AmazonBasics Rolling Laptop Case Review

We purchased the AmazonBasics Rolling Laptop Case so our expert reviewer could thoroughly test and assess it. Keep reading for our full product review.

The essence of the AmazonBasics Rolling Laptop Case is in its name. It’s a bag that’s made for utility above all, offered at an Amazon bargain price point.

Design: Clean and simple

There are three compartments built into the AmazonBasics Rolling Laptop Case. The main compartment is for miscellaneous items of all sizes, from clothes to shoes to books for overnight trips. There’s another compartment in which you can put a laptop with other paper items like files and magazines, and a third compartment for small items like pens, notepads, and business cards.

The laptop sleeve is billed to fit a laptop up to 15.6 inches, but we were able to get it to just barely fit a 17-inch laptop (it was a tight squeeze length-wise). There’s a velcro strap presumably designed to help secure your device in the sleeve, but even at its shortest length, the strap didn’t do much to hold the laptop snugly in the pouch because the sleeve is so wide.

The telescoping handle extends up to 39 inches—it’s a stiff handle, so we fussed with it a lot. It has a push-button lock for secure movement as you roll in and out of airports. The handle can also be retracted and zipped into the bag if you’d rather carry it like a briefcase. There are two fabric handles on the top that can be secured together with a velcro pad, making for easy lifting and carrying if you can’t or don’t want to use the wheels.

On the back of the bag, there’s a slot to insert a nametag (tag not included). But there are no real security features, like lockable zippers, to protect against theft. That’s a significant drawback in our book. 

Price: Very reasonable

Out of every option we’ve tested, the AmazonBasics Rolling Laptop Case is the most inexpensive, bearing a price tag under $50. It doesn’t have the bells and whistles of other options, but you get a well-made, basic bag for the price. If you need something straightforward and low-profile, this provides solid value for the money. 

Competition: The only truly budget-friendly option

The rolling laptop cases from Solo Bryant and Perry Ellis are the main rivals, though they have a few upgrades and a slightly steeper price tag.

The Solo Bryant bag is an obvious alternative to the AmazonBasics bag as it offers a similar design. The Solo Bryant bag has a padded laptop compartment that holds up to a 17.3-inch laptop, which makes the bag more versatile overall, but also causes smaller laptops to sit more loosely in the compartment. The two front zippered pockets have space for files and folders, as well as pockets for pens, business cards, and anything else you need to bring along. It also has a hidden push-button telescoping handle system and padded handles.

The Perry Ellis bag is slightly bigger and more boxy with a number of extra features. There’s ample room inside the main compartment for whatever the day may demand, from an extra pair of shoes to a set of gym clothes or even an umbrella. It has a padded interior slot designated for a laptop up to 15 inches. 

The middle pocket leaves room for files and papers, while the front pocket organizer offers space to stash small items. A built-in name tag allows you to label your bag, and lockable zippers in both the main compartment and the middle pocket ensure that your valuables are protected from snoops and thieves.

Need some more help finding the perfect rolling laptop bag? Check out our list of the best rolling laptop bags on the market today.