Best 'Premium' University Laptop ~ $800

TheSlayr on 30/10/2020 - 15:25
Last edited 30/10/2020 - 15:36 by 1 other user

Hi y'all

I've been looking for a good performing University laptop, lightweight, with a modern premium aesthetic, for a friend, is there any standout performers I should look out for?

They are stubbornly rejecting any ideas of a Lenovo Thinkpad E14, or the S540, so that's out of the window. As well as a vendetta against Acer as a brand (I don't know why). Also not a fan of 2-in-1's with detachable keyboards (like Surface Go).

I've been monitoring Dell Outlet, as previous experience with them has been exceptional, but there seems to be nothing that fits the criteria recently.

Needs to be a decent performer processor wise, but not needing too much graphical grunt, which is why Ryzen 4000 is seeming like a great idea. Decent IPS screen (photoshop etc.) 13-14 inch and lightweight, with at least a slightly metal build.

Around the $800 mark, with optional extended warranty.

Thanks.

• 

  cypher67 on 30/10/2020 - 15:29

  +4

  You're chasing a unicorn deal, if it exists it will be on the front page and/or sold out very quickly. Best to setup alerts and be ready to pull the trigger.

  • 

    TheSlayr on 30/10/2020 - 15:32

    Ah. Thought so.

    Looks like I'll have to lower my standards :/

    • 

      netjock on 30/10/2020 - 17:16

      +2

      You are fine. Just your friend needs to lower their standards.

      You might get lucky looking around Ebay for previous model that is run out. Did manage to get an X270 for $700 new but this was a few years back and the new model was X280 (not suggesting Lenovo as I believe it is ruled out).

      Good luck on finding the elusive unicorn.

  • 

    spackbace on 30/10/2020 - 15:47

    Yep, keep an eye on the tag (for example)

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  Neatoboy on 30/10/2020 - 15:48

  +5

  I wouldn't call any laptop in the $800 range Premium. Good luck though in your search.

  • 

    kerfuffle on 30/10/2020 - 16:06

    +1

    Closest would probably be the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go, with the cheapest model being $999, but it only comes with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage …

• 

  nick90 on 30/10/2020 - 15:51

  Check out this Lenovo Thinkpad E495. Not bad price for an entry level ThinkPad

  https://www.lenovo.com/au/en/laptops/thinkpad/thinkpad-edge/…

• 

  scrimshaw on 30/10/2020 - 15:57

  +5

  Not possible, These things you ask for:

  modern premium aesthetic,
  Ryzen 4000 is seeming like a great idea
  Decent IPS screen (photoshop etc.)
  slightly metal build.
  $800 mark

  When you say premium laptops, I usually think of Dell XPS 13, Lenovo Thinkbook series, Microsoft Surface Laptop, Macbook Air, ASUS Zenbook 14 UM425IA, ASUS ZenBook 14 UX425JA etc but these all start from $1200~1499

  Sub $1k will get you Inspiron 15 5000 series, Lenovo E-series, Thinkpad L-series but these laptops are generally acceptable for university use. The biggest compromise with these are usually the displays which won't be very bright nor high gamut.

  Easily solved by hooking up your laptop to an external IPS monitor and doing your photoshop at home rather than at uni.

  • 

    Seraphin7 on 30/10/2020 - 16:05

    +3

    Agree. This is the classic conundrum seen in so many buyers … "I only want it for university stuff" (or whatever) which I assume means Word, Excel, PPT and web, but then want the features like primo design and/or items that suggest it will be used for other stuff (like gaming, media, etc.).

  • 

    TheSlayr on 30/10/2020 - 16:40

    Thanks for the insight!

    I must have been too ambiguous with my description, 'premium' was referring to looking semi-premium. Sorry about that :/

    Are there any particular models from the Dell Inspiron lineup that are good for the price? There are quite a lot.

    EDIT: Is there a particular monitor ideal to pair with one of these?

• 

  Drakesy on 30/10/2020 - 17:09

  Lenovo Carbon X1, looks good and is pretty sleek if you get an ex business refurbished model off ebay/gumtree/marketplace.
  Wish i had mine at uni, but no made do with a $300 Asus.

• 

  SF3 on 31/10/2020 - 00:19

  $800 USD?

  Otherwise, tell your friend s/he is looking to "having the cake and eating it too"

• 

  Loot N Plunder on 31/10/2020 - 08:39

  +1

  Have you considered a second hand device?
  Your going to get more bang for your buck in that price range buying a second hand one?
  https://www.amazon.com.au/s?k=laptop&i=computers&rh=n%3A4913…
  This product works and looks like new. Backed by a 180-day supplier warranty. https://www.amazon.com.au/Latitude-Ultrabook-Processor-2-30G…
  Plenty more places selling second hand ones not just amazon (gumtree)

  • 

    TheSlayr on 31/10/2020 - 08:44

    Thanks for the suggestion! I'll check it out

• 

  cwongtech on 31/10/2020 - 13:14

  if you can stretch to 1.1k~ you can get a latitude 7xxx series on the dell outlet during sales (you need to "downgrade" the warranty from 3yrs NBD to 3yrs onsite after remote diagnosis)