Best Budget Laptops 2026: 7 Picks That Still Make Sense When RAM Costs a Fortune

memeburn.com Sep 25, 2026

Best Budget Laptops 2026: 7 Picks That Still Make Sense When RAM Costs a Fortune

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Sep 25, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Apple’s MacBook Neo, now priced at $699 after a June hike, remains the benchmark for budget laptops, even as memory shortages push prices up. IDC projects a 17% rise in average PC prices in 2026, with shipments falling 11.3%, and no relief from the RAM crunch before 2027. The only sub‑$800 model offering 16 GB of RAM is Lenovo’s IdeaPad Slim 3x at $779.99, while budget gaming laptops like the Acer Nitro V 16 AI have slipped above $1,000. The article ranks seven budget laptops, emphasizing RAM, battery life, and screen quality.

💡 Why It Matters

· The surge in RAM costs reshapes what consumers consider “budget,” forcing buyers to prioritize memory over price.
· This shift signals a broader industry pivot toward AI‑driven hardware demands.

Read full article on memeburn.com

New iPad mini details revealed in latest leak

A new leak from Apple’s internal code reveals that the next‑generation iPad mini will feature a new A20 Pro chip, matching the power of the iPhone 18 Pro, and an OLED display. The design remains largely unchanged from the current model, but the camera relocates to the side, and a small speaker cutout appears at the top of the screen. The device is expected to offer improved water resistance and a revised speaker system, with a projected release by the end of October.

💡 The A20 Pro upgrade signals a significant performance leap for the iPad mini, positioning it as a more capable competitor in the mid‑size tablet market.

windowscentral.com · Sep 25

Dell’s XPS 13 proves you don’t have to spend a fortune on…

Sean Endicott, a veteran News Writer at Windows Central, specializes in Windows 11, Surface devices, Microsoft 365, AI, and broader Windows ecosystem coverage. Since joining the site in 2017, he has authored over a thousand articles, ranging from breaking news and analysis to feature pieces and opinion columns. Endicott also curates the weekly “Windows Wrap,” distilling the most significant stories of the week and contextualizing them within the PC landscape. Prior to his full‑time role, he earned a First Class degree in Broadcast Journalism from Nottingham Trent University and worked in journalism and media production, gaining experience in live broadcast environments. Outside tech, he is an award‑winning youth American football coach in Nottingham, recognized as the 2024 BAFCA Youth Coach of the Year.

💡 His dual expertise in fast‑moving tech reporting and live media production gives readers nuanced, timely insight into Microsoft’s evolving ecosystem.

tomsguide.com · Sep 25

I put the new Pixel 11 Pro XL astrophotography mode to the…

Google’s Pixel 11 Pro XL was pitted against the $2,500 OM SYSTEM OM‑3 Astro mirrorless camera equipped with a fast 12 mm f/2 Olympus lens to evaluate its new Night Sight engine for astrophotography. The Pixel’s updated computational pipeline claims up to 4.5 times faster capture than previous models, and the test focused on side‑by‑side image quality, ease of use, and processing speed. While the dedicated camera required manual exposure, ISO, and focus adjustments, the Pixel operated in fully automatic Astrophotography mode after being mounted on a tripod, detecting stillness and handling all processing internally. Results showed the phone producing surprisingly competitive star fields and detail, narrowing the gap between smartphone convenience and specialist equipment despite the stark price disparity.

💡 The test demonstrates that advanced computational photography can deliver near‑professional night‑sky results without the technical expertise or expense traditionally required.

appleinsider.com · Sep 25

Apple’s next HomePod mini won’t get a redesign, but will get some…

Apple is preparing a second‑generation HomePod mini that retains the original spherical chassis while adding four color options. The new lineup will replace the current yellow and orange finishes with powder pink and forest‑green, while blue, black and white return. The details emerged from product‑image files embedded in Apple’s software code, which MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris uncovered and shared. Apple has not formally announced the device, but the presence of the images suggests a launch is imminent. The first HomePod mini arrived in October 2020 and survived the discontinuation of the full‑size HomePod, remaining the company’s sole smart speaker until a refreshed full‑size model appeared in January 2023. The upcoming refresh signals Apple’s continued focus on the compact smart‑speaker market.

💡 Fresh colorways let Apple tap aesthetic differentiation to sustain consumer interest in a crowded smart‑speaker space.

androidcentral.com · Sep 25

Motorola just gave privacy fans a big reason to consider the Signature…

Motorola unveiled its Signature 27 as one of the first smartphones to run Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6, a 2 nm chip capable of 5 GHz speeds. The device features a redesigned camera layout, Audio by B&O, and a new build that departs from previous Signature models. Crucially, GrapheneOS has confirmed initial support for the phone, marking the first non‑Pixel device to receive the privacy‑focused OS. Motorola has not yet announced a release date or price.

💡 By opening GrapheneOS to a mainstream flagship, Motorola expands privacy‑oriented Android options beyond the Pixel line, potentially reshaping how consumers balance performance and security.

9to5google.com · Sep 25

Android’s Create My Widget ‘app’ detailed on phones, Googlebooks

Google announced that its new “Create My Widget” app will launch on September 24, initially on Googlebooks, with a Play Store listing previewing its phone interface. The guided experience offers categories such as Weather, Sports & fitness, Events & travel, Daily habits, Important dates, Finance, and Tools & tips, each containing template widgets. Users can also describe a custom widget via a prompt box. The app, version 1.27.983746769.0‑desktop_release, uses Material 3 Expressive shapes for simple, low‑information designs, and is available under the package name com.google.android.apps.yourwidget.

💡 The app’s template‑driven approach lowers the barrier for non‑developers to create personalized widgets, potentially reshaping how users interact with their home screens and encouraging broader adoption of dynamic content.