The 5 Best Laptops Under 400 Dollars

Finding the best laptops under 400 dollars is not an easy task, especially with the many options available in the market today. Most of the top options are considered perfect options for students, office use, and casual work. Our top picks for budget-friendly laptops balance price and performance to help you choose the best one for you.

If you prefer a slightly more affordable laptop, check out our last post. Budget laptops are in high demand, especially with growth in AI and cloud storage. Both beginners and professionals prefer laptops that will work perfectly and still offer great value for money.

It is important to note that these devices are only ideal for simple and medium-power tasks and will lag when used for complex tasks like video editing, complex gaming, or animation. For such complex tasks, consider a slightly more expensive laptop under $700 or a video editing laptop with more powerful specifications.

For streaming, reading, and other basic tasks, these cheap options will work perfectly. You will notice that you will only have Chromebooks and Windows laptops for such a low price range. MacBooks are more powerful and will require a higher budget.

How to Choose Laptops Under 400 Dollars

When choosing your ideal laptop, you will need to consider power and performance. Display, Body and Build, Operating System, Price, and Usage.

For power and performance, consider the processor, RAM, and storage. Most cheap laptops will not be very powerful. However, it is still possible to find a reliable choice even in this budget range. Choose a laptop with either an Intel i3 and higher or an AMD Ryzen 3 processor for fast processing and software compatibility.

For multitasking, you will have a choice between 4 GB and 8 GB of RAM. 4 GB will be slightly slower compared to 8 GB and above. It is ideal for simple tasks like streaming. To save files and fast file retrieval, choose SSD storage over HDD hard drives. Anywhere from 256 GB is good enough for most users.

Most laptops at this price will feature a 13- to 15.6-inch screen size. Most users prefer larger screen sizes, although this depends on your needs. Choose a screen with Full HD resolution and high brightness levels for the best experience. A dedicated GPU will further help enhance the screen display. We recommend AMD Radeon Graphics or similar.

Some users, like students and artists, prefer a laptop they can move around with. You will need to consider the build quality, battery life, and overall weight to gauge portability. You will have limited operating system options for this budget range with only Windows, ChromeOS, or Linux available.

Top 5 Best Laptops Under $400

1. Acer Aspire 3: Best Overall
2. Acer Aspire Vero: Best Windows
3. ASUS VivoBook Go: Best Budget
4. Lenovo IdeaPad 3i: Best Touchscreen Laptop under $400
5. Acer Aspire Go 15 Slim: Best Cheap Laptop
6. Dell Inspiron 3525: laptops for students under $400

Acer Aspire 3: Best Overall

1. Screen: 15.6″ 
2. Resolution: Full HD IPS Display
3. Processor: AMD Ryzen 3 7320U Quad-Core Processor
4. GPU: AMD Radeon Graphics 
5. RAM: 8 GB 
6. Storage: 128 GB SSD 
7. OS: Windows 11 Home in S Mode
8. Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6 
9. Battery Life: 12-hour battery life
10. Ergonomic Keyboard with backlit keys and numeric keypads

The Acer Aspire 3 is best overall pick. Its large 15.6-inch IPS screen that displays a colorful and clear display thanks to a 1920 x 1080 Full HD resolution. This makes it a perfect pick for streaming Netflix movies or general use. The view is further enhanced by a dedicated AMD Radeon graphics Graphic Processing Unit and 16:9 aspect ratio.

For processing power, it has an AMD Ryzen 3 Quad-Core processor and 8 GB of RAM for quick multitasking, even with powerful applications running. It will run normal applications like browsers, Illustrator and Office with ease but will lag when you use it with powerful games or Photoshop.

You will have SSD storage but it is significantly low at 128 GB. Luckily, Acer Aspire 3 is easily upgradable with up to 1 TB expansion. Additionally, you can also upgrade the Pre-installed Windows 11 Home in S Mode for a better exprience.

For those who like working out of office, the Acer Aspire 3 features a long 12-hour battery life and a slim, light weight build. This makes it highly portable and easy to carry from one lecture hall to the next for students.

You will use it with a pre-installed, easy-to-upgrade Windows 11 Home in S Mode operating system that features a very user-friendly interface. Unfortunately, the under 400$ version features a small 128 GB SSD storage. 

The laptop features an ergonomically designed keyboard with backlit enabled. It is comfortable to use for long and comes complete with a numeric keypad.

ASUS VivoBook Go: Best Budget

1. Screen Size: 15.6 Inches 
2. Storage: 512 GB
3. Processor: Ryzen 5 
4. RAM: 8 GB 
5. Operating System: Windows 11 Home 
6. GPU: AMD Radeon Graphics

The ASUS VivoBook Go is perfect for both students and professionals. It is ideal for genral casual use such as casual gaming or streaming. It combines powerful perfomance, a vibrant 15.6-inch screen with Full HD resolution, portable build design and a budget friendly price range.

If you are on a budget, this is the one for you. It is powered by an AMD Ryzen 3 Quad-Core processor and 8 GB of RAM. This is not he most powerful option but is great value for its price.

For users who like working outdoors, the long 10 hours battery life, with fast charging and slim light weight build makes it easily portable. Like its predecessor, it features a low 128 GB SSD storage space. This is good enough for casual use but needs an upgrade if you handle larger files.

To avoid unintended access, Vivobook features a fingerprint reader to add a protective layer to your files. For easy connectivity, it features modern connectivity options, like Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, plus versatile ports like USB Type-C, USB-A, and HDMI. 

Lenovo IdeaPad 3i: Best Touchscreen Laptop

1. Screen: 15.6″ 
2. Resolution: 1366 x 768 Pixels
3. Touchscreen Display
4. Processor: Intel Core i3
5. RAM: 12 GB 
6. Storage: 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB SSD
7. Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi 6, HDMI
8. OS: Windows 11 Home
9. Battery Life: 7 hours

The Lenovo IdeaPad 3i is the best option with a sensitive touch screen display. It is a decent laptop if perfomance is the question, thanks to its Intel Core i3 processor, 12 GB  and 256 GB or 512 GB SSD storage. These specs are not the best but are ideal for daily tasks and Multimedia.

It features a large 15.6″ screen size with touchscreen senstivity and premium looking narrow bezels around it. The display enhances usability, thanks to the dedicated Intel UHD Graphics although the 1366 x 768 resolution may not satisfy creative professionals who require higher clarity.

The Lenovo IdeaPad 3i offers a solid combination of performance, versatility, and affordability. It’s standout feature is its 1TB SSD storage, offering ample space for files, photos, and applications. The keyboard, though lacking backlighting, is ergonomically designed for comfort during extended use.

Connectivity options are modern, including Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, and a variety of ports for flexibility. It features a slightly lower battery life, ranging between 7 and 9 hours. Its lightweight and sleek body design makes it an excellent choice for students, professionals, or casual gamers.

Acer Aspire Go 15 Slim: Best Cheap Laptop

1. Display: 15.6-inch Full HD IPS display
2. Processor: Intel Core i3
3. Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics
4. RAM: 8 GB
5. Storage: 128 GB SSD (expandable with external drives)
6. Operating System: Windows 11 Home in S Mode (upgradeable)
7. Battery Life: Up to 12 hours
8. Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6

For those who are looking for a cheap laptop that packs enough power for business work, basic gaming and multimedia, the Acer Aspire Go 15 Slim is the beast option. Like most options in this list, it features a clear Full HD screen with 15.6-inches in size.

The large size, full HD resolution and Intel UHD Graphics ensures vibrant, rich vivid colors display, wheyher you are streaming, gaming or editing photos.

Processing power and RAM are just good enough for basic tasks with an Intel Core i3, 8 GB RAM and low 128 GB SSD storage space. Most of its specifications are not as powerful as premium laptops, but for its price range, they offer a good deal.

The battery life, Wi-Fi 6 connectivity and AI-powered performance makes it a reliable companion for work or study sessions. While the 128 GB SSD may feel limiting, users can expand storage with external drives. The Aspire Go 15 Slim is a great option for budget buyers seeking a portable and reliable laptop for everyday use.

Conclusion

Laptops in this price range are not premium-level options. Although they can be used for different professional tasks, they are limited to simple tasks like streaming and schoolwork. They still cater to different performance levels thanks to their different specifications and features.

Acer Aspire 3 is our pick for the best with a long battery life and easy portability. It has a powerful processor and large RAM for a very affordable price. The only downside is its low storage space. Asus Vivobook is best on a budget, offering excellent connectivity and security. Make sure to consider key factors when choosing the best one for your needs.

1. Acer Aspire 3: Best Overall
2. Acer Aspire Vero: Best Windows
3. ASUS VivoBook Go: Best Budget
4. Lenovo IdeaPad 3i: Best Touchscreen
5. Acer Aspire Go 15 Slim: Cheap Laptop
6. Dell Inspiron 3525: for students

Acer Aspire 3: Best Overall

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