6 Best Laptop under $300 in 2023: Top Picks
The best laptop under $300 is not easy to find, as cheaper laptops may not have all the features of top-of-the-line computers. Here are some top picks:
- 1. Acer Chromebook Spin 311
- 2. Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14-inch
- 3. Lenovo IdeaPad 1 (11″)
- 4. HP Chromebook 14A G5
- 5. Dell Inspiron 15 3000
- 6. ASUS VivoBook L203MA
For a couple of hundred bucks, you can still get a reliable machine with all the basic features you’ll be using every day.
The reviews of each laptop are in the section after that.
Best Laptop under $300: Reviews
1. Acer Chromebook Spin 311
Best versatile and fun
Reasons to Buy
- Empty Great design and build
- Excellent touch screen and flip mechanism
Reasons to Avoid
- Dim screen
The Acer Chromebook Spin 311 originally cost over $300, but prices have since decreased for many of its configurations, which is only good for consumers on a tight budget. Starting with its surprisingly excellent design and sturdy construction, as well as its comfortable keyboard and touchpad, this little Chromebook that could has a lot going for it.
However, that’s just the beginning. With a strong set of components inside, it also performs admirably. You can use this laptop for both work and entertainment without any problems with multitasking. That is, assuming you can complete the majority of your work using Google Chrome. The fact remains that it is a Chromebook.
However, this laptop’s versatile 2-in-1 design and touchscreen display are the aspects we adore the most. The combination makes this particular portable more valuable because it is uncommon in less expensive laptops. And this is not a discussion about a subpar screen. It has a Gorilla glass touch display that is still durable and pleasant to the touch despite being a little darker than that of its more expensive competitors.
2. Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14-inch
Best portability and design
Reasons to Buy
- Lightweight for a budget laptop
- Great port selection
Reasons to Avoid
- Slow performing
Lenovo has never shied away from beautiful, contemporary design, even on its most affordable laptops. We like it a lot, and the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14-inch has a lot of great features. On the inside, it resembles an older MacBook, with the exception that a small but distinct Lenovo logo is located at the right edge. The logo is present outside once more, but otherwise nothing. Fans of a minimalist aesthetic will find it ideal because of this. It also comes in ice blue if you’re tired of the standard gray/silver shade.
Of course, there are other factors to consider when choosing a laptop besides aesthetics, and this one has a few of them, like a great port selection and a lightweight design. Well, lightweight for a budget laptop at least There’s also it’s “just right” 14-inch screen size – it’s not too big like a 15-inch and not too small like a 13-inch.
Fair warning, though: this isn’t renowned for its efficiency or ability to handle multiple tasks at once. Get it only for occasional use. This is probably not the best laptop under $300 for you if you enjoy multitasking and gaming excessively.
3. Lenovo IdeaPad 1 (11″)
Best budget
Reasons to Buy
- Portable
- Really cheap
Reasons to Avoid
- Don’t expect a whole lot of power
Those who are happy with a tablet-sized portable will love the price of the 11-inch Lenovo IdeaPad 1, which is now cheaper than ever. It weighs just under three pounds and has sufficient strength to support you in completing productivity-related tasks. You won’t need to bring the charger with you if you’re traveling light because of the eight-hour battery life. Additionally, it has a built-in dual stereo speaker system so you can watch TV in bed. This one is best for the family members who are matriculating even though it’s great for doing light productivity tasks.
4. HP Chromebook 14A G5
Best powerful Chromebook for cheap
Reasons to Buy
- Great performance
- Excellent battery life
Reasons to Avoid
- Keyboard not comfortable to use
There are several reasons why HP’s Chromebook 14 is so popular, including the fact that it has a surprisingly wide range of configurations, giving economical buyers many options. This line of Chromebooks is affordable, has a good selection of ports, is powerful enough, and has an impressive battery life.
And if you make the right decision, you’ll get something like the HP Chromebook 14A G5 that offers you great value all around. In addition to the line’s 14-inch screen, long battery life, and variety of ports, it has an AMD A4-9120C APU and Radeon R4 Graphics. It’s one of the most popular configurations, but unlike the other top-rated configurations, it won’t cost you more than $300.
It does have some compromises, though. The keyboard isn’t great, and the HD display’s lower resolution isn’t anything to write home about either. However, low-cost laptops always have drawbacks. You are getting excellent performance with this, at least, without going over budget.
5. Dell Inspiron 15 3000
Best SSD goodness under $300
Reasons to Buy
- Bigger and faster storage
- Decent screen
- Great port selection
Reasons to Avoid
- Battery life could be better
The Dell Inspiron 15 3000 is a reasonably priced 15-inch laptop that costs around $299. Considering the additional space you’re getting, that’s pretty good. That’s not the best part, though. It chooses a quick SSD with 128GB of storage despite keeping things fairly modest in terms of the CPU and graphics. It’s just the ticket if you have a lot of photos, videos and documents to store. If you need the best laptop under $300 to get through your workload, you should consider this.
6. ASUS VivoBook L203MA
Best Laptop for podcasting
Reasons to Buy
- Processor: Intel Celeron N3350
- Graphics Processor: Intel HD Graphics 500
- Processor Speed: 1.1 GHz
- RAM (as Tested): 4 GB
- Boot Drive Type: eMMC Flash Memory
Reasons to Avoid
- It has 4 GB of RAM.
I bought this “ASUS VivoBook L203MA” laptop on his advice before signing up for the podcasting company that approached me.
With this laptop, I started my podcasting journey, and it did not let me down.
With the help of this Laptop, I can add flair to the recording and turn it into the podcast of listeners’ and subscribers’ dreams.
The visual effects, music, transitions, and other editing tools on this laptop let me utilize the powerful editing capabilities offered by a number of editing suites.
I can easily podcast while on the go thanks to my laptop’s indispensable portability, processing power, and adaptability.
It is without a doubt the best laptop for podcasting under $300.
Conclusion: Best Laptop under $300
Depending on what you plan to do with your new laptop, different people will require various specifications.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14-inch provides excellent value for its low price if you’re looking for an affordable device for on-the-go work.
And you can choose the ASUS VivoBook L203MA if you’re looking for the best laptop for podcasting under $300.
Please share with us what your top picks are in the comments section below.
Read More: Best Laptop For Working From Home
FAQs about Best Laptop under $300
How Much RAM is Needed in a Laptop?
For anyone looking for the bare computing essentials, 4GB of laptop RAM should be sufficient.
How Long Should a Cheap Laptop Last?
Most experts estimate a laptop’s lifespan to be three to five years. It may last longer, but as the components lose their ability to run complex applications, their usefulness will be constrained.