Last Updated on June 11, 2024 by Sam Rizvi
⬇️ Jump to Top 10 Best Budget Laptops Comparison Table
What is the best budget laptop in 2023-2024? Gone are the days when a quality laptop would set you back more than $1,000. For $150 to $500, it is now possible to purchase a full-size or ultraportable Windows 10 laptop or a Chromebook with a processor strong enough for usage at home, school, or in the office.
It is also possible to obtain full-featured Chromebooks and hybrid systems that combine the functions of a laptop and a tablet in a single device for less money.
You should, however, be prepared to make some compromises in one or more areas. A powerful laptop with a 15-inch screen is undoubtedly conceivable, but you may have to make do with a flimsy keyboard and touchpad to achieve this goal.
As an alternative, you can get a beautifully constructed ultraportable that uses a modest processor and a smaller storage drive to accomplish its cheap cost.
Understanding those trade-offs and combining the strengths and shortcomings of a budget laptop with the tasks you want to do with it is the key to making a successful purchase. Here’s some assistance.
The good news is that you’ll have to make fewer compromises with today’s cheap laptops than you would have had to do with previous models. Most of the laptops under $400 house Intel’s Celeron and Pentium CPUs, which have grown to the point where they can handle most of your web surfing and basic work demands without feeling sluggish.
This fact is particularly true for Chromebooks. Our top 10 best budget laptops list of 2023-2024 are powered by the more powerful CPUs, namely, AMD Ryzen 3 and even one with an Intel Core i3, all priced between $350-$450 and with 3.4+ GHz of CPU speed.
After the article, you will also find our editor’s choice of the best budget laptop.
Top 10 Best Budget Laptops of 2023-2024
| Brand | Model | Screen Size (inches) | RAM | Storage (GB) | CPU Speed | Processor Count | Processor | Screen Resolution | Convertible | Touchscreen | Fingerprint Reader | Operating System | No. of Ratings | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Acer | Aspire 5 | 15.6" | 4 GB | 128 | 3.5 GHz | 4 | AMD Ryzen 3 3350U | 1920 x 1080 | No | No | Yes | Windows 10 Home S | 36,299 | 4.6 | 399.99 |
Acer | Chromebook Spin 311 | 11.6" | 4 GB | 32 | 2.8 GHZ | 2 | Intel Celeron N4020 | 1366 x 768 | Yes | Yes | No | Chrome OS | 8,284 | 4.6 | 225.00 |
HP | Laptop 15 | 15.6" | 8 GB | 256 | 2.6 GHZ | 2 | AMD Ryzen 3 3200U | 1366 x 768 | No | No | No | Windows 10 Home | 669 | 4.6 | 459.00 |
Lenovo | Chromebook C330 | 11.6" | 4 GB | 64 | 2.1 GHz | 4 | Mediatek MT8127 | 1366 x 768 | Yes | Yes | No | Chrome OS | 8,812 | 4.5 | 216.99 |
ASUS | VivoBook 15 | 15.6" | 4 GB | 128 | 3.4 GHz | 2 | Intel Core i3-1005G1 | 1920 x 1080 | No | No | Yes | Windows 10 Home S | 5,782 | 4.5 | 369.99 |
HP | Stream | 14" | 4 GB | 64 | 1.1 GHz | 2 | Intel Celeron N | 1366 x 768 | No | No | No | Windows 10 Home S | 4,745 | 4.5 | 251.00 |
HP | Laptop 14 | 14" | 8 GB | 128 | 3.5 GHz | 2 | AMD Ryzen 3 3200U | 1366 x 768 | No | Yes | Yes | Windows 10 | 1,516 | 4.5 | 441.00 |
HP | Chromebook | 11.6" | 4 GB | 32 | 2 GHz | 8 | MediaTek MT8183 | 1361 x 768 | No | No | No | Chrome OS | 1,362 | 4.5 | 149.99 |
HP | Chromebook x360 | 14" | 4 GB | 64 | 1.1 GHz | 4 | Intel Pentium Silver N5000 | 1366 x 768 | Yes | Yes | No | Chrome OS | 1,123 | 4.5 | 329.00 |
HP | Notebook 14 | 14" | 4 GB | 128 | 2.3 GHz | 2 | AMD Athlon Silver 3050U | 1366 x 768 | No | No | No | Windows 10 Home S | 279 | 4.5 | 349.00 |
10. HP Notebook 14 – Best Budget Laptop #10
Price: $349.00
Rating: 4.5
No. of ratings: 280
Light weight: 5.0
Easy to use: 4.6
Battery life: 4.0
Touch Screen: 3.7
Powerful Processor
AMD Athlon Silver 3050U processor (2.3 GHz base clock, up to 3.2 GHz max boost clock, 1 MB L2 cache, two cores). The performance is comparable to the AMD Ryzen 3 series, the 7th Generation Intel i5 series, and the 8th Generation Intel i3 series.
High Def Screen
1366 x 768 resolution on a 14″ diagonal High Definition Super VGA anti-glare micro-edge NON-TOUCH Display powered by AMD Radeon Graphics
Built With Capabilities For All Environments
It includes 4GB DDR4-2400 SDRAM memory for high-performance multitasking, a 128GB Solid State Drive, but no optical drive. With its versatility, you can use it at home, by students, professionals, small businesses, schools, and commercial enterprises. It includes online class capability and a WLAN. You may download Google Classroom for free separately.
Ports Included
WLAN (1×1) and Bluetooth 4.2 Combo Realtek RTL8821CE; 1 SuperSpeed USB Type-C port; 2 USB 3.1 Type A ports; 1 HDMI port; 2 USB 3.1 Type B ports; 1 USB 2.0 port; 2 USB 3.0 ports
9. HP Chromebook x360 – Best Budget Laptop #9
Price: $329.00
Rating: 4.5
No. of ratings: 1,158
Light weight: 4.5
Battery life: 4.5
Touch Screen: 4.3
Screen quality: 4.1
Remote Work Ready
The HP 14 allows you to work productively from the convenience of your own home office. “Chromebook is a laptop that runs on Google Chrome.
Super Sharp Camera
The 14-megapixel camera produces sharp images. It includes a BrightView display with a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels and a micro-edge design.
Lightning Speed Processing
With the processing power of the Intel Pentium Silver N5000 and the Intel UHD Graphics 605, you can take your gaming, music, and streaming to new heights.
Ensure the Security of Your Work
Saving essential papers has never been easier than it is now, thanks to the 64 GB eMMC storage. In addition, with 4 GB of RAM, you can access your papers faster.
Long-Lasting Battery Life
You may get up to 12 hours and 15 minutes, depending on your usage.
Multitasking Optimized
With the Chrome operating system, you can navigate across tabs and apps with relative ease. Aside from that, you can be confident that HP’s 1-Year Limited Hardware Warranty covers your investment.
Be Seen and Heard
HP’s Wide Vision HD camera, an integrated dual array digital microphone, allows you to video chat with brilliant clarity in any environment.
Fast and Easy Connections
The Wi-Fi 5 (2×2) and Bluetooth 5.0 combination ensure that your connections are solid and reliable.
Work or Play
Because the Chromebook weighs just 3.30 lbs, you can easily transport your work and entertainment.
Energy Efficient
Working with an HP ENERGY STAR certified and EPEAT Silver registered computer can help you to do your part to protect the environment.
8. HP Chromebook – Best Budget Laptop #8
Price: $141.99
Rating: 4.5
No. of ratings: 1,392
Light weight: 4.9
For gaming: 4.6
Battery life: 4.4
Screen quality: 4.1
Touch Screen: 4.1
Always Moving in the Right Direction
Take this portable, lightweight, and robust HP Chromebook wherever you go. Due to its portability and high battery life, you can remain connected without looking for an outlet while on the go.
Made for Any Job at Hand
Switch back and forth between gaming, chatting with friends, and completing your homework. The strong MediaTek mobile CPU, full-size keyboard, and 11.6-inch touchscreen are more than capable of handling anything.
The Google Experience
With Google Chrome and Android applications merged into one laptop, you can benefit from the seamless ease that comes with them. It’s quick, easy, and safe to use.
High-Efficiency Graphics
Never again will you have to choose between graphics and battery life. The MediaTek Integrated Graphics card boasts an Octa-core CPU, GPU graphics processors, and a multimedia engine, which allows it to function well without depleting your battery’s power.
Ultra High Definition
With an anti-glare, high-definition, 11.6-inch touch display, you can watch movies and television programs in stunning detail while also having complete control over the viewing angle thanks to 178 degrees of broad viewing angles.
Built Ready For Remote Work
Make video calls to colleagues at work or friends and family from the comfort of your own home, all in high definition, thanks to an HP True Vision camera, integrated dual array digital microphones, and custom-tuned dual speakers.
Versatile Connectivity
With the newest Wi-Fi 5 WLAN adapter and Bluetooth 4.2 and dependable external ports in the Headphone/Microphone combination and USB 2.0 Type-A and Type-C ports, you can stay connected no matter where you are.
One-Year Parts and Labor Warranty
With a one-year limited hardware guarantee, you can work and play with confidence.
Thanks to the Google Play Store, Chromebooks can now run the millions of Android applications you’re using on your phone and tablet. They won’t suffer any performance, usability, or security issues.
Environmentally Responsible
Take care of the environment–and your account–by purchasing an ENERGY STAR-certified Chromebook, EPEAT Silver registered, and made with low-halogen cables.
7. HP Laptop 14 – Best Budget Laptop #7
Price: $434.00
Rating: 4.5
No. of ratings: 1,518
Value for money: 4.7
Light weight: 4.6
Screen quality: 4.5
Touch Screen: 4.4
Battery life: 4.2
Fingerprint reader: 3.1
Powerful Processing
Processor AMD Ryzen 3 3200U (Athlon III) (2.60 GHz base clock, up to 3.50 GHz max boost clock, 4 MB Cache, 2 Cores) The performance of an intelligent dual-core, a four-way processor for high-definition computing
Energy Efficient and High Definition Touchscreen
It houses a 14-inch touchscreen with a standard 1366 x 768 high-definition display. The use of natural finger-touch navigation makes the most of the capabilities of Windows 10. The screen comes with an energy-efficient LED backlight
Super Fast Memory and Storage For Any Task
The combination of DDR4 2400 MHz RAM Memory and Solid State Drive (SSD) provides the muscle you need for gaming, producing, and sophisticated multitasking, allowing you to accomplish it all from any location. When running numerous apps or browser tabs simultaneously, you’ll want to ensure your games and photo and video-editing software work smoothly.
What’s Included?
Headphone-out & Audio-in Combo Jack; HD webcam with microphone; Fingerprint reader; Built-in media reader for easy picture transfer
All The Ports You Need
The following connectors are included: 1x RJ45 LAN Jack for network input; 1x HDMI 1.4b 4K output; 1x USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C; 2x USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type A. Dimensions: 3.25 pounds, 12.75 x 8.89 x 0.78 in (323.85 x 225.81 x 19.81 mm), 12.75 x 8.89 x 0.78 in (323.85 x 225.81 x 19.81 mm) (1.47 kg)
Crazy Fast Connectivity
Realtek RTL8821CE Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, RJ-45 LAN Ethernet combination with 802.11b/g/n/ac (1×1)(19a) and RJ-45 LAN Ethernet. Connect to a Wireless-AC router for roughly three times the speed, three times the capacity, and three times the coverage of a Wireless-N router. All other Wi-Fi networks and hotspots are backward-compatible with this network.
6. HP Stream – Best Budget Laptop #6
Price: $250.00
Rating: 4.5
No. of ratings: 4,776
Light weight: 4.5
Screen quality: 4.5
Battery life: 4.2
Value for money: 4.1
Portability: 4.0
Touch Screen: 3.2
Built For Business, Education, and Recreation
This gadget, which includes Office 365 and 1 TB of cloud storage, is an excellent combination of capability, connection, elegance, and value.
Enhance Your Productivity
This lightweight laptop provides the vital productivity and enjoyment you want for school or home without compromising performance.
1 Year Office 365 Included
You’ll get complete access to Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, OneNote, Access, and 1 TB of OneDrive storage for one year.
Processor
The Intel Celeron N4000 Processor is a dual-core processor that operates at a base frequency of 1.1 GHz and a peak frequency of up to 2.6 GHz.
Display
14-inch diagonal HD SVA BrightView WLED-backlit panel with SVA BrightView technology (1366 x 768)
Memory: 4 GB DDR4-2400 SDRAM (Dual Channel) (not upgradable)
Storage
eMMC with a capacity of 64 GB
Battery Life
Video playback may last up to 14 hours and 15 minutes, while audio playback can last up to 11 hours and 30 minutes (wireless streaming)
Thin and Light Weight
3.17 pounds; 13.27 inches wide by 8.90 inches deep by 0.70 inch high; 13.27 inches wide by 8.90 inches deep by 0.70 inch high
Operating System and Manufacturer’s Warranty
When purchased directly from Amazon and not from a third-party vendor, you will get Windows 10 Home in S Mode and a 1-year limited hardware warranty with 24-hour, 7-day a week online support.
5. ASUS VivoBook 15 – Best Budget Laptop #5
Price: $369.99
Rating: 4.6
No. of ratings: 5,810
Value for money: 4.5
Screen quality: 4.2
Battery life: 4.1
For gaming: 3.3
Camera quality: 3.0
Abundant Screen Size
You get a spectacular 83 percent screen-to-body ratio using a 15.6-inch Full HD NanoEdge bezel display.
Fast Processor
Processor Intel Core i3-1005G1 with a clock speed of 1.2 GHz (4M Cache, up to 3.4 GHz)
Versatile OS
Windows 10 Home in S Mode with 4GB DDR4 RAM and a 128GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD.
Fingerprint Sensor and Backlit Keyboard
The package comes with an ergonomic backlit keyboard and a fingerprint sensor that Windows Hello triggers.
Dynamic Connectivity
USB 3.2 Type-A (Gen1), USB 3.2 Type-C (Gen1), USB 2.0, SD card reader, and HDMI are a few of the many available connectivity options.
Free Windows 11 Upgrade When Released
It includes Windows 10 and a FREE upgrade to Windows 11 (when available).
4. Lenovo Chromebook C330 – Best Budget Laptop #4
Price: $212.00
Rating: 4.5
No. of ratings: 8,852
Battery life: 4.6
Light weight: 4.5
Durability: 4.5
Touch Screen: 4.4
Screen quality: 4.4
For gaming: 3.4
Strong Performer
You can count on solid performance when you need it. In addition to an easy-to-use Chrome OS, lots of RAM and storage, and many other features, the Chromebook C330 wakes up in seconds and comes with various accessories.
360 Degree Rotatable
This 360-degree convertible laptop is sleek, fashionable, and secure. It is less than one inch thin and weighs about the same as a hardback book, and it has an 11-inch touchscreen display that is ideal for everyday work and entertainment, whether online or offline.
Guardian of Your Files
The Lenovo Chromebook C330 is simple to use, has built-in malware protection, and has a long battery life to keep you running all day. There is no setup required – connect with your Google account to ensure that your emails, maps, documents, and images get stored in the cloud.
Designed to Connect
This notebook computer is designed to connect, and it contains several USB connections to make connecting to the internet a breeze. In addition, the built-in camera allows you to keep in contact. The Bluetooth version is 4.2.
Highly Reviewed
“High quality features at a reasonable price,” one satisfied customer writes in their review. Another person adds, “Its functionality considerably surpassed my hopes for this Chromebook. The gadget reacts rapidly to gestures and directions, and the speed with which it operates is impressive.”
3. HP Laptop 15 – Best Budget Laptop #3
Price: $459.00
Rating: 4.6
No. of ratings: 673
Battery life: 4.2
Screen quality: 4.1
Light weight: 4.1
Value for money: 3.8
Touch Screen: 3.1
BIOS Restoration and Protection
This program automatically monitors the health of your computer, protects it from illegal access, secures local storage, and recovers itself from bootup problems.
Boot Up Faster With an SSD
With the inbuilt solid-state drive, you can boot up in seconds, transfer data without waiting hours, and generally have a faster experience.
Fuel Your Day With Productivity
This laptop is designed to keep you productive and engaged for extended periods at work, school, or home.
Environment-friendly
This ENERGY STAR certified and EPEAT Silver registered laptop uses low-halogen, mercury-free display backlights, and arsenic-free display glass.
Powerful Processor
AMD Ryzen 3 3200U is a Dual-Core processor with a base speed of 2.6 GHz and a maximum boost clock of up to 3.5 GHz.
Stunning Display
15-inch diagonal HD BrightView micro-edge WLED-backlit display (1366 x 768 resolution); screen-to-body ratio is 82 percent.
Fast bootup
With a solid-state drive, you have higher bandwidth memory and faster bootup. 8 GB DDR4-2400 SDRAM (which is not upgradeable) and a 256 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
Long-Lasting Battery
Battery life of up to 10 hours and 45 minutes (mixed-use), up to 9 hours and 15 minutes (video playing), and up to 8 hours (wireless streaming); HP Fast Charge technology charges the device from 0 to 50 percent in 45 minutes.
Thin, Lightweight, and Portable
3.75 pounds; 14.11 inches (W) x 9.53 inches (D) x 0.78 inches (H).
OS and Warranty
When delivered from and sold through Amazon.com, customers will get Windows 10 Home, a 1-year limited hardware warranty, and 24-hour, seven-day-a-week online support.
2. Acer Chromebook Spin 311 – Best Budget Laptop #2
Price: $221.49
Rating: 4.6
No. of ratings: 8,331
Light weight: 4.8
Touch Screen: 4.5
Battery life: 4.5
Screen quality: 4.5
Powered by Highly Efficient Chrome OS
Chrome OS powers this Chromebook, a Google-developed operating system designed for today’s way we live. It comes with built-in virus protection, automatic updates, starts up in seconds, and maintains its performance over time with no effort. (An internet connection is necessary for this activity.)
Cross-platform Compatibility
All of the Google programs you’re familiar with and enjoy comes with every Chromebook. You can edit, download, and convert Microsoft Office files into Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides without purchasing additional software.
Access to Google Play Apps
Google Play provides access to more than 2 million Android applications that allow you to learn and accomplish more.
100 GB Cloud Storage Included
In addition to onboard storage for offline access to your most essential data, Chromebooks have an extra 100GB of Google Drive storage to guarantee that your files get backed up when they get created.
A True All-Rounder
The Acer CP311-2H-C679 convertible Chromebook has an 11.6-inch HD Touch IPS Display, an Intel Celeron N4020 processor, 4GB of LPDDR4 memory, a 32GB eMMC storage drive, Google Chrome, and a battery life of up to 10 hours.
1. Acer Aspire 5 – Best Budget Laptop #1
Price: $399.99
Rating: 4.6
No. of ratings: 36,450
Light weight: 4.6
Screen quality: 4.5
Fingerprint reader: 4.5
Battery life: 4.3
Touch Screen: 3.6
For gaming: 3.5
Powerful Productivity
The AMD Ryzen 3 3350U laptop processor provides desktop-class performance and incredible battery life in a thin and light package. Precision Boost allows you to achieve speeds of up to 3.5GHz for your high-demand applications.
Gorgeous Display
The gorgeous 15.6″ Full HD display with an 82.58 percent screen-to-body ratio, 16:9 aspect ratio, and tiny bezels allows you to see even more of your world.
Biometric Security
An Acer PC is more secure thanks to its backlit keyboard and fingerprint reader. The biometric fingerprint reader and Windows Hello sign-in options assist in keeping your Acer PC safe.
Memory & Storage
On the inside, you’ll find 4GB of DDR4 onboard memory (1 slot available), 128GB of NVMe solid-state drive storage (1 hard drive bay open) for storing your data and media, and a USB 3.0 port for charging.
Latest Purified.Voice Technology
Acer’s Purified.Voice technology, which uses advanced digital signal processing to wipe out background noise, increase voice accuracy, and improve far-field pickup, makes calls crisper and makes conversing with Alexa simpler than the previous version.
Alexa-Ready
Asking an inquiry to Alexa on your PC is as simple as typing it in. Alexa can do various tasks with a simple voice command, like checking your calendar, creating lists, playing music, answering questions, reading the news, etc.
Secure OS
The operating system is safe to use: Windows 10 Home (S mode) comes pre-installed with robust security measures such as defenses against phishing and dangerous malware, so you don’t have to think twice before visiting a new website or installing an app.
Connect to Anything
Connections: 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 Dual-Band 2.4GHz and 5GHz with MU-MIMO technology; 10 100 1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN; Bluetooth 5.1 Ports for All Your Accessories. There are four USB 3.2 Type-C ports, two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (one of which is for power-off charging), two USB 2.0 ports, an HDMI 2.0 port with HDCP compatibility, an Ethernet port (RJ-45), and a DC-in for an AC adaptor.
Editor’s Choice: ASUS Vivobook 15
Price: $369.00
Rating: 4.5
No. of ratings: 870
Value for money: 4.6
Screen quality: 4.2
Battery life: 4.1
Touch Screen: 3.9
For gaming: 3.3
Camera quality: 3.3
The following reasons make this best budget laptop our editor’s choice.
Highest Screen Resolution
This best budget laptop has the highest screen resolution at 1920 x 1080 pixels. There is only one other laptop with the same specs.
Fast Processor
With a 3.4 GHz processor speed, it has the second-fastest processor on the list. And Intel is the preferred choice of processors when compared to AMD.
Better Laptop Brand
In the ASUS vs. Acer (the number 1 laptop on the list) comparison of best budget laptop brands, ASUS takes the cake overall in terms of product quality, customer service, and reliability.
Biggest Screen Size of 15.6″
It has the largest screen size at 15.6″ of any laptop on this best budget laptop list, with two others sharing the accolade.
Very Affordable
With the second-highest Amazon product rating of 4.5, it is highly affordable at $369 when writing this article. That’s an unbelievable value for money.
Author: Sam Rizvi
I got my first computer in 1992, got into web design in 1998, and SEO in 2008. I’ve had numerous tech-related jobs, worked as technical support for Belkin, wrote hardware and software installation manuals for them, had my own computer repair business, have had multiple e-commerce businesses, including a retail brand on Amazon, and have written a book called Computer Repair Manual & Business Guide. Tech is in my blood. [Read More]
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