The Best Cheap Laptops for 2026

Design: Affordable in price but premium in design, the MacBook Neo features a rigid aluminum chassis in a compact 13-inch-screen footprint, with three aesthetic combinations of tone-matched keycaps. Adjustments made to hit that low price (relative to higher-end MacBooks) include replacing the virtual-feedback haptic touchpad with a traditional mechanical-click one, omitting the keyboard backlighting, and removing the Touch ID sensor (at least, on the cheaper base model). However, it still feels like a Mac, and that's saying something.

Display: The 13-inch display adapts Apple’s Liquid Retina LCD and delivers sharper visuals and broader color accuracy than competing laptops in its price bracket. Modern panel engineering and thin bezels give the screen a refined aesthetic while providing superior color vibrancy for routine media consumption and study.

Performance: Powered by Apple's A18 Pro silicon paired with 8GB of unified memory and up to 512GB SSD storage, the architecture leverages high-efficiency smartphone chip design to outpace competitors in its price tier. Real-world speeds and benchmark performance exceed those of standard budget x86 processors, ensuring fast application launch times and responsive system performance.

Battery life: The MacBook Neo's energy-efficient mobile architecture provides extended playback and operating running time that outlasts competing devices in its class. Advanced power optimizations enable 15-plus hours of endurance for browsing and document editing without saddling you with a bulky chassis or thermal throttling.

Value for money: Priced at $699 (or $599 for education buyers), the MacBook Neo combines premium chassis materials, class-leading processor efficiency, and strong display performance to achieve an unmatched feature-to-cost ratio. Indeed, it has upended the market for entry-level laptops, easily justifying its designation as the Best Budget Laptop for Most Buyers.

Budget-conscious Mac fans: The MacBook Neo will serve you well if you want the macOS ecosystem and Apple's build quality without paying the premium prices of the MacBook Air or Pro lines.

Students: The MacBook Neo's $499 education-specific pricing and durable aluminum build make it an ideal, portable choice for campus life and general coursework for you or your kids.

Non-power users: The Neo is an amazing fit if you're only performing basic computing tasks, such as web browsing and media consumption, and you value a high-quality display and reliable performance. If you rely primarily on wireless connectivity (Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 6), you should be less bothered by the limited selection of physical ports.

Heavy peripheral users: The Apple MacBook Neo suffers from limited connectivity, with just two left-side USB Type-C ports. (One of those is further constrained to poky 480Mbps USB 2.0 speeds, and lacks external display capabilities.) This creates real workflow bottlenecks when you try to attach high-speed external storage or drive an external monitor, making the Neo a poor choice if you rely on several peripherals like those.

Design: Acer's Aspire 16 AI is built around a 16-inch chassis that exceeds budget-construction expectations. The laptop features a smooth-gliding touchpad and an unusually sharp 1440p webcam, paired with a full-size keyboard that includes a numeric keypad. There are trade-offs, such as stiff key actuation travel and underpowered speakers, but overall, chassis rigidity remains solid for a large-format device. Taken together, this is still the first big-screen laptop you should consider if you're on a tight budget.

Display: Acer's Aspire 16 AI represents an incredible deal for a 16-inch laptop for home or school use, bringing a big, fast, and sharp screen to the budget category. The IPS display panel runs at a 120Hz refresh rate, delivering clear motion, vivid color, and high brightness. Screen bezels frame a sharp panel that elevates visual clarity beyond typical 60Hz budget offerings, making it ideal for big-screen productivity and media viewing.

Performance: Powered by an Arm-based Qualcomm Snapdragon X processor, the system leverages an efficient architecture to deliver competitive multi-core performance for its price tier compared with x86 competitors. Real-world benchmark responsiveness remains potent enough to handle everyday tasks quickly.

Battery life: The Qualcomm Snapdragon X chip is efficient enough to last well beyond a workday or school day, delivering 17 hours in our rundown test and comfortably topping most standard big-screen laptops. This extended endurance provides full-day power efficiency without the rapid battery drain common in 16-inch desktop replacements.

Value for money: Priced at $699.99 (and discounted as low as $549.99), the laptop combines a 120Hz IPS panel, Snapdragon X silicon, and a 1440p webcam to achieve an exceptional feature-to-cost ratio. This combination disrupts the entry-level large-format laptop market, easily justifying its title as our Best Budget Big-Screen Laptop.

Budget-strapped productivity users seeking a big screen: This is the ultimate cheap laptop if you want a big screen that also has the hardware to back it up. The Aspire 16 AI brings some seldom-seen screen traits for the price: a 120Hz refresh rate and impressive color coverage.

High school or college students: This laptop is an excellent pick for students in high school or beyond. The Aspire is relatively compact despite its big panel, making it easy to tote between classes and on the commute, and its processor should keep up with basic study loads.

Legacy x86 software users: The Acer Aspire 16 AI's Qualcomm Snapdragon X chip is capable, but the lack of native support for legacy x86 Windows software will be a deal breaker for some budget shoppers. If you are worried about performance slowdowns under emulation and workflow disruptions for specialized non-Arm applications, look elsewhere.

Design: The MSI Katana 15 HX chassis features a durable plastic build with a relatively chunky 15-inch profile. While it's built more for basic gaming functionality, the mostly plain chassis includes a full-size RGB keyboard with translucent WASD keys and a variety of physical I/O ports. Relative to higher-end models, the MSI Katana 15 HX sacrifices portability and premium metal materials to keep costs down while maintaining thermal efficiency.

Display: A standard 15-inch panel, the 1080p display prioritizes high refresh over peak visual richness, with a 144Hz refresh rate. The screen is relatively dim and offers modest color accuracy, reflecting a clear budget trade-off. Still, the end result is adequate for gaming (and at decent frame rates, too), so it's hard to complain.

Performance: Powered by an Intel Core i7-14650HX processor paired with Nvidia's entry-level GeForce RTX 5050 GPU, the system delivers smooth 60fps gameplay in demanding AAA titles. Real-world benchmark testing shows clear performance gains over last-generation RTX 4050 machines, enhanced by DLSS 4 resolution scaling and multi-frame generation. That's a really capable combination at this price.

Battery life: Our tests showed sufficient battery life for routine non-gaming workloads to support daily productivity. CPU power-efficiency optimizations allow the Katana to sustain reasonable endurance, matching or exceeding typical unplugged times for 15-inch devices in its performance class.

Value for money: For entry-level shoppers, the MSI Katana 15 HX pairs current-generation GPU hardware with multi-core CPU speed. Despite trade-offs in screen brightness and the tight 512GB SSD capacity, its high frame-rate output makes it a solid value.

Budget-strapped gamers: The MSI Katana 15 HX is our top pick if you need decent gaming performance at an entry-level price. The new GPU is especially effective at bridging the raw performance gap using DLSS 4 resolution scaling and frame generation, but it's not without its trade-offs. You'll need to be prepared to accept some compromises, such as a dim display and limited storage. But you'll see playable frame rates at 1080p resolution in the latest PC games.

Kids new to PC gaming: If your child is just getting into PC gaming, the MSI Katana 15 HX is a smart first choice for a gaming laptop. It's relatively inexpensive and should make for a good first experience with PC gaming. (It's also more than able to power through any schoolwork.)

Digital game hoarders: If you load up your game library every Steam sale, the Katana's 512GB solid-state drive will feel pretty tight, running out of space after you install just a few modern AAA titles. That small drive requires continuous storage management, so be ready to keep uninstalling and reinstalling large game files.

Design: The Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1's chassis features a sturdy, polished build with a 360-degree hinge that enables seamless switching between laptop and tablet modes, all within a 14-inch footprint. Physical connectivity includes a functional selection of standard ports, though many higher-end convertibles offer faster, better connections. Dell omitted USB4 or 20Gbps USB-C to keep the price down.

Display: A 14-inch panel, the Inspiron's screen prioritizes touch functionality over visual fidelity. That's great if you need touch and tablet functionality, but the panel performance leaves much to be desired, sacrificing peak brightness and broad color accuracy compared with rival OLED and high-brightness displays.

Performance: The underlying AMD Ryzen 7 chip delivers respectable speed for general computing, video playback, and routine multitasking. However, the overall benchmark and real-world processing performance lag behind similarly priced competitors, reflecting a trade-off to design a 2-in-1 and its hinge hardware within a budget thermal enclosure.

Battery life: At almost 16 hours, our video rundown test showed respectable battery life, which should translate to comfortable margins for extended productivity work. That level of endurance is solid, relative to rival lower-end 14-inch convertibles.

Value for money: At under $800, the device pairs a flexible 360-degree design with durable build quality and clear audio output. Despite compromises in screen brightness and speed, it's a reasonable value among budget 2-in-1 convertibles.

Mainstream users seeking a laptop and a tablet in one: Dell built the Inspiron 14 2-in-1 for affordable versatility. The 14-inch size is the largest practical option for extended tablet use, while the clear-sounding speakers deliver robust audio for media playback and video calls.

Budget (and image) conscious buyers: This laptop is a fine fit if you appreciate the 2-in-1 experience of a convertible laptop but need to keep costs low. You won't get the slick display quality or snappy performance that higher-end 2-in-1s offer, but you will have a reliable device that looks and sounds great.

Users who need high-speed connectivity or processor performance: If physical-connection speed is a priority, pass on this model. The omission of high-speed USB4 or 20Gbps USB ports restricts data transfer rates for external drives or docking stations, and lower overall CPU speeds can mean performance bottlenecks that give competing, slightly pricier systems an edge.

Design: Asus' 2025 Chromebook Plus CX34 is an attractive clamshell with an approachable, friendly aesthetic. Its appeal is built around a comfortable keyboard, a responsive touchpad, and a wide array of physical ports. Its budget pricing peeks through here and there (for example: minor chassis flex), but the overall ergonomics and port variety remain excellent for daily productivity.

Display: The 14-inch 1080p panel offers sufficient resolution and sharpness for everyday web work and office tasks. Just don't expect high-end brightness or overly vibrant color; higher-tier competitors with premium panels do outshine it.

Performance: Powered by a Core i5 processor that meets Google's Chromebook Plus specifications, the laptop delivers snappy responsiveness and strong multi-threaded performance for a Chromebook. Its real-world benchmark performance and processing speed comfortably outclass Chromebook competitors in its price class.

Battery life: Our video rundown testing showed enough endurance to complete a standard eight-hour workday without requiring a charger. That said, overall battery life will likely trail competing devices equipped with larger batteries.

Value for money: Priced at $499, the device combines Intel Core i5 performance, quality inputs, and extensive connectivity, making it a fine value.

Value-focused laptop users: Don't want to spend much? You'll get powerful performance at a low price. If you're looking to spend $500 or less and want the best possible combination of performance and features in a classic Chromebook, consider this Asus model.

Heavy users of G Suite and Google tools: If you're already familiar with Google's Chromebook brand and want a dependable machine for navigating the Google-sphere, this is a good starter pick. This Chromebook Plus model will prove a reliable clamshell for everyday tasks, providing a comfortable typing experience and a potent processor to get work done.

Premium media consumers: The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34's basic 1080p display panel isn't quite a color-accuracy or brightness ace, which may be disappointing for high-resolution media consumption.

Design: The HP Chromebook Plus x360 is built around a compact 14-inch convertible chassis, with a rotating 2-in-1 design. The budget price comes with some compromises: no HDMI output, a flat (and non-backlit) keyboard, and no active stylus in the box. Plus, 14 inches is the biggest reasonable tablet size, if the machine is used extensively in that mode.

Display: The 14-inch touch screen delivers colorful visuals and responsive input for web browsing and media consumption. The bezel and panel design are suited to touch interaction in both tablet and laptop orientations. The peak brightness and panel resolution aren't up to those of higher-tier convertibles, but that's the cost of a budget price.

Performance: Our tests noted snappy web responsiveness and efficient multitasking. This model easily handles cloud-based workflows, and if you're an AI experimenter, the laptop comes with a year of Google One AI Premium, enabling Gemini integration across Google Docs and Gmail.

Battery life: Our testing showed solid 10-hour battery life for extended study and work sessions. This efficiency provides dependable all-day battery life, allowing students and general users to complete daily tasks without searching for a charger.

Value for money: The list price is $599.99, but we've seen this unit discounted to $350 to $400. At those prices, it offers an exceptional feature-to-cost ratio. It's a compelling alternative to traditional clamshell Chromebooks, without mandating a premium for the 2-in-1 convertible design.

Elementary-school students: This is a fitting Chromebook for the young students in your life, whether they'll use it at home or in class. We found it both capable and affordable for online productivity and schoolwork. The 2-in-1 design and touch screen at a budget-friendly price are bonuses.

Budget-strapped 2-in-1 fans: This laptop is a smart choice if you're on a tight budget but still want a reliable Chromebook and tablet with plenty of helpful features. (Just make sure you can live without key features like a backlit keyboard or an HDMI-out.)

External-display users: Without a dedicated HDMI port for connecting external monitors or projectors, it's hard to recommend this system to anyone who needs a larger screen, unless they're willing to get a specific cable or dongle required to connect the video-capable USB-C port to their panel.

Design: The inclusion of the keyboard cover, kickstand, and stylus sets this 2-in-1 apart. The tablet's compact frame and lightweight detachable construction make it easy to stash and dash with, whether for a short commute or a long trip.

Display: The 11-inch IPS touch screen delivers a sharp, clear image, along with responsive multitouch for interactive media and digital ink input. The screen bezels are sized well to allow comfortable handling without the accidental edge input that tablets can be prone to.

Performance: Don't expect performance miracles; the Duet is powered by an entry-level mobile processor optimized for light cloud tasks; it prioritizes low-power operation over raw computing speed. It's best suited for basic web navigation, cloud-document wrangling, and single-task workflows rather than multi-tab multitasking.

Battery life: The small form factor limits the physical battery capacity; our local video playback running time was approximately 6 hours. ChromeOS can help stretch the Duet's low-capacity battery during basic tasks, but expect it to fall short of full-day school or work needs. You'll need to plug it in often.

Value for money: Starting at under $400, the device offers a sharp touch display, a durable metal housing, a detachable keyboard, and a stylus, all in one package. That bundle has virtually no direct competition, justifying its designation as the Best Budget 2-in-1 Detachable Chromebook.

Students and kids: This Chromebook tablet is ideal for young students and kids in your life. The Duet is an effective package for education use and simple app access, and it converts easily from tablet to laptop. It's also excellent as an entertainment tablet.

A basic tablet for adults: This tablet is excellent if you require a simple, low-cost device for emails, bills, and leisure activities—and you don't mind the middling performance and battery life.

Heavy multitaskers: Budget prices mean compromises, and in this case, that's in performance. The entry-level silicon will struggle with multi-tab browser workloads, which shows up as lag during intense web tasks. Also, don't expect a full workday's battery life from the Duet.

Design: Among Chromebooks, the 14-inch Asus Chromebook Plus CX14 is a fine super-budget buy. For the price, you may overlook the lightweight plastic construction and disappointing keyboard, and focus on the well-chosen port selection and peppy silicon for the money.

Display: The 14-inch IPS panel features a 16:9 aspect ratio, full HD (1,920-by-1,080-pixel) native resolution, and a 60Hz refresh rate. Rated at 300 nits of brightness, the screen is prone to low contrast (with blacks appearing gray) and so-so color accuracy. Those are the clear trade-offs.

Performance: The Intel Core 3 N355 processor is modern x86 silicon that meets the Chromebook Plus specifications. We noted decent productivity speed and snappy ChromeOS navigation. You'll be hard-pressed to find better performance from other entry-level competitors for light cloud-based workloads.

Battery life: Our video rundown testing yielded a satisfactory 10 hours. (As always, expect less when running applications and doing heavy web work.)

Value for money: With a list price of $429 that routinely drops to an extreme-budget sale price of $279, the CX14 is a good value for its processing components and solid port selection.

Students: This laptop works well for your kids at home and in the classroom, even if you are on a tight budget. The CX14 is well-suited for basic productivity and light computing tasks, where your primary concern is managing your back-to-school shopping costs.

Extreme-budget shoppers: This Chromebook is a fine fit, even if you're an adult on a very tight budget. If you have to prioritize the lowest possible price over rugged build quality, a sharp display, or a premium typing feel, this Chromebook will work well for you.

Discerning media consumers: As affordable as the Asus Chromebook Plus CX14 is, the display may disappoint. Yes, it's a perfectly adequate 1080p, but we noted low contrast, muted color accuracy, and low perceived brightness. Sound output is also a bummer, with downward-firing speakers that distort at high volumes and lack low-end bass response.

Design: Built around a light, compact 13.5-inch chassis, the Framework Laptop 13 (2025) features a fully modular construction with swappable expansion ports, easily accessible internal components, and a customizable DIY assembly design. Where traditional ultraportables have parts soldered directly to the motherboard, the Framework lets both novice and experienced users repair, swap, and upgrade components individually rather than replacing the entire system.

Display: The 13.5-inch display panel is functional for routine office applications, web browsing, and general productivity. While good for daily workflows, it lacks the peak color accuracy, high brightness, and panel vibrancy of rival premium ultraportables in its price tier. That's one of the price trade-offs.

Performance: Powered by AMD Ryzen AI 300 series processors, our test model delivered fast multi-core processing speeds in our tests. Real-world benchmark testing across PCMark 10, Cinebench 2024, and HandBrake rivaled results from traditional (non-modular) competitors, showing no performance penalty associated with its repairable modular design.

Battery life: The efficient Ryzen AI processor delivered up to 14 hours in our rundown testing. That's competitive with 13-inch ultraportables in its class.

Value for money: This model is a whole different ballgame, and the $899 starting price is hard to compare to the other laptops here. Why? Getting a Framework lets you upgrade or repair individual components rather than purchasing a full system when it's time. That can be the ultimate in value...if you pursue it.

DIY enthusiasts: This is the best laptop for you if you're a computer lover who enjoys building your own PCs, since you can swap out parts as you please and even assemble the laptop from a DIY kit option. It's a tinkerer's paradise if you're comfortable assembling computers and value the ability to easily repair and upgrade components over time.

Sustainability-focused laptop users: This laptop is a perfect fit if you're eco-conscious. Since the Framework is designed for a much longer working life, you'll reduce e-waste by investing in this sustainable, modular system.

Long-term value shoppers: If you're looking for a budget-friendly laptop that will last for years, the Framework is a no-brainer. This laptop's upgradable design will future-proof your purchase and let you swap out parts for far less than the cost of a complete replacement.

Turnkey shoppers: It may not require much open-chassis assembly, but the Framework Laptop 13 adds some setup friction for users who want an out-of-the-box Windows experience without having to assemble hardware.

Users uncomfortable with upgrades or part swaps: Part of the premium for any Framework machine comes down to the swappable-components aspect. If you know you won't leverage that, stick with a conventional clamshell laptop.