Best cheap laptops for everyday use

Top pick: Asus Vivobook Go 15. For everyday browsing, email, video calls and streaming, this is the sweet spot — a full 15-inch 1080p screen, Windows, and enough power for tabs and Office without paying for specs you won't use. It's also the best value of the bunch.

Who the others suit:

• Asus Vivobook E410KA — the cheapest sensible Windows laptop; fine for light web and documents, but the dual-core chip will feel slow with many tabs.
• HP 15.6" HD — a familiar, well-reviewed everyday machine; pick it if you want a big brand and don't mind modest memory.
• Acer Aspire Go 15 — a step up in build and processor if you'll keep it for years.
• Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook — the lightest, simplest option if everything you do lives in a browser.
• Apple MacBook Neo — the pick if you'd rather have macOS and a long-lived machine, and can stretch the budget.
• Lenovo Chromebook Duet Gen 9 — a tablet-and-keyboard hybrid for couch browsing and travel.

Skip anything with 4GB of RAM if you keep lots of tabs open.