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The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our lives in many ways, in which we adapt to the new normal. That includes the adjustments of working and study environments. Whiteboards, hardcover textbooks, lectures notes and on-campus courses are being replaced with distance learning, e-books and online classes.
All the classes being conducted virtually have increased our dependency on laptops to work smoothly for studies at home with a stable internet connection. A laptop that is considered best for online learning or so-called distance learning includes several criteria such as smooth overall performance, good battery life and keyboards along with a reliable webcam. If you are scouring the market for an affordable laptop, here are our top 5 suggested options that best suit the above criteria.
Acer Aspire 3
Image courtesy of Acer
If you are looking for a mid-range laptop that can cope with basic tasks and good battery life, the Acer Aspire 3 is an ideal option. Its Windows Operating System is straightforward to use. It comes with a low-power 10th generation Intel Core i5 processor and 8GB DDR4 RAM and a 2TBs HDD that offers plenty of storage space for your learning materials and ad-hoc documents.
This laptop is suitable for students because it is affordable and suits your basic needs for processing, surfing the web, and checking the emails. Besides, it comes with a dedicated Nvidia MX230 GPU that undertakes low-intensity video editing tasks if that is part of your projects.
In terms of battery life, it is claimed to last almost 9 hours for daily use and recharge fully in two hours. Other than that, the Acer Aspire 3 comes with BlueLightShield technology filters out the eye-straining blue light that is potentially harmful to your eyes.
Lenovo IdeaPad 330
Image courtesy of Lenovo
Despite its affordable price tag, this laptop doesn’t skimp on its quality as it is designed with a sleek unibody chassis, a mix of aluminium and plastic material. It also added protective finish rubber detailing on the bottom cover to extend the product life and regulate ventilation.
Lenovo IdeaPad 330 comes with one cool feature: four display modes to suit your viewing needs. The Normal mode for your daily productivity tasks in remote learning, the Eye Care mode that diminishes blue light to ease your eyes after long day work.
Besides, if you want to have a good photo and video viewing experience, switch to Vivid mode for contrast settings. If the aforementioned is not suitable for you, turn to Manual mode to personalise the colour settings. This laptop also delivers powerful visuals and Dolby Audio on the go, which boosts the learner’s remote learning experience.
Asus Vivobook S15
Image courtesy of Asus
Asus Vivobook S15 is ultraportable and lightweight but powerful enough for mid to heavy-duty tasks. With the 8th Generation Intel Core I7-7500U processor and NVIDIA MX150 2GB GPU at disposal, you are ready for whatever tasks given, be it multitasking, multimedia editing, or some casual gaming time.
The ErgoLift hinge will open the new world for a comfortable typing experience. It has a silky-smooth dual action that holds the display securely at any angle, tilted at an optimal 3.5-degree, giving you the perfect typing position than other typical keyboards.
Despite its lightweight and slim design, the laptop packs hybrid storage up to 2TB HDD with 512 GB SSD for drastic data speeds and near-instant boot-up times. It also boasts the latest wireless networking features and ASUS Wi-Fi Master technology, allowing faster and more reliable connections at greater distances.
Asus Chromebook Flip C434
Image courtesy of Asus
This 2-in1 sleek and premium looking laptop features a new four-sided NanoEdge 14-inch 1080p touchscreen display; it certainly will help the learners engage in remote learning and multitask at ease.
The Asus Chromebook Flip C434 comes with 360-degrees ErgoLift hinge which lifts the back of the keyboard for a more comfortable typing experience. You can study and work throughout the day as the battery life lasts for up to 10 hours on a single charge.
The easy-to-use Chrome Operating System centered on the Google Chrome browser makes the best choice for remote learners who are not overly concerned about navigating and updating the laptop’s operating system. The 720p webcam and clear sound speakers also make it one of the top laptops for distance learning.
HP Envy x360 13
Image courtesy of Lazada Philippines
A powerful laptop that does not break your pocket. The 1080P vivid, bright display and aluminium chassis makes it a pleasure to look at, ensuring your viewing experience at its best.
It has an easy-to-activate mute button which is super helpful for the remote learner who wants to have easy control toward your online classes conversations with teachers.
HP Envy x360 13 is an ultra-portable 13” and 15” diagonal convertible notebook, allowing you to create your work or art projects from anywhere with up to 14 hours of battery life. You can sketch and write naturally with the simultaneous pen and touch input, and digitise your work for easy sharing with other learners.
However, HP Envy x360 13 does not come with an IR camera, but the fingerprint sensor located on the keyboard’s bottom row allows for quick logging into your Windows 10. For remote learners who prefer software that Chrome OS can’t provide, this Windows 10 laptop is a great fit to meet your needs.
Summing up
There are extensive laptop brands that dominate the budget and mid-range segment of the market; those we mentioned above are just a few of their offerings. Some old models still can give good overall performance and support, although they are short of new features. Take your time and do some research. Rest assured there will be at least one laptop that suits your needs and will not break the bank. There is no such thing as the perfect laptop for anyone; the price just does not justify its value as it certainly depends on the person and situation.
