Not everyone needs a super expensive top-notch laptop, and the good news is that you don't have to go bankrupt to get a solid machine. Whether you are a student, a casual user or just looking for affordable equipment for daily tasks, there are plenty of great options. The trick is to find the best cheap window laptops that balance performance, build quality and battery life without making too many compromises.
A good budget laptop computer should still be fast enough to handle web browsing, office work and streaming, which means looking for models with a good processor, fast boot time for solid-state drives (SSDs), and at least one FHD display so everything looks clear. Some affordable options even come with dedicated GPUs that can help with light gaming or creative work. Whether you need a lightweight school notebook, a workhorse for productivity or an affordable FHD laptop, there’s something for everyone. We have compiled the best cheap window laptop options today, covering different price points and features to help you find the right one for your needs.
Table of contents
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Best Cheap Laptops of 2025
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What about Chromebooks and tablets?
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Windows laptops are doing well
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What to look for in a budget-friendly Windows laptop
Best Cheap Laptops of 2025
What about Chromebooks and tablets?
You may tend to recommend a Chromebook or tablet to anyone considering a budget for a Windows laptop. There is nothing wrong with these instincts, but Chromebooks and tablets are not the best buys for everyone. Tablets are the most portable, but they can only work for the most mobile users, such as those kids who grab smartphones from their parents because they are flexible enough to do it. Tablets can also be as expensive as some of the cheapest window laptops, and they don't have a mouse or keyboard.
Chromebooks are a great option for people who basically live in a browser, and you have to give up on the trade-off of “traditional desktop”. Compared to Windows, Chrome OS is a more limited operating system when it can be installed and run programs.
Windows laptops are doing well
What can you implement on a cheap Windows laptop? Quite a lot, especially if you do one thing (or limited things) at a time. They are perfect for daily tasks such as web browsing, checking emails, video streaming, and more. All of these things can be done on Chromebooks, too, but Windows laptops have a big advantage in Microsoft Office. While yes, this is a browser-based version, native, desktop apps are considered a version that many people must have, and even the easiest budget laptops will run smoothly. The only caveat is that if you multitask or use large datasets in Excel or many photos and graphics in PowerPoint, you may experience some slowdown on low-power devices.
Speaking of specifications, the highlight of Windows laptops is storage. Even the most affordable devices tend to have at least 128GB of solid-state drives. If you want to save the most important files on your laptop's hard drive, that comes in handy. In contrast, cheap Chromebooks usually have less storage space because they are based on the assumption that you keep all your documents in the cloud. Not only is it convenient when you need to work offline, but it also limits the size of programs and files you can download. Therefore, Chromebooks aren't the best choice for hoarding Netflix shows before long trips or before using them as gaming laptops.
Windows also has thousands of applications that you can download from its app store. Chromebooks have some Chrome apps, a large number of browser extensions, and the ability to download Android apps, but quality control is inconsistent. In particular, Android applications are not usually optimized for Chrome OS, which makes the user experience weird. Windows applications may not be as good as Android, but at least this experience is comprehensive and standard.
Windows also enables you to download and use programs from other sources, such as directly from developers. You can run programs like Adobe Creative Suite, certain VPNs and GIMP, Audacity, and Clipmate on Windows devices, such as Chrome OS, which is not possible. Chromebooks limits you to applications and programs in the Play Store and Chrome Extensions Store, reducing everything else to unusable, space-attracting icons in your download folder.
What to look for in a budget-friendly Windows laptop
Even if you spend very little time on a Windows laptop, you can do a lot, but you have to set your expectations accordingly. The biggest drawback when buying a budget laptop is actually the limited functionality. Many Windows laptops run $500 on Intel Celeron or Pentium processors, but you can find some cores with Core i3/i5 and AMD Ryzen 3/5 CPUs at the top of the price spectrum.
Specifications Looking for in a $500 Windows Laptop
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Intel Core I or AMD Ryzen 3 processor
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At least 8GB RAM
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SSD with at least 128GB of space
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1080p FHD display
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Mainly metal design
We recommend you get the most powerful CPU you can afford, as it will determine the speed of your computer overall. RAM is also important because the more you have, the easier it is for your laptop to manage content like browser tabs as you edit your Word documents and stream music in the background. However, with a laptop under $500, you'd better get the best CPU you can afford than a laptop with a lot of RAM, as the CPU will have enough features to handle most daily tasks, and a cheap Windows laptop is designed to edit raw images or 4K videos (if you're investing in more RAM…and a more RAM…and a $500 laptop).
When it comes to storage, consider how much you want to save locally. If you work primarily in Google Docs or keep most of your content in the cloud, you may not need a computer with a lot of on-board storage. Just remember that your digital space will also be taken up by the app, so if you know you want to download a large program, it's worth getting extra storage than you think you need. Last side note: Solid-state drives are everywhere at this point, not to mention faster and more efficient than HDDs, so we recommend using a laptop with that type of storage.
You don't have to be for a completely plastic notebook either. At least in the $500 price range, there are some options, at least partly metals like aluminum. Not only will these be more attractive, but they are more durable. As for the screen, there is a healthy combination of HD and FHD options in this price range, and if you can, we recommend using a 1080p display laptop spring. Touch screens aren't as common as standard panels in a $500-under space, but you'll just really miss one if you get a 2-in-1 laptop.
See:
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The best laptops of 2025
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The best gaming laptops
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Best 2-in-1 laptops of 2025
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The best Chromebooks
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Best laptops for college students
Prioritizing what is important to you is crucial. But at the low end of your budget, a good laptop may not provide everything you need, and a great laptop may provide everything you need. While most machines come with features like Bluetooth, built-in Wi-Fi and other ports, you probably don't all of them come with the details you need, like SD card slots, webcams, chargers, and more. Make sure to check the specification list of any laptop you want to consider before purchasing, especially if specific connectors and features are needed.
One last note before we choose the draft pick: The best cheap laptop models are changing all the time. Unlike more expensive flagships, these laptops can be updated several times a year. This may make it difficult to track in specific models at Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, or any other retailer. Plus, our prices vary widely depending on the configuration and retailer you are looking for. We've listed some of the models we currently like below, but if you can't find any available models nearby, remember the list of specifications we're looking for inexpensive laptops – they'll guide you to the best laptops available right now.
This article originally appeared on Engadget
