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MagyarThe Best Budget Multimedia Notebooks
Multimedia laptops are all-rounders and very popular among customers. Whether it is web browsing, office work, or modern games, modern multimedia laptops can handle everything. For this ranking, however, we limit the theoretical budget to 1000 Euros (lowest current price at the time of writing). The minimum requirement for the performance level is a GeForce MX150, which can at least handle modern games in 1366x768 pixels. The other multimedia ranking and more interesting lists are obviously still available:
- The Best Multimedia Notebooks (powerful all-round notebooks)
- The Best Budget Gaming Notebooks (<1500 USD/Euros) (affordable gaming laptops)
- The Best Notebooks for less than 1000 USD/Euros (affordable notebooks)
The Best Budget Multimedia Laptops
Position | Total Rating | Date | Image | Model | Weight | Height | Size | Resolution | Screen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 86.3 % | 07/2022 |  | Asus Vivobook Pro 14 M3401QC-KM007T AMD Ryzen 5 5600H NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 4GB Laptop GPU 16 GB Memory, 512 GB SSD | 1.5 kg | 19 mm | 14.00" | 2880x1800 | glossy |
| 2 | 86.2 % | 07/2022 |  | Acer Swift X SFX16-51G-5388 Intel Core i5-11320H NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 4GB Laptop GPU 16 GB Memory, 512 GB SSD | 1.8 kg | 18.9 mm | 16.10" | 1920x1080 | matte |
| 3 | 85.7 % | 09/2022 |  | Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro 16ARH7 AMD Ryzen 5 6600HS AMD Radeon 660M 16 GB Memory, 512 GB SSD | 1.9 kg | 18.4 mm | 16.00" | 2560x1600 | matte |
| 4 | 85.6 % | 03/2022 |  | Acer Swift X SFX14-41G-R7F3 AMD Ryzen 5 5500U NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Mobile 16 GB Memory, 1024 GB SSD | 1.4 kg | 18.89 mm | 14.00" | 1920x1080 | matte |
| 5 | 85.6 % | 08/2022 |  | HP Envy 14-eb0252ng Intel Core i5-1135G7 Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs 8 GB Memory, 1024 GB SSD | 1.5 kg | 17.9 mm | 14.00" | 1920x1200 | matte |
| 6 | 85.3 % | 06/2023 |  | Asus ZenBook 14 UM3402Y AMD Ryzen 7 7730U AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 4000/5000) 16 GB Memory, 512 GB SSD | 1.4 kg | 16.9 mm | 14.00" | 2880x1800 | glossy |
| 7 | 83.5 % | 07/2022 |  | Dell Inspiron 15 Plus Intel Core i5-11400H NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 4GB Laptop GPU 8 GB Memory, 512 GB SSD | 1.9 kg | 19 mm | 15.60" | 1920x1080 | matte |
| 8 | 83.2 % | 02/2023 |  | Asus VivoBook S15 M3502RA-L1029W AMD Ryzen 7 6800H AMD Radeon 680M 16 GB Memory, 512 GB SSD | 1.9 kg | 18.8 mm | 15.60" | 1920x1080 | glossy |
| 9 | 82.6 % | 05/2022 |  | Huawei MateBook D 15 Ryzen 5 5500U AMD Ryzen 5 5500U AMD Radeon RX Vega 7 8 GB Memory, 512 GB SSD | 1.6 kg | 16.9 mm | 15.60" | 1920x1080 | matte |
| 10 | 82.2 % | 04/2022 |  | Honor MagicBook 16 2022 AMD Ryzen 5 5600H AMD Radeon RX Vega 7 16 GB Memory, 512 GB SSD | 1.8 kg | 18.2 mm | 16.10" | 1920x1080 | matte |
The table above contains an overview over the best budget multimedia notebooks reviewed by Notebookcheck over the course of the past 12 months as well as still relevant and available older products. In cases of identical score the more recent device is listed first. All prices in above table and price comparisons are updated daily and can thus differ.
Link: all devices in this class reviewed
Editors' Comments
There are plenty of multimedia laptops for under 1,000 Euros. This category features a good price-performance ratio, because all multimedia-class device are equipped with a discrete graphics card and provide decent gaming performance. Inexpensive entry-level models are often shipped with a powerful processor, but the common GeForce MX150 is not a perfect solution for modern 3D games. Manufacturers also try to save money in terms of storage, which can quickly become the bottleneck due to high storage requirements of multimedia contents like games, picture, or videos. You should favor an SSD/HDD combination.
1st – Asus Vivobook Pro 14
The Asus Vivobook Pro 14 is a great and inexpensive multimedia notebook with a current AMD APU. However, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 laptop also serves as a dedicated graphics card, which can also be used to play one or two games. However, the highlight of the Asus Vivobook Pro 14 is the display. There is a modern OLED panel with very good color space coverage here. Furthermore, there are the advantages that an OLED display brings with it.
Asus offers a great, powerful 14-inch all-round notebook with the Vivobook Pro 14. The high computing power is also not accompanied by a loud operating noise.
The Asus Vivobook Pro 14 OLED (Ryzen 7 5800H) is currently available for $1,049 at Amazon.
Pricecompare
2nd – Acer Swift X SFX16
The Acer Swift X SFX16 belongs to the somewhat more expensive mid-range laptops. However, at just over 1,000 Euros, our tested sample is only very slightly over the limit, which is why we still decided to include it in our top 10 list. The Acer Swift X SFX16 offers a fast Intel Core i5-11320H and with the dedicated Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 laptop, gaming suitability is also given.
The Acer Swift X SFX16 collects points with the good display, the stable and high-quality metal case and the modern ports.
The Acer Swift X is a great 16-inch multimedia device with a good display and Thunderolt 4.
The Swift X SFX16-51G is available on Acer's official store for around $1,199.
Pricecompare
3rd - Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro 16
With the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro 16, the manufacturer offers a modern multimedia device with a 16-inch display. The display in 16:10 format is good to work with and the brightness is also on a good level. The SoC is an AMD Ryzen 5 6600HS with 6 cores and 12 threads. The SoC also includes a solid iGPU in the form of the AMD Radeon RX 660M.
Lenovo's IdeaPad 5 Pro 16 proves to be a good all-rounder in the test that cuts a good figure outside of 3D applications.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro 16ARH7 is available for example from Amazon for $799.
Pricecompare
4th – Acer Swift X SFX14
The Acer Swift X SFX14 is a compact yet powerful multimedia laptop based on AMD’s Ryzen APU. Paired with an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 it offers more than adequate gaming performance for modern games. In our test, the SFX14 turned out to offer a very high CPU performance as well as long battery life. Its case is relatively robust and sturdy despite its low weight, and it even comes with a fingerprint reader.
The Acer Swift X SFX14 is an affordable all-rounder with solid gaming pedigree.
The GTX 1650-based SKU is not available in the US. Instead, the $649 entry-level SKU comes with an RTX 3050 and is available among others on Amazon.
Pricecompare
5th – HP Envy 14
The HP Envy 14 is a more powerful multimedia notebook and is powered by an Intel Core i5-1135G7. The iGPU will have to suffice for 3D performance. Nevertheless, the Envy 14 scores with low emissions and a bright display in 16:10 format. The great design as well as the long battery runtimes and Thunderbolt 4 round off the pact and thus provide important score points, which enables the entry into the top 10.
The HP Envy 14 is a great all-rounder with a consistently good performance in the review.
Currently, HP Envy 14 doesn't seem to be available in the United States.
Pricecompare
6th – Asus ZenBook 14
The Asus ZenBook 14 is an inexpensive multimedia notebook based on an AMD Ryzen 7 7730U. The AMD Ryzen APU offers a good graphics unit with the AMD Radeon RX Vega 8, with which one or two games can also be mastered. Unfortunately, the RAM is limited to 16 GB as it cannot be expanded. The Asus ZenBook 14 also scores points with its flawless battery life, stylish design and good 2.8K OLED display with 90 Hz.
With the new Asus ZenBook 14, you get a lot of performance paired with long battery life and a great OLED touch screen.
The ZenBook 14 UM3402Y (Ryzen 5 7530U, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) is available on Walmart for $699, our review configuration slightly costs more at $870.
Pricecompare
7th - Dell Inspiron 15 Plus
The Dell Inspiron 15 Plus makes it into our top 10 list with a solid performance and its all-round capabilities. The modern design also matches the modern connectivity including Thunderbolt 4. However, the poor battery runtimes spoil an even better ranking for the Dell Inspiron 15 Plus. However, the good input devices and the relatively low weight make the device a good companion.
The current price clearly makes the device an insider tip at the moment.
The Dell Inspiron 15 Plus is currently not yet available in the US.
Pricecompare
8th – Asus VivoBook S15
The Asus VivoBook S15 is a top modern 15-inch notebook for multimedia use. The manufacturer relies completely on AMD, because the CPU and GPU come from the same manufacturer. Thus, we see an AMD Ryzen 7 6800H alongside an AMD Radeon 680M, which masters the image output as a dedicated graphics card. Basically, the device offers a high system performance and very long battery runtimes at the same time. The good maintenance option as well as the high-contrast and true-color OLED display round off the package. Nevertheless, you unfortunately have to do without USB4 and Thunderbolt.
The Asus VivoBook S15 laptop offers more graphics performance with AMD's latest Radeon RX 680M.
In the US, it is currently hard to order VivoBook S15 with review configuration.
Pricecompare
9th – Huawei MateBook D 15
The Huawei MateBook D15 is now also available with the latest AMD Ryzen APUs. In the test, the AMD Ryzen 5 5500U in the MateBook D 15 could deliver a good system performance. Together with the high-quality case and the good display, it is enough to enter our top 10. At only 500 Euros, the device offers a lot in this price range. However, you also have to accept some compromises. The working memory cannot be expanded and the USB ports only offer 2.0 speed.
The Huawei MateBook D15 offers a solid SoC for home users with the fast 6-core aka AMD Ryzen 5 5500U.
At the time of writing, the MateBook D 15 doesn't seem to be available in stores in the United States.
Pricecompare
10th – Honor MagicBook 16 2022
The Honor MagicBook 16 2022 is a powerful all-rounder. It is based on an AMD Ryzen 5 5600H from the Zen 3 series. The 16 GB working memory clocks with 3200 MHz and is sufficient for most applications. AMD's Radeon RX Vega 7 serves as the graphics unit. The positive aspects outweigh and it was just enough for a ranking in our top 10. The slim case looks modern and compact. Nevertheless, the case temperatures are very pleasant even under load. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600H offers a high system performance, although the battery runtimes were not completely convincing.
Unfortunately, the Honor MagicBook 16 is shipped with a too weak power supply, which means that the battery has to be used as a buffer again and again during high load.
Currently, the Honor Magicbook 16 2022 is not available in the US. For other regions, we can try to find it on Honor's online store.
