Best Budget Laptops

Introduction

If you’re looking for the best budget laptop, but unsure of your options, you’ve come to the right place.

We have rounded up the best five budget laptops that our team of experts have reviewed in the past couple years, ranking them based on their scores at the time we reviewed them as well as their current prices. We’ve tested every laptop with both synthetic benchmark tests and real-world use to ensure an accurate view of every machine’s performance. 

Everything included on this list is available to buy for under £600/$600. We’ll be frequently updating this list as soon as more budget laptop reviews are published, so keep this page bookmarked and check back later if you can’t find anything to your liking right now. 

Whether you’re a student, office worker or simply someone on the lookout for a bargain, check out our picks of the best budget laptops below. And if you’re looking for the absolute best laptops and best gaminglaptops, check out our those Best List rankings instead.



How we test

Learn more about how we test laptops Every laptop we review goes through a series of uniform checks designed to gauge key things including build quality, performance, screen quality and battery life. These include formal synthetic benchmarks and scripted tests, plus a series of real world checks, such as how well it runs the most frequently used apps. We also make sure to use every laptop we review as our primary device for at least a week to ensure our review is as accurate as possible.








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Acer Chromebook 315



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Pros


Affordable price
Big screen for a Chromebook
Smooth performance for a Chromebook
Great selection of ports




Cons


Poor battery life
Unimpressive keyboard
Heavy build





£349$484.13







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Honor MagicBook 14 (2020)



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Pros


Student-friendly premium style
Superb value
Pleasant typing experience
More than capable productivity performance




Cons


Webcam positioned on keyboard
Below average display






£549.99







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Lenovo Chromebook Duet



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Pros


Very affordable price
Bundled keyboard offers versatility
Superb screen for video content
Excellent battery life




Cons


Lack of headphone jack
Poor speaker quality
Keyboard is uncomfortably small





£299.99$229.99







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Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5



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Pros


Pleasant screen
Comfortable, quiet keyboard
Long battery life




Cons


Value of high-spec models is questionable
Plastic touchpad
Weak speaker




£529.99$379.99







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Surface Laptop Go



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Pros


Incredible value
Small and classy design
Excellent performance
Comfortable keyboard




Cons


Low-resolution display
No keyboard backlight
No fingerprint scanner on base configuration





£549$549.99













Surface Laptop Go


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Best all-round budget laptop

Pros

Incredible valueSmall and classy designExcellent performanceComfortable keyboard

Cons

Low-resolution displayNo keyboard backlightNo fingerprint scanner on base configuration

The Surface Laptop Go isn’t the cheapest laptop on this list, but it’s arguably the best and it’s still very affordable. It’s packing an 10th Generation i5 Intel Core processor, which is comfortably powerful enough to coast through basic productivity tasks such as browsing the web, filling up word documents and watching Netflix. Weighing just 1.1kg and having a compact 12.4-inch display, the Surface Laptop Go easily fits into most bags too, making it a good option for those who work on the go, whether you’re commuting to an office or hopping between university lecture halls. Its biggest flaws are a sub-par resolution which isn’t ideal for video content, as well as the omission of a keyboard backlight for late night use. But if you just want one of the best Windows 10 laptops round for a super-affordable price, the Surface Laptop Go is our top recommendation.Reviewer: Ryan JonesFull review: Surface Laptop Go review













Lenovo Chromebook Duet


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Best 2-in-1 budget laptop

Pros

Very affordable priceBundled keyboard offers versatilitySuperb screen for video contentExcellent battery life

Cons

Lack of headphone jackPoor speaker qualityKeyboard is uncomfortably small

The Lenovo Chromebook Duet is one of the cheaper options in this list. During testing we found it is a fantastic option for those who want a basic productivity performance. The Lenovo Chromebook Duet also boasts a fantastic battery life and a lovely Full HD display, making it a great value laptop option worth considering. There is a slight catch, as this isn’t a traditional clamshell laptop but rather a tablet bundled with a keyboard accessory – think iPad with an optional keyboard attachment, but at a far more affordable price point, using ChromeOS instead of iPadOS. Having a detachable screen means this is a very versatile gadget, allowing you to use it as a tablet for watching YouTube or reading the news, but with the added ability to snap the screen back into its keyboard as soon as you need to do some serious work. We did find the keyboard slightly cramped compared to proper clamshell laptops, but it still does a commendable job. If you’re looking for a 2-in-1 laptop at an affordable price, this is your best bet.Reviewer: Ryan JonesFull review: Lenovo Chromebook Duet













Honor MagicBook 14 (2020)


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Best 14-inch budget laptop

Pros

Student-friendly premium styleSuperb valuePleasant typing experienceMore than capable productivity performance

Cons

Webcam positioned on keyboardBelow average display

The Honor MagicBook 14 (2020) is another Windows 10 laptop that might seem a little pricey for this list. However, its specs are so good that you’re getting incredibly good value for the money, with a AMD Ryzen 5 processor that’s easily fast enough to power through any of your day-to-day productivity tasks. Unlike the Surface Laptop Go, you’re getting a crystal clear 14-inch matte display here, making it a superb option for watching films, TV and your favourite YouTube channels. During testing we found its screen is not as bright as some other laptop picks, but you’ll need to pay significantly more for better quality. The MagicBook has also got more storage space than Microsoft’s laptop, making it ideal if you plan on downloading lots of video and don’t want to rely on cloud services for student and office work. The biggest issue with the Honor MagicBook 14 (2020) is its webcam, as it’s positioned underneath the display and so gives an unflattering view up your nostrils. This is an especially annoying flaw during a time where video calls are the norm. But if you’re willing to look past this issue, the MagicBook is an outrageously good value laptop.Reviewer: Adam SpeightFull review: Honor MagicBook 14 (2020)













Acer Chromebook 315


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Best 15-inch budget Chromebook

Pros

Affordable priceBig screen for a ChromebookSmooth performance for a ChromebookGreat selection of ports

Cons

Poor battery lifeUnimpressive keyboardHeavy build

The Acer Chromebook 315 is the most affordable laptop on this list by a considerable margin. It’s a proper Chromebook, which means all apps have to be downloaded through Google’s own store. But thanks to this streamlined software approach, the Acer offers smooth and reliable performance for basic productivity tasks such as web surfing and reading emails. This laptop also has a large Full HD screen, measuring in at 15.6-inches. A big display not only makes it easier to juggle more web browsers and apps on screen, but also makes it a good option for video streaming. The downside? It’s a very large and hefty laptop, making it unideal for those who want to port around in a bag frequently. The poor battery life we found during testing only emphasises the idea that this is a laptop best kept rooted to your desk. But if you want a laptop that’s as cheap as possible, and don’t care about its portability flaws, then the Acer Chromebook 315 is still a decent option to consider.Reviewer: Ryan JonesFull review: Acer Chromebook 315













Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5


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Most powerful Chromebook with convertible design

Pros

Pleasant screenComfortable, quiet keyboardLong battery life

Cons

Value of high-spec models is questionablePlastic touchpadWeak speaker

The Lenovo Ideapad Flex 5 Chromebook is one of the most powerful Chromebooks you can buy, packing Intel’s 10th Generation i5 processor so it can pace through day-to-day tasks. It’s also flaunting a 2-in-1 design, allowing you to flip into tablet mode for whenever you want to watch a video or scroll through Instagram. Lenovo’s Chromebook also features a fantastic battery life and a comfortable keyboard, making it ideal for student and office goers.However, at this price, you could argue that you might as well buy a Windows laptop instead. This means the Lenovo is only worth considering if you’re not fussed about the restrictions of ChromeOS. Reviewer: Andrew WilliamsFull review: Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5







FAQs

What is a budget laptop? We’ve deemed a budget laptop to encompass any portable computer that costs less than £600/$600. This could include Chromebooks, Windows laptops or even 2-in-1 convertibles. What is the best budget laptop brand? That’s subjective, especially since two laptops from the same brand can differ significantly in quality. Lenovo has built up a good reputation for budget laptops, while Acer offers a lot of affordable Chromebooks. But we suggest judging each individual laptop on its own merits rather than relying solely on the reputation of a brand. Are budget laptops worth it? It really depends on the laptop. You can find a lot of sub-par systems for less than £600, but there are also some outstandingly good value options at this price point. We suggest reading reviews for any budget laptop you consider purchasing, as specs can’t tell the whole story. What is the best budget laptop for video editing? If video editing is a priority, then you’ll need to increase your budget. Heavy workloads such as video editing will require a beefier performance than what Chromebooks and budget laptops currently offer. The latest MacBook Air is one the best value options for such tasks right now, but you’ll need to pay just shy of a grand for that laptop. 



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Comparison specifications


‹



UK RRP


USA RRP


EU RRP


CA RRP


AUD RRP


CPU


Manufacturer


Screen Size


Storage Capacity


Front Camera


Battery


Battery Hours


Size (Dimensions)


Weight


ASIN


Operating System


Release Date


First Reviewed Date


Model Number


Model Variants


Resolution


Refresh Rate


Ports


GPU


RAM


Connectivity


Colours


Display Technology


Screen Technology


Touch Screen?


Convertible?


Adjustable length






Acer Chromebook 315


£349


$484.13


€402.49


Not Applicable


AU$626


Intel Pentium Silver N500


Acer


15.6 mm


64GB


Front webcam


mAh


12 30


20.30 x 366.4 x 250.5 mm


1.90 g


B08CNCRGPX


Chrome OS


2020


13/07/2020


Chromebook CB315-3HT


Not Applicable


1920 x 1080


60 Hz


2x USB-A, 2x USB-C, microSD, headphone jack


Intel UHD Graphics 605


4GB


Bluetooth 5.0 and Wi-Fi


Pure Silver


LCD


IPS


Yes


No


Not Applicable




Honor MagicBook 14 (2020)


£549.99


Not Applicable


€599.90


Not Applicable


Not Applicable


AMD Ryzen 5 3500U


Honor


14 mm


256GB


Pop-up camera


56 Whr


Not Applicable


15.9 x 323 x 215 mm


138 kg


B085JCJVQX


Windows 10


2020


08/04/2020


Not Applicable


Not Applicable


1920 x 1080


60 Hz


3.5mm jack, 2x USB-A, USB-C, HDMI


AMD Radeon Graphics


8GB


Bluetooth 5.0 and Wi-Fi


Space Grey / Mystic Silver


LCD


IPS


No


No


Not Applicable




Lenovo Chromebook Duet


£299.99


$229.99


€329


CA$339.99


Not Applicable


MediaTek Helio P60T Octa-Core


Lenovo


10.1 mm


128GB


2MP


7000 mAh


Not Applicable


7.35 x 160 x 240 mm


450 g


B08BLH2DHL


Chrome OS


20 May 2020


27/08/2020


ZA6F0025GB


ZA6F0007GB


1920 x 1200


60 Hz


USB-C (Gen 2)


ARM G72 MP3


4GB


WiFi + Bluetooth 4.2


[‘Ice Blue’, ‘Iron Grey dual tone’]


LCD


IPS


Yes


Yes


–




Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5


£529.99


$379.99


Not Applicable


CA$514.99


Not Applicable


Intel Core i5-10210U


Lenovo


13.3 mm


128GB


720p


51 Whr


10


17 x 309.9 x 204.1 mm


1.34 kg


B086383HC7


Chrome OS


2020


17/11/2020


Not Applicable


Not Applicable


1920 x 1080


60 Hz


2x USB-C, USB-A, micoSD Card and headphone jack


Intel UHD


8GB


WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5


Graphite Grey


LCD


IPS


Yes


Yes


Not Applicable




Surface Laptop Go


£549


$549.99


€629


CA$759.99


AU$999


Intel Core i5-1035G1


Microsoft


12.4 mm


64GB


720p HD


mAh


13 0


15.69 x 278 x 206 mm


1.11 kg


B08HJ2W4HX


Windows 10 Home in S mode


13 October 2020


02/12/2020


Not Applicable


Not Applicable


1536 x 1024


60 Hz


USB-C, USB-A, 3.5mm headphone jack and Surface Connect


Intel UHD Graphics


4GB


Bluetooth 5.0 and Wi-Fi 6


Platinum, Sandstone and Ice Blue


LCD


IPS


Yes


No


Not Applicable




›


Trusted Reviews test data


‹



PCMark 10


Geekbench 5 single core


Geekbench 5 multi core


CrystalDiskMark Read speed


CrystalMarkDisk Write Speed


Brightness


Black level


Contrast


White Visual Colour Temperature


sRGB


Adobe RGB


DCI-P3


PCMark Battery (office)


Battery Life


Battery recharge time






Acer Chromebook 315


Not Applicable


439


1493


3437.44 MB/s


3149.69 MB/s


261 nits


0.2369 nits


1102:1


6048 K


63.2 %


44 %


45.1 %


Not Applicable


6 hrs


mins




Honor MagicBook 14 (2020)


3301


792


3035


3449.74 MB/s


1650.47 MB/s


259.64 nits


0.2172 nits


1190:1


6373 K


61.5 %


42.6 %


43.8 %


9 hrs


9 hrs


60 mins




Lenovo Chromebook Duet


Not Applicable


263


915


Not Applicable


Not Applicable


364.52 nits


0.4072 nits


859:1


7692 K


93.9 %


67.4 %


69.8 %


Not Applicable


13 hrs


mins




Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5


Not Applicable


Not Applicable


Not Applicable


677 MB/s


Not Applicable


350 nits


Not Applicable


Not Applicable


Not Applicable


Not Applicable


Not Applicable


Not Applicable


Not Applicable


13 hrs


mins




Surface Laptop Go


3296


1205


3386


1956 MB/s


706 MB/s


404.91 nits


0.3421 nits