Best laptops under $700

Top pick: the M2 MacBook Air 13-inch with 16GB RAM (Silver). The M2 is the sweet spot under this cap — modern design, MagSafe charging, a bright 13.6-inch screen — and 16GB of memory is what keeps it comfortable for years of browser tabs, photo edits and light video work. If you can live with 8GB, the plain M2 is the cheaper way into the same machine.

Who the others suit:

• M1 MacBook Air (2020) — still the best value for everyday school, email and streaming; fanless and quiet.
• M2 8GB — same body as my pick, less headroom for heavy multitasking.
• 2019/2020 Intel Airs — only if you need an older macOS setup or a very low spend; slower and shorter battery.
• The bargain-bin listings — treat with suspicion: a $25 "MacBook Air" is an old Intel machine, and the Walmart M1 at a fraction of retail has almost no reviews, so verify the seller and condition before paying.