Most laptops under $1,400 have attractive designs, sharp and bright 4K screens, touchscreen displays, and excellent pixel resolution. So you’ll enjoy a crisp display with vivid colors. These laptops can also multitask as they come with at least 8GB of RAM, powerful processors, and over 256 GB of SSD storage. Besides, some fold into a tablet, allowing more portability and a nice display. You can also work for hours as they have a decent battery life.
With so many options, picking the right laptop can be tricky. We spent time researching the market. After weeks of sleuthing, we are happy to recommend the best laptops to purchase under $1,400 in 2023. Here they are:
- Best Overall: Acer Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop
- Best 2-in-1: LG Gram 16” Laptop
- Best Ultrabook: Lenovo ThinkPad X1
- Best Business Laptop: Dell Latitude 3520
- Best for Gaming: Asus ROG Strix G15
- Best for Remote Work: HP Spectre x360 Convertible Laptop
Best Overall: Acer Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop
- Blistering fast display, and extreme gaming performance
- Flexible enough to seamlessly multitask
- State-of-the-art cooling technology
- Latest NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 with DirectX 12 support
- Up to16GB DDR4 memory and 512GB PCIe Gen 4 SSD
The Acer Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop is the top pick of the overall best laptops under $1400 due to its smart features.
A notable feature on the Acer Predator Helios 300 is Show Mode, an interactive Alexa functionality built for PCs. With the Amazon Alexa Show Mode, you can ask Alexa any questions and see instant results on the screen. You can see your home’s cameras or the lyrics while listening to your favorite song on Amazon Music.
Additionally, this Acer laptop features a custom Aero 3D fan technology with 89 thin blades featuring bionic wing tips, which increase air intake and keep your laptop cool even after extended use. The 15.6-inch FHD IPS screen boasts a fast 144 HZ refresh rate and 3 ms response time for an immersive gaming experience. Another awesome feature of this laptop is the IntelKiller DoubleShot Pro functionality that combines Ethernet and Wi-Fi. It can significantly reduce network lag and latency when gaming online.
As for performance, the Acer Swift X features 16GB RAM, 512GB internal storage, and a 6GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 graphics processor, providing enough power for medium to advanced games. Aside from gaming, this laptop can multitask between different applications and even run video /image processing software.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Higher refresh rate | Small, cramped touchpad |
| Exceptional gaming performance | Short battery life |
| Solid build quality | |
| Doesn’t heat up even after extended use |
Check out the Acer Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop on Amazon.
Best 2-in-1: LG Gram 16” Laptop
- 2-in-1 ultralight laptop (black)
- Intel® 12th Gen Core® i7 Evo™ Platform
- 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD storage
- Windows 11 Home comes pre-installed
A 2-in-1 laptop, the LG Gram 16” Laptop combines the tablet and laptop in one device, providing portability and access to features not available on a regular laptop.
The LG Gram 16” Laptop offers excellent performance. Boasting a 16-inch screen with a 2560 x 1600 resolution and 300 nits of maximum brightness, the laptop ensures sharper visuals even in brightly-lit surroundings.
With 16 GB RAM, a 12th Gen Intel Core i7-1260P processor, and 512 GB SSD storage, LG Gram 16 supports faster web browsing and Word processing. This laptop also features Intel Iris Xe GPU that can handle light video editing and gaming. You can expect at least 18-hour battery life from this laptop, depending on usage and other factors.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Great overall performance | The display can be dull for some users |
| Good battery life | |
| Beautiful minimalistic design | |
| Comfortable keyboard and highly responsive touchpad |
Check out the LG Gram 16” Laptop on Amazon.
Best Ultrabook: Lenovo ThinkPad X1
- 14.0" FHD (1920 x 1200) IPS, touch
- Intel Core i7-1280p, 32GB RAM 1TB SSD storage
- 2 x USB-C Thunderbolt 4 , USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, HDMI
- Windows11 Pro comes pre-installed
Lenovo has a long history of offering cutting-edge ultrabooks, and the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 which weighs 2.47 pounds (1.12 kg), is no exception.
One of the best laptops under $1,400, this ultrabook comes with multiple ports, including USB-Type C Thunderbolt (4 ports), USB A 3.2 Gen 1, and an HDMI 2.0 port. The 2 USB-C Thunderbolt ports come in handy. You can use one port to charge the laptop and the other to connect to an external display.
This ultrabook also comes with a 12th Generation Intel Core i5-1235U Processor, 16 GB RAM, and 512GB SSD storage. These specs are good enough to handle low-spec gaming, word processing, and multitasking. The 14-inch display, with a 16:10 aspect ratio and 1920 x 1200 pixel resolution, is ideal for document editing and web surfing.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Has a powerful processor | It has a small touchpad |
| Features Thunderbolt 4 ports | |
| Has an anti-glare screen |
Check out the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 on Amazon.
Best Business Laptop: Dell Latitude 3520
- 32GB high-bandwidth RAM
- 11th Gen Intel Core i7-1165G7 Processor
- 15.6-inch diagonal FHD screen
- Dual stereo speakers
The Dell Latitude 3520 laptop is optimized for business use, and at just 3.95 pounds (1.79 kg), it is lightweight and sizeable enough to carry to meetings.
This Dell Latitude laptop has a decent battery life, offering up to 9 hours of video playback and 12 hours of web browsing. Furthermore, the brightly lit keyboard lets you comfortably work in a dimly lit office. Regarding the processor, this Dell laptop is powered by an Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor and 16 GB RAM, and 512 GB SSD at about $1,078. You can still get this laptop with a higher RAM and SSD for less than $1400.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Good battery runtimes | Slow memory card reader |
| Matte IPS display | |
| Expandable working memory |
Check out the Dell Latitude 3520 on Amazon.
Best for Gaming: Asus ROG Strix G15
- 15.6'' QHD display with impressive color and clarity
- Powerful AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX processor to handle demanding tasks
- Ample 16GB DDR4 RAM for games, photos, and videos
- Massive 1TB PCIe SSD storage for your apps, backups
- Windows 11 Pro comes pre-installed
- Multiple ports, both USB 3.2 ports (Type-C and Type-A)
A powerful gaming laptop, Asus ROG Strix G15 has a sharp display, an excellent battery life, and delivers a top-notch performance.
This laptop features a WASD keyboard and RGB lighting. Under the hood is an AMD Ryzen 7 4800H processor and NVIDIA RTX 3060 Dedicated Graphics, 32GB RAM(upgradeable to 64GB). You also get 1TB SSD (upgradeable to 2TB) storage. These specs are decent enough to handle heavy gaming.
Another notable feature is the 3-Cell 48 WHr Battery that can accommodate up to 5 hours of mixed usage and up to 6 hours when browsing or streaming movies. Additionally, you’ll enjoy a seamless gaming experience with the Asus ROG G15 thanks to the 15.6-inch IPS panel that can achieve a top brightness of 300 nits.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Punchy and responsive screen | The display could be much brighter |
| Longer battery life | Does not have a webcam |
| Great audio quality | |
| Comfortable and responsive keyboard |
Check out the Asus ROG Strix G15 on Amazon.
Best for Remote Work: HP Spectre x360 Convertible Laptop
- 16-inch touch screen with IPS
- Supports Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2
- Windows 11 Home comes pre-installed
- Multiple external ports (HDMI, USB Type-A, and C)
- 16 GB DDR4 RAM, 512 GB SSD storage
A mid-range laptop, the HP Spectre x360 Convertible Laptop comes with all the essential features you need to work remotely.
One key feature is the HD webcam that records in 1080p. It includes light adjustments and auto framing, helping you achieve clearer video-calling sessions. X360 also comes with a 12th Generation Core i7-11390H processor, 16 GB RAM, and 512 SSD. That’s more than enough memory and power to handle photo/video editing and run word-processing tasks.
HP Spectre X360 is easy to carry around as it weighs 9.13 pounds(4.14kg). While this weight may seem heavy for some users, it shouldn’t be a problem if you spend most of your time working in the house. In addition, it includes 2 Thunderbolts, 4 USB TYPE C ports, 1 USB-A port, 1 HDMI port, and a headphone jack. Also included is a MicroSD media reader, which is great for photographers since you can easily download images taken from the camera.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Has a versatile form factor | Can sometimes become hot after prolonged use |
| Offers great performance | |
| Has a long-lasting battery | |
| Elegant, sturdy design |
Check out the HP Spectre x360 Convertible Laptop on Amazon.
How to Pick the Best Laptops Under $1400: Step by Step?
Regardless of the task you wish to perform, paying attention to the key features that make up a good laptop is crucial. If you need help deciding what to check when picking the best laptop at this price point, here are vital things worth considering.
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
When picking a laptop, pay attention to the processor (CPU). This is the part responsible for accessing or changing data. Basically, having a better CPU will result in faster data processing and speeds. Popular brands to consider are Intel and AMD, with Intel Core i3 and AMD Ryzen 3 suitable for simple tasks like web browsing.
Intel Core i5 or Ryzen 5 is recommended for multitasking between applications or playing low-spec games, while Intel Core i7 or Ryzen 7 CPU is ideal for more demanding tasks such as creatives and gaming.
Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)
The GPU, also known as a graphics/video card, is the main graphics processing chip on computers. It works similarly to a CPU, but is dedicated to handling only graphics-related data processing, leaving the rest to the CPU.
Generally, the higher a computer’s memory, the more information it can process. For general users, a RAM of 2GB should suffice. However, gamers should aim for a GPU RAM of at least 4GB, and creative professionals utilizing visually intensive programs can benefit greatly from computers with higher GPU RAM.
Random Access Memory (RAM)
Also known as system memory, RAM is the laptop hardware that temporarily stores information for immediate use. This refers to the application currently open on your laptop. The more RAM your computer has, the more information it can process and the more tasks it can do. For multitasking between operations like word applications or web browsing, 8GB RAM works just fine. For intensive applications, like high-spec games,16GB RAM or more is recommended.
Internal Storage
Storage types vary in size and capacity. Older laptops use Hard Disk Drives (HDD), which feature spinning platters to process information, while newer models use Solid State Drives (SSD), storing data in easily accessible memory chips. Besides, SSDs are faster and have a longer lifespan, while HDDs are slower but have a longer lifespan.
Battery Life
It’s always important to consider the battery life of a laptop before you purchase it so that you can be sure it will meet your needs. Most laptops should have at least six hours of battery life, although some boast as much as 15 hours. If you’re going to be doing a lot of work on the go then you may want to look for a laptop with a more superior battery life than if you are just going to be browsing the net.
What to Know Before Buying Laptops Under $1400?
Port selection is a crucial consideration when purchasing a laptop. Look for USB -A, USB- C with Thunderbolt 4, and a headphone or microphone jack. Besides, charging over USB-C is highly advisable, as these chargers are portable and cost-effective to replace. Photographers should consider a laptop with a microSD card reader for quicker downloading of images.
If you use your laptop for long hours, go for laptops with ample space between the keys, providing solid tactile feedback and a key travel distance of 1 to 2 mm when pressed. Select a laptop with an accurate touchpad for the best user experience.
Using Laptops Under $1400: What it’s Like
Most of the best laptops under $1400 have excellent processing speeds, so you can multitask without worrying about slow performance. As a gamer, you’ll enjoy playing high-spec games on these laptops but aim for those with at least 4GB RAM GPU. If you’re a student or in a company and need a reliable laptop under $1400, you’ll experience great results with a core i5 or i7 processor.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Ground Picture/Shutterstock.com.
