Best Laptops Under PKR 100,000 (1 Lakh) in Pakistan — July 2026: New vs Used

PKR 100,000 is the most searched laptop budget in Pakistan, and as of July 2026 it sits at an awkward spot. With the dollar hovering around Rs 278, most new current-generation Core i5 machines have drifted to Rs 150,000–185,000 — well past a lakh. At exactly 1 lakh, new means entry-level: a 12th-gen Core i3 or a budget Ryzen with 8GB RAM. The used and refurbished market is a different story entirely: the same money buys a business-class ThinkPad, EliteBook or Latitude with an 11th–12th-gen processor and often 16GB RAM.

So the decision up front: buy new if you need a warranty and a sealed box; buy used business-class if you want roughly double the performance per rupee. Here's how both routes look right now.

If you buy new (warranty and peace of mind)

Honest expectation-setting: at Rs 100,000 the new shelf is thin. Retailers like Czone, PakLap, Shophive and Telemart mostly start their Core i5 13th/14th-gen stock around Rs 155,000+. What realistically fits under or just over a lakh, as of July 2026:

• Lenovo IdeaPad 3 / Slim 3 — 12th-gen Core i3, 8GB, 256–512GB SSD. Around PKR 100,000–112,000 depending on config; prices move with the rupee. The safe default for students and office work, with official local warranty.
• HP 15 (entry) — 12th-gen Core i3 or Ryzen 3 7320U, 8GB. Around PKR 95,000–115,000. Solid keyboard and service network; the Ryzen versions often give slightly better battery life.
• Infinix InBook / other value brands — 12th-gen Core i3 or i5, 8GB–16GB. Around PKR 90,000–120,000. The most spec-per-rupee among new machines, but resale value and service coverage are weaker than HP/Lenovo/Dell.
• Dell Vostro / Inspiron entry i3. Usually around PKR 115,000–130,000 — technically over budget, listed here so you know what "stretching a bit" buys.

Who should buy new: first-time buyers, students who need 3–4 worry-free years, and anyone buying remotely without the chance to inspect a used unit in person.

If you buy used (more power per rupee)

Pakistan's imported used-laptop market — corporate machines pulled from US and European offices — is where 1 lakh gets genuinely powerful. As of July 2026, typical shop prices:

• Lenovo ThinkPad T480 — 8th-gen Core i5/i7, 8–16GB, 256GB SSD. Around PKR 50,000–68,000. The classic budget workhorse: legendary keyboard, dual batteries, easy upgrades. The cheapest sensible ThinkPad; anything older than 8th-gen isn't worth it in 2026.
• Lenovo ThinkPad T14 / X13 — 10th–11th-gen Core i5, 8–16GB. Around PKR 70,000–95,000. An 11th-gen T14 (i5-1145G7) at roughly Rs 75,000–90,000 is arguably the single best value at this budget.
• HP EliteBook 840 G7/G8 — 10th–11th-gen Core i5, 8–16GB. Around PKR 70,000–90,000. Slimmer and lighter than the T-series, Iris Xe graphics on the G8 handle light photo/video editing well.
• Dell Latitude 5420/5430 — 11th–12th-gen Core i5/i7. Around PKR 75,000–95,000. A 12th-gen Latitude near Rs 85,000–95,000 is the newest silicon you'll find under a lakh.

Which generations to target: 10th-gen and newer is the sweet spot — modern battery life, Wi-Fi 6, and full Windows 11 support. 8th-gen is the acceptable floor if the price is right. Avoid 6th/7th-gen machines entirely — they're officially unsupported on Windows 11 and their batteries are usually exhausted.

What about a used MacBook Air M1? As of July 2026 it does not fit this budget: clean used M1 Air units (8GB/256GB) run around PKR 200,000–215,000 at reputable shops — roughly double a lakh. If you see one at Rs 100,000, assume iCloud lock, board repair or a swapped part. At this budget, stick to Windows business machines.

Used laptop inspection checklist

Never pay for a used laptop without checking:

• Battery cycle count and health. On Windows run powercfg /batteryreport; under ~500 cycles and 70%+ design capacity is acceptable. Ask the price of a replacement cell before you buy.
• Screen. Open a full-white and full-black image; look for dead pixels, pressure marks, and backlight bleed along the hinges.
• Hinges and body. Open one-handed; grinding or a lifting bezel means a drop history.
• Keyboard and trackpad. Type a full paragraph — corporate machines often have worn keys or a dead spot.
• BIOS locks. Reboot into BIOS. A supervisor password or a computrace/absolute lock is a walk-away. On ThinkPads also confirm no error at boot.
• Charger originality. Fake 65W adapters are common in Pakistan and slowly damage the battery. Check the brand marking, weight, and connector fit.
• Ports and radios. Test every USB port, HDMI, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on the spot.

Where to buy

• Physical markets: Hafeez Centre (Lahore) and Techno City / Regal Chowk (Karachi) have the deepest used stock — visit multiple shops, prices for the same T14 can vary by Rs 10,000 within one floor. Always test in-shop and get at least a 7–15 day check warranty in writing.
• Online retailers: Czone, PakLap, Telemart and Shophive for new units with official warranty; several also run graded used/refurb sections with listed cycle counts.
• On Harib: browse current laptop listings, or skip the hunt and post a brief with your budget — "ThinkPad T14, 16GB, under Rs 90,000" — and let verified sellers come to you with offers. You can also check electronics shops on Harib that specialize in imported business laptops.

FAQ

New or used at exactly 1 lakh?

If you can inspect the machine (or buy from a seller with a return window), used business-class wins: an 11th-gen ThinkPad T14 or EliteBook 840 G8 outperforms any new i3 at the same price and is built to a far higher standard. Buy new only if warranty matters more than speed.

Is a used MacBook worth it at this budget?

Not as of July 2026 — a clean used M1 Air costs around PKR 200,000+, double this budget. Anything cheaper is almost certainly compromised. Save the MacBook plan for a 2-lakh budget.

Which ThinkPad generation should I target?

T14 Gen 1/Gen 2 (10th–11th-gen Intel) is the sweet spot under a lakh. T480 (8th-gen) is the value floor. Skip anything with a 6th/7th-gen CPU — no Windows 11 support and tired batteries.

Do these prices change monthly?

Yes. Laptop prices in Pakistan track the USD/PKR rate (around Rs 278 as of July 2026) plus import duties, and used stock rotates weekly. Treat every figure here as an approximate range, and check current listings before deciding. We refresh this guide monthly.