Everyday Laptop Recommendations - What's a Sensible Budget These Days?

Sodium on 05/03/2025 - 11:36

Hi Everyone, I'm in the market for a simple laptop for everyday tasks and sometimes travelling.

This is due to already having a gaming PC at home, but the laptop would be more for everyday tasks and maybe even sometimes doing work stuff like Excel spreadsheets, etc. What would be a suitable budget for something basic that can handle web browsing, emails, Excel spreadsheets, and media consumption without any gaming capabilities?

I don't see the upside in spending too much on features I won't use, so I'm curious what price range you guys are finding offers the best value these days. What laptops are you using for everyday non-gaming purposes? Looking for something reliable and portable with decent battery life for when I'm travelling, but nothing fancy or overpriced.

I have been looking at refurbished laptops with i5 10th gen or i7 8th gen processors, and I do think minimum 16GB RAM would be necessary. I do believe these specs would be fine for basic needs but want to know if there are better value configurations I should be considering. Would love to hear from those with experience using similar setups for everyday tasks.

Just trying to figure out what's a sensible budget these days for a laptop that handles these basic needs. I'm after value rather than anything specific - doesn't matter if it's brand new or refurbished. Any guidance on what price range makes sense in the current market would be greatly appreciated.

TLDR: Already have a gaming PC. Looking for recommendations on a sensible budget for a basic laptop for everyday tasks and occasional travel. Open to new or refurbished.

Computing Computer Laptop

Comments

  • jv on 05/03/2025 - 11:43
    +2

    Everyday Laptop Recommendations - What's a Sensible Budget These Days?

    $500 ⇒ $2500

  • barge-in hunter on 05/03/2025 - 11:49

    Something like this wouldn't be too bad - but it is only a 4 core CPU. $529 delivered

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/896184

    I'd personally go for a mid range Ryzen based system for the extra cores, but they're harder to find refurbished.

    • Sodium on 05/03/2025 - 11:58

      I was looking at that as well but then also this for even cheaper https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/896164

      • barge-in hunter on 05/03/2025 - 12:08

        Ah yeah, ok. 16gb less ram, non-touch, and a ~30% slower cpu - it's priced about right comparatively.

        Again, they're both quad core cpus too - which will be OK for a while, but even web browsing sucks up so many resources these days. I guess it depends how soon you want to upgrade. If it's purchase price that's important (rather than longevity) then go for it - I just know that going from my gaming pc to a lower end laptop is very frustrating for me. I did try a cheap laptop recently - lasted 3 weeks before I sold it again for an upgrade.

        UPDATE: looks like that CPU is even slower than an 8th gen i7? https://versus.com/en/intel-core-i5-10310u-vs-intel-core-i7-…

        • Sodium on 05/03/2025 - 12:10

          Yup no that's so fair. Appreciate your input!

          • BatmanBeer on 05/03/2025 - 12:35

            @Sodium: Any of those devices will accomplish what you need. People tend to forget that older devices and hardware are just as capable at completing tasks. Just look at all the 'old' gaming hardware that are on the side lines that can still play AAA games. A blind eye is turned on older hardware because the goal posts keep getting pushed further and further back.

            There's nothing wrong with a quad core CPU to accomplish every day tasks and a bunch of browser tabs. I gave my mum a much older laptop (coincidentally has an 8th gen CPU, which is lower than your linked one) and it does what she needs and still plays 4k videos perfectly fine. Does she want to upgrade? No. Because it does the job.

            As long as it's 8gb RAM, 256gb storage. I recommend concerning yourself more over battery life than other specs. Sub-$300 is perfectly fine for your needs. No need to go higher.

          • barge-in hunter on 05/03/2025 - 17:27

            @Sodium: This seems like a no brainer on the value front.

            https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/896255

  • bazingaa on 05/03/2025 - 11:51

    I have been looking at refurbished laptops with i5 10th gen or i7 8th gen processors, and I do think minimum 16GB RAM would be necessary.

    I think I got something similar for my father like 2 years ago. $299 for 8th gen i5 with 8GB, but I added another RAM to make it 16GB, upgraded 1TB SSD as well.

  • Wiadro on 05/03/2025 - 12:12
    +2

    $50000

    • jv on 05/03/2025 - 13:11

      💻

  • SYLTB on 05/03/2025 - 12:17
    -4

    Do not spend more than 250 bucks for laptop or phone.
    The question is not which laptop, but which ThinkPad.
    Grab used one off fleabay, gumtree etc.

    • SYLTB on 06/03/2025 - 08:01

      Here is a good ThinkPad for just a bit over $250. Btw, this forum is full of interesting dudes!
      https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/896255

      • FireRunner on 06/03/2025 - 16:40

        Didn’t neg but I wouldn’t call $70 or +28%, just a bit over $250.

        Just a bit odd you would say “Do not spend more than 250 bucks” then recommend something over it

        Looks like a decent deal for anyone who got it

        • SYLTB on 06/03/2025 - 19:13
          -1

          Have a life mate, why you are so strange folks here!

          • FireRunner on 06/03/2025 - 19:27
            +1

            @SYLTB: Not having a go at you. Just letting you know the reason your original comment was downvoted was the way it was phrased sounded like $250 was a hard limit on what you should spend.
            Obviously that’s not a great price point since even you recommended something higher. Hope that clarifies any of the strangeness

  • bargaino on 06/03/2025 - 01:17

    You worry too much. Ex-govt/corporate laptops are ridiculously cheap. You may as well get 16GB, though 8Gb would probably be fine.

    A cheap new laptop will be less rugged than the Latiudes I buy for my kids, but it does not sound like yours will have a hard life.

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