If you're looking for a laptop that won't cost you too much, you may find what you're looking for with laptops under $100. While there isn't a whole load of options at this price point, they're an inexpensive choice as lightweight workstations.
Let's look into what you'll get in 100 dollar laptops, and what units are available right now.
What Do You Get From 100 Dollar Laptops?
Unfortunately, it's very hard---if not impossible---to find good, cheap laptops that are brand new. To keep the price down, we need to look at the used and refurbished market.
Used laptops are as you expect; they're laptops that had a prior owner who is now selling them on. Used laptops under $100 tend to be older models, priced in a way that will shift them quickly. Due to the unpredictable nature of purchasing second-hand hardware, we decided to shy away from highlighting used products.
Refurbished laptops are a little different. They, too, are older models of laptop, but certified engineers repair them so that they're like new. A third party typically does this, so the repairs are not official and aren't usually offered under warranty. However, it's an excellent way to get a laptop that has a second lease on life with renovations and new components.
If you'd like to know more about the differences between pre-owned devices, check out our guide to which second-hand device types are best.
How We Picked the Laptops
Picking out 100 dollar laptops can be tough, as there are a lot of dud products available that aren't worth your time and money. As such, we only selected laptops that fit under the following criteria:
- They're all sold under the Amazon Renewed plan. This plan means that every computer benefits from a 90-day guarantee by Amazon. If the laptop arrives and it's evident that it hasn't received the proper care it needed, you can claim your money back. This plan makes purchasing refurbished hardware less risky.
- If the laptop has reviews, the overall rating has to be three stars or above. Unfortunately, they may change over time, but these were checked and confirmed at time of writing.
- They have to be at or under $100.
- Generally, Chromebooks give the best performance for the price. As such, we focused on Chromebooks for this list.
Best Refurbished Laptops Under $100
1. Lenovo N22
The Lenovo N22 is a small device that can do a surprising amount. It is a Chromebook, so it does run Google's Chrome OS---a modified version of the Chrome web browser. It has a 1.6GHz dual-core processor, 4GB of RAM, and an 11.6-inch display.
While it won't be winning any performance specification awards, it has a nice array of additional features. It has a meager 16GB of storage, but that is expandable with a microSD card. The laptop also supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB 3.0, and HDMI connections.
2. Samsung Chromebook XE303C12
The Samsung Chromebook XE303C12 is another entry for Chromebooks in the 100 dollar laptop range. It has a dual-core 1.7GHz processor, 2GB of RAM, and an 11.6-inch display. As such, it's mostly ideal for work use where you focus on a single app or program.
It's useful as a simple communications laptop, too; it comes equipped with a webcam and microphone, with sockets that allow you to plug in higher-quality mics. If you feel like paying a little extra, you can upgrade this laptop to a 12.1-inch model.
The laptop is also compact and lightweight, weighing in at just 2.43lbs, making it easy to carry around. It makes for a handy homework laptop or something you can take with you to lectures to take notes on.
3. Acer C720
The Acer C720 is another computer to consider when looking for good cheap laptops. Its price is slightly over the $100 mark, but it's a small enough margin to be acceptable for anyone with a $100 budget.
The Acer C720 doesn't make any big splashes in the hardware department; it has a single 1.4 GHz processor and 2GB of RAM. It does, however, have impressive eight-and-a-half hours of battery life, and boots up in seven seconds. These features make this laptop a good word processing computer for studies or reports.
4. Dell Chromebook 11.6-Inch HD
This Dell Chromebook is the best cheap laptop in this list for sheer processing power. It has a 2.58GHz dual-core Intel Celeron N2840, which makes it a powerhouse compared to the previous entries. Much like other models, it sports 4GB of RAM and 16GB of SSD storage.
It also has an excellent range of USB ports, with three USB 2.0 ports located around the unit. These ports make it useful for plugging in flash drives and external accessories, such as mice.
5. Dell Chromebook 11-Inch
This 11-Inch Dell Chromebook has a good range of ports for additional accessories. It has one USB 3.0 port, two USB 2.0 ports, a headphone/microphone combo jack, and an HDMI port for external monitors. It also boots very quickly and does its tasks quietly without any loud fans.
Unfortunately, its processor is on the weaker side, with only a single 2.1 GHz processor under the hood. While this laptop can't achieve anything above word processing and online browsing, the ports make it an excellent choice for someone with a lot of USB accessories.
Choosing the Best Inexpensive Laptop for You
You don't need to break the bank when purchasing a laptop. There are plenty of ways to get cheaper models, which is excellent for both tight budgets and occasional work use. These refurbished Chromebooks should do the job for anyone who needs a lightweight laptop.
After looking through the best 100 dollar laptops, you may decide another device would be better for you. If so, consider the best cheap tablets instead.