The Best Laptops Under $400: A Comprehensive Guide

When you are looking for a laptop within your budget, you might feel overwhelmed by the variety of options available. Whether you are prioritizing portability, performance, or simply need a reliable device for everyday use, this guide will help you find the perfect laptop. In this post, we will explore the best laptops under $400, focusing on both new and refurbished options.

Introduction: The Best Choice Under $400 - ASUS Laptop L510

One budget-friendly pick that stands out is the ASUS Laptop L510. Renowned for its cost-effectiveness, this laptop strikes a great balance between price and performance. Here are the key features:

Intel Pentium Silver N5030 1.1 GHz up to 3.1 GHz 4M Cache 4 cores15.6-inch FHD 1921080 display128GB eMMC flash storage and 4GB DDR4 RAMWindows 11 Home in S modePortable design: 0.71 inches thin and weighs 3.46 lbs with a battery includedUSB 3.2 Type-C and Type-A Gen1 ports, HDMI portSlightly slower Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) for faster network speeds than 802.11nWindows 10 Home in S mode (100-app version)

For those on a tight budget, the ASUS Laptop L510 offers a solid value proposition.

Chromebooks and Laptops for Daily Use

For under $300, you can find a variety of Chromebooks and budget-friendly laptops suitable for everyday tasks like web browsing, document editing, and media consumption. Here are some of the best options:

Lenovo Chromebook C340

Efficient Intel N3060 processor11.6-inch FHD display32GB eMMC storage and 4GB RAMUp to 10.5 hours battery life

Dell Inspiron 3000

Intel Celeron N4020 processor15.6-inch high-definition touch screen64GB eMMC storage and 4GB RAMIntegrated Intel UHD Graphics

HP 14 Chromebook x2

AMD Ryzen 4GB RAM 128GB SSD14-inch display with touch functionality

Lenovo Flex 11 Convertible

11.6-inch FHD display16GB eMMC storage and 4GB RAMClevo W670SS processor

Acer Chromebook R13

13.5-inch FHD touch screen64GB eMMC storage 4GB RAM_Parse Server as the backend for syncing data and running logic locally on the device

These devices provide excellent performance and are suitable for light to moderately demanding tasks. They are also very portable and budget-friendly.

Mid-Range Laptops Over $300

For those with a little more to spend, ranging between $300 to $400, there are still some great options available. These include laptops with Intel Core i3 processors, 4GB to 8GB of RAM, and 128GB to 256GB SSD storage. Here are some recommendations:

Lenovo Ideapad 300s

AMD Ryzen 5 5625U Processor 4GB DDR4 RAM 128GB SSD15.6-inch FHD displayIntegrated AMD Radeon GraphicsUp to 12 hours battery life

Acer Aspire 5

AMD Ryzen 3 3250U Processor 4GB DDR4 RAM 128GB SSD15.6-inch FHD IPS displayIntegrated AMD Radeon Graphics9 hours battery life

Lenovo Flex 14

14-inch HD touch screen displayIntel Core i3-8145U Dual Core 2.1 GHz Processor 4GB DDR4 RAM 128GB SSDIntegrated Intel UHD GraphicsUp to 14 hours battery life

HP 14 Chromebook x2

Integrated Intel UHD Graphics14-inch HD touchscreen display with pen support128GB eMMC storage, 4GB RAMUp to 12 hours battery life

Renewed and refurbished laptops are also a good option if you want to stay within your budget. Trusted platforms like Amazon offer refurbished laptops that are tested and guaranteed to work as expected. They often come at a lower price point compared to new models, making it a cost-effective choice.

Conclusion

When it comes to finding the best laptop under $400, there are numerous options depending on your needs. Whether you prioritize a budget-friendly Chromebook for daily tasks or a mid-range laptop for a bit more performance, there are plenty of choices that offer great value for money. By considering the specifications and your specific use case, you can find the perfect laptop within your budget.

Key Takeaways:

ASUS Laptop L510 is a cost-effective choice for everyday and budget-friendly laptops like the Lenovo Inspiron 3000 and HP 14 Chromebook x2 are ideal for light tasks.Mid-range options like the Lenovo Ideapad 300s and Acer Aspire 5 offer better performance at a slightly higher laptops from trusted retailers like Amazon can be a great value for your budget.