Laptops that will do many jobs, won’t weigh you down and won’t bankrupt you – that’s what we’re talking about here

Words: Michelle Rae Uy, Yasmine Crossland

Photography: Phil Barker

Light, versatile laptops aren’t just for those of us that can afford to splurge on the latest Apple laptops and Ultrabooks. If you look hard enough, you’ll find a few that can match that light weight and slim design, not to mention a full feature-set, with a price tag that won’t have you worrying about next month’s rent.

And, considering how expensive the cost of living is now, having an affordable computer that’s both portable and flexible is more crucial than ever. Some normalcy may have returned since the beginning of this pandemic – many are finally taking that summer holiday that was supposed to happen two years ago – but plenty of matriculating minds and professionals are still stuck in a hybrid situation that requires being able to study or work from the office, home and elsewhere at a moment’s notice.

Luckily, we’ve found some great reasonably-priced laptops for you. Whether you want a large display in a thin package, that 2-in-1 form factor for tablet-like capabilities, something small enough to slip into a messenger bag or even enough battery life to make it through the day, you can find something here that will not only meet your needs but leave enough cash to pick up a few peripherals to streamline that remote work life.

WHAT’S ON TEST…

1 Samsung Galaxy Book2 Pro 360

The Pro 360 has a gorgeous AMOLED screen, plus seamless integration with other Samsung products, a 2-in-1 form factor and a solid battery life. From £950, samsung.com

SPECS

Display 13.3-inch / 15.6- inch 1920 x 1080 touchscreen AMOLED CPU 12th-gen Intel Core i5 / i7 GPU Intel Iris Xe Memory 8GB / 16GB Storage 256GB / 512GB Operating system Windows 11 Connectivity Thunderbolt 4, 2x USB-C, MicroSD, 3.5mm jack, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.1 Dimensions 302.5x202x11.5mm / 354.9x228x11.9mm Weight 1.04kg / 1.41kg

2 Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2

At half the price or less of many premium devices, the Go 2 finds that perfect balance between affordability and portability. From £529, microsoft.com