It can be tough looking for the best laptops under $300 in a world focused on premium machines. Budget laptops can be very hit and miss with some being much better than you would expect and others being much worse. Finding quality devices is even harder when you lower the budget. Choosing the best laptop under $500, for instance, is much easier than picking the best laptop under $200.
With that said, getting one of the best laptops under $300 is probably harder than under $200 since the latter comes with lower expectations. At that $300 price point, you should be getting a nicer, more durable machine, that’s higher quality overall compared to cheaper devices. And, though the bar is slightly raised for the higher priced ones, it’s not out of the question.
If you’ve done a lot of research, you’ll have noticed how many options are actually out there. Still, we want to make life easier and help you find the best laptop for you. So, we’ve collected five great machines under $300 here along with our price comparison tool for finding the best deal. Whether you’re looking for smaller notebooks or light Chromebooks, read on to see what are best laptops under $300.
The best laptops under $300 at a glance
- Acer Chromebook 311
- HP Chromebook 14A G5
- Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14-inch
- Asus L402YA
- Dell Inspiron 14 3480
While the Acer Chromebook Spin 311 was over $300 when it was released, many of its configurations have dropped in price, which is only good news for budget-minded consumers. This little Chromebook that could has many things going for it, starting with its surprisingly great design and solid build, as well as its comfortable to use keyboard and touchpad.
But, that’s only to start. It also delivers performance-wise, with a solid set of components under the hood. You can multitask without issue on this laptop, so you can use it for work and entertainment. That is, as long as you can do most of your work on Google Chrome. It is still a Chromebook, after all.
The features we love most about this laptop, however, is its versatile 2-in-1 design and touchscreen display. You won’t often find that combination in cheaper laptops, which adds more value to this particular portable. And, we’re not talking about a crappy screen here. It has a Gorilla glass touch display that may be a little dimmer than its premium counterparts, but is still tough and nice to touch.
Read the full review: Acer Chromebook Spin 311
There are several reasons why HP’s Chromebook 14 is so popular, including the fact that it has a surprisingly wide range of configurations, giving economical buyers many options. Though in the budget range of the lightweight Chromebook environment, this line is also powerful enough, has an impressive battery life and boasts a good selection of ports.
And, if you choose wisely, you’ll be rewarded with a configuration that gives you great value all around, like the HP Chromebook 14A G5. Beyond the line’s 14-inch display, battery longevity and port selection, it’s also fitted with AMD A4-9120C APU and Radeon R4 Graphics. It’s one of the crowd-favorites in the bunch, but it won’t set you back more than $300, unlike the other highly rated configurations.
It’s not without its compromises. The lower resolution HD display isn’t anything to write about, and the keyboard isn’t great either. But, budget laptops are never without flaws. At least with this, you’re getting great performance without breaking the bank.
Even with its most budget laptops, Lenovo has never been one to shy away from great, modern aesthetics. It’s one of the many things we appreciate about the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14-inch. Inside, it kind of reminds you of older MacBooks, only with a small yet noticeable Lenovo logo sitting at the edge on the right. Outside, the logo’s there again, but nothing else. This makes it perfect for fans of the minimalist look. And, if you’re sick of the same old gray/silver color, it comes in ice blue too.
Of course, there’s more to laptops than just looks, and this one’s got a few other things going for it, including a great port selection and a lightweight design. Well, lightweight for a budget laptop at least There’s also it’s “just right” 14-inch screen size – it’s not too big like a 15-inch and not too small like a 13-inch.
Fair warning, though: this isn’t known for its speedy performance and multitasking skills. So only get it for casual use. If you have a penchant for multitasking and addiction to games, this probably isn’t the best laptop under $300 for you.
Not everyone can be a Chromebook fan– others prefer the more familiar environment of Windows 10 in S mode. If this sounds like you, then the Asus L402YA is certainly worth considering, especially if you’ve only got $250/£250 to spend. This 14-inch laptop will bring you back to that excellent Windows 10 environment, only more secure and more lightweight.
And, don’t worry about looking cheap. This laptop will allow you to save money while still looking good. It may not have options when it comes to internals, but externally, you’ve got choices. The Asus L402YA comes in three different colors, but the crowd-favorite seems to be the dark blue one, with the white one coming in close second.
The downsides? The display is not impressive, and the webcam is just not good. However, it makes up for those with a diverse port selection and good battery life. You lose some, but you also definitely win some.
If you want a full Windows 10 operating system, on the other hand, then go with the Dell Inspiron series. The Dell’s budget line comes in many configurations as well as sizes, ranging from tiny 11-inch notebooks to 17-inch behemoths. But, for something under $300, you can’t go wrong with the latest Dell Inspiron 14 3480.
These 14-inch additions to the Inspiron line comes in three configurations, the second of which will not only set you back less than $300, but also give you an Intel UHD Graphics 605 GPU and 4GB of memory. Dell pairs those with an Intel Pentium Silver N5000 processor. While those specs might not look like much to consumers with more intensive computing use, they’re definitely enough for the right kind of user. Plus, it boasts 128GB of SSD storage while most of its rivals only have flash memory.
Whether you’re looking for a laptop for the kids to use for school, or you’re looking for a portable to surf, stream and chat in, there’s great value to be had in the Dell Inspiron 14 3480.