If you need a new machine for work and school but don't want to splash out too much then you'll want to consider the best laptops under $300. This is about as cheap as machines come, and they are far from powerhouses, but you can expect sizeable SSDs, respectable processors, and decent screens with everything from Windows-powered rigs to Chromebooks, and even 2-in-1 builds, too.
It's important to note that none of these devices are going to rival the best laptops when it comes to build quality, power, speed, or storage size, but that doesn't mean they aren't worth it in their own right. Our top picks include the punchy Lenovo Ideapad 1 and the Acer Chromebook Spin 311 with these two machines taking a very different approach to form factor despite near-identical hardware.
To broaden your choices, we recommend checking out the best laptops under $500 which can net you far more capable machines. Or you can even go a little cheaper for the best laptops under $200 if some of our picks here veer a little north of the budget you've got in mind. Additionally, you can consider lightweight ChromeOS devices with the best Chromebooks in all shapes and sizes.
Best laptop under $300
The Lenovo Ideapad 1 takes the top spot as the best laptop available for under $300. That's because it embodies the design philosophy from some of the company's midrange and premium-built machines with a decent screen, a nice keyboard, and a sizable amount of SSD storage for all your files, movies, and photos in one place.
The Intel Celeron N4020 has been featured in dozens of machines and for good reason. Armed with 4GB RAM, the Lenovo Ideapad 1 has just about enough under the hood for working on, watching movies, and embarking in cloud gaming through Nvidia GeForce Now and PC Game Pass. Unfortunately, anything too intensive just isn't going to cut it.
Best 2-in-1 laptop under $300
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
Best Chromebook under $300
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.
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Best small laptop under $300
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.
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Most powerful laptop under $300
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.
Best laptops under $300 - FAQs
What is the best laptop under $300?
The best laptop under $300 right now is the Lenovo IdeaPad 1. That's because it features a relatively large amount of SSD storage, a decent screen, good design, and a respectable processor.
Is $300 enough to buy a laptop?
We consider $300 to be the absolute bare minimum of what you'll want to spend to get yourself a laptop. Traditonally, these machines may feature 720p or 1080p displays, with around 4GB RAM, and weaker, older processors inside which are capable of the basics.
