The Best Inexpensive Laptops
You don't have to sell the farm to afford a quality laptop. There are tons of inexpensive options that can serve you for work, play, and everything in between. Of course, at this price range, they're not going to have the most cutting-edge hardware or top-of-the-line performance. That's why we wanted to find the best bargains to help you score an excellent laptop without breaking the bank.
What to Look For
We take our tech seriously, even when we’re reviewing inexpensive laptops. That’s because there are some gems to be found in this price range, but we compared the options with hard-hitting questions, such as: What are the specs? Is it fast and responsive? Is the screen bright and colorful? How is the battery life? Is the price fair for the performance? Our favorite inexpensive laptop comes from Lenovo. Their IdeaPad Flex 5i has an incredible Intel i3 processor and a full-HD touch display, making it a worthwhile buy for casual gamers, remote workers, and anyone else in need of a portable computer. But if your budget is super tight, we recommend Acer’s 15-inch Chromebook, as it has respectable hardware and an unbeatable price. For a deeper dive, read on.
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i
High performance, low price
This may not be the cheapest laptop on the market, but the price is certainly low enough to call it a budget buy. Still, the Intel i3 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB are powerful enough for light gaming and streaming. We were especially impressed by the full-HD display, which is also a touchscreen. And for the tech heads out there, you might be surprised to discover it’s an IPS screen, which means the contrast and color depth is rich and beautiful.
Pros:
- Lightweight yet durable
- Responsive touchscreen
- Gorgeous display
- Loud and clear built-in speakers
Cons:
- For gamers, you may have to install Linux to run most Steam games
Acer 15-inch HD Chromebook, Renewed
More bang for your buck
Acer is one of our favorites for high-end laptops, but their budget models are just as commendable. This 15-inch Chromebook has a powerful processor that can reach 2.55GHz speeds, making light gaming smooth and enjoyable. Of course, at this price, you only get 4GB of RAM and 32GB of built-in storage, but it has a microSD slot so that you can expand the storage easily. Keep in mind that this is from the Amazon Renewed store, so it’s basically a refurbished computer. However, they offer a generous refund-or-replace policy for peace of mind.
Pros:
- Easy to setup and easy to use
- Boots up quickly
- Connects to wifi fast and reliably
- Depending on how you use it, the battery can last an entire workday
Cons:
- The screen isn’t very bright on power-saving mode
Samsung Chromebook 4
Ready for the road
If you need a laptop to take with you on your travels, this is a great choice. The relatively smaller screen size of 11.6 inches and light weight make it perfect for whipping out at a cafe and getting to work. Plus, the battery can last for about 5 to 6 hours, depending on how you use it. It’s not our first choice for gaming, but it can still run simpler games and apps that would likely please younger folks. And considering the meager price, this is also one of our top picks for streaming apps like Netflix.
Pros:
- Durable build
- Only weighs about 2.6 pounds
- Solid-state drive, so it boots up fast
- Super low price
Cons:
- With only 4GB of RAM, it can get sluggish when you have too many apps running in the background
Lenovo IdeaPad 3 11 Chromebook Laptop
As affordable as it gets
When budgets are super tight, we turn to Lenovo. Their IdeaPad 3 is as affordable as it gets. But the specs were surprising: an HD display, 4GB of RAM, and a processor that delivers smooth computing. And thanks to the UHD Graphics 600, you can actually do some light gaming on this little guy. Our favorite part is the battery life, which can last about 10 hours, depending on your usage. As far as bargains go, this is the best in the biz.
Pros:
- Extremely affordable
- Great for students
- The 64GB of built-in storage are
- Runs streaming apps smoothly
Cons:
- Slows down when running multiple apps at once
ASUS L210 11.6-Inch Laptop
The grab and go
Another fantastic choice for travelers, this ASUS laptop is one of the thinnest and lightest on the market. It’s about 0.7 inches thick when closed and weighs a mere 2.2 pounds, so it’s perfect for working in cafes, on road trips, and in libraries. But though it’s lightweight, it’s actually amazingly durable. Even youngsters who are rough with their tech may be trusted with the L210, thanks to the robust build.
Pros:
- Satisfying keyboard
- Includes HDMI port
- Excellent performance for the price
- Windows 10 instead of an Android-based OS
Cons:
- Only 64GB of built-in storage, so we recommend investing in an external hard drive or cloud storage
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I play video games like Minecraft on a Chromebook?
Many popular games are not optimized for ChromeOS, and many others won’t run on ChromeOS at all. If you want to play an executable file like Minecraft on your Chromebook, you’ll have to install an alternative operating system, like Linux. Setting up Linux is relatively easy, as there are tons of online guides that can walk you through the process.
Is it possible to add extra RAM to a budget laptop?
This entirely depends on the model you choose. We strongly recommend doing a web search of your laptop of choice to see if the RAM can be upgraded. If it can, installing more memory is easy with the help of an online guide.
About the Author
Why Trust Us
With the constantly shifting landscape in the world of technology, GameRevolution seeks to provide gamers and tech-enthusiasts with the information they need to select the right products for their needs. Since 1996, our experts have used their knowledge on all the latest gadgets – everything from headphones to standing desks – to help millions of people navigate specs and answer common questions.