$600 is an interesting price point when shopping for a new laptop. That's because manufacturers are keeping some previous-generation models in production as budget options in addition to producing cheap, basic devices. While these laptops may lack the latest hardware, they often include quality-of-life features typically found in pricier models. You'll find various form factors, from sleek ultraportables to versatile convertibles. Chromebooks remain among the best-value options in this range, though there are also some compelling Windows laptops and, with education pricing, even a MacBook.
We've tested over 175 laptops, and below, you'll find our recommendations for the best laptops under $600 you can buy. You can also see our recommendations for the best budget laptops. Or, if you've found yourself with a higher budget, check out our recommendations for the best laptops under $700 and the best laptops under $1,000. If you want to learn more about how we test laptops or our review process, check out this article, where we give you a quick rundown of each step from the moment we purchase the laptop to the final published review.
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 $600
BusinessMultimediaGamingWorkstationBuild QualityPortabilitySize16"Operating SystemWindows 11See all our test resultsResolutionThe ASUS Vivobook 16 M1605 (2023) is the best laptop under $600 we've tested. We especially recommend the M1605NAQ-ES51 configuration directly from ASUS, which has an AMD Ryzen 5 150 processor, 8GB of memory, and a 512GB SSD. We tested an older configuration with a Ryzen 5 7530U, so some performance and battery life results may differ. It's a Windows ultraportable designed for general productivity. Though entirely plastic, this 16-inch model feels pretty sturdy build-wise. Its large display looks reasonably sharp and gives you plenty of room for multitasking. The screen gets reasonably bright, so you shouldn't have visibility issues unless you have bright lights shining directly on the display. A minor complaint about the display is that it looks slightly washed out, a typical downside of budget models. The keyboard is a pleasure to type on, as the keys have a good amount of travel, require little force to actuate, and provide satisfying tactile feedback.
Performance-wise, the laptop should have no problems handling things like web browsing, media consumption, spreadsheets, and presentations. The $599 configuration only has 8GB of memory, which can be limiting for heavier multitasking, but you can add more via the SO-DIMM slot. Our tested configuration lasted around eight hours in our battery test, though battery life on the newer Ryzen 5 150 model may differ. Port selection is decent; there are two USB-C ports, but ASUS doesn't list video output support for either, meaning you'll have to rely on the HDMI port to connect an external monitor.
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Best Laptop Under $600 For Students
General ProductivityMultimediaGamingWorkstationBuild QualityPortabilitySize13"Operating SystemmacOSSee all our test resultsResolutionThe best laptop under $600 for students we've tested is the Apple MacBook Neo (A18 Pro, 2026). Students can get it for $599 through Apple's education store, and it's a better overall laptop than the ASUS Vivobook 16 M1605 above. The ASUS remains our top pick because you don't need to qualify for special pricing to get it for $599. However, if you're eligible for Apple's education pricing and are comfortable using macOS, we strongly recommend getting the Neo instead, as it feels much more premium, is significantly lighter and easier to carry around campus, and lasts considerably longer on battery. Its A18 Pro SoC is also faster than the AMD processor in the Vivobook, and you get a much better display, speakers, webcam, and touchpad. The main caveat is its 8GB of non-upgradeable memory, though on macOS, that's sufficient for typical schoolwork and light multitasking.
If you need Windows, consider the Dell XPS 13 (2026), which is available for around $599 with eligible student pricing and is generally a better laptop than the ASUS Vivobook, although the latter performs better in heavy multi-threaded workloads. The Dell is exceptionally portable, has excellent battery life, and gives you a bright 120Hz touchscreen and backlit keyboard. However, this configuration also has only 8GB of RAM, which is particularly limiting in Windows 11 and can cause slowdowns with heavier multitasking. Unless you specifically need or prefer Windows, the MacBook Neo is the better choice at the same price.
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Best Chromebook Under $600
General ProductivityMultimediaGamingWorkstationBuild QualityPortabilitySize14"Operating SystemChrome OSSee all our test resultsResolutionOur best under-$600 Chromebook pick is the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 (2024). The base model's MSRP is $700 USD, but it's often on sale, so keep an eye on the price. It has a compact design that makes it easy to carry around, and its battery lasts easily through a typical day. The overall user experience is surprisingly good for a Chromebook; it has a nice FHD+ display, a comfortable keyboard, and an excellent 1440p webcam. The display gets bright enough to combat glare in well-lit settings, and since this is a 2-in-1 convertible, you can flip the screen around and use it as a tablet.
The base model sports an Intel Core Ultra 5 115U CPU paired with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. This configuration is more than adequate to handle everything you can do on a Chrome OS device. Heavy multitaskers should get a model with more RAM; just expect to pay more. One last note: if you're new to Chromebooks, know that most applications that run on Windows and macOS don't work on Chrome OS, so you must ensure you can do everything through a Chrome browser or Android app.
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Best 2-In-1 Tablet Under $600
BusinessMultimediaGamingWorkstationBuild QualityPortabilitySize13.3"Operating SystemChrome OSSee all our test resultsResolutionIf you prefer a 2-in-1 tablet, consider the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5 (2021). It's an excellent choice for media consumption and web browsing, offering a compact, lightweight design and a battery life of 10 to 11 hours. You can detach the keyboard for easier use as a tablet or to save space, making it convenient in tight areas. Its OLED display is sharp, colorful, and bright enough to handle indoor glare; just know that OLEDs suffer from burn-in when displaying static elements, so vary the content. The device supports pen input and provides a storage spot for the stylus on the back cover, though you may need to purchase the stylus separately.
As expected with budget devices, there are a few drawbacks. The keyboard feels cramped and uncomfortable to type on, and the touchpad is small and sometimes unresponsive. We recommend using wireless headphones if you want to get a good audio experience when consuming content, as the built-in speakers sound boxy, with no bass whatsoever, and there isn't a 3.5 mm headphone jack. Speaking of ports, this device has only two USB-C ports, so a dock or dongle might be necessary if you want to connect multiple wired peripherals.
Notable Mentions
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HP OmniBook 3 14 (2025):
The HP OmniBook 3 14 (2025) is a solid alternative to the ASUS Vivobook 16 M1605 (2023) if you want something smaller and more portable. The ASUS performs much better due to its beefier CPU, and it has a bigger and better keyboard alongside superior speakers, but the HP is significantly lighter and more compact, and it has a more versatile port selection.
See our review -
Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 (2022):
Get the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 (2022) if you want an even more compact version of the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5 (2021) for on-the-go use. It has better battery life, but it lacks an OLED screen, so it's not as great for media consumption. Also, because it's a smaller device, the keyboard feels even more cramped.
See our review -
Lenovo Chromebook Duet Gen 9 11 (2024):
Get the Lenovo Chromebook Duet Gen 9 11 (2024) if you want a smaller, more portable alternative to the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5 (2021), or if you can't find the Duet 5 for sale. Both are 2-in-1 tablets with detachable keyboards, but the Duet 5 is a slightly higher-end model with a larger, nicer 13.3-inch OLED display that makes it more comfortable to work on.
See our review
Recent Updates
Aug 27, 2026:
Due to availability issues, we removed the 'Best Cloud Gaming Laptop Under $600' pick and updated some of the Notable Mentions. We also added the Apple MacBook Neo (A18 Pro, 2026) as the 'Best Laptop Under $600 For Students' for users who qualify for the education discount.
May 12, 2025:
We've updated the article for accuracy. The picks remain unchanged.
Apr 10, 2025:
Removed the Apple MacBook Air 13 (M1, 2020) from the Notable Mentions because it's no longer available. Added the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition (2023) as a Notable Mention.
Mar 17, 2025:
Removed the Lenovo Yoga 7 2-in-1 14 (2024) from the Notable Mentions because it has increased in price. Added the Acer Aspire 15 (2024) as a Notable Mention.
Feb 20, 2025:
No change in recommendations, as all picks are still valid and available.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best laptops for under $600 are for most people to buy. In addition to the test results, we factor in the price, feedback from our visitors, and availability.
If you prefer to make your own decision, here's the list of all of our laptop reviews. 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.