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You might think that finding a good laptop under $300 is too good to be true, but not only is it entirely possible to find a quality laptop for this price, but there are also more available options than you might think. So, contrary to what many people assume, you don’t need to spend a fortune to get a decent laptop.
If you plan to use your laptop for gaming and demanding programs that take up a lot of space, then, yes, perhaps you need to look for something in a higher price range. But if you want to buy an inexpensive laptop for everyday use, you don’t need to compromise on one quality feature, like performance or long battery life. Or daily computing needs, you can find a solid budget laptop in the $300 range. These laptops aren’t as powerful as their pricier rivals, but they’re still handy tools to have, especially if you only need a laptop for browsing the internet and streaming.
In this guide, we’ll go through a comprehensive list of the best budget laptops that cost up to $300. In addition, we’ll give you a detailed review of each laptop so that you’ll be able to make a decision on which option works best for you.
The Acer Chromebook Spin 311 is an excellent laptop for an affordable price. Not only does it fit right into your price range, but it also has a solid list of characteristics that you’d find for more expensive models. Undoubtedly, its most convenient feature is the 360 degrees of versatility. Due to its flip-and-fold mechanism, you can use it in four different modes – laptop, display, tent, and tablet mode. This feature makes this laptop portable, too, as it only weighs 2.62 pounds.
It comes with a 10-hour battery life, so you have plenty of time to use it when you’re on the go. The 11.6-inch display, which is smaller than most laptops, has a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. The laptop is actually smaller than an A4 sheet of paper. Since the Acer Chromebook runs on Chrome OS, you’ll have access to Google Play’s newest apps and updates. Moreover, since all your apps will be automatically updated, there’s no need to worry about outdated versions. This laptop also has built-in virus protection, protecting it from malicious malware.
Its Intel processing core enables the laptop to boot up in a couple of seconds, as all the apps have low power usage. Aside from the comfortable keyboard and touchpad, this laptop has two USB 3.1 Type-C ports, two USB 3.0 Type-A ports, an earphone jack, and a microSD slot. The Acer Chromebook Spin 311 has 4GB of computer memory size and 32GB of hard disk size in terms of internal storage. Not only is this laptop able to withstand everyday computing tasks, but you can adjust how you’ll use it for maximum comfort.
2-in-1 laptop and tabletLightweightFour modesEasy to access Google servicesFlexible connectivity
Dim screenLow display resolutionLow RAM and storage
Taking into consideration its affordable price, the ASUS L510 Ultra-Thin Laptop is a great find. Its slim design makes it a buyer’s favorite. Only 0.7 inches thick, this laptop comes with a thin-bezel Nano Edge display that enables an 84% screen-to-body ratio. The 15.6-inch full HD screen has a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, so you’ll get accurate imagery as well. Aside from being ultra-thin, it’s also relatively lightweight (3.59 pounds).
With its eight-hour battery life, it will allow you to use it the whole day without having to plug it in. Another great feature that this laptop offers is its comfortable ergonomic design. You can even lay it flat on your desk at a 180-degree angle. Other useful physical features include a backlit keyboard with long key travel and a six-inch multitouch pad. The trackpad comes with a hidden number pad that’s easily activated. In terms of connectivity options, you can find one USB-C 3.2 port, one USB 3.2 port, one USB 2.0 port, an HDMI port, and one headphone/microphone jack on this laptop.
The ASUS 510 Ultra-Thin Laptop has 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The Intel Celeron N4020 processor provides your laptop with a solid performance that will meet all your technical requirements. It also features a fanless design, allowing you to work in relative silence.
Ultra-thin designPortable and lightweightHidden number padLarge 15.6-inch display with superb screen resolution180 degrees lay-flat hinge
Short battery lifeOnly 4GB of RAM
The HP Chromebook 14-inch HD Laptop is an excellent combination of fast performance, a high-quality screen, and a budget-friendly price. With a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, the 14-inch HD display produces fantastic quality images and high-definition detail. The display also has an 82% screen-to-body ratio, enhancing your visual experience.
Since this laptop runs on Chrome OS, you’ll have access to millions of Android apps on Google Play. What’s more, they’ll function just as quickly as they would on your phone or tablet. When it comes to connectivity options, this HP Chromebook has one USB Type-A port, two USB Type-C ports, a microSD reader, and a headphone/microphone jack. On the laptop, you’ll also find HP dual speakers, which produce high-quality, authentic audio.
Its battery life exceeds a little over nine hours, allowing you to finish your daily tasks without needing to charge it every couple of hours. Not only that, it only takes the laptop 45 minutes to charge up to 50%.
As for memory and storage, this HP Chromebook comes with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of eMMC storage. Powered by the Intel Celeron N4120 CPU, you can expect this laptop to have enough power for everyday tasks and simple programs. The design is made from environmentally friendly materials, such as low halogen, mercury-free display backlights, and arsenic-free display glass.
AffordableEnvironmentally-friendly design1080p displaySatisfactory battery life
Low storage spaceBelow-average performance
This Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 4 is very compact and slim, and it weighs less than three pounds. But despite its small size, the laptop comes with a full-sized keyboard and trackpad. With a 12.5-hour battery life, this laptop is the perfect choice if portability is a determining factor for you. Not to mention it’s also made from military-grade durable materials so that it can withstand bumps and drops. As with all Chromebooks, Google services are at your disposal.
Not only can you use Google Docs, Google Drive, and Google Play right on your desktop, but Google Assistant is also enabled. In other words, you can use voice control to perform everyday tasks on this laptop. Although the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 4 might not pack a lot of memory and storage (only 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage), it comes with an 11.6-inch anti-reflective display of 1,366 x 768 pixels. The screen also features a centered webcam that has enough quality for a laptop this size.
This laptop’s ports include one USB-C port, one USB 3.0 Type-A port, an audio jack, a microSD card slot, and a security lock slot. With the Gigabit Wi-Fi connection feature, the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 4 enables ultra-fast connectivity. In other words, you’ll be able to download, upload, and stream videos without any issues. In addition, this laptop features multiple layers of built-in virus protection. This anti-virus function will protect your laptop from malicious malware, all the while being automatically updated whenever a new version comes out.
Google Assistant-enabledLong battery lifeSolid quality webcamUltra-fast connectivityMilitary-grade durability
No touchscreenDull display
The Lenovo Chromebook Duet is the ideal option for those looking for a small, compact device at a reasonable price. The reason this laptop is so portable is that it can be flipped into tablet mode. It comes with a detachable keyboard so that you can switch between laptop and tablet mode with no effort. Once in tablet mode, you can use the 5-point pogo pin and magnet design to keep it in a standing position.
The small 10.1-inch screen might not be for everyone, but for this budget-friendly price, it’s definitely an option to consider. Since it only weighs two pounds, you can take it with you anywhere you go. The 2-in-1 laptop has an impressive battery life of 13 hours, making it one of the most portable devices for this price range. Even though it has a smaller screen, it still has a 1920 x 1200 resolution.
Since it is a Chromebook and it runs on the Chrome OS, you just need to sign in to your Google account to get the latest apps and games. The Lenovo Chromebook Duet is compatible with the USI pen, but it’s usually sold separately. It takes this Chromebook approximately eight seconds to boot. Moreover, the laptop has 4GB of memory space and 128GB of internal storage. Since the Lenovo Chromebook is smaller than other products in this price range, it doesn’t have an audio jack. In fact, its only port is the USB-C input.
Impressive 13-hour battery life2-in-1 laptop and tabletCompact and lightweightSatisfactory performanceQuick boot
A limited number of portsSmall screen
Aside from the stunning blue color, many qualities make this laptop an excellent choice for your budget. Powered by the Intel Celeron N4000 Processor, the HP Stream HD Laptop has all the power of a Windows PC. What’s more, with this laptop, you’ll receive Office 365 for an entire year; this includes complete access to programs such as Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, OneNote, Access, and 1TB of OneDrive Storage.
The 14-inch display comes with anti-glare technology and LED backlighting. With a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels, the display has a 73% screen-to-body ratio. The laptop also includes a built-in webcam, a digital media card reader, and an image pad with gesture capabilities. The HD display is integrated with BrightView technology.
The HP Stream HD Laptop can last up to 12 hours without being charged. Because of the long battery life and its weight (2.37 pounds), this laptop is quite portable. As for connectivity, you’ll find two USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports, an HDMI port, an audio jack, and USB-C port, and a media reader. Speaking of connectivity, it’s important to mention that the HP Stream HD Laptop also features high-quality wireless connectivity options. With the Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5 connection technology, you’ll be able to connect your laptop to other devices with no issues. Sadly, the laptop only comes with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of eMMC storage, so it won’t be the best option for those who do heavy tasks and have a lot of files to store.
Royal blue colorMultiple connectivity optionsLong battery lifeBrightView technology
Only 4GB of RAM and 64GB storage
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 is the ideal budget laptop for those who constantly travel. At a little over three pounds, this laptop is both lightweight and portable. Moreover, it can last up to eight hours without charging, so you can bring it with you when you need to go somewhere. Since it has an AMD A6-9220e Dual-Core Processor, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 will deliver dependable performance. You can get your work done, use various apps and programs, and communicate with people all at the same time on this laptop.
The 14-inch LED-backlit display has a standard resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. With regards to storage, this laptop offers 4GB of RAM and 64GB of eMMC flash memory. As for ports, you can find two USB 3.0 ports, one HDMI 1.4 port, and a headphone/microphone jack. One of the best features of this laptop is its modern, aesthetic design.
You can find it in different colors, including gray and ice blue. It’s ideal for those looking for a budget-friendly, minimalistic laptop. This device also comes with built-in dual speakers, which produce quality audio. If you buy the Lenovo IdeaPad 1, you’ll also get a one-year subscription to Office 365. You’ll have access to the newest versions of Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel, OneNote, and more. Not only that, but you’ll receive 1TB of cloud storage, Skype, and advanced security for all your devices.
Excellent connectivityLightweight and portableSlim designBuilt-in dual speakers
Slow performanceLimited RAM and storage
The Acer Aspire 1 is another excellent laptop that combines several quality features and an affordable price. What makes this laptop a viable option is the 15.6-inch full HD LED-backlit display. With a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and a narrow-bezel design, you’ll get vibrant images and high-definition colors.
Speaking of the design, the Acer Aspire 1 is only 0.78 inches thick. However, since it weighs 4.19 pounds, it might be slightly heavier than other products in this category. Although it’s heavy, it still has a sleek, minimalistic design that appeals to many. It comes with extensive connectivity: one USB 3.1 port, two USB 2.0 ports, an HDMI port, a DC-in jack, a headset/speaker jack, and more. With the Intel Celeron N4020 Dual-Core Processor, the Acer Aspire 1 delivers satisfactory performance, giving you all the processing power you need.
Moreover, it has a battery life of 12 hours, allowing you to finish your everyday tasks without having to charge it until the end of the day. The 4GB RAM is a standard for this price range, and you’ll get 64GB of eMMC storage. This laptop also features a built-in camera and a comfortable keyboard. The Acer Aspire 1 also comes with a one-year subscription to Office 365. If you’re looking for a laptop with a large screen under $300, then the Acer Aspire 1 might be the right option for you.
Large full HD displaySolid battery lifeSatisfactory performanceVarious connectivity optionsAffordable
HeavyLow storage
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