Budget laptops have changed considerably over the years. Clunky designs and worrisome performance are concerns of the past, and we now have slim, lightweight devices that are stylish and functional. Many affordable options exist for those seeking a simple machine for browsing, streaming, or even playing less demanding video games.

Best Budget Laptop Overall: HP Pavilion 15.6-inch Laptop

An image of a person's hands using the HP Pavilion 15.6-inch Laptop with a cup of coffee in the foreground.
Pavilion

The HP Pavilion 15.6-inch Laptop is available in a variety of configurations. These include RAM options ranging from 8GB of RAM with 256GB SSD storage to 32GB/1TB, all the while remaining in the budget price zone.

Not only can the HP Pavilion 15 handle everyday tasks like web browsing and media streaming with ease, but with its Intel UHD Graphics 600 card, it can also handle basic photo editing and light gaming.

The laptop’s 15.6-inch display has an HD resolution with a 220-nit peak brightness. It’s suitable for most everyday purposes. And, as long as you don’t mind details in your movies being a little on the softer side, it’s fine for streaming.

HP Pavilion 15.6-inch Laptop
HP Pavilion 15.6-inch
Best Overall

The HP Pavilion 15.6-inch budget laptop provides flexibility with its various configuration options, allowing users to choose the RAM and storage capacity that suits their needs. Better-specced models can efficiently handle everyday tasks, basic photo editing, and casual gaming while offering a decent display, respectable battery life, and convenient connectivity options.

Pros
  • Varied port selection
  • Good battery life
  • Lightweight
  • Windows 11 Home OS
Cons
  • Keyboard isn't backlit

Most Affordable Budget Laptop: Samsung Chromebook 4+

A woman being productive on the Samsung Chromebook 4+
Samsung

The Samsung Chromebook 4+ is a good choice if you need a basic laptop for everyday tasks at a rock-bottom price. It features an Intel Celeron N4020 processor that provides a good base for basic computing jobs. It’s an excellent office accessory that will get the job done.

With 4GB of DDR4 RAM and 64GB eMMC storage, you can expect it to handle light video editing and barebones gaming on top of your everyday tasks. Performance may be modest, and multitasking may stutter at times, but you can’t expect much more at this price point.

The Full HD display is a pleasant surprise. You can stream sharp, vibrant movies and TV shows. This model has an 11.6-inch screen, but if that’s too small for you, there’s a 15.6-inch model at a slightly higher cost. But, as with most Chromebooks, storage is limited due to their intended integration with cloud services.

Samsung Chromebook 4+
Samsung Chromebook 4+
Most Affordable

The Samsung Chromebook 4+ offers an affordable solution for your everyday computing needs. With its budget-friendly price, this laptop provides a reliable option for basic tasks without compromising functionality.
 

Pros
  • Good battery life
  • Lightweight and portable
  • Full HD display
  • Lightweight and portable
  • Two USB-C ports
Cons
  • Limited storage

Best Budget Laptop for Productivity: HP Stream 14-inch Laptop

An HP Stream 14-inch Laptop
HP

The HP Stream 14-inch is worth considering if finding the lowest-priced laptop to handle basic everyday computing tasks is your priority. This model is a good choice for the office with its Intel Celeron N4000 processor, 4GB of RAM, and 64 GB eMMC storage. It’s the most affordable choice, and it can handle basic everyday productivity tasks.

However, should you need more power while remaining firmly in the budget-price range, there are boosted RAM and larger storage options of up to 32GB and 576GB (64GB eMMC plus 512GB card), respectively.

The HD display is fine for browsing the web or streaming content during your lunch break. The visuals are bright and clear enough for indoor use, although the display may not be of optimal quality for enjoying movies and shows in the evening.

HP Stream 14-inch
HP Stream 14-Inch
Best for Productivity
$195 $260 Save $65

The HP Stream 14-inch is available at an excellent price for those seeking a budget-friendly option for everyday computing tasks. Its lightweight and compact design offers convenient portability for work or leisure, making it a practical choice for those on a tight budget.

Pros
  • Rock-bottom price
  • Compact and lightweight design
  • One year subscription to Microsoft 365 and 1 TB of OneDrive Storage
  • Excellent battery life
Cons
  • Display is not Full HD
  • No USB-C port

Best Budget 2-in-1 Laptop: Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5

A Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5
Lenovo

With its Snapdragon SC7180 processor and Qualcomm Adreno Graphics, the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 is an excellent 2-in-1. This device features 4GB of RAM and 64GB SSD storage. This capacity may not be enough for some; however, you can mitigate it with Chrome OS cloud computing.

Like most laptops in this price range, it performs well with everyday office tasks and web browsing while also offering light gaming and editing. However, where the Duet 5 excels is its gorgeous 13.3-inch OLED touchscreen. With a Full HD display, 400 nits of peak brightness, and a 100-percent DCI-P3 color gamut, images are among the best you'll find in this price range.

Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook
Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook
Best 2-in-1

The Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook stands out with its stunning 13.3-inch OLED display, Full HD resolution, and excellent peak brightness, all contributing to surprisingly good visuals for a laptop in this price range. Together with exceptional battery life, this 2-in-1 provides a delightful yet affordable experience.

Pros
  • Exceptional battery life
  • Beautiful touchscreen OLED display
  • 1080p webcam
  • Lightweight and portable
Cons
  • No headphone jack
  • Limited ports
  • Small storage capacity

Best Budget Laptop for Gaming: Acer Nitro 5

An Acer Nitro 5 budget gaming laptop
Acer

With a powerful Ryzen 7 5800H processor and an RTX 3060 GPU featuring NVIDIA DLSS technology, the Acer Nitro 5 (AN515-45-R92M model) offers ridiculous value to gamers on a budget. In addition, it boasts 16GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage, and there’s plenty of space inside for upgrades when you’re ready to move up a notch or two.

This big, heavy, chiseled-looking laptop comes complete with a customizable four-zone RGB backlight illuminating a robust keyboard that can take quite a clacking. It certainly looks and feels the part for gamers, and it boasts a plethora of ports.

However, you can’t have it all your own way at this price point. The 15.6-inch IPS display is a bit on the dim side, and colors are a little muted. But you do get a sharp Full HD resolution with a maximum 144Hz refresh rate for buttery-smooth visuals and reduced motion blur.

Acer Nitro 5
Acer Nitro 5
Best for Gaming

The Acer Nitro 5 checks most of the boxes you can expect to be checked for a budget gaming laptop. It boasts a 144Hz refresh rate, a robust RGB-backlit keyboard, and an all-around stellar performance that beats most gaming laptops in this price range. 

Pros
  • Excellent performance to price balance
  • Runs quietly and relatively cool
  • Easily upgradeable
  • 144Hz, Full HD display
Cons
  • Limited battery life
  • Below average audio
  • Display is somewhat dull

FAQ

Q: What is the difference between a Windows laptop and a Chromebook?

There are many significant differences between Windows laptops and Chromebooks. The most obvious is that the former runs on Microsoft Windows, while the latter uses Google’s Chrome operating system. However, there are many other differences to consider when choosing between a Windows laptop or a Chromebook.

Q: How much RAM does a laptop need?

How much RAM you need is relative to your intended purpose. In a nutshell, you can get by on 4GB of RAM if your laptop is for basic everyday tasks such as browsing the web, creating Word documents, or even streaming Netflix. However, it’s recommended that you get a laptop with 8GB, especially if you’re multitasking.

For a gaming laptop, some people think 8GB is sufficient for light gaming, but anything more serious than that will require at least 16GB. For CPU-intensive applications, such as those for graphic designers or architects, you’ll need something more powerful, and 32GB should cover you.

Q: How do I connect my laptop to an external display?

You’ll need a video output port on your laptop, such as HDMI, DisplayPort, or a USB-C, and a corresponding cable that matches the external display and laptop ports.

After connecting the cable, turn on the external display. You'll have to configure the settings if you don’t see your laptop screen. You can do this by right-clicking and selecting “Display Settings,” or on a MacBook, go to “System Preferences/Settings,” then “Displays.”

From there, you can choose how you want your laptop screen displayed on the external screen. You can select “Extend,” which allows the external screen to act as an extension of your laptop; “Duplicate,” which exactly mirrors what’s on your computer; or “Second Screen Only,” which disables your laptop screen and transfers all content to the external display.

Q: What is Thunderbolt, and do I need it on a laptop?

Thunderbolt combines data transfer, video output, and power delivery. Once exclusive to MacBooks, it’s a high-speed connection that uses the same connector as USB-C and now has widespread availability. However, Thunderbolt and USB-C are not the same, and Thunderbolt boasts many advantages, including faster data transfer speeds.

You don’t necessarily need Thunderbolt, but it is advantageous if you transfer a lot of data, use multiple high-resolution displays, or use an external graphics card. However, if you only use one display, don’t transfer large data files, and just use your laptop for browsing the internet and light productivity work, USB-C has ample power.

Q: How do I disable my laptop's keyboard?

It’s generally not advised to permanently disable your laptop’s keyboard. It's an essential component for the majority of laptop functions. So, whatever reason you might have for disabling your laptop’s keyboard, make sure you have an alternative input method before proceeding. You can disable a Windows keyboard temporarily or permanently; if it’s the latter, be certain you want to do it before carrying on.