Best Laptops Under $300 – Tested and Reviewed 2023

In a world full of premium laptops, many people no longer buy affordable laptops. The idea that only the most expensive laptop will be the best is a misconception and as technology has increased, affordable laptops have become significantly more powerful.
 
By keeping this in mind, we listed the top 10 and best laptops under $300 for you. All these are capable of computing your daily needs. Plus, holding of premium features that not only meet your daily demand but also gives you some extra performance. By the end of the guide, you’ll be able to find a good affordable laptop with many features.

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Processor: 2.1 GHz MediaTek MT8173

Display: 11.6 inches

Graphics: PowerVR SGX543

RAM: 4 GB LPDDR3

Lenovo, a brand to be well-known for its highly reputed and reliable products has come up with the all-new Chromebook C330. It is specially made for those who want something extraordinary. 

Design and Display

This sleekly designed blizzard white Chromebook comes in 360⁰ convertible angle, 11.6 inches FHD, and touchscreen display. This excellent combo of features makes it outstanding for day-to-day multimedia and computing.

Performance

When it comes to performance, it exceeded the preceding model Lenovo 300e. With the latest generation processors, it delivers multitasking and much faster performance than the previous C330e Chromebook
 
The cooling system minimizes the chances of overheating, so you can work comfortably. According to Laptop Mag, it has a powerful battery of 10 hours of life that gives you some extra time to use than the previous one of its model.. The storage capacity of 64GB rather than 32GB in Chromebook 300e is another reason to prefer it.

Other Features

Moreover, it boots up within seconds. It comes with an easy-to-use Chrome Operating System. Also, with this laptop, you won’t need to download chrome apps as they’re already built-in. And all emails, documents, photos are retained through cloud storage. 

Besides, this touch screen laptop under 300 supports Google Play Store, hence, you can install any of your favorite app and casual games through it. Lastly, it’s effortless to use with built-in virus protection protects you from any virus or malware. 

Pros
  • Fast high-end processor
  • IPS Panel for best color reproduction
  • Multiple USB ports
Cons
  • Less built-in storage

Processor: 2.6 GHz Intel Celeron

Display: 11.6 inches

Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 600

RAM: 4 GB DDR4 

Design and Display

ASUS Vivobook L203MA stood apart from its competitor due to its premium display and ultra-slim designIt’s a laptop that you may carry anywhere weighing just 2.1lbs. Plus, you may lie it flat on the tabletop because of its 180° hinge, so in this case, you can share your screen with your colleagues and friends
 
The 1.6mm keyspace provides you a supreme level of comfort while typing. When it comes to the display screen, it optimizes the contrast and sharpness by 150% for producing realistic and vivid imagery.

Performance

No doubt, Chromebook C330 delivers exceptionally, but ASUS L203MA-DS04 also comes with a powerful Intel Celeron N4000 Quad-Core Processor with a 4M Cache level
 
The quad-core processor handles numerous tasks simultaneously by 4-way processing. Besides, with a 4GB LPDDR4 RAM, it performs extraordinarily. This high-bandwidth RAM lets the video editing applications and heavy software run smoothly. Further, it comes with 1-year of Microsoft office 365 subscription.

Other Features

It comes with various connectivity options for connecting effortlessly, such as HDMI, USB Type-A, USB Type-C, and MicroSD connectivity. Its transfer speed becomes three times faster than the previous model due to a Wi-Fi of 802.11ac. With SonicMaster Technology and dual speakers, it delivers impressive audio for watching movies.

Pros
  • Lightweight
  • Multitasking processor
  • Long battery life
  • Powerful processor
Cons
  • The screen viewing angle isn’t too good

Processor: Intel Celeron 4205U

Display: 15.6 inches

Graphics: Intel UHD

RAM: 4GB DDR4 

Design and Display

Dell Inspiron 3000 Series is a notebook designed mindfully to inspire and ensure flawless performance. An anti-glare full HD 15.6 inches display delivers a bright, vivid, and precise image that almost puts no stress on the eyes.
 
It holds a touch display to connect on-screen content directly through your fingers. Thousands of times tested keys and hinges let ensure you how reliable it is. It has HD 1366 x 768 video resolution rather than its previous model Dell Inspiron 11 3000 which had only 1280 x 720 pixels.

Performance

It comes with Intel Celeron dual-core processor that delivers up to 1.8GHz frequency speed. With the 4GB RAM, you can handle several tasks simultaneously without lagging issues.
 
Plus, the SSD storage of 128GB keeps plenty of files, documents, and video. The Intel UHD graphics offers you an impressive multimedia experience. Heat and cold tolerant feature allows exposure from 40°C to up to 65°C without affecting its performing capability.

Other Features

Thanks to its multiple devices connectivity that lets you interlink or pair with Android or iOS smartphone perfectly. It keeps your focus entirely on a single screen and maintains privacy as well. Furthermore, with its HDMI port, you may connect to a monitor or a TV and download photos through the SD card slot.

Pros
  • Two USB ports
  • Faster transfer speed
  • Less disruption
  • Anti-glare HD display
Cons
  • Lack of backlit keyboard

Processor: Intel Celeron Dual Core N3060

Display: 11.6 inches

Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics

RAM: 4GB DDR3

Design and Display

ASUS Chromebook isn’t beatable by its competitors in the market due to the rugged design, spill-resistant keyboard, and striking display. The reinforced rubber wrapped frames make it durable and meet intense usage by users. 

The nano-molding technology enhances durability and ensures that all components are secured when dropped. Plus, the rubber bumper present on the backside of the laptop prevents it from everyday bumps, drops, and knocks. A 11.6 inch display resolution of 1336 x 768 pixels is quite excellent for a vivid image.

Processor

The N3060 Intel Celeron Dual-Core processor powers it with having 2M of extra Cache and up to 2.48 GHz frequency speed for snappy performance. With the 4GB DDR3 RAM, you can run all your essential tasks simultaneously. Plus, 32GB of flash storage isn’t less for storing a bundle of files, documents, and photos.

Other Features

With the Chrome OS, you may edit, convert and download Microsoft Office files in Google sheets, slides, and docs forms. Additionally, it defeated its previous model ASUS C201 with its new advanced features, and built-in virus protection. Also, this best 11 inch laptop under 300 boots up within seconds and updates automatically. Moreover, you can get 1-year free 100GB cloud storage on Google.

Pros
  • Lightweight
  • Easy to maintain
  • 180-degree hinge 
  • 11.6 inches display
  • Rugged body
Cons
  • Lack of CD drive

Processor: 1.8 GHz AMD A6-9220C

Display: 14 inches

Graphics: AMD Radeon R5

RAM: 4GB DDR4

Design and Display

Become more productive with 14 inches FHD multi-touch Lenovo S345 Chromebook. With the 1920 x 1080 resolution, it boasts bright color and vivid image clarity. Second, its wide viewing angles and efficient LED backlight provide you with comfort even in dim light
 
This best laptop is ultra-thin and lightweight for maximum portability. For easy and fast typing in dark locations, it has a backlit keyboard. Also, the 180° hinge provides you more comfort and ease of use. 

Performance

It comes with a total power pack that you need for fast progress. A 1.8 gigahertz 7th Gen AMD Processor performs exceptionally well than the previous Lenovo Chromebooks. Hence, if you are looking for powerful core processors that simultaneously perform your tasks. A 4GB system memory and 32GB of flash memory are enough for processing and storing plenty of files within the system.

Other Features

Get hooked up with its easy-to-connect devices and thanks to its two faster USB-A 3.1 and USB ports for effortless connectivity. Besides built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1 makes wireless connection possible.

It’s a secured laptop with built-in virus protection that ensures the security of your data. You may log in with a simple Google account, thus, you don’t need any setup for experiencing the stream-lined Chrome. Besides, you can log in anywhere and keeps all your email, docs, and pics safe.

Pros
  • Lithium-ion battery
  • Built-in HD webcam
  • Dual array microphone
  • Backlit keyboard
  • Headphone  jack
  • microSD memory card
Cons
  • Storage limitations

Processor: Intel Celeron N4000 

Display: 14 inches

Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 500

RAM: 4GB DDR4

Design and Display

Acer Aspire 1 is a low-budget notebook containing high features, and it’s a competitively priced laptop from Acer. It has the same screen size of 14-inch as the HP stream, but it has a higher resolution. It offers you a complete HD display making the best budget deal for binge-watchers.
 
Additionally, it is useful in well-lit areas where light conditions are a little dim because of having a matte coating on the top of the screen. Overall, it’s a very robust and clean machine with stylish exterior looks.
 
The aluminum brushed finish on the laptop lid with the silver-colored Acer logo added more beauty to it. Moreover, with a very impressive keyboard, the keys have ample travel space, and decent typing makes usual typing faster and easier for you.

Performance

With 4GB RAM and a dual-core processor, Acer Aspire 1 performed well. Opening multiple apps may lead to lagging, but if your work needs little power consumption, you’ll feel free to use it. With an Intel Celeron N4000 Processor, it has a clock speed of up to 2.6GHz. Make your mark with its superior performance and quick start-up proficiency.

Other Features

Moreover, it comes with Windows 10, so you don’t need to worry while visiting a website or downloading any of your favorite apps. Besides, you may browse its Microsoft Store and search for thousands of apps. 

Another noticeable feature is that it provides you choice and flexibility simultaneously. Hence, you can save your favorite files on the cloud, like Dropbox, or OneDrive and access them from any of your chosen devices. Last, thanks to its Bluelightshield Technology that helps you in filtering out eye-straining light and let you work in comfort.

Pros
  • Full HD display
  • Excellent port selection
  • Slim and attractive design
  • Long battery life
Cons
  • Overheats sooner

Processor: 2.6 GHz AMD A-Series

Display: 14 inches

Graphics: AMD Radeon R4

RAM: 4GB DDR4

Design and Display

WLED backlight, widescreen display, diagonal size, HD viewing angle; what else do you want? The 2019 ASUS laptop comes all with these premium and unique features. You can watch all your favorite shows, including movies, dramas, and whatever you like with its HD technology. Besides, it allows you easy navigation and lets you concentrate on significant projects.

Performance

Boost your work and energy with its 7th Gen AMD A6-9225 dual-core processor that provides a clock speed from 2.6GHz up to 3.1GHz. The 4GB RAM and 500GB flash storage are quite enough to multitask without any lagging issues. Plus, this flash memory is too high compared to the ASUS Laptop L210 that had only 64GB of flash memory. That’s the reason to prefer it over the ASUS L210 model of this brand.
 

Other Features

Vast connectivity options like USB 2.0, USB 3.0, Type A Ports, HDMI Outputs, VGA Ports, and Bluetooth make it most preferable in terms of connectivity. Besides, it has a Card Reader, Microphone, and built-in stereo speakers for enjoying music while gaming or doing work
 
Lastly, its lithium battery with three cells gives you 6.5 hours of working time. It is best for college students, and the design is also good. The main problem with it is speed issues, it takes more time to open files. 
Pros
  • Long battery life
  • Massive storage
  • Lightweight
  • HD display
Cons
  • Slow processor

ProcessorIntel N4000 Processor 

Display: 14 inches

Graphics: 4K UHD Graphics 600

RAM: 8GB LPDDR4

Design and Display

A stunning 14 inch IPS display of 1920 × 1080 provides you clear, crisp, and high-resolution screen. It makes the visual look excellent with wide viewing angles and accurate colors. The lightweight and ultra-thin design other than its competitors allow easy carrying. Plus, you may put it into your bag without any hassle.
 

Performance

Intel Gemini lake N4000 Quad-Core Processor and UHD 600 core graphics card provide you next level of performance that isn’t possible with the previous product 2019 ASUS 14″ because of the dual-core processor. The highest clock speed of this world’s affordable lowest budget laptop is 2.6GHz that is incredible.
 
Besides, its GPU performed well in decoding 4k videos and graphics processing smoothly. The 8GB DDR4L RAM is another reason to prefer it over 2019 ASUS 14″ and from many of the competitor brands. 
 
Furthermore, a 256G SSD storage provides you sufficient capacity to store plenty of your favorite pictures, music, and videos. Plus, there is an additional 512GB TF card expansion, storing unlimited data without any problem.

Other Features

It has a standard Windows 10 OS and Edge browser for enhancing work efficiency and entertainment activities. With 12 hours of battery life, it won’t let you down while working on long projects. 
 
Usual, battery life is 12 hours, and fast charging capability recharges up to 60 percent within 45 to 50 minutes. Besides, it comes with USB 3.0, Micro-SD card slot, headphone jack, and high-speed M.2, giving you hassle-free connectivity with various output devices.
 
Chuwi Herobook Pro offers the best features under a $300 budget. It’s best for college students, gamers, and programmers. 
Pros
  • Fast charging
  • Long battery life
  • HD display
  • Lightweight
  • Large touchpad
Cons
  • Processor is a bit slow
  • Low quality speakers
  • ProcessorN3350 Dual Core
  • Display: 13.3 inches
  • Graphics: HD Graphics 500
  • RAM: 6GB DDR3L

Jumper has newly launched the EZbook X3. They have equipped with many amazing and eye-catching features.

Display and Design

Bring your imaginations clear and more vivid with the 13.3 inches display of the Jumper Intel N3350 Laptop. It provides you an ultra-high resolution of 1920×1080 with the IPS display screen. You’ll see clear, bright, and high color saturation pictures with this laptop. 

Its 178° viewing angle reduces glare and provides you more comfortable visual experience. It lets your eyes relax, even if you are working for several hours. When it comes to design, it competed excellently and made its place in the top-ranked stylish laptops due to an 8mm slim bezel silver body design.

Performance

This lightweight easy to carry Intel N3350 laptop supports up to 4GB RAM and 256GB of flash memory that is quite excellent for fast booting. Plus, this lets you free from the fear of running out of storage space. Moreover, a TF card expansion slot comes with it for extra 256GB support. 

Unlike the CHUWI Hero book Pro, it doesn’t have a quad-core processor, but its Intel dual-core N3350 Processor performed stunningly. Hence, if you are looking for a dual-core processor laptop that can handle multitask efficiently, and then you may look for this laptop.

Other Features

Moreover, it comes with extensive connectivity options, such as USB 3.0, micro-SD card slot, 3.5mm headphone jack, and TF card slot for extra storage. The lightweight and compact size allows you to move it anywhere and even continue work while on trips. The built-in 7.6V/4500mAh lithium battery provides long-lasting.
 
Pros
  • 4K HD display is amazing
  • Lightweight
  • Stereo sound is perfect
Cons
  • Lagging issue face by many people

Processor: AMD A6-9220e

Display: 14 inches

Graphics: AMD Radeon R4

RAM: 4GB DDR4

Display and Design

The 2020 Lenovo IdeaPad designed beautifully with a 14-inch display containing 1366 x 768 HD resolution. It’s crisp and clears display makes your gaming and work experience even better with wide viewing angles
 
Its 14 inches display screen stands apart from Lenovo Chromebook C330 that consists of an 11.6-inch screen. Keyboard consisting of large line spacing for easy and faster typing. Unlike other listed laptops, its display isn’t much stylish, but it looks beautiful from the sides

Processor

So the Lenovo Ideapad comes with the AMD A6-9220e dual-core processor which makes the laptop ultra-fast and letting it works smoothly without any lag. It takes the game of the laptop to the next level. 

Accelerated with a dual-core processor can do or perform two to three tasks simultaneously without any lagging. There is an AMD Radeon Graphics interface for balancing the load and enabling rapid task-performing capability alongside the central processor. 

With the 4GB DDR4 RAM and 64GB eMMC flash memory, you can store whatever you want to have on your laptop. This ultra-compact memory storage provides you with streamlined data management and fast boot-up times for different purposes.

Other Features

Connectivity is possible via wire or wirelessly with numerous ports like USB 3.0, One HDMI, headphone, and 802.11ac wireless LAN. Furthermore, this budget-friendly affordable laptop comes with Windows 10 Home that is compatible with all browsers, and it comes with Microsoft Office 364 with a one-year free subscription.
 
Lenovo Ideapad is a very affordable laptop which is best for students or for ideal home use. Large files can also be downloaded which can be used for various task.
Pros
  • Display is amazing
  • Lightweight
  • Processor is really fast
Cons
  • Less storage
  • No optical drive

ProcessorMediaTek MT8173C

Display: 11.6 inches

Graphics: Powervr GX6250

RAM: 4GB

Lenovo Chromebook 100E has been a new addition to the Chromebook series of Lenovo. Like other lenovo laptops in the list, It is equipped with many exciting features. However, it came as the last one due to its small display and less storage.

Display and Design

Lenovo 100E a Chromebook designed in a rugged and portable form for providing ultra-comfort to its users. Comparatively, it is less versatile and couldn’t rotate at a 360° angle like Lenovo Chromebook C330, which is our top reviewed laptop.
 
However, it has some other most stunning features that distinguish it and its uniqueness. Like drop-resistant design and its water-resistant keyboard can prevent it from getting broken or another damaging effect during an accident. Additionally, it has an 11.6 inch anti-glare HD display with a front-facing 720p HD camera. 
 

Performance

This best laptop for college students comes with a processor faster than its previous model. It comes with a powerful MediaTek MT8173C processor that lets you perform your entire daily task at a quicker speed. This portable and lightweight Chromebook consists of 4GB DDR3 and fast eMMC storage. 

Other Features

The keyboard of this laptop is hard and durable with water-resistant. Thus, if you are into writing, this might be the best writing laptop for you. It helps you type consistently, and the best thing along with the keyboard is the long battery life. You don’t need to plug it in again and again as it offers you 10 hours of battery life that is enough for a whole day of work. 
Pros
  • Very durable
  • Lightweight
  • Processor is fast
Cons
  • Less Storage
  • No Backlit keyboard
  • Large bezels around the screen

Best Laptops Under $300 - Buyer's Guide

If you are buying a laptop at a lower price, you must keep in mind that you have to compromise on some features. The features can be the battery life, CPU performance, RAM, or design. According to Business Insider, you shouldn’t buy a laptop without research. Let’s look at some features that you must consider when buying a laptop under $300.

Processor

We all know that a processor is like a heart within a computer. If we consider the price point, we do not have much to say in the CPU, GPU, and RAM ability. However, we can evaluate the laptop’s performance that a processor can enhance. Intel Celeron is a good processor and you can opt for these if you are running low on budget. AMD indeed has its perks, but if we consider the price, Intel works the best.

Along with the processor, a cache is also essential as it helps in reviving the task. We suggest even if you are running low on a budget, you must opt for a 4MB cache. You can also look into the transistor details and calculate the nanometer. The less the nanometer, the less power it will consume.

Hence, you must always try your best to opt for a laptop with optimal performance regardless of its quad-core processor. However, you don’t need to worry as we’ve listed the laptops with an Intel processor and a 4MB cache system.

Storage

If you are a person who uses a laptop more often and has heavy files to store, you shouldn’t leave this feature. Always try to aim for a laptop with at least 256 GB SSD and 4GB RAM. 
 
There are three kinds of storage automation within a laptop; SSD, eMMC, HDD. SSDs are considered the king of storage, and they are also known as supply chain heads. They enable a user to have a faster reading and writing ability.
 
The SSD no longer has any moving parts, hence, it consumes less power and has a fast access time over a hard disk. If we compare SSD with HDD, we notice that SSDs are more reliable and benefit users more in terms of speed. 
 
The HDD merely gives a user the control over moving data as it is. Now, let’s look at the eMMC; they are usually the kinds of drive used in basic laptops. They are pretty similar to SSD but with lesser data lanes. They are not as reliable as SSD but are still workable. Don’t opt for HDD as eMMC and SSD are way better options.

RAM

It can be challenging to find a laptop with good RAM. Some laptops under $300 have 4GB RAM. However, you must never compromise on the RAM. Get a laptop with a minimum of 4GB RAM
 
If you use a lot of software and want a faster laptop, it is crucial to invest a little more but purchase a laptop with higher RAM. It is even better if you buy a laptop with 16 GB RAM as it helps in faster data transfer and less damage.

Screen Size

Apart from the technicalities, it is crucial to invest in a laptop that best fits your needs. Most people think that the larger the laptop, the better. There are laptops ranging from 11.6 inches to 15.6 inches. Yet everyone has their own choice. However, the portability feature is severely compromised when you buy bulky and oversized laptops

If you are an office-going person, you can buy a 15-inch to a 17.3-inch laptop. However, if you are a student, then an 11-inch to 14-inch laptop is suitable. The smaller the laptop, the lightweight it is.

Battery life and Connectivity

The battery-life should be decent enough to last you for a while. If you are a working person or a student, then a 5 to 8-hour battery life will be good for you.
 
Additionally, always pay attention to the port types. If your laptop has a USB-C port, it allows easy data transfer, faster power delivery, and DisplayPort connectivity. It is essential to see that the port has a microSD card reader because you can never have too much space.

Graphics

Talking about graphics, Intel and AMD are currently having a tough competition as they are constantly making the graphic better. However, we would recommend you to go for AMD graphic card as it is faster than the intel ones. Toms Hardware compared both the graphic cards and came to the conclusion that AMD graphics are 2.5 times faster than Intel UHD.

Best Laptops under 300

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the best laptop under $300?

  1.  Lenovo Chromebook C330
  2.  Asus VivoBook L203MA
  3.  Dell Inspiron 3000
  4.  Asus Chromebook 11.6″
  5.  Lenovo Chromebook S345
  6.  Acer Aspire 1 A114-32-C1YA
  7.  Asus 14″ Premium

Can I buy the best laptop under $300? 

The answer depends on what the definition of good is. Some people think a laptop is good if it has a higher RAM. You can explore many great options at $300; however, you should not expect too much. 
 
You have to compromise on some feature or the other. Hence, you must prioritize the features you want and features that do not make a difference. The prioritizing strategy will help find the best laptop match for $300.
 

What can I get in a laptop under $300?

It is one of the most frequently asked questions. Under a 300 budget, you can still get a touchscreen, HD display, 4 GB RAM, 128 GB SDD or 500 GB HDD, and AMD processor. Keep in mind, and you will not be able to get all these features in a single laptop. You will need to make some sacrifices while buying a laptop under $300.

Is a $300 laptop good?

A $300 laptop can be termed a good laptop if you want to use it to perform a lighter task. They are not the best-performing laptop, but you can make do with them if you are not an avid laptop user. They are not going to be the fastest laptop that you get at a high-end price. However, if you have patience and time, you can genuinely like affordable laptops.

How much does a decent laptop cost?

The high-end long lasting portable laptops e.g Dell, MacBook Air tend to cost you around $1000 and can last upto 10 years Whereas some laptops are high-end and are less than $1000.

What is a good processor speed?

Usually, a processor with a 3.0 GHz or 2.0 GHz clock speed is suitable for everyday use. However, you may need a faster processor if you use your laptop excessively for technical work. Consider upgrading if you transfer data a lot and install heavy software.