You might have seen prices slowly going up, and most of this is due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the pressures it has put on supply chains. Not only did we see disruption to manufacturing, but the shift to working and learning from home meant that hardware was flying off shelves as fast as it could be made.
Also: Best budget gaming laptops: Top rigs under $1,000
But, if you look around, there are still some good laptop deals to be had out there. You can score a very nice, very capable Windows 10 or ChromeOS laptop for under $350. This segment isn't as big as it was a year ago, so choices are a little more limited. But pick the right hardware, and you'll get value for money.
Tech specs:
- 14-inch HD display
- AMD 3020e processor
- 4GB RAM
- 64GB eMMC storage
This is very much an entry level system, complete with a 14-inch HD display, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, and an AMD 3020e processor with built-in graphics. But you do get a solid 10-hour battery, a fast charge feature that can take the battery from 0 to 50% in 45 minutes, a decent keyboard, and a nice selection of ports.
And for all those Zoom sessions you're doing, there's a very capable 720p webcam.
This is a great workhorse for work and school.
Tech specs:
- 11.6-inch HD 1366 x 768 display
- Intel Celeron N4020 processor
- 4GB RAM
- 16GB eMMC storage
This is a Chromebook designed to last. It's been rigorously tested to the MIL-STD standards, and it can "survive 5,000 free fall micro-drops and 30-inch drops onto steel, while rubberized edges minimize impacts from drops and bumps". It also features a spill- and tamper-resistant keyboard that withstands up to 12 ounces of liquid.
Tech specs:
- AMD A6-9220E processor
- Integrated AMD Radeon R4 graphics
- 11.6-inch display
- 4GB RAM
- 64GB eMMC
This is a lightweight laptop with a decent processor and good battery life wrapped up in a robust package.
You also get Dolby Audio, so the sound is quite spectacular for such a budget notebook. Overall, it's a very portable laptop that comes with a decent array of ports, and it has enough power and battery life for day-to-day tasks in the home, school, or office.
Tech specs:
- 15.6-inch FHD 1920 x 1080 anti-glare display
- Intel Celeron N4000 processor
- 6GB RAM
- 32GB eMMC storage
Short of buying a Chromebook from Google, Samsung's offerings are the next best thing. And the Chromebook 4+ brings a lot of hardware to the table at a competitive price. You get a big 15.6-inch FHD display, 64GB of storage, and 10 hours of battery life in a thin-and-light package.
If you are a digital packrat then you can bump the storage up to 128GB for an extra $80
Tech specs:
- Chrome OS
- Intel Celeron N4000 processor
- 11.6-inch touch display
- 4GB RAM
- 64GB eMMC
A Chromebook, but with the Lenovo touch. It has a 10-hour battery life, a 360-degree hinge that allows it to switch from a laptop to a tablet, and the convenience of Chrome OS. While coming in at under $300, this device still feels like a premium device.
Buying considerations
Since the price here is fixed -- $350 or under -- that removes a massive variable and narrows down the field dramatically. But that doesn't mean you don't have any choices to make.
The first decision you need to make is whether you want a Windows machine, or a Chromebook running ChromeOS [you can forget about MacBooks in this price category]. Both operating systems have their strengths: Windows offers that continuity from the desktop experience, while ChromeOS offers a level of simplicity. So, this is a choice that you are going to have to make based on your predicted usage.
Some of these systems run Windows 10S, which is a version of Windows 10 that can only run apps from the Windows app store. This has both pros [increased security and reliability] and cons [less choice], so bear this in mind if you are planning on going down this route.
Next is prioritizing what you want from the hardware. The $350 price point is not going to buy you everything, so you're going to have to choose your focus. Will it be a big display, more storage, or more RAM?
This can mean some tough choices, especially in the current climate where choices are more limited.
Is $350 the right price point for you?
Don't be under the illusion that $350 is going to buy you a monster system that can do everything. It's not. If you are looking for a system that can handle things like photo and video editing, or a gaming system, then you are looking in the wrong place.
But, if you are looking for a basic system capable of browsing the web [keep the Google Chrome tabs down to a minimum], or doing word processing and spreadsheets, then these are the systems for you.
How were these systems chosen?
I went for a combination of bang-for-the-buck [because the bucks are limited] and longer-term reliability and durability. Laptops get quite a hard life, so picking one that can put up with some abuse pays off in the longer term.
Have you ever owned an HP before? Their computers are known to last, and this one is likely no exception. For under $100 you’re getting a 14-inch screen [larger than the biggest screen option on a MacBook Air], an SSD [Solid State Drive—this is what you want as opposed to an HDD if you’re going for long-term reliability], and Chrome OS. What does that mean?
So Chrome OS is based off Chrome [the best Internet browser that exists right now, thank you Google]. Although Chromebooks can’t access as many software programs as Windows computers, they are undeniably more secure, offer more value at lower price points, are easier to use, and are simply a better choice for many users. Unless you’re an advanced user that needs specific tools that are only available on Windows, a Chromebook is probably a better laptop for your needs.
Here’s another reason why I suggest getting a Chromebook: at this price range, it would be hard to find a Windows or Mac with an SSD. SSDs are known for being more reliable and lasting longer than HDDs. But what are SSDs and HDDs? Do you want me to get geeky? Yes? Okay!
So SSDs are solid state drives, which quite literally means they are solid and contain no moving parts. They’re basically just a ton of microchips clumped together. HDDs, or hard disk drives, are complex mechanical gadgets that write and store data. Platters, spindles, actuator arms, and a plethora of other complex mechanical components can be found inside an HDD. Moving parts are fun to look at, but when it comes to computers, you want to keep them at a minimum.
This HP should still be in stock, but keep in mind that many of these deals fly off the shelves quickly! Therefore, sometimes you may not be able to find this exact product in our inventory, but we always have a ton of similar deals that keep coming, so make sure to check the following links often! Yay for refurbished laptops!
We've gathered up all the best cheap laptop deals available this week. After an in-depth look at all the major retailers, the devices below have stood out above the rest as the top offers worth considering for your next purchase. Below, you'll find a number of options for every budget, so whether you want a budget Chromebook, good value laptop or high-end ultrabook, you can find a device for your needs below.
What's the best laptop deal of them all, though? Well, it's a close race between two options. The first is this Asus 14-inch laptop for $189.99 at Best Buy. A decent choice for those with around $200 to spend, it features an Intel processor, 4GB RAM and a roomy 128GB SSD. All are good components for the price and will suffice if you need a device for general use, light work and everyday browsing.
For the more premium option, you should check out this Lenovo Flex 5 for $599.99 at Amazon, which is unbeatable this week. There's a massive $250 discount on this powerful 2-in-1 device that sports a 14-inch touchscreen, AMD Ryzen 5 processor, 16GB RAM and a 256GB SSD. This is a flexible and high-performance laptop that packs in a lot at the price point. We especially want to highlight 16GB of RAM, which is rarely seen below $600 - it will help with multitasking and any more demanding jobs.
Those are all the highlights in this week's top cheap laptop deals. As you'll see, we've got a few that are available from major retailers such as Amazon, Best Buy and Walmart. Going direct to a manufacturer like Dell or HP can also get you a better deal as they regularly run offers on their devices each week, but they tend to change all the time.
If you're after more web-based machines, check out even more Chromebook deals. If you're a gamer, you'd be better suited to check out our selection of gaming laptop deals as the models on this page are not usually built with gaming in mind.
Cheap laptop deal of the week
Cheap laptop deals under $200
Samsung Chromebook 4: $229 $99 at Walmart
Save $130 – The Samsung Chromebook 4 is usually more expensive than similar devices so we tend to look past it, but it's back on offer again at an unbeatable price at Walmart. There simply aren't any cheaper devices worth spending your money on. If your budget is $100 and you just need a basic device that can last all day with its 12.5-hour battery life, this is one of the best laptop deals to go for this week.
Lenovo Chromebook S330: $279.99 $194 at Amazon
Save $85 – We're glad to see this laptop deal is still available at Amazon. The Lenovo Chromebook S330 is one of the best 14-inch machines you can buy for under $200 when it's on sale. Definitely consider this if you need a basic machine for work or school but one that comes with 64GB of storage - that's double what you'd expect to see in most laptops and Chromebooks at this price point.
Dell XPS 13 laptop: $949.99 $699.99 at Dell
Save $250 –The excellent Dell XPS 13 laptop is now just $50 away from its record low price in the manufacturer's Presidents' Day sale. This is a versatile machine with a 13.3-inch Full HD InfinityEdge display, Intel i5 processor, 8GB RAM and a 256 SSD. Basically, it's everything you could want from a high-performance laptop for work, school or just general use.
If you're looking for the best budget laptop to see you through everyday browsing, we'd recommend heading over to the generalist retailers - Walmart, Best Buy, and Amazon, for example. If you're after something a little more specialist, Dell, Lenovo and HP will offer far more configuration options with their own discounts as well.
- Amazon
- Walmart
- Best Buy
- Dell
- Newegg
- Lenovo
- HP
The best cheap laptops
The best budget laptops are usually the ones offering decent entry level specs [32 or 64GB of storage in a Chromebook or a 4GB / 8GB RAM, i3 processor, 128GB storage in a Windows machine] at a reduced price. However, you'll sometimes find mid-range specs offering a step up at similar prices on cheaper machines. Below you'll find our top picks of cheap laptops that do exactly that during busy sales periods.
CPU: MediaTek Helio P60T | Graphics: ARM G72 MP3 800GHz | RAM: 4GB | Screen: 10.1" FHD [1920 x 1200] IPS touchscreen | Storage: 64 - 128GB
Incredibly versatile
High value
Performs well for the price
Older components
If you're shopping for cheap laptops, chances are you're not going to spend too long poring over spec sheets or want to splash out on the latest processors and graphics. You might be looking for a simple everyday web browsing machine light enough to throw into a backpack and flexible enough for comfortable streaming. That's where the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook comes in - it's technically a tablet, but far more powerful than you'd expect from such a small machine.
CPU: Intel Celeron N3160 | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 400 | RAM: 4GB | Screen: 14-inch FHD [1,920 x 1,080] display | Storage: 32GB SSD
Top-notch build quality
Solid keyboard and touchpad
Full HD display
Flaky HD video playback
With its slick lines and a slim silhouette, the Acer Chromebook 14 makes for a subtle, snazzy laptop. Although its display isn't the most attractive we've seen, it’s still acceptable for full HD. On top of that, the keyboard and trackpad adhere to the principle of ‘it just works.’ The battery life is satisfactory as well despite falling a bit south of Acer's 12-hour claim in real-world use.
CPU: Up to Intel i7 | Graphics: Nvidia | RAM: Up to 16GB | Screen: FHD [1920x1080] | Storage: 128GB SSD – 1TB HDD
Versatile and powerful
Full HD screen
Regularly discounted
You're shopping in the $399 - $599 range when looking at an Asus Vivobook, with entry-level specs outperforming the vast majority of Chromebooks you'd usually find at this price. Plus, you're getting some pretty premium features in this cheap laptop. A Nano-Edge display keeps everything looking sharp, the option for Intel Optane memory makes sure all your most-used programs and files are well within reach, and a 1.6kg weight on a full-sized 15.6-inch laptop is nothing to sniff at either.
CPU: Intel Core i3 – i7 | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 620 | RAM: 4GB – 8GB | Screen: 14-inch FHD [1,920 x 1,080] ComfyView IPS | Storage: 128GB – 256GB SSD
Powerful for the price
Stellar battery life
Boring looks
Down-firing speakers
Here we have one of the few budget laptops with a processor nearly equivalent to a MacBook Pro from a couple of years back, that is if you opt for the Intel Core i5 configuration. The best part? Among the best Acer laptops right now, it's roughly half the cost of its Apple-branded rival. Now given that it sells at a range of different prices, the Acer Swift 3 can be an obtuse purchase, but lucky for you, the midrange model will get you by just fine. There are often plenty of cheap laptop deals on Acer products so you'll always be in a good position to grab a discount.
Cheap laptop deals: Tips and Tricks
One of the first things we often check when shopping for cheap laptops is the amount of storage on offer. As shoppers, we've become accustomed to comparing prices and models based on the number of gigabytes next to the model name. However, there may be more to it than that, especially when you're browsing the cheaper shelves. You may also need to pay attention to your operating system when picking up a budget laptop deal under $200.
Some cheap laptops are more worthy of your cash than others, and many simply need to be avoided. For example, you'll easily find a Windows machine that offers just 16 or 32GB of storage, but with update file and software sizes increasing, you may quickly find that insufficient. However, finding a Chromebook with 16 or 32GB of storage for under $200 makes for a great cheap laptop deal. That's because these machines run on Chrome OS which doesn't require updates and operates largely through your browser.
Similarly, a lot of laptops hold incredibly low price tags because they are labelled as 'FreeDOS'. This means they don't have an operating system on them already, so you will need to buy Windows 10 to get them set up.
How much are the best laptop deals?
Shopping for the best budget laptop deals between $50 and $200 will usually have you looking at the excellent range of Chromebooks on sale right now. Running Chrome OS, these budget laptop deals will see you through everyday web browsing, emails, and some light streaming for eye wateringly low prices. You'll be picking up anything from a 16GB SSD to a 64GB hard drive, but you'll also be looking to utilize the cloud for more storage.
If you're punting a bit higher than $200, you'll be opening yourself up to more RAM, moving from 4GB to 8GB in most models, meaning your cheap laptop will be able to open programs faster, generally retrieving information and multi-task in a more streamlined manner. You'll also be picking up far more storage for your cash, with prices this week including either a 128GB or 256GB SSD. This SSD further streamlines your storage, acting as a lightning-fast drive to keep everything you need instantly attainable.
Once you search for laptop deals above $400, you may well start to find 16GB of RAM on offer as well as a few models with a 512GB SSD. Along with improved processors, that means exceedingly fast storage potential, keeping your cheap laptop zippy however many programs you have open. Laptops above this price range are also better suited to media editing than cheaper models.