Ryzen 7 7730U

RAM

16 GB

Storage

512 GB

Screen

15.6 in

Weight

1.5 kg

OS

Windows 11 Pro

$675.00 (as of 10/20/2026 15:21 PDT - Details)

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The HP 255 G10 combines an AMD Ryzen 7 7730U, which AMD specifies with eight cores and 16 threads, with 16GB of memory, 512GB of storage and Windows 11 Pro. At 1.5 kg it is also among the lighter 15.6-inch picks. The listing adds a numeric keypad and Wi-Fi 6.

Pros

• Ryzen 7 7730U with eight cores and 16 threads, per AMD
• 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage
• 1.5 kg, the lightest 15.6-inch pick
• Windows 11 Pro

Cons

• Integrated graphics only
• Battery capacity not stated by the seller
• Sold by a third-party seller; confirm warranty terms

Good fit if

• Office workers who run many apps and spreadsheets
• Students who need Windows software and a numeric keypad

Skip if

• You play current games
• You want a touchscreen

Verdict: The most balanced Windows spec sheet in this list.

3 Only Core Ultra pick

Dell 15.6 Laptop

CPU

Intel Core Ultra 5 225U

RAM

16 GB

Storage

512 GB

Screen

15 in

Weight

1.66 kg

OS

Windows 11 Home

$719.99 (as of 10/20/2026 15:20 PDT - Details)

Outside this guide's budget at today's price.

View on Amazon

This Dell uses an Intel Core Ultra 5 225U, from the Core Ultra (Series 2) family on Microsoft's Windows 11 processor list, with 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage. It is the only Core Ultra chip among these picks. Its specs match the HP 255 G10 on memory and storage but it weighs a little more.

Pros

• Intel Core Ultra 5 225U
• 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage
• Windows 11 Home

Cons

• 1.66 kg, heavier than the HP 255 G10
• Screen size listed as 15 inches in the specs and 15.6 in the title
• Battery capacity not stated by the seller

Good fit if

• Buyers who prefer a current Intel platform
• Home and office users who want 16GB from a major maker

Skip if

• You carry a laptop daily and want the lightest option
• You want Windows 11 Pro out of the box

Verdict: A current-generation Intel machine with a sensible 16GB and 512GB pairing.

4 Best touchscreen with 16GB

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Touchscreen Laptop

CPU

AMD Ryzen 7 5825U

RAM

16 GB

Storage

512 GB

Screen

15.6 in

Touchscreen

Yes

Weight

1.61 kg

OS

Windows 11

$709.00 (as of 10/20/2026 15:21 PDT - Details)

Outside this guide's budget at today's price.

View on Amazon

The IdeaPad Slim 3 adds a 15.6-inch touchscreen to an AMD Ryzen 7 5825U, 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage at 1.61 kg. No other touch pick in this list has 16GB. The listing title describes the chip as eight cores.

Pros

• Touchscreen with 16GB of memory, the only such pairing here
• 512GB of storage
• 1.61 kg
• Ryzen 7 5825U, eight cores per the listing title

Cons

• 1.61 kg, heavier than the HP 255 G10
• Battery capacity not stated by the seller
• Sold by a third-party seller; confirm warranty terms

Good fit if

• Users who like to tap, scroll and sign on screen
• Students who want touch without dropping to 8GB

Skip if

• You want a pen-first convertible
• You want the newest AMD generation here

Verdict: The touch pick that does not compromise on memory.

5 Only dedicated graphics card

Acer Aspire 5 Laptop

CPU

Intel Core i5-1240P

GPU

GeForce RTX 2050

GPU memory

4 GB

RAM

16 GB

Storage

512 GB

Screen

15.6 in

Weight

1.8 kg

OS

Windows 11 Home

View on Amazon

The Aspire 5 is the only laptop in the 127-listing pool with an NVIDIA GeForce card: an RTX 2050 with 4GB of video memory, paired with a 12th generation Core i5-1240P and 16GB of memory. That makes it the one pick for light gaming and GPU-accelerated photo work. It is a 20-series card, not one of NVIDIA's RTX 40 or 50 series laptop GPUs.

Pros

• GeForce RTX 2050 with 4GB of video memory
• 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage
• Core i5-1240P, a 12th generation chip on Microsoft's Windows 11 list

Cons

• 1.8 kg
• RTX 2050 with 4GB of video memory, a 20-series card
• Sold by a third-party seller; confirm warranty terms

Good fit if

• Students who play older or lighter games
• Hobby photographers who want some GPU acceleration

Skip if

• You want to play demanding new games
• You carry your laptop all day

Verdict: The only real graphics option under $700 in this pool, and an entry-level one.

6 Highest-power processor

Lenovo Gaming Laptop

CPU

AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS

GPU

Radeon 660M

RAM

8 GB

Storage

256 GB

Screen

15 in

OS

Windows 11 Home

$579.99 (as of 10/20/2026 15:21 PDT - Details)

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This Lenovo uses an AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS, which AMD specifies with a 35 to 54 W power range, against a 15 W default for the Ryzen 7 7730U in the HP 255 G10. More power headroom suits long compile, export or rendering jobs. Its Radeon 660M is integrated graphics, not a separate card, and memory is 8GB.

Pros

• Ryzen 5 7535HS with six cores and 12 threads, per AMD
• 35 to 54 W processor power range, per AMD
• DDR5 memory, per the listing title

Cons

• 8GB of memory and 256GB of storage
• Weight not stated by the seller
• Radeon 660M is integrated, despite the gaming name

Good fit if

• Users who run long processor-heavy jobs
• Buyers willing to add memory later

Skip if

• You expect a dedicated graphics card
• You need a known carry weight

Verdict: A higher-power processor in a listing with gaps to check.

7 Best 16-inch screen

ASUS Vivobook 16 Laptop

CPU

AMD Ryzen 5 150

RAM

8 GB

Storage

512 GB

Screen

16 in

Weight

1.88 kg

OS

Windows 11 Home

$571.81 (as of 10/20/2026 15:20 PDT - Details)

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The Vivobook 16 has a 16-inch WUXGA screen at 1920 by 1200 in a 16:10 shape, per the listing title, with an AMD Ryzen 5 150, 8GB of memory and 512GB of storage. The taller shape shows more lines of a document than a 16:9 panel of the same width.

Pros

• 16-inch 1920 by 1200 screen in 16:10, per the listing title
• 512GB of storage
• ASUS maker listing with Windows 11 Home

Cons

• 8GB of memory
• 1.88 kg
• Battery capacity not stated by the seller

Good fit if

• Writers and spreadsheet users who want more vertical space
• Home users who want a big screen without going to 17 inches

Skip if

• You keep many apps open at once
• You carry the laptop daily

Verdict: A roomy 16:10 screen, with memory as the trade-off.

8 Biggest screen

HP OmniBook 3 17.3 inch Laptop PC

GPU

Radeon 610M

RAM

8 GB

Storage

512 GB

Screen

17.3 in

Weight

2.01 kg

OS

Windows 11 Home

$509.60 (as of 10/20/2026 15:21 PDT - Details)

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The OmniBook 3 17.3 has the largest screen in this list with 512GB of storage and Windows 11 Home. The processor is not in the structured specs; the title names an AMD Ryzen 3 with Radeon 610M graphics.

Pros

• 17.3-inch Full HD screen, the largest here
• 512GB of storage
• HP OmniBook model with Windows 11 Home

Cons

• 2.01 kg, the heaviest stated weight among the picks
• 8GB of memory
• Processor not stated in the specs; the title names a Ryzen 3

Good fit if

• Desk users who want the biggest screen
• Older users who prefer large text

Skip if

• You carry your laptop often
• You run demanding apps

Verdict: The big-screen desk machine, with entry-level internals.

9 Sharpest Windows touchscreen

HP OmniBook 3 16 inch Laptop PC

GPU

Radeon 610M

RAM

8 GB

Storage

256 GB

Screen

16 in

Touchscreen

Yes

Weight

1.64 kg

OS

Windows 11 Home

$649.99 (as of 10/20/2026 15:21 PDT - Details)

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The OmniBook 3 16 has a 16-inch 2K touchscreen, per the listing title, the highest stated resolution among the Windows picks, at 1.64 kg. Like the 17.3-inch model it uses an AMD Ryzen 3 with Radeon 610M graphics, per the title, and 8GB of memory.

Pros

• 16-inch 2K touchscreen, per the listing title
• 1.64 kg for a 16-inch laptop
• Windows 11 Home

Cons

• 8GB of memory and 256GB of storage
• Ryzen 3 and Radeon 610M, per the title, shared only with the OmniBook 3 17.3

Good fit if

• Readers and note takers who want a sharp touch screen
• Home users focused on streaming and browsing

Skip if

• You need 16GB of memory
• You store many local files

Verdict: Screen and touch first, performance second.

10 Best Chromebook under $700

Acer Chromebook Plus 514 Laptop with Google AI

CPU

Intel Core i3-1315U

RAM

8 GB

Storage

256 GB

Screen

14 in

Weight

1.41 kg

OS

ChromeOS

$599.99 (as of 10/20/2026 15:20 PDT - Details)

View on Amazon

This Chromebook Plus 514 uses a 13th generation Intel Core i3-1315U with 8GB of memory and 256GB of storage, and weighs 1.41 kg. The title describes a 14-inch touch display with a matte finish. It is the second lightest pick after the MacBook Neo.

Pros

• Intel Core i3-1315U, a Core-class chip
• 1.41 kg, the second lightest pick
• 256GB of storage
• Touch display, per the listing title

Cons

• Does not run Windows desktop programs
• 8GB of memory

Good fit if

• Students in Google Workspace or web apps
• Families who want a low-maintenance laptop

Skip if

• You need Windows or Mac software
• You play PC games

Verdict: A Core i3 Chromebook for web-first users who want a light machine.

11 Most memory and storage

NIMO 15.6" FHD IPS Laptop

CPU

Intel Core i5

RAM

32 GB

Storage

1000 GB

Screen

15.6 in

Weight

1.7 kg

Battery

53.58 Wh

$999.99 (as of 10/20/2026 15:22 PDT - Details)

Outside this guide's budget at today's price.

View on Amazon

The NIMO has 32GB of memory and 1TB of storage, twice the memory and storage of the next-best picks, and a stated 53.58 Wh battery. It comes from a lesser-known brand, the Core i5 generation is not stated and neither is the operating system.

Pros

• 32GB of memory, the most in this list
• 1TB of storage, the most in this list
• 53.58 Wh battery, per the listing

Cons

• Lesser-known brand
• Core i5 generation not stated by the seller
• Operating system not stated by the seller

Good fit if

• Heavy multitaskers and users who run virtual machines
• Buyers who keep large files locally

Skip if

• You want an established maker's warranty
• You need the exact processor model

Verdict: The most memory and storage here, with specs to confirm before buying.

12 Best renewed pick

Dell Latitude 5440 14" Laptop i7-1365U 16GB Ram 256GB SSD Windows 11 Pro

CPU

Intel Core i7-1365U

RAM

16 GB

Storage

256 GB

Screen

14 in

Weight

1.5 kg

OS

Windows 11 Pro

View on Amazon

The renewed Latitude 5440 has a 13th generation Core i7-1365U, 16GB of memory and Windows 11 Pro in a 1.5 kg 14-inch body. It is the only Core i7 among these picks and the only 14-inch Windows pick.

Pros

• Core i7-1365U, the only Core i7 here
• 16GB of memory and Windows 11 Pro
• 1.5 kg, 14-inch

Cons

• Renewed, not new
• 256GB of storage
• Battery capacity and condition not stated by the seller

Good fit if

• Business users who want a compact Windows machine
• Buyers comfortable with a refurbisher's warranty

Skip if

• You want a new unit
• You need 512GB or more

Verdict: A compact business laptop with a Core i7, in renewed condition.

Side by side

How we picked

How we picked: 127 laptops were listed under $700 when the data was read. Of those, 33 have 16GB of memory or more, while 38 still have only 4GB. We skipped Celeron, Pentium and N-series machines, since this budget reaches mainstream chips, and looked for Apple, AMD Ryzen, Intel Core and Core Ultra processors from established makers. We kept one listing per model (the MacBook Neo appears three times in the 256GB configuration) and chose picks that each add something: battery, processor class, graphics, screen size, touch, memory or operating system. One lesser-known brand made the list for its 32GB of memory. Prices are live and read from the store listing, with the time they were read. Nobody at wikilaptop.org tested these laptops.

How to choose

What moving up to this budget adds

This budget reaches mainstream processors: AMD Ryzen 5 and 7, Intel Core and Core Ultra, and Apple's A18 Pro. The pool still leans low-end, though: 70 of the 100 listings that state a processor use a Celeron, Pentium or Intel N-series chip, so filter for the processor first. It is also where 16GB becomes common: 33 of the 127 listings have 16GB or more, and half of these 12 picks do.

What it rarely buys is a graphics card. Only one listing in the pool, the Acer Aspire 5, names an NVIDIA GPU.

Processor: power class and platform

The Ryzen 7 7730U in the HP 255 G10 has eight cores, 16 threads and a 15 W default power, per AMD, a design aimed at thin laptops. The Ryzen 5 7535HS in the Lenovo has six cores and runs in a 35 to 54 W range, per AMD, which gives more room for sustained heavy work at the cost of power draw.

The MacBook Neo uses Apple's A18 Pro with a 6-core CPU and runs macOS, so check that your software exists for Mac first.

Memory and storage: 16GB and 512GB as the target

At this budget, 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage are realistic targets for Windows. Six of the 12 picks have 16GB or more, and seven have 512GB or more.

The 8GB picks here are chosen for other strengths: the MacBook Neo for battery and weight, the OmniBooks and Vivobook for screen size, and the Chromebook for ChromeOS. Apple offers the MacBook Neo only with 8GB.

Graphics: integrated versus a GeForce card

Integrated graphics, such as AMD's Radeon 610M and 660M in three of the picks, cover video playback, browser games and everyday photo apps.

The Aspire 5's GeForce RTX 2050 has its own 4GB of video memory. It is a 20-series card, suited to older and lighter games rather than current releases at high settings.

Check the listing before you buy

In this pool, 27 of the 127 listings do not state a processor and 35 do not state an operating system. Several picks here have gaps too: the Lenovo with the Ryzen 5 7535HS has no stated weight, and the NIMO does not state its processor generation or operating system.

Also check whether the unit is new or renewed. The Latitude 5440 is the one renewed pick in this list.

Questions

Is the MacBook Neo better than a Windows laptop under $700?

It depends on your software. The MacBook Neo is the lightest pick at 1.23 kg and carries Apple's figure of up to 16 hours of video streaming, but it has 8GB of memory and two USB-C ports. Windows picks such as the HP 255 G10 offer 16GB, 512GB and a Ryzen 7. If you need Windows programs or PC games, choose Windows.

Can I game on a laptop under $700?

Lightly. The Acer Aspire 5 is the only laptop in this 127-listing pool with an NVIDIA GeForce card, an RTX 2050 with 4GB of video memory, suited to older and lighter games. The other picks rely on integrated graphics. For current games at higher settings, look at a larger budget with an RTX 40 or 50 series laptop GPU.

How much memory should a laptop under $700 have?

For Windows, aim for 16GB; six of the 12 picks here have it, and the NIMO has 32GB. For ChromeOS and for light browsing on macOS, 8GB is workable. If you choose an 8GB Windows laptop, ask the seller whether memory can be added later.

Is a renewed laptop worth it at this budget?

It can be if you want a business-grade machine. The renewed Dell Latitude 5440 brings a 13th generation Core i7 and 16GB in a 14-inch body. Ask the seller about warranty length and battery condition, since the listing states neither, and check that the processor generation is on Microsoft's Windows 11 list.

Which laptop under $700 has the biggest screen?

The HP OmniBook 3 17.3 has the largest screen in this list, at 17.3 inches, with 512GB of storage. It is also the heaviest stated pick at 2.01 kg. For a lighter large screen, the ASUS Vivobook 16 has a 16-inch 16:10 panel at 1.88 kg, and the HP OmniBook 3 16 adds a 2K touchscreen at 1.64 kg.

Recent updates

• 2026-09-28: First published.

Sources

• Apple MacBook Neo tech specs
• AMD Ryzen 7 7730U specifications
• AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS specifications
• Microsoft Learn: Windows 11 supported Intel processors