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Short on time? Our top pick is Lenovo Chromebook 14 FHD Touch, HP 14 Chromebook takes Best Long-Battery Chromebook, while Dell Latitude 5420 takes Best Renewed Windows Pick.
- Best Laptop Under $300 Lenovo Chromebook 14 FHD Touch Check price
- Best Long-Battery Chromebook HP 14 Chromebook Check price
- Best Renewed Windows Pick Dell Latitude 5420 Check price
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The best budget laptop under $300 is built for browsing, email, schoolwork and video, not gaming. At this price, Chromebooks usually give the smoothest experience because ChromeOS runs well on modest hardware.
Every pick was listed under $300 when we checked in October 2026. We checked each Amazon listing in October 2026 and used only the specs the maker or seller lists. We do not list exact prices because Amazon prices change in real time. Use the buttons to see the current price and availability on Amazon before you buy. Scores are our editorial scores out of 10, not Amazon customer ratings.
Best Laptops Under $300 at a Glance
| Award | Laptop | Graphics | Why It Fits | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Laptop Under $300 | Lenovo Chromebook 14 FHD Touch | Mali GPU | FHD touch, 8-core | 8.4/10 |
| Best Long-Battery Chromebook | HP 14 Chromebook (N4120) | UHD 600 | N4120, HD | 8.2/10 |
| Best Renewed Windows Pick | Dell Latitude 5420 (Renewed) | Iris Xe | Core i5, 16GB | 8.0/10 |
| Best New Windows Laptop Under $300 | HP 14 Windows Laptop (N4500) | UHD | N4500, Office 365 | 7.9/10 |
| Lowest-Cost Chromebook | HP Chromebook 14a (N4120) | UHD 600 | N4120, anti-glare | 7.8/10 |
Lenovo Chromebook 14-inch FHD Touchscreen, MediaTek Kompanio 520, 4GB RAM, 64GB eMMC
A 14-inch FHD touchscreen and Wi-Fi 6 stand out at this price.
HP 14-inch Chromebook, Intel Celeron N4120, 4GB RAM, 64GB eMMC, ChromeOS
A simple HP Chromebook for school and browsing.
Dell Latitude 5420 14-inch Business Laptop (Renewed), Intel Core i5-1145G7, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD
A renewed business laptop with a Core i5 and 16GB.
HP 14-inch Laptop, Intel Celeron N4500, 4GB RAM, 64GB eMMC, Windows 11 Home in S mode
A new Windows 11 laptop with a year of Office 365.
HP Chromebook 14, Intel Celeron N4120, 4GB RAM, 64GB eMMC, 14-inch HD
The lowest-priced pick, with an anti-glare screen.
In-Depth Reviews
1. Chromebook or Windows Under $300?
Chromebooks start fast, update themselves and run well with 4GB of RAM, which makes them the safer choice at this price. New Windows laptops at this level often feel slow with 4GB and small eMMC storage. A renewed business laptop like the Dell Latitude 5420 is the exception, with a Core i5 and 16GB, but it is used hardware with a renewed warranty.
None of these are gaming laptops. For games, see our gaming laptops under 600.
2. Lenovo Chromebook 14 FHD Touch: Best Laptop Under $300
The Lenovo Chromebook 14 FHD Touch has an 8-core MediaTek Kompanio 520, 4GB of RAM and 64GB of eMMC, with a 14-inch 1920 x 1080 touchscreen, Wi-Fi 6 and a 2.86 lb body. A 14-inch FHD touchscreen and Wi-Fi 6 stand out at this price.
3. HP 14 Chromebook (N4120): Best Long-Battery Chromebook
The HP 14 Chromebook (N4120) has a 4-core Intel Celeron N4120 with UHD 600 graphics, 4GB of RAM and 64GB of eMMC storage, with a 14-inch HD screen and ChromeOS. A simple HP Chromebook for school and browsing.
4. Dell Latitude 5420 (Renewed): Best Renewed Windows Pick
The Dell Latitude 5420 (Renewed) has an Intel Core i5-1145G7, 16GB of DDR4 and a 256GB SSD, with a 14-inch FHD screen and Windows 11 Pro; it is a renewed unit. A renewed business laptop with a Core i5 and 16GB.
5. HP 14 Windows Laptop (N4500): Best New Windows Laptop Under $300
The HP 14 Windows Laptop (N4500) has an Intel Celeron N4500, 4GB of RAM and 64GB of eMMC plus a 64GB SD card, with a 14-inch anti-glare screen, up to 12 hours of battery life and Windows 11 Home in S mode; the listing includes a year of Office 365. A new Windows 11 laptop with a year of Office 365.
6. HP Chromebook 14a (N4120): Lowest-Cost Chromebook
The HP Chromebook 14a (N4120) has a 4-core Intel Celeron N4120, 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, with a 14-inch HD anti-glare micro-edge screen and stereo speakers. The lowest-priced pick, with an anti-glare screen.
How to Choose a Laptop Under $300
Screen resolution
FHD screens like the Lenovo Chromebook look much sharper than HD.
Memory
4GB is fine for ChromeOS; Windows feels better with more.
Storage
64GB fills fast; use cloud storage.
Renewed laptops
They offer more power for the money but check the warranty.
Quick Setup Tips
- Add RAM if you can: many budget laptops have a free slot or upgradeable memory
- Uninstall extra apps: budget laptops ship with trial software that slows startup
- Keep Windows updated: updates fix drivers and battery issues
- Use cloud storage: it stretches small SSDs further
- Check the live price: use the buttons to see the current price on Amazon
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best laptop under $300?
The Lenovo Chromebook 14 with an FHD touchscreen, Wi-Fi 6 and an 8-core MediaTek processor.
Can you get a Windows laptop under $300?
Yes, like the HP 14 with Windows 11 Home in S mode, but expect modest speed.
Is a Chromebook good for school?
Yes. Chromebooks handle Google Docs, web apps and video calls well.
Are renewed laptops worth it?
They can be, if the seller offers a clear warranty.
Can these laptops play games?
Only browser and Android games; they are not gaming laptops.
The Bottom Line
The Lenovo Chromebook 14 FHD Touch is the best budget laptop under $300 in our check. Choose the renewed Dell Latitude 5420 for Windows with 16GB, or the HP Chromebook 14a for the lowest price.
