A lot of laptops nowadays come in very cheap, often less than $500, but it’s hard to find a cheap one that doesn’t totally suck. Most of these affordable laptops are sub-brands of different mainstream brands that are created for some specific type of users. Some popular gaming and productivity laptops are sub-products of other brands. For instance, Alienware is a sub-brand of Dell, while Asus has the VivoBook Series designed for budget buyers.
Apart from these sub-brands, some standalone brands are not as popular as let’s say, HP, Dell, Asus, Lenovo or Samsung; not because they don’t have reliable products, but because 3they’re not mainstream, even though they’ve been around for a while. The SGIN Laptop brand is one such example. While this laptop brand has been around for a while delivering affordable machines for budget buyers, it’s still little known.
What Brand is SGIN
SGIN (Smart Global Innovation) is a laptop brand that’s been around since 2017 and has maintained a steady dedication to delivering dependable, well-built notebooks at an affordable price point that most of its competitors. Compared with even the most affordable laptops from mainstream manufacturers like HP and Asus, SGIN laptops still come in cheaper even when they pack almost similar features.
For anybody looking for a usable machine that won’t break the bank, SGIN may be a brand worth considering. In addition to affordable laptops, they also produce tablets that are good alternatives to the likes of Chromebooks and other basic laptops. The only caveat is that most of their machines are niche, mostly made for students or basic works due to limited processing power, but they do offer good storage and battery life.
When shopping for a laptop in the sub-$500 category, you’re sometimes forced to sacrifice performance or design, and sometimes both. Or, you can opt for Chromebooks that offer better designs but are limited to Chrome OS. In that regard, SGIN laptops successfully strike a balance between form and function, while straddling the limitations of Chrome OS by offering a full Windows 11 experience at very affordable prices.
However, SGIN currently has a limited model range for its laptops, which can’t be said of the Acer Aspire 5 or Asus VivoBook 15 which are available in different models at varying price points.
Pros and Cons of SGIN Laptop
Buying a budget Windows laptop is a different experience now than just a few years ago. Many of the major manufacturers have significantly improved their affordable PCs to complement their premium brands, and there are lots of other smaller manufacturers like SGIN offering capable laptops in the $300 to $500 range.
Despite budget laptops looking a lot more attractive these days, there are still some noteworthy pros and cons to consider before buying. In the case of SGIN laptops, we lay them out right here:
Pros
- Affordable than even some Chromebooks: The standout feature of SGIN laptops is simply how affordable they can get, making them an attractive option for value-hunters on tight budgets.
- Lightweight and Portable: When buying the SGIN laptop, you’re assured of a lightweight build that will meet your needs if you’re always on the move.
- Solid-State Drive (SSD) storage: Despite coming in at very affordable prices, many SGIN laptops come with SSD storage options, offering fairly fast data access, quicker boot times and improved overall responsiveness.
- Decent Battery Life: Unlike budget laptops from many years ago, SGIN laptops boast respectable battery life that will keep you productive for almost a day without running out of battery life.
- User-friendly design: Unlike their expensive counterparts from HP and Lenovo, SGIN laptops are generally simple, accessible and easy to use, making them good choices for students or anyone with little tech expertise.
Cons
- Limited processing power: Most budget laptops don’t boast any extraordinary processing power, but the Intel Celeron processors in SGIN laptops are a little underwhelming, which makes them less desirable for more demanding activities.
- Middling Display Quality: We’ve seen budget laptops like the Acer Aspire 5 boast decent display quality and offer even a 1080p screen, but the colour accuracy and brightness levels on the SGIN laptop aren’t one of the best around, the affordable price notwithstanding.
- Limited Model Range: The available SGIN laptops are more limited compared to larger, more established brands, limiting the choices for consumers seeking to get diverse specifications.
Is SGIN a good laptop brand?
Depending on your purpose of buying, SGIN can be a good choice. The SGIN laptop is simple, affordable and easy to use, making it an attractive brand for students and users seeking an affordable Windows alternative, otherwise, Chromebooks would be more attractive at this price point.
For the most part, you’re getting Intel Celeron processors, 12GB RAM and 512GB SSD, but that doesn’t make these laptops capable of playing modern games. Again, some users had issues with compatibility with Windows 11, but the issue has since been fixed.
Overall, despite not being a popular brand, SGIN offers pretty useful machines for budget buyers, and they should only be used for basic tasks. I would recommend them if you’re looking for a very affordable laptop, but if you’re not limited to Windows, Chromebooks costing around the same price would be more useful.
Should I buy a SGIN Laptop in 2024?
Yes, if you really need a Windows laptop and can’t consider a Chromebook or some other Windows alternatives in the sub-$500 price range. SGIN laptops are portable, cost-effective and will suffice for your day-to-day needs. However, limitations like a thin model range, and middling processing power thanks to the Celeron processor make them less attractive compared to its mainstream competitors. Available alternatives include the Acer Aspire 5, Asus VivoBook 15 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 among others.
If this SGIN Laptop Review has you considering some of the company’s affordable laptops, here are the best to consider…
Recommended Configuration
SGIN 15.6 Inch Laptop 8GB RAM 256GB SSD Celeron Quad-Core Up to 2.8GHz, PC Notebook with Dual Band WiFi, 2xUSB 3.0, Keyboard Film in Eight Languages
The Review
SGIN Laptop
The SGIN Laptop is an attractive choice for anyone looking for an affordable device for basic computing needs, especially for students and other basic users.
PROS
- Affordable
- Lightweight and Portable
- Decent Battery Life
CONS
- Limited processing power
- Middling Display Quality
Review Breakdown
-
ARS Guide Score