Finding a capable laptop under $400 has gotten harder. A shortage of memory and storage chips has pushed up laptop prices, leaving no Windows models we'd recommend at this price. That's why all our picks are Chromebooks. They're well-suited to everyday tasks like browsing the web, writing documents, and watching videos, and ChromeOS runs well on modest hardware. However, Chromebooks can't install most programs made for Windows or macOS, so if you rely on those programs, you'll likely need to spend more.
We've bought and tested more than 180 laptops. Below, you'll find our recommendations for the top laptops under $400. See our picks for the best laptops under $300, the best laptops under $500, and the best Chromebooks.
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 Laptop Under $400
General ProductivityMultimediaGamingWorkstationForm Factor:Size:15.6"Operating System:Chrome OSTouch Screen:Refresh Rate:HzSee all our test resultsCapacity:GBThe best laptop under $400 we've tested is the ASUS Chromebook CX15 (2026). Its 15.6-inch screen gives you room to keep a document and a browser window open side by side, and its comfortable keyboard makes it a good fit for writing and schoolwork. It also has useful ports for an external monitor and other accessories. As a Chromebook, it handles web and Android apps well, but you can't install most programs made for Windows or macOS, so check that the apps you need are available before buying.
The basic configuration is fine for browsing, streaming, and other light tasks. Some versions have faster processors, which give you a little more room to work across several tabs or apps. You can also choose between 4GB and 8GB of RAM; we'd favor 8GB if it fits your budget, especially if you tend to leave lots of tabs open. Just keep in mind that its display looks washed out, the touchpad sometimes misses movements, and the battery may not last a full workday. Still, if you mainly need an inexpensive laptop for everyday tasks, the CX15 gets the essentials right.
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Best Multimedia Laptop Under $400
BusinessMultimediaGamingWorkstationForm Factor:Size:13.3"Operating System:Chrome OSTouch Screen:Refresh Rate:HzSee all our test resultsCapacity:GBIf you need a device mainly for media consumption, consider the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5 (2021). It's a 13-inch ChromeOS tablet with a detachable keyboard, similar to Microsoft's Surface Pro tablets. You can take the keyboard off when viewing content, which is convenient in tight spaces like an airplane and makes the device easier to hold, and you can pop it back on when you need to type something out. The keyboard feels cramped during long typing sessions, though, so it's best suited to writing short emails and other light work. The ASUS Chromebook CX15 (2026) above has a larger screen and a more comfortable keyboard if you mainly write documents.
What makes the Duet 5 stand out is its OLED display. It's sharp, bright, and colorful, with deep, inky blacks that make movies look noticeably better than they do on the CX15's washed-out screen. The speakers get reasonably loud, but they lack bass and sound slightly unnatural. There's also no 3.5 mm headphone jack, so you'll need wireless headphones or a USB-C adapter. Battery life is around eight hours of video playback or 10 hours of light use, giving you plenty of time for movies and TV shows. The display supports pen input for taking notes or drawing, though you need to buy the stylus separately.
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Best Compact Laptop Under $400
BusinessMultimediaGamingWorkstationForm Factor:Size:11"Operating System:Chrome OSTouch Screen:Refresh Rate:HzSee all our test resultsCapacity:GBThe Lenovo Chromebook Duet Gen 9 11 (2024) is the one to get if the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5 (2021) above feels too large to use as a tablet. Its 11-inch size makes it easier to carry or hold while reading. The detachable keyboard and kickstand are included, and you can use a stylus for notes or sketches, though you'll need to check whether one comes with the configuration you're buying, as they don't all have one.
Its touchscreen looks sharp and colorful, but it can't match the Duet 5's OLED display for watching movies in a dark room. The smaller screen and keyboard also make it less comfortable for extended work. Battery life is around seven hours of video playback or nine hours of light use, so the Duet 5 remains the better choice if you want a larger screen and longer battery life.
Notable Mentions
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HP OmniBook 3 14 (2025):
If you need Windows programs, consider the HP OmniBook 3 14 (2025) instead of the ASUS Chromebook CX15 (2026). It has a good keyboard and touchpad, useful ports, and battery life that can get you through a workday. You'll need to spend more than $400, though, and the cheaper 8GB configurations quickly slow down when you multitask.
See our review -
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook 14 (2023):
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook 14 (2023) is worth considering over the ASUS Chromebook CX15 (2026) if you can find it with a Core i3 configuration with an IPS screen new for under $400. It has more processing power, a more colorful display, and longer battery life. New stock is hard to find, though, while the CX15 is much easier to buy.
See our review -
Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 (2022):
The Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 (2022) is a cheaper alternative to the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5 (2021). It's a smaller 10.9-inch device, so it's easier to carry around. Its display gets brighter to combat glare, but it's an IPS panel with a much lower contrast ratio, so you won't get the deep blacks that you'd get on the Duet 5.
See our review
Recent Updates
Sep 29, 2026:
We replaced our top pick with the more readily available ASUS Chromebook CX15 (2026). We also added the Lenovo Chromebook Duet Gen 9 11 (2024) as the 'Best Compact Laptop Under $400' to give you an alternative to the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5 (2021).
May 06, 2025:
Removed the Acer Chromebook 315 (2020) from the Notable Mentions because it's no longer worth getting. Added the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE (2024) as a Notable Mention.
Mar 06, 2025:
All picks are valid and available. No change in recommendations.
Nov 20, 2024:
Replaced the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i 15 (2023) with the ASUS Vivobook 16 M1605 (2023) because the Lenovo increased in price. Added the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 (2022) as a Notable Mention.
Aug 28, 2024: Added the ASUS Vivobook 16 M1605 (2023) as a Notable Mention. No change in recommendations.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best laptops you can get for under $400. 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. 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.