Looking for a Durable and Affordable Laptop for Everyday Tasks

I am from India and my budget is around Rs 35,000 or $400. Durability is key for me as I need the laptop to last at least 5 years. My main uses will be browsing the internet, managing files, and some light programming with Visual Studio. I require at least 8GB of RAM and would like the option to expand it to at least 16GB in the future.

I recommend a Thinkpad, known for its durability and value. You can find affordable options and even consider buying a used one. They are built to last and offer great performance for the price.

Haru said:
I recommend a Thinkpad, known for its durability and value. You can find affordable options and even consider buying a used one. They are built to last and offer great performance for the price.

Unfortunately, eBay isn’t available here, but Lenovo is still a great option over other brands like Dell. I don’t have much experience with HP.

@Luca
That’s unfortunate! You could try local online marketplaces for used laptops. I’ve had experience with many brands and found Lenovo’s Thinkpad series to offer the best balance of durability and performance. The Thinkpad P16s is my current model, and it handles everything from business software to intensive computing tasks efficiently.

@Haru
We use OLX.in for second-hand items here, but it’s not specific to electronics and usually requires local pickup.

It’s better to buy a used laptop at this price point; new ones might not offer the best quality.

Avery said:
It’s better to buy a used laptop at this price point; new ones might not offer the best quality.

Agreed. Always try to buy used laptops in person to check their condition firsthand. You can find good deals on high-spec laptops that have been refurbished or are sold in laptop repair shops.

Consider the HP 15 series, specifically models with an i3 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. I’ve used it for a year for tasks like browsing, office applications, and Visual Studio, and it’s performed well, although the battery could be better.

@Zaid
Do you think that model can last 5 years? It might have a better chance running Linux.

Consider the Thinkpad T480. It has two RAM slots supporting up to 64GB, dual drive slots, and dual batteries with one being hot-swappable. It comes with an 8th Gen Intel i5 or i7 processor and supports Windows 11 and many Linux distros. The standard configuration is very affordable.

For reliable and non-gaming laptops, Thinkpads are highly recommended. They’re often mentioned for their quality and durability.