BEST DEALS ON CHEAP LAPTOPS [updated Nov. 22, 2021]:
BEST SAMSUNG DEAL: Samsung Galaxy Book Pro $559.99 $999.99 [save $440]
BEST GAMING DEAL: Razer Blade 15 $1,785.32 $2,599.99 [save $814.67]
BEST 2-IN-1 DEAL: Asus Chromebook Flip C434 $475 $569.99 [save $94.99]
BEST MICROSOFT DEAL: Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 $1,369 $1,599 [save $230]
Its really [really] hard to make it in todays world without a computer of some kind. Nobody wants to do school or work projects on a phone. Youve gotta get yourself a real laptop.
Unfortunately, laptops cost money. If youre not careful, you can end up spending well over $1,000 for a machine with impressive specs. But were not here to talk about those. Theres a whole world of laptops that cost $600 or less many of them are perfect companions for students returning to school or folks who just need something thats a little more capable than an iPhone.
What are the most important things to look for in a laptop?
Lets set expectations right away: The laptops on this list will not come with the latest and greatest processors, graphics cards, or displays. You have to spend more than $1,000 for those things. For students or workers who just want something to get them through the day, things like ports and memory are more important.
If you want to record audio with a microphone or use a mouse, youll need USB ports. Photographers or videographers should emphasize microSD card readers. An HDMI port goes a long way if you like streaming on a TV. Above all else, you want as much RAM and storage as you can get. More RAM means the computer can handle more applications at once and more storage means less hard drive management.
What am I losing by getting a cheap laptop?
Laptops in the $600-or-below price range are not going to be good for PC gaming. You wont get a 4K resolution display or a refresh rate higher than 60Hz. RAM is going to max out around 8GB, which isnt bad but also isnt spectacular. Youre also unlikely to get more than 500GB of storage space.
In this price range, laptops are going to be best for web browsing, word processing, Zoom calls, and streaming. As long as you dont expect more than that, youll be fine.
But are cheap laptops worth it?
You know the old saying: You get what you pay for. But thanks to the technology boom of the last few decades, a cheap laptop can actually take you pretty far and won't break down immediately. It's all about knowing which one to select.
Rather than just making a few purchase suggestions and sending you on your way, we're going to equip you with some knowledge that'll help you be a more informed laptop shopper. You know all that computer jargon of processor-this and gigahertz-that we'll explain it all in terms that anyone can understand.
What is the best cheap laptop?
We're glad you asked. In fact, we'll do you one better: We'll give you nine stellar selections below.