Compare the 7 Best Cheap Laptops for 2026
Other affordable laptops worth considering
At WIRED, we recommend laptops based on hands-on testing and real-world use. After evaluating hundreds of laptops, we eliminated models that failed to deliver dependable performance, useful features, or good overall value. The laptops below may not be right for everyone, but each one offers a practical advantage for a specific budget or use case.
Photo: Luke Larsen
Lenovo LOQ 15: around $1,400: The Lenovo LOQ 15 is one of the best-value gaming laptops available when discounted. It combines an AMD Ryzen 7 processor, 16 GB of RAM, 512 GB of storage, and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 graphics card. Unlike many inexpensive gaming laptops, it also includes a strong IPS display with a fast refresh rate and respectable image quality. Prices vary considerably, but if you find it near its sale price, it is a compelling option for gaming and demanding everyday tasks.
Acer Chromebook Plus 516: around $479: Chromebooks are often the best cheap laptops under $500, and the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 is a standout choice. Its smooth, responsive touchpad is a major advantage over competing budget laptops. A reliable touchpad makes daily tasks—such as scrolling, selecting text, and dragging files—far less frustrating. The laptop also offers a large display and enough performance for browsing, schoolwork, streaming, and web-based productivity.
Acer Nitro V 16: around $900: The Acer Nitro V 16 is an affordable gaming laptop with strong performance, but it has an important limitation: its 135-watt power adapter. In demanding games such as Cyberpunk 2077 and Black Myth: Wukong, the battery may slowly drain when the laptop is running at maximum GPU power—even while plugged in. This typically happens in Turbo or Performance mode. Balanced mode avoids the issue and reduces performance by approximately 5 percent. Consider it if the price is right, but other gaming laptops may offer a better overall power setup.
Lenovo Chromebook Duet Gen 9: around $379: The Lenovo Chromebook Duet Gen 9 is a compact, versatile 11-inch detachable laptop. Its keyboard can be removed, allowing the device to function as a lightweight tablet for reading, streaming, and Android apps. Reattach the keyboard for email, writing, and other basic tasks. With battery life of approximately 10 hours, it is an excellent budget laptop for travel, casual home use, and students who value portability.
Cheap laptops to avoid
Lenovo IdeaPad 5i 2-in-1: Large 16-inch laptops are often more expensive, so the Lenovo IdeaPad 5i 2-in-1 delivers reasonable value for shoppers who want a bigger screen. Its glossy display provides better clarity than many matte budget panels, although color coverage is limited. The keyboard is also less comfortable than we would like. If you want the best inexpensive 2-in-1 laptop, other models may offer a better balance of design, comfort, and performance.
Asus Vivobook 14: The Asus Vivobook 14 previously stood out for its long battery life and low price, particularly as one of the early affordable laptops powered by Snapdragon X. Newer options, including the HP OmniBook 3 and OmniBook 5, offer better displays and a more polished experience. The Vivobook 14 may still be worth considering if it is significantly cheaper and you need an inexpensive Windows laptop, but it is no longer a leading choice.
What specifications should you look for in a cheap laptop?
Before buying an affordable laptop, consider your budget, operating system, display size, processor, memory, storage, ports, and build quality. The right specifications depend on whether you need a device for school, office work, streaming, gaming, or travel.
As a general rule, avoid laptops with a resolution below 1920 x 1080. We also recommend at least 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage. For Windows laptops, avoid Intel Celeron processors whenever possible. They are better suited to basic Chromebook configurations than to modern Windows computers.
Specifications are only part of the buying decision. Budget laptops often cut costs with low-quality screens, uncomfortable keyboards, or imprecise touchpads. Hands-on testing is useful because these problems are difficult to identify from an online product listing.
How much RAM does a cheap laptop need?
Choose a laptop with at least 8 GB of RAM, although 16 GB is preferable for multitasking, demanding applications, and longer-term use. Many current Windows laptops include 16 GB as standard, making them a good value for everyday productivity.
Chromebooks can work with 4 GB of RAM when priced below $200, but 8 GB is a better minimum for most buyers. More memory improves responsiveness when you have many browser tabs, Android apps, or documents open at once.
RAM prices and laptop configurations change frequently, so compare models carefully before buying. If the price difference is reasonable, 16 GB is usually the smarter investment.
Are there good laptops under $300?
Yes, but shoppers should be selective. Very inexpensive laptops can use outdated processors, limited storage, and low-quality displays. Avoid buying the cheapest Windows laptop you can find online without checking its specifications and reviews.
For budgets below $300, Chromebooks are usually a better choice than Windows laptops. ChromeOS runs efficiently on modest hardware, and affordable Chromebook models such as the ASUS Chromebook CX15 can handle browsing, school assignments, streaming, and basic productivity.
If you specifically need Windows, it is generally better to spend at least $500. At that price, you can find more durable laptops with faster processors, better keyboards, and more reliable touchpads.
Should you buy a cheap Windows laptop or Chromebook?
If your budget is below $500, a Chromebook is often the best affordable laptop option. Chromebooks provide access to the full Chrome browser, Android apps, cloud services, and web-based versions of popular productivity tools. Before buying, confirm that the applications and accessories you need work with ChromeOS.
Windows remains the better choice for specialized software, certain games, and applications that do not have web or Android versions. However, inexpensive Windows laptops may feel slower and less refined than similarly priced Chromebooks.
Chromebook Plus models offer a middle ground. Typically priced between $400 and $600, they provide better performance, displays, and designs than entry-level Chromebooks. The Acer Chromebook Plus 514 is one example of a capable, budget-friendly Chromebook Plus laptop.
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Source: www.wired.com