Best Budget Laptops 2024

Owning the best budget laptop is an excellent way to give you more freedom, no matter where you are or where you're going.

While looking for the best gaming laptops or high-end laptops in general can be easy, it is also very expensive. Looking for the best budget laptops or the best budget lightweight laptops, on the other hand, is a little harder because of the competition at that level.

If you specifically want something for gaming, then have a look at the best gaming laptops under 300. If you want a more general option though, then our list of top picks based on features, specs, and reviews, has you covered and then some. Let's begin...

Best budget laptops

1. HP 14 (2023) - a great choice from HP
2. Microsoft Surface Laptop Go - a top Microsoft pick
3. Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 - an excellent 2-in-1 option
4. Acer Chromebook Spin 513 - an Acer special
5. Lenovo Flex 3i - best option from Lenovo

Credit: HP

1. HP 14 (2023)

Best budget laptop from HP

We're starting with the HP 14 as it's a pretty powerful little thing, especially as it costs a smidge under 500 most of the time.

For the price, you get quite a lot though, For example, this laptop packs in 16GB of RAM and a Ryzen 3 3250U for a fair bit of speed and power. You'll be able to enjoy a lot of different programs as a result, without them struggling. It even has a 1TB SSD, which means you'll be able to store plenty of shows, or even a couple of low-impact video games too.

Along with all of that, it also has an anti-glare coating on the screen to make it far easier to use when you're out and about, or just next to a window on a train, and it comes with Windows 11, meaning you're up-to-date with the latest operating system.

So if you're looking for a laptop that can do a lot but won't cost a lot, then the latest HP 14 for 2023 is an excellent choice.

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Credit: Microsoft

2. Microsoft Surface Laptop Go

Best budget laptop from Microsoft

As the makers of Windows, it would make sense that Microsoft has manufactured a great budget laptop, and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go proves just that.

It features an ultra-light frame for a full-size laptop, weighing just 1100g, and features some sleek looks that are in keeping with other Microsoft laptop models more than double its price. Its port selection is pretty good with USB-Cs, USB-As and a headphone jack all represented to give you decent options for connectivity.

Its 12 or so-inch display offers you something a little more compact and it's also a touchscreen, which makes the Surface Laptop Go a 2-in-1 of sorts as you can tap away until your heart's content. 400 nits of brightness should make this panel pretty sharp, even if its resolution isn't quite full HD at 1536 x 1024.

A 10th-gen Intel Core i5 processor keeps things chugging along nicely for basic productivity tasks, be it watching content on Netflix or writing up an essay on Microsoft Word.

8GB of RAM also ensures you can have a myriad of Chrome tabs open whilst you work, as well as engage in some more intensive tasks if you wish, thus making it an excellent budget option overall.

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Credit: Samsung

3. Samsung Chromebook Plus V2

Best budget 2-in-1 laptop

If you want a laptop that doubles as an amazing tablet, then definitely give the Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 some consideration. It's not the most powerful thing in the world, but it is very cheap, which, given Samsung's reputation, is not always easy to find in its laptop range.

First and foremost, this 2-in-1 is incredibly lightweight, weighing just under 3 pounds, which means it's great for traveling. Its flexible hinge allows you to easily fold it into tablet mode for comfortable viewing, browsing, and storage, and it's equipped with a precise built-in pen that never needs charging for writing, sketching, editing, and practically any other creative task you can think of.

The Chromebook Plus V2 includes a 13MP world-facing camera with autofocus too, which is ideal for capturing clear shots and zooming in for a closer look. And then there's Chrome OS, which offers a secure and seamless experience with access to the Google Play Store, enabling you to create, explore, and browse on a bigger screen with the tools you use every day.

So, while it may lack a little in power, and perhaps even in storage, its versatility is what makes this budget-friendly Samsung device such a great pick. As 2-in-1 laptops go, this one really isn't all that bad for the price.

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Credit: Acer

4. Acer Chromebook Spin 513

Best budget laptop from Acer

If you're hunting for an amazing mid-range Chromebook that'll fit your budget nicely, then the Acer Chromebook Spin 513 is a superb choice.

Intriguingly, this particular Chromebook packs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c processor inside, which means it's Arm-based. With this, it'll provide you with some snappy performance for basic tasks and, as it runs ChromeOS, everything is kept nice and simple.

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In addition, the fact the Spin 513 is an Arm-based Chromebook means it needs less cooling and is, therefore, one of the thinner budget laptops out there. This helps its looks to no end, as this particular Chromebook looks rather stylish indeed.

Its Full HD IPS panel should offer you some brilliant colors and viewing angles, and 300 or so nits of brightness mean the 13.3-inch panel should also be pretty sharp, too.

Battery life of over 13 hours also means the Acer Chromebook Spin 513 should comfortably last two working days, meaning you won't have to think about charging it up all too often.

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Credit: Lenovo

5. Lenovo Flex 3i

Best budget laptop from Lenovo

The Lenovo Flex 3i is one of the best budget laptops available, thanks to its versatile design and robust feature set. Its 12.2-inch WUXGA touchscreen display offers a crisp and vibrant visual experience, while its 360-degree hinge enhances its usability by allowing the laptop to switch between four different modes: 'Laptop' for traditional computing tasks, 'Yoga' for presentations and sharing, 'Flip' for media consumption, and 'Tablet' for intuitive touch-based interaction.

Under the hood, the Flex 3i is powered by an Intel Processor N100 with four cores and a maximum turbo speed of 3.4GHz, ensuring smooth performance for everyday tasks. The device includes 4GB of LPDDR5 memory and a combined storage capacity of 192GB, leveraging both eMMC and an additional SD card. This setup provides ample space for documents, media files, and apps, meeting the needs of users who require a reliable and efficient machine for their daily activities.

Connectivity and additional features further enhance the Flex 3i's appeal. The inclusion of Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 ensures fast and stable wireless connections, while the variety of ports, including HDMI and USB Type-C, offers flexibility for connecting external devices and monitors. The HD webcam with a privacy shutter, along with the built-in Google Chrome OS, provides a secure and user-friendly experience, ideal for online learning and video conferencing. Oh, its battery can last up to 12 hours too, which isn't too bad for something so small and light.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

As with a lot of other tech, with laptops, some questions can arise time and time again, so we're here to help you make the most informed buying decision by answering some of those burning questions.

Are cheap Windows laptops worth it?

This all depends on what your perceptions of 'cheap ' are. The 'cheap' Windows laptops we've listed above all clock in for around £500/$600 as this is the bottom line for getting a serviceable mid-range Windows laptop with a great all-around performance, a good display, and usable storage.

You could, of course, go for something cheaper, but you risk poor performance and stingy storage. For Windows laptops especially, spending a little more can get you a fair amount more.

How much should I spend on a budget laptop?

If you're after a decent affordable Chromebook, then up to around $400 will get you something powerful enough for day-to-day work and something well-built with a good port selection.

For a Windows laptop, it'll be closer to $500-$600 for something rather serviceable, given they need better specs to run a more demanding and complete operating system compared to ChromeOS. The internal specs of a Windows laptop may also be higher with larger amounts of storage and a better processor, which will cost more than some Chromebooks.

Is 4GB RAM enough?

For more basic tasks, 4GB of RAM will be enough. The laptops we've listed above mainly have 4GB or 8GB which can allow you to partake in some more intense tasks such as editing an HD video or some photos and will generally give you a little more to work with in terms of capacity.

Is 256GB storage enough for a laptop?

In short, yes. For more affordable laptops at lower price points, 256GB is plenty to work with for storing documents, photos, and the occasional video.

As you get more expensive though, and 512GB and 1TB options become available, you're always better to get too much storage than too little.

Of course, if you ever need more storage that you want to keep externally, then you can purchase one of the best cheap hard drive enclosures for storing your HDDs and SSDs.

What is RAM used for?

In short, RAM (or Random Access Memory) is used to run all your laptop's tasks and functions and store important and temporary data that can be accessed quickly.

For more information on what RAM is used for, manufacturer Crucial has a useful breakdown of the functions of the component, and what computer memory is, too.

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