For our full take on what to look for in a laptop, see our guide on choosing the right laptop. Your budget is the most important factor, as it determines what you can expect out of the device you're purchasing. While appropriate specs can vary wildly when you're considering laptops ranging from $200 to $800, there are a few hard lines I don't recommend crossing. Based on our years of testing, laptop manufacturers tend to make compromises in display quality and touchpad quality. It's nearly impossible to find laptops under $500 that don't compromise in these areas, but this is where our reviewers and testers can help.