Top 5 Laptops Under $300: Best Budget Buys Now

Do you dream of owning a new laptop but cringe at the high price tags? You are not alone! Finding a quality laptop that fits a tight budget feels almost impossible today. Many people need a reliable computer for school, work, or just browsing, but can’t spend hundreds of dollars.

The struggle is real when shopping for laptops under $300. You worry about getting a machine that is too slow, breaks quickly, or just cannot handle basic tasks. It is frustrating to sort through confusing specs and unclear product descriptions. You want a good deal, not a headache!

This guide cuts through the confusion. We will show you exactly what features matter most in this price range. You will learn which brands offer the best value and how to spot hidden traps. By the end, you will feel confident picking the perfect budget-friendly laptop.

Ready to discover the best affordable machines available right now? Let’s dive into finding you a fantastic laptop without emptying your wallet.

Top Laptop Under 300 Dollars Recommendations

SaleBestseller No. 1

HP 15.6" Laptop with Microsoft 365-1.1TB Storage - 8GB Memory - Intel Inside | Anti-Glare Display, 128GB SSD and 1TB Cloud Storage, 4-Cores CPU, Fast Charge and 12hrs Battery, no Mouse

【Make the most out of your 365】Bring your ideas to life.Your creativity now gets a boost with Microsoft 365. Office - Word, Excel, and Power Point - now includes smart assistance features that help make your writing more readable, your data clearer and your presentations more visually powerful. 1 -Year subscription included.
【15.6" HD Display】14.0-inch diagonal, HD (1366 x 768), micro-edge, BrightView. With virtually no bezel encircling the display, an ultra-wide viewing experience provides for seamless multi-monitor set-ups
【Processor & Graphics】Intel Celeron N100, 4 Cores & 4 Threads, 1.10 GHz Base Frequency, Up to 2.60 GHz Burst Frequency, 4 MB Cahce, Intel UHD Graphics 600, Handle multitasking reliably with the perfect combination of performance, power consumption, and value
【Ports】1 x USB 3.1 Type-C ports, 2 x USB 3.1 Type-A ports, 1 x HDMI, 1 x Headphone/Microphone Combo Jack, and there's a microSD slot
【Windows 11 Home in S mode】You may switch to regular windows 11: Press "Start button" bottom left of the screen; Select "Settings" icon above "power" icon;Select "Activation", then Go to Store; Select Get option under "Switch out of S mode"; Hit Install. (If you also see an "Upgrade your edition of Windows" section, be careful not to click the "Go to the Store" link that appears there.)

Bestseller No. 2

NIMO 15.6" IPS FHD-Laptop-Computer, Intel Pentium Quad Core N100 4GB RAM 128GB SSD (Beat i3-1115G4, Up to 3.4GHz) Backlit Keyboard Fingerprint Type-C WiFi 6 BT5.2, for Student and Home

【Worry-Free Warranty for Your Peace of Mind】We stand behind NIMO laptop quality. Your purchase includes a comprehensive 2-year manufacturer’s warranty and a 90-day hassle-free return policy. We know buying a new laptop is a major decision—so we’ve got you fully covered. Our dedicated support team is ready to address any concerns, ensuring a smooth, worry-free ownership experience right from day one.
【Effortless Speed, Seamless Performance】Powered by the 12th Gen Intel Alder Lake-N100 processor (up to 3.4GHz boost), the NIMO Laptop delivers reliable, long-lasting performance. With 4 cores and 4 threads, it handles multitasking with ease—whether streaming, working, or gaming. Built for durability and efficiency, it keeps productivity and entertainment smooth, from editing documents and running apps to binge-watching your favorite shows.
【Upgradable RAM for Seamless Multitasking】No more frustrating lag. This NIMO laptop comes with 4GB DDR4 RAM—perfect for students juggling dozens of research tabs or professionals running multiple business apps. The expandable RAM slot lets you easily upgrade memory on your own, so your laptop can keep up with future demands and ensure your work always flows smoothly.
【Blazing-Fast SSD for Ample Storage】Access everything you need instantly. Equipped with a 128GB PCIe SSD, this laptop boots in a flash and transfers files at lightning speed. It’s ideal for creators storing large video files, or students and business users managing extensive project data. The upgradable SSD slot gives you the freedom to expand storage anytime—so you’ll never stress about running out of space.
【Immersive Visuals | Ultimate Viewing Comfort】Enjoy sharp clarity on a 15.6" FHD anti-glare display (1920×1080), featuring an 85% screen-to-body ratio and ultra-slim bezels. Built to reduce eye strain while delivering vibrant, true-to-life colors, it’s perfect for designers, professionals, and everyday users alike—great for work and leisure.

SaleBestseller No. 3

Lenovo Laptop Computer for Business and Student, Intel Dual Core Processor, 15.6" FHD, 8GB DDR4 RAM, 256GB PCIe SSD, WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, Type-C, HDMI, Numeric Keypad, Black, Windows 11 Home

Customers enjoy the V15 G2 15.6" FHD Laptop for its budget-friendly price, lightweight design, and user-friendly interface. It is suitable for basic tasks such as web browsing, word processing, and watching videos. Designed to make short work of everyday tasks, including schoolwork and light gaming, this laptop features an Intel Celeron N4500 processor (2C, 4MB Cache, Up to 2.8GHz).
The V15 G2 15 is exactly what you need in an everyday use laptop. Watch shows on an expansive up to 15.6" FHD (1920x1080) Anti-glare display with a razor-thin frame. Listen to rich and clear audio from two Dolby Audio speakers. And connect with friends and family via the HD 720p with Privacy Shutter webcam, which also prevent unauthorized viewing. powered by integrated Intel UHD Graphics.
8GB DDR4 Memory ensuring smooth multitasking and effortless switching between applications; 256GB PCIe SSD, providing ample space for your files, documents, and business data.
Wi-Fi 6, 802.11ax 2x2 + Bluetooth 5.2; 1x USB 2.0, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 1, 1x HDMI 1.4b, 1x Ethernet (RJ-45), 1x Headphone / microphone combo jack (3.5mm), 1x Power connector.
Operating System: Windows 11 Home 64, English; Black. Full-size English Keyboard with numeric keypad. Weighing just 3.78lb and measuring only 0.78 Inch thick, this laptop is designed for portability, making it perfect for students, professionals, or anyone who needs a reliable device for mobile work.

SaleBestseller No. 4

HP Rose Gold Ultrabook Laptop with Microsoft Office 365, Intel 2-Core CPU, 1.1TB Storage (1TB OneDrive and 64GB SSD), 8GB RAM, Windows 11, No Mouse

【Exceptional Storage Space】Equipped with DDR4 RAM and eMMC Solid State Drive, runs smoothly, responds quickly, handles multi-application and multimedia workflows efficiently and quickly.
【Processor】Intel Celeron N4500(2 Cores, 2 Threads, Max Boost Clock Up to 2.80Ghz, 4MB Cache). Intel UHD Graphics 600. This 14-inch laptop is also equipped with Windows 11 S, which makes your work or study easy and convenient.
【Tech Specs】1 x USB-C 3.0. 2 x USB-A 3.0. 1 x HDMI. 1 x Headphone/Microphone Combo Jack. 1 x SD Card Reader. Wi-Fi. Windows 11 S, 1-Year Microsoft Office 365, Bluetooth. Up to 11 hours and 30 minutes battery life. HP Imagepad with multi-touch gesture support. HD Audio with stereo speakers.
【Designed for the Office】With Windows 11, Intel UHD Graphics 600, Bluetooth. Up to 11 hours and 30 minutes battery life. HP Imagepad with multi-touch gesture support. HD Audio with stereo speakers, it ensures a stylish and innovative look, excellent portability, and is suitable for daily work and play. It is a great choice for businesses, offices, or students.

Bestseller No. 5

HP Ultrabook 15.6" Business Laptop Computer with Microsoft 365 • 2025/2026 Edition • Copilot AI • Intel 4-Core N200 CPU • 1.1TB Storage (1TB OneDrive + 128GB UFS) • 8GB RAM • Win 11 • w/o Mouse

Operate Efficiently Like Never Before: With the power of Copilot AI, optimize your work and take your computer to the next level.
Keep Your Flow Smooth: With the power of an Intel CPU, never experience any disruptions while you are in control.
Adapt to Any Environment: With the Anti-glare coating on the HD screen, never be bothered by any sunlight obscuring your vision.
Versatility Within Your Hands: With the plethora of ports that comes with the HP Ultrabook, never worry about not having the right cable or cables to connect to your laptop.
High Quality Camera: With the help of Temporal Noise Reduction, show your HD Camera off without any fear of blemishes disturbing your feed.

SaleBestseller No. 6

HP 14 Laptop, Intel Celeron N4020, 4 GB RAM, 64 GB Storage, 14-inch Micro-edge HD Display, Windows 11 Home, Thin & Portable, 4K Graphics, One Year of Microsoft 365 (14-dq0040nr, Snowflake White)

READY FOR ANYWHERE – With its thin and light design, 6.5 mm micro-edge bezel display, and 79% screen-to-body ratio, you’ll take this PC anywhere while you see and do more of what you love (1)
MORE SCREEN, MORE FUN – With virtually no bezel encircling the screen, you’ll enjoy every bit of detail on this 14-inch HD (1366 x 768) display (2)
ALL-DAY PERFORMANCE – Tackle your busiest days with the dual-core, Intel Celeron N4020—the perfect processor for performance, power consumption, and value (3)
4K READY – Smoothly stream 4K content and play your favorite next-gen games with Intel UHD Graphics 600 (4) (5)
STORAGE AND MEMORY – An embedded multimedia card provides reliable flash-based, 64 GB of storage while 4 GB of RAM expands your bandwidth and boosts your performance (6)

SaleBestseller No. 7

15.6 Inch Laptop with Office 365, 4GB RAM, 128GB Storage Expandable 1TB, 5205U Processor, HD Display, Windows 11 Laptops Computer, Wi-Fi 5, BT4.2, Numpad, Type-C, for Business and Students.

Portable Lightweight Design: Weighing just 3.6 lbs, the Laptop S7HI is portable, making it perfect for travel, work, and school. Its slim profile and 15-inch HD IPS display offer a great balance of size and portability for everyday use
Powerful Processor: With a base frequency 1.9GHz Intel 5205U processor, this laptop handles multiple tasks efficiently. Whether you're working, studying, or streaming, enjoy a smooth experience with reliable performance
Ample Storage with Expansion: 128GB of internal storage with an extra 1TB SSD expansion slot offers plenty of room for your documents, photos, and videos. Ideal for students and professionals needing more space for files and projects
Windows 11 and Office 365: Pre-installed Windows 11 with an included one-year Office 365 subscription ensures you're ready to start working immediately. The perfect solution for business and schoolwork
Comprehensive Connectivity Options: Equipped with Type-C, HDMI, SD Card Reader, and more, this laptop offers flexible connectivity. Stay connected via dual-band WiFi and Bluetooth 4.2, ensuring fast internet access and peripheral support

Bestseller No. 8

Lenovo IdeaPad 1 Student Laptop, 15.6" FHD Display, Intel Dual Core Processor, 12GB RAM, 512GB SSD + 128GB eMMC, 1 Year Office 365, Wi-Fi 6, Webcam, Bluetooth, SD Card Reader, Windows 11 Home, Grey

【High Speed RAM And Enormous Space】12GB high-bandwidth RAM to smoothly run multiple applications and browser tabs all at once; 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 Solid State Drive + 128GB eMMC allows to fast bootup and data transfer
【Processor】Celeron N4500 (Cores:2 Threads:2; Clockspeed:1.1 GHz Turbo Speed: 2.8GHz; Cache Size: L1: 4096 KB, L2: 12.0 MB, L3: 4 MB)
【Display】15.6" FHD (1920x1080), 250nits, IPS-Level, Anti-glare
【Tech Specs】 1 x Card reader; 1 x HDMI 1.4b; 1 x USB 2.0; 1 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 (support data transfer only); 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1; 1 x Headphone / microphone combo jack (3.5mm);
【Operating System】Windows 11 Home - Beautiful, more consistent new design, Great window layout options, Better multi-monitor functionality, Improved performance features, New videogame selection and capabilities, Compatible with Android Apps

The Ultimate Buying Guide: Snagging the Best Laptop Under $300

Finding a good laptop for under $300 feels like a treasure hunt. You won’t find the fastest machines, but you can definitely find a reliable tool for school, basic work, or browsing. This guide helps you focus on what truly matters in this budget range.

Key Features to Look For

When shopping in the sub-$300 zone, you must prioritize certain specifications. Don’t worry about having the latest tech; aim for functional basics.

RAM (Memory): Aim for at least 4GB of RAM. Less than this makes the computer very slow, even for simple tasks. 8GB is a huge bonus if you find it.
Storage (Hard Drive): Look for 64GB or 128GB of eMMC or SSD storage. SSD (Solid State Drive) or eMMC is much faster than older HDD drives.
Processor (CPU): You will likely see Intel Celeron or lower-end Pentium chips, or comparable AMD chips. These are fine for light use.
Operating System (OS): Most laptops here run Windows 10/11 S Mode or Chrome OS (Chromebooks). Chromebooks are often faster because they are lighter.

Important Materials and Build Quality

Laptops in this price range use materials built for lightness and cost-saving, not heavy-duty use.

Chassis Material: Expect mostly plastic construction. Plastic keeps the weight down and the price low. Don’t expect premium metal finishes.
Screen Type: Most screens will be HD (1366×768 resolution). Look for an IPS panel if possible; it offers better viewing angles than standard TN panels.
Keyboard and Trackpad: Test these if you can. Mushy keys reduce typing speed. A responsive trackpad makes navigation much easier.

Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality

Small details significantly impact your daily experience when working with budget hardware.

What Improves Quality (Look For These):

SSD over eMMC: An SSD makes the computer boot up and load programs much faster than eMMC storage.
Cloud Integration: If you choose a Chromebook, ensure you have good internet access, as these rely heavily on cloud storage.
Port Selection: More ports (USB-A, HDMI) mean you need fewer adapters.

What Reduces Quality (Be Cautious Of):

Very Low RAM (2GB): This guarantees a frustratingly slow experience. Avoid these if possible.
Heavy Windows Bloatware: Sometimes, pre-installed unnecessary software slows down the machine immediately.
Low-Resolution Screens: Very dim or low-resolution screens strain your eyes during long reading sessions.

User Experience and Best Use Cases

A $300 laptop is a specialized tool. It excels at some things and struggles with others.

Ideal Use Cases:

Students (Elementary/Middle School): Perfect for homework, research papers, and online learning platforms like Zoom or Google Classroom.
Web Browsing and Email: You can check news, manage emails, and shop online without issue.
Light Office Work: Writing documents (Word, Google Docs) and creating basic spreadsheets works well.

Where It Struggles:

Heavy Multitasking: Running many tabs, Spotify, and a document editor simultaneously will cause slowdowns.
Gaming: Forget modern 3D video games. These machines handle only very old or simple browser games.
Video Editing: Editing video or complex photo manipulation requires more power than these chips provide.

10 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Laptops Under $300

Q: Can I run Microsoft Office on a laptop under $300?

A: Yes, you usually can. Most budget laptops handle the web-based versions (Office 365 online) perfectly. If you need the full desktop version, ensure you have 4GB of RAM minimum.

Q: Should I buy a Chromebook or a Windows laptop in this price range?

A: Chromebooks often provide a better, snappier experience under $300 because Chrome OS requires fewer resources than Windows.

Q: Is 4GB of RAM enough for schoolwork?

A: For basic schoolwork involving web research and document writing, 4GB is the minimum functional amount. You must keep your open programs limited.

Q: What kind of screen size should I expect?

A: Most models fall between 11.6 inches and 14 inches. Smaller screens are more portable, while 14 inches gives you a bit more space to work.

Q: Will these laptops handle Zoom or online classes?

A: Yes, they handle video conferencing well, especially Chromebooks. Make sure the built-in webcam is clear enough for your needs.

Q: Are these laptops good for traveling?

A: They are generally lightweight and portable, making them good travel companions for basic tasks like watching movies or checking email on the go.

Q: What is the typical battery life?

A: Battery life varies greatly, but many budget models aim for 6 to 8 hours of mixed use. Always check specific manufacturer claims.

Q: Can I upgrade the storage or RAM later?

A: Sometimes. Many budget laptops, especially Chromebooks and very thin Windows models, have soldered (non-upgradable) RAM. Check reviews specifically to see if storage is replaceable.

Q: What does “eMMC storage” mean?

A: eMMC is a type of slower, cheaper flash storage, similar to what is inside a large SD card. It is faster than an old spinning hard drive but slower than a true SSD.

Q: Are refurbished laptops a better option under $300?

A: Refurbished laptops often give you better specifications (like an Intel i3 processor or 8GB RAM) for the same price, but you must buy from a reputable seller to ensure a good warranty.