Last updated: January 2024
With the COVID-19 pandemic still causing trouble for billions of people around the world, and more and more of our daily activities - whether it’s work, school, play, or just general socializing - have moved to the online stage.
Classes are conducted in virtual classrooms, and conferences held in virtual conference rooms. Playgrounds have been replaced by Discord channels and video games, and movie theaters replaced by Netflix and the nearest sofa.
That said, it’s almost impossible in this day and age to get by without your own computer. While workers around the world are afforded options by their respective companies to help them stay productive and efficient even as they work from home, not all of us are so lucky.
Our students especially are struggling to cope with the growing demands of education amidst a world that has turned upside down for them quite literally overnight. Not everyone can afford a high-end laptop, but if it’s for school or play, they don’t have to cost an arm and a leg, either.
If you’re looking for some budget laptops to help you or your loved ones stay connected to the outside world and keep up with the demands of school or work, here are some of the Best Budget Laptops You can Buy In Malaysia.
Related: The Best Gaming Laptop in Malaysia
Budget Laptop Buyer’s Guide
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of this curated list of the best budget laptops you can buy locally, let’s dig a little deeper into what we should be looking for when we consider buying a laptop for whatever purpose or occasion. Getting a computer for your specific needs is a very personal choice, but here are some of the most important things to consider.
Performance
Depending on what you need your laptop for, performance and power is one of the most important factors to consider before you make your purchase. While it’s true that cheaper laptops may not offer as much performance as more expensive models, that doesn’t necessarily mean you need to shell out big bucks to have a workable workstation.
Most budget laptops today can perform general tasks quite well provided they have enough memory and processing power. However, if you’re looking at more intensive tasks like graphics work and rendering, you’ll definitely want to look at how well your model of choice performs at these specific tasks before you make your purchase.
Portability
Granted, portability may not be the most important factor in this day and age where it’s not that easy nor advisable to be on-the-go, but just in case you’d rather not be tied down to one place to be productive, it’s always worthwhile to consider portability.
Thin and light laptops might be a little more expensive for the level of performance they offer, while bulkier laptops may offer better specs for cheap due to the fact that they’re easier to build and design.
Connectivity
Ports and interfaces are often overlooked when people buy a new laptop, but don’t make the same mistake! Make sure that your laptop of choice can accommodate your needs. Some students and professionals might need certain ports for their activities - whether its USB, HDMI, DisplayPort, Ethernet, etc. - while others might benefit from having more future-proofed ports like USB Type-C.
Other ports, like optical drives and card readers, aren’t too common anymore, but are still used heavily in certain industries, so it’s always worth considering.
Read more: Find Out Which are the Best HP Laptops in Malaysia
Best Under RM3,000 Laptops You Can Buy In Malaysia
1. Acer Aspire 5 - Best Cheap Laptop for Students
Acer Aspire 5 - Budget Laptops Malaysia
Acer is the champion when it comes to budget laptops, and when the Acer Aspire 5 has to be the best value out of all of their top-value offerings. Combining excellent build quality and top-notch internals with an incredible price tag, the Acer Aspire 5 is the budget laptop that can probably handle anything you throw at it.
The Intel Core i5 CPU should handle even the most strenuous processing tasks with ease, while the integrated Intel UHD Graphics should perform well even at 4K resolution - just don’t expect to perform any graphics-intensive activities on this laptop like AAA gaming or high-end video rendering.
The base memory - 4GB DDR4 - might struggle with multi-tasking, but should handle most tasks with ease. Plus, RAM upgrades aren’t too expensive so upgrading it to 8GB or even 12GB shouldn’t be a problem in the long run.
One of the best things about the Acer Aspire 5 is that despite its price, you’re getting a super high-end storage unit that’s powered by a 32GB Intel TG Optane chip on top of an already pretty fast 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD. That means you’ll be experiencing some really fast boot times, and your apps will load a lot faster, too, compared to a typical HDD.
The 14-inch IPS display won’t win any awards, but it’s definitely a great display especially when you consider its native resolution of 1920 x 1080. Typically used in larger screens (15” and up), FHD resolution on a 14” display is going to give you a great, crisp image every time - perfect for watching all kinds of videos - from informative documentaries to blockbuster hits.
CPU: Intel Core i5 1035G1
GPU: Intel UHD Graphics
RAM: 4GB DDR4 (Upgradeable to 12GB)
Storage: 32GB Intel TG Optane, 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD
Display: 14” IPS 1920x1080 FHD
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2. Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 - Budget Laptops Malaysia
The poster child of two-in-one laptops - the two being a laptop and tablet in one - the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 is an excellent choice for students and young professionals who want power, versatility, and flexibility all rolled into one great device. Since it’s Lenovo, the build-quality is unsurprisingly top-notch, and unlike other brands, you don’t feel any change in performance or feel when you switch between laptop mode and tablet mode It’s all smooth and seamless.
Powered by the AMD Ryzen 5 4500U CPU, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex packs a hell of a punch in terms of processing power. Arguably one of the most popular CPUs in recent years, the Ryzen 5 is consistently dominating budget and mid-range benchmarks as the superior CPU to anything Intel has to offer in this price range.
That, plus the fact that AMD’s Radeon Graphics are far superior to the integrated Intel graphics, means that the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 is no slouch when it comes to performance. The built-in 8GB DDR4 RAM should handle most tasks and multi-tasking with ease, and the 256GB NVMe SSD offers speedy performance despite being a little small on the storage side.
One of the best features of the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 - and why it’s a cut above the competition - is its masterful execution of the two-in-one form factor. Both a laptop and tablet in one, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 is built for the generation that can unlock the potential of different kinds of technology. Laptop Mode for longer, more serious sessions of work or play, and Tablet Mode for more casual use or more creative pursuits.
Get the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 on Lazada Malaysia and get a free Touch Pen and Laptop Bag for free. The Pen alone makes this deal worthwhile, since you’ll be able to maximize the 14” Touch display and unleash your creativity.
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 4500U
GPU: AMD Radeon Graphics
RAM: 8GB DDR4
Storage: 256GB SSD
Display: 14” Touch IPS 1920x1080 FHD
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3. MSI GF63 - Perfect Laptop for Gaming at Reasonable Price
MSI GF63 Gaming Laptop - Budget Laptops Malaysia
Known for their high-performance PC offerings, MSI definitely didn’t hold back when they designed and built the MSI GF63. Despite its low price tag, the MSI GF63 packs a serious punch. Marketed as a budget gaming laptop, the MSI GF63 can do much, much more than just game. It’s got enough high-performance parts to let it take on everything - from taking notes, to working on documents, to graphics processing and rendering - with relative ease.
Powered by the 9th Generation Intel Core i5-9300 Coffee Lake processor, the MSI GF63 has got a lot going on under the hood. And unlike most models you’d find at this price range that often come with just integrated graphics, the MSI GF63 comes with a dedicated Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 GPU with 4GB of GDDR6 memory for the best graphics performance in the budget range.
With a dedicated GPU in tow, the MSI GF63 would be a great pick for the hardworking student or professional who likes to game on the side, or for anyone who needs the extra graphics processing power for image and video rendering and other graphics-intensive tasks. The 4GB high-speed (2666Mhz) DDR4 memory should handle most tasks like a champion, while the built-in 256GB NVMe PCIe SSD should make quick work of boot times and loading screens.
In terms of display quality, the MSI GF63 offers a great 15.6” IPS display at 1920x1080 (FHD) resolution for a great viewing experience that’s a little larger than the standard offerings at this price range. It also comes with a refresh rate of 60Hz for a smoother visual experience across the board, for games, movies, or otherwise.
CPU: Intel Core i5-9300
GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 6GB GDDR6
RAM: 8GB DDR4 2666Mhz
Storage: 256 NVMe PCIe SSD
Display: 15.6” IPS 1920x1080 FHD
Best Cheap Laptops in Malaysia
| Best Budget Laptops Under RM3000 in Malaysia | Best Deal |
|---|---|
| Acer Aspire 5 | RM2,399.00 |
| Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 | RM3,350.00 |
| MSI GF63 | RM3,699.00 |
| ACER ASPIRE 3 | RM1,539.00 |
| HUAWEI MateBook D14 Laptop | RM2,699.00 |
| MSI Modern 14 B10MW-442 14" FHD Laptop Carbon Grey | RM2,099.00 |
| HONOR MagicBook 14-inch AMD R5-5500U 8GB + 256/512GB Silver | RM2,449.00 |
| Asus Laptop Vivobook S | RM2,929.00 |
| Lenovo Laptops V14 G2 ITL 82KAS03900 | RM1,769.00 |
What are the specifications of a good laptop?
Laptops are essential tools for office, school or business use and a good quality one should be worth the money as they say. All laptops have different specifications, and here are some tips on how to choose a laptop with excellent specification:
| Specification | Optimal Option | Alternative Features to Consider |
|---|---|---|
| Screen Size | 15.6 inches | 12 to 14 inches can be more portable |
| Operating System | MacOS | Windows or Chrome OS |
| Processor | Core i7 | Core i3, Core i5 |
| RAM | 16GB | 4GB is the normal one |
| Screen resolution | 3840 x 2160 | 1920 x 1080 for cheaper but also good quality |
| Battery Life | 8 hours of battery life | 7-8 hours |
Learn more: Malaysia Cheapest Laptop
How much RAM do I need?
A standard laptop has 4GB RAM, which is already of good quality for some essential tasks. If you are looking for a laptop to use for demanding tasks or gaming, video editing, and graphic designing, you should choose a laptop with at least 8GB RAM for flawless and smooth usage. This is the sweet spot for users, especially for those who have tons of activities to do using a laptop.
The Most Reliable Laptop Brands in Malaysia
| Best Laptop Brands for This Year in Malaysia |
|---|
| Apple |
| HP. Hewlett-Packard |
| Dell |
| Lenovo |
| Microsoft |
| Samsung |
| Asus |
| Sony |
| LG |
| Toshiba |
| MSI |
| Huawei |
Is it cheap to buy laptop in Malaysia?
It's always good to do some research beforehand and compare prices from different retailers to get the best deal.
Moreover, purchasing during promotional periods like the yearly 11.11 sales or during festive seasons can get you significant discounts and savings.
Overall, buying a laptop in Malaysia can be relatively cheap and accessible for the average consumer.
Why laptop prices increased in Malaysia?
One factor is the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has disrupted global supply chains and led to shortages of essential components needed to manufacture laptops. This has resulted in increased costs for manufacturers and ultimately a price increase for consumers.
Moreover, the weakening of the Malaysian ringgit against other currencies has also contributed to the rise in laptop prices.
Finally, increased demand for laptops due to the shift towards remote work and learning has led to a surge in prices as the supply struggles to keep up with the demand.
Despite these reasons, it is important to note that prices can vary depending on the brand, model and specifications of the laptop you are looking to purchase.
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