We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
Best budget laptops you can buy in 2024
Our favourite budget-friendly laptops
Even though smartphones and tablets are usually our go-to way of checking social media and watching Netflix or YouTube while commuting these days, we still love having a laptop at home for shopping, typing documents and helping the kids with their homework.
While the convenience of a phone is great, we’ll take a physical keyboard and large screen over finger-taps every time. And if the basics are all you need, you don’t have to splash out for a high-end laptop.
That's right, there are plenty of models for around £500 that are ideal for work projects, reading websites and streaming sessions.
Budget-friendly laptops will usually run the Windows or ChromeOS operating systems and have lower configurations when it comes to battery life, storage capacity and the processor (the brain of the machine), but if you’re willing to buy refurbished it’s totally possible to get an older Apple MacBook for this price point, too.
Best budget laptops
How the GH Tech Team tests laptops
While the specs of a laptop are important (read the buying guide under our recommendations for everything you need to know), we review budget devices based on how you’ll be using them day-to-day.
That means we focus on key aspects of the machine, such as boot-up times, display, built-in speakers, how fast they download software and how long you get from the battery. We also test the reliability of the keyboard, trackpad and webcam. The result is that we get a proper feel for the laptop beyond what the side of the box claims.
How much to spend on a budget laptop?
We think it’s important to get this out of the way upfront – going too low on the price means you compromise on performance. We consider a budget laptop to be £400 to £500, but if you can stretch the budget slightly, to around the £600 mark, you get even better quality.
At those price points you get a real bump in performance and build from entry-level models. Go below that price point and you sacrifice on materials, specs, battery life and storage, meaning you may end up having to replace the machine much sooner.
If you only have around £200 to spend, there are a few laptops we recommend you consider, including the HP Stream, Lenovo IdeaPad 1i, Acer 314 and the Acer Aspire 1. Any of those models will only handle very basic tasks like writing documents, light video streaming, video calls, websites and social media, but they’re decent for the cost.
Pros
- Works as a large tablet
- Backlit keyboard
Cons
- Speakers are only average
We consider the Acer Spin series to be one of the best Chromebook laptops you can buy; the Spin 513 expertly balances price and specs. It has the same 2-in-1 design of the more expensive configurations (so it flips over and becomes a tablet), plus a backlit keyboard, solid 10-hour battery life and a decent port selection.
Navigation is done via the trackpad or the touchscreen, and it’s an ideal pick for beginners, students or anyone who needs a no-fuss laptop. It handles work during the day, then flips over for streaming movies or shopping in the evening.Like other Chromebooks on our list, the software is lightweight, speedy and cloud based – so your work and settings on apps like Gmail, Calendar Chrome, YouTube and Sheets transfer over to the laptop when you sign in with your Google account. The downside? You need an internet connection to save your work in real-time, although there is an offline mode for making changes or edits without wifi.
Key specifications
| Operating system | ChromeOS |
|---|---|
| Screen size | 13.3 inches |
| Processor | Qualcomm SC7180 |
| Storage | 64GB or 128GB |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Battery life | Up to 13.5 hours |
| Weight | 1.2kg |
Pros
- Lovely high-resolution display
- Brilliant build quality
Cons
- Limited connectivity
Apple laptops are known for having a premium design and sturdy build quality that lasts for years – and yes, high prices. But you can get a MacBook for a more affordable price if you buy a refurbished model.
We found a 2019-era MacBook Air (with a crisp Retina display and a reliable Intel i5 processor) for under £500 on BackMarket. There are only 2 USB-C ports (so you need a dongle for pairing extra gear like external hard drives, cameras or printers) and the front-facing camera is only 720p, but this is a fantastic laptop that gives you the Apple experience on a budget.
If you want a MacBook but want to save even more money, BackMarket also has a 2017-era Air for under £300, although it has an older design with large bezels and the battery life may not be the best long-term. If you’re able to boost your budget slightly, you can get a 2020 Air with Apple’s speedy M1 chip for under £750.
Key specifications
| Operating system | MacOS |
|---|---|
| Screen size | 13.3 inches |
| Processor | Intel i5 |
| Storage | 128GB |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Battery life | Up to 10 hours |
| Weight | 1.2 kg |
Pros
- Fully detachable keyboard
- Loads of battery life
Cons
- Limited connectivity
Laptop or tablet? Why not both? The IdeaPad 5 Duet is a Chromebook laptop with a fully detachable keyboard so it doubles as a 13.3-inch slate. The software is fast and cloud-based (so you don’t have to worry too much about the built-in storage) plus at 700g it’s ideal for popping into a bag to bring to your local coffee shop.
We love the kickstand on the back that’s used to prop it up for watching videos or setting it on a desk without the keyboard, and it includes a stylus so you can make notes or annotate documents. The borders around the screen are neat, and even though it doesn’t have enough power for photo editing, it has the longest battery life of any model on our list, lasting for multiple days between charges.
The big drawback is the lack of ports; like the Apple MacBook Air it only has two USB-C ports on the side, so you’ll also need a dongle to add USB-A cables.
Key specifications
| Operating system | ChromeOS |
|---|---|
| Screen size | 13.3 inches |
| Processor | Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 |
| Storage | 256GB |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Battery life | Up to 15 hours |
| Weight | Tablet 700g, keyboard 320g |
Pros
- Big HD screen
- Works well for the basics
Cons
- Uninspiring design
We don't recommend going too far under the £200 price point for most laptops as performance, speed and storage space tends to suffer, but if that's your budget then we think you should consider the Acer Aspire 1. You get a 1080p resolution 15.6-inch display so this is a great option if you're buying a computer for your child to do their homework. The processor isn't the fastest and there's only 64 GB of built-in storage, but if it's only being used for the basics - typing up some emails, browsing websites and social media and casual movie or music streaming - this will perform just fine. It also comes with a free 12 month Microsoft 365 subscription, too.
Key specifications
| Operating system | Windows 11 |
|---|---|
| Screen size | 15.6 inches |
| Processor | Intel Celeron N4500 |
| Storage | 64GB |
| RAM | 4GB |
| Battery life | Up to 9 hours |
| Weight | 1.65kg |
Pros
- Nice colour scheme
- Good built in storage
Cons
- Build not as premium as some rivals
This Lenovo Chromebook looks really good with its two-tone 'storm grey' colour scheme, and the Intel i3 processor that's inside means that the laptop's performance should be smooth and speedy for basic tasks. The Full HD display is ideal for watching streaming shows and reading websites, while the 256GB of built-in storage is more than enough for storing your files and photos without needing to rely on an external hard drive. It's fairly portable with a 14 inch screen size, and the bezels around the display are smaller than many of its budget rivals. While the build quality is not as premium as any Apple model, there's a great selection of ports, including one USB-C, one USB-A, a microSD card reader and a 3.5mm headphone jack for connecting headphones.
Key specifications
| Operating system | ChromeOS |
|---|---|
| Screen size | 14 inches |
| Processor | Intel Core i3 |
| Storage | 256GB SSD |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Battery life | Up to 10 hours |
| Weight | 1.42 kg |
What to consider when buying a budget laptop
Have a glance over a spec sheet and it’s easy to be overwhelmed with tech jargon. Here are the six factors you really need to know about:
Operating system
There are three laptop operating systems: Microsoft Windows, Apple's macOS, and Google's ChromeOS. Each type has its own design, stores to download apps from, and customisation options – just like how an iOS smartphone looks and feels different to an Android or Windows phone.
Windows
This is a traditional PC experience and is best if you love having a wealth of settings, customisation and the ability to get software from anywhere. These laptops are ideal for students and working as they come with Microsoft apps like Word or Excel, and games perform best on this OS.
MacOS
This is the main alternative to Windows in terms of functionality and features, and is generally known for its sleek, clean design and ease of use. It is not as cluttered as Windows, but it’s slightly more restricted because Apple has stricter rules about what software is allowed to run on its computers. These are considered to be the best for editing as they have lovely displays and speedy performance, but they’re also generally quite expensive.
ChromeOS
Laptops that run ChromeOS are built around Google’s suite of apps, including YouTube, Sheets, Gmail, Slides, Docs, Maps and Chrome – and you can only download apps from the official Google Play Store. These laptops are usually the most affordable as the software is cloud-based, meaning you’ll usually need an internet connection for them to work properly.
They often (but not always) lack the processing power of Mac or Windows, but they'll be just as good for both ease of use and portability.
Screen size
Just like the best TVs, your laptop’s screen is measured in inches from corner to corner, diagonally. You’ll mostly find models between 11 and 16 inches at this price range. Keep in mind that the bigger the screen, the heavier and wider the laptop will be, impacting its portability.
Processing power
The processor in the laptop is the brain that runs tasks, apps and software. All of the budget models on our list have enough power for basic tasks like reading websites, watching streaming platforms, listening to Spotify and typing documents, but they’ll struggle with gaming or photo editing. Processor speed is measured in gigahertz (GHz). On Windows, aim for AMD Ryzen or Intel i3 or i5 if possible. Older Mac laptops use Intel; models since 2021 come with Apple’s M-series chips, but those are out of our budget.
Storage space
To save files and photos, you need storage. Basic laptops have 32GB as a minimum, but we recommend at least 64GB if you plan on keeping pictures, videos and apps on a device instead of a cloud service or a hard drive.
Remember, Chromebooks usually have small storage sizes as they use cloud software to keep your files, and a chunk of your total space (usually around 20GB) is reserved for the operating system even before you add anything to the laptop.
Battery life
Unlike a desktop PC, the benefit of a laptop is that you can take it with you to your local coffee shop or move around the house with it, free from having to sit next to a wall plug. Our picks last for up to 15.5 hours on the built-in battery, but this is always impacted by what you’re doing on it; watching loads of YouTube or running multiple tasks at once drains it quickly.
Portability and weight
If you plan on taking your laptop out of the home, always consider its size and weight. All of the laptop models in our round-up are light enough to carry around inside a backpack, weighing between 700g and 1.7kg.
Jason Murdock was Hearst UK’s Deputy Technology Ecommerce Editor, contributing to multiple titles including Good Housekeeping, Esquire and Digital Spy, between 2022 and 2023.
With more than eight years’ experience covering tech at publications including Radio Times, Newsweek and the International Business Times, Jason has extensive knowledge of the latest gear and gadgets – reviewing phones, tablets, laptops, headphones, smart home products and more – and covering the biggest shopping events of the year, including Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day.
He won Digital Writer of the Year at The Drum's Online Media Awards in 2017 for his cybersecurity coverage in the International Business Times. When not writing and testing the latest gadgets, you’ll find Jason playing the guitar or learning how to parent his new baby.
Best over-ear headphones to buy right now
The best power banks to shop in 2025
The best smartwatches you can buy at every budget
Best USB-C accessories for your iPhone or Android
