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UPDATE 07/08/2012 – There is an updated version of this post, click here to view the newer post.
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February’s original £400 laptops post proved to be very popular confirming our suspicion that in the current economic climate the majority of consumers are looking for decent laptops at reasonable prices.
To this end, we have taken another look round the major retailers to see what’s currently available for under £400.
There are no second generation i5 laptops available within our budget this time round but we’ve picked out a couple of alternatives.
Best All-rounder Under £400 »
Dell Inspiron 15
What we like – HDMI, i3-2350M, HD 3000 Graphics, Build Quality
Best deal – Check Price At Dell.co.uk
Details – The Inspiron 15 might lack some of the features available on more expensive models but Dell have included just enough to make sure that the Inspiron 15 represents good value for its sub £400 price tag.
The second generation i3-2350M processor powering the Inspiron 15 will provide ample processing power for the majority of users and includes Intels updated HD3000 graphics sub system. It’s not a gaming machine but it can handle HD video content.
Add to this sturdy build quality and you’ve got a capable laptop that’s ideal for home and business users and is also a good choice for students on a budget.
Key features include:-
i3-2350M - This is a second generation “Sandy Bridge” item that features Intels HD 3000 integrated graphics. Try to avoid first generation i3 chips as they had inferior graphics capabilities to second generation items. Second generation chips can easily be identified by their longer model names that have four digits as opposed to three. For example, i3-2450M is a second generation item whereas i3-370M is a first generation item.
HDMI Socket - HDMI has become the standard connection format for audio and video signals and simplifies connection to modern flat panel displays. It’s normally one of the first features to be omitted on lower cost laptops but is included on the Inspiron 15.
Hard Drive and Ram – Dell has included a 500GB hard drive on all Inspiron 15 models which will provide ample storage for most users. The Inspiron 15 also comes with 4GB of ram. Nowadays, we tend to consider 4GB to be the minimum amount needed to run modern operating systems. But, don’t let this put you off, ram is easy to upgrade and additional 4GB modules can be purchased for as little as £15
HD Screen – The Inspiron 15 features a 720P HD screen that uses white LED’s. In addition to better contrast ratio’s white LED’s draw less power than traditional LED’s which results in an improved battery life, an important consideration if you tend to do a lot of your computing on the move.
Also Consider – If you’re not a fan of Dells for £20 more the Lenovo G570 currently available from Ebuyer has an almost identical specification. Both machines use Intels i3-2350M CPU, have 4GB of ram and a 500GB hard drive.
After performing our research for this post, we concluded that the under £400 price bracket is a tricky one at the moment and kept finding laptops that offer more power for slightly more money. For example, the Acer ACELXRNU02045 costs £449.99 but has a faster quad core processor with a much better graphics chip than the HD 3000 used in the Inspiron 15.
If power isn’t your primary concern and you’re looking for something small and light the Lenovo IdeaPad S205
