Shopping for a laptop on a tight budget can be tricky because there are hundreds of variations with fluctuating prices and low stock — and most of them are terrible. We’ve researched hundreds of models and tested the most promising ones to recommend cheap laptops that are actually decent. But if our top pick isn’t available, our full guide to budget laptops has other options, plus advice on how to shop for a cheap laptop that isn’t trash.
The best budget MacBook
Budget pick
The MacBook Neo is ideal for anyone who needs a basic laptop for browsing the web and using Mac apps, from younger students to older adults.
Recommended configuration
| Processor: | Apple A18 Pro | Screen: | 13.3-inch 2408×1506 IPS non-touch |
| Memory: | 8 GB | Weight: | 2.7 pounds |
| Storage: | 256 GB SSD | Tested battery life: | 14 hours |
Who this is for: The MacBook Neo is the best option for anyone who needs a laptop and has only $700 to spend (or $600 with Apple’s education discount). It’s ideal for students, people who mainly use their computer as a web browser, and anyone who can’t seem to wrap their heads around paying bills on their phone. But serious multitaskers, tab hoarders, media editors, and people who need their laptop to last more than five years should stick with the MacBook Air.
Why we like this one: The MacBook Neo has many of the great things about Macs that budget laptops typically lack, including a fantastic display, a sturdy aluminum chassis, and Apple’s excellent support. Despite its phone processor and limited memory, the Neo proved to be fast enough for everyday tasks in our tests. And with Apple’s software ecosystem, you can edit your iCloud photos using the synced Photos app, make short videos with iPhone footage, and play light games like Minecraft Java. For about half the price of the MacBook Air, you get many of the Air’s features in the Neo.
Where it falls short: Though the Neo feels snappy for most everyday tasks, it starts to lag when working with large media files, compiling code, or doing serious multitasking that includes 30 or more browser tabs. We’re concerned about how it’ll perform in two to three years — based on our experience with similar processors, we expect that annual operating system updates will make it sluggish. The Neo is a bit expensive for a “budget” laptop, and Apple increased its price by $100 in June 2026, but no cheap Windows laptop or Chromebook can match the Neo’s display, build quality, or support.
For additional details, read our full review of the MacBook Neo.
The best Windows laptop under $500
Top pick
This model has good specs and a touchscreen. But it’s heavy, and its display, keyboard, trackpad, and battery life are merely passable.
Recommended configuration
| Processor: | AMD Ryzen 5 7520U | Screen: | 15-inch 1920×1080 touch |
| Memory: | 16 GB | Weight: | 3.92 pounds |
| Storage: | 1 TB SSD | Tested battery life: | 9.5 hours |
Who this is for: If you need a Windows laptop for home, work, or school — and you can’t afford to spend a lot — you can find a decent one for less than $500. These computers are ideal for people on a strict budget, grade-school and middle-school students, and those who use their computers mostly at home in the evenings for doing schoolwork, browsing the web, managing a budget, or watching Netflix. Cheaper, lighter laptops tend to be too slow for everyday tasks, while faster, sleeker ones usually cost too much.
But to get a cheap laptop that doesn’t run like molasses, you have to make significant compromises. Most budget laptops are bulky and heavy with short battery life, and they tend to have low-resolution, low-quality screens. You have to be especially vigilant when shopping for a laptop in this price range to avoid slow or old processors, insufficient memory, and sluggish storage.
Why we like this one: The Acer Aspire 3 15 (A315-24PT-R288) is fast enough to meet most people’s computing needs for years to come, with double the memory of most laptops in this price range. Its 15.6-inch 1920×1080 matte display supports touch input and looks decent, free of the worst unsightly tints and viewing-angle issues that typically plague laptops in this price range. Its 9.5 hours of battery life are just enough for it to last through a full day of work or classes, though not much more.
Where it falls short: Our pick is bulky and weighs nearly 4 pounds, which makes it inconvenient to take on the go. Its keyboard feels mushy, and its trackpad has poor palm rejection, but both inputs work reliably. On top of that, the Aspire 3 15 comes with a ton of bloatware; we recommend following these steps to get rid of it.
For additional details, read our full guide to cheap laptops.
The best Chromebook
Top pick
The best inexpensive Chromebook has reliable performance, long-enough battery life, and a matte touchscreen. But it lacks a 360-degree hinge, and its speakers sound bad.
Recommended configuration
| Processor: | Intel Core i3-1315U | Screen: | 14-inch 1920×1080 touch |
| Memory: | 8 GB | Weight: | 3.17 pounds |
| Storage: | 128 GB UFS | Tested battery life: | 9.5 hours |
Who this is for: Chromebooks are ideal for students and kids, but you should also consider one if you spend most of your computer time in a web browser or if you’re on a tight budget. A good Chromebook can do almost anything a regular laptop can do, including document work, video calls, and streaming video — as long as it’s possible in a web browser or in Android apps. And $500 Chromebooks tend to be faster, lighter, and sleeker than $500 Windows laptops.
Chromebooks can’t run Windows-specific games or particular programs you might be used to on your Mac or Windows computer. But if you use web-based email, if you can get by with Google’s office web apps or Office 365 and Android app alternatives, and if you stream your music and movies over the internet, a Chromebook should do just about everything you need it to.
Why we like this one: The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 (CX3402CVA-WS388T-GR) provides the best balance of features for the price out of all the Chromebooks we’ve tested. It has fast performance, a backlit keyboard, a reliable trackpad, and a matte touchscreen. The Chromebook Plus CX34 is also compact and portable, with just enough battery life to last a full day of work or classes.
Where it falls short: This model doesn’t cut any major corners to hit its reasonable price, though it lacks a 360-degree hinge, and its speakers sound bad.
For more, read our full guide to Chromebooks.
