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The 5 best laptops under $1,000
Microsoft
Got a limited budget for a new laptop? You have plenty of options, especially if you’re interested in a Chromebook or Windows machine. When it comes to Apple MacBooks, there are far fewer models that come in under $1,000, but there is a current-model, entry-level, 13-inch MacBook Air that’ll fit within your budget.
For $1,000 or less, you can even get a decently powered, current-model computer that can handle your everyday computing tasks. Our in-house team of consumer technology experts has curated this roundup of options for you.
As you shop for the perfect laptop, be sure to also check out our coverage of the five best laptops for 2024, the six best gaming laptops for 2024, the five best laptops for college in 2024, the five best Chromebooks of 2024 and the five best budget laptops for 2024.
What are the best laptops under $1,000?
While you always have the option of buying an older model laptop or one that’s been renewed or refurbished, if you want a current model that’s brand new, here are great options, whether you want a computer that runs Windows, ChromeOS or MacOS. And if you enjoy gaming, all of these computers give you plenty of options for that, including the ability to connect to a variety of cloud-based gaming services.
Best under $1,000 laptop overall: Dell 13″ XPS 13 Plus
Dell
Operating System: Windows 11 Home | Display Size: 13.4 inches | Display Type: FHD+ | Display Resolution: 1,920 x 1,200 pixels | Refresh Rate: 60Hz | Processor: 13th Gen Intel Core i7-1360p (CPU), Intel Iris Xe Graphics (GPU) | CPU Speed: 5.00 GHz | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 512GB | Size: 11.63 x 7.84 x 0.6 inches | Weight: 2.71 pounds | Battery Life: Up to 14 hours
While this computer has a starting price just under $1,000, you have the option at the time of purchase to upgrade the RAM and internal storage. For $50 more, you can also upgrade from Windows 11 Home to Windows 11 Pro. Even with the basic configuration, it’s a mid-powered computer that comes with one-year subscription to McAfee Premium+ (anti-virus and security software) and a 30-day trial for Microsoft Office.
The computer is also equipped with a decent collection of ports, including two Thunderbolt 4 (USB Type-C) ports. You’ll also find a 720p webcam with a dual microphone array and stereo speakers — all in a model that weighs under three pounds. The up-to-14-hour battery life is also rather impressive. And speaking of the rechargeable battery, using the computer’s ExpressCharge feature, you can go from zero to 80% charge in less than one hour.
Other features offered by the Dell XPS 13 Plus include a zero-lattice keyboard that extends from one edge of the computer to the other, as well as a seamless haptic touchpad that extends its entire length. The laptop comes with a power cable, AC adapter Type-C power cable, power adapter, USB Type-C to USB Type-A adapters and a headset adapter. Overall, you get a decently powered, very thin and lightweight laptop that’s competitively priced.
Best Chromebook laptop under $1,000: Asus 14″ Chromebook Plus CX3402
Amazon
Operating System: ChromeOS | Display Size: 14 inches | Display Type: Backlit LED | Display Resolution: 1,920 x 1,080 pixels | Refresh Rate: 144Hz | Processor: 12th Gen Intel Core i3-1215U (CPU), Intel UHD Graphics (GPU) | CPU Speed: 1.2 GHz, up to 4.4 GHz | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 128GB | Size: 12.85 x 8.44 x 0.75 inches | Weight: 3.17 pounds | Battery Life: Up to 10 hours
There are decent Chromebooks starting at just $200, but for a really handy laptop that runs ChromeOS, we highly recommend a mid-priced option, like this Asus Chromebook Plus CX3402.
The Asus Chromebook Plus CX3402 offers a traditional laptop computer design that’s lightweight (just 3.17 pounds) and thin (0.75 inches). The 14-inch LED display offers 1,920 x 1,080 pixel resolution, although it’s not a touchscreen, and its maximum brightness is just 250 nits. Thanks to the display’s anti-glare coating, even in a well-lit room, everything on the screen appears vibrant and detailed. Most appealing of all: You get advanced “Chromebook Plus” functionality for well below $1,000.
Between the laptop’s multiple ports, integrated 1080p webcam, built-in stereo speakers and rather large touchpad, the CX3402 conquers all of the tasks you’d expect from a Chromebook, while providing crisp and smooth graphics, a high level of performance and excellent multitasking capabilities. While the entry-level configuration of this laptop offers only 128GB of internal storage, as a Chromebook, it relies heavily on cloud apps, services and storage. It comes with apps for virtually all of Google’s services preinstalled, so all you need to do to get started using it is enter your Google account information when you first turn on the computer.
Be sure to read our full, in-depth review of the Asus CX3402 Chromebook to discover even more about this laptop.
Best Windows laptop under $1,000: Lenovo 16″ ThinkPad T16 Gen 2
Lenovo
Operating System: Windows 11 Home | Display Size: 16 inches | Display Type: WUXGA IPS | Display Resolution: 1,920 x 1,200 pixels | Refresh Rate: 60Hz | Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 Pro 7540U | CPU Speed: 3.2 GHz up to 4.9 GHz | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 256GB | Size: 14.25 x 10.06 x 0.81 inches | Weight: 3.7 pounds | Battery Life: Up to 10 hours
Powered using an AMD Ryzen 5 Pro 7540U processor, this ThinkPad T16 from Lenovo is an entry-level Windows laptop that’s also priced just below $1,000. Although, if you opt to upgrade the processor to the AMD Ryzen 7 Pro 7840U, which boosts processing speed up to 5.1 GHz, this will cost an additional $119 at the time of purchase. You can also upgrade from Windows 11 Home to Windows 11 Pro for an additional $60.
Other upgrade options at the time of purchase include going from 16GB of RAM up to 32GB of RAM for an additional $119, or upgrading the internal storage from a 256GB SSD to a 512GB, 1TB or 2TB SSD for $45, $134 or $149 more, respectively. There’s also an option to upgrade to a touchscreen display, plus add a fingerprint scanner for added security. In other words, you’re able to do a nice job custom configuring this laptop when you purchase it, but any of these upgrade will put the price over $1,000.
Even with the basic configuration, the ThinkPad T16 is more than capable of handling all common computing tasks (while running Windows) rather efficiently. Normally, this computer has a starting price of $1,500, but between now and May 2, if you use coupon code BYOTHINK2024 at checkout, you’ll save $555, which brings the price down to $994.
Best MacBook Air under $1,000: 13″ MacBook Air with M2 processor
Amazon
Operating System: MacOS | Display Size: 13.6 inches | Display Type: Liquid Retina | Display Resolution: 2,560 x 1,664 pixels | Refresh Rate: 60Hz | Processor: Apple M2 (CPU), Apple 8-core GPU | CPU Speed: 3.49 GHz | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 256GB| Size: 11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44 inches | Weight: 2.7 pounds | Battery Life: Up to 18 hours
The very latest MacBook Air laptops run on the Apple’s M3 processor and allow you to choose between a 13-inch or 15-inch display. However, the entry-level model, the MacBook Air with M2 processor, is the one with a starting price of $999 (which has been discounted on Amazon to $849).
This version of the MacBook Air is configured with the M2 processor (with an 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU and 16-core Neural Engine), a 13.6 inch Liquid Retina display, 8GB of unified memory and a 256GB SSD for storage. Like all current MacBook models, this one runs the latest version of MacOS Senoma and comes with a generous collection of preinstalled apps, as well as Apple iCloud integration. These apps include Contacts, Calendar, Apple Maps, Safari, Photos, FaceTime and Mail — so right out of the box, the computer can handle your everyday computing.
This MacBook Air also works seamlessly with all of Apple’s services, including Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple News, Apple TV+ and Apple Fitness+. The computer offers an impressive battery life — up to 18 hours — and comes in your choice of four casing colors — midnight, starlight, space gray or silver. If you’re looking for an entry-level MacBook with a starting price that’s under $1,000, this is the model you want.
Best gaming laptop under $1,000: Acer Nitro 16 AMD
Acer
Operating System: Windows 11 Home | Display Size: 16 inches | Display Type: LCD IPS (with LED backlighting) | Display Resolution: 1,920 x 1,200 pixels | Refresh Rate: 165Hz | Processor: Ryzen 5 7535HS (CPU), Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 (GPU) | CPU Speed: 3.3 GHz | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 512GB | Size: 14.2 x 11 x 1.1 inches | Weight: 6.17 pounds | Battery Life: Up to 10 hours
For novice or moderate gamers looking for a decently equipped, affordable Windows gaming laptop — that can also handle a wide range of other tasks — the Acer Nitro 16 offers good value and impressive power for the money. It runs using a 6-core AMD Ryzen 7535HS processor with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU.
The 16-inch LCD display provides a quick 165Hz refresh rate, which means action sequences will be fluid and quick. While this is certainly not a cutting-edge computer, it does come with an impressive collection of ports, including five USB Type-A and Type-C ports and an HDMI port. You also get a built in microSD memory-card slot.
At the time of purchase, more powerful hardware configurations are available, but this is the one with a starting price of $900 (which has been discounted from $1,200). Keep in mind, when performing everyday computing tasks, you might get the advertised up to 10 hours of battery life per charge, but when gaming, this requires more processing power which depletes the battery significantly faster.
How to shop for a laptop
Our computer experts have compiled this list of the top things to consider.
- Design: There are traditional laptop computers, 2-in-1 computers (that serve as a laptop computer and tablet), laptops with a touchscreen, laptops that are extra thin and lightweight, and those are are designed to be extra rugged. So ask yourself: What will you be using the laptop for?
- Operating system: Focus on the OS of the equipment you’re already using. Also, make sure your laptop runs the very latest version that operating system. At the moment, this means either Windows 11 Home, Windows 11 Pro, or MacOS Sonoma or ChromeOS 124.
- Display size, type, resolution, brightness and refresh rate: Screens vary in size, display type, resolution, brightness and refresh rate. Think about the level of detail, vibrance and color accuracy you want to see. In general, larger displays that offer high resolution, a higher than average brightness level and a faster refresh rate will increase the computer’s price, as will choosing a higher-end display type, such as an OLED.
- CPU and GPU: A computer’s CPU (or central processing unit) affects processing power, while its GPU (graphics processing unit) determines how efficiently the computer generates graphics. The faster and more powerful a computer’s CPU and GPU, the more expensive it will be.
- RAM: Consider this the computer’s short-term memory. Depending on the apps being used, having more RAM (or unified memory in the case of MacBooks) will determine how smoothly and efficiently a computer runs.
- Internal storage: A computer’s internal storage determines how much content can be stored locally. If you rely heavily on cloud applications and file storage, internal storage capacity is less important. We recommend a laptop with at least 256GB or 512GB of internal storage, although you may find need 1TB.
- Battery life: If you’ll often use your laptop on the go, a more powerful battery will keep the computer running longer. Longer battery life is less critical if you’ll primarily be using the computer while sitting at a desk at home.
- Wired and wireless connectivity: All laptops have built-in ports, such as USB Type-A, USB Type-C, HDMI, Ethernet, a 3.5mm headphone jack or a memory card slot. The port array you need depends on what equipment you’ll be connecting. You also want to pay attention to the computer’s wireless connectivity. All offer Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, but determine if the versions offered are the most recent. At the moment, this means either Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. If a laptop offers cellular connectivity, make sure it supports 5G, which is significantly faster than 4G LTE.
- Speakers: If you plan to use the speakers built into your laptop, make sure your machine offers at least two. Some of the latest laptops offer at least four speakers and an integrated subwoofer to generate robust, room-filling audio.
- Keyboard layout: A computer’s keyboard design and layout, along with the size and location of the touchpad, dictates how comfortable it is to type. Some laptop keyboards include a numeric keypad on the right side, a separate line of function keys along the top, or other specialty keys. Some laptop computers offer backlit keys (which makes it easier to type in the dark) or support customizable RGB lighting.
- Dimensions and weight: The size of the computer’s display is a key factor in determining its overall dimensions and weight. Dimensions and weight impact how easy it is to carry and the size of the case you’ll need.
Is a laptop priced under $1,000 worth it?
If you’re just looking for a computer to handle everyday tasks, and you don’t need to see the most high-resolution and detailed graphics, then a laptop priced below $1,000 will serve you well.
A budget laptop can easily handle everyday computing and, for the most part, be as reliable as more expensive computers. To get the most out of a budget laptop, we recommend a model that’s been released within the last year or so, since an older model will become outdated faster (even if it is cheaper).
Whether you need to know about the very best laptop computers or any other types of tech, we’re constantly expanding and updating our coverage to offer the most informative, timely and accurate information.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sunday vetoed a landmark bill aimed at establishing first-in-the-nation safety measures for large artificial intelligence models.
The decision is a major blow to efforts attempting to rein in the homegrown industry that is rapidly evolving with little oversight. The bill would have established some of the first regulations on large-scale AI models in the nation and paved the way for AI safety regulations across the country, supporters said.
Earlier this month, the Democratic governor told an audience at Dreamforce, an annual conference hosted by software giant Salesforce, that California must lead in regulating AI in the face of federal inaction but that the proposal “can have a chilling effect on the industry.”
The proposal, which drew fierce opposition from startups, tech giants and several Democratic House members, could have hurt the homegrown industry by establishing rigid requirements, Newsom said.
“While well-intentioned, SB 1047 does not take into account whether an AI system is deployed in high-risk environments, involves critical decision-making or the use of sensitive data,” Newsom said in a statement. “Instead, the bill applies stringent standards to even the most basic functions — so long as a large system deploys it. I do not believe this is the best approach to protecting the public from real threats posed by the technology.”
Newsom on Sunday instead announced that the state will partner with several industry experts, including AI pioneer Fei-Fei Li, to develop guardrails around powerful AI models. Li opposed the AI safety proposal.
The measure, aimed at reducing potential risks created by AI, would have required companies to test their models and publicly disclose their safety protocols to prevent the models from being manipulated to, for example, wipe out the state’s electric grid or help build chemical weapons. Experts say those scenarios could be possible in the future as the industry continues to rapidly advance. It also would have provided whistleblower protections to workers.
The legislation is among a host of bills passed by the Legislature this year to regulate AI, fight deepfakes and protect workers. State lawmakers said California must take actions this year, citing hard lessons they learned from failing to rein in social media companies when they might have had a chance.
Proponents of the measure, including Elon Musk and Anthropic, said the proposal could have injected some levels of transparency and accountability around large-scale AI models, as developers and experts say they still don’t have a full understanding of how AI models behave and why.
The bill targeted systems that require more than $100 million to build. No current AI models have hit that threshold, but some experts said that could change within the next year.
“This is because of the massive investment scale-up within the industry,” said Daniel Kokotajlo, a former OpenAI researcher who resigned in April over what he saw as the company’s disregard for AI risks. “This is a crazy amount of power to have any private company control unaccountably, and it’s also incredibly risky.”
The United States is already behind Europe in regulating AI to limit risks. The California proposal wasn’t as comprehensive as regulations in Europe, but it would have been a good first step to set guardrails around the rapidly growing technology that is raising concerns about job loss, misinformation, invasions of privacy and automation bias, supporters said.
A number of leading AI companies last year voluntarily agreed to follow safeguards set by the White House, such as testing and sharing information about their models. The California bill would have mandated AI developers to follow requirements similar to those commitments, said the measure’s supporters.
But critics, including former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, argued that the bill would “kill California tech” and stifle innovation. It would have discouraged AI developers from investing in large models or sharing open-source software, they said.
Newsom’s decision to veto the bill marks another win in California for big tech companies and AI developers, many of whom spent the past year lobbying alongside the California Chamber of Commerce to sway the governor and lawmakers from advancing AI regulations.
Two other sweeping AI proposals, which also faced mounting opposition from the tech industry and others, died ahead of a legislative deadline last month. The bills would have required AI developers to label AI-generated content and ban discrimination from AI tools used to make employment decisions.
Some residents east of Atlanta were evacuated while others were told to shelter in place to avoid contact with a chemical plume after a fire at a chemical plant.
Rockdale County Fire Chief Marian McDaniel told reporters that a sprinkler head malfunctioned around 5 a.m. Sunday at the BioLab plant in Conyers. That caused water to mix with a water-reactive chemical, which produced a plume of chemicals. The chief said she wasn’t sure what chemicals were included.
A small roof fire was initially contained, but reignited Sunday afternoon, Sheriff Eric Levett said in a video posted on Facebook as gray smoke billowed into the sky behind him. He said authorities were trying to get the fire under control and urged people to stay away from the area.
People in the northern part of Rockdale County were ordered to evacuate and others were told to shelter in place with windows and doors closed. Sheriff’s office spokesperson Christine Nesbitt did not know the number of people evacuated.
The federal Environmental Protection Agency and the Georgia Environmental Protection Division were both on site, county Emergency Management Director Sharon Webb said. The agencies are monitoring the air “to give us more of an idea of what the plume consists of.”
McDaniel said crews were working on removing the chemical from the building, away from the water source. Once the product is contained, the situation will be assessed and officials will let residents know whether it is safe to return to their homes, she said.
An evacuation center was opened at Wolverine Gym in Covington.
Washington — Sen. JD Vance and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will face off on Tuesday in the first and only vice presidential debate of the cycle, as the two candidates look to prop up the Republican and Democratic tickets with fewer than 40 days until Election Day.
The debate, hosted by CBS News at the CBS Broadcast Center in New York City, will be moderated by “CBS Evening News” anchor and managing editor Norah O’Donnell and “Face the Nation” moderator and CBS News chief foreign affairs correspondent Margaret Brennan.
Here’s what to know about how the candidates are preparing for the debate:
How JD Vance is preparing for the VP debate
The Ohio Republican has been preparing for the debate for more than a month, a source directly involved told CBS News, including with “murder board” sessions with a small team that includes Vance’s wife and his advisers, along with senior Trump adviser Jason Miller.
Among Vance’s main focuses during the preparation has been studying Walz’ debate style and policy record, the source said, noting that Vance will attempt to highlight what he sees as the Minnesota governor’s left-wing views during the debate.
Vance told reporters last week that his plan is to break down what the Trump-Vance administration would do to make “life better” and connect that to policy.
“So, we’re studying up as much as we can on the issues that matter to the American people, and I’m looking forward to it,” Vance said.
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, a Minnesota Republican, is standing in for Walz during Vance’s debate prep, four sources familiar with the preparations told CBS News. Emmer and Walz have deep roots in Minnesota and are close in age.
Emmer told ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday that he’s known Walz for decades and has spent the last month working to “get his phrases down, his mannerisms.”
“My job was to be able to play Tim Walz so JD Vance knows what he’s going to see,” Emmer said.
Getty Images
How Tim Walz is preparing for the VP debate
Walz has been preparing for the debate with a close team of advisers, a source familiar with the preparations told CBS News. Some of the people involved also helped Vice President Kamala Harris take on former President Donald Trump, among others, like a long-time aid to Walz who worked with him during his bids for governor.
For Walz, whose name recognition was until recently limited outside of Minnesota, the focus is on continuing to introduce himself to the American people, according to the source. He’ll also work to highlight Harris’ vision for the nation’s path forward.
“You’ll hear me talk like I have about things that impact Americans, making sure they have the opportunity to thrive, making sure that we’re being factual in how we talk about that,” Walz told MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow of the debate earlier this month. “And so I’m looking forward to it. I’ll work hard, that’s what I do.”
During debate prep, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is standing in for Vance, a campaign official familiar with the preparation told CBS News. The former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, also assisted Harris during her debate prep in 2020, and is close in age to Vance.
When and how to watch the presidential debate
Debate coverage on CBS News 24/7 begins at 4 p.m. ET, with the debate getting underway at 9 p.m. ET on Oct. 1.
The 90-minute debate will be streamed on CBS News 24/7 and Paramount+ across all available platforms and CBSNews.com. The debate will also be simulcast across other broadcast and cable networks.
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California Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoes first-in-nation AI safety bill
Residents in Georgia ordered to evacuate or shelter in place after fire at chemical plant
Israeli airstrikes kill dozens across Lebanon as Hezbollah confirms a 7th top commander was killed
California Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoes first-in-nation AI safety bill