In today’s date, you cannot get a really good phone for 20,000 rupees. If you want to buy a great phone with a good camera, display, and one you can use for gaming, you should have a budget of at least 25,000 – 30,000 rupees.
Similarly, if we look at laptops in 2024, to buy a new laptop, your budget should be at least 30,000 rupees. This is the minimum because you can get entry-level laptops with the latest processors, a metal body, and MS Office with lifetime validity.
So, in today’s post, I have covered laptops that come with MS Office with lifetime validity, and I will tell you about laptops with 14 and 15-inch display sizes. All the laptops are from reputed brands like Lenovo, HP, Acer, so you won’t face any issues with after-sales service. Additionally, I will mention some laptops that offer expandable RAM and storage.
Now, let’s understand which laptop we should not buy, which ones to avoid. If you’re buying any Intel 10th gen processor within a Rs 30,000 budget, it’s a waste of money. Speaking of AMD don’t go for any Ryzen 3000 series processor. Your laptop should have at least 8GB RAM because Windows 11 itself requires 4GB, so a minimum of 8GB RAM is necessary in your laptop.
HP 14s-dy2507TU
The first laptop is the HP 14s, currently priced around ₹32,000, but you can easily buy it for about ₹30,000 after discounts. This laptop comes with an Intel i3-11th gen processor, and its RAM is expandable up to 16GB.
Now, the question arises: who is this laptop perfect for? What tasks can it handle? It’s a great deal for students in school and college. Whether you want to do designing, coding, or office work, this laptop is ideal, especially since it comes with MS Office with lifetime validity.
It has an Intel i3-1125G4 processor, with 2 Cores and 4 Threads. It handles multitasking very well, featuring 8GB DDR4 RAM at 3200MHz, expandable to 16GB, along with a 256GB SSD, which is also expandable.
This laptop has a 14-inch display, offering a complex viewing experience with 250 nits brightness, full HD anti-glare display, 45% NTSC, Intel UHD graphics, and MS Office with lifetime validity. It provides a battery backup of 4-5 hours and supports rapid fast charging, charging up to 50% in just 45 minutes. It also has built-in Alexa support.
It’s one of the highest-selling laptops. Being an HP product, it has excellent build quality, so definitely consider it. Regarding ports, it includes 2x USB type, 1x USB type C, HDMI, and a 3.5mm Jack.
However, if you can’t find this laptop under ₹30,000, then you can opt for the Acer Aspire Lite, which has the same processor, RAM, and storage. A notable feature of the Acer laptop is its metal body, enhancing its durability. But it doesn’t come with MS Office lifetime validity, so your choice will depend on whether you need MS Office. If you do, go for the HP laptop; if not, the Acer laptop is also a great option.
Acer Aspire 3 A315-24P (Ryzen 3)
Now let’s talk about the next laptop, the Acer Aspire 3, which is currently priced at ₹30,000.
Within this price range, it offers the latest AMD processor available specifically the Ryzen 3-7320U, which has 4 cores and 8 threads, along with 4MB of cache memory.
When it comes to RAM, it’s also up to date, featuring at least 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM at 5500 MHz. However, keep in mind that the RAM is not expandable.
In terms of storage, it comes with a 512GB SSD, but what’s special is that it’s a Gen 4 SSD, while most laptops in this price range offer Gen 3 SSDs. The Gen 4 SSD is the latest, providing faster read and write speeds.
So, one great thing about this laptop is that it offers the latest in RAM, storage, and processor, which overall enhances the user experience significantly.
It features a 15.6-inch Acer ComfyView Full HD display, paired with AMD Radeon graphics, and comes with a full-size keyboard including a numpad. For ports, it has 2x USB type, 1 USB type C, HDMI, and a 3.5mm Jack.
Lenovo V15
Now, let’s talk about the Lenovo V15 laptop, currently priced at ₹30,000. This laptop features a polycarbonate body and notably, it has a 180-degree hinge. Laptops with a 180-degree hinge mean that their display can be laid flat as needed, offering flexibility in usage without exceeding a flat position.
It’s equipped with an AMD Ryzen 3 5300U processor from the 5000 series, which is an excellent processor with 4 cores and 8 threads. The standard RAM is 8 GB, which is essential for laptops in this budget, and it’s DDR4 at 3200 MHz, expandable up to 16 GB. It also comes with a 512GB SSD, which is expandable.
The laptop features a 15.6-inch Full HD anti-glare display, with 250 nits brightness and 45% NTSC, along with AMD Radeon Graphics. It has a 38Wh battery, providing up to 5 hours of backup. For ports, it offers 1x USB type C, 2x USB type A, HDMI, and a 3.5mm Jack. Additional features include a privacy shutter camera and a one-year onsite warranty, along with a full-size keyboard and a numpad.
One thing to note is that this Lenovo laptop does not come with MS Office. If you need MS Office, the HP 15s would be a better option. The only significant difference between the HP 15s and the Lenovo V15 is the inclusion of MS Office with lifetime validity in the HP model, which is absent in the Lenovo. So, your choice will depend on your specific requirements, as both are good alternatives to each other.
Acer Extensa 15 EX215-33
Next, we have the Acer Extensa 15 laptop, which is one of the best and latest laptops in this budget range. The current price of this laptop is around ₹32,000. Now, there are two models of this laptop available: one comes with MS Office included, and the other does not. The model I am discussing, priced at ₹32,000, includes MS Office with lifetime validity.
The processor in this laptop is the latest Intel i3-N305, a 12th generation processor with 8 cores and 8 threads. When compared to the i3-115G4 processor commonly found in this price range, the multi-core performance of the i3-N305 is significantly better, even surpassing the latest Ryzen 7320U in multi-core performance.
Multi-core performance is crucial, especially when handling regular tasks like using multiple Chrome tabs. With 8 cores, multitasking becomes much more efficient. Single-core performance, primarily used in gaming, is less relevant in this budget range as gaming laptops are not typically available.
The laptop comes with 8 GB of LPDDR5 RAM, which is the latest but not expandable. It also has a 512GB Gen 4 SSD, which is expandable. So, you get the latest in three key areas: a 12th gen i3 processor, LPDDR5 RAM, and Gen 4 SSD.
It features a 15.6-inch Full HD ultra-slim display and Intel UHD graphics with a 15 Watt TDP. As mentioned, it includes MS Office with lifetime validity. The battery life is about 4 hours with a 48Wh battery and a 45 Watt adapter. It comes with a one-year international traveler’s warranty. For ports, it has 2x USB type A, 1x USB type C, HDMI, and a 3.5mm jack.
Acer Aspire 3 A315-24P (Ryzen 5)
Let’s talk about the Acer Aspire 3 laptop, priced at ₹33,000. This laptop is equipped with the Ryzen 5 7520U processor, the latest in the 7000 series, featuring 4 cores and 8 threads. This is the most affordable option available for a laptop with the latest Ryzen 5 processor.
To give a comparison, within this budget range, you usually find the Ryzen 3 5300U and the 7320U processors. However, the 7520U outperforms these models, making it a superior choice for those looking for better performance.
Laptop comes with the latest in RAM and storage as well. It has 8 GB of LPDDR5 RAM at 5500 MHz (non-expandable), along with a 512 GB Gen 4 SSD, which is expandable.
The laptop features a 15.6-inch Full HD Acer Comfy View display, with 250 nits of brightness and AMD Radeon graphics. It comes with a 40Wh battery and a 45 Watt adapter. In terms of ports, it has 2x USB 3.2 type A, 1x USB type C with charging support, and a 3.5 mm jack.
Overall, this laptop is an excellent option for those seeking the latest features in a laptop, offering the newest technology in almost every aspect.
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3
Discussing the Lenovo Ideapad Slim 3 laptop, which in my opinion, is the best option for you and is the best-selling laptop in this budget range. Its current price is slightly higher at ₹35,000, but its regular selling price is around ₹32,000.
The laptop is equipped with an Intel i3-1215U processor, which has 6 cores and 8 threads. This is simply the best processor in the laptops we’ve discussed so far. It outperforms all others in terms of power and efficiency.
It comes with 8 GB DDR4 RAM at 3200 Mhz, which is expandable up to 16GB. The storage is a 256 GB Gen 4 SSD, also expandable. With both RAM and storage being expandable, this laptop becomes a future-proof choice.
The laptop features a 15.6-inch Full HD anti-glare display with 250 nits brightness, 45% NTSC, and a 60Hz refresh rate. It includes Intel UHD graphics and comes with MS Office with lifetime validity, which is a great addition. It’s powered by a 45Wh battery and comes with a 65-watt adapter, offering about 5 hours of battery backup. For ports, it has 2x USB type A, 1x USB type C, HDMI, and a 3.5mm Jack.
What sets this laptop apart are its additional features that are not commonly found in other laptops in this range, such as a Privacy Shutter Camera, Rapid Fast Charging, Built-in Alexa, and a 3 Months Xbox Gaming Pass.
Considering what’s available in laptops within the ₹30,000 budget, this one offers the maximum features and benefits, making it, in my opinion, the best choice for you.
