The best laptops under $300 2024: top laptops you don't have to splurge on

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REASONS TO BUY
REASONS TO AVOID
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best laptops under $300
(Image credit: Future)

It’s good to consider one of the best laptops under $300 if you’re on a tight budget and don’t need anything that powerful. Admittedly, there are so many premium portables out there that are very tempting, but because of their powerful components and stylish design, they also tend to be more expensive. And if what they offer in performance is a lot more than what you need, should you really shell out a lot more money than you need to?

If you really don’t need the newest portable such as the Dell XPS 15 to get you through your day, an excellent machine under $300 may be the best laptop. It’ll save you a lot of money. Besides their very low price, these budget machines are able to handle a lot of what most regular users need out of a computer. 

Granted, you’ll find plenty of portables at this price point that should probably be avoided. However, it’s also not impossible to find a quality machine for this cheap, especially if you're looking for a student laptop.

To help you filter out the bad and find the ones that will help you with your daily computing tasks, we’ve gathered our top picks here, including smaller notebooks and light Chromebooks. We’re tested and reviewed hundreds of machines over the years, and we can tell the difference between a machine worth your money and a lemon.

Check out our best laptop under $500 and best laptop under $200 guides as well to expand your options. Is money not an issue? One of the best Dell laptops might be the right call. 

Acer Chromebook Spin 311 against a white background

(Image credit: Acer)

1. Acer Chromebook Spin 311

Versatile and fun

Specifications

CPU: 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 Memory

Reasons to buy

+
Empty Great design and build
+
Excellent touch screen and flip mechanism

Reasons to avoid

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Dim screen

While 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, that’s 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 won’t often find that combination in cheaper laptops, which adds more value to this particular portable. And, we’re 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 

HP Chromebook 14A G5 against a white background

(Image credit: HP)

2. HP Chromebook 14A G5

Powerful Chromebook for cheap

Specifications

CPU: 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/m²
Storage: 32 GB eMMC

Reasons to buy

+
Great performance
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Excellent battery life

Reasons to avoid

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Keyboard not comfortable to use

There are several reasons why HP’s 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, you’ll be rewarded with a configuration that gives you great value all around, like the HP Chromebook 14A G5. Beyond the line’s 14-inch display, battery longevity and port selection, it’s also fitted with AMD A4-9120C APU and Radeon R4 Graphics. It’s one of the crowd-favorites in the bunch, but it won’t set you back more than $300, unlike the other highly rated configurations.

It’s not without its compromises. The lower resolution HD display isn’t anything to write about, and the keyboard isn’t great either. But, budget laptops are never without flaws. At least with this, you’re getting great performance without breaking the bank.

Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14-inch against a white background

(Image credit: Lenovo)

3. Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14-inch

For portability and design

Specifications

CPU: 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 eMMC

Reasons to buy

+
Lightweight for a budget laptop
+
Great port selection

Reasons to avoid

-
Slow performing 

Even with its most budget laptops, Lenovo has never been one to shy away from great, modern aesthetics. It’s 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 logo’s there again, but nothing else. This makes it perfect for fans of the minimalist look. And, if you’re sick of the same old gray/silver color, it comes in ice blue too.

Of course, there’s more to laptops than just looks, and this one’s 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 There’s also it’s “just right” 14-inch screen size – it’s not too big like a 15-inch and not too small like a 13-inch.

Fair warning, though: this isn’t 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 isn’t the best laptop under $300 for you.

Lenovo IdeaPad 1 (11") against a white background

(Image credit: Lenovo)

4. Lenovo IdeaPad 1 (11")

Cheap and small

Specifications

CPU: Intel Celeron N4020 Processor
Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 600
RAM: 4GB DDR4 2400MHz
Screen: 11.6" HD (1366 x 768) anti-glare
Storage: 64GB eMMC

Reasons to buy

+
Portable
+
Really cheap

Reasons to avoid

-
Don’t expect a whole lot of power 

Those who are happy with a tablet-sized portable will love the price of the 11-inch Lenovo IdeaPad 1, which is now cheaper than ever. It’s just under three pounds and is powerful enough to help you tackle productivity tasks. Thanks to that eight-hour battery life, you won’t need to carry that charger with you either if you’re traveling light. It also comes with a built-in dual stereo speaker for media consumption on your bed. While it’s terrific for doing light productivity tasks, this one’s best for the matriculating members of the household.

Dell Inspiron 15 3000 against a white background

(Image credit: Dell)

5. Dell Inspiron 15 3000

SSD goodness under $300

Specifications

CPU: Intel Celeron N4020
Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 600
RAM: 4GB DDR4 2400MHz
Screen: 15.6-inch HD (1366 x 768) anti-glare LED-backlit non-touch narrow border
Storage: 128GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD

Reasons to buy

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Bigger and faster storage
+
Decent screen
+
Great port selection

Reasons to avoid

-
Battery life could be better

For an affordable 15-inch laptop, the Dell Inspiron 15 3000 hovers just under $300. That’s pretty good considering the extra real estate you’re getting. But, that isn’t the best part. While it keeps things pretty modest on the CPU and graphics front, it does go for a fast SSD with 128GB of storage. It’s just the ticket if you have a lot of photos, videos and documents to store. You’ll want this if you’re looking for the best laptop under $300 to get you through your workload.

Michelle Rae Uy
Contributor

Michelle Rae Uy is the former Computing Reviews and Buying Guides Editor at TechRadar. She's a Los Angeles-based tech, travel and lifestyle writer covering a wide range of topics, from computing to the latest in green commutes to the best hiking trails. She's an ambivert who enjoys communing with nature and traveling for months at a time just as much as watching movies and playing sim games at home. That also means that she has a lot more avenues to explore in terms of understanding how tech can improve the different aspects of our lives.