Best Laptop Between $300 and $500

Best Overall
Best Convertible
Best Style
Best Notebook

Best overall

CHUWI Hi13

When it comes to a laptop with a detachable keyboard, you don't usually expect to see this level of quality for this price (about $400).

You get a seventh-generation Intel Celeron N3450 processor, 4GB of DDR3 RAM, and 64GB of eMMC storage inside, but the real attraction is the 13.5-inch, 3K touch display. Seriously — this display looks like it belongs on a premium laptop. Detach the display and use it as a tablet, or attach it to the keyboard and touchpad for a real notebook experience.

Bottom line: For the best 2-in-1 laptop in this price range, check out the CHUWI Hi13.

One more thing: Check out our review for way more information about the CHUWI Hi13.

Why the CHUWI Hi13 is the best

Despite a budget price, you want your laptop to be a multi purpose machine — the CHUWI Hi13 is just that.

The first thing you'll notice about this 13-inch laptop is the detachable display. It has an amazing 3000 x 2000 resolution, an IPS panel, and has touch function compatible with active digital pens. The display has perfect color and incredible contrast, so much so that you'll feel like you spent way more money than you actually did.

Much like the Microsoft Surface Book, the display can be attached to the keyboard upside down to create a thicker tablet, or it can be attached normally as a notebook for when you need to get down to business.

The Hi13 has a ton of ports, including two USB-A (one 2.0 and one 3.0), one USB-C, one micro USB, a microSD card reader, one micro HDMI, and a 3.5mm jack. That's pretty impressive on a device this small. Overall performance doesn't quite stack up to thousand-dollar devices, but for around $400, you won't find anything better.

Best convertible

Lenovo Flex 4

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Coming in at about $400, the Lenovo Flex 4 is the best option for you if you're looking for a convertible laptop. The 0.82-inch (2.08cm) chassis fits nicely in your hands when in tablet mode, and the 14-inch display with a 1920x1080 resolution reacts precisely to touch. Get a 6th-generation Intel Core i3 processor with a 2.30GHz clock speed, 4GB of DDR4 RAM, and a 500GB hard-disk drive powered by a 52.5WHr battery that will get you through most of a workday.

Bottom line: For the best convertible laptop between $300 and $500, check out the Lenovo Flex 4.

One more thing: If your battery runs low, get a full charge in only about 2.5 hours.

Best style

Dell Inspiron 11 3000 2-in-1

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This laptop is powered by a 7th-generation Intel Core m3 processor with a clock speed up to 2.60GHz, and it has 4GB of DDR3 RAM. You'll have no problem dealing with a medium workload, including web browsing, word processing, and video watching. The convertible design allows you to use the laptop as a tablet, and the 11.6-inch touch display has a 1366x748 resolution. This laptop starts at about $320.

Bottom line: The Dell Inspiron 11 3000 2-in-1 is the laptop with the most style between $300 and $500.

One more thing: Choose from silver, red, black, or blue colors to best suit your style.

Best notebook

Acer Aspire E 15

See at Amazon

Those of you who can't be bothered with a convertible or 2-in-1 will love this notebook from Acer. It starts at about $350, and inside you get a seventh-generation Intel Core i3-7100U processor, 4GB of DDR4 RAM, and a 1TB hard-disk drive. The 15.6-inch, 1080p display is big enough for multitasking, and the all-day battery ensures you don't get stuck without a charge.

Bottom line: If you want a classic laptop design, the Acer Aspire E 15 is your best option.

One more thing: MU-MIMO technology allows for a superior wireless experience.

Conclusion

If you love a convertible laptop, Lenovo's Flex 4 is an outstanding machine. If you'd rather have a device with a lot of style, the Dell Inspiron 11 3000 2-in-1 is a great option, and for a standard notebook PC, Acer's Aspire E 15 gets the job done. For the best overall laptop between $300 and $500, you have to go with the CHUWI Hi13.