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Do you want to buy a cheap laptop?

With this buying guide, you will be able to choose a laptop for less than 500€.

A reduced price does not mean a poor quality PC.

Only computers from major computer manufacturers are represented here.

HP, Lenovo, Asus, Dell, Acer or Huawei make up this selection.

Admittedly, their performance is limited, but not all users necessarily need an overpowered machine. 

Most users want a portable PC that is practical and fluid to use.

These computers can browse the Internet, stream a movie or music, exchange emails or write a document.

To play 3D games, do photo editing or do video editing, you have to plan for a significantly higher budget to have enough power.

Selection of the best cheap laptops in 2022

  • HP 255 G8: a powerful configuration

  • Lenovo V15: a comfortable screen

  • Asus Chromebook CX1400: the essentials at the best price

  • HP Laptop 15s: a good compromise under Windows 11

  • Acer Aspire 1: a particularly economical model

  • Dell Inspiron 15: a beautiful Full HD screen

  • Acer Chromebook 315: difficult to make cheaper

  • Lenovo IdeaPad 3: simple and elegant

  • Asus Vivobook: the ultra portable accessible

  • Huawei MateBook D15: a complete configuration

HP 255 G8: a powerful configuration

With its Full HD screen made up of a 15.6“ panel, the HP 255 is a well-born portable PC.

Its display goes through an AMD Radeon circuit and the heart of the machine is based on an AMD Ryzen 3 3500U processor supported by 8 GB of DDR4 RAM.

The storage goes through a 256 GB PCIe NVMe disk. Its battery allows it a maximum autonomy of 9 hours.

Most : 

  • Powerful processor;

  • QWERTY keyboard with numeric keypad.

The lessers :

  •  Only 8 GB of RAM.

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Lenovo V15: a comfortable screen

A 15.6“ Full HD panel with a resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels ensures sufficient user comfort.

You can play a movie in 1080p with its Ryzen 3 processor. It has 8 GB of RAM and a 256 GB SSD. Its finish is impeccable.

This Lenovo laptop is a good choice.

Most : 

  • 15.6“ Full HD panel;

  • Comes with Windows 10 Home.

The lessers :

  •  RAM a bit tight.

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Asus Chromebook CX1400: the essentials at the best price

The first Chromebook in this selection is from Asus.

The PC component specialist offers an inexpensive and well-equipped computer here.

Its processor is a Celeron N3350 with 8 GB of RAM.

Storage is entrusted to a 64 GB eMMC in PCIe.

It runs on Chrome OS.

Most : 

  • Finesse and lightness;

  • Model 2022.

The lessers :

  •  Limited storage.

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HP Laptop 15s: a good compromise under Windows 11

Are you looking for a laptop under Windows 11 at a low price?

The HP Laptop 15s is the ideal solution.

It has a 15.6“ FHD screen and an Intel Celeron processor.

Its 4GB RAM is a bit limited, but sufficient for basic office tasks.

Storage is made up of a 128GB PCIe SSD. Its keyboard includes a handy numeric keypad.

Most : 

  • Comes with Microsoft 365 Personal free for 1 year;

  • Sober design.

The lessers :

  • 4 GB of RAM only.

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Acer Aspire 1: a particularly economical model

A laptop PC for less than 250€ under Windows, is it possible?

Yes with the Acer Aspire 1.

Of course, the data sheet announces limited specifications, but the essential is there.

An Intel processor with 4 GB of RAM, a 14 “FHD IPS screen and 64 GB eMMC storage. As a bonus, for this low price, you have Windows 11 Home and Microsoft 365 Personal included.

Most : 

  • Windows 11 and Microsoft 365 Personal;

  • Little price.

The lessers :

  •  Basic performance.

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Dell Inspiron 15: a beautiful Full HD screen

The manufacturer Dell is known for its professional workstations widespread in companies and administrations all over the world.

Its Inspiron 15 is aimed at the general public with a price of less than €450.

It has an Intel Core i3 chip with 8 GB of RAM.

Its SSD has a capacity of 256 GB. The 15.6 “diagonal panel is powered by an Intel UHD chipset.

Everything works under Windows 11 Home. 

Most : 

  • 256 GB SSD;

  • Carbon black finish.

The lessers :

  •  Slightly limited graphics chipset.

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Acer Chromebook 315: difficult to make cheaper

First prize in this selection, the Acer Chromebook 315 is offered below the 230€ mark.

This budget model has 64 GB eMMC storage and a 15.6“ HD touch screen.

The latter benefits from an Intel UHD Graphics 600 chipset. It is powered by an Intel Celeron N4020 processor with 4 GB of RAM.

It is proposed here in a dark blue finish, discreet and elegant.

It has two USB Type C ports. Its autonomy can reach 12 hours on a single charge.

Most : 

  • 15.6“ touch screen;

  • Great autonomy.

The lessers :

  •  Limited power.

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Lenovo IdeaPad 3: simple and elegant

Lenovo is a brand used to offering quality laptops with a finish inspired by seriousness and solidity.

The IdeaPad 3 fits that description.

It has an Intel Pentium N5030 processor with integrated graphics chipset.

Its RAM, a little limited, of 4 GB comes to support it.

The SSD here reaches 256 GB and includes a copy of Windows 11 Home.

Its screen offers a 15.6 “Full HD IPS panel.

Its 720p HD webcam has the PrivacyShutter function.

Most : 

  • 15.6“ IPS and Full HD panel;

  • 256 GB SSD.

The lessers :

  •  Low RAM.

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Asus Vivobook: the ultra portable accessible

The Vivobook 14 is a Windows 11 laptop with a 14" Full HD panel.

Its chassis incorporates an Intel Core i3-1005G1 processor with 8 GB of RAM.

The SSD has a space of 256 GB. Everything is presented in a bright and sober Peacock Blue shade.

Most : 

  • Bag and mouse offered;

  • Good price/performance ratio.

The lessers :

  •  A little thick.

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Huawei MateBook D15: a complete configuration

Do we still need to present the MateBook D15.

This laptop signed Huawei has an attractive technical sheet.

For less than 500€, you have an elegant computer with a 15.6“ Full HD screen, an Intel Core i3 processor, 8 GB of RAM and a 256 GB SSD. It is thin and light.

Most : 

  • An interesting configuration for the price;

  • Quick charge (2 hours in 15 minutes charge).

The lessers :

  •  The processor.

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Should you choose a Chromebook or a Windows laptop?

The choice of operating system depends on your use.

Do you want to work or use software available under Windows?

You have your answer.

If you just want an extra laptop to read your emails, manage your social networks and listen to music streaming, a Chromebook is ideal.

You can use Google tools to write texts, presentations or calculation tables.

In short, a Chromebook is practical and economical, but its power remains very limited.

How to choose a cheap laptop?

Since the price criterion is already defined in this buying guide, you must take other parameters into account.

One of the main ones is the choice discussed earlier between Chrome OS and Windows.

Then you need to consider the practicality of the machine for your use.

Do you want to take your laptop everywhere or do you prefer to have a large screen.

A computer with a 13“ screen will be lighter and more compact than a model with a 15.6“ panel.

The latter is however much more pleasant to use for surfing, watching a series on Netflix or working.

Do not neglect the connectivity and storage side according to your needs.

It is always possible to add an external hard drive, but it is not practical on the move.

The offer in cheap laptops is vast.

For less than 500€, it is possible to find a sufficiently powerful machine according to your use.

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