With many choices, it’s hard to find the best budget laptop for streaming, but we’ve got you covered.
Whether you want to stream on Twitch, Youtube, or Facebook Gaming, a laptop with the inclusion of power and portability gives you immense streaming joy.
When you stream video through your machine, it transfers a lot of data to streaming platforms. A laptop that can handle data transfer smoothly and quickly is by far the best choice for you.
But, it depends on your streaming choice, which content you want to stream. Laptops that boast superior processors coupled with dedicated graphics cards are best for streaming games, on the other hand, a processor paired with an integrated graphics card is ideal for live streaming of conferencing or talk shows.
Most of the budget laptops offer awful cameras which are not great for streaming. So, we recommend spending some money on a dedicated camera.
Without further due, let’s just into the list.
Best Budget Laptop For Streaming In 2021
Here is the list of best laptops with powerful specs inside and offers incredible performance.
1) Apple Macbook Air
- Display :- 13 inch Retina Display with 2560 X 1600 resolution
- Processor :- M1 Chip
- Graphics :- M1
- RAM :- 8 GB
- Storage :- 256 GB SSD
The powerful combination of power, performance, and long battery life makes Apple Macbook Air one of the best budget laptop for streaming. In 2020, Apple has made revolutionary changes in its processor by excluding intel chips and including its M1 chip.
The new M1 boasts superior performance whether you just browse the internet, stream live on social platforms, or just binge-watching Netflix. Both GPU and CPU power by M1 chip and deliver long up to 18 hours of battery juice. By far, the battery life is the longest we’ve ever seen in any budget laptop.
Under the hood, it features 8 cores CPU and gives up to 3.5X faster performance to tackle projects faster than ever. Plus, the stunning 13-inch retina display managed to produce images with better and accurate color combinations. That immersive display features 2560 X 1600 native resolution at 227 pixels per inch with support for millions of colors.
If you are a content creator and need a laptop for all your daily tasks then Macbook Air is worth the shot.
In addition to this, 8 GB RAM and 256 GB SSD allow you to store and collect your information with ease. If storage and memory are not sufficient for you then there are configuration options available if money is not an object for you.
The freshly designed M1 chip touts remarkable performance and handles everything you throw at it without any lagging or freezing issue.
Best of all, Apple offers an HD camera with an advanced image signal processor and powerful enough to deliver bright and detailed images during facetime or video conferencing. But, if you need to churn out content with Full HD or 4K video quality then we’ve recommended purchasing a separate webcam.
2) Lenovo Legion 5
- Display :- 15.6 Inch display with 1920 X 1080 pixels resolution
- Processor :- Ryzen 7 4800 H
- Graphics :- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 ti
- RAM :- 16 GB
- Storage :- 512 GB SSD
Lenovo Legion 5 is mainly designed for those who solely need to stream games with their viewers and see their comments or suggestion during gaming. It’s a gaming laptop with a dedicated GPU and mighty processor that delivers powerful performance on the go.
Surely, it’s expensive but if you need laptops with high-end specs and marvelous performance then Lenovo Legion is the best stop for you.
On the Inside, it armes with Ryzen 7 4800 H processor with a dedicated NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Graphics. Both GPUs and CPUs are well built and handle AAA games with high graphics settings. Plus, they give a pleasant playable frame for every gaming needs.
Lenovo Coldfront 2.0 system managed an efficient cooling system without burning itself.
The 15.6-inch display comes with Full HD resolution and a refresh rate of 144hz IPS panel. The overall design of Legion is just as sleek and thin as ever before, but it somewhat looks heavy, on account of its gaming laptop.
As far as memory is concerned, It comes with 16 GB RAM out of the box and coupled with 512 GB NVMe SSD gives an unparalleled performance. The RAM and storage both are upgradable for the future. But for most of the folks, memory is enough, albeit we recommend purchasing a separate Hard Disk for enormous storage capacity.
The biggest knock against Lenovo Legion 5 is its battery life that gives only 3 hours of battery life during gaming and up to 5 hours during basic tasks such as browsing, watching videos, and reading Ebooks.
3) Dell G3 15
- Display :- 15.6 Inch display with 1920 X 1080 pixels resolution
- Processor :- 10th Generation Intel Core i5
- Graphics :- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650
- RAM :- 8 GB
- Storage :- 256 GB SSD + 1 TB SSD
Dell G3 35 is an incredibly designed laptop with a solid build and lives up to the hype of users in every area. In favor of the processor, it lauded the 10th generation Intel core i5 processor and up to 4.5 of turbo boost technology.
It holds a dedicated NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 inside and brings wonderful images for gaming, image, or video editing. The display features a 15.6-inch stunning panel with a resolution of 1920 X 1080 pixels and allows you to improve your productivity during multitasking.
Moreover, it integrated a 120Hz refresh rate and 250 nits of brightness that offers a clearly visible screen for the outside.
Further, it packs 8 GB RAM and 256 GB SSD to store and collect your data and information. By featuring a backlit keyboard outside, it heats the sweet spot for those who work in the night or low light area. The spacious keys are easy to press and feel snappy for fast typing.
For long battery life lovers, Dell G3 15 is a real kicker and offers 6 hours of battery juice for executing your tasks without worrying about power input.
As for ports, you’ll get RJ 45, HDMI 2.0, 1 superspeed USB 3.2 Gen 1, 2 SuperSpeed USB 2.0, and 1 Headset jack.
More importantly, it is equipped with nahimic 3D audio that produces breathtaking audio with its three-dimensional flows and gives precise depth and bass.
For uninterrupted connection, Dell provides powerful Wi-Fi 802.11 Ac and Ethernet port.
Dell G3 15 is a powerful and value for money product you’ll get for the best budget laptop for streaming.
4) Acer Aspire 5
- Display :- 15.6 Inch display with 1920 X 1080 pixels resolution
- Processor :- 10th Generation Intel Core i5
- Graphics :- Intel UHD Graphics
- RAM :- 8 GB
- Storage :- 256 GB SSD
If you’ve got a tight budget and are looking for a powerful yet affordable laptop within the budget of $500, then the Acer Aspire 5 is a top-notch choice for you. Aspire 5 comes with a slim and thin design and allows you to carry it around anywhere without putting pressure on your shoulders.
It is tailored with an aluminum top cover and integrated with a solid build that ensures the laptop stays with you for a long time.
It comes with a 10th generation Intel core i5 1035G1 processor and offers up to 3.6 GHz turbo boosts. Moreover, Acer offers integrated Intel UHD graphics to deliver exceptional images with better colors and accuracy.
The integrated graphics are not as capable as discrete GPUs, so if you play AAA games with medium to high settings this might not be a great choice for you. Though, it can handle games like Minecraft, GTA, Arkham Asylum, and others. If you like to stream this game then this baby is an excellent bet for you.
In terms of storage, Acer Provides 8 GB RAM and 256 GB solid-state drivers to run multiple apps smoothly and fast booting time.
Best of all, it features the latest Wi-Fi 6 and gives hassle-free wireless connectivity. Finally, Acer Aspire 5 offers an acceptable 5 hours of battery backup which is really good for any budget steaming laptop.
5) Acer Nitro 5
- Display :- 15.6 Inch display with 1920 X 1080 pixels resolution
- Processor :- 10th Generation Intel Core i5
- Graphics :- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650Ti
- RAM :- 8 GB
- Storage :- 256 GB SSD + 1 TB HDD
Acer Nitro 5 is another best budget laptop for gaming for those who need a robust laptop with athletic specs inside. The Nitro 5 comes with a 10th generation Intel core i5 processor with a turbo clock speed of 4.1 GHz. The intel H series processor is capable of delivering marvelous performance for gaming and intensive tasks.
The 15.6-inch display features High-resolution pixels along with a 144 Hz refresh rate which makes it an extremely powerful choice to play heavy-duty games with better frame rates.
It shouldered NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650Ti Graphics and gives amazing visuals for gaming. As for storage and memory, It comes with 8 GB DDR4 RAM and 256 GB SSD to quickly boot your device and gives immersive transfer speed.
The Red backlit keyboard gives cool vibes while you stream games and brings gaming heaven to your home. Acer provides a dedicated NitroSense Key inside the keyboard to customize your gaming needs, moreover, highlighted WASD and arrow keys give quick access to gaming commands.
Streaming and gaming give lots of pressure to the laptop and if devices don’t have a powerful cooling system then it ruins your hardware. But, that’s not the case with Acer Nitro 5, the Acer CoolBoost technology ensures the laptop stays cool in any intense tasks.
Best of all, it is equipped with Killer Ethernet E2600 LAN and the latest Intel Wireless Wi-Fi 6 AX201 that gives a latency-free smooth, and reliable internet connection.
Coming to the port area, you’ll get a plethora of port options inside this monster, such as HDMI 2.0, USB 3.2 Gen 1, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type – C, etc.
Acer Nitro 5 features everything a modern-day gaming laptop needs, so if you have a budget under $1000, this is your best bet.
6) Acer Swift 3
- Display :- 14 Inch display with 1920 X 1080 pixels resolution
- Processor :- Ryzen 7 4700U
- Graphics :- AMD Radeon Graphics
- RAM :- 8 GB
- Storage :- 512 GB SSD
If you need a thin and light best budget laptop for streaming then Acer Swift 3 is a top-notch choice for you. Powered By AMD Ryzen 7 4700U Octa-Core processor along with Integrated Radeon Graphics, Swift 3 delivers stunning performance for your streaming needs.
The Ryzen 7 processor is powerful enough to handle heavy tasks without breaking a sweat.
In our opinion, Acer Swift 3 is mainly for those who need to stream presentations, zoom classes, or meetings. It’s not ideal for streaming games on Twitch or YouTube.
The immersive 14-inch display features an IPS LED-backlit panel with 1920 X 1080 resolution and a 16:9 aspect ratio. Not to mention, 82.73% screen to body ratio.
On the memory side, Acer offers 8 GB RAM and 512 GB NVMe SSD out of the box, however, memory is soldered, so you cannot upgrade it.
The keyboard is quite powerful and offers fast traveling keys with a backlit keyboard. For laptop security, you’ll get a fingerprint sensor and windows hello.
The overall build quality of the laptops is quite immersive and doesn’t break easily if you put accidental pressure on it. Part of what makes Acer Swift 3 great is its battery life which lasts for up to 11 hours during regular work and up to 8 hours during intense tasks such as streaming and photo or video editing.
Finally, you have a nice webcam with two built-in microphones and lets you stream videos precisely without any help from separate accessories. The built-in HD camera produces images with crisp and rich details and the microphone delivers crystal clear audio.
To sum up, If you need a thin and compact streaming laptop that you can easily carry around and won’t need to carry a charger every time, then Acer Swift 3 is hands down the best choice.
7) Dell Inspiron 15 5502
- Display :- 15.6 Inch display with 1920 X 1080 pixels resolution
- Processor :- 11th Generation Intel Core i7
- Graphics :- Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- RAM :- 8 GB
- Storage :- 256 GB SSD
Dell Inspiron 15 5502 hits all the marks by offering a newly designed 11th generation i7 processor with 12 MB cache and up to 4.7 GHz turbo boost. The Inspiron series of Dell is known for its solid build and portable design.
It is engineered with a luxurious edge and thin bezels which makes it a powerful choice to carry around.
The i7 processor is coupled with integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics and gives a playable frame for entry-level gaming. Moreover, the 8 GB RAM and 256 GB SSD should be enough to run multiple apps at once.
Speaking about display, Dell offers a gorgeous 15.6-inch display with Anti Glare technology and a resolution of 1920 X 1080 pixels. Though Display is not bright compared to other laptops on our list, bright enough to get the job done.
The keyboard features tactical keys with fast travel speed and allows you to type easily without hard pressing keys. Further, the trackpad is smooth as butter and supports all Windows gestures. There are also decent ports available to connect with an external display, transfer data, and latency-free internet connection through an ethernet cable.
In terms of performance and power, Dell Inspiron 15 is up to the class, but with a bigger tradeoff in name of battery. It offers only 4 hours of battery backup and takes 90 minutes to fully charge.
Putting this knock aside, Dell Inspiron 15 5502 is a marvelous choice when you look for the best budget laptop for streaming.
8) HP Laptop 15
- Display :- 15.6 Inch display with 1920 X 1080 pixels resolution
- Processor :- 11th Generation Intel Core i5
- Graphics :- Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- RAM :- 8 GB
- Storage :- 256 GB SSD
HP 15 Laptop is mainly for those folks who need a streaming laptop for professional purposes. It comes with a potent 11th generation i5 -1135G7 processor and designed to provide better performance with better power efficiency.
The thin and light design features a 6.5 mm micro-edge display and an 80% screen-to-body ratio. The display has a 15.6 inch Full HD panel with IPS technology.
To deliver detailed images with powerful graphics, HP 15 comes with integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics that offers crisp and stunning visuals. With its 8 GB RAM and 256 GB SSD, HP boots up in seconds and allows you to run multiple apps hassle-free.
As for the battery, you’ll get up to 7 hours of battery juice out of the box. Plus, HP’s fast charging can charge a laptop from 0 to 50% in just 45 minutes.
The keys are punchy with fast traveling to give you an amazing typing experience. The inbuilt webcam produces crisp and bright images.
Wrapping up, HP 15 Laptop is the best in the market when it comes to powerful workhorses for your daily needs.
9) HP Pavilion Gaming
- Display :- 15.6 Inch display with 1920 X 1080 pixels resolution
- Processor :- AMD Ryzen 5 4600H
- Graphics :- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650
- RAM :- 16 GB
- Storage :- 256 GB SSD & 1 TB HDD
HP Pavilion Gaming is hands down the best budget laptop for streaming when it comes to stream AAA title games.
Pavilion Series of HP can handle heavy tasks such as heavy games or photo or video editing smoothly. Engineered with solid plastic, HP Pavilion Gaming offers maximum stability.
The display features a 15.6-inch panel with micro-edge bezels as well as 220 nits brightness and 45% NTSC. However, the display is not bright enough to play games outside.
The processor chamber sports a 6 core AMD Ryzen 5 4600H processor and it pairs with dedicated NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 GPUs to offer glitch-free gaming with stunning visuals. 4th Generation Ryzen processors are more powerful and efficient compared to Intel’s 9th generation processors, so you can expect better battery and performance from this machine.
Another triumph for this laptop is its 16 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD, and 1 TB HDD which offers vast storage options to collect and install your favorite games, data, or apps.
When it comes to the keyboard, you’ll get what you pay for. A stylish and reliable keyboard with acid green backlit keys. On top of the screen, you sport an HP True Vision 720p HD Camera that delivers bright and clear images when you use an inbuilt camera to stream videos, join Zoom meetings or talk with your loved one.
Overall, HP Pavilion Gaming is top-notch choice for gamer geeks who need a monstrous machine that gives unmatched performance for their gaming needs.
10) Lenovo Ideapad Gaming 3
- Display :- 15.6 Inch display with 1920 X 1080 pixels resolution
- Processor :- 9th Generation Intel Core i5
- Graphics :- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti
- RAM :- 8 GB
- Storage :- 512 GB SSD
Lenovo Ideapad Gaming 3 is a great example of how far the best budget streaming laptop comes in a short period. The Ideapad Gaming 3 comes with an eye-catching Onyx Black body and elegant curves to give a cutting-edge gaming experience.
Sporting a powerful 10th generation i5-10300H processor and dedicated NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti Graphics card, Lenovo has done everything right with this machine.
It has a bright display with beautiful colors and looks. It features a 15.6-inch display with a 60 Hz refresh rate and 250 nits of brightness. Offering 8 GB RAM and 512 GB SSD it pushes the boundaries for every gaming lover.
The keyboard offers spacious keys with fast traveling that gives more control over your gaming command. Not to mention, stunning Blue backlighting keys.
As for ports, you’ll get 1 X USB 3.1 Gen 1 port, 2 X USB Type-A 3.1 Gen 1 ports, 1 X one HDMI 2.0 port, Ethernet, and a 3.5 mm headphone jack.
Wrapping up, the Lenovo Ideapad gaming 3 is a premium gaming notebook that comes with some minor flaws and offers some amazing specs without breaking your bank.
Final Words
It’s time to put an end to our list of best budget laptop for streaming. We’ve carefully pick laptop that offers incredible performance during streaming without any lag or whatsover.