In a market packed with premiums, its hard to find the best laptops under $300.
Budget laptops in general are tricky things at about the same price point, some of them are surprisingly great while others are simply not worth your time.
That gets even worse as your budget shrinks.
Picking the ideal laptop under $500, for example, is a lot easier than finding the best laptop under $200.Then again, the latter might be easier than choosing the best laptop under $300 since your expectations are already low.
At $300, you expect a more reliable and nicer looking laptop, with better build quality than those that sell less than $100/200.
That, however, doesnt mean its impossible.With a bit of digging through heaps of mid-range and premium laptops, youll find that theres quite a few choices out there.
But, as usual, were here to make your life easier.
We found five of the best laptops under $300, and put them on this list alongside our price comparison tool.
From lightweight Chromebooks to 14-inch notebooks, here are the best contenders if your budget is under $300.Acer Chromebook 311HP Chromebook 14A G5Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14-inchAsus L402YADell Inspiron 14 3480(Image credit: Acer)1.
Acer Chromebook Spin 311CPU: AMD A4-9120C Intel Celeron N4000 | Graphics: AMD Radeon R4 Intel UHD Graphics 600 | RAM: 4GB | Screen: 11.6" HD (1366 x 768) 16:9 11.6" HD (1366 x 768) 16:9 IPS | Storage: 32GB Flash MemoryEmpty Great design and buildExcellent touch screen and flip mechanismDim screenWhile the Acer Chromebook Spin 311 was over $300 when it was released, many of its configurations have dropped in price, which is only good news for budget-minded consumers.
This little Chromebook that could has many things going for it, starting with its surprisingly great design and solid build, as well as its comfortable to use keyboard and touchpad.But, thats only to start.
It also delivers performance-wise, with a solid set of components under the hood.
You can multitask without issue on this laptop, so you can use it for work and entertainment.
That is, as long as you can do most of your work on Google Chrome.
It is still a Chromebook, after all.The features we love most about this laptop, however, is its versatile 2-in-1 design and touchscreen display.
You wont often find that combination in cheaper laptops, which adds more value to this particular portable.
And, were not talking about a crappy screen here.
It has a Gorilla glass touch display that may be a little dimmer than its premium counterparts, but is still tough and nice to touch.Read the full review: Acer Chromebook Spin 311(Image credit: HP)2.
HP Chromebook 14A G5Powerful Chromebook for cheapCPU: AMD A4-9120C APU | Graphics: AMD Radeon R4 Graphics | RAM: 4GB | Screen: 14" diagonal (1366 x 768) HD SVA eDP anti-glare LED backlit with 220 cd/m | Storage: 32 GB eMMCGreat performanceExcellent battery lifeKeyboard not comfortable to useThere are several reasons why HPs Chromebook 14 is so popular, including the fact that it has a surprisingly wide range of configurations, giving economical buyers many options.
Though in the budget range of the lightweight Chromebook environment, this line is also powerful enough, has an impressive battery life and boasts a good selection of ports.And, if you choose wisely, youll be rewarded with a configuration that gives you great value all around, like the HP Chromebook 14A G5.
Beyond the lines 14-inch display, battery longevity and port selection, its also fitted with AMD A4-9120C APU and Radeon R4 Graphics.
Its one of the crowd-favorites in the bunch, but it wont set you back more than $300, unlike the other highly rated configurations.Its not without its compromises.
The lower resolution HD display isnt anything to write about, and the keyboard isnt great either.
But, budget laptops are never without flaws.
At least with this, youre getting great performance without breaking the bank.(Image credit: Lenovo)3.
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14-inchFor portability and designCPU: AMD A4-9120E A9-9420E | Graphics: AMD Radeon R3 R5 | RAM: 4GB | Screen: 14.0 HD (1366 x 768) anti-glare, 220 nits | Storage: 64GB eMMCLightweight for a budget laptopGreat port selectionSlow performingEven with its most budget laptops, Lenovo has never been one to shy away from great, modern aesthetics.
Its one of the many things we appreciate about the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14-inch.
Inside, it kind of reminds you of older MacBooks, only with a small yet noticeable Lenovo logo sitting at the edge on the right.
Outside, the logos there again, but nothing else.
This makes it perfect for fans of the minimalist look.
And, if youre sick of the same old gray/silver color, it comes in ice blue too.Of course, theres more to laptops than just looks, and this ones got a few other things going for it, including a great port selection and a lightweight design.
Well, lightweight for a budget laptop at least Theres also its just right 14-inch screen size its not too big like a 15-inch and not too small like a 13-inch.Fair warning, though: this isnt known for its speedy performance and multitasking skills.
So only get it for casual use.
If you have a penchant for multitasking and addiction to games, this probably isnt the best laptop under $300 for you.(Image credit: Asus)4.
Asus L402YALook good while on a budgetCPU: AMD Dual core E2-7015 | Graphics: AMD Radeon R2 | RAM: 4GB | Screen: 14 HD (1366x768) display | Storage: 64GB eMMCLooks great in dark blue or whiteNice port selectionWebcam not goodNot everyone can be a Chromebook fan others prefer the more familiar environment of Windows 10 in S mode.
If this sounds like you, then the Asus L402YA is certainly worth considering, especially if youve only got $250/250 to spend.
This 14-inch laptop will bring you back to that excellent Windows 10 environment, only more secure and more lightweight.And, dont worry about looking cheap.
This laptop will allow you to save money while still looking good.
It may not have options when it comes to internals, but externally, youve got choices.
The Asus L402YA comes in three different colors, but the crowd-favorite seems to be the dark blue one, with the white one coming in close second.The downsides? The display is not impressive, and the webcam is just not good.
However, it makes up for those with a diverse port selection and good battery life.
You lose some, but you also definitely win some.(Image credit: Dell)5.
Dell Inspiron 14 3480Great value for casual computingCPU: Intel Pentium Silver N5000 Processor | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 605 | RAM: 4GB | Screen: 14.0-inch HD (1366 x 768) Anti-Glare LED-Backlit Non-touch Display | Storage: 128GB SSD View at DellDecent SSD storageRugged buildNo USB-CIf you want a full Windows 10 operating system, on the other hand, then go with the Dell Inspiron series.
The Dells budget line comes in many configurations as well as sizes, ranging from tiny 11-inch notebooks to 17-inch behemoths.
But, for something under $300, you cant go wrong with the latest Dell Inspiron 14 3480.These 14-inch additions to the Inspiron line comes in three configurations, the second of which will not only set you back less than $300, but also give you an Intel UHD Graphics 605 GPU and 4GB of memory.
Dell pairs those with an Intel Pentium Silver N5000 processor.
While those specs might not look like much to consumers with more intensive computing use, theyre definitely enough for the right kind of user.
Plus, it boasts 128GB of SSD storage while most of its rivals only have flash memory.Whether youre looking for a laptop for the kids to use for school, or youre looking for a portable to surf, stream and chat in, theres great value to be had in the Dell Inspiron 14 3480.GAAWFKhJdAAireni4vukNa.jpg?#