Best budget laptop 2021

Best Affordable Laptops Windows Central 2021

Best overall: Surface Go 2 -10.5-inch

The Surface Go 2 might be tiny, but it's a rather versatile laptop with enough performance from an optional Core m3 processor (CPU) to get through most productivity work. Baseline models start with an Intel Pentium Gold 4425Y CPU, which is still enough power for casual use. Compared to the original Go, the Go 2 improves Instant On capabilities, it has a thinner bezel, and the display is larger.

This is a typical 10.5-inch Surface display with 3:2 aspect ratio, 1920x1280 resolution, touch functionality, and Surface Pen compatibility. Thanks to the 2-in-1 form, you can use the device as a tablet for drawing and writing. Attaching a Type Cover with touchpad and keyboard turns it into a notebook with the rear stand deployed.

You get front- and rear-facing cameras, optional LTE connectivity, Wi-Fi 6, and dual 2W stereo speakers. Ports include USB-C, 3.5mm audio, Surface Connect, and a microSD card reader. This is a fantastic device for anyone who is always on the move. It almost makes the list of best laptops under $300 with the Amazon price, but you'll generally pay $400 or more.

Powered by AMD: HP Laptop 14z

HP has been on a roll, and its more budget-conscious laptops have come a long way. Just check out the HP Pavilion Aero, which Executive Editor Daniel Rubino awarded full marks as the best mid-range AMD laptop available today. HP's standard "Laptop" lineup lives just below the Pavilion line, and this 14-inch version packs in a whole lot of features for less than $500. It even has AMD Ryzen 5000 Mobile CPUs.

Prices start at about $370 for a model with Ryzen 3 CPU and HD display, but for a few dollars more, you can get a way better configuration. For about $490, I configured a model with Ryzen 5 5500U CPU with six cores and 12 threads, 8GB of dual-channel DDR4-3200MHz RAM, 128GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD (upgradeable all the way to 1TB if money allows), and a 14-inch 1920x1080 (FHD) IPS display. No having to deal with inferior TN panel or HD resolution.

The laptop can be upgraded to Wi-Fi 6 for free, and port selection is good at this price. You get USB-C, two USB-A, HDMI 1.4b, an SD card reader, and a 3.5mm audio jack.

Lots of features: ASUS Vivobook 15 - 15.6-inch

I recently reviewed the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15 — another ultra-budget laptop — and compared it to the ASUS Vivobook 15. They're both 15-inch laptops with Windows 10 in S mode (which can be switched easily to normal Windows 10 Home), and they both have a similar price. However, the Vivobook 15 has some extra features that you won't find in the IdeaPad.

With the ASUS laptop, you'll be looking at a 1920x1080 (FHD) display with a thin bezel. The chassis is relatively thin, but it has plenty of ports. You get USB-C, HDMI, microSD card reader, three USB-A, and a 3.5mm audio jack. The keyboard has decent travel distance at 1.4mm, and it has a backlight to help with working after hours. A fingerprint reader is built into the touchpad for some added security.

Performance from the 10th Gen Intel Core i3-1005G1 CPU will handle light productivity work without much issue, especially with 8GB of RAM. The 128GB SSD isn't particularly large, but for the price, it's easier to overlook. Unfortunately, Wi-Fi 5 is the standard here.

Bottom line

Many more PCs hit the sub-$500 mark, but they can't necessarily be considered one of the best cheap Windows laptops for one reason or another. For example, the Acer Aspire 5 A515-56 is a great 15-inch laptop with upgradeable storage and RAM, generous port selection, good audio and camera, and decent performance. But its FHD display is dreadful to the point that I can't recommend it. Here's hoping it's fixed in the next refresh.

When shopping around for a cheap laptop, you might be tempted to check some truly inexpensive hardware, like the best laptops under $300. This category is mostly dominated by Chromebooks, with Windows PCs sitting much more comfortably in the category of best laptops under $500. Stepping things up to around $800 or less adds a bunch of great options, including a few of the laptops we've rounded up in this collection. You can check out the best Chromebooks over at Android Central.

Our overall pick for a cheap laptop is the Surface Go 2, thanks to a combination of premium build quality and design, high-end display with inking capabilities, optional 4G LTE, and the new Intel Core m3 CPU option for better performance. This PC isn't going to dominate when it comes to performance, but it will put up a fight against productivity work and daily tasks. And thanks to its diminutive size, it's easy to take with you wherever you go. Considering the price starts at just $400, this is an easy recommendation for PCs on a budget.

For more great PCs, be sure to have a look at our roundup of the overall best Windows laptop options out there today.

Credits — The team that worked on this guide