Best 11 Laptops Under 30,000 Review

There is a series of questions you need to ask yourself if you are to get any closer to the best device for your needs. Let’s explore each question as we appreciate what you need to know before you go ahead with investing your cash in any gadget.

What’s Your Preferred Operating System?

As the main platform on your computer, the operating system defines the sort of programs you run and how you generally interact with your computer. Windows, Chrome, and the Macintosh operating systems lead the way, as the most featured systems in modern devices.

Each of these has its set of advantages and disadvantages, and your choice depends on your experience and whether the advantages fit in well with your purpose as a computer user.

Generally, it’s often best to choose the operating system you are used to unless if it doesn’t satisfactorily cater to your needs. Windows OS beats the others as the most featured OS in modern laptops. This is due to its user-friendly interface, top-notch performance, and versatility.

MacOS was built for Macbooks(Apple laptops) though it can be installed on other models. Like Windows, it features a user-friendly interface and affords most of the advanced features present in the latest Windows OS.

Additionally, it is also not as susceptible to Malware and Viruses as Windows, thus making it one of the most secure systems on the planet. However, as already pointed out above, it is not the best option if you are looking to run advanced gaming software on your laptop as most modern games are built to integrate with Windows OS.

Chrome presents a more limited OS in terms of general functionality, but it does have a strong side which appeals to a specific audience. It was built for those in need of a platform which provides an advanced Internet experience.

It is the best choice if your life revolves around Internet surfing, cloud services, working on google docs and spreadsheets, live streaming, and emailing.

On top of furnishing a great Internet performance and features, it is also one of the most secure operating systems partly due to its relatively younger age compared to the likes of Windows and MacOS.

How Big Should It Be?

Laptops come in a myriad of sizes, and your choice depends on your use case. The screen’s diagonal is the key parameter used in describing the overall size of your computer. Most of today’s devices’ diagonals fall within the 14 inches – 15.6-inch laptop, which is considered a medium size capable of accommodating much detail while affording the practical size and weight of a standard laptop.

There are extremes which fall outside this range aimed at catering to a variety of special needs. For instance, most machines in the extreme upper feature are 16-18 inch screens which allow a robust viewing area, in addition to giant processors and storage space.

This makes them capable of handling data-intensive tasks such as 3D modeling, advanced video editing, and gaming software.

The lower extreme features smaller screen diagonals and small-sized frames to offer enhanced flexibility, especially for those who are always on the move. Typical sizes range from 10.5 – 12 inches and they usually come with modest feature sets unless if the manufacturers were geared towards coming up with a high-performance gadget with a skinny frame.

Basic or Multi-Functional?

Based on functionality, laptops can be divided into standard laptops and ( 2-in-1 laptops(link). 2-in-1’s can be switched between laptop and tablet modes, while standard laptops are limited to basic laptop functionality without any modifications to enhance the level of flexibility.

2-in-1s can be further divided into Bendbacks and Detachable based on the clamshell-tablet switch mechanism. Bendbacks incorporate an ultra-flexible hinge system which allows the screen to rotate on the base at a 360 angle, thus eliminating the keyboard to furnish a tablet-like experience. On the other hand, Detachable allow for complete detachment of the keyboard from the touchscreen.

2-in-1’s are great if you need a portable device that incorporates touchscreen functionality without sacrificing the versatility that comes with a standard clamshell laptop. Find the standard (touch screen laptops(link) here.

On the other hand, if you feel like you don’t need any touchscreen functionality, a standard design should be the most appropriate as the extra features that come with convertibles often translate into heftier prices.

How About the Display’s Quality? Is It Good Enough for My Needs?

The display deserves a place on your considerations list as it can mostly be the difference between a great laptop for your needs and an awful experience you can gladly forget. After considering the size, you need to move on and consider the estimated image clarity. This is a great step, as poor display clarities often mean more strain to your eyes and undesirable overall image quality.

The screen’s image clarity is defined by the resolution rating, which is a description of how much detail or data that screen can capture in a designated area such as an inch. As expected, the resolution is directly proportional to image clarity. In other words, the higher the resolution, the clearer the images on the screen.

For modern gadgets, a 1920×1080 rating is ideal as it is usually powerful enough to accommodate large amounts of detail which are typical of most graphics intensive software. However, this rate is common with high-end gadgets thus hard to come by when you are considering most devices under R30000.

In this case, you might have to compromise a little and settle for a lesser resolution which still affords a decent performance with some of the advanced programs. A common rating within this range is 1366×768. There are other devices which tread beyond full HD resolutions, but these are generally hard to come by in gadgets within the mid and lower price range.

Resolutions aside, there are some extra features you may need to look into, such as In-plane Switching Technology and the Anti-glare mechanism.

IPS allows you to have a clear view of the screen from multiple viewing angles, thus giving the screen an extra edge it needs when you have multiple viewers around.

The anti-glare mechanism allows for a clear view in different light intensity environments as it allows the screen to eliminate light reflection, especially when you go outdoors.

The Functional Specs: Processor, Ram, Storage, Connectivity.

Knowing a laptop’s potential capacity to deliver on your needs also includes a sound awareness of the key specs. You don’t need to know all the ins and outs of computer functionality to have an idea of what things like processors, RAMs, and Hard Drives are, and how they relate to your individual needs. You need to have a basic idea of what they do and what the ranges are like on different laptops.

• Processor

The processor is a key component when it comes to your computer’s ability to run different programs. It is the component that performs all the necessary calculations needed to get both the operating system and other programs up and running.

Like most computer components, processors exist in different makes and models which also have different capacities. For instance, you might have noticed that while some processors can easily handle the latest operating systems such as Windows 10, others are limited to earlier versions such as Windows 7 and Vista.

Intel is the worlds leading manufacturer of processors with numerous models featured in models of all price ranges. AMD is another competitor to Intel and boasts of powerful processors which are commonly featured in the mid and lower price ranges. The latest processors from Intel are the Intel Core i9, and 8th generation Intel i7 processors, which feature phenomenal speeds and overall performance.

Expectedly, these are featured in high-end products which are not necessarily part of this review. Most laptops under R30000 come with entry-level processors such as Intel i3 (which are the most powerful in this category), Intel Celeron, and Pentium.

It’s also worth your time to look for AMD processors within this range as they usually possess notably greater speeds compared to similarly priced Intel models.

However, it doesn’t mean you are doomed if you are looking for a gadget which can achieve more speeds and performance within this budget.

Apart from looking at the actual model of the processor, always compare the processor base speed and number of cores as they are the key figures which describe how fast that processor is.In this price category, the most advanced processors are dual-core i3 processors with base speeds of more than 1.8 GHz or AMD processors with a similar base speed rating.

• RAM

Random Access Memory is another indispensable tool that allows your system to easily access the data stored on the computer’s main storage device known as a storage drive. It is some transitional storage device that feeds the processor with the necessary data to work on without having to go through the long process of accessing it directly on the drive.

The larger the memory size, the greater the computer’s capacity to process information per unit time. The actual measurements range from 2GB for devices on the lower end of the price spectrum, to 32GB for devices on the high-end.

Most laptops under R30000 feature memory sizes that fall within the 2GB to the 4GB range. Your target should always be something with at least 4GB memory capacity unless your budget lingers somewhere below the R15000 mark.

• Storage

As already alluded to above, your drive is the main storage device on your computer. It determines the amount of data you can store in your computer. Therefore, you need to define your case and decide the most appropriate space needed without heavy reliance on external storage devices such as hard drives and memory sticks.

Most great laptops within this price range fall somewhere between 128GB and 1TB,  thus your standard should be set at 1TB unless it’s really hard to come by. If 1TB is hard to come by, you can settle for a 250-500GB drive, which offers functional storage spaces for medium users.

Another important factor to be aware of is that there are two types of storage drives, namely: Solid State and Hard Drives. Solid State drives are common in Mid and high-end laptops, and they are smaller and faster alternatives to the traditional Hard Drive, which is bulkier, mechanical, and slower.

However, Hard Drives make up for the lack of speed with significantly greater storage spaces extending up to 1TB, while the Solid States typically fall within the 250GB-512GB range.

How Should Much Battery Life Do I Expect?

The ability to sustain operations using an efficient internal source of power is one of the qualities that have made the laptop a popular device in modern society. Therefore, a laptop’s capacity to sustain itself over a certain period is a crucial component you need to look into closely.

A great laptop should sustain itself for at least 8 hours on an Internet connection. Of course, you can compromise, especially when you have a limited budget, but it’s prudent not to go for anything that offers less than 5 hours of battery life.  

What Sort of Graphics Do I Need?

All the calculations/operations relating to graphics or visual information are done by the computer’s graphics coprocessor, which also works closely with the main processor discussed above.

Its capacity also determines the kind of software or files you can run on the computer. If the coprocessor is too small, most of the graphics-intensive applications such as modern 3D games may not run.

Therefore, you may also need to consider the coprocessor, especially if you are into things like video editing, gaming, and other professional software.

If you are looking for nothing more than basic programs with a bit of entertainment, you can settle for the basic integrated graphics card. On the other hand, if you want a little more, you may have to consider more powerful graphics chips such as Radeon graphics cards, Nvidia and other AMD models.

Ports and Wifi

A great modern computer should have great Internet technology, Bluetooth, USB as well as other wired connections like HDMI and audio jacks. For Internet connectivity, always go for devices which combine 802.11ac Wifi technology and older versions such as 802.11n, 802.11g, and 802.11b.

When it comes to Bluetooth technology, check out for some of the latest technology, which includes Bluetooth 4.1 and 4.2. Earlier versions are okay, but their performance tends to lag.

Additional connections which may be handy especially when it comes to direct connections with a range of external devices include HDMI, VGA, LAN, and Ethernet ports.

The LAN port is a highly desirable feature to consider as it ensures that you always have an Internet connection when you’re in places which are yet to incorporate Wifi technology. The others are largely a matter of preference.

If you are looking to use the laptop in conjunction with other devices such as external monitors and projectors, make sure it provides for HDMI or VGA connection.

Warranty: Make Sure You Are Covered

Warranties allow you to make sure you are covered if the product happens to have some defect which renders it unusable. Always check the specs section and see if there is any period offered.

Typical warranties for laptops under R30000 range from 6 months to 1year, which is enough to keep you safe. It’s often best to stay away from any products void of warranty, especially when you are trying to conduct the purchase online.