Is your old laptop just a little too slow to be usable? Even if it was top-of-the-line at one time, computers get bogged down over time with updates, software, and files. Sometimes you just need to let go of your old one and buy an update model that can still get everything done, but if you don’t want to spend a lot of money, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 has you covered.
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With 12GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD and 128GB of flash memory, this computer punches well above its weight.
$279 at Amazon
Why is this a good deal? 💰
Any laptop under $300 is worth a closer look, but this Lenovo is not only the lowest price on the market, but also its lowest price on record! Throw in the fact that it includes a year subscription to Office 365 — a $70 value — and you’re saving a ton of dough.
Why do I need this? 🤔
Most budget-friendly laptops trade power for price, but that isn’t the case here. Sure, it’s not the brawniest unit on the market, but it has quite a bit going for that it puts it well above Chromebooks and other budget laptops in terms of performance. Twelve gigs of RAM means you can multitask or have tons of tabs open in a web browser without a problem, while the 512GB of storage leaves plenty of space for files.
The processor comes in at a baseline of 1.1GHz, which is pretty slow by most standards — but it has a turbo speed of 2.8GHz, so it can ramp up when under load. You’ll be able to pull off even a bit of low-level gaming because of that, so you can relax after a long day of work. Think games like League of Legends or Fortnite — you won’t be running Helldivers 2 on this.
That turbo speed also means you’ll be able to power programs like Cricut software or video and image editing suites, although the rendering process could take a while.
What reviewers say 💬
There aren’t a ton of reviews out for this laptop yet, but the ones we do have are informative.
Pros 👍
Fans say that even the less-tech-savvy can use this machine without an issue. “Purchased this for my 91-year-old dad who needed a computer, and he was able to navigate without too much trouble.”
Parents also tout its suitability: “This laptop has everything that my tween has needed. He uses it to do homework and to play games with his friends. It is lightweight, which is needed, since he brings it back and forth from school and friends’ homes.”
The speed is nothing to sneeze at, either: “It starts up fast and navigates quickly.”
Cons 👎
Shoppers did have a few complaints. “I was disappointed it did not have a built in CD player, but otherwise I love the computer,” one shopper said.
Opined another, “Though the description says it ships with Win 11 Home, it actually has Win 11 Home in S mode.” That means you’ll have to do a little setup to get the best results.
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The screen has an anti-glare coating and can reach up to 250 nits, making it usable even in brightly lit rooms.
$279 at Amazon
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
If you have Amazon Prime, you’ll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $25 or more.)
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