While premium laptops have gotten more expensive over time, and this is truer than ever now due to the memory crisis, cheap and budget options have improved significantly in quality. You can easily find great devices that perform just as well as more costly models, from dirt-cheap under-$300 Chromebooks to budget gaming laptops with a dedicated GPU costing up to $1,200. Naturally, there are always compromises when it comes to budget and cheap laptops. Some have lower-quality displays and less processing power, or lack features like biometrics, so knowing what matters most to you and what you can compromise on is essential.
We've tested over 180 laptops, and below, you'll find our recommendations for the best cheap and budget laptops. You can also check out our recommendations for the best laptops under $300, the best student Chromebooks, and the best budget and cheap gaming laptops.
Since 2021, we've tested dozens of laptops every year. We buy our laptops to avoid bias and, following a rigorous methodology, test nearly every part of the laptop so we can deliver results you can rely on. We use a wide range of equipment to perform our tests, including a colorimeter, a Mecmesin MultiTest-i System Test Stand, and various performance benchmarking suites.
Want to know more? Check out our How We Test Laptops article, where we give you a broader overview of our review process, from the moment we purchase the product to the final review.
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Best Budget Laptop
General ProductivityMultimediaGamingWorkstationSize:13"See all our test resultsOperating System:macOSThe best budget laptop we've tested is the Apple MacBook Neo (A18 Pro, 2026). It offers an unusually polished experience for the price: the aluminum chassis feels sturdy, the 13-inch display is sharp and bright, and the keyboard, touchpad, speakers, and webcam are all quite good. Its CPU handles web browsing, documents, video calls, and light photo editing smoothly. At the same time, the battery comfortably lasts through a typical workday. Plus, eligible students can get it for $599 through Apple's education store; see our best budget and cheap laptops for students for more school-focused options.
The main limitation is its 8GB of RAM, which you can't upgrade. MacOS manages that amount well: the Neo stays responsive with a reasonable mix of browser tabs and everyday apps. Keep in mind that 8GB leaves little room for heavy multitasking or demanding creative work. If you regularly edit large projects or run memory-intensive software, you'll need a more capable laptop with more RAM. If you need Windows, consider the Dell XPS 13 (2026). It lasts longer on a charge than the Neo and has a smoother 120Hz touchscreen and a backlit keyboard. But while more expensive, consider the 16GB version: its entry-level 8GB configuration will slow down noticeably sooner during browsing and multitasking than the Neo does with 8GB under macOS, since Windows isn't nearly as efficient at memory management.
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Best Budget 2-In-1 Tablet
BusinessMultimediaGamingWorkstationSize:13.3"See all our test resultsOperating System:Chrome OSIf you like the 2-in-1 tablet form factor, get the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5 (2021). It's a great option if you just need a simple device for media consumption and web browsing. This model is compact and lightweight, and its battery lasts around 10 to 11 hours of light use. Like other 2-in-1 tablets, you can detach the keyboard to make it easier to hold as a tablet or to save space, which is handy in tight spaces. Its OLED display looks sharp and colorful, and it gets bright enough to combat glare in most indoor settings. There's pen input support and a place to store the stylus on the back cover, but unlike the keyboard, you may have to buy the stylus separately, as it doesn't always come with the device.
As expected for a budget device, there are a few downsides. First, the keyboard and touchpad. The former has a cramped layout, with keys that require a fair amount of force to actuate, and the latter is small and not always responsive to inputs, so you're better off using a dedicated mouse. The speakers get reasonably loud, though they sound slightly unnatural and lack bass. Last, the port selection is limited to two USB-Cs, one of which you'll need to charge the device. There are no biometrics like a fingerprint sensor or facial recognition camera, though that's fairly typical for Chromebooks.
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Best Budget Gaming Laptop
General ProductivityMultimediaGamingWorkstationSize:15.6"See all our test resultsOperating System:Windows 11Finding a good deal on a gaming laptop is difficult right now, mostly because the memory shortage has pushed up costs. That said, if you can find it at a good price, the MSI Katana A15 AI (2024) is a solid choice, as it can still handle demanding AAA titles. Configurable with up to an AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS CPU and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU, this model delivers smooth gameplay with high, consistent frame rates. Display options include a 144Hz FHD and a 165Hz QHD panel; we recommend the latter if budget allows, as its faster response time will result in a cleaner image with less ghosting. You'll have to pair it with the RTX 4070 GPU to get the most out of it, though.
Unfortunately, this laptop falls short when it comes to the build quality and overall user experience. Its plastic chassis exhibits a fair amount of flex in some areas, and the hinges feel loose, which can be concerning, as most people will likely open and close the lid regularly. The laptop also generates significant heat and noise under load, with a 49 °C (119 °F) hot spot right in the middle of the keyboard. You get Wi-Fi 6E onboard, but make sure your router also supports Wi-Fi 6E or 7 to benefit from increased speeds and lower latency. Check out our best router recommendations if you want to upgrade your home Wi-Fi network. One nice thing about it, however, is that you can upgrade its RAM and storage later; handy if prices start coming down.
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Best Cheap Laptop
General ProductivityMultimediaGamingWorkstationSize:15.6"See all our test resultsOperating System:Chrome OSIf you mainly do light tasks like browsing the web, streaming videos, and writing documents, the ASUS Chromebook CX15 (2026) is the best cheap laptop we've tested. It offers a roomy 15.6-inch display, its keyboard is comfortable, and it has useful ports for connecting an external monitor and other accessories. As a Chromebook, it runs web and Android apps, with plenty of options on the Google Play Store. You can't install most programs made for Windows or macOS, though, so check that the apps you rely on are available before buying. Our top pick, the MacBook Neo, also offers a sharper, brighter display, better performance, and longer battery life, but the CX15 covers basic tasks for much less money.
If ChromeOS works for you, there are a few configurations to choose from: A base Intel N50 for basic light tasks, or the quad-core N150 or N250s, which offer a bit more headroom when working across multiple tabs or apps. You can also opt for 4GB or 8GB of RAM. 4GB can be sufficient for basic browsing as Chrome can unload unused tabs to free memory and reload them when you return, while 8GB is better if you tend to operate with a lot of tabs or Android apps open at once. Unfortunately, the basic display looks washed out, the touchpad sometimes misses movements, and the battery may not last a full workday. Video playback runs it down in less than six hours.
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Best Cheap Windows Laptop
General ProductivityMultimediaGamingWorkstationSize:14"See all our test resultsOperating System:Windows 11The best cheap Windows laptop we've tested is the HP OmniBook 3 14 (2025), which comes in many configurations. It costs more than the ASUS Chromebook CX15 (2026), but it lets you install Windows programs that aren't available on ChromeOS. Among the less expensive options, a Ryzen 3 30 or Ryzen 5 40 model will easily handle browsing, documents, and video calls. Some more expensive CPU options are better for multitasking. Regardless of the CPU you get, the OmniBook is light and has a comfortable keyboard, a responsive touchpad, and plenty of ports. A Ryzen 5 40 model lasts around 11 hours of light use, easily enough for a typical workday.
Unfortunately, the cheaper models have just 8GB of RAM. That's restrictive on Windows when you have lots of browser tabs or several apps open, as the laptop will quickly feel sluggish, and the memory isn't upgradeable on many models. The basic IPS display is also fairly dim and has muted colors. If an 8GB model is selling for around $550 USD, we'd wait for a sale. If you can spend more, we recommend the Apple MacBook Neo (A18 Pro, 2026) above for its better display, build quality, and overall performance; macOS also handles its 8GB of memory noticeably more comfortably than Windows does. If you need Windows, you might want to consider a 16GB OmniBook 3 14 instead, but you'll pay more.
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Best Cheap Gaming Laptop
BusinessMultimediaGamingWorkstationSize:16"See all our test resultsOperating System:Windows 11The best cheap gaming laptop we've tested is the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition (2023). However, like with the MSI Katana A15 AI (2024), it can be hard to find at a good price due to the RAM crisis. Still, even though it's three years old, this 16-inch all-AMD system holds up pretty well, delivering a fairly smooth gaming experience in demanding games. For less than $1,200 USD, you can get a model sporting an AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS CPU, a Radeon RX 7600S GPU, a 165Hz FHD display, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage. If you have deeper pockets, the MSI can be configured with faster RTX 4060 or 4070 graphics, giving it more headroom for high frame rates in demanding games. Still, the TUF's RX 7600S handles 1080p gaming well, and its sturdier build and longer battery life during light use make it appealing if you find it for less. The storage capacity is the main drawback: 512GB fills up pretty quickly, but the SSD is user-replaceable (there are two storage slots).
Plus, this laptop feels surprisingly sturdy for the price. However, it's rather bulky, so it isn't the best for on-the-go use, and the battery lasts only a little over an hour when gaming. There's an Ethernet port to ensure you get a stable internet connection when gaming online. As for the Wi-Fi adapter, the included one only supports Wi-Fi 6, but it's upgradeable just like the memory and storage. Unfortunately, while thermal throttling isn't a problem, the laptop gets quite hot, with the top portion of the keyboard deck reaching a whopping 54 °C (128 °F).
Notable Mentions
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Acer Swift Go 14 (2024):
If you can find the 16GB version of the Acer Swift Go 14 (2024) for a good price, it's a better buy than the Apple MacBook Neo (A18 Pro, 2026), with more room to multitask, a richer display, and more ports. Still, the Acer is now hard to find, and the Neo has a nicer keyboard, better speakers, and sturdier build quality.
See our review -
HP OmniBook 5 16 (2026):
If you want Windows, a larger screen, and 16GB of RAM, consider the HP OmniBook 5 16 (2026) instead of the Apple MacBook Neo. (A18 Pro, 2026). It gives you more room for multitasking, but costs more and takes up more space.
See our review -
Dell Alienware 15 (2026):
The Dell Alienware 15 (2026) is worth considering if you value sturdier construction and a better keyboard than the MSI Katana A15 AI (2024) offers, although the MSI is the better-performing product. Still, the Dell's RTX 4050 configurations can cost less, but they run demanding games more slowly, and the screen's colors look washed out.
See our review
Recent Updates
Sep 25, 2026:
The Apple MacBook Neo (A18 Pro, 2026) is the new 'Best Budget Laptop' for its strong everyday performance and build quality. The HP OmniBook 3 14 (2025) is now the 'Best Cheap Windows Laptop', and we added the ASUS Chromebook CX15 (2026) as a lower-cost option for web-based tasks. We updated the alternatives and Notable Mentions.
Nov 27, 2025:
Added mention of the ASUS Zenbook A14 UX3407 (2025) as a better value alternative to the ASUS Vivobook 16 M1605 (2023) during the Black Friday sale period. Removed the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i 15 (2023) and the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 (2023) from the Notable Mentions because they're no longer available.
Mar 28, 2025:
Verified that all picks are still valid and available. No change in recommendations.
Feb 06, 2025:
Replaced the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition (2023) with the MSI Katana A15 AI (2024) because the MSI performs better. Replaced the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE (2024) with the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition (2023) because the ASUS can run more games.
Dec 13, 2024:
Removed the Apple MacBook Air 13 (M1, 2020) from the Notable Mentions as it's getting hard to find. Added the Apple MacBook Air 13 (2022) and the Acer Swift Go 14 (2024) as Notable Mentions.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best cheap and budget laptops you can get. We factor in the price (a cheaper laptop wins over a pricier one if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no laptops that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).
If you prefer to make your own decision, here's the list of all of our laptop reviews, sorted by price from low to high. Keep in mind that most laptops are available in various configurations, and the table only shows the results of the model we tested, so it's best to see the full review for information about other variants.
