The Best Budget Laptop

When people ask me for recommendations for the best budget laptop there’s only one answer that I give every single time: the Lenovo ThinkPad T480. Yes, it’s an older model. But that’s exactly why it’s such a great deal today. I put together this little write up because I see this question asked often. I have two Thinkpad T480s of my own, one running Fedora Linux and the other running Windows 10. Its super cheap, dependable, and portable for travel. I use it as a secondary laptop when I need something basic and dependable, but don’t want to lug around my 16in MacBook Pro.

Lenovo ThinkPad T480

Best Budget Laptop on the Market

This dependable business laptop is a workday essential, offering powerful performance, all-day battery life, durable construction, and a comfortable, professional design.

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One of the biggest strengths of the ThinkPad T480 is its build quality. ThinkPads have long been associated with rugged design, and the T480 is basically a tank. Built with a magnesium-alloy chassis, it is sturdy enough to handle frequent travel or everyday use. Its spill-resistant keyboard and tough outer shell mean it can endure accidents and wear better than most consumer laptops in the same range. For those who want a machine that can stand up to heavy use, the T480 is one of the best out there.

The typing experience on the T480 is another nice feature. Lenovo ThinkPads are famous for their comfortable keyboards, and this model continues the trend. The keys offer deep travel and strong tactile feedback, making it ideal for writing essays, emails, or long coding sessions. The inclusion of the TrackPoint, the small red joystick at the center of the keyboard, provides an alternative navigation method that some people find faster and more precise than a touchpad. Personally, I don’t use it often, but its a neat little feature that gives the ThinkPad’s keyboard its distinctive look.

Battery life is a critical factor when choosing a budget laptop, and the T480 sets itself apart with a swappable dual-battery system. It comes with both an internal and removable battery, allowing users to extend power on the go simply by swapping in a fresh one. With extended battery packs, it is possible to achieve well over 15 hours of usage, which is something most newer ultrabooks in the same price tier cannot match. This flexibility makes it a strong option for those who need a laptop that can last through long days without being tethered to an outlet.

The ports on the T480 are also pretty good. Many modern laptops cut down on ports to achieve thinner designs, but the T480 offers a wide selection without the need for dongles. It includes USB-C with charging support, full-sized HDMI, Ethernet, an SD card reader, and multiple USB-A ports. This level of connectivity makes it easy to plug into projectors, external monitors, cameras, or hard drives. The 1080p IPS display offers good brightness, resolution, and accurate colors, just be sure to avoid lower-end configurations with the 1366x768 screen, as they offer noticeably less usable space and clarity.

The ThinkPad T480 also performs really well with Linux, which is an appealing upgrade for technical users like myself who are looking to maximize performance and battery efficiency. Many distributions, including Fedora and Arch Linux, run smoothly on this hardware without any random driver issues. Linux helps reduce background bloat and streamlines system resources, offering a fast and efficient experience. For those interested in learning Linux or adopting it as a main operating system, the T480 is a reliable and compatible machine to experiment with.

Another key advantage of the T480 is its value on the used market. Prices often range from $150 to $350, depending on condition and specifications. Typically, you can find some refurbished on Amazon, which offers some convenient warranties and return policies if the computer doesn’t arrive in good shape. Also, the T480 is super modular, so unlike many modern laptops, it is highly upgradeable. Users can increase memory up to 32GB, install a high-speed NVMe SSD, or even replace the screen, keyboard, trackpad, or battery as needed. This flexibility ensures that the laptop can be tailored to meet a variety of performance needs, from lightweight browsing to more demanding productivity tasks.

What makes the Lenovo ThinkPad T480 especially appealing is its balance between affordability and long-term usability. Many budget laptops compromise on durability or upgradability, forcing buyers to replace them after only a couple of years. The T480 avoids this cycle by offering a robust build and components that can be swapped or upgraded as needed. This means it can remain useful for far longer than most laptops in its price class.

At the end of the day, the Lenovo ThinkPad T480 is probably the absolute best laptop you’ll find at this dirt cheap price point. It’s not flashy or modern in design, but it remains one of the strongest budget laptops available today. Its sturdy build, comfy typing experience, wide port selection, Linux compatibility, and upgrade potential make it an outstanding choice, even in 2025. For anyone seeking a dependable and customizable workhorse without breaking the bank, the T480 is one of the very best options.