Best Budget Laptops with IPS Screen : 15 Laptops with the Best Displays in 2020!

Thanks to tablets and smartphones, IPS displays are widely available today for consumer laptop. And although their prices have dropped significantly in recent years, you still need to look carefully at the specs sheet to be sure you’ll get  a laptop with an IPS screen, especially for budget laptops. In addition to that, not all IPS displays are equal, and some are better than others.

If you’re looking for a laptop with IPS screen, then you’re in the right place. We have done the research for you, and picked some of the laptops with the best screens you can find as of 2020: we have included different models, for different budgets and needs, from budget laptops to mobile workstations and ultrabooks. But before we show you our list, let’s first see why and when you should consider buying a notebook with IPS display. If you already know about the advantages of an IPS display, you can skip this part and scroll down to the list.

What is an IPS display?

IPS, also known as In-Plane Switching, is a type of monitor display technology used in TFT LCD panels, or Liquid Crystal Display. LCD or “Liquid Crystal Display” is a type of monitor panels that has thin layers of liquid crystals sandwiched between two layers of filters and electrodes. TFT stands for Thin Film Transistor, and as its name implies, is a type of LCD displays that helps provide better colors, contrast and black levels. There are two types of TFT LCD displays: IPS and TN, which stands for for Twisted Nematic. IPS panels use shifting patterns of their liquid crystals, and they were designed to overcome the limitations of TN panels. The liquid crystal’s ability to shift horizontally creates better viewing angles, and that’s exactly why users who want color accuracy and consistency prefer IPS panels.

The IPS technology is not very recent, but it gained popularity among consumers thanks to the introduction of touch devices, and most importantly top the iPad, which had an IPS display back in 2011. However, IPS monitors were already used by professional photographers, artists, and graphic designers before that, but they were expensive.

Advantages of IPS screen technology:

When it comes to picture quality, IPS displays offer excellent color reproduction and great viewing angles compared to cheaper TN panels. For example, even high end TN panels can only display 6-bits per RGB color, while IPS panels have a higher bit depth, which means a higher color accuracy. This explain why IPS monitors were always preferred by graphic designers and professionals who do color critical work. IPS monitors are also able to support professional color space technologies, such as Adobe RGB.

For consumers, there is another advantage offered by IPS displays , and it’s their wide viewing angles. If your screen has a TN panel, and if you are looking at it from off-center, you will notice that the colors will become more and more washed out, especially the dark tones. This is bad news if your work depends on color accuracy, considering that TN panels are not that great when it comes to color reproduction. IPS panels are also prone to “color shifting” when viewed from different angles, but it’s very minimal and for you to notice it you’ll have to look at the screen from a really extreme angle.

So overall, if your laptop comes with an IPS screen, this means that you’ll have a better picture quality. Most laptops that have an IPS screen have a matte finish, which is very helpful for reducing reflections when using the laptop outdoors, or a room where there is a direct light source. However, some users prefer a glossy finish, because it makes the colors look even sharper on an IPS panel.

However, not all IPS panels are equal, and some IPS panels have a few problems that you should consider; which can include more visible motion blur , or ghosting, coming as a result of slower response times. For gamers, a high quality TN panel can be a better option, since they have minimal response time. But it doesn’t mean that IPS technology didn’t improve; in fact, many IPS panels have low response times, and are suitable for gaming.

Why should you buy a laptop with an IPS display?

In conclusion, IPS displays provide 178-degree vertical and horizontal viewing angles, excellent color accuracy and consistency, have less color/contrast shifting. They are a good fit if you need a laptop for creative purposes (photo editing, video editing, web design..etc), watching movies and videos, and also for gaming if you value image quality over response time.

If you’re a gamer and need the lowest response time possible, or if you’re simply on a budget, you can go with a regular TN panel, as they are significantly cheaper and have way better response times compared to IPS. The following video showcases the differences in colors and viewing angles between an IPS panel and a TN panel, on the same system:

So, now that you have an idea about IPS displays and their advantages, let’s check out some of the best laptops with IPS screens we selected for you. In this list, you can find both budget and cheap laptops, as well as mid range and premium laptops too.

Best budget and mid range laptops with IPS screen:

• Acer Aspire 5 A515-54-59W2:
  

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First on our list, the new Acer Aspire 5 is one of the best budget laptops with IPS screen you can find. In fact, we did not only include it because of its great display, but also because it has the best specs combination at this price point, and will surely meet the needs of a wide range of users.

This laptop comes with quite a few improvements over the previous generation; it’s packed with a 10th gen Intel Core -i5-1035G1 Processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 512GB NVMe SSD. It’s a great backlit keyboard laptop for everyday use, for school, and of course for it’s a great budget laptop for watching movies. The 15,6 inch IPS display can reach a brightness of 290 cd/m², which is the average at this price point.

The Aspire 5 also comes with a good amount of ports and the chassis is considerably thinner than the E15. The Aspire 5 definitely feels more premium despite its lower price. Battery life is also great, and you can easily get 8 hours of use from a single charge.

• Acer Swift 5 SF515

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The Acer Swift 5 SF515 is a lightweight 15,6 inch laptop if you’re looking for a slim and compact laptop to work on the go. The Swift 5 comes with a 8th generation i5-8265U processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB Solid State drive. This is a pretty standard configuration at this price range, but the reason why the Acer Swift 5 made it to on our list is its beautiful 15,6 inch IPS screen, and its build quality and premium design. The display is gorgeous and offers great viewing angles. It’s not only great for watching movies, but it’s also color accurate enough, and can be suitable for photo editing and graphic design. It’s also a touch screen.

In terms of ports, there are 2 USB 3.0 ports, 1 USB C, and an HDMI port. The security is also enhanced thanks to a fingerprint reader.

• Acer Spin 3 SP314-53N-53SH

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If you’re looking for an affordable 2-in-1 IPS laptop that offers great value for your money, then here is the Acer Spin 3 SP314-53N-53SH. It comes with an Intel i5-8265U processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB solid state drive. The fact that the Spin 3 comes with a PCIe based SSD makes it more responsive and thanks to the 8th gen processor, the performance is very consistent . The 8^th generation Intel i5-8265U CPU gives a solid performance, and also be used for heavy tasks.

The 14 inch IPS full HD screen is surely one of the best aspects of the Spin 3. It offers wide viewing angles and vibrant colors, which makes this laptop a perfect choice for watching movies. There is also rechargeable Active Stylus, which you can use for drawing, or note taking.

Battery life is above average, and Acer claims up to 12 hours of use. In practice, you can easily get about 8 hours as battery life as tests have shown. In terms of ports, they are rather limited, with 1USB 3.0, 1USB 2.0, and HDMI. There is no USB-C however.

• Dell Inspiron 3780:

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If you enjoy watching movies and want reasonably priced 17 inch laptop, then consider the Dell Inspiron 3780. The Inspiron 3780 can be considered a “desktop replacement” laptop, it packs an 8th Gen Intel Quad-Core i5-8265U processor, 8GB of RAM, a 1TB hard drive, and most of all a 17.3 inch Full HD IPS display. This laptop is great for daily use, streaming Netflix, browsing, and working from home!

In terms of connectivity options, you’ll get 2 USB 3.0, 1 USB 2.0, HDMI, Ethernet, and DVD/RW too. However, this laptop doesn’t have USB-C, and some people can find the included HDD a little bit slow. Battery life is also very limited, and that’s to be expected for a 17 inch laptop.

• Lenovo Ideapad S340

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Lenovo did a great job with the Ideapad S340, combining top specs, build quality,  while keeping the costs down. This laptop comes with an 8th gen Intel i7-8565U processor, 12GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. It’s a perfect combination if you want a laptop for home or office use. The small bezels around the screen also help keep the size of this laptop down, despite the 15,6 inch display. And speaking of the display, this laptop comes with a Full HD IPS panel, that ensures smooth and vibrant graphics. It’s also a touchscreen, but this laptop doesn’t have a 360° hinge, so you can’t use it as a tablet.

As for connectivity, you will find an average array of ports on the S340: 2 USB ports, one USB type C, HDMI, and a card reader.

• HP Pavilion 15-cs3019nr

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The HP Pavilion 15-cs3019nr is powered by a 10th Gen Intel Core i7-1065G7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. This budget friendly laptop is perfect if you’re looking for an affordable IPS laptop for home or office use. The new i7-1065G7 processor has a score of 9116 points on cpu benchmark’s list, and can handle multitasking or cpu heavy application with no hiccups.

HP used the AUO B156HAN02.1 display for this particular laptop, and while it’s not the best display out there when it comes to color accuracy, it’s bright enough and will easily suffice if you mainly use your laptop for watching movies, youtube, or for work. The 81% screen to body ratio also helps provide an immersive experience.

This laptop also comes with a good amount of ports, including 2 USB 3.0 ports, a USB type C port, HDMI, and an Ethernet port.

• Lenovo Yoga C930:

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The Lenovo Yoga C930 is a 2 in 1 laptop that offers plenty of value for your money, starting with the distinctive design, excellent performance, and the good battery life. It comes with an 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8550U Processor, 12GB of RAM, a 512GB PCIe SSD, all in a premium aluminum chassis. The Yoga 930 is also one of the best laptops with IPS screen you can find, thanks to its 13.9 inch Full HD touch screen.

The Lenovo Yoga 930 also comes with an original “watchband” hinge, that you can use the laptop in reverse tablet, tent or tablet mode. This laptop is also great for watching movies, and has rotating sound bar with Dolby Atmos speaker system which helps direct the sound when you’re using the laptop in tablet mode. There’s also an included active pen, which can help for doodling.

This laptop is also equipped with two USB-C // Thunderbolt 3 ports for connecting advanced monitors and external drives. There’s also a fingerprint reader for enhanced security.

• Asus ZenBook UX434FLC-XH77:

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Moving up the price range, we have the Asus ZenBook UX434FLC-XH77, a powerful ultraportable with a great display. The Asus ZenBook UX434FLC-XH77 comes with numerous improvement over the previous model (which was awesome too), and it almost ticks all the boxes: it comes with a new 10th generation Intel i7-10510U processor, 16GB of RAM, a dedicated GeForce MX250, and a blazing fast 512GB SSD. Multitasking, working with intensive applications, and even light gaming shouldn’t be a problem at all.

Although the laptop is very slim, it feels very sturdy thanks to the aluminum chassis. The screen on the ZenBook UX434FLC-XH77 has a Full HD resolution, and thanks to the IPS panel, color representation is pretty accurate, and the screen is very bright. This laptop also has some unique features, such as the ScreenPad and ErgoLift hinge.

The ZenBook UX434FLC-XH77 is also a champion when it comes to battery life, thanks to the new processor, and battery optimization programs. You can easily get 9 hours of normal use.

• LG Gram 15Z90N
  

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The LG Gram 15Z90N is a thin and light, 15.6” Full HD touch-screen laptop with a narrow bezel design. It features a 10^th generation Intel Core i5-1035G7 processor, coupled with 8 GB of RAM and a 256 GB SSD. Despite having a traditional screen size, the Gram weights less than 2.5 pounds, making it a great choice fi you’re looking for a lightweight laptop.

Thanks to its processing power and good amount of RAM, the LG Gram 15Z90N makes for a rather powerful machine for both home and business use. It’s equipped with a backlit keyboard that features a separate numeric keypad, as well. That comes in handy if you do data entry work or are a heavy spreadsheets user.

The LG Gram 15Z90N also sports a gorgeous 15,6 Full HD Display, that produces sharp images and provides great color accuracy. It should be noted that the brightness level of this display is not as high as some other ultrabooks, so keep that in mind if you’re looking for a laptop for outdoor use.

The LG Gram also features one of the latest USB Type-C ports that also doubles as a Thunderbolt 3, as well as 3 other USB 3.0 ports, and HDMI. The most surprising spec, though, is the battery life. The manufacturer claims it lasts up to 18.5 hours, and many users have reported great battery life too!

• Dell Inspiron 15 7590

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Packing a 9th Gen Intel i7 processor, the Dell Inspiron 15 7590 is a solid all purpose laptop that combines an impressive feature set and a budget friendly price. Let’s first talk about the looks, the Inspiron 7590 has a beautiful magnesium alloys body, and the overall design has a premium feel. The build quality seems very robust, when compared to other budget laptops in the same price range.

Other than the great processor and the 8GB of RAM,and the dedicated Nvidia GTX 1050 graphics card, the thing that separates the Inspiron from the rest is its display. While it’s not the brightest screen out there, the Inspiron 7590 has a stunning Full HD 15,6 inch IPS display, which provides accurate colors (Covers 91% of sRGB), good contrast, and excellent viewing angles, this laptop is great for Photoshop. The screen can reach up to 396 cd/m², so it’s quite bright. The Inspiron 7590 is also a serious budget gaming laptop, thanks to the dedicated NVIDIA GeForce 1050.

Another reason why this laptop is special is the number of ports: there are 3 USB 3.0 ports, 1 USB -C that doubles as a Thunderbolt 3 port, and an HDMI port.

Best premium laptops with IPS screen:

While we have included mainly some budget and mid range laptops with IPS displays in this list, some of you may also be interested in high end laptops. These laptops have some of the best displays ever, and of course, all of them have IPS technology.

• Gigabyte AERO 15-W9-RT4P : One of the best displays on laptops!
  

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Minimal bezels are not only found in ultrabooks! If you’re looking for a gaming laptop with thin bezels, here is the Gigabyte AERO 15-W9-RT4P. The Aero 15 is a minimal looking, 15.6” Full HD gaming laptop with thin bezels measuring barely 0.11 inch. The display has a refresh rate of 144Hz. The Aero 15 features an 8^th generation Intel Core i7 8750H processor, 16 GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. It comes with the dedicated NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 graphics card.

The Aero 15 is your choice to go if you’re not into aggressive looking gaming laptops. This machine is easily one of the slimmest gaming laptops you can find, for the ones among you that prefer the added portability value. Unlike many gaming laptops out there, the Aero 15 offers up to nine hours of untethered productivity. But it doesn’t mean that the Aero 15 is only good for gaming; it’s also capable of handling serious heavy tasks like butter, including video editing, content creation, 3D modelling, or CAD software.

Then comes the best part about the Aero 15 and the main reason why it’s on this list: the display. The Aero 15 has one of the best IPS displays you can find on a laptop today. This Full HD IPS display offers the best resolution density in its class, and comes at Adobe RGB color gamut that brings a wider and more accurate colors.

• New Apple MacBook Pro 16: A gorgeous display and a stunning design

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When it comes to laptop displays, Apple has always made some of the laptops with the best displays ever, and the new 16 inch Macbook Pro is no exception. This laptop features a 16 inch IPS screen, with a resolution of 3072 x 1920 pixels , or “Retina display” as Apple like to call it. Not only does the screen on the Apple Macbook Pro 16 offers extremely accurate colors, but it’s also one of the brightest out there.

Under the hood, you will also find an Intel Core i7-9750H processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. Performance is nothing less you’d expect from a Macbook pro, this laptop is perfect for multitasking and is also lightweight with a great battery life. This laptop is also equipped with a dedicated AMD Radeon Pro 5300M .

However, a lot of users complained about the keyboard being shallow and lacking key depth. I personally do not think it’s that big of a deal, but the new Apple “Butterfly” keyboard design is either something you’ll hate or love.

• Razer Blade 15:

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If there’s a Windows PC that can rival the build quality and design of the Macbooks it’s gotta  be the new Razer Blade 15. This compact gaming laptop comes with an intel core i7-10750H, 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and a dedicated Nvidia Geforce RTX 2070 Max-Q. And while it’s aimed for gaming, its build quality and slim design make it a good fit fit for those looking for maximum performance while keeping the weight down.

But the reason why the Razer Blade 15 is on out list is not only the cutting-edge performance, but it’s gorgeous 15,6 Full HD 144hz display. The version featured here has IPS technology and is simply one of the best displays you find on a laptop. The Screen provides crisp details and vibrant colors, viewing angles are also very generous all thanks to the IPS panel.

There’s also a good number of ports, including 2 USB C// thunderbolt 3 ports, 3 USB 3.0, and HDMI.

• Dell XPS 15 7590

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The Dell XPS 15 is another great premium laptop that features a top notch IPS display. This laptop features a 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9750H, 16GB of RAM, 1TB SSD, and a dedicated GTX 1650 Graphics Card. Just like the Razer Blade, this laptop is perfect for professionals who are looking for a powerful compact laptop.

But the display is probably the highlight of this laptop: it comes with a high quality 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) touch IPS, that provides excellent picture quality and high brightness levels. Which means that the XPS 15 is great for professionals who need a color accurate display. This laptop is one of the few that can cover 100% of the Adobe RGB color space.

• MSI Prestige 15 A10SC-010:

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MSI is known for building great gaming laptops, and they do that very well. But that doesn’t mean that they are not also trying to conquer other types of users. With the MSI Prestige 15 A10SC-010, this laptop also has a thin bezels, which helps reduce the footprint.

The MSI Prestige 15 A10SC-010 comes with a 10th generation i7-10710U processor, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. The Prestige 15 offers consistent performance for daily productivity tasks, and even more demanding ones such as video editing. And while the PS42 8RB-059 is not the best gaming laptop you can get at this price range, it still comes with a dedicated NVIDIA GTX 1650 with 4GB memory; which means that you can still play some titles at low to medium settings; an advantage considering most ultrabooks come with integrated graphics.

But one of the best things about the Prestige 15 is its 15,6 inch 4K IPS display. Display measurements reveal very accurate colors (100% Adobe RGB) and deep contrasts thanks to the IPS panel, the MSI Prestige 15 is perfect if you need a laptop for photo editing, or simply a multimedia machine.

Battery life is very good, with more than 8 hours in real world use. And there is another which I personally love about this laptop, and it’s the amount of ports; the MSI Prestige 15 A10SC-010 has 2 USB type C ports, and 2 USB 3.1 ports; quite a rarity these days among ultrabooks.