The cheapest Windows laptops of 2024

Although we at Engadget test and review a few new Windows laptops every year, the cheapest laptops don’t usually make the headlines. You won’t find expensive panels on these machines, nor do they include the latest high-performance graphics cards or ultra-thin and light designs. But they have their place and can do a lot of things well. It’s worth noting that not everyone needs a professional-grade laptop – they just need the best machine that fits their budget.

Companies like Acer, Dell, and Lenovo make a lot of cheap Windows laptops that are great for people who primarily use their computers to check email, shop online, and occasionally video chat with friends and family. They’re also great for kids who don’t want to touch their parents’ expensive daily driver. We’ve tested a number of affordable Windows laptops – here are our favorites, and we’ve outlined some buying recommendations for those looking for a budget Windows laptop that balances features with price.

What about Chromebooks and tablets?

You might be tempted to recommend a Chromebook or tablet to someone considering a cheap Windows laptop. There’s nothing wrong with these intuitions, but Chromebooks and tablets aren’t the best choice for everyone. Tablets offer maximum portability, but they are only suitable for the most mobile users, such as children, who have been snatching smartphones away from their parents because they are already dexterous enough. Tablets can also be as expensive as some of the cheapest Windows laptops and come without a mouse or keyboard.

Chromebooks are a great choice for people who basically use a browser, but the price is that you have to give up the “traditional desktop.” Chrome OS is a more limited operating system than Windows in terms of the programs you can install and run.

What are the advantages of Windows laptops?

What can you actually accomplish with a cheap Windows laptop? Quite a lot, especially when you’re only doing one thing (or a limited number of things) at a time. They’re great for browsing the web, checking email, video streaming, and more. All of these things can also be done on a Chromebook, but Windows laptops have a big advantage in Microsoft Office. While yes, there is a browser-based version, the native desktop app is considered a must-have for many and can run smoothly on even the humblest budget laptops. The only thing to note is that if you multitask or work with large data sets in Excel or lots of photos and graphics in Powerpoint, you may experience slowdowns on low-power devices.

Specs-wise, one of the highlights of Windows laptops is storage. Even the most affordable devices tend to come with at least a 128GB SSD. This comes in handy if you want to keep your most important files locally on your laptop. In comparison, cheaper Chromebooks often have less storage space because they are built on the assumption that you keep all your files in the cloud. Not only is this inconvenient when you need to work offline, but it also limits the size of programs and files you can download. As a result, Chromebooks are not ideal for storing Netflix shows before a long trip or as a gaming laptop.

Windows also has thousands of apps that you can download from its App Store. Chromebooks have some Chrome apps, a ton of browser extensions, and the ability to download Android apps, but quality control is… inconsistent. Android apps, in particular, are often not optimized for the Chrome operating system, resulting in an unstable user experience. Windows may not have as many apps as Android, but at least the experience is pretty standard.

Windows also lets you download and use programs from other sources, such as directly from the developer. You can run Adobe Creative Suite, some VPNs, and programs like GIMP, Audacity, and ClipMate on Windows devices, which is not possible on Chrome OS. Chromebooks limit your use to apps and programs from the Play Store and Chrome Extensions Store, reducing other apps and programs in your Downloads folder to unusable, space-consuming icons.

What to look for in an affordable Windows laptop

While you can do a lot with even a small amount of money on a Windows laptop, you have to set your expectations accordingly. The biggest drawback to buying a cheap laptop (any kind, really) is limited power. Many Windows laptops under $500 run Intel Celeron or Pentium processors, but you can find some at the higher end of the price range with Core i3/i5 and AMD Ryzen 3/5 CPUs.

Specs for Windows laptops under $500

We recommend that you buy the most powerful CPU you can afford, as it will determine how fast your computer will run overall. RAM is also important because more memory makes it easier for a laptop to manage things like a dozen browser tabs while editing a Word file and playing music in the background. However, for laptops under $500, you are better off buying the best CPU you can afford rather than a laptop with a lot of RAM, as the CPU will have enough power to handle a cheap Windows laptop Designed for most tasks (if you’re editing RAW images or 4K video, you’ll need to invest in more RAM…and a laptop well over $500).

When it comes to storage, consider how much you want to save locally. If you primarily work with Google Docs or keep most of your content in the cloud, you probably don’t need a computer with a lot of onboard storage. Keep in mind that your digital space is also taken up by apps, so if you know you’re going to be downloading large programs, it might be worth getting more storage than you think you’ll need. Final note: SSDs are now ubiquitous, not to mention faster and more efficient than HDDs, so we recommend buying a laptop with this type of storage.

You don’t have to settle for an all-plastic notebook, either. Some options in the price range below $500 are made at least partially from metals like aluminum. These are not only more attractive, but also more durable. As for the screen, there’s a healthy mix of HD and Full HD options in this price range, and we recommend getting a laptop with a 1080p display if you can. Touchscreens aren’t as common as standard panels in the sub-$500 space, but you’ll only really miss it if you own a 2-in-1 laptop.

See also:

Before we make our choice, one final note: the cheapest laptop models are changing all the time. Unlike more expensive flagship machines, these laptops can be updated a few times a year. This may make it difficult to find a specific model on Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, or any other retailer. Additionally, we found that prices vary widely depending on the configuration and retailer you’re looking for. We’ve listed some of our current favorite models below, but if you can’t find any available near you, keep in mind our list of specs to look for in a budget laptop – they’ll guide you to the best one Models of machines currently available.

Acer

The Acer Aspire 5 series has long been a reliable and affordable choice. Recently, we tested a model with a 14-inch 1080p display, running an 11th-generation Intel Core i3 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. Currently, you can buy a model with a 15.6-inch display, an 11th-gen Core i3 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 128GB SSD for around $300-$400.

The performance of the device we reviewed was similar to the Aspire 5 model we tested previously, with a good display and a keyboard that provided a comfortable typing experience. The latest Aspire 5 supports Wi-Fi 6, and most models come with a variety of ports, including 1 USB-C (separate from the power supply on the back), 3 USB-A, 1 HDMI connector, and an Ethernet port. Battery life is also great: the average battery life for this model is 10 hours. In previous versions we were clocked at around 6, so this is a much needed improvement.

advantage

• High cost performance
• Includes various ports
• Support Wi-Fi 6
• Improve battery life

Amazon $347

Lenovo

If you want a budget laptop that’s more portable and has battery life to keep you working all day, Lenovo’s Flex 5 14 is a great choice. It runs an AMD Ryzen 3 4300 processor with 4GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD, and comes with a 14-inch 1080p IPS display and a range of ports, including a USB-C connection. If you care about future-proofing, USB-C ports are going to be crucial.

The typing experience is top-notch, too: while it doesn’t have a numeric keypad, its keys have a rounded bottom shape, similar to those on Lenovo’s ThinkPad machines. They make a satisfying clicking sound as you type, but not loud enough to disturb those around you.

Despite being a budget laptop, the Lenovo Flex 5 14 isn’t flimsy. The palm rest doesn’t squeak under pressure, and it’s easy to carry this machine around the room with one hand. I also appreciate its convertible design, which gives you more flexibility. Like most Lenovo machines, the Flex 5 14 has a webcam that you can cover with a physical shutter.

The Flex 5 14 also has an advantage over the Aspire 5 when it comes to battery life: In our tests, the former lasted about 16.5 hours, while the Acer’s machine lasted about 10 hours. If you’re looking for a laptop that’ll last all day or more, Lenovo’s option is the clear winner.

advantage

• comfortable keyboard
• Convertible design
• long battery life

Walmart $494

Photography: Devindra Hardawar/Engadget

Read our full review of Surface Laptop Go 3

We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 here, even though it starts at $800. It has one of the best designs you’ll find on any budget Windows laptop, with a slim frame, a minimalist aesthetic, and narrow bezels around the 12.4-inch PixelSense touch screen. While we’d prefer to see a true 1080p panel on a unit like this, the 1,536 x 1,024 resolution on a laptop monitor is more than adequate and is still very clear and bright.

The design of the Laptop Go 3 isn’t too different from the previous model, and that’s a good thing. In addition to its ultraportable look and feel, it also has a great keyboard and a great trackpad—two staples of the Surface line. The port situation could be better, but that’s usually the case with thin and light laptops like this. This laptop comes with 1 USB-A port, 1 USB-C port, 1 headphone jack, and 1 Surface charging port.

The biggest changes are internal, with Microsoft improving the Laptop Go 3’s specs quite a bit. The base model comes with a 12th-generation Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. Extra RAM is key here, as the base model of the previous generation only came with a paltry 4GB of memory. While the Surface Laptop Go 3’s $800 starting price is higher than our other top picks, it’s reasonable given its upgraded specs — and it’s still cheaper than most flagship laptops, anyway.

advantage

• elegant design
• Stellar keyboard and trackpad
• very good performance

shortcoming

• More on the expensive side

Amazon $690