The best laptop under 300 can still be a huge boon to working or watching things on the go, and yet won't break your bank to acquire.
Whenever you're sticking to a budget, of course, you're not going to get all the bells and whistles - but whether you need that or not comes down to what you're using it for.
High refresh rates, QHD displays, AMD FreeSync and HDR are all going to be off the table, as will be laptops with 8GB of RAM and heavy-duty processors. Instead, laptops in this price range are best for more everyday use, which could include working on documents, using a CMS, and even some light design and gaming.
As a result, at under 300, what you are going to get is either a lightweight Chromebook, which will be more than enough for most people, or a laptop with around 4GB of RAM which, if you manage your storage effectively, you can use for some slightly intense tasks too.
We've selected some of what we think are the best laptops at this price range on the market today, based on specs and our own knowledge of what makes a quality device. Let's see what's out there, shall we?
Best laptops under 300
- ASUS Chromebook C523NA
- Acer Chromebook 314
- HP Stream 14 Series
- Jumper EZbook X3 Office
- Lenovo Chromebook Duet
click to enlarge
+ 51. ASUS Chromebook C523NA
Best large-screen laptop under 300
ASUS makes some of the best gaming laptops out there, with not only premium devices but also some superb budget options too, such as the ASUS C523NA.
This laptop packs a pretty massive screen for the price which is especially useful if you're someone who has multiple windows open, especially when combined with what's under the hood.
The Intel Dual-Core Celeron is enough to run the Chrome OS smoothly and when combined with 4GB of RAM, you should have no issue when multitasking.
64 GB is a decent amount of storage for the price, however, if you think SSD is better than eMMC storage, then this laptop from ASUS also has a USB 3.0 port that allows you to connect to an external hard drive.
Overall, some strong specs for the price!
Read More: Best laptops for Roblox
click to enlarge + 52. Acer Chromebook 314
Bes Chromebook under 300
For a standout Chromebook under 300, the Acer Chromebook 314 looks to be a marvellous choice.
You're getting a pretty capable machine for casual computing here with an Intel Celeron N4000 processor providing decent performance, and 4GB of DDR4 RAM should also be enough for a Chromebook.
The Chromebook 314's 13-inch display should also be compact enough for a portable laptop but we think still offers a nice amount of screen real estate for day-to-day working.
32GB of eMMC storage is also present here, with this capacity working well if you aren't storing too many files, but rest assured that the number of USB ports will allow for plenty of expansion.
Read More: Best budget gaming laptops
click to enlarge + 53. HP Stream 14 Series
Best Windows 10 laptop under 300
The HP Stream 14 Series features Windows 10 Home in S Mode, which claims to be the most secure Windows ever, with added protection against phishing and malware.
If you're a long-time Windows user and prefer a regular laptop to a Chromebook, the HP Stream is a solid Windows option at a low price.
This laptop boasts an improved 802.11ac 2x2 Wi-Fi antenna, which provides a stronger, more reliable connection to the internet, perfect for on-the-go.
Thanks to its thin and lightweight design, if you're on the go you'll likely find this a fantastic travel companion.
The HP Stream also comes with a 1-year subscription for Office 365 Personal on Amazon, which could come in handy if you're a student or working professional.
Read More: Best laptops for Minecraft
click to enlarge + 54. Jumper EZbook X3 Office
Best laptop under 300 for students
We think the Jumper EZbook X3 is one of the best laptops for students and its compact size and 6-hour battery life are great when travelling around.
And, much like the previous entry, it comes with a 1-year subscription to Microsoft Office on Amazon.
This laptop also features a 13.3 inch full HD display, with 1920 x 1080 maximum resolution which is great for the price - this allows for high-quality streaming of all your favourite TV shows and films.
4GB of RAM, 64 GB of internal storage, and more; the EZbook X3 could be a great way to go.
Read More: Best laptop stands
click to enlarge + 55. Lenovo Chromebook Duet
Best alternative laptop under 300
If you don't fancy going for a more traditional laptop, the Lenovo Chromebook Duet could be a good option for you.
Featuring a 10.1-inch display, it's not massive by any means, but it is supposed to pack a punch when it comes to colour.
It's also super lightweight and boasts rather impressive transformative qualities too, which makes it a versatile piece of kit for a number of uses.
Plus, this Lenovo laptop has up to 10 hours of battery life... which we think is pretty decent for its price point.
So there you have it, just some of our top picks from what's available right now. We're always on the hunt for standout hardware, so be sure to check back in with us as we'll update this page accordingly.
Read More: Best laptops under 500
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
If you're looking to get as much bang for your buck, it pays to do the research, so we're here to answer some of your most frequently asked questions so you can make the best decision for you.
What size laptop should I get?
The size of a laptop can vary from around 11 inches to upwards of 17, the ideal fit for you is often dependent on what you want to use it for.
If your primary use is going to be work, you may need a larger screen to allow you to have multiple windows open and tackle multitasking more efficiently.
If, however, you're after a highly portable laptop, a smaller screen may be better suited for your needs as it is easier to transport.
What is eMMC storage?
If you've not looked into the modern laptop market in recent years, you might be surprised by the term eMMC, which is incredibly common in the budget laptop scene.
eMMC stands for embedded MultiMediaCard, and it uses a similar type of memory as USBs, SD cards and SSDs.
Devices with eMMC storage tend to be much cheaper, but this comes with the caveat of having slower transfer times and lesser storage sizes.
Is 4GB of RAM enough?
4GB of RAM is likely the best you'll come across within this price range.
With this amount, you should be able to run the operating system smoothly and handle basic multitasking without difficulty.
If you want one of the best budget laptops for gaming, you'll likely need upwards of 8GB of RAM.
How much storage do I need for a laptop?
The amount of storage you need for your laptop largely depends on what you want to use it for.
If you're a student or mainly use your laptop to browse the web, stream Netflix, and save basic work files, then 64GB should be sufficient.
If you want to download films, games, or tackle video editing, you may want to consider getting a laptop with more storage.
Luckily, storage can be expanded with external hard drives so if you run out of storage, you can always add more with any of the best SSDs out there.
Why are Chromebooks cheaper?
Basically, the less storage you have the cheaper it is as it won't cost as much to make. Chromebooks have small physical storage as most of the apps run over the internet.
For more articles like this, take a look at our Deals , Tech , and Affiliates pages.