The best cheap laptops you can buy

Microsoft

Cheap isn’t always synonymous with bad. Affordable laptops can offer a great balance between value and quality, but finding the best cheap laptops isn’t always easy. After all, the low cost market is saturated with horrible products. This is why we have curated a list with the best cheap laptops you can currently buy.

If you are looking to get yourself a laptop on a very tight budget, you can’t do better than these. We have specifically picked the best cheap laptops under $400. While there are some exceptions, we also made an effort to include mostly Windows-running machines, as it is the most convenient operating system to most users. If you want more Chrome OS options we also have a list of the best Chromebooks you can buy.

The best cheap laptops:

Editor’s note: This list of the best cheap laptops will be regularly updated.

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1. Microsoft Surface Go

Microsoft’s Surface line-up is popular for its sleek designs and capable specs, but they are also known for their hefty price tags. This changes with the Microsoft Surface Go, a smaller, more affordable Windows tablet that starts at just $390.

Granted, this price tag includes the device only, which means you will have to spend extra if you want a keyboard, stylus, or any other accessory. The base price also gets you only 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage, all running on an Intel Pentium Gold processor.

Also read: Here are the best Microsoft Surface laptops and tablets you can buy

These are basic specs, but you are buying into the Surface design, accessories, and style. We say it’s still one of the best cheap laptops you can get, just because Surface devices tend to offer a more refined experience.

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Microsoft Surface Go specs:

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2. Motile 14

We usually wouldn’t recommend these odd brands, but this is a seriously good deal. Motile is a Walmart brand that offers great value for the current $349 price point.

The Motile 14 features a 14-inch Full HD display, a sleek metallic design, and pretty good internals. This laptop comes with an AMD Ryzen 5 processor and Radeon Vega 8 Graphics, which is comparable to an Intel Core i5. Throw in 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage and you have yourself one of the best cheap laptops around.

Also read: AMD vs Intel – Which is better?

The price on this one seems to change often and can go up to $699. We wouldn’t recommend it at such a high price point, but when you find a deal like the current one, this is a total steal.

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Motile 14 specs:

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3. Dell Inspiron 11

The Dell Inspiron 11 is a departure from previous Inspiron 11 models, which featured Intel processors. This one comes with the seventh-generation AMD A9-9420e processor. The base model comes with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, as well as an 11.6-inch 1366 x 768 display.

It’s also a 2-in-1, which means you can fold the 11.6-inch HD display back 360 degrees and turn the laptop into a 2.6-pound tablet. On the right are two regular USB ports and a headphone jack. On the left are the power port, HDMI port, another USB port, and a microSD card slot. Unfortunately, the Inspiron 11 doesn’t feature a USB-C. That hurts, especially when cheaper machines than this one feature USB-C.

Also read: The best Dell laptops

At just $199.99 from Amazon, this little laptop will get the job done at a very low price.

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Dell Inspiron 11 specs:

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4. Lenovo IdeaPad 1

Whether you want an ultra portable laptop or more screen real estate, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 series has you covered. This laptop comes in 11-inch and 14-inch screen sizes.

Processor options include the AMD A4, A6, or A9. These all come with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. Battery life is expected to last up to 8 hours on a single charge, and the laptop comes with a pretty good construction given the price.

The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 starts at just $170.99, which is a very low price to pay for a laptop that will do just fine with everyday tasks.

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Lenovo IdeaPad 1 specs:

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5. Lenovo IdeaPad S340

Affordable laptops with an Intel Core processor are rare, so this one is for those who have a preference for Intel’s chipsets.

There are multiple versions of the Lenovo IdeaPad S340. Today we are talking about one that starts at just $379.99, but you can get it for cheaper on Amazon. The base model comes with an Intel Core i3 processor, a 15.6-inch 1366 x 768 display, 4GB of RAM, and 128GB of internal storage.

It is a thin laptop at only 0.7 inches in thickness. This also happens to have a pretty good battery life; a single charge should last you up to 10 hours.

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Lenovo IdeaPad S340 specs:

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6. Asus VivoBook 15

The Asus VivoBook 15 is another great option for those who prefer an Intel Core processor at a low price. This cheap laptop costs $362.91 from Amazon and has pretty good specs.

Inside you will find an Intel Core i3 chipset, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of internal storage. Other specs include a 15.6-inch Full HD display, a thin 0.8-inch body, and a weight of just 3.5 pounds.

Also read: The best mini laptops you can buy

That’s enough power and style to make this one of the best cheap laptops around. Especially with a price that is well under the $400 mark.

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Asus VivoBook 15 specs:

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7. Asus VivoBook Flip 14

The Asus VivoBook Flip 14 is not as powerful as some other laptops in this list, but it is fairly specced and makes up for everything due to its great design. As you can see in the image above, the screen can be flipped all the way around to take on different form factors. It also has a beautiful aluminum chassis that easily makes it one of the best cheap laptops you can buy.

Specs include an Intel Pentium N5000 processor, 4GB of RAM, and 128GB of internal storage. It has a 14-inch Full HD display with a touchscreen, and the body is super slim at just o.6 inches.

This is a great cheap laptop as long as you don’t require an Intel Core processor or something similarly powered by AMD. It comes with a fun and versatile design that many casual users will love, especially at $349.99.

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Asus VivoBook Flip 14 specs:

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8. Acer Swift 1

The Acer Swift 1 comes in 13.3-inch and 14-inch variants, but we thought adding a smaller laptop would be beneficial, as this list of the best cheap laptops is filled with larger screens. Not to mention this is also among the cheapest of its class.

This little laptop comes with an Intel Pentium N4200 processor, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of internal storage, and a 13.3-inch Full HD screen.

Also read: The best Acer laptops to buy

The Acer Swift 1 is no power house, but it is one of the best cheap laptops you can get for just $269.99. It would be great for a casual user.

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Acer Swift 1 specs:

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9. HP Stream 11

Now it’s time for the Chromebooks! HP’s Stream line of small and affordable laptops have been around for years, but this year’s Stream 11 finally looks to have decent performance. That’s thanks to the Intel Atom x5-E8000 and 4GB of RAM. The 32GB eMMC drive is an anemic amount of storage, but at least Windows 10 S won’t tax the system too much.

The rest of the Stream 11 is standard for 11-inch laptops in 2019. There’s an HD-resolution TN panel, two regular USB ports, a USB-C port, an HDMI port, a DisplayPort, and a headphone jack. The Stream 11 also features quad speakers and support for Bluetooth 5.

Also read: The best HP laptops you can buy

If it wasn’t clear by now, the Stream 11 is not a laptop for heavy multi-taskers, but at just $179.99 it’s also one of the best cheap laptops you can find.

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HP Stream 11 specs:

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10. Lenovo Chromebook C330

On paper, the Lenovo Chromebook C330 is similar to many other cheap Chromebooks. There’s an 11.6-inch display with HD resolution, a USB-C port, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of eMMC storage. Normal stuff, though the display can tilt back 360 degrees, which is always a nice feature to have.

This affordable laptop gets to the quad-core MediaTek MT8173C processor. It might seem like a strange processor choice for a laptop, but the MT8173C does just fine with Chrome OS. Because the software doesn’t require as much horsepower to run well as Windows does, performance isn’t as bad as you think it might be.

Also read: The best Chromebooks you can buy

The $245.99 starting price is a bit higher. That said, the Chromebook C330 is a great choice for those who mainly live in the browser.

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Lenovo Chromebook C330 specs:

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There you have some of the best cheap laptops money can buy. Whether you want something versatile, simple, or powerful, this list has plenty of options under $400. Hell, some of these laptops can even be used for casual gaming!

Source of the article – Android Authority