You don’t need to spend €1,500 to get a laptop that’s pleasant to use every day. In 2026 the best sub-€800 machines have sharp 1200p screens, 16 GB of memory and — thanks to efficient Snapdragon and Apple chips — battery life that comfortably lasts a working day and then some. The catch is that budget laptops cut corners in different places: a dim screen here, slow storage there, or Windows on ARM compatibility quirks.
This guide is built on Notebookcheck’s Q3 2026 ranking of the best laptops under €800, one of the most data-driven lab testers in Europe, plus EU prices checked in October 2026. One warning first: the memory-chip shortage has pushed laptop prices up through 2026, so a good deal can disappear quickly. If you can stretch your budget, see our main best laptops guide.
Our picks at a glance
- Best budget MacApple MacBook Neo
- Best Windows valueHP OmniBook 5 14 (Snapdragon X, OLED)
- Best battery lifeSamsung Galaxy Book4 Edge 15
- Best 2-in-1Lenovo IdeaPad 5i 2-in-1 14 (2026)
- Best big screenLenovo IdeaPad Slim 5 16 (Intel)
- Cheapest 16 GB pickChuwi CoreBook Air
- Best under €500Chuwi UniBook
Prices are approximate and change often. Ad
1. Apple MacBook Neo — best budget laptop overall
Notebookcheck’s top budget laptop is Apple’s cheapest MacBook, scoring 86%. The reviewers say it feels like a MacBook with few compromises versus the Air: strong performance for its size thanks to the A18 Pro chip, good colour accuracy and almost 13 hours in their Wi-Fi battery test. The 13-inch screen is sharp at 2408×1506.
The weak spot is memory: 8 GB is enough for browsing, office work and photo edits, but it limits heavy multitasking. EU prices vary by retailer and storage — we’ve seen it listed from around €699 to €799 — so compare before you buy. If you’re on Windows already, the next pick is the closest alternative.
Apple MacBook Neo
Apple's cheapest MacBook — an iPhone-class chip in a laptop, rated 4.5/5 by TechRadar.
- Chip
- Apple A18 Pro
- Memory
- 8 GB
- Storage
- 256 GB or 512 GB
- Login
- Touch ID
Pros
- Lowest price of any current MacBook
- TechRadar 4.5/5
- Touch ID included
Cons
- Only 8 GB of memory
- Slow USB ports
- No backlit keyboard
2. HP OmniBook 5 14 — best Windows value
An OLED screen on a budget laptop is rare, and that’s what makes the OmniBook 5 14 stand out. Notebookcheck rates it 85.5%, praising the price-to-performance, very long battery life (almost 17 hours in its Wi-Fi test) and quiet running. The Snapdragon X Plus chip keeps it cool and efficient.
There are catches, and Notebookcheck lists them honestly: the OLED is fairly dim at around 300 nits, with no HDR or high refresh rate, and Windows on ARM still has to emulate some older programs. Check that the software you rely on — especially games, VPN clients or specialist tools — runs on ARM before buying. EU configurations and prices vary a lot, so check the exact spec.
HP OmniBook 5 14 (Snapdragon X, OLED)
Notebookcheck rates it 85.5%: a rare OLED screen at this price, very long battery life and quiet running.
Pros
- OLED screen at a budget price
- Excellent battery life
- Quiet and thin
Cons
- Windows on ARM: some apps run emulated
- Dim ~300-nit panel, no HDR
3. Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge 15 — best battery life
If battery life is your priority, the Galaxy Book4 Edge 15 recorded the longest runtime in Notebookcheck’s budget ranking at 17.8 hours. It’s slim, made of aluminium and has an unusually good port selection for the price, including two USB4 ports, HDMI 2.1, USB-A and a microSD reader, plus Wi-Fi 7.
The 15.6-inch Full HD screen is the compromise: it’s matte (good) but covers only about 46% of the P3 colour space, so colours look muted. Notebookcheck saw it at €699.99 on Amazon, and in February 2026 it briefly dropped to about €582 — one to watch for sales.
Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge 15
A slim aluminium 15.6-inch laptop with Notebookcheck's longest battery result in this class and plenty of ports.
Pros
- Outstanding battery life
- Slim metal build
- Good ports incl. microSD and Wi-Fi 7
Cons
- Limited colour coverage (~46% P3)
- Windows on ARM compatibility quirks
4. Lenovo IdeaPad 5i 2-in-1 14 — best 2-in-1
Want a laptop that folds into a tablet for reading or drawing? The IdeaPad 5i 2-in-1 is Notebookcheck’s best convertible under €800 (81.1%). It uses Intel’s new Panther Lake generation (Core Ultra 5 322), has a 14-inch touchscreen and lasted over 15 hours in the Wi-Fi test.
Colour accuracy is weaker than rivals and the price, around €800, sits right at the top of this budget. But for students who take handwritten notes or anyone who watches a lot of video in bed, the flexible hinge is genuinely useful.
Lenovo IdeaPad 5i 2-in-1 14 (2026)
A folding touchscreen convertible with a new Intel Panther Lake chip and long battery life.
Pros
- Tablet and tent modes
- Modern Intel chip
- Long battery life
Cons
- Weaker colour accuracy
- Close to the €800 limit
5. Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5 16 — best big screen
For spreadsheets, side-by-side windows or anyone with tired eyes, a 16-inch screen makes life easier. Notebookcheck likes how slim and light this IdeaPad is for its size, its matte 1200p display and a battery life of over 11 hours. It also notes the Intel version performs better than the AMD variant, so check which one you’re buying.
It’s heavier than a 14-inch laptop and graphics are basic — fine for office work and streaming, not for gaming.
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5 16 (Intel)
A slim, light 16-inch laptop with a matte screen and solid battery life for spreadsheets and study.
Pros
- Big matte screen
- Slim and light for a 16-incher
- Intel version is the faster one
Cons
- Heavier than 14-inch models
- Basic integrated graphics
6. Chuwi CoreBook Air — cheapest with 16 GB RAM
Chuwi is a Chinese brand that sells mostly online, and its CoreBook Air shows how much laptop you can get for little money: an AMD Ryzen 5 6600H, 16 GB of RAM, 512 GB SSD and a matte 14-inch 1200p screen, from €549 (often less on Amazon). Notebookcheck scores it 81.4% and calls it portable and well suited to long sessions.
The processor is an older generation and colour coverage is limited. As with any smaller brand, check the seller’s warranty and return terms — in the EU you’re always entitled to the two-year legal guarantee from the retailer.
Chuwi CoreBook Air
A portable 14-inch AMD laptop with 16 GB RAM and a matte screen that often costs well under €600.
Pros
- 16 GB RAM at a low price
- Matte, easy-on-the-eyes screen
- Portable
Cons
- Limited colour coverage
- Older Ryzen chip
- Smaller brand, check warranty terms
7. Chuwi UniBook — best under €500
At €449, the UniBook is the cheapest laptop in Notebookcheck’s ranking that still scores a respectable 79.8%. You get a quiet fan, a backlit keyboard, a matte 14-inch screen, lots of ports and almost 14 hours of battery life. The Intel Core 3 and 8 GB of RAM limit it to light tasks — web, email, documents and streaming — but for a student or a second laptop that’s often all you need.
Chuwi UniBook
A very cheap 14-inch laptop with a backlit keyboard, matte screen and long battery life for light tasks.
Pros
- Very low price
- Quiet, long battery life
- Backlit keyboard, plenty of ports
Cons
- Only 8 GB RAM
- For light tasks only
Compare the key specs
| Model | Apple MacBook NeoBest budget Mac | HP OmniBook 5 14 (Snapdragon X, OLED)Best Windows value | Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge 15Best battery life | Lenovo IdeaPad 5i 2-in-1 14 (2026)Best 2-in-1 | Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5 16 (Intel)Best big screen | Chuwi CoreBook AirCheapest 16 GB pick | Chuwi UniBookBest under €500 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TechHive score | 8.5/10 | 8.6/10 | 8.3/10 | 8.1/10 | 8.0/10 | 7.8/10 | 7.6/10 |
| Approx. price | €799 | Varies | €700 | €800 | Varies | €549 | €449 |
| Chip | Apple A18 Pro | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Memory | 8 GB | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Storage | 256 GB or 512 GB | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Login | Touch ID | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Shop Ad | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
How to choose a budget laptop
16 GB of RAM is the new minimum for Windows
Windows 11 with a browser full of tabs easily uses 8 GB. If you plan to keep the laptop for four or five years, choose 16 GB where you can — RAM is usually soldered and can’t be upgraded later. Macs manage memory more efficiently, which is why the 8 GB MacBook Neo still works well for everyday use.
Snapdragon (ARM) or Intel/AMD?
Snapdragon laptops like the OmniBook 5 and Galaxy Book4 Edge deliver outstanding battery life and run cool and quiet. Most everyday apps now run natively, but some older software, games and drivers (printers, VPNs, anti-cheat) may not. If you rely on a specific program, check its ARM compatibility first — or choose an Intel or AMD model.
Look at the screen spec, not just the size
Brightness (300 nits or more), a matte or glossy finish and colour coverage matter more than the resolution printed on the box. Budget panels often cover only around half of the colour gamut that photo editors need — fine for office work, disappointing for creative use.
Keyboard layout and EU specifics
Laptops are sold with country-specific keyboard layouts (German QWERTZ, French AZERTY, UK, Nordic and so on). If you buy from another country’s Amazon store, check the layout in the listing. Every purchase from an EU retailer comes with a two-year legal guarantee and, for online orders, a 14-day right of withdrawal.
Add a dock or monitor later
A budget laptop becomes a capable desk setup with a USB-C monitor or dock — see our best monitors for work and docking stations guides.
How we choose
We don’t benchmark laptops ourselves. This guide is based on Notebookcheck’s lab tests and rankings, cross-checked with current European prices, and we always list each model’s weaknesses. Read more about how we research.
FAQ
What’s the best laptop under €500?
The Chuwi UniBook at €449 is the best-rated laptop we found under €500, but it has only 8 GB of RAM. If you can find the Chuwi CoreBook Air on sale under €500, its 16 GB of RAM is the better long-term choice.
Is a MacBook worth it on a budget?
The MacBook Neo is Notebookcheck’s top budget pick thanks to its build, performance and battery life. Its 8 GB of RAM is the main limitation.
Are Snapdragon laptops good for students?
Yes for most coursework — office apps, browsers and video calls run natively with excellent battery life. Check any specialist software your course requires before buying.
Why are laptops more expensive in 2026?
A global memory-chip shortage since late 2025 has raised the cost of RAM and SSDs, and manufacturers have passed this on. Watch for sales like Black Friday.
