We are finally at a quest where fifty-fifty a budget laptop tin strength out give yous a practiced plenty computing experience. In fact, Microsoft itself has launched a budget version of the Surface for less than $400. So what should yous buy?
For $400, Say No to Surface Go
The novel Microsoft Surface Go is the offset thing yous volition aspect at inwards this toll range. But yous should truly skip it as well as motion on.
The Surface Go for $399 is a clever marketing myth. That version is the tablet alone, without a keyboard attachment. The keyboard costs some other $100-130. So no affair what, we're talking most a $500 laptop here, earlier taxes.
Sure, yous could purchase the $400 tablet lonely if yous want, but that's non a proper laptop, as well as yous can't await to teach whatever function done on it. Besides, in that location are improve options.
Overall Best Laptop Under $400
Acer Aspire E15
Acer Aspire eastward 15, 15.6" Full HD, eighth Gen Intel Core i3-8130U, 6GB RAM Memory, 1TB HDD, 8X DVD, E5-576-392H BUY NOW AT AMAZON$379.99
- Operating System: Windows 10 Home
- Processor: Intel Core i3 8130u
- Touchscreen: No
- Screen: 15.6 inch Full hard disk (1920×1080 pixels)
- Memory: 6GB DDR4 RAM
- Storage: 1TB SATA Hard Drive
- Ports: 2xUSB 3.0, 1x USB 2.0, 1xUSB-C, HDMI, DVI
- Notable Features: DVD Writer, Long battery life
- Biggest Problem: Too bulky for everyday portability
I can't yell upwards how many years it has been since the offset model came out, but the latest version of the Acer Aspire E15 has been my (and most other reviewers') touchstone recommendation for a budget laptop amongst every characteristic yous mightiness need. It's pretty much a desktop replacement.
The E15 gets everything right, from a sudden hide as well as practiced sound to a powerful Core i3 processor as well as extra RAM. The latest version also fixes the precisely final result people direct keep had amongst it past times including a hefty battery that makes it amid the laptops amongst the best battery life.
The Aspire E15's precisely work is that it's bulky as well as heavy. In a basis where laptops are becoming slim as well as tardily to comport around, Acer has made this amongst all the fixings. So naturally, it's a hurting to direct keep it everywhere amongst you, but hey, yous won't experience bad most skipping shoulders as well as arms solar daytime at the gym.
Best Laptop Under $400 for School as well as Work
Asus VivoBook E403NA
ASUS VivoBook fourteen E403NA-US21 FHD Thin as well as Lightweight Laptop, Intel Pentium N4200 processor, 128GB eMMC Flash Storage, 4GB DDR3 RAM, USB Type-C, Fingerprint Reader, Windows 10 BUY NOW AT AMAZON$549.06
May also live available from: Newegg ($337.99).
- Operating System: Windows 10
- Processor: Intel Pentium N4200
- Touchscreen: No
- Screen: 14 inch Full hard disk (1920×1080 pixels)
- Memory: 4GB DDR4 RAM
- Storage: 128GB SSD
- Ports: 2xUSB 3.0, 1x USB 2.0, 1xUSB-C
- Notable Features: Lightweight, USB-C Charging
- Biggest Problem: Not powerful plenty for heavy tasks
For most students as well as office-going professionals, a laptop has multiple purposes. It is the principal device to browse the internet, function inwards Microsoft Office, as well as do other strange jobs. It's also the principal device to spotter movies on or hear to music piece yous do your chores. At the same time, it needs to live lightweight plenty that yous tin strength out direct keep it from 1 house to some other without complaint.
The Asus VivoBook E403 is the laptop that best meets those criteria. It weighs 3.3 pounds as well as is made of aluminum, which gives it a sleek as well as classy look. The solid terra firma drive (SSD) makes it safer to comport it roughly from house to place.
One of my favorite features of the VivoBook is that it tin strength out be charged via USB-C. As long every bit yous direct keep a powerfulness banking concern amongst plenty wattage, yous tin strength out truly claw it upwards to your laptop as well as accuse it anywhere.
That said, the Asus VivoBook E403 has a much less powerful processor than the Acer Aspire E15. While the VivoBook is practiced plenty for regular work, don't await to exercise it for AutoCAD, Photoshop, video editing, or other such intense tasks.
Best Convertible or Flip Laptop Under $400
Dell Inspiron xi 3000
2018 NEW Dell Inspiron xi 3000 11.6" hard disk LED-Backlit TouchScreen High Performance 2-in-1 Laptop, Intel Pentium N3710 upwards to 2.56GHz, 4GB DDR3L, 128GB SSD, Webcam, Bluetooth, USB 3.0, HDMI, Windows 10 BUY NOW AT AMAZON$399.00
- Operating System: Windows 10 Home
- Processor: Intel Pentium N3710
- Touchscreen: Yes
- Screen: 11.6 inch hard disk (1366×768 pixels)
- Memory: 4GB DDR4 RAM
- Storage: 128GB SSD
- Ports: 1xUSB 3.0, 1x USB 2.0, HDMI
- Notable Features: 360-degree flip
- Biggest Problem: Weak for multi-tasking
Many laptops these days come upwards amongst a touchscreen. You mightiness non exercise it every bit oft when inwards the green laptop mode, but it is handy amongst laptops that flip a amount 360 degrees to buy the farm similar a tablet. The best of those is the Dell Inspiron xi 3000.
You truly direct keep several options inwards this category, including the Asus Vivobook Flip, the Lenovo Flex 6, as well as the Acer Spin 1. But similar our overall winner Aspire E15, the Dell Inspiron xi 3000 has the payoff of age. Dell has been making it for years, amongst slight improvements every year. The latest model has finally got the residuum right.
With such laptops at this price, don't await to teach everything. It's all most compromising. So yous teach a lower resolution screen, which has a few flaws; but hey, it's a touchscreen. The sound tin strength out experience low, but it's Windows, therefore yous tin strength out artificially boost it amongst programs similar VLC. The surgical operation isn't great, but it's practiced plenty for unproblematic tasks every bit long every bit yous don't charge every bit good many things at the same time.
Of course, this is the best convertible or flip trend laptop. If yous desire a detachable tablet-keyboard hybrid, you'll direct keep to aspect at the side past times side option. But to create upwards one's heed whether yous demand a convertible or a detachable hybrid, read our article on how to pick the correct 2-in-1 for you.
Best Mini Tablet PC or Hybrid Laptop Under $400
Asus Transformer Mini T103
ASUS 10.1" Transformer Mini T103HA-D4-GR, 2 inwards 1 Touchscreen Laptop, Intel Quad-Core, 128GB SSD, Grey, Pen as well as Keyboard Included BUY NOW AT AMAZON$379.99
May also live available from: Newegg ($376.64); Jet.com ($379); B&H ($379.99).
- Operating System: Windows 10 Home
- Processor: Intel Atom x5 Z8350
- Touchscreen: Yes
- Screen: 10 inch hard disk (1280×800 pixels)
- Memory: 4GB DDR4 RAM
- Storage: 128GB SSD
- Ports: 1xUSB 3.0, 1x USB 2.0
- Notable Features: Detachable tablet amongst stylus
- Biggest Problem: Not a peachy computer
If yous similar the Microsoft Surface Go but notice it every bit good expensive, your best alternative is the Asus Transformer Mini. And it comes amongst a keyboard case, every bit good every bit a stylus pen amongst handwriting recognition.
The Transformer Mini feels to a greater extent than similar a tablet that is a laptop, rather than a laptop that is a tablet. If the bulk of your function involved writing or editing documents, it's truly practiced enough. Because the repose of the time, yous tin strength out exercise it every bit a tablet to spotter movies as well as shows, or play games.
But for whatever other task, the Transformer Mini's low-power processor can't buy the farm on upwards amongst your needs. Even amongst mesh browsing, yous tin strength out opened upwards most 5 to 8 tabs inwards Chrome earlier it starts choking.
That said, it mightiness live a practiced thought to pass a few to a greater extent than bucks as well as teach 1 of the better mini tablet PCs or hybrids. Spend $500 as well as you'll teach a laptop that lasts yous years.
Best Chromebook Under $400
Acer Chromebook Spin 11
Acer Chromebook Spin xi Convertible Laptop, Celeron N3350, 11.6" hard disk Touch, 4GB DDR4, 32GB Storage, Wacom EMR Pen, Pearl White, CP511-1HN-C7Q1 BUY NOW AT AMAZON$399.99
- Operating System: Chrome OS
- Processor: Intel Celeron N3350
- Touchscreen: Yes
- Screen: 11.6 inch hard disk (1366×768 pixels)
- Memory: 4GB DDR4 RAM
- Storage: 32GB Flash Memory
- Ports: 2xUSB 3.0, 1x USB-C
- Notable Features: Support for Android Apps as well as Linux Programs
- Biggest Problem: Very depression audio, average battery life
We buy the farm on proverb that students should exercise Chromebooks, they offering much improve value inwards the budget segment. But inwards the $400 bracket, the Asus Vivobook E403 as well as the Acer Aspire E15 truly border ahead. Nonetheless, the Acer Spin 11 is a corporation Chromebook for those who desire a gustatory modality of Chrome OS.
This touchscreen laptop amongst a flip-around hinge lets yous install Android apps through the Play Store, as well as it volition fifty-fifty function amongst Linux programs inwards the close future. That way you'll live able to install full-fledged desktop apps soon. But that 32GB of retentiveness mightiness live an final result then.
There are ii not-so-big problems amongst the Chromebook Spin 11. First, its speakers are quite weak, therefore yous volition strain to hear audio. That's non a dealbreaker though since in that location are ways to boost volume beyond max. Second, the Spin 11's battery life is non what you'd await from a Chromebook. It's withal pretty good, clocking most seven hours of average use. But for a Chromebook, that's on the lower side.
If yous enquire me, I'd propose yous to extend your budget past times most $50 as well as teach the Asus Chromebook Flip C302. It's 1 of the best Chromebook convertible laptops and surprisingly inexpensive for what it delivers.
Forget About Gaming at This Price
Some of yous may live wondering why in that location isn't a recommendation for a gaming laptop. It's simple. You can't taste PC gaming at the $400 price. The Acer Aspire E15 is truly the best gaming laptop yous tin strength out arrive this budget, as well as fifty-fifty amongst that, yous won't direct keep a practiced experience.
If you're serious most gaming, either extend your budget or construct yourself a PC. Even the cheapest high-quality laptops can't salve yous here.
The 5 Cheapest High-Quality Laptops for Students on a Tight BudgetThere are Windows-based laptops that function good for educatee life as well as cost less than $600.READ MORE