Best laptops under $300 in 2023

If you are looking for a new laptop and on a tight budget, this post is for you. We have gathered some of the best laptops and Chromebooks priced below $300 to help you find the one that suits you best.

Should you buy an under $300 laptop?

Generally speaking, laptops under this price tag will definitely have flaws. You will not be able to buy a perfect affordable laptop or Chromebook. Some laptops will have larger screens but a worse processor. Others will have better specs but a smaller or dimmer display.

The laptops with larger screens, such as 15.6″, will be on the heavier side too. Some laptops may lack enough connectivity ports or an audio jack.

What all these laptops have in common is the lower price, which comes along with lower performance.

Who are these under $300 laptops and Chromebooks for?

These laptops primarily target students or people who want to perform everyday tasks, like browsing, watching videos online, and performing simple tasks like writing on Word or Google Docs.

They are also great for people who want to take them everywhere, thanks to their low weight.

We do not recommend these laptops for gamers, power users, photographers, video editors, and other users who perform CPU, RAM, or GPU-heavy tasks. You will need much more powerful laptops, especially for gaming.

All these laptops have low-end processors, 4GB of RAM (or 8GB at best), and come with integrated graphics rather than a dedicated GPU.

You should not expect to run Photoshop, 3D Max, or video editing software on these devices.

Read also: Best cheap gaming laptops

Should you buy a Chromebook?

If you are looking for laptops in this price range, a Chromebook may be perfect for you. As I explained, these laptops are ideal for trivial tasks. Sometimes even Windows 10 or 11 may be too heavy to run on these machines.

Chrome OS is lighter than Windows, but you will only be able to perform available tasks on Google Chrome.

Since most of us use our browsers for most tasks anyway, a Chromebook could be ideal for your needs.

ASUS Laptop L210 Ultra-Thin Laptop

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• Processor: Intel Celeron N4020
• RAM: 4-8GB
• Storage: 64GB
• Display: 11.6 inches HD
• Weight: 2.2 pounds

Despite its affordable price tag, the ASUS Laptop L210 has some of the best performance features and offers the best customizability options from the brand.

This device features a compact 11.6″ HD display with narrow bezels on both sides, along with an Intel Celeron N4020 processor that provides unbeatable performance and long-lasting productivity.

Due to its weight and compact dimensions, the device is highly convenient for you to carry around. 

Having a number pad integrated into the touchpad makes it a good option for the business community. The battery life is also exceptional so you can use it anywhere. You can also use it in silent mode. The device also has four USB ports, four GB of RAM, and 64 GB of eMMC storage.

Acer Chromebook Spin 311

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• Processor: ARM Cortex A73 @ 2GHz
• RAM: 4GB
• Storage: 64GB
• Display: 11.6 inch HD LCD
• Weight: 2.65 pounds

The Acer Chromebook Spin 311 is now cheaper in many configurations, which is excellent for consumers on a budget. One of the best Chromebooks to date, it has a surprisingly great design and solid build, as well as a comfortable keyboard and touchpad.

Among the best features of this laptop are its versatile design and touchscreen display. It is rare to find this combination in a less expensive laptop, adding to its value. Besides, that's not what makes the laptop so unique.

The Gorilla Glass touch display makes it a little dimmer than its premium counterparts, but it is still very durable and pleasant to touch.

There is, however, much more to come. Besides its performance, it comes with a solid set of components. You can use this laptop both for work and entertainment so that you can multitask without a problem. 

Provided you primarily work on Google Chrome. It is still a Chromebook, after all.

Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 4

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• Processor: Intel Celeron N4000
• RAM: 4-6GB
• Storage: 32-64GB
• Display: 11.6 inches HD TN
• Weight: 2.65 pounds

Chromebooks are the preferred choice for affordable laptops, and the Samsung Chromebook 4 only improves on earlier models. This simple, reliable notebook will do the trick for work, school, or essential everyday use.

The Intel Celeron N4000 processor and 4GB of RAM deliver reliable performance, and 64GB of storage is double that of the Chromebook 3, which was a well-loved affordable option. 

In addition to charging via USB-C, the Chromebook 4 can transfer data at speeds up to 5Gb/s and can be connected to a 4K monitor. In addition to USB-C, the Chromebook 4 features a USB-A port as well.

Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14-inch

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• Processor: AMD Athlonâ„¢ Silver 3050e Mobile Processor AMD 3020e Mobile Processor
• RAM: 4GB
• Storage: 32-64GB eMMC
• Display: 14″ FHD (1920 x 1080) TN, 220 nits, Anti-Glare, 45% NTSC
• Weight: 3.1 pounds

No matter what its budget laptops are, Lenovo has never shied away from grand, modern design. The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14-inch is one of the many things we appreciate about it.

On the inside, it's reminiscent of older MacBooks, with a small but noticeable Lenovo logo at the right edge. The logo is also present on the outside, but nothing else. It's perfect for minimalists. If you're tired of the gray/silver color, it's also available in ice blue.

This laptop has a few other features going for it, including an excellent port selection and a lightweight design. At least it's lightweight for a budget laptop. It also has a “just right” 14-inch screen size – it's not too big like a 15-inch nor too small like a 13-inch.

It is not known for its speedy performance or multitasking abilities. It is best suited for casual use.

ASUS L410

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• Processor: Intel® Celeron® N4020 Processor 1.1 GHz (4M Cache, up to 2.8 GHz, 2 cores)
• RAM: 4GB
• Storage: 64-128GB eMMC
• Display: 14.0-inch, FHD (1920 x 1080) 16:9, Anti-glare display, LED Backlit, 220nits, NTSC: 45%, Screen-to-body ratio: 78%
• Weight: 2.9 pounds

A high-performance laptop under $300 sounds like a dream come true. It's a reality with ASUS's L410 laptop.

In addition to the performance, the device is equipped with a sleek design with a blue and black exterior and a black interior with a keyboard and trackpad.

This device is a dual-core Intel Celeron N4020 and has 128 GB of eMMC flash storage for efficient management without any risks.

The ASUS E410 is equipped with a compact 14-inch HD LED display with 1080p screen resolution and integrated Intel graphics.

With Windows 10 operating system, the ASUS L410 offers a wide range of wireless connectivity options and standard I/O ports, such as USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A and HDMI card reader.

HP Chromebook 14A G5

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• Processor: 1.8 GHz AMD A6-9220C Dual-Core APU
• RAM: 4GB
• Storage: 32GB eMMC
• Display: 14″ 1366 x 768 Display
• Weight: 3.5 pounds

Its popularity can be attributed to a wide range of configurations, including a surprisingly wide range of prices, giving consumers many choices to choose from. 

Chromebooks in this line are not only affordable, but they are also powerful, have a fantastic battery life, and offer a good selection of ports.

Additionally, if you choose wisely, you'll receive a configuration that offers a great value throughout, like the HP Chromebook 14A G5. It comes with a 14-inch display, long battery life, and multiple ports, which work with AMD's A4-9120C APU.

Even though it's one of the most popular configurations, it won't cost you more than $300, unlike the other highly rated configurations.

Compromises accompany the benefits it brings. Neither the HD display nor the keyboard is impressive. But budget laptops aren't perfect. Here, you can get excellent performance without spending too much money.

Dell Inspiron 15 3000

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• Processor: AMD Athlon Silver 3050U @ 2.3GHz
• RAM: 4GB
• Storage: 128GB SSD
• Display: 15.6-inch (1366 x 768) Anti-glare LED 
• Weight: 4.96 pounds

Under $300, you can find plenty of decent Chromebooks, but only a few inspiring Windows laptops. Dell's Inspiron 3000 series, which comes in three screen and chassis sizes, is one exception.

It was made to be a low-cost laptop that offers all of the essential features. Even so, this version suffers from lackluster performance and, in particular, poor display quality at a lower price point. The drawbacks are tolerable if you have a strict budget. 

Alternatively, if you can spare an extra $30 or so, you could pick up an AMD Ryzen or Intel Core version with a full HD screen that would significantly improve your computing experience.

ASUS Laptop L510

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• Processor: Intel Celeron N4020 154
• RAM: 4GB
• Storage: 64GB eMMC
• Display: 15.6″, Full HD (1920 x 1080), TN 
• Weight: 3.59 pounds

Affordable devices that deliver superior performance are difficult to come by. If you're looking for a cheap laptop with superior performance, the ASUS Laptop L510 is hands down one of the best.

The device features a stunning 15.6″ FHD display with 1080p resolution despite the high price.

With this slim and portable device, you can travel anywhere, which weighs less than 4 lbs, including the battery. The Intel Celeron N4020 Processor powers ASUS L510 with a 4M cache for a superior user experience and unmatched performance.

It is equipped with 128GB eMMC flash storage and 4GB RAM for superior multitasking and performance. The device runs on Windows 10 in S Mode and has superior wireless connectivity via Wi-Fi 5 for a 3x better speed experience.

Acer Aspire 1

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• Processor: Intel Celeron N4020
• RAM: 4GB
• Storage: 64GB eMMC
• Display: 15.6 inches
• Weight: 4.19 pounds

You'll get the most from your work life or browsing experience with the Acer Aspire 1 at 15.6 inches, the biggest screen available at its price point. 

Whether you need a laptop for your home office or to help your kids with schoolwork, this is a great choice. While having 4GB RAM and 64GB of eMMC storage, it is slightly heavier than other models (4.19 pounds) you might find in a laptop under $300. 

The laptop runs Windows 10, and the wireless performance is good. An attractive design and a comfortable keyboard round out the package. There are two USB-A ports, a headphone jack, an HDMI port, and an Ethernet port on the laptop.

Lenovo Chromebook Duet

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• Processor: MediaTek Helio P60T
• RAM: 4GB
• Storage: 64GB eMMC
• Display: 10.1 inches FHD (1920 x 1200)
• Weight: 2 pounds

The Lenovo Chromebook Duet is more of a tablet that you can use as a laptop. It's a solid choice for those who want to use Chrome OS at this price range. This is definitely one of the best budget-friendly Chromebooks in the market if you want something more versatile than a laptop.

It comes with a colorful display, ample 64GB storage space, and up to 10 hours of battery life. Small and lightweight, yet powerful and reliable enough to handle heavy browsing.

Even though the device only has one USB-C port and no audio jack, you can connect to just about any accessory via Bluetooth. With 1920 by 1200 resolution, the display is great for the price of the tablet.

HP Stream Pro 11

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• Processor: Intel Celeron N4000
• RAM: 4GB
• Storage: 64GB eMMC flash storage
• Display: 11.6 inches
• Weight: 2.37 pounds

Not to be overlooked is the HP Stream 11 laptop, which has an 11.6-inch display that allows you to focus on your home workspace.

BrightView technology is integrated into the HD display.

With the Intel Celeron N4000 processor and Intel UHD graphics, the device provides crisp visuals and true color reproduction. With its 4GB memory and 32GB eMMC storage, it ensures unmatched productivity throughout the day.

The HP Stream comes with wireless connectivity options with Bluetooth 4.2 and the latest Wi-Fi technology. It also includes a microSD card reader, two USB 3.1 ports, a USB 3.1 Type-C, an HDMI port, and a headphone jack.

Additionally, the device has a battery life of up to 12 hours, so it will pretty much stay with you throughout the day.