The Best Budget Laptops of 2022
The Best Laptops Under $500
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Whether you're a student, working from home, or in the market for a tech upgrade, a quality laptop is a necessary gadget in our digital world. However, laptops can get pricey, with options retailing upward of $1,0000 for the bare minimum. If you're looking for something affordable, easily portable, and perfect for everyday use, we've got you covered. We rounded up the best budget laptops of 2022 that can handle your daily needs. All of these options are under $500 — that's right!
For something flexible and lightweight, we found convertible options that double as a tablet with a touchscreen display. Want something simple? Brands like Samsung, Dell, and HP have stellar picks perfect for handling work and productivity plus entertainment and streaming. These laptops are great for those on a budget or who want to keep it simple. Shop our top picks ahead.
For Students: 2022 Acer Chromebook Spin 311
If you're a student on a budget looking for something flexible, lightweight, and perfect for note taking, the 2022 Acer Chromebook Spin 311 ($270) is a great option. It's a two-in-one convertible laptop that lets you configure it to your liking, whether that's a traditional laptop, a tablet, on stand mode for presenting or streaming, and more. The touchscreen is 11.6-inches. It comes with a stylus, perfect for those who graphic design or take active notes. It's got a webcam, a USB-C charging port, a traditional USB port, and a traditional headphone port. It uses Chrome OS and has 64 GB of storage.
For Everyday Use: HP Chromebook x360 14a
The HP Chromebook x360 14a ($314) is a great option for everyday use. Whether you want to stream your favourite shows, handle your work-from-home life with ease, or take the lead in Zoom meetings, this laptop can handle it all. It has a 14-inch HD touchscreen display, and it's flexible so you can use it as a tablet as well. The laptop has a webcam and two mics. It has a long battery life of 12 hours per charge. It runs on Chrome OS with 64 GB of memory. It has a USB-C charging port, traditional USB port, and a traditional headphone port.
A Stylish Laptop: Lenovo Chromebook C330
The Lenovo Chromebook C330 ($244) is a stylish option for everyday use. It has 64 GB of storage and runs on Chrome OS. It has a convertible 11.6-inch HD display that rotates for your ideal setup. As long as you have a Google account, setting up the laptop will be easy and breezy thanks to the cloud. It has a USB-C and USB-A ports, an aux port, an HDMI port, and an SD memory card slot. Plus, it has a built-in camera.
For Productivity: Samsung Chromebook Plus V2
The Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 ($270, originally $304) is perfect for all your business and productivity needs. It runs on Chrome OS and has 64 GB of storage. The laptop is relatively lightweight, weighing under three pounds. You can fold this laptop back and use it like a tablet with a 12.2-inch touchscreen display. It comes with a stylus as well. It has a built-in camera with autofocus features, two traditional USB ports, one USB-C port, and a battery life of about 10 hours.
The Best Laptop Under $500: Dell Inspiron 3000
The Dell Inspiron 3000 ($448) packs a punch when it comes to storage and memory, with 128 GB of storage and eight GB of RAM. It runs on the Windows 10 Home operating system and has an HDMI port, an SD card slot, a traditional USB port, a traditional headphone port, and a 15.6-inch HD display.
A Great Display: HP Stream 11
If you're in the market for a display that is crisp and vivid, the HP Stream 11 ($250) is a great option. It has an 11.6-inch antiglare display that's perfect for binge-watching your favourite shows. It's thin and sleek, perfect for carrying around wherever you go, plus it has over 13 hours of battery life. It runs on Windows 11 with 64 GB of storage. It has a USB-C charging port, two traditional USB ports, a traditional headphone port, a microSD card slot, and an HDMI port.
Alexa Built In: Acer Aspire 5
The Acer Aspire 5 ($370) has Alexa built in, so it's perfect for all your smart-home needs. It runs on Windows 10 in S mode and has 128 GB of storage. The 15.6-inch display is vivid with full HD, perfect for streaming. It has a USB-C port, two traditional USB ports, a traditional audio port, and an HDMI port.
For Students: Asus VivoBook 15 F515
If you're a student in the market for a traditional laptop that's efficient, the Asus VivoBook 15 F515 ($400, originally $450) is a great option. It has eight GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage and operates on Windows 11. It has a vivid 15.6-inch display for all your streaming needs. Plus, it has a fingerprint sensor, two traditional USB ports, two USB-C ports, and an HDMI port.
Something Simple: Lenovo IdeaPad 3
You'll use the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 ($170, originally $220) every day. It has an 11.6-inch HD display with 64 GB of storage. It runs on Chrome OS, so you have easy access to collaborative apps and tools. The lightweight laptop is perfect for on-the-go use with around 10 hours of battery life. It also has a webcam, two USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, a microSD card reader, and an audio jack.
The Best Laptop Under $200: HP Chromebook 11a
Equipped with a webcam, a USB-C port, a USB-A port, a microSD card reader, and an audio jack, the HP Chromebook 11a ($140, originally $260) is a great budget option for everyday use. It has 32 GB of storage and an 11.6-inch HD antiglare display and runs on Chrome OS. The laptop is lightweight and durable, perfect for daily tasks and taking it on the go.
