The Best Laptops Under $400

If you looking for a decent budget laptop, you may think that you need to compromise on performance and some features. But that’s not the complete reality, especially if you are in search of the best laptop under $400. With this amount, you can bag a machine that doesn’t just meet your needs but maybe exceeds them. Who said you have to invest a lot to get a powerful notebook loaded with essentials like a dependable Intel or AMD processor, a fast SSD, 8GB of RAM, enough fast SSD, and a decent FHD 1080p display? And if that wasn’t enough, some of the big-name manufacturers are even throwing in keyboard backlighting and more even in their cheap laptops.

Our expert team has done the research and we have listed our top picks in this budget-savvy guide to the best laptops under $400. We hope that you will find your perfect portable companion from these models, you only need to consider about your requirements. Hardware specs, processing power, performance, and design, factors matter the most when buying a budget laptop. With a large number of options out there in the market, you may find a real head-scratcher when choosing a notebook with a tight budget. To make it easy for you, we’ve clocked in the hours, done the deep analysis, and handpicked the top $400 laptops for you.

Before we move further, keep in mind that these affordable machines aren’t built for heavy-duty gaming or dealing with heavy tasks. If you’re dreaming of an affordable gaming rig or a workstation for high-end tasks, you might have to increase your budget. But on the brighter side, if you only have to do study or office work, basic photo/video editing, or play a few classic games in your free time, these laptops are more than enough. If you want a cheap gaming laptop, we recommend checking our picks for the best gaming laptops under $600.

Asus Chromebook Plus CX34

Best Laptop Under $400

I’ve always been a fan of Chromebooks and for under $400, it’s also the best option to go with the Chrome OS machine if you need the great outcome and longevity. And Google has done an excellent job in the case of the Chromebook Plus series, like the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34. Currently priced at $369 on Amazon, and it’s honestly quite impressive for the price. The CX34 includes a sharp 14-inch FHD IPS display, which isn’t something you’d usually find on budget Chromebooks. It’s bright and clear, with a narrow and pretty slick bezel. While the touch version costs extra, the model we have relies on a solid keyboard and touchpad.

Inside, it’s packing an Intel Core i3-1215U processor and 8GB of RAM, which feels plenty zippy for browsing and light multitasking. The 128GB UFS storage is an upgrade from the typical eMMC, though it’s still not quite a full SSD. The plastic chassis doesn’t give the premium feel, but it’s sturdy enough and even passed MIL-STD-810 durability testing, so it should handle daily use just fine.

One standout feature for us is the 1080p webcam, perfect for Zoom calls, and the extra peace of mind with the physical shutter. The camera quality is decent, though colors can be a bit muted. The connectivity is thoughtful, with dual USB-C ports, USB-A, HDMI, and an audio jack—everything you need. There are also some nice changes for ChromeOS, including new AI features. This Asus CX34 ships with a free trial of Adobe Photoshop Web, so if you’re in graphics editing or creative work, then it will make you a very happy camper.

For the performance, this Chromebook feels snappy and responsive. It puts up a fight right up there with the pricier Acer Chromebook Spin 714 but at a much more affordable cost. Battery life is impressive—lasting over 10 hours, which is more than enough for a day’s work. Well, all said and done, the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is a great affordable notebook. This is a great example of how Chromebooks are evolving and gets our nod as a top pick for budget-minded buyers. If this is where Chromebooks are heading, I’m definitely on board.

Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i

Best Chromebook Under $400

Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 2-in-1 convertible is another best laptop under $400 that we have analyzed and it impressed us with the overall results. It sports a 13.3-inch 1080p FHD display, I liked its results, especially in productivity and you are also getting the touchscreen feature with that. The great part of this notebook is its long-lasting battery of around 10-11 hours for its price. If you are someone who usually does business tours or a casual traveler, you might look at this unit.

The hardware side is also decent, there is an 11th Gen Intel Core i3-1115G4 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 128GB solid-state drive. It doesn’t disappoint on the performance front – whether you’re typing away on Microsoft Word or Google Docs, streaming videos, listening to music, or doing media editing activities. Even with most Android games from the Google Play Store, it doesn’t miss a beat.

Even though it doesn’t have a ton of extra features and you can’t expect that with your limited investment, the IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook manages a good wow with a few clever hacks. The interesting part is that you can always cover up the built-in webcam with a case while it’s not in use, providing extra security. Moreover, the touch display is pen-enabled, meaning you can jot down notes or let your creativity flow with a stylus USI pen.

Sure, you will find a few more low-cost Chromebooks in comparison to this model that might assist you with your immediate tasks. But, Lenovo Flex 5i is designed for the long haul, offering standout features and performance for just under $400 price point. For me, it is one of the best Chromebook models for its unbeatable combination of price, performance, and compact build.

ASUS VivoBook 15

Best 15-inch Sub-$400 Laptop

If you want to abandon Chrome OS because of its limited storage and other features or would like to work more comfortably under Windows OS, you can go with ASUS VivoBook 15. This laptop is head and shoulders above the competition in the sub-$400 category on account of its powerful hardware, extensive range of features, and reasonable price. You won’t find many comparable devices that offer a lot of premium amenities at such a low price.

This laptop’s Intel i3-1005G1 processor and Intel UHD Graphics are some of its most noticeable hardware parts. Whether web browsing, video streaming, or using one of your preferred productive applications, this strong combo gives you the strength and productivity you require to breeze through it all. The VivoBook 15 is equipped with 8GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD, providing sufficient power and storage for most users.

Display-wise, the VivoBook 15 holds its own. This laptop has a stunning 15.6-inch 1080p full HD display, thin bezels, and a backlit keyboard, making it a sight to behold. However, it’s important to remember that even good economic notebooks have to make sacrifices at some point, and the display and speakers are where the modest impact is felt. The maximum brightness of 204 nits could not be satisfactory for using this notebook under intense sunshine.

Don’t be fooled by its low cost; the VivoBook 15 performs like a much more expensive machine. The backlit keyboard and fingerprint reader are good inclusions that make this laptop a great choice for those who often work in dim environments or value security. In short, the ASUS VivoBook 15 offers quality and productivity that defies its modest price tag.

Acer Aspire 3 (A315-24P-R7VH)

Best Gaming Laptop Under $400

If you are into gaming with a limited budget, we have picked Acer Aspire 3 for those who hold an affinity towards AMD Ryzen configurations. Under $400, it’s not going to blow your socks off with high-end performance or cutting-edge features, but what it does, it does quite well. It’s got a no-nonsense, professional look that’s surprisingly strong for its price range. There is a full-size keyboard with a numeric keypad, which is an important element for anyone who works a lot with data entry or typing. The typing experience is solid, not the flimsy feeling you might expect at this price point.

The specs—like the 2.4GHz AMD Ryzen 3 7320U Quad-Core processor and 8GB of RAM—are modest but sufficient for your basic gaming, business tasks, and college work. Don’t expect it to handle demanding titles or intense graphics work, though. But it can handle light to medium media editing work and run less demanding games like Fortnite, Apex Legends, and CS:GO at lower graphics settings. However, for day-to-day productivity, it holds its own among other budget laptops.

Where the Aspire 3 greatly shines is in its videoconferencing capabilities. The HD webcam and the mic with noise filtering are standouts, providing clear video and audio that can even give some more expensive models a run for their money. Port-wise, it’s got a decent collection, and the inclusion of an HDMI port and a USB-C port is nice, though I wish it had another USB-C and an SD card reader. Still, you can expand its connectivity with adapters if needed. Battery life is another strong point in this machine, with about 7-8 hours on a charge under normal use, which is great for a full work or school day.

Samsung Chromebook 4+

Best Cheap Chromebook Under $400

Samsung Chromebook 4 Plus is a pretty solid budget option for students or anyone who needs a simple, no-fuss laptop. Samsung’s Chromebooks have always been reliable, and this one is no exception. With a 15.6-inch Full HD display, it’s the larger sibling to the smaller 11.6-inch Chromebook 4. The design is elegant, with a metal lid that gives it a premium look, even though the body is mostly polycarbonate. It feels sturdy, and the trackpad is generously sized.

We tested the model with 4GB RAM and 64GB eMMC, and it performed quite well, considering it’s powered by an Intel Celeron N4000. This isn’t a strong processor like the Core i3 or i5 you’d find in pricier Chromebooks, but for basic tasks like web browsing, it was just fine. The keyboard is surprisingly good, with textured keys that are comfortable to type on.

When we tested it with a few browser tabs, streaming videos, or basic multitasking, the Samsung Chromebook 4 Plus did well. The performance held up, and we didn’t encounter any major frustrations. One downside we noticed was the battery life, which is around eight hours—decent, but not as good as other Chromebooks that offer over 10 hours of working without the need of plugging in the power adapter. It is good to have a big screen to work on, but the viewing angles are poor due to the cheap TN panel. Don’t expect anything good from the webcam as well, the colors are cheap and dull which isn’t ideal for video conferencing.

Connectivity-wise, it has Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 4.0, but no HDMI port. The low RAM and processor limit its multitasking abilities, so it struggles when pushed hard, like with multiple YouTube videos running. With just over $200, the Samsung Chromebook 4 Plus is a solid option, but if you have a bit more to spend, there are better choices out there, like the Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5.

Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 3 Chromebook

Best 2-in-1 Detachable Laptop Under $400

Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 3 is an update to the original Duet and shrinks down a lot of what was great in the 13-inch IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook and now there is a compact 11-inch model. The Chromebook market has evolved so much in the past few years, and this one is a great example of that; it nicely hits that sweet spot for a budget-friendly, versatile device.

The Duet 3 takes a different route from your typical Chromebook with its 2-in-1 detachable design. It’s like a tablet and a laptop in one, which is very convenient. The 11-inch screen pairs with a magnetic keyboard cover that doubles as a screen protector, and surprisingly, the keyboard cover comes included. Typing on this machine feels great, with keys nicely spaced and a decent amount of travel. The touchpad is on the smaller side, but it works well enough, and of course, you’ve got the touch screen for a more direct approach.

The overall performance of the Ideapad Duet 3 is solid, thanks to its Qualcomm Snapdragon 7cG2 processor. It handled usual tasks and some light productivity work well, outperforming many similar Chromebooks in our tests. The 2-in-1 design works great for using Android apps, whether for gaming or productivity. Connectivity has put some limits, with just two USB-C ports, so you’ll need adapters for most things, including headphones. But the tablet does have Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.1, so wireless options are well covered.

Moreover, there’s a rear-facing camera and a 5-megapixel front camera for video calls, which is a handy addition. The screen itself is a 10.9-inch glossy IPS display with a 2,000×1,200 px resolution, and it looks pretty sharp. One of the downsides, though, is the battery life. It only lasted about six hours in our testing, which is okay, but not great compared to other Chromebooks like the Asus Chromebook Detachable CM3. The speakers are also just average, and there’s no headphone jack, so you might want to grab a pair of wireless headphones.

Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 3 Chromebook is a smart little tablet-laptop hybrid that’s great for someone looking for a versatile and portable device. It doesn’t have the best battery life or connectivity options, but the attractive price makes up for it, and it’s a solid performer for its size. If you’re in the market for a compact 2-in-1, this one’s worth a look.

ASUS VivoBook Flip 14

Best Lightweight and Easy to Carry

ASUS VivoBook Flip 14 is a versatile, convertible 2-in-1 tablet notebook that’s not only portable but good enough for everyday productivity. The display on this gadget does its job quite well for most everyday tasks. But if you’re someone who needs to work on highly detailed graphics work, it’s not for that. It struggles a bit with covering the little subtleties. If that’s what you’re into, we’d recommend you check out the 2019 Apple iPad. It might cost a little bit more, but pair it with an Apple Pencil and you’re all set to bring your artistic ideas to life.

But you can’t expect top-notch performance from this VivoBook Flip 14. However, once you’re clear on what this device can do and what it can’t, this cheap sub-$400 laptop is a pretty decent option – perfect for your study/office work, Netflix binges, internet surfing, and more. With an Intel Celeron N4000 processor, 4GB of DDR4 RAM, and 64GB of eMMC storage, the VivoBook is a reasonable machine you should consider buying.

The sound quality was acceptable for us and we had not much problem when watching a movie or listening to music in a quiet environment. As for the battery, it can last around 7-8 hours during the routine work without thinking about filling it again. It lacks the typical USB ports, meaning you’ll have to get an extra adapter or dongle to hook up the external necessary devices. But, once you consider the amazing portability, slim profile, and lightweight, you’ll realize that this budget-friendly laptop gives you a lot of bang for your buck.

Things to Consider Before Buying a Laptop Under $400

No matter how much a laptop costs. Whenever you buy a new laptop, you should look at various things about the system before making your purchase. It includes several major hardware components on which the laptop’s performance depends. So I am going to discuss them below:

Processor

We already know that the performance of any system largely depends on its processor. The more powerful a laptop’s chipset, the more high-end tasks it can easily handle. If your budget is around or under $400, go with at least an i3 processor suitable for light activities. But if your laptop purchase is for gaming or other high-demanding tasks, the best option for you will be AMD Ryzen CPUs, primarily known for gaming performance.

RAM

Another essential hardware component that plays a crucial role in handling processes is the RAM, known as “Random Access Memory.” You can get many laptops with 8GB of RAM that cost less or around $400. Because of speed and performance optimizations, always look for DDR4 RAM for better task management. As much RAM as possible would be ideal. A lot of games would benefit from this because it would eliminate latency. Most low-cost gaming laptops don’t have this capability.

Storage

When it comes to storage, quicker SSDs are preferable to slower HDDs. Because SSD drives’ data processing speed is breakneck, you will usually see 128GB of SSD storage for under $400 price laptop. But you can expand it to 256GB when you need more. If you are a serious gamer and want to play different games, you should at least require 512GB of space and even professional gamers add 1TB of extra hard drive to their gaming PCs to install many of their favorite games.

Display

Another critical feature to keep an eye out for is the display. For the best laptop under 400 dollars, a Full HD display screen of at least 15 inches in size is a good option for you. However, the screen size depends on the user’s choice or preferences. You may be the one who likes a small notebook or may want a large display laptop.

The best thing is that almost all the laptops mentioned above contain FHD display panels. Moreover, you can only go for the system with an IPS/HD display if gaming is also your concern. You will get the best refresh rate when playing games with IPS/HD display panels. Because of their low resolution, you should ignore TN/HD and HD+ monitors.

Battery

Decent battery life is another important factor you should consider before buying a laptop for around $400. The good thing for you is that most laptops mentioned above offer great battery timing on a single charge. You can also easily carry them during travel without worrying about charging.

Is Buying a Chromebook Worth It?

Once considered upscale netbooks with Google’s ChromeOS, Chromebooks have transformed into a powerful alternative to traditional laptops. If you’re a cloud-oriented professional, a Chromebook could easily satisfy most of your day-to-day requirements, comparable to a regular Windows or Mac machine in terms of productivity, but typically offers a longer battery lifespan.

Moreover, Chromebooks won’t leave your wallet feeling light. Many models ring up for less than $300-$400, offering exceptional value for your investment. Remember, you’ll need good and stable internet access as Chromebooks lean on cloud connectivity and have minimal offline capacity and storage. Chromebooks boot up super quickly, thanks to the lightweight Chrome OS, and they’re all about providing a seamless, straightforward experience. No fuss, no unnecessary frills, just straight to the good stuff.

For light usage and budget-constraint buyers, a Chromebook with a Pentium or Celeron processor is more than okay. However, if you want decent productivity which usually Chromebooks offer, you should consider a laptop with a more powerful CPU, ranging from Intel Core to AMD Ryzen.

But do not expect everything from the duo – Chromebooks might not be your best fit if you planning for a lot of gaming, or need specific software not supported by Chrome OS. As they are mostly based on web services, choose your model depending on your needs. In conclusion, Chromebooks have come from underdogs to stars in a low-cost, cloud-based process, and it is excellent.

Is a Laptop Under $400 Worth It?

Remember, budget doesn’t necessarily mean compromise. These laptops can reportedly meet all your routine demands, such as web browsing, watching your favorite series and movies, managing your emails or even spending some time for office work. At the same price, some laptops feature a thin, lightweight, and portable design, with some even offering a touchscreen. If you are a student, a workplace professional, or just rocking normal compositions, a laptop under $400 could be an ideal pick. With easy access to the modern operating system, which means regular security updates and new features.

The best aspect here is that that costs you less; see, not everyone requires a flagship computer with a load of crap. You might be doing simple tasks, so why splash out when a laptop for under $400 can help you? However, note that these laptops are not for you if you love severe process types such as games or movies but only a great computer if you love routine work.

The best part is that these laptops are kind to your wallet. Not everyone needs a flagship laptop with all the bells and whistles. For those who need a device for basic tasks, why shell out more when a laptop for under $400 can do the job? However, remember that these laptops might not be the best for high-intensive processes like heavy modern games or professional photo/video editing but only a solid choice if you’re after a system for normal routine work. As long as it suits your laptop needs, this can be a shiny bolt that will keep your life simpler without ripping a hole in your pocket.