Best Laptops Under £1,500 in 2026

Weighing just 1.07kg and built from recycled carbon fiber, this laptop leverages the Intel Core Ultra 5 125U’s integrated NPU for efficient AI-accelerated multitasking. Its 400-nit 100% sRGB display and comfortable keyboard support extended work sessions, while Thunderbolt 4 and HDMI 2.1 deliver robust peripheral connectivity. It’s best for business travelers and students who prioritize a lightweight, durable 14-inch ultraportable over discrete graphics or gaming performance.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 125U processor with integrated NPU accelerates AI workloads in a 1.35kg chassis with a 14-inch 1920x1200 IPS touchscreen and 360° hinge. Thunderbolt 4, HDMI 2.1, and Wi-Fi 6E provide broad connectivity, while MIL-STD-810H durability and a fingerprint reader harden it for the road. This convertible is best for business travelers needing a lightweight, AI-assisted 2-in-1 for secure enterprise productivity.

The RTX 4050 with 8GB VRAM and a 144Hz 100% sRGB display delivers smooth 1080p gaming with accurate colors, avoiding the common 6GB bottleneck in this price tier. At just 1.36kg, this Lunar Grey chassis is exceptionally portable for a 15.6-inch gaming laptop, though the 39Wh battery limits unplugged use. It's best for budget-conscious gamers who prioritize frame rates and color accuracy over battery life.

With an Intel Core 5 210H 8-core chip, 16GB DDR5 RAM, and a 512GB NVMe SSD, this 16-inch touchscreen laptop delivers capable multitasking performance. It distinguishes itself via an expansive port setup—Thunderbolt 4, HDMI 2.1, and an RJ45 Ethernet jack—plus a fingerprint reader and webcam privacy shutter for business security. Best for office professionals who need a large touchscreen and extensive wired connectivity without dongles.

The 16-core Intel 14650HX processor and RTX 5060 graphics deliver strong 1080p gaming performance with ray tracing on a smooth 165Hz display. Its 16:10 aspect ratio screen provides extra vertical space for productivity, while Wi-Fi 7 and a full port selection offer robust connectivity in a 2.64kg chassis. This laptop is best for competitive gamers and streamers who prioritize high frame rates and a large screen over portability.

The ASUS TUF Gaming A14 packs an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 with 50 TOPS NPU and an RTX 4060, paired with a 165Hz 100% sRGB display and durable 89-blade dual-fan cooling. Its AI acceleration via Copilot and a free SSD slot for upgrades make multitasking flexible for the price. Best for gamers seeking a compact, bombproof 14-inch machine with AI-powered productivity extras.

A 13th Gen Intel Core i7-1355U paired with 32GB RAM and a 1TB SSD ensures fluid multitasking and ample local storage. The anti-glare 15.6-inch touchscreen and Windows 11 Pro add comfortable viewing and enterprise-grade security for extended work. This laptop suits students and home users prioritizing everyday productivity and media streaming, while gaming is severely limited by integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics.

The AMD Ryzen AI 5 340 processor with 50 TOPS NPU, integrated Radeon 840M, and 21-hour battery life powers a 16-inch 1920x1200 IPS touchscreen that flips into a tablet. Its recycled metal build, edge-to-edge glass, and Thunderbolt/HDMI 2.1 ports create a durable, versatile 2-in-1. This convertible is best for students and home users needing a large-screen device for all-day streaming, light productivity, and AI-assisted apps, not gaming or color work.